Review: Great Read
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 21, 2011
I was hoping to find a book that combined some of my favorite paranormal elements with some hot and sexy shifter action and I was thrilled with what I found within the pages of this short story.Sometimes, I just want fun. Not a lot of heavy bad buys chasing good guys and escaping diabolical deeds. I look for entertainment mixed with a romance hot enough to give competition to the A/C. Freya's Mates met my need.Freya is a woman on the run. She's looking for something that's missing in her life and she's getting to the point of feeling it'll never happen. She's down in the dumps, sad, afraid and very lonely. The author did a nice job of getting me to care for the young princess. I thought it a cute touch with the French fry frenzy and the results that came after. I got to understand her confusion and her yearning and how difficult it must have been to let go and to finally trust in another person. The treasures that come from her giving her trust are sweet but don't come without a few scratches and claw marks to make it interesting. I liked her independent spirit and spunky nature. What worked well for this tale was the fact that she didn't fight herself. Once she accepted that the guys were truly interested in her, herself, she jumped in with tail wagging.Gideon, Vincent and Darius are three guys who, as a whole, fill the dark and empty places within Freya's heart. But individually, these hunky heroes have enough depth of character to take their places by the heroine's side. Their stories are very interesting and the guys are worth getting to know. Vincent looks perfect to the outside world but has a disability. So I had that warm and fuzzy feeling when he was accepted. Gideon had me snickering. He wasn't a comedic foil by any means but he's the first one in the know and yet Freya put him last. I have to hand it to the heroine - she knew who needed putting in his place. After all, she was royalty. Darius also found a place in my heart because he too doesn't want to fit into a mold. His running away was different but I think Freya and Darius have the most in common - kindred spirits if you will. However, he sure knows his way around a woman's body, much to my delight.I am also thrilled that this story is very much a standalone read. I hadn't read the first book in the series, but I didn't need to. Ms. Espino has told a tale that is about Freya, Darius, Gideon and Vincent, and no one else. The other secondary characters bring extra zing and interest to the story and enhanced my reading experience. The editing is well done, the dialogue brisk and personable and the descriptions of them all of together, absolutely delicious in its heat and passion.Freya's Mates: Pack Seduction, 2 hit my happy buttons and completely entertained me. It's a romantic and fun story that made the clock disappear. I liked reading about Freya and, because of this book, I am going to be checking out her sister's story that had come first. If that tale is as good as this one, I'm in for another treat.Originally posted at Whipped Cream Reviews