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Pawprints #1
Pawprints
Veterinary student Adrian Ferrer can't find the right man for a lasting relationship, let alone to share his life with. Between classes, his part-time job at an animal hospital and volunteering at a no-kill shelter, he's not making time to try either. Just as he's ready to leave love for the birds, Adrian comes across a new guest at the shelter who turns out to be much more than the cute, black & white cat he first appears to be. The cat shifts form, becoming a gorgeous, naked man named Lal, and the sexual attraction between the two men is pure animal magnetism.
Before Adrian knows it, he's falling for Lal faster than he can catch his breath. Never mind that his apartment doesn't allow pets, Lal is one cat he's not letting go of. But Adrian's new love is on the run from a former life that's about to catch up with them both.
Before Adrian knows it, he's falling for Lal faster than he can catch his breath. Never mind that his apartment doesn't allow pets, Lal is one cat he's not letting go of. But Adrian's new love is on the run from a former life that's about to catch up with them both.
114 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2007
3 people are currently reading
202 people want to read
About the author
Anne Cain
46 books55 followersAs a freelance graphic artist and illustrator, I work for a number of print and electronic publishers along with private clients around the world. I spend my days working on projects and doodling in sketchbooks, but I can sometimes be found snatching a few moments here and there for my other passions, which include writing, reading, and searching for the world's most perfect cup of hot tea. I love making new friends on LJ, so if leave a comment or add me to your Flist, I'll happily return the favor. ♥
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 6, 2008
I really enjoy reading about shapeshifters. Throw in some romance and a good plot and I am a happy woman.
Pawprints is a lighthearted read. There is a little mystery as far as one of the heroes past life and so on, but otherwise it is a pretty simple-straightforward read.
Adrian is a Vet student that volunteers most of his time at the local shelter. Kindhearted and sweet Adrian is a very sweet hero, that is not looking for a one night stand, but someone to spend his life with.
When he comes across a beautiful white and black cat in a crate at the shelter, he becomes fasinated by it. Soon he takes the cat out of the crate and begins to bond with it. When the cat suddenly shifts into a beautiful man, he faints from shock.
Lal is running for his freedom. Coming from another realm, and escaping from a cruel master he stumbled onto Earth and somehow got captured by animal control. When Adrian's kindness and inner (as well as outer)beauty becomes apparent to Lal, he immediately decides to claim him as his.
I enjoyed Adrian and Lal's story. I was a little disappointed though. It seemed to drag a little to me in the middle of the story, and the impromptu make-out session Adrian, Lal and Lal's brother Caleb, turned me off of the story. But, I did like the story overall, and I am glad I read it.
If you are offended by some M/M/M Interaction or some explicit hot M/M sex, this book is not for you.
Pawprints is a lighthearted read. There is a little mystery as far as one of the heroes past life and so on, but otherwise it is a pretty simple-straightforward read.
Adrian is a Vet student that volunteers most of his time at the local shelter. Kindhearted and sweet Adrian is a very sweet hero, that is not looking for a one night stand, but someone to spend his life with.
When he comes across a beautiful white and black cat in a crate at the shelter, he becomes fasinated by it. Soon he takes the cat out of the crate and begins to bond with it. When the cat suddenly shifts into a beautiful man, he faints from shock.
Lal is running for his freedom. Coming from another realm, and escaping from a cruel master he stumbled onto Earth and somehow got captured by animal control. When Adrian's kindness and inner (as well as outer)beauty becomes apparent to Lal, he immediately decides to claim him as his.
I enjoyed Adrian and Lal's story. I was a little disappointed though. It seemed to drag a little to me in the middle of the story, and the impromptu make-out session Adrian, Lal and Lal's brother Caleb, turned me off of the story. But, I did like the story overall, and I am glad I read it.
If you are offended by some M/M/M Interaction or some explicit hot M/M sex, this book is not for you.
December 26, 2010
Amazing cover art, to a very good book!
Adrian a vet student meet Lal, a cat shifter running from a abusive master.
And the fun begin!
I liked a lot, the cat shifter theme, and the magic that surround the story, BUT I can't give 5 stars... just for one quick scene of twincest.
I don't like M/M/M scenes with brothers... even if the brothers are not touching but together pleasing someone... It's something I'm not comfortable reading. Adrian-Lal + Caleb (Lal's twin) was not a scene I enjoy. BUT it's something personal, and not all readers could have this problem.
So, 4 stars, and I want to read more of this serie!
Adrian a vet student meet Lal, a cat shifter running from a abusive master.
And the fun begin!
