Krystal ShannanCritiques

I couldn't have written a more cheesy love story if I tried.
It's as formulaic as it gets. It's matey mates. It's clichée. It's shallow. It's repetitive.
It's probably exactly what most people picking up this book wanted to read or at least expected.
So all my points are probably not really a bad thing for the intended target audience.
I myself enjoy a story of this sort every once in a while but this particular one was just too much.
It almost goes into caricature territory with how exaggerated all these tropes are.

The premise held promise, and the main characters had chemistry, but the story development was choppy and wrought with issues pointing either to serious corruption in the wolf pack politics, a surreptitious villain behind the scenes, terribly inept pack governance, or something, but then that potential was just wiped away and the story abruptly concluded with a "well, I guess what happened was everybody's fault." Um, no, it definitely was the fault of Lee and Miles (they're new?? were they sent by someone with a vendetta against the VonBrandts? That could be interesting to explore!) and the Banfield witches. Like, seriously, they've never had to perform that spell for the sake of the VonBrandt Wolf Pack ever because it's so serious, and then two enforcers they probably don't know, show up with an unconscious town local and they just give her permanent brain damage without even checking in with the Pack Alpha on behalf of whom they're supposedly performing this spell? And when Paige wakes up before procedure is complete and is asking for Adam, brother of the pack alpha, that doesn't give anybody pause? Seriously, if they're going to give her anterograde amnesia, it's not like she'll remember things leading up to the process of losing her memory + memory making ability, so what's the harm in questioning her?½

Two stars is all I can give this book.
The first story was a garbled mess, the second story was better written, but not my cup of tea at all. I enjoyed the third and fourth stories to some degree.
The two of the stories set up interesting worlds. I think all of them could have used an extra chapter in order to let the writers flesh out their stories a bit more.

Quite on the fence about this one. Great storyline. But the author makes light of attempted rape and being taken and changed without consent. I can't get around that, so it gets lower marks.

[b:To Save a Mate|23881203|To Save a Mate (VonBrandt Family, #1)|Krystal Shannan|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1418900891s/23881203.jpg|43489577] (VonBrandt Family, #1) by [a:Krystal Shannan|6543639|Krystal Shannan|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1349137695p2/6543639.jpg] is a Paranormal Romance. It was very immature and unfinished. A lot of it didn't make sense to me. Somehow Kara never knew Luke even though they went to school together and he somehow always knew she was to be his mate. Does not make sense!
She had dated some kind of playboy for 5 YEARS, who has apparently 'done' every female she knows, but she has NEVER suspected anything?! Really?
That is just a few of my problems with this book. It reads like a 14 or 16 year old tried to write an Adult romance and failed horribly.
Maybe a young adult would like this book, but then again......Nope. There is not enough of anything really happening. No mystery, no suspense. The best part of the whole book is the beginning when Luke runs into Kara with his truck. After that it is mostly crying and posturing.

PNR

Purchased from Amazon January 31, 2016

Not all the stories in this collection were particularly to my taste, but there were enough to make it worthwhile. It's certainly added at least the first books in several more series to my reading list.

I'll admit, the first few chapters of this book didn't seem to hold much hope. I was bracing myself for disappointment. However, about a third of the way through, it pulls itself together and becomes a much different beast. I think this could be a very robust world with the some interesting characters and stories.

Well, it was free...and it was short. Mercifully short. I thought it would be kitschy funny to read. Meh. I didn't realize when I got it, or decided to read it, that I had already read one in the series. It was better developed than the other, but the premise was stupid in comparison. To Save A Mate was a much better idea, in theory. Wish she'd spent more time developing that idea! Werewolf Cowboy was a bit silly. Allen was an ass, Reyna acted like a dog in heat...which I guess she was, sort of. Still. Not even remotely attached to the characters = not a love match for me. :/

A short, sweet, underdeveloped, NA PNR. The premise held promise, but again, underdeveloped. The villain was pathetic and gotten rid of with one paragraph. The whole thing spanned maybe a week, which given the story arc seemed short and inadequate for what was meant to be happening and "overcome". The beginning was fairly strong and I had high hopes, but it fell very flat. I was disappointed at how much so. So why the three stars? Because, I didn't hate it, the writing itself was good enough that the author had me actually crying (in the beginning; before the falling flat). And, the editing didn't make me scream. I just wanted more than the author gave me. It was one of those books where it felt like she didn't know what else to do with her characters, so she just abruptly gave you the HEA and called it a day.

Could've been so much more!

Also, it was free...

This book was really sweet. The characters are relatable. Everyone automatically expects that one would be happy if they had enough money to last a couple of lifetimes but that is not always true.

Nic knows that something is not right with his life and Dafni wants to get far away as possible from her dysfunctional family. Somehow they connect in the virtual world and find something that is wholesome and real and right for them in spite on their hang ups and insecurities.

ARC provided by the author for voluntary review consideration.

Upon winning a free copy of My Dragon Masters by Krystal Shannan from a Goodreads contest, I was met with an intense story that was hard to put down and makes you want to read what happens next in the story. Aside from one small part where it was unclear as to which character was talking, the story made you feel for the characters and feel as through you are living the story through their eyes.

4 Chasing Sam

This is a novella-length introduction to the new Vegas Mates series by Krystal Shannan. The characters where easy to like and well developed. Sam chafes against family tradition. The time has come for her to get married/mated a decision she detests. An unexpected encounter puts her face to face with Chase. A shifter from a less noble stock, but one who recognizes Sam as his mate. Will they end up together or will tradition win out?

Chase Michaels, an Army Ranger and a strapping male werewolf, has just returned home from Afghanistan when he bumps into a beautiful female werewolf at the airport. He is enchanted, as he has never felt such a strong connection to anyone before.
Samantha “Sam” Damakis is a female wolf, and part of a noble family of werewolves. Despite the obligations associated with her noble bloodline, and her parents' desire to have her home and mated, Sam is pursuing her dreams of attending medical school and seeing the world. So, when she arrives home for a holiday visit and bumps into a gorgeous hunk at the airport she is shocked by the feelings that ensue. She has never before felt such a powerful attraction to anyone.

This was a great start to the Vegas Mates series. I look forward to reading more.

- 3.5 Saving Margaret Stars -

Saving Margaret is book two in the Vegas Mates series by [a:Krystal Shannan|6543639|Krystal Shannan|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1349137695p2/6543639.jpg]. It has been quiet sometime since I read book one [b:Chasing Sam|17236331|Chasing Sam (Vegas Mates, #1)|Krystal Shannan|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1358028524s/17236331.jpg|23755246], so I have to admit I was a little lost at the beginning, but once I got more into the story things came back and I enjoyed reading Saving Margaret.

Margaret, wolf shiter and only daughter of an alpha. She comes across self-sufficient and independent, with a softer side that we can appreciate. I liked Margaret. She has some of the same fears most women do when falling for a man.

Scott, bear shifter and army buddy of Chase. Scott comes across as a gentle giant, protective, and dominate all rolled together in a sweet teddy bear package. I liked Scott and I love bear shifters they are just so interesting to read about.

Once I got over the hump of the first few pages I feel back into the world that Krystal Shannan created with her Vegas Mates. Their was no shortage of action with the Council coming into town and stirring things up as well as a stocker going after Margaret. The author has created an intriguing society that the shifters operate in and the shifters themselves are interesting characters, in that the animal spirit feels like a separate entity inside them and the human part can communicate with the animal spirit. It’s interesting to read the conversations they have with themselves. The mate bond is an insta-know thing and the author does a great job explaining this and how the shifters know who is their mate. The only thing that got to me is what happens to the men that show up to capture Renata Demakis. I don’t want to say anymore only that most are trained in the army plus they are shifters, so they should have known better. You will just have to read to find out what I’m talking about.

If you have not tried the Vegas Mates series yet, I recommend you give it a try. Book one Chasing Sam is usually up for free. I’m curios to see how everything pans out and plan to continue with this series.

An Unexpected great find. Why do I say that ? This was a free offering and usually the free books are rough and seldom lead to anything better. Yeh, How negative of me, but it has proven true. Okay moving on, this book broke that pattern.
The story was well developed, with believable backstories and characters I want to know better. vampires, werewolves, djinns, dragons and so much more, living in a town together. There was never a dull moment, it stayed steady. Why only 3 stars ? Don't laugh, there was too much sex. Yup I went there, call me a prude if you like. The story was just so good on it's own it didn't need all the sexual activities. It took me out of the story, and stuck me in their bed, or in their head thinking what they wanted to do. I just wanted them to hurry it along so I could get back to the djinn or the werewolves or the town where the actions was stalled waiting for them to finish. I also didn't care for her therapy plan it was weirdly placed in the story I thought. Not a fan of BDSM, and that could be the root of it.
I have heard great things about the rest of the series and plan to keep going. I loved this this para-world the author created. The dragon brothers are next :P

Oh, this is annoying - it is _almost_ an excellent story. The world is interesting, the characters excellently drawn; I was crying and laughing through the first part. It does need some proofreading - wrong words, typos, formatting errors - but although I noticed them they didn't throw me out of the story as the same type of errors will in a weakly-written book. But the middle and end got progressively weaker. The whole thing with the bond pulling them into sex got pretty much skimmed over, until they gave in; then a detailed (almost too detailed, but still hot) sex scene...and it's a week later and she gives in completely. Hey! What _happened_ in that week? How did their relationship grow? Why did she give in, how did he handle matters, how did his family get involved... I'll be looking for others by this author, but I really hope she learns somewhere along the way how to write a complete story, not just the high points.

This book was really sweet. The characters are relatable. Everyone automatically expects that one would be happy if they had enough money to last a couple of lifetimes but that is not always true.

Nic knows that something is not right with his life and Dafni wants to get far away as possible from her dysfunctional family. Somehow they connect in the virtual world and find something that is wholesome and real and right for them in spite on their hang-ups and insecurities.

ARC provided by the author for voluntary review consideration.

Oh yeah,
This book was where it was at.
Hot Wolf
Morons getting their comeuppance!!
Krystal Shannan knows what she's doing.

An entire scene appears to be missing while they are in the restaurant
they sat, never ordered, then he was paying the check and apparently had been sipping a drink
Another sequence was off when he got into his vehicle, then was walking into his apartment. Starting to get the feeling the author was rushing because she's usually right on point.
Rebecca can't be thirty. They previously stated that they hadn't seen each other in ten years. Even if I were to presume that it had been ten years since SHE graduated high school, unless she left high school at age twenty that doesn't make sense.

Besides that, this book was sexy, sexy, SEXY
Filled with two couples for the price of one, passions running high, and a lot of me fanning myself.

DESCRIPTION, NOT REVIEW: A chance he never thought he'd have comes at a price he never wanted her to pay

What do you do when everything you thought was real turns out to be a lie? How do you pick yourself up and move on? Move past the pain?

Kara McClure is living the perfect life. A great boyfriend, supportive loving parents, and a full ride to John McAdams University on a scholarship. What could go wrong? But something always does. When tragedy hits, you’re supposed to be able to count on those closest to you for support. Kara turns to the love of her life, Vincent Harris, only to find him supporting the nether lips of her sorority sister.

Luke VonBrandt is a business college student with a secret no one can know. When an accident threatens the life of an innocent girl he's secretly loved since high school, he risks everything to give her a second chance on life, even exposing the truth about what he is. The blue-eyed beauty haunts his dreams and her scent is all he can think about.

Luke’s wolf insists he find a way to claim her as his own.

But Kara’s broken heart will fight him every step of the way.

"4 out of 5 stars!! Can Sam find a way to escape tradition or will she find a loophole that could work in her favor while she looses her heart...

I loved this rushed, exciting tale of new love, werewolf politics/traditions, dysfunctional noble families, and sibling loyalty."

Read more of this review, two teasers, an excerpt, and a guest post by Ms. Shannan when it'll be posted on my blog on April 29th 2013 and later - http://frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com/2013/04/blog-tour-feasted-on-chasing-s...

"2.5 out of 5 stars, loved from afar for years Luke knows Kara is the one for him. However, since she has been dating a douchebag for the past five years he is still waiting for the perfect time to make his move. Kara thought her world was perfect until the day that everything crashed around her and basically killed her. Thankfully, Luke is there to help her pick up the pieces of herself and her life, but in doing so his family's secret comes out into the open as he sacrifices everything to save her. Will the sacrifice (on both their parts) be worth it though?

This is a heart-wrenching story about loss and finding the will to move on. While I'll admit that I knew there was going to be tragedy in this novel, I didn't expect the intensity of it as thoroughly as it's displayed in this novel. And in truth after a while, it was quite depressing. I mean I understand Kara is grieving but WOW ..."

Read more of my review and a TEASER here: http://frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com/2016/01/disappointmentville-somewhere-...

I didn't like the ending. Suddenly, a new character appeared and become a hero? Well, it didn't impressed me.

A Wedding In Somewhere (Somewhere, TX Vol 3)
by by Emma Roman, KC Klein, Lavender Daye, Jodi Vaughn, R.L. Syme, Krystal Shannan, Becca Boyd

Love this book! I laughed and laughed, so hard sometimes that I was crying. I had to tell my husband about all the things that happened and he laughed right along with me.

Love the way these authors can write together so cohesively.

I am really looking forward to reading more about the people in Somewhere, TX.

*ARC given for an honest review*

To Win a Mate (Somewhere, Texas, The VonBrandt Family, #3)
by Krystal Shannan

I love the VonBrandt's. I think I have fallen a bit in love with each one of them so far.

Jared and Elise's story is most definitely one of my favorites.

I don't want to give anything away, so I am keeping this short, but this is a must read for those who are hooked on the Somewhere, TX series.

*ARC given for an honest review*