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One Bit at a Time
Being thought of as a freak wasn’t something Raven cherished. Raven has been brought up as a shifter in the city, along with his siblings, hiding what he is from humans. His father became abusive as soon as Raven’s mother died, and after a traumatic childhood, plus being caught wearing his sister’s clothes, Raven knows it’s time to run away. He takes off in search of a wolf haven, knowing they’ll take him in but worrying over how his siblings will fare now he’s not there. He meets Boss, the owner of the compound, and realizes that not everyone shuns a cross-dresser. What follows is a new journey of discovery—not only can Raven wear what he wants, but he can be exactly who he is, too. The problem is, his past won’t let him go, and someone is on a mission to drag Raven back home to his father. And that someone doesn’t seem to want to take no for an answer…
65 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 21, 2015
2 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Sydney Presley
20 books13 followersSydney has always enjoyed writing. “There’s something about losing yourself in another world, where the real one ceases to exist and all your dreams and wishes can be placed on the page—dreams for a better planet where love isn’t questioned but accepted by all.”
When Sydney isn’t writing, there’s plenty of reading to be done. “I can’t imagine not reading every day. It would be weird not to have a book to hand because I’ve always had one nearby. Life without reading isn’t something I’d like to contemplate. The thought brings me out in hives.”
Sydney lives in a peaceful area where the hustle and bustle of the city doesn’t figure. “I left city life years ago. Too stressful for me. I prefer listening to the swish of leaves on the trees instead of tyres on tarmac. The twittering of birds instead of the chatter of people. Alone time to reflect and ponder is a must. A small portion of every day spent by myself is vital to my sanity and soul.”
When Sydney isn’t writing, there’s plenty of reading to be done. “I can’t imagine not reading every day. It would be weird not to have a book to hand because I’ve always had one nearby. Life without reading isn’t something I’d like to contemplate. The thought brings me out in hives.”
Sydney lives in a peaceful area where the hustle and bustle of the city doesn’t figure. “I left city life years ago. Too stressful for me. I prefer listening to the swish of leaves on the trees instead of tyres on tarmac. The twittering of birds instead of the chatter of people. Alone time to reflect and ponder is a must. A small portion of every day spent by myself is vital to my sanity and soul.”
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 22, 2015
As with most of my 2-statr ratings, this wasn't bad, it just wasn't good. The premise works, but the insta-love was soooo rushed. The book is almost entirely Raven's inner monologue with a few lines from Boss thrown in. I just wasn't feeling it.
February 12, 2016
With all the PNRs and M/M romances I read, One Bit at a Time is offering me a first for me. A gay (not new), shifter (also not new) who likes to wear women's clothing. Hello, now that's new to me. It certainly gave a interesting twist to the story. So let's break this down.
Raven as I said before is gay, cross-dresses and is a shifter. Life has not been kind to him. To be exact, it's his father (Human) who isn't kind. After the death of his mom (Shifter) is when things got bad for Raven and his siblings. After his dad catches Raven wearing his sister's clothes, the violence escalates. Beaten down but determine, he waits until his siblings are old enough to escape and live the life he wants. His brother has heard of a safe place, a wolf haven, where Raven takes off in search of hoping for a better life.
For such a short story, One Bit at a Time packs quite a punch. The story switches back and forth from 3rd to first person so you get to experience a very emotional story told from Raven. All his fears for his family, his journey, and his self doubts are all laid out for the reader to experience. There's quite a bit of homophobic slang spewed from haters and I can how this may shock and offend some readers. Turns out, it's a very necessary evil so you can see what Raven has to endure.
I'm not going into much more detail than that because this is definitely a book that needs to be experienced first hand by the reader. I will however, say this did I enjoy the happy ending. Sydney Presley is done a very good job with this book and I look forward to reading more from this author.
I received this book from the JeepDiva for the express purposes of an honest review. The opinions and rating of this review are solely mine and in no way was I compensated.
Stars - 3.5
Raven as I said before is gay, cross-dresses and is a shifter. Life has not been kind to him. To be exact, it's his father (Human) who isn't kind. After the death of his mom (Shifter) is when things got bad for Raven and his siblings. After his dad catches Raven wearing his sister's clothes, the violence escalates. Beaten down but determine, he waits until his siblings are old enough to escape and live the life he wants. His brother has heard of a safe place, a wolf haven, where Raven takes off in search of hoping for a better life.
For such a short story, One Bit at a Time packs quite a punch. The story switches back and forth from 3rd to first person so you get to experience a very emotional story told from Raven. All his fears for his family, his journey, and his self doubts are all laid out for the reader to experience. There's quite a bit of homophobic slang spewed from haters and I can how this may shock and offend some readers. Turns out, it's a very necessary evil so you can see what Raven has to endure.
