Persecution from Jason Truollo’s immediate family becomes too much—his stepfather’s backhand to the jaw is the final straw—and he heads toward the only family who had understood when he came out, his Uncle Raul Braga. When he gets there, he’s shocked when not only does his uncle welcome him with open arms, but he finds his uncle in a committed relationship…with a man. Not only that, but many of Uncle Raul’s friends are gay, too.
Finally, Jason feels like he’s found a place he fits in. Even better, he meets a man who pushes all his buttons, Michel McDover, but surely the sexy rugged mountain man can’t possibly be gay. Except he is, and he makes his interest in Jason plain. Deciding learning the joys of sex from an older man is perfect, Jason begins a torrid fling with Michel. A surprise encounter with some strangers in the woods makes Jason realize he may have far more to learn than he ever thought possible. For the hope of love and acceptance, is he willing to keep an open mind?
I liked Jason. He’s being pretty reasonable under the circumstances. Unfortunately, I did not much care for Michel.
Nor does the whole idea of hiding away for ten years make that much sense to me. It breaks both logic and continuity. For one thing, no one else in all the connected series thus far seems to have adopted a different name and job and personality. Secondly, ten years is too damn short.
Because it seriously would take more than a decade for people to forget you to a reasonable extent. If you lived in a huge, modern city with hardly any personal contacts, sure. But in any smaller environment – particularly a small town such as the one where the pack has been located for the past hundred years (and it’d have been a village back in Ireland before that) – it would take considerably longer for people to stop recognizing someone. You could get away with forty years, maybe even thirty if you are very lucky and truly keep away from your old haunts. Some books get around this by leaving for twenty years and returning under the guise of being one’s own child. That’s a classic and I am willing to go for it. What we have here? No way.
But the first part actually bugs me even more, since a big deal is made out of this decade away business and how everyone supposedly does it. This is a truly annoying kind of retcon. Continuity dies.
Copyediting must have slept as well, since all over the place words are missing or phrases incomplete or malformed.
Still. I liked Jason. That and a few peeks at Jared made this book okay.
Ok, it's my own fault, really. I know what I'm getting with these stories and as a rule I like them. It's a light, predictable fluffy read and and 'inbetween' snack kind of series. I don't mind the mate-mine-growl, the instant love. I don't even mind the minimal to no conflict, that's ok and actually what I'm looking for in these kind of stories. BUT when the blurb leads me to believe it's going to have one kind of conflict and that's just not it at all, the 'real' conflict is a stupid misunderstanding and the 300+ year old shifter doesn't just get his shit together and clear it up? Even I lose patience. Then the thing with the evil scientist? YOU have got to be kidding me? THAT was it? He evades and tortured, kidnapped and inflicts great harm, murders and that was the showdown? WTF? And on a totally unimportant side note, I am really getting sick of these caricature-throw-away-stupid-neglectful-waste-of-space mothers authors like putting into these stories. Seriously, it was going to get 3 full stars despite my issues! because like I said! I know what I'm getting. BUT WHY does the mother always have to be either this kind of bitch of a pride flag farting one? Sorry, rant over.
Boy, what to say? This was a letdown for me. Over the course of this series we have been dealing with the scientists and their plot. After all of that the final showdown, if you can call it that, was a total letdown. So dissapointed.
Much like Stormy Glenn, Charlie Richards infuses her stories with just enough intrigue and endearing romance to make it possible for to me overlook bad writing. Not great, but a pleasant way to pass the time if you're in the mood for some sappy m/m shifter fun. Be warned that Richards sucks at dirty talk. The sex scenes can be a little awkward at times.
First read 12-22-13 Jason and Michel. I liked this, but for an almost 400 year old wolf Michel sure is dumb. I also REALLY REALLY REALLY wanted to them to talk about the attacking scene.
I liked how Jason talked to Sean about what was going on.
Oh and Jared was great!
I really liked Jason, but I am still up in the air with Michel.
Two characters we’ve never been introduced to have sex practically non-stop only interrupted by miscommunication based angst. One freaking chapter had actual plot-based happenings and it was so short and anticlimactic! This HUGE thing happens and it’s just glossed over. *sigh* I realize these books are technically erotica but since I skim over most of the sex I sometimes forget that but all the other books have had more plot in addition to the relationship development.
I will admit I liked Jason, he seemed cool. I hope Michel’s friend Jamie will be in another book. I do appreciate how the author includes opposite sex matings in the books even if they aren’t main characters. That was my biggest complaint against the Lost Shifters series.
Ich mag diese Story sehr, die kommt ganz wunderbar ohne riesige Dramen aus. Die Geschichte um Michel und Jason liest sich super, flüssig und locker. Heiße Szenen gibt es auch, diese sind toll und bildlich beschrieben. Absolut Lesenswert <3
I once picked up a random book from the Stone Ridge universe, and I liked it. Now I’m going through the whole universe and completing the whole list on the author's website.
(trope spoilers below)
There is a lot of insta-love and soulmate/beloved stuff and I love it. In the background there is a continuous bigger plot and the series are all interconnected. Some books I like more than others, but in general it’s a great adventure, and I do not regret starting all those books at all.
If you'd like to read about more books I liked, check out my Goodreads profile. I also sometimes post reviews on Instagram and talk about bookish stuff on Threads.
This story is part of a series and must be read in order. Jason leaves home and sets off for his uncles when his step-father goes too far and hits him, he has put up with verbal abuse but the violence is too much. When Jason arrives at his uncle Raul's he is pleased when Raul welcomes him with open arms and discovers that Raul has a male partner and that most of his friends are gay, it makes him feel safe. Michel is living up in the mountains putting distance between himself and the town. Visit his packmate Raul he discovers his mate, and as he gets to know Jason disaster strikes and Michel has a lot of explaining to do.
This is a good addition to the Wolves of Stone Ridge series but was a bit of a let down as well. Michel has been around for a long time and is happy to have found his mate, but his mate Jason is a lot younger than him and he isn't sure how Jason will react to being his mate. Jason is hoping to be welcomed by his uncle Raul (Choosing his Christmas Miracle) but fears rejection, but meeting his uncle and his friends eases him and he jumps at the chance of a date with the sexy mountain man. Just as things seem to get interesting between them, strange visitors drag Jason into a world Michel hasn't had a chance to inform him about. Just as Jason seems to have wrapped his head around it all a misunderstanding happens that nearly drives them apart.
While I did enjoy this story I found it to be a little strained, as though everything that could happen has happened and it was a strain to come up with something new. Jason's predicament with his step-father seemed a convenient excuse for Jason to visit his uncle, I mean suddenly after years of knowing that Jason is gay his step-father starts to verbally abuse him and then hits him, it was pushing the boundaries of reality a bit. When I first started reading the story I thought Jason must be around eighteen but he was twenty-two, but really came off as younger. Another thing that was a bit unbelievable was when Michel was thinking about how he had removed himself from the human society so he can reappear in the future with a new name, living a long time can cause problems and the only hope is that he will be forgotten, but ten years really isn't that long and unless all the town members have really bad memories then someone would recognize him.
But, saying all that, I have a soft spot for Charlie Richards wolves. Jason and Michel are one hot couple, and while they have misunderstandings and a bit of danger it is a nice little story for them. The conclusion to the mad scientist plot was a fizzle which really surprised me, after all the effort that has gone into that storyline both with Wolves of Stone Ridge and Kontra's Menagerie I was expecting something a lot more explosive. I still enjoyed this story though but not as much as I have the previous books.
I recommend this to those who love shifters, hot sex, new characters, a touch of shock and danger, misunderstandings, hot making up and a very happy ending.
This series is a favorite of mine for a few different reasons and one of them is the fun of finding out what familiar character will meet his fated mate. From the start, this one promised something different because one of the mates was a total stranger to me and the other was a stranger who was loosely connected to Raul a character who recurs in several books. The other difference was that struck me in the beginning was that it got more page time which is always a plus with me.
Once I started the story I didn't feel as connected to it as others. Hot sexy scenes? Oh yeah, but an emotional connection to the characters? Not so much. I'm not sure why since there was plenty of explanation about their backgrounds and each of them took turns with the narration. For some reason, I just didn't click with them. Truthfully, I wasn't that fond of Jason. He reacted strongly to Michel's concern that he was too young and possibly wouldn't want to settle down in a serious relationship because he would miss all his fun times. The thing is, that Jason's actions from that point on did show he wasn't very mature. He gave Michel the silent treatment for days in response to Michel's efforts to connect with him and then he misunderstands something that hurts him, but races off- again not planning to listen or let Michel explain. Did Michel handle things perfectly? Not always. But the thing is I didn't find them a good match.
The other things was that there was a brief bit of action and there were some sexy times, but the plot was only okay to me.
So, while it wasn't awful, it wasn't a favorite in the series either.
The day Jason Truollo was backhanded by his homophobic stepfather the college student knew it was time to leave. His only option is a bus ride to the home of his uncle Raul Braga in Stone Mountain.
