What do you think?
Rate this book
Shifters Unbound #5.5
Feral Heat
From the author of Lone Wolf comes a paranormal romance about two lovers torn between ecstasy and savagery…
Jace Warden is sent to the Shiftertown in Austin to find a way to free all Shifters from their Collars. But pulling off the Collars can cause Shifters to go mad or kill them outright.
In Austin, Jace meets Deni Rowe, a wolf Shifter with troubles of her own—she was deliberately run down in the road, and while her body has healed, she still has episodes of total memory loss during which she retreats into her pure animal self.
Jace has never met anyone like Deni. Courageous and beautiful, she volunteers to help him test the Collar removal. And as Deni and Jace work together, they feel the mate bond begin. But can Jace help Deni believe she can heal enough to be anyone’s true mate?
This sixteen chapter novella includes a preview of the upcoming Shifters Unbound novel Wild Wolf.
Jace Warden is sent to the Shiftertown in Austin to find a way to free all Shifters from their Collars. But pulling off the Collars can cause Shifters to go mad or kill them outright.
In Austin, Jace meets Deni Rowe, a wolf Shifter with troubles of her own—she was deliberately run down in the road, and while her body has healed, she still has episodes of total memory loss during which she retreats into her pure animal self.
Jace has never met anyone like Deni. Courageous and beautiful, she volunteers to help him test the Collar removal. And as Deni and Jace work together, they feel the mate bond begin. But can Jace help Deni believe she can heal enough to be anyone’s true mate?
This sixteen chapter novella includes a preview of the upcoming Shifters Unbound novel Wild Wolf.
153 pages, ebook
First published March 18, 2014
122 people are currently reading
1914 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Ashley
214 books7,330 followersNY Times Bestselling author Jennifer Ashley writes historical, contemporary, and paranormal romance, historical mysteries, and urban fantasy as Jennifer Ashley, Allyson James, and Ashley Gardner.
Jennifer's novels have been translated into many different languages, and earned starred reviews from Booklist and Publisher's Weekly. More about her books at http://www.jenniferashley.com and http://gardnermysteries.com.
Jennifer's novels have been translated into many different languages, and earned starred reviews from Booklist and Publisher's Weekly. More about her books at http://www.jenniferashley.com and http://gardnermysteries.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews
January 23, 2016
Another wonderful novella in the Shifter town series! Review to Come when I get back from Mexico!!! See you all soon!♥♥♥
May 18, 2016
Written April 1, 2015
3.3 Stars - A quick visit and a sweet new love-story in a world I like
Book #5.5
Once again time for my dear 'Shiftertown' friends with an "in between" novella. I listened to Feral Heat as an 4:40 hrs audiobook —as always flawless— narrated by Cris Dukehart.
Jace & Deni's story wasn't very surprising or different, just a nice addition to this series. Not the best part but solid good if you already are a series fan.
**********************************************
Jace Warden, the feline (snow leopard) alpha son from Las Vegas Shiftertown is sent to Austin to help the local Shiftertowns alpha clan, the Morrissey's, to find a way to free all shifters from their collars.
There Jace meets Deni Rowe, a wolf shifter (Ellison's sister) with injuries from an motorcycle accident when she was deliberately run down in the road a year ago. Deni still has episodes of total memory loss during which she retreats into her pure animal self.
Is it possible for Deni, with Jace's help, to heal enough to be anyone's true mate? Will there be a way to release the shifters from their collars? ~ Yes, yes...
**********************************************
The Shifters Unbound series:
These "SU" books are stand-alone series parts. There are always new couples and new lovestories but as always when reading a series about a bigger bunch of new and old characters is it most fun (and maybe best) to follow them (in two different shifter town's) from book to book in order.
My reviews and raiting:
**********************************************
For me is a book from the 'Shifters Unbound' series always a good choice. Well written m/f PNR by Jennifer Ashley. The kind of 'light' paranormal suspense where we always get interesting stories, thoughtful topics and sweet —steamy enough— love-stories. So far my favorite Shifter series.
Feral Heat was yet another nice visit with good old friends, it will be more.
I LIKE - sweet shifter stories
3.3 Stars - A quick visit and a sweet new love-story in a world I like
Book #5.5
Once again time for my dear 'Shiftertown' friends with an "in between" novella. I listened to Feral Heat as an 4:40 hrs audiobook —as always flawless— narrated by Cris Dukehart.
Jace & Deni's story wasn't very surprising or different, just a nice addition to this series. Not the best part but solid good if you already are a series fan.
**********************************************
Jace Warden, the feline (snow leopard) alpha son from Las Vegas Shiftertown is sent to Austin to help the local Shiftertowns alpha clan, the Morrissey's, to find a way to free all shifters from their collars.
There Jace meets Deni Rowe, a wolf shifter (Ellison's sister) with injuries from an motorcycle accident when she was deliberately run down in the road a year ago. Deni still has episodes of total memory loss during which she retreats into her pure animal self.
‘He needed her touch, her kiss, to breathe her scent. Her body against his. Another time of passion with her, another time when he’d bury himself inside her and be, for once in his life, complete.’
Is it possible for Deni, with Jace's help, to heal enough to be anyone's true mate? Will there be a way to release the shifters from their collars? ~ Yes, yes...
**********************************************
The Shifters Unbound series:
These "SU" books are stand-alone series parts. There are always new couples and new lovestories but as always when reading a series about a bigger bunch of new and old characters is it most fun (and maybe best) to follow them (in two different shifter town's) from book to book in order.
"Twenty years ago, shape shifters of all kinds banded together and announced themselves to the world, only to be shunted to areas no human wanted ("Shiftertowns"). — They are forced to wear Collars that control their hunting and fighting instincts (referred to by Shifters as "Taking the Collar")."
My reviews and raiting:
**********************************************
For me is a book from the 'Shifters Unbound' series always a good choice. Well written m/f PNR by Jennifer Ashley. The kind of 'light' paranormal suspense where we always get interesting stories, thoughtful topics and sweet —steamy enough— love-stories. So far my favorite Shifter series.
