Updated Review:

The Pack or the Panther is the first book in the ‘Tales of the Harker Pack’. It stars Cole Harker, the son of the Alpha, and Paris Marketo, a panther and the son of the Alpha of the Marketo pack. The story is told in third person from their povs and from the pov of a wolf gangster.



I originally read this story back in 2014/15 but I never reviewed it, only rated it 3 stars. The author changed the cover of the book and was looking for reviewers, so I thought I’d read it again because it had been awhile and I wanted to add the review, so here goes.

I’m going to start with the cover because the author mentioned it was the main change to the book, that nothing inside changed. My honest opinion on the cover is I’m not very keen on it. I like the wolf in the background, but the whole image looks muddy. I couldn’t figure out why the dancer, in this case Paris, was so dark. The answer is in the story, however, I still don’t like the way he looks. I can’t get it out of my head that he looks like he fell into a pit of crude oil. He doesn’t look appealing. I actually like the original cover better.

The plot was interesting. There was a lot of conflict coming from many different directions. One conflict was to create an alliance between Harker and Marketo pack through marriage in order to stand up to the wolf gangster who they knew was coming after the Harker pack land. The next conflict was that Cole was gay and didn’t want to marry Annaliese Marketo. She didn’t want to marry him either. Both sets of parents pressured their kids to marry, but Annaliese ran away. I felt sorry for Cole, trying to do what was right for the pack and sacrificing his happiness until he met Paris. It was a wild ride with Paris, a Panther/Wolf mix who didn’t like the pack and wanted to remain alone. However, he was roped into their politics anyway. Another conflict was the gangster’s obsession with Paris. All the conflicts made for a steady stream of action that dovetailed well together.

All the characters each had a distinct personality that was consistent throughout the story. Cole was a dependable character even though he was insecure due to his parents’ insistence that there weren’t any gay werewolves and even if there were, they weren’t going to talk about it. Paris’ attitude was hostile most of the time. He threw a lot of hissy fits and wanted to be left alone, expect when it came to sex with Cole. Paris was not a nice werecat.

The one thing about the writing I didn’t care for, was the overuse of clichés and quite a few over the top remarks that reminded me of the comments in dumb sitcoms. It’s hard to explain. I’d be reading along and then an exaggerated comment or odd turn of phrase popped up, especially during sex, that would kick me out of the story because it didn’t go along with the tone set by the rest of the writing. The weird comments during the sex scenes made me cringe. I wouldn’t say the main tone of the story was serious exactly, but it had that quality, and then a comment similar to, “my cum is so hot my balls are boiling up!” would pop up that didn’t fit the style of the rest of the writing. It was just weird.

I don’t remember why I rated The Pack and the Panther, 3 stars before, because I enjoyed it this time. I liked the way the different conflicts wove together and the distinct characters. What I didn’t like, were the odd turn of phrases that were plopped into the story and didn’t fit the style of writing for the rest of the book. Also, I’m sure many people like the new cover, but I don’t like it all that much. Despite the two things I didn’t enjoy, the characters and plot are good enough to give this story, 4 Stars.



I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest and unbiased opinion. ( )

3.5 fun shifter romance ( )

2.5

Parts of the story were pretty good, other parts - like the banal dialogue during sex - so bad they were good, and some just ridiculous. I can't really say I liked the story but I enjoyed it well enough; though I seriously doubt I could've endured if it had been longer. ( )

A Hearts On Fire Review

THREE & A HALF HEARTS--Cole Harker is the alphanta of the Harker werewolf pack. What does that mean? He's next in line to lead. He's 6'5", a lawyer, gay and doesn't like to speak in front of crowds - stuttering and nerves all around. But his pack ignores that he is gay because there's a myth werewolves can't be gay. So when an impending attack from gangster werewolf pack is to be expected, Cole must marry the female alphanta of the neighboring Marketo pack, him being gay be damned.

Problem is she runs away but her sexy, seductive exotic dancer of a half brother, Paris. Paris is also gay and knows what he wants. And what he wants is a major piece of Cole up his...I'm getting ahead of myself. :D Paris also has a stalker who is tired of watching from the sidelines and wants a piece of Paris.

This is not my first Tara Lain story. She writes light stories from what I have read from her, humor infused sexy camp with a fluff feel. This story is sort of a mixed bag where the good slightly outweighs the not-so-good.

What worked: I liked both main characters. Cole is a gentle giant who was self sacrificing till the end, a tangle tongue (I'm saying this with affection) who was on the shier side who just wanted someone to love and be loved back. And Paris? He's a stripper hello! He's seductive, stubborn and sly. His characterization was not a deal breaker for me. I liked both guys the entire time. They fit together.

The dirty talking was pretty hot.

"I'll be happy to drop these Armani trousers right here, bend myself over that available tree branch, and show that cock of yours where it was meant to be."

How could that line not capture my attention?

The humor when it was on, it could be pretty funny. I smiled.

What didn't work as much: The humor. Tara Lain can come off campy and fun when the one liners hit their mark. And then not as funny when they don't. I've yet to read a solid funny book from this author. It comes and goes with sprinkles of cheesiness.

Both packs answer to Cole's betrothed running off...really? After ignoring Cole being gay, they just readily accept him. Then why make a fuss in the first place? Why not give Cole wanted he wanted from the get go?

The sex was good but repetitive. You could change the scene (which the story did) and they were all reminiscent. Even the near rape scene followed the formula. The sex scenes all starts out the same, two finger lubed salute in the bunghole, insert, thrust and finish. Not saying it wasn't hot at time because for the first two sex scenes, it was steamy.

What gave me pause: Nikel Eliazer is the name of the bad guy of the story. He was creepy sort of sinister in the beginning. Beginning Nikel I liked. For a villain to grab my attention, you need to be thoroughly bad. You don't have to kick puppies for a living but make me believe it. Towards the middle he just was a weak portly man with a weird obsession that I sort of got but I couldn't understand Nikel towards the end. He lost his steam.

I mean imagine you're Baddy McBad-Guy, the baddest man in town and you want something really bad, like so bad you would kill for it kind of bad...you finally get it and you let it get away to save your own skin? If you where that pressed to kill for it, you'd never let go. He sort of wanted power but he came off more resigned to be a villain as opposed to being a believable villain.

Also, the "war" that was hyped to be a war but really was limp fight if anything. The two packs (Marketo and Harker) had to form an alliance to ward off Eliazer's bad guys but knew next to nothing about him. WHAT?! How are you prepping for a war with no intel? If I'm going to war, you can believe I'd know what Baddy McBad-Guy had for breakfast and his meal plan for the next frigging year, that's how far up the other side's ass I'd be. I'd know likes, dislikes, how he started, his bank pin #, his organization, names...every...thing. Nothing would be up for question or late minute surveillance like the main character did in the story. It's almost 50% of the book and they barely know the bad guy's name or his plans. I was disappointed with the war turn out.

And after the fiancee runs away, no one did anything to find out where she was or tried to get her back. If it was so important that she be forced into marriage wouldn't someone try to bring her back. Why did Cole always have to sacrifice himself? It was like the fiancee (who was painted with a bitchy tone) was an afterthought once she exited stage right.

In summary: This was a light story with a predictable plot and some funny moments. Erotic? Yes but also repetitive. It's still not a bad story. The action/suspense was tamer than I thought it would be. And sometimes came off lame. I wished that angle was sharper than what was delivered. Sometimes the talking became a bit much. And some plot points fell off to the wayside. There were interesting secondary characters who I hope star in the next book. *cough*Lindsey*cough* The saving grace for me were the main characters. I liked them, faults and all.

I would read more of this series." ( )

Arranged marriage for the sake of alliances are sometimes complicated things, especially when the couple in question have never met, haven't been consulted, and may already be otherwise involved. Oh, and if one of them is gay? Extra bonus issues.

I can feel for the two packs in this situation (because the villain was a stalking douchenozzle) and he wouldn't have stopped at the Harker pack (whatever some members of the Marketo pack seem to think). And what's this tripe about there being no such thing as a gay wolf? This is not the first time I've heard that, and every time I do I just want to shake my head because, really? Homosexuality exists in nature. It's existed long before assbackwards people had judgement.

Anyway...

I would have kind of liked to know more about Analiese. Because while (clearly she was sort of more a plot device, or an issue to overcome, as far as the broken alliance), she wasn't really a bad person. She wasn't evil or a bitch or anything. She was as screwed in her parents plans as Cole was. Perhaps now that the whole Alliance has been resolved and Cole and Paris have done their part (and are actually happy) we'll find out, in some future installment, whatever became of her. Though I do wonder about her choices. She told Cole she wanted to rule her own pack, yet she ran off to be with a *human*? Doesn't their rules mean she can't tell him?

Enough about Analiese. I liked Paris a lot, though he seemed to be so set in his ways about how different he and Cole were, and how he wanted nothing to do with Pack life, which I'm sure some of that stemmed from his mother's death. Had she survived, I'm sure she could have told him her own feelings about being mated to a wolf.

I really liked Lindsey a lot, so I'm looking forward to his story. He seems like there's a lot more than meets the eye. ( )