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Crescent Moon #1
Taming the Alpha
After a year of lusting after his sexy employee, werewolf pack-leader Grant broke his no-involvement-with-humans rule and made a move on Talia. A month later the sex is still red hot and everything between them is perfect. Or so he thought. Until the night he shows up at her place expecting their usual ritual of mind-blowing sex and finds out she has other plans. And they don’t include him.
When Talia announces she’s tired of being his last priority, Grant realizes he might lose the only woman he’s ever cared about. He has to do something fast to fix their relationship, but she’s completely unaware that he’s not human. He’s not above using sex to bind her to him, but when she wants more than that he has a risky decision to make. If he admits the truth he risks not only his heart, but the safety of his pack and the existence of all supernatural beings as well.
Novella length.
When Talia announces she’s tired of being his last priority, Grant realizes he might lose the only woman he’s ever cared about. He has to do something fast to fix their relationship, but she’s completely unaware that he’s not human. He’s not above using sex to bind her to him, but when she wants more than that he has a risky decision to make. If he admits the truth he risks not only his heart, but the safety of his pack and the existence of all supernatural beings as well.
Novella length.
ebook
First published May 8, 2011
327 people are currently reading
1876 people want to read
About the author
Savannah Stuart
26 books313 followersSavannah Stuart is the pseudonym of New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katie Reus. Under this name she writes slightly hotter romance than her mainstream books. Her stories still have a touch of intrigue, suspense, or the paranormal and the one thing she always includes is a happy ending. She lives in the South with her very own real life hero. In addition to writing (and reading of course!) she loves traveling with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews
July 26, 2017
Review later.
November 30, 2019
Taming the Alpha by Savannah Stuart aka Katie Reus
1st in the Crescent Moon series. Shifter paranormal romance novella.
Talia has had enough of Grant’s treating her like a Friday night secret. She wants more. Grant acknowledges that Talia is right and he needs to let her know how much she means to him. Telling her that he is the alpha of the local wolf pack may be a bit difficult since she has no clue such a world exists. But he’s not willing to let her go.
Super sexy and tantalizing.
The audible version was well done and engrossing.
1st in the Crescent Moon series. Shifter paranormal romance novella.
Talia has had enough of Grant’s treating her like a Friday night secret. She wants more. Grant acknowledges that Talia is right and he needs to let her know how much she means to him. Telling her that he is the alpha of the local wolf pack may be a bit difficult since she has no clue such a world exists. But he’s not willing to let her go.
Super sexy and tantalizing.
The audible version was well done and engrossing.
November 20, 2022
Narrator Review:
Jeffrey Kafer was such a treat to listen too! He did the part of Grant justice with that sexy voice of his. I also loved how he did Talia's voice. I'm so glad he did not try to do a high pitch version of hers. That never works for me. Jeffrey is going on my list of must listen to narrators! Borrowed on the Audible Romance Package
Story Review:
This is a short but oh so good story from Savannah Stuart. Grant was just delicious. Alpha of his pack, dominant and very possessive of his little human, Talia. He's hesitant to lay full claim since she is not aware of the existance of shifters and vampires but ultimately she doesn't give him a choice to wait much longer.
Talia was awesome. As much as she wanted Grant, she would not settle for half measures. It took her putting Grant in his place to get him to finally open up to her about his wolf. He was hoping to give her more time but really he just feared losing her.
For as short of a book this was, it was very satisfying. I will definitely be checking out more in this series.
Jeffrey Kafer was such a treat to listen too! He did the part of Grant justice with that sexy voice of his. I also loved how he did Talia's voice. I'm so glad he did not try to do a high pitch version of hers. That never works for me. Jeffrey is going on my list of must listen to narrators! Borrowed on the Audible Romance Package
Story Review:
This is a short but oh so good story from Savannah Stuart. Grant was just delicious. Alpha of his pack, dominant and very possessive of his little human, Talia. He's hesitant to lay full claim since she is not aware of the existance of shifters and vampires but ultimately she doesn't give him a choice to wait much longer.
Talia was awesome. As much as she wanted Grant, she would not settle for half measures. It took her putting Grant in his place to get him to finally open up to her about his wolf. He was hoping to give her more time but really he just feared losing her.
For as short of a book this was, it was very satisfying. I will definitely be checking out more in this series.
December 13, 2015
A quick, funny and hot read!
I really liked that we got dual POV, otherwise I would probably dislike Grant even more for how he at first treated Talia. Thankfully, the girl knows her self worth and makes him see his mistakes. I loved seeing him grovel and also how protective and possessive he was with her. Talia was a spitfire and I really liked how she didn't let Grant just walk over her. She definitely also knew how to drive him crazy, that's for sure. And don't get me started on the many hot, hot, hot bedroom scenes.
Definitely a read I'd recommend! :)
Safety-gang: Overall safe.
November 25, 2019
Didn't love it. Didn't hate it. So with this falling in my "Meh" category I could be done with the series or keep going......I am going to keep going with this. There is enough substance there to see if the storyline and character writing builds.
This is not quite an insta-love but is somewhat close to it. Stuart picks up 1 year into the duo knowing each other, but it did leave me feeling like I was missing something. The storyline lacked information to make me feel connected. I realize this is a novella but there are some great novella's available to read which are missing nothing.
Gonna give book 2 a go at some point.
Happy reading! DD
This is not quite an insta-love but is somewhat close to it. Stuart picks up 1 year into the duo knowing each other, but it did leave me feeling like I was missing something. The storyline lacked information to make me feel connected. I realize this is a novella but there are some great novella's available to read which are missing nothing.
Gonna give book 2 a go at some point.
Happy reading! DD
July 12, 2016
Nice little shifter story.
Grant and Talia have been seeing each other for about a month, but have known each other longer. Talia feels Grant only uses her for sex and decides she has had enough. She's tired of feeling like she comes last with him. She has fallen in love with him and wants a relationship that has a future. Grant didn't even see Talia's goodbye coming. It wasn't until she pointed out their issues that he even realized there was a problem. He has kept secrets from Talia for fear of losing her. Now he knows he has to fess up if he wants to keep the woman he loves.
Great short story. No epilogue but it's the first in a series.
-hot alpha shifter
-sweet unknowing human
-no ow drama
-om- Talia goes on a date to try to get on with her life. She knows nothing will come of it and tells him there won't be a second date. Nothing happens between them at all.
-slight pushing away, not too significant
-no epilogue
-HFN ending
Grant and Talia have been seeing each other for about a month, but have known each other longer. Talia feels Grant only uses her for sex and decides she has had enough. She's tired of feeling like she comes last with him. She has fallen in love with him and wants a relationship that has a future. Grant didn't even see Talia's goodbye coming. It wasn't until she pointed out their issues that he even realized there was a problem. He has kept secrets from Talia for fear of losing her. Now he knows he has to fess up if he wants to keep the woman he loves.
Great short story. No epilogue but it's the first in a series.
-hot alpha shifter
-sweet unknowing human
-no ow drama
-om- Talia goes on a date to try to get on with her life. She knows nothing will come of it and tells him there won't be a second date. Nothing happens between them at all.
-slight pushing away, not too significant
-no epilogue
-HFN ending
July 18, 2025
Re-read on June of 2025. Rating lowered from original 4 to 2 stars
New review: I didn't love this book. I have been on a Katie Reus reading spree and this book so far was the weakest in her catalogue. Grant wasn't book boyfriend material and the heroine was forgettable. The story was the same repetitive thing, which is weird considering that this book is a novella. The parts where there was supposed to be a character development were rushed and overall I wasn't haply with the book. On to the second one in the series and hoping for the best
Old Review:
The book shows that sometimes men don't get everything right. They like it simple and women make it complicated. It was good enough and it had an alpha male as the hero. Do I need to say any words after the alpha male to make you read this? I don't think so. I love how shifters are controlled by their wolf and act possessively.
New review: I didn't love this book. I have been on a Katie Reus reading spree and this book so far was the weakest in her catalogue. Grant wasn't book boyfriend material and the heroine was forgettable. The story was the same repetitive thing, which is weird considering that this book is a novella. The parts where there was supposed to be a character development were rushed and overall I wasn't haply with the book. On to the second one in the series and hoping for the best
Old Review:
The book shows that sometimes men don't get everything right. They like it simple and women make it complicated. It was good enough and it had an alpha male as the hero. Do I need to say any words after the alpha male to make you read this? I don't think so. I love how shifters are controlled by their wolf and act possessively.
August 6, 2022
Steamy short story with a thin plot and lots of action. Alpha H is in lust with the human h. She cares for him but decided she deserved more than booty calls. He gets mad, vampires get involved and the H decides to mate with her. A good start to the series.
March 19, 2016
A quick but enjoyable read
August 20, 2015
It might be steamy, but Grant was a jerk. Did not like him and thought she could have done so much better.
October 26, 2020
This was a freebie a few months back and I snagged it because Katie Reus was connected to it. It was alright, just not what I was expecting. It’s a quick fluff read without much drama. Grant and Talia have been in a Friday night hookup relationship when she puts her foot down demanding more. There are a few editing issues… mostly wrong words in sentences. Not a huge deal, but you might have to re-read a few times.
Bottom Line- Not bad, but not super exciting either. It is a novella length, so it moves quick, and I didn’t have to skim. My only real complaint is that it ends rather abruptly, and book 2 was also a freebie, and their story jumps between the two books. An epilogue would have been nice so their storylines matched.
Bottom Line- Not bad, but not super exciting either. It is a novella length, so it moves quick, and I didn’t have to skim. My only real complaint is that it ends rather abruptly, and book 2 was also a freebie, and their story jumps between the two books. An epilogue would have been nice so their storylines matched.
April 12, 2018
Meh. This was a little short and the relationship between the MCs a little undeveloped. I think this was something like 70 pages, including an excerpt from another novel and a moderately detailed fight scene between the hero and a vampire. I didn’t feel all that invested in the relationship.
Safety Stats:
Safety Stats:
November 1, 2021
3.5 stars
The couple: Grant and Talia
Romance genre: shifter
Series: Crescent Moon
Length: 69 pages
Plot: Grant and Talia have been seeing each other for a short while. Grant is Talia's boss at the bar where she works, and unknown to the human waitress, he's also the alpha of his pack. He really likes her, but she's tired of being taken for granted, so when he shows up on a Friday night after several days of no communication, he finds that she's dressed up and on her way out for a night on the town - without him. Now he has to figure out two things: how to tell her he's a shifter and how to make her see that she's one for him
Commentary: I liked this one just fine, but the extra 1/2 star was for Talia. She was a strong woman who was in love but also wouldn't put up with Grant's nonsense. Her play in the beginning of going out when she knew he would be coming over and would see was genius and shook him up enough to force a decision. It's not that she was being manipulative - exactly; she still loved him and yearned for his care and attention. She just knew that things would go on the same as always unless she did something drastic. She was great - a worthy mate to an alpha!
Next book in the series: Claiming His Mate
The couple: Grant and Talia
Romance genre: shifter
Series: Crescent Moon
Length: 69 pages
Plot: Grant and Talia have been seeing each other for a short while. Grant is Talia's boss at the bar where she works, and unknown to the human waitress, he's also the alpha of his pack. He really likes her, but she's tired of being taken for granted, so when he shows up on a Friday night after several days of no communication, he finds that she's dressed up and on her way out for a night on the town - without him. Now he has to figure out two things: how to tell her he's a shifter and how to make her see that she's one for him
Commentary: I liked this one just fine, but the extra 1/2 star was for Talia. She was a strong woman who was in love but also wouldn't put up with Grant's nonsense. Her play in the beginning of going out when she knew he would be coming over and would see was genius and shook him up enough to force a decision. It's not that she was being manipulative - exactly; she still loved him and yearned for his care and attention. She just knew that things would go on the same as always unless she did something drastic. She was great - a worthy mate to an alpha!
Next book in the series: Claiming His Mate
September 7, 2015
Alpha leader Grant met Talia when she came into his bar looking for a job. He knew there was something about her when she first walked in little did he know she was his mate. Human, Talia is human and Grant never expected to mate with a human before. After a year of flirting and growing the desire with each other he finally makes his move. When Grant shows up for their Friday night sex meet he finds her dressed in a killer dress and fuck me heels but she isn't dressed up for him. Taila has had it with Grant only having sex on Fridays with no other relationship she tells him to move it, which sends Grant on ALPHA mode. When some rogue vampires are coming around Grant needs to her who he is and why he isn't always around, as well as wanting her around him of all time.
July 27, 2017
If I had known this was Katie Reus, I would have read this ages ago.....I adore her writing.... This was short and sweet and I loved it!!!!! :)
December 6, 2017
If you enjoy paranormal romances, this is definitely a read that I’d highly recommend.
“If I’m not your boyfriend, then what am I?”
“You’re my boss,” she whispered.
Taming the Alpha is the quick, steamy and immensely entertaining debut of Savannah Stuart’s Crescent Moon paranormal series. Savannah Stuart is the pseudonym of New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katie Reus. Under Savannah Stuart, she writes slightly hotter romance than her mainstream books. Katie is one of my favorite authors. When I pick up one of her books, I know that I’m going to be immediately drawn into a well-plotted story with great characters from the first. And that the normal world will fall away until I’ve reached the end. Taming the Alpha is the story of Grant, a wolf-shifter, and Talia, a human.
Grant is the hot two-hundred-year-old alpha of the local pack in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Talia bar-tends at the Crescent Moon Bar, one of the seven businesses – including six bars - owned by Grant. He normally only hires shifters, but, when she walked in to apply for the job, something in him jolted to awareness and she got the job. She’s been working for him for a year, but it’s only been in the last month that their relationship has escalated from friends-to-lovers. The story is written in the third person from both Grant’s and Talia’s points-of-view.
As the story opens, we learn that Grant and Talia have been seeing each other every Friday for sex and more sex. Talia is unaware that he is a shifter; she doesn’t even know that shifters exist. She feels that Grant is only using her for sex and she wants more. So… when Grant shows up for their routine Friday sex-fest, he catches her as she’s walking out the door in a killer dress and heels for a night on the town without him.
He was clueless about how Talia felt until that night… but now he knows that he’s screwed up… and that he has to make it right. Will Talia accept that he’s a shifter? If so, will she let him back in her life? Stay tuned for some major Alpha groveling. Then, add in a bit of intrigue and danger with some rogue vamps to make this a tale you won’t want to put down.
