Caractacus Hudson thinks of himself as a non-descript anomaly. A white hedgehog, banished from his prickle because of his genetics, he lives a quiet existence, hoping and praying that one day his prickle will want him back. Winning the lottery was about as likely to happen to Cari, as he was known to his friends, as being hit on the head by a meteor. But one day he did just that – won the lottery, not the meteor thing. Even then, he doesn’t see his life changing overly much, but some over zealous wolves, and a lion shifter bodyguard soon changes his ideas.
Quaid Poullon hates lottery winners, or anyone who’s come into money instead of working for it. A lion shifter with more than his fair share of pride, Quaid balks when his brother Ernest asks him to take care of a hedgehog. But one sniff of the intriguing man goes a long way to changing his opinion. Now all he has to do is work out how to keep his little mate safe, which isn’t as easy as it should be.
A pack, a prickle, even the cat coalition want a piece of Cari and it’s not just for his sudden wealth. Suddenly the boundaries between who can be trusted and who can’t are seriously blurred and it’s all Quaid can do is try and stay one step ahead. When a bite has unexpected repercussions, even the council get involved. Is there ever going to be a scenario when Quaid and Cari can be safe?
The first 7500 words of this story were published for free on Stormy Glenn’s ManloveFantasies blog. Over 40,000 words have been added. Custom Solutions is a new series and this story can be read as a complete standalone with no cliffhanger. HEA is guaranteed. This is an MM true mates paranormal story and is intended for adults only.
Lisa Oliver had been writing non-fiction books for years when visions of half dressed, buff men started invading her dreams. Unable to resist the lure of her stories, Lisa decided to switch to fiction books, and now stories about her men clamor to get out from under her fingertips. When Lisa is not writing, she is usually reading with a cup of tea always at hand. Her grown children and grandchildren sometimes try and pry her away from the computer and have found that the best way to do it, is to promise her chocolate. Lisa will do anything for chocolate. Lisa loves to hear from her readers and other writers. You can friend her on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/lisaoliverauthor), or email her directly at yoursintuitively@gmail.com. If you want to chat with her on Skype, then email for contact details.
This was a funny action-packed shifter romance. I loved it! It was fast-paced, sweet ans steamy! Cari, an albino hedgehog shifter, always felt like he didn't belong. All he ever wanted was a mate who would love him and a peaceful life. But things take a dangerous turn when he wins the lottery jackpot, and from that moment his life is never the same. Quaid, the lion shifter, doesn't even want the job of protecting some spoiled lottery winner. But it all changes when he smells his mate behind the closed office door. He is needed to protect and love his mate.
I loved Cari. He is so cute, quirky and shy. When he is finally mated, strange magical things start happening, and Quaid's protection alone is not enough because every creep in creation wants a piece of Cari! I loved how Cari slowly built his confidence, how he was able to stand up for himself in the end. Quaid was a bit arrogant and assumed some things that he shouldn't have but Cari straightened him really quick. In the end they both learned what it means to be mated and work as a team.
I loved the side characters. Christian and Dolph's story was heart-breaking, Parker turned out to be a loyal friend among the sea of traitors. I can't wait to read their stories! The finale was hilarious. All in all, I really liked this book! I recommend it!
Good start to a new series. After a week of struggling with the book I was reading, this book was just what the doctor ordered. It is a classic Lisa Oliver book. If you don’t like her books then it probably won’t work for you, but I happen to love her work, so all good from here. I liked Cari and felt sorry for him at times. He was quite naive and a lot of people tried to take advantage but at the same time his instincts got him to acting a certain way and protected him to a degree. I’m glad he realised that Quaid was his mate or else his quick acceptance of him wouldn’t have worked. I enjoyed Quaid and liked how he was about empowering Cari. He had his moments of dense ness, his heart was mainly in the right place. I liked the side characters and can’t wait to see more of them in future books.
Rating: 4 stars I really liked this book. I especially liked Cari. He was such a sweet character, if a bit naïve. I liked Quaid too, but I didn’t always like the way he treated Cari. It was never malicious, I just think he was a bit clueless sometimes and tended to run a bit roughshod over Cari’s feelings. What I did like was the way Cari came into his own and how he let Quaid know whenever he was unhappy with anything Quaid did. I think that this is a really good start to a new series and hope that we get more from these characters soon. A friend lent me her copy, but I liked it enough that I bought my own copy.
Honestly I think the 3 Stars is being kinda of gracious but I don’t have it in me to go under that.
Lisa Oliver is usually on and off for me, with a majority of the time being on point. But this book? Not so much. It felt very clinical to me, a list made and boxes checked off nothing more. Which to be fair it could have been, per the notes from the author this was written for an anthology and then later extended into what it is today (that anthology could have required certain “boxes to be checked”).
Anyways everything felt detached in a way and never pulled itself together. The sex was the worst, you can’t have good sex in a book when everything. Is detached and clinical. It was like listening to a teacher talk about it in sex ed.... No passion, no fun...
I did enjoy the plot for the most part, until the ending, which felt like the author just decided to scrap all the build up and take an easy route just to finish to the story.
“You look a lot like Ryan who used to be a friend of mine until he tried to bite me after I’d been claimed.”
Lastly... I’m pretty sure it was Marcus (the wolf) that tried biting him after he’d mated.... Although I guess Ryan’s intentions were not spelled out... so maybe he was going to bite him too.?.?.?. But I doubt it.
You know what... now that I’ve written everything down and realized I didn’t really see a lot in the story... I’m going to a 2 star...
This was such a fantastic, adorable, sweet, poignant, lovely, charming, engaging, smoking hot, grab-you-by-the-feels, and totally awesome tale. At first glance, Cari and Quaid are complete opposites that have nothing in common, but it doesn't take long before it's obvious that they're perfect for each other. I must admit that I was severely tempted to open up a major can of whupass on certain characters, but in the end, I absolutely LOVED this new, fresh, and delightful delightfully different twist on the same old, stale, and staid shifter trope. I enjoyed reading this marvelous start to a new series, and can't wait to see what happens next.
5* - very very good and rare (it would be a Blow- Away-book like ‘Jesse's Smile' or ‚Joey’ from Angelique Jurd, ‘Save the kids' series from EM Leya, ‘Love’s Tethered Heart’ from C.L. Etta or 'Liberty' from Seth King), it's like an A+
4* - very good and will be often reread and is a WOW-book with interesting plot and surprises (like most of Andrew Grey books and Davidson Kings 'Haven Hart'-series) it's like an A
3,5* - a really good book, which will be reread a few times a year (most romances where you can enjoy for relaxing and during waiting times in hospitals). I can recommend them definitively! It's like an B+
3* - it could be more then a one-time-reader, maybe 2-3 times a year. It’s like a B
2* - it was ok to read, but it's more a one-time- reader (i wouldn't recommend it heartily, but it was ok). It's like a C-, D
1* - sorry, but that isn't really a book for me (too many mistakes, not nice plot, illogical, so an absolut NO-GO). It's like failure in the whole line, dismissed, repeat the class
Caractacus Hudson, or Cari as he is known to his friends, works hard and keeps a low profile with the hopes of being allowed back in his prickle. He had been kicked out because of his genetics. He does very little but does play the lottery. He does not count on ever winning and then he does - he wins the big one. Now everyone wants him but for more than just his money.
Quaid Poullon works hard for his money and thinks everyone should. Lottery winners are not his favorite people. Then his brother asks him to protect a hedgehog who won. He really does not want to but one sniff and he knows Cari is his mate and he will do more than protect him. Protecting him becomes difficult as many want a piece of Cari and not just for his money.
I love the way this story unfolded. Using legend as the background, Cari and Quaid come to life. Cari is unique with his idiosyncrasies. You can't help but smile when he works on some of his lists and Quaid reaction is priceless. These two will have you smiling and crying but above all cheering for a happy ending. The ending is sure to leave you with a smile on your face.
A white hedgehog was banished from his pickle for being different. Cari petitioned for membership to a wolf pack for membership but was rejected until he won a billion dollar lottery prize. The wolf pack try to get the money at the lottery office but the lottery administrator suspects fraud and calls in his brother, a professional bodyguard, Quinn. Turns out they are fated mates, and a good thing too as Cari is now the target of the wolves who now want the money and him for a secret he doesn't even know about. A thousand years ago a white hedgehog mated a wolf, the wolf pack attacked the couple and the hedgehog had the power to kill the entire pack. The current wolf pack wants Cari for a weapon, plus the money. Quinn and Cari are now on the run and the plot thickens. Our hero is so sweet and while he has power, he doesn't have intent to kill anyone. Lots of action and intrigue before we get the HEA. It is a great tale and I highly recommend it.
Lisa Oliver has done it again, this book is the first in a new series and features a cute white hedgehog and his lion shifter bodyguard.
Cari is a banished white hedgehog who wins the lottery, his so called friends try and steal his money and he ends up with a hot lion bodyguard.
Quaid is fed up babysitting spoilt rich boys that is until he meets Cari and realises this cute little hedgehog is his mate.
Everyone wants a piece of Cari and even trusted friends plot to steal from him except his mate and Quaid's bosses who all have to work hard to prevent a kidnapping and Cari being taken by the shifter council.
Can Quaid and Cari ever live in peace, read the book to find out. Recommended.
