Release Day Review: Forgiveness by Grace R. Duncan

Title: Forgiveness
Series: Forbes Mates: Book Four
Author: Grace R. Duncan
Release Date: March 27, 2018
Category: Paranormal
Pages: 216

Dreamspinner Press

Nine years ago Eric Joyce went wolf when his chosen mate broke the bond, and he hasn’t walked on two legs since. Convinced he lost his friends when he ran out on them, he cut himself off from the pack. But a surprising visitor prods him back down the mountain, and he finds himself welcomed warmly.

Ben Arellano grew up in Texas with a human, Catholic mother who didn’t understand a thing about wolves—and didn’t try to learn. He spent his whole life being told his wolf was a demon that needed to be exorcised, surrounded by a wolf pack made up of good ole boys who had no tolerance for his Mexican ancestry or his bisexuality. When he’s given the opportunity to relocate to an accepting pack in Pittsburgh, he jumps at the chance.

When Eric and Ben meet for the first time, neither is ready for it. Where Ben expects rejection, Eric is convinced yet another mate will leave, break the bond, and put him through the same hell all over again. Can they get past their reservations and have a happily mated life?

3 Stars

If you are looking for a saccharine sweet mates' story, look no further than Forgiveness. I so desperately wanted to love this story, the blurb sounded intriguing and I figured it would be emotionally charged. Unfortunately, it wasn’t really what I’d hoped for.

I wanted more grit, I think and I expected more angst. One of the things I love so much about Shifter stories is the chemistry between destined mates. I like when there’s this undeniable attraction between the mates and if you throw in some sexual tension things tend to become explosive. Not the case here, though. The instantaneous recognition came much too fast and it just didn’t create any heat or chemistry. Then there really was a lack of drama with it all.

I did like Ben a bit more than Eric. I felt quite sad that his own mother couldn’t truly accept him, that she considered his wolf to be a demon. It really confused me actually. I was happy though with what happened at the end.

In the end, I hate to admit, this just wasn’t for me.

***Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.***