Sara Humphreys (1)

3.75 Stars — Sara Humphreys has taken a fresh approach to shapeshifter paranormal romance in UNLEASHED. Her world of the Amoveo race is unique. There are ten Amoveo clans of shapeshifters, including wolves, bears, foxes and eagles. Not only do they shapeshift from human to animal, they have other special abilities like telepathy. The Amoveo live unnoticed among humans, except for one group called the Caedo. The Caedo are their ancient enemies set to destroy them all.

The author did a show more wonderful job introducing the reader to the Amoveo world with Malcolm and Samantha's story. Malcolm knows that among his kind, he is predestined to have one mate. If he does not find her, he will never have offspring, and he will die young. He knows that Sam is his mate, yet she has no idea that she is a hybrid, half Amoveo wolf, half human. He visits Sam in her dreams, hoping to open her mind to his world.

UNLEASHED started a bit slow, but really picked up about half-way though. Sam and Malcolm were likable characters that I could easily connect with. Malcolm wasn't overly "alpha" in his behavior, which I think is what Sam needed to accept the situation. In addition to the romance between Malcolm and Sam, there is a mystery too. Someone is trying to kill Sam, and it's up to Malcolm to keep his mate safe. I enjoyed trying to figure out who was out to get her. It was not who I expected at all!

UNLEASHED is a solid start to a new and original PNR series. With ten different Amoveo clans, there is great potential for this series to really take off. I received my copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. show less

Slightly different take on the Amoveo (shifters) finding-their-mate story. Zachary, a new Guardian introduced in Unclaimed, vows he’s going to kill the next person from the Caedo family he meets after being attacked by one. He’s still healing from the attack and heads to a beach in Mexico, feeling he has a mate who is human and it wouldn’t be fair to involve her in his specie’s troubles.

Annabelle and her father had to move in with her father’s cousins when he lost his job and found show more they are a bunch of fanatics whose only goal is to wipe out the vicious, human-killing Amoveos. Fearing for her own family wants to use her to get to their enemies, she liquidates her funds and heads to a small town in Mexico, and meets Zachary the day she arrives.

He’s surprised she’s so accepting of what he is, and of her fear that the people she’s running from will find her and kill him, so she can’t stay. This one is also different in that since she’s not at least a hybrid, he knows he will lose his Amoveo powers over time.

I find that novellas are often too short to effectively make a romance believable, but this author is able to pull it off. Part of that is through the use of telepathy, making thoughts and feelings done via this manner more intimate than words and actions alone. And boy is she torn with wanting to tell him who she is while fearing he’ll walk away.

This book will definitely make more sense if you’ve read the prior books. show less

Untouched
1 Star

Basically a carbon copy of book #1.

The world building is still lacking with no new information provided on the background of the Amoveo race. As mentioned in my review of the previous book, the Amoveo simply have too many abilities, all of which have been done before and none of the characters are unique in any way.

The writing is excessively descriptive and often repetitious while the suspense plot is underdeveloped with a mediocre villain whose motivation is unclear - is it show more revenge for a perceived rejection or a purist ideology?

The notion that Kerry feels excruciating pain at being touched has tremendous potential both for the plot and the romance. Unfortunately, it contributes nothing to either. Not only is there zero chemistry between the leads, but there is no real basis to their romance other than the fact that they are fated mates.

In terms of characterization, Kerry accepts every new piece of unusual information without question, which makes her appear naive and gullible. Dante might be sexy but other than that has nothing going for him. His possessive alpha act is not believable and he does not live up to the animal traits implied by his alternate form - surely a fox is cunning enough to stay out of obvious traps?

All in all, weak world building, a lackluster romance and an inadequate suspense plot. I’m simply not interested enough in the world or the characters to continue with the series. show less

Tatiana, a hybrid of human and Amoveo (Wolf Clan shifter) had been taught to fear the Amoveo, uses her gifts as a veterinarian and wants nothing to do with the culture her sister Layla has now embraced. She’s talked into coming to the prince’s ranch when his Arabian horses become ill and they can’t trust a human vet with what might be happening. And as soon as she gets there she’s attacked by Dominic, the ranch’s lead Guardian and her mate when he senses an unknown energy signature show more near Richard, their prince.

This one has more sex than the prior books, more than one threat and more than one couple, although the focus is on Tatiana and Dominic. Issues from a prior story are addressed and practically everyone met in a prior book is on hand at some point. Of course it’s Tatiana who isn’t sure she wants to give up her freedom even though she loves him. If you liked the prior books you’ll definitely enjoy this one.

But don’t start with this one. Start at the beginning, especially since it’ll be obvious that most of the characters have already had their own books.

I don’t suggest reading these stories back-to-back. In each one there is angst because the female isn’t sure she can or wants to be mated and it can get heavy when reading multiple stories so one on top of the other. But it does feel good when the romance comes together. - show less