Review: Good Bones, Needs More UMPH
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 03 19, 2013
Just finished reading about the Tressel Pack and the two other books that offshoot from the series.  I'll jot down my thoughts here on all these books as a whole, together.**** SPOILERS ***I didn't like the way Cadence evolved.  She became this doormat once she became pack alpha to Jason.  She was told to punish the females.  For what? "Stay in line and obey?"  And why in the heck was Jason coming down so hard on it?  He let them do worse, why all this now?  If that was a big issue then why wasn't there another 'female punishment' mentioned anywhere else in the series?  Did these new female mates just join and everything was roses and la la land?  I mean get real here.  This punishment was what drove Callie away, it became a rock between Jason and Cadence and Callie left because she didn't want to come between her best friend and her husband.  Especially when Cadence was pregnant.  Serious stuff.  It was a big deal.So we get this build up to the rehersal dinner for Callie and the fallout with Cadence. . . Even Jason gets in on a text and makes his threats.There was warning before hand that Callie was married to twin cats.  So why the big surprise by Cadence once they meet in person?  I could not believe how hypocritical Cadence was about this.  Here she's this mutt, hybrid, not accepted by the pack and not feeling a part of the human or werewolf world. . . All that background and she can't accept her friend mated to cats?If it was jealousy of Callie's mates, the affection, open cherishing between them. . . If Cadence felt she wasn't 'cherished' in her marriage to Jason, then why not any followup with that thought?  I got the feeling that Cadence just gave up, can't expect more, and wasn't going to push it, because Jason has enough on his plate being alpha.  She was settling for less.Anyone else wonder what that gift was Cadence passed to Callie?Then there's Callie.  She must have told Cadence how she felt about the pack, the hierachy, her role, or even her spy work for Jason. . .How unhappy she was.  Yet if Callie came forward and explained, was it because Cadence wasn't listening?  Why the big fall out?  No way was it all down to hormones.  Nope, did not like the way Cadence evolved.  After reading Callie's story I had a very hard time enjoying the two following books on Linus and Bo. The wolves were just so so on romance . .. And that Valentine's dinner and checking off the card, flowers, and chocolates was so boring. Wolves need to learn more romance - Cats have it down pat.Linus had a human wife and was broken up emotionally for years.  So then his mate comes and she's human until they're told differently.  But meanwhile the pack is upset Linus is going for another human.  They weren't accepting.  Makes sense, they care about him, don't want him to be hurt.So in Michael's book he goes for a human and he doesn't get any flack for it.  Nothing from the pack. Nothing from the alpha or his friends. No slights, rebuffs or anything.  After reading Linus's story and the flack he got, it didn't make sense that they'd treat Michael any different.  Yes they cared about him but I guess they felt he knew his own mind and let him be.  I didn't read it as everyone learned from their mistakes from Linus.I read the were-hyenas story before reading Michael & Shyne.  So I knew about Shyne dropping the gym owners.  I didn't know the trouble they caused, the turn about in their behavior, I was reading it backwards, out of the timeline of events.  Frankly, I was glad I read the stories out of order.  I doubt I could handle their relationship and mating after hearing them tear into Shyne so ruthlessly, hyenas or not!  While I'm willing to see everyone get a second chance and a happy ever after, I shudder to think of those three lynx's getting theirs.Linus & Angel. . . So Linus was impressed with traditions and the history of werewolves when he went to see his Angel's pack.  While he was going to talk to Jason about what impressed him and how he, Linus, wanted to accept and teach those traditions to his children, that whole thought is left hanging.  The series moved on and yes the ceremonies did have more symbolism and were more traditional.  They just happened, no reason why.  No group meetings, no evolving in Jason, they just happen, frankly, I didn't see anything really special about them.  I kept picturing the elders holding mason jars -- canning jars.  Not something special like ceremonial urns, blackened with age, held reverently.  Never mind where those jars went once everyone was tossing clothes left and right and shifting, bumping, and yeah I thought of those breakable jars.The pack hieracy only has one male that has a wolf sifter mate.  None of the other females can shift.I see the pack is more and more tolerant of differences between mates, less prejudice, yet is that only amongst packmates and not to someone that leaves?  Like Callie?  Again, did not make sense.So many special mates in this pack.  The make up of the pack happens for a reason.  The characters will evolve . .. . Be tested.  I'm curious to see how things turn out. -- Dan's Wife