What do you think?
Rate this book
Shifters Unbound #4.5 Incl
Unbound
Desire is released in these original stories by four masters of paranormal romance.
In Enforcer, New York Times bestselling author Angela Knight revisits the world of Guardian and genetically engineered Temporal Enforcers Dona and Alerio who combine their talents—and fight their passions—as they investigate a time-travel murder spree.
USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Ashley continues her Shifters Unbound series with Perfect Mate. Bear Shifter Cormac is determined to take single mom Nell as his mate, despite her objections—until her sons are endangered and she desperately needs help.
National bestselling author Jean Johnson returns to her Vulland Chronicles with The Hunter’s Cabin. On the run after being falsely accused of treason, ex-prince Kiereseth and his companion Vielle take refuge in a snowbound cabin—and in each other’s arms.
In No Surprise More Magical, Hanna Martine expands on the fascinating world she introduced in Liquid Lies. After dissolving their arranged marriage, Ofarian guard David pairs up with the heartbroken Kelsey to try to thwart an enemy to their race and win her heart on his own terms.
In Enforcer, New York Times bestselling author Angela Knight revisits the world of Guardian and genetically engineered Temporal Enforcers Dona and Alerio who combine their talents—and fight their passions—as they investigate a time-travel murder spree.
USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Ashley continues her Shifters Unbound series with Perfect Mate. Bear Shifter Cormac is determined to take single mom Nell as his mate, despite her objections—until her sons are endangered and she desperately needs help.
National bestselling author Jean Johnson returns to her Vulland Chronicles with The Hunter’s Cabin. On the run after being falsely accused of treason, ex-prince Kiereseth and his companion Vielle take refuge in a snowbound cabin—and in each other’s arms.
In No Surprise More Magical, Hanna Martine expands on the fascinating world she introduced in Liquid Lies. After dissolving their arranged marriage, Ofarian guard David pairs up with the heartbroken Kelsey to try to thwart an enemy to their race and win her heart on his own terms.
441 pages, Paperback
First published March 5, 2013
49 people are currently reading
1387 people want to read
About the author
Angela Knight
139 books1,024 followersAngela Knight is an American author of mostly erotic fantasy.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
Read
December 16, 2012My story in this one is "Perfect Mate," in the Shifters Unbound series. The heroine is Nell, next-door neighbor to Eric (you meet her in Wild Cat and Mate Claimed). The hero, Cormac, is a bear-Shifter, who is glimpsed in the first scene of Hard Mated. Cormac has blue eyes, a heart-melting smile, and a rich, deep laugh. Nell finds him in her kitchen at five in the morning looking for a mate, and incidentally putting up cabinets. He knows Nell's his perfect mate the minute he sees her in her pink bathrobe and combat boots, and he's not taking no for an answer. Timewise, this novella falls between Mate Claimed (book 4) and Tiger Magic (book 5).
March 31, 2013
Rating is for the Jennifer Ashley story only.
This is a short novella about Nell and Cormac from the Shifters Unbound series by Jennifer Ashley. As with the other books, this is great. Great writing, great story, great characters. Nell has always been a favorite of mine and I was glad to see her get an HEA. Cormac is absolutely drool-worthy. His cabin seduction of Nell is scorching hot! I only wish it had been longer because I felt like some of the background of Nell and Cormac is VERY interesting and I'd love to know more. Other than that - a not to be missed addition to the series. B++
(Note: I am trying to read the Hanna Martine story because the blurb sounds good, but it's one of those that you probably have to read the backstory. I'm following along but lost on the nuances between the hero and heroine.)
ETA: I did read the Hanna Martine story eventually. A friends to lovers story. Good story.
This is a short novella about Nell and Cormac from the Shifters Unbound series by Jennifer Ashley. As with the other books, this is great. Great writing, great story, great characters. Nell has always been a favorite of mine and I was glad to see her get an HEA. Cormac is absolutely drool-worthy. His cabin seduction of Nell is scorching hot! I only wish it had been longer because I felt like some of the background of Nell and Cormac is VERY interesting and I'd love to know more. Other than that - a not to be missed addition to the series. B++
(Note: I am trying to read the Hanna Martine story because the blurb sounds good, but it's one of those that you probably have to read the backstory. I'm following along but lost on the nuances between the hero and heroine.)
ETA: I did read the Hanna Martine story eventually. A friends to lovers story. Good story.
Want to read
March 13, 2013I want the Jennifer Ashley story so bad!!!
December 19, 2013
Jennifer Ashley Story only
We have been reading about Nell for a little while now and am disappointed to find her story as a tiny novella. There really was no point to this little story except for fill a few pages in a book that hold a collection of small stories from a few authors! :((((
We have been reading about Nell for a little while now and am disappointed to find her story as a tiny novella. There really was no point to this little story except for fill a few pages in a book that hold a collection of small stories from a few authors! :((((
April 8, 2013
Shey's review posted on Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
4 Stars
I have to say that all four of these stories were engaging the characters fascinating and my love for the paranormal realm just got bigger and although I personally have only read one of these series this anthology has grabbed my interest that I want to go back and read the others.
ENFORCER – Angela Knight
The third and final installment of the Time Hunter’s Trilogy Ms. Knight did an excellent job in wrapping up with the much anticipated story of Arlieo and Dona. If you have not read these books don’t worry the ENFORCER is so well written with enough back story that you won’t get lost, however, if you are a fan of the hunky Warlords that can kick serious ass and the sexy cyborgs then these books are a definite must read. I must tell you this Ms. Knight knows some creative was to have sex in futuristic ways that is for damn sure!
PERFECT MATE – Jennifer Ashley
This short is part of Ms. Ashley’s Shifters Unbound series and if you have not read these book then I highly recommend them this one is 4.5 of the series. In this one there is a new Bear in Shiftertown and he’s come to claim Nell. Nell is a bear shifter and she is an Alpha badass she is close to her two sons Shane and Brody although they are grown she has had to raise them on her own after her mate died when they were just cubs. She doesn’t need or want a mate. Cormac has been looking for Nell and now that he’s found her he’s not giving her up. He was patient, yet unyielding when it came to making sure she understood he wasn’t going anywhere. When an enemy shows up and threatens Shane can she trust Cormac with her son’s life?
THE HUNTERS CABIN – Jean Johnson
In this steampunk short of the Vulland Chronicles Vielle and ex-prince Kiereseth are still on the run, his own sister framing him for treason. They have taken to hiding in a cabin that has been buried in an avalanche. With the use of their magic they are able to hide themselves. On a quest to find out more about the Thonite gizmo Veille and Kier are doing their best to stay out of the hands of the Jade Mountain Guards.
I have to be honest here having never read this series myself I found hard to follow it was very fascinating so I went to Ms. Johnsons website and she actually offers the Chronicles for free, so I decided I would go back and read them to find out more about this story.
NO SURPRISE MORE MAGICAL – Hanna Martine
This is book 1.5 of Ms. Martine’s ELEMENTALS series if you haven’t read the first book I feel Ms. Martine did a great job adding enough back ground information to get you caught up, however, I will be going back and reading Liquid Lies.
In this world the Ofarian’s came to earth over 150 years ago able to turn themselves into water. David Capshaw is a head of security has been tracking the Ofarian’s most wanted when he was injured.
Dr. Kelsey Evans has always loved her work and everything seems to take a back burner to it when she sees David lying on her exam table she’s shocked upset and hurt. They had been arranged to be married when he had broken off the engagement after the collapse of the Board. David didn’t want her to feel like she had to be tied to him. Kelsey went along with because she felt David didn’t feel about her the way she did about him. These two had communication problems from Hell!
Unfortunately it takes a life and death situation sometime to get the one you love to finally open up.
I enjoyed all these books and have now add more to my TBR list, thanks to these wonderful authors.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
4 Stars
I have to say that all four of these stories were engaging the characters fascinating and my love for the paranormal realm just got bigger and although I personally have only read one of these series this anthology has grabbed my interest that I want to go back and read the others.
ENFORCER – Angela Knight
The third and final installment of the Time Hunter’s Trilogy Ms. Knight did an excellent job in wrapping up with the much anticipated story of Arlieo and Dona. If you have not read these books don’t worry the ENFORCER is so well written with enough back story that you won’t get lost, however, if you are a fan of the hunky Warlords that can kick serious ass and the sexy cyborgs then these books are a definite must read. I must tell you this Ms. Knight knows some creative was to have sex in futuristic ways that is for damn sure!
PERFECT MATE – Jennifer Ashley
This short is part of Ms. Ashley’s Shifters Unbound series and if you have not read these book then I highly recommend them this one is 4.5 of the series. In this one there is a new Bear in Shiftertown and he’s come to claim Nell. Nell is a bear shifter and she is an Alpha badass she is close to her two sons Shane and Brody although they are grown she has had to raise them on her own after her mate died when they were just cubs. She doesn’t need or want a mate. Cormac has been looking for Nell and now that he’s found her he’s not giving her up. He was patient, yet unyielding when it came to making sure she understood he wasn’t going anywhere. When an enemy shows up and threatens Shane can she trust Cormac with her son’s life?
THE HUNTERS CABIN – Jean Johnson
In this steampunk short of the Vulland Chronicles Vielle and ex-prince Kiereseth are still on the run, his own sister framing him for treason. They have taken to hiding in a cabin that has been buried in an avalanche. With the use of their magic they are able to hide themselves. On a quest to find out more about the Thonite gizmo Veille and Kier are doing their best to stay out of the hands of the Jade Mountain Guards.
