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As a jaguar he is graceful and gorgeous. Speedy and stealthy. Fierce, independent and wild. As a man he is passionate and powerful, wilful and wonderful.

And he'll stop at nothing to protect what's his...

In the heat of the jungle, jaguars are clawed, dangerous, and hungry for love. With hopes of overcoming night terrors and thanking the man who saved her life, Kathleen McKnight returns to the Amazon.

A jaguar at heart, Connor Anderson doesn't just protect her, but wants to claim her for his own.

341 pages, Paperback

First published October 2, 2012

143 people are currently reading
1950 people want to read

About the author

Terry Spear

165 books1,629 followers
Love, love, love romance, the paranormal, hunky Highlanders with their delicious brogue and hot kilts, so Terry Spear writes about those hunky Highlanders both in medieval times and as wolves in contemporary times. Jaguar shifters too! And young adult urban fantasy. And romantic suspense.

She grew up reading mystery, adventure, mythologies from around the world, ghost stories, the paranormal, fell in love with Dracula and Wolfman, and felt they needed loving too. Everyone should have someone to love. Which means her stories always have a HEA.

USA Today Bestseller residing in Central Texas from Sacramento, California who creates award-winning teddy bears too!

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 205 reviews
Profile Image for Carol [Goodreads Addict].
3,031 reviews25.3k followers
April 27, 2014
Savage Hunger is book one in the Heart of the Jaguar series by Terry Spear. What I love most about Terry Spear’s books is that they grab you right away and keep you invested until the very last page. And that is exactly how I feel about this book.

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Imagine being a Jaguar shifter but not being able to find any others like you. Of there being no hope in sight of finding a mate, someone to share life with, have children with. This is the life Conner Anderson and his sister, Maya have been given. Abandoned by their parents long ago, they are all each other has. They stay under the radar, owning a large gardening business in Texas. But twice a year, they vacation to the Amazon to let their jaguars run free. And this is exactly what they were doing one year ago when Conner first encountered Katherine McKnight.

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Kat McKnight was in the army on a special assignment in the Amazon rain forest, trying to take down a ruthless drug lord. But things were not going as planned. She was taken prisoner and had been badly injured. But, before they could kill her, she hears a jaguar somewhere in the camp. And, then, a man who said his name was Conner Anderson came to her rescue, tending to her injuries until her fellow Army comrades could get to her. Then, he mysteriously disappeared.

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One year later, she is going back to the Amazon to try to find and thank the man that saved her life. She has left the army and still suffers from nightmares from her ordeal a year ago. But again, things are not going as planned. Her guide has abandoned her and she is lost. And who comes to her rescue again? Yes, Conner Anderson. Conner has never been able to forget the woman from a year ago. Has worried about her recovery. He can’t believe she is back.

“He told himself it was fate that had made them cross paths, providence that had brought them together again.”

Maya knows her brother has never been able to forget the woman he saved in the jungle a year ago. And here she is again! She wants nothing more than for her brother to find a mate and for a sister for herself. Could Kat be that woman?

Conner, Maya and Kat need each other in ways that none of them could have imagined. Conner vows to protect these two women and get them safely out of the jungle but this turns out to be more of a task than any of them could have imagined. The drug lord Kat was after a year ago wants revenge. And, there is another jaguar roaming the jungle. Is it just a jaguar or could it be another shifter?

These three have quite an adventure, both dangerous and comical at times. I love that Terry Spear’s books have everything, humor, sweet romance, and plenty of gripping suspense. I plan to go directly into the next book to see what comes next.
Profile Image for Angela (Angel's Book Nook).
1,672 reviews972 followers
March 20, 2016
-3.5 Savage Hunger Stars -

Savage Hunger is book one in Heart of the Jaguar series by Terry Spear. This is a re-read for me. I enjoy reading Ms. Spear’s books. I will say I was not as drawn into the story as the first time around, but I still enjoyed the read. We get a sweet romance with a little action.

Connor, Jaguar shifter. Him and his sister Maya where abandoned as kids and don’t know a lot about the Jaguar shifter world which leaves them not to sure if they can change someone into a Jaguar or how it all works. They have stayed together and both want a stable family. In comes Kathleen, human, whom Connor has not been able to get off his mind since he rescued her. I like Connor and Maya, but as for Kathleen I did not get the military vibe off her. She hesitated to shot a bad guy and she came across as not knowing what to do. Maya I really enjoyed. She brings in a very sisterly feel and love to the story, plus she is determined to get her bother hooked-up. The characters for the most part are well developed and interesting aside from my one issue with Kathleen. The story progresses fast, with some action and wonderful hot steamy sex.

I find myself re-reading this type of book when I don’t need to use a lot of brainpower to follow a story. I like the easiness of the read and the fun shifter feel to the story.

angelsgp-seethisreview-blure
Profile Image for AH.
2,005 reviews386 followers
September 15, 2015
Kindle free download 1/1/15 -

I've cheated and read the later books in this series. They are far better than this first book where we are introduced to 2 jaguar shifters in the Amazon. Connor and Maya are brother and sister and are vacationing in their Amazon home when they come across Kat, alone in the jungle. Connor is attracted to Kat and he had rescued her from drug dealers a year earlier. Maya impetuously turns Kat into a jaguar shifter so that her brother will have a mate, not consulting with either Connor or Kat.

It's an OK read, a little predictable, a little drawn out. Don't let this book stop you from reading other books in this series or Ms. Spear's Heart of the Wolf series. Both have much better books and some fun situations involving pirates and highlanders. (Do I have your attention yet?)

In any case, this was a good introduction to Ms. Spear's Heart of the Jaguar series and that world.

Profile Image for mer.
1,521 reviews65 followers
July 21, 2016
Funny when Kat was from Army but she barely protected herself. She is more damsel in distress to me and I wasn't thrilled about it.

This is KAT in jaguar form.


This is CONNOR in jaguar form.


I liked reading parts like they shift to jaguar, learn their hunting instincts, and their gracefulness. I also liked parts the description of Amazon rain forest. Sounds beautiful to me and I'm a biased anyway since I lived in a rain forest island.

Another funny thing is, the drug lord who is almost impossible to arrest in the first place and out of the sudden, probably his unlucky day, he was in elevator, unaccompanied by his thugs, got himself caught, and it was over, for good. Happy ending at last!

I was like ... what? That's it? That is so easy peasy.

Lucky for this book, I wasn't truly aiming to read thriller/suspense. I just wanted to read paranormal sizzling hot romance and to be specific, anything that has sexy, gorgeous jaguar in it.

I hope as I go through this series, there will be black jaguar because black jaguar is sexier.
Profile Image for Simply Love Book Reviews.
7,046 reviews870 followers
October 1, 2012
Alyn's review posted on Guilty Pleasures

I have always been fascinated by authors that manage blend the characteristics of man and animal so well that it makes you wonder if it could be true. Terry Spear is one such author. She creates beautifully depicted shifters that are graceful as both cats and humans, without losing the distinctive traits of either half.

Connor Anderson and his sister Maya are on their annual vacation in the Amazon to let their wild side run free. As Jaguar shifters, they need to revisit the wild as nature intended in order to find the mates they both long for. With shifters being so rare to begin with, both siblings find it difficult to fulfill their needs but continue to battle the odds in search of their fate. For Connor, that fate was about meet him face to face and her name was Captain Kathleen McKnight.

Captain McKnight was in over her head. A decoy for a covert operation, she knew Gonzalez was a major target but did not realize he was on to her until it was too late. Wounded and left for dead, she heard a big cat and terrified voices and expected the worst. What she had not expected, was the shirtless savior who came to her rescue. Connor Anderson, that was the name he gave her before he disappeared into the jungle. Unable to get him out of her head, Kat returns to the jungle after recovering from her injuries a year later. She is in search of the man who kept company with jaguars. Not sure what to expect, she finds herself in another predicament and hopes that her savior will reappear to rescue her once again.

Connor could not believe it was her. After searching and hoping he would find her again, Captain McKnight had returned to the very jungle where he had first met her. Returning to her aid after finding her injured and dehydrated, he takes her to the hidden home that he and his sister Maya occupy when in the Amazon. Realizing that he may not want to let her go this time, Connor is not sure what he should do. Kat doesn’t know that they are shifters, and the fact that she is not a shifter would make it difficult for him to be with her. Trying to make up his mind, Connor is forced to make a quick decision when his sister acts on her own accord and forces his hand. Unfortunately, Connor is not the only one that wants Kat all to himself. Can Kat survive the jungle and the wild that lies within?

What a fun story this was. Sexy shifters in the steamy jungle having sweet interludes in the shower and under waterfalls. The combination of covert army operations, drug lord chases, and shifters on the run makes for a very adventurous read. The complexity of Kat’s recovery from both PTSD, physical injuries and a broken heart, adds to the depth of the story and her character as a whole. Add to that, Connor’s abandonment issues and his need to protect, and you have a recipe for a relationship that will speed up your heart rate and keep it pumping to the very end. The mystery of who is on the chase, makes for an intriguing story line and leaves some great insight into what appears to be a promising sequal.

While it slowed down a bit on occasion, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the sequal. Savage Hunger will leave you daydreaming about stalking through the jungle in search of a sexy shifter to sweep you off your feet.
Profile Image for JoLee (Cozy.Sunday.Reads).
876 reviews72 followers
December 8, 2012

I can not believe I have never read a Terry Spear novel before. Wow, her writing voice is beautiful and is a wonderful storyteller. The characters jump off the pages and her descriptive writing is amazing. I felt like I was right there in the Jungle with the waterfalls, Pink Dolphins and Jaguars. I love when a author takes the time to research what they are writing. I never knew Pink Dolphins existed. I love shifter novels especially the ones where they actually shift. Terry Spear does a amazing work with her Jaguar shifters in Savage Hunger. When they are in their Jaguar form I felt I was in their minds wandering around in the Jungle, etc.. The story does take a while to pick up, I was fine with that as I was so engrossed in her descriptive writing. It is a good amount of action and romance. Towards the end the plane ride was intense, as I did not know how it was all going to play out. It definitely had me on the edge of my seat. The situations Connor and Kat end up being in, I did not know how Terry was going to pull if off. Well she pulled it off just like she did the other times through out the novel. The epilogue was nicely down as I had tears of joy.

Connor who is a sexy alpha male, possessive, protective and sweet hero I just adored. He got my attention from the first time he saves Kat, then through out the story adored him more while he tends to always be there for Kat. The waterfall scene is not to be missed. He is sweet and giving when he tends to her needs when she was sick. Loved, loved and loved the waterfall scene. Connor had my heart pumping and stomach all tingly. He is a swoon worthy hero in my eyes. Terry Spears even had me giggling a bit with Connors cute, but at times jealous remarks.

