Without Reservations

I couldn't put the book down, amazing is all i can say. True the plot was a little small, but maybe that's because i didn't want it to end. The character's had chemistry and often made me smile while i read there playful adventures with each-other. Simply magical.

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 in books - 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.

I bought this book and about three others with a great many reservations. I was hoping for a story with gay characters, and admittedly this is not hard to find. The problem comes when one is looking for both a great story and well balanced and truly loving characters. I found all that and more in this book. I had fun reading this book more than any in a long time because of the great sense of humor throughout the book, and the fact that the characters felt real. The idea of mates born to be with each other is wonderful and heartwarming, especially when they can look past all the things standing in their way and see the light at the end of the tunnel that is hope itself.

Yeah, yeah, the two protagonists are werewolves; so get used to it. They're sexy, interesting guys, thrown into a romance neither would have predicted, especially Chay. Then they go through some great exchanges and scenes working out what it means to find your life partner and discover he's not what you were expecting. Then, finding out he's better than you expected, even if Chay's mother and best friend don't think so. Then finding out someone is out to kill the relationship, literally, and both protagonists and their loved ones all have to work hard to discover who and why and stop him. I loved the characters (yes, their being werewolves calls for some suspension of belief) and have found myself thinking a lot about the story after finishing reading it. Langley created some wonderful guys in "Tin Star" that won my interest and support, and she's done it again with Chay and Keaton. I've read the book twice already and will read it again many times. Well worth the time and effort.

This is a wonderful paranormal gay romance! The main characters have great chemistry, and the story is fast paced. And, despite the tag line, this isn't about a straight man being "turned gay" by true love. Chay has had relationships with women, but he has also experimented a little with men. Once he gets over the suprise of having a male mate, he works to make a life with Keaton. The werewolf aspect of the story is not the main focus, but it provides a great backdrop. Like many gay romances, there is a lot of angst as the men overcome obstacles, but there is also a lot of humor. Langley is an excellent writer. There is frequent hot sex, but the two men also build their relationship outside the bedroom. This is part of a loosely connected series called the "With or Without" series. The first story, "With Love" can be found in the anthology "Hearts from the Ashes" and feature alpha werewolf Devlin and his new mate, the omega Laine. The next book, "With Caution" is coming soon. I highly recommend all the books by this author.