Pretty good. I liked the story and I liked the couple. I think I'm going to enjoy this universe of shape shifters. ( )

Unleashed
3.5 Stars

Predictable and unoriginal but a cute read nonetheless.

Shapeshifting clans with special abilities, fated mates and racist enemies have all been done before and Humphreys doesn’t add anything new to the mix. In fact, she seems to throw it all together into one big cauldron just to cover all her bases.

This is particularly evident in the world building. The Amovea are interesting and have potential but not enough information is provided concerning their origins, culture and norms. Moreover, they have too many abilities – telepathy, teleportation, pyrokinesis, shapeshifting – all in one character is truly excessive and leaves no room for unique characterization or development.

Malcolm and Sam have adequate chemistry but their romance is uninspired. Malcolm has an almost gothic sophistication but never manages to completely pull it off perhaps because he more beta than alpha in comparison to the almost larger than life Prince of the Amoveo. Although Sam is wary of Malcolm and the new life that he represents, she is too accepting of the drastic changes that occur relatively quickly. Nevertheless, she is strong and independent and handles Malcom’s overbearing and possessive tendencies very well even though this ultimately gets her into trouble.

The suspense plot is also weak. To begin with there are too many villains and none are particularly scary or chilling. The ex-boyfriend stalker is more smarmy than creepy, the Cadeo hunter is slightly better in this area but ultimately comes across as spineless and weak-willed, and the silent partner is so obvious at one point that the “revelation” at the end is completely superfluous.

The secondary characters are decent particularly the grandmother and the butler. However, they remind me of the identical characters in Elizabeth Hunter’s A Hidden Fire but without the personality and wit. The other Amoveo members are, however, interesting enough for me to continue with the series. ( )

I give Unleashed 2 stars. Unleashed was nothing special, just an ok read. It did not feel like a shapeshifter story more like a man with magical powers, one which can change into an eagle. It had a bland couple and even blander plot. The hero and heroine where just to boring for my liking. The book focus on the relationship more then the attack on the couple (not much action). I was disappointed that know one could figure out; even their prince; that one of there on was trying to kill the couple.
I liked the thought of the world of the Amaveo, unfortunately we don't get much information on the Amaveo other then they have one mate which they find through dreams and their are different shifter clans. I would have liked more. ( )

Fast paced and entertaining

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Such a great adventure between real life people and the legendary shifters, Amoveo. Meet Malcolm and follow him as he searches for his mate, Samantha. Sam has had enough of the big city and returns home ,back to her grandmother's house. Malcolm lives next door and has been waiting for Samantha, she catches him watching her from the window. He needs to tell her she is also part Amoveo and his mate, but there is also danger, someone wants them dead. Come along and find out out what happens to them, you won't be disappointed.
( )

Samantha has been having some strange dreams. Some involve a voice urging her to come home and in others she’s running on the beach as a wolf with a golden eagle flying along with her. It’s even more disturbing for her to discover Malcolm, living next door to her grandmother, immediately attracts her, yet he can speak to her telepathically and has a whole lot of abilities that are freaking her out; and he’s telling her she’s just like him.

Danger comes in the form of the Caedo family that knows of the Amoveo and has made it their mission to wipe them off the face of the planet. They’ve been quiet for awhile now, but it soon becomes apparent that they’re watching Samantha.

When it comes to the abilities of the shifters in this romance series, some of it seems familiar from other author’s writings on both vampires and shifters, and yet some of it is definitely unique. The unique abilities are a combination of interesting as well as somewhat over the top.

The romance itself, while happening fast, works due to the telepathic abilities of the species and the need to be in each other’s head. And it’s not only words, but actions, that give it a feeling of warm intimacy even before we reach a sex scene.

I like Samantha and her need for independence and privacy, as well as Malcolm who is willing to give her the privacy she needs, even though it’s difficult for him. ( )