Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
Hmm.
I don't think I'm the target audience for this book.
Also, apart from the shifting aspect (one character is a coyote, the other an American Bison, and there are other shifter characters), this felt like a regular ol' no-magic-here romance novel. And that's fine! But I like a little more magic (supernatural/fantastical) in my novels. I don't really read books that don't have magic (or sci-fi) in them. It's a character flaw.
Honestly, I think the author was like 'haha I could name him William and have him be a bison' and then just wrote the book around that conceit.
I didn't really like Donnie (our MC)--less because he was a bad character and more because I didn't really feel like I got to know him. Also, his name sounds...young. He's also portrayed as being somewhat hyper/ADHD, which makes this book feel a little like a Sterek with the serial numbers filed off.
Given that William is a badass who takes quiet and stoic to unheard of levels, I suspect that Sterek might be where this story started. William is also bearded, buff, and strong. (He takes his coffee black and doesn't really like sweets. Naturally.)
I didn't like that William treats Donnie as a child for most of the story...but we're told they're in love, so it's ok! /sarcasm
Nothing about how Donnie acts really detracts from the 'he's a child' thing, either--he was undeclared in college, doesn't really seem to have interests apart from working in his coffee shop and baking (and I guess taking care of his nephews?), has no career or life ambitions, and has never had a serious relationship before. These are not bad character traits, but they're glossed over, and all contribute to the feeling of a young character. And the way they're presented in the story feels distinctly 'judge-y'--they could have worked, but it feels like the author doesn't approve of his lifestyle, either.
Donnie and William don't seem to have much in common, apart from thinking the other is hot. I'm not sure if we're told what William was professor of, but if he had been, say, professor of Antebellum History, and Donnie was really into reading biographies/non-fiction books/romance novels of soldiers and generals from that time period, it would have at least given them something in common.
There's also A LOT of second-hand embarassment in this novel, which I guess doesn't bother everyone but sure as hell bothers me.
And William keeps having sex with Donnie to distract Donnie from asking questions. Like, multiple times. IDK.
I know what the author was aiming for (sweet home-maker helps soften the edges of stoic manly-man), but it felt really classic het romance novel to me, and not in a good way.
Also, I checked how many pages were left of this book. MULTIPLE TIMES. That's not a good fit for me. Ugh.
ETA: I found multiple reviewers calling Donnie a TSTL character. I wasn't sure what that meant, so I googled it, and lo and behold, it's Donnie to a T: Too Stupid To Live. Yep, that's Donnie alright.
I don't think I'm the target audience for this book.
Also, apart from the shifting aspect (one character is a coyote, the other an American Bison, and there are other shifter characters), this felt like a regular ol' no-magic-here romance novel. And that's fine! But I like a little more magic (supernatural/fantastical) in my novels. I don't really read books that don't have magic (or sci-fi) in them. It's a character flaw.
Honestly, I think the author was like 'haha I could name him William and have him be a bison' and then just wrote the book around that conceit.
I didn't really like Donnie (our MC)--less because he was a bad character and more because I didn't really feel like I got to know him. Also, his name sounds...young. He's also portrayed as being somewhat hyper/ADHD, which makes this book feel a little like a Sterek with the serial numbers filed off.
Given that William is a badass who takes quiet and stoic to unheard of levels, I suspect that Sterek might be where this story started. William is also bearded, buff, and strong. (He takes his coffee black and doesn't really like sweets. Naturally.)
I didn't like that William treats Donnie as a child for most of the story...but we're told they're in love, so it's ok! /sarcasm
Nothing about how Donnie acts really detracts from the 'he's a child' thing, either--he was undeclared in college, doesn't really seem to have interests apart from working in his coffee shop and baking (and I guess taking care of his nephews?), has no career or life ambitions, and has never had a serious relationship before. These are not bad character traits, but they're glossed over, and all contribute to the feeling of a young character. And the way they're presented in the story feels distinctly 'judge-y'--they could have worked, but it feels like the author doesn't approve of his lifestyle, either.
Donnie and William don't seem to have much in common, apart from thinking the other is hot. I'm not sure if we're told what William was professor of, but if he had been, say, professor of Antebellum History, and Donnie was really into reading biographies/non-fiction books/romance novels of soldiers and generals from that time period, it would have at least given them something in common.
There's also A LOT of second-hand embarassment in this novel, which I guess doesn't bother everyone but sure as hell bothers me.
And William keeps having sex with Donnie to distract Donnie from asking questions. Like, multiple times. IDK.
I know what the author was aiming for (sweet home-maker helps soften the edges of stoic manly-man), but it felt really classic het romance novel to me, and not in a good way.
Also, I checked how many pages were left of this book. MULTIPLE TIMES. That's not a good fit for me. Ugh.
ETA: I found multiple reviewers calling Donnie a TSTL character. I wasn't sure what that meant, so I googled it, and lo and behold, it's Donnie to a T: Too Stupid To Live. Yep, that's Donnie alright.
This is such a fun story! The setting alone, a shifter-friendly university in Cody, Wyoming in a world where humans are unaware shifters exist, creates all kinds of possibilities. This is kind of obvious given that the book is labeled "Shifter U. #1" and I look forward to seeing more.
Donnie is such a lovable goofball. He's smart, funny, and impulsive - every bit the coyote. He's a perfect foil for William, a stoic and taciturn professorial-type. The sparks between the two of them are so fun to read as they waver between "I can't keep away from you!" and "You annoy the crap out of me!" I really enjoyed seeing the relationship evolve between the two. I think it's a great endorsement that I was invested enough in Donnie and William that I was in tears as they reached their Happily Ever After (Spoiler? Not likely!). They really are a sweet couple. The side characters are quite entertaining too, even if most of them have little time on the page. Donnie's best friend Ford stands out, not only as a smart and pragmatic guy, but also an intriguing type of shifter. I would guess we'll be seeing more of Ford in the next book in this series.
The one place where the plot breaks down a bit is the international espionage element. It just seemed a little over the top. It's well-written and keeps things moving along well enough that it's a minor annoyance, though.
I'll give this one 4.25 out of 5, and I eagerly await the next book in the series!
Donnie is such a lovable goofball. He's smart, funny, and impulsive - every bit the coyote. He's a perfect foil for William, a stoic and taciturn professorial-type. The sparks between the two of them are so fun to read as they waver between "I can't keep away from you!" and "You annoy the crap out of me!" I really enjoyed seeing the relationship evolve between the two. I think it's a great endorsement that I was invested enough in Donnie and William that I was in tears as they reached their Happily Ever After (Spoiler? Not likely!). They really are a sweet couple. The side characters are quite entertaining too, even if most of them have little time on the page. Donnie's best friend Ford stands out, not only as a smart and pragmatic guy, but also an intriguing type of shifter. I would guess we'll be seeing more of Ford in the next book in this series.
The one place where the plot breaks down a bit is the international espionage element. It just seemed a little over the top. It's well-written and keeps things moving along well enough that it's a minor annoyance, though.
I'll give this one 4.25 out of 5, and I eagerly await the next book in the series!
5 Hearts!
New to me author j. leigh bailey has done it! This is the book I was waiting for and thank goodness I didn’t have to wait long. I am a fan of the Dreamspun Desires line and was anxious to see how the formula would translate into the Dreamspun Beyond line and this book was perfect with blending the two together. We get shifters and we get fluff. Really, what more could you ask for?
Told from the POV of our resident coyote shifter Donnie Granger, we meet Donnie as he is stalking, or checking out the hot customer at Buddy’s Café, where he is a barista. Donnie has been crushing on the customer he knows as William and decides to take a leap and actually talk to the guy and try to seduce him with scones.
But after the seduction attempt, a couple of rough looking dudes come into the café looking for William and Donnie decides to shift and do a bit of sleuthing to find out why. The sleuthing leads him to the campus of Shifter U, where William is a professor, and it all ends up with him naked in human form with William in a janitor’s closet.
Trust me when I say this book is fun. It’s fun. It’s sweet. It’s sexy. It’s swoony. Oh my heart is it ever swoony.
But let me try to tell you more about the story without giving it all away.
