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Breaking Tradition #1
Muscle and Bone
You belong to me and I know it down deep, in muscle and bone, where my wolf lives.
Avery Rhine isn’t an average homicide detective with the Chicago PD. In fact, Avery isn’t an average anything. Sure, as an omega he knows he’s at the bottom of the food chain, but that’s never slowed him down. He’s got a great life, complete with a loving family and a best friend who’d take a bullet for him, so what more could he possibly want or need? Except, maybe, for the world to change. And to find someone to spend more than one night with, but that isn’t high on his list of priorities. He’s never been one to believe in destiny or whatever else the fantasies sell about there being someone special out there meant just for him.
Then a chance encounter at a party changes everything.
Graeme Davenport has no delusions about finding his true mate. The consensus is that if an alpha doesn’t find their other half by the time they’re thirty, the chances of it ever happening go from slim to none. He’s not a mere alpha, though; Graeme is a cyne who sits at the pinnacle of lupine hierarchy, so he’s obligated by tradition and duty to choose an omega now, sign a contract, and bond with him. Love is not part of the equation.
When Graeme and Avery meet, their fierce attraction to each other flies in the face of reason and logic. Avery’s intense physical reaction to the alpha is something he’s never experienced before, while Graeme, who has always been the soul of discretion, loses all his inhibitions to desire for the man he wants to possess. They are two very different men trying to navigate expectations, separate reason from innate primal drive, and do it while working together to solve a murder.
It will take everything they are to find a middle ground, and to learn to trust in a fated kind of love.
338 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 30, 2021
358 people are currently reading
965 people want to read
About the author
Mary Calmes
125 books5,018 followersMary Calmes believes in romance, happily ever afters, and the faith it takes for her characters to get there. She bleeds coffee, thinks chocolate should be its own food group, and currently lives in Kentucky with a six-pound furry ninja that protects her from baby birds, spiders and the neighbor’s dogs. To stay up to date on her ponderings and pandemonium (as well as the adventures of the ninja) follow her on Twitter @MaryCalmes, connect with her on Facebook, and subscribe to her Mary’s Mob newsletter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 402 reviews
April 15, 2021
First, the good. I like Avery more than all of the other Jory 2.0 characters in her recent books, BUT he is still another Jory character, plain as day. The character that I actually enjoyed the most in this book is Linden, because he is the opposite of what Calmes usually writes: he is selfish, pretty but petty, and there is more to him than his shallowness, all of which makes him a more well-rounded character versus the standard Jory Mary-Stu characters that Calmes is so fond of. I want to read more about Linden please.
Despite the interesting summary description of the book, this book is typical Mary Calmes fare where you are overwhelmed with innumerable amounts of characters and exposition dump. The dialogue and decisions made by the characters are so forced and cringey, all for the sole purpose of moving the plot along, and even though this book is set in modern Chicago, the way the characters speak as if they were from the Regency period is very jarring to me.
I wish that MC would step out of her comfort zone of writing perfect characters and writing more actually flawed characters as her protagonists, and that in turn would help the actual writing not be so predictable and dumb.
edit: changed England to Chicago - my bad!
Despite the interesting summary description of the book, this book is typical Mary Calmes fare where you are overwhelmed with innumerable amounts of characters and exposition dump. The dialogue and decisions made by the characters are so forced and cringey, all for the sole purpose of moving the plot along, and even though this book is set in modern Chicago, the way the characters speak as if they were from the Regency period is very jarring to me.
I wish that MC would step out of her comfort zone of writing perfect characters and writing more actually flawed characters as her protagonists, and that in turn would help the actual writing not be so predictable and dumb.
edit: changed England to Chicago - my bad!
December 23, 2022
3.5 Stars
Told in dual POV, 1st person, it’s the first installment in the "Breaking Tradition" series and can be read as a standalone. It has Mary Calmes MO and it’s OTT but I didn’t mind. I liked their sense of humor and I liked both MCs. I liked Graeme’s patience, waiting for Avery to find out about his true feelings and I liked Avery’s personality and the way he was grown up. My only problem was that I think the author could have done better with Graeme’s background. And I wish it was a bit more angsty. All in all, I had fun reading it and hope you enjoy it as well!
Told in dual POV, 1st person, it’s the first installment in the "Breaking Tradition" series and can be read as a standalone. It has Mary Calmes MO and it’s OTT but I didn’t mind. I liked their sense of humor and I liked both MCs. I liked Graeme’s patience, waiting for Avery to find out about his true feelings and I liked Avery’s personality and the way he was grown up. My only problem was that I think the author could have done better with Graeme’s background. And I wish it was a bit more angsty. All in all, I had fun reading it and hope you enjoy it as well!
May 30, 2021
DNF
Time of death...70%
Even Greg B couldn't make me finish this.
I think if I had read this before...like when I first started reading MM, I would've ate it up. But now I'm looking at plot developemnt and pacing and character development/likability/uniqueness...
And I've found all of them lacking.
Also, I don't think I can read another Jory/Sam pairing anymore.
I'm sorry Mary..
I love your work, but this didn't work out for me at all.
2 startsbfor the story
1 star solely for Greg's narration which made me listen to this point. If it werent for him, I would've put this down waaaay sooner.
Time of death...70%
Even Greg B couldn't make me finish this.
I think if I had read this before...like when I first started reading MM, I would've ate it up. But now I'm looking at plot developemnt and pacing and character development/likability/uniqueness...
And I've found all of them lacking.
Also, I don't think I can read another Jory/Sam pairing anymore.
I'm sorry Mary..
I love your work, but this didn't work out for me at all.
2 startsbfor the story
1 star solely for Greg's narration which made me listen to this point. If it werent for him, I would've put this down waaaay sooner.
April 30, 2022
Muscle and Bone by Mary Calmes
1st book in the Breaking Tradition series. Paranormal M-M romance.
Graeme and Avery have an immediate and overwhelming attention to each other. Avery is an Omega wolf and a Chicago police detective. He doesn’t act like an Omega and Graeme must change his expectations on what a mating looks like.
I love humor in a romance and this one hit all the right notes for me. More, their attraction and love for each other is explosively sweet and hot. I definitely want to read more of this series. An omega that was brought up to act like an alpha is a twist that made this fun and confident.
1st book in the Breaking Tradition series. Paranormal M-M romance.
Graeme and Avery have an immediate and overwhelming attention to each other. Avery is an Omega wolf and a Chicago police detective. He doesn’t act like an Omega and Graeme must change his expectations on what a mating looks like.
I love humor in a romance and this one hit all the right notes for me. More, their attraction and love for each other is explosively sweet and hot. I definitely want to read more of this series. An omega that was brought up to act like an alpha is a twist that made this fun and confident.
June 27, 2022
4 Stars
That time Mary Calmes wrote omegaverse… what a time to be alive!
If you’ve read a Calmes book before, you can imagine, pretty vividly I’m sure, all the character archetypes and delicious tropes and detailed original world-building that she created here in this omegaverse romance.
Like with her Change of Heart series (about shifters) or her House of Maedoc series (about vampyrs), among many other PNR series she’s written, Calmes throws herself effortlessly into reimagining an omegaverse that is highly original and completely on brand for her.
The story is full of possessive, growly alphas and sweet, strong-willed omegas, but it also follows through with its series title, Breaking Traditions, and flips the script, as it were, on what constitutes an omega. I liked the different take on what makes an omega tick, and I particularly enjoyed how this affected the relationship dynamic between unorthodox cop omega, Avery, and his unexpected alpha mate, Graeme.
As is probable in a Calmes romance, the passion, possessiveness, and all-around fiery need between her MCs is palpable and addictive. Also probable is the insta-lust/insta-love vibe, which I’m always here for when Calmes is at the helm, as she delivers such strong chemistry and sense of urgency between her characters, that I can’t help be swept up in the runaway train that usually involves—and most certainly does in this instance—a relationship progression that goes from lust-at-first-sight (or smell, in this case), to full-tilt, move-in-and-live-with-me-forever love, which all plays out in a handful of days.
I largely enjoyed Avery and Graeme’s fast-paced romance, made all the more immersive with a full cast of characters and a whodunnit murder-mystery side plot. I’ve stopped trying to keep track of Calmes’ convoluted cast from book to book, always feeling there are 10 too many people whose names, let alone motives, are hard to keep track of, but I always enjoy the fanciful and elaborate mystery arcs she weaves into many of her stories, so I’ll take the good with the bad.
For the most part, Muscle and Bone was a fun and moreish read. I enjoyed this new spin on the omegaverse universe and I’ll definitely be back for the sequel (Mist and Marrow), which follows Avery’s oldest friend and fellow omega, Linden, and Avery’s badass, human partner, Wade, who began to form a bond here that I look forward to exploring.
That time Mary Calmes wrote omegaverse… what a time to be alive!
If you’ve read a Calmes book before, you can imagine, pretty vividly I’m sure, all the character archetypes and delicious tropes and detailed original world-building that she created here in this omegaverse romance.
Like with her Change of Heart series (about shifters) or her House of Maedoc series (about vampyrs), among many other PNR series she’s written, Calmes throws herself effortlessly into reimagining an omegaverse that is highly original and completely on brand for her.
The story is full of possessive, growly alphas and sweet, strong-willed omegas, but it also follows through with its series title, Breaking Traditions, and flips the script, as it were, on what constitutes an omega. I liked the different take on what makes an omega tick, and I particularly enjoyed how this affected the relationship dynamic between unorthodox cop omega, Avery, and his unexpected alpha mate, Graeme.
As is probable in a Calmes romance, the passion, possessiveness, and all-around fiery need between her MCs is palpable and addictive. Also probable is the insta-lust/insta-love vibe, which I’m always here for when Calmes is at the helm, as she delivers such strong chemistry and sense of urgency between her characters, that I can’t help be swept up in the runaway train that usually involves—and most certainly does in this instance—a relationship progression that goes from lust-at-first-sight (or smell, in this case), to full-tilt, move-in-and-live-with-me-forever love, which all plays out in a handful of days.
I largely enjoyed Avery and Graeme’s fast-paced romance, made all the more immersive with a full cast of characters and a whodunnit murder-mystery side plot. I’ve stopped trying to keep track of Calmes’ convoluted cast from book to book, always feeling there are 10 too many people whose names, let alone motives, are hard to keep track of, but I always enjoy the fanciful and elaborate mystery arcs she weaves into many of her stories, so I’ll take the good with the bad.
For the most part, Muscle and Bone was a fun and moreish read. I enjoyed this new spin on the omegaverse universe and I’ll definitely be back for the sequel (Mist and Marrow), which follows Avery’s oldest friend and fellow omega, Linden, and Avery’s badass, human partner, Wade, who began to form a bond here that I look forward to exploring.
March 31, 2021
So happy, I love Mary Calmes's characters!
Muscle and Bone delivers as a paranormal MM romance.
As always, Calmes world building is on point, subtle, and woven into the story seamlessly. Every character, main and secondary, has so much depth.
And of course, she does such an excellent representation of an 'alpha' male without it being some cardboard figure, but rather a complex mix of dominating and vulnerable. This will sound like an odd comparison, but only one other author I can think of creates this particular kind of 'alpha' characters effectively, and that's Nora Roberts.... so it goes without saying, I loved this story.
My only complaint was that it was over too soon. There are so many potential storylines to follow and so much more to find out about the world she built and the character's future. I hope she revisits this couple; I would relish a series with the same protagonist or even following some of the other secondary characters.
Definitely recommend it for lovers of all things shifters, detectives, alpha males, and true-mates.
There is nothing more fulfilling to me than when I find the kind of romance that ticks all my 'requirement boxes' so beautifully. That's not to say it a perfect piece of writing, but it has so much heart, and the characters draw you in and make you fall in love with them. At the end of the day, that's all I look for, and Calmes's idea of romance is my idea of romance. All the hearts. 5 Stars.
Muscle and Bone delivers as a paranormal MM romance.
As always, Calmes world building is on point, subtle, and woven into the story seamlessly. Every character, main and secondary, has so much depth.
And of course, she does such an excellent representation of an 'alpha' male without it being some cardboard figure, but rather a complex mix of dominating and vulnerable. This will sound like an odd comparison, but only one other author I can think of creates this particular kind of 'alpha' characters effectively, and that's Nora Roberts.... so it goes without saying, I loved this story.
My only complaint was that it was over too soon. There are so many potential storylines to follow and so much more to find out about the world she built and the character's future. I hope she revisits this couple; I would relish a series with the same protagonist or even following some of the other secondary characters.
Definitely recommend it for lovers of all things shifters, detectives, alpha males, and true-mates.
There is nothing more fulfilling to me than when I find the kind of romance that ticks all my 'requirement boxes' so beautifully. That's not to say it a perfect piece of writing, but it has so much heart, and the characters draw you in and make you fall in love with them. At the end of the day, that's all I look for, and Calmes's idea of romance is my idea of romance. All the hearts. 5 Stars.
April 1, 2021
A new series?
With 'Muscle and Bone' I'm remaining hopeful this is just the start of a possible new series in the same kind of fated-mates vein as Calmes 'Change of Heart' series (which I adore), except instead of werepanthers these are wolves. I'm a tried and true sucker for true mates stories and this is no exception.
I loved that we get dual POVs, and my only niggle is there are a few instances where scenes from Avery's POV are left mostly off page that I personally would have loved to read as they happened and not found bits out afterwards from Graeme's POV.
Dual POV, a/b/o, wolf shifter, fated mates romance with humor, lots of heat, and a HEA.
Also, for those who I know care...no knotting or mpreg. 🤷♀️
With 'Muscle and Bone' I'm remaining hopeful this is just the start of a possible new series in the same kind of fated-mates vein as Calmes 'Change of Heart' series (which I adore), except instead of werepanthers these are wolves. I'm a tried and true sucker for true mates stories and this is no exception.
I loved that we get dual POVs, and my only niggle is there are a few instances where scenes from Avery's POV are left mostly off page that I personally would have loved to read as they happened and not found bits out afterwards from Graeme's POV.
Dual POV, a/b/o, wolf shifter, fated mates romance with humor, lots of heat, and a HEA.
Also, for those who I know care...no knotting or mpreg. 🤷♀️
February 22, 2023
When I've loved an author's past work, I feel guilty writing a negative review of a new book. But... I've tried repeatedly to fall in love with the author's recent works but have just been unable to connect to any of them.
This one was no different except I did manage to finish it. But for me it was a mess of good ideas, bad ideas, and poor execution. Too many inconsistencies to rehash. And I must admit I absolute detested the shifter culture and the author's attempt to pound it into the reader's brain. The switching from view point to view point was so confusing. And there was the obvious, latest Jory iteration. I love the guy but I wish the author would create more flawed characters and less of her cookie-cutter Jorys.
Enough said. I am, again, terribly disappointed.
(Very slightly edited.)
This one was no different except I did manage to finish it. But for me it was a mess of good ideas, bad ideas, and poor execution. Too many inconsistencies to rehash. And I must admit I absolute detested the shifter culture and the author's attempt to pound it into the reader's brain. The switching from view point to view point was so confusing. And there was the obvious, latest Jory iteration. I love the guy but I wish the author would create more flawed characters and less of her cookie-cutter Jorys.
Enough said. I am, again, terribly disappointed.
(Very slightly edited.)
April 6, 2021
Typical Mary Calmes story. MC1 - possessive yet understanding alpha. MC2 - unorthodox perfect without trying omega. Time frame of the story - about a week with first 2 days being the main story time. Case - slightly convoluted with interesting twist. World building - sadly lacking. (The alpha has British roots, most of the terminology is borrowed from Norse mythology with the exclusion of one phrase which is in French??? Sticking with one origin would have been better - British, Norse or French). Steam level 3.8 out of 5. A lot of convenience, a bit of eye-rolling moments and dialogues, and some cliches made it less for me. Do not get me wrong, the story was cute and I finished it. I just wish that this time the author would think outside the box instead following the sure familiar path.
April 5, 2021
I have problems with the whole ABO universe concept but sometimes I enjoy it, so I gave this book a go. It was okay, I actually would give it around 3 points but some of the internal inconsistencies have bumped the book down to 2 points.
Avery is an omega but not like the other omegas, no he is a detective who solves murders and a badass who does what he wants. Except, when the story finds it convenient that he has to follow the nature of an omega and just submits to Graeme, the super alpha.
Graeme is not just an alpha, he is even stronger 🙄. He also does not want a weak omega but his status forces him to bond with one. Normally omegas don't have fated mates but, of course, these two are meant for each other.
I do not have time to flesh out all the inconsistencies in this book, like Avery's mother first insisting that Avery is not like the other omegas and they will not sign his contract without him but then immediately sign away their son (Omegas have more or less no rights).
I could have lived with the inconsistent behaviour of all the major characters if there was not this one scene that pissed me off big time. The scene is later in the book but not important for the plot (which makes it even worse! Why is that scene there?) so I don't think I need a spoiler. But still, this is later in the book so it could give a bit away. Be warned.
Avery, Graeme, and Wade (Avery's human detective partner) are going to a party in which omegas are going to have sex with alphas which puts them in heat and results in a (consensual) gang rape. These parties are illegal and omegas who have sex with alphas on these parties will probably also be social outcasts because this is not what 'good' omegas should do.
Wade is appalled by what goes on in these parties and is wondering if the omegas are safe there. That is a complete normal reaction but Graeme is lecturing him that these parties have been going on for a long time and are culturally accepted. And anyway, all of this is the omegas choice so there is no reason to worry.
(Graeme) "I understand the source of your concern now. You're worried that scene might devolve into something..."
"Like rape, or a gang rape," Wade croaked out. "I'm thinking about, what if the omegas want to stop and no one will listen, and I don't see how I can leave, knowing I could prevent something like that from happening."
(...)
"Then let me ease your mind and tell you that by lupine law, the alpha who agreed to throw the sampling party is personally responsible for the safety of every single one of those omegas. He may take on the fun of putting them into heat, but he'll pay with his life if anything nonconsensual were to occour"
This then somehow eases Wade's mind and everything is fine. It does not ease my mind and nothing is fine here. It was stated before that these parties are illegal and like a last-ditch effort of omegas to find a partner but this is not something that a respectable omega would do. This already makes it much less likely that anything would be reported because then an omega would probably become an outcast. And the alpha who organised the party has a lot of incentives to shut up the omega who wants to report a rape. Which would also deter any omega to report a noncensensual activity. This is not easing my mind. There is also an undertone of possible victim-blaming because they put themselves into the situation and the poor alphas cannot stop themselves because of the pheromones 😑.
This scene is also used to make Graeme more sympathetic by stating that he actually fights for more rights for omegas. Even though this was never mentioned before and when he tries to find Avery again after their first encounter he explicitly states that he is happy that he will actually own Avery and can make all the decisions for him. YAY, what a great guy! Also, later it is shown that he actually does not know much about omegas so I guess the fight for rights is not that high on his agenda.
The ending was a little bit disappointing and again the inconsistencies were problematic. I did like Linden and Wade so I hope any second book will have more of them in it.
Avery is an omega but not like the other omegas, no he is a detective who solves murders and a badass who does what he wants. Except, when the story finds it convenient that he has to follow the nature of an omega and just submits to Graeme, the super alpha.
Graeme is not just an alpha, he is even stronger 🙄. He also does not want a weak omega but his status forces him to bond with one. Normally omegas don't have fated mates but, of course, these two are meant for each other.
I do not have time to flesh out all the inconsistencies in this book, like Avery's mother first insisting that Avery is not like the other omegas and they will not sign his contract without him but then immediately sign away their son (Omegas have more or less no rights).
I could have lived with the inconsistent behaviour of all the major characters if there was not this one scene that pissed me off big time. The scene is later in the book but not important for the plot (which makes it even worse! Why is that scene there?) so I don't think I need a spoiler. But still, this is later in the book so it could give a bit away. Be warned.
Avery, Graeme, and Wade (Avery's human detective partner) are going to a party in which omegas are going to have sex with alphas which puts them in heat and results in a (consensual) gang rape. These parties are illegal and omegas who have sex with alphas on these parties will probably also be social outcasts because this is not what 'good' omegas should do.
Wade is appalled by what goes on in these parties and is wondering if the omegas are safe there. That is a complete normal reaction but Graeme is lecturing him that these parties have been going on for a long time and are culturally accepted. And anyway, all of this is the omegas choice so there is no reason to worry.
(Graeme) "I understand the source of your concern now. You're worried that scene might devolve into something..."
"Like rape, or a gang rape," Wade croaked out. "I'm thinking about, what if the omegas want to stop and no one will listen, and I don't see how I can leave, knowing I could prevent something like that from happening."
(...)
"Then let me ease your mind and tell you that by lupine law, the alpha who agreed to throw the sampling party is personally responsible for the safety of every single one of those omegas. He may take on the fun of putting them into heat, but he'll pay with his life if anything nonconsensual were to occour"
This then somehow eases Wade's mind and everything is fine. It does not ease my mind and nothing is fine here. It was stated before that these parties are illegal and like a last-ditch effort of omegas to find a partner but this is not something that a respectable omega would do. This already makes it much less likely that anything would be reported because then an omega would probably become an outcast. And the alpha who organised the party has a lot of incentives to shut up the omega who wants to report a rape. Which would also deter any omega to report a noncensensual activity. This is not easing my mind. There is also an undertone of possible victim-blaming because they put themselves into the situation and the poor alphas cannot stop themselves because of the pheromones 😑.
This scene is also used to make Graeme more sympathetic by stating that he actually fights for more rights for omegas. Even though this was never mentioned before and when he tries to find Avery again after their first encounter he explicitly states that he is happy that he will actually own Avery and can make all the decisions for him. YAY, what a great guy! Also, later it is shown that he actually does not know much about omegas so I guess the fight for rights is not that high on his agenda.
The ending was a little bit disappointing and again the inconsistencies were problematic. I did like Linden and Wade so I hope any second book will have more of them in it.
August 22, 2023
Reread/Relisten #2: August 2023
Still enjoyed it just as much as the second time i've read this! now it is time to read about Linden and Wade!!
Reread/relisten #1:July 2022
Updated rating: 4 stars
I enjoyed this way more the second time. I am gearing up to read book two so it was good to listen to this book again. Greg Boudreaux is amazing.
I do find that I can let instalove go if it is a paranormal romance. And this was the definition of instalove, I think they met and decided to be mates in less than a day…haha typical shifter romance 😂😂
Now on to Linden and Wades book, interested to see how that is since Wade is a womenizer (plus the audio book just came out with Nick J Russo narrating!!)
3-3.5 stars: May 2021
I felt like even though this was very rushed with how the relationship started it didn’t feel that way when reading.
Also I wish we had more with the mystery of the murders, I felt like that was more on the back burner and could have been really good if done better.
Overall I enjoyed the book, Greg Boudreaux narrated this so that added more to the story for me than if I just read it myself.
Still enjoyed it just as much as the second time i've read this! now it is time to read about Linden and Wade!!
Reread/relisten #1:July 2022
Updated rating: 4 stars
I enjoyed this way more the second time. I am gearing up to read book two so it was good to listen to this book again. Greg Boudreaux is amazing.
I do find that I can let instalove go if it is a paranormal romance. And this was the definition of instalove, I think they met and decided to be mates in less than a day…haha typical shifter romance 😂😂
Now on to Linden and Wades book, interested to see how that is since Wade is a womenizer (plus the audio book just came out with Nick J Russo narrating!!)
3-3.5 stars: May 2021
I felt like even though this was very rushed with how the relationship started it didn’t feel that way when reading.
Also I wish we had more with the mystery of the murders, I felt like that was more on the back burner and could have been really good if done better.
Overall I enjoyed the book, Greg Boudreaux narrated this so that added more to the story for me than if I just read it myself.
October 17, 2022
It's a romance... a werewolf romance. Something a bit different than Mary Calmes usually writes. Sure, she does cops, and she does romance but these are werewolf cops and a lot more than "puppy love". The author has structured this perfect, almost believable, werewolf and human world. I have loved Mary Calmes ever since I read Frog about 8 years ago. You always know what you are going to get with her...a story with wonderful characters, a lot of excitement and with almost more love than the pages can barely contain. In a nutshell, Graeme is an extremely high-ranking alpha who would love to meet his mate but has more or less given up, thinking it’s not going to happen. At a gathering held where alpha’s go to find omegas to bond with when not finding their mate, he first encounters Avery. Avery is his true mate whose family is hosting this event. Avery is an omega like no other as his loving parents raised him to be strong, resourceful and independent. He’s a police detective and loves his job so when he meets Graeme he’s unsure what to do. He really wants to see him again, but he has no intentions of giving up his job and independence. Their delightful romance was interspersed with a murder mystery that had to be solved before Graeme can begin to plan a life with any mate. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, like all of Mary Calmes books, A very well written shifter romance with a dash of mystery and a wolf Shaifer that actually owns a cat. I bet just like fully humans...the cat owned him:)
April 11, 2021
I forgot how much I enjoyed Mary Calmes' books!
This was set in a hierarchical world where the lupine society is basically stuck in the past with regards to omega rights. These rights are virtually nonexistent and omegas are essentially seen as commodities to be bought and sold.
In comes Avery who is as far from the "typical'" omega in this world as one could possibly get. Coupled with the fact that he is a homicide detective, this moved the story from "hmm this is different" to "I can't get enough of this". His mate Graeme, was nothing to scoff at either and I enjoyed his bond with Avery so much.
Due to our MCs being mates, their connection was instant and a bit "inta-lovey" in nature but it made sense given the world it is set in. It didn't bother me and I rolled with it.
The murder/mystery/investigation aspect of the book was also very well handled and let me tell you now, you will NOT be able to guess the real bad guys... I clutched my pearls for real .. Lol!
The only thing that really could've been better was how the world building was done. As some point, all we were getting was info dump upon info dump. It did get better as we got further into the book but I wish it was more "show" and less "tell".
Nonetheless, this book was highly enjoyable and I couldn't stop once I'd started. I am more than ready for the next book!
This was set in a hierarchical world where the lupine society is basically stuck in the past with regards to omega rights. These rights are virtually nonexistent and omegas are essentially seen as commodities to be bought and sold.
In comes Avery who is as far from the "typical'" omega in this world as one could possibly get. Coupled with the fact that he is a homicide detective, this moved the story from "hmm this is different" to "I can't get enough of this". His mate Graeme, was nothing to scoff at either and I enjoyed his bond with Avery so much.
Due to our MCs being mates, their connection was instant and a bit "inta-lovey" in nature but it made sense given the world it is set in. It didn't bother me and I rolled with it.
The murder/mystery/investigation aspect of the book was also very well handled and let me tell you now, you will NOT be able to guess the real bad guys... I clutched my pearls for real .. Lol!
The only thing that really could've been better was how the world building was done. As some point, all we were getting was info dump upon info dump. It did get better as we got further into the book but I wish it was more "show" and less "tell".
Nonetheless, this book was highly enjoyable and I couldn't stop once I'd started. I am more than ready for the next book!
April 2, 2021
3.5
Not the easiest to rate. As always the world Mary Calmes creates in her paranormal books is unique and deeply rooted in some feudal system and her characters seem to be customized for such a system. Unfortunately it takes some time to explain that world and it doesn't really help that she always creates new job titles and wording for the organization of that system. Nothing different here in a world with werewolves who are not called shifter but lupines and who persist in a rigid caste system. There are some biological reasons but over time it got a life of its own and results in a problematic injustice.
I'm all for world building but if it's more complex I need more time to experience the world while here I mostly get it explained and described and not exactly congruent but as so often with Calmes her special kind of craziness shone through all of it and despite grumbling along I didn't want to stop reading and after she decided that she could tone down all those explanations and let her characters take over and dive into all those larger than life emotions I was were I want to be when opening a Calmes book.
Not the easiest to rate. As always the world Mary Calmes creates in her paranormal books is unique and deeply rooted in some feudal system and her characters seem to be customized for such a system. Unfortunately it takes some time to explain that world and it doesn't really help that she always creates new job titles and wording for the organization of that system. Nothing different here in a world with werewolves who are not called shifter but lupines and who persist in a rigid caste system. There are some biological reasons but over time it got a life of its own and results in a problematic injustice.
I'm all for world building but if it's more complex I need more time to experience the world while here I mostly get it explained and described and not exactly congruent but as so often with Calmes her special kind of craziness shone through all of it and despite grumbling along I didn't want to stop reading and after she decided that she could tone down all those explanations and let her characters take over and dive into all those larger than life emotions I was were I want to be when opening a Calmes book.
July 12, 2021
I loved this book. I loved Avery and Graeme. Many people have compared them to Jory and Sam. It’s funny to me because I didn’t like that book at all. Oh, well, we like what we like.
I did listen to this as an audiobook and Greg Boudreaux was fantastic.
I did listen to this as an audiobook and Greg Boudreaux was fantastic.
Read
April 9, 2021DNF @39%
Just not feeling this one. Maybe I'll come back to it but I'm already bored and finding it repetitive. Not rating. 😕
Just not feeling this one. Maybe I'll come back to it but I'm already bored and finding it repetitive. Not rating. 😕
June 1, 2021
Right, I’m just going to say it, this book was fucking awful.
Let’s start with the summary. Not accurate. Well misleading is perhaps the way to go. There’s an implication there that the coming together of these two worlds is a struggle that flying in the face of everything Avery believes takes more than half a chapter. It does not. Avery is wrong about exactly one thing only he’s not as it pertains to him so speaking only from personal experience not wrong at all. There’s no struggle to combine lives, it’s all just “he’s my omega and I must have him so I will give him everything” and then that’s it.
Seriously. No struggles here.
Now let’s talk about the plot. There’s a crime. It’s not important or significant in any real way because more than half the players involved are people we don’t know about and therefore can’t attach feelings to. Politically speaking, it is supposed to highlight the numerous flaws in the antiquated A//B/G/O system but it did not manage to do what hadn’t already been shoved down my throat by common sense. And a lot of info dumping.
So much fucking info dumping.
Do you know what this book is? It is a guide to the Omegaverse. Well one interpretation of it. I spent more time being told things and having them explained to me in giant boring chunks of text that left a single character just standing around (literally. At one point Avery is stood in front of the fireplace slowly going into hypoglycaemic shock while his alpha (cannot remember his name) talked to his brother about all the changes Avery had made in about 20 minutes of being awake in the household) like ornaments while this is happening. It’s awkward and uncomfortable and I literally paged back four pages to find out if Avery had left the room because he had not contributed to an entire (lengthy, so fucking lengthy) conversation about him while he was in the room. And that scene wasn’t even supposed to highlight the background pretty and decorative nature of omegas, the whole book is like that. Avery gets sidelined for an explanation Wade needs more than once.
Which I suppose should bring us to the characters.
Avery. I should have liked him. He was a homicide detective and one who didn’t live by the normal omega rules. He was tedious though. One of those “I am not my wolf” characters who spends so much time issuing his wolf knowledge and instincts and flips his story in a single scene. One. And it’s not even a powerful scene. It was sex. Which was boring for me because I felt no emotion attached to it.
Everything happens so fast. This isn’t just insta lust which I could deal with but the insta love in this is ridiculous. I get it, you’re mates, but you’ve just spent most of the summary telling me you don’t believe in them (Avery - also a lie because he believes in true mates and true love but is unaware that as an omega he can have one).
But he does have one in our Alpha (still can’t remember his name!) who is a giant kitten and rolls over for omega the moment he drops to his knees to suck his cock in the laundry.
There are other characters. Like Wade, Avery’s cop partner who is either closeted gay or did not even know he was bi/gay until he met the right guy. I’m okay with that in some cases. This was not one of them.
I just hated this book so much because of all the wasted potential. So much wasted potential.
Let’s start with the summary. Not accurate. Well misleading is perhaps the way to go. There’s an implication there that the coming together of these two worlds is a struggle that flying in the face of everything Avery believes takes more than half a chapter. It does not. Avery is wrong about exactly one thing only he’s not as it pertains to him so speaking only from personal experience not wrong at all. There’s no struggle to combine lives, it’s all just “he’s my omega and I must have him so I will give him everything” and then that’s it.
Seriously. No struggles here.
Now let’s talk about the plot. There’s a crime. It’s not important or significant in any real way because more than half the players involved are people we don’t know about and therefore can’t attach feelings to. Politically speaking, it is supposed to highlight the numerous flaws in the antiquated A//B/G/O system but it did not manage to do what hadn’t already been shoved down my throat by common sense. And a lot of info dumping.
So much fucking info dumping.
Do you know what this book is? It is a guide to the Omegaverse. Well one interpretation of it. I spent more time being told things and having them explained to me in giant boring chunks of text that left a single character just standing around (literally. At one point Avery is stood in front of the fireplace slowly going into hypoglycaemic shock while his alpha (cannot remember his name) talked to his brother about all the changes Avery had made in about 20 minutes of being awake in the household) like ornaments while this is happening. It’s awkward and uncomfortable and I literally paged back four pages to find out if Avery had left the room because he had not contributed to an entire (lengthy, so fucking lengthy) conversation about him while he was in the room. And that scene wasn’t even supposed to highlight the background pretty and decorative nature of omegas, the whole book is like that. Avery gets sidelined for an explanation Wade needs more than once.
Which I suppose should bring us to the characters.
Avery. I should have liked him. He was a homicide detective and one who didn’t live by the normal omega rules. He was tedious though. One of those “I am not my wolf” characters who spends so much time issuing his wolf knowledge and instincts and flips his story in a single scene. One. And it’s not even a powerful scene. It was sex. Which was boring for me because I felt no emotion attached to it.
Everything happens so fast. This isn’t just insta lust which I could deal with but the insta love in this is ridiculous. I get it, you’re mates, but you’ve just spent most of the summary telling me you don’t believe in them (Avery - also a lie because he believes in true mates and true love but is unaware that as an omega he can have one).
But he does have one in our Alpha (still can’t remember his name!) who is a giant kitten and rolls over for omega the moment he drops to his knees to suck his cock in the laundry.
There are other characters. Like Wade, Avery’s cop partner who is either closeted gay or did not even know he was bi/gay until he met the right guy. I’m okay with that in some cases. This was not one of them.
I just hated this book so much because of all the wasted potential. So much wasted potential.
January 18, 2022
It's difficult to decide right away what to say even!
Wow, just wow! What a mix! I hope we'll see more! I enjoyd my read immensely! Exciting! Hot! Beautiful and rich telling. It was such a thrill to read it. The beginning was more of an introductory part where we met all kinds of characters and of course the main characters Avery and Graeme and the framework and the start of their romance. The framework is very rich in all aspects. Very well described, interesting. The characters vivid and full of life and personality. The two find each other and ... Then it was revealed that this was something more than basic shifter romance. The story, it just took and evolved so that I was so surprised and overjoyed. It was a real suspense and action story. It turned into murder mystery. Very exciting.
Wow! This was ... just so --- yes, I loved! Not a moment bored! Read at one sitting!
What a whirlwind romance!
Wow, just wow! What a mix! I hope we'll see more! I enjoyd my read immensely! Exciting! Hot! Beautiful and rich telling. It was such a thrill to read it. The beginning was more of an introductory part where we met all kinds of characters and of course the main characters Avery and Graeme and the framework and the start of their romance. The framework is very rich in all aspects. Very well described, interesting. The characters vivid and full of life and personality. The two find each other and ... Then it was revealed that this was something more than basic shifter romance. The story, it just took and evolved so that I was so surprised and overjoyed. It was a real suspense and action story. It turned into murder mystery. Very exciting.
Wow! This was ... just so --- yes, I loved! Not a moment bored! Read at one sitting!
What a whirlwind romance!
April 11, 2022
I love Mary Calmes, but I’ve never been a fan of shifter books, even hers. I much prefer her contemporary books. I hate the whole fated pairs stuff, and I find Mary Calmes puts too much thought into the shifter hierarchy and lore... which bogs down the story.
But when Mary Calmes had first mentioned she would be writing her first dual POV book, I couldn’t help but be a bit disappointed. I love Mary Calmes because you know what you’re going to get, and not having a dual POV was always a plus for me. Needless to say, I really wasn’t crazy over the dual POV in this. I would have preferred it being entirely from Avery’s POV. And I have my fingers crossed that this is her first and last dual POV book.
Also, a few things that made me scratch my head.
In chapter 4, Graeme says “But first, call Izzy and have her find out Avery Rhine’s phone number and address”. But just a few pages later, Graeme expresses his disbelief that Avery does live with his family, in the house he is currently attending a party at. “What do you mean?” She couldn’t be in earnest; it wasn’t possible. “An omega must reside at home with their parents until they are claimed by an––”. If omegas must live with their family, why would he have wanted Izzy to find his address? Because if that’s the case, he would have already been at the address.
In chapter 10, Graeme’s cook explains that omegas are vegetarians and says, “I made this egg-free bread special for him” . But, most bread IS made without eggs. A bread with egg in it would be considered more special than one without, I would think... brioche, challah, etc.
And Bridget should have been described as a “blonde”, not a “blond”.
Not my favourite Calmes book, not even my favourite shifter one and I wonder how much my opinion was coloured going into it knowing that it was dual POVs.
But when Mary Calmes had first mentioned she would be writing her first dual POV book, I couldn’t help but be a bit disappointed. I love Mary Calmes because you know what you’re going to get, and not having a dual POV was always a plus for me. Needless to say, I really wasn’t crazy over the dual POV in this. I would have preferred it being entirely from Avery’s POV. And I have my fingers crossed that this is her first and last dual POV book.
Also, a few things that made me scratch my head.
In chapter 4, Graeme says “But first, call Izzy and have her find out Avery Rhine’s phone number and address”. But just a few pages later, Graeme expresses his disbelief that Avery does live with his family, in the house he is currently attending a party at. “What do you mean?” She couldn’t be in earnest; it wasn’t possible. “An omega must reside at home with their parents until they are claimed by an––”. If omegas must live with their family, why would he have wanted Izzy to find his address? Because if that’s the case, he would have already been at the address.
In chapter 10, Graeme’s cook explains that omegas are vegetarians and says, “I made this egg-free bread special for him” . But, most bread IS made without eggs. A bread with egg in it would be considered more special than one without, I would think... brioche, challah, etc.
And Bridget should have been described as a “blonde”, not a “blond”.
Not my favourite Calmes book, not even my favourite shifter one and I wonder how much my opinion was coloured going into it knowing that it was dual POVs.
January 7, 2022
Mary writes possessive men well, and once you add in the fated mates aspect? Hoo boy! I wasn't quite sure going in what to expect, but it's *Mary* so I was sure I'd love it, and I definitely wasn't disappointed.
There was such a great balance between independence and trusting in a relationship, and there was an interesting mystery woven in that kept me guessing (incorrectly, but whatever. I'm no detective for sure). The chemistry between the main characters was fantastic! I hope it's not the last we see from this world, whether we revisit the main characters or *cough cough* certain interesting side characters that seemed like something might be starting. :)
There was such a great balance between independence and trusting in a relationship, and there was an interesting mystery woven in that kept me guessing (incorrectly, but whatever. I'm no detective for sure). The chemistry between the main characters was fantastic! I hope it's not the last we see from this world, whether we revisit the main characters or *cough cough* certain interesting side characters that seemed like something might be starting. :)
April 23, 2021
Modern day Regency, Wolf Shifter Omegaverse, Mary Calmes Jory MC.
Contradictions and huge holes in Omegaverse worldbuilding.
Omega Avery was naive and spoiled plus a sloppy detective. Alpha Graeme was an understanding mate but an apathetic king.
No relationship development, no romance, and lackluster A/o sex. Inconsistent and too complex murder investigation. No wolf shifting.
Contradictions and huge holes in Omegaverse worldbuilding.
Omega Avery was naive and spoiled plus a sloppy detective. Alpha Graeme was an understanding mate but an apathetic king.
No relationship development, no romance, and lackluster A/o sex. Inconsistent and too complex murder investigation. No wolf shifting.
April 19, 2022
Re-Read 2022
Well, I think I liked it better a year later.
It might be due to Mary coming up with a series name that helps with some of the misconceptions I was feeling. It might have just read better.
Who knows?
But, whatever the reason, it read better to me this time and I’m going to go ahead and rate it. I still don't think I loved it and I still think I felt some of what I originally felt on my first read, but some of it worked better this time.
I understood Avery just a bit more this time. It was still a little struggle for me to see his non-Omega behavior toward Graeme, but I paid a little better attention and realized, the feelings were there, the Omega behavior too, Avery just didn't succumb to it. I can live with that I think.
The world is still really a cruel place and I hope in the next book there is some improvement but I'm guessing it won't be that simple.
I'll tell you what though, I'm on a shifter roll and this for sure makes me want to do a re-read of the L’Ange Series or even The Change of Heart Series.
On to Linden's story. Fingers crossed.
-------
So, I read this in April and attempted my review I think three times. I never posted anything and now we are slowly approaching the end of 2021 and every book counts toward that challenge so I gotta get this off my Currently Reading Shelf and onto that Read shelf now.
To be fair, I'm not going to rate this. I am just going to post my starts and stops, my rough drafts and my meandering thoughts. I can't properly review now, too much time has passed for that. I think I'll do a re-read before the next book comes out and maybe try a better review at that time.
But, until then...unfinished and rough reviews below. Proceed with caution, haha!
-------
It seems funny to me, that until this book, I never thought about Jory or Stefan or even Jin, having straight up Omega qualities. You know, the traditional, loved by all, beauty beyond compare, what have you. So, realizing this while reading this book I was jumping in my seat with excitement waiting for all that I love, love, love about what Mary gives these men. To have a Jory like character who actually is an Omega and supposed to have these traits, I could not wait.
It didn’t really happen though. It’s so odd to me that when it could have been totally over the top and Avery could have been Jory on steroids he wasn’t at all. He seemed so subdued and I was confused.
If anything, I think that Mary held back. It seems what she normally gives just wasn’t here for this book.
So, I am a little disappointed. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy the book, I mostly did. I just feel like what I normally expect was, well, just kind of gone.
Looks like a lot of people think this is Jory and it is NOT.
I think I always expect a certain formula from Mary.
-------
I have been trying to write this review since this morning and am getting nowhere. I’ve started and stopped more than once. I feel like everything I want to say seems more about my expectations and not a true review of the book. I honestly don’t know if I can write this review without it being mostly about me.
You see, I love Mary Calmes and I love the formula of her stories. It’s like coming home. You kind of always know what you are going to get and when I saw she was writing another shifter story I was beside myself with joy. I just knew how it would be and I could not wait.
It was a little different though. Not bad different, just not what I was expecting. Add to that my HUGE realization that Jory, Stefan, Jin etc. straight up exhibited traditional Omega qualities even though they weren’t Omegas. I don’t know why it never occurred to me until now that the Omega traits, loved by all, beauty beyond compare, what have you scream JORY and some of the others until I was reading this story, but when it hit me, it hit me like a freight train and had me dancing in my seat! How cool to have a Jory type that actually was an Omega, well, OH MY GOD!
So, you can see I kind of set myself up for what I have come to expect from Mary’s books and just built it up to even more since “Jory” was going to be an Omega and “Sam” was going to be an Alpha!
Avery ended up not being Jory at all and Graeme was really not Sam.
Again, this is ok, it just isn’t what I thought was going to happen and I think to me, it was a little bit of a let down only because can you imagine an Alpha Sam and an Omega Jory? Come on! But really, more so, it kind of felt like Mary held back with Avery and Graeme and that’s what I just couldn’t get over with the story. I feel like this was the perfect opportunity to throw all that crazy Mary into the story and again, it felt like she held back.
But, really, I guess this is a new story and it’s not my call for it to follow a formula I have come to love. It’s the authors story to tell and trying something new is awesome. I almost want to re-read it with no expectations and see how I feel.
-------
I hurt a little trying to write this review. I had such high expectations for this and I feel like Mary held back a lot of her magic with this story when she could have let it all fly.
Mary Calmes is one of my most favorite authors and I’m all for her trying out something new, but in this case, for this story, I truly wish she had kept to her normal formula. I never really thought about the fact that her normal, you know, Jory, Stefan, Jin etc. straight up exhibited traditional Omega qualities. I don’t know why it never occurred to me until now that the Omega traits, loved by all, beauty beyond compare, what have you scream JORY and some of the others but reading this story, when it hit me, it hit me like a freight train and had me dancing in my seat! How cool to have a Jory type that actually was an Omega, well, OH MY GOD!
It didn’t happen that way though and I’m a little sad.
Ok, let me start over. First, let’s talk about the story and not about me. I enjoyed the story, I did. I like that Mary did werewolves, A/B/O and even G, and I was into learning another of her new worlds, I just think I got my hopes up for something a little different and that is all on me. I’m a huge, huge, HUGE fan of the growly, mine, mine, mine Alpha and the snarky but loving and beautiful and perfect Omega and with Mary’s normal formula this could have worked perfectly. Think of a wolf Sam guys. Oh my. It just didn’t really play out like some of her other characters and if anything, it kind of felt like she was holding a little of what I love back. Avery was not Jory and I feel like it was a missed opportunity. Now, that’s not to say I didn’t enjoy Avery, I did mostly, I just feel like it would have been the perfect time to go so over the top with a characters certain characteristics and almost get away with it. Some of it was there but really the whole story was trying to take a different direction and well, I get it but I don’t know. I guess I wanted what I am used to. And I know, this is on me.
I’ve read a bunch of reviews and it seems most everyone felt like this was Sam and Jory but wolves. I did not. Graeme was NOT Sam. Not even close.
But, that’s enough of that. So, secondly, aside from my personal wants, this still kind of missed the mark as a wolfy book. Like I said, the world was cool but totally cruel but there were just some things that did not sit right with me. Mostly, I think I didn’t feel that true desperation between Avery and Graeme. The initial meeting just hurt me a little. I didn’t like how that went down and I just have to wonder if it could have?
I’m probably taking this too seriously and maybe it’s like I said, I had such high hopes and when it didn’t go the way I imagined it just felt like a let down and maybe I need to stop thinking about it like that. I know how I am when it comes to my shifter books, I have a certain thing I want but this was still Mary and there was still so much of it that I enjoyed and always dig about her stories.
So, overall, not my favorite and a lot of that is my own wants. The story had a lot of interesting parts and a lot of interesting new characters.
Well, I think I liked it better a year later.
It might be due to Mary coming up with a series name that helps with some of the misconceptions I was feeling. It might have just read better.
Who knows?
But, whatever the reason, it read better to me this time and I’m going to go ahead and rate it. I still don't think I loved it and I still think I felt some of what I originally felt on my first read, but some of it worked better this time.
I understood Avery just a bit more this time. It was still a little struggle for me to see his non-Omega behavior toward Graeme, but I paid a little better attention and realized, the feelings were there, the Omega behavior too, Avery just didn't succumb to it. I can live with that I think.
The world is still really a cruel place and I hope in the next book there is some improvement but I'm guessing it won't be that simple.
I'll tell you what though, I'm on a shifter roll and this for sure makes me want to do a re-read of the L’Ange Series or even The Change of Heart Series.
On to Linden's story. Fingers crossed.
-------
So, I read this in April and attempted my review I think three times. I never posted anything and now we are slowly approaching the end of 2021 and every book counts toward that challenge so I gotta get this off my Currently Reading Shelf and onto that Read shelf now.
To be fair, I'm not going to rate this. I am just going to post my starts and stops, my rough drafts and my meandering thoughts. I can't properly review now, too much time has passed for that. I think I'll do a re-read before the next book comes out and maybe try a better review at that time.
But, until then...unfinished and rough reviews below. Proceed with caution, haha!
-------
It seems funny to me, that until this book, I never thought about Jory or Stefan or even Jin, having straight up Omega qualities. You know, the traditional, loved by all, beauty beyond compare, what have you. So, realizing this while reading this book I was jumping in my seat with excitement waiting for all that I love, love, love about what Mary gives these men. To have a Jory like character who actually is an Omega and supposed to have these traits, I could not wait.
It didn’t really happen though. It’s so odd to me that when it could have been totally over the top and Avery could have been Jory on steroids he wasn’t at all. He seemed so subdued and I was confused.
If anything, I think that Mary held back. It seems what she normally gives just wasn’t here for this book.
So, I am a little disappointed. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy the book, I mostly did. I just feel like what I normally expect was, well, just kind of gone.
Looks like a lot of people think this is Jory and it is NOT.
I think I always expect a certain formula from Mary.
-------
I have been trying to write this review since this morning and am getting nowhere. I’ve started and stopped more than once. I feel like everything I want to say seems more about my expectations and not a true review of the book. I honestly don’t know if I can write this review without it being mostly about me.
You see, I love Mary Calmes and I love the formula of her stories. It’s like coming home. You kind of always know what you are going to get and when I saw she was writing another shifter story I was beside myself with joy. I just knew how it would be and I could not wait.
It was a little different though. Not bad different, just not what I was expecting. Add to that my HUGE realization that Jory, Stefan, Jin etc. straight up exhibited traditional Omega qualities even though they weren’t Omegas. I don’t know why it never occurred to me until now that the Omega traits, loved by all, beauty beyond compare, what have you scream JORY and some of the others until I was reading this story, but when it hit me, it hit me like a freight train and had me dancing in my seat! How cool to have a Jory type that actually was an Omega, well, OH MY GOD!
So, you can see I kind of set myself up for what I have come to expect from Mary’s books and just built it up to even more since “Jory” was going to be an Omega and “Sam” was going to be an Alpha!
Avery ended up not being Jory at all and Graeme was really not Sam.
Again, this is ok, it just isn’t what I thought was going to happen and I think to me, it was a little bit of a let down only because can you imagine an Alpha Sam and an Omega Jory? Come on! But really, more so, it kind of felt like Mary held back with Avery and Graeme and that’s what I just couldn’t get over with the story. I feel like this was the perfect opportunity to throw all that crazy Mary into the story and again, it felt like she held back.
But, really, I guess this is a new story and it’s not my call for it to follow a formula I have come to love. It’s the authors story to tell and trying something new is awesome. I almost want to re-read it with no expectations and see how I feel.
-------
I hurt a little trying to write this review. I had such high expectations for this and I feel like Mary held back a lot of her magic with this story when she could have let it all fly.
Mary Calmes is one of my most favorite authors and I’m all for her trying out something new, but in this case, for this story, I truly wish she had kept to her normal formula. I never really thought about the fact that her normal, you know, Jory, Stefan, Jin etc. straight up exhibited traditional Omega qualities. I don’t know why it never occurred to me until now that the Omega traits, loved by all, beauty beyond compare, what have you scream JORY and some of the others but reading this story, when it hit me, it hit me like a freight train and had me dancing in my seat! How cool to have a Jory type that actually was an Omega, well, OH MY GOD!
It didn’t happen that way though and I’m a little sad.
Ok, let me start over. First, let’s talk about the story and not about me. I enjoyed the story, I did. I like that Mary did werewolves, A/B/O and even G, and I was into learning another of her new worlds, I just think I got my hopes up for something a little different and that is all on me. I’m a huge, huge, HUGE fan of the growly, mine, mine, mine Alpha and the snarky but loving and beautiful and perfect Omega and with Mary’s normal formula this could have worked perfectly. Think of a wolf Sam guys. Oh my. It just didn’t really play out like some of her other characters and if anything, it kind of felt like she was holding a little of what I love back. Avery was not Jory and I feel like it was a missed opportunity. Now, that’s not to say I didn’t enjoy Avery, I did mostly, I just feel like it would have been the perfect time to go so over the top with a characters certain characteristics and almost get away with it. Some of it was there but really the whole story was trying to take a different direction and well, I get it but I don’t know. I guess I wanted what I am used to. And I know, this is on me.
I’ve read a bunch of reviews and it seems most everyone felt like this was Sam and Jory but wolves. I did not. Graeme was NOT Sam. Not even close.
But, that’s enough of that. So, secondly, aside from my personal wants, this still kind of missed the mark as a wolfy book. Like I said, the world was cool but totally cruel but there were just some things that did not sit right with me. Mostly, I think I didn’t feel that true desperation between Avery and Graeme. The initial meeting just hurt me a little. I didn’t like how that went down and I just have to wonder if it could have?
I’m probably taking this too seriously and maybe it’s like I said, I had such high hopes and when it didn’t go the way I imagined it just felt like a let down and maybe I need to stop thinking about it like that. I know how I am when it comes to my shifter books, I have a certain thing I want but this was still Mary and there was still so much of it that I enjoyed and always dig about her stories.
So, overall, not my favorite and a lot of that is my own wants. The story had a lot of interesting parts and a lot of interesting new characters.
July 31, 2021
It was really good. I don't think I've ever enjoyed a book with the alpha-omega thing this much. I loved Avery. I would've been crazy proud of the fact he became a police officer and planned to still be one after getting bonded even though he was an omega but...I've got to admit the only reason he could be the way he was is due to the fact he had an open minded and loving family. That was one thing that was surprising to me. The whole book's main characters had some shockingly supportive families, I mean it doesn't take much- just being a moral person is enough to satisfy that role- but still.
The only thing I didn't like about Avery was that he wasn't a good enough friend to Linden. I'm not sure I ship Wade and Linden but I'd really hoped Linden gets a happily ever after.
The only thing I didn't like about Avery was that he wasn't a good enough friend to Linden. I'm not sure I ship Wade and Linden but I'd really hoped Linden gets a happily ever after.
May 23, 2021
There is something to be said about awesome narration doing wonders for so-so books. I liked this a lot more this time. yes, I’m one of THOSE fans that will buy the audio for a book they didn’t love if the narrator is right. And Greg is pretty darned right for this book.
April 9, 2021
3.5 ⭐️
I think I liked it? I mean... it’s typical Mary with typical Mary tropes. It’s not as brutal, to me, as her other shifter stories. Don’t get me wrong. Her shifters are still brutal, but I handled it much better than I did with Change of Heart or Old Loyalty, New Love.
I think I liked it? I mean... it’s typical Mary with typical Mary tropes. It’s not as brutal, to me, as her other shifter stories. Don’t get me wrong. Her shifters are still brutal, but I handled it much better than I did with Change of Heart or Old Loyalty, New Love.
March 1, 2022
Muscle and Bone
By Mary Calmes
I never understood why there wasn’t some list that was given out before these things: this alpha likes girls, this one likes boys, this one loves every color of the rainbow.
I absolutely fell in love with Avery from the very first page of the book. I loved his personality and his way of thinking. It took a little bit to fall for Graeme, but not much and it wasn't Graeme's personality I had a hard time with. It was just there was so much background going on in regards to him it took a bit to get to know him. I could tell right away Graeme & Avery were perfect for each other. I loved both Avery and Graeme's families too. Both were unique, loving, and quirky in their own ways.
There was so much going on in this book. The world building was great! There were a couple storylines going on. It wasn't at all confusing keeping up.
I really wish this book had been part of a series. I would love to see Linden find his mate. After everything he's been through it would make my heart happy to see him finally in love. This is the first book I've read by this author and I am eager to read more.
The book is in both Avery and Graeme's POV.
By Mary Calmes
I never understood why there wasn’t some list that was given out before these things: this alpha likes girls, this one likes boys, this one loves every color of the rainbow.
I absolutely fell in love with Avery from the very first page of the book. I loved his personality and his way of thinking. It took a little bit to fall for Graeme, but not much and it wasn't Graeme's personality I had a hard time with. It was just there was so much background going on in regards to him it took a bit to get to know him. I could tell right away Graeme & Avery were perfect for each other. I loved both Avery and Graeme's families too. Both were unique, loving, and quirky in their own ways.
There was so much going on in this book. The world building was great! There were a couple storylines going on. It wasn't at all confusing keeping up.
I really wish this book had been part of a series. I would love to see Linden find his mate. After everything he's been through it would make my heart happy to see him finally in love. This is the first book I've read by this author and I am eager to read more.
The book is in both Avery and Graeme's POV.
April 17, 2021
For me this veered continually between four and two stars. I love the omegaverse, and her twist on it is great. Sex was hot. Suspense plot was okay.
BUT then there was the Mush, suffocating sentimentality. Among other things, in her stories all women love and fawn over the omega or other heroine-with-a-dick.
Add that to the lovingly-described indicators of wealth (complete with brand names) and I was skipping constantly. Both of the above felt like padding, frankly.
If you are true Mary lover I apologize for my snarkiness. I've read so many of her books that I've become allergic to her writer's tics. Better I spend my time with other authors.
BUT then there was the Mush, suffocating sentimentality. Among other things, in her stories all women love and fawn over the omega or other heroine-with-a-dick.
Add that to the lovingly-described indicators of wealth (complete with brand names) and I was skipping constantly. Both of the above felt like padding, frankly.
If you are true Mary lover I apologize for my snarkiness. I've read so many of her books that I've become allergic to her writer's tics. Better I spend my time with other authors.
April 6, 2022
This book was a delightful surprise. I have read Mary Calmes in the past and have mixed opinions on her stories but I have never read a standalone by her. This novel was the perfect mixture of tension and romance, filled with plot twists that completely took me by surprise and left me reeling.
I don't think I can start this review without saying how much I adored this unconventional omega, Avery. He was such a strong character who refused to conform or stick to stereotypes. I loved his vibrant personality but also his endless confidence, he was a man who knew what he wanted and he refused to settle for anything less. In contrast, Graeme was the perfect counterbalance to Avery. While Graeme seems at first abrasive and insecure, he actually has a huge heart and is the perfect alpha to compliment Avery. And while neither character seems to be looking for love, I couldn't help but cheer for the solace and security they found in one another.
The beautiful romance aside, the plot had me captivated. We have a murder that turns out to be so much more as Avery, Graeme and friends search for answers. I was left shocked as secrets are revealed, betrayal and deceit run rampant, and when all the dust settles...I went back and re-read the chapter to make sure that really happened. I love a mystery where I would never be able to put the pieces together until all is revealed, and that is exactly what happened here. Did I think certain characters got off too easily...yes. But am I thrilled by the closure and ending, absolutely.
My only complaint is as the story ended, I wanted more. I just could not get enough of Avery and Graeme...and I just found out there is a second book that features Linden and another delightful character so YAY! Basically, this book was the shifters book I have been looking for. A perfect escapism read that had me immersed in a stunning world filled with mystery and high risks with a sweet and sexy romance.
I don't think I can start this review without saying how much I adored this unconventional omega, Avery. He was such a strong character who refused to conform or stick to stereotypes. I loved his vibrant personality but also his endless confidence, he was a man who knew what he wanted and he refused to settle for anything less. In contrast, Graeme was the perfect counterbalance to Avery. While Graeme seems at first abrasive and insecure, he actually has a huge heart and is the perfect alpha to compliment Avery. And while neither character seems to be looking for love, I couldn't help but cheer for the solace and security they found in one another.
The beautiful romance aside, the plot had me captivated. We have a murder that turns out to be so much more as Avery, Graeme and friends search for answers. I was left shocked as secrets are revealed, betrayal and deceit run rampant, and when all the dust settles...I went back and re-read the chapter to make sure that really happened. I love a mystery where I would never be able to put the pieces together until all is revealed, and that is exactly what happened here. Did I think certain characters got off too easily...yes. But am I thrilled by the closure and ending, absolutely.
My only complaint is as the story ended, I wanted more. I just could not get enough of Avery and Graeme...and I just found out there is a second book that features Linden and another delightful character so YAY! Basically, this book was the shifters book I have been looking for. A perfect escapism read that had me immersed in a stunning world filled with mystery and high risks with a sweet and sexy romance.
Read
April 3, 2021I’m stopping at 60% I love me some Mary but this ain’t it.
Some actual messages I left in the book chat
“I hate this version of Sam and Jory. It’s just a stupid info dump and it’s boring 😩 I can only read about 2 pages and then I have to stop.”
“ You can tell this is a mary book but it’s just all telling telling telling and not telling me anything I care about”
“I’d rather actually be folding clothes”
“This Jory has parents and it’s weird”
“So far he hasn’t even been kidnapped”
“I’ll keep reading it because I’m a clown”
“Hasn’t eaten any pie either. Or drank tea.”
“ This book is in which Jory is an omega wolf who was raised like an alpha so the rules don’t apply because he has a beefy build.”
“ I’m at 60% of the book. So far it’s only been about 18 hours in time that goes by. The MCs have only been in the same room twice. They are apart almost the entire time.”
“ True mates fuck when they find each other .... solve a murder. They don’t solve it together.”
“ SHAPE UP MARY”
And then I quit reading 😔 I’ll probably finish at some point but I’m out for now. This isn’t any fun. It’s boring and I don’t see any connection with the MCs other than dated mates.
Some actual messages I left in the book chat
“I hate this version of Sam and Jory. It’s just a stupid info dump and it’s boring 😩 I can only read about 2 pages and then I have to stop.”
“ You can tell this is a mary book but it’s just all telling telling telling and not telling me anything I care about”
“I’d rather actually be folding clothes”
“This Jory has parents and it’s weird”
“So far he hasn’t even been kidnapped”
“I’ll keep reading it because I’m a clown”
“Hasn’t eaten any pie either. Or drank tea.”
“ This book is in which Jory is an omega wolf who was raised like an alpha so the rules don’t apply because he has a beefy build.”
“ I’m at 60% of the book. So far it’s only been about 18 hours in time that goes by. The MCs have only been in the same room twice. They are apart almost the entire time.”
“ True mates fuck when they find each other .... solve a murder. They don’t solve it together.”
“ SHAPE UP MARY”
And then I quit reading 😔 I’ll probably finish at some point but I’m out for now. This isn’t any fun. It’s boring and I don’t see any connection with the MCs other than dated mates.
April 20, 2021
1.5 stars, cause I feel generous.
I was excited to read a shifter book by Mary Calmes, but unfortunately, I was ultimately disappointed. To start, the shifter world she created was very confusing. Something like alphas only finding true love/mating bond with betas, omegas are like a consolation price for when they haven't found their true love. Omega's are, of course, treated like Regency heroines, with no hope to ever find real love, but the best you can do is be someone's second choice, to hope you get married eventually and to breed children as a consolation price. Yay. I can totally see how that makes sense, biologically.
Anyway, after all that convoluted explanations, Avery, the very Un-Omega-like Omega (he was raised like a *gasp* alpha), catch the eye of the king of the shifters - and there are immediate insta-lust and heats and pining and whatnot. I was perplexed, yet bored.
I skimmed the book until the end, but Graeme and Avery never did it for me, the plot never made a lick of sense, and what the author did with Landon was criminal. But of course, a bit of maternal love and all is right with the world.
Excuse me while I go and roll my eyes for a while.
I was excited to read a shifter book by Mary Calmes, but unfortunately, I was ultimately disappointed. To start, the shifter world she created was very confusing. Something like alphas only finding true love/mating bond with betas, omegas are like a consolation price for when they haven't found their true love. Omega's are, of course, treated like Regency heroines, with no hope to ever find real love, but the best you can do is be someone's second choice, to hope you get married eventually and to breed children as a consolation price. Yay. I can totally see how that makes sense, biologically.
Anyway, after all that convoluted explanations, Avery, the very Un-Omega-like Omega (he was raised like a *gasp* alpha), catch the eye of the king of the shifters - and there are immediate insta-lust and heats and pining and whatnot. I was perplexed, yet bored.
I skimmed the book until the end, but Graeme and Avery never did it for me, the plot never made a lick of sense, and what the author did with Landon was criminal. But of course, a bit of maternal love and all is right with the world.
Excuse me while I go and roll my eyes for a while.
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