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The Homani #1
Homani Tried
Calli's whole life has been about survival.
Being on your own in a post-apocalyptic wasteland can do that to a girl. So when a gorgeous stranger offers her food and a place to stay in exchange for help around his colony's farm, she's hardly in a position to say no. The farm may be her chance to finally have someplace permanent to call home. But the seemingly idyllic town has secrets, and it soon becomes clear that not everyone here is happy with her arrival….
As the leader of his people, Matt has always been strict about ensuring no one learns too much about who - and what - they are. The second he meets Calli, his carefully constructed rules no longer apply. Calli is his - he's as sure of it as his wolf is. Matt's need to protect her is tested as Calli's own past threatens to haunt her…and someone lurking in the shadows promises to destroy them both.
Being on your own in a post-apocalyptic wasteland can do that to a girl. So when a gorgeous stranger offers her food and a place to stay in exchange for help around his colony's farm, she's hardly in a position to say no. The farm may be her chance to finally have someplace permanent to call home. But the seemingly idyllic town has secrets, and it soon becomes clear that not everyone here is happy with her arrival….
As the leader of his people, Matt has always been strict about ensuring no one learns too much about who - and what - they are. The second he meets Calli, his carefully constructed rules no longer apply. Calli is his - he's as sure of it as his wolf is. Matt's need to protect her is tested as Calli's own past threatens to haunt her…and someone lurking in the shadows promises to destroy them both.
- GenresParanormal Romance
139 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 22, 2022
About the author
Sarren Scribner
10 books9 followersSarren is a caffeine-powered, multi-award-winning romance author who may or may not judge people who dog ear books (just kidding… mostly). When she’s not writing steamy love stories or arguing with her characters, she’s losing spectacularly at family game nights.
This Canadian word smith survives winters by hibernating under blankets with her black kitty and golden retriever as personal space heaters. Summers are for pretending she’ll exercise—until her book and iced coffee call her name instead.
Her husband is her favourite snuggling partner, mainly because he brings snacks and doesn’t complain when she argues with herself over plot holes.
Follow her for books, questionable life choices, and the occasional floof cameo. Warning: Her stories may cause bedroom gymnastics, bouts of random shenanigans, and neglecting chores.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 2, 2023
Very early on in the book I found many issues and the list kept growing. Eventually I gave up, I just couldn’t read any more. There were too many issues that just kept grating against me.
These are the errors that I found that turned me off the book.
1. Bad Assery
2. No Connection / Assumed Connection
3. ‘Plus-sized’ fakery
4. Mary-Sue (The bow and scrape)
5. Characters & settings/situations don’t match
6. No emotional connection
7. No Sexual build-up & Rushed sex scenes
1. Bad Assery
I have a real hatred for characters that are supposedly Bad Ass, but they are only Bad Ass because they tell you they are, not because they do anything to prove they are other than talking dirty and dressing up in black leather.
Calli talks like she’s some kind of big shot and has a heightened sense of self-importance, but she doesn’t do anything out of the ordinary to make her someone interesting. Her holier than thou attitude made me hate her immediately. I didn’t care who she wanted to hump the bark off.
2. No Connection / Assumed Connection.
I feel like the author originally wrote a few chapters close to the start where we got to see Calli and Matt get close, share experiences, build rapport, and actually form some kind of link, and then she deleted those and forgot to change the rest of the book to accommodate for the change.
He knows that she is his mate. Great, wonderful. For the readers it just comes across as absurd that the character relationship in the story progresses so quickly that by page 13, they are living together and he’s man-handling her and she’s kicking him in the balls and he’s not throwing her out for doing it.
I feel like it needed more build up. The book is thin enough that a little extra padding to make give the character relationship progress at a more natural paced start would have helped.
3. ‘Plus-sized’ faker
Again, I’m not impressed. Calli is supposed to be a plus-sized character. It’s what makes the book stand out as different in a sea of black leather and skin. But that doesn’t make sense. She’s been alone in the wasteland for 25 years, goes long periods of time without being able to eat, but is still supposedly plus sized? She runs after a truck but is over-weight?
From the image on the front of the book you expect her to be pushing 200+, and as a plus-sized woman myself, even when I was young and plus-sized I could not move around like my thin friends could. The extra weight has always impacted my physical ability. Larger framed people can be healthy, but their body will still function differently than a small framed person. Other than referring to her ass as ‘ample’ I have had no indications that the character is supposedly larger than a size 2.
Matt says that she’s a curvy goddess, but he can lift her up, hold her at neck height with no effort for quite a long time. Even if he could do it because of Homani powers, it doesn’t give the reader what we were promised.
When they are going out partying (post apocalyptic, really?) and she just happens to find a corset that happens to fit properly and comfortably… No. This was honestly my close the book and put it away point. It is really, really hard to get a corset that fits for a typically sized woman, all the rest of the women in town are pretty and thin and what you usually read about in Paranormal Romances or Urban Fantasy, or really any kind of book. But we were promised a plus-sized main character and there is no way, no way that the town would just happen to have a 16+ corset on hand when no one wears that size.
4. The Mary-Sue (Bow and Scrape).
Calli never makes mistakes. She thinks she’s entitled to know everything from literally day one. She’s a Goddess, she’s super sexy. Matt is ga-ga for her. Lilly can’t do enough for her. Her skin is creamy and perfect, her hair is wavy and sleek.
Why is everyone doing everything for her? Why does everyone love her so much? Why does she deserve to know everything? How can she get away with kicking Matt in the nuts and not only not get reprimanded for it, but have him apologize to her for it?
It really, really bothers me that she’s using “Trust goes both way Matt.” No it doesn’t. She is his employee. I can’t get a job as a tech for Google and then walk up to the owner on day one and say I get to know all of your secrets, all the confidential information, all of your business plans because I want to know. It doesn’t work like that. Believe it or not She. Is. An. Employee. And. Does. Not. Deserve. To. Know. Her. Employers. Business.
When she runs away everyone goes crazy to get her back, like she is the single most important being in the entire world.
5. Characters & Setting/Situation don’t match
I already complained that Calli is supposed to be a plus-sized woman, but also has gone weeks without eating so she should be malnourished, instead she has soft, creamy pale skin and glossy hair.
There is supposed to have been some kind of Apocalyptic event but the town has all the modern conveniences.
They are supposedly super wary of people but they invite Calli in and are looking outside of the town for an employee when there are children that can be learning and getting experience tending the houses.
How did Calli learn to cook so well? They are living in an apocalyptic world, she has been alone for a long time, food is scarce, they are always on the go, but Calli just seems to know how to cook everything and how to be a perfect housewife. Where did she learn what are her favourite kind of essential oils, are they just laying around in the wastelands?
6. There is no emotional connection.
All of the interactions between the characters are so short and shallow they barely happen. There is no deep sense of connection between any of the characters, they just kind of brush against each other in passing.
Even during the ‘big talk’ between Matt and Calli it lasts a page if that, nothing is resolved, nothing is explained, they don’t talk about anything. They just snap at each other than they each run away.
Matt goes to the bar has an equally short encounter with Jax and Lilly, there is a lot of name callings, some bowing and scraping in regard to Calli, and then it’s over.
Lilly then goes to find her, they become Human / Homani friends and then they split.
There is no single instance of any of the character having a meaningful interaction, or even an interaction with no meaning but lasts more than a page or two.
7. No Sexual build-up and they rush the sex.
By page 26 they are already having sex.
There is nothing wrong with a good sex scene, but I don’t feel like we connected with the characters enough to give a damn about them climbing each other's tree. Unless I am reading a porn I want a connection, I want to feel rewarded by the characters hitching up. If I just wanted to read smut, then I would pick up a penthouse.
On the note of reading the story for sex, the sex scenes are too short. It’s a couple of paragraphs. What is the fun in that? It starts off strong and then it’s over before you can settle in for a good read. I actually feel sorry for the characters that they have so little sexual stamina.
One paragraph, or half a page does not a good sex scene make. Kudos for them trying to be a little creative in the sheets but make the read worth the work up.
These are the errors that I found that turned me off the book.
1. Bad Assery
2. No Connection / Assumed Connection
3. ‘Plus-sized’ fakery
4. Mary-Sue (The bow and scrape)
5. Characters & settings/situations don’t match
6. No emotional connection
7. No Sexual build-up & Rushed sex scenes
1. Bad Assery
I have a real hatred for characters that are supposedly Bad Ass, but they are only Bad Ass because they tell you they are, not because they do anything to prove they are other than talking dirty and dressing up in black leather.
Calli talks like she’s some kind of big shot and has a heightened sense of self-importance, but she doesn’t do anything out of the ordinary to make her someone interesting. Her holier than thou attitude made me hate her immediately. I didn’t care who she wanted to hump the bark off.
2. No Connection / Assumed Connection.
I feel like the author originally wrote a few chapters close to the start where we got to see Calli and Matt get close, share experiences, build rapport, and actually form some kind of link, and then she deleted those and forgot to change the rest of the book to accommodate for the change.
He knows that she is his mate. Great, wonderful. For the readers it just comes across as absurd that the character relationship in the story progresses so quickly that by page 13, they are living together and he’s man-handling her and she’s kicking him in the balls and he’s not throwing her out for doing it.
I feel like it needed more build up. The book is thin enough that a little extra padding to make give the character relationship progress at a more natural paced start would have helped.
3. ‘Plus-sized’ faker
Again, I’m not impressed. Calli is supposed to be a plus-sized character. It’s what makes the book stand out as different in a sea of black leather and skin. But that doesn’t make sense. She’s been alone in the wasteland for 25 years, goes long periods of time without being able to eat, but is still supposedly plus sized? She runs after a truck but is over-weight?
From the image on the front of the book you expect her to be pushing 200+, and as a plus-sized woman myself, even when I was young and plus-sized I could not move around like my thin friends could. The extra weight has always impacted my physical ability. Larger framed people can be healthy, but their body will still function differently than a small framed person. Other than referring to her ass as ‘ample’ I have had no indications that the character is supposedly larger than a size 2.
Matt says that she’s a curvy goddess, but he can lift her up, hold her at neck height with no effort for quite a long time. Even if he could do it because of Homani powers, it doesn’t give the reader what we were promised.
When they are going out partying (post apocalyptic, really?) and she just happens to find a corset that happens to fit properly and comfortably… No. This was honestly my close the book and put it away point. It is really, really hard to get a corset that fits for a typically sized woman, all the rest of the women in town are pretty and thin and what you usually read about in Paranormal Romances or Urban Fantasy, or really any kind of book. But we were promised a plus-sized main character and there is no way, no way that the town would just happen to have a 16+ corset on hand when no one wears that size.
4. The Mary-Sue (Bow and Scrape).
Calli never makes mistakes. She thinks she’s entitled to know everything from literally day one. She’s a Goddess, she’s super sexy. Matt is ga-ga for her. Lilly can’t do enough for her. Her skin is creamy and perfect, her hair is wavy and sleek.
Why is everyone doing everything for her? Why does everyone love her so much? Why does she deserve to know everything? How can she get away with kicking Matt in the nuts and not only not get reprimanded for it, but have him apologize to her for it?
It really, really bothers me that she’s using “Trust goes both way Matt.” No it doesn’t. She is his employee. I can’t get a job as a tech for Google and then walk up to the owner on day one and say I get to know all of your secrets, all the confidential information, all of your business plans because I want to know. It doesn’t work like that. Believe it or not She. Is. An. Employee. And. Does. Not. Deserve. To. Know. Her. Employers. Business.
When she runs away everyone goes crazy to get her back, like she is the single most important being in the entire world.
5. Characters & Setting/Situation don’t match
I already complained that Calli is supposed to be a plus-sized woman, but also has gone weeks without eating so she should be malnourished, instead she has soft, creamy pale skin and glossy hair.
There is supposed to have been some kind of Apocalyptic event but the town has all the modern conveniences.
They are supposedly super wary of people but they invite Calli in and are looking outside of the town for an employee when there are children that can be learning and getting experience tending the houses.
How did Calli learn to cook so well? They are living in an apocalyptic world, she has been alone for a long time, food is scarce, they are always on the go, but Calli just seems to know how to cook everything and how to be a perfect housewife. Where did she learn what are her favourite kind of essential oils, are they just laying around in the wastelands?
