Following rules is for pussy cats. And since I’m a wolf, not a chance in hell I’ll toe the line. Well, not when my boss is a prick and he gives me bullshit assignments.
When I stumble upon an undercover operation, one that becomes deeply personal and impossible to walk away from, I do something that leaves my head spinning.
I follow the rules.
Joining an elite squad in the SICB, I work with a unit that has me questioning everything I thought I knew about working in a team.
They’re tightknit, work under the radar, and kick arse on a daily basis.
There’s just one problem. The team leader, my new boss, needs my help, which also means he becomes my housemate.
Mesmerizing, confident, and with the greenest eyes that make my head spin, Liam “Thatch” Thatcher is a newly changed wolf shifter who immediately draws my respect.
It’s a dangerous combination.
Bonded by memories and blood, together we have to navigate the blood farm operation that has wider reaches than we could ever imagine. And when it comes to matters of the heart, to win, I need to risk it all.
Even if it goes against every one of my instincts.
Thicker Than Water is the first book in a gay urban fantasy romance series. Between the pages, you’ll find high-octane action, snarky vampires and shifters, and steamy scenes to make you swoon.
Becca Seymour is the #1 gay romance best seller of the True-Blue series. Known for "steamy and endearing" and "emotionally profound love stories" (InD'tale Magazine) her books have been nominated for multiple RONE Awards.
Becca lives and breathes all things book related. Usually with at least three books being read and two WiPs being written at the same time, Becca's life is merrily hectic. She tends to do nothing by halves so happily seeks the craziness and busyness life offers.
Living on her small property in Queensland with her human family as well as her animal family of cows, sheep, chooks, and dogs, Becca appreciates the beauty of the world around her and is a believer that love truly is love.
TRUE-BLUE Let Me Show You (Carter & Tanner) It's Not You (Davis & Scott) Becoming Us (Davis & Scott) Thinking It Over (Jasper & Austin) Always For You (Ted & Jason) It's Not You (Lawrence & Billy) Our First And Last (Ian & Frankie) Next For Us (Carter & Tanner)
ZONE DEFENSE No Take Backs No More Secrets No Wrong Moves
FAST BREAK Rules, Schmules! Facts, Smacts! Regular, Smegular!
FANGS & FELONS Thicker Than Water Weaker Than Instinct
STAND-ALONES Realigned (perma-free) Amalgamated Not Used To Cute High Alert Under the Blazing Stars
REVIEWS: "WOW! Simply, Wow! A funny, steamy and endearing story that should be put into your family of books. Something that you can read over and over again when you need a pick me up." The Book Fairy Reviews "An intense connection that smolders" - JayReads "This book was a slow burn and I loved it." - Steamy Book Momma "Characters to pull for, a romance to give you feels, and enough steam to keep you turning pages..." - Romantic Reads and Such "Emotionally profound love story with many laugh aloud moments." - InD'tale Magazine "Becca had me cracking up laughing and smiling ear to ear." - HeidiLynns BookReviews
This book starts off with action and it never really lets up. It had a really nice pace that kept me in the story till the end. It also helped that the MC was really likeable. I liked his personality and the fact that he brought humor relief to the story. Callen has a pretty laid back way about himself. He tries not to take a lot too seriously unless it's needed. He was quite fierce when he needed to be though. I really liked him and that made the book that much more enjoyable for me.
Callen is a bit of a lone wolf. Literally. He left his pack and his abusive Alpha father behind and joined the Supernatural Investigation & Crime Bureau (SICB). He's a bit of an outcast. His boss highly dislikes him and he really only has one friend, Lucas, who works with him, but more on the tech side of things. Callen can be quite spontaneous and he gets himself into trouble most of the time by putting himself in the middle of cases he's not supposed to be a part of. The one he recently finds himself in becomes not only deadly, but personal.
On this case he saves a man who will soon become more important to him then anyone. Thatcher. He saves the man thinking he is the biggest clue to figuring out what is happening. But when the man wakes up he finds him to be not just a witness to what happened, but the man running the show. It's his case. Liam Thatcher is the head of a special task force team. He brings Callen onto his team considering Callen now has a personal connection with the case and to him in a way I won't reveal. No spoilers here dolls! As the case gets more complicated, Callen and Thatcher get closer.
