| Title | : | Called to Mate (Pack Mates #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1595789936 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781595789938 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | ebook |
| Number of Pages | : | 70 |
| Publication | : | First published December 3, 2012 |
Quinn is a submissive male wolf who has spent most of his life abused by his former alpha. But being mated to his new pack’s alpha provides him with a level of safety he’s never known before, and a whole new world of passion and lust.
Just as their love begins to blossom, a wolf from Quinn’s past threatens the happiness he’s found in Declan’s arms.
Called to Mate (Pack Mates #1) Reviews
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DNF 51%
Just wasn't working for me. I couldn't get past the fact Quinn was horribly abused but everyone didn't think twice about him being mated to Declan. None of it really worked for me in the mate department. I, like Quinn, kept thinking that it was all just so Declan could be alpha and not really that he wanted to be with Quinn even though we get his POV and he's drawn to Quinn. Plus, I didn't like how the parents chose who Declan was to be mated too. It was all just so blasé.
And there was so much potential for a good story. I love hurt-comfort stories but it was all just so rushed, like the mating. No one batted an eye at them mating after everything Quinn had been through.
Oh well... -
3.5 Stars
After years spent living away from home, Declan returns to his pack in order to take over his father’s role as alpha. Declan has been waiting for this moment for years, but there is one thing he needs to do first before he can officially take over: he must find and claim a mate.
Having a mate provides an alpha with the balance and stability they need in order to run a successful and happy pack. Luckily for Declan, the decision is an easy one. On returning home, Declan finds that his parents have taken in a submissive male wolf from a recently disbanded pack. The moment Declan sets his eyes on the beautiful, yet skittish, Quinn, he is immediately drawn to the younger wolf. It is obvious that Quinn has been through hell and back at the sadistic hands of his previous alpha. As a dominant wolf, Declan immediately feels the need to provide Quinn with a sense of protection and safety. He goes about doing so in a gentle and caring manner which Quinn responds to slowly, but surely.
This shifter tale was short and sweet. Although the premise suggests angst is in the midst, the story is more romantically anticipative and mindfully blissful, with the initial mating occurring fairly early in the story. Quinn finds safety and warmth in the arms of his new alpha, and although there is one mini-drama that threatens to kill their happy-vibes buzz, for the most part this story is complication free and easy to read. No ground breaking storytelling occurs here, but it did its job as the fluff piece I needed to cleanse my reading palate.
Recommended for fans of M/M shifter tales, who appreciate a dash of delicious hurt/comfort feels. -
Cravings pretty much rule my world. I had a Pringle craving that monopolized my taste buds for weeks once! My food cravings can be all consuming. Nothing tastes good until I get what I want. The same can be said for my book cravings.
I’m lusting after shifter tales like you wouldn’t believe right now! Which brings me to Lynn Tyler’s Called to Mate with Declan and Quinn.
Declan has been living away from home and his pack for years. Waiting for the call to return and take over as alpha. But to lead, Declan also has to find a mate. Declan knew the call would come one day, but what he didn’t expect was to find a beautiful, young submissive wolf in his home when he returned. A wolf so hurt and lost it will make your heart whimper. Quinn is so curled up with fear and pain after years of abuse that Declan’s need to protect and keep him safe is instantaneous and powerful and downright adorable at times. Their warm and sexy attraction heats these pages up from the get-go.
“The whole world melted away when Declan stepped toward him with a smile on his lips."
Called to Mate is an easy, no angst read that moves fast. A story that left me feeling so warm and toasty safe. Warm blankets, soft fur, crackling fires. Declan and Quinn are so adorable and playful when they shift. Rolling around, nuzzling, and playing. The story has such a warm feel and setting. A home filled with food, friends and cheesy 80s flicks! I loved the little touches and dashes of humor too. There is just something fun and perfect about a wolf reading The Three Little Pigs. Haha…This whole story is so soft and cuddly! I wanted to curl up and snuggle with it! Curl up with Declan and Quinn.
I would have liked more suspense or detail here and there, but no major complaints really. I don’t feel the need to read every book in the series, but I wouldn’t mind more fun with the betas—Adam and Cullen.
Recommended for shifter fans.
p.s. Shifter recommendations would be appreciated! Please. :) -
Look...not once in the history of cliched love stories has it ever been beneficial, in the end, to keep a secret from the dude you love. Especially when that secret is that someone is actively trying to kill him. Ignorance is not safety.
