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Review

I’m a huge fan of this series. The mix of humour, wonderfully written sarcastic snark, romance, steam and the fantastically developed paranormal world all combine to create a fun and exciting series. Though I admit that the last few books felt a bit repetitive, this one shakes up the formula a bit, and I absolutely loved it!

Trick is one of the enforcers of the Phoenix Pack. As one of the original crew who formed the pack, he has incredibly close ties with his packmates, and though he is happy that they are all settling down, he is feeling lonely for his own mate. It’s something he has always wanted, and he has avoided relationships knowing that his true mate was out there waiting for him, but his need for her is becoming more intense.

A deep loneliness had steadily crept up on Trick and his wolf as they’d watched their pack mates and allies find their true mates, one by one. Of the adult male wolves within his pack, only he and Dominic remained unmated. There was now a bitter edge to his wolf’s loneliness.

Frankie is a wolf shifter who lives in the human world. Following the tragic and disturbing deaths of her parents, she was taken from her pack to live with her human grandparents when she was only three years old. Since that time she has had no contact with her pack, and has been kept away from the shifter life since that time, believing that her pack wanted nothing to do with her. So she is shocked when her shifter Aunt Lydia (a member of the Phoenix Pack) reaches out to her. She agrees to meet, learns the truth, and finds herself becoming drawn back into her family and into the pack life that she has missed out on her entire life. And, of course, it brings her into contact with Trick.

Her Persian-blue gaze met Trick’s, and his surroundings just seemed to fade away until there was only her. Something inside him roared to life, and a strange possessiveness began to viciously claw at his gut and tighten his chest. It was as primal and basic as the need that twisted his stomach. His cock twitched, thickened, hardened – until he was full and aching like a bitch. The word “mine” pounded around his skull over and over. And that could only mean one thing.
There you are, Trick thought with an inner smile.

Trick knew Frankie when she was a child, and with one spine-tingling glance at her as an adult, he knows that she is his. He is thrilled that his search is over, and though he is instantly protective and possessive, he takes things slow with her, knowing that she has a lot to catch up with, and OMG he is absolute perfection! And when Frankie begins to feel the truth of their bond, the relationship that begins is just gorgeous.

“It eats me up inside that I missed so much of your life. Eats me up that I didn’t realize who you were to me when we were kids. I’ve been waiting to find you – or, as it seems, to get you back – for so fucking long…I’m not going to give you up.”

I freaking LOVED this romance! First and foremost, I love how matter of fact they are about the whole thing! They both feel the bond, they accept that it’s there, and they don’t run from it. They embrace it, openly exploring it, and honestly sharing all that they are feeling for each other. It was so refreshing to read such a functional romance, and I loved watching them both relish everything happening between them.

She straightened in her chair and twisted to face him. “Get ready.”
Trick blinked. “For what?”
“It should hit us any minute now.”
“What do you–” Red-hot arousal slammed into him and flooded his system. Just like that, his blood thickened, his body tightened, and his cock filled to bursting. And then the drive to soothe her disappeared, completely drowned out by the urge to take and claim and mate. He double-blinked. “Fuck.”
She swallowed, her mouth suddenly bone-dry. “Yeah, we need to fuck.”

As always, the romance is super steamy. Shifters are passionate and carnal creatures and there’s a whole lot of sexy time going on. But it’s reflective of their relationship and the intensity of everything that is happening between them. And it’s balanced really well with the emotional side of things as Trick supports Frankie through the changes in her life, and coming to terms with the secrets of her past.

“You’re not only enough for me. You’re everything.”

And more than just the romance, there’s also a mystery aspect to the story that brings some action, suspense and excitement. The Phoenix Pack are involved in a dispute with a rival pack that puts them in danger, and then there’s the drama surrounding Frankie’s parents’ deaths and the disturbing nightmares that haunt her. I loved watching it all play out, and I loved how Trick and Frankie stand together through it all – having each other’s backs unquestionably and holding nothing back as they literally fight to claim the happy ending they both want.

I loved this book. It was lots of fun, with laugh-out-loud moments, action and excitement, and a fantastic romance that is both sexy and emotional. I loved Trick and Frankie as characters, and loved seeing them both together, and as part of the larger pack. And though it’s honestly getting a little hard to keep all of the other characters straight in my head, I did enjoy catching up with them and watching them embrace Frankie as one of their own (and drunken karaoke night sounds like a blast!).

This was a fantastic read. 4.5 stars.

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

 

The Phoenix Pack series

 

See our Phoenix Pack / Mercury Pack series page for more information
and to see how these two series fit together (including suggested reading order).