This is the first book in the Mates series and is a fun one I like to re-read. Zev is the son of a pack alpha and is supposed to mate with a female wolf. Only, he's finding himself more and more attracted to his best human friend, Jonah. And there's no such thing as a gay shifter. This is a bit different from my usual fare because there wasn't a clear villain or straight plot line. It was more like a peak inside the lives of these two men, which is perfect if that's what you're looking for. I love the two heroes, and I loved reading as they fought (or tugged) on their chemistry and created a bond.

This story is stunning in a way that all Cardeno C's stories are. ... I loved the non-linear way this novella was written. It was new and interesting and really the perfect way to tell Shiloh's story. It is beautifully and concisely written, but the characters are complex and fully developed. I didn't feel like I missed out on anything the way I have in the past with some novellas. The story itself reminded me a little bit of It's A Wonderful Life, one of my favorite Christmas movies. Although there were elements of the story that could have made it a little gloomy, the mood instead was endearing and warm. There was the perfect balance of realism and fantasy. I loved these characters, especially the way that they seemed to be confident and vulnerable at the same time. This was a beautiful story of second chances and the power of love. Highly recommended.

This is a really sexy romance that was, pardon my language, a fuck fest the whole way through. The story was a good one even though Jonathan was painfully sweet at times but he was believable as a painfully shy man who was very easily led. When I read the blurb on this book I was expecting a saccharine story that would make my teeth curl but what I got was a really hot story of a single farther trying to make a go of life and holding out for love. What's not to love about that.

I really enjoyed the story and the characters in it. ...One thing I always like in Shifter stories and loved in this one is the bond between two mates destined to be together. It is hard to imagine anything more romantic than that. Of course the bond being unbreakable has a flipside; not even betrayal or a long time apart can diminish the pull. ...Overall this was a rather sweet, well written and very sexy paranormal romance.

... Partly that is because Charlie is a fabulous narrator. I just loved his dialog and his inner voice. ... He is confident and sharp witted and determined to be himself. ... Charlie is also the heart of the story, the person who ties the three men together, the one who is the nurturer and the caregiver and who is the rock that builds their family. ... I will be vague on the details here to avoid spoiling some significant events, but I will just say the three men reunite and there is an opportunity for them to all three be together. Again, the author really shows us how far these three men have come over the years (it has been about 20 since the start of the book). ..The three men are fabulous together and all make a perfect family... So I totally adored this story and it is my favorite for sure by this author. I loved the slow sweetness to the story. It is actually fairly light on the sex, at least by this author's standards, but at the same time, the passion and intensity between these men when they are together is amazing. Just the smallest scenes are so heated and meaningful. They are so sexy and romantic and loving that I just adored them. I loved Charlie's humor and narration, loved the way the story builds one relationship at a time until ultimately it all comes together. I just adored the whole thing. Exceptionally well…