September 2021 – Love is Love Reviews

Review: Kennard’s Story (Cronin’s Key #4) by N.R. Walker

Definitely disappointed that Kennard and Staz’s relationship wasn’t the main focus.

3.5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 156 pages. Published January 26th 2019 by Amazon Digital Services

Blurb:

Kennard and Stas have been enjoying being newly bonded mates, hidden away for the last six months in Stas’ cabin, deep in the forests of Northern Russia. When they get a visit from Alec, Cronin, Eiji, and Jodis, Kennard and Stas decide to return to London where they get news of a supernatural disturbance in India.

Excited for a new adventure, the band of friends embark on a journey like they’ve never seen before. Following a trail of snakes and serpents, they slip through gates into timeless dimensions all over the world, leaving them without their vampire powers. Even Alec is powerless as they follow a trail of gates and doorways to their final destination.

But the bad guy isn’t who they think it is, and Kennard will need to draw on his past to save their future. Because history is never what it seems…

Likes:

Kennard and Staz.
Kennard doesn’t have a vampire power.
Enji’s driving.
Lots of ancient temples.
Great scenery.
Historical figures who were vampires.

Dislikes:

Kennard may be the POV character, but the story’s not really about him.
Kennard and Staz feel like they’re just along for another Alec and Cronin adventure.
This book felt completely formulaic.
Alec is still the main focus.

I came to this book fully expecting something noticeably different from the first three books in the series, and boy was I disappointed. Yes, Kennard is the point of view character, but he’s not the main focus of the story. Which makes the title feel like false advertising.

A big part of why I’m so disappointed is the fact that I like Kennard and wanted to get to see him and Staz build a life together. And there was plenty of material to work with. The men are so different that I was looking forward to some personality and culture clashes. After all, Staz has spent centuries living alone in a cabin in Lithuania because his mind reading ability is impossible to control, whereas Kennard is a rich, stylish city vampire who is an elder of his coven.

At least one of these issues could be dealt with, because Alec can shield Staz’s mind, which meant that Staz could be around other people. I was looking forward to Staz learning about the modern era. There were a lot of technological advances he didn’t know about.

But we didn’t get any of that. Instead, there was yet another ancient vampire hell bent on world domination, which meant that Alec, Cronin, Enji, and Jodis took the lead to save the day. Kennard and Staz felt like they were just along for the ride. It wasn’t until the 59% mark that there was even a hint that Kennard might have a unique role to play in defeating the bad guy. Luckily, that hint turned out to be true, and Kennard did play a role that no one else could have.

Of all the books in the series, this one felt the most formulaic. Only this time, no one has much information on who they’re up against. That should have made the stakes feel higher, but once again, I wasn’t worried that anyone would get seriously hurt. Even when everyone was temporarily cut off from their unique vampiric powers, I wasn’t worried. I mean, there were six strong, healthy vampires who all knew how to fight.

While the plot itself felt formulaic, I did like the scenery the group passed through. The temples were well described, and the whole portal thing was cool. The historical figures mentioned were on par with the other books, and I honestly think I would have liked this book much more if it wasn’t so structurally similar to the first three. I was especially unhappy to realize that the villain was specifically after Alec, because I genuinely expected this book to be about Kennard.

Overall, I think I would have been less disappointed if I hadn’t expected Kennard and Staz’s relationship and life together to take such a central role. So that’s on me. I still feel like the title was false advertising, and am disappointed that Staz never got point of view sections of his own. But I am glad that the first six months of them together and doing nothing but having sex in a cabin was omitted. And that we finally saw Alec make good on his promise to teach his friends how to drive. Enji’s driving made me laugh.

This book wasn’t a bad ending for the series. There were comments about how it was likely that more evil vampires would pop up in the future, but that none would appear for a few hundred years. So everyone would have plenty of time to relax.

Be sure to check out the review for the other books in the series, Cronin’s Key (Cronin’s Key #1) and Cronin’s Key II (Cronin’s Key #2), and Cronin’s Key III (Cronin’s Key #3).

Review: Cronin’s Key III (Cronin’s Key #3) by N.R. Walker

A great way to wrap up Alec and Cronin’s story.

