The Phoenix Pack, Book 6

Synopsis: When raven shifter Riley Porter was given sanctuary by the Phoenix Pack, she let them believe she had left her flock. Reluctant to divulge the secrets of her past, she was still embraced as family. Only Tao Lukas, the protective and passionate Head Enforcer of the pack, was resistant to the enigmatic shifter. Until Riley started to arouse in him something other than suspicion.

Tao doesn’t trust lone shifters, especially ones so guarded—and tempting. But the sexual tension between them is making them both come undone, and vulnerable to more than desire. All Tao wants is for Riley to stay with him and to trust him with the truth of her past.

As Riley’s mysteries come to light, so does a danger that threatens not only her life but the safety of the entire pack. For Tao, keeping Riley safe means keeping her close—forever—as his mate.

Review: I liked the first three volumes of the series. These are novels full of freshness with colorful characters and pleasant intrigues to follow. I jumped from volume 3 to volume 6 (yes, I know I have to go back because I’m curious to read others too!). But in itself, although it’s true that there are some gaps, it did not cause me any problems. It must be said that we always focus primarily on a couple. This time it is the turn of Tao, an important member of the Phoenix Pack and Riley, a newly arrived raven metamorph.

It was very nice to follow the two protagonists. They are both very stubborn and their exchanges often cause sparks. But then, after a drunken night, they find themselves together in the same bed and if Riley wants to do as if nothing had happened, it is not the same for Tao. In addition to having to manage their feelings and this unprecedented situation for them, they will also have to go for the birthday of Riley’s uncles, although it also awakes a very heavy past and some resentment that weren’t easily forgotten. But that’s not all, and it seems that a drug lord does not readily accept Taryn’s refusal to help his dying brother and he will do anything to make them pay.

I really enjoyed learning more about Riley, things she had endured and what made her leave. Going back in her memories will not be easy but she will do everything she can to understand the new events. Tao will always be there for her, to help her move forward and make her understand that she is in no way responsible for what is happening. I really liked to see them evolve together and get closer slowly. What saddens me a bit is not having a complete resolution of the history of her past … I would have really liked to understand what happened when she was younger.

In any case, it was a good novel and I am curious to read the volumes I missed and the spin off series!

The Phoenix Pack, Book 3

Synopsis: A pack Alpha and his estranged, true mate wrestle with painful secrets, ruthless enemies, and their own irresistible attraction, in the sexy third book of the Phoenix Pack series.

Half-shifter Shaya Critchley may hold a submissive role in her pack, but she’s done taking orders. After her Alpha wolf mate refused to claim her—but committed to interfering in her life—she took off. Now she hides from him, posing as a human in a town full of anti-shifter extremist groups. She thinks he’ll never find her again, and that suits her just fine. But she’s wrong.

Nick Axton can barely control his feelings for Shaya, but he could never claim her—not if he truly cares for her. The degenerative brain condition he keeps secret would ultimately leave her with a burden rather than a mate. But when Shaya runs away, Nick can’t bear the thought of never seeing her again. After tracking her down, he discovers Shaya’s feisty and passionate side in the process…a side he’d never seen before.

Under the menacing gazes of territorial local packs and violent human extremists, Nick vows to finally claim the spirited Shaya…and despite her initial resistance, Shaya just might find his fiery determination to be the ultimate aphrodisiac.

Review: I loved the first two volumes and I was really excited to be able to discover this third novel featuring Shaya and Nick. Oh, I must say that I was curious to see what our two characters would become after the end of the second volume. Oh yes, because their relationship is really not simple, and they will have to overcome many obstacles to create something together. Besides, I think I can say that this volume is one of my favorite in the series and I had a great time with the story and the characters.

Rejected by her soul mate, but monitored at all time, Shaya can not live her own life, and she therefore decides to run away from her “family” to live among humans. Yet she did not expect that Nick finally realizes that he can not live without her and so finds her after looking for 6 months. And what an explosion when they find each other! Yes, because Shaya is determined to make him understand that she will not return with him after what he did to her, while Nick is determined to make her succumb and understand that he will never leave her again!

I loved to see them turn around each other, to see their verbal jousts and to discover their vulnerability. Our two characters are both wounded by life and must manage their past, and the consequences on the present. Shaya isn’t a confident person and her relationships with people are quite delicate. Also, she does not trust Nick, present to get her back. Will she survive a second time if he leaves again? I loved seeing her resist, trying to understand whether it is worth it, if the story he is trying to sell, is true. I must say that Nick asked for it after all he made her go through. Yet at the same time, we would like her to give him a chance, to open up to him and her to see if she can be happy. Nick, as well as our heroine, hides many secrets and it is true that I could not wait to see the reaction of the young woman when she would learn the truth. So no, their story is not an easy one but it is precisely what is interesting to discover! I was very touched by the two characters, their problems, their doubts, their hopes and desires. Their relationship begins with a very light link but it is slowly changing without being pressed, which is a real pleasure.

But their relationship even if at the center of the history is not everything. Nick will have to confront the demons of his past coming back to haunt him once again. In addition, some people are radicalized to eradicate shapeshifters and it seems that the time has come for them to act. Something else? Some wolves disappear and nobody seems to know who the responsible is and what actually happened. In addition to this, many characters are added like Trey, Taryn and even Greta! Oh how I love our three characters and it was a real pleasure to see them here again.

So it was again a very good book and I’m still curious to read more.

The Phoenix Pack, Book 2

Synopsis: Despite having been besotted with Dante Garcea since she was a child, wolf shifter Jaime Farrow figures that it’s time to move past the crush. If he wanted her, he wouldn’t have ignored her flirtatious behavior, right? Hiding her intense attraction to him isn’t easy – especially now that they’re part of the same pack again – but with bigger issues to worry about and with the submissive wolf act to maintain, Jaime is resolute on moving forward. Now if only the workaholic control-freak would let her…

As the pack Beta, Dante doesn’t have the space or time in his life for a relationship. As such, he ignores his intense hunger for the willful – and sometimes crazy – Jaime. Yet when her flirtations abruptly end, Dante finds that he doesn’t like losing her attention. He finds something else too – Jaime’s hiding something. Determined to uncover her secret, he sets out to break through her defenses, even though being around her intensifies his cravings for her. What he finds is a problem that Jaime is convinced not even a powerful Beta can solve.

Review: I was curious about this second volume after a good first novel. This time, while we followed Trey and Taryn in the previous book, we rediscover now their Beta Dante and a young woman he knows from his childhood: Jaime. Of course, as they’re both part of the Trey’s pack, we will have the opportunity to see our first two heroes too and all the characters we know.

Dante has always been attracted to Jaime, but when she tries to create a relationship with him, it all seems impossible. I must say that the beta does not want a relationship with anyone as he thinks she will become an obstacle to his work because he loves it more than anything. So he did everything possible to reject the young woman who takes it pretty bad I must say. And while for a change of pace, she tries to start a relationship with a human, Dante reveals another side of himself, a jealousy she never suspected. They do not expect it, but they’ll create a very strong bond between them and an intense relationship will appear between the two characters. Yet neither wants to find her soul mate, and this story could then arrange them both. Problem? Jaime has a secret she hopes never to reveal and Dante, who loves to control everything, is determined to understand what is happening at all costs. But in addition to this, we also follow the Glory’s story, a young pretty disturbed woman, who doesn’t take well the fact that she was dumped by the beautiful beta and she is determined to make him pay by the worst ways. And for that, she is very imaginative!

I loved following this novel, I found that the raw language, in the first book, was down a notch, though still present. I was really curious to find out what Jaime was hiding and even if we know it soon enough, she is afraid about the reaction of those around her. She really didn’t have an easy life and we discover the details here, little by little during the novel. She is broken but she will regain confidence over the chapters for our greatest pleasure. Of course, she is not the only and while Dante has a strong attitude in all circumstances, we discover that he has more faults than we would have thought and that led him to be a controlling man. Our two heroes form a nice duo, confronting each other for any event and it was really fun to attend their arguments. We also have all the characters of the first volume and of course Trey and Taryn are here; and well Taryn is pregnant which changes the attitudes of all the persons around her. And I must say that whatever happens does not change her nature! Did I forget to mention Greta? Because she doesn’t change either, that’s for sure and everyone earns her mean comments, especially Jaime who defends herself as much as she can.

Finally, as you can see, I had a good time with this novel. We can read it rather quickly and I am curious to find out who the next novel will feature but I hope it will Shaya and Nick because I love the the young woman and we greatly sympathize with her in this volume.