Primal Law: An Alpha Pack Novel

Primal Law is the first book in a new paranormal adult romance series focusing on shifters. I am such a sucker for shifters, so when I saw this book I was eager to dive right in. We open with Jaxon fighting to save his life after being betrayed by the women he gave his heart to. He comes out of a trap she set for him and his teammates with an injury to his leg and a huge amount of guilt, especially since not all of his team made it out alive. He vows to keep his heart guarded from now on, specifically when it comes to women. We fast forward to six months later with Kira taking samples from a lab she works at because she suspects her bosses are up to no good. While she is on the run she ends up cornered and fears for her life, until a show more man, who shifts into a wolf, comes charging in to rescue her. Her rescuer, Jax, has an instant connection to Kira and tells her she is now coming back to his team’s complex since she has seen what he really is. She is in shock over everything that just happened so she agrees to go with him.

When we get to the complex and meet the other members of Jax’s team is when things start to get a little interesting. The prologue of this book and the beginning were setting it up to be something very intriguing, but once I got further in my mind started to wander. There were a couple of things that bothered me about the book and the problems started when Kira makes it to the complex and starts to wander on her own. She stumbles across a section where there are paranormal creatures being held because they are considered too dangerous to be given their freedom. Kira feels an immediate pull to them and wants to help rehabilitate them. She meets one in particular, a fae prince, that she talks to and on her first try gets him to talk back to her, agree to remain docile, and convinces the man in charge of the complex to release the fae prince and live in his own quarters. This prince has been there for a long time and has never spoken a word to anyone ever and recently tried to kill himself. I just found it hard to believe that Kira could get through to him so quickly. I wanted her to visit with him more than just once before a huge breakthrough was made.

I think that is my overall issue with this novel. I wanted J.D. to scratch the surface more with the characters emotions and backgrounds. The foundation for the story is there. I loved the new take on the shifters and enjoyed getting to know a new cast, but the characters were just a little too flat. They had no depth and as a result I did not connect with them as much as I would have liked too. J.D. had so many wonderful ideas, but she did not follow through with them fully and as a result the story was very one dimensional.

As for the two main characters, Jax and Kira, I did not come to feel anything for the two of them. I liked them at the beginning and thought their relationship started off well, but as it progressed it felt more clinical than emotional. They made life altering decisions with their heads and not with their hearts. For example, once a male finds his mate if they do not complete the bond he gets very sick and weak, so Kira has a large decision on her hands. Be with Jax and complete the bond or he will ultimately die. Not sure how I feel about that little piece of mythology, but my point is when they make the decision it is very logical and businesslike, I did not feel the emotional side of this choice at all. To me bonding with someone forever should be a very heartfelt decision and Kate seems to go through the pros and cons of the decision with a very businesslike demeanor.

The overall vibe I got from this book was almost Disney like. Everything that went wrong came to a resolution so easily and I wanted there to be more struggle and hardship involved. In a world where all the creatures we fear that go bump in the night actually exist I expect darkness and for the characters to be put through grueling trials. I don’t expect them to keep their language almost squeaky clean and have almost not tension whatsoever. Everything was resolved too easily and it left the world lacking in emotional and suspense.

I know it seems like I am really getting down on this book, but overall I did like the story. I am intrigued enough with the plot to try the next book and see how it goes. J.D. has included all the elements that I love in paranormal romance, they just did not all come together as well as I would have liked. I am hoping when we get to the next book we will learn more about the characters and the series will pick up more steam. show less

Primal Law, Book One of the Alpha Pack series
Author: J.D Tyler

Synopsis:
Founded by a group of former Navy SEALS, the Alpha Pack is a top-secret team of wolf shifters with Psy powers tasked with eliminating the most dangerous predators in the world. But the gift of their abilities comes at a price…
After a massacre decimates half his team and leaves him crippled, Jaxon Law must relearn how to fight—and battle the anger and guilt threatening to overwhelm him. But when he rescues a beautiful woman who reawakens his primal instincts, Jax is unprepared for the dangers that lie ahead.
On the run from her employer, brilliant lab assistant Kira Locke has evidence that leads the Alpha Pack on a hunt for someone targeting human civilians with show more Psy abilities. And as Jax and Kira circle both the killer and each other, Jax will have to decide if the deep connection he feels with Kira is worth breaking the ultimate shifter rule—because bonding with Kira means putting his abilities at risk, and they might be the only tools he has to keep his mate alive…