4.5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 175 pages. Published September 18th 2015 by BlueHeart Press

Blurb:

History isn’t always what it seems…

Twelve months after his change, Alec MacAidan is still getting used to his many vampire talents. While most vampires would give anything to have more than one supernatural power, Alec craves nothing more than peace and time alone with Cronin. But when Alec meets entities from outside this realm, he’s left powerless in their presence.

Zoan are half-lycan, half-dragon creatures that have slipped through time and reality, seemingly undetected by man and vampire. Or have they? They bear an uncanny resemblance to gargoyles, leaving Alec’s view on all things weird to get a whole lot weirder.

This new quest leads Alec, Cronin, and their band of friends to Paris, Rome, and Moscow, where they learn that gargoyles aren’t simply statues on walls. In the underground pits beneath churches all over the world, Alec discovers the Key’s true destiny. Facing the Zoan might take every talent he has. And he may need help from the dead to get them all out alive.

Likes:

Alec’s new vampire powers are cool.
Gargoyles.
How involved Kole is.
Alec’s feelings about his father’s mortality.
The hook for Kennard’s story.
A little more world building.
Vampire afterlife.

Dislikes:

How have humans remained unaware of the supernatural?
Some moments that seem to contradict earlier cannon.
Alec’s powers make him feel almost invincible.
A little formulaic.

While the end of book two was satisfying, I’m glad this third book was written, because I wanted to see what Alec’s life as a vampire would be like. I was curious about what powers he’d have and how he’d use them. And this book definitely delivered when it came to Alec’s powers.

Without giving anything away, I think it’s fair to say that Alec is overpowered. It makes sense, given that he’s the first human Key ever. But like book two, I didn’t worry much about the main cast. I was confident that everyone was going to be fine, no matter who or what came after them. Still, I’m glad we got to see Alec struggle a little with the powers, both with how to use them and with the vampire community’s reaction to them. It was also funny how annoyed he got when Jodis wanted to document everything.

Alec and Cronin’s relationship is so stable at this point that I wasn’t expecting much in the way of romantic development. There’s less smut in this story, which was fine because it made the tender moments that much more impactful. If anything, I’d say this story put an emphasis on friendship, especially given how long vampires live.

Kole, Alec’s father, was a lot more present in this book. Having him along on some of the fact-finding missions added a new dynamic. But what I really loved was Alec’s struggle to come to terms with his father’s mortality. Kole didn’t want to become a vampire, and Alec had a hard time with the thought that he’d eventually lose his father.

This book definitely paid more attention to the ramifications of being a vampire. Alex actually thought about what it would mean to have friendships that lasted for centuries and to watch the normal humans in his life die. The idea that Cronin had been worried about what waited for vampires when they died was interesting, and not something I’ve seen addressed in other vampire stories. The fact that there was an actual answer was really cool. It leant a little more world building to the series.

It was nice that the villains in this book weren’t vampires who wanted to rule the earth. The gargoyles were an interesting concept, as was the search for information about them. I especially loved the group’s trip to the Vatican.

That said, I want to know how normal humans have remained unaware of the presence of the supernatural. I know there was a brief comment about how people thought the video of the statues coming to life was CGI, and the one eyewitness was a homeless man that no one was going to believe, but that isn’t enough. It’s probably the biggest plot hole in the entire series, to my mind, aside from the few instances that seemed to contradict earlier information. For example, Enji offered to feed Alec, but I thought vampires couldn’t feed from other vampires unless they were mated. It was a small moment, but it caught my attention.

As far as the plot goes, this story was definitely a little formulaic. It was still interesting, and I enjoyed it, but I’m hoping that Kennard’s story is new and fresh.

The hook for Kennard’s story was great, and I’m definitely looking forward to starting on it soon. Maybe we’ll get to see more of the English and Russian vampires and be introduced to new characters. As much as I’ve enjoyed Alec, Cronin, Enji, and Jodis, I feel like there isn’t much else to say about any of them.

Overall, this was a good ending to Alec and Cronin’s story.

Be sure to check out the review for the first books in the series, Cronin’s Key (Cronin’s Key #1) and Cronin’s Key II (Cronin’s Key #2).

