Seven Years (Seven Series Book 1)

OK, so I just finished Seven Years. I've also read the Mageri series and related novella, Closer, so I've sampled this author's writing to date. I read the reviews on this book before I purchased, and the 1 and 2 stars reviews really made my eyebrows rise. Now that I'm done, I don't think we were reading the same book, or those reviewers are not capable of reading a book and remembering the context of details they throw out in their reviews.Dannika Dark has a gift. Her stories are by no means perfect (ergo the 4 stars), but she has something I'm having a hard time pinning down. The characters aren't completely filled out and the world building in this one is a little vague (Did I miss somewhere in the story where it's set? I know it's Texas, but where?). But there is something with her writing that evokes an emotional response. In the Mageri series, which is a lot more developed than this story, at times that emotion can be overwhelming, actually evoking tears, teeth grinding (God, do the characters have to be so STUPID sometimes?), and lots and lots of laughter. It's not quite as defined here, but it's still very much present. But hey, book one in a series...I will be patient.There's a couple things I think some negative reviewers missed.1. These characters are NOT HUMAN. They're the Shifter flavor of Breed, and one flavor that was very much left out in the Mageri series. There are definitely differences in how the Breed pack act with each other and around women than a real wolf pack because they are also NOT WOLVES. Two halves of a whole is how Dannika refers to them, and you have to respect that. They're not human, so do not think of them as such. Did I like how the alpha males referred to females? No, but get over it. In the human world, female dogs and wolves are called a certain name - it's the HUMAN that makes it derogatory. And hey, Lexi didn't like it either and stood up about it.2. Lexi and Austin could not conceivably get together early in due the obstacles both had to overcome. Also, neither was able to let go of their grief until close to the end. The shadow of her brother's ghost was one thing that was still between them.3. Austin was not weak or insipid, but a new pack leader - he moved back home with his brothers to start his pack. He wasn't off running a pack the entire time. As with all things, you have to learn and grow, and that is a start we got to see with Austin. I hope that future books will include his development as a pack leader.4. Unlike Silver in the Mageri books, I don't agree with other reviewers that Lexi was immature and acting younger than her real age. But unlike this story, part of Silver's journey was to grow up. Like any other 27-year-old who feels like they're stuck, Lexi questions who she is (not in an annoying way) and what she's doing with her life. She wasn't a complete jerk either - her humor was laugh-out-loud funny. Lexi is a strong, capable woman with a brave and fierce wolf.In and around the revelation Lexi gets from Austin, there is the side story of her ex (which is where the car references come in) and her father. I learned with Dannika that distractions and seemingly stupid actions are how she throws the wrench into her character's lives. How boring would it be to read about Ms. Perfect Character meets Mr. Perfect Man, he sweeps her off her feet, and they live happily ever after? Awful. It's the bumps and potholes on their road to happiness that make the outcome sweeter.That's another of Dannika's gifts: she can put her characters into sticky situations and have them be pulled out with logical means. I never got a sense of "Oh gosh, I wrote myself into a corner; let's whip out the deus ex machina to rescue my character."I do have two complaints, but not major ones. I've read the naming of the brothers in another book a long while back, but cannot for the life of me remember which one (and that's nit-picky). I also wish that Naya was her own character and not a female Simon. She even parrots Simon's favorite line (Mageri readers know which one). I do hope we get Naya's story. There's some deep water there.All in all, I think this is a very good first entry into a series and I look forward to future efforts. I will continue to read Dannika's stories. And, oh my gosh, she's very good at the graphics. I LOVE LOVE LOVE that she does it herself being a GD.

I love all of Dannika Dark's books, once you start one of her books and start reading, you become part of the story. I love the way she describes every scene and every person can be placed in your head. Whenever the story ends, I feel sad and wished the book could go on forever, hut hey this was the first in the series and now can read the next one...

Seven years is the story of childhood friends, a family torn apart by loss, shifters, secrets, and love. I can’t really pin down why I liked this book as much but I did. The book is stylistically different than many of the PNR or Erotic PNR books I usually read – in fact I would almost have to call this book civilized. As I look back on the book I actually want to position it more in the new / young adult category. The writing was good, easy to read, flowed well, and had a positive tone and feel, even in the scenes containing conflict – resolution seemed justified and sometimes it made me want to cheer that the person got what was coming to them. Sex scenes were limited, brief, not erotic, and far from offensive. The chemistry between Austin and Lexi was more like friendship with hidden desire for each other, then out in the open lusting for each other. The romantic story line seemed long and drawn out, with neither H/h acknowledging to the other how they felt towards each other, till the last few chapters of the book. I felt that the romance was not the main focal point of the book, but one of the many plotlines contained in the book, that allowed the friendship to move through discovery, acknowledgement, courtship, and finally consummation of their love. There was so much going on, so many plot twists, that it held my interest, and I didn’t feel the loss of the love story as the focal point.There was a full pallet of supporting characters, one of my favorites was lexi’s sister; I think that she will have a recurring role in future books. Not all supporting characters were likeable; there were at least 3 adversarial characters in the book. Most of the supporting characters were fleshed out just enough to fulfill their roles in this storyline, which means they can be candidates for future books, where their backgrounds can be fully expanded and integrated into the plot and world building started in this book. None of the shifter alphas we’ve meet so far are “uber” alphas, there was a bit of posturing between alphas of the different packs, but for the most part they accept, respect and work with each other.The stories world building acknowledged various types of shifters and other magical creatures, and did lay out some concepts and rules for how things generally worked here. The story did not mention acceptance of the shifters by the humans, in fact the shifters kept their lives a secret/hidden from human knowledge. The wolf pack structure was not as rigid in this book as it is in many other books, but the concepts of protection, honor, and respect for women and children was prevalent.The story was complete in one book with no cliff hanger, and only one loose end in my opinion. The ending gave no hint or lead in towards the next book, but I’m eager to see how this series progresses and plan on checking out the next installment. All in all ,different then my usual reads, but very enjoyable

Austin & Lexi Are Everything!😍😎💘🙏🔥Seven Years (Seven Series Book #1, Mageriverse #7)This is such an amazing read.🌟Lexi lives with her Mum & little sister, her big brother, Weston, died seven years before!💔 Their Dad up & left after her sister was born.😔 Weston's bestfriend was Austin Cole, Lexi was smitten by him. He had such a masculine power that drew her in. When Weston died, Austin left her too, she was bereft!😭Austin has moved back to set up his own pack at last. He's an Alpha Wolf shifter and his brothers want to join him. They have land, and are getting registered with the Higher Authority. Now he needs to make amends with Weston's sister, Lexi! He was falling for her, he shouldn't have kissed her before he left. His guilt and his need to build his bank balance for his future pack were the reasons, but she's unaware! He became a bounty hunter for the higher authority, it was extremely dangerous and challenging but paid well. When they finally see each other again his wood goes crazy inside of him, acting as though she's his mate!😳 Of course she's human so she can't be, can she?The world building is exquisite. The characters are fully formed, and mature in the time apart. This was a shifter book like no other. Dark is a class act!🌟Debbie, 1970, UK

The story had great potential but the story line was very meandering. The love story between the two main characters Lexi & Austin was at times confusing, at one stage it was almost as if he viewed her as a sister / friend and thought her untouchable leaving her free for another contender. At first I thought this might be some sort of plot twist but then it flipped back 180 again. I always personalize the male love interest, if a guy was so undecided and reluctant of his feelings for me I would just tell him to forget about it.Perhaps might be a good read for someone who doesn't normally read paranormal romances to gently slide into that genre, for those that regularly read paranormal romance though it may well be lackingI didn't like that male werewolves in their human form were all strong, full of muscle and could kick ass but female werewolves were referred to as bitches couldn't fight for themselves and needed to be rescued (unless they shifted and even at that if they did stand up for themselves in wolf form it was seen as a wow). I want my female werewolves to be strong and kick ass.It wasn't an unpleasant read but for a werewolf book it really lacked bite

Well well Ms Dannika Dark you have only gone and done it again you naughty Author ..lolI feel in love with Ms Dark other series (Mageri) and the characters and world she created. And was eagerly awaiting this book and I knew she wouldn't disappoint.All I can say is Wow this is a great start to a new series that I know I'm going to fall in love with. I mean come on we have Austin who is totally hot and so swoon worthy and then we are introduced to his brothers and Oh My you sure want to learn more about them and I can't wait.The storyline pulls you in from the first chapter you want to know more about Lexi and when you do you feel her pain and the betrayal she feels but you also feel the love she has for her mom and sister and brother. She deals with a lot and takes it in her stride I don't think she really has time to think about it all and take it all in but she will do anything to protect her family. And the message for me in this book is you don't have to be blood related to be family.Ms Dark once again uses one liners that make you laugh and the heat is there to which I loved.I did at times want to shout at Lexi and Austin and say just tell each other but when it happens I teared up the letter is just heart melting.Loved loved loved not much else I can say but Thanks Ms Dark for bringing us The Cole Brothers I can't wait to read more.

I really liked the characters. I got this book years ago but never read it, just saw it my library and thought it maybe time to read it. I was not disappointed, I liked the way the story has been put together with information of Wes her brother who had been killed and why.I liked Lexi character, stubborn with a good heart. The monologues and speech are good and also in some way very funny, but also very emotional.The Author has a good eye for details and good descriptions. And good action with a good twist and good development in the storyline. I liked the love story between Lexi and Austin, a lot can happen in seven years and I can understand Lexi reaction to Austin. There are some typos, but still a good storyline.I missed more conversations with her mum, when she got the business, she never ask her mum for advice. But overall I liked the storyline.

I love discovering new paranormal writers and this is one I was happy to find!! This was a great start to new series, the outline to a pack, the culture, it's family members..currently all brothers, with the addition of two shifter females, Lexie and Ivy, Lexie's human mum and her cutie 6 year old sister..who I hope has a story when she's grown!! This is about the alpha male Austin (youngest Cole brother and packmaster of the Weston Pack) and Lexie, who is the younger sister of his best friend, Wes , who dies. Austin then disappears for 7 years and returns...then things get really interesting....new self discoveries, kidnap grief and finally a new life and acceptance!! Their moments together are with the similarity of friendship and the past growing up together, but their need to acknowledge and embrace the passion of being soul mates. The description of their first kiss was *sigh worthy*. I hope that all the brothers get their story and even arrogant arse Lorenzo Church....even he is a little swoon worthy!!! Really enjoyable story, looking forward to reading the next book about April and Reno.