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Rise of the Pride #1
Talon
My name is Talon Shaw and I am the alpha of a pride of black panthers. My cat finds his mate in a human female and she wants a date! Panthers don’t date…we mate.
Before my plans fall into place to court the woman who is destined to be my mate, one of my pride is taken and held for ransom.
That ransom is me.
I will do anything for my pride, but my little human mate puts herself in my place. When I find out that she has been taken, along with a young girl from my pride, I vow to bring them both home. My Guardians and I hunt to find my mate, save my pride, and deal out justice for those my enemy has harmed.
That is…if I’m not too late to save them both.
Before my plans fall into place to court the woman who is destined to be my mate, one of my pride is taken and held for ransom.
That ransom is me.
I will do anything for my pride, but my little human mate puts herself in my place. When I find out that she has been taken, along with a young girl from my pride, I vow to bring them both home. My Guardians and I hunt to find my mate, save my pride, and deal out justice for those my enemy has harmed.
That is…if I’m not too late to save them both.
217 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 29, 2016
1519 people are currently reading
1161 people want to read
About the author
Theresa Hissong
80 books498 followersTheresa is a mother of two and the wife of a retired Air Force Master Sergeant. After seventeen years traveling the country, moving from base to base, the family has settled their roots back in Theresa’s home town of Olive Branch, MS., where she enjoys her time with old friends and family.
Theresa daydreams of the perfect love affair and takes those ideas to paper.
Find Theresa's Fan Page on Facebook @ facebook.com/authortheresahissong
Theresa daydreams of the perfect love affair and takes those ideas to paper.
Find Theresa's Fan Page on Facebook @ facebook.com/authortheresahissong
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 287 reviews
October 2, 2020
I've just read the ridiculous blurb for this story. It tells you everything. There are no surprises left. Not that it would have mattered too much, but still.
Let's just say that if this was my first shifter paranormal romance, it would be passable. Since it's not - it was published in 2016, i.e. after a bunch of horrible, bad, good and awesome romances - I can't get over this.
Talon uses a number of tropes (as a lot of romances do). The thing is, it seems as if they are just slapped there just because the author has read/heard about it somewhere. You get: coming out to the public, some don't like it, a surprising mating, the touch hurts (won't explain this one- hint: Breeds), some yelling and pushing and growling and all that.
I might try another one, though.
Let's just say that if this was my first shifter paranormal romance, it would be passable. Since it's not - it was published in 2016, i.e. after a bunch of horrible, bad, good and awesome romances - I can't get over this.
Talon uses a number of tropes (as a lot of romances do). The thing is, it seems as if they are just slapped there just because the author has read/heard about it somewhere. You get: coming out to the public, some don't like it, a surprising mating, the touch hurts (won't explain this one- hint: Breeds), some yelling and pushing and growling and all that.
I might try another one, though.
January 7, 2021
Didn't like the stilted dialogue or plot. The setting is with shifters on film and the H talking to reporters at a press conference. The plot as usual tropes, so humans being mean. The usual tropes for the feisty h too. She's young, carries a gun, runs a bar, lives on a property. I not a fan of the writing style, and I thought the characters were boring.
January 11, 2025
Well, three things. 1. I kept thinking I was missing chapters because this moved so fast. 2. I was getting sick of the "I can't have a mate, I'm the alpha and my pride (pack) is my top priority." like having a partner is some sort of burden. 3. I think "alpha's mate" and "mate of the alpha" is used more than the FMC's name.
May 30, 2018
Astrid's Description: The panther shifters have been outed to the media, yet only one press conference and NO press following the group around? Other than that, it is your typical, shifter falls for a human and they are true mates.
I actually am torn about this one. There are several good aspects to it. For example, females cannot be touched by any male that is not her mate or alpha. That rule was a new one for me; I found it creative. The shifter rules are laid out and followed (i.e. there is not some special person that is somehow too special to follow the "shifting" rules) Each character has their own personality. So on and so forth. What seems to bother me is the editing that is needed.
There are several grammar mistakes. Two examples:
"Being a bar owner at the age of twenty was not something she'd imagined for herself at this age."
*source: Talon by Theresa Hissong pg. 10
Does not need to repeat age part.
"They woman smiled warmly at Liberty."
*source: Talon by Theresa Hissong pg. 111
There are a few parts that do not make sense. Examples:
""Your tongue is rough,"... ""My panther," he growled around his partially shifted mouth."
*source: Talon by Theresa Hissong pg. 153
Did the author not think about how big a panther tongue is and how small our human mouths tend to be?
"It wasn't very often that Talon spoke about his kind to her. So, if she was being honest, she wanted to get all the answers she could while he was in the mood to talk."
*source: Talon by Theresa Hissong pg. 84
First, they are on their first date. Is it just me, or do you usually ask the person you are dating questions about themselves? Why would the main girl need to explain why she was letting him talk when she asked him a question to begin with? Also, other than a few looks to each other over the years, they only just started to show interest in the other. So once again, she is trying to get to know him and does not need to explain away his talking.
Repeated information:
"It'd been Talon's idea that the panthers keep an eye on her..."
*source: Talon by Theresa Hissong pg. 93
We know, in the previous chapter we read the argument that happened between the two when he said he was going to have the panthers watch her to keep her safe. Have faith that your readers know what is going on.
There are a few other parts that I highlighted, but it isn't worth getting into. Let us end on a good note. I did enjoy most of her descriptions. The character arcs are well done as is the story line. I am not sure I like the antagonist, but she at least makes something work throughout the book.
All in all, not a bad read, but also not the best one ever. There are more in the series, but I have opted not to buy them. If they had been part of the Kindle Unlimited program I may have gone for it, but paying several dollars for more books that may or may not be good, wasn't worth it to me.
For more book reviews, check out my website: https://astridleemiles.wordpress.com/
I actually am torn about this one. There are several good aspects to it. For example, females cannot be touched by any male that is not her mate or alpha. That rule was a new one for me; I found it creative. The shifter rules are laid out and followed (i.e. there is not some special person that is somehow too special to follow the "shifting" rules) Each character has their own personality. So on and so forth. What seems to bother me is the editing that is needed.
There are several grammar mistakes. Two examples:
"Being a bar owner at the age of twenty was not something she'd imagined for herself at this age."
*source: Talon by Theresa Hissong pg. 10
Does not need to repeat age part.
"They woman smiled warmly at Liberty."
*source: Talon by Theresa Hissong pg. 111
There are a few parts that do not make sense. Examples:
""Your tongue is rough,"... ""My panther," he growled around his partially shifted mouth."
*source: Talon by Theresa Hissong pg. 153
Did the author not think about how big a panther tongue is and how small our human mouths tend to be?
"It wasn't very often that Talon spoke about his kind to her. So, if she was being honest, she wanted to get all the answers she could while he was in the mood to talk."
*source: Talon by Theresa Hissong pg. 84
First, they are on their first date. Is it just me, or do you usually ask the person you are dating questions about themselves? Why would the main girl need to explain why she was letting him talk when she asked him a question to begin with? Also, other than a few looks to each other over the years, they only just started to show interest in the other. So once again, she is trying to get to know him and does not need to explain away his talking.
Repeated information:
"It'd been Talon's idea that the panthers keep an eye on her..."
*source: Talon by Theresa Hissong pg. 93
We know, in the previous chapter we read the argument that happened between the two when he said he was going to have the panthers watch her to keep her safe. Have faith that your readers know what is going on.
There are a few other parts that I highlighted, but it isn't worth getting into. Let us end on a good note. I did enjoy most of her descriptions. The character arcs are well done as is the story line. I am not sure I like the antagonist, but she at least makes something work throughout the book.
All in all, not a bad read, but also not the best one ever. There are more in the series, but I have opted not to buy them. If they had been part of the Kindle Unlimited program I may have gone for it, but paying several dollars for more books that may or may not be good, wasn't worth it to me.
For more book reviews, check out my website: https://astridleemiles.wordpress.com/
August 29, 2018
Ano nga bang maganda sa librong ito??? Marahil sa aking pagbabasa napagtanto ko na may mga kwento ng pag-ibig na kakaiba sa karaniwan.
Ang kwentong Ito ay tungkol sa pinuno ng angkan ng mga nagpapalit anyo ng hayop (at ang hayop ay ang pantera o panther sa wikang banyaga). Marahil ang kwento ay isang tipikal na kwento ng pagmamahalan. Kwento kung saan ano ang mahalaga ang pagmamahal nya sa babaeng itinakda sa kanya o ang pamumuno sa kanyang angkan...
Life is always a matter of choice. But in the end our choices makes the difference whether it could make us happy or good for the many. After all our choices lead us to something and that something is our future.
Salamat sa isang paglalakbay.
Ang kwentong Ito ay tungkol sa pinuno ng angkan ng mga nagpapalit anyo ng hayop (at ang hayop ay ang pantera o panther sa wikang banyaga). Marahil ang kwento ay isang tipikal na kwento ng pagmamahalan. Kwento kung saan ano ang mahalaga ang pagmamahal nya sa babaeng itinakda sa kanya o ang pamumuno sa kanyang angkan...