Review: Cronin’s Key II (Cronin’s Key #2) by N. R. Walker

A great follow up book with a great hook.

4.5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 195 pages. Published May 22nd 2015 by N.R. Walker

Blurb:

History isn’t always what it seems.

With the battle of Egypt behind them, Alec and Cronin are enjoying the thrill of new love. Though fate doesn’t wait long before throwing them back into the world of weird.

They know Alec’s blood is special, though its true purpose still eludes them. And given Alec’s inability to be changed into a vampire, Cronin is free to drink from him at will. But the ramifications of drinking such powerful blood starts a ripple effect.

With the help of Jorge, a disturbing vampire-child with the gift of foresight, Alec and Cronin face a new kind of war. This time their investigations lead them to the borders of China and Mongolia—but it’s not what lies in the pits beneath that worries Alec.

It’s the creator behind it all.

In the underground depths of China, amidst a war with the Terracotta Army, they will find out just what the Key is, and what Alec means to the vampire world.

Likes:

The continuation of Alec and Cronin’s story.
There’s smut this time!
New mysteries, both big and small.
The introduction of new characters.
The Terracotta soldiers.
The new bad guy.
Good ending.
Excited for the next book.

Dislikes:

The new bad guy didn’t get much page time.
The confrontation with the bad guy was over disappointingly fast.
I felt bad for Jorge.
I didn’t get as into the history research as the first book.
I’m curious how vampires have been able to stay hidden with all the shenanigans.

I jumped right into this book after reading the first, eager to find out what was going on with Alec and why he couldn’t be turned. The hook of his time as the key not being over definitely worked on me. Plus, I really enjoyed Alec and Cronin’s dynamic and wanted more.

Now that they know Alec can’t be turned yet, there’s a ton more smut in this book than the last. It got a tiny bit tiresome, but at the same time, it was understandable. Cronin’s been waiting for Alec for centuries. Not to mention they’re fated. However, since Alec and Cronin are in a good place relationship-wise, it did feel a bit like there was sex instead of relationship development.

I enjoyed the mystery and world-ending threat in the last book, and was looking forward to another one. And on this count, book one definitely did it better. I’m not really sure why, but I was just more invested in the researching and fact gathering portion of book one more. Maybe it was because I had more faith this time that the gang would be able to handle whatever this new threat would bring.

I will say, the thing with the Terracotta soldiers was really cool. They added a nice element of uncertainty to the story, as well as being recognizable historical objects. But with evidence of the Terracotta soldiers being more than statues, I did end up wondering how humans were still in the dark about vampires and the supernatural. I know that there was a quip about how humans thought it was aliens, but that didn’t seem like enough of an explanation.

Alongside the big mystery of who was behind this new threat, I enjoyed the smaller mysteries of what Alec’s blood was doing to Cronin and why Alec had to remain human. Alec was really the only vulnerable one of the group, so for him to still be human, and unable to be changed, put him at risk. Cronin’s possessiveness and both men’s inability to be apart for long made things harder for everyone, and also kept me hooked.

There was some more world building in this book, including more information on things that had ties to vampires, like the Great Wall of China, as well as the introduction of some new characters. Kennard got introduced in person, and I was glad that I liked him, since the fourth book is his story. I felt bad for Jorge, even though he was a little creepy.

My biggest complaint about the book is the ending in regards to the bad guy. Now, I loved who the bad guy turned out to be, but he barely got any page time. The whole thing with the bad guy was over super-fast, and felt like a big letdown considering how much buildup there had been. I know there were more pressing things going on, like saving Alec’s life, but I would have liked at least a little more fighting.

As for the actual ending, I loved it! The heroes got their happy ending, and the epilogue was super sweet. But, I’m still glad there’s going to be one more book with Cronin and Alec as the main characters. Not that I think their relationship needs another book, but I am curious to see what more will happen, given the changes they’ve gone through.

Be sure to check out the review for the first book, Cronin’s Key (Cronin’s Key #1).

Review: Cronin’s Key (Cronin’s Key #1) by N.R. Walker

A fantastic start to the series. Can’t wait for more.

5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 265 pages. Published March 13^th 2015 by N.R. Walker (first published March 12^th 2015)

Blurb:

NYPD Detective Alec MacAidan has always been good with weird. After all, his life has been a string of the unexplainable. But when an injured man gives him cryptic clues, then turns to dust in front of him, Alec’s view on weird is changed forever.

Cronin, a vampire Elder, has spent the last thousand years waiting for Alec. He’d been told his fated one would be a man wielding a shield, but he didn’t expect him to be human, and he certainly didn’t expect that shield to be a police badge.

Both men, strong-willed and stubborn, are still learning how to cope with the push and pull of being fated, when fate throws them another curveball.

Rumors have spread quickly of turmoil in Egypt. Covens are fleeing with news of a vampire who has a talent like no other, hell-bent on unleashing the wrath of Death.

Alec and Cronin are thrown into a world of weird Alec cannot imagine. What he learned in school of ancient pharaohs and Egyptian gods was far from the truth. Instead, he finds out firsthand that history isn’t always what it seems.

Likes:

Great start.
Hooked me fast.
So many questions, but all answered eventually.
Good introduction to vampires without feeling like an info dump.
Alec reacted reasonably to both vampires and being Cronin’s fated one.
Alec and Cronin, together and separately.
The unique vampiric skills.
Non-romantic plot kicks ass.
Good UST.
Good hook for the next book.

Dislikes:

Easy to realize that Alex is the key, but took the characters a while.
Cronin was less developed than Alec.

I feel like it’s been a while since I read an urban fantasy romance with a non-romantic plot that hits a home run, but this book definitely earned its 5 stars. The romance was good, but the non-romantic plot kicks ass.

The beginning hooked me fast. Alec was a good cop used to dealing with weird stuff. He gets taken from his normal life and introduced to Cronin, Eiji, and Jodis early into the book, which gives time for him to acclimatize to learning that vampires are real and that he’s Cronin’s fated one. I liked Alec’s reactions to everything he learned. They were realistic, neither easy acceptance nor a total freakout. His thoughts get muddied, with so much to take in, but his time as a cop allow him to continue to function despite his turmoil. He had so many questions, all of which were eventually answered.

It took me a little longer to warm up to Cronin. He doesn’t get as developed as Alec, something I’m hoping will be remedied in the next book. Mostly the focus is on his vampiric nature, from how he became friends with Eiji and Jodis, to his unique vampiric skill. Cronin was very focused on the fact that he’d finally discovered his fated one, and I liked that he respected Alec and didn’t push for them to instantly get together or move fast.

The addition of unique vampiric skills was cool, and a way for these vampires to stand out from ones written about by other authors. It also added a lot to the plot.

The upheaval going on in the vampiric world was a great plot. Not only was it interesting, showcasing both the individuality of vampire abilities and Alec’s skill as a detective, but it also allowed for lots of moving pieces. Cronin and his coven weren’t the only ones getting involved. Vampires all around the world had a stake in how things turned out. The larger world building was only hinted at, but there was enough to make this book feel well written.

I was a little annoyed that it took the characters so long to figure out that Alec was the key. Of course, with the title, it was easy for the reader to figure out.

The way the vampires in this novel live, they want to feed during penetrative sex, and feeding either leads to death or turning. This meant a lot of UST – unresolved sexual tension – between Alec and Cronin. They still had sexy times, just not of the penetrative variety. I didn’t mind that. In fact, I thought it was nice because it allowed both men time to develop deep feelings for each other.

The non-romantic events are wrapped up nicely at the end, but there’s a little hook added in that makes me eager to get to the next in the series. I’m looking forward to reading more books featuring Alec and Cronin.

Series Review: Winsford Shifters by Alice Winters

Not my favorite Alice Winters series, but I loved the characters and the plot was intense!

Series Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Books:

Likes:

Fantastic non-romantic plot.
All four main characters.
Hopeful ending overall.
Rowan as a snow leopard was adorable and funny.
Some great humor.
Some non-traditional alpha and pack dynamics.
Rowan and Emery’s journeys.

Dislikes:

Not my favorite Alice Winters series.
I genuinely worried for all the characters at some point, and I’m not used to that in a romance novel.
Heavy discrimination against shifters.
The romance took a back seat in book two.

I’m a huge fan of Alice Winters, and while this isn’t my favorite series of hers, it’s still good. There’s lots of the funny moments I’ve come to expect from her writing, especially when Rowan is shifted into his snow leopard form. I came to absolutely adore all four main characters, and was so happy that Emery and Graham got a book of their own.

My favorite thing about this series was that the non-romantic plot kicked ass. It was fast paced and action packed. But that came with a few downsides. One being that a lot of the plot was moved forward by the fact that there was a ton of discrimination against shifters. When the pack was in danger, they had very few people they could turn to for help.

This resulted in a lot of pain and suffering for the pack at large and the main characters in specific. They all got hurt at some point, and it’s always hard for me to watch a character I care about get hurt like that. I actually had to put book three down for a few days because the guys kept going from one bad situation to the next. It’s rare for me to genuinely fear for the safety of main characters, but that happened a few times throughout the series.

The worry I felt made the hopeful tone of the series finale that much sweeter. It wasn’t just that everyone got to go home and be safe, but there were hints that the world at large was moving towards shifter equality. I do hope there are more books set in this story universe, and that we get to see the change, even if it’s with other characters.

I enjoyed the fact that Quinn wasn’t the typical alpha, and his pack was non-traditional. Quinn was smart and clever, and he brought together all kinds of shifters. It was the perfect place for Rowan and Emery to settle into. Both men had painful pasts and a lot of baggage. They both had to go through a journey to self-acceptance. It was nice to see, even if the journey was a long one.

Because the non-romantic plot was so big, the romance in these books takes a back seat at times. This is definitely noticeable in book two, though it made sense with what was going on. Emery and Graham’s romance was a slow burn, but it worked for them. Especially Emery’s snark.

All in all, while I can definitely say that this series has a different feel than the other Alice Winters books I’ve read, it was worth the read.

Review: Of Ocelots and Sexy Yetis (Winsford Shifters Short Story) by Alice Winters

Short and cute.

3 out of 5 stars

To get access to this free story, join Alice’s Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/419742381890887/user/100028775325444/

Blurb:

A prequel story about Ari and Logan’s first meeting.

Likes:

Cute.
Short.
Free.

Dislikes:

The promise of a followup novella never came to pass.
Ari’s personality is a bit much when he’s the main character.

Throughout the Winsford Shifters series, I alternated between finding Ari funny and finding him annoying. After reading this short story, told entirely from Ari’s point of view, I can definitely say that Ari is a lot. He actually reminded me of a stereotypical influencer who’s only funny in small doses, has no marketable skills, and is kind of an airhead.

That sounds a little mean, and its true that I don’t have the highest opinion of Ari (and his actions in this story didn’t improve my opinion) but I don’t hate him. He can be funny and charming. If the promised novella about Ari and Logan’s relationship had been written, I would have happily read it. Especially because Logan seems like a practical, kindhearted person and I like their dynamic.

Sadly, despite the comment that Ari’s story would show up in a novella that came out after Of Betrayal and Monsters, I don’t think it was ever written. Maybe people didn’t like Ari enough. I don’t know.

I am glad for this story thought. It was cute, short, and free. The perfect trifecta. And since I was already a part of Alice Winters’ Facebook group, I had easy access to the story. Even though this was a prequel story, I read it after finishing the series, and it was nice to briefly revisit some familiar characters again.

Be sure to check out the reviews for the rest of the series – Alice Winters – Of Secrets and Wolves (Winsford Shifters #1), Of Betrayal and Monsters (Winsford Shifters #2), Of Redemption and Vengeance (Winsford Shifters #3), Series Review: Winsford Shifters

Review: Of Redemption and Vengeance (Winsford Shifters #3) by Alice Winters

A good ending to the series.

4 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 251 pages. Published July 6th 2021 by Alice Winters

Blurb:

Emery
It all comes down to this.

I should have known my freedom from Mercer would only last so long before my pack was hunted down and I was dragged back into it all. It’s suffocating being back in this place that twisted my shifter side forever and threatened to change who I am. But this time is different.

Because I’m not alone.

