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The Phoenix Pack #5
Ryan Conner
La plupart des loups solitaires sont dangereux. Mais Ryan Conner doit réviser son opinion lorsqu’il rencontre Makenna Wray, qui consacre sa vie à aider des solitaires en détresse – et qu’elle lui amène un jeune cousin recueilli dans son refuge. Sensuelle et pleine d’humour, Makenna semble prendre plaisir à l’irriter, surtout lorsqu’elle refuse de parler de son passé. Ryan est persuadé qu’elle est son âme sœur – et il est bien décidé à s’unir à elle, même s’il doit pour cela faire preuve de patience. Mais lorsqu’un alpha sinistre commence à tourner autour de la jeune femme, Ryan est prêt à sortir ses griffes...
391 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 3, 2016
1493 people are currently reading
4571 people want to read
About the author
Suzanne Wright
68 books14.5k followersSuzanne Wright lives in England with her husband, two children, and her Bengal cats. When she's not spending time with her family, she's writing, reading, or doing her version of housework - sweeping the house with a look.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 981 reviews
October 14, 2018
Re-read: 10/12/18
Re-read:5/2/16
As I knew would happen, re-reading this led me to liking it a lot more than the first time.
Review upgraded to solid 4 stars.
Original ARC review:
4 Low-ish Stars
I was originally going to rate this 3/3.5 stars...
But after a second re-read...and some reflection...
...I decided to upgrade it to a low 4...
Now, being that my rating for this book (or any book, really) doesn't even fucking matter - like, at ALL - I have no idea why I put so much thought into the rating of this one when I usually just go with my initial reaction, drunkenly scribe a review filled with nonsensical gifs and jokes that sometimes make sense only to me, and call it a fucking day.
Or maybe I do have an idea, now that I think about it...
This is Suzanne fucking Wright, people.
One of my favorite authors of all time.
I read Feral Sins back when it came out in 2012 and I loved it.
Like LOVED it.
Even more than Miley apparently loves this sledgehammer.
It is the most perfect PNR shifter book that I have ever read. It just ticks all my boxes.
I even own BOTH versions of it.
The one that contains THAT scene...
...and the one with THAT scene edited out.
And I have read and re-read both so many times it's a wonder my kindle doesn't short circuit and permanently freeze on them.
After Sins, I (like many of you) have devoured every single Wright book that has come out since. And I have loved pretty much every single one of them and re-read them all ad nauseam too.
The ONLY book of Wright's that I didn't love immediately was Carnal Secrets...and yet, even THAT book I have still re-read multiple times and learned to love too, eventually upgrading my rating from 3-something to 4 solid stars.
Anyramble, my point being, there is a reason I am being moreanal fucking retentive particular about my thoughts on this one.
So bear with with me.
Per usual, Wright's writing is clear, concise, and filled with witticisms and Alpha greatness.
However, there were some differences in this story that set it apart from previous books IMO.
Ryan, the H in this book, is an Enforcer for the Phoenix Pack; but not only is he an Enforcer for the pack...
...he is like a super ninja Enforcer.
We met Ryan back in book one and he has cameo'd in every Pack book since then.
Now, I use the term "met" loosely.
Because unlike some of the other Enforcers - like Tao & his more main role in book one, and Dominic & and his gregariousness and penchent for skeezy one-liners - we never really got to know Ryan in previous books...because he never actually TALKS.
Just grunts.
Now here is what they refer to as a total "Catch 22."
Or as I like to call it...
In order for Wright to stay true to Ryan's character, he had to be pretty stoic and not all that talkative.
Meaning, I felt like I didn't really get to know Ryan until almost 50% into the book, if at all.
Which irritated me.
HOWEVER.
Knowing moi, if Wright had tried to make Ryan more sociable and easier to know, I would have been annoyed that Wright didn't keep with the characterization she created for him in books 1-4.
So, like I said:
Also, the h in this book - Makenna - is a "loner" wolf, meaning she doesn't belong to a pack.
In other words, she's not a new member of the Phoenix Pack who came from a different pack (like Taryn in Feral Sins and Shaya in Carnal Secrets), she's not a current member of the Phoenix Pack (like Jamie in Wicked Cravings), and she's not a member of the Mercury Pack - or just staying with the Mercury Pack for protection - like, respectively, Roni (Dark Instincts) or Ally (Spiral of Need).
And this made me feel like something was missing from this book.
A great deal of my enjoyment of this series - and with PNR in general - comes from the fact that the characters live in a pack. There is a sense of brotherhood, family and togetherness - and each book's couple comes together within the framework of that environment; however, in this book, because Makenna didn't come from a pack (even a hated one) and didn't really reside with the Phoenix Pack all that much (even temporarily) I felt like something was missing.
And it left me a bit cold, quite honestly.
Now, something that I really did appreciate about this book....
***Spoiler Alert***
...was the fact that Ryan realizes Makenna is his true mate pretty early on.
So often (in all of the previous Pack books - with the exception of Carnal Secrets - anyway) it seems to take them forever to realize something that I feel should be some what more...instantaneous IMO, "jammed frequency" or not.
But here, like I said, Ryan realized Makenna is true mate fairly quickly, which was refreshing...
...however, it sure seemed to take them a long fucking time to act on it.
Annoyed by this?
Anway, I did inherently enjoy this book.
I just think that the above...issues - in conjunction with a possible case of the "too high expectations" phenomenon - kept me from enjoying this book as much as I expected to - FOR NOW.
But, as I said above, I think I will only grow to love this book more after future re-reads.
And I would encourage fans of the series to give it a fair shake too.
Or don't...
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
I've been looking forward to Ryan's story for a long time now...I'm so excited, my tail might wag off my butt.
Find me at:
***ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***
Re-read:5/2/16
As I knew would happen, re-reading this led me to liking it a lot more than the first time.
Review upgraded to solid 4 stars.
Original ARC review:
4 Low-ish Stars
I was originally going to rate this 3/3.5 stars...
But after a second re-read...and some reflection...
...I decided to upgrade it to a low 4...
Now, being that my rating for this book (or any book, really) doesn't even fucking matter - like, at ALL - I have no idea why I put so much thought into the rating of this one when I usually just go with my initial reaction, drunkenly scribe a review filled with nonsensical gifs and jokes that sometimes make sense only to me, and call it a fucking day.
Or maybe I do have an idea, now that I think about it...
This is Suzanne fucking Wright, people.
One of my favorite authors of all time.
I read Feral Sins back when it came out in 2012 and I loved it.
Like LOVED it.
Even more than Miley apparently loves this sledgehammer.
It is the most perfect PNR shifter book that I have ever read. It just ticks all my boxes.
I even own BOTH versions of it.
The one that contains THAT scene...
...and the one with THAT scene edited out.
And I have read and re-read both so many times it's a wonder my kindle doesn't short circuit and permanently freeze on them.
After Sins, I (like many of you) have devoured every single Wright book that has come out since. And I have loved pretty much every single one of them and re-read them all ad nauseam too.
The ONLY book of Wright's that I didn't love immediately was Carnal Secrets...and yet, even THAT book I have still re-read multiple times and learned to love too, eventually upgrading my rating from 3-something to 4 solid stars.
Anyramble, my point being, there is a reason I am being more
So bear with with me.
Per usual, Wright's writing is clear, concise, and filled with witticisms and Alpha greatness.
However, there were some differences in this story that set it apart from previous books IMO.
Ryan, the H in this book, is an Enforcer for the Phoenix Pack; but not only is he an Enforcer for the pack...
...he is like a super ninja Enforcer.
We met Ryan back in book one and he has cameo'd in every Pack book since then.
Now, I use the term "met" loosely.
Because unlike some of the other Enforcers - like Tao & his more main role in book one, and Dominic & and his gregariousness and penchent for skeezy one-liners - we never really got to know Ryan in previous books...because he never actually TALKS.
Just grunts.
Now here is what they refer to as a total "Catch 22."
Or as I like to call it...
In order for Wright to stay true to Ryan's character, he had to be pretty stoic and not all that talkative.
Meaning, I felt like I didn't really get to know Ryan until almost 50% into the book, if at all.
Which irritated me.
HOWEVER.
Knowing moi, if Wright had tried to make Ryan more sociable and easier to know, I would have been annoyed that Wright didn't keep with the characterization she created for him in books 1-4.
So, like I said:
Also, the h in this book - Makenna - is a "loner" wolf, meaning she doesn't belong to a pack.
In other words, she's not a new member of the Phoenix Pack who came from a different pack (like Taryn in Feral Sins and Shaya in Carnal Secrets), she's not a current member of the Phoenix Pack (like Jamie in Wicked Cravings), and she's not a member of the Mercury Pack - or just staying with the Mercury Pack for protection - like, respectively, Roni (Dark Instincts) or Ally (Spiral of Need).
And this made me feel like something was missing from this book.
A great deal of my enjoyment of this series - and with PNR in general - comes from the fact that the characters live in a pack. There is a sense of brotherhood, family and togetherness - and each book's couple comes together within the framework of that environment; however, in this book, because Makenna didn't come from a pack (even a hated one) and didn't really reside with the Phoenix Pack all that much (even temporarily) I felt like something was missing.
And it left me a bit cold, quite honestly.
Now, something that I really did appreciate about this book....
***Spoiler Alert***
...was the fact that Ryan realizes Makenna is his true mate pretty early on.
So often (in all of the previous Pack books - with the exception of Carnal Secrets - anyway) it seems to take them forever to realize something that I feel should be some what more...instantaneous IMO, "jammed frequency" or not.
But here, like I said, Ryan realized Makenna is true mate fairly quickly, which was refreshing...
...however, it sure seemed to take them a long fucking time to act on it.
Annoyed by this?
Anway, I did inherently enjoy this book.
I just think that the above...issues - in conjunction with a possible case of the "too high expectations" phenomenon - kept me from enjoying this book as much as I expected to - FOR NOW.
But, as I said above, I think I will only grow to love this book more after future re-reads.
And I would encourage fans of the series to give it a fair shake too.
Or don't...
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
I've been looking forward to Ryan's story for a long time now...I'm so excited, my tail might wag off my butt.
Find me at:
***ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***
July 14, 2023
3.5 Who do you belong to? stars
Reread July 2023
"No one but me will touch you." His tone was even but implacable. She cocked an impervious brow at him. "Oh? And why, pray tell, is that?" "For the same reason I asked you to be safe for me. You're my mate, Makenna."-Ryan and Makenna
I am a huge fan girl of Suzanne Wright. I have been ever since I came across her Deep in your veins series. I love Suzanne Wright's writing style. I love her knack for writing sassy, kick ass, lovable heroines and broody, protective, sexy heroes. I love the Phoenix Pack series. I liked Ryan from the first time I read about him in Feral Sins. He was so broody, and grunted instead of talking I was just dying to know his backstory. I wanted him to find his mate and see him changed by love. Sadly his mate Makenna wasn't what I was hoping for.
"I don't care for your tone." "I don't have a tone." "Not usually," she conceded. "But you sure do have one now, White Fang." "I told you to drop that." "And I'm astonished that you thought I'd obey you."-Makenna and Ryan
Ryan was everything I loved and more. He was broody, dominate, protective and possessive. He had this socially awkward charm that totally worked for him. A man of few words, he was honest and didn't people please. I found Ryan sexy, and I can't really think of one thing I would have changed about him. He really made the book for me. Makenna on the other hand. Well I liked her alright, but she was just bland for me. She was suppose to be quirky, fun, honest, kick ass with a heart of gold, but she just fell flat. I'm not really sure why she didn't work for me. Other than being annoyed that she jammed up the mating signal for so long with her fear I can't really name anything I didn't like about her which is why I am confused as to why I didn't connect with her. But I didn't.
"What's wrong, Kenna? Is this too slow for you? You want it faster?" She just grunted her assent. "Tough. I'll fuck this pussy however I want. Because it belongs to me."-Ryan
I still really enjoyed this book overall. I loved getting to catch up with past couples and seeing Kye again. And any time I can get more Trey and Taryn(my favorite couple of the series) I'm game. I thought Zac was great and I enjoyed the plot of the loner shelter. I thought Ryan was a sexy beast that made the bedroom scenes in this book. It was so funny the way Makenna would translate Ryan's grunts. At the end of the day I still love Suzanne Wright and I'm still gonna read every book she writes. I enjoyed this read just not as much as some of her others. I am really looking forward to Dominic's book. I can't wait to see what kind of mate he gets.
http://jessicasoverthetopbookobsessio...
