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Change of Heart (Change of Heart #1)

by Mary Calmes (Goodreads Author)

4.11 of 5 stars 4.11 · rating details · 2,669 ratings · 225 reviews

As a young gay man—and a werepanther—all Jin Rayne yearns for is a normal life. Having fled his past, he wants nothing more than to start over, but Jin’s old life doesn’t want to let him go. When his travels bring him to a new city, he crosses paths with the leader of the local were-tribe.

Logan Church is a shock and an enigma, and Jin fears that Logan is both the mate he...more

ebook, 260 pages

Published November 2009 by Dreamspinner Press

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Apr 24, 2011 Mel rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-book, m-m

Jin is a panther shifter who has been on the run for over eight years. At age 16 he was beaten by his own tribe and left for dead because he was an abomination. See: Jin is a reah, a destined mate to a tribe leader, but they're not supposed to be male... or gay...

I read this book because of the raving reviews. People loved the story and they were particularly praising about the world building. And now I wonder: did we even read the same book?

Because, yes: the author tried to set up a new world...more Jin is a panther shifter who has been on the run for over eight years. At age 16 he was beaten by his own tribe and left for dead because he was an abomination. See: Jin is a reah, a destined mate to a tribe leader, but they're not supposed to be male... or gay...

I read this book because of the raving reviews. People loved the story and they were particularly praising about the world building. And now I wonder: did we even read the same book?

Because, yes: the author tried to set up a new world in where there are such things as panther shifters. But throwing around old Egyptian mythology doesn't cut it. We didn't really know anything about the world, the game, the rules or the players. I was left with a lot of questions. What are the characteristics of a shifter in both human and animal form? What about things like heightened senses, strength, longevity? Are there other supernatural creatures? Also: what are the rules within a panther tribe? What makes someone a leader, teacher or enforcer? And what about the rules of conduct between panther tribes? Are there turf wars? Is there animosity? What about people who don't have a tribe?
Seriously: did I miss a prologue or something? If you want to create a new world, do so, don't come up with bits and pieces without further elaboration, especially if those bits and pieces aren't consistent throughout the story! A reah is really important and has a holy status. Yet everybody wants him dead. A reah can only be destined to one person. Yet everyone wants to give it a shot. A reah is the perfect fit for a semel. Yet there is fear of not being accepted. It's no fun playing a game if the rules keep changing!

Oh yes: The Rules. There was some talk about The Rules. It seemed like some kind of shifter's Bible, but again: there was no further elaboration. Only that it was really, really important, yet only a handful of people seemed to actually know something about The Rules, the tribe leader not being one of them!

When world building is lacking or inconsistent, it's no longer a story setting but an excuse for plot devices. Another obvious plot device was the main character's -let's just call it- sudden fits of narcolepsy. Whenever Jin did something wrong, it was because he was dead tired. He managed to keep his secret for eight years, but one tired night and he blows his cover? Moreover: I didn’t really understand he was tired until I was told that he was tired. I didn’t see it though. I didn’t notice any signs that could lead up to Jin being so worn out that he could possibly slip up. This happened throughout the book. It was a lot of telling not showing.
Same with the emotions within the main character or dynamics between characters. The dialogs felt stilted. I just didn’t feel the emotion, the love, the angst.

All of the above made it really hard for me to enjoy the story. I couldn't connect with Jin. I know he was a good looking guy (since he stipulated that point himself, on multiple occasions) but I just couldn't help imagining a whimpering girl. I got that he had issues, but he acted like a selfish jerk most of the time. Spending a lazy afternoon at your house after being kidnapped? Not telling anyone where you are? Being angry because your lover is protecting you the only way he knows how? Finding it strange that your lover flips out, after you bring another man to your bedroom and ditch your lover's clothes for the other man's? Seriously!

The only characters with some potential were Koren and Domin. I was more interested in their possible romance (even if it came totally out of left field...) than I was in the love between the main couple, which felt cliché and, again: I wasn't feeling it.
Writing a 'destined mate' kind of love story without losing the tension or the angst and while still making it believable is no small feat. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. With this book, it just didn't.

All in all: Change of Heart was a huge let down for me. I can't give it more than 2 stars. (less)

26 likes · like · see review

Jan 21, 2013 genao rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Those who enjoy absurdly hung Alpha men who like to announce that you and your asshole belong to him

Listen.

