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Alaskan Packs #1
Thorne Bay
Disillusioned and aimless, Evan Spencer makes a pact with herself. To follow wherever the finger of destiny points. Even if that means heading to some obscure Alaskan town she's never heard of. A place where the primal beauty of the backwoods is rivaled only by a certain pair of steely green eyes.
But Thorne Bay has a dark side. It's not just rumors and wary gazes that shadow the darkly alluring Tristan and his reclusive family. Her search for self, as it turns out, leads to a discovery of werewolves and a fight for survival. Alaska might just leave an indelible mark. Love and Death will leave her changed forever.
But Thorne Bay has a dark side. It's not just rumors and wary gazes that shadow the darkly alluring Tristan and his reclusive family. Her search for self, as it turns out, leads to a discovery of werewolves and a fight for survival. Alaska might just leave an indelible mark. Love and Death will leave her changed forever.
416 pages, ebook
Published August 11, 2018
77 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Jeanine Croft
6 books40 followersJeanine Croft is an itinerant seaman turned helicopter pilot turned novelist. She currently lives in Charleston with her husband and young son. She’s been known to have whole conversations with her characters in the shower, which isn’t at all unsettling to her menfolk or the dogs. She’s a lover of penny dreadfuls, fried tofu, and prefers the company of animals (except mosquitoes) and books. Visit her on instagram @jeaninecroft or online at jeaninecroft.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
January 19, 2021
* I got this eARC in exhange for a honest review from Netgalley *
Sadly this wasn`t for me. The main characters were boring and i didn`t feel like they had chemistry.
Sadly this wasn`t for me. The main characters were boring and i didn`t feel like they had chemistry.
August 14, 2018
In Jeanine Croft's debut novel Thorne Bay, we slip into Evan's quiet, uneventful life. A native Floridian stuck in a dead-end job and on the fast track to nowhere, she's ready to make a change. In a wild moment, she throws a dart into a world map, swearing she will go wherever it lands. It lands on Alaska, as far from her own life as she can imagine. Challenge accepted.
However, when Evan crosses paths with the dark and brooding Tristan, the pilot who flies her through the wilderness to Thorne Bay, her summer job at an Alaskan lodge becomes much more interesting. Quiet, reserved, and seeming to harbor secrets, Tristan catches Evan's interest, and as their paths continue to cross, her interest deepens, despite his resistance, and her instincts warning her to keep her distance.
Thorne Bay is a beautiful book, written by a master of prose. It's a stunning debut, passionate, dark, gritty, and driven by a profoundly relatable female character. Evan's journey is powerful, poetic, unforgettable. A triumph of storytelling.
Highly recommend.
August 23, 2018
Thorne Bay, Jeanine Croft
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre: Romance, paranormal and fantasy
I enjoyed this story, its a debut novel for Jeanine and a great start. However there were a couple of issues that hopefully will get fine tuned as later books come out. I can certainly see more books in this series, Dean's story sounds promising, plus of course there are other pack members and the whole keeping the secret in modern times issue.
Its a fun read though I wanted to slap Evan at times for her stupid decisions. Especially when she decides to return home – that's something we can all see isn't a good idea, is very unsafe and yet....I did like the chemistry between her and Tristan, and the way he was hot and cold for her – she doesn't know of course why he seems all over her one moment and giving her the brush off the next, nor why his family and friends are so strange. I liked Tristan, but wanted to know him ( and the others) in a bit more depth really. Nicole, I love characters like hers, and though she plays a big part in the later end of the novel I'd have like to see more of her early, more of her bitchyness and jealousy over Evan. I love the “bad” guys, they really add to a story for me.
I'd guessed what was going to happen, but not exactly how or how things would play out so that made for some fun reading. Its nicely paced, apart from the stupid decisions Evan makes. I did get tired of all the wolf references that kept cropping up at first, when even doesn't know what they are, it felt a bit like ramming the point home. Yes they're werewolves, no she doesn't yet know that, I could do without references to wolf eyes, behaviours, claws etc, like the language issue it felt jarring, overdone. Hopefully as later books come out Jeanine will find the balance, although it irritated I'd still rather have over use than back to the grunting and two syllable words that predominate in so much paranormal romance.
Its not a deep plot but kept fairly simple, which means its easy to follow given its a whole new world setting, with unknown characters. Its hard in a paranormal story delivering all that with an interesting plot, and sometimes simple and well done is better than a poorly done and complex plot, that leaves the reader with too many unanswered questions. I would have liked to know a little more about the main players in the story, and of course how on earth they manage to keep secret what they are. Usually in books like this is by way of some form of Vampire style wipe or alteration of memories, and/or having witches who can wipe clean scenes when things go wrong. If Evan had died what would they have told her family? How would they have dealt with authorities and the inevitable investigations. I think for later books these questions need to be addressed, maybe bring in some other types, or some humans in the know in certain places, IT, local cops etc who can help keep that believable.
My biggest issue was the language that kept cropping up, overly descriptive, using four words when one would do. Its kind of odd because I'm always banging on about books that seem to use only words of three syllables or less, and repetitive language.
When I'm reading a historical story I love to find words I don't know, that fit the period I'm reading about but in this book words kept cropping up that I had to look up. I'm an avid reader and it rarely happens, I'm pretty literate as far as knowing language ( using it is something else!) but here I found words that I didn't know, or was uncertain about it they didn't really feel right in the context used.
