This book is a sequel to A Pack of her Own focusing on Heather McKenna who has a human mother and werewolf father. Heather is trying to get in touch with her wolf side which until recently was bound behind a witches spell. After an emergency call from her sister, Heather races to the city to be with her mom in ICU.
V Raines, daughter of the city’s Alpha, is dispatched to the hospital to find out why a rogue werewolf is in their territory. Attraction flies off the scale when the two meet.

Abbott is bringing the werewolf legend into modern times. V is non binary in a pack of dominants and/or submissives. They are a rebel against the old way of Alphas deciding who mates with whom. They want a more open culture in the pack with submissives being treated with equal respect to the dominants.

Heather has always been an outcast and is now in an accepting pack. My biggest pet peeve with this novel is the unnecessary repetition of Heather’s lack of self confidence and her taking on blame for everything. Her backstory in the first book along with a the refresher in this one gives the reader all they need to understand the where and why of Heather’s self hate and inner wolf phobia.

I enjoyed the telling of the story for the most part and I do recommend this novel to all the werewolf loving fans out there.

I received an advance review copy from Bold Strokes Books through NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.21 s Netgyrl (Laura)561 138

3 stars - This is the second book in Elena Abbott’s shifters series.

In Book Two, we get to know Heather McKenna. She was cursed by a witch, paid by her mother, so she couldn’t shift. Heather was told her whole life that being a shifter was abnormal and made her a monster. She was made to feel ashamed and unworthy. She didn’t find acceptance with her human family or with other wolf shifters when she finally left to forge her own path in the world. Her pack put her at the very bottom of the hierarchy and treated her poorly because what good is a wolf shifter who can’t shift?

When this book starts, we learn that Wren, her new Alpha, has helped her release her wolf from the curse. Heather is having a difficult time accepting herself and finding peace with her wolf. She receives a call from her sister informing her that their mother is in the hospital and she needs to come. Their parting wasn’t on good terms. Heather hopes to find closure with her mom and sister and decides to go, despite Wren’s objections.

V is a member of the Raines pack and also the child of the pack Alpha. Just in the first book, we discover that this pack is governed by a strict hierarchy of dominance and submission. The Alpha’s word is law. V and their father do not see eye to eye. V’s non-binary identity and attraction to women are not respected by their father, who insists that they mate with Sinclair, the pack enforcer. As one might expect, Sinclair is terrible, and V wants nothing to do with him.

V and Heather meet when V is called to the hospital to handle a potential rogue wolf, who turns out to be Heather. She is struggling to control her emotions and her wolf during the full moon. V immediately recognizes that Heather is their true fated mate. However, it takes Heather, who is not as in tune with her alter ego, a bit longer to come around.

I enjoyed the story, but I must admit that it dragged a bit for me because Heather’s self-esteem is extremely low. She believes she is unworthy of anyone’s love or respect. She thinks she is broken and burdensome. She takes responsibility for and apologizes for everything, most of which she is not responsible for. One of my least favorite tropes is one-sided decision-making, when a character decides, “I am not worth all the trouble I am causing. They can do better than me. I am doing them a favor by leaving.” Then they leave without giving the other person in the relationship a chance to make any decisions for themselves. Heather’s negative self-talk persists for at least half the book. I found myself skimming through these internal monologues because my tolerance for them is low.

The book picks up in the second half, and I enjoyed the action scenes and the ending. I love how Wren’s new pack is starting to fill up with -minded wolves, and I look forward to the next installment in the series.

Thank you Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC and the opportunity to leave a review._sapphic-romance arc own ...more12 s4 comments Cherie399 1 follower


2.5??
This is a story about Heather McKenna who has had a
troubled life. She’s not able to connect with her wolf. Her birth mother has treated her terribly and because of that she has zero self esteem. Later on she begins to get her emotions under control with a new wolf in her life.

This part two book, of the Wolf Pack series, was very repetitive for me with Heather’s constant self doubt being mentioned throughout half of the book. Ugh…. The plot was ok but Heather’s character didn’t work for me. I the first.book in this series (A pack of Her Own) much better.

ARC received from Net Galley for a honest and voluntary review

11 s6 comments Kaye3,532 50

Enjoyable paranormal romance. I’ve only started reading shifter stories recently. Mate of Her Own has Heather McKenna who can’t control her inner werewolf. Her mother was a mortal and had a witch curse Heather as a child to force her to be “normal". Called by her sister she goes to Edmonton where her mother is in a hospital. She is hoping for answers or closure. Instead she meets V Rains who is the Knight of the packs territory. V is the only child of the pack Alpha. But V is drawn to Heather as a true mate, which means they can’t do as the Alpha commands.

I read easily as a stand alone as there is a bit of recapping. Heather and her alpha’s story is in Pack of her Own (March 2023). This is about finding and choosing family (or a pack). I did have some unanswered questions particularly about Heather’s father and the witchcraft. Maybe they will be answered in future books or I just have to accept it as the past. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review.f-f-romance netgalley paranormal3 s Meghan531 8

This was my first book by this author. I enjoyed the premise of the book, but I found it lacking.

Heather is a wolf but didn't know for a long time and moves away from her hometown only to come back years later to try and find closure.

