As gripping as the first volume, this sequel about the men living at Sapphire Ranch is emotionally intense and action-packed. Joe and Cal from book one are back, but the focus is on Eli—the man from the security firm trying to protect the wolves against the brutal hunters, and Milo—the local sheriff who is a half-wolf and has lots of secrets to hide if he wants the unsuspecting humans to reelect him. The hunters are as brutal as before, maybe even worse; they definitely step up their game. Eli and Milo may struggle as a couple, but more because they’re forced into a long-distance relationship than due to not being good together. The heat between them is intense, but they have quite a few obstacles to overcome.

Milo is a good man, a good sheriff, but he has too many secrets to be happy. He wants to be with Eli, as does his wolf, but he’s not out. If he wants to keep his job, he can’t come out, and nobody can find out he’s a shifter either. His deputy suspects something is going on, and Milo has to work hard to keep him guessing. In the end it comes down to Milo making a decision about what is most important in his life and I think the compromise he decides on is a step in the right direction.

Eli isn’t happy about the long-distance relationship, but he has a company and a job to do. Protecting Cal and Joe is turning out to be a full-time job, and figuring out how to deal with the hunters takes time and effort as well. I liked how supportive Eli is despite the fact it takes Milo some time to work through the implications of being gay and having a boyfriend. The mate bond between them is strong though, and it helps them deal with the world to know that, just between the two of them, there is no question about what they mean to each other.

If you liked the first book and want to find out how the guys at Sapphire Ranch are doing, if a human and a half-wolf together sound implausible but intriguing, and if you’re looking for a read that is as suspenseful as it is hot, then you will probably like this novella. I definitely did and look forward to the next installment.


NOTE: This book was provided by Creative Mind Promotions for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
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