Cry Wolf

Title: Cry Wolf
Author: Patricia Briggs
Book in the Series: Book 1 in the Alpha and Omega Series (technically the series starts in the side story from an anthology so I recommend starting with that before reading this book. It also is in the same world and shares characters with the Mercy Thompson series)
Page Number: Foreplay starts on 114 actual banging on pg 116
Scale Of Realistic Detail: Aside from the super human strength ripping through clothes and one of the characters unresolved intimacy issues not being a problem for two pages but coming back immediately after this I’d give it a 4 out of 5.
Is Anyone Involved A Virgin?: No
Is Anyone Involved A Magical Creature?: Both are werewolves. Seriously, what is it with the werewolf thing?!
Is It Consensual: Yes. There are some issues with one of the characters having a history of abusive so having her consent enthusiastically to this is pretty nice.
Is It A Plot Device: Yes? So, these two are a mated pair and to seal their mystical bond they need to bang… it doesn’t work but brings them closer. It’s another one of those strange situations where even though there is a lot going on action wise and the “plot” of the book is the action the story that’s actually being focused on is their growing relationship. The fights and drama and having to defeat an evil witch are pretty much framework to explore how these two start to open up to each other.
Kinks Involved: Biting, Ripped clothes
Bangs Per Book: 3
Did You Feel Dirty For Reading This?: No. It’s a fairly straight forward urban fantasy. It’s not overly sexualized, if anything they spend more time on emotional care and relationship building than the sexy stuff and I quite enjoy that. I will give it props for the one Big Bang in the book taking 2 pages for foreplay. It was also nice to see a rushed but mostly realistic depiction of someone recovering from sexual abuse and working to form a healthy relationship. The only thing that made me feel dirty was that the last bang in the book (pg 293) is a pair of secondary characters including the Dad of the male lead. That’s a little weird. I understand why it’s in there and helps to give that character a little depth but it’s still a little awkward.