I liked a lot, the cat shifter theme, and the magic that surround the story, BUT I can't give 5 stars... just for one quick scene of twincest.
I don't like M/M/M scenes with brothers... even if the brothers are not touching but together pleasing someone... It's something I'm not comfortable reading. Adrian-Lal + Caleb (Lal's twin) was not a scene I enjoy. BUT it's something personal, and not all readers could have this problem.
So, 4 stars, and I want to read more of this serie!
April 28, 2010
The first word that pops to mind is "quick." I managed to read this one in an hour and a half... and found myself wishing for just a little bit more.
The concept and the way Anne Cain brings it across is fascinating, but the end result leaves a bit to want. Lal is an intriguing mix between serious seducer and naive kitten, and Adrian is the general all-around boy-next-door. The fast pace kept them both from being anything more than two-dimensional, though.
There were at least 2 clear scenes where Adrian was shared between Lal an his brother Caleb ... despite the fact that Adrian barely knows the two and Caleb has his 'true love' still left behind in their home realm. I could have kind of played along if it was going to turn into a threesome novel with some sibling action - but it was only 2 scenes and then when the 'true love' came back? Everyone fell into their cut category and no more cross-referencing sexual encounters.
Add to that Lal and Caleb's other brother Kal [hello? better names, please?:], who we are lead to believe absolutely hates Lal and Caleb, but who 'sacrifices' himself for them in the end?
The Master that came after Lal and Caleb, after a pointless sexual insert where he magically uses sexual 'toys' on Lal to prove a point [which was ... what? I still don't see the purpose of it:], he just kind of gave up and said oh, take them, whatever. Glad they're out of my hands now. I mean seriously, why go through so much trouble to track them cross-worlds only to just say 'well, good riddance'??
Regardless of the weak points, I am still fascinated by it. Again, more for the concept than the story itself. I just wish there had been more breadth to the novel - and less cheesy description words in the sex scenes, which totally blew even the slightest encounter way out of proportion...
The concept and the way Anne Cain brings it across is fascinating, but the end result leaves a bit to want. Lal is an intriguing mix between serious seducer and naive kitten, and Adrian is the general all-around boy-next-door. The fast pace kept them both from being anything more than two-dimensional, though.
There were at least 2 clear scenes where Adrian was shared between Lal an his brother Caleb ... despite the fact that Adrian barely knows the two and Caleb has his 'true love' still left behind in their home realm. I could have kind of played along if it was going to turn into a threesome novel with some sibling action - but it was only 2 scenes and then when the 'true love' came back? Everyone fell into their cut category and no more cross-referencing sexual encounters.
Add to that Lal and Caleb's other brother Kal [hello? better names, please?:], who we are lead to believe absolutely hates Lal and Caleb, but who 'sacrifices' himself for them in the end?
The Master that came after Lal and Caleb, after a pointless sexual insert where he magically uses sexual 'toys' on Lal to prove a point [which was ... what? I still don't see the purpose of it:], he just kind of gave up and said oh, take them, whatever. Glad they're out of my hands now. I mean seriously, why go through so much trouble to track them cross-worlds only to just say 'well, good riddance'??
Regardless of the weak points, I am still fascinated by it. Again, more for the concept than the story itself. I just wish there had been more breadth to the novel - and less cheesy description words in the sex scenes, which totally blew even the slightest encounter way out of proportion...
didnt-finish
January 10, 2012not sure if i want to finish this or not...
So I'm at 27% and doubt I’ll be finishing this but need to think a little more. Maybe it gets better but I highly doubt it
I read to 35% and giving up. when it goes back to MC's they want more sex but need to eat first so then all they do is talk about sex...
NO Thank you
So I'm at 27% and doubt I’ll be finishing this but need to think a little more. Maybe it gets better but I highly doubt it
I read to 35% and giving up. when it goes back to MC's they want more sex but need to eat first so then all they do is talk about sex...
NO Thank you
October 14, 2011
I debated over the stars for this one for quite a while.. I was going to give it 3 but decided on reflection that it met all MY criteria for 4.
I really liked the way this was written. There was some good character building in the story. I'm just not sure about some of the secondary characters inclusion in the story.
Plot worked well but there is something nagging me about it... which was also another reason for the hesitation on the extra star... IF I work it out I will edit the review..
I will be looking for the next book and maybe give another title by Anne Cain a try because she does write in a nice style!
I really liked the way this was written. There was some good character building in the story. I'm just not sure about some of the secondary characters inclusion in the story.
Plot worked well but there is something nagging me about it... which was also another reason for the hesitation on the extra star... IF I work it out I will edit the review..
I will be looking for the next book and maybe give another title by Anne Cain a try because she does write in a nice style!
September 17, 2013
Cute little shifter read. Adrian, the vet student and Lal, the cat shifter from another realm. Adrian takes Lal home and Lal shifts and well, you know. No angst or crying involved. And lots of sex. I liked it enough to continue the series so that's something. :)
tbr-calibre
July 10, 2019***WHY THE RE-READ***
I quickly found Yaoi/Yuri because I'm a huge romance sucker. The thing with Yaoi/Yuri though is that most of the time it's straight up erotica witha little bit of almost no plot. Which was fine with me at the time. But after a while I wanted to read books without pictures.
So romance it was. I don't know when exactly but I discovered this sub-genre (can you really call it a sub-genre?).
Yaoi in word form. In English! At the time I bought every e-book there was from these kind of authors. SIDENOTE:
For some reason while I was scrolling through Goodreads I began thinking about a book cover. This cover had a very distinct art style and it was driving me mad that I couldn't remember the author and/or the title.
After getting sidetracked many many many times I've now started a new project: Re-reading books I once upon a time loved but didn't add to Goodreads in this genre. I don't know how I came to the conclusion this was a good idea but there you go. This is one of those books. I won't re-read everything by this author. Ain't nobody got time for that. So I made a selection from the most interesting sounding ones.
Once upon a time I was a huge manga fan.
I quickly found Yaoi/Yuri because I'm a huge romance sucker. The thing with Yaoi/Yuri though is that most of the time it's straight up erotica with
So romance it was. I don't know when exactly but I discovered this sub-genre (can you really call it a sub-genre?).
Yaoi in word form. In English! At the time I bought every e-book there was from these kind of authors. SIDENOTE:
Enough reminiscing. Back to the now.
For some reason while I was scrolling through Goodreads I began thinking about a book cover. This cover had a very distinct art style and it was driving me mad that I couldn't remember the author and/or the title.
After getting sidetracked many many many times I've now started a new project: Re-reading books I once upon a time loved but didn't add to Goodreads in this genre. I don't know how I came to the conclusion this was a good idea but there you go. This is one of those books. I won't re-read everything by this author. Ain't nobody got time for that. So I made a selection from the most interesting sounding ones.
Dear Future-Me,
Write a goddamn review or else I will be pissed.
Love Past-Me
January 19, 2012
Veterinary student Adrien works for a local animal shelter, where he meets a scared black and white cat. Little does he know that the cat is not just a cat, but rather has a second human Nature, and that he has escaped a bleak life as a sex slave. Adrien can't help but fall in love with Lal, even as Lal is hunted by his Master's minions, who threaten to shatter the new relationship.
My disclaimer: I am so not a fan of the slavery trope that it's not even funny. As such, my regard for the story is perhaps biased more than it should be.
This is a novella that wanted to be so much more. There is a lot missing when it comes to meat on its bones--the concept of the Realms, Natures, the magic system, they all could easily have been fleshed out to provide a richer experience. It's never clarified why/how Lal escaped, or how Caleb came to do the same. The magic of the world, including the many Realms and the Natures of the shifters, is barely touched on; although it didn't need to be fully explored, a little more exposition would have made the central premise slightly less gratuitous.
The relationship between Adrien and Lal moved with the unrealistic speed so common to the romance genre (and the male/male romance genre in particular); they meet, they have sex, they fall in love, all within the span of a few chapters. This is another way in which the story could have benefited from greater length. The relationship never seemed to develop naturally, rather rushing along to meet the plot devices.
The characters themselves never really get fleshed out enough for me to be very invested in them, either. Kal, Caleb, and Jaylen in particular remained shallow; I couldn't bring myself to care much about the forbidden love between the latter two as they, Jaylen more than Caleb, were barely established as personalities, much less characters I should care about.
In truth, despite my complaints and within the constraints of a novella, it's not a bad little story. It just has the potential to be so much more. I'd have liked to see more of a resolution for Kal and more development overall, but it's certainly possible to do worse.
My disclaimer: I am so not a fan of the slavery trope that it's not even funny. As such, my regard for the story is perhaps biased more than it should be.
This is a novella that wanted to be so much more. There is a lot missing when it comes to meat on its bones--the concept of the Realms, Natures, the magic system, they all could easily have been fleshed out to provide a richer experience. It's never clarified why/how Lal escaped, or how Caleb came to do the same. The magic of the world, including the many Realms and the Natures of the shifters, is barely touched on; although it didn't need to be fully explored, a little more exposition would have made the central premise slightly less gratuitous.
The relationship between Adrien and Lal moved with the unrealistic speed so common to the romance genre (and the male/male romance genre in particular); they meet, they have sex, they fall in love, all within the span of a few chapters. This is another way in which the story could have benefited from greater length. The relationship never seemed to develop naturally, rather rushing along to meet the plot devices.
The characters themselves never really get fleshed out enough for me to be very invested in them, either. Kal, Caleb, and Jaylen in particular remained shallow; I couldn't bring myself to care much about the forbidden love between the latter two as they, Jaylen more than Caleb, were barely established as personalities, much less characters I should care about.
In truth, despite my complaints and within the constraints of a novella, it's not a bad little story. It just has the potential to be so much more. I'd have liked to see more of a resolution for Kal and more development overall, but it's certainly possible to do worse.
Read
April 9, 2009Is it possible to love your cat more than a lover? Adrian has not to find an answer cause his pet, a beautiful black and white cat he has taken home from the shelter he is vulenteering happens to be a beautiful young man. But Lal, this is the name of the were cat, has a strange behaviour more like a pet (in a D/S relationship) than a man.
Lal is escaped from another world where he, and his two twin brothers, are being raised to be sexual slave to their owner. But only Kal, the black one, seems to be accept his role, meanwhile Caleb, the white one, is in love with the Master's son (and love is not allowed for pets) and Lal, the black and white one, wants something more for himself too. So now he wanders the earth and finds Adrian, a young student in veterinary who is also gentle and caring, who takes care of him even before knowing he is a shifter and a very good bed companion.
Lal is very istinctual: he likes the physical touch and has no problem to share his body with Adrian, not only for sex but in every moment of his life. He is also iperactive and moody and the quiet Adrian is the right counterpart for him. Adrian is a gentle soul who strangely is still alone: why a man like this is all alone is a thing I can't understand and in fact Lal immediately sets his claim on him.
Anne Cain's style is young and funny. The story is not very long, one hundred pages, but she manages to create not only two interesting main characters, but also a little group of worthy supporting characters (I'm very curious to know if Kal will have his own story).
http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/18...
Lal is escaped from another world where he, and his two twin brothers, are being raised to be sexual slave to their owner. But only Kal, the black one, seems to be accept his role, meanwhile Caleb, the white one, is in love with the Master's son (and love is not allowed for pets) and Lal, the black and white one, wants something more for himself too. So now he wanders the earth and finds Adrian, a young student in veterinary who is also gentle and caring, who takes care of him even before knowing he is a shifter and a very good bed companion.
Lal is very istinctual: he likes the physical touch and has no problem to share his body with Adrian, not only for sex but in every moment of his life. He is also iperactive and moody and the quiet Adrian is the right counterpart for him. Adrian is a gentle soul who strangely is still alone: why a man like this is all alone is a thing I can't understand and in fact Lal immediately sets his claim on him.
Anne Cain's style is young and funny. The story is not very long, one hundred pages, but she manages to create not only two interesting main characters, but also a little group of worthy supporting characters (I'm very curious to know if Kal will have his own story).
http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/18...
March 13, 2013
Cover notwithstanding, the blurb reminds me of a manga I've read before...
And person I assume is the cat looks like Hatsuharu, irony of ironies.
Post-read ETA:
Complete and total froofery.
This is interesting because it's a yaoi/MM hybrid, but it seems to be heavier on the yaoi. Or maybe it's just the cover that has me thinking so.
Here's some Haru love
:
The sex is ridiculous. Like, funny because it's so bad. I'm sorry, but it is.
But no, beyond just Hatsuharu/Lal, this book's got yaoi-plot-whiplash.
Aaaand random spanish.
Yep. It's definitely yaoi (because the Japanese have this fascination with Spanish *stares at Big Three mangas [for the ignoramuses out there: Naruto, Bleach, One Piece])
And okay, the fact that Lal has multi-colored lashes is just ridiculous.
Eh. Meh. I mean, sure. Why not?
But my main pressing question is this: What happens to Kal?
bk 2 is about two other people, so not Kal.
bk 3 is about the Main Couple of this book, so not Kal.
Which means if Kal's plot is resolved at all, it would either be side or mentioned in passing.
...okay...
And person I assume is the cat looks like Hatsuharu, irony of ironies.
Post-read ETA:
Complete and total froofery.
This is interesting because it's a yaoi/MM hybrid, but it seems to be heavier on the yaoi. Or maybe it's just the cover that has me thinking so.
Here's some Haru love
:The sex is ridiculous. Like, funny because it's so bad. I'm sorry, but it is.
But no, beyond just Hatsuharu/Lal, this book's got yaoi-plot-whiplash.
Aaaand random spanish.
Yep. It's definitely yaoi (because the Japanese have this fascination with Spanish *stares at Big Three mangas [for the ignoramuses out there: Naruto, Bleach, One Piece])
And okay, the fact that Lal has multi-colored lashes is just ridiculous.
Eh. Meh. I mean, sure. Why not?
But my main pressing question is this: What happens to Kal?
bk 2 is about two other people, so not Kal.
bk 3 is about the Main Couple of this book, so not Kal.
Which means if Kal's plot is resolved at all, it would either be side or mentioned in passing.
...okay...
October 17, 2009
Cute sweet read. Haven't decided yet if I'll search out other books in the series.
Adrian is a veterinary student and volunteer at an animal shelter. After hours, when everyone else is gone, he find one of the kitty cats is a lot more than just your average house pet.
Now that I think of it, the set-up is remarkably like Sherrilyn Kenyon's "Dark Side of the Moon">. Take a pet home and he turns into a sexy naked man. Yup, same premise, different "universe".
This "universe" being some bizarre case of multiple Earths/ parallel universes. Lal, our kitty, slid into this Earth as a way to escape from his master, some magician type that likes to play D/s games. "Good brother" is kicked out after him, then "bad brother" is sent to track him down.
*shrugs* I like the vibe between Adrian and Lal, not sure about the whole back story part. It's like it wasn't fleshed out enough for my tastes. Either jump fully into the alternate universe, or keep things a bit more grounded.
Obviously the lycanthropy was more magic than biology. House pet to full sized man. Not exactly conservation of mass.
Adrian is a veterinary student and volunteer at an animal shelter. After hours, when everyone else is gone, he find one of the kitty cats is a lot more than just your average house pet.
Now that I think of it, the set-up is remarkably like Sherrilyn Kenyon's "Dark Side of the Moon">. Take a pet home and he turns into a sexy naked man. Yup, same premise, different "universe".
This "universe" being some bizarre case of multiple Earths/ parallel universes. Lal, our kitty, slid into this Earth as a way to escape from his master, some magician type that likes to play D/s games. "Good brother" is kicked out after him, then "bad brother" is sent to track him down.
*shrugs* I like the vibe between Adrian and Lal, not sure about the whole back story part. It's like it wasn't fleshed out enough for my tastes. Either jump fully into the alternate universe, or keep things a bit more grounded.
Obviously the lycanthropy was more magic than biology. House pet to full sized man. Not exactly conservation of mass.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2011
This was a very enjoyable story about a cat shifter (little kitty-cat) who runs away from his owner and is caught but the animal catcher and taken to the shelter where he meets Adrian.
I had so many questions that didn't get answered. This is the first book in a trilogy and I hope that next one will shed more light on those questions.
I had so many questions that didn't get answered. This is the first book in a trilogy and I hope that next one will shed more light on those questions.
June 12, 2011
If I tell you that this book is about a cat shifter that escape of an other realm were he was a sex slave for a mage Master to the earth and that one of his brother search him with the help of a assholish stupid warrior, did you already read something like that? Me, yes. Ethan's Freedom by Archer Jade. Published 4 years after that one. A little disturbing at first but the two writers make different story even with the same premise.
That one was short, contained instant love, hot sex and other sweets thing. Nothing complicated, nothing memorable.
That one was short, contained instant love, hot sex and other sweets thing. Nothing complicated, nothing memorable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2008
A fun, sweet and sexy story. Good characters and snappy writing make this a very enjoyable book. I'm looking forward to more in the series.
June 8, 2010
Sweet and fresh. Original idea. As a cat lover, I never thought this way about my cats!!
July 23, 2010
A very cute different kind of shifter story. Definately interested in reading the other books in the series.
September 6, 2015
A quick fun read. A simple story of a vet student who takes home a stray and finds love. Of course there is the "bad guy" to get rid of but still a simple sweet read.
April 11, 2011
Im a huge fan of Anne Cain cover art which is initially what drew me to this book. It was a fun quick read.
May 25, 2012
I'm sorry to say that I was dissappointed with this one. Read "A cat's meow" instead!
March 7, 2015
Ehhh i do not recommend to anyone who wants a storyline ~
February 25, 2013
lighthearted read, very sweet and enjoyable. will be checking out more by this author. one of the better shapshifter books i've read lately
October 12, 2015
3.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews