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Bloodline #1
Raised by Wolves
Three alphas forced to unite to defend their territory—fated to a she-wolf with starlight in her eyes and destiny in her blood.
All my life, I thought I was the only one.
Not a wolf. Not a woman. Just some freak in between. A mistake. A monster.
Abomination.
Abandoned and dismissed. Shunned and forgotten.
Until they find me.
Ewan. Lucian. Soren.
Men and wolves. Three possessive alpha wolf shifters, so sure Lady Fate built me for them and them for me that they steal me away in the dead of night. Give me food, clothing, and a home of my own.
Crown me queen of their new pack.
But this pack is a mess, nothing but a bunch of alphas fighting for control. They hate sharing me almost as much as they despise each other. No teamwork. No camaraderie. No support—just ego and competition.
I’ll show them. Being an alpha isn’t just about mating, marking, and starting a bloodline…
It’s so much more.
After a lifetime in the forest, I don’t know much about this shifter business, but I know how to be wild.
It’s time for my stubborn fated mates to remember what we are…
Wolves.
Because if we don’t embrace the wild in our bones, we’ll lose everything to the rivals sniffing at our borders—and the ancient evil lurking right under our noses.
The Bloodline trilogy is a why-choose wolf shifter romance that features fated mates but not insta-love. It is intended for readers 18+, and has cliffhangers at the end of books 1 and 2. No cheating. No rejected mates.
All my life, I thought I was the only one.
Not a wolf. Not a woman. Just some freak in between. A mistake. A monster.
Abomination.
Abandoned and dismissed. Shunned and forgotten.
Until they find me.
Ewan. Lucian. Soren.
Men and wolves. Three possessive alpha wolf shifters, so sure Lady Fate built me for them and them for me that they steal me away in the dead of night. Give me food, clothing, and a home of my own.
Crown me queen of their new pack.
But this pack is a mess, nothing but a bunch of alphas fighting for control. They hate sharing me almost as much as they despise each other. No teamwork. No camaraderie. No support—just ego and competition.
I’ll show them. Being an alpha isn’t just about mating, marking, and starting a bloodline…
It’s so much more.
After a lifetime in the forest, I don’t know much about this shifter business, but I know how to be wild.
It’s time for my stubborn fated mates to remember what we are…
Wolves.
Because if we don’t embrace the wild in our bones, we’ll lose everything to the rivals sniffing at our borders—and the ancient evil lurking right under our noses.
The Bloodline trilogy is a why-choose wolf shifter romance that features fated mates but not insta-love. It is intended for readers 18+, and has cliffhangers at the end of books 1 and 2. No cheating. No rejected mates.
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 10, 2021
260 people are currently reading
825 people want to read
About the author
Rhea Watson
20 books378 followersRhea Watson is a Canadian paranormal romance author who writes lone wolves and found family, fated mates and forever love. She dreams about living in a cottage in the woods that would make any fairytale witch jealous, and wishes every day was Halloween.
In her spare time, Rhea babies her herb garden, watches hilariously bad horror movies with her own hero, bows to her cat's every whim, and flies through Netflix shows like it's her day job.
Rhea writes MF, MFM, Reverse Harem / Why Choose, and (paranormal) omegaverse.
In her spare time, Rhea babies her herb garden, watches hilariously bad horror movies with her own hero, bows to her cat's every whim, and flies through Netflix shows like it's her day job.
Rhea writes MF, MFM, Reverse Harem / Why Choose, and (paranormal) omegaverse.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
June 12, 2021
3.5/5 STARS
GREAT START TO THE SERIES!
This book had everything I loved:
- Multiple POV’s
- RH
- Paranormal romance
- Alpha wolf shifters
- Confident FMC
Rasied by Wolves was my first book from Rhea Watson and it was absolutely fantastic. The plotline and characters were amazing. I have to say out of the three guys Lucien was my favourite. I felt really bad for Lyssa throughout the entire book and was stressing right along with her. The whole time I empathised with her wishing that she received the comfort she wanted. I read the book in one go and when I reached the end I was really sad that I finished it. I'm looking forward to reading book 2.
GREAT START TO THE SERIES!
This book had everything I loved:
- Multiple POV’s
- RH
- Paranormal romance
- Alpha wolf shifters
- Confident FMC
Rasied by Wolves was my first book from Rhea Watson and it was absolutely fantastic. The plotline and characters were amazing. I have to say out of the three guys Lucien was my favourite. I felt really bad for Lyssa throughout the entire book and was stressing right along with her. The whole time I empathised with her wishing that she received the comfort she wanted. I read the book in one go and when I reached the end I was really sad that I finished it. I'm looking forward to reading book 2.
May 23, 2021
I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Like all of Rhea’s books, this one was well-written, edited to perfection and paced nicely.
What I liked:
-That there are only three men in this RH and they are all distinct and easily identifiable with their own unique “voice”. In many RH’s the guys tend to blend in with each other and become indistinguishable, but not here.
-That the h is an alpha as well and could hold her own. Girls can do stuff. Yay!
-That there is a female relationship/friendship and the h’s life doesn’t just revolve around the guys. Girl friends are important. This makes me happy.
-That the guy’s lives don’t seem to completely revolve around the h like so many RH’s where you’re left scratching your head wondering why they’re so obsessed.
What I struggled with:
-I am not personally a fan of when the MC’s rush into a physical relationship before establishing an emotional/mental one first. It feels cheap to me. I understand that with this genre and “fated mates” it’s a common trope. I just don’t particularly like it and for me I like the anticipation of a slow burn or a medium burn and it feels...empty when they barely even know each other and just rush right into it. In this particular case it also kind of left a sick feeling in my stomach because of how naïve and broken she came off. She was almost childlike at times and it’s clear she’s been through some trauma and I feel like it would’ve been better for her to take things slow and establish a relationship before she got down with them.
-In that same vein, I wish there was more relationship development in general. There wasn’t a lot of time spent in this book establishing any kind of a foundation for a long lasting relationship. Just bam! Biology said we’re it so that’s it, “it’s like an itch I need scratched” (this was said in a much better way, but still...not very romantic imo) and “I want to make babies with you and I don’t even know what your favorite color is but let’s put puppies in you and start a legacy, yay fate!” And I’m like wait...what? They’ve had like two conversations. Just...slow down. Talk. Get to know each other. Date a while. I’m just not a fan of this insta love, insta lust, insta end-stage-relationship stuff. Maybe it’s just me though.
-I was a little confused by h’s backstory and had a hard time understanding why she was so naïve, it seems like she was being written as a strong independent feral wild woman but at the same time super damaged and broken and naïve and almost childlike and the dichotomy was a little bit disjointed and it was hard for me to get a feel for who she was as a person? Maybe this will become more clear over the next few books. Idk.
-The guys seemed a bit juvenile to me. They just don’t act like mature men to me. I kept picturing them as older teenagers or very young adults. Maybe because they had such poor conflict resolution? It just felt like they were very immature and their priorities were a little wonky.
Overall, it’s a good book, definitely worth reading, especially if you’re in to these kind of tropes.
Like all of Rhea’s books, this one was well-written, edited to perfection and paced nicely.
What I liked:
-That there are only three men in this RH and they are all distinct and easily identifiable with their own unique “voice”. In many RH’s the guys tend to blend in with each other and become indistinguishable, but not here.
-That the h is an alpha as well and could hold her own. Girls can do stuff. Yay!
-That there is a female relationship/friendship and the h’s life doesn’t just revolve around the guys. Girl friends are important. This makes me happy.
-That the guy’s lives don’t seem to completely revolve around the h like so many RH’s where you’re left scratching your head wondering why they’re so obsessed.
What I struggled with:
-I am not personally a fan of when the MC’s rush into a physical relationship before establishing an emotional/mental one first. It feels cheap to me. I understand that with this genre and “fated mates” it’s a common trope. I just don’t particularly like it and for me I like the anticipation of a slow burn or a medium burn and it feels...empty when they barely even know each other and just rush right into it. In this particular case it also kind of left a sick feeling in my stomach because of how naïve and broken she came off. She was almost childlike at times and it’s clear she’s been through some trauma and I feel like it would’ve been better for her to take things slow and establish a relationship before she got down with them.
-In that same vein, I wish there was more relationship development in general. There wasn’t a lot of time spent in this book establishing any kind of a foundation for a long lasting relationship. Just bam! Biology said we’re it so that’s it, “it’s like an itch I need scratched” (this was said in a much better way, but still...not very romantic imo) and “I want to make babies with you and I don’t even know what your favorite color is but let’s put puppies in you and start a legacy, yay fate!” And I’m like wait...what? They’ve had like two conversations. Just...slow down. Talk. Get to know each other. Date a while. I’m just not a fan of this insta love, insta lust, insta end-stage-relationship stuff. Maybe it’s just me though.
-I was a little confused by h’s backstory and had a hard time understanding why she was so naïve, it seems like she was being written as a strong independent feral wild woman but at the same time super damaged and broken and naïve and almost childlike and the dichotomy was a little bit disjointed and it was hard for me to get a feel for who she was as a person? Maybe this will become more clear over the next few books. Idk.
-The guys seemed a bit juvenile to me. They just don’t act like mature men to me. I kept picturing them as older teenagers or very young adults. Maybe because they had such poor conflict resolution? It just felt like they were very immature and their priorities were a little wonky.
Overall, it’s a good book, definitely worth reading, especially if you’re in to these kind of tropes.
April 11, 2023
DNF at the scene where Lyssa shows up at Ewan’s office. I get the author is trying to portray her as feral but then also a she-wolf alpha but she acts way too simpy at times for it to be believable. The guys are complete dicks to her. Kidnap her from her pack then dump her in a strange new house alone. When she cry-howls only Lucien comes back to her but of course only to fuck her but he also has a weird slut shaming internal monologue because she’s not a virgin then he ghosts her for days.
Soren and Ewan treat her like a chore that they don’t want to deal with and are more concerned about their jobs. Supposedly they gush about her in their group text but then they never actually try to have a relationship with her. Even after a Soren’s mom chastises him about leaving her alone, all he does is show up to make breakfast each day then goes to work and can’t be bothered to have a conversation with her.
Ewan is more concerned with how she looks and insists that she look like an alphas mate and makes her get a makeover which he leaves her at the salon for 5-6 hours until the owners drive her home. He so internally focused on making sure that she gets pregnant asap to secure their territory because apparently she’s just a breeding machine. His internal monologue wavers between disgust that she’s not more refined (hello shes been living with wolves for most of her life) and brushing her off so he can get back to work.
None of the characters have any depth and you learn nothing about their backstory, even a little, to hint at why they treat her like that. Also what kind of pack is only 3 alphas and no other pack members??? Dumbest thing ever. That’s not a pack.
Soren and Ewan treat her like a chore that they don’t want to deal with and are more concerned about their jobs. Supposedly they gush about her in their group text but then they never actually try to have a relationship with her. Even after a Soren’s mom chastises him about leaving her alone, all he does is show up to make breakfast each day then goes to work and can’t be bothered to have a conversation with her.
Ewan is more concerned with how she looks and insists that she look like an alphas mate and makes her get a makeover which he leaves her at the salon for 5-6 hours until the owners drive her home. He so internally focused on making sure that she gets pregnant asap to secure their territory because apparently she’s just a breeding machine. His internal monologue wavers between disgust that she’s not more refined (hello shes been living with wolves for most of her life) and brushing her off so he can get back to work.
None of the characters have any depth and you learn nothing about their backstory, even a little, to hint at why they treat her like that. Also what kind of pack is only 3 alphas and no other pack members??? Dumbest thing ever. That’s not a pack.
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June 10, 2021Happy book birthday to Lyssa and her mates!! The first book in my fated mates is officially live on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited! Happy reading! xoxo
June 5, 2021
Warning, slight spoilers...
Raised by Wolves is the first book in Rhea Watson's new Bloodline series. The story is a paranormal reverse harem told from multiple points of view and follows Lyssa as she attempts to bond and form a pack with her mates. This book was not what I expecting, it was super interesting and very different from what I've read before, I really enjoyed it.
When I say that it's different from what I've read before, I mean mostly Lyssa. She was raised by wolves, actual wolves and I know the title is Raised by Wolves but I wasn't expecting normal wolves I thought shifters and that was not the case. The guys find her with a pack of wolves deep in the Canadian wilderness, with very little socialization. Lyssa is wild, she is very much in touch with her wolf-side and isn't use to human ways, she doesn't know what's socially acceptable, even to her mates she's a little much because while they may be shifters they are still a lot closer to their human side than she is. Don't get me wrong because of her past Lyssa knows some things, not much but some and she's not stupid. To survive out in the wild with a pack of wolves, she had to be smart, strong, fearless, and so much more. For her mates she puts in an honest effort, she tries to fit in, to do things they want, to please them but she, like every other female, doesn't want to be made small.
Speaking of her mates Ewan, Lucian, and Soren leave a lot to be desired. The three of them are alphas in their own right but have come together to form a pack and the tension is high which is only made worse when they have to share a mate. The guys don't get along, always fighting, always one-upping each other, always knit-picking, and thinking negatively of their pack brothers. They don't have their act together and what's worse is how they treat Lyssa, after they snatch her from her pack drop her off in the middle of unknown territory they don't even take the time to get to know her, to make her comfortable or even attempt to bond. I know they have their own lives but they grabbed her and don't even put in the effort and continue to make a horrible mess of everything. While Soren seems like he is all sunshine used to getting what he wants and actually had a great life growing up, Ewan and Lucian each have a past that seems less than ideal but so has Lyssa. Whenever it seems like the guys make progress they mess up again, I was annoyed with them for ninety-five percent of the book, I never seen mates waffle so much and I'm hoping things get better in the next book.
Seeing Lyssa navigate the human world when she was closer to her wolf side was interesting. Her instincts lend more towards wolf instincts and to see her reactions to certain situations, to see how she is handling this misfit pack made for a complex story. I liked the fact that other supernaturals were mentioned and that some kinda mystery popped up that has me asking all kinds of questions about what's going on and wondering how it will fit into the story.
Raised by Wolves is just the beginning of Lyssa's story and it ended on one heck of a cliffhanger. I have so many questions and I can't wait to see if I get some of those answers in the next book.
Raised by Wolves is the first book in Rhea Watson's new Bloodline series. The story is a paranormal reverse harem told from multiple points of view and follows Lyssa as she attempts to bond and form a pack with her mates. This book was not what I expecting, it was super interesting and very different from what I've read before, I really enjoyed it.
When I say that it's different from what I've read before, I mean mostly Lyssa. She was raised by wolves, actual wolves and I know the title is Raised by Wolves but I wasn't expecting normal wolves I thought shifters and that was not the case. The guys find her with a pack of wolves deep in the Canadian wilderness, with very little socialization. Lyssa is wild, she is very much in touch with her wolf-side and isn't use to human ways, she doesn't know what's socially acceptable, even to her mates she's a little much because while they may be shifters they are still a lot closer to their human side than she is. Don't get me wrong because of her past Lyssa knows some things, not much but some and she's not stupid. To survive out in the wild with a pack of wolves, she had to be smart, strong, fearless, and so much more. For her mates she puts in an honest effort, she tries to fit in, to do things they want, to please them but she, like every other female, doesn't want to be made small.
Speaking of her mates Ewan, Lucian, and Soren leave a lot to be desired. The three of them are alphas in their own right but have come together to form a pack and the tension is high which is only made worse when they have to share a mate. The guys don't get along, always fighting, always one-upping each other, always knit-picking, and thinking negatively of their pack brothers. They don't have their act together and what's worse is how they treat Lyssa, after they snatch her from her pack drop her off in the middle of unknown territory they don't even take the time to get to know her, to make her comfortable or even attempt to bond. I know they have their own lives but they grabbed her and don't even put in the effort and continue to make a horrible mess of everything. While Soren seems like he is all sunshine used to getting what he wants and actually had a great life growing up, Ewan and Lucian each have a past that seems less than ideal but so has Lyssa. Whenever it seems like the guys make progress they mess up again, I was annoyed with them for ninety-five percent of the book, I never seen mates waffle so much and I'm hoping things get better in the next book.
Seeing Lyssa navigate the human world when she was closer to her wolf side was interesting. Her instincts lend more towards wolf instincts and to see her reactions to certain situations, to see how she is handling this misfit pack made for a complex story. I liked the fact that other supernaturals were mentioned and that some kinda mystery popped up that has me asking all kinds of questions about what's going on and wondering how it will fit into the story.
Raised by Wolves is just the beginning of Lyssa's story and it ended on one heck of a cliffhanger. I have so many questions and I can't wait to see if I get some of those answers in the next book.
June 11, 2021
Overall: 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Feels: 🤨🤔😯😒😠😐
~QD STORY DETAILS~
Shelves: Fantasy, PNR, RH, Shifter romance
Location: Canadian wilderness
MC age range: late 20s, early 30s
FMC: Lyssa
Love interest(s): Soren Ewan, Lucian
POV: Multiple
Tear jerker: No
HEA: Cliffhanger
~QD BOOK INFO~
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Paperback page count: tbd
Publisher: Self published
Audible: No
Series: Yes - Bloodline
1. Raised by Wolves - released 06/01/21
~QD 🔥~
Sex/kink type: manual, oral, penetrative, marking
Possible triggers: kidnapping, mild violence, abandonment
~REVIEW🖋~
The Quick and Dirty: Shifter who has been raised by real wolves finds herself with not one, but three fated alpha mates.
What I liked:
It was an interesting premise to have a wolf shifter who was actually raised by non-shifter wolves (at least for more years than she was by humans). I love fated-mates tropes so I was really looking forward to that. Of all the relationships, I liked Lyssa and Soren’s the most. It was the one that felt the most genuine and the most natural.
***MILD SPOILERS***
What I didn’t like:
I felt like there were a lot of plot holes particularly where Lyssa was concerned which left me feeling like I couldn’t connect with her. There were things wherein it was as if she had never been around humans before. For example, she was surprised that humans eat at prescribed times of day. She was with humans until around the age of 8, why was she surprised by this? She remembers being taken to the doctor but not lunch? At other times, she seemed advanced for someone who had lived with wolves for 18 years. For example, her manner of speech or her being assertive during sex even though she had only “mated” once and had no idea what an orgasm was or what was happening. There were several moments where the naïveté and self doubt of her inner monologue threw me off too. She’s been living off instinct this entire time, as an alpha, away from humans… where is this good-vs-evil teen angst coming from? And for someone who had lived with a wolf pack for so long, she was just down with leaving them behind? She spent the first moments battling the guys when they took her away and then she just gave up going back to her pack? This was hard to believe especially when she emphasized how much they relied on her.
I also had a hard time with the descriptions of body hair and bodily fluids. I’m a progressive and totally down with body hair but I felt like it was mentioned way too many times in the course of this book. If someone had written the same thing about smooth legs and smooth armpits and smooth bikini areas a bunch, I’d be saying the same thing. Why so much focus on it? Lastly, things like “to slug back two full nostrils of snot — and wipe the rest on my shirt.” Ew. I get that the writing is meant to instill that Lyssa is wild but I felt like it could have been executed better.
Another area of concern was Lyssa’s relationship with Ewan and Lucian. I’m all for some sexy time and insta-lust based on the fated-mates situation but that felt like all it was between Lyssa and the guys; at least where Ewan and Lucian are concerned. They don’t treat her like a mate but instead a burden at best and a means to an end at worst. Ewan has zero redeeming qualities IMO and Lucian is just a wee bit better. Overall there wasn’t much in terms of their relationships that had me wanting to root for them as a group.
I’ve always enjoyed Rhea’s work and I absolutely love wolf and fated-mates tropes but I had trouble with this one. It felt rushed and the relationships were based more on lust than anything of substance. I’m hoping the next book in the series turns things around for me. 3 stars out of respect for the author but this one was not my fave of hers. 😕
**I was graciously offered an ARC in exchange for a voluntary and honest review. **
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Feels: 🤨🤔😯😒😠😐
~QD STORY DETAILS~
Shelves: Fantasy, PNR, RH, Shifter romance
Location: Canadian wilderness
MC age range: late 20s, early 30s
FMC: Lyssa
Love interest(s): Soren Ewan, Lucian
POV: Multiple
Tear jerker: No
HEA: Cliffhanger
~QD BOOK INFO~
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Paperback page count: tbd
Publisher: Self published
Audible: No
Series: Yes - Bloodline
1. Raised by Wolves - released 06/01/21
~QD 🔥~
Sex/kink type: manual, oral, penetrative, marking
Possible triggers: kidnapping, mild violence, abandonment
~REVIEW🖋~
The Quick and Dirty: Shifter who has been raised by real wolves finds herself with not one, but three fated alpha mates.
What I liked:
It was an interesting premise to have a wolf shifter who was actually raised by non-shifter wolves (at least for more years than she was by humans). I love fated-mates tropes so I was really looking forward to that. Of all the relationships, I liked Lyssa and Soren’s the most. It was the one that felt the most genuine and the most natural.
***MILD SPOILERS***
What I didn’t like:
I felt like there were a lot of plot holes particularly where Lyssa was concerned which left me feeling like I couldn’t connect with her. There were things wherein it was as if she had never been around humans before. For example, she was surprised that humans eat at prescribed times of day. She was with humans until around the age of 8, why was she surprised by this? She remembers being taken to the doctor but not lunch? At other times, she seemed advanced for someone who had lived with wolves for 18 years. For example, her manner of speech or her being assertive during sex even though she had only “mated” once and had no idea what an orgasm was or what was happening. There were several moments where the naïveté and self doubt of her inner monologue threw me off too. She’s been living off instinct this entire time, as an alpha, away from humans… where is this good-vs-evil teen angst coming from? And for someone who had lived with a wolf pack for so long, she was just down with leaving them behind? She spent the first moments battling the guys when they took her away and then she just gave up going back to her pack? This was hard to believe especially when she emphasized how much they relied on her.
I also had a hard time with the descriptions of body hair and bodily fluids. I’m a progressive and totally down with body hair but I felt like it was mentioned way too many times in the course of this book. If someone had written the same thing about smooth legs and smooth armpits and smooth bikini areas a bunch, I’d be saying the same thing. Why so much focus on it? Lastly, things like “to slug back two full nostrils of snot — and wipe the rest on my shirt.” Ew. I get that the writing is meant to instill that Lyssa is wild but I felt like it could have been executed better.
Another area of concern was Lyssa’s relationship with Ewan and Lucian. I’m all for some sexy time and insta-lust based on the fated-mates situation but that felt like all it was between Lyssa and the guys; at least where Ewan and Lucian are concerned. They don’t treat her like a mate but instead a burden at best and a means to an end at worst. Ewan has zero redeeming qualities IMO and Lucian is just a wee bit better. Overall there wasn’t much in terms of their relationships that had me wanting to root for them as a group.
I’ve always enjoyed Rhea’s work and I absolutely love wolf and fated-mates tropes but I had trouble with this one. It felt rushed and the relationships were based more on lust than anything of substance. I’m hoping the next book in the series turns things around for me. 3 stars out of respect for the author but this one was not my fave of hers. 😕
**I was graciously offered an ARC in exchange for a voluntary and honest review. **
June 10, 2021
Raised By Wolves by Rhea Watson is the first book in her Bloodline Trilogy and it left me SHOOKETH!!!
Ewan, Soren, Lyssa, and Lucian wove an utterly DELICIOUS story you can't help but get drawn into, get invested into, one that leaves you on tenterhooks, on the proverbial edge of your seat, HUNGRY for every single detail and conversation and exchange of glances and more!
I adored the clear and distinct individual personalities, how they clashed, how they melded, how they revealed layers, how they created and solved conflict. So much wealth of emotional characterization on the page to thoroughly enjoy! A veritable feast!
Loved Ewan being all surly and growly. Soren being all engaging and playful. Lucian all stoic and careful. And sweet, sweet endearing Lyssa, so strong, having experienced so much life, capturing my attention from the first time we witness her, and holding fast throughout!
The individual relationships, the group dynamics, all of it sizzled and simmered and was scrumptious! The steamy moments were SHMEKSHAY and definitely heated up the pages!
There is angst, there are growing pains, there is the establishing of bonds and family, there's so much intricate detail in the story world that enraptures you while you fall in love with each of these wolves individually and together as a unit. There's drama and mystery too, and GOODNESS GRACIOUS I need more information!
All in all, if you're looking for EPIC world building, fantastic characterization, and a DELICIOUS shifter romance, come fall in love with these alphas! Once they sink their teeth in, they won't let you go! And I'm totally okay with that!
P. S. Romance movies are the BEST teaching tools!
P. P. S. I CANNOT WAIT to devour Hunted By Wolves!!!
Ewan, Soren, Lyssa, and Lucian wove an utterly DELICIOUS story you can't help but get drawn into, get invested into, one that leaves you on tenterhooks, on the proverbial edge of your seat, HUNGRY for every single detail and conversation and exchange of glances and more!
I adored the clear and distinct individual personalities, how they clashed, how they melded, how they revealed layers, how they created and solved conflict. So much wealth of emotional characterization on the page to thoroughly enjoy! A veritable feast!
Loved Ewan being all surly and growly. Soren being all engaging and playful. Lucian all stoic and careful. And sweet, sweet endearing Lyssa, so strong, having experienced so much life, capturing my attention from the first time we witness her, and holding fast throughout!
The individual relationships, the group dynamics, all of it sizzled and simmered and was scrumptious! The steamy moments were SHMEKSHAY and definitely heated up the pages!
There is angst, there are growing pains, there is the establishing of bonds and family, there's so much intricate detail in the story world that enraptures you while you fall in love with each of these wolves individually and together as a unit. There's drama and mystery too, and GOODNESS GRACIOUS I need more information!
All in all, if you're looking for EPIC world building, fantastic characterization, and a DELICIOUS shifter romance, come fall in love with these alphas! Once they sink their teeth in, they won't let you go! And I'm totally okay with that!
P. S. Romance movies are the BEST teaching tools!
P. P. S. I CANNOT WAIT to devour Hunted By Wolves!!!
June 10, 2021
This is a great beginning to a new series by this author. Well written it’s told from various pov’s and is a great why-choose wolf shifter romance. Lyssa is our kick ass female mc and actually raised by wolves hence the title and a little out of touch with her human side. Her mates are strong alphas whom we get to know through the multiple pov’s , they fight, they disagree, there’s tension and stress and they don’t treat Lyssa as well as they should. I look forward to reading more.
June 12, 2021
Truthfully, if I endeavor to write a review, I never know the exact rating I intend to give it until I get to the end. Sure I have a rough idea, I know whether or not I enjoyed myself before starting to jot my thoughts down, but it’s not until I have a chance to fully evaluate on paper that I can tell how much specific issues bothered me and whether or not they deserve to detract stars. This process will be particularly telling with Raised by Wolves. On one hand I enjoyed myself immensely. It was exactly what I was looking for especially during a time when I can barely convince myself to finish anything. I have to keep in mind that I finished it in one sitting, something I haven’t done since reading Holes back in elementary school. I’m sure part of this has to do with its length, even with no pages numbers I know this would have clocked in well under what I personally deem acceptable for a complete book. But I also have to give credit to the fact that Watson has included some of my favorite reading subjects and written them well. But even though I devoured it at a speed I haven’t seen in quite some time, niggling issues peripherally gnawed at me, suggesting issues I hope to see resolved in the future.They will make this a particularly fun review to write because at this time I don’t know what will weigh more; my enjoyment or the nagging imperfections. Let’s find out together shall we?
The good. I mentioned it earlier but Raised by Wolves includes one my favorite, over-used and often poorly done fantasy tropes of all times. Shifters. and OG wolf shifters at that. I love them. They make me try a lot more books that would otherwise have me running for the hills, resulting in constant disappointment. But luckily for me I’ve come to trust Watson. Although I’ve tried most of her series under this pen name resulting in varying levels of enjoyment, I trust her to provide detailed three-dimensional men, a heroine with backbone, and well thought out worlds with a plot to solve. Raised by Wolves is no different in this respect.
Taking place in the wild wildernesses of Canada it features three newly minted alphas attempting to combine their territories to create a safe haven to grow their pack. Included in hodgepodge joining of reluctant alphas is Ewan, our strict workaholic, Soren, a pampered golden boy, and Lucian the foreign lone wolf. The one thing Watson does so well over and over again is give her three males distinct and interesting personalities. Although I choose to tackle them as a unit, all three have distinct skills and flaws, unique relationship goals and personal agendas. At this point I think my favorite of the bunch is Lucian. I’ve always been a fan of the strong, dark, and silent type, but out of the three I think Watson has hinted at his backstory the most leaving hints of tragic strength still to uncover. I appreciate that she takes time to develop their relationships with Lyssa at different speeds giving the reader different things to looks forward to as the books progress. I’m sure that by the next book I’ll be singing a different tune as to who’s my favorite, which will be a testament to Waston’s writing skills and her ability to craft multiple compelling heroes simultaneously.
Although the men by themselves have me invested enough as it is, Lyssa is quite the compelling heroine on her own. I love Watson’ decision to have her be the true wild one. In a reverse Tarzan is it Lyssa who has grown up amongst a true wolf pack with little interaction with the human world. Dragged from the depths of the wilderness she is forced to adapt and even out of her element she takes each new situation with aplomb. Watson takes great care to provide everyone, even Lyssa, with a unique strength, and even though she’s out of her league when it comes to the coffee maker she has a distinct advantage when it comes to being a true wolf. And next to Lucian, I’m equally excited for more of Lyssa’s backstory which appears rife with struggle and perseverance. Sign me up please.
So the characters are top notch this time around but the plot so far leaves a little to be desired. Now because I read this so quickly it was less of an issue at the time, but the further I got into it ~70-75% ~ the more I noticed that we were quickly nearing the end and not a lot had happened. I think that this is partially because I would classify Raised by Wolves as ‘part 1’ and not ‘book 1’. This is becoming an issue with newer books in general, but there has been a trend developing where it appears okay to publish a book that has no beginning, middle, and end. A trilogy to me should be a completed overarching story yes, but contained within each book I feel there should be some kind of problem with some kind of resolution. Yes the main plot can be left dangling but each individual book needs to have a purpose. In this respect Raised by Wolves doesn’t have this. It is an introduction of characters, a fleshing out of a tenuous relationship and cliffhanger that finally hints at the overarching plot. If read quickly it’s not a huge issue because the characters are compelling and cover this up, but upon reflection it sticks out like a sore thumb. It jostles at my overall enjoyment because I start to feel ripped off feeling that I must pay for installments of one story instead of 3 individual tales culminating in an epic conclusion. It will make it harder for Watson to impress me later on because I’ll be inadvertently judging one story across a three month timeline at the price of 3, as opposed to individual completed thoughts that grow and evolve.
Because there is very little plot included, just hints at things developing, the entire book relies on the interaction between the newly initiated pack, or lack there off. On one hand I completely respect and appreciate how Watson chooses to develop her relationships. Just because they are fated mates doesn’t mean they should all instantly fall in love. In fact, watching each male struggle with the bond fate has thrust upon them is realistic and will eventually lead to a strong and well worth the wait for relationship. But right now it’s just not there. Ewan, Soren, and Lucian are all in over their heads. Although they have all dreamed of their eventual mate, Lyssa is not what any of them expects and they struggle to come to terms with their attraction and the woman who compels them. The issue though is that their struggle leaves them separated as each one works through different concerns all while trying, and failing, to do what they believe is best for Lyssa. In terms of relationship building I have no problems with this, but when it’s the entirely of a book that has very little defined plot, it becomes repetitive.
A major issue Ewan and Soren in particular deal with is the fact that Lyssa does not fit the ideal mate they’d envisioned. Ewan claims he needs a connection with someone in order to truly consummate their relationship but fails to spend a single scene speaking to her and Soren, growing up in a perfect pack situation has no idea how to interact with someone so outside his world and thus fails at eliciting responses from Lyssa that will allow him to get to know her better. Both yearn for a connection with Lyssa and spend a lot of time thinking about their wants and disappointments and very little time to acting on them. I’m sure this is because Watson wants to save something for later, but in doing so she has forgotten to give her readers anything at all. Lucian and Lyssa have a spiritual connection but Lucian is too afraid of heartache and leaves, Ewan wants connection but can’t leave his work long enough to put the effort in, and Soren while physically near spends his time wondering why they aren’t spiritually connected instead of simply talking to her.
If this were a complete story there would be problems developing that would space out the relationships naturally over time. But with nothing but one test from a neighboring wolf pack and a babbling brook to hint at plot I needed at least one relationship to develop further than this.
Another problem that compounds the issue is the overall construction of the chapters. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy Watson’s writing and prose but she has this annoying habit of cutting chapters right before the action and then jumping away to another POV. This was particularly apparent in Caged Kitten but it has reared its head once again in Raised by Wolves. Each person will spend time ruminating. Reflecting on themselves and Lyssa and their lack of relationship with her. Then something will happen, a thought, a notion, an idea and poof we’re off to another chapter and another person completely skipping what would have been the resulting action of that previous thought. Example; when Lucian finally decides it’s time to move into the big house he races off to gather his things and instead of showing his entrance into the house, we skip to Soren who is in process of moving in. Lucian has already made himself at home and claimed his space. Instead of showing Lyssa’s reaction and the introduction of Lucian into her territory or Soren coming to the realization that he wants to be closer to Lyssa we skip to him thinking about the room he has chosen and him once again butting heads with Ewan. The further into the story the more it felt like Watson was purposely skipping areas that could have resulted in relationship development to rehash old feuds and ruminate on future hopes and dreams.
One chapter that particularly irks me is when Lyssa goes to meet Rosa for sushi on a boat. They meet outside the her shop. Lyssa interacts with Aster and there’s a strange moment of wrongness, and probably foreshadowing, that something is off kilter with Rosa (and yes I am aware that her scent and river’s scent are similar… there’s a lot of mention of honey just saying…). But just as she gets a gut feeling that she should take them both and run the chapter ends and jumps to Lyssa swimming in the lake. It is the most jarring chapter cut to date and the one that really tee’d me off to my overall issues with them in general. At first I thought she was going to backtrack and show up how Lyssa ended up in the lake (I thought she was fleeing the boat, they were supposed to eat sushi on a boat after all) but then I realized that we’d just skipped completely over it all together. Now I trust Watson to some extent, I believe there will be more to develop with Rosa and that feeling of wrongness at a later date, but because this is not a complete book in my eyes, and the fact that we never revisit this or Rosa again in this book it feels completely out of left field, and superfluous. Yes it’s just one chapter but it was so jarring that it really illuminated other issues that may have otherwise remained inconsequential.
Whew. At this point my review might be longer than the actual book, so where does this leave my rating? I like Raised by Wolves. I liked it enough to read it in one sitting and to be sad when I’d come to the end. But it’s not perfect. I suspect a lot of my issues will be resolved by trilogy’s end but that doesn’t help me now. Raised by Wolves doesn’t contain enough substance to be considered one book and when I view it like that it detracts from my enjoyment. I love the characters but hate where we’ve left their relationships. There’s no plot to speak of right now but the hints at backstory, land disputes, and mysterious magic excite me for the future. I want to preorder the next book. Not because I’m that excited to read it, I mean I am but that’s not the reason. I want to be pay less for what will probably only be ‘part 2’ and not ‘book 2’. Even with all these issues I was and still am invested in the story and what is to come. I’m excited for it and that’s got to count for something. Starting out I considered giving this 5 stars simply for how quickly I devoured it, but I’m got to take something for construction and so I’ll settle for ***4 burgeoning stars***
Ps. Honorable mention to Soren’s wolf, who I had no idea that wild beast lay hidden within that golden boy and I definitely want more about him in the future. Also Ewan is an ass and needs major redemption. Okay that is all.
The good. I mentioned it earlier but Raised by Wolves includes one my favorite, over-used and often poorly done fantasy tropes of all times. Shifters. and OG wolf shifters at that. I love them. They make me try a lot more books that would otherwise have me running for the hills, resulting in constant disappointment. But luckily for me I’ve come to trust Watson. Although I’ve tried most of her series under this pen name resulting in varying levels of enjoyment, I trust her to provide detailed three-dimensional men, a heroine with backbone, and well thought out worlds with a plot to solve. Raised by Wolves is no different in this respect.
Taking place in the wild wildernesses of Canada it features three newly minted alphas attempting to combine their territories to create a safe haven to grow their pack. Included in hodgepodge joining of reluctant alphas is Ewan, our strict workaholic, Soren, a pampered golden boy, and Lucian the foreign lone wolf. The one thing Watson does so well over and over again is give her three males distinct and interesting personalities. Although I choose to tackle them as a unit, all three have distinct skills and flaws, unique relationship goals and personal agendas. At this point I think my favorite of the bunch is Lucian. I’ve always been a fan of the strong, dark, and silent type, but out of the three I think Watson has hinted at his backstory the most leaving hints of tragic strength still to uncover. I appreciate that she takes time to develop their relationships with Lyssa at different speeds giving the reader different things to looks forward to as the books progress. I’m sure that by the next book I’ll be singing a different tune as to who’s my favorite, which will be a testament to Waston’s writing skills and her ability to craft multiple compelling heroes simultaneously.
Although the men by themselves have me invested enough as it is, Lyssa is quite the compelling heroine on her own. I love Watson’ decision to have her be the true wild one. In a reverse Tarzan is it Lyssa who has grown up amongst a true wolf pack with little interaction with the human world. Dragged from the depths of the wilderness she is forced to adapt and even out of her element she takes each new situation with aplomb. Watson takes great care to provide everyone, even Lyssa, with a unique strength, and even though she’s out of her league when it comes to the coffee maker she has a distinct advantage when it comes to being a true wolf. And next to Lucian, I’m equally excited for more of Lyssa’s backstory which appears rife with struggle and perseverance. Sign me up please.
So the characters are top notch this time around but the plot so far leaves a little to be desired. Now because I read this so quickly it was less of an issue at the time, but the further I got into it ~70-75% ~ the more I noticed that we were quickly nearing the end and not a lot had happened. I think that this is partially because I would classify Raised by Wolves as ‘part 1’ and not ‘book 1’. This is becoming an issue with newer books in general, but there has been a trend developing where it appears okay to publish a book that has no beginning, middle, and end. A trilogy to me should be a completed overarching story yes, but contained within each book I feel there should be some kind of problem with some kind of resolution. Yes the main plot can be left dangling but each individual book needs to have a purpose. In this respect Raised by Wolves doesn’t have this. It is an introduction of characters, a fleshing out of a tenuous relationship and cliffhanger that finally hints at the overarching plot. If read quickly it’s not a huge issue because the characters are compelling and cover this up, but upon reflection it sticks out like a sore thumb. It jostles at my overall enjoyment because I start to feel ripped off feeling that I must pay for installments of one story instead of 3 individual tales culminating in an epic conclusion. It will make it harder for Watson to impress me later on because I’ll be inadvertently judging one story across a three month timeline at the price of 3, as opposed to individual completed thoughts that grow and evolve.
Because there is very little plot included, just hints at things developing, the entire book relies on the interaction between the newly initiated pack, or lack there off. On one hand I completely respect and appreciate how Watson chooses to develop her relationships. Just because they are fated mates doesn’t mean they should all instantly fall in love. In fact, watching each male struggle with the bond fate has thrust upon them is realistic and will eventually lead to a strong and well worth the wait for relationship. But right now it’s just not there. Ewan, Soren, and Lucian are all in over their heads. Although they have all dreamed of their eventual mate, Lyssa is not what any of them expects and they struggle to come to terms with their attraction and the woman who compels them. The issue though is that their struggle leaves them separated as each one works through different concerns all while trying, and failing, to do what they believe is best for Lyssa. In terms of relationship building I have no problems with this, but when it’s the entirely of a book that has very little defined plot, it becomes repetitive.
A major issue Ewan and Soren in particular deal with is the fact that Lyssa does not fit the ideal mate they’d envisioned. Ewan claims he needs a connection with someone in order to truly consummate their relationship but fails to spend a single scene speaking to her and Soren, growing up in a perfect pack situation has no idea how to interact with someone so outside his world and thus fails at eliciting responses from Lyssa that will allow him to get to know her better. Both yearn for a connection with Lyssa and spend a lot of time thinking about their wants and disappointments and very little time to acting on them. I’m sure this is because Watson wants to save something for later, but in doing so she has forgotten to give her readers anything at all. Lucian and Lyssa have a spiritual connection but Lucian is too afraid of heartache and leaves, Ewan wants connection but can’t leave his work long enough to put the effort in, and Soren while physically near spends his time wondering why they aren’t spiritually connected instead of simply talking to her.
If this were a complete story there would be problems developing that would space out the relationships naturally over time. But with nothing but one test from a neighboring wolf pack and a babbling brook to hint at plot I needed at least one relationship to develop further than this.
Another problem that compounds the issue is the overall construction of the chapters. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy Watson’s writing and prose but she has this annoying habit of cutting chapters right before the action and then jumping away to another POV. This was particularly apparent in Caged Kitten but it has reared its head once again in Raised by Wolves. Each person will spend time ruminating. Reflecting on themselves and Lyssa and their lack of relationship with her. Then something will happen, a thought, a notion, an idea and poof we’re off to another chapter and another person completely skipping what would have been the resulting action of that previous thought. Example; when Lucian finally decides it’s time to move into the big house he races off to gather his things and instead of showing his entrance into the house, we skip to Soren who is in process of moving in. Lucian has already made himself at home and claimed his space. Instead of showing Lyssa’s reaction and the introduction of Lucian into her territory or Soren coming to the realization that he wants to be closer to Lyssa we skip to him thinking about the room he has chosen and him once again butting heads with Ewan. The further into the story the more it felt like Watson was purposely skipping areas that could have resulted in relationship development to rehash old feuds and ruminate on future hopes and dreams.
One chapter that particularly irks me is when Lyssa goes to meet Rosa for sushi on a boat. They meet outside the her shop. Lyssa interacts with Aster and there’s a strange moment of wrongness, and probably foreshadowing, that something is off kilter with Rosa (and yes I am aware that her scent and river’s scent are similar… there’s a lot of mention of honey just saying…). But just as she gets a gut feeling that she should take them both and run the chapter ends and jumps to Lyssa swimming in the lake. It is the most jarring chapter cut to date and the one that really tee’d me off to my overall issues with them in general. At first I thought she was going to backtrack and show up how Lyssa ended up in the lake (I thought she was fleeing the boat, they were supposed to eat sushi on a boat after all) but then I realized that we’d just skipped completely over it all together. Now I trust Watson to some extent, I believe there will be more to develop with Rosa and that feeling of wrongness at a later date, but because this is not a complete book in my eyes, and the fact that we never revisit this or Rosa again in this book it feels completely out of left field, and superfluous. Yes it’s just one chapter but it was so jarring that it really illuminated other issues that may have otherwise remained inconsequential.
Whew. At this point my review might be longer than the actual book, so where does this leave my rating? I like Raised by Wolves. I liked it enough to read it in one sitting and to be sad when I’d come to the end. But it’s not perfect. I suspect a lot of my issues will be resolved by trilogy’s end but that doesn’t help me now. Raised by Wolves doesn’t contain enough substance to be considered one book and when I view it like that it detracts from my enjoyment. I love the characters but hate where we’ve left their relationships. There’s no plot to speak of right now but the hints at backstory, land disputes, and mysterious magic excite me for the future. I want to preorder the next book. Not because I’m that excited to read it, I mean I am but that’s not the reason. I want to be pay less for what will probably only be ‘part 2’ and not ‘book 2’. Even with all these issues I was and still am invested in the story and what is to come. I’m excited for it and that’s got to count for something. Starting out I considered giving this 5 stars simply for how quickly I devoured it, but I’m got to take something for construction and so I’ll settle for ***4 burgeoning stars***
Ps. Honorable mention to Soren’s wolf, who I had no idea that wild beast lay hidden within that golden boy and I definitely want more about him in the future. Also Ewan is an ass and needs major redemption. Okay that is all.
June 11, 2021
Wolf Shifters!
The blurb alone had me hooked! I love wolf shifter books but I’ve never read a story line like this one and I absolutely loved it! I can’t wait to see what happens with Lyssa and her guys in book 2!
The blurb alone had me hooked! I love wolf shifter books but I’ve never read a story line like this one and I absolutely loved it! I can’t wait to see what happens with Lyssa and her guys in book 2!
June 9, 2021
I'll put a spoiler section below to give more details but for the most part, I enjoyed this book. The book was very well written and the plot was engaging and interesting. I'm excited to see what happens in the next book.
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Spoilers below
Honestly the guys in this book almost made me DNF it, but the plot and the FMC kept me reading.
FMC: was raised by literal wolves, doesn't understand she's a shifter, seems to have a traumatic childhood, and has very rarely been in her human skin. Doesn't think or act like a human. Reading about her experiencing the world and trying to adapt to human society was entertaining and endeared me to her. Her POVs were very entertaining.
The guys: honestly I kinda wish she'd reject all these punks and go get new mates. They essentially kidnap her from her wolf family because she is their mate and then abandon her. One of them mates/marks her and then doesn't see her for days. During his POV of the mating he is also momentarily jealous that she is not a virgin (but it's not like any of her punk mates waited until they found their mate to be intimate but you know double standards and all). The other two are barely around and treat their time with her like babysitting. They constantly argue, there is no communication between them, and the only time they really do anything nice for their mate is because the others have done something for her and they are jealous. Ewan is the worst of all of them and really seems to only care that she can give him children. If I was Lyssa I would cut him off and only give the others heirs.
Abuse: the FMC is a victim of sexual abuse and yet there is very little hesitation to be with her fated mates. I get to a certain degree that the bond they all have lessened the worries and that the FMC has been with literal wolves so she doesn't process things like humans, but it was still hard for me to believe that she would be so willing to mate after her abuse.
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Spoilers below
Honestly the guys in this book almost made me DNF it, but the plot and the FMC kept me reading.
FMC: was raised by literal wolves, doesn't understand she's a shifter, seems to have a traumatic childhood, and has very rarely been in her human skin. Doesn't think or act like a human. Reading about her experiencing the world and trying to adapt to human society was entertaining and endeared me to her. Her POVs were very entertaining.
The guys: honestly I kinda wish she'd reject all these punks and go get new mates. They essentially kidnap her from her wolf family because she is their mate and then abandon her. One of them mates/marks her and then doesn't see her for days. During his POV of the mating he is also momentarily jealous that she is not a virgin (but it's not like any of her punk mates waited until they found their mate to be intimate but you know double standards and all). The other two are barely around and treat their time with her like babysitting. They constantly argue, there is no communication between them, and the only time they really do anything nice for their mate is because the others have done something for her and they are jealous. Ewan is the worst of all of them and really seems to only care that she can give him children. If I was Lyssa I would cut him off and only give the others heirs.
Abuse: the FMC is a victim of sexual abuse and yet there is very little hesitation to be with her fated mates. I get to a certain degree that the bond they all have lessened the worries and that the FMC has been with literal wolves so she doesn't process things like humans, but it was still hard for me to believe that she would be so willing to mate after her abuse.
November 21, 2021
DNF at 56%
June 9, 2021
I always know a few things when it comes to a Rhea Watson book:
1) I'm going to devour it,
2) I'm going to enjoy it,
and 3) It's going to hurt a little.
This is the fated mates trope with an angle I can't say I've read before, which is the men fighting the bond because they don't want fate telling them what to do (at least, for one of them). As much as that character irritated me, it was honestly refreshing that Lyssa and her men did not fall in instalove with each other just because they realized they were fated mates. Things were messy, and complicated, and there was (and still is) a learning curve for all of them.
All three of the guys really irritated me because of their actions, not because they're bad characters. I can't wait to see how they grow and change, but in this one I was really frustrated with how they were so selfish and not considering Lyssa's needs. Ewan treated her like an inconvenience, Soren had no tact, and all three of them were completely oblivious to her needs, so Lyssa took matters into her own hands, which I loved. She never cowered before them; instead she went toe-to-toe and made her feelings 100% clear that she needed them to step up. I really loved that each guy has a distinct personality, and I never got confused as to whose POV I was reading.
The way the story ended is a cliffhanger, and I'm hoping that everything will be ok! Of course I know it will be, eventually, but WHY, Rhea, do you do this to your poor readers?!
Definitely check this book out if you love wolf shifters, fated mates, strong heroines, dudes who need to get their crap together, and the promise of a strong bond and love on the horizon!
1) I'm going to devour it,
2) I'm going to enjoy it,
and 3) It's going to hurt a little.
This is the fated mates trope with an angle I can't say I've read before, which is the men fighting the bond because they don't want fate telling them what to do (at least, for one of them). As much as that character irritated me, it was honestly refreshing that Lyssa and her men did not fall in instalove with each other just because they realized they were fated mates. Things were messy, and complicated, and there was (and still is) a learning curve for all of them.
All three of the guys really irritated me because of their actions, not because they're bad characters. I can't wait to see how they grow and change, but in this one I was really frustrated with how they were so selfish and not considering Lyssa's needs. Ewan treated her like an inconvenience, Soren had no tact, and all three of them were completely oblivious to her needs, so Lyssa took matters into her own hands, which I loved. She never cowered before them; instead she went toe-to-toe and made her feelings 100% clear that she needed them to step up. I really loved that each guy has a distinct personality, and I never got confused as to whose POV I was reading.
The way the story ended is a cliffhanger, and I'm hoping that everything will be ok! Of course I know it will be, eventually, but WHY, Rhea, do you do this to your poor readers?!
Definitely check this book out if you love wolf shifters, fated mates, strong heroines, dudes who need to get their crap together, and the promise of a strong bond and love on the horizon!
June 26, 2021
This was fun. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of moments where you are going to want to boop those alpha wolves on the snoot with... maybe a brick, but this series is unique and full of room to grow.
Lyssa is absolutely wonderful. She's a little cranky, a lot confused, and definitely has a lot of baggage to recover from, but she's also strong, fierce, independent (in many ways), and she has a lot that she can teach her men about how to be a real pack and how to embrace the wolves inside of them instead of letting their human sides always take the reins.
She's got some of that naivete that a lot of RH readers love to see in their FMCs. Although Lyssa isn't super young, she's had a skewed version of the world because her upbringing and then life with the wolves did not leave a lot of room for her to become super worldly. Because of that, we get some great moments that are a bit funny, sometimes a little sad, and others that are definitely just entertaining to see as she adjusts to living outside of the wolf pack.
The guys are a handful. Soren is the easiest in some ways but the most difficult in others. Unlike Lyssa, he had a basically picture perfect upbringing. With that, there are some ways that he's super socially adept and other ways that he really needs to mature. Growing up without a lot of conflict seems like it sometimes has him missing things that readers will be like DUDE, FOR REAL!? But at heart, he's the "lightest" of Lyssa's men, and those of you who love the cheerful guy with some pep in his step are going to love Soren.
Ewan is a classic case of a wolf who's lost a bit of his bite. He's definitely a shifter, don't get me wrong, and there are some delicious animalistic scenes with him letting that side of him out, but he's super wrapped up in the human side of his world. He's a businessman. He likes success, he likes having a clean public face, and he definitely has the idea of a dynasty in mind with a picture perfect mate by his side. Unfortunately, that means we've got some issues when it comes to Lyssa. He's been mated with a wild woman, and he f*cks up a bit because he needs to learn that HE needs to change to be who she needs rather than her needing to lose herself to fit into his world.
Lucian is my favorite so far, I think. He's the most jaded, the most in tune with his wolf, and he's also the most alike Lyssa, I think. There's a lot of room for him to have a beautiful connection with her, and once he realizes how he's missed the mark and let some of his fears get in the way, I think he has some of the fastest recovery, so Lucian gets the least amount of snoot boops.
Overall, the plot was interesting, the relationships are each unique, compelling in their own way, and have room to grow and become something we really love, and there are lots of little leads to follow while you read. I'm curious about the "big bad" in this book, I want to know more about Lyssa's witch friend and what's going on with her, and I really want to see the wildness come out of these men so Lyssa gets the real pack life that she deserves.
Lyssa is absolutely wonderful. She's a little cranky, a lot confused, and definitely has a lot of baggage to recover from, but she's also strong, fierce, independent (in many ways), and she has a lot that she can teach her men about how to be a real pack and how to embrace the wolves inside of them instead of letting their human sides always take the reins.
She's got some of that naivete that a lot of RH readers love to see in their FMCs. Although Lyssa isn't super young, she's had a skewed version of the world because her upbringing and then life with the wolves did not leave a lot of room for her to become super worldly. Because of that, we get some great moments that are a bit funny, sometimes a little sad, and others that are definitely just entertaining to see as she adjusts to living outside of the wolf pack.
The guys are a handful. Soren is the easiest in some ways but the most difficult in others. Unlike Lyssa, he had a basically picture perfect upbringing. With that, there are some ways that he's super socially adept and other ways that he really needs to mature. Growing up without a lot of conflict seems like it sometimes has him missing things that readers will be like DUDE, FOR REAL!? But at heart, he's the "lightest" of Lyssa's men, and those of you who love the cheerful guy with some pep in his step are going to love Soren.
Ewan is a classic case of a wolf who's lost a bit of his bite. He's definitely a shifter, don't get me wrong, and there are some delicious animalistic scenes with him letting that side of him out, but he's super wrapped up in the human side of his world. He's a businessman. He likes success, he likes having a clean public face, and he definitely has the idea of a dynasty in mind with a picture perfect mate by his side. Unfortunately, that means we've got some issues when it comes to Lyssa. He's been mated with a wild woman, and he f*cks up a bit because he needs to learn that HE needs to change to be who she needs rather than her needing to lose herself to fit into his world.
Lucian is my favorite so far, I think. He's the most jaded, the most in tune with his wolf, and he's also the most alike Lyssa, I think. There's a lot of room for him to have a beautiful connection with her, and once he realizes how he's missed the mark and let some of his fears get in the way, I think he has some of the fastest recovery, so Lucian gets the least amount of snoot boops.
Overall, the plot was interesting, the relationships are each unique, compelling in their own way, and have room to grow and become something we really love, and there are lots of little leads to follow while you read. I'm curious about the "big bad" in this book, I want to know more about Lyssa's witch friend and what's going on with her, and I really want to see the wildness come out of these men so Lyssa gets the real pack life that she deserves.
Read
November 22, 2021This book isn’t bad, but it is forgettable.
The MC (I forgot her name) has lived as a wolf for long enough that she isn’t sure how to function as a human. One night she meets her fated mates, and although it is inconvenient (ehh kind of inconvenient for some) for her mates, they take her in, give her a home, and “humanize” (for lack of a better word) her. Eventually, they find out how different she is and there’s drama and then I think there’s a cliffhanger. Honestly, I can’t remember.
I actually downloaded it twice. I apparently read it, and then not knowing I had read it, downloaded it again a while later and was confused because it opened on the last page of the book (on KU).
So, Yeah… the blurb sounds interesting and maybe it’s just not my ‘cup of tea’.
🤷🏻♀️
The MC (I forgot her name) has lived as a wolf for long enough that she isn’t sure how to function as a human. One night she meets her fated mates, and although it is inconvenient (ehh kind of inconvenient for some) for her mates, they take her in, give her a home, and “humanize” (for lack of a better word) her. Eventually, they find out how different she is and there’s drama and then I think there’s a cliffhanger. Honestly, I can’t remember.
I actually downloaded it twice. I apparently read it, and then not knowing I had read it, downloaded it again a while later and was confused because it opened on the last page of the book (on KU).
So, Yeah… the blurb sounds interesting and maybe it’s just not my ‘cup of tea’.
🤷🏻♀️
June 6, 2021
Welcome to the world of the Redwood Grove pack with 3 hot headed, uncooperative, uncompromising alpha aholes. Lucian, Soren and Ewan. These 3 wolf shifters are more man than wolf and have not been able to build a loyal pack instead they have 3 alphas and a large amount of land and not much else.
Enter Lyssa an alpha female, who has spent most of her life with a true wolf pack (not shifters) she understands what it takes to be a pack from bonds, to communication to hunting. She is wolf strong and fearless but she is human naive and shy, she doesn't understand why the 3 alphas have failed to build a pack but is intent on teaching them how.
This is a fated mate trilogy but just because they're fated doesn't mean instant love. The bind drives the sexual desires to claim but it doesn't build the relationship they are all looking for in their own way. The guys drive me insane, literally had me pulling my hair out, they come across as selfish, arrogant and so judgemental of how their fated mate should be and their words and actions are nothing short of hurtful to poor Lyssa but despite all of this she is so strong and that strength burns bright as the book progresses.
There are so many elements the Rhea is pulling together in this book that leaves me desperately waiting for book 2. Not only am I not so paitwntly waiting to see the alpha boys bond, the true mate bonds build into a solid foundation for them all but the over reaching plot of not everyone is what they seem and that there's a bigger game a foot then our 4 fated mates know.
Enter Lyssa an alpha female, who has spent most of her life with a true wolf pack (not shifters) she understands what it takes to be a pack from bonds, to communication to hunting. She is wolf strong and fearless but she is human naive and shy, she doesn't understand why the 3 alphas have failed to build a pack but is intent on teaching them how.
This is a fated mate trilogy but just because they're fated doesn't mean instant love. The bind drives the sexual desires to claim but it doesn't build the relationship they are all looking for in their own way. The guys drive me insane, literally had me pulling my hair out, they come across as selfish, arrogant and so judgemental of how their fated mate should be and their words and actions are nothing short of hurtful to poor Lyssa but despite all of this she is so strong and that strength burns bright as the book progresses.
There are so many elements the Rhea is pulling together in this book that leaves me desperately waiting for book 2. Not only am I not so paitwntly waiting to see the alpha boys bond, the true mate bonds build into a solid foundation for them all but the over reaching plot of not everyone is what they seem and that there's a bigger game a foot then our 4 fated mates know.
June 10, 2021
Ewan, Lucian and Soren are three alpha males who are trying to form a new wherewolf pack. Still struggling with their different personalities, priorities and alpha tendencies, they meet their fated mate Lyssa while she is running with a regular wolf pack. It is the first time Lyssa meets others just like her and fitting into a world she doesn't know is an obvious struggle for her.
Somewhere in the book, clearly outlined, are the following words: "Men are stubborn idiots. Shifter alpha males are even worse." That is te perfect way to describe Ewan, Lucian and Soren. They behave like absolute morons while Lyssa works hard to build a relationship with them and between them all. Their best redeeming quality though is that they can also admit how stupid they are behaving sometimes (at least in their own minds) and that makes them a lot more likable.
This book gives you a wonderful look in the building of a relationship between four people who don't have a clue how to be in a relationship. I love the way these characters are described and how Lyssa struggles to find her place in a world she never knew existed. I definitely recommend this book.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Somewhere in the book, clearly outlined, are the following words: "Men are stubborn idiots. Shifter alpha males are even worse." That is te perfect way to describe Ewan, Lucian and Soren. They behave like absolute morons while Lyssa works hard to build a relationship with them and between them all. Their best redeeming quality though is that they can also admit how stupid they are behaving sometimes (at least in their own minds) and that makes them a lot more likable.
This book gives you a wonderful look in the building of a relationship between four people who don't have a clue how to be in a relationship. I love the way these characters are described and how Lyssa struggles to find her place in a world she never knew existed. I definitely recommend this book.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 2, 2021
3.5 / 5 stars
I have to admit, this book took me a little while to get into. I’ve only read a couple other fated mates books and I’m beginning to think it’s purely a “me” thing and they’re just not a trope I enjoy as much as others. With that said, I’ve tried to give this book the fairest review I possibly could.
I found the beginning of this story to be a bit slow. The first 50% of the book mostly concentrated on all the territory the males owned and how much money they had and about claiming and marking their mate. There was no other clear storyline that I could tell apart from that and for me personally that just wasn’t enough. It did pick up for me after about the halfway mark, and by about 80% I was enjoying the story, but it definitely felt like it took a while to get there.
I did like the main character, Lyssa, and I’m looking forward to finding out more about her history, hopefully in the next book! As for the males, I’m hoping they’ll grow on me a bit more as I learn more about them because as of right now, none of them really appeal to me.
Without giving away any spoilers, the other thing I enjoyed in this story was the hint of magic. I’m hoping we get to explore more of that in book two!
Overall, I’d say this is a good read if you enjoy reading about wolf shifters and fated mates. I’m sure with two more books planned in the series things will pick up and become more interesting for me as we learn more about the characters. It did leave off on a cliffhanger that makes me want to continue the story, so I’ll definitely keep going with the series!
I have to admit, this book took me a little while to get into. I’ve only read a couple other fated mates books and I’m beginning to think it’s purely a “me” thing and they’re just not a trope I enjoy as much as others. With that said, I’ve tried to give this book the fairest review I possibly could.
I found the beginning of this story to be a bit slow. The first 50% of the book mostly concentrated on all the territory the males owned and how much money they had and about claiming and marking their mate. There was no other clear storyline that I could tell apart from that and for me personally that just wasn’t enough. It did pick up for me after about the halfway mark, and by about 80% I was enjoying the story, but it definitely felt like it took a while to get there.
I did like the main character, Lyssa, and I’m looking forward to finding out more about her history, hopefully in the next book! As for the males, I’m hoping they’ll grow on me a bit more as I learn more about them because as of right now, none of them really appeal to me.
Without giving away any spoilers, the other thing I enjoyed in this story was the hint of magic. I’m hoping we get to explore more of that in book two!
Overall, I’d say this is a good read if you enjoy reading about wolf shifters and fated mates. I’m sure with two more books planned in the series things will pick up and become more interesting for me as we learn more about the characters. It did leave off on a cliffhanger that makes me want to continue the story, so I’ll definitely keep going with the series!
June 6, 2021
Shifters and RH are two of my most favorite tropes throw them together and I see stars!! I love that we really get to see the struggle each of our male alphas have to go through when trying to form one pack throw in their alpha fated mate and we are in a whole other ball game. Lyssa is not your typical alpha though. While she is strong and beautiful she is also very shy and closed off this I am assuming is coming from her past which the author touches on and seems like she was treated terribly which I would assume has led her to how she grew up and the woman/wolf she is today. We see her struggles and we feel all of her emotions. We get pov’s from all of the characters which I love. I like to see what everyone is going through, what they are thinking what they are feeling and how each of them handle individual situations and situations together. Our 3 male Alpha’s definitely need to get their lives together for sure the struggle with them being able to agree on anything is real and now they have their mate to take care of and they all want her to be their first priority but they cant seem to make it happen. I can’t wait to see where the author takes us with their story and I’m so ready to be along for the ride. This is a definite must read!!
June 9, 2021
This was a creative take on the usual shifter fated mates trope. The FMC, Lyssa, was actually raised/in a real wolf pack for many years before being stumbled upon by her shifter mates.
I like that there was an instant connection but they all still struggled to figure out what was happening and how to work together. Each of the MMCs had their own distinct personality and I was surprised with who connected with Lyssa first. Watching the interactions among the four of them and seeing how Lyssa navigated a world she had mostly left behind was really interesting.
I would have liked to learn a bit more of Lyssa’s history, we got some information but I’m hoping more will be revealed. This book mostly focused on introducing the relationships and Lyssa back into the world, with a mysterious instance that left a good opening for book 2. Parts were hinted throughout the book but of course it all ended with a bit of a cliffhanger. Nothing horrible but left us with many questions. Thankfully book 2 is out in July so we won’t have to wait too long.
I like that there was an instant connection but they all still struggled to figure out what was happening and how to work together. Each of the MMCs had their own distinct personality and I was surprised with who connected with Lyssa first. Watching the interactions among the four of them and seeing how Lyssa navigated a world she had mostly left behind was really interesting.
I would have liked to learn a bit more of Lyssa’s history, we got some information but I’m hoping more will be revealed. This book mostly focused on introducing the relationships and Lyssa back into the world, with a mysterious instance that left a good opening for book 2. Parts were hinted throughout the book but of course it all ended with a bit of a cliffhanger. Nothing horrible but left us with many questions. Thankfully book 2 is out in July so we won’t have to wait too long.
June 7, 2021
I absolutely loved this one!
Raised by Wolves in the first in a series of reverse harem wolf shifter books and it focuses on Lyssa and her three mates. Her three mates who happen to be three possessive, alpha wolves trying to create a pack.
This was a little different to most of the RH books I read as instead of being a unified harem Ewan, Soren and Lucian are at odds with each other. And when faced with their mate and trying to bring her in to their very different lives, they are disaster wolves and I loved every minute of it.
Lyssa was a really compelling character and it was so interesting that we got snippets of her former life throughout the book. I really loved the way the mate bond influenced the relationship and added a pull, the wolf dynamic really added to the relationship between the four main characters.
I loved how different each of the alpha wolves were, and that Lyssa herself was also an alpha which again was an interesting spin on the pack dynamic. Soren was super cute and lovable and I loved that his wolf was so happy, and I found myself drawn most of Lucian - I hope we get to learn lots more about him in the next books.
There was a really cozy vibe throughout the whole book and I really loved the worldbuilding as well as the fledgling friendship between Lyssa and Rosa.
The ending was a cliffhanger, which I didn't mind though I know some people like to wait until a series is finished. I cannot wait for the next book in the series and would definitely recommend Raised by Wolves!
Raised by Wolves in the first in a series of reverse harem wolf shifter books and it focuses on Lyssa and her three mates. Her three mates who happen to be three possessive, alpha wolves trying to create a pack.
This was a little different to most of the RH books I read as instead of being a unified harem Ewan, Soren and Lucian are at odds with each other. And when faced with their mate and trying to bring her in to their very different lives, they are disaster wolves and I loved every minute of it.
Lyssa was a really compelling character and it was so interesting that we got snippets of her former life throughout the book. I really loved the way the mate bond influenced the relationship and added a pull, the wolf dynamic really added to the relationship between the four main characters.
I loved how different each of the alpha wolves were, and that Lyssa herself was also an alpha which again was an interesting spin on the pack dynamic. Soren was super cute and lovable and I loved that his wolf was so happy, and I found myself drawn most of Lucian - I hope we get to learn lots more about him in the next books.
There was a really cozy vibe throughout the whole book and I really loved the worldbuilding as well as the fledgling friendship between Lyssa and Rosa.
The ending was a cliffhanger, which I didn't mind though I know some people like to wait until a series is finished. I cannot wait for the next book in the series and would definitely recommend Raised by Wolves!
June 7, 2021
I really enjoyed this well written story. I loved Lyssa’s alpha character with her fierce, protective nature and killer capabilities. I enjoyed her determination to unite this pack of misfit alphas through showing them how a true wolf pack should behave. I look forward to learning more about her early childhood struggles and the mystery of her origins.
Given that Lyssa is the fated mate to three alpha wolf shifters, their initial reaction to her was based more on biology and instincts, rather than a getting-to-know-you-better-first type of human courtship. Throw in the sudden and overwhelming realization that the males had found their long-awaited fated mate and one can understand how easily their wolf intuitively took charge. I was glad that the men themselves – particularly Ewan and Soren, had some reservations about jumping on the fated mate train so quickly due to concerns surrounding Lyssa’s mysterious past. I liked the somewhat shaky friendships that developed with Lyssa though, despite the friction between the men.
The story has plenty of shifter-style action & adventure, some drama, suspense, mystery, magic and plenty of angst. There are also some explicit M/F encounters, but no ménage. I received an Advance Reader Copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Given that Lyssa is the fated mate to three alpha wolf shifters, their initial reaction to her was based more on biology and instincts, rather than a getting-to-know-you-better-first type of human courtship. Throw in the sudden and overwhelming realization that the males had found their long-awaited fated mate and one can understand how easily their wolf intuitively took charge. I was glad that the men themselves – particularly Ewan and Soren, had some reservations about jumping on the fated mate train so quickly due to concerns surrounding Lyssa’s mysterious past. I liked the somewhat shaky friendships that developed with Lyssa though, despite the friction between the men.
The story has plenty of shifter-style action & adventure, some drama, suspense, mystery, magic and plenty of angst. There are also some explicit M/F encounters, but no ménage. I received an Advance Reader Copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 10, 2021
Raised by Wolves is the first book in the Bloodline series by Rhea Watson. It is narrated from the perspective of multiple characters which I enjoyed because it helped to form an intimate connection with each one of them. The story follows Lyssa who has just found her three mates.
Oh my gosh there are not enough words to describe just how much I love and adore Lyssa. She is wild, fierce, hilarious and she was literally raised by wolves (not the shifter kind either). She is definitely a great match for Ewan, Lucian and Soren. I love how the guys are alphas but they are totally different from each other personality wise.
There are so many moments in this book that made laugh so much especially Ewan, Lucian and Soren trying to coexist as alphas which was entertaining.
Oh my freaking gosh wtaf was that ending!!! I cannot wait for the next book so I can find out what happens.
Oh my gosh there are not enough words to describe just how much I love and adore Lyssa. She is wild, fierce, hilarious and she was literally raised by wolves (not the shifter kind either). She is definitely a great match for Ewan, Lucian and Soren. I love how the guys are alphas but they are totally different from each other personality wise.
There are so many moments in this book that made laugh so much especially Ewan, Lucian and Soren trying to coexist as alphas which was entertaining.
Oh my freaking gosh wtaf was that ending!!! I cannot wait for the next book so I can find out what happens.
June 11, 2021
4.5 stars - not your typical fated mates
I knew going into this that it was not going to be your typical fated mates romance, and boy that is an understatement! This was not the story I was expecting but in a good way. We do see a pull, but the human side and their decisions is what makes this different. I did struggle a bit with our FMC and her innocence since she was raised by wolves from a young age. As I continued reading, I believe it was handled well but made me feel uneasy enough to want to dock half a star. But, this is definitely a personal line and you may have no issue with it at all. And boy oh boy, in this one you just want to smack the guys for being idiots! All in all, I definitely recommend and plan to read the next installment!
I knew going into this that it was not going to be your typical fated mates romance, and boy that is an understatement! This was not the story I was expecting but in a good way. We do see a pull, but the human side and their decisions is what makes this different. I did struggle a bit with our FMC and her innocence since she was raised by wolves from a young age. As I continued reading, I believe it was handled well but made me feel uneasy enough to want to dock half a star. But, this is definitely a personal line and you may have no issue with it at all. And boy oh boy, in this one you just want to smack the guys for being idiots! All in all, I definitely recommend and plan to read the next installment!
May 29, 2021
Raised by wolves is book 1 of the Bloodline series. It’s a multiple POV Fated mates PNR RH.
TW include mild violence and implied past abuse in fmc’s past.
Soren, Lucian and Ewan are each lone wolves of various sorts who have joined forces and are now 1/3 Alpha of their new pack. While still getting used to the dynamics of having 3 Alpha males they come across a female shifter living with a wolf pack (of animals not the shifters) who turns out to be the fated mate of all three of them.
Lyssa has been alone for over 10 years, cast out as a child she found a home with a pack of wild wolves and has spent her life thinking herself an abomination, neither wolf or human but something in between. She doesn’t know she’s a shifter and not just any shifter but an Alpha she-wolf.
As this is book 1 of a series this book is mostly for building but we are not overloaded with information and are still in the dark with almost everything however we are given just enough to pique our interest and draw us in.
I would put this as a slow/medium burn, there are some scorching scenes but once the initial mating bond is formed it’s more about building an emotional connection rather than physical.
Overall this is a great start to series and I can’t wait for book 2.
TW include mild violence and implied past abuse in fmc’s past.
Soren, Lucian and Ewan are each lone wolves of various sorts who have joined forces and are now 1/3 Alpha of their new pack. While still getting used to the dynamics of having 3 Alpha males they come across a female shifter living with a wolf pack (of animals not the shifters) who turns out to be the fated mate of all three of them.
Lyssa has been alone for over 10 years, cast out as a child she found a home with a pack of wild wolves and has spent her life thinking herself an abomination, neither wolf or human but something in between. She doesn’t know she’s a shifter and not just any shifter but an Alpha she-wolf.
As this is book 1 of a series this book is mostly for building but we are not overloaded with information and are still in the dark with almost everything however we are given just enough to pique our interest and draw us in.
I would put this as a slow/medium burn, there are some scorching scenes but once the initial mating bond is formed it’s more about building an emotional connection rather than physical.
Overall this is a great start to series and I can’t wait for book 2.
June 5, 2021
I really loved this, it’s officially tied for favorite Rhea Watson book with Reaper’s Pack, which I need to reread. Lyssa is such a great fmc, she’s strong and sure of herself in some areas and so uncertain and self conscious in others. She’s so very relatable and I really empathized with her struggles, both emotional and day to day challenges. This book really puts you through the emotions of life and love. You’ve got the butterflies, the angst, the uncertainty, the passion and the humor. I’ll just say the moose scene is one of my favorites. So funny and everybody’s responses killed me. Some major groveling is needed in book 2 and I need to know what happens after that cliff!!!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review
June 9, 2021
4 STARS
**I volunteered to write this honest review of an ARC
First off, I really enjoyed this book! It was a nice change of pace, since I usually read books that focus on the plot more than the relationships.
This was good book 1 into Rhea’s new series, Bloodline. I liked the uniqueness of the plot (shifters meet their mate who has been living with wild wolves and doesn’t know there are others like her who can shift) and how, while they are fated mates, the relationships still need effort to be built and maintained. This book was spent exploring the relationships between mates, as well as those between the men. It was cute, sometimes frustrating, watching Lyssa and her men try to find their footing in this new, unexpected situation.
**I volunteered to write this honest review of an ARC
First off, I really enjoyed this book! It was a nice change of pace, since I usually read books that focus on the plot more than the relationships.
This was good book 1 into Rhea’s new series, Bloodline. I liked the uniqueness of the plot (shifters meet their mate who has been living with wild wolves and doesn’t know there are others like her who can shift) and how, while they are fated mates, the relationships still need effort to be built and maintained. This book was spent exploring the relationships between mates, as well as those between the men. It was cute, sometimes frustrating, watching Lyssa and her men try to find their footing in this new, unexpected situation.
May 26, 2021
4.5 ⭐️ I received an ARC in exchange for a review.
I’m fairly new to this author but not RH/PNR genre. The beginning of the story was a bit hard to get into for me. The 3 men just seemed unlikeable. I like alphas and don’t mind them being alpha holes either as long as they have a soft side somewhere or something interesting/unique that will draw me in. They seemed to not have any qualities that drew my interest. They weren’t loyal to each other, were self absorbed, and pissed off over anything/everything. I didn’t see where there was really any reason for an alliance or pack to form in the first place. As much as they seemed to dislike each other it didn’t seem to make sense. I get that the idea was for their girl to help draw them together but don’t feel that that would be truly successful or realistic without them at least respecting each other and show willingness to cooperate first.
Once we started to see the heroine’s POV it got better. I like how she is a mix of experienced and tough but also naive. I feel like I got to know her. I like that the connection with each mate was different. I did see some character development with each as the book went on. There is definitely some questions/mysteries that I can’t wait to be answered. Warning: this does end on a cliffhanger. The next book is coming out shortly after though! I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
I’m fairly new to this author but not RH/PNR genre. The beginning of the story was a bit hard to get into for me. The 3 men just seemed unlikeable. I like alphas and don’t mind them being alpha holes either as long as they have a soft side somewhere or something interesting/unique that will draw me in. They seemed to not have any qualities that drew my interest. They weren’t loyal to each other, were self absorbed, and pissed off over anything/everything. I didn’t see where there was really any reason for an alliance or pack to form in the first place. As much as they seemed to dislike each other it didn’t seem to make sense. I get that the idea was for their girl to help draw them together but don’t feel that that would be truly successful or realistic without them at least respecting each other and show willingness to cooperate first.
Once we started to see the heroine’s POV it got better. I like how she is a mix of experienced and tough but also naive. I feel like I got to know her. I like that the connection with each mate was different. I did see some character development with each as the book went on. There is definitely some questions/mysteries that I can’t wait to be answered. Warning: this does end on a cliffhanger. The next book is coming out shortly after though! I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
June 6, 2021
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC and all I can say is: ridiculously good. intriguing. well written. I cannot stop thinking about this book with these characters and this story. I need more. Rhea Watson has this innate ability to give me characters that are both raw and mighty and so wonderful, so much depth with beautiful surface. I can’t wait to read the rest of the trilogy 🤩
May 28, 2021
Sweet, but with a bite!
This book was exactly what I needed right now. I've never read a FMC quite like Lyssa, and it was interesting to see the world from the outside looking in. I found everyone's emotional and physical dynamics pretty intriguing - not just the bonds with Lyssa, but within the harem as a whole. Unexpected, and hilarious at times.
For me personally, this book wasn't one I devoured in one sitting until 3am. HOWEVER, I do mean that in a good way. Yeah, the 3am binges are great, but you honestly exhaust yourself doing it. Some days, you just need a damn good book that you can keep returning to over and over. Like a crazy fun, faithful friend.
As for the guys... My tongue was tsking many times! But they are quite delicious. Rhea Watson always brings the steam, and this was no exception.
The writing had that typical Rhea Watson sparkle. Like magical, sexy fairy dust. I can't wait for the next installment.
This book was exactly what I needed right now. I've never read a FMC quite like Lyssa, and it was interesting to see the world from the outside looking in. I found everyone's emotional and physical dynamics pretty intriguing - not just the bonds with Lyssa, but within the harem as a whole. Unexpected, and hilarious at times.
For me personally, this book wasn't one I devoured in one sitting until 3am. HOWEVER, I do mean that in a good way. Yeah, the 3am binges are great, but you honestly exhaust yourself doing it. Some days, you just need a damn good book that you can keep returning to over and over. Like a crazy fun, faithful friend.
As for the guys... My tongue was tsking many times! But they are quite delicious. Rhea Watson always brings the steam, and this was no exception.
The writing had that typical Rhea Watson sparkle. Like magical, sexy fairy dust. I can't wait for the next installment.
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