Diaries of an Urban Panther

Diaries of an Urban Panther #1

by Amanda Arista

Violet Jordan Rule #1 of being a superhero: No tights.

Dear Diary,

By now you know I'm hardly a normal girl. Last night I woke up naked in an alley after fighting off some werewolves. All in a day's work, I guess. I thought I was dealing pretty well with the whole werepanther thing: the training, the apocalyptic prophecies. And the hot guy following me around, protecting me at every turn, is definitely a bonus. I'm even starting to become accustomed to the bloodshed and the violence—and that's what scares me. What will tomorrow bring?

--------------------------

Violet Jordan thought the fairy tales her mother wove were just a way to get Violet to sleep, not a way to prepare her for the apocalypse she is the key to preventing. When she becomes a midnight snack for werepanther Spencer Haverty, his infectious bite invokes the first element of her destiny. When Violet’s budding instincts allow her to save a boy’s life, she realizes this new gig may come with perks: a slimmer figure, the attention of a handsome Guardian, and insights into her future embedded in her mother’s stories. But as push comes to claws, can Violet make the fatal strike against the men threatening her new family, her new home and her first boyfriend in ages?

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Shapeshifters, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Supernatural

250 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 5, 2011

About the author

Amanda was born in Illinois, raised in Corpus Christi, lives in Dallas but her heart lies in London. Good thing she loves to travel.

During the summer after second grade, she read every book in the young adult section of the library, much to the surprise of the local librarian. So she started making up her own stories and hasn’t stopped.

She has a husband who fights crime, one dog who thinks he’s a real boy, and another who might be a fruit bat in disguise. She recently added a tiny human to the mix who is following in her mother’s footsteps of storytelling.

Along with her BA in English & Psychology and her MA in Education, Amanda is a graduate of the SMU Creative Writing Program and now teaches other aspiring authors. She has delivered lectures at several writer conferences and loves discussing craft, character, and structure. Her current favorite: Stirring up Trouble with Romantic Subplots.

She is represented by Kimberly Brower, of Brower Literary & Management.

Reviews

[Denisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5
Uhm, no.

Just no.

The writing style was bad, the characters were bad, the world builder was bad. You know what wasn't bad? sorry, I couldn't find something to write here, so I hid it so that people will think that there are things that might be decent in this book.


Only reason I can't give it 1 star is because it wasn't awful. Yeah, it was bad, some could argue about it being really bad, but I've read worse (yeah, I know, I'm unlucky sometimes).
This is why Goodreads needs a way to give books half a star. There are just those reads who can't be approximated and it's annoying to give them more than they deserve.

I definitely wouldn't recommend this to anyone.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my diamond in the rough series. It wasn't a book that got a lot of attention and I found it just by chance. I am so glad I did. I fell in love with Violet, Jess, and Chaz instantly. The book has suspense, action, humor, kick ass leading ladies,excellent supporting characters and an extremely sexy, underwear modeling male lead ;). I highly reccomend it to any urban fantasy reader. I already pre-ordered the next book and can't wait for the release date.

[Douglas Meeks · Rating 5 out of 5]

NOTE: I am posting this same review for all three books since this is a trilogy and reading ANY of the books alone would be a confusing and dismal activity :) - dcm

Diaries of an Urban Panther Series
By
Amanda Arista

Diaries of an Urban Panther
Claws and Effect
Nine Lives of an Urban Panther

While NOT officially part of the trilogy, this story closes the loop on one of the characters after the events in the trilogy
“First Dates Are Hell” from Vampires Gone Wild

Summary:
Violet Jordan Rule #1 of being a superhero: No tights.
Violet Jordan Rule #2 of being a superhero: Find reliable sidekicks.
Violet Jordan‘s Rule #3 of being a superhero: Family first, fur second.

Dear Diary,
By now you know I'm hardly a normal girl. Last night I woke up naked in an alley after fighting off some werewolves. All in a day's work, I guess.

I thought I was dealing pretty well with the whole Werepanther thing: the training, the apocalyptic prophecies. And the hot guy following me around, protecting me at every turn is definitely a bonus. I'm even starting to become accustomed to the bloodshed and the violence—and that's what scares me. What will tomorrow bring…

I thought life was going to get better. After four assassination attempts, I'm thinking not so much. The pack needs a new leader, and I've just about run out of reasons why I'm not right for the job.

Besides, having loyal followers would definitely help me fight off whoever's out for my blood. Especially since my boyfriend is always busy playing White Hat to every wanderer except me. I'm glad he thinks I'm tough enough to handle my own business, but a little extra backup would be nice.

With new supernatural creatures popping up at every turn (Ghouls? Really?), the city divided, and my long-lost cousin blazing into town, I've got a lot on my mind. Oh, not to mention I'm supposed to be planning a wedding. Chaz has got to be the best, most patient (and probably clinically insane) boyfriend around.

But defeating my sworn enemy in a battle for the souls of Dallas is going to require more than just my full attention. It means learning to depend on everyone—especially Chaz—if any of us are going to make it out of this alive. Because if Plan A doesn't work, I'm going to need them for Plan B. And Plan C . . .

Review:
Violet is hardly normal, she has went from being a script-writer for horror movies to being a shapeshifter but there is something special about Violet, something that an old prophesy says will help all of the shapshifters in Dallas have a better life …. If she lives that long and overcomes more problems than you could list with Excel.

This series was a bit of a surprise since I had the first 2 books buried in my “to-be-read” stack of books for over a year and that is where they would still be if I had not been given a copy of Vampires Gone Wild to review and in that anthology the best story was one called “First Dates Are Hell” which was very good and it came from the Urban Panther series (actually in the timeline it was after the trilogy of books).

