ARC Review: Midnight Wolf by Jennifer Ashley

Shifters Unbound #11. Man, I love this series. Jennifer Ashley’s writing is always so consuming, I open the book and I’m sucked into the work of shifters, fae, and humans. The characters in this book, Angus and Tamsin, both have quite a bit of character growth through the book. Angus and Tamsin start off one way; Angus very stern and quite, very set in his ways and willing to do just about anything for his son, Ciaran. While Tamsin an uncollared shifter on the run still maintains a very optimistic view on the world. These two opposites balance each other out and bring out the best in each other, and Ciaran (I just love that name) is such a cute kid, so open and honest. I enjoyed the story and think you can probably read this as a stand-alone but there is enough past book stuff to tantalize you into reading the other books, at least the last two or three books.

Angus Murray is a scowling and grumpy shifter when he’s not working as a bouncer he is raising his cub, Ciaran. Angus’ brother, Gavan, was an idiot who tried to go against the Shifter Bureau and it ended in his own death as well as that of Angus’ mate. Angus had nothing to do with his brother’s movement but still managed to lose his position in the pack. Tamsin Calloway has managed to avoid detection, she’s been lucky enough that she always manages to escape undetected or leave just before something goes wrong. But the death of two Bureau agents has finally brought her into the spotlight and now a sinister Bureau agent has his sights set on Tamsin. Agent Haider kidnaps Ciaran and forces Angus to hunt down Tamsin or else he’ll never see his son again. Finding her was easy enough it’s catching her that gave Angus trouble and if the alligator hadn’t of caught her first Tamsin would have probably gotten away. Tamsin, now severely injured, has no choice but to go with Angus, instead of taking her straight to the Bureau he takes her to Ben and the sentient house (I so love this house!) and calls Zander down to heal her, while he comes up with a plan. There is no choice in not turning her in because of Ciaran but that doesn’t mean she can escape right after the hand off. It doesn’t quite go as planned once Haider admits to Tamsin that he plans to dissect her to find out how she works. Now all three of them, Angus, Tamsin, and Ciaran are on the run. They end with an uncollared shifter, Dante (who I can picture as Jason Momoa) and his half fae/half human mate, who run a carnival and travel with them for some time.

The attraction between Tamsin and Angus is pretty much instantaneous but it takes them a bit before they act on it. Angus mate claims Tamsin in order to protect her but afterwards he realizes just how much he wants her to stay in his life. Once Tamsin completely trusts Angus she reveals the reason everyone if after her, and together with their friends Ben, Zander, and Tiger they must figure out what to do about this and make it to where the only ones who want Tamsin are Angus and Ciaran. Overall, I positively loved this book, it’s not my favorite of the series but it’s really up there in the list. The characters are fantastic and of course it’s the strong silent type for me again Angus really fits the bill for a book boyfriend. Tamsin is so wonderfully optimistic even when her life is falling apart she still singing along to the radio and smiling. I am so happy that Ben is going to get his HEA finally.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: Death Below Stairs by Jennifer Ashley

Kat Holloway Mysteries is a new series from Jennifer Ashley. It’s not a quite cozy mystery and it’s not your typical Victorian Murder Mystery either, it’s a little bit more. I really liked the fact that Kat is a cook, Jennifer Ashley was really good about showing all the inside workings and intendance of the kitchen and below stairs without taking way from the main plot. Every other book out there for this kind of genre always it the upper-class and it was nice to find one from a different perspective. 

Kat Holloway is a very successful cook, she left her last post when they left London and she has her own reasons for staying in London. Her new post in with Lord Rankin, she doesn’t much mind the eccentricities of the family just as long as they stay out of her kitchen. But when she finds her assistant, Sinead who reminded her so much of herself at that age, dead in the larder she becomes involved in the case to solve her young assistant’s murder. Enter Daniel McAdams, a man of mystery, Kat knows he is not what he appears to be so she goes to him for help. When he concurs that Sinead’s death was not the result of a simple robbery gone wrong Kat finds herself immersed in a mystery which proves to be just the tip of the iceberg, and so much more complicated than a simple murder. Daniel and Kat together with a genius mathematician, Elgin Thanos, and the cross dressing sister-in-law of Rankin, Lady Cynthia Shires, they try to piece together the clues they have for the plot against the Queen. 

Along with the mystery we get into Kat’s personal life and the problems she has to face while dealing with the mystery and conspiracy. Daniel obviously has feeling for Kat but she tries to keep him at a professional distance, but he knows her too well. Unfortunately Kat doesn’t know much about Daniel and he plans to keep it that way no matter his feelings but that’s not going to stop him from keeping an eye out on her.

Overall, I enjoyed this one. Jennifer Ashley’s wonderful writing and her unique take on the Victorian Murder Mystery makes this a definite winner with me, I can’t wait for the next book.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: Red Wolf by Jennifer Ashley

I truly love this series. Red Wolf is book 10 of the Shifters Unbound series by Jennifer Ashley. In White Tiger (book 8) we met Dimitri and Jaycee. In that book Jaycee was a bit annoying but she grew up in the time between the books. Dimitri made his intent to want to mate Jaycee clear in White Tiger, but it is Jaycee’s choice whether to accept or not. In Red Wolf Jaycee and Dimitri are working with the Austin Shifters to find out more about the disappearing shifters and the Fae that are using them, turning them feral and turning them against their own kind. They use Jaycee’s wild side and rule breaking attitude as the perfect cover to get the wrong kind of attention, which it does and it leads them to New Orleans and a cult-like pack worshiping the Goddess where mating rituals mean nothing to them. Jaycee and Dimitri are faced with compromising their own potential mating in order to further their investigation. 

Jaycee is slowly coming to turns with Dimitri wanting to be her mate, she likes him…she loves him once she admits it to herself but she is scared that he is just doing it to control her to keep her from going on the dangerous missions they, as trackers, often go on. It takes a serious heart to heart and the notion that she might lose him before she admits the truth to herself. But once she does have him something happens that just might ruin their HEA. Dimitri has known from the moment he met Jaycee that he would mate her he just had to wait for her to realize she felt the same. 

Jennifer Ashley turns out another page turner. Jaycee and Dimitri are a fun and great couple that have you rooting for them from the beginning. Jaycee’s quick to action and Dimitri’s slow and calculated methods balance each other out. The comradery, trust, and love between can be perceived between them since White Tiger even through Jaycee’s jealousy of Addy you could tell her and Dimitri were meant to be; she just had to come to terms with what having Dimitri as a mate would be like.

Overall, Jaycee and Dimitri are a great couple. The story I don’t want to give away too much but it is so exciting going from Austin to New Orleans to the Fae’s land on the other side of the veil. Along with intense action and great sex it’s a great story and continues on with the series arc of the Fae vs Shifters. Oh! And the haunted house is back (Jasmine’s house from Wild Things) it has to be one of my favorite characters.   

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: Guardian’s Mate by Jennifer Ashley

I fell in love with the big polar bear in the previous books, man, Zander is big and gruff and all heart. Rae is a hero who never asked for it. She would have rather not been selected as the Guardian for her pack but it’s the hand the Goddess gave her so she’s sucking it up. I love this series, I remember the first time I read the first book I was hooked I think out of the series I’ve missed just one book. Jennifer Ashley is fantastic at what she does. Her characters are all written and likeable. The storyline it’s like a domino effect one thing leads to another that leads to another that leads to one big cluster fuck and so on. This was such a fun and entertaining book, to sound cliché, it will make you laugh it make you cry and it all leads to one very nice HEA.

Rae was adopted, she was found abandoned as a wolf cub and the feline Alpha of the pack raised her as his own. The Guardian was one of the ones who found her he was also one of her best friends. One day he was attacked by humans, murdered and had the sacred Guardian sword stolen. It was retrieved by Austin Shiftertown’s guardian and returned but for six months the Montana Shiftertown has held the ceremony to pick another Guardian but to no avail the Goddess has not spoken. Since the Guardian’s death Rae has been the only one who can actually touch the sword. To everyone’s surprise she was selected, the only female Guardian ever. The pack is having a hard time believing it, shunning Rae. Rae’s father fears that they might actually hurt her so he asks for help.

Zander is just looking for some alone time to decompress after his last mission. Zander is Goddess blessed he has amazing healing abilities but he takes it into him and that takes a lot out of him. Zander doesn’t want the responsibility of training a Guardian but one look at Rae and knows she’s something special. The adventures begin when Rae is called on to perform her Guardian duties on an older wolf whose time has come; she does so, further proving she really is the Guardian. Afterward one thing leads to another they end up in a bar fight then on the run from the police, then the coast guard, and a bounty hunter. The Bounty Hunter who has a grudge against all shifters actually catches them but then they have to work together to get out of a natural phenomenon known as The Graveyard. That really is just the start it all leads up to a big reveal about a sinister plot. All the while Rae and Zander fall in love.

Overall, great non-stop adventure. The supporting cast is just as fun as the main characters and the foreshadowing of what’s to come will definitely hook you to the books to come.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: White Tiger by Jennifer Ashley

This is book eight of Jennifer Ashley’s Unbound Shifters series and woo it is a doozie. From the previous books I wasn’t sure that I would like Kendrick, he was kind of a bastard; this book really gives new insight on why he acted the way he did. Addie couldn’t have been a better match for him, and the three boys absolutely adorable. I love this series, it is one of my favorite shifter/paranormal series. This one I believe can be read as a stand-alone the little bit of background you need for Kendrick is given pretty much in a nutshell. There was a little bit of an almost love triangle going on and usually I’m not a fan of those but this one was different (more on that later). Kendrick is a little hard headed at times and oblivious but his love and devotion to his sons and to his pack is what drives him and makes him loveable. Addie fell in love at first sight with Kendrick and his sons; with doing that she is willing to risk her life for their safety. Addie’s strong will can deal with Kendrick’s hard head and she proves that even as just a human she can handle her own.

Addie was just a waitress working third shift in the isolated diner in the middle of Texas when she fell in love. Kendrick would come in with his three son’s right at closing and they would each have a slice of pie. Kendrick knows that he should keep moving, as an uncolored shifter without a home he is constantly on the run from being found out. But there is something about the beautiful waitress that keeps him coming back for more. It all changes when the diner is attacked one night and Kendrick must protect his sons and Addie by any means necessary. Addie’s life is now in danger and she willingly goes with them. The relationship between Addie and Kendrick isn’t easy. Kendrick has had a mate in the past and isn’t looking for another one. He feels responsible for putting her life at risk so he keeps her with him thinking only he can protect her. Addie earns her place not only in is heart but that of his sons too. And with him being hesitant to start a relationship because of his previous one she knows she has to make the first move and show him it’s ok to love again.

This new threat is an old friend of Kendrick’s who was presumed dead. Kendrick must gather up the loyal pack members and seek help from the Austin Shiftertown shifters to keep his pack, his sons and Addie alive. Kendrick claims Addie as his mate not only because he wants her and can’t let her go but also to show the pack she is his and not to be bothered with. That’s supposed to be the unequivocal final word; however, Jaycee one of his seconds and has been in love with him for almost forever isn’t making things easy for Addie. With the way the pack system works with shifters Addie has to prove herself stronger then Jaycee thinks she is and knows that things will not get any easier if Kendrick puts Jaycee in her place for her. I think that’s why I liked this aspect of the story Kendrick is all about Addie, and Addie is strong enough to handle Jaycee on her own.

Overall, this is yet another outstanding action packed, sexy Shifter Unbound book. The conclusion of the book was very emotional and intense action. I hope our wandering polar bear gets his own story soon.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: A Mackenzie Clan Gathering by Jennifer Ashley

It’s no surprise that I would practically beg to review this book, I Love Ian MacKenzie! The series is an entertaining one, with each of its brothers who couldn’t be more different from each if they tried but they love each other and will protect each other fiercely; especially Ian. Ian is considered “mad” but everyone who has read his book The Madness of Ian MacKenzie we can figure out the real problem. Ian will do anything to protect those he counts as his, his brothers, his wife, and now his three children. So when someone breaks in steals a large number of the art collection Ian blames himself for not being able to protect the house as he should. For this being just a novella it is full it feels like its full length. You see how Ian has grown as a father, and how he still loves Beth with a passion that is never ending. Beth is his lodestone when he starts to have an episode Beth is there to pull him back to reality.

Ian is awoken one night, a feeling that something is wrong in the house. He finds a group of men stealing from the art gallery; with no concern to himself he attacks the men. The men get away with the art and a little more beaten up. Ian contacts his half brother in the Scotland Yard and asks for his help. Lloyd Fellows drops everything and travels up to Kilmorgan as fast as the train will carry him. Something about the case rings a familiar for Fellows. To top off the brother of Beth’s deceased husband shows up. Ackerley is a former missionary with an interest in psychology thinks that he can cure Ian of his madness. This process involves Ian going back and remembering his past. After Ackerley’s announcement Ian gets worried and started wondering around after a while he falls into a hole. Beth and Fellows search for Ian for hours finally after nightfall Ian shows up and reveals that the stolen art was just dumped. Again Fellows remembers something from his past. At Ian request Fellows digs up the past case, while Ian and Ackerley dig into Ian past trying to find the trigger for Ian’s madness. Together with Fellows and Ackerley, Ian tracks down the mystery of the theft and Ian realizes he wouldn’t be who he is without his madness.

Overall, I loved this novella and not just because of Ian, it was a very satisfying read and a great story.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: The Stolen Mackenzie Bride by Jennifer Ashley

I have always been a fan of Jennifer Ashley and her Mackenzie family, especially Ian. The Stolen Mackenzie Bride is a prequel of the series. In previous books we learn a little about the Mackenzie ancestor who made a name for himself with his whiskey and had quite the reputation. But that was only part of the story. I expected this one to be similar to her others a good read with the typical turn of events and an extremely satisfying ending; and I got that plus more. This book takes place during the period of time where there was a lot of political turmoil going on between Scotland and England. Bonnie Prince Charles was gathering his army and all about taking back the crown yadda, yadda,yadda, and well we all know how that ended. I love this book, it was engaging and entertaining and everything I look for in an excellent historical. There’s love at first sight, sexual tension, betrayal, kidnapping, sabotage, action, an intense battle sequence not to mention the unforeseen circumstances that ultimately FUBAR the whole scheme of things and complicate matters for the heroes and most importantly a love story for the ages.

From across a crowded room Malcolm Mackenzie fell in love. Lady Mary Lennox is the daughter of a stringent English loyalist who is planning on using her for political gain; she is already engaged to Lord Halsey. Mary is a dutiful daughter but one little kiss from the forthright Scotsman and her heart is lost, even if she doesn’t realize it yet. It all starts with Mary’s sister Audrey, and her forbidden love Jeremy Drake. Mary is aiding her sister send love letters to Jeremy when she first meets Mal. Mal as the youngest son of the Mackenzie family is such a caring man he takes care of everyone; even if no one else can see it. To get keep close to Mary he helps carry the love letter and after hearing Jeremy’s story they plot out a plan for the Audrey and Jeremy to runaway and get married. Mal is able to share his plan with Mary and get the details but at the same time Mal also has to keep an eye on his older brother who showed up in Edinburgh to ride with the rest of the Jacobite; to top it all off his father shows up all in an uproar because of it. It’s a downward spiral from there.

The uprising complicates everything for Mal and Mary. The Jacobite take Edinburgh and Mary barely makes it to Mal while her father and fiancé are taken in as traitors. Mal is able to arrange their release under the understanding that Mary’s father is his responsibility and if Mal pays Halsey the same amount Halsey would have got for marring Mary then she is free from the engagment. With Mary’s father and another English Officer under thumb Mal and Mary travel to his home of Kilmorgan. Things get better but not by much the fighting between the English and the Jacobite is affecting everyone, if you’re not loyal you are a traitor. It gets worse when one of the brothers is killed and Mal goes to war. Eventually the whole Mackenzie clan finds themselves at Culloden.

It gets very emotional, you get very close to Mal and his brothers even his stubborn father. If you have read the rest of the series you know something bad happens to leave Mal the last one to inherit the title of Earl of Kilmorgan, but it a satisfying ending, I don’t want to say much more it’s hard to write this and not cry just thinking about it. I will say it has an HEA and boy is it a good end to the beginning.

Overall, I cannot say anything bad about this book. I love it I must own it. If you haven’t read any of the series this is a good place to start.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: Bear Attraction by Jennifer Ashley

Shifter Unbound book 6.5 OMG I missed one! I missed Wild Wolf! But it’s ok; even if you missed the last one too it’s ok everything you need to know is explained in a nutshell. I have been waiting for Rebecca’s book since I started the series I love her strong Kodiak bear self and who better for her than the shifter understanding strong human Walker. A novella yes but by no means is it lacking in story content. It is jam pack full of emotion, action and suspense I loved it.

Rebecca is trying to outrun a bunch of dumb hunters and is caught on private property and instead of getting locked up Walker has set it up to where she instead helps him find Joanne’s missing sister, Nancy. Walker working as the liaison between the Shifters in Austin Shiftertown and the humans he is charged with finding Nancy because it is suspected she was taken by shifter. With Rebecca’s help Walker has more of a chance infiltrating in with shifter groupies and finding out information. Broderick and Joanne help and give clues to where Nancy was last seen. Dresses as a groupie Walker goes with Rebecca to a roadhouse to get information. The attraction between Walker and Rebecca is outstanding the closer they are the more they can’t stop touching each other and the fact that Walker is a potential mate for Rebecca throws her for a loop. Finding out what happened to Nancy exposes a new pack of shifters and introduces some new ones (wink, wink).

I really love this series and this one is a great addition to the series I wait on baited breath for more especially the next one, Mate Bond, a new shiftertown and new shifters to fall in love with.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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Audiobook Review: The Madness Of Lord Ian MacKenzie by Jennifer Ashley, Narrated by Angela Dawe

When I reviewed “Scandal And The Duchess (MacKenzies & McBrides, #6.5 I became really interested in the McKenzie family. The bond between the brothers seemed so full of love and it was endearing to watch these rough and tough men love and support each other.

This story in particular “The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie” is one of those books that I’ve been wanting to read for a long time. I have to say that Jennifer Ashley is talented, very precise and thorough in her storytelling. She really gets to the heart of her characters. She really knows how to plan out a plot and she really knows how to keep a reader/ listener on the edge of their seat. Her characters and plot were so rich that I felt satisfied when the story finished.

Lord MacKenzie is considered “mad.” This madness is because he has a photogenic memory and is a type of “Rain Man” in London/ Scottish society. One day he meets Beth Ackerley and immediately becomes fascinated by her. Ian doesn’t have good social skills but Beth realizes immediately that Ian is special and she finds his brutal honesty refreshing. Beth is a great heroine. She is not of English/ Scottish society. She actually has a dark family history but she ends up marrying a man she loves who unfortunately dies shortly after their marriage. She is taken in by an English lady that teaches her about society and ends up leaving her with a nice fortune. I really loved Beth and thought that not only was she an excellent heroine but she was excellent with Ian.

Through a series of circumstances Beth and Lord Ian end up married even though she wants to stay a widower after a failed courtship when she meets Ian. At first I thought that the story would begin to drag since Ian and Beth married so early and quickly but the plot was well played out when we discover that Ian is the suspect in a murder. Ian trying to protect his older brother Hart has never confided in anyone about the mystery surrounding the death he is a suspect in. Although Beth doesn’t know Ian very well she knows he is not a murder and she takes it upon herself to find out the truth behind the murder. Ian was such an endearing character. Because emotionally he is so cut and dry I thought it would be difficult to identify with him, but he was so honest and sincere it was easy to see what a wonderful man he was. Besides these fantastic characters and the great plot, I was intrigued by Isabella and Cameron’s story. I plan to read their story soon.

Finally, I thought that this was a great story. It really delivers and I enjoyed all the twists and turns that I did not expect. Also, I thought Angela Dawe did a great job narrating the story. She really seemed to understand the characters and their personalities. She really made the story that much more enjoyable for me.

**Audiobook provided by Tantor**

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Audiobook Review: Scandal and the Duchess by Jennifer Ashley, Narrated by Angela Dawe

Jennifer Ashley is one of those authors I keep wanting to read. But I always get distracted with another book or something happens. When I saw the audiobook available I jumped at the chance to hear it! I had heard so many great reviews about her books. I’m glad that I was not disappointed!

First the hero and the heroine were so much fun! This is a short audiobook and the actual story is only 160 pages. It was short, but very sweet and gratifying! Ashley portrays a very modern issue in a historical context, which I thought was fun! Our heroine, Rose Barclay is a “fallen” woman. She is considered scandalous after her older husband suddenly dies a short while after their marriage. She has no resources available to her since her deceased husbands son has cut her off without any means. Rose is living with a footman and his wife. Because of her scandalous marriage the press is always hounding her. They follow her around waiting for another scandalous thing to occur.

Steven McBride is a soldier and one of the famous McBride brothers, unfortunately I have not read any of the previous books in the series so there were some characters that I did not know. That however did not impede my enjoyment of this story. Steven, the youngest brother, is basically drunk off his butt when he literally falls on top of Rose. Since Rose is constantly hounded by reporters this does not go unnoticed. Rose feels terrible because of her reputation and takes Steven to her footman’s house to help him in his very drunken stupor. When Steven realizes that Rose is in need of help he steps in to help her. I really liked Steven and Rose as a couple. Although most of the story is centered around Rose, there are a couple of surprises surrounding Steven as well.

There were so many different aspects of this story that I really loved and thought that the author dealt with in a creative manner. First, there was a mystery to be solved. I thought this was a fun part of the story. It really cemented Steven and Roses relationship as they worked together to unravel it. It also added another element to the story. I thought that the way the author interjected it was very clever. Also, I really liked that the author had other family members from the previous books appear. It only sparked my interest in reading the other books in the series.

My only issue with the story was Roses marriage to the Duke of Southdown. It really disturbed me. There seemed to be a significant age difference between them and Rose seems to have viewed him as a father and did not express romantic feelings for him. I kept waiting for there to be some big secret as to why she really married him. My only complaint about the narration is that at first it was too fast. I had to go back and listen to it again a couple of times because she spoke too fast. This was an enjoyable experience. I really liked the characters and the plot. I’m excited and looking forward to hearing the next book, “Rules For A Proper Governess (MacKenzies & McBrides #7). Stay tuned for that review!

**Audiobook Provided by Tantor Audio**

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