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Coulter and Woodard #2
Mountainway Chant
Adam Coulter has returned and is coping with the horrific events of sixteen months ago as best he can, but not everyone is happy about it. His best friend and new husband, Detective Eagle Woodard, doesn’t want to speak to him and it’s starting to look like his fifth marriage isn’t going to be anymore successful than his other four.
FBI Agent Rick Kessler and Navajo Reservation Police Lieutenant Carlos Aiello, Eagle’s cousin, have pulled a reluctant Adam into another case. Five bodies discovered at the site of a planned casino, all dressed and painted up as Native American mythological characters offer confusing clues. Are they dealing with another serial killer?
Fighting to stay clean and sober, Adam’s 12 step sponsor is murdered. At first it seems unrelated to what he saw in the desert, but evidence comes to light that says otherwise. Revelations concerning Adam’s past and his father, Richard Coulter’s, connections to the local crime syndicate boss, Nelson Greybill come to light.
Can Adam repair the damage he’s done to his relationship with Eagle so he can help him solve this case? Can he win back the only man he’s ever truly loved, or will the demons of his past win the battle for his soul?
PLEASE NOTE: This is the second book in a continuous series. For full enjoyment please read Warrior's Way before reading Mountainway Chant. Contains murder and mayhem, as well as dealing with an alcohol and drug addiction. If these are triggers for you, please skip this one!
FBI Agent Rick Kessler and Navajo Reservation Police Lieutenant Carlos Aiello, Eagle’s cousin, have pulled a reluctant Adam into another case. Five bodies discovered at the site of a planned casino, all dressed and painted up as Native American mythological characters offer confusing clues. Are they dealing with another serial killer?
Fighting to stay clean and sober, Adam’s 12 step sponsor is murdered. At first it seems unrelated to what he saw in the desert, but evidence comes to light that says otherwise. Revelations concerning Adam’s past and his father, Richard Coulter’s, connections to the local crime syndicate boss, Nelson Greybill come to light.
Can Adam repair the damage he’s done to his relationship with Eagle so he can help him solve this case? Can he win back the only man he’s ever truly loved, or will the demons of his past win the battle for his soul?
PLEASE NOTE: This is the second book in a continuous series. For full enjoyment please read Warrior's Way before reading Mountainway Chant. Contains murder and mayhem, as well as dealing with an alcohol and drug addiction. If these are triggers for you, please skip this one!
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 25, 2020
7 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 19, 2020
Adam and Eagle have been through hell together and apart.
The continuation of their tale in no way resembles a love story. Although the love they have for each other is deep so are their issues.
Ok first what I liked. The tangle of relationships that ran through the story were surprising and kept me reading. The bad guys were inept and their screwups just kept multiplying. I liked that undercurrent of love between Adam and Eagle that kept me anxious for them to finally get it right. In the first book I didn’t think Adam was very likable but he redeemed himself.
What I didn’t like was the ease with how they hurt each other. What I see as infidelity even if they weren’t together.
Overall I think this was a better story than the first book. The writing flowed nicely and the characters, even the bad guys, made it a one sitting read for me. I’m anxious to get to the final book so everyone can get their HEA or their heads on the block. Which ever they deserve.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.
The continuation of their tale in no way resembles a love story. Although the love they have for each other is deep so are their issues.
Ok first what I liked. The tangle of relationships that ran through the story were surprising and kept me reading. The bad guys were inept and their screwups just kept multiplying. I liked that undercurrent of love between Adam and Eagle that kept me anxious for them to finally get it right. In the first book I didn’t think Adam was very likable but he redeemed himself.
What I didn’t like was the ease with how they hurt each other. What I see as infidelity even if they weren’t together.
Overall I think this was a better story than the first book. The writing flowed nicely and the characters, even the bad guys, made it a one sitting read for me. I’m anxious to get to the final book so everyone can get their HEA or their heads on the block. Which ever they deserve.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.
September 24, 2025
Well I finished this book and boy was I unsatisfied. It starts with a time skip and it felt like we were following different characters and that the end of the first book meant NOTHING.
Jokes on me for thinking we were going to actually see the characters IN A RELATIONSHIP. But no time skip and they are back to square one but this time around they are even shittier to each other. I was hoping they would actually stay broken up this time and get with other people. At this point there were just red flags all around.
This book takes until the 50% to actually start with any of the mystery plot which was so unnecessary and uninteresting. See based on the summary I was thinking we would get a weary and tired Adam being pushed into investigative work again by his husband and their FBI friend(?) (not sure I would ever be friends with someone who talked about how easy it would be to rape me but whatever that’s just me)
Spoilers ahead
So Adam ran off because of the monumental trauma he went through in book one so him and started doing drugs, ODed, and went to rehab. He comes back and tire (sort of) to reconcile with Eagle, who now hates him.
Sure fine I wasnt really invested in their relationship anyway🙄 it’s not like that’s why I even bothered reading this series in the first place. But whatever this is the plot, them getting back together
Eagle is now constantly drunk and being shitty to his son, honestly my absolute least favorite part about this but like ok I can handle that as Eagle’s plot.
Then there’s all the mob shit which was very uninteresting and we got waaaaay too much time with the criminals so there’s no mystery. And for the love of god everyone is connected to each other and in each other’s shit all the time. I don’t care give me a mystery please. So many characters are introduced only to show up once then never again.
Then you got the HIV/AIDs plot that I wish someone warned me about.
One of Adam’s ex wives, don’t ask me which one I don’t care, is dying from AIDS, tells him he’s probably got it too and then dies in his arms. Then Adam is like “oh fuck I’ve slept with so many people and probably infected so many people (including Eagle)” then proceeds to NOT TELL ANYONE OR GET TESTED. DUDE PLEASE DO SOMETHING SMART FOR THE LOVE GOD.
That’s what really got to me I think, no matter what happened in the back of my mind I’m like “get tested get tested, please you just inherited soooo much money you can afford to get tested and do something about it so you don’t spread it. Please make this a priority”
Then you have the scene where Eagle beats the shit out of Adam and Adam is cowering and I’m just here like “ok Eagle good to know this about you. I don’t trust you to NOT do this again” then later he’s like “I’ll never hurt you again.” And Adam goes “if you do I’m leaving” and I’m here thinking, “leave him now please”
I think the only reason I kept reading was to figure out if Adam had HIV or not. And regretted staying when at the end after he told Eagle he (probably) had HIV and later Eagle shows up and lowkey pressures Adam into having unprotected sex and the reason was something like “I’ve been having unprotected sex and probably contracted it anyway so we don’t need to use protection because we probably are both HIV+” It read like it was supposed to be romantic but it really fell flat. The epilogue was them after a time skip finally getting tested.
Idk so many people seem to love it and it just over all was a let down.
Jokes on me for thinking we were going to actually see the characters IN A RELATIONSHIP. But no time skip and they are back to square one but this time around they are even shittier to each other. I was hoping they would actually stay broken up this time and get with other people. At this point there were just red flags all around.
This book takes until the 50% to actually start with any of the mystery plot which was so unnecessary and uninteresting. See based on the summary I was thinking we would get a weary and tired Adam being pushed into investigative work again by his husband and their FBI friend(?) (not sure I would ever be friends with someone who talked about how easy it would be to rape me but whatever that’s just me)
Spoilers ahead
So Adam ran off because of the monumental trauma he went through in book one so him and started doing drugs, ODed, and went to rehab. He comes back and tire (sort of) to reconcile with Eagle, who now hates him.
Sure fine I wasnt really invested in their relationship anyway🙄 it’s not like that’s why I even bothered reading this series in the first place. But whatever this is the plot, them getting back together
Eagle is now constantly drunk and being shitty to his son, honestly my absolute least favorite part about this but like ok I can handle that as Eagle’s plot.
Then there’s all the mob shit which was very uninteresting and we got waaaaay too much time with the criminals so there’s no mystery. And for the love of god everyone is connected to each other and in each other’s shit all the time. I don’t care give me a mystery please. So many characters are introduced only to show up once then never again.
Then you got the HIV/AIDs plot that I wish someone warned me about.
One of Adam’s ex wives, don’t ask me which one I don’t care, is dying from AIDS, tells him he’s probably got it too and then dies in his arms. Then Adam is like “oh fuck I’ve slept with so many people and probably infected so many people (including Eagle)” then proceeds to NOT TELL ANYONE OR GET TESTED. DUDE PLEASE DO SOMETHING SMART FOR THE LOVE GOD.
That’s what really got to me I think, no matter what happened in the back of my mind I’m like “get tested get tested, please you just inherited soooo much money you can afford to get tested and do something about it so you don’t spread it. Please make this a priority”
Then you have the scene where Eagle beats the shit out of Adam and Adam is cowering and I’m just here like “ok Eagle good to know this about you. I don’t trust you to NOT do this again” then later he’s like “I’ll never hurt you again.” And Adam goes “if you do I’m leaving” and I’m here thinking, “leave him now please”
I think the only reason I kept reading was to figure out if Adam had HIV or not. And regretted staying when at the end after he told Eagle he (probably) had HIV and later Eagle shows up and lowkey pressures Adam into having unprotected sex and the reason was something like “I’ve been having unprotected sex and probably contracted it anyway so we don’t need to use protection because we probably are both HIV+” It read like it was supposed to be romantic but it really fell flat. The epilogue was them after a time skip finally getting tested.
Idk so many people seem to love it and it just over all was a let down.
April 5, 2020
5*
Again, serious triggers. Drug abuse, pedophilia, sexual abuse, kidnappings, physical abuse, rape, forcing drugs on someone, and the list goes on. This is a really really good murder mystery but please be careful if any of this is a trigger for you. It's got some.dark stuff.
However I love the book and the writing. I love these characters. I'm a little po'ed again about the cliffhanger but hopefully the next one is coming soon. There's just too much hanging right now and I'm really wanting to see how this turns out. Counter and Woodard are finally starting to get their carp together again but people are still trying to stick it to them. And it's left off with someone else in danger and missing. So I'm like ughhhhhh.
But it's so good!
If you love.murder.mysteries with a touch of everything in it. This is for you.
Again, serious triggers. Drug abuse, pedophilia, sexual abuse, kidnappings, physical abuse, rape, forcing drugs on someone, and the list goes on. This is a really really good murder mystery but please be careful if any of this is a trigger for you. It's got some.dark stuff.
However I love the book and the writing. I love these characters. I'm a little po'ed again about the cliffhanger but hopefully the next one is coming soon. There's just too much hanging right now and I'm really wanting to see how this turns out. Counter and Woodard are finally starting to get their carp together again but people are still trying to stick it to them. And it's left off with someone else in danger and missing. So I'm like ughhhhhh.
But it's so good!
If you love.murder.mysteries with a touch of everything in it. This is for you.
July 24, 2020
*I received a copy of this novel for free in exchange for an honest review*
When Adam Coulter returns after 16 months he is determined to get his life back on track, however he is soon drawn into another murder investigation. Forced to work together once more with his husband, Eagle Woodard, Adam soon realises that this case is tied to him in ways that he couldn’t have realised. Can Adam and Eagle reconcile in time to solve the case and if so is there a hope for a future together after all?
I liked the second instalment in the series a little less than the first book hence the slightly lower rating. As with the first novel there were aspects I really liked and aspects I didn’t.
I do love a good murder mystery and for that Mountainway Chant does not disappoint. I enjoyed reading how the plot unfolded and how all the connections to the main characters were made. The final showdown was gripping and kept me turning the pages to find out what happened next. The writing seemed to have been tightened up in this book as well, with less confusion over the names and nicknames of the characters.