So after enjoying that story I grabbed the paperback books I had, put them up for sale and bought all 3 and started reading and was totally hooked into this story, I am not sure if the author was writing a trilogy when she wrote Diaries of an Urban Panther but these 3 books have to be read together to really get the full impact (who wants to read 1 book of the Lord of the Rings?) and while each book has an ending of sorts the real story that threads through all of them is the one that ends in the last book of this trilogy.

While I do not want to give away too much of the story, I can say it was one of the best reading experiences I have had in several months, but while I am extolling this series greatness I need to point out that if you are OCD about editing then book 2 may pose some problems since her editor must have jumped ship during the writing/publication of Claws and Effects (book #2) but I was still able to enjoy it and continue on but be forewarned.

The ending of the main story arc threading through all the books coming to an epic end in book 3 and one of the best endings I have seen in awhile to be honest. The characters were fleshed out very well, Violet was an awesome heroine and her humor was what made reading this series a much more pleasurable task.

Let me just say that as a full time reviewer as a hobby, I get dozens of free books every month and I went and BOUGHT all of these books after reading the story in Vampires Gone Wild and in spite of some bad editing and stumbles along the way, this story was so good I could care less.

I give it 5 Stars not because it is an awesome piece of writing but because it was the best story I have read in a long time AND I liked the way it made me feel when it ended. You don’t get many of those type stories.

My hope is that she may come back to this series since I loved it but the ending was good enough I can live with this being all these is, get these books and enjoy a great story and ignore any stumbles along the way to an awesome ending. The story in Vampires Gone Wild was just a bonus to close a loop on one of the characters and it was done exceptionally.

UPDATE: While I composed this review I got this update from the author, looks like we will see more of this world, but maybe not with Violet as the main story (as the one in Vampires Gone Wild)

"Dear Douglas,
Thank you for the compliments. Makes a girl glow with happiness.
As for right now, the Urban Panther series will remain a trilogy. But I love that universe and am working hard at expanding the Those Who Wander line. Valiance and Esme were just the beginning and I think we both know that Violet can't mind her own business to save her hide, so we will probably see her again in come incarnation.

Thank you again for your kind words and if you need anything in the future, let me know!

-Amanda Arista"

[Dallass · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not enjoy this at all. Was very disappointed with the characters and the storyline. Just not my cup of tea.

[Jen Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes it's easy to read a book and say whether it's an Urban Fantasy or a Paranormal Romance. Other times, the lines are more hazy. And it while it's not essential to place every book in a neat little box, expectations can play a really big part in whether or not I enjoy something. I read a couple of complaints that this book was too UF, so I went in with the mindset that this wasn't going to be a romance --and any lovin' would just be a bonus.

The story centers on Violet, an awkward and unassuming horror script writer, who is trying to start her life over in Dallas. She's recently left a bad relationship, and the closest thing to family she has, is her best friend Jessa. But her boring life is turned on its ear when she is attacked by an animal. The handsome guy who has been "stalking" Jessa, is there in the aftermath to help her heal. And it quickly becomes apparent that the animal was a shapeshifter. "Stalker boy" (whose real name is Chaz) knows a lot about the supernatural world. He's been tasked with helping Violet cope with her changes and realize her potential.

I like the premise well enough, but as the story progresses, more and more events are revealed to be fated. I'm not a big fan of pre-destination. It makes me question free-will and ask why we're all bothering to struggle if the end is already determined. (OK... let me get off my exsistential soap-box.) It seems like Vi was always going to be a panther. It was determined long before she was infected. And suddenly, people in her life are a part of the supernatural world. And it's all a little too convenient.

I did enjoy watching Vi come into her power. Of course, it was less about physical strength and more about empowerment in general. And while I wouldn't necessarily call the book a romance, I did enjoy the tension between Violet & Chaz. Admittedly, it took a long time for the two of them to stop dancing around their attraction. I understood why Violet, who has spent a lifetime as a dumpy wallflower, had a hard time allowing herself to acknowledge her feelings for a guy as mind-blowingly handsome as Chaz. But I question his continued reticence. I know the reason we were given... it just didn't work for me that sometimes he was ok with her panther and other times it sent him running for the hills.

I also must mention that we had a smattering of typos in the version I read. But I acknowledge that I was reading an uncorrected proof, and hopefully they will be cleaned up for the finished product.

Overall, it was a fairly good read for me. I liked Vi's "voice"... her sarcasm and sense of humor. And her evolution (both physical and emotional) was fun to watch. 3 1/2 stars.

*ARC Provided by NetGalley

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Diaries of an Urban Panther is a great beginning to an urban fantasy series. The character development was good, there was lots of action, and a seriously evil asshat villain. Full review can be found here: http://www.smashattackreads.com/2012/...

[Dangerous Romance Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Promo:
Violet Jordan Rule #1 of being a superhero: No tights.

Dear Diary,

By now you know I'm hardly a normal girl. Last night I woke up naked in an alley after fighting off some werewolves. All in a day's work, I guess. I thought I was dealing pretty well with the whole werepanther thing: the training, the apocalyptic prophecies. And the hot guy following me around, protecting me at every turn, is definitely a bonus. I'm even starting to become accustomed to the bloodshed and the violence—and that's what scares me. What will tomorrow bring…

Ha, I know what you are thinking. She has lost her mind. Where is the book review? That is to follow shortly. Be patient. It’s summer. It’s the weekend, calm down.

