His fated mate has already been claimed... by his brother
Lost on Bodmin Moor, Talia Summers shared an intense connection with a black panther that materialized out of the night. Years later, Talia returns to the moor in search of that magnificent beast and instead finds a man leading a secret community of shapeshifters. But the connection she felt is missing—until a stranger steps into her shower.
Back to claim his rightful place as leader, Caleb McLeod’s fierce attraction to his half-brother’s female is tempered by the fact she’s both a human and a journalist. He’ll not have the survival of his people threatened by a human female who continually pushes the boundaries of their rules. His solution? Mate with her. Control her. And if his brother doesn’t like it, they’ll simply have to share. For now.
But suspicion and lies threaten the growing bond between Talia and Caleb, and the past has a way of catching up. A way of destroying the bridge built between two worlds…between two hearts.
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First Beast features a red-hot panther shifter with an over-the-top possessive streak, a human reporter trying desperately to retain her independence, and enough sexual heat to light up the dark and mysterious moor.
Faye Avalon worked as cabin crew, detoured into property development, public relations, court reporting, and education, before finally finding her passion: writing spicy romantic fiction.
She lives with her super-ace husband and one beloved, ridiculously spoiled dog. Between writing, reading, practicing yoga, and constantly clearing the keyboard of dog hair, Faye can be found checking out Pinterest for hero inspiration.
Yeah, uhm...no. It just didn't work for me. She's married to Joshua who she says she loves but doesn't want to mate with him. Then big brother comes back from being kidnapped and presumed dead. She marries him too, but the brothers HATE each other. It makes for some interesting bedroom scenes.
Determined to protect his pack, Caleb McLeod needs to control his brother’s mate and the only way to do that is to mate with her while guarding his heart in this explosive paranormal romance.
Twelve years ago, Talia connected with a panther while lost on Bodmin Moor and craving that connection returns only to begin despairing of ever experiencing it again and the reader can’t help but get caught up in the explosive chemistry between Caleb and Talia as they fight tooth and claw for control. The relationship is one heated encounter after another with lots of emotional turmoil that the readers can relate to while the sizzling sex scenes including m/f/m scenes scorch the readers. Strong, compelling characters draw the reader into their story while the fast paced, smooth flowing plot captivates readers with suspense, turmoil and romance.
Trust is an elusive quality when it comes to this romance because everyone starts out on opposite sides and making demands and poor Talia is caught in the middle and the tension builds as she fights her attraction to Caleb and tries to stay loyal to her husband with lots of secrets and hidden agendas stirring up lots of turbulence. The scenes and details are well written and capture the imagination while the intriguing events ensure that there is never a dull moment.
Faye Avalon has definitely caught my attention with her new series, there are some interesting elements, an awesome setting and First Beast was filled to the brim with lots of edgy tension and steamy passion. I was also quite bewildered by how I felt about Talia and Caleb, I kept flip flopping between which one I wanted to come out on top this was due to the complexity of their relationship and it certainly kept me entertained from beginning to end and I can’t wait to read the next book.
Talia was lost on Bodmin Moor when she was twelve. When out of know where a black panther laid down beside her to protect her all through the night. Since that night she wanted to know the truth about Bodmin Moor, there were rumors that the Moors were crawling with shifters that turn into panthers. Years later Talia returns to the moor in search of the truth also of that magnificent panther that saved her. Instead she finds and meets Joshua who is leading a clan of shape shifters and claims to have been the panther that saved her that fateful day. Even though she doesn’t feel the connection with Joshua like she did that night on the moor, she married him and hoped that the old connection would come back with time. Until the day that Joshua’s brother Caleb returns from the dead to claim his rightful place as pack leader. With Caleb returns, suspicion will become the norm and truths will be revealed. This book was fantastic. Caleb was the strong type, someone who doesn't take any mess from anyone, not even his brother or his wife. Talia had two strikes against her before deciding marriage to Joshua. One she was a human and two she was a journalist, with these strikes comes doubt that she can be loyal to the pack she calls family. There wasn’t anything I didn’t like about First Beast. The story was compelling and the chemistry between Caleb and Talia was flammable
Brothers betraying each other is an age old story - starting with the first brothers, Cain and Abel. In First Beast, Caleb and Joshua are half-brothers who want the same things. The only problem, Caleb has been waylaid and when he returns to his rightful place as the ruler of the Panther shifters, he finds Joshua has usurped both his rule and his mate.
