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The Mercury Pack #2
Force of Temptation
Harley Vincent is resigned to life in the human world. Sure, being a margay shifter is half her nature, but life among humans gives her the freedom to roam and do as she pleases. That is, until anti-shifter extremists target her, putting her life in immediate danger.
When an old acquaintance and onetime fling, Jesse Dalton, shows up to offer the protection of his pack, Harley hesitates. She may have feelings for Jesse that go beyond their one-night stand, but life among shifters means giving over her independence to the needs of pack. Plus Mercury Pack has its own threat to a rich half-shifter is determined to claim their territory at any cost.
Jesse, who lost his true mate as a child, has wanted Harley since their night together, and he’s not letting her go again. They may not be destined for each other, but he knows she belongs to him and with his pack. Even if he can convince her to join him now, can he convince her to stay?
When an old acquaintance and onetime fling, Jesse Dalton, shows up to offer the protection of his pack, Harley hesitates. She may have feelings for Jesse that go beyond their one-night stand, but life among shifters means giving over her independence to the needs of pack. Plus Mercury Pack has its own threat to a rich half-shifter is determined to claim their territory at any cost.
Jesse, who lost his true mate as a child, has wanted Harley since their night together, and he’s not letting her go again. They may not be destined for each other, but he knows she belongs to him and with his pack. Even if he can convince her to join him now, can he convince her to stay?
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 13, 2016
About the author
Suzanne Wright
50 books13.9k followersSuzanne Wright lives in England with her husband, two children, and her Bengal cats. When she's not spending time with her family, she's writing, reading, or doing her version of housework - sweeping the house with a look.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 728 reviews
October 20, 2018
Re-read: 10/18/18
4.5 Stars
So, I am rating this super high.
Perhaps too high.
But homie don't care.
Because homie is one happy camping homie.
Is it be because I am hopelessly biased when it comes to this author?
Because I fucking just adore this series?
These characters?
Guilty.
As.
Charged.
On all counts.
Seriously though, I just love Suzanne Wright.
I feel like we would be best friends if we ever met.
Or perhaps just stared at each other .
Or said completely inappropriate and inadvertently rude things to each other, being that Wright describes herself as socially awkward and I have the uncanny ability to offend everyone I meet within five minutes.
What can I say...sometimes hypothetical moments are just too magical to properly comprehend.
Anydreamdate, I just love Wright's writing style. The tone, the flow, the underlying sarcasm and fantastic one-liners?
Soooooooo my jam.
If you are a Wright fan like me, you will love this book.
And if you aren't, you are seriously missing out and should rectify that mistake immediately by snagging Feral Sins, a quiet reading corner, and an extra set of underwear.
Stat.
This book takes us back to Mercury Pack territory.
We get to visit with all of our favorite Mercury Pack-ers, which was simply delightful.
It's so delightful it makes me sound like my grandmother by describing it as "delightful," that's how delighted it fucking makes me.
I will say that this book is different than all the other books in this series.
And in a way that might not work for some people.
In fact, this...caveat is something that usually irks me to no end; however, I felt that Wright truly outdid herself here and took something I usually can't stand and made it into something great.
I will include a spoiler tag here as we get closer to release day.
Other than that, all I can say is:
Find me at:
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
When a book you have been pining for lands on your kindle...
...and you drop everything else in life to read it.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The wait for this is giving me MAN FLU.
4.5 Stars
So, I am rating this super high.
Perhaps too high.
But homie don't care.
Because homie is one happy camping homie.
Is it be because I am hopelessly biased when it comes to this author?
Because I fucking just adore this series?
These characters?
Guilty.
As.
Charged.
On all counts.
Seriously though, I just love Suzanne Wright.
I feel like we would be best friends if we ever met.
Or perhaps just stared at each other .
Or said completely inappropriate and inadvertently rude things to each other, being that Wright describes herself as socially awkward and I have the uncanny ability to offend everyone I meet within five minutes.
What can I say...sometimes hypothetical moments are just too magical to properly comprehend.
Anydreamdate, I just love Wright's writing style. The tone, the flow, the underlying sarcasm and fantastic one-liners?
Soooooooo my jam.
If you are a Wright fan like me, you will love this book.
And if you aren't, you are seriously missing out and should rectify that mistake immediately by snagging Feral Sins, a quiet reading corner, and an extra set of underwear.
Stat.
This book takes us back to Mercury Pack territory.
We get to visit with all of our favorite Mercury Pack-ers, which was simply delightful.
It's so delightful it makes me sound like my grandmother by describing it as "delightful," that's how delighted it fucking makes me.
I will say that this book is different than all the other books in this series.
And in a way that might not work for some people.
In fact, this...caveat is something that usually irks me to no end; however, I felt that Wright truly outdid herself here and took something I usually can't stand and made it into something great.
I will include a spoiler tag here as we get closer to release day.
Other than that, all I can say is:
Find me at:
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
When a book you have been pining for lands on your kindle...
...and you drop everything else in life to read it.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The wait for this is giving me MAN FLU.
July 16, 2023
5 Imprinting Stars
Reread July 2023
****************Some Spoilers******************
Force of Temptation the 2nd book in the Mercury Pack series was so damn good! The Mercury Pack series is the spin off series of The Phoenix Pack series. The stories and characters intertwine so much that I don't miss my favorite couples from the Phoenix Pack. I love Suzanne Wright. I have been a fan of hers for years. I've never read a book written by her that I haven't loved. I truly don't know how she does it. But somehow she writes book after book that just does it for me. Suzanne Wright gots mad skillz!
“I don’t play games, Harley, so I’ll tell you straight. I want you. In my bed. In my life. Where you belong.”-Jesse
Jesse Dalton pack enforcer for the Mercury Pack was a dark and damaged wolf. He lost his true mate when he was a kid and it altered him. He was lost in his pain for a long time. He walked around a shell of a person until Harley brought him back to life. Now he will stop at nothing to have the little Margay as his mate. Jesse was everything I have come to expect from SW's heroes. He was pushy, dominate, sexy, protective, and deadly. In other words a yummy wolf shifter that stole my heart. Harley Vincent was a lone half human/ half Margay shifter that lived in the human world. She had tried the shifter world when she was a child and they treated her like shit. All but the one boy, the one she had a huge crush on Jesse. After a one night stand 3 years ago Jesse is back in her life telling her that she will be his mate and that he is going to protect her. Making her kitty want to claw up his domineering face and rub all over him and purr at the same time. Harley was snarky, sassy, loyal, and totally kicked some ass. She was a very likable heroine.
"I'm asking you to forsake your true mate. I'm asking you to step back into a world that let you down. I'm asking you to give me every part of you. And I'm asking you to accept every part of me-a lot of those parts are dark and broken."-Jesse
"That right there is why you're perfect for me, Harley. You take no shit." "So you admit this is shit?"-Jesse and Harley
I was really worried about the fact that Jesse and Harley weren't true mates. That was a totally different thing than what I am use to with Suzanne Wright. All the other couples have been true mates. I worried that Harley would play second place to the ghost of his dead true mate or that Jesse would feel like second place to the true mate out there that Harley never met. But I was wrong. I felt their love and connection. They felt like true mates to me. One of the things I really enjoy about shifter books is when the shifter has animal like characteristics. As an animal lover I enjoy picturing all those cute animal qualities. So to say that I loved every bit of the Harley's cute margay is a understatement. I am a huge cat lover and I was just giddy over the cute little margay's antics. Climbing trees, the purring, sleeping on her mates chest, and riding on the wolfs back omg it was just damn cute!
"This is my pussy, Harley. You're never gonna take it away from me again. You can't. It doesn't belong to you. It belongs to me. Every part of you does."-Jesse
"Really, it was inevitable. I'll tell you how it's going to work: I'll claim you, you'll claim me, you'll come to trust the pack, you'll settle here, we'll imprint, and we'll be fucking happy." Harley could only stare at him. "You've got things all all planned out, huh?"-Jesse and Harley
I loved everything about this book. I loved the plot. It gave me plenty of action. I enjoyed the cute kids especially Willow and the way she was always quoting lines from scary movies. Tray and Taryn made an appearance. I always love when I get time with Tray and Taryn(all time favorite couple). There was time with the pack mates and it's always good to get to know the pack better. Something is going on with Eli that has me wanting his story next although I wouldn't mind Bracken's story either! Overall this book just did it for me. Another great book by Suzanne Wright!
"I'd answer you, I really would... but talking to you is about as appealing as sandpapering a wild cat's ass while having my nipples chewed off by rabid dogs." -Harley
http://jessicasoverthetopbookobsessio...
Reread July 2023
****************Some Spoilers******************
Force of Temptation the 2nd book in the Mercury Pack series was so damn good! The Mercury Pack series is the spin off series of The Phoenix Pack series. The stories and characters intertwine so much that I don't miss my favorite couples from the Phoenix Pack. I love Suzanne Wright. I have been a fan of hers for years. I've never read a book written by her that I haven't loved. I truly don't know how she does it. But somehow she writes book after book that just does it for me. Suzanne Wright gots mad skillz!
“I don’t play games, Harley, so I’ll tell you straight. I want you. In my bed. In my life. Where you belong.”-Jesse
Jesse Dalton pack enforcer for the Mercury Pack was a dark and damaged wolf. He lost his true mate when he was a kid and it altered him. He was lost in his pain for a long time. He walked around a shell of a person until Harley brought him back to life. Now he will stop at nothing to have the little Margay as his mate. Jesse was everything I have come to expect from SW's heroes. He was pushy, dominate, sexy, protective, and deadly. In other words a yummy wolf shifter that stole my heart. Harley Vincent was a lone half human/ half Margay shifter that lived in the human world. She had tried the shifter world when she was a child and they treated her like shit. All but the one boy, the one she had a huge crush on Jesse. After a one night stand 3 years ago Jesse is back in her life telling her that she will be his mate and that he is going to protect her. Making her kitty want to claw up his domineering face and rub all over him and purr at the same time. Harley was snarky, sassy, loyal, and totally kicked some ass. She was a very likable heroine.
