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Beautiful, intelligent, and skilled at getting what she wants, Harper has set her sights on Shan, the mysterious alpha of the largest shifter pack in the world. An anthropologist by trade and a questioner by nature, she wants to find out who he is and how he's managed to do what no other alpha has―unite the entire shifter population of Appalachia.
What she finds is a man that exceeds her wildest expectations. Handsome, brilliant, and unaccustomed to being denied, Shan is soon captivated by Harper, who is every bit as enigmatic as he is.
Shan knows there are things Harper isn't telling him. Her life is a carefully constructed facade and for all his cunning, he can't figure her out. As he chips away at her mask, his instincts urge him to claim her as his own.
Harper is a full-length novel, approximately 300 pages long. It is part of the Shifters of Appalachia universe. Enjoy Destined as a standalone novel series, or see the author page for a reading order.
What she finds is a man that exceeds her wildest expectations. Handsome, brilliant, and unaccustomed to being denied, Shan is soon captivated by Harper, who is every bit as enigmatic as he is.
Shan knows there are things Harper isn't telling him. Her life is a carefully constructed facade and for all his cunning, he can't figure her out. As he chips away at her mask, his instincts urge him to claim her as his own.
Harper is a full-length novel, approximately 300 pages long. It is part of the Shifters of Appalachia universe. Enjoy Destined as a standalone novel series, or see the author page for a reading order.
- GenresRomanceParanormalFantasy
282 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 13, 2018
40 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 24, 2018
ABSOLUTELY RIVETING !!!
Title: Harper
Series: Destined for the Alpha
Author: Viola Rivard
Designation: Book 1 of Serial, Full-Length(280 pages), Not A Standalone, Cliffhanger Ahead #paranormal #romance #wolfshifters #skinwalkers
My Rating: Five Riveting Stars*****
Viola Rivard is back and better than ever - as evidenced by her latest release Harper, the first installment in her brand new Destined for the Alpha Series! I've been a diehard Rivard fan for years and have always loved her passionate prose. And I'm not just carelessly throwing out compliments. I like to say that books are very much like food - everyone has their preferences and Viola Rivard has always been one of my favorites. I understand- different strokes for different folks and all that, but Viola Rivard just does it for me and has since her very first book. I've actually read everything she's ever published. I don't see that changing and there's a very good reason, actually several. Rivard is a naturally gifted storyteller, talented wordslinger, and skilled wordsmith. She excels in building unique, vividly depicted worlds with rich, detailed descriptions populated with complex but well-developed and engaging characters who literally explode from the pages, ensnare your imagination, capture your heart, and hold you prisoner from the first page to the last. And her newest series is no exception! It's kinda hard to put into words, but I'll try. There's a big difference between a good book and a great book. A good book you enjoy and would recommend to a friend but a great book, well, you can't put it down, won't answer your phone, ignore your doorbell, and don't want to stop to eat, sleep, or even go to the restroom without taking it with you. And when you finish, you can't stop gushing about it to your friends and can't wait to read the next in the series. You start frantically searching Amazon to see if the preorder is already available. Yes, folks, I'm a little obsessive about the authors and books I love. lol... And Viola Rivard definitely falls into that category. But enough of my rambling. Let's talk a few details!
Harper is a riveting, well-crafted, fast-paced, easy-to-follow, full-length first release of Rivard's new Destined for the Alpha Series. Although it is full-length, coming in at almost 300 pages, it is NOT a standalone but rather the first installment of a serialzed storyline and does end with a cliffhanger. I know - I want the next book now! But that's okay, that's part of Rivard's charm as a writer and I've grown accustomed to the cliffhangers over the years. Thankfully, she always makes the wait worthwhile, which is another thing Rivard does really well. She knows how to build and layer her story to keep readers on the edge of their seats, riveted to their ereaders, and begging for more! lol... The narrative is beautifully written in the third person with dual perspectives. The dialogue is smart, snappy, articulate, natural, and flows effortlessly. Rivard is one of the few authors who can perfectly balance her story content and by that I mean, she gives a reader an ideal combination of narrative, dialogue, and internal dialogue. Without a doubt, Rivard is the queen of internal dialogue where our hero and heroine battle with that little devil on one shoulder and their know it all little angel on the other. This is one of my favorite elements of Rivard's writing style but hands down, the component I enjoy best in every story is her large cast of quirky, complex, engaging, and always well-developed characters. Her heroes, and sometimes antiheroes, are always handsome, strong, loyal, brave, growly alpha males who make you swoon, and her heroines are no slouches either. They're also strong, beautiful, brave, smart, independent women who are so much more than they seem and, more often than not, bring their alphas to heel. lol... As is the case with our two protagonists in this story, Alpha wolf Shan and socio-cultural anthropologist Harper Smith. We were introduced to Shan's character in Running With Alphas, Seasons: Winter and quite honestly, I didn't like him very much. Shame on me! You would think I'd know by now to not judge a book by its cover. There's so much more to Shan than meets the eye, and I do mean that quite literally - but no spoilers from me! I was quickly won over by Shan's quite reserved nature and surprising intelligence. And Harper - what do I even say about her? She's a girl after my own heart - an intelligent, independent, free-spirited young woman with a big heart. She's fierce but kind, brave but smart, soft but hard, loyal but honest. I LOVED Harper, even before I knew who she was. Oops-slight spoiler! lol... If you've read Rivard's other series, you're in for a real surprise but like Forrest Gump said, that's all I gonna say about that! lol... These two are like fire and gasoline and when they meet, it's an explosion of epic proportions. Attraction ignites! Sparks fly! Passion explodes! And more lives than their own will be changed forever, which brings me to another thing I love about this story- the large cast of supporting characters. You've heard the expression, it takes a village to raise a child? Well, in Rivard's stories, it takes a village of great characters to support the hero and heroine, and she delivers with a perfect cast of quirky ensemble players. And FYI, you will be hearing a few familiar names in this story. As I said earlier, no spoilers from me but I will say this... Beautiful, independent socio-cultural anthropologist with big ideals and even bigger secrets who's out to change the world and doesn't need a man to do it-check! Handsome, intelligent, dedicated alpha wolf who has united packs over thousands of miles, created order and a standard set of laws for a new pack numbering now in the thousands, and initiated an unprecedented agricultural revolution among his kind, but with secrets of his own and no time for a mate-check! Danger, drama, action, suspense, and a twist you'll never see coming-check! Heart-wrenching angst, undeniable attraction, steamy passion, dreamy romance, and a fate that won't be denied-you bet! That and a whole lot more!
Did I like this book? No, I LOVED it! Would I recommend it? You bet, and I am but only for adult readers since it does contain explicit sex. And just a reminder, although this is a full-length novel, it's not a standalone but rather a serialized storyline and does end with a cliffhanger. It's not mandatory to have read the other series by Rivard before reading Harper, but it would certainly enrich your reading experience, and I'm sure it's one decision you'll never regret. Will I read this author again? Absolutely! And finally, was I entertained? Completely! I was enthralled in the first few pages, glued to my seat, white-knuckling my ereader with my heart fluttering wildly in my chest as the pages flew as quickly as the time! And folks, I wasn't exaggerating about not answering the door or phone. I couldn't stop reading until I reached the last page! OMG! I LOVED this book! Well done, Viola Rivard! Well done, indeed! Now, bring on Book 2 and please hurry! lol...
Title: Harper
Series: Destined for the Alpha
Author: Viola Rivard
Designation: Book 1 of Serial, Full-Length(280 pages), Not A Standalone, Cliffhanger Ahead #paranormal #romance #wolfshifters #skinwalkers
My Rating: Five Riveting Stars*****
Viola Rivard is back and better than ever - as evidenced by her latest release Harper, the first installment in her brand new Destined for the Alpha Series! I've been a diehard Rivard fan for years and have always loved her passionate prose. And I'm not just carelessly throwing out compliments. I like to say that books are very much like food - everyone has their preferences and Viola Rivard has always been one of my favorites. I understand- different strokes for different folks and all that, but Viola Rivard just does it for me and has since her very first book. I've actually read everything she's ever published. I don't see that changing and there's a very good reason, actually several. Rivard is a naturally gifted storyteller, talented wordslinger, and skilled wordsmith. She excels in building unique, vividly depicted worlds with rich, detailed descriptions populated with complex but well-developed and engaging characters who literally explode from the pages, ensnare your imagination, capture your heart, and hold you prisoner from the first page to the last. And her newest series is no exception! It's kinda hard to put into words, but I'll try. There's a big difference between a good book and a great book. A good book you enjoy and would recommend to a friend but a great book, well, you can't put it down, won't answer your phone, ignore your doorbell, and don't want to stop to eat, sleep, or even go to the restroom without taking it with you. And when you finish, you can't stop gushing about it to your friends and can't wait to read the next in the series. You start frantically searching Amazon to see if the preorder is already available. Yes, folks, I'm a little obsessive about the authors and books I love. lol... And Viola Rivard definitely falls into that category. But enough of my rambling. Let's talk a few details!
Harper is a riveting, well-crafted, fast-paced, easy-to-follow, full-length first release of Rivard's new Destined for the Alpha Series. Although it is full-length, coming in at almost 300 pages, it is NOT a standalone but rather the first installment of a serialzed storyline and does end with a cliffhanger. I know - I want the next book now! But that's okay, that's part of Rivard's charm as a writer and I've grown accustomed to the cliffhangers over the years. Thankfully, she always makes the wait worthwhile, which is another thing Rivard does really well. She knows how to build and layer her story to keep readers on the edge of their seats, riveted to their ereaders, and begging for more! lol... The narrative is beautifully written in the third person with dual perspectives. The dialogue is smart, snappy, articulate, natural, and flows effortlessly. Rivard is one of the few authors who can perfectly balance her story content and by that I mean, she gives a reader an ideal combination of narrative, dialogue, and internal dialogue. Without a doubt, Rivard is the queen of internal dialogue where our hero and heroine battle with that little devil on one shoulder and their know it all little angel on the other. This is one of my favorite elements of Rivard's writing style but hands down, the component I enjoy best in every story is her large cast of quirky, complex, engaging, and always well-developed characters. Her heroes, and sometimes antiheroes, are always handsome, strong, loyal, brave, growly alpha males who make you swoon, and her heroines are no slouches either. They're also strong, beautiful, brave, smart, independent women who are so much more than they seem and, more often than not, bring their alphas to heel. lol... As is the case with our two protagonists in this story, Alpha wolf Shan and socio-cultural anthropologist Harper Smith. We were introduced to Shan's character in Running With Alphas, Seasons: Winter and quite honestly, I didn't like him very much. Shame on me! You would think I'd know by now to not judge a book by its cover. There's so much more to Shan than meets the eye, and I do mean that quite literally - but no spoilers from me! I was quickly won over by Shan's quite reserved nature and surprising intelligence. And Harper - what do I even say about her? She's a girl after my own heart - an intelligent, independent, free-spirited young woman with a big heart. She's fierce but kind, brave but smart, soft but hard, loyal but honest. I LOVED Harper, even before I knew who she was. Oops-slight spoiler! lol... If you've read Rivard's other series, you're in for a real surprise but like Forrest Gump said, that's all I gonna say about that! lol... These two are like fire and gasoline and when they meet, it's an explosion of epic proportions. Attraction ignites! Sparks fly! Passion explodes! And more lives than their own will be changed forever, which brings me to another thing I love about this story- the large cast of supporting characters. You've heard the expression, it takes a village to raise a child? Well, in Rivard's stories, it takes a village of great characters to support the hero and heroine, and she delivers with a perfect cast of quirky ensemble players. And FYI, you will be hearing a few familiar names in this story. As I said earlier, no spoilers from me but I will say this... Beautiful, independent socio-cultural anthropologist with big ideals and even bigger secrets who's out to change the world and doesn't need a man to do it-check! Handsome, intelligent, dedicated alpha wolf who has united packs over thousands of miles, created order and a standard set of laws for a new pack numbering now in the thousands, and initiated an unprecedented agricultural revolution among his kind, but with secrets of his own and no time for a mate-check! Danger, drama, action, suspense, and a twist you'll never see coming-check! Heart-wrenching angst, undeniable attraction, steamy passion, dreamy romance, and a fate that won't be denied-you bet! That and a whole lot more!
