Title: Alpha Second
Series: Whithowe Forest Pack 01
Author: Violet Joicey-Cowen
Genre: Paranormal
Length: Novella (130pgs)
Publisher: Sire-BookStrand (13th June 2013)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3 ½ Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: When Charlie Michaelson stumbled onto the pack as a teenager, Alpha Perry Wyndham was overjoyed to realize the young wolf-shifter would one day be his mate. Then Charlie vanished just before his 18th birthday, the age at which he could have been claimed.
Now, three years later, Charlie has finally been found, but he is starved, broken, and not expected to last the night.
As Charlie begins to recover, things become known that will change the lives of the entire pack forever. As the full story unfolds, a deeper wedge is driven between him and his mate, leaving both men feeling rejected and alone. Charlie is devastated to feel Perry backing away, and Perry cannot hope Charlie will still want him after all the young shifter has suffered through.
Will they be able to find their way through the misunderstandings and the shadows of the past to finally claim each other?
Purchase Link: http://www.bookstrand.com/alpha-second
Review: Perry discovered his mate Charlie but had to wait just a bit longer to be able to claim him, Charlie wasn’t yet eighteen, but then Charlie disappeared with no clue as to where he went. Three years later Charlie turns up on Perry’s doorstep starved, broken, injured and not expected to live the night. Charlie has longed for his mate for the last three years, thinking of Perry is all that kept him going, but now physically recovered Perry seems to want nothing to do with him. Perry is sure that after everything that Charlie has gone through the last thing he needs is a horny mate intent on claiming him, so Perry focuses on finding out where Charlie has been. But, as plans are made, the distance between Perry and Charlie grows, can either man just talk to the other before it is too late.
This is a great first published work from new author Violet Joicey-Cowen. Charlie and Perry are both great characters, they just don’t talk to each other and both jump to conclusions due to body language. Perry is the typical Alpha, he wants to look after his pack and his mate, but instead of talking and including his mate, he just presumes he knows what his mate needs. Charlie is still a young wolf and because of the distance, that Perry holds himself at he thinks Perry doesn’t want him anymore, but Charlie doesn’t confront him or ask him about it. Both shifters think they know what is going on with the other, but they are both far from the truth.
Now let’s get on to the rest of the storyline, Charlie’s disappearance, this bit was good but leaves us with unanswered questions. When we discover what happened to Charlie we are horrified especially when we discover there are many more who are in Charlie’s former position, now the way that Perry handled it was brilliant, even as we wish he would open up to Charlie more. The execution of the plan was nicely carried out and the sympathy and heartache flowed smoothly for the poor paranormals that were held, everything that was described and how the scenes played out were nearly perfect and this is where our unanswered questions come from.
I can’t help but wonder what happened to the guards? What about the faculty they were held at? Are they going to do anything about Michaelson? And what about Charlie’s mother? Why isn’t Charlie in the least bit concerned about her? These are just some of the questions that were rolling around in my head by the time I finished the book. Charlie’s and Perry’s relationship is strained for a lot of the book and it isn’t until near the end that they finally talk and straighten the misunderstandings out, they are hot together and they make a good couple.
I recommend this if you love shifters, uncommunicative wolves, a brilliant rescue, a hot claiming, great characters and a very happy ending.