Made the Grade: Shifters Unbound Series, Book 3.5

Format: Kindle Edition | File Size: 249 KB | Release Date: August 2012 | Publisher: JA / AG Publishing | Obtained: Amazon.com

"Hard Mated" [Shifters Unbound Series, Book 3.5] by Jennifer Ashley (aka Ashley Gardner & Allyson James)

My Book Summary : Eron (Spike), a wildcat Shifter and the champion fighter of Shiftertown, is known as being a "dumb-ass fighter," even though he's not it's just the outwards appearance that he typically portrays for everyone. However, that all suddenly changes when after one of his usual fights a intriguing woman, Myka, tells him he has to meet up with her best friend Jillian (a woman whom Spike slept with about 5 years ago) because Jillian is dying and needs to talk to him. Once Spike gets to Jillian in the hospital he is told that he is the father of Jillian's son, Jordan, and that because of the law and Jillian's life about to end soon Jordan belongs to Spike now.

Nevertheless, because of personal childhood experiences with an abusive stepfather Myka cannot give up the need to keep an eye on Jordan while he is in Spike's care. Therefore, Myka helps out take care of Jordan while Spike deals with his responsibility to Shiftertown and they become very close. So close in fact that soon after their meeting Spike starts to have the mating urge and wants to keep/protect Myka from anyone and anything possible, even if that means protecting her and Jordan from his own clan. But will he be able to protect them from everything when his duty to the clan takes him away from them more often then he'd like; especially when an old enemy starts petitioning Spike to break away from his current clan, and has plans for Spike to do just that by any means possible!

My Book Review : 3.5 out of 5 stars. Two lonely people find each other during the most unlikely circumstances!

Okay, to be fair, the only other novel from this series (or by this author) that I've read is "Primal Bonds" (Book 2 in the Shifters Unbound Series). It was an okay book, but what I came to realize when I read that novel (and again when I read "Hard Mated") was that I really don’t like Liam Morrissey--(the leader of Spike's Shiftertown) at all since he just seems to make me mad (I don't completely understand why--he just does)--and the collar thing thoroughly annoys me about the plot (I'll admit it's unique concept--I just don't like the idea of it).

Then why would I read this novella, you ask?

Well because with all of that being said I have been staring at "Hard Mated's" AWESOME cover ever since it was release and has been on my Amazon.com recommended list making me have to find out what the description was all about and it just pulled me in!! And in truth, I am sooo happy I did read this novella! Mostly I'm happy about it because I LOVED Spike/Eron & Myka! They were perfect for one another and their shared stories made this plot that much more thrilling. In addition, I enjoyed how everything turned out!

Therefore, I would recommend this novel to anyone who is a fan of Ms. Ashley, as well as, to anyone who likes unique paranormal/fantasy romances!

Author's Novel Extras : Updates on Hard Mated and everything | Hard Mated at Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Smaswords (print on its way!) | Hard Mated on Bestseller lists and Mate Claimed Excerpt

Author's Series Extras : Series Site | The Humans' Guide to Shifters | Message from Liam Morrissey | Liam Morrissey Wallpaper | TITLE CHANGE: Shifter Lovin' to Primal Bonds | Primal Bonds Cover | More and more updates | Primal Bonds Countdown! and More! | Thanks, Backlist releases, and New Stuff | Shifter Made and Pride Mates | Pride Mates (Shifters Unbound Series) | What's Coming Next | Update on Bodyguard | Bodyguard is OUT! | Wild Cat Release! And other things | Shifters novella in Berkley Anthology

Book Teaser(s) :

He tasted the pain in her and wanted to make it all better. He’d sweep her up and shut out the world, sink into the goodness of her. The curve of her buttocks under his hand beckoned his tongue, her hair warmed his fingers, and she smelled like honey and sugar. If he licked her all over, would she taste as sweet?
The floor creaked upstairs again. Myka jumped in his arms, hands sliding from his shoulders to his chest, trying to push him away.
Spike jerked her closer, hand firming on her ass. Who cared if his grandmother came down and caught them? She was Shifter; she’d understand. She knew what loneliness was.
Lonely. So lonely. Stay with me.
Myka gasped, and Spike broke the kiss.
She was breathing hard, her pupils spreading but her body shaking. His instincts screamed at him to take Myka upstairs, lock her into his room with him, and not let her go until they’d made a couple more cubs to go with Jordan. Nature wanted him to do this, and Spike’s mind wasn’t fighting nature too much. But there was more at stake right now. ~ within Chapter 8

For more information on this book and/or any other books by Jennifer, then please check out her website.