Did I like this book? No, I LOVED it! Would I recommend it? You bet, and I am but only for adult readers since it does contain explicit sex. And just a reminder, although this is a full-length novel, it's not a standalone but rather a serialized storyline and does end with a cliffhanger. It's not mandatory to have read the other series by Rivard before reading Harper, but it would certainly enrich your reading experience, and I'm sure it's one decision you'll never regret. Will I read this author again? Absolutely! And finally, was I entertained? Completely! I was enthralled in the first few pages, glued to my seat, white-knuckling my ereader with my heart fluttering wildly in my chest as the pages flew as quickly as the time! And folks, I wasn't exaggerating about not answering the door or phone. I couldn't stop reading until I reached the last page! OMG! I LOVED this book! Well done, Viola Rivard! Well done, indeed! Now, bring on Book 2 and please hurry! lol...
July 24, 2019
3.5 Stars
It was hard not to rate this as 4 Stars but there was a legit reason behind my .5 Star deduction. There was a handful of spots where the story just dragged on... the background information wasn't needed and I would have rather had more pack interaction then hearing about the past.
Harper while I enjoy her character in the sense of her free spirit I don't like her as a Mate for anyone. She lies at every turn and I don't see how anyone could trust her.
I love how this book is working its way through so many characters that I love. Who knew I would get to see them here and there! How I missed those Alphas <3
I question reading Book #2 as I am just not interested in Harper but I am sure I will in a few days.
It was hard not to rate this as 4 Stars but there was a legit reason behind my .5 Star deduction. There was a handful of spots where the story just dragged on... the background information wasn't needed and I would have rather had more pack interaction then hearing about the past.
Harper while I enjoy her character in the sense of her free spirit I don't like her as a Mate for anyone. She lies at every turn and I don't see how anyone could trust her.
I love how this book is working its way through so many characters that I love. Who knew I would get to see them here and there! How I missed those Alphas <3
I question reading Book #2 as I am just not interested in Harper but I am sure I will in a few days.
June 10, 2018
I am surprised by how much I like the story and the mysteries surrounding the whole story. This is the first time I had read a book of this author. I really like the story and might try some of her books but first I cannot wait to read the continuation of this book.
The only thing I didn’t like was that this was not a standalone. I guess it is my fault for not reading the synopsis and click on it assuming this was a finished book. Aside from the cliffhanger I am good with everything and recommend it to everyone but I do not recommend everyone to those who don’t like cliffhangers and the wait.
The only thing I didn’t like was that this was not a standalone. I guess it is my fault for not reading the synopsis and click on it assuming this was a finished book. Aside from the cliffhanger I am good with everything and recommend it to everyone but I do not recommend everyone to those who don’t like cliffhangers and the wait.
January 25, 2024
The biggest shame of this story? I loved the MMC. The plot/premise of this story is very interesting. What I didn't like? The FMC Harper. At first, I was a big fan of her chill attitude and I liked her. Gradually as the story progressed the more I disliked her. She gets even worse in the second book. This is an incomplete series. I doubt it will ever be completed as the author dropped off the face of the earth with no word 5 years ago.
Don't read unless you like reading a story where there's a cliffhanger in the 2nd book and you will get no closure. Basically it's up to you to imagine how it all ends.
Don't read unless you like reading a story where there's a cliffhanger in the 2nd book and you will get no closure. Basically it's up to you to imagine how it all ends.
February 15, 2018
Didn't see it coming
I know when I open one of this author's books I am in for a thrilling read. Harper is a feisty full steam ahead heroine. Luckily for Harper she has met her match in Shan. He doesn't let her manipulate him like so many males do. Shan is caring and willing to give Harper what she needs to be happy . Hoping Harper realizes Shan is exactly what she needs. There is a twist at the end I didn't see coming. It makes me even more anxious to see how the rest of their story unfolds. I can't wait till the next one!
I know when I open one of this author's books I am in for a thrilling read. Harper is a feisty full steam ahead heroine. Luckily for Harper she has met her match in Shan. He doesn't let her manipulate him like so many males do. Shan is caring and willing to give Harper what she needs to be happy . Hoping Harper realizes Shan is exactly what she needs. There is a twist at the end I didn't see coming. It makes me even more anxious to see how the rest of their story unfolds. I can't wait till the next one!
February 15, 2018
Omg *happy dance*
Ok first... WOW!! I was super happy when I seen this book. I would recommend reading "Claimed by the Alphas". If you did you seen the surprise this book had!! We have a blast from the past. I love her books have read all of them. This one is close to heart just because of Harper's past. Can't wait for the next one.... Yes it didn end on a cliffhanger... But, it's worth the wait!!
Ok first... WOW!! I was super happy when I seen this book. I would recommend reading "Claimed by the Alphas". If you did you seen the surprise this book had!! We have a blast from the past. I love her books have read all of them. This one is close to heart just because of Harper's past. Can't wait for the next one.... Yes it didn end on a cliffhanger... But, it's worth the wait!!
February 15, 2018
Holy wow, this was so interesting! As I was reading, I kept having a-ha moments, when I realized familiar names, which kinda made me love it even more. Harper is amazing, and an absolute blast to read. Shan became totally loveable, instead of just scary lol. And the last chapter was a major A-HA moment that I gave a gasp & a scream. I totally loved this. I cannot wait for the next one!!
February 25, 2018
Minds blown!
Wow oh wow! First I could put the book down. Harper has her secrets and trauma but Shan's her salve. How cow I loved this book, but now I have to wait for the next book. I love how all Viola's characters from the different series are over lapping. And the ending blew my mind!! Holy Moly!
Wow oh wow! First I could put the book down. Harper has her secrets and trauma but Shan's her salve. How cow I loved this book, but now I have to wait for the next book. I love how all Viola's characters from the different series are over lapping. And the ending blew my mind!! Holy Moly!
April 4, 2018
This book was very well written. The vocabulary usage, the plot components, and the shock at the end were all well done. Looking forward to reading book 2. If you liked the across the never sky books you should give this one a try.
February 15, 2018
3.5 stars. I liked the unique take on how Shan shifts from human to werewolf, and enjoyed the story, but it ended abruptly, mid storyline.
February 16, 2018
Well done!!!
Well this book will make you want to go back to the beginning to find the subtle hints regarding Harper. Expect the unexpected. Awaiting the next part eagerly.
Well this book will make you want to go back to the beginning to find the subtle hints regarding Harper. Expect the unexpected. Awaiting the next part eagerly.
February 19, 2018
Great Book
I have read all of Viola Rivard if you do read her books start from the beginning and you will know about Harper who is really snow this is a really great book.
I have read all of Viola Rivard if you do read her books start from the beginning and you will know about Harper who is really snow this is a really great book.
April 8, 2018
Why didn't I see that twist coming at the end?!
June 12, 2018
Great plot!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews