Old Loyalty, New Love

Title:  Old Loyalty, New Love

Author:  Mary Calmes

Publisher:  Dreamspinner Press

Length:  246 pages

Rating:  A List

Up All Night Satisfaction

Blurb:  When jackal shifter Quade Danas was banished from his pack for being gay, he spent years in the military escaping his father’s prejudice before returning to civilian life as a bodyguard for Roman Howell, the teenage son of a very rich man. After Roman is in an accident that leaves him physically scarred and emotionally distant, Quade is the only one who can get through to him. As Roman becomes a man, he realizes what he wants—his bodyguard by his side and in his bed. Unfortunately, Quade can’t seem to see past the kid Roman once was to the man he has become, certain Roman’s feelings are merely misplaced gratitude. But Roman knows a lot more than Quade realizes, and he’s used to persevering, no matter how many impediments life throws his way. He wants the chance to prove to Quade that he’s strong enough for a jackal alpha to call mate.

Despite the decades Quade has been away, and the heartache of his father’s rejection, his inborn loyalty to the pack remains, and his abrupt departure left the jackal shifters without an alpha heir. As a psychopath shifter staking claim as alpha draws Quade back home, and Quade feels compelled to heed the call, he may be forced to make a choice he never anticipated. But doing so means he must leave Roman behind… unless somehow they find a way to make loyalty and love work together.

Reviews:

Beans:  At first when I started this book I had to double check this was a Mary Calmes story. Several times. The town, Roman, all felt like nothing of what I was expecting. As I was drawn into the story more and more all the pieces came together and the intensity and dark edge I associate with Ms. Calmes came through in spades.

Roman is scarred but incredibly intense and loyal. He knows who he wants and and nothing and nobody including Quade himself and all the baggage associated with his past will stop him. I loved Roman’s loyalty and desire for his friend. He was everything. He fought so hard for Quade. He never allowed anything to distract him from his goal. He opened his arms, his home, his everything to have this man in his life.

Quade found a second family in Roman. He is also fiercely protective of Roman, but because he feels like he owes his life to him. He doesn’t think he is good enough for Roman and pushes away from anything like a relationship. Quade is a strong shifter, but past pain has kept him away. Only his protective nature draws him back into the drama he escaped from and gives Roman the access to his innermost life and heart.

There is so much that happens in the book, I feel like I can only scratch the surface of it so as not to spoil all the twists and turns. Hold your socks on and snuggle down for another amazing read by the great Mary Calmes. She has done it again.

Nina:  This a fabulous book. I adored it from beginning to end. The cast of characters are funny and interesting and I have to believe that we will get more of these people in future books.

Quade is a delightfully sexy mix of strength, power, tender vulnerability, confidence and protector. He is a born alpha which means that he is genetically designed to lead, nurture and defend his pack. When we first meet him his pack is Roman and Roman’s people. His devotion to Roman is so complete that he refuses to allow them to be together. He is actually looking for a man that he believes is worthy of his precious Roman. Which of course is nonsense and luckily for both men Roman has plans to convince Quade he’s already found himself the perfect man.

Roman is stronger, smarter and braver than anyone can understand. He has suffered and been tested and he is amazing. Most people see the wealth, the cold and closed arrogant attitude, the power that his name evokes in the small town. They see the scars and think they make him weak or needy. Most people don’t know or understand him at all. In some ways the only one who can truly see Roman is Quade, and even he has certain blinders. Roman has been through so much. The horrific accident which led to years of agonizing surgeries to attempt to correct and heal as much as possible. The loss of his family which left him alone in the world except for Quade. I could understand why he loved Quade with such depth and commitment. I could also understand why Quade was afraid to trust that that love was more than dependence and gratitude.

They have been in love for years, spending every moment together with Quade acting as bodyguard to Roman. The only thing missing was the declarations of love and for them to finally have the spine melting hot sex that Mary Calmes always gives us.

When Quade’s past comes knocking he has no choice but to go and help his family and pack, despite their previous rejection of him. He expects a quick trip and a painful, if swift, resolution, what he finds is so much more and better. If he isn’t careful he might even find himself a whole new pack and maybe even the mate he has always needed.

These guys are fabulous together. I loved the banter and easy friendship between them. The trust and devotion is palpable as is the sexual tension and then the loving fireworks when they finally get to express their physical need for each other. There is no question that these two belong together or that they will ever be able to anything less than each other’s everything.

A fantastic read that delivers warm, sweet love, passion, shifters, humor, family, drama and a couple of surprising blasts from the past. Highly recommended.