Once you get past a wobbly first few pages, forgive minor plotting issues, and just sorta... let this book happen to you?

IT IS AMAZEBALLS, CRAZY-GO-NUTS, BAJARPANTI, AND ASSPLODINGLY HAAAAAAWWWWWWWT.

::gag reflex on the "aaaawww" in "hawt"::

One passage in particular gave me a raging boner for an hour, you guyz, sirrusly, ehrmergherd, I can't even.

Some people dislike the tropes so deftly deployed in this one, but not me. No ma'am.

I went through half a bottle of Eros with this puppy before a...more

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Apr 25, 2013 Plainbrownwrapper rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: mm

At one point Jin changes "instantly" from human to panther back to human -- and supposedly, the speed of the change keeps him from destroying the clothes he's wearing. Really???? Cmon, people, speed has nothing to do with ripping through cloth!

Then there's all these "Laws", which are essential to the life of the pack -- but nobody knows them, including the leader of the pack??

"He was claiming me. I was his possession, and I wanted nothing else."

Oh gag me.

This book really trips my "chick-with-dic...more

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Nov 06, 2011 L-D rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, m-m, shifters-weres, pnr, series, nook-lendable

I thought this was a very cute and interesting story. Jin and his best friend, Crane, are werepanthers that have left their tribe. Jinnai is a Rhea, a very rare type of werepanther that brings prosperity and peace to their tribe. Rheas are also destined to be the true-mates of the Semel, or tribe leaders. Unfortunately for Jin, Rheas have also always only been women, as Semels have always been men. The dynamics that Mary Calmes creates for this world of werepanthers was very creative, as well as...more

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Nov 26, 2012 Cole Riann rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, m-m-pnr, m-m-shifters, m-m-diverse, jessewave, rereads, armchair-reviews

Second Read Review posted as a series at The Armchair Reader and on GR on the review of the fourth book, Crucible of Fate .

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First Review (12/14/10)

The world built by Mary Calmes in this novel is amazing and refreshing. She has put together a social system that we usually only see with werewolves in shapeshifter stories, but which is totally fitted to the behaviors of big cats. There is a feral quality to the politics of their society, so that at any moment I felt like the i...more

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Jul 30, 2012 Audrey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: man-love

3.5 stars. Very steamy and well-written m/m shifter story. I enjoyed it. Not sure if I want to continue with the series, though. Their story seems pretty much told, in my opinion.

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Nov 09, 2012 Lauraadriana rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: love-conquers-all, m-m, pnr, super-super-hot, toppy-top, troubled-past

3.5 Stars

Okay so in the end after like a one year break, I tried this book again and damn IT HIT THE SPOT...Granted I had just read a TERRIBLE book, and I HAVE developed a taste for Mary Calmes this year, especially Acrobat LOVE YOU DREO!!! So this time around things were a bit more *ahem* lubricated for me.

So Jin is a werepanther and a "reah" a VERY rare shifter that is meant to be the mate of a semel. Semels are the chiefs of the werepanther tribes, and are also ALWAYS males. This was a proble...more 3.5 Stars

Okay so in the end after like a one year break, I tried this book again and damn IT HIT THE SPOT...Granted I had just read a TERRIBLE book, and I HAVE developed a taste for Mary Calmes this year, especially Acrobat LOVE YOU DREO!!! So this time around things were a bit more *ahem* lubricated for me.

So Jin is a werepanther and a "reah" a VERY rare shifter that is meant to be the mate of a semel. Semels are the chiefs of the werepanther tribes, and are also ALWAYS males. This was a problem for Jin's tribe so they tried to kill him and exiled him at sixteen. Since then him and his loyal best friend Crane,(who left the tribe for what they did to Jin and basically saved his life) have been rooaming around avoiding getting settled into a tribe. However they have liked their time in Lake Tahoe they both have good jobs and they are thinking of staying until the semels of the local tribes get wind that Jin is reah (these semel do not have an issue with the gay thing apparently and are all up on Jun's grill). Two of them come looking for him, however these two are not Jin's mates...The third one Logan Church requests that he come meet him and as soon as he sets eyes on Jin it's like POW! Pheremones all over the place...That's his mate baby and he is T-O-P-P-Y and all ovah Jin, like free condoms at PRIDE weekend.

Look Mary Calmes' characters pretty much come in one flavor...The TOP, the bottom, the family of the top that falls in love with the bottom, as do pretty much all the people that are ever around him. Male, female it don't matter. THEY ALL WANT the delicious, perfect, beautufil bottomy MC. Do I have a problem with that? HELL NO! There is something to be said about a reliable formula, if I'm in the mood for a book with a crazy hot alpha male that is super into his partner and wants to fuck him ten ways to Sunday...Mary Calmes has got the goods baby.

I'm gonna go read the second one now, since I'm on a roll, and the world and tribal politics are interesting enough so far that I am curious where she will go with all the setup....Oh and the smut is SMOKIN!

(less)

6 likes · like · see review

Oct 04, 2010 Emanuela ~plastic duck~ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Emanuela ~plastic duck~ by: Natsroshan

Shelves: rainbow-gay, glbt, paranormal, traduzioni-dsp

I really enjoyed this book, there are just some minor flaws, in my opinion, which depend on my taste rather than the book itself, probably.

What I liked:

* Jin, the narrator. He was rejected by his family and tribe, but he's not constantly whining about his past. I admired the way he is able to put his past behind and his willingness to start over again. His desire to be accepted, to be loved and to belong somewhere made me root for him. I loved him, it's as simple as that.

* I didn't like Logan, J...more I really enjoyed this book, there are just some minor flaws, in my opinion, which depend on my taste rather than the book itself, probably.

What I liked:

* Jin, the narrator. He was rejected by his family and tribe, but he's not constantly whining about his past. I admired the way he is able to put his past behind and his willingness to start over again. His desire to be accepted, to be loved and to belong somewhere made me root for him. I loved him, it's as simple as that.

* I didn't like Logan, Jin's mate, at first, he seemed too flat and not too smart, if I must tell the truth. Then, when he had to make up to Jin, he was wonderful, warm, understanding. The narration is in first person, so we just get to know Logan's reactions, not his point of view, but his action, even if rushed and maybe unsuitable for the leader of his tribe, were dictated by his heart, which is probably very big.

* The world that the author built is original and well thought. There's a set of rules the were-society follows. I agree with those who said that it seems these rules are pulled out of the hat when they are needed, but maybe it depends on the choice by the author of letting the reader learn that world instead of explaining it. I also liked the way the panthers shifted from animal to werepanthers to humans. And the interaction between the characters when they were in different stages of their shifting was incredibly hot. I love cats, so I could totally envision their feline behavior.

What I didn't like:

* As I said before, the author chooses to immerse the reader in the world she created without explaining the terminology or the rules, being confident that the reader will catch everything by the end. Yes, it happens, but it's so difficult at the beginning. I hope the next edition (or the sequel, if published) will have a glossary.

* Sometimes there was too much dialogue and I had to go back a few paragraphs to understand who was speaking.

These are the reasons why I will give 4 stars instead of 5. The story is great and I will re-read it in the future.(less)

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Jan 16, 2013 Dreamer rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: erotica, audiobook, shape-shifters, m-m-para-romance, gay-for-you

Okay, finished this audiobook in an afternoon. This was a werepanther m/m romance, although from the cover you'd think that was a girl's back.
description

What can I say? Enjoyed the beginning but then it was just: "yadda, yadda, yadda, MINE, yadda, yadda.."

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Dec 11, 2010 Karen K rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: gay-shifters, gay-romance, gay-first-time, gay-for-you, gay-drama, ebook-owned

4.5 rounded up to a 5.
This is the first book I've read by Mary and I really enjoyed her writing style. I loved Jin - he was a great quirky, intelligent character and put together with Logan - just totally hot. I liked that he didn't completely conform to his mate's rules and ways, just enough to show he was where he should be and was happy to be there. He'd been through so much already - so many trust issues and abandonment, not to mention abuse, but now I think Logan will take good care of him....more

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Dec 15, 2010 Nikyta rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: comfort-reads-rereads, m-m, stockholm-syndrome-kinda, all-time-favs, cat-shifters-felines, injury-recovery, mates, royalty, contemporary-fantasy, bubbles-safe, gfy-ofy

One of my favorite genres is shape-shifters. Especially rare ones (or considered rare in the story). This book caught my attention because that is exactly what Jin is. A rare black panther instead of a golden panther. You get captured in the story. You don’t want to put the book down right from the start, it just sucks you in. The writing can get quite descriptive about just ordinary things (which I love because it makes you feel as if you are living the story) and the sex scenes seem to fit the...more

9 likes · like · see review

Apr 19, 2013 Rebecca rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: m-m-romance, paranormal-supernatural

Did everyone else honestly read the same book as me?

