The Vet's Christmas Familiar

Familiar Mates #4

by T.J. Nichols

Wounded and left for dead, Kit Linfield is stuck in his eagle form.

A Christmas Eve flight with his family turns to slaughter when hunters take aim at the eagle shifters. Kit plays dead, but he’s wounded and needs help. He wants to live to have a chance at vengeance.

Vet Errol Hart is spending Christmas alone for the first time since his divorce. When a badly wounded eagle is delivered to his care, it’s the first animal that Errol can’t communicate with, and the wedge-tailed eagle is so badly injured, Errol isn’t sure it will survive. But the way it looks at him, like it understands every word he says… They are both keeping secrets.

When Errol learns the truth, he vows to help Kit find the men responsible for the illegal hunt.


For readers who like fated mates and small town gay romance.

Genres: Shapeshifters, Paranormal, M M Romance, Romance, Magic, Fantasy, LGBT

190 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 28, 2021

About the author

TJ Nichols (they/them) is the author of the Studies in Demonology and Familiar Mates series. They write mostly gay fantasy and paranormal romance, but sometimes gay action/horror as Toby J. Nichols.

After traveling all over the world and Australia, TJ now lives in Perth, Western Australia.

Free gay shifter novella when you join TJ's newsletter: http://tjnichols-author.com/lp/

You can find TJ on
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TJNichols
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TJNichols.au...
follow me on Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/tjnichols or Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tj-ni...

Reviews

[Kit (Metaphors and Moonlight) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Review:
I loved the premise of a shifter stuck in animal form and a veterinarian who can communicate with animals suddenly having one he can't communicate with because they're not actually an animal. The bit of confusion and struggle before Errol figured it out---Kit trying to communicate but not being able to as an eagle, Errol wondering at how friendly and well-behaved this eagle was and how he seemed to understand when spoken to aloud---was kinda fun. And Errol was so sweet and respectful even when he thought Kit was an actual eagle.

Technically this was fated mates, but it didn't feel that way. They didn't even know right away, it didn't make them fall in love, and they could've even chosen to keep the witch-familiar relationship platonic or business-like. So the romance still felt believable, and it was really more the start and potential of a romance.

This whole thing felt surprisingly realistic. Not overly sappy, not overly easy, not overly light, and, for a fairly short book, not overly simple. The characters and their emotional struggles also felt real. I know that's my own bias, being surprised by that, but a lot of the shorter romances I read, especially lately, don't feel very believable to me. I mean, the way they had sex so immediately when Kit shifted back was a bit weird to me, but I can let one thing slide.

I'm on the fence about whether to call this a Christmas book. I thought it would be more Christmassy, considering the title, but it was more like the events just happened to be right at Christmastime. They didn't exactly celebrate or anything.

I hate to say something this harsh, but I have to mention the audiobook narrated by Matt Stephens, because I tried that first, and oh boy. I've never heard narration that was so monotone and lifeless. I listen to a lot of books with TTS (text-to-speech), and I kid you not, the TTS voices I use have more life and sound more natural than this did. I've never listened to this narrator before, so I don't know if it was just a choice for this book, but I couldn't do it. So definitely give the sample a listen before committing, to see if you like it.

Overall, this was a tragic but hopeful story with an interesting premise, some cool magic and shifting, and a nice romance.

*Though this is part of a series, each book functions as a standalone. I did not read any of the books before reading this one, and I had no problem whatsoever.*

*Rating: 3.5 Stars // Read Date: 2021 // Format: Ebook via TTS*

Recommended For:
Anyone who likes shifters, the power to communicate with animals, familiar/fated bonds, the start of a romance more so than the relationship after, and stories that start tragic but end hopeful.

More Reviews @ Metaphors and Moonlight

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am really adoring this series and thought this book was another great addition. My heart definitely broke in the beginning and I felt all the grief and pain that went along with what Kit was feeling. I loved how Errol was able to help Kit heal and take care of him when he was going through everything. The two of them definitely had an instant chemistry, even if Kit felt it prior to Errol being able to see him in the same light. There was a touch of action to make me furiously flip pages to find out what was going to happen next, and I’m definitely looking forward to Sam’s story in the next book

[Ashley Martinez (ilovebooksandstuffblog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Vet’s Christmas Familiar

A bittersweet story full of love, loss, a little suspense, and fated mates. I really enjoyed the story and the characters.

[Jesslan Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Vet's Christmas Familiar
By TJ Nichols

Kit's life is a mess. At 21 he flunked out of college 3 months ago and is currently working as a bartender. He has no clue what he wants to do with his life. It's Christmas and he's come home to spend it with his family and needs to tell his parents but doesn't know what to say. Before he gets the chance to tell them a tragedy strikes during a family outing.

After a divorce from his wife Errol moves far away to start a new life where no one knows him. He's a vet with a special gift and can speak telepathically to animals, but when an injured eagle is brought in he's confused when he can't speak to him or hear his thoughts. When he discovers Kit is a shifter and stuck in his eagle form they have to find a way to communicate.

Like the other books I've read in this series I really liked this one. I know why it didn't, but I wish it had more of a Christmas tone to it. Long before I finished the book I planned to give it 5 stars. Then when I finished the last chapter and epilogue I downed it to 4 stars. Yes, it's a HEA, but it didn't feel much like one. There wasn't this overwhelming feeling of happiness that they were together and mated for life. It made me sad after all they've both been through. Hence the rating change.

The book is in both Kit and Errol's POV. The angst is medium. It's more sad than angsty though.

[Gerbera_Reads]

DNF at 75% I think this is the case of it's me not the book. I wasn't enjoying it and couldn't force myself any longer. Maybe another author in the no folder for me. *sad face* Copy received for my honest and unbiased review

[Xanthe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually haven't read this series before but really enjoyed the paranormal story. A well paced slow burn, fated mates romance that doesn't start in a conventional way.
From the first page my heart went out to Kit and the way he feels about himself as a shifter which then turn into his worst nightmare as he's the sole survivor when his family is attacked by hunters. Miraculously he manages to get himself to a vet who turns out to have some abilities of his own. Errol has always been able to communicate with animals through his magic but when he gets nothing from the huge hawk, it doesn't take the two long to figure each other out and try to work together to get Kit well enough to shift back. Alongside this is the Kit's need for revenge against those who killed his family and an unknown enemy within the town.
Kit goes through so much in this book and his emotional turmoil is understandable with the loss of his family, his poor connection to his shifter side and the discovery that he has a mate. Errol is so supportive and tries his best to help from the start and when it's discovered that Kit is his mate/familiar, there's a certain level of insecurity having just gone through a divorce and moved to this small town to get away from everything related to that. They definitely have to work on their relationship, sometimes is seems easier when Kit was in his hawk form, but communication is definitely key. Errol does well at grounding Kit when it comes to his need to find those responsible but they end up working well together and I enjoyed how the story unfolded for them both.
Overall, I really liked this story, the drama that took place and the characters involved. I need to go back and read the rest of the series!
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

It was great to read a shifter story set in Australia and I was drawn right into this one.

Kit is an eagle shifter who is injured in an attack. Kit is brought to Errol, a vet that can usually communicate with animals through his magic.

I really enjoyed this story. It had a bit of everything... fated mates, conflict, hunters, drama, lust, heartbreak and loss and hope.

[Leelah🍁♋️ Orion · Rating 4 out of 5]

short but nice

This was an unexpected read for me. And it totally got me in the feels. I love how even though they are mates they have to work at making it work kind of stories. I almost cried a few places. Cause how do you begin to love when you lose everything. It was nice to watch the heeling start with these two. This is a HFN/HEA book. The ending was great but it didn’t leave fix the pain. I love that this book did that. The writing was great, the smexy was ok, and Sam is an interesting character.

[Sue Philips · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
T. J. Nichols has a rare ability to put together a truly amazing story involving witches and their familiars - a fated mate bonding that lasts for as long as one of the pair is alive. This is the third one of these stories I've read and I love them to bits. Set in her home State of Western Australia they are tender, loving and manage to show the deep bond between the two characters involved - in this case a vet and a young eagle shifter who is tragically shot by hunters. Kit's family - mother, father, brother and sister are all killed and Kit comes very close to losing his life as well. But thanks to a wonderfully kind State Emergency Service worker fighting bush fires, Kit ends up at the vet clinic where he is put into Errol's care. Kit is trapped in his eagle form due to the severity of his injuries and as he heals he forms a cheeky relationship with Errol. I love that he types his desires, wants, needs and feelings on Errol's laptop. I love him cheekily stealing Errol's bacon and coffee. The whole story made me laugh and at times feel like crying. The horror of having to deal with his family's deaths and having to work in with the coven all the while thinking the murderers will get away was heart pulling. With Errol's help Kit is shown a whole new way of life.
This book is one that I heartily recommend as I do all of the books by this author.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

3.75 stars

The Vet’s Christmas Familiar is the fourth book in T.J. Nichols’ Familiar Mates series and a really nice addition to the group. As with all the books so far, this one stands alone very well. The books take place in a shared world where shifters and witches can be fated mates and form a witch/familiar bond. The books so far don’t overlap characters and each reads as an independent story. The cross over element is the central theme of familiar mates, as well as the Coven, the group that oversees witches. So while having read the first book, The Witch’s Familiar, does give some good background on the world building, you really can jump into any of these books in any order. (That said, we do meet a character here who is the focus of the next book, so once that comes out, those two books will have a link.)

I absolutely loved the set up here with Kit a reluctant shifter stuck in shifted form and forced to try to communicate with Errol. The beginning is pretty intense as Kit’s family is killed and there is a disturbing scene of the hunters burning his family’s bird bodies. But the story then moves to developing the connection between Kit and Errol and I found this part so interesting.

Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.

[Diane Dannenfeldt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though this is part of a series, it can be read as a stand-a-lone. This was heartbreaking. Kit comes home for the holiday's and when he unwillingly goes flying with his family (he hates shifting), they are attacked and killed. The killers were disgusting as they thought it was funny. Kit was seriously injured and by chance ends up with Errol. Errol is a witch who is a vet and his gift is speaking to animals. It quickly becomes apparent to Errol that Kit is a shifter. Kit is also stuck in Eagle form. Errol is able to fix Kit up and starts taking care of him until he can heal enough to shift back to his human self. Once Kit shifts, they come to find out that they are witch/familiar & mates. They both bulk at the idea and it was not an easy path to get these two towards their HEA. During this, we meet Sam, his story is next, and boy is there a story there. He comes to clean up the mess that the disappearance of Kit's family with the local police. We also find out why the family was targeted and the want for revenge from Kit. I would have liked to have had a little more of these two together once they have accepted who they are & who they are to each other.

ARC provided by Gay Romance Reviews in exchange for an honest review.

[Anne Barwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series, and enjoyed Kit and Errol’s story. I love the world building, and that this story is set in Australia. I also liked that Kit and Errol weren’t sure how much of their attraction was magic, and how much was them, so needed to work through that as well as the danger of the hunters.

I liked the idea of a shifter who doesn’t want to shift, and would prefer to be human, and I liked Kit’s journey in embracing who he is, although at a terrible cost. I thought Errol’s power was very cool, although one very easily abused. The way he figures out how to communicate with Kit while he’s stuck in eagle form is very clever. I liked how Errol shows Kit how to calm his thoughts, and the description of how he shields himself from being constantly bombarded. I liked the realistic approach to powers in this series, and that there’s a down side as well. Ditto with the fated mate bond.

I liked the animals in the story, and their personalities, and how they help out Errol when he needs them. I liked Sam as soon as he showed up and figured there was a story behind his comments, so very happy his book is next in the series. The Coven is an interesting organisation, with a ruthless streak in order to keep the paranormal world a secret from humans. The bad guy was a nasty piece of work, and I liked how the animals dealt with the human hunter.

More please.

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not the usual start but a slow progression to a HEA.
Kit Linfield is an eagle shifter that hates his 2nd nature and the pain caused when he infrequently shifts; unlike his family who relish their shifting. Kit loves his human side and wants nothing more than to live as a human. But on that fateful Christmas Eve flight disaster strikes when illegal human hunters destroy his family and severely injure Kit's wing with a through and through bullet wound that almost kills him. Kit is consumed with revenge against the illegal hunters but first he must struggle through the Australian bush to find his much-needed help. He's rescued by a fire fighter who takes him to vet witch Errol Hart who is the shifter version of Dr. Dolittle. Errol feels an unusual connection to this severly injured eagle but can't pinpoint just exactly what the draw is. Kit is so confused and frustrated that he can only converse via typing with his claws and beak on Errol's laptop. And this makes for some funny and lighthearted situations. Only after discovering how their intimate actions turn Kit into Errol's familiar is where the story leads to a bright future for both men. This is the 4th in the Familiar Mates series and one I liked. Setting the story in Australia was a bonus as the surrounding descriptions of the Outback really lent a sense of realism to this story. For the ARC I received I have written an honest review.

[Patricia Hoffstaetter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this beautiful, slow-burn MM shifter romance that has an age-gap between the two main characters (Kit & Errol) who are quite complex individuals & they are surprisingly well-developed with amazing chemistry between them. The storyline flowed smoothly throughout a well-written plot which is set in Australia.
There is: an male eagle shifter (Kit Linfield) who is the sole survivor of his family that was murdered, a vet & male witch (Errol Hart) with a strong affinity to animals, helpful crows, cat shifters, wolf shifters, hunters/villainous villains, illegal hunting, murder, fated mates, bonds, familiars, magic, humour, drama, intrigue, suspense, some action, injuries, confusion, attractions, insecurities, anguish, anger, sadness, complications, danger, threats, conflict, violence, vengeful feelings, compromises, trust, some steam & a happy conclusion with a interesting end. I look forward to future books from this author & would recommend this book.

[Kendra T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this is part of a series, it can most definitely be read as a standalone. There is a character who seems to have a bit of a story, but it is from the upcoming book (that sounds really interesting), not a past book.

Kit is an eagle shifter home for the holidays. When he witnesses his family get murdered, he has to deal with how to move forward. Injured, he is able to come into the care of Errol. Errol was a great character-patient, kind, and supportive. When Kit is able to shift back to human, these guys find that they are better together than apart.

Great story.

I am voluntarily reviewing an ARC provided by Gay Romance Reviews

[Xochitl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book 4 in the series is just amazing! A wonderful twist in the fated mates topic, an amazing new installment on this series that can be read as standalone. The story has a very interesting plot, romance, magic moments, intrigue and danger and a happy ending. However, it also has some angst difficult situations that caused me distress and could be a trigger for some people so you'd need to be careful when reading it. A wonderful entertaining reading!

[Sheryl Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read and voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book. Kit begins with the tragedy of family loss and hunters. While trying to get help he meets Errol. This one is more of a slow burn and build up towards the HEA but an overall great fated mates tale.

[Danielle Gypsy Soul · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. I like this series but I don't love it. This one had a heartbreaking plot but for some reason it just didn't hit me emotionally like it should have. I also didn't understand the motivation for the villains - seemed to be more convenient then well planned out. Still I'll continue the series.

[Carla Gallop · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a heartwarming story. I loved reading it. It had all the feels and the couple was able to get past their hurts and past and come together and have a happy ever after. I look forward to more in this series.

[Valentina Campi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Rebecca Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is full of so much sadness from the very beginning! Poor kit has lost so much and if he cant figure things out he’s bound to lose Errol as well! These men go through so much in such a short time of meeting each other, it’s no wonder they were scared but they took the leap and they are working on their happy ending together! I’ve read this whole entire series so far and I can’t wait to read more!❤️😀

[RACHEL REED · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet paranormal hurt /comfort shifter romance.
I absolutely adored this one.
The characters were likeable and well fleshed out and the writing style was engaging and compelling.

I was hooked onto this from the very first page and absolutely loved this.

If you like a heartfelt paranormal romance with shifters and magic you will enjoy this.

[Bianca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kit and Errol story was an interesting and entertaining experience. It teaches us about acceptance, about what greed and arrogance can to other people, and lastly about justice.
Kit looses all his family in a hunting in which he's badly hurt and ends up being patched up by his mate. Errol is for Kit he's dream come true, but he thinks he doesn't deserves him. Errol retreated as a veterinarian after a failed relationship and is reluctant to being hurt again. He is attracted by Kit, but is afraid of being hurt and abandoned again.
Their relationship is a hard one in which both have their baggage and reluctance and being afraid of not being enough for the other. Even if fate deemed them mates they have to fight and to work to make the relationship worthwhile.
I liked the characters dynamic, the plot, the magic involved and the action and suspense this book provided for us.
I'm really looking forward to see what happens next.

[Dawn Nicole Costiera · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Vet's Christmas Familiar by T.J. Nichols is my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it! It's a tale about a young Eagle shifter Kit and an older witch veterinarian Errol...
I found the plot unique and entertaining! I haven't read many shifter books, so the whole premise was fascinating. Especially since our Vet Errol can speak to animals. That's his magical witch power. How cool is that!? (I would love that gift!)

When a seriously wounded Eagle is brought to his practice, he is confused with not being able to communicate with his feathered patient. Hummmm That's weird??

Our shifter Kit is badly hurt, scared, confused and stuck in his animal form. In this form, he is unable to speak to the vet. He desperately needs to tell him what happened. With patience and determination they find away to communicate.
A whistle, a nod and talon scratch.... It all was so adorable and heartwarming.

Errol is such a wonderful soul. He just wants to help animals and especially Kit. The journey they take is riddled with mystery and danger. What happened to Kit? Errol is determined to find out and do whatever he can to get Kit better and back to being human again. They bonded quicky, while Kit was a helpless bird... That bond carried over and became even stronger when he became human again! Could this be more the a simple bond?
(See why I found it sooo interesting??)
I found them delightful!
Kit's insecurity and inexperience frustrated me at times, but it was understandable. Errol had the patience of a Saint. He was there for Kit every step of the way. Their road to love wasn't easy and I would have liked more of them at the end and even the epilogue. It ended a tad too quicky!

TJ NICHOLS caught my attention! So, I'm looking forward to the next book!!

[Jennifer Reilley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story of a witch/Vet named Errol and a shifter named Kit. When Kit is badly injured he is brought to the Errol to help save him. Errol can talk to the animals as a witch; however the one he can’t hear is Kit.

These two meet during Kits time in duress and they work together to figure out how to protect themselves from the human police and the Coven while feeling a connection.

The premise of the story was a good one. But I really just didn’t feel a connection with the guys I kept looking for more. I did love the way the communicated while Kit was stuck in his eagle form. I love the playfulness of Kit, like stealing bacon and coffee.

[Mer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up because I'm interested in the next book in the series and I wasn't familiar with the author.

This is definitely not a Holiday story. It does happen around Christmastime but I think most people expect a light story from that category, so I think it's misleading. The book is really quite angsty and grim, considering one of the main character's entire family is murdered in the beginning. Plus both MCs have quite a bit of baggage.

Anyways. Even though I felt the whole thing about the murder was written kind of "offhandedly", I quite enjoyed the first half of the book where Kit was in animal form. I liked the connection between him and Errol, how they communicated and formed a bit of a rapport. However, everything fell a bit flat for me after Kit was able to shift back. So much of the story just came off a bit sloppy and felt underdeveloped. Including the world-building and the characters. I didn't really care about Kit or feel for him, and I wasn't feeling the chemistry between him and Errol. It was pretty much all lust and after they figured out the fated mates thing, I felt that that was very much just on the surface. To me there was just hardly anything romantic about the story. Kit was angsting all the time, until the very end, which, understandable since murder, but there was just no character development or anything.

Everything happens in a short period of time and the whole book kind of feels more like a perfunctory, very long prologue except it's a whole book. It definitely could've used a couple more chapters to get more deeply into certain things. In the end everything is wrapped up and resolved quite quickly. I still didn't feel anything more for or between the MCs, that they had anything lasting between them if not for the bond. It all just felt pretty bland.

Also the book could've used a bit more polishing, as there was a lot of missing punctuation and quite a few typos, so that was annoying.

I think I'm still going to read the next book, I was definitely intrigued by the shifter character that popped up here so I just hope I'm going to enjoy that installment way more than this one.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a unique shifter tale.
You have a witch who can actually talk to animals...which makes him a great vet.
You have a young eagle shifter who hates the shifter part of his life...so refuses to do it!
There is a loving family that lives on the edge of a national forest.
There are hunters...hunting illegally.

Then you have the fated mate scenario. And venomous snakes. Crows who are spies. Lots of other animals who come to the aid of the vet and his mate.

I could go on...but I may have said too much already.

Anyway, you'll find yourself pulling for these guys and mourning some characters you don't even meet.

Enjoy. I did!

[Elaine White · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Vet's Christmas Familiar (Familiar Mates, 04) by T.J. Nichols
★★★★☆

190 Pages
3rd person, dual character POV
Themes: shifter, fated mates, magic, family, grief
Triggers: mild violence, death of minor character, grief
Genre: MM, Shifter, Romance, LGBT, PNR

World-Building: ★★★★★
Heat: ★★★☆☆
Chemistry: ★★★★★
Plot: ★★★★☆
Romance: ★★★★★


The Vet's Christmas Familiar is another interesting addition to the series. This time, it takes two characters who are not looking for love, who both have trust issues and uncomfortable relationships with romance, and brings them together in a forced proximity. Different from Rock Star's Familiar, this forced proximity comes about from Kit being severely injured while in animal form.

The dynamic between Errol and Kit was interesting from the very start, because even while stuck in eagle form, Kit was aware of Errol being exactly his type and took advantage to ogle him. Meanwhile, the sexy vet was trying to figure out how to deal with a shifter and stumbled across a picture of human Kit that sparked a hint of lust for the shifter he'd already made an intellectual and emotional connection to. The combination of forming that trust and bond while one was in animal form was great, allowing us to see them as people with problems and a connection before it became romantic. However, once the romance began, the chemistry had that same level of being just right as the other books in the series.

Every could in the Familiar Mates series (so far) begin as strangers who know little about each other beyond the basics. The story is less about finding insta-love HEA, and more about finding a connection, creating a bond and beginning a life together where they still have room to learn and grow and share their lives. For me, that's one of the best parts of this series. The fact every relationship has a slow growth and each situation is set up to encourage them to share more with each other than a random hook-up might.

Here, Errol is a witch who came into his powers young but never knew about magic or being a witch until later in life. As someone who's made mistakes, succumbed to bad (easy?) decisions, he's cautious and reserved about love, bonding and magic. Kit is a reluctant shifter, who doesn't enjoy exchanging his human form for an eagle, and when he loses his family, he loses his purpose in a life that's already begin to sail downhill fast. He's someone who had only ever dabbled in short-term relationships, not wanting to get hurt by judgments for not being good enough. Together, they're both nervous, unsure and careful about bonding with each other, finding it hard to trust and share with each other.

I gave every other book in this series (so far) a 5* review, even when there were some minor editing issues. Why not this one? Well, two reasons. 1) the editing issues were far more prominent and noticeable. Silly things like “there” instead of “there had / there'd” and using an “and” between words instead of “an”, but more prolific and disengaging. 2) I was left with unanswered questions, like... Ellen was never found, and I'm not sure if that was just to leave the possibility that someone had survived or what. What did the brother mean about Errol fetching a high price? What did Kit's father discover about the brother, that made him lash out?

Because of these two issues, I couldn't give it the full 5* despite enjoying the story as equally as the others.

However, it says that Sam – a minor character, here, and a Coven agent – will be the central character of the next book, so I'm hoping he might explore at least one of those unanswered questions in his book. Since this will be the first clear connection between books, I'm intrigued to see how it's handled. I don't include Jude appearing in Book 2, because it was so minor and barely related. We learned so little about Jude in that appearance that was only a page or two long, whereas Sam had quite a large role to play in this story and was on page for a good while.

Despite these two issues, I'll definitely be continuing the series, and I look forward to adding them to my growing paperback collection, where they can sit right next to Nichols' Studies in Demonology. This will be a series that I can dip in and out of, at will, in the future. Written so well as standalones within a shared world, I can either binge the entire series at a later date, or just pick up any of the books when a certain trope takes my fancy. They're all well worth the re-read.

~

Favourite Quotes

“He glanced at Errol, sunlight glinting off his ginger stubble. His jaw was set, and his expression was grim. He looked fierce, like a Viking, and he’d vowed revenge. Not in so many words, but it had been enough to make Kit’s heart take flight even though he was grounded.”

“If he could, he’d fix everything so Kit could smile without the shadows in his eyes. But he was only a vet, and his magic didn’t run to mending broken hearts and healing loss.”

[Sammy Goode · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not only did Kit not enjoy going for a flight with his family, he didn’t enjoy being a shifter at all. His visit home for Christmas meant that he finally had to come clean about the fact that he had flunked out of college and was currently working as a bartender. He hated disappointing his parents especially since they were so supportive of him. But Kit had never felt comfortable being an eagle shifter and because of that, along with his failure at school, this visit home wasn’t going to be a pleasant one. He promised himself he would tell them right after they all went flying but then something horrible happened, something Kit simply could not believe. Within seconds of taking to the air, Kit watched as his entire family was shot down by a pair of hunters. Not only that, but then their bodies were burned so even if they could have survived by shifting back to human form their fate was sealed.

While Kit to was shot in the wing he managed to survive and walk his way out of what had turned into a dangerous forest fire that had begun due to the hunter’s negligence. He was rescued and taken to the nearby vet and that is when things really began to get strange.

Errol loved taking care of the animals that came to his veterinary practice. He had a unique and special bond with them primarily because he was a witch and could actually hear the thoughts of the animals he cared for and worked on. But, despite enjoying his job, he had come to the small town he now lived in to escape a painful divorce and an even more painful realization that his gift had to be carefully managed or it could drive him insane. Too many voices in his head is a dangerous thing.

When the eagle was brought in the first thing that Errol noticed was that he couldn’t hear the bird’s thoughts. Nothing. Dead silence. He soon recognized that he was dealing with a shifter and that it was imperative he keep the bird in his own home while it healed in order to afford it the privacy it needed to shift back to human form. But he never imagined that the young shifter would come to mean more to him than any other person because Kit was his fated mate.

TJ Nichols has released a novel entitled The Vet’s Christmas Familiar. The story is about a pair of fated mates who are bound together and whose tie to each other is strengthened after physical contact. The novel pairs a witch who can speak with and understand animals and an eagle shifter. This is an age gap romance with nearly 14 years difference between Kit and the older Errol. While it does take place during Christmas, it’s not necessarily a feel good Christmas story. This particular book deals with some pretty big emotional issues and loss of loved ones. Plus, I felt there were a few rough edges worth noting.

I am not sure if it is because this novel is one of a series of stories and therefore this is a preset pattern that the author uses in all of these types of stories, but I felt that the transitions from moments of intimacy to the action sequences in this book seemed a bit choppy. These weren’t smooth transitions to me. Instead , the author would quite suddenly take us from lusty moments and thoughts of sex to angry and painful realizations on Kit’s part that his family had been murdered. But it was after these moments that I really appreciated how the author had created the character of Errol who was so gentle and pragmatic, the calm to Kit’s storm. These two ended up balancing each other out and you could really see the age difference in how they handled everything that happened.

Unfortunately the jarring transitions were not the only thing that concerned me. Toward the end of the book the idea is floated that those who murdered Kit’s family did so because his father had discovered something about them and that was their reason for destroying them. We never find out what that was. It was a little piece of the plot dangled before us and then it was dismissed without ever being fleshed out in the story. For me, that was quite bothersome.

I do think the bones of a really good story were present here. I just feel that between the awkward transitions and emotional upheavals as well as that important plot point never being revealed the novel was just a bit rough and felt unfinished.

[Juniper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story takes place during the Christmas season, but it is not a light-hearted or even, Christmas puddings aside, a particularly holiday-themed read. That’s not at all a complaint, but it is a caution. If you are looking for a sparkly, angst-free read, this isn’t that. If you’re looking for a story that’s all about intense feelings-- sorrow, anger, attraction, lust, love, loss, belonging, etc., this book is a good fit for you.

Kit is an eagle shifter who loses his family to hunters while out flying. Badly wounded, he’s taken to Errol’s veterinary practice. Errol isn’t only a vet, he’s also a witch who can talk to animals. A large part of the story centers on Kit’s struggles to heal and shift back to human form, with Errol’s help, and then figuring out what to do next.

I both loved and hated the fact that nothing in this novel is easy-- Kit hates shifting and being a shifter. His animal form is more trial than comfort. He’s used to running from his problems and he needs to learn how to face them head on. *Minor spoiler, pretty much implied in the title, but still* Finding out that he’s Errol’s fated mate doesn’t automatically solve all of his problems either. Instead, it creates some new ones-- there’s great potential, sure, but there’s also a magical bond that pretty much obviates things like taking it slow and getting to know one another. There’s no easy justice or quick resolution for Kit’s murdered family-- the supernatural authority in charge of the situation is focused on concealing the existence of magic, not finding justice. It’s rewarding as well as bittersweet to see Kit pick up the pieces of his life and make choices about who he wants to be, and who he wants to be with. In many ways, this feels like Kit’s coming-of-age story, and it’s nice to see him end up with a partner like Errol, who, despite his own weaknesses and insecurities, is ready to be there for Kit in every conceivable way. They have chemistry. They have a bond. And in the end, they have a future, and I respect that even more because the novel lets us see how hard-won that future really is.

*I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.