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Shifters Unbound #4
Coeur farouche
Collared and controlled, Shifters are outcast from humanity, forced to live in Shiftertowns. But waiting within are passions that no Collar can contain…
As a wildcat Shifter and leader of his Shiftertown, Eric Warden knows his own kind. When he sees Iona Duncan, he realizes that although she appears human, she is a half-Shifter wildcat living without a Collar—and that if she doesn't acknowledge her true nature and her mating hunger, it may kill her…
Iona finds the mysterious and powerful Eric alluring, even though she has vowed never to reveal her Shifter side, lest her mother pay the price for hiding her all these years. But her mating hunger is rising, and with Eric so close, she may not be able to resist…and her desire may lead to the very doom they are fighting to deny…
As a wildcat Shifter and leader of his Shiftertown, Eric Warden knows his own kind. When he sees Iona Duncan, he realizes that although she appears human, she is a half-Shifter wildcat living without a Collar—and that if she doesn't acknowledge her true nature and her mating hunger, it may kill her…
Iona finds the mysterious and powerful Eric alluring, even though she has vowed never to reveal her Shifter side, lest her mother pay the price for hiding her all these years. But her mating hunger is rising, and with Eric so close, she may not be able to resist…and her desire may lead to the very doom they are fighting to deny…
480 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 2, 2012
308 people are currently reading
3226 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Ashley
210 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 363 reviews
January 15, 2016
"Mate Claimed" is book #4 in Jennifer Ashley's shifter series...this one was about the shifters in Las Vegas. Eric is the Alpha of the Felines and Bears and he sets his sights on a half human/half shifter woman who is living with the humans unaware that she is part Feline. Iona has tried to deny that she is a shifter all of her life, and wants absolutely nothing to do with them. When Eric comes across her in a bar, they are immediately drawn to each other. Of course Iona fights the attraction, but she is coming to a time where her body is going to start wanting a male to mate with...Eric warns her she won't be able to fight it for long, and he will make sure he is the one that she will ease her lust upon.
This book was the hottest shifter book to date! Holy smoly, when Eric and Iona finally give in to the mating frenzy...they do it up goooood! LOL They were smoking hot and I couldn't get enough of them! There is a lot that goes on this book too. Eric's sister is pregnant and do any day. The Lupine's and their Alpha have been forced to move into Eric's domain, and the pack's Alpha; Graham ends up issuing a challenge for Eric's mate. It goes on....but it is awesome and I am totally drawn to all the drama in Shifter town! I love the characters, and I love how these Shifters put their families above everything else. They are loyal, and trustworthy, and just plain wonderful! I am so glad that I decided to dive into this series. It has been a real treat, and I do wish to keep going!
Jennifer Ashley continues to create an exciting world among the shifters and I can't wait to see what is in store for them all next!
This book was the hottest shifter book to date! Holy smoly, when Eric and Iona finally give in to the mating frenzy...they do it up goooood! LOL They were smoking hot and I couldn't get enough of them! There is a lot that goes on this book too. Eric's sister is pregnant and do any day. The Lupine's and their Alpha have been forced to move into Eric's domain, and the pack's Alpha; Graham ends up issuing a challenge for Eric's mate. It goes on....but it is awesome and I am totally drawn to all the drama in Shifter town! I love the characters, and I love how these Shifters put their families above everything else. They are loyal, and trustworthy, and just plain wonderful! I am so glad that I decided to dive into this series. It has been a real treat, and I do wish to keep going!
Jennifer Ashley continues to create an exciting world among the shifters and I can't wait to see what is in store for them all next!
April 6, 2015
Written October 8, 2014
4 Stars - Simply so amazingly good romances with wonderful characters and engaging topics
Book #4
It was time for some cuddly shifters in a Shiftertown again.
'Shifters Unboand', is a lovely paranormal m/f series written by a great romances author, Ms. Jennifer Ashley. Good books to pick up now and then. You always get interesting stories, thoughtful topics and sweet grand love.
This one was no exception.
Another good Shifters Unbound installment. Hetro (adult) PNR perfect for me.
***********************************************************
For the second time did I "read" a Shifters Unbound book as an (11 hrs) audiobook. This part like the earlier, spleended narrated by a pleasant female voice, belonging to Cris Dukehart. (5 happy voice-stars to her.)
***********************************************************
Las Vegas Shiftertown
# Eric Warden, a wildcat (snow leopard) Shifter and the alpha leader of Las Vegas Shiftertown.
# Iona Duncan a half-Shifter wildcat (black panter) living without a Collar, hided by her mother amoung humans in 30 years.
These two met shortly already in book #3 Wild Cat (about Eric's sister Cassidy) when Eric could smell a (young) feline shifter woman with "mating hunger" in an shifter night club pretending to be a human girl. Since then (~ a year ago) has he followed and guarded this beautiful black-haired architect.
...Not a thing she always is that happy about.
***********************************************************
The Shifters Unboand series:
This is stand-alone books but as alwaysreading a series about a bigger bunch of new and old characters is it fun to follow these lovely shifter's from book to book even if we meet a new couple of lovebirds in every part.
My reviews and raiting:
***********************************************************
As always; lovely strong main characters and some nice meetings with dear "old friends". There are also much cozy cuddlings, funny giggling parts and intense steamy (mating) heat. Best of all: these books are about mature grown-up men and women. ~ I may have mentioned it before; Ms Ashleys female characters, the women who fall in love etc, they are always strong wise often very well educated women. Women who know what they want and are even covered with these men. Thank you-dear-god; never whiny young ladies in distress or a silly, shamelessly goose
As usually is also this fourth full-lenght novel finished with a good thrilling suspense adventure in the final half. The topic this time was partially unethical research and shameless treatment of people (Shifters) who are given a lesser value in the society. ~ The horrible apartheid-like politics and the awful segregation of Shifters, in this nowaday U.S, made me of course so very angry and sorry, once again. At the same time does that topic partly those books even better. I looking forward to that far away "freedom" day.
One reason that I like this series so much, is after all, that I know what I get. And what I get is always well written PNR enjoyable to read (or listening to). Feels as meeting old friends and family: Safe & Good!!
...Another reason is that the entire time I get to know more new characters that I want to read more about.
Here we meet a tough but right now kind of 'pissed-off' former alpha leader, a Wolf-Shifter (more in #6), and a mistreated, heartbroken, poor wild Tiger-Shifter (more in #5). Both of whose lives and future love stories I now NEED to know much more about.
Two novellas to listening to, then is it time for #5 - Tiger Magic.
I LIKE - a safe bet for me
4 Stars - Simply so amazingly good romances with wonderful characters and engaging topics
Book #4
It was time for some cuddly shifters in a Shiftertown again.
'Shifters Unboand', is a lovely paranormal m/f series written by a great romances author, Ms. Jennifer Ashley. Good books to pick up now and then. You always get interesting stories, thoughtful topics and sweet grand love.
This one was no exception.
Another good Shifters Unbound installment. Hetro (adult) PNR perfect for me.
***********************************************************
For the second time did I "read" a Shifters Unbound book as an (11 hrs) audiobook. This part like the earlier, spleended narrated by a pleasant female voice, belonging to Cris Dukehart. (5 happy voice-stars to her.)
***********************************************************
Las Vegas Shiftertown
# Eric Warden, a wildcat (snow leopard) Shifter and the alpha leader of Las Vegas Shiftertown.
# Iona Duncan a half-Shifter wildcat (black panter) living without a Collar, hided by her mother amoung humans in 30 years.
These two met shortly already in book #3 Wild Cat (about Eric's sister Cassidy) when Eric could smell a (young) feline shifter woman with "mating hunger" in an shifter night club pretending to be a human girl. Since then (~ a year ago) has he followed and guarded this beautiful black-haired architect.
...Not a thing she always is that happy about.
***********************************************************
The Shifters Unboand series:
This is stand-alone books but as alwaysreading a series about a bigger bunch of new and old characters is it fun to follow these lovely shifter's from book to book even if we meet a new couple of lovebirds in every part.
"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:
***********************************************************
As always; lovely strong main characters and some nice meetings with dear "old friends". There are also much cozy cuddlings, funny giggling parts and intense steamy (mating) heat. Best of all: these books are about mature grown-up men and women. ~ I may have mentioned it before; Ms Ashleys female characters, the women who fall in love etc, they are always strong wise often very well educated women. Women who know what they want and are even covered with these men. Thank you-dear-god; never whiny young ladies in distress or a silly, shamelessly goose
As usually is also this fourth full-lenght novel finished with a good thrilling suspense adventure in the final half. The topic this time was partially unethical research and shameless treatment of people (Shifters) who are given a lesser value in the society. ~ The horrible apartheid-like politics and the awful segregation of Shifters, in this nowaday U.S, made me of course so very angry and sorry, once again. At the same time does that topic partly those books even better. I looking forward to that far away "freedom" day.
One reason that I like this series so much, is after all, that I know what I get. And what I get is always well written PNR enjoyable to read (or listening to). Feels as meeting old friends and family: Safe & Good!!
...Another reason is that the entire time I get to know more new characters that I want to read more about.
Here we meet a tough but right now kind of 'pissed-off' former alpha leader, a Wolf-Shifter (more in #6), and a mistreated, heartbroken, poor wild Tiger-Shifter (more in #5). Both of whose lives and future love stories I now NEED to know much more about.
Two novellas to listening to, then is it time for #5 - Tiger Magic.
I LIKE - a safe bet for me
Read
April 1, 2012Book 4 of Shifters Unbound. Eric and Iona's story.
March 21, 2022
3 stars.
This book didn’t work for me. I’m not a fan of the hero who’s a widower and spent a lot of the book thinking of his first mate & how much he missed and loved her. The heroine definitely was second best. His first mate and the heroine were both his “true mates” - which tbh makes little sense to me. The hero spent 30+ years grieving his first mate and then the heroine comes along and he’s so keen to move on that he essentially forced her into a relationship. Personally, I thought that she deserved better.
SWE; heroine is a virgin (gag) and hero is experienced. He’s widowed but has gotten around since the death of his wife “when he needed a release” or some shit. Hero also has a full grown son the same age as the heroine. Honestly, idk why the author paired these two up when the heroine could have been a better match to the son. I can’t help but imagine some old man perving on a girl who could be his kid. Not hot. No cheating, no OW drama, slight OM drama, no scenes with OM/OW.
This book didn’t work for me. I’m not a fan of the hero who’s a widower and spent a lot of the book thinking of his first mate & how much he missed and loved her. The heroine definitely was second best. His first mate and the heroine were both his “true mates” - which tbh makes little sense to me. The hero spent 30+ years grieving his first mate and then the heroine comes along and he’s so keen to move on that he essentially forced her into a relationship. Personally, I thought that she deserved better.
SWE; heroine is a virgin (gag) and hero is experienced. He’s widowed but has gotten around since the death of his wife “when he needed a release” or some shit. Hero also has a full grown son the same age as the heroine. Honestly, idk why the author paired these two up when the heroine could have been a better match to the son. I can’t help but imagine some old man perving on a girl who could be his kid. Not hot. No cheating, no OW drama, slight OM drama, no scenes with OM/OW.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2020
An average read to say the least. I didn't really connect with any of the characters but I am mildly intrigued by Graham and Misty...
Rating: 2/5
Rating: 2/5
April 4, 2018
Review posted on Got Fiction?
Ever since Wild Cat, I’ve wanted to read more about Las Vegas Shiftertown leader Eric.
With so many things going on in his Shiftertown, Eric has a lot on his plate. He has some wolves from a closed down Shiftertown in Northern Nevada moving in. The preparations are insane, the government is closing down the Shiftertown, but hasn’t prepared anything yet. Their insane logic? The shifters can just bunk up and bond. Right.
So now Eric has the leader Graham to deal with. Since he’s alpha of his wolves, the last thing he’d ever do is demote himself and allow a cat to lead his pack. Graham is an interesting character, and he’s quite the a-hole at the beginning.
One thing I need to remember is that Jennifer Ashley doesn’t always write her villains to be simply a bad guy. It’s never black and white with her. She has this cool grey area she finds where villain is truly in the eye of the beholder. Every now and then, someone who we think is a bad guy, well, isn’t. He might be heroic in his own way. Just something to keep in mind as you’re reading.
And Iona. Eric has to deal with Iona. She was stubborn and at times it was frustrating that she didn’t get how much she needed to be with other Shifters, but she was a good heroine (She was able to stare down an opposing alpha which was an awesome). The main problem with Iona is that her cat wants out. She thinks she’ll just keep controlling the shifter side of her, but she has no comprehension of what could happen if she doesn’t join in with a shifter town. An unmated female, in her prime, is an easy target for any male.
This is where Iona drove me nuts. Even though she’s half-human, even though she’s kept her shifter side under control for her twenty some-odd years, it doesn’t mean her cat is controlled. Human laws don’t apply to her Shifter side, and she doesn’t get that she could turn on her family and potentially hurt them. This is what Eric is trying to stress to her, and luckily it finally gets through to her, because at one point I was actually yelling at the book that she needed to get a clue! (I get involved with the characters-lol).
There is also way more going on in this book than just shifters needing to learn to live with each other, and Iona and Eric falling in love. There is a huge conspiracy going on and we meet an intriguing new character named Tiger. Tiger’s history is heartbreaking, and I really have to stop reading the excerpts because now I want his story even more!
This series is a favorite of mine, and with each installation Ms. Ashley continues to enthrall and surprise me.
***eARC courtesy of edelweiss and Berkley Publishing
Ever since Wild Cat, I’ve wanted to read more about Las Vegas Shiftertown leader Eric.
With so many things going on in his Shiftertown, Eric has a lot on his plate. He has some wolves from a closed down Shiftertown in Northern Nevada moving in. The preparations are insane, the government is closing down the Shiftertown, but hasn’t prepared anything yet. Their insane logic? The shifters can just bunk up and bond. Right.
So now Eric has the leader Graham to deal with. Since he’s alpha of his wolves, the last thing he’d ever do is demote himself and allow a cat to lead his pack. Graham is an interesting character, and he’s quite the a-hole at the beginning.
One thing I need to remember is that Jennifer Ashley doesn’t always write her villains to be simply a bad guy. It’s never black and white with her. She has this cool grey area she finds where villain is truly in the eye of the beholder. Every now and then, someone who we think is a bad guy, well, isn’t. He might be heroic in his own way. Just something to keep in mind as you’re reading.
And Iona. Eric has to deal with Iona. She was stubborn and at times it was frustrating that she didn’t get how much she needed to be with other Shifters, but she was a good heroine (She was able to stare down an opposing alpha which was an awesome). The main problem with Iona is that her cat wants out. She thinks she’ll just keep controlling the shifter side of her, but she has no comprehension of what could happen if she doesn’t join in with a shifter town. An unmated female, in her prime, is an easy target for any male.
This is where Iona drove me nuts. Even though she’s half-human, even though she’s kept her shifter side under control for her twenty some-odd years, it doesn’t mean her cat is controlled. Human laws don’t apply to her Shifter side, and she doesn’t get that she could turn on her family and potentially hurt them. This is what Eric is trying to stress to her, and luckily it finally gets through to her, because at one point I was actually yelling at the book that she needed to get a clue! (I get involved with the characters-lol).
There is also way more going on in this book than just shifters needing to learn to live with each other, and Iona and Eric falling in love. There is a huge conspiracy going on and we meet an intriguing new character named Tiger. Tiger’s history is heartbreaking, and I really have to stop reading the excerpts because now I want his story even more!
This series is a favorite of mine, and with each installation Ms. Ashley continues to enthrall and surprise me.
***eARC courtesy of edelweiss and Berkley Publishing
October 21, 2017
What an annoying heroine. Why did Eric had so much freaking patience with her? This is a woman who's half shifter (who are treated like second class citizens) and refuses to believe the hero when he tells her that she's about to go feral and she's running the risk of hurting her family not only physically but legally too. Because you know what happens if it's discovered that they've been harboring a shifter? They all go to fucking jail!!! But no, she doesn't recognize the hero's authority, even though he's the boss of all the shifters around. I wanted to slap her silly.
Another thing that I find wrong with this book is that the author feels like every single main character must be in the same dominant scale as the shiftertown leaders. Why make a point that looking at the eyes of a shifter can start a dominance battle when every single heroine is able to hold a shifter's gaze, no matter how dominant the shifter is? What the actual fuck?
This was a 2.5 star rating all throughout the book for me but then the ending was exciting and that's why I'm giving it the extra star. I really hope we don't see any more of this heroine though.
Another thing that I find wrong with this book is that the author feels like every single main character must be in the same dominant scale as the shiftertown leaders. Why make a point that looking at the eyes of a shifter can start a dominance battle when every single heroine is able to hold a shifter's gaze, no matter how dominant the shifter is? What the actual fuck?
This was a 2.5 star rating all throughout the book for me but then the ending was exciting and that's why I'm giving it the extra star. I really hope we don't see any more of this heroine though.
August 11, 2016
This book is seriously HOT.
It is the story of Eric the leader of Las Vegas shifter town who is a mateless leopard shifter and who did not look for love until he meets Iona and the story of Iona who is a half panther shifter and who did not look for love until she meets Eric.
Their story begins slowly at a shifters' bar where Iona pretends to be human and continues later at a chocolate store. There is this thing with Eric and chocolates by the way.... Every time I read about Eric, I want to finish a box of chocolates.
In this book we also learn what the shifters are hiding under their houses...hmm
And we meet Graham, the wolf shifter and Misty whose story we will read in another book. Graham is a total bastard in this book, but I heard that his attitude is improving in his book :-)
It is the story of Eric the leader of Las Vegas shifter town who is a mateless leopard shifter and who did not look for love until he meets Iona and the story of Iona who is a half panther shifter and who did not look for love until she meets Eric.
Their story begins slowly at a shifters' bar where Iona pretends to be human and continues later at a chocolate store. There is this thing with Eric and chocolates by the way.... Every time I read about Eric, I want to finish a box of chocolates.
In this book we also learn what the shifters are hiding under their houses...hmm
And we meet Graham, the wolf shifter and Misty whose story we will read in another book. Graham is a total bastard in this book, but I heard that his attitude is improving in his book :-)
June 19, 2024
H is leader of shifter town, and suddenly he's got troubles. Humans are forcing another clan to move into his town, he's found his mate and she's living human not knowing she's slowly going feral. His sister is about to have her baby and evil humans kidnap some of the shifters as they travel to their new home. The rescue was very exciting, especially as they discover Tiger. Great to see Reid as a valued member of the pack.
September 30, 2012
Posted on Under the Covers
MATE CLAIMED is book four in the Shifters Unbound series by Jennifer Ashley. This book explores Iona’s story. Iona is a half-Shifter, living without a Collar in the human world. The danger of living without any real knowledge of her mating hunger and Shifter side can very well kill her if she isn’t careful. So, Eric Warden, wildcat and leader of his own Shiftertown is now taking Iona into his own hands to care for her. Iona fears the repercussions of revealing herself as half Shifter. She believes that her mother and sister will no longer accept her, but is she willing to keep their good faith for the cost of her life?
This book is sexually potent, filled to the brim with the perfect amount of sexual tension and chemistry. As Eric peruses Iona, she becomes more and more pliant as his seduction turns her into goo.
Although I didn’t feel like that book held too much flashy action, there was still a good amount of it to keep me entertained. Ashley’s writing style is smooth and consistent, exploring the world she is expertly created and setting up the next book of the series well.
Both characters seemed mediocre in my eyes, but by the end of the book, I felt like they had grown exponentially. That’s a testament to Ashley’s writing. She is able to create endearing characters and make you care about them in a short amount of time.
Tiger is the perfect example of this. Introduced later in MATE CLAIMED, he still captured my interests and has me desperately pining for the next book! It will be a good day when I have TIGER MAGIC in my hands!
*ARC provided by publisher
MATE CLAIMED is book four in the Shifters Unbound series by Jennifer Ashley. This book explores Iona’s story. Iona is a half-Shifter, living without a Collar in the human world. The danger of living without any real knowledge of her mating hunger and Shifter side can very well kill her if she isn’t careful. So, Eric Warden, wildcat and leader of his own Shiftertown is now taking Iona into his own hands to care for her. Iona fears the repercussions of revealing herself as half Shifter. She believes that her mother and sister will no longer accept her, but is she willing to keep their good faith for the cost of her life?
This book is sexually potent, filled to the brim with the perfect amount of sexual tension and chemistry. As Eric peruses Iona, she becomes more and more pliant as his seduction turns her into goo.
Although I didn’t feel like that book held too much flashy action, there was still a good amount of it to keep me entertained. Ashley’s writing style is smooth and consistent, exploring the world she is expertly created and setting up the next book of the series well.
Both characters seemed mediocre in my eyes, but by the end of the book, I felt like they had grown exponentially. That’s a testament to Ashley’s writing. She is able to create endearing characters and make you care about them in a short amount of time.
Tiger is the perfect example of this. Introduced later in MATE CLAIMED, he still captured my interests and has me desperately pining for the next book! It will be a good day when I have TIGER MAGIC in my hands!
*ARC provided by publisher
August 12, 2022
Mate Claimed
4.5 Stars
Iona Duncan is a half-shifter raised as human and taught to keep her wildcat identity secret. Unfortunately, she has entered the transition stage and her animal instincts are raging out of control. Shiftertown leader, Eric Warden, not only recognizes Iona, but is well aware of the fact that her failure to accept her true nature will have disastrous consequences.
Not only is Eric and Ione’s story a huge improvement on the previous installment, but it rescues Ashley’s Shifter’s Unbound from the approaching series chopping block.
Eric and Iona’s romance is intense and passionate. In fact, they have some of the best sexual tension and chemistry I’ve encountered in PNR, and it enhances rather than overshadows their emotional connection.
The plot revolving around the machinations of a dangerous human foe is intriguing as it introduces several new characters with definite potential. The first is the Alpha of the wolf pack that has been forced to relocate and challenges Eric for leadership, and the second is a severely damaged tiger shifter who has been subjected to horrendous experimentation reminiscent of Lora Leigh’s Breeds series.
There are also updates on couples from the previous books and it is fun to catch up on Liam and Kim.
In sum, Jennifer Ashley is a wonderful writer and the her world building in this series is captivating. I look forward to seeing the new directions she is taking the shifters’ story.
4.5 Stars
Iona Duncan is a half-shifter raised as human and taught to keep her wildcat identity secret. Unfortunately, she has entered the transition stage and her animal instincts are raging out of control. Shiftertown leader, Eric Warden, not only recognizes Iona, but is well aware of the fact that her failure to accept her true nature will have disastrous consequences.
Not only is Eric and Ione’s story a huge improvement on the previous installment, but it rescues Ashley’s Shifter’s Unbound from the approaching series chopping block.
Eric and Iona’s romance is intense and passionate. In fact, they have some of the best sexual tension and chemistry I’ve encountered in PNR, and it enhances rather than overshadows their emotional connection.
The plot revolving around the machinations of a dangerous human foe is intriguing as it introduces several new characters with definite potential. The first is the Alpha of the wolf pack that has been forced to relocate and challenges Eric for leadership, and the second is a severely damaged tiger shifter who has been subjected to horrendous experimentation reminiscent of Lora Leigh’s Breeds series.
There are also updates on couples from the previous books and it is fun to catch up on Liam and Kim.
In sum, Jennifer Ashley is a wonderful writer and the her world building in this series is captivating. I look forward to seeing the new directions she is taking the shifters’ story.
April 13, 2013
This was an exciting addition to the Unbound Shifter series, in this one we have Las Vegas Shiftertown leader Eric, a wildcat. He meets and become drawn to Iona, an uncollared half shifter that has gone undetected by the government. Iona is trying to keep her life as fully human, while trying to let out her shifter side and keep it from everyone. While Eric wants to help Iona with her shifter side, Iona does everything she can to keep Eric away and her shifter side in control. She doesn’t want to live under the restrictions of the other shifters. While Iona bugged me at times when she kept pushing Eric away, I can understand her issues. She is an independent, strong willed woman and doesn’t want anyone slapping a collar on her.
During all of this Eric has to deal with another shifter group being moved into his area. They are a wolf shifter group and their leader Graham wants to take over as leader of the Austin Shiftertown, he is determined to take it from Eric.
I will admit that every time i start the next book in the series a part of me doubts how another book about shifters can keep my interest. But once again Jennifer Ashley’s talented writing keeps me coming back for more...
September 29, 2021
I usually love a widow story but this aspect of the plot was not the strongest, so in my point of view it lacked a bit but that's only because this is one of my favorite tropes.
Here we have two very strong main characters that were quite lovable and a pain in the ass alpha neighbor that the hero have to share space with. So, there are lots of fights and at first I hated the neighbor, but halfway through the book I started to understand him better and he grew on me. I am looking forward to his book.
Here we have two very strong main characters that were quite lovable and a pain in the ass alpha neighbor that the hero have to share space with. So, there are lots of fights and at first I hated the neighbor, but halfway through the book I started to understand him better and he grew on me. I am looking forward to his book.
December 18, 2020
I ended up really loving this....
At the beginning Iona was very unlikable... i felt she thought herself better than the shifters... its only when she saw Eric's stash she changes her mind....
Still she proves herself by the end becoming a real hero.....
I loved the story but as i wasn't really team Iona from the start it took a while to get on board... although once there the read was as usual epic.
Sexy shifter Eric finds his heart mate in Iona although reluctant she comes to terms with who she is and where she belongs... all while a secret government agency seems to be kidnapping shifters for specimens.
Hopefully see more of Graham
At the beginning Iona was very unlikable... i felt she thought herself better than the shifters... its only when she saw Eric's stash she changes her mind....
Still she proves herself by the end becoming a real hero.....
I loved the story but as i wasn't really team Iona from the start it took a while to get on board... although once there the read was as usual epic.
Sexy shifter Eric finds his heart mate in Iona although reluctant she comes to terms with who she is and where she belongs... all while a secret government agency seems to be kidnapping shifters for specimens.