Feral Heat was yet another nice visit with good old friends, it will be more.
I LIKE - sweet shifter stories
August 12, 2016
This is the love story between Jace (Eric's son) and Deni, Ellison's sister.
A matchmaking not made in heaven since:
-Deni is a wolf and Jace is a leopard
-Deni is from Austin shifter town and Jace from Las Vegas shifter town
-Also they are in different state in life. Jace has no responsibilities. Deni has lost her previous mate and she has two grown up sons for the humans' standards (still cubs for the shifters' standards).
In this book Deni finds herself (she was not very well in the head after she was hit and run by a ruthless human a year ago) and Jace almost loses himself after the experiments the leaders from Austin shifter town have done on him in order to get rid of his collar.
To be honest I did not expect these two to end up together and I wanted Jace story to be longer.
But I enjoyed the book.
I particularly liked how shifters are playing humans once more very cleverly.
A matchmaking not made in heaven since:
-Deni is a wolf and Jace is a leopard
-Deni is from Austin shifter town and Jace from Las Vegas shifter town
-Also they are in different state in life. Jace has no responsibilities. Deni has lost her previous mate and she has two grown up sons for the humans' standards (still cubs for the shifters' standards).
In this book Deni finds herself (she was not very well in the head after she was hit and run by a ruthless human a year ago) and Jace almost loses himself after the experiments the leaders from Austin shifter town have done on him in order to get rid of his collar.
To be honest I did not expect these two to end up together and I wanted Jace story to be longer.
But I enjoyed the book.
I particularly liked how shifters are playing humans once more very cleverly.
Read
March 18, 2014Feral Heat (Jace and Deni's story) is out! Woot!
March 23, 2014
I love shifter stories, and lately I have been reading lots of MM shifters stories. But it’s the MF shifters stories that were my first love and Jennifer Ashley, was one of my first. I have enjoyed this series in the past, but this one fell short for me. The story was predictable and fell into the same formula as the rest, so maybe its just me that has changed. I didn’t really connect with the MC’s Jace and Deni, I found the steamy side, not so steamy and the story rather flat. I did enjoying catching up with the other characters from this series tho, so maybe it’s just this story that didn’t work for me.
I love Jennifer Ashley and this series still, and I am looking forward to the next one and giving it a chance.
I love Jennifer Ashley and this series still, and I am looking forward to the next one and giving it a chance.
March 6, 2014
read this review on Got Fiction? book blog
Deni is broken. She was run down by a car and her wolf has never been the same. She tends to go feral to the point of even attacking her sons. Because of this, she tends to avoid any of the big gatherings because even the hint of violence can cause her wolf to want to take over. But tonight, is different. She goes to the fight clubs. She just wants to get out of her house and feel normal for a bit.
Jace is Eric’s son (from the Vegas Shiftertown). He’s come to Austin to help with the big hush-hush removing of the collars. Basically, he’s Sean and Liam’s guinea pig.
But he doesn’t count on meeting Deni. She darts out of the trees to help him win a fight he didn’t need help with, and is stunned that she helped him, a stranger, instead of backing the boys from her own shiftertown.
They hit it off instantly, and what I love is how unapologetic and unashamed they are about that attraction.
A mate claim is made, their animals can’t seem to get enough of each other, and neither can they ; P But in true Jennifer Ashley fashion, there’s always something more going on. Somehow, the cops are constantly barging through the metaphorical door of the Austin Shiftertown. Someone’s ratting them out. But who? And who could know that Jace was there? (shifters can’t leave their shiftertown areas without the approval of the government. For reals).
Deni and Jace both know that he has to go back to his shiftertown, because it’s never that easy, is it? But they do get to be together, and I really liked the ending.
Final verdict is that this is a great addition to the Shifters Unbound series, and as a novella, it’s fairly long, and there’s a lot packed into it. It works as a standalone, but just read the series, you’ll thank me for it later. With her customary charm and intelligence, Ms. Ashley has penned yet another fabulous addition to her Shifters Unbound series.
***ARC courtesy of Berkley Intermix
Deni is broken. She was run down by a car and her wolf has never been the same. She tends to go feral to the point of even attacking her sons. Because of this, she tends to avoid any of the big gatherings because even the hint of violence can cause her wolf to want to take over. But tonight, is different. She goes to the fight clubs. She just wants to get out of her house and feel normal for a bit.
Jace is Eric’s son (from the Vegas Shiftertown). He’s come to Austin to help with the big hush-hush removing of the collars. Basically, he’s Sean and Liam’s guinea pig.
But he doesn’t count on meeting Deni. She darts out of the trees to help him win a fight he didn’t need help with, and is stunned that she helped him, a stranger, instead of backing the boys from her own shiftertown.
They hit it off instantly, and what I love is how unapologetic and unashamed they are about that attraction.
A mate claim is made, their animals can’t seem to get enough of each other, and neither can they ; P But in true Jennifer Ashley fashion, there’s always something more going on. Somehow, the cops are constantly barging through the metaphorical door of the Austin Shiftertown. Someone’s ratting them out. But who? And who could know that Jace was there? (shifters can’t leave their shiftertown areas without the approval of the government. For reals).
Deni and Jace both know that he has to go back to his shiftertown, because it’s never that easy, is it? But they do get to be together, and I really liked the ending.
Final verdict is that this is a great addition to the Shifters Unbound series, and as a novella, it’s fairly long, and there’s a lot packed into it. It works as a standalone, but just read the series, you’ll thank me for it later. With her customary charm and intelligence, Ms. Ashley has penned yet another fabulous addition to her Shifters Unbound series.