I’m disputing this title and thus its promotion. There is no diary to be found within its pages and this is decidedly an Adult Urban Fantasy. Nowhere do I recall Violet saying, she was a superhero, or saying anything about tights for that matter, although towards the end there was a lot of talk about “saving the world.”

Now, to our regularly schedule book review. Back in March I read that Avon was starting a Digital only imprint. Here is the promo from Avon’s website.

“Romance readers know what's hot...in books, in technology, in trends. Among the first to embrace books digitally, they have encouraged publishers to push the envelope editorially, exploring new subgenres and new formats. With the evolved reader in mind, Avon is introducing a digital imprint, Avon Impulse. This format will allow Avon to publish more quickly, with an eye to what's new in fiction and romance, delivering fresh, exciting content directly each month to the digital devices of today's savviest readers.”

When I saw it was an Avon Impulse title, I jumped on it, because I’ve been dying to know how this new venture would turn out.

First of all, as I mentioned above, there is no Diary anywhere. Nada. Zip. It’s first person perspective of a mid to late twenties something woman. She’s busy writing horror films, and hundreds of articles, trying to stay fiscally solvent. What little other time is left, she spends partying with her girlfriends, and drinking coffee with her gay doctor friend. She’s so busy dealing with all her life issues, I doubt this person would have time to write a grocery list, let alone a Diary. If she did, she’d be more of a journal girl.

Secondly, I know this was an ARC. As such, I expect there to be typos. But I haven’t ever received an ARC from an imprint of the caliber of Harper Collins that had spelling, typos, missing words, grammar, and unnecessary word repetition of the amount I had in my ARC. It is possible I got the wrong file. They have three more weeks before release, I really hope they clean this up. This book deserves to be the best it can be, because this author has a lot of talent.

This book and subsequent series has so much potential. Violet Jordon is a fun person to read about. When in situations other characters would feel sorry for themselves, she confronts it with witty banter and a bit of pluck. She isn't beautiful, her best friend is, but she doesn't seem jealous about it and as the book continues, she becomes beautiful, by her choices and actions and by the way she confronts the situations. Also, all that running and protein don't hurt her with losing some lbs. She and the books remind me a lot of Molly Harper’s Jane Jameson Series and the MaryJanice Davidson “Queen Betsey” series.

Violet is a writer of low budget horror films. Having caught her fiancée in bed with another woman, she abdicated L.A., and met her best friend Jessa Feychild in Texas where she is starting her life over. She spends too much time at home writing, but manages to get out a couple times a week to meet the girls for drinks at a local club or a friend for coffee. Violet drinks a lot of coffee. The girls all talk about Jessa’s stalker, a gorgeous guy who has shown up at the club for the last two months watching the girls, after having bought Jessa a drink.

One night Violet thinks she hears the neighbor’s dog tearing into her garbarge, only to find some kind of monster tearing into the neighbor’s dog. She tries to run away but is attacked, and upon coming to a day or two later, finds herself all bandaged up at “Stalker Boy’s” house, where he has been caring for her.

He tries to explain to her that she was attacked by some kind of Were animal and he’s waiting to make sure she doesn’t turn into a monster herself before he can let her go. She and Stalker Boy, whose real name is Chaz, get on each other’s nerves to begin with. She bitches a lot and doesn’t do what she’s told or listen to what he is trying to tell her. She’s got a pretty good case of denial going. It turns out, he hasn’t been watching Jessa all this time, he’s been watching her, because he reports to a “higher power” and they told him Violet was important and to protect her. Evidently someone who happens to be a werebeast got the memo about her importance and got to her first.

After a few days, Chaz lets her go once she acknowledges something is going on. She was mortally wounded and now completely healed up in a matter of days. Violet goes home and tries to pick up the pieces of her life, but she has a newfound desire to run, all the time. She’s craving red meat, and she can smell things she never knew existed. And Chaz is everywhere she turns. At the bar, at the grocery store. She is trying to ignore him, trying to pretend everything is normal however, Chaz keeps insisting she go with him before the full moon to a woman named Iris, who can help her make the transition to whatever it is she is about to become.

That is when the real fun begins. Because Violet was bitten by the resident team evil, the local Panther Were’s, who Chaz has a very personal reason for hating and that kinda leaves Violet in a very odd place to be, because despite herself, she’s falling in love with him. Chaz and Iris are training her and hoping she’ll be strong enough to stand up to the bad guys when they come to collect her. Chaz is fighting his feelings for her, and her best friend who may be the key to the entire thing, isn’t speaking to her.

Violet is a great character, and her romance with Chaz moves slowly and is sweet. There isn’t the massive simmering sexual tension. It is more of a slow build up of love that turns to desire if that makes sense. Chaz is almost a beta really. There is a lot about him we don’t know, and I’m sure we’ll find out more. There is a hilarious scene where Jessa lets Violet know how Chaz pays the bills. I’ll let you find that out for yourself.

Jessa…I’m back and forth on her character, it seemed a bit inconsistent. But then again it turns out that none of these characters are what they seem, so I look forward to reading more to find out what else is going to happen. I’m not even sure I understand where her part of the world building fits in.

I enjoyed the book and read it in one evening, the dialogue is by turns hilarious, snarky, and touching. I just hope Avon Impulse can fix the editing before its release, as a lot of people will be looking at this new digital endeavor and it needs to be as cleanly edited as any of the books that come out in print. This series in particular deserves it, as I can’t wait to read what happens next.

[Night Runner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is this a multi-part story? Yes
Does it end in a cliffhanger? Yes
Genre(s) : Paranormal Fantasy
Instalove? No
Was cheating involved? No
Any major triggers to be aware of? No

2.75 Stars for me! - See final notes
My rating range of this story... 1 - 3 Stars
If significant, why? The h is a walking TSTL character and extremely selfish throughout
Biggest deduction? 1 Star - very unlikeable h

Main Character Ratings...
H (All 3) = 6/10
h (Violet) = 2/10
TSTL Moment(s)? Constant with the h

Narrator Rating(s)
M () = n/a
F (Kelsey Osborne) = 7/10
If below 5/10, why?

If Comedy... Type? Cringe to Mixed
Funny, Cute, Cringe Inducing, Mixed or Just No!

Angst Level? Heavy
Light, Moderate, Heavy or Please Stop

Internal Monolog/Dialog? Heavy
Light, Moderate, Heavy or Please Stop

Scenes with heat... Yes
What point does it start? 80%
How much of the story? 5%
Anything beyond M/F? Not Yet
If yes, explained

Heat Rating... 4/10
Clean or Fade to Black - 1 or 2
Normal to Descriptive 3-5
Detailed Descriptive Sex - 6-7
Um, Wow, Beyond Descriptive Sex - 8 or above

Was there so much sex or unrealistic sex that you rolled your eyes and/or skipped forward? No

The back story... The Blurb says it all

Romance or Gist: Mostly lust throughout - not really anything romantic as the h is falling for all 3 of the Hell men

The drama explosion... None
Did it feel Real, OK or contrived? n/a
Was it OTT? n/a
Separation involved? No
Was it resolved properly or rushed? to be continued

Final Notes... This story was a build up for the next stories in the series. It is meant to give you an introduction and direction for the series. I did enjoy the bulk of the story but the h drove me completely insane. She would charge into unknown situations, even when told that it could be deadly and she had helpers who could get her through it. Everything was about her and it is just a bit too much.

I do like that the author told the story through the circles well and followed known lore. The H's were a lot of fun and are able to tolerate the h. I will read the next book in the series and hope that the author tones down the h. Strength does not have to be obstinant or obnoxious.

HEA or HFN? to be continued
Book Source: Scribd

[Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Violet Jordan Rule #1 of being a superhero: No tights.

Dear Diary,

By now you know I'm hardly a normal girl. Last night I woke up naked in an alley after fighting off some werewolves. All in a day's work, I guess. I thought I was dealing pretty well with the whole werepanther thing: the training, the apocalyptic prophecies. And the hot guy following me around, protecting me at every turn, is definitely a bonus. I'm even starting to become accustomed to the bloodshed and the violence—and that's what scares me. What will tomorrow bring…

Romantic paranormal suspense readers are in for a tasty treat. I was simply wowed by the great world building, fascinating and convoluted characters and a many leveled plot that had me wide-eyed with appreciation through most, if not all, of this book by a new-to-me author.

Ms. Arista has presented me with a new addiction and it’s all because she created an awesome heroine named Violet Jordan. One of the things that painted a vivid picture in my mind about the heroine was her self-references to Star Wars. I giggled and snickered but I got the point, and it played well into the dynamics of her character and her relationship with one of the important secondary characters, her best friend, Jenna. Violet is the focus of the tale and it’s told in her point of view. Everything I learned about the rules of engagement was gleaned when she figured things out, or when they were revealed on a need to know basis. Just like in real life, nothing is made easy or clean or without cost and that certainly applies to this story. The price is oftentimes high but with every scary or horrible thing that happens, I watched Violet grow stronger, her purpose solidify and her self esteem soar. Sure, it gets battered and smacked around a bit but that’s par for the course for a supernatural Xena on a mission. I enjoyed that whole process of her coming to terms that she even has a mission – she’s a scary movie writer for goodness sakes, not a heroine. But ultimately, that is what Violet is; a heroine with a heart.

The hero of the story is Charles Garrett, a/k/a Chaz. Oh, does he ever have a chip on his shoulder. He’s the classic mystery guy who comes to her rescue whether Violet wants him to or not. He’s not even sure why he’s involved until later on in the book. Even the good guys aren’t given all the facts, which of course compromises how effective they are at the job they’re sent to do. I am still not exactly sure about all the things that Chaz can do because I think the author only shared enough of what makes the hero tick to get him through this story alive and with Violet learning to trust him. There is so much more to this man that I am totally sucked into rooting for him and am enamored of his many talents. He’s a fighter, a cook, a domestic god and a heck of a kisser. He’s also lonely, with vengeance tormenting his heart. The best thing that ever happened to him was Violet, even when she drives him crazy and exasperates him no end.

There is plenty of humor sprinkled throughout this story as well as other secondary characters that give the tale flavor and substance. Each one plays a role in helping Violet learn about herself and glean important information that will affect her future. Some are good and some are bad and some secondary characters are icky nasty. Ms. Arista even threw me a curve ball with one of the bad guys. It was shocking and very well written. I never suspected a thing and when it was revealed, I was just has miffed as Violet was. Okay, perhaps not as strong as that. I mean, the heroine lived the tale so it personally made her fur stand on end whereas I could only commiserate with what she must have been feeling. The author did a wonderful job in getting me to care and connect with her characters, can you tell?

One thing of note, this story sounds like it is the first of many. It has a happily for now ending because Violet and Chaz really had to work up to their big moment of purrs and lovey dovey revelations. In the process of reading Diaries of an Urban Panther, a reader will see both characters fight the attraction because they both felt it had no future. By the time the story winds down, after exciting confrontations, double-crosses and fiendish claw action, the hero and heroine could finally take a breather and admit to what was in their hearts. However, it’s tempered with a few down to earth concerns that slowed the passionate pace their bodies were clamoring for. I liked how it ended, soft, with seductive promises of a future worth waiting, and perhaps fighting, for. What’s it going to take to give a full green light to their love? Maybe I’ll find out in the next book.

Diaries of an Urban Panther shows promise of being the next powerhouse series that readers will devour with avid devotion. The world building is incredible, with so many possibilities to explore and characters yet to reveal why they are really in Violet’s life. This book should resonate with readers of the Kitty Norville series because both of them have a strong leading lady who engages the imagination and keeps readers riveted by the romance blossoming and maturing in each book. I expect no less for Violet and I can’t wait. I am completely hooked on the potential fire between Chaz and Violet, and what role the heroine will end up playing in the shifter communities. The story is gripping, surprising, energetic and exciting. I was entertained and involved from the first moment the heroine saved the little boy and I couldn’t put the book down. I give Diaries of an Urban Panther high marks for being an awesome reading experience. Thank you for the new reading addiction, Ms. Arista!

Originally published on Long and Short Reviews

[Dark Faerie Tales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: Rawr!

Opening Sentence: As I stepped into the crosswalk, the boy next to me ran across the white stripes to his mother’s waiting minivan.

The Review:

Why do the reviews always seem harder to write when you really like the book? This one had a bit of a slow start for me, actually took me two full episodes of Angel to talk myself into picking it up again after reading the first few pages and having to put it down to put the kids to bed. But I can tell you that, at three in the morning when I finished reading the book, I was glad I had found the motivation. But not so happy about the circles under my eyes this morning. And yep, half an episode of NCIS later, and I still can’t sit and write up the meat of this review. Pathetic! You would think that liking the book would just make the words pour out of you, excitement about spreading the word leading the way. Yeah. Right!

Violet is just your average, every day Jane. Well, she was until an attack by a massive black supernatural…thing leaves her with enhanced abilities and an urge to howl at the moon, well actually meow at the moon is more like it. As a writer of cheesy B-rated horror flicks, Violet is aware of the paranormal on a fantasy level, but never in her wildest scripts had she considered that these things could be real. But, unfortunately, like most characters in a novel, Violet must learn this particular lesson the hard way. And, as it turns out, these things have been closer than she could have dreamed, as close as her own mother. Good news is, she takes to being a panther shifter like a natural, becoming even more powerful than anyone could imagine.

Enter into the story Charles Garrett, protector of…well the world I guess. Belonging to the Cause, a group of paranormal types that go where they are directed, protecting those who need it, in this case a newbie shifter. But duty turns into something else when faced with an overwhelming attraction to a beautiful woman, who just happens to be his most recent charge. This attraction is a problem for him, in more ways than one, as once her attacker’s identity is revealed, it takes him back to a past he cannot forget, and a person he will not forgive.

This story now takes a turn towards destiny, faeries, epic battles and the end of the world. And, don’t they all. This book’s particular brand of nastiness features the exiled son of an evil shifter kingpin, his apparent creation of a new panther, and the bringing forth of a demon from a prison realm. All in a nefarious days work, as it were.

Like any good tale, the hero and heroine find themselves victorious in the end, and they also find each other. Looking forward to see if they are able to work out the kinks in their relationship, hope the answer to that final question is a happy one. And maybe a little love for Violet’s besties would be fun.

Notable Scene:

I ran and the beast followed. Ran like a woman chasing a marked down pair of Jimmy Choo’s.

I ran in a huge circle, leaping over desks, hurdling over tables. The beast destroyed everything behind me, not being lithe enough to duck anything. I tried not to laugh as I thought I really knew what a bull in a china shop might look like now.

I caught a flash of where Haverty was perched. As I ran, I picked up the heirloom silver knife that had stuck me like a prize pig and tossed it up to Haverty.

And then I stopped running and turned to face it. The beast stopped too.

I crouched down before it and caught his eyes. I got the distinct impression he was enjoying this. The chase, the game of cat and mouse, and I was small enough to be the mouse in this situation.

Shifting my weight from one foot to the other, I leaned forward on my hands and something cold touched my hand. A flash of silver. Out of my peripheral, I saw Haverty’s cane just within reach. I reached for it and the handle pulled away the black polished piece of the cane and a dagger slid from the end of the handle. Sneaky bastard.

I looked up at the beast as I slowly picked up the dagger.

It growled at me and I felt the power hidden within the beast. Just as it was about to pounce and start the chase all over again, Haverty leapt. Landing on the beast’s shoulder, he rammed the knife into the base of the panther’s skull.

The cat screamed and reared up on its hind legs, exposing its chest.

The world seemed to slow for a moment and I realized Haverty was just going to piss it off. The center of power wasn’t in the brain, it was in the chest. Like Chaz’s lion heart.

As the beast reared up, my hold on the dagger tightened. I slid in and under the great paws and rammed the dagger into the beast’s chest, just under the breastbone and straight for the heart.

It fell forward on top of me, his claws ripping into me as it ground my shoulder blade into the cement beneath.

The beast flailed up again, bucking Haverty from his back. The man went flying, crashing into some unknown piece of furniture.

As the beast fell back down, I rolled away to a safe distance. It landed heavy on the ground next to me and the blood poured out of the relatively small wound place just in the exact spot. The dark eyes were going glassy and the beast moved its head to look at me.

I stood, holding my arm, and stepped closer to the body. Its breaths were few and far between. Moving in a little closer, I reached for the dagger from the wound and as my hand touched the silver, I felt the power within the great beast going dark. The knife came out with a sucking sound and the cat took its last breath.