I have to be honest here having never read this series myself I found hard to follow it was very fascinating so I went to Ms. Johnsons website and she actually offers the Chronicles for free, so I decided I would go back and read them to find out more about this story.
NO SURPRISE MORE MAGICAL – Hanna Martine
This is book 1.5 of Ms. Martine’s ELEMENTALS series if you haven’t read the first book I feel Ms. Martine did a great job adding enough back ground information to get you caught up, however, I will be going back and reading Liquid Lies.
In this world the Ofarian’s came to earth over 150 years ago able to turn themselves into water. David Capshaw is a head of security has been tracking the Ofarian’s most wanted when he was injured.
Dr. Kelsey Evans has always loved her work and everything seems to take a back burner to it when she sees David lying on her exam table she’s shocked upset and hurt. They had been arranged to be married when he had broken off the engagement after the collapse of the Board. David didn’t want her to feel like she had to be tied to him. Kelsey went along with because she felt David didn’t feel about her the way she did about him. These two had communication problems from Hell!
Unfortunately it takes a life and death situation sometime to get the one you love to finally open up.
I enjoyed all these books and have now add more to my TBR list, thanks to these wonderful authors.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
January 16, 2016
First I must preface my review by stating that 2 out of the 4 authors were completely new to me, therefore I had never before been exposed to their work. Overall an interesting and engaging read, Unbound takes you from the world of Guardian and Temporal Enforcers to the world of Elementals almost flawlessly.
In Enforcer, we are treated to the culmination of the story of the Temporal Enforcers. With just the right amount of sexual tension and a whole lot of action Knight keeps you enthralled in the story and the characters. Dona has to be, by far, the most damaged heroine I have ever read. However, instead of letting it rule and take over the character, we were treated to a show of strength. And a hero that embraced it.
Jennifer Ashley continued her Shifters Unbound series beautifully in Perfect Mate. Bear shifters Cormac and single mom shifter Nell make an odd, but strangely endearing couple. With her trying to prove that she doesn’t need any man or bear to make her complete and him trying to show her that he’s not just any man. He’s the right bear for her. My one complaint in this story would have to be the action. There was so much potential for that story line. Instead it just seemed a bit rushed.
In a complete turnaround, The Hunter’s Cabin was a classic example of two individuals thrown together by circumstances. Their relationship felt a bit forced. As if the only reason they were together was because they were forced into hiding together. If they hadn’t been these two individuals would never have looked twice at each other. It lacked the chemistry found in Enforcer and the sparks apparent in Perfect Mate.
Surprising me yet again, I found myself rather enjoying Hanna Martine’s offering to the anthology. No Surprise More Magical was both a refreshing and enjoyable end to this anthology. Just enough sparks and chemistry to keep my attention and characters I would actually like to read more about. I would say that Martine may have been new to me, but she is an author I would definitely read more from.
Overall, I found Unbound to be an enjoyable anthology that I would recommend. After all, I greatly enjoyed 3 out of the 4 books offered. The fourth book I didn’t dislike so much as it just didn’t click with me.
In Enforcer, we are treated to the culmination of the story of the Temporal Enforcers. With just the right amount of sexual tension and a whole lot of action Knight keeps you enthralled in the story and the characters. Dona has to be, by far, the most damaged heroine I have ever read. However, instead of letting it rule and take over the character, we were treated to a show of strength. And a hero that embraced it.
Jennifer Ashley continued her Shifters Unbound series beautifully in Perfect Mate. Bear shifters Cormac and single mom shifter Nell make an odd, but strangely endearing couple. With her trying to prove that she doesn’t need any man or bear to make her complete and him trying to show her that he’s not just any man. He’s the right bear for her. My one complaint in this story would have to be the action. There was so much potential for that story line. Instead it just seemed a bit rushed.
In a complete turnaround, The Hunter’s Cabin was a classic example of two individuals thrown together by circumstances. Their relationship felt a bit forced. As if the only reason they were together was because they were forced into hiding together. If they hadn’t been these two individuals would never have looked twice at each other. It lacked the chemistry found in Enforcer and the sparks apparent in Perfect Mate.
Surprising me yet again, I found myself rather enjoying Hanna Martine’s offering to the anthology. No Surprise More Magical was both a refreshing and enjoyable end to this anthology. Just enough sparks and chemistry to keep my attention and characters I would actually like to read more about. I would say that Martine may have been new to me, but she is an author I would definitely read more from.
Overall, I found Unbound to be an enjoyable anthology that I would recommend. After all, I greatly enjoyed 3 out of the 4 books offered. The fourth book I didn’t dislike so much as it just didn’t click with me.
March 31, 2013
This rating and review is for Jennifer Ashley's Shifters Unbound short only -- and this reader gives it 4stars (Pepper puts his paws up too!)
This fan's favorite Bear Shifter, Nell gets a chance to make her preening star turn in this short and is definitely the Nell we've come to know and love. Gruff, sassy, no-nonsense and independent wearing a fluffy pink belted terry cloth robe wearing combat boots (on the wrong feet), hair uncombed and holding a shotgun - just does it for some guys and Cormac is one of them. One look at Nell and he knew he'd found his mate and decides right then and there the Nevada ShifterTown is his new home.
Cormac felt as if he'd been there all along he fit so well and he could definitely handle whatever the feisty Nell threw at him. I liked them as individuals and a couple. Cormac's cabin seduction was definitely worth the read. Also of note is as this was a short it seemed to spend a lot of time in Shiftertown so new readers will definitely get an anti-human message.
The only thing this short was shortchanged on is length. That meant not much was given on each of their back-stories and the information was noteworthy because it wasn't there. It very much belongs in the series and did its part to further the overall arc. One other thing is that this is a series that needs to be read somewhat in order to get a clear understanding of relationships.
This fan's favorite Bear Shifter, Nell gets a chance to make her preening star turn in this short and is definitely the Nell we've come to know and love. Gruff, sassy, no-nonsense and independent wearing a fluffy pink belted terry cloth robe wearing combat boots (on the wrong feet), hair uncombed and holding a shotgun - just does it for some guys and Cormac is one of them. One look at Nell and he knew he'd found his mate and decides right then and there the Nevada ShifterTown is his new home.
Cormac felt as if he'd been there all along he fit so well and he could definitely handle whatever the feisty Nell threw at him. I liked them as individuals and a couple. Cormac's cabin seduction was definitely worth the read. Also of note is as this was a short it seemed to spend a lot of time in Shiftertown so new readers will definitely get an anti-human message.
The only thing this short was shortchanged on is length. That meant not much was given on each of their back-stories and the information was noteworthy because it wasn't there. It very much belongs in the series and did its part to further the overall arc. One other thing is that this is a series that needs to be read somewhat in order to get a clear understanding of relationships.
March 6, 2013
I have mentioned this a few times in the past, but it bears repeating. I hate short story novellas - they are rushed and awkward. While I read ones that are part of a series I like, ones that I am not familiar with I have no time for. Add to that, I hate anthologies. I especially hate them when they have multiple series thrown in. Sure, I may have read one series, but if I hadn't read the other three - what do you expect? Me to read them too? Forget it! Yet, somehow, I still managed to end up having to review this one. Sigh.... Fortunately, there were some bright spots!
For the full review, please go to http://www.thewindowseat13.com/2013/0...
For the full review, please go to http://www.thewindowseat13.com/2013/0...
May 24, 2016
Only read the JA addition and I really liked it. I love this shifter series. This is about Nell, a shifter bear under Erik's rule. The cat shifter of the Nevada shifters. Cormac, a grizzly shifter has moved into Nell's house and is soon determined to move into her heart. Wish the story could have been expanded a bit, but I never get enough of these stories. We get glimpses of how Eric and Graham a wolf shifter are handling co-ruling duties in their shifter town. Can't wait for Tiger's story.
May 7, 2013
4 stars for the Jennifer Ashley short. Haven't read the other yet, cos y'know, have to read everything in the correct order. :)
July 11, 2021
So NGL, I really only read this because I was looking for
Perfect Mate
, and my library didn't have a digital copy available. That being said, the other stories were at least intriguing...
Enforcer by Angela Knight 2.75 Stars!
So I'm not exactly sure what it was about this one. Overall, the world building was interesting and I did find myself wanting to know more about everything. That being said, it also felt like this story was dropping you in the middle of stuff and expecting you to already know what things meant. Like, there was some explanation and you got a bit of the building, but there was also a ton of allusions to stuff that had already occurred that wasn't necessarily explained. I also had some issues with some of the descriptions. There were a couple times where Dona would see something and would give the information and then there'd be a POV shift so we'd be with Alerio and he'd give the exact same information. It's one thing to have Dona talk about it with her knowledge and then for Alerio to turn around and add his knowledge to it, but there's literally no point to have Dona say "oh, he's fighting in riaat" and then Alerio come in and go "well, I'm in riaat." I will admit that I laughed at Frieka and Pendragon and have a feeling those two would get into some pretty hilarious antics.
Perfect Mate by Jennifer Ashley 4 Stars!
Like I mentioned, this was my main reason for getting this anthology. And it did not disappoint. I loved getting to see Nell getting a mate and the way she still handled it with all the attitude she's had previously. I did find myself laughing at her threatening Cormac in her bathrobe and combat boots (on the wrong feet). Loved the way Cormac felt things building and wasn't going to let her go. I really liked the way he kind of saw to the heart of her hesitation and while he didn't so much push, he did nudge her to see that things didn't have to be the way that they'd been. And I loved how protective he was of Shane even though nothing was really official yet. I was kind of laughing at his attempt to keep Nell from going into the cabin...I mean, you're not only going to tell a mama bear to wait to go after her cub, you're going to try and stop Nell? Really? I do kind of want to see people taking out Miguel because just yes. And I was glad that Eric said the Peigi had earned the right to make that decision.
The Hunter's Cabin by Jean Johnson 2.75 Stars!
This was another story that threw you into things and kind of seemed to expect you to know what was going on. Vee and Kiers were already on the run, which is fine, but they both kept talking about what had pushed them to go on the run, yet at the same time, there wasn't ever really an explanation other than it seems to have involved a mysterious gun thingy and Kiers' sister. Like, why are they framing him for treason? How did Vee get involved? Why were they framed for treason? This was a relatively short story so things moved pretty quick. I'll admit that I liked the aspect of the magic and the different thon that they talked about. Would be intrigued to see Kiers learn more about them.
No Surprise More Magical by Hanna Martine 3 Stars!
This one was definitely interesting. I was a little confused on things regarding the Primaries/Secondaries and felt like that could have gotten a little more info, even for a story that seems like it's in an established world (again with the being dropped in and expecting to already know everything aspect). I did kind of laugh at David and Kelsey's dancing around each other but did love the way things combusted at the Star Gala. Of course, they were both slightly stupid after the fact but I was glad that Kelsey still seemed to trust David no matter what, so even when she was still half upset, when she realized something wasn't right, she went to him.
Enforcer by Angela Knight 2.75 Stars!
So I'm not exactly sure what it was about this one. Overall, the world building was interesting and I did find myself wanting to know more about everything. That being said, it also felt like this story was dropping you in the middle of stuff and expecting you to already know what things meant. Like, there was some explanation and you got a bit of the building, but there was also a ton of allusions to stuff that had already occurred that wasn't necessarily explained. I also had some issues with some of the descriptions. There were a couple times where Dona would see something and would give the information and then there'd be a POV shift so we'd be with Alerio and he'd give the exact same information. It's one thing to have Dona talk about it with her knowledge and then for Alerio to turn around and add his knowledge to it, but there's literally no point to have Dona say "oh, he's fighting in riaat" and then Alerio come in and go "well, I'm in riaat." I will admit that I laughed at Frieka and Pendragon and have a feeling those two would get into some pretty hilarious antics.
Perfect Mate by Jennifer Ashley 4 Stars!
Like I mentioned, this was my main reason for getting this anthology. And it did not disappoint. I loved getting to see Nell getting a mate and the way she still handled it with all the attitude she's had previously. I did find myself laughing at her threatening Cormac in her bathrobe and combat boots (on the wrong feet). Loved the way Cormac felt things building and wasn't going to let her go. I really liked the way he kind of saw to the heart of her hesitation and while he didn't so much push, he did nudge her to see that things didn't have to be the way that they'd been. And I loved how protective he was of Shane even though nothing was really official yet. I was kind of laughing at his attempt to keep Nell from going into the cabin...I mean, you're not only going to tell a mama bear to wait to go after her cub, you're going to try and stop Nell? Really? I do kind of want to see people taking out Miguel because just yes. And I was glad that Eric said the Peigi had earned the right to make that decision.
The Hunter's Cabin by Jean Johnson 2.75 Stars!
This was another story that threw you into things and kind of seemed to expect you to know what was going on. Vee and Kiers were already on the run, which is fine, but they both kept talking about what had pushed them to go on the run, yet at the same time, there wasn't ever really an explanation other than it seems to have involved a mysterious gun thingy and Kiers' sister. Like, why are they framing him for treason? How did Vee get involved? Why were they framed for treason? This was a relatively short story so things moved pretty quick. I'll admit that I liked the aspect of the magic and the different thon that they talked about. Would be intrigued to see Kiers learn more about them.
No Surprise More Magical by Hanna Martine 3 Stars!
This one was definitely interesting. I was a little confused on things regarding the Primaries/Secondaries and felt like that could have gotten a little more info, even for a story that seems like it's in an established world (again with the being dropped in and expecting to already know everything aspect). I did kind of laugh at David and Kelsey's dancing around each other but did love the way things combusted at the Star Gala. Of course, they were both slightly stupid after the fact but I was glad that Kelsey still seemed to trust David no matter what, so even when she was still half upset, when she realized something wasn't right, she went to him.
May 22, 2013
Review originally published here: http://thebookpushers.com/2013/04/24/...
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Publish Date: Out now
How I got this book: ARC from the publisher and an author
Desire is released in these original stories by four masters of paranormal romance.
Angela Knight revisits the world of Guardian and genetically engineered Temporal Enforcers Dona and Alerio who combine their talents—and fight their passions—as they investigate a time-travel murder spree.
Jennifer Ashley continues her Shifters Unbound series as Bear Shifter Cormac is determined to take single mom Nell as his mate, despite her objections—until her sons are endangered and she desperately needs help.
Jean Johnson returns to her Vulland Chronicles: On the run after being falsely accused of treason, ex-prince Kiereseth and his companion Vielle take refuge in a snow-bound cabin—and in each other’s arms.
Hanna Martine expands on the fascinating world she introduced in Liquid Lies. After dissolving their arranged marriage so he can win her on his own terms, Ofarian guard David pairs up with the heartbroken Kelsey to try to thwart an enemy to their race.
*Blurb from Goodreads*
I have been known to buy an anthology based on a single author’s inclusion while hoping that I would enjoy at least half of the other stories. I was expecting a much different result with Unbound because I have read and enjoyed three of the four authors in this anthology. As a result I was really looking forward to reading it. I ended up with mixed feelings, some of which surprised me in both a positive and a negative manner.
Enforcer by Angela Knight
Knight is on my autobuy list and has been since I first discovered her novellas from Red Sage’s Secrets series. I have followed her from publisher to publisher; digital first, digital only, and print. She first started her Time Hunters series in 2008 as a spinoff from Jane’s Warlord published in 2004. The Time Hunters trilogy is a closely connected set of stories all focusing on a vicious group of serial killers who target time travel tourism and the Enforcers who protect the travelers. The first two came out about a year apart but there was a four-year wait for this final installment. During those four years I am afraid that either my reading tastes changed or something else caused this particular series to lose its magic. I found myself disappointed in the lingering angst from previous books between Dona and Alero. I also thought it seemed as if the ultimate bad guy had been given so much power that it required a loophole for his eventual defeat. Yes, Dona and Alero had to work together to win which I did like but the solution seemed almost anti-climatic for this installment and for the series itself.
I give Enforcer a C-
Perfect Mate by Jennifer Ashley
Ashley’s Shifter Unbound series is another one that I have been enjoying. It has an interesting take on marginalizing and segregating the Other as well as some of the horrible things people feel they can do to the Other. The focus of this series is really on the shapeshifters and other supernatural beings and how they manage to have full lives despite the best efforts of humans and rogue shifters. Nell has been the momma bear literally and figuratively in Shiftertown. After the death of her husband she raised her cubs by herself and is completely happy being single. However, several individuals in Shiftertown think that Nell needs a new mate so when Cormac showed up looking for a mate they constantly threw him in Nell’s path. He did play an important role in rescuing one of Nell’s cubs from a bounty hunter but I was not able to buy into their romance. I could understand the physical attraction between them but I never had the feeling that Nell actually cared for Cormac or that Cormac knew Nell for who she was. As I had been looking forward to Nell’s story I found this to be very disappointing. I think if Ashley had a longer word count her usual character and romance development would have been evident. As it was I thought the romance took a backseat to the bounty hunter plot.
I give Perfect Mate a C-
The Hunter’s Cabin by Jean Johnson
Jean Johnson is a new-to-me author. The Hunter’s Cabin appears to take place between full-length stories in this particular series. I found myself intrigued by the hints of the world that Johnson used in this novella. The various powers, the fact that this was an escape, the intrigue and politics, not to mention the forbidden aspect of the attraction between Vee and Kiereseth. I enjoyed the interaction between Vee and Kiereseth and how they each had their own strengths that were needed to survive during their escape. As a result of reading this novella I am planning on reading the first installment The Knot.
I give The Hunter’s Cabin a B+
No Surprise More Magical by Hanna Martine
After my fellow Pushers started talking about Liquid Lies, Martine’s first story in her Elementals series, I had to give it a try. I thoroughly loved the world-building, the characters, and how the first book completely altered the world order as it was known by the Ofarians. David’s arranged marriage to Kelsey (one he dreamed of) was dissolved as part of the aftermath of Liquid Lies. As part of his job to discover Ofarian traitors he was paired up with Kelsey to foil an assassination plot. During their high tension adventures they acted on their mutual physical attraction and gradually started talking about their feelings. I enjoyed seeing them work through mutual guilt and heal their broken hearts.
I give No Surprise More Magical an A-
Overall this anthology was more of a mixed bag than I expected. I was disappointed in two of the stories that I had highly anticipated. Both suffered from a lack of romance, one was not helped by the anti-climatic last battle, and the other would have benefited from a focus on the romance instead of the nefarious plots. I will continue to read Knight and Ashley I just hope their magic returns. I found a new-to-me author, Johnson, with an interesting world and characters that I look forward to enjoying in the future and I really liked the final novella by Martine. The story order meant that for me, Unbound finished on a strong note.
I give Unbound a B/B-
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Publish Date: Out now
How I got this book: ARC from the publisher and an author
Desire is released in these original stories by four masters of paranormal romance.
Angela Knight revisits the world of Guardian and genetically engineered Temporal Enforcers Dona and Alerio who combine their talents—and fight their passions—as they investigate a time-travel murder spree.
Jennifer Ashley continues her Shifters Unbound series as Bear Shifter Cormac is determined to take single mom Nell as his mate, despite her objections—until her sons are endangered and she desperately needs help.
Jean Johnson returns to her Vulland Chronicles: On the run after being falsely accused of treason, ex-prince Kiereseth and his companion Vielle take refuge in a snow-bound cabin—and in each other’s arms.
Hanna Martine expands on the fascinating world she introduced in Liquid Lies. After dissolving their arranged marriage so he can win her on his own terms, Ofarian guard David pairs up with the heartbroken Kelsey to try to thwart an enemy to their race.
*Blurb from Goodreads*
I have been known to buy an anthology based on a single author’s inclusion while hoping that I would enjoy at least half of the other stories. I was expecting a much different result with Unbound because I have read and enjoyed three of the four authors in this anthology. As a result I was really looking forward to reading it. I ended up with mixed feelings, some of which surprised me in both a positive and a negative manner.
Enforcer by Angela Knight
Knight is on my autobuy list and has been since I first discovered her novellas from Red Sage’s Secrets series. I have followed her from publisher to publisher; digital first, digital only, and print. She first started her Time Hunters series in 2008 as a spinoff from Jane’s Warlord published in 2004. The Time Hunters trilogy is a closely connected set of stories all focusing on a vicious group of serial killers who target time travel tourism and the Enforcers who protect the travelers. The first two came out about a year apart but there was a four-year wait for this final installment. During those four years I am afraid that either my reading tastes changed or something else caused this particular series to lose its magic. I found myself disappointed in the lingering angst from previous books between Dona and Alero. I also thought it seemed as if the ultimate bad guy had been given so much power that it required a loophole for his eventual defeat. Yes, Dona and Alero had to work together to win which I did like but the solution seemed almost anti-climatic for this installment and for the series itself.
I give Enforcer a C-
Perfect Mate by Jennifer Ashley
Ashley’s Shifter Unbound series is another one that I have been enjoying. It has an interesting take on marginalizing and segregating the Other as well as some of the horrible things people feel they can do to the Other. The focus of this series is really on the shapeshifters and other supernatural beings and how they manage to have full lives despite the best efforts of humans and rogue shifters. Nell has been the momma bear literally and figuratively in Shiftertown. After the death of her husband she raised her cubs by herself and is completely happy being single. However, several individuals in Shiftertown think that Nell needs a new mate so when Cormac showed up looking for a mate they constantly threw him in Nell’s path. He did play an important role in rescuing one of Nell’s cubs from a bounty hunter but I was not able to buy into their romance. I could understand the physical attraction between them but I never had the feeling that Nell actually cared for Cormac or that Cormac knew Nell for who she was. As I had been looking forward to Nell’s story I found this to be very disappointing. I think if Ashley had a longer word count her usual character and romance development would have been evident. As it was I thought the romance took a backseat to the bounty hunter plot.
I give Perfect Mate a C-
The Hunter’s Cabin by Jean Johnson
Jean Johnson is a new-to-me author. The Hunter’s Cabin appears to take place between full-length stories in this particular series. I found myself intrigued by the hints of the world that Johnson used in this novella. The various powers, the fact that this was an escape, the intrigue and politics, not to mention the forbidden aspect of the attraction between Vee and Kiereseth. I enjoyed the interaction between Vee and Kiereseth and how they each had their own strengths that were needed to survive during their escape. As a result of reading this novella I am planning on reading the first installment The Knot.
I give The Hunter’s Cabin a B+
No Surprise More Magical by Hanna Martine
After my fellow Pushers started talking about Liquid Lies, Martine’s first story in her Elementals series, I had to give it a try. I thoroughly loved the world-building, the characters, and how the first book completely altered the world order as it was known by the Ofarians. David’s arranged marriage to Kelsey (one he dreamed of) was dissolved as part of the aftermath of Liquid Lies. As part of his job to discover Ofarian traitors he was paired up with Kelsey to foil an assassination plot. During their high tension adventures they acted on their mutual physical attraction and gradually started talking about their feelings. I enjoyed seeing them work through mutual guilt and heal their broken hearts.
I give No Surprise More Magical an A-
Overall this anthology was more of a mixed bag than I expected. I was disappointed in two of the stories that I had highly anticipated. Both suffered from a lack of romance, one was not helped by the anti-climatic last battle, and the other would have benefited from a focus on the romance instead of the nefarious plots. I will continue to read Knight and Ashley I just hope their magic returns. I found a new-to-me author, Johnson, with an interesting world and characters that I look forward to enjoying in the future and I really liked the final novella by Martine. The story order meant that for me, Unbound finished on a strong note.
I give Unbound a B/B-
October 11, 2018
Angela Knight’s Enforcer was a struggle for me as it was the last of the four offerings that I read in the anthology instead of the first.
Just could not seem to get into this story as deeply as the 2nd and 3rd ones.
Jennifer Ashley’s Perfect Mate and Jean Johnson’s The Hunter’s Cabin however were exactly what I hoped and enjoyed both of these equally.
4th novella No Surprise More Magical was by new-to-me author Hanna Martine and her second chance romance was okay as it was also more to my liking.
All in all the 4 shorts and the 4 assorted authors kept me entertained, but not chained to the book, until finished.
Just could not seem to get into this story as deeply as the 2nd and 3rd ones.
Jennifer Ashley’s Perfect Mate and Jean Johnson’s The Hunter’s Cabin however were exactly what I hoped and enjoyed both of these equally.
4th novella No Surprise More Magical was by new-to-me author Hanna Martine and her second chance romance was okay as it was also more to my liking.
All in all the 4 shorts and the 4 assorted authors kept me entertained, but not chained to the book, until finished.
March 30, 2014
I individually rated each of the four stories in this anthology, and the combination resulted in an average of 3.875 stars, which I rounded up to 4 for the whole-book-rating. :)
I have some overall comments at the bottom, after the individual reviews of each of the four novellas. :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
4.5 stars - great! -- Enforcer by Angela Knight
I really, really liked this story. It was more of a sci-fi romance than a paranormal one, though that was in there, too. But... Books about a group of time travel cops? And they're romances? Yes, please! This series is definitely going on my to-read shelf. :)
I really liked Chief Alerio Dyami and Dona Astryr. Alerio, especially. All the men on the side of the good guys seem like guys I'd like to know better, in fact. :) Dona was fun to get to know, too. Anyone who goes through what she's been through and comes out relatively sane and very good/kind would make an excellent friend. :)
I was very intrigued by the mix of alien races, and also by the fact that the Galactic Union considers the U.S.A. its direct ancestor, so to speak. The time travel factor was fun, and the fact that the main characters are temporal enforcement officers made for even more fun, especially since they were up against a particularly violent and merciless opponent in this story.
All in all this was a highly enjoyable story. And I didn't even mention the hot sex! :)
3.5 stars - good! -- Perfect Mate by Jennifer Ashley
I liked this story, but didn't love it. Nell and Cormac were great, but I didn't really connect with them. They, and the story, felt sort of incomplete to me. All the pieces to a great story were there, but they didn't feel fleshed out to me.
I liked this story enough to want to read the series. I'm hoping the full books will be more to my liking, with more details to complete the picture for me. :)
I really liked the mix of shifters, humans and Fae. I look forward to reading more of these characters and their world. :)
3.5 stars - good! -- The Hunter's Cabin by Jean Johnson
I really liked this story, but had to dock points due to the feeling (fact?) that I had been dropped into the middle of an ongoing story. :(
I appreciated that the world came into focus more as the story went on. I was able to gain a better understanding of what the thon and Vull are. However, I would like to have learned more. I also really liked Kiereseth and Vielle, though again I felt like I was joining them in the middle of a conversation, so to speak. But their mix of formality and familiarity made for fun interpersonal relations. :)
This story did make me want to read the series. I want to know what I'm missing and I hope that reading more of the series will fill in the smidgens and give me a more complete picture of the world the story/stories are set in. I especially hope Kiers and Vee are the focus (or at least a major part) of the other stories. :)
4 stars - very good! -- No Surprise More Magical by Hanna Martine
I really enjoyed this story. It was pretty great, but I'm giving it just 4 stars due to what I feel to be a lack of background information on the Ofarians and the world in which they live.
From what I understood/understand, the Ofarians are an alien race that came to Earth 150 years previously. But why? And are there really so few of them (enough to fill just one amphitheater)? I assumed the Primaries are all just your basic human, but do the magic-using Secondaries include the Ofarians? Or are they a third grouping? If the latter, who are the Secondaries?
I liked the story enough that these questions make me want to read more of this series, but I still lowered my rating from a 4.5-great to a 4-very good.
David and Kelsey were both very likable; I enjoyed seeing them come together after so many years of miscommunications and misunderstandings. The suspense involved in the chase for a bad guy made for an interesting thread to run alongside the romantic suspense. I enjoyed this mix of storylines, though I would have liked more fleshing out of the bad-guy portion.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Most of the issues I had with these stories can, I think, be laid at the feet of this being a collection of novellas. However, I know I've read novellas that were wholly encapsulated, stand-alone stories. I've even read novellas that were part of a series and still managed to be wholly encapsulated, could-stand-alone stories. But the stories in this collection, especially the third one, really seemed diminished by having been read-alone stories. Thankfully, though, there was enough there to make me eager to read the series the stories are a part of. It could so easily have gone the other way.
So the end result is this was a very enjoyable collection of novellas and I'm eager to revisit the four worlds I was introduced to in this book. :)
I have some overall comments at the bottom, after the individual reviews of each of the four novellas. :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
4.5 stars - great! -- Enforcer by Angela Knight
I really, really liked this story. It was more of a sci-fi romance than a paranormal one, though that was in there, too. But... Books about a group of time travel cops? And they're romances? Yes, please! This series is definitely going on my to-read shelf. :)
I really liked Chief Alerio Dyami and Dona Astryr. Alerio, especially. All the men on the side of the good guys seem like guys I'd like to know better, in fact. :) Dona was fun to get to know, too. Anyone who goes through what she's been through and comes out relatively sane and very good/kind would make an excellent friend. :)
I was very intrigued by the mix of alien races, and also by the fact that the Galactic Union considers the U.S.A. its direct ancestor, so to speak. The time travel factor was fun, and the fact that the main characters are temporal enforcement officers made for even more fun, especially since they were up against a particularly violent and merciless opponent in this story.
All in all this was a highly enjoyable story. And I didn't even mention the hot sex! :)
3.5 stars - good! -- Perfect Mate by Jennifer Ashley
I liked this story, but didn't love it. Nell and Cormac were great, but I didn't really connect with them. They, and the story, felt sort of incomplete to me. All the pieces to a great story were there, but they didn't feel fleshed out to me.
I liked this story enough to want to read the series. I'm hoping the full books will be more to my liking, with more details to complete the picture for me. :)
I really liked the mix of shifters, humans and Fae. I look forward to reading more of these characters and their world. :)
3.5 stars - good! -- The Hunter's Cabin by Jean Johnson
I really liked this story, but had to dock points due to the feeling (fact?) that I had been dropped into the middle of an ongoing story. :(
I appreciated that the world came into focus more as the story went on. I was able to gain a better understanding of what the thon and Vull are. However, I would like to have learned more. I also really liked Kiereseth and Vielle, though again I felt like I was joining them in the middle of a conversation, so to speak. But their mix of formality and familiarity made for fun interpersonal relations. :)
This story did make me want to read the series. I want to know what I'm missing and I hope that reading more of the series will fill in the smidgens and give me a more complete picture of the world the story/stories are set in. I especially hope Kiers and Vee are the focus (or at least a major part) of the other stories. :)
4 stars - very good! -- No Surprise More Magical by Hanna Martine
I really enjoyed this story. It was pretty great, but I'm giving it just 4 stars due to what I feel to be a lack of background information on the Ofarians and the world in which they live.
From what I understood/understand, the Ofarians are an alien race that came to Earth 150 years previously. But why? And are there really so few of them (enough to fill just one amphitheater)? I assumed the Primaries are all just your basic human, but do the magic-using Secondaries include the Ofarians? Or are they a third grouping? If the latter, who are the Secondaries?
I liked the story enough that these questions make me want to read more of this series, but I still lowered my rating from a 4.5-great to a 4-very good.
David and Kelsey were both very likable; I enjoyed seeing them come together after so many years of miscommunications and misunderstandings. The suspense involved in the chase for a bad guy made for an interesting thread to run alongside the romantic suspense. I enjoyed this mix of storylines, though I would have liked more fleshing out of the bad-guy portion.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Most of the issues I had with these stories can, I think, be laid at the feet of this being a collection of novellas. However, I know I've read novellas that were wholly encapsulated, stand-alone stories. I've even read novellas that were part of a series and still managed to be wholly encapsulated, could-stand-alone stories. But the stories in this collection, especially the third one, really seemed diminished by having been read-alone stories. Thankfully, though, there was enough there to make me eager to read the series the stories are a part of. It could so easily have gone the other way.
So the end result is this was a very enjoyable collection of novellas and I'm eager to revisit the four worlds I was introduced to in this book. :)
May 26, 2018
The Hunter's Cabin by Jean Johnson - 3
Some of the jargon was distracting, I think if I was more familiar with this world I might have enjoyed this better. These two are on the run and they hole up in a cabin under an avalanche and he teaches her the ways of sex. Story could have been beginning of a larger story.
Some of the jargon was distracting, I think if I was more familiar with this world I might have enjoyed this better. These two are on the run and they hole up in a cabin under an avalanche and he teaches her the ways of sex. Story could have been beginning of a larger story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2017
I thought Hanna Martine's story was the best, though all but 1st were too short. Esp Jean Johnson...too short to get into the minimal story presented. Jennifer Ashley was just as short, but already knowing the characters helped. Just did not like Angela Knight's overly ugly, graphic, sex story.
March 14, 2020
Great anthology
Plenty of great authors contributed great stories to this anthology. Even though it's entitled Shifters Unbound, not all of the stories are about what I'd consider to be classic shifters, which I found unexpectedly delightful.
Plenty of great authors contributed great stories to this anthology. Even though it's entitled Shifters Unbound, not all of the stories are about what I'd consider to be classic shifters, which I found unexpectedly delightful.
October 19, 2020
Unbound
Very good book to read and every story was well written. If you like the authors you will love the short stories within this book. Well worth reading and I recommend this book.
Very good book to read and every story was well written. If you like the authors you will love the short stories within this book. Well worth reading and I recommend this book.
December 18, 2019
Each novella in this collection was enjoyable, fresh, and magical!
February 24, 2020
Love Time Travelers 2!
January 5, 2021
Futuristicly Weird
Didn't care for this book. Only one part. I'm not sure if I'll read anymore of her work . kinda "out there" for me.
Didn't care for this book. Only one part. I'm not sure if I'll read anymore of her work . kinda "out there" for me.
February 6, 2021
Four short stories, enjoyed two of them but less keen on the other two. Well, we all have different tastes.
April 23, 2013
4Stars for Hanna MARTINE /3.5 Starts for the book
This was a UTC team reviw with Annie
Review also posted at
UNBOUND contains four paranormal tales that will get you hooked on each of the series. ~ Under the Covers
ENFORCER by Angela Knight – 3 stars
I haven’t read anything from Knight before this, but have seen her name amongst some of my favorite authors so I decided to read this short story. ENFORCER is part of the Time Hunters series. Immediately, I was intrigued by the world. The hero and heroine Dona and Alerio are genetically engineered Temporaral Enforcers who must investigate a murder. But what’s interesting about it is that it involves, yup – you guessed it – time-travel! This book was the longest of the short stories and although I was interested in the characters and the world, something didn’t click for me. There is quite a bit of emotional depth in terms of the heroine, but I don’t think it felt fully resolved by the end.
PERFECT MATE by Jennifer Ashley – 3.5 stars
I was most looking forward to this story by Ashley from her Shifters Unbound series. This is a romance between Cormac, a bear shifter and single mother, Nell. You may know Cormac from HARD MATED. There is a good balance of danger and romance in this book. However, I do think the mated thing was done up too much in this book. I feel that the romance would be much stronger if it wasn’t so heavily relied on the fact that they are “meant to be”. But considering how short the story is, I guess it’s excusable.
THE HUNTER’S CABIN by Jean Johnson – 3 stars
Johnson is another new-to-me author. As part of the Vulland Chronicles, ex-prince Kiereseth and Vielle are on the run and take refuge in a snow cabin. This story was my least favorite of the bunch. After researching, this story is apparently a continuation of other free stories on the author’s website. That could be why I felt like something was missing. Reading only part of the story can do that so I figure that if I read those other stories, I’d appreciate this one more. However, that is not to say that it was interesting and the romance was great. If you’re interested in checking out the online series – here you go! http://www.jeanjohnson.net/Vulland.html
NO SURPRISE MORE MAGICAL by Hanna Martine - 4 Stars
This story takes place shortly after A Taste of Ice which is the 2nd installment of The Elementals Series. To Sum it up, the Ofarians and Tendrans are getting use to their new life of full independence from years of lies and control from their elders.David and Kelsey were betroth by their previews leaders, but since the independence for both races, they have decided to end the arrangement. Of course, faith has a funny way of being persistent because these two are given a second chance to find out if what they had was more than just a set up.
Ms. Martine did a fabulous job with enough recap that any reader can enjoy this story without having to read the two previous novels. She also did a fantastic job with giving her hero and heroine a proper HEA in such a short length story. I thoroughly enjoyed this novella and it definitely got me excited for the next full length novel.
*Review copy provided by publisher
This was a UTC team reviw with Annie
Review also posted at
UNBOUND contains four paranormal tales that will get you hooked on each of the series. ~ Under the Covers
ENFORCER by Angela Knight – 3 stars
I haven’t read anything from Knight before this, but have seen her name amongst some of my favorite authors so I decided to read this short story. ENFORCER is part of the Time Hunters series. Immediately, I was intrigued by the world. The hero and heroine Dona and Alerio are genetically engineered Temporaral Enforcers who must investigate a murder. But what’s interesting about it is that it involves, yup – you guessed it – time-travel! This book was the longest of the short stories and although I was interested in the characters and the world, something didn’t click for me. There is quite a bit of emotional depth in terms of the heroine, but I don’t think it felt fully resolved by the end.
PERFECT MATE by Jennifer Ashley – 3.5 stars
I was most looking forward to this story by Ashley from her Shifters Unbound series. This is a romance between Cormac, a bear shifter and single mother, Nell. You may know Cormac from HARD MATED. There is a good balance of danger and romance in this book. However, I do think the mated thing was done up too much in this book. I feel that the romance would be much stronger if it wasn’t so heavily relied on the fact that they are “meant to be”. But considering how short the story is, I guess it’s excusable.
THE HUNTER’S CABIN by Jean Johnson – 3 stars
Johnson is another new-to-me author. As part of the Vulland Chronicles, ex-prince Kiereseth and Vielle are on the run and take refuge in a snow cabin. This story was my least favorite of the bunch. After researching, this story is apparently a continuation of other free stories on the author’s website. That could be why I felt like something was missing. Reading only part of the story can do that so I figure that if I read those other stories, I’d appreciate this one more. However, that is not to say that it was interesting and the romance was great. If you’re interested in checking out the online series – here you go! http://www.jeanjohnson.net/Vulland.html
NO SURPRISE MORE MAGICAL by Hanna Martine - 4 Stars
This story takes place shortly after A Taste of Ice which is the 2nd installment of The Elementals Series. To Sum it up, the Ofarians and Tendrans are getting use to their new life of full independence from years of lies and control from their elders.David and Kelsey were betroth by their previews leaders, but since the independence for both races, they have decided to end the arrangement. Of course, faith has a funny way of being persistent because these two are given a second chance to find out if what they had was more than just a set up.
Ms. Martine did a fabulous job with enough recap that any reader can enjoy this story without having to read the two previous novels. She also did a fantastic job with giving her hero and heroine a proper HEA in such a short length story. I thoroughly enjoyed this novella and it definitely got me excited for the next full length novel.
*Review copy provided by publisher
December 20, 2014
Unbound is an anthology by Angela Knight, Jennifer Ashley, Jean Johnson and Hanna Martine. Each novella in this book is part of an ongoing series. I was originally interested in the book because of Jean Johnson and Jennifer Ashley. But I must say that the Hanna Martine story simply blew me away, and I will be looking for the others in that series.
Enforcer by Angela Knight is part of the Time Hunters series. This is the third and possibly final story in this series. I will admit that I didn't finish it. It has been so long since I read the other stories in the series, and for some reason the writing just didn't speak to me. Typically I am a huge fan of Angela Knight. She has been a guaranteed go-to read for years. Maybe I just need to find and reread the first two books again, but as of right now, eh. I just don't care to even see how it ends. What a sad end to a series that started strong.
Perfect Mate by Jennifer Ashley is #4.5 in the Shifters Unbound series. This is not the first novella in the Shifters Unbound series either. There are 3 other novellas and 4 full length novels currently out. Each new story builds on a secondary character from a previous book. And whether full length or novella, the main story arc keeps moving along. This particular story was about a previously introduced female bear finding her mate. As I have said before, I just really like bear shifter stories and this one is great addition to both the series and my love of bear shifters.
Jean Johnson gives us The Hunter's Cabin, part of her free online Vulland Chronicles series. I am not sure where exactly this story falls in the series, but if you are interested in reading the rest of it, please go to http://www.jeanjohnson.net/Vulland.html for more information. This story was very interesting and is of the Victorian meets magic variety. It is a great cross between Urban Fantasy and Steam Punk, two great genres that match up very well together in this short introduction to Miss Vielle, Mr. Kierseith and the Vulland Chronicles. I will be reading the rest of the story, you should check them out as well.
No Surprise More Magical is part of Hanna Martine's The Elementals series. This is an author I had not heard of before. But this is why I love Anthologies. Like small, tasty packages of goodness that can introduce you to new favorite authors. This short story comes after the first two books in the series. We are introduced to two characters who each for there own reasons, have given the other a chance to be free. Neither realizing that the other returns their own feelings. We see each characters point of view and I was left shaking my head about how they seriously misunderstood the others feelings. Especially for two people who have been friends as long as they have. This was a nice introduction to the world created by Ms. Martine, and has left me wanting to find out more. 2 thumbs up, nice job!
I am giving this book 3 stars on Goodreads. Although disappointed by the first story, the other three made up for it and gave me a new series and new author to start reading. Overall, a worthwhile read.
Enforcer by Angela Knight is part of the Time Hunters series. This is the third and possibly final story in this series. I will admit that I didn't finish it. It has been so long since I read the other stories in the series, and for some reason the writing just didn't speak to me. Typically I am a huge fan of Angela Knight. She has been a guaranteed go-to read for years. Maybe I just need to find and reread the first two books again, but as of right now, eh. I just don't care to even see how it ends. What a sad end to a series that started strong.
Perfect Mate by Jennifer Ashley is #4.5 in the Shifters Unbound series. This is not the first novella in the Shifters Unbound series either. There are 3 other novellas and 4 full length novels currently out. Each new story builds on a secondary character from a previous book. And whether full length or novella, the main story arc keeps moving along. This particular story was about a previously introduced female bear finding her mate. As I have said before, I just really like bear shifter stories and this one is great addition to both the series and my love of bear shifters.
Jean Johnson gives us The Hunter's Cabin, part of her free online Vulland Chronicles series. I am not sure where exactly this story falls in the series, but if you are interested in reading the rest of it, please go to http://www.jeanjohnson.net/Vulland.html for more information. This story was very interesting and is of the Victorian meets magic variety. It is a great cross between Urban Fantasy and Steam Punk, two great genres that match up very well together in this short introduction to Miss Vielle, Mr. Kierseith and the Vulland Chronicles. I will be reading the rest of the story, you should check them out as well.
No Surprise More Magical is part of Hanna Martine's The Elementals series. This is an author I had not heard of before. But this is why I love Anthologies. Like small, tasty packages of goodness that can introduce you to new favorite authors. This short story comes after the first two books in the series. We are introduced to two characters who each for there own reasons, have given the other a chance to be free. Neither realizing that the other returns their own feelings. We see each characters point of view and I was left shaking my head about how they seriously misunderstood the others feelings. Especially for two people who have been friends as long as they have. This was a nice introduction to the world created by Ms. Martine, and has left me wanting to find out more. 2 thumbs up, nice job!
I am giving this book 3 stars on Goodreads. Although disappointed by the first story, the other three made up for it and gave me a new series and new author to start reading. Overall, a worthwhile read.
January 29, 2016
Disclaimer: I’m a big fan of the Shifters Unbound series by Jennifer Ashley but I haven’t previously read the others in this anthology. If you have been following these series, your reading experience will likely be very different from mine.
Enforcer by Angela Knight
This is the climax of Angela Knight’s Time Hunters trilogy. Dona and Alerio have fought their attraction for 2 years. After a battle that almost took Dona’s life, Alerio decides to stop wasting time. They both want each other but they will have to fight both the ghosts of Dona’s past and their current enemy, the Victor, to have any shot at happiness.
I was a little lost with some of the futuristic phrases in this one but Dona and Alerio’s romance was easy to follow. Dona’s past was compelling and made the conflict believable and it was nice to see a heroine that kicked ass. Alerio was a little too perfect to me, and without any flaws, I wasn’t that interested in him. This was an okay read for me but I don’t think I’ll be picking of the other books in this series. Enforcer is the longest story in this anthology and takes up almost half of the book.
“First you kick Ivar’s cyborg ass, then you tell the girl how you feel. Viola: your basic happily ever after. All you need now is a fairy godmother and a magic glass dildo.”
Alerio’s swallow of ale slid down his windpipe. Once he stopped coughing, he wheezed, “Glass slipper, not glass dildo.”
“You’ve got your version, I’ve got mine.”
Perfect Mate by Jennifer Ashley
Cormac has arrived in the Nevada Shifertown looking for a mate, specifically Nell. Nell has spent more than half her life alone, has raised her two sons into adulthood, and has no intention of taking a new mate. But when a past shifter enemy shows up and endangers her oldest child, Cormac shows her that she doesn’t always have to go it alone.
Nell was a fierce heroine and I liked her strength and Cormac was everything I like in a bear shifter. However, this story was less than 24 hours long from the time Nell and Cormac meet until the I love yous and permanent mate bound. The romance itself seemed very rushed and I didn’t quite buy their HEA.
“No, he’ll have a snarling mama bear ready to kill for her cub,” Nell said. “I hope I rip this stupid dress when I shift to beat his ass.”
The Hunter’s Cabin by Jean Johnson
This is a steampunk story from the Vulland Chronicles. I was confused from the beginning and gave up less than halfway through. I can only assume that the earlier books in the series are necessary to understand this world.
No Surprise More Magical by Hanna Martine
During the old political regime, Kelsey and David were forced to become engaged. When the regime fell, David gave Kelsey what he thought she wanted and released her from the vow. Now they have to work together and both start to realize what they really want.
This story seemed to stand alone without having read Liquid Lies, the previous book in the series. Unfortunately, nothing about it held my attention and I found myself skimming often. I did enjoy the end and found it believable.
Enforcer by Angela Knight
This is the climax of Angela Knight’s Time Hunters trilogy. Dona and Alerio have fought their attraction for 2 years. After a battle that almost took Dona’s life, Alerio decides to stop wasting time. They both want each other but they will have to fight both the ghosts of Dona’s past and their current enemy, the Victor, to have any shot at happiness.
I was a little lost with some of the futuristic phrases in this one but Dona and Alerio’s romance was easy to follow. Dona’s past was compelling and made the conflict believable and it was nice to see a heroine that kicked ass. Alerio was a little too perfect to me, and without any flaws, I wasn’t that interested in him. This was an okay read for me but I don’t think I’ll be picking of the other books in this series. Enforcer is the longest story in this anthology and takes up almost half of the book.
“First you kick Ivar’s cyborg ass, then you tell the girl how you feel. Viola: your basic happily ever after. All you need now is a fairy godmother and a magic glass dildo.”
Alerio’s swallow of ale slid down his windpipe. Once he stopped coughing, he wheezed, “Glass slipper, not glass dildo.”
“You’ve got your version, I’ve got mine.”
Perfect Mate by Jennifer Ashley
Cormac has arrived in the Nevada Shifertown looking for a mate, specifically Nell. Nell has spent more than half her life alone, has raised her two sons into adulthood, and has no intention of taking a new mate. But when a past shifter enemy shows up and endangers her oldest child, Cormac shows her that she doesn’t always have to go it alone.
Nell was a fierce heroine and I liked her strength and Cormac was everything I like in a bear shifter. However, this story was less than 24 hours long from the time Nell and Cormac meet until the I love yous and permanent mate bound. The romance itself seemed very rushed and I didn’t quite buy their HEA.
“No, he’ll have a snarling mama bear ready to kill for her cub,” Nell said. “I hope I rip this stupid dress when I shift to beat his ass.”
The Hunter’s Cabin by Jean Johnson
This is a steampunk story from the Vulland Chronicles. I was confused from the beginning and gave up less than halfway through. I can only assume that the earlier books in the series are necessary to understand this world.
No Surprise More Magical by Hanna Martine
During the old political regime, Kelsey and David were forced to become engaged. When the regime fell, David gave Kelsey what he thought she wanted and released her from the vow. Now they have to work together and both start to realize what they really want.
This story seemed to stand alone without having read Liquid Lies, the previous book in the series. Unfortunately, nothing about it held my attention and I found myself skimming often. I did enjoy the end and found it believable.
May 29, 2013
Unbound by Angela Knight, Jennifer Ashley, Jean Johnson and Hanna Martine
Grade: B-
“All you need now is a fairy godmother and a glass dildo.”
“Glass slipper, not glass dildo.”
“You’ve got your version, I’ve got mine.”
Unbound is a combination of four stories associated with regular series by four different paranormal romance writers. I found that even for the series I hadn’t read that the author tries to make sure the reader knows what’s going on. Each story is very different and takes readers into very different worlds with very different characters.
Enforcer by Angela Knight
Grade: C
Enforcer takes us back into Angela Knight’s Guardian world where time travel is a regular occurrence and people are genetically engineered to be Enforcers. I liked this book but it didn’t ‘wow’ me. It was the longest of the four and it lost me for a time. There are some very funny moments from side characters but also some very heavy moments. Dona, the heroine, is by far one of the most damaged characters i’ve read about in a long time and she broke my heart. I wanted to love this story and just came out liking it instead.
Perfect Mate by Jennifer Ashley
Grade:B
I have had the first book in Jennifer Ashley’s Shifters Unbound series sitting on my wish list forever and after reading Perfect Mate I am bumping it up to my next book to read. I really liked this world that Ashley created and I want to spend more time in it. Cormac and Nell made me laugh and I couldn’t wait for them to find their happy ending together. This was a great story and I can’t wait to get into the full series.
The Hunter’s Cabin by Jean Johnson
Grade: D
The Hunter’s Cabin by Jean Johnson is a very short story that goes along with her Vulland Chronicles. I really disliked this story and found the characters to be very annoying. Everyone was so proper about sex and there didn’t seem to be any passion between the characters. I wanted more emotion out of them and I felt that nothing really happened except a sex scene. I will not be reading anymore from this series in the future.
No Surprise More Magical by Hanna Martine
Grade: A
I am a huge fan of Hanna Martine’s Elementals series but was disappointed with the last installment and I wasn’t sure if I would continue with the series. After reading No Surprise More Magical I am back in with this series and in love with the world of Primaries and Secondaries all over again. David and Kelsey are amazing characters and even though their story was short is was packed full of action, mystery and a whole lot of smoking romance. This is a great story and I would have bought the whole book just to read it because yes it was that good.
Grade: B-
“All you need now is a fairy godmother and a glass dildo.”
“Glass slipper, not glass dildo.”
“You’ve got your version, I’ve got mine.”
Unbound is a combination of four stories associated with regular series by four different paranormal romance writers. I found that even for the series I hadn’t read that the author tries to make sure the reader knows what’s going on. Each story is very different and takes readers into very different worlds with very different characters.
Enforcer by Angela Knight
Grade: C
Enforcer takes us back into Angela Knight’s Guardian world where time travel is a regular occurrence and people are genetically engineered to be Enforcers. I liked this book but it didn’t ‘wow’ me. It was the longest of the four and it lost me for a time. There are some very funny moments from side characters but also some very heavy moments. Dona, the heroine, is by far one of the most damaged characters i’ve read about in a long time and she broke my heart. I wanted to love this story and just came out liking it instead.
Perfect Mate by Jennifer Ashley
Grade:B
I have had the first book in Jennifer Ashley’s Shifters Unbound series sitting on my wish list forever and after reading Perfect Mate I am bumping it up to my next book to read. I really liked this world that Ashley created and I want to spend more time in it. Cormac and Nell made me laugh and I couldn’t wait for them to find their happy ending together. This was a great story and I can’t wait to get into the full series.
The Hunter’s Cabin by Jean Johnson
Grade: D
The Hunter’s Cabin by Jean Johnson is a very short story that goes along with her Vulland Chronicles. I really disliked this story and found the characters to be very annoying. Everyone was so proper about sex and there didn’t seem to be any passion between the characters. I wanted more emotion out of them and I felt that nothing really happened except a sex scene. I will not be reading anymore from this series in the future.
No Surprise More Magical by Hanna Martine
Grade: A
I am a huge fan of Hanna Martine’s Elementals series but was disappointed with the last installment and I wasn’t sure if I would continue with the series. After reading No Surprise More Magical I am back in with this series and in love with the world of Primaries and Secondaries all over again. David and Kelsey are amazing characters and even though their story was short is was packed full of action, mystery and a whole lot of smoking romance. This is a great story and I would have bought the whole book just to read it because yes it was that good.
April 16, 2013
Four short stories of paranormal passion.
Series:
"Enforcer" (Time Hunters, 3 & I get the impression it's the last, which is disappointing as I've enjoyed this series)
"Perfect Mate" (Shifters Unbound, 4.5)
"The Hunter's Cabin" (Vulland Chronicles, 8; you can read the earlier extremely short stories for free on Johnson's website)
"No Surprise More Magical" (Elementals, 1.5)
The Stories
Angela Knight's "Enforcer" is Dona Astryr and Alerio Dyami's story as they battle the Victor and his Xeran priests who are determined to kill all temporal tourists. I love Knight's temporal world and the detail she creates about the Temporal Enforcers. It's amazing how much information she's able to stuff into a short story without it feeling like a series of info dumps! Interesting little chunk about the Sela and their back history.
Jennifer Ashley's "Perfect Mate" is a very homey, sweet read with a big, fat, round feel to it in spite of the "concentration camp" atmosphere against shifters in the U.S. This story is all about Nell, a bearshifter abandoned by her suicidal husband to raise their two cubs. She's struggled all her life to do what's right. Now the shifters in her Shiftertown and her boys intend to right the wrongs she's suffered. Whether she likes it or not. Events certainly make for an interesting courtship!
Jean Johnson's "The Hunter's Cabin" is a clever, fascinating chase that ends before it finishes. I'm really irritated with this one as I got so caught up in it and then to be just...dropped. With no closure to this short steampunk story. Arghh.
Hanna Martine's "No Surprise More Magical" is another fascinating world in San Francisco, although I guess this short story was too short to explain just how the Ofarians fit in with the rest of the world. It's a cute romance of confused perceptions by two people who don't believe they're worthy, both of whom believe in the change in direction created by the recent coup. Too bad not everyone is on board with the changes.
The Cover
The cover is a camouflage of colors: the oranges with a touch of green in the title; the jungle colors of his pants; and, the snowy feel of the urban setting in the background.
The title may well refer to each couple being Unbound from the psychological shackles that have kept them from love.
Series:
"Enforcer" (Time Hunters, 3 & I get the impression it's the last, which is disappointing as I've enjoyed this series)
"Perfect Mate" (Shifters Unbound, 4.5)
"The Hunter's Cabin" (Vulland Chronicles, 8; you can read the earlier extremely short stories for free on Johnson's website)
"No Surprise More Magical" (Elementals, 1.5)
The Stories
Angela Knight's "Enforcer" is Dona Astryr and Alerio Dyami's story as they battle the Victor and his Xeran priests who are determined to kill all temporal tourists. I love Knight's temporal world and the detail she creates about the Temporal Enforcers. It's amazing how much information she's able to stuff into a short story without it feeling like a series of info dumps! Interesting little chunk about the Sela and their back history.
Jennifer Ashley's "Perfect Mate" is a very homey, sweet read with a big, fat, round feel to it in spite of the "concentration camp" atmosphere against shifters in the U.S. This story is all about Nell, a bearshifter abandoned by her suicidal husband to raise their two cubs. She's struggled all her life to do what's right. Now the shifters in her Shiftertown and her boys intend to right the wrongs she's suffered. Whether she likes it or not. Events certainly make for an interesting courtship!
Jean Johnson's "The Hunter's Cabin" is a clever, fascinating chase that ends before it finishes. I'm really irritated with this one as I got so caught up in it and then to be just...dropped. With no closure to this short steampunk story. Arghh.
Hanna Martine's "No Surprise More Magical" is another fascinating world in San Francisco, although I guess this short story was too short to explain just how the Ofarians fit in with the rest of the world. It's a cute romance of confused perceptions by two people who don't believe they're worthy, both of whom believe in the change in direction created by the recent coup. Too bad not everyone is on board with the changes.
The Cover
The cover is a camouflage of colors: the oranges with a touch of green in the title; the jungle colors of his pants; and, the snowy feel of the urban setting in the background.
The title may well refer to each couple being Unbound from the psychological shackles that have kept them from love.
June 19, 2015
A four story anthology involving: time travelers, shifters, people in the future and elemental users. I read and am reviewing each one. One of the things I require from an anthology is that, even though the stories may be based on a series, they should be understandable on a stand-alone basis. Not requiring too much previous knowledge and/or explanation. This isn’t always easy to do especially in a paranormal setting. Two of these stories do not meet this criteria.
1)‘Enforcer’: Time Hunters 2.5 by Angela Knight. 4 stars. You definitely need to read this in chronological order. This throws you right into the ‘Time Hunters’ universe, right into the middle of a raging battle. If you haven’t read the first 2 main books you’re going to be confused and either a) wishing you’d read them first or b) not reading this at all. Which would be a shame because it is a rich, interesting story series. Secondly it’s not a short story, more a novelette. I’ve added this series to my ‘to read’ list for someday (wish I could time travel my reading) and hope there will be more. Basically two time traveling factions are at war. The good guys: the enforcers/protectors of time traveling tourists (hmmm), etc. against the bad guy Xerans, a powerful priesthood bent on revolt and destruction across time.
2)‘Perfect Mate’: Shifters Unbound 4.5 by Jennifer Ashley. 5 stars. This is the story I borrowed this book for since I couldn’t find the solo version. I have reviewed it separately.
3)‘The Hunter’s Cabin’: Vulland Chronicles 5.5 by Jean Johnson. 2 stars. This series is found free on her website only. This story is basically a short incident involving two of the main series characters hiding out from their pursuers and ‘finding’ each other. We’re dropped right into the middle of a very complicated story world. There is a lot of history, world detail, etc. needed to understand so you must read the series in order. Also I hate it when the POV changes from one paragraph to the next. It’s sign of lazy writing. Maybe that’s why the whole series wasn’t actually published.
4)‘No Surprise More Magical’: Elementals 1.5 by Hanna Martine. 5 Stars. Basic premise. Two people in love hiding it from each other. Both are miserable, but too stubborn to admit it. But I loved it. It was different and made me smile and cry a little. The lovers are fresh, cute and have just a touch of humor. Mixed in with it is an assassination plot from the kicked-out regime. And I loved the kitty game!
1)‘Enforcer’: Time Hunters 2.5 by Angela Knight. 4 stars. You definitely need to read this in chronological order. This throws you right into the ‘Time Hunters’ universe, right into the middle of a raging battle. If you haven’t read the first 2 main books you’re going to be confused and either a) wishing you’d read them first or b) not reading this at all. Which would be a shame because it is a rich, interesting story series. Secondly it’s not a short story, more a novelette. I’ve added this series to my ‘to read’ list for someday (wish I could time travel my reading) and hope there will be more. Basically two time traveling factions are at war. The good guys: the enforcers/protectors of time traveling tourists (hmmm), etc. against the bad guy Xerans, a powerful priesthood bent on revolt and destruction across time.
2)‘Perfect Mate’: Shifters Unbound 4.5 by Jennifer Ashley. 5 stars. This is the story I borrowed this book for since I couldn’t find the solo version. I have reviewed it separately.
3)‘The Hunter’s Cabin’: Vulland Chronicles 5.5 by Jean Johnson. 2 stars. This series is found free on her website only. This story is basically a short incident involving two of the main series characters hiding out from their pursuers and ‘finding’ each other. We’re dropped right into the middle of a very complicated story world. There is a lot of history, world detail, etc. needed to understand so you must read the series in order. Also I hate it when the POV changes from one paragraph to the next. It’s sign of lazy writing. Maybe that’s why the whole series wasn’t actually published.
4)‘No Surprise More Magical’: Elementals 1.5 by Hanna Martine. 5 Stars. Basic premise. Two people in love hiding it from each other. Both are miserable, but too stubborn to admit it. But I loved it. It was different and made me smile and cry a little. The lovers are fresh, cute and have just a touch of humor. Mixed in with it is an assassination plot from the kicked-out regime. And I loved the kitty game!
April 12, 2013
ENFORCER by Angela Knight – 3 stars
I haven’t read anything from Knight before this, but have seen her name amongst some of my favorite authors so I decided to read this short story. ENFORCER is part of the Time Hunters series. Immediately, I was intrigued by the world. The hero and heroine Dona and Alerio are genetically engineered Temporaral Enforcers who must investigate a murder. But what’s interesting about it is that it involves, yup – you guessed it – time-travel! This book was the longest of the short stories and although I was interested in the characters and the world, something didn’t click for me. There is quite a bit of emotional depth in terms of the heroine, but I don’t think it felt fully resolved by the end.
PERFECT MATE by Jennifer Ashley – 3.5 stars
I was most looking forward to this story by Ashley from her Shifters Unbound series. This is a romance between Cormac, a bear shifter and single mother, Nell. You may know Cormac from HARD MATED. There is a good balance of danger and romance in this book. However, I do think the mated thing was done up too much in this book. I feel that the romance would be much stronger if it wasn’t so heavily relied on the fact that they are “meant to be”. But considering how short the story is, I guess it’s excusable.
THE HUNTER’S CABIN by Jean Johnson – 3 stars
Johnson is another new-to-me author. As part of the Vulland Chronicles, ex-prince Kiereseth and Vielle are on the run and take refuge in a snow cabin. This story was my least favorite of the bunch. After researching, this story is apparently a continuation of other free stories on the author’s website. That could be why I felt like something was missing. Reading only part of the story can do that so I figure that if I read those other stories, I’d appreciate this one more. However, that is not to say that it was interesting and the romance was great. If you’re interested in checking out the online series – here you go! http://www.jeanjohnson.net/Vulland.html
February 27, 2013
"Enforcer" by Angela Knight: This is by far the biggest story in the anthology, clocking in at 196 pages. It's a continuation of Knight's Warlord series. I'm pretty sure I only read each of those books once, a very long time ago, so suffice to say, the details aren't exactly fresh in my mind. I think the story would actually have been better as a full-fledged book. Knight touches on some heavy emotional issues for the heroine, but while they are discussed, there's no attempt at resolution. When the book ended, I felt like she was going to be happy with the hero, but not necessarily in a good place, psychologically speaking. 3 stars for me, add a star if you're a huge fan of the series.
"Perfect Mate" by Jennifer Ashley: "Perfect Mate" was only 96 pages so it relied heavily on Fated Mate Syndrome to excuse why they were in love by the end. It's also mainly for existing fans of Ashley's Shifters Unbound series as it picks up shortly after Mate Claimed. Since I love the series, I didn't have much of an issue. I liked that Ashley chose to feature bears again (Bodyguard did as well) and technically, this is also an older woman/younger man story. I felt it gave the story a bit of an unique spin. 3.5 stars for me, subtract a star if you've never read the series.
"The Hunter's Cabin" by Jean Johnson: I didn't know it at the time, but this novella is apparently a continuation of free stories Johnson has on her website. I did have the sense of missing something, but I managed just fine and I thought it was an unique plot. I would love to read a full-fledged book in this universe. 4 stars.
"No Surprise More Magical" by Hanna Martine: This was my favorite in the anthology. The relationship development was believable and Martine gives out just enough world-building to acclimate a newbie to her The Elementals series. Chronologically, "No Surprise" is set after A Taste of Ice, but it mostly references the characters from Liquid Lies. The hero and heroine were great, and I loved the emotional tension between them. 4.5 stars.
"Perfect Mate" by Jennifer Ashley: "Perfect Mate" was only 96 pages so it relied heavily on Fated Mate Syndrome to excuse why they were in love by the end. It's also mainly for existing fans of Ashley's Shifters Unbound series as it picks up shortly after Mate Claimed. Since I love the series, I didn't have much of an issue. I liked that Ashley chose to feature bears again (Bodyguard did as well) and technically, this is also an older woman/younger man story. I felt it gave the story a bit of an unique spin. 3.5 stars for me, subtract a star if you've never read the series.
"The Hunter's Cabin" by Jean Johnson: I didn't know it at the time, but this novella is apparently a continuation of free stories Johnson has on her website. I did have the sense of missing something, but I managed just fine and I thought it was an unique plot. I would love to read a full-fledged book in this universe. 4 stars.
"No Surprise More Magical" by Hanna Martine: This was my favorite in the anthology. The relationship development was believable and Martine gives out just enough world-building to acclimate a newbie to her The Elementals series. Chronologically, "No Surprise" is set after A Taste of Ice, but it mostly references the characters from Liquid Lies. The hero and heroine were great, and I loved the emotional tension between them. 4.5 stars.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews