Jaxson

The Wolf and His Witch!

This is my second book by Alisa Woods, and l'm really enjoying her world building skills. I've listen too quite a few shifter stories over the years, but this is my first wolf shifter who mates a witch, it was a surprising good plot with interesting characters.

Olivia stumbles upon Jaxson when she saves him from being attacked in his wolf form. What she didn't realize, Jaxson had his attackers just right where he wanted them, but he can't fault Olivia for trying to do the right thing. He's investigating why shifters are disappearing. There's an immediate attraction, and pull between them. When Jaxson learns she is looking for a job, he hires her to be his secretary, and to help him find a mate between several eligible shifter candidates. Being the alpha, he is expected to take a mate. His wolf pushes him to mate Olivia; however, he is really just trying to delay mating, and an excuse to spend more time around Olivia. He is keeping a dangerous secret which is the real reason he doesn't want to take a mate.

Jaxson isn't the only one with a dangerous secret. When Olivia was younger, and just coming into her witch powers, something horrible happened, and now she is ate up with guilt. When she learns the truth about Jaxson, and why he doesn't want to take a mate, she puts a plan in motion to free Jaxson from the curse, so he can finally mate. She really comes to care for Jaxson, and is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Dougles and Delisha both did a great job on the narration.

I won a free copy of this audio from the author, and enjoyed it. I liked how this plot uses magic, and it kinda reminded me of the Mercy Thompson world, just not as long, or descriptive, and with dual POV's. For being on the shorter side, it was good, well developed, and really peaked my interest and wanting to listen to the other character's stories.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

3.5 "Spell Defying Love" Story/4.5 Narration Stars

Any additional comments?

3.5 "Spell Defying Love" Stars for the story and 4.5 Stars for the narration.

Reminiscent of a fairy tale like UF/PNR tale, Jaxon is an interesting, quick (just under 6 hours) tale. The debut of the River Pack Wolves Series appears to be laying down the framework for a band of shifter brothers who each have their own secret reasons for being unable to take on a mate and thus assume the alpha role for the pack, even as each book in the series tells the journey of how one brother finds his love match.

The underlying UF/PNR plot in Jaxson is fairly standard (shifters and witches that generally conform to many of the basic UF/PNR conventions we have become accustomed to in shifter/witch romances). In that regard, the witches are notorious for wanting to take on shifters as love slaves and thus feared and generally hated by the shifters--meanwhile a shifter's bite can be dangerous to a witch. Layered into this background relationship is a suspense conflict that evolves around an unknown threat against the shifters. Werewolves are slowly disappearing and the River Pack Wolves, who run a security firm, have been engaged to try and solve the threat.

Jaxson is presumed to be the only River Pack brother that can take on a mate and therefore is the current presiding alpha of the River Pack Wolves. Jaxson, however, is hiding a secret that he believes gives him at most one year to fulfill the political objectives he has for the pack since he can never mate.

It is with this backdrop in place that Jaxson meets Olivia Lilyfield, a woman he believes to be human, but who is hiding her own deep dark secrets. Jaxson doesn't understand why he has such a strong magnetic reaction to Olivia, but though he hires her under the guise of being his mate matchmaker (the person who is supposed to find Jaxson his mate), he can't help but feel the strongest attraction for Olivia. An attraction that Olivia feels just as keenly. But can there possibly be a HEA in the future for Jaxson and Olivia when secrets loom in the midst and danger lurks around the corner?

Enhancing the overall effect of the story is the well performed narration by Dougles Berger and Delisha Forest. Mr. Berger performs the chapters from Jaxson's perspective and Ms. Berger the ones from Olivia's. This style generally works well for this story giving the listener a clear differentiation between the POV being shared.

Mr. Berger and Ms. Forest are also generally adept at producing differentiated voices for each character, although Mr. Berger provides less differentiation among his characters, but nonetheless I had no trouble distinguishing the speaker in the dialogue scenes. Additionally, both narrators do a good job of acting out the mood of each scene.

Jaxson generally held my attention. Perhaps my only observation is that the romance between the hero and heroine had a bit of a love at first sight form of attraction to it. Given the natural animosity between wolves and witches--not to mention Jaxson's need to find a mate to remain as the alpha leader for his pack--I would have expected a little more conflict prior to the resolution on this point. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the fairy tale quality of the underlying UF/PNR suspense plot which held my attention throughout the entire listen.

Source: Review copy provided in exchange for an honest review.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

<3

another awesome shifter love story hot and sexy and so sweet it will keep you on your toes

Excellent audio Book and story

The narrators did an excellent job. Elisa Woods sure does know how to write a passionate love story and create memorable characters.

A different take on the supernatural world where w

Olivia was being a goodsamaritan and got herself caught up in shifterbuissness. Jaxson wolves feels for her, as does he and he can't keep away. He has working for him and they quickly succumb to the lust between them. but can Jaxson overlook the fact that Olivia is ahalf witch, and what happens when she makes up her mind to sacrafice herself to save him?

Enjoyable

Alisa Woods knows how to do all the basics of story telling well. There is just enough sex, just enough drama, just enough character development. This is a well executed ‘light’ read/listen, nice no brainer when I get home tired from work.

Good Book

I enjoyed the narrators and the story. It was a quick easy read that is low on angst. I will be trying other books by this author.

Fast paced, entertaining shifter story

This is an enjoyable, fast paced shifter story with great duel narrators. It has an interesting storyline and likeable characters that all have dark secrets. There is intrigue, sacrifice, steaminess, romance and action in this entertaining audiobook. The narrators did excellent jobs, suiting the characters well and both adding to the enjoyment of the story. Jaxson is the pack alpha, he is strong, sexy and determined, and the chemistry between him and Olivia is great. I loved Olivia’s character, she is brave, kind and giving. She is scarred by her past and hides from her heritage. Jaxson’s two brothers are both intriguing characters and I look forward to hearing their stories in future audiobooks. This is a fun, easy listening audiobook and a great start to the series.

A witch and a wolf?

4.5 stars

I liked it . . . A lot. Olivia was adorable and Jaxson was perfect. I just don't think I would have given up witch powers though lol

stunning, riveting.

this book is simply riveting it had me from the very beginning .kept me in awe the whole time