Crossing the River

Spirit Quest #1

by B.A. Tortuga

(Shapeshifter Gay Romance)

When werewolf Maicoh is ejected from his wolf pack in the Four Corners area of Colorado, he travels north, crossing the river into the canyon but he thinks is Glenwood Springs. He needs some time to recover, be at peace and think. What he gets is a whole bunch of shifters, an alternate reality and his ex-lover Ashkii.


Ash had fled the pack years before, knowing he would never be anything but their punching bag, as an Omega wolf the pack found him to be a less than perfect mate for Mai. Now Mai is in his territory and Ash has to decide if he’ll let Mai back into his life and if he thinks Mai is worth fighting for once the pack decides they want Mai back.


Warning: Now entering shape-shifter territory, where no one is quite as human as they seem, and the loving is red hot!

TAGS: Male/Male Erotic Romance, Paranormal, Shapeshifter, Wolf Shifters, Spirit Quest Series, Strong Sexual Content, Explicit Description of intimacy, Adult language, Adult situations, M/M interaction, Anal Play/Intercourse, Oral Sex.

Genres: Shapeshifters, M M Romance, M M Paranormal, Gay, Romance, Paranormal

98 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 11, 2015

About the author

Texan to the bone and an unrepentant Daddy's Girl, BA Tortuga spends her days with her hounds and her beloved wife, texting her grandbabies, and eating Mexican food. When she's not doing that, she's writing. She spends her days off watching rodeo, knitting, and surfing Pinterest in the name of research. Following their own personal joys, BA and Julia heard the call of the high desert and they now live in the New Mexico mountains. BA's personal saviors include her wife, her best friends, and coffee. Lots of coffee. Really good coffee.

Having written everything from fist-fighting rednecks to cowboy daddies to werewolves, BA does her damnedest to tell the stories of her heart, which is committed to giving everyone their happily ever after. With books ranging from hard-hitting BDSM, to fiery passions, to the most traditional of love stories, BA refuses to be pigeon-holed by anyone but the voices in her head.

Reviews

[Serena Yates · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shifters finding refuge in an alternate reality? Count me in! Wolves fighting for position in a pack is to be expected, but first Ash, then Mai, finding a new home in an interesting parallel dimension is pretty creative. And even better, it’s not just wolves who get together in Glen Wood, it is a whole bunch of shifters of all kinds. More reminiscent of some of the Native American myths I am familiar with this story’s world is one of peaceful coexistence and respect for nature. This is definitely a fresh look at shifter lore, and I was happy to discover that mating and hot loving is still very much part of it all.


Please find my full review of the second edition on Rainbow Book Reviews.

[Serena Yates · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shifters finding refuge in an alternate reality? Count me in! Wolves fighting for position in a pack is to be expected, but first Ash, then Mai, finding a new home in an interesting parallel dimension is pretty creative. And even better, it’s not just wolves who get together in Glen Wood, it is a whole bunch of shifters of all kinds. More reminiscent of some of the Native American myths I am familiar with this story’s world is one of peaceful coexistence and respect for nature. This is definitely a fresh look at shifter lore, and I was happy to discover that mating and hot loving is still very much part of it all.


Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best way to describe the setting for this one is, it's full of outcast hippie shifters. They were all very sweet and were all about the positive vibes. It was a god low angst, low conflict, go with the flow, hug of mellow goodness.

My favorite character had to be Nathan the bear though. I'd love to get a full story about him. He's not the brightest bear in the den, but his heart's as big as he is and it was so cute when he got all mama bear with everyone. I bet he's got a dirty side buried under all the bulk and fur and I want to see it.

[Jen4607 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story and it's a great start to a new series. The only thing that drove me crazy is the MC's name kept changing from Mai to Mal. All the other editing was good but every time I saw that it made me stop and think, wait isn't it Mai? :/

[Kaila · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was interesting and different... i enjoyed the storyline and characters.. it made me curious and kept me on my feet waiting to see what was going to happen next. very good

[Patricia Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this great, engaging, sweet, sexy, and delightfully different twist on the traditional fated mates, and second chance romance storyline.

