Elaine White's Life in Books

Book – Devotion (Forbes Mates #1)
Author – Grace R. Duncan
Star rating - ★★★★★
No. of Pages - 220

Movie Potential – ★★★★★
Ease of reading – very easy to read and follow
Would I read it again – Definitely!


I absolutely LOVE this book! The characters, the plot and everything in between is brilliant and perfect.

Within the first few pages, I was smiling constantly and frustrated with the characters for their stupid decisions. Right from the start, I was on Tanner's side. I knew his reasons and fears were valid and couldn't understand, for the life of me, why no one else saw it too. I got that the whole mate idea was something no one walked away from willingly and that made everyone question Tanner's actions, but if I could see his side, then why couldn't anyone else?

It was so frustrating to read this constant questioning by Finley, his parents, Tanner's parents, Finley's grandparents, Jamie and even the other Alpha, when I knew what was really happening. This is the first book in a long while where I've wanted to scream at the characters for being blind fools and tell them what was happening with the other character. That's what made it so great.

There was a constant anticipation that something big would happen, but no idea when or in what way. There were surprises at every turn and, for a while at least, I hated Jamie for putting more doubts into Finley's head and for being a temptation for him. My heart – and Finley's – already belonged to Tanner, so he was an unwelcome distraction and I wanted to rip his throat out, never mind what Tanner wanted. What he did to Tanner on the phone was brutal and broke my heart!

However, towards the end, I loved the banter that Jamie and Tanner developed, the tenderness that Tanner kept hidden away, because his father taught him not to show emotion, while Finley was this ball of fire, with no idea how much Tanner was suffering, while suffering himself and afraid to let Tanner see how much.

There are two downsides – they're a truck load of on-page sex, which isn't strictly necessary, but is understandably within the storyline, and there are two instances where a sentence/claim/whatever is recited word for word at one point, as it is said earlier in the book. Other than that, there's nothing wrong with this story at all.

It was so nice to read a shifter story where the pack had firm beliefs in deities/god, rather than just blaming the 'mate bond' on fate or some other factor that couldn't be pinpointed. I also really loved the flashbacks – mercifully, pointed out as such and divided from the present – and how awkward, but adorable, Tanner and Finley's first meeting was. It was great to see how they acted, reacted and felt at that time, which gave us some insight into how that had affected their relationship until now. It was also really nice to begin with an already established relationship, even if it was rocky and needed a good kick up the backside.

There was such a sense of acceptance and normality within the shifter pack that was really refreshing. They didn't doubt the mate bond for any reason and fought it only for what they thought of as valid reasons. At the same time, Tanner admits that his nerves and hang ups come from being too closely raised within the human world, with human attitudes. In the end, it's all fine and they both realise they were wrong – Finley was wrong to push and doubt Tanner, while Tanner was wrong to never confess his fears, which would have helped Finley understand – and that was lovely. So often, people misunderstand in books and never take the time to talk.

Ugh, the whole thing gave me a major case of the feels. It's the simplest way to put it. I can't wait to read book 2 and Jamie's story. I seriously hope there are more after that.