Stubborn as a Shadow

Willow Lake Pack #2

by Lori Ames

This is the second book in the new Willow Lake Pack series, because the quirky supernatural small town of Willow Lake needs more happily-ever-afters! This book is about Morgan and Nelson! Finally, right? Poor Morgan has been missing long enough. It is time for our shadow jumper to find his unicorn.

Blurb to come.

*This book is expected to release earlier than it is currently shown.*

This series is a fun paranormal romance spin-off from the Willow Lake Supernaturals series. You'll find a lot of familiar characters showing up across the series, but you do not need to read that series before diving into this one. If you are curious about what happens in Willow Lake Supernaturals , you can start with Hellhounds Never Lie (Book 1).

Genres: M M Romance, Paranormal, Magic, Romance, Urban Fantasy, Shapeshifters, LGBT

365 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 6, 2026

About the author

When Lori was in elementary school, she wrote a very compelling story about a girl with a prickly personality who turned into a rose. (Sounds amazing, right?) Then she discovered romances in her teens and, well, she knew she wanted to write romances. It took her a little longer to find MM romances, but once she did, she was addicted. She lives in a small town in Alberta with her husband and an elderly black cat who might be a familiar.

Lori Ames writes MM romance with touch of magic!

Reviews

[Susi June]

3.5⭐

I can't tell if I disliked the book or loved it. I changed my opinion multiple times while reading. There were parts I was fully invested in and other parts that couldn't hold my attention at all.

I read every Willow Lake book except one and Nelson never was my favorite. I really didn't like him at the beginning of the book. He was grumpy and seemed so unhappy but for no apparent reason? After a while he went from grumpy reluctant mate to devoted to Morgan. It felt so typical? Nothing special honestly. I've seen character arcs like this so many times.
Morgan was definitely the special one. At some points though, his uniqueness felt forced and childish. He was very sheltered and I would have liked to see him to live like a normal person finally. Don't get me wrong I liked him but he also felt like other characters by the author.

That's probably my biggest problem with the book. It felt like Alphas Never Hide by Lori Ames. Sure the story was a bit different but it felt so similar overall. Thinking back, we often get a grumpy and a quirky character in her books.
I love the Willow Lake pack with all my heart but man can we get something else? To be fair, Moody As A Minotaur felt different but still, I waited for months and then it felt like a lot of her other books.

While being fated mates it was definitely a slow burn. Of course, because we have another martyr like character that decided he isn't good enough and just hides the truth. Ugh.

The storyline was interesting and the Hunter plot gets continued. Unfortunately most of the book takes place somewhere else. Like I said, I love Willow Lake and was bummed out that they weren't there. That doesn't mean we don't get to see the rest of the pack though.
Unfortunately we get a 'only one bed' scene and I'm so bored with this trope.

Random but I loved that Nelson was such a big Geocacher. It's a pretty cool hobby and I don't know if I ever saw it mentioned in another book.

Morgan's happy bubbles kinda disgusted me. The idea is super cute but aren't they just spit bubbles? Makes me want to vomit just thinking about it. Tbf I often find spit to be disgusting.

I hate spit but I really love Cloaks so I get Morgan's love for them. I also wish they get back in style.

The review sounds quite negative but I had some fun times with the book, especially when it became action-y. I'm super excited for the next one though. I like Carter a lot and shy Mcs are my kryptonite!

[Joyfully Jay]

A Joyfully Jay review.

b> 4.25 stars

Stubborn as a Shadow is the second book in Lori Ames’ Willow Lakes Pack series, as spin-off of the Willow Lakes Supernaturals series. I was super excited about this one, as it builds off some earlier events from prior books, particularly Cats Never Fly. There we see dragon shifter Ogden being held by the same kidnappers who had Morgan and the men interact. Later, the Willow Lake gang stages a rescue, but Morgan is missing. So we have had this set up for a while now and this book picks up that side plot to give us some resolution to Morgan’s fate and the romance between him and Nelson.

I really like this Willow Lake world and am enjoying where Ames is taking things in this second series. I am definitely looking forward to more.

Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.

[Mel Polk]

Another phenomenal Willow Lake book. Putting it down was harder than I thought it would be and I definitely enjoyed every single page.

I've been intrigued by Nelson from the moment he was introduced. I'd love to have had more backstory from him (I'm sorry but shadow thieves and assassins do it for me, okay?) but I get that doing so wouldn't have fit with the series so much.

