Bewitched by Elise Faber

5 Star

Raph has sworn off love. Having a pack bunny pretend to be pregnant to get a commitment will do that to you. Beth has also sworn off love as she feels she's too evil to deserve it. Raph has always lusted after Beth but never gone for it as she is BFFs with his buddies. Now she's carrying twins for their friends and not taking care of herself. He sets all of his issues aside to care for her. Can she move past her history and realize they both deserve love?

I Loved this book. I want to go back and reread it right now to get the parts I'm sure I missed. I loved Beth and all her hang ups. Raph has been burned before and denies his attraction to her until he can't anymore. This one just hit all the feels for me. Plus all of the adult people in Beth and Raph's life are horrible people. Beth’s for blaming her for her stepdad's actions and Raph's for the abuse. The only part I'm hung up on was if Raph's bio mom ever told her kids Raph was their half brother. Otherwise I enjoyed the story and the epilogue with the bit for the next was quite the tease. Now to wait impatiently for the next one.

Book 5 Breakers

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Easy by Brenda Rothert

 

4 Star

Erik never planned on setting foot in his hometown again after he had his heart broken by his high school sweetheart. But life has other plans for him. His aunt breaks her hip, and his mom breaks her ankle and they both need help so he will have to suck it up and spend some time in Greentree Falls WI. On his first day home he runs into the one woman he has never gotten over. Will he walk away from her this time, or will he be all in?

This one just broke my heart. I want Allie and Erik to get their happy ending with everything they went through. They both had no win situations as teenagers and now that they are ten years older, they realize how much they missed each other, and I love the workaround they came up with so they could be happy together. This book had good pacing and it drew me in so fast and I didn’t want to put down. I did like the drama in the book didn’t have anything to do with Erik or Allie but Allie’s family instead. I just overall really enjoyed this book.

Book 6 Chicago Blaze Hockey

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Protecting New York by Lainey Reese

 

2.5 Star

Cheyenne and Dude are in New York for a holiday when their past comes back to kick them. Will a group of Doms and their subs help them save the day.

I wanted to like this more, but Susan Stoker’s books don’t include hardcore BDSM. This included Susan Stoker’s characters Shy and Dude It was not what I was expecting when I read this one as the original story wasn’t this descriptive. I am also surprisingly really tired of people blaming Shy for the action of the bombers. Overall, this didn’t add anything to the original story and it won’t matter if you skip it.

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Alexei by Brenda Rothert

 

3 Star

Alexei has been partying to hard and drives drunk, crashing his car into the side of a barn. He’s given an ultimatum to either go to rehab or no team will touch him. His current team released him, and the Chicago Blaze will take him on but only with rehab. There he meets his new councilor Grayson. Grayson is there to help him find awareness and understanding of his addiction. The problem she very much has a crush on Alexei that’s inappropriate and she had promised herself to never trust an addict. How will she be able to work through all of obligations and feelings?

I struggled with this one for personal reasons. The writing was still good, and I enjoyed that part of it. The problem I had was the ethics of have a licensed therapist hook up with a former patient. I will say she was no longer treating him, and it was I think 6 months after he left rehab, they start dating. To me it’s very grey, grey line that I struggled with. If you’ve read the other books and liked them and this doesn’t bother you, the book will work for you. This is very much a me issue. Still enjoying the series and can’t wait for the next one.

Book 5 Chicago Blaze Hockey

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Wicked Oath by Jenna Woflheart

 

2 stars

Mia and Amodeus thought they had won against Lucifer, but they hadn’t. The game is only just beginning and there is no guarantee they will win.

This series had such promise and it just fizzled. I ended up so mad with how this all played out between Mia and everyone. I’m just glad I finished the series and can walk away.

Book 3 Demons After Dark: Covenant

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Knox by Brenda Rothert

 

4 Star

Reese finds out her fiancé is cheating on her in the worst way at the altar. It wouldn’t be so bad if it wasn’t two of her bridesmaids. She is determined to enjoy her honeymoon even if she isn’t married. After a freak accident in the ocean leads her to meeting a NHL player Knox. He knows she’s on the rebound and has plans and it will only be a relationship while they are on island. They are hot and heavy and walked away. A year later and chance encounter has brought them back together. A year of experiences later will they still have the spark they had in Hawaii?

OMG I loved this book so much. I loved how it starts with Reese being left at the altar. I wanted to slap her ex upside the head. Switches to Hawaii where we get a couple of chapters with Reese and Knox. It then jumps ahead to a year later. This veered from previous books where there wasn’t such a big jump, but this worked as it led to growth from both Knox and Reese, and it led to the book not being a traditional rebound love story. It still held with the other books of one of the characters having to work through something to find a happy ending. I liked everything about this book and these two. Can’t wait for the next one.

Book 4 Chicago Blaze Hockey

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Warden by Cari Silverwood

 

2 Star

Isolde is a grocery clerk until she is kidnapped by a lionlike alien. Gideon is attracted to her and wants her, but he has his orders. Will he go against them to keep her?

The book has issues part way through where the book became chopping and difficult to follow. The author also started the characters pretty smart and then they end up being really stupid. Just skip it.

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Victor by Brenda Rothert

 

4 Star

Lindy Boring has a crush on NFL player Victor. She sees him all the time at the arena he plays at. She is a quiet girl who still lives at home with her dad. Victor doesn’t see her until one day he’s struggling with life. He’s not playing well, and he’s been called out on it. No one knows where his head’s at and no one can reach him to get through to him until Lindy runs into him. He’s intrigued but he’s concerned about his secret being revealed and everyone looking at him differently. Will he get past his past to find his happy ending?

There is a trigger warning on this one for crimes against children. It’s talked about in abstract not detail.

I enjoyed Victor and Lindy’s story. It was reminiscent of a couple different fairy tales. Poor girl working her butt off falls for a wealthy man who sweeps her off her feet. I enjoyed the progression in the book between them. The series so far have been heart wrenching situations and the main characters have to work through their trauma to find their happy ending. This book isn’t any different than the first two, but it is still fresh and unique. Can’t wait for book 4.

Book 3 Chicago Blaze Hockey

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Slayer Witch by Katie French

 

2 Star

Winter just wants to be an investigator. She doesn’t want to be known by her family name as she is nothing like them. The only way she can become who she wants is to lie. Lie about everything as no one will believe that she wants to do good and be good. Once they discover who she is will she still be able to be who she wants?

I barely finished this book and there are more in the series, and I have no intention of finishing it. It started out really good and then it just got stupid. We no world building and all characters are all thrown at you as needed. All the “good” guys were obnoxious, and I didn’t like any of them. Winter was sassy and I liked her, but she isn’t keeping me interested particularly with the ending of the book with Dax planning on screwing her over…so yeah no more books from this author.

Book 1 Demon Hunters Wanted

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Soul Taken by Patricia Briggs

4 Star

Wulfe is missing. He's been stalking Mercy for a while she doesn't think it's that big of a deal but it could be. The alliance with the vampires could end if he is not found. Now other people in the Tri-Cities are also showing up dead in ways just like in the B Horror movie about the Harvester. The more Mercy looks into Wolfe's disappearance and the Harvester the darker and more sinister the path becomes. Will Mercy find the answers before it's her body?

I don't know if we are supposed to like Wulfe but I adore that vampire, The story itself was good. I liked finding out more of the history of the Vampires. The dynamics between Mercy and her pack is always interesting. Not blowing smoke but I couldn't put this one down cause I wanted to find out what would happen. I still want the next Alpha and Omega book.

Book 13 Mercy Thompson

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Luca by Brenda Rothert

 

4 Star

After a tragedy Abby puts all her effort into her home furnishing business. For her personal life she’s only interested in one-night stands. She doesn’t have the time or mental ability to have more. That is until she meets hockey player Luca. Luca was a single parent to his nieces and nephew since the death of his brother and sister-in-law. He was fine with a one-night stand as that is all he had time for until Abby blew into his life. It starts as a one off until they can’t get enough of each other. Will they be able to work through their own trauma to find their happy ending?

I really like these two. Abby has lost a lot in her life and is sure she doesn’t want anything more than her work. Luca throws her for a loop and makes her both want more and also want to hide since she will have to confront her past to have a future. Luca has his own problems being a single father to his brother’s kids. You get to see the nitty gritty Luca has to put up with juggling work and grieving children. I loved watching them both struggle with what they want and finding a way to come together. I can’t wait for the next book.

Book 2 Chicago Blaze Hockey

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Infernal games by Jenna Wolfhart

 

2 stars

Mia is now living a nice new normal life. No supernatural or soul contracts for her. That is until Lucifer tracks her down in Hell’s Kitchen. Now she’s being dragged back into the supernatural world and she’s not sure who is going to win.

I liked the first one way better. This again ended in a cliffhanger. Mia is still working towards her HEA and by the end she still hasn’t gotten it.  If not for there only being on more book I would be done.

Book 2 Demons After Dark: Covenant

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Governor by Lesli Richardson

 

2 Star

Owen Taylor has been working towards the Governor’s office his entire adult life. No matter how powerful he is he kneels for one man Carter Wilson, his best friend, and Chief of Staff. He kneels for him because of Carter’s wife who is now his Lieutenant Governor. How did these three make it to the governor’s office?

This is an interesting harem story. I just thought it was way too long and meandering. I ended up skipping huge parts of the story because I was bored. I wasn’t even jumping to the next sex scene just looking to have the story move along.

Book 1 Governor Trilogy

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Lucifer’s Curse by Eliza Raine

 

3 Star

What happens when Beth discovers a dead body in her boss’ office. She becomes the number one suspect. To get out of trouble she will have to make a deal with her sexy boss.

I wanted more world building with this book. There wasn’t enough or of character development. I liked both Nox and Beth and their relationship was nicely built but it came out more as insta lust then love. I liked it enough to check out book 2 and see if they get their happily ever after.

Book 1 Devil’s Deal

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Hexes and Hot Flashes by Lisa Manifold

 

2 Star

For my 45^th birthday Wynter was planning on spending the day with her BFF at the spa until it all comes crashing down with one final reveal from her recently deceased husband. He had a secret family in Arizona and money Wynter was expecting wasn’t coming as it was going to that family. It wasn’t the money but the fact that her husband had lied for years. Instead of the spa they go for drinks. One thing leads to another, and the bar ends up trashed and Wynter ends up with a glowing snake tattoo. Now she has a house guest to help with magical powers she doesn’t know what to do with and a short time to figure it all out before bad things happen. Will she figure it all out?

I wanted to like this story more. It was an interesting concept but left way too many questions in the end for me to enjoy it. I also don’t want to read more of the story as I didn’t feel the story was set up enough to entice me into reading more. The world building is doesn’t exist, and it seems like things change to help the story move along. I liked the authors writing but not enough to continue to invest in the story and characters.

Book 1

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Dark Horse by Kel Carpenter and Aurelia Jane

 

3.5/4 Star

Her husband killed her and now Fury is stuck torturing souls in the afterlife. She could get mad about it but instead she decided to take hold of it and make the best. Eventually she will be able to buy her way into the afterlife. When an opportunity comes up that will give her the funds to finally retire, she takes it but she’s not happy about it. She’s asked to take on 3 souls on earth that others have tried to punish, and no one has been successful. The powers that be think she can. Will she?

This was an interesting new take on supernatural books. I enjoyed most of it up until the very end and then it got weird. It also ended on a cliffhanger. I loved Fury, Roman, Ezra, and Dorian but I think Ezra is the best of them. We will see if book 2 is just as good.

Book 1 A Demon’s Guide to the Afterlife

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Beauty and the Goblin King by Lidiy Foxglove

 

3 stars

For ten years the Goblin King has been cursed to stay in his castle. He only opens his castle up for women. They receive one gold coin for every night the girl willingly stays. Sabela knows all of this as does her sister Clara. When the family wealth is diminished, and they need funds Clara forces Sabela to go and earn them some coins. When she finds out there is a curse on everyone in the castle she is determined to rescue all of them no matter what it costs her.

This was a take on Beauty and the Beast. It was an interesting take. There were some issues. The first being Myar is a major dick through most of the book, but Sabela just takes it and falls in love with him. Overall, it was just ok not enough to move on with the series.

Book 1 Fairy Tale Heat

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Devilish Deal by Jenna Wolfhart

 

2.5 stars

Mia is couch surfing on her best friend’s couch looking for a job but being infamous makes it impossible for her to find something. When she interviews to be a dancer at a mysterious club run by Asmodeus. She lies to get the job, and this opens her up to mystery new world. Will she survive this new world?

I enjoyed this take on Hell trying to take over. I liked the world building and the build up to the end. The one thing I get really tired of was why Mia was infamous. It took forever to find out. That and the cliffhanger ending.

Book 1 Demons After Dark: Covenant

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Destiny of the Dragons by Mira Kane

 

2 stars

Mia Caravaggio is used to being used as a pawn by her family. They’ve been using her for years and who she marries is not going to be any different. She works in her family’s antique shop and her magic is used by her family as they wish. They’ve not been as powerful since they gave up their spell book several generations ago to prevent more bloodshed. She deals with it until she meets Jace Andoni and Smoke, dragons without a clan. Jace is trying to prove himself to his clan but when he meets Mia, he wants her and wants to share her with his other love Smoke. The problem, he doesn’t actually ask them what they want and that causes a rift. Will they find away back to each other?

I wanted to like this more, but they all frustrated me. There was no world building or build up to a relationship. They meet and are all in until Jace fucks up. They are then separated for eleven months and then finally make up, all is resolved, and the book ends. It was just kind of a letdown.

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Hunted by the Alien Assassin by Ella Mavin

 

3 Star

Bosa is a hired assassin who can be hired for just about any reason. The most recent job is tracking down a human trafficker who just so happens to be a human woman. When he finds out there is more to Karina’s story then he realizes will it be too late?

I wanted to like this book more than I did. There was no world building, so I have a lot of questions. Bosa was an idiot, and he does make it right but so stupid in the beginning. Bosa and Karina have an almost insta love. It works but not a fan. I enjoyed the dream part of the book that helped Karina figure out what needs to happen. Bosa’s people kind of suck a lot. Was good enough for me to check out book 2.

Book 1 Mates of the Kaluma

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Cursed Yuletide by Eve Langlais

 

3 Star

Anders left the woman he loved to join the King’s army and he never returned. Alva promised to wait for him, and she did for several years until she gave up hope. When the witch in the woods asks for her help will she discover all the secrets?

I wanted to like this more than I did. It’s a book based off little red riding hood and possibly Rapunzel and at least one other I can’t think of. There was no world building, and we are thrown into the story. I really didn’t care for FMC. Years of her love being gone, and she never even thought to search for him. Instead, she feels it’s appropriate to start a relationship with her loves BFF who LEFT with him. It irritated me. I did like Langlais’ writing so a 3 it is.

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A Shifter’s Curse by Debbie Cassidy

 

4 Star

The relic they needed to keep the evil at bay has shattered. Quinn and her men need to discover another way to eradicate the evil from the world, so it doesn’t take over. The only way they can do that is to find the Dagda and hope that he can help them.

Why did I read this before all the books were out! History has shown me the author concludes all her books with cliffhanger esq ending. I read this before the new one was out (it is out now). I liked that more information about Quinn is revealed and makes you like her even more because her family sucks. I do like the fact she keeps acquiring new men everywhere she goes. The ending just made me mad…so very mad. I need to know how the series ends.

Book 4 Wolves of Hawthorne Cove

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Wolf by Anna Hackett

 

4 Star 

Lainie Madden has been cheated on by previous partners and she's sworn off love. She's thrown her whole being into growing her tech company. When she starts to get threats she brushes them off but they get progressively worse until her best friend insists they loop in her brother. Nick "Wolf" Garrick is second-in-command at Sentinel Security and has spent his entire adult life fighting for others. When his sister comes to him with Lainie's problem he's all in to help, he just has to remember that this is his sister's best friend and off limits. The more time they spend together the more the line is blurred and he doesn't care that Lainie should be off limits. Will they be able to get past their own issues and find out who is gunning for Lainie without falling in love?

I enjoyed this spinoff series. Lainie and Nick were enjoyable characters though I would have liked to have more background on Nick then we got. I loved the ending where Norcross and Team 52 made appearances. The bad guy was just meh. If you like the other series you will enjoy this one. 

Book 1 Sentinel Security

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Instant Gratification by Jill Shalvis

 

3 Star

Dr Emma Sinclair is only in town to help her father and then she is heading back to New York and her job there. She doesn’t want to spend her life running her father’s clinic, but she will until he’s better. Now if only she could stop running into Stone that would be great. He aggravates her and pushes her, and she doesn’t want to have any feelings for him but she does. Will she be able to walk away?

Where I liked the last book for the characters this one not so much. I never really warmed up to Emma. She was one foot out the door the entire book. She’s unwilling to bend in anyway or open up with Stone throughout the book. He is all in and ends up being her dirty little secret which sucked. This is a me issue. Jill Shalvis’ writing was the same. It just one of the few I didn’t particularly like.

Audio: 5 Star

Liisa Ivory narrates the story and she does a good job with giving each character their own voice. I would definitely listen to another book narrated by her.

Book 2 Wilder

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A Shifter’s Heart by Debbie Cassidy

 

4 Star

Quinn came to Hawthorne with a plan and that plan isn’t going to work. She’s got her orders from her alpha that go against

One of my biggest complaints about Quinn is she doesn’t communicate. A lot of her issues would be resolved just by talking with her men. I did like this one, but this frustrated me. What I liked was learning a lot about Quinn’s history and what she is. She finally resolves things with her home pack. However, again this ends with the main story concluded but the fate of Tate is up in the air. GRRR….

Book 3 Wolves of Hawthorne Cove

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Pack Darling Part Two by Lola Rocks

5 Star

Lilah wakes in the hospital and has to decide what she’s going to do now that she’s perfumed. Does she want to stay with the Wyvern Pack even though they’ve treated her horribly, find another forever pack, or enter the rotation where different packs help her through her heats? Since she is unwilling to forgive the Wyvern pack, she opts for rotation but there is still someone after her and she needs to be protected. The Wyvern pack is determined to win her back even if they have to start by being her protector and watch her “date” other packs. When the threat against her only gets worst will they be able to keep her safe?

This starts right where the last one ended and I am happy to report that Lilah does give them so much to work through to make up for being massive assholes in the last book. I loved seeing them find ways to make it up to her, even while she’s telling them they are at the back of the line. One of the best parts of the book was Orion saying to hell with the men I pick Lilah. When all is said and done, I loved Lilah gets to save herself. The guys come in and help her, but she’s already rescued herself. These are the only two books out by this author and it makes me sad as I very much like the writing style of this author and I loved the story.

Book 2 Darling  

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Lord of Rain by Charlene Hartnady

 

2 Star

Bolt is the son of Zeus, and he is very similar to his father. He’s driven and ruthless. Since he’s been broken and can’t forget a ghost, he’s pushed everyone away. She wove a magic spell and captured him against his will now he’s dealing with the fallout of her death. After losing his administrative assistant he’s desperate for someone who can keep up with him. What he gets is Ashley. She has no experience working in an office and is learning as she goes but she intrigues him, and he can’t stop thinking about her. Ashley is just trying to make money to save her family’s bakery but what she gets is the adventure of a lifetime.

I loved the other books in the series and this one just sucked. I didn’t like Bolt or Ashley. Bolt has rubbed me wrong in previous books and this one doesn’t redeem him in my eyes. I also felt Ashley was a character the author couldn’t decide what she was going to be. One moment she’s the strong character and the next she was wishy washy. I found myself skimming to get through the book. I had been reading these back-to-back and this one put a stop to me reading them. I also noticed that the books all follow the same formula. Boy meets girl and he just can’t be with her because of the pact so let’s fight our feelings and then wait I love her and can’t live without her. It got old

Book 5 Dragons Demigods

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Pack Darling Part One by Lola Rocks

5 Star

Lilah has spent her entire life in a boarding school for omegas. She is a Darling sold to the school to be auctioned off to a pack. She’s never perfumed so never ended up on the auction block. That doesn’t matter as she’s being forced to agree to go to the Wyvern Pack. Atlas, Hunter, Finn, and Jett already have an omega with Orion and don’t want or need a woman to come into their home and try and take the pack. They believe she will be just like every other omega, spoiled rotten with the expectation of getting her way. They are drawn to her even though they don’t want to be. When a threat is brought to their home, and it nearly costs them Orion and it triggers both of their heats the pack take care of their omega leaving Lilah out in the cold. When they finally figure out that she is supposed to be theirs is it too late.

This book has all the feels, and I couldn’t put it down. I was incredibly happy that the duology was completely out so I could move right into that one as this one does end on a cliff, but the author did let everyone know this. Lilah was incredibly strong lead character who has had to deal with so much and just wants to be able to live a quiet life away from alphas even if they are fated. I can understand why the guys weren’t happy to have someone come into their pack the way that she did, and I really really hope in the next one she hands them their asses to make them see the error of their ways. If you like omegaverse I would say this is one you shouldn’t skip even though it isn’t cheap or on KU.

Book 1 Darling

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Instant Attraction by Jill Shalvis

 

4 Star

After surviving a traumatic event Katie is ready to live. She’s been a good girl her whole life and now she is looking for adventure. She ends up in a mountain town called Wishful filling in for a bookkeeper. This will give her a chance to adventure around work. There she meets Cam who wants her but doesn’t want her. Will they find away to get their HEA?

I really liked Katie and Cam. They are both working through trauma. The back and forth with them was fun to read and I liked how cam is an idiot. He makes it up to her in a really good way. You get all the feels with this book. Was well worth the read.

Audio: 5 Star

Liisa Ivory narrates the story and she does a good job with giving each character their own voice. I would definitely listen to another book narrated by her.

Book 1 Wilder

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The Beta Part Two by Avanne Michaels

 

4 Star

Talia wakes up at the hospital and is determined to not bother the pack. They’ve made it clear they don’t want her and no one else will do for her. When the pack gets told off by her mother and finally show up at the hospital to claim her, she’s not sure if the alphas of the pack want her for her or just because she’s an omega and that Jasper wants and needs her. She knows her heat is coming and doesn’t want to force the men to take care of her even if they want to. When it’s decided they need more men to protect everyone and help with her heat they call in her former pack. Corso, Reid, and Alex are more then willing to help as they never wanted to let her go. The problem comes in when Talia is accidentally mated to someone other than Jasper’s pack. They need to figure out what this means for Talia and Jasper as they can’t be parted. Will it all work out?

This one starts where the last one ended and we get so many new information right from the start. It was interesting to see Talia come into her own as an omega and seeing her relationship grow and change with each of her men. I loved the solution everyone came up with to combine packs and have one big happy home for all of them as Talia deserves happy. One of my favorite parts of the book was her refusing to change her core being just because she is an omega and going out and kicking butt. It also ends in a cliffhanger, and I am not sure why it did. I don’t know where the author is taking the series next but I can’t wait for the next one.

Book 2 The Beta

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