Change For Me

The Alpha's Kiss #1

by Lynn Red

New faces were hard to come by in Fort Branch, Arizona. From the moment she saw Damon, Lily Kyle’s heart was stolen. He and Lily were inseparable, until he finally pushed her too far away.

Despite the distance Damon put between them, Lily never stopped loving him.

Motorcycle riding, rough-around-the-edges Damon King has a complicated life. He’s trying to juggle existence after high school, while attempting to get back the only girl he ever really loved. On top of all that? Damon has to figure out his new role as Alpha of a scattered pack of werewolves.

When Damon learns that Lily is more than just his high school sweetheart – she’s his fated soul mate – he also realizes he’s not the only Alpha in town. Will he be able to protect her, and drive his dangerous rival out of town before it’s too late? Or will his savage, feral werewolf rival tear Fort Branch apart and claim Lily first?

Genres: Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Werewolves, Shapeshifters, Ebooks, Fantasy

192 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 16, 2013

About the author

Lynn doesn't love anything more than being wrapped up in a hammock with her corgi on her stomach and a pile of her favorite books to read. And by "pile of books" she means "a kindle."

She loves all sorts of romance, but especially ones that feature big, strong alphas who will stop at nothing to prove themselves to the women who melt their hearts.

Sigh up for her mailing list to keep up with new releases and get free reads and exclusive excerpts!

AKA Anya Karin

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

So disappointing.. made me want to cry

*********Contains a few spoilers********



Let me just say I rarely ever leave reviews, but this book disappointed and frustrated me so much I just had to say something. The first few pages had me shutting off my kindle out of absolute frustration with sentence structure. But I am not a quitter. There are very few books that I have not finished, and most of those were books forced down my throat for English class in high school. Usually I am able to just sit down and finish a book this length in a day. This book took me three. Three very frustrating days filled with bad grammar and random big words. Oh, and having to re-read conversations because it sounds like one person is speaking, but it's really the other person speaking, but then the person that is really speaking responds to themselves... and sorry that probably doesn't make sense so here's an example:
"That hung between us, heavy in the air for a second before Grandpa spoke up again. "Hey, I've got an idea. How about that deli across the square from the jail? want to go there?".... blah blah blah inner monologue about the town, Lily doesn't respond...
"That's it? You graduate high school and all you want is a sandwhich?"
UUUUGGGGGHHHHH!!! How did the editor not catch this??? Was there even an editor???? Because it doesn't seem like it!

Just breathe...


And Moving on...


To even more frustration...

Soooo...Lily.. Kind of wanted to slap her. Like seriously.. She meets some big wolf creature and she gets horny.. really? And then when she finds out it's Damon, and he is suppose to be her mate she just jumps on the crazy train and is like."take me! so what if I just graduated high school! I never had any plans for my life anyways!" ugh. And don't even get me started an the New York Times thing...And Damon.. he really isn't even worth mentioning... I just finished this book and I can't even remember what he looks like.. All I can remember is that he can't tell Lily he loves her. Oh and at the end of the book he basically tells her to f off and let him deal with pack business. Now to leave you with a quote that left me cringing and wanting to cry. "Take me, Damon, make me yours right here, under this big, wonderful moon."

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a coming of age werewolf book, it's different in that almost the entire book is spent with the main character coming to terms with the fact that he's undergoing the transformation into a werewolf, we live through this ordeal with him and it's a long torturous change with no guarantee of success, added to this is the pressure of him discovering his mate and another alpha on the scene, things are not looking good.
I liked the idea behind this book but I did feel it lacked something, personally too much time was spent with Damon brooding and not communicating with Lily and I know that Damon and Lily are young but Damon in particular made some silly decisions. I must admit that in places I felt it dragged I would have liked more characters and background stories but it's free and as such worth ago if you like shifters.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book as part of the Fated Mates: The Alpha Shifter Boxed Set of which I received an ARC via NetGalley.

I found it hard to get into this book...I almost gave up on reading it a few chapters in. I didn't think it flowed well and found the story a bit confusing at times. I probably won't read the next book.

[Mya · Rating 4 out of 5]

It started off slow like d twist

[R · Rating 2 out of 5]

**MINOR SPOILERS**
This book is the first book in The Alpha’s Kiss trilogy. I do not plan to continue reading the series.
The book begins with Lily graduating high school. I had not realized how young the characters were when I started reading the book and they seemed immature.
One of the things that I did not care for was that things were teased and not explained. While this is a commonly used writing technique, usually when something is incompletely explained at least a part of it is made clear. In this story, it felt like explanations were not forthcoming for no good reason. I did not think it added to the story to be so unclear. At several points, Lily asks what is going on and there is no reason for her not to be told, especially since the situation would have been helped for her to know a little more.
Damon is a former boyfriend of Lily, and he is a werewolf. The story involves him changing into a werewolf for the first time. He knows he is a werewolf but had not reached the age where he changed. Simultaneously, he will be taking on the role of alpha, but no other werewolves are introduced other than Damon’s mentor and Devin. Devin is going through the change at the same time and will become an alpha of a rival clan. It did not make sense for there to be no other werewolves.
Spoiler…Devin is also Damon’s brother but there is no explanation of why they are in rival clans. Devin is very vicious and out of control. The tension in the story comes from how Damon and Lily will deal with him, but it felt overdramatic.
Lily has a beloved grandfather that seems to have a secret. This also was not explained in the book. Looking at the descriptions for the other books in the series, you have a sense of what it is, but it made no sense that Lily would not know and would not have received some instructions related to the secret.
I do not recommend this book, and I do not plan to continue reading this author.

[Laurie Hopkins]

Good

Would have given 4stars, but the fact the author couldn't keep her characters straight downgraded it. The story was interesting, learning about the two sides in this way. Lily was one of those personality types that can run you the wrong way, hopefully as she matures it will get better.

[Ashleigh Gunn · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 ⭐️
Not really worth a review. I wanted a romance but this was strange. No plot, just the 2 mates coming together and another wolfy dude trying to claim her as well.
Pretty juvenile, but there was a little bit of smut?
Nothing else to talk about here.
Read thru Apple Books

[Linda Reece · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good YA story...not my flavor though

[Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know. I just really didn't get warm with Damon. He was so fucking annoying.

[Mnms · Rating 2 out of 5]

Whine, whine, whine

[Sebrena · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read. Damon's life is complicated. He and Lily use to be inseparable, until he pushed her too far away. While attempting to get her back, they are soul mates, he has to figure out his new role as Alpha of a scattered pack of werewolves. All the while protecting her and driving his dangerous rival out of town before it's too late. I recommend to anyone who enjoys coming of age werewolf romance novels.

Honey Trap
The Alpha's Mate: 8 Sexy, Powerful Shifters and Their Fated Mates
The Alpha's Kiss - Complete Series
The Jamesburg Shifters: Volume 1
I Married a Billionaire: The Complete Box Set Trilogy
The Last Lord of the Moors
Teaching The Old Duke New Tricks
A Song For A Soldier
Ultimate Alphas: Bad Boys and Good Lovers
Bad Boys and Billionaires

[Jaimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic coming of age romance that creeps up like a stalking wolf, and then strikes at just the right moment!

Change for Me is a fine debut that blends New Adult themes, paranormal shifter romance, and raw sensuality in ways that left me howling for more. It's rare to mix genres like this and do it so well. Actually, only one other series comes to mind where an author has managed to use shifters in a way that drives home some very real, very timeless, and very human concerns.

Reading Lily's tumultuous side of the story brings back gritty memories of High School and the aimless period right after. Aside from their uncanny abilities to transform, Lynn Red's shifters are remarkably like the average young adult without such powers. Young Lily begins in an uncertain place, pining after an alpha who seems a world away. Becoming permanently paired with the bad boy alpha-in-the-making she remembers is the most unlikely thing in the world, and soon other aggressive rivals move in to claim her.

You might think that young alpha Damon would be swooping in for Lily's hand from the get go. In fact, he starts off more than a little lost himself, an uncertain alpha who doesn't yet realize his power, nor the fact that his heartrending love for Lily isn't just a young crush. They're fated to be together, the same way Damon is meant to be a King among wolves, and watching his gradual transformation into an alpha and a man is just awesome.

Lynn Red gives us a small, but amiable cast of supporting characters to help these two in a volatile journey. Wise elders, best friends, and wicked villains are sketched with almost the same passion as Lily and Damon. This may not seem important, but for me, it helped enormously to embrace the paranormal wonderland Red has created. Chapter by chapter, I found myself getting a little more invested in everybody at Fort Branch, feeling their shocks and grinning with Ms. Red's sometimes diabolical wit.

It needs to be said that this story has some serious steam too, but it doesn't arrive as filler or brain candy. Lily and Damon have to work for their passions. And when it arrives, they're utterly consumed...and so was I.

[Scott-robert Shenkman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once in a while – if you love wolf shifters – you come across a debut book and you finish and think “I will read every book this author ever writes.”

This is one of those books.

It was an amazing story. It’s different, for one thing. It shifts between first person for Lily, the MC, and third person for Damon, the male MC. I loved the characters. I loved the dialogue. I think Devin is one of the most over-the-top psycho villains I’ve encountered in years. He was practically foaming at the mouth crazy – and that wasn’t just because he was wolf.

Unfortunately, at one point, Lily succumbed to Idiotic Heroine Syndrome, which we know goes around in these books. She wants Damon to “open up about his feelings”. He’s an Alpha, for crying out loud. Alphas fight and have sex and protect their mates. But they don’t do exploring their inner id. But I will cut her some slack – she obviously lived in the middle of Absolutely Nowhere and probably didn’t get much of a chance to read shifter romances in high school. But the ball is in her court now to spend some time on Amazon!

I had to laugh. At one point, Damon calls someone “brother”, and I suddenly had this weird feeling that I was watching The Vampire Diaries.

I will mention one factual error, since I work in a wolf sanctuary in real life: Lily mentions a red wolf. There are no red wolves in Arizona, only Mexican Greys. And they extremely rare and endangered. Red wolves only live in the wild on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. They are extremely rare and even more endangered. I am only doing my wolfy duties pointing this out. So if you love wolves, go to the Defenders of Wildlife website, or WolfWatchers.org, because our wonderful government is trying to de-list wolves as endangered in the lower 48, and we are fighting it. Hard. There aren’t even 6.000 wolves left in the States. That sounds pretty endangered to me. Rant Over.

But again, I loved this book. I devoured it in a day. And when I was done, and looked at the cover, I realized…it’s a series!! Gee, I wonder who will be back to cause trouble?

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story despite its flaws and I think it had great potential although it was short.

Damon was a person that had to constantly fight since his youth with what he really was but cared so much for Lily that he held himself and tried to protect her by not being open with his feelings and his situation. I felt frustrated by his personality because I felt like he really wanted to be honest but felt he couldn't. I understood why he did it but I think he must have really known that Lily's involvement was inevitable and would have like that he was more honest and open with her. This was something that throughout the story made me want to smack him in the head for being indecisive or no being able to properly explain himself. I would have liked more depth regarding his background as well as his struggles growing up since I felt they were short.

Lily was a nice character, can't tell much she didn't had much depth but I did like her sense of humour even in the dire situations I couldn't hel but laugh at how ridiculous she sounded but I knew it was her reflex against those situations. I like that she was brave when facing danger and tried to keep her cool even when she was scared.

The connection between the two and the "mate" thing neede a little bit more work, I didn't really felt the pull or chemistry the story told they had between each other and sincerely Devin, as the antagonist, could have been portrayed a little better.

I was really looking forward to know more about the existing clans, and the role of alpha as well as background of the other characters of the story like Poko and Joe. They told bits of them but at the end it felt like the story didn't tell anything at all.

The book was nice, I wouldn't said it was an amazing, just some reading to past the time. It lacked depth and I don't know if it will be left for further installments but I hope it does. There are things that could have been better but the book was decent.

[Dena · Rating 2 out of 5]

Usually I do not rate books so low one because the author puts together a book that is at least readable and second I can tolerate it from beginning to end. With those requirements met I usually rate according to characters and story line that is how a book gets a 4 or 5 star rating.

With that being said I had to many numerous issues with this book and one good thing. The positive going for this is that the storyline was decent and got me interested on what was going to happen next. I could not wait to find out and I was happy to read it for that fact since the book only has 192 pages.

The negatives, The characters were not developing with the story I felt that they were way ahead of the story and on the fence for the werewolf thing. All the subject matter was all over the place. The werewolf story was background which stunk because I wanted to know more on the legends that the author keeps refering too. The relationships are vague and glossed over most of the story. Lily gives us this vague thing of her and Damon but really it doesn't sound like her lost love it really sounds like oh this boy I used to know. Which totally stunk because it didn't connect me to the book at all.

Overall I was disappointed with the book and thought it would be more than it was. I hope the author does more on the foundation of what the book is the flow of the story and characters would probably work out better.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked parts of this story a lot -- the werewolves and the fated mates parts because YAY!WEREWOLVES AND SEXY TIMES! -- and then there were parts I didn't love as much. The inclusion of the second Alpha (along with everything that entailed) felt a little lackluster. While his presence definitely drove the ending of the story, the hows and whys of what he was doing in Lily's small town weren't fleshed out enough for me. (and without giving things away, I can't say much more than that, but I was confused as to why he wasn't recognized prior to everything happening.)

I liked Damon up to a point. I get why he kept backing away from Lily, but at the same time she puts up with A LOT from him and it started to get old after a while. Really, I get his fears and why he's worried about involving her in everything, but let the girl make up her own mind.

As for Lily, she has a few issues. I could never quite get a handle on what those issues specifically were (depression? delayed grief? bipolar disorder?), but her feelings for Damon are pretty darn constant. I do wonder about her grandpa and how he's connected to the werewolves (was that explained? I don't remember.) and the mysterious Poko.

Overall, there was intriguing world building, but I needed a little more explanation as far as the character development went. Still, I read it in one sitting. So, there's that.

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

[Cassandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Thoughts - 3.5 out of 5 Unicorns - I more than liked it!!
***Part of the Fated Mates box set which I now own and the individual ebook too

The cover is beautiful and dramatic :) Love it!!

This is a great start to a series, and I definitely want to read more of this series. This story did start a little slow, and I wished it was more action packed. But I see this happen in the first book of a series where you are building characters and the world for the readers.

Both Lily and Damon remind me of my high school students, but this is NOT a young adult book, it is for adults only due to the sexual content. They are scared and unsure of themselves and their futures; I know I was terrified when I graduated high school and tried to figure out what I was doing. Lily has a strength of character where she does not give up fighting or on her love for Damon which I really admire :) Damon loves her but keeps running away.

Grandpa Joe and Poko are both interesting characters, and it definitely helped add something to this shifter tale.

This has a few different ideas for shifters that make it unique and a world to explore more. I think if you like shifter tales, you will enjoy this story. Though I am hoping for more action in the next book, I do own both of the next books in this series :)

[Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book on sale but I would definitely pay full price for it.

Honestly, this book took me a bit to get into. It is so different from the books I usually read where everything happens very quickly, kinda 'wham-bam-thank-you-mam'. This author obviously loves the English language. Detailed, intricate scenes were a delight once I slowed down a bit so I could enjoy them, and enjoy them I did!

I thoroughly relished this different story line. (At least I haven't read it before and I've been reading paranormal books for quite a few years now.) Not many authors will have their hero confess to being scared and confused, but this guy finally got up the courage to tell his mate that he was.

I felt anxious, confused, angry and happy right along with the MC's. After a while, I was so into the story that I almost peed my pants as I didn't want to take that long a break away from the story. I was actually feeling like I didn't want to miss anything even though it was a book, silly as that may sound.

Any more explanations would be spoiling it for you so just go get the book and enjoy it. I'm off to read the second in the series now and will get to the third one asap. I can't wait!

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Free download. I wasn't sure what to think of this book as the reviews were mixed but I love supernatural romances so had nothing to loose, and I have to say I enjoyed it. The beginning starts a little slow and I was a bit confused as the excerpt says that from the moment Lily and Damon see one another it's instant but this didn't seem like the case. If that were true then they would have been together although the more into the book you get you realise why they weren't even though they should have been. I loved Damon, the strong silent loving type who wants to protect the love of his life, Lily is a strong willed, loving person who wants honesty. When they realise what's happening around them and what roles they both have, the love they have flows from them both. This story was different but did not distract from the usual werewolf lore, however I did enjoy the idea of Alphas fighting for the same thing. The additional characters were simple but required for this story. It had a lot of angst, confusion, misunderstanding but also a lot of love and a nice romantic intimate selection. I have already downloaded the next in this series so looking forward to seeing where Damon and Lily find themselves next. Would recommend.

[Tamara aka SoMysteriousLee · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok. Felt everything was crammed in, almost as if it was a rough draft if ideas that never got fleshed out. Lily got on my nerves more than once, always proclaiming she's grown woman but generally acts like a bratty 15 yr old, constantly needed reassurance and whining most of the time. Every time Damon opens up and answers her, she keeps picking and picking until it's a festering blister. With all he has on his mind and the changes and trickles of facts he's given, he has a lot to take in and deal with. Yes, he's a bit of a jerk, the whole 'I don't want to hurt you so I'm going to hurt you' circular logic got old quick too. All the potential is there, but there are just so many things tossed in at random and Poko and Grandpa being cryptic and mysterious when apparently MANY lives are at stake was just another irritant. It was a grand idea of a story though and if it was plotted out more concisely I think it has the makings of a really good book or three to see what else happens in Fort Branch and the surrounding areas.

[Shurrn]

I downloaded this book as part of the FREE Bundle: Bad Boys and Billionaires which includes the following books:

[Heather andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was different from any other werewolf book I've read and I liked that. I loved Damon, "yes," his voice was a whisper, but an urgent one, as he entered me in my dream. "Let me take you, let me have your everything." He's also a strange one, "he put his hands up like he was deflecting a punch. "Whoa, whoa," he said with a laugh. "It's...it's nothing. How you doing, Lily? Long time no see, sort of." An easy grin spread across his bowed lips, just enough to make the dimple on his left cheek stand out." It's good that Lily keeps him grounded, "I stood over him, then I crouched, and then he grabbed my hand and pulled me onto his lap. "Oh hey!" I giggled. "Watch where those hands are going! Hurt or not, fresh is still fresh."

[Rhonda Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully Different

The book centers on three recent high school graduates, two are potential alpha werewolves from competing packs. Neither have experienced their first shift, but they are on the cusp of that experience. Teenagers, hormones, and the pain of an impending shift are not the only things these young men are going through. Lily is human but also a potential alpha's mate. Both young alpha males want her. And without her both could turn feral. What I found particularly interesting is that neither pack are around to help the young male shifters. Damon and Lily work to unravel the mystery of the two packs, while the other shifter becomes increasingly more feral and destructive. Great story.

[Tonileg · Rating 2 out of 5]

End of high school is a big change for young adults and if you're a changing wolf shifter being groomed to be the leader of the town's pack doesn't make things any easier.
This is told in two different POVs, there is the strong and sassy Lily Kyle and the strong buff wolf shifter Damon King (um, the last name is a dead giveaway!). So tiny town Fort Branch, Arizona doesn't seem to have anything going on, but actually there is a wolf shifter war brewing.
Lily Kyle was an interesting strong girl with 'Cat' in comparison who is dating the other 'alpha' youngster in town. There is some violence and lots of nasty wounds to heal but otherwise I wasn't too involved with this story. Damon was a clueless young man (like anyone under 21 years old!).

192 pages and kindle freebie

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a disappointing story. The plot and story line hold a lot of promise, however the characters lack a lot of something.

Usually I find the heroine to suffer from TSTL (to stupid to live syndrome) and sadly both the hero and heroine hold this quality.

Lily lives with her grandfather after her parents died. Damon is alone after his family left for a vacation? there is so much that makes you feel like you do not have the whole story, and too much of other things you just could care less about.

Damon seriously isn't like an alpha you know .He's seriously weak and whiny and unappealing until the end when he finally gets his crap together. I'm just really sad about this book and i hate giving low ratings.

[Crystal Simpson · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is one big confusing mess. Why Lily? Why do two Alphas need her and how could she make their change better? I thought one of them would get stuck if she didn't choose them? I thought Lily hated routine she rebelled against it then at the end she said she loved it and change was hard, what? Are they real brothers or clan brothers? What about Devins parents? Damon was accused of not opening up but he said he loved her he explained as much as he could. The conflict between Lily and Damon seemed forced. To me is seemed like the author was trying to create conflict but wanted to keep Damon as the sensitive good guy. It failed for me epic epic fail. I had more and more questions. I kept waiting for more of a back story, it never came.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though this story has elements that would normally have me putting it in the YA category, there were definitely other things that threw it firmly into the NA or just flat out adult genre. The main plot was Lily and Damon trying to work through their differences while fighting an evil alpha werewolf from another clan, who wanted Lily for himself.

Overall I enjoyed the whole book, though there were spots that felt much more immature than others. I'd recommend this to any NA readers that are fans of the paranormal. (By the way, I've already purchased the rest of this series to read at a later date, so that should show how much I liked it!)

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me on my toes - not knowing what to expect next.

Things were about to get rocky for Lily. She didn't know what life was going to bring her. As far as she knew, everyone she graduated with was moving on to bigger and better things other than their hometown in Arizona.

The only thoughts she could keep hold of were that of Damon, her ex-boyfriend. The guy that she wanted despite him not reciprocating the same feelings.

She had no reason for it - other than she was drawn to him, for reasons she wasn't quite sure of.

[Angarad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and a new approach of the werewolf myth. As for the character, I didn't feel like Damon was such a strong one. He left Lily twice already and didn't seem to accept his role as future alpha. However, Lily WAS strong and stubborn, knew she loved Damon and fought for him, up to a point where you can't do it on your own. My regret in this book was that we see none of the rest of the pack. Of course there is Poko but he seems more like a guide or shaman than anything. The whole shifter aspect is very light, nearly absent in this book. It left me hanging.

[Tanielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was like a breath of fresh air. The characters not only had you rooting for them but it also had a way of pulling you into the story. At times I actually felt as confused, distracted and as anxious as her. I wanted to figure it all out and couldn't read fast enough to do so. I'm still a little in the dark about the clans but I guess that's the same way they were feeling. In all it was a different pull on the whole wolf thing. Most books start out with them already past this phase so this was one that gave a different point of view of how it could start off.