Control Paperback – April 18, 2014

DNF 15%I'm sorry but this book isn't working for me and I don't wish to continue on. I usually give books a greater chance (than 15%..) before I decide to DNF them, but I don't like one of the MC, his whole behavior makes his interaction with everyone quite tedious.Vytautas "Vy" Alenknos is an alpha male and a pack leader, (of Hawk shifters) doesn't matter that he isn't a huge guy.. that's who he is. When finally meeting his mate (and being thrown by the fact it's a guy - he thought that would be impossible..) he is no other than a BEAR shifter.Robert Kenneth Cimino is in fact a Bear shifter but he doesn't shift. I still don't know why, but it means he is less "connected" to his animalistic side, which is why he doesn't realize what Vy does - that they are to be bonded mates. It's no hardship knowing there is a HUGE attraction but he mostly doesn't understand why he can't seem to walk away from the guy. Robert, even being a bear is a gentle kind of a guy. I really liked him. Sounds sweet and endearing, a genuinely nice person.So while I really liked Robert, I couldn't stand Vy. He is SO DAMN FULL OF HIMSELF, I couldn't continue. EVERY thing Robert says to him is interpreted in the same manner - does he, or does he not consider me the alpha that I am. If the perceived answer is no - mini tantrum. Really? that's NOT how an alpha behaves in "my book". You are either "it" or you're not. Vy is driven by his insecurities, and the notion he own everybody because of who he is - I didn't like that AT ALL. Not to mention Robert never actually behaved "badly" towards him. He was the one being disrespectful or expecting him to "submit" at every turn. YUCK!So yeah, that's it for me with this book. If you're into shifters, have no problems with overly alpha characters (which I DO!) give this one a go. I've read a shifter series by Cardeno I really enjoyed and Mary is a real favorite of mine so I know it's not about the book, it's about me and this "sub-genre" not mixing.Tags: Paranormal MM RomanceMore @ Ultra Meital Reviews.

Oh, my, this is so special ! These authors are dynamic together ! Vytautas Aleknos is the openly gay, powerful Kuar of the Elk River Hawk Kettle.He's 5'9", blonde, golden/green eyes, a carpenter and a strong leader. He smells his mate, no doubt, then sees him. Robert is a tall, muscled, 6'4", 210 lbs. botanist, who takes Vy and kisses him. After the mind blowing kiss, he asks Vy to dinner, takes him home and cares for him. Robert knew he wanted Vy, but not because of the "mate" , but because he simply likes the man. Robert was adopted by humans and doesn't shift into his Grizzly. He tells Vy the reason. They get closer, work out issues, and their sexy times are wonderful. Love the big man/smaller man, plus they are deeply passionate and just amazing. There is trouble with the neighboring wolves, various events take place, and when Vy is threatened, Robert's bear comes to the rescue, and then - - his bear says "mate" ! Beautiful characters here and an interesting, very different, shifter story. It's delightful, entertaining, and fun to read stand alone book. I think the story is completely captivating. I highly recommend this to anyone, shifter lovers, especially. ENJOY !======================

Contol is a joint effort by two authors: Mary Calmes and Cardeno C. I've read both of their works and enjoyed them. Control is the story of a bear shifter Robert and his meeting Vy, a hawk shifter. The focus is on them and how their relationship advances and retreats as they become friends as well as mates.I read a lot of shifter stories and one topic that comes up from time to time is 'instant mating' -- The sniff, mine, and mate 'romance' which really isn't romantic at all. CONTROL has an interesting take on shifter mates. Both men don't know what to expect in the mating process and come at it differently. Robert, the bear, wants to know Vy as a person, as a friend, and go from there. Vy is more aware of his other half and has conflicting feelings when Robert doesn't acknowledge the mate drive. Since Robert doesn't shift into his bear, of course he won't know Vy is his mate. So it's an interesting concept and very well done. Kudos.There were a few things that distracted from my enjoyment. It seemed like each chapter was written in a different point of view from the last. Vy and Robert kept interchanging so one would be speaking, the other next, and back and forth and so on. At times I got caught up in which arm was around who's shoulder and the use of 'he' and 'his' was used so many times I got confused as to which person was now talking. I am a fast reader and I slightly remember it was Robert's POV right now, but I can't be completely sure, and my kindle is difficult to page back and double check. . . Because then I'd lose my place. If I was to backtrack, I'd have to go back and figure out which chapter I'm in and then page forward, which I have done in the past, but not for this book. So I ended up half the time not knowing who was talking and who was being talked about. It was distracting and frustrating.I enjoyed hearing about Vy's flock and his interactions with them. Even better was seeing their leader in a job, any job. I can't tell you how many stories I've read where the alpha/leader doesn't have any means of support and lets his pack support him. Not in this. Vy is a construction worker, getting down and dirty - Think hard hat, sweat, and dust.I would have liked a bit more bear / hawk play time. It was alluded to but never pursued. At least not in details. I mean finally Robert overcomes his bear and it's a big part of this story. So it'd be nice to see the continuing result - Robert and his bear and interacting with his 'just recognized' mate in their animal forms.The angst from Robert's adoptive parents was a bit too over the top. At this time Robert and Vy are friends and mates. They've experienced a lot for a newly bonded pair. You would think they'd talk over everything and not let in-laws get in the way. Vy was a bit too bird brained about that whole thing. It was really silly.I never did grasp if Vy's second in command, Louisa, was mated or just married to her husband. The wording in the opening chapter made me think she's just shacked up with someone until her own mate arrives. I also had that feeling with the way she treated her husband, not as she would treat a beloved mate. *shrug*I never got a feeling on how large Vy's Ket is. Sure there are tons of cars at a meeting and the house and yard are packed, but I wondered. I seldom read about bird shifters. I was curious.If this is the first in a series, I'd definitely check the next one. But as this one, CONTROL stands, it needs better flow. That is surprising because so much of this story is between the two main characters, Robert and Vy. The back and forth should flow on it's own. - Dan's Wife

This story gripped me from the very beginning and held me right to the very last word. I literally could not put it down. Cardeno and Mary have created a beautiful world with colourful characters and an amazing central couple.The world that Vy and Robert inhabit is very real and warm and I just wanted to be there with them.I believe that these two talented authors wrote a character each and this is very much how it feels when reading from the two different points of view whilst at the same time the story flowed incredibly well. Their styles complimented each other perfectly as did the personalities of both characters.I cannot think of any way this story could be improved by have one single author it was perfect in every way and I do so how Cardeno and Mary work consider another collaboration, especially with these characters, if not central to the tale, atleast appearing in it somewhere.

This is written by two of my favourite authors so I expected it to be good and it delivered. At first I wasn't sure I really liked Vy. He was prickly and a bit condescending but Robert is patient and breaks through the bluster so by the end I liked them both. The story is nicely written with some good supporting characters - Vy's second in the ket is a feisty female cop who is no holds barred and there's a good bit of drama - cars going off cliffs, trouble with the local wolf pack and a bear who won't shift so can't scent his mate causing all sorts of issues. If you like shifter stories you should like this. Well written and a good all round read.

Both these authors are auto buys for me now and I loved this joint effort. A great combo of a good MM story with shifters. The difference between the main characters being a hawk vs bear plays out really well. This is one I go back to every now and then for a re-read.

Absolutely loved this beautiful story and fell in love with these two lead characters. My only negative is that it was so short, I would have so loved to have had more...more romance, more drama, more depth. That's not to say what there was I didn't love, it's just it could have been so much longer and therefore more detailed and telling us more about their future.

after reading rj.Scott this quite frankly was soul food.vy is the hawk shifter and Robert is the grossly bear shifter.vy knows that Robert is his mate but Robert wants to be wanted for himself the man not out of fate.not to spoil it but all's good in the hea.