Russell has always liked his men the same way he likes his fast, hard, and without any emotional attachments. As leader of not only a pack of rogue Wolf shifters but also almost every illegal enterprise in the shifter world, Russell knows he’s not the type to ever find a mate and settle down. Then Dalton slips into his life, turning it upside down. Not only is Dalton a Lynx shifter, he’s also sweet and everything that Russell never liked in a man…or so he thought.
But Dalton has a tragic past, which left him scarred inside and out and without a family. Dalton discovers that Russell may have had something to do with that tragedy just as Russell thinks he’s finally going to be able to claim his mate. Will Dalton be able to forgive Russell, or will their love be doomed to end before it even begins?
Stephani Hecht is a happily married mother of two. Born and raised in Michigan, she loves all things about the state, from the frigid winters to the Detroit Red Wings hockey team. Go Wings! You can usually find her snuggled up to her laptop, creating her next book or gorging on caffeine at her favorite coffee shop.
When she’s not running around like crazy, trying to get her kids to their various activities, she’s currently working on numerous projects. In the coming months, she has several books coming out with eXtasy Books in both The Lost Shifter Series and Drone Vampire Chronicles, plus a few additional projects that are still in the development stages.
Visit Stephani on the web at: Email her at: archangelwriter@yahoo.com
The story of Russell and Dalton that started in ‘Hey, There's Fur in My Wedding Cake’. Russel is a bad bad wolf. He has many illegal activities, i.e. he is your usual Mafia guy. He was kicked out from Chris’ Pack for being gay and he sworn that he would never come back. But he went back for Chris’ wedding, where he met Dalton. Dalton was a slave with Trevor, when Shane saved him. And he is very young, naive and cute. A relationship with a large age difference. Not one of my favourites in the series.
After reading the prologue Hey, There's Fur in My Wedding Cake a couple of months ago, I was really looking forward to this book. Bad boy, rogue wolf who is Alpha of his outlaw pack, what's not to love? I have to tell you that while I did enjoy this book as a whole, the prologue was the best part. The books have always been formulaic but have still managed to work for me but this one just felt so shallow compared to what could have been done with the story. So many things were just hinted at (like Russell getting out of illegal activities) and would have added so much to the story if we could have actually experienced them.
This was so bad on so many levels I can't even review it: the age difference, Russell's accomplishments at his young age, the almost nonexistent climax and resolution, the lack of chemistry, the tell tell tell, everything except I really like the character of Dalton. He was created in another book though. The conflict and resolution lasted like a page. This felt like a freebie type of story and the prologue, which had been produced as a freebie, was better than the rest.
Come on, Stephani, you can do better.
BTW, not wearing underwear isn't sexy, it's painful (unless the person is completely shaven and/or there's no zipper) and unsanitary (unless the person only wears their pants once between washings). It's even gross when the person is wearing button down jeans because the pubic hair can come through if it's long enough. I just don't get why people think it's hot. I wince every time it's mentioned.
This formulaic story pales compared to the previous book (Thomas and Chance). I think a couple of issues are just solved too quickly or are not explored more thoroughly. Most especially regarding Russell's "involvement" on the murder of Dalton's family as well as how they work on that. There's practically no real confrontation or heart to heart talk. It's there then poof all is forgiven. Russel's regret of his past is also not explored, I think there is a good plot there, some sort a glimpse of his past. Oh, and Dalton is also not as endearing for me personally, compared to Chance, for example.
PS: What's with all the talks of Ke$ha in so many of these stories?!?
Ugh. Too much sap, not enough substance. I liked Dalton when I first met him in Shane's Fury. But then he went from a sweet kid to a bratty twink with a borderline chick-with-a-dick disorder. Blech. Russell was your stereotypical wolf shifter and mafioso bad-ass. BTW, I don't get how Russell just upped and "went legit" one day. I mean, I've heard of it happening but it's usually called "witness protection." In any event, this one was really short and really sappy.
I'm so glad we get to see more of Russell in this book, and especially Dalton... I mean I loved Dalton from the first time he asked Shane for some chocolate milk all the while knowing he was safe since Trevor promised him. He's ready for some wolf action, and Russell has grown a conscience.
