What do you think?
Wolves of New Haven #1
Sugar-free Beta
Derrick Starr is a sad excuse for a dominant werewolf. Unlike most werewolves, he’s sworn off meat and has an abnormal preference for sweets. He’s also in a bad state—his lover left him and he’s just learned that he has type 2 diabetes. An unexpected act of kindness triggers his meeting with Jack, a submissive wolf on the run from his abusive Alpha.
When Derrick finds out that Jack is his fated mate, will he be able to do what it takes to protect and claim what’s rightfully his?
When Derrick finds out that Jack is his fated mate, will he be able to do what it takes to protect and claim what’s rightfully his?
36 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 14, 2014
About the author
Angelique Voisen
95 books102 followersAngel is a bestselling MM romance writer who lives in a place where its summer all-year long, with with her partner, two Welsh Corgis and out-of-control carnivorous plants.
She's passionate about bringing sexy, gay paranormal stories to readers but also likes to dip her toe in contemporary stories. She's also a novice terrarium maker, an alt rock lover and a tea time enthusiast.'
Website: www.angeliquevoisen.com
Newsletter: https://tinyletter.com/angelvoisen
She's passionate about bringing sexy, gay paranormal stories to readers but also likes to dip her toe in contemporary stories. She's also a novice terrarium maker, an alt rock lover and a tea time enthusiast.'
Website: www.angeliquevoisen.com
Newsletter: https://tinyletter.com/angelvoisen
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 18, 2014
Now this shorty is pointless, at least from the plotted point of view. I was bored by the storyline and was glad when it ended!
July 29, 2014
Eh more like 1.5?
Somethings just seemed either weird, pointless or whatever else. I get the feeling it was trying to be funny or cute, but it came off stupid to me.
Derrick:
1. So he lives off sweets? No meat, veggies, fruit, starches? But sweets? Jack said there was nothing but sweets in D's fridge. That's not a "sweet-tooth," that's a f-ing major problem!
2. He has diabetes (didn't before, now does). How is this possible, him being a werewolf? He has super healing abilities, but still has to worry about human illnesses? Can they get STDs as well, and if not, why aren't they immune to other illnesses?
3. With his diabetes there was no mention of checking his blood sugar or insulin. Or doing anything other than getting sugar-free chocolate bars that he, apparently ate one after another, after another and another (and feeling sorry for himself over a douchy gamma). Ugh. Yeah, how about eating some real fucking food dude? Also, type-2 can be reversed, often with diet, exercise and other things. Why not get a clue and do something about it?
4. Derrick mentioned his body images issues. The book never makes it clear, exactly. Is he fat? Obese? Muscled and large like a football player? What? His wolf is described as muscled and powerful by Jack (and a fat sausage on legs by the douchey gamma)- so does that translated to a muscled, but large man? Or a fat, pudgy and/or obese one? I mean, given how he viewed himself and how he ate nothing but sweets (hello, calories!!), I kept seeing him as borderline obese, which wasn't appealing, to be honest.
5. Why was he hiding out or fleeing from his family? It was never explained. Unless I totally missed it.
6. Why didn't he join the New Haven pack when the alpha first asked?
7. Since Derrick killed an alpha, does that mean he gets the man's pack? Or is that not how things work in this world? Also, if he's strong enough to kill some bad ass alpha, why is he a beta. Are they born to these ranks? Can they move up? What?
On and on...
The whole thing just seemed pointless and not very well defined. Didn't get a real sense of the world, the characters or whatever else.
Will not be reading more, which I guess will involve a vegan werewolf. I'm starting to see a theme.
Somethings just seemed either weird, pointless or whatever else. I get the feeling it was trying to be funny or cute, but it came off stupid to me.
Derrick:
1. So he lives off sweets? No meat, veggies, fruit, starches? But sweets? Jack said there was nothing but sweets in D's fridge. That's not a "sweet-tooth," that's a f-ing major problem!
2. He has diabetes (didn't before, now does). How is this possible, him being a werewolf? He has super healing abilities, but still has to worry about human illnesses? Can they get STDs as well, and if not, why aren't they immune to other illnesses?
3. With his diabetes there was no mention of checking his blood sugar or insulin. Or doing anything other than getting sugar-free chocolate bars that he, apparently ate one after another, after another and another (and feeling sorry for himself over a douchy gamma). Ugh. Yeah, how about eating some real fucking food dude? Also, type-2 can be reversed, often with diet, exercise and other things. Why not get a clue and do something about it?