Reread July 2023
"No one but me will touch you." His tone was even but implacable. She cocked an impervious brow at him. "Oh? And why, pray tell, is that?" "For the same reason I asked you to be safe for me. You're my mate, Makenna."-Ryan and Makenna
I am a huge fan girl of Suzanne Wright. I have been ever since I came across her Deep in your veins series. I love Suzanne Wright's writing style. I love her knack for writing sassy, kick ass, lovable heroines and broody, protective, sexy heroes. I love the Phoenix Pack series. I liked Ryan from the first time I read about him in Feral Sins. He was so broody, and grunted instead of talking I was just dying to know his backstory. I wanted him to find his mate and see him changed by love. Sadly his mate Makenna wasn't what I was hoping for.
"I don't care for your tone." "I don't have a tone." "Not usually," she conceded. "But you sure do have one now, White Fang." "I told you to drop that." "And I'm astonished that you thought I'd obey you."-Makenna and Ryan
Ryan was everything I loved and more. He was broody, dominate, protective and possessive. He had this socially awkward charm that totally worked for him. A man of few words, he was honest and didn't people please. I found Ryan sexy, and I can't really think of one thing I would have changed about him. He really made the book for me. Makenna on the other hand. Well I liked her alright, but she was just bland for me. She was suppose to be quirky, fun, honest, kick ass with a heart of gold, but she just fell flat. I'm not really sure why she didn't work for me. Other than being annoyed that she jammed up the mating signal for so long with her fear I can't really name anything I didn't like about her which is why I am confused as to why I didn't connect with her. But I didn't.
"What's wrong, Kenna? Is this too slow for you? You want it faster?" She just grunted her assent. "Tough. I'll fuck this pussy however I want. Because it belongs to me."-Ryan
I still really enjoyed this book overall. I loved getting to catch up with past couples and seeing Kye again. And any time I can get more Trey and Taryn(my favorite couple of the series) I'm game. I thought Zac was great and I enjoyed the plot of the loner shelter. I thought Ryan was a sexy beast that made the bedroom scenes in this book. It was so funny the way Makenna would translate Ryan's grunts. At the end of the day I still love Suzanne Wright and I'm still gonna read every book she writes. I enjoyed this read just not as much as some of her others. I am really looking forward to Dominic's book. I can't wait to see what kind of mate he gets.
http://jessicasoverthetopbookobsessio...
May 10, 2016
***4,5 "Be safe for me!" stars***
Well, what can i say about this book???
I will start by saying that i adore Mrs. Wright's wolves...
They are so unique and wonderful characters, the sexual tension between the couples is rising the temperature in the room and damn, the adventure is very good!!!
I think that i'm an addict to Suzanne Wright's world...
As for the characters???
I adore the way that she is building the relationships between all the wolves...
Phoenix pack had unique bonds between them... They are so loyal and protective and caring for each other... They are a big and strong family...
As for the male of those series???
God, they are controling, possessive, and so damn sexy!!! All of them!!!
But the most wonderful thing is that the females are equal awesome...
They are badass, intelligent chicks who knows how to take what they want....
And Ryan and Makenna couldn't be different...
Makenna is a lone wolf, who is a volunteer in a shelter for lone shifters.
Her main job at the shelter is to rehome its residents by discovering some of their relatives...
When Zack, a fourteen year old boy is appearing in her doorstep, she is taking him on the shelter and she is trying to find his relatives...
Her research lead her to Ryan Conner, enforcer of the Phoenix pack and she is making the contact...
and then she found herself in big problem...
"As she watched Ryan push past his comfort zone in order to get to know Zac, she saw just how important the kid was to him, which made her smile. Ryan Conner, she thought, was a good guy. But not a well mannered, safe, comforting kind of good. No, Ryan was hard, dominant, and dangerous—someone who wouldn’t hesitate to kill if the need arose. But he had strong pack values and a solid sense of duty that she admired."
In their world, lone wolves has not good reputation...
The other wolves doesn't trust them very much, but Ryan's opinion is changing when he is meeting Makenna.
She is different and he is drawn to her in physical and emotional way... and he knows for sure that she is not indifferent to him as well!!!
But Makenna has lots of problems to deal and her past is blocking her see the truth...
"She made no sense to him. Ryan was all about logic and reason; he liked things to make sense in his world. Yet, he found himself a little fascinated by her. His wolf, too, found her intriguing; he was constantly hungry for the female with the mouthwatering scent and the wild spark in her eyes.
Quite frankly, it pissed Ryan off. He prided himself on being an extremely disciplined person. He didn’t have problems resisting temptation, he didn’t have cravings, and he didn’t obsess over anything. But Makenna . . . she made him fucking ache."
Ryan realizes from very early that Makenna is his true mate, but something is blocking their bond and she is refusing to accept it...
Makenna even though that she wants to believe Ryan, she is afraid that his belief will be faulse and that when she will give him her heart, body and soul, his true mate will be appeared and for once again, she will be alone...
"No one but me will touch you." His tone was even but implacable.
She cocked an impervious brow at him. "Oh? And why, pray tell, is that?"
"For the same reason I asked you to be safe for me. You're my mate, Makenna."
So, what will happen with those two???
Will Makenna continue to resist to Ryan or will she take the risk???
Is Ryan's belief true??? And will he manage to persuade Makenna???
And what about the shelter and the bad Alpha that wants to make it his???
What about Zack??? Will he accept to join the Phoenix pack and what will happen with those that are after him???
"It wasn’t a case of opposites attracting, though. They were similar in some ways. They both had strong convictions, refused to be people pleasers, and found it hard to reveal their vulnerabilities to others. They fit.
But she didn’t see it.
She didn’t see what they were to each other, and it made him and his wolf crazy."
As you can understand, the Phoenix pack has lots of things to deal for once again...
And this time, it's Ryan's time to find love... in the face of Makenna.
I adored both of them...
"Ryan never settled for anything less than what he wanted. And right now, Makenna Wray was the thing he wanted most. Nothing could make him walk away. Not her fears, not his faults, and not even her doubt that she was his mate."
Ryan was so broody and serious all the time and i liked that with Makenna, he started to become more approachable.
His past was difficult and he was very protective of his people... but he had some issues... He didn't know how to show his emotions, he was abrupt and he was grunting all the time... The thing that i liked very much was that only Makenna could understand his grunts and it was so damn funny!!!
"Dominic cocked his head."You understand his grunts?"
She lifted her chin."I thought it was crystal clear."
Dominic turned to Ryan."Marry her."
Ryan grunted again before heading for the door.
"What did he say?"Dominic asked her.
"Fuck off,"she translated.”"
Makenna had a difficult and dark past as well... She had lost her mother very early and she grew up on the shelter, which was her life. She was helping there in every way she could and she was rehoming whoever she could.
She didn't want to be a part of a pack because that would mean that she had to stay away from the shelter and its people and that wasn't an option for her.
She was also very loyal, very caring, a little bit insane and superstitious... Something that was so damn funny!!!
Ryan turned her world upside down, but it was difficult to believe, even though that she wanted to...
“I’m not who fate gave you.”
“You think I give a fuck about fate? I make my own decisions. I choose my own path. I choose you.”
I really had a wonderful time while i was reading this story....
I laughed very much, i swoon, i smiled, my heart was pounding loud from the agony...
And now, i feel sad, because i wanted some more...
I loved that i saw all my favorite wolves for once again and I can't wait for Dominic's turn!!!
“Please don’t stop,” said Dominic. “Watching you two interact is seriously fascinating.”
When Ryan grunted, Dominic asked Makenna, “What did he say?”
“He called you an asshole.”
Dominic feigned hurt. “Dude, that was mean.”
***ARC kindly provided via NetGalley for the exchange of an honest review***
Well, what can i say about this book???
I will start by saying that i adore Mrs. Wright's wolves...
They are so unique and wonderful characters, the sexual tension between the couples is rising the temperature in the room and damn, the adventure is very good!!!
I think that i'm an addict to Suzanne Wright's world...
As for the characters???
I adore the way that she is building the relationships between all the wolves...
Phoenix pack had unique bonds between them... They are so loyal and protective and caring for each other... They are a big and strong family...
As for the male of those series???
God, they are controling, possessive, and so damn sexy!!! All of them!!!
But the most wonderful thing is that the females are equal awesome...
They are badass, intelligent chicks who knows how to take what they want....
And Ryan and Makenna couldn't be different...
Makenna is a lone wolf, who is a volunteer in a shelter for lone shifters.
Her main job at the shelter is to rehome its residents by discovering some of their relatives...
When Zack, a fourteen year old boy is appearing in her doorstep, she is taking him on the shelter and she is trying to find his relatives...
Her research lead her to Ryan Conner, enforcer of the Phoenix pack and she is making the contact...
and then she found herself in big problem...
"As she watched Ryan push past his comfort zone in order to get to know Zac, she saw just how important the kid was to him, which made her smile. Ryan Conner, she thought, was a good guy. But not a well mannered, safe, comforting kind of good. No, Ryan was hard, dominant, and dangerous—someone who wouldn’t hesitate to kill if the need arose. But he had strong pack values and a solid sense of duty that she admired."
In their world, lone wolves has not good reputation...
The other wolves doesn't trust them very much, but Ryan's opinion is changing when he is meeting Makenna.
She is different and he is drawn to her in physical and emotional way... and he knows for sure that she is not indifferent to him as well!!!
But Makenna has lots of problems to deal and her past is blocking her see the truth...
"She made no sense to him. Ryan was all about logic and reason; he liked things to make sense in his world. Yet, he found himself a little fascinated by her. His wolf, too, found her intriguing; he was constantly hungry for the female with the mouthwatering scent and the wild spark in her eyes.
Quite frankly, it pissed Ryan off. He prided himself on being an extremely disciplined person. He didn’t have problems resisting temptation, he didn’t have cravings, and he didn’t obsess over anything. But Makenna . . . she made him fucking ache."
Ryan realizes from very early that Makenna is his true mate, but something is blocking their bond and she is refusing to accept it...
Makenna even though that she wants to believe Ryan, she is afraid that his belief will be faulse and that when she will give him her heart, body and soul, his true mate will be appeared and for once again, she will be alone...
"No one but me will touch you." His tone was even but implacable.
She cocked an impervious brow at him. "Oh? And why, pray tell, is that?"
"For the same reason I asked you to be safe for me. You're my mate, Makenna."
So, what will happen with those two???
Will Makenna continue to resist to Ryan or will she take the risk???
Is Ryan's belief true??? And will he manage to persuade Makenna???
And what about the shelter and the bad Alpha that wants to make it his???
What about Zack??? Will he accept to join the Phoenix pack and what will happen with those that are after him???
"It wasn’t a case of opposites attracting, though. They were similar in some ways. They both had strong convictions, refused to be people pleasers, and found it hard to reveal their vulnerabilities to others. They fit.
But she didn’t see it.
She didn’t see what they were to each other, and it made him and his wolf crazy."
As you can understand, the Phoenix pack has lots of things to deal for once again...
And this time, it's Ryan's time to find love... in the face of Makenna.
I adored both of them...
"Ryan never settled for anything less than what he wanted. And right now, Makenna Wray was the thing he wanted most. Nothing could make him walk away. Not her fears, not his faults, and not even her doubt that she was his mate."
Ryan was so broody and serious all the time and i liked that with Makenna, he started to become more approachable.
His past was difficult and he was very protective of his people... but he had some issues... He didn't know how to show his emotions, he was abrupt and he was grunting all the time... The thing that i liked very much was that only Makenna could understand his grunts and it was so damn funny!!!
"Dominic cocked his head."You understand his grunts?"
She lifted her chin."I thought it was crystal clear."
Dominic turned to Ryan."Marry her."
Ryan grunted again before heading for the door.
"What did he say?"Dominic asked her.
"Fuck off,"she translated.”"
Makenna had a difficult and dark past as well... She had lost her mother very early and she grew up on the shelter, which was her life. She was helping there in every way she could and she was rehoming whoever she could.
She didn't want to be a part of a pack because that would mean that she had to stay away from the shelter and its people and that wasn't an option for her.
She was also very loyal, very caring, a little bit insane and superstitious... Something that was so damn funny!!!
Ryan turned her world upside down, but it was difficult to believe, even though that she wanted to...
“I’m not who fate gave you.”
“You think I give a fuck about fate? I make my own decisions. I choose my own path. I choose you.”
I really had a wonderful time while i was reading this story....
I laughed very much, i swoon, i smiled, my heart was pounding loud from the agony...
And now, i feel sad, because i wanted some more...
I loved that i saw all my favorite wolves for once again and I can't wait for Dominic's turn!!!
“Please don’t stop,” said Dominic. “Watching you two interact is seriously fascinating.”
When Ryan grunted, Dominic asked Makenna, “What did he say?”
“He called you an asshole.”
Dominic feigned hurt. “Dude, that was mean.”