As threats to us and our pack pile up, I’m forced to rely on Graham, the overly protective shifter I feel a strange pull toward. We know we have to get away to warn the others of what’s to come, but with Mercer’s shifters breathing down our necks, we’re being thrust into a fight for our lives. We are determined to make it back to the pack and tear down the threat before it consumes all of us.

Graham
I’ve literally never met a more stubborn man in my life than Emery, yet I can’t get him out of my head. He covers up his insecurities and concerns with snark and teasing, but I know that underneath it all is a man who just wants someone to give him a chance. And I’m prepared to be that person if we can fight our way through this. First, we have to escape the threat left behind by Mercer, but escaping isn’t enough. We need to destroy everything the group’s ever worked for to keep each other and our pack safe.

Join Graham, Emery, Rowan, and Quinn for the exciting conclusion to the Winsford Shifters trilogy. This series contains action-filled romance with a dash of comedy, and should be read in order.

Likes:

Good ending to the trilogy.
Loved Graham and Emery.
New bad guy.
Fast paced.
Kept me hooked.
Everyone got POV sections.
Lots going on.
Hopeful.

Dislikes:

A lot of things went wrong for the main characters.
Graham and Emery needed a lot of outside help.
Emery was stubborn.
Bit of a slow burn with the romance.

After the way the previous book ended, I was eager to get to this book. Plus, I knew that Graham and Emery were going to be the main characters, and I already liked them and was eager for them to finally get together.

What I didn’t fully appreciate from the previous books was how stubborn Emery was. Even though he was drawn to Graham, he resisted. It definitely wasn’t what I expected from the romance, but it fit with Emery’s personality. He’s been hurt so many times in the past, that letting someone close to him, physically or emotionally, was difficult.

I loved how Emery’s default was to be a sarcastic asshole. It could have easily gotten annoying, but it wasn’t. Again, I think that’s because both the reader and Graham could tell that it was a defense mechanism. That and Graham genuinely cared for Emery, so he was willing to put up with it.

Like the first two books, there was a whole lot more going on than the romance. In a way, it felt like this book had the most going on of the trilogy, since Graham and Emery were dealing with one thing while Rowan and Quinn were dealing with another. All four men got point of view sections, which was nice. The bad guys were coming for them from all sides, and having everyone split up really upped the tension.

There is a downside to that too. A lot of things went wrong for the main characters, and everyone was in danger at some point. Since I’ve grown attached to these guys, it was a little hard to read at some points. I don’t like seeing characters I like get hurt, and had to put the books down for a few days at one point, because it seemed like they kept going from one bad situation to the next.

Luckily, the shifters finally got some allis they could trust. They needed it too, what with the introduction of yet another bad guy. Honestly, it felt like Graham and Emery had a lot of outside help, more than Quinn or Rowan, and I’m not sure how I feel about that. On the one hand, they needed the help. On the other, it felt like Graham and Emery were focused more on saving themselves than protecting the pack.

In the end, I thought everything was wrapped up really well. Graham and Emery got to return to the shifter town, and it’s obvious that they’ll make their relationship work. Quinn and Rowan also got a nice ending moment together, finally getting to relax knowing that no one else is out to get them. There was an overall feeling that everything will settle down and be peaceful for the pack.

There’s also a hopeful air to the ending when it comes to shifters at large. Even though none of the main character get to see it in person, there’s talk about how humans are siding with the shifters and helping to work towards equality.

In the author’s note at the end of the book, Winters says she might write a short story or novella about some of the other characters in the books, and I think that would be great. I’d love to see more of this world, and to see that people, both human and shifter, are working towards positive change.

Be sure to check out the first two books – Of Secrets and Wolves (Winsford Shifters #1) and Of Betrayal and Monsters (Winsford Shifters #2)

Review: Of Betrayal and Monsters (Winsford Shifters #2) by Alice Winters

Hooked me and didn’t let go. Can’t wait to get started on the final book.

4 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 324 pages. Published March 11^th 2021

Blurb:

Quinn

I thought pulling my pack away from Winsford would save us. I never realized how wrong I could be.

After Rowan and I escape Mercer’s hold, we have to get the pack somewhere safe, but my only option is a pride run by a controlling alpha. With everyone safely inside the walls of Winterhaven, Rowan and I attempt to search for the truth, but we’re being hunted and driven further from the answers we need. I want to do everything to protect my mate, but as I learn more about his past, I realize that I might need to protect him from more than just Mercer.

Rowan

I never thought I could embrace this other side of me, especially when I’ve always been taught to hate it.

But Quinn makes me feel alive and happier than I ever thought I’d be after shutting away a part of myself for years. When he’s with me, I feel like we can accomplish anything, and figuring out why Mercer is targeting us is only the first step. However, we could lose everything if we make a single mistake. One thing I know about my mate, though, is that he’s the most determined man I’ve ever met. And I’ll be right by his side as we bring Mercer crashing to the ground.

Of Betrayal and Monsters is an action-filled romance with a dash of comedy. It’s the second book in a series with a continuing storyline and an HFN.

Likes:

Rowan in his snow leopard form.
The tension throughout the book.
Emery and the way he interacts with everyone.
Quinn’s struggle to deal with everything was realistic.
Fantastic non-romantic plot.
Hooked me fast.

Dislikes:

Very little smut.
Ari flips between cute and annoying.
Not much character development for any of Quinn’s pack.
The relationship between Quinn and Rowan didn’t really grow or change.
Rowan’s father.

I was a little worried after finishing Of Secrets and Wolves that this book would be full of pain and suffering for Quinn, Rowan, and their pack. Quinn knew that taking everyone to Winterhaven wouldn’t be the end of things, and he was right. Winterhaven wasn’t the paradise it pretended to be, but it wasn’t as bad as I was expecting.

There was this tension throughout the book that I just loved. Everyone was trying to make the best of their situation, to find a way to make things better and live their lives, but they all knew something was coming. It made for a really compelling read, and I had a hard time putting the book down.

The non-romantic plot really makes this book. Because it’s a continuation of the first book, there’s layers and complexity to the plot. As the book continued, Rowan and Quinn find themselves hitting dead end after dead end. They know there’s more to what’s going on than they know, and that someone’s pulling the strings. The buildup to the end, where all is revealed, was nicely paced. The end itself was both satisfying and made me instantly download the final book to see what happens.

As for the romance, it was definitely less present in this book. Part of that was because of the rules in Winterhaven. Part of it was because Rowan and Quinn didn’t have time to think of much besides their quest to find answers. There’s only one brief sex scene, which I didn’t mind. I don’t need smut. But I also felt like their relationship didn’t really grow or change.

In fact, there’s not much development, or page time, for most of Quinn’s pack. Ari and Emery are present for most of the book. Ari flipped from cute to annoying more times than I could count. It’s Emery who got the most character development in this book. It was fun watching him interact with everyone. He’s still not entirely sure of his place in the pack, but he’s determined to help. I really warmed up to him, and am excited that he gets to be the star of the next book.

Rowan got some personal development and growth in this book. We finally learned more about his past, including his childhood. His father’s utter trash, and I wish he’d gotten some sort of punishment, though Rowan doesn’t seem the sort to hurt his family. Despite everything, he still believes in his brother, and I hope that belief turns out to be true. Rowan’s gotten better at shifting, and comes to really embrace his snow leopard side. There were several funny moments with him shifted in this book, as in the last.

Quinn had his own personal problems. He’s unsure if he’s made the right decision to bring his pack to Winterhaven. I really felt for him, because he has so few options and none of them are great. He’s never really sure if he’s doing the right thing, and with lots of people depending on him, he knows that any mistake could cost his pack.

The anti-shifter sentiment is still alive and kicking in this book. It didn’t bother me as much this time, perhaps because I was expecting it. Plus, the institutional hatred really did help drive the plot, in that Quinn had almost no one to ask for help.

I can’t wait to start the final book. There are questions that need answering and bad guys who still need their comeuppance. Not to mention the semi-cliffhanger at the end concerning the two pack members who chose to stay behind and cover the pack’s escape.

Be sure to check out my review for the other two books in the series – Of Secrets and Wolves (Winsford Shifters #1) and Of Redemption and Vengeance (Winsford Shifters #3).