"I'm asking you to forsake your true mate. I'm asking you to step back into a world that let you down. I'm asking you to give me every part of you. And I'm asking you to accept every part of me-a lot of those parts are dark and broken."-Jesse
"That right there is why you're perfect for me, Harley. You take no shit." "So you admit this is shit?"-Jesse and Harley
I was really worried about the fact that Jesse and Harley weren't true mates. That was a totally different thing than what I am use to with Suzanne Wright. All the other couples have been true mates. I worried that Harley would play second place to the ghost of his dead true mate or that Jesse would feel like second place to the true mate out there that Harley never met. But I was wrong. I felt their love and connection. They felt like true mates to me. One of the things I really enjoy about shifter books is when the shifter has animal like characteristics. As an animal lover I enjoy picturing all those cute animal qualities. So to say that I loved every bit of the Harley's cute margay is a understatement. I am a huge cat lover and I was just giddy over the cute little margay's antics. Climbing trees, the purring, sleeping on her mates chest, and riding on the wolfs back omg it was just damn cute!
"This is my pussy, Harley. You're never gonna take it away from me again. You can't. It doesn't belong to you. It belongs to me. Every part of you does."-Jesse
"Really, it was inevitable. I'll tell you how it's going to work: I'll claim you, you'll claim me, you'll come to trust the pack, you'll settle here, we'll imprint, and we'll be fucking happy." Harley could only stare at him. "You've got things all all planned out, huh?"-Jesse and Harley
I loved everything about this book. I loved the plot. It gave me plenty of action. I enjoyed the cute kids especially Willow and the way she was always quoting lines from scary movies. Tray and Taryn made an appearance. I always love when I get time with Tray and Taryn(all time favorite couple). There was time with the pack mates and it's always good to get to know the pack better. Something is going on with Eli that has me wanting his story next although I wouldn't mind Bracken's story either! Overall this book just did it for me. Another great book by Suzanne Wright!
"I'd answer you, I really would... but talking to you is about as appealing as sandpapering a wild cat's ass while having my nipples chewed off by rabid dogs." -Harley
http://jessicasoverthetopbookobsessio...
December 30, 2016
Tell me who you belong to, Harley. Fucking tell me or I swear to God I’ll pull out and come all over you!”
With a resigned growl, she ground out, “I’m yours, you motherfucking, pushy bastard!”
“Never forget it.”
...
...
Oh wait...did you need more than that quote to convince you to read this book? Oh c'mon! *gives you a stink eye*
Sheesh. Fine. Demanding people.
Force of Temptation brings more of Suzanne Wright awesome. A sassy heroine, a badass possessive hero, the whole gang of awesome secondary characters that I've grown to love, and a whole lot of sexy times!
I'll admit, I barely registered Jesse in the previous book but boy did he have my attention here. The man was possessive, protective, and exudes so much sexual potency I honestly broke a sweat reading.
Harley Vincent is exactly the sort of heroine I love to read about; strong, independent, and with one hell of a smart mouth on her. Being the daughter of the man currently serving a murder sentence and being suspected of being the mastermind behind The Movement makes her a bit of a persona non grata with shifters. Never truly having a pack of her own, she's been living in the human world. She's always liked Jesse. They grew up in the same pack, but she believed that he blamed her for his druggie sister's death like the rest of his pack did. So she left and hasn't seen him since. But when her life is in danger, Jesse is done with watching her from afar and waiting for her to be ready. He may have lost his true mate as a young boy, but he's not about to let the woman he loves get away.
Full of humor, sexy times, great characters and all wrapped around a fantastic story that I enjoyed from beginning to finish.
ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review
Find me on:
November 9, 2016
4.5 stars
You know what my problem is with this author? The fact that I'm always left wanting more at the end of the book. Apparently a 300 something page book is not enough for me. No, I want to linger and enjoy her world-building for as long as I possibly can.
As usual Suzanne Wright sucked me in her book with the first few sentences. Introducing a new type of shifter that's also a person we haven't seen before in the series. Harley Vincent, a margay shifter! I love it when we get someone new as a mate for the guys we already know and not a pairing between pre-existing people.
Harley isn't just any margay shifter though. She is half human, living in the human world with no pack or allegiances. A half shifter that's been targeted by anti-shifter extremists because of who her father is. Like most of SW heroines, Harley is a strong, dominant woman that takes no shit and much like her cat part, is indifferent to anything that doesn't keep her attention. I loved how her cat nature translated into several characteristics as a human as well. Her love of books and comfy book nooks completely endeared her to me. She also had the trademark Suzanne Wright sass.
"I'd answer you, I really would... but talking to you is about as appealing as sandpapering a wild cat's ass while having my nipples chewed off by rabid dogs."
A very down to earth, pragmatic and gifted violinist, Harley faced some of the same problems that Ally had in the first book. The Mercury pack apparently don't learn from past mistakes. Some of them did not welcome her with open arms. Ally and Shaya are the first to accept her into the pack unconditionally upon meeting her.
I'll be honest,my memory isn't the best and I didn't really remember much of Jesse other than he was one of Nick's enforcers. Here, we get much more of his background and character. Stubborn, headstrong, knows what he wants but can be closed off and cold, Jesse comes across as a classic dominant werewolf. A determined one, hell bent on making Harley officially his. Sadly, Jesse lost his true mate when they were children. But he has put that loss behind him as well as any feelings of guilt for moving on. That was so refreshing to read. The dead mate/fiance/wife plot can be so hard, not just to depict, but to have a meaningful impact in the storytelling without overshadowing the new couple. And I loved it here. Jesse had dealt with those feelings and re-made himself. He and Harley may not be destined for each other, but he is convinced that they belong together and pulls out all the stops to achieve it.
"A guy who'd lost his true mate wasn't going to just sit back and take for granted that the female he intended to claim would be fine without him watching over her. And said female couldn't be in a relationship with him unless she took that into account and made some allowances."
Harley always had feelings for Jesse but she's reluctant to plunge into a mating bond with him. I thought that her reasoning was logical and her fears very real. She never came across as irrational and her progression as a mate and a pack member was very nicely handled, for me.
I was thoroughly entertained by this book and as I mentioned above I wanted more. Also I would love to read a book in this series where the heroine is "weaker" as opposed to the usually strong women, not submissive, just not as strong willed. I would love to see how the author would handle the dynamics of a more vulnerable pairing.
**ARC courtesy of Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
You know what my problem is with this author? The fact that I'm always left wanting more at the end of the book. Apparently a 300 something page book is not enough for me. No, I want to linger and enjoy her world-building for as long as I possibly can.
As usual Suzanne Wright sucked me in her book with the first few sentences. Introducing a new type of shifter that's also a person we haven't seen before in the series. Harley Vincent, a margay shifter! I love it when we get someone new as a mate for the guys we already know and not a pairing between pre-existing people.
Harley isn't just any margay shifter though. She is half human, living in the human world with no pack or allegiances. A half shifter that's been targeted by anti-shifter extremists because of who her father is. Like most of SW heroines, Harley is a strong, dominant woman that takes no shit and much like her cat part, is indifferent to anything that doesn't keep her attention. I loved how her cat nature translated into several characteristics as a human as well. Her love of books and comfy book nooks completely endeared her to me. She also had the trademark Suzanne Wright sass.
"I'd answer you, I really would... but talking to you is about as appealing as sandpapering a wild cat's ass while having my nipples chewed off by rabid dogs."
A very down to earth, pragmatic and gifted violinist, Harley faced some of the same problems that Ally had in the first book. The Mercury pack apparently don't learn from past mistakes. Some of them did not welcome her with open arms. Ally and Shaya are the first to accept her into the pack unconditionally upon meeting her.
I'll be honest,my memory isn't the best and I didn't really remember much of Jesse other than he was one of Nick's enforcers. Here, we get much more of his background and character. Stubborn, headstrong, knows what he wants but can be closed off and cold, Jesse comes across as a classic dominant werewolf. A determined one, hell bent on making Harley officially his. Sadly, Jesse lost his true mate when they were children. But he has put that loss behind him as well as any feelings of guilt for moving on. That was so refreshing to read. The dead mate/fiance/wife plot can be so hard, not just to depict, but to have a meaningful impact in the storytelling without overshadowing the new couple. And I loved it here. Jesse had dealt with those feelings and re-made himself. He and Harley may not be destined for each other, but he is convinced that they belong together and pulls out all the stops to achieve it.
"A guy who'd lost his true mate wasn't going to just sit back and take for granted that the female he intended to claim would be fine without him watching over her. And said female couldn't be in a relationship with him unless she took that into account and made some allowances."
Harley always had feelings for Jesse but she's reluctant to plunge into a mating bond with him. I thought that her reasoning was logical and her fears very real. She never came across as irrational and her progression as a mate and a pack member was very nicely handled, for me.
I was thoroughly entertained by this book and as I mentioned above I wanted more. Also I would love to read a book in this series where the heroine is "weaker" as opposed to the usually strong women, not submissive, just not as strong willed. I would love to see how the author would handle the dynamics of a more vulnerable pairing.
