ARC REVIEW: "Protective Instinct" by Katie Reus

PROTECTIVE INSTINCT

BY KATIE REUS

MOON SHIFTER, BOOK 5.5 

A woman worth fighting for… 

Wolf shifter Teresa is blown away by her packmate Ryan’s honesty about his past and his rare empathic powers. She wants him in her bed—and her life. The only problem: Ryan insists they wait, because the last thing he wants is to recreate the hellish family he grew up in. Frustrated, Teresa jumps at the chance to assist a packmate off the ranch—far away from Ryan. 


On the way, their vehicle is run off the road—and it wasn’t an accident. Ryan rushes to Teresa’s side, determined to protect her. But there’s a dangerous enemy lurking in the shadows, and if Ryan doesn’t break out of his old thinking and put his faith in his and Teresa’s love—and their ability to overcome obstacles together—it will be too late. 

This series makes me happy.  I can't tell you exactly what makes me feel this way, but I really enjoy these books. I rarely like jumping into the middle of a series, especially this far in, but after reading book 5, Hunter Reborn, I was hooked.

I am picky about PNR (paranormal romance), particular those featuring shifters, but these characters represent a good balance of human emotions and animal instincts. Additionally, I thought I would be irritated because there are so many unfamiliar characters, but it was easy to jump into the narrative. Moving deeper into this series, this novella highlights the members of the pack without unnecessarily complicating the story. 

This particular story is good.  My favorite part?  I really like the character of Theresa.  I remember her and Ryan from the previous book.  She is strong and independent. She has loved Ryan for awhile, but she was no weak-willed patsy.  I like, that if necessary, she could walk away from Ryan to give him space to make up his mind.  She doesn't have to nag; she doesn't cling.  Instead, she takes a break and embarks on an errand for the pack. Unfortunately, she gets caught up in a revenge plot by a female vampire that puts her in jeopardy.  

I like how the story starts right off the bat by jumping right into the relationship.  One might wonder, where do we go from here? But there is plenty of story to tell. The one thing that I struggled with is Ryan’s emotional hang-up about his mom and how he was raised. I understand his fear, but Theresa gives him no evidence that she is like his mother in any way.  His fear is unfounded and just a wee bit frustrating.  

IN A NUTSHELL:
If you are interested in shifter stories, you cannot miss this series!

Thank you to Katie Reus for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.