Red River

Pack Collection, Book 2

By: Cardeno C.

Narrated by: Nick J. Russo

Length: 3 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

Two Alpha shifters join together to lead their pack and build a family.

Commitment, loyalty, and strength aren't enough to make Wesley Stone's birth pack accept an Alpha with a physical imperfection, even if it's a meaningless mark. Putting the safety of his pack above his own wellbeing, Wesley trades himself for another Alpha and agrees to mate with a stranger in a mysterious, insular pack.

Alphas from Jobe Root's family have led the Red River pack from the first day shifters walked the earth. Now the time has come for Jobe to fulfill his destiny, but to do that, he needs his mate by his side. Spiritual, easygoing Jobe reveres Mother Nature and trusts in fate, yet he can't help being nervous about how his mate will react to his new life in Red River, his new life with Jobe.

Two Alphas with contrasting personalities, different upbringings, and divergent beliefs come together for the good of their packs. But to stay together, Wesley and Jobe must see beyond the surface and embrace every facet of themselves and their union.

©2016 Cardeno C. (P)2016 Cardeno C.

excellent narration of an excellent book.

Any additional comments?

Wesley's birth defect, hidden though it is, makes him different from his pack, and they don't want him as their Alpha, even though its his right. Swapping with another Alpha, in another pack seemed to be the only way Wesley will fulfill his right. Jobe's pack, however, is very different to Purple Sky, and life at Red River will take some getting used to.

Book two in the Pack series and you don't need to read book one, Blue Mountain. Mitch is mentioned, Simon not at all, and the Blue Mountain pack itself pops up, but only in a passing mention. So you don't need to read it. But you should. Just because I tell you to; because its Cardeno C and because its a five star read.

As is this one!!

I do love Cardeno C, ya'll know I do and the shifter books are by far my favourite of all the series. The Mates Collection, the Siphon Collection and these are all 5 star reads!

I loved this one, especially, because it takes a turn I did not see coming! Loved it!!

More generally speaking, I loved that Jobe knew straight away who Wesley was to him, and that it took time for Wesley to get it. I loved that Jobe knew so much more the Wesley about shifter lore, and that it took time for Wesley, and indeed, me, to get it all. I loved that Wesley threw himself into life in Red River, even though, at first, he really did not wanna be there.

Following a solid CC track, no major break ups/ make ups, no nutty ex, just the *ahem* minor misunderstanding which is more to do with a huge gap in Wesley's knowledge, than a fall out. Steam and passion a plenty, and lots and lots of CC love.

Thank you, CC, for another favourite, best one yet, that will undoubtedly be ousted off the top spot when the next book comes along.

AUDIO REVIEW

Nick J Russo narrates this second installment, he didn't narrate the first one. This is the second of his work I have listened to, and it threw me. Because in THAT book, Russo has a very NON-American speaking voice, but here, its very obviously American. It had me checking on Audible to see whether I had listened to his work before! Excellent switch though, very well done.

Russo's portrayal of Wesley and Jobe is brilliant. The voices are similar, but not so close that I, with my dodgy hearing, couldn't make out who was speaking when, without being told. Jobe's knowledge and Wesley's lack there-of comes across beautifully.

The major plot twist I did not see coming when I READ this does not have the same impact, but thats why I don't re-read. It didn't affect my enjoyment of the book second time around, and certainly did not affect my star rating, I just needed to say it.

Russo's reading voice is clear and even, and it makes for very easy listening, especially for me.

5 stars for the narration
5 stars for the book

OK story, great narration

First let me say at this point, I only listen to Cardeno C. shifter books and only if it is a narrator I like. I really enjoyed the first two in the Mates series, and will probably listen to the 3rd eventually. I also enjoyed the first book in this Pack series, and will probably listen to the 3rd one as well. That said, this one was just OK with me. It wasn't bad, primarily because Nick Russo is an awesome narrator. He really elevated this for me because I just love his voice and characterizations. The story was pretty predictable and I have no problem with the particular trope employed. There just wasn't any surprises or drama, just a sweet story.

it was great

I love this series it is so worth it that you will not be disappointed for what it worth it is one of my favorites

Is was a great experience

listening to this wonderful story. Mr Russo's voice was spot on and a pleasure to listen to. There aren't many narrators I care about, but in this story specifically, CC chose the right man with the right voice.

Excellent

Nick J. Russo did an amazing Job with book Two in Cardeno C.'s Pack Series. Having already read the story I listened to the audiobook just because I enjoy Cardeno's books so much and I was please to see that the narrator did an amazing job of adding another layer and dimension to the story and making it come alive. I highly recommend this story and both author Cardeno C and narrator Nick J. Russo
5 Stars

Interesting Pack Dynamics

Just a scootch on the corny side, but sweet none-the-less. Two alphas and some interesting pack dynamics.

Narrated by Nick J. Russo.

Love the story and the narration!

Any additional comments?

I LOVE THIS STORY! This shifter story holds the elements of shifter lore that is my crack.

Wesley is an alpha wolf who’s shunned by his pack because of an odd scar on his abdomen he’s had since birth. Jobe is an alpha wolf who’s been patiently waiting for his mate to come to him.

When Jobe’s Red River pack makes an offer to Wes’s Purple Sky pack to trade alphas everyone is happy about the exchange except for Wes.

**QUOTE**
“Red River has an Alpha wolf they won’t accept as their Alpha. Our pack feels the same way about you. So Brian Berger will come take over for me, and in exchange, you’ll go to Red River and lead a pack, like you’ve always wanted.”
**QUOTE**

Wes will lead a pack, but he has to mate with a stranger in order to do it. There’s some anger on Wes’s part for feeling like he’s been sold to Red River. There’s also confusion because Wes and his pack have strayed from the old belief’s and customs for so long that they don’t even remember the old ways any more. Not the way Jobe and the Red River pack do.

Jobe’s Red River pack is tied deeply to the land and the nature surrounding it. They remember and practice the old ways and have not only survived, but thrived. Jobe knows Wes is his mate and perfect for him and their pack. When the two come together there’s great UST and a slow burn romance which eventually heats up for some major satisfaction.

There were so many things I loved about this story. I love how Jobe’s presence and calm is able to comfort Wes. I love how patient Jobe is with Wes until he finally sees. I absolutely love their HEA.

Nick J. Russo is a favorite narrator of mine. He just knows how to pace a story properly, to really infuse emotion into the character’s voices and tell the story in such a way it wraps me up and doesn’t just sound like he’s only reading from a page.

Nick manages to capture Wesley’s confusion, hurt, anger, and his longing for Jobe. He conveys Jobe’s peace, calm, love and passion beautifully.

It’s a terrific audio for an awesome story and it’s definitely going on my repeat schedule!

The narration really makes this story for me!

Red River is a shifter romance, but it does deviate from the previous shifter books by this author. Some of the deviations I found intriguing, one of them not so much. I was a bit unsure of my thoughts on this one, mostly due to that one deviation.

The characters of Wesley and Jobe I really liked. Wesley, while loyal and determined really is not accepted in his own pack even though he should be the next in line to become the pack's alpha. As his backstory is told, it is easy to sympathize with his character when all he wants is what is best for his pack--even though they don't want him to lead them simply due to a physical difference. Jobe is a fun character-so in tune with nature, trusting in it and though he comes off as a sort of new age hippie type guy, his personality actually speaks to a connection between the alpha shifters and the world around them. I found this to be a refreshing look at shifter characters as I haven't really seen the nature aspect emphasized in other books in this genre, at least not to this extent.

As the story progresses, we find there is much about shifter lore that Wesley is unaware of-not due to his own ignorance but rather to his upbringing and the ways of his own pack and others that are no longer aware of the lore and what it all means. And while that does contribute to his own pack not wanting him as their leader, it does facilitate he and Jobe coming together.

The two of them together comes off as awkward for quite a bit once Wesley moves over to the Red River pack...until they finally become physical. After that, things move quickly-a bit too quickly in my thinking, but since I'm all for the fated mates scenario, this was still okay for me. That one deviation that I did not care for? To tell you would be a spoiler, so just know that the final twist in the story involves Wesley and Jobe continuing on Jobe's lineage-and while I've read stories with this type of twist before, it's really something I can do without when I'm reading M/M shifter romance.

While Red River wasn't as smooth a read for me as this author's other books as an e-book, I still enjoyed Jobe and Wesley together. BUT, as an audiobook, I found myself a lot more intrigued with the story-this is one of those cases for me where the audiobook went above and beyond enhancing my enjoyment of the written story, and I credit that to the fantastic narration by Nick J. Russo. He did an amazing job of making the story richer through his interpretation of the characters, and makes that deviation I referred to pretty much a non-issue for me.

If you're a fan of M/M shifter romance, keep this on your radar. It can be read/listened to as a standalone even though it's part of a series-I haven't read the first book yet and had no issues reading/listening to this one first. Be advised, this is strictly for those 18+ due to adult language and M/M sexual content.

Sweet and lovely shifter story

I liked how this was a well rounded shifter story that involved many different aspects, then brought it all together in the end.

The Pack Collection Just Keeps Getting Better!

I absolutely loved Jobe and Wesley and their story. It was such heartfelt. Cardeno C. has certainly been blessed with the talent of writing and storytelling. I'm keeping my fingers crossed🤞that he will continue with Pcollection and release all of them to adubile. I also must say, each different narrator for both books did an SUPERB job. Nick J. Russo is one of my favorites and best voice actors out here. He gave life to these characters!🤗