Title: Of Monsters and Men (A Forever Home #2)
Author Name & Publisher: Caitlin Ricci (Dreamspinner Press)
Publication Date & Length: May 20, 2015 – 200 pgs
Seth’s life looks idyllic on the surface. He has a great job at the pet rescue with a fantastic boss, who happens to be a werewolf. He is getting his degree at the local university and has a best friend who understands that the most intimate thing for Seth is a kiss. But when it comes to relationships, Seth’s perfect life is a jumbled mess. No guy stays around because eventually, they always want more than Seth, who is asexual, is able to give. Seth wants love and a relationship, but not the sex that everyone puts so much value on.
Seth tries for something more with the man he has a crush on, but when that ends Seth feels like he’s back to square one. So when his boss’s brother, Jeremy, pushes his way into Seth’s life, insisting that he won’t press for more than Seth is comfortable sharing, Seth is wary. All of Seth’s experience says it won’t last long. But Jeremy is one werewolf who is used to getting his way, and might just be patient enough to wait for Seth to see he means what he says.
Asexuality isn’t something most of us read about or even think about very often, so an Ace main character was a refreshing change. I’m not sure I really liked Seth, though. He seemed incredibly self-involved. For an asexual character, he seemed obsessed with sex and quick to judge the few people who cared about him.
I loved Jeremy and the rest of the cast. Far from the monster Jeremy claimed to be, he came across as the most human of the men in the story. His strength allowed others to be themselves and I was cheering when he started to venture out of his closet.
Romance stories usually have a sexual story arc, and I found it a challenge to accept and understand the progression of Seth and Jeremy’s relationship without physical intimacy. At times the relationship seemed very clinical. Both men laid out lists of what they wanted and then they negotiated compromise. It was all very grown up, but I kept yearning for the missing passion.
Sarah
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Caitlin was fortunate growing up to be surrounded by family and teachers that encouraged her love of reading. She has always been a voracious reader and that love of the written word easily morphed into a passion for writing. If she isn’t writing, she can usually be found studying as she works toward her counseling degree. She comes from a military family and the men and women of the armed forces are close to her heart. She also enjoys gardening and horseback riding in the Colorado Rockies where she calls home with her wonderful fiance and their dog. Her belief that there is no one true path to happily ever after runs deeply through all of her stories.
