A Camp H.O.W.L. NovelHappily ever after is right under their noses.Harris has been keeping a big secret for years—his unrequited mate bond with his best friend, Jackson. He’s convinced himself that having Jackson in his life is enough. That, and his work at Camp H.O.W.L., keeps him going.Things get complicated when Jackson applies for a high-ranking Tribunal job in New York City—far from Camp … Tribunal job in New York City—far from Camp H.O.W.L. The position requires he relinquish all Pack bonds… and that’s when his wolf decides to choose a mate. Suddenly Jackson sees his best friend in a sizzling new light.
Their chemistry is through the roof, but they’re setting themselves up for broken hearts—and broken bonds—if Jackson can’t figure out a way to balance his career and the love that’s just been waiting for him to take notice.
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Jackson has his goals and seems driven on a path to follow. Harris is a caring individual and has his own career path in mind. The whole mate thing seems like a problem but sometimes you need to sit down and decide what is really the most important thing.
This is the third and final book in the Camp W.O.L.F series. I somehow missed the second book, but I’ll definitely be going back to read that one. This is such a fun series, and this book is terrific. Harris is the counselor to many of the teens at the camp, where they experience their first turn to wolf and learn how to make it as a werewolf without exposing the supernatural world. Harris is kind and caring, and for years he’s been secretly aware of the mate bond he has with his best friend Jackson. Jackson is strong, dedicated, and has a life plan that does not include room for a mate until he’s accomplished the many goals he has set for himself professionally. When he first feels the mating bond pulling him toward Harris, he isn’t happy about it.
This story is full of love, lust, action, sacrifice, and friendship. I’m so glad to know there will be a spinoff series where I can revisit characters from this one. I enjoy this world and the people in it, and I’m glad the author isn’t completely done with it. I’m not either!
What an awesome wrap up to the Camp H.O.W.L series. This story made me laugh and cry. It had a bit of everything including some action packed moments.
Jackson and Harris are friends. They have been for a long time. Harris has a secret, he has a bond with Jackson. He doesn’t want to lose his friends and hiding is better than rejection. Jackson also has a secret, he has feelings for Harris.
I like how the action in this story didn’t just take place at the camp and I think there was a good reason as it will have a spin off series. I know I’m ready for it!
This is the third and final book in the Camp H.O.W.L. series. Harris, who is a certified psychologist, has been working at the camp for a while now, yet we still don’t know much about him. Harris figured out Jackson was his mate two years ago. Since Jackson had always made it clear he wasn’t interested in settling down, when Harris realized he’d bonded with him, he kept it quiet. After being friends for over a decade, Jackson finally starts to feel the need to nest as he realizes Harris could be his mate. This is epically bad timing as he is within reach of the job he has worked towards all his life, and it will require him to relinquish all pack ties and bonds.
All the angst comes from Jackson not wanting a mate, he’s been so focused on his career, none of his relationships have been serious except for the one with his best friend Harris…whom he hasn’t even told about his interview. They are both keeping secrets at this point. But whereas Harris comes off as trying to do what is best for his mate, Jackson comes off as very self-centered and oblivious. Everyone knows Harris is in love with him, but him. His brother Drew finally drops that bombshell in his ear. Jackson is still so busy fighting his own attraction, trying to keep his plan on track, he is hurting Harris. When he finally does admit defeat and acts on the attraction, he still can’t admit they are mates and puts Harris in a terrible situation.
I guess since everyone’s been paired off except Jordan, we need a new direction, so enter the Fae Council. With no mention I recall from the previous books at all, there are suddenly naiad, selkies, dryads, and other shifters. So I admit to being annoyed that they seem thrown in, so the author has options for other books in the future, rather than being preplanned and integrated into the trilogy.
Since Jackson is so busy with three different jobs and lives two hours away from Camp H.O.W.L., there needs to be a reason to have him there. Enter a high profile wolfling who is a famous actress about to go through her Turn. They will need to keep out the press, so the camp gets a security upgrade. We do get some fun details about patrols, but not quite as fun as the scent game from book two. I always enjoy the scenes from the camp classes, though. As you would expect, the main action comes from a security breach as a paparazzo tries to take a picture of camper Candice Bachman a.k.a. actress Kandie Bates. Suddenly the FBI is involved and the plot becomes OTT (over the top).
The Connoll Pack in New York, has been mentioned since book one, yet we know nothing about them. I couldn’t help but wish there was information about them woven into the plot because it would have made the ending so much more impactful. The reason becomes clear after the epilogue, when the author talks about her new series based on this pack. That is why all of the sudden Selkies and most other shifters have a treaty with the Tribunal and representation on the Tribunal court, which is in New York.
While I enjoyed this series, it seemed planned on the fly with things thrown in as they were needed. The resolutions to all of the issues are quick and pat. I would recommend this when you are in the mood for an easy HEA read with some steamy action. Although this is part of a series, I don’t think you would miss much if you read them out of order for some reason.
The author is donating a portion of the royalties from the Camp H.O.W.L. series to the National Parks Conservation Association.
I would rate this 3.5 stars.
This was a good addition to the Camp H.O.W.L. series and is Harris and Jackson’s story. They are mates, and in the shifter world, that would have been simple, but not in the world Bru Baker created. Once again she writes about a well-known trope with a twist of her own. Yes, Harris and Jackson are mates, but they have a choice in whether they want to give in or not. Nothing is cast in stone here.
They are very much human, but still, there are the unmistakable wolf traits that I so love in shifter stories.
The story develops at a rather fast pace, and to be honest, sometimes a bit too fast for my taste. There is a lot happening: tensions around a high-profiled wolfling, Jackson’s career choices, and the presence of other paranormal creatures. The events are linked together and affect each other profoundly, which results in heart-pounding, captivating moments. But I found it a bit disappointing that they were solved so quickly, maybe because there was too much going on. The thrills were good but short-lived.
That also had its effects on the characters. I really liked them. Especially Harris. He is a good guy, very considerate of each and everyone in the camp, even to the extent of giving up his own possible forever happiness. But with all the things happening around them, I didn’t feel their connection as much as I would have liked. I found there were mere glimpses of their attraction than a full-on relationship. The times they were together, though, were sweet and sexy.
So, although this is not my favorite in the series, I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
I hate to see the last of Camp H.O.W.L., but luckily this author promised a spin-off series, and I can’t wait to read that.
This is the third installment in the Camp H.O.W.L. series and can be read as a stand-alone. However, as there are recurring characters, I recommend reading the books in order.
I have enjoyed this series but I have to admit the going was slow on this book. I like both Jackson and Harris but there were things that just slowed down the reading for me. Like how many jobs Jackson had and him trying for this Eastcoast enforcer job. But he was an Enforcer though we never see any of that and I didn’t understand why this was there unless it was a requirement to join the higher up Enforcers. He was a police officer, though he sure missed a lot of work and he worked with Jordan at Fang and Fury which seemed they did the most. All of these jobs just overwhelmed me and made me wonder how he had time for any romance though he didn’t want any since he couldn’t have any bonds or ties if he got this new Enforcer job. As far as I was concerned the Fangs and Fury and Enforcer tryouts were good enough. I was dead on a 3 for this book because though it was slow for me I loved all the characters and the premise of the story and that too is why I soldiered on. I am so glad I did. Suddenly the story broke and there was lots of action with the campers, the high profile camper which in the beginning I wondered why they would take on such a thing but it does make it worth it. Candace is a great character on her own! I guess there was just so much going on in such a short story at first it was overwhelming then BAM the dam broke and it was awesome. There were some nailbiting twists I never saw coming, and the end was one of the o most satisfying I have read in a long time! There are just enough heat and a touch of wit and charm that makes this a really good book.
If you like paranormal books, werewolves, enforcers, camp councilors, suspense, twists, tension, mates, and a surprise super happy ending this is for you! Now bring on the new series!