Audiobook Review: The Phoenix Pack Series by Suzanne Wright

Feral Sins

The Phoenix Pack, Book 1
Suzanne Wright

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Narrator: Jill Redfield
Date of Publication: February 19, 2013
Abridged or Unabridged: Unabridged
Length of Production: 13 hrs and 38 mins

Available at the following retailers:
Amazon     BN    Audible    Brilliance Audio

When female wolf shifter Taryn Warner first encounters Trey Coleman, an alpha male wolf shifter with a dangerous reputation, she’s determined to resist his charms. After all, Trey—who was only fourteen when he defeated his own father in a duel, winning the right to be alpha of his pack—can’t have anything to offer the talented healer besides trouble, or so she thinks.

Taryn finds herself drawn in by Trey’s forceful demeanor and arctic-blue eyes, and she eventually agrees to enter an uneasy alliance with him. If the two succeed in convincing their respective packs that they’ve chosen each other as mates, Trey will win valuable political allies, while Taryn will escape an odious arranged mating.

But there are a lot of potential pitfalls to this plan—including the very real possibility that the wolf shifters, overwhelmed by their growing attraction to each other, will be unable to maintain the clear heads needed to pull off the deception.

Wicked Cravings

The Phoenix Pack, Book 2
Suzanne Wright

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Narrator: Jill Redfield
Date of Publication: April 16, 2013
Abridged or Unabridged: Unabridged
Length of Production: 12 hrs and 33 mins

Available at the following retailers:
Amazon     BN    Audible    Downpour     Brilliance Audio

Wolf shifter Jaime Farrow has a secret. And no one - not her Alpha, not her best friend, and most definitely not gorgeous Dante Garcea - can know the truth. She thinks keeping her little “problem” under wraps from Dante won’t be so tough; after all, he’s ignored her for years, despite her best attempts at flirtation. But though Jaime is determined to face her problem alone, nothing can stop her from wanting him....

As Beta, Dante is responsible for the protection and safety of his entire pack. If a wolf is hiding something that could endanger the others, it’s his business to know about it. So when rebellious Jaime begins acting strangely, Dante makes it his mission to find out why. But after years of keeping her - and his desire - at arm’s length, he is forced to confront the danger she poses to their pack…and the passion smoldering between them.

Carnal Secrets

The Phoenix Pack, Book 3
Suzanne Wright

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Narrator: Jill Redfield
Date of Publication: February 11, 2014
Abridged or Unabridged: Unabridged
Length of Production: 12 hrs and 16 mins

Available at the following retailers:
Amazon     BN    Audible    Brilliance Audio

Half-shifter Shaya Critchley may hold a submissive role in her wolf pack, but the petite redhead refuses to let an Alpha male interfere in her life. Furious and humiliated after her mate refused to claim her, she runs off to hide among the humans. Why wait around for an Alpha male to love her when he'd obviously prefer to ignore her?

Nick Axton can barely control his urges for Shaya, but the Alpha can never claim her - not if he truly cares for her. His degenerative brain condition will eventually destroy him, and he's afraid of turning his mate into his caretaker. Yet when Shaya runs away, Nick can't let her go. He pursues her, vowing to finally claim his rightful mate. And despite Shaya's spirited and passionate resistance, Nick's fiery determination just might be the ultimate aphrodisiac.

I was originally going to review each of these books separately.  But due to some mandatory overtime and training at work, I didn't get my review done last week. Naturally I could have still broken these up, but the books were very interconnected and to be honest, I don't want to get that far behind on my reviews.

The first book introduces us not only to Taryn, a dominate healer and Trey, an alpha pack leader, but this alternative world where shifters have outed themselves to humans.  Mostly the humans and shifters get along, but there is still some segregation and an Us vs Them mentality on both sides. Overall though, mostly what we learn about are the rules for Shifter society, specifically, the wolves.

Shifters have what's known as a True Mate. The person who is created specifically to be just for them. Most shifters spend their entire lives looking for this True Mate.  However, not everyone finds their True Mate. Sometimes a shifter will give up looking and decide to settle for someone else. A bond can be formed, but it is never as deep or true as a True Mate bond.

Taryn and Trey decide that they are going to have to settle. Especially since each believes that their True Mate died when they were children. Trey is looking for alliances to protect his pack from his uncle's machinations, while Taryn is trying to escape a forced marriage to an abusive wolf her father has chosen for her.  Each is using the other to get what they want, but when they learn to work together and trust one another, the rules of their temporary arrangement will have to change.

The second book features Dante and Jaime, the beta of the Phoenix pack and his childhood friend.  Dante doesn't want a mate, especially as he saw what his father's beta position did to his mother. He doesn't think that any woman can handle being with someone who has to put some much of their time into pack matters.  Jaime, has a deep secret that she tries very hard to keep hidden - her wolf has issues. However, when Dante figures it out, he works with Jaime to strengthen herself and fight her wolf. As the two spend more and more time together, they will learn they are the strongest when together, rather than apart.

The final book covers Shaya, a submissive and favorite of the Phoenix Pack and Nick, a born Alpha.  Since as a leader of a pack, taking a submissive as a mate would cause endless heartache for the female, Nick doesn't claim Shaya and rejects her. This causes Shaya to leave and lead Nick on a merry chase to win her back, after he realizes what he has done. They will both have to overcome their fears and guilt over their pasts if they are ever going to be truly able to bond as True Mates.

First off, let me say that Jill Redfield rocked as narrator.  She nailed both the male and female voices, sweeping me away into a whole nother world, populated by snarky females and growling alpha males. I was a little worried about my being uncomfortable listening to the erotic parts, but she stayed so natural with her storytelling that I stayed in the moment.  I was very impressed with her style and will definitely be adding Ms. Redfield to my watch list.

Second, I know there is some discussion abut a menage scene in the first book that totally offended most of the readers because it felt "off" with the rest of the story. But I have no idea what the heck these people are talking about.  There was NO menage scene in any of the books. Was there some seriously hot alpha dominating their mates scenes? Ugh, yeah! So I have no idea what these earlier reviews are talking about, and can just say that if they were re-written, Ms. Wright got it 'Right' this time around. *wink*

Overall I really enjoyed all three books.  I believe the next book is about Nick's sister and one of the enforcers from the Phoenix Pack, however there were no cliffhangers at the end to worry about. I all three books a 4 star rating.