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The Pack #2
One Eye Closed
One Eye Closed by Karen Whiddon released on Apr 26, 2005 is available now for purchase.
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 2005
3 people are currently reading
213 people want to read
About the author
Karen Whiddon
206 books131 followersKaren Whiddon spun fanciful tales for her younger brothers as early as the age of eleven. Growing up in the Catskill Mountains of New York, then the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, she found enough magic in the rugged peaks to keep her imagination fueled for years.
Now making her home in North Texas, she shares her life with her hero-like husband and three doting dogs. She writes paranormal tales for Harlequin Nocturne including the popular Pack series and romantic suspense stories for Harlequin Romantic Suspense.
She's also written Fae novels for Lovespell and a long time ago, she wrote five Precious Gem Romances for Kensington publishing. These she now owns again and has put them up for sale on Amazon.com among other places
Now making her home in North Texas, she shares her life with her hero-like husband and three doting dogs. She writes paranormal tales for Harlequin Nocturne including the popular Pack series and romantic suspense stories for Harlequin Romantic Suspense.
She's also written Fae novels for Lovespell and a long time ago, she wrote five Precious Gem Romances for Kensington publishing. These she now owns again and has put them up for sale on Amazon.com among other places
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 21, 2021
One Eye Closed by Karen Whiddon is part of Silhouette's "Intimate Moments" line, and the second book in "The Pack" series. Story is told in alternating, third-person pov by the main characters: DEA agent (and werewolf) Alex Lupe, and Lyssa Reinholdt Lupe, Alex's estranged wife.
After Lyssa narrowly survives a savage attack from a serial killer, her absent husband Alex returns, insisting he's there to protect her. Their marriage had been intended to be in name only, but Lyssa got in too deep. The only thing that needs protection from Alex is her heart. Alex's worst suspicions are confirmed when he learns that the serial killer known as the Bone Man is a werewolf, and a crazed one at that. Since Lyssa escaped him, he's become obsessed with her and will stop at nothing to claim the woman he now believes is an immortal queen. Alex knows the regular police and FBI have no chance at stopping the Bone Man, and all of his instincts are clamoring to protect his wife...his mate. Can he convince Lyssa to let him help her, without revealing his secret?
It was a compelling enough story, and I'm sure I would have lapped it up 20 years ago. At this point in my life, however, I was somewhat meh about it. Alex was an ass for skipping out on Lyssa before (to spare her, I guess), but she took the gold in Idiocy in this book. Alex eventually convinces her that he's a werewolf and that the Bone Man is, too. Okay. But now we have this woman, fully human, who barely survived being attacked by the killer, has recently realized she may be pregnant, yet still thinks she has to be the one to take the Bone Man down?! WTF?! Bitch, I don't care if you're a goddamn ninja, you find out you're pregnant, you sit this one out. And, don't even get me started on Alex's nosy-ass, busybody aunt. She's the first one to suspect Lyssa was pregnant, then proceeds to get on the horn and let everyone else in Werewolf-ville know about it. She irritated the crap out of me.
The writing was good, the story was interesting, but the characters annoyed me. I'll be surly and give it a three.
After Lyssa narrowly survives a savage attack from a serial killer, her absent husband Alex returns, insisting he's there to protect her. Their marriage had been intended to be in name only, but Lyssa got in too deep. The only thing that needs protection from Alex is her heart. Alex's worst suspicions are confirmed when he learns that the serial killer known as the Bone Man is a werewolf, and a crazed one at that. Since Lyssa escaped him, he's become obsessed with her and will stop at nothing to claim the woman he now believes is an immortal queen. Alex knows the regular police and FBI have no chance at stopping the Bone Man, and all of his instincts are clamoring to protect his wife...his mate. Can he convince Lyssa to let him help her, without revealing his secret?
It was a compelling enough story, and I'm sure I would have lapped it up 20 years ago. At this point in my life, however, I was somewhat meh about it. Alex was an ass for skipping out on Lyssa before (to spare her, I guess), but she took the gold in Idiocy in this book. Alex eventually convinces her that he's a werewolf and that the Bone Man is, too. Okay. But now we have this woman, fully human, who barely survived being attacked by the killer, has recently realized she may be pregnant, yet still thinks she has to be the one to take the Bone Man down?! WTF?! Bitch, I don't care if you're a goddamn ninja, you find out you're pregnant, you sit this one out. And, don't even get me started on Alex's nosy-ass, busybody aunt. She's the first one to suspect Lyssa was pregnant, then proceeds to get on the horn and let everyone else in Werewolf-ville know about it. She irritated the crap out of me.
