ARC Review, Blog Tour & Giveaway: Wicked Bite (Realm Enforcers, #5) by Rebecca Zanetti

 

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Synopsis

As she hunts for a drug lord killing her fellow witches, all Tessa Lansa’s instincts point to the Grizzly motorcycle club. That might be because their leader, Bear, is the strong, silent shifter type: warm brown eyes and more muscle and alpha male than any woman can ignore. Which makes Tessa’s plan to seduce and betray him all the more dangerous…

Bear doesn’t trust the curvy, blue-eyed witch. But Tessa can heal the injuries that sap his strength. And since he can’t stop thinking of her lush body and teasing smile, her plan to mate him to reclaim her own power is highly tempting. Just one problem. Once a desire this wild is loose, no one will ever control it…

 

 

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Review

5 stars!

This is the fifth and final book in the Realm Enforcers series, and holy hell what a ride! Action-packed, exciting, suspenseful and intriguing with a kickass heroine, an alpha hero who will melt your heart, and a scorchingly hot romance that is full of intensity. I freaking loved it!

Each of the books in this series feature a different couple, but there is a continuous, overarching storyline and this is definitely not a standalone. The series began with the Enforcers – powerful witches tasked with protecting the Council of the Coven Nine (the witch ruling body) – investigating a deadly drug. Through four books we have watched the Enforcers desperately search to find who is producing Apollo and put a stop to it, while also battling the intricacies of witch politics, all while falling in love. This book brings the series full circle with fight coming back to US soil and an unlikely hero in Bear.

Bear is a shifter and the alpha leader of the grizzly nation. When he was first introduced in the Dark Protectors series I pictured a grizzled old man, but he is anything but! Though a century old, he looks 30, but his life has been a difficult one and he is a bit of a cranky bastard who prefers his solitude. He has created his own family of sorts and is the President of a shifter-only MC, and he and his club have been the target of DEA investigations as being involved with the production of Apollo. The last few books of the series saw Bear sucked into witchy business, and he has been through a hell of time, leaving him injured both physically on a soul-deep level, and he fears that his time is running out. And then beautiful Nessa Lansa shows up, offering him what may be his only solution.

She looked him in the eyes. “If I heal you then I want something in return.”
He dropped his hand …“You wanna make a deal?”
She nodded, her shoulders going back. “Yes.”
To live, he’d do almost anything. “What do you want?”
She met his gaze, her eyes deadly serious. “If I heal you, then we mate. For life.”

Oh hell yeah!

Nessa is a witch with healing powers who briefly sat on the Council. She has searched Bear out both as a favour to a friend, and for what she hopes may be a mutually beneficial, though strictly convenient, mating. She offers to heal him, and he makes her more powerful. It’s a win-win situation. But there is something more behind her plans.

I freaking love this relationship! Initially full of snark and animosity, Bear wants nothing to do with Nessa or her offer of mating, but the chemistry between them is undeniable, and it sets up a sensational dynamic.

“Bear? … Let’s reach an agreement.” Her voice remained level only through supreme effort.
He straightened, and his smile was almost lazy. “Baby? You wanna fuck, bite, brand, and mate….but not bond. Do I have it right?”

Adding to the awesomeness of this setup, from almost the beginning of their time together they become targets and are constantly on the defence against unknown assailants. There are explosions, gun fights, hand-to-hand fighting and even missiles and air strikes! Yes, it’s all happening, and Bear and Nessa are right in the middle of it, and the intensity of their situation brings out Bear’s protective side and only works to bring them closer together as the sexual tension builds to epic levels.

He released her and traced one finger – just one finger – across her cheekbone, nose and down her jaw. “I’ve never had anybody that was just mine. All mine.”
His touch ignited her skin, heating all the way down her body. A pulse set up between her legs. She kept perfectly still. “I have no intention of being all yours. If this happens, after a lot of negotiation, then we’ll go our separate ways.”
His hands caressed down, easily enclosing her entire neck. “You really think that’s how a mating happens with a shifter? Any shifter? Much less with me?” His hold was infinitely gentle, but the strength in those fingers, in that broad palm, couldn’t be denied. “You chose an alpha, baby. Head of the entire grizzly nation.”
“Aye,” she whispered, her trachea moving against his hold.
His head lowered solely, deliberately, his molten gaze trapping hers. “Do you honestly think I’d let my mate go? Ever?”

But it’s a hard road for them as they figure out what they want from each other. Secrets, betrayals and plots are uncovered, the emotion is intense, and there’s literally not a moment to rest as it all plays out. I was glued to my kindle as twist after twist was revealed and, with a little help from friends old and new, they draw closer to the final battle, falling harder and harder for each other along the way.

He studied her, his eyes unreadable, his entire body one long solid line. Gone was the dangerously teasing cranky Bear. This was the real Bear, and he was way too primitive. This was too much. He was way too much. She’d overestimated her power and strength, and she’d underestimated his.

The romance is gorgeous. Of course the sexy time is scorching, but there’s a deeper emotional connection that is there between Bear and Nessa, and I loved watching it develop. It’s natural and realistic, and I could feel the shift of their emotions, and I thought the love story was really beautifully done.

He was a simple guy. She was good, and she made the world better by being in it. She made his world a lot better. So that meant she belonged here.

Bear and Nessa are such fantastic characters, and I was so impressed by them as a couple. Fans of the series will already be totally in love with Bear, and his alphaness is on full display in this book, and seeing him balance his pure (totally hot) possessive need with his protectiveness and his vulnerability as he experiences love for the first time is just gorgeous. And Nessa is just perfect for him – strong, brave, highly intelligent and a total badass herself, she isn’t afraid to stand up to him, but her big heart also proves to be exactly what he needs. I absolutely love them together!

His life had been calm and colorless before she arrived. Now it was chaos filled with color.

There are some light moments which keep things fun – Bear and Nessa’s interplay is highly entertaining, and ‘the boys’ (Garrett and Logan) are great as always. I also loved the chance to catch up with Nick and Simone, as well as some classic Dage cameos. Fans of this and the Dark Protector series will love it!

The lightness, romance, action and intrigue was perfect, with everything interwoven to create a strong, solid read that I absolutely loved. A wonderful finish for a great series. I’m excited for whatever Rebecca Zanetti has for us next.

5 stars.

An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

 

Realm Enforcers

       

Wicked Ride (#1) (Kell & Alexandra)
Review
Buy:  Kindle Ebook  |  Paperback  |  Audio

Wicked Edge (#2) (Daire & Cee Cee)
Review
Buy:  Kindle Ebook  |  Paperback  |  Audio

Wicked Burn (#3) (Nick & Simone)
Review
Buy:  Kindle Ebook  |  Paperback  Audio

Wicked Kiss (#4) (Tori & Adam)
Review
Buy:  Kindle Ebook  |  Paperback

Wicked Bite (#5) (Bear & Nessa)
Review
Buy:  Kindle Ebook

 

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Giveaway

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Author Information

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti has worked as an art curator,
Senate aide, lawyer, college professor, and a hearing examiner – only to culminate it all in stories about
Alpha males and the women who claim them. She writes contemporary romances, dark paranormal
romances, and romantic suspense novels.

Growing up amid the glorious backdrops and winter wonderlands of the Pacific Northwest has given
Rebecca fantastic scenery and adventures to weave into her stories. She resides in the wild north with
her husband, children, and extended family who inspire her every day—or at the very least give her
plenty of characters to write about.

Author Website  |  Facebook  Twitter  Instagram  Pinterest  Goodreads

 

For more amazing reads, check out our Rebecca Zanetti Author Spotlight.

 

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