Review: Of Secrets and Wolves (Winsford Shifters #1) by Alice Winters

Some great humor, but also a lot of discrimination against shifters.

3.5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 345 pages. Published January 28^th 2021

Blurb:

Rowan
My whole life, I’ve been taught to despise shifters. So when I’m hired to track two escaped convicts, I’m suddenly thrust into the world I hate—or thought I did. Yet I’m inexplicably drawn to the alpha of the pack whose land the convicts may be hiding on. He’s different than any shifter I’ve ever met—laid back and quick to laugh, caring and protective, and makes me feel complete for the first time in my life. As secrets are revealed, I start to wonder if everything I’ve been raised to believe was a lie, though it may not matter because it seems like someone wants us dead.

Quinn
I’m no stranger to prejudice from humans, but it’s different when Rowan comes into my life. Though I shouldn’t let myself be distracted, I’m captivated by him. At first, he’s stiff, fighting to keep his misconstrued beliefs intact, but as I break down the wall he’s created, I’m able to show him a place among the fun chaos of my pack. After one of my pack goes missing, it leaves Rowan and me racing to bring them home, but the only way we’re going to survive this is if Rowan learns to accept the bond that’s growing between us—a bond that could give us the strength to put aside our reservations and give in to what both of us want.

Of Secrets and Wolves is an action-filled romance with a dash of comedy. It’s the first book in a series with a continuing storyline and an HFN.

Likes:

Quinn is a different kind of alpha.
Rowan’s journey of self-acceptance.
Catnip hijinks.
The humor I’ve come to expect from Alice Winters.
The town and pack Quinn built.

Dislikes:

Took me a while to get invested.
Not a ton of backstory on Quinn or Rowan.
Some of the world building doesn’t make sense.
How horribly shifters are treated.
The tone didn’t always work for me.

I’m a huge fan of Alice Winters, but I’m mature enough to realize that not everything she writes is going to be a perfect fit for me. And while I enjoyed this book, it paled in comparison to some of her other books.

It took me a while to get invested, in part because of how the story starts. Events are already in motion at the beginning, with Rowan having been brought in to help track the escaped prisoners. Tensions are high as Rowan and Scott meet Quinn for the first time. And Scott’s presence didn’t help matters much.

I’m not the biggest fan of scenarios where a marginalized group is heavily and openly discriminated against, and the shifters in this book are treated like trash by society. It definitely put a dampener on the overall tone, as well as not making a ton of sense. If you have people with enhanced senses and abilities, why prevent them from joining the military or police force? I understand that the second class citizen aspect was what moved the plot forward in many ways, but man was that a lot of unfair treatment for one book.

It was the hint that Rowan was hiding a big secret, then the reveal of that secret, that finally got me invested. Rowan had a lot of personal things to sort through, and had to go through a lot before accepting himself. It was alternatively fun and a little cringe to watch. And as much as I liked the journey, Rowan definitely believed all the negative stereotypes about shifters, even if he wasn’t as much as an asshole as Scott.

Quinn was a fun character. He was easy to like from the get go, especially with how he refused to let other people’s cruelty keep him down. He’s a different type of Alpha, not big and strong, but smart and caring. The pack he built and the town they made was a big testament to him. I do wish he’d been more than just the quirky, non-typical Alpha. We don’t learn much about his backstory, other than that he had a hard life, and I feel like he could have been a more rounded character. Maybe that’ll happen in the next books.

My final complaint about the book is the tone. It’s inconsistent, flipping from the humor that I’ve come to expect from Alice Winters (hello catnip shenanigans) to gut-wrenching cruelty. There’s not an excess of blood or violence in the story, but the implications of what the bad guys are doing is horrendous. It does fit with the way society treats shifters, but it was definitely hard at times to watch characters I’d grown attached to get treated so badly.

I actually expect things to get worse in the next book, rather than better. The note at the end of the book says it’s tentatively a trilogy right now, so hopefully the final book will show things getting better for shifter society at large.

Be sure to check out the final two books – Of Betrayal and Monsters (Winsford Shifters #2) and Of Redemption and Vengeance (Winsford Shifters #3)