Series: Argeneau, #
Traits & Tropes: fated mates; unconventional hero & heroine; suspense
Publication Date: 04.26.22
Genre/Setting: Contemporary/Paranormal, Ontario, Canada
Heat Level: 4
Rating: 4/5
Since being attacked and turned as a teenager, Stephanie McGill has struggled to cope with her unique abilities that set her apart even from other immortals. After thirteen years, and with the help of her adopted family, the Argeneaus, she’s carved out a good life for herself, even if it is a lonely one. But that’s all about to change with the arrival of a new neighbor.
Thorne is unlike anyone Stephanie has ever met, and not just because he’s the result of a genetic experiment rendering him not quite mortal or immortal. He’s just looking for somewhere to hide where no one will see his wings while Stephanie’s sister tries to determine if a surgery to remove them would be a viable option. Stephanie’s little compound is the perfect hideout and in fact, he quickly realizes Stephanie is the perfect woman for him. She’s the first person to see him as a real person and not just a novelty and he’s falling for her fast.
Stephanie is falling just as hard for Thorne, but before they can look to their future they have to deal with the past in the form of the conscienceless scientist who engineered Thorne and now wants to capture both him and Stephanie for further tests.
First off, I adored Thorne as a hero, and he completely carried this book for me. Between the wings and his isolated history, he was by far one of the most unique heroes I’ve ever read, and I found his insecurity and uncertainty of himself to be very endearing. I really enjoyed his interactions with Stephanie and his protectiveness of her and I especially liked that she wound up reciprocating this protectiveness towards him as well. Now on to what I didn’t like so much. First off, this story was incredibly slow to start and got very bogged down in the beginning with little minutiae like all the details of exactly how Stephanie went about making food for her pets. That’s all fine and good but I was ready to move along and get on with the story. Next, Stephanie herself was pretty annoying as a heroine sometimes just because her thoughts got a bit repetitive with her fears of going “no-fanger” and there were many times in the story that Lucien was the only one who could get her calmed back down to something sensible.
I really loved this couple together and there were a couple of scenes in which that lovely mature and open communication I so adore was being set up and Stephanie just completely shut it down and ruined it by seducing Thorne and distracting him with sex. Don’t get me wrong, they were great together, but I also wanted the conversation between them too. Fortunately, Thorne was having none of it and rectified that situation pretty quickly. My only other issue was that for much of the last half of the book Thorne and Stephanie don’t really have much time together on the page and I wanted more of that, perhaps at least an epilogue with them together just to round everything out with more balance. Otherwise, I really enjoyed this couple, I liked that this story had some action and suspense without it being too much or so drawn out that it made me stressed, and I think this was a solid addition to an enduring series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/2591758348
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4657868898
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