Chris Towns is overworked and lonely. As the only beta wolf in the Fraser Lake Pack and co-owner of a fledgling business, he barely has time to sleep, let alone commit to a relationship. Until a simple trip to the airport changes everything.
When Eagle Elder Rylan Blake lands in Fraser Lake, he's expecting to treat a sick, lone eagle. The last thing he expects to find is romance, especially since he's never felt any type of attraction before.
Just as Chris and Rylan begin to realize their feelings, tragedy strikes, reminding them both why falling in love with each other had been such a bad idea.
I get a lot of simple pleasure out of reading Lynn Tyler’s shifter stories; Mine to Keep was no exception.
Chris Towns was initially introduced in book one (Accidentally Mated) as the best friend, business partner and sole beta to the Fraser Lake pack alpha, Tristan Massey. Loyal and steadfast, Chris works tirelessly to make their business a success, while simultaneously filling the role as pack beta that should traditionally be shared between two wolf shifters. He’s overworked and overtired, but he takes his responsibilities seriously, regardless of the lonely effect it has on his life.
Rylan Blake is the sole Elder council member representing the eagle shifters (and also the older brother of Justin Blake). His responsibilities are staggering and his personal life is practically non-existent, but the work he does helps countless eagle shifters (particularly orphaned children) not only survive, but thrive.
When Rylan travels to Fraser Lake to assist in the recuperation of a young, lone eagle shifter, he meets and falls for Chris almost immediately. Rylan and Chris share a significant bond, one made up of an intense physical attraction and a strong emotional connection. Their animal halves each recognise the other as their mate, but will their personal circumstances and commitments allow them to find a way to be together permanently?
This was another effortlessly sweet and enjoyable story set in the fun shifter world Tyler has created, populated by characters across both the Pack Mates series and the Fraser Lake Pack series. I highly recommend starting with the former series before diving into the Fraser Lake Pack books, simply because the crossovers and references to previous characters and events are in abundance, here.
I was so excited to get Chris’s story (and this sneaky release was an absolute treat). I can’t wait to read more from both series, each having already introduced a number of romantic possibilities for these lovable shifters.
3.5 I enjoyed the story with Chris and Rylan but having a hard time believing that out of that whole pack nobody is trustworthy enough to be the second beta to help Chris?!?? To me it's makes the pack seem like a bunch of free loaders who expect Tristan and Chris carry the pack financially and emotionally not giving anything of themselves. Having a hard time liking this pack as a whole, to me a pack means supporting and caring for each other as a whole and this one falls very short.
I was so relieved by how much smoother the read was for this 2nd book than the first; that I almost gave it 4 stars.
I would not have even read it, if I hadn't already purchased it prior to reading the first. This one was succeeded in being an easy "brain candy" type of read. There are still issues, but not nearly to the number or degree of the first. I also wasn't thrown out of the story like previously.
If you are a picky reader in editing or the over use of common tropes, then this may not be for you. If you are an easy, laid back reader, wanting to pass some time; then this should fit the bill (assuming you like shifter stories and "insta' everything).
Even though this is only the 2nd book in the series, it is an off shoot from an earlier series. With the first book, I actually felt like I had come into the middle of a series. Actually, I've started in the middle of a series before and felt less like that than I did with the first book. So, I can only assume it would help with enjoyment and understanding to read that series first.
Though.... I think some of my feeling like I was missing background can be attributed to a lack of development and / or editing. I usually like to give an example, but the main ones that come to mind would involve spoilers. Yet, I hate to critique without providing evidence, especially since I'm no wordsmith myself. A lot of it is the previously mentioned "insta" everything. I'm not talking love. I'm talking the friendships, the issues, and the resolutions too. It at times feels contrived. Though it can be somewhat inferred, no explanation was ever really given as to why so many Eagle babies are abandoned.
I did enjoy Chris and Ry. I love the idea of Eagle shifters. The storyline was fine and kept my interest. I thought the parts concerning the 2 Brothers were done very well.
Overall, it was a solid average read. Nothing really made it stand out either good or bad.
I really love Lynn Tyler books and I wish there were more! Here is where I reviewed book one in this series: http://kimichanexperience.com/acciden... While each book is a standalone I do think that reading the books in order gives a LOT of information and realistically to really enjoy this – reading both series will add a even MORE information : https://www.goodreads.com/series/1066.... For this story – Michael’s Heart and Michael’s Mate https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... - would give a great background on the Eagle shifter “thing” as well as the need for the orphanages mentioned in this story. So – I guess – maybe I DO think this needs to be read as part of the series… at least some of it! LOL
In any case, we know a bit about Chris from book 1 but we don’t really know much about Rylan other than what we know about his brother, Justin. We do know that Eagle shifters are NOT like wolves, they have a totally different set of priorities and expectations and they don’t generally live in packs or groups of people. This is important when you think you might have met your mate…
One thing that is not emphasized in the blurb is that Rylan is an adorable, clueless, workaholic who thinks he’s asexual. So when he starts having “feelings” for Chris it’s all new to him – this was super fun to read! The two of them are ADORABLE working out their “sex feelings” and it was sweet, tender, sexy and funny all at the same time.
The book is pretty short, so we move along quickly. I was glad that the final “hurdle” is breached rather quickly and our MCs get their HEAs with only a little angst.
If you’re a fan of the author, shifter series, “nerds in love” books – this is for you!
Ok, so I'm not really sure on release order but you *really* should read rescue before this book. Honestly the end will hold 95% more meaning and understanding if you have all the information from that book
Ms. Tyler series are both great. I've all the copies. Enjoyed it immensely. Just one problem with continuity but it was okay if you've read all the books. Looking forward to reading book 3 in the Fraser series.
The pack beta in book one finds love despite some obstacles. Typos: "there aren't any [flock] alphas." A few pages later "call the flock alpha." Taught is used for taut.
I love this series and was happily surprised when this book can out. It has been almost 2 years since the first book in this series came out. I loved the Pack Mates series and was happy when this series was started. I hope it will not be as long before the next book comes out. I am looking forward to what happens next. Update 6/22/20 I guess I am slow since I did not realize that not long after this book came out Ms. Tyler wrote book 7 for her Pack Mates series and that this book and that book had parallel time lines. So glad I finally figured it out.
As usual, Lynn Tyler has written a great book. I love reading about old friends and meeting new. I love reading about Justin and Michael again. Rylan and Chris as individuals, are caring and hard working people. It's great to see them figuring out their problems and getting together in the end. I would recommend this book.
Chris Towns is Tristan Massey's overworked BETA (Tristan & Jake are book 1 in the Fraser lake series). He'd do anything for his BETA, including let the love of his life walk away from him. Rylan Blake is the only Elder for the Eagle shifters and he too will put his duty before love, it's just the way he is. If these two shifters are going to be able to have a happy ever after, they're going to have to learn that some things are more important than honor and duty and love, well it's never a guarantee so you have to grab it and hold on if you're lucky enough to be given someone else's heart.
I simply adore Tyler's shifter books whether it be the Smooth Rock Falls or the Fraser Lake pack. When an Author continually writes stories about the same thing, in this instance Shifters, there is the chance that the books will be weighed down, tedious, boring... not with Tyler. She continually creates new and exciting stories for her books. Backgrounds and lives intersect, but there's always something new to look forward to.
I loved the immediate and intense attraction between Chris and Rylan that was accompanied by an instinct to push their feelings away, on both sides. Being a pack BETA and the sole Eagle Elder is a lot for one shifter to deal with, add a lover into their already chaotic lives and something is bound to break. I felt like one aspect to Rylan was a bit forced and then not explored or explained enough, but overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Passionate and intriguing from start to finish pretty much. Definitely worth a read, especially if you like MM Shifter stories.
Chris and Rylan's story is a good one. The development of their relationship though fast was believable and had some really tender moments. One of the best parts of this one is the secondary characters -- old favorites and new interesting ones who hold potential for great future stories. One of the worst parts of this book is the poor editing/proofreading. It's the main reason this is not a 5 star rating. I'd definitely recommend it though despite that
Rating: 3 stars I enjoyed this book, but wasn't particularly blown away by it. While I liked both Chris and Rylan as the main characters, they didn't have the best chemistry as a couple. I found myself more interested in all the other characters in this book to be honest.
I do hope the author continues this series. I really want to read more about Nathan, the eagle shifter they rescued and Mark the damaged wolf shifter. Hopefully the author doesn't take as long to write the next one as she did this one. I think that may have been part of the problem. Too long between books.
I would recommend you read the first book in the Fraser Lake series before reading this one. Check out her Pack Mates series also. Especially Michael's Heart as the characters in that book impact this one.
Semi-heated, quick read of a mature but virginal Eagle shifter and the pack's beta wolf
3.5 stars - rounded up for a mature man's first experiences
The story of this couple, a mature but virginal Eagle shifter elder and a beta wolf shifter, started out as bit slowly, but both the sizzle and the drama heated up fairly nicely in the second half.
This can be read as a stand alone, but is probably better after reading the first in the Fraser Lake series. I'm also a huge fan of the related/preceding Pack Mates series, with its sometimes cheesey but always nicely heated and (for me) very endearing characters. I think the first half of this story is one of the weakest of both series, but the exploration of a first-time with a mature character and some more palpable chemistry towards the end enhanced my reading experience of this male/male paranormal story to a more enticing level by the time I finished.
For these types of books, this is a pretty good one. It wasn't the really good shifter book I'm looking for, but I was really pleasantly surprised by the quality of this story.
I've been waiting forever it seems for this 2nd book in the fraiser lake pack to come out. Absolutely loved the storyline anxious for the next book. I like the stories involving Declan pack and hope more is written about it also.