Another series to love from the talented Crystal Ash
This book is the first in another wonderful RH series from Crystal. If you have read the Unholy Trinity series, you will be familiar with Astrid, a fox shifter, and her three men. The events in this series take place before the Unholy Trinity series but do stand alone. If you are new to Crystal's books, you can start with any series, but I guarantee you that wherever you start, you're going to want to read all of them.
There is a prequel story, Falling For The Wolf, in which Astrid and Orion meet when he starts working for her father, and this story is set five years afterwards.
Crystal always writes about strong women and the men who can't help but love them and this is no exception. Astrid is fearless, brave and will do anything for the people she loves. We've already met Orion in the prequel and this book introduces us to two other men who are captivated by her.
Astrid is working away from home, trying to forget the wolf that broke her heart by kissing her and then disappearing, but he reappears and her life is turned upside down. She also meets Conan, who is sweet and fun and definitely catches her interest, and he's a fox shifter too. But Orion suddenly returning throws the proverbial spanner in the works, and events take a sinister turn as the reason he left so abruptly five years before is revealed. Orion's past catches up with him and he fears the worst but Astrid isn't going to lose him again.
The connection between Astrid and Orion is still as strong as it was, and grows exponentially during this book. Orion is just the epitome of tall, silver and handsome, with a side order of angst. Tortured but passionate, burdened but selfless, fierce but gentle. Call me biased but I do love a wolf shifter with a heart of gold, even if it is hidden beneath a gruff exterior. I know with an RH, you don't have to choose but I can't help it. I always have a favourite, and Orion is it for me this time.
I liked Conan and his meeting with Astrid was a beautifully written scene. I could feel the sunshine and the happiness. Conan seems to be the perfect foil for Orion, the light to his dark, but I'm sure that that is too simplistic a comparison and as the series continues, we will find out there is much more to each of them than meets the eye.
The third man in the story is quiet, reserved, thoughtful, seemingly with a bit of a chip on his shoulder, and I'm looking forward to getting to know him better too.
There is no cliffhanger but the ending does set up the next book and I'm eager to find out where the story will go next.