Customer Reviews

Enforcer (Cascadia Wolves)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I don't think I've ever disliked a couple more and still finished their book. The heroine is self admittedly "snotty" and her being ignorant just for the sake of being ignorant got old pretty quick. The hero was completely powerless/spineless against the heroine's almost constant nastiness, except when he was forcing his sperm and brother on her, of course.

Which reminds me of the biggest reason I didn't like this story--the world building is repulsive. Sperm that causes a woman's DNA to change and form the mate bond without the heroines knowledge or consent and to top it off she's forced to have sex with another man or she'll go insane or die is just...wow. Sure, it's a great way to toss a threesome into your story for no other reason than to sex it up but coerced sex--even if it's by the circumstances the author created and not the characters--is almost always distasteful to me and this wasn't any exception.

But even though this one didn't work for me I'll still be reading the next few books in the series just because I've heard good things about it and I've enjoyed Lauren Dane's writing in the past.

There's nothing wrong with the book itself. It is well written and the pace of the story was fine. I just didn't like the story with it's tri-bond twist and its werewolf society rules. I like reading romance novels where there is only one male for one female. I understood that the three-some sex scene was necessary in this author's werewolf society but I wish someone had warned me about the three-some scene. I also didn't like the fact that the werewolf males could not and would not protect humans when being challenged to the death by another werewolf. These two plot lines just turned me off the entire book and the entire series. I guess I like old fashion romance concepts (true once in a lifetime one for one mates so this story and the rest of the series isn't for me or anyone like me.

Enforcer is the first book in Lauren Dane's Cascadia Wolves, a series surrounding the Warden family werewolf pack.

Nina Reyes has lead a tough life...Her parents die when she is a teenager, she gets stuck raising her younger brother, and ends up homeless.. all within a short time span. To survive, Nina turns to crime, more specifically, computer hacking, which she finds she is surprisingly good at. Despite her talent, Nina knows what she does is wrong, and vows to quit just as soon as she has enough money saved for her and her brother to get a fresh start in a new town. Unfortunately, her brother Ryan gets in with the wrong crowd and while at a bar one night, gets bit by a werewolf. Just when Nina thinks she can finally go on with her life, her brother shows up on her doorstep with rogue werewolves out to kill him. Once again, Nina vows to do whatever it takes to protect him.

Lex Warden is the enforcer and also second in command to one of the largest werewolf packs in the country. His reputation precedes him as being the most ruthless enforcer alive, and as such, is treated by fellow pack mates with the utmost respect. Lex suspects that Nina's brother is involved with rogue werewolves, and as his position dictates, sets off to question Ryan. Lex ends up on Nina's doorstep and is immediately taken aback. There is something about Nina that captures Lex's full attention, aside from the gun she so eloquently aims at his man goods. One thing leads to another, and the revelation that Nina is Lex's life mate becomes evident all too soon. Lex makes it his mission to claim Nina, in both body and soul.

I loved this book. Only 164 pages long, a lot smaller than what I normally read, Enforcer had all the elements of a 300 page book, minus the page after page of unnecessary back story and dialogue. For me, Nina is such a likeable character. She is smart, streetwise, sarcastic, and has a comeback for everything. Nina's term of endearment for her mate being Scooby is just one example of her "SmartArsery." Lex is the perfect match for her. He is strong, brave, and mostly stubborn, and combined with Nina's strong will make for some great reading entertainment, including extremely hot bedroom scenes. Did I mention really hot "in between the sheets" scenes? Whoa baby, and one scene in particular involving a bed, Nina, Lex, and a certain someone else left me with my mouth a gaping. One word....TRIBOND! {Hee, hee. You'll have to read to find out who the said third party is!!}This is such a fun book. Fan's of Larisa Ione and Kresley Cole will appreciate this series!

My only complaint with Enforcer is that the ending was too abrupt. I felt there should have been more resolution, especially since the events leading up to the ending were pretty intense. I guess I'll have to read book #2, Reluctant, to see what happens next.

Overall Rating: 4.25 out of 5

I liked this well enough. I liked the story and the characters. I thought the author used the jest name calling stuff a little too much in this. Toned down a bit more and I would have thought most of it funny when Nina was on a roll, but about halfway through I was rolling my eyes as another shot out of her mouth. I also didn't know how to feel about the tri-bond. Normally doesn't bother me, but since Nina was very resistant, it made it weird.

I will try out the next one to see if I like it, since it was my first Dane book.

This book in the series is a little different in terms of the setting, which is Washington, D.C. and the politics involved in it. Jack, the Enforcer is the #2 guy in all of the wolf packs, working as the national enforcer - against government bias to shape-shifters, mafia infiltration, and general mistrust of another species. Even though he's a glorious-looking specimen (but like a surfer-dude looker as opposed to the dark and booding glorious hunks) finding his mate was a shock to him, and her - as he has been the tri-bond to the prime alpha's mate, who's jealous as hell of Jack's new relationship. This kind of ordinary sub-action between the women is a good off-set to the hard and fast maliciousness to the Cascadia pack and Jack's life. Loved this book and every other in the series. Can't wait for a new one to come out. She can't write enough of them to satisfy me

This is the first book in the Cascadia Wolves series and I was pretty disappointed. I love the supnatural-romance genre but 95% of this book is people -- the characters tell you they're werewolves but no one turns into one until the last 5% of the book. AND the people are strong, powerful, and wealthy but the wolf-thing doesn't seem to have any affect on the story except within the power heirachy within the group.

It's got potential and I hope the further books in the series actually have some wolf related plot lines!

I loved Lauren Dane's Chase-series so I hope this Cascadia series gets better and lives up to her reputation.

First in Cascadia Wolves series. The second book is Tri Mates, however Dane also wrote a (short) prequel (Reluctant) which picks up a story mentioned in "Enforcer" but isn't necessary to the Werewolf Mafia story arc of the series.

Plot:
Nina's brother is in trouble. The only ones who can help are the werewolves of Cascadia Pack. To help, they're going to have to get past a few trust issues as well as the small matter of Nina being Lex's mate.

Comments:
- A long book (4213 kindle locations) which allows for a lot to happen, action, sex, lust, violence. The characters are well-described and 3 dimensional.
- Sex is m/f with an explicit m/f/m encounter. However, we are aiming for an m/f HEA.
- The book contains violence, including violence against Nina. Although she certainly can hold her on.
- Nina is a very strong character. She grew up the hard way, raising her brother on the streets, running from the law. But she is also caring and intelligent. And she fights for what she wants/needs, fights hard. No cowering miss here.
- We have two distinct issues with the characters - Nina is an independent woman (human) who wants nothing to do with werewolves who she believes stole her brother's life. Lex is a werewolf who believes in all the rules of the Pack, doesn't understand why Nina won't give in to lust/destiny, and allows the "human hater" werewolves to get away with it. To get their HEA they need to compromise/understand each other. And while Nina is forced by circumstance to give up/accept her "new life", Lex (alpha through and through) works against "natural inclinations" to see her side and simply love her. It is a nice relationship growth.

Opinion:
This is an excellent start to the series. Dane is developing an interesting world with *very* strong women. Nina certainly proved herself, but so did the sisters. The "modern alpha" males are strong yet loving/giving and a great foil for the women with attitude Dane writes. I look forward to Tracy's story in "Tri Mates". ("Reluctant" is a nice side-bar, but doesn't add to the story-arc.)

Cascadia Wolves: Enforcer.
So intriguing to find a new slant to the werewolf. No I dont, no I cant, no I wont.Good werewolves with honour and respect? Excuse me -- But then of course it all makes the plot so much more inticing. I read it in one sitting. The supporting characters were good to so we could do with expanding. Location, elequent speach, and more depth to supporting characters Cant wait to see how her writing pans out. Thoroughly good read.

Lauren Dane's Enforcer is a awesome read! Great story line, strong characters with real life personalities! If you love a great paranormal romance you'll love Enforcer!