BOOK REVIEW for "Beta (Vanguards, #3)" by Annie Nicholas

Beta

(Vanguards, #3)

by Annie Nicholas

SUMMARY:

Three days of hell, in charge, and running out of antacids.

As the pack’s Beta, Robert needs to watch over the Vasi werewolf pack for a few days. He hates the responsibility, but his job is to dissolve any problems while his alpha honeymoons. Nevertheless, trouble comes to town and her name is Esther. She's beguiling, beautiful and picks his pocket. Although Robert doesn’t trust her, he still wants to possess her.

Esther arrived in Chicago with the intention of slaying a vampire named Daedalus. While trailing her quarry, she encounters Robert who unhinges her world. He doesn’t know her trade, and she doesn’t know his connection to the vampire. Disturbed by her attraction to this unusual werewolf, she can’t decide which prey to hunt. The one who’s stolen her heart or the one who’ll fill her bank account.

Hot graphic werewolf sex, growing body parts, and one pissed off Nosferatu.

REVIEW:

****(4) out of 5 stars!

I loved this episode of the Vasi story!  Robert is now acting as Beta to Eric, and currently serving as the pack leader in his Alpha's absence, even though he feels much more comfortable operating as an Omega.  Unbelievably, despite his success in the role and everyone's support of him, he still feels out of place and unsure of himself.  Especially when it comes to women, and especially with Esther.  He's sure that she'd lying to and using him, and the fact that she actually is doing so doesn't help their budding relationship any.  

"A vampire slayer tried to kill Daedalus tonight."
The remains of sleep vanished from Tyler's eyes.  "Wow.  What did you do with the body?"
Shaking his dead, Daedalus gestured to Robert.  "He has a crush on her, so he won't let me finish her."  ...
"She seemed pretty distraught when she accidently shot him.  Daedalus galnced at Robert.  "Instead of running for her life, she stayed to help you."

But Esther is both more and less than what she seems.  When they first meet, she tells Robert truthfully that she's a vampire slayer, but of course he thinks she's just kidding.  As things progress between them Esther actually becomes more and more honest, both about herself and also her feelings toward Robert.  Unfortunately, it takes him almost dying (at her hand, no less), for each to start realizing how much they care for one another.  And it takes her own brush with mortality for both to fully accept their bond.  

Rob stomped toward his sedan when he did a double take.  "Did you take Daedalus's car?"
"Yes."
"Better not take you home after the hospital.  He's going to skin you alive."

While their love story is the main focus of this story, and it seems like a pretty quick and straightforward one, there's actually quite a lot going on in the background.  We learn a bit more about some of the developing relationships of the housemates.  And that the Vasi or Vanguard pack is maybe not quite as united and reformed as the original Omegas had thought.  Also, that someone has put a hit on Daedalus, and it's someone that Robert has a hard time accepting.  Hopefully, in the next installment we'll learn even more about what is going on here.  

I received a free eBook copy of this title from the author, 

and have willingly provided an honest review.

Author Bio

Annie Nicholas writes paranormal romance with a twist. She has courted vampires, hunted with shifters, and slain a dragon's ego all with the might of her pen. Riding the wind of her imagination, she travels beyond the restraints of reality and shares them with anyone wanting to read her stories. Mother, daughter, and wife are some of the other hats she wears while hiking through the hills and dales of her adopted state of Vermont. 

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