What's a girl to do. Jules is down on her luck, desperate for work when she stumbles onto the little town of Sanctuary. They offer her work, a place to stay, a steady source of income and them: a legion of hot men all looking for their mate. She's given the green light, no, outright encouraged to select as many as tickle her fancy to create a harem from. If you like super, super steamy reverse harem romance, sinfully hot werewolves who are ready to please, you'll like the Pack Heat series. 18+ only because these pages are scorching with frightening regularity!
Julie is down to her last buck when she rolls into Sanctuary. All her worldy good, and her dog, everything is in her car. Being assured the job is hers is a relief. Food, housing, everything is provided. But, her first meal in the mess tent is eye opening. Then she has the talk with her boss. And the whispers she's overheard aren't making any sense. This doesn't appear to be just some simple mining camp. And the doctor wanting to take pictures of her eyes is just weird.
Spoilers ahead. Ok, there are seriously not nearly enough trigger warnings for this book. The blurb sounds all happy, happy, sexy times. That is so far from the case it isn't funny. Trigger warnings for how their race was created- rape. Trigger warnings for the rape of women and men, for abuse, torture, incarceration, enslavement, slaughter- as in wholesale slaughter of entire villages and even babies, and a crap ton of other hideous and grim horrors. I don't know why I kept reading. I kept waiting for a HEA. There isn't one. A very flimsy HFN, very glossed over, and after a horrible acid trip of a story. The 1st book was basically her discovering her libido is allowed off the leash, her hidden heritage, and going into her 1st heat. Second book is learning about an imminent invasion from the ones who created their race. The wolves who raped their ancestors to sire more rapists. So, yeah, they want to prevent them getting through the gate. Third book is venturing into this hellscape to rescue the guys who were shoved through the portal as punishment, for, gasp, being independent. Considering how their race for started, a matriarchal society based on consent seems like a good thing. But it also has a dark side. Like guys not being allowed above a certain level, not being allowed to speak out, possibly being abused by women and no one to turn to. There's a White Wolf goddess and a Black Wolf god, the 2 realms races serve as conduits for them. Lots of vague visions by 2 seers occur. There's societal issues that are never resolved. Nothing is ever really resolved. The bad guys? Wiped out but the 2 wolf gods are basically running rampant through an already devastated realm. You have an entire realm that's been left to enslaved and tortured people who are so broken they didn't even think to try to escape. The matriarchs haven't changed at the end of this story. There are a herd of broken refugees but that thread is left dangling. The guys they went to rescue are brought back, but I'm not sure they really wanted to come back, just escape the horrors they were in. Three guys basically used as breeders, fancy way of saying they were raped to father sons. One of them was also raped by the head bad guy. The reason I'm not really sure they want to come back is their own mate and family were the ones who sent them off. This was the absolute bleakest story I've read in forever. And it isn't glossed over. I really just kept hoping for that ray of sunshine that never came. The only "happy" we got is they came home. Oh, but not all of them. The guys who volunteered to help on the rescue got left. We didn't see them brought home, just a vague "they need to be brought back". I need a drink and something happy to read. This book didn't even offer trigger warnings in the blurb. Not even a mention of dark themes. It comes off as a lost girl finding herself, a safe place and the possibility of multiple loves. Yeah, she finds her harem. But it isn't easy, they literally go through hell and we get introduced to every devil and view every torture chamber in 3d horror.
This book actually has a plot in addition to all the sex with plenty of variations: MF, MMF, MFM, and MM, MMM (implied). IMO though some of the sex scenes could have been edited out as it bogged down the book occasionally.
The author spent the first 2 books almost exclusively on sex. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good sex scene, but the book needs something more to hold it together. Then when the author does write more than sex, it’s visions and metaphysical crap that does not make sense.
Pages and pages of sex gets old. The men All taste of mint and nicotine. Yuck.
The first third of the first book and the last third of the third book are great, but the rest is just so much sex. Honestly, I think that could have been removed and pared down to just one book.
I'm not sure this was for me. I really wanted to love it. There was just so much outlandish stuff happening. Be warned this darker then leads you to believe. This might trigger you I recommend you read some reviews first.. I am not sure I liked book 2 at all. And I was unsatisfied with the ending. Overall 3 stars for me.
I don’t do story recaps, read the blurb guys, then use the reviews to see what others think. This is a review of the box set trilogy - there is a separate review on book 1, Wolf at my door.
