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Bending Steele
Four years ago, Hexe was an ordinary man taking his aging parents on the vacation of a lifetime: a trip to the Himalayan Mountains. But when their car took a deadly swerve off a mountain road, Hexe was the only survivor. Brutally attacked by a shape-shifting snow leopard, Hexe became one of many living in the mountains. Now, as King of the Himalayan tribe, Hexe has his eyes set on a woman he thinks could finally make his life whole again. The mysterious and dangerous Steele–every bit as cold and deadly as her name suggests.
At eight, Steele watched a killer murder her mother while her father ran for his safety. She learned then that people couldn’t be trusted and has lived on the fringe of her people’s society since, barely participating in the tribe at all. Until Hexe, their new King, lays a claim on her.
Determined to fight for her freedom, Steele has no intention of letting her King walk away from the fight–and Hexe has every intention of making her his mate. But when a deadly poacher returns to the mountains, Steele learns what it is to have a partner at her back, and together it’s up to them to save their tribe. But to do so, Steele might just have to bend a little and let one very determined man into her heart…
At eight, Steele watched a killer murder her mother while her father ran for his safety. She learned then that people couldn’t be trusted and has lived on the fringe of her people’s society since, barely participating in the tribe at all. Until Hexe, their new King, lays a claim on her.
Determined to fight for her freedom, Steele has no intention of letting her King walk away from the fight–and Hexe has every intention of making her his mate. But when a deadly poacher returns to the mountains, Steele learns what it is to have a partner at her back, and together it’s up to them to save their tribe. But to do so, Steele might just have to bend a little and let one very determined man into her heart…
97 pages, ebook
First published July 13, 2012
5 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
Sadie Hart
19 books51 followersSadie Hart lives in Michigan with two dogs, though one should totally be a Moose, and they both occasionally show signs of super powers. Like the ability to fly and mind read. Okay, maybe not the flying part. That’s actually her flying pig, Pignificent. Though his super powers also include laser vision.
During the day, while not wrangling super-pooches and pigs, Sadie works as a secretary in a library trying not to read the books. At night, she writes action packed paranormal romances with a heavy dose of the things that go bump in the night – both the spooky and the naughty kind.
During the day, while not wrangling super-pooches and pigs, Sadie works as a secretary in a library trying not to read the books. At night, she writes action packed paranormal romances with a heavy dose of the things that go bump in the night – both the spooky and the naughty kind.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 13, 2013
I didn't finish this story - I got bored hence default 1*.
The story is set in the Himalayas but the characters don't seem to be either Indian or Far Eastern (although they do have black hair). I'm not sure where they spring from to be honest -I'm assuming American (cultural references, names and language being the giveaway).
There are loads of plot holes due to this (when these characters go down to the "villages" to interact with the local population - no one think it weird there's a bunch of Americans permanently based there? particularly as it's a politically sensitive spot). There's more plot holes but I don't want to give the story away. But I can live with plot holes - that's fine. It's the remaining story that is tedious.
==============
The Plot
So we have a King of the shape-shifting snow leopard kingdom (not much of a fancy position from the looks of things - don't expect palaces (or rather the Taj Mahal in this instance) etc). He has to claim a mate - and so he decides to pick on the heroine Steele who isn't keen on him or mating (hence the sexist title).
She's unattainable, isn't nuts about him like the other cats and keeps her distance. He finds this a challenge and is intrigued and thus pursues her by leaving a Mark on her. This isn't just any mark - mind you - it's a Magical Mark that decrees that the female Mark bearer must spend 2 weeks with the Mark maker (alas, even if it's against her will) and decide if she wants to become his mate within those 2 weeks.
So the story goes like this:
Heroine: Oh no! I have a Mark. Who did this?!
Hero: hehe I left a Mark on Heroine (gleefully thinking)
Heroine: I think the King left this Mark on me (gasp)
Hero: oh no I think she's sussed it's me.
Heroine: Don't you DARE!
Hero: Whatcha gonna do?
Heroine: No!! (outraged) I'm NOT interested!
Hero: ah well you know the rules...
Heroine: I will CHALLENGE you!
==THEY FIGHT - HERO WINS===
Hero: haha I defeated you!
Heroine: No!!!!
Hero: You must stay with me for 2 weeks (gleeful)
Heroine: You will Suffer for this!
Hero: I will take your blade.
Heroine: HOW DARE YOU.
Hero: come on! Give us a chance!
Heroine: No! I will NOT get to know you!
===THEY MOVE TO HERO'S CABIN====
Hero: You should trust me.
Heroine: I trust NO ONE!
Hero: lets get to know each other.
