Kitty is dealing with a legal battle after the CEO of Speedy Mart sues her for speculating about reasons for the slew of supernatural events that seem to happen at the convenience stores, but a call from the NIH leads to a stranger situation. 3 soldiers who have returned from Afghanistan are struggling to re-integrate into society, but these aren't issues that the normal veteran's assistance programs can help with. These men are werewolves who saw their Alpha blown up, and their pack decimated. They need the help of other weres if they are going to find a way to fit back into the human world.

I found this a very interesting and compelling book in the series. Using supernatural conditions as a metaphor for real-world challenges is an old tradition, so this fits firmly into that trend. When there is a fear that this combat Vet might truly become a predator, it magnifies all the reactions and helps readers examine their own.

The cast of characters is compelling and interesting, both the continuing side characters and new ones who we see in this volume. Kitty's determination and vocal willingness to do anything in her ability to help those who need someone in their court help add drive and intensity to this story. The pacing is good, and Vaughn nicely balances Kitty's snark with the seriousness of this type of situation for many people suffering from trauma.

One of the starter books for the Vampire Bookbox

I'm claiming this book from the Vampire bookbox, largely on the strength of emmejo's review!

Later: I'm glad I tried this one - I really enjoyed it! There's a lively writing style, the characters are vivid and sympathetic, and the whole modern-day-world-with-paranormals theme is handled very well. Nice blend of humor and emotion, too. (One bit that made me laugh: the discovery that Kitty has assigned bounty-hunter Cormac a ring-tone from "The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly". Soooo appropriate! For that matter, the playlist of songs up front was also amusing, all the more so when you map the titles onto the plot...)

And one of the two main plots has a pertinent - and intense - theme: Kitty is called in to try to help deal with a handful of surviving soldiers-turned-werewolves who are suffering severe PTSD after the death of their leader... The way that was handled, with nods to the werewolf nature and pack-structure as well as real-world issues of wartime trauma and the bonds of a close-knit patrol, was very effective - and I admit that the closing scenes with the Seattle pack made me a bit teary (in a good way).

There are vampires in this 'verse, though their role in this story was relatively minor compared to that of the werewolves. I did enjoy the interactions between Kitty and Master Vampire Rick, as each of them has their own challenges in keeping their respective groups in line.

[There's a TV Tropes page on the series, with some entertaining tidbits.]

I left this book in the charmingly decorated LFL on Newland Ave on this beautiful afternoon - and was delighted to find some other BC books there as well. Hope someone enjoys this one!

[See other recent releases in RI here.]

*** Released for the 2018 Keep Them Moving release challenge. ***