Two novellas

Terrell Hubbard, decorated Marine sergeant, proudly serves as Beta wolf to his True Alpha and Dominant. During a mission, he meets Staff Sergeant Kai Thayer, Pack Leader of the Camp Fallujah sippe. Terrell is thrown completely off balance by the strength of their mutual attraction and the intensity of their passion. His entire world felt perfect though, each time they came together to mark and claim one another.
In the chaos of a surprise attack Kai shows poor judgement, driving a wedge between Terrell and him, and landing Kai on the True Alpha's bad side. Terrell is torn between his ferocious loyalty to his True Alpha, and his new but powerful feelings for Kai. In the battle's aftermath, Terrell and Kai are drawn together in passion, hoping it's not the final chance to mark their claims.


What could a humble peasant offer a lofty, but dour, crown prince?
Many years ago, in a kingdom far away, there lived a young prince. This prince was very handsome,

and everybody in the kingdom loved him. His father, the king, doted on the young man, and did everything he could to make the boy happy. His mother, the queen, adored her prince, and devised new and special gifts for him every day. The subjects of the kingdom brought offerings to the prince, and served at his pleasure, without a single complaint. The prince, being a good man, responded in kind and treated everybody fairly and with respect. But, much to his father’s confusion and his mother’s disappointment, there was one thing the prince never did...
He never smiled.
Finally, unable to tolerate his son’s dour expression any longer, the king sent out a decree. He dispatched messengers to every corner of his country, and runners to all the neighboring kingdoms. The first person to make his hard-faced child smile would earn the right to marry him.
Unfortunately for the king, things did not go as planned... 

Comment: These two short stories were some of the most recent reads I've had. I'm going to give the same grading to both, different reasons, but in the end it's the same.

Short stories are great ways to move series along or to just write about specific things or themes without much (boring) development but often, the concept is much better than the execution...

Heart of a Warrior is a novella in the Tameness of the Wolf series by author Kendall Mckenna. the author has gone through some issues because of a broken leg and some of her deadlines have not been met. This was supposed to be a full length story, which many readers were waiting for but now the novella is finally out. I'm very glad for that but I didn't realize it would be a novella. I can understand the problems but I thought it would be the book. Will there be a book, I wonder. Anyway, this was a good enough story, the usual trademark we expect from the author, it was great to see the characters again but I feel too much time was spent with the main couple's sexuality and nor developing the plot, which felt rushed and underdeveloped. I only hope a full length story is too come! 

Grade: 5/10

The prince Who Never Smiled is a story by Pepper Espinoza that has been in the pile for a long time. It's an interesting twist on a fairytale and it was interesting to read, it's a very quick read. The idea that there's only one special person that can change someone's else is quite interesting and the author did it well enough but I think because this is a short story, the emphasis isn't always on the right themes. It was great to see all things happening but then nothing can really be developed and it feels like all things were rushed. I liked how we got to know the main characters well, despite all this, but the writing isn't always engaging.

The cover isn't very appealing either...

Grade: 5/10

Kendall McKenna - Austin and Troy

Hurricane Lauris tore through North Carolina, leaving devastation in her wake. When the Marines of Camp Lejeune respond with help and resources, Staff Sergeant Troy Matson immediately volunteers. His mission is to assist Sheriff's Deputy Austin Delaney and his K9 partner, Decker, search for trapped survivors. Their mutual attraction is instant and intense, but all of the destruction leaves Troy conflicted. Austin proves to be a surprising source of comfort and understanding in Troy's search for redemption, but returning to their daily lives might end what has only just started. 

Comment: To be honest, I got interested in this book because of the author. I'm a fan of one of her series and while browsing her back list at goodreads, I've seen this book and by the blurb and my knowledge of what her work felt like to me, I've decided to get this title. I've got it some time ago but only now really picked it.

In this book we follow Troy, a marine new to North Carolina, and his first task before really settling in. He is asked to help in the follow-up of an hurricane in searching for people who might be hurt. He is placed with sheriff deputy Austin and his K9 partner in a team to find people and bring help.

Troy feels good by being helpful despite his more served nature and his attraction to Austin is a good feeling even if he isn't certain about the reciprocation of those feelings.

But the devastation he finds is overwhelming, Could he get past his memories from the war and focus on his new job and possible romance?

Apparently, this book belongs to the series Storming Love: One Storm, Twelve Men which explores the relationship of 6 couples through the hurricane Lauris and its aftermath. I haven't read any other story and to be honest, I don't plan on it. I've briefly read the blurbs of them all and this is the 4th story. Of all of them, it seems this is the only one featuring a couple that meets for the first time at the beginning of the story and the other books are focused on couples that met, and some had had a relationship.

I'm very glad I picked this story and that the author decided to write it this way, as lovers reunited is my least favorite trope of them all. Each author has a story, and if I got it right, independent from one another, as I didn't find any seemingly connection to other couples in this story. Some readers seem to prefer the other stories set during the hurricane but this one happens after, when the rescuing is going on.

Overall, I liked this short story. I think the author did a good job with the short amount of time she had to develop the plot and the result was a small but very decent story.

I liked that the author didn't try to add as many subjects as she could, she focused on one or two details and that gave a solid structure to the plot.

The biggest issue, I think, is Troy and his thoughts coming out of a war zone, learning to deal with everything he saw and how he's supposed to feel and staring a new job can be overwhelming. But before he can settle in, fix his new house and so on, he is asked by his superior to help in the rescue missions which, of course, he accepts because it makes him feel useful. While seeing the devastation he seems worried and sad and we learn he saw many bad things while he was deployed and it's difficult to process that. I felt sorry for him, because I can't imagine but it's certainly very hard to deal with guilt and hopelessness.

Interestingly, Troy meets Austin and his K9 partner Decker and they help him to see things through a different light. He's also very attracted to Austin, he's the type of men he likes and seems to like him back. Their relationship was very slow developing, mostly kissing and some small touches and sentences here and there but they do seem to be a match. I liked it that despite one or two more hot and heavy love scenes, the author didn't exaggerate things and kept their relationship more on the cautious and hopeful side than consummated. The book ends with a HFN but I can totally imagine the HEA on the horizon.

The author decided to write this - possibly due to limit issues - very simply, just an average broader idea about how the rescue missions are, how things work, how it must have been for Troy to compare this to what he's seen, how does that affect him, choosing a love interest that is also very balanced and easy to care for...I really think she was clever.

However, this isn't perfect in my opinion, because the same simplicity can seem incomplete or lacking purpose and everything they do ends up seeming like just something thy had to do and we never get the whole grasp of the difficulty because we can't stay with each situation or scene for long.

The romance is slow, not definitive and I understand, but with the time given for the more sexy scenes we could have had a bit more romantic gestures...yes I know it would be too soon for that, but it would have been fun. I also wanted to see more of the chemistry between them before they admitted it.

Despite everything, I consider this a good story. Not as absorbing as the series by her I follow, but considering the possible page limit, the subject and the series' rules or indications, the author did a good job, a very solid and well structured plot and I was very glad about the type of trope as well.

A good one for me.

Grade: 8/10

Kendall Mckenna - Strength of the Mate

Adam Madison is in Iraq, driving supply trucks for the Marines, but he still can't outrun his personal ghosts. Outside the wire, insurgents are a relentless threat. Inside, renegade werewolves are a constant danger.
Dawson Rivers is on a mission for the True Alpha---bring the rampaging shifters under control. Adam proves to be invaluable to his task. Their intense mutual attraction explodes into a powerful physical, and emotional connection.
Their future together is in peril, when Adam's convoy is ambushed.Can they learn to rely on the strength of their bond? Adam staying alive long enough for Dawson to find him depends on it.

Comment: Here it is another installment of this series which I've been enjoying so much. I'm so glad this new book was recently released and of course, I had to devour it straight away.

 In this new story, we have as protagonists, Adam, the younger brother to Tim from the previous book, and Dawson, the omega to the True Alpha. 
Adam is driving trucks in Iraq for the military, through an international company. He doesn't have many shifter friends, only acquaintances although his brother is such an important member of the shifter hierarchy.
Dawson comes to the Iraq city where the base is to help with some shifter problems and he meets Adam again. At first things were weird but as soon as Dawson realizes Adam is attracted to him, there's nothing to stop from going after Adam.

