Rating: 3 stars
Buy Link: Amazon | All Romance | Amazon UK
Length: Novel
Artist Rohn Sheldon lost his boyfriend and his right arm in a car crash two years ago. He fell into the bottle to try to cope and when he emerged, Rohnâs father had given him a chance to replace his art career with one in business. Stifled by the monkey-suit job and loosing his art, Rohn escapes to the familyâs vacation home deep in the heart of Alaska.
As Rohn walks the pristine grounds, he sees an eagle soar overhead and follows it to the edge of a river. Near the edge of the surrounding wood, Rohn catches a glimpse of a mythical creature. Startled by the sight, Rohn slips and falls, crashing through the crust of ice and into the river. Water logged and going numb from cold, Rohn knows heâs in no condition to save himselfâeven if heâd had both his arms. Just before he succumbs to the inevitable, a sharp tug wrenches him around the middle.
Jrake, in yeti form, manages to save Rohn from the freezing watersâagainst his better judgment. If nothing else, Jrake knows that humans are dangerous trouble. Yet Jrake saved the weak, misshapen human. There was something powerful and compelling about the human, something that set it apart from other humans. Jrake is determined to see this human survive.
Upon waking, Rohn and Jrake quickly overcome their initial wariness to form a fiery bond that defies all logic, even as it consumes them. But how can a man and a yeti fall in love? Would Rohn have to give up the human world full of its gadgets of convenience and selfish way of life? Would Jrake ever consider leaving the free wilds of untamed Alaska? Is a mere man, is a mere yeti, strong enough to give the heart what it wants?
Alright, I picked up this story because I thought it might do good job of fitting the bill for the Genre Challenge for Reading Challenge Month as I wanted a story that featured a character with a physical disability or deformity. In that regard, this book nominally fits the bill. Rohn has lost a limb and itâs his dominant arm at that. However, what I was looking to get out of this challenge was an exploration into the emotions and catharsis of a man coming to terms with how his love life can/will/does coincide with whatever physical limitation heâs got. Or, to flip that around, to have the other partner prove whatever disability/disfigurement his lover has, it in no way means he is not worthy/capable of having exactly the kind of love life and happy life in general (hopefully with a deep emotional connection and steamy sex) that he deserves. Unfortunately, I didnât think The Last Yeti really explored this specific aspect of relationship building.
On the plus side, it does a respectable job trying to portray Rohn as still-adjusting to his post-accident life. On page, we see him struggling with a phobia heâs developed over being touched. That is, physical touch, even in the form of a helping hand getting him out of a cramped airplane seat or if heâs tripped sends him into a panic attack. Vincent also shows how unacclimated Rohn is to his ânewâ body in that Rohn hasnât yet learned how to automatically accommodate for various situations. As an example of what Iâm talking about, there is a scene where Rohnâs laden with luggage and trying to operate a key card at a hotel room, but he hasnât figured out how to juggle the luggage and get the door opened before the auto lock re-locks the door (the door lock obviously having been programmed for someone to use one hand to hold the key card and their other arm to operate the door knob/push open the door).
I also enjoyed reading about a non-traditional shifterâyeti. Vincent clearly plotted out the reality that faces yeti shifters and how their nature means they are, essentially, an endangers species. They are, by nature, solitary beings. Humans and human trappings like technology and industry disagree strongly with a yetiâs deep appreciation of the natural world. Jrake is definitely biased against humans thanks to events in his past and, until the events in this story unfold, does his utmost to keep himself separated from human life. There was potential here to have an enemies to lovers thread, but Vincent didnât exploit this idea.
So, although I got a clear impression that Vincent really enjoys these main characters and tried to give them robust backgrounds, I thought it was a bit of a stretch bringing these two together romantically. Sparks fly, panties drop, sex is had. Sadly, Vincent doesnât really explore the theme I was hoping for (the how-am-I-ever-going-to-be-loved-sporting-this-disability/disfigurement). That said, the author does splash some attention on what I might classify as PTSD issues: the fact that Rohn still sees the ruined face of his dead lover every time he gets intimate (even if only with his own hand). Even though it felt pretty formulaic, I appreciated that the author at least tries to address this point in that Jrake helps focus Rohnâs attention so Rohn can sever that mental image of his dead lover from his sex life. I wish the same courtesy had been paid to Rohnâs near-crippling fear of being touched, but alas, Rohnâs aversion to physical touch gets totally white-washed. He goes from staring daggers at a flight attendant who dared to offer to help him get out of a cramped airline seat and having a near panic attack when passersby tried to help him get to his feet after he face-planted by a baggage claim, to being totally chill with having full-blow sexual encounters with a near perfect strangerâŠand the only mention of his aversion to touch happens after said sexual encounters and sounds about like this: Golly, gee! I had a night of wild passion with this yeti shifter man and not once did I even come close to anything resembling a panic attack!
The biggest let down for me is how weak the premise for the love story is. Itâs not exactly instal-love, but these two characters go from wary-as-hell of one another to declarations-of-love (either mentally or with The Look) in the span of about 24 hours. I didnât feel there was nearly enough time to develop any meaningful connection between the two in that timeâŠespecially considering how, if this werenât a romance, these two characters are coming from places that would never have them breathing the same airspace, let alone developing any sort of relationship. To reiterate, Rohn is still struggling to figure out life after losing an arm and getting back on his emotional feet after losing his lover and Jrake hates humans because theyâre dirty, noisy, and committed an egregious act against his kind in his past.
If youâre looking for a mindless romp featuring a shifter and a injured human, then youâll probably enjoy this story. You might even be satisfied with the set up of our tragic main characters and their myriad of issues. I, however, definitely felt the main story about these two people falling in love does not stand up to scrutiny, nor does it explore a deeper reasoning behind how/why they find a connection other than the author wanted them to.
**Note: This story was published by the MM Romance Group on Goodreads. If you are interested in reading this story, here is a link to the group and the story page (http://www.mmromancegroup.com/the-last-yeti-by-tully-vincent/). Yes, you have to become a member of the Goodreads group to get to the story. Also note: the story is posted over the comments.
This review is part of our September Reading Challenge Month for Genre Week! Leave a relevant comment below and you will be entered to win a fabulous prize from Less Than Three Press. Three lucky winners will each receive a selection of print books. Commenters will also be entered to win our amazing grand prize sponsored by Dreamspinner Press (a loaded Kindle fire filled with DSP books!). You can get more information on our Challenge Month here, and more details on Genre Week here. And be sure to check out our prize post for more about the awesome prizes!
It seems as if opportunities were missed with this story – I’m not sure this one is going to be for me (I also haven’t quite processed the whol “yeti-shifter” thing yet). Thanks for the review!
I keep an eye out for shifter stuff (for a shifter-specific kink I guess I have…but sadly still unfulfilled). Yeti was definitely interesting-sounding, and the cover art! (yeah, that tried-and-true indicator of a book’s goodness). But the overall execution felt rather lacking to me.
So, I assume that’s Jrake on the cover? The book sounds interesting in the abstract, but I don’t think it’s calling my name. Thanks for the review, Camille.
Gut reaction says YUS! That’s Jrake on the cover! But after reading the story, you’d figure Jrake has no need for a winter coat…as he is yeti. The abstract sounded so darn promising, it was a big let-down for me how ham-handedly everything was handled.
Too bad that it didn’t explore too deep about the emotion, since I’m usually one who puts that on priority. Thanks for the review…
Yeah…it gets into some stuff, but nearly the depth or focus I would have preferred–namely, seeing the characters connect (I get that a lot of shifter fic DOES have the whole “mate” aspect and it’s just like, wham-o bam-o, The One…but when half the couple ISN’T a shifter, there’s potential to explore both sides of that expectation). The unrepentant instalove was also something of a turn off, but at least they’re clearly “meant to be,” which isn’t always a bad thing.
Thank you for the review! Â I think the set-up sounds interesting, but I generally look for character growth and relationship building in stories.
Yeah, I was expecting a bit more than I got, too. The character growth is definitely limited to instalove-centric changes and when you think about how the whole relationship is basically built in a single day…it left me unsatisfied.
Very interesting review. I think I’ll take your word for it and give this one a pass, even though it’s a free read. Although… it gives me a possible idea about choosing a genre for this week. ð
Yeah, I can’t think of any shifter pics I’ve gone gaga for, but there’s just some *appeal* to the idea. I guess i’m still searching for that One Fic that will scratch all my literary itches PLUS have a thick pelt (or hide or whatever). If I wasn’t reviewing it, I would probably have finished reading it just so I could properly gauge my annoyance at how unimaginative it all was.
Sounds like an odd combination of the tragic and the wacky…sad, since it could have potential with the right execution.
It doesn’t necessarily read that wacky, but when you start thinking about it…a shifter overcomes all his (severe) reservations about humans and a recently disabled man overcomes all his (severe) anguish over the accident that caused the disability in 24 hours…it feels like the ideas were underserved.
That said, if the set up sounds at all enticing, it is a free read so if shifters/physical disabilities/instalove/overcoming adversity at the drop of a hat are your thang, it might be worth the time.
Thank you for the review. The book sounds interesting but the lack of emotional pull is a bit off putting.
There *is* a lot of emotion, it’s just hyper-to-the-point-of-laughably-inconceivably condensed. The narrative sets up an intriguing situation, but for whatever reason, the reader is carted right through what I would consider the meat and potatoes of these characters overcoming their individual, er, “hangups” to focus on plot stuff. *sigh* But it is a free read, so maybe something for a lazy day when nothing else is handy?
Thanks for sharing your very thorough review. The premise of this did sound intriguing as did the idea of a yeti shifter.
Well, if you like shifter stories and a plot that drives the two MCs together regardless of whatever personal baggage they may have, you might still enjoy this. I just found the zero-to-soulmate timing hard to swallow (but not ignored wholesale).
So bad it did not satisfy you, Camille! I must recognise this one had me intrigued… I love shifter stories, and I have not read any involving a yeti. Besides, the main character disability was a plus for making it interesting… I may give it a go, though. I still want to read about a Yeti shifter…
Thank you for the review!
I thought this had all the “right” elements, too! I read the description and thought “THIS! This is the book!” There is so much to *angst* over, which was great. I just wasn’t satisfied that all of that completely melts away after 24 hours of being “together” (and that’s going from complete strangers to soul mates). Still, it’s a freebie read and it’s hawt, so there’s still plenty to enjoy.
For me this one would be suitable for the reading-challenge because it is a shifter book. I’m not a big fan of shifters although I have read some very good ones in this genre. But if it’s from an author i don’t know I’m always a bit reluctant so I’m not sure about this book… anyway, thanks for your insightful review!
It sounds like we’ve had opposite shifter reading experiences! I love the idea, but haven’t found any that i’ve read to be *amazeballs* While I think this book really missed capitalizing on the rich *set-up* the individual MCs get by limiting their actual get-together to about 24 hours, it’s free, it’s got hot scenes and a big ole HEA type ending. If anything in the blurb or review sounds like it strikes your fancy, it might be worth the read time.
The last one I read was the Thirds Series by Charlie Cochet and it is really great ð
So what strikes your fancy about the Thirds series? Based off fuzzy memories of at least the first two and a half books, I am tempted to say the MCs relationship felt kind of forced (but it’s been a while…I just automatically skip this series whenever it pops up because I got turned off on it back when I was trying to still convince myself to read it)
Thanks for a good review. I like gay shifter tales, and this one intrigues me with its yeti, setting and issues that are being dealt with.Â
The set-up for this book is very enticing! I know I was hot and bothered to read it! The execution left me a bit cold, but…it does offer an off-beat shifter and a counterpart who can hold his own in terms of being (for lack of a better term) unique.
I quite liked this one, I read as part of the Goodreads group event when it was published.
I hadn’t thought of the character development side.
The desolotion of each character drew me in, and I thought the writing style was good.
It is only short, and for me, not massively shiftery (if that can be a word!)
LOL, yes, we will accept “shiftery” as a word!
Ugh, I just wrote a detailed comment and my browser went down. Good for you probably that you don’t have to read it! I’ll be shorter now. I like what aspects you went into, Camille, but I totally understand this being somewhat of a letdown based on expectations and desires. I try not to do that, other than expecting a great read, but I don’t always succeed. Because I was intrigued by some of this, and it’s free, I think I’ll give it a go so I can try out Vincent’s writing.
I’m sorry your big comment got erased! That feeling when you know you have to start over…that’s the insidious feeling Sisyphus has to put up with…maybe even more torturous than the rock.
I did have rather particular expectations…apparently rather unpopular ones? That said, there is an art to melding two such individualistic characters together in a way that works. The situation was a bit contrived with the rich father, but the two MCs themselves had so much potential and I thought they got short changed by compressing all their swoon-worthy connecting scenes into one 24 hour chunk of time (albeit loving described). There just didn’t seem to be quite enough substance for me to get into what Vincent obviously wants us to believe is a desperate love affair.
That said, it’s a free read and it’s got some hot scenes and nontraditional elements abound (along with some trite ones like the aforementioned rich parent) but if you’ve got the time and are at all interested, it might be worth it.
Insta love can be a bit… much. I also would have wanted more of the PDSD carryover – and not all melted away by being laid. But Yeti shifter is a pretty big lure for attempting different – so this is a maybe.
That is exactly what I took too many words to say, Rohn’s PTSD being melted away by sex. Mostly because the painstaking set-up showing how deeply Rohn is affected and one night with a hot schlong and *poof* insta-cure. That said, the book is free and it’s not without merits beyond the bedsheets. If you like an angst filled romp with an HEA type ending, it wouldn’t go a miss.
I’m sorry it didn’t work out the way you wanted. To be fair to the author, this was written in a very short time frame & that may have impacted some of the issues you’ve brought up. Thanks for your review.
I liked that it ends on a happy note, even though it pretty much defies all logic that these particular two characters would fall in love in such a minuscule time frame. Working against a tight deadline is understandable. In my own writing (and even professional) experience, there’s definitely a huge potential for an author to get so familiar with their piece, they just assume it says what they mean it to say exactly as they meant to say it…only for someone who’s never picked up that book (or translation) before and just scratch their head. Maybe I’m just picking up on something that was too “close” for the author to see before publishing.
Thanks for the review and your thoughts. I didn’t read this one but i have read Drawing Love by this author and i found that one a sweet cute read.
I was trying to find The Last Yeti on Amazon, but only saw Drawing Love. The two works are of substantially different lengths, maybe that is a factor in the issues I picked up on? Either way, I wouldn’t automatically turn down another read by this author.
I know this is a free read, so it’ll hang out on my TBR for awhile, but I’m not sure how quickly I’ll get to it. Thanks for your honesty!
It is free. The latest info online when I was trying to get a copy is that it’s being reworked/done up for a sequel, but if you had a goodreads account, you could still get access to it. As much as I bemoaned the unlikelihood of these particular characters falling hopelessly in love with each other after one night of sex, there is some merit to the book, too. If you do pick it up, let me know how you like it!
Aww it’s too bad it didn’t deliver. The premise sounded like fun.
Thanks for your review!
It was a fun premise! Vincent created some interesting characters, it was just disappointing that all that rich backstory gets left by the wayside as soon as they have sex. If you like shifters and people overcoming adversity (even if at the drop of a pant), you might enjoy this.