Ash’s review of Finding Forgiveness (Poconos Pack Book  1) by Dana Marie Bell
Erotic Paranormal Romance ebook published by Samhain 05 Jul 11

I don’t know what it is lately, but the Samhain books I’ve been reviewing have all been duds. Throughout the whole book I wanted Dave to get rid of Ben. Since it’s their romance, that’s not really a good thing.

I could not stand Ben and that is my biggest issue with Finding Forgiveness. As the pack Marshall he can feel everyone’s pain, and so he automatically assumes Dave is an alcoholic because he has headaches. There are no other signs to support it, but Ben is convinced. Even his excuse is weak and I feel that the thing that made him so sure of Dave drinking should have been how he knew he wasn’t. If Ben is used to being around an alcoholic, then I think he should know how to tell the difference between a hangover and a headache. From the start I disliked him, and it never changed.

Dave is an okay character, and if he is with someone else he could have been great. I don’t like that he goes to gay pride week at Disney World in order to find another mate, which apparently can happen but is rare. I guess if you are going to get another one, Disney World is a good place to look. Then when Ben goes there to claim him, Dave is 100 percent sure he is dreaming. It’s just…weird.

Their romance just felt…unromantic. The emotion between them is lacking. Ben should have had to grovel longer, and I think the whole headache issue went on for too long. It took years for Ben to find out the truth, and he finds it out from the alpha pair, Rick and Belle, when they finally decide to act like they care. I feel that if Rick and Belle care for Dave as much as they say they do, they would try to find out what the problem is sooner.

As for everything else, I don’t think this should be labeled Book 1 of a new series. The pack alpha has already had his own book, as have other characters we meet. It made me feel like I’m missing a lot of stuff. Not sure if I will be reading any more by this author.

Grade: D+

Summary:

To forgive is divine…if he can pin his lover down long enough to beg for it.

Poconos Pack, Book 1

Ben Malone’s role as Marshall attunes him to every nuance of the pack’s wellbeing—which means he’s forced to feel every one of his mate’s hangovers. It’s the one reason Ben will never claim Dave Maldonado. Being alone is better than being with someone who lives in a bottle.

Dave was destined to be a pack Alpha until his first migraine hit at age fifteen, the day he caught his future mate holding hands with another boy. In the nine agonizing years since, he’s contented himself as Beta, but never learned to live with the pain and confusion of Ben’s rejection.

Dave’s worst attack yet sends him to the hospital—and brings them both face to face with the misunderstanding that’s kept them apart all these years. It’s too late, though. Dave is headed for Gay Pride Week at Disney World with one goal in mind. Forget Ben Malone.

Ben’s got a problem with that. Only one man is destined to hold his David. And he’ll give anything, even his last shred of pride, to win forgiveness—and the right to finally claim his mate.

Read an excerpt.