This book will grab your attention from the very beginning and keep you interested to the end. I was so happy that this was shifter novel because then Tim and Jay could bond immediately after being apart for so many years. Tim is an unstable and sweet alpha male and I wanted him to find Jay so he could gain more control of his wolf again. Jay on the other hand is a sweet and sheltered young man with no idea what he is. When you factor in that this is a shifter novel and Jay and Tim have had a connection from when they were children I did not think their relationship was too fast. Their relationship was by no means easy and they still had to deal with getting to know each other and deal with the prejudices in the pack so I think the romance was well done.The main plot is not solved at the end of this book leaving room for more books, but we are left with a satisfying HFN for our heroes. Also at the end of the book the author hints that Tim’s brother, Robin, may be the focus of the next novel so I am excited to read it and see how the plot develops. Hmm, this book was a bit of a tough read and I had to force myself to finish. I read this based on my GR buddy’s review and I saw a lot of what she liked in the book. As other reviewers have said, the first part of this story is very engaging, and I am a sucker for destined mates meeting, then being torn apart. The book is basically comprised of two days; the first day when the two young shifters find one another, and the 2nd day which takes place many years later when they are reunited. In the first part of the book, there were elements of their meeting that was sweet, but the way the author writes was a little frustrating too. Here we are, at the start of the book being given the impression that the meeting taking place could result in deaths, even his own mothers, and our hero is off cavorting and playing with his newfound mate. Sure he’s trying to keep the little guy safe but it almost felt like young Tim was able to cast off his worries when distracted by his mate, leaving me as the reader to do the worrying! But I loved sweet and sassy little Jay, a fox shifter with adorable attitude. I quite enjoyed ‘day one’. The second part started off choppy but I met with anticipation; it’s the big reunion! We get some background on our now 31 year old Tim, and some of the changes in his life since he was a boy. His home life was a little confusing to me, we’re told the family is warm and loving but the father came across as harsh and the one sister is a right b*tch. So, we get our reunion and Tim is so keyed up he just about can’t control himself. His chemistry with Jay is combustible and I thought we were off to a good start, but from there the already rocky start just went straight on downhill. Sex within hours of being reunited- a painful knotting sex at that, a weirdly overprotective father (Jay’s), an invasive family (Tim’s) and unreasonable jealously towards his mate’s father (Tim toward Jay’s), and so on.I really had a hard time reading it, I would skim two pages and stop and play a bubble pop game, then skim three more, then stop and check the weather. I was intrigued by the premise of the second book featuring Robin but felt I should read v. 1 first. I am glad that I read it, I got a good sense of this author and of Robin (I do plan to read book 2 at some point) but I needed a breather afterwards. I do appreciate my GR friends input, am not sorry I read it, just hope the second book brings home what the first book just missed. Oh, and might I add, what a GORGEOUS cover!
What do You think about Secret Chemistry (2013)?
I can always count on Chris for a super sweet story. Loved it! I can't wait to read about Robin :D
—amichellel
