Years ago, I really liked this book.
2024 = A disappointing reread.
⬇ Rating lowered to 3 stars.
𝖠 ♥ 𝖯𝖭𝖱 ♥ Ԝ౿𝗋౿⍵𝗈ᥣ𝖿 ♥ 𝖱𝗈ოɑ𐓣ɕ౿
Book 1 was a reread fail, but Book 2 is still pretty good. However, the numerous errors and expanded content made it less enjoyable. The author's mediocre writing and timeline mistakes hurt the story.
Plot in a Nutshell: A werewolf finds his mate—a quiet, low-self-esteem blonde who he previously ignored. He has to work hard to convince her he wants her forever. She struggles to believe that a handsome alpha, who can have any woman, is truly interested in her. Trouble arises when a werewolf cousin tries to take Graham's place as alpha.
★ An alpha-male who acts like an alpha.
★ A relatable h who is a kind, decent person.
★ Steamy sex scenes
🔻 Lengthy thoughts & explanations slow things down.
It's Missy's (27) turn to be "fixed." A shy, sweet kindergarten teacher who longs for a "white picket fence" kind of life. Her friends arrange for her to meet a man at Regina's engagement party.
Graham (34) is the alpha of the Silverback Clan in NYC. He’s a close friend of Dmitri, the vampire who married Regina in book 1.
Graham is suffering from a case of boredom, no longer satisfied with any of his many women. He sees Missy at the party, wearing a short, tight dress that shows off her delectable tush.
Missy is dressed like "a French whore" by her pushy friends. Unlike them, she doesn't want to live out her sexual fantasies with strangers. The friends briefly appear and then disappear for good. This is unbelievable, especially after Missy is attacked.
Missy runs away to escape her friends and her fix. She runs into Graham, who’s instantly attracted to her. His desire is fueled by her luscious scent. Graham doesn’t recognize Missy, even though they were paired at Reggie’s wedding.
Missy is surprised that the man she’s been crushing on for weeks is hot for her, can't keep his hands off, and wants to take her home. To escape her friends, she goes with him.
The entire storyline happens in 1️⃣ week.
sᴘᴏɪʟᴇʀs ʙᴇʟᴏᴡ!
FRIDAY NIGHT: The MCs go to Graham's house and have sex. His house is next to Vircolac, the club he owns for the Other population.
ON SATURDAY, Graham discovers Missy is his mate. Knowing humans don't understand mate-bonds, he decides to go slow and asks her to spend the weekend.
After breakfast at a diner, the MCs rush home to have sex (so much for taking it slow). Graham smells Missy is fertile, and knows that he'll impregnate her. Birth control is not discussed.
Missy flees embarrassed when Logan, the pack beta, sees them naked in the hall. Logan informs Graham that pack elders and Curtis are waiting to question his alpha status, mainly about not being mated. Graham sharing the news about his mate, makes Curtis mad.
Graham is forced to tell Missy about mates and Lupines, due to pack problems. He senses she's pregnant. While she's reluctant to believe he truly wants her, she agrees to a date on Monday night.
ON MONDAY, Missy takes a breather at her apartment. A flower delivery turns out to be a werewolf attack sent by Curtis. She’s rescued by her stereotypical gay neighbor, who calls her "sugar." Missy tries to reach her girlfriends, but can’t. Graham takes her home where it's safe, after he hears what happened.
Missy realizes she loves Graham.
Curtis calls for a matehunt on Thursday night.
A matehunt is how Lupines form breeding pairs. Unmated pack members gather in Central Park, with females getting a 30-second head start. After that, males shift into wereforms and hunt for their mates.
Off-Page Relationship Development: In just a few days filled with laughter, sex, and conversations, Missy feels she knows Graham better than anyone else—possibly even herself—despite how quickly time has passed.
ON THURSDAY, the matehunt happens. To protect Missy, Graham announces that she's pregnant. The effort fails when Curtis & friends chase after her. Two females try to keep her safe. Graham arrives, fights Curtis, and forces him to submit. Afterward, the MCs have kinky sex while Graham in still in his wereform.
FRIDAY: When the MCs return home, Missy yells at Graham for humiliating her by announcing her pregnancy. Graham apologizes and explains why he did it. "I-love-yous" are said and there's a final sex scene, which I skimmed.
☹️ The "Curtis trying to be alpha" subplot is stupid. Since alphas earn their position by strength and can be overthrown by a stronger challenger, weak Curtis would soon lose the alpha position.
📝 Timeline errors shown in Notes & Highlights.