***ARC kindly provided via NetGalley for the exchange of an honest review***
May 12, 2018
Re-read 12/5/18 (audio with Jill Redfield)
4 Superstitious stars
I don't think I've read a Suzanne Wright book that I didn't enjoy. Carnal Secrets doesn't count as I'm pretending it doesn't exist, much like the infamous scene from Feral Sins(If you haven't read this book you are sooo missing out!It's a must read imo). Needless to say, you shouldn't read this before the others. It's not heavily depended on past events but you might get a tad lost with all the characters,packs and mated couples featuring in it.
This book had a different feel from the others of the series. It was sort of a slow burn romance in comparison to the others. It also had a rather welcome newcomer. For once we didn't have a pairing between pre-existenting characters but a totally new player. And a new element of newcomer at that, an infamous loner.
Makenna Wray is a lone wolf. Based on the previous books loners are usually at best bad news, at worse hitmen for hire. We find out in this book that that is a misconception. Not all lone shifters are bad, most are just trying to survive. Makenna volunteers at a shelter for loners, the same one that rescued her as a child. Superstitious, with a sharp wit Makenna was entertaining and not OTT crazy like some of the other S.W. heroines. She has a drive, a need in her to help and if possible re-home the loners with proper packs that will accept and support them. When she finds a teen drunk and drugged literally on her doorstep she can't not help. The teen, Zac, ends up being related to the Phoenix pack enforcer Ryan Conner.
To be honest I didn't remember Ryan clearly. Maybe it's because he is the silent, brooding type but all that came to mind when thinking of the previous books is a sense of his presence there and not much else. The strong, broody type suits him to a T. Stoic and fiercely protective, he immediately wants to take in the teen runaway but settles to taking things slowly as he gets to know Zac as well as Makenna. Ryan isn't much of a talker either. He is a grunter. Most of his answers are in a form of a grunt that only Makenna understands and translates.
Ryan grunted,urging her inside with a hand on her lower back.
"He thinks you should mind your own business," Makenna told the Beta, translating the grunt. Dominic cocked his head. "You understand his grunts?"
"You don't?"
"You got 'Mind your own business'... from that one sound?"
She lifted her chin."I thought it was crystal clear."
Dominic turned to Ryan. "Marry her."
Ryan grunted again before heading for the door.
"What did he say?" Dominic asked her.
"Fuck off," she translated.
Ryan is quite sure early on that Makenna is his mate. Fortunately there isn't any chasing around as Makenna is equally attracted to him but just isn't convinced that she is his true mate. We find out a lot about Ryan and his past as well as Makennas issues. I quite enjoyed their coming together. It was mellow and yet intense all at once. Their sexy times were, as usual for Suzanne Wright, pretty stellar with the prerequisite female fighting yet submitting and the male dominating. One of the reasons I love this author is her ability to write these type of scenes superbly. It's a delicate balance act between submission and domination, too much of either can put you off.
Of course we can't have everything to be easy so we have the required baddie that wants to mess up everything. Remy, the disgusting scum of the earth,piece of elephant dung, that wants to take over the shelter for his own twisted reasons. Naturally the Phoenix pack stands behind Ryan and Makenna to help the shelter.
I can't put my finger on what kept this from being an amazing read worth five stars. Maybe I'm a greedy perv and wanted more sexy times? I did find myself distracted easily from it so it wasn't as gripping as I wanted it.. I can't say for sure. What I can say is that I always love visiting the world Suzanne Wright created, whether it's Phoenix Pack, Deep in Your Veins or Dark in You and I will always return time and again.
** ARC kindly provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
4 Superstitious stars
I don't think I've read a Suzanne Wright book that I didn't enjoy. Carnal Secrets doesn't count as I'm pretending it doesn't exist, much like the infamous scene from Feral Sins(If you haven't read this book you are sooo missing out!It's a must read imo). Needless to say, you shouldn't read this before the others. It's not heavily depended on past events but you might get a tad lost with all the characters,packs and mated couples featuring in it.
This book had a different feel from the others of the series. It was sort of a slow burn romance in comparison to the others. It also had a rather welcome newcomer. For once we didn't have a pairing between pre-existenting characters but a totally new player. And a new element of newcomer at that, an infamous loner.
Makenna Wray is a lone wolf. Based on the previous books loners are usually at best bad news, at worse hitmen for hire. We find out in this book that that is a misconception. Not all lone shifters are bad, most are just trying to survive. Makenna volunteers at a shelter for loners, the same one that rescued her as a child. Superstitious, with a sharp wit Makenna was entertaining and not OTT crazy like some of the other S.W. heroines. She has a drive, a need in her to help and if possible re-home the loners with proper packs that will accept and support them. When she finds a teen drunk and drugged literally on her doorstep she can't not help. The teen, Zac, ends up being related to the Phoenix pack enforcer Ryan Conner.
To be honest I didn't remember Ryan clearly. Maybe it's because he is the silent, brooding type but all that came to mind when thinking of the previous books is a sense of his presence there and not much else. The strong, broody type suits him to a T. Stoic and fiercely protective, he immediately wants to take in the teen runaway but settles to taking things slowly as he gets to know Zac as well as Makenna. Ryan isn't much of a talker either. He is a grunter. Most of his answers are in a form of a grunt that only Makenna understands and translates.
Ryan grunted,urging her inside with a hand on her lower back.
"He thinks you should mind your own business," Makenna told the Beta, translating the grunt. Dominic cocked his head. "You understand his grunts?"
"You don't?"
"You got 'Mind your own business'... from that one sound?"
She lifted her chin."I thought it was crystal clear."
Dominic turned to Ryan. "Marry her."
Ryan grunted again before heading for the door.
"What did he say?" Dominic asked her.
"Fuck off," she translated.
Ryan is quite sure early on that Makenna is his mate. Fortunately there isn't any chasing around as Makenna is equally attracted to him but just isn't convinced that she is his true mate. We find out a lot about Ryan and his past as well as Makennas issues. I quite enjoyed their coming together. It was mellow and yet intense all at once. Their sexy times were, as usual for Suzanne Wright, pretty stellar with the prerequisite female fighting yet submitting and the male dominating. One of the reasons I love this author is her ability to write these type of scenes superbly. It's a delicate balance act between submission and domination, too much of either can put you off.
Of course we can't have everything to be easy so we have the required baddie that wants to mess up everything. Remy, the disgusting scum of the earth,piece of elephant dung, that wants to take over the shelter for his own twisted reasons. Naturally the Phoenix pack stands behind Ryan and Makenna to help the shelter.
I can't put my finger on what kept this from being an amazing read worth five stars. Maybe I'm a greedy perv and wanted more sexy times? I did find myself distracted easily from it so it wasn't as gripping as I wanted it.. I can't say for sure. What I can say is that I always love visiting the world Suzanne Wright created, whether it's Phoenix Pack, Deep in Your Veins or Dark in You and I will always return time and again.
** ARC kindly provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
August 9, 2019
**** 4.5 Stars!!!!*****
Another fabulous instalment in the Phoenix Pack series! This was the fifth book, and was about Ryan and Makenna getting together! I wasn’t sure how this one would go considering Ryan basically never talks! He’s very intense and that has a lot to do with the torture he went through when he was taken by enemies. You know what they say about the strong, silent types?!!! In this case, it was definitely correct! He may not say much... but when he does ( mainly during intense sex!!!) you sit down and listen to what he’s got to say! Better yet, Ryan is a dirty talker!!! Only with his mate though; which I totally loved!
Makenna is a lone wolf.... she doesn’t have a pack... nor a family... but she helps run a shelter that is there for other shifters who are on the run or who have no one and nowhere to go. I loved the shelter idea, and how we meet not only some new wolves but also a whole bunch of other kinds of shifters! ( Ravens, Cougars, Vipers etc...) I felt this story introduces a lot of fresh ideas for upcoming books in the series!
I am now super excited to move on to the sixth book to learn more about the new characters we have met in this instalment! This series continues to be strong, exciting, entertaining, and sexy! Bravo to Suzanne Wright for creating an amazing world for shifters to live in, and for readers to be able to visit when they need to escape!!! I love this series!!!❤️
Another fabulous instalment in the Phoenix Pack series! This was the fifth book, and was about Ryan and Makenna getting together! I wasn’t sure how this one would go considering Ryan basically never talks! He’s very intense and that has a lot to do with the torture he went through when he was taken by enemies. You know what they say about the strong, silent types?!!! In this case, it was definitely correct! He may not say much... but when he does ( mainly during intense sex!!!) you sit down and listen to what he’s got to say! Better yet, Ryan is a dirty talker!!! Only with his mate though; which I totally loved!
Makenna is a lone wolf.... she doesn’t have a pack... nor a family... but she helps run a shelter that is there for other shifters who are on the run or who have no one and nowhere to go. I loved the shelter idea, and how we meet not only some new wolves but also a whole bunch of other kinds of shifters! ( Ravens, Cougars, Vipers etc...) I felt this story introduces a lot of fresh ideas for upcoming books in the series!
I am now super excited to move on to the sixth book to learn more about the new characters we have met in this instalment! This series continues to be strong, exciting, entertaining, and sexy! Bravo to Suzanne Wright for creating an amazing world for shifters to live in, and for readers to be able to visit when they need to escape!!! I love this series!!!❤️
September 24, 2019
NOW LIVE!!!
*Amazon US*Amazon UK*Barnes & Noble*
Audio "re-read" 9/24/19
Ryan is the silent wolf of the Phoenix Pack, choosing to growl rather than talk. Makenna is the complete opposite of him, choosing to talk incessantly to make situations less awkward. She's also a lone wolf, which is why Ryan doesn't trust her and wants to take his nephew, Zac, away from her. But Makenna is the one that found Zac on the streets and helped him settle in the shelter for lone shifters that she volunteers at. Meaning, she has his trust while Ryan is just a stranger to him.
Makenna and Ryan will have to put aside their differences in order to help Zac settle in the Pack. But once Ryan stops hating her for the fact that she's a lone wolf he realizes there's a stronger connection between them than he ever though possible. Now he just has to get Makenna to feel that connection too.
I've pretty much been stalking the shit out of Suzanne Wright ever since I heard she was in the process of writing Ryan's story because 1) I'm just that creepy and 2) I love this series that much. I was a little nervous that I got myself too hyped up for it and that I would end up disappointed, but that wasn't the case at all. I loved his book just as much as I love everything SW gives us.
Ryan was the strong very silent type and I actually really enjoyed that about him. He may not have said much throughout the book but I felt like it gave more depth to his character and made him all the more interesting. Ryan was the one that felt like he and Makenna had a deeper connection, which I was surprised at because usually it's the heroine chasing after the Hero. I really liked that there was a little twist in who was the most invested in the relationship, though.
Bottom line, this series is a must read for anyone that likes a good paranormal story. The world that's created within these books seems completely real and will have you wishing that you could live there with the characters.
ARC kindly provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
*Amazon US*Amazon UK*Barnes & Noble*
Audio "re-read" 9/24/19
Ryan is the silent wolf of the Phoenix Pack, choosing to growl rather than talk. Makenna is the complete opposite of him, choosing to talk incessantly to make situations less awkward. She's also a lone wolf, which is why Ryan doesn't trust her and wants to take his nephew, Zac, away from her. But Makenna is the one that found Zac on the streets and helped him settle in the shelter for lone shifters that she volunteers at. Meaning, she has his trust while Ryan is just a stranger to him.
Makenna and Ryan will have to put aside their differences in order to help Zac settle in the Pack. But once Ryan stops hating her for the fact that she's a lone wolf he realizes there's a stronger connection between them than he ever though possible. Now he just has to get Makenna to feel that connection too.
I've pretty much been stalking the shit out of Suzanne Wright ever since I heard she was in the process of writing Ryan's story because 1) I'm just that creepy and 2) I love this series that much. I was a little nervous that I got myself too hyped up for it and that I would end up disappointed, but that wasn't the case at all. I loved his book just as much as I love everything SW gives us.
Ryan was the strong very silent type and I actually really enjoyed that about him. He may not have said much throughout the book but I felt like it gave more depth to his character and made him all the more interesting. Ryan was the one that felt like he and Makenna had a deeper connection, which I was surprised at because usually it's the heroine chasing after the Hero. I really liked that there was a little twist in who was the most invested in the relationship, though.
Bottom line, this series is a must read for anyone that likes a good paranormal story. The world that's created within these books seems completely real and will have you wishing that you could live there with the characters.
ARC kindly provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 7, 2017
Savage Urges is the fifth book in The Phoenix Pack Series by Suzanne Wright. The Phoenix Pack shape shifters...Yay.....
Makenna Wray, is a lone wolf
What makes this series so enjoyable for me is how much fun they are to read. There's humour....
