Review: Good Reading
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 08 5, 2013
The Alpha Takes a Mate is the first book in a very promising new paranormal series from Sam Crescent. The author did an outstanding job on this book. She did an excellent job in setting up this intriguing series, by giving readers this superbly entertaining story to start things off right. For its short length, this book is exceptionally well written. Right away, it grabbed my attention with an evocative premise, multi-dimensional characters and loads of romantic conflict. This book held me captivated, so much that I could not put it down, ending up reading it in just one sitting.Brandon is the Alpha werewolf of the Northern Forest Pack, and the big kahuna in the town of Grace Hill. He controls everything there, letting few humans into his town. Those that are allowed to live amongst the wolves are sworn to secrecy about the paranormal creatures existence.The story opens with Brandon unexpectedly finding his mate. *Gasp !* The mate he has longed to find is Elle, a human girl, not one off his own kind like he had hoped for. It was obvious that Brandon didn't have much respect for humans. Not that it kept him from immediately following his instinct and claiming his mate. He bites her right there in the middle of the local diner.Elle and her family were granted sanctuary in Grace Hill after a vicious vampire attack that almost killed her mom and damaged Elle in some way. She doesn't like the way the male wolves treat the human women like toys, so she has kept her distance from them. So she is completely shocked at being dragged before the Alpha, and having him stake his claim by biting her. He arrogantly declares that they are mated, but Elle's not so sure she wants any part of him. It's no wonder she resisted, what with all the mixed signals the guy kept sending her.Now, Brandon ruffled my feathers with his attitude about Elle. Don't get me wrong, he wanted her. He seduced her. He was possessive and wanted to protect his mate. The kind of alpha male that we all love, right ? Yet the entire time, he kept thinking she wasn't good enough for him. I couldn't believe some of the big jerk's inner monologue. What had he done to deserve a fate like this ? A human mate had to be retribution for something. Gah !!! He needed to get over himself.The story grows even more intriguing as revelations are made, prophecies are foretold and war looms on the horizon. Brandon must win back his mate, or risk losing everything. Yet, even as he is groveling, trying to make amends, the big jerk is still spouting his same old song. Right to her face he tells her - "Wolves are so much more than humans". Then there was my favorite one yet- "I don't blame you for your lack". At this point I really had to wonder if the author wanted me to hate him. Don't we all love to the hate alpha jerks ? I gotta say, it never fails to make the story more entertaining to this reader.So now on to the juicy part - the love scenes. The sex was steamy. Brandon and Elle had great chemistry, and no doubt, Sam Crescent knows her way around an erotic scene. Yet the author didn't push any boundaries with this one. The lovers explored with some light bondage, loads of oral, interesting positions and a bit of anal play. Not as kinky as I've known this author to get, but it'll get your motor running, if that's what you're looking for.I really enjoyed this book. That's right, I loved the drama, and how my hero was a bad boy that had to be redeemed. I was giddy with excitement as Brandon faced his reckoning.  I was easily caught up in this compelling world, wanting to know more about all the fascinating characters that I met. The plot was interesting, taking some twists and turns here and there. The series only promises to grow more intriguing, as a common thread is revealed that I'm sure will span the arc of the entire series. The story was fast paced, with never a dull moment where you find yourself wanting to skim the pages. There were too many things happening that I definitely didn't want to miss. The supporting characters were all interesting, I wanted to know more about them all. Lewis and Layla ....got something going on there. Alaric the Alpha Bear and Alexander the enigmatic Vampire leader. Crazy Lizzy the seer witch was a hoot. See, I'm already hooked .... I want to read all of their stories .... and you know I will.The Alpha Takes a Mate was a great read and a fantastic addition to the paranormal genre. I loved it, enjoyed every page, every scene, every word, every emotion. I suggest that most paranormal readers will enjoy it as well. So I'm calling this one a recommended paranormal read.Originally posted at long and short reviews