Another great few hours escaping real life in the paranormal world of shifters that this author creates so well. This time it is a hedgehog shifter who overcomes his anxieties as his world changes overnight and everyone else tries to take advantage. I thought his character was great, he starts off seeming vulnerable naive and alone and his growth and development through the story was really heartwarming.
As others have mentioned, this needed a bit more of an edit, but it doesnt bother me so much with this author, as she is a long time favourite in this genre and her style is easy to read.
Cari was the cutest, bravest, and kindest, little hedgehog that I've ever read about. :) He wins the lottery then soon retains a bodyguard who just happens to be his mate. I truly enjoyed this book. Cari was so trusting that he tended to trust the wrong people, but through the love of his mate they both overcame many obstacles. Cari had a voice and when the circumstances called for it, he used it and he used it well. He was so adorable. I appreciated the smooth pace of the story which definitely kept me pulled in and intrigued. I'll be looking out for Parker's story :). Overall this was a very entertaining and heartfelt read. =)
I normally devour pretty much everything that Lisa Oliver creates, but this one left me unimpressed. I never thought that Quaid showed any real signs of growth, or change; he offered to leave his job, but it just didn't seem enough.
I also didn't really buy that Ranger and company could have fooled Christian, Dolph, and Quaid as they did without raising any red flags.
I am hooked on all the various series by this author and book 1 in this new one is no different. I am not sure what I liked more: someone coming into their own, finding a true mate, finding friends, being able to find a purpose and to give back. And a rags to riches story is always fun. I can see we’re some future story lines could go in this series. I am eager to read the next book
I enjoyed this book And it's group of characters. I loved Quaid his brother, bosses, and friends. I even enjoyed the villains in this book, but I just couldn't love Cari. He was just to naive, too clueless, and way too wimpy for me. I like characters with a tad more backbone for what he had gone through. But it was a well written read , and I will definitely be looking for the next book in this series.
Another good story with great characters. Interesting concept with the world knowing about shifters since most her books dont. But I look forward to more books in this series, and how the dynamic of humans knowing may influence the story. Also for some reason for me I really want to see Parker get a mate, and get to know his character more. Seemed like a good one.
While I love Quaid and Cari... Where are Jacob and the other guys?? I've been waiting sooooooo long!! Sigh!
This is a great story about a.tiny hedgehog and a super protective lion. I love how accepting Quaid is with Cari's quirks and how he tries to fix his mistakes when he knows he's done something wrong. Great read and so looking forward to seeing this become a series.
Lisa Oliver has done it again and as usual I loved this book and the start of a new series. Cari and Quaid were both likable and well rounded characters can't wait for more stories from this world. I can see this being my favourite after the cloverleah pack
I like Cari’s quirkiness; he has beautiful flaws and his mate loved him unconditionally. What I really hope is maybe their will be a 3rd for Christian and Dolf. Or Parker gets a fiery spunky mate. This book was great because Cari was just as quirky and complex as they come.
It’s a sweet, fun and great story to read! It may not be what people are used to from Lisa Oliver the writing technique is different but Dani&Lisa have done a great job writing this plus it’s a great book to read and you will fall in love with Cari, all he wants is someone to love him for him and he finds that with Quaid :)
I always love reading the author's books, and this book was no exception. You fall in love with Cari and his quirkiness and Quain's sexy ass but sometimes falling short of being a good mate. Luckily he has Cari to set him straight. I cannot wait for the next books in this series.
This is such an adorable book! Caro and Quaid's journey to the HEA is like a crazy car ride with surprises along the way that make it that much more fun. I can't wait to see some of the side characters get their own stories...I definitely think its a great start to a new series
That little hedgehog stole my heart....my emotions has been on a roller coaster ride with every feeling and event that happened to him...... And I'm proud of the mate you chose for him too..... I was worried about the shifter council bit.... That Paranormal Council twist was pretty awesome....... As usual I'm hook on your books...looking forward to reading them all....thank you...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
What does a shifter hedgehog and a lion have in common . A true mating ..I loved this story and.thought Cari was just the cats meow in more ways than one... I love Lisa Oliver way of telling of a mating
See I read the whole book. I really like this new world you have created. This story makes you laugh, groan(Quaid being dense). Happy and sad but as alway a happy ending. Can't wait to see who is next in this series.
Have just about read all of your books. But this.took me somewhere else. It is my new favourite. Premise was unexpected and seriously great. Looking forward to the next chapter. Thanks again for such wonderful stories. You are a great weaver of wonderful tales.
This was a relaxing story I love the way Lisa Oliver makes her characters so loveable. Easy reading for a night in. Angry with Amazon that this book was not brought to my attention as I am following her.
Yay Lisa Oliver, another hit! We all wonder what would happen if we won it big. I have heard horror stories about large lotto winners, and poor Cari's story starts out bad, but man does he REALLY win, just not in money...