Loved catching up with the characters from the previous books........and seeing how their lives have progressed.
This was a fun read.......not my favorite in the series but still enjoyable. And I can't wait for Tao's book............hopefully we won't have to wait for ages!!!!
One of my fav parts:
I really like this series but I was surprised that this was going to be Ryan, one of the enforcer's story. Why? Because I couldn't really remember much about him from previous books.
Makenna Wray, is a lone wolf
works at a shelter for other lone wolves. She helps find new homes with packs for them and she meets Ryan, when he's given the task to help one of the lone wolf kids, Zac, with the possibility of joining the Phoenix Pack.
What makes this series so enjoyable for me is how much fun they are to read. There's humour....
“Please don’t stop,” said Dominic. “Watching you two interact is seriously fascinating. “When Ryan grunted, Dominic asked Makenna, “What did he say?”The women are sassy, take no crap from the males and a total blast. Okay, the pack males are a bit beyond alpha....but I still like them.
“He called you an asshole.”
Dominic feigned hurt. “Dude, that was mean.”
Loved catching up with the characters from the previous books........and seeing how their lives have progressed.
This was a fun read.......not my favorite in the series but still enjoyable. And I can't wait for Tao's book............hopefully we won't have to wait for ages!!!!
One of my fav parts:
“Everything ok here?”
Ryan grunted urging her with a hand on her lower back.
“He thinks you should mind your own business,” Makenna told the Beta,translating the grunt.
Dominic cocked his head. “You understand his grunts?”
She lifted her chin. “I thought it was crystal clear.”
Dominic turned to Ryan. “Marry her.”
Ryan grunted again before heading for the door.
“What did he say?” Dominic asked her.
“Fuck off,” she translated.
April 2, 2016
*ACR COPY in exchange for an honest review.*
★★★★ 4 Superstitious Stars★★★★
"Ancient Lovers believed that a kiss would literally unite their souls, because the spirit was said to be carried in one breath.-Eve Glicksman."
(Warning: The Following review might be slightly biased since SW just happens to be one of my favorite authors of all times ! Also NO SPOILERS ;)
Makenna Wray is lone wolf, with no past or pack to her name.With almost no recollection of her childhood or family,she finds a way to fill the hole left in her by dedicating her life to re-locating young pups or families from the shelter,back to their distant relatives or new packs.
One night on her way home, Makenna stumbles across a young pup by her doorstep and takes him in,promising him shelter and safety. Who knew that, that one good deed was about to bring hell load of drama and luck her way ?
Defiantly not her.
First let start off by saying how lovely it was to be back and around the Phoenix Pack after so long ! Its nice to see all the couple from the previous books, in love and paired up with kids or little ones on the way :)
Our Leads in this book Makeena & Ryan, end up falling just as fast and furiously ;) in love as the rest of the couples in this series with lot of drama and hilarious secondary characters paving their way.
I absolutely loved how they seemed so Ying & Yang in their relationship but still loved each-other in perfect harmony.Unique in their own way,they were sweet,romantic and so damn hilarious together you can't help but route for the couple's HEA.
They were similar in some ways.They both had strong convictions,refused to be people pleasers, and found it hard to revel their vulnerabilities to others.
They fit.
But she didn't see it.
It's true, I'm a huge fan of SW's writing and characters BUT what I usually look forward to the MOST in her new releases are her unique story-lines.
I love how ever book is just so different from the other.There are absolutely no repeats or over-worked plot bunnies in her series which feels a bit familiar to any of her previous work.I love how every book stays so fresh and unique even though all the secondary characters,from the previous books,all re-appear and put their individual marks on the book.
"Everything ok here ?"
Ryan grunted urging her with a hand on her lower back.
"He thinks you should mind your own business,"Makenna told the Beta,translating the grunt.
Dominic cocked his head."You understand his grunts ?"
She lifted her chin."I thought it was crystal clear."
Dominic turned to Ryan."Marry her."
Ryan grunted again before heading for the door.
"What did he say?"Dominic asked her.
"Fuck off,"she translated.
(Dominic ! Damn ! I love that guy XD His cheezy lines get me every single time ! )
With that being I found this book slightly predictable and slow in between.Sure the plot quickly picked up and finished with a BANG (as in all her books) but for some reason,this book missed that WOW Factor which usually earned 5 stars from me.
Would I recommend the read ?
Defiantly ! But I doubt any of her fans would need any push from me to pick up this book ;) Mark your calendars lovlies this ones coming out on the MAY 3rd !!
I love Phoenix series but I'm crossing my fingers for her next novel to be a Deep in your Viens novel. I've already started craving for BOOK 6 eons ago !!
★★★★ 4 Superstitious Stars★★★★
"Ancient Lovers believed that a kiss would literally unite their souls, because the spirit was said to be carried in one breath.-Eve Glicksman."
(Warning: The Following review might be slightly biased since SW just happens to be one of my favorite authors of all times ! Also NO SPOILERS ;)
Makenna Wray is lone wolf, with no past or pack to her name.With almost no recollection of her childhood or family,she finds a way to fill the hole left in her by dedicating her life to re-locating young pups or families from the shelter,back to their distant relatives or new packs.
One night on her way home, Makenna stumbles across a young pup by her doorstep and takes him in,promising him shelter and safety. Who knew that, that one good deed was about to bring hell load of drama and luck her way ?
Defiantly not her.
First let start off by saying how lovely it was to be back and around the Phoenix Pack after so long ! Its nice to see all the couple from the previous books, in love and paired up with kids or little ones on the way :)
Our Leads in this book Makeena & Ryan, end up falling just as fast and furiously ;) in love as the rest of the couples in this series with lot of drama and hilarious secondary characters paving their way.
I absolutely loved how they seemed so Ying & Yang in their relationship but still loved each-other in perfect harmony.Unique in their own way,they were sweet,romantic and so damn hilarious together you can't help but route for the couple's HEA.
They were similar in some ways.They both had strong convictions,refused to be people pleasers, and found it hard to revel their vulnerabilities to others.
They fit.
But she didn't see it.
It's true, I'm a huge fan of SW's writing and characters BUT what I usually look forward to the MOST in her new releases are her unique story-lines.
I love how ever book is just so different from the other.There are absolutely no repeats or over-worked plot bunnies in her series which feels a bit familiar to any of her previous work.I love how every book stays so fresh and unique even though all the secondary characters,from the previous books,all re-appear and put their individual marks on the book.
"Everything ok here ?"
Ryan grunted urging her with a hand on her lower back.
"He thinks you should mind your own business,"Makenna told the Beta,translating the grunt.
Dominic cocked his head."You understand his grunts ?"
She lifted her chin."I thought it was crystal clear."
Dominic turned to Ryan."Marry her."
Ryan grunted again before heading for the door.
"What did he say?"Dominic asked her.
"Fuck off,"she translated.
(Dominic ! Damn ! I love that guy XD His cheezy lines get me every single time ! )
With that being I found this book slightly predictable and slow in between.Sure the plot quickly picked up and finished with a BANG (as in all her books) but for some reason,this book missed that WOW Factor which usually earned 5 stars from me.
Would I recommend the read ?
Defiantly ! But I doubt any of her fans would need any push from me to pick up this book ;) Mark your calendars lovlies this ones coming out on the MAY 3rd !!
I love Phoenix series but I'm crossing my fingers for her next novel to be a Deep in your Viens novel. I've already started craving for BOOK 6 eons ago !!
April 24, 2016
4,5 STARS
Yeeees! I love it!!!! Gosh, Suzanne Wright really knows how to get me going. I love her books and Savage Urges did not disappoint, not in the least! I know that she's kinda famous for including OW drama in her books BUT this time there wasn't even a hint of it there! No kidding! And get that, there was no OM drama, either!!! Like, whaaat???
So it's quite safe to say why I loved this story so much. Of course, the super sexy and possessive aplha Ryan was a great bonus, too. I mean, who wouldn't like that, right? Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that THE STORY IS FREAKING AWESOME! I simply couldn't put it down. I knew that I had to go to sleep eventually but seriously folks, sleep is so overrated. Everytime I said to myself "nah, just one more chapter" that always turned out to be a lie. In the end I just gave up and read the whole book.
Both Makenna and Ryan are amazing characters. They are super protective of those they love and would do anything to keep them safe, killing not excluded. But that protectiveness was also Makenna's biggest weakness. She always put others needs before her own and therefore her life was basically oriented to 'serve' others. I get why she did that, since her past shaped who she became. She helped so many and I was so glad to see that by helping Zac, Ryan's blood relative, she also found her place and new people who loved her fiercely.
Once, Ryan could have also described his wolf as relatively placid. But after being held captive and tortured by a rival pack many years ago, his wolf had changed. He’d become harder, defensive, and more withdrawn than ever. One thing had never changed: when the wolf wanted something, he wanted it there and then. He demanded it. And at that moment, he was demanding this female.
I loved Ryan! He was this brooding, deadly character that turned into a marshmallow when it came to kids and eventually also Makenna. To others he's always been emotionally distant and never let anyone inside, because of what happened to him in the past. Thankfully Makenna changed all that. With her sassy attitude and quirky personality she got under his skin. Their reasoning with each other was so much fun to read about, simply hilarious.
“I’ll come with you.”
Makenna blinked. “You heard what I just said, right? That I was going shopping?”
“Whatever. It’s clear that you can’t be helped. Now, are you positive that you want to come along? Because you will be bored, and you will become exasperated, and you will want to cry.
“I want to go with you.”
“All right, but don’t say you weren’t warned.”
Four hours later, Ryan was fast losing the will to live.
They made an amazing team and with the danger they and the shelter were facing they better had each others backs. Remy was definitely a plague. But in the end he got what he deserved and I couldn't be more happy about it! Now the only thing Ryan and Makenna had to sort out was their attraction to each other and what it all ment for them. Were they mates, were they not, would they imprint on each other or not... The only way you will find the answers to these questions is to read the book.
As said so many times already, I really enjoy this book and I definitely recommend it!!!
ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 15, 2016
***3.5 Stars***
This series is a special form of crack!
You know exactly what you're going to get when you pick up a book...
Hot, alpha male with the perfect balance of possessive and protective. Strong, fierce, endearing and likable heroine. Great banter. You get a healthy dose of both humor and heart. Phenomenal character dynamic. This is a pack that protects what belongs to them and nothing will get in the way of keeping their pack together and happy. They fight hard and love even harder. Scorching hot, melt your kindle sex. We're talking grade A+ quality here. This was another great installment to the Phoenix Pack series. I have to say, I was a little surprised that Ryan got a book since he's spent the majority of the series being quiet, surly and broody in the background....but I really loved watching him open up to Makenna. She understood his need to keep his emotions in check, his logical approach to every situation and his serious nature....and she took all that and infused her own brand of quirky and fun into his life.
Makenna was another likable heroine. She was strong, determined, compassionate, quirky and fiercely independent. She didn't trust easily, but she was a good judge of character and was loyal to those she cared about. Her superstitions were endearing and I loved seeing them drive Ryan nuts.
While I loved Ryan and I loved Makenna, I just didn't feel that spark between them that I've had with other couples in this series. Do they have chemistry? Oh, hell yes....but I didn't get those butterflies you want when reading about two characters falling love. I'm not entirely sure what it was...maybe because it took too long for their bond to snap into place...but I never felt that all-encompassing passion in their relationship (well, maybe that one scene...Ryan, you broke my heart).
I do have to note that this book had a little bit of a different feel to it since it dealt with the subject matter of child abuse. There are no explicit scenes in the book, but the plot centers around a few very sick individuals who regularly abuse children. Thankfully, by the end of the book they all get what's coming to them.
Even though this wasn't a favorite in the series for me, I still really enjoyed it. The story sucked me in from the beginning and when all the action came to a head, I was gripping my kindle with anticipation and anxiety. With each passing book I get even more invested in these characters, their relationships and the pack dynamic.
The Phoenix pack is slowly and steadily growing and I can't wait to see what Suzanne Wright has up her sleeve for future books. I'm still anxiously awaiting Dominic's book, but based on the little hints we get here, it appears that the head enforcer, Tao, may be up to bat next. His story has tons of potential....
***ARC courtesy of publisher, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review***
May 3, 2016
Why did I read this book? WHY?
I hate giving 1-star ratings to the books I read, but this book was awful. OMG! I can't believe this.
▉ Insta-lust? ☑ I've seen it before.
▉ Good guys easily accepting strangers into their pack? ☑ I've seen it before.
▉ Heroine using stupid endearments for the hero? ☑ I've seen it before.
▉ Greta being a bitch towards every female in existence? ☑ I've seen it before.
▉ Mating bond that is there, but is not there? ☑ I've seen it before.
▉ Female (alpha, beta, gama, delta and every greek letter) bonding instantly? ☑ I've seen it before.