Hopefully see more of Graham
September 21, 2012
Rating: B+ ... Heat: Hot
Review:
I love Jennifer Ashley’s historical romances. In fact, The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie is one of my all-time favorites. So why on earth did it take me so long to try out her PNR novels? I honestly have no clue but it was definitely long overdue! And, even though I’m starting with book four (such a bad habit of mine, I’ll admit), it was so easy to immerse myself in the Shifters Unbound world.
And, wow, what a world. Miz Ashley hits you with sensual and arousing scenes from page one. Literally. When Mate Claimed (perfect title for this one!) opens, our hero and heroine are playing a very seductive game of cat and mouse. Without even having the time to build up the characters, get to know them, their chemistry still manages to leap off the pages. It is super sexy stuff, ladies.
You know, I think that might actually be the simplest way to describe Mate Claimed: a very seductive game of cat and mouse. Or should I say cat and cat?
Our heroine, Iona Duncan, is in denial—even though her body is sending out clues, bright flashing and flaring signals, that she’s going through the mating frenzy: a time where her body has entered its breeding years and is desperate for a mate. Half-Shifter, she is long used to hiding and suppressing her animalistic tendencies, which she tries her darndest to do with her now-raging hormones. Except, this time, she can’t ignore her Shifter side’s needs.
Not that Eric Warden, alpha of Shiftertown, is about to let her. He knows the repercussions for doing so could cost her everything—she could go feral. But, more than that, his own body is responding to hers. Eric, a widow and a father, has done the mating frenzy before and never planned to do it again. He has his cub and he can get his jollies when he needs to. But there is something about Iona that leaves him incapable, and unwilling, to pass her on to another, younger male.
Watching Eric woo Iona was such fun and so friggin’ hot. There isn’t much that’s sexier than a man who is both masculine and commanding while also being in touch with his sensitive and considerate side. And Iona is no wilting violet. She is independent and self-assure and definitely doesn’t cower under the force of Eric’s alpha power. Fantastic combo.
One of my favorite things about this book, this world, is how natural it all feels. Sometimes in PNR or UF novels, elements can come across as being way out there and not at all possible. The Shifters and their clans and the way the behave, it felt very human combined with realistic animal behaviors. And the sense of family, camaraderie, between the Shifters—I like seeing such love and loyalty in the characters I read.
Mate Claimed is one wild and feverish frenzy full of sex and romance and drama and action. If you’ve ever wanted to experience the frantic and frenetic passion of a Shifter in heat (and, really, who wouldn’t?) then you don’t want to miss this book! This series is going on my auto-buy list!
Favorite Quote:
-- A Romantic Book Affairs Review.
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Review:
I love Jennifer Ashley’s historical romances. In fact, The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie is one of my all-time favorites. So why on earth did it take me so long to try out her PNR novels? I honestly have no clue but it was definitely long overdue! And, even though I’m starting with book four (such a bad habit of mine, I’ll admit), it was so easy to immerse myself in the Shifters Unbound world.
And, wow, what a world. Miz Ashley hits you with sensual and arousing scenes from page one. Literally. When Mate Claimed (perfect title for this one!) opens, our hero and heroine are playing a very seductive game of cat and mouse. Without even having the time to build up the characters, get to know them, their chemistry still manages to leap off the pages. It is super sexy stuff, ladies.
You know, I think that might actually be the simplest way to describe Mate Claimed: a very seductive game of cat and mouse. Or should I say cat and cat?
Our heroine, Iona Duncan, is in denial—even though her body is sending out clues, bright flashing and flaring signals, that she’s going through the mating frenzy: a time where her body has entered its breeding years and is desperate for a mate. Half-Shifter, she is long used to hiding and suppressing her animalistic tendencies, which she tries her darndest to do with her now-raging hormones. Except, this time, she can’t ignore her Shifter side’s needs.
Not that Eric Warden, alpha of Shiftertown, is about to let her. He knows the repercussions for doing so could cost her everything—she could go feral. But, more than that, his own body is responding to hers. Eric, a widow and a father, has done the mating frenzy before and never planned to do it again. He has his cub and he can get his jollies when he needs to. But there is something about Iona that leaves him incapable, and unwilling, to pass her on to another, younger male.
Watching Eric woo Iona was such fun and so friggin’ hot. There isn’t much that’s sexier than a man who is both masculine and commanding while also being in touch with his sensitive and considerate side. And Iona is no wilting violet. She is independent and self-assure and definitely doesn’t cower under the force of Eric’s alpha power. Fantastic combo.
One of my favorite things about this book, this world, is how natural it all feels. Sometimes in PNR or UF novels, elements can come across as being way out there and not at all possible. The Shifters and their clans and the way the behave, it felt very human combined with realistic animal behaviors. And the sense of family, camaraderie, between the Shifters—I like seeing such love and loyalty in the characters I read.
Mate Claimed is one wild and feverish frenzy full of sex and romance and drama and action. If you’ve ever wanted to experience the frantic and frenetic passion of a Shifter in heat (and, really, who wouldn’t?) then you don’t want to miss this book! This series is going on my auto-buy list!
Favorite Quote:
“You’ve been in the mating frenzy before.”
Eric looked up at her, his eyes quiet. “Yes.”
”With Kirsten.”
”Yes.”
Iona touched her hands together. “You must have loved her very much.”
Eric nodded. “Yes. Very much.��
”Then why do you want another mate?”
Eric pushed himself from the fireplace and came to her, the first flickers of fire shadowing his tall, naked body. He skimmed warm hands down her arms.
”Because I saw you.”
-- A Romantic Book Affairs Review.
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June 7, 2019
While the main couple had captured my attention since the scene when they first met in Wild Cat, I wasn't all that engrossed in their story, unfortunately. That is mostly because of Iona, who for a big part of the book just refuses to listen to reason.
I found her very frustrating and so had a difficult time getting into their story, even after she stopped being so belligerent.
Eric has quite a lot on his plate, with a new alpha and wolf shifters moving into his shifter town and dominance issues arising, a stubborn female half-shifter that is unsettling him at a very inconvenient time and a mysterious debilitating pain that strikes him at random intervals and makes everything that much worse.
Towards the end things start picking up, with some action following a kidnapping, a nefarious plot uncovered and a new and interesting character introduced. He may have no name yet, but he has his own book, Tiger Magic, that follows right after two short stories, those of Cormac the bear shifter and Ellison the unlucky wolf.
I might need to take a break from the series before I get to them in case Iona wasn't the only reason my feelings about this book were only lukewarm. Still, I enjoy the world and the secondary characters, if not both the main characters, too much for a lower than 4-star rating.
Previous book reviews:
✦ Hard Mated (Shifters Unbound #3.5) ~ ★★★★ (05/07/2014)
✦ Wild Cat (Shifters Unbound #3) ~ ★★★★ (15/06/2014)
✦ Bodyguard (Shifters Unbound #2.5) ~ ★★★ (09/06/2014)
✦ Primal Bonds (Shifters Unbound #2) ~ ★★★ (12/08/2013)
I found her very frustrating and so had a difficult time getting into their story, even after she stopped being so belligerent.
Eric has quite a lot on his plate, with a new alpha and wolf shifters moving into his shifter town and dominance issues arising, a stubborn female half-shifter that is unsettling him at a very inconvenient time and a mysterious debilitating pain that strikes him at random intervals and makes everything that much worse.
Towards the end things start picking up, with some action following a kidnapping, a nefarious plot uncovered and a new and interesting character introduced. He may have no name yet, but he has his own book, Tiger Magic, that follows right after two short stories, those of Cormac the bear shifter and Ellison the unlucky wolf.
I might need to take a break from the series before I get to them in case Iona wasn't the only reason my feelings about this book were only lukewarm. Still, I enjoy the world and the secondary characters, if not both the main characters, too much for a lower than 4-star rating.
Previous book reviews:
✦ Hard Mated (Shifters Unbound #3.5) ~ ★★★★ (05/07/2014)
✦ Wild Cat (Shifters Unbound #3) ~ ★★★★ (15/06/2014)
✦ Bodyguard (Shifters Unbound #2.5) ~ ★★★ (09/06/2014)
✦ Primal Bonds (Shifters Unbound #2) ~ ★★★ (12/08/2013)
October 18, 2012
4.5 stars
Despite my frustration with the heroine, this was a great book and one of the better ones in this series. This id Eric and Iona's romance but the story was much more than that. New shifters, a new swing in the storyline and some very interesting shifter dynamics all made this hard to put down. You could read this as a first book but I think you'd get much more enjoyment if you follow the series in order. Ashley is a great author - making me cry, allowing an antagonistic character to become likeable and absolutely leaving me breathless for the next installment.
Despite my frustration with the heroine, this was a great book and one of the better ones in this series. This id Eric and Iona's romance but the story was much more than that. New shifters, a new swing in the storyline and some very interesting shifter dynamics all made this hard to put down. You could read this as a first book but I think you'd get much more enjoyment if you follow the series in order. Ashley is a great author - making me cry, allowing an antagonistic character to become likeable and absolutely leaving me breathless for the next installment.
July 9, 2013
3.5/5; 4 stars; B+
Eric and Iona's story was pretty good. The story line that introduced Tiger was a good hook for further stories.
Eric and Iona's story was pretty good. The story line that introduced Tiger was a good hook for further stories.
January 15, 2019
This paranormal romance had a very exciting ending but the first half moved kind of slow. Too much time was taken up with alphas posturing and main characters ruminating. The whole mating frenzy was getting old. I skimmed some. Leopard shifter and pack leader Eric sees half-shifter Iona running wild in her panther form in the desert.
October 3, 2012
Review originally posted at http://www.fictionvixen.com/review-ma...
I am a huge Jennifer Ashley fan. I discovered her when she writing erotica for Ellora’s Cave under the name Allyson James. That sci-fi erotica series is still an auto-buy for me. Since then I’ve read a paranormal dragon series, the insanely awesome urban fantasy Stormwalker series, one of my all time favorite historical romance series, Highland Pleasures, and finally the Shifters Unbound series, in which Mate Claimed is book four. She also writes historical mystery under the name Ashley Gardner. I have no idea how she keeps up with all of her projects or how she switches genres so easily. She must spend all of her time glued to a computer, this woman puts out a crazy amount of books a year, for which I am extremely grateful.
Mate Claimed is Eric and Iona’s story. Eric is the Las Vegas shiftertown leader. In the previous book he encounters Iona who has posed as a full human all of her life. Her mother has kept the fact that she is half shifter a secret and has protected her against taking a collar and being forced to reside in shiftertown. Eric knows that Iona needs to be taught how to control her shifter side or she will go feral. He tirelessly seeks her out and in the process realizes that he wants her for a mate. In the meantime we are introduced to new shifters who are being forced into Eric’s shiftertown when theirs is closed down and a mystery of shifters being used as experimentation.
Eric is a wonderful hero. He is a fearless, caring leader, a loving family man and a patient lover when pursuing Iona. I absolutely loved the fact that he knew what was coming for Iona with her mating heat, but was still very patient and tolerant while she was coming to grips with her life changing in such a drastic way. He is determined that he will also shield her mother and sister and not let them suffer for protecting her half shifter status, he even tries to find the father she has never known. Eric is there for Iona in every way. And man, but they have one of the sexiest hand job scenes I have ever read. My favorite quote below is from that scene. Freaking hot. I was worried going into this book that Iona would turn into the clichéd heroine who turns to sarcasm and acting tough when she is pushed into a corner, but thankfully that never happened. Iona falls for Eric and becomes both his mate and partner. She embraces her shifter side fully and integrates into the pride very well. I really enjoyed her character.
Part of this story revolves around a den of wolves moving into Eric’s shiftertown and his problems with their leader Graham. At the beginning of the story I was expecting to really dislike Graham, but once again, I was pleasantly surprised. He came out to actually be a good guy. I hope he gets his own book in the future, he started out really rough and challenged Eric at every turn, but I looked forward to his presence through out this story. Jennifer Ashley writes wonderful secondary characters, you almost care as much for them as you do for the main H/h. The next book moves back to the Austin shiftertown. I am really looking forward to seeing familiar faces from the first two books.
Mate Claimed was a wonderful addition to the Shifters Unbound series. I always look forward to every new installment and from reading the preview for book five, I can honestly say I will be eagerly awaiting the next one. This is a must buy series for paranormal romance lovers.
Favorite Quote:
“Eric, what the hell are you doing here?” Iona asked in a loud whisper.
For answer, Eric turned her around and pressed her into the wall.
His kiss stole her breath, his lips forcing her mouth open, teeth scraping. The thump of the music in the other room pulsed through her, and she curled her fingers on Eric’s chest. Fingers became claws, tearing Eric’s shirt.
Eric shed the shirt and turned them together so that now his back was against the wall. “If you want to feast on someone, you feast on me.”
Rating: B+
I am a huge Jennifer Ashley fan. I discovered her when she writing erotica for Ellora’s Cave under the name Allyson James. That sci-fi erotica series is still an auto-buy for me. Since then I’ve read a paranormal dragon series, the insanely awesome urban fantasy Stormwalker series, one of my all time favorite historical romance series, Highland Pleasures, and finally the Shifters Unbound series, in which Mate Claimed is book four. She also writes historical mystery under the name Ashley Gardner. I have no idea how she keeps up with all of her projects or how she switches genres so easily. She must spend all of her time glued to a computer, this woman puts out a crazy amount of books a year, for which I am extremely grateful.
Mate Claimed is Eric and Iona’s story. Eric is the Las Vegas shiftertown leader. In the previous book he encounters Iona who has posed as a full human all of her life. Her mother has kept the fact that she is half shifter a secret and has protected her against taking a collar and being forced to reside in shiftertown. Eric knows that Iona needs to be taught how to control her shifter side or she will go feral. He tirelessly seeks her out and in the process realizes that he wants her for a mate. In the meantime we are introduced to new shifters who are being forced into Eric’s shiftertown when theirs is closed down and a mystery of shifters being used as experimentation.
Eric is a wonderful hero. He is a fearless, caring leader, a loving family man and a patient lover when pursuing Iona. I absolutely loved the fact that he knew what was coming for Iona with her mating heat, but was still very patient and tolerant while she was coming to grips with her life changing in such a drastic way. He is determined that he will also shield her mother and sister and not let them suffer for protecting her half shifter status, he even tries to find the father she has never known. Eric is there for Iona in every way. And man, but they have one of the sexiest hand job scenes I have ever read. My favorite quote below is from that scene. Freaking hot. I was worried going into this book that Iona would turn into the clichéd heroine who turns to sarcasm and acting tough when she is pushed into a corner, but thankfully that never happened. Iona falls for Eric and becomes both his mate and partner. She embraces her shifter side fully and integrates into the pride very well. I really enjoyed her character.
Part of this story revolves around a den of wolves moving into Eric’s shiftertown and his problems with their leader Graham. At the beginning of the story I was expecting to really dislike Graham, but once again, I was pleasantly surprised. He came out to actually be a good guy. I hope he gets his own book in the future, he started out really rough and challenged Eric at every turn, but I looked forward to his presence through out this story. Jennifer Ashley writes wonderful secondary characters, you almost care as much for them as you do for the main H/h. The next book moves back to the Austin shiftertown. I am really looking forward to seeing familiar faces from the first two books.
Mate Claimed was a wonderful addition to the Shifters Unbound series. I always look forward to every new installment and from reading the preview for book five, I can honestly say I will be eagerly awaiting the next one. This is a must buy series for paranormal romance lovers.
Favorite Quote:
“Eric, what the hell are you doing here?” Iona asked in a loud whisper.
For answer, Eric turned her around and pressed her into the wall.
His kiss stole her breath, his lips forcing her mouth open, teeth scraping. The thump of the music in the other room pulsed through her, and she curled her fingers on Eric’s chest. Fingers became claws, tearing Eric’s shirt.
Eric shed the shirt and turned them together so that now his back was against the wall. “If you want to feast on someone, you feast on me.”
Rating: B+
October 4, 2012
4.5 Stars
Recommendation: If you loved the other books in the shifter unbound series you will love this one as well. Eric is one Badass Shiftertown Leader! Iona is ready to challenge him at every turn.
Hot Damn! Did you see that cover?! Just looking at it makes me want to buy it. Win for the marketing team!
Now moving on to what really is in the 4th book in Ms. Ashley’s Shifters Unbound series.
Eric Warden has badass written all over that sexy body of his. We learned from the last book that Eric found Iona at a bar. He could smell that she was half-shifter and without a collar. Danger doesn’t even begin to cover how much trouble Iona is about to rain down on herself and family.
Now, we could not have the leader of this shiftertown mating with a weakling. Oh no! True to form Ms. Ashley has provided us with a strong female voice in this book as well. Iona is not one to step down even from Eric, who she desperately wants to jump at every meeting. Oh yeah, it happens. *wink,wink*
Big changes are in the works for Eric’s shiftertown as the goverment has decided to move all the shifters in the state into one shiftertown. This has upset both sets of shiftertowns. Eric’s shifters have to share homes in order to give the new wolf shifters a place to live while homes are being built.
Both leaders clash from the get-go and I feared that all hope would be lost on trying to get these shifters to play fair. I have to say that I was and I wasn’t wrong.
Iona’s mating heat continually increases while the shifter changes are taking place and Eric barely holds on to his self-control. Everything in him demands that he take what is his, especially knowing another alpha is close-by.
Eric had seen her first. Iona was his.
There were so many times I thought that he would break and take her fast & hard.
“No Iona. You belong to me.”
“If you want to feast on someone, you feast on me.”
[image error]
Well if you insist! But as the steam picked up he always managed to pull away, damn him. He did not want Iona to live with after-mating regrets. I say throw caution to the wind and just do it, but I didn’t write this book so suspense it was.
Watching these two run circles around each other was entertaining even if I thought some of the sexual tension was beginning to choke me. I am a sucker for the chase and man, did Eric chase Iona.
“Run as much as you want, Iona. The pleasure will be mine when I catch you.”
[image error]
Yup, that line about did me in. Maybe you don’t want to be chased but I sure as hell do and Iona was thrilled by the challenge as well.
When Eric and Iona finally succumbed to the mating frenzy I thought, well this book was satisfying.
“Mate of my heart,” she whispered. “With the best ass.” She drew her foot up the back of his leg. “Don’t hold back now.”
Alas that was not the end. Ms. Ashley has thrown in Cassidy & Diego’s first-born. I am telling you this part of the book really threw me. I was not prepared for everything that happened.
If you want to know you will just have to go read it for yourself. I will leave with a final quote, you can make of it what you will.
[image error]
“We give our sister into the hands of the Goddess.” Not the most reassuring of prayers. But Iona thought about Eric’s and Cassidy’s tales of how Shifter women often didn’t survive childbirth.
I want to thank Edelweiss and Penguin for providing me with a copy of this book for an honest review.
Recommendation: If you loved the other books in the shifter unbound series you will love this one as well. Eric is one Badass Shiftertown Leader! Iona is ready to challenge him at every turn.
Hot Damn! Did you see that cover?! Just looking at it makes me want to buy it. Win for the marketing team!
Now moving on to what really is in the 4th book in Ms. Ashley’s Shifters Unbound series.
Eric Warden has badass written all over that sexy body of his. We learned from the last book that Eric found Iona at a bar. He could smell that she was half-shifter and without a collar. Danger doesn’t even begin to cover how much trouble Iona is about to rain down on herself and family.
Now, we could not have the leader of this shiftertown mating with a weakling. Oh no! True to form Ms. Ashley has provided us with a strong female voice in this book as well. Iona is not one to step down even from Eric, who she desperately wants to jump at every meeting. Oh yeah, it happens. *wink,wink*
Big changes are in the works for Eric’s shiftertown as the goverment has decided to move all the shifters in the state into one shiftertown. This has upset both sets of shiftertowns. Eric’s shifters have to share homes in order to give the new wolf shifters a place to live while homes are being built.
Both leaders clash from the get-go and I feared that all hope would be lost on trying to get these shifters to play fair. I have to say that I was and I wasn’t wrong.
Iona’s mating heat continually increases while the shifter changes are taking place and Eric barely holds on to his self-control. Everything in him demands that he take what is his, especially knowing another alpha is close-by.
Eric had seen her first. Iona was his.
There were so many times I thought that he would break and take her fast & hard.
“No Iona. You belong to me.”
“If you want to feast on someone, you feast on me.”
[image error]
Well if you insist! But as the steam picked up he always managed to pull away, damn him. He did not want Iona to live with after-mating regrets. I say throw caution to the wind and just do it, but I didn’t write this book so suspense it was.
Watching these two run circles around each other was entertaining even if I thought some of the sexual tension was beginning to choke me. I am a sucker for the chase and man, did Eric chase Iona.
“Run as much as you want, Iona. The pleasure will be mine when I catch you.”
[image error]
Yup, that line about did me in. Maybe you don’t want to be chased but I sure as hell do and Iona was thrilled by the challenge as well.
When Eric and Iona finally succumbed to the mating frenzy I thought, well this book was satisfying.
“Mate of my heart,” she whispered. “With the best ass.” She drew her foot up the back of his leg. “Don’t hold back now.”
Alas that was not the end. Ms. Ashley has thrown in Cassidy & Diego’s first-born. I am telling you this part of the book really threw me. I was not prepared for everything that happened.
If you want to know you will just have to go read it for yourself. I will leave with a final quote, you can make of it what you will.
[image error]
“We give our sister into the hands of the Goddess.” Not the most reassuring of prayers. But Iona thought about Eric’s and Cassidy’s tales of how Shifter women often didn’t survive childbirth.
I want to thank Edelweiss and Penguin for providing me with a copy of this book for an honest review.
February 20, 2015
Half panther-shifter Iona has been living and passing for a human, but now Shiftertown Leader, leopard-shifter Eric Warden, has her on his radar and he won't go away. All of Eric's primal instincts take notice of Iona as he tries to convince her that her 'human' days are at and end, because if she's not careful, her delicious scent is going to attract the attention of other shifters far less civilized and with far less control than Eric - and with the residents of a 'wilder' wolf Shiftertown being relocated to Eric's territory and the wolf alpha determined not to submit to a 'cat' there's trouble on Eric's home-front as well...
Ashley is really coming into her own in her Shifters Unbound series, the last couple shorts have been really good and this time she's done the same bang up job with the full length Mate Claimed. This is really one of the best books in the series, with Iona drawn to Eric but adamant about not joining the shifter world the sensual tension building between her and Eric is excellent, and the conflict stemming from consolidating the two shiftertowns - each with vastly different alphas and philosophies is an interesting side note. And I was pleasantly surprised by the direction that Ashley took the abrasive wolf-shifter alpha. Also there was a decent background plot to give everyone something to do and which served to introduce a character who should be very interesting as the next lead.
So, I really enjoyed Mate Claimed - and I really like these shape shifter romances and Ashley's believably detailed shifter world and culture. I don't normally read the teasers for upcoming books but the one here for Tiger Magic makes me wish that June 2013 wasn't so far away.
Shifters Unbound:
Ashley is really coming into her own in her Shifters Unbound series, the last couple shorts have been really good and this time she's done the same bang up job with the full length Mate Claimed. This is really one of the best books in the series, with Iona drawn to Eric but adamant about not joining the shifter world the sensual tension building between her and Eric is excellent, and the conflict stemming from consolidating the two shiftertowns - each with vastly different alphas and philosophies is an interesting side note. And I was pleasantly surprised by the direction that Ashley took the abrasive wolf-shifter alpha. Also there was a decent background plot to give everyone something to do and which served to introduce a character who should be very interesting as the next lead.
So, I really enjoyed Mate Claimed - and I really like these shape shifter romances and Ashley's believably detailed shifter world and culture. I don't normally read the teasers for upcoming books but the one here for Tiger Magic makes me wish that June 2013 wasn't so far away.
Shifters Unbound:
March 26, 2025
Iona knew from the moment she met Eric - Alpha of Shifter town - that he was dangerous. Not
only is he gorgeous and intensely sensual, he has developed a concerning fascination with her.
However, that attention is that last thing she wants as she in an uncollared shifter, living
under the disguise of being human. If she's discovered, it would mean bad things for her and for
her mother as well. Despite her best intentions though, she can't seem to shake him and if she's
being honest with herself, she doesn't want to. Her control over keeping the shifter parts of
her under wraps is slipping. More and more it's becoming hard to hide that part of herself and
it seems that Eric is the only thing that sooths her itch.
Eric is very much aware of the rarely Iona is. Uncollared and unmated - she would have to fight the
males of his pride off tooth and claw if she is discovered. And he wants her for his own just as
much as he wants to protect her. But he has a great deal on his plate. New wolf shifters coming
into his town- their alpha challenging his command and wanting Iona for himself. The pains he's
experiencing from his past in the labs where he was experimented on. As well as his desire to
make Iona see how much he loves her.
For the majority of this book, the rating was sitting comfortably at a 3 star. I enjoyed the characters
and in particular I loved Iona and Graham (the asshole but strangely loveable wolf shifter).
For a while though, I did think that while I liked this story, it was rather basic. Not much
happened to progress the plot line beyond Iona's struggle to understand her new rule in the
shifter world after spending her life as an outsider. However, all this changed as the end drew
closer and Iona really came into her own. The ending was an action-packed thrill ride which just
made me LOVE Iona all the more. I don't really believe this book is a worthy of a 4-star rating
because, as I said, the majority of the book was slower but this book was enjoyable none the less.
only is he gorgeous and intensely sensual, he has developed a concerning fascination with her.
However, that attention is that last thing she wants as she in an uncollared shifter, living
under the disguise of being human. If she's discovered, it would mean bad things for her and for
her mother as well. Despite her best intentions though, she can't seem to shake him and if she's
being honest with herself, she doesn't want to. Her control over keeping the shifter parts of
her under wraps is slipping. More and more it's becoming hard to hide that part of herself and
it seems that Eric is the only thing that sooths her itch.
Eric is very much aware of the rarely Iona is. Uncollared and unmated - she would have to fight the
males of his pride off tooth and claw if she is discovered. And he wants her for his own just as
much as he wants to protect her. But he has a great deal on his plate. New wolf shifters coming
into his town- their alpha challenging his command and wanting Iona for himself. The pains he's
experiencing from his past in the labs where he was experimented on. As well as his desire to
make Iona see how much he loves her.
For the majority of this book, the rating was sitting comfortably at a 3 star. I enjoyed the characters
and in particular I loved Iona and Graham (the asshole but strangely loveable wolf shifter).
For a while though, I did think that while I liked this story, it was rather basic. Not much
happened to progress the plot line beyond Iona's struggle to understand her new rule in the
shifter world after spending her life as an outsider. However, all this changed as the end drew
closer and Iona really came into her own. The ending was an action-packed thrill ride which just
made me LOVE Iona all the more. I don't really believe this book is a worthy of a 4-star rating
because, as I said, the majority of the book was slower but this book was enjoyable none the less.
October 6, 2012
Review Courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy
Jennifer Ashley’s Shifters Unbound stands out as one of my top paranormal romance series with its complex political and social issues and some intense, hot romances. MATE CLAIMED, the fourth in the series, continues this trend with a spicy romance and intense action. I love the depth and layers of all of the politics between shifter communities and humans. What makes me really care about these characters is all of the little ways the shifters find to thrive in their forced confinement to select communities. MATE CLAIMED revealed more about the social issues that shifters have to go through especially with Iona hiding her shifter nature. Considering the cruel Collar technology imposed by humans, I was constantly worried that Iona would be found out and forced to wear one.
What I really enjoyed about the romance between Iona and Eric was that Eric started pursuing her at the very end of the previous book, WILD CAT. So, we start MATE CLAIMED with the two leads in the ‘cat and mouse’ phase of their relationship with Eric slowly pursuing Iona. This romance is not a quick passion but more like a slow heat that builds to a raging inferno by the end of the book. While Eric is the alpha of the shifters and apt to be the more dominant in this relationship, I liked that Iona never let him get away with it. Because if her stubbornness and strength they came off as equals right off the bat.
MATE CLAIMED is a story of discovery and strength in the face of adversity with a passionate romance at its core. I’ll be looking forward to another hot and complex story when the fifth book in Shifters Unbound, TIGER MAGIC, comes out June 4, 2013 from Berkley Sensations.
Sexual Content: some graphic sex scenes
Jennifer Ashley’s Shifters Unbound stands out as one of my top paranormal romance series with its complex political and social issues and some intense, hot romances. MATE CLAIMED, the fourth in the series, continues this trend with a spicy romance and intense action. I love the depth and layers of all of the politics between shifter communities and humans. What makes me really care about these characters is all of the little ways the shifters find to thrive in their forced confinement to select communities. MATE CLAIMED revealed more about the social issues that shifters have to go through especially with Iona hiding her shifter nature. Considering the cruel Collar technology imposed by humans, I was constantly worried that Iona would be found out and forced to wear one.
What I really enjoyed about the romance between Iona and Eric was that Eric started pursuing her at the very end of the previous book, WILD CAT. So, we start MATE CLAIMED with the two leads in the ‘cat and mouse’ phase of their relationship with Eric slowly pursuing Iona. This romance is not a quick passion but more like a slow heat that builds to a raging inferno by the end of the book. While Eric is the alpha of the shifters and apt to be the more dominant in this relationship, I liked that Iona never let him get away with it. Because if her stubbornness and strength they came off as equals right off the bat.
MATE CLAIMED is a story of discovery and strength in the face of adversity with a passionate romance at its core. I’ll be looking forward to another hot and complex story when the fifth book in Shifters Unbound, TIGER MAGIC, comes out June 4, 2013 from Berkley Sensations.
Sexual Content: some graphic sex scenes
March 31, 2013
It starts out with half shifter Iona Duncan, being chased by the shiftertown leader Eric Warden, who has constantly been chasing her of late. Iona, is a shifter without a collar, and refuses to go through the collaring, she wants to be free. However Eric knows the danger that Iona is in, if she doesn't put on a collar, soon her shifter side will take over and her common sense will be gone, and all will remain will be her panther side. However even though Eric's argument is a good one, Iona knows that there is more than one reason for not taking the collar. Iona was raised by a human mother, she never knew her father, and if it comes out that she is a shifter than her mother and sister would pay the price, and she refuses to put them at risk. Even though the chemistry between Eric and Iona is explosive, there is a danger lurking threatning to destroy everything that Eric has worked so hard for both himself and his people.Mate Claimed is the most recent book in this amazing series, that I have just fallen in love with. Jennifer Ashley is by far one of my favorite authors, I have loved each and every one of her books, and Mate Claimed is at the top of my list. We see Eric in previous books, and he always seemed very sexy and HOT to me and I was so glad when Mate Claimed came out, and the cover is just delicious. The plot starts out with a chase of sorts beween two people that obviously have some strong chemistry going on, but are at the refusal stage. As the story progresses, the plot escalates into suspenseful scenes and a plot that will surprise you when you least expect it, and I just loved the romance of the story, there were a few tender moments that were tearjerking, and other moments that could heat up the room and fog the windows. Overall, a well written, action packed filled romance with a love story that will charm any reader!!! A Remarkable Read!!!
May 20, 2016
The book had me on my toes. The whole mating dance was slow.
Almost a year back Eric scented Iona in a shifter bar and knew that she was half-shifter. Since then he's been pursuing her relentlessly. As a shifter town lieder and alpha feline Eric denied his attraction towards Iona and hid behind his duty to protect and un-mated, without collar, shifter female. Iona was fighting her inner animal and living her life as human.
Being most of the time in contact with Eric, Iona was losing control of her life and animal and the mating need kicked in.
At the same time Eric must deal with new lupine shifters brought to his town and their Alpha - Graham. Eris and Graham fight all the time for dominance and town control but when a new enemy emerges Eric and Graham join forces.
Again the story had so many subplots and twists without following a central plot: Eric and Iona mating dance, Eric and Graham's dominance fight, humans experimenting on shifters, Cassidy and Amanda kidnapping....
I cannot give a higher rating to the story than 3.5 because again Eric's mating with Iona is overshadowed by his mating with Kiersten. It takes away the joy of true mates or soul mates for me but their story was sweet.
Eric was sweet, attentive, gentle, loving and sexy as hell for a 100 year old man.
I loved his interaction with Iona.
Almost a year back Eric scented Iona in a shifter bar and knew that she was half-shifter. Since then he's been pursuing her relentlessly. As a shifter town lieder and alpha feline Eric denied his attraction towards Iona and hid behind his duty to protect and un-mated, without collar, shifter female. Iona was fighting her inner animal and living her life as human.
Being most of the time in contact with Eric, Iona was losing control of her life and animal and the mating need kicked in.
At the same time Eric must deal with new lupine shifters brought to his town and their Alpha - Graham. Eris and Graham fight all the time for dominance and town control but when a new enemy emerges Eric and Graham join forces.
Again the story had so many subplots and twists without following a central plot: Eric and Iona mating dance, Eric and Graham's dominance fight, humans experimenting on shifters, Cassidy and Amanda kidnapping....
I cannot give a higher rating to the story than 3.5 because again Eric's mating with Iona is overshadowed by his mating with Kiersten. It takes away the joy of true mates or soul mates for me but their story was sweet.
Eric was sweet, attentive, gentle, loving and sexy as hell for a 100 year old man.
I loved his interaction with Iona.
July 3, 2017
Eric knows right away that Iona is his mate. Iona is struggling to keep her half shifter status a secret so that she can continue to live in the human world with her construction company and family. The more time Eric spends around her though, the harder it is for her to restrain her wildcat.
Eric goes to work trying to help her and to keep her around he decides to hire her construction company to build homes for all the shifters that have been sent to live in the Vegas shifter town. That means revealing shifter secrets to Iona, but by then she pretty much has accepted her shifter side.
I really enjoyed Eric persistence in helping Iona with her shifter side, and helping her realize that she is his mate. Eric is is a great alpha and I loved his personality and approach with Iona. She manages to keep her shifter status hidden so she can avoid the collar and continue to operate her business in the human world.
I find it weird not being in the Austin shiftertown, but I'm starting to get used to these Vegas shifters. Their town is overcrowded and Eric does not have everyone's loyalty yet. Especially with a certain wolf that is trying to take his place.
Eric and Iona are two awesome characters. Eric definitely deserves to be alpha. So patient and understanding with the shifters and Iona. Iona is smart and knows what she is doing. She is stubborn about moving into Shiftertown. She doesn't want to lose anything that she built in the human world. This helps you see just how torn she is in dealing with her mate bond to Eric and her time in the human world. These two make a good powerhouse couple that can take on the Shiftertown's problems together.
Mate Claimed was a really good addition to the Shifters Unbound series and I am so glad we still had Cris Dukehart narrating. I really love her for this series. Her voice is good and strong for the shifters.
The Series
This review was originally posted on Rantings of a Reading Addict
Eric goes to work trying to help her and to keep her around he decides to hire her construction company to build homes for all the shifters that have been sent to live in the Vegas shifter town. That means revealing shifter secrets to Iona, but by then she pretty much has accepted her shifter side.
I really enjoyed Eric persistence in helping Iona with her shifter side, and helping her realize that she is his mate. Eric is is a great alpha and I loved his personality and approach with Iona. She manages to keep her shifter status hidden so she can avoid the collar and continue to operate her business in the human world.
I find it weird not being in the Austin shiftertown, but I'm starting to get used to these Vegas shifters. Their town is overcrowded and Eric does not have everyone's loyalty yet. Especially with a certain wolf that is trying to take his place.
Eric and Iona are two awesome characters. Eric definitely deserves to be alpha. So patient and understanding with the shifters and Iona. Iona is smart and knows what she is doing. She is stubborn about moving into Shiftertown. She doesn't want to lose anything that she built in the human world. This helps you see just how torn she is in dealing with her mate bond to Eric and her time in the human world. These two make a good powerhouse couple that can take on the Shiftertown's problems together.
Mate Claimed was a really good addition to the Shifters Unbound series and I am so glad we still had Cris Dukehart narrating. I really love her for this series. Her voice is good and strong for the shifters.
The Series
October 6, 2012
I was ecstatic when I was given Mate Claimed to read and review! Jennifer Ashley’s Shifter Unbound series is one of my favorite’s paranormal romances. She has such fascinating characters and a unique shifter plot line that I just gobble up her books.
Mate Claimed focuses on Eric and Iona’s developing romance. Eric is a widower and the leader of the nearby Shiftertown. He discovers that there in an uncollared shifter living among the humans one night while visiting a bar. Only Iona’s mom and sister know that she is a half shifter so she is shocked when Eric approaches her. What she doesn’t know is that without a shifter family to guide her, she could become feral and dangerous. It is up to Eric to show her that life with a shifter mate is just what she needs before it is too late.
I love the sense of family and camaraderie between the characters. Jennifer Ashley is a wonderful author and has created such a fascinating world for us to visit in her books. If you love Paranormal Romance you have to read this series.
And the teaser chapter for Tiger Magic is something that has to be read several times… I cannot wait until it is released!
Mate Claimed focuses on Eric and Iona’s developing romance. Eric is a widower and the leader of the nearby Shiftertown. He discovers that there in an uncollared shifter living among the humans one night while visiting a bar. Only Iona’s mom and sister know that she is a half shifter so she is shocked when Eric approaches her. What she doesn’t know is that without a shifter family to guide her, she could become feral and dangerous. It is up to Eric to show her that life with a shifter mate is just what she needs before it is too late.
I love the sense of family and camaraderie between the characters. Jennifer Ashley is a wonderful author and has created such a fascinating world for us to visit in her books. If you love Paranormal Romance you have to read this series.
And the teaser chapter for Tiger Magic is something that has to be read several times… I cannot wait until it is released!
December 10, 2015
Iona is a panther-shifter/human and has been living and passing for a human her whole life.Shiftertown Leader, leopard-shifter Eric Warden wants her safe in shifter town, but that’s not the only reason he wants her. Iona’s shifter half is coming forward full force and is going to take over. Eric worries she will go feral, but more than that , he worries another shifter male will claim her.
If that’s not enough stress on Eric, he has to deal with the Humans relocating another shifter town worth of WOLVES to his territory. Total Alpha mode!!! There is also a kidnapping attempt. Some murderous humans and we meet a new Cat shifter that is something they have never seen.
Really enjoyed this one
If that’s not enough stress on Eric, he has to deal with the Humans relocating another shifter town worth of WOLVES to his territory. Total Alpha mode!!! There is also a kidnapping attempt. Some murderous humans and we meet a new Cat shifter that is something they have never seen.
Really enjoyed this one
February 27, 2018
decided to skip to Mate Claimed because I loved the sound of an Alpha finding his mate in a half-breed shifter who is pretending to be a human in order to go undetected by the government, would like nothing more than to collar her and throw her into a Shiftertown.
While the synopsis sounds all good and dandy, there is so much more to this story. There's an entire shifter population about to move into the local Shiftertown. While you would think this would be fine, each Shiftertown has it's own leader and Alpha. If you know anything about shifters, they do not share the title Alpha, nor do two Alpha's co-exist side-by-side. So, Eric has a lot on his plate with the new group of shifters who come in and start to cause trouble right out the gate. He's also taken it upon himself, as the local Alpha and leader, to keep an eye on Iona. He can sense that she's at her mating hunger stage. She's starting to lose control and fall back on her more animalistic nature more and more each day. Not to mention that there are humans who are in charge of being the middleman between shifters and humans who are acting rather shady. Stuff is going on in their area and the shifters don't know what it is, but they know something isn't right. There were so many pieces to this puzzle that I was rarely bored while reading this.
I really liked that while Eric is definitely an Alpha, his main focus is to help Iona. He knows how much danger she is in by being on her own during this time, he knows how much it would wreck her if the government found out she was half-shifter, and he does everything he can to help her would while helping to keep her shifter status a secret. He also allows her time to realize he's her mate. He doesn't force it on her, but instead waits for her to realize it herself and accept what that means. Eric's character was very strong and compassionate, and I really enjoyed that coming from an Alpha shifter.
While I enjoyed the main hitters in this novel, I found myself gravitating towards Graham, the Alpha shifter from the Shiftertown that gets lumped in with Eric's Shiftertown. There was something about him, even when he was being a bit of a meathead, that made me take pause. As he hung around in the story more, you sort of saw different sides to him. In the end, you realize that he isn't all that bad, and is actually a stand-up guy. I'm really looking forward to reading his story.
Mate Claimed has been the first book (if we are looking at it in chronological order) that I've actually enjoyed. I really like the newer installments in the series, but Mate Claimed is the first one I've liked so far from the first four books in the series. I'm interested to read the next book because we know next to nothing about the shifter in it (other than we meet him briefly in this novel) and you just know he has a story to tell. Plus, that poor dude deserves a happily ever after. If you like shifter romances and want to get a wide range of shifters, not just one breed, I would highly suggest looking into this series. There's felines, canines, and bears of all varieties.
While the synopsis sounds all good and dandy, there is so much more to this story. There's an entire shifter population about to move into the local Shiftertown. While you would think this would be fine, each Shiftertown has it's own leader and Alpha. If you know anything about shifters, they do not share the title Alpha, nor do two Alpha's co-exist side-by-side. So, Eric has a lot on his plate with the new group of shifters who come in and start to cause trouble right out the gate. He's also taken it upon himself, as the local Alpha and leader, to keep an eye on Iona. He can sense that she's at her mating hunger stage. She's starting to lose control and fall back on her more animalistic nature more and more each day. Not to mention that there are humans who are in charge of being the middleman between shifters and humans who are acting rather shady. Stuff is going on in their area and the shifters don't know what it is, but they know something isn't right. There were so many pieces to this puzzle that I was rarely bored while reading this.
I really liked that while Eric is definitely an Alpha, his main focus is to help Iona. He knows how much danger she is in by being on her own during this time, he knows how much it would wreck her if the government found out she was half-shifter, and he does everything he can to help her would while helping to keep her shifter status a secret. He also allows her time to realize he's her mate. He doesn't force it on her, but instead waits for her to realize it herself and accept what that means. Eric's character was very strong and compassionate, and I really enjoyed that coming from an Alpha shifter.
While I enjoyed the main hitters in this novel, I found myself gravitating towards Graham, the Alpha shifter from the Shiftertown that gets lumped in with Eric's Shiftertown. There was something about him, even when he was being a bit of a meathead, that made me take pause. As he hung around in the story more, you sort of saw different sides to him. In the end, you realize that he isn't all that bad, and is actually a stand-up guy. I'm really looking forward to reading his story.
Mate Claimed has been the first book (if we are looking at it in chronological order) that I've actually enjoyed. I really like the newer installments in the series, but Mate Claimed is the first one I've liked so far from the first four books in the series. I'm interested to read the next book because we know next to nothing about the shifter in it (other than we meet him briefly in this novel) and you just know he has a story to tell. Plus, that poor dude deserves a happily ever after. If you like shifter romances and want to get a wide range of shifters, not just one breed, I would highly suggest looking into this series. There's felines, canines, and bears of all varieties.
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