Life is always a matter of choice. But in the end our choices makes the difference whether it could make us happy or good for the many. After all our choices lead us to something and that something is our future.
Salamat sa isang paglalakbay.
May 12, 2024
Talon is a Black panther shifter who finds his mate in a human. Honestly, just read the blub, it tells you the entire story! I was underwhelmed. When it got to the exciting scenes, they lasted for half a page, and it would be over. I didn't dislike the book; I just didn't find myself wanting to pick it back up or read anymore when I got to the end.
March 11, 2016
Book: Talon (Rise of the Pride, Book 1)
Author: Theresa Hissong
Publication Date: 2/29/2016
Reviewed by: Tammy Payne- Book Nook Nuts
My Rating: 4 Stars
REVIEW
*May contain spoilers *
New to me author.
Talon is alpha to a pride of panthers that have now come out to the humans. Of all things, Talon expected to find his mate was not one of those things and she is none other than a human. Liberty owns the local bar and is one truly alpha female. Not much scares her until someone is after her but why?
Can Talon and his pack keep Liberty safe?
This was a good shifter book. Strong characters and interesting story plot. I found a few hiccups in the editing as there were missing words etc but nothing that takes from the story itself. If you like, cat shifters but add in other shifters kind of books then grab this one.
Theresa Hissong
Author: Theresa Hissong
Publication Date: 2/29/2016
Reviewed by: Tammy Payne- Book Nook Nuts
My Rating: 4 Stars
REVIEW
*May contain spoilers *
New to me author.
Talon is alpha to a pride of panthers that have now come out to the humans. Of all things, Talon expected to find his mate was not one of those things and she is none other than a human. Liberty owns the local bar and is one truly alpha female. Not much scares her until someone is after her but why?
Can Talon and his pack keep Liberty safe?
This was a good shifter book. Strong characters and interesting story plot. I found a few hiccups in the editing as there were missing words etc but nothing that takes from the story itself. If you like, cat shifters but add in other shifters kind of books then grab this one.
Theresa Hissong
August 24, 2020
Rising together
What a fantastic beginning to a series! The author has filled the pages with a high intensity story of action and danger, family and love. The characters are well developed and engaging, adding an emotional element to the story that kept me enthralled until the end. I especially enjoyed how the pride banded together in their time of need and how Liberty stepped right on up to help. With as steamy and emotional as this book is, I can only imagine what the next book will bring.
What a fantastic beginning to a series! The author has filled the pages with a high intensity story of action and danger, family and love. The characters are well developed and engaging, adding an emotional element to the story that kept me enthralled until the end. I especially enjoyed how the pride banded together in their time of need and how Liberty stepped right on up to help. With as steamy and emotional as this book is, I can only imagine what the next book will bring.
July 31, 2017
Another author had spoke about Theresa Hissong books so I thought I have to try it and boy I'm glad I did I found it very intriguing and looking forward to get started on the next book in the series (Winter) Okay now I've found another great series
Want to read
August 1, 2020💝FREE on Amazon today (6/11/2018)!💝
December 7, 2020
Yeah there gonna be spoilers. :rubs forehead: So this was an ok shifter book for most of it; average world building, not much "new" to the shifter landscape, but I liked Liberty well enough to keep going.
Somewhere around the 75% point is when I actively began to not want to finish. I mean I was pretty close at that point, but then Liberty did the dumbest thing I've seen in a PNR (or any romance) in a long time.
Everything about this book felt a tiny bit rushed. Falling squarely in the insta-lust just add mate category, we're given a crashcourse in what that means from Talon, Nova's books and some general stuff tossed around by others.
This is where my eyes began rolling because ok sure, Liberty wants a date or two before Talon goes "mine forever". Sure Talon is somewhat confused by this idea, but hey the internet helps. But then, for reasons, he spends a short amount of time contemplating they can't be together because its dangerous for a human. Fair. He immediately backtracks that the second she slams a door in his face.
This is all over a couple pages mind you.
Moving on they make love that first time and he's like "ok time to go be Alpha" and Liberty instantly assumes everything to that point (including the fact it physically HURTS HER if another guy touches her) was all a con to get in her pants.
This is the first instance of her being irrational. Those orgasms must have fried her brain.
Later stuff happens and she gets a note meant for Talon. Her VERY FIRST THOUGHT is that she can't let him go to diem Her panther shifter lover, who's a pretty strong Alpha considering his age. Instead she decides to go solve the problem because she knew in her heart that was what had to be done. Her human heart. Her easy to hurt and kill, human heart.
I don't normally blame the victim, but this was down right the dumbest action I've read in a long while and its almost fateful justice that it completely blows up in her face. Because she can't do anything. They laugh at her, roll their eyes and immediately realize now they have TWO hostages.
I'm not sure just what abuse she suffered; its made clear the kidnappers are 100% on board with brutalizing and raping her (also the underage girls they have captive, which is a different issue). And she gets beat pretty bad - kicked in the ribs, punctured lung, bruises, swollen eye. But I don't THINK she was raped.
I did think they had instead bitten her and tried to forcibly turn her wolf. I would have honestly been more into that as drama.
They didn't though and instead Talon has to force the change on her to panther, or she'd die. Which is convenient since he's wanted to do that for the entirety of their relationship. And they never got around to figuring out if she would want to change. He mentioned she'd need to, for them to have kids, but far as I remember they never had the actual discussion of "are you comfortable with this".
Though given how drunk she got when she smelled him (sorry his "mating scent"), I doubt she would have resisted.
My main issue is that the women, and only the women, are physically HURT if touched by another unmated male while in the process of completing their mating bond. Not the dudes, they can do as they like, but if a woman is so much as brushed against accidentally she falls into a tizzy of pain that only her mated male can heal.
Y'all I hate that my mind goes this way, but since it was briefly mentioned in the book...can you imagine the sadistic torture that could be inflicted on a woman? Shifter or human, so long as the mating process has begun (not sure how it begins since Talon knew Liberty for two years, but I guess it kicked in the first time he touched her? She seemed ok otherwise til then) the female is vulnerable. And it appears that never goes away.
Deeply not ok with that.
By the end I was discouraged from reading more in the series.
Somewhere around the 75% point is when I actively began to not want to finish. I mean I was pretty close at that point, but then Liberty did the dumbest thing I've seen in a PNR (or any romance) in a long time.
Everything about this book felt a tiny bit rushed. Falling squarely in the insta-lust just add mate category, we're given a crashcourse in what that means from Talon, Nova's books and some general stuff tossed around by others.
This is where my eyes began rolling because ok sure, Liberty wants a date or two before Talon goes "mine forever". Sure Talon is somewhat confused by this idea, but hey the internet helps. But then, for reasons, he spends a short amount of time contemplating they can't be together because its dangerous for a human. Fair. He immediately backtracks that the second she slams a door in his face.
This is all over a couple pages mind you.
Moving on they make love that first time and he's like "ok time to go be Alpha" and Liberty instantly assumes everything to that point (including the fact it physically HURTS HER if another guy touches her) was all a con to get in her pants.
This is the first instance of her being irrational. Those orgasms must have fried her brain.
Later stuff happens and she gets a note meant for Talon. Her VERY FIRST THOUGHT is that she can't let him go to diem Her panther shifter lover, who's a pretty strong Alpha considering his age. Instead she decides to go solve the problem because she knew in her heart that was what had to be done. Her human heart. Her easy to hurt and kill, human heart.
I don't normally blame the victim, but this was down right the dumbest action I've read in a long while and its almost fateful justice that it completely blows up in her face. Because she can't do anything. They laugh at her, roll their eyes and immediately realize now they have TWO hostages.
I'm not sure just what abuse she suffered; its made clear the kidnappers are 100% on board with brutalizing and raping her (also the underage girls they have captive, which is a different issue). And she gets beat pretty bad - kicked in the ribs, punctured lung, bruises, swollen eye. But I don't THINK she was raped.
I did think they had instead bitten her and tried to forcibly turn her wolf. I would have honestly been more into that as drama.
They didn't though and instead Talon has to force the change on her to panther, or she'd die. Which is convenient since he's wanted to do that for the entirety of their relationship. And they never got around to figuring out if she would want to change. He mentioned she'd need to, for them to have kids, but far as I remember they never had the actual discussion of "are you comfortable with this".
Though given how drunk she got when she smelled him (sorry his "mating scent"), I doubt she would have resisted.
My main issue is that the women, and only the women, are physically HURT if touched by another unmated male while in the process of completing their mating bond. Not the dudes, they can do as they like, but if a woman is so much as brushed against accidentally she falls into a tizzy of pain that only her mated male can heal.
Y'all I hate that my mind goes this way, but since it was briefly mentioned in the book...can you imagine the sadistic torture that could be inflicted on a woman? Shifter or human, so long as the mating process has begun (not sure how it begins since Talon knew Liberty for two years, but I guess it kicked in the first time he touched her? She seemed ok otherwise til then) the female is vulnerable. And it appears that never goes away.
Deeply not ok with that.
By the end I was discouraged from reading more in the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2023
The usual “lust at first shifter” story.
It’s amusing how these authors want to make the storyline easy with few pesky humans. They all kill off the families. No parents, no aunts or uncles or grandparents. So I guess if a girl wants a shifter, she’s got to be an orphan or near to.
Ha.
It’s amusing how these authors want to make the storyline easy with few pesky humans. They all kill off the families. No parents, no aunts or uncles or grandparents. So I guess if a girl wants a shifter, she’s got to be an orphan or near to.
Ha.
January 27, 2025
I should have dnf’ed this book… that’s on me.
September 12, 2020
MAJOR Plot spoilers ahead. Read at your own risk.
My feelings for this story were kind of a mixed bag. There were things that I liked and really enjoyed about the book, but then there were other things that I just didn’t care for and made me wonder why it was even in there. I kept bouncing back and forth while I was reading it. There were times that I was totally into it then there were other times I was “meh” about it. It was very difficult to discern what I was going to give this in the rating department.
I did enjoy that this was a panther shifter romance It was interesting to compare the panther shifter romances to the wolf shifter romances. They had very similar vibes with only a few variations here and there from other wolf shifter romances that I have read in the past. I did like that the panther shifter’s purred both in panther form and human form. It was pretty funny when Liberty noticed and asked if he was purring. It reminded Liberty of kitty cat, who she loved to snuggle with, which translated her loving to snuggle with Talon. It was really funny when she called him a kitty cat, and he acted all offended because he thought that emasculated him. Other kitty cat too, but I found it more entertaining when she did it. I thought it was cute when she did call him that and enjoying his purring embraces. That was fun.
I thought that panther society was established nicely. How they operated. How the responded to Alpha Talon. Talon’s responsible for this pride/pack as Alpha. I liked that there were these bodyguards/protector panther known as the Guardians. I liked seeing how protective they were over their alpha as well as other members in their society. It was great world building of the panther shifters society.
The setup of this story was really interesting. It started off with Talon at this big news press conference after a human had caught to panther shifting on tape, exposing them to the human world. So, as alpha he had to come clean about the existence of the panther shifters and answer a bunch of questions about them. Once it was known they were out there, they could no longer hide their true nature and blend in with the humans like they had been. It was obstacle that Talon and his pack had to face. Not everyone was as open and accepting as Liberty was about the fact that shifters were among the human race. And wolf shifters weren’t happy about shifters being exposed to the outside world, causing some friction there.
Once the story broke, Talon and his Guardians headed to this bar that they had been going to for quite awhile to enjoy a beer and some food. The bar just happened to be owned by Liberty, who had taken over two years previous after her dad died. Even though Talon knew of Liberty, he never really interacted with her on a personal basis until one of Liberty’s patrons acted up about the shifters being at the bar. Liberty stood up for the panther and even disarmed the patron causing trouble and kicked him out. Grateful for what she did, Talon thanked Liberty and bam the mating bond happened in that interaction, taking over both of them. Talon didn’t believe it because Liberty was a human and believed that panther couldn’t mate with humans, but that didn’t stop him from planting a big old kiss on her as part of “claiming” process even though Liberty didn’t too kindly to that particular tact and let him know it too.
What I did appreciate that Liberty didn’t take the claim as the be all end all of being Talon’s mate. She wanted him to woo and date her before she decided if she wanted to be his mate or not. Talon was hesitant, but agreed. They really had a nice date night where she got to know him as well as his world. He answered her questions that she had. They just enjoyed each other’s company while basking in the mating bond that was growing between them. They started getting more and more involved with each other. I did enjoy seeing that process, but I felt it was too brief for my liking. I wanted more scenes like this one.
Instead it seemed like they rushed forward in their relationship, after one of the members of his pride got captured. Then it got weird pacing wise in their relationship and kind of jolted me. There was a moment when he doubted whether he could take a human as his mate since they were fragile in comparison to shifters. Plus once it got out about this kidnapping, it made Liberty really sad and upset, and that was the last thing Talon wanted but knew if she came into his world that she would be facing that as well as the danger. He didn’t want that. He wanted to protect his mate so he basically rejected and said he didn’t want her, hurting her in the process. Yes, he did it for the best reason, but not it the best way. The confusing thing was he was saying that one page then in the next page he chased after her and got mad her when she shut the door in his face after he rejected her. Then he did complete one eighty of wanting her and needing to be with her because she was his mate. His change of heart so quickly gave me whiplash. I thought it happened way too quickly, and I didn’t see the point if he was going to change his mind so quickly. I would have understood it better if it took him and chapter or two to realize his mistake then come back, begging her for forgiveness because of his rejection. They would have to work to get back what they had before that. Get that trust and intimacy back between them with that conflict between them. Plus just seeing them be apart of awhile and see them pinning and longing that they had for each other would have added so much more to the story and strengthened their relationship I think if they went through that trial. It just didn’t make sene to have that rejection then have I want to be back happen so quickly. I think there needed to be more time between that moment and the next.
There really wasn’t much conflict between Talon and Liberty aside from the whole shifter/human thing, which yes was kind of big deal, but there was nothing else really. There would be some conflict, but it would quickly be resolved like the rejection thing then the night that they spent together then aftermath. It was gut wrenching conflict. It was fleeting and not very meaningful. It could be said that they resolved their issues quickly between them, but I didn’t think that they got to the bottom of things and went to a deeper level. Like Liberty never told Talon why she had such a reaction after their first time when he wanted to leave her the way the did. It came out as anger, but it didn’t show what was behind that, which was the vulnerability of feeling that she was being used as a warm body and nothing more. So, they really didn’t have anymore deep and meaningful conversations after their first dating moments together, which lessened the intimacy between them. I didn’t feel like they had a lot of growing intimacy between them. It was more just the mating bond that was increasing, but not much else. Liberty even stated that she wanted to make sure that Talon wanted her for her and not just because of the mating bond that was between them, which I totally agreed with too, but it was never really addressed because there weren’t those moments of intimacy between them or building. There were just few and far between moments in between where they dug beneath the surface after the first time scene.
The love scenes were hot. It showed off how hot and steamy they could be together, which was partially compounded by the mating bond. The first time scene was really intense, and it did solidify the mating bond. It showed that they were the one and only for one another. When he marked her as his that was pretty steamy and really bonded them after that. It was something they both found pleasure in both in. They knew there was no going back after that.
Then it just became messy that because the outside forces came to play. I appreciated what was trying to be done, but it didn’t work for me because it felt out place. There were suddenly outside perspectives that came into the story that I didn’t want or need. The focus shifted to teased other couples that will probably have a book sometime in the future, which I just felt was unnecessary especially the one featuring Talon’s younger brother. It could have been done in his book, not this one. It just wasn’t something I was interested at this particular moment. It took me out of Talon and Liberty’s story. Then other stuff came into play which lead to other stuff that felt really rushed. Once that particular thing happened, I think story should have ended, instead there were two more chapters with one not being necessary because that could have easily been done in the next book in the series. I just felt there was no point in that being in there because it didn’t effect Talon and Liberty’s story in the end. I even said when a certain part of the story happened that it felt like an ending to me, instead it continued on to the those two chapters. The one chapter was fine, but the other wasn’t. I just wasn’t feeling it.
Overall, I liked the first half better than the second half. I really liked that this was a panther shifter romance. I did like the characters introduced especially the shifters. I liked the world building. I liked that this was a new world for both Talon and Liberty as the shifters came out into the open to the humans. I liked there was a mating bond that was really intense between them. I liked their date night and wished there were more moments like that between Talon and Liberty. Then the story went a little bit downhill after that starting with the romance. There wasn’t much to it. There could have been, but once the rejection happened it was quickly taken back so there was no like tension or friction between them for too long before everything was hunky dory again. It was too quick. There needed to be more pacing there where they were separated before coming together again. That way there would have been more longing and pining going on until Talon couldn’t take it anymore and went back. Then there would have been the need to earn forgiveness and build back up trust between Talon and Liberty once again. Have more intimacy building scenes with the two of them. More relationship building, instead of having it be too easy to get back to that place again they were before the rejection. I like when my romances the couple have to work to make it work between them before getting that happily ever after, but none of that was here. It missed the mark because of that and made the romance a little less satisfying. There were unnecessary things in their like different perspectives that I could have done without in lieu of more romance stuff between Talon and Liberty. The whole ending was just weird for me especially that one chapter that could have been done in book two in this series instead of this book. Just the ending did not do it for me, and it made me feel kind of “meh” about this story because of that. It just wasn’t my favorite shifter romance that I have ever read.
My feelings for this story were kind of a mixed bag. There were things that I liked and really enjoyed about the book, but then there were other things that I just didn’t care for and made me wonder why it was even in there. I kept bouncing back and forth while I was reading it. There were times that I was totally into it then there were other times I was “meh” about it. It was very difficult to discern what I was going to give this in the rating department.
I did enjoy that this was a panther shifter romance It was interesting to compare the panther shifter romances to the wolf shifter romances. They had very similar vibes with only a few variations here and there from other wolf shifter romances that I have read in the past. I did like that the panther shifter’s purred both in panther form and human form. It was pretty funny when Liberty noticed and asked if he was purring. It reminded Liberty of kitty cat, who she loved to snuggle with, which translated her loving to snuggle with Talon. It was really funny when she called him a kitty cat, and he acted all offended because he thought that emasculated him. Other kitty cat too, but I found it more entertaining when she did it. I thought it was cute when she did call him that and enjoying his purring embraces. That was fun.
I thought that panther society was established nicely. How they operated. How the responded to Alpha Talon. Talon’s responsible for this pride/pack as Alpha. I liked that there were these bodyguards/protector panther known as the Guardians. I liked seeing how protective they were over their alpha as well as other members in their society. It was great world building of the panther shifters society.
The setup of this story was really interesting. It started off with Talon at this big news press conference after a human had caught to panther shifting on tape, exposing them to the human world. So, as alpha he had to come clean about the existence of the panther shifters and answer a bunch of questions about them. Once it was known they were out there, they could no longer hide their true nature and blend in with the humans like they had been. It was obstacle that Talon and his pack had to face. Not everyone was as open and accepting as Liberty was about the fact that shifters were among the human race. And wolf shifters weren’t happy about shifters being exposed to the outside world, causing some friction there.
Once the story broke, Talon and his Guardians headed to this bar that they had been going to for quite awhile to enjoy a beer and some food. The bar just happened to be owned by Liberty, who had taken over two years previous after her dad died. Even though Talon knew of Liberty, he never really interacted with her on a personal basis until one of Liberty’s patrons acted up about the shifters being at the bar. Liberty stood up for the panther and even disarmed the patron causing trouble and kicked him out. Grateful for what she did, Talon thanked Liberty and bam the mating bond happened in that interaction, taking over both of them. Talon didn’t believe it because Liberty was a human and believed that panther couldn’t mate with humans, but that didn’t stop him from planting a big old kiss on her as part of “claiming” process even though Liberty didn’t too kindly to that particular tact and let him know it too.
What I did appreciate that Liberty didn’t take the claim as the be all end all of being Talon’s mate. She wanted him to woo and date her before she decided if she wanted to be his mate or not. Talon was hesitant, but agreed. They really had a nice date night where she got to know him as well as his world. He answered her questions that she had. They just enjoyed each other’s company while basking in the mating bond that was growing between them. They started getting more and more involved with each other. I did enjoy seeing that process, but I felt it was too brief for my liking. I wanted more scenes like this one.
Instead it seemed like they rushed forward in their relationship, after one of the members of his pride got captured. Then it got weird pacing wise in their relationship and kind of jolted me. There was a moment when he doubted whether he could take a human as his mate since they were fragile in comparison to shifters. Plus once it got out about this kidnapping, it made Liberty really sad and upset, and that was the last thing Talon wanted but knew if she came into his world that she would be facing that as well as the danger. He didn’t want that. He wanted to protect his mate so he basically rejected and said he didn’t want her, hurting her in the process. Yes, he did it for the best reason, but not it the best way. The confusing thing was he was saying that one page then in the next page he chased after her and got mad her when she shut the door in his face after he rejected her. Then he did complete one eighty of wanting her and needing to be with her because she was his mate. His change of heart so quickly gave me whiplash. I thought it happened way too quickly, and I didn’t see the point if he was going to change his mind so quickly. I would have understood it better if it took him and chapter or two to realize his mistake then come back, begging her for forgiveness because of his rejection. They would have to work to get back what they had before that. Get that trust and intimacy back between them with that conflict between them. Plus just seeing them be apart of awhile and see them pinning and longing that they had for each other would have added so much more to the story and strengthened their relationship I think if they went through that trial. It just didn’t make sene to have that rejection then have I want to be back happen so quickly. I think there needed to be more time between that moment and the next.
There really wasn’t much conflict between Talon and Liberty aside from the whole shifter/human thing, which yes was kind of big deal, but there was nothing else really. There would be some conflict, but it would quickly be resolved like the rejection thing then the night that they spent together then aftermath. It was gut wrenching conflict. It was fleeting and not very meaningful. It could be said that they resolved their issues quickly between them, but I didn’t think that they got to the bottom of things and went to a deeper level. Like Liberty never told Talon why she had such a reaction after their first time when he wanted to leave her the way the did. It came out as anger, but it didn’t show what was behind that, which was the vulnerability of feeling that she was being used as a warm body and nothing more. So, they really didn’t have anymore deep and meaningful conversations after their first dating moments together, which lessened the intimacy between them. I didn’t feel like they had a lot of growing intimacy between them. It was more just the mating bond that was increasing, but not much else. Liberty even stated that she wanted to make sure that Talon wanted her for her and not just because of the mating bond that was between them, which I totally agreed with too, but it was never really addressed because there weren’t those moments of intimacy between them or building. There were just few and far between moments in between where they dug beneath the surface after the first time scene.
The love scenes were hot. It showed off how hot and steamy they could be together, which was partially compounded by the mating bond. The first time scene was really intense, and it did solidify the mating bond. It showed that they were the one and only for one another. When he marked her as his that was pretty steamy and really bonded them after that. It was something they both found pleasure in both in. They knew there was no going back after that.
Then it just became messy that because the outside forces came to play. I appreciated what was trying to be done, but it didn’t work for me because it felt out place. There were suddenly outside perspectives that came into the story that I didn’t want or need. The focus shifted to teased other couples that will probably have a book sometime in the future, which I just felt was unnecessary especially the one featuring Talon’s younger brother. It could have been done in his book, not this one. It just wasn’t something I was interested at this particular moment. It took me out of Talon and Liberty’s story. Then other stuff came into play which lead to other stuff that felt really rushed. Once that particular thing happened, I think story should have ended, instead there were two more chapters with one not being necessary because that could have easily been done in the next book in the series. I just felt there was no point in that being in there because it didn’t effect Talon and Liberty’s story in the end. I even said when a certain part of the story happened that it felt like an ending to me, instead it continued on to the those two chapters. The one chapter was fine, but the other wasn’t. I just wasn’t feeling it.
Overall, I liked the first half better than the second half. I really liked that this was a panther shifter romance. I did like the characters introduced especially the shifters. I liked the world building. I liked that this was a new world for both Talon and Liberty as the shifters came out into the open to the humans. I liked there was a mating bond that was really intense between them. I liked their date night and wished there were more moments like that between Talon and Liberty. Then the story went a little bit downhill after that starting with the romance. There wasn’t much to it. There could have been, but once the rejection happened it was quickly taken back so there was no like tension or friction between them for too long before everything was hunky dory again. It was too quick. There needed to be more pacing there where they were separated before coming together again. That way there would have been more longing and pining going on until Talon couldn’t take it anymore and went back. Then there would have been the need to earn forgiveness and build back up trust between Talon and Liberty once again. Have more intimacy building scenes with the two of them. More relationship building, instead of having it be too easy to get back to that place again they were before the rejection. I like when my romances the couple have to work to make it work between them before getting that happily ever after, but none of that was here. It missed the mark because of that and made the romance a little less satisfying. There were unnecessary things in their like different perspectives that I could have done without in lieu of more romance stuff between Talon and Liberty. The whole ending was just weird for me especially that one chapter that could have been done in book two in this series instead of this book. Just the ending did not do it for me, and it made me feel kind of “meh” about this story because of that. It just wasn’t my favorite shifter romance that I have ever read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2017
I was excited to read this as I haven't come across a lot black panther shifter stories yet. So it's disappointing to finish and not be enamored with it. It has several promising components: black panther shifters accidentally outed to the humans, Alpha realizing that a human is his mate, group of hot men acting as security for the pride, or Guardians. But they weren't executed well.
There were also a lot of details that did not make sense. They didn't seem necessary either. For instance, the first line of the book was "the footage had been seen on every news outlet around the world" yet, there wasn't any mention of the press beyond the one press conference. Wouldn't it make more sense that if this was the first time that the world was hearing about shifters and there was that much buzz about it, there would have been more press coverage beyond that? At the very least, there would be a photographer and a reporter still hanging around town.
Another was the sheer number of characters in the book. The author seemed bent on introducing ALL the characters in this book, obviously, in preparation for the rest of the series. One thing that stood out was taking the time to describe one of the waitresses in the female lead's bar, which led me to believe she'd play a role later on but she was never mentioned again.
Semi-spoiler alert:
Pet peeve: what is up with the number of women getting kidnapped and raped? There were three women kidnapped, two were raped, including the female lead, the third one would have been too if she had not been rescued at that moment. Some may argue that the female lead was not raped but I disagree. The author may not have said it outright but what else can you infer from one of her kidnappers wanting to "play" then drugging her? Then she was found unconscious, drugged, bruised, beaten, naked from the waist down, "her shredded dress had been pushed up around her waist". It doesn't take a detective to figure that one out. I thought that was totally unnecessary.
