Title: Shadow Voice
Series: Blackwood Pack 05
Author: Mary Rundle
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, MPreg
Length: Novel (387pgs)
Publisher: Mary Rundle (September 7, 2018)
Heat Level: Low – Moderate
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 4.25 Hearts (Combined)
Blurb: The Blackwood Pack saga continues…
This is part of an on-going series and reading the previous titles is advised. Readers of the past books will enjoy meeting old friends once more as the pack does what it does best ̶ caring for each other.
Slate, one of the last Dire Wolves, has carved out a life which suits him fine—plenty of traveling to exotic locations and an abundance of one night stands to handle his needs. While he’s happy for his brother, who has found his Fated Mate, Slate isn’t interested in finding his—at least not for a long time. That is, until his body betrays him. Seeking his mother’s help—who is an Oracle—Slate pays a visit to the Blackwood Pack where he finds the Fates have once again, messed with his life.
Dakota, the chef for the Blackwood Pack, fell in love with cooking as a young child and ultimately the kitchen became a place of refuge for him. Suffering with a ‘curse’ through much of his childhood, he relied heavily on his mother’s help to deal with it. After the massacre of his mother and siblings by their greedy uncle, Dakota barely survives, but finally forges a life for himself, content to stay home and take care of the people he loves.
A long-hidden secret, rejection of a mate, acceptance of rare gifts, and a brutal kidnapping are just some of the obstacles Dakota and Slate must battle together to save their relationship. As the pack rallies around them, both must learn to trust the other before they can find the happiness that the Fates have ordained for them…
ISBN: B07H6HX243
Product Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK
Reviewers: Shorty & Lisa
Shorty’s Review: 💖💖💖💖💖 4 3/4 Hearts
Slate finds that fate is once again interfering in his life as he is sent toward his mate. Dakota, a chef of the Blackwood pack, has a lifetime of worry tagging along for the ride as he carves out a new life for himself after surviving the massacre by his uncle.
I loved these two characters. They fought, they loved, they conquered. Such an amazing ride to witness as these two struggle to make it through what life has thrown their way to achieve happiness with the other.
I have enjoyed the entire series so far. Adventurous, mysterious, and romance plus a slew of other genres thrown into the mix to make for an interesting series.
Great read.
Lisa’s Review: 💖💖💖💖 3.5 Hearts
Slate loves to travel and help other packs. He is one of the last dire wolves and has a destiny to finish in a way. He wants his mate and knows that one of the gifts given to him is for his mate to become pregnant. However he doesn’t want one right off the bat or so he thinks. When he finds his mate on a visit home. The gods give many gifts and he is about to be surprised.
Dakota is an empath and the worst is the fear and pain of others. His gift is more of a curse to him. His father is one of the evils of the world and he felt it all. The hate that he had for his family and the fact that he just loved to cause pain in his sons. When he figures out who his mate is, he panics. He knows Slate doesn’t want one but he can’t stay hidden forever.
I had a few issues with the story that made me want to just give up on the story. The jump from one character to the next drove me nuts and the fact that the author reiterated certain parts over and over was a bit overdone. There were certain words used for pecs and sex that made me think a teen was writing the story. The word tits for pecs made the stupid come out. It made me think the author was wishing for females then the guys in the story. There was just more information in the story than was needed and it made me want to put the book down. It made the story feel like the author just threw it in to make the book longer and it didn’t do it any justice. You could have the danger that showed up in there without the need to float back and forth in the story. It took away from the characters in the end. I was glad that the guys got their happy ending but the way the story was told made me want to pitch the whole series.
The world that the author created was amazing but the way the story was told not so much. Information overload is what I think of. I will admit that this story is not one of those that will be read more than once and that was a let down. The story would have been a five if it had not had to much added in to make word count. I am sorry but for right now this story is not what it should have been or where it should have been at.