Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Frog Fugue Fundamentals
SERIES: Wolves of Stone Ridge
AUTHOR: Charlie Richards
PUBLISHER: eXtasy
LENGTH: 115 pages
RELEASE DATE: February 26, 2022
BLURB:
Out of the Cage: An estranged man heeds his brother’s call and finds his choice blessed by Fate, if he can connect with the altered human.
Anthony Holsteen hasn’t been in the same state as his brother, Dixon, in nearly a century. While they keep tabs on each other and talk a couple of times a year, they do better while far apart. All that changes when Dixon tells Anthony about the many problems his new wolf shifter pack is facing—government conspiracy, witches, humans being turned into shifters, and to top it off, a bigoted sheriff forced into retirement. While Anthony knows that living in close proximity to Dixon could create waves, he accepts the position of sheriff. After all, he would prefer to be in the know when it comes to those causing problems with paranormals.
Even though Dixon has warned Anthony that most of the wolf shifters in his new pack have found their fated mates, he doesn’t expect it to happen to him. He isn’t a wolf, after all. His kind are deadly and feared and rarely find their mates. The scent of one of the altered humans, however, is undeniable. Anthony realizes that Crew Kester is his mate. Except, Crew isn’t gay and is just coming to terms with being a shifter. The man runs.
Can Anthony put aside his dominant nature long enough to accept aid from a pack he doesn’t know so he can win the trust of a confused and wary Crew, not to mention his affection?
REVIEW:
Note: While this is number 57 in this series it can be read as a stand alone of course.
Anthony Holsteen is moving to Stone Ridge to take over the Sheriff’s position in town. He’s had issues with his brother, Dixon, who is part of the Stone Ridge pack, but he’s willing to give it a go. When he arrives at the Alpha’s house, he’s intrigued by a scent he doesn’t recognize. He’s stunned by the number of strong shifters there who get along. He’s also shocked by the number of humans and even a vampire among the men at the house.
Crew is part of a group of soldiers who were experimented on by a rogue governmental program. He’s been “altered” and now has shifter capabilities. He has a difficult time with his memory and requiring orders to act. He’s barely left his room in fact. When Anthony arrives at Declan’s, the new scent entices him to leave his room. And he also experiences his first shift which heightens his senses yet again 🙂 He has to find the source. As his cat, his finds Anthony. But he becomes afraid and bolts. Anthony believes it’s because of his animal form that Crew doesn’t like – but that’s not the case.
Crew has never been with a man, never desired a man in fact, but he feels the pull to Anthony. His friends and Alpha Declan help him over some of the fears he is experiencing trying to assure him that his mate will do his best to make him comfortable. Each encounter with Anthony increases Crew’s desire to be near him and despite his reluctance, he cannot ignore the mate bond. Despite Anthony dealing with some difficulties in the Sheriff’s office, Crew and Anthony manage to spend time together.
Well I have to say that I was a little disappointed in this particular installment of this series. First, there are quite a few editing errors – where the wrong name is referenced during a conversation where the mate is speaking. This happened more than once and threw me out of the story. Secondly, the ending was rushed and completely unfinished. I felt a bit robbed by the abrupt stop – like a chapter was missing. We don’t even get to see Crew and Anthony together at all really. Finally there is something going on at the Sheriff’s office that we have no resolution to at all. Hopefully some of this will be resolved in the next book and we will get more information about what’s been going on in Stone Ridge and also maybe Dave will finally get his mate.
RATING: 
BUY LINKS:
eXtasy