ARC Review: Arctic Bite (Forgotten Brotherhood 2) by N.J. Walters

Title: Arctic Bite

Series: Forgotten Brotherhood #2

Author: N. J. Walters

Release Date: May 18^th, 2020

Published By: Entangled Amara

Category: Contemporary – Romance – Paranormal – Vampire – Shifter

Type: Digital – Paperback

Click Here To Buy Now!

N. J. Walters Website

Rating: 

Heat:  

Blurb: 

Being immortal doesn’t mean you can’t die. It just means you’re damn hard to kill.

When Alexei Medvedev joined the Forgotten Brotherhood—paranormals hired to assassinate other paranormals—he knew it wouldn’t be a cake walk. But his next target is one of Death’s own Reapers gone rogue. For the first time since he started this gig, “damn hard to kill” feels more like “damn near impossible.”

Tracking Cassie Dobbs brings him to a remote bar in small-town Alaska, where this hot-as-hell Reaper is casually serving drinks, as if she doesn’t have a bounty on her head from Death himself. Alexei is dangerously intrigued. Everyone in the Brotherhood knows the first rule: don’t fall for your target.

But Alexei soon has bigger problems to face than an unexpected attraction. They only send assassins after those who deserve to die…or so he’s been made to believe. Now that he’s met Cassie, though, he’s not so sure.

What if everything he’s been told is a lie, and the person he’s been sent to kill is the only one who knows the truth?

 By reading any further, you are stating that you are at least 18 years of age.

If you are under the age of 18, please exit this site.

Favorite Lines:

She tried to pull away, but he wasn’t having it. When she yanked again, he gave another growl – was it so wrong that she found that hot?  ~  Cassie

“And I…” She broke off and sighed. “I couldn’t bear that.”  A smile crossed his face. “Bear that. That’s a good pun.”  ~  Cassie & Alexei

Love wasn’t for sissies. It was hard and beautiful. And speaking of hard …  ~  Cassie

Vocabulary Word:

Capricious

adjective

ca·​pri·​cious | \ kə-ˈpri-shəs  , -ˈprē-  \

Definition of capricious

: governed or characterized by caprice : IMPULSIVE, UNPREDICTABLE

Excerpt:

          Her back was turned, but Cassie knew he was watching her. Her skin prickled in warning. She resisted the urge to check. 

          Just who was Alexei and why was he here? He wasn’t a regular. She’d worked here long enough to know them all. 

          At almost seven feet all, all of it solid muscle, he was a mountain masquerading as a man. Unlike everyone else who’d made their way here tonight, he’d walked in wearing nothing more than a heavy sweater and a hat. Not even gloves or a coat. But he hadn’t seemed the least bit cold. 

          He’d certainly ramped up her heat levels. 

          She shivered, missing the warmer climes of home. It was one of the reasons she’d picked such a faraway place to settle. Alaska was the last place her family would think to look for her. 

          And she enjoyed her job…mostly. The people who came to the Final Pit Stop, aka The Pit, were good folks. Sure, some of them got a little rowdy from time to time, blowing off steam, but it wasn’t anything she couldn’t handle. 

          She was used to riding herd on folks. It was what she did. Or at least what she’d done until she’d walked away rather than stay in the family business. 

          “Who is the stranger, Cass?”Buck Saunders was a regular, an older man whose wife had passed and whose children had long since moved to other less remote areas of the country. 

          “Name is Alexei.”She set a bowl of peanuts in front of him and got him another beer. Buck had the same thing, every evening—two beers. She gave him the nuts for free to help the alcohol settle. 

          She worried about him. Hell, she didn’t want anything bad to befall anyone who lived here. That would just bring a member of her family, meaning she’d have to run or hide. 

          She was an ex-reaper. Was there even such a thing? Once a reaper, always a reaper. The first to ever willingly leave the fold. It set a dangerous precedent, one that couldn’t be allowed to stand. If others decided to follow her lead, who would deal with the dead? 

          It would be a catastrophe. 

          Her rebellion would have to be squashed, and she would be made an example of, a cautionary tale for the others. 

          Even knowing all that, she’d still left. 

          Since the dawn of time, she’d been going to the dead and leading their souls to whatever afterlife awaited them. She never judged. That wasn’t her place. That was predetermined by Death himself and the god or gods of whatever pantheon the person believed in and worshipped. Or in the case of those who didn’t believe in such things, they were Death’s problem to sort out. It was a simple and straightforward system. Efficient. 

          She was just too tired to do it anymore. 

          “I’ll keep an eye on him,” Buck promised her. 

          “Order up,” the cook called from the back at the same time. 

          “Thanks.”Although, what the older man could do if Alexei decided to go on a rampage, she didn’t know. But she appreciated the sentiment. No one had ever worried about or looked out for her. She’d been the one taking care of all of them. 

          After retrieving two of the plates from the pass-through, she headed toward the man at the other end. 

          “Here you go.”She slid the plates in front of him and went back for the rest. When all his food had been delivered, she stood and stared, unable to help herself. 

          His eyes were crystal blue, the same color as a pure lake frozen in the winter. She couldn’t see much of his face, covered as it was by a bushy beard and moustache an unusual combination of white and brown. The long hair falling to his shoulders had the same unique shades. It had to be natural. This was not a man who’d dye his hair. 

          It should have been unkempt, unattractive. But it really worked on him. He could make a fortune modeling. Put his picture next to any product and women would flock to buy it. 

          “How is it?” she asked after he’d taken a couple of large bites. 

          “Good,” he told her after he’d finished chewing and swallowed. He wasn’t much of a talker, but that was okay. She didn’t mind carrying the conversation. 

          It was the curse of her kind to need to be around people. It also made it harder for her to hide from the ones looking for her. She couldn’t exactly run off into the wilderness by herself. Well, she had. That had lasted about two weeks before she’d started growing weaker. 

          She needed to be around humans in order to keep up her own strength. She wasn’t sure if she siphoned off some of their life force to keep herself going or if it was something else. It seemed more symbiotic to her and less parasitic. 

          It also hadn’t been something she’d known before. And why would she, since she’d always been on the job? 

          “Want some?” he asked.
          Shit, she’d been simply standing here watching the man eat. How pathetic was that? 

          When she didn’t immediately answer, he pushed one of the untouched plates toward her. Maybe he thought she was staring at his food and not at him. Yes, she was drooling a little, but not because she was hungry for a burger and fries. 

          She was attracted to the big stranger. Not smart, but now that the idea had taken root, she couldn’t seem to let it go. Beyond an impersonal pat or hug, she hadn’t dared touch anyone for long, fearful she’d accidentally drain their energy and harm them. 

          Maybe not a huge risk, but she’d decided not to tempt fate. She’d almost faltered a couple of times but hadn’t come close to pushing her luck. Until now. 

          Alexei was a big man, brimming with healthy vitality. Surely they could have sex without her hurting him. That was assuming he was even interested. She wasn’t vain enough to imagine every man she met wanted to rip off his clothes and get naked with her. 

          Although, she had been propositioned by more than a few of the single men who’d come into the place. Buck had laughingly teased that if he was a few years younger, he’d have asked her out. It amused her that he thought he was old enough to be her grandfather—his words, not hers. He had no idea she’d been around since time began. No one here was aware of her true identity, and that was the way it had to stay. 

          Making a decision, she propped her elbows on the counter and smiled. “So, what brings you to Nome?”

Highlight:

          Things were not going as planned. He’d taken more blood from the man in the parking lot than he’d intended. The donor would be fine, but he usually had a lot more control. Something about this job, about being around Cassie, was messing with him. 

          It had gone beyond speculation. She knew he was other. She was either a very well-informed human or she was other as well. If he had to bet, he’d put his money on the latter. He still had no clue exactly what that was. 

          “I won’t hurt you,” he hastened to assure her. 

          She snorted. “As if you could.”

          Now that was telling. She was wary but honestly not afraid. “What are you?” he asked. 

          “I asked you first,” she countered. 

          In spite of the tenseness of the situation, her boldness made him smile. Most people answered him when he asked them questions. She countered with her own. 

          “You find me amusing?”

          “I find you incredible.” That seemed to take her aback. A song came on the jukebox, a slow country ballad. “Dance with me?”

          Where the hell had that come from? He wasn’t exactly known for his dancing skills, but he’d give just about anything to hold Cassie in his arms. It would also keep anyone from overhearing their conversation. 

          “What?” She frowned, seeming as perplexed by his request as he was for making it. 

          “Dance with me.” He angled his head toward the patrons sitting around the room, knowing she’d understand. 

          Her frown deepened. 

          “Just one and I’ll tell you everything,” he promised. 

          “One,” she echoed. Ditching the cloth in her hand, she walked around the counter. He led her toward the jukebox. Every eye in the place was on them. 

          Ignoring them all, he looped his arms around her waist. Her amazing wildflower scent filled his nostrils. She stood stiffly in his arms. This was a mistake. 

          He was about to apologize and release her when she sighed and relaxed against him. They weren’t really dancing, more swaying from side to side. 

          Taking a chance, he eased her closer, trapping her hands between them. Even though he had more than a foot in height on her, they fit together perfectly. If she were so inclined, she could rest her head against his heart. Deep contentment, something he’d never experienced, washed over him. 

          It was crazy to get so intimately involved with her, but he couldn’t seem to help himself. Something about her called to his more primitive side. His bear wanted to keep her. His vampire side was fascinated. And the man, well, he wanted to hold her in his arms forever. 

          The professional whispered caution. 

          The music played on. Time was short. She’d said one song and would hold him to it. He hated to break the beauty of the moment, but the clock was ticking. 

          “What kind of family did you run from?”Before he could make any decision about his next move, he needed facts. 

          She shook her head, her earrings dancing and sparkling in the light. “Oh no, you don’t. I asked you first.”When he hesitated, she reminded him, “You promised.” Both of them were keeping their voices low, even though there was little chance of anyone overhearing them. 

          “Polar.” He’d keep the part about him being a hybrid to himself for a while. Even among his own kind, he was viewed as a freak and an abomination. 

          There was an edge to her laugh that bothered him. “Of course you are. And to think I was worried about you walking home in the cold last night. You must have laughed your ass off.”

          No way could he let her believe that. He shook his head. “No. I thought it was the kindest thing anyone had ever done for me.”

          That silenced her. She tilted her head to one side, studying him. “You mean that, don’t you?”

          He gave an abrupt nod. Before he could say anything else, the song ended, and the cook called out from the kitchen. 

          Their interlude was over, and he still had no idea what she was. She looked torn between ignoring Pete and questioning Alexei further. Finally, she slipped out of his arms and ducked behind the bar. While he took his seat, she began ferrying plates back and forth, slamming them onto the counter in front of him. 

          Another song started to play on the jukebox, this one more up-tempo. The patrons, who’d made no secret they’d been watching, resumed their own conversations. Pool balls cracked. Male laughter rang out. 

          After she delivered the pizza, she crossed her arms over her chest, the pose a defensive one. “I’m not looking for trouble.”

          He was hungry but for once ignored food. The urge to pledge his protection was overwhelming. It didn’t come from his brain but his heart. He usually thought things through, weighing facts and possibilities before making judgments, but around her, he was more a creature of instinct. 

          He kept his mouth shut because there was still a sizeable bounty out on her, and he was one of the Forgotten Brotherhood, with all the responsibilities and expectations that came with that. 

          His food was getting cold, but it didn’t matter. Nothing was as important as Cassie. Nothing. Whatever she was, whoever was after her, it was his job to keep her safe. 

          She belonged to him. Now all he had to do was convince her of that.

Review: 

Cassie had decided to take time off from her job – possibly permanently. The problem is, she’s a reaper and what she’s done has never been done before. In taking a sabbatical, she’s also put a target on her back. You don’t just get to stop being a reaper and a precedent must be set. If all reapers were to abandon their positions, imagine the chaos if no one was there to lead the souls to where they are meant to be. Now she’s got one the most elite assassins standing right in front of her, but rather than avoid him, she’s drawn to him. Like a magnet. He says he will protect her with his life, but can she trust him? Despite all odds, she feels like she can. And that attraction … it’s only getting stronger. There are things Alexei hasn’t told her about himself and likewise for Cassie. There’s even a little bomb of information Cassie doesn’t even know about herself. But the connection that they have is beyond her comprehension. She knows she loves him, but admitting that out loud is a vulnerability she isn’t willing to expose just yet. Even so, she risks it all and places her trust completely in him. She’s either going to survive or die trying. Either way, she’s done with reaping. And if she ends up getting reaped herself, then she’ll go out on her own terms and make sure she indulges in a bit of Alexei first. Who is she kidding? She’ll indulge in as much as she can get until her fate is determined. With more assassins breathing down her neck and fellow reapers hot on her trail, it looks like time is rapidly running out on her tiny vacation from … well, life as she knows it. Or knew it as the case may be.

Alexei senses something off about his new target. As a member of the Forgotten Brotherhood, they are trained to investigate their marks before accepting any contract. For one, he isn’t immediately able to identify her supernatural species. Odd given his abilities as a polar bear shifter and vampire. But he also can’t get to the source of who took out the contract or why they want her dead. Every instinct he has tells him to protect her and so he does. At least until he determines if the contract should be carried out. But it isn’t long before Alexei realizes there is something bigger at play here and reaches out to his leader, Maccus, for help. With information seemingly impossible to dig up and Death now involved in this mess, Alexei goes completely on the defense in protecting Cassie – until he discovers she may be more dangerous than he is – something he’s seldom admitted, let alone come across. But still, he’s got her back and that is something neither of them has had before. With so many secrets between them and each only giving information in small increments at a time, neither is entirely sure who the other is. All they know is the raging desire between them that doesn’t seem to be diminishing one bit – the knowledge that they love one another despite the reluctance to vocalize the truth their hearts already know – and that fact that Alexei knows he’s in the presence of his mate. One of the foremost rules within the Brotherhood is to not get involved with the target. Alexei may have sealed his own fate in doing so, but deserting your mate once found isn’t exactly an option. It’s a long shot with so much working against them, but with a bit of luck, these two may have stumbled into a most unexpected place, but also exactly where they were meant to be. Who knows what level of potential they could achieve and even exceed if working as a team?!?!?!

And it just gets better. I can only imagine what Ms. Walters has planned within this series. I can’t say that any of my questions were answered from the first book to the next, but that the web of deception runs deep. Do we have any idea who is behind it? Absolutely not! But given that insightful little epilogue at the end of FURY UNLEASHED (book 1), I am left to assume it is Lucifer.  I did know going in that each book is plugged as being able to be read as a stand-alone and I wasn’t sure I was in love with that idea given how hard I crushed on Maccus in the initial book. Now that I have read this second book in series, I agree with that description. However, I was not nearly satisfied with the small number of interactions with Maccus and Morrigan. Yes! They are both back but in limited quantity. My heart gave a little jump for joy as soon as Maccus was mentioned. And I am sure my face had a shit-eating grin when both Maccus and Morrigan were brought into a scene. For that, I was grateful. I just wanted more. If I have a complaint it would be their lack of presence. But I understand it. So definitely not a deal-breaker. And can we discuss that cover, please? Now, I did like the first cover a bit better. It is what truly drew me to the series after all. However, this cover is everything. It one hundred percent captures the essence that is Alexei. It’s magnificent. I adore covers that actually have to do with the book they are associated with and this one couldn’t be any better. And the best scene? Be still my heart. That had to be the almost volatile revelation of love between Alexei and Cassie. She doesn’t like to be told what she can and can’t do and Alexei is in a state of disbelief that she could love anything as monstrous as he is despite his fierce love for her. For the two of them and the characters we understand them to be, it couldn’t have been written any better. It was absolutely perfect for them.

I did find it a bit odd that Alexei didn’t have a ton of knowledge about himself on the vampire side. I get that he is a loner in what amounts to a forced exile, but given his hundreds of years of existence, you’d think he’d have been able to garner a bit more information for himself. Also given Maccus’s association with Asher in the previous book, he maybe could have reached out and obtained some knowledge that way. I will say that this book and the first book are identical in the following sense: brooding male loner, nonpareil in the sense that there is no other like him (hence the Brotherhood), falls for target, she is strong and capable and has a secret regarding her heritage, their joining in passion and love triggers an event or decision that makes them more than they initially were, stronger together. If you strip both books down to the bare bones you have the exact same story. That said, each book remains completely unique and an entertaining escape all on its own. Please do not take my words as a deterrent for reading. I just noticed a strong parallel connecting these books. But they are a part of the same series, so I suppose it isn’t shocking. And despite the identical basic idea, I remained engrossed as I allowed Ms. Walters to take me on yet another thrilling ride of crazy, mystery, action, hot af passion, and paranormal awesomeness. When you think about it, that’s actually quite an accomplishment; to work from the same groundwork and create a story that rejects deja vu yet embraces individuality. The action wasn’t quite as off the hook as the previous book, but there was still plenty of it within this fast-paced, electrifying read. I am now two books in with this fabulous series and haven’t regretted a second. I am sure the books are building toward a huge conspiracy of some sort and it will be up to Maccus and the rest of the Brotherhood to end it. How many books it will take to get there, I couldn’t tell you. What I can say is that I look forward to meeting more of this elite group of paranormal assassins and the fierce women who capture their hearts. And I wouldn’t even be a little mad if I were to encounter any of these remarkable characters again as the series progresses. I’ll be snatching the next book up just as soon as I can do so.

Kindle version provided by NetGalley/Entangled in exchange for an honest review.