3.5 Stars ( )

Nobody should have to live in fear just because they are different. The question of shifter acceptance has been looked at from many different angles (in fiction only), and there is a multitude of answers to what people might do if we ever did discover shifters. The main character in this book has no plans to reveal that he is a shifter to the general population, but he would like to find one person to accept and love him. Without that, the loneliness will overwhelm him sooner or later, no matter how often he tells himself he is fine.

Kangee is a raven shifter, which is probably “more different” than most people can deal with. And based on his experience so far, finding someone to truly accept and love him is impossible. His one attempt to be honest with a past lover ended in disaster, so he retreated and is minimizing human contact. When Jase walks into his life he doesn’t know what hit him, but he gives as good as he gets and the banter / ribbing is soon in full flow. It was interesting to watch how Kangee’s attitude slowly changes from absolute rejection of another man in his life to a grudging admission that being around Jase is fun. His raven has a totally different reaction and ends up being the driving force behind Kangee’s ultimate decision.

Jase wasn’t looking for a one-night stand when he agreed to the project of documenting a bear’s presence in Colorado. But when he finds Kangee, he does not hesitate. Jase knows what he wants and is not afraid to go after it. I don’t think anyone other than he would have been able to penetrate Kangee’s considerable defenses, and even Jase has a hard time.

If you like shifter stories set in today’s world, if you enjoy watching two men figure out how they might fit together when one of them is not at all looking for a relationship, and if you’re looking for a read that takes an interesting look at a raven’s view of the world, then you will probably like this free novella. ( )