Gage: The Outcast Bears Book 2, Emilia Hartley

Prankster, trouble-maker, irresponsible, hot-head.  Gage is used to all these labels and plays them up, owns them.  That doesn't mean some of them don't bother him, though.  When he's stuck back in his home town supporting the pack that ousted him and his brothers years ago he's at loose ends and doesn't know where he fits or what could possibly keep him here.  But there's someone that needs him and when he finds her none of that other stuff will matter as much as giving her a place to belong and the confidence to embrace it.

Gage has felt abandoned by everyone important to him.  His friend gave him up to the police to save his own skin, his father and pack kicked him out because he couldn't be a good little soldier, his oldest brother discarded him in favor of being alone, his other brother deserted him for a woman and a new pack; what's left except his own bravado and his devil-may-care attitude?  Until he finds a small coyote shifter lost and confused in an alley.  Something about her calls to a deeper part of him and he's not about to let her go until he figures it out.

Kaylee has lost everything that she built.  Sure, she's got family that loves her.  And yes, her talent is still in there somewhere.  But what good are either of those things if the feelings of betrayal and hurt have sent her to a tiny town far away from everyone and everything she's ever known?  Well, that mess has got nothing on the trouble that's staring at her through vacant yet blood-lust filled eyes and a mouth of sharp teeth.  Waking up to a world of crazy sets her on the path that could heal her hurt, give her a future worth keeping, and a new self to empower her forever.

I enjoyed the interplay between Gage and Kaylee.  It also gave me greater insight into Gage's individual antics growing up and why his brothers and their old clan viewed him the way they did.  While I felt there was a bit of a lack of resolution with Kaylee's career history as well as Gage's more emotional history, there were enough mentions of both to give a relatively complete "big picture" feel that made their relationship feel solid going forward.

This was actually a great book.  Depending on how book three turns out this could very well be my favorite of the series.  There was plenty of humor, heart, affection, steam, and drama to make this a well-rounded story.  Kaylee is fierce, independent, and understanding.  Gage is funny, caring, a bit hot-headed, and considerate.  They have the ability to balance one another and together give Cohen a purpose, a home.  I'm really looking forward to his story and how they'll all fit together.

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*Gage and Archer find a home 

in a place they thought they'd left for good.

Read Archer's story to find out what he left behind,

what should have been his from the start...

Archer had no plans to return home. Not after the dramatic exit he'd made. An arranged marriage to settle the feud between two packs sounded alright on the surface, but he'd be damned if he were to be mated to someone he didn't love. When Archer and his brothers left home they didn't plan on ever going back... That is until he received a call from a familiar voice years later urging him to return home to fix a problem that could destroy them all.

Joanna loved him. When she found out she was going to be mated to Archer, she couldn't contain her excitement. He was the most kind, generous and sexy man she'd ever met. It was like a dream come true. Until he crushed her heart on the day of the ceremony. She was broken and had never really recovered from the betrayal. And now the bastard had the balls to return to Stonefall all these years later? 

Who was she kidding, she couldn't stay mad at him. If she was honest with herself, she'd admit that Archer was and always will be the only man to occupy her thoughts... and hopefully her bed.

The Jaguar's Romance, Emilia Hartley

The nature of a cat and the nature of a bear are not too different, according to Oscar who shares the soul of a jaguar, and he's about to entice Sally to believe the same thing.  He's determined to draw out her innate sensuality himself.  And maybe find a way to keep her out of trouble with the law at the same time.

Sally is confused, frustrated, and frightened by the situation in which she finds herself.  Turned into a were-bear by a murdering, sadistic, insane grizzly out to ruin them all for unknown reasons, she's struggling to make peace between her and her bear.  With Thorn as a mentor she feels awkward and very like a burden.  Her crush on him makes her dependence on him bittersweet.  Sweet because he can understand her dilemma and she gets to ogle his hotness, but intensely more bitter because his lover and mate, Felicity, is never far away and her presence reminds her that she'll never have a chance with him.

Their situation is made infinitely more complicated by the fact that her sire is in the wind and his control over her might lead to Thorn's demise.  They need help to solve the mystery and Oscar is more than willing to help Sally in every way he can.

They have great chemistry and I like that the player in him can see what Sally has inside of her.  Not just her enticing curves, but her intelligence and goodness.  There's potential between them because her innocent curiosity and need to be desired for herself are drawing her to Oscar, not just the sexy facade, but the real man inside.  She breaks down his walls and opens his heart to more than just physical pleasure, something he didn't think existed.

