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Note: Review originally posted on Amazon & GR @ 31-May-2013. Minor edits/clean-up after import to BL.
Genre: ER-PNR
Length: novella
Heat Level/Content: erotica-lite (m/f; vanilla)
Publication Date: May 2013
Publisher: Liquid Silver Books
Series Info: Gemini Island Shifters #1
BLURB:
Bear shifter Ryland Snow just wants peace. The peace and quiet afforded him at his woodsy retreat, the Ursa Fishing Lodge. As owner of the lodge, Ryland enjoys the tranquil life he’s created among his fellow shifters. He lives to maintain a safe haven for them, away from meddlesome human eyes.
When his rock star brother arrives, bringing trouble in the form of a possible hitman, Ryland is incensed. He’s been cleaning up Soren’s messes as long as he can remember, and is tired of his brother’s lecherous exploits.
Things go from bad to worse when Lia Goodblood stumbles upon Ryland and his lodge. Yes, the reclusive erotica author is easy on the eyes, but the human woman is more trouble than she’s worth. To say nothing of her bizarre fear of furry creatures.
Ryland determines to rid himself of her presence. But when he learns she’s on the run from a crazed fan, Ryland’s protective bear instincts flare. And the bear won’t be denied.
Erotica writer in hiding + Grizzly shifter = hot PNR fun!
Lia swallowed, praying God would give her the strength to keep her eyes above Ryland’s waist. Clearly God was occupied with other things at the moment and not inclined to answer her halfhearted entreaty.
THE SHORT: Highly recommended. Very well-written, sweet, smexy & funny PNR with a bear shifter!! If you like the quirky humour + hot sex in Eve Langlais’s PNR books, then you should definitely give PREDATOR’S KISS a go.
THE LONG: Although somewhat wary of reading/reviewing works by those whom I “know” via GR groups, I’m glad that I finally bit the bullet and read a book by Rosanna Leo. PREDATOR’S KISS, the first book in the Gemini Island Shifters series, was an excellent introduction to her writing and storytelling. (And really, how could I resist when the male MC was a bear shifter?)
At just over my personal novella gauge (150pgs), PREDATOR’S KISS hit all the right buttons with its sympathetic main characters, engaging storyline with a few twists and turns, and vanilla but very sexy “love moments”. Throw in a nice mix of secondary characters (including one who may star in the next book), a hilariously wise inner bear, and decent-size jar of honey, and PREDATOR’S KISS had the perfect combination for a fast, light-hearted read with more than a few LOL moments. An added bonus? Lia, the heroine, is the author of a best-selling erotic romance. *wink*
If I had any quibbles, then it would be the world-building. It wasn’t particularly deep/complex but then again, I suppose that it didn’t have to be for this particular story to work. And to offset this, Ms. Leo put a different spin on the fated mates trope and used it for great comedic effect.
However, I wish that there had been some explanation as to how/why Ryland is a grizzly while Soren, his brother, is a polar bear. *puzzled* Also thought it a bit odd to have that one instance of Soren’s POV early in the story. And IMO, Lia accepted their shifter nature a little too fast, especially given her phobia.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed my first book by Rosanna Leo and hope to fit in more of her works. Perhaps her book, The Selkie (Orkney Selkies, #1), can finally erase my bad selkie experience from years ago? Hmmm…
* Review copy provided by the author via the PNR NaUBA group Author/Reader exchange