Our Review [by LITERAL ADDICTION’s Pack Alpha - Michelle L Olson]:
Being the intelligent, curious woman that she is, Kira finds herself questioning what is really going on at the research facility she works for. Getting a rush of bravery, she decides to take matters into her own hands and find out just what kind of secrets her bosses are keeping.
Jaxon is a military guy officially on leave for the weekend and looking for a good time in Vegas, until he’s thrown into the middle of Kira’s little plan and everything goes to hell.
Thrown together by circumstance, the two must work with one another, though the one thing they’ll have to work hardest at is making a decision what to do about the undeniable attraction between them.
The character premise of this book was amazing… Shifters who each have additional psychic gifts as well, working together to rid the world of the bad guys, both human and non.
The minute you meet each of the characters and learn their affinities, you develop an instant love for them, even if you already liked them before based on personality alone, you can’t help but start to pick your favorites and wish for the next books in the series before the first is even finished. Add to that the fact that each and every one of them have a back-story that defines them and you have the first book of a series that will have you swearing because you have to wait for the next installment.
This book has everything; and I mean everything!! Shifters of multiple varieties, gremlins, sorcerers, necromancers, Fey, special-ops soldiers, government conspiracies, romance, mystery, action, wit… I could go on and on. I read several reviews that said that it was overdone and unbelievable. Hello, it’s paranormal! As LITERAL ADDICTION’s motto says, “Beyond the natural and the normal lie the Supernatural and Paranormal. Anything less…. Just isn’t enough!”
The storyline was jam packed, but in my personal opinion, not overwhelming in the least. It had a logical flow –beginning, crescendo, end – that had me literally vocalizing my discontent, excitement, etc while reading, and reading the last page with one though firmly in mind, “Aw, come on! I have to wait until 2012!!?”. :-)
LITERAL ADDICTION Paranormal Book Club gives this book 5 Skulls and would recommend it to Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, and Magick and Shifter fans far and wide. As some of the low rating reviews will tell you though, if you’re looking for a simple, single storyline PNR, this is not it! If you’re looking for a fast paced, action packed romance overflowing with paranormal that will have you squealing from mid-book throughout…this is a definite read!!
I cannot wait for Book #2! Huge kudos J.D! :-) show less

Primal Law
2 Stars

Jaxon Law is a member of the Alpha Pack, an elite unit of former Navy SEALs turned wolf shifters on a mission. Out on the town one night, he and his fellow pack members come across Kira Locke, a woman on the run from her nefarious employer. Jax and Kira's attraction is immediate and as they get to know one another, the reason why becomes all too clear...

Another series that takes every paranormal trope known to man and shoves it all into one book: Navy SEALs and shifters and psychics and fae and witches. The only thing missing is the kitchen sink - not good!

The writing is plodding with dialogue similar in its ridiculousness to J. R. Ward's BDB series, the plot is predictable and the romance feels forced. Wait . . . it show more is forced because Jax will literally die if Kira doesn't mate him.

Unfortunately, there is little to encourage me to continue with the series.

ETA: Just learned that J.D. Tyler is a pseudonym for Jo Davis. This explains my difficulty with the book as her Firefighters of Station Five series was a flop for me too. show less

LOVED IT!

What I thought of Alpha Pack #1: I have had Primal Law on my shelf for awhile now. I love J.D. Tyler (aka Jo Davis) from her firefighters series. I know she knows how to write hot alpha men that can melt you in a heartbeat. However, I want to say that what blew me away about Primal Law was how well she combined Paranormal elements with a really good Romantic Suspense novel. In fact, I would have no problem recommending this to a romantic suspense reader that had qualms about paranormal. I think they would enjoy this series completely. Jax and Kira are one sizzling couple! I dare you not to blush a bit while reading :) Plus it is full of #NakedShifters so how can you lose?

Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: Psychic Navy SEALS turned wolf shifters. Need I say more?

Opening Sentence: Jaxon Law crouched behind a Dumpster at the rear of the old brick building, wishing he’d worn gloves to protect his hands.

The Review:

Jaxon is an ex-Navy SEAL who, along with some of his fellow teammates, was attacked during a mission in Afghanistan and turned into a shifter as a result. Turns out that becoming a shifter, besides letting him take the form of a wolf, also enhanced his previous psychic gifts. The man can bend time, physically going back a few minutes into the past, and can also read a person’s past by touching them. Jaxon now belongs to team of psychically gifted shifters called the Alpha show more Pack.

While on a weekend off in Vegas, Jaxon interrupts an assault on a woman, instinctually shifting into his wolf form to protect her. After the fight that ensues, he and his team must perform clean up duty, which this time also involves taking on a new house guest, Kira, the very woman he saved, who also happened to witness his dramatic change from human to wolf.

Kira is an assistant at a pharmaceutical lab in Vegas. When she begins to notice some unusual activity among some of the labs doctors, she feels a need to investigate. When she finds out that there has been some genetic testing outside the realm of the legitimate. She decides to steal some notes and some samples to have examined by her friends at another lab. And now Kira is a woman on the run, though not very good at it, since she is caught in the parking lot of the building that she has just stolen from. She does make it to her car, but in a huge stroke of bad luck, it dies during her getaway. When her assailants catch up with her, and she finds she is too weak to fight them, she does what any smart woman would do, she screams, and luckily is saved rescued by our very own Jaxon.

But, this rescue comes with a bit of fine print. Because she has just witnessed an act of supernatural power, she is being required to return to the compound with the team, and be debriefed by the team’s leader. But, what seems at first like a kidnapping turns out to be quite serendipitous, because these samples are from people right up the Alpha Pack’s alley, humans bearing genetic alterations giving them animal like characteristics.

Also, as an added benefit, there is this overwhelming attraction to her knight in silver fur, and his apparent attraction to her. Phew…this one is a hot one. All sweaty limbs and steamy goodness, fated love and destiny fulfilled.

Ok, so back to the action, not that there wasn’t any of that action. So, it turns out that Kira’s former employer is into some bad business, and is also involved in some past stuff that went on with Jaxon’s old teammate’s, and the betrayal by one of his former lovers, who makes yet another appearance at the tail end of the novel.

There is just so much going on in this story, it is impossible to cover it all in one sitting. An interesting premise, intriguing characters, an evil bad girl whose face you just want to punch in, and at the end, a hint of a conspiracy so heinous it will curl your toes. An exciting beginning to a series I have every intention of keeping up with.

Notable Scene:

Jax ran, his limp slowing him down. But the copter was lifting. Kira tried to get to Bowman, who sat on the other side of Beryl. Desperate, Jax shifted to human form and yelled over the noise. “Kira, jump!”

Turning, she saw her opportunity to escape slipping away. Making the decision to let them go, fight another day, she shifted to human form and braced herself in the doorway.

“Jump!” he yelled again. The copter was pulling away, a gap forming between it and the roof.

Kira tensed to make the leap—just as Beryl grabbed her from behind, holding her back. The gap between the building and the copter widened even more. There was no way Kira could make the jump now. Then Beryl raised a booted foot and kicked her hard, between the shoulder blades. Jax could only watch in horror as his mate lost her grip.

“Kira!”

She was flung from the helicopter.

Eyes wide with terror, reaching for the lip on the edge of the building.

And missing.

Her scream pierced the night. Shattered his heart.

Then silence.

The Alpha Pack Series:

1. Primal Law

1.5 Black Magic

2. Savage Awakening

3. Black Moon

FTC Advisory: Penguin/Signet provided me with a copy of Primal Law. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. show less

I have finished the book and I can not tell if I liked it or not.

I hated the ending, but it was designed to be a cliff hanger so I understand what they were going for. So while I was pissed at the book, it was not because of the writing.


That being said, if you like shifter alpha male team stories then you will like this one. But do not expect anything extraordinary. I actually was more interested in the Necromancer storyline than the main hero.


I guess what really bothered me about the plot line is that (spoiler) we spend the whole book moving to a conclusion, but it's really just a very long first Act.

I might read the next book, or not hard to say.

Loved Jo Davis Fireman series so thought I would try her new paranormal romance series under her alternate pseudonym JD Tyler.. The book is about a bunch of top secret guys who are shifters and also have some form of PreCog or RetroCog ability, the group is run by a former Navy SEALS (who some of these guys also used to be). They use there Psy and shifting abilities to find and destroy lethal humans and non-human predators. The author again brings alot humor between the group of men. I thought the book did a farely good job at introducing you to the series during the first two chapters. I didnt feel like I was overloaded with information and I understood the concept the author was trying to get across. I also liked that all the show more different species they captured or took in (there is a blue Fae with wings) were all hot looking as men. Hey nothing wrong with making all of your men hot in a book :) show less