**ARC courtesy of Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 3, 2020
I absolutely love this author. Everything she writes turns to gold....for me anyway :)
So we have another book about the Mercury Pack and this time it's Jesse's turn. Now I'm gonna be honest here and say that I didn't remember much about Jesse. He has been a bit behind the scenes, but I was very impressed with his character in this book. He was very much the dominating possessive Alpha Wolf, but he was also really sweet and caring.
Harley, the female MC was also wonderful...I didn't hate one single thing about her. Which is very very rare. Now, this is one of the reasons I love Suzanne Wright's books. She knows how to write a strong, independent, "take no shit" female character.
One of the reasons I loved this book so much, was because it was a bit different from the others. For one, Harley is not a wolf, she is a margay cat. Awesome creature, which I of course googled :P
I like that we are getting other species in this series. Not that I didn't like the wolves, but this way things will surely get more interesting.
This book was also different because Harley and Jesse are not true mates. This was a very interesting change from all the other books and from right from the start I was very curious about how this would turn out.
Another great addition to a wonderful series. There are still so many characters that I want to read about. In this series, I can't wait to hear Eli's story. But there is also "The Phoenix Pack" and in that series, I would love to read about Tao and Dominic.
That's another great thing about this series. Even though the "Mercury Pack" is indeed a different pack, they are closely bonded to the "Phoenix Pack", so I still get to read about all my favorite characters in that series....like crazy Greta :)
I can't wait for more !!!
September 30, 2019
Get it here:
Amazon US * Amazon UK
Audio "re-read" 9/30/19
Full disclosure, I had no clue what a Margay was so I had to look up pictures. And now I want one! Christmas present maybe?
Harley Vincent is a half Margay shifter, half human who chooses to live in the human world. When she was younger her own pride was a bunch of partiers and was hated by the pack of wolf shifters that lived near them. But Harley was hated by that pack more than anyone and they made her childhood hell until her human aunt came and got her out of there. But Jesse, a wolf shifter, knew that she would be his one day.
He had lost his mate as a child and it changed him in a big way. He was no longer a carefree little boy, instead he became a hardened man that was quick to distrust people. Now that he's grown up and no longer part of the same pack, he's ready to claim Harley as his. And the he's done giving her time to run away, especially when he learns that her life is in danger.
Obviously I'm a huge fan of Suzanne Wright and this book is just another reason why. Jesse now has a place in my heart and I just loved him so much. He was so fierce and protector over Harley and I loved seeing that. Even with his own family and pack he wouldn't let them even think about hurting her. I love me some Alpha men, and Jesse is the true embodiment of one.
But Jesse isn't the only reason why this book was so good, Harley had a lot to do with it as well. I love how SW can create a kick ass heroine and makes them tough but lovable. Harley was just that, and I liked seeing her hold her own against her and the packs enemies. Even though her cat was smaller than any of the wolves she still fought with them and helped them protect their land.
I really enjoyed the fact that this wasn't the same "oh wow you actually are my true mate" type of story. Jesse lost his mate as a young boy, and Harley has never met hers but they loved each other enough that they wanted to mate with one another no matter what. I thought that it was handled really well so it made the story all the more perfect instead of taking away from it.
Overall, if you haven't read this series or author yet then you are missing out. Her characters are amazing and I can't wait for more. I have a feeling that Cain will be getting a story and if I'm right I may know his mate? I'm probably wrong, but I'm going to keep a look out for that to happen.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
Amazon US * Amazon UK
Audio "re-read" 9/30/19
Full disclosure, I had no clue what a Margay was so I had to look up pictures. And now I want one! Christmas present maybe?
Harley Vincent is a half Margay shifter, half human who chooses to live in the human world. When she was younger her own pride was a bunch of partiers and was hated by the pack of wolf shifters that lived near them. But Harley was hated by that pack more than anyone and they made her childhood hell until her human aunt came and got her out of there. But Jesse, a wolf shifter, knew that she would be his one day.
He had lost his mate as a child and it changed him in a big way. He was no longer a carefree little boy, instead he became a hardened man that was quick to distrust people. Now that he's grown up and no longer part of the same pack, he's ready to claim Harley as his. And the he's done giving her time to run away, especially when he learns that her life is in danger.
Obviously I'm a huge fan of Suzanne Wright and this book is just another reason why. Jesse now has a place in my heart and I just loved him so much. He was so fierce and protector over Harley and I loved seeing that. Even with his own family and pack he wouldn't let them even think about hurting her. I love me some Alpha men, and Jesse is the true embodiment of one.
But Jesse isn't the only reason why this book was so good, Harley had a lot to do with it as well. I love how SW can create a kick ass heroine and makes them tough but lovable. Harley was just that, and I liked seeing her hold her own against her and the packs enemies. Even though her cat was smaller than any of the wolves she still fought with them and helped them protect their land.
I really enjoyed the fact that this wasn't the same "oh wow you actually are my true mate" type of story. Jesse lost his mate as a young boy, and Harley has never met hers but they loved each other enough that they wanted to mate with one another no matter what. I thought that it was handled really well so it made the story all the more perfect instead of taking away from it.
Overall, if you haven't read this series or author yet then you are missing out. Her characters are amazing and I can't wait for more. I have a feeling that Cain will be getting a story and if I'm right I may know his mate? I'm probably wrong, but I'm going to keep a look out for that to happen.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
November 9, 2016
"I'm asking you to forsake your true mate. I'm asking you to step back into a world that let you down. I'm asking you to give me every part of you. And I'm asking you to accept every part of me-a lot of those parts are dark and broken."
Force of Temptation is the second book in The Mercury Pack Series. It is another fantastic addition to the shifter shelf of goodness from the crazy talented Suzanne Wright. If strong alpha males and sassy heroines are your thing, then you will want to download this bad boy right now! This book can be read as a stand-alone, and yet, I highly recommend reading anything and everything by Suzanne Wright because frankly, it's just that good!
"I don't want to change you or 'fix' you."Harley Vincent has spent her life living between the shifter world and the human world. Her father is a powerful shifter who is serving a prison sentence for murder. Harley has found a sliver of solace with her human aunt, Tessa. As a Margay Shifter, she is strong, sassy, and quite spirited. Although she has never found her true mate, she spent one night with one wolf that she has never forgotten. When Harley's life is in danger by the rebels looking for revenge on her dad, it is Jesse who comes to claim Harley and bring her to safety.
"You're not leaving me, Harley."Jesse lost his true mate when he was young. He has always known that the quirky goth girl who was friends with his little sister was the girl he wanted to make his. He has been patiently waiting for the right time to make his claim. After he convinces Harley to come with him, the mating game begins! Both Jesse and Harley have a pretty hefty load of baggage they are carrying with them, and yet, they could not be more perfectly matched. With the love and support of the Mercury Pack, Harley and Jesse battle their enemies and find a way together!
"I'm hers and she's mine."Told in dual POV, Force of Temptation is a perfect blend of sexy steam, strong characters, and a well-developed plot. If you like strong alpha male shifters, then Jesse will be another hero that you will want to meet! Harley was a perfect counterpart for him with her strength and sass. Another happy delight with this read was seeing some of our favorites from the Mercury Pack and the Phoenix Pack. The thing about this series and the Phoenix Pack Series is that once a shifter and their mate are introduced you fall in love with them, and their presence in future books in the series only further enhances your reading experience! There are a few elements about Jesse and Harley's story that were slightly bothersome for me (only because my heart hurt for them both). Although they worked through their issues the road wasn't easy. Still, Jesse and Harley's story is not one to be missed.
Overall, I cannot recommend this entire series enough. Force of Temptation is another stellar read for Paranormal Romance Fans. Even with the dash of angst, I still enjoyed every single solitary moment between Jesse and Harley. Suzanne Wright remains the Queen of Shifter Romance! Bravo, Ms. Wright and Encore!!!
***The Mercury Pack***
*ARC graciously provided via NETGALLEY in exchange for an honest review!
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
November 7, 2016
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
Aaaaand...she did it again! Suzanne Wright is simply amazing at what she does. Her stories are so much fun to read (also re-read), just pure joy. There's a reason Suzanne is one of my favourite authors and this book proves once again why. The story has all the elements that I would like in my book, from the sexy scenes to the mystery and action. We also can't forget her completely alpha heroes that would do for their women abslutely everything. And no matter how difficult the task, he will live up to it. We also can't forget the heroines, man, they are one crazy bunch but we simply can't help but love them. I adored Harley so much, she's such a strong and reasonable female that will protect her loved ones to her last breath. Totally enjoyed the story, the plot is awesome and the tension is perfect. All in all, I wish the next book will come soon. :)
Aaaaand...she did it again! Suzanne Wright is simply amazing at what she does. Her stories are so much fun to read (also re-read), just pure joy. There's a reason Suzanne is one of my favourite authors and this book proves once again why. The story has all the elements that I would like in my book, from the sexy scenes to the mystery and action. We also can't forget her completely alpha heroes that would do for their women abslutely everything. And no matter how difficult the task, he will live up to it. We also can't forget the heroines, man, they are one crazy bunch but we simply can't help but love them. I adored Harley so much, she's such a strong and reasonable female that will protect her loved ones to her last breath. Totally enjoyed the story, the plot is awesome and the tension is perfect. All in all, I wish the next book will come soon. :)
May 22, 2018
4 honesty deserved honesty. stars
Jesse
Harley
Have you ever wondered who would win a fight between a cat and a wolf…. Two dominant species set in their ways, one whose feisty and downright mean, and the other too stubborn and pushy for his own good. A recipe for utter sexual combustion and an intriguing power struggle. It takes a strong man to tame a fierce woman, and Jesse knew from the very start that Harley was IT for him. No if, buts or maybe… he just has to get the gun shy kitty to see things his way.
Force of Temptation is every yummy goodness I have come to expect with Suzanne Wright, this lady can write no wrong and this was just the icing on the fantastical cake of the shift world. I love a strong alpha man, but to have him use his neanderthal ways and sweeten it up a bit to melt the heart of a fiesta feline, well be-still-my-erotic-fantasy loving heart. Not to mention the cameos of the pack mates and allies that we have come to love, it’s a never ending adventure. One full of laughs, love, lust, fights and everything you need to keep the pages turning and the need for the next book alive. Totally recommended for my shifter loving friends.
Copy kindly provided by Montlake Romance, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
***Quotes above are taken from the version of the book and may differ upon publication.
Jesse
“I’m not a guy you can manage, Harley—you know it. Just like you know that neither you nor your cat would want me if you could control me.”
Harley
“Are you sure he can deal with you?” Harley smiled at the curvy feline. “No, but he’s delusional enough to believe he can.”
Have you ever wondered who would win a fight between a cat and a wolf…. Two dominant species set in their ways, one whose feisty and downright mean, and the other too stubborn and pushy for his own good. A recipe for utter sexual combustion and an intriguing power struggle. It takes a strong man to tame a fierce woman, and Jesse knew from the very start that Harley was IT for him. No if, buts or maybe… he just has to get the gun shy kitty to see things his way.
"I want and need a female who’ll stand up and fight, demand to be considered and call me on my bullshit. That’s you, baby. So stop overthinking this and do what you should have done three years ago.”
“What’s that?”
“Admit that you belong to me.”
Force of Temptation is every yummy goodness I have come to expect with Suzanne Wright, this lady can write no wrong and this was just the icing on the fantastical cake of the shift world. I love a strong alpha man, but to have him use his neanderthal ways and sweeten it up a bit to melt the heart of a fiesta feline, well be-still-my-erotic-fantasy loving heart. Not to mention the cameos of the pack mates and allies that we have come to love, it’s a never ending adventure. One full of laughs, love, lust, fights and everything you need to keep the pages turning and the need for the next book alive. Totally recommended for my shifter loving friends.
Copy kindly provided by Montlake Romance, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
***Quotes above are taken from the version of the book and may differ upon publication.
December 12, 2016
I REALLY wanted like this one more than I did. I've been struggling to finish it for a few days now. Unfortunately, it pretty much bored me to tears.
I liked both Jesse and Harley for the most part, but never really felt a connection between them, and I found Harley a little too alpha bitch at times. I also didn't love the fact that Jesse knew he wanted to mate her for three years and kept tabs on her etc, but continued to sleep around with OW. I am generally more picky about that type of thing in paranormal books. At least Harley had been getting herself some as well (Although Jesse apparently chased off her men. So I guess what's good for the goose isn't good for the gander?) On top of that, I HATED 95% of the pack in this one. They were horrible, and judgy, and rude, and unwelcoming.
I also had a problem with them not being true mates. Sure Jesse's is dead and died when they were kids, so it's not like Harley was second best BUT Harley's true mate is still out there somewhere. What is she runs across him one day? How is her imprinting on Jesse fair to her TRUE mate? It's NOT in my opinion, and honestly one of the reasons I just never felt a connection with these two.
In any case, I think this was more an "ME" issue than a book issue. I love this author's books usually, and my issues aside it was a well-written book with a very low angst and easy peasy relationship between the hero/heroine.So don't let my review deter you from giving this one a go.
February 5, 2017
***4 "You're my center!!!" stars***
This was the second book of the Mercury pack and another one wonderful story about Mrs. Wright's intriguing wolves...
We already known all these guys from both Mercury and Phoenix pack and we love them fiercely, so every new story is an awesome addition to this beautiful world full of shifters...
This story was a little bit different because it had to do with a wolf and a margay...
Strange combination, right??? But very irresistible and intriguing!!!
“I don’t play games, Harley, so I’ll tell you straight. I want you. In my bed. In my life. Where you belong.”
Harley has lots of things on her plate, nowdays!!!
She is half human, half a margay and her life wasn't the best... Her self had split up in two worlds that neither of them accepted her fully!!!
Now, she is living like a loner and she is playing her violin in human clubs, but unfortunately, the extremists are after her and the same goes for an insistent reporter who demands to find out more about her father and the secrets that he keeps...
A man is not in the picture at this moment, but her heart and mind never stopped thinking of Jesse, a wolf that she had lots of history with him...
"A guy who'd lost his true mate wasn't going to just sit back and take for granted that the female he intended to claim would be fine without him watching over her. And said female couldn't be in a relationship with him unless she took that into account and made some allowances."
Jesse is an enforcer in the Mercury pack... When he was still very young, he lost his true mate and from that moment he wasn't the same...
He changed and he was very hard to be around, especially for a woman... The only thing that is sparkling life inside of him is a little margay who is on his mind for very long time and Jesse is determined one day very soon to make her his...
And the opportunity is arriving very soon when Jesse is running to save Harley and he is offering her protection in his pack....
"We both want this. We’ve both wanted it for a long time. Really, it was inevitable. I’ll tell you how it’s going to work; I’ll claim you, you’ll claim me, you’ll come to trust the pack, you’ll settle here, we’ll imprint, and we can be fucking happy."
Harley could only stare at him. "You've got things all all planned out, huh?"
Now, Harley and Jesse are around each other all the time and the passion between them is so hard to be ignored, especially when Jesse is pushing her all the time to become his mate...
But Harley is scared to believe him because they have bad blood between them and his family would be against this match and not only that, but she is refusing to be the second choice in his life...
But Jesse is not the one to back down from what he really wants...
"I'm asking you to forsake your true mate. I'm asking you to step back into a world that let you down. I'm asking you to give me every part of you. And I'm asking you to accept every part of me-a lot of those parts are dark and broken."
So, what will happen between the two of them???
Will Jesse make her understand how he really feels about her, how he really felt for a long time before???
Will Harley let her fears go and allow to herself to live with Jesse???
And what about the new problem that the pack is facing???
What about the extremists that are after Harley and that damn reporter???
As you can understand, our heroes has lots of things to face...
“Home isn’t always a place, sweetheart. Home is something that anchors you, comforts you, and is a safe haven for you... Let me be that for you, Harley.”
I liked very much both Jesse and Harley...
Jesse was broody and moody, possessive as all those wolves and soooo sexy.... He had built strong walls around his heart but Harley is the only one who can wreck them... Harley was something special for him and he was refusing to back down on her and i liked his insistence...
Harley was a very tough nut to crack... She and her margay were absolutely awesome and bat shit crazy as well...
She was so damn stubborn, but i liked her character very much!!!
She and Jesse together were like a firework!!! Hot and sexy...
“No, you’re not my other half. You’re my center. No lie, baby. You brought me back from the dead, remember? Everything was dark and bleak and empty. My soul was in pieces. You changed that. I can’t be without my center, can I? I need that. And that’s you... It’ll always be you. Don’t ever, ever doubt that.” {Jesse}
“If you fuck me over I will claw your face right off your skull.” {Harley}
I also liked very much that we saw for once again our favorites wolves from both packs...
And damn, i really loved Shaya and her wonder about Willow's creepy quotes!!!
God, i was laughing so much, even though that it was kind of creepy....
I also loved both pups!!!!
And I can't wait for the next story....
***ARC generously provided via NetGalley for the exchange of an honest review***
This was the second book of the Mercury pack and another one wonderful story about Mrs. Wright's intriguing wolves...
We already known all these guys from both Mercury and Phoenix pack and we love them fiercely, so every new story is an awesome addition to this beautiful world full of shifters...
This story was a little bit different because it had to do with a wolf and a margay...
Strange combination, right??? But very irresistible and intriguing!!!
“I don’t play games, Harley, so I’ll tell you straight. I want you. In my bed. In my life. Where you belong.”
Harley has lots of things on her plate, nowdays!!!
She is half human, half a margay and her life wasn't the best... Her self had split up in two worlds that neither of them accepted her fully!!!
Now, she is living like a loner and she is playing her violin in human clubs, but unfortunately, the extremists are after her and the same goes for an insistent reporter who demands to find out more about her father and the secrets that he keeps...
A man is not in the picture at this moment, but her heart and mind never stopped thinking of Jesse, a wolf that she had lots of history with him...
"A guy who'd lost his true mate wasn't going to just sit back and take for granted that the female he intended to claim would be fine without him watching over her. And said female couldn't be in a relationship with him unless she took that into account and made some allowances."
Jesse is an enforcer in the Mercury pack... When he was still very young, he lost his true mate and from that moment he wasn't the same...
He changed and he was very hard to be around, especially for a woman... The only thing that is sparkling life inside of him is a little margay who is on his mind for very long time and Jesse is determined one day very soon to make her his...
And the opportunity is arriving very soon when Jesse is running to save Harley and he is offering her protection in his pack....
"We both want this. We’ve both wanted it for a long time. Really, it was inevitable. I’ll tell you how it’s going to work; I’ll claim you, you’ll claim me, you’ll come to trust the pack, you’ll settle here, we’ll imprint, and we can be fucking happy."
Harley could only stare at him. "You've got things all all planned out, huh?"
Now, Harley and Jesse are around each other all the time and the passion between them is so hard to be ignored, especially when Jesse is pushing her all the time to become his mate...
But Harley is scared to believe him because they have bad blood between them and his family would be against this match and not only that, but she is refusing to be the second choice in his life...
But Jesse is not the one to back down from what he really wants...
"I'm asking you to forsake your true mate. I'm asking you to step back into a world that let you down. I'm asking you to give me every part of you. And I'm asking you to accept every part of me-a lot of those parts are dark and broken."
So, what will happen between the two of them???
Will Jesse make her understand how he really feels about her, how he really felt for a long time before???
Will Harley let her fears go and allow to herself to live with Jesse???
And what about the new problem that the pack is facing???
What about the extremists that are after Harley and that damn reporter???
As you can understand, our heroes has lots of things to face...
“Home isn’t always a place, sweetheart. Home is something that anchors you, comforts you, and is a safe haven for you... Let me be that for you, Harley.”
I liked very much both Jesse and Harley...
Jesse was broody and moody, possessive as all those wolves and soooo sexy.... He had built strong walls around his heart but Harley is the only one who can wreck them... Harley was something special for him and he was refusing to back down on her and i liked his insistence...
Harley was a very tough nut to crack... She and her margay were absolutely awesome and bat shit crazy as well...
She was so damn stubborn, but i liked her character very much!!!
She and Jesse together were like a firework!!! Hot and sexy...
“No, you’re not my other half. You’re my center. No lie, baby. You brought me back from the dead, remember? Everything was dark and bleak and empty. My soul was in pieces. You changed that. I can’t be without my center, can I? I need that. And that’s you... It’ll always be you. Don’t ever, ever doubt that.” {Jesse}
“If you fuck me over I will claw your face right off your skull.” {Harley}
I also liked very much that we saw for once again our favorites wolves from both packs...
And damn, i really loved Shaya and her wonder about Willow's creepy quotes!!!
God, i was laughing so much, even though that it was kind of creepy....
I also loved both pups!!!!
And I can't wait for the next story....
***ARC generously provided via NetGalley for the exchange of an honest review***
March 16, 2023
I'm such a huge fan of Suzanne Wright's stories. She delivers the goods I'm looking for in my books. She provides the very Alpha Hero's, the mature, rational heroines and lots of hot scenes! In addition to this she has such great side characters. I loved Harley's cousins. Everything about them makes me hope they get a story of their own. It absolutely cracked me up that one of the young pups kept quoting lines from horror movies. I mean that's just funny stuff right there. And to top it all off, what I have read of her books, her Heros don't fight the attraction to their mates. There's nothing sexier than a man who knows what he wants and he goes for it full throttle. I want more, more and more from this author!
February 6, 2017
***3.5 Stars***
Another winner from Suzanne Wright! I will read any character that she writes about in this shifter world. I love both the Mercury and Phoenix packs and am not ashamed to admit that I can never get enough of them!
As you've come to expect, you'll get a possessive Alpha male and a snarky and strong leading lady. Jesse and Harley did not disappoint. I loved them both.
I was worried that since Harley wasn't Jesse's true mate, I'd feel a bit jipped, but Suzanne Wright did a great job of explaining how these two fit and belong together. Unfortunately, that also ended up being a disappointment.
There was more explaining than feeling. I just didn't get that spark, that fire, between them. Their connection was tepid compared to the inferno of the other couples. I needed more of their history, more of the connection they formed when they were younger. Don't get me wrong, they were hot together, but I just didn't feel that extra oomph between them.
Also, it rubbed me the wrong way that there wasn't any real explanation as to why Harley was okay with giving up ever finding HER true mate. She wanted Jesse, she loved Jesse and ta da...that's it. I needed more.
The overall suspense plot wasn't the strongest in the series, but it was interesting enough. And naturally, I was gripping my kindle with a death grip at the big climactic fight scene! Man, can Suzanne Wright do a good fight scene!
Overall, this was a great addition to this series. Not my favorite, but an enjoyable read.
***ARC courtesy of publisher, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review***
December 13, 2016
Do you know what I really love about Suzanne Wright's books - the characters. She weaves the most amazing characters into her stories, and sucks me into their world every single time as she did with Force of Temptation... well except for Nick, but we won't go there. The heroes are so totally OTT alpha, the heroines have their own alpha female going on, usually thrown in with a whole lot of sass and snark that just works, and has me cackling like a loon. Throw old Greta into the mix and I'm totally in my happy place.
I love that Harley was not a wolf shifter, instead she's a half margay shifter and she fascinated me. She's hissy and very much a loner, yet melted for Jesse no matter how hyped she was. And Jesse - yep total uber OTT alpha ..... be still my beating heart.
What really worked for me with this one is that there wasn't any ridiculous push and pull, he knew what he wanted, laid it all out for her and that was it. Job done. Love that! They were together pretty much from the beginning of the book so all the drama/action is not based on their relationship but rather things happening in the pack. We got to get a bit of a catch up with the Phoenix Pack which is always a plus.
4.5 stars
Arc provided by Netgalley for review
I love that Harley was not a wolf shifter, instead she's a half margay shifter and she fascinated me. She's hissy and very much a loner, yet melted for Jesse no matter how hyped she was. And Jesse - yep total uber OTT alpha ..... be still my beating heart.
What really worked for me with this one is that there wasn't any ridiculous push and pull, he knew what he wanted, laid it all out for her and that was it. Job done. Love that! They were together pretty much from the beginning of the book so all the drama/action is not based on their relationship but rather things happening in the pack. We got to get a bit of a catch up with the Phoenix Pack which is always a plus.
4.5 stars
Arc provided by Netgalley for review
July 10, 2020
“I’m your number one fan.”
Yes that quote is from Misery. One thing I like about these books is that they each have a funny little theme running through them, even through the series, like Dominic’s sleazy pick up lines, or the prank wars between Eli and Roni.
This book has a little three year old girl running around quoting horror movies. Every time she does it her Mom says, “Who let her watch Misery” or whatever movie she quoted. Quite funny.
The story is as good as all the rest. I plan to continue reading!
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub
Yes that quote is from Misery. One thing I like about these books is that they each have a funny little theme running through them, even through the series, like Dominic’s sleazy pick up lines, or the prank wars between Eli and Roni.
This book has a little three year old girl running around quoting horror movies. Every time she does it her Mom says, “Who let her watch Misery” or whatever movie she quoted. Quite funny.
The story is as good as all the rest. I plan to continue reading!
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub
February 7, 2017
4.5 Stars
After reading the synopsis I wondered if Suzanne Wright would be able to sell me on the rightness, and intensity of Harley and Jesse’s romance, just as much as the other true mate couples featured previously. I shouldn’t have worried, because their connection was every bit as powerful and electric as a true mated pair!
True mates are shifters who are destined to be together, perfect for each other, the other half of a one’s soul. But as the description says, Jesse lost his true mate when he was a child, before they were ever involved, so IMO it didn’t make me feel like Harley would always be second choice. Plus, an imprinted mated couple can have the same connection (that is, if everything takes) that a true mated couple has, so after finding that out I was convinced Harley and Jesse had a chance.
Jesse and Harley have a history, and Jesse’s always admired and longed for the strong, feline shifter. She was friends with his sister Mia, tried to help her get off her addiction to drugs, but couldn’t. Jesse and Harley had one night of passion, but sensing Harley wasn’t ready for a commitment, he let her run off but kept tabs on her until circumstances throw them together again. I was thrilled Jesse was determined to claim Harley and keep her safe, but I could understand that Harley needed to be sure that she could be as important to him as his true mate. Harley needed time to for trust to form, and let barriers between them come down, and I thought that was very reasonable. As far as Jesse’s devotion, there were no doubts in my mind, so it made rooting for them as a couple very easy.
Coming together would be a challenge under stress free circumstances, but Jesse’s pack has problems of their own. Not only are there some adjustments in accepting Harley into the pack, a half-shifter creates security issues by buying the land next to their territory with plans to develop into a hotel. It becomes apparent that this half-shifter has ulterior (malicious) motives, making me very uneasy for the pack. Some dangerous situations had me holding my breath a few times!
I always know I’m going to have a sizzling read when I pick up one of Ms. Wright’s romances, but I think Force of Temptation went up an extra level of hot! Habanero pepper level of spicy? Maybe more! There tortuous games for domination were a fun, delicious thrill!
As a side note, I LOVE cats (yes, I’m that crazy cat lady!) and so the addition of Harley’s shifter side being a dangerous Margay cat was a treat! Such a pretty kitty!
Ms. Wright captured and incorporated a cat’s fascinating behaviors in this installment. That wasn’t the only other species she added, in the past the stories have focused mainly on the wolves, and I like the new additional varieties!
I loved Force of Temptation! The captivating mix of intense, primal shifter connection with danger, action, and fun pack antics make this series a must read for me!
The Mercury Pack and Phoenix Pack are very tight, bonded packs with members crossing back and forth. I can't wait for the next book, Fierce Obsession, which will feature Riley, a raven shifter, and Tao, a Phoenix Pack Enforcer.
A copy was kindly provides by Montlake Romance via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
After reading the synopsis I wondered if Suzanne Wright would be able to sell me on the rightness, and intensity of Harley and Jesse’s romance, just as much as the other true mate couples featured previously. I shouldn’t have worried, because their connection was every bit as powerful and electric as a true mated pair!
True mates are shifters who are destined to be together, perfect for each other, the other half of a one’s soul. But as the description says, Jesse lost his true mate when he was a child, before they were ever involved, so IMO it didn’t make me feel like Harley would always be second choice. Plus, an imprinted mated couple can have the same connection (that is, if everything takes) that a true mated couple has, so after finding that out I was convinced Harley and Jesse had a chance.