Bullshit! Everything in this book was bullshit!
For God's sake. This is supposed to be a PNR. Why not stick with it?! Why include those very very disturbing things, which I HATED in this book?!!
This book was stupid, irritating and very disturbing. I need therapy after this. Hell no to the other books! I was so gonna wait for Dominic's book, but I won't do that. I liked him but now I find him totally annoying.
half star
I hate giving 1-star ratings to the books I read, but this book was awful. OMG! I can't believe this.
▉ Insta-lust? ☑ I've seen it before.
▉ Good guys easily accepting strangers into their pack? ☑ I've seen it before.
▉ Heroine using stupid endearments for the hero? ☑ I've seen it before.
▉ Greta being a bitch towards every female in existence? ☑ I've seen it before.
▉ Mating bond that is there, but is not there? ☑ I've seen it before.
▉ Female (alpha, beta, gama, delta and every greek letter) bonding instantly? ☑ I've seen it before.
Bullshit! Everything in this book was bullshit!
For God's sake. This is supposed to be a PNR. Why not stick with it?! Why include those very very disturbing things, which I HATED in this book?!!
This book was stupid, irritating and very disturbing. I need therapy after this. Hell no to the other books! I was so gonna wait for Dominic's book, but I won't do that. I liked him but now I find him totally annoying.
half star
December 31, 2019
4.5 stars
Loved it! Great way to end a weekend reading this entire series. May be my favorite couple. Or may be second best to Taryn and Trey. Not sure.
I loved her ability to translate his grunts. Loved it every time he said she made him almost want to smile. They were really cute together.
Ryan is stoic. Standoffish. Stiff. Aloof. But Kye knows he is a softee at heart since he climbs him like a tree every time he sees him! Makenna is sweet, tough, lonely and thinks Ryan is funny. The perfect match!
I enjoyed that their relationship came together differently than the others. Appreciated the differences. The only thing I missed was more of the Mercury pack.
Loved it! Great way to end a weekend reading this entire series. May be my favorite couple. Or may be second best to Taryn and Trey. Not sure.
I loved her ability to translate his grunts. Loved it every time he said she made him almost want to smile. They were really cute together.
Ryan is stoic. Standoffish. Stiff. Aloof. But Kye knows he is a softee at heart since he climbs him like a tree every time he sees him! Makenna is sweet, tough, lonely and thinks Ryan is funny. The perfect match!
I enjoyed that their relationship came together differently than the others. Appreciated the differences. The only thing I missed was more of the Mercury pack.
April 4, 2016
I love this series (with the exception of Nick and Shaya’s book – Carnal Sins). Suzanne Wright is one heck of a paranormal story teller. I love the snark, the witticisms, the action and the strong pack vibe that runs throughout the series. So, I was a bit nervous about this one because not only is Mackenna a lone wolf, but also I wasn’t too sure about Ryan. He didn’t make much of an impact on me in any of the previous books in the series, and to be honest up until he kicked it up a notch halfway through this one, I didn’t think he was going to make an impact on me in his story either. This made for a slow at times read. I kept on wanting him to “do something”.
That said, I feel this book was more about Ryan and Mackenna’s relationship build into a romance, and less about pack drama. I really liked that Ryan felt the mating bond early on and owned it, rather than trying to deny it. I loved seeing him open up to her slowly, he was always such a closed off character. With Mackenna’s past baggage it was understandable that she was wary of commitment, and although I don’t like the push and pull trope it worked here. Why? Because they were both totally honest with each other, no ridiculous or manufactured misunderstandings/miscommunication.
The Suzanne Wright humour shines through, and had me laughing out loud in places. Mackenna’s sharp wit and one liners were priceless, especially when Ryan grunts and she translates the grunts.
Arc received from Netgalley for review
That said, I feel this book was more about Ryan and Mackenna’s relationship build into a romance, and less about pack drama. I really liked that Ryan felt the mating bond early on and owned it, rather than trying to deny it. I loved seeing him open up to her slowly, he was always such a closed off character. With Mackenna’s past baggage it was understandable that she was wary of commitment, and although I don’t like the push and pull trope it worked here. Why? Because they were both totally honest with each other, no ridiculous or manufactured misunderstandings/miscommunication.
The Suzanne Wright humour shines through, and had me laughing out loud in places. Mackenna’s sharp wit and one liners were priceless, especially when Ryan grunts and she translates the grunts.
Arc received from Netgalley for review
May 4, 2016
4,5 stars!
May 1, 2016
4.5-4.75 Stars
I adored this one, they were freakin' amazing together!
Full review to come on release day...
I adored this one, they were freakin' amazing together!
Full review to come on release day...
May 7, 2016
3.5~ish STARS!
I'm surprised when Ms. Wright announced the next book is about Ryan. He is the most silent man in the Phoenix Pact. Rarely talk and show emotions. He's one of the Enforcer also the most unpredictable man. There are so many questions in my head.
Makenna Wray is a lone wolf; not from any pack and works for a shelter. She found a lost boy who happened to be Ryan Conner's nephew. Her attraction towards Ryan is undeniable. Their wolves enjoyed each other presence, but Makenna focus only with the boy well-being. It's not easy to be a lone wolf without protection. When the trouble strikes, Ryan need to takeover and protect Makenna also the shelter.
This story has two main plot. The major is about relationship between Makenna and Ryan. The other is new problem from the shelter and that brings Phoenix Pact into the vortex. Talking about relationship, I couldn't believe their insta-lust works so fast. They're just meet couple times and suddenly 'click' right away. Sometimes it bothers me because I hardly find the real chemistry between them beside the mating. Beside that I didn't really get the real Makenna and Ryan outside sex. Yeah, yeah... their sex always SO HOT and POWERFUL.
Ryan feels all male and dominant towards Makenna. No doubt. But he still didn't talk much (beside dirty talk in bad) with no emotions shown so far. It was hard for me. However, Makenna also kinda frustrated me. She's independent and strong woman with a unique streak. A bit hippy style and believe in superstition. But in bedroom, she seems submissive and receiving. Makenna's kinda pushed herself to be fierce, which is I didn't feel that vibe around her. IMO, she needs someone to take care of her and loose her crankiness. Yeah, that's Ryan for her.
I feel like this story just a repetition. The format from the previous books still the same and less engaging than before. There are too many new characters for a single time. In the end, I didn't find anything new and thrilling. Everything feels the same. Overall, Savage Urges was a great read for those whose missing the Phoenix Pact. Maybe Tao or Dominic will be in the next book? :)
## ARC kindly provided via NetGalley for the exchange of an honest review ##
I'm surprised when Ms. Wright announced the next book is about Ryan. He is the most silent man in the Phoenix Pact. Rarely talk and show emotions. He's one of the Enforcer also the most unpredictable man. There are so many questions in my head.
Makenna Wray is a lone wolf; not from any pack and works for a shelter. She found a lost boy who happened to be Ryan Conner's nephew. Her attraction towards Ryan is undeniable. Their wolves enjoyed each other presence, but Makenna focus only with the boy well-being. It's not easy to be a lone wolf without protection. When the trouble strikes, Ryan need to takeover and protect Makenna also the shelter.
Ryan grunted, urging her inside with a hand on her lower back.
“He thinks you should mind your own business,” Makenna told the Beta, translating the grunt.
Dominic cocked his head. “You understand his grunts?”
“You don’t?”
“You got ‘Mind your own business’ . . . from that one sound?”
She lifted her chin. “I thought it was crystal clear.”
Dominic turned to Ryan. “Marry her.”
This story has two main plot. The major is about relationship between Makenna and Ryan. The other is new problem from the shelter and that brings Phoenix Pact into the vortex. Talking about relationship, I couldn't believe their insta-lust works so fast. They're just meet couple times and suddenly 'click' right away. Sometimes it bothers me because I hardly find the real chemistry between them beside the mating. Beside that I didn't really get the real Makenna and Ryan outside sex. Yeah, yeah... their sex always SO HOT and POWERFUL.
“All mine.” He didn’t go easy on her; he fucked her hard with his finger. “You’re going to come for me, Kenna.” He added another finger, stretching her, readying her for him. “Then I’m going to fuck you so hard you scream for me.”
He thrust hard. “What’s wrong, Kenna? Is this too slow for you? You want it faster?” She just grunted her assent. “Tough. I’ll fuck this pussy however I want. Because it belongs to me.” He lunged deep once, twice. “Now . . . hands above your head.”
Ryan feels all male and dominant towards Makenna. No doubt. But he still didn't talk much (beside dirty talk in bad) with no emotions shown so far. It was hard for me. However, Makenna also kinda frustrated me. She's independent and strong woman with a unique streak. A bit hippy style and believe in superstition. But in bedroom, she seems submissive and receiving. Makenna's kinda pushed herself to be fierce, which is I didn't feel that vibe around her. IMO, she needs someone to take care of her and loose her crankiness. Yeah, that's Ryan for her.
I feel like this story just a repetition. The format from the previous books still the same and less engaging than before. There are too many new characters for a single time. In the end, I didn't find anything new and thrilling. Everything feels the same. Overall, Savage Urges was a great read for those whose missing the Phoenix Pact. Maybe Tao or Dominic will be in the next book? :)
## ARC kindly provided via NetGalley for the exchange of an honest review ##
February 21, 2017
4 big, bad and sexy stars
Makenna is a lone wolf set out to care for those who need most caring. Untrusted by her kind, she protects herself with her wit and charm, willing to go toe-to-toe even with the baddest of the bunch. Her latest charge, has ties to Ryan Conner from the Pheonix Pack, and he's everything she chooses to deny she wants...the strong, silent, dangerous type. Bust she should know better than provoking the beast, they're not afraid to bite back.
Ryan is who he is and doesn't give a damn what any one thinks of him. Protective of his pack and their territory, nothing has ever tempted his control the way Makenna has. Recognizing her as his from the start; his need to protect, possess and feed his obsessive hunger rides him hard. But he knows he has to take it slow, willing her to see past her fears and take him as the man for her.
Savage Urges is another fantastic addition to the Phoenix Pack series. The banter and the foreplay of anticipation is something to experience. Makenna is feisty and fiery, who has no fear when it comes to being who she is. Ryan respects her as a woman but also sees past her jabs at the woman who needs a man to love her. Ryan is a man who protects what's his no matter that cost and has the whole sexy primal man going for him. Fast paced, action packed (in and out of the sheets), their story will make you laugh and love! Recommended to my wolf-loving friends.
Copy kindly provided by the author, via NetGalley, for an honest review.
***Quotes above are taken from the version of the book I received and may differ from published edition.
***Reviewed on Feb. 20th, 2017***
Makenna is a lone wolf set out to care for those who need most caring. Untrusted by her kind, she protects herself with her wit and charm, willing to go toe-to-toe even with the baddest of the bunch. Her latest charge, has ties to Ryan Conner from the Pheonix Pack, and he's everything she chooses to deny she wants...the strong, silent, dangerous type. Bust she should know better than provoking the beast, they're not afraid to bite back.
“Got a problem with that, White Fang?”
“Drop the White Fang.”
“Drop the snarl.”
“Do you have to be so annoying?”
“There’s something freeing about it.”
Ryan is who he is and doesn't give a damn what any one thinks of him. Protective of his pack and their territory, nothing has ever tempted his control the way Makenna has. Recognizing her as his from the start; his need to protect, possess and feed his obsessive hunger rides him hard. But he knows he has to take it slow, willing her to see past her fears and take him as the man for her.
“You understand his grunts?”
“You don’t?”
“You got ‘Mind your own business’ . . . from that one sound?”
She lifted her chin. “I thought it was crystal clear.”
Dominic turned to Ryan. “Marry her.”
Savage Urges is another fantastic addition to the Phoenix Pack series. The banter and the foreplay of anticipation is something to experience. Makenna is feisty and fiery, who has no fear when it comes to being who she is. Ryan respects her as a woman but also sees past her jabs at the woman who needs a man to love her. Ryan is a man who protects what's his no matter that cost and has the whole sexy primal man going for him. Fast paced, action packed (in and out of the sheets), their story will make you laugh and love! Recommended to my wolf-loving friends.
Copy kindly provided by the author, via NetGalley, for an honest review.
***Quotes above are taken from the version of the book I received and may differ from published edition.
***Reviewed on Feb. 20th, 2017***
April 5, 2016
Review to come...
***TEASER***
Ryan grunted, urging her inside with a hand on her lower back.
“He thinks you should mind your own business,” Makenna told [Dante], translating the grunt.
Dominic cocked his head. “You understand his grunts?”
“You don’t?”
“You got ‘Mind your own business’ . . . from that one sound?”
She lifted her chin. “I thought it was crystal clear.”
