Review: Secret Chemistry by Chris T. Kat

Reviewed by Fehu
Secret Chemistry (Shifters #1) by Chris T. Kat
Dreamspinner Press
Novel: 220pgs
3 Pants Off

Blurb:
Not all werewolf societies are created equal. The one Tim Evans grew up in detests those not of “pure blood”—so when Tim discovers his mate is Jay, a male fox-wolf hybrid ten years his junior, it shocks him, to say the least. Too young to claim his mate and too weak to protect him from the rest of the pack, Tim fears for Jay’s life. When a human gets hold of Jay, Tim believes he has lost him forever.

The next eighteen years are hell. Tim devotes his life to his family and running their stable, but anger and depression threaten to consume him. Then fate brings Jay back into his life. Tim knows Jay feels the same attraction he does—mates always do. So why won’t Jay act on it?

Review:
So I choose this one because I liked the cover, yes I regretted doing so in the past, and no I haven't learned from past experience. :)

Well the first part and in this case I am dividing the book into the past and present. Past is the first part of the book and that was actually pretty good! Tim is one of the Alphas sons but of course prejudice is everywhere and when fox-hybrid cubs are found in their pack territory the situation in the pack escalates. At the same time Tim who is thirteen, is pulled away from his siblings by a strange, alluring scent. It turns out the scent belongs to a male fox-hybrid Jay, who is 10 years Tim junior and apparently Tim’s mate. On the run from one of his packs fractions, it's upon Tim to rescue his mate, but unfortunately things don't go as planned and the two kids are separated after their brief time together. The humans take away Tim's mate, while Tim is in his wolf form and is unable to do anything against it.

Tim and Jay are really cute together, Tim being protective and Jay playful not fully aware of the danger he was facing. I was sad to see the boys torn apart. Still that was a very promising beginning, well written, story flows nicely and I liked the two main protagonists. All was well.

Part 2 - Present: 18 years have past

After Tim returned home he had some nasty surprises waiting for him, for one his Alpha was mad at him for disobeying an order from his mother and going off on his own. Second his mother was badly hurt and lost her ability to walk. Third, while being a natural Alpha this role has been denied to him, due his reckless actions and now his father feels a lot of resentment against hybrids, since if it wasn't for them the whole incident would not have happened.

Tim works for his parents and is rather withdrawn and sad by the loss of his mate. He is also aware that the prejudices are still there and that people would still want to hurt his mate even if he did find him again. Tim mostly despairs’ of finding his mate until a new customer comes to buy one of their horses for his son. Mhm, surprise it's Jay! My biggest surprise was what happened next. Tim can barely control himself, Jay as well, and after 18 years not seeing each other, they have sex the second they can get away from their parents. Yup, on the same day they met up again and there is shifter sex as well to look forward to! Was that my surprise? Nope, it wasn't even the somewhat painful sounding sex scene. They actually say that they have fallen in love with each other, after well maybe hours of seeing each other again and it's not like they were the best of buddies as children.

Brief argument and the father comes around, mother is healed by Jay, who is licking her in his fox form (still sounds kind of gross to me but oh well). After a promising start, instant lust and love ruined the good premise.

Should you read this story? Ok, the first part was quite good and I liked the supporting characters, like Tim's brother Robin. I'm interested in his story now, but afraid that it will go down the same way as Tim's story. The world building and the whole shifter society is interesting, so there was that. If you like instant love stories, with drama that reminds you of a soap opera, then this is just the book for you and of course if you are like me, are drawn to cute cover art.

3 Pants Off