Heroine: no!!!!!
Hero: Fine. Be Like That.
Heroine: I'm bored. Tell me about yourself.
Hero: ok. I buy vegetables from down the road.
Heroine: interesting.
Hero: Tell me About Yourself.
Heroine: no!!!!
=meanwhile Baddie is on the prowl hunting shifters=
Heroine: I like your house.
Hero: thanks I did the carvings. I'm so manly
===moment of tenderness===
Heroine: why didn't you KISS me?!
Hero: I want you to TRUST ME first!!!
Heroine: Oh no I think I'm beginning to like you!!!
===distressed woman knocks on Hero's door===
Distressed Woman: HELP me! Help me! **SOBS**
Hero: WHAT IS THE MATTER?!
Distressed Woman: MY BOYFRIEND WAS KILLED!
Hero: what?!
Distressed Woman: with silver!
Heroine: get a grip woman (**so much for sympathy**)
Hero: where?
Distressed Woman: I don't know - i ran away from the scene.
Heroine: and led Baddie here! (sneers)
Distressed Woman: yes! I am fragile!
Heroine: I'm gonna bust this dude!! (roar)
Hero: We go together.
Distressed Woman: Oh don't leave me alone. I just witnessed my lover being killed and I'm scared.
Heroine: Shut the f*ck up coz I don't care.
==Hero and Heroine go looking for Baddie===
Heroine: unlike that b*tch I'm a bada$$!
Hero: I'm a bada$$ too!
Heroine: Bada$$ rules!
Hero: why would Baddie shot with silver?
Heroine: He wants shifters!
Hero: why? (gasp)
Heroine: the Baddie wants our pelts!
Hero: (gasp) why?
Heroine: our pelts are magical!
Hero: oh no!
Heroine: unlike that woman I would've helped my lover!
Hero: So would I. Coz we're tough bada$$es!
Heroine: but I wasn't always tough. I AM SAD.
Hero: tell me!
Heroine: my mother was murdered! My daddy ran away!
Hero: oh no!
Heroine: I didn't do anything. I was 8!
Hero: you were a child.
Heroine: I was a mini bada$$ back then! **sobs**
Hero: you were still a child!
Heroine: thank you (grateful)
====they share a tender moment=====
Heroine: I revealed too much (internal berating)
Hero: let's continue being bada$$es
Heroine: d%am you! I don't need your protection!
Hero: You will get it!!!!
Heroine: no! I am a bada$$!!!!
Hero: I'm a bigger bada$$! We will be the bada$$ duo!
Heroine: I think I care about you
=====more searching and stuff====
I stopped reading about this time.
==========
I didn't hate this story - I just found it dull. And the heroine is annoying.
The story is set in the Himalayas but the characters don't seem to be either Indian or Far Eastern (although they do have black hair). I'm not sure where they spring from to be honest -I'm assuming American (cultural references, names and language being the giveaway).
There are loads of plot holes due to this (when these characters go down to the "villages" to interact with the local population - no one think it weird there's a bunch of Americans permanently based there? particularly as it's a politically sensitive spot). There's more plot holes but I don't want to give the story away. But I can live with plot holes - that's fine. It's the remaining story that is tedious.
==============
The Plot
So we have a King of the shape-shifting snow leopard kingdom (not much of a fancy position from the looks of things - don't expect palaces (or rather the Taj Mahal in this instance) etc). He has to claim a mate - and so he decides to pick on the heroine Steele who isn't keen on him or mating (hence the sexist title).
She's unattainable, isn't nuts about him like the other cats and keeps her distance. He finds this a challenge and is intrigued and thus pursues her by leaving a Mark on her. This isn't just any mark - mind you - it's a Magical Mark that decrees that the female Mark bearer must spend 2 weeks with the Mark maker (alas, even if it's against her will) and decide if she wants to become his mate within those 2 weeks.
So the story goes like this:
Heroine: Oh no! I have a Mark. Who did this?!
Hero: hehe I left a Mark on Heroine (gleefully thinking)
Heroine: I think the King left this Mark on me (gasp)
Hero: oh no I think she's sussed it's me.
Heroine: Don't you DARE!
Hero: Whatcha gonna do?
Heroine: No!! (outraged) I'm NOT interested!
Hero: ah well you know the rules...
Heroine: I will CHALLENGE you!
==THEY FIGHT - HERO WINS===
Hero: haha I defeated you!
Heroine: No!!!!
Hero: You must stay with me for 2 weeks (gleeful)
Heroine: You will Suffer for this!
Hero: I will take your blade.
Heroine: HOW DARE YOU.
Hero: come on! Give us a chance!
Heroine: No! I will NOT get to know you!
===THEY MOVE TO HERO'S CABIN====
Hero: You should trust me.
Heroine: I trust NO ONE!
Hero: lets get to know each other.
Heroine: no!!!!!
Hero: Fine. Be Like That.
Heroine: I'm bored. Tell me about yourself.
Hero: ok. I buy vegetables from down the road.
Heroine: interesting.
Hero: Tell me About Yourself.
Heroine: no!!!!
=meanwhile Baddie is on the prowl hunting shifters=
Heroine: I like your house.
Hero: thanks I did the carvings. I'm so manly
===moment of tenderness===
Heroine: why didn't you KISS me?!
Hero: I want you to TRUST ME first!!!
Heroine: Oh no I think I'm beginning to like you!!!
===distressed woman knocks on Hero's door===
Distressed Woman: HELP me! Help me! **SOBS**
Hero: WHAT IS THE MATTER?!
Distressed Woman: MY BOYFRIEND WAS KILLED!
Hero: what?!
Distressed Woman: with silver!
Heroine: get a grip woman (**so much for sympathy**)
Hero: where?
Distressed Woman: I don't know - i ran away from the scene.
Heroine: and led Baddie here! (sneers)
Distressed Woman: yes! I am fragile!
Heroine: I'm gonna bust this dude!! (roar)
Hero: We go together.
Distressed Woman: Oh don't leave me alone. I just witnessed my lover being killed and I'm scared.
Heroine: Shut the f*ck up coz I don't care.
==Hero and Heroine go looking for Baddie===
Heroine: unlike that b*tch I'm a bada$$!
Hero: I'm a bada$$ too!
Heroine: Bada$$ rules!
Hero: why would Baddie shot with silver?
Heroine: He wants shifters!
Hero: why? (gasp)
Heroine: the Baddie wants our pelts!
Hero: (gasp) why?
Heroine: our pelts are magical!
Hero: oh no!
Heroine: unlike that woman I would've helped my lover!
Hero: So would I. Coz we're tough bada$$es!
Heroine: but I wasn't always tough. I AM SAD.
Hero: tell me!
Heroine: my mother was murdered! My daddy ran away!
Hero: oh no!
Heroine: I didn't do anything. I was 8!
Hero: you were a child.
Heroine: I was a mini bada$$ back then! **sobs**
Hero: you were still a child!
Heroine: thank you (grateful)
====they share a tender moment=====
Heroine: I revealed too much (internal berating)
Hero: let's continue being bada$$es
Heroine: d%am you! I don't need your protection!
Hero: You will get it!!!!
Heroine: no! I am a bada$$!!!!
Hero: I'm a bigger bada$$! We will be the bada$$ duo!
Heroine: I think I care about you
=====more searching and stuff====
I stopped reading about this time.
==========
I didn't hate this story - I just found it dull. And the heroine is annoying.
September 16, 2018
3.5 stars - It is time for pairing off for the snow leopard shifter clan and their King, Hexe, marks the tough loaner Steele who has lived on the fringes of the clan - avoiding any entanglements to protect her long ago betrayed heart.
It was the cover of this book that attracted me to this kindle freebie but I actually really enjoyed this novella. Hexe has been carefully cultivating Steele and I liked the way he tames her through patience and touch of humor - it makes him a very appealing leading man. And I liked the Steele who is tough and dangerous and lonely and a bit broken, though she hides it. There is bit of steam but not so much that it takes over the story and a bit of peril for the pair in the background.
I didn't realize that I'd read this author before, but I have my eye on another of her stories after reading this one.
It was the cover of this book that attracted me to this kindle freebie but I actually really enjoyed this novella. Hexe has been carefully cultivating Steele and I liked the way he tames her through patience and touch of humor - it makes him a very appealing leading man. And I liked the Steele who is tough and dangerous and lonely and a bit broken, though she hides it. There is bit of steam but not so much that it takes over the story and a bit of peril for the pair in the background.
I didn't realize that I'd read this author before, but I have my eye on another of her stories after reading this one.
September 9, 2013
A good short story (less than 100 pages) that mixes, adventure, romance and fantasy. It in a short space of time tells us about the characters who they are, what they are like and why they are like that. Its very well written.
September 9, 2013
quick read
September 24, 2013
Easy read
May 17, 2014
A quick captivating story that satisfies the urge for a little romance a little shifting and a little murder.
February 11, 2017
Learning to trust and to love.
Steele suffered heartache at a young age. She hardened her heart. Only one man could melt her defences. Or can he?
Steele suffered heartache at a young age. She hardened her heart. Only one man could melt her defences. Or can he?
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews