Review: Fantastic Read
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 5, 2011
Dana Marie Bell has written a touching romance of misgivings and mistakes, and new starts.Ben Malone has known since he was fifteen that David Maldonado is his mate. But he refuses to claim him, because he is determined not to become involved with an alcoholic like his father. Ben suffered too much from his father's drunken rages, and will never go through that again, even for his mate.For David's part, he doesn't understand Ben's attitude. He also realized long ago that Ben was his mate, and has been hurt by Ben's attitude. After the most recent migraine attack, one that leaves David unconscious and hospitalized, he decides to go away and try to forget his mate once and for all. Better to not have a mate and be lonely, than to endure Ben's scorn and derision every day.When the pack alpha sits Ben down and lays the whole situation in front of him, Ben learns that drinking is not the cause of David's pain, and what Ben thought were hangovers, were in fact severe and debilitating migraines. Now that he knows, Ben is determined that no one but him will ever claim his mate, and he realizes he has some serious groveling ahead to win the forgiveness of the only person he has ever needed.This is the first of her Poconos Pack stories, but it fits together beautifully with her Halle Puma series, focusing this time on the wolves of Rick's pack. I like that so many of the `old friends' from the Halle Puma series are here, and to be honest, I have been waiting for Ben and Dave's story for a long time. This one was worth the wait. This is filled with romance and of course, Ms. Bell's marvelous sense of humor is ever present, making this one a joy to read.David Maldonado is the pack beta to Rick's alpha. He is big, strong and gorgeous; a gentle giant of a man. He is confused by Ben's attitude, and decides to give up his dream of being claimed by his mate. He suffers through his headaches without complaint, and I could feel his pain, physical and emotional, throughout this story. I enjoyed the lengths he went to, once he had Ben where he wanted him, and the things he had Ben do to gain forgiveness were, at times, hilarious.Ben Malone is pack Marshall, and he believes he's doing the right thing for himself by not claiming his mate. Ben is strong and yet there is a vulnerable part of him, the part his father put there so long ago. When he sees what he believes are the signs of the sickness of alcoholism that gripped his father, in his mate, he refuses to be hurt again. When he realizes his mistake, he is miserable. I loved watching him `grovel' to get his mate to his side, and laughed along the way with what he was willing to do.This is a touching love story about two people and how misunderstanding and secrets can come between them. David and Ben needed to open up and just talk, and much of their heartache would never have happened. I loved some of the secondary characters that were new to this story, and I would love to see more of both Steve and Charlie in future books from Ms. Bell. I enjoyed the experience of this story, and was delighted with the happy ever after for these two.Originally posted at Whipped Cream Reviews.