Having been raised by his puma shifter godfather, Edwin Aldridge has always known that paranormal creatures exist. Edwin works as a genetic engineer, attempting to apply a shifter’s healing abilities to humans. When Edwin learns that another scientist has done something similar, he looks forward to reviewing his work. Edwin quickly becomes infatuated with Byron, the wolf shifter who delivers the information. Remembering his godfather’s stories, Edwin realizes the wolf shifter is his mate. Unfortunately, once Byron learns about Edwin’s research, the wolf shifter rejects him.When Byron Ziegler scents Edwin, he knows the skinny government agent is his mate. He plans to pursue him, eager to learn everything about the human so they can build a life together. Then Byron learns that Edwin is a scientist working on shifter DNA. He’s devastated and turns his back on the human. While Byron regrets the decision, how can he bond with a man that wants to do the same thing as the people his pack spent years tracking down and stopping?Will the mate-pull be enough to help them find common ground?
I have a feeling this series is more about the shifter-scientist-government arc and not so much the individual couple's stories anymore. I didn't mind the less-than-usual amount of sex in this book and I did like that Edwin had an interesting history with shifters. I was also really glad that the geeky-smaller-human gets to top too. Now, I was totally annoyed by the OTT bad guys and homophobic rants of the director. I mean seriously? He's trying to come to an agreement with the paranormals and the government and he's going to be a stupid homophobic ass at the table? Really? I was annoyed. “This is a business meeting, not a night club,” Director Jeffries snarled. “Save the mooning for later. Fucking fags.” The director mumbled the last couple of words in a low tone, but evidently, everyone heard them.”
Of course the baddie is even worse. Cause you know assholes have to be homophobes. Can't just be a run-of-the-mill asshole and killer. “Haroldson’s lip curled. “You perverts should all be tracked down and strung up,” he snarled. “Yes. Good thing it’s not up to your bigoted mind,”
Oh well, besides that I liked it, and I can't wait for Toby to get his guy. :) So for a quick, easy predictable shifter-mate-grrrrowl- story, this was it.
ho-hum. Was there less sex? It seemed like it, or at least that it happened a little later in the story (instead of on page three).
Byron is kind of a jerk. Repeatedly.
And what is this?
Really? Really!?? Big action scene is coming up and I have to go watch you guys have sex instead? Ugh! *pout* When I said I liked explosions, that wasn't a euphemism...
I liked Toby. Give him someone special plus his own book, not just a background story. *nods*
The 'his human' has been toned down in this one (thank you!) and nice change up to getting a scientist point of view. Though I'm not sure I like the implications of the government knowing and actually signing a treaty with paranormals. As long as it doesn't really effect the storyline...
Then there's the fact that Edwin, though not truly experimenting on shifters, IS using the basis as a kicking point to help humans. I think this could be misconstrued later but since this is in the world of fiction it never need to be visited again or make waves in any way...
Mostly cute, with some annoyings.. I'd actually like to see peripherally Toby possibly get a perfect match mate.
First reading 3-7-14 Bryon and Edwin. Eh. There was less sex in this one, but at a major part it scene jumped and I was PISSED! I felt like we missed a lot, I wanted more. I still want more details. What happens now? ARGH!
Oh Toby! I want him to find a mate of his own and just love on him.
Guess who was back? JARED!!! Guess how happy I was? I gave this one an extra star for Jared happy.
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.
That title makes no sense. Huh. But anyway, this volume was definitely okay. Just not entirely fulfilling. I might blame Byron for this, but it’s a little more than his moments of slight and inexplicable jerkdom.
Jumping right in, I hate it when people don’t listen to what someone is saying. *sigh* Jared to the rescue. (He really still is one of the best things about this series.) Sadly he doesn’t make up for Byron being judgemental across the board.
I think one of the main reasons why the sex in these connected series tends to leave me cold is that there’s never any build-up. People meet and more often than not they start pawing at each other right away. To me that seriously reduces any chance of sexual tension.
Croon count: three. That’s better. The crooning had gotten a little out of hand for a few volumes. On the other hand we’re slapped with the “soon-to-be lover” twice. I realize this is my pet peeve and might not bother anyone else, but seriously. You’ve already made out enough to be close to orgasm and stated several times your intentions to have sex before the day is done. At that point, trust me, there’s nothing “soon-to-be” about being lovers. (Only about being fucked. Fucking. Either. Both.)
“And in fifty plus years when you haven’t aged a day and I’m getting gray hairs?”
