Review originally posted in October of 2014 at Fiction Vixen by Angela.

Gray Bishop by Kelly Meade
Cornerstone Run Trilogy #2
PNR
Published October 21, 2014 by Intermix

Gray Bishop is the second book in the Cornerstone Run Trilogy, and while I had some problems with the romance in Black Rook, the world-building and premise of this series had me looking forward to the next two releases. Bishop and Jillian, our main characters, feature prominently in the first book and I was very much looking forward to see how their romance developed.

First let me say I adore the underlying premise of this series as it’s built around different colors of wolves and how each have their places in the loup society. Blacks are the strongest and are usually the leaders, grays the most common and whites the rarest and are the healers who keep the entire pack grounded. Almost all the conflicts, other than the action plot, arise because not every character fits exactly into this mold and the people they fall in love with aren’t who they should be paired with according to their society. I think, for me, this is what had me hitting my request button when this title came up for review. I needed to know how Bishop and Jillian worked through the many obstacles being together would represent. I wanted to see how this small settlement would adapt when half-breeds were introduced into their formerly closed off community. I needed to see them evolve and grow and get better as a whole.

Bishop is the son of the alpha and a gray wolf. Until his brother was born a black wolf, he was the presumptive heir to his father. He’s strong, smart and genuinely embodies everything an alpha should be, regardless of his common gray color. When his brother Rook finally gives up his claim to leadership in order to marry the half-breed woman he’s fallen in love with, Bishop once again steps into the role he’s been raised for his entire life. He’s ready to take on the responsibility, but first must work with his father to protect the entire loup garou community against the half-vampire, half- loup women who are currently terrorizing loup settlements all over the country. Their ultimate goal is to steal back Bishop’s brother Knight, a white wolf, in order to breed with him. Bishop is not about to let that happen again. He’ll do whatever it takes to protect his brother this time around.

Jillian is a black wolf who also happens to be daughter and heir to the alpha of the neighboring community. She’s an enforcer and part of the ‘in the know’ group who is working with Bishop’s father to eliminate the threat to the loup garou. Her backstory is sad, and had me as a reader sympathizing with her character right off the bat. I appreciated that the author began this book with little look into Jillian’s history, as it helped me understand her thoughts and actions as she’s contemplating her feelings for Bishop.

Jillian and Bishop desire each other, and their beast sides might have already found their mate, but theirs is a relationship that will never work. Each have big internal struggles as well, that leads them to doubt themselves, each other and their partnership. Even as I was reading, I kept wondering how Ms. Meade would resolve the issues between them as both Jillian and Bishop are next in line to lead. I was completely surprised by the way this author brought these two together and made their mating work. I’m not sure how I didn’t see it coming really. Suffice it to say big things happen that forces the issue and creates a way for the conflict between them to be resolved.

In the background, there is so much going on and even secondary characters are stepping out of their molds and taking on their society to be with who they love. These side stories interested me almost as much as the main romance. I’m so intrigued by what’s going on with Knight and Shay. Knight is the character who captured my attention the most in the first book and he’s just as compelling in this one. He’s still working through what happened to him in Black Rook and he has an almost nervous breakdown in Gray Bishop. I’m excited for his book, to be released in January. I can’t wait to see how he finally finds peace and happiness with his mate. Final Grade- B-

Favorite Quote:

“These are the moments worth fighting for.”