Riley and Paige met 13 years ago when they were young and
Paige’s family was on vacation in Black River, Co. Now she’s inherited her
father’s cabin there and she’s back to figure out what to do. She runs into
Riley again and things take off.
There is such potential in this story and the series.
However, it just didn’t happen for me. Some of the concepts April Botic brings
into this shape shifting story are unique. First, they are not humans that
transform into wolves, they are wolves that appear
human. Second, the Beta of the pack is the Alpha’s son. It’s not the person who
is best for that position. Third, how they became shape shifters and what
allows them to shift was unique as well. There were some other unique items,
but I’m going to focus on these three.
Other things about the Pack were similar to other shape
shifting stories and it gave a level comfort with the story.
So, what didn’t work for me? Riley was the Beta because of
his father. Not because he was best for the position. He would one day be
Alpha, but I never got the alpha vibe off him. I felt more like he was a whiny
12 year old pouting because he didn’t get his way.
We also have the fact they are wolves who appear human.
Which was pretty neat. However, in the course of the story, Riley asks Paige if
she would mate with him in his wolf form. She’s human. Ewww…. I could not
handle discussing that. It really bothered me. There is no sex between Riley
and Paige when he’s in wolf form but they do discuss it! Also, she’ll give birth
to wolf pups, not humans. Ewww….. No, it doesn’t happen in the story but they
did discuss it.
Now the why and how they shift was very cool. I liked the
story and thought it fit. However, when Riley got hurt I kind of felt like a
reason was needed to make things fit together. It felt forced and not natural
to the story.
I was really looking forward to this story and had high
hopes for it. The concepts were unique and it has promise.
