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literaygemini's review
4.0
The two main Characters, Shaun and Gem are a delight. The books sucked me in and kept me laughing. The book wasn't over sexed which I appreciated. There were times when I wanted to strangle Gem or knock Shaun on his butt. I really loved the alpha in the book as he wasn't the take control follow me because I'm the leader sort. The entire book, in my opinion with a friendly, funny, with just the right amount of sex. I can't wait to read the other books in the series. I also appreciate the fact that the Shaun and Gem are interracial, which is something not often see in books written today.
fi_c's review
3.5
**Most of my reviews contain detailed Content Notes (including CW/TW) sections, which may include spoilers. I have tried to mark them appropriately, but please use caution.**
3.5
Audio (Madison Vaughn)
Summary: Shifter helicopter pilot meets sheltered shifter royalty when she arrives at his Yukon town to do some research on local wildlife - and they unexpectedly discover their mate bond.
Stats: PNR, M/F, open door, part of a series but seems to stand alone.
Notes: A bit disorganized and lacking depth - I think there’s some world-building I’ve missed. Not what I expected from Arend, but not bad. May consider continuing the series, if only for the novelty of a shifter MMC who isn’t a complete grump.
OTT and Spoilery Content Notes:
Fistfight, alcohol, death of parent (mentioned), a bit of pitting two groups of women against each other, MCs have sex while the MMC is black out drunk (she doesn’t know), controlling family, jealousy, hunting (in wolf form), black FMC, torture (beating), kidnapping, restraint with rope (not kink)
3.5
Audio (Madison Vaughn)
Summary: Shifter helicopter pilot meets sheltered shifter royalty when she arrives at his Yukon town to do some research on local wildlife - and they unexpectedly discover their mate bond.
Stats: PNR, M/F, open door, part of a series but seems to stand alone.
Notes: A bit disorganized and lacking depth - I think there’s some world-building I’ve missed. Not what I expected from Arend, but not bad. May consider continuing the series, if only for the novelty of a shifter MMC who isn’t a complete grump.
OTT and Spoilery Content Notes:
jigsawgirl's review
4.0
Entertaining
I am not a big fan of shifter takes, but I can say I prefer wolves to anything else. This book turned out to be surprisingly entertaining.
The only thing I would have liked is more information on the decisiveness between the bears and shifters, and a resolution on the experience Shaun and Gem had in the woods.
I expect some of that may be fleshed out in the next books in the series.
I am not a big fan of shifter takes, but I can say I prefer wolves to anything else. This book turned out to be surprisingly entertaining.
The only thing I would have liked is more information on the decisiveness between the bears and shifters, and a resolution on the experience Shaun and Gem had in the woods.
I expect some of that may be fleshed out in the next books in the series.
sjb86's review
5.0
Loved Shaun from the Granite pack story's. when u meet both characters u feel like the are completely different people but the suit each so well. Very funny and u can't get any better then VA for shifter story's. great HEA. Love Evan.
bookloverchelle's review
4.0
Shaun may be watching all of his friends succumb to love but there is absolutely no way this wolf will fall for anyone. That is until s sexy shifter from down South shows up in town. Gemmita has spent years under her father's protective shadow and this opportunity to study the caribou is her opportunity to spread her wings. She just doesn't expect to meet her mate. Or be kidnapped. The wolf from the wild and the southern belle have a few issues to work out if they ever expect their mating to survive but the chemistry and passion they share is the best motivation to try and find happiness. Great start to the series, excited to read more!
africreole's review
3.0
An entertaining shifter story
Benita Jacob was a very sheltered southern debutant from money. She desperately wanted to get away from her father's smothering love to be on her own. When she arrived in Whitehorse, she immediately felt and smelled her mate and was shocked to see who it was. Shaun Stevens was at a point in his life where he was ready for his mate and was ready to embrace all that it entailed.
The journey for Ben's research wit Shaun at Jeff side turned into not only a learning experience for her but also a maturing experience as well. She came into her womanhood where she had to rescue and protect her mate from shifter bears. She even confronted her father to let him know that Shaun sass her mate and she would not be abandoning him to go south. Shaun. , on the other hand was willing to go south to be with Gem because life without his mate would not be life.
Even though they came from two very different worlds, love won out in the end.
Benita Jacob was a very sheltered southern debutant from money. She desperately wanted to get away from her father's smothering love to be on her own. When she arrived in Whitehorse, she immediately felt and smelled her mate and was shocked to see who it was. Shaun Stevens was at a point in his life where he was ready for his mate and was ready to embrace all that it entailed.
The journey for Ben's research wit Shaun at Jeff side turned into not only a learning experience for her but also a maturing experience as well. She came into her womanhood where she had to rescue and protect her mate from shifter bears. She even confronted her father to let him know that Shaun sass her mate and she would not be abandoning him to go south. Shaun. , on the other hand was willing to go south to be with Gem because life without his mate would not be life.
Even though they came from two very different worlds, love won out in the end.
tomokizu's review
4.0
I happened to read this a second time now and I still like it. It's not as good as the sequel, but it's definitely a great start to this Takhini Wolves series. The main couple is a mixed race couple, which I enjoyed a lot, and it also comes from totally different lifestyles. While Gem has been rather secluded in the house of her parents, Shaun lives up in the north and enjoys his freedom very much. When these characters meet for the first time sparks fly and nothing is the same anymore. They are mates and one whole, but unfortunately too different, at least at first glance.
The story is pretty settled and focuses a lot on the couple and their dynamics as well as Gem enjoying her own freedom for the first time. It's not as action packed as most of Arend's former books, but more like a slow exploration of a budding relationship and the time spent together to explore one another. The real action (which probably doesn't span more than 35 pages) starts, when they are kidnapped for ransom.
What I enjoyed too is the other relationship that you get to experience in the background of the story between the Takhini Alpha Evan and his secretary/hotel manager Caroline (a human). Interesting, and I like to know how they are going to do later on (they are in the second book, so I'm guessing they'll be a fixed point in this series).
The story is pretty settled and focuses a lot on the couple and their dynamics as well as Gem enjoying her own freedom for the first time. It's not as action packed as most of Arend's former books, but more like a slow exploration of a budding relationship and the time spent together to explore one another. The real action (which probably doesn't span more than 35 pages) starts, when they are kidnapped for ransom.
What I enjoyed too is the other relationship that you get to experience in the background of the story between the Takhini Alpha Evan and his secretary/hotel manager Caroline (a human). Interesting, and I like to know how they are going to do later on (they are in the second book, so I'm guessing they'll be a fixed point in this series).
lalabristow's review
4.0
Previously Published on my blog: Welcome to Larissa's Bookish Life
*NO Spoilers
I have been reading Vivian Arend’s books for a while now and I loved her Granite Lake Wolves Series as well as her Forces of Nature Series and when I found out that she was writing a spin-off series from her Wolf series I was so excited!
Black Gold features Shaun who we first met in the Granite Lake Wolves Series but never really had a chance to know much about him until now.
Shaun has been all about the fun for the longest time, but lately he has been feeling quite lonely, specially having to witness all his friend finding their True Mates, while he is still alone.
Gem is a wolf from the south and from a very rich family. She is tired of living so overprotected and takes a chance to finish her graduate studies by doing research in the cold far north. Her first night in town changes everything when she meets Shaun in a very unlikely way and discovers he is her True Mate and they are meant to be together forever.
I really enjoyed Black Gold, specially how Viv played with a romance’s timeline, by getting the main couple together early on by making them True Mates and then having them try to figure out how they can make it work, actually get to know each other for real and finally fall in love, or not.
I also loved the secondary storyline with the pack’s Alpha and his secretary. It made me wish that the next book in the series is about them =)
Black Gold was an awesome sexy read and the only small complaint I have is that I wish there was maybe a bit more action? However, the book was quite fast-paced and I found myself going through it in one sitting.
I definitely recommend Black Gold to all my fellow PNR lovers out there, specially if you like it HOT! Can’t wait for the next installment!
*NO Spoilers
I have been reading Vivian Arend’s books for a while now and I loved her Granite Lake Wolves Series as well as her Forces of Nature Series and when I found out that she was writing a spin-off series from her Wolf series I was so excited!
Black Gold features Shaun who we first met in the Granite Lake Wolves Series but never really had a chance to know much about him until now.
Shaun has been all about the fun for the longest time, but lately he has been feeling quite lonely, specially having to witness all his friend finding their True Mates, while he is still alone.
Gem is a wolf from the south and from a very rich family. She is tired of living so overprotected and takes a chance to finish her graduate studies by doing research in the cold far north. Her first night in town changes everything when she meets Shaun in a very unlikely way and discovers he is her True Mate and they are meant to be together forever.
I really enjoyed Black Gold, specially how Viv played with a romance’s timeline, by getting the main couple together early on by making them True Mates and then having them try to figure out how they can make it work, actually get to know each other for real and finally fall in love, or not.
I also loved the secondary storyline with the pack’s Alpha and his secretary. It made me wish that the next book in the series is about them =)
Black Gold was an awesome sexy read and the only small complaint I have is that I wish there was maybe a bit more action? However, the book was quite fast-paced and I found myself going through it in one sitting.
I definitely recommend Black Gold to all my fellow PNR lovers out there, specially if you like it HOT! Can’t wait for the next installment!