Review: A Good Start To A New Series
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 03 28, 2012
**3 1/2 Stars**An Alpha's Path is a short novella that lets us look into the lives of werewolves in the Redwood Pack and is a good introduction to Carrie Ann Ryan's book series.Melanie, a human, is set up on a blind date by her best friend.  Kade, a werewolf, is set up on a blind date by his brother.  What a coincidence that the blind dates for one another are, indeed, each other!  The purpose of the date, as far as Melanie is concerned, is, to put it bluntly, to get laid.  Kade gets set up on his blind date to help take his mind off of his past relationship.  Melanie is unaware of the supernatural world that surrounds her everyday but is soon thrust into the middle of it a whole lot faster than I would be comfortable with.  She, too seems to be uncomfortable with it, but good dialogue and smooth reactions apparently aren't Melanie's thing.  Plus the conversation quality between Melaine and Kade is practically zero, then all of a sudden it's "let's go up to our room."  To help Melanie relax, Kade suggests she take a bath....Really?!--in the middle of a blind date? When sex is all this is supposed to be about?  I realize that when a wolf finds its mate, it knows, but I think the relationship between Kade and Melanie was way to quick. A one nighter I can understand, but he reveals his heritage to her the next day.  Woah buddy....put the fur and claws away....no one wants to see that this soon.  Melanie had every right to be wary and hesitant.  And this is what frustrates me about novellas!  But, I love them all the same.An Alpha's Path is a decently constructed book.  The plot is kind of all over the place but when you try to cram back history, present history, a love story, and a set up for a series into a novella, that tends to happen.  I had a hard time liking Melanie at first but once you dissect the story and realize Melanie's loneliness and inexperience, her discomfort at a relationship and love so soon after meeting is understandable.  She's propelled into a world that had always been one of myths and legends and instead of being given time to adjust, she's tossed into the middle of a confrontation between 2 alpha males vying to be her mate.  Even though she knew she preferred one male over the other, the choice given to her to end the confrontation wasn't a choice she was ready to make.  Melanie's perceptions of love and dating are vastly different from the traditions of an alpha finding his mate.  So, while the way his pack deals with things is by fighting to the death, Melanie's human ways are not like that.  Kade's heritage and the pain he's endured also shines a light on his excitement and rushed acceptance of find his mate.A Favorite Quote:"Lance's face fell and he stood back.  He looked like a kicked puppy.  Mel snorted.  Sometimes she cracked herself up." (C.A. Ryan)Please Note:  This book contains "adult scenes."Book provided by author in exchange for an honest review.