Title: Strength of the Wolf
Series: Tameness of the Wolf, #2
Author: Kendall McKenna
Genre: Military/Paranormal
Length: Extended Novel
Publisher: MLR Press (September 6th, 2013)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥4.5 Hearts
Reviewer: Thommie
Blurb: Major Tim Madison has his hands full. A young Alpha werewolf has stormed into his personal life, while Tim struggles to keep military werewolves from safe on the front lines.
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.
Product Link: http://www.mlrbooks.com/ShowBook.php?book=KM_STOTW
Review: This book is part of a series best read in order.
Early this year we were introduced to The Tameness of the Wolf Series written by McKenna, and all of us who read it were ecstatic with the first book. There we met LT Young and Sgt Hammond, and their epic story took us into a wild ride suffused with all kind of action, be it military or romantic. Among the many characters that were deeply involved in the first book, Tim Madison caused great curiosity and admiration of the readers. A Captain back then, Tim gets a promotion to Major in this book, which follows his life and his struggles. However, a word of advice for new readers, Noah and Lucas follow along with Tim, they are a strong part of this book as well, and you might want to pick up book #1 first to get properly mind-blown and second to get a good idea on this world’s mechanics and rituals.
Now, what a freaking awesome story yet again!
See, I just had to exclaim and shout it our loud (literally as well as in writing) because damn it, McKenna does it again. I admit that the first book was of a faster pace, the angst and tension were higher there due to the fact that the story was happening in the middle of a freaking battlefield in addition to the True Alpha/Dominant epic relationship that Lucas was making a big issue of not falling for, for most of the story.
Here we have our team, Major Madison, Captain Young, and SSgt Hammond (yes, yes the promotion is a big deal) back in US trying to re-write the lost knowledge of were-soldiers, making things easier for them to follow pack rules, and protecting them from unnecessary harm. The night our guys and their friend celebrate their promotions, a funny thing happens. A kid challenges Noah right outside of their restaurant. The ludicrous idea, the unbelievable scene, and the intensity that follows after is amazing.
Meet Jeremy, a civilian werewolf going through Transition of True Alpha. Status: Lone Wolf, Cast Out from his former pack due to Pack’s Leader’s fear of Challenge. Basically, we have a young man who at one point is insecure and mild-mannered, and the next he goes bat-shit crazy.
Now put this petulant brat in the presence of Major Tim… Add in their hormones, lust, and pure hotness, and take a wild guess of what you get.
Oh. My. God! It was fantastic I tell you. This is what I like about Kendall’s werewolves and mate-pairs, when it hits them they don’t instantly know. They don’t go all crazy, “oh, I’m mated. It’s fate,” and all that crap. Kendall’s wolves and their mates seriously work their relationship hard to reach at any point of true intimacy and knowledge of their mate. It’s a work in progress and not instant brainwashing that makes these pairs so freaking unique.
And oh, my God (again), the sexual scenes are plain hot, freaking steamy, unbearable porn! Of the kind that makes you pant and want to do something about it before you seriously burst a vain in your damned brain. If you thought book #1 was good, you have no freaking idea what the chemistry between Tim and Jeremy is like. It’s Fever! It’s the damned Sahara! Your mouth with go completely dry while your body won’t know what the Hell hit it. God! Kendall’s choices of scenes are evil beyond imagination. And to top it all, they are un-relentless as they keep going for a substantial amount of time of text space or length, whatever you want to call it. Yeah ok, I am partial to Noah and Lucas, but this pair rises right there up with them when it comes to hot were/human sex. Where is that fan I bought just for this book again?
Back to the story, I will not go ahead and give out spoilers, at least no more than I’ve already have. This story however is a mixture of romance, military fights – as our officer to go back and forth in Iraq to supervise how their suggestions are working- and civilian human as well as werewolf things. We get a closer look to Tim’s family. We get a closer look to hidden family secrets that cause so emotional drama. We meet Adam, Tim’s brother, (is there a story coming out from him? I sure hope so). We also see Jeremy’s change from that petulant kid, to a full-blown Alpha under Noah’s (surprise!) supervision. All right, Tim helps too what with his Marine mentality bleeding into Jeremy’s core. We get to see Lone Wolves runs and mostly we get to see a pretty cool Challenge. Now if I’m gonna be totally honest I would’ve loved it if the Challenge were a bit harsher on those freaks, but never mind me, I’m always pro blood when it comes deep down to it.
So wrapping this up, I don’t need to recommend this book at all to the fans of the series. They must have already gotten a copy and dived right in, feeling ecstatic and overjoyed, even as anticipation for the next one already has made its presence. If however you’re new to the series, don’t know them, are a fan of military/werewolves then don’t wait, go grab it, grab the previous one as well, and make it a marathon out of it. Not to be missed!
P.s.: Totally freaking awesome!