The Wolf's Tiger

Pack Mates #3

by Lynn Tyler

All Grayson Mitchell, a wolf shifter, wants to do is raise his nieces in peace and maybe get a full night’s sleep while he’s at it. But between his job as an emergency room nurse and the demands of the three little girls, sleep seems far off. He needs someone who can help him out with the girls, and a nanny seems like the ideal solution.

Shannon Cho is a tiger shifter who was banished from his pride for being too powerful. But he doesn’t want to lead. He wants to devote his life to children. Answering an ad for a nanny is the opportunity he’s been waiting for.

But what happens when the two men cross the line between employer and employee? Will love flourish? Or will the secret that’s been kept from the Smooth Rock Falls pack tear everything apart?

This title has been previously published.

Genres: M M Romance, Shapeshifters, Paranormal, Romance, Gay, Fantasy, LGBT

234 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 22, 2013

Reviews

[Meags · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

I'm so happy I picked this series back up again because this was a really enjoyable addition to the Pack Mates stories. In fact, I believe this to be the best in the series (thus far).

From previous stories, I already knew I'd like Grayson's character and I was eager to finally watch this guy get his HEA. Since the last story, Gray has suffered the loss of his twin sister and her husband and is now the guardian of his three very cute, very rambunctious little nieces. He's overwhelmed and not particularly handling everything all that well, so he decides to hire a full-time live-in nanny to help with the children.

Enter Shannon. Shannon is a tiger shifter who has recently been banished from his own pride for being gay. He's an extremely powerful shifter, but he loves working with children and, luckily, he fits in effortlessly with Gray and the girls in a way that feels right for all involved. Gray and Shannon make a great team, and along with the girls they all begin to function as a happy family unit.

Needless to say, Gray and Shannon fall in love in the process and it's all very sweet and romantic and most definitely hot once things progress to the bedroom. I enjoyed watching these two and their slow-burn romance. It was less insta-lovey than I'm used to in my shifter reads and I actually appreciated that here. Of course, there was still plenty of hot sex and eventual mate claiming, but it wasn't rushed and I loved that.

I also love the strong bonds and the great family vibes that the Smooth Rock Falls pack have. I'm not sure if I've ever enjoyed a shifter packs dynamics in a book series as much as I enjoy the relationships shown in this series. The feelings of loyalty and friendship and, most importantly, family, are all really well-developed and explored, and I can't help but gobble it all up with gusto.

I'm looking forward to continuing on and reading about Justin and Michael in the next instalment. Bring it!

[Serena Yates · Rating 4 out of 5]

As far as I am concerned, this third book in the 'Pack Mates' series is the best so far. Not only do some of the characters from the previous books come back so I can see how they're doing, but there are also some major revelations and two great new main characters. I mean, who can resist a big, bad werewolf who has three small girls to raise, not to mention the super hot tiger manny who comes in to save the day? I certainly can't!

Grayson does the best he can with his young nieces, but managing three young children while working all hours as an ER nurse is not easy. Grayson has the help of other members of his pack (especially Alpha Declan and his mate Quinn), but he is proud and hates asking for help all the time. So he decides to hire a nanny - only to find one of the most powerful tiger shifters around applying for the position. It may take Grayson a while to get used to the man, but he isn't complaining!

Shannon has been kicked out of his pride because he is so powerful the alpha felt threatened. Power is the last thing he wants though, he loves kids and when he gets hired by Grayson, he is over the moon. The scenes between him and Declan are hilarious - Shannon exudes so much power, the alpha could easily feel threatened. Luckily Declan is secure in his leadership and can see how much Shannon doesn't want to take over Smooth Rock Falls pack.

If you like shifter stories with cross-species matings, if you enjoy reading about men who try to raise young children on their own, only to admit they need help, and if you're looking for a cute, exciting, and definitely hot read, then you will probably like this novella.

[Susan]

DNF at 35%

From the blurb:

Shannon Cho is a tiger shifter who was banished from his pride for being too powerful. But he doesn’t want to lead. He wants to devote his life to children.

Right…..

I had a hard time believing that big bad Shannon had been a nanny with several families and no one batted an eye at that.