[Julianne Macneil · Rating 5 out of 5]

i read this book as part of an arc program. This is the first book in the Spirit Quest series. In this book, wolf shifter Maicoh is kicked out of his pack when he refuses to fight and mate with a female. Maicoh knows his mate is Ashkii, another wolf who left the pack when he refused to be abused by the other wolves. Maicoh is drawn to cross the river and he is shocked to learn his mate Ash has settled there. Maicoh wants Ash back and when he meets friends of Ash's, he arranges a way to see him again. Ash loves Maicoh and knows he is his mate, but he is nervous to see him again. They reunite and still love each other, but the wolves of the former pack want Maicoh back and are willing to fight for him. I enjoyed this story. I liked the characters. Maicoh and Ash really loved each other. I think if they had of talked, they would have left together. I like how their friends loved and accepted them and settled into a great community. Good one.

[Patricia Hoffstaetter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed reading this unusual but intriguing second-chance MM shifter novella with Native American mythology undertones. I found the story-line & plot interesting with engaging hippy-like characters. I liked the way the shifters were portray as peaceful & co-existing with each other although they do try to deny their fate only to discover that fate cannot be denied.
There is: a alpha wolf shifter (Maicoh) shunned from his pack decides to travel north & comes into contact with his ex-lover a omega (Ashkii aka Ash) & some decisions will have to be made, various kinds of shifters, friendship, mild twists, some drama, memories, regrets, strange confrontations, verbal banter, frustration, mates, premonitions, threats, compromises, concern, some steam, contentment & a satisfying conclusion.

[Belinda Zamora · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an intriguing storyline.
Mai and Ash were part of a pack growing up. Mai is a big, strong wolf who was expected to do his duty and produce pups for the pack.
The only problem with that is Ash is mate.
When the time came for them to fight each other for dominance, Mai refused to and Ash chose to run instead.
He found himself in a strange but wonderfully mystic place enhabited by other shifters seeking peace.
They have formed their own odd little pack.
Mai stumbles upon it because he felt the place's pull.
Ash finds it hard to believe that Mai still wants him and feels ashamed that he has so little to offer his mate.
Mai doesn't care about material things, he just wants his mate happy and healthy.
I'm extremely interested in continuing this series and getting to know the next set of mates.

[Dixiecowgirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet second chance story that will warm your heart.  This is a story of two men who are learning to find themselves and accepting themselves.  They have both had to leave their wolf pack and are trying to find they way in the world without the pack.  

Ashkii and Maicoh are really interesting characters and there was so much i wanted to know about them.  The new very special area that they have founds themselves in is amazing and i so wanted lots of details about the hows and whys of the different shifters living peacefully together. I so wanted more world-building. 

This is book one of the Spirit Quest series and i am hoping that book two gives me more of everything.   

I was gifted this book from the LesCourt Author Services and i freely give my honest opinion and review.  

[Diane Fair · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book with a fascinating premise. Two wolves leave their pack, years apart from each other, and end up in the same area of Colorado. Ashkii is an omega and Maicoh is an Alpha. The pack refuses to accept that either of them is gay or that they are each other's lover.

When Ashkii arrives he's greeted by several other shifters, who take him under their care, and becomes his family. When Maicoh arrives, he is readily accepted as well. Things are working well until an unexpected wolf shows up from their old pack...and he's been sent on a mission...to bring Maicoh back with him!

This should be a great series and I'm looking forward to see what happens in their future.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

When werewolf Maicoh is ejected from his wolf pack in the Four Corners area of Colorado, he travels north, crossing the river into the canyon that he thinks is Glenwood Springs. He needs some time to recover, be at peace and think. What he gets is a whole bunch of shifters, an alternate reality and his ex-lover Ashkii.
Ash had fled the pack years before, knowing he would never be anything but their punching bag, as an Omega wolf the pack found him to be a less than perfect mate for Mai. Now Mai is in his territory and Ash has to decide if he’ll let Mai back into his life and if he thinks Mai is worth fighting for once the pack decides they want Mai back.

Heather's Notes
This was not a bad book. I did have some issues with how wimpy Ash was but otherwise it was a nice story.

[Teal Wolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crossing the River is the first book in the Spirit Quest series by BA Tortuga. It is a second chance romance with true love story. Maicoh and Ashkii loved each other but were separated because of their pack and spent years apart. But now they are both separated from their pack and find each other once more.

This story had me interested right from the start. It had a little drama and a lot of romance. The characters are interesting and really made me want to know more about them. I can't wait to see what the second book is about.