V is nonbinary which was cool as not many books have nonbinary characters that I've read. She is with a pack but doesn't agree with the customs and etc.

She meets Heather, who is her true mate and it moves very fast from there. The whole book seemed to span only a few days, which moved too quick in my opinionated was a little hard to follow.

Overall, not a bad book, but not one I would recommend.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for an honest review.3 s Shimere Alexander109 4

"Mate of Her Own" by Elena Abbott is an absolute must read in the world of shifter romance, and it's a book that left me utterly mesmerized. From the very beginning, I knew I was in for something special. This novel stands out in a crowded genre because of its unique and captivating storyline.

What struck me most was the refreshing departure from the usual shifter romance tropes. Instead of following the predictable path, Abbott weaves a tale that is both inventive and enthralling. The depth of the characters and the complexity of their emotions made the story incredibly relatable and immersive. Heather's struggle to connect with her wolf and V's defiance of traditional pack expectations added layers of depth to their characters that I couldn't get enough of.

The drama and real-life circumstances that surround the storyline are masterfully executed. I found it nearly impossible to put the book down as I was drawn deeper into the intricate web of emotions, pack politics, and the mysteries of the curse that bound Heather. Every page was filled with anticipation and excitement.

As I approached the end of the book, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness, not because the story lacked closure, but because I was so invested in these characters that I didn't want to say goodbye. The ending is open in a way that suggests possible future books to continue the stories of others in the pack left me eagerly awaiting more.

Abbott's writing style is a perfect blend of action and drama, keeping me on the edge of my seat until the very last page. "Mate of Her Own" is a captivating journey that explores love, identity, and the complexities of werewolf society. If you're looking for a shifter romance that breaks the mold and delivers an unforgettable reading experience, look no further. Elena Abbott's "Mate of Her Own" is a must-read that will leave you craving more.2 s Emily Fritz93 2

I was a little worried about requesting this one because I hadn’t read the previous book, but I’m so glad I did request it! The story was well written and it was easy to understand some of the dynamics referenced in the earlier book. I instantly d the main characters who are both outsiders in their own way and ended up showing how strong anyone can be. I’m also a sucker for found family stories, so this one ticked all the boxes for me. I highly recommend it and can’t wait to read more about the pack!2 s Debra Gaynor416 3

Mate of Her Own
Elena Abbott
I enjoy shape shifter romance novels and this one doesn’t disappoint.
Author Elena Abbott is a master at characterization. The characters in this book are well fleshed out. The plot is interesting and has depth. This is not your ordinary shape shifter book. This book is outstanding in its genre.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a review copy of Mate Of Her Own. My are always my unbiased opinion.2 s Dide1,320 49

Glad that this turned out to be a series. Here we have Heather at the forefront of this story. Her search for closure leads to her crossing path with her mate and encountering trouble.

Compared with the leading story in the series, this wasn't as captivating to me.2 s Sue Plant1,774 19

would to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this exciting book

heather mckenna a cursed wolf shifter born of a human mother who managed to get her wolf bound by magic spent years wondering what was going on and feeling so different to everyone else

v raines is a knight in her fathers pack, who is the alpha..... his way or the highway but v tries her best and is hoping to change things from the inside

v is non binary and though her father tolerates this things are coming to a head....

v gets called to a hospital where a rogue wolf is about to break out

v and heather are about to meet and things are gonna get screwed up pretty quickly

an exciting read that kept me glued right to the end... hoping to catch up with this group again in the next book1 Issy WaldromAuthor 8 books33

It's Heather's turn to be in the spotlight this time, with new character V, in a story that covers mental health, acceptance, and of course finding true love. Finding your true mate can be a wonderful experience, as well as claiming each other, but what follows after can be a challenging experience, especially when other factors in life decide to interfere.

Pack of Her Own, there is a lot of action in this story, along with lots of cute moments, and Heather and V make a wonderful pair, even with their insecurities. Seeing them stand up for each other is just great as well. Of course seeing Wren and Natalie again was an added bonus, and if there is a third book I'd love to see all of the characters again as well.

Mate of Her Own is a highly enjoyable story, engaging and engrossing, and I loved the tale it told. It was good seeing certain aspects of toxic wolf culture being called out, and Wren doing her best to create a pack that doesn't adhere to the norms (especially considering that she didn't want her own pack, but well, with the ending of the previous book, she doesn't have a lot of choice). It is a great shifter tale, and I do hope to see more in this series.1 Amanda2,168 85 Read

DNF at 40% I just couldn't get invested in the story or the characters no matter how much I wanted to . arc1 ASapphicLitReader18 2

I thought that this book was a little underwhelming. It seemed it could have been far more exciting given the subject matter but there was too much of the internal monologues. It also felt the characters kept having the same conversations and thoughts over and over again.

V was a cool character but it was frustrating for a while that they seemed the only person able to see reason in their pack. It was nice that they were so protective of the people around them without feeling the need to be the person in charge. I feel you don’t really see characters that very offer.

Heather was kind of whiny and annoying. It did make sense because she was told her whole life that she wasn’t good enough for anything or anyone but it still got old after a while. Their separation also seemed forced with Heather abandoning V when they have absolutely no one left and then changing her mind out of nowhere. I also wished that Heather had a chance to confront her mother or at the very least find out what was wrong with her. The stuff with her family felt unresolved.

I did not read the first book but I never felt lost while reading this sequel. It does seem the first one may have been more exciting than this one so I’ll probably go back and read it at some point. Overall, this wasn’t a bad book but i probably wouldn’t read it again or recommend it to anyone.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.1 Littlebookterror1,959 82

The second book in Elena Abbott's paranormal romance series follows Heather, a side character we met in Pack of Her Own. I would recommend reading that one first.

The romance in this one moves very quickly. I expect a quick pace as it's common with true mate storylines but I almost feel we skipped the romance part. Since the entire story takes place in, what, a week? and the fact that their bond is established so quickly, I was hoping the rest of the story would get the two alone somewhere to deepen and explore their new connection. Instead, the main runtime of the novel is about both characters' complex relationships with their parents and fighting for the right to stay together. There is no time for them to properly fall in love and we just need to assume that part.
They mate immediately! And since Heather isn't really in sinc with her wolf, it leaves them hanging in an awkward place. They should be feeling the bond but the gotta deal with other shit first - and we never really return to the fact that they should not (could not) be in love after having fucked once.
The book continues its exploration of unhealthy pack dynamics by giving us V, a Knight in their pack who is chafing under the rules their father puts on them and all the other members. I enjoyed those moments and the overall resolution, as well as the fact that any misgendering that does happen gets immediate pushback from both the characters and the narrative.
Heather's situation is equally uncomfortable - her mother's curse is the reason she struggles with her wolf side and her hospitalization doesn't erase their past. I was less convinced that she still believed that being a werewolf was terrible. For having such a twisted mindset, the writing does not show us that at all - the constant variations of "I am a monster" whenever she was fighting the shift, ignoring the mating bond, or not trusting herself was probably meant to be that but it's beating you over the head with it. I don't want it spelled out, I wanted a more nuanced approach in depicting her struggles.

I received an advanced reading copy from Bold Strokes Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.2023-release arc-review-copy d-nb ...more Smut Report1,232 161 Read

Heat Factor: There’s some hanky panky

Character Chemistry: Our wolves know that we are fated mates

Plot: V and Heather mate-bond but V’s pack leader is not impressed (understatement)

Overall: This book is Doing Something, and I d that

So, you know that wolf study from the 70s about “alpha wolves” that has since been debunked as nonsense? It hasn’t been debunked as the primary inspiration for how wolf shifters organize their societies in romance novels.

Until now.

In this book, we see a wolf shifter pack that is organized around the alpha / dominance rubric so common in romances—and we also see a member of the pack who is fighting to bring the pack into the 21st century. Disregarding the feelings of so-called submissives and forcibly breeding them to the dominant wolves is not really a recipe for a healthy pack dynamic, you know? So, this book is about breaking away from toxic birth families and building a supportive community / found family. The parallels between being the shifter you are meant to be and being the queer person you are meant to be are explicit here, and I thought it was a fascinating take on the shifter romance and identity.

Read our full review at The Smut Report

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

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Megan590 1 follower

*I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

2.25

I requested this on a whim to get into the spooky season and try out shifter romances. I was hesitant about the shifter thing, but I figured if anything could make me it, it would be as a sapphic romance.

Unfortunately this appears to be a sequel, which I was not aware of when I requested it. The plot mostly stands on its own as this follows a different relationship and the couple from the first book appears as side characters; however, I struggled with the beginning because it was summarizing the events of the first book and felt it was relying on those events to make me care about the characters from the first book.

I appreciated the conversations about breaking from outdated traditions and the growth of both of the main characters. Heather is overcoming trauma from parental neglect and learning to accept being loved, and V is struggling to be themself in a patriarchal society. Be warned there is a ton of deadnaming, misgendering, and general transphobia from members of V’s pack, including by their father.

That being said, I think this confirmed my hunch that shifter romances are not for me. I think it would work much better for others.2023-releases indie-self-pub netgalley-arcs ...more Nia207 6

I love shifter fantasies and especially the dynamics of a good wolf- shifter pack.
Elena Abbott's book is shape shifter romance at its finest.
She beautifully described the urgency of protecting your soulmate, when you finally find her/him/they. Then it‘s Love in the purest way!
Heather is a self-loathing, doubt-driven soul who was simply too hurt by the family that should have loved her.
She has found friends and a new pack, but not all the way to her wolf.
The connection with her is still a long way off, but meeting V, her True Mate, opens up new possibilities.
V, is trapped in the old rules and dusty views of her father, the Alpha of her pack.
She is non-binary, but he doesn’t care about that at all. He has his plans…
However, nothing will stop V from protecting and following their True Mate.
The two MCs have to fight many battles, face enemies and fight against old ways.

There is action, fighting and extremely hot, beautiful scenes full of lust and devotion! I really enjoyed it!
I need to read the first book „Pack of Her Own“!

Thanks to the Author and Bold Stroke Books for the ARC!
2 s Kelsey Rae124 2

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