I really liked how the author brought a new spin to the wolf shifter world. Although there were more than just wolves in this book. We had vampires, panthers, and even lions oh my, lol. I hope there will be more to this story. Maybe about some of the other character that were introduced to us. I would definitely like to see a Lucas and Michael's relationship happen. Just sayin', lol...
The only issues I really had was the lack of background we had for Thatcher. We never got a clear picture of who he is or where he came from and how he got to be who he is. Why is he so well off? Who is his family? Why does he not like talking about them? So in the end I needed more from him.
Happy reading dolls! xx
I received an ARC from Indigo in exchange for an honest review.
Sometimes, choosing a book by its cover works! Let's be fair, look at it! It's different and promising, and I always liked authors who give importance to their cover.
Sometimes, choosing a book outside your direct, immediate interest works too! This is the third time I've read an MM story and I'm happy to say that it's the second I liked it.
I liked how the fantasy/paranormal aspects and romance parts are both important and contribute to each other. "The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb" is the key to both plans. I liked how the action elements are played and how our main character deals with his vulnerability, and that "Because I'm (he's) badass." His humor comes at the right moments to enrich and substantiate the atmosphere. Started with a boom, the storyline is well handled, there are several surprises or unexpected and I was fully involved.
I liked how the love story part debuted and evolved and how the author managed to reach the climax of passion and intimacy with only one or two explicit but delicate moments. What I would have liked is that the transfer between Hazel and Thatch to be more developed, especially giving the title. Callen and Thatch are so different and yet both very, very lovable. I would have liked a hetero story like theirs.
I loved all the characters, their diversity as species and how "politically correct" declarations were avoided. Everything is how it should be and we, as human or paranormal individuals, are not defined by our sexual orientations.
Becca Seymour is now on my list of writers to keep an eye on. Straight or gay, I believe many of you will enjoy Thicker than Water! Enjoy!
The start was pulling, characters interesting but writing stile, story development scattered. A lot of wholes inside the story plot stays unsaid (for example - Callen past). Even romance between Callen & Liam cant make it better. Why? Because there is no drama, no complicated moments between them - nothing. Their getting together is just it. So for me it was boring, boring boring.
Thicker Than Water by Becca Seymour begins with a real bang and doesn’t let up. This novel is a fast-paced action thriller with a dash of romance thrown in for good measure. I really appreciated how the author chose to keep the attraction element between Thatch and Callen simmering almost the entire novel and give it just enough fodder to keep it percolating, but not overtake the plot. Instead, the book is really is all about unraveling the mystery of who is the head of the group developing the drug and the cold-blooded, systematic sacrifice of female shifters used to get results. When Callen finally learns just how those he loves are involved, his pain is realistic and his frantic worry to save others make for the heart of a good story that has multiple twists and turns.
I’ve read this author before. This is a MM contemporary paranormal romance. Main characters are Callen a born wolf shifter and Thatch a new changed wolf shifter. Both belong to a secret arm of law enforcement. This book is set in Australia. Tragedy and fight scenes this book has it all. I’ll read more from this author. This book has the most amazing cover too.
When outcast, Callen Blackheath, breaks orders and rushes into a burning building, his life changed forever. In this building, he found two bodies, one belonging to his sister, who is now dead, and the other belonging to Thatch. Without knowing the connection Thatch has to his sister, Callen gets both bodies out of the burning building just in time. Together, can Callen and Thatch get the most lethal drug off the street and out of the hands of rogue shifters and other paranormals?
I have to say, I struggled with this a bit. I thought this was an exciting story, and there was a bit of humor to it, but something was missing for me. The characters were interesting enough, but I think a little more backstory on Thatch could have helped a little. There was too much effort in making him appear mysterious. Callen was a fantastic character. He was laid back, and his interactions with the vampire, Kent, added the comic relief. There was non-stop action, making almost every page a page-turner. If there is a sequel, I would be interested in reading it; hopefully, it will have Thatch’s backstory in it.