Bad guys are after William and William won’t tell Donnie why and Donnie wants to protect the man he is falling hard and fast for. Donnie and William are totally into one another but after horizontal good stuff happens, William pushes Donnie away and it hurts him. Donnie keeps thinking that William is treating him like a child because of their age difference (only 10 years) and how William is so protective of him so Donnie goes to naked lengths to prove he isn’t a child. And the proof gives us ridiculously sexy times with so much emotion I was melting at my desk as I read this.
Now the mystery of why the baddies want William and who William really is give the story a level of intrigue along with all the shifters that live in Cody. I loves the idea of the shifters living in shifter friendly town with a shifter friendly university but living in harmony all together. Ford, is Donnie’s best friend and a bird of prey but we don’t know exactly what kind of bird until later in the book and it’s fascinating! Oh and when we get to the conversation about what William’s shift is I fell into a fit of giggles because it’s written so well, with so much teasing that can only be done when you have feelings for someone. But really, what were William’s parents thinking? *giggles*
I have so many highlights from this story but I just realized sharing them would be spoiling those moments for you so I won’t share them. But the moments are full of laughter and romance with each topping the other with their awesomeness.
I honestly loved the hell out of Donnie. His energy totally matches his shift as a coyote and I found his ramblings to be endearing. He’s a guy who can’t sit still for very long and tends to do things before he thinks but it’s what makes him such a loveable character. His crush on William is adorable and I love how he puts himself out there to protect this manly man of his, even when he wasn’t his but really, when wasn’t William ever NOT his, you know? I know and trust me, these two are amazing with sizzling chemistry that heats up the page and makes you want to keep them locked in a room together for a very, very long time.
William is such a strong and alpha character whose energy again totally matches his shift. As an American Bison he would seem to be docile and gentle but don’t touch what is his or you will feel the strength and power he has to keep those he loves from harm. His backstory is heartbreaking and yet it’s what makes him amazing for Donnie even if Donnie doesn’t get it at first because well, William doesn’t tell him. *sigh* Seriously though, the dude is all sort of Alpha either dressed in all black strapped down with weapons or in comfortable oatmeal sweater at the café drinking his back coffee. And yet the dude now belongs on my Swoony McSwoonster shelf because he may think he doesn’t do well with words but when he uses them… I turn into goo and goo is always good. Ack! I want to snuggle the fuck out of William but would not risk the wrath of his coyote or the coyote’s friends, boss or family. Nope. Shifters in numbers are powerful. Just so you know.
I am rambling, I know and I can’t stop. That’s how good this book was. I cherished the romance between William and Donnie and love the way the author gave their story to us. The series of Shifter U promises to be one hell of a fun ride with amazing characters that sneak their way into your heart.
Oh, one more thing. That end? William’s gift? Let’s just say Book –1, Sara’s hopeless romantic heart – 0. That end was so romantic and just so perfect between these two. It was everything I could have hoped for and even more.
Now, the only think I could hope for now is for Ford to get a book because his shift is stunning and I would love to see who could handle him.
New to me author j. leigh bailey has done it! This is the book I was waiting for and thank goodness I didn’t have to wait long. I am a fan of the Dreamspun Desires line and was anxious to see how the formula would translate into the Dreamspun Beyond line and this book was perfect with blending the two together. We get shifters and we get fluff. Really, what more could you ask for?
Told from the POV of our resident coyote shifter Donnie Granger, we meet Donnie as he is stalking, or checking out the hot customer at Buddy’s Café, where he is a barista. Donnie has been crushing on the customer he knows as William and decides to take a leap and actually talk to the guy and try to seduce him with scones.
But after the seduction attempt, a couple of rough looking dudes come into the café looking for William and Donnie decides to shift and do a bit of sleuthing to find out why. The sleuthing leads him to the campus of Shifter U, where William is a professor, and it all ends up with him naked in human form with William in a janitor’s closet.
Trust me when I say this book is fun. It’s fun. It’s sweet. It’s sexy. It’s swoony. Oh my heart is it ever swoony.
But let me try to tell you more about the story without giving it all away.
