Finding Forgiveness is in many ways a typical “shifter” story: you have a pack both characters are part of, they are mates but have issues coming together, and they both have events in their past they’d rather forget. What is less usual is the actual pack structure, with not just alphas and betas but marshals, strong omegas and other positions. The guys never fully shift either, the focus is definitely on their human side and the story would almost work without them being wolf shifters. And this is a world were other shifters, such as pumas, cougars, lions and bears also exist. There are quite a few references to other events which I suspect are art of previous books in linked series; the fact that I haven’t read those didn’t stop me from enjoying this book, though.

Okay, so Dave and Ben have known they were mates for almost ten years. Misunderstandings have kept them apart, and when Ben, the guilty party for rejecting his supposedly alcoholic mate, wakes up to reality the story takes off. I liked watching him grovel almost as much as Dave did, I suspect. Dave can’t believe his luck at first, but when he does, he comes up with some very creative ways to make Ben pay. The ultimate conclusion, when they both understand this ‘mate thing; is seriously going to work for them, was very satisfying and very funny.

If you like shifter stories with a touch of humor, slightly unusual pack structures and great alpha heroes fighting for dominance and discovering deeper feelings while they’re at it, you will probably like this book.



NOTE: This book was provided by Samhain Publishng for the purpose of a review on Queer Magazine Online. ( )

This was a re-read for me and I actually bumped a star off. I hate when that happens! I really enjoyed the conflict of the story, the misunderstand that MC Ben will not claim his mate MC Dave because he believes he is an alcoholic when he actually suffers from migraines. But then they take a trip to Disney World and some of the fun drained out of the story for me. That was a little too cutsie for my taste.

Still, great werewolf story, so recommended for lovers of M/M shifter romance with some good hurt/healing/comfort thrown in. ( )

I enjoy Dana Marie Bell's HEA Books. Finding Forgiveness was funny, light and I cannot wait to see what the next book in this series will be. ( )

Picked this up because it's Dana Marie Bell. Yes, there's steamy sex; but she also uses humor and emotions that aren't either cardboard cutout or overblown drama. ( )

The only defect I can find in this novella is that, it’s clear part of a series, and the other books are not M/M romances, so I will probably not read them, but if you have not my time constraint limits that allow me to concentrate only on GLBT novels, than I think it would be good to consider picking them up, Dana Marie Bell has a light and funny touch, that is refreshing and young.

Ben and Dave grew up together in a mountain pack that is very tight and enclosed. Both of them knew they were mates, but a stupid misunderstanding sees them adults and still unmated. When Dave, the more lighthearted of the two, but also the one who desperately wants commitment and a partner, decides to go on a “mating” mission to see if there is a second chance for him outside the pack, Ben realizes it’s time for him to go down the pedestal and claim his mate.

This is not very long, and also the events in the story span for barely a weekend, if you don’t consider the prologue with the two of them teenagers. It’s mostly funny, even when the author could push on the drama, she doesn’t, leaving the story ringing more like a comedy than a paranormal romance. I really enjoyed Dave’s light core, how he is able to let the child who is in him go out and play, and I really liked that Ben is able to see this as a strength and not as weakness.

As I said, Ben needs to descend to an ordinary level, it’s true he is shielding his heart, and life, from being hurt, but in doing so, he is hurting his love. Once he realizes what he has to do though, he is humble enough to admit his wrong, and trying to do the right thing.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004W3UD6C/?tag=elimyrevandra-20