I came in on a high from book 1, because damn that book was so much fun and SOOO hot. I was not prepared for books 2&3. At all. I just didn’t see the emotional earthquake coming.... Richter scale 10.
Sam took each and every one of the mates and broke them down into a pulsing (and rather sexy) ball of emotion. All the way through reading, when I thought about writing the review I kept thinking ‘I have to talk about character X’, the raw emotions they felt, how Sam was able to totally change how I’d perceived them, make me understand how Jules saw them, felt about them. But then I realised I couldn’t do that for each and every one of them - I just didn’t have the time, or emotional strength! And choosing one character to write about over the others would be like asking me to pick my favourite child! She made me feel incredibly, emotionally connected to each one of them - it was almost overwhelming at times but I loved every minute. And that’s really what the series is all about, the bond between the heat pack, the understanding, acceptance and love that ties them together and gives them their power.
The storyline developed exponentially through the series. Book 1 was so much fun I didn’t realise she was subtly setting the scene, so much going on in the background. But we come to see that any society that chooses leaders because of what sex they were born or their DNA is shortsighted and comes undone eventually. Still some hysterical moments - the boys families were fabulously overbearing and the Matriarchs were downright naughty. The Aussie lingo is so close to Brits lingo, made me laugh out loud over and over again.
This is the first book I’ve read on kindle unlimited, and then bought the book. Never seen the point before, I could always remove and download again if I needed to right? Just not what I wanted this time round. I’m still emotionally reeling from all the feels - I want - need - to be able to dip back in whenever I want to.
Sam - not sure what Fosters did to offend you so much - always been quite partial myself 🤷♀️
My sex scene review from book 1 remains as below. All I can say is - the series continues to be disgustingly, mind blowingly hot....maybe even more so as it progresses.
Lets have a ‘Brandi’s hydration star level’. The higher the stars, the hotter the scenes, the more we need to think about hydration! ⭐️ 1000/5. What the actual ..... The sex in this book is RIDICULOUSLY hot. I don’t blame her for writing the now infamous ‘family disclaimer’ statement at the front of the book - I wouldn’t want my family knowing I’ve READ this book, let alone if I wrote it! There is a lot of marvellously filthy sex, and with a reverse harem of that many blokes it’s hardly surprising. Ladies - hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Maybe some electrolytes would be wise. consider sitting on a towel, or at the very least keep a pair of dry panties close by. Maybe arrange for a loved one to check on you at regular reading intervals. You have been warned.
I just finished Sam Hall's Pack Heat series (1-3) last night.
It was my FIRST book I read that is Reverse Harem.
RH is pretty much just like it sounds, if you are not familiar. Some people don't like the term, some prefer poly or menage, and others don't seem to mind the labeling.
All said, I liked it. It was different, but not THAT far a jump for me. since it was still under the umbrella of paranormal romance, and dealt with magical smoke wolves-- something I think RH works well in, because when dealing with non-human entities it seems to be a little more palatable, at least that seems like the broad opinion for a lot of people, including myself. I was worried the men in the book would all be carbon copies of each other, and have no real depth or personality, but that simply was not the case.
Hall wrote each one of them with individual personalities, and abilities as well as voices. I did take issue with the female MC, at least in the first book, but as the steam died down, and the big plot started to take shape, that changed.
Fair warning, this series is gritty. There's a lot of trigger warnings for this series, so if you are opposed to poly relationships, m/m action, themes of abuse on all levels, violence this IS NOT for you.
When I say everything I mean it. The poetic descriptive writing, character development and design, and DEPTH!! This is just a delicious reverse harem (though it definitely has that going for it), the emotional sides and impacts of everything is what really stands out, slightly rare in the beginning but ends to a mean with a beautiful sophisticated heart-tugging bang. I can't even begin to count the number of series and books with similar elements that couldn't even come close to the descriptive definitions of pure imagination, passion, desire, and love. This is my first read of Sam Hall's writing, but I can say now without a doubt I'm a fan for life. Also, for a self published author trying to break through the waves, she's flipping fiercely amazing and I truly hope she makes it to where she wants to go because she deserves it.