This book had me laughing out loud. Morgan's shenanigans were delightful and I loved everything about him (even if I didn't always get his pop culture references). He was joy and light on the outside but was vulnerable and unsure on the inside and I think that made him a more believable character. Much like Nelson's internal struggle with his own self-worth, despite his very confident exterior.

I'm excited to see what comes next for the Willow Lake denizens. Eric sounds like he's going to be interesting but, to be entirely honest, I'm hoping Keenan and Teague have a story to share.

[Shellfish]

First, I loved this book.

Now before I get into the story,I just want to say I ship Keenan and Teague hard core. Enemies to lovers, they are fabulous. Oh my gosh I want the Teagan story asap.

Ok now to the main Event, I loved Morgan and Nelson. I was ready for Nelson’s story. To me he was mysterious and very helpful to the team. I liked that shadows and rainbows coexist. Happy and edgy, mysterious and bright, that was Morgan and Nelson.

Morgan has been through it. I feel like that is an understatement. Poor Morgan. I’m so glad he found his fated mate well rather his fated mate found him. Morgan is very funny and charming and Nelson is grumpy. They except each other completely and don’t try to change one another. There journey was a thrilling one. I couldn’t put the book down. I have received an ARC and this is my honest opinion

[Kirstine Hansen]

Nelson the shadow being finally catches up to Morgan, the Unicorn shifter who the villains whisked away when the guys took down the trafficking operation in Cats Never Fly (#4 in Willow Lake Supernaturals.)

I've been waiting for these two since 2024, but it was worth it. There's a bit of everything here, from pretty men in swishing cloaks, to a magic time traveling crystal, to our friends sharing one little (sofa)bed while being snowed in in a blizzard. Nelson finds out that his hunch about Morgan was right all along, and Morgan finally finds out where he came from.

[isthisakink]

I mean… okay. It was cute but shallow. A lot of information just didn’t exist. You barely scrape the surface of things you would really want to know about, especially since they’re important to the characters and their stories. Then there’s the overarching plot, which just didn’t get any beefing up because there wasn’t any depth or detail to anything that happened. This was basically some fluff and some confusing moments where you’re expecting and hoping for some dimension and you get shut down. Idk. Maybe my tastes have changed, but this was just not my fav. Maybe the trends have shifted and left my ancient ass behind. Who knows?

[Tam]

OMG, I loved this so much. Sparkly amazing Morgan and his fascination with cloaks was just so fun to read. He was the perfect compliment for grumpy gray Nelson. I was so happy to see Morgan get the family he was looking for, even if it was different than he'd hoped and that allowed him to really be himself and not have to hide his amazingness all the time. So fun stuff. I am very curious about the vampire. Looks like a good pairing coming up. But unless there are brightly colored cloaks, not sure it will compare. LOL

[RK Hops]

A bit repetitive and rushed, but it is an overall good time

[Demian Grimm]

Stubborn as a Shadow is the second book in Lori Ames’ Willow Lake Pack series, and I was happy to finally get Nelson’s story. It also picks up Morgan’s storyline from the earlier books, so there is a nice sense of continuity. While this can probably be read as a standalone, I think it will be more enjoyable if you already know the Willow Lake world and its characters. So, happy (added) reading! 😉

The romance is a classic grumpy/sunshine pairing, with Nelson and Morgan being complete opposites. Nelson is quiet, serious, and perfectly happy staying in the shadows, while Morgan is cheerful, naïve, enthusiastic, and basically made of rainbows and sparkles. They work well together, and I liked how Morgan brings some happiness into Nelson’s life, while Nelson gives Morgan the security and sense of belonging he has been missing. ❤️

For me, the romance was okay, but I did find it a little repetitive. 🫣 Nelson spends quite a lot of time thinking he isn’t good enough for Morgan, holding himself back because of it, and then going through the same doubts again. I understood why he felt that way, but after a while it started to feel like we were going around in circles. Once he gets past that, the relationship becomes very sweet (perhaps a little too sweet for my taste, but that's a me "problem" 😅). Although this is a fated mates pairing, the romance takes some time to develop, so it is a slow burn. Their attraction is there early on, but the emotional side develops more gradually.