The writing was good, the story was interesting, but the characters annoyed me. I'll be surly and give it a three.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 11, 2025
Read September 2024
2.5 stars
Book 2 is slightly better than book 1. It's surprising that this is a published book. There are a number of errors that should've been caught. (A few are shared at the end of the review.) I was often annoyed. 😬
This is primarily a romance, with a side of suspense. The serial killer subplot occurs off-page, until the grand finale. Then things quickly wrap up with no twists or turns. Everything that happens is to create drama and bring the MCs together.
Readers jump into a story that started three years ago. It shows how the MCs’ troubled relationship is finally reconciled. The romance is mostly sweet, with just one short, low-steam sex scene.
Two Positives:
⑴ It was interesting enough to finish.
⑵ The ending kept me on the edge of my seat.
🛑 SUMMARY & SPOILERS BELOW 🛑
🇲🇨🇸: (ages unknown)
We're told the following -
Lyssa (human) joined Hades Claws to try and save her sister. There she met Alex, who married her to keep her safe.
Alex Lupe (wolf shifter), is a DEA agent who was undercover when he met Lyssa. She didn't know he was a federal agent.
Lyssa and Alex shared a bed and had sex. Lyssa left the gang when her sister was killed; Alex had to stay behind to finish his investigation. They met again at her sister's funeral, had sex, then Alex left without saying goodbye.
Where the story starts, three months later:
They come together a third time when a serial killer nearly kills Lyssa. Unknowingly, a special mate bond formed between them—Alex sensed her pain during her attack. He goes to protect his wife. Lyssa is initially shocked and afraid when Alex reveals he's a shifter, but she slowly accepts him.
Like Book 1, there's a cute pet accessory—Lyssa's cat named Sam. He's not as cute as the puppy, though.
The Serial Killer Subplot.
A killer called "The Bone Man" is targeting women in the Catskills, removing a rib from each victim. Lyssa narrowly escapes being his fifth victim.
His crimes include:
▪️Defiling Claire’s grave
▪️Breaking into and vandalizing Lyssa’s house, splashing blood everywhere
▪️Burning down her house and nursery
Alex takes Lyssa to Leaning Tree, a small town in upstate N.Y. where his pack lives. They stay with his Aunt Elaine. We see the Book 1 MCs—Alex’s sister Brenna and her husband—happily married and expecting.
🔸Lyssa may be pregnant.
🔸Sexual thoughts lead to a brief sex scene.
The Bone Man calls to say he’s kidnapped Lyssa’s BFF, Marilee. He wants Lyssa to meet him.
Lyssa makes little sense. She was afraid of Alex when he revealed he was a shifter, but she's unafraid of the killer and wants to go after him. After one shooting lesson, Alex gives her a gun.
She doesn't cry for her deceased sister or act upset when her home and business are torched. She's finally emotional when she thinks her best friend is dead.
Alex goes to the FBI office. The FBI, including Agent Johnson, look like bungling idiots. Because Alex wasn't listened to, Claire's decoy and many agents are killed.
Alex and Lyssa visit Agent Trask at the hospital, who was nearly killed by the killer's pet wolf. Lyssa faints for the second time after learning she's pregnant.
🙄 It was no surprise that Lyssa is kidnapped. Her TSTL decision to leave the hospital, and walk in the forest while it's raining, leads to the exciting ending.
The Exciting Conclusion:
Lyssa is taken to the killer’s lair, where she finds Marilee is alive. Alex tracks her by her ringtone, fights the Bone Man and injures him. Lyssa shoots him dead.
Alex will resign from the DEA. He asks Lyssa to marry him, this time for real. HEA.
The Bone Man was a wolf-shifter obsessed with an old legend about an immortal queen created from a human rib. He’s been killing blonde women—Claire was his first victim—searching for his “woman of light.” (I was bummed to learn he's a complete stranger.)
🇪🇷🇷🇴🇷🇸∶
🕳️ Biggest Plot Hole:
🔻 We're told often that shifters can only be killed with fire or silver bullets. The MCs think the Bone Man is dead—even though he was shot with regular bullets. (Shortly after, Lyssa is kidnapped.)
🔻 When Alex turns into a wolf to show Lyssa what he is, there's a very bright light (unlike book one).
Prickles of light stabbed the air, so bright she shaded her eyes.
If this happens every time someone shifts, humans would've discovered shifters long ago.