Real Quick: Dalton is the lynx shifter that was a slave with Trevor, Shane's mate, he's been living with the two since he joined the coalition and is 19. Russell is Chris (wolf Alpha)'s brother and was kicked out the pack a long time ago for being gay. He was also beaten, and swore that he would become more successful then his old Alpha. He did this by unsavory means. He's a crook, a sort of mob boss, and has been a part of bad things in the past, however he saved Mitchell's brother from slaves and fell in love with Dalton at Chris and Cassie's wedding. Meanwhile as we all know the Ravens are becoming desperate to win the war.
Ok now on to the book. I really really liked that there was some blood and guts and casualties. The Ravens are now attacking humans because they know the coalition will try to save them. Russell is really trying to get 'clean' so to speak because something in Dalton's eyes make him want to be a better man, but he's 30 (yes 30) and has a lot of bad baggage with him. There is a lot that goes on in this book, including finding the lynx female that Dalton was forced to procreate with but I won't say any more and I'll save it for the book. The only thing that felt a little odd was that Dalton was a very very very young 19. I know his family lived in seclusion, but some of the things he says reminds me of a 12 year old girl. Having said that it certainly did not detract from the story, just made me want him to grow up a bit (especially when you find out what happens at the end!).
I'm also super happy the price on Amazon is $3.99 and not $4.99 while a dollar may not seem like that much, Hecht also added the freebie Hey There's Fur in my Wedding Cake where the two first meet. If you love Hecht's shifter books like I do then you'll love this one, Riley, Chance, Tobias, Shane, Trevor... they all get a roll, we also get to see Gage and his future mate...AH! I can't wait. So read up, enjoy the lower price and let's hope for many more shifter books in the future... Maybe some more Shane/Andrew/Owen?? Another Christmas special?? : - ) Enjoy!
Seriously? I can't believe I'm already at book fourteen in the 'Lost Shifters' series. But, let me tell you, when it comes to bad boys, Russell is the epitome, and Dalton is so not. I have a soft spot for this series and the characters and having met Dalton in the previous book, I'll just admit that he gave me the warm fuzzies from the get-go. He's sweet, shy, beautiful, mischievous, loyal, loving, a sarcastic brat, and he doesn't take crap from anyone. So now all I needed to do was get a handle on Russell since the only thing I knew about him was he was kicked out of his wolf pack for being gay and he was a criminal. Huh. Interesting pairing, as many of this author's have been.
Dalton lives with Shane and Trevor, who make it very obvious they don't want Russell anywhere near their charge. Since Shane is the coalitions top assassin that should have scared him off, but Russell isn't afraid of much and he wants to get to know Dalton. What shocks Russell is how Dalton seems convinced that there's good in Russell and that regardless of how he makes his living, Dalton still wants to spend time with him. When the Ravens change the playing field by killing humans and showing themselves as shifters, the gloves come off between all shifters and the government, leaving Russell and his pack to ally with the coalition.
Russell and Dalton as mates are so adorable. Russell went legit for his mate and Dalton was right that there's plenty of goodness inside Russell. Dalton's belief in Russell gets tested, but they come through it with flying colors. Plus, there's a little bonus in the ending that was super sweet. Now I'm sad again because I finished another installment, but happy, too, because I can move on to the next book.
NOTE: This book was provided by the publisher for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews
I'm so disappointed in this book. I was expecting so much more because Dalton and Russel stood out so much in other books that it left me feeling down. I felt it was rushed, especially the ending... I know Ms. Hecht has been going through a lot, and I empathize with her and I hope things are getting better... Hopefully the next installment will pick up again.
You know, I've re-read this entire series several times, but now I'm doing so as it's released in its second edition. I have to say that this time around there weren't any awful, editing problems! There was nothing to distract me from Ms. Hecht's story. I have to admit that I love Dalton. I loved him in his previous appearances in this series.
This review is for all of the Lost Shifters, Wayne County Wolves, and Assassin's Loyalty books since they are all interconnected and I read them back-to-back pretty much nonstop over a 10 day period. If I have anything to say about a particular book I'll add it under this bulk review. First, I'd like to mention these are more like novellas than books but they have the same underlying theme and pretty much continue where the last left off but with a different couple.
Everything starts out with the Lost Shifters. To summarize there was a war between the feline shifters and the raven shifters. 20 years or so before the first book there was an all out slaughter in which hundreds of feline homes were attacked and burned down all of the occupants believed to be killed. Turns out that the babies and toddlers that were assumed lost were not. They were hidden within the human foster care system for the most part. I won't say how because that'd be a big spoiler. In addition to foster care some kids were sold into slavery and that's where the whole assassin thing comes in. A couple of the main characters marry into the wolf pack so that's where those books come in as well.
