Breaking the Ice (Ariel Estates, #3) by Jessica Lee

m/m shifter

Blurb:

Being the last male standing isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be. Mikah Malloy is living proof. His mother and father were both killed during their individual attempts to assassinate the pride leader of Ariel Estates, Silas Murdoch. Now after the dust has settled on his bloodstained family’s name, Mikah must face life alone among his fellow lion shifters. But Silas and his mate, Theo, have decided a vacation in Alaska is just what the doctor ordered to help Mikah come to terms with his grief and his plans for the future. The only snag with their plan is trouble always has a way of finding Mikah, no matter where he runs.

Gideon Haven, eldest son of the Haven pack's alpha, would give his soul for a way off the ice. But when a hunter is out to eradicate his pack one by one, skinning them alive for their wolf pelts, Gideon can’t just walk away.

The predators have now become the prey, but they're determined to hunt down the poacher out to slaughter Theo and Gideon's pack. As for Mikah, he’s more than ready for the job. Putting one's life on the line isn’t a hardship when you don’t care whether you live or die. Even though the heat between Gideon and Mikah becomes nearly impossible to resist, Mikah is determined the tenacious wolf isn’t about to get close enough to break the ice around his heart.

My review:

Though this is the third in the series it can be read stand-alone although you will have a better understanding of Mikah’s headspace if you read In the Pride's Best Interest (Ariel Estates, #2). 

Mikah is having a rough time dealing with the events of the past couple of years. His father’s attempt at killing the Pride leader and then his mothers attempts at revenge plus dealing with the fact that he feels his homosexuality is a betrayal of his love for them.  They would have never approved.  This installment deals with Mikah getting his head together and falling for the wold shifter Gideon.  And then there is the trauma of poachers killing shifters and the very real threat that it is someone in the pack tipping them off.  This is a smart, sexy, paranormal romance.