The Dairies of an Urban Panther Series:

1. Diaries of an Urban Panther

2. Claws and Effect

FTC Advisory: HarperCollins/Avon provided me with a copy of Dairies of an Urban Panther. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

In order to get away from her ex-boyfriend in LA, Violet moves to Dallas. After all, she can do her horror script writing online. But after coming home from a girl’s night with her bestie, she gets attacked by a shapeshifter and her horror stories become reality.

Then Chaz, a Guardian of the Cause steps in to help her adjust and learn how to handle her inner panther before she gets caught in the dark side of her new world.

Violet’s friend Jessa may be a bit shallow and flighty, but her going out on the patio to check on Violet shows she’s good friend with a caring heart.

Footnote: 1) That ‘once a little girl’ story sounds like me growing up and I still read a lot. Lol

Fave scenes: panic attack, the story about the little girl & the books, Jessa helping Violet in the Silver ball bathroom and ordering sushi.

[Charles Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I came late to the whole urban fantasy thing because I'll admit I was prejudiced. I couldn't see how all the books couldn't be alike. That said, this book was a pleasant surprise. It was a well-written, lighthearted, adventurous romp with the protagonist learning her powers and fulfilling her "destiny." The romance was almost a subplot, the typical girl meets boy-girl doesn't like boy at first-girl falls in love with boy plot, but it was well handled. There was only one graphic sex scene, which kind out like a ore thumb and might have been better handled. Also, there were a lot of typos, which at times became a little bit annoying but not enough to detract from the overall enjoyment of the book. This is the first in a series (aren't they all) and I intend to read the others. If you're looking for a lighthearted read, this is for you.

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the twist this book brings to the the shifter/paranormal genre. It brings to mind the Other books by Anne Bishop, one of my favorite book series. Our FMC has so many things thrown at her in just this one book that it is a little astonishing that there is something for a second book. We have animal attacks, arguments with friends, a possible love interest and so much more. A truly action packed book that is a fun-filled ride for all to enjoy.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an awesome book! Loved the world, loved these characters, they were really interesting! Need to read more!

[Connie B · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a bit to get into this book but it got interesting. It wasn't the best book I've read but I still liked it enough to keep reading the series!

[Belladonna]

1

[Cat_whatever · Rating 4 out of 5]

All in all it's a good read. BAMF characters and plenty of action. The characters are emotionally awkward which can get a bit tedious.

[Dominique Devaney · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s probably the narrator. But ugh. It’s been a while since I have been so disappointed in a book

[Kaelyn (Audiobook Queen) Dawnyea · Rating 1 out of 5]

The main character whines so much about everything. I can’t stand her and realized I’d like have loved the book if she wasn’t so un-relatable and annoying. DNF’d at 35%.

[Alexis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing good comes from Texas.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This shifter storyline is interesting, well written, and action packed

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out · Rating 2 out of 5]

*Please Note: It is important to know this review applies only to the uncorrected proof provided to me by the publisher and may have no reflection on the final product*

I've been reluctant to write a review for this book because I would like to give the author and publisher the benefit of the doubt. Diaries of an Urban Panther was provided to me as an uncorrected proof in e-format from the publisher. There is always a clear warning in these editions that as an uncorrected proof, things are subject to change, however usually books I have read that have been described as such are as close to the final text as expected. Unfortunately in this instance, the book read as if a first draft submission, and it really affected by ability to connect with it.

I quite liked the general premise, panther shapeshifter's are something a bit different and the characters are likeable. Violet Jordan discovers her destiny when she is attacked by a monster in the alleyway beside her house. Violet is part of a prophecy that identifies her as the Guardian of the Veil, and . Supported by her watcher, the attractive yet brooding, 'Stalker boy' and an elder,Iris, her task is to stop a demon from crossing over at the behest of a corrupt leader, Haverty and save her best friend's life. All the potential is there, I liked Violet's attitude and Chaz is appealing as the romantic interest, there is action, romance, danger and mystery but...

It wasn't just the frequent spelling, word usage, grammar and punctuation errors, that are really only minor irritants though still in numbers I would not expect. My complaints are more about the structure of sentences and scenes. Repetition is a real problem, not only of one particular word through the whole novel - 'chilled' and it's variations are overused, but also within one or two sentences one word could be repeated three or four times unnecessarily. An example would be this sentence verbatim from the text- 'A disbelieving laugh choked out. I was caught somewhere between disbelief and delirium. "You knew. The whole time, didn't you," I asked disbelievingly.' - this type of sentence occurs regularly throughout, and is something I would expect an editor to note and rewrite almost immediately. I also noticed some small inconsistencies in action and character related to the poor sentence structure, a lead in sentence to the action, and then a paraphrased sentence to describe the actual action. This was easily my biggest issue with the book but there were also some things that made no sense to me, one of those being I could not figure out why Violet so often referred to her self inexplicably as 'little', the other, that the reference to 'diaries' in the title has no relevance to the story at all.

Diaries of an Urban Panther has a solid storyline and the potential to be an interesting series. I want to add I really struggled with the decision to publish this review, however part of the role of an advance reviewer is, I think, to alert to potential issues that a reader feels strongly about. So here is my dilemma - I can see the potential in the storyline but I was completely distracted by what I perceived to be a glaring lack of editing, from my perspective as an experienced reader. I'm willing to believe that perhaps the wrong file was distributed, or that before it is released it will be more thoroughly assessed, and the final novel will have none of the problems that I believe are in evidence in this uncorrected proof, hence the disclaimer at the beginning of this review. I am also willing to accept that it is only I who feels this way and others will love it, I couldn't find any other reviews online to compare my thoughts with so I encourage you to take note of other opinions of the final published edition when they are available.

[Scooper Speaks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would have loved to rate it 2.5.
Favorite Lines: “You gave up the right to that information and tone when you decided to take ‘Blondie’ into our bed. I figure I’ve got another two years of unabashedly deserved hatred to work through. So you just need to grow a pair and live with the fact you were too stupid to see what you had.” (p. 154, e-galley)

Diaries of an Urban Panther is a paranormal romance featuring shapeshifters and the fae. Each chapter reads like an addition to a private diary minus the date which can normally be found at the top of the page. I don’t really get why the title is Diaries and not Diary, but I’ll avoid boring you with my opinion of that choice.

The book starts out with an event, then backtracks two weeks to explain what is going on. It’s easy to follow and interesting. I never felt knuckle biting tension or excitement, but I didn’t stop reading the book either. It’s steady paced and filled with tons of information. However, it’s a romance and I expected there to be more in the romance department.

Violet is solidly footed in the mundane world despite her occupation as a horror script writer. She has no blood family and only a few friends. Basically Violet is the kind of girl who makes sure everyone around her is taken care of before thinking of herself. When she meets her guardian Chaz, a man who tracks and watches the paranormal world, she is swept into a prophesy only she could fulfill.

For me the story wasn’t about Violet and Chaz’s romance. It was about Violet coming to terms with her role in life and her friendship with Jessa. It seemed like the two had known each other forever for the first half of the book. Then it became clear the best friends and the only family the other has had only known each other for like six months. There’s a part in the book when the girls have a spat that gets taken to another level. Later on when Jessa explains what she knew and told how long she knew that information I felt like she was really using Violet.

For a while I wasn’t sure if I’d finish Diaries of an Urban Panther, but then the story began to pick up and I wanted to know where the author was taking it. However, I never fell in love with the book and I don’t see myself reading anything else in the series. I wish I’d have paid better attention to the book’s title. I should have prepared myself to read the story like I would a diary. When the action takes place there is no real excitement ’cause I’m not watching it happen. I’m reading about it after it’s taken place. I’m being told what happened.

To Buy or Not to Buy? If you want to read this one borrow it or pick up the ebook version. It’s several dollars cheaper than the paper version which hasn’t yet been released. It’s not a bad book, it’s just a mishmash of information. There is character growth combined with little villain action and a sprinkling of shapeshifters, fae and a witch.
Scooper Speaks

[Mandi · Rating 2 out of 5]

The blurb is a quite detailed one and does a nice job of setting up the story. It definitely caught my attention, but unfortunately, this one didn’t work for me. The heroine and I did not get along in this book. I normally enjoy a sarcastic heroine, but Violet comes across as whiney and bratty, and worst of all, ungrateful. After she is attacked by shifters in an alley, a stranger saves her. Well, she had actually seen him around at bars, nicknaming him “stalker boy.” His name is Chaz and he takes her back to his place after the attack. Violet accuses him of kidnapping her, is rude to him and when her vicious wounds heal very rapidly, barely questions why. At this point I knew this book was not going to be for me. I get Violet is confused and angry at what happened to her, but I can’t stand it when heroines brush off their rescuer’s efforts. And blame them for “kidnapping” them when in essence he is keeping her safe from another attack. She also comes across so blasé about her healed injuries, and later when she finds out she is actually a shifter, I wanted more of a reaction to it. She takes it pretty well in stride. Not just when she learns the news, but with all of her new found powers and her part in the prophecy.

Chaz of course develops an attraction to Violet, but they way she treats him, it is never a believable attraction. Why is he attracted to her? He is her guardian, so he must stick around with her, but the basis for a spark of romance in this one never comes across as real.

I also had problems with Violet’s friend Jessa. I never understood why they would be friends in real life. I get that Jessa plays a much larger role in Violet’s pre-destined life, but it felt like they were set up as friends only for this reason. Why would Violet be friends with her before she knew any of this prophecy stuff existed? Jessa is glamorous, high class and doesn’t come across as a great friend.

The last third of the book does get better. Violet settled down somewhat and I liked the twists with the prophecy and Jessa. I do think the villain was not present enough in the story and didn’t make a viable enough threat. I can’t recommend this one.

[Laurie: Almost Faemous · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this series while looking around on Goodreads for something new to read, it had actually sat in my TBR pile for a couple months before I got around to reading it. I'm sorry I waited this long to start it, before being halfway through this one I had grabbed the second one. I have been finding it hard lately to find a good UF series that I can sink my teeth into...pardon the pun, but this series shows a lot of promise.

Violet is an awkward and kinda nerdy screen writer for straight to video horror flicks, she moves to Dallas after a crappy breakup with an ex, hoping to start a new life. Her parents are both dead and she has no family to speak of, the closest would be her BFF Jessa. After a night out with the girls Violet comes home to find what she thinks is a dog getting in to her garbage cans, while trying to rescue the garbage she is attacked and wakes up in the apartment of "Stalker Boy" Chaz. Chaz breaks it to Violet that what attacked was in fact an animal but of the were variety, needless to say Violet finds it hard to believe her life has turned into one of the scripts she writes. Violet was great fun to read about and completely relateable, as a nerdy chick myself. I loved the snark and the pop culture references. Chaz...who doesn't love a mysterious shot gun toting underwear model and the chemistry between them was hot!

The story moves along at a good pace with equal amounts of action and humor thrown in and Violet is very much the reluctant hero. Since she was bitten by the big evil dude she not only has to convince everyone including him that she is not joining his side she also has to defeat him. Of course this being a UF series there is a mysterious prophecy thrown in for good measure. For a first book in a series the writing was superb, the world and characters were laid out very well and I couldn't put the book down, which was a nice change .

[Van · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars.

Violet Jordan just recently moved to Dallas from L.A. after a breakup, and is working as a writer scripting low-budgeted horror films. Violet is your average everyday gal, someone who never gets a second glance especially when the people she hangs out with are of the model varieties. Violet life is pretty normal, nothing big ever happens to her…until she gets attacked by a wild animal in an alley. Violet’s life gets turned upside down when she finds out she’s now a were-panther and she part of an ancient prophecy.


I really enjoyed this book more than I thought. Violet transformed from the girl behind the scene to a strong and more confident person throughout the book. She not only got more confident after becoming bitten but physically changed too, making her more noticeable than before. Readers follow Violet as she comes to terms with her being a shifter, and as she learns to control her inner beast. while Violet learns Panther 101, she must stop a demon from breaking free from ‘the veil’ (a barrier that separates our world from a magical prison) and not get captured by the clan that made her.

The book is filled with flash-back scenes of Violet and her mom. Her mom always recited fairy tales, and all of these fairy tales hold truth to what is going to happen next in the book. There are also wonderful secondary characters as well, such as Chaz “stalker boy’’ who helps Violet learn the ropes of all things supernatural. Jessa, Violet’s best friend and Iris, the wise old woman…or is it lioness?

This is labeled as a paranormal romance but I think it’s a blend of PR and UF. This was a great start to a new series! This book is full of action, snarky one-linear, hot guardians, nasty shifters, faeries, and an all dooming prophecy.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, Chilling Tale . . .

Violet Jordan rescued a small boy from a speeding sports car in an amazing display of speed and athletic skill. But what she didn’t understand was the blond guy who had been parked outside of her coffee shop and who was now trying to kill the boy. As he sped away, he laughed and said, “See you later, Leftovers.” What did that mean? And what’s with the four black dogs on the sidewalk, all staring at her? The policeman asked about her bleeding ankle, and she was missing one shoe. She did accept the ride home offered by the cop, who was awed by her heroic gesture, never telling him her ankle was actually broken.

Two weeks earlier, Violet and some friends were at a bar. A guy had been stalking her for two months now, and he again showed up causing chills to travel down her back. At the end of the evening, the ladies took a cab home, but she heard dogs messing with her trash can in the alley and she went to chase them away. It was dark, but a large shadow loomed over the body of the neighbor’s dog as bones crunched. As she tried to quietly back away, the shadow turned to her and growled. She ran, but it leaped at her back and took her down, biting her, until she saw black boots walk up, and vaguely remembered her mom’s stories about The Guardians. Apparently those fairy tales were not stories to put the child to sleep, but rather preparation for her destiny as she grew up...

The infectious bite from werepanther Spencer Haverty started her new life. Saving the boy was part of it. But she is also at risk now. Is she ready to face them?

[Ami E. Bowen · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a few authors that came to mind as I was reading these books; Charlaine Harris, Julia Kenner and Patricia Briggs to name but a few. It had that sweet exciting thrill of a good chick lit paranormal read you just love to curl up on the sofa on a cold do-nothing day with.

The editing could have used a bit more fine-tuning and there were a few spots of missing logic that had me shaking my head, (nothing to do with the supernatural aspects of the tale, of course, just mundane things like chugging water to stop nausea and her best friend not knowing how she took her coffee, etc), but the main story and characters were very well-thought-out and kept me turning pages in anticipation.

I really enjoyed getting to know Violet No-Middle-Name Jordan and following her on her journey was both happily exhausting and exhilarating. At every turn I found myself laughing at her snarkiness, praying to the Gods and goddesses of literature for her and the other favorite characters' survival and rooting for their much-deserved happily ever after. Looking past the mistakes in editing; Amanda Arista's "Diaries of an Urban Panther" trilogy was a surprising joy to have had the pleasure of reading.

[Rachel-RN · Rating 3 out of 5]

Violet gets attacked and bitten in an alley. She's bitten by a were-panther and changes into one herself. Chaz is "appointed" to help her. Her best friend isn't who she seems. Growing up, Violet's mother told her stories. These stories came into play after Violet was attacked.
Overall, this was entertaining. I liked Violet. She had the right amount of sass and snark. Chaz was a mystery. A little less of one now that the book is done, but there are still holes. I was figuring things out as Violet was. It did get frustrating when information was withheld. For no good reason too (at least in IMO). At times my attention lagged. I'm also not crazy about predestination/prophecy type stories.
There were also a few occasions that threw me- either I forgot, thought differently, or there were continuity issues/something left out. I didn't care enough (or want to take the time) to go back and figure out which it was though. I did buy this when it came out (yes, I've had this for 5 years on my Nook) and there were a handful of editing errors. (complete should have been completely/talk should have been talked, etc).

[Nadine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Damn,this was GOOD! It put a fun spin on the shifter stories that I read before and was a surprisingly easy read. I say surprisingly because I was first only mildly interested in this book and I don't even know why I decided to read it now when I had it on my Kindle for months...
Anyway,what I liked most was the main character. I hate nothing more than characters who whine constantly about the situation they are in (it's especially bad when the book is written in 1st person). Violet has her initial freak-out - which should be there as well because when something supernatural happens then just shrugging it off wouldn't work for me either - but then she handles her new dangerous life with a lot of humor. I approve! I also liked that the romance part didn't take over the whole book and it was also a rather slow-burn which worked extremely well IMO :)
I had to take off 0.5 stars from the overall rating though because they are a lot of typos in this and it was a bit distracting sometimes. Other than that,big thumbs up for this and I can't wait to read book Nr.2!