Review: A light and entertaining tale
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 04 17, 2013
"Doc Featherstone's Return" is another addition to Stephani Hecht's series about a coalition of shifters (people who can transform into an animal). Some government agencies know of the existence of shifters, but the general population is only just now becoming aware, thanks to the fact that the Ravens declared war on everyone else and is shooting up both shifters and humans alike. This tale picks up shortly after the last book in the series, "Ackley's Savior".Ash had always had a crush on Doc Featherstone, but the doctor had always rebuked him and pushed him away, often with very harsh and cruel words. When an assassin started shooting at the Doc, Ash jumped in front of the bullets to save his life, but became gravely wounded himself. Doc was also seriously wounded and left the coalition to heal at home with his family. Now, Ash is paraplegic and unable to walk or shift, and the fact that Doc left him without a word and never returned has broken his spirit. He refuses to eat or go through physical therapy, and is wasting away due to his depression and anger at Featherstone. He sacrificed so much for Featherstone, and was abandoned after it was all over.Doc Featherstone, to nobody's surprise, has always adored Ash, but pushed him away because his family would not approve of him mating not only a male, but someone outside his own species (he's a bobcat shifter) and below his station (they're elite and rich). When he hears how Ash is wasting away, he comes back to try to heal him, and their romance begins.I have to admit that I enjoyed other Stephani Hecht books much more than this one. The main, and only, problem was one of believability. Ash was not only despondant, but angry at Doc for leaving him. For weeks, he's pushed even his best friends away and has even asked to be killed since he's paralyzed and can't walk, shift, or (to his own line of thinking) serve any purpose. Doc shows up, and he's still angry and resentful at the Doc.... for about five minutes. Then he's almost back to his old self and is working hard at getting better so he could be with Doc. I just wasn't buying the fast about-face Ash performed. I felt it would have been a lot more believable and dramatic for Doc to actually work at getting Ash to turn around. As it stands, he was forgiven far too quickly.The rest of the book was nice, with some nice action scenes and a suspenseful moment when they're all at danger from a crazed assassin. There's some good characters in the book, the writing is smooth and engaging, and the overall series is very very fun.