Why the heck didn't Celia Kyle start the series off with this instead of those atrocities that are the Wickham Triplets stories?
I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed it so much more than I did the first three books in this series. I feel if this had been the first book in the series, I'd have a different opinion of Celia Kyle. Unfortunately, she still carries much of the traits from the first books that turned me off her writing.
First of all, ENOUGH with the Wickham triplets! Scratch that. ENOUGH with Scarlet Wickham! Whitney and Gabriella were tolerable in this series - mildly - but good Goddess with Scarlet, gevalt! Her treatment of the wolves is subtly similar to how some White characters treat people of color in some stories and in real life. "Furball" is basically the "n-word" in Werewolf Land. (Yes, I am a woman of color - my heritage is Native American, African American and White.) I am so sick of Scarlet, of her immaturity and of her arrogance. Keller and Madden (a.k.a. Celia Kyle) really need to take her down a few notches. Please, Madden, please take Scarlet bare-bottomed over your knee and DO NOT be gentle. She and her sisters were so invasive in this book, it was ridiculous. At the end when Scarlet walked in, waking Rebecca, Aiden and Carson up after they've just mated the night prior and throwing that jingle ball and talking about playing fetch with her future children, I was so hoping Keller and Madden would ease up and let Aiden and Carson rip her to bits. Such a horrible ending. Seriously, who talks about their future children like that? I'd ask what these men see in these Wickham women but given that most of the books consist of the characters struggling to not hump each other and then later humping each other, that question would be wasted. Scarlet Wickham is basically every annoying, haughty, shallow, self-centered teenage girl we've dealt with in high school and would have loved to smack. Holy blueberry yoghurt on a friggin' cracker!
Which brings me to my next annoyance - the immature dialogue! Why can't adults just refer to sex as sex? Adults referring to sex as "boinking" is not funny or cute. And Gabby's insistence that Rebecca refer to sex with her alpha mates as "squishy" because it's a "family tradition" was just silly. It's like the Wickham triplets have to live sexually, vicariously through each other. And, again, if you are going to use the "f" word, use it sparingly and be creative. In this one it's used appropriately, but in the beginning there's a hint of Scarlet-esque dialogue that really didn't need to be in there. And not every expression needs an abbreviation. Those who've read this book will know what I'm talking about. "FUBAR"? "HBIC"? Really? This is supposed to be an adult gathering, not a high school reunion. And the whole string of "You must have a vagina" jokes came off as a little transphobic.
Next, Aiden and Carson's relationship. It was not well-developed nor was it really explained, and that made the two seem like they didn't quite go together. We get they're close and we see Carson hasn't been as honest with Aiden as he should have been - both as a friend and an alpha - but that's about it. The whole relationship just felt as rushed as the alpha pairing did even though these two men have been together for fourteen years. I absolutely loved Aiden but I found it hard to like Carson. I wished Aiden had dissolved their bond. It would have been better for the story and everyone else. It seemed Celia Kyle only kept it so we could all get the big claiming scene at the end of the story as is the thing for all the "Alpha Marked books" I've read so far.
And now we come to my other hang up with this book, in addition to the not-so-great grammar - the plot holes. I'm surprised more readers haven't asked this question - How are the werewolf pups born to human women from pure werewolves born pure werewolves? How are they able to shift into wolf form? If they were born to human women, regardless if werewolves have some biological human traits, they would be hybrids and wouldn't be able to turn into the normal wolf form. Next, in werewolf literature people who've been bitten by or have had unprotected sex with a werewolf change into werewolves. How does that not happen with the human women in this book who mate with these Alpha and Warden Pairings? What is the story behind the existence of these werewolves in this series? Is it entirely supernatural? Is it biological? Is it biological with supernatural hints? What is the deal? Most, well-read, well-researched lycanthrope - lycanthrope also includes werebears, werelions, etc... - writers will have explained this in at least the second or third book if not the first, but Celia Kyle has yet to do this and this is Book Four. Does she assume her readers are stupid? I'll say this again - this is a major rule in fantasy/science fiction, or just any type of fiction, that should never be broken or bent - regardless if you are writing a fantasy book, your story still has to adhere to the rules of reality or else the story makes no sense. Even J.K. Rowling and J.R.R. Tolkein knew this. People are all "It's fantasy so I can do what I want". No, you can't do what you want. That's not how it works. It doesn't make you a good writer. It makes you a bad writer and a bad storyteller. It's unprofessional.
Moving on, I gave this book three stars because Rebecca is a heroine I can relate to. I'm plus-sized and my body is covered in scars. Both have been key issues in my reluctance to pursue relationships or even just to be intimate with people. It hit close to home when Rebecca showed Carson her scars and asked him if he would stay with her out of pity as he had done to Aiden. I don't think people get how hard it is to stand strong despite having a body that society often deems less than perfect or not up to the conventional standards. It's so easy to put on a brave face but when it comes to revealing yourself, all of yourself, it's hard. I wish I could find a guy like Aiden who'd see past my scars and extra weight and not see me as someone to be pitied or disgusted. I want a guy to ask me if I'd like a burger or ice cream and not look at me like "Are you sure you should be eating that? Wouldn't you prefer a salad?" I want a guy to hug me and be happy that I’m soft instead of wondering how he’ll fit his arms around me.
This one also had a little bit of a better story, and I liked that it was a little longer. Much better action. Straight to the blood and gore. No showboating, boasting or trash-talking. No corny "Win for me so you can claim me dialogue". I wish the sex scenes had been longer and steamier like they were in the first three books. I also liked that this book was free of the female-on-female misogyny that the Wickham sisters kept expressing in the first three books. In addition, for the first time since reading Celia Kyle's books, I actually laughed while reading this book. No, I didn't laugh at the Wickham sister's antics. It was the interactions between Rebecca, Aiden and Carson. Those are the only other reasons I'm giving this book three stars and not two or one. I will be cracking open Lorelei next. I like Rebecca Twynham, and I think I might like her sisters but I'm not entirely sure yet. This IS a Celia Kyle book after all, and one thing I've noticed about her books - the ones I've read so far - is that while her heroines are curvaceous, pretty and intelligent, they tend to become really obnoxious as the story progresses. Thankfully that didn't happen with Rebecca, and I really hope it doesn't happen with Rebecca, Lorelei or Paisley.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. Learn more
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Join or create book clubs
Choose books together
Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
![Mate Hunted: Werewolf Shapeshifter Paranormal Romance (Alpha Marked Book 4) by [Celia Kyle]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51vdDdulaQL._SY346_.jpg)
Follow the Author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.
| Price | New from | Used from |
|
Audible Audiobook, Unabridged
"Please retry" |
$0.00
| Free with your Audible trial | |
|
MP3 CD, Audiobook, MP3 Audio, Unabridged
"Please retry" | $11.43 | — |
- Read with Our Free App
-
Audiobook
$0.00 - 3 Used from $2.99 7 New from $6.99
- 7 New from $11.43
Next 3 for you in this series
See full series
Books In This Series (6 Books)
Complete Series
Page 1 of 1Start OverPage 1 of 1
-
3Mate Discovered: Werewolf Shapeshifter Paranormal Romance (Alpha Marked Book 3)
Kindle Edition$2.99
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Top reviews from other countries
Kitty
Another fun romp at the gathering
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on January 11, 2018
parker2030
Loved it loved it i really enjoyed the first three ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on March 12, 2015
Moose Girl
More awesomesauce Celia Kyle
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on October 14, 2014