Arriving at his uncle’s place Jason is more than astounded to find Raul in a committed relationship with a man, Sean Garcia and they’re raising Sean’s niece together. And, it appears that his uncle is friends with quite a few other gay couples judging by the men he’s introduced to at the cabin.
Coming down from his mountain home to let his Alpha know of dangerous traps set in the area, Michel McDover comes across the unmistakable scent of his fated mate. Meeting Jason for the first time is both a joy and a hardship as the human is only a few years legal and virginal. Their burgeoning relationship hits a roadblock after Jason spies Michel ‘horsing’ around with friends and it seems a little too intimate to the young human. Watching Michel become a wolf may be the last straw for their budding romance.
An emotional tsunami unfolds for readers to enjoy. Angst, love, joy, sorrow, and every emotion in between comes forth in The Mountain Man’s Mate to test Jason and Michel’s resolve. Their journey makes for a powerful tale. A major plot point however that has run through this series is wrapped up far too quickly to satisfy. Luckily, Jason and Michel’s romance more than makes The Mountain Man’s Mate irresistible.
This book was reviewed by Lisa for Joyfully Reviewed (JR), and was provided by the publisher/author at no cost to JR for the purpose of being reviewed.
My review is in spoiler tags because it hasn't been edited yet. It probable has too much negative stuff as that's what I tend to think to write down. If I'm enjoying myself, I don't want to stop reading!
There could be actual spoilers, though, so you've been warned.
Hmm.. cute and kind of boring at the same time. It IS a cute read but the conflict happened near the beginning and was resolved very quickly, leaving Jason dealing with the fallout and knowledge of shifters. The usual misunderstandings revolving around shifters and mates and nudity follow.
The persecution part was an exaggeration to me. Stepdad hit him from my understanding once. Mother looked the other way but didn't seem to rail on him for life choices and his sisters possible attitudes towards being gay wasn't a factor.
The longevity and dealing with being possibly 'found out' as not aging was an interesting premise to explore. Unfortunately it fell flat. Disappearing for a measly 10 years to humans that now stay alive for a good 70 to 80 years is ridiculous. Even changing appearance..not a guarantee someone observant won't see through it.
The cover displayed for this book does NOT match the story.
Loved the tension and ebb and flow of this story. Though only 22 Jason knows who he is and is willing to take on the world after leaving the home of his abusive step-father. Arriving at his uncle's house, he finds himself in the middle of a community of people who accept gay couples as easily as traditional couples. Feeling like he is somewhere he belongs, he easily accepts the attentions of Michel. The issues arrive when the scientists show up and reveal the secret of Michel's shifter side before the shifter has a chance to do so himself.
The tension of clearing up and easing Jason's fears is a wonderful end to the story.
Even though the story was predictable I still enjoyed it. The sex scenes were great! I think they tried to throw too much info into the end with the sister and mother showing up and that whole scene. I didn't feel it was necessary at all. It just brought up more questions that were left unanswered. And this book took forever to come out on kindle for some reason! And I really don't understand the cover. Who is that supposed to be? It doesn't look like either character and why is he covering one eye? I like it when the covers tie into the stories a bit better. ..
Honestly, maybe it’s the fact that I haven’t been sleeping, but I found this book a delight. The usual issues pertain, but Michel and Jason were lovely, and I had fun picturing them in my head, which is all you can really ask. Hoping the author’s progression in her craft continues, because I’m looking forward to seeing where she is when I finally catch up. I will add, once again, hoping for some lesbian ladies in side roles eventually. Cuz they deserve to exist.
Sweet story of Raoul's nephew running from an abusive situation and meeting his mate. There is some drama from the scientists. Learning your lover turns into a wolf, just normal? There are a few mistakes and miscommunication to overcome. These characters are well fleshed out and fresh while revisiting some of my favorites.
Enjoyable quick read with no real plot and lots of sex.
What frustrates me with this author is that there is plenty of potential in writing quality, but all we end up with is a perpetual sex scene. Sure, that's hot, but sometimes I want more.
Jason is Raul's nephew. He came to Raul after being beaten and tossed out by his step father. Michel is in identity change mode. They mate and are captured by the scientists. Rescued by the pack the head scientists is turned over to the CIA.
This sexy story featured Michel, a bear of a wolf shifter, and his much younger fated mate Jason. We revisited the scientist story arc briefly and introduced some new Wolves whose stories are likely forthcoming. A good time was had by all.
2.5 I really like this series, but this one seemed somewhat lacking to me... The story line seemed rushed. (except the scenes where there's sex involved, like the whole last chapter)
The return of Raul was a plus in this book even though he wasn't the main character. Still, I did like that mountain man. Bet he'd look good without all that scruff though. LOL.