Lost Roar

Shifting Crossroads #12

by Zenina Masters

Nicia was at the fundamental lion compound and rescued from a life as guard beast for her family.Her mother’s family takes her in and helps her recover from the years of abuse.Once she is recovered, she decides that it is time to seek out a mate, provided she could change her mind and come home if needed. With that agreement in place, she heads to the Crossroads.Braxton has been watching for a mate, and while several women came close, it was the sombre lioness asking for directions that caught his attention. He wanted to make her smile, and when that became his primary pleasure, he knew he was in deep.

Genres: Shapeshifters, Paranormal, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Novella, Contemporary

94 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Zenina Masters was born in Canada and lives in Canada. She has a regular job and does nothing particularly exciting with her life. She enjoys fishing, silence and the ability to pick and choose friends she can trust. Life is too short to watch your back all the time.

Her writing life is a teeny bit of escapism, she would probably chicken out if confronted by three naked men and looks forward to one day finding out.

Email: zenina@zeninamasters.com

Zenina also writes as Viola Grace.

Reviews

[BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crossroads is an extremely addictive series. Every time a new one comes out, I have to read it. Of all the installments, my favourite one so far is LOST ROAR. This one moved me the most.

Nicia is a survivor. She's a lioness who was kept as a guard beast with a painful metal choke collar staked outside her father's home. Her socialization to society outside of the cult she grew up in is difficult. She never learned how to be a child. She doesn't have much to smile about. After she's rescued by her mother's family, things are different. She becomes interested in looking for a mate. She does know she can't mate with a male lion, so where will she find him? Crossroads it is!

This story with a dark start is overlaid with a beautiful story of survival and making a difference. What is lovely about Nicia is that she is comfortable with who she is. She knows what she is and she sees no reason to be different. What is she? She's a strong huntress.

Ms. Masters does a lovely job in her character development here. Nicia is a character I can really admire. She's also funny in a twisted way, which amuses me to no end. For example, when Nicia is played by Braxton, an interested wolf shifter, she uses her claws on him to teach him a lesson. She draws blood.

Nicia stalked back to the Open Heart, greeted Teebie politely and licked the blood from her claws as she headed up the stairs. He didn't taste half bad. (p. 32)


This kind of writing appeals to me. Ms. Masters keeps me smiling throughout the story. Her little touches of how other prey shifters respond to Nicia's intense huntress vibe is hysterically funny. It also turns me on. A strong predatory female who possesses a strong sense of justice is extremely attractive.

The tale does move quite fast and there are details left out. Still, the overall story is so enjoyable. Between Nicia finding a mate, applying for a job and doling out a bit of justice, the reader will feel a sense of satisfaction. Nicia's accomplishments generates a feeling of rightness and that good won in this battle against evil. At the end of this story, I'm yearning for more.

Unfortunately, each story is a standalone so this is the one and only time readers will enjoy Nicia and Braxton's sexy hotness. This paranormal romance is for readers who love to hear a woman roar.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicia "Nissy" is another lion rescued from the corrupt lion compound. After taking the time to heal from her years of abuse she decides she wants to try and find a mate. She heads to the Crossroads to meet anyone but a lion shifter. There she meets Braxton "Brax" a bounty hunter wolf shifter. All Nissy knows is hunting so when she decides she wants Brax she also becomes his bounty hunter partner. Not long after they make their mating official they get their first case which will bring Nissy face to face with some of the life she escaped from. This Crossroads book was very a very interesting look at the seedy underbelly of the Crossroads world.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short story that immediately pulls you in and feels complete when you read the last page. I've enjoyed every story set at the Crossroads.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!!! The series is taking a little turn in a new direction and I am loving the depth of the stories.

Nicia is awesome with her straightforward ways. I love a gal who can handle herself. She has so much to overcome but she doesn't mope or let it make her too hard. Brax is the perfect match for her. He doesn't try to pamper her and lets her use her hunting skills as a partner. They had a tiny stumble in the beginning but after that they meld into a unit.

The steam is yummy!! A little outdoor play that takes second and third base! When they finally consummate it is very sweet and sensual. Then things go hot and heavy!! Plenty of steam mixed in but it does not take over the story.

I love The Crossroads but am very intrigued by the Shifter Counsel and their hunters. I hope we see more of this side of shifter life in future books. As usual my only complaint is it is too short!

[Beauty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really detailed for a short story

Ok I've read this before and realized that I was waiting for the turtles story. We're on the 44th or 46th book what happened. Before they introduced the elves they were rounding up shifter and guys so what did Nicia want from the gemstone turtle?

[Emma Fearon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic storytelling

I absolutely cannot recommend these books highly enough. They may be shortish, but I prefer to think of them as bitesize! But they are all part of a long series of tales, so they are perfect to disappear into the author's imagination when you don't have time to wallow in a grand sized novel.

Highly enjoyable.

[namericanwordcat · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short story takes a peek at the aftermath of patriarchal poly cults shifter style.

The heroine is a great hunter recovering from a terrible family life. The hero loves her exactly as she is.

This makes for a good romance.

[Haikufall · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those books that I wish I could give 3.5 stars. It was an entertaining read but felt a little dry with the dialog.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series and this author! Keep writing these books!

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-read 10/1/15

[Rita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Again the story was a bit longer than the first few and consequently it was a better story. I enjoy it when she fleshes out her story more.