Micah's Refuge (Pack Mates #2) by Lynn Tyler

Micah's Refuge (Pack Mates #2) Reviews

• 
  Meags

  3 Stars
  
  Forced out of his own pack after being given a sadistic ultimatum by his asshole Alpha, Micah seeks refuge with the Smooth Rock Falls pack, led by Declan (from book #1 –
  Called to Mate). Micah can immediately tell that Declan’s pack is just the place for him, providing the comfort and support he needs to make a fresh start – hopefully one that includes finding a mate to settle down with.
  
  On his first pack run, Micah meets and falls for pack member Shea. Shea is a loner within the pack. He keeps to himself, always too busy working as a forensic chemist to participate in many of the regular pack events. If truth be told, he’s a little bit off with the fairies; a typical genius type, who is always too busy in his own head to notice what’s going on around him.
  
  Micah and Shea quickly fall into a physical relationship, but Micah wants more than Shea is willing to give (or more than he’s willing to admit that he even wants), causing some juicy relationship conflict and some delicious shifter-mating angst.
  
  I liked both of these characters well enough (but I was a little confused by the way Shea was portrayed : all geeky, innocent and harmless, when in the first book he was the pack member that Declan left to kill Quinn’s cousin! Colour me confused!). I like the pack dynamics here, too – this group have a good family vibe going on and I appreciate and enjoy reading about the various pack interactions.
  
• 
  Susan

  Not as enjoyable as the first book.
  
  Micah is new to the pack and is immediately drawn to the geeky Shea. Shea likes Micah too, but has decided long ago that a mate is too much hassle.
  
  I was really surprised that Micah fell in love with Shea after seeing him twice. These guys spend most of their time in this book apart, so I had a hard time believing in their relationship.
  
  Micah and Shea only get together at the end, because Shea kept saying he didn’t want a mate for the better part of the book. He kept turning Micah down. When Shea finally does get his act together I didn’t really care anymore.
  
  
  
  It wasn’t too bad, but I’m not a big fan of stories with this kind of relationship angst.
  
• 
  Jo * Smut-Dickted *

  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.
  
  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.
• 
  Avril

  Wayyy better than book one, thank fuck. Still meh, tho. Gonna go buy book three, cause I'm ever optimistic that things will get better as the series goes on. Fingers crossed, baby!
• 
  Serena Yates

  Different from the first book, this story is "desperate-to-mate guy finds partner unwilling to consider a relationship". I found it heartbreaking to watch Micah, who was kicked out of his birth pack because he interacted with a human, finally settle down and find a man he really liked - only to find out that Shea wasn't even interested. And even though Shea rejects him again and again, he can't stop falling deeper in love.
  
  Shea is an interesting guy. At first glance, he is cold to the point of being inhuman, but he isn't evil. He is just utterly socially incompetent, and it takes his wolf waking up before Shea even GETS what Micah means to him. And even once he realizes what is going on, he struggles with his reaction and actually dealing with the situation. A very interesting look at things from an unusual perspective!
  
  If you like werewolf stories of the more civilized kind, if you prefer a straightforward plot with lots of drama, rejection, and desperation, and if you're looking for a hot "geek figures out how to relate to his lover" read, then you will probably like this novella.
• 
  Beth doesn't write enough reviews

  another uncomplicated read
  
  I liked Micah from the beginning with his refusal to kill his human hookup but that's about it.
  
  Shea I didn't 'get'. The blurb says he has obsessive compulsive tendencies but none are shown. We are told repeatedly he is a genius but again, no examples of that are given. He does like to keep to himself and gets involved in a task to the exclusion of all else. With my limited knowledge of the subject I'd say Aspergers.
  
  
• 
  DaisyGirl

  3.5 Stars
  
  I liked this better than the first. It was a quick, easy, and entertaining read. Angsty but not overly so. Micah was loveable right off the bat; Shea took some getting used to. Micah got right up to that line of being PATHETIC without (happily) stepping over. So all's right in the world.
  
  Bottom line: an improvement on book 1; moving on!
• 
  Valerie ❈M/M Romance Junkie❈

  This book had it all. Cheesy pick up lines, hot and cold feelings, and then a syrupy sappy ending. And somehow, I still kind of liked it. I really like the growly stubborn mates. I was a bit pissed at how Micah was treated, but I love that Shea’s wolf was having none of that nonsense.
• 
  Ana

  Weirdly satisfying. I mean, I wasn't exactly expecting a good book. The first novel of this series was pretty much a dud for me so, while I was curious and attracted by the premise, I wasn't really counting on it being any good. I was wrong. Not totally because this is definitely not a brilliant book or anything like that but it is much better than I expected. Shea was a little off putting and if you ask me I have no idea when he had time to fall in love with Micah but, like I said before, it was weirdly solid. A little more time and a longer story would've been beneficial but as it is now it is still enjoyable and entertaining.
• 
  ~SexyBookWorm~

  Better than the first. I liked the emotional turmoil between Micah and Shea. They really struggled for awhile and it made great reading. But the author spends too much time describing mundane things. For example, describing 4 sandwiches and all the different toppings for each just because? waste of time. ..
  Also some unfinished plot points. .. like Shea saying he has certain kinks that need to be taken care of yet we have one scene with a pair of nipple clamps. That needed to be flushed out more. One pair of nipple clamps does not a kink make.
• 
  Skye Blue ☆*~ﾟლ(´ڡ`ლ)~*☆

  Rounding up a little.
  Perfect timing book. Just what I was in the mood for, therefor I enjoyed it more.
  Better than book 1. Nothing really stands out as special, it's your basic shifter story. Werewolves have been popular for years, it's not necessary to break the mold every time. It's worked for years, and it still works.
  
  
• 
  Elisa

  Short and sweet. This story is almost completely character driven and proves you can have a good book without having evil villains or major disasters happening. I really enjoyed reading about Micah and Shea and how they got together.
• 
  La*La

  3.5 stars.
  
  Definitely better than the 1st book! I liked Micah, and I wish he wasn't such a pushover when it came to Shea. It made for some delicious angst, though. Unrequited feelings? Sign me up anytime.
  
  Let's see how the next book turns out.
  
  
• 
  Caroline Brand

  3.5 Stars
  
• 
  J1B

  This one focused mainly on the relationship without a criminal plot in the background (as in book 1), and was the better for it. Some of it was predictable, but there's a reason why sitcoms are highly rated despite being almost the exact same, we love it!
  
  Every once in a while this series has a line that is laugh-out-loud hilarious, too, like in book one when the werewolf children all cheered for the wolf in Three Little Pigs or in this one when Cullen's tail wagged uncontrollably upon finding out his mate bought him a vibrator. I've always believed a little comedy goes a long way in romance, and this author does it well.
• 
  Natasha Lynn Harris

  👍👍
  
  Micah is a wolf who was banished from his pack for having a human lover and Shea is an introverted wolf who likes to stay to himself and is not out to his co-workers at work that he is gay. So a really good read it was interesting I want to hear more about this couple.
• 
  Shannon Boote

  3.75 stars
• 
  Jenny

  This book was great.
  
  Micah left his old pack because he refused to kill his human lover and finds refuge with the Smooth Rock Falls pack. Shea is a genius who works for the human forensics lab. He often gets lost in his own head and really doesn't want a mate. From the moment these two meet, sparks fly and their chemistry is scorching.
• 
  Shelby

  I'm rounding this one up from 3.5 stars. While it's not my favorite book in the series I did still enjoy it. This is a lighter read when it comes to the shifter genre. It's very typical of the genre, nothing incredibly unique about the world or pack structure, but I did really enjoy the characters and the relationship as it developed between them.
  
  Micah has a choice, kill his human male lover, or leave his pack and head out on his own. His alpha's demand is completely unreasonable, but there's nothing Micah can do. After helping his lover escape Micah's off, luckily with a place to land. His new pack is willing to give him refuge and a chance at a fresh start. Micah hopes that having a gay alpha openly out with his male mate that it can truly be a place where he can find some happiness. The first pack run though has Micah drooling over one wolf in particular.
  