And when he first enters Gray’s home, he gets left with the children, because Gray has an emergency with the baby and her diaper. Of course, I do this all the time, invite a stranger into my home and then leave him alone with my kids. Very good parenting.

But I was willing to overlook all of these things if I wasn’t bored out of my mind. I have 3 kids myself and the last thing I want to read about is every single minute of them taking care of the kids. I got enough poopy diapers and vomit to last me a lifetime, thank you.

[DaisyGirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 Stars

This one is my favorite so far. Since meeting Grayson in book 2, I was hoping for his story. Happily Lynn Tyler did not disappoint. I enjoyed that Shannon was a tiger shifter banished from his pride for being too powerful. I also loved Gray's nieces. Family stories always hold a special place in my heart.

This was the longest book to date and I mention this fact for two reasons: 1) the characters and storyline were more well-developed; and 2) bang for your buck. I was beginning to worry that around 100 pages, these stories weren't worth the price of admission. Fortunately, this one was well worth every penny.

Bottom line: An entertaining shifter series. Can't wait for book 4.

[Valerie ❈M/M Romance Junkie❈ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this quite a bit. Definitely more than the first few in the series. Now on to the next one!

[Ramona · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 Sterne
Toller Band einer wirklich spannenden Reihe. Drama, Sex und viel Gefühl und natürlich jede Menge besitzergreifende Wandler :)

[Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was on the uber sweet side. I liked Grayson and Shannon together. They were adorable as was their relationships with the girls in their care. Gray's nieces were cute. I liked that Shannon was a over aggressive tiger with such a sweet paternal side as a nanny.

[T.M. Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in a series that I highly recommend you read in order to fully appreciate the storyline and the various characters.

Grayson Mitchell (Gray) is a wolf shifter, ER nurse and unexpected new father. His sister and brother in law were killed in an accident leaving him the primary care giver for his three young nieces. Declan and Quinn, Gray’s alpha and the alphas mate, are really pitching in and helping as much as they can, as well as the other members of the Smooth Rock Falls pack. But there is only so much they can do and Gray soon realizes he’s going to need some help.

Shannon Cho is perfectly happy on his own. As a Tiger shifter it’s in his nature to be a loner. He was forced out of his pride because of his strength, although it was all for not, because Shannon doesn’t want to lead anyone. He just wants to care for children, it’s what he loves and he’s good at it. He answers Gray’s ad for a nanny and is hired pretty much on the spot, with Declan’s approval of course.

The attraction is immediate and mutual, but neither Gray nor Shannon want to cross that line at the start. Chemistry can only be denied for so long and soon the overwhelming pull they feel to one another wins. They settle into a comfortable relationship and they both fight to urge to claim the other as their mate. A dinner with the other pack members one night proves to everyone just how powerful Shannon truly is when he perceives Gray to be in danger.

But there is more still. All the while Gray, Shannon and the girls are adjusting to a new lifestyle and the pack is getting accustomed to the new Tiger in their midst; an old enemy is dancing in the shadows. Declan puts the pack on lock down when they find evidence that Shannon and the girls are in danger. When their enemy puts Gray’s life in danger, said enemy better watch out, because he now has a four hundred pound tiger on his ass!

I do love this series, I’ve become completely invested in all the shifters from the Smooth Rock Falls pack, and this newest installment did not disappoint! Action, suspense, sticky sex, intrigue and waffles were just floating off the pages. The interactions between the characters as the pack faced a threat to one of their own and quickly went into protection mode. And then Gray, Shannon and the girls getting to know one another and becoming a strong family unit somewhere along the way. It was all woven together seamlessly and the writing flowed consistently from start to finish. I devoured this book in one setting.

If you are a fan of strong alpha males, gay shifters, steamy romance and some intense action then the Pack Mates series is a must read.

[Matthew · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was... kinda an interesting concept. The tiger shifter and the wolf shifter. The manly, dominant baby sitter. The kids were... decently handled, although I think the older girls acted a couple years older than they were supposed to. Spoke too well. But none of that was a major issue.

This book almost has me convinced to quit the series because there didn't seem to be any editing. Grayson Mitchell works impossibly long hours at random times at a nurse. Because that is how hospitals work? I've known nurses all my life. Typically, hospitals have 3 shifts, the 'morning' shift, the 'evening' shift, and the 'graveyard' shift (overnight). Just like other places that are open overnight. No employer works people much longer than 8 hour days. It's really hard to get to 40 hours if you're having employees work 12 hours shifts usually, as this book does. Over 40 hours and overtime applies, which no employer likes to pay. But according to the book, the nurse works 12 hours a day, nights, for two weeks and then has two days off and switches over to days. Well... first... that's way too many hours. Second, the hospital has to rotate days off. They can't have regular weekends. On the other hand, hospitals don't usually rotate shifts. Messing up your sleep schedule every two weeks is really hard on the body. They have a regular crew of nurses for each shift. A nurse may sometimes cover someone else's shift at a different time, but most nurses most of the time have a regular work schedule. And then, it seems like half the time Grayson is working half-shifts without any explanation.

And then there's Shannon. He's hired as a full-time live-in nanny. As an employee, he obviously gets a little time off. But they quickly become mates and lovers. But there's no discussion of him working outside the house ever. The community has a daycare. And Grayson was taking care of the children on his own for a month. There's no reason Shannon shouldn't be able to have a job.

Lastly, there were all sorts of lazy grammatical errors throughout this book. And a new idea about Quinn that was totally unnecessary. And a new idea about rogue wolves that was also out-of-place. This book was totally half-baked.

[Jeanne 'Divinae' · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay. It was 2.5. I raised my rating to 3 because, despite its flaws, I really do like the this series. What this author needs is a proofreader. There are simple mistakes that can/could be easily fixed. For example, Grayson's twin sister. Her name is Miranda, but sometimes it was Mariah. Additionally, somtimes names where mixed up. Shannon instead of Gary and vice-versa. It was a little confusing, until you figured out 'Oh, wrong name was used by mistake.' I also couldn't picture them very well in my mind, especially Shannon.

Even with these flaws, I liked the story. In this continuation, we focus on Gray and him finding his mate. Gray had gone on a few dates with Micah before he hooked up with Shea. Gray is a good man. He suddenly ends up with a family. His twin sister and husband died and he was left full guardianship of this young nieces: the oldest being five and the youngest being six months. He was drained. He worked full-time, plus overtime working as ER nurse. Finally, he decided to hire a nanny.

In came Shannon. He was a loving, loyal, strong tiger-shifter. He was exiled from his pride. The reason given was because he was gay. The real reason was because he was a very powerful shifter. He could easily take over any pack/pride if he choose too. He doesn't though. He just wants to find love and work with kids. So, he was excited when he found a shifter advertising for a nanny. He got the job.

Life was going pretty well. Shannon fits into Gray's family very well. As we watch their love blossom, the drama continues. The Thunder Bay pack was bringing bad news again. The Alpha from that pack has his own plans. Also we found out something about Quinn. He isn't really a submissive. He was something more rare than that.

Like, I said, even with the flaws, I still plan on continuing the series.

[Jo * Smut-Dickted * · Rating 4 out of 5]

For whatever reason I've been on a shifter kick lately. I've been laid up with a running injury and all the resting of my knee is driving me a bit stir crazy so I've been picking my kindle back up to read more MM smutty goodness. I've been doing loads more non fiction reading in my field so I have some criteria for my current reading; namely it should have pretty hot sex, it should be part of a series so I can mindlessly binge as needed, and I don't want a ton of angst or drama. I do like a little saving - so damaged souls should apply.

This series has all that and more. I'm enjoying the characters and the development of the pack. Getting familiar with new shifters and meeting old one's again in each book has kept me interested. I'm getting ready to start #4 next. The kids here are also part of the story and don't fall into the stupid traps set by so many authors. They were integral but not overly cutesy nor overly obnoxious...you really got a "normal everyday family life" vibe here..well relatively speaking..I mean it's a book on mm shifters ....

I think I enjoyed Shannon best of all - I mean Tiger..like hells yeah:) This one had some external drama but not so much it overshadowed what was happening. I thought the dominance part was done well - neither wolf nor tiger came off doing a 180 or inauthentic and the balance was great. These are the perfect summer reads - nothing stressful but not boring, an ok length, and fun mm smut. I'm Lovin' them.

[Beth doesn't write enough reviews · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a problem with this one.

Why does someone have to die in order for a gay man to raise kids? It seems like almost every m/m book I read about a gay man raising children they were given custody when the parents were killed. There are a few exceptions thankfully but not enough in the genre.

Yes, it's the premise for Gray to be overwhelmed for hiring Shannon as the nanny. I get that, I do. I'm just tired of authors who can't think of another reason for a gay man to be a parent than the untimely accidental death of the children's parents.

Other than that it was a sweet story, the children were adorable if annoyingly perky and Shannon was sexy as hell.

[Candice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best of the series so far! LOVED Shannon and Gray :) Loved the girls names too, Honor, Hope and Faith! Is it bad that I wanted to see Shannon go "tiger"shit more and show his full power?

With the new discovery I wonder if the Smooth Rock Falls pack will have more issues? Sounds like it.

There was a name confusion (Gray talking with Shea on the phone called the lawyer, Jason, but everywhere else he was Justin). But, I DO want to know more about the mysterious Justin Blake.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I devoured this book in one sitting! I have a book hangover today :)
Gray the wolf/ER Nurse is overwhelmed with caring for his new family of nieces! Enter Shannon the tiger nanny to the rescue! This book has it all. The guys are drawn to each other from the beginning but it simmers for a while before they act on it. The kids adorable but not overly done in the book. I didn't read the previous books but was not ever lost in the story line. Enjoyed this one!

[Sandra]

This was well on its way to being 4* to 4.5*, there were editing issues disappointed me. 2 different character had their name change, more than once! And there was the dreaded you're / your mistake.. just to name a few.

[Sabi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked it. I couldn't put it down till I finished it.

[Ericka Walden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this much more than the previous one and I'm looking forward to the next one.

[Kristy Maitz · Rating 3 out of 5]

That was really typical shifter story plot and it's really easy reading material.

[Jessica]

Loved

I loved this series since book one I can't wait for the next one lots of more characters to read.

[Natasha Lynn Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh My!!!

Lions, Tigers and Bears..... wait wait there's no lions and bears, but there is a sexy tiger and wolf and three precious little girls. Really good, the more of the series I read the more I fall in love with this pack.

[MagnusLR · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining

The writing is so so, the flow of the scenes feel a little weird and some expressions actually sounds lame but the characters were lovely, the story was interesting and it kept me wondering on the resolution. So it was good.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am absolutely in love with this series and this book is no exception. Shannon and Grayson are perfect and I love them so much!

[Shannon Boote · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

[Myth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm kind of embarrassed to admit I read this book, because it lives up to the reputation of guilty pleasure reads.

I signed on with BookBub and bought a whole bunch of ebooks in genres I wouldn't usually shop. I'm glad I found this one; though I struggled between giving it a 2 and a 3. I really feel like it should be a 2.5.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy it, but I enjoyed it for its quirkiness, everything else was sub-par as far as writing and substance. Also, the bad guys aren't interesting and I love evil, terrible bad guys. And complex protagonists who are unreliable and struggle with their own evils. Obviously, the characters in this book were safe. It wouldn't have been appropriate for them not to be in this genre and story line.

What interested me about this and was a lot of fun was the fact that they were shape shifters and there's this whole culture surrounding that on top of almost all the characters being gay males. I liked that and also found the two main characters' backgrounds interesting. This is the 3rd book in this series, but it was easy enough to follow without the others.

This has a very colloquial tone and style. I felt like this could be a conversation between women fangirling over a male on male fantasy. Definitely, written for women by a woman. Which is kind of funny when I don't think this meets the bar for the Bechdel test. Pretty much everything is over the top: the attraction and sex scenes mostly. It's a double edged sword; on the one hand, it's amusing, easy to digest and fast paced. On the other hand, it's so over the top and so squealy fangirl at times that it's cringe worthy and cheesy.

The style also consists of a lot of telling to wrap up loose ends and set up for the next steamy or exciting scene. Details and substance falls between the cracks. Descriptions were kind of weak and the other characters were kind of cardboard (though I know they have their own spotlight in their own books.)

I'm pretty sure I missed a few facts due to this being the first of the series I read. I don't get what was so amazing about the omegas. It was mentioned and everyone was like, "Woah, that's a big fucking deal." Did I miss a page or is it explained in an earlier book? It wasn't so out of place for the style that I questioned it too much, but it was kind of annoying.

At the end of the day, I don't think my complaints about the book are about the book, but the genre the book belongs to. For what it is, it really hit the spot and I like the shape shifter factor, so I might read another.

[Dakota Storm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love love did I say love these characters. Gray is a sexy as hell nurse, wolf shifter, uncle and now a guardian of three little girls. Love these girls too freakin cute. Shannon is a sexy as hell tiger shifter, banished from his pride, mysterious nanny. When these two meet sparks fly but they are both weary of getting involved because of the situation but as Shannon spoils Gray with dinner, dancing and his well taken care of girls the more time they spend together the more flirty and close they become. Sexy as hell, sweet, romantic, touching and did I say sexy?. I love how close the pack is, how much of a family they are, how they have each others backs. Shannon's been hurt in the past but learns even though tigers are loners he can reach out to others and feel part of a family. Love the action, the protectiveness and love between Gray and Shannon. Great secondary characters too. Great story. I would love to read more by this author. 5 stars review by Nanee of upallnightreadallday.blogspot.com

[Coral Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grayson, a wolf shifter, wants to raise his nieces in peace and maybe get a full night’s sleep while he’s at it. But between his job as an emergency room nurse and the demands of the three young girls, sleep seems far off. He needs someone who can help him out with the girls, and a nanny seems like the ideal solution. He gets a call from Shannon, a tiger shifter who was banished from his pride for being too powerful. Shannon doesn’t want to lead. He wants to devote his life to children. Answering an ad for a nanny is the opportunity he’s been waiting for. Both feel an attraction to each other but are hesitant to cross the line between employer and employee.

This is book 3 of the Pack Mates series. I enjoy that each can be read alone but add to the overall story and picture of Declan and Quinn's pack. I love Declan and Quinn and reading more about them. They care for their pack and one another. Grayson is a wonderful man and taken with the daughters of his twin sister. Shannon is caring as well, both to Grayson and the girls.

[Sierra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lynn Tyler always does a good job and I liked this just as well as the first book in the series. There are lots of characters if you haven't read any of the ones before this, but it had been a while for me and I was fine with it so I think it could be read as a standalone. First of all, let me say that I want someone like Shannon taking care of me! He is such a nurturing, organized, and protective character--not to mention truly knowing his way around the bedroom. Speaking of which...there is a lot of sex in this book but it doesn't feel like overload at all. The action ranges from slow and sexy to fast and furious. There's even a little phone sex. All of it is hot but loving, as are all the exchanges between this couple. There is almost zero angst. There is a suspense portion to the story that adds a little spice and provides a lot of the momentum of the story. For those who love kids and fantasize about being the perfect parent (or better yet having perfect live in help) this story will definitely appeal. Seed are sown for the upcoming story which looks to be intriguing.

[Hc · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another nice read.

But on to business... I thought it was OVER kill to have Shannon's tiger be more powerful than even Declan.. It kind of undermines Declan's character. Anyways.. this is like shifter version of one of the manny books I read fairly recently.. I think it's And Manny Makes Seven (Mannies Incorporated #3) Sean Michael? Oh no it's Manny To The Rescue by Trina Solet.. well one of these two..

And an intro addition to what Quinn REALLY is.. not sure that was necessary either but it does fit his character a little better. Another thing, I had questions on whether the girls know what they are yet since it seems to be unclear a bit. And not enough shifter time. The guys go most of the book without letting their animals out and I wanted to see more play time between them.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Pack Mates series have quickly become one of my favorite gay shifter series. They have a great balance of intriguing characters, an interesting paranormal/pack setting, realistic romances that draw the reader in, and a nice taste of danger or action. Combining all of these elements with some sizzling scenes makes for a great read. Indeed, I was drawn into the romantic duo in Wolf's Tiger so much I was riveted by the drama towards the end and just couldn't put the book down until I finished.

[Wende · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book, The way the three nieces were written was nice. They were very spot on. The grandparents turning out to be acting in the best interest of the children was different. What I hate was there was no communication between people. They could of been ahead of the crazy alpha if there had been. Over all I liked it and as soon as SH is over I will read the rest of the books. It was strange reading a book that is the third book in a series first.