Pros: Since the books are so short there are no long drawn out boring details or general angst. There's usually only one sex scene although it's normally long as hell. Which makes the fact some people shelved these as erotica confusing. I liked the world building and even though there were times I think a little more info might have been nice it never detracted from the story or left me confused. Most of the relationships were a sort of love at first sight thing. Or maybe lust or obsession? Despite this the shifters all seem adamant that's not a thing that happens. There wasn't one character I didn't like. My favorite character was Shane and he must have been the author's as well since he got a few extra books and a side series Shane's Chronicles. There's no big end battle or anything but the last book Baily's 9th Life does pretty much tie things up nicely. I think if I'd been reading the series when they were released I'd be a bit miffed because that book didn't come out until a few years later if you weren't reading the assassins books. Also, these books all have some really funny moments and/or dialog.
Cons: The last several books didn't appear to have been edited at all. If if wasn't for the fact that I was so invested in the overall story arc I would have quit reading them. Things like sent instead of scent and too instead of to they instead of them and random wrong words completely. There were also a couple of times that things were said/thought almost verbatim in different parts of a book as if the author forgot she'd already put that info in there already. At the start of the series, they state that all feline shifters are bisexual but at some point the author must have forgotten that detail because suddenly there are gay shifters and homophobia and all this hate. Which brings me to my next con, the themes of the different books started to repeat. Suddenly all these shifters had been thrown out of their previous pack or coalition or human home for being gay. And throughout this huge series of books there was only one straight couple. Like not even a straight friend or whatever. Even the females were all lesbians. It was just kinda unrealistic especially with the whole gay hate thing going on. Usually there's at least a few couples or friends or something on the periphery in gay romances especially in a world this huge. Which brings me to my final con, I had a hard time remembering who was who and what there story was after awhile especially if they weren't mentioned much in previous books. I wish there had been some sort of glossary to review.
Despite the cons, I would still recommend these books. All-in-all I really enjoyed them and was dreading the end although the editing in the last few books really had me also looking forward to the end if I'm being honest.
If you are looking for a book to temporarily flee reality than this is the book for. If you are looking for a good story from this series than skip this book and read some of the earlier ones. The whole plot and especially the sex is very repetitive, been there done that and bought the t-shirt, you name it. Mrs. Hecht can't even bring some variation into sex scenes without reverting to kinky and violent stuff as it seems. Sorry Mrs. Hecht but you do need a course in better writing. This was the worst book of them all of the series so far. I hope "Gage's Awakening" is better or I will finally quit the series, it's gone downhill ever since book 11.
When think you'll never find a mate and be happy look at Russell. Then big surprise his mate's a papa of two cute little baby boy's. Papa was one stunned daddy he now has a family.
Love the series You have a wonderful story of criminal that do almost anything for his mate. Love all the twist and turn Highly recommend this book and series
This was not one of my favorite books of the series. Again, I feel like Ms. Hecht is going back to the same recipe. Sure, if a recipe is good, you may want to make it quite often, but you can't eat it for every meal no matter how much you like it.
In this book we learn more about Dalton, Shane and Trevor's ward. I think the fact that in Trevor's book, Dalton was so childish, it makes it hard to work him into a romantic relationship. I mean come on, the last time I saw him he was swinging his feet and making slurpy noises through a straw while drinking milk. MILK. I like my shifters to be men, not boys. I do like Dalton - as Shane and Trevor's son/younger brother/ward. But as an MC he just do anything for me. He's just too sticky sweet for me.
It was also weird the way Russell, the bad ass rogue Wolf Alpha, admits that he usually likes his men to be men and can't figure out his attraction to the boyish Dalton. Who knows? If he can't figure it out, I certainly won't even try. I like it when badass shifters link up with other badass shifters - like Andrew and Vapor.
So okay - Dalton and Russell go on some cutesy date where Russell buys him hot chocolate and falls in love. Meh.
She hits the same tired points. Oh how can this Shifter ever love me when I'm so "XXX" (insert slutty, emotionless, damaged, crooked, young...blah blah).
The end of the story tried to add a little twist, but that was a little predictable after we discovered in Shane's book why Dalton was being held prisoner. So we knew that was coming. So this book didn't hold anything new to me. We did meet a new shifter, Tobias, who is Russell's younger brother and runt of his litter. But honestly? Tobias was kind of a pussy. Where have all the badass shifters gone? Oh where, oh where can they be?
I made the mistake of reading the blurb first – which gives away the complication occurring a few pages before the end. So that felt exceptionally lame, not to mention that the timing seemed off. Too late for that big a whammy and too little time devoted to dealing with it, particularly since it was not what it actually ended on. (And that bit was predictable too.)
I mean this was not awful, but it also wasn’t a particularly special book. It simply lacked cohesion in some way I find hard to define now. Maybe it’s just me, but I doubt it.
I’m also not too happy with the turn the overall back-story is taking. I hope I am wrong, because all of that just adds up to being depressing.
I really enjoy this series, and this installment does not disappoint. Although you expect an happily-ever-after ending. I also find the continuing war between the shifter species interesting and look forward to continuing to see how it turns out. My only complaint is that it could have been fleshed out better. If the story was longer the entire plot would have come together more cohesively.
Book 14 is Russell's story - he was cast out from his pack for being gay. He built his own (criminal) pack from rogue shifters and is now powerful and wealthy. He meets Dalton, a sweet, innocent Lynx shifter and they fall for each other. Dalton is determined that Russell does have some good in him although the other felines are less convinced - including Shane and Trevor (Dalton's guardians). This was a very sweet story with some conflict. The end is a little rushed but it still left me smiling.
I liked it but I think I expected a bit more. Dalton was adorbs although sometimes he came off much younger than he actually is (it didn't help that he was treated like a kid by certain people). I wished we'd gotten more background on Russell and why he's such a "big bad" b/c honestly...in all the previous books CHRIS is the one who comes off like a total tool, untrustworthy and a user/loser. Russell was definitely morally grey but he never tried to out and out manipulate and betray the coalition like Chris. Just saying lol.
Stephani Hecht is a terrible writer. I don't feel like pulling any punches here, because to do otherwise would be a disservice to my fellow readers. These books are awful, but have their own compelling pull. I wanted to carry on to see what happened next, even though the writing was making me insane, the characters were all the same, and the sex was becoming incredibly redundant. It wasn't until I got to the third book based on Shane (seriously, again?), that I finally hit a wall and couldn't read any more. It was (sorta) fun while it lasted.
I was expecting more. This looked too easy, no bumps in the road.
Our bad guy is way too good. We don't see no bad side and how they overcome that. An attempt with the gun selling looked poor - easily put behind.
I was actually surprised than I saw that I am already 70% in the book. Since I felt like it was just a beginning, everything is still ahead, since nothing really happened. The ending was abrupt.
This was a cute addition to the series. I love how Russell changed his life for Dalton. He fell hard and fast for him as did Dalton for Russell.
The writing and plot is pretty standard for the series. I know other think it is not a great read but I really enjoy it. This makes a nice comfort read and the ending...well that just tops it all:)
I'm a sucker for the redeemed bad guy and in this one Russell, mafioso boss of a sort, has decided to go straight in order to win innocent Dalton. The who sub-story of the Raven's changing their plan and attacking humans and letting it be revealed that they are shifters is adding a new angle to the over-arching story-line. I can't wait until Tobias' story comes up.
I don't expect a masterpiece when reading a book in this series, but it's usually pleasant escapism. This one though gets a lower than usual rating because of the editing, especially in the first part of the book. Otherwise it's the usual formula, and there is nothing unexpected going on here, though there are some plot holes I hope will be addressed in future books.
This entertaining continuation in the Lost Shifters is one of my favorites of the series so far. Turns out Russell isn't really as bad as even he thought and Dalton is a cutie. I liked them as a couple very much. I'm looking forward to seeing how the change in the Ravens plays out.
I really enjoyed this story. Dalton and Russell were pulling as character and as mates. The plot was rather sweet and easy, but well written and comical. I liked it. I really hope, there will be a story about Colby, too. I'm looking forward for it.
Russell and Dalton. Kind of hoping for more from these two. Maybe more background on Russell? I wanted to hear about all of the stuff he did in the past. Again, isn't Dalton too old to have guardians? I don't get it.