What if the thing that goes bump in the night is you?
Gunshots in the dark of night change everything for Mark James. As his lifeblood stains the cold concrete, a sexy stranger with yellow eyes takes Mark from the violent scene of his parents’ death. But that one act tosses Mark into a world he never knew existed—the world of werewolves, vampires, Guardians, and fated mates.
While tracking werewolves who stole from his pack, Alpha Hunter Day not only interrupts a mugging gone wrong, he finds his mate bleeding out in a dank alleyway. Determined not to let the person fate gifted him die, Hunter bites Mark. He not only starts the transformation but also claims Mark, and he does it all without Mark’s consent.
A bitten wolf is never an Alpha, yet Mark is one. Further complicating matters is the lack of control over his hybrid form. It’s just one struggle among many Mark must overcome.
And fate isn’t done with them, either. All paths lead to Mystic Bay and the brother Mark is desperate to reconnect with. But the trip brings not only surprises but a danger no one foresaw
M.A. Church is a true Southern belle who spent many years in the elementary education sector. Now she spends her days lost in fantasy worlds, arguing with hardheaded aliens on far-off planets, herding her numerous shifters, or trying to tempt her country boys away from their fishing poles. It’s a full time job, but hey, someone’s gotta do it!
When not writing, she’s on the back porch tending to the demanding wildlife around the pond in the backyard. The ducks are very outspoken. She’s married to her high school sweetheart, and they have two grown children.
Member of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
After Mark and his parents take a shortcut through an alley they are attacked by beings with yellow eyes. His parents are murdered and Mark himself is bleeding out after a gunshot to the stomach.
When the wolves Hunter is tracking go in an alley Hunter discovers they've murdered two humans and shot another. He's shocked when he realizes the man left barely alive and bleeding out is his mate. The only way he can save Mark is to mate and transform him. The only problem is that Mark knows nothing about werewolves or the paranormal.
I liked both Mark and Hunter, but they didn't have much chemistry together.
My biggest issue with the book is that several points of the story are repeated over and over. If I remember correctly the fact that the wolves Hunter had been tracking had robbed from 2 stores in their town was repeated four, possibly five, times at various points in the book. Also the fact that Hunter had to throw away Marks bloody t-shirt and jeans was repeated several times. There were other instances of that happening with other points in the story too.
I also didn't like that when they talked to each other as wolves that first time. There were no quotes around the comments or italics used to differentiate between what was being said and what actions they were taking and we weren't told or hinted at as to who was saying what so we had to guess. It was extremely confusing.
There were important unanswered questions regarding Bennett, Michael, and Mark. That's a big pet peeve for me when authors don't wrap everything up at the end.
I have the first book, but haven't read it yet and probably won't. I'm curious about Nicholas's story, but not enough to possibly wade through another not-so-great book. So I guess I'm effectively abandoning this series.
The book is in both Mark and Hunter's POV. The angst level is low-medium.
I really hated this. I had to read it for a book challenge but ugh man. I made it to about 50% before I just started skimming. and by skimming I mean power skimming. So glad it's over.
After reading the first book, I really wanted to know what happened to Mark and why he didn't reach out to his brother I liked the story and Hunter and Mark as a team the ending was a bit quick, especially after these events but Ihope that I get more in the third book
In my opinion way better than book one. I liked the MCs more and aside from the amount of repetition I greatly enjoyed reading Mark and Hunter's book. Now, while I only started reading this series cause I needed it for the SH I'm kind of captivated by now by this intriguing group of mystic friends and am going to continue reading this series.
For me the second book was better than the first one but it did have some repeated information. I enjoyed the integration of all the paranormals helping each other in a common goal. Hopefully we will get maybe two more books because Jonas and Nicholas have some issues that need resolving, what's going on with Michael and Mark's blood and Jackson needs to die.
This second book in the Mystic Bay series both advances the series and shows concurrent events from the first book. As the first book focuses on Matthew losing his entire family and trying to search for his brother Mark, this book focuses on what exactly happened to Mark. Since it is evident that Mark survived and yet he did not show up in the first book (in which several months passed) it was clear that the story of this time needed to be told. It did a very good job of telling this story and of explaining why such a close family would stay driven apart for so long.
The second half of the story advances the story of the happenings of Mystic Bay with more going on for this growing group of paranormals. There is the question of who attacked the James family and what will become of them. Then there is the continued concern of the threat of Jackson upon Michael and all those who consider him family. Some issues are resolved but further mysteries are brought up and there is promise of more story for these paranormal residents of Mystic Bay.
There was good progress of both a relationship and the overarching plot in this story. In a away the two are divided as the focus is on building the relationship in the first half, then on figuring out the problems in the second half. While it made sense why this happened (it was to do with figuring out the change as well) it was a bit too bad they felt like such separate halves of a story. Regardless it allowed for good development of these new characters and then excellent meaning with the established characters. Very curious to see where it will all lead to next!
For a guy who’s had some pretty gnarly stuff happen, Mark takes it in stride like a boss (or maybe a one of a kind werewolf).
Maybe supernatural beings don’t get PTSD, maybe Mark is just super chill and in touch with his feelings, able to take each change with maturity and aplomb. Maybe I want him a little scarred and broken, not this guy whose life was upended, and apart from some touch-and-go moments where his animalistic side almost took over, and spends some time wallowing, then launches into a relationship.
Fate is working overtime pulling strings: two human brothers meeting their soulmates, transforming into high-powered supernatural beings themselves one a vampire, one a werewolf.
Almost as good as the first one but not quite as exciting. I liked that we got to find out what happened to Mark, but there was just so much repetition. Probably good for someone reading this as a standalone but too much for someone reading the series in order.
Once again the love interest kind of annoyed me; Hunter was so bad at explaining things to Mark it was almost funny, until it wasn't. Didn't hate him, but he just felt a little bland. I dunno. Still eager to see where things go as they hunt for Jackson! This book wasn't filled with as much action and tension as the first, but it was still enjoyable.
This book was super repetitive. The same story was told three to four times. Instead of just saying something along the lines of "then he told [insert whoever here] how it happened" the author literally put word for word the same story.
The spicy scenes were barely simmering, which is fine in most books. But the MCs in this book are 2 Alpha werewolves. I kind of expected Carolina Reaper levels of spice. Not one telling the other his scent was like mint chocolate. No seriously, that's a thing that happened.
I am very curious about Nicholas so I will read the last book. I just really hope its better than the first two.
That was a really fun and fast moving read. This is the story of Mark, the brother of Michael from the first book. This book covers just about every paranormal creature that exist, including the evil side of paranormals. Mark has broken all kinds of precedence by being a human born alpha werewolf (he was changed with a bite), but he is strangely okay with all the changes in his life. I am pretty sure I would be completely freaked out! We do get to see Mark and Michael reunite and that was fun. I will be reading the last book in the series – I want to see the happy ending for all these guys!
This book is a fantastic continuation of this series of Vampires, Werewolves, Elementals, Guardians, and all things that go bump in the night! Oh, and fated mates! I'm totally addicted to this continuing storyline and I can't wait to see what happens next. Hunter and Mark are a wonderful Alpha/Alpha fated mates couple and in this book we are reunited with all the characters from the first book. More world building and lots of action, plus the heat factor is high 🔥🔥! Highly recommend this series!
I enjoyed reading this book. Mark and his parents are on vacation in Las Vegas. They family is robbed, his parents are killed in front of him and Mark is near fatally injured. Hunter just happens to in pursuit of the guys who kill Mark’s parents. He recognizes Mark as his fated mate and saves him by biting him. Of course this is a lot for Mark to process and he is also a bitten Alpha. Mark has to adjust to his new life before he can reconnect with his brother. But of course there is more. A lot more. I am going to buy the next book in this series.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading book two of this series by M.A. Church. Of course five stars, could not put this book down and kept hoping that book three of this series would be available on the completion of reading Day's Light, book two. I recommend this book and others written by M.A. Church and look forward to the next book in this series.
The second book in M A Church's Mystic Bay series is as enjoyable a read as the first one. This book is centered on Mark James who was with his parents the night they were mugged and killed. Shot and dying, he's rescued by an Alpha werewolf. Hunter Day realizes the dying man is his Fated Mate and turns him. Church's world building continues. This time from the werewolf perspective rather than vampire. Good secondary characters. A quick and engrossing read.
I liked book one of this series but just thought it was ok and honestly wasn’t sure I would bother with book 2 but so glad I did. I loved this one and the two characters really drew me in.
I liked the story progression but I honestly think that it was Mark and Hunter that made this story. While it was a fated mate story they did have to learn about each other and Mark learning how to go through the changes made the story strong.
Would recommend and now I am off to read book 3 ❤️
While I did enjoy the story, it did get a little repetitive. The same story was repeated over and over again. Even for a kind of dark story, it had a fluffy lean to it with the insta-love bond of fated mates, which isn’t much of a problem, but the tone just didn’t fit in places. It went from ultra-dark to lovey-dovey, then back again. I did like the mixing of the different types of paranormal in the world.
I hope there's a lot more to come Of the connection Between the packs and their new friends so far I have read 2 books of the Ceres And I like them both very much I like the fact Just because the brothers are Made it to alphus That They themselves Our strong men
This is the second series I have read by M.A Church and was just as captivated with it as I was the first series. I do sincerely hope the authors publishes another book in this series, since it ended in a cliffhanger. If you enjoy the preternatural then this is a book for you with Werewolves, Vamps, Elementals along with a few others.
This is a really crappy way to wake up after being shot and your parents killed, but I like the twist that he woke up as strong if not slightly stronger than his Alpha mate Mark. It sucks that it kind of splits Mark and his brother's pack, but they've operated as an anomaly for a while, but the bright side is it reunites the other MC with his brother after the loss of their parents.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book...The gathering of the paranormals, Mark and Hunter's evolving love story, trials, tribulations, and love all seemed to enhance this story!!!! Though the alpha battle seemed rushed, I would have loved at least 2 chapters for it, all worked...and now onto the 3rd installment....
I will admit I read the series out of order and now I will have to go back and fix that. Such a great story of Alpha werewolves and fated mates. This author does a great job of world building and she has set up for many other possible stories. Wonderful!
Great characters, strong story line. Interesting new take on some paranormal tropes. Just wish I had read book 1 first! Definitely on to that one next and looking forward to book 3.
This was an awesome second in the series book! Hunter and Mark were a great pair, and I was so happy they made it to Mystic Bay!! A definite must read!!
Book 2 focuses on Mark And Hunter. How Hunter finds Mark shot in an alleyway and saves him. I was hoping that Michael would be able to find Mark and the brothers finally get together. I was kind of hoping that Brax would find his mate also.
Book 2 of the Mystic Bay Series is really good. Great to see Michaels missing brother is ok and found his fated mate. One hell of a show down. Great connection with Mark and Hunter. 5 stars
Talk about a book full of action! We get Mark’s story this time. I absolutely loved the reunion between the brothers and all the feelings, action and love that’s written. M.A. Church is a master of the written word and becoming one of my favorite authors. Highly recommended
This was an excellent second installment in this series. I can't decide which brother I liked more. Hunter was the ever loving and patient mate and I loved how feisty Mark was. This author is killing it with this series. I'm definitely downloading the next book.
2.5 Stars. Here's the thing with the series, I definitely wouldn't be reading it if it weren't for the challenge. The writing is just not for me at all. That being said, the actual story is interesting, I just wish it was written by someone else.