***ARC courtesy of Berkley Intermix
January 21, 2016
This time out Deni Rowe, Austin pack wolf shifter, is still recovering from the trauma of almost being killed months ago and her wolf wants to fight whenever she is around fighting. Jace Warden, Las Vegas pack snow leopard shifter, has come to Austin again to help with the secret collar removal project . When Jace arrives in Austin, he's to meet Liam at the shifter fight site. When Jace arrives, he immediately has a territorial fight with Broderick and meets Deni, neither of whom has met him before. Jace feels a pull to Deni, but as they are getting acquainted they notice Austin's finest about to arrive and raid the fight arena. Thinking quickly with Jace at her side, Deni comes up with a plan that will avoid problems when the police arrive.
With the police being everywhere, doing drive-by's, drop in visits and the constant patrolling things are a bit stressed in Shiftertown. But Deni is fighting to find her new normal with Jace's help. Police presence make it impossible to work on the collar project and limit the amount of good Jace can do for Deni. As the Shifters try to figure out what fresh hell the police have in store for them and still cooperate with no confrontations, help from an unexpected quarter adds to the overall arc. Changes in tradition, a new mating on the horizon and cameos from Shiftertown favorites help round out this short read.
One of the great thing for series fans is that the novellas are just as good as the full length reads.
Originally read: March 2014
Rating 4,5 Stars Really
With the police being everywhere, doing drive-by's, drop in visits and the constant patrolling things are a bit stressed in Shiftertown. But Deni is fighting to find her new normal with Jace's help. Police presence make it impossible to work on the collar project and limit the amount of good Jace can do for Deni. As the Shifters try to figure out what fresh hell the police have in store for them and still cooperate with no confrontations, help from an unexpected quarter adds to the overall arc. Changes in tradition, a new mating on the horizon and cameos from Shiftertown favorites help round out this short read.
One of the great thing for series fans is that the novellas are just as good as the full length reads.
Originally read: March 2014
Rating 4,5 Stars Really
March 30, 2017
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: A wolf and leopard, can they mix, and can they mate and will they be able to help free all of the shifters?
Opening Sentence: “The fight club had moved since Jace Warden had last visited the Austin Shiftertown.”
Excerpt: Yes
The Review:
Jace is on a mission to help free shifters from their collars and he is in Austin Shiftertown to work with the pack to find a way to get them off of the shifters. He has found a way to keep the collar from zapping him as it is supposed to do whenever shifters get aggressive or violent. While at a local fight club he is attacked by a wolf and when a she-wolf jumps into help him, he finds himself intrigued and smitten.
All the local wolves consider Deni a bit crazy, and maybe she is because ever since she was run down she loses herself in the shift and has no control over her wolf self. She decides to help Jace test ways to remove the collars. It is a debate within shifter society as the collars do help control the more violent tendencies, but most agree that they want to be free. However, taking the collars off often result in death or makes them mad.
Will Jace be able to reach Deni? Will they be able to figure out a way to take the collars off? Will they be able to truly be with each other?
I haven’t read too much in this series, but I did review another book in this series. I still find that despite not having read all of them they are easy to read and you don’t fill extremely lost. This is a novella and it focuses on the larger issues of the collar and the love between Jace and Deni. I enjoyed them as a couple and I didn’t find Deni all that crazy. I think the accident resulted in a loss of being able to control the most primal of urges so during fights or other things she has a tendency to fall into instinct versus using her human mind.
A fun easy read, and I think I have to add this series to my read list. I enjoy the differences so that it doesn’t quite feel like all the other were/shifter or paranormal books. It also really illustrates what fear looks like and the struggle the shifters have with humans and even within their own communities.
Notable Scene:
But this was why Jace had come. He’d learned slowly over the last year ow to control his Collar. He’d been teaching his father and others in his Shiftertown how to do it and preparing himself for Collar removal. The Morrisey’s had learned to make fake Collars that would fool humans, but only two Shifters’ thus far wore them–Andrea, Sean’s mate and Tiger, a shifter who’d been created by humans.
FTC Advisory: Intermix/Penguin provided me with a copy of Feral Heat. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: A wolf and leopard, can they mix, and can they mate and will they be able to help free all of the shifters?
Opening Sentence: “The fight club had moved since Jace Warden had last visited the Austin Shiftertown.”
Excerpt: Yes
The Review:
Jace is on a mission to help free shifters from their collars and he is in Austin Shiftertown to work with the pack to find a way to get them off of the shifters. He has found a way to keep the collar from zapping him as it is supposed to do whenever shifters get aggressive or violent. While at a local fight club he is attacked by a wolf and when a she-wolf jumps into help him, he finds himself intrigued and smitten.
All the local wolves consider Deni a bit crazy, and maybe she is because ever since she was run down she loses herself in the shift and has no control over her wolf self. She decides to help Jace test ways to remove the collars. It is a debate within shifter society as the collars do help control the more violent tendencies, but most agree that they want to be free. However, taking the collars off often result in death or makes them mad.
Will Jace be able to reach Deni? Will they be able to figure out a way to take the collars off? Will they be able to truly be with each other?
I haven’t read too much in this series, but I did review another book in this series. I still find that despite not having read all of them they are easy to read and you don’t fill extremely lost. This is a novella and it focuses on the larger issues of the collar and the love between Jace and Deni. I enjoyed them as a couple and I didn’t find Deni all that crazy. I think the accident resulted in a loss of being able to control the most primal of urges so during fights or other things she has a tendency to fall into instinct versus using her human mind.
A fun easy read, and I think I have to add this series to my read list. I enjoy the differences so that it doesn’t quite feel like all the other were/shifter or paranormal books. It also really illustrates what fear looks like and the struggle the shifters have with humans and even within their own communities.
Notable Scene:
But this was why Jace had come. He’d learned slowly over the last year ow to control his Collar. He’d been teaching his father and others in his Shiftertown how to do it and preparing himself for Collar removal. The Morrisey’s had learned to make fake Collars that would fool humans, but only two Shifters’ thus far wore them–Andrea, Sean’s mate and Tiger, a shifter who’d been created by humans.
FTC Advisory: Intermix/Penguin provided me with a copy of Feral Heat. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
April 19, 2025
Too short!
