Welcome to Alphaville, where the misfits, outcasts, and rejects of all breeds come! The town of Alpha is home to those who don't have a home or a pack. Its the last place Annie wanted to be after being tossed out of her own pack. But, in order to end her banishment, she must help out a shifter in Alpha. Turns out, the big bear shifter is her mate. The twist? This bear shifter doesn't believe in mates!
Something to Howl about was a quick read but it sets up the 'world' Warren is creating quite well. Annie and Jonas are likable characters and it is a bit of a hate-to-love twist on the fated mates trope.
Baby I'm Howling For You is the first full length book in the Alphaville series and centers around Renny and Mick, both wolves on the run (but for different reasons). Mick's mate died 8 years ago and he has refused to move on. Renny has a coyote stalker who won't move on. She ends up on Mick's front porch and finds her mate.
I will say that the plot is trite if you read PNR. Fated mates, quirky shifters, cartoonish bad guys, and other common themes are found. I was a little bothered by this, but I don't mind these tropes, so it didn't totally ruin the book.
Mick doesn't want a mate. He had one and she died. He fights the pull towards Renny, making it obvious he wants nothing to do with her. Then, suddenly, he mates her. Obviously, she is confused. Then he gets pissed when she voices her confusion. Mick was just kind of a jackass. I understood his pain and loss over his first mate, but his behavior was just rude, even after they mated. He never made Renny feel like he actually loved her. It was almost like she was a responsibility. Not sexy.
However, I loved Renny! She is sweet and funny. Her story is sad-no family, no friends, no pack, just a jerk of a stalker who won't take no for an answer. She isn't the type to want to put others at risk so she isn't willing to just sit around and let the residents of Alpha take over her life. She stands up to the men and isn't afraid of a fight. Frankly, she is a great character!
The plot unfolds around the hunt for the stalker combined with the mating relationship between Renny and Mick. You would think once they mate the issue is resolved, but its not! There are some funny supporting characters and some great banter between them that will keep things light and enjoyable. While I might have not liked Mick, I liked the town and the people and Renny enough to make this a great book!
- POV: 3rd
- Tears: no
- Trope: fated mates, shifters, stalker
- Triggers: none
- Series/Standalone: stand alone
- Cliffhanger: no
- HEA: yes
Books by NJ Walters, Lisa Ladew, Eve Langlais...then you will probably like The Alphaville Series!
See full review on The Book Disciple