Check out my review and two teasers here: http://frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com/2012/09/feasted-on-takhini-wolves-seri... ( )

Very good story. i like the character development and the fact that ... things happen. Not everything furthers the main story line. More realistic that way. ( )

One of the aspects I enjoyed most about [b:Silver Mine|13599596|Silver Mine (Takhini Wolves, #2)|Vivian Arend|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1334263660s/13599596.jpg|19191156] is that Arend tackles a relationship without the fate-mate connection between characters. This was especially interesting since most of Arend's books set in the Takhini and Granite Lake worlds rely on the fate-mate trope to drive the relationship forward. So it was nice to see Arend tackle a relationship set in this world where the characters didn't have that connection driving them.

Arend also takes another step away from her usual fan-fare in this book by making it primarily about the outcast shifters. Shelly is a doctor who gets sucked into helping the outcast Chase find out why a bad injury he has isn't healing properly. This involves going deep into the Yukon and tracking down the person who gave Chase the injury.

I really enjoyed the first two parts of the book, but the third part is where Arend started to lose me. Things started getting really rushed as she was trying to wrap things up. I was annoyed that so many things happened off page and that we were basically debriefed on what had gone on after-the-fact via everyone telling Chase what had happened while he was in a coma. It just seemed like a cheap way to wrap up some of the plot threads.

Other than that, I thought this was a really great installment to the Takhini Wolves series and I hope that Arend decides to do more with the Outcast Pack in future books.

Side note: Shelley's obsession with Chase's chest hair was all kinds of weird and gross with how poofy and thick she made it sound. Not sexy, yo. ( )

Another great series from Vivian Arend. This is book 2 in the Takhini Wolves series. I have to admit up front I’ve loved everything I’ve read from this author. This is a great Paranormal Romance that is for adults. The sex scenes are steamy and well done, but there is plenty of action. The story is well developed.

Chase is a loner and he's convinced he likes it that way because he never knows if he'll shift into a cat or wolf, then he gets hurt and can't heal. He runs into Shelley at her clinic and suddenly alone doesn't sound so good. Of course he thinks he just wants a fling. I like Chase’s confidence in his abilities, quiet strength and the way he takes care of everyone in his life while denying he does it at the same time. I did wish he didn’t doubt that he was worthy of anything other than being an outcast due to his duel nature and lack of a certain control.

Shelley has cruelty in her past that she has to overlook so that she can connect with another shifter. She holds pieces of herself away from everyone. She’s convinced herself that she’ll be alone forever and is fine with it. Then Chase shows up in down and makes her doubt her outlook for the future. Shelley also fights herself for what she wants. I could understand Shelley's pain at past and potential future rejection and her desire to be with the sister that loves and supports her regardless of anything else.

I loved the characters, especially Chase, they felt real with developed personalities. The side characters were well developed with complex personalities. I want to know more about a few of them. The Yukon came to life for me. At times I felt the cold and the beauty of the place come through very well.

I laughed out loud, got annoyed at some characters, and felt the emotional pain of others. In other words Ms. Arend brought the story to life.

This can be read as a stand-alone, but would be much more enjoyable if you start with the first book ([b:Black Gold|11708079|Black Gold (Takhini Wolves, #1)|Vivian Arend|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1307973229s/11708079.jpg|16655580]) in the series.

I received this book from the author for a honest review.

edit: Originally posted on Darkerpassions ( )

I jumped on the chance to read an ARC of Silver Mine when Vivian Arend posted about the opportunity on her blog. And I am glad I did. This book was Vivian Arend at her best.

This book took place in Whitehorse and in the wilderness in Yukon. I loved the tiny details in small town life. From how everyone knows everyone, to the layer of secrets that existed beneath the surface. But, I loved the descriptions of the wilderness more. It tugged at something within me, and made me long to walk along the path that led to Chase cabin.

When it comes to the characters, I loved how Chase and Shelley reflected each other. They were both outcasts, but it very different ways. Shelley's wariness towards re-joining the Takihini pack made sense. Sometimes, I wanted to smack the old Takihini Alpha. This also affected their relationship. The attraction was there, but Shelley fought it. It was nice to meet the Takhini wolves again, but my favorite characters were the outcasts. They were grumpy, and had their bad sides, but all of them had a heart of gold.

But what made the book for me was how it showed that shifters isn't perfect. When Chase got wounded he shrugged it off, but the tension and worry gradually increased when his wound didn't heal. More, I liked how it was gradually revealed that the infection didn't just affect him, but it threatended all shifters. And that it affected shifters differently. Some it affected mentally, and some it affected physically.

I cannot say that there was anything glaring that I disliked with this books, just a few typos. ( )