Monday, June 10, 2013

Book Review: Untamed Hunger by Aubrey Ross

Major Sasha Young has been stationed at Alpha Colony for the past three years, part of an elite military team assigned to maintain order and resolve conflicts between the shapeshifters. She has watched the hostile morphs, secretly fascinated by their predatory grace and animal magnetism. The colonies were established to protect defenseless humans from these genetic anomalies. So why does she feel like the morphs are the ones being victimized?

Grayson Evans, a rare white-tiger shifter, is frustrated and appalled by how little their human keepers understand the average “morph.” After an especially violent altercation between leopard and tiger shifters, he decides it’s time to educate them. He’s had his eye on Sasha ever since she arrived at Alpha Colony and introducing the feisty beauty to the full potential of a felidae-morph is going to be his pleasure — and hers!

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Review:

It'd been too much to say I love this cover but I do like this cover A LOT. The layout is clean and it definitely connects the reader with what the book is out--sexy big cat shifters. The best part? The ripped, sexy male model. Sadly, the view of the gent's fine backside is interrupted by some artfully placed claw slashes. But again, at least the cover ties into the contents. You're not opening a Godiva box, expecting Godiva chocolates, only to find bird droppings.

On a side note:  It is a longstanding pet peeve of mine when I pick up an erotic novel targeted at heterosexual women and find a naked woman on the cover. It leaves me going, "Um, really?"

Cover artists: know your audience. Hetero women reading hetero erotica prefer to look at naked MAN FLESH. The only response a naked chick elicits is envy. "Gosh, I really wish my ass was that tight! I think I hate her. Do I really want to read this book?"

Somewhere out in the nether, Aubrey Ross is probably reading this right now, thinking she's been reviewed by a crazy woman. This is an unsolicited review. I downloaded her novel during a free day on Amazon and I've never met Ms. Ross. Disclaimer: the author has no knowledge of my review and no warning.  ((Poor lady)).

Untamed Hunger starts off strong. Immediate action. Vibrant setting. Our heroine, Sasha, is a member of a security force charged with keeping the peace among a population of morphs (big cat shifters)--creatures who can become human or shift to a certain breed of feline based on their breed. The story opens with a fight being broken up and a victim lying severely wounded. Her assailants are unknown and the male lead, Grayson, has the clues necessary to help solve the mystery. Will he help Sasha out?

From page one, the story hit all the right notes--action, intrigue and a tough female lead. Interestingly enough, it is a science fiction setting. So often, shifter stories are paranormal fantasy but Untamed takes place on another world in another solar system. Sexual interaction between the morphs and the human security force is strictly prohibited, so there's a star-crossed lovers element also. No worries though, because rules are made to be broken and our hero and heroine are getting hot and heavy before the first chapter's even out. These two POP with so much sexual chemistry it's like thermite.

 Grayson is a tiger morph, oozing primal sensuality, and charismatic to boot. He has ulterior motives and he distrusts humans but wants Sasha so much he is willing to trade the information she desires...for her submission. The story does take an unfortunate turn into Dom/Sub roles. (Unfortunate for ME, because I despise watching strong women bow down to strong men. Anyway, what's a turnoff for me isn't necessarily going to be the case for others.)

Untamed Hunger delivers nonstop action and sizzling sexual tension right up until the very end. The story is short but satisfying and does not disappoint. For a more traditional romantic subgenre, I would probably rate Untamed Hunger four stars. However, for what it is (erotic paranormal), I'm upping that to five because it never fails to deliver on what it promises--a fun, fast, sexy read.

 FREE on Amazon

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