Primal Heat by A.C. Arthur

Primal Heat by A.C. Arthur

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


One of these days I’m going to set down and read this series from the beginning, back-to-back, so I know which of the good guys I’m grieving for. Yes, that’s a tiny bit of a spoiler, but with the ongoing war between the Shadow Shifters and the rogues, there are bound to be losses and Arthur keeps the series feeling real by breaking our hearts when it happens. Add to that Boden’s personal vendetta against the Shadow Shifters and Crowe’s machinations to create a hybrid super soldier, well that insured tons of action in this installment. But all of that was mild in comparison to what is simmering between Eli and Nivea because the secrets they each harbor may end their pairing before it can even begin.

While none of the female mates in this series have had it easy, Arthur outdid herself with Nivea’s backstory. The hints given regarding Nivea’s past did not prepare me for the truth of why she left the seemingly lavish lifestyle she was raised in and why she remains estranged from her parents. When the details began to be revealed I actually reread the scene because the what wasn’t even on my radar. Shocked doesn’t even begin to describe my reaction. And yet Nivea refused to let her past define her and embraced her Shadow Shifter heritage fully, much to the dismay of her sisters. It is her determination in overcoming her past that made Nivea the perfect match for Eli because like her, his past left him scarred, but unlike her, Eli has not overcome it, allowing his past to define him as he refuses to believe that a mate will help him overcome his “curse” or that he is deserving of happiness. Eli’s refusal to acknowledge they’re meant to be mates forces Nivea to call upon her determination because she’s not just fighting Eli, she’s also fighting the ghosts of his past.

I loved watching this relationship play out. Eli gives new meaning to the phrase hard-headed man with his refusal to acknowledge Nivea as his mate. My heart broke for Nivea each time he rebuffed her or snuck out the morning after, but man were those nights between them hot! But even as my heart ached for her, I loved that she was sure in her belief that she deserved happiness and that Eli’s rejections were on him and not a reflection of her. And even as he denied her as his mate, Eli had her back when her loyalty to the Shadow Shifters was in question. While I haven’t read all of the books in the series, I like that Arthur develops the relationship within the ongoing conflicts – the war doesn’t stop for love. This serves to strengthen their bond as they face their enemies head on. Primal Heat was a great addition to The Shadow Shifters series and I love the possibilities that about with the open ending of the book – not a cliffhanger per se, but it certainly leaves many, many avenues open for the author to take.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

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Hunger's Mate Part 4 by A.C. Arthur

Hunger's Mate Part 4 by A.C. Arthur

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



He loves her! Yep, Ezra finally tells Jewel that he loves her. That should be great, right? Sadly his declaration does not come at the best time for Jewel – for the reader however, the whole conversation serves to lighten a serious scene. Because of her past, Ezra has to prove his love for Jewel via his actions and he does this while continuing to help thwart Larry’s machinations and uncovering an even bigger plot regarding Shya. Despite her mind’s best intentions, the companheiro calor is released between Jewel and Ezra and all bets are off – proving yet again why I love shifter sex: animalistic intensity that knows no bounds. Ms. Arthur writes superb mating sex scenes. YUM! As expected, the action abounds in part four and it is a thrill ride to the conclusion of the serial novel. Seriously folks, I don’t know how you can stand to read an installment at a time – my hats off to you because I couldn’t do it.

In the final installment of Hunger’s Mate, betrayals and alliances abound and are revealed – some were not surprising, others quite shocking, and still some that we must wait to see how they play out in future books in the Shadow Shifters series. I can’t say I’m upset at the prospect of more books in the series because I am loving Ms. Arthur’s writing. I appreciate that while she links the books together via a series storyline, each book is written so that it can be read as a standalone without confusion. That said, I want to go back and read the first three books because I am loving the characters and want to know more about how the other couples got together. But at least Jewel finally got to return to being Dawn and start her life with Ezra. And I can take comfort in knowing that I will likely get to catch up with them in future books in the Shadow Shifters series.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Hunger's Mate Spotlight! blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Hunger's Mate Part 3 by A.C. Arthur

Hunger's Mate Part 3 by A.C. Arthur

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



You’re a bad, bad woman Ms. Arthur. The first sentence of this installment of Hunger’s Mate put me into a tailspin of emotions – relief that Jewel had gotten to her father, sadness because it meant she left Ezra, happiness that Jewel’s father was safe. But none of that compared to the fear I felt when the phone call was made. Fear that only increased when Jewel’s father confirmed that he was now in Larry’s clutches. But apparently the author felt as if she hadn’t wrenched enough emotion out of me and continued to run me through the gauntlet with Hunger’s Mate Part 3.

In the third installment, Ezra finally confronts Jewel about Larry and while she still does not tell him everything, she reveals a lot. Color me surprised to realize that she went to Perryville because she knew about the Shadow Shifters – granted, I probably should have picked up on that from the Prologue in part one, but I didn’t. Even though she still refuses to tell Ezra the details of her time with Larry, Jewel’s behaviors when they have sex – and oh god, yes they do again and it’s even hotter this time around – go a long way in letting Ezra know that Jewel was completely powerless in that relationship. I love the lengths to which Ezra is willing to go to make Jewel feel safe during their sexual interactions, especially when they are often in opposition to his alpha male and animal instincts. But seriously, that man’s gotta put a bell on his woman because she takes off yet again. At least this time he knows where she’s headed and he sets off after her, intending to save her and her father, and to finally claim his mate (YES!!!). And what, pray tell, action-packed, nail-biting scene does Ms. Arthur leave us suspended on … Ezra vs. ADAM!!! Reading schedule be damned. I’m off to Hunger’s Mate Part 4 as I MUST know how their story ends.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Hunger's Mate Spotlight! blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Hunger's Mate Part 2 by A.C. Arthur

Hunger's Mate Part 2 by A.C. Arthur

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



He’s found her. The man that Jewel has been hiding from for three years has finally found her. Her secrets are out … well, most of them. But when she manages to elude HIM, with the help of Ezra, Bas, and Jacques, HE brings an army down on the resort in order to get her back. But Ezra is determined to protect her and once again Jewel avoids capture. But her freedom is not without cost as there were plenty of people caught in the crossfire at the resort. And the Shadow Shifters have lost ADAM in the invasion too.

Ms. Arthur ramps up the action and the sexual tension in the second installment in the Hunger’s Mate serial novel. And oh my goodness is it hot! There are major revelations made in this book about Jewel and Ezra – some we learned parts of in part one and some were completely new info. When Jewel’s safety and freedom are threatened, Ezra’s protectiveness increases exponentially and he is forced to admit to himself that he wants to claim her. At the same time, Jewel continues to fight what her body wants and finds it harder to do so as her situation gets direr. But when they both finally give in to inevitable, holy heck is it hot! Jewel refuses to obey, to acquiesce, to submit, so instead she takes what she wants and she wants Ezra. Ezra is more than happy to give her that control. And as we’re all coming down from that post-orgasmic high, Ezra receives a text that does not bode well. What is it? I DON’T KNOW!!! The reading of Hunger’s Mate Part 3 commences NOW!!!

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Hunger's Mate Part 1 & 2 by A.C. Arthur blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Hunger's Mate Part 1 by A.C. Arthur

Hunger's Mate Part 1 by A.C. Arthur

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



This is the first of four parts of the serial novel, Hunger’s Mate, and Ms. Arthur certainly has my attention. In this installment, we meet Ezra Preston, a Lead Guard of the Stateside Shadow Shifters. He has been sent to Perryville to infiltrate Comastaz Labs to find out how much the government actually knows about his people. While there he encounters Jewel Jenner, a human who works as the administrative assistant for the Mountain Zone’s Lead Enforcer, Jacques. She calls to his cat in a way that no female has in a very long time. Because of his treatment at the hands of the last female he was drawn to, he does not engage in emotional entanglements with women, not that he ever would with a human.

Fans of the series may recall meeting Jewel briefly in Shifter’s Claim. The Prologue of Hunger’s Mate Part 1 provides quite a bit of insight into Jewel’s past without actually revealing why she is on the run. Through her interactions with Ezra and Jewel’s own inner monologue, it is clear that she was abused – likely physically and sexually – and she is in hiding from the man who abused her. That she unknowingly happened to end up working for a resort owned by shifters who are not interested in humans as mates has given her a safe haven in which to hide. And all was well in her life until Ezra arrived on the scene. He makes her want things she hasn’t wanted in years and this scares her.

As expected, Ms. Arthur infuses an elevated amount of sexual tension between Ezra and Jewel – no sex yet, but the make-out scenes definitely got my inner kitty purring. Although there has been no mention of companheiro calor nor has Ezra considered it in this first installment, those readers familiar with the series will easily recognize the direction of Ezra’s behaviors and the writing on the wall is clear. However, Jewel’s past makes an unexpected intrusion in her life and she is whisked away before Ezra has a chance to take things further. Not only is Ezra left frustrated, but so is the reader as the author has set up the ending of part one with an action-packed cliffhanger that makes me relieved that I already have part two sitting on my Kindle.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Hunger's Mate Part 1 & 2 by A.C. Arthur blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Review of Shifter's Claim by A.C. Arthur

Shifter's Claim by A.C. Arthur

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Shifter’s Claim is the fourth book in The Shadow Shifters series and can be read as a stand-alone. I have read Ms. Arthur’s spin-off series of novellas, Shadow Shifters: Damaged Hearts, and was excited to get the opportunity to see what she could do within a full-length novel. Suffice it to say, she did not disappoint.

Priya is a journalist looking for a story … a story to confirm the existence of “cat people.” But she isn’t investigating the story to make a name for herself as a journalist. She is being blackmailed and her brother’s life is on the line. While she doesn’t actually believe in the existence of “cat people,” she was pointed in the direction of a specific individual. As she attempts to get closer to him during a fundraiser she is intercepted by Sebastian and her life takes an even more unexpected turn – she just doesn’t know it yet. The chemistry between Priya and Bas is primal … but we are dealing with shifter pheromones after all. Ms. Arthur has a knack for writing intense sex scenes that are raw and primal, thus making Bas and Priya’s immensely pleasurable.

There is a lot of action in this book as the rogues continue their attacks. The author provides bits and pieces of information for readers of the prior books in the series, but does so in such a way that readers who haven’t read books 1-3 yet aren’t lost. If anything, she has peaked my interest even more in the earlier books in the series and I suspect that I will be reading them sooner rather than later as I’m quite interested in the stories of some of the other characters. Shifter’s Claim is an action-packed paranormal romance with plenty of steam to keep you entertained. Ms. Arthur has definitely made a fan of me.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

See the Shifter's Claim by A.C. Arthur blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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