Rating: 2 stars out of 5

Jackson Lewis isn’t a typical werewolf. He isolates himself in a small town outside Spokane and dedicates himself to making his business—Lone Wolf Brewery—a success. If it leaves him little time for romance, he’s okay with that. His soul mate could be out there somewhere, but he isn’t actively looking.

So he’s in for quite the shock when he literally bumps into his soul mate—Leo Gallagher, an adorable, nerdy, vibrant music therapist who’s Jackson’s polar opposite.

But he’s human. And a man.

Jackson is straight—or at least he’s always assumed so. Though he can’t deny his attraction to Leo, it’s a lot for both of them to deal with.

While Jackson and Leo figure out what their future might hold, they face prejudice from both the human and werewolf communities—including a group of fanatics willing to kill to show humans and werewolves don’t belong together.

The blurb excited me. I love a fated-mate story and I love the trope that was once labeled GFY. But, this one did not meet my expectations.

Jackson was not likeable. At all. One would think a character like him would grow on a reader. But nope—nada—nil. Jackson is not someone I’d like to know—ever. Leo, on the other hand, was super-likeable, with a vibrant personality and the patience of a saint. Why he persistently stuck it out with Jackson is beyond my ability to understand.

The couple was not a couple through most of the first part of the book and only became one due to Leo’s ability to forgive and Jackson’s strong drive to be with his soul mate. Toward the middle to end, the two started to spend more time together, eventually had sex, and Leo moved in with Jackson. But did that stop Jackson from adamantly stressing that he’s still straight? No, it did not.

To be honest, I’m left with a bad feeling—as if being anything but straight is wrong. I’m sure—or I hope—that wasn’t the author’s intention, but these two men didn’t gel for me. (Leo deserved so much more!) In the very last chapter, when Leo was asked if he was Jackson’s partner, he replied that he’s his soul mate. Really? Apparently, even Leo conceded defeat.

It pains me to say this but I don’t recommend this to anyone unless they enjoy frustrating characters.

The cover by Garrett Leigh  is what one would expect—a handsome man in the foreground, a wolf in mid-howl in the background.

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Dreamspinner

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 1st edition, 247 pages
Published October 9th 2018 by Dreamspinner Press
ASINB07HNDPGYW
Edition LanguageEnglish