Bad guys are after William and William won’t tell Donnie why and Donnie wants to protect the man he is falling hard and fast for. Donnie and William are totally into one another but after horizontal good stuff happens, William pushes Donnie away and it hurts him. Donnie keeps thinking that William is treating him like a child because of their age difference (only 10 years) and how William is so protective of him so Donnie goes to naked lengths to prove he isn’t a child. And the proof gives us ridiculously sexy times with so much emotion I was melting at my desk as I read this.
Now the mystery of why the baddies want William and who William really is give the story a level of intrigue along with all the shifters that live in Cody. I loves the idea of the shifters living in shifter friendly town with a shifter friendly university but living in harmony all together. Ford, is Donnie’s best friend and a bird of prey but we don’t know exactly what kind of bird until later in the book and it’s fascinating! Oh and when we get to the conversation about what William’s shift is I fell into a fit of giggles because it’s written so well, with so much teasing that can only be done when you have feelings for someone. But really, what were William’s parents thinking? *giggles*
I have so many highlights from this story but I just realized sharing them would be spoiling those moments for you so I won’t share them. But the moments are full of laughter and romance with each topping the other with their awesomeness.
I honestly loved the hell out of Donnie. His energy totally matches his shift as a coyote and I found his ramblings to be endearing. He’s a guy who can’t sit still for very long and tends to do things before he thinks but it’s what makes him such a loveable character. His crush on William is adorable and I love how he puts himself out there to protect this manly man of his, even when he wasn’t his but really, when wasn’t William ever NOT his, you know? I know and trust me, these two are amazing with sizzling chemistry that heats up the page and makes you want to keep them locked in a room together for a very, very long time.
William is such a strong and alpha character whose energy again totally matches his shift. As an American Bison he would seem to be docile and gentle but don’t touch what is his or you will feel the strength and power he has to keep those he loves from harm. His backstory is heartbreaking and yet it’s what makes him amazing for Donnie even if Donnie doesn’t get it at first because well, William doesn’t tell him. *sigh* Seriously though, the dude is all sort of Alpha either dressed in all black strapped down with weapons or in comfortable oatmeal sweater at the café drinking his back coffee. And yet the dude now belongs on my Swoony McSwoonster shelf because he may think he doesn’t do well with words but when he uses them… I turn into goo and goo is always good. Ack! I want to snuggle the fuck out of William but would not risk the wrath of his coyote or the coyote’s friends, boss or family. Nope. Shifters in numbers are powerful. Just so you know.
I am rambling, I know and I can’t stop. That’s how good this book was. I cherished the romance between William and Donnie and love the way the author gave their story to us. The series of Shifter U promises to be one hell of a fun ride with amazing characters that sneak their way into your heart.
Oh, one more thing. That end? William’s gift? Let’s just say Book –1, Sara’s hopeless romantic heart – 0. That end was so romantic and just so perfect between these two. It was everything I could have hoped for and even more.
Now, the only think I could hope for now is for Ford to get a book because his shift is stunning and I would love to see who could handle him.
DNF @ 71% , Ch 12, Pg148
While I liked the set up of the story, the introductions were great with the cafe and Donnie is adorable. The shifting scenes, action and the chemistry is there but sadly this quickly grew annoying. His friendship with Ford and relationship with family.
Donnie makes a lot of stupid decisions, but William is no help either constantly leaving him in the dark and expecting him to sit around. They're both frustrating and with their being no pov for William, it was hard to really get a hold of him outside of Donnie's adoration.
Anyway I probably would have finished this as short read, but it hit on a theme that's not for me. The dead lover Jasper, Donnie is apparently a lot like him - William is treating him based on his experience with Jasper & what happened to him. I get it, but I hate it. Not keen as gives stand in vibes and i don't care for it. So this is a case of not for me, I may give one of other in series a try though as I did enjoy Ford here.
While I liked the set up of the story, the introductions were great with the cafe and Donnie is adorable. The shifting scenes, action and the chemistry is there but sadly this quickly grew annoying. His friendship with Ford and relationship with family.
Donnie makes a lot of stupid decisions, but William is no help either constantly leaving him in the dark and expecting him to sit around. They're both frustrating and with their being no pov for William, it was hard to really get a hold of him outside of Donnie's adoration.
Anyway I probably would have finished this as short read, but it hit on a theme that's not for me. The dead lover Jasper, Donnie is apparently a lot like him - William is treating him based on his experience with Jasper & what happened to him. I get it, but I hate it. Not keen as gives stand in vibes and i don't care for it. So this is a case of not for me, I may give one of other in series a try though as I did enjoy Ford here.
2.5 Hedging Hearts
I’ve got to say that half the time I liked this story while the other half drove me to frustration.
Donnie works in the local coffee shop and has been crushing hard on the enigmatic and reticent new professor William, who teaches at the nearby shifter university these last few months. One day, out of nowhere he’s asked by sinister strangers if he knows the quiet customer, and Donnie’s first instinct is to protect William despite the fact that he hardly knows the man.
What ensues is kinda a comedy of errors as Donnie finds himself wittingly and unwittingly embroiled in a revenge scheme where bad guys want to kill William, a retired undercover agent who brought down a notorious weapons dealer. The charm of this is pretty much all on Donnie who is fiercely independent with some foibles that include being overly chatty, clumsy, and sarcastic but always with a heart of gold. He surely seems to find himself in absurd situations as he tries to help William who never wants his assistance in the first place. Donnie’s bumbling nature was mostly endearing, but I do admit he had a temper and acted stupidly impulsive one too many times.
There also seems to be a lot of reader frustration with William’s lack of communication. Granted, he does come clean around the 45% mark, but he still holds his cards close to the vest and is very reluctant to part with any extra information if he doesn’t have to. I admit, his mysterious badass nature was appealing and who doesn’t like to see a gruff stoic guy fall in love?? Many a time though, his slow to reveal crucial information was just the impetus for Donnie to go off half cocked which added to the above mentioned frustration.
Note to self. Narrator Finn Sterling and I just don’t get along. I’m still scratching my head at how he basically makes Donnie sound like a girl most of the time. I. Just. Don’t. Get. It. I’ll give credit that his voice for William was a dream and he does character distinction like a charm, but it is just so jarring when you’re expecting a certain octave and what you get is a boy going through puberty. Granted this isn’t as bad as [b:Out of the Shadows|35455651|Out of the Shadows|K.C. Wells|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1497771085l/35455651._SY75_.jpg|56844321], but it’s there and it was enough to throw me out of the story multiple times. Admittedly, one’s listening experience is highly personal and we all vary in what we like and don’t like - I just don’t think this narrator is for me…
Again, this had its various charms with a good dash of smexy that helped negate the negatives. Mostly. This definitely has potential in its interesting set up about a small town that’s the hub for shifters as it boasts a university that caters to such. The next story is about Donnie’s bff Ford, who’s an elusive mysterious thunderbird, and I’ll strongly consider continuing but I’ll hold out to see what others think about it first.
Thanks to the author/publisher for the audio in exchange for a honest review
I’ve got to say that half the time I liked this story while the other half drove me to frustration.
Donnie works in the local coffee shop and has been crushing hard on the enigmatic and reticent new professor William, who teaches at the nearby shifter university these last few months. One day, out of nowhere he’s asked by sinister strangers if he knows the quiet customer, and Donnie’s first instinct is to protect William despite the fact that he hardly knows the man.
What ensues is kinda a comedy of errors as Donnie finds himself wittingly and unwittingly embroiled in a revenge scheme where bad guys want to kill William, a retired undercover agent who brought down a notorious weapons dealer. The charm of this is pretty much all on Donnie who is fiercely independent with some foibles that include being overly chatty, clumsy, and sarcastic but always with a heart of gold. He surely seems to find himself in absurd situations as he tries to help William who never wants his assistance in the first place. Donnie’s bumbling nature was mostly endearing, but I do admit he had a temper and acted stupidly impulsive one too many times.
There also seems to be a lot of reader frustration with William’s lack of communication. Granted, he does come clean around the 45% mark, but he still holds his cards close to the vest and is very reluctant to part with any extra information if he doesn’t have to. I admit, his mysterious badass nature was appealing and who doesn’t like to see a gruff stoic guy fall in love?? Many a time though, his slow to reveal crucial information was just the impetus for Donnie to go off half cocked which added to the above mentioned frustration.
Note to self. Narrator Finn Sterling and I just don’t get along. I’m still scratching my head at how he basically makes Donnie sound like a girl most of the time. I. Just. Don’t. Get. It. I’ll give credit that his voice for William was a dream and he does character distinction like a charm, but it is just so jarring when you’re expecting a certain octave and what you get is a boy going through puberty. Granted this isn’t as bad as [b:Out of the Shadows|35455651|Out of the Shadows|K.C. Wells|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1497771085l/35455651._SY75_.jpg|56844321], but it’s there and it was enough to throw me out of the story multiple times. Admittedly, one’s listening experience is highly personal and we all vary in what we like and don’t like - I just don’t think this narrator is for me…
Again, this had its various charms with a good dash of smexy that helped negate the negatives. Mostly. This definitely has potential in its interesting set up about a small town that’s the hub for shifters as it boasts a university that caters to such. The next story is about Donnie’s bff Ford, who’s an elusive mysterious thunderbird, and I’ll strongly consider continuing but I’ll hold out to see what others think about it first.
Thanks to the author/publisher for the audio in exchange for a honest review
Wow! I loved this one!
Donnie is sweet, hilarious and snarky, while being hopelessly clueless, clumsy and awkward. Contrasted against William "Buffalo Bill", who is composed, tough and get-the-job-done ready, the story immediately had me hooked. The on-off, tentative, hot flashes and cold tempers made for great chemistry, an interesting relationship dynamic; add in the danger, family, best friends who are all I-will-help-you-bury-this-body-but-you-owe-me, and you have a HIT!
I couldn't have asked for more. Except...maybe Buddy and Jesse. ;)
Kudos to the author for originality, great plot pacing, relatable and real characters, in an urban fantasy world that felt real and vibrant. I loved all the shifters coming together to support each other, that they had this "open-secret" world within the human world. The receipts made me cry and are, perhaps, one of my all time most romantic moments in a book. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
Favourite Quote:
"I've got you."
And I fell. Irreparably destroyed. Irrevocably completed.
"Cool? Maybe I needed to go back to school after all. Conversation 101 was looking more and more necessary. Then, after that, I could attend Flirting for Dummies."
Donnie is sweet, hilarious and snarky, while being hopelessly clueless, clumsy and awkward. Contrasted against William "Buffalo Bill", who is composed, tough and get-the-job-done ready, the story immediately had me hooked. The on-off, tentative, hot flashes and cold tempers made for great chemistry, an interesting relationship dynamic; add in the danger, family, best friends who are all I-will-help-you-bury-this-body-but-you-owe-me, and you have a HIT!
I couldn't have asked for more. Except...maybe Buddy and Jesse. ;)
Kudos to the author for originality, great plot pacing, relatable and real characters, in an urban fantasy world that felt real and vibrant. I loved all the shifters coming together to support each other, that they had this "open-secret" world within the human world. The receipts made me cry and are, perhaps, one of my all time most romantic moments in a book. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
Favourite Quote:
"I've got you."
And I fell. Irreparably destroyed. Irrevocably completed.
"Cool? Maybe I needed to go back to school after all. Conversation 101 was looking more and more necessary. Then, after that, I could attend Flirting for Dummies."
Arrrgh, this book! It started out so good: cute, funny, shifters, bad guys, manly men - all the good things. Then bam, everything I hated in MF romance. The lack of communication, the Alpha male going all protect the poor, young helpless love interest. Not talking, not explaining just shutting them down and shutting them out. Then, of course the love interest has to be all "I'm not a child, I am not helpless, I can be trusted" then goes off a does the exact thing to prove the are TSTL.
It is not a bad book, it is well written and entertaining, I know a lot of people will enjoy it. It just pushed all of my buttons and not in a good way
It is not a bad book, it is well written and entertaining, I know a lot of people will enjoy it. It just pushed all of my buttons and not in a good way
Similar to a Julia Talbot in the same Dreamspinner line. Light, fluffy, paranormal romantic suspense. I'm not wild about the younger characters (as always) but I own the next one, so I'll probably read it when I need something fluffy.