Pack Of Lies by Vanessa Vaughn

Pack of Lies by Vanessa Vaughn
Ravenous Romance 

Novel: 185pages

Rating: 4 out of 5

Blurb:
When Jack is attacked by a powerful werewolf one moonlit night, his world is forever changed.

Marcus is that wolf, the strong leader of his pack, who never imagined a mere mortal could ever escape him, much less ever become one of his kind. And yet, as time passes, he can't deny the handsome human is slowly beginning to change.

No longer the civilized architect he used to be, Jack feels a new power coalescing inside of him. He barely even recognizes himself as he becomes more sexual, more impulsive, more wild in every way.

But as the bite transforms him, it also binds he and his attacker together forever. The two share a powerful unbreakable link, no matter how forcefully they may each try to deny it. Marcus is already hiding secrets from the other wolves, and his position as Alpha is threatened. Could Jack be the new ally Marcus needs to set things right, or will their desire for one another draw them away from all they know and alter the course of their lives forever?


Review:

I am just going to say “wow” for this book. I found it quite refreshing, veering away from the typical werewolf novels, this one was original, and without the sappy I found my mate, lets get together and have wild sex. Don’t get me wrong I love those kinds, but this book was just so animalistic, raw and without the typical HEA (happy ever after). If for only one reason, you read this book, read it for its originality and well-written characters.

Marcus is the alpha of his wolf pack, but truth be told he is not very respected, the pack feels another pack member should be leader because of his birthright, but due to family politics/prejudices Marcus became leader of the pack. One thing making leading difficult is his desire for other men, this is considered wrong among wolves and they believe only male/female is allowed. Marcus has to hide away in secret and get his kicks; his inner struggle to contain that part of himself during the moon call is just vivid and so intense.

The first scenes in the book provide a clear look into what it is to be a wolf, this is no Little Red Riding Hood shit, these are animals camouflaged in human looking form. Their thinking is purely animal based, human are snacks and they make no apology for what they are. With the full moon high in the sky, Marcus becomes his wolf form and goes a hunting, leaving the pack behind and venturing off on his own, he is then hit by a car and with this incident his life becomes chaos in motion.

Jack Devereaux is driving home from a party with his friend Ivy, when suddenly they hit something. Hoping and praying that he did not just hit a person Jack goes to investigate. With the road surrounded by darkness, Jack is unclear of what exactly he just hit until he is attacked by what looks like an abnormally large wolf. The thing of his curiosity just became his nightmare when he is mauled to an inch of his life until his rescued and rushed to hospital by Ivy. What happens next is unclear to Jack, but all he remembers is vivid sexual dreams about a man he has never met, he shares the same eyes as the wolf who almost killed him.

The book then becomes intense; Jack’s wounds healed miraculously, he is feeling very energetic for a man who almost died, and he just woke up naked under a tree covered in blood. Jack cannot understand the changes going on with him, but he knows one thing for sure his life will never be the same again. Thus, enters the wolf pack and the threats, and the man of his dreams. Now it becomes a race to stay alive, when he is betrayed in the worst way by someone he thought was a friend, and a fight to keep the man he is slowly becoming to love. Marcus will have to make sacrifices and put his pack leadership on the line.

The story is told in first person by both Jack and Marcus, both POVs done in alternating chapters, and you get a strong sense of who they are as characters. It is great to see Jack evolve from this very scared human, to a vicious wolf. The progression of emotions were written wonderfully, there is nothing sappy about Marcus and Jack’s relationship, it is raw and dirty sexy good.

I had one small issue with the book, and that it became overly descriptive at times. I rolled my eyes a few time at Jack and Marcus’s internal dialogue, I was like I get it, they feel like animals. It was not a huge problem, just bothered me a few times. With saying that, Vaughn is a very good writer, she keeps you interested with a rhythmic flow of words. Another word of caution for those who strictly love M/M books without the presence of male/female relations, this book is not one of them. It does a have a few m/f scenes, it does not overshadow the relationship between the men, just letting you know.

Overall, I really liked this book; the sex was dirty gritty and super hot. The plot while not mind bending is still good. What makes this book truly notable are its characters and their wolf instincts. Though there is no solid HEA, I am hoping for a sequel, because I want more of these characters, and there is no way in hell a book can end like that. I definitely recommend it, for all paranormal fans who like action and grit with a little romance.

Fave Scene: The coffee shop in the storage closet. I died all kinds of death when I read that scene. It was so hot, and to see Jack take over like that. Oh yes it was good!!!

4 Pants Off

Previously Reviewed for Three Dollar Bill Reviews