Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Third Mate

SERIES: River Wolf Pack #3

AUTHOR: Rebecca James

PUBLISHER: self-published

LENGTH: 182 pages

RELEASE DATE: July 15, 2018

BLURB:

Sequel to Second Alpha. Second Edition. All rights have been returned to author.

The winds of change are blowing through the River Wolf Pack compound. River, the pack alpha, has allowed rogue wolves, a coyote shifter, and humans to join the pack. Then there’s the twin girls that Josiah, River’s mate, has given birth to. A movement to return to more traditional werewolf ways is gaining momentum.

In exchange for Leo’s help, Stone offers him the position of second alpha should Stone succeed in usurping River as pack alpha. Leo has his own problems — his desire to rise within the pack wars with his dislike of Stone. With the addition of Sam and Foster into the mix, Leo’s personal life is no less complex.

Jax knows he must make a difficult decision before he’s turned out of the compound. Should he remain human or accept David’s bite? He loves the alpha wolf, but he also has ties to the human world, ones he doesn’t want to sever. When David discovers Brooks is considering mating Stone, David determines to prevent it. Can Jax provide a solution to Brooks’s problem even if it means sacrificing his own happiness?

Can River remain in charge of an increasingly fractured pack? Does he even want to? 

REVIEW:

So, in case you guys didn’t notice, I got things a little backwards here. I didn’t even realize I did it until the other book was up. This is the end of the River Wolf Pack, and the start of the Angel Hills one, which is on the blog from the other day. Even knowing what was coming, it was still so hard to read this book. So many things broke my heart and continued to break it at the end. It’s still a great book don’t get me wrong, but it’s hard to see the happy endings with what is coming and what is going to happen at the end.

River’s pack has been going through some rough times lately. It started with trying to make an alliance with the humans, which resulted in River mating the half human-half wolf, Josiah. And although they’ve mostly accepted Josiah, the birth of their females has made things a whole lot worse. No females are werewolves. They’re all males and all homosexual. Except for one they know of, which led to Josiah. On top of that, more humans are staying around. Jax, who is with David, refuses to take the bite, and Trace, even though he is now wolf, was a human who took the bite. And that’s part of it too. Then add the rogues, a coyote and more meetings with humans, and River is about to lose his pack. The bad part is the one he may lose it to, would be the worst alpha leader ever. And everyone is trying to convince River it’s time to step down and go somewhere else. Where those who love River and Josiah and the kids, those who don’t mind the humans, etc, can go and live in peace, like they should be. But will River’s alpha pride be his downfall or will he finally agree?

I hate how this book went. I know the members of the pack weren’t happy either. This story comes from many points of view and all are having a hard time with what’s happening. Many want to leave, to the point of drastic measures if need be. Many are siding with the opposition, thinking the changes that are being made are wrong. And those that want to stay with River and support him are practically begging him to do something. Something has to give. And it breaks my heart at how it had to be. But sometimes you have to break away from the toxic in order to get what you need and what you should have had all along. It’s hard. No one likes change. I don’t care who you are, no one really likes change. And knowing things are going to be different, gives some a ray of hope, but for others, it’s uncertainty. Because they are stuck in a situation they can’t get out of right now.

Like I said, it’s a  hard ending. If you’re like me, you will need tissues. But just know there is hope on the horizon, and with the Angel Hills pack, you will see it’s already starting to change. It’s not an easy change. There are gains and unfortunately, many losses. But in the end, hope for the better.

RATING: 

BUY LINK: 

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