Waging War

Westin Force #6

by Julie Trettel

Mistaken for a shifter, superhuman, Jake Forrester found himself amid a paranormal world. Shifters had physical advantages over him, but he stubbornly worked even harder, pushing himself to the max to prove himself time and time again. At last he’s landed his dream job as the newest member of Bravo unit.

Unlike his shifter cohorts, he doesn’t have some magical juju to tell him when he’s found “the one” but when he sees Alaina for the first time, his heart tells him all he needs to know.

The problem is, she’s off limits and following his heart could destroy alliances and wage a war they aren’t prepared to fight.

Genres: Paranormal, Shapeshifters, Found Family, Audiobook, Paranormal Romance, Military Romance, Contemporary

293 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2022

About the author

Julie Trettel is a USA Today Bestselling Author of Paranormal Romance. She comes from a long line of story tellers. Writing has always been a stress reliever and escape for her to manage the crazy demands of juggling time and schedules between work and an active family of six. In her “free time,” she enjoys traveling, reading, outdoor activities, and spending time with family and friends.

Reviews

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with this story. I remembered there was a significant loose end at the end of her last book, Final Extraction, that I needed her to address. I needed to know “what happened to…” and in this book I had my answer with those characters. One of my favorite things about Julie Trettel’s books is how she connects the stories and characters from one book to the next. Readers don’t just get a new story, but also get a glimpse of what life has been like for the characters from previous books. As Jack and Alana’s story unfolds, she gave us a chance to see an overlap with characters from her other series, Collier Pack, ARC Shifters, and Westin Pack. Within the story of Jack and Alana finding each other, there were smaller stories of bravery, loss, avenging, acceptance, support, and devotion. While the interactions between Jake and Alana as they navigate the early stages of their relationship are reminiscent of what the shifter men experienced when their inner animal identified their mates, I felt the situations were believable within the context of the story. There were moments when the realist part of me wanted to be cynical about the love-at-first-site type reaction. (They are just humans, after all) It seemed Jack’s team also struggled with believing the sincerity of his feelings for Alana. I was disappointed with his team and Kyle Weston because to me, it seemed they let their fear of humans override their trust and experience with Jack. Alana’s ignorance and several misunderstandings led to her being treated as a breach in security vs a potential mate of a Westin Force male. As things unfold, Jake is forced to make some hard decisions between his team and Alana. It ends up that those decisions afforded them an opportunity to not only learn about Alana’s past but also that Westin Pack and shifters were in the crosshairs of anti-shifters. I was angry with his team for talking to him as if he had betrayed them with his decision when in my mind, they turned their back on him without trusting his judgment. I closed the book feeling satisfied and as in love with their story as I have been with other members of the Bravo Team. mybook.to/WestinForce6

[Laura Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the last book in this phenomenal series and set comfortably in her well built shifter world. Waging War features two human protagonist deeply imbedded in the shifter world.

Jake is an operative on the Westin Force’s Bravo team finding himself feeling as if he doesn’t quite belong in either the human world or the shifter world. Alaina is grieving the loss of her only parent. Her mother’s work as a maid exposed Alaina to information about shifters most humans don’t know. Through chance meeting and instant pull draw Jake and Alaina in deeper to each other’s lives and the shifters around them.

If you love a more grounded approach shifters with nuanced and rich story along with your romance - This is the book for you. This for me was a one sitting, “who cares what time it is” read.

This book would be best read after the other books in the Westin Force series even though it can stand alone. For those immersed in Julie Trettel’s Westin Pack, Collier Pack, ARC Shifters, and Westin Force world this book gives us everything we could want.

It is just so good!

[Courtney Delgado · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast-paced, Character-driven Romance with Sides of Laughter & Tears

Former special ops soldier, Jake is now a member of the Westin Force Beta Team and the only human in Westin Pack. Surrounded by happily mated shifters, he is lonely. Enter Alaina, a floundering waitress who is grieving the loss of her mother. Now mix in an interfering Nonna and an unhinged secret organization to yield a fast paced, intense though still fun romance.

I really enjoyed Waging War. It helped to pull me out of a recent reading slump. My favorite part about Julie Trettel’s books is her fantastic character development, as a reader you feel like they are your friends. And this book is no different. I also appreciate Trettel giving us a diverse cast of characters. Leading lady Alaina is Latina! Though I will admit, as much as I loved this aspect of her character, I have mixed feelings about the Spanish scattered within her thoughts and dialogue. I applaud the author’s attempt to give Alaina a realistic voice, but I’m not sure it was a complete success for me. 

Here are the highlights:

♥️      Length: Novel
💙      Genre: Paranormal Romance, Shifters
♥️      POV: First person, alternates between the male & female main characters
💙      Age: Adult
♥️      Spice: Moderate, loving on page
💙      Violence: Moderate, “war” is in the title and there is a battle, but not overly descriptive
♥️      Editing: A few minor finds, nothing so distracting that it pulled me from the story
💙      World: Westin Force
♥️      Series: Book 6, new main characters, but for overarching storyline start at book 1
💙      Tropes: Human on supernatural team, Fated Mates/Insta-love
♥️      Ending: Satisfying. I can’t believe it’s over!
💙      Re-read? Definitely

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jake is a superhuman on Bravo team, the rest of his team are shifters. Every once in a while a trusted human is needed to go undercover and that is the job Jake handles. Jake has been sent in undercover at a Raglan site where children are being held and given medications to stop them from shifting when they reach maturity. Some shifters have also been locked in their animal forms with medication as well. The shifters cause an uprising before Jake's team can breach the compound. All the shifters are rescued but that does not sit well with Trevor Daniels the man behind the creation of Raglan. Jake has a girlfriend that knows a lot about shifters, probably more than she should. While in town with friends she sees a woman she thought was dead and all hell breaks loose. Alaina is being held in Jake's apartment while Patrick decides what to do with her. When Jake comes back from his mission he is informed Westin Force is going to erase Alaina's memories and put her back at her apartment. Jake is in love with this woman and he can not let that happen. Jake and Alaina escape and do some traveling and get married but Jake needs to go back and let his team know what is coming for them. Trevor Daniels has lost his mind and is going to attach the Westin Force and do everything they can to eliminate shifters. Will Jake and Alaina be able to stay together or will Alaine be in jeopardy of having her memories erased again? Both characters have back stories that are very compelling and make this story a great read. If you love shifters this is a must read. This is the sixth book in the Westin Force series and I loved each and every one of them.

[Erin Penn · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, I read three of the Westin Force books (3, 4, and 6) back-to-back in ... less than 24 hours.
I wanted to conclude with Waging War, because the concept of a "normal" human romance in the middle of a paranormal shifter romance series intrigued me.

Yes, the main male character is part of the Westin Force and is an amazing example of human, but he is still human. The female partner is more ordinary - not ex-military, but her past has secrets that have been hidden even from her. They both, for one reason or another, have been dragged into the shifter world.

The second half of the book is dedicate to the ending of the series - a true "waging war" setup - and delivers on the buildup of the series.

Big book plus: Nonna makes another appearance (having aggressively adopted Jake as a grandson, as she does) - and is delighted when gets a chance to "help" him find the right mate.

Nearly a downside: The story does have a lot of "guest" appearances of Ms. Trettel's paranormal romance greater universe, once or twice to the point of distraction from the main book plot (romance) and the main series plot (military thriller against an illuminati-like organization), but many of the appearances are funny even without knowing the background of the stories these "guests" came from. I think it crosses the line of too much, but then I haven't read the whole Westin greater universe. And the "too much" only happens in the second half of the book, in the middle of a LOT of action. I would rate this "downside" as Forgivable.

(Read through Kindle Unlimited)

[Evelina Johansson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the sixth book in the Westin Force series by Julie Trettel. It could probably be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading the rest of the series to get the context, since Waging War builds directly on the rest of the series.

Alaina is all alone in the world since her mother died. She never knew her father, and her mother’s family disowned her mother when she got pregnant out of wedlock. Alaina’s mother worked for some people that we have met in previous books, so Alaina has heard stories about shifters, but she believes them to be just that, stories.

Jake grew up in the foster system, joined the army at 18, and has most recently found his new family in Westin Force, has been adopted by Nonna, but he doesn’t really fit in to the pack. Why? Well because he’s human, a remarkable human, but human nonetheless.

The two of them meet, and things just go from there.

Julie Trettel is a remarkably skilled author. The way she captures the reader’s interest from page one is just fascinating. This book is no exception to that rule, it is fantastic from page 1.

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. The only thing I didn’t like about it is the fact that had to end.

[Philippa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been waiting for this book’s release and it was so worth the wait. Amazing story I loved it. So so good, funny, gritty and emotional. As always Julie Trettel has written a great book. I loved the small links to the previous stories of Weston force and how Jake’s and Aliana’s stories are coming together. I think this may be one of my new favourite story.

The plot moves quickly and continues with Raglan/Weston Force subplot. This is leading somewhere big, action packed, fast moving and with a lot of familiar people. It is definitely interesting watching a human pairing (non shifter) happen in this world.

Jake is a strong character I can get behind and root for from the very beginning. Laughing at Nonna up to her old tricks again. Loved introduction of Alaina and the connection between Jake and Alaina.

This is a perfect book blend of all the previous characters and new. Fast paced and well written. Every chapter gets better and better. An emotional great ending. You do get more out of the story if you have read the other Weston Force books first.

I was lucky to be given an ARC copy by the author and all of my views are my own.

[Ashley McCubbin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great way to end the Westin Force Series. If you have not read any of the others, I would recommend doing that before reading this one to get the back story leading up to the final takedown of Trevor Daniel's. Jake come a long way to prove himself to his team to only have to choose between them and the love of his life. This book had some awesome back history with tying up loose ends to what is going on right now. I will say I was a little disappointed when it came to the battle. It said Trevor had brought in so many resources to only show up with ten men. I was expecting a huge battle like there was when King Lockhart came to Westin territory. The golden rule was broken by Kyle, and nothing ever was said of what Tarron had done for Sapphire. Overall, it was an amazing book and I would read it again because I love all of the books Julie writes. This book is well worth the read 😊

[Rara Loves to Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sheer Perfection

I must admit I squealed a lot when the new Julie Trettel book Waging War showed up on my Kindle. I fell in love with the Westin Pack series long ago and count down the days until a new release is available. Ms. Trettel has a way of pulling the reader in emotionally making you feel like you are right there with the characters. She was able to bring me to tears with just one simple sentence and then by the next page I’m laughing out loud. Reading Waging War was like watching an action packed Hollywood blockbuster. I was on the edge of my seat as all the pieces came together and war became inevitable.

These characters aren’t just fictional people on a page. They are my friends, people I want to hang out with, people I care about. I truly hope that Ms. Trettel never runs out of characters from the Westin Pack to write about because I never want to say goodbye to this series.

[PepperP0t · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jake Forrester is okay with being the only human on Westin Force but with the team coupled up, sometimes he gets lonely. Hanging out with Sapphire is no pressure fun but Jake wants what the shifters have, a fated mate. Grieving over her mother’s death down on her luck waitress Alaina Ramirez is floored to find she’s financially better off than she thought.

Trying to cheer herself up, Alaina takes herself to dinner near Westin’s HQ and runs into Trevor Daniels, a childhood friend, that’s also the night she meets Jake and Sapphire. Patrick is suspicious of Alaina and is all for erasing her memory though the other team members are all for Alaina and Jake’s clumsy, funny, cute meet kicking off their romance.

That aside, this series finale brought out the big guns from their sister series for a final defense against the Vendari and even more secrets were exposed leaving this reader wanting more from all three series.
Rating: 4.75stars

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG! Once again this latest novel grabbed me from the start & I could not put it down! Another 6 star winner, IMHO :) “Waging War” is a fan-freaking-tastic, page-turner that you do not want to miss out on! ... Always a fresh new plot, relatable characters, both new and old friends, as well as sizzling chemistry between the H/h, along with the witty dialogue has them all practically jumping off the pages! ...
Awesome descriptions with surprise twists & turns, that will keep readers turning pages like crazy! I never write spoilers or recap blurbs, and even tho I always volunteer to read this author's books, it is without any outside influences, and these are my own true feelings! I also buy kindle books whenever I can, so I honestly recommend this to all adult 18+ fans of fiction & now I can't wait for more, but of course I always will!

[Nicole Greene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jake is the only human in the Westin Force and when he finally meets his "mate or the one" his job and bosses puts a ton of road blocks. He now has to make hard decisions on where he sees his future going and what he wants out of life. His team can't handle how everyone is reacting to Alaina and when Patrick makes a decision to wipe her memoires, his team sets up to make sure that doesn't happen.

Alaina, is a small town waitress who just realized that her mama might have had secrets that she took to the grave when Alaina finds out about a secret bank account with a ton of money in it. Alaina then runs into an old friend from her childhood and doesn't realize the world she is about to stubble into. Then she meets Jake and can't help but step out of her comfort zone for him. A few integrations later, a trip to Vegas, and a pending war and you got yourself a great ending to the The Bravo Team!

If you have been reading the series, then you must read this story!

HEA✔

[Adrienne Conde De Remonsellez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just wrapped up reading "Waging War" and have to say it's one of my favorites coming from author, Julie Trettel. The story traces the life of Jake, the lone human on the all shifter Westin force, and finding his "mate", if a human could have a "true mate." The culmination of the Raglan's evil efforts is a twist in the end. I wasn't expecting all of the revelations of who played what role in the Vendari. All of the players in Trettal's series show up in surprising ways, uniting their stories. My favorite part though is how the ending leaves you wanting for more love stories and maybe some coming of age books from this talented author.
Waging War was definitely worth the wait and without a doubt did not disappoint this reader.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a read, a cultivation of all the characters coming together and finally facing off with the Raglan, at the centre of this we have Jake and Alaina, from very different worlds but at the heart of it not that different after all.
Amazing story, plot, writing. The characters are amazing, and seeing them all come together for this read was great. I’ve absolutely loved all of the Westin, Collier and Bravo series, this world really grips you and takes you into the story created. This book has loads of angst, and some sad moments, but the overall emotion is love. Some steamy love scenes, some comical moments, loved the banter between characters. Really hope Julie Trettel brings us more and we see these characters in the future. Highly recommend

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jake❤❤

You can never go wrong with this author. I fell in love with Westin pack and all things shifter from the first book I read and became addicted to this world she created and the more books she released the more I wanted cause I wanted to see more of these characters more of this world.
Jake might not be a shifter but he's part of their team and became Nonna's honorary grandson. I loved Nonna from Tarron's book I love her meddling ways . The Westin force team as always was awesome .
I was sad at first cause I thought that this is it the last book no more of these shifters but then I saw the end and hope and happiness filled me knowing that we'll probably see cameos of these characters we came to love in the next series. Yayyyy

[Mary Quynh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the final book in the Westin Force series which is part of the larger Western World by Julie Trettel and it does NOT disappoint. We get to see the human Brave Force member Jake's love story with Alaina and in Julie's beautifully addictive written style. There is plenty of laughs and moments I thought omg. Lots of overlap of characters and the overall story. I don't want to spoil too much but it is bloody amazing, and you will definitely enjoy it more and understand it better if you read all of the Western World stories. There are quite a few but all HEA and I've read them all multiple times. Always as good as the first time reading it.
tldr: Read this book asap!!! I am obsessed!!!

[Gina Bullock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Waging War was the final book in the Westin Series. It was my absolute favorite book in that series. Julie Trettle did an amazing job writing this book. I laughed during it, cried a few times and was definitely stressed out a little. When I started the book I never put it down until I was finished! If you haven’t read this series you are missing out. I’m so glad that Jake got his HEA! He is definitely my chosen hero on the force ! Be prepared when the book comes out January 27 to be so caught up that you won’t put it down till you read the last page ! Thank you Julie Trettle for another amazing book!

I was given an ARC copy by the author and this review is my on point of view!

[Keeley Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another hit!

This was yet another roller coaster of tears, laughter and gasps, the back to tears and laughter! Lol.

Julie’s work is always fantastic and Kees you on the edge of your seat. I maybe had a couple mini heart attacks at certain places! *phew*

I think Jake is one of favourite characters because he’s so different, yet so alike the shifters. I also believe there’s a little more to Jakey Boy than meets the eye…

Alaina is sweet and seems to have had a lot thrown at her during the book, but she’s a trooper and stood her ground, stood tall and stood proud!

Well done Jules!

[Shadara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part of the shifter world as one on the elite Westin Force, Jake Forrester is as strong as a shifter and as fast a most shifters. So why can't he find his true mate. When he crosses paths with Alaina he knows she is the one, the only one he will ever want. Alaina is caught in the middle of a war she never knew existed and now Jake must put all his alliances aside if he is to be with her. She is worth it but how to have her and his job with Westin Force is the question. Just how much does she know and how much is she involved with their enemy. A wonderful conclusion to the Westin Forces series!

[Tricia Arroyo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Waging War is the 6th book in Julie Trettel's Westin Force Series. It can be read as a standalone but reading the previous books will solidify the storyline for you.

This is the story of Jake and Alaina, humans who know the paranormal exists and willing to protect them. This is the journey to their happily ever after.

Julie did not disappoint, I read this book in one sitting, it has all the moments, I was laughing and crying and even angry at one of favorite characters for a moment. It ties up the storyline really well while giving all the feels.

I highly recommend this book!

[Tameka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julie never disappoints! I am absolutely ruined for other books right now. I was hoping Jake's story would be something special. I was not prepared for just how special it was. In this book we get to see everyone coming together to protect the shifter world. Alaina and Jake have to navigate their new relationship in the middle of an ongoing war between the rouge faction hell bent on destroying them and the shifters determined to protect their loved ones.
I really can't express how much I enjoyed

[Milly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jake!

I’ll be honest, I wasn’t crazy excited about this book. My biggest worry is that I love the True Mate trope and having Jake and his girl as humans wasn’t exactly my cup of tea. I was very wrong to be worried. Julie pulled it off as she always does. Started and finished in one sitting as I wasn’t able to put it down! I cried, laughed, cried and bit my nails down to nothing. So happy for Jake and his love story. Seeing all my favorite characters was also a huge bonus for me. Please take the chance and get to know this world and this author.

[J.J. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have loved all of Julie’s books but this one just felt…. Off? I’m not even sure how to describe it and I hate to give this such a low rating. It was missing all the usually shifting and true mate stuff because the main characters were human. And there were just so many interwoven people or pieces that kind of felt like it was all too much. I know we’re working towards resolving all the Raglan drama but it just didn’t feel like this story was necessary in the large scheme of things. The writing was still great (as always) so there was that at least.

[Kirsten Ensman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great ending to series

Loved this story! It really is a great ending to the series. Not happy with how things went especially the war and how Jake's mate was treated. Talk about going overboard. About time someone took credit for how things got so far out of hand. The way the captive ones came together was hilarious. The way the shifters came together was priceless! The squirrels so funny! Twins! I loved it! So glad Jake got his story. It was well deserved. Well done! Great read!

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic story

This was another fantastic story, and great addition to the series. I have really enjoyed this series, as well as all of the others that connect with it, and hope to see lots more of them all.
If you haven't already, start with the Westin Pack series, and then continue with the other series. There's a lot of character crossover in between them all, which is terrific. They're all absolutely fantastic stories, and you certainly won't be disappointed!
I would definitely recommend this book, series, and exceptional author.

[Kimberly Gordon-Bercich · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lables

ADULT CONTENT, READER DISCRETION ADVISED. Jake and Alaina were a hot fast burn. Yet because they were human, and not shifters, their relationship was dismissed. Love has been given many labels over time. In this day and age relationships have been assigned various labels. Mate vs spouse does not diminish the love between two people. When the dust settled, love won. Not without loss though. Since less deaths and destroyed lives at the hands of a mad man. Yet, because Jake and Alaina could forgive and wanted to protect their family many more lives were saved.

[Safy Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is an absolute masterpiece - the drama, the impact, the murder, the tears, and fears all come together seamlessly. It has definitely earned a spot in my top 10 favorite stories by Julie Trettel, not just because Jake is a main character, but because of its excellent writing. I was pleasantly surprised by the strong bond between Jake and Alaina, almost like they are true mates. And Jake's possessive nature added depth to his character. Alaina is the perfect match for him, and the revelation of her father's identity completely blew my mind.

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great ending!

Ooh I loved Jake's book! I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy a book centred around the full human of the group but in the end, it has jumped up to my top five of the Westin- Collier world!

Yes there are a few easy twists but overall the storyline is great, I have laughed so hard I cried, but also swooned, blushed and raged with the whole team(s)!

We saw a few more glimpses of the other Westin force teams and of course, I'm off to jump right into their stories !!

Summary
Rating 4.5⭐
Spice 2🌶️
Narration 5⭐

[Shannon Vaughan-Patton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love love this book! Love the fact that humans can live among shifters and they can be "family". This couple is so hot and shows that they can overcome anything individually and together. Can't believe all of the revelations that come about in this book! Can't wait to see what happens with all of the characters in this book, even the ones that make an appearance. Julie Trettel writes a story as if it were a movie and you can just picture what happens in real life.

[Elesha's book fun gossip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Waging war

This was an incredible conclusion to the bravo team mates. Just because Jake wasn't a shifter didn't mean he didn't find his mate for life in Aliana. This was a dramatic, suspenseful, intriguing, passionate, sizzling, action packed adventure. With a few twist and turns, shocks, witty banter (Nonna) and loyalty. Aswell as betrayal. This was a captivating storyline with amazing characters. An enjoyable reading experience.