Reverence

Title: Reverence

Author: Bailey Bradford

Publisher: Total E-Bound

Publisher URL: www.total-e-bound.com

ISBN/BIN: 978-1-78184-094-8

Genre: {M/M} Contemporary Paranormal Series

Rating: 4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Dragon Minx

When Harley takes home a guy for a one-night stand, he finds himself kidnapped, abused and used as leverage in a war between wolf shifters. Later he’s rescued by another group of shifters and taken to a safe house but he feels anything but secure. Eventually he’s freed but he can’t get past the fear and anger, causing him to make a series of poor decisions.

Being a guard for Alpha Anax Criswell was all Val Whitley ever wanted. After he’s severely injured, everything changes because he’s left with unprecedented shifter physical disabilities and doesn’t know if he’ll continue to be of use to his pack. When his alpha gives him the task of guarding Harley, Val initially believes he’s being banished, but soon discovers it’s the gift of a lifetime because Harley’s his mate.

Reverence is the latest release in Bailey Bradford’s Southwestern Shifters series. It’s part of an ongoing story line with recurring characters, so the books should be read in order.

Ms. Bradford has a winner with this newest book and I can honestly say Reverence is now my series favorite. It’s well-written, the personalities of Harley and Val are nicely developed, the descriptions are vivid and the plot flows smoothly.  Both Harley and Val are emotionally damaged and have serious baggage. I love the characters and how they learn to deal with their problems and each other and that Val treats Harley with so much care. The author has certainly given them enough problems to overcome—meaning there are plenty of twists and turns woven into the storyline to keep me guessing and the pages turning.

There are lots of returning secondary characters and a few new ones. Ryder—Harley’s older brother is a particularly interesting guy and I’d like to learn more about him in a future book. I look forward to the next release.

Reader Advisory: This book makes reference to assault, physical and threatened sexual in the past.