4.5 out of 5 stars
E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 230 pages. Published September 25th 2018
Blurb:
Sam Baker couldn’t be more normal. He’s a teacher at the local middle school and the most exciting part of his day is dealing with a classroom full of hormonal preteens. His life takes a turn for the weird one stormy night when he finds a small boy on his doorstep. A boy who growls, flashes unnaturally blue eyes, demands for Sam to call the alpha– whatever that is– and gives Sam the one name he wishes he could forget: Vaughn Jerrick.
Vaughn Jerrick is the alpha to a pack of wolf shifters and a doctor to the supernatural world. After sharing a steamy one night stand with Sam years ago, Vaughn couldn’t consider the possibility of a future with the man, no matter how much he wanted him. Bringing a human into his world is against the rules, but one phone call changes everything, and Vaughn finds himself face-to-face with the man who could give him everything he’s ever wanted.
Rescuing one small child turns into saving six from a dark and uncertain fate, and although Sam doesn’t understand the world he’s been forced into, he would never turn his back on children in need, even if it means confronting his past with Vaughn.
As Vaughn and Sam join forces to protect the children put into their care, the future they’ve both dreamed of is within their reach, but first they need to survive the sinister force looking to rip away everything they’ve come to hold dear.
Likes:
- Good introduction to the story and situation.
- Hooked me fast.
- Cute kids.
- Hellhounds are a type of shifter.
- No long discussion about shifters being real.
- Multiple mentions of getting the kinds therapy.
- No insta-love.
- Fluffy and heartwarming.
- Hot smut.
Dislikes:
- Not a ton of world building.
- Felt like a prequel.
- Totally focused on the interpersonal relationships until about 90%.
- Vaughn’s not recognizing that Sean was his mate earlier swept under the rug.
- No mention of why the kids were taken.
It’s not often that I’m impressed by how well a book’s beginning is set up, but that’s the feeling I had. Not only was I hooked fast, but all of the pertinent information is presented at the beginning without feeling like an info dump.
It doesn’t take long to understand that Sam’s a nice guy. He called Vaughn on the say-so of a lost little kid, despite their history. The way he fought for the kids throughout the book is part of what makes the story so heartwarming. Sam didn’t have to stay and help, but he chose to, even though finding out about shifters and magic turned his world upside down.
I liked that the typical info dump about shifters was done off page. There’s not a ton of world building in the book, and it seems pretty standard as far as shifters and packs go. The one unique thing I liked was that hellhounds were a type of shifter.
Vaughn was also easy to like. He wasn’t an alpha-hole. For him, being an alpha meant protecting his pack and the little kids in whatever way possible. I also like that he was determined to woo Sam correctly, and didn’t pressure him or do any of the all-too-common possessive behaviors.
Their relationship was both hot and sweet, and while they bonded quickly, it wasn’t insta-love. Sam had lots of doubts about their mating, which Vaughn addressed. What wasn’t addressed was why it took Vaughn so long to realize that Sam was his mate.
I’m not the biggest fan of kids in my romance. They can easily become annoying cockblocks, but the six kids in this book were actually pretty great. Not too annoying, and sometimes even downright cute. I was happy that Vaughn mentioned getting them therapy multiple times. After what they went through, it was necessary. I just wish we learned why they were taken.
The bulk of the book is focused on the interpersonal relationships between Sam, Vaughn, and the kids. It was low angst, but the way the kids were always waiting for the other shoe to drop made my heart go out to them.
It wasn’t until about 90% of the way through the book that something big happened. Even if I hadn’t known this was a prequel book, I would have realized that it was setting up the next books. The ending, while showing that Sam, Vaughn, and the kids had become a family, was totally focused on Henry, and what he’d be up to next.
There are two short stories about Sam, Vaughn, and the kids before the actual Chosen One books begin, and I’m looking forward to seeing everyone again.
Be sure to check out the rest of the series The Trouble with Love (The Chosen One #0.75), Santa Trouble (The Chosen One #0.76), All or Nothing (The Chosen One #1)
Love is Love Reviews 