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Golden Pride #5
The Lion's Haven
Devin has sixty days, three shirts, and a plan.
Aging out of a youth shelter with nothing but a library card and a savings goal, Devin keeps his head down, makes perfect coffee at the café inside the town library, and reads like his life depends on it. He doesn't need anyone. He definitely doesn't need the quiet lion shifter who sits in the fiction section every morning and handles books like they're sacred.
He just needs to stop leaving him notes in pastry boxes.
Silas has spent thirty-two years being the patient one. The reader. The watcher. He doesn't do relationships, doesn't do drama, and doesn't do feelings — until a shy barista slips a book recommendation into his pastry box with a smiley face, and his lion says one this one.
What starts with shared silence and vending machine coffee becomes something neither of them planned for — mornings reading side by side, notes traded like secrets, and a connection that builds one book at a time. But Devin has spent a lifetime learning to hide, and Silas has spent a lifetime learning to wait, and the distance between those two instincts might be the hardest thing either of them has ever tried to cross.
The Lion's Haven is a high-heat MM lion shifter romance featuring a protective bookworm alpha, a fiercely independent former foster kid, found family that shows up with pastries and opinions, and a reading nook built for two. This is the fifth and final book in the Golden Pride series. No cliffhanger. HEA guaranteed.
Aging out of a youth shelter with nothing but a library card and a savings goal, Devin keeps his head down, makes perfect coffee at the café inside the town library, and reads like his life depends on it. He doesn't need anyone. He definitely doesn't need the quiet lion shifter who sits in the fiction section every morning and handles books like they're sacred.
He just needs to stop leaving him notes in pastry boxes.
Silas has spent thirty-two years being the patient one. The reader. The watcher. He doesn't do relationships, doesn't do drama, and doesn't do feelings — until a shy barista slips a book recommendation into his pastry box with a smiley face, and his lion says one this one.
What starts with shared silence and vending machine coffee becomes something neither of them planned for — mornings reading side by side, notes traded like secrets, and a connection that builds one book at a time. But Devin has spent a lifetime learning to hide, and Silas has spent a lifetime learning to wait, and the distance between those two instincts might be the hardest thing either of them has ever tried to cross.
The Lion's Haven is a high-heat MM lion shifter romance featuring a protective bookworm alpha, a fiercely independent former foster kid, found family that shows up with pastries and opinions, and a reading nook built for two. This is the fifth and final book in the Golden Pride series. No cliffhanger. HEA guaranteed.
285 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 31, 2026
About the author
Caitlin Ricci
298 books181 followersCaitlin was fortunate growing up to be surrounded by family and teachers that encouraged her love of reading. She has always been a voracious reader and that love of the written word easily morphed into a passion for writing. If she isn't writing, she can usually be found studying as she works toward her counseling degree. She comes from a military family and the men and women of the armed forces are close to her heart. She also enjoys gardening and horseback riding in the Colorado Rockies where she calls home with her wonderful fiance and their dog. Her belief that there is no one true path to happily ever after runs deeply through all of her stories.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
May 21, 2026
The Details
I wanted to love this book. The characters were my favorite, and I’ve been wanting to see the cafe in action. Unfortunately, there was a lot of inconsistency in detail within the book and with the others. Character names would be confused. The book each was reading got swapped at one point. Something was mentioned and then brought up again like it was the first time. Disjointed instead of building. I loved the idea of the book, but the writing was disappointing.
I wanted to love this book. The characters were my favorite, and I’ve been wanting to see the cafe in action. Unfortunately, there was a lot of inconsistency in detail within the book and with the others. Character names would be confused. The book each was reading got swapped at one point. Something was mentioned and then brought up again like it was the first time. Disjointed instead of building. I loved the idea of the book, but the writing was disappointing.
June 24, 2026
Devin and Silas were the cutest couple in all ways! I died over their shared love of reading and all the book recs and conversations. I loved how they fell in love so sweetly and softly. I died over Silas thinking he was too old for Devin and Devin choosing something for the first time in his life.
I loved the pride telling Silas what to do when he messed things up. I adore Robin forevermore and loved how he was like a big brother to Devin and how mad he got when he found out Devin had been kicked out because he wanted Devin to know he could reach out to them and that they’re family. I love that Devin had this family whether or not he was with Silas.
Silas was so sweet and great and I loved how his lion was content and happy with Devin and isn’t yell at him to claim, and honestly how long the claiming took. Silas and Devin went at their own pace, and I really loved that for them.
This was such a fun and sweet series and I adored all the couples and the family and pride they built together. This was a fun time and I really enjoyed all these books <3
I loved the pride telling Silas what to do when he messed things up. I adore Robin forevermore and loved how he was like a big brother to Devin and how mad he got when he found out Devin had been kicked out because he wanted Devin to know he could reach out to them and that they’re family. I love that Devin had this family whether or not he was with Silas.
Silas was so sweet and great and I loved how his lion was content and happy with Devin and isn’t yell at him to claim, and honestly how long the claiming took. Silas and Devin went at their own pace, and I really loved that for them.
This was such a fun and sweet series and I adored all the couples and the family and pride they built together. This was a fun time and I really enjoyed all these books <3
May 19, 2026
Silas and Devin
Silas is a Lion shifter who reads and helps out in the garage. He’s always quiet, but listening to everything while reading his books.
Devin is a foster kid, surviving in a youth shelter. His goal is to save enough for an apartment before his time at the shelter is up. He goes to the library every day, reading all day because it’s his safe place. Applying to be a counter worker in Robin’s cafe is just what he needs to help with his goal. He doesn’t count on the Lion shifter who reads as much as he does or the fact that they read the same genre.
This was a wonderful story! I loved the community that was built in these pages. This is a series that I will definitely be reading again! Highly Recommended
Silas is a Lion shifter who reads and helps out in the garage. He’s always quiet, but listening to everything while reading his books.
Devin is a foster kid, surviving in a youth shelter. His goal is to save enough for an apartment before his time at the shelter is up. He goes to the library every day, reading all day because it’s his safe place. Applying to be a counter worker in Robin’s cafe is just what he needs to help with his goal. He doesn’t count on the Lion shifter who reads as much as he does or the fact that they read the same genre.
This was a wonderful story! I loved the community that was built in these pages. This is a series that I will definitely be reading again! Highly Recommended
May 22, 2026
Well, it's familiar....
These books are cute. The idea and the world building are really...cute. The problem is, every single character in here is basically the exact same guy with all the same problems. Same emotional struggles, same messed up background of some type, and the faux reluctance of one partner they have to overcome. There's an eternal sameness about all of these books. It's not really five different books. It's the same same story with different names and...that's about it. Different names. They're really very formulaic and trite. Not bad, just monotonous. I could have read one and known all I needed to know.
These books are cute. The idea and the world building are really...cute. The problem is, every single character in here is basically the exact same guy with all the same problems. Same emotional struggles, same messed up background of some type, and the faux reluctance of one partner they have to overcome. There's an eternal sameness about all of these books. It's not really five different books. It's the same same story with different names and...that's about it. Different names. They're really very formulaic and trite. Not bad, just monotonous. I could have read one and known all I needed to know.
May 27, 2026
I like the series. It’s cute and sweet. But there were just so many things that don’t line up. In the first book Margaret reads as stuffy, uptight and maybe a little homophonic. In the fifth book, she’s the Best Person Ever!! Conversations happen where Devon should have said something but it was Silas instead. And in the entire series characters know things that they didn’t see. Something happens in the privacy of the bedroom and somehow someone else knows exactly what happened but was never told about it. It pulled me out of the book and definitely dimmed my enjoyment.
June 20, 2026
Continuity is a thing...
Not in these books though. I read the whole series. These 5 books should have taken me around 3 days to finish, instead it took me 6 days simply because I had to constantly put my phone or kindle down so I wouldn't scream. The author has some truly beautiful thoughts throughout the whole series which is a big part of why I kept going but they just can't make up for all the problematic bits.
Overall I'd give both this book and the series as a whole 1.75 stars.
Not in these books though. I read the whole series. These 5 books should have taken me around 3 days to finish, instead it took me 6 days simply because I had to constantly put my phone or kindle down so I wouldn't scream. The author has some truly beautiful thoughts throughout the whole series which is a big part of why I kept going but they just can't make up for all the problematic bits.
Overall I'd give both this book and the series as a whole 1.75 stars.
July 3, 2026
Great Book! Great Series!
The cover of the first book in this series (The Lion’s Sunshine) caught my eye. In each book the characters come in to their own from different places. They grow and change through the books despite their own struggles. They’re flawed, lovable; and while they struggle, they persevere! This was a limited series. Five novels. Five couples. Five struggles. The Pride is there through all of it. They accept each one as theirs. Caitlin Ricki is a great author and this is a must read series! Enjoy!
The cover of the first book in this series (The Lion’s Sunshine) caught my eye. In each book the characters come in to their own from different places. They grow and change through the books despite their own struggles. They’re flawed, lovable; and while they struggle, they persevere! This was a limited series. Five novels. Five couples. Five struggles. The Pride is there through all of it. They accept each one as theirs. Caitlin Ricki is a great author and this is a must read series! Enjoy!
April 4, 2026
Lion shifters and their mates
I just finished The Lion’s Haven, the fifth book in the Golden Pride Series. I thoroughly enjoyed every book! Sometimes series get a bit formulaic but these books are definitely individual, interesting and intense reads. I laughed at each one but I also cried. These men will definitely steal their way into your heart!
I just finished The Lion’s Haven, the fifth book in the Golden Pride Series. I thoroughly enjoyed every book! Sometimes series get a bit formulaic but these books are definitely individual, interesting and intense reads. I laughed at each one but I also cried. These men will definitely steal their way into your heart!
June 1, 2026
a wonderful series
I enjoyed every single book in this series. The author wrote each one giving each character a soul and a story that the reader could relate to, like and love. Each character had depth, baggage, and meaning.
Only complaint was that there was a lot of repetition.
But I will still give this series 5 stars.
I enjoyed every single book in this series. The author wrote each one giving each character a soul and a story that the reader could relate to, like and love. Each character had depth, baggage, and meaning.
Only complaint was that there was a lot of repetition.
But I will still give this series 5 stars.
May 12, 2026
Perfect finish.
Usually the 5th book isn't the Best book in the series. The first book has to hook you, and the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th books need to keep you engaged so you read all the way to the end. But, this 5th book was worth the wait. It was definitely my favorite.
Usually the 5th book isn't the Best book in the series. The first book has to hook you, and the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th books need to keep you engaged so you read all the way to the end. But, this 5th book was worth the wait. It was definitely my favorite.
May 22, 2026
This Book is my Next TBR
It’s a good thing this one was last, because I’m keeping it as my next TBR list. I absolutely love how the author includes all of the books she loved in this last installment and I look forward to reading them all as I wait for the next wonderful thing.
It’s a good thing this one was last, because I’m keeping it as my next TBR list. I absolutely love how the author includes all of the books she loved in this last installment and I look forward to reading them all as I wait for the next wonderful thing.
April 8, 2026
I love this couple and this series.
The book recommendations and the yummy food.
The courting and the stubbornness.
The beautiful HEA!
The book recommendations and the yummy food.
The courting and the stubbornness.
The beautiful HEA!
Read
April 9, 2026Review while reading:
Just pages in and ALREADY robin is being annoying and ruining the book. Please. Go away!!
Just pages in and ALREADY robin is being annoying and ruining the book. Please. Go away!!
April 24, 2026
Good story and series and author
Good story and series and author it's worth reading this book and all of her other books too binge read everything enjoy 💞 🌻 🥂
Good story and series and author it's worth reading this book and all of her other books too binge read everything enjoy 💞 🌻 🥂
May 4, 2026
This should have been a 4 star but too many continuity issues, speed bumps that made it just too much. A better editor was so needed!
May 9, 2026
The final book in this series has Silas meeting a bookworm (Devin) just like him but considers Dev to young to pursue.
May 15, 2026
4.25 stars
I enjoyed reading this entire series. Will explore this author again.
I enjoyed reading this entire series. Will explore this author again.
June 20, 2026
Totally wrecked! (in a most divine way)
Add this next series to the top of your list because it's beautifully chaotic, devastatingly heart rendering, with a happily ever ending!
Add this next series to the top of your list because it's beautifully chaotic, devastatingly heart rendering, with a happily ever ending!
July 14, 2026
Purrrrrfect!
Alone, slightly scared and hoping through reading books brings two together along with a plethora of others to make one very large family!
Alone, slightly scared and hoping through reading books brings two together along with a plethora of others to make one very large family!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews