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A pack broken. A pup in danger. A submissive wolf who will fight with her last breath. Hayden Scott doesn’t know his stroll in the woods is going to start with a backpack full of watermelon and end with him the new alpha of the Ghost Mountain Pack. A very traumatized pack, and those are only the shifters he can see. Too many are missing, hiding in the woods or worse. His wolf doesn’t care. He has a pack. One with maple-syrup-covered toddlers, a ten-year-old boy who smells like wolf right up until he shifts, and a brave woman with green eyes and serious trust problems who defended her pup with nothing more than a tree branch and sheer guts. The walk ahead won’t be easy, but he has a list. Burn down the den. Deal with the evil still stalking the woods. Call Mom.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 5, 2019
About the author
Audrey Faye
41 books288 followersHas previously authored books under the name of Debora Geary.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 353 reviews
February 16, 2019
This is NOT shifter romance. Just fantasy shifters. But there's nothing "just" about this book.
There's a hint of a slow burn, though. It's hard to explain.
And that's what makes it so amazing.
Audrey Faye has a gift for weaving communities together where people who feel alone find themselves enveloped by the solidarity of knowing that a group has your back. In the face of adversity, these tendrils of connection form strong bonds.
I can't easily explain Hayden or Lissa or Kennedy or Moira or... you just have to read it.
I guess that's the "just" here.
Just read it.
<3
There's a hint of a slow burn, though. It's hard to explain.
And that's what makes it so amazing.
Audrey Faye has a gift for weaving communities together where people who feel alone find themselves enveloped by the solidarity of knowing that a group has your back. In the face of adversity, these tendrils of connection form strong bonds.
I can't easily explain Hayden or Lissa or Kennedy or Moira or... you just have to read it.
I guess that's the "just" here.
Just read it.
<3
November 19, 2021
It really is hard to describe, because nothing happens in this story, but a LOT happens.
“ So now we’re your pack. If you want us. Your really dysfunctional, broken, messed-up pack.”This story is like a massive traumatized shifter group therapy session, with love and healing. It’s spiritual, mystical and really wonderfully written. While there isn’t any actual steam in this story, there is a hint of a soul match and I LOVED this line.
I can’t help it if my wolf really likes how her ass fills out her jeans and how her heart fills out her ribs.Highly recommended for readers who love a good shifter story, and don’t mind a super slow (or no) burn. It was Katyana's Review that made me read this one!
January 6, 2020
This paranormal read introduces us to a pack that has been traumatized, it's most valuable and innocent showered with fear, distain and dread, rather than warmth, affection and awe. When alpha wolf Hayden comes across a submissive wolf and her cub in danger he reacts instinctively, ending the life of the monstrous Alpha of the Ghost Mountain pack, and doing so finds himself the alpha of a pack, a pack where a lot of members remain hidden in the shadows, and those visible hold deep marks of pain and fear. And so in this first book we are introduced to a alpha, beta, and many other pack members (young and adult) who are taking the first few tentative steps to being whole again.
I found myself engaged with this, surprisingly so since whilst there is a light hint of romance to come, this in no way is a PNR book.
I will say that I did want a little more doing rather than describing, but still a good, engaging one time read.
It would have been nice if the alpha spent a tad less time thinking he was
Acquired via KU.
I found myself engaged with this, surprisingly so since whilst there is a light hint of romance to come, this in no way is a PNR book.
I will say that I did want a little more doing rather than describing, but still a good, engaging one time read.
It would have been nice if the alpha spent a tad less time thinking he was
Acquired via KU.
October 1, 2023
Love this start to a new series.
Read through kindle unlimited then purchased. Have read several times already and definitely recommend.
Like many of Audrey's stories, this defies easy classification. Shifters of many kinds but no romance and definitely no sex. Anticipate that any romance will be gradual and spread over the series. Many of the characters have to heal before they can grow.
A new alpha trying to figure out how to help his inherited pack that has been broken by the previous alpha and his dominants. A coming of age story for the hero. A novel of struggle and rebirth, of forming family bonds new and old. Where to start, how to prioritize the needs and who can be healed or redeemed becomes the focus of this part of the story.
An ensemble cast with events progressing mainly through the point of view of the hero Hayden and the heroine Lissa. A few others sneak in toward the end. Quite a few scene stealers.
Triggers? Nothing depicted. Definitely mention of a lot of psychological and physical abuse by the late alpha. No talk of rape but many characters have not told their stories yet.
I love the author's Fixers of Karma Corp series and, even though this is only book one, the potential for Ghost Mountain Shifters to rival or surpass Fixers is high.
Eagerly checking my email for notification of the release of book two.
cross posted good reads, amazon, book bub
Read through kindle unlimited then purchased. Have read several times already and definitely recommend.
Like many of Audrey's stories, this defies easy classification. Shifters of many kinds but no romance and definitely no sex. Anticipate that any romance will be gradual and spread over the series. Many of the characters have to heal before they can grow.
