Rainbow Reading is our weekly series focusing on book reviews with a geeky/sci-fi/fantasty/supernatural flair with LGBTQ characters. Today I review Old Loyalty, New Love by Mary Calmes.
The main characters are Quade Danas and Roman Howell. Quade was banished from his pack for being gay even though he was a seer. Banishing a seer from a pack is like shooting yourself in the foot. A seer is considered to be a gift. A seer is stronger, can shift faster and has no issues with the pack following his commands. A seer alpha means peace for a pack. Quade goes into the military, and is involved with a man that ultimately betrays him by wanting a relationship with Quade and his best friend. This doesn’t work at all for Quade and he leaves. Enter Roman Howell’s mother who convinces Quade to come home with her to watch over her teenage son Roman. Roman is a teenager when he meets Quade for the first time. When Roman was 17 he had been in a horrific accident that should have killed him, and yet he survived. He survived with a multitiude of scars over most of his body, but he did survive. All through that time, Quade was there for him. When his friends were no longer around, Roman turned to Quade for friendship and advice. Quade helped Roman to accept who he was now, and how to live his life. Then at 21, another tragedy struck and Roman was orphaned. Both his parents died suddenly in an accident, and Roman was thrust in the spotlight. He had to learn to take over the family businesses that helped to support the entire town.
The book opens after Roman and Quade have known each other over 11 years. Roman has decided that he is old enough to know what he wants, and what he wants is Quade. He knows the secret that Quade is keeping from him because he has seen him shift. Quade is trying to fight the feelings he is having for Roman and is searching for a potential suitable boyfriend for Roman. Roman ambushes Quade – tells him how he feels, that he knows Quade feels the same way and kisses him. Quade brings up every excuse possible. Roman surprises him by telling Quade he knows his secret. Quade is a jackal. Roman learns a little more about Quade’s history, but they are interrupted. Quade’s sister, Raisa, is at the house. Quade has had no contact with his family since he was kicked out of his pack. Raisa is there to ask for help. Before she gets to that, she reveals to Roman that Quade has bit him. Turns out Quade bit Roman when he was a teenager in the hospital to save him. This is why he was able to survive and heal as much as he did. Raisa’s mate is in the hospital, and the alpha of the pack is sadistic evil SOB who wants to put Josie, Raisa’s daughter, on the street to make some money. The alpha has also taken protection money from all pack members and their businesses. Quade has the strength to stop it, but it means leaving Roman for a time, dealing with his family he hasn’t seen is so many years, and fighting an evil man. Quade also has to decide whether to complete the mating with Roman, and turn Roman into a jackal as well. I won’t reveal anymore except to say the reader will get a HEA (happily ever after).
I will say that I loved Quade and Roman’s relationship. From their interaction you knew that they had known each other for a while. Moving the relationship to the next step was obvious and easy. I also loved some of the secondary characters, and was hoping that they received their own book. Mary Calmes did write Fighting Instinct which is the story of Arman and Linus. I hope Mary continues this series. I loved both of these books, and I think you will enjoy them as well.