Even without that, I still would have not liked the story. Talon was not alpha enough. He was too indecisive. One minute he and Liberty were going at it like cats in heat the next thing he's all I can't be with you. Not the behavior I'd come to expect from shifters, especially an alpha.
There were also a lot of details that did not make sense. They didn't seem necessary either. For instance, the first line of the book was "the footage had been seen on every news outlet around the world" yet, there wasn't any mention of the press beyond the one press conference. Wouldn't it make more sense that if this was the first time that the world was hearing about shifters and there was that much buzz about it, there would have been more press coverage beyond that? At the very least, there would be a photographer and a reporter still hanging around town.
Another was the sheer number of characters in the book. The author seemed bent on introducing ALL the characters in this book, obviously, in preparation for the rest of the series. One thing that stood out was taking the time to describe one of the waitresses in the female lead's bar, which led me to believe she'd play a role later on but she was never mentioned again.
Semi-spoiler alert:
Pet peeve: what is up with the number of women getting kidnapped and raped? There were three women kidnapped, two were raped, including the female lead, the third one would have been too if she had not been rescued at that moment. Some may argue that the female lead was not raped but I disagree. The author may not have said it outright but what else can you infer from one of her kidnappers wanting to "play" then drugging her? Then she was found unconscious, drugged, bruised, beaten, naked from the waist down, "her shredded dress had been pushed up around her waist". It doesn't take a detective to figure that one out. I thought that was totally unnecessary.
Even without that, I still would have not liked the story. Talon was not alpha enough. He was too indecisive. One minute he and Liberty were going at it like cats in heat the next thing he's all I can't be with you. Not the behavior I'd come to expect from shifters, especially an alpha.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2018
I love my shifter books and this is the first one I have read based on a Panther shifter. The book had me hooked from the start and I never wanted to put it down. I just had to started book 2 before I wrote this review as I just had to see what happened next. I love this authors books and this one is just as good as her others.
The most interesting thing to me is that a mated or potential mate female will feel pain at the touch of another male other than her mate. This is something different as I have never read a shifter book with it. These panther shifters know their mates not only by instinct but also by the first touch as well.
This group of Shifters is a secretive as most except they have now been discovered when two panthers in Talon's Pride are photographed in their shifted forms on the edge of the forest. Talon is now forced to explain their existence, their non-threatening presence to the humans and still keep from acknowledging that there are other Shifters out there. Unfortunately, the villain in this story doesn’t accept that Talon avoided acknowledging other Shifters, he only sees that Talon’s non-specific answer has outed every shifter, everywhere and in his deluded mind Talon must now pay.
Liberty owns the local bar. She and her sister, Nova, run the place since their father’s death. She’s always felt an attraction to the tall, handsome Talon, although she only knew him from the times he and his friends frequented the bar for food and drinks and man could these guys eat. When an accidental casual touch alerts Talon that Liberty is his mate he is at first torn between the fact that she is human and the need to devote himself to his pride. Liberty is unprepared for her entrance into the Shifter world.
Liberty and Talon make a good couple. Both strong willed, stubborn and totally committed to each other. They will make mistakes and missteps along the way some worse than others, but at their core is a couple who will fight for each other no matter what.
The most interesting thing to me is that a mated or potential mate female will feel pain at the touch of another male other than her mate. This is something different as I have never read a shifter book with it. These panther shifters know their mates not only by instinct but also by the first touch as well.
This group of Shifters is a secretive as most except they have now been discovered when two panthers in Talon's Pride are photographed in their shifted forms on the edge of the forest. Talon is now forced to explain their existence, their non-threatening presence to the humans and still keep from acknowledging that there are other Shifters out there. Unfortunately, the villain in this story doesn’t accept that Talon avoided acknowledging other Shifters, he only sees that Talon’s non-specific answer has outed every shifter, everywhere and in his deluded mind Talon must now pay.
Liberty owns the local bar. She and her sister, Nova, run the place since their father’s death. She’s always felt an attraction to the tall, handsome Talon, although she only knew him from the times he and his friends frequented the bar for food and drinks and man could these guys eat. When an accidental casual touch alerts Talon that Liberty is his mate he is at first torn between the fact that she is human and the need to devote himself to his pride. Liberty is unprepared for her entrance into the Shifter world.
Liberty and Talon make a good couple. Both strong willed, stubborn and totally committed to each other. They will make mistakes and missteps along the way some worse than others, but at their core is a couple who will fight for each other no matter what.
June 20, 2019
Don't read this review unless you're okay with some spoilers.
Talon was the most boring non scary were panther I've ever read about.
Things I hate.
1. When a were-anything finds their "mate" the female, cannot, under any circumstances be touched by another male, since it will cause her PHYSICAL PAIN... What? *screeching*
Of course, we all know females are fickle minded creatures that cannot be trusted not to go around fucking any male they see. But that wasn't enough, no Sir. Say goodbye to handshakes, and hugs as well, better yet just wrap yourself in a hazmat suit if you ever find yourself one of these unfortunate women to be "mated" to a were-animal. Or just tie yourself to your new mate since his touch is the only thing that will make the pain go away. So if you're a masseuse, you better quit your job, or only massage females, cause lesbians don't exists in this world. Just.... No.
2. Werewolves are the worst, just understand that. If you're a werewolf in this series you're scum, born a werewolf? Oof too bad, you're destined to grow up evil and vile. Racism? Technically, not. The author has made sure this type of shifter is just awful.
3. Everything is over-explained. Several times I skipped things that were said cause it was obvious. She wrote this book for dumb horny women who doesn't want to have a say in anything in their life.
4. The amount of times Talon "force" his alpha-ness on someone is just gross. I cannot count the times the word "ordered, order" or anything similar was written. *eyeroll* get over yourself already. His mood swings gave me whiplash, changing his mind constantly.
5. Any other character was just sappy and bland, couldn't tell them apart.
Liberty was a dumb bitch, bland mary sue who had no brains.
Don't read, just don't waste your time. Seriously.
Talon was the most boring non scary were panther I've ever read about.
Things I hate.
1. When a were-anything finds their "mate" the female, cannot, under any circumstances be touched by another male, since it will cause her PHYSICAL PAIN... What? *screeching*
Of course, we all know females are fickle minded creatures that cannot be trusted not to go around fucking any male they see. But that wasn't enough, no Sir. Say goodbye to handshakes, and hugs as well, better yet just wrap yourself in a hazmat suit if you ever find yourself one of these unfortunate women to be "mated" to a were-animal. Or just tie yourself to your new mate since his touch is the only thing that will make the pain go away. So if you're a masseuse, you better quit your job, or only massage females, cause lesbians don't exists in this world. Just.... No.
2. Werewolves are the worst, just understand that. If you're a werewolf in this series you're scum, born a werewolf? Oof too bad, you're destined to grow up evil and vile. Racism? Technically, not. The author has made sure this type of shifter is just awful.
3. Everything is over-explained. Several times I skipped things that were said cause it was obvious. She wrote this book for dumb horny women who doesn't want to have a say in anything in their life.
4. The amount of times Talon "force" his alpha-ness on someone is just gross. I cannot count the times the word "ordered, order" or anything similar was written. *eyeroll* get over yourself already. His mood swings gave me whiplash, changing his mind constantly.
5. Any other character was just sappy and bland, couldn't tell them apart.
Liberty was a dumb bitch, bland mary sue who had no brains.
Don't read, just don't waste your time. Seriously.
September 8, 2020
providing an honest review after receiving a complementary copy from the author via BookFunnel
very poorly edited. the copy i received had error messages and was missing the ending of the book so i have no idea hoe it finished.
there are many shifter books out there and this was not shaping up to be a great one.
How did there manage to be footage of two guy shifting into panthers made public and they continue living life as normal? why were they not swarming with camera crews? Surely the government would have rounded them all up for testing "for the protection of everyone"?
How did he not know he had been checking out and having a crush on his soulmate the whole time he was going there? is that not something you should know the first time you see them or something?
I do not like in books when they say there is soul mate or one person destined for each person and they fight the connection and go back and forth over if they should be together. Do you believe in the soulmate thing or not?
a shifter human relationship conundrum, shifters being outed, bad guy causing trouble for the pack, humans causing trouble in the bar. perhaps too much going on.
if this book was edited better and ideas cut back a bit it may have been more enjoyable as it was a thumbs down from me.
very poorly edited. the copy i received had error messages and was missing the ending of the book so i have no idea hoe it finished.
there are many shifter books out there and this was not shaping up to be a great one.
How did there manage to be footage of two guy shifting into panthers made public and they continue living life as normal? why were they not swarming with camera crews? Surely the government would have rounded them all up for testing "for the protection of everyone"?
How did he not know he had been checking out and having a crush on his soulmate the whole time he was going there? is that not something you should know the first time you see them or something?
I do not like in books when they say there is soul mate or one person destined for each person and they fight the connection and go back and forth over if they should be together. Do you believe in the soulmate thing or not?
a shifter human relationship conundrum, shifters being outed, bad guy causing trouble for the pack, humans causing trouble in the bar. perhaps too much going on.
if this book was edited better and ideas cut back a bit it may have been more enjoyable as it was a thumbs down from me.
October 8, 2019
Story of Talon, an alpha panther and his mate Liberty. I received this free from BookBub The story starts with humans recently discovering that shifters are real, but that was really not developed on. There was one press conference and then zip. The book was ok, Liberty is a strong, brave female, but came off as kinda dumb and hick (ish) she really doesn’t have much of a personality. Overall the characters are pretty vanilla. The alpha isn’t very alpha. There relationship is pretty emotionless. The pack mates have zero personality. The action/drama is pretty lackluster, and not a very exciting read. It is also a pet peeve of mine with authors can’t keep their own stories straight, if Winter is staying and walking into the house and Savage is in the truck... then don’t have Winter talking at the scene literally 2 paragraphs later.
I am really surprised by all the 5 star ratings, I just found it a pretty boring read.
I am really surprised by all the 5 star ratings, I just found it a pretty boring read.
May 17, 2019
I loved this story! I especially love panthers, Now shifter panthers! Woah! That’s super Hot! I loved Talon! He did piss me off a couple of times for being a dick, but he is such an awesome alpha! I loved Liv, she is a badass. She sticks up for herself and I loved that about her! Great book definitely recommend reading!
March 3, 2020
This was a quick low angst read that had enjoyable characters.
3/3/2020 - I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a good job.
3/3/2020 - I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a good job.
July 30, 2021
I normally read books within a day, and if the book is not too long or if I have time, within one sitting. This book, I read halfway through, left it and forgot about it for days, then discovered it still open in one of my browser tabs, and decided to finish it. That alone tells you why it gets three stars.
The writing is kinda stilted and doesn't feel very natural. The author is trying to set up a push-pull with Talon being torn between wanting to protect his pride and wanting to protect his mate, Liberty. But it's very poorly done. Talon tells her he can't see her anymore because he has to focus on his pack. Exact words: "I can't mate a human." She obviously is upset, but she says, okay, then just go, and slams her door in his face. He gets enraged because she is denying him and that is not allowed, oh no! So he breaks the door down, barges into the house, grabs her and starts kissing her. IMO this is just thuggish behaviour and not fitting of an alpha. It also makes him sound deranged because he changed his mind in 2.5 seconds and on top of that, was so violent about it.
And Liberty is TSTL (too stupid to live). She hardly knows anything about shifters, but she does know that they are stronger than humans. Somehow she thinks she can "save" Talon and rescue the girl who had been kidnapped from his pride! She goes off alone to confront danger without any plan or preparation or any concept of what she might be getting into. Honestly such an idiot. The author tries to show that she's a strong woman -- lives with her sister in an isolated house deep in the woods, owns a gun and learned how to shoot since she was 6, owns and operates a very successful bar at a young age, comes out of the house primed to shoot when she sees three figures standing around in her garden at night -- but when push comes to shove, she's TSTL and I cannot stand TSTL heroines.
Liberty's incredulity about the mating bond also was very awkwardly portrayed. Obviously any woman would doubt it, yet she was drawn to him... but she demands that he date her first! She's determined that he would "do this right".
To me, this made her sound like the kind of woman I hate most, the ones who make men jump through hoops and demand that the men meet all their expectations before they'll even give an inch. The self-centred women who are all about me, me, me and what is due to them, never thinking about how the man is feeling. So Talon sends her flowers and asks her on a date, then puts on a suit and tie and takes her to a nice restaurant for a good meal. He has to do what she wants if he wants her as his mate.
I wouldn't mind if she had just said it was too soon for her and she needed time, or she told him that she would like to feel that he wanted her for who she is and not just because biology created her to be his mate. But for her to demand what she considers her due as a woman and insist that he go through human rituals because she is human was just too much. I felt like she never really took his feelings into consideration or treated him with empathy.
The writing is kinda stilted and doesn't feel very natural. The author is trying to set up a push-pull with Talon being torn between wanting to protect his pride and wanting to protect his mate, Liberty. But it's very poorly done. Talon tells her he can't see her anymore because he has to focus on his pack. Exact words: "I can't mate a human." She obviously is upset, but she says, okay, then just go, and slams her door in his face. He gets enraged because she is denying him and that is not allowed, oh no! So he breaks the door down, barges into the house, grabs her and starts kissing her. IMO this is just thuggish behaviour and not fitting of an alpha. It also makes him sound deranged because he changed his mind in 2.5 seconds and on top of that, was so violent about it.
And Liberty is TSTL (too stupid to live). She hardly knows anything about shifters, but she does know that they are stronger than humans. Somehow she thinks she can "save" Talon and rescue the girl who had been kidnapped from his pride! She goes off alone to confront danger without any plan or preparation or any concept of what she might be getting into. Honestly such an idiot. The author tries to show that she's a strong woman -- lives with her sister in an isolated house deep in the woods, owns a gun and learned how to shoot since she was 6, owns and operates a very successful bar at a young age, comes out of the house primed to shoot when she sees three figures standing around in her garden at night -- but when push comes to shove, she's TSTL and I cannot stand TSTL heroines.
Liberty's incredulity about the mating bond also was very awkwardly portrayed. Obviously any woman would doubt it, yet she was drawn to him... but she demands that he date her first! She's determined that he would "do this right".
"About this mating thing," she snapped. "I'm not falling for this mate stuff. If you want to get to know me better, that's fine, but you don't just claim me or whatever it is that your kind does. I'm a woman, and I should be treated as such. Doesn't your kind date?"
To me, this made her sound like the kind of woman I hate most, the ones who make men jump through hoops and demand that the men meet all their expectations before they'll even give an inch. The self-centred women who are all about me, me, me and what is due to them, never thinking about how the man is feeling. So Talon sends her flowers and asks her on a date, then puts on a suit and tie and takes her to a nice restaurant for a good meal. He has to do what she wants if he wants her as his mate.
I wouldn't mind if she had just said it was too soon for her and she needed time, or she told him that she would like to feel that he wanted her for who she is and not just because biology created her to be his mate. But for her to demand what she considers her due as a woman and insist that he go through human rituals because she is human was just too much. I felt like she never really took his feelings into consideration or treated him with empathy.
July 14, 2017
Reviewed at Shifter Haven
Talon is the first, introductory story in the Rise of the Pride series, which looks to be a rather long ongoing series. The kind that I enjoy most. Ms Hissong has added some fascinating bits to Shifter lore, the most interesting to me is that a mated (or potential mate) female will feel pain at the touch of another male other than her mate. These panther shifters know their mates not only by instinct, but by touch as well – and the avoidance of touch brings an interesting slant to Shifter lore.
While Talon does give us a lot of information, I expect that from the first story in a series. We’ll meet the majority of Talon’s pride members, but not all, in this story and some of the humans in their small town. This group of Shifters is a secretive as most, except they have been discovered when two panthers are photographed in their shifted forms on the edge of the forest. Hey, everyone and their little kids now have a camera on their phones, so that’s not unexpected, more unfortunate for this pride as now Talon is forced to explain their existence, their non-threatening presence to the humans and still keep from acknowledging that there are other Shifters “out there”.
Unfortunately, the villain in this story doesn’t accept that Talon avoided acknowledging other Shifters, he sees that Talon’s non-specific answer has outed every shifter, everywhere – and in his deluded mind Talon must now pay.
Liberty owns the local bar. She and her sister, Nova, run the place since their father’s death. She’s always felt an attraction to the tall, handsome Talon, although she only knew him from the times he and his friends frequented the bar for food and drinks.. and man could thee guys eat. It was fascinating and a bit exotic to discover that there were Shifters in the world – but she didn’t intend to treat them any differently than she ever did. And no one in her bar was going to make trouble for them either. When an accidental, casual touch alerts Talon that Liberty is his mate, he is at first torn between the fact that she is human and the need to devote himself to his pride. Liberty is unprepared for her entrance into the Shifter world, and for Talon. These two are in for the ride of their lives.
Talon weaves an interesting story line. While this is a series where each story stands on it’s own and has a conclusion, there are aspects, story lines that will continue throughout the series. I expect that, and the set up for more growth and more information is done expertly and with enough left unsaid that peaks my curiosity.
Liberty and Talon make a good couple. Both strong willed, stubborn and totally committed to each other. They will make mistakes and missteps along the way. some worse than others, but at their core is a couple who will fight for each other no matter what. I found Talon to be an engaging, at times intense story – and it certainly has my attention enough to want more. If you enjoy Shifter Romance, an interesting story with characters that will fascinate and annoy you equally then Rise of the Pride is a series you may want to get started on. It looks to be potentially a long series, the kind I can sink my teeth into. And one I intend to follow to know what’s next.
I read this title through my Kindle Unlimited subscription
Talon is the first, introductory story in the Rise of the Pride series, which looks to be a rather long ongoing series. The kind that I enjoy most. Ms Hissong has added some fascinating bits to Shifter lore, the most interesting to me is that a mated (or potential mate) female will feel pain at the touch of another male other than her mate. These panther shifters know their mates not only by instinct, but by touch as well – and the avoidance of touch brings an interesting slant to Shifter lore.
While Talon does give us a lot of information, I expect that from the first story in a series. We’ll meet the majority of Talon’s pride members, but not all, in this story and some of the humans in their small town. This group of Shifters is a secretive as most, except they have been discovered when two panthers are photographed in their shifted forms on the edge of the forest. Hey, everyone and their little kids now have a camera on their phones, so that’s not unexpected, more unfortunate for this pride as now Talon is forced to explain their existence, their non-threatening presence to the humans and still keep from acknowledging that there are other Shifters “out there”.
Unfortunately, the villain in this story doesn’t accept that Talon avoided acknowledging other Shifters, he sees that Talon’s non-specific answer has outed every shifter, everywhere – and in his deluded mind Talon must now pay.
Liberty owns the local bar. She and her sister, Nova, run the place since their father’s death. She’s always felt an attraction to the tall, handsome Talon, although she only knew him from the times he and his friends frequented the bar for food and drinks.. and man could thee guys eat. It was fascinating and a bit exotic to discover that there were Shifters in the world – but she didn’t intend to treat them any differently than she ever did. And no one in her bar was going to make trouble for them either. When an accidental, casual touch alerts Talon that Liberty is his mate, he is at first torn between the fact that she is human and the need to devote himself to his pride. Liberty is unprepared for her entrance into the Shifter world, and for Talon. These two are in for the ride of their lives.
Talon weaves an interesting story line. While this is a series where each story stands on it’s own and has a conclusion, there are aspects, story lines that will continue throughout the series. I expect that, and the set up for more growth and more information is done expertly and with enough left unsaid that peaks my curiosity.
Liberty and Talon make a good couple. Both strong willed, stubborn and totally committed to each other. They will make mistakes and missteps along the way. some worse than others, but at their core is a couple who will fight for each other no matter what. I found Talon to be an engaging, at times intense story – and it certainly has my attention enough to want more. If you enjoy Shifter Romance, an interesting story with characters that will fascinate and annoy you equally then Rise of the Pride is a series you may want to get started on. It looks to be potentially a long series, the kind I can sink my teeth into. And one I intend to follow to know what’s next.
I read this title through my Kindle Unlimited subscription
February 9, 2022
No TW that I remember.
These comments might make it seem like I didn't like this or that it wasn't good and that's just not the case. I'll start with the negative then give the positive.
There were some things I didn't enjoy.
1. The summary states literally everything that happens in the story - I go into books always reading the summary and I've had the summary give everything away before.
2. Them mating before getting the child that was kidnapped and take their time getting her. I get the whole "suspense" for the Liberty and then being together or not but it could have been done so much better. I get that a lot of media has them get together before a dangerous situation but usually it's when THEIR about to go to a "war" or something like that - not saving someone especially a child. In this situation it should have happened before the kidnapping or after not close to.
3. Liberty, her name is stated SO much that all I could think about 1/4 of the way in is the Liberty Mutual commercial.
4.
5. There isn't much information about the other characters in the book, not even just the male in the next book.
But those are just my thoughts and opinions.
One thing I can point out is that I like the differences this author gave to the shifter community. Other than that there aren't specific points that I can point out that I enjoyed - other than the things above it's your typical shifter romance and I expect and love that. Even though I appreciate differences like this author also did.
This book was good but the negative comments is what made it a 3 instead of a 5.
Narrator was not bad. I definitely don't think men should EVER do women sounds (I'm good not ever hearing it in a book) but one thing I thought was cool was how the narrator made the sound of getting breath caught when being pulled fast.
These comments might make it seem like I didn't like this or that it wasn't good and that's just not the case. I'll start with the negative then give the positive.
There were some things I didn't enjoy.
1. The summary states literally everything that happens in the story - I go into books always reading the summary and I've had the summary give everything away before.
2. Them mating before getting the child that was kidnapped and take their time getting her. I get the whole "suspense" for the Liberty and then being together or not but it could have been done so much better. I get that a lot of media has them get together before a dangerous situation but usually it's when THEIR about to go to a "war" or something like that - not saving someone especially a child. In this situation it should have happened before the kidnapping or after not close to.
3. Liberty, her name is stated SO much that all I could think about 1/4 of the way in is the Liberty Mutual commercial.
4.
5. There isn't much information about the other characters in the book, not even just the male in the next book.
But those are just my thoughts and opinions.
One thing I can point out is that I like the differences this author gave to the shifter community. Other than that there aren't specific points that I can point out that I enjoyed - other than the things above it's your typical shifter romance and I expect and love that. Even though I appreciate differences like this author also did.
This book was good but the negative comments is what made it a 3 instead of a 5.
Narrator was not bad. I definitely don't think men should EVER do women sounds (I'm good not ever hearing it in a book) but one thing I thought was cool was how the narrator made the sound of getting breath caught when being pulled fast.
May 19, 2019
Where has this series been or I must have been under a rock. I saw the cover of this box set and thought oh that looks like it would be good. Then I read the blurb. OH yes I need this one I mean really its panthers how can one resist a panther shifter. This one was wonderful.
Talon is the alpha of his pride. His pride has been outed to the world. Now he has to protect his pride along with appease the humans. There are those who are accepting of them those who are not and some that are down right pissed that he is talking about the shifter world. Lets face it the humans were to never know.
Liberty has lost a lot in last few years but she still has her sister and family bar. When it is made known there are panther shifters in their town she is not fazed by it. They are customers just like anyone else and no one will treat them any different in her bar. Anyone is welcome and will be treated as such. She has to emphasize this when one man threatens the panthers. Man do I love her take charge side. While protecting the panthers Talyon's panther realizes this feisty woman is his mate. But how can that be he cannot be matted to a human.Liberty if falling for Talon when one of their girls are kidnapped. Liberty decides to help the girl when she realizes they really want Talon. Liberty knows Talons pride cannot loose him so she decides to sacrifice herself to save him. Talon is in a tail spin when he realizes what Liberty has done and is on a war path to get his mate and the girl back. Will he make it in time to save them or will he be too late?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The way he agreed to woo her instead of claiming her as his panther demanded was heart warming. He truly wanted to make her happy and if dating and getting to know her is what she wanted that is what he would do. His guardians were just as intriguing as Talon. I want to see them all find their true mates. I loved Talons younger brother Kye. He is going to be a fierce Alpha. I will have to wait to see if Kye gets his mate just like he has to. Oh my Winter is next and I cannot wait to read his story. I should be a good one.
Talon is the alpha of his pride. His pride has been outed to the world. Now he has to protect his pride along with appease the humans. There are those who are accepting of them those who are not and some that are down right pissed that he is talking about the shifter world. Lets face it the humans were to never know.
Liberty has lost a lot in last few years but she still has her sister and family bar. When it is made known there are panther shifters in their town she is not fazed by it. They are customers just like anyone else and no one will treat them any different in her bar. Anyone is welcome and will be treated as such. She has to emphasize this when one man threatens the panthers. Man do I love her take charge side. While protecting the panthers Talyon's panther realizes this feisty woman is his mate. But how can that be he cannot be matted to a human.Liberty if falling for Talon when one of their girls are kidnapped. Liberty decides to help the girl when she realizes they really want Talon. Liberty knows Talons pride cannot loose him so she decides to sacrifice herself to save him. Talon is in a tail spin when he realizes what Liberty has done and is on a war path to get his mate and the girl back. Will he make it in time to save them or will he be too late?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The way he agreed to woo her instead of claiming her as his panther demanded was heart warming. He truly wanted to make her happy and if dating and getting to know her is what she wanted that is what he would do. His guardians were just as intriguing as Talon. I want to see them all find their true mates. I loved Talons younger brother Kye. He is going to be a fierce Alpha. I will have to wait to see if Kye gets his mate just like he has to. Oh my Winter is next and I cannot wait to read his story. I should be a good one.
April 4, 2022
This could have been so much more.
What I like:
- they are shifters, panthers or close to it (reference to their fur is black, no rosettes to see in sunlight)
- Talon cares for his pride, takes his being the Alpha serious
- the way the 52 strong pride members interact with each other
- Liberty keeping the prejudice against the new species at bay in her bar
- Liberty calling Talon out on his own words that she couldn't be his mate
- while the attraction between Liberty and Talon exists pretty much from the beginning of the book, I enjoyed that Talon had to work for Liberty
What I didn't like:
- parts of the world building, e.g. the pain issue when women/females who are mated get touched by another man/male, the extremely negative way of how the werewolves are portrayed
- inconsistencies like the outing of the panthers, there is but one press conference but there isn't the crazy coverage we have in real life, no military coming to protect humans from the weres, no opposition from human people who don't want humans to mingle with the shifters (apart from Terry, the drunk)
- Liberty is a tough woman, who knows what she wants, earns her own keep and has control over her bar most of the time, she is smart and has her heart in the right spot.
- Talon's giving me whiplash with being all over Liberty, then denying her because the pride needs his full attention, only to trash her door to get to her to growl and lay claim to her, to be honest, sometimes I was thinking wtf? about his word choices ("Watch your mouth," he snapped chapter 8)
Once I got used to the repetitive writing I found the story entertaining. It was kind of predictable, but made up with the hunks of shifters. I loved the overall arc of Malaki's and Calla's narrative that will be continued in the second book, Winter.
What I like:
- they are shifters, panthers or close to it (reference to their fur is black, no rosettes to see in sunlight)
- Talon cares for his pride, takes his being the Alpha serious
- the way the 52 strong pride members interact with each other
- Liberty keeping the prejudice against the new species at bay in her bar
- Liberty calling Talon out on his own words that she couldn't be his mate
- while the attraction between Liberty and Talon exists pretty much from the beginning of the book, I enjoyed that Talon had to work for Liberty
What I didn't like:
- parts of the world building, e.g. the pain issue when women/females who are mated get touched by another man/male, the extremely negative way of how the werewolves are portrayed
- inconsistencies like the outing of the panthers, there is but one press conference but there isn't the crazy coverage we have in real life, no military coming to protect humans from the weres, no opposition from human people who don't want humans to mingle with the shifters (apart from Terry, the drunk)
- Liberty is a tough woman, who knows what she wants, earns her own keep and has control over her bar most of the time, she is smart and has her heart in the right spot.
- Talon's giving me whiplash with being all over Liberty, then denying her because the pride needs his full attention, only to trash her door to get to her to growl and lay claim to her, to be honest, sometimes I was thinking wtf? about his word choices ("Watch your mouth," he snapped chapter 8)
Once I got used to the repetitive writing I found the story entertaining. It was kind of predictable, but made up with the hunks of shifters. I loved the overall arc of Malaki's and Calla's narrative that will be continued in the second book, Winter.
March 27, 2021
Talon is the beginning of the Rise of the Pride series. Theresa Hissong unique way of writing the shifters series makes you enjoy the book so much.
Talon is alpha of his panther pride and when photo shows two of his panthers in their shifter it falls to him to show us humans that they are like us except they can shift and they are no danger to us.
Liberty runs a local bar where Talon and some of the others from pride come for food and drink. The first thing she notice besides their looks is how much they could eat. But now that she now what they are it make sense. When Liberty takes up for the people of the pride Talon accidentally touch her and now know that she is his mate but she doesn’t know or wants to believe it. So at first they just “date”. Liberty is just as hardheaded as Talon and in a way she is just as a alpha as Talon is. As the story carries on it will bring us through the up and down of their journey. Liberty has to be stronger then her alpha has to be. But in the end Talon and Liberty will their HEA.
I can’t say enough about Talon. It has great characters but Talon and Liberty are perfect for each. Theresa Hissong does fantastic job writing about Talon and writing about area I live local where she set the series in and not only does she get the big details but also the small details. That what gives this Rise of the Pride a special touch. She give us drama, passion, suspense, and love. I have recommend Talon and the other books in Rise of the Pride. Theresa Hissong is one of my favorite author and I would read any book by her.
Talon is alpha of his panther pride and when photo shows two of his panthers in their shifter it falls to him to show us humans that they are like us except they can shift and they are no danger to us.
Liberty runs a local bar where Talon and some of the others from pride come for food and drink. The first thing she notice besides their looks is how much they could eat. But now that she now what they are it make sense. When Liberty takes up for the people of the pride Talon accidentally touch her and now know that she is his mate but she doesn’t know or wants to believe it. So at first they just “date”. Liberty is just as hardheaded as Talon and in a way she is just as a alpha as Talon is. As the story carries on it will bring us through the up and down of their journey. Liberty has to be stronger then her alpha has to be. But in the end Talon and Liberty will their HEA.
I can’t say enough about Talon. It has great characters but Talon and Liberty are perfect for each. Theresa Hissong does fantastic job writing about Talon and writing about area I live local where she set the series in and not only does she get the big details but also the small details. That what gives this Rise of the Pride a special touch. She give us drama, passion, suspense, and love. I have recommend Talon and the other books in Rise of the Pride. Theresa Hissong is one of my favorite author and I would read any book by her.
December 15, 2019
Okay read. Not my favorite writing style. Took a star off because the author leads you through every step of the story. I believe it is the lack of writing experience. Hopefully, in time, she will trust that her audience can grasp where the story is going on there own. Also repetitive. Every time Liberty is touched we’re being told why it brings her pain. Every time!
With that said, it was an interesting story. Definitely a cliffhanger. I actually liked the characters. There were a few unbelievable issues for me like the kidnapping. I read a lot of paranormal. There is no way men can be on another species land without being seen, heard or smelt. Talon and Liberty’s relationship wasn’t as smooth as it could/ should have been. The author narrated the majority of the book, so I didn’t get to experience anything myself. Very distracting.
There we’re editing issues as well, but I didn’t feel it took too much away from the story for me. Except when the author forgot her characters. Example, the rescue. Savage was with Talon, but the author kept saying Winter said. Edit please. Distracting.
The story definitely has potential. I’m just not sure I’m interested enough to continue series. I do recommend because I’m in the minority.
With that said, it was an interesting story. Definitely a cliffhanger. I actually liked the characters. There were a few unbelievable issues for me like the kidnapping. I read a lot of paranormal. There is no way men can be on another species land without being seen, heard or smelt. Talon and Liberty’s relationship wasn’t as smooth as it could/ should have been. The author narrated the majority of the book, so I didn’t get to experience anything myself. Very distracting.
There we’re editing issues as well, but I didn’t feel it took too much away from the story for me. Except when the author forgot her characters. Example, the rescue. Savage was with Talon, but the author kept saying Winter said. Edit please. Distracting.
The story definitely has potential. I’m just not sure I’m interested enough to continue series. I do recommend because I’m in the minority.
September 20, 2019
I have read this book a million times.
Each time I am sucked into the world Theresa has created.
I love these books.
Yes it's the typical shifter romance, he instantly knows she is meant to be his, fights that feeling but also knows deep down it is inevitable - which is what I LOVE about shifter romances.
I enjoy the fact it's a different shifter. So it isn't a wolf pack, it's a pride of panthers. Just wow, never would have thought of that.
The twist with the males not being able to touch the females is definitely an interesting twist, but not one I've seen before, it's great to have something original and not so commonly used. It may be a little on the harsh side, but well it goes with their strong desire to protect the females of the pride so it makes sense with the story.
I do like a bit of steam in the books I read and this doesn't disappoint, there is chemistry and love and desire all written very well.
Overall I enjoyed the book and will undoubtedly read it many more times after today.
If you like shifter romances with steam and a variety of characters to love, this book is definitely worth a read.
Each time I am sucked into the world Theresa has created.
I love these books.
Yes it's the typical shifter romance, he instantly knows she is meant to be his, fights that feeling but also knows deep down it is inevitable - which is what I LOVE about shifter romances.
I enjoy the fact it's a different shifter. So it isn't a wolf pack, it's a pride of panthers. Just wow, never would have thought of that.
The twist with the males not being able to touch the females is definitely an interesting twist, but not one I've seen before, it's great to have something original and not so commonly used. It may be a little on the harsh side, but well it goes with their strong desire to protect the females of the pride so it makes sense with the story.
I do like a bit of steam in the books I read and this doesn't disappoint, there is chemistry and love and desire all written very well.
Overall I enjoyed the book and will undoubtedly read it many more times after today.
If you like shifter romances with steam and a variety of characters to love, this book is definitely worth a read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2020
Talon is the Alpha of his pride of panthers. Two of his members are caught shifting on video and now the media is having a hay day with it. Talon has to do some damage control to try and keep his pride safe, but not everyone in the community is happy to be living with panther shifters living amongst them.
Talon and his workers from his construction company enjoy stopping into the local bar for some drinks after work but some of the regular customers dont want them in there.. But the owner is a young woman who inherited the bar from her father, defends the shifters and says everyone is welcome in her bar and if you have a problem with that then you can leave. Talon is immediately drawn to her and realizes very quickly that she is is mate.
Mean while the werewolves are not happy that the media were fishing around with questions wondering if there were other kinds of shifters in their area. So they want revenge on the panther pride for being careless and letting the shifter world secret out, so they kidnap a young girl panther shifter and hold her hostage and drugged so the alpha Talon will come and they can get their revenge.
This was a good read, would read on in the series.
Talon and his workers from his construction company enjoy stopping into the local bar for some drinks after work but some of the regular customers dont want them in there.. But the owner is a young woman who inherited the bar from her father, defends the shifters and says everyone is welcome in her bar and if you have a problem with that then you can leave. Talon is immediately drawn to her and realizes very quickly that she is is mate.
Mean while the werewolves are not happy that the media were fishing around with questions wondering if there were other kinds of shifters in their area. So they want revenge on the panther pride for being careless and letting the shifter world secret out, so they kidnap a young girl panther shifter and hold her hostage and drugged so the alpha Talon will come and they can get their revenge.
This was a good read, would read on in the series.
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