Review: Enjoyable!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 16, 2014
Reviewed by Robyn Elliotfor TheRomanceReviews.comWelcome to Elk Ridge. What a great name for the setting of this story--evocative of this rural community, separate from the business of the world, protective of their wolf pack. And suspicious of incomers. With good reason, as it turns out.Elk Ridge welcomes Riley with a wariness that immediately informs Riley's fledgling journalistic instincts that there's far more that meets the eye in this backwater. Riley is an L.A. guy, somewhat out of his depth, both professionally and personally. Under pressure from a distinctly unsympathetic news editor, Riley is looking for a scoop, and he thinks he can get it by breaking the near hermetically sealed secrecy of who comprises the shifter pack of Elk Ridge. Things are complicated for Riley as it is, then Jason turns up, serving him great food, as well as being easy on Riley's jaded eye.Jason, a shifter himself, earnest, with an innocence to him that belies the fierce nature of his man-wolf persona, is instantly attracted to the handsome, alluring Riley. And the stage is set for passion, accompanied by the darker forces of deception and secrets.I enjoyed this read very much. The writing's pace is excellent, and as a consequence, the story moves along at a quick pace that doesn't detract from getting an angle on the characters of Riley and Jason. I found both of them very likeable, particularly Jason with his sense of taking life at face value, and taking a chance on someone very different from his everyday social interactions.Another character I liked, and would be interested in seeing appearing in a story of their own, is Elk Ridge's sheriff Matt. He brimmed with charisma and a raw sexuality. The only slightly dissonant element of this book was Matt's mating with Jesse, inasmuch as they didn't seem to fit for me as a couple. However, that's an entirely subjective issue and not a literary criticism of the story.I would definitely recommend this book for readers who like their M/M characters with flesh on the bones, so to speak, and who enjoy shifter stories involving themes of passion, betrayal and the courage to love. A book to curl up with, with a glass of red wine and a crackling fire. Just don't open the curtains if the moon is waxing high.