I rarely make notes when I'm reading, but after about the 5th or 6th time I started to note the words, “a momentary pulse of igneous green, like St Elmo's fire, suddenly flickered in his eyes.” In fact St Elmo's fire is blue or violet, not green, igneous or otherwise....and
igneous refers to rocks and fire rather than colours. You can get green igneous rock but it doesn't solely mean green. Using language like this its easy to make errors and for me it detracts from the actual story.
A few more examples, canid, sylvan, attestation, “whatever the myriad of secret thoughts quickening behind those unfathomable variegated eyes” that one is easy to understand but feels clumsy. Asseverated, limbal rings ( in an eye), gibbous moon, “mantled the ripples with bands of silver...an otherworldly moon with its strange halo of diaphanous cloud” cilice, syzygy, abnegate, senescence, declivitous, stygian.
I know many of those words, though not all, and not well but they felt out of place, as if the author was trying a little too hard. Sometimes Less really is More. The story is good enough without this, in facts IMO they bring it down. I did notice that past the halfway mark this issue became far less evident and for me that really made a difference.
Stars: three and a half. The basic story-line was a good start to what I hope will be a series, introducing some promising characters, a pack structure within other packs in the US.
KU read, suggested by author.
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre: Romance, paranormal and fantasy
I enjoyed this story, its a debut novel for Jeanine and a great start. However there were a couple of issues that hopefully will get fine tuned as later books come out. I can certainly see more books in this series, Dean's story sounds promising, plus of course there are other pack members and the whole keeping the secret in modern times issue.
Its a fun read though I wanted to slap Evan at times for her stupid decisions. Especially when she decides to return home – that's something we can all see isn't a good idea, is very unsafe and yet....I did like the chemistry between her and Tristan, and the way he was hot and cold for her – she doesn't know of course why he seems all over her one moment and giving her the brush off the next, nor why his family and friends are so strange. I liked Tristan, but wanted to know him ( and the others) in a bit more depth really. Nicole, I love characters like hers, and though she plays a big part in the later end of the novel I'd have like to see more of her early, more of her bitchyness and jealousy over Evan. I love the “bad” guys, they really add to a story for me.
I'd guessed what was going to happen, but not exactly how or how things would play out so that made for some fun reading. Its nicely paced, apart from the stupid decisions Evan makes. I did get tired of all the wolf references that kept cropping up at first, when even doesn't know what they are, it felt a bit like ramming the point home. Yes they're werewolves, no she doesn't yet know that, I could do without references to wolf eyes, behaviours, claws etc, like the language issue it felt jarring, overdone. Hopefully as later books come out Jeanine will find the balance, although it irritated I'd still rather have over use than back to the grunting and two syllable words that predominate in so much paranormal romance.
Its not a deep plot but kept fairly simple, which means its easy to follow given its a whole new world setting, with unknown characters. Its hard in a paranormal story delivering all that with an interesting plot, and sometimes simple and well done is better than a poorly done and complex plot, that leaves the reader with too many unanswered questions. I would have liked to know a little more about the main players in the story, and of course how on earth they manage to keep secret what they are. Usually in books like this is by way of some form of Vampire style wipe or alteration of memories, and/or having witches who can wipe clean scenes when things go wrong. If Evan had died what would they have told her family? How would they have dealt with authorities and the inevitable investigations. I think for later books these questions need to be addressed, maybe bring in some other types, or some humans in the know in certain places, IT, local cops etc who can help keep that believable.
My biggest issue was the language that kept cropping up, overly descriptive, using four words when one would do. Its kind of odd because I'm always banging on about books that seem to use only words of three syllables or less, and repetitive language.
When I'm reading a historical story I love to find words I don't know, that fit the period I'm reading about but in this book words kept cropping up that I had to look up. I'm an avid reader and it rarely happens, I'm pretty literate as far as knowing language ( using it is something else!) but here I found words that I didn't know, or was uncertain about it they didn't really feel right in the context used.
I rarely make notes when I'm reading, but after about the 5th or 6th time I started to note the words, “a momentary pulse of igneous green, like St Elmo's fire, suddenly flickered in his eyes.” In fact St Elmo's fire is blue or violet, not green, igneous or otherwise....and
igneous refers to rocks and fire rather than colours. You can get green igneous rock but it doesn't solely mean green. Using language like this its easy to make errors and for me it detracts from the actual story.
A few more examples, canid, sylvan, attestation, “whatever the myriad of secret thoughts quickening behind those unfathomable variegated eyes” that one is easy to understand but feels clumsy. Asseverated, limbal rings ( in an eye), gibbous moon, “mantled the ripples with bands of silver...an otherworldly moon with its strange halo of diaphanous cloud” cilice, syzygy, abnegate, senescence, declivitous, stygian.
I know many of those words, though not all, and not well but they felt out of place, as if the author was trying a little too hard. Sometimes Less really is More. The story is good enough without this, in facts IMO they bring it down. I did notice that past the halfway mark this issue became far less evident and for me that really made a difference.
Stars: three and a half. The basic story-line was a good start to what I hope will be a series, introducing some promising characters, a pack structure within other packs in the US.
KU read, suggested by author.
April 13, 2019
One would never guess how much a dart, mundane as it is, might change a life. In this story, it is a precursor to the chain of events that make up its engaging plot. Thorne Bay is like a wheel rolling down a hill. It starts off with just the right amount of speed to get you going, and as it progresses, the plot intensifies until you find yourself heart-pumpingly catapulted to the end.
This story begins with a young woman in her early twenties, confused like so many of us at that age, about what path to take in life. Fed up with her grandfather’s snide remarks about her failures, she finally decides to allow fate in the form of a dart thrown at a map, to determine her path. After all, all her attempts at decision-making clearly didn’t pan out.
Evan is a character I found very relatable. I instantly fell in love with her relentless sense of humor and caught myself chuckling at the pages quite often, while swept into her quirky mind. I also found myself sympathetic to her inner struggle to find herself whilst figuring out what she wanted in life.
Fate leads Evan to Alaska, where our story is set against a beautiful backdrop of Alaskan wilderness, in the small town of Thorn Bay, where Evan must make a new life for herself. It isn’t easy when you’ve got a hot, rugged outdoorsmen paying you attention. Especially when that man is a helicopter pilot with a whole lot of charm and even more secrets. But Evan manages, albeit with some great banter between herself and our mysterious Tristan. Not to mention the tantalizing romance that begins to unfold between them.
Very quickly rumors of werewolves start marking the pages of Thorne Bay, and I found myself eager to learn the truth. Evan also quickly finds herself tangled up in their politics before she realizes what she’s gotten herself into. And at this point, I could not stop turning the pages. I often had to force myself to slow down my reading for fear that I would miss important details scattered throughout. At first, I thought I could predict the plot but quickly found myself presently surprised time and again when things didn’t go the way I first expected. Who doesn’t love refreshing unpredictability?!
While I don’t want to spoil the plot, let’s just say that Evan does not make it out of Thorne Bay unchanged, but, unchanged for the better. I absolutely loved this story. It is one I would read again, and recommend to anyone who wants to escape their lives for a short while to enjoy the excitement, warm moments of romance, and suspense that this book has to offer.
Finally, I’d like to say this isn’t your typical werewolf book. I find so much of the genre to be saturated with overly alpha, domineering, unrealistic males. This story felt so much more realistic. It was refreshing to get that in a werewolf story. Applause for Jeanine Croft.
This story begins with a young woman in her early twenties, confused like so many of us at that age, about what path to take in life. Fed up with her grandfather’s snide remarks about her failures, she finally decides to allow fate in the form of a dart thrown at a map, to determine her path. After all, all her attempts at decision-making clearly didn’t pan out.
Evan is a character I found very relatable. I instantly fell in love with her relentless sense of humor and caught myself chuckling at the pages quite often, while swept into her quirky mind. I also found myself sympathetic to her inner struggle to find herself whilst figuring out what she wanted in life.
Fate leads Evan to Alaska, where our story is set against a beautiful backdrop of Alaskan wilderness, in the small town of Thorn Bay, where Evan must make a new life for herself. It isn’t easy when you’ve got a hot, rugged outdoorsmen paying you attention. Especially when that man is a helicopter pilot with a whole lot of charm and even more secrets. But Evan manages, albeit with some great banter between herself and our mysterious Tristan. Not to mention the tantalizing romance that begins to unfold between them.
Very quickly rumors of werewolves start marking the pages of Thorne Bay, and I found myself eager to learn the truth. Evan also quickly finds herself tangled up in their politics before she realizes what she’s gotten herself into. And at this point, I could not stop turning the pages. I often had to force myself to slow down my reading for fear that I would miss important details scattered throughout. At first, I thought I could predict the plot but quickly found myself presently surprised time and again when things didn’t go the way I first expected. Who doesn’t love refreshing unpredictability?!
While I don’t want to spoil the plot, let’s just say that Evan does not make it out of Thorne Bay unchanged, but, unchanged for the better. I absolutely loved this story. It is one I would read again, and recommend to anyone who wants to escape their lives for a short while to enjoy the excitement, warm moments of romance, and suspense that this book has to offer.
Finally, I’d like to say this isn’t your typical werewolf book. I find so much of the genre to be saturated with overly alpha, domineering, unrealistic males. This story felt so much more realistic. It was refreshing to get that in a werewolf story. Applause for Jeanine Croft.
February 2, 2019
Magnificent Story
Croft pens a magnificent story with Thorne Bay. I enjoyed this book from the beginning and was introduced to Evan Spencer, a great character who embarks on a new adventure. This book is filled with ups and downs, and the author brings her imagination to life. It's well-written and characters as Evan and her love interest, Tristan have great depth and character. The characters don't feel forced, and feel very natural. It's one of those stories that is hard to put down. This may be my first book I've read by Croft, but it won't be my last.
Croft pens a magnificent story with Thorne Bay. I enjoyed this book from the beginning and was introduced to Evan Spencer, a great character who embarks on a new adventure. This book is filled with ups and downs, and the author brings her imagination to life. It's well-written and characters as Evan and her love interest, Tristan have great depth and character. The characters don't feel forced, and feel very natural. It's one of those stories that is hard to put down. This may be my first book I've read by Croft, but it won't be my last.
August 23, 2018
This was a very sensual read, showing a deep knowledge and appreciation for werewolf lore.
While I've never been much of a romance reader, this is one of the handful of books that is the exception to the rule (and most of which can be attributed to this author, in fact; I cannot wait to see her other series in print someday!) Add in the fact that the first-person narrative was well-executed, the writing enviable, the characters complex and a fairly action-packed, thrilling plot, and you've got a recipe for a solid story. I felt all of the elements used--romance, paranormal, suspense, intrigue--flowed beautifully together, none overshadowing the other. The relationships between characters, be they hostile or amorous, were done realistically, and the attention to detail regarding body language and environment interconnected with everything else seamlessly.
Aside from the very rare typo, this was an excellent read, and one I would recommend to lovers of paranormal romance--especially for those of werewolf lore.
While I've never been much of a romance reader, this is one of the handful of books that is the exception to the rule (and most of which can be attributed to this author, in fact; I cannot wait to see her other series in print someday!) Add in the fact that the first-person narrative was well-executed, the writing enviable, the characters complex and a fairly action-packed, thrilling plot, and you've got a recipe for a solid story. I felt all of the elements used--romance, paranormal, suspense, intrigue--flowed beautifully together, none overshadowing the other. The relationships between characters, be they hostile or amorous, were done realistically, and the attention to detail regarding body language and environment interconnected with everything else seamlessly.
Aside from the very rare typo, this was an excellent read, and one I would recommend to lovers of paranormal romance--especially for those of werewolf lore.
August 29, 2018
First great blurb but doesn't even scratch the surface of Thorne Bay which hopefully has some sort of sequel.
A dart stuck in a map points Evan on a trip to Alaska gets the story moving. Right off we find Evan has a unfiltered inner monologue and a feisty and quite humorous way of conversing. The connection between characters Evan and Tristan and all the antics that befall them really tie the tale together.
Another awesome detail is chapter names which are humorous and witty.
All in all I have no critism of any sort other than I felt the percentage read creeping closer to 100% and wondered will this be enough or will I be left hanging on the precipice and left with the dreaded cliff hanger?
The ending was good with a resolution that if our lovely author so chooses who not cause the angst of that written cliff. But I am a greedy reader and would love more of this couple that are packed with attitude but still feel this can stand alone. 5 stars all of which I hope lead to more of Thorne Bay.
A dart stuck in a map points Evan on a trip to Alaska gets the story moving. Right off we find Evan has a unfiltered inner monologue and a feisty and quite humorous way of conversing. The connection between characters Evan and Tristan and all the antics that befall them really tie the tale together.
Another awesome detail is chapter names which are humorous and witty.
All in all I have no critism of any sort other than I felt the percentage read creeping closer to 100% and wondered will this be enough or will I be left hanging on the precipice and left with the dreaded cliff hanger?
The ending was good with a resolution that if our lovely author so chooses who not cause the angst of that written cliff. But I am a greedy reader and would love more of this couple that are packed with attitude but still feel this can stand alone. 5 stars all of which I hope lead to more of Thorne Bay.
October 14, 2018
The story starts off a little slow, but if you keep going it picks up and becomes an enjoyable read. The main character is well developed, though the rest could use a little more depth. The story line is good, but a little obvious. This would have worked better as two books. The second half was a little rushed and would have made for a good story on its own if fleshed out more. It would have allowed for better character development and more connection with the reader.
I received a complimentary copy from VRO in return for an honest review.
I received a complimentary copy from VRO in return for an honest review.
October 18, 2020
Loathed the use of "half caste" - why use a racial slur when you are inventing a world of werewolves and can use any word/s you like?
Otherwise, the book was a bit cliched, and I did get annoyed with Evan. the lusting after hot men is rather shallow and gets old fast. And the clumsiness, supposed to make our heroine 'adorkable' I suppose, hmm. She was snarky at times, but caved to other people quickly at others.
Cliched stories of young women discovering the object of their affection is a werewolf can be fun, this one just wasn't for me.
Otherwise, the book was a bit cliched, and I did get annoyed with Evan. the lusting after hot men is rather shallow and gets old fast. And the clumsiness, supposed to make our heroine 'adorkable' I suppose, hmm. She was snarky at times, but caved to other people quickly at others.
Cliched stories of young women discovering the object of their affection is a werewolf can be fun, this one just wasn't for me.
September 7, 2018
Potential
This book, and the author herself has a lot of potential to make it large. It is obvious that the author paid attention to every sentence. However, the word choice was a little wonky and odd at times. But once you delve past the language and understand what the story is really telling it changes it all. It was a fascinating “tail”(haha), with beautiful characters. I am definitely interested in reading more of this author, because once she blooms it will be epic
This book, and the author herself has a lot of potential to make it large. It is obvious that the author paid attention to every sentence. However, the word choice was a little wonky and odd at times. But once you delve past the language and understand what the story is really telling it changes it all. It was a fascinating “tail”(haha), with beautiful characters. I am definitely interested in reading more of this author, because once she blooms it will be epic
October 7, 2018
I received a free copy of this book from the author via Voracious Readers Only. I enjoyed this book - it was a pretty typical girl meets boy who is a werewolf story but it was well written and the story flowed well and kept me interested to the end. My only complaint would be the author’s tendency to use words I’ve never heard of on almost every page. It took me out of the story each time and was distracting.
November 4, 2022
The title intrigued me as I grew up in Thorne Bay. The story line reminded me of the Twilight series.
I had a very tough time looking past factual inaccuracies- you can’t fly from Florida directly to Ketchikan, AK.
There aren’t Moose on Prince of Wales Is. As well as other references that couldn’t/wouldn’t be possible.
