Review: Exhale by Joel Abernathy
SYNOPSIS:
Two men haunted by the same ghost…
Falling for “the other man” in my marriage was never part of the plan. Then again, according to Nicolae Ursache, I am the other man, and human wedding vows don’t apply. Not to werewolves.
Nicolae is a smug, arrogant alpha male stereotype–and I do mean alpha in the literal sense–but when the same people who killed my wife kidnap my teenage daughter, he’s my only chance at getting her back. The fact that Nicolae was my wife’s rightful mate means that we share a mutual interest in bringing Ellie home, but I never could’ve imagined how he planned to do it.
I will do anything to protect my daughter. Even if it means becoming the plaything, or worse, of the man I loathe most.
REVIEW:
Joel Abernathy is a new to me author and after finishing this book, I will admit, I was intrigued. Nicolae and Jack were an interesting dynamic and I enjoyed the whole enemies-to-lovers undercurrent. Yet there is a lot happening in this story, pack laws, mating, murder, kidnapping, shifters, betrayal, and plot twists and it all seemed a little too much at times.
Jack and Nicolae literally loathing each others existence with the common goal of saving their daughter was enjoyable, it definitely had forced proximity vibes. Jack takes to this new surprising world with ease, even if he just wants to get his daughter and get out. But in terms of romance, things kind of take an insta-love turn when Nicolae has to mark Jack. Outside of the insta-love, I really liked this unique twist on Jack. It was something I haven’t seen in any other shifter books I’ve read.
In terms of secondary characters, Jack’s daughter, Ellie, was an absolute brat at times and really needed a swift kick in the arse. Jack sacrificed so much for her and at times she came off as clueless, self-centered, and ungrateful. Franny, Jack’s ex-wife and Nicolae’s arranged mate, was the absolute worst. She was so awful, mean, nasty, horrid personality and cruel temperament…I just couldn’t with her. I was filled with rage every time she was mentioned. Andrei, was a little surprise who stole my heart and all I wanted to know was more about Vasil. So needless to say, the secondary characters added a layer of depth and richness to the story.
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