Jesse and Harley have a history, and Jesse’s always admired and longed for the strong, feline shifter. She was friends with his sister Mia, tried to help her get off her addiction to drugs, but couldn’t. Jesse and Harley had one night of passion, but sensing Harley wasn’t ready for a commitment, he let her run off but kept tabs on her until circumstances throw them together again. I was thrilled Jesse was determined to claim Harley and keep her safe, but I could understand that Harley needed to be sure that she could be as important to him as his true mate. Harley needed time to for trust to form, and let barriers between them come down, and I thought that was very reasonable. As far as Jesse’s devotion, there were no doubts in my mind, so it made rooting for them as a couple very easy.
Coming together would be a challenge under stress free circumstances, but Jesse’s pack has problems of their own. Not only are there some adjustments in accepting Harley into the pack, a half-shifter creates security issues by buying the land next to their territory with plans to develop into a hotel. It becomes apparent that this half-shifter has ulterior (malicious) motives, making me very uneasy for the pack. Some dangerous situations had me holding my breath a few times!
I always know I’m going to have a sizzling read when I pick up one of Ms. Wright’s romances, but I think Force of Temptation went up an extra level of hot! Habanero pepper level of spicy? Maybe more! There tortuous games for domination were a fun, delicious thrill!
As a side note, I LOVE cats (yes, I’m that crazy cat lady!) and so the addition of Harley’s shifter side being a dangerous Margay cat was a treat! Such a pretty kitty!
Ms. Wright captured and incorporated a cat’s fascinating behaviors in this installment. That wasn’t the only other species she added, in the past the stories have focused mainly on the wolves, and I like the new additional varieties!
I loved Force of Temptation! The captivating mix of intense, primal shifter connection with danger, action, and fun pack antics make this series a must read for me!
The Mercury Pack and Phoenix Pack are very tight, bonded packs with members crossing back and forth. I can't wait for the next book, Fierce Obsession, which will feature Riley, a raven shifter, and Tao, a Phoenix Pack Enforcer.
A copy was kindly provides by Montlake Romance via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 21, 2016
4.5* dear kitty cat STARS!
In case you forgot about who's in Mercury Pack, read the previous book. Like me... who is Jesse Dalton? Yeah, this pack has whole bunch of were-creatures is easily to forget because they have hugeee crowd. I only remember the main member of Phoenix Pact, their ally. Sadly, I didn't remember this Jesse but I liked the story very much!
Being a margay shifter, Harley Vincent lives among the human like nothing happened. But she has been targeted by the Extremist for a long time. Then came, Jesse Dalton, a longtime friend-slash-childhood crush save her life. Jesse promised to protect her but Harley isn't easy to be convinced. The problem isn't always with the Extremist, but another person wants Mercury Pack's land. One way or another they must survive.
Harley spend her normal life like human with her aunt. She didn't have a happy family. Her father is in jail and rumored to be the head of Extremist, then her fucked-up mother who couldn't see straight. Harley grown up to be strong and independent woman. She also has talent for music and cooking. I kinda adored her.
Even Jesse isn't an alpha, but he acted like one. Alpha is only status but Jesse is really dominant and strict. This time, the man did the chase. Me likey! Jesse and Harley are childhood friends, together with his death mate. But Jesse only has eyes for Harley for a long time and now, he's done with waiting. His needs to claim Harley really HOT! I loved them together. They're completed each other.
Other than their love story, they need to face other problems. The Extremist and the person who wants Mercury Pack's land. It wasn't always easy to win. The story has thrills and suspense for the right amount with steady paced. Always keep me wondering about what's next. Almost too perfect, because it could be a bit shorter. Overall, I enjoyed it very much. I really loved Harley's margay because remind me of my cats. Meow! Paws off.
ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
In case you forgot about who's in Mercury Pack, read the previous book. Like me... who is Jesse Dalton? Yeah, this pack has whole bunch of were-creatures is easily to forget because they have hugeee crowd. I only remember the main member of Phoenix Pact, their ally. Sadly, I didn't remember this Jesse but I liked the story very much!
Being a margay shifter, Harley Vincent lives among the human like nothing happened. But she has been targeted by the Extremist for a long time. Then came, Jesse Dalton, a longtime friend-slash-childhood crush save her life. Jesse promised to protect her but Harley isn't easy to be convinced. The problem isn't always with the Extremist, but another person wants Mercury Pack's land. One way or another they must survive.
“I don't play games, Harley, so I'll tell you straight. I want you. In my bed. In my life. Where you belong.”
Harley spend her normal life like human with her aunt. She didn't have a happy family. Her father is in jail and rumored to be the head of Extremist, then her fucked-up mother who couldn't see straight. Harley grown up to be strong and independent woman. She also has talent for music and cooking. I kinda adored her.
Even Jesse isn't an alpha, but he acted like one. Alpha is only status but Jesse is really dominant and strict. This time, the man did the chase. Me likey! Jesse and Harley are childhood friends, together with his death mate. But Jesse only has eyes for Harley for a long time and now, he's done with waiting. His needs to claim Harley really HOT! I loved them together. They're completed each other.
“No, you’re not my other half. You’re my center. No lie, baby. You brought me back from the dead, remember? Everything was dark and bleak and empty. My soul was in pieces. You changed that. I can’t be without my center, can I? I need that. And that’s you.” He gave her a slow, wet, languid kiss. “It’ll always be you. Don’t ever, ever doubt that.”
Other than their love story, they need to face other problems. The Extremist and the person who wants Mercury Pack's land. It wasn't always easy to win. The story has thrills and suspense for the right amount with steady paced. Always keep me wondering about what's next. Almost too perfect, because it could be a bit shorter. Overall, I enjoyed it very much. I really loved Harley's margay because remind me of my cats. Meow! Paws off.
“Home isn’t always a place, sweetheart. Home is something that anchors you, comforts you, and is a safe haven for you.” He rubbed his nose against hers. “Let me be that for you, Harley.”
ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 4, 2023
5 stalkerish stars! Jesse is officially one of my favorite heroes. I mean he didn't "stalk" technically, he just "watched" her for years. Which is totally different and completely normal!
I love a man who knows what he wants, and just tells you. Crazy or not! From the start he knows that Harley will be his. I mean, he had groceries for her at the house for when he was ready to bring her home. Luckily, someone tried to blow up her car, so he didn't have to wait another week. Now he just has to sit back and wait for her to realize where she belongs.
Jesse has the dark and gritty side that reminds me of Knox (I'm still trying to figure out how Nick is the alpha). Harley and her cat were a great fit for him. There is no way any submissive could handle Jesse, he definitely needs a strong woman!
Also, my man Cain makes an appearance and just makes me crave his psychotic ass more, please please please give him and book! If you can't find a girl, I'll step in!
Once again, if you are expecting something completely different from the rest of SW books, you will be sadly disspointed. But, if you are a like me and want to keep reading books that bring you so much joy, then this book and series should not be missed.
The only thing that was left hanging on this was Kim (I'm assuming that comes to a head in the next book).
And let me just say, I'm currently looking for a pool table on offer up.
I love a man who knows what he wants, and just tells you. Crazy or not! From the start he knows that Harley will be his. I mean, he had groceries for her at the house for when he was ready to bring her home. Luckily, someone tried to blow up her car, so he didn't have to wait another week. Now he just has to sit back and wait for her to realize where she belongs.
Jesse has the dark and gritty side that reminds me of Knox (I'm still trying to figure out how Nick is the alpha). Harley and her cat were a great fit for him. There is no way any submissive could handle Jesse, he definitely needs a strong woman!
Also, my man Cain makes an appearance and just makes me crave his psychotic ass more, please please please give him and book! If you can't find a girl, I'll step in!
Once again, if you are expecting something completely different from the rest of SW books, you will be sadly disspointed. But, if you are a like me and want to keep reading books that bring you so much joy, then this book and series should not be missed.
The only thing that was left hanging on this was Kim (I'm assuming that comes to a head in the next book).
And let me just say, I'm currently looking for a pool table on offer up.
January 30, 2019
Wow! Just WOW! This book was such a pleasant surprise to me! Not only because Jesse and Harley weren’t each other ‘true mates’ but also because I never expected Jesse to be so alpha and possessive! Although we have met Jesse in previous books, we (the reader) never got to know him really well (the same can be said about Zander and Bracken), so I never expected him to be so intense and dominant. And I ADORED it! It was also a pleasure to meet Harley and her anti-social margay cat. I had such fun with those two.
When I read in the blurb that Jesse’s true mate had dead as a child I was intrigued because it meant that Harley wasn’t his true mate but Jesse still wanted to claim her as a mate. So I had a lot of questions at the beginning of the story. How would Jesse convince Harley to not wait for her true mate but to mate with him? Would his feelings be just as intense as it would have been with a true mate? And how would they become mates without being ‘true mates’? After reading the story I can tell you that all my questions have be answered. I could give you the answers but what would be the fun of that. But I will tell you that the chemistry between Harley and Jesse was very, very intense!!
Just like the other Suzanne Wright’s books, this story is told in both POV’s. I would recommend that you read ‘The Mercury pack’ series from the beginning, so that you have the full background story of this pack. It makes reading this story more pleasurable.
The next story in this series is about Jesse’s packmate Zander and I can tell you now that I’m very curious about his character and story.
‘Force of temptation’ is a great story and it’s a wonderful continuation of this series.
When I read in the blurb that Jesse’s true mate had dead as a child I was intrigued because it meant that Harley wasn’t his true mate but Jesse still wanted to claim her as a mate. So I had a lot of questions at the beginning of the story. How would Jesse convince Harley to not wait for her true mate but to mate with him? Would his feelings be just as intense as it would have been with a true mate? And how would they become mates without being ‘true mates’? After reading the story I can tell you that all my questions have be answered. I could give you the answers but what would be the fun of that. But I will tell you that the chemistry between Harley and Jesse was very, very intense!!