4. Derrick mentioned his body images issues. The book never makes it clear, exactly. Is he fat? Obese? Muscled and large like a football player? What? His wolf is described as muscled and powerful by Jack (and a fat sausage on legs by the douchey gamma)- so does that translated to a muscled, but large man? Or a fat, pudgy and/or obese one? I mean, given how he viewed himself and how he ate nothing but sweets (hello, calories!!), I kept seeing him as borderline obese, which wasn't appealing, to be honest.
5. Why was he hiding out or fleeing from his family? It was never explained. Unless I totally missed it.
6. Why didn't he join the New Haven pack when the alpha first asked?
7. Since Derrick killed an alpha, does that mean he gets the man's pack? Or is that not how things work in this world? Also, if he's strong enough to kill some bad ass alpha, why is he a beta. Are they born to these ranks? Can they move up? What?
On and on...
The whole thing just seemed pointless and not very well defined. Didn't get a real sense of the world, the characters or whatever else.
Will not be reading more, which I guess will involve a vegan werewolf. I'm starting to see a theme.
June 8, 2016
Story wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great either. Ends a bit abruptly with some unanswered questions, not like a cliffhanger or anything, but I hope they'll be answered in the next book.
The narration was...okay, I guess. I mean, I wouldn't really go looking for more of his work, but I wouldn't add him to my "dear God I can't listen to this person" narrator list either.
Just all sort of meh-okay.
The narration was...okay, I guess. I mean, I wouldn't really go looking for more of his work, but I wouldn't add him to my "dear God I can't listen to this person" narrator list either.
Just all sort of meh-okay.
July 20, 2014
I've no idea what this book was even meant to be about....Poor work
February 12, 2015
Sweet and sexy, liked this little "Snack".
February 14, 2018
Soooo short.
I thought the idea of werewolves could get normal diseases and had to work a bit at their awsomeness was intriguing. I still do.
While the idea was good, the execution was not.
The writing was sketchy and to start the story from the middle didn’t work at all for such a short story. I often felt the characters acted opposite to how the author described them. That made for a bumby read.
I believe this could have been a really good book if expanded and professionally edited. The characters needed fleshing out and the worldbuilding tightened up a bit so the reader don’t walk away with more questions than before reading.
I might continue the series, because the premise was so intriguing and I want to see where that goes and if some questions are answered along the line. And, let’s face it, with stories this short it’s not that much time wasted if a story is a total waste.
I thought the idea of werewolves could get normal diseases and had to work a bit at their awsomeness was intriguing. I still do.
While the idea was good, the execution was not.
The writing was sketchy and to start the story from the middle didn’t work at all for such a short story. I often felt the characters acted opposite to how the author described them. That made for a bumby read.
I believe this could have been a really good book if expanded and professionally edited. The characters needed fleshing out and the worldbuilding tightened up a bit so the reader don’t walk away with more questions than before reading.
I might continue the series, because the premise was so intriguing and I want to see where that goes and if some questions are answered along the line. And, let’s face it, with stories this short it’s not that much time wasted if a story is a total waste.
April 1, 2023
***2.5 stars***
March 20, 2017
Nice little read.
May 24, 2015
I have to say I really enjoyed this book except for a few questions that I had that really were not answered.
This is the first book that I have read where the shifter is not only heavy set but also a diabetic. That was a nice change. Most of the shifter books I read always have them skinny and love meat and can eat anything without gaining an ounce. So glad the author went a different direction with this book. People in the real world are heavy and are diabetic, so it was nice to see a wolf shifter be just like a normal person. Derrick Starr is the shifter that is heavy and diabetic. He also is not really a dominate wolf but mainly submissive. But when he meets the barista of the coffee shop he goes too, and the barista flirts with him and even gives him a cupcake (which he can't eat) but he does end up taking it just to be nice. Both felt an attraction to each other but ignored it. Until Derrick seen his handsome barista being beat up by a huge wolf and Derrick stepped in to protect what was his. Which the barista whose name is Jack ended up being Derrick's mate for life.
I love that both of these guys have a past they want to get away from but because of them being mates for life, their lives finally interact with each other's , which in the end makes a beautifully well written story. My questions have to do with more about Derricks past and Jacks past. Derrick kills the leader of another pack but he doesn't become the leader of that pack? Just questions like this make me stop reading and go hummm why? But otherwise it was a good book and can't read more from this author.
