Claim

Cypress Ridge #2

by Elle Stager

Piper thought she knew the man she was going to spend the rest of her life with. But when her ex, and head alpha, mates with someone else, Piper has no choice but to accept her new reality. Rowan, a human, has his own connection to the shifters and is desperately searching the forests for his lost sister. When Rowan is attacked on her pack's land, Piper learns the hard way that the heart wants what it wants.

Join Piper and Rowan as they learn you can't ignore claims of the heart in the second of seven Cypress Ridge Novellas. If you love fated mates pack drama, hot shifters, and all the steam you can handle, you'll love meeting the Cypress Ridge Pack. This series should be read in order, but each book is a complete story with a HEA. Character introductions and larger storylines run throughout, making it a better experience to start at the beginning. This series has ongoing trigger warnings for violence/blood, minor character death, and breeding kink/pregnancy.

Genres: Novella

143 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 1, 2023

About the author

Elle specializes in romance novels that explore unconventional relationships. She has dreamed of becoming a published author since she was a teenager. After graduating with her literature degree in 2014, she began writing as a hobby before deciding to pursue this dream. When she is not writing, Elle enjoys her work as a teacher and language instructor. Elle married her boy-next-door in 2020, and they enjoy a quiet life together in a small town in Ontario, Canada.

Reviews

[Serial Romance Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I love: the cover art, world building, plot, pace and writing style of these novellas

The only thing I didn’t love: How Rowan transformed from an omega to a dominant in bed… made no sense. Also, I was hoping when he got bit he’d transform!

Still a great story and series so far.

[Raymie]

I am loving this series.

Rowan’s adoptive sister ran away from home 10 years ago and she also a wolf shifter. Rowan is human and has been looking for. When he gets attacked by another wolf shifter his is taking to Cypress Ridge. Piper didn’t know if it was possible for a wolf and a human to mate but there is something about Rowan.

I am loving these short shifter romances. The don’t feel like they are dragging because they are the perfect size for the story. It feels very insta love but they are wolves and act very primal so it fits.

I get pulled into the storyline that Elle has woven into the story. This one leaves on a little cliff hanger and I don’t get the rest of the story until April!!

The spice is great too. You can really feel the connection between these two characters and how they really open up with each other.

🌲Fated Mates
🌲Breeding Kink
🌲Human / Shifter

[Marley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the storyline in this novella. Rowan is looking for his long lost adoptive sister and ends up finding something else entirely. The way this unexpected bond was written, had me hooked. I loved it. This short shifter romance story was a lovely and steamy read. The cliff hanger has me curious for the next part in this series, I'll have to practise my patience until April.

[Nikki ღ Navareus · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was just alright for me. Piper finds her fated mate in this story, only he's a human. She's immediately in love with him, and protective over him. She can't have kids with him, since he's a human, and they can't truly be bonded for the same reason. Rowan gets a tattoo of a bite mark on his neck to show the others he's mated to Piper, but it felt cheap and fake. Especially for Piper going from being with the head Alpha of the pack to then being with a mere mortal. I just don't believe Rowan would be able to compare to Matteo in any aspect at all, and Piper can't even have her own pups with Rowan. And all the while Piper has to witness her ex Alpha and his new mate living the time of their lives together, popping out kids, and living ecstatically and deliriously happy together right in front of her. Rowan and Piper were lovey dovey in this story, but I feel like Piper got another shitty ending and totally ripped off again.

[Wanika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Piper gets what she deserves!

Omg! I did not expect book 2 in this series to be SO DAMN GOOD. I absolutely LOVED this one, even more than book 1! I love Mateo and Isla but Piper and Rowan are IT! The way this story comes together so naturally made me really happy. Elle does inner monologues well and I cannot stop laughing at how much she has the shifters and their wolves arguing 😂. Loose needs from book 1 end up finished while I can now see how the events of book 5 come into play. This book does end on a cliffhanger so be warned cause I was crying happy tears….then instantly screamed 😂.

[Cathryn Tipple · Rating 5 out of 5]

So Much Cuteness!!

This novella is the story of Piper and Rowan and how their love started. Piper is dealing with the aftermath of her ex being mated and is wishing for a mate of her own. Rowan is searching for his sister who disappeared 10 years ago. When they meet it’s instant stars. They don’t have an easy journey since Rowan is human but they are a beautiful example of love can overcome mountains.

[Carson Budemer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Danyellle · Rating 4 out of 5]

OKAY THIS WAS SO CUTE TOO IM JUST SAYING. I love how Stager expanded on the werewolves society a bit more . It's really cool to think that there are small communities everywhere also I wana join one please 😭😭. But I love Rowan and Piper's story it's a cute redemption story for Piper also love seeing Mateo and Isla is apart of this story too! I also really enjoy how all the characters are connected in one way or another. But I like how their love story was slow. I love that he built her a house I was screaming YOUR SUCH A SWEETHEART ROWAN!! Also really like the marriage and pregnancy :3 just want I needed 🤣🤣. However I do wish there was some more explanation of how the ranking works with the wolves. Like I though Omegas are at the bottom of the back but in the books they are rare but abused? Just need some clarification are they pretty much sex slaves cause they have a easier time with making pups?
Over all 4 stars on the story and 3 on the spice :3not to much but not to little.

[Tiffany Oiney_Reads_Another · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rowan gave me literal chills! Sir, that bossy energy absolutely sent me!! I loved this twisted take on a fated mate bond. A human and a beta?! Yes please!! Dual POV, shifters and humans coming together to create an unusual bond, I choose you, what more could you ask for?! We get to see Mateo and Isla from book 1, and a few of the other side characters that I’m DYING to see more of. I’m super glad that Piper really got her redemption arc here, since she was horrid in book one lol. I also loved seeing Islas complicated issues with her former pack completely dealt with 😉 Rowan and Piper are so sweet together, I can’t wait to see them as side characters moving forward in the series. Loved it.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second novella in the cypress ridge series. In this we follow Rowan as he is trying to find his sister who ran away from home 10years ago. Along the way he gets attacked and brought to Cypress Ridge where he finds more than what he was looking for.
Piper wasn't aware that a human could be a shifters mate but of course there is something about Rowan.
I am in love with this Novella series! I can not wait for more. Elle sucks you into the world and you fell all the feels. I am happy Piper got her redemption story. This is an absolute must read!

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm loving this series. Getting to know more of the characters that we met in the first book. I'm happy for Piper after everything that happened and loved her and Rowan's story. This was heart jerking and steamy. I can't wait for the next novella in the series.

[Tanya Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t wait to see what happens in the next one.

Really great characters & world building.
Definitely check it out.