Book Review: Same Time Next Year by Maggie Walsh

Reviewed by Susan65

Title: Same Time Next Year
Author: Maggie Walsh
Series: Tundra Wolves #1
Heroes: Caleb/Ridge
Genre: MM Paranormal
Length: 227 Pages
Publisher: Maggie Walsh
Release Date: April 16, 2019
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: The Alaskan Tundra, a cold and desolate place where very few creatures can live under the harsh conditions found there. But one group of wolves known as The Alaskan Tundra Wolves, thrive in the region. With very few females of their kind willing to settle in such a harsh environment, the males of the breed learn to adapt, and for generations, male on male matings are the norm.

Also what is normal within this breed is their place in the pack. Depending on what they were born as, Alpha, beta, delta, gamma, omega, makes them either dominant or submissive, or any of the levels in between. For the Tundra Wolves, this is not a lifestyle choice, but how they were born. It is inbred in their DNA to either dominate or submit and is completely natural for them.

Caleb was born a beta to his pack and spends his life training to be its top warrior with the thought of being his alpha brother’s beta when he turns twenty-five, but as Caleb ages he realizes his true desires don’t match with his beta self. He craves to submit to an alpha and to give himself freely, but the beta in him needs to fight and protect. The inner turmoil within confuses Caleb, but not as much as the yearly letters he has received every birthday his whole life.

On his sixteenth birthday, Caleb’s parents present him with a bundle of letters each noted with his birthday on it since the day he was born. With each letter the writer talks of his past year and his hopes for Caleb in the future. But as Caleb matures, the letters become more intimate, the author telling of how beautiful he thinks Caleb has become.

On the day before his twenty-fifth birthday, the latest letter arrives a day early with the promise, “I will see you tomorrow.” When the moment finally arrives, Caleb is shocked to see the man of his dreams, literally, just walks into his life. The connection between them is strong and Caleb doesn’t waste a minute fighting it. He has done something that is unheard of for their kind and has found his true mate.

Ridge is the alpha of the nearest pack of Tundra wolves and has known Caleb’s whole life that he had found his true mate, but Caleb was too young for him to stake his claim, so instead he would reach out once a year to let Caleb know that he wasn’t alone.

Now that the two have finally met, the pull to be together and to claim is too strong for either of them to fight and Ridge takes Caleb home to his pack. Caleb now has to come to terms with who he really is and what he truly desires and embrace his submissive side.

Review:

A new series by the author that brought us the beloved Angel Pack Series. As soon as I saw there was a new wolfie MM series by her, I knew I was going to be a happy girl. I knew eventually the Angel Pack would have to come to a close, but it makes it so much easier when you know you have something to look forward to on the horizon. In this case, our new wolves are in Alaska. And yes, it is mostly a gay pack, but more so because the climate is just too much for the wolf females. After a while, it just became more natural that they would take to male-male matings…sort of like Darwin took over for the paranormal world.

In this first installment, which I admit was maybe a little too rushed for my taste, we have Caleb who was born and destined to be a beta to his alpha. He is fierce and one of the best and strongest fighters. But, he also has a secret. He should be tough all the time, right, so why does he want to be submissive, too? He thinks there must be something wrong with him…and he’s also confused about what is up with all the letters he’s received each year on his birthday. It was a little mysterious for him, but as a reader, we knew what was coming.

Ridge knew immediately when his future true mate, his beta, was born. But law dictated that he could not interfere until his mate was of age. But hey, he is really smart, runs his own pack, and knows how to work around the law without truly breaking it. I really don’t want to say anymore, only that Maggie Walsh laid the groundwork for another great wolf series that I believe will just as good as the Angel Pack. And I, for one, and excited to keep reading.

Overall Impression: I really liked it!

*I received a copy of this book from the author in return for a fair and honest review.*