⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️
❤️❤️
A Non-spoiler Synopsis
Werewolf cage fighter Ronan Reed is leaving his problems, mostly bar fights and arrests, behind in Texas. Luckily for him, his Uncle in Louisiana is willing to take him in. Even luckier for him, cage fighting is actually legal in Louisiana and he plans on creating his own team and making his way up the ranks in the werewolf cage fighting world.
His plans go awry when he sets eyes on Celine Cruz. As an Aura witch, Celine can see that there’s more to the bad boy exterior that Ronan projects. But can she make her overprotective close-knit blended supernatural family see that? Their forbidden romance is heating up as Ronan is making waves in the dangerous world of cage fighting and Celine ends up caught in the crossfire…
My thots on the Smut and Vibes of “A Rebel Without Claws”
If you’re looking for a paranormal southern romance that heavily leans on the romance, you may enjoy this book. I typically enjoy more of a plot in my romance books (especially paranormal or romantasy) which is why I gave this book an over score of 2 out of 5. Besides the drama with the cage fighting there isn’t really much going on in this book outside of the interpersonal issues.
It felt like the majority of the book focused on Ronan healing his past traumas. Celine had also experienced trauma in her past but when we meet her in the book she has already done the inner healing work to overcome it. One thing I do appreciate is that Ronan actually goes to therapy in the book. It doesn’t solely rely on the “woman’s gentle soul fixing a man” stereotype but there is a little of that going on. Celine is an aura witch and literally uses her magic to soothe him.
As far as romance, Ronan is extremely sweet to Celine. They are fated mates, and what’s unique about Cross’s use of this troupe is that due to childhood trauma, Ronan hasn’t been able to shift, and his wolf had been quiet until meeting Celine. I wish that there had been a bit more tension between Ronan and Celine before they got together. Their romance felt a bit too insta-love for me.
All in all, “Rebel without Claws” wasn’t a bad book per se, just not the type of paranormal romance I enjoy reading.