Dominic turned to Ryan. “Marry her.”
Coming May 2016 ❤
December 16, 2022
Originally posted at:
Something about this book didn't do it for me. For starters, the whole book is the synopsis, which I don't appreciate. The way the author plotted out the story ended up with the couple's storyline getting resolved with an hour and a half of the book to go (which proved to be action-packed but pointless because I just didn't care enough to want to know more). I finished it but the last hour or so was like pulling teeth.
Makenna was a sassy and sarcastic beauty! I loved her spunk and how she took no prisoners. She stood up for what she believed in and didn't let anyone boss her around, while still maintaining her common sense and not taking unnecessary risks. She was the ultimate match for Ryan and it made the story very entertaining overall.
Ryan was a man of few words. He mostly communicates in grunts that only Makenna can decipher. He could be a bit too controlling and domineering at times which rubbed me the wrong way. He wasn't much of an interesting character when compared to the bright light that was Makenna's sense of humor.
Even though I think I read somewhere (or maybe I assumed... you know what happens when you do that) that these novels could be read as a standalone, I found myself very lost in the secondary characters. Most weren't really present, they were just there. They were a blur and I can't, for the life of me, remember a single name. Had I read this series in order that would probably be a different story. So that one was my bad!
The Audio Book:
The narrator was awesome! She may not have a very big range in both male and female tones of voices but her enthusiasm and her ability to convey emotion throughout her reading makes up for that and so much more! I would definitely recommend this narration and I would love to check out more novels narrated by Jill Redfield in the future!
Something about this book didn't do it for me. For starters, the whole book is the synopsis, which I don't appreciate. The way the author plotted out the story ended up with the couple's storyline getting resolved with an hour and a half of the book to go (which proved to be action-packed but pointless because I just didn't care enough to want to know more). I finished it but the last hour or so was like pulling teeth.
Makenna was a sassy and sarcastic beauty! I loved her spunk and how she took no prisoners. She stood up for what she believed in and didn't let anyone boss her around, while still maintaining her common sense and not taking unnecessary risks. She was the ultimate match for Ryan and it made the story very entertaining overall.
Ryan was a man of few words. He mostly communicates in grunts that only Makenna can decipher. He could be a bit too controlling and domineering at times which rubbed me the wrong way. He wasn't much of an interesting character when compared to the bright light that was Makenna's sense of humor.
Even though I think I read somewhere (or maybe I assumed... you know what happens when you do that) that these novels could be read as a standalone, I found myself very lost in the secondary characters. Most weren't really present, they were just there. They were a blur and I can't, for the life of me, remember a single name. Had I read this series in order that would probably be a different story. So that one was my bad!
The Audio Book:
The narrator was awesome! She may not have a very big range in both male and female tones of voices but her enthusiasm and her ability to convey emotion throughout her reading makes up for that and so much more! I would definitely recommend this narration and I would love to check out more novels narrated by Jill Redfield in the future!
May 1, 2021
I'm pretty sure this one is my 2nd favorite in the series. There is absolutely no OW drama, and I love seeing the other shifters come into play.
This is a great series. Yes it is totally repetitious, but who gives a shit. And if we are all totally honest, if she went and changed it up to make it a completely new book, everyone would bitch about that anyway. We are completely hard to please when it comes to our smut.
I love love love Ryan and that while he talked to McKenna, he still only grunted at everyone else. He also figures out very early on that they are meant for each other and just has to help McKenna see it. I think this book is almost better because they completely gave themselves to each other before the mating bond even clicked in.
I almost forgot to write about the superstitions, I'm dead at all the crap that happened to Ryan from not believing in her craziness!
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I did miss Dominic more in this one. I think we only got maybe 2 of his pickup lines. But meeting the shelter characters made up for it. Especially Savannah.
I'm so excited for Tao's and Riley's book. Riley already has Tao fired up and the book hasn't even started yet.
This is a great series. Yes it is totally repetitious, but who gives a shit. And if we are all totally honest, if she went and changed it up to make it a completely new book, everyone would bitch about that anyway. We are completely hard to please when it comes to our smut.
I love love love Ryan and that while he talked to McKenna, he still only grunted at everyone else. He also figures out very early on that they are meant for each other and just has to help McKenna see it. I think this book is almost better because they completely gave themselves to each other before the mating bond even clicked in.
I almost forgot to write about the superstitions, I'm dead at all the crap that happened to Ryan from not believing in her craziness!
[image error]
I did miss Dominic more in this one. I think we only got maybe 2 of his pickup lines. But meeting the shelter characters made up for it. Especially Savannah.
I'm so excited for Tao's and Riley's book. Riley already has Tao fired up and the book hasn't even started yet.
August 1, 2017
Ms. Wright writes the best opening sentences that suck you into the story straight away.
3.5 “White Fang & Kenna” Stars
Finding an unconscious shifter on your doorstep was a definite buzzkill.
Makenna is strong, overprotective, and flighty but is a Mama Wolf. She was different to the other heroines in the book, well I think so at least. She is a lone wolf and works in a shelter for loners to rehome them and to look after them.
The said shifter she finds on her doorstep she takes to the shelter and finds his family member.
Enter Ryan Connor from the Phoenix Pack. His cousin Damian Lewis died due to his mating bond his mate died as well which left Zac alone in the York Pack. There are some sick packs out there. Zac left the pack six months ago and refuses to go back. The pack is also trying to find him.
Makenna tries to catch Ryan so that he can talk to him about Zac. Ryan catches her stalking him. And they already hit it off.
"Okay, I get it. You're a big, bad, scary wolf, and your proverbial dick is bigger than mine. I'm officially intimidated." "Really?" "Yes" His mouth moved even closer to her ear, until he was almost nibbling on her lobe. "That's a lie. I don't like it when people lie to me. Don't do it again."
Ryan wants to claim Zac straight away but Mama Wolf comes out.
"Easy, White Fang. Hear me out."
"You have to appreciate that although Zac is your family, he doesn't know you. He doesn't trust you. And he has absolutely no reason to do so. You're family but you're distant family."
Ryan is controlled, disciplined, the epitome of being socially challenged. He has his scars and demons to fight. The only Person Ryan lets his guard down with is Makenna. His wolf realized what she was to him a long time before he did it didn’t matter that she was a loner.
One thing had never changed: when the wolf wanted something, he wanted it there and then. He demanded.
But in general packs always made the same assumptions about loners. Even if a loner has been wronged and been banned. Makenna can’t remember her past and it is heart breaking.
I loved Ryan and Makenna together. They are the cliché of opposites attract and Makenna gets him.
Dominic cocked his head. "You understand his grunts?"
She lifted her chin. "I thought it was crystal clear."
Dominic turned to Ryan. "Marry her."
Ryan grunted again before heading for the door.
"What did he say?" Dominic asked her.
"Fuck off," she translated.”
Makenna is a walking, talking, and completely illogical distraction for Ryan and he just doesn’t get her quirkiness. Especially her superstitions.
"It could have hit you." "No, it couldn't have. I have my rabbit’s foot on my keychain." He did a double take. "What?" "It wards off bad luck." "You really believe that part of a dead animal's limb protects you?" "Obviously, jeez don't you know anything?"
"You can be so irrational sometimes." "I’m irrational? I don't have part of a dead animal on my keychain!" "Maybe if you did then the ball wouldn't have hit you."
Ryan knows that they are true mates
The ladies of the pack try and interfere.
"You need to take her on a date," said Hope. Shaya's eyes widened. "Ooh, yeah! You should take her out to dinner." "Or a boat ride” suggested Lydia. “Or ice Skating," said Jaime. "Or on a picnic." Grace pointed at him stern. "Make sure you take her flowers." "And maybe write a poem," said Shaya. Taryn blinked at the redhead. "Oh, I'm sorry, is it 1953?"
"Well, it seems you were right. We're true mates." Ryan grunted. Of course he was right. "I don't like your tone." She nipped his lip. "Our scents have mixed. I like that."
Once again I want to be Roni when I grow up.
"Deanne's dead, right?" He grunted. "Roni gutted her."
Ryan is really a big softie.
"I don't even know how to hold a Baby." "I'll Show you when it comes." "I'm not good with kids." "You're not good with people, period."
"You'll protect it and cherish it and be a total marshmallow for it. No one will believe you are a serial killer anymore. Seriously your street cred will be shot to shit."
There is the matter of the shelter that is needed by so many loner shifters is being threatened by pack and it’s getting worse. And that pack is awful. Not going to waste too much time on the overall plot of the story.
Although this has hardly any relevance to the story I love it so I had to add it.
Tao and Kye.
"Give it back, pup." Smiling impishly, Kye shook his head. Tao arched a brow. "What did I say earlier?" "Don't eat snot." "What did I say before that?" "Don't pick your nose." Tao sighed. "Forget it." Kye snapped his little teeth when Tao tried to detach him from Ryan. "No! I want to stay with Uncle Ryan."
I wonder if Riley & Tao be paired up in a book? And Dominic & Madisyn?
Book received by Montlake Romance via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 “White Fang & Kenna” Stars
Finding an unconscious shifter on your doorstep was a definite buzzkill.
Makenna is strong, overprotective, and flighty but is a Mama Wolf. She was different to the other heroines in the book, well I think so at least. She is a lone wolf and works in a shelter for loners to rehome them and to look after them.
The said shifter she finds on her doorstep she takes to the shelter and finds his family member.
Enter Ryan Connor from the Phoenix Pack. His cousin Damian Lewis died due to his mating bond his mate died as well which left Zac alone in the York Pack. There are some sick packs out there. Zac left the pack six months ago and refuses to go back. The pack is also trying to find him.
Makenna tries to catch Ryan so that he can talk to him about Zac. Ryan catches her stalking him. And they already hit it off.
"Okay, I get it. You're a big, bad, scary wolf, and your proverbial dick is bigger than mine. I'm officially intimidated." "Really?" "Yes" His mouth moved even closer to her ear, until he was almost nibbling on her lobe. "That's a lie. I don't like it when people lie to me. Don't do it again."
Ryan wants to claim Zac straight away but Mama Wolf comes out.
"Easy, White Fang. Hear me out."
"You have to appreciate that although Zac is your family, he doesn't know you. He doesn't trust you. And he has absolutely no reason to do so. You're family but you're distant family."
Ryan is controlled, disciplined, the epitome of being socially challenged. He has his scars and demons to fight. The only Person Ryan lets his guard down with is Makenna. His wolf realized what she was to him a long time before he did it didn’t matter that she was a loner.
One thing had never changed: when the wolf wanted something, he wanted it there and then. He demanded.
But in general packs always made the same assumptions about loners. Even if a loner has been wronged and been banned. Makenna can’t remember her past and it is heart breaking.
I loved Ryan and Makenna together. They are the cliché of opposites attract and Makenna gets him.
Dominic cocked his head. "You understand his grunts?"
She lifted her chin. "I thought it was crystal clear."
Dominic turned to Ryan. "Marry her."
Ryan grunted again before heading for the door.
"What did he say?" Dominic asked her.
"Fuck off," she translated.”
Makenna is a walking, talking, and completely illogical distraction for Ryan and he just doesn’t get her quirkiness. Especially her superstitions.
"It could have hit you." "No, it couldn't have. I have my rabbit’s foot on my keychain." He did a double take. "What?" "It wards off bad luck." "You really believe that part of a dead animal's limb protects you?" "Obviously, jeez don't you know anything?"
"You can be so irrational sometimes." "I’m irrational? I don't have part of a dead animal on my keychain!" "Maybe if you did then the ball wouldn't have hit you."
Ryan knows that they are true mates
The ladies of the pack try and interfere.
"You need to take her on a date," said Hope. Shaya's eyes widened. "Ooh, yeah! You should take her out to dinner." "Or a boat ride” suggested Lydia. “Or ice Skating," said Jaime. "Or on a picnic." Grace pointed at him stern. "Make sure you take her flowers." "And maybe write a poem," said Shaya. Taryn blinked at the redhead. "Oh, I'm sorry, is it 1953?"
"Well, it seems you were right. We're true mates." Ryan grunted. Of course he was right. "I don't like your tone." She nipped his lip. "Our scents have mixed. I like that."
Once again I want to be Roni when I grow up.
"Deanne's dead, right?" He grunted. "Roni gutted her."
Ryan is really a big softie.
"I don't even know how to hold a Baby." "I'll Show you when it comes." "I'm not good with kids." "You're not good with people, period."
"You'll protect it and cherish it and be a total marshmallow for it. No one will believe you are a serial killer anymore. Seriously your street cred will be shot to shit."
There is the matter of the shelter that is needed by so many loner shifters is being threatened by pack and it’s getting worse. And that pack is awful. Not going to waste too much time on the overall plot of the story.
Although this has hardly any relevance to the story I love it so I had to add it.
Tao and Kye.
"Give it back, pup." Smiling impishly, Kye shook his head. Tao arched a brow. "What did I say earlier?" "Don't eat snot." "What did I say before that?" "Don't pick your nose." Tao sighed. "Forget it." Kye snapped his little teeth when Tao tried to detach him from Ryan. "No! I want to stay with Uncle Ryan."
I wonder if Riley & Tao be paired up in a book? And Dominic & Madisyn?
Book received by Montlake Romance via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 5, 2017
So...this time it's Ryan turn.
We've come to know Ryan from all the other books and we know he's the grumpy, quiet enforcer of the Phoenix pack. He was abducted by a rival pack years ago and tortured for days...which didn't do wonders for his personality.
Still...he's one of the good guys and he's really protective of his pack and the ones he loves.
Mackenna, is a loner. She doesn't belong to a pack and she can't remember even beloning to one. She grew up with her mother, who was also a loner, and when her mother died, when she was a young teenager, she was sent to a shelter for shifters.
Now as an adult she still volunteers ad this shelter, helping loner shifters and espcially helping the kids who have nobody else. She tries placing these kids who are all alone, with a family member or else in a pack that will except them. Eventhough she is a loner herself and happy with her life, she knows that the animal side of shifters long to be in a pack...So this is what she tries to find for the children who come to the shelter.
When coming home one day, she discovers a drunk (shifter) teenager on her doorsteps. She decides to take him inside and care for him. His name is Zac and he ran away from his pack...for good reasons. MacKenna makes it her mission to try and find a safe place for him, were he can belong.
This is how she meets Ryan. Turns out Zac is the son of Ryans deceised cousin. Which makes him family. Also Ryan is part of the Phoenix pack and MacKenna knows all about them. She figured Zac would be safe with them, so she initiates contact with Ryan.
In shifter style, Ryan feels immeditely attracted to the pretty loner, but he's also very hesitant. Loners aren't very liked among shifterpacks. Usually they are thrown out of their own packs for crimes they committed. Ryan is very protective of his own pack and his new kid nephew, but he has no choice trusting MacKenna, because Zac refuses to just leave the shelter and come live with him and his pack.
So...Ryan and MacKenna are forced to spend a lot of time together. During that time the attraction between them grows more and more and eventually they give in to the sexual tension between them. Which was pretty damn hot....as all these books are ;)
Ryan is convinced that MacKenna is his true mate, but for some reason there is no mating bond between them. He thinks that something is blocking it, but he doesn't care. For him, she is his mate and he and his wolf want to claim her. MacKenna however isn't so sure, so he will just have to convince her one way or another....
Than there is the sidestory of a sick shifter fuck, who wants to take control of the shelter for his own sick pleasure....
I enjoyed this one, but there are other books in this series that I enjoyed way more. It wasn't bad however and I had a good time reading this one. I can't wait to read Tao's book and I just hope he ends up with the Raven shifter that is in this book. We haven't had any different species couples, wich I think would be fun. I'm also still waiting for Dominics story, he's one of my favorite characters....
So I hope this author will keep on writing books for this series and for the Mercury pack series, because I will read them all !!
4 stars from me
An ARC was kindly provided to me by Netgally, in Exchange for an honest review !
We've come to know Ryan from all the other books and we know he's the grumpy, quiet enforcer of the Phoenix pack. He was abducted by a rival pack years ago and tortured for days...which didn't do wonders for his personality.
Still...he's one of the good guys and he's really protective of his pack and the ones he loves.
Mackenna, is a loner. She doesn't belong to a pack and she can't remember even beloning to one. She grew up with her mother, who was also a loner, and when her mother died, when she was a young teenager, she was sent to a shelter for shifters.
Now as an adult she still volunteers ad this shelter, helping loner shifters and espcially helping the kids who have nobody else. She tries placing these kids who are all alone, with a family member or else in a pack that will except them. Eventhough she is a loner herself and happy with her life, she knows that the animal side of shifters long to be in a pack...So this is what she tries to find for the children who come to the shelter.
When coming home one day, she discovers a drunk (shifter) teenager on her doorsteps. She decides to take him inside and care for him. His name is Zac and he ran away from his pack...for good reasons. MacKenna makes it her mission to try and find a safe place for him, were he can belong.
This is how she meets Ryan. Turns out Zac is the son of Ryans deceised cousin. Which makes him family. Also Ryan is part of the Phoenix pack and MacKenna knows all about them. She figured Zac would be safe with them, so she initiates contact with Ryan.
In shifter style, Ryan feels immeditely attracted to the pretty loner, but he's also very hesitant. Loners aren't very liked among shifterpacks. Usually they are thrown out of their own packs for crimes they committed. Ryan is very protective of his own pack and his new kid nephew, but he has no choice trusting MacKenna, because Zac refuses to just leave the shelter and come live with him and his pack.
So...Ryan and MacKenna are forced to spend a lot of time together. During that time the attraction between them grows more and more and eventually they give in to the sexual tension between them. Which was pretty damn hot....as all these books are ;)
Ryan is convinced that MacKenna is his true mate, but for some reason there is no mating bond between them. He thinks that something is blocking it, but he doesn't care. For him, she is his mate and he and his wolf want to claim her. MacKenna however isn't so sure, so he will just have to convince her one way or another....
Than there is the sidestory of a sick shifter fuck, who wants to take control of the shelter for his own sick pleasure....
I enjoyed this one, but there are other books in this series that I enjoyed way more. It wasn't bad however and I had a good time reading this one. I can't wait to read Tao's book and I just hope he ends up with the Raven shifter that is in this book. We haven't had any different species couples, wich I think would be fun. I'm also still waiting for Dominics story, he's one of my favorite characters....
So I hope this author will keep on writing books for this series and for the Mercury pack series, because I will read them all !!
4 stars from me
An ARC was kindly provided to me by Netgally, in Exchange for an honest review !
April 10, 2016
This review will be short because I read this a week or so ago and I don't remember much.
I’ll be quite honest; this book disappointed me. A lot. And it pains me to say so because Suzanne Wright is one of my favorite PR authors, but Savage urges simply fell…flat. Yes, perhaps I had too high expectations going into it, but to me, they were totally justified, because SW is a fabulous author. However, each and every time I turned the page to the next, my boredom grew and grew to the point where I simply couldn’t ignore that I was not enjoying it anymore.
I do want to say, however, that I have adored all previous books in this series.
The major problem was this: I have started to notice a pattern in SW’s books. As much as I like her books, I am sorry to say that they all feel like… the same? SW writes a lot of books and therefore has a lot of characters. Now, if those characters were quite different from one another, I wouldn’t have many problems with Savage Urges, but that’s not the case. What I’ve noticed is that her characters are, in fact, all the same.
For instance, Trey and Taryn (from Feral Sins) were the first to have a story. Trey is quite dominant and a bit rough around the edges, and Taryn was a real I-don’t-give-a-fuck, extremely sassy woman. Which was great. Fantastic even. But fast-forward a few books and that’s what we’re faced with:
Trey (Feral Sins), Dante (Wicked Cravings) and Nick (Carnal Secrets) are the exact same guy. They act the same and talk the same.
Derren (Spiral of Need – The Mercury Pack series) and Ryan (Savage Urges) are, again, the exact same or almost. Reserved and mysterious.
Taryn (Feral Sins), Jaime (Wicked Cravings), Makenna (Savage Urges) and Roni (Dark Instincts) also feel like the exact same person. Sassy women who throw shades at everyone.
And the only two who actually sound different are Shaya (Carnal Secrets) and Ally (Spiral of Need – The Mercury Pack series).
Now, I’m not saying those are bad characters because they’re actually awesome. My problem is if you took the names out of the dialogues or literally out of the story and asked me who’s saying what or even whose story it is…I wouldn’t be able to tell. And that bugs me…a lot. Because it means the characters don’t have voices of their own, they’re not unique, they’re simply the copy of someone else we’ve seen before.
Therefore, I couldn’t bring myself to care for neither Makenna nor Ryan. Their story wasn’t interesting to me, it wasn’t new and it was…well…boring.
So with all of that, I give this book 2,5 stars.
- I received and arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review -
I’ll be quite honest; this book disappointed me. A lot. And it pains me to say so because Suzanne Wright is one of my favorite PR authors, but Savage urges simply fell…flat. Yes, perhaps I had too high expectations going into it, but to me, they were totally justified, because SW is a fabulous author. However, each and every time I turned the page to the next, my boredom grew and grew to the point where I simply couldn’t ignore that I was not enjoying it anymore.
I do want to say, however, that I have adored all previous books in this series.
The major problem was this: I have started to notice a pattern in SW’s books. As much as I like her books, I am sorry to say that they all feel like… the same? SW writes a lot of books and therefore has a lot of characters. Now, if those characters were quite different from one another, I wouldn’t have many problems with Savage Urges, but that’s not the case. What I’ve noticed is that her characters are, in fact, all the same.
For instance, Trey and Taryn (from Feral Sins) were the first to have a story. Trey is quite dominant and a bit rough around the edges, and Taryn was a real I-don’t-give-a-fuck, extremely sassy woman. Which was great. Fantastic even. But fast-forward a few books and that’s what we’re faced with:
Trey (Feral Sins), Dante (Wicked Cravings) and Nick (Carnal Secrets) are the exact same guy. They act the same and talk the same.
Derren (Spiral of Need – The Mercury Pack series) and Ryan (Savage Urges) are, again, the exact same or almost. Reserved and mysterious.
Taryn (Feral Sins), Jaime (Wicked Cravings), Makenna (Savage Urges) and Roni (Dark Instincts) also feel like the exact same person. Sassy women who throw shades at everyone.
And the only two who actually sound different are Shaya (Carnal Secrets) and Ally (Spiral of Need – The Mercury Pack series).
Now, I’m not saying those are bad characters because they’re actually awesome. My problem is if you took the names out of the dialogues or literally out of the story and asked me who’s saying what or even whose story it is…I wouldn’t be able to tell. And that bugs me…a lot. Because it means the characters don’t have voices of their own, they’re not unique, they’re simply the copy of someone else we’ve seen before.
Therefore, I couldn’t bring myself to care for neither Makenna nor Ryan. Their story wasn’t interesting to me, it wasn’t new and it was…well…boring.
So with all of that, I give this book 2,5 stars.
- I received and arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review -
April 5, 2016
4.5 Grunting Alpha Male Stars!
I really enjoyed this addition to the Phoenix Pack series. This author is a go to for me and I never miss any of her books.
Ryan is an Enforcer for the Phoenix Pack, and to be honest he never really stuck out to me in the previous books whenever he was mentioned. But I absolutely adored him in this story. He was the type of silent, brooding, growly, dark past kind of fella that makes your panties melt and make you wanna tame ;)
Makenna was a very likeable character! I was surprised because my past experience with Suzanne Wrights female leads haven't been the best. They are usually super alpha themselves and constantly push back and away from their mates. But Makenna was super amazing, I love everything she stood for and understood her struggles.
The two of them together had some explosive chemistry... nuff said.
"He thrust hard. "What's wrong Kenna? Is this too slow for you? You want it faster?" She just grunted her assent. "Tough. I'll f*ck this pussy however I want. Because it belongs to me." He lunged deep once, twice. "Now... hands above your head.""
I'm stoked for whatever the next story will be and I really loved the possible hints of couples that was dropped in this story! Will it be Dominic next?! or Tao?!! I hope it will be with one of the girls introduced in this book...
ARC via Netgalley for honest review
I really enjoyed this addition to the Phoenix Pack series. This author is a go to for me and I never miss any of her books.
Ryan is an Enforcer for the Phoenix Pack, and to be honest he never really stuck out to me in the previous books whenever he was mentioned. But I absolutely adored him in this story. He was the type of silent, brooding, growly, dark past kind of fella that makes your panties melt and make you wanna tame ;)
Makenna was a very likeable character! I was surprised because my past experience with Suzanne Wrights female leads haven't been the best. They are usually super alpha themselves and constantly push back and away from their mates. But Makenna was super amazing, I love everything she stood for and understood her struggles.
The two of them together had some explosive chemistry... nuff said.
"He thrust hard. "What's wrong Kenna? Is this too slow for you? You want it faster?" She just grunted her assent. "Tough. I'll f*ck this pussy however I want. Because it belongs to me." He lunged deep once, twice. "Now... hands above your head.""
I'm stoked for whatever the next story will be and I really loved the possible hints of couples that was dropped in this story! Will it be Dominic next?! or Tao?!! I hope it will be with one of the girls introduced in this book...