🔻 After Alex shifts back to human form, his senses are said to be heightened. He tries to talk to Lyssa who's terrified, but he can't hear her with the windows up. He tells her to roll the window down a crack so they can hear each other.
So much for his heightened senses! 🙄
🔻Aunt Elaine says that Lyssa is pregnant.
Alex thinks: Pregnant. Not once had the possibility even remotely occurred to him. Nor, judging from Lyssa’s frantic reaction, had it occurred to her.
A few pages earlier, Lyssa said:
"I did a home pregnancy test. Three of them actually, all different brands. They all were negative. I'm not pregnant. It's stress!"
Obviously, it HAD occurred to her!
2.5 stars
Book 2 is slightly better than book 1. It's surprising that this is a published book. There are a number of errors that should've been caught. (A few are shared at the end of the review.) I was often annoyed. 😬
This is primarily a romance, with a side of suspense. The serial killer subplot occurs off-page, until the grand finale. Then things quickly wrap up with no twists or turns. Everything that happens is to create drama and bring the MCs together.
Readers jump into a story that started three years ago. It shows how the MCs’ troubled relationship is finally reconciled. The romance is mostly sweet, with just one short, low-steam sex scene.
Two Positives:
⑴ It was interesting enough to finish.
⑵ The ending kept me on the edge of my seat.
🛑 SUMMARY & SPOILERS BELOW 🛑
🇲🇨🇸: (ages unknown)
We're told the following -
Lyssa (human) joined Hades Claws to try and save her sister. There she met Alex, who married her to keep her safe.
Alex Lupe (wolf shifter), is a DEA agent who was undercover when he met Lyssa. She didn't know he was a federal agent.
Lyssa and Alex shared a bed and had sex. Lyssa left the gang when her sister was killed; Alex had to stay behind to finish his investigation. They met again at her sister's funeral, had sex, then Alex left without saying goodbye.
Where the story starts, three months later:
They come together a third time when a serial killer nearly kills Lyssa. Unknowingly, a special mate bond formed between them—Alex sensed her pain during her attack. He goes to protect his wife. Lyssa is initially shocked and afraid when Alex reveals he's a shifter, but she slowly accepts him.
Like Book 1, there's a cute pet accessory—Lyssa's cat named Sam. He's not as cute as the puppy, though.
The Serial Killer Subplot.
A killer called "The Bone Man" is targeting women in the Catskills, removing a rib from each victim. Lyssa narrowly escapes being his fifth victim.
His crimes include:
▪️Defiling Claire’s grave
▪️Breaking into and vandalizing Lyssa’s house, splashing blood everywhere
▪️Burning down her house and nursery
Alex takes Lyssa to Leaning Tree, a small town in upstate N.Y. where his pack lives. They stay with his Aunt Elaine. We see the Book 1 MCs—Alex’s sister Brenna and her husband—happily married and expecting.
🔸Lyssa may be pregnant.
🔸Sexual thoughts lead to a brief sex scene.
The Bone Man calls to say he’s kidnapped Lyssa’s BFF, Marilee. He wants Lyssa to meet him.
Lyssa makes little sense. She was afraid of Alex when he revealed he was a shifter, but she's unafraid of the killer and wants to go after him. After one shooting lesson, Alex gives her a gun.
She doesn't cry for her deceased sister or act upset when her home and business are torched. She's finally emotional when she thinks her best friend is dead.
Alex goes to the FBI office. The FBI, including Agent Johnson, look like bungling idiots. Because Alex wasn't listened to, Claire's decoy and many agents are killed.
Alex and Lyssa visit Agent Trask at the hospital, who was nearly killed by the killer's pet wolf. Lyssa faints for the second time after learning she's pregnant.
🙄 It was no surprise that Lyssa is kidnapped. Her TSTL decision to leave the hospital, and walk in the forest while it's raining, leads to the exciting ending.
The Exciting Conclusion:
Lyssa is taken to the killer’s lair, where she finds Marilee is alive. Alex tracks her by her ringtone, fights the Bone Man and injures him. Lyssa shoots him dead.
Alex will resign from the DEA. He asks Lyssa to marry him, this time for real. HEA.
The Bone Man was a wolf-shifter obsessed with an old legend about an immortal queen created from a human rib. He’s been killing blonde women—Claire was his first victim—searching for his “woman of light.” (I was bummed to learn he's a complete stranger.)
🇪🇷🇷🇴🇷🇸∶
🕳️ Biggest Plot Hole:
🔻 We're told often that shifters can only be killed with fire or silver bullets. The MCs think the Bone Man is dead—even though he was shot with regular bullets. (Shortly after, Lyssa is kidnapped.)
🔻 When Alex turns into a wolf to show Lyssa what he is, there's a very bright light (unlike book one).
Prickles of light stabbed the air, so bright she shaded her eyes.
If this happens every time someone shifts, humans would've discovered shifters long ago.
🔻 After Alex shifts back to human form, his senses are said to be heightened. He tries to talk to Lyssa who's terrified, but he can't hear her with the windows up. He tells her to roll the window down a crack so they can hear each other.
So much for his heightened senses! 🙄
🔻Aunt Elaine says that Lyssa is pregnant.
Alex thinks: Pregnant. Not once had the possibility even remotely occurred to him. Nor, judging from Lyssa’s frantic reaction, had it occurred to her.
A few pages earlier, Lyssa said:
"I did a home pregnancy test. Three of them actually, all different brands. They all were negative. I'm not pregnant. It's stress!"
Obviously, it HAD occurred to her!
February 21, 2020
Awesome book.
This book keeps you intrigued, I couldn't put it down. The suspense it great. It keeps you on the edge of your seat.
This book keeps you intrigued, I couldn't put it down. The suspense it great. It keeps you on the edge of your seat.
August 4, 2013
Entertaining shape shifter romance - and I'm not a huge fan of werewolf stories (not much for vampires either).
Hero is a DEA agent. Three years previous, he married the heroine as part of an undercover operation. They had a physical relationship but he didn't hope for more since he's a shifter and she's a human who doesn't believe in the paranormal and doesn't know he's a shifter.
I genuinely liked the fact that the heroine was a cat person and a vegetarian - married to a red meat eating werewolf. Funny. The cat doesn't like him. Little conflicts like that make fantasy feel more real.
The heroine is being stalked by a rabid serial killer. Hero reenters her life to protect her.
What I hate with so many of these romance novels is the bickering, the heroine insists on helping, won't take no for an answer when we all know the hero will give in. So why waste eight pages of the inane dialogue?
However, she doesn't always get her way. The hero does manage to stop her from participating in the more dangerous operations and he is the voice of logic and reason when the heroine fails to see both.
Hero is a DEA agent. Three years previous, he married the heroine as part of an undercover operation. They had a physical relationship but he didn't hope for more since he's a shifter and she's a human who doesn't believe in the paranormal and doesn't know he's a shifter.
I genuinely liked the fact that the heroine was a cat person and a vegetarian - married to a red meat eating werewolf. Funny. The cat doesn't like him. Little conflicts like that make fantasy feel more real.
The heroine is being stalked by a rabid serial killer. Hero reenters her life to protect her.
What I hate with so many of these romance novels is the bickering, the heroine insists on helping, won't take no for an answer when we all know the hero will give in. So why waste eight pages of the inane dialogue?
However, she doesn't always get her way. The hero does manage to stop her from participating in the more dangerous operations and he is the voice of logic and reason when the heroine fails to see both.
September 10, 2009
This is the second story in the series which can be all stand alones and I enjoyed this one far more than the first. Lots more action mixed in with the talking, thoughts and emotions. I will say I’d been curious about the hero from the quick meeting we have of him in the first book, so that started me off on a good foot. The way they think and act, especially in the beginning did not go in a predictable manner which was interesting. I liked it. There were several things as far as the way things were handled on the official cop end of things which kind of red flagged in my head, but over all I was able to ignore whether they were handled correctly or not and just enjoy.
June 18, 2010
I really liked wolf shifter Alex Lupe. Even though Lyssa Reinholt and Alex have been married for three years, due to his undercover work for the DEA, they haven't been together for a long time. Lyssa is under the impression that Alex doesn't want her in his life. She is very much mistaken and Alex must prove that to her while trying to keep her safe from a serial killer who has so far been unsuccessful in trying to kill her. Action packed from start to finish. Light on the sex scenes but clearly a romantic suspense novel. Everything Alex does, shows his love even if he won't actually admit it. This is an enjoyable addition to The Pack series.
September 10, 2013
I love Karen Whiddon shifter books but this one was really difficult to get into. It started off really slow & the end was predictable. Mostly, the thing that turned me off most was the fact that I found Lyssa to be annoying as hell!
Read
August 16, 2008The Pack: One Eye Closed (Book 2) (Silhouette Intimate Moments No. 1365) by Karen Whiddon (2005)
May 15, 2010
I loved this book! It was exciting and fast paced, romantic and thrilling! You'll love it!
April 18, 2012
November 2008
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews