Bitten’s She-Wolf Pack Thursday Review for January 2012 – DESTINY UNCHAINED by Leia Shaw

DESTINY UNCHAINED (Shadows of Destiny #3)

Leia Shaw

Published November 29, 2011

ISBN: 9781465929945

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Length: Novel

Author requested review

They call her The Huntress. A vampire with lethal focus, Natalia hunts rogue werewolves and kills them without mercy. She buried her heart centuries ago. Now she lives only for revenge. But when she’s forced to team up with the alpha of the northwest werewolf pack to catch a werewolf serial killer, her carefully controlled world is shattered by the passionate Cristian.

Cristian can’t help be intrigued by the icy Natalia. He hasn’t been attracted to a female since his mate died decades ago. But now he vows to break that hard shell she wears and find the warm, nurturing woman inside.

Will Natalia accept Cristian’s claim on her heart even if it means sacrificing a part of who she is?

Bitten's She-Wolf Pack's Ratings and Reviews

WildAboutBones' Review

Rating:  5 - An Alpha Howl

Sexual:  3 – Hot!

Another great story in the Shaw's Shadows of Destiny series! These stories just seem to get better and better. Vampires, werewolves, a reluctant romance and sarcastic humor ... oh yeah!

Hilarious. "But nothing scared her. Especially not some barely out of the cave Cro-Magnon that sprouted fur and fangs once in a while." And lines like "Nothing more disturbing than seeing a pointy weapon lodged in your chest" had me laughing out loud.

I love the heroine Natalia, a kick butt, badass vampire with an attitude full of sarcastic humor. Unfortunately she hates werewolves. She has just a little baggage where they are concerned. Natalia doesn't understand her reaction to Cristian. He has "a wild look about him that [makes] her heart flutter." Natalia reminds me a little of Kate Beckinsale's character Selene in the Underworld movies.

Cristian is a tall 6 ft 6 in blond werewolf with an awesome body and one blue eye and one brown eye. He is witty, a park ranger and the pack alpha. Cristian is stunned to find himself thinking of Natalia "almost affectionately." She's the enemy. He is so adorable. I just love him and his personality.

The second in this series, Destiny United, was good but this one is much better and no, you don't have to read them in order but do read them. I have got to get my hands on the first one, Destiny Divided, now.

This was a quick read and I read it in one sitting. The hot and steamy chemistry and sex is good, too.

This includes a sneak peek at Destiny Bewitched coming in Summer 2012.

Ollie’s Review

Rating:  5 - An Alpha Howl

Sexual:  3 - Hot

Pain, isolation, and loneliness is what Natalia has endured for the past 800 years, forced to live an existence where only death and revenge are her driving life force. After so much time has passed it may take a tall, muscular, alpha werewolf to throw her off track and make her take a closer look at what it means to live an immortal life.

Natalia is known as The Huntress and has become notorious for her ability to kill her targets in the supernatural world that there is even a bounty on her head. Despite all the centuries of killing it has not been able to help heal her heart at the past wrongs that have been inflicted upon her. Since her turning she has keep herself isolated because of shame and fear of what she had become until she allowed her heart to open up to another. The betrayal that she suffered made her promise to never allow another into her heart until Cristian.

Cristian didn't know what to expect when he captures the beautiful vampire that has him intrigued and has captured his heart. This alpha werewolf, also a park ranger, finds himself curious about this vampire and before he knows it he has partnered himself with her to hunt a serial killer in their midst.

I really enjoyed this book not only for the hot, steamy scenes (who could resist a gorgeous 6'6” alpha werewolf built like a Greek God) but also for the emotional connection that the two developed despite their differences. Both have endured traumatic past events and it is Cristian who is able to move on, but Natalia cannot seem to let go. I love how Cristian felt the attraction for Natalia and didn't let the fact she is a vampire from stopping him. The banter that occurred between them and Natalia's refusal to give into her feelings made me laugh out loud at times and at the same time want to smack her across her head for being so stubborn.

I have read the other books in this series and this has been the best one to date. Paranormal romance readers who definitely have a thing for hunky werewolves will enjoy this one. I am looking forward to reading the next one in the series that comes out, Destiny Bewitched.

Kris’s Review

Rating:  5 - An Alpha Howl

Sexual: 4 - Four Alarm Fire#@!%$

I loved this story!! Natalia is an awesome heroine. She has her soft side, but she is also a very strong person - both physically & mentally. Cristian was the perfect alpha. Together they made such a great team. He was so amazing with her. Lots of great dialogue, romance, sex, and suspenseful action.

Nookmom's Review

Rating:  4 - A Pack Howl

Sexual:  3 - Hot

Natalia is a jaded vampire assassin out to kill a rogue wolf serial killer. After 800 years and a terrible past with a mate, she wants nothing more than to hunt her target and seek revenge on her ex lover. She has no plans to fall for an alpha male and be vulnerable again. Enter Cristian. He is immediately captivated by Natalia. She is strong, intelligent and a true equal to him. She's everything he has ever wanted in a partner, except she is a vampire.

I enjoyed watching Natalia struggle with her attraction to Cristian and her need to keep herself distant and unfeeling. Cristian is a great hero. He may be an alpha, but he truly cares about Natalia and wants her realize revenge will not bring her the peace and happiness she seeks. He knows she needs to learn to feel again. At times he was so playful and other times he really opened up and put his heart on the line. Cristian is definitely a swoon worthy male, especially when he speaks of love. When Natalia realizes she cannot give up her life and special gifts to be with Cristian, I understood her fear, but was crushed just the same.

It was a nice twist seeing the female be the one who has to battle her inner demons to accept love instead of it always being the male. While the story starts out following Natalia seeking to end the serial killer, the story is really about her accepting her past and letting go in order to be able to have a future.

Artemis' Review

Rating:  5 - An Alpha Howl

Sexual: 3 - Hot

I was a bit hesitant to read DESTINY UNCHAINED because I didn’t read the first book, and the second book in the series didn’t appeal to me very much.  WOW – am I glad I decided to go ahead and turn the page.  The explosive combination of one very, very alpha Werewolf, an insidious Vampire, and a “beautiful” adversary make for an electric read. 

The dialog between Cristian and Natalia is fabulous.  It is engaging and snappy.  This is one of my favorites:

What was with werewolves and their damned territory?  “For fuck’s sake,” she said with an exasperated sigh.  “You must’ve missed a spot when you pissed around the border.  I didn’t realize you owned the whole damned state.”

What I liked the best about both of the characters is that they didn’t apologize for what they did or the actions they took.  Cristian’s 100% Alpha didn’t make any excuses for his behavior or his need to protect the exasperating Vampire.  In the same vein, Natalia has a job to do and won’t let anything like a measly werewolf stand in her way.  I especially enjoyed watching as Cristian chipped away at Natalia’s barriers little by little.  It’s that final blow when Natalia realizes what sacrifice really is.