ARC via Netgalley for honest review
May 8, 2016
3.5 This was a pretty good read!
For some reason, I am a bit disappointed by this book (I keep telling myself not to have expectations but I can't do it...).
I've wanted to read it for ages now and, dunno, I wanted a lot more from this one.
Still, it was a really fun read, like you'd expect from Suzanne Wright. I loved the male character and the female one was pretty good too (although a bit typical, both of them).
It's worth reading if you liked her other books!
For some reason, I am a bit disappointed by this book (I keep telling myself not to have expectations but I can't do it...).
I've wanted to read it for ages now and, dunno, I wanted a lot more from this one.
Still, it was a really fun read, like you'd expect from Suzanne Wright. I loved the male character and the female one was pretty good too (although a bit typical, both of them).
It's worth reading if you liked her other books!
January 29, 2018
Audible Review:
I did a re-read through audible. This is the same narrator as in the first 4 books of the series and I would recommend the audible version. The narrator has been very consistent with the characters and has really brought them to life.
Story Review
I loved this book! The main characters drew me right in and I loved every bit of their interaction together. There was no dragging in the beginning trying to learn every little piece of information. The author immediately started the story off with Ryan and Mackenna from the first chapter all the way to the last.
Ryan is the ultimate Hero all the women swoon for. He's a dominant, protective and dangerous wolf shifter who grunts in communication. Mackenna, the heroine, is also a wolf shifter but she is anything but silent. She's sassy, protective and fierce. She is also a lone wolf who has no family, no pack and no memory of her previous pack. Mackenna works for a shifter shelter helping other lone shifters find a safe place to go when they are no longer in their pack. The two meet when Mackenna hunts Ryan down to introduce him to his teenage cousin who ran from his original pack.
Ryan and Mackenna's interactions were highly enteraining and the story was full of action. I have not read any of the other books in the series and this is a standalone book but I was so intrigued by all the characters, I will definitaly go back and read all the book in the series.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I did a re-read through audible. This is the same narrator as in the first 4 books of the series and I would recommend the audible version. The narrator has been very consistent with the characters and has really brought them to life.
Story Review
I loved this book! The main characters drew me right in and I loved every bit of their interaction together. There was no dragging in the beginning trying to learn every little piece of information. The author immediately started the story off with Ryan and Mackenna from the first chapter all the way to the last.
Ryan is the ultimate Hero all the women swoon for. He's a dominant, protective and dangerous wolf shifter who grunts in communication. Mackenna, the heroine, is also a wolf shifter but she is anything but silent. She's sassy, protective and fierce. She is also a lone wolf who has no family, no pack and no memory of her previous pack. Mackenna works for a shifter shelter helping other lone shifters find a safe place to go when they are no longer in their pack. The two meet when Mackenna hunts Ryan down to introduce him to his teenage cousin who ran from his original pack.
Ryan and Mackenna's interactions were highly enteraining and the story was full of action. I have not read any of the other books in the series and this is a standalone book but I was so intrigued by all the characters, I will definitaly go back and read all the book in the series.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 9, 2016
This is probably a 3.5 stars for me. The book was hot as always with this author. And the story was enjoyable. But I have to knock off a half because the romance was a slow burn. But when it happened, it was like whiplash (almost instalove like). And then the repeated words such as rippling and a few others got annoying. Other than that, I was pleased. Audio narration was excellent as always. But I rounded up on this one because I did enjoy.
February 7, 2017
I loved it, I loved it, I loved it, I loved it!
These books are sooooo good! :D
These books are sooooo good! :D
April 22, 2016
~4.5 Savage Stars~
Suzanne Wright has done it again. Her shifter-wolf reads are full of action, steam, and are entertaining from the very first word until the very last second of the read! Savage Urges is the fifth book in The Phoenix Pack Series. It can be read as a stand-alone, however, be aware that the characters overlap quite a bit throughout the series.
Makenna is a lone wolf who spends her life working at a shelter helping displaced shifters. She is content serving others and doing everything she can to serve the cause! When a teenage shifter wolf lands on her doorstep, she locates his cousin to see if he is willing to take the lost boy into his pack.
Ryan is an enforcer in the Phoenix Pack. He is a sensible shifter wolf who has a reputation for being a man of few words. When he meets Makenna, she rocks his entire world. He is immediately drawn to her and despite their differences, he wants to know her more.
Overall, Savage Urges is a must read for PRN lovers. If you haven't checked this series out yet, you need to. With action, endearing characters, and plenty of steam this book is a must read!
READ as part of the PRN BUDDY READ week on Shh...!
Check out the thread here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
*ARC graciously provided via NETGALLEY in exchange for an honest review!*
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
"He needed to be in her. He needed to be in his mate, possessing her the way he'd been imagining since the second he first saw her. Nothing else would feel right."
Suzanne Wright has done it again. Her shifter-wolf reads are full of action, steam, and are entertaining from the very first word until the very last second of the read! Savage Urges is the fifth book in The Phoenix Pack Series. It can be read as a stand-alone, however, be aware that the characters overlap quite a bit throughout the series.
Makenna is a lone wolf who spends her life working at a shelter helping displaced shifters. She is content serving others and doing everything she can to serve the cause! When a teenage shifter wolf lands on her doorstep, she locates his cousin to see if he is willing to take the lost boy into his pack.
"With her slim build fitting into the groove between his broad shoulders and her head resting just beneath his chin, she felt totally surrounded."
Ryan is an enforcer in the Phoenix Pack. He is a sensible shifter wolf who has a reputation for being a man of few words. When he meets Makenna, she rocks his entire world. He is immediately drawn to her and despite their differences, he wants to know her more.
"Be safe for me, Makenna."
"The raw need building inside her was live and electric. In spite of herself, she wondered how it would feel to have him in her, over her, taking her."Kenna and Ryan spend time together as they try to get Zac (Ryan's cousin) acclimated to the idea of moving in with his new pack. Ryan recognizes instantly that Makenna is his mate. However, due to the demons of her past, she has a difficult time accepting the truth. While they navigate the murky waters of "shifter mating" they are battling an "evil pack" that is stirring up trouble!
"Making a statement that you're under my protection. I'll kill him if he touches you. It's best if he knows that."
"Feasting and dominating, licking and biting. His body hurt. Ached. Demanded her. She gave as good as she got, fed him cock-torturing little moans and sucked on his tongue. Her taste and scent tantalized his senses and ate at his control."Told in dual POV, Savage Urges is another winning addition to the Phoenix Pack Series. Kenna and Ryan complimented each other well. Brotherhood and family bonds with-in the pack continue to be a driving force in this series. Ms. Wright never fails to have the perfect blend of action and steam to keep me engaged the entire read. The plot was well constructed, and the pacing was practically perfect. I always look forward to getting back to these characters. The heroes are fiercely protective and sexually charged when it comes to their mates!
Overall, Savage Urges is a must read for PRN lovers. If you haven't checked this series out yet, you need to. With action, endearing characters, and plenty of steam this book is a must read!
READ as part of the PRN BUDDY READ week on Shh...!
Check out the thread here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
*ARC graciously provided via NETGALLEY in exchange for an honest review!*
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
May 3, 2016
Thank you to MONTLAKE ROMANCE and Netgalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I have to be honest, after the train wrecks that were books three and four in this series, I decided it was time for me to step away. As I’m a glutton for punishment, that didn’t quite pan out, and it seems in this case, my gluttony has served me well. I haven’t loved a Phoenix Pack book this much since Feral Sins. Savage Urges was on the same playing field as the first two books – much more unique and interesting than three and four.
This story reminded me a lot of Feral Sins. Like Trey, Ryan was very much a wildcard when he shifted, and in human form, the strong silent type. Ryan didn’t need for much; he was aware of what was going on around him, and when he realized Makenna was his mate, he was going to have her. But he wasn’t high-handed about it. Even though it frustrated him to be away from his mate, Ryan understood Makenna’s hesitation and fought his wolf’s natural instinct to claim her. He wanted her to recognize they were mates first. Makenna was a wonderful heroine. She was an advocate for the underdog (or wolf…or snake…or bear,) and while her life might not have been brimming with happiness, she’d made her own family and found a tenuous contentment. She was feisty, but not to the point of being annoying. I felt like she was a ‘watered down’ version of the others, and that worked out well for me, as I felt Taryn, Jaime, and Shaya were a bit over the top at times. This book was just as sexy as its predecessors, so if that’s a part of the series you’ve enjoyed (I know I do,) you’re in luck. I think the funniest part of this book was Makenna translating Ryan’s grunts for everyone around them. It seems she was an advocate for everyone! The romance in this one was very sweet; I love it when a hero doesn’t think in romantic terms, but he ends up being romantic anyway, almost as if on accident simply by trying to please his heroine. And I will say that while all of these books are dark to some degree, this one is the darkest so far. There were also some surprising additions to the pack in this one, and I think it’s going to be a game changer for this series; I’m excited to see what it’s going to mean for our favorite shifters!
I had just a couple of issues with this book. First, you guessed it, Greta. (Insert eye roll here.) I don’t think I have ever said this about a character, and I hope I never do again, but it’s time to kill the old bat off. At this point, the only thing she’s adding to the series is redundancy. There are only so many times old jokes are going to be funny, and her harassing the females of this series is just getting old. She either needs to relocate to another pack or six feet under. I’m really not picky. My other issue is that I feel like I was missing something. Not something huge, but definitely some back story on characters that were the H and h of Spiral of Need. I think the reason I found it so frustrating was that at this point, I’ve chosen not the read the Mercury Pack spin-off. I didn’t like Nick and Shaya at all, and I don’t want to read about their pack. Not with the amount of page time secondary characters get in this series. I just can’t subject myself to anymore of them than I already see in the Phoenix Pack books.
If, like me, you’ve been on the fence about continuing with this series after the last few books, I’d urge you to give at least this one a go before you decide to abandon it all together. I feel like with Savage Urges, this series is finally back on track. I cannot wait for the next book!
This review was originally posted at Badass Book Reviews.
I have to be honest, after the train wrecks that were books three and four in this series, I decided it was time for me to step away. As I’m a glutton for punishment, that didn’t quite pan out, and it seems in this case, my gluttony has served me well. I haven’t loved a Phoenix Pack book this much since Feral Sins. Savage Urges was on the same playing field as the first two books – much more unique and interesting than three and four.
This story reminded me a lot of Feral Sins. Like Trey, Ryan was very much a wildcard when he shifted, and in human form, the strong silent type. Ryan didn’t need for much; he was aware of what was going on around him, and when he realized Makenna was his mate, he was going to have her. But he wasn’t high-handed about it. Even though it frustrated him to be away from his mate, Ryan understood Makenna’s hesitation and fought his wolf’s natural instinct to claim her. He wanted her to recognize they were mates first. Makenna was a wonderful heroine. She was an advocate for the underdog (or wolf…or snake…or bear,) and while her life might not have been brimming with happiness, she’d made her own family and found a tenuous contentment. She was feisty, but not to the point of being annoying. I felt like she was a ‘watered down’ version of the others, and that worked out well for me, as I felt Taryn, Jaime, and Shaya were a bit over the top at times. This book was just as sexy as its predecessors, so if that’s a part of the series you’ve enjoyed (I know I do,) you’re in luck. I think the funniest part of this book was Makenna translating Ryan’s grunts for everyone around them. It seems she was an advocate for everyone! The romance in this one was very sweet; I love it when a hero doesn’t think in romantic terms, but he ends up being romantic anyway, almost as if on accident simply by trying to please his heroine. And I will say that while all of these books are dark to some degree, this one is the darkest so far. There were also some surprising additions to the pack in this one, and I think it’s going to be a game changer for this series; I’m excited to see what it’s going to mean for our favorite shifters!
I had just a couple of issues with this book. First, you guessed it, Greta. (Insert eye roll here.) I don’t think I have ever said this about a character, and I hope I never do again, but it’s time to kill the old bat off. At this point, the only thing she’s adding to the series is redundancy. There are only so many times old jokes are going to be funny, and her harassing the females of this series is just getting old. She either needs to relocate to another pack or six feet under. I’m really not picky. My other issue is that I feel like I was missing something. Not something huge, but definitely some back story on characters that were the H and h of Spiral of Need. I think the reason I found it so frustrating was that at this point, I’ve chosen not the read the Mercury Pack spin-off. I didn’t like Nick and Shaya at all, and I don’t want to read about their pack. Not with the amount of page time secondary characters get in this series. I just can’t subject myself to anymore of them than I already see in the Phoenix Pack books.
If, like me, you’ve been on the fence about continuing with this series after the last few books, I’d urge you to give at least this one a go before you decide to abandon it all together. I feel like with Savage Urges, this series is finally back on track. I cannot wait for the next book!
This review was originally posted at Badass Book Reviews.
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