Adrian Fridge's Reviews > Cam's Fortune

Hot and sweet story that works as a standalone and has an effective emotional punch.

Cam is a spy for the U.S. government who became a prominent leader of one of the renegade groups in order to figure out their purpose for attacking the Wolves. The "wolves" are an alien race that sought refuge on Earth after their world got destroyed. Wolves aren't that much different from humans in appearance, but they have advanced technology and a nasty habit of going into heat every three Earth years. Something about the human scent makes wolves go into a crazed lust, which has put a massive strain on human-wolf relations. And while there's an official peace treaty between the races, it's known that government officials conveniently overlook renegade attacks. Some even secretly support them. Cam's trying to track those officials down.

Unfortunately, Cam's renegade group gets dismantled by a different spy, Matthew, who had no idea he and Cam were on the same side. Now the wolves believe Cam is a traitor, and one of them intends to "mate" Cam so that he may earn forgiveness through submission.

Cam is a very compelling character. He was born with complications due to his mother's drug use. His father adopted him and used advanced technology to give Cam his sight and hearing. Cam's a survivor, and his main drive is to help his wife and kids. He also understands the wolves' culture in a way that most humans don't. In fact, Cam used to be mated to a wolf. He used to be in love. He buried those feelings, and it's only with the appearance of the wolf known as Rick that old wounds resurface.

Rick is a respected Alpha among the wolves. He's also not immune to the humans' intoxicating scent. Rick hones in on Cam during a trap laid out by Matthew, and the two begin playing cat and mouse, with Rick capturing Cam then Cam returning the favor. Rick intends to keep Cam as his mate while Cam refuses to abandon his family, regardless of his marriage being a technicality and his kids being adopted. Cam's also battling his inner demons, which includes another man named Rick, who's a far worse monster.

You can probably already guess that the tech for Cam's sight and hearing craps out on him. For a guy stuck in his own head, Cam's POV is the most engaging with the loss of his senses. He finds solace in Rick's company, using the time to work through his feelings for the other wolf he used to love. Their combative relationship takes on a sweet tone that never loses its sexy edge. Cam has to admit not just his role in the renegade group but also his lingering regret over mistakes he's made in the past.

Perhaps the only reason this book doesn't get five stars is because the ending sort of peters out, the tension riding on a conflict that's been more or less resolved already. At the same time, it's a heartwarming sense of closure, so I can't complain much.

I should also warn you there's a shitty transphobic remark that Cam makes toward an off-page character at one point. I mean, it's in character and it makes sense in context, but it's still very jarring if you're sensitive to that stuff. The good news is it's a singular remark that doesn't stop Cam, or any of the other characters, from using correct pronouns or respecting the character's capabilities.

Overall, this is a fantastic read that gives a glimpse into the other books into the series without relying on them too heavily. I highly recommend you give it a shot.

My reviews for the rest of the series: Book 1, Book 2, Book 3, Book 4, and Book 5