I read an ARC of this book. This is my honest review. I love this series and this book. I am looking forward to reading more from this author and this series.

The Devil’s Russian Beauty, Book two of the Werewolves of Rebellion Series,  Ana Lee Kennedy

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre:  romance, sci-fi and fantasy

I really enjoyed the first in this series and was looking forward to this one. First books in a series have a tough job and I usually find I like succeeding ones better, as the setting is in place and the story can concentrate on events and characters and not just world building and intros.
I found this book to be a bit under-whelming though, and in fact didn’t enjoy it as much as the first.

I didn’t feel the chemistry that Bernadette and Frank had, that I loved, between Phil and Daffi, they felt like good friends more than potenital mates/lovers. Apart from the werewolf pheromones making them sexually attracted I didn’t feel there was a real relationship in the making here. I liked them both, just didn’t feel that magic connection with them.
In book one I commented on Scary Mary and mentioned my pet hate of where people have some unused/unknown supernatural talent which comes in just at the right moment. Sadly that crops up once more here, and it just doesn’t work for me, I want them to use skills I know about, and that have been learned solidly. Its a quick fix solution I really dislike, and I felt it let the story down. We had all that build up, then its done and dusted quickly, and I don’t really know how it happened except “its magic”.
I never did go for the non explanation, whether real life or in my fiction reads....

I love this idea of a werewolf MC, that succeeds through hard work, friendship and trust. I’m not a great MC reader, usually as the heroes seem to think speaking in words of not more than two syllables is conversation, and sex is two or three thrusts, an orgasm for him and the female should be happy he chose her. Oh and a few obligatory beatings...
Yeah, I know, they’re not all quite like that but the few I read gave me that impression and I avoid them.
Here though Anna has created a club I love, one where everyone deserves and gets respect, where they all work together, and its a great setting, especially with the werewolf connection.
If only the magic side could be sorted, no more quick fixes, and a bit more connection between characters so the chemistry steams, as it did with Frank and Bernadette, then I’d love it.
Sadly this book was more of an OK read than one I couldn’t put down, though I’d still be happy to give the next book a chance.
Could just be this story, this couple that didn’t fit so well with me, there’s such potential in the world Anna has created IMO.

Stars: Three, less quick fixes and more long term skills for me please.

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

Bernadette had come with Frank to town and she was going to pay the MC’s property taxes. Bernadette was embarrassed by all the male attention when she went to pay the taxes even after being with Frank. A man stepped forward to open the door to the auditor's office for Bernadette and when he briefly spoke to her unease went through Bernadette’s body. There was a woman who worked in the office and she is the women who had attacked Bernadette when she was at Crow.s MC the Wraithkillers MC to gather information on a book she was writing. Her name was Daffi and she now wore the brand of the River rats MC which had attacked Frank’s MC in the past and had came close to winning but their president Hudson was in jail and for the time being a very evil cold man named Ezra was acting president. Most of the MC feared Ezra as did the girls in his control. Daffi Russian accent seemed to turn Ezra on and she hated it when she had sex with him. But Bernadette did stop to ask Daffi if she was all right and Daffi thanked her for asking. But Daffi job in the auditor's office was to spy for Ezra give him any useful information she learned and she would be beaten severely if she didn’t make Ezra happy. Bernadette was a witch but didn’t know a lot about her powers or how to develop them but Scary Mary was teaching her but Scary Mary had to go away for a couple days and let Bernadette know as she looked at Bernadette like the daughter she never had. Bernadette was with the Werewolves Of Rebellion for the last three months when Frank let her know he wanted her to stay with him. Phil stopped at McDonalds every day for a cup of coffee to unwind before returning to the MC. then he noticed a woman eating a sandwich with a drink and he recognized her but didn’t know from where. Then he remembered he had seen her at Crow.s MC she had been one of his sheep but he must have sold her for now she was branded for the River rats MC which dealt with the drug meth. Phil finally remembered her name was Daffi and she looked better now than when she was with Crow. Another chapter of the Werewolves Of Rebellion came for a barbecue and to check out the sweetbutts that was there. Then Frank and Bernadette are woken up by a scream and find a man from the other chapter had been drained like a mummy his name was Tony. Erica was suppose to meet Tony at his tent at midnight and that was when she found him as he now was. Frank ordered everyone to stay in the big house as he didn’t want anything else to happen to anyone else as he had no idea what evil seemed to be after his club. The next day Phil stopped again at McDonalds and saw Daffi and he really was attracted to her Phil knew you didn’t mess with a sweetbutt who belonged to another MC enless you got permission but he wanted to. Little did Phil know Daffi was very attracted to Phil and wished things could be different. Phil knew he was more interested in Daffi then he should be especially with Tony’s death and all that involved and the threat involved with that.
I had mixed feelings about this story and really don’t know why. I loved the first story about this MC. Maybe seemed to drag somewhat for me. Bernadette and Frank’s romance seemed hotter than Phil and Daffi to me but she had also been abused I don’t know. There was definitely suspense, mystery, murder, werewolves, witches, branded females, danger, MCs and a lot more. But just had trouble holding my attention maybe will try this again sometime but for now was only a three for me.