I have to say, Morgan was a bit of a mixed bag for me. 😕 I liked his kindness and enthusiasm, but he was also a little too cheerful and naïve for my taste. There were times when his personality felt more childish than charming. Nelson was more my type, although I would have liked to see a little more of his personality beyond the serious and brooding side we already knew.

The suspense and action were fun, and I liked seeing the ongoing hunter storyline continue. I did wish we had gotten a little more of Morgan’s backstory and some of the unanswered questions surrounding him. I also missed Willow Lake, since quite a lot of the book takes place away from town, although the familiar characters still make appearances. 😊❤️

I do enjoy an opposites-attract pairing, and I really love Lori Ames’ Willow Lake universe, but at this point it feels like almost every couple is built around that same dynamic 🤔 (Parker and Levi being one of the few exceptions). I wouldn’t mind seeing a pairing that is a little more even-keeled next time. Hopefully Teague and Keenan (if I read their dynamic correctly 🤭) will give us something a bit different. If so, I’m really looking forward to their story! 😊

One small thing I really liked was Nelson’s love of geocaching. 🥰 It was such an unexpected and fun detail for his character, and I actually wish we had seen more of it, like Nelson going out geocaching and finding some caches.

In the end, I had a good time with Nelson and Morgan. It wasn’t a favourite of mine, but there was enough action and suspense to keep things moving, and I enjoyed catching up with the Willow Lake characters. Nelson and Morgan made a fun opposites-attract couple, even if the romance itself didn’t completely work for me.

I received a copy of this book from the author, and this is my unbiased review.

______________________

CW: violence, abduction and imprisonment, mention of mental health concerns, mention of murder including on page death of bad guys, people harming other people including murder of bad guys, guns and shooting violence, and a serious injury due to gun shot wounds.

[Abigail Beckwith]

Here's "Stubborn as a Shadow" by Lori Ames. It's the second novel in her Willow Lake Pack series, which is a spin-off of the Willow Lake Supernaturals series.

["Rainbows and darkness don't belong together, but fate has other ideas.

People use the word unicorn to describe the rarest of the rare. The thing that is more myth than reality. The thing that makes you question if it even existed.

Yeah.

Nelson knows firsthand how apt that metaphor is, because finding an abducted unicorn is about as easy as tracking down rocking-horse crap. After months of searching, all he’s found is failure. Every time he closes his eyes he imagines the poor man—Morgan—fading away somewhere, unable to escape. And that’s better than magically enhanced caffeine at keeping him awake at night.

So, when Nelson agrees to do a side job for someone at the Supernatural Council, the last person he expects to find is Morgan. But here he is at a black magic market, dressed up like a stand in for a B movie about evil witches, and Nelson knows he has to get him back to the safety of Willow Lake.

If only Morgan would listen to him.

Morgan’s dedicated his life to finding out what happened to his parents. Although that hunt has gotten people killed in the past, he can’t stop. But he is open to help. And who could better than a deliciously hot shadow jumper? Particularly when Nelson is all heroic and stuff…

Hurrah for heroes. Hmm… Maybe Morgan should try to seduce him. Because Nelson really should be rewarded for his services and, more importantly, Morgan is dying—hopefully not literally—to see a smile on the grumpy grump’s cute face."]

And the official tags (because they're the best): ["very grump needs a bit of sunshine. Cuddling during a blizzard is mandatory. Unicorns are amazing. Some shadow jumpers will never blend into the background. What is going on? Who is Rudy Tada? Everyone should wear a cloak. (Seriously, they are awesome!) It’s hard to disguise a unicorn. Oh look, there is only one bed! Oh, crap, are there supernatural hunters here too? It sucks when things aren’t all rainbows and unicorns."]

I have been WAITING for Nelson's story for soooo long! SO long. I canNOT believe that our serious and dark little shadow is falling for a sunshiny unicorn! And how utterly prefect they are together! How the darkness makes the rainbow shine brighter and the sparkles is protected by/anchored by the shadows?! Beautiful.

These two were hilarious. Morgan was fucking hilarious. He was earnest and honest and a little naïve but sooo kind and sunshiney. He made Nelson smile and relax (and go over the top with protectiveness and anything to make his mate smile). Nelson needed Morgan to help him realize how happy he could be, how much Willow Lake had become a home, how much his friends had become a family. Morgan needed Nelson to help give him a home and a family, somewhere he could be himself, all shimmering and shimmying.

Honestly, I cannot wait for Teagan and Keegan. Though getting Carter and Eric's HEA next isn't all that bad. ;)

Trigger Warnings: violence, abduction and imprisonment, mental health concerns, murder, gun and shooting violence, serious injury due to gun shot wounds, and more.

#moodyasaminotaur #stubbornasashadow #shyasasasquatch #loriames #willowlakepack #willowlakepackseries #willowlakesupernaturals #willowlakesupernaturalsseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

[Cris]

Picking up at the end of Cats Never Fly, this book gives us the answer about what happened to Morgan after he was pushed through the portal. We know from later books that Nelson searched high and low for him, scouring black markets and following every possible clue. We now know that Morgan managed to free himself, but can’t say too much since that would land squarely into spoiler territory. The general plot is established early on, and without giving away too much, the story is their journey to Willow Lake.

I’ll be completely honest: I loved reading it, and it left me with a nice feeling right after, but the more I digest it, the more mixed my feelings get. I adore Nelson; he’s been my favorite since day one. The whole team has survived so much, and all I want is for them to get their happily ever after. But Nelson’s initial approach to finding his mate tested my patience. I can tolerate a “we’re in danger, let’s get to safety before we do this” delay, but the whole “you’re too good for the likes of me” trope? I loathe it. What makes it tougher is that we never fully learn what caused that deep insecurity. We get brief glimpses, unaliving people, living in the shadows, but not enough to give us that satisfying “oh, now I get it” moment.

That said, once Nelson shifts from “I’m not good enough” to “I’ll worship the ground you walk on forever,” he becomes top-tier. He’s right up there with Adrian for best mate ever (though Nelson holds a slightly higher place in my heart).

Then there’s Morgan. I love the concept of his character; he’s genuinely sweet and always looks for the bright side. But there’s a heartbreaking twist to his positivity: he is highly aware of the consequences his emotions have on other people, basically what he feels on steroids. This means he feels like he can’t cry, can’t feel despair; he feels like any negative emotion will have catastrophic consequences for those nearby, which is a heavy burden to bear. Also, a quick side note on his laughter bubbles: they were cute at first, but the mental image of them coming out of his mouth got a bit weird for me. For my own sanity, I’m headcanon-ing that they just manifest around his head.

Despite my rants, I still really enjoyed this book. I wish we got a bit more depth on Nelson, and I want nothing but genuine, unforced joy for Morgan going forward. I hope he learns to harness his powers to protect himself and others, unleashing his full potential to make Willow Lake a true safe haven for everyone.

[Kristina]

Thank you Lori Ames for providing me with a free advance reader e-copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Nelson, a shadow jumper, is attempting to settle into life at Willow Lake but is unable to give up his search for Morgan, an abducted unicorn. As a favour to an ex-colleague at the Supernatural Council he takes a protection job at a secret black magic market, only to discover his mark is a terribly disguised Morgan attempting to obtain a rare crystal. Now that Nelson has the unicorn, he has to get him back to the safety of Willow Lake. Only there’s a blizzard moving in, baddies are after them, and an empty wood cabin appears to be their sole option of shelter. A cabin with only one bed, gulp!

What I liked:
Finally! We get to see Nelson have a chance at love! I’ve been intrigued by him since he appeared in the Willow Lake Supernaturals series. This was an incredibly fun grumpy/sunshine romance. I absolutely adored Morgan, and his quirky inner monologue gave Jeremy (see “Wolves Always Bite”, WLS book 2) a run for his money! The plot was a fantastic collection of tropes that still managed to feel fresh. As always, it’s nice to catch up with the Willow Lake Pack regulars and I am looking forward to seeing who will be meeting their fated mate next.

What didn’t work for me:
While I understand the reasons behind Nelson’s reservations, his internal soliloquies about it became repetitive and slightly self-absorbed.

Final thoughts: A satisfying addition to the Willow Lake world.

Who would enjoy this: People who like grumpy/sunshine romance, snowbound cabins, and fated mate tropes, all set in a cosy paranormal community.

This is book 2 of the spin-off series "Willow Lake Pack". While each book focuses on a different couple, to avoid spoilers, I would highly recommend reading them in order starting with the books from "Willow Lake Supernaturals".

[Kurohagi]

I love this author, who once again delivers a magnificent work. Lori AMES wields words to perfection, bringing us magic, feelings, emotions, and humor.
The story could be very dark—and in some ways, it is. Nelson isn’t exactly a fun character to begin with, and he tends to lose his humanity as despair takes hold of him. But Morgan, despite his situation and all the complications, is incredibly optimistic and terribly funny—he’s made for life in the chaos of Willow Lake. When it comes to “opposites attract,” Morgan and Nelson are a perfect—almost caricatured—example. In fact, their personalities perfectly embody their magic.
A delight to read, with characters who are as well-developed and incredibly endearing as ever.
And it’s always fun to reconnect with characters from previous books. I’m already looking forward to reading the next one!
Read it to your heart’s content… With tissues, because you’re going to cry from laughter and emotion!

-------

J'adore cette autrice qui nous offre une fois encore un magnifique travail, Lori AMES manie les mots à la perfection pour nous donner de la magie, des sentiments, des émotions et de l'humour.
L'histoire pourrait être très sombre, elle est sur certains aspects, Nelson n'est pas un personnage très fun de base et il a tendance à perdre son humanité alors que le désespoir le gagne. Mais Morgan malgré sa situation, malgré les complications est d'un optimisme démesuré et terriblement drôle, il est fait pour vivre dans le chaos de Willow Lake. Dans le genre "opposés qui s'attirent", Morgan et Nelson en sont un exemple parfait, presque caricatural. D'ailleurs, L'un et l'autre représentent parfaitement dans leur personnalité leur magie.
Un plaisir de lecture, des personnages toujours aussi bien travaillés et terriblement attachants.
Et c'est toujours fun de retrouver les personnages des précédents bouquins. J'ai déjà hâte de lire le prochain !
A lire sans modération... Avec des mouchoirs parce que vous allez pleurer de rire et d'émotions !

[Flick]

Morgan and Nelson were such a sweet couple!

I really do love this world and the characters within it. I was excited to read Nelson and Morgan’s story especially given how hard Nelson had been trying to find Morgan. I really felt for Nelson; he’s grown up being told how he should exist purely because of what he is and it’s hard to fight against that invading how you perceive yourself. His belief that he was all darkness made me want to give him a mental hug (he and I share not being into hugs from most people lol). It was heartbreaking seeing him try to convince himself Morgan deserved better. I would say, I didn’t really view him as grumpy. To me he more came across as depressed; he was dealing with a lot all at once. He’d had a sudden massive change in his life (retirement), a feeling of constant failure (not finding Morgan), and the desperate desire to matter whilst also being intensely introverted and struggling with connecting. I thought his shadow side’s desire to lose itself in shadows was actually a really good metaphor for depression. You want to be a part of your world but at the same time there’s this insistent feeling that you should just disappear into nothingness. Once he accepted that he and Morgan were mates and that he wasn’t going to ‘taint’ him, I loved the two of them together. Morgan has such a lovely sweetness to him that he drew Nelson out and helped him see that shadows are made of both light and dark. I also loved Morgan’s gentleness - he had been through a lot and he absolutely could have drowned in the understandable grief over what had happened but he chose to look forward and simply be who he was. I can’t wait for the next book!

[Marion]

This is the second book in the Willow Lake Pack series. This series is a spin-off from the Willow Lake Supernaturals series. While you could read this book as a standalone, I would recommend reading the series in order to get the most out of it. I have been looking forward to this story and I was not disappointed. This is the story of Morgan and Nelson. Morgan is a unicorn shifter who is a total ray of sunshine and happiness. He also managed to get abducted while searching for the persons responsible for his parents death. Being a rare unicorn shifter, Morgan is a valuable magical asset. Nelson is a shadow jumper. He has been searching for Morgan since he knew of his abduction. Morgan is used to the dark and wants to protect Morgan from all that he can. He wants Morgan to remain light. This is their story. The book is very well written and easy to read. I received a complementary advanced review copy of this book from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review. As with all the previous books by this author, there is a lot of found family essential to the story. I loved all the secondary characters. Both Morgan and Nelson brought out the best in each other; as fated mates are apt to do. This is a sweet story that has lots of plot to keep it moving along. I sat down and read the entire book, cover to cover, in one sitting. This is another wonderfully written book in this series. I loved it just as much as the other ones. This series just keeps getting better. Highly recommend this book as an excellent five star read.

[Tammy Moldovan]

Love and fluffer knuckle sparkle blast

Nelson and Morgan’s grumpy/sunshine, dark/light fated mates romantic suspense story was delicious perfection. Reading this story just made my romance loving heart so happy, my insides felt just like Morgan’s iridescent joyful bubbles. I’m not sure anybody could resist the sparkling joy that is Morgan, not even dark as shadow Nelson. Nelson is a shadow shifter. He used to work for the Supernatural Counsel and now lives in Willow Lake, a supernatural friendly town along with his former team. He has been looking unsuccessfully for an abducted unicorn shifter for a long time, ever since his team helped break up a supernatural trafficking ring. Morgan is a unicorn shifter who has been searching for a specific crystal since his uncle was killed and he was captured. Unbeknownst to Nelson, while he is doing a side job at a black magic market for a SC contact, he’s about to serendipitously encounter Morgan. Unfortunately, Nelson is not the only one hunting Morgan. What would make a love story about a sparkly unicorn mated to a scowly shadow even better? Throw in a blizzard, isolated cabin, and only one bed amidst all the bad guys, the danger, and the found family. Love, danger, and forever all wrapped up in a rainbow. I am loving this series and am so happy that Nelson finally found his unicorn. I a, ready for all the HEAs in Willow Lake.

[CatOnABlueBackground]

Second in the Willow Lake Pack series, this time it's Moran, the unicorn and Nelson the shadow-jumper who find themselves as fated mates.

Morgan has been in a cage for a very long time (we've run into him in previous books), but this time he finally gets free. Nelson has been hunting for him at the request of his dragon-shifter friend. They find each other at a supernatural market (by accident), figure out they are fated mates, and spend most of the book trying to figure out why the hunters are after Morgan. You should really read the other books, as there are so many people and plot points that are a continuation of what has happened before.

It's impossible not to love Morgan. He's a swishy, bouncy, happy, prancing unicorn that burps bubbles when he laughs. Nelson is the grump to his sunshine, but Nelson can't help but love him too. There's a lot of found family in this, as the Willow Lake Pack continues to grow. Medium to low spice - this is more about the plot than the sex part of the romance. Read this all in one afternoon - too much fun to put down. Looking forward to more.

[Cindi]

I have been waiting for Nelson and Morgan's story, and Stubborn as a Shadow did not disappoint! This is a classic grumpy/sunshine romance, with Nelson being the shadowy grump and Morgan the Unicorn bringing all the sunshine and even some literal rainbows.
I absolutely loved how low angst this story was. There were plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, but it was the sweetness of Nelson and Morgan's relationship that really stole my heart. I love a good fated-mates story and watching these two find their way to each other was just wonderful.
And of course, the found family is one of my favorite parts of the Willow Lake series. I especially loved how quickly Willow Lake welcomed Morgan and accepted him like he had always been part of the family. Those little interactions with the rest of the characters add so much to the story.
This can definitely be read as a standalone, but if you haven't read the Willow Lake series yet, you're missing out on so many wonderful and endearing characters that continue to show up throughout the books. I highly recommend this one!
I received an advance review copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

[Emilyrose]

3.5 stars.

I'm glad Nelson finally got the chance to catch up with his mysterious unicorn Morgan who we first saw in Cats Never Fly. I liked the descriptions of Nelson's shadow jumping since it is so different from all the other shifters and magical beings we've encountered so far in Willow Lake. When Morgan and Nelson were together, they definitely represented the grumpy-sunshine trope. Morgan was a sweet character who embodied the notion of rainbows and joy but sometimes I found his naivety frustrating, especially his lack of awareness and talent for putting himself in danger. They had good chemistry together and the pace of the story was good with plenty going on. Some of the later action points were a bit predictable towards the end of the book and I was very much shouting at my kindle about them being so reckless and silly. I'm glad the pair got their HEA though. What I'm really intrigued and excited by is the hints that were dropped about Teague and someone who certainly seemed to get under his skin! I hope there's more to come from him soon and I look forward to seeing where things head next in Willow Lake.

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

[Ana Silva]

I need more unicorn shifter stories! Morgan had me cracking up every time he was excited because the amount of silly words and phrases that came out of his mouth were just hilarious.