  Shea is usually oblivious to most of what goes on with the pack. As a devoted forensic chemist Shea often finds himself losing time wrapped up in his work. It's only when his wolf really starts demanding to come out that Shea ultimately ends up dragging himself to a pack event. It's been awhile since he's had time to let his wolf run so the pack meet up is worth taking the time. Finding a new wolf in the group is uninteresting really at first, but quickly becomes something of a nice diversion. Shea just doesn't expect it to ever become something more, he's not interested in looking for a mate.
  
  A simple story this was a sweet read. I liked watching Micah get through to Shea despite his overwhelming brain keeping Shea distracted from most of the world. I always enjoy characters that are wrapped up in their own little world. You just wish for someone to come in and open the doors to the wider world for that character. Shea's the sort you know will always be heavily wrapped up in work, but Micah understands and accepts that. He knows just how to make his presence known and make sure Shea is taking care of himself while not taking away from Shea's work.
  
  I liked Micah's innate good character. He chose the harder but morally correct choice from page one. Leaving his family behind, but being unwilling to kill his lover for absurd reasons. He works hard and is committed to making a place for himself in his new pack.
  
  There are a few minor threads that I felt could have used a bit more tying up, but they were minor. I really wished after Micah's concern about leaving his family we had a little more information about how they reacted, and how he's communicating with them now. Most of my little irks lead back to Micah's old pack and not to the situation he now found himself in. All in all a sweet little story that made me smile.
• 
  Lizzie

  It was raining today and made a nice way to spend the afternoon. I liked the story even with no villan in sight. The angst came from a couple who had two totally different ideas of what they wanted in life. Both lonely and looking for more, Micah was ready for a mate. Shea on the other hand was looking for a more regular physical contact with someone. He was too busy at work, too worried about exposing his sexuality and worried he couldn't offer the care and affection having a mate would entail.
  
  Micah started out a little on the selfish side, taking a chance and putting someone in danger for completely selfish reasons. He redeemed himself somewhat by doing the right thing and putting his temporary lovers safety before his own. It was also enough of a wake up call for him to decide what it was he really wanted and then go about working towards it. His vulnerability totally redeemed him for me once he found what he was looking for and couldn't figure out why he couldn't have it.
  
  I had a hard time liking Shea and his actions more often than not made him seem selfish and superficial than anything else. Though we're told of his OCD, you really don't see any evidence of it. Perhaps I may have felt different if it was an integral part of the story and the direct reason for his actions. As it was, even though he stepped up in the end, the mating felt unsatisfying for me.
  
  I found Ms. Tyler's writing smooth and fluent and there were less errors in this book than the first. I will be looking for the next installment.
• 
  T.M. Smith

  Short, Sexy, and Steamy… my three favorite colors! Micah is new to the Smooth Rock Falls pack, having been forced out of his former pack because he refused to kill the human he’d slept with. When he learns that, his new Alpha is not only gay, but also mated to a man as well. He’s certain he’s made the right choice for his new pack.
  
  Shea is drawn to Micah pretty much immediately, and the feeling is mutual. A loner at heart, he fights the pull to Micah. His emotions, his head, and his wolf are at war amongst themselves. His heart wants to love, but fears getting hurt. He’s never felt this way and it scares him. But, his wolf is ready to claim his mate. Micah tries hard to get Shea to agree to be his mate. But, Shea continues to back pedal, eventually pushing Micah towards another wolf that is all too willing to snag the big, sexy wolf. Shea finally admits he’s fallen in love with the other shifter when Micah lands in the hospital after an accident. But is it too late to claim him?
  
  Full of passion, intensity and some steamy guy on guy action, Refuge will leave you wanting more from this elusive pack of shifters. I can’t wait to see what Tyler has up her sleeve next for this pack. If you are a fan of strong alpha males, sexy shifters, hot and sweaty man sexiness and a HEA, this is a must read for you.
  
• 
  Candice

  I don't know. Maybe 2.5 Stars
  
  I have a couple questions: 1. WHY WAS SHEA SO AFRAID OF COMMITMENT? That was the biggest one I had. Shea's hot and cold shit really agitated me because there was no real reason behind it.
  
  2. What ever happened to the human and Micah's old pack? Did they ever go look for him or did they really just let him go? Is Micah allowed to TALK to his family? I thought being banished meant no contact whatsoever, but in this apparently he can get his belongings from his brother and talks to his mom. Weird. I wish we got inside of Micah's head more.
  
  I also hated the time lapse, weeks went by at a time with just a mention of it "...since Micah left a week ago" or something along those lines. 3 weeks had passed from the time Shea first slept with Micah until it looks like he sees him again. A couple days here, a week there, etc. I didn't like that for some reason.
  
  Did Grayson know about Shea and Micah or could he just tell from the looks they were given each other?
  
  The tragedy? Yeah, I thought it was going to be more what a quick shift could heal. :( Make Shea sweat out being a douchebag for a bit longer.
  
  I want Gray to have a have a HEA, so I'll read the 3rd book.
• 
  Becky Condit

  Please leave comments about Pattycake's 4 sweet pea review at
  http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index....
  
  Micah's Refuge by Lynn Tyler is an entertaining story about a shifter looking for a new pack and mate, a shifter too busy and afraid, and the conflict that comes between them. The blurb does an excellent job of describing the basic facts of the story and I don't want to spoil it by adding any more.
  
  This is a great character driven story with a smooth plot flow and a backstory that fills in the storyline without overdoing it. The characters are solid, convining and three dimensional, and fit in with the believable world built by the author. The sex is hot and passionate without being smutty. The author's writing style is simple, crisp, and clean, with a deft touch of the humorous. I really like how the author portrays the characters as everyday, ordinary people who just happen to be shifters. The story does have a HEA ending, but only after a near tragedy clears away the conflict and misunderstandings. This book was one I enjoyed reading, and would encourage everyone to check it out.
• 
  Jeanne 'Divinae'

  So we introduce a new character in the series, Micah. This story overall flowed well. Even though it has a been a while since I read it, I still remember almost all of it. Micah and Shea were both likable and even though neither were perfect, they both seemed to fit well together. They both had (communication) issues/obstacles to work through if they want to end up together though.
  
  Micah was careless with a casual hookup with a human that causes him to loose his home and pack. Even though he never felt like he fit in anyways. So he looks up and (applies) for a new pack that is more accepting. He ends up feeling more at home with the new pack than he ever did before and on top of that, he meets Shea.
  
  Shea is a workaholic. He is a loner. When he finds out Micah is his mate, he tries his hardest to deny it. Despite all his reasons why it would never work, his heart says otherwise. Hopefully, they will both be able to get on the same page before Micah leaves him behind and finds someone new(even if it isn't his number one choice, Shea).
  
  
• 
  Tiferet

  Okay, it probably won't be a 4 star read for you if you don't like the shifter romances genre. But if you do like it, and if, like me, you tend to judge books in comparison to other stories from the same neck of the woods, then Micah's Refuge is a very solid, very enjoyable example of a werewolf love story. We have all our favourite tropes here - the pack structure, vaguely animalistic behaviours, mating, hot, possessive, soul-bonding sex. The lore isn't incredibly fleshed out, but the characters are likeable, and their struggles (with homophobia, loneliness, fear of commitment) ring true.
• 
  Claudia

  Shea kind of annoyed me ... it could have been a lot better
• 
  Ayanna

  These men are very...womanly. I don't mean that scathingly, per se, but per the types of mentality that develop, at least in our society, the psyches of these men more resemble those of women than men. It makes sense, of course, because these are written by women for, primarily, women, but it still is an odd distinction.
  
  It's kind of good. It's almost, but not quite, good. Yeah. It's cute, but not mind-blowing.
• 
  Sarina

  It seems like I waited forever for the second book in this series and it didn't disappoint. The first book in this series, while enjoyable, was a little easy in the romance department (not necessarily a bad thing) but things weren't as smooth in this one. I loved the new characters and how there were some problems that needed to be dealt with before the hea. I do wish that there had been a little more after the hospital scene before the ending but overall I was happy with the book.