Honestly? I really liked the first book and I kinda enjoyed second one too since I read through them quickly. But as I got to the last one, that slowed things WAY down and the length of it didn't help. The world was interesting enough, really not that logical or morally pleasing to live in, good harem spice at least, maybe a little bit too much for my liking. The only things that kept bothering me was from one second bantering to mad fucking the next, which happened way too often by the way, to later on in the story only to banter again about the same issues and no freaking solution sticks. Oh and also the ending was kinda underwhelming and too stretched out for my liking. It did have good little happy feeling at the very end but it was not satisfying either :/
All in all, it started of strong but lost it's weight in the process
A young woman answers a job add, and gets drawn into a complex life of multiple partners, magic and shape shifting.
Brought a whole lot of ideas to the mix, and presented a well-designed world and culture centered around a population with way more men than women.
The multiple partners didn’t stop with a bunch of guys focusing on one woman, but included several pairings among the men. While Jules was the heart of the pack, she encouraged everyone to follow their hearts.
Later, it got mystical and portal-fantasy, as the pack travelled to another dimension to confront a millennia old threat. Took a bit of time to adjust from new relationship drama to new-relationship AND epic fantasy.
IN-FREAKING-CREDABLE!. I had read the first book when it came out. I did really like the book but got caught up in Life and we'll reading other things. I bought the box set and am completely beside myself . It was really really good. It also touched on a sore spot with me. Because it happens everyday though out the World. The abuse of Women and children. This was tackled very tactfully. I appreciated that it was also brought to light. The story was wonderful and the sex just wasn't filled for missing plot, everything came together cohesively. In essence ---MAN I GOTTA ANOTHER AUTHOR TO STALK, AS IF IM NOT STALKING ENOUGH!
It took half way through the second book before the series was more plot than sex and confusion. The wait was definitely worth it and I really enjoyed the characters and the complexity of the story. According to the reviews, books 4 and 5 are in the same community, but with different central characters. I absolutely intend to read them. Sam Hall is one of my favorite authors more because of the depth of her characters than the explicit sex. I understand that sex is almost compulsory for the fantasy writers to get released and followed, but you can safely skim or skip most of that and still enjoy an amazing escape from reality.
I would make this as a 3.5, mostly because I am sick of Sam putting in like a million mates, and all of her books are the same - I do love them, and I did binge read this one - it was enjoyable It isn't that I wouldn't recommend, but I wouldn't re-read, and I will probably never think of it again - also just an FYI, it is a Sam hall book, and it is basically a copy of her other stuff - however, if you are new to Sam, definitely read this to get a feel for every single book she writes
Wow, wow, wow Sam Hall. What a trifecta. First material I have read from this author which was hot, hot, hot with beautiful character development. Only read if comfortable with group MM MFM etc blow by blow sex scenes and alot of them (my fav parts). Glad you warned the family off Sam. Gatherings may have been awkward, lol. Alot of grace, elegance and values which made it so much more.
This is a reverse harem paranormal romance about a woman that finds herself surrounded by shifters when accepting a job offer that she tought was her life saver.
I devoured the entire series and I am now jumping on the next book set on the same universe, that's how good Sam Hall storytelling and world building is.
Strong characters living in a matriarchal society discover that playing by the rules may very well end them all.
Wonderful book! Soo creative feels like your right there with them characters! Her books never ever disappoint! I can’t wait to see what she comes out with next!
Amazing story, couldn't put it down! I loved the sex scenes, but the story kept me guessing what was coming next at every turn. Can't wait to read what's next in this world!
Could not put this down! The story line was well thought out. The plot twists kept me on rented hooks! And the way the various romances built and developed were rocking naughty and heart felt! I absolutely loved this female dominant reverse harem.
Great story. At the beginning I thought it was going to be a smut fest and not much more, but it wasn’t long into the first book that I realised how wrong I was. This story is complex, compelling and romantic in a unique way.
Wow, what an epic, so much story in these books! Julie goes from a down on her luck ordinary girl to an extraordinary heroine with a harem of sexy men who worship her.and help her in saving worlds and people.
I was amazed at the storyline. You have the reverse harem, the pack relationships, family ties, and gods. Somehow everything connected and still the main characters remained passionate. I look forward to read the Pack's next adventure - parenthood.
This has been an incredible series so far. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading each book. Just fantastic is all I can say. On to #4. 🥳🥳🥳 Just some of the best stories I’ve read. 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰💜💜💜💜💜😊😊😊😊😊
I borrowed this book free from KU. I had never read from this author before. But wow this blew me away. It is so good I had to buy it so I could read it again anytime I wanted.