I figured it would take a person full of light to be Nelson’s mate. He needed that contrast to make him whole. His darkness didn’t consume him whenever he was with Morgan. His reluctance to entertain any thoughts of being with him were valid because he didn’t think he deserved someone as precious as Morgan.

I loved that Morgan wasn’t having any of it. He wouldn’t allowed Nelson to think he wasn’t good enough for him. There was no way he would let Nelson go once he realized they were mates.

They had quite the adventure trying to get Morgan to safety. Being a unicorn really was a danger to Morgan’s safety. Everyone wanted a piece of him for the wrong reasons. However, Nelson just wanted to keep him safe even before he knew who Morgan was to him.

There were some dicey moments that had me feeling anxious but I knew that we would get a well-deserved HEA. I mean, it was a unicorn story! If it didn’t have a happy ending, I think we’d have rioted against Lori😆

Super cute story. Really enjoyed it.

[Dyana]

Another Great Story in the Willow Cove Family!!

Overall Opinion:
Loved this, just like all of the other characters in this fluffy spin-off and the OG series! I've been waiting for Nelson and Morgan to finally get their book, and it was so much fun to watch Morgan make Nelson smile against his will. Lol

I absolutely adore Morgan. His little wiggles and shimmies and bubbly laughs along with the most colorful wardrobe in all the land make him such a fun character to get to know. He's the only one who could get Nelson to relax and enjoy the life he accidentally built in Willow Cove.


Thoughts/Recommendations:

A really great choice for those into paranormal MM romance with plenty of fluff, a low-angst relationship, medium heat, and a little danger. HEA all the way!!

I absolutely adore Morgan. His little wiggles and shimmies and bubbly laughs along with the most colorful wardrobe in all the land make him such a fun character to get to know. He's the only one who could get Nelson to relax and enjoy the life he accidentally built in Willow Cove.

[Suzanne Irving]

Morgan gets a Shadow

Morgan was in a book in a previous series about Willow Lake and as Lori Ames says he was too fabulous a character not to write about. He is an absolutely fantastic character and he is a hoot to read, especially the very creative curses he uses. I don’t think Ms Ames has him repeat himself even once and they are funny. I love that even though Ames has portrayed him as naive, she makes sure that he never comes across as stupid or just silly. It’s always just that his outlook and lack of experience makes his thought processes funny, but always sweet.
I liked how Ames took the snowed in and only one bed tropes and had these two guys make such progress in their relationship. Of course things change as soon as they get to Willow Lake. I can’t wait to see what Ames does with Morgan and who he is in future books because she is good at having characters reappear in later books just like we see a lot of other characters in this book. I love how everything and everyone ties together.

[Wayne Blood]

Reviewing an ARC copy.

It’s been a year since we were in the Willow Lake world, so it took me a couple of chapters for my brain to reengage into the world. Lori was quite helpful in reminding us where we were without it ever feeling like an info dump.

I’ll be honest, I found Morgan to be a little annoying at first, but he quickly grew on me. After the meet-not-so-cute happens, the story quickly becomes a page-turner. (I read 65% of the book in one evening)

Once they are on the same page, Morgan and Nelson are absolutely adorable together. Nelson may be a bit overprotective, but Morgan most definitely needs that. The affection between the two of practically leaps off the page, and not gonna lie, I teared up a time or two.

The hunters continue to be a pain in the ass, but at least there’s a bit of retribution here.

All in all, an absolutely terrific addition to the Willow Lake Universe.

[Cynthia M Brow]

Stubborn as a Shadow is the second book in the Willow Lake Pack series. This series is a spin-off from the Willow Lake Supernaturals series. This book can be read as a standalone but in my opinion it is better to read the Willow Lake Supernaturals series and the first book in this series to get the most out of the story. This is the story of Morgan a unicorn shifter and is a shadow jumper. I have waited a while for Nelson's story and it was definitely worth the wait. I couldn't put this book down once I started it. This was an amazingly sweet and wonderful story with plenty of sunshine, darkness, found family, and mostly lots of love. Nelson and Morgan bring out the best in each other which is what fated mates should do. I loved all the characters and the world building that went into this book. The plot kept me turning the pages. I would definitely recommend this book and series as 5 star reads.
received a free review copy

[Lori Bingham]

Review of advanced copy received by Author

Stubborn as a Shadow is a jump back into the Willow Lake world. To say I have been waiting patiently for Nelson and Morgan’s story would be a lie, because I have not been patient. I have been ready for Morgan’s story since he was pushed through that portal a year ago. This story is about 2 guys that could not be more different. Nelson is brooding and grumpy. He is not happy with his life. Whereas Morgan is sunshine personified. He is able to be happy and joyful even in the hardest of times. Nelson has been searching for Morgan after he was pushed through a portal and disappeared during the rescue mission. Morgan was able to escape but did not know Nelson was searching for him. I love the way the book was also a reunion of both the Willow Lake Supernaturals series and the Willow Lake Pack. I felt there was a great mix of suspense and romance without being predictable.

[mlw830]

Describing the book is a disservice, it needs to be experienced, so be sure to you have cleared your schedule as this is one not to be put down. And if you haven't previously, binge the whole Wlllow Lake series beforehand so you are prepared for this one.
Shadow shifter Nelson has spent years searching for a kidnapped unicorn shifter, never expecting to find him during a routine assignment at a black-magic market. Morgan has been searching for a mysterious crystal since his uncle’s death and his own capture, but dangerous people are still hunting him. When fate reveals they’re mates, the brooding former Supernatural Counsel operative and the radiant unicorn must navigate deadly enemies, a blizzard, an isolated cabin, and one very inconvenient bed. As danger closes in, Nelson and Morgan discover that their unlikely bond may be exactly what they need to find love, safety, and a forever together.

[Lois]

4.25 Rainbow Sparkles 🌈 🦄

It's so lovely to be be back with the gang at Willow Lake. Morgan was adorably clueless, innocent, naive? Difficult to tell really, but he sure was full of rainbows and sparkles and ridiculous swear words - "Fluffer knuckle sparkle blast" was my favourite. Even when his life was in danger, he seemed unable to grasp the seriousness of the situation. For the most part that was loveable, but he did feel a little shallow at times. Nelson, was the absolute opposite and definitely needed someone to bring some light and joy to his world. They were absolutely perfect together. The story was fun, with just the right amount of tension to keep you engaged. The mystery was surprising, but so right. We also met some new characters I hope to see again in future stories.

[Sharon L]

"He could be my overprotective sidekick. Every hero needed one, right?"

This is book 2 in the series Willow Lake Pack by Lori Ames. What an adorable story. I wouldn't expect anything less than adorable, from Lori Ames, especially when writing about a unicorn. All her "special and unique" characters are written in such a way that you can't help falling in love with them.

This book had so many laugh-out-loud moments. I had to stop and wipe my eyes a couple of times to get the tears out of them from laughing so much. Even the chapters had cute and funny names.

"Great galloping giraffes!" I can't wait for Carter and Eric's story.

Grumpy/sunshine, just a lonely unicorn looking for his family, a shadow jumper tempted to fade into the shadows, fated mates, found family, boring black is not a color, capes really do need to come back in style

[Molly Otto]

After losing his parents Morgans life mission is to find out how they passed. Since than he has only relied on Violet and his uncle so when the dark Nelson enters his life he has a hard time trusting him that he may be in danger and could Willow Lake really be his sanctuary. When Nelson is asked by the Supernatural Council to do a side job he doesn’t expect to find the man he’s been searching for all this time.
Morgans naivety and sunshiny vibes even after all he has been through makes you get why Nelson cannot stay away. Morgan did something no one has been able to do for Nelson, he was able to relax and fully accept his new beautiful life. These two may be opposites in every way, yet they just blend as the sun rises and sets every day, their bond is inevitable. Willow Lake shows this supe and his sister what it is like to be fully accepted and loved no matter who you are. It was a blast catching up with these characters once again. Next up we finally get to see Carter find and get his perfect partner in the shy Eric.

[Shana W]

This is an exciting and engaging book with nail-biting scenes, action, humour and passion. Morgan the unicorn shifter is utterly hilarious, naive, creative and over the top friendly, which puts him in constant danger. Nelson is a shadow shifter who can do marvelous things. He can't stand to see Morgan in danger, so he takes on the mantle of protector throughout. It has taken Nelson forever to find the unicorn and now he will never let him go, despite the fact that they are complete opposites, rainbows and darkness. They are fated mates, which means Nelson has trouble telling Morgan no, since he just wants to make him happy. I love all of the support and the interactions with the found family in Willow Lake. I look forward to the next book with great anticipation.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.