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alexsaslibrary's review against another edition
1.0
if you don't have a fat girl complex yet, this book could definitely help you get one
yamef's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
tee_tee_lou_lou's review against another edition
5.0
5⭐️ rejected mate book.
This series has been stellar. Book 1 will always be my favourite, Killian and Una, where just everything.
All 4 books have been amazing, but this book has jumped to 2nd favourite.
I love the type of dynamic that Cate C Wells creates with her characters, so far the women in this series have always been low ranked but unique, special and valuable in their own way but completely overlooked in terms of their worth by their pack. The men are complete products of their environment, set in their ways but needing to change to win their mates over after the rejection scene, and it's so satisfying to read their thoughts when they realise how badly the ruined everything!
This series has been stellar. Book 1 will always be my favourite, Killian and Una, where just everything.
All 4 books have been amazing, but this book has jumped to 2nd favourite.
I love the type of dynamic that Cate C Wells creates with her characters, so far the women in this series have always been low ranked but unique, special and valuable in their own way but completely overlooked in terms of their worth by their pack. The men are complete products of their environment, set in their ways but needing to change to win their mates over after the rejection scene, and it's so satisfying to read their thoughts when they realise how badly the ruined everything!
yennifer's review
3.5
I didn't have high hopes based on the title but god I loved the growth Flora and Alec both went through, including Flora finding her worth!!!!!
kzimm2024's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars. This is a story I resisted reading for a while since why would I sign up for all the ways someone gets hurt? And how does that make me feel? My inner wolf wanted to read it so I went with it :)
Typical- Alec was an oblivious dick and Flora was so beaten down. Its was so upsetting. We find out why Alec is the was he is, being subjected to his own abuse. What's the moral here? Standing up for yourself and taking control of your life. Leave a bad situation that you did not create. I 2nd this.
I would have felt the sexy times if they hadn't been tainted by past hurts, we don't get the real "making love" scene between them (that I remember).
As the story evolves Flora gets some insight:
Dear God. I wanted to be someone’s last choice. I daydreamed about getting hit by a truck.
-------
and she goes from saying nothing to holding nothing back:
When I straighten, Alec’s gaze is still boring into me. “Who else, Flora?”
“Whoever I wanted. Just like you. Whoever I wanted.”
He snarls, doesn’t even try to smother it, and then he pivots and stalks off.
Alec is deep waters but a man after my own heart- why can't people but things back where they found them? It is a respect thing too! I really liked his character once I realized what he was like. We didn't get that at the old pack.
"Granddad’s the only male I know whose opinion is worth anything, and he likes me fine as long as I put his tools back where I found them."
Alec's POV when they met with the new pack Alpha (lol):
He’s about done when Flora pops out from behind me and says, “H-He’s here with me.”
I reach to drag her back, and she smacks my arm.
“He’s only here because I came, and he’s my mate. He doesn’t want to take over or anything. He doesn’t even like people.”
It’s like someone unclogged her. She just keeps going.
“H-He’s not a jerk or anything—well, I guess that’s debatable, kind of depends on who you ask—but he won’t cause trouble and neither will I. Abertha sent me. She said you’d take me in. I have money. Human money. And we can both work. Or, well, I can work. (and it goes on)
and this from Flora:
I should have asked him where he was going.
When he said, “I’m heading out,” I thought he meant for the day, not for the foreseeable future.
He’s absolute garbage at communication.
but then:
“Why do you keep talking?” I finally growl.
“You said I need to communicate,” he says, dead earnest. “So I’m communicating the fuck out of you.”
My laugh echoes in the empty cavern, and his eyes catch on my smiling mouth and go dark.
Bevan was unexpected and I liked him. Alec and Flora get a HEA and a bit of redemption with a scene at the old pack territory. I am going to go back in the series and read Rosies story next :)
Just curious.
Typical- Alec was an oblivious dick and Flora was so beaten down. Its was so upsetting. We find out why Alec is the was he is, being subjected to his own abuse. What's the moral here? Standing up for yourself and taking control of your life. Leave a bad situation that you did not create. I 2nd this.
I would have felt the sexy times if they hadn't been tainted by past hurts, we don't get the real "making love" scene between them (that I remember).
As the story evolves Flora gets some insight:
Dear God. I wanted to be someone’s last choice. I daydreamed about getting hit by a truck.
-------
and she goes from saying nothing to holding nothing back:
When I straighten, Alec’s gaze is still boring into me. “Who else, Flora?”
“Whoever I wanted. Just like you. Whoever I wanted.”
He snarls, doesn’t even try to smother it, and then he pivots and stalks off.
Alec is deep waters but a man after my own heart- why can't people but things back where they found them? It is a respect thing too! I really liked his character once I realized what he was like. We didn't get that at the old pack.
"Granddad’s the only male I know whose opinion is worth anything, and he likes me fine as long as I put his tools back where I found them."
Alec's POV when they met with the new pack Alpha (lol):
He’s about done when Flora pops out from behind me and says, “H-He’s here with me.”
I reach to drag her back, and she smacks my arm.
“He’s only here because I came, and he’s my mate. He doesn’t want to take over or anything. He doesn’t even like people.”
It’s like someone unclogged her. She just keeps going.
“H-He’s not a jerk or anything—well, I guess that’s debatable, kind of depends on who you ask—but he won’t cause trouble and neither will I. Abertha sent me. She said you’d take me in. I have money. Human money. And we can both work. Or, well, I can work. (and it goes on)
and this from Flora:
I should have asked him where he was going.
When he said, “I’m heading out,” I thought he meant for the day, not for the foreseeable future.
He’s absolute garbage at communication.
but then:
“Why do you keep talking?” I finally growl.
“You said I need to communicate,” he says, dead earnest. “So I’m communicating the fuck out of you.”
My laugh echoes in the empty cavern, and his eyes catch on my smiling mouth and go dark.
Bevan was unexpected and I liked him. Alec and Flora get a HEA and a bit of redemption with a scene at the old pack territory. I am going to go back in the series and read Rosies story next :)
Just curious.
larayn's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lifeinthebooklane's review
5.0
My word this was, at times, a harrowing read. The author gives a clear trigger warning of fatphobia and fat-shaming at the start of the book and definitely hit the nail on the head of how belittling, undermining and soul-destroying this type of bullying/abuse can be - including those often well-intended comments of "friends" and family.
If you read this you must read the bonus epilogue. It made me view Alec a little differently and I wish I had been aware of his original intentions whilst they were at school. It made for one heck of a super cute read though. He isn't easy to get to know because he is so closed off and self-contained - even Flora didn't realise just how much he hurt. As a potential Alpha there were a lot of assumptions made about Alec, most of which are untrue and I loved how Flora grew to realise he was just as damaged by life at Salt Mountain as she had been.
Flora's was such an inspiring and heart-warming story, escaping the poison of Salt Mountain allowed her to discover her true worth and find genuine pack mates. Alec and her's journey to their HEA was not an easy one, I may have shed a few tears on more than one occasion, but it made for one amazing book. My only disappointment was that the disappearing shifter backstory seemed to be solved off-page and mentioned only as a fait accompli, but that was a minor issue.
I'm desperately hoping this won't be the last book in the Five Packs series.
If you read this you must read the bonus epilogue. It made me view Alec a little differently and I wish I had been aware of his original intentions whilst they were at school. It made for one heck of a super cute read though. He isn't easy to get to know because he is so closed off and self-contained - even Flora didn't realise just how much he hurt. As a potential Alpha there were a lot of assumptions made about Alec, most of which are untrue and I loved how Flora grew to realise he was just as damaged by life at Salt Mountain as she had been.
Flora's was such an inspiring and heart-warming story, escaping the poison of Salt Mountain allowed her to discover her true worth and find genuine pack mates. Alec and her's journey to their HEA was not an easy one, I may have shed a few tears on more than one occasion, but it made for one amazing book. My only disappointment was that the disappearing shifter backstory seemed to be solved off-page and mentioned only as a fait accompli, but that was a minor issue.
I'm desperately hoping this won't be the last book in the Five Packs series.
being_b's review
5.0
Why are the titles in this series so bad when the stories are so good? Really solid psychology work every time, unobtrusive writing, hot sex, subtle worldbuilding… how much do folks want to bet an upcoming title will be “His Rejected Mate’s Secret Baby”?
…and I’ll buy and read that one too.
…and I’ll buy and read that one too.
dosendino3000's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.75
shryanayak's review
2.0
☆ FML is the only redeeming character of HCRM. Flora faces verbal abuses, taunts and if that weren't enough, people were vile enough to attack her when she was at her lowest. Quite contrary to the route commonly chosen by heroines in such a scenario, Flora hardens her heart, deciding to finally embrace a change.
☆ Unfortunately for Flora, her a-hole of a mate Mr. Alec here, isn't so keen about that. Author tries her best to portray that Alec has changed for better after his rude showdown but that fell short. His biting words are probably what I'll remember him by rather than him using his plumbing expertise to get them a den and some food.
☆ The world in which the story is set isn't anything extraordinary - it's very Wattpad-esque what with the wolves residing within their territories in a forest minus the mind-link stuff.
☆ If I had to sum it up, this could be an alternative play on high-school teen drama that comes with a dash of status quo challenges. The popular guy who's always wondering why he's attracted to the outcast, a victim of severe bullying. Of course he doesn't jump in to help the girl out because hellooo- he's popular. Insert some drama with the arrival of a new, beautiful girl into the popular guy's life. His change of affections is the last straw and the FML is ready to leave but we all know how it's gonna end. *sighs
☆ Unfortunately for Flora, her a-hole of a mate Mr. Alec here, isn't so keen about that. Author tries her best to portray that Alec has changed for better after his rude showdown but that fell short. His biting words are probably what I'll remember him by rather than him using his plumbing expertise to get them a den and some food.
☆ The world in which the story is set isn't anything extraordinary - it's very Wattpad-esque what with the wolves residing within their territories in a forest minus the mind-link stuff.
☆ If I had to sum it up, this could be an alternative play on high-school teen drama that comes with a dash of status quo challenges. The popular guy who's always wondering why he's attracted to the outcast, a victim of severe bullying. Of course he doesn't jump in to help the girl out because hellooo- he's popular. Insert some drama with the arrival of a new, beautiful girl into the popular guy's life. His change of affections is the last straw and the FML is ready to leave but we all know how it's gonna end. *sighs