Understanding this is a work of fiction, I did relax a bit and enjoy the story. It was a fast read and I can see it was left open for other similar story lines.
I had a very tough time looking past factual inaccuracies- you can’t fly from Florida directly to Ketchikan, AK.
There aren’t Moose on Prince of Wales Is. As well as other references that couldn’t/wouldn’t be possible.
Understanding this is a work of fiction, I did relax a bit and enjoy the story. It was a fast read and I can see it was left open for other similar story lines.
November 10, 2018
Pretty good
Good storyline, but this book needs an editor. The dialogue was done improperly and was confusing at times. I did enjoy the characters. Evan and Tristan had a lot of chemistry and I enjoyed their banter. Don't expect anything too complex though. The storyline was a predictable, basic werewolf story.
Good storyline, but this book needs an editor. The dialogue was done improperly and was confusing at times. I did enjoy the characters. Evan and Tristan had a lot of chemistry and I enjoyed their banter. Don't expect anything too complex though. The storyline was a predictable, basic werewolf story.
September 11, 2018
WOW! There just ate not enough adjectives to use reviewing "Thorne Bay".
It was a tremendously enjoyable read. She writes her characters so well you can picture then in your mind. I am looking forward to this author 's next book.
It was a tremendously enjoyable read. She writes her characters so well you can picture then in your mind. I am looking forward to this author 's next book.
September 30, 2018
Thorne Bay brought me to a different kind of love story in a special way. It is a story i highly recommend and is definitely not the cliche love story that we get often. Very refreshing & seductive. Love it!!!
August 27, 2018
Great werewolf story.
An original werewolf story with a happy ending. Could be stand alone or a series.. will me be waiting to see.
An original werewolf story with a happy ending. Could be stand alone or a series.. will me be waiting to see.
August 28, 2018
Couldn’t put it down!!!
September 1, 2018
Wolf
Loved all the puns and quotes they added life. A much slower romance. There should have been a tweaked sex on the beach recipe.
Loved all the puns and quotes they added life. A much slower romance. There should have been a tweaked sex on the beach recipe.
September 10, 2018
Really enjoyed this book. The author has a great imagination and leaves us readers wanting more. As you go through Evan’s story, you defiantly won’t want to put this book
September 29, 2018
Too much of a good thing
The writing was pure poetry. Although, the story could have been much shorter and still been just as poignant. 📚
The writing was pure poetry. Although, the story could have been much shorter and still been just as poignant. 📚
September 22, 2020
Let's get the known out of the way. The book is werewolf fiction. There is a girl involved. There is also a boy involved. We might expect a girl meets boy, girl gets boy story arc. And, yes, there are hormones involved. But if we stopped there we’d be missing out on the ride. And it is quite a ride!
I can’t relate to all of the protagonist’s decision making processes however, what I can relate to are her anxieties as she tries to navigate through life and adulthood.
Though not a teenager, Evan is socially inept. She is self deprecating and uncertain of her worth. The influence of the Americanised overculture is very apparent in her inner speech patterns and image of herself and this shadows her when she takes off to the most remote part of the world. On the surface, she believes it to be a journey taken just to rebel against a hypercritical patriarch but there are some lucid moments of wisdom, albeit it ensconced in uncertainties, that this journey is more than what it seems; it is her vision quest to find the true Evan, and she finds herself through the most gruelling trial imaginable.
The descriptions of nature is breathtaking and I am glad that the book was set where it was. Readers will truly appreciate the way the environment and the shifting is described in vivid detail, I believe this is one of the author’s biggest fortes throughout this book.
Evan’s awkwardness dominates her forays into the great unknown of Alaska and into the tentative stages of couplehood, and one can’t help but feel for the girl. Like the naive Little Red Riding Hood she skips innocently, hormones and all, into a situation that is way over her head with a man that is way over anything she could’ve imagined. Knowing only of following her heart, Evan’s innocent and trusting nature leads her right smack into the middle of a power struggle as volatile as the weather at Thorne Bay, and before she has realised what has hit her she is in a desperate fight for survival.
There is a maturing in Evan after her “baptism of blood” that is satisfying to see. The peace that she feels is one that is relatable, an equilibrium sought by many similar late bloomers; a hope that we would have also survived our own coming-of-age experience with just as much of a sense of acceptance as she has found.
As a piece of fiction, the book has the usual predictable story arcs but how it gets there is anything but. And the true, unexpected, gem of the story lies in watching Evan find herself and shed that cloak of awkwardness and uncertainty imposed by the overculture to create a definition for her own identity.
It was a surprisingly pleasant coming-of-age ride late bloomer style. I would recommend it to anyone who is open to a different perspective of werewolf fiction and who can identify with the awkwardness and anxieties of finding our own path in life.
I give it 5 stars for being a great escape for many hours.
I can’t relate to all of the protagonist’s decision making processes however, what I can relate to are her anxieties as she tries to navigate through life and adulthood.
Though not a teenager, Evan is socially inept. She is self deprecating and uncertain of her worth. The influence of the Americanised overculture is very apparent in her inner speech patterns and image of herself and this shadows her when she takes off to the most remote part of the world. On the surface, she believes it to be a journey taken just to rebel against a hypercritical patriarch but there are some lucid moments of wisdom, albeit it ensconced in uncertainties, that this journey is more than what it seems; it is her vision quest to find the true Evan, and she finds herself through the most gruelling trial imaginable.
The descriptions of nature is breathtaking and I am glad that the book was set where it was. Readers will truly appreciate the way the environment and the shifting is described in vivid detail, I believe this is one of the author’s biggest fortes throughout this book.
Evan’s awkwardness dominates her forays into the great unknown of Alaska and into the tentative stages of couplehood, and one can’t help but feel for the girl. Like the naive Little Red Riding Hood she skips innocently, hormones and all, into a situation that is way over her head with a man that is way over anything she could’ve imagined. Knowing only of following her heart, Evan’s innocent and trusting nature leads her right smack into the middle of a power struggle as volatile as the weather at Thorne Bay, and before she has realised what has hit her she is in a desperate fight for survival.
There is a maturing in Evan after her “baptism of blood” that is satisfying to see. The peace that she feels is one that is relatable, an equilibrium sought by many similar late bloomers; a hope that we would have also survived our own coming-of-age experience with just as much of a sense of acceptance as she has found.
As a piece of fiction, the book has the usual predictable story arcs but how it gets there is anything but. And the true, unexpected, gem of the story lies in watching Evan find herself and shed that cloak of awkwardness and uncertainty imposed by the overculture to create a definition for her own identity.
It was a surprisingly pleasant coming-of-age ride late bloomer style. I would recommend it to anyone who is open to a different perspective of werewolf fiction and who can identify with the awkwardness and anxieties of finding our own path in life.
I give it 5 stars for being a great escape for many hours.
November 28, 2020
ARC from NetGalley
Okay. I have mostly good things to say about this book. It was an A+ slow-burn paranormal romance. There was no unbelievable instalove. There was no immediate boning. The plot was actually interesting, and I wanted to actually read it and not just skim until I found the sexy bits *cough* not that I would do that >>.>> It became a bribe book for me. I could only read it once I got my work done, and when any book gets to that place, it's a 5-star for me unless there is something seriously wrong with it.
On to the negatives.
There were a few times that things were unbelievable. Evan is literally told over and over, she sees sculptures, reads books, just.. there's so many times I was rolling my eyes like GURL. I shook my damn head several times.
Additionally, this book is really adjective heavy, and at times I felt I was reading the product of the author's word-a-day calendar. Exhibit A: “Yet Tristan had stated this in such a contumelious way that I was hardly flattered by the declaration.” I mean, maybe you throw words such as contumelious around on the daily, but I don't. There were several times words like this popped up. I mean, for the most part I knew what they meant, if only in gleaning. I don't consider myself an imbecile. I've read a lot of books and thus a lot of words, but yeah it stood out. Also, not necessarily rationally, I was irritated by the excessive use of the word "piquant."
All that bitching aside. This was a good read. Not perfect, but good. If you like paranormal romance and don't like reading shitty ones that have you rolling your eyes, the kind that are churned out like rabbits, read this one instead.
Okay. I have mostly good things to say about this book. It was an A+ slow-burn paranormal romance. There was no unbelievable instalove. There was no immediate boning. The plot was actually interesting, and I wanted to actually read it and not just skim until I found the sexy bits *cough* not that I would do that >>.>> It became a bribe book for me. I could only read it once I got my work done, and when any book gets to that place, it's a 5-star for me unless there is something seriously wrong with it.
On to the negatives.
There were a few times that things were unbelievable. Evan is literally told over and over, she sees sculptures, reads books, just.. there's so many times I was rolling my eyes like GURL. I shook my damn head several times.
Additionally, this book is really adjective heavy, and at times I felt I was reading the product of the author's word-a-day calendar. Exhibit A: “Yet Tristan had stated this in such a contumelious way that I was hardly flattered by the declaration.” I mean, maybe you throw words such as contumelious around on the daily, but I don't. There were several times words like this popped up. I mean, for the most part I knew what they meant, if only in gleaning. I don't consider myself an imbecile. I've read a lot of books and thus a lot of words, but yeah it stood out. Also, not necessarily rationally, I was irritated by the excessive use of the word "piquant."
All that bitching aside. This was a good read. Not perfect, but good. If you like paranormal romance and don't like reading shitty ones that have you rolling your eyes, the kind that are churned out like rabbits, read this one instead.
October 4, 2020
The story follows Evan Spencer as she makes a drastic move to try to follow her destiny and find her place in the world. She moves away from her family to Alaska in the hopes of finding herself and her independence. On the way we meet Tristan who is extremely good-looking, but shrouded in mystery along with his family. Not bothered by rumors, or perhaps eager to discover the truth by herself, Evan forges a friendship with Tristan that seems to be more than that. As their bond develops, we meet some of the people Evan works with and some of the people from Tristan's family.
The author maintains a level of intrigue around Tristan and drops enough hints without directly giving way to the idea of werewolves. Though the main characters are well developed, some of the supporting characters like Nicole and Dean are just touched upon. It would have been nice to have some more background on them, some insights into their lives before Evan turned up in Alaska and this entire plot line was set in motion. Some horrors of the werewolf world and the laws that govern their existence are brought in and this adds context, but could have been addressed in-depth to add to the storyline.
Some parts of the story are quite normal and expected and the love story that develops between our two main characters is wonderful to read about. I enjoyed the way the author approached the supernatural and the punny banter between Evan and Tristan.
Overall however, I would say that this is definitely an enjoyable and worthwhile read!
The author maintains a level of intrigue around Tristan and drops enough hints without directly giving way to the idea of werewolves. Though the main characters are well developed, some of the supporting characters like Nicole and Dean are just touched upon. It would have been nice to have some more background on them, some insights into their lives before Evan turned up in Alaska and this entire plot line was set in motion. Some horrors of the werewolf world and the laws that govern their existence are brought in and this adds context, but could have been addressed in-depth to add to the storyline.
Some parts of the story are quite normal and expected and the love story that develops between our two main characters is wonderful to read about. I enjoyed the way the author approached the supernatural and the punny banter between Evan and Tristan.
Overall however, I would say that this is definitely an enjoyable and worthwhile read!
November 11, 2020
Thorne Bay by Jeanine Croft is book one in An Alaskan Packs Novel. The book tells the story of Evan, a young woman who is trying to find her path in life. To help make a decision she throws a dart at a map one day and it lands in Alaska, a place which is completely different from where she has been and what she knows. On her journey to Alaska, she meets Tristan, a dark and mysterious man who flies her up to Throne Bay. From there Evan starts her new adventure…but everything is not what it seems.
Thorne Bay is a really descriptive, beautifully written book about secrets, finding yourself and a refreshing take on the werewolf, paranormal genre. Evan is a likeable character, even though at times she could be slightly frustrating, but this could be due to the age that she portrays and the self-discovery journey that she is on. At times she can be wildly quirky and that helped to balance out the ever-serious Tristan. The story flows and leaves you wanting to know more about other characters and their own journey.
A well written book with detailed description of life in Alaska and the secrets it can hold.
ARC received for a fair, honest and sometimes long review. All opinions are my own. 😊
More of my reviews can be found on my blog: http://thehotmesslibrary.blogspot.com
Thorne Bay is a really descriptive, beautifully written book about secrets, finding yourself and a refreshing take on the werewolf, paranormal genre. Evan is a likeable character, even though at times she could be slightly frustrating, but this could be due to the age that she portrays and the self-discovery journey that she is on. At times she can be wildly quirky and that helped to balance out the ever-serious Tristan. The story flows and leaves you wanting to know more about other characters and their own journey.
A well written book with detailed description of life in Alaska and the secrets it can hold.
ARC received for a fair, honest and sometimes long review. All opinions are my own. 😊
More of my reviews can be found on my blog: http://thehotmesslibrary.blogspot.com
June 4, 2024
This is a slow-burn read where shifters live among humans, unbeknownst to them—I always find this sort of setting to be fun and this was no exception! It’s slow-paced, so there’s plenty of time to get to know the female lead and figure out all the things she hasn’t yet.
Adventure.
Shifters.
Set in Alaska.
Pack politics.
Wrongfully accused.
Crime.
Vi0lence.
Overall:
My first experience with this author and I’m calling it a win. I liked the sort-of ‘darker’ approach this author took on werewolves and pack life. It was bit slow-paced, but ultimately: fun.
3.5 stars.
🎧Audio:
The narrator was pleasant enough to listen to and the overall sound quality was good. There were a couple minor hiccups (like a sentence being read twice), but overall well done. 4 stars.
*Edited to add:
This, at times, reminded me of another series I read ages ago, set in Alaska. If you enjoyed this book, you may also like:
Arctic Bound
Adventure.
Shifters.
Set in Alaska.
Pack politics.
Wrongfully accused.
Crime.
Vi0lence.
Overall:
My first experience with this author and I’m calling it a win. I liked the sort-of ‘darker’ approach this author took on werewolves and pack life. It was bit slow-paced, but ultimately: fun.
3.5 stars.
🎧Audio:
The narrator was pleasant enough to listen to and the overall sound quality was good. There were a couple minor hiccups (like a sentence being read twice), but overall well done. 4 stars.
*Edited to add:
This, at times, reminded me of another series I read ages ago, set in Alaska. If you enjoyed this book, you may also like:
Arctic Bound
December 14, 2020
“‘I love you.’ He kissed me then, lips in fierce espousal of his claim. A kiss that left no doubt of his feelings.”
Thorne Bay by Jeanine Croft tells the story of Evan Spencer, who decides by blindly pointing at a map to move to Thorne Bay Alaska and to make herself a life there. When she is flown there by the handsome Tristan, she feels an attraction to him from the beginning. It doesn’t take long for her to see that something is off about Tristan and his family. Rumors around town say they are part of a cult. She can’t seem to stay away though.
I adore a good shifter book, especially werewolves with a fun pack/family structure. Thorne Bay does not disappoint in this category in anyway. I loved the main characters. Their banter was adorable and witty. I love the wolves back story. And the romance is fab. I would highly recommend this to any paranormal romance fan, or fan of werewolves or romance. I give this book 4 full stars and I fully intend to stalk this author for more books.
Thorne Bay by Jeanine Croft tells the story of Evan Spencer, who decides by blindly pointing at a map to move to Thorne Bay Alaska and to make herself a life there. When she is flown there by the handsome Tristan, she feels an attraction to him from the beginning. It doesn’t take long for her to see that something is off about Tristan and his family. Rumors around town say they are part of a cult. She can’t seem to stay away though.
I adore a good shifter book, especially werewolves with a fun pack/family structure. Thorne Bay does not disappoint in this category in anyway. I loved the main characters. Their banter was adorable and witty. I love the wolves back story. And the romance is fab. I would highly recommend this to any paranormal romance fan, or fan of werewolves or romance. I give this book 4 full stars and I fully intend to stalk this author for more books.
May 30, 2024
What a great listen! I went into this. Not knowing a lot about it other than its a shifter wolf story and it is set in Alaska. Both of those hooked me! I enjoyed the storyline. A couple things in here really kept me guessing and wondering how it would play out. It really has action, suspense and drama and kept me thoroughly entertained. I was thrilled with the characters and their development. Well actually just Evan has a lot of changes that she grows from. She is a pleasant and upbeat MC. Did I love everything she did? No but she is young so take that into account. Tristan is a guy who repeatedly shows up and has interest in Evan but hides a secret. He runs hot and cold but I feel it has to do with his secret. The secondary characters add some fun, flair and worrying times to an already exciting cast.
I listened to this on audio. Kelli Tager does the narrative. I have listened to her before and enjoyed her. This one she does a good job but feel the accent gets confused a few times and maybe more differences between the males would be good.
I listened to this on audio. Kelli Tager does the narrative. I have listened to her before and enjoyed her. This one she does a good job but feel the accent gets confused a few times and maybe more differences between the males would be good.
September 10, 2024
Audiobook Review:
This was a very enjoyable paranormal romance. I liked this take on werewolves. I felt the author built a good world and setting for these characters, one that felt realistic but also with the added feel like as though werewolves really could be among us. I really liked Evan, the leading lady. I found her inner monologues to be quite hilarious and I loved the banter between her and Tristan. This story had entertaining plotting and pacing to keep your attention. I found myself easily coming back to it after life requirements took me away. That was also helped by the excellent narration. Kelli Tager is a performer I’ve heard and enjoyed before and this story was another one where she does the story justice. I hope there will be more books to follow starring some of the secondary characters featured here like Tristan’s brother. I also would always enjoy hearing another romance brought to life by Kelli.
TheFlockVIPReviewTeam
This was a very enjoyable paranormal romance. I liked this take on werewolves. I felt the author built a good world and setting for these characters, one that felt realistic but also with the added feel like as though werewolves really could be among us. I really liked Evan, the leading lady. I found her inner monologues to be quite hilarious and I loved the banter between her and Tristan. This story had entertaining plotting and pacing to keep your attention. I found myself easily coming back to it after life requirements took me away. That was also helped by the excellent narration. Kelli Tager is a performer I’ve heard and enjoyed before and this story was another one where she does the story justice. I hope there will be more books to follow starring some of the secondary characters featured here like Tristan’s brother. I also would always enjoy hearing another romance brought to life by Kelli.
TheFlockVIPReviewTeam
October 9, 2020
Yasss! I adored this book 100 percent! Evans's quick wit and ways made her so likeable. By chapter 2 I was already rooting for her and fully invested. Tristen was the perfect alpha male sweetheart. Their weirdness just vibed and the attraction was there from the beginning.
The first half of the story gave me grown up Twilight feels but in the best possible way. Tristen's hot and cold moments kept the attraction fire hot and when he started dropping jokes about being a werewolf I laughed out loud.
As the book took a turn to almost fully supernatural I worried there would be a cliffhanger and second book but boy was I wrong. The ending was wrapped up with a tidy little bow and I was more than satisfied. Ill be looking forward to reading more from this author. She kept me hooked til the last word. Bravo.
The first half of the story gave me grown up Twilight feels but in the best possible way. Tristen's hot and cold moments kept the attraction fire hot and when he started dropping jokes about being a werewolf I laughed out loud.
As the book took a turn to almost fully supernatural I worried there would be a cliffhanger and second book but boy was I wrong. The ending was wrapped up with a tidy little bow and I was more than satisfied. Ill be looking forward to reading more from this author. She kept me hooked til the last word. Bravo.
October 17, 2020
I'm always up for a werewolf tale!
Whether flirty or not, I loved the repartee in this book. It is definitely my kind of humor and I did laugh a lot.
Yes, there’s cringe-worthy and cliche (I’m sorry to say) {ooooooh it’s similar to............twilight........} moments but it makes it more exciting, as if hoping there’s something more twisted to come, which my wish was granted.
I really enjoyed the joking nature of Tristan and Evan, I did have thoughts that since Evan was so smart (the words she used, how she thought, etc) she would make better decisions, during the falling action of the story, but people i.e characters, make mistakes.
I feel the ending was a bit rushed and would have liked some more action/conflict, but understood when it wasn't direly needed.
I do look forward to any more books in this series and the growth of these super likable characters.
Whether flirty or not, I loved the repartee in this book. It is definitely my kind of humor and I did laugh a lot.
Yes, there’s cringe-worthy and cliche (I’m sorry to say) {ooooooh it’s similar to............twilight........} moments but it makes it more exciting, as if hoping there’s something more twisted to come, which my wish was granted.
I really enjoyed the joking nature of Tristan and Evan, I did have thoughts that since Evan was so smart (the words she used, how she thought, etc) she would make better decisions, during the falling action of the story, but people i.e characters, make mistakes.
I feel the ending was a bit rushed and would have liked some more action/conflict, but understood when it wasn't direly needed.
I do look forward to any more books in this series and the growth of these super likable characters.
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