Firstly, I'll start by saying I don't normally read shifter books. So possibly, that was already a strike against it.

However, a friend recommended this author, and when I asked where to start, suggested this book/series. Figuring I'd give them the benefit of the doubt, I bought this book and read it straight in basically a day.

Honestly, the only thing I could really say was good about this book was the tribe hierachy/society. I found it interes...more

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Apr 02, 2013 Ebony Frye rated it 3 of 5 stars

Okay. I don't write reviews often so forgive me if I don't tell the whole story. Jin is a werepanther who does not want to find his mate. Doesn't want anything to do with a mate at all. Logan is the leader of a local tribe and quite a guy. Jin has trouble sorting out his feelings through everything and trying not to run at the same time.

The problem that I had with this book is that I wanted to strangle him. He constantly spews out that he doesn't need someone to make decisions for him but he se...more

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Mar 23, 2013 leigh rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: challenge

Too many characters, not enough development. People went in an eyeblink from mortal enemies to sob-on-your-shoulder lifetime friends, without the intervening interactions that would demonstrate this evolution and give it emotional resonance. Similarly, the relationship between the MCs felt too superficial, based on little more than the fated-mate bond.

Jin has spent his life desperately trying to avoid meeting his mate, preferring to choose his own partner or no partner at all, as he wishes. But...more

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Jan 21, 2013 Camille rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: gay-for-you, m-m-rom-erotica

Among the massive amount of ridiculousness that includes the plot but is mostly directed to the writing itself, there are a few pearls.

The appropriation of Kemetic spirituality for erroneous and superficial use is the least of this book's problems, surprisingly. What is readily apparent is that Calmes is just phoning it in. "Mine" and "no one else but me" constitutes a good fifth is this book, with the Calmes staples of absolute adoration by all of the MC, the MC's not knowing his worth, the ki...more

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Dec 05, 2012 Rimah rated it 3 of 5 stars

I found his book to be nice and cute. Jin and Logan's relationship and sex life was all good and the story line was fine up until it started to get confusing and bloody frustrating!
Firstly, when you're creating an entire new world with werewolf shapeshifters and tribes with a mass rank division system, we need to get some sort of background. For instance, are there other animal shapeshifters, what happens with all the land, how is it divided, why are there so many bloody laws that each counter a...more I found his book to be nice and cute. Jin and Logan's relationship and sex life was all good and the story line was fine up until it started to get confusing and bloody frustrating!
Firstly, when you're creating an entire new world with werewolf shapeshifters and tribes with a mass rank division system, we need to get some sort of background. For instance, are there other animal shapeshifters, what happens with all the land, how is it divided, why are there so many bloody laws that each counter another equally stupid law, why is there no freaking legal knowledge what-so-ever when it comes to sealing bonds, how are Semele allowe to be so stupid when it comes to laws that are gonna get him killed if e agrees to them and how come jin always manages to find one that just happens to work in his favor all the time.

The first few chapters were great, I liked how Jin was all cool and openly gay and what not, he was all awesome when he encountered Yuri in the bar and Michael later on! These characters were also really cool in the beginning, micheal was calm and aw man, great! Yuri was all needing to be with Jin, he was all wanting to take Jin off to see Logan and I loved the whole idea!
Then you meet Logan and he's pretty cool too, how he knows Jins his reah and everything and how he acts!
But then I started to hate it, putting it down constantly, wanting to punch Jin and strangle Logan and someone's i just felt like screaming at the both of them.
Firths of all; Jin is annoying, stupid and completely unloyal to Logan! Sure, he comes from a bad home and background and had to go through a heap, but he just pisses me off with being so selfish all the time. It really makes me doubt that he really has feelings for Logan at all. Logan on the other hand is alright. He's described as pretty sexy and deffinately he guy I'd go for but he also acts stupidly at times! I like the whole possessive thing and rough loving, it was thilling, but towards the mid to end, he was acting all weak and stupid and when Jin left, he went into a state like he did (spoilers if I go on) and, god, that wasn't great.
By the end, it was just a relief to put it down and be done with it. I mean, I was looking forward to something awesome from he beginning... But in the end, it was just unsatisfying!
(less)

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Aug 28, 2012 Sophia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: pnr-uf

Sometimes a story just draws you in from the first sentence or two on the page and you are off to the (reading) races and just can't put the book down for sleep or sustenance. If someone were to ask what is so special about it that made the book so engrossing, you would be hard pressed to put your finger on the reason. That is how I feel to a certain extent about this story even though I have formed a few thoughts about what I enjoyed so much.

First of all, yes- this is a shifter romance and yes...more Sometimes a story just draws you in from the first sentence or two on the page and you are off to the (reading) races and just can't put the book down for sleep or sustenance. If someone were to ask what is so special about it that made the book so engrossing, you would be hard pressed to put your finger on the reason. That is how I feel to a certain extent about this story even though I have formed a few thoughts about what I enjoyed so much.

First of all, yes- this is a shifter romance and yes again, there is a version of the fated mate tradition in it, but don't check out on this one too soon because Mary Calmes did some thing different and unique with those PNR cliches. Her shifter world in the story only involved panthers and there was a whole new panther shifter world system that I haven't seen the likes of since Patricia Briggs' wolves. Then the fated mate thing? That is not a prevalent thing. It is a rarity that only a certain type of panther shifter could enjoy. Only the alpha of the tribe and his true mate, known as a reah, could have this coupling. Reahs are rare so most alphas never even have a chance at finding their true mate and must settle for the second best thing and just mate someone they're compatible with.

Outside of the uniqueness of the panther shifter world with all its new terms and traditions, was the voice of this story. It is told first person from one of the main character, Jin's point of view. Some people dislike first person, but I'm not one of those. I really enjoyed the depth this story explored because I was able to be in Jin's head the whole time. Yes, I would have liked to have gotten Logan's thoughts at times, but Jin was a perceptive character so even though he was dense many times about people's motives (he is to be forgiven for this because he had a lot of demons from his past riding him), I as the reader had no difficulty finding insight into some of the other characters' thinking.

Now about the story-
Jin (who is male and this is important because all alphas are male) who is the rarest of the rare as a male reah has recently moved to Reno with his friend, Crane. They are exiled from their former panther tribe with Jin being brutalized to near death and Crane rescuing him because Jin is considered an abomination for what he is and for coming out as gay. Crane stayed by him and now they have a fresh start. Crane is a sweetie and can't resist a damsel in distress which is why they end up in the spotlight very fast when Jin just wants to hide in the shadows. Not only is Jin a rare reah, he has shifter abilities that others including the powerful alpha-like semels don't have. He and Crane rescue the girl who is the sister to one of the local semels.

Jin wants to avoid being anywhere near the local packs particularly the tribal semels because he has an absolute phobia of one of them possibly being his true mate. He is also terrified that he and Crane will be subjected to more brutality if the local semels know who and what he is. Fate has a way of scotching his plans and he ends up right where he doesn't wish to be- front and center before all three of the local semels (panther tribe leaders) one after the other in one night. And wouldn't you know it? He does feel the mate bond pull with one of them.

This is where instead of things getting easier they just get harder and more complicated. With Jin's inner demons who won't let him trust and accept, the tribal reactions to his gender and orientation, and the machinations of several around them, Logan and Jin's mating sets off a firestorm and it became an exciting read right to the end.

Jin is a beautifully written 3D figure that has a strong character that has been tempered by fire from family and tribal rejection and torment. He has knocked around with only Crane as companion and he struggles to grasp at the happiness that fate is laying before him. He is an angry and suspicious man that has a great capacity to love if he can learn to trust.

Logan is the perfect hero for Jin. He is stalwart and unshakeable in his beliefs. Others see him as the strong, capable leader and he is, but there is a lonely man underneath who has never lost the dream of finding his true mate even when he knows it is hopeless and must succumb to practicality and take an arranged political mating that will bind two tribes together. When Jin arrives on the scene, the mating of convenience is called off immediately. Some might say Logan is hasty and that it is insta-love, but in truth it is his unshakable faith that if Jin is his true mate, then they are made for each other and love each other. I loved watching Logan's solid faith go up against Jin's flighty skittishness when it came to their mate-hood. Things start changing as Logan discovers that he is now vulnerable when it comes to his erratic mate.

Overall, it was an outstanding read in the m/m shifter romances and it is grittier than most. I really felt like these panthers were wild and dangerous predators and not just humans who turned into cats. I look forward to the next in the series. I recommend this to those who enjoy m/m shifter romances with a grittier edge to them.(less)

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Oct 20, 2011 Lidia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Both in the now inflated world of paranormal romance is nice to find a book that is distinguished from others by the originality and the magic that enphasizing the plot. What the writer Mary Calmes is the world of drawing us werepanthers, shapeshifters who lead a normal life in California but they have to deal with rules and laws of the "tribe". There is of course a "Semel" the alpha male who leads his people and there is the figure of "Reah" true friend of Semel. This character is described alm...more Both in the now inflated world of paranormal romance is nice to find a book that is distinguished from others by the originality and the magic that enphasizing the plot. What the writer Mary Calmes is the world of drawing us werepanthers, shapeshifters who lead a normal life in California but they have to deal with rules and laws of the "tribe". There is of course a "Semel" the alpha male who leads his people and there is the figure of "Reah" true friend of Semel. This character is described almost as a sacred figure, respected by all and everyone listens and the one that will love and support the Semel for life. Reah now generally indicates a woman but his ability to give thought to a man, Jin, this character. And as a man Jin has been banned by his family and the tribe as if it was abomination, with Crane, his long-time friend, will study and work taking care not to stay long enough in one place and be in a position to disclose Reah his being. Because he wants to be free to choose the person to be loved and wants to be respected for himself and not because a sacred law dictates it. But secrets can not be maintained forever and Jin will face three of the area in which Semel is now living.
The meeting with Logan will be the decisive one, however: at first glance Jin knows what will be his Semel, and become your Semel-re , the leaders blessed to have found his Reah. Of course, initially there will be some disruption to the family and the tribe of Logan, but the latter will recognize immediately that Jin was his companion and will be ready to defend with their lives. And 'This is a very intense story, where feelings of love, friendship and sense of honor are very defined. But it is also able to weave fantasy and reality, the everyday rituals and mythology that made me love this story.
Jin banished from the family for being gay (and Reah) brings us back to the issue of discrimination is still widespread today. People who are called different, some abominations, just because they have shared sexual habit. I love the character of Jin because it is sweet but tough, because he has a soul kept pure despite the humiliation, because it is a panther and a strong man not afraid to show his a tender heart. Logan is rather strong that the man responsible for so many people, that respects the law, but it is also the man who will love Jin regardless of what others think. Crane is the faithful friend who has always been next to Jin, and who knows him deeply. As always in his books Positive feelings are accompanied by the passion and sex, which is the sealing of a union of love. Being werepanther paranormal and talking about, there are scenes of action and dynamics of conflict animal and strife, but this is dosed in a plot that involves you and seduce you thanks to a smooth and linear writing. If there's one thing I found in this book is bad because the cover does not give any indication of the plot, even misleads the reader imagines that the contents of racconto.Change of Heart is the first in a series, the second
Trusted Bon has already been published, and I assure you, not only keeps the first positive premises but it is even more involving (shocking) above(less)

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Sep 14, 2011 LenaLena rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: mm, omg-wtf-bbq

I'll have to read more shifter books, I guess, because I am really, really not getting the ones I've read so far. And I'm not getting why this one is so popular, in particular.

I recently complained there weren't enough rules in some book I read (http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...). This book has taught me that there is such a thing as too many rules too. A quick and dirty word search shows that there are roughly 50 discussions of laws and rules in here. The reason there is so much talk abo...more

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Aug 24, 2011 Brei rated it 5 of 5 stars

Change of Heart by Mary Calmes is about a were-jaguar ,Jin, who is shunned from his tribe for being gay and different, he’s beaten and left for dead, only his best friend helped him stay alive then they ran off together to forge a new life without a tribe. Logan is the leader of a tribe in Reno he is unmated and do to pressure from family and his tribe, decided to take on a mate, until he meets Jin and realizes he is the mate that was made for him, Logan then claims Jin as his.
This is an interes...more

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Dec 23, 2010 Mantastic rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: highly-recommend, paranormal

Mary Calmes is a must buy for me. I love how a very common theme (shifters) seems original because of how she's approached it. The hierarchy of the shifters in this story is very fascinating. The main characters are colorful and interesting. There wasn't a lot of sugar coating going on, though. Some of the characters where mean and said horrible things ... mainly because of the couple being gay.

The are 2 reasons this is a 4 and not a 5.

1) repetition ... it had to have been said 6 or 7 times abou...more

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Aug 08, 2010 LdDurham rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m-romance

The world building in this story was really quite impressive. I had never seen the use of Ancient Egypt used in shape-shifter stories. It was done beautifully, here, and I enjoyed all the nuances to the laws and lifestyles of these panthers.

I truly enjoyed the main character, Jin, and his best friend, Crane. I would follow them into any adventure. They were down-to-earth and realistic. However, Jin's counterpart, Logan, the leader of the panthers, lost a lot of my interest when he made a really...more

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Sep 08, 2012 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: glbt-fiction

Change of Heart by Mary Calmes was a great shifter romance. There was a bit of the old “gay for you* trope going on, but it was well done and nicely wrapped up with the *we’re soul mates* kinda thing. I liked that it was angsty and that there were a few misunderstandings and heart to hearts that made for a nice, sexy wee read. I have a thing for cat shifter romances too, so a bit of were pussy romance was all good!
http://sharrow.wordpress.com/2009/12/...

Re read 2012.

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Jun 12, 2012 Sandra Ramirez rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: mary-calmes

I loved this book. A prologe with a bit of info on some of the rules that came up on this book it would have been real great. It just kinda lost me when some of the rules or challenges had come up until they were later explained. It would have been great for a heads up first, other than that I absolutely LOVED the book. Jin is such a great guy even after all he's been through. Logan is the type of man I myself would like to find but let's be realistic that's why most of us read romances because...more

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Nov 08, 2011 Sho rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, urban-fantasy, m-m

This book was a pleasant surprised. I was expecting the"were pack" thread to be a dressing to a m-m romance but it wasn't so. Calmes sensei actually has built a pretty solid world about were panthers in this book. To be honest, I think her were panther mythology and culture are much better imagined than some of the eroticas out there disguised as urban fantasies. And in that sense, if the reader is not familiar with weres and packs and what not in UF genre, one might get lost. Fortunately for me...more

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Nov 10, 2012 Virginia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: char-shifter-wolf-cat, fiction-paranormal, genre-mm, 2009

I enjoyed this although Jin was a bit annoying at times. However, I understood his fear to trust and believe that he could be wanted for himself. Crane was adorable. The ending seemed to drag out a bit. After reading the reviews for the follow up books in the series, I might just stop here happy that, as far as my reading, the couple is HEA as this appears to be the strongest reviewed book in the series. Or, may be tempted to continue on.

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Feb 08, 2011 ~ames~ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-read, e-book, paranormal, m-m, freebie

CoH was a surprise for me. I'm so burnt out on paranormals but this one just kept calling to me. Jin Rayne is a male reah. In werepanther culture, that's unheard of. A reah is always the true mate of a semel, a werepanther tribe's leader. Since semels are always male, reahs should always be female. Semels are always on the look-out for their reah and Jin has learned to avoid semels. Jin was almost killed by his tribe when he was 16 and they discovered that he was a reah - and gay. Although reahs...more

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Apr 08, 2012 Bell Britt rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: lgbt-romance, paranormal-romance

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I didn't want to have to give this a 2 star, I wanted to like this book, but it sort of forced my hand. I was really enjoying this book before Logan came into the picture.

I didn't enjoy their 'romance' AT ALL. I didn't think it was even considered romance. They were only in 'in love' because they were destined mates, they couldn't even control who they loved. They didn't have a choice in the matter at all and both of them were TOTALLY OKAY WITH IT? I didn't understand it at all. All it was to me...more I didn't want to have to give this a 2 star, I wanted to like this book, but it sort of forced my hand. I was really enjoying this book before Logan came into the picture.

I didn't enjoy their 'romance' AT ALL. I didn't think it was even considered romance. They were only in 'in love' because they were destined mates, they couldn't even control who they loved. They didn't have a choice in the matter at all and both of them were TOTALLY OKAY WITH IT? I didn't understand it at all. All it was to me was "YOU REAH, ME MATE, WE FUCK." It literally had no more depth than that. They were naturally attracted to eachother, without knowing eachother at all, they were ready to dedicate eachother entirely. I don't know if I just didn't understand the intensity of their feelings for eachother, but the writer really didn't make it very obvious exactly what they were feeling aside from lust that sort of let them get to know eachother.

The writing was good, I suppose. It kept me interested enough until the story was just stupidly confusing and bleh. I thought that the angst was really good, when Jin was giving himself up for Logan in the battle, but I was SO disappointed that Logan made him pass out and fight on his own. In my opinion, the story would've gotten another star if Jin died for the sake of his lover, it would've been very sweet and THAT would've been romance. I also didn't enjoy how often they fucked for the hell of it. I mean, outside, in the cold, IN JANUARY, against a car? Really? I was facepalming through half of this book. It was kinky, yeah, but I wanted a romantic book, not an erotica. Not to mention the way she described their sex was terrible, the first time they fucked and they didn't even use lube and Mary Calmes acts like that would not only not hurt like fuck, bleed beyond measure, but FEEL GOOD? No. I'm sorry, but that shit hurts. If you're not prepared/stretched beforehand, if he's not lubricated, you're going to get serious pain no matter how you slice it.

That being said, I think the only character I really liked was Crane. He was down to earth, friendly, really cared about his friend, and was a flirt. Not only was he a realistic character, but he was a LIKEABLE character. He was a good friend, a bit of a derp sometimes, but a friend through and through. I just hated that when Crane said 'Jin doesn't want a mate.' Jin was like WAHTEVER CAN WE CHANGE THE SUBJECT?
Because the entire beginning of the book, I was under the impression he didn't want to fall under the influence of this whole 'destined mate' thing in the first place? Yet suddenly he's giving up his body for this person and doesn't give a shit that what he's feeling isn't even his choice, nor his heart's choice? It's just physical attraction and destiny? I'm sorry, but I'd rather have my heart choose someone, not destiny pick someone out for me. This just heavily offended me, even though I know it shouldn't.

I also didn't understand what the hell happened when he jumped through the fire to get the panthers off of Logan. He.. became quicksilver? liquid? by switching rapidly between forms? I didn't understand at all and the writer made it very ambiguous. I hate ambiguity, especially in books.

That being said, it did have somewhat realistic characters (here and there, not very many though.) who responded realistically to some situations and I can respect that. The egyptian mythology being intertwined with the 'tribes' and "law" were interesting, but never actually that touched on. We never actually got to learn much about it in the end and I was just flat out disappointed with the book as a whole. I was only 100 pages in and I wanted to throw it out the window.

I wanted to like the book. I TRIED to like the book, I gave it many chances and it kept disappointing. 1.5 out of 5 stars. :/(less)

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May 22, 2013 Adriana Munno rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

http://insaziabililetture.forumfree.i...

bellissimo, intenso ed emozionante. questi tre aggettivi riassumono troppo brevemnte l'intensità di questa e di questo libro.
i protagonisti sono eccezionali, Jin è veramente bellissimo e di una dolcezza infinita, ma Logan è il personaggio che ti strega il cuore e cattura l'anima. così forte, così intenso, così straordiantrio è impossibile non amarlo e non innamorarsene.
la storia è scritta con passione e dedicizone, e si vede. ha solo leggermente sorvolato...more

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Aug 11, 2011 Jaime rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal, romance, m-m

I loved it - absolutely loved it. And will read it again, I enjoyed it that much. With the plethora of shapeshifter gay romance available, it's getting more difficult to find something with any originality. Not only has Calmes chosen to go with cats, rather than the typical werewolves, but she has created an imaginative social system for them with an Egyptian flavor. Considering cats were once worshipped there, it was a natural fit. Plus, she put a nice new spin on the mating bond.

Jin is a very...more

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About Mary Calmes

Mary Calmes lives in Lexington, Kentucky, with her husband and two children and loves all the seasons except summer. She graduated from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, with a bachelor's degree in English literature. Due to the fact that it is English lit and not English grammar, do not ask her to point out a clause for you, as it will so not happen. She loves writing, becomi...more

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Quotes from Change of Heart

“I love you" I sighed, unable to keep the smile from my face,leaning back and looking at him through heavy-lidded eyes. "I really do".
"I know", he grunted, very pleased with himself. “You can’t live without me. I’m like cheese.” — 47 people liked it

“It was surprising to hear it from his lips, my plain, ordinary name spoken as it never had been before, with awe, lite it was sacred, like treasure. Like I was treasure.” — 13 people liked it

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Change of Heart (Change of Heart #1)

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