What I didn’t like was some of the reactions of the characters as they still seemed really random and emotions seemed to change at the drop of a hat and with no warning or reason. So much so I almost got whiplash. As well it seems that everyone has slept with everyone else at some point (or still is!) and I cannot keep track of who has what relationship with whom. A lot of this seems needless drama and it would have been a lot better to have been cut out of the book completely. The novel would have benefitted from less side complications that seemed to have been only put in for drama, which it didn’t need as it has plenty of that already!
I am interested to see what happens in the third instalment of the series, but I’m slightly less enthusiastic about it than I was at the end of book one.
When Adam Coulter returns after 16 months he is determined to get his life back on track, however he is soon drawn into another murder investigation. Forced to work together once more with his husband, Eagle Woodard, Adam soon realises that this case is tied to him in ways that he couldn’t have realised. Can Adam and Eagle reconcile in time to solve the case and if so is there a hope for a future together after all?
I liked the second instalment in the series a little less than the first book hence the slightly lower rating. As with the first novel there were aspects I really liked and aspects I didn’t.
I do love a good murder mystery and for that Mountainway Chant does not disappoint. I enjoyed reading how the plot unfolded and how all the connections to the main characters were made. The final showdown was gripping and kept me turning the pages to find out what happened next. The writing seemed to have been tightened up in this book as well, with less confusion over the names and nicknames of the characters.
What I didn’t like was some of the reactions of the characters as they still seemed really random and emotions seemed to change at the drop of a hat and with no warning or reason. So much so I almost got whiplash. As well it seems that everyone has slept with everyone else at some point (or still is!) and I cannot keep track of who has what relationship with whom. A lot of this seems needless drama and it would have been a lot better to have been cut out of the book completely. The novel would have benefitted from less side complications that seemed to have been only put in for drama, which it didn’t need as it has plenty of that already!
I am interested to see what happens in the third instalment of the series, but I’m slightly less enthusiastic about it than I was at the end of book one.
June 16, 2020
Eagle Woodard and Adam Coulter are back! They first came on board in “Warrior’s Way”. “Mountainway Chant” will tell of what happened between Eagle and Adam and what a struggle it became for both of them. Besides the “oil and water” relationship, drugs and drinking, just couldn’t make this relationship any worse.
With Adam’s return to Albuquerque there’s so much he discovers about himself it’s overwhelming. Once Adam sorts out all he knows for sure, he decides to do the right thing. In fact, he starts to look like a really good guy. What he decides to do will cause a shake-up with a lot of people.
Eagle isn’t happy at all with Adam or his return. But there’s a murder to be solved and Adam was called in by Eagle’s cousin Lieutenant Carlos Aiello.
This was absolutely brilliant how M.J. Calabrese reveals so many secrets, answers a lot of questions that all connect expertly in solving the murders of five men. There’s also many triggers in this well plotted mystery: drugs, pedophilia, sexual and physical abuse and that gives this novel a dark side.
I’m game for the next installment! M.J. Calabrese leaves us with a lot to ponder once more. What’s going to happen with the annoying FBI agent Richard Kessler? What will happen with Lieutenant Carlos Aiello, who has his own surprise? What will become of Michael? And of course, there’s still more to come from Adam and Eagle.
I highly recommend reading “Warrior’s Way” the first book in this “Coulter and Woodard” series. It really delves deep into Eagle and Adam’s chaotic relationship.
Both “Warriors Way” and “Mountainway Chant” are fast paced reads, filled with high emotions, that make them hard to put down. I wouldn’t even try to retell these stories as there’s just too much going on and both books deserve to be read.
With Adam’s return to Albuquerque there’s so much he discovers about himself it’s overwhelming. Once Adam sorts out all he knows for sure, he decides to do the right thing. In fact, he starts to look like a really good guy. What he decides to do will cause a shake-up with a lot of people.
Eagle isn’t happy at all with Adam or his return. But there’s a murder to be solved and Adam was called in by Eagle’s cousin Lieutenant Carlos Aiello.
This was absolutely brilliant how M.J. Calabrese reveals so many secrets, answers a lot of questions that all connect expertly in solving the murders of five men. There’s also many triggers in this well plotted mystery: drugs, pedophilia, sexual and physical abuse and that gives this novel a dark side.
I’m game for the next installment! M.J. Calabrese leaves us with a lot to ponder once more. What’s going to happen with the annoying FBI agent Richard Kessler? What will happen with Lieutenant Carlos Aiello, who has his own surprise? What will become of Michael? And of course, there’s still more to come from Adam and Eagle.
I highly recommend reading “Warrior’s Way” the first book in this “Coulter and Woodard” series. It really delves deep into Eagle and Adam’s chaotic relationship.
Both “Warriors Way” and “Mountainway Chant” are fast paced reads, filled with high emotions, that make them hard to put down. I wouldn’t even try to retell these stories as there’s just too much going on and both books deserve to be read.
July 18, 2023
I liked the story basics, and I was interested enough with the overall that I kept going. Those who like a gritty, messy romance and crime story will like it too. However, I had 3 major issues that capped my enjoyment.
- 1 ... the likeable characters I met in book 1 feel like totally different people in this book. I can understand some personality adjustments based on the event of the previous book, but that isn't what this felt like to me.
- 2 ... so much happens in this book. It wasn't just A, B, C .... everything was multiplied by 100. It wasn't just 1 family secret, it was 5. It wasn't just angry words, it was the worst things they could say. It would have seemed extreme even with a story that wasn't so cluttered, but with everything that was included, it was over the top.
- 3 ... the amount of sexual violence thrown around so casually by the supposed "good guys" was unnecessary. I am not sure why it was important for this to be part of their thoughts and threats to people, but on top of all the bad guy rape content, it was just another reason to dislike the main characters.
Why did I finish? Mainly the mystery of it. I like gritty, especially when it seems like no one is safe, even the main characters. I hoped that all the side story details would meet up with the investigation, and some of it eventually did. As ugly as some of it was, my curiosity kept me going.
- 1 ... the likeable characters I met in book 1 feel like totally different people in this book. I can understand some personality adjustments based on the event of the previous book, but that isn't what this felt like to me.
- 2 ... so much happens in this book. It wasn't just A, B, C .... everything was multiplied by 100. It wasn't just 1 family secret, it was 5. It wasn't just angry words, it was the worst things they could say. It would have seemed extreme even with a story that wasn't so cluttered, but with everything that was included, it was over the top.
- 3 ... the amount of sexual violence thrown around so casually by the supposed "good guys" was unnecessary. I am not sure why it was important for this to be part of their thoughts and threats to people, but on top of all the bad guy rape content, it was just another reason to dislike the main characters.
Why did I finish? Mainly the mystery of it. I like gritty, especially when it seems like no one is safe, even the main characters. I hoped that all the side story details would meet up with the investigation, and some of it eventually did. As ugly as some of it was, my curiosity kept me going.
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January 25, 2026Is this a joke??? It must be. The ending sure is a joke. This whole book is a test, right? Of who has the good sense to run away?? I should actually count this as DNF, I think, because I started skipping chapters after about halfway. Check my notes if you need to know why, they make it crystal clear.
I must be in the mood to punish myself because I am thinking about going for the final book. Turns out a certain character dissapeared and I liked that character. I will use my right to skip content at will and won't hesitate to use it, like I did here.
I think at a certain point I just stopped... the story became so absurd I just laugh at the things that happen in this crazy corner of romance. If it can be called that. The detective part felt very weak compared to the previous book, which made the book even worse. The drama, the constant drama from every relationship, the constant bad news and bad decisions and people we should like doing stupid things? I don't get why people like this.
I must be in the mood to punish myself because I am thinking about going for the final book. Turns out a certain character dissapeared and I liked that character. I will use my right to skip content at will and won't hesitate to use it, like I did here.
I think at a certain point I just stopped... the story became so absurd I just laugh at the things that happen in this crazy corner of romance. If it can be called that. The detective part felt very weak compared to the previous book, which made the book even worse. The drama, the constant drama from every relationship, the constant bad news and bad decisions and people we should like doing stupid things? I don't get why people like this.
April 3, 2020
This series keeps getting better and better. I love Eagle and Adam, but wow are they explosive together! Adam has a lot of hard work ahead of him if he thinks he can repair his relationship with Eagle. Eagle isn't going to make it easy for him. I love all the other stories going on, and can't wait to see more of the secondary characters. I can't get enough of these people that M.J. Calabrese created. These books should def be read in order, well written, fast reads. Very exciting emotional reads, full of real people with real issues. Love this series!
June 29, 2020
This continues about 2 weeks after Warrior’s Way, you really should read that one first before this one. Eagle felt to me to be broken and Adam was trying to clean himself up. It was almost an incredible role reversal. Both men had so many obstacles to overcome to be together. All the side characters really help to make the story believable. It was an incredible continuation of the story line, well written. Loved it!!
I am voluntarily leaving a review form an ARC that I received. My reviews are solely based on my thoughts and opinions.
I am voluntarily leaving a review form an ARC that I received. My reviews are solely based on my thoughts and opinions.
September 5, 2024
Second book in a thus far excellent series.
This second book is as good as the first was. It did however have a much more satisfactory ending romance wise than the first one. I can’t help wondering which way the third will go. Thriller wise the action was non stop. As I’ve been up for over 24 hours I’m probably going to have a short nap before reading the third and last book in the series. I wish I was still young and could read for several days before needing to sleep. These are the sort of books that make you wish things like that.
This second book is as good as the first was. It did however have a much more satisfactory ending romance wise than the first one. I can’t help wondering which way the third will go. Thriller wise the action was non stop. As I’ve been up for over 24 hours I’m probably going to have a short nap before reading the third and last book in the series. I wish I was still young and could read for several days before needing to sleep. These are the sort of books that make you wish things like that.
July 19, 2020
adam and eagle are enjoyable people... the two are like total opposites.. they dont like each other at all.. they are not happy nor do they wish to be near each other.. yet... they do haha.. it was sexy.. it was hott.. it was a lot of fun.. it was totally well written.. i enjoyed how we find out things.. some stuff is explained and makes sense now.. and i liked it!
August 2, 2020
Mountainway Chant
Seriously are Eagle and Adam ever going to get a lucky break?
All they have gone through and endured and it’s still not over.
Can’t wait for the next book. I have my theories on who or what is going to happen. But mostly I want Eagle and Adam to have a happy worry free future.
Seriously are Eagle and Adam ever going to get a lucky break?
All they have gone through and endured and it’s still not over.
Can’t wait for the next book. I have my theories on who or what is going to happen. But mostly I want Eagle and Adam to have a happy worry free future.
August 29, 2020
WOW!!!!
This is FANTASTIC!!!! What a great book. I did not put it down. Eagle and Adam are epic. What great characters and spine tingling storyline. I love this Author's way of putting a story together. Thank You for a great escape. I HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!!!!!!
This is FANTASTIC!!!! What a great book. I did not put it down. Eagle and Adam are epic. What great characters and spine tingling storyline. I love this Author's way of putting a story together. Thank You for a great escape. I HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!!!!!!
May 23, 2021
Better than the 2nd one in the series!!!
I love, love, love this story! Well written!!! Would be awesome to be made into a film or a mini-series. I’m so glad to find this type of trilogy by accident!
I love, love, love this story! Well written!!! Would be awesome to be made into a film or a mini-series. I’m so glad to find this type of trilogy by accident!
April 11, 2020
A Wonderful Story
I enjoyed reading this story.The characters were great, and the story was well-written, also it had a great storyline. I loved it.
I enjoyed reading this story.The characters were great, and the story was well-written, also it had a great storyline. I loved it.
December 10, 2021
Shattered my heart and then put it back together again.
February 13, 2022
There are so many things wrong but it's too late I've made it this far gotta see how it ends.
January 7, 2023
Dnf 45% too much heart break and broken fates for me 💔
February 29, 2024
Enjoyable story that is well written with likeable characters and good world building. The narration is very good as well.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews