Fresh Meat Paperback – February 4, 2013

OK, so these are not your Twilight wolves (thank God, but we can leave that for another discussion). They really aren't all that cuddly either (OK, all wolves are cute and cuddly but these ones probably bite a lot more than your average, everyday wolf), and they can be scary...very scary.This is an authorized prequel to Karenna Colcroft's "Real Werewolves Don't Eat Meat" series, and Jo Ramsey captures the spirit of Ms. Colcroft very well. The MC, Tobias is a very likeable, and suitably tormented 15-year old. All he longs to do is escape from his completely dysfunctional family. Be careful what you wish for...I love Ms. Ramsey's world building, and her twists on the shifter legends are rather unique. The dialogue is also excellent. If you're supposed to like the character, you do. And if you aren't...well you definitely don't. This book takes place in a coastal New Hampshire town, and as the author describes it, the ocean is almost a separate character unto itself.I am a very big were fanatic, and I loved this book. I am so happy that I realized that this was a prequel to a series, so that I was able to see how Tobias grows as a character. And trust me, you definitely want to read "Salad on the Side" so that you can see what happens with him.***There is a M/M rape scene in this book, and while it is fade-to-black, it can be a trigger. This is definitely a mature YA.

It about the 15 year old. I expected him to grow up as in time moves forward to him being holder. Well, it didn't and personally I care that the story continued with the pedophile still after the boy who kills him in the end. For me it was not a HEA. I read to escape not deal with such deep and disturbing issues. I know that's not how life works, but like I said I read to escape and this story tanked for me. DON"T WASTE YOUR MONEY

Jo Ramsey is a self-described fan of the work of Karenna Colcroft and obtained permission to write the backstory of one of the main characters of the Real Werewolves Don't Eat Meat series. In the first book of that series, Salad on the Side, Tobias at one point recalls the traumatic circumstances behind his being turned into a werewolf. This is that story expanded upon.Tobias is a teenager whose parents seem to fight a lot, his father is on his case excessively, and his little sisters require a great deal of his time. He and his friends like to hang out at the local beachside arcade, where one day Tobias notices a new young man. Tobias is struggling with the realization that he is gay and the new guy, Larry, is attractive and seems to be equally interested in Tobias. However, Larry is no teenager. He claims to be twenty-two years old but may be even older.As the story progresses, Tobias is blind to the fact that Larry is a creep who behaves in a predatory manner. Tobias' friends notice and try to warn him, to no effect. To tell you more would be to spoil the story, but suffice to say Ms Ramsey can write with heartbreaking intensity the effects of trauma on a teenager.In the midst of all of the story of Tobias' shock and suffering, there are aspects of the book that I very much enjoyed. It was great to be reintroduced to the members of the werewolf pack and some of their history from a different perspective. Ms Colcroft is a wonderful world builder and developer of characters and Ms Ramsey does not deviate from her established canon. I could not put the book down.The ending is a somewhat bittersweet HFN. If you have read or intend to read Ms Colcroft's series I can tell you that Tobias gets his HEA, but not in this story.Ms Ramsey's Fresh Meat is a beautifully set up prequel to the series. I highly recommend it to readers who love shifter stories, especially fans of the Real Werewolves Don't Eat Meat series. Keep in mind I read Ms Ramsey's prequel after I read Ms Colcroft's series, but it works as a stand-alone novel.I do have a caution for younger readers. While this story is considered a YA book because the MC is 15 years old, it does include elements that some young people may find disturbing. There is a rape scene that isn't graphically described but the after effects are vivid enough that this book is appropriate for more mature teenagers and young adults. Ms. Ramsey handled the plot involving a predatory shifter appropriately.

The story of fifteen year old Tobias James Rogan, eldest son. Stuck in a family that he'd rather not be in, what with a father who constantly nags and bickers, an autistic sister, a harried mother, and another sister who clings to him. His life changes when he meets Larry Denning, an older man who charms him, giving him his first kiss and will eventually irrevocably alter his life.Larry is a werewolf and in a violent attack against Tobias, he makes the younger man into a were, too.Taken in by Jed, the Alpha of the pack, Tobias must learn what it means to be a wolf. He will lose everything and everyone he knows as his life is no longer his own. He begins to find, though, that being a werewolf isn't all bad. We also get a peek into his destiny in the other books.My favorite character in the story is Harok. He's eighteen, but he really has his stuff together. It was great fun to read about him and his dealings with Tobias.As noted by Mrs. C. this is a great introduction to the "Real Werewolves Don't Eat Meat" story. It's listed as YA, but there is some implied violence and assaults. Parental guidance is strongly suggested.