Just like the other Suzanne Wright’s books, this story is told in both POV’s. I would recommend that you read ‘The Mercury pack’ series from the beginning, so that you have the full background story of this pack. It makes reading this story more pleasurable.
The next story in this series is about Jesse’s packmate Zander and I can tell you now that I’m very curious about his character and story.
‘Force of temptation’ is a great story and it’s a wonderful continuation of this series.
June 18, 2022
A kickass and cool heroine and a one protective/hot hero ensure that this is always a read I can happily curl up with.
I loved the fact Harley paid no attention to other peoples BS and her truly forgetting about people that didn't mater to her and the annoyance it caused them made me smirk.
Having the kids in so many scenes in this book was fab.
I also enjoyed the fact that it never felt like Harley was second best for Jesse.
I loved the fact Harley paid no attention to other peoples BS and her truly forgetting about people that didn't mater to her and the annoyance it caused them made me smirk.
Having the kids in so many scenes in this book was fab.
I also enjoyed the fact that it never felt like Harley was second best for Jesse.
October 9, 2017
2.5 Meh...
I expected so much more from this series and this author.
This book was pretty boring, to be honest, and the characters didn't really have chemistry.
It wasn't an awful read by any means, it was just pretty meh .
I expected so much more from this series and this author.
This book was pretty boring, to be honest, and the characters didn't really have chemistry.
It wasn't an awful read by any means, it was just pretty meh .
September 8, 2021
Like all the other books in this series and The Phoenix Pack series, I totally loved this!
I don't know if I was imagining things or it's because I want more of Cain, but didn't he seem a little protective of Cassidy? Is she his true mate? I mean, when she's older, of course. She's just a kid now. But still.. Or maybe he'll just be there for Cassidy like he was for Ally growing up?? SOMETHING. I just have a feeling. Am I the only one who noticed it? The connection? He refused to give her to Shaya when she passed out after healing Harley.. But.. Like I said, it could be my head telling me something that wasn't there because I want more of Cain. Haha. I could obviously be wrong.
I also loved the parts where Willow quoted movies and Shaya's reaction. Haha. Freaking hilarious. Every time. I mean, I loved the whole book and everything in it but those parts were so damn funny.
And something I've loved with all the books are that we get to see everyone from the other books in each book. Love that.
Can't wait for the next book!
I don't know if I was imagining things or it's because I want more of Cain, but didn't he seem a little protective of Cassidy? Is she his true mate? I mean, when she's older, of course. She's just a kid now. But still.. Or maybe he'll just be there for Cassidy like he was for Ally growing up?? SOMETHING. I just have a feeling. Am I the only one who noticed it? The connection? He refused to give her to Shaya when she passed out after healing Harley.. But.. Like I said, it could be my head telling me something that wasn't there because I want more of Cain. Haha. I could obviously be wrong.
I also loved the parts where Willow quoted movies and Shaya's reaction. Haha. Freaking hilarious. Every time. I mean, I loved the whole book and everything in it but those parts were so damn funny.
And something I've loved with all the books are that we get to see everyone from the other books in each book. Love that.
Can't wait for the next book!
August 1, 2017
4 Refreshing Stars.
This book is a breath of fresh air. I love Suzanne Wright and the world that she has created. Each and every single book and if you haven’t read anything by her then I would go to your computer and one click her books right now.
So you’re wondering how is this can be a breath of fresh air.
Our heroine Harley Vincent is a margay wild cat not a wolf. This alone makes it different than the other books. She has a lot of feline characteristics which made this book unique.
As a half shifter she has spent time in both worlds. Her pack life is different to what a normal pack would be. Harley has resorted to roaming. It doesn’t help that her father Clive Owen is meant to be the leader of The Movement.
But that all comes to a screeching halt.
Jesse Dalton enforcer with the Mercury pack had one night with a margay cat and since then has been smitten. They have history deep and painful history.
Harley was the scapegoat for what happened to Mia. Jesse knows the truth but his old pack not so much. There is a backstory which is heart-breaking.
But amazingly enough this wasn’t the main focus in the book which didn’t make it dull as dishwater.
Jesse Dalton came straight out and said it all.
“I don’t play games, Harley, so I’ll tell you straight. I want you. In my bed. In my life. Where you belong.”
Praise the Lord no hassle there. The overall plot for the book was also different. It didn’t resort back to extremists and all the nasty things that they do. Which also was refreshing not to read about. But with a half shifter who is a bad sociopath and sick to the core.
The unknown star of the book Cassidy. So adorable.
The whole mate thing wasn’t a push or pull situation where it is denied. Nope. It developed well and then was no annoying barriers put up to make it difficult for them.
I would still like a book with Cain Holt I don’t care if he is a sociopath.
It was hard to get into the book to begin with because I switched the genre up and it just felt odd there was one time where I wanted to put it down and come back to it at some point. I’m ecstatic I didn’t.
Book received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
This book is a breath of fresh air. I love Suzanne Wright and the world that she has created. Each and every single book and if you haven’t read anything by her then I would go to your computer and one click her books right now.
So you’re wondering how is this can be a breath of fresh air.
Our heroine Harley Vincent is a margay wild cat not a wolf. This alone makes it different than the other books. She has a lot of feline characteristics which made this book unique.
As a half shifter she has spent time in both worlds. Her pack life is different to what a normal pack would be. Harley has resorted to roaming. It doesn’t help that her father Clive Owen is meant to be the leader of The Movement.
But that all comes to a screeching halt.
Jesse Dalton enforcer with the Mercury pack had one night with a margay cat and since then has been smitten. They have history deep and painful history.
Harley was the scapegoat for what happened to Mia. Jesse knows the truth but his old pack not so much. There is a backstory which is heart-breaking.
But amazingly enough this wasn’t the main focus in the book which didn’t make it dull as dishwater.
Jesse Dalton came straight out and said it all.
“I don’t play games, Harley, so I’ll tell you straight. I want you. In my bed. In my life. Where you belong.”
Praise the Lord no hassle there. The overall plot for the book was also different. It didn’t resort back to extremists and all the nasty things that they do. Which also was refreshing not to read about. But with a half shifter who is a bad sociopath and sick to the core.
The unknown star of the book Cassidy. So adorable.
The whole mate thing wasn’t a push or pull situation where it is denied. Nope. It developed well and then was no annoying barriers put up to make it difficult for them.
I would still like a book with Cain Holt I don’t care if he is a sociopath.
It was hard to get into the book to begin with because I switched the genre up and it just felt odd there was one time where I wanted to put it down and come back to it at some point. I’m ecstatic I didn’t.
Book received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
November 11, 2016
5 Stars!
I really enjoyed this story. Jesse was a sexy, silent, brooding alpha male who never wavered in his feelings. And Harley was strong, understanding, and feisty. Together they were absolutely perfect and I loved reading about them as a couple.
Jesse is a wolf shifter & Harley is a margay cat shifter. So the whole time I was picturing something like this...
Now Jesse & Harley are not 'true' mates, his . But despite this he never treated Harley like second best, although she did have many insecurities because of it.
"I don't play games, Harley, so I'll tell you straight. I want you. In my bed. In my life. Where you belong."
Suzanne Wright can write about some pretty strong Alpha females who fight the H at every turn, so I'm really glad Harley wasn't like this. She remained strong without having to push Jesse away constantly. She was so mellow and chill that she really balanced out his seriousness!
Still waiting on a few Phoenix pack enforcers to get their stories as well but I cannot get enough of this spin-off series! I love how we get glimpses of all the other pack members :)
ARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
I really enjoyed this story. Jesse was a sexy, silent, brooding alpha male who never wavered in his feelings. And Harley was strong, understanding, and feisty. Together they were absolutely perfect and I loved reading about them as a couple.
Jesse is a wolf shifter & Harley is a margay cat shifter. So the whole time I was picturing something like this...
Now Jesse & Harley are not 'true' mates, his . But despite this he never treated Harley like second best, although she did have many insecurities because of it.
"I don't play games, Harley, so I'll tell you straight. I want you. In my bed. In my life. Where you belong."
Suzanne Wright can write about some pretty strong Alpha females who fight the H at every turn, so I'm really glad Harley wasn't like this. She remained strong without having to push Jesse away constantly. She was so mellow and chill that she really balanced out his seriousness!
Still waiting on a few Phoenix pack enforcers to get their stories as well but I cannot get enough of this spin-off series! I love how we get glimpses of all the other pack members :)
ARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
February 4, 2017
I'm going with a 3.5.
It felt like the plot was pushed aside to fit in all the sex.
It felt like the plot was pushed aside to fit in all the sex.
November 8, 2016
I love this authors wolf shifters but this time she has exceeded all my expectations with the addition of a margay shifter! Harley might look pretty cute when she shifts but she's an unpredictable , irreverent feline shifter that doesn't want anything to do with the Packs. She has been ostracised and misjudged and now is doing her own thing or at least she would be if Jesse, enforcer to the Mercury Pack would stop trying to boss her around!
Jesse lost his Mate due to an accident when they were children and just fell into a pit of despair . Seeing the wilful Harley try to save his sister from herself made him realise that life is worth living and that cute little margay sure looks like home to Jesse. So what if he's has kind of being stalking her for the past three years, Jesse just wants her safe but when Harley's life is threatened it's time to step up and claim what's his! Silly male does he really think it's going to be that easy?
It was fun being back in the bosom of the Mercury Pack. It's like catching up with old friends but the various Packs can be pretty screwed up at times. With humans targeting the shifters you would think they wouldn't have time for infighting but these territorial Packs seem to constantly have a fight brewing at their doors.
The romance here is pretty heated and this couple have a lot of energy to burn if you get my drift! Lots of scenes with Jesse trying to persuade Harley that she really is staying with him. Oh she's never forced and if truth be told leads him on a merry dance at times as this couple are very ,very playful.
I won't spoil the plot but it's a wonderful mixture of tension, romance and adorable sweetness. This author has wetted my appetite for more and if you start this series you won't be disappointed
This is a voluntary opinion of an Advance Reviewer Copy
Jesse lost his Mate due to an accident when they were children and just fell into a pit of despair . Seeing the wilful Harley try to save his sister from herself made him realise that life is worth living and that cute little margay sure looks like home to Jesse. So what if he's has kind of being stalking her for the past three years, Jesse just wants her safe but when Harley's life is threatened it's time to step up and claim what's his! Silly male does he really think it's going to be that easy?
It was fun being back in the bosom of the Mercury Pack. It's like catching up with old friends but the various Packs can be pretty screwed up at times. With humans targeting the shifters you would think they wouldn't have time for infighting but these territorial Packs seem to constantly have a fight brewing at their doors.
The romance here is pretty heated and this couple have a lot of energy to burn if you get my drift! Lots of scenes with Jesse trying to persuade Harley that she really is staying with him. Oh she's never forced and if truth be told leads him on a merry dance at times as this couple are very ,very playful.
I won't spoil the plot but it's a wonderful mixture of tension, romance and adorable sweetness. This author has wetted my appetite for more and if you start this series you won't be disappointed
This is a voluntary opinion of an Advance Reviewer Copy
February 24, 2017
I really liked this one. With a series like this it's always fun to catch up with the characters that you've grown to love but Jesse and Harley really stole the show for me. It's always refreshing when the H knows what he wants right from the start. And I loved the introduction of a new shifter species with Harley (BTW if you don't know what a Margay cat is you need to google them asap. They are cute as hell) Loved all the interaction with the Mercury Pack and catching up with them, especially with Willow and Cassidy, every scene with them was hilarious and I really hope we see more of them in the next books. This one doesn't really give many clues on who's book is next but I'm really hoping for either Eli or maybe Bracken. And definitely hope Harley's cousins get their own books cause they were awesome and I really want more of them.
Overall if you're a fan of this series or just of shifter books then I definitely recommend this one.
ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review
Overall if you're a fan of this series or just of shifter books then I definitely recommend this one.
ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review
December 15, 2016
This is one of my goto authors. And this book didn't disappoint. I like that she explored the non true mates storyline. However, I wanted to know what would happen when a true mate came along.
The reason this book wasn't a five star as there were several plot holes that could have easily been fixed with good beta reading or content editor.
Outside of that, I'm seriously hoping for a story on Kane/Cain. I listened and don't know how she spelled it.
The narrator was good only she has two settings for male voice tone which meant it could get confusing when there was dialogue between several males which happened a lot in this book.
Overall a solid read/listen I totally recommend.
The reason this book wasn't a five star as there were several plot holes that could have easily been fixed with good beta reading or content editor.
Outside of that, I'm seriously hoping for a story on Kane/Cain. I listened and don't know how she spelled it.
The narrator was good only she has two settings for male voice tone which meant it could get confusing when there was dialogue between several males which happened a lot in this book.
Overall a solid read/listen I totally recommend.
February 4, 2017
3 Dissaponted Stars !
Ugh what happened to this read ? I LOVE SW's book as a rule but this was,honestly?,this one was such a yawn-fest for me! Didn't really feel fresh or original if you compare it to any of her other wolf series.
The last 25-30% was what SAVED this book for me...if not for that,Would have definatly rated this a 2.
Ugh what happened to this read ? I LOVE SW's book as a rule but this was,honestly?,this one was such a yawn-fest for me! Didn't really feel fresh or original if you compare it to any of her other wolf series.
The last 25-30% was what SAVED this book for me...if not for that,Would have definatly rated this a 2.
November 3, 2020
This is second in a series, but it's really more than that because for some reason, this series is bound up to the Phoenix pack one and those two packs are closely tied and spill over a lot. Characters from previous books are frequently on-page in this one so if you care, reading in order seems like it'd be a thing. Also, the series were written simultaneously, at last in part, so yeah, lots of bouncing around between them.
I may have to quit these for a while as they're starting to blend a bit. The heroes are variations on a type and so are the heroines. That's not really bad, per se, but I'm going fuzzy on details already and I only finished this twenty minutes ago.
Harley is a take-charge woman with her music and living among humans until plot happens and Jesse has to step in and make her his. I really liked her determined independence, but I particularly liked how her shifter-cat manifest in her personality. I had to look up margays because I had no idea what they are, and that was a whole other black hole of cute to fall down. So educational because now I know all about margay shifters and they are awesome!
Jesse was kind of much, though. He's a whiner and all emotionally stunted and I'd had about enough of him by the first couple of chapters. His only redeeming quality was that he really likes Harley and wants her to be safe and happy. Unfortunately, he's kind of stupid and has a hard time processing that you don't "protect" a sneaky-ass cat when there are things that need a good pouncing. So yeah, he frustrated me a lot.
Also common in these books is that the relationship tends to resolve just after the midpoint and then it's a lot of plot with shifter politics, lots of mustache-twirling bad-guys, and people who need a good pouncing. Since I didn't find those elements nearly as engaging, my enjoyment tends to taper a bunch there and I end on fumes.
Also, with this story I finally pulled out part of what's bothering me about the worldbuilding. Don't get me wrong about this, I kind of like how Wright has done the whole "true mate" thing where they aren't always great unions and the escape clause of shifters being able to form lasting bonds outside of that broken paradigm makes it more of a wrinkle than a determining factor in mate selection. But what I finally noticed in this book is the complete lack of any kind of spirituality or sense of religion in the world. So people talk about "fated mate" and being "made for someone" but that kind of buries the obvious question of "fated by whom"? Who is doing all this fate crap and why aren't the shifters with crappy mates curling their fists against an uncaring god? There are no prayers, no faith, just a pile of unfounded superstitions with no foundation to hold them up. Which is really, really weird because people don't just let that kind of thing go. They question, they search, they create stories in their heads about what the forces bigger than they are want them to do. They propitiate, importune, sacrifice for, and curse their gods. But not in this world and that's a pretty big hole now that I've noticed it.
Anyway, this comes in at 3½ stars because of margay-shifters being a thing. But I'm not rounding up.
A note about Crude Language: Yeah, lots of dirty talk in sexy times. Some of it quite crude. None of it degrading or mean. But enough to flag.
A note about Steamy: There are a half-dozen explicit sex scenes putting this on the high end of my steam tolerance. Also, the author has a thing for, er, alternative play that gets, um. Okay, it's butt stuff. Apparently, that's a super-cool thing for shifters that they "save for their mate" for some reason...
I may have to quit these for a while as they're starting to blend a bit. The heroes are variations on a type and so are the heroines. That's not really bad, per se, but I'm going fuzzy on details already and I only finished this twenty minutes ago.
Harley is a take-charge woman with her music and living among humans until plot happens and Jesse has to step in and make her his. I really liked her determined independence, but I particularly liked how her shifter-cat manifest in her personality. I had to look up margays because I had no idea what they are, and that was a whole other black hole of cute to fall down. So educational because now I know all about margay shifters and they are awesome!
Jesse was kind of much, though. He's a whiner and all emotionally stunted and I'd had about enough of him by the first couple of chapters. His only redeeming quality was that he really likes Harley and wants her to be safe and happy. Unfortunately, he's kind of stupid and has a hard time processing that you don't "protect" a sneaky-ass cat when there are things that need a good pouncing. So yeah, he frustrated me a lot.
Also common in these books is that the relationship tends to resolve just after the midpoint and then it's a lot of plot with shifter politics, lots of mustache-twirling bad-guys, and people who need a good pouncing. Since I didn't find those elements nearly as engaging, my enjoyment tends to taper a bunch there and I end on fumes.
Also, with this story I finally pulled out part of what's bothering me about the worldbuilding. Don't get me wrong about this, I kind of like how Wright has done the whole "true mate" thing where they aren't always great unions and the escape clause of shifters being able to form lasting bonds outside of that broken paradigm makes it more of a wrinkle than a determining factor in mate selection. But what I finally noticed in this book is the complete lack of any kind of spirituality or sense of religion in the world. So people talk about "fated mate" and being "made for someone" but that kind of buries the obvious question of "fated by whom"? Who is doing all this fate crap and why aren't the shifters with crappy mates curling their fists against an uncaring god? There are no prayers, no faith, just a pile of unfounded superstitions with no foundation to hold them up. Which is really, really weird because people don't just let that kind of thing go. They question, they search, they create stories in their heads about what the forces bigger than they are want them to do. They propitiate, importune, sacrifice for, and curse their gods. But not in this world and that's a pretty big hole now that I've noticed it.
Anyway, this comes in at 3½ stars because of margay-shifters being a thing. But I'm not rounding up.
A note about Crude Language: Yeah, lots of dirty talk in sexy times. Some of it quite crude. None of it degrading or mean. But enough to flag.
A note about Steamy: There are a half-dozen explicit sex scenes putting this on the high end of my steam tolerance. Also, the author has a thing for, er, alternative play that gets, um. Okay, it's butt stuff. Apparently, that's a super-cool thing for shifters that they "save for their mate" for some reason...
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