Tag Archives: shifters

edge of the woods

Book Review: Edge of the Woods, by Jules Kelley

I received a copy of Jules Kelley‘s Edge of the Woods through Netgalley.

edge of the woods jules kelley

There’s something wrong in Pine Grove, Montana, and its bite is vicious.

Haley Fern has been the alpha of her local werewolf pack for less than a year when their law enforcement liaison retires, and Leland Sommers, a man who knows nothing about werewolves or their world, is hired in his place. What could be an awkward situation turns complicated when the man shows up his first day on the job with an injured teenage boy he found on the road–a boy Haley knows has just been bitten.

But discovering who bit the kid isn’t as easy as it seems, especially with Leland asking questions and looking at Haley the way he does.

Can the alpha figure out who is attacking innocent people on her wildlife preserve and protect her pack? Or will the new sheriff and her growing attraction to him put her entire world in danger?

my review

This was a squishy, feel good read. It’s chocked full of diversity, has two sweet cinnamon bun leads, and a mild background mystery. But it’s the fact that the mystery is in the background that leads me to have not loved it more than I did. (I liked it plenty though.) Haley and the deputy are both lovely and they are genuinely careful with each-other in a really heart-warming way. There is no toxicity here. But I’m afraid that’s just not enough to carry a werewolf novel on it’s own. I needed a little more action, a little more bite, so to speak. I do look forward to seeing where the series goes and would be more than happy to read book two

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Other Reviews:

Caitlyn Lynch Reviews

Edge of the Woods – Jules Kelley

tiger claimed banner

Book Review: Tiger Claimed, by Harper A. Brooks

I received a copy of Harper A. BrooksTiger Claimed for review from Lady Amber’s Reviews & PR. It was promoed on Sadie’s Spotlight. But more importantly, it is kind of part of my Wolf Marked Reading Challenge (where I’m reading three books titled Wolf Marked); in the sense that my third, and last, Wolf Marked book is second in the Shifters Unleased series, with Tiger Claimed being book one. I was told the books stand alone and, in theory, that means I didn’t need to read Tiger Claimed before diving into Wolf Marked. But I don’t always trust that to be true. So, I went head and read Tiger Claimed before my final Wolf Marked. And while I would normally review them together, I’m posting reviews separately since I don’t actually have a copy of Brooks’ Wolf Marked in hand yet (though I expect to soon). I hope all of that makes as much sense on screen as it does in my head!

Tiger-Claimed

Centuries of hate and a legendary love to overcome it all…

One untimely trip to the marketplace makes Cara, a panther shifter, the prime suspect in the king’s murder. The tiger prince is set on seeing her rot in a prison cell, but she’ll do anything to keep her family from starving. Even agree to be imprisoned by the handsome tiger, who’s also her enemy.

Prince Kael is determined to claim vengeance for his father’s murder. He thought he could put his vendetta aside for the ceremonial Hunt, but one whiff of the panther suspect, and his inner tiger becomes unleashed. But in a cruel twist of fate, the magnetic bond he feels with Cara is one he can’t deny. And suddenly, he aches to claim her as his own.

The hatred between tigers and panthers is all their people know. If Kael and Cara follow their hearts, it could mean treason and death. Will they be blinded by the prejudice and sorrow of their pasts or will love finally reign free?

This was fluff—short on plot, depth and world development, high on drama and feels. But sometimes a little fluff is what a body needs. I liked both Cara and Kael. Cara was a strong heroine, self-sacrificing and up front in her beliefs. Kael was an endearing hero, large and imposing but no alpha-a-hole. The reader sees his insecurities and very real desire to do the right thing. True, the ‘love’ is all but instant. The couple goes from strangers…less than strangers (enemies really) to eternal, bonded, loving mates in about two days. And then they manage to undo the snarls of hated, self interest, and racism in seemingly just about as much time. So, maybe there’s not anything approaching believably here. But Brooks does make you feel for the couple and root for their success all the same. Lastly, mine was a ARC copy and might not have had it’s final copy edit, so I can’t comment on editing, but the writing is quite readable. I’m not disappointed to be committed to reading book two.

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Wolf Marked alexis calder banner

Book Review: Wolf Marked, by Alexis Calder

I purchased a copy Alexis’ Calder‘s Wolf Marked in order to read it as part of my Wolf Marked Reading Challenge. You see, three books titled Wolf Marked promoed on Sadie’s Spotlight within a very short time of one another. It amused me so much that I decided to read and review all three of them. Thus a mini reading challenge was born. This is the second Wolf Marked I’ve read. The first was by Veronica Douglas and the last will be Harper A. Brooks.

Knowing it ends on a cliffhanger, I considered holding off on reading this until I had book two in hand. I’ve agreed to read/review an ARC of Wolf Untamed, but it’s not available yet. But I also didn’t want to lose my Wolf Marked momentum. So, I went ahead and read it now. Wolf Marked

They tried to break me. Now I’m going to break them.

Cursed to never shift, the only thing I was looking forward to about the First Moon Ceremony was that the magic sealing me into Wolf Creek would break, and I could finally leave.

Instead, the ceremony reveals my true mate: Tyler Grant, future leader of my pack and the man responsible for my most recent concussion and black eye. He’s as brutal as he is handsome and fate is cruel to put us together.

There’s a rumor that a mating bond could break my curse and just as I’m getting my hopes up, Tyler destroys them all.

Instead of bonding with my mate, I’m beaten and left for dead.

A hot-as-sin feral shifter finds me and helps me back on my feet. But his help comes with a cost and I’m not sure I’m willing to pay the price.

With my former pack hunting me down, even an enemy might be a better ally than trying to stay alive on my own.

my review

I generally enjoyed this. Though the writing is good, I did find the beginning quite repetitive. Calder wants the reader to understand how abusive Tyler and his friends are, so we’re shown and told again and again. But once that tapers off the book smooths out significantly. The villains are a bit one-dimensionally evil, but it’s made up for with a feisty heroine and interesting side characters. The book does end abruptly at a high tension point, nothing at all is concluded here. But I went in knowing that, so I can’t really complain about it. I think I know how it’s all going to end (or at least what some of the big reveals will be). It’ll be interesting to see if I’m right. Either way I’m here for reading the future books and finding out.

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Other Reviews:

Wolf Marked:Moon Cursed 1 by Alexis Calder-Review & Giveaway Tour

Review: Wolf Marked ~ Alexis Calder

Don’t Judge Read – Review