Addy is one of the lucky ones. After a final brutal attack by her ex-boyfriend, she is alive and finally free of him for good. Or so she hopes. Now she is left to pick up the pieces of her life and her heart, but recovery takes time and the lingering nightmares of her abusive ex are keeping the wolf shifter in the apartment next door awake at night. When he takes it upon himself to investigate the source of his agitation, he finds more than just nightmares might be plaguing this timid yet fiery little female.
Features multiple POV, shifters, and jealous alpha males Reverse harem supernatural slow burn romance intended for ages 18+ Trigger warning for implied domestic violence HEA assured
Not too bad, perhaps a bit simple? The heroine cries a lot. At the moment she also has that Mary Sue thing where everyone she meets wants to take care of her and all the men fall in love with her for no reason.
I assume the harem will be 4 men. Only three have met her, and only one she is in an actual dating relationship in right now. The brother of her current boyfriend she knew first but he was a little slow to ask her out. He has a packmate who is flirting with her. And the one she got with in this book also has a packmate. That packmate and she haven’t talked yet but I bet he’ll join the party too.
This was a very short book.. a bit too short, for my tastes. I’ll read the next one!
While the premise was interesting enough, the execution was missing quite a few pieces. The world building was extremely lacking, missing all of the fundamentals. There was no real character development, just a bit of background for the FMC, nothing for anyone else. There was very little relationship building, and some of what was there didn't fit the characters (namely Addy and Tobias). It's also rather annoying when there's an incomplete book masquerading as whole unto itself..... and ending on a cliffhanger after that is cheap manipulation on the part of the author. All in all, this didn't even read like a serial since there was absolutely no conflict resolution, not even of a minor subplot, which made it a waste of time. I don't feel the need to read anything else written by this author.
The end of the book pop up option doesn't exist. I had to go through the main Amazon app itself. Also, the good guy has the same name as my abusive ex. Oh, the irony considering the plot of this book. Addie had tried leaving her abusive ex. He managed to track her down and attempted to force a bond. He didn't take rejection well. But, the guy who rescued her is now her boss. Luckily for her he's a big bad shifter. But then her nightmares keep her neighbor from sleeping, and he confronts her about it. This leads to another protective bond. The fun part is, now she has feelings for 2 guys, who're brothers who don't get along.
Spoilers ahead. Ok, so this seems to be a new author, and they asked for honest reviews. My first thought is going to be this appears to be Earth, but with (I'm saying this only because 1 guy continuously has claws and another flew) an acceptance of the paranormal? Nothing is ever stated outright. We get absolutely no world building. It seems entirely character driven, but they leave this story exactly as they entered it- the only growth being protectiveness. Which, being shifters and having a pack, they already feel. So, yeah. But: *What types of beings inhabit this world? What kinds of shifters exist? *A dragon comes to Tobias' office to protect his mate. How can a wolf protect better than a dragon? *What's a piety? She has magic but mages are mentioned, so, is it different? I know the term from religious beliefs, and if it means devotion, devotion to what? *Gods are invoked. Are they just a belief system or are they real? This is paranormal, I take nothing for granted lol. *Why was she expelled from her coven? *If police know about shifters, and they locked up a shifter for trying to force a bond, why wouldn't they alert the victim that put him behind bars? *Was he actually locked up for the assault or the attempted forced bond? *She has scars, but if pieties heal, why? Can she not heal herself, only others? Can they only heal not hide wounds? They're silver so healing went fast. Claw scars take forever to turn from red/pink/purple to silver/white. I work with animals, I know this lol. *We know nothing about any character's abilities. *How can a bond be forced? Heck, how can a bond even be made? Blood exchange? Mark exchange? Mattress tango? Magic? How can non shifters be forced into a reciprocated bond? One sided makes sense but an abuser isn't going to be at the mercy of one sided devotion. *Can bonds be broken? *We get no background on the guys. Why aren't the brothers close? Why aren't they pack? Why do they each claim small packs? Is that the norm? *Aside from paternal meddling, why the fake fiancee? And she disappeared quickly. That was a toss away plot device. He barely spoke to his father, so why accept a fake fiancee, especially since it didn't seem to make them any closer? *How are packs formed, since these aren't by family? *Are packs bonded? Outside of friendship and protection. *Why are mages and pieties called human if they have abilities that set them apart from humans? Or do all humans have some kind of power, they just don't shift? *She has intense feelings for several guys. Warren seemed to think he was going to be her only, as did Tobias. Are matings usually 1/1? Or multiples? Is that type of family set up only for shifters? *Can packmates choose separate mates? *Addie accepted touch very easily. Shifters are usually depicted as touch needing. But she's human. Traumatized humans shy from touch. It's only been a month. Hugs from behind are easily mistaken for pinning holds. The ex was a shifter of some sort, mouths near the neck may not be seen as kisses. Attraction and touch starvation aren't going to miraculously heal what seems to be a long period of abuse. If her inner monologue expressed her desire to push through it, ok. Or her confusion over being so accepting of touch, sure. But other than a steamy scene where she gets triggered by being rolled, she doesn't have any touch fears. Anger fears, she reacts to that within reason. *He popped over to wake her from a nightmare. She got the apartment for security reasons. The door was unlocked, she seemed upset, but neither got up to lock it. And it was never mentioned again. It didn't even spring to mind when she learned he was released. *Does the building not have a camera system? It has door guards. If magic is accepted, and it's supposed to be a ritzy place, why wouldn't the building be warded? *Why couldn't shifters scent the ex having been there? *Her door being unlocked, it wouldn't matter if the hot guy said he left coffee outside the door, I wouldn't touch it. The ex could have still tampered with it. I wouldn't trust it unless he sniffed the grounds, made it himself and brought it to her personally to put it in her hands.
The story was entertaining. It held my interest, the plot moved, dialogue was decent, editing was not maddening. There are a few plot holes, and a desperate need for world building, though. Stories can be either character driven or world immersive, but the best are both. I'd love to see this fleshed out a bit more. Give us more than physical descriptions. Show us emotions, history, bonding, fears, life goals, a reason to fall in love with them and root for their happily ever after.
The blurb really drew me in. Adira, aka Addy, is trying to deal with the trauma of her last relationship. I thought her struggles with those feelings were portrayed well. Warren, her hero-boss, sends some mixed signals. The. There’s Felix, his friend, and her neighbor, Tobias. The guys tend to have some insta-lust, and are drawn to her without really understanding why. I do wish we had a little more info on the backstory with the guys - why they have their own packs, the drama between them, and some information on the supernatural dynamics of the world they are in - why do they not recognize Addy’s power, what is a Piety. Addy meets Tobias and Felix within the story, but there are some allusions to past conversations between Warrren and Addy about his Wolf’s behaviors and their dynamic, that I kind of wish we saw “on screen.” I do like Tobias’ protective behavior and the ways he courts her. I’m really intrigued by this story, While it doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, in my opinion, it does end with an ominous sort of tone. I’m really intrigued and will be on the lookout for book 2 ☺️
Won’t lie this is a good start to the book. Love the characters and the background work is awesome. Would like a little more about the magic difference between mage and peity I feel like that’s not really explained enough. Not gonna lie I plan to read the second book but this world didn’t really draw me in as a reader. I have it three stars mainly because it was a nice read, but it lacks something that wants you to keep coming back. When I get books I kinda look at it like this will I re-read this at a later date… this one falls into the no category. I will however look for the second book in the series only just because that dang cliff hanger has me thinking will they won’t they. This is definitely a slow burn romance not gonna lie. Some romantic scenes but nothing too steamy.
Goodreads lists two titles for this author, and I'm guessing this is a debut novel. The plotline of a woman who has escaped her abusive ex rebuilding her life is intriguing. But this novel needs some serious world building. There are wolves, who have claws and fangs when they’re upset, but it never says if they actually shift or not. The FMC is something called a piety and has some kind of magic that should make her a good healer/assassin? Another character also has magic, but it seems like it might be a different kind and no one clarified if he is another type of supernatural. Humans are mentioned, and it seems as if they may be aware of the supernatural world, but that wasn’t clarified either. I think I’ll keep an eye on this author because I think she has promise, but I wouldn’t recommend her books just yet.
I loved that it had the slow burn romance that allows you to have these connections with each character and you are able to see the set up to the drama of the book but still a lot more has to be explained. I do feel like this book could have been longer to explain and add more details. I do love it though but for the next one just adding those small details and making the book longer would make it even better! Especially what addy really went through with her ex hopefully is explained more in the next book because you want to either relate with her or empathize with her but you don’t know fully what she has gone through and it is such an avoided topic.
3.5 stars, there is two reasons why this sint getting four stars:
1: the universe is not at all explained! I don’t understand it and it makes it kind of hard to follow because I am unsure if shifters are well known to humans or trying to hide??? and also I have NO IDEA what a piety is??? Felt a lot like when you start reading book two in a series without having read book one, and are just expected to know these things but this is the first and my copy had no explanation in the begning nor the back so???
2: it was so short. It felt like the begning of a book, not an entire book. just as we were starting to get introduced to all the characters and get to know them a little it just ended? Very fast paced and a light, quick read.
This book was ok but gah! It needed world building. I almost thought this was the second book in the series, because there are all these unexplained things and references to other characters. Explain yourself! What is a piety? Do humans know about shifters and supernaturals? What powers does mages, shifters, and pietys have. What city are we in? Do supernaturals go to the same jail as humans? If so no wonder Caspian got out. Are there some kind of pack politics going in this world? So many questions....
Anyway other than that the book was fine. I do just want to say though that her idea of slow-burn and mine are a little different.
This is for sure a slow burn. But it is giving good explanations on who the people are. Addy is a piety who is new in her powers and just escaped an abusive relationship. Warren is a wolf shifter who saved Addy from her abusive ex. Also gave her a job at his bookstore he had recently opened. Felix is a good friend of Warren who can do magic. He’s also fun guy as Addy puts it. Tobias is Warrens brother and has a security business. He’s also neighbor to Addy. Zane is a fox shifter and is a good friend to Warren and works with him at the security firm. I know 3 of them have feelings for Addy, but I think there will be a 4th.
The first two sentences of the novel show the heroine in front of her wardrobe, preoccupied with the poverty of choice and style. First red flag that this story is not for me. The line spacing the text is too wide, and the paragraphs too far apart. As if they had wanted to artificially increase the number of pages. Second red flag. The heroine's best friend invites her to go out to a club. Most of the heroine's concern: what to wear? Third red flag. The hero is concerned about what others will think of him: ultimate red flag. This story is not for me.
This book to me was average. I did not have any connections to any of the characters and just did not really care. I obviously had that feeling of wanting a HEA, but besides that nothing really. This book was really short, it was around 100 pages, and I am not going to lie, that is the only reason I continued reading. I almost gave up and DNF this book, but I only had like 30 pages left, so I just finished it.
Also it said the next book was coming out in July 2022, but I have not seen anything about it. I will probably not be reading the next book in the series.
I like the story here but it comes a little short here and there. It tells the tale of Adira, Addy and she got rid of an ex but he still is looking for her. To complicate things there are several guys, Warren Tobias, Felix and Zale and they are protective of her. Wanting her. What happens? I feel like the books could of been a little longer and it would of benefitted from it for sure. Still nice and has potential.
This is a great book with deep characters. The plot slowly builds throughout the book and the characters are revealed and grow slowly. When there are multiple main characters, it can be difficult to flesh them out as individuals with strengths and quirks. The author did a wonderful job. I loved it enough that I would be willing to pre-order the next in the series.
The Author states she reads every review and wants to learn. I loved the potential of the book because it was a bit different than most reverse harem. My issue was with character development as I was frustrated throughout the whole book that the Author never explained what a "Piety" was in this supernatural world. Is it a witch or something else? Perhaps a prelude to this book is needed in order for us to understand the main female character.
needs some serious editing (the double spacing...ugh)
The characters lacked depth and nothing romantic happened.
I'm really confused by Felix the author has him come across as more feminine with his actions and words so when she gave him his own chapter and he expressed his disappointment that she wasn't showing him interest had me scratching my head. I didn't get the "I like girls" vibe (yes I know there is pan but he doesn't come across as that)
While Scarred for Life has slightly more of a novella feeling, the character development and storyline are enjoyable and well done. The cast is likable yet flawed with room to watch them grow. I enjoyed the author’s first book as well and look forward to reading more of her work.
Not sure who did the formatting for this book, but they need to go through again and reformat to 1.5 spacing at most. Double may add to page count, but makes it a distracting read on a kindle ereader. Hopefully this author will fix the issue and then I can actually read the story.
This was a very short read with too many editing mistakes for such a short read. The plot is pretty boring and the mc's inner monologue just seems repetitive and inexperienced at...existing? I didn't feel like her supposed experiences and her behavior now and everything else was tying together in any way. It all felt very disconnected to me. I will not be picking up the next instalment.
Addy was very lucky Warren showed up when he did. Her neighbor is not getting enough sleep. It really interesting and I couldn’t put this down until I finished it. I can’t wait to read the 2nd book to see what happens with them. This is my first book I’ve read of this author and I can’t wait to read more by her.
I love this story. Adira is my hero. Right now we see her just being living day in and out still trapped by the fear her ex left in his wake. She is just starting to form new relationships with people when it all comes crashing down. This ends on a hook and I can’t wait for more.
This is not a complete book. The ending wasn’t a cliffhanger, there wasn’t enough plot/book to have it be a cliffhanger. It just stopped in the middle of the book.
Not only was it incomplete but the formatting reminds me of what some students do when they have to write a 5 or 10 page report…..wide margins, extra space between paragraphs etc.. There was a lot of space between each paragraph etc. so not only we’re the books short, they also had a lot of wasted space in them.
I would say book 1 and 2 together equal a typical 250-300 page book. Both books together complete the story of a typical book in terms of plot.
There were some interesting aspects to the world in terms of supernatural are part of society like everyone else. There isn’t any tension or issues between the different groups. I would have liked more about how a magic user is different from a piety magic user.
I felt like I was missing a ton of details, about the characters, the plot, their world, so much. The FMC is ok, her boys were better but I still land on this story as missing to much to like or read book 2.
I liked this story, especially having all the different points of view. I thought the idea of having different magical abilities was interesting. However, I really don't like cliffhangers.
The book is good but what kind of ending was that? I get it’s a short book and cliffhanger to get you to come back but for a short novel to come o a year later … was very disappointed and likely will forget about this series and the characters before that even happens in 2022.
I really enjoyed this book. I’m excited for the next book and to read more about these characters. I’m also looking to have more from this author. I liked the characters and the writing.
I enjoyed this book for the most part. There was some information not really given. I think it set up for a really good second book so I’m looking forward to that and I’m bummed that there wasn’t and steamy parts but I’ll definitely continue the series.
I think my big issue with this book was I just wanted more. More character development. Deeper relationships. More world-building. Just...more. I still enjoyed the read, but I'm not sure if I'll pick up the next book.
It had such a cliffhanger ending. I will be hard pressed to wait on the next book. This romance had multiple twists and turns, but I still wanted to see what would happen next. Good writer