Reviewed by Nikyta
Title: Blackwood
Author: Pia Foxhall
Series: Perth Shifters #1
Heroes: Braden & Coll
Genre: M/M Paranormal
Length: 267 pages
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 23, 2018
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads
Blurb: In a world that is still getting used to shifters, where everyone thinks omegas are second class citizens, nature photographer and omega Braden Payne lets everyone think he’s a beta. That way no one gives him a hard time and he doesn’t have to live a repeat of his failed relationship. But when his car breaks down in the remote Blackwood forest in Western Australia, without the medication that lets him hide who he is, he’s faced with what he fears most: an unmated alpha.
Government forest guardian and alpha Coll MacDubhar is tired of illegal loggers, foolish tourists and people who underestimate the wilds of Western Australia. He discovers Braden lost and in need of medical assistance in the forest he protects and knows something’s not right.
But there’s hidden depths to Braden that capture his interest, and no decent alpha would walk away when Braden’s unwelcome past comes to visit.
Review:
Wow, this book blew me away! When I started it, I didn’t expect to be pulled in so quickly to the point that I truly could not put it down once I started and stayed up until the wee hours of the morning to finish it. I will warn you, though, that this is a slow burn type of story because Braden is emotionally traumatized from another alpha and now nearly ten years later, he’s suppressing his omega tendencies because he doesn’t want to be put in that situation again. Unfortunately, he gets caught in a storm and miscalculates his medication which causes his heat to come on with no relief in site. But then Coll shows up to rescue him and Braden isn’t sure if he’s more terrified than ever or if maybe he’s finally a little bit safe when Coll shows him how alphas really should be.
Honestly, it’s hard for me to say how much I loved this book without just saying the same thing over and over. So I’ll just say that Braden and Coll were phenomenal characters. They are the yin to the other’s yang. They fit so perfectly together. Braden is stubborn and a bit sassy but also extremely vulnerable and naive on how shifters should be and their culture. While Coll is a gentle giant, he’s fiercely protective and once he knows something is wrong, he will do anything to fix it no matter who it is and once he realizes what Braden has gone through and continues to go through, he’ll stop at nothing to change things not just for Braden but for other omegas as well. Their chemistry was off the charts and I loved that Coll showed Braden that there are other kinds of alphas in the world than only what Braden has encountered. He took things slow with Braden because he knew that was what Braden needed and, in doing that, he gave Braden a confidence and as much closure as Braden could get.
While I absolutely loved this book, I kept wondering, why do omegas have heats? It’s never mentioned that male omegas could become pregnant so it left me wondering why the need for heats in shifters? It didn’t seem like there was a reason for them which left me confused. Add to that, I felt like it was two or three chapters until the end and everything just went too fast especially with how slow the pacing was for the rest of the book.
Overall, this was a truly amazing shifter story. I was drawn right in with how emotionally abused Braden was and how sweet and gentle Coll was with Braden. I loved that they took things slow because it really made it seem like they had a connection when they finally got together. I just couldn’t get enough of them and their courtship! I can’t wait to see who’s story is next and hope it’s Hunter’s!
Overall Impression: I loved it!
*I received a copy of this book from the author in return for a fair and honest review.*
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