Once again, I really loved the story. I think there's an interesting clash between the shifter side of things and the military. I also believe I've said before it's very good the way the author uses both these aspects together without one seem to overpower the other, which makes the story flow and feel very easy to read and to follow. Despite this, it's very obvious how the slight paranormal side of things is used but it doesn't remove any feel of seriousness from the overall plot. In the end I thought the last scenes were a little bit over the top, but I'm not complaining because I've become very fond of this "world" and hopefully there are ore stories to come.

Te main romance was ok, especially those first chapters where there was a lot of sexual tension. I really like how the author uses this method to develop the main characters' story and slow start of relationship. As soon as they became intimate I had the feeling things started to decrease a bit in intensity, but on the other hand, it was clever of the author to make Adam rather clueless about certain shifter things, which allowed for an extended period of doubts and "getting to know what's happening" moments. Still, it is expected that, by now, most people related to shifters would be more knowledgeable...but well, part of the fun is to see how thy react to knowing what certain things actually mean to shifters.

The two main characters were good to know, I guess. 
Dawson still remains a bit of a mystery despite this book. I think the main issues were covered, namely he's honorable and important to that base ad the pack there and we know he plays an important role in Noah's hierarchy but not much more than that.
Adam we got to know better, mainly because the story is told from his POV (but not 1st person) and throughout the novel we got to understand his issues, his fears and his feelings of not being understood or loved and his immense guilt which shaped his behavior too. He was slow to make friends but of course, shifters don't give up easily and even more so after Dawson arrives. 
Obviously, after their relationship develops, both of them get better people, in a way.

In the end, this story was very enjoyable to me, I keep rooting for them and I'm still so curious to see more, to know more about the shifters and their lives.
It's so good to know there's a shape shifters world out there that delivers and fulfills all my expectations of a shifter world! I hope the author keeps the good work!
Grade: 8/10

Kendall Mckenna - Strength of the Wolf

After a fiery exit from Afghanistan, Tim Madison is promoted to major. Jeremy Wagner is a civilian, just beginning his Transition to True Alpha. As a lone wolf, he has no one to teach him the vital principles of strong leadership. After a volatile chance encounter, Tim and Jeremy form an intimate bond.
As Jeremy prepares to someday lead his own pack, Tim struggles with military werewolves being needlessly maimed in combat, as well as specifically targeted by hostile forces. Despite Tim and Jeremy’s feelings, werewolf and human politics or family conflict could prevent their mate-bond.

Comment: I've loved the first book in this series and I was so happy to know there would be more stories around the characters I've met there I went and bought the book as soon as it was released. It's very easy to purchase ebooks from MRL Press.
Anyway, the moment I got it, I started reading.

This is a sort of follow-up of the previous story but this time the focus is on major Tim, someone who advised Lucas a lot on how to deal with shape shifters. Tim is used to be in control of things and to be an expert in dealing with the unexpected. Then he meets Jeremy on one night while he is out with his friends. 
Jeremy is a alpha to be. He has the instincts and trademarks of an alpha but he is still getting his bearings about it. He was cast off from his older pack because he was a threat to the alpha there. He gets the attention of Noah, the alpha, and gets his help. He's also attracted to Tim and at first he doesn't know how to act, but since the moment he understands Tim is attracted as well...things change between them.

I liked the story a lot. I think it wasn't as strong as the first one mostly because the other one has two main characters who had better chemistry in my opinion.
This story still revolves around the idea of shape shifters as military and how they are a respected and welcome part by the higher instances. I actually like how natural things are in this reality the author created and most important, how accepted is the fact th shape shifter need to touch and have any kind of tactful contact, even sexual, and everyone accepts that. It's a very daring move especially considering real life and the take on gay acceptance in the military. Although the books don't intend to say the shape shifters are all gay, which they aren't, it's still an important part of their existence and I find it inspiring.

The two main characters in this second story don't have as much intensity between them like I said, but I liked how they met and the start of their relationship. I even liked how they got to be so important to each other from the start. What I think wasn't that well done was how fast they got physical. Ok, not exactly this, it was more the easy decision to be intimate. They were attracted to each other and the teasing and wonder was amazing and I thought when they got together, if not romantic, could be more intense and could give the idea of "finally". Instead, it was more like a talked decision. This is fine in real life, but I confess I expected more flavor and passion for them. This was why this is only 4 starts and the previous one was a 5...things took longer to happen in terms of "is this really happening and what should I do" in Lucas and Noah's story and I love shape shifters stories where things don't happen right away but there is plenty sexual tension to see and that gives a more desperate need to see what happens, at least to my taste.This situation didn't happen here but I still loved the story, pretty much due to the author's world and talent.
We get to know the to guys pretty well and while they're developing their relationship and dealing with the importance of each other in their lives, we see them dealing with personal things too and that doesn't only give a bigger sense of how they are but as how they work out their thoughts and behavior. It's a very complete study of them and their actions.

All in all, a great story, I can't wait for the next one!!!

Kendall McKenna - Strength of the Pack

A Marine werewolf and his commander bring legends to life while surviving combat deployment in Afghanistan.
Lieutenant Lucas Young doesn't know much about shifters. When Sergeant Noah Hammond is assigned to Lucas' platoon, the Marine Corps' True Alpha werewolf challenges the Lieutenant's authority and his self-control. As Lucas learns to dominate and command Noah, he struggles against a strong attraction and deepening emotional bond. During their combat deployment to Afghanistan, Lucas and Noah begin mirroring legendary partnerships. Their bond and their power grow as they survive dangerous combat and ambushes. When one of them is wounded in battle, they both must embrace the strength of their bond before they lose each other forever.

Comment: Every month I randomly pick two m/m books to read from the TBR pile I have. However, sometimes the talk about a certain book calls to me and despite doing some research on a couple of new books here and there, I don't get that many, mostly because I already have a lot to go through. Still, this month I bought two new books, I mean one of them wasn't new but it was to me, as I haven't got it yet.

Anyway, this was the first m/m read of this month.

This is the story of Lucas and Noah, they're both in the military and in this "reality", werewolves not only are recognized, but they're accepted and are part of the military specially for their skills and resistance. Apparently, there isn't much prejudice as well.

Noah is a True Alpha, which means he leads several groups of werewolves while normal alphas only lead their packs. Lucas if the officer ranking above Noah and has to learn to deal with him without challenging him all the time, their relationship has to be balanced, also for the well being of their troops. However, something weird is happening when they're together and Lucas sees himself in a position he doesn't understand but with time their bond gets stronger and they start to balance each other quite well.

I loved this book!

It has all the elements in a story that I love and the fact there's shape shifters, there's romance and there's a pack structure is wonderful. 

Lucas and Noah feel very attracted but Lucas doesn't try very hard to deal with Noah because he fears he might do something he is supposed to, although his rank is above Noah's. I think this fact was well done by the author and when they started giving in to their attraction it was more believable and cute because of that.

During their "courtship", let's call it that, the only think I think wasn't that good was how things would be happening, strange things, and so many people seemed to understand them and Lucas didn't, although it was mostly about him. I mean, surely someone would explain things better and sooner....right? No, he was in the dark for quite a long time and I guess it could be explained by he needing time to process what was happening but still, it wasn't the best detail in the story...

Anyway, the story rocked. Noah and Lucas got more intimate with each time they were together or had to fight together and their bond was stronger and handier the more time passed. There are great scenes where we can see the perfection of their relationship and how good it was to see them do normal things but at the same time those same things were different, were more beautiful because of their bond. 

I also liked how the pack structure worked, how everyone was very respectful and not only because it was the armed forces, there was a certain sense of reverence to the type of relationship the guys had because it was unique and didn't happen very often.

Lucas and Noah both had interesting personalities...but the story is told by Lucas POV and I wished we could have read some scenes from Noah's just to have a more balanced idea of what was happening. Still, a very strong and solid story.

I really loved this world, this reality the author has created. I saw on her website that two more books are scheduled in this series...I can't wait for them to be about because the writing and the feel of the story were great. I also recommend it to everyone who likes gay shape shifter stories, it's amazing!