Kat is a beautiful and strong heroine. Her and Connor were made for each other. They have beautiful chemistry together. I enjoyed the progress of their relationship as it was done in a timely manner. The love scenes are steamy and are beautifully done.

Maya is Connor’s sister who is also a Jaguar shifter. The love they have for each other is sweet. They both look out for each other and will do anything for each other. Maya is willing to even try and turn Kat into a Jaguar shifter so Connor will have a mate and not be lonely, plus she wants a sister badly, as it is just her and her brother, no more family left.

Kudos to Terry Spear for giving shifter fans a great start to a new Jaguar shifter series, that I look forward to reading the next in the series. Love the covers and excited to already have Jaguar Fever (Heart of the Jaguar #2) showing off on my blog. I look forward to reading her Heart Of The Wolf Series (I can not wait to see how she does with her wolf shifters) and her YA novels.

ARC provided from NetGalley for an honest review.

Orginally posted at Wickedly Delicious Book Blog
1,122 reviews302 followers
October 4, 2012
Through a horrific event, medical discharge from the army and a failed engagement, Kathleen McKnight hasn't stopped thinking about Connor Anderson and the jaguar she believes is like his pet. A year after a failed mission in the Amazon, Kat makes her way back into the jungle to thank the man that saved her life on that fateful day.

Connor hasn't been able to get Kat off his mind and when he and his sister Maya make their annual trip to South America to shift and roam freely as jaguars, he's surprised to find her there. Though he's happy to see Kat again, he's determined to get her to safety and out of his life because he can't see a human/shifter relationship working. Luckily for him, Maya sees the desire and need in his eyes every time he looks at Kat and has plans of her own.

What Kat went through during her failed mission to take down a drug lord was terrible and I recognize that it takes a lot of strength and courage for her to work past that, not to mention the trip into the Amazon itself, but I wasn't blow away by her. It's not that I didn't like her, it's just there wasn't a lot that will make me put her on my favorite heroines list. The same goes for Connor. He's not the type of alpha that borders on being a a-hole but I can see that he's one with how easily he takes charge. He's handsome and strong but again, not a whole lot that will stick with me. Both kept me interested in the story and I wanted them to have their HEA but now that the books over, I probably won't give them any more thought.

Kat's reemergence in the Amazon hasn't gone unnoticed by the drug lord she escaped from and he wants revenge. Connor, Maya and Kat are in a race to get back to the U.S. before the drug lord's henchmen get their hands on Kat, a task that's made more challenging by something Maya does to Kat. All this added intensity to the story and brought Kat and Connor closer together. I liked these scenes because they showed what the jaguars were cable of and introduced a character that I'm guessing will come to mean something to Maya.

Savage Hunger checked off all the boxes that were necessary for a good paranormal romance. A hero and heroine who are right for each other but need a little help, sassy side character, a bit of action, hot sex and of course, romance. Kat and Connor didn't blow me out of the water but at no time did I think I would put the book down and not finish. It's not going on my keep shelf but I do plan on continuing the series so I can read Maya's story.
- Stephanie
Profile Image for Beth.
3,102 reviews301 followers
October 3, 2012
Connor Anderson and his sister Maya are Jaguar Shifters. At least once a year, Connor and Maya trek to the Amazon to give their wild side free range. This past year Connor ran into what he believes a kidnapping gone wrong, but in all actuality it is an undercover US military sting to capture a drug lord gone really wrong. He rushes to the rescue of the women in distress Kathleen McKnight, she’s been shot and is in really bad shape. Just as Connor stops the blood flow, the army arrives and he makes a hasty departure…never knowing the outcome of his attempted rescue.

Kathleen McKnight is suffering from her near fatal attack in the Amazon jungle. The military has medically discharged her. Under the advise of her doctor, she returns to the rain forest to try and cure her nightmares, but she has also returned to try and find Connor Anderson. It seems that Connor and Kathleen both left big impressions on each other during their short encounter. Little did they know that the Drug Lord, the Military and even a businessman from Florida all have ulterior motives with Kathleen’s trip and it turns deadly.

Savage Hunger is the first in a début series by Terry Spear, Jaguar Shifters. This is a wonderful and exciting new leap into a new shifter realm. Savage Hunger is packed full of big beautiful cats, angry/revengeful war lords, deep family bonds, native participation, heart racing action, romance and some mystery. I really enjoyed Savage Hunger. The romantic build is slow but scorching by the end. I am looking forward to more Jaguar Shifter romance to come.
Profile Image for Sláinte Wanderlust.
892 reviews385 followers
September 23, 2012
Cover & Title - 4 out of 5
Favorite Character - Maya

I found this book to be an easy going enjoyable read. It had action, drama, emotion & hot love scenes. I have read quite a few books by this author and just like with this book i enjoyed them all. I felt the author had all the ingredients in all the right measures to make a great shifter story.
The chemistry was clear between the leads and the build up to them getting together was hot. I liked that the emotion continued to intensify between them till they were in-love. Maya was a great addition to the story and helped keep it from being very similar to some of other shifter books which i have read. I would like to read Maya's story, hopefully that will be released next. The ending was nice & i love when books have epilogues like this one <3 Happily ever afters are my favorite thing :)

I would recommend this book & I would read more by this author in the future.

Click here for more reviews
Profile Image for Janet.
3,335 reviews24 followers
June 7, 2017
It's quite refreshing to read a paranormal romance after taking a break from them. This is the first in the series about jaguar shifters. There's action and definite steamy moments shared between Connor and Kathleen. I'm intrigued enough to want to read Maya's book because she is such a strong female, and I'd like to see who could win her over.
Profile Image for Rebecca.
57 reviews12 followers
September 23, 2012
Reviewed for Book Chick City
http://www.bookchickcity.com/2012/09/...

SAVAGE HUNTER by Terry Spear is the first in a new series about shifters that can change at will into jaguars. This makes a change from the abundance of werewolf fiction, so I was ready to give this book a chance to make a good impression.

It begins with a flashback to events a year prior to the novel, in which heroine, army captain Kathleen McKnight, is trapped in the Amazon rainforest after a drugs bust gone wrong. She is under fire, with the rest of her army team being taken down by the drugs lord. Out of nowhere, she is saved by the mysterious Connor Anderson, who carries her to safety, making her the only member of her team to return alive.

A year later and Kat has returned to the rainforest, seeking answers about who saved her and why. She is also desperate to face her fears and to conquer the paranoia instilled in her by the attack. Again Connor seeks her out, having detected her familiar scent, and takes her back to the hut he shares with his sister, Maya.

Both Connor and his twin sister Maya are shapeshifters who can shift into jaguars, an ability they have possessed since birth. They frequent the Amazon rainforest every so often to allow their jaguar side space to roam free, but both are seeking mates and unsure of whether other jaguar shifters exist. Connor has been intrigued and obsessed with the idea of Kat since their meeting a year ago, which Maya has picked up on, and she is as desperate for her brother to have a mate as she is for a sister.

Maya attempts to change an unsuspecting Kat into one of them, but is unsure if it will work, as they have never attempted to change a human before. She is also worried about transforming Kat against her will, and doesn’t know if she will even survive the transformation. There is also the drugs lord to contend with, as when his henchmen begin to search the jungle for Kat in revenge it is unclear if they will make it out of the forest alive.

I wasn’t overly impressed with this book, as I didn’t think much to the plot or the characters. As a heroine, Kat was weak and very two-dimensional. As much as the writer tried to give her more depth I just didn’t feel that it worked, as I found her to be annoying and too over-dependent on Connor and Maya to protect her. There were times when she wanted to use her army training to make a stand for herself but she never goes through with these plans and I just wanted to slap her for being so useless. She was one of those main characters whose actions don’t seem justifiable, as she never once seems angry that Maya has changed her without warning, or frustrated at Connor’s over-protectiveness.

“Kat was quiet, subdued, and Connor wasn’t sure what was bothering her. Well, besides the fact that Maya had turned her into a jaguar shifter, men had tried to take her hostage, she’d had to kill one of them, and they still faced the difficult task of getting her back to the States without any further difficulties.”

This brings me to Connor, who is borderline creepy stalker as far as love interests go. We learn from the very beginning that his brief encounter with Kat a year ago has remained on his mind, and he has thought about her a lot during that time. For a chance meeting this seems a little odd, but he seemed okay at the start of the book so I overlooked this and gave him a chance. I then started to dislike him more and more as his relationship with Kat develops, as she has practically been forced to be with him after the change, and he takes the alpha male role a step too far. He is overly controlling and doesn’t want her to do anything for herself, as well as wanting to sleep with her all the time.

“What other secrets do you have that we should know about?”
Kat snorted and released him, but he seized her arms and wrapped them around his neck, then encircled her back with his and hugged her close.”

Aside from this unsavoury relationship development throughout the book, not much else really happens or is explained. They go on the run from the drugs cartel, but we never really know why he is still after Kat when he hasn’t seen her for a year. The ending was surprisingly underwhelming as the chase across South America is described in great detail but the climax is summed up in a mere paragraph. When the truth is revealed at the end it seems highly convenient and too much of a coincidence, and despite being left open for a sequel (implied to be about Maya) I have no desire to continue this series.
Profile Image for Heather Book Savvy Babe.
495 reviews134 followers
September 25, 2012
Being a fan of Terry Spear’s “Heart of the Wolf” series, when I found out that a new shifter series, a Jaguar shifter series was coming, I was thrilled. I love shape-shifter books, and I especially love the big cats. Cat shifters are a nice turn from werewolves, and I knew that Terry Spear could be counted on to deliver a great read.

Savage Hunger is the first book in this new “Heart of the Jaguar” series, and it is filled with suspense, big jungle cats, and plenty of steamy romance. Connor Anderson and his sister Maya regularly vacation in the Amazon jungle to let their inner Jaguar out to experience their natural habitat. The big cats are not the only predators in the jungle however, deadly drug cartels and hunters roam the jungle as well. Connor rescues helps save a female army officer (Kathleen McKnight), but after the woman is gone, he can’t get her out of his head. A year later, he finds the woman in the jungle again, but she is different from what he expected and she is not a shifter. Maya, Connor’s sister, is determined that her brother find happiness and takes matters into her own hands, but Kathleen comes with her own set of complications and dangers.

It did take me a little bit to really get into the book. There is history the builds between Connor and Kat. Kat has a very traumatic experience in the jungle while she is working with the Army, and the trauma has long-reaching affects. She came back to the Amazon hoping to put her fears behind her, but found her fears waiting for her in the jungle. Luckily, there was more waiting for her than fear. I felt for her, and really got to like her for coping with changes and dangerous situations so well. The pacing does pick up pretty quickly though. Savage Hunger is one part paranormal, one part romantic suspense; once the action starts, it keeps going right through the end of the book. The romance and the connection between Connor and Kat develops and sizzles right through the murky, dangerous jungle.

I really loved that this book and series is about the Jaguars. The Jaguars are cats and are much more inclined to be independent. They don’t have packs or keep ties with other shifters. Connor and Maya are very close though, Connor is an alpha-cat and very protective of his sister, and of Kat. Their jungle getaway is a unique setting and I love how they interact with the locals. The Jaguars are shifters, but they are also very human. They protect each other and want to have families, they just have the ability to turn in to big, deadly cats when they want to.

I think that Savage Hunger did a great job at setting the foundation for a fabulous new series. Savage Hunger gives a fresh element to romantic suspense with the shifters, and gives paranormal romance a new twist with the jaguars being the primary paranormal element. I highly recommend this book to romantic suspense and paranormal romance readers. I am looking forward to reading more about these Jaguars in the future, and I am excited to see what comes next for them, especially Maya.
Profile Image for Lara.
1,597 reviews
July 21, 2016
This book was better than I expected. The heroine is in the Army and ends up in a horrible situation during an undercover operation against a drug lord in Colombia. She is saved by a man shortly after a jaguar is seen by the guards. None of them realize he and the jaguar are one and the same.

A year later she returns to the Amazon to confront her trauma and to find the man who saved her life. The scene when she finds him is a bit silly. Coming face to face with two jaguars in the middle of the jungle is nothing to be calm about. Yes, they aren't acting threatening, but still. Conner has a twin sister who is also a jaguar shifter. Maya is taken with Kathleen and, knowing how Conner had pined for her, starts wanting Kat for a sister.

Things develop from there, with Kat eventually realizing that she is now a shifter, the drug lord's goons trying to chase her down, and a mysterious shifter dogging their trail. Since Connor and Maya were born shifters, the uncertainty around Kat's development as a shifter leads to some interesting moments.

While some moments were a bit silly, the overall light tone of the book made them unobjectionable. My main issue was with how soft Kat was despite having seen active duty and firefights while in the Army. She just didn't seem like someone who was comfortable or familiar with guns and violence, despite having worked in a field when she had used guns regularly. However, by the end of the book, she is comfortable in her own skin and accepting of the loving family she has found.
Profile Image for Dani C. (Polly's Place).
546 reviews252 followers
October 6, 2012
Whenever I see a Terry Spear book I get so excited. It’s because I know I am about to be entertained by one of the best paranormal romance storytellers. I am a huge fan of her wolf shifter series so when I heard she was writing a new series about jaguar shifters, well is there any wonder as to why I had to get my hands on a copy ASAP??

I am so utterly delighted that I did!

Conner and his sister Maya live in Texas but they vacation quite regularly in the Amazon jungle. This is the one place where it is relatively safe for them to let their cats run free. Unfortunately they are not the only predator in the jungle. Conner comes across an undercover military operation against one of the drug cartels and ends up rescuing Army Officer Kathleen McKnight (Kat). After a year he still can’t get her out of his head, even though she is not a jaguar shifter like himself.

While Kat had a very traumatic experience the last time she came to the jungle, she cannot forget the man who rescued her. In order to put her fears behind her and hopefully meet up with the man who rescued her she travels back to where it all began, the Amazon jungle.

Savage Hunger is a must read for anyone who loves a romantic paranormal with a bit of mystery thrown in. There is no doubt in my mind that this is another wonderful shifter series and I look forward to reading Jaguar Fever when it is released this coming spring.
Profile Image for Lyndi W..
2,042 reviews210 followers
February 12, 2014
I've gone back and forth, clicking the 3 star button, then the 4 star button, and then back to the 3 star button, etc. I don't think I can go so far as to say I really liked it... but 3 stars doesn't seem like enough.

I don't have any real complaints or compliments about this one. I enjoyed it while I read it, but now that it's over... it's not very memorable. I'd recommend it for feline-shifter fans, but I'm not sure why aside from the obvious.

I'm assuming the next book in the series features Maya and Wade, but I doubt I'll make an effort to track down a copy.

So I'm really on the fence about this one. It wasn't bad. Dear Lord, it wasn't bad. It just wasn't great, either.

*smh* Don't even listen to me.
Profile Image for Ela (Mouse333).
2,089 reviews10 followers
December 6, 2024
I really liked this book with the different setting and a bit of a different perspective/situation when it came to shifters, but I wanted to see more about the jaguars and what their lives would look like after they came back from vacation.

Connor and Kat met when she was being held hostage by a cartel in the jungle and Connor was able to keep her from bleeding out. A year later, Connor is back in the jungle with his sister (Maya) for their usual vacation where they can be jaguars, and he stumbles upon Kat again. Kat’s life has changed and since she doesn’t have much of a plan, she decides to try to find Connor to thank him for saving her.

I liked Connor and Kat, but I was a bit bored of them and their relationship by the end.

Maya also got some scenes from her POV and I really liked her impulsiveness.

The plot wasn’t really for me, and while the setting was different (Amazon jungle), I wanted to see what their daily lives would look like.

I’m not convinced that I’m going to love any of the books in this series, but I definitely want to try Maya’s book at least.
Profile Image for Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews.
5,476 reviews177 followers
December 2, 2012
Originally posted at: http://www.longandshortreviews.blogsp...


Savage Hunger is as steamy a story as the humidity of the jungle it takes place in and is just as dangerous. Take a good look at the wonderful and vibrant cover. See the woman peeking over the shoulder of the hot hunk? That is none other than Kathleen, the heroine, and I have to give the artist credit. Kat has this really saucy and cheeky wit that pops out with a mischievous twinkle in her eye and the artist captured her at a moment of devilish plotting. Poor Connor doesn’t stand a chance.

Ms. Spear cracked me up with what she gave the heroine as her little problem. It placed Kat in quite a few prickly situations that always led to exciting scenes that I couldn’t step away from. Time to eat? “Let it cool down, I’m at a good part.” That’s pretty much how my whole experience was in reading Savage Hunger. Every time I thought things were going to smooth out or they’d have a moment of reprieve, something seemed to happen that compelled me to keep turning the pages. The adventure of discovery, of outwitting the bad guys and staying one step ahead of certain torture and death insured that there wasn’t a dull moment in any of the chapters. Certainly, I didn’t want to stop reading until I got to the final wrap-up and happy ever after.

In addition to Kat’s embarrassing difficulty is the new predicament she finds herself which leads her to experience eating raw fish with its subsequent stinky breath, and stripping at very inconvenient moments. It’s going to take a special kind of guy to guard her when these quirks take place and there’s no better hero than Connor to get the job done.

I enjoyed reading the story in Connor’s point of view. I liked it when he took it in stride when Maya, his sister, and Kat ganged up on him. I loved how protective he was of both women, yet he respected their strengths. His love for his sister came through strongly in the writing. His growing love and wonder over finding as wonderful a mate as Kat was great to read. His sense of honor almost cost him having Kat in his life, but as much as he loved his sister, she loved him just as much and proved it, providing an opportunity for Connor and Kat to bond. It was hit or miss in the beginning and caused its own level of drama and suspense, but the journey was worth it.

A heightened level of drama came from the bad guys. One evil drug lord pulled the strings and he was persistent, deadly and vicious. Every time I thought the trio would finally make headway in getting to safety, someone somewhere would say something that gave the criminals a lead. It drove me nuts but it also allowed the lead characters to show off all that they could do and would do in the name of survival. It didn’t hurt that Ms. Spear threw in an effective hook for another jaguar story. The stalker turned out to be who I thought it was but I’m really hoping that he will indeed turn out to be a good guy and I know just the person who’d be good for him. It didn’t help matters any that Kat’s ex mentioned something that made me think otherwise, but I refuse to be deterred. I think he’d make a great addition to the jaguar family.

Speaking of Kat’s ex-fiancé, he’s a worm. Enough said.

What is awesome to mention is the waterfall scene. Why that water didn’t evaporate from the scorching heat generated between Connor and Kat, I have no idea. It was seductive, effective and a delicious bit of writing. That was my favorite but the author gave the hero and heroine plenty of opportunities to explore, delight and please the other with an intensity that might make a reader or two blush. I had fun.

Some readers might take exception to Kat’s seemingly easy acceptance to her new station in life. Not me. I found it refreshing to not have to deal with drama queen antics on top of life and death situations. What was done was done and Kat, being the practical military woman she is, assessed the benefits versus cons and concluded she was getting everything she ever wanted plus benefits. She just had to survive first to enjoy them.

The happy ever after was satisfying. The author touched base on a lot of little subjects that appeared throughout the story and tied the loose ends up with a huggable ending. Now the only thing left is to read the next book in the series to find out if Maya is going to meet who I think she might meet. I am eagerly looking forward to the next jaguar adventure.

Savage Hunger leaves a reader hungering for more of this awesome and exciting new world that Ms. Spear has created. The author has written a story with a lovable heroine, an alpha hero who’s not obnoxious or overbearing, and a fun sister to tag along and complicate Connor’s life. The food they eat is exotic although the eating establishments are earthy, and they spend more time using trees than Tarzan. This new series is exhilarating and filled with rich and vibrant descriptions to make a reader feel like they’re in the thick of the Amazon jungle. There are moments of humor, of tenderness and pure hot loving. In short, Savage Hunger has the best of all the elements that make readers of paranormal romances happy. Pounce on your own copy and see for yourself.
Profile Image for Angela Carr.
762 reviews81 followers
October 1, 2012

Review also posted at Under The Covers Book Blog

Savage Hunger is the first installment of the Heart of the Jaguar series. This is my first Terry Spear book and my first Jaguar Shifter story. I have to admit I am intrigued. This book is suspenseful, fast pace and has a captivating romance with a good plot.

Connor Anderson and his Sister Maya are Jaguar Shifters who visits the Amazon yearly to enjoy the forest and let their jaguar half enjoy its native environment. One summer, Connor comes across an incident between military and the drug cartels. He is forced to intervene, save the life of a woman in danger. A woman that later will change his life of solitude.

Retired Army Captain, Kathleen McKnight is back in the Amazon in search of the one man who rescued her from an unexpected ambush a year before. Now out of the army and experiencing PTSD, she thinks finding her savior will help her overcome this problem. What she finds in the Amazon forest is more than what she had expected in a million years.

Connor and Kathleen created steamy scenes in the depths of the Amazon forest. I loved their chemistry together and the sexual tension between them was strong. Although there was an Insta-love between them it easy to accept and over look because, well, Connor was just so entranced with Kat that claiming her was just inevitable.

I especially loved Kathleen. She’s was in the military and that just puts her in the “kick ass heroine” category in my book. I like to see heroines who can handle her own in a fight. My only complain about her is her acceptance of her situation that Maya had created. She did not have a sense of anger or even a twinge of “WTF” moment from what Maya had done. Though it was with good intentions, the little sister needed some butt spanking.

