Book Review: Potential (The Potential Series Book 1) by M.L. Ridener

Title: Potential
Author: M.L. Ridener
Series: Potential #1
Pages: 169
My Rating: ❤❤

"It's been three hundred years, now is the time..."

Eighteen year old Aribelle Weever has been on the run for the past two years. She and her cousin are being hunted by a group of crazed panther shifters. Ari is a Potential. It is said that Potentials unlock a great power from within their fated mates. The panthers don't care about fate though, only power. She will not give up her freedom without a fight, but she can't shake her fear. Everything changes when she moves to the little town of Winago Heights...

"...when the time is right, you will find the one that fate has chosen for you."

Connell O'Reilly has been plagued by the death of his parents for the past eight years. The attack was meant to destroy his brothers, but he was able to save them. Because of the total destruction of the pack that night, he was thrown into the roles of father, provider, and Alpha. It wasn't easy for a boy at fifteen, but you play the hand you're dealt. Life has been quiet, that is until his brothers meet the new girl in town...

When I read the description for Potential, I knew that I would like the story. The plot involved shifters, prophecies, and some hot guys, what's not to love? So, of course I had high expectations for this story, and maybe they were a bit too high. The story was a fun, fast read, but I found myself wanting so much more!

I wanted details! The characters had the potential to be great, but I wasn't really able to get to know them very well. Specifically, I wanted to know more about their past and their feelings. I firmly believe that there is so much more to the characters than what this book offered. I would have loved to meet Chloe's mom. She was hardly mentioned, and when she finally appeared in the book she only said a few words, and that was it. In addition, when the characters would mention the terrible things they had went through, it was at random times. The story would be moving along happily, and then all of a sudden someone would hit the brakes and start getting serious. Then, someone would hit the gas and we would be all hunky dory again. This part just needed to flow a lot better for me.

Despite the technical problems with the book (such as grammar), I still thought it was a nice fast read. For the two hours it took for me to read it, it did keep me entertained. My only hope is that the series gets more detailed as it goes on.