Reviewed by Roberta

TITLE: Control

AUTHOR: Cardeno C and Mary Calmes

PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press

LENGTH: 220 Pages

BLURB:

Vy Aleknos is the leader of a hawk shifter flock. Openly gay since he was a teen, Vy is proud and self-assured on the outside, while secretly worrying he’ll be forced to spend his life alone because two males can’t be mates. When bear shifter Robert Cimino appears in Vy’s small town, Vy realizes his concerns were unfounded — he has a male mate, and a sexy, dominant one to boot.

Robert is a bear shifter who refuses to shift. Immediately attracted to Vy, he deviates from his normal pattern and seeks more than a one off with the powerful, bristly hawk. But Robert’s affections are rooted in his human form, and when Vy discovers Robert doesn’t recognize him as his mate, he pulls away. If Robert wants to stay with Vy, he must convince a man deeply ruled by his animal instincts to give their relationship as humans a chance.

REVIEW: This book was so much fun.  I love both of these authors and when I found out they were doing a book together…. READER’S GOLD!!

Vy is the kuar of his ket of hawks.  He’s always been on the more serious side.  He wants to be like his father, who before him was kuar.  His father was known as a kind, generous and well-loved and respected leader.  Vy isn’t that warm and fuzzy type.  He takes his responsibilities so very serious.  He’s always wanted a mate, however, he was sure that it was going to be a woman and he’s gay.  When at last he scents his mate and finds out it’s a man, he’s overjoyed.  Robert is everything he could ever want in a mate.  Yet, Vy is battling on two different fronts.  Who he is and what he needs. 

Robert is a bear shifter who never shifts.  He hasn’t shifted since he was a small child.  Yet, even in human form he can scent other shifters.  He’s learned to control every emotion that would lead to him losing control and shifting into his bear.  Robert is this big guy, 6’4, 210 lbs, so he knows how he is perceived.  Robert does everything in his power to make himself as non-threatening as possible. Robert is possibly the sweetest, most kind, generous guy.  I love the fact that he’s a vegetarian.  This big bear and he doesn’t eat meat. I loved the humor in that.  I love that he wants to be loved just for him.  I love that even with all of this wonderfulness about him, he still has his own issues that need to be resolved. 

The secondary characters in this book were so much fun. I loved Lou, Vy’s second in command and a deputy sheriff.  She’s tough, she’s no nonsense and the very best quality is that she’s so loyal.  She would do ANYTHING for her kuar and her ket.  She’s such a great character.  I love that she’s so strong and very level headed.  I love Vy’s father.  He showed such command and yet he didn’t have to be hard.  His very essence was of calm and controlled. Carlo, Lou’s husband was a good guy.  He was loyal to Vy and Lou, however, he was that typical guy where he thought he was right about everything.  You know the type.  But he’s able to see if he makes a mistake and change his ways.   They kept our MC’s sane when they start to go a bit off the rails.  They give support and love to them and help them see the truth.  Such good family and friends to have.

I love that even though there is great sex between them, that there is also so very much more.  Robert needs to take care of Vy and Vy needs to submit to Robert.  There is so much going on with the two of them.  Vy needs Robert to truly  bond to him.  He needs the mate bond to be strengthen to the fullest extent.  Robert needs Vy to love him for him.  That there is more than destiny or fate ruling their lives.  That what they feel for each other is real.  That they want to give each other all of themselves. I loved that Robert wanted more than just the bond to bind them.  He needs to find his den, his home and he wants it with Vy.

This book was such a great read.  I enjoyed the entire story.  I love that these two authors brought the very best of talents together and created such great characters and a wonderful story.  I was never thrown out of the story with editing problems or things that didn’t make sense.  Instead, I was lost into the world of Vy and Robert. I wanted them to get their HEA. I wanted Robert to feel that Vy wanted all of him and to know that he was truly loved.  I loved that Vy learned that to be a good man and to be a good leader, he needed to be balanced and Robert gave that to him.  He learned that he could be strong and yet, he could be generous and kind as well. 

Read. This. Book.  You won’t be disappointed.  It’s worth taking the time and enjoying falling in love with Vy and Robert.  Their love affair was so beautiful.  They had their issues to work out, but the way that they banded together to get through, was just beautiful to see.  Take the time to sink into a great book and be whisked away into another world.

RATING:

BUY LINKS: Dreamspinner Press