Book Reviews

Book Blurb

A wounded wolf, a destined bond, and a love worth fighting for.

When Gabe Staley rescues a wounded wolf, he doesn’t expect to find his fated mate—and he certainly didn’t plan on falling for a brooding shapeshifter with a dangerous past.

Gabe has always been a misfit in the small town of Shasta, Texas, but his big heart and fierce determination to protect the vulnerable set him apart. When he crosses paths with Mika Blackwell, a wolf shifter cast out from his pack, their connection is undeniable.

Mika Blackwell lost his pack for being gay, but Gabe makes him believe he’s finally found where he belongs. Their bond is undeniable, but in a town ruled by hate, love comes at a price. When Mika’s former pack resurfaces—along with the Alpha who cast him out—he’s forced to confront the past he tried to leave behind.

With danger closing in and tensions rising, Gabe and Mika must stand together—because some things are worth fighting for, and neither of them is backing down.

 

 

Rescued is an action-packed, heart-pounding romance about destiny, love, and the courage to stand together against all odds. 

First edition published at Pride Publishing, March 2010. Note: This expanded edition of Rescued has been revised in first-person, present tense for a richer, more immersive experience.

Book Review

‘Rescued’ is a good start to the 'Southwestern Shifters' series. The werewolves like to be called shifters, and there are some differences to what the "standard" werewolf behavior would be. There are still packs and alphas, but they can shift at any time and are sentient when in wolf form. There is also a hint at a pack structure and hierarchy above that of local alphas, making it possible for "bad alphas" to be reprimanded. I liked that the mating was between a shifter and a human, it made the explanations of the rules easier, as I was learning the details at the same time as the human mate.

Gabriel is a very strong-willed character. Standing up for himself after his parents kicked him out has taught him a thing or two. Even though his grandparents took him in, he has been on his own since they died. He is also very curious, and can be impulsive. It makes for a wonderful mix as he realizes Mika is a shifter. Dealing with their relationship is hard on him, but he is determined enough to work through the issues.

Mika is a great partner for Gabriel. He is very strong, and definitely the alpha in the relationship, but he can also be tender and always has his mate’s well-being top of mind. His patience when teaching Gabriel about being mated to a shifter seems endless, and his willingness to go slow and compromise is, in large part, what convinces Gabriel that they are indeed mates. Mika is a good mix between wolf and human, even in his human form.

This book is more about the evolving relationship, both emotional and physical, between Gabriel and Mika than about some greater storyline. There is a villain and there are some obstacles, but the main focus is on the two men. If you like shifter stories, watching a relationship develop, and the sex go from hot to hotter, you will probably like this book. If you have never read a shifter story before, this might be a good one to "test the waters" so to speak.

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. The first edition of this book has been purchased by the reviewer.

Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novel, 276 pages
Heat Level
Publication Date	31-May-2025
Price	$4.99 ebook, $12.95 paperback
Buy Link	https://www.amazon.com/Rescued-shifter-romance-Southwestern-Shifters-ebook/dp/B0DYR1QM3B