Thanks so much Raine Gerald and Gay Romance Reviews for the book. I was given this book as an advance review copy (ARC) for free, and I am leaving this review completely voluntarily.
Raine Gerald is a new-to-me author, and this one sounded right up my alley: an arranged-marriage shifter supernatural romance starring Monte and Felix. It’s a standalone story told with dual POVs. It follows the two as they try to navigate pack politics, duty, and that inconvenient spark between them.
What I liked: the setup has instant tension (betrothed to one path, tempted by another.) I enjoyed being in both Monte’s and Felix’s heads. The chemistry is there but it felt muted. I kept waiting for that “mate-bond thunderclap” or a big emotional crescendo that never fully arrives.
Where it lost me: There are several time jumps and I still felt like nothing was actually happening. The story would skip ahead and you expect big emotional movement or plot fallout, but instead it slides back into the same tension with slightly different scenery. Also, for a werewolf/shifter book, it’s surprisingly light on the werewolf stuff. Pack dynamics are mostly in the background, and I honestly wondered if anyone shifts at all.
Spice level is relatively low in this book. If you prefer romance that simmers quietly rather than sizzles, you might vibe with it more than I did.
Happy reading friends,
~ Maebae 💚
I’m a fellow book lover reviewing the good, the bad, and everything bookish in-between. All thoughts, opinions, and reactions are completely my own. I wasn’t paid, sponsored, or influenced in any way.