Sanctuary

A Tale from the Mercy Hills Universe

By: Ann-Katrin Byrde

Narrated by: Nick J. Russo

Length: 8 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

Omegas for alphas, and betas for betas...

Ori and Patton have been best friends since they were pups. But growing up changes everything - Ori must settle on an alpha to mate, while Patton takes on the beta's work of maintaining the walled enclave their pack lives within.

They try to make the best of it, until a wealthy suitor comes calling for Ori, and they realize neither of them can face a future without the other. And on a moonless night, Ori and Patton escape over the enclave walls, breaking both shifter and human law in their determination to reach the sanctuary of Mercy Hills.

Hunted by their own people and forced into a dangerous masquerade among the humans, their original plan - so simple and direct - turns into a twisted path toward a promise of freedom that might not even exist. Because, Mercy Hills doesn't know they're coming, and the trouble they're bringing to the enclave's doorstep may be more than those already beset shifters are willing to bear.

Finding out Ori is pregnant makes their mission that much more urgent. Omegas never mate with betas, let alone have pups with them. If their pack finds the two lovers, they'll be separated forever. But the pack never reckoned with the determination of a beta in love or the stubbornness of an omega determined to keep his mate and his baby.

Please note: This is a side story in the Mercy Hills Universe that takes place in the space between Legally Mated and Omega's Flight. It it not necessary to listen to this book to enjoy the main series.

©2017 Ann-Katrin Byrde (P)2020 Ann-Katrin Byrde

Heart Warming Quest for Freedom

Story
A delightful read. Starts sweet, sharp, salty, and bitter (in a good way), deliciously spicy at times, ends with a wonderful mix of flavors at the end. Overall, simply a feast for the heart.

Characters
Ori is a joy. Feisty, sharp, and smart. Patton is sweet, dependable, tenacious, and intelligent — a perfect foil for Ori. We meet Holland (while he was mated to Hunter at Perseguire) and later Raleigh, Bax, Cale, et. al.

Narration
Nick J. Russo’s performance is always a joy. I love how he voiced different characters. He’s done a great job yet again. The story comes alive and his wonderful voices will just pull you in.

Summary
This is a Mercy Hills side story. It’s better if you’ve read the main stories. But it’s still a good read if you haven’t. For myself, as soon as I finished listening to this, I went to read more about Ori and Pat in the Mercy Hills book bundle 2, read Book 6 and 7 (Omega’s Flight and Omega’s Heart) and still felt bereft that there are not more stories YET. And I just started a re-listen from Book 1 (Mating the Omega) AGAIN! What can I say, I love this series and these stories. They are heart warming and perfect. Simply highly recommended.

A powerful story of love

I loved listening to the journey Ori and Patton embarked on just to be together. This story was beautiful. The innocence and love the two had was so genuine it touched my heart. During the few struggles that could have ruined it all, I found myself praying the two would make it. I was completely riveted by the world building and characters.

Nick J Russo did a wonderful job. I could feel the emotions coming from the characters and loved it.

A Wonderful Addition to the Mercy Hills Universe

This story is told from the perspective of a young shifter protecting his best friend ftom a mating he does not want.

Feeling forced to escape from their childhood enclave, these brave and foolhardy boys begin their treck across country to the hopeful sanctuary of Mercy Hills.

Not all heroes wear capes. Bravery comes in various forms, especially when in love.

Nick J Russo tells the tale with all the passion of terrified teenagers.

Sanctuary

Nick J Russo is a genius when it comes to voices. He kept my attention the entire story. I fell in love with the characters from the beginning. I felt like I was there with the characters on their journey from home to Mercy Hills. Ori is a great Omega and Patton might as well be an Alpha not just a Beta. Their friendship is the most important thing in their lives and of course their eventual love is only natural.

Loved it!

I loved this book in e-book form and the reading is great and relaxing. I recommend this whole series in any form!

love it

very enjoyable can't wait for the rest of them. hopefully soon.. and hopefully you will find time to make more..lol

love it.

loved the narrative, I read this one when it first came out, and of course loved it. being able to listen to it also was awesome, I will be getting more .

Absolutely Terrific!!

Sanctuary is part of the Mercy Hills series by Ann-Katrin Byrde, and is definitely one of the favourites of mine in the series.

This is the first book in the series where the plotline doesn’t play out anywhere near the Mercy Hills onclave until the very end of the book, and we obtain a wider view of the shifter world and the human world of the universe AKB created.

This is a sweet love story filled with adventure and is very different from all the Mercy Hills books until now.

The story follows Ori and Patton, childhood friends to lovers, who work together to overcome everything that comes between them, finally finding no other choice but to escape their birth onclave and then face the challenge of surviving as renegades, posing to be humans, in a world that is hostile towards shifters but is also very similar to our own world.

This story gives us a better idea of the way Omegas are raised in other packs, and the very narrow world-view of what is an appropriate life for an Omega.

Ori, the omega in this story, has a very adventurous spirit and despite trying his best to conform to the norms that are to be expected of him, he never gives up on and cherishes the friendship and secret love he harbours for his childhood friend Patton.

Patton, on his end, is heartbroken to find out he would never be allowed to mate Ori because he is a Beta and not an Alpha.
But on the day when Ori comes to him in desperate need to escape an arranged mating that was completely different from what he expected, Patton devices a plan for the two of them to escape.

The two go on an adventure that puts all their skills and ability to work together test - Patton’s way of macgyvering solutions, and Ori’s tale-spinning ability to make up stories to cover their identities, and find practical solutions that allow them to survive.

The duo are a unique and sweet pair, and I found myself rooting for them and holding my breath whenever danger struck again and again.
Between the moments where I feared for the dear two boys, were sweet, heartwarming moments of love, devotion and mutual admiration of each other between the young couple.

Nick’s narration as in all the Mercy Hills books is absolutely spectacular, as he captures each of the characters and give them each a unique voice.
Best of all - he even sings towards the end of the book!

In this book there are also a peak at a young Holland mated to the Alpha who eventually repudiates him, and a brief, yet heartfelt encounter with an omega called Felix, who has a book of his own later in the series and which I can’t wait to listen to in the future.

This is definitely one of the Mercy Hills books I will revisit again in the future.

One of my Faves

As a fan of the Mercy Hills Universe, this is one of my favorites. I love the fact that the two MCs grew up together and let no one get in the way of their friendship. They were more than willing to face the unknown to save one another. Having read the book, it was simply amazing to listen to Nick J Russo bring the characters to life. Many times when listening to audible books alone, I find it hard to keep from getting distracted. I didn't have that problem with this narration. Nick did an excellent job with the voices. If you are a Mercy Hills fan, this is a must-listen.

If you are not, what are you waiting for?

Great spinoff story

I loved this look into a different enclave. It was great to see a relationship between an omega and a beta for once too. The development of the relationship from childhood best friends into mates was sweet. The adventure portion was exciting. And it was fun to see these boys joining the usual cast of characters. Loved it.