Chosen Pride

L'Ange, Book 3

By: Mary Calmes

Narrated by: Tristan James

Jon Slade finally met his mate, but instead of it being the happiest day of his life, it became the saddest when wolf shifter Kelvin MacCurdy chose his obligations over their fated bond, leaving Jon to pick up the pieces of his shattered dreams. Lucky for him, Roman Howell, his boss and the owner of L'Ange, saw promise in the forlorn lion and put him to work so he wouldn't have time to sit around and lick his wounds while he waited for his wounded spirit to heal.

Then the wolves make an official visit to L'Ange, and Jon finds out Kelvin's pining for him is taking its toll on his position as the king's champion. Though Kelvin's training and the expectations of others steer him toward an intended mate, Jon has an unbreakable hold on his heart, and it's no longer possible for Kelvin to keep himself from where he truly belongs.

But the conclave brings more than Kelvin to the château. It also brings a challenge to jackal alpha Quade Danas, a threat that Quade and Roman, Arman and Linus, and Jon and Kelvin may have to fight in order to keep L'Ange's family intact. Jon never wanted to lead a pride, but the loyalty and devotion to one is ingrained in him. Kelvin was raised to punish anyone who questioned his king, but the calling to protect others runs through his veins just as deeply. To come out on the other side of the battle together, Jon and Kelvin will have to hold the darkness of solitary pride and broken hearts at bay - and find strength in belonging to something bigger than themselves.

©2016 Mary Calmes (P)2017 Dreamspinner Press

Omg spoil good.

The book is amazing as always but Tristan James is awesome! The Scottish accent is to die for lol. I'm so so sad it's the last one. Mary calmes you are amazing.

The Awesomeness of this Cannot be Contained

When I read this book I have to admit I couldn't wait to see how the narrator would be able to do Kelvin's brogue justice but holy moly Tristan has done that. I've heard other books he's narrated and he never fails to deliver. His smooth, smoky voice is a favorite so I knew going in that the narration would be spot on and the moment I heard Kelvin's first line I did a mental fist pump because it was amazingly well done.

This third installation is about Jon Slade, a lion shifter who finds his mate in the Fenrir of a wolf pack...but not just any wolf pack..THE kings wolf pack..oh the heartache in this is so profound you wanna just reach out and give Jon a hug because though they are mates Kelvin is bound by station and duty to sire the next Fenrir.

Kelvin's solitary lot is revealed and though he is his kings champion he is treated as little more than some peace of offal to be endured instead of celebrated for the magnificent warrior he is. His plight is just gut wrenching because for the first time in his life someone sees him..not champion or wolf or any other thing but a beautiful man. JON sees him, wants him but duty calls and Kelvin is forced to leave him behind.

What follows is such heartache that you want to weep and scream at the same time.

Jon tries to put aside his wants for his mate and manages after a time to find a way to bear the burden of pain the loss of his other half causes.

I will not spoil anything but it's a heck of a ride and you'll enjoy every single moment of it.

My favorite series EVER

I fell in love w/ Old Loyalty, New Love and had listened to it again about 4 times when I discovered Book 2. I was so thrilled, and fell in love all over w/ Armin and Iinus. The story was totally different but captivating, and once again I listened to this book over and over. I have enjoyed other books and other authors and audible books are my favorite, but for reasons unknown this author and these two books completely captured my heart. When book 3 came out I was beyond happy and once again this story stole my heart. I love the characters, the stories, the descriptions of the locations, I love everything about them. They make me feel warm and fuzzy all over. I highly recommend.

I love Tristan James!

Any additional comments?

This is my favorite of the L'Ange series.

I loved that there is a plenty of page time for the other MC's from the series, but that the story focuses on Jon and Kelvin.

I loved the community and feeling of family that suffuses the story...but mostly I loved the hell out of Jon and Kelvin.

Mary Calmes sure knows how to deliver a good shifter story. There's no shortage of mates, suspense, and bloody times in this one. The boys work for their HEA, and it makes for an thoroughly entertaining listen.

