I have to giggle a bit when I think of the title of the Cate C. Wells book I just finished. It’s The Tyrant Alpha’s Rejected Mate. This was a really fun crackalicious read. You get the story from the title. We have a rejected mate plot with the major alpha male shifter. But there’s a twist!

Una is the FMC. When she was young, Una protected a young wolf from an attack and nearly died. Because of the beating she took, she has an injured leg that never healed properly. She’s a single wolf who lives with the other single (outcast) wolves in the pack. They keep to themselves and Una is still very much their protector. Killian is the pack leader. He’s a bit slutty and hasn’t settled down. His dad was the previous alpha and Killian is determined to change the pack for the better. And to his credit, pack life has improved. Just not enough. 

Una hasn’t had her first shift. She works at a bar with the other single wolves and while she’s there, Una starts to feel funny. It’s a busy night in the bar, lots of wolf stuff happening. Killian is sitting in a chair in front of the pack like a king. And, BAM, Una realizes that Killian is her mate. Two things happen- she tells Killian in front of everyone. So awkward! And, she shifts. Killian rejects her. Una lopes off to lick her wounds. 

Una is much stronger than the pack thinks. She’s smart, caring… and there’s secret even she didn’t know about her and Killian. Una seeks advice from one of the elder female wolves. There’s an interesting procedure performed that sets up the rest of the book with Killian denying Una, then groveling for her. Super fun, predictable, but enjoyable book. I definitely recommend!

*******

Next, I went from shifters to aliens. Taken by The Horde King by Zoey Draven is the fifth book in the Horde Kings of Dakker world. Think of Khal Drago from Game of Thrones. If you liked him, you’ll love this series. 

There’s a dangerous red fog blanketing the world of Dakkar and Rath Rowen (the hot Horde King starring in this book) is living with his people beside the fog to keep an eye on it and protect the land. Mina is a human living in a mountain with other human refuges. The mountain is on the other side of the red fog. Mina’s fellow humans think she’s weak and abuse her physically and mentally. She stutters and they have interpreted that to mean she isn’t smart, is damaged in some way. The joke’s on them because Mina is actually VERY powerful.

In a scheme cooked up by some sketchy witches, the leader of the humans tells Mina to go into the red fog and charm the Horde King. She’s told to lure him back to the mountain where the witches will carve out his heart and perform some dark magic that will banish the red fog. Mina’s power is that she can control the fog. Her leader (a total ass) knows this, but he doesn’t realize just how powerful she is. The trick works and the Horde King is captured and chained down in the mountain as a prisoner. Mina feels bad, AS SHE SHOULD. 

Mina and Rath Rowen have a tough long journey to finding peace and love. They’re both wildly attracted to each other. But there’s no trust. I enjoyed both characters. I’m a sucker for red-eyed handsome aliens with a mischievous tail and tattoos. Excited to read the final book- its downloaded and ready for me now. 

*******

Bad Girl Reputation is the second book in the Avalon Bay series by Elle Kennedy. The bad girl is Genevieve West. Gen was a wild child who made some real mistakes in life. She partied too much. She drank too much and there was one really awful incident that motivated her to skip town. Her boyfriend, Evan, remained in Avalon Bay pining for her and wondering why she left. Part of Gen’s problem was Evan. As a couple, they never could grow up and get their lives together. 

Gen’s mom dies and she moves back to help her dad with their family business. She wasn’t close with her mom, but she does love her dad and her five brothers. Evan and Gen are drawn to each other again and immediately. Gen gives in, but then does her best to distance Evan. She has stopped her party hardy lifestyle, quit drinking and doesn’t want to be swept away into a wild romance of late drunken nights. 

This series is sweet and easy to read, or in my case, listen to. I liked both Gen and Evan. There’s a big cast of characters and I predict many books in the future around Avalon Bay. I get major Outerbanks vibes when I read these books. There’s the people who live there and then the rich people who visit. There’s some angst, some spice, nothing too over the top. Just a happy, nice romance. Check this one out.