I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The storyline was engaging, and the characters were well-developed, making it easy to connect with their journeys. The author's writing style is captivating, weaving a seamless narrative that kept me hooked from start to finish. Additionally, the book had moments of depth, striking a perfect balance. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a compelling and enjoyable read.

Second Nature is a good shifter book with a two-natured MC that has amnesia and doesn’t remember anything about her life before she ended up in the hospital. But those around her have been keeping secrets about her true identity feeling her memories need to return naturally. This book is a decent read but it starts off slow for me at nearly 50% finished with the book our MC is attacked bring forth her fuel nature but she doesn’t know how she shifted and no new memories have surfaced. The information she has about what happened to her is vital in a battle for control because the lead pack-master vanished at the same time she did and after a year a battle fir his replacement is eminent in a few short days the challenge for succession will begin.

The overall premise is good I just prefer a bit faster action and I’m not as invested in the characters because most of them have been keeping so bent secrets they felt like minor characters instead of her supporting characters. If you don’t mind a slow building storyline they’re good bones to this book. However, if you’re looking for a little more depth earlier in the story this might not be for you. Overall I did enjoy it.

Mavis woke up six months ago with no clue as to who she is or how to walk. Now, things have come together to push her towards finding out what happened to her to make her lose her memory, and finding out the she can change into a bird is just the tip of the iceberg. A compelling read.

SECOND NATURE was a fun read that kept me guessing all the way to the end. Just when I thought I was certain of the story line, Boudreau threw another twist into the mix. The characters are all quite complex,. The author creates a world in which werewolves are quite the norm.

Werewolves, on the verge of being exposed, decide to make themselves known on their own terms. SECOND NATURE is the aftermath of that revelation. As in real life, people fear what they do not understand. Neighbors begin to suspect neighbors. Meetings are held to determine how the community should handle the werewolves and what rights the werewolves should and should not have. The pack leader, or aldwulf, Gloin has disappeared. Mel, one of his most trusted associates, has also disappeared. It has been a year, and the sons of the aldwulf have completely different views of what the werewolves need. On one thing they do agree, someone needs to take over to lead the pack. However, there can only be one leader. For one brother to lead, the other must die.

Six months after waking up in a mental hospital unable to remember anything about who she is and unable to walk, Mavis has finally come to terms with not knowing her past. She can now walk, has her own apartment, and was able to find a job that she enjoys. She has a very small group of people she trusts. However, as Mavis learns more about the people in her life, her trust is tested. What she does know is that someone wants her dead. She just does not know why, and she cannot remember anything before the hospital no matter how hard she tries. When she shows up naked and dirty at her neighbor's door, she still has almost as many questions as he does. The one thing she needs to know is how her waking up at the hospital is connected to Mel's disappearance, and what any of it has to do with Gloin's disappearance.

SECOND NATURE is not a difficult read once the reader understands the "natures" of the characters. Boudreau left the book open ended, which makes me wonder when we will see Mavis again. She is a strong protagonist, much stronger than even she realizes. It will be nice to see where she takes this new-found life.

Set in an alternate version world where werewolves not only exist but have revealed themselves to the public, this urban fantasy by Amber Boudreau is a great addition to the genre. The world-building is solid, the characters are relatable, and there is enough mystery here to keep the pages turning. (Who was Mavis before? What happened to the Alpha?)

After waking up six months ago without a clue, Mavis Corvid still can't remember who she is. She's gone on to choose a new name and quickly rebuilt a life for herself. She is a strong character who didn't spend time feeling sorry for herself when she couldn't remember the particulars of her former life. She just picked herself up and went on with some assistance from those around her. I thought it was unique that she wasn't stressed out that she couldn't remember and that she got to living as best she could. Boudreau also refrained from the typical shifter profile and constructed Mavis as a bird shifter or "two-natured". Deciding to have the main character transform into a magpie kept the shifter trope from feeling stagnant and overused.

The relationship between Aitch the garage owner and Mavis' boss, was rather humorous. He's a cantankerous thing but Mavis is unfazed and is as cheery as he is cranky. This isn't a completely romance-free urban fantasy but it doesn't overwhelm the plot. It's more of a will they/won't they type of romance that may be developed in future books but it nonetheless made for entertaining banter and heightened tension.

The ending certainly leaves the door open for a second novel or even the possibility of a series in this new world that I wouldn't be opposed to at all. I enjoyed Mavis coming into her own, learning about herself, and there was enough character growth to move on to a second novel. If you like your urban fantasy to be completely wrapped up at the end, this one may frustrate you a bit. There's a lot left unsaid and unanswered arranging it perfectly for a continuance. I'll definitely be keeping Boudreau on my radar for future releases.

This was an okay read. There was nothing wrong. There was nothing too spectacular to make it stand out from the crowd.

What I did like was being surprised at the baddie and also how the issue with Mavis’ amnesia came about and it’s emotional conclusion. I can’t say too much as I don’t want to spoil it.

It’s worth a read if you’re looking for a new author in the paranormal shifter genre.

I received an arc of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Mavis is okay. She may have amnesia, and she did have to start her life over but she has a job, friends and a home. She doesn’t need to know what happened or who she was before. She is fine with not knowing why no one is looking for her, or if she mattered to anyone before, because she has moved on and she is happy with what her life is now.

I love the fact that she has come to peace with not knowing who she was. She knows potentially no one is looking for her and yet she’s happy. A sense of contentment is unheard of and I love that for her.

Unfortunately, not everyone is happy about her progress. Her past memories hold secrets that some want buried, and others unearthed. Mavis wants to just bake and go on hikes. She finds herself caught up with werewolf politics while juggeling the idea of who she was with who she is becoming to be.

Mavis stayed pretty calm during the boundary overstepping, things the people in her life do. At one point I wanted her to yell and throw things when something so obtrusive happens, but I suspect she wanted information more than to overboil in emotion. I commend her but not asserting her rage made me feel dissatisfied.

The Mystery:
“Marvis Corvid’s day began with murder and it only got stranger from there”
I like the fact this is set in a place where werewolves have had their ‘coming out’ to the public, illuminating their are paranormal aspects to the world. Mavis isn’t a werewolves but she feels compelled to help them solve this mystery. She doesn’t want anyone to get hurt or die, not when her memories are the key to everything. Banking on an amnesiacs memories, especially within a short time frame was crazy and yet I had hoped she would find some weird solution to her memory disorder. I was juiced up on Mavis’ confidence that I hardly noticed the idiocy of that plan. I think I kind of new it would be a stretch but this is a fantasy book, I have read more fantastical things. The mystery was fun but wasn’t as compelling as I expected. I was more invested in Mavis’ journey than whatever problem the werewolves had. I was reminded of Mercy Thompson series a little with the werewolves but I love that series so I was excited about the comparison. The ending plot twist (the last one not the climax one) was great and felt it paid off to the overarching question of this mystery. I am excited to see Mavis’ journey with the werewolves in the next book and see if she is involved in another mystery.


The Romance:
Mavis is the sunshine to Aitch’s grump. Mavis is all smiles, and manners while Aitch communicates in grunts and glares. It should be a match made in heaven. Aitch feels pulled into two different directions, making Mavis a victim of his confusion. I want Mavis to have someone be all in. Aitch has one foot constantly out the door and Mavis needs someone willing to do whatever it takes to make it work. I hope the next book means they reconcile, maybe figure some things out because they are sooooo cute together and I love their banter and intense energy. I wouldn’t be opposed to another love interest to kick Aitch into high gear, get grumpier and make everyone realise they are perfect for each other, but I would rather the relisation to come without a third party influence. Aitch needs to take the leap or find a solution that he refuses to look for and thats on him and his hard headedness. Mavis deserves better and I am glad she decides that too.

I am so excited to see Mavis’ journey and what she does next. Aitch better watch out because Mavis doesn’t come to play and her new sense of self is just starting to blossom and boy, oh boy, it will be magnificent to watch.


Would I recommend this book?
I would 100% recommend this book. It’s a great New Adult Paranormal book!

Will I re-read this book?
If the sequel takes some time to come out I will want to re-read it but the romance is so cute that it’s not a hardship to reread this book.

This book really drew me in. At first, I wasn't sure what to make of Mavis, but she definitely grew on me.

Mavis has amnesia. She came awake in a hospital with no memory of her earlier years. While she remembers some basics of her "previous life" like how to make cookies or that she never learned to drive, the rest is a blank. After an extended stay under the care of an attentive doctor and mean nurse, she ended up renting a studio apartment in town with money she makes from a receptionist gig at a car repair place. Her boss is surly, but accommodating, and she's made some friends in town, but there's still something missing (other than her memory).

Through a bit of nosey behavior, some sleuthing, and some truly insane twist and turns, she ends up uncovering more than just her own information. With a world and story this big, it's clear that it couldn't wrap everything up in one installment. Still, I was sad that we end the book on a little bit of a "to be continued" setup. I want to know more about how Mavis lives with her new truth and where she goes next. I guess that's where book 2 will take us, though.

-SPOILERS-
second nature was really good. I am giving it a solid four stars. The writing style was really good, and everything about the book was so engaging. From the overall story to the characters, the first half of the book was a "bit" slower paced, since Mavis was figuring out who she was and why she lost her memory, but as more of the story developed, it was very hard to put down. The story flowed so smoothly, and everything about it was easy to understand and follow along with, I was not bored in the slightest. I also enjoyed those moments where certain scenes surprised me. Such as Aitch being a tiger shifter and Gloin being able to shift into a dog instead of just being a werewolf. It was a different spin on the entire: werewolf, shifter story and I really, REALLY hope the author creates a second book. I can easily see this ending up as a series.

While browsing on Netgalley for something good to read I came across Second Nature, and the cover and blurb drew me in. The main character has amnesia and has no idea who she was before the incident that left her unable to remember as well as walk. As the story unfolds she's left with more questions than answers and finds out people know more than they're letting on.

In a world where werewolves have revealed themselves to the world and other supernaturals exist, the world building was pretty good. I'd definitely be down to read the next book in the series. The characters were likable and interesting. Weasel, Wes, and Forrest are all characters I'd love to see more of. I felt like I didn't get enough time to learn about Aitch. There were a couple things that I wish would've been answered by the end, like the alley cat that seemed to follow her and the nest Mavis found, but could easily be explained in a follow-up book. It was just a little frustrating that you're left not knowing.

All in all, it was a good read. The author kept me engrossed in the story and the characters were good. I'd love to see more books following Mavis to see where her story leads because I feel like it has some real potential.

I saw similarities between the Mercy Thompson series and this book. Mainly the main character works in a garage, albeit upfront instead of as a mechanic. Her boss is Aitch, short for Heinrich and Mercy works with Zee or Siebold Adelbertsmiter. The main character also is known to the Alpha of Alphas. There are plenty of differences between the stories, but being a HUGE fan of Mercy Thompson, it was enough to make me take notice when they popped up.