Tristan James does a terrific job with the character voices, especially Kelvin's Scottish brogue, pacing, timing, and voice over.

This is a great shifter story, especially on audio, and the series just keeps getting better.

NOTE: I would not recommend this as a standalone. I would definitely recommend the others in the series before listening to Chosen Pride.

This is Jon's and Kelvin's story

This is the last story in the series, and I am sorry it is over, but at least I can listen again :) . I love paranormal romance and this whole series is so very well done. Tristan James bring Mary Calme's characters to life and it is a wonderful listen. His Scots accent in this one is great and made the listen even better. Well worth a credit.

Loved it

Tristan James is one of my very favorite narrators. Tristan James doing a Scottish accent is simply AMAZING. Five stars for that alone.

Calmes and James: A perfect pair

Mary Calmes and Tristan James once again make magic. The wonderful story is brought to life by a gifted narrator who is consistently masterful at accents and the art of subtlety. Truly they are my peanut butter and chocolate of gay romance audio book. They never disappoint.

brilliant! perfect!!!

Any additional comments?

I cannot even begin to tell you how much I loved this book. The romance, the intrigue, the dialogue, it was everything I could have ever wanted out of a Mary Calmes book. It was a fantastic bonding of two men who are strong-willed but drifting until they find one another.

-“I’m gonna kiss you and hug you and keep you and wrap your heart up so tight that one day you’ll wake up and not even remember what it was like to not be treasured.”
How could you not love this!!!!
I loved that Roman found out more about his heritage. I loved Linus and his conniving sneaky ways. I loved Arman as he embraced his beast. Quade, as he steps up and shows everyone what an Alpha is...all of it was perfect!

wonderful book!

It truly is amazing to see the complete metamorphosis Mary underwent writing this saga.
I was a bit put off by the beginning of the first book,but by the time I finished it, I had to continue. The second was good, and this, the best. well done.

Totally lives up to expectations!!!

I’ve been waiting for this for SO LONG! I ADORE this series in both it’s written and audiobook formats. I listen to them frequently so I feel like I know these guys personally LOL.

Jon started out as a sort of “bad guy” in that he was meant to seduce Roman (to get a promotion) but couldn’t because Roman was in love with Quade. Jon seems like he’s lazy or at least without direction, but Roman sees something else in him and decides to “keep” him at L’Ange. Then we see him again when he travels to New York to help Arman with Linus’ revenge and there’s where he meets Kelvin.

We got a delicious hint of their matehood there and thus the anxious waiting for this book!

Kelvin is a wolf-shifter who (we find out) has a specific set of (TERRIBLE) rules to follow regarding his station. (Mary’s wolves are NOT noble creatures in general but rather barbaric – which is funny because her Hyena and Jackals are very noble!) He’s never been with a man and (at first) feels he can’t be with Jon due to his job title and the subsequent duties associated with his title.

However… there’s some pretty exciting twists and turns which put our poor heart-broken Jon in the same proximity as Kelvin (who’s also hurting) and their mate-bond cannot be denied.

But before all that – there’s a wrinkle – and this wrinkle had me scratching my head and wondering where the story was headed – and that has to do with a certain assistant Linus hires.

(I’m not going to elaborate because that’s the fun of reading the story yourself!)

In any case, it’s a Mary story, so you know it’s good. You know it ends happily. You know there’s going to be some violence and some excitement. (WOW – yes there is!) Fans of the series will get to see more of our previous MCs – I LOVE LINUS so much in this!!! And Arman has a scene that brought me to tears.

Highly recommended for fans of the series and the author, but I would read books one and two first (because they are awesome and because they add so much to this story.)

4.25 of 5 stars

Audio

Totally as awesome as expected! MMMMMMM. Tristan’s accents are so, so delicious and Kelvin is absolutely fabulous! You’re going to want to get this as soon as possible if you haven’t already. Tristan James makes this series one of my all time favorites and I can listen to it over and over. Now we get another one to add to the rotation and WOW it’s got so much going on – absolutely amazing.

Highly Recommended

6 of 5 stars

Overall 5 of 5 stars