I'm not going into much more detail than that because this is definitely a book that needs to be experienced first hand by the reader. I will however, say this did I enjoy the happy ending. Sydney Presley is done a very good job with this book and I look forward to reading more from this author.
I received this book from the JeepDiva for the express purposes of an honest review. The opinions and rating of this review are solely mine and in no way was I compensated.
Stars - 3.5
August 24, 2015
Raven is a shifter who happens to be gay and likes cross-dressing. His life was okay while his mother was alive but since her death his father has made life miserable because he himself can’t stand being alive while his mate is not. He blames Raven for his mother’s death, though it was an accident and Raven was just a cub, and this makes it worse.
Raven was caught wearing his sister’s clothes and that’s just the end for his father so Raven is on the run, searching for that mythical sounding mansion his brother told him about, where all shifters are accepted and given haven. Unbelievably, he finds it and this is where he meets Boss, the owner and all around awesome man. Boss is understanding and a good person and he’s also going to teach Raven how to accept himself just as he is, “one bit at a time”.
The story is a novella, 116 pages on my iPad, and for the length I found it enjoyable and a bit unique. I wish there had been less inner dialogue by Raven and more social interactions within the mansion. There’s definitely some homophobic language going on and Father Dearest actually hires someone to find Raven and return him home. It was at this moment that Boss endeared himself completely to me. He defends not only his home but those in it.
And the place? That sounds like the greatest place to be if you want to be yourself and be accepted.
Raven was caught wearing his sister’s clothes and that’s just the end for his father so Raven is on the run, searching for that mythical sounding mansion his brother told him about, where all shifters are accepted and given haven. Unbelievably, he finds it and this is where he meets Boss, the owner and all around awesome man. Boss is understanding and a good person and he’s also going to teach Raven how to accept himself just as he is, “one bit at a time”.
The story is a novella, 116 pages on my iPad, and for the length I found it enjoyable and a bit unique. I wish there had been less inner dialogue by Raven and more social interactions within the mansion. There’s definitely some homophobic language going on and Father Dearest actually hires someone to find Raven and return him home. It was at this moment that Boss endeared himself completely to me. He defends not only his home but those in it.
And the place? That sounds like the greatest place to be if you want to be yourself and be accepted.
July 27, 2015
2.5 stars
June 11, 2017
This has to be my favourite book by this author.
September 12, 2015
The story begins with Raven’s flight from his home. The fact that he is a shifter, gay, and loves wearing women’s clothing are all more reasons for his father to hate him. Raven’s father blamed him for the death of his mother and had taken it out on him as well as his other siblings ever since she passed. Raven runs in his wolf form until he reaches a sanctuary for shifters. Never had he imagined such a sanctuary existed just like he had doubted the existence of true mates. However, once at the sanctuary he is greeted with open arms from people that accept every different thing about him. Even the danger lurking around the corner is not enough to darken his new-found existence.
Although this book is just a glimpse into Raven’s life, I felt like I’d known him all along. All the things he suffered at his father’s hands along with the psychological abuse were extremely heartbreaking. I was so happy to see Raven find people that accepted him as well as a bond with another that he never knew he could have. Although I was not entirely convinced about the danger toward the end, this did not diminish my enjoyment of the book in any way. The ending was very emotional and perfect. I recommend this book to anyone who likes M/M shifter fantasy.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
Although this book is just a glimpse into Raven’s life, I felt like I’d known him all along. All the things he suffered at his father’s hands along with the psychological abuse were extremely heartbreaking. I was so happy to see Raven find people that accepted him as well as a bond with another that he never knew he could have. Although I was not entirely convinced about the danger toward the end, this did not diminish my enjoyment of the book in any way. The ending was very emotional and perfect. I recommend this book to anyone who likes M/M shifter fantasy.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
July 30, 2015
This quick seventy page novella is a sweet tale about a shifter adult who’s given up most of his life, who he is and what he wants because of his siblings. Now left with no choice he leaves everything he knows in search of a haven.
This story had such potential and I’ve really enjoyed all the other books I’ve read by Sydney Presley before but in my opinion this one fell short of what it could have been. For one I couldn’t get a feel on where they were, America, England? And other thing that really bothered me was all the inner dialog. I’m not a fan to began with, but understand sometimes we need a little. But pages worth, is too much for me. Those being said, I liked very much Raven as a character, the fact that he stuck around for so long being abused to protect his siblings. I’ll always been a sucker for the ‘woe is me’ one’s and he plays very well. And Boss, is the perfect Alpha mate to complement Raven’s side he’s been hiding for so long. And even though we only got a glimpse of the siblings at the end I found them likable enough.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review by Crystals Many reviews
This story had such potential and I’ve really enjoyed all the other books I’ve read by Sydney Presley before but in my opinion this one fell short of what it could have been. For one I couldn’t get a feel on where they were, America, England? And other thing that really bothered me was all the inner dialog. I’m not a fan to began with, but understand sometimes we need a little. But pages worth, is too much for me. Those being said, I liked very much Raven as a character, the fact that he stuck around for so long being abused to protect his siblings. I’ll always been a sucker for the ‘woe is me’ one’s and he plays very well. And Boss, is the perfect Alpha mate to complement Raven’s side he’s been hiding for so long. And even though we only got a glimpse of the siblings at the end I found them likable enough.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review by Crystals Many reviews
July 24, 2015
Raven is on the run from his father. His father has never treated his children well since the death of their mother. When he discovers Raven dressed in a dress he beats him. That was last straw for Raven and his heads to the only place he has a chance to be free and be himself.
This was really a sweet little story. There was no sex or anything like that. But it was about Raven finding acceptance and finding even more. He is gay, that is fine. He likes to wear women’s clothing that is fine too. There is nothing wrong with Raven and he comes to learn that.
One of the best lines in the book is when the leader of the wolf heaven says to Raven when he is overwhelmed, “Deal with a couple of things. Shit, the rest can wait. You need to fix yourself one bit at a time.”. I think just think that sums up the theme of the book perfectly.
This was a good enjoyable read with a great message.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
This was really a sweet little story. There was no sex or anything like that. But it was about Raven finding acceptance and finding even more. He is gay, that is fine. He likes to wear women’s clothing that is fine too. There is nothing wrong with Raven and he comes to learn that.
One of the best lines in the book is when the leader of the wolf heaven says to Raven when he is overwhelmed, “Deal with a couple of things. Shit, the rest can wait. You need to fix yourself one bit at a time.”. I think just think that sums up the theme of the book perfectly.
This was a good enjoyable read with a great message.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
September 1, 2015
FiveStars
This was an interesting short little story about a man who has an abusive father that is only further incensed by the fact that his son is a cross dressing gay man.
Through out the story it is to become comfortable with yourself all you have to do is take it one bit at a time.
There is also the aspect of shifting that plays a bit into it as we find our hero's true mate who will love him for the way he is no matter what.
A great book about loving who you are.
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Inked Rainbow Reads.
Renee
This was an interesting short little story about a man who has an abusive father that is only further incensed by the fact that his son is a cross dressing gay man.
Through out the story it is to become comfortable with yourself all you have to do is take it one bit at a time.
There is also the aspect of shifting that plays a bit into it as we find our hero's true mate who will love him for the way he is no matter what.
A great book about loving who you are.
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Inked Rainbow Reads.
Renee
September 1, 2015
FiveStars
This was an interesting short little story about a man who has an abusive father that is only further incensed by the fact that his son is a cross dressing gay man.
Through out the story it is to become comfortable with yourself all you have to do is take it one bit at a time.
There is also the aspect of shifting that plays a bit into it as we find our hero's true mate who will love him for the way he is no matter what.
A great book about loving who you are.
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Inked Rainbow Reads.
Renee
This was an interesting short little story about a man who has an abusive father that is only further incensed by the fact that his son is a cross dressing gay man.
Through out the story it is to become comfortable with yourself all you have to do is take it one bit at a time.
There is also the aspect of shifting that plays a bit into it as we find our hero's true mate who will love him for the way he is no matter what.
A great book about loving who you are.
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Inked Rainbow Reads.
Renee
January 8, 2016
This is not your typical shifter story. Raven is a different type of shifter. After being abused a persecuted by his non shifter father he seeks the haven. Fate has decided that Boss his fated mate is waiting for him. Bad guy makes play for good guy mate saves the day. The end was sweet I want a follow up! Cute read that show that sometimes the main character does not mythically become "fixed".
August 21, 2015
Raven runs away from his abusive father in a search for Wolf Haven where he meets Boss and begins a journey of self-discovery only the past doesn’t want to let him go in this captivating m/m paranormal romance. I was completely caught up in this quick romance and while this story tugs at the heart with feeling of sadness, it also cheers the heart with triumph and a delightful happily ever after.
See my full review at:
http://glbt.theromancereviews.com/vie...
See my full review at:
http://glbt.theromancereviews.com/vie...
July 23, 2015
Very sweet book. I hope to read more about this interesting pack/place. ..
February 21, 2016
1.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews