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de La Vega Cats #1
Trinity
One witch, one cat shifter. Add one wolf. Blend. Safety glasses recommended.
Renee Parcell loves her life. Her smoothie/coffee cart business is successful, and she’s deeply in love with her boyfriend, Galen. He makes her laugh, he’s gainfully employed, and he satisfies her as only a sexy cat shifter can. He even puts the toilet seat down.
Yet they both sense something in the air. An anticipation that leaves them both unsettled.
Tall, blond and gorgeous Jack Meyers, Enforcer of National Pack and one of the most beautiful men Renee and Galen have ever seen, stumbles into Renee’s life and the riddle of their expectation is solved—Renee is Jack’s mate. What surprises them all is when the three of them touch, magick creates an unexpected triple bond of witch, cat and wolf.
Even as they learn to navigate the steamy intricacies of their bond, a threat looms over Renee. First in the form of resurrected memories, then in the shape of darker magicks someone is aiming at her. Set on stealing her inherent powers—even her life.
Renee can stand to lose almost anything, except her mates. But there seems to be no talking them out of laying everything on the line for her…
Warning: All kinds of alpha maleness going on up in here and the woman responsible for keeping them in line. Sexin' in many varied settings and positions, including sexy times between dudes. Bad words. Tight butts in worn denim. Some violence here and there.
Renee Parcell loves her life. Her smoothie/coffee cart business is successful, and she’s deeply in love with her boyfriend, Galen. He makes her laugh, he’s gainfully employed, and he satisfies her as only a sexy cat shifter can. He even puts the toilet seat down.
Yet they both sense something in the air. An anticipation that leaves them both unsettled.
Tall, blond and gorgeous Jack Meyers, Enforcer of National Pack and one of the most beautiful men Renee and Galen have ever seen, stumbles into Renee’s life and the riddle of their expectation is solved—Renee is Jack’s mate. What surprises them all is when the three of them touch, magick creates an unexpected triple bond of witch, cat and wolf.
Even as they learn to navigate the steamy intricacies of their bond, a threat looms over Renee. First in the form of resurrected memories, then in the shape of darker magicks someone is aiming at her. Set on stealing her inherent powers—even her life.
Renee can stand to lose almost anything, except her mates. But there seems to be no talking them out of laying everything on the line for her…
Warning: All kinds of alpha maleness going on up in here and the woman responsible for keeping them in line. Sexin' in many varied settings and positions, including sexy times between dudes. Bad words. Tight butts in worn denim. Some violence here and there.
269 pages, Paperback
First published October 20, 2009
106 people are currently reading
2832 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Dane
111 books5,009 followersLauren Dane has been writing stories since she was able to use a pencil, and before that she used to tell them to people. Of course, she still talks nonstop, and through wonderful fate and good fortune, she’s now able to share what she writes with others. It’s a wonderful life!
The basics: Lauren is a mom, a partner, a best friend and a daughter. Living in the rainy but beautiful Pacific Northwest, she spends her late evenings writing like a fiend when she finally wrestles all of her kids to bed.
The basics: Lauren is a mom, a partner, a best friend and a daughter. Living in the rainy but beautiful Pacific Northwest, she spends her late evenings writing like a fiend when she finally wrestles all of her kids to bed.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
August 28, 2010
I've tried two different Dane books - the other being Giving Chase - and I think I can safely say that this author just doesn't do it for me.
Renee is a nascent witch happily bonded to an alpha cat shifter named Galen. Everything is going well for them, but Renee can't shake the feeling that something big is about to happen. That something big is Jack, Enforcer for the National Pack of wolves, and her mate.
Dane never chooses a conflict to focus on, so the book ends up feeling a bit like a to do list with a half dozen mini-conflicts going on. The issue of mating with an already bonded woman is wrapped up neatly in the first third of the book, leaving the remaining sex scenes as gratuitous titillation. Sexual tension thereby obliterated, she tries to tie in mini-plots about Renee's family, her powers, Galen's family, Jack's pack, a laughably underdeveloped attraction between Galen and Jack and a short, limp suspense arc. She sticks with neither of these long enough for me to become invested.
That she spends so little time integrating Jack into Renee and Galen's four year long committed relationship blew my mind. That should have been the bulk of the book! Instead, Jack shows up for supper, they all go to bed, and they're professing their undying love for each other. Double you tee eff?
Dane also failed to create realistic characters and have them interact in meaningful ways. Having characters tell each other how much they love each other, over and over, is not romance. She doesn't give the guys personalities beyond "Alpha Male." I don't know what was unique about them, who they were, or how they related to each other. So far as I could tell, they all fell into bed together simply because they all happened to be characters in an erotic romance.
Dialog killed me in this book too. No grown woman says "Holy crapdoodle." Especially not repeatedly.
I hate to write a litany of faults, but I can't point to anything in this book that worked for me. The author's clearly not from Boston, either. The setting is hardly integrated into the story at all and could have been set anywhere, references to South Boston notwithstanding. Non-natives love to give a shout out to Southie, for some reason. Annoys me to no end.
Renee is a nascent witch happily bonded to an alpha cat shifter named Galen. Everything is going well for them, but Renee can't shake the feeling that something big is about to happen. That something big is Jack, Enforcer for the National Pack of wolves, and her mate.
Dane never chooses a conflict to focus on, so the book ends up feeling a bit like a to do list with a half dozen mini-conflicts going on. The issue of mating with an already bonded woman is wrapped up neatly in the first third of the book, leaving the remaining sex scenes as gratuitous titillation. Sexual tension thereby obliterated, she tries to tie in mini-plots about Renee's family, her powers, Galen's family, Jack's pack, a laughably underdeveloped attraction between Galen and Jack and a short, limp suspense arc. She sticks with neither of these long enough for me to become invested.
That she spends so little time integrating Jack into Renee and Galen's four year long committed relationship blew my mind. That should have been the bulk of the book! Instead, Jack shows up for supper, they all go to bed, and they're professing their undying love for each other. Double you tee eff?
Dane also failed to create realistic characters and have them interact in meaningful ways. Having characters tell each other how much they love each other, over and over, is not romance. She doesn't give the guys personalities beyond "Alpha Male." I don't know what was unique about them, who they were, or how they related to each other. So far as I could tell, they all fell into bed together simply because they all happened to be characters in an erotic romance.
Dialog killed me in this book too. No grown woman says "Holy crapdoodle." Especially not repeatedly.
I hate to write a litany of faults, but I can't point to anything in this book that worked for me. The author's clearly not from Boston, either. The setting is hardly integrated into the story at all and could have been set anywhere, references to South Boston notwithstanding. Non-natives love to give a shout out to Southie, for some reason. Annoys me to no end.
September 2, 2011
Reene was too damn stupid, she keep fighting her mates but was a stepped on by her stepmother all the time, there wasn't enough M/M interactions and most of the where off screen, I feel unfulfilled because I kept wishing for Galen to fuck Jack and it didn't happen.
And they keep disccusing the same damn thing the fucking whole book, the cliffhanger was stupid I'm really mad at this book, don't think I'll read the next, whatever happens with Reene, I cannot endure another page of her whinning and complaining.
And they keep disccusing the same damn thing the fucking whole book, the cliffhanger was stupid I'm really mad at this book, don't think I'll read the next, whatever happens with Reene, I cannot endure another page of her whinning and complaining.
October 24, 2009
Renee Parcell is happy, dizzily happy if truth be told. She has her own business, takes charge of her finances and most importantly she has Galen, the man of her dreams in her life – what more could she ask for.
That thought only goes as far as the front door of her business, because she bumps into a man that does make her look twice at forbidden fruit. Not one to beat about the bush Renee and Galen talk about the new introduction into Renee’s life because not only was the stranger eyeing Renee up like a tasty morsel but he was also a wolf.
Galen and Renee are happy together and have been together for some years, but Galen a shifter cat and Renee a lot more than human are not under any illusion that something is coming their way – but what.
Jack Meyers the wolf in question knows immediately that Renee is his mate, but knowing this and doing something about it is a task in itself and Jack has some hurdles to scale before he has any attempt at a chance of happiness with Renee.
Renee and Galen are a team and as much as Jack knows right away that he is Renee’s mate he is not willing to be a home wrecker just to have his mate, therefore this call for a pow wow between all three. Things goes better than either Jack, Galen or Renee would have imagined and before long they were setting the night to magic – because that is exactly what happens when the three connect, a magical moment.
It would be too much to hope that their mating would be a blessing and a cause for celebration – no, not with these three. With angst and animosity on both Galen’s and Jack’s side of the family Renee is in for both a rough ride and a rude awakening if she continue on as she is.
She is not blameless in the angst department herself – because all her ducks have come home to roost and it is not a nest that they are building. These three has to survive because nothing else is acceptable, but as each day pass they are not even sure they can all survive the night.
Where do I begin with this review to express how much I love this seventh addition to the Casadia Wolves series of books. Without a doubt this is the best one so far. Ms Dane begins this journey by introducing me to Renee and Galen first – and not only introducing like character development or familiar history but she showed me them as a unit, they were happy, they were fun and most importantly they were honest and loyal to each other.
I of course then meet Jack and he was never really developed in past book – so it was like meeting him for the first time and I could not only see the alpha wolf in him but the human, caring and practical side of him as well. I saw jack in his element, where he was comfortable, where he was respected. The almost opposite of this cosy feeling happens less than a few pages later because when he come up against Galen and Renee as a team he is unsure and very reluctant to not only put the wrong foot forward but to spoil his shot of his mate accepting him.
Highlights
Straight off I was pleased by the turn of adding different paranormal personality to this book. I have been loving Casadia Wolves for a while, but the series did need an injection of new blood – and new blood is definitely what Ms. Dane gave me.
Character development, character development – how many ways can I say it – this was brilliantly done. I KNEW every single person that I met in this book –
Jack – Understated, a little carefree and can be blasé about confidences. He however always gets the job done and is definitely the one to watch in that trio.
Galen – The team player, but who knows what he wants and is determined enough to defy the odds and anyone else in his zest to get the girl.
Renee – the protag who went through the most dramatic change during this book – at the core of her being she just wanted to get through each day under her own steam, but when life tosses her some curve balls she has to redefine her values and whoooo – ass kicking had noting on my girl.
This is a weightier book than any of the previous books in the series. with a few decent story line running right along side Renee, Jack and Galen's mating – it was intense.
This is the first book that I have read by Dane where she has actually let her pen flow into M/M kingdom and yup another WOW. It was not as in-depth as I would have liked, but I liked where she went with it and in the big scheme of things it helped to give the three a firmer playing ground, because they needed every advantage that they could get.
Ms Dane went into alot of explaining in this book because the story line warranted a few explanation. I liked the time she took to do this and I was easily caught up in her words
All the old Casadia wolfy stuff came into play – and there was of course the anchor issue – because Jack was Grace’s (wife of Cade) anchor and people you need to read that scene – girl fur was flying ---- yup yup yup… one of the best scene of the book.
TRINITY rushes ahead on steam of anticipation and surprises – because at every turn the unexpected happen and I was not putting this book down for love or money.
As a woman sometimes I read a book and as much as I enjoyed the book or not as the case might be, I know as a woman that there are some thing's I wouldn't have done or said, in TRINITY Ms. Dane caught the essence of who a woman really is and she goes a step further to give her men a sense of awareness to know their woman – very well done..
The book ends at a cliff hanger of sorts that might not work for everyone – but for me I am hoping this is a new path that the Casadia Wolves and the De la Vega series is about to go down and open the pack to everything that is out there in paranormal world, as the Casadia wolves were becoming quite insulated.
Can I be mean spirited here and say I was so pleased Lex Warden was not seen nor heard from in this book. I was getting totally fed up of how perfect he was and just the extraordinary amount of petty jealousy there was of him…
Despite the extra dose of furnickiness and male testosterones that was coming from all angles, Ms. Dane gave Renee’s men a way with words that was all that and more. Most of which they were not shy about expressing but it’s the words that are not said that really made me love these men.
Lowlights
Ok guy – you know my motto if it’s good it can also be bad and the fact that this book was a weightier book in terms of storyline and depth it is also not a read that you are going to rush through – because you are going to need to read every word.
One of the thing that really niggled me was the amount of smut scene toward the last third of the book. It was all tastefully done – but at less than 200 pages there is only so much sex scenes that I want to read.
There were one story line that feels like it was just their to pull the past and the present together – but it was just that. Little scenes and mention of the unknown and even the aftermath was shrouded in secret and word of the “must not be mentioned” variety
Bottom Line..
TRINITY is a book I was anticipating and I was not disappointed. If anything Ms. Dane surpass my expectation and then some. The characters connect, the storyline flowed and the little issues that I had were just not issues enough to take away from how much this books rock…
Totally recommended read….
That thought only goes as far as the front door of her business, because she bumps into a man that does make her look twice at forbidden fruit. Not one to beat about the bush Renee and Galen talk about the new introduction into Renee’s life because not only was the stranger eyeing Renee up like a tasty morsel but he was also a wolf.
Galen and Renee are happy together and have been together for some years, but Galen a shifter cat and Renee a lot more than human are not under any illusion that something is coming their way – but what.
Jack Meyers the wolf in question knows immediately that Renee is his mate, but knowing this and doing something about it is a task in itself and Jack has some hurdles to scale before he has any attempt at a chance of happiness with Renee.
Renee and Galen are a team and as much as Jack knows right away that he is Renee’s mate he is not willing to be a home wrecker just to have his mate, therefore this call for a pow wow between all three. Things goes better than either Jack, Galen or Renee would have imagined and before long they were setting the night to magic – because that is exactly what happens when the three connect, a magical moment.
It would be too much to hope that their mating would be a blessing and a cause for celebration – no, not with these three. With angst and animosity on both Galen’s and Jack’s side of the family Renee is in for both a rough ride and a rude awakening if she continue on as she is.
She is not blameless in the angst department herself – because all her ducks have come home to roost and it is not a nest that they are building. These three has to survive because nothing else is acceptable, but as each day pass they are not even sure they can all survive the night.
Where do I begin with this review to express how much I love this seventh addition to the Casadia Wolves series of books. Without a doubt this is the best one so far. Ms Dane begins this journey by introducing me to Renee and Galen first – and not only introducing like character development or familiar history but she showed me them as a unit, they were happy, they were fun and most importantly they were honest and loyal to each other.
“I’m not complaining.” She paused, watching him move around the room, totally comfortable in his nakedness. “You want to talk? About the Jack situation?”
“What is he to you, Renee?”
“I don’t know,” she answered truthfully as she scooped loose tea into the cache within the ceramic pot before pouring the boiling water in. “I think he’s not someone to me, but to us. There’s this pull between us. More than attraction. I see gorgeous men every day, Boston’s full of them. No, it’s something else. But when you came in, when the three of us touched? Something happened and I don’t know what it was. I just know that I’ve been on edge, waiting for something and I think he’s it. What, I just can’t say.”
She put two mugs out and turned back to him. “But I need to say again that I’m not going anywhere. You and I are solid. I’m with you forever, no escaping for you, mister.”
Trinity © Lauren Dane
I of course then meet Jack and he was never really developed in past book – so it was like meeting him for the first time and I could not only see the alpha wolf in him but the human, caring and practical side of him as well. I saw jack in his element, where he was comfortable, where he was respected. The almost opposite of this cosy feeling happens less than a few pages later because when he come up against Galen and Renee as a team he is unsure and very reluctant to not only put the wrong foot forward but to spoil his shot of his mate accepting him.
Highlights
Straight off I was pleased by the turn of adding different paranormal personality to this book. I have been loving Casadia Wolves for a while, but the series did need an injection of new blood – and new blood is definitely what Ms. Dane gave me.
Character development, character development – how many ways can I say it – this was brilliantly done. I KNEW every single person that I met in this book –
Jack – Understated, a little carefree and can be blasé about confidences. He however always gets the job done and is definitely the one to watch in that trio.
Galen – The team player, but who knows what he wants and is determined enough to defy the odds and anyone else in his zest to get the girl.
Renee – the protag who went through the most dramatic change during this book – at the core of her being she just wanted to get through each day under her own steam, but when life tosses her some curve balls she has to redefine her values and whoooo – ass kicking had noting on my girl.
This is a weightier book than any of the previous books in the series. with a few decent story line running right along side Renee, Jack and Galen's mating – it was intense.
This is the first book that I have read by Dane where she has actually let her pen flow into M/M kingdom and yup another WOW. It was not as in-depth as I would have liked, but I liked where she went with it and in the big scheme of things it helped to give the three a firmer playing ground, because they needed every advantage that they could get.
Ms Dane went into alot of explaining in this book because the story line warranted a few explanation. I liked the time she took to do this and I was easily caught up in her words
“What is it you want? You know she’s your mate. You know she’s imprinted with a cat, which means she’s married to him. You can find another woman, you know that too. You haven’t claimed her so there’s nothing more than attraction holding you to her right now.”
Jack shook his head and groaned, knowing he couldn’t be heard doing that. “No. It’s more than that. More than attraction. It’s like…it’s more like all the potential is there, welling up between us. All the what-can-be draws me to her like nothing I’ve ever felt before. I don’t want that with anyone else. I’m…I can’t explain it, but I know I’d never have this with anyone but her.”
Trinity © Lauren Dane
All the old Casadia wolfy stuff came into play – and there was of course the anchor issue – because Jack was Grace’s (wife of Cade) anchor and people you need to read that scene – girl fur was flying ---- yup yup yup… one of the best scene of the book.
TRINITY rushes ahead on steam of anticipation and surprises – because at every turn the unexpected happen and I was not putting this book down for love or money.
As a woman sometimes I read a book and as much as I enjoyed the book or not as the case might be, I know as a woman that there are some thing's I wouldn't have done or said, in TRINITY Ms. Dane caught the essence of who a woman really is and she goes a step further to give her men a sense of awareness to know their woman – very well done..
Once I f**k you and the Claiming is done, we’re going to take our time and do this all over again.” Jack’s voice had gone low, his wolf in every word.
She opened her eyes again once he started to thrust, sensation lighting up her body with each press. His cock touched parts of her Galen didn’t, just as Galen’s cock had that swing to the left and nudged her just right.
Trinity © Lauren Dane
The book ends at a cliff hanger of sorts that might not work for everyone – but for me I am hoping this is a new path that the Casadia Wolves and the De la Vega series is about to go down and open the pack to everything that is out there in paranormal world, as the Casadia wolves were becoming quite insulated.
Can I be mean spirited here and say I was so pleased Lex Warden was not seen nor heard from in this book. I was getting totally fed up of how perfect he was and just the extraordinary amount of petty jealousy there was of him…
Despite the extra dose of furnickiness and male testosterones that was coming from all angles, Ms. Dane gave Renee’s men a way with words that was all that and more. Most of which they were not shy about expressing but it’s the words that are not said that really made me love these men.
He heard the laughter as she approached, knew her footfalls as she descended an inner staircase. And then she was before him, her smile tentative but genuine and he knew, trouble or not, that he’d cleave himself to this woman until he drew his last breath.
Trinity © Lauren Dane
Lowlights
Ok guy – you know my motto if it’s good it can also be bad and the fact that this book was a weightier book in terms of storyline and depth it is also not a read that you are going to rush through – because you are going to need to read every word.
One of the thing that really niggled me was the amount of smut scene toward the last third of the book. It was all tastefully done – but at less than 200 pages there is only so much sex scenes that I want to read.
There were one story line that feels like it was just their to pull the past and the present together – but it was just that. Little scenes and mention of the unknown and even the aftermath was shrouded in secret and word of the “must not be mentioned” variety
Bottom Line..
TRINITY is a book I was anticipating and I was not disappointed. If anything Ms. Dane surpass my expectation and then some. The characters connect, the storyline flowed and the little issues that I had were just not issues enough to take away from how much this books rock…
Totally recommended read….
October 13, 2017
I love it when Lauren Dane writes an MMF romance but it’s the icing on the cake when it’s a Cascadia Wolves story. Trinity ends up with some chocolate curlicues added to all that luscious frosting because it has cats in it. I freaking adore cats, and one of our hot, sexy heroes turns into a huge freaking jaguar. Purr.
Renee, a human witch, and Galen, a De La Vega cat have imprinted on each other, which is pretty much the same thing as a wolf mating. When she meets Jack, she doesn’t understand the sparks that are flying between them. Jack does, though, because she’s his mate. This is one hell of a tricky situation that ends up being solved in the most deliciously sexy way.
This isn’t just about figuring out how cats and wolves can share. There is a mystery to solve concerning Renee’s past. And what the hell is up with her mean as a snake step-mother and her complete idiot of a father. Add in all the shifter politics of both the wolf and cat variety, plus the danger the mages brought on and the book became a bit of a suspenseful page-turner.
I’ve loved Jack ever since he graced the pages of earlier books in the Cascadia Wolves series. He’s one commanding, intelligent and loyal alpha wolf all rolled into one hot as Hades package. Although new to me, Galen did not disappoint at all. He loved his woman, and although his first instinct was to tear up any threat to his relationship, he knew there was more to this than it first appeared to be and acted accordingly. He was all about his woman and what was best for her. The fact he was sexy as sin was just a wonderful bonus.
I had a bit of a tougher time with Renee. She definitely preferred to stick her head in the sand than admit there were huge issues with her parents. I thought she was a doormat at first, but she eventually found her footing and her backbone and proved more than a match for her overbearing alpha mates.
Hot, sexy, with lots of action and suspense, Trinity was like paranormal catnip for me. I can’t wait to dive into the next one.
Rating: 4 Catnip Happy Stars
Renee, a human witch, and Galen, a De La Vega cat have imprinted on each other, which is pretty much the same thing as a wolf mating. When she meets Jack, she doesn’t understand the sparks that are flying between them. Jack does, though, because she’s his mate. This is one hell of a tricky situation that ends up being solved in the most deliciously sexy way.
This isn’t just about figuring out how cats and wolves can share. There is a mystery to solve concerning Renee’s past. And what the hell is up with her mean as a snake step-mother and her complete idiot of a father. Add in all the shifter politics of both the wolf and cat variety, plus the danger the mages brought on and the book became a bit of a suspenseful page-turner.
I’ve loved Jack ever since he graced the pages of earlier books in the Cascadia Wolves series. He’s one commanding, intelligent and loyal alpha wolf all rolled into one hot as Hades package. Although new to me, Galen did not disappoint at all. He loved his woman, and although his first instinct was to tear up any threat to his relationship, he knew there was more to this than it first appeared to be and acted accordingly. He was all about his woman and what was best for her. The fact he was sexy as sin was just a wonderful bonus.
I had a bit of a tougher time with Renee. She definitely preferred to stick her head in the sand than admit there were huge issues with her parents. I thought she was a doormat at first, but she eventually found her footing and her backbone and proved more than a match for her overbearing alpha mates.
Hot, sexy, with lots of action and suspense, Trinity was like paranormal catnip for me. I can’t wait to dive into the next one.
Rating: 4 Catnip Happy Stars
September 13, 2016
Renee Parcell is happy. She's got a fantastic life with her cat shifter boyfriend, Galen de la Vega. Renee owns a juice and smoothie stand, and she loves her work. She can tell just by looking at people what they most need in their drink to keep them healthy. She knows when the phone is going to ring. And she and Galen have a preternatural connection, that is visceral in nature. So imagine her surprise and how disconcerted she is when she literally bumps into Jack Meyers, who is an Enforcer in the Cascadia Wolves pack. And imagine Jack's reaction when he instantly recognizes Renee as his mate. He's not put off at all when Renee tells him she's with someone. He knows that nature wouldn't be so cruel as to show him his mate and then make her unavailable to him. He decides he'll just have to double his effort to make Renee fall for him.
When Jack meets Galen, he feels that same sort of mate bond. He realizes that he and Galen and Renee form a tri-bond, which is unusual, but not unheard of in wolf packs. While Galen is definitely an alpha cat, and Jack is an alpha wolf, they are both completely focused on Renee's well being and happiness, and Galen gladly accepts Jack into their lives, having realized almost immediately they he and Jack will have a mate bond as well.
As Jack enters their lives, Galen realizes that things have been harder on Renee than he thought. They've been together for four years, and Galen somehow missed how hard she's tried to work to get his family to accept her. He knew that she had issues with a few members of his family, but she's so independent, he had no idea how bad it was. When Renee confides in Jack her nervousness at meeting another pack, having had only mixed success with Galen's jamboree, Jack immediately confronts Galen about leaving Renee high and dry with his family. Galen is appalled to realize that she's been treated so shabbily.
For his part, Jack has to find a way to make Renee understand his close relationship with Grace, the alpha female of the Cascadia pack. He is Grace's anchor, which means they have a very close relationship and he helps keep her emotions in check should anything happen to her mate. Jack doesn't deny that he wants what Grace and Cade have, a family, a loving relationship.Sure, he has strong feelings for Grace, but he's not in love with her per se, she's married to his best friend! But their relationship is a real, and it's definitely a factor to consider for his new mate, Renee. Renee is NOT happy about Grace, but she tries to understand and respect their relationship. That is, until Grace is really rude to her at a gathering, and Jack doesn't stand up for her. She's pissed that Grace was rude, but she's furious with Jack for not standing up for her.
On top of all of these other details, Grace is a witch of strong powers that she never learned how to use. Sure, she's always known when people are sick or when the phone will ring, but she doesn't think she's got anything more than heightened senses. But when she begins to feel followed and is attacked by an unknown mage, she finds out that her father and awful stepmother have been lying to her for years, and that she has loving family who has been looking for her for years. It's a lot to take in for a women who earlier in the week was just living her life. Will Renee be able to accept her true heritage? Will she and her mates be able to find a happy medium between her independence and their bossy ways?
Whew! This book has a lot going on! It's definitely a set up book, so there is quite a bit of exposition. But the romance is nicely done. I liked the connection between the main characters, although I did feel like it suffered some with all the other background noise going on. I would have liked to have seen the mates together more, working through their myriad issues, rather than all the other ancillary action. And I do wish that the author had focused a bit more on the guys' relationship. I think this is mostly because Lauren Dane writes such steamy and satisfying sexual relationships, and I was really looking forward to seeing her write some m/m scenes. Unfortunately, we only really got one scene, all the rest happened "behind closed doors", which was a bit disappointing. My final niggle with the story is that it ends very abruptly. There's clearly a companion book that goes with it, and the story ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. It left me both wanting more, and frustrated that I'd have to go find it.
This sounds like I didn't like the book, and really, overall, it gave me exactly what I expect from Lauren Dane, a well written relationship between interesting characters. I just wish that there had been more characters, less action.
Final grade: C+
When Jack meets Galen, he feels that same sort of mate bond. He realizes that he and Galen and Renee form a tri-bond, which is unusual, but not unheard of in wolf packs. While Galen is definitely an alpha cat, and Jack is an alpha wolf, they are both completely focused on Renee's well being and happiness, and Galen gladly accepts Jack into their lives, having realized almost immediately they he and Jack will have a mate bond as well.
As Jack enters their lives, Galen realizes that things have been harder on Renee than he thought. They've been together for four years, and Galen somehow missed how hard she's tried to work to get his family to accept her. He knew that she had issues with a few members of his family, but she's so independent, he had no idea how bad it was. When Renee confides in Jack her nervousness at meeting another pack, having had only mixed success with Galen's jamboree, Jack immediately confronts Galen about leaving Renee high and dry with his family. Galen is appalled to realize that she's been treated so shabbily.
For his part, Jack has to find a way to make Renee understand his close relationship with Grace, the alpha female of the Cascadia pack. He is Grace's anchor, which means they have a very close relationship and he helps keep her emotions in check should anything happen to her mate. Jack doesn't deny that he wants what Grace and Cade have, a family, a loving relationship.Sure, he has strong feelings for Grace, but he's not in love with her per se, she's married to his best friend! But their relationship is a real, and it's definitely a factor to consider for his new mate, Renee. Renee is NOT happy about Grace, but she tries to understand and respect their relationship. That is, until Grace is really rude to her at a gathering, and Jack doesn't stand up for her. She's pissed that Grace was rude, but she's furious with Jack for not standing up for her.
On top of all of these other details, Grace is a witch of strong powers that she never learned how to use. Sure, she's always known when people are sick or when the phone will ring, but she doesn't think she's got anything more than heightened senses. But when she begins to feel followed and is attacked by an unknown mage, she finds out that her father and awful stepmother have been lying to her for years, and that she has loving family who has been looking for her for years. It's a lot to take in for a women who earlier in the week was just living her life. Will Renee be able to accept her true heritage? Will she and her mates be able to find a happy medium between her independence and their bossy ways?
Whew! This book has a lot going on! It's definitely a set up book, so there is quite a bit of exposition. But the romance is nicely done. I liked the connection between the main characters, although I did feel like it suffered some with all the other background noise going on. I would have liked to have seen the mates together more, working through their myriad issues, rather than all the other ancillary action. And I do wish that the author had focused a bit more on the guys' relationship. I think this is mostly because Lauren Dane writes such steamy and satisfying sexual relationships, and I was really looking forward to seeing her write some m/m scenes. Unfortunately, we only really got one scene, all the rest happened "behind closed doors", which was a bit disappointing. My final niggle with the story is that it ends very abruptly. There's clearly a companion book that goes with it, and the story ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. It left me both wanting more, and frustrated that I'd have to go find it.
This sounds like I didn't like the book, and really, overall, it gave me exactly what I expect from Lauren Dane, a well written relationship between interesting characters. I just wish that there had been more characters, less action.
Final grade: C+
December 30, 2014
Wowza is this a 4 star for smexy menage and alpha male. I swear, the testosterone came off the books in this one. The scenes between Renee and Galen are smoking hawt. Ms. Dane cranks up the heat with Jack added to the mix. Renee is a witch who keeps her "light under a bushel". Galen is an alpha cat shifter. Jack is an alpha werewolf. The combination of these three together in a MMF is panty wetting goodness. This is the Ms. Dane I miss in her more recent books. This is rough, sexy and dirty talking. The chemistry between the three is so good.
The characters in this story are delightful. I liked them. The story itself is depressing at times. Is it a bit drama ridden? Yes, it's supposed to be. The erotic parts helped break up the downer relationship messy stuff. It is a nice balance. Overall this is a 3.5 star for me because I don't really see myself re-reading this book anytime soon. And I don't expect to remember it quite that well in a year or more. Still, this is definitely a good read and it does make me want to suck down the next book in this series. This is a feel good book. It's an escapist book for those who want to get away and read about a strong female and two sexy men who want to protect her.
The characters in this story are delightful. I liked them. The story itself is depressing at times. Is it a bit drama ridden? Yes, it's supposed to be. The erotic parts helped break up the downer relationship messy stuff. It is a nice balance. Overall this is a 3.5 star for me because I don't really see myself re-reading this book anytime soon. And I don't expect to remember it quite that well in a year or more. Still, this is definitely a good read and it does make me want to suck down the next book in this series. This is a feel good book. It's an escapist book for those who want to get away and read about a strong female and two sexy men who want to protect her.
July 31, 2011
I figured this one would be all about sex and barley touch on the characters. I figured the characters would be flat and fairly boring, and that in no way would they develop as people. That's usually the way it is with erotic fiction. Which is a big reason why I don't always read erotica. Typically I'll only pick one up if it sounds hot. This one did, so I decided to give it a try.
So I was pretty shocked to find that Trinity actually focused on a lot of emotion and more character development, and gave a fair amount of background information on the characters. There was a fair amount of sex, but it wasn't on every other page like it tends to be with erotica. Also, I found the sex a little lacking for the type of novel it is. There were a lot of feelings and emotions written into it, which took away from the hotness of it all. Another thing that irked me was the fact that the characters talked a lot during sex. It was annoying.
I also found that the author shied away from anal sex way too much. I mean, this is menage involving two men and a woman, so it's pretty much a package deal, right? Not. Both guys were bisexual, and had been with other men before, so it really should have been a given. Also, the female lead, Renee was opposed to it, but all she really said was "No anal."
I felt that the book was lacking in the bedroom aspect of things, but it was fairly wealthy with the characters. I particularly liked Renee. She was feisty and stood up for herself, and an all around great person. She was a fun character to read about. But I felt that the guys, Galen and Jack, were too much alike. Both were pushy, bossy, dominating, over-protective, and were the typical alpha male. It bothered me that neither could see that Renee was her own person and was a grown up girl who could make her own decisions. She was not as weak as they made her out to be, and their over-protectiveness was really unnecessary. Also, I understand that Jack mated with Renee, and her loved her, but he also mated with Galen and supposedly loved him as well, and vice versa. However, both guys were much more about Renee than they were about the other. The relationship was a bit too focused on Renee, and I didn't like that.
Another aspect I didn't like was the fact that both guys were shifters (Galen was a cat, Jack a wolf) but it was never brought into the story. It was, but it wasn't. It was talked about a lot, but Jack only ever shifted once at the end of the novel, and only because it was necessary. It didn't make it very shifter-like for me.
However, the plot was fairly decent. It wasn't all about the character's relationships, but also about Renee and her background. She had a difficult past, and was still dealing with that, but it was also coming back to haunt her. It made the novel a lot more interesting than it would have been otherwise. However, it also gave Galen and Jack more reason to be annoyingly overprotective. I thought they might have learned their lesson at one point, but it seemed to go through one ear and out the other, because mere pages later they were doing the same thing.
I'd recommend this novel to anyone who likes menage, but also likes the characters developed. Don't expect to like all of the characters, but expect to like Renee.Oh, and I'd also not recommend not starting this series from book seven. It wasn't too hard to catch up with, but there were a lot of characters mentioned from previous novels, and it would have made more sense to me if I'd known what they were talking about more often. I've give Trinity 3/5 stars, with points taken off for disliked characters, and not so good sex scenes, but points given for characters and plot.
So I was pretty shocked to find that Trinity actually focused on a lot of emotion and more character development, and gave a fair amount of background information on the characters. There was a fair amount of sex, but it wasn't on every other page like it tends to be with erotica. Also, I found the sex a little lacking for the type of novel it is. There were a lot of feelings and emotions written into it, which took away from the hotness of it all. Another thing that irked me was the fact that the characters talked a lot during sex. It was annoying.
I also found that the author shied away from anal sex way too much. I mean, this is menage involving two men and a woman, so it's pretty much a package deal, right? Not. Both guys were bisexual, and had been with other men before, so it really should have been a given. Also, the female lead, Renee was opposed to it, but all she really said was "No anal."
I felt that the book was lacking in the bedroom aspect of things, but it was fairly wealthy with the characters. I particularly liked Renee. She was feisty and stood up for herself, and an all around great person. She was a fun character to read about. But I felt that the guys, Galen and Jack, were too much alike. Both were pushy, bossy, dominating, over-protective, and were the typical alpha male. It bothered me that neither could see that Renee was her own person and was a grown up girl who could make her own decisions. She was not as weak as they made her out to be, and their over-protectiveness was really unnecessary. Also, I understand that Jack mated with Renee, and her loved her, but he also mated with Galen and supposedly loved him as well, and vice versa. However, both guys were much more about Renee than they were about the other. The relationship was a bit too focused on Renee, and I didn't like that.
Another aspect I didn't like was the fact that both guys were shifters (Galen was a cat, Jack a wolf) but it was never brought into the story. It was, but it wasn't. It was talked about a lot, but Jack only ever shifted once at the end of the novel, and only because it was necessary. It didn't make it very shifter-like for me.
However, the plot was fairly decent. It wasn't all about the character's relationships, but also about Renee and her background. She had a difficult past, and was still dealing with that, but it was also coming back to haunt her. It made the novel a lot more interesting than it would have been otherwise. However, it also gave Galen and Jack more reason to be annoyingly overprotective. I thought they might have learned their lesson at one point, but it seemed to go through one ear and out the other, because mere pages later they were doing the same thing.
I'd recommend this novel to anyone who likes menage, but also likes the characters developed. Don't expect to like all of the characters, but expect to like Renee.Oh, and I'd also not recommend not starting this series from book seven. It wasn't too hard to catch up with, but there were a lot of characters mentioned from previous novels, and it would have made more sense to me if I'd known what they were talking about more often. I've give Trinity 3/5 stars, with points taken off for disliked characters, and not so good sex scenes, but points given for characters and plot.
July 29, 2011
This is a spinoff of the Cascadia Wolves series. We first meet Jack in that series. He played a rather large roll in Standoff. I wasn't sure if I was going to like the move away from the wolves, but I wanted to read Jack's story so I went forward. I'm glad I did. I really enjoyed the opening of a new world of cat shifters and witches.
Renee is a witch with a lot of power - but she doesn't know it. She's accepted that she sometimes knows when the phone is going to ring or who will be on the line, but otherwise she thinks she's pretty normal. She's been in a relationship with cat shifter Galen de la Vega for several years and they're blissfully happy together. But when Jack shows up she can't deny she's drawn to him as well..and things are changing, whether she wants them to or not.
Jack has been looking for his mate for a long time and he's thrilled to have found her. He's less thrilled to see she's already bonded with a cat. But he isn't going to walk away without exploring things..and they're all surprised when they realize the three of them are meant to bond.
It couldn't have happened too soon, because a storm is brewing and Renee is right in the center of it. She'll need both Jack and Galen to help her weather through it.
I enjoyed watching them come together. They had major chemistry, both in bed and out of it. The fact that they learned to lean on one another and take care of one another was wonderful, especially since Renee and Galen had a long established relationship and Jack was new to it.
I was left feeling somewhat dissatisfied at the way Galen and Jack talked over or ignored Renee. She often accused them of treating her like a child, and I definitely felt that. Unfortunately I didn't feel like they'd stopped by the end of the novel.
The way Grace acted toward Renee really bothered me, especially considering the way she was treated by Nina in her book. I expected better of her and found I had less respect for her at the end. To hit Renee where it so clearly hurt the most..that was petty and cruel. I don't think she made up for it in the end, either.
That aside, this was a good read. I breezed through it and couldn't wait to start the next.
3.75/5
This review was originally posted on Book Binge by Holly.
Renee is a witch with a lot of power - but she doesn't know it. She's accepted that she sometimes knows when the phone is going to ring or who will be on the line, but otherwise she thinks she's pretty normal. She's been in a relationship with cat shifter Galen de la Vega for several years and they're blissfully happy together. But when Jack shows up she can't deny she's drawn to him as well..and things are changing, whether she wants them to or not.
Jack has been looking for his mate for a long time and he's thrilled to have found her. He's less thrilled to see she's already bonded with a cat. But he isn't going to walk away without exploring things..and they're all surprised when they realize the three of them are meant to bond.
It couldn't have happened too soon, because a storm is brewing and Renee is right in the center of it. She'll need both Jack and Galen to help her weather through it.
I enjoyed watching them come together. They had major chemistry, both in bed and out of it. The fact that they learned to lean on one another and take care of one another was wonderful, especially since Renee and Galen had a long established relationship and Jack was new to it.
I was left feeling somewhat dissatisfied at the way Galen and Jack talked over or ignored Renee. She often accused them of treating her like a child, and I definitely felt that. Unfortunately I didn't feel like they'd stopped by the end of the novel.
The way Grace acted toward Renee really bothered me, especially considering the way she was treated by Nina in her book. I expected better of her and found I had less respect for her at the end. To hit Renee where it so clearly hurt the most..that was petty and cruel. I don't think she made up for it in the end, either.
That aside, this was a good read. I breezed through it and couldn't wait to start the next.
3.75/5
This review was originally posted on Book Binge by Holly.
November 11, 2009
I would have rated this higher if the 3 people in the menage couple weren't CONSTANTLY re-assuring one another that they loved each other and that they each made the others whole and that they would always be there for each other. I was so happy that Jack found a mate and that it was a woman and a man.
June 3, 2017
Renee is mated (or imprinted) to Galen. She literally bumps into Jack on her way home. Jack, a werewolf, realizes Renee is his mate. He finds out she is imprinted with Galen.
I thought this was decent. I liked the dialogue between the three and how they worked it out. I thought they communicated well and talked things out. Of course things moved at a fast pace. I would have liked more development with Galen and Jack's relationship.
What drove this done in rating, was there was just too much going on and not enough time to devote to anything. There's Renee not knowing anything about her heritage/not knowing anything about her powers, her mother's murder, her bitch of a stepmother and asshole father, a stalker who tries to kill her, secret family...woo, I'm out of breath! If the focus was on a few of these things and explored more, this would have been so much better. Not to mention there is a fricking CLIFFHANGER.
I probably won't be picking it up, since this one just had too much going on, and the next one is about someone else close to Renee (I will not say who as it is a bit spoilery).
I thought this was decent. I liked the dialogue between the three and how they worked it out. I thought they communicated well and talked things out. Of course things moved at a fast pace. I would have liked more development with Galen and Jack's relationship.
What drove this done in rating, was there was just too much going on and not enough time to devote to anything. There's Renee not knowing anything about her heritage/not knowing anything about her powers, her mother's murder, her bitch of a stepmother and asshole father, a stalker who tries to kill her, secret family...woo, I'm out of breath! If the focus was on a few of these things and explored more, this would have been so much better. Not to mention there is a fricking CLIFFHANGER.
I probably won't be picking it up, since this one just had too much going on, and the next one is about someone else close to Renee (I will not say who as it is a bit spoilery).
August 20, 2019
Omg this was pretty ridiculous! The plot is stupid, the ménage setup is laughable, and the dialogue is unreal (in bad way!)! I could not believe how silly and ridiculous what I was reading was!!
First of all - this ménage is introduced during the first few pages of the book and it is done in such a surreal way that it was mind boggling … Basically, she has been mated/married to one shifter for 4 years and all of a sudden meets another shifter dude that she feels a pull towards. He tells her he knows she is his mate. They meet the following evening in her and her husband's home to discuss this... No jealousy , no issues... it was pretty much "oh yeah ? you are her mate, too? ok, when can you move in? Next week ? Cool! Let's have sex now!" And the two men get it on as well, because it just so turns out that they are both BI and attracted to each other. So that's how THAT relationship was introduced to us. We have since had ZERO realistic interactions or getting-to-know-you moments - after that first night when the two guys just met for the first time (and the heroine saw one of them for the second time in her life!), they start living like a married trio who have known each other all their lives, constantly saying "I love you", being very affectionate, in tune and comfortable with each other, etc... It is just unrealistic, because THEY HAD ONLY MET THE NIGHT BEFORE! Too soon (even for a shapeshifter book!) for them to all be saying "I love you-s" and act the way they do! By making their relationship so immediate and stable from the first few pages, the author killed all of the anticipation that comes from waiting for a romance/sex to happen in a romance novel!! It was like reading an epilogue on page 20!! The rest of the book is just a series of random made-up outside crap that's threatening to hurt the heroine...but every issue gets resolved quickly and there is really nothing to keep us on our toes …. Boooring! It does NOT help that the main characters are shallow , cardboard cut outs with no personalities other than the fact that they are all "HOT/AMAZING/GREAT/SMART/KIND" without giving one single example to support any of this!
Secondly - the sex is laughable ... they use crude words to lead up to the act, but then it's almost fade to black... well , more like 'all tell , no show!' I can only read "it was so hot", "you are so hot" and "I love you so much" so many times, before I start eye-rolling! What exactly is so hot? And really - the three of them don't really get it on at the same time (if you know what I mean) …
Thirdly - her family is just...wow! They are like evil cartoon villains... Stepmother and the father too. The things they say and do to her are just ludicrous! Things no parent in their right mind would ever say or do to their child... ie. she comes over to talk to her dad and he opens the door and says "Why are you showing up at my house uninvited??" Note that they have not been in a fight, he really has no reason to say this... You , as a reader, just can't figure out the logic behind the words and the actions. it's VERY annoying and distracting!
Finally, (I have to conclude this review sometime, so I will cut my rant short) - the DIALOGUE! Oh my god! Their actions make little sense , but the characters' dialogues are even worse! The heroine will use crude words with her stepmother and mother-in-law (ie. "Get the fuck out of my face!" - which I thought was RIDICULOUS given the description of the heroine , this is totally out of character to say this to a parent....) Yet, during sex, this same heroine will say things like "Holy crapdoodle, that's good!" Really ? You use the "f" word to swear at your stepmother, yet can't say the word "sh*t" in bed ?!
Also, when fighting with her mates, she will be so annoyingly aggressive and petulant - like a spoiled teenager! She leaves in the middle of a fight, saying things like "I told you to leave me the fuck alone" - "I said fuck off" - or , even stupider was "When you do things like this, it makes me not want to suck your dick ever again!" Really ??? REALLYYY??? Very mature! What a brat! No wonder everyone dislikes her!!
This book made me roll my eyes so many times that I started fearing they would get stuck up there!!!!
First of all - this ménage is introduced during the first few pages of the book and it is done in such a surreal way that it was mind boggling … Basically, she has been mated/married to one shifter for 4 years and all of a sudden meets another shifter dude that she feels a pull towards. He tells her he knows she is his mate. They meet the following evening in her and her husband's home to discuss this... No jealousy , no issues... it was pretty much "oh yeah ? you are her mate, too? ok, when can you move in? Next week ? Cool! Let's have sex now!" And the two men get it on as well, because it just so turns out that they are both BI and attracted to each other. So that's how THAT relationship was introduced to us. We have since had ZERO realistic interactions or getting-to-know-you moments - after that first night when the two guys just met for the first time (and the heroine saw one of them for the second time in her life!), they start living like a married trio who have known each other all their lives, constantly saying "I love you", being very affectionate, in tune and comfortable with each other, etc... It is just unrealistic, because THEY HAD ONLY MET THE NIGHT BEFORE! Too soon (even for a shapeshifter book!) for them to all be saying "I love you-s" and act the way they do! By making their relationship so immediate and stable from the first few pages, the author killed all of the anticipation that comes from waiting for a romance/sex to happen in a romance novel!! It was like reading an epilogue on page 20!! The rest of the book is just a series of random made-up outside crap that's threatening to hurt the heroine...but every issue gets resolved quickly and there is really nothing to keep us on our toes …. Boooring! It does NOT help that the main characters are shallow , cardboard cut outs with no personalities other than the fact that they are all "HOT/AMAZING/GREAT/SMART/KIND" without giving one single example to support any of this!
Secondly - the sex is laughable ... they use crude words to lead up to the act, but then it's almost fade to black... well , more like 'all tell , no show!' I can only read "it was so hot", "you are so hot" and "I love you so much" so many times, before I start eye-rolling! What exactly is so hot? And really - the three of them don't really get it on at the same time (if you know what I mean) …
Thirdly - her family is just...wow! They are like evil cartoon villains... Stepmother and the father too. The things they say and do to her are just ludicrous! Things no parent in their right mind would ever say or do to their child... ie. she comes over to talk to her dad and he opens the door and says "Why are you showing up at my house uninvited??" Note that they have not been in a fight, he really has no reason to say this... You , as a reader, just can't figure out the logic behind the words and the actions. it's VERY annoying and distracting!
Finally, (I have to conclude this review sometime, so I will cut my rant short) - the DIALOGUE! Oh my god! Their actions make little sense , but the characters' dialogues are even worse! The heroine will use crude words with her stepmother and mother-in-law (ie. "Get the fuck out of my face!" - which I thought was RIDICULOUS given the description of the heroine , this is totally out of character to say this to a parent....) Yet, during sex, this same heroine will say things like "Holy crapdoodle, that's good!" Really ? You use the "f" word to swear at your stepmother, yet can't say the word "sh*t" in bed ?!
Also, when fighting with her mates, she will be so annoyingly aggressive and petulant - like a spoiled teenager! She leaves in the middle of a fight, saying things like "I told you to leave me the fuck alone" - "I said fuck off" - or , even stupider was "When you do things like this, it makes me not want to suck your dick ever again!" Really ??? REALLYYY??? Very mature! What a brat! No wonder everyone dislikes her!!
This book made me roll my eyes so many times that I started fearing they would get stuck up there!!!!
January 28, 2014
My first read by Lauren Dane and this review is now going to bode well. I chose this series for several reasons. Firstly the author was recommended to me so I thought I would give her a go. I liked the look of the cover, which as much as many of us will say it doesn't influence our choice on us choosing a book I have to disagree. Visual stimuli are always something that we are either attracted too or aren't. I find with books an appealing cover will often sway me to read it as much as a good synopsis. The story sounded good and like many other 'shifter' books I've read so I thought it would appeal to me. This is where the good comments end I am afraid.
We are introduced to Renee, a girl with powers she refuses to accept she has and her lover/partner/(almost husband/soulmate (Need I really continue? Well this gets rammed down your throat for 5 chapters in case you aren't clear!!) Galen. Their relationship is so intense and yet when we are introduced to Jack (A Wolf who thinks Renee is his 'mate to be') its apparently acceptable to still be totally in love but also speak to your partner who is your soul mate about this other wolf and invite him for dinner?! Seriously! I know these books are totally unrealistic due to the nature of the supernatural elements; however the feelings and experiences the author brings to the characters often are (Or at least partially are). This book was just terrible though. I didn't like Kalen as a character, Renee seemed to be confused unless having sex with Kalen which seemed to have to happen 5 times a day just so we 'got' that they were in love and mated?!
Euugh! Sorry I hate writing bad reviews on things unless I can back up what I am saying but this book was so bad after forcing myself to get 6 chapters in I couldn't take anymore. It was either break my eReader so I no longer had to finish it or stop reading the book and delete it from my library - the later won.
Maybe you have read this book and enjoyed it, if so that's excellent. You obviously have found something in the tale that I could not. I tried to like it just a little but nothing in this book made me want to waste anymore time on it! I gave this book 1 out of 5, it's lucky it got that really. Shame as I don't think I'll read anything else by the author again unless I get a VERY good recommendation of it!
Review also featured on my blog - http://www.bewitchedbooks.co.uk/
We are introduced to Renee, a girl with powers she refuses to accept she has and her lover/partner/(almost husband/soulmate (Need I really continue? Well this gets rammed down your throat for 5 chapters in case you aren't clear!!) Galen. Their relationship is so intense and yet when we are introduced to Jack (A Wolf who thinks Renee is his 'mate to be') its apparently acceptable to still be totally in love but also speak to your partner who is your soul mate about this other wolf and invite him for dinner?! Seriously! I know these books are totally unrealistic due to the nature of the supernatural elements; however the feelings and experiences the author brings to the characters often are (Or at least partially are). This book was just terrible though. I didn't like Kalen as a character, Renee seemed to be confused unless having sex with Kalen which seemed to have to happen 5 times a day just so we 'got' that they were in love and mated?!
Euugh! Sorry I hate writing bad reviews on things unless I can back up what I am saying but this book was so bad after forcing myself to get 6 chapters in I couldn't take anymore. It was either break my eReader so I no longer had to finish it or stop reading the book and delete it from my library - the later won.
Maybe you have read this book and enjoyed it, if so that's excellent. You obviously have found something in the tale that I could not. I tried to like it just a little but nothing in this book made me want to waste anymore time on it! I gave this book 1 out of 5, it's lucky it got that really. Shame as I don't think I'll read anything else by the author again unless I get a VERY good recommendation of it!
Review also featured on my blog - http://www.bewitchedbooks.co.uk/
January 30, 2014
What do you get when you mate a cat shifter/witch/ and a wolf? Hmm well alot less than I hoped for.
Renee is already mated to a Jaguar shifter when she bumbs into Jack..literally. Then Jacks wolf scents his mate...Renee. La De da he gets invited to dinner a couple nights after that and guess what??? Yep they all end up in bed and the magical tri-bond is formed.
The story is basically three parts: the first part the three making the relationship work, a mage trying to kill Renee for her powers, and family trouble (her, his and his)
Warning there is male on male touching. Jack and Galen are both openly bisexual and while they may touch Renee the most they do touch each other. They hug, kiss, jack another off and eludes to actually having sex with each other but we don't "see" it only referenced.
Ok so I'm not going to do and indepth review but I will tell my take on it. I expected more. This just didn't do it for me. Yes I liked that finally the males do touch, not every threesome is going to be strickly no "touchy touchy". The releationship, if you can call it that, between her "parents" drove me crazy. Susan needs some shifter justice. The mage...ohhh my gosh the mage... Ok we get the "battle" scene with the Mage vs. Renee but he is killed "off screen"...really?? Totally let down. I expected some shifter rip and slice or something not 'you don't have to worry anymore renee b.s.'
I can go on and on but I won't. This book is not for everyone. It just didn't meet the par with the previous Cascadia wolves I've read. If you haven't read the previous books then the references to most people will be lost on you. These characters Renee and Galen just didn't 'pop' for me. I only tolerated Jack because of the other books he was in.
...and thats it I will say no more.
Renee is already mated to a Jaguar shifter when she bumbs into Jack..literally. Then Jacks wolf scents his mate...Renee. La De da he gets invited to dinner a couple nights after that and guess what??? Yep they all end up in bed and the magical tri-bond is formed.
The story is basically three parts: the first part the three making the relationship work, a mage trying to kill Renee for her powers, and family trouble (her, his and his)
Warning there is male on male touching. Jack and Galen are both openly bisexual and while they may touch Renee the most they do touch each other. They hug, kiss, jack another off and eludes to actually having sex with each other but we don't "see" it only referenced.
Ok so I'm not going to do and indepth review but I will tell my take on it. I expected more. This just didn't do it for me. Yes I liked that finally the males do touch, not every threesome is going to be strickly no "touchy touchy". The releationship, if you can call it that, between her "parents" drove me crazy. Susan needs some shifter justice. The mage...ohhh my gosh the mage... Ok we get the "battle" scene with the Mage vs. Renee but he is killed "off screen"...really?? Totally let down. I expected some shifter rip and slice or something not 'you don't have to worry anymore renee b.s.'
I can go on and on but I won't. This book is not for everyone. It just didn't meet the par with the previous Cascadia wolves I've read. If you haven't read the previous books then the references to most people will be lost on you. These characters Renee and Galen just didn't 'pop' for me. I only tolerated Jack because of the other books he was in.
...and thats it I will say no more.
August 26, 2020
There were parts I really, really liked and then other parts I found frustrating.
I enjoyed the merging of shifter worlds and witches in this MMF story. Jack was this constant and intriguing character in Dane’s Cascadia Wolves series and I was excited for him to get his own story. Renee (witch) & Galen (cat) have an established relationship when Jack realizes that Renee is his mate.
Here’s where things get a little tricky. Dane spends a LOT of time hashing, rehashing, and angsting her characters with some somewhat minor conflict issues and then just skims over plot points that I feel would have added a lot more to the story. Especially the final battle with the mage which is reduced to a “we took care of it” paragraph.
This is MMF. There are scenes between Renee and the guys individually as well as some threesome action - but compared to other MMFs, this is pretty light. The guys don’t get a lot of “screen time” together. Also, Dane seems to hold the guys apart from each other within the relationship - not just making Renee the center, but also continually pointing out that what each man has individually with her is somehow *above* the feelings that Jack & Galen have for each other. I prefer my MMF to be equal investment/enamored with all 3.
Again, this book starts a story that will be continued through the series and it’s hinted that Galen’s brother & Renee’s sister are attracted to each other so I’m looking forward to the next book.
I love Tanya Eby as Renee. There were times where I couldn’t always tell between Jack & Galen’s voices. Overall it was a good narration.
I enjoyed the merging of shifter worlds and witches in this MMF story. Jack was this constant and intriguing character in Dane’s Cascadia Wolves series and I was excited for him to get his own story. Renee (witch) & Galen (cat) have an established relationship when Jack realizes that Renee is his mate.
Here’s where things get a little tricky. Dane spends a LOT of time hashing, rehashing, and angsting her characters with some somewhat minor conflict issues and then just skims over plot points that I feel would have added a lot more to the story. Especially the final battle with the mage which is reduced to a “we took care of it” paragraph.
This is MMF. There are scenes between Renee and the guys individually as well as some threesome action - but compared to other MMFs, this is pretty light. The guys don’t get a lot of “screen time” together. Also, Dane seems to hold the guys apart from each other within the relationship - not just making Renee the center, but also continually pointing out that what each man has individually with her is somehow *above* the feelings that Jack & Galen have for each other. I prefer my MMF to be equal investment/enamored with all 3.
Again, this book starts a story that will be continued through the series and it’s hinted that Galen’s brother & Renee’s sister are attracted to each other so I’m looking forward to the next book.
I love Tanya Eby as Renee. There were times where I couldn’t always tell between Jack & Galen’s voices. Overall it was a good narration.
October 31, 2009
jumping into a series at book 7 is ever a good idea. this was no exception. a lot of characters were referenced and i have no idea who or what they are. another couple plays a fairly large part of this story and i would assume they were the subject of at least a few other books.
all the shifter / anchor / cascadia mythology aside this book fell short for me. the relationships were just bizarre. it took a 4 year committed, mated couple about 45 seconds flat to bring another man into their bed. then another 4 hours to insist he move in. thats damn impressive. sure, there were magic "connections" and fate involved but still. even the actual sex scenes were eh. there was certainly no need for a cold shower or to even turn the air on for that matter.
a parent dies then other family members who were never heard of come out of the wood work bearing news of the sister that was given away right before you were born? oh hey, i thought things like that only happened to me. ok, the really funny thing is that i am NOT kidding when i say that. that entire plot line had me laughing and slightly looking over my shoulder. lauren dane, no peeking on my jerry springer life ok?
all the shifter / anchor / cascadia mythology aside this book fell short for me. the relationships were just bizarre. it took a 4 year committed, mated couple about 45 seconds flat to bring another man into their bed. then another 4 hours to insist he move in. thats damn impressive. sure, there were magic "connections" and fate involved but still. even the actual sex scenes were eh. there was certainly no need for a cold shower or to even turn the air on for that matter.
a parent dies then other family members who were never heard of come out of the wood work bearing news of the sister that was given away right before you were born? oh hey, i thought things like that only happened to me. ok, the really funny thing is that i am NOT kidding when i say that. that entire plot line had me laughing and slightly looking over my shoulder. lauren dane, no peeking on my jerry springer life ok?
November 4, 2011
I'm a little bit on the fence. I liked Trinity and most of the story. The story line was creative and some of the characters were fun. However, there was too much.....crying from the herione (she will take on alpha types then break down over an argument?) and repetition with reference to: Renee going on about her independence (when her whining made me want to scream), how much she couldn't live without Jack and Galen, how her men couldn't live without her, and boring sex. If you have three characters rolling around in the hay, there are a lot of creative things everyone could be doing.
Please, don't even get me started on the Jack and Galen whole "I'm a dude and you're a dude.....but you know.....I totally wouldn't dig you if this hot chic wasn't in my life". When the conversation came up in the book, I actually laughed out loud. In my head I'm thinking "Come on! Are you kidding me? They should be attracted to each other and rolling around like monkeys. It might spice this book up!" Total disappointment! I REALLY wanted to like this book to read other PNR books Lauren Dane has out but I'm not sure if I do it.
Please, don't even get me started on the Jack and Galen whole "I'm a dude and you're a dude.....but you know.....I totally wouldn't dig you if this hot chic wasn't in my life". When the conversation came up in the book, I actually laughed out loud. In my head I'm thinking "Come on! Are you kidding me? They should be attracted to each other and rolling around like monkeys. It might spice this book up!" Total disappointment! I REALLY wanted to like this book to read other PNR books Lauren Dane has out but I'm not sure if I do it.
May 7, 2014
I don't understand how this book got such high ratings. Honestly, this book was a waste of my time. The story line was all over the place and didn't really have a good story telling rhythm. On top of the plot flaws, I really dislike Renee as a character. I found it very difficult to get into her head and many of her decisions and though patterns completely stumped me. I caught myself rolling my eyes at her more than once.
Jack's problem of wooing a mated/taken human was too easily and conveniently overcame early in the book and at made their trio connection feel very fake and obtuse. There was no getting to know each other. No relationship growth.
The sex scenes lacked chemistry and many felt gratuitous. I just didn't feel anything from them.
Ms. Dane's constant need to drop names of songs felt like a highschooler dropping names to feel cool with the in crowd.
Very disappointing.
Jack's problem of wooing a mated/taken human was too easily and conveniently overcame early in the book and at made their trio connection feel very fake and obtuse. There was no getting to know each other. No relationship growth.
The sex scenes lacked chemistry and many felt gratuitous. I just didn't feel anything from them.
Ms. Dane's constant need to drop names of songs felt like a highschooler dropping names to feel cool with the in crowd.
Very disappointing.
March 27, 2012
I really liked how Jack, Renee, and Galen dealt with learning that Jack was Renee's mate and the bond that the 3 of them have. It was nice to see them not fight the mating. With both Jack and Galen being dominate alpha things weren't always smooth. I loved watching the boys work together to protect Renee and get her to do what they wanted, even if she did fight them the whole way. These fights did get annoying after awhile as they were all about the same thing. I really loved how towards the end the cats and the wolves came together and worked to do what needed to be done. I was thoroughly annoyed with Grace and her reaction to Renee, it was the situation with Nina all over again, I didn't expect that of her. I thought the mage part was wrapped up too quickly and wasn't explored more. I look forward to reading more about the cats.
November 15, 2016
I really should know better than to read these books... all of the problems are due to a tragic back story and no one talking to each other. People who are otherwise incredibly intelligent and able to figure anything out become utterly useless when the plot demands it. The same descriptors are used over and over and over just in case you forgot how the person looked. The adult heroine uses terms like "Holy crapdoodle" in case you didn't know she's sweet and innocent and kind. I can suspend disbelief that two weres and a woman fall in love but I can't handle him perfectly in their house 24 hours after meeting. Just... no. This is unreasonable.
DNF at ~60% when I realized I was sighing heavily as I tried to force myself to read it.
DNF at ~60% when I realized I was sighing heavily as I tried to force myself to read it.
October 2, 2017
Trinity (de La Vega Cats #1) by Lauren Dane
This is a spin off series of the Cascadia Wolves series (which was a really good series), here we meet Renee and Galen. Renee is a witch whos mate is a cat shifter named Galen, but when Renee meets Jack a wolf shifter there is an instant connection.
This story line revolves around Jack, Galen and Renee working together against some dark magic, keeping Renee safe and at the same time figuring out what it means for Renee to have two mates.
The story line is great, the writing is fantastic of course anything Lauren Dane writes is worth reading.
The beginning of another good series.
This is a spin off series of the Cascadia Wolves series (which was a really good series), here we meet Renee and Galen. Renee is a witch whos mate is a cat shifter named Galen, but when Renee meets Jack a wolf shifter there is an instant connection.
This story line revolves around Jack, Galen and Renee working together against some dark magic, keeping Renee safe and at the same time figuring out what it means for Renee to have two mates.
The story line is great, the writing is fantastic of course anything Lauren Dane writes is worth reading.
The beginning of another good series.
June 23, 2012
This one is m/m/f, but there is not much for on-screen m/m in this book. I would have liked to see more of the guys together. It was discussed that they were fucking, but we never got to know who was top and I would have liked that information. This would have been 5 stars if that would have happened.
******
If you liked this book you may enjoy the following groups:
Erotic Enchants Group
Menage Readers Group
******
If you liked this book you may enjoy the following groups:
Erotic Enchants Group
Menage Readers Group
August 15, 2016
LOVE it
But what the hell was that ending??!!!!
I'm left with more questions than answers!
But I LOVE the trio in this book!
Renee, Galen and Jack were AWESOME!
I loved how the love between all three of them grew
And WOW! Was this book HOT!! Damn!
Can't wait to read the next book ..
Shifters, witches and a menage ...
But what the hell was that ending??!!!!
I'm left with more questions than answers!
But I LOVE the trio in this book!
Renee, Galen and Jack were AWESOME!
I loved how the love between all three of them grew
And WOW! Was this book HOT!! Damn!
Can't wait to read the next book ..
Shifters, witches and a menage ...
October 9, 2014
This is book 1 of the De La Vega Cats series. As always this is a great book by this author. It picks up from the Cascadia Wolves series. This is Jack's story from the same series. Jack finds Renee and the Galen. He finds he will be tri mated and things go from there. Renee is a healer and falls for jack hard. So does Galen, and it's hawt!! I am going to love this series.
July 13, 2018
This book is a hot mess.
Not enough of the three main characters getting to know each other and falling in love - Galen and Renee are already deep in a committed relationship at the start of the book and then it's insta-love with Jack.
Too much of their terrible relatives, and unexplained magic.
And last: why bother to have shapeshifter characters if they just stay human the whole time?
Not enough of the three main characters getting to know each other and falling in love - Galen and Renee are already deep in a committed relationship at the start of the book and then it's insta-love with Jack.
Too much of their terrible relatives, and unexplained magic.
And last: why bother to have shapeshifter characters if they just stay human the whole time?
September 18, 2014
OMG, what a shite book. And then it is a cliffhanger. Sorry, never reading another Dane book.
October 29, 2015
I always enjoy rereading this book! I love Renee and just skim the sexy times. Goodreads has the page count wrong, it's 528.
May 5, 2021
If you just want explicit sex this book has a bunch of it. If you want a well developed plot and characters then it falls short. Rennee really annoyed me. She's supposed to be so smart and strong but she allows people to treat her like crap but then gets all up in her boyfriends' faces when they try and help her deal with any of. She rants at them accusing them of disrespecting her and treating her like a dumb kid because they want to share her burden. When they explain that the members of the pack have overstepped legal limits of acceptable behaviour and need to be felt with because they can't be allowed to do that to anyone, she just gets pissy and complains they aren't listening to her or respecting or her need to deal with stuff herself. Is SHE listening didn't she hear that this isn't just about her.
Then the mother-in-law backs her up about how she would have been even more angry if someone had suggested she not fight all her own battles completely on her own. I'm all about feminism but this idea that women's lib means to be sassy in people's faces and not use common sense in case it makes you look weak is just stupid and too many of these romance novels try that approach. There is a time and a place for independence and strength and a time and a place to share your burden with your loved ones.
After yelling at them for trying to intervene when people are mean to her they go see someone who, while quietly talking to her when her boyfriend is talking to someone else, says a bunch of mean stuff and she gets furious with him for not standing up for her and then refuses to tell him what was actually said. I just want to smack her.
When she learns her father has been keeping secrets she's bent out of shape understandably wanting to discuss something that concerns her so closely but whenever she gets upset about anything with her partner's she refuses to discuss it and just want to walk away and pout. How is her behaviour any different or more acceptable. Her refusal to discuss her issues or have a rational dialogue is not conducive to a good relationship. Despite her calling them bossy alfa males she's the one who is always "my way or the highway", no compromise.
She's got a total complex about how beautiful, sexy, fit and successful her boyfriend's extended family/pack are and no mater how much they tell her they love her and lavish her with affection etc. she tosses in their faces everytime how aren't they going to leave her or how can she compare to this other people. Everyone suffer's from self-doubt but get over it all ready especially since she chose to live as she does, doing part time work running a coffee-juice bar and photography as a hobby. She choses not to excercies, not to do more with her photography and not to do more with her business, preferring to barely scarping along rather than accept some help from her partner to get something bigger off the ground that would wind up being more successful in the long run. People get business loans all the time it's not "not doing it on my own" to do that. The women who trash talk her maybe aren't entirely wrong when they say she lacks motivation.
I try to understand she's messed up from abuse and possible memory blocks but still I have no patience for her.
There a number of other issues that I don't do it for me like the ease of Jack joining a solidly established the relationship. I can see that metaphysical chemistry can force some mind blowing connection that is hard to refuse but I still think there would be a lot more personal stuff to work on for things to go smoothly. If there was any of that it wasn't addressed in the book
Too many different plot threads to solidly follow any of them. The issue with he bad guy just gets felt with off screen. The issue with Jack's connection just wraps up in one scene. The issues with Galen's family is just brushed aside and the issues with her own family are displayed right at the end only to be left hanging with no resolution. Not satisfying at all.
Then the mother-in-law backs her up about how she would have been even more angry if someone had suggested she not fight all her own battles completely on her own. I'm all about feminism but this idea that women's lib means to be sassy in people's faces and not use common sense in case it makes you look weak is just stupid and too many of these romance novels try that approach. There is a time and a place for independence and strength and a time and a place to share your burden with your loved ones.
After yelling at them for trying to intervene when people are mean to her they go see someone who, while quietly talking to her when her boyfriend is talking to someone else, says a bunch of mean stuff and she gets furious with him for not standing up for her and then refuses to tell him what was actually said. I just want to smack her.
When she learns her father has been keeping secrets she's bent out of shape understandably wanting to discuss something that concerns her so closely but whenever she gets upset about anything with her partner's she refuses to discuss it and just want to walk away and pout. How is her behaviour any different or more acceptable. Her refusal to discuss her issues or have a rational dialogue is not conducive to a good relationship. Despite her calling them bossy alfa males she's the one who is always "my way or the highway", no compromise.
She's got a total complex about how beautiful, sexy, fit and successful her boyfriend's extended family/pack are and no mater how much they tell her they love her and lavish her with affection etc. she tosses in their faces everytime how aren't they going to leave her or how can she compare to this other people. Everyone suffer's from self-doubt but get over it all ready especially since she chose to live as she does, doing part time work running a coffee-juice bar and photography as a hobby. She choses not to excercies, not to do more with her photography and not to do more with her business, preferring to barely scarping along rather than accept some help from her partner to get something bigger off the ground that would wind up being more successful in the long run. People get business loans all the time it's not "not doing it on my own" to do that. The women who trash talk her maybe aren't entirely wrong when they say she lacks motivation.
I try to understand she's messed up from abuse and possible memory blocks but still I have no patience for her.
There a number of other issues that I don't do it for me like the ease of Jack joining a solidly established the relationship. I can see that metaphysical chemistry can force some mind blowing connection that is hard to refuse but I still think there would be a lot more personal stuff to work on for things to go smoothly. If there was any of that it wasn't addressed in the book
Too many different plot threads to solidly follow any of them. The issue with he bad guy just gets felt with off screen. The issue with Jack's connection just wraps up in one scene. The issues with Galen's family is just brushed aside and the issues with her own family are displayed right at the end only to be left hanging with no resolution. Not satisfying at all.
November 19, 2023
1.5 stars.
This was an early Lauren Dane book. it is a testament to how much her plotting, pacing, and character work has grown because I've read a fair amount of her stuff and really like the more recent stuff. But this one and some of her other early work is pretty rough!
There is a kernel of an interesting plot in this book. The heroine Renee is a witch with very little training who has been in a long-term (4ish years) committed relationship with a jaguar shifter, Galen. Since she is human she has faced some hurdles with being accepted by his pack, but over the years she has won most of them over. But there are still pockets of people who dislike her and try to bully her or get her to dump Galen.
Added to that she has a very contentious relationship with her stepmother and her father. It is clear the stepmother has been terrible to her all her life (since she was 7) and has done a number on her self-esteem.
Added to that there is someone out there trying to mess with her head and possibly kill her. There is a broad hint that she is being prevented from learning more about her powers and there is a mystery behind her mother's death.
Into all of this comes Jack who is a wolf shifter and in the grand tradition of many a wolf shifter plot, we get the immediate recognition of a mate, mine, must have...blah, blah, blah.
So right away we have a heroine who has some major damsel signifiers. But there are a few pilot hooks there to hang an interesting story on. The mystery, why is she being prevented from using her magic? What is going on with her father and step-mother and then you have the complication with a mate coming in to blow up a long-standing relationship.
But none of these are explored or developed in any depth at all.
The romantic conflict is over in a flash as the three hash it out over dinner and voila a throuple is formed. Cuz luckily the guys are both bi.
We get a few scenes of someone trying to mess with her mind and her magic and one murder attempt. But we never find out why she in particular is a target. And the person who does it is dispatched in a sentence off screen. We go from bad guy escaping after attacking her, to "let's have some breakfast" to literally the next sentence is something like "Galen had to go on a run to shake off the kill." What Kill? What happened? How did we go from wheaties to murder in one sentence? I was listening on audio and thought something was corrupted with the audio file. But nope, that is exactly how it reads in text.
And then we learn that Renee has been lied to all her life and some rather major family revelations. Renee confronts her father and stepmother about it and they are all "Not gonna talk about it." and she is all' Derp.' and leaves.
Which brings me to the most frustrating element of the story, the writing for the heroine Renee. She is all over the place. The writing for her is illogical and she is really rather stupid. The book tells us how strong and kick ass she is only to show her being the biggest of noodle spines and not kickass at all. Or in one scene 'I don't need you to fight my battles!!" and the next scene she gets into a major argument with a member of Jack's pack where later she complains to him "You didn't stand up for me." Girl, make it make sense!
And it was so repetitive, so many of the same talking points said over and over. And the prolific sex scenes were also repetitive.
So yeah, this was not a good one for me.
This was an early Lauren Dane book. it is a testament to how much her plotting, pacing, and character work has grown because I've read a fair amount of her stuff and really like the more recent stuff. But this one and some of her other early work is pretty rough!
There is a kernel of an interesting plot in this book. The heroine Renee is a witch with very little training who has been in a long-term (4ish years) committed relationship with a jaguar shifter, Galen. Since she is human she has faced some hurdles with being accepted by his pack, but over the years she has won most of them over. But there are still pockets of people who dislike her and try to bully her or get her to dump Galen.
Added to that she has a very contentious relationship with her stepmother and her father. It is clear the stepmother has been terrible to her all her life (since she was 7) and has done a number on her self-esteem.
Added to that there is someone out there trying to mess with her head and possibly kill her. There is a broad hint that she is being prevented from learning more about her powers and there is a mystery behind her mother's death.
Into all of this comes Jack who is a wolf shifter and in the grand tradition of many a wolf shifter plot, we get the immediate recognition of a mate, mine, must have...blah, blah, blah.
So right away we have a heroine who has some major damsel signifiers. But there are a few pilot hooks there to hang an interesting story on. The mystery, why is she being prevented from using her magic? What is going on with her father and step-mother and then you have the complication with a mate coming in to blow up a long-standing relationship.
But none of these are explored or developed in any depth at all.
The romantic conflict is over in a flash as the three hash it out over dinner and voila a throuple is formed. Cuz luckily the guys are both bi.
We get a few scenes of someone trying to mess with her mind and her magic and one murder attempt. But we never find out why she in particular is a target. And the person who does it is dispatched in a sentence off screen. We go from bad guy escaping after attacking her, to "let's have some breakfast" to literally the next sentence is something like "Galen had to go on a run to shake off the kill." What Kill? What happened? How did we go from wheaties to murder in one sentence? I was listening on audio and thought something was corrupted with the audio file. But nope, that is exactly how it reads in text.
And then we learn that Renee has been lied to all her life and some rather major family revelations. Renee confronts her father and stepmother about it and they are all "Not gonna talk about it." and she is all' Derp.' and leaves.
Which brings me to the most frustrating element of the story, the writing for the heroine Renee. She is all over the place. The writing for her is illogical and she is really rather stupid. The book tells us how strong and kick ass she is only to show her being the biggest of noodle spines and not kickass at all. Or in one scene 'I don't need you to fight my battles!!" and the next scene she gets into a major argument with a member of Jack's pack where later she complains to him "You didn't stand up for me." Girl, make it make sense!
And it was so repetitive, so many of the same talking points said over and over. And the prolific sex scenes were also repetitive.
So yeah, this was not a good one for me.
Want to read
January 27, 2020Let me just start this review by saying that this is not the start of a series. It says de La Vega Cats #1 but fails to mention this series is a spin-off from another series. This negatively affected my read as there were a lot of characters, and aspects to the story that I think would have made more sense if I had read the 1st series before this. There were some interesting spins to the world-building that were brushed over and not explained properly until late in the book (or some not at all). For example, Jack being an anchor plot point was interesting but weird and hardly explained so I just didn't really understand it. I could tell the other series probably went into a lot more detail about that and so I feel like I missed out on that. Also, some of the past relationships have a history that I felt like I was missing a lot of context about (the Grace and Cade situation a good example).
All of this did frustrate me throughout the book. I strongly believe that if an author is going to say a book is #1 in a series it should be able to stand alone from any other series, or if not there should be a clear instruction to read the other series first.
But in saying all that, the book left on a cliff hanger and I do plan to read the next one because I need to know what will happen, so that is a good sign (even though it irks me I that I am stuck reading these out of order now).
I did skim a few parts in this book as I got a bit bored. There were some things in the plot and characterisation I found frustrating, mainly the repeat of the same argument over and over again with Renne and her 2 mates being overbearing alphas. I think once or twice would have been enough to get the point across and come to a resolution, but the same conflict kept happening and it got a bit annoying. There were plenty of other interesting plot points that could have gotten more time in the book.
There was still a lot to like about this book. I liked the characters and the world the book is set in (i hope to learn more about it though as I didn't get much detail in this book).
Anyway, I might decide on a rating once I read the next book because they are connected and a part of me feels like this book wasn't finished properly and I need to know if the set up will be paid off properly.
Trigger warnings below:
All of this did frustrate me throughout the book. I strongly believe that if an author is going to say a book is #1 in a series it should be able to stand alone from any other series, or if not there should be a clear instruction to read the other series first.
But in saying all that, the book left on a cliff hanger and I do plan to read the next one because I need to know what will happen, so that is a good sign (even though it irks me I that I am stuck reading these out of order now).
I did skim a few parts in this book as I got a bit bored. There were some things in the plot and characterisation I found frustrating, mainly the repeat of the same argument over and over again with Renne and her 2 mates being overbearing alphas. I think once or twice would have been enough to get the point across and come to a resolution, but the same conflict kept happening and it got a bit annoying. There were plenty of other interesting plot points that could have gotten more time in the book.
There was still a lot to like about this book. I liked the characters and the world the book is set in (i hope to learn more about it though as I didn't get much detail in this book).
Anyway, I might decide on a rating once I read the next book because they are connected and a part of me feels like this book wasn't finished properly and I need to know if the set up will be paid off properly.
Trigger warnings below:
November 28, 2020
I really liked Renee and Galen together. Their bond and devotion were beautiful.
But when Jack came into the picture, his bond with Renee happened too fast. He says he will take his time courting Renee but instead the same day that he speaks to Galen and Renee together, they all end up in bed immediately. There was no development of relationship between Jack and Renee like how the author had described what happened between Galen and Renee (they had written letters to each other for months because soon after their first meeting, Galen had had to leave the country). We don't get to see Jack and Renee getting to know each other, instead after a few bouts of the horizontal tango they're sprouting "I love you" and it just didn't feel authentic, didn't feel like the bond could be as strong as what Renee and Galen had.
I didn't quite understand how Galen could so quickly accept Jack as Renee's other mate; it seemed too smooth and easy even though the author tried to explain it by saying he had some intuition that it was right.
I loved Galen but didn't know how to feel about Jack. It felt like Galen was always 100% focused on Renee's well-being but I felt like Jack was sometimes more focused on what he wanted than on what might be best for Renee. I especially did not like when she was upset with him and didn't want to go with him to dinner at his pack alpha's house, and he guilted her by saying that if they had prepared food and had invited a lot of the pack over just to meet her, so if she didn't go, it would be rude and would let them all down: "This is my family and I'd be really hurt if you insulted them to punish me." Essentially he made it all about him. I dislike emotional blackmail and this one act of Jack's put me off him a great deal. Emotional blackmail is a red flag for me, and a person who does it deliberately and knowingly is a person who is manipulative and doesn't care about your feelings. He only cared about what he wanted in that moment and didn't care that Renee was upset with him or that her feelings were hurt. I would really have preferred Renee just to be with Galen. He was always loving and protective towards her.
But when Jack came into the picture, his bond with Renee happened too fast. He says he will take his time courting Renee but instead the same day that he speaks to Galen and Renee together, they all end up in bed immediately. There was no development of relationship between Jack and Renee like how the author had described what happened between Galen and Renee (they had written letters to each other for months because soon after their first meeting, Galen had had to leave the country). We don't get to see Jack and Renee getting to know each other, instead after a few bouts of the horizontal tango they're sprouting "I love you" and it just didn't feel authentic, didn't feel like the bond could be as strong as what Renee and Galen had.
I didn't quite understand how Galen could so quickly accept Jack as Renee's other mate; it seemed too smooth and easy even though the author tried to explain it by saying he had some intuition that it was right.
I loved Galen but didn't know how to feel about Jack. It felt like Galen was always 100% focused on Renee's well-being but I felt like Jack was sometimes more focused on what he wanted than on what might be best for Renee. I especially did not like when she was upset with him and didn't want to go with him to dinner at his pack alpha's house, and he guilted her by saying that if they had prepared food and had invited a lot of the pack over just to meet her, so if she didn't go, it would be rude and would let them all down: "This is my family and I'd be really hurt if you insulted them to punish me." Essentially he made it all about him. I dislike emotional blackmail and this one act of Jack's put me off him a great deal. Emotional blackmail is a red flag for me, and a person who does it deliberately and knowingly is a person who is manipulative and doesn't care about your feelings. He only cared about what he wanted in that moment and didn't care that Renee was upset with him or that her feelings were hurt. I would really have preferred Renee just to be with Galen. He was always loving and protective towards her.
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