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Wolf Moon Rising #2
Harvest Moon
Lost best friends grow back together.
Alexis Mena has waited five whole years for his childhood sweetheart to come back from college. He’s ready to get marked, mated, and finally settle down, but when the stoic farmer returns, there’s a wall between them that Alexis can’t scale. Looking at Ridge every day is too much for Alexis, so when his cousin offers him the chance to stay with her and her husband, he jumps to get away. If he can’t have the life he’s always dreamed, with the Grove pack, at least he can stop waiting.
Ridge Paterson returned from college with nothing to his name but an old truck, a one-eyed barn cat, and a heap of debt. Fortunately, he’s also got hope—hope all that schooling’s prepared him to turn the family farm around. But no sooner has he set foot back on Paterson land than his parents decide to sell it out from under him. Listless and lost, he lets Alexis slip through his fingers. Left with cut roots and a heap of desperation, the man he left behind tempts him to find a new place to call home.
There’s more on the line than student debts and insecurities for the young werewolves. The mysterious Condition is affecting Alexis’s cousin, threatening her pregnancy and everything Alexis holds dear, and the man with the skills to solve it all might just be an alpha willing to follow his one-true love halfway across Virginia for a chance to put down roots of his own.
Harvest Moon is a 90k word novel about one sad man of the land, his podcasting childhood sweetheart, and an illness that threatens all werewolfkind, in a non-mpreg ABO universe.
Alexis Mena has waited five whole years for his childhood sweetheart to come back from college. He’s ready to get marked, mated, and finally settle down, but when the stoic farmer returns, there’s a wall between them that Alexis can’t scale. Looking at Ridge every day is too much for Alexis, so when his cousin offers him the chance to stay with her and her husband, he jumps to get away. If he can’t have the life he’s always dreamed, with the Grove pack, at least he can stop waiting.
Ridge Paterson returned from college with nothing to his name but an old truck, a one-eyed barn cat, and a heap of debt. Fortunately, he’s also got hope—hope all that schooling’s prepared him to turn the family farm around. But no sooner has he set foot back on Paterson land than his parents decide to sell it out from under him. Listless and lost, he lets Alexis slip through his fingers. Left with cut roots and a heap of desperation, the man he left behind tempts him to find a new place to call home.
There’s more on the line than student debts and insecurities for the young werewolves. The mysterious Condition is affecting Alexis’s cousin, threatening her pregnancy and everything Alexis holds dear, and the man with the skills to solve it all might just be an alpha willing to follow his one-true love halfway across Virginia for a chance to put down roots of his own.
Harvest Moon is a 90k word novel about one sad man of the land, his podcasting childhood sweetheart, and an illness that threatens all werewolfkind, in a non-mpreg ABO universe.
345 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 13, 2021
83 people are currently reading
262 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
August 31, 2021
~3.5~
Two tropes I dislike were unfortunately present in this story:
- Miscommunication (neither Alexis nor Ridge expressed their hopes/fears/needs until the 60 percent mark, at which point I was ready to beat both of them with a rolling pin because TALKING is a thing, people. For fuck's sake, TALK to your partner).
- Drama-llama come to mama (there were just too many things going on here: Claudia being sick, Ridge losing the family farm, potential sale of the Grove pack farm, pesticides, discovery of Big Bad Culprit, pack politics, return of long-lost pack member, and MORE; all this diluted the romance).
Also, I liked Claudia in book 1, but she was kind of a whiney toddler in this book. I wanted to smack her upside the head. You wanted this baby, Claudia, so maybe stop being so damn selfish for one fucking second and follow doctor's orders.
Fortunately, Ridge and Alexis are truly swoony together. Ridge especially is so, so sweet. I loved his quiet, stoic demeanor and the passion simmering just beneath the surface. The heat mating is hot as usual (although it's getting just a touch predictable).
On to book 3.
Two tropes I dislike were unfortunately present in this story:
- Miscommunication (neither Alexis nor Ridge expressed their hopes/fears/needs until the 60 percent mark, at which point I was ready to beat both of them with a rolling pin because TALKING is a thing, people. For fuck's sake, TALK to your partner).
- Drama-llama come to mama (there were just too many things going on here: Claudia being sick, Ridge losing the family farm, potential sale of the Grove pack farm, pesticides, discovery of Big Bad Culprit, pack politics, return of long-lost pack member, and MORE; all this diluted the romance).
Also, I liked Claudia in book 1, but she was kind of a whiney toddler in this book. I wanted to smack her upside the head. You wanted this baby, Claudia, so maybe stop being so damn selfish for one fucking second and follow doctor's orders.
Fortunately, Ridge and Alexis are truly swoony together. Ridge especially is so, so sweet. I loved his quiet, stoic demeanor and the passion simmering just beneath the surface. The heat mating is hot as usual (although it's getting just a touch predictable).
On to book 3.
May 8, 2021
Another wonderful entry in this new series from Sam and Fawkes.
This time the over-arcing plot moves along at a rapid pace, leading to something I hadn't seen coming, but now it's there, makes total sense (cryptic eh!)