A new alpha trying to figure out how to help his inherited pack that has been broken by the previous alpha and his dominants. A coming of age story for the hero. A novel of struggle and rebirth, of forming family bonds new and old. Where to start, how to prioritize the needs and who can be healed or redeemed becomes the focus of this part of the story.
An ensemble cast with events progressing mainly through the point of view of the hero Hayden and the heroine Lissa. A few others sneak in toward the end. Quite a few scene stealers.
Triggers? Nothing depicted. Definitely mention of a lot of psychological and physical abuse by the late alpha. No talk of rape but many characters have not told their stories yet.
I love the author's Fixers of Karma Corp series and, even though this is only book one, the potential for Ghost Mountain Shifters to rival or surpass Fixers is high.
Eagerly checking my email for notification of the release of book two.
cross posted good reads, amazon, book bub
August 9, 2021
I was staring at my tags, trying to figure out how to classify this book, but nothing really fits - it's a book that defies classification, or at least my classification.
This was a beautiful, slow, slice-of-life book about a pack of shifter that have been through hell and are trying to fix themselves. The characters are wonderful, and there is a lyrical, almost poetic style to the narrative that I just adored. It reminded me a bit of Michelle Sagara's Chronicles of Elantra series in terms of narrative style. It's a style I love.
And man, the flower funeral ... so beautiful. I cried my damn eyes out.
I'm super excited to have found this series. Thanks Alice!
This was a beautiful, slow, slice-of-life book about a pack of shifter that have been through hell and are trying to fix themselves. The characters are wonderful, and there is a lyrical, almost poetic style to the narrative that I just adored. It reminded me a bit of Michelle Sagara's Chronicles of Elantra series in terms of narrative style. It's a style I love.
And man, the flower funeral ... so beautiful. I cried my damn eyes out.
I'm super excited to have found this series. Thanks Alice!
June 4, 2024
Reread (May 2024): Hoping to blast through a bunch of this series, so I've circled back to the beginning and it's just as lovely as I remember.
Original review (December 2022): This is such a gentle book that is dealing with hard things - a pack that has been abused by its alpha for the past six years. Said alpha ends up being killed by Hayden for very good reason, and he finds himself leading a broken, traumatized group of amazing people.
There isn't a big bad like in urban fantasy, and while there's the start of a slow burn it's not a romance, either. It's tempting to say that "nothing happens", but there's a lot going on here, with the main throughline being recovery from trauma, and who deserves forgiveness (and when). The new alpha isn't perfect, but he (and others) sometimes say the perfect thing at the perfect time, and it's glorious. I found myself verklempt more often than I'd like to admit, but in the best way.
Totally reading through the series, for sure.
Content notes:
Original review (December 2022): This is such a gentle book that is dealing with hard things - a pack that has been abused by its alpha for the past six years. Said alpha ends up being killed by Hayden for very good reason, and he finds himself leading a broken, traumatized group of amazing people.
There isn't a big bad like in urban fantasy, and while there's the start of a slow burn it's not a romance, either. It's tempting to say that "nothing happens", but there's a lot going on here, with the main throughline being recovery from trauma, and who deserves forgiveness (and when). The new alpha isn't perfect, but he (and others) sometimes say the perfect thing at the perfect time, and it's glorious. I found myself verklempt more often than I'd like to admit, but in the best way.
Totally reading through the series, for sure.
Content notes:
May 31, 2021
If you’re looking for a hot-blooded shifter romance, this isn’t the book for you.
But if you’re in for a break, an almost poetic excursion into shifter-world, and you need a slow paced, beautiful time-out, then don’t hesitate to join this pack of wolves (and a bear) who need to find themselves and their pack again after finally getting rid of their abusive alpha. I loved the world building, the insights in pack dynamics and the complex characters, and even though there are a lot of them, each is unique and distinguishable.
5 well deserved stars!
But if you’re in for a break, an almost poetic excursion into shifter-world, and you need a slow paced, beautiful time-out, then don’t hesitate to join this pack of wolves (and a bear) who need to find themselves and their pack again after finally getting rid of their abusive alpha. I loved the world building, the insights in pack dynamics and the complex characters, and even though there are a lot of them, each is unique and distinguishable.
5 well deserved stars!
September 5, 2022
Loved, loved, loved, loved this one so much! My heart is so full right now. I swear, I had a grin on my face for much of the time I was reading it. That’s not what I was expecting, given that the Ghost Mountain Pack is dealing with major trauma from their old abusive alpha. The story's emphasis is on healing and recovery and there was such hope and joy in reading about that.
Hayden is on a training run with Rio and Kel when they sense a pup and its mother being attacked by an alpha. They rush to help and Hayden winds up killing the alpha in the process, thus making him the new leader of the Ghost Mountain Pack. Samuel basically led a reign of terror over the pack for six years and there's so much fall out from that. Luckily, Hayden and his men are from the Whistler Pack, a healthy pack that’s paved the way for more rights and respect for submissives, and Hayden’s mom is the alpha of that pack. Hayden learned from the best but this is his first chance to put his leadership abilities to the test. He can’t afford to fail. Hayden might be my favorite alpha ever.
What follows is a thoughtful exploration of what it means to heal from trauma and rebuild, both for the survivors and for the new alpha. There are tentative steps and false starts and everyone doing their best, even when it’s hard to trust that the danger has passed and it’ll be okay in the end. The Ghost Mountain Pack is split between submissives and kids and the dominants and beta who followed Samuel’s abusive lead. Hayden has a lot of work to put the pack back together, while also holding the dominants accountable and keeping everyone else safe in the meantime.
There were so many touching scenes, from the flower funeral (MY HEART) to Reilly being embraced as a half-grizzly to the pack running together for the first time in six years to them unpacking a mountain of groceries after a meager subsistence. There are a lot of characters, and still more we haven’t met yet due to the shadow pack, but they all have fully formed personalities. Villains aside, the secondary characters were an absolute delight to get to know, especially the kids. I just adored them!
This is hands down the most diverse wolf shifter book I’ve ever read. Lissa’s son Robbie has Down syndrome and he’s a baby alpha. The Whistler Pack has a disabled child, plus the Pack prioritizes everyone discovering their strengths, whatever they may be, so Hayden, Rio, and Kel are already familiar with countering ableist narratives. There are queer characters who had to hide their relationship while Samuel was in charge but can now live openly. I was so happy when Miriam and Layla were able to share their mating bond. Kel is into men so it seems like most shifters are an inclusive bunch. Race/ethnicity wasn’t handled as well as I would have liked—it’s mostly not identified for any character, with the exception of Ronan, who is Black, or handled clunkily (Rio and a pup are described as having “dusky skin” very far into the book, long after they were introduced)—but, more importantly, it’s not an all-white pack/world so I hope the representation will improve as the series continues. There are so many interesting levels to the world-building so I'm confident it will.
This is more fantasy than fantasy/paranormal romance but it still felt pretty romancey. There’s a very promising connection between Hayden and Lissa. It looks like we’ll see where things go in the next book and I can’t wait. I’m so excited to keep reading!
Characters: Hayden is a 32 year old alpha wolf of the Ghost Mountain Pack. He’s assisted by Rio (sentinel, unspecified POC [“dusky skin”]) and Kel (submissive badass, former military, possibly gay). Lissa is a submissive wolf and mother of 5 year old Robbie, who is a baby alpha and has Down syndrome. Reilly is a 10 year old half-grizzly bear, half-wolf. Miriam and Layla are new mates and submissives. This is set in British Columbia.
Content notes: PTSD, nightmare, anxiety, abusive alpha (recounted murder, torture, child abuse, psychological, emotional, and physical abuse), murder, violence, injuries from claws/bites (healed), ableism (countered), sexism (countered), former alpha murdered Kenny’s 14 year old son in retaliation, alcoholic villain, past military (secondary characters), brief parental pressure for grandchildren, controlled fire, alcohol references, off-page inebriation (secondary characters), genitalia-based insult (by villain), ableist language, hyperbolic language around suicide, mention of past homophobia (former alpha)
*Buddy read with my favorite wolf-loving pal Vicky!
Hayden is on a training run with Rio and Kel when they sense a pup and its mother being attacked by an alpha. They rush to help and Hayden winds up killing the alpha in the process, thus making him the new leader of the Ghost Mountain Pack. Samuel basically led a reign of terror over the pack for six years and there's so much fall out from that. Luckily, Hayden and his men are from the Whistler Pack, a healthy pack that’s paved the way for more rights and respect for submissives, and Hayden’s mom is the alpha of that pack. Hayden learned from the best but this is his first chance to put his leadership abilities to the test. He can’t afford to fail. Hayden might be my favorite alpha ever.
What follows is a thoughtful exploration of what it means to heal from trauma and rebuild, both for the survivors and for the new alpha. There are tentative steps and false starts and everyone doing their best, even when it’s hard to trust that the danger has passed and it’ll be okay in the end. The Ghost Mountain Pack is split between submissives and kids and the dominants and beta who followed Samuel’s abusive lead. Hayden has a lot of work to put the pack back together, while also holding the dominants accountable and keeping everyone else safe in the meantime.
There were so many touching scenes, from the flower funeral (MY HEART) to Reilly being embraced as a half-grizzly to the pack running together for the first time in six years to them unpacking a mountain of groceries after a meager subsistence. There are a lot of characters, and still more we haven’t met yet due to the shadow pack, but they all have fully formed personalities. Villains aside, the secondary characters were an absolute delight to get to know, especially the kids. I just adored them!
This is hands down the most diverse wolf shifter book I’ve ever read. Lissa’s son Robbie has Down syndrome and he’s a baby alpha. The Whistler Pack has a disabled child, plus the Pack prioritizes everyone discovering their strengths, whatever they may be, so Hayden, Rio, and Kel are already familiar with countering ableist narratives. There are queer characters who had to hide their relationship while Samuel was in charge but can now live openly. I was so happy when Miriam and Layla were able to share their mating bond. Kel is into men so it seems like most shifters are an inclusive bunch. Race/ethnicity wasn’t handled as well as I would have liked—it’s mostly not identified for any character, with the exception of Ronan, who is Black, or handled clunkily (Rio and a pup are described as having “dusky skin” very far into the book, long after they were introduced)—but, more importantly, it’s not an all-white pack/world so I hope the representation will improve as the series continues. There are so many interesting levels to the world-building so I'm confident it will.
This is more fantasy than fantasy/paranormal romance but it still felt pretty romancey. There’s a very promising connection between Hayden and Lissa. It looks like we’ll see where things go in the next book and I can’t wait. I’m so excited to keep reading!
Characters: Hayden is a 32 year old alpha wolf of the Ghost Mountain Pack. He’s assisted by Rio (sentinel, unspecified POC [“dusky skin”]) and Kel (submissive badass, former military, possibly gay). Lissa is a submissive wolf and mother of 5 year old Robbie, who is a baby alpha and has Down syndrome. Reilly is a 10 year old half-grizzly bear, half-wolf. Miriam and Layla are new mates and submissives. This is set in British Columbia.
Content notes: PTSD, nightmare, anxiety, abusive alpha (recounted murder, torture, child abuse, psychological, emotional, and physical abuse), murder, violence, injuries from claws/bites (healed), ableism (countered), sexism (countered), former alpha murdered Kenny’s 14 year old son in retaliation, alcoholic villain, past military (secondary characters), brief parental pressure for grandchildren, controlled fire, alcohol references, off-page inebriation (secondary characters), genitalia-based insult (by villain), ableist language, hyperbolic language around suicide, mention of past homophobia (former alpha)
*Buddy read with my favorite wolf-loving pal Vicky!
March 9, 2019
I kept asking myself why I was still reading but I toughed it out. This isn’t a romance if that wasn’t clear from other reviews but I was fine with that. There were a few odd shifter oops like wolves sheathing their claws. Still not a major issue. 1st person is fine though I have never seen one with more than two people’s voices used before.
The main problem with this book in my opinion is it was just boring. Not just slow, glacial. After the first few scenes it was all interpersonal interactions mostly between the damaged pack members, mostly small children, and their saviors. It read almost like a PTSD therapy how to case study for shifters. It wasn’t a romance or an action/adventure. There was plenty of tension but it was all internal with no real threats materializing. I’m not sure what it was but it wasn’t for me.
The main problem with this book in my opinion is it was just boring. Not just slow, glacial. After the first few scenes it was all interpersonal interactions mostly between the damaged pack members, mostly small children, and their saviors. It read almost like a PTSD therapy how to case study for shifters. It wasn’t a romance or an action/adventure. There was plenty of tension but it was all internal with no real threats materializing. I’m not sure what it was but it wasn’t for me.
May 22, 2024
4.5/5.0
Gosh, it’s hard to even approach how truly lovely and wonderful this story is. I was a bit cynical when reading friend’s reviews that gushed at how awesome the book is because I couldn’t figure loving a shifter book that doesn’t have excitement, action and all the run-of-the-mill tropes paranormal books are known for (although it does have some, it’s just not the basis for this story).
But I was so wrong. It doesn’t have all the stuff most shifter books have. It has more. More warmth, more love, more tenderness, more healing, more working to be better, more overcoming fears and insecurities… more heart.
And that is the very best kind of book.
Gosh, it’s hard to even approach how truly lovely and wonderful this story is. I was a bit cynical when reading friend’s reviews that gushed at how awesome the book is because I couldn’t figure loving a shifter book that doesn’t have excitement, action and all the run-of-the-mill tropes paranormal books are known for (although it does have some, it’s just not the basis for this story).
But I was so wrong. It doesn’t have all the stuff most shifter books have. It has more. More warmth, more love, more tenderness, more healing, more working to be better, more overcoming fears and insecurities… more heart.
And that is the very best kind of book.
January 31, 2024
This was a good enough time! But I don't think I'll be continuing in the series. There are books I feel much more of an emotional pull to, even though the shifter dynamics here felt unique and interesting, and I always like a story of healing. Not mad I read it, though. TBR Jar didn't do me dirty.
July 14, 2022
Gentle. Humorous. Kind. Brave.
It's not a romance yet, per say (though you feel the vibes). It's more focused on pack healing and just plain building yourself back up after deep-rooted fears have overtaken your life.
I don't know how, but in the process, I slowed healed as a reader too. The writing might stall you at some places because it gets a bit patchy, but the actions described in those words are somewhat close to magic themselves.
There are multiple lessons I took from those words. And they don't seem to bambard me in their ferocity, but gently urge me to heal.
It's not a novel of action, but emotional battles.
I loved that.
It's not a romance yet, per say (though you feel the vibes). It's more focused on pack healing and just plain building yourself back up after deep-rooted fears have overtaken your life.
I don't know how, but in the process, I slowed healed as a reader too. The writing might stall you at some places because it gets a bit patchy, but the actions described in those words are somewhat close to magic themselves.
There are multiple lessons I took from those words. And they don't seem to bambard me in their ferocity, but gently urge me to heal.
It's not a novel of action, but emotional battles.
I loved that.
February 25, 2023
So bad. So bad. DNF @ 20%
For a book that is so long winded, a lot of things are left unexplained, but then again, I didn't finish it. I simply couldn't. It was absolutely boring, repetitive, slow moving, I don't get what people are loving about it. There truly was nothing exciting about this book at all, at least not within the first bit, which is where you need it to be in order to grab and hold a reader. Meh.
For a book that is so long winded, a lot of things are left unexplained, but then again, I didn't finish it. I simply couldn't. It was absolutely boring, repetitive, slow moving, I don't get what people are loving about it. There truly was nothing exciting about this book at all, at least not within the first bit, which is where you need it to be in order to grab and hold a reader. Meh.
March 16, 2019
I picked this up out of curiosity because I saw that it was listed on the Amazon page for one of my own books as being one that other readers had bought - and I'm so glad I did, because I ended up devouring the series-so-far (two books) in less than 24 hours. They are fantastic comfort reads.
The Ghost Mountain books are about a pack of rural Canadian (mostly-wolf)-shifters in the middle of the woods gradually recovering from trauma - and the books really are all about the full pack, not just any particular characters. (The blurb for this book makes it sound like a typical paranormal romance, but that's absolutely not the case - there is a romantic through-line, but it's SO slow-burn that by the end of Book 1, they haven't even kissed. This is a story about the healing of the community as a whole, even though it's centered around two particular characters.)
Alpha, Book 1, starts with the abusive leader of the pack, who's been terrorizing them for the last 6 years, being taken down by an incoming, really sweet guy who becomes the new alpha with an almost overwhelming job. He has to not only make the pack safe from the old alpha's goons but also try to figure out how to help heal things for everyone, which mostly means LISTENING to all the women who've been desperately trying to protect their kids and themselves for the past six years.
Honestly, the writing is kind of clunky, especially in the first third of the book, which also felt a little slow - but it is SO sweet and good-hearted - and so sincerely ABOUT the healing process - that it ended up totally melting my heart by the end of Book 1. (Also, they're on KU, so I'm zipping through them for free.) This story wears its heart unabashedly on its sleeve, which feels raw and almost uncomfortable for anyone used to more sophisticated eliding around emotional nuances...but it WORKS. I spent the first 1/3 of the book thinking, hmm, a bit clunky, could've been tightened, etc., etc....but I still kept on reading - and then I was HOOKED. And by the second half (which was 5 stars all the way for me), I was completely won over by the sheer, earnest sweetness of it all.
The heroine, Lissa, is so traumatized that she's not ready for a new relationship even with the Sweetest Guy Ever (TM). But she starts finding her own power again in this book, with his support, and so does everyone else in her lovely, diverse community of survivors. There are hints of just how nasty their last six years were, but there is never any explicit detail, which actually really worked - this isn't a book about abuse, it's a book about survival and finding a way back to OK.
And I started reading Book 2 about five minutes after finishing this one!
The Ghost Mountain books are about a pack of rural Canadian (mostly-wolf)-shifters in the middle of the woods gradually recovering from trauma - and the books really are all about the full pack, not just any particular characters. (The blurb for this book makes it sound like a typical paranormal romance, but that's absolutely not the case - there is a romantic through-line, but it's SO slow-burn that by the end of Book 1, they haven't even kissed. This is a story about the healing of the community as a whole, even though it's centered around two particular characters.)
Alpha, Book 1, starts with the abusive leader of the pack, who's been terrorizing them for the last 6 years, being taken down by an incoming, really sweet guy who becomes the new alpha with an almost overwhelming job. He has to not only make the pack safe from the old alpha's goons but also try to figure out how to help heal things for everyone, which mostly means LISTENING to all the women who've been desperately trying to protect their kids and themselves for the past six years.
Honestly, the writing is kind of clunky, especially in the first third of the book, which also felt a little slow - but it is SO sweet and good-hearted - and so sincerely ABOUT the healing process - that it ended up totally melting my heart by the end of Book 1. (Also, they're on KU, so I'm zipping through them for free.) This story wears its heart unabashedly on its sleeve, which feels raw and almost uncomfortable for anyone used to more sophisticated eliding around emotional nuances...but it WORKS. I spent the first 1/3 of the book thinking, hmm, a bit clunky, could've been tightened, etc., etc....but I still kept on reading - and then I was HOOKED. And by the second half (which was 5 stars all the way for me), I was completely won over by the sheer, earnest sweetness of it all.
The heroine, Lissa, is so traumatized that she's not ready for a new relationship even with the Sweetest Guy Ever (TM). But she starts finding her own power again in this book, with his support, and so does everyone else in her lovely, diverse community of survivors. There are hints of just how nasty their last six years were, but there is never any explicit detail, which actually really worked - this isn't a book about abuse, it's a book about survival and finding a way back to OK.
And I started reading Book 2 about five minutes after finishing this one!
June 23, 2020
I'm not sure how this book crossed my radar, but man...it really got to me. There were many times I found tears in my eyes as I read it. The book blurb really doesn't do it justice, but much like the broken pack you have to find that out on your own.
I loved how Hayden, Kel and Rio were just out on a guys weekend, but knew something bad was happening and they stepped in to do the right thing. Doing this right thing ends up with Hayden becoming the alpha of a very broken pack. Calling the pack broken hardly describes them, they have been ground down to nothing, barely hanging on. Just seeing the pack like this you know it's going to take a lot for them to be a healthy functioning pack again, but the 3 men are up to the task, each in their role of Alpha, Beta and Sentinel. I loved watching all the women and pups see what good men can do with the pack, how they are all about boosting people up, not crushing them down, how everyone has value to the pack, just in different way. I also loved the outside help that they received, how those people helping knew that a handout wouldn't be good or wanted, but a hand up was welcome.
I really liked the place that the pack was in at the end of the book. I look forward to reading more about them, to see them continue to flourish!
I loved how Hayden, Kel and Rio were just out on a guys weekend, but knew something bad was happening and they stepped in to do the right thing. Doing this right thing ends up with Hayden becoming the alpha of a very broken pack. Calling the pack broken hardly describes them, they have been ground down to nothing, barely hanging on. Just seeing the pack like this you know it's going to take a lot for them to be a healthy functioning pack again, but the 3 men are up to the task, each in their role of Alpha, Beta and Sentinel. I loved watching all the women and pups see what good men can do with the pack, how they are all about boosting people up, not crushing them down, how everyone has value to the pack, just in different way. I also loved the outside help that they received, how those people helping knew that a handout wouldn't be good or wanted, but a hand up was welcome.
I really liked the place that the pack was in at the end of the book. I look forward to reading more about them, to see them continue to flourish!
May 11, 2024
I just finished 3 books in the series Ghost Mountain Wolf Shifters by Audrey Faye. This series isn’t about action, although it has some. This series is about heart: hearts that have been broken and hearts that heal. It touches on brokenness and shows that caring and thoughtfulness are more important than people think. It is beautifully written.
December 30, 2022
3.5 stars
This was a maudlin, tearjerker story about a broken, traumatized pack healing and not much else … and I really found it touching and heartwarming, while at times too overdramatic for me.
And while I was indeed enjoying it, it showed pretty heavy first book in a series symptoms, it tried to introduce a new world and society with way too many characters, so almost all of them stayed bland and/or underdeveloped. I also felt felt there was a lot more „telling“ than actual „showing“ happening.
The idea of multiple POVs is a good choice for this kind of story, but the way the chapters are put together felt sometimes incoherent and disjointed.
Robbie, our cute little white pup with down syndrom stays almost all of the time in Wolf form and barely even speaks a word, so that he and his disability rep felt honestly like nothing more but a plot device instead of a good representation. While all the other kids get to be cute in human form. It was a little shady explained with him being freshly able to shift, but … eh. So we‘ll see about that development in the next book.
There was a hint of romance I found interesting, but it was a wise choice to put that on hardcore slow burn, as the healing of the pack and individuals definitely was more important, any kind of romance just would have felt rushed.
This was a maudlin, tearjerker story about a broken, traumatized pack healing and not much else … and I really found it touching and heartwarming, while at times too overdramatic for me.
And while I was indeed enjoying it, it showed pretty heavy first book in a series symptoms, it tried to introduce a new world and society with way too many characters, so almost all of them stayed bland and/or underdeveloped. I also felt felt there was a lot more „telling“ than actual „showing“ happening.
The idea of multiple POVs is a good choice for this kind of story, but the way the chapters are put together felt sometimes incoherent and disjointed.
Robbie, our cute little white pup with down syndrom stays almost all of the time in Wolf form and barely even speaks a word, so that he and his disability rep felt honestly like nothing more but a plot device instead of a good representation. While all the other kids get to be cute in human form. It was a little shady explained with him being freshly able to shift, but … eh. So we‘ll see about that development in the next book.
There was a hint of romance I found interesting, but it was a wise choice to put that on hardcore slow burn, as the healing of the pack and individuals definitely was more important, any kind of romance just would have felt rushed.
August 6, 2019
Very torn between 3 and 4 stars- I loved the ideas in this book, the characters, the values it promotes. The style of the author isn't my favourite though- it did not make me forget to breathe and stay up late at night.
I think the problem is the one-note dimension of the plot- everything circles around the same idea, repeated in different aspects: this pack's submissives were done dirty by their previous crazy, sexist Alpha. At some point, I kind of wished it would stop hammering that in because I had really gotten it. Once I embraced the fact that it all revolved around this and nothing more complex was coming out plot wise, it all fared much better and sweeter for me. It's got emotional bits and feminist cheer bits and a good head screwed on its shoulders.
I am now reading the second in the series and it's even better. Also, if like me, you like an Alpha but are sick of Alphaholes, the male MC is like balm on an irritated wound. Would honestly recommend the book just for him and his character realisation.
I think the problem is the one-note dimension of the plot- everything circles around the same idea, repeated in different aspects: this pack's submissives were done dirty by their previous crazy, sexist Alpha. At some point, I kind of wished it would stop hammering that in because I had really gotten it. Once I embraced the fact that it all revolved around this and nothing more complex was coming out plot wise, it all fared much better and sweeter for me. It's got emotional bits and feminist cheer bits and a good head screwed on its shoulders.
I am now reading the second in the series and it's even better. Also, if like me, you like an Alpha but are sick of Alphaholes, the male MC is like balm on an irritated wound. Would honestly recommend the book just for him and his character realisation.
January 19, 2019
For me, a new author is always good, shifters increase the level of excitement, and a series - bliss. It had a great story line, an evil OM, angsty abused pack waiting to be rescued by a sweet, but strong alpha H. Unfortunately while I liked the idea I did not like the writing style or the underlying messages. So much Telling made for laborious reading. Everything thought and action was explained, over and over again, with the H constantly telling himself how dumb he is, what a baby alpha he is, how smart these downtrodden people were, etc etc. So while I finished this super squeaky clean read, I didn't like the condescending life lessons and won't continue with the series.
July 9, 2019
I loved the Witch Central books written under the authors previous incarnation, but I haven’t really liked most of the things she has done as Audrey Faye.
I only started this book because it was available on ‘Kindle Unlimited’, but I’m so glad I did. I loved this book, the story was great and the sentiment was pure Witch Central. My only very minor criticism is at times the ‘sweetness’ can become overwhelming, but this is probably just me.
The first thing I did after finishing this book was download the next one.
I only started this book because it was available on ‘Kindle Unlimited’, but I’m so glad I did. I loved this book, the story was great and the sentiment was pure Witch Central. My only very minor criticism is at times the ‘sweetness’ can become overwhelming, but this is probably just me.
The first thing I did after finishing this book was download the next one.
June 14, 2021
3.5 stars
Content Notes:
Really enjoyed the werewolf worldbuilding and politics. Not a romance - definitely laid the foundations for the next book, though. I do think this felt like part one of a trilogy (which is meant to be read at the same time). I was slightly disappointed by the lack of romance (hence the 3.5 stars) but am excited for more.
Content Notes:
Really enjoyed the werewolf worldbuilding and politics. Not a romance - definitely laid the foundations for the next book, though. I do think this felt like part one of a trilogy (which is meant to be read at the same time). I was slightly disappointed by the lack of romance (hence the 3.5 stars) but am excited for more.
February 28, 2023
Super, super sweet.
DNF 63%
Too sweet, too tame, too polite.
Not for me.
Enjoyed the start, was interested in the story, just couldn’t get into it.
DNF 63%
Too sweet, too tame, too polite.
Not for me.
Enjoyed the start, was interested in the story, just couldn’t get into it.
September 5, 2021
In Alpha we see the beginning of a new pack of shifters. It and from what I understand the next book are definitely set ups for the rest of the series. The story resolves the main conflict of the book of "out with the old abusive pack leadership and in with the new kinder gentler model" but it definitely does not resolve the romance of The Alpha and the relationships of the rest of the "pack" to the new pack leadership.
This shifter book has interesting dynamics as it is definitely exploring the nature of group trauma from bad authority. I'm intrigued by that.
However I'm a bit uncomfortable and even side eyeing the hippie art commune feel of it, because IRL these groups are usually the very place that abuse happens. I know its more telling about me that I don't trust that anyone would set up that kind of group affection for children without it be grooming, but I can't help it being in the back of my mind as I read it.
Still, I'm willing to set that aside for now as it's escape reading. We'll see if I can keep getting passed it as I plan to read on.
As I said, this book hints at romance but goes no where with it yet. It definitely is not a complete story. It's overly idealistic, and even naive too but as I said, I'm willing to set that aside because I'm intrigued by the characters and dynamics. So that's saying something about the story telling, though it's no Patricia Briggs level of shifter pack story telling to be sure.
This shifter book has interesting dynamics as it is definitely exploring the nature of group trauma from bad authority. I'm intrigued by that.
However I'm a bit uncomfortable and even side eyeing the hippie art commune feel of it, because IRL these groups are usually the very place that abuse happens. I know its more telling about me that I don't trust that anyone would set up that kind of group affection for children without it be grooming, but I can't help it being in the back of my mind as I read it.
Still, I'm willing to set that aside for now as it's escape reading. We'll see if I can keep getting passed it as I plan to read on.
As I said, this book hints at romance but goes no where with it yet. It definitely is not a complete story. It's overly idealistic, and even naive too but as I said, I'm willing to set that aside because I'm intrigued by the characters and dynamics. So that's saying something about the story telling, though it's no Patricia Briggs level of shifter pack story telling to be sure.
October 20, 2019
I saw that one of my Goodreads friends had enjoyed this book. I was looking for something to read, and since I often like what she likes, I decided to give a it a try. I'd seen it before, but the blurb didn't sound that interesting. Plus it was written in first person present tense, which I don't usually enjoy, so I'd skipped over it time and again. I didn't think I would enjoy it.
Boy, was I wrong. If you are looking for a hot, steamy romance that is light on background and secondary characters, keep looking. This book has a ton of secondary characters who all matter. There is a romance but it is low key. The main story line concerns a broken, traumatized wolf pack who was terrorized and abused by their Alpha learning how to be a healthy pack again.
I fell in love with this world and am going through them as quickly as I can.
Boy, was I wrong. If you are looking for a hot, steamy romance that is light on background and secondary characters, keep looking. This book has a ton of secondary characters who all matter. There is a romance but it is low key. The main story line concerns a broken, traumatized wolf pack who was terrorized and abused by their Alpha learning how to be a healthy pack again.
I fell in love with this world and am going through them as quickly as I can.
March 3, 2020
It’s been a long time that I start to re-read the books in a series again just after finishing the last published book. I usually wait for a decent amount of time to pass before re-reads. Only few books/ series can give that feeling. I think this is why we have a popular search term “ books similar to”.
The storyline of this series is amazingly simple and characters perfectly complex. The story is driven by characters which I like more than complex storyline. The author has a lot of missed shots throughout the series but they don’t matter because the story they chosen to tell through the characters is beautiful.
This is the first KU book to go into my all time favorite lists. This book is for readers who doesn’t mind slow pace. This series is about submissive shifters so the dramatic moments are subtle.
The storyline of this series is amazingly simple and characters perfectly complex. The story is driven by characters which I like more than complex storyline. The author has a lot of missed shots throughout the series but they don’t matter because the story they chosen to tell through the characters is beautiful.
This is the first KU book to go into my all time favorite lists. This book is for readers who doesn’t mind slow pace. This series is about submissive shifters so the dramatic moments are subtle.
July 30, 2021
Four and a half stars. A tiny bit of setup at the start about the pack would have made it a full five stars.
I haven't read a paranormal shifter book in years, but this series was recommended to me by another writer, so I bought the first book. Once I started reading, I tore through this.
There is a certain vibe to many paranormal books where life is cheap, sex is a group activity and pretty meaningless, and even if women are supposed to be in charge men hold all the power. None of that was true in this book, which is probably why I liked it so much.
Alpha was about healing terrible, shattering things that had happened to a pack of shifters, and making it clear those abuses wouldn't be tolerated in the future. It was about learning to use your power, and actually think about how your actions impact others, and make smarter decisions that won't make the trauma you're trying to heal worse.
This book won't be for everyone, it's not earth shattering or big picture epic. But after the last two years and all the trauma the entire world has suffered, I found this book refreshing. Hopeful even.
I've probably lost all my street cred with that statement, but that doesn't mean it's not true.
I haven't read a paranormal shifter book in years, but this series was recommended to me by another writer, so I bought the first book. Once I started reading, I tore through this.
There is a certain vibe to many paranormal books where life is cheap, sex is a group activity and pretty meaningless, and even if women are supposed to be in charge men hold all the power. None of that was true in this book, which is probably why I liked it so much.
Alpha was about healing terrible, shattering things that had happened to a pack of shifters, and making it clear those abuses wouldn't be tolerated in the future. It was about learning to use your power, and actually think about how your actions impact others, and make smarter decisions that won't make the trauma you're trying to heal worse.
This book won't be for everyone, it's not earth shattering or big picture epic. But after the last two years and all the trauma the entire world has suffered, I found this book refreshing. Hopeful even.
I've probably lost all my street cred with that statement, but that doesn't mean it's not true.
June 26, 2023
What a fantastic story! And such a breath of fresh air in terms of shifter dynamics. It's hard to enjoy a book when the pack structure is toxic, sexist, and headed up by hyper-asshole alpha horseshit. This entire book was about a pack trying to break away and heal from that. I'll echo what another reviewer said: it's a book where nothing happens but A LOT happens. It all focuses on the characters and the emotions driving the story rather than the things they do.
Not much in the way of romance - a little bit of mutual pining. I'm hoping that gets turned up in the next book but even if it doesn't I'm still going to continue the series!
Not much in the way of romance - a little bit of mutual pining. I'm hoping that gets turned up in the next book but even if it doesn't I'm still going to continue the series!
January 2, 2021
I love "found family!"
November 9, 2023
Round up to 4.5 stars.
June 5, 2019
New beginnings
I like a story that can take a negative n turn it to a positive. Many of use have faced this in our lives as well. The characters are lovely and make you want to read on to see how they over come n reinvent a good strong pack
I like a story that can take a negative n turn it to a positive. Many of use have faced this in our lives as well. The characters are lovely and make you want to read on to see how they over come n reinvent a good strong pack
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