Now that doesn't excuse Quinn from acting like a child and crawling out of the bathroom window...for reasons I never quite understand, but at least he didn't purposefully run off into danger. He ran off into danger, but because Declan insisted on treating Quinn like a little kid, I at least can forgive Quinn for not knowing what is going on.
Basically this is porn...just porn I can't get into because the MCs are so bloody stupid. At least Quinn has a decade of systematic abuse and torture to explain his issues. Declan is just an ass.
And if Josh really wanted to get away with killing Quinn, I don't think he would have repeatedly sent up what can only be considered "I am coming to kill you" smoke signals. Yeah, he might have wanted to psyche them out, but what was his plan for after Quinn was dead? Saying Oops and hope the Elders had shit for brains?
But, then again, it seems like almost everyone else in this book has an IQ in the single digits, so maybe he was on to something. -
This one just didn't do it for me. MC dominate wolf was highly inappropriate with MC submissive wolf far too early for my comfort level. Submissive's abuse history was already known too. It was kinda creepy.
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3.5 stars
Lots of hurt/comfort here. Just how I like it!
Declan comes home because it is time for him to take his father’s place as pack Alpha. He is not prepared to meet Quinn, a very scared and obviously abused young wolf.
These two were very sweet together. Declan was always patient and tender with Quinn. I loved how their relationship developed. Yes, the mating happens early on in the book, but for such a short novella, it didn’t feel too rushed for me.
The one thing I didn’t like was the last 25%, with the bad guy. It wasn’t fleshed out enough for me to care about the villain or the fact that he was a treath.
But if you’re looking for a simple book about shifters with some excellent hurt/comfort, this is your book.
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This book had a lot of potential but I found it to shallow for true satisfaction. I loved the fact that insta-love (a common theme in shifter romances) wasn't employed & that the characters spent time together before declaring 'Twu Lurv'...to make this book great, (possible spoiler's ahead)I would have loved to read more about Quinn's time in his birth pack...why was Quinn's mother killed?...why was the alpha's behaviour so aberant?...why did Joseph leave the mobile phone for Quinn?...Then I'd want to have the happy 'normal' life of Declan juxtaposed against Quinn's...I wouldn't have minded a bit more time spent fleshing out the council's role in the werewolf society too. There was a lot of good ideas in this book that I felt were not exploited which lessened my enjoyment. It's a quick fluffy read where it could have been extraordinary.
Additional note...pet-names are a real ick factor for me (despite me calling hubby 'Sweety Popples'!) & I loathed 'Sexy' as a pet name *gag* ... especially when used by a stranger who doesn't even know if 'Sexy' is even gay! -
Read on 12-18-13
I liked this, I really did. BUT, I had a few problems with it.
Declan is called home because his father is going to step down from his Alpha status to become an Elder. So, Declan is next in line for the Alpha role and has trained his whole life to be one. When he gets home he finds a young man on his parents couch sleeping. He can see the man is troubled even in his sleep, but he can't stop himself from covering him up. When the man wakes up his first words are "please don't hurt me". Now, Declan knows something is definitely wrong and sees how skinny the man is.
He asks his father about him and tells him his name is Quinn and goes into some of Quinn's history. Which is HORRIFIC! I can't even begin to describe what went on with Quinn. My heart hurt for him. He still suffers from nightmares and that very night he has one and Declan rushes in to comfort him.
This was probably my biggest issue!
Things from here move on. Declan is trying to adjust being an alpha and strange things are happening around town. He's also trying to get Quinn healthy from all the abuse, mentally and physically. He's gaining weight and growing confidence.
But, Declan knows things and is refusing to talk to Quinn about it and that's my 2nd problem with this story. You shouldn't keep IMPORTANT things from you mate
Loved Quinn reading to the kiddos :) I laughed at the story. -
This is a cute "strong werewolf finds formerly abused mate" story. Based on this first volume, the 'Pack Mates' series - set in Smooth Rock Falls - promises to be fun and entertaining with just the right level of suspense and action thrown in to keep it interesting. There weren’t any difficult new “paranormal rules” to learn, and I suspect that, like me, you will find much that is familiar about werewolves and their packs in this book. A “werewolf comfort read”, if you want, and that could be just what you’re looking for.
Declan is the physically strong alpha-to-be, and in this world, he needs to mate before becoming the alpha of his pack. It's all very civilized - his father has been promoted to the Council of Elders, and is stepping aside for Declan's benefit. The mate Declan finds is male and that is a bit of a surprise, but everyone takes it in stride, including Declan. The way he manages to introduce Quinn to a very different life from what the newly liberated wolf has known so far had me smiling. Declan is a really good guy, and thankfully, he is also strong and determined enough to deal with anyone opposing his ideas.
Quinn is said mate - he was horribly abused since in his old pack they didn't think very highly of submissive male wolves. Quinn is staying with Declan's parents, and is shocked when he notices his own interest in Declan. He used to be scared of alphas, but all is about to change. In fact, Quinn’s entire world view is thoroughly rattled when he learns that there is a different way of running a pack than he is used to. His surprise is significant. And I really enjoyed following his journey into freedom.
If you like werewolf stories of the more civilized kind, if you prefer a straightforward plot without too much drama, angst, or complications, and if you're looking for a hot "strong man saves weaker one" read, then you will probably like this novella. -
3.5 Stars
Good start to an intriguing series. I loved Declan and I grew to love Quinn. The pack and pack politics were interesting as well. My one gripe:
Bottom line: Good start to a promising series. Moving on to book 2! -
Cute story about a severely abused submissive wolf and the new alpha of the pack. This shifter book didn't have the "I know you're my mate by your smell and I must have you" thing it in and I found I missed that. I like it when they have their "true mate" and soppy stuff like that. Good start to a series that I'll probably continue.
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I liked it! I thought the treating as a kind and considerate human being should be treated and caring for a less member was a good mix with how to treat and care for one's mate. Ok that sounds better in my head but hopefully the gist is coming through. Declan is able to connect with Quinn where others weren't and in doing so, strengthen both of them.
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Pretty weak offering. The characters were limp and the story was dull.
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Okay
Other than Declan treating Quinn as a child it was good. The whole thing of keeping information away from a person to protect them is so stupid and done way to often in books -
Sooo, this is one of those "I'm glad I snagged it while it was free" because I can confirm this author and I don't mix.
Sometimes I find new authors this way.
This was not one of those times.....
Definitely not my cuppa.
*1.5 stars* -
Not any different than every other werewolf story in this genre
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 4/10
PROS:
- The hurt/comfort storyline never gets old for me. I love it when someone has been hurt and his new lover goes to great lengths to ensure that it doesn’t happen again.
- I liked that the other wolves in Declan’s pack take it completely in stride when Declan announces that his mate is male.
CONS:
- The love at first sight thing, particularly in werewolf stories, is getting old.
- The writing is simplistic, with contrived situations to get the men naked and unnecessary repetition like this: “Unmated alphas tended to go a little psychotic if they weren’t mated.”
- I found the characters to be a bit inconsistent. Sometimes they’re melodrama queens and other times they’re uber-modern bros, but the scenes in which those two personas collide struck me as odd. The Harlequin-esque moments are, in my opinion, somewhat ruined by responses like, “’Kay.”
- There’s some feeble insistence late in the story that Quinn is “submissive,” when there’s not a lot of proof of this from Quinn’s actions. It seemed to me as though this were simply a plot development being used to (poorly) work a bit of BDSM into the bedroom scenes.
Overall comments: If you just love werewolf m/m stories, then I’d say got for it: there’s a dude in distress here, literally being carried around by his strapping lover, who sweeps in to save him and then never lusts after another person again. I didn’t *hate* it, but it’s just like 20 other werewolf stories I’ve read, and I’m looking for more these days. -
Called To Mate
By Lynn Tyler
Declan is called home by his parents to officially become the Alpha and take over. When he arrives he discovers that his parents have taken in a submissive gay wolf that was found hanging by chains in one packs attic and severely beaten and starved.
When Quinn is taken in by a new pack he has a hard time settling in and putting his past fears to rest. But when the Alpha's son comes home he suddenly feels safe and protected.
When Quinn's past comes back to haunt him and puts him in danger Declan doesn't tell him for fear his vivid nightmares will start up again and he doesn't want him to be afraid again.
I enjoyed the story quite a bit. Declan and Quinn make a great couple. All of the characters (save Quinn's previous pack) are likeable. There's low to medium angst. I wish I could feel more of it in my heart, but it's more a feeling of angst on a surface layer.
The only part I had a problem with was the use of the word 'submissive.' The definition wasn't explained at all. At first I assumed the author was using it as a new term for Omega. Then later on it was made clear Quinn can't give Declan an heir. So I was wrong. Through the entire book I'm constantly searching out the definition of it that the author had in mind. It wasn't until close to the end that I finally realize submissive means just that... submissive. Because she never used the word dominant in a sub/dom way to describe Declan or their actions toward each other it was never made clear. So go in to the book with that in mind and it will save you a lot of confusion. -
For whatever reason I've been on a shifter kick lately. I've been laid up with a running injury and all the resting of my knee is driving me a bit stir crazy so I've been picking my kindle back up to read more MM smutty goodness. I've been doing loads more non fiction reading in my field so I have some criteria for my current reading; namely it should have pretty hot sex, it should be part of a series so I can mindlessly binge as needed, and I don't want a ton of angst or drama. I do like a little saving - so damaged souls should apply.
This series has all that and more. I'm enjoying the characters and the development of the pack. Getting familiar with new shifters and meeting old one's again in each book has kept me interested. I'm getting ready to start #4 next. In this, the first one, I enjoyed how Declan handled things. The reasons for things happening was clear and consistent.
I think I enjoyed Shannon best of all - I mean Tiger..like hells yeah:) This one had some external drama but not so much it overshadowed what was happening. I thought the dominance part was done well - neither wolf nor tiger came off doing a 180 or inauthentic and the balance was great. These are the perfect summer reads - nothing stressful but not boring, an ok length, and fun mm smut. I'm Lovin' them. -
Declan has come home to take over as alpha of his pack his father is stepping down to join the council. The last thing he expected to find when he arrived was skittish shifter Quinn, sleeping on the floor in his parents living room. Quinn has taken sanctuary within Declan's pack at the urging of the council, after suffering mentally and physically at the hands of his former Alpha for being Gay and a submissive wolf. Declan is immediately protective of Quinn he is also attracted to him and after his father showed him the pictures of the abused submissive wolf he would do anything to protect him. This was a good story the only thing it was too short. I loved how Declan was able to bring Quinn out of his shell he made him feel wanted and loved something that he never had. This was a great start to a new series for me and I can't wait to read the next one
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3.75 stars
This book was both good and slightly boring.
I really enjoyed the authors style of writing and the characterisation. The cuteness of the characters and the shifter relations were awesome.
However the big let down was how the alpha kept things from his mate. OMG this is soooooo overdone in plots and it makes me feel like the alpha thought his mate was a 5 yr old. It was a huge let down to read such an overused plot device.
The bad guy was also a bit lame, the author could have done more with it.
However, this book I believe is worth reading because of the characters. -
This book was aiight...I had a couple problems with the basic plot. Quinn says that his cousin was one of his abusers but later the cousin says he never touched him and actually gave him the cell phone that he used to call for help. The whole " cousin as the villain" thing REALLY didn't work. And his whole capture was very anticlimactic.
Also in the end Declan decided to gift Quinn with a collar. ... why? ! so now they are both wearing adjustable collars. Why! ? Neither of them have exhibited any BDSM tendencies but now they are BOTH wearing collars? makes absolutely NO sense -
I enjoyed this one! Great characters with nicely done backgrounds. Decland is a pretty typical alpha. He's dominant and growly but he has a tender side that I loved seeing. Quinn has endured years of abuse and Decland is going to make sure that he heals; body, heart and mind. All the little things he does is to make sure that Quinn is happy and healthy. There is plenty of action, sweet moments and spicy encounters.
Adult read -
Fluffy I liked the start of this one but somewhere along the lines it became a bit too cliched and predictable for me. Not that I didn't like it but it lost the uniqueness that it started with. It's more fluff than anything and I still liked the world so I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
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Much better than I was expecting.
This was a pretty standard shifter world. No new spin on it. But that's okay, because guess what? Shifters are tried and true. New spins on the old classic are fun, but the reason shifter stories have been around and popular so long, is the basics of the genre. If it's not broken, it doesn't need to be fixed. -
It was quick, hot and moderately engaging. Development was minimal though it was easy to get the idea. I felt dropped into the middle of a story that just took off from there. I did love the tender care of the alpha hero and the connectedness of the pack. Not bad, but I was left not really focused on the story or engaged with the romance. Good lazy afternoon reading.
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Would have been better longer
I love hurt/comfort storyline. But this book needed to be longer to explore the recovery of Quinn. It felt rushed and there were parts that were skipped over. I would have liked to see how he started to interact with the pack. -
Reread 4/9/17
Short read. Typical Alpha knows better than Omega storyline.
Omega has been hurt, Alpha heals him, they fall in love, but don't tell each other. Bad guy comes and is defeated, I love yous exchanged and they all lived Happily Ever After. Bam. -
I really enjoyed this book. The development of the relationship was very well done and how the pack interacted was great. Excellent read!
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I loved this! It's a little short but a very good read for those who love m-m romance!
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I liked that it was set in Canada. I hate when one partner makes decisions for another with out them knowing "for their protection"; it never ends well.
