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diandra_s's review
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
annarella's review
4.0
This is a sweet paranormal romance, a relaxing and entertaining story that made me root for the characters.
I loved the world building and I loved the characters. The plot flows and kept me hooked.
I read other books by this author and they more action packed but his was so sweet and relaxing.
Even if it's part of a series it can be read as a standalone.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
I loved the world building and I loved the characters. The plot flows and kept me hooked.
I read other books by this author and they more action packed but his was so sweet and relaxing.
Even if it's part of a series it can be read as a standalone.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
tinasbooknook's review
Wanted to finish the series, but found this a little slow. Nothing much actually happened, so unfortunately, not a favourite.
tita_noir's review against another edition
3.0
Nice read. A little too low-to-no romantic conflict to be really satisfying.
mina_reads_30's review
5.0
*I received an ARC copy from NetGalley for an honest review.
Part of a series, which I think is better to read before you dig into this story to get a better understanding of what is going on.
Ruby, who is a witch, is back in Diablo Lake after a few years of being gone. She starts a relationship with Damon, who is a wolf shifter. Their relationship is great and has a good development - which I love about them.
There is some drama of course, and it's related to Ruby's family history, in which she intervenes.
A great read for those that like strong characters with drama in a paranormal setting.
Part of a series, which I think is better to read before you dig into this story to get a better understanding of what is going on.
Ruby, who is a witch, is back in Diablo Lake after a few years of being gone. She starts a relationship with Damon, who is a wolf shifter. Their relationship is great and has a good development - which I love about them.
There is some drama of course, and it's related to Ruby's family history, in which she intervenes.
A great read for those that like strong characters with drama in a paranormal setting.
tiggerreads's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
3.5 out of 5
CW: parent death, bullying
I was looking for the suspense with the paranormal and this didn't quite deliver. Though there is a bit of a secret that the three couples were trying to work out, it didn't guide the storyline. I did enjoy Damon and Ruby. There was zero tension between Damon and Ruby. The two of them fit like two puzzle pieces. If you're looking for a sweet, no angst paranormal romance, I highly recommend this one.
CW: parent death, bullying
I was looking for the suspense with the paranormal and this didn't quite deliver. Though there is a bit of a secret that the three couples were trying to work out, it didn't guide the storyline. I did enjoy Damon and Ruby. There was zero tension between Damon and Ruby. The two of them fit like two puzzle pieces. If you're looking for a sweet, no angst paranormal romance, I highly recommend this one.
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying and Death of parent
romanceschmomance's review against another edition
hopeful
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
I truly enjoyed this one, but I have a lovely habit of reading series out of order. It’s said that you can read this as a complete standalone, but I definitely would have had a better reading experience by reading all the books.
Despite a lot of different things going on with the packs, you can’t help but adore the romance between Ruby and Damon. I’m a sucker for second chance and the fact that they stayed friends, bring in the low angst.
Since the pacing for their romance was like a mid-ish burn, I found myself coming out of the story and skipping.
The narrator wasn’t too bad, not quite my favorite, but got through the story very quickly.
I’m definitely going to go back and read book 1, can’t wait.
Despite a lot of different things going on with the packs, you can’t help but adore the romance between Ruby and Damon. I’m a sucker for second chance and the fact that they stayed friends, bring in the low angst.
Since the pacing for their romance was like a mid-ish burn, I found myself coming out of the story and skipping.
The narrator wasn’t too bad, not quite my favorite, but got through the story very quickly.
I’m definitely going to go back and read book 1, can’t wait.
jeanz's review against another edition
5.0
I had initially been a little worried about remembering relevant things and the names of those that live in Diablo Lake, but honestly, I needn’t have worried at all. From the minute Ruby steps in to support her best friend and soon to be married Aimee against her soon to be bitchy mother-in-law, Scarlett Pembry I felt pulled back into both the world and lives of the Diablo Lake residents.
Ruby Thorne has returned home to her witch family in Diablo Lake, she is now qualified and ready to open the health clinic that’s been in planning for six years. Ruby is happy to be home, in fact it feels amazing.
Ruby had been dating Damon Dooley before she left Diablo Lake and they both agreed to put an end to their “romance” before she left, giving them both options to date other people rather than trying a long distance relationship. Though they parted on really good terms and it had been a mutual decision the can’t help but feel a little awkward around each other when they bump into one another in Diablo Lake. The universe seems to be throwing the couple in the direction of each other, as when Ruby wants somewhere to live, it is Damon that as part of his real estate business shows her the homes available. There are three properties to choose from and choosing where to live is important as Ruby needs her “witchy” side to feel at home and comfortable. It also seems that Ruby is in demand with both Dooley and Pembry pack hoping she will choose to live on their land. Having a witch on your land can be very advantageous to either pack.
This book has all the warm cosy witchy, shifter pack vibes with some romance and pack politics thrown in. What with all that and the upcoming wedding of the newly elected Mayor Aimee who is marrying the Pembry Pack Alpha, Macrae. Then there’s the traditions of Halloween, Samhain, and Collins Hill Days to be observed and celebrated Diablo Lake is certainly bustling. Ruby is also busy with Katie Faith getting the newly opened health centre up and running.
The younger, newer Alpha’s and their younger pack members want to create and keep a truce between the two packs. They want to modernise the laws and the way punishments are dealt with and talked about. There’s one particular law that both Alpha’s want to get rid of, but there is a lot of negativity and obstructions being thrown in the path to doing this. It is of course the “queen of mean” Scarlett Pembry at the bottom of not wanting the law changing, which eventually has people, particularly Ruby wondering what Scarlett and the older members of her family have to hide!
I adore the nods to normal life that Lauren Dane includes in her books, such as one of the characters shopping and using a trolley that has a wonky wheel. It seems even paranormal beings have inadequate trolleys! I loved the way the other male shifters, Jace, Macrae and twin brother Major had an easy camaraderie and thoroughly enjoyed teasing Damon and Ruby. I also thought the way the possibility of Ruby’s beloved grandmother Pearl perhaps beginning to succumb to the onset of dementia was handle truthfully, realistically and sensitively. I loved how Pearl Thorne, cheekily, unashamedly flirted with her grand-daughter Ruby’s fiancé Damon. The author takes you through a whole range of emotions and character journeys whilst reading the book. There’s so much going on in Awakened, the romance of the wedding and rekindled love, old feuds still being held onto, cantankerous shifters not willing to change and accept help from the new health centre. The girls get togethers are always funny, referred to as “Nip, Stitch & Bitch” meetings. I really like the feelings of belonging and family within the book too. The endearing yet at the same time comedic interactions between shifter Damon and Ruby’s dogs make great reading.
My immediate thoughts upon finishing the book were that I had really enjoyed re-visiting Diablo Lake and its residents.
Summing up despite it being “years” since reading the first two books, I found that I easily slipped back into the world of Diablo Lake and loved reading this book. I do really hope that Lauren Dane writes and releases more books in this great shifter/witch, magical series.
Ruby Thorne has returned home to her witch family in Diablo Lake, she is now qualified and ready to open the health clinic that’s been in planning for six years. Ruby is happy to be home, in fact it feels amazing.
Ruby had been dating Damon Dooley before she left Diablo Lake and they both agreed to put an end to their “romance” before she left, giving them both options to date other people rather than trying a long distance relationship. Though they parted on really good terms and it had been a mutual decision the can’t help but feel a little awkward around each other when they bump into one another in Diablo Lake. The universe seems to be throwing the couple in the direction of each other, as when Ruby wants somewhere to live, it is Damon that as part of his real estate business shows her the homes available. There are three properties to choose from and choosing where to live is important as Ruby needs her “witchy” side to feel at home and comfortable. It also seems that Ruby is in demand with both Dooley and Pembry pack hoping she will choose to live on their land. Having a witch on your land can be very advantageous to either pack.
This book has all the warm cosy witchy, shifter pack vibes with some romance and pack politics thrown in. What with all that and the upcoming wedding of the newly elected Mayor Aimee who is marrying the Pembry Pack Alpha, Macrae. Then there’s the traditions of Halloween, Samhain, and Collins Hill Days to be observed and celebrated Diablo Lake is certainly bustling. Ruby is also busy with Katie Faith getting the newly opened health centre up and running.
The younger, newer Alpha’s and their younger pack members want to create and keep a truce between the two packs. They want to modernise the laws and the way punishments are dealt with and talked about. There’s one particular law that both Alpha’s want to get rid of, but there is a lot of negativity and obstructions being thrown in the path to doing this. It is of course the “queen of mean” Scarlett Pembry at the bottom of not wanting the law changing, which eventually has people, particularly Ruby wondering what Scarlett and the older members of her family have to hide!
I adore the nods to normal life that Lauren Dane includes in her books, such as one of the characters shopping and using a trolley that has a wonky wheel. It seems even paranormal beings have inadequate trolleys! I loved the way the other male shifters, Jace, Macrae and twin brother Major had an easy camaraderie and thoroughly enjoyed teasing Damon and Ruby. I also thought the way the possibility of Ruby’s beloved grandmother Pearl perhaps beginning to succumb to the onset of dementia was handle truthfully, realistically and sensitively. I loved how Pearl Thorne, cheekily, unashamedly flirted with her grand-daughter Ruby’s fiancé Damon. The author takes you through a whole range of emotions and character journeys whilst reading the book. There’s so much going on in Awakened, the romance of the wedding and rekindled love, old feuds still being held onto, cantankerous shifters not willing to change and accept help from the new health centre. The girls get togethers are always funny, referred to as “Nip, Stitch & Bitch” meetings. I really like the feelings of belonging and family within the book too. The endearing yet at the same time comedic interactions between shifter Damon and Ruby’s dogs make great reading.
My immediate thoughts upon finishing the book were that I had really enjoyed re-visiting Diablo Lake and its residents.
Summing up despite it being “years” since reading the first two books, I found that I easily slipped back into the world of Diablo Lake and loved reading this book. I do really hope that Lauren Dane writes and releases more books in this great shifter/witch, magical series.
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