Beta

by Katie Vincent, Tracy Andrews, Donna Kay

"I had failed my Alpha. I knew this, and mine was the penalty to pay, that I might never know the comfort of my Mate, of finding the other half of my soul. I might dream, of a beautiful white wolf, with eyes of green. I might dream that we ran together under the moonlight, but I would never know her. Or so I thought." "It was a letter that started it, from an old friend, a plea for help. A run in the Catskills. An encounter with a white wolf on Cwn Annwn territory. A cop. A Homicide Detective. Her family who saw her only as a marriage prize even in this modern age. But she was mine. Alix was mine. Woe betide any who thought to take her from me."Bran Cadwgan is one of two Betas of the Cwn Annwn. He believed he would never be granted a Mate by the Goddess as penance for past mistakes, but discovers that he was wrong. Will he succeed in proving to both her family and his Mate that he is worthy of her sharing his life?Alix Gosselin is the only daughter of the Gosselin Alpha and his mate. She was the "Gosselin Princess" growing up in an abusive home, until she fled first to attend boarding school and then for a career in law enforcement. Her parents had proven that the myth of a mate who would love and treasure you above all else was just that, a myth. Then, she encountered a biker whilst investigating a series of female disappearances in a suspected sex-trafficking ring. Her life would never be the same again. Alix wants to believe the story she is told by her biker, but she knows her father will not let her 'throw herself away' on a 'mere biker'.Bran and Alix, both have preconceptions to overcome. Both of them will be faced with challenges. Will the growing bond between them be sufficient? Based on the legend of the Welsh Cwn Annwn, and incorporating Jo's love of myth and legend, Beta introduces a cast of Cwn Annwn, wolf shifter and human characters, weaving romance with the contemporary world. Dare you walk in our world?

Genres: Paranormal, Shapeshifters

258 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2016

Reviews

[Christy Nicholas · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s rare that a prologue can make me cry, but this one did. The details of the war and the tender sweetness were poignant.
The author has created a great world and mythos around the Welsh legends of the Cŵn Annwn, the hounds of the underworld. Working as saviors to those in need, they march along on the periphery of human society, only mixing when they need to. Alas, that means they are sometimes disconnected and when they do connect, it can be with a vengeance. Especially when a mating is ordained.
While the journal entries at the beginning of the chapters contained useful information, sometimes it was simply repetitive and not additional detail. At worst it became distracting. However, the characters and drama within the shifter groups and the underlying mystery of kidnappings still worked to weave a great tale. I especially liked Merida’s character, though I found it difficult at first not to think of the movie, Brave.
The book at first glance seemed like a derivative paranormal romance, but there is more at work here. There are family dynamics that result in interesting conflicts that are worth experiencing.

[Mary Yarde · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Negrescu Cwn Annwn pack were not like ordinary shifters. They were the spectral hounds of Annwn. They were collectors of souls.

Beta (Diaires of the Cwn Annwn Book 3) by Jo Pilsworth was certainly a compelling read. It is a real mix genre of a novel. There is family politics, vengeance, kidnapping, love. The list goes on. I loved the concept of this book, and I thought the story was refreshingly rather original. The only issue I had with this book was the rapid point of view changes which threw me out of the story more than once. And the author's use of repetition, especially with regards to the journal entries.

However, the characters came across as very real in the telling, and the story was filled with non-stop action!

[Louise Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Think I liked this book more than the others I've read from the series. Love that the pack are far more than mere shifters and Bran's pain was palpable as he blamed himself for the wrongs of the past. Loved the prologue. An insightful, heartbreaking read in itself that threaded its way through the rest of the book. The author's style is interesting and very descriptive. Could actually feel the tension between Bran and Alix as they realised they were mates. Their reisistance was futile and beautifully cemented. Lots of twists to this tale of good v evil while Bran and Alix try to unravel the disapperance of several missing women. A great read, full of passion and romance.

[Felicia Faye Leibenguth · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read!

The Diaries of the Cwn Annwn – Volume 2 by Jo Pilsworth is a bit crazy, piled with shifters and everything I love in a supernatural story. It didn't take me long to get involved and finding it hard to put down. The characters are well developed and the story line and plot are strong. The author has great writing skills, but the only complaint I have, is that I didn't like the abrupt change in point of view. It didn't take away from the story, it just would throw me for a loop for a moment.
Overall, its a great read that I highly recommend!

[Jordan Leger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will confess that werewolves are my favorite out of any supernatural books. My only regret with this book is that I am reading this series out of order. But that’s all on me.

This book is piled with wonder for me. Ordained mating, kidnapped or missing girls-possible to sex slave ring. A Goddess for guidance, too. As I read, I found myself drawn into the story line. It was truly something different. I had never read anything like it.

Side note: Beta: Diaries of the Cwn Annwn Book 2 was an easy read, even though I read backwards. It was wonderfully created and well written.

[Julie Whitley · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable and speedy race to the last page

The story continues with the Cwn Annwn of Alpha Gavril Negrescu. His betas, Bran and Owain find what has long been elusive to them amid the mysteries and dangers that are building. A string of young educated women missing, including the daughter of an old friend, and the threat of the evil members of the Gosselin pack. I’m looking forward to Book 3 to see what the outcome.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Edit please!

The premise of this book was intriguing but unfortunately everything else was bad. Misspellings, incorrect words which didn't mean what they thought they meant, constant change of povs with no indication of who was speaking, change of tense from 3rd person to 1st frequently in the same sentence! It was very frustrating to read. And this wasn't every one in a while, it was every paragraph!!!

[Cherime MacFarlane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really did enjoy the book. I had a hard time putting it down and stayed up far too long to finish it. This is one of the best shifter books I've read in a very long time. The characters were well developed and the world they inhabited as well. I don't think the cover does the story justice at all. But don't let that stop you from reading this one.

[J.F. Holland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Alix and Bran's story, and a continuation on from the previous book. I thoroughly enjoyed the story, getting to know the characters and their background and family. I look forward to the next in the series.