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book. Callen finds Thatch, the leader of a black ops task force, bleeding and bitten when he goes against orders, again. But Thatch was bitten by Callen's sister, and his niece is now missing and Thatch might be the only link to finding the child. But as the investigation spreads its net, Callen is forced to make some decisions, decisions that could cost him his heart. I really REALLY enjoyed this from Ms Seymour! She usually writes fairly fluffy, contemporaries and this isn't fluffy, nor contemporary but it is great! I loved the twist to werewolf lore, that the oly way for a wolf to be made is to be bitten. But that act kills the wolf and transfers all their memories to the new wolf. I loved the supporting cast, and all the little . .hints/clues/dropped comments . . .about them. Some questions wre thrown up, that haven't been answered here. However, in my personal experience, its best not to wait for those questions to be answered cos the last time I felt like this, I had a right proper hissy fit when those questions were NOT answered LOL So I won't voice those questions, and then I can't be dissappointed, right? I loved Callen. He is funny and hilarious, and dark and deadly. He is deep and meaningful, but takes great pleasure in winding his friends up. I loved that fact tht the bond between Callen and Thatch creep up on them, and there isn't that MINE moment at first meeting. It DOES come, but it's more growled out of Callen in reaction to someone else touching Thatch. So why only 4 stars with all those things I loved? Thatch isn't given a voice. Now, I know I say it a lot, and I will continue to say it where I think it necessary but HERE I think it really needed. Thatch takes ALL of his Hazel's, Callen's sister, memories and thoughts and feelings. ALL of them. And that had to be confusing when they start to come through! When those memories sends them far north to find Hazel's daughter. When he comes face to face with that daughter. What was Thatch feeling? I needed that, I really did, and if I HAD Thatch, I have no doubt, not a single one, that this would have been a 5 star read. I don't know if this is a stand alone, or there will be more of this group of people, I hope so, I really do! But I don't get Thatch, and so. . . 4 good, great solid stars **same worded review will appear elsewhere**
So, I picked this book on a whim and what do you know? It actually paid off. LOL I'm a big fan of urban fantasy books and Thicker Than Water really hit its mark with me.
Smart-mouthed SCIB Agent Callen Blackheath finds himself involved in a new case after his latest act of defying orders lands him in the middle of an operation that turns more personal than he would've wanted. The only good thing to come out of it, is finding a place in a task force lead by Liam "Thatch" Thatcher and getting close to the man as he helps Thatch adapt to his new shifter status and the bond and memories that come with it. As they close in on the bad guys, Callen and Thatch will need to trust in each other and their team to put an end to an operation that could potentially harm lots of shifters.
While the book is told from Callen's POV, it's well-rounded enough that I never felt like I didn't know Thatch enough, same with the rest of the secondary cast. Callen was all attitude and defiance with his immediate boss, yet, he fit so well with Thatch's team from the start. Thatch was a great team leader, and just perfect for Callen on a personal level. Even if there was enough going on with the investigation and the romance simmered on the background, the chemistry was definitely there from the moment they met. I actually loved that, it was a slow-burn and the UST was so thick it could be cut with a knife, but the author kept in mind that they were on a very important mission so it made sense for them to wait.
The book was action-packed, fast-paced, with a fantastic main and secondary cast and a great, complex storyline that I couldn't get enough of. I am aware Ms. Seymour mainly writes contemp romance, but I really hope she writes more urban fantasy in the future, because she certainly has a gift for this kind of books.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
Thicker than Water is a queer paranormal romance. Callen is a shifter agent of the Supernatural Crimes Investigation Bureau, but is more of a rip-sh*t-and-bust kind of guy than a follow procedure guy. On mission where he does indeed rip-sh*+-and-bust, he stumbles into a much bigger case that gets him seconded to a secret unit within the bureau. This case is close to home for Callen will do whatever it takes to solve it, even if it means following the rules.
Becca Seymour has put a unique spin on how shifters are turned that I haven't read before and I was 100% here for it.
The ensemble cast was brilliant. I was invested in everyone. The sarcasm, humour and witty banter throughout the relationships, and Callen's monologue was hilarious and I found myself laughing out loud a few times.
I'm aware I haven't stayed anything about the romance. That is because it is so good, you should just read it and see it all play out. Just know that it involves one of the most intimate first shifts I've ever read.
I knew from the first chapter who the dirty cop was. I don’t know why one of the characters is Black. His skin is black, that’s about it. No cultural references, no background. I feel like I am missing chapters. Sure, it all makes sense in author’s head, but I, as a reader, need a connection, a background info, the characters' motivations, the first frigging installment or at least the first three chapters.
What possessed me to last until 62% mark? Bad writing. Boredom. I kept skipping, yet there was this key word - “focus” - in different variations, that repeated 70 times over 210 pages. It kept me mesmerised and … “focussed“.
And now I have cotton balls for brains.... or worse 😠
PS Did I mention holes in the story? Um... yeah, it was rather holey. Fishnet stocking are more solid than this tale.
I was looking for another book when I found this one, it was a shifter story with an interesting plot so I went for it.
The story is about Callen, a wolve shifter who is also a cop and is investigating a case related to drugs, while scouting for information he finds himself in the middle of another operation that involves his sister. There he meets Thatch, the human/cop that his sister turns into a werewolve before dying. And then shit happens!
The story was interesting, the worldbuilding was decent, and the case was actually really well crafted. I had some issues with the writing, it was difficult to me to understand sometimes what was going on, English is not my first language but normally I don't have this problem.
Also, how they handled death sometimes made me uncomfortable, especially Jensen's, the guy died and in a hour Callen was lusting after Thatch in front of the whole team, not cool.
Overall was a fun read! 🥰
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Callen Blackheath left his pack and his sadistic father behind. He joined a supernatural investigative unit. His investigation leads him to Thatch.
He find his sister dead. She bit Thatch right before she died, giving him pieces and parts of her memories. Thatch is dealing with becoming a wolf shifter, trying to stop a deadly new drug and Callen. Which might be the biggest problem he’s ever faced.
I loved Callen and Thatch’s give and take. Kind of a fast slow burn. Really good, numerous characters with surprising depth. Inventive story line involving several types of shifters, vampires, and humans. Different type of story for this author but I liked it.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.
A well written, fast paced, action packed shifter mystery romance that had me hooked from the first page. This story just flowed so well that I couldn’t put it down. The main characters Callen and Thatch have bucket loads of chemistry and both are interesting and likeable. Callen is pretty laid back with a great sense of humour whilst Thatch, the team leader, is a bit more on the serious side but let’s himself go a bit with Callen. Some great side characters really add to the story. There’s no angst, lots of action, a slow burning romance and little nuggets of humour sprinkled throughout the story. A really enjoyable read that I highly recommended.
Thank you for the ARC read, I voluntarily give this book an honest review. Callen was about to get rimmed after he went rogue on mission stumbling into a special ops while finding a shock in the lab his sister shifted and a human lab tech, things get interesting at head quarters. Finding out the tech was really a team leader of the special force's he had no knowledge of.. being pulled into the new team with Thatch. Just love Callens flirtatious attitude towards Thatch, while Thatch appears unaffected on the outside is he really or is he just not interested.
I need more of the SICB, Callen, Thatch and the team! Becca Seymour weaves a fantastic urban fantasy world that had me on the edge and pulled at my emotions. “Every single moment had led me to this moment.” I loved the vibe between Thatch and Callen. From how they protected each other to how they communicated, they’re amazing partners. I just wish they had more “them” time but what they could find was smoking. With such a wonderful, entertaining cast of characters, I hope there’s more to come as I think more teammates need a HEA and I know there’s more adventures to be had.
4.5 Stars I was really taken by Thicker Than Water, the way Ms Seymour brought her characters together and captured their essence and stories within the pages made for compelling reading leaving me unable to put it down. A well-paced and delivered paranormal m/m romance I can only hope there is more to come, and the author makes this book the start to an amazing series.
Not your usual shifter story, different and refreshing. Becca is a new author to me and she had me intrigued from the very start. Loved the characters and watching them evolve along with the story. Really enjoyable.
*ARC kindly given in exchange for an honest review, thank you so much*
3.5 stars - I was given a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads
This is an exciting and fast paced supernatural crime story. The story follows Callan, a bad boy special agent as he accidentally becomes embroiled in a dangerous secret investigation. When Callan’s own family is threatened, Callan must work with his new secret team to protect his niece and the other wolf shifters at risk.
I loved the Australian setting of this story and I liked the unusual characters. Thatch’s secret team has the kind of familial camaraderie fans of American crime dramas will appreciate and I enjoyed the way the author weaves Aboriginal communities into the shifter world building.
The romance between Callan and Thatch is a little bit instalove and a little too easy. I like the two men together but I wouldn’t necessarily read the book for the romance. Similarly, while the writing is strong enough to tell the story, the characters aren’t very well developed and there’s a lack of depth and complexity to the relationships in the story. There’s a breathless ‘and then, and then, and then…” structure to the story that sometimes feels more like teen fanfic than published novel. Fans of Marvel cinema will probably enjoy this but readers who love Patricia Briggs, TJ Klune or Kelley Armstrong’s shifters may find this shifter adventure somewhat disappointing.
This is a complex, intricate book, so if you're reading with a hard headache you'll likely miss details. Be warned. It was otherwise a really good book! Being half out of my mind with pain didn't stop me from liking the book, though. I really enjoyed how the world is set, the crime fighting system, and the character development. I do wish we'd gotten a bit more detail in the worldbuilding. There's details left a bit too ambiguous, and it took me a while to find out it's set in Australia and not an imaginary city or a generic location. I know some people gripe about exposition, but I like the details. They make the books more special.
This was a great read. Callen is a member of the Supernatural Investigation & Crime Bureau (SICB). While looking into something for a case, things become personal for him. His sister is found dead in a lab he learns they could be after his niece. Callen meets Liam while at the same lab. Liam is bitten and turned. Liam is the head of special task force. He could be the one to help Callen take these people down. What neither expected was to develop feelings for each other. Callen must battle his feelings for Liam while focusing on the case. Things are trickier than they first expected. Could someone from the agency be helping the bad guys? This was an interesting read. I liked that is was different than other shifter books I have read. I would love to read more about these characters and this agency. I will be keeping my eye out. Great job Becca.
Nice start to a series, the writing style is a bit stiff. Callen and Liam were pretty set from the beginning, the author tried to build tension between them getting together but it was rather bland. There was a lot of action and it was pretty fast paced
I enjoyed this book. The setup was different, the suspense kept things interesting and the relationship between the MCs was sweet.
The story arc moves well but I would have liked some more character development and back story, especially for Thatch. I kind of felt at times that I was missing something I was supposed to know, as if there was a previous book.
The ending was abrupt and I’d have liked a more detailed closure.
I love a good Urban Fantasy story. I also love it when a book shows life from a different perspective. Seymour is an author out of Queensland, Australia, and as you might expect, her tale is one hundred percent Australian. Instantly, all the characters had accents as they read to me from the pages of the book.
For me, as a Canadian, that's a different perspective, one I wasn't expecting and it was a pleasant surprise.
Callum was our lead character, a wolf shifter (not a werewolf, that's different), and professionally was a rule-breaking cop who stumbles upon a case that is already being investigated by the SICB (Supernatural Investigation & Crime Bureau). Quickly, Callum gets seconded over to the SICB where he takes on a lead position in the investigation of a criminal organization that is using the blood of shifters to create a potent elixir for Vampires.
Callum is gruff, likable, unpredictable, and definitely swoon-worthy. Through some twists and turns, the case ends up having ex-pack and family connections which certainly adds to the tension in the book.
Thatch is our romantic interest, Callum's boss at the SICB, and one tough-as-nails law enforcement officer.
I liked the story. There were a few things that didn't work for me, and I had to pull myself back into the story in order to get through it. I desperately wanted more world-building, background on the shifters (there were a handful of different species), how they came about, why they were different than werewolves. There are vampires in the mix too, and play central key figures, but we never really get a good handle on them...and at one point I thought perhaps maybe I had missed a previous book? As far as I can tell this is a stand-alone. For me, I need the magic and culture behind the creature. Some may not need this. So if that's not a prerequisite, you'll never notice.
I've seen some of the other reviews talk about how the romance in this story is insta-love, and I'd have to disagree - somewhat. In shifter lore, there are a lot of stories that revolve around the 'fated mate' trope. Wolves in the wild can form monogamous pairs, although pack alphas will be more promiscuous, and let's face it, evolution favors wild and rampant sex. That's how you ensure the continuation of the species, right? So, as much as Thatch and Callum are attracted to each other and become mates straight away, it fits in with the genre, and so I can't fault that.
The romance is steamy, although there isn't a lot of it - which is fine - it's not the main focus of the book.
The action is certainly well written, and Seymour has her skills well-honed here.
I had a bit of a tough time believing that a cop who has family ties to a case was still allowed to participate in the investigation of that case. Normally, the minute a case establishes close familial ties the affected law enforcement officer is removed in order to mitigate any bias. So again, if you can just go with the flow, and ignore that aspect, you'll be fine.
Overall, I enjoyed the book but was left wanting a little more in terms of the magic and urban fantasy background.
What I Think:So, I have this habit of forgetting the storylines of the tales I sign up to read and promote, which means by the time it’s their turn to be read, I get amazing surprises. This is a shifter tale. Nuff said. It also turned out to be interracial and even though I read recently that POC outside of Africa don’t like to be referred to with food terms, as an African and foodie, those are honorable descriptions (so forgive me).
Thatch is a tall, well-sculpted bar of good chocolate, you know, the dark, expensive type and just so capable and calm I want to put my life in his hands. Callen is blond, built, thick, and definitely has a size kink, no matter what he says later. They meet under such horrifying and painful circumstances that we are immediately able to see what they are made of – an inner strength that I hope to be able to find in myself if ever I should be in a situation where I need it. Callen is a prankster but not only did he give me a new favorite phrase as ‘son of a witch’ just became better than SOB, but going through chemo and new treatment for my RA made me drink up his humor thirstily, even as I chuckled and giggled because the attraction between them didn’t care what either of them thought growing like the strands of a web, knotting them ever tighter, and bringing with it a newfound family. But even that didn’t stop the heartache that grew as Callen and Thatch continue their investigation.
It’s so easy for humans to think they have the right to fight supposed monsters, yet we are and continue to be the most dangerous and monstrous creatures on Earth. Callen’s sister bequeathed him, someone to stand by him even though he doesn’t know how much he needs it. Thatch keeps him calm and together in a way than nothing else would have and when he receives his final message from his sister, the waterworks blurred my vision even as goosebumps broke all over my skin. Only love can give you what you need before you know it. I also usually don’t like tales with kids involved (entirely my own prejudice as I have never seen love continue once kids come into the mix) but this child was as necessary as breathing, completing this found family. But, Mme. Becca, you and I have a very, very serious problem that can only be solved by you. I think you know this problem and you deliberately did not hand the goods over but now it’s left a very disturbing blank spot in my mind that I need to fill. (In my best highwaywoman voice and a flash of a sabre) Do you intend to hand over the goods at any point?
Verdict? A walk through loss, change, pain, and rebirth lightened with laughter, love, and new bonds.
This was my first read by Seymour. As can sometimes happen when I start books from "new to me" authors it took me a while to find my groove. Once I got my rhythm I fell like Alice into a world of supernaturals who live and work side by side with mundanes. The story begins like the shot being fired at the start of a race, and the book proceeds like racers would take off and it doesn't slow down until the end of the story. A lot is going on in the story from drugs, espionage, trafficking, past child abuse/ trauma, experiments on weres, and tons more.
I always love reading a new author's take on supernatural lore, and Seymour's tale has to be one of my favorites so far. It was quite original and so off the beaten path, it was like stumbling on a secret road to an undiscovered treasure. I loved how she explained the way mundanes were turned and what happened when they were. The connection between them and the one who bit them. How things could go very wrong if all the elements weren't in sync. I took that as Mother Nature's way of saying "break this glass only in an emergency." Doing so otherwise would lead to catastrophe...BUT, people be crazy y'all, so of course, there are gonna be people trying to force nature. That's where the story begins.
If paranormal action adventure with a romantic subplot is your jam you are gonna love this story! It's got lots of heat, but the flames are just far enough out of reach to leave you panting for water.
It is also a standalone, but Seymour is one smart cookie because it plays out in such a way that it could be turned into the perfect series.
4.00 I-scent-you-stars🌟🌟🌟🌟
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Other Worlds Ink in exchange for an honest review.☔