This is the first book that I have read where the shifter is not only heavy set but also a diabetic. That was a nice change. Most of the shifter books I read always have them skinny and love meat and can eat anything without gaining an ounce. So glad the author went a different direction with this book. People in the real world are heavy and are diabetic, so it was nice to see a wolf shifter be just like a normal person. Derrick Starr is the shifter that is heavy and diabetic. He also is not really a dominate wolf but mainly submissive. But when he meets the barista of the coffee shop he goes too, and the barista flirts with him and even gives him a cupcake (which he can't eat) but he does end up taking it just to be nice. Both felt an attraction to each other but ignored it. Until Derrick seen his handsome barista being beat up by a huge wolf and Derrick stepped in to protect what was his. Which the barista whose name is Jack ended up being Derrick's mate for life.
I love that both of these guys have a past they want to get away from but because of them being mates for life, their lives finally interact with each other's , which in the end makes a beautifully well written story. My questions have to do with more about Derricks past and Jacks past. Derrick kills the leader of another pack but he doesn't become the leader of that pack? Just questions like this make me stop reading and go hummm why? But otherwise it was a good book and can't read more from this author.
July 16, 2014
I really enjoy shifter stories and 'Sugar-free Beta' is certainly a different kind. The author has veered from the stereotypical norms and instead has created a shifter world where a werewolf can be overweight, out of shape, a vegetarian, and a diabetic. Huh. Definitely different.
Derrick is a sweet and shy beta wolf, second only to an alpha in dominance and power. He lives the life of a lone wolf as he is exiled from his family pack. Derrick's boyfriend, Jared, has just left him and other than missing the sex, Derrick can't really seem to get up the energy to be too upset about it. He knows Jared, as a lesser wolf, took advantage of Derrick but he doesn't like to throw his strength around. Derrick is no coward, but he didn't feel Jared was worth fighting for. When Derrick runs into Jack, the really adorable barista from the coffee shop, being attacked in the park by an alpha wolf, well, that's something worth fighting for. Good thing he is, since Jack is Derrick's fated mate, and the crazy alpha attacking him is who Jack has been running away from for months.
This was a cute story, although too short. *grins* With that said, however, in my opinion the author did a fairly decent job fleshing out the characters and the plot in such a limited number of pages. Overall, I enjoyed it.
NOTE: This book was provided by Evernight Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Derrick is a sweet and shy beta wolf, second only to an alpha in dominance and power. He lives the life of a lone wolf as he is exiled from his family pack. Derrick's boyfriend, Jared, has just left him and other than missing the sex, Derrick can't really seem to get up the energy to be too upset about it. He knows Jared, as a lesser wolf, took advantage of Derrick but he doesn't like to throw his strength around. Derrick is no coward, but he didn't feel Jared was worth fighting for. When Derrick runs into Jack, the really adorable barista from the coffee shop, being attacked in the park by an alpha wolf, well, that's something worth fighting for. Good thing he is, since Jack is Derrick's fated mate, and the crazy alpha attacking him is who Jack has been running away from for months.
This was a cute story, although too short. *grins* With that said, however, in my opinion the author did a fairly decent job fleshing out the characters and the plot in such a limited number of pages. Overall, I enjoyed it.
NOTE: This book was provided by Evernight Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
July 16, 2014
The idea of a diabetic werewolf beta, who also happens to be just a tad overweight because he likes sweets, had me laughing out loud. And as I got into the story, my amusement at the very humorously written tale only increased. What a fun idea!
Derrick is not exactly the "standard" werewolf. He doesn't like meat, prefers his food sweet and sugary, and is more than a little frustrated at his lack of fitting into the mold. What has him almost depressed is the fact he desperately wants a mate, but cannot imagine who would want him. Several exes have contributed to his lack of self-esteem, and his birth pack went as far as to banish him, but he doesn't let that get in the way of being an all-around nice guy. Helping out Jack when the man's life is threatened comes naturally to Derrick, and damn the consequences.
Jack is an unusually submissive gamma who has been abused, is running from the alpha who mistreated him, and finds it hard to trust. Getting saved by Derrick surprises him, but the lack of overt dominance and meanness makes him suspicious. It takes him quite a while to learn to trust that Derrick really is just a nice guy.
If you like unusual werewolf stories, if you enjoy lots of humor with your paranormal tales, and if you're looking for a fun, hot read, then you will probably like this short story.
NOTE: This book was provided by Evernight Publishing for the purpose of a review.
Derrick is not exactly the "standard" werewolf. He doesn't like meat, prefers his food sweet and sugary, and is more than a little frustrated at his lack of fitting into the mold. What has him almost depressed is the fact he desperately wants a mate, but cannot imagine who would want him. Several exes have contributed to his lack of self-esteem, and his birth pack went as far as to banish him, but he doesn't let that get in the way of being an all-around nice guy. Helping out Jack when the man's life is threatened comes naturally to Derrick, and damn the consequences.
Jack is an unusually submissive gamma who has been abused, is running from the alpha who mistreated him, and finds it hard to trust. Getting saved by Derrick surprises him, but the lack of overt dominance and meanness makes him suspicious. It takes him quite a while to learn to trust that Derrick really is just a nice guy.
If you like unusual werewolf stories, if you enjoy lots of humor with your paranormal tales, and if you're looking for a fun, hot read, then you will probably like this short story.
NOTE: This book was provided by Evernight Publishing for the purpose of a review.
Read
April 8, 2016For being Sugar-Free, this was so damn sweet.
I like this take on Shifters, on them being a bit more human and able to get sick as humans do and not be quite so invincible. They are much more than shifters who run as wolves with the full moon, these wolves shift when needed or when threatened.
Derrick was so damn adorable with his shy Beta self who meets his mate when we least expects it.
Jack was lovely and so snarky as a submissive Gamma that I adored him.
These two together were fun and I am totally moving on with the series to see what else happens AND to see if Derrick and Jack show up in the other New Haven stories.
I like this take on Shifters, on them being a bit more human and able to get sick as humans do and not be quite so invincible. They are much more than shifters who run as wolves with the full moon, these wolves shift when needed or when threatened.
Derrick was so damn adorable with his shy Beta self who meets his mate when we least expects it.
Jack was lovely and so snarky as a submissive Gamma that I adored him.
These two together were fun and I am totally moving on with the series to see what else happens AND to see if Derrick and Jack show up in the other New Haven stories.
November 19, 2014
It was an interesting take on shifter culture and physical attributions. The shifters in this book was susceptible to normal human diseases (e.g. diabetes). It's not every day that I read a werewolf story involving such strict pack hierarchy either. I did think the story needed to be fleshed out more. I'm not sure if the author intended for this to have a serial story feel to it and if the next installment will continue the story and lead the series somewhere.
October 3, 2014
too short
May 3, 2017
2.5
A chunky wolf! A wolf that can get human diseases! I have to say that this is the first time I've ever come across type 2 diabetes in a shifter. Cool.
Lots of telling.
He had slightly slanted eyes so he must have Chinese lineage? Wow, I thought there were many different peoples that had epicanthic folds.
I'm glad the story started out as it did with the guy having a mysterious wound and confused about the situation because right now I'm bored. I'm waiting for it to get interesting and tell me how we got to the beginning.
"He had a permanent roof on his head at least." That brings up entertaining images. Oh, here's a good one:
The recounting of the incident at the beginning is completely different the second time around.
I'm disappointed. I expected a lot more about his diabetes and sugar-free diet. I don't eat sugar either and really can't despite my intense sweet tooth, but since artificial sweeteners make me ill, I don't have all those options. Feel sorry for me? Yeah, didn't think so.
Really uninteresting sex.
The head of the pack has a Latino name! Very cool and unusual! I'm so tired of Latinos being portrayed as criminals. This is cool.
A chunky wolf! A wolf that can get human diseases! I have to say that this is the first time I've ever come across type 2 diabetes in a shifter. Cool.
Lots of telling.
He had slightly slanted eyes so he must have Chinese lineage? Wow, I thought there were many different peoples that had epicanthic folds.
I'm glad the story started out as it did with the guy having a mysterious wound and confused about the situation because right now I'm bored. I'm waiting for it to get interesting and tell me how we got to the beginning.
"He had a permanent roof on his head at least." That brings up entertaining images. Oh, here's a good one:
The recounting of the incident at the beginning is completely different the second time around.
I'm disappointed. I expected a lot more about his diabetes and sugar-free diet. I don't eat sugar either and really can't despite my intense sweet tooth, but since artificial sweeteners make me ill, I don't have all those options. Feel sorry for me? Yeah, didn't think so.
Really uninteresting sex.
The head of the pack has a Latino name! Very cool and unusual! I'm so tired of Latinos being portrayed as criminals. This is cool.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews