Steel Beauty - Book Review

By Dana Marie Bell

Synopsis

Coping with a devastating injury is hard enough for Belinda “Belle” Campbell. Forced separation from her destined mate while she heals is almost more than she can endure. Until she is strong enough to take up her duties as Luna of the Poconos Wolf Pack, however, the safest place for her is Halle. Now, after months of being alone, she is more than ready to be claimed. But is the pack ready for a Puma Luna?

Rick Lowell has waited long enough to bring Belle home where she belongs. He’s aware of the danger, as well—and it isn’t long before a bitch with an eye on Belle’s position issues a challenge. The only way to put down the threat is for Belle to defeat the usurper in combat.

There’s only one problem. Thanks to the pins in her broken hip, Belle can’t shift. Without that tactical advantage, it won’t be a fair fight. With his new mate’s life on the line, Rick is forced to make a decision that will change everything.

That is, if Belle gives him the chance to make it.

Review

STEEL BEAUTY is the fourth book in the Halle Pumas series⎯as well the prequel to the Poconos Pack series⎯and takes place from where the previous book ended. We’ve seen a little bit of Belle (puma) throughout this series, and we met Rick (Poconos wolf alpha) in the previous book when he came down to help the Pride deal with a rogue wolf.

Belle was seriously injured in the previous book protecting a pride mate and, at the beginning of this story, Rick was forced to leave her⎯unclaimed and with her pride⎯for several months until she had healed enough to defend herself. This was done in order to protect her from his pack’s dominant female, Gina, who wanted Rick⎯and the alpha female title that goes with him⎯for herself. While every female we’ve met before has been strong in their own way, Belle was the first one we saw that actually kicked some arse…and it was good.

STEEL BEAUTY is told in dual POVs and comes with a HEA for Rick and Belle. While each novella could technically be read as a stand-alone⎯as each one focuses on a different couple⎯it is best to read the series in order. As with the previous novellas, there’s plenty of humour and animalistic sex to go around.