The plot devices in this story are weak for me. It is because it is all based on misunderstandings. Caleb is a stubborn autocratic male who believes he is always right. He also falls into a bad habit of reacting before thinking it out. This is odd since he is supposed to be a leader with intelligence and experience. Talia is an annoying love interest. Sure she is considered an outcast from the shifter community. For someone who wants to be an investigative reporter, she is disappointingly dense. She is easily fooled and doesn't realize half her issues are of her own making.
When I do not like the characters, it is hard for me to get into the story. It is because I keep wanting to smack Caleb upside the head. I want to shake Talia and tell her to think for once. The mistakes these two make over and over again becomes tiresome. Adding Joshua's low self-esteem and financial issues, this story comes across awkward and a bit painful to get through. The concept is good; the characters killed it for me. The sex is okay. The erotic part is the guilty pleasure Talia experiences when she takes on Caleb as a lover. The ménage scene is a good portrayal when communication is lacking and the three parties are not in alignment. It is like watching a train wreck when the three make a potentially erotically sexfest into a guilt trip from hell. Overall, this story is predictable if a bit frustrating.
First Beast is the first story in the Beasts of Bodmin Moor series. It’s paranormal, a genre I don’t read a lot. However shift changers are my favorite so I’m finding myself looking for them more and more. And… after reading First Beast I will be waiting for the next stories in this series.
Caleb McLeod is home and taking back the leadership of the pack. An over the top alpha male he doesn’t like what he finds. His brother has taken his place as leader of the pack and is even living in his house. Worse he is married to a mortal journalist who could be, and most likely is, a threat to his pack.
Talia Summers’s life hasn’t been easy. At twelve, when lost on the Bodmin Moor a huge black panther finds her and stays with her through the night giving her his warmth and courage. Now, years later, still yearning for the comfort and peace of that night she comes to the Moors to find the beautiful cat. When Caleb’s brother reveals his identity and tells Talia he is the one who found her that night she agrees to marry him. She wants to love him, but the connection she seeks is elusive. Somehow she isn’t feeling what she did on that long ago winter night.
First Beast is an erotic love triangle that leads the reader into a realm of sensuous delight. The plot is well constructed and moves the story along at a fast pace. The characters are as bold as the genre and made for the plot.
The next two books are available for pre-order. I’m hoping there will be more as there can’t be too many books in this series for me.
I received this ebook from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Talia is happily married with her mate, a panther shifter who she first met in panther form when she was twelve. And if she sometimes felt that something missing. .. oh well, she's in love, she's happy, her husband loves her and that's all she can ask. That something, however, appears in the form of her husband's brother, previously away for war and a kidnapping... He doesn't trust her and in order to control her he blackmail everyone to mate with her. Uh. Now Talia has two husbands who loates each other! Fortunately, she feels in love also with her second husband, discovers that he was the original panther of when she was twelve and that her previous hubby is a murderous bastard, so divorcing him. I need to give points for originality here. What a twist. But I was a bit confused and not at all comfortable so... de gustibus. My vote: 3 stars
It's difficult sometimes to find a fresh take on a story idea, so when I read the blurb on this one about about two brothers with issues and the woman they share, it seemed different. I had to check it out. And it didn't disappoint. In fact, I was wowed by how well the characters' issues were woven together. And woven into every aspect, including the bedroom. Holy hotness! I love an erotic that has a powerful story with it and this one fit the bill. I see there's another book in the series on on pre-order. Can hardly wait!
Interesting story. The characters were well written. I did find the character of Talia to be a bit weak and whiny. Caleb was rather a jerk but he does grow on you. The book is full of steamy scenes, sexual tension and hot chemistry between Caleb and Talia. The characters had depth and were engaging. The story was good and dialogue was exciting. I liked the book.
*** Received ARC copy of book from NetGally.com and Samhain Publishing. **** L..
I was given this book with the promise of a honest review
Caleb, Talia and Joshua. What a story, a young girl lost in the moors is found by a panther who somehow watches over her. Years later she returns looking for him and the connection she felt. Joshua appears to be the man, they marry. Ah but be it so simple enters Caleb and the story takes on a wonderful twist, will they become a three some, who will she choose. Loved the book and the characters were great.