I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Wild Game
by
Alisa Woods
paranormal romance in a Kindle edition that was published by Sworn Secrets Publishing on December 3, 2015 and has 266 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon, Audibles.
First in the Wilding Pack Wolves series and revolving around Nova Wilding and Owen Harding.
My Take
It’s a typical theme in paranormal stories. Humans hating the shifters, deciding that shifters are the reason why they can’t get a job. Ignoring the fact that they may not be qualified for the job or they’re lazy slobs without references. Any excuse to explain why they’re losers.
I really hate hate groups. I know, hypocritical. What those haters are is insecure scaredy cats, afraid of anyone different from them.
Woods is using third person dual protagonist point-of-view from Nova’s and Owen’s perspectives, so we hear all about Owen’s issues and doubts as well as Nova’s frustrations and confusions . . . and her interactions with the obnoxious Brad. It’s this that ramps up the tension in Wild Game.
It is a meme I hate (ooh, what is with all the hate??), that of the primary characters misinterpreting the actions of another. Oy. Woods isn’t as bad as some in this, but still . . .
I’m conflicted over Nova’s strict adherence to her father’s dreams and kind of agree with Brad about growing the company. But then he’s so damned pushy! I suspect I’d want anything that opposes what Brad wants.
The story is character-driven with their personalities driving the action in an easy-to-read prose.
It ends with a cliffhanger that leaves me undecided about continuing on with Wild Love or skipping it.
The Story
Domination: AfterPulse is the potential futuristic combat game that’s expected to zoom to the top. But its deadline is looming . . . just as the need for Nova to pick a mate is hanging over her head. It’s practically a given that she’ll have to choose someone from the pack.
But it wouldn’t be about love . . .
The Characters
Nova Wilding, “NovaCaine” is her gaming handle, is the new CEO and lead game developer of Wylderide Gaming who truly respects service personnel.
Wylderide Gaming just . . .
. . . lost its CEO and Nova’s father, Arthur Wilding, murdered by a hate group and the Alpha for the Wilding Pack. Brad Hoffman is Nova’s beta, a fantastic game designer, and the resident jerk eager to claim Nova as a mate. Scott is another employee.
Tommy Rachet applied for a job doing textures.
The Wilding Pack had . . .
. . . been a large sprawling pack back in Nova’s grandfather’s day. Gary had been Alpha and his brother, Bobby, his beta. Gary had five pups: Arthur, Astor, Donnie, Frank, and Billy. But then it all fell apart.
Terra, an urban photographer, is Donnie’s daughter. Trent and Cassie are her siblings.
Owen Harding is ex-army from Texas. He’s also a werewolf who has been experimented on and who is terrified he’ll shift into a monster.
Riverwise Private Security is . . .
. . . owned by Jace, Jaxon (is the pack Alpha), and Jared, River pack brothers. Their home base is a mountain ranch run by Mama River. Piper is Jace’s mate. Grace Krepky, Jared’s mate, is a white wolf currently campaigning to be the first openly sifter member of Congress. Murphy, Simpson, and Noah Wilding are some of their agents.
The Wolf Hunter has been publicizing the names of shifters, kidnapping them, and dissecting them.
Colonel Astor Wilding was straight-up evil with no morals and was in cahoots with Agent Smith who was doing horrific genetic experiments. Astor’s sons were Noah and Daniel; Piper was his daughter. Daniel was instrumental in taking his father down.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a deep purplish blue with the black silhouettes of trees providing texture. An opening of a dusky evening blue is between the couple. Both Nova and Owen are in profile appear naked from the waist up. Nova with her long black hair and a charm bracelet on her right wrist is embracing Owen with her short black hair who is holding her body. A white wolf appears below and between them. The author’s name is at the top in white. The title, also in white, spans Nova’s mid-torso and Owen’s biceps as well as the top of the white wolf’s head. At the very bottom is the series info in a pale blue.
The title plays off the Wilding pack, Owen’s intentions, and Nova’s focus — Wild Game.