Following please find a short snippet from a favorite scene in Taming the Alpha:
“Remember our first kiss?” He dropped his own voice a couple octaves.
Nodding slowly, she wrapped her arms around herself as her cheeks tinged bright pink.
Their first kiss had been in this cooler of all places. After dancing around their attraction to each other for almost a full year he’d decided to stake his claim on her. He still wasn’t sure who’d made the first move.
Taming the Alpha is a fun and intriguing read. If I had one complaint, it was that I didn’t want Grant’s and Talia’s story to end. The good thing is that this is the first in the series, so, since Grant is the pack alpha, chances are quite good that these two will make appearances in the rest of the books. The ending will assuredly leave you with a contented smile. If you enjoy paranormal romances, this is definitely a read that I’d highly recommend.
My full review is published at Reading Between the Wines Book Club. Please check it out there: http://www.readingbetweenthewinesbook...
“If I’m not your boyfriend, then what am I?”
“You’re my boss,” she whispered.
Taming the Alpha is the quick, steamy and immensely entertaining debut of Savannah Stuart’s Crescent Moon paranormal series. Savannah Stuart is the pseudonym of New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katie Reus. Under Savannah Stuart, she writes slightly hotter romance than her mainstream books. Katie is one of my favorite authors. When I pick up one of her books, I know that I’m going to be immediately drawn into a well-plotted story with great characters from the first. And that the normal world will fall away until I’ve reached the end. Taming the Alpha is the story of Grant, a wolf-shifter, and Talia, a human.
Grant is the hot two-hundred-year-old alpha of the local pack in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Talia bar-tends at the Crescent Moon Bar, one of the seven businesses – including six bars - owned by Grant. He normally only hires shifters, but, when she walked in to apply for the job, something in him jolted to awareness and she got the job. She’s been working for him for a year, but it’s only been in the last month that their relationship has escalated from friends-to-lovers. The story is written in the third person from both Grant’s and Talia’s points-of-view.
As the story opens, we learn that Grant and Talia have been seeing each other every Friday for sex and more sex. Talia is unaware that he is a shifter; she doesn’t even know that shifters exist. She feels that Grant is only using her for sex and she wants more. So… when Grant shows up for their routine Friday sex-fest, he catches her as she’s walking out the door in a killer dress and heels for a night on the town without him.
He was clueless about how Talia felt until that night… but now he knows that he’s screwed up… and that he has to make it right. Will Talia accept that he’s a shifter? If so, will she let him back in her life? Stay tuned for some major Alpha groveling. Then, add in a bit of intrigue and danger with some rogue vamps to make this a tale you won’t want to put down.
Following please find a short snippet from a favorite scene in Taming the Alpha:
“Remember our first kiss?” He dropped his own voice a couple octaves.
Nodding slowly, she wrapped her arms around herself as her cheeks tinged bright pink.
Their first kiss had been in this cooler of all places. After dancing around their attraction to each other for almost a full year he’d decided to stake his claim on her. He still wasn’t sure who’d made the first move.
Taming the Alpha is a fun and intriguing read. If I had one complaint, it was that I didn’t want Grant’s and Talia’s story to end. The good thing is that this is the first in the series, so, since Grant is the pack alpha, chances are quite good that these two will make appearances in the rest of the books. The ending will assuredly leave you with a contented smile. If you enjoy paranormal romances, this is definitely a read that I’d highly recommend.
My full review is published at Reading Between the Wines Book Club. Please check it out there: http://www.readingbetweenthewinesbook...
June 21, 2015
It was o kay.... Nothing more,nothing less...
I wanted to like it.... I really did,I loved the concept and the idea and the description sounded really cute... But sadly this turned out to be one of those types of books I'm getting really,really SICK of!!! Almost no plot and almost ALL sex.... And I'm soo tired of it, I'm one of those odd readers that actually likes some story with my sex, am I a horny sexually unfilled Woman sometimes reading books like this to life vicariously thru these characters to give my pathetic love life ( or lack there of) the excitement and passion I so sorely crave ? YES,YES!! And Double Yes!!! And why did I have st semi-embarrass myself and tell you that? Because even with my love life (or lack there of) being what it is , I still want a book that has a good story with some good sex scenes that are fun and exciting and have a natural build to them... Not one sex scene after another ( where is I had to see pussy one more time clenching or wetting her undies etc, I was gonna scream ) ,I mean Hey! If I had a guy like Grant ( a sexy wolf shifter who loved and wanting me as passionately as he did and made me and my body react like hers did, Hell I'd be having sex almost sex non stop too!! But then that would be me and not a story and I'd be too busy having all the sex I'm not now and enjoying my life and my man/wolf and I doubt I'd be reading a book like this,coz I'd be way too busy ;)
But I'm not and I am and I want a good romance that has sex , not just a bunch of sex scenes strung together trying to make a story... Iv read a good few romances that had very little sex but the stories were soo interesting and the characters and their relationship with other soo much fun I barely missed it,I left the story kinda wishing there'd maybe been a bit more sex at times but it wasn't really a bother the story was soo good I didn't really care... But a story like this where sex is all you really have ? You REALLY walk away MISSING the lack of story and the depth of character :(
By the time it was over I was more than ready,I entered the last chapter kinda pissed the quote "Big" reveal of everything wasn't gonna happen til the last chapter ,I knew on one hand I shouldn't be surprised but I thought hey, the last chapter isn't long enough for her to digest everything and work it all out but kinda like insta love seconds after he to,d her everything , it was all worked out the "I Love You's" were being said she agreeing to move in and we're on to yet another sex scene I've lost the ability to care about...
Decent idea/concept but honestly no real plot just one sex scene after another, that by the end you'll have ceased to care about ...
Not bad for .99 cents but there's better to be had even at that price... Like E.A. Price's Grey Wolf Pack series, a personal fave is The Alphas Mate book 2 and To Catch a Snake book three of her Supernatural Bounty Hunter series at just a penny more for a dollar as all 19 of her books are...
I wanted to like it.... I really did,I loved the concept and the idea and the description sounded really cute... But sadly this turned out to be one of those types of books I'm getting really,really SICK of!!! Almost no plot and almost ALL sex.... And I'm soo tired of it, I'm one of those odd readers that actually likes some story with my sex, am I a horny sexually unfilled Woman sometimes reading books like this to life vicariously thru these characters to give my pathetic love life ( or lack there of) the excitement and passion I so sorely crave ? YES,YES!! And Double Yes!!! And why did I have st semi-embarrass myself and tell you that? Because even with my love life (or lack there of) being what it is , I still want a book that has a good story with some good sex scenes that are fun and exciting and have a natural build to them... Not one sex scene after another ( where is I had to see pussy one more time clenching or wetting her undies etc, I was gonna scream ) ,I mean Hey! If I had a guy like Grant ( a sexy wolf shifter who loved and wanting me as passionately as he did and made me and my body react like hers did, Hell I'd be having sex almost sex non stop too!! But then that would be me and not a story and I'd be too busy having all the sex I'm not now and enjoying my life and my man/wolf and I doubt I'd be reading a book like this,coz I'd be way too busy ;)
But I'm not and I am and I want a good romance that has sex , not just a bunch of sex scenes strung together trying to make a story... Iv read a good few romances that had very little sex but the stories were soo interesting and the characters and their relationship with other soo much fun I barely missed it,I left the story kinda wishing there'd maybe been a bit more sex at times but it wasn't really a bother the story was soo good I didn't really care... But a story like this where sex is all you really have ? You REALLY walk away MISSING the lack of story and the depth of character :(
By the time it was over I was more than ready,I entered the last chapter kinda pissed the quote "Big" reveal of everything wasn't gonna happen til the last chapter ,I knew on one hand I shouldn't be surprised but I thought hey, the last chapter isn't long enough for her to digest everything and work it all out but kinda like insta love seconds after he to,d her everything , it was all worked out the "I Love You's" were being said she agreeing to move in and we're on to yet another sex scene I've lost the ability to care about...
Decent idea/concept but honestly no real plot just one sex scene after another, that by the end you'll have ceased to care about ...
Not bad for .99 cents but there's better to be had even at that price... Like E.A. Price's Grey Wolf Pack series, a personal fave is The Alphas Mate book 2 and To Catch a Snake book three of her Supernatural Bounty Hunter series at just a penny more for a dollar as all 19 of her books are...
August 20, 2017
Right off let me state, love me some werewolves! This short intro read into this series focuses mainly on a new dating relationship between Grant and Talia. Right up front they have smexy chemistry. Whoot! So my four star rating is based soley upon all that smexiness...hey this is why I read romance people!! Add in the PNR elements? Dang right it needs to be intense(er) LOL
Not a lot of deep or descriptive world building in book 1, just focuses on Grant sorting out his feelings for Talia and visa versa. The plot arch isn't new, boy wolf (alpha with responsibilities and little time for his own love life) meets girl human (drawn to his power, clueless about the sup world, and confused why he remains distant beyond the physical connection). Throw a few snags in the path of our H/h, again not a lot of back history on these elements (coworkers who are pack members but h is unawares, kink clubbing with said coworkers *why*, Good vamps/Bad vamps, vamp dating but h is, yup, our heroine is completely unaware) and the plot moves forwards fast enuf to its big reveal.
Again, no big surprises btwn our smexy duo's relationship outcome ;) !! Looks like book 2 will PU where there could have been an epilogue here?....certainly a segue to continue on in the series.
For me this was a quick, smexy read and I liked it. Maybe one day I'll hit up book 2....for beta wolf Max?? Maybe ;)
Not a lot of deep or descriptive world building in book 1, just focuses on Grant sorting out his feelings for Talia and visa versa. The plot arch isn't new, boy wolf (alpha with responsibilities and little time for his own love life) meets girl human (drawn to his power, clueless about the sup world, and confused why he remains distant beyond the physical connection). Throw a few snags in the path of our H/h, again not a lot of back history on these elements (coworkers who are pack members but h is unawares, kink clubbing with said coworkers *why*, Good vamps/Bad vamps, vamp dating but h is, yup, our heroine is completely unaware) and the plot moves forwards fast enuf to its big reveal.
Again, no big surprises btwn our smexy duo's relationship outcome ;) !! Looks like book 2 will PU where there could have been an epilogue here?....certainly a segue to continue on in the series.
For me this was a quick, smexy read and I liked it. Maybe one day I'll hit up book 2....for beta wolf Max?? Maybe ;)
January 22, 2015
My Thoughts - 3.5 out of 5 Unicorns - I more than liked it!!!
The cover is definitely some nice eye candy even though he has no face :)
I bought this back in 2013, and I decided that I should read it :) I’m definitely glad I did! This is my first time reading Savannah’s work or Katie’s for that matter. I didn’t realize until doing my review that Katie Reus is Savannah. My mom and my grandma have both read books by Katie and will buy anything she writes :)
This is a novella length story and the first in the series. There is some action in this book, but it is mostly about Grant and Talia’s personal and sexual issues. From the glimpses that I have seen of the world created by Savannah, it is pretty cool. Since this book focuses on their relationship issues, you do not get a lot of details on the world. I am definitely intrigued, and I can’t wait to see what I learn more about this world next. I think it is going to get better as the series goes especially as I become more invested in the characters :)
I recommend this book to those who love the personal drama involved in shifter relationships and to all the Katie Reus fans who already love everything she writes :)
The cover is definitely some nice eye candy even though he has no face :)
I bought this back in 2013, and I decided that I should read it :) I’m definitely glad I did! This is my first time reading Savannah’s work or Katie’s for that matter. I didn’t realize until doing my review that Katie Reus is Savannah. My mom and my grandma have both read books by Katie and will buy anything she writes :)
This is a novella length story and the first in the series. There is some action in this book, but it is mostly about Grant and Talia’s personal and sexual issues. From the glimpses that I have seen of the world created by Savannah, it is pretty cool. Since this book focuses on their relationship issues, you do not get a lot of details on the world. I am definitely intrigued, and I can’t wait to see what I learn more about this world next. I think it is going to get better as the series goes especially as I become more invested in the characters :)
I recommend this book to those who love the personal drama involved in shifter relationships and to all the Katie Reus fans who already love everything she writes :)
July 15, 2013
3.5 star read
Grant is the alpha on his werewolf pack, Talia is a human and works for him in one of his clubs.
They have hot sex on a regular basis, too regular in a way and Talia has had enough and wants more, but does grant have it in hm to step up and be what she wants? She doesn't even know his a werewolf how will she react?
Ths is a novella length book, and is a good read, loved the characters but would have been great if longer and a bit more angst with it.
Grant is the alpha on his werewolf pack, Talia is a human and works for him in one of his clubs.
They have hot sex on a regular basis, too regular in a way and Talia has had enough and wants more, but does grant have it in hm to step up and be what she wants? She doesn't even know his a werewolf how will she react?
Ths is a novella length book, and is a good read, loved the characters but would have been great if longer and a bit more angst with it.
July 20, 2017
One of my newest fave authors, Katie Reus, also wrote this Crescent Moon series, so when I saw that I had downloaded this book a while back and still hadn’t read it, I dropped everything else and jumped right in.
It was a surprise to read Taming the Alpha because it was so different than the stuff I’ve read under Katie Reus. It might have been the length of the novella, but it felt super rushed. When we finally started to get some action, suspense, that signature heat combusting between he MCs, it flared and then was just as quickly got snuffed out.
It was a promising plot but ended too quickly for my taste. Overall it was a good read, but I need a meatier read now.
Quick Summary
The blurb pretty much tells you the whole story…
Grant is the alpha of his wolf shifter pack, he’s been seeing Talia, an employee/bartender for one of his bars, for about a month. After tip-toeing around each other and their crazy strong attraction, they agree to get together. Talia makes Grant promise their relationship won’t interfere with her work so they keep things on the DL at work. Because of Grant’s alpha status, if he isn’t working his businesses, he’s working out something for the pack. He is a workaholic, basically.
Since Talia is human, Grant hasn’t yet told her what he is, so Tahlia feels like she takes a back seat to Grant’s other responsibilities. Add the fact that whenever they are together, things always lead to hot animalistic sex and she’s left feeling like she’s just a booty call.
Tahlia finally decides to call Grant out on his behavior and how it all makes her feel. Unimportant and underappreciated.
Throw in some minor (and I mean super teeny tiny!) vampire drama and Grant is kind of sorta forced to reveal his secret to Tahlia in order to convince her he didn’t ignore her again. After some explanation and apologies, these to confess their love for each other and Grant promises to never take Tahlia for granted again.
What I liked:
True to Katie Reus’ style, there is no OTT OM/OW drama, the H is 100% faithful, devoted and basically obsessed with his h :) Never a bad thing, imo, and I liked that Tahlia stood up for herself and didn’t let him call all the shots.
What didn’t click for me:
I really felt like things never really had a chance to get fleshed out. This story gave the bare minimum and never delved deeper into anything substantial.
For example, we are told Grant and Tahlia knew each other for a year before they do anything about it. The story literally opens after the month of non-stop sex and Grant and Tahlia having their first fight. It just seemed like this was a story that already started with no real beginning. It didn’t help that after Grant dragged his feet about his big reveal, Tahlia, in the end, didn’t so much as blink over the revelation. It just felt anti-climatic.
Memorable Moments:
I will say that the smexy times were still scorching hot and very memorable!
The insta-love/lust was still right up my alley.
SAFETY
It was a surprise to read Taming the Alpha because it was so different than the stuff I’ve read under Katie Reus. It might have been the length of the novella, but it felt super rushed. When we finally started to get some action, suspense, that signature heat combusting between he MCs, it flared and then was just as quickly got snuffed out.
It was a promising plot but ended too quickly for my taste. Overall it was a good read, but I need a meatier read now.
Quick Summary
The blurb pretty much tells you the whole story…
Grant is the alpha of his wolf shifter pack, he’s been seeing Talia, an employee/bartender for one of his bars, for about a month. After tip-toeing around each other and their crazy strong attraction, they agree to get together. Talia makes Grant promise their relationship won’t interfere with her work so they keep things on the DL at work. Because of Grant’s alpha status, if he isn’t working his businesses, he’s working out something for the pack. He is a workaholic, basically.
Since Talia is human, Grant hasn’t yet told her what he is, so Tahlia feels like she takes a back seat to Grant’s other responsibilities. Add the fact that whenever they are together, things always lead to hot animalistic sex and she’s left feeling like she’s just a booty call.
Tahlia finally decides to call Grant out on his behavior and how it all makes her feel. Unimportant and underappreciated.
Throw in some minor (and I mean super teeny tiny!) vampire drama and Grant is kind of sorta forced to reveal his secret to Tahlia in order to convince her he didn’t ignore her again. After some explanation and apologies, these to confess their love for each other and Grant promises to never take Tahlia for granted again.
What I liked:
True to Katie Reus’ style, there is no OTT OM/OW drama, the H is 100% faithful, devoted and basically obsessed with his h :) Never a bad thing, imo, and I liked that Tahlia stood up for herself and didn’t let him call all the shots.
What didn’t click for me:
I really felt like things never really had a chance to get fleshed out. This story gave the bare minimum and never delved deeper into anything substantial.
For example, we are told Grant and Tahlia knew each other for a year before they do anything about it. The story literally opens after the month of non-stop sex and Grant and Tahlia having their first fight. It just seemed like this was a story that already started with no real beginning. It didn’t help that after Grant dragged his feet about his big reveal, Tahlia, in the end, didn’t so much as blink over the revelation. It just felt anti-climatic.
Memorable Moments:
I will say that the smexy times were still scorching hot and very memorable!
The insta-love/lust was still right up my alley.
SAFETY
June 24, 2022
This just felt like half a story. When this starts, the MCs have already been through the initial phase of their relationship, and it feels like getting dropped off in the middle of the actual book. Since we miss out on the relationship building, it's hard to really care about it. There's also a lot going on outside the couple, but there's just not enough time for it to be developed in a 120 page book the way it needs to be.
September 20, 2018
It was a great read. Little steam, but not much. She did go out on a date trying to get over the H. No epilogue it just ends.
August 26, 2022
Notes: So boring I couldn't find strength to finish this.
Dnf at 43%.
Dnf at 43%.
March 30, 2024
If this novella were to be a dish, England during its Imperialist era would have absolutely adored it.
April 17, 2018
This was an RU listen. It was short and smutty about an alpha werewolf and a human. More sex than story. The narrator was excellent.
March 30, 2022
3 1/2 Stars
I liked that the story started out into the relationship already, it was good for the novella to get the background in advance but the ending was too abrupt.
Grant, alpha of his pack and owner of several bars and properties run by and housing his pack has been sleeping with his human employee for a month. He waited a year, trying to fight off his attraction but couldn't wait any longer and broke all his no employee-human-fraternization rules because of his feelings for her. The sex is scorching hot off the charts. Really, no complaints there.
Issues are, Talia doesn't know he's a shifter. Doesn't even know of the existence of them and Grant is so busy he basically shows up every Friday night and rocks her world and sometimes he forgets to call her. Enough is enough for Talia though and this particular Friday she makes arrangements to go out with a girlfriend and Grant is floored. He realizes they've never established what exactly their relationship is and it's something Talia needs and he wants to give her. Now he has to prove to her she's so much more than a booty call, he wants her for his own.
I liked Grant and Talia. He recognizes what she's asking for and wants to give it, he just has to find a way to tell her what he is. Talia isn't being unreasonable, she cares for Grant and knows her heart is already his. She understands he is busy but she wants to have a place in his life and feels like an afterthought.
I like the way their story played out, it just ended very abruptly and though it was an HEA I would have liked there to have been "more" with the formalizing their relationship.
I liked that the story started out into the relationship already, it was good for the novella to get the background in advance but the ending was too abrupt.
Grant, alpha of his pack and owner of several bars and properties run by and housing his pack has been sleeping with his human employee for a month. He waited a year, trying to fight off his attraction but couldn't wait any longer and broke all his no employee-human-fraternization rules because of his feelings for her. The sex is scorching hot off the charts. Really, no complaints there.
Issues are, Talia doesn't know he's a shifter. Doesn't even know of the existence of them and Grant is so busy he basically shows up every Friday night and rocks her world and sometimes he forgets to call her. Enough is enough for Talia though and this particular Friday she makes arrangements to go out with a girlfriend and Grant is floored. He realizes they've never established what exactly their relationship is and it's something Talia needs and he wants to give her. Now he has to prove to her she's so much more than a booty call, he wants her for his own.
I liked Grant and Talia. He recognizes what she's asking for and wants to give it, he just has to find a way to tell her what he is. Talia isn't being unreasonable, she cares for Grant and knows her heart is already his. She understands he is busy but she wants to have a place in his life and feels like an afterthought.
I like the way their story played out, it just ended very abruptly and though it was an HEA I would have liked there to have been "more" with the formalizing their relationship.
August 28, 2020
Erotica with a tiny thin shred of plot that you'll be lucky to see. They pretty much exchange about five words and there's lots of talk about changing things but no actual change. Grant was annoying af, he keeps saying he wants things to change but he never bothers to actually talk to Talia and say hey, I really like you and want to take you out on a date. He just shows up for sex. And they literally can't get a word out before they jump one another. I didn't feel, see or get the chemistry between them. Talia was a doormat who wanted these things but barely manages to tell Grant and regardless, caves every time to his apparent overwhelming presence. I get authors are writing erotica but come on, if you can't even wait five minutes to manage a conversation it just seems ridiculous. If they know each other, it's all off screen and unmentioned. The reveal about Grant being a werewolf was kind of an after thought and one which Talia didn't even seem to register or care about. The supernatural in this story added absolutely nothing beyond hey, Grant is a werewolf and an alpha of his pack.
It's a novella, so it's short but the plot and the characters just don't work. I don't expect much from these sorts of reads, but I expect there to be a semblance of a plot, some likeable characters and nice swoonworthy romance.
It's a novella, so it's short but the plot and the characters just don't work. I don't expect much from these sorts of reads, but I expect there to be a semblance of a plot, some likeable characters and nice swoonworthy romance.
March 18, 2016
Grant and Talia. I listened to this one on audio and it was quick but still kinda boring. I liked the characters, but the story was predictable and not engaging. Maybe it needed more humour or some humour? Talia is tired of Grant coming to her for Friday nights sex like clockwork but their relationship never goes any further. She feels used/taken for granted by Grant. But there's a lot about Grant that she doesn't know. Grant is really into Talia, but she is human and he's basically procrastinating having to deal with the whole revealing of his real nature to her. I didn't really see what the attraction was between the MCs besides the obvious sexual one. I liked that Talia was strong but not b*tchy and willing to listen to reason. But it was still kinda just meh...
For those who wonder, there's no OW cr*p.
For those who wonder, there's no OW cr*p.
October 26, 2011
From the owner Alpha leader Grant met Talia, he has been fighting the growing desire for her. As a human, she could react badly to what he is and as Alpha, his number one concern is for his pack. After a year though he finally makes a move on the bartendar, and finds that the attraction is not one sided.
When Grant shows up for their weekly Friday night romp though, he finds she is dressed to kill, and not for his pleasure either. Thrown in a tailspin, he realizes that the messages he has been sending to Talia lack the true nature of what he wants from their relationship, her as his mate.
I liked this one a lot, but it is shorter than I expected. Would love to read a full shifter book by this author.
When Grant shows up for their weekly Friday night romp though, he finds she is dressed to kill, and not for his pleasure either. Thrown in a tailspin, he realizes that the messages he has been sending to Talia lack the true nature of what he wants from their relationship, her as his mate.
I liked this one a lot, but it is shorter than I expected. Would love to read a full shifter book by this author.
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