For our romance, we get Claudia's cousin Alexis' story and he was a real sweetie. Very similar in temperament to his cousin, he's another go-getter omega even if he's been waiting five years for Ridge to finish college and come home.
Now, one thing I will say here, I felt both characters read as older than their 23 years but, as they're werewolves/shifters, I just put it down to them as a species being generally more capable of dealing with the vagaries of life!
Through circumstances which made perfect narrative sense, both young men end up with the Grove pack and that's where the main plot develops its - on the surface - surprising twist.
Ridge may come across as a slow thinker, but he's actually pretty smart, especially when it comes to farming and how integral the provenance of the food shifters eat is to their way of life.
There's a not so subtle message here in this book to the mass consumerism lifestyle which a lot of people have been kicking back against in recent years and one which I very much agree with. Local and unprocessed is far better than mass produced and shipped from across the world!
The romance is a mix of frustration and sweetness, as both men suffer from LackOfCommunicaton-itis which thankfully it isn't allowed to linger for too long, and because of Ridge's demisexuality. However, once they do have the talk it's straight to the barn for some extra special get to know you intimately time, very hot.
The rest of the Grove Pack pop in from time to time and there's a few longer visits with Colt and Linden, as well as Claud and Birch obviously.
This book also holds another surprise, which I very much appreciated, and we get a sneak into book three, which will be all about second chances and grovelling I suspect 😁
#ARC kindly received from the authors in return for an honest and unbiased review
This time the over-arcing plot moves along at a rapid pace, leading to something I hadn't seen coming, but now it's there, makes total sense (cryptic eh!)
For our romance, we get Claudia's cousin Alexis' story and he was a real sweetie. Very similar in temperament to his cousin, he's another go-getter omega even if he's been waiting five years for Ridge to finish college and come home.
Now, one thing I will say here, I felt both characters read as older than their 23 years but, as they're werewolves/shifters, I just put it down to them as a species being generally more capable of dealing with the vagaries of life!
Through circumstances which made perfect narrative sense, both young men end up with the Grove pack and that's where the main plot develops its - on the surface - surprising twist.
Ridge may come across as a slow thinker, but he's actually pretty smart, especially when it comes to farming and how integral the provenance of the food shifters eat is to their way of life.
There's a not so subtle message here in this book to the mass consumerism lifestyle which a lot of people have been kicking back against in recent years and one which I very much agree with. Local and unprocessed is far better than mass produced and shipped from across the world!
The romance is a mix of frustration and sweetness, as both men suffer from LackOfCommunicaton-itis which thankfully it isn't allowed to linger for too long, and because of Ridge's demisexuality. However, once they do have the talk it's straight to the barn for some extra special get to know you intimately time, very hot.
The rest of the Grove Pack pop in from time to time and there's a few longer visits with Colt and Linden, as well as Claud and Birch obviously.
This book also holds another surprise, which I very much appreciated, and we get a sneak into book three, which will be all about second chances and grovelling I suspect 😁
#ARC kindly received from the authors in return for an honest and unbiased review
May 29, 2021
While I enjoyed this book (which is a given for this duo), I couldn't help but feel it was a filler book to prepare the reader for the return of the Prodigal Alpha (Aspen).
Truly, nothing much happens in this book plot-wise; aside some discoveries that might help with The Condition in future.
With respect to Ridge and Alexis, we already knew those two were crazy about each other and sooner or later were going to get over the lack of communication cycle they seemed to have fallen into from the beginning.
I found that lack of communication equal parts sad and funny because Alexis KNEW how taciturn Ridge was and Ridge in turn KNEW Alexis sometimes needed him to use his words. I was happy when they finally got to their common ground and their HEA.
I will be waiting impatiently for Aspen's book because boy does that man have some making up to do!
eARC Graciously Provided by Authors in Exchange for an Honest, Unbiased Review
Truly, nothing much happens in this book plot-wise; aside some discoveries that might help with The Condition in future.
With respect to Ridge and Alexis, we already knew those two were crazy about each other and sooner or later were going to get over the lack of communication cycle they seemed to have fallen into from the beginning.
I found that lack of communication equal parts sad and funny because Alexis KNEW how taciturn Ridge was and Ridge in turn KNEW Alexis sometimes needed him to use his words. I was happy when they finally got to their common ground and their HEA.
I will be waiting impatiently for Aspen's book because boy does that man have some making up to do!
eARC Graciously Provided by Authors in Exchange for an Honest, Unbiased Review
July 19, 2021
Wow! Totally blown away by this book!
The authors totally hit it out of the ballpark with this book! Totally love Ridge and Lex and OMG the reveal at about 80% in practically knocked me over! The continued world building was totally fascinating! This series has totally hooked me and I can't wait to read Aspen and Brooks story in book three!
The authors totally hit it out of the ballpark with this book! Totally love Ridge and Lex and OMG the reveal at about 80% in practically knocked me over! The continued world building was totally fascinating! This series has totally hooked me and I can't wait to read Aspen and Brooks story in book three!
February 4, 2023
This was so long and so boring. Immediately I was not interested in the book because we find out that Ridge and Alexis were madly in love in high school and were expected to be soul mates in the future, but then Ridge went to college for five years and they didn’t keep in touch. Pardon me? Also, Alexis didn’t go to college cuz he would’ve gone for Communication and that’s a “Mrs” degree? Whaaaat?!
Then instead of a small 80% miscommunication trope (which I admittedly despise), we get a 1-60% miscommunication trope. There’s no romance, no wooing, no getting to know each character in the setting of falling in love. It’s just straight from losing touch with each other for 5 years, to miscommunication/lack of communication, to madly in love. Zzzzz. Maybe Alexis should’ve gotten that communication degree.
There is an illness in this world called The Condition that only affects omegas, and is far more likely to appear if they’re pregnant. And they die most of the time. There’s a severe shortage of omegas in this world and it’s causing Alphas to go absolutely INSANE. HORRIBLE things happened to an omega in our pack here because of an all-alpha pack losing their minds and going feral. Only female omegas can get pregnant in this world. I cannot for the life of me imagine why you would get willingly pregnant knowing how high the chances you or even you + the baby will die from The Condition. I cannot imagine why a man would willingly impregnate a woman in this world knowing what can and statistically will happen. When a character I looooved in book one (but who was not great in this book) comes down with The Condition, her partner suggests an abortion to help her get better, but no she’d rather die “for the baby.” I’m so tired of the martyrdom in the world/this book that a fetus is more important than a woman’s life. Sore spot for me.
Anyway, there was absolutely no chemistry between Alexis and Ridge. So much so that their sex scenes made me super uncomfortable. Honestly, Alexis deserved better. Alexis deserved utter devotion and being swept off his feet.
The writing was good, however, and I am giving a whole star just to the evil giant corporation angle because they’re all evil in real life and I’m glad we’re finally acknowledging that :) #fucktherich
Then instead of a small 80% miscommunication trope (which I admittedly despise), we get a 1-60% miscommunication trope. There’s no romance, no wooing, no getting to know each character in the setting of falling in love. It’s just straight from losing touch with each other for 5 years, to miscommunication/lack of communication, to madly in love. Zzzzz. Maybe Alexis should’ve gotten that communication degree.
There is an illness in this world called The Condition that only affects omegas, and is far more likely to appear if they’re pregnant. And they die most of the time. There’s a severe shortage of omegas in this world and it’s causing Alphas to go absolutely INSANE. HORRIBLE things happened to an omega in our pack here because of an all-alpha pack losing their minds and going feral. Only female omegas can get pregnant in this world. I cannot for the life of me imagine why you would get willingly pregnant knowing how high the chances you or even you + the baby will die from The Condition. I cannot imagine why a man would willingly impregnate a woman in this world knowing what can and statistically will happen. When a character I looooved in book one (but who was not great in this book) comes down with The Condition, her partner suggests an abortion to help her get better, but no she’d rather die “for the baby.” I’m so tired of the martyrdom in the world/this book that a fetus is more important than a woman’s life. Sore spot for me.
Anyway, there was absolutely no chemistry between Alexis and Ridge. So much so that their sex scenes made me super uncomfortable. Honestly, Alexis deserved better. Alexis deserved utter devotion and being swept off his feet.
The writing was good, however, and I am giving a whole star just to the evil giant corporation angle because they’re all evil in real life and I’m glad we’re finally acknowledging that :) #fucktherich
May 7, 2021
Oh I think I loved this book even more than the first one, it was almost impossible to put down even for important things like eating; I just wanted to keep reading! Alexis and Ridge were just so sweet and lovely, and yes completely oblivious and dumb at times, but it just made me want them to figure it out all the more. And through this budding relationship Sam and Waverly do what they do best, create a completely intriguing world that you just can’t help but get completely swept up in. I’m loving learning about everything that’s happening and how they’re going to deal with the repercussions. A great romance, an interesting plot? You really couldn’t ask for more! And that teaser of the next book! I want it now!!
May 17, 2021
3.5★
I leaned in and pulled him against me. “You’ve been through enough of this.”
“I’d go through anything for you, Lex. And it would be nothing at all, because you’re with me.”
There’s always a moment where an installment in a series you like has tropes you’re not a fan of. Unfortunately, this was my case. Friends to lovers is not for me, no matter how many times I tried (with a few exceptions). However, this is still a great book with lots of good things and I’m sure I’m gonna love the next one !!
The second half of the book was the best by far. Especially because Alexis and Ridge started to communicate finally with each other. And from that moment I could really appreciate their love and affection. Alexis’s tenacity and loyalty were beyond admiration and matched perfectly with Ridge’s personality.
And I’m really intrigued to where all these new theories about the Condition are going. And to know how the outcome might affect the Grove pack in the near future.
On the other hand, the first half I just wanted to smack both MCs in their heads. All the comings and goings, due to lack of communication, were a little too much for me. But then again I try to avoid reading romance between friends, unless it’s in a series I love. And for me, this series is worth it.
I truly can't wait for the next installment and I bet I'm not the only one!
*Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a free and honest review*
January 6, 2024
Farming werewolves, who knew?
The beginning was a bit.. blah. I don't know how to explain it, to be honest. It took me a while to get into it, and if I were any less stubborn, I would have DNFed it. That's the biggest reason I'm subtracting one star from the rating.
Alexis is interesting and sweet, all into hiking and nature and even having his own podcast. It's adorable that he loves Claudia so much and cares about her health, even when she's being all grumpy about eating healthy.
Ridge is slightly frustrating. Once again, all of their problems could have been avoided if only they started communicating more clearly. I get his instinct to provide, because let's face it, werewolf or human, you can't live off of love. Still, a completely wrong approach.
The other Grove pack characters being included, and this book obviously leading into the next one (fingers crossed that it's about Brook and Aspen) is great because it sets the tone for the series.
Speaking of which, I kind of hope there is a book about Skye and I hope he gets together with Ford (no indication for it happening yet, just my personal opinion).
The beginning was a bit.. blah. I don't know how to explain it, to be honest. It took me a while to get into it, and if I were any less stubborn, I would have DNFed it. That's the biggest reason I'm subtracting one star from the rating.
Alexis is interesting and sweet, all into hiking and nature and even having his own podcast. It's adorable that he loves Claudia so much and cares about her health, even when she's being all grumpy about eating healthy.
Ridge is slightly frustrating. Once again, all of their problems could have been avoided if only they started communicating more clearly. I get his instinct to provide, because let's face it, werewolf or human, you can't live off of love. Still, a completely wrong approach.
The other Grove pack characters being included, and this book obviously leading into the next one (fingers crossed that it's about Brook and Aspen) is great because it sets the tone for the series.
Speaking of which, I kind of hope there is a book about Skye and I hope he gets together with Ford (no indication for it happening yet, just my personal opinion).
August 15, 2023
Ponownie bardzo dobrze mi się czytało. Intryga się zagęszcza i zaczyna się wyjaśniać, skąd bierze się choroba dotykająca omegi. Co do romansu - był bardzo stateczny i spokojny, nawet kiedy MC nie mogli się ze sobą porozumieć.
December 31, 2025
2.5/5
I wish the no-communication and the assumptions ended sooner
I wish the no-communication and the assumptions ended sooner
July 14, 2021
I'm sorry, but I really didn't like it. These 2 were friends, that's all, then they didn't even maintain the friendship while Ridge was in college for 5 years. So the book is trying to be a 2nd chance romance or reunited lovers or something , but it's not that. They had no romance. They were never in a relationship. Which led me to hate how Alexis was such a whipped dog around Ridge. Go find a real boyfriend, Alexis! And it was all caused by my least favorite thing, the big misunderstanding that could have been avoided with some real conversation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2021
Harvest Moon
By Sam Burns
Alexis has been waiting for Ridge to finish college and to come home to him so they can finally mate and be together, but Ridge is cool and distant to him when he arrives. Realizing Ridge has just humored him all these years and had no intention of mating him his plans are destroyed so when Lexi's favorite cousin asks him to come stay with her during her pregnancy he figures it's the best way to get over Ridge and figure out how to move on with his life.
When Ridge returns from college and see's how badly his parents have let the farm go he realizes he needs to get it back up and running before he can care for Alexis properly. When his parents sell the farm unexpectedly Ridge is left with $80,000 in school loans, no plan for the rest of his life, and no way to care for Alexis in the way he deserves and so decides to let him go.
The beginning of this book was slow moving and a little confusing. I almost stopped reading it, but pushed on.
I adored Alexis. He was so sweet and brave. I had a harder time liking Ridge. He was to distant and unemotional and he seriously needed to tell Alexis what had happened with his family but kept it a secret and wouldn't explain anything to him. More than half their issues were caused by Ridge not being open and honest about what was going on and he needed to tell Alexis that YES he still cared for him. I wanted to slap Ridge upside the head several times for continually hurting Alexis instead of being honest about his feelings towards him and about everything else.
The secondary characters of Alexis's cousin, her mate and his new friends in the new pack were all wonderful and I felt they really helped him not feel so alone.
This was definitely a slow burn. Not my favorite kind of romance to read, but once they were together again things started moving quicker. Close to the end came a shocking revelation I wasn't expecting about the Condition.
The book was in both Alexis and Ridge's POV.
By Sam Burns
Alexis has been waiting for Ridge to finish college and to come home to him so they can finally mate and be together, but Ridge is cool and distant to him when he arrives. Realizing Ridge has just humored him all these years and had no intention of mating him his plans are destroyed so when Lexi's favorite cousin asks him to come stay with her during her pregnancy he figures it's the best way to get over Ridge and figure out how to move on with his life.
When Ridge returns from college and see's how badly his parents have let the farm go he realizes he needs to get it back up and running before he can care for Alexis properly. When his parents sell the farm unexpectedly Ridge is left with $80,000 in school loans, no plan for the rest of his life, and no way to care for Alexis in the way he deserves and so decides to let him go.
The beginning of this book was slow moving and a little confusing. I almost stopped reading it, but pushed on.
I adored Alexis. He was so sweet and brave. I had a harder time liking Ridge. He was to distant and unemotional and he seriously needed to tell Alexis what had happened with his family but kept it a secret and wouldn't explain anything to him. More than half their issues were caused by Ridge not being open and honest about what was going on and he needed to tell Alexis that YES he still cared for him. I wanted to slap Ridge upside the head several times for continually hurting Alexis instead of being honest about his feelings towards him and about everything else.
The secondary characters of Alexis's cousin, her mate and his new friends in the new pack were all wonderful and I felt they really helped him not feel so alone.
This was definitely a slow burn. Not my favorite kind of romance to read, but once they were together again things started moving quicker. Close to the end came a shocking revelation I wasn't expecting about the Condition.
The book was in both Alexis and Ridge's POV.
April 6, 2022
This was not the story, or I should say that this was not the couple I was hoping for, but I liked the book still. Alexis and Ridge are friends-to-lovers and wow did this book drag my heart through the ringer. The plot twists were still plenty and the couple that is the focus of the next book has me excited.
Alexis's pining for Ridge is a palpable emotion, and it hurts. He is constantly waiting on Ridge and Ridge just seems obvious to it all. Alexis leaving was the final wake up call that Ridge needed. When Ridge sees his life and plans crumble around him, he shows up at the Grove pack and asks for a place to stay. And from there these two spend a decent portion of the book tip-toeing around each other and their feelings. It was frustrating at times, especially with Ridge who seems absolutely oblivious to any deeper connection because he is too focused on having his alpha's need to provide checklist completed before showing Alexis any kind of love.
Eventually though, these two get it right and when they do, it couldn't have been any more perfect. In terms of plot, I liked how Ridge filled in a gap that was desperately needed in the Grove pack. But throughout the story I found myself more intrigued with Aspen and waiting for the moment Brook realized he was back. There are additional developments on the mysterious Condition, but what I am really looking forward to is Brook and Aspen getting a shot at an HEA.
Alexis's pining for Ridge is a palpable emotion, and it hurts. He is constantly waiting on Ridge and Ridge just seems obvious to it all. Alexis leaving was the final wake up call that Ridge needed. When Ridge sees his life and plans crumble around him, he shows up at the Grove pack and asks for a place to stay. And from there these two spend a decent portion of the book tip-toeing around each other and their feelings. It was frustrating at times, especially with Ridge who seems absolutely oblivious to any deeper connection because he is too focused on having his alpha's need to provide checklist completed before showing Alexis any kind of love.
Eventually though, these two get it right and when they do, it couldn't have been any more perfect. In terms of plot, I liked how Ridge filled in a gap that was desperately needed in the Grove pack. But throughout the story I found myself more intrigued with Aspen and waiting for the moment Brook realized he was back. There are additional developments on the mysterious Condition, but what I am really looking forward to is Brook and Aspen getting a shot at an HEA.
June 16, 2021
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.75 stars
Harvest Moon is the second book in Sam Burns and W.M. Fawkes Wolf Moon Rising series and reconnects us with the Grove pack via two newcomers in Alexis and Ridge. The story starts with the men reconnecting and things are rocky as miscommunication means neither recognizes the other’s interest. Alexis just wants to get away from the disappointment and head to the Grove pack where he can help his cousin, Claudia, the pack second. Things then shift to life with the Grove pack, reconnecting us with their pack and various side characters from the first book. There are enough threads here that carry over, both in plot and character, that I think this one is best read as part of the series.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
3.75 stars
Harvest Moon is the second book in Sam Burns and W.M. Fawkes Wolf Moon Rising series and reconnects us with the Grove pack via two newcomers in Alexis and Ridge. The story starts with the men reconnecting and things are rocky as miscommunication means neither recognizes the other’s interest. Alexis just wants to get away from the disappointment and head to the Grove pack where he can help his cousin, Claudia, the pack second. Things then shift to life with the Grove pack, reconnecting us with their pack and various side characters from the first book. There are enough threads here that carry over, both in plot and character, that I think this one is best read as part of the series.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
August 28, 2021
3.5 rounded up
Enjoyable update to the series! I'll be honest, I wasn't kind of meh going into this book since it features two characters that aren't in the first book, so I was more interested in the book 3 pairing, but I ended up quite enjoying! I appreciated that we still got the Grove pack in the background from book 1 but it didn't overwhelm the way so many series with multiple pairings can do. Definitely a very distinct couple from book 1, and I enjoyed the characters and their relationship, as well as the furthering of some of the plot from book 1. World building is still a bit shallow and while I liked the romance fine, it definitely wasn't quite as deep as I wanted either, nor was the smut all that steamy, particularly given this is an ABO book. I'm learning that I really enjoy these author's works, but they don't tend to absolutely blow me away, which I absolutely fine with!
Enjoyable update to the series! I'll be honest, I wasn't kind of meh going into this book since it features two characters that aren't in the first book, so I was more interested in the book 3 pairing, but I ended up quite enjoying! I appreciated that we still got the Grove pack in the background from book 1 but it didn't overwhelm the way so many series with multiple pairings can do. Definitely a very distinct couple from book 1, and I enjoyed the characters and their relationship, as well as the furthering of some of the plot from book 1. World building is still a bit shallow and while I liked the romance fine, it definitely wasn't quite as deep as I wanted either, nor was the smut all that steamy, particularly given this is an ABO book. I'm learning that I really enjoy these author's works, but they don't tend to absolutely blow me away, which I absolutely fine with!
September 30, 2021
Sweet
Friends to lovers, finally! Omega Alexis has been waiting for Alpha Ridge to return from college, but their reunion isn't exactly as he hoped. Alexis runs off to help his cousin, and Ridge finally realizes all he could lose and follows. Well written second book of the series. I really like these characters the authors have created. Bonus points for the social aspects of pesticide use. My only real disappointment was there was Zero shifting in this story about shifters.
Friends to lovers, finally! Omega Alexis has been waiting for Alpha Ridge to return from college, but their reunion isn't exactly as he hoped. Alexis runs off to help his cousin, and Ridge finally realizes all he could lose and follows. Well written second book of the series. I really like these characters the authors have created. Bonus points for the social aspects of pesticide use. My only real disappointment was there was Zero shifting in this story about shifters.
February 1, 2022
Friends to lovers. The second book in this series is about transitioning. I loved how Ridge made changes to be close to Alexis and make sure he was protected. In making that change, he truly realized where he was suppose to be in life, both personally and professionally. Both characters had to learn how to reconnect with one another. Some times when things change, you find things worth fighting for. LOVED this book.
April 8, 2024
It’s tough to rate this one. I did read the majority of it, but it was boring and it got to the point where I was skimming for dialogue and then just skipping shit all together. It’s sad because I enjoyed book 1 so much. I’ll try book 2 to see if it’s any better because this couple has been teased for forever, but yeah. If it sucks, I’ll just count it as another failed shifter series.
November 14, 2021
oh this was a nice story ... but I was a bit disappointed that we never saw Alexis wolf.
all in all it was a nice story
all in all it was a nice story
August 6, 2022
I love how it’s written but somehow didn’t care for their miscommunication, it seemed stretched for too long
October 15, 2022
I could have done without all the angst based on non- or miss-communication but otherwise it's a sweet romance.
Looking forward to book 3, Brooke and Aspen's story. 😀
3.5 stars
Looking forward to book 3, Brooke and Aspen's story. 😀
3.5 stars
January 31, 2022
⭐️ 3.5 stars ⭐️
July 13, 2021
3.75 stars.
September 17, 2023
RE-READ 9-16-23: My 4-star rating stands, and awwww, I really enjoyed this one this time around! I think even more than I did the first time I read it. And yes, maybe that's colored by knowing the over-arching series plot in advance this time, or maybe that's just because of the mood I'm in? In any case, while I agree with my original comment about the glacial pace the beginning of the story moves at, I didn't skim any of it this time (well, except for some of the sex, as I do so often in m/m so I can get back to the story) and really enjoyed reconnecting with the characters as I go through this series again. 😊
ORIGINAL 4-STAR REVIEW 7-19-21: Sslowwwwww for the first half. I definitely ended up skimming, but I'm still really enjoying the world and looking forward to reading more of the series.
ORIGINAL 4-STAR REVIEW 7-19-21: Sslowwwwww for the first half. I definitely ended up skimming, but I'm still really enjoying the world and looking forward to reading more of the series.
June 12, 2021
Here the plot felt like it dragged too much. And the miscommunication theme did not work well for me either. But I am looking forward to Brook and Aspen's story.
August 22, 2021
The wonder twins Sam Burns and W. M. Fawkes broke my heart all to pieces with a sequel in the Wolf Moon Rising series. They give readers a story of longing, broken dreams, and sorrow. Then turn it all around to something truly lovely but only after some tears had been shed. And I did some crying with this one! As a survivor of a broken dream, I felt this story so strongly. Dang, I LOVE those writers dearly!
In Harvest Moon Book 2, Ridge Paterson returns home from college with his mind settled on turning the family farm around and making a new life with omega Alexis Mena but he finds the farm in poor repair and his parents willing to sell! How in the world can he support his omega? It's what a good alpha is supposed to do after all. And with his humongous student loan debt that makes it impossible for him to buy his parents out? No bank will give him a loan and suggests that he finds some other work to improve his credit standing.
Alexis Mena is doing quite well with his Omega Outdoors podcast and is looking forward to settling down to a wonderful mated life but Ridge doesn't seem interested in him at all. Not realizing the turmoil Ridge is going through, Alexis jumps at a chance to help his favorite person-his cousin who is the Grove pack's second. After discovering she is pregnant and not doing well, Alexis moves more than halfway across the state of Virginia to be a help to her. With the mysterious Condition that is threatening his cousin's pregnancy and Ridge's lack of interest in a long-term relationship with him, Alexis wonders if the new pack will become a permanent home for him. There are lovely new places for the Omega Outdoors to explore and enjoy after all.
But Ridge discovers that the Grove pack had trouble with a nearby feral pack that kidnapped one of the omegas some months earlier. He is determined that will not happen to his omega Alexis and he follows him across the state to serve as another set of teeth and claws for Grove pack. Settling into the kind of work he loves and went to college for, Ridge is taken aback to discover that the company that purchased his family's farm has approached the Grove pack farm owners he currently works for. He gets them to decide against the purchase when they were able to see the ugly truth about industrial farming--that the pesticides the company used were making the omegas sick. Talk about one humongous, rich, and powerful villain!
The readers are given so much to look forward to in this series. How will a group of shifters go against a large food-growing and food-processing conglomerate? Is this another situation like big tobacco who are well aware of the damage they are doing to others? Will the human-dominated world care what is happening to the shifters? What role will the alpha's in-laws who are so rich and well-connected play in resolving this? I have every confidence the writers have something truly wonderful in store for readers.
In Harvest Moon Book 2, Ridge Paterson returns home from college with his mind settled on turning the family farm around and making a new life with omega Alexis Mena but he finds the farm in poor repair and his parents willing to sell! How in the world can he support his omega? It's what a good alpha is supposed to do after all. And with his humongous student loan debt that makes it impossible for him to buy his parents out? No bank will give him a loan and suggests that he finds some other work to improve his credit standing.
Alexis Mena is doing quite well with his Omega Outdoors podcast and is looking forward to settling down to a wonderful mated life but Ridge doesn't seem interested in him at all. Not realizing the turmoil Ridge is going through, Alexis jumps at a chance to help his favorite person-his cousin who is the Grove pack's second. After discovering she is pregnant and not doing well, Alexis moves more than halfway across the state of Virginia to be a help to her. With the mysterious Condition that is threatening his cousin's pregnancy and Ridge's lack of interest in a long-term relationship with him, Alexis wonders if the new pack will become a permanent home for him. There are lovely new places for the Omega Outdoors to explore and enjoy after all.
But Ridge discovers that the Grove pack had trouble with a nearby feral pack that kidnapped one of the omegas some months earlier. He is determined that will not happen to his omega Alexis and he follows him across the state to serve as another set of teeth and claws for Grove pack. Settling into the kind of work he loves and went to college for, Ridge is taken aback to discover that the company that purchased his family's farm has approached the Grove pack farm owners he currently works for. He gets them to decide against the purchase when they were able to see the ugly truth about industrial farming--that the pesticides the company used were making the omegas sick. Talk about one humongous, rich, and powerful villain!
The readers are given so much to look forward to in this series. How will a group of shifters go against a large food-growing and food-processing conglomerate? Is this another situation like big tobacco who are well aware of the damage they are doing to others? Will the human-dominated world care what is happening to the shifters? What role will the alpha's in-laws who are so rich and well-connected play in resolving this? I have every confidence the writers have something truly wonderful in store for readers.
March 24, 2025
You know, I never thought I’d be a person that stayed angry over labels, but “organic”, “free range”, “cage free”, and “grass fed” will piss me right the fuck off on-sight, every goddamn time.
The misinformation and bullshit marketing schemes that keep people in the dark about their food and ethical, sustainable farming and food safety? Enraging. The fact that those are literally just phrases to sell food at higher price points is fucking horrendous, and slapping “no antibiotics ever” on something doesn’t make it healthy or better.
Sorry, but like, safe, quality food is difficult—and fucking astronomically expensive—enough to access without perpetuating the nonsense. Especially when the storyline is seriously great… except for that. We can make points without those ridiculous labels tainting them.
I will happily drag my soapbox out and holler from on high about it all day, not even slightly sorry. But this isn’t the time or place, so ima scoot it back under the table. For now.
Aside from that and the wonky bits, I’m still heavily enjoying this whole shebang. They’re sweet and fluffy and adorable (so far), with spice that’s exactly right for the books and couples, include deeper commentary on heavy topics without being oppressive and overbearing and preachy, and they’re fun. They’re great romance books with a perfectly golden, cheesy presentation. I am never not going to be here for that.
4/5. Because that’s the good shit and I’m entitled enough to make it a habit to indulge in the finest of sweetly-presented (but still sexy) love stories. They’re not too much, but still brilliant in their simplicity and execution. And, again, it’s Omegaverse that isn’t fucking odd. There’s respect and a distinctive lack of ick. Love that for me.
The misinformation and bullshit marketing schemes that keep people in the dark about their food and ethical, sustainable farming and food safety? Enraging. The fact that those are literally just phrases to sell food at higher price points is fucking horrendous, and slapping “no antibiotics ever” on something doesn’t make it healthy or better.
Sorry, but like, safe, quality food is difficult—and fucking astronomically expensive—enough to access without perpetuating the nonsense. Especially when the storyline is seriously great… except for that. We can make points without those ridiculous labels tainting them.
I will happily drag my soapbox out and holler from on high about it all day, not even slightly sorry. But this isn’t the time or place, so ima scoot it back under the table. For now.
Aside from that and the wonky bits, I’m still heavily enjoying this whole shebang. They’re sweet and fluffy and adorable (so far), with spice that’s exactly right for the books and couples, include deeper commentary on heavy topics without being oppressive and overbearing and preachy, and they’re fun. They’re great romance books with a perfectly golden, cheesy presentation. I am never not going to be here for that.
4/5. Because that’s the good shit and I’m entitled enough to make it a habit to indulge in the finest of sweetly-presented (but still sexy) love stories. They’re not too much, but still brilliant in their simplicity and execution. And, again, it’s Omegaverse that isn’t fucking odd. There’s respect and a distinctive lack of ick. Love that for me.
August 19, 2021
I am really loving this series. I think I liked book 1 slightly more than this book, but only slightly. The "good guys/women" in this series are just so very likeable. There were fewer villains in this particular book; the villains were more made up of an entity of sorts and situations that the characters had to deal with.
There is a certain perhaps what some might call preachiness to this, a lot of attention given to the importance of farmers, independent farms, organic growing, etc. and the consequences that can occur when that is lost to industrial farming. It's not subtle. Ridge is a farmer and extremely passionate about it; it's his mission in life, (beyond getting and keeping Alexis as his, that is).
Alexis' love is of the land and the great outdoors, with a hefty amount of attention to supporting omegas in appreciating the same. I would have liked to have seen more of his outdoorsy activities, but he is mostly caught up in supporting his family and Ridge. This is something that kind of follows a trend from the previous book - there's so much going on, so many different critical situations to be dealt with, that characters' chances to just live are spread thin. If these were real people, I'd hope that they eventually get to just BE. (And I like them and their world that I'd be happy to just watch them just BE.)
The narration was quite good. I'm not sure if it makes a ton of sense for certain characters to have stronger regional accents than others who have lived their lives also in the same region, but it does allow the narration to differentiate voices and bring more individual personality across.
I can barely wait for the next audio to be available.
There is a certain perhaps what some might call preachiness to this, a lot of attention given to the importance of farmers, independent farms, organic growing, etc. and the consequences that can occur when that is lost to industrial farming. It's not subtle. Ridge is a farmer and extremely passionate about it; it's his mission in life, (beyond getting and keeping Alexis as his, that is).
Alexis' love is of the land and the great outdoors, with a hefty amount of attention to supporting omegas in appreciating the same. I would have liked to have seen more of his outdoorsy activities, but he is mostly caught up in supporting his family and Ridge. This is something that kind of follows a trend from the previous book - there's so much going on, so many different critical situations to be dealt with, that characters' chances to just live are spread thin. If these were real people, I'd hope that they eventually get to just BE. (And I like them and their world that I'd be happy to just watch them just BE.)
The narration was quite good. I'm not sure if it makes a ton of sense for certain characters to have stronger regional accents than others who have lived their lives also in the same region, but it does allow the narration to differentiate voices and bring more individual personality across.
I can barely wait for the next audio to be available.
November 29, 2021
This was fabulous. I am officially obsessed with this series: I kind of want to find my own Grovetown now.
Even though I missed Colt and Linden quite a bit, I loved getting to know new characters (and old ones too!). Alexis and Ridge were fantastic protagonists and their relationship, the friendship, the mutal pining was *chef's kiss* I'm usually not the biggest fan of friends-to-lovers, but I really loved seeing their relationship progress (and heat up!)
Ridge, also, was such a-breath-of-fresh-air type of character: he's smart, but quiet and a farmer, so people assume he's an idiot (and that made me as angry as Alexis was). He's a true gentleman, nice and kind, and also on the asexual spectrum, so that was so refreshing to see: I'm guessing the authors' aim was to represent all the non-typical alphas there can be, as with Linden, and even though faulty, broken and/or protectice and possessive characters are my favourite kind of jam, it was lovely to see such nice characters on page.
My only complaint (if I can call it that, since I know that not all my romances can be a masterclass in communication skills *sighs*) was that I wanted to scream at them for how long it took for both of them to stop making assumptions about the other's feelings and intentions and start actually communicating.
As usual, the small-town vibe was perfect, as was the found family atmosphere, and now I'm very jealous of fictional characters living in a place that sounds like absolute paradise. Also, a special mention to Claudia and Birch because I LOVE THEM SO MUCH. N0w, I'm off to get my heart ripped out by Brook and Aspen.
Even though I missed Colt and Linden quite a bit, I loved getting to know new characters (and old ones too!). Alexis and Ridge were fantastic protagonists and their relationship, the friendship, the mutal pining was *chef's kiss* I'm usually not the biggest fan of friends-to-lovers, but I really loved seeing their relationship progress (and heat up!)
Ridge, also, was such a-breath-of-fresh-air type of character: he's smart, but quiet and a farmer, so people assume he's an idiot (and that made me as angry as Alexis was). He's a true gentleman, nice and kind, and also on the asexual spectrum, so that was so refreshing to see: I'm guessing the authors' aim was to represent all the non-typical alphas there can be, as with Linden, and even though faulty, broken and/or protectice and possessive characters are my favourite kind of jam, it was lovely to see such nice characters on page.
My only complaint (if I can call it that, since I know that not all my romances can be a masterclass in communication skills *sighs*) was that I wanted to scream at them for how long it took for both of them to stop making assumptions about the other's feelings and intentions and start actually communicating.
As usual, the small-town vibe was perfect, as was the found family atmosphere, and now I'm very jealous of fictional characters living in a place that sounds like absolute paradise. Also, a special mention to Claudia and Birch because I LOVE THEM SO MUCH. N0w, I'm off to get my heart ripped out by Brook and Aspen.
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