I received an advanced reader's copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation.

[Jesslan Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crossing The River
By B.A. Tortuga

When Maicoh's pack tells him it's time to mate with a female and have offspring he decides it's time to leave. Little does he know he heads straight to the town where Ashkii is. His mate who ran off when they were given the ultimatum of fighting each other for a higher place in the pack or be banished.

The book was a sweet and funny second chances story. I loved both main characters and their menagerie of shifting friends. Maicoh and Ashkii were perfect together. The book is in both of their POV. Now I have to read books 2+3 in the series. 🥰

[Xochitl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave the book 5 stars because it is a great uncomplicated story about mating love between shifters and second chances. However I would like to learn more about the background of Maicoh and Ash to understand better their failed relationship and have a better explanation of the mystical aspect of the story in the next books in the series. I can’t wait!!!
I received this book as an ARC and this is my honest opinion.

[Rachwithheadinabook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hippy shifters and all those good vibes are abound in this no angst, no conflict shifter series. Everything is very sweet and happy, this is story with fated mates finding each other again. All the characters that find themselves in the little town of Glenn wood are outcasts of sorts all a mix of shifters.

This is a book to read when you want to be mellow and calm, it’s like a comfy sweater and a blanket on a cold day. An enjoyable read.

[Maria771 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of Mai and Ash. I loved this story. It is original and unique. I loved the Native American and hippie twist. I adored all the characters and the sub characters contributed a lot to the story and I can't wait to read the next book in the series. The chemistry between them is amazing. It is a sweet 2nd chance story and definitely worth reading.

I received this book as an Arc and I am reviewing it voluntarily.

[Violet Marshall · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book in The Spirit Quest Series. An enjoyable book with good writing. The plot was entertaining and it was steady throughout the book. I found the story and characters likeable. The characters were developed and thought out. Ash an Omega and Mai an Alpha are the MC’s of this book and mates. I can recommend this book as a good read. I voluntarily read an advance copy of this book for an honest review.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a while to get into the style of the prose in this one. It seems so different from the author's usual writing style. It's really good, it's just different. There is a flow to it that kind of pulls me into this magical world.

The characters are compelling, but I would have liked a bit more of a prologue to make me more aware of Ash and his point of view earlier on. I was wary of him for a large part of the story. I think that may be me projecting some abandonment issues.

[Mim Crenshaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good start to a new series and a new author for me. The book has some great depth to it as well as being well written. The characters chemistry, personalities, and interactions kept me intrigued and engrossed as well. I'm definitely ready for book 2.

I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

[kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the storyline and the characters in this book. It is a second chance romance that is very sweet. There is some drama, romance, humor and more. I enjoyed that this story takes place in what is really a hippie commune of shifters.
The wonderful secondary characters add a lot to the story and I can't wait to read the next book in this new series.

[Kitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet, pretty low angst story about two wolf shifters, fated mates, who are torn apart by pack politics. They meet later outside their old pack and get a second chance to reconnect and find love. I loved the characters and am looking forward to more in this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

[Raven and Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wolf mates

Interesting novella. Mai has left his old pack, looking to start life over. He never expected to find his long lost mate Ash who was driven from the same pack years before. Together they start a new pack and forge new bonds. Look forward to seeing what happens.

[llv · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3 stars

The story was okay but it was too short and needed to be longer to really flesh out the story. It did help that the MCs had a preexisting relationship. Overall, a good but short read.

[Joscelyn Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great series starter

This was a fun, enjoyable read. Mai and Ash were great characters, engaging and likable. I'm looking forward to reading more in this series.

[Mary A Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great shifter story! Ash & Mai get a second chance! The characters were great and the story was a page turner. This is the first book I’ve read by this author and it won’t be the last.

[Kristy Maitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even if it was a short story plot it was a great one.

[Meggie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure why I can't like this story. Something simply feels wrong to me.

[Dawn Siemer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short

This novella is just 100 pages. Second chance romance, so mostly about the characters becoming confident about their relationship. Lots of sex.

[Fedora · Rating 3 out of 5]

CROSSING THE RIVER is the first in BA Tortuga’s Spirit Quest series. Wolf shifters Maicoh and Ashkii reunite after years of separation. They’re finally together in a safe place. Lovely sense of community.