6. There is no emotional connection.
All of the interactions between the characters are so short and shallow they barely happen. There is no deep sense of connection between any of the characters, they just kind of brush against each other in passing.
Even during the ‘big talk’ between Matt and Calli it lasts a page if that, nothing is resolved, nothing is explained, they don’t talk about anything. They just snap at each other than they each run away.
Matt goes to the bar has an equally short encounter with Jax and Lilly, there is a lot of name callings, some bowing and scraping in regard to Calli, and then it’s over.
Lilly then goes to find her, they become Human / Homani friends and then they split.
There is no single instance of any of the character having a meaningful interaction, or even an interaction with no meaning but lasts more than a page or two.
7. No Sexual build-up and they rush the sex.
By page 26 they are already having sex.
There is nothing wrong with a good sex scene, but I don’t feel like we connected with the characters enough to give a damn about them climbing each other's tree. Unless I am reading a porn I want a connection, I want to feel rewarded by the characters hitching up. If I just wanted to read smut, then I would pick up a penthouse.
On the note of reading the story for sex, the sex scenes are too short. It’s a couple of paragraphs. What is the fun in that? It starts off strong and then it’s over before you can settle in for a good read. I actually feel sorry for the characters that they have so little sexual stamina.
One paragraph, or half a page does not a good sex scene make. Kudos for them trying to be a little creative in the sheets but make the read worth the work up.
November 25, 2022
This isn’t one of those books that you read a few chapters than put away for later. It leaves you wanting more the entire read. Every chapter leaves you excited for the next. You guys, I literally couldn’t put the book down until it was finished… THEN when it was finished!!!! Omg, but is it really finished?! 12 hours later and I’m still itching to pick up the next book. You absolutely have to read this book, you will not be disappointed. Especially if you need a little extra spice in your life! ;) I’m pretty sure even if you don’t like supernatural but have any sense of sensuality, you will still love this book and it will leave you questioning your dislike for the genre. READ THIS and if not buy it for your squirky friend or someone who seems bored with their life!
May 5, 2024
I would actually rate this a 3.5⭐️, but the app doesn’t allow decimals.
So, I am just starting to read SMUT and I feel like this was a great introduction to it. I really like the story, and the plot twists! I do feel like the beginning of the story was a bit rushed, but it slowed down halfway through, which I personally like.
It was a little predictable, classic dominance and damsel in distress… I would have liked it more if they had paced themselves and built more sexual tension. The characters were interesting and left room for imagination, though.
All that to say. The story was good and makes me look forward to reading the second book. Very curious to see how it ends! A nice page turner it was.
Also loved the bloopers “Hi I’m Lilly and I’m a hoe Manny panther” 😂 love it.
💗
So, I am just starting to read SMUT and I feel like this was a great introduction to it. I really like the story, and the plot twists! I do feel like the beginning of the story was a bit rushed, but it slowed down halfway through, which I personally like.
It was a little predictable, classic dominance and damsel in distress… I would have liked it more if they had paced themselves and built more sexual tension. The characters were interesting and left room for imagination, though.
All that to say. The story was good and makes me look forward to reading the second book. Very curious to see how it ends! A nice page turner it was.
Also loved the bloopers “Hi I’m Lilly and I’m a hoe Manny panther” 😂 love it.
💗
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 27, 2022
Dystopian romance
Calli is looking for work anything to put good in her stomach when she sees an ad for Smith Farms. When she hears someone talking behind her and turns and smacks into the most amazing looking man she has ever seen. Matt has found his mate and he takes her back to the farm to work. Well her past and the past of the Homani are about to clash when someone is framing Calli. This is an amazing read with a lot of spice. I highly recommend this and cant wait for book 2
Calli is looking for work anything to put good in her stomach when she sees an ad for Smith Farms. When she hears someone talking behind her and turns and smacks into the most amazing looking man she has ever seen. Matt has found his mate and he takes her back to the farm to work. Well her past and the past of the Homani are about to clash when someone is framing Calli. This is an amazing read with a lot of spice. I highly recommend this and cant wait for book 2
June 26, 2023
Homani succeeded (see what I did there 😏)
If you like post-apocalyptic reads with a large dose of shifter romance, this is your sign to pick up this book. It's a quick read because when you start it, there's no putting it down. Check your triggers, and there's spicy spice. Fated mates, evil corporations, intriguing secrets. Go ahead, what are you waiting for? Stop reading my dang review and start reading the book! (And till June 30th, it's FREE! TANLINES AND TBRs romance riot check them all out. Start with this one though, like I did you won't be disappointed)
If you like post-apocalyptic reads with a large dose of shifter romance, this is your sign to pick up this book. It's a quick read because when you start it, there's no putting it down. Check your triggers, and there's spicy spice. Fated mates, evil corporations, intriguing secrets. Go ahead, what are you waiting for? Stop reading my dang review and start reading the book! (And till June 30th, it's FREE! TANLINES AND TBRs romance riot check them all out. Start with this one though, like I did you won't be disappointed)
December 7, 2022
What a fantastic read and start to a new series! It's the perfect blend of paranormal romance (with a new take on shifters) and suspense set in a small, post-apocalyptic village.
Homani Tried starts off with intrigue, dives headfirst into insta-love (and all the spice), and then surprises with one heck of a plot twist! AND THEN THAT ENDING?! I need book two ASAP!
This is a must read.
Homani Tried starts off with intrigue, dives headfirst into insta-love (and all the spice), and then surprises with one heck of a plot twist! AND THEN THAT ENDING?! I need book two ASAP!
This is a must read.
March 6, 2023
Fantastic read and start to a new series.
Great characters with different kind of shifters. It's a paranormal (sci-fi) romance with a new take on shifters and is set in a small, post-apocalyptic village. All the shifters were "man made" expirements.
Great characters with different kind of shifters. It's a paranormal (sci-fi) romance with a new take on shifters and is set in a small, post-apocalyptic village. All the shifters were "man made" expirements.
July 25, 2023
While not my genre of choice, I was impressed with the story and Sarren's skill as the storyteller. The book was well-written and, yes, smutty, but held an engaging plot. Once I began reading, I was hard-pressed to stop.
April 21, 2023
Homani
A new series and author for me that have been changed in a lab and live together. Callie is a human that is Matt mate but her story is damaged.
A new series and author for me that have been changed in a lab and live together. Callie is a human that is Matt mate but her story is damaged.
August 3, 2023
Matt and Cali
This booked hurt me, I had a notion of who the villain was and was praying it was a distraction from the real culprit. Thus it was not and it ripped my soul apart.
This booked hurt me, I had a notion of who the villain was and was praying it was a distraction from the real culprit. Thus it was not and it ripped my soul apart.
December 8, 2022
This book is a post-apocalyptic, shifter romance where the shifters are made not born.
The world-building in this book will pull you in and make you desperate to find out what happens next. It is the first in the series and a quick read, but that doesn't mean there isn't a lot of action and spice. **FIRE**
Can't wait for the next one.
The world-building in this book will pull you in and make you desperate to find out what happens next. It is the first in the series and a quick read, but that doesn't mean there isn't a lot of action and spice. **FIRE**
Can't wait for the next one.
March 20, 2023
I really loved the story, the different aspects of shifters & the history.
It moved a bit quickly for me but overall this is an incredible book. Look forward to the next.
It moved a bit quickly for me but overall this is an incredible book. Look forward to the next.
November 24, 2024
I bought all three books of The Homani series because I had read the reviews and knew this would be a series I would enjoy. Sarren did not disappoint. It was impossible to put this book down. This was a book that held my attention. It was certainly a subject that has not been written about before. It was funny in parts, and tender and vicious. I loved how Sarren described the characters so well I could picture them in my mind. If I must be honest the first spicy scene I had to stop and take a break. Hmmm let me just dwell on that for a few minutes. She finished book one so well that I had to immediately jump to book 2. Definitely a 5 star read.
April 27, 2023
A Dystopian shifter romance with a sci-fi feel. I love the premise of this book. The characters are fabulous, and the spice is WOW. I can't wait for more.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews