Camden Priest

The Olympus Pride #3

by Suzanne Wright, Jocelyne Bourbonnière (Translator)

Aspen n’était qu’une enfant lorsqu’elle s’est liée d’amitié avec Camden, un garçon au regard froid et aux pulsions ténébreuses. Au fil des ans, cette amitié s’est muée en amour, mais Aspen est persuadée que ses sentiments ne sont pas réciproques, et tente de prendre ses distances pour se protéger. Mais Camden refuse de la laisser faire… Car Aspen est le centre de son monde, et il ne se retient de la revendiquer qu’à l’idée qu’elle ne le voit que comme un ami. Cependant, lorsqu’un autre prétend être l’âme sœur d’Aspen, le sang-froid légendaire de Camden menace de céder…

Genres: Paranormal, Romance, Shapeshifters, Friends To Lovers, Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Audiobook

405 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2022

About the author

Suzanne Wright lives in England with her husband, two children, and her Bengal cats. When she's not spending time with her family, she's writing, reading, or doing her version of housework - sweeping the house with a look.

Reviews

[Val ⚓️ Shameless Handmaiden ⚓️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4-4.5 Stars

Anyone who knows me and/or has been reading my reviews for any length of time already knows I am trash for Suzanne Wright. So if this is news to you, here is a requisite disclaimer:

I slobbery fan girl when it comes to Suzanne Wright books. Full stop. Her books are like warm formulaic blankets of comfort to my paranormal romance soul. So my reviews for her books are pretty much 100% without objectivity.

That said, I will say this one definitely left something to be desired. It was kind of sloppy and she definitely followed her formula.

But. I. Don't. Care.

Because Aspen.
And because CAMDEN.

Like many, I have been dying for their book for so long. And their relationship delivered for me in all the ways I wanted it to. It was simply delicious.

It was like a "loved you since childhood" over the top possessiveness super sundae with cherries. And I just gobbled it up.

I'm sure this will be a re-reading/upgrade to 5-stars soon favorite.

[Giorgia Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

Finally! A newer SW book which I actually liked and didn’t pray I can finish!

Was it unbelievably good and something I’ll remember! NO.

But in comparison to her other releases over the last few years? Yes this really had something that kept me reading. And shocker shocker? It was a friends to lovers - which if anyone has seen me say 100 times before - I DO NOT like.

I guess this was different in the fact that it was paranormal and it made sense why those two kept it platonic for so long.

Anyway, yes, a win for me.

[Aisling Zena · Rating 4 out of 5]

1/3/22

4 stars

Review later.. Maybe..


4/3/21

Aspen and Camden!! YAY!

[Wendys Wycked Words · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesomesauce 😍😍

[Ꮗ€♫◗☿ ❤️ ilikebooksbest.com ❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friends to Mates!



The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙🤎🖤❤️💜
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙📘📘
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌍
Character development: 😠😘🤓😉
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Solo Narration

The heroine: Aspen Montgomery - A bearcat shifter, at nine years old, she lived in a foster care group home. All the other kids told her not to talk to the weird kid with dead eyes, but she couldn’t help but make friends with him. She bonded with him over the fact that both of them had mothers that tried to kill them and she helped him to blink more and to act more like the other kids.

The Hero: Camden Priest - A tiger shifter. Camden was emotionless, he couldn’t feel things for anyone but his friend Aspen. His cat didn’t like anyone or anything except Aspen. He felt more for her than simple friendship, but didn’t think she felt the same. He was bisexual and had more boyfriends than girlfriends. He never gave Aspen any indication he was anything other than a friend.

The Story: Aspen and Camden both joined the Olympus pride together and now they lived in separate apartments though every place they had lived before, they were roommates. Aspen had wanted separate places because she was tired of her one-sided feelings for Camden and wanted some space. She didn’t want to get between him and his partners.

This book was steamy from the start. I love it when a tall sexy man is in total control and doesn’t feel things like other people but has so much feelings for that one special girl. I also loved how protective Camden was over Aspen and how he just wanted to be near her all the time. It was sweet and you could just feel how they were longing for each other from the start, though both of them thought the other wasn’t interested in that way. I usually am not to fond of the friends to lovers trope, but I really liked this one.

The book was told in dual points of view via solo narration and was narrated by Samantha Cook. She has a nice sonorous voice and does a good job doing different voices for the males and the females. I usually don’t like solo narration too much, especially if the narrator is a female, though this one didn’t bother me at all.

Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub

[Jena]

Self note avoid

The H is bi, or gay.
He had mostly male partners, and the h (female) is his mate.
They were bff living together, and he would bring men home to fuck while the h was in the next room.


Not my jam, a complete turn off as a straight female reader.🙄

[↬ Ⓛ · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[✰ Liz ✰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

When He's Sinful is the third book in The Olympus Pride. Suzanne Wright is the master of shifter romance and I have been hooked on anything Wright creates since I began my reading journey years ago. Although each book follows the same central plot, each book is unique with characterization and plot nuances that never fail to entertain.

Aspen Montgomery and Camden Priest have been best friends forever. Although they have always felt an undeniable bond, Aspen knows that Camden can only be that- just a friend. As both have dated other people and forged their own way in the pride, one thing has never changed and that is the love they have for each other. When Camden realizes that Aspen might find a mate and move on forever, he doesn't waste any time claiming what has always been his!

Overall, When He's Sinful is a complex shifter romance with witty writing and a captivating friends-to-lovers plot. The action is non-stop and the ensemble of characters are all unique! Fans of shifter romances, should not hesitate to meet Camden and Aspen!


For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:

[Elle ♡ [semi-hiatus] · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-4 stars

This was a friends-to-lovers story between Aspen (bearcat (aka red panda) shifter) and Camden (white tiger shifter). They've known each other since Aspen befriended little sociopath Camden at their foster home when they were kids. Aspen quickly became Camden's moral compass and anchor in life. We've seen them in previous books as roommates and platonic, inseparable best friends. They've both dated other people throughout the years, but never had anything serious. Camden is also bi and mostly dated men. I would applaud Suzanne Wright for her inclusivity (there have been a few gay side characters as well in her series), but of the three bi male main characters I know of they all treated sexual acts with men as releases with no emotion/attachment or possiblity of real relationship and that to me is probably not sending the message she wants it to. I'm not saying I need an MM book from SW (although I wouldn't complain, I bet she could write a good one), but she should probably stop writing bi dudes that only really love and can have real relationships with women it's getting a bit 🥴.

Besides that I'd be inclined to say the light kink in this book (pain, breath play, rough sex) is kinkier than normal for SW and refreshingly fun especially since normally in her shifter books the heroines are very resistant to being sexually submissive in any way. However, who here has read Feral Sins (the first book in the Phoenix Pack series)? 🙋🏼‍♀️
Okay, and who here has read both versions of Feral Sins? 🙋🏼‍♀️
If you're not raising your hand, slight spoilers: the original version of that book included a fucking orgy lol it was edited out when SW signed a publishing deal with Amazon, I think they have a problem with any sex scene that's more than 3 people or something 😅 so anywayyy who knows what kind of kink SW would be throwing at us at this point when she was writing orgies back in 2012? We've been deprived. I'll definitely say that compared to her current standard smut scenes this was kinkier for sure. Kinda fun.

I really enjoy Suzanne Wright's books. Her writing is definitely formulaic and this book was no exception. I knew exactly what to expect, but that's not always a bad thing. I read this a bit slower than I normally would have probably due to current world events(🇺🇦🤍) that have made it hard to get lost in reading, but maybe the predictably here didn't have me turning pages as eagerly as I could have been otherwise 🤷🏼‍♀️ Regardless, I enjoyed reading this book and it seems like the beta of the pack, Luke's, book is being set up to take place next and his fated mate is 18 years old so we're getting an age gap people 👏🏻

[Snow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am the least excited about the "friends-to-lovers" trope, don't ask me - why, I do NOT know myself, LOL...
It's not like I have anything against it, I'm just not to eager to pick it up...*sigh*

Anyway, Suzanne Wright made me reconsider, LOL, damn, she could make me reconsider about anything...

So, this "friends-to -lovers" action packed suspenseful fantasy romance made me swoon, sweat and indulge on so many levels...yes, the bond Camden and Aspen have is more than friendship, it's more basic and fundamental... and when it finally clicked into its rightful place, that bond became more than any words could describe...

And yes, Camden's silent, resilient, penetrative, domineering stance in Aspen's life is just that, a permanent stamp on being, breathing and living for her, and just her.

Magnificently described, brilliant and masterful!



MY GOD...YAAAAASSSSSS!!!!!
It's here....
the new Suzanne Wright's book is finally HERE....

Going in...

[richa ⋆.˚★ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked it better when they were pining for each other.🙃 A humble request for Suzanne to give up on the action sub plot, make it only about the couple. I couldn't care less about what they do on their jobs or in their packs.

[Bev · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was thrilled to eventually get Camden and Aspen's story, but really could have done without a huge chuck of waffle and twaddle that took up a large chunk of the book. That getting a hard edit would have definitely bumped up my rating, because .... Camden 💗

Not sure I want to read Bailey's book, she irritates the absolute heck out of me with her daft randomness

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

I usually love all your paranormal books. But this? It felt disrespectful to mates. It grossed me out. To have his mate in the room next door while he screwed other dudes? I don’t care if the mate bond didn’t show itself til later, this was just creepy and gross that he’s was screwing guys while his future mate was in the same house. Unfortunately we knew many more details from the last book in the series. I thought since he was screwing dudes but jealous when she had boyfriends that he was just creepy. Not a good look. Not attractive. Not even gonna attempt to read this now that I know he’s supposed to be her mate. So off-putting

[Somia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Cosy Stars

This followed Wright's classic formula making it a nice read to curl up with. It was enjoyable but there was just something missing from the portrayal of Aspen and Camden's relationship and the development from best friends to lovers.

The breath play did not seem to be a seamless and natural development as I read. Could have fone without it.

I still love the dynamic between Aspen, Bailey and Havana.

Acquired via KU.

[Noe · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/2/2022

I enjoyed this book, but I definitely over-anticipated or overhyped this book in my mind leading up the the release. Now don’t get me wrong, this is a classic SW shifter book with all the things we know, love and come to expect. I think I might have enjoyed this more if I had tempered my expectation.

3/5/2021 Aspen & Camden!! YES YES YES! Thank you SW for giving me what I want

[Cindy ✩☽♔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Camden and Aspen over here making friends to lovers look 🔥

Sidenote: I know Luke's book is next but I'm way more invested in Bailey and Deke as of now

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

NOW LIVE!
Amazon US * Amazon UK

[Aaliyah Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

This had so much potential, we had the two books before this building up this bestfriends to lovers trope but it just fell kinda flat

I enjoyed the start a lot but I felt that there was a lack of excitement and chaos that Suzanne Wright’s books normally have

Though i really liked both main characters in the middle it got super boring and all of it was predictable

It was missing a huge fight scene/ blow up between the couple. I love them cause then they come back together, stronger and better than ever.

Maybe it’s because this is her 16th book in this world and she’s like✨ slowly running out of ideas but I’m so disappointed:(

But also I still kinda think it was okay🤨

2.75/5⭐️

[Ira · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.
I anticipated this book a bit too much, I think 😬.

Very predictable storyline, made it a bit boring.
The villains were pretty weak and bored! 😐
While I like Camden and Aspen as an individual, but the feels of she/he loves me or loves me not type of relationship, is not a fun to read for me.

But, it’s a Suzanne Wright’s book! 😘
Also, the hero is a strong majestic animal, not a cute fluffy one, my kind of a shifter hero! 😜😂

I can’t wait for her new trilogy, I hope for better storyline, there. 😍

❤️

[Jac K · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to Camden and Aspen’s story. I LOVE a dark/somewhat-psychopathic H, and Camden looked like he’d deliver… and I guess he did in a way… but I was left disappointed. For those that need a refresher, Aspen and Camden were introduced in When He's an Alpha as part of Havana’s lone-shifter/ex-Movement entourage. Aspen was the easy-going Bearcat and Camden was the closed-off, emotionally unavailable Tiger that dated mostly men.

I assume most readers will more than likely be S.W. fans and like her brand of writing (If you’re new to her, I wouldn’t suggest starting here… I’d dip my toe with her older stuff - Dark in You, Phoenix Pack, etc.) and know what they’re getting into. I’m a FAN and can usually get onboard with the “formula”, but found When He’s Sinful took effort at times to stay engaged.

First, it took WAY TOO LONG for them to get together. We know they both want in each other’s pants, but neither will make a move. I’ll admit, I didn’t have a ton of patience for this because the dynamic was in the background all last book, and I found it hard to believe that such close friends wouldn’t feel safe having the conversation. Regardless, it takes 27% for them to hookup, 41% for any forward movement in the relationship, and 75% for them to catch up with what we all know.

Second, I know S.W. never goes deep, but I find it very frustrating when she introduces something important… like Camden’s bisexuality, but then brushes it away. I know I complained about this in Trick’s book, but IMO it was a bigger deal here since we’re told a big reason Aspen doesn’t reveal her true feelings is because she’s afraid he’s only attracted to men. A few statements are tossed out… sex is just a physical release to him- like exercising ... maybe he couldn’t be with OW because he really wanted Aspen. In any case, sexuality is more complex than a release, and after numerous mentions of him being gay or mostly into dudes- IMO- it warranted a discussion between the two mc’s. Or, don’t go there at all because as is, it felt like a lazy gimmick to add drama.

I also felt like the plot was a bit of a hotmess. It’s like she haphazardly dumped several plot devices… wannabe mate, bitchy cousin that wants in C’s pants, C’s bi-sexuality, C’s ex- Randy, photoshopped pics, car explosions, ex-pack problems, Ex-Movement drama, evil uncle, etc., etc. … together and let it shake out without any real direction or development.

With all that said, I did really like Aspen and Camden and was invested in their HEA. I loved that they were so solid, I loved that he was so obsessed with her, and I found their chemistry 🔥. I’ll still read anything that S.W. puts out.

Bottom Line- Just ok for me, but I might’ve enjoyed it more had I not set my expectation so high. There was so much dark potential, but it ended up as window dressing. I really liked Aspen and Camden, and think this could’ve been a 5⭐ read had the plot been more streamlined and moved along quicker. I needed less filler and more couple time. It reminded me of Trey’s book with the abusive parent, emotionally crippled- I don’t know what love is H, and the evil uncle.

* Random tidbits- Bailey/Deke teasers. Damian has a GF- Acadia.

*Total sidenote, but I found it SUPER confusing that her “bearcat” was really a red panda. Especially because binturongs are known as bearcats. There were several scenes in Havana’s book where Aspen’s bearcat gave cute little looks and kids/adults melted, and I couldn’t figure out how that ugly (sorry binturongs) animal was making people go… Awww. Why not just have her be a red panda?

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

SW has been a staple in my reading for years now but with the last couple of books I've noticed a definite pattern which I would love her to break out of. But I just don't see it happening.

I wasn't going to read this but after rereading my review from book two it seemed that I was dying to read this one. Whereas it didn't fulfill my expectations it was okay.

Maybe my taste has changed over the years. Or I have become too picky. Maybe I need to move on from the Olympus Pride. Only time will tell.

[Ryan Mackay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Real mixed feelings on this one....

Camden is literally a sociopath. In the first chapter, we learn that he tortured bugs (apparently not as big of an issue as hurting animals) and had all the hallmarks of a sociopath. I don't get why Wright chose to have such a sociopath + explicit distaste for therapy/therapists etc. It just kinda felt yucky...

I also don't love friends to lovers stuff in general. I'm a pretty straightforward person, and honestly think its ridiculous that these two didn't at any point think "huh so the sociopath likes this singular person, (sociopath thinks oh this is the only person I care about, plus have the hots for) and I'm hot for him. Maybe we could do the whole relationship thing.... I just don't buy it, can't deal with it. Also! I kinda feel like Camdens bed buddies are right. Like they very obviously do not have a healthy level of friendship, they are in a non sexual relationship from the very beginning of the story...

Very disappointing tbh, though I didn't really expect much out of the title because I eye roll for days for friends to lovers stories to begin with....

Also- can we move away from these small animal specific shifters? It was already ridiculous to imagine a wolf taking on a grizzly bear in some of these "fights" but it is absolutely ridiculous to think "oh a pallas cat/bearcat whatever is going to be able to take on a hyena/whatever." Kinda dreading Luke/Blairs book because ew he's known she's his true made since she was a kid? He's like 30ish in this series and she just turned 18. That is disgusting. Wright can we please stop with the gross sociopathic/predatory/rapey overtones you've been doing more with this series?

[Milica's Bookshelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy this book but I have expected so much more from this story... so I'm a little bit disappointed.
But that's on me.
It is always best when you have no expectations.

[Antonella · Rating 4 out of 5]

if you want mutual pinning friends to lovers paranormal then this is a book for you!!
can be read as a standalone as I don't remember much of the other books in this series and I read them this year and I had no problem following the storyline...

3.5🌟

[Mindy Lou's Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

Camden's character is a huge draw for me. He's the unemotional male that feels everything for the heroine. She's the one and only person who makes him feel. I love that. I also love the fact that Aspen is a fighter. She's pretty badass for a female shifter. I think both Camden and Aspen were a perfect match and I loved getting their story.

[Milla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why do I keep reading these? It’s like bad reality tv, an addicting way to pass the time that you’d rather not think too hard about.

[Jeanny · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the FMC & MMC well enough but never became invested in them or the story. I enjoy the world & (In general) the author’s work. I will continue the series.
1 “I read the full story in an apathetic state”🤷🏻‍♀️ stars.

[Teodora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feels like Suzanne Wright is finally giving us better content! I hated Fallen and most of the book it felt so copy-paste but this one felt A LITTLE different.

Everything is the same in all the other books:
1. 2 main characters
2. things that put the 2 main characters in danger happen
3. sex and lots of sex, this couple has a little different sex though
4. they end up together and realize they are true mates as almost all the other couples in this series. It really goes to show how fucked up they all are since none could realize they are true mates in this series. What is the point of the whole "true mates" if none of your characters realize it before they go through life and death experiences? Are we supposed to understand that you won't see how much you love and care for a person until you fking almost die? This is such a used theme in her books it kind of got boring after 4.
5. possessive as fuck males that won't let the girls do what they want and have the same conversations for pages about why he doesn't like but w.e
6. mostly the same bullshit you read in the other books but a little different that makes us see it with good eyes.

[Alina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh man, I love SZ but the characters unfortunately bored me, it has the classic SZ formula but it just didn’t hit the right spot, I was more invested in Bailey and Deke, like Bailey cracks me the f up LOL. Anywho, its a good book just not her best one!

[Katyana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like this one as much because both the leads needed someone to shake some sense into them. For two people who claimed about 23489575436 times in this book to know the other better than anyone in the world, able to see right through them ... these idiots spent 80% of the book desperately wanting a relationship with each other, but positive the other didn't and to try would be to end the friendship.

Meanwhile, literally every other character could see that they probably had a true mate bond.

I spent so much of this book wanting to slap sense into both of them that it made it hard to enjoy at times.

Also, the MMC was presented as ... well, honestly, as a sociopath in many ways. The FMC is literally the only person in the world that he gives a shit about, or even really sees as a real person. That kind of sucked, and also ... well, Havana and Bailey love him (as a friend, a brother even), which made it weird to see how few fucks he gave about them.

YMMV, as always. /shrug