I’m not sure what Ms. Spear has installed for this series, but I’m hoping Maya will have her HEA. I think she deserves it after being stuck and living with her brother all this time.Overall, Savage Hunger was an enjoyable read. It was fast paced and well written. I can’t wait to know more of these Jaguar Shifters.

*ARC provided by Netgalley

Profile Image for Cocktails and Books.
4,143 reviews323 followers
October 14, 2012
2.5 Stars

Kathleen McKnight was captured by a drug lord while on assignment with the Army in the Amazon. She was positive she was going to be killed when she was rescued by a stranger and his jaguar. A year later and discharged from the Army, Kat makes her way back to the Amazon trying to find Connor Anderson to personally thank him for saving her life. She winds up with much more than she bargained for, both from Connor, his sister and the drug lord still out to get her.

When I started reading Savage Hunger I wanted to really like it. But I found that the only character that I could mildly tolerate was Connor. He was your typical over protective alpha male, but he had a tender side and just wanted what was best for his family. He was the thinker in his family. Too bad his sister didn't have more of that gene.

Maya was a sweet girl, but when it came to her brother and his love life, she was over the top impulsive. She decides, even after Connor tells her to but her nose out of his love life, to get him a mate. She does this in the most underhanded way possible without thinking of what the consequences of such an action could be. I found that this one act tainted my entire view of Maya and made it hard for me to like her...even when what she did eventually worked out for the best.

Kat was an interesting woman, but I couldn't connect with her. For someone who was captured and shot in the Amazon (and who still suffers night terrors from the ordeal) I couldn't understand why she would willing go back to the place that haunted her. Even more bizarre was the fact that she didn't get angry with Maya when she discovered what she did to Kat to ensure Connor had a mate. To me, I would have been livid that I was not giving the choice about becoming a shifter and would have a hard time forgiving Maya or opening up to Connor. But Kat just rolled with the punches as if it was no big deal.

If you're a lover of shifter stories, this one will probably be one that you enjoy. Unfortunately, this wasn't one that caught my interest and my issues with the two female characters made it hard to even care about why the drug lord wanted Kat or if the Conner, Maya and Kat ever made it back to Texas.
Profile Image for Jillyn.
732 reviews
August 10, 2012
I received this book through Goodreads First Reads.

Maya & Conner are in the Amazon, letting their primal side show. Siblings, both are jaguar shifters who escape to the rainforest for a feline vacation where they can relax & let their claws out. A girl instantly claims Conner's attention as she is held captive by an enemy during a US army mission. He comes to her aid, but nothing changes. She leaves, he obsesses over her, & his sister Maya simply wants him to be happy. Both cats are shocked when this human, Kathleen, shows up once more in the Amazon. Conner is wary, but will he find out how Maya is intervening with his love life behind his spotted back?

Over all, I found this book to be simply boring. It moved slow, & rather predictably. I wasn't particularly fond of Kathleen nor Conner (though I did like Maya), & I feel that this disconnect from the characters pulled me away from the plot. As a general rule (not law, just a guideline) I stay away from novels with half naked men on the cover. This reminds me why.

However, I did like that it wasn't about wolves. Don't get me wrong, I love me some lupine romance. But using jaguars as the main focus of a paranormal romance was a good idea that I think a lot of people will like more than I did.

I give this a three out of five. It's nothing that you should rush out & buy the day it comes out, but should you pick it up somewhere, give it a shot. I firmly believe that a lot of readers will enjoy this book, but it's just not quite for me.
Profile Image for Cassandra.
1,188 reviews110 followers
June 27, 2014
My Thoughts - 5 out of 5 Unicorns - I loved it!!!

Okay not sure when I bought this book from the used book store, but as always with Terry’s books I loved it!!!

The cover is sexy, and I love the jaguar and that Connor and Kat are included :) It definitely attracted me into buying it especially with Terry’s name on it :) I buy anything fantasy written by her :) One day I may take the plunge into historical, but there is never enough time to read everything :)

I love Kat as a character. She is brave and confident and doesn’t want to just sit around while everyone else does the protecting. But my favorites are Maya and her twin brother, they are awesome how they stick together and go out on a limb for each other ;) I’m hoping Maya’s story is next :) There is plenty of action and conflict in this story to keep you hooked.

Terry does an awesome job of building the world because I was never bored reading it. If I wasn’t watching my sister’s kids (4 of them), I’d have read this in one sitting :)

I highly recommend this book to my shifter loving friends, jaguar lovers & those who already love Terry Spear!! Can’t wait to read more and since I have next book with me on vacation it will be soon!!!
Profile Image for Debra Taylor.
885 reviews24 followers
July 28, 2012
I received this ARC via Netgalley & Night Owl Reviews in return for my honest opinion.

Awesome new series from Terry Spears. A sizzling page turner. Terry Spears is wickedly talented when it comes to characterization. Her characters seem to take on a life of heir own.... seeming to step right off the page. Or rather, to jump right out of my Kindle! LOL!!!
As with the wolves in her awesome "Heart of the Wolf" series, the Jaguars take on the actual characteristics of the predators in the wild.
Her vivid descriptions of the Amazon jungle pulled me right into the scene along with the characters.
The chemistry between Connor & Kat was explosive. Very sensual love scenes.
I was hooked from the first paragraph. The story kept me riveted throughout the entire book. Fast paced non stop actions. Snappy & realistic dialogue between the three muskateers( Connor, Kat & Maya) .
Already looking forward to reading about the extremely spunky Mayas' search for her very own Jaguar mate. I recommend this book to any fan of the shifter genre. I enjoyed every minute of this story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Nancy.
494 reviews13 followers
July 30, 2012
When you’re in the Army and are captured by the bad guys, even if you knew it was going to happen, the last thing you expect to see is a jaguar in their camp. The next to the last thing you expect to see is a guy who isn’t Army untying you and helping you lie down. Then your above- you-in-grade fiancé shows up and could care less about how YOU feel – he’s just pissed he didn’t get to catch the bad guys. He doesn’t even really care that you are the sole survivor of the plan.
A year later when you go back to the jungle to relive your PTSD issues, minus one fiancé and plus one very well researched map the last thing you expect is that the same jaguar will show up. The next to the last thing is that he doesn’t try to eat you.
This is the beginning of a fast-paced tale of shapeshifters, love, drug lords and South America that will leave the light one until you’re done reading it. A paranormal romance with a great plot and plenty of baddies to beat! Terry Spear, who usually writes about wolves has done an excellent job changing species and the story of Kat, Maya and Connor will be well worth your effort. It’s out in October. Go enjoy!
Profile Image for Angela.
194 reviews14 followers
October 4, 2012
This novel takes place in the beautifully romantic and dangerous rain forest. By page four you are already stalking drug runners in an enemy camp and rescuing the damsel in distress. Did i mention that its as a jaguar? And of course the jaguar has to fall in love with the army officer that he rescues. And a year later she has to return to the jungle to meet up with him and say thank you. So the love story is off to a quick start and Kat seems to be go with the flow to a ridiculous level. By far the most entertaining character is Maya, the stereotypical little sister who not only thinks she knows best at all times but is motivated and impulsive. such a dangerous combination. I was disappointed when the book ended and i still felt stranded in the jungle. Parts just didnt flow easily and others stopped abruptly. This honestly wasnt my cup of tea in that i wouldnt read it again, but i enjoyed reading it once without a desire to follow up with the series.
Profile Image for Madison Warner Fairbanks.
3,399 reviews496 followers
November 23, 2015
Savage Hunger by Terry Spear

Kathleen McKnight has returned to the jungles of the Amazon to find Connor Anderson and thank him for saving her life the previous year. Connor's sister, Maya, sees the Sparks and interest between the two and decides to turn Kat into a jaguar shifter so that Connor and Kathleen can be together and Maya can have a sister.

First in a new series. Mild suspense. I really liked Maya's support and sister devotion in this book. I hope she can find her own mate soon.
19 reviews1 follower
February 6, 2017
A great book about jaguar shifters set in the Amazon jungle. I loved how you felt like you were in the jungle with them fighting the drug cartel and seeing what it was like to turn a regular person into a jaguar shifter. I like that it was a new experience to Maya and Connor as well as the reader. I also like how they ended the book with you asking "who is Wade Patterson" so that it made you eager to read the next book and find out.
Profile Image for Cynthia.
2,097 reviews22 followers
December 8, 2018
I really got into this story from the sifters to the one who can’t forget the jaguar as one of them can’t forget her. When Kathleen is caught by a drug lord she is at her wits in wondering how things could go so wrong. This was supposed to be an easy in do the take down and get out all alive. It looks like someone they know changed sides and wants Kathleen out of the picture. In return, she loses all her man and is about to come face to face with the man in charge. What could he want with her, she is about to find out when she hears a jaguars growl and all kind of noises going on around her. Next things she knows is there is the handsomest man she has ever seen has come to save her. She learns he has a jaguar which captivates her. She can’t forget them even a year later when she is out of the military she decides to go back to the scene in hopes of finding the man and his cat. This is where things get very interesting with danger, a hunt and killers along with the drug lord who has never gotten Kathleen.

The narrator has no trouble pulling the listener in making you picture the scene before you. Her character voices are wonderful from her male to her female ones. Her character voices fits the character, and she brings true emotion to her audio. There are no background noises, no volume changes and no repeating of words. Her audio is very clear and clean taking the listener away to a magic place where people shift into a powerful cat. If any breaks were taken I could not tell. It was a wonderful listen from start to finish. I can’t wait to listen to more of her work.

The author knows how to pull her reader in bring a wonderful plot full of mystery, danger and romance. I loved the characters the way they played out, the danger and the mystery. The romance is very steamy and hot. I really liked the characters and how the author builds up to the ending. I can’t wait to listen to more of her stories.
9 reviews1 follower
December 28, 2017
A good start

I enjoyed how the POV was told from every character, and how seamlessly the author managed doing so without causing confusion about who was talking/thinking. The book was paced well, with only a small lag in action during the first half, to allow us a chance to get to know the characters of this new series and to give the main characters some bonding time. I’d give it 5 stars if only the author had thought to include more of WHY the hero fell for the heroine. It was a little lacking in details in that one regard in order to be perfectly satisfying.
Overall, I’d recommend this book, as it’s a great first book in a series. (And we all know they get better as they go. ) I’m looking forward to book two, where the hero’s sister gets her story.
Profile Image for Shan ~A~.
3,376 reviews65 followers
April 28, 2021
My first by Terry Spear, although I actually own a few of her books.

I like the idea of the reader learning about the shifter community right along with the characters. Conner or Maya really knew anything about their shifter background since their father abandoned them when they were young and their mom left when they were teenagers/young adults.

So they speculate about things and make the best of their lives as they know it. Maya has decided that she and Conner needs mates, and once she Conner has an interest in Kathleen, Maya takes things into her own hands.

This book was filled with sexy times and adventure. I will definitely be reading more by this author.
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