Dude! Optimism much? You think you’ll only start getting grey hair when you’re over seventy? XD
Wait. Wasn’t the consensus in this series that you can only bond (thereby producing that life-extending effect and all) if the other person is your fated mate? What the hell?
You know, Byron. Your sister calling Edwin a “hottie geek boy” is actually a lot nicer than the way you thought of him as a twink earlier – since she at least gives him credit for being hot and smart. You really have no room to be snapping at her for it.
When Byron and Edwin because they have something better to do (i.e. sex), I wanted to scream in frustration. The story got so close to being interesting, too!
So, and I guess this works as a conclusion, I have one major plea: Less sex, more meaningful interaction! I don’t even ask for much in the way of plot. I just want something to make the romance feel, well, feel.
Oh, and Toby. I hope we get to see him shine. He so delightfully runs counter the usual types. <3
Yeah...this wasn't bad, it just wasn't particularly good.
I think, for me, part of the problem is that we got largely the same set up for another of the couples in the series (Ailean and Drake). Shifter who has issues w/scientists finds out his mate is a scientist and has been working with the "bad guys". Scientist is not himself a "bad guy" and is crushed by his mate's rejection.
Been there, done that and for me it just didn't work as well the second time around.
I think it also didn't help that I don't feel like I got to know either of the MC's. True facts: I read this book three days ago and had to look up both their names. That's how little emotional investment in the characters and their story I had. By contrast, I can remember little details about some of the earlier couples in this book series, like Declan and Lark or Chris and Manon.
There were some cute parts and some humorous moments (Edwin's idea of dirty talk lol) but overall I felt like it just kind of lacked some of the magic of the earlier books.
Edwin was a Geek in the street and a Freak in the sheets!!! And I love it!!!! But I agree with the other reviews that the scientist perspective was a fresh take on things. But the story itself was a little bit loose for me. I felt like I had some questions at the end ya know? Like who is Craigson and how does he fit in? How come when Edwin said he was in college at 14 Byron didn't even react? Did he already know that? Little things but I was just like hmm.... I am hoping that Toby and craigson will show up in future books! I do think that the government-Shifter "alliance" will be a source of more drama in our future :-)
This is another interesting little tale of the wolves of the Stone Ridge pack chasing down the bad guys and working with the government. This time Byron finds his mate in one of the scientists.
Jared and Carson are in this one, so it gets an extra star! Any scene with Jared is worth a star all by itself!
Can't wait to see what happens with the new shifter they find in this one :)
Ended rather quickly after mated as many do now, not as quick as others in series, but Would have liked to had one chapter after they go back to Stone Ridge. I also hope Toby gets a story.
This book is bad. There is no other word for it. Aside from being a very similar plot from a previous book, this one is done so poorly.
Edwin is supposed to be smart. HE is an idiot. He went to the CIA and told them about shifters. Maybe they knew before but he gave them access to his experiments with shifter blood. How could he not see how fucking dangerous that was. Even if he didn't directly experiment on shifters himself he was opening that door for people to do it. If the cure he was looking for required shifter blood then what did he think would happen. Would he drain his godfather dry? How could he trust the government with such sensitive info. He never thought of the repercussions of his actions.
He never seemed that repentant on holding and killing shifters even if he didn't know they were shifters. How could he experiment on animals when he knew he couldn't differentiate between animals and shifters. He just learned about the rat and instead of thinking about it he is all about fucking his mate and sucking his dick. Then after that he is all about knowing how he was so incompetent. He is a genetic engineer for fucks sakes he is studying their DNA it made no sense he wouldn't know.
I could have been appeased if at some point Edwin realized or commented on how his INTENTIONS didn't matter. HE caused harm. He did that. His experimenting on shifters is too dangerous even if he didn't intend it like that. Byron was more than justified. Because EDwin was too careless and naive about the whole thing. He killed someone for fucks sake. And don't get me started on Toby and not letting him know he killed a subject. It was beyond idiotic.
Let's pray that the people in charge of this book find their brain and realize what a fucking joke the whole book was.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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 one was a little something different for the series in that one the shifter's gets a scientist for a mate. This starts things off with the sparks flying for certain. I enjoyed this type of conflict and it definitely foreshadowed for more to come.
Edwin is the scientist, but he's not a bad scientist. He was raised by a shifter and he has no desire to doe them harm. He wants to help others by testing the genetic qualities of their blood to see if their blood can help heal human ailments. Unfortunately, when he sits in on a meeting between a group of shifters, a vampire and the government representatives, he meets his mate who sort of freaks when he hears the key words 'scientist' and 'experimenting'.
Byron is thrilled to find his mate until he learns that he is a scientist. His half-sister was experimented on by scientists. Even if his wolf nature urges him to get past this, he can't for his sister's sake.
As I said, this was a bit different for the series and refreshingly enjoyable. It offered some pretty exciting moments too. You just know when your dealing with government and top secret lab work that you've got someone ready to use this for their own gain.
This one was also fun because several favorite members of the pack along with one of the vampire mated pairs are in on the action. Jared just cracks me up. No secret is safe around him and he has no trouble playing hardball. Miach is almost as dangerous and I felt his pain being in that lab.
There were several new characters and possible story threads introduced that I am eager to see pursued now. I'm intrigued by Edwin's mysterious godfather, Toby, the shadowy government agent and I hope there is more about the new injured shifter.
This felt like a transition story in the series even though another couple was introduced and got their story. In fact, that's my only real niggle is that there wasn't much of a build up and getting to know them opportunity. I get that things could move along quicker in some ways because Edwin was well versed when it comes to shifters and this is a fated mate story, but I felt that Edwin and Byron as a couple happened pretty quick- like one day quick. I just needed a bit more time to settle into their story I guess so that's just me.
In the end, it was an overall good read leaving me eager for what comes next.
It was so interesting none of the other characters commented on the MCs being in an interracial relationship. It was the Interspecies mating of Wolf shifter and Human that disgusted several people. But getting to that mating was not an easy feat. A skinny white Human scientist named Edwin, who did experiments for the CIA ("Never on shifters!" he declared ), yet this intense attraction for one of the shifter delegates brought in by the CIA Director. Interest in a super soldier initially led to the meeting into that mad scientist's death. Edwin had received and reviewed all his still available data.
The paranormal contingent were there to insure that the CIA world not be in the business of replicating the other scientists' work. Their contingent consisted of Wolf shifters, a Vampire, and mated deadly Humans. Smart beings that were not going to allow for any trickery. Embarrassing for the government scientist, he couldn't hide his super strong and sudden attraction to the well built handsome African American Wolf shifter, Byron. Even the Humans noticed and were not pleased. To his fury & dismay the CIA agents maliciously notified the shifters that part of Edwin's work had indeed involved experimenting on shifters. Byron was so incensed that he angrily left the meeting without awaiting any explanation from the good doctor.
Raising a younger sister, who'd been captured and brutally experimented on made Byron avoid anything or anyone the even hinted at shifter experimentation. How could Fate possibly pair him with a "Human" as that. Their mating was over before it had even begun. Getting the two to speak again and listen to one another took some stealth negotiations, but finally a detente was reached. But trust broken is not easily recaptured.
Edwin had a history of people leaving him. Very important people in his life. Parents, Godfather, other men. And now man in the most important relationship of his life. A connection that was supposed to last a lifetime - gone in an instant!! How could he get Byron to hear him? And what was really going on in his Labs? What was wrong with one of his Rat subjects? Could the other shifter coalition members be any more intimidating?
I enjoyed this story. I can't wait to read more in the series. It has definitely recaptured my attention.
This story follows on from WSR 21 Crashing the COMICON. We follow Carson, Jared, Sebastian and Byron to a meeting with the CIA to hand over Marlow's research. Byron meets his mate, Edwin, and the misunderstandings and confusion begin. Nick and Miach also put in a appearance. It was good in regards to the two MCs meeting and resolving the misunderstandings and trust issues between them. For general plot it felt like a bit of a filler.
Normally when I write a review I try to give the readers my option o.k. the storyline, the editing, timeline and such. But all I can say is if you haven't read this series from book one until the end, you are really making a HUGE, GINORMIS MISTAKE. These books will leave you wanting and wet.
This addition to the series was wonderfully plotted, with distinct but clear characterizations and a simple but nice flow. Byron and Edwin are an amazing couple. Congrats to the author for her continued progress.
I love a good nerd/geek with glasses story. We get to revisit Carson and Jared in this one; I love those two. Sweet and sexy with new characters I can't wait to read about.
...eine Story um die Stone Ridge Wölfe die mir echt gut gefallen hat. Gefährten, ein kleines Drama und heiße Szenen. 🔥😍 So wie sich das für diese Reihe gehört. Ich bin gespannt ob wir noch was von dem Rattenwandler lesen...oder von Tobi 🤔😏