March 7, 2021
This was an okay story. It’s a novella so it is full of the issues that being a novella creates. Like no real emotional attachment and insta love. In my mind this was an interesting concept and was eager to see how it played out. It fell short for me. I wanted more of a story. So I’m a bit unfulfilled.
Another thing, the author seemed more interested in impressing her readers by using words that NO ONE EVER USES OR EVER SEEN. As a college graduate, %+=/; years old, the words used never crossed my eyes. Like verisimilitude, effeminate, and affectation. Maybe others have but I suspect only a few PHDs and a rocket scientist would use these words fluently to recognize their meaning. For the rest of us mere mortals, thank god for iPad and it’s dictionary. Had this been a real paperback, I’d be irritated that I’d have to go look the words up or move on without knowing what they meant. Bottom line it would have taking me instantly out of the story.
Also, this author is a NY best seller with multiple pen names Jennifer Ashley, Allyson James, and Ashley Gardner. As such, she has written a lot of books. So explain to me how an America (she was born in the US) established writer would write lines like these:
“He always loved a good joke, did Kenny.”
And
“She’s good, is my mate,” Liam said.
An editor, by her publisher, should have picked these up. As established as she is, she should have been able to afford her own editor if she had self published the story herself. It doesn’t make sense.
Overall, meh. It was an okay story. Not really that sexy or hot. Most of these stories in this series falls flat when it comes to the level of steam, despite the so called Mating Heat these shifters go through. Then again it stands to say that the way this whole series is set up, passion and lust falls to the way side since all these shifters are cramped up in one house or another with multiple family members. In fact, the fact that majority of these shifters have grown children kind of makes the sexy dull and really boring.
If you’re looking for a shifter series with hot and unbridled passion to turn the pages for you, the Phoenix Pack and Mercury Pack by Suzanne Wright or The Immortals After Dark series by Kresley Cole will do you better justice in shifter series.
Another thing, the author seemed more interested in impressing her readers by using words that NO ONE EVER USES OR EVER SEEN. As a college graduate, %+=/; years old, the words used never crossed my eyes. Like verisimilitude, effeminate, and affectation. Maybe others have but I suspect only a few PHDs and a rocket scientist would use these words fluently to recognize their meaning. For the rest of us mere mortals, thank god for iPad and it’s dictionary. Had this been a real paperback, I’d be irritated that I’d have to go look the words up or move on without knowing what they meant. Bottom line it would have taking me instantly out of the story.
Also, this author is a NY best seller with multiple pen names Jennifer Ashley, Allyson James, and Ashley Gardner. As such, she has written a lot of books. So explain to me how an America (she was born in the US) established writer would write lines like these:
“He always loved a good joke, did Kenny.”
And
“She’s good, is my mate,” Liam said.
An editor, by her publisher, should have picked these up. As established as she is, she should have been able to afford her own editor if she had self published the story herself. It doesn’t make sense.
Overall, meh. It was an okay story. Not really that sexy or hot. Most of these stories in this series falls flat when it comes to the level of steam, despite the so called Mating Heat these shifters go through. Then again it stands to say that the way this whole series is set up, passion and lust falls to the way side since all these shifters are cramped up in one house or another with multiple family members. In fact, the fact that majority of these shifters have grown children kind of makes the sexy dull and really boring.
If you’re looking for a shifter series with hot and unbridled passion to turn the pages for you, the Phoenix Pack and Mercury Pack by Suzanne Wright or The Immortals After Dark series by Kresley Cole will do you better justice in shifter series.
March 19, 2016
~ 3 Feral Stars ~
Feral Heat is #5.5 in Shifters Unbound series by Jennifer Ashley. This novella was ok! It’s not my favorite in the long line of novellas or full length books in this series, but it does give us more in-site into the collars and a Faerie who happens to be a father to one of the shifters. There’s a lightheadedness that’s lacking in this novella when compared to previous ones, but she has opened doors to new possibilities thanks to the movement of the collar story.
Jace is Eric Warden’s son. Eric Warden (Mate Claimed) is leader and alpha of a shiftertown in Las Vegas. Jace has come to Austin to help the Morrissey free shifters from their collars without them going feral. He is a very lade back dominant alpha, but when it counts he is a fighter and a warrior. Soon after arriving in Austin he meets Deni Rowe who is Ellison’s (Lone Wolf) sister. Deni had a bad accident that robed her of the calm shifters strive for. She is only hanging on by a thread. It’s sad to see a strong independent women get hurt so bad, but then Jace comes along, he does help boost her confidence, but she fix’s herself. The chemistry was hot, but not as powerful as other couples in this series.
We do get a little drama with a human female trying to sabotage the shifters. By the end she is caught and has to explain why she did what she did, so another story is blooming as well as another human/shifter relationship hinted at. I liked visiting the older characters again as well as Fionn the Faerie. We learn a little more about him and it’s interesting to see a Faerie on the shifter side. He's an interesting character though not a main one. What made this not as fantastic to me like the prvious novellas is how quickly Deni and Jace end up haveing sex. The author explains why they hook up fast, but it just felt to rushed for me and I’m not a fan of the hoping into bed before you really know one another.
If you have not picked up this series then start from the beginning. This is not a stand a lone novella, it goes with the rest of the series. Fan’s of Shifters Unbound will want to read it just to see what happens with their favorite shifts in Austion, TX. I’m always ready to be taken back into Ms. Ashley’s Shifters Unbound world. It was nice to see Jace an Deni have their sweet HEA.
Feral Heat is #5.5 in Shifters Unbound series by Jennifer Ashley. This novella was ok! It’s not my favorite in the long line of novellas or full length books in this series, but it does give us more in-site into the collars and a Faerie who happens to be a father to one of the shifters. There’s a lightheadedness that’s lacking in this novella when compared to previous ones, but she has opened doors to new possibilities thanks to the movement of the collar story.
Jace is Eric Warden’s son. Eric Warden (Mate Claimed) is leader and alpha of a shiftertown in Las Vegas. Jace has come to Austin to help the Morrissey free shifters from their collars without them going feral. He is a very lade back dominant alpha, but when it counts he is a fighter and a warrior. Soon after arriving in Austin he meets Deni Rowe who is Ellison’s (Lone Wolf) sister. Deni had a bad accident that robed her of the calm shifters strive for. She is only hanging on by a thread. It’s sad to see a strong independent women get hurt so bad, but then Jace comes along, he does help boost her confidence, but she fix’s herself. The chemistry was hot, but not as powerful as other couples in this series.
We do get a little drama with a human female trying to sabotage the shifters. By the end she is caught and has to explain why she did what she did, so another story is blooming as well as another human/shifter relationship hinted at. I liked visiting the older characters again as well as Fionn the Faerie. We learn a little more about him and it’s interesting to see a Faerie on the shifter side. He's an interesting character though not a main one. What made this not as fantastic to me like the prvious novellas is how quickly Deni and Jace end up haveing sex. The author explains why they hook up fast, but it just felt to rushed for me and I’m not a fan of the hoping into bed before you really know one another.
If you have not picked up this series then start from the beginning. This is not a stand a lone novella, it goes with the rest of the series. Fan’s of Shifters Unbound will want to read it just to see what happens with their favorite shifts in Austion, TX. I’m always ready to be taken back into Ms. Ashley’s Shifters Unbound world. It was nice to see Jace an Deni have their sweet HEA.
May 20, 2016
Feral Heat is my least favorite book because I felt that the characters were not evenly paired.
Jace was present throughout the series and had a huge presence in Eric's pack and family. Out of his transition, he was still very young.
This book is where the contradiction for me. Deni was just another wolf and there was not much working in her favor. We are looking at almost 60 years between the two of them and even for shifters it's a long time.
Somehow I didn't believe that they were equally paired. Jace lost his position and family and gained an old mate with teenaged kids. Not the best choice. An older shifter for Deni would have made sense.
The push-pull game again was annoying and the plot weak.
The other short stories are far better that this one.
Jace was present throughout the series and had a huge presence in Eric's pack and family. Out of his transition, he was still very young.
This book is where the contradiction for me. Deni was just another wolf and there was not much working in her favor. We are looking at almost 60 years between the two of them and even for shifters it's a long time.
Somehow I didn't believe that they were equally paired. Jace lost his position and family and gained an old mate with teenaged kids. Not the best choice. An older shifter for Deni would have made sense.
The push-pull game again was annoying and the plot weak.
The other short stories are far better that this one.
February 2, 2014
4.5 Cocktails
So good! This novella was so action and romance packed I wasn't even disappointed by the end. It felt like a natural conclusion rather than a to be continued like a lot of novellas. Deni and Jace are so freaking hot together. It was sort of laughable how long it took them to realize they were mates. This story is everything you always get from Jennifer Ashley. Depth, sexiness, sweetness, alpha males, accents. In other words perfection. Read it right now!! :)
So good! This novella was so action and romance packed I wasn't even disappointed by the end. It felt like a natural conclusion rather than a to be continued like a lot of novellas. Deni and Jace are so freaking hot together. It was sort of laughable how long it took them to realize they were mates. This story is everything you always get from Jennifer Ashley. Depth, sexiness, sweetness, alpha males, accents. In other words perfection. Read it right now!! :)
September 2, 2021
It was OK, I was disappointed with the H in this novella. He's the son of a strong Alpha but clearly did not inherit his father's strength. The sometimes feral h is thought to be 'broken' after an road accident, together they save each other. I did like how it linked the shifter towns, but that's it.
December 7, 2015
Glad Jace got his story. Good read
September 28, 2017
Deni has a pretty bad case of PTSD, and when it strikes, she loses her memory and is completely taken over by her animal. We've seen some of the destruction she's done during her episodes already, and it is devastating to the family.
Then we meet Jace, who has been asked by Dylan to come help with the collar situation. He is told to meet Dylan at the site of the fight club which is where he meets Deni. She rescues him from an attack and the two really hit it off. I mean really hit it off!
Jace seems to have so much patience, and totally believes that he can help Deni overcome her PTSD symptoms. It was so great to see Deni slowly come to trust herself and be comfortable around people without worrying about her animal taking over.
These two are really great for each other. I was worried about how the relationship was going to work with Jace being from the Nevada Shiftertown and Deni, the Austin. She had her kids to be near and I'm glad they worked out a solution for the problem.
The testing with the collars is difficult due to police presence for some unknown reason. They have to be careful to hide what they are doing and Jace as well, since he does not have permission to be away from his shiftertown.
I enjoyed this couple mainly because Jace was just so good for Deni. They do seem to have two completely different lives, but that is what makes these mate claims so surprising at times. They are bringing together characters you wouldn't expect and making things work. Thus, we are getting the evolution of a relationship with the overall story arc of the collars. That story arc did not progress much during this novella, but that is to be expected. I imagine more will come on that in the full length books.
The Series
This review was originally posted on Rantings of a Reading Addict
Then we meet Jace, who has been asked by Dylan to come help with the collar situation. He is told to meet Dylan at the site of the fight club which is where he meets Deni. She rescues him from an attack and the two really hit it off. I mean really hit it off!
Jace seems to have so much patience, and totally believes that he can help Deni overcome her PTSD symptoms. It was so great to see Deni slowly come to trust herself and be comfortable around people without worrying about her animal taking over.
These two are really great for each other. I was worried about how the relationship was going to work with Jace being from the Nevada Shiftertown and Deni, the Austin. She had her kids to be near and I'm glad they worked out a solution for the problem.
The testing with the collars is difficult due to police presence for some unknown reason. They have to be careful to hide what they are doing and Jace as well, since he does not have permission to be away from his shiftertown.
I enjoyed this couple mainly because Jace was just so good for Deni. They do seem to have two completely different lives, but that is what makes these mate claims so surprising at times. They are bringing together characters you wouldn't expect and making things work. Thus, we are getting the evolution of a relationship with the overall story arc of the collars. That story arc did not progress much during this novella, but that is to be expected. I imagine more will come on that in the full length books.
The Series
March 28, 2020
Deni is broken. She was run down by a car and her wolf has never been the same. She tends to go feral to the point of even attacking her sons. Because of this, she tends to avoid any of the big gatherings because even the hint of violence can cause her wolf to want to take over. But tonight, is different. She goes to the fight clubs. She just wants to get out of her house and feel normal for a bit.
Jace Warden, Las Vegas pack snow leopard shifter, has come to Austin again to help with the secret collar removal project . When Jace arrives in Austin, he's to meet Liam at the shifter fight site. When Jace arrives, he immediately has a territorial fight with Broderick. Jace meets Deni here and she darts out of the trees to help him win a fight he didn’t need help with, and is stunned that she helped him, a stranger, instead of backing the boys from her own shiftertown.
Of course they hit it off and they realize that they are mates.
The story was engaging. I liked Deni who felt broken at the start of the book and incapable of having something special with someone else. To finding someone she can be with was a good story. Being broken makes you still worthy.
Jace Warden, Las Vegas pack snow leopard shifter, has come to Austin again to help with the secret collar removal project . When Jace arrives in Austin, he's to meet Liam at the shifter fight site. When Jace arrives, he immediately has a territorial fight with Broderick. Jace meets Deni here and she darts out of the trees to help him win a fight he didn’t need help with, and is stunned that she helped him, a stranger, instead of backing the boys from her own shiftertown.
Of course they hit it off and they realize that they are mates.
The story was engaging. I liked Deni who felt broken at the start of the book and incapable of having something special with someone else. To finding someone she can be with was a good story. Being broken makes you still worthy.
January 26, 2017
Jace had returned back to Austin to conduct some further experiments with the Morissesy. He didn't expect to meet Deni Rowe. He didn't expect to become so protective of her. He didn't expect to feel so much for her. Deni has suffered a serious loss. Even though the person that caused it all has been dealt with. Her life has not quite got back to what it was. She never knows when she will flip out. Or just how fare she will go. Jace was unexpected to her but she cannot deny the connection they have. This quick lite some fires. Set some flames and brought about some more truths of the shifter world. Must read to gather important information.
April 15, 2018
What the what????
Jace volunteers for an experiment and then spends the entire time bitching and moaning and complaining and seems completely unprepared for it. What no body's forcing him to do it. What the hell?
Deni simply deserved better than this. She was a great character and this could've been handled so much better, her rebirth, her healing. What she got was this stupid story. I'm disappointed.
What a waste.
Jace volunteers for an experiment and then spends the entire time bitching and moaning and complaining and seems completely unprepared for it. What no body's forcing him to do it. What the hell?
Deni simply deserved better than this. She was a great character and this could've been handled so much better, her rebirth, her healing. What she got was this stupid story. I'm disappointed.
What a waste.
March 18, 2014
3.5 stars
Jace Warden is in the Austin Shiftertown in an effort to find a way to free shifters from their collars without them going feral. Shortly after arriving, Jace meets Deni Rowe, a shifter ran off the road a year ago and still suffers uncontrollable episodes where her wolf takes over and she can’t remember what happens. Dani has felt broken since the incident and with Jace, she finally feels like she is healing and just maybe, deserving of their growing mate bond.
Like his predecessors, Jace is dominate, respectful, clever, and of course, yumtastic. The women tend to be more unique than their male counterparts. Deni is like a female wolf version of Jace, minus the yumtastic. Her injuries took away her confidence and bruised her spirit. Jace’s arrival doesn’t fix that. She does it herself but he does help boost her confidence and the near instant mate bond that begins forming gives her a reason to fight. Romantically speaking, I wasn’t blown away by their chemistry. The sex is hot but the spark isn’t as powerful as other couples in this series. Outside of their relationship, Jace and Deni are solid and bring out the characteristics in each other that make them so appealing.
There’s a lightheartedness that’s lacking in this novella when compared to previous ones. I’m not sure if it’s because of the seriousness of Deni’s injuries and the aftermath or what’s happening to Jace as the Morrissey’s use him as a test subject while they figure out how to safely remove collars but I miss the cute moments that I previously enjoyed.
I had my issues and don’t think it’s the best in this series but that’s only because Jennifer Ashley has set the bar high. As a whole I did enjoy it and welcome any chance to be taken back into Ashley’s addicting Shifters Unbound world. One that has opened doors to new possibilities thanks to the movement of the collar story arc. Jace and Deni deserve their sweet HEA and I was happy to be given the privilege of going along for the ride.
- Stephanie
Jace Warden is in the Austin Shiftertown in an effort to find a way to free shifters from their collars without them going feral. Shortly after arriving, Jace meets Deni Rowe, a shifter ran off the road a year ago and still suffers uncontrollable episodes where her wolf takes over and she can’t remember what happens. Dani has felt broken since the incident and with Jace, she finally feels like she is healing and just maybe, deserving of their growing mate bond.
Like his predecessors, Jace is dominate, respectful, clever, and of course, yumtastic. The women tend to be more unique than their male counterparts. Deni is like a female wolf version of Jace, minus the yumtastic. Her injuries took away her confidence and bruised her spirit. Jace’s arrival doesn’t fix that. She does it herself but he does help boost her confidence and the near instant mate bond that begins forming gives her a reason to fight. Romantically speaking, I wasn’t blown away by their chemistry. The sex is hot but the spark isn’t as powerful as other couples in this series. Outside of their relationship, Jace and Deni are solid and bring out the characteristics in each other that make them so appealing.
There’s a lightheartedness that’s lacking in this novella when compared to previous ones. I’m not sure if it’s because of the seriousness of Deni’s injuries and the aftermath or what’s happening to Jace as the Morrissey’s use him as a test subject while they figure out how to safely remove collars but I miss the cute moments that I previously enjoyed.
I had my issues and don’t think it’s the best in this series but that’s only because Jennifer Ashley has set the bar high. As a whole I did enjoy it and welcome any chance to be taken back into Ashley’s addicting Shifters Unbound world. One that has opened doors to new possibilities thanks to the movement of the collar story arc. Jace and Deni deserve their sweet HEA and I was happy to be given the privilege of going along for the ride.
- Stephanie
February 20, 2015
I really enjoy Ahsley's Shifters Unbound series and one of the nice things about it is these great little fill in novellas.
In the spotlight here is wolf shifter Dina (Ellison's sister) whose inner wolf is feral at times and Jace (erik's son) who has such good control of his good inner cat that he's volunteered himself for an experiment to try and find a way to remove the collars that keep all shifters bound. Since the story is short, the leads connect pretty quickly, but it's nice that not only does Jace help Dina to reclaim herself and help her get a handle on the feralness that has made her become a spectator in her own family, but Dina is the one to save Jace when circumstances make him the one on the verge of being lost. For fans, there's a whole slew of cameos from both the Austin and Vegas casts of previous books - but I thought that they were well integrated into the story so that everyone felt like they belonged.
With the experiments in the background, there is movement in Heat Feral for the larger series arc and it looks like there's the set up for one of the background characters who's been a jerk to find some redemption.
Next up is Graham's story, but I hope Ashley keeps the novellas coming.
In the spotlight here is wolf shifter Dina (Ellison's sister) whose inner wolf is feral at times and Jace (erik's son) who has such good control of his good inner cat that he's volunteered himself for an experiment to try and find a way to remove the collars that keep all shifters bound. Since the story is short, the leads connect pretty quickly, but it's nice that not only does Jace help Dina to reclaim herself and help her get a handle on the feralness that has made her become a spectator in her own family, but Dina is the one to save Jace when circumstances make him the one on the verge of being lost. For fans, there's a whole slew of cameos from both the Austin and Vegas casts of previous books - but I thought that they were well integrated into the story so that everyone felt like they belonged.
With the experiments in the background, there is movement in Heat Feral for the larger series arc and it looks like there's the set up for one of the background characters who's been a jerk to find some redemption.
Next up is Graham's story, but I hope Ashley keeps the novellas coming.
October 29, 2014
As reviewed on Read Our Lips:
Ever since the attack on Deni, where a man crashed into her motorcycle causing a crash, she´s had trouble keeping calm and not going feral.
The trauma has affected her deeply, but for once she´s come to the Shifter fights, to live a little.
Jace is on a visit to work on his collar and try to detach it without major damage. When he reaches the fights it´s instant attraction between Deni and Jace. But how can this work, with them living in separate Shifter towns and her going slowly feral?
Smutty fluff and action in a great combo.
Ever since the attack on Deni, where a man crashed into her motorcycle causing a crash, she´s had trouble keeping calm and not going feral.
The trauma has affected her deeply, but for once she´s come to the Shifter fights, to live a little.
Jace is on a visit to work on his collar and try to detach it without major damage. When he reaches the fights it´s instant attraction between Deni and Jace. But how can this work, with them living in separate Shifter towns and her going slowly feral?
Smutty fluff and action in a great combo.
September 12, 2015
I am actually buying some e books. Enjoyed the story of Jace and Deni. Since I am reading this out of order, I knew they would get together, and each story fills in more and more of the backstory. Now it is going to get more exciting as the collars come off! I have just ordered 3 more from the library and then will read some more of the e books until I am all caught up!! I do enjoy shifter stories, and Ashley does a good job of consistency in the ethos. She and Christine Feehan both do such a good job of building their worlds!
February 13, 2015
Another great read from Jennifer Ashley. This one is short but sweet. Lovely to see Deni get her hea. Of course it isn't all smooth sailing and there is intrigue and mysteries to solve first. But it all comes together perfectly in the end.
Jace is fabulous and you really feel the depth of his caring for Deni.
Jace is fabulous and you really feel the depth of his caring for Deni.
December 14, 2025
3.5 stars
June 17, 2015
it was interesting and keeped me on the edge of mt seat
February 4, 2017
I wish everyone read this series.
November 13, 2025
Feral Heat by Jennifer Ashley
Rating 4 stars
**MINOR SPOILERS**
This novella is part of the Shifters Unbound series. It can be read as a standalone but there are many references to characters from other books. There is a side story related to a spy that is never fully resolved. Perhaps that would be resolved in the next book. There are a couple of explained references to a motorcycle accident and the follow up that happened in a previous book.
The series involves people who can shift to different animals, usually predators such as leopards, bears, wolves, etc. The shifters are considered second class citizens by humans and have limited rights. The shifters have found ways to live successfully in separate communities, but there are moments when the two collide. Shifters are forced to wear collars that keep them from becoming violent.
In this book, Jace, the male main character, is working in secret with a limited group of people who are trying to find a way to remove the collars without killing shifters. When the collars are removed, some shifters die or become feral. I believe that the term may be related to the title as well as the wildness of the mate bond.
When Jace and Deni, the female main character, meet, they are immediately attracted to each other and a mate bond begins to form between them. Deni, a wolf shifter, was in a motorcycle accident about a year prior to the novella and has moments of memory loss and loss of control. Jace steadies her and helps her feel more balanced. I thought the relationship needed to be better developed between them. It was more a matter of “we have a mate bond therefore this is a forever love”. However, there are a few references to one sided mate bonds so the concept felt a little undefined.
Most of the book involves moments that involve elevated emotions: anger, fear, arousal, etc. There is a lot of explicit s*x.
I read several books in the series in the past but had decided to discontinue reading them. This book is a quick read, but it reinforced my choice.
Rating 4 stars
**MINOR SPOILERS**
This novella is part of the Shifters Unbound series. It can be read as a standalone but there are many references to characters from other books. There is a side story related to a spy that is never fully resolved. Perhaps that would be resolved in the next book. There are a couple of explained references to a motorcycle accident and the follow up that happened in a previous book.
The series involves people who can shift to different animals, usually predators such as leopards, bears, wolves, etc. The shifters are considered second class citizens by humans and have limited rights. The shifters have found ways to live successfully in separate communities, but there are moments when the two collide. Shifters are forced to wear collars that keep them from becoming violent.
In this book, Jace, the male main character, is working in secret with a limited group of people who are trying to find a way to remove the collars without killing shifters. When the collars are removed, some shifters die or become feral. I believe that the term may be related to the title as well as the wildness of the mate bond.
When Jace and Deni, the female main character, meet, they are immediately attracted to each other and a mate bond begins to form between them. Deni, a wolf shifter, was in a motorcycle accident about a year prior to the novella and has moments of memory loss and loss of control. Jace steadies her and helps her feel more balanced. I thought the relationship needed to be better developed between them. It was more a matter of “we have a mate bond therefore this is a forever love”. However, there are a few references to one sided mate bonds so the concept felt a little undefined.
Most of the book involves moments that involve elevated emotions: anger, fear, arousal, etc. There is a lot of explicit s*x.
I read several books in the series in the past but had decided to discontinue reading them. This book is a quick read, but it reinforced my choice.
February 11, 2021
(Explícito). Bonito. Jace se me hizo tierno, ni idea de porqué. Deni no se dio por vencida, desde el accidente que no sabía que había tenido, se la pasó luchando contra su propia naturaleza salvaje y tratar de no causar daños a los demás. No se dio por vencida.
La historia tomó un giro inesperado y me gustó. Mucho. Ahora Jace noestá solo en el mundo y Deni tiene otra oportunidad. Son muy tiernos juntos, Jace todo un alfa.
Con lo de los collares, pues fue sorprendente lo del oro fae; Jace si tuvo unos efectos secundarios como querer ser leopardo para siempre y vivir en la naturaleza con Deni en forma de lobo. Fue algo encantador saber sus pensamientos justo después del accidente. Que me parece fue un fallo en el motor y no alguien tratando de matar a Jace y Marlo.
Con lo de la filtración del club de lucha y esa humana Joanne, y luego Broderick, no me llama la atención, lo encontré algo forzado. Para mi lo interante es saber dónde está esa supuesta hermana desaparecida: estoy pensando que tal vez quedó embarazada de un cambiante y el gobierno se la llevó.
Bueno, el epílogo algo precipitado pero ahora sabemos más sobré cómo quitar los collares, que los cambiantes no sepan controlarse si se los quitan será un desafío.
Narrado en tercera persona y ofrece los puntos de vista de los protagonistas.
Me gustaron Deni y Jace.
La historia tomó un giro inesperado y me gustó. Mucho. Ahora Jace noestá solo en el mundo y Deni tiene otra oportunidad. Son muy tiernos juntos, Jace todo un alfa.
Con lo de los collares, pues fue sorprendente lo del oro fae; Jace si tuvo unos efectos secundarios como querer ser leopardo para siempre y vivir en la naturaleza con Deni en forma de lobo. Fue algo encantador saber sus pensamientos justo después del accidente. Que me parece fue un fallo en el motor y no alguien tratando de matar a Jace y Marlo.
Con lo de la filtración del club de lucha y esa humana Joanne, y luego Broderick, no me llama la atención, lo encontré algo forzado. Para mi lo interante es saber dónde está esa supuesta hermana desaparecida: estoy pensando que tal vez quedó embarazada de un cambiante y el gobierno se la llevó.
Bueno, el epílogo algo precipitado pero ahora sabemos más sobré cómo quitar los collares, que los cambiantes no sepan controlarse si se los quitan será un desafío.
Narrado en tercera persona y ofrece los puntos de vista de los protagonistas.
Me gustaron Deni y Jace.
July 4, 2017
Read: September 2015
The couple: Jace & Deni
The plot: Jace Warden is a feline shifter who is invited into shiftertown by Dylan, Luke and Sean Morrissey in order to continue their experiments on removing their collars. On his first night in town Jace meets Deni; she has been traumatised by a motorbike accident and she feels like she is slowly losing her mind and becoming more feral.
I love returning to the world Ashley has created in the Shifters Unbound series. These shorter novellas cannot be missed in order to keep up with the overall plot. Deni is a very different sort of romantic heroine, she is older with two adult sons and is suffering from some sort of PTSD that is made worse by her shifter nature. Jace is perfect for her in that he sees past that and wants to help her recover, along with her sons and brother.
The continuing study of the Fae collars that control shifter behaviour takes a huge step forward and a possible new romance is also set up as well.
There are three main things I love about the Shifters Unbound series; the unapologetically hot romances, the unique perspective of shifters as second class citizens and the way the tension between human and shifter is handled, and how Ashley writes such multi-faceted characters - no one is ever clearly defined as 'good' or 'bad'. In short, I don't think I can overstate how good this series is.
Rating: 4/5 stars
The couple: Jace & Deni
The plot: Jace Warden is a feline shifter who is invited into shiftertown by Dylan, Luke and Sean Morrissey in order to continue their experiments on removing their collars. On his first night in town Jace meets Deni; she has been traumatised by a motorbike accident and she feels like she is slowly losing her mind and becoming more feral.
I love returning to the world Ashley has created in the Shifters Unbound series. These shorter novellas cannot be missed in order to keep up with the overall plot. Deni is a very different sort of romantic heroine, she is older with two adult sons and is suffering from some sort of PTSD that is made worse by her shifter nature. Jace is perfect for her in that he sees past that and wants to help her recover, along with her sons and brother.
The continuing study of the Fae collars that control shifter behaviour takes a huge step forward and a possible new romance is also set up as well.
There are three main things I love about the Shifters Unbound series; the unapologetically hot romances, the unique perspective of shifters as second class citizens and the way the tension between human and shifter is handled, and how Ashley writes such multi-faceted characters - no one is ever clearly defined as 'good' or 'bad'. In short, I don't think I can overstate how good this series is.
Rating: 4/5 stars
Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews