Title: Without Reservations
Author: J.L. Langley
Publisher: http://www.samhainpublishing.com
Genre: Paranormal, GLBT (M/M)
Length: Novel
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
THE BLURB
Sometimes love just catches you by the tail…
Chayton Winston is a veterinarian. He is also a werewolf. Much to his Native American parents chagrin, he has always dreamed of a fair-haired, Caucasian mate. However, he never imagined his mate would be male. As a heterosexual man, he’s not quite sure what to do with a male mate, but more than willing to find out.
Keaton Reynolds wakes up, in wolf form, and finds himself with a mate. He’s instantly attracted, but not so thrilled to find out the man is straight. Having been in a relationship once before where his partner professed to be “Not gay” left a bad taste in his mouth. Keaton wants to make a break for it and pretend he never set eyes on Chay—but Chay is not ready to let him go.
Together the two work to solidify their shaky relationship and battle the prejudices against homosexuals. Chay must deal with not only his mother’s prejudices against gay men but also her hatred of white people. When a power struggle in Keaton’s pack threatens Keaton’s life, the two men learn to depend on one another and their relationship to get them through it.
THE REVIEW
When Chayton met Keaton he had been shot while in wolf form and Chay soon realized that the wolf was his mate, but imagine his surprise when his mate turns out to be a male. It took some getting used to by Chay who had always regarded himself as straight and his mother and best friend didn’t exactly welcome Keaton at first. However, although the werewolf mating urge was initially the driving force in the relationship, the tenderness and love between Chay and Bit, as he called Keaton, really made the story shine.
The plot was not as strong as some of the author’s other stories but it was certainly quite good when you consider that this is not totally a potential murder mystery but a mix of that and a love story between our two protagonists. Someone was trying to kill Keaton but no one knows who’s behind the attempts on his life and why, and as the tension builds and the attacks continue other people get hurt. A significant element of the story is the love and very hot sex between Chay and Keaton which is a trademark of this writer and the sex scenes in the book made me want to have lots of very cold showers – if there’s one area where J.L. Langley excels it’s her sex scenes which are sensuous, hot and explosive.
There is no doubt that this author is a terrific and articulate writer who gets her characters to speak to her in a way that excites readers and fans but when Keaton first appeared on the scene I was disappointed because physically his appearance fit every stereotype of an effeminate gay man – small in stature, blond, blue eyed and seemingly the sub in the relationship. Another minus for me was that Chay was a straight male who all of a sudden falls in love with another man, and even though I understood the werewolf mating drive I still wondered how the author would make a believer out of me. But as the story progressed Keaton evolved into a totally different persona and when in wolf form he was the stronger, more complex personality, physically, emotionally and mentally and this dichotomy made him a very powerful character. Chay on the other hand continued to be the relaxed, easygoing protag except in situations when he had to defend his mate. The supporting characters were also well developed – Remi, Jake, and the parents and I was surprised when the perpetrator was eventually revealed.
The first time I read this book I loved it and I still do. Without Reservations is a terrific story and J.L. Langley made a believer out of me by pulling off a great character switch and a credible mystery. I highly recommended this book to fans and other readers of the genre as an exceptional read. Now I’m off to read With Caution, Jake’s and Remi’s love story.
Although I am not a huge fan of the whole Gay For You plot, I really did enjoy this book. I think I liked it more because little bitty pretty Keaton has one heck of an attitude. Boy had a PhD and everything. Go Keaton! He wasn’t the stereotypical pretty but useless uke.
I was prepared to hate Keaton’s character (who names a main protag Lil Bit although it fit) but I really fell in love with him. I also don’t like the “gay for you” theme or effeminate gay men in M/M books, but as I said in the review, J.L. pulled it off.
I don’t like the “gay for you” storyline too much myself. I prefer to read about men who are aware of who they are and who they want. I don’t worry too much about the “effeminate” aspect, in real life there are lots of short, blond, blue eyed men.
I really liked the fact that Bit was the Alpha wolf, it gave the story a different feel. All in all, I enjoyed the book very much.
The “gay for you” theme is quite popular in M/M books and I realize that I’m in the minority, maybe because I have gay friends and they all comment on how unrealistic this is. However I do try to remember that this is a fantasy and not real life *g*
Re Bit’s effeminate appearance, I have always maintained that men should be men, even if they are gay men. It wasn’t his height or the fact that he was blond but he was also referred to as “pretty” which is not the way a man is described. However, for me his character was redeemed because of the way he totally changed in his wolf persona.
I’ve always loved this book. In fact, I just re-read it this week! 🙂
I waver between this and The Tin Star as being my favorite JLL book, but I’m pretty sure WR is an overall superior book. Love it, love it, LOVE IT.
Great review, girly! 🙂 Heh…and I already have the book, so you’re not making me spend any more money!
Than you Jen for the compliment *blushes*. Whew I’m glad you’re not spending any more $ on books on my account 🙂
I have yet to read one of J.L’s books that I didn’t like. I love some more than others for different reasons, and when I review books from a favourite author I always have to try to give a balanced perspective to the readers.
Btw J.L. Langley is my next big monthly interview and I’m writing the questions now, so if you or other readers wish to contribute questions I would welcome your input.
You know the only thing that has been stopping me from reading this book is the “werewolf” bit… I like werewolves in horror movies, but not in my m/m romance… I couldn’t really say why, I just don’t see the “hawt” factor in that (haha… and no, it’s not because they are hairy!)
But I am quite tempted to try.
If you haven’t tried this type of paranormal book Without Reservations would be an ideal start for this genre. I know you read vampire books and this is no different in terms of the blood and it certainly is no ‘horror’. The characters are ‘normal’ lovers until they shift, and other than a couple of incidents you would not even know this is a book about weres. Take a chance.
This is actually my favorite JL book. I love Chay calling him “Bit” and all his other nicknames.
I also don’t have a problem with a so-called straight man becoming gay. Seems to me he was probably never that straight. And I do know gay men who “thought” they were straight at one time. Doesn’t seem all that unrealistic to me.
But I am with you. I have never read a JL story I didn’t love. Definitely a great writer.
Hi Shawn
I loved this book for a lot of reasons, one of which was the love between the two characters and you will note I rated it 5 stars out of 5. But I do have a problem in general with the trend of so many M/M books going with the straight to gay man storyline.
My gay friends tell me that pretty well by puberty gay teenagers know their sexual orientation, despite all the stories in the press by politicians and others who claim not to to have known they were gay until they’re married and have children.
However, having said that, I understand that the straight to gay storyline is almost irresistible. I just wish it wasn’t used so often by so many M/M writers. Because I’m an avid reader I see so much of this that it gets tired after a while.
This book was published exactly 2 years ago when this idea was new and fresh and it would be great if M/M writers could come up with new and original plots to stimulate the readers’ imagination. I do know that this is fantasy and we read books to escape real life, but even fantasy needs a different diet at times.
The storyline worked in this book for the reasons I mentioned in the review, and J.L. knows how highly I regard her writing. As a matter of fact she is going to be interviewed on this blog on November 10 and I will ask her about the dearth of new ideas in the genre.
Thanks for your comments Shawn. I always welcome different perspectives.
Yes, I do know you gave it 5 stars. I wasn’t really trying to argue with you. Honest! I greatly respect your opinion on books. I just also have gay friends who have given a differing opinion.
And yes, I do appreciate the “fantasy” aspect. Lord, knows there is often enough reality in our world these days.
I’ve also thought of men as pretty sometimes. Including the lovely pictures you put up on Fridays. I often go, “ooh, pretty.” LOL
Still, whatever the case, it’s a great book, and I think we definitely agree on that.
Thanks Shawn. I’ll try to put up some more “pretty” pictures this coming Friday.
By the way I didn’t mean to come off as overly critical of the genre. Lord knows I have problems with another of my favourite genres – murder mysteries. I can’t count the number of gay booksellers with closeted detective boyfriends as the storyline since The Adrien English series became so popular.
However, on the flip side, I’m pleased to say that just a few days ago I read 3 short books – a new series by Jamie Craig about gay priests which is a very controversial topic – but in each story the plot was totally different. I loved the fact that the writers were taking a huge risk with the religion police *g* but the stories were original and enjoyable. Each story is reviewed on the blog.
I’m off now to read With Caution
Have a great weekend.
Wave
Wave,
This is another of those books that pops up in my Amazon recommendations and since im on this vampire/werewolf kick (thank you Stephanie Meyers) finally reading one with a M/M twist sounds right up my alley. 😉
Off but kind of on subject, Im on the fence with the whole “gay for you” thing. I hate feeling this way but as a gay man it kinda feels like a cop-out and turns my stomach. Maybe its bc I have a disdain for men who somehow loves to have sex with anything walking with a penis but dont want to identify themselves as “gay” as if its somehow some virulent disease. I can stomach bisexual or bicurious, but when u start saying “gay for you” it sounds like the porn equivalent of “gay for pay” where I would delight in such pleasures but I really dont want to be anywhere nearwhere it.
Hi Ozakie
I know I’m pissing in the wind when I talk about the overuse of the whole “gay for you” storyline but it’s nice to get some validation from you b/c you know of what you speak *g*. I have lost this argument – I know that – but when I talk to authors I ask them all the time about coming up with new themes since readers like myself who read hundreds of these books feel that we are reading the same one over and over – somewhat like being in a loop.
I do recognize that M/M books appeal to some women’s fantasies (myself included) about gay men and there’s nothing wrong with that, but having read this theme so many times it’s beginning to lose it’s appeal for me. However, as I said in the review, J.L. did a terrific job and really pulled this off much to my surprise.
Wave,
I totally agree with you..I think, for me, it really depends on the talent of the writer. I know for some men they never entertain the notion of being with another man until they met that “special man”, but usually from what I observed or heard its bc the man either was actually bicurious to begin with or in denial of his orientation bc ironically in my personal dating/sexual life Ive rarely dated or became physically intimate a guy who was 100% gay..The majority have been bisexual strangely enough.
I guess as a reader I can suspend disbelief but i usually save that for paranormal/sci-fi. When it becomes contemporary “gay for you” im a bit weary. As someone who has definitely read her fair share of M/M romances I can certainly understand how while that theme was new and exciting it can wear out its welcome after while.
Ozakie
Thanks for the validation and I just posted “How Do You like Your M/M erotic Romances?” on the blog.
Even though this is primarily directed at women (who make up the major reading public of this genre) I would really appreciate your input so that there is a balance of opinions.
PS I guess those bisexual/bi-curious guys must have got it going on to have you “under the sheets” *g*
Wow! First of all thank you all! I love hearing/seeing that. Thanks!
Second, I just have to chime in. 🙂 I am not generally a fan of the “gay for you” storyline myself. I know, I know, I have WR and sort of WC (although Remi is a bit different), but let me explain.
First of all, they are paranormal, and with a paranormal element, I can handle it. Sometimes. As a reader I still want some sort of acknowledgment from the character in question that he’s either been bi-curious or had relations with other men. Or struggle greatly, because well straight men, truly straight men don’t just up and turn gay no more than gay men just up and turn straight. I’m of the firm belief that sexual orientation is a born character trait.
*puts writer hat on again* I tried to play off of that idea with Chay, if you will recall. Even though his mate was “predestined” on some level he always knew it was a man.
I can also deal with this particular plot device in a contemporary IF the character admits (or is trying not to admit) to himself that he’s gay and has known it for quite some time. In other words, he’s been in denial. I’m speaking as a reader again btw. 🙂 *adjusts reader hat firmly on head*
I don’t like the use of this particular element if the guy just has no clue and is all of a sudden, “gay for you.” It just doesn’t happen in real life. I know fiction is not real life. No, it’s not thank goodness! But I do like enough reality to make it a believable fantasy. And it’s not just that particular theme. If anything is that far from believable it will throw me out of a story. Which is probably why I can suspend belief in paranormal better.
So, in a way, I guess it’s up to the author to sell it to me. I need a certain amount of character struggle to make it enjoyable to read.
Hi JL
Thanks for commenting and in a lot of ways confirming what I said about the “gay for you” theme in M/M books and the believability factor.
As I pointed out in the review, you made a believer out of me even though I’ve gotten pretty weary now after reading hundreds of these books and seeing the same storyline over and over again. But as I commented earlier, WR was published exactly 2 years ago however, since that time not much has changed in terms of storylines in the genre.
As you said, this was a paranormal book where you have to suspend belief, but in contemporary books themes get a little more scrutiny.
This has been a great discussion which started off as a comment on the book and the review. I wonder what will happen with With Caution? *g*