Sally and her bear needed more assistance in accepting one another as well as honing her skills.  Her "jaunt" in the woods was kind of a hot mess and unsatisfying to say the least.  The romance was better, thank goodness, and I liked Oscar's explanation of why he accepted monogamy with Sally.  Hearing his thoughts about other women was slightly off-putting but actually not too bad because we knew from The Bear's Home and from the beginning of this story that he is quite the libertine and he had his own evolution to go through.

There's a ton of drama in this one.  With a number of plot points to cover in this relatively short story I was fairly impressed by how everything came together.  I did think it was a bit over the top at some moments and the resolution was slightly unsatisfying.  Yes, we didn't want Oscar to be like their nemesis but I'm really not sure human law enforcement is enough.  And unless the next story comes from Iwalani or The Vet, this just doesn't seem like a fitting end.  Whether the series continues or not, we'll see.  I'm hoping so because I'd like to get to know these other characters (I have my suspicions about The Vet) and I'd also like to see all the loose ends get tied up.

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*Meet Sally and Oscar before they find one another

in The Bear's Home and find out

how they get involved with the murderous interloper.

Being the largest shifter in the area, Thorn had plenty of responsibilities. Unfortunately, there were only two things Thorn cared about. Fighting, and sex. This made Ripple, Oregon an easy target for other Apex Shifters. Especially of the sly female variety. Thorn could spot her a mile away. The sexy, confident blonde definitely didn't belong here. Not that it mattered... he was just interested in getting in her pants.

The small town was Felicity's next playground to tear apart. With plans to commercialize it with skyscrapers and malls, she could already feel the money in her hands. To make matters easier, the current Apex was a dumb brute named Thorn. Taking over this town was going to be easier than she'd originally thought, all she had to do was convince Thorn... and she knew exactly how.

The Snow Leopard's Christmas Surprise, Emilia Hartley

I really liked the idea of this book because I'm all about big cat shifters, especially the kind that are a little more elusive in real life.  And the fated mate plus a baby surprise are also tropes I enjoy.  The way this came together was not exactly my favorite.  There were stellar moments, like the protectiveness with the middle of the night scare, the playfulness in the snow, the discovery of the son's first shift, the moment of declaring the claim...all of those were moments that made me have faith in the couple and their future happiness.  Unfortunately, all of those moments were short and the predominant feel of the book was that of Ellie never being supported or understood or even respected.  Sure at the very end Nolan did something that made her think he knew her and her goals but that was a little out of left field because his comments and actions up to this point didn't speak to that at all.  The disconnect was unfortunate.

The romance was kind of there but because I didn't see them connecting and coming to any kind of satisfying equality or understanding of one another I din't really believe in their romance.  I felt like there was lust and a draw toward one another, but love and anything else wasn't being built.  Especially because Ellie was constantly undermining Nolan's efforts, talking herself away from him, being prideful to the point of pig-headed and inflexible rather than just stubborn.  Nolan did a lot of work to show his commitment but there's only about a week of time passing so while I don't actually doubt his commitment to sticking around, I do doubt their relationship and the veracity of their feelings.

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Archer, Emilia Hartley

When the life Archer left behind comes back to haunt him and then smacks him in the face by showing him what he could have had, what he should have protected, he gets the chance to prove what he's really made of.  And if he can have Joanna for a quick minute before he fulfills his new promises?  All the better.  The female he rejected grew up well but she's in a tough spot with her new pack and Archer is determined to fix things for her.  But to do that, he might have to make the ultimate sacrifice.

The overall development of the story was really good in this one.  The characters were more fully fleshed out, the drama was kept to a minimum of sources, relationships were complex and didn't have awkward extras, and the setup for a sequel was clear and intriguing.

Archer is summoned back to his hometown after 8 years when he was exiled for refusing to follow tradition.  His refusal was based on an arranged marriage to a pack leader's daughter and he thought himself in love with a human woman.  We don't get any details about who she was or what happened when they left home but we know it didn't last and contributed to his disbelief and mockery of love.

What he finds on his first moments home is that nothing is as it should be.  A new and dangerous pack is trying to establish themselves in the territory of the pack he left.  As he figures out what's going on with the pack that kicked him out and the pack that's trying to take over he finds home, not just the one he left behind, but the one for him, his bear, and his heart.

Joanna feels a lot of guilt.  When Archer left she felt vulnerable, weak, unwanted, and was ripe for the picking for a controlling, violent man.  Killian filled the void and quickly showed his true colors.  Since then her pack was decimated to a few members and only her feigned submission to him is keeping them safe.  They blame her for their hell of a life just as much as she does and when her many, many pleas for help to the Vancourt pack go unanswered she's resolved to doing something on her own.  But even the strongest alpha needs support and help.  Surprisingly, Archer is willing to provide.

They become closer to one another and I find that they make a really good couple.  Joanna has a few drama moments where she finds her resolve and then loses it, finds it, then loses it...those times are a bit annoying but understandable when you take into account of the years of abuse, fear, and self-sacrifice.  Archer was a big ol' martyr and thankfully there was Joanna there to see his intentions and create a situation where they could help one another achieve what they would fail to do on their own.  The way the alpha situation was handled was really good.  I was happy with the outcome because it was right for the characters.

Aside from what I felt was a lack of groveling, there was a ton of heat and passion between Joanna and Archer.  In addition to their chemistry they begin a great foundation for something deeper and lasting, a place where their love can flourish with time and attention.  I'm also looking forward to seeing them in the periphery of Cohen and Gage's stories.  I really hope that the intimations for more from these brothers in subsequent stories isn't just a dirty tease because I've gotten a bit attached and a lot interested in them.

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The Bear's Home, Emilia Hartley

A giant of a bear-man who knows very little about his past, a sly feline-woman whose avarice might just ruin her chance at a future with that bear-man.  Both of these shifters will need to find a way to win against their personal demons in order to win against a threat to their town and their happiness.

Thorn is a bear of a man, both literally and supernaturally, and likes his simple life of fighting, felling trees, and fornicating.  (Can't exactly use the word you were thinking I'd use...)  When Felicity shows up he's drawn to her but has no clue why.  There's also something that's threatening the way of life he's so comfortable with.

Felicity is a mountain lion shifter and loves the acquisition of land.  It's part of the deal with her feline nature and it has brought her to the tiny town of Ripple, Oregon.  Surprised by her attraction to Thorn she finds that all her careful plans are thrown into disarray in the face of their passion and a larger threat they can't name.

The entire story was actually pretty interesting.  There were a lot of elements that drew me in with the town and the secondary characters.  I was not thrilled with the Sally stuff and could have done without that.  More annoying was the way Thorn described each woman, objectifying them and seeing sex more than anything else.  I kind of believe that he'll be loyal to Felicity but their relationship is never really discussed and their draw is mainly physical so anything deeper to bind them to one another is missing.

Ending with a few points unfinished it reads like it will continue with a series and I hope it does.  I liked the town and I'd like to see Thorn's growth as his role of apex along with Felicity.  Their town needs it and with all the hints but no actual education I think it'll fall flat if it's not expounded on with more books to support everything introduced in The Bear's Home.

*99¢ on Amazon!

The Panther's Rival, Emilia Hartley

Jumping right into the story we have Merk, a panther shifter running from his past and the darkness inside him.  Kara has her own secrets too and they turn out to be an even bigger issue than Merk's past, at least in this particular story.

This book was darker than others I've read by this author and it made it a bit harder to swallow.  There wasn't a lot of build-up, we are thrown right into the deep end with Merk's darker past and Kara's secrets.  We don't even get Merk's dark past except for in small hints here and there until he has that delirious moment with RJ in the woods and that's just a bit too weird to digest and feel enlightened.

Under and surrounding everything is a bully who will never give Kara up.  We're given hints about what Kara was using Ratty for but the answers to that were never given.  Merk even wonders why she was with him when it was obvious that Ratty was a despicable being, fully admitted by Kara as well.  He's never mentioned as once being a good guy ever so we're left guessing as to what those reasons Kara had were.

The angle of bullies running the town and the couple fighting for justice is more like a side element that's kind of an accident.  Kara's all about standing up for herself and others but the plot to take down the bullies for good?  That was just something necessary to stay in town, not something they came together to do.

I can't say that I truly enjoyed the story, there were a lot more questions unanswered and unfinished sentiments by the end than I was uncomfortable with.  While those unfinished feelings suggest a series beginning here, it does so in a way that means I'm un-enthusiastically waiting for answers rather than intrigued by the town and its people because, honestly, those townspeople are pretty abhorrent as well.  There aren't any other characters beyond RJ that we're introduced to that could carry into a series so I'm wondering where things will go.  If there's no series then that just leaves a rather disappointing novel that had a bunch of potential.

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Quick Reads and Quick Reviews 13

  

• Christmas Opportunities, Sydney Blackburn
• Crush on the Alpha Bear, Emilia Hartley
• Forgetting Jack Cooper: The Stuntman Edition, Erin McCarthy

For such a short story it grabbed me and sucked me right in.   I loved both of these men and despite the length of this story, they were both engaging and their interplay was touching.  I actually wish this story were longer because I grew attached to these men.  Eric caught me more than Brady did, mostly because of his honesty.  He knew where he was in his life, knew what he needed to change, and had the strength to do what needed to be done.  He had the courage to bear his heart even if he knew things were temporary between him and Brady.  Unfortunately, that courage wasn't appreciated and Brady's reaction left quite a lot to be desired.   Eric's reaction in the airport during his departure was honest and real. Brady was caught in his head a little too much, more concerned with what he couldn't give than with what he could.  He gets over it, but only the fear that things might be too late spurs him to make the grand gesture.  I enjoyed the confessions, the heart, the tenderness, the promise of love and forever.  With the most charming boy and a truly spectacular dog that thinks he's a person, this book was heartwarming and perfect for the season and any other time of the year.  5 stars.

The MC's were young and inexperienced with life.  They were reactionary and immature as well.   When I say immature I don't mean snarky, irresponsible, or unpleasant, just that they come off as being late teens rather than early twenties.  Their pack is quite sheltered and it's pretty clear that all shifter packs are that way though some may be larger and some smaller.  Being sheltered means that their social skills and interpersonal relationships are immature as well.

As I read I was hoping that there would be some leveling out in their reactions but there was just so much that was more exaggerated than things needed to be.   I expected those types of reactions from high schoolers.  The drama between packs is off to an intense start and there is some interest to see how things play out, new characters that will be introduced, how Kelly gets a grip, and how Adam matures into the alpha he has the potential to become.  Emily has potential as well and her strength is spoken of but when things really come to a head that strength kind of flops.  Her innate sense of justice and caring for those who need help is there and I feel like that should take a pivotal role in helping to support and whip Adam into the shape he needs to be in.

 Overall, the book had some interesting points and has potential as a series though I wish the characters were more mature and better developed.  2.5 stars.

This was feisty, flirty, and definitely fun.  I enjoyed Toni and her realistic view of herself and what she presents to the world.  She's real and not everyone's ideal for beauty and career but she owns every part of herself.  I liked that she found someone that she wouldn't have ordinarily fallen for because of one of her stunts.  It put her in a position to find a love that had actual potential because it put both people out of their element and made them take more than a second look.  Chase was a good partner for all of Toni's vivaciousness because he could be very grounding for her.  He did get bent out of shape after the incident with the fan, though, and while I don't blame him for feeling the way he did, I think he could have handled things better.  Same with Toni.  She was so quick to make a decision about their relationship without thinking things through.  Once they were in a position where cooler heads prevailed, though, they were mature and honest which bodes well for their future.  They both have good hearts and are willing to grow and learn about the other person.  I enjoyed this story and it was a good way to start the Jack Cooper series.  4 stars.

Elemental Dragons, Emilia Hartley

I received ARCs for books 2-4 because I got on this dragon train a bit late.  I've enjoyed all three books so far and each have earned a solid 3 stars for the most part.  There's a bit of a shaky world build and the characters could use some work, but overall the stories are good and flow easily well from one to the next.  There's a definite cohesiveness that is nice to see in this series and I'm more than willing to read more and find out more of how these dragons find their mates, band together as a species with their allies and forge their own peaceful, cooperative futures.

I liked where the book was headed. There was a lot of promise with this story but I feel like it fell short on a few points. Overall, however, the book was enjoyable and the feels were relatively strong. It made me interested in the series as well as other books by this author.

Quinn had the potential to be a really strong character. She has the past, the excitement, the strength, the wit, the intelligence, and the beauty both inside and out to be a really well-rounded character. Where that fell short was in how much drama was packed into a relatively short book. There was too much going on and not enough focus to let her strengths really shine. Instead, she came off as being a bit flighty, unfocused, and overwhelmed by the emotions that came at her from virtually every direction. Being overwhelmed is understandable, I just feel like we read her as being constantly overwhelmed instead of level-headed, a trait we're made to think she has in the beginning.

Isaac had a great start too. He was passionate and interesting. The rest of the story didn't really do him justice though. We were also teased with learning more about his past but get no follow through there. Will there be more of him in the next book, even obliquely?

There could have been a great deal more of them together actually building something and establishing a connection and a foundation. What we were given was a bit superficial and then there's a ton of drama from many sources, and then the ending is hopeful and a little bit romantic. The story itself could use a lot of paring down and refining to make the events cohesive and the romance one that connects both characters and you as a the reader. 2.5 stars.

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My heart aches when mate bonds are shunned, denied, or broken.  Marc has so much patience with Noelle though I don't think she always deserves it.  With her past I can understand her hesitation but I find her actions more than frustrating because of how long she denies who she knows is a good man.  Her dragon man is wonderful and I'm definitely on his side on this one.  They make a good partnership, however, when they band together to do something dangerous, a bit reckless, and for the good of their dragon family.  When they come together their passion is intense and filled with so much of Marc's heart that I find myself forgiving Noelle a little bit.  I do find her withholding important information frustrating, though, because for once I thought she was going to do the better thing, the right thing, but it turns out that she just goes right back to being a team of one while giving her mate lip service, both literally and figuratively.  When the worse comes to worst, though, she gives him the trust he deserves and he gives it right back.  Their mission is complete, but not without some losses, some gains, and discoveries that serve to help with all kinds of healing.  Overall, this story was pretty good and ended with light and humor when the beginning didn't promise such.  3 stars.

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This was Kenji's story and I was eagerly awaiting this one.  His partner, Morgan, was actually a good match for him. I did feel like they didn't truly end up on the same page, even in the end, but they were on their way there, so that was good.    I had quite a few moments where I got choked up on Kenji's behalf.   He was trying so hard to find his place, to become a version of himself and couldn't do it on his own.   Morgan was trying to make her place, to attain her dream but could do with a little support.   Together they could achieve all of that but life kept getting in the way of their future as individuals and as mates.   The GOE are ramping up their efforts in dragon domination and manipulation and it seems, throughout most of this book, that they just might succeed.  With modern technology and a few individuals who aren't afraid to stand up and speak out against injustice, they find that a peaceful future just might be possible.  Overall, this story was quite dramatic and had a very hopeful outcome.  3 stars.

*Only 96¢!

Quick Reads and Quick Reviews 8

  

• Ravensdale, Daphne Van Diemen
• Heat, Erin McCarthy
• The Dragon's Lover, Emilia Hartley

This book took a really long time to get going. There were times that I was confused about what was supposed to be happening because things were very predictable but super slow in getting there. I will say that for the first half I was wrong about who she should end up with, but after that I knew where they were going and was slightly happier about it. As for the drama, there was a lot of anticipation and virtually no follow through until the end. I was very disappointed that someone so intelligent gave virtually no time to her thesis and almost nothing to picking up on the clues all around her and having enough gumption to see what was going on. Then with the romance...lots of extremely slow build and one big confession under duress and stress with virtually no foundation for anything that would last. With more of an HFN that wasn't exactly super happy the book felt incomplete. Sure the bad guy gets it, but that's pretty much where the story ends. He gets it and nothing else gets addressed or resolved. I mean, even the ambulance and the cops haven't shown up by this point. Overall, I wasn't impressed and failed to be impressed pretty much from the word go. Interesting premise with a very disappointing finish.  2 stars.

I usually love this author.  This book felt like it was from early in her career, one before she hit her stride with good character depth, cohesive story lines, emotionally connected sexy times, and overall enjoyability.  Disappointing, to say the least, is how I felt when I finished this story.  The baby stuff was conflict enough, but add in the government, dead but maybe not dead ex, delusions about the past, secrets about the past, and man-whore flirting as an introduction and attitude toward the end and I've pretty much given up liking the book.  Miranda wasn't really a strong woman who knew her mind and what she wanted for her future.  She worked hard and did well for herself professionally, and that's great, but her maturity level felt more on par with late teens, early twenties.  Alejandro was sex on a stick, sure, but when I am introduced to him getting felt up in the extreme right in front of the person he says he's always loved?  Not a fan.  And then there was Max not really being who Miranda had glorified him into.  Overall, there was too much drama and not enough depth.  2 stars.

I liked where the book was headed. There was a lot of promise with this story but I feel like it fell short on a few points. Overall, however, the book was enjoyable and the feels were relatively strong. It made me interested in the series as well as other books by this author.

Quinn had the potential to be a really strong character. She has the past, the excitement, the strength, the wit, the intelligence, and the beauty both inside and out to be a really well-rounded character. Where that fell short was in how much drama was packed into a relatively short book. There was too much going on and not enough focus to let her strengths really shine. Instead, she came off as being a bit flighty, unfocused, and overwhelmed by the emotions that came at her from virtually every direction. Being overwhelmed is understandable, I just feel like we read her as being constantly overwhelmed instead of level-headed, a trait we're made to think she has in the beginning.

Isaac had a great start too. He was passionate and interesting. The rest of the story didn't really do him justice though. We were also teased with learning more about his past but get no follow through there. Will there be more of him in the next book, even obliquely?

There could have been a great deal more of them together actually building something and establishing a connection and a foundation. What we were given was a bit superficial and then there's a ton of drama from many sources, and then the ending is hopeful and a little bit romantic.  The story itself could use a lot of paring down and refining to make the events cohesive and the romance one that connects both characters and you as a the reader.  2.5 stars.