prettylittlewriter

 Today is my turn on the book tour for this incredible novel! Thank you so much to Black Crow PR for allowing me to take part and sending me a review copy!

Synopsis

Ox was sixteen when he met the boy on the road. The little boy who talked and talked and talked. Ox found out later the little boy hadn’t spoken in almost two years before that day, and that the little boy belonged to a family who had moved into the house at the end of the lane.

Ox was seventeen when he found out the little boy’s secret and it painted the world around him in colors of red and orange and violet, of Alpha and Beta and Omega.

Ox was twenty-three when murder came to town and tore a hole in his head and heart. The boy chased after the monster with revenge in his bloodred eyes, leaving Ox behind to pick up the pieces.

It’s been three years since that fateful day—and the boy is back. Except now he’s a man, and Ox can no longer ignore the song that howls between them.’

 Wow.

This is the first novel by Klune that I’ve read, and holy hell it’s good!

I went into this novel not really knowing much about it, I didn’t read the synopsis, I just knew it had werewolves. So when we dove into the life of Ox, a young man living in a middle-of-nowhere town with an abusive Father and everyone treating him differently, I was intrigued to see how they fit in with the story.

When Ox meets the werewolves, he has no idea what they are. But he falls in with them like he’s known them his whole life, with Joe, the youngest, becoming his best friend. Things were slightly weird between them, with Joe being very protective, but I saw that as a cute friendship thing (young kids can be a bit possessive over their friends).

Then one day, Ox discovers who they really are, and becomes an integral part of their life and their pack (packpackpack).

I wasn’t expecting any romance within this book, I thought it was just going to be family and friendship, so when Ox & Joe started to become more than friends, I was a little taken aback (if you’ve seen Twilight/read the books, you’ll know Jacob ‘imprints’ on a youngster, and this feels quite similar, and Klune actually throws in a joke about it too).

I mean, their love for each other is incredible, and after reading the book, I can see why it was needed, but the age gap initially was a little weird.

For anyone that has read this book already, what are your thoughts on the ‘Love’ chapter?! Shocking, incredibly detailed, and FUCKING HOT went through my head!! I had to have a break from the novel after this chapter to cool down!! I think it’s probably the most graphic sex scene I’ve ever read before, and it was impressive to say the least!

I loved the antagonistic element of the novel; it actually felt purposeful and was cleverly done. I’ve read a lot of fantasy books, and sometimes there’s a baddie involved that is destroyed within seconds during the final battle, so it was nice to have it prolonged and they actually felt like a threat to the Bennetts.

I loved almost every single character within this book, each one of them having something that I could relate to, but my favourites were definitely Ox, Gordo, Carter & Kelly!

Now, I don’t want to go into too much detail as I implore you to just go ahead and read this incredible story, but I will say, that I’m in so deep, that I cannot wait for the release of the 2^nd book, and I’m also going to go away and read the rest of Klune’s novels!

5/5 stars

 Synopsis
‘Beverley Wilson has always loved the Beatles but kissing a poster goodnight isn’t really an option when you’re a fifty-something mum of three. So when she decides it’s time to get back into the dating game, she turns to a dating agency for help.
But the long and winding road to real love is littered with dating disasters – the pantyhose pervert being the real low point and in Bev’s opinon it’s all too much. But meeting fellow Beatles fan Scott Smith changes everything…’

The pure nostalgia in this novel is incredible. If you’re a Beatles fan, or from Liverpool, this will be a delight!

When Suzan offered to send me a copy of her first novel, I was very excited as I love anything that surrounds music and dating. But I had no idea just how hilarious the book was going to be! There are some absolutely hilarious anecdotes from Beverley, and I just loved her passion for her Beatles, especially Paul!

As someone who admires and loves a couple of celebrities TO DEATH, I understand her passion!

I loved that Beverley was over 50; there certainly aren’t enough books out there written from that perspective, so it was very refreshing! She is a wonderful and hilarious person, with an unintentional comedic personality, that I just kept giggling to myself throughout.

Poor Bev had been through the ringer; her life is turned upside down by not one, but two traumatic events within the novel, and you really do feel terrible for her!

Without going into too much detail as I wouldn’t wish to spoil it for any potential readers, but I will say that I am certainly glad she manages to have a happy ending, even if the journey was a bit of a Helter Skelter!

A special little cameo from Sir Paul McCartney himself was also a lovely little treat!

Overall I thought this was a lovely, heart-warming and hilarious novel full of quips and brilliantly clever references to The Beatles throughout! I'm looking forward to reading Suzan's next novel, that has recently been published, Rock 'n' Rose. 

4/5 stars