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Showing posts with label Harlequin Nocturne Cravings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Harlequin Nocturne Cravings. Show all posts
Monday, May 6, 2013
Review: Heart of the Jaguar by Katie Reus
Heart of the Jaguar
Author: Katie Reus
Release Date: May 1, 2013
Publisher: Harlequin
Shifter Novellas
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Novella
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: Purchased with my own funds
About the book:
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Dr. Cindy Shahi is resigned to being mateless, but her inner jaguar has needs that must be sated. An encounter with a deliciously sexy stranger is the perfect chance for a night of no-strings primal passion.
Elias was content to be a lone wolf until the moment he laid eyes--and much more--on Cindy. Their intense attraction can mean only one thing: the mating call. And when it becomes clear someone isn't happy about their budding relationship, all of Elias's protective instincts go on high alert. He'll do anything to keep Cindy safe--and convince her that he intends to claim her as his own, no matter what.
What I’m talking about:
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Heart of the Jaguar opens with the wedding of Bear Mountain Wolf Pack leader Owen and his mate, Gabriela, whom we met in the story A Jaguar’s Kiss. Here we are reintroduced to the town doctor Cindy, a jaguar shifter, who is in attendance with her best friend Israel, brother of Gabriela.
While in attendance, Cindy spies Elias, a wolf shifter, who is in town for his good friend’s wedding. Unknown to anyone at the time, Elias plans to settle down into the Bear Mountain pack and become second-in-command to Owen.
After being hurt badly in a relationship during graduate school, Cindy has remained aloof and distant when it comes to men. It’s been a while since Cindy has fulfilled her jaguar’s sexual needs, and no-strings-attached sex is just what she needs. Cindy and Elias experience an intense initial attraction, and since Cindy thinks Elias is only in town for the wedding, he is the perfect candidate to fill her desires.
Once again Ms. Reus shines with her sexy shifter novellas! Heart of the Jaguar is loosely tied to the previous books, with locale and characters linking them; however, it is not necessary to read any of the prior stories to enjoy each of them individually.
What I enjoy most about Ms. Reus’s shifter novellas, which holds true for this one as well, is that the story stays focused on the primary couple growing in their relationship, with any conflict coming from an external source and not internal between the hero and heroine. In Heart of the Jaguar, Cindy and Elias are open and honest with their intensions from the start. They realize that there is huge chemistry between them and are open to it being something more than physical. Elias recognizes it as the mating call. Instead of just sitting back on the information, he shares this with Cindy.
I also like that Cindy lays her concerns on the table early on in the relationship, even knowing that she may lose Elias because of it. Cindy has some issues that caused the breakup with her former fiancé, but rather than hide from Elias and her own feelings, she trusts him and opens her heart to the mating call. The author could have used any number of things to keep the couple separated and delay their union, but instead she choses to allow the characters to take chances, permitting their love to develop and thrive.
The mystery of who is threatening Cindy is secondary to the romance and concludes without major drama or incident. It was a good plot vehicle for getting the pair together on a more permanent basis. In addition, the storyline added just a touch of suspense which made the short story more exciting.
Overall, Heart of the Jaguar is another well-written, sexy shifter novella from Ms. Reus. The story has great set-up and romance. The mating is quick - it's a novella - so there are speedy "I love you’s," which I'm not a huge fan of. However, it felt right - the timing wasn't out of the blue. The pair had immediate chemistry and it worked.
Ms. Reus's shifter novellas are the perfect “get away” romance reading. You can take yourself on a mini-vacation for an hour or so, getting lost in the exciting, sexy world she has created. Heart of the Jaguar is no exception with it’s romance with sizzling smex. The conflict is muted but adds to the overall story. Heart of the Jaguar is a very enjoyable romantic read.
My Rating:
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Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Purchase Info:
Reviews in the Series:
Labels:
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Review: Tempting the Jaguar by Katie Reus
Tempting the Jaguar
Author: Katie Reus
Release Date: Feb. 1, 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Nocturne Cravings
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Novella
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: Purchased with my own funds
About the book:
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Jaguar shifter Estrella Rios is packless, and she likes it that way. No one is going to tell her what to do, least of all the sexy but arrogant wolf shifter who intends to claim her as his mate…
Rainer wants to know what a lone cat is doing in his pack's territory without permission—but mostly he just wants her. From the moment he meets Estrella, their attraction is scorching and undeniable. But enemy vampires have set their sights on Estrella, too, and keeping her safe proves difficult, especially when it's clear there's more to Estrella's heritage than either of them could imagine. Now they must discover the truth before it becomes too late for Rainer to ever claim her heart…
But enemy vampires have set their sights on Estrella, too, and keeping her safe proves difficult…and keeping his hands off her is impossible.
What I’m talking about:
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Estrella Rios is a lone Jaguar shifter… a woman without a pack, and she's never known pack life. Raised by humans since she was five, Estrella considers herself a human, with a pesky side of shifting. She's never told anyone what she is and knows nothing about shifter life or protocol.
One night while working at an art gallery, Rainer (brother of the Alpha's second-in-command) approached Estrella for being in the alpha's territory without giving notice. After she brushes him off, he follows her and saves her from a vampire attack. Soon the pair are on the run from the vampires who had been hunting Estrella.
The pair have immediate chemistry, and Rainer recognizes it as the mating call. After the adrenaline rush from their initial running from the vamps, the pair cannot keep their hands off of one another. Their encounters are steamy! However, I love that Rainier recognizes that in order to win Estrella over, he will have to give her control of their situation. He is willing to give up his need to take and mark her after she admits she's never been with a shifter. Rainier does not want to scare her off even though he wants to possess her and make her his mate. It's very romantic!
Even after their initial coupling, Estrella cannot give up her human ways of thinking - which I feel is very appropriate given her background. She sticks to her guns and doesn’t let the shifters take control. I admired Estrella throughout the story and even gave her a few “you go girl” thoughts while reading. Meanwhile, Rainer accepts all that Estrella is, knowing that in time they can make it work. He stands up for her, even if it wasn’t the smart move in his brother’s eyes. It is because of his admirable treatment of her that Estrella learns she can finally “let go” and be the woman she is inside: shifter and all. The couple create a solid relationship, and I admire the direction they take in the end. It’s not your standard shifter-mating HEA, but it is romantic, appropriate and happy!
Near the end, a secret twist is revealed, one that isn’t too much of a shock for those paying attention to the clues. If this story was longer - or part of a series - I would want to think more about how this news would impact the overall story arc. But since the novella is pretty much stand alone, I will leave it as a good twist, but not earth shattering.
Overall Tempting the Jaguar is an entertaining novella. Ms. Reus has a knack for giving the reader steamy romance and exciting action in an engaging read. As with her other novellas, this story is something that could be developed into a great full-length book, but it is enjoyable as is.
My Rating:
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Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Reviews in the Series
Friday, October 19, 2012
Review: A Jaguar's Kiss by Katie Reus
A Jaguar’s Kiss
Author: Katie Reus
Release Date: Oct. 1, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Nocturnal Cravings
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Novella
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: Author
About the book:
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Owen Wright, alpha of his wolf pack, hasn’t seen jaguar shifter Gabriela Segura in nearly ten years. She was his first love—until he did something to drive her away just as their relationship was heating up. Now Gabriela has returned to Montana, and his craving for her is stronger than ever.
But a recent string of brutal attacks on humans have the wolves suspicious of the jaguars, threatening the tenuous peace between the packs. Before he can claim Gabriela as his mate, they must join forces to prove her family’s innocence and track down the true predator.
What I’m talking about:
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Gabriela Segura left her small town of Bear Mountain, Montana almost five years ago. Secret work for the government and a broken heart has kept her away. But after losing her entire team, it was time for Gabriela to head home and regroup, hoping to avoid the man, Owen Wright, who hurt her ten years ago. When she arrives in town, she is almost immediately taken against her will by Owen’s little brother, who thinks he can use her as leverage to find out who’s been killing innocent humans in town.
Thankfully, once Owen finds out what Ethan did, he orders Gabriela freed. The couple reunite and sparks fly, now that the two are both consenting adults and clearly ready to pick up where they left off all those years ago. Although uncertain of what their passion will lead to, the pair agree to work together to solve the mystery of the human deaths.
A Jaguar’s Kiss is an entertaining addition to Ms. Reus' HQN Nocturnal Cravings novella series. In this third story, the setting moves from Alabama to Montana, where we are introduced to the Jaguar shifter species, as well as a new wolf pack. Although the setting and characters are all new, the story takes place in the same world as the first two novellas. This book is completely stand alone.
I like that the reader is given information about Gabriela and Owen’s past in small doses throughout the story, rather than one large information dump at the beginning. For example, we learn that although she’s only been away for four (plus) years, Gabriela has not seen or spoken with her childhood best friend and first love, Owen in a decade. For a while, the reader isn’t privy what happened just at the cusp of a relationship moving beyond friends when the pair were teens. Yet in time, the truth comes out, but only when the couple is ready to deal with the past and determine if there will be a future. It is enjoyable to see how both individuals have grown and matured in their time apart.
I thoroughly delighted in the easy nature of this novella. We are given just enough history to allow for us to care about the couple and cheer on their success. And wow! are they are hot together - years of pent up sexual frustration explode. I admire that Owen and Gabriela didn't even ask "who were you with while we were apart," or get hung up on past actions. And although she is determined to stay mad - Gabriela realizes it's not worth her happiness, and she takes a risk with her heart.
The mystery of who/what is behind the killings is dealt with quickly, but satisfactorily. It's not the drive of the novella - but provides reason for the pair to work together. Additional side stories such as involvement of Gabriela’s brother and Owen's sister serve to add some depth to the shortened-length story.
After reading three of her novellas, I have to say the Ms. Reus excels at the shortened format. She understands how to give the reader just enough background to understand the situation and care for the characters. She provides a conflict that can be wrapped up by the end without feeling contrived. If you are looking for a sexy, entertaining afternoon read, look no further than A Jaguar’s Kiss.
My Rating:
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Purchase Info:
Reviews in the Series
*Note: The first two books are related and are better read in order. The third book, A Jaguar’s Kiss, is stand alone.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Review: Protector's Mate
Protector’s Mate
Author: Katie Reus http://katiereus.com/
Release Date: April 1, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Nocturnal Cravings
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Novella
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: Author
About the book:
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After two years in a war zone, werewolf Felicia Serna has finally returned to find another pack has taken over her territory…and the new second-in-command is the very man who haunts her fantasies.
Alaric has wanted Felicia from the moment he laid eyes on her, and now he’s ready to claim her. When a threatening shifter begins stalking them, he’s determined to protect her…even if it means putting his seduction on hold. But even in the heat of danger, their red-hot passion cannot be denied.
What I’m talking about:
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Felicia is a wolf shifter that was betrayed and hurt by her own pack. She fled overseas to use her nursing skills in a war zone. After her service is up, she sneaks back home, hoping to make a quiet life for herself. Alaric, second command of Felicia’s new pack, has lusted after Felicia for years - always keeping a distance since she was too young to commit to the mating call. (We meet Alaric in the first book, Destined Mate.) Knowing that he cannot live without Felicia, he picks her up at the airport, and the pair come under attack.
This second novella in Ms. Reus’s unnamed shifter series starts of with a bang and keeps going. Without the need of much world-building (although you don't need to read first novella), Protector’s Mate jumps right into the romance between Alaric and Felicia. We learn about the current situation and the characters’ pasts organically - either through scene building or since we are privy to both Alaric and Felicia’s point-of-view, we get insight into their pasts via internal thought process. The story flows smoothly, which is critical for a novella-length story.
Basically they both lust for the other. I love that Alaric has known from the moment he met Felicia that she was his mate, but he held off claiming her or bringing her to his pack because of her age (19). He didn't trust himself not to claim her, so gave her space. So swoon-worthy. I was instantly invested in the couple and enjoyed reading how they let go of their pasts to move forward together.
The couple comes together so perfectly. Their first kiss is equal parts steamy, sweet and romantic. And the smex is hot! Both characters are strong yet vulnerable. Felicia has been mentally and emotionally broken by her former pack and leader. Yet she gives herself an attitude "adjustment" as Alaric makes his advances on her. She went from "why would anyone want me" to "not sure why, but he does want me so I am going to open up and enjoy it." That never seems to happen in romances - and I admire the strength and fortitude Felicia demonstrates time and time again throughout the story.
Other than the focus on the primary couple, there is external conflict and a few bad guys. It’s just enough to add action and minor tension to the storyline, but it doesn’t take away focus from the love story. This is just as it should be for a novella-length story.
Protector’s Mate is a quick read, free of major road bumps, and an all-around enjoyable story. It is sexy with just enough tension for the shorter length.
My Rating:
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Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Friday, December 16, 2011
Review: Destined Mate
Destined Mate
Author: Katie Reus
Release Date: Oct. 1, 2011
Publisher: Harlequin Nocturne Cravings
Genre: Paranormal Romance, novella
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: Author
About the book:
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Almost a century ago, Angela Lavigne and Alpha werewolf Knox had a shared passion neither could control. Then Angela was turned into a vampire and disappeared.
The last thing Knox expects is for Angela to show up on his doorstep on a rescue mission, as sexy and irresistible as ever. And he can sense how much she still wants him, too. She’s gone against both their species’ rules and trespassed on his land. By law he can keep her as long as he wants—and Knox doesn’t intend to let her go ever again.
As their desire explodes once again, Knox is more sure than ever that he must claim her forever. But as vampire and werewolf, they are natural born enemies. Can she truly be his destined mate?
What I’m talking about:
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The story opens with our vampire heroine, Angela, infiltrating a werewolf stronghold to rescue her BFF just weeks before a historic peace accord between the two species. Angela is cunning and quick, but once she makes it to the mansion where she knows her friend is being held, she receives a shock: her once lover is this pack’s Alpha. Angela had run from Knox almost a century ago when she was turned into a vampire because she knew how much he and his kind detested vampires.
Knox is immediately attracted to his lost love. He gets all Alpha on her and forces her to stay after she finds out her friend snuck away from their coven when their leader forbade her to mate with a werewolf. He tries to balance his lust for Angela and taking the time to tell her how he really feels.
Destined Mate is an enjoyable novella-length, stand alone story. (If it’s attached to a series, I couldn’t find it.) Due to the shortened length, there isn’t much background on the two primary species: werewolves and vampires. However, Ms. Reus sprinkles the story with facts about her creations (like Angela is a daywalker, which is rare, or Knox heals faster than his pack, which is partly why he is the alpha), giving the tale a enough complexity to keep up interest and feed my curiosity. Of course with that said, I’d love to find out more.... like what is the history of the two species’ feuding, etc.
The story has two major conflicts, first when Angela confronts her coven leader and must choose to go home with the vampires or stay with the wolves. But it doesn’t end there, which is what gives this novella a plus in my book. Next, Angela and Knox must deal with the outfall of the Alpha wolf mating a vampire. It’s amazing that such a short story can adequately address both issues in a satisfying manner.
The attraction between the pair is immediate and intense, but both have been in love with the other for over 90 years. The smex is steamy and I really enjoy the interesting ramifications of a were and vamp mating.
My biggest complaint about the story is that I wish it was longer. Although it isn’t lacking because of its length, Ms. Reus has created a world that left me wanting to know more. This is a good little story to fit in between novels or, if you are like me, to read while in line at the grocery story, waiting at the doctor’s office, etc.
My Rating:
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Liked it a lot - recommend (B+)
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