To Enchant an Eagle by Amber Kell was an enjoyable read that I felt was over far too soon. As the third installment of the Banded Brothers series, I was able to easily immerse myself in the author’s parallel world where paranormals of all sorts mix with humans, but I think that there were some references I would have had a more in depth appreciation of, had I read the previous installments. Her characters are fun, sexy, loyal and had a little bit of something extra that made them irresistible.Eaton came across as more vulnerable than he’d like, but with a “fake it ‘till you make it” attitude, there was no question about his dedication to the man he loved, but had yet to claim as his mate, Marty. Marty, as the leader of the Hawk shifters (also known as a “cast” of hawks), was the resident bad boy, and usually the one others looked to for answers and strength. Unfortunately, due to injuries suffered in a fight that occurred in a previous installment, he was not only laid up, but also not even sure that he’d heal to a degree that would allow the hawk to take flight again.At first glance, this book might seem like a lot of flash and magic; I mean it is a story about paranormals after all. However, as I delved deeper into the plot, I found that this was a tale that dealt heavily with how the choices people made affected them long term. The journey that each of the main characters undertook, clearly spoke of how coming to terms with the changes in one’s life can be both a positive and negative experience. I enjoyed watching the struggles unfold for Marty and Eaton, and how they were able to meet them at every turn with a determination that isn’t always easy to convey. Sure, there was action and sex throughout To Enchant An Eagle, but there was also an emotional aspect that I found compelling. Amber Kell has reeled me in, kicking and screaming, and made me love these guys and their rag tag cast of supporting characters, enough that I’ll be checking out the other installments in this series. Four Twinkling Stars!! This book is the third book in the series and it's best to read it as part of a series since the other characters have pretty substantial parts in the book and plots are being carried over.Eaton and Marty are probably the most stable couple we've seen yet. We miss a lot of the initial groundwork of their relationship b/c they've been dancing around each other for months by the time the story starts and Marty already knows that Eaton is his mate and is making life changes in order to make his life suitable for him.I liked Eaton and Marty and I liked that even though they had conflict it wasn't of the "miscommunication/misunderstanding" variety-and given part of the plot it EASILY could have gone down that path. They seem to be a solid couple, both are easy to like and neither seems to be the "dominant" partner-they seem to be on equal footing, which in a shifter story is kind of rare.The only thing that bugged me is that there is a supporting character that does something truly heinous and then "redeems" (oh my eyes they are a-rolling)himself by doing something "self-sacrificing" (never mind that the situation that required the "sacrifice" wouldn't have been set in motion if they hadn't been a self-serving, morally bankrupt, dirt weasel) and now is sticking around. I hate characters that "grand gesture" their way out of their bad acts. Redemption should be more than one grand gesture away, especially when the character in question puts other characters at risk.
