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Crookshollow Foxes #1
Art of Cunning
Alexandra Kline has landed her dream job - curating her first art exhibition at the prestigious Halt Institute in the small English village of Crookshollow. But the dream quickly turns into a nightmare when she’s forced to work with Ryan Raynard - the arrogant, reclusive artist who refuses to co-operate with her. When Ryan’s paintings don’t show up at the gallery on time, Alex heads out to his crumbling, gothic manor to give him a piece of her mind.
Billionaire artist Ryan Raynard hides a dark secret. He is a fox shifter, who shuns the company of humans and hunts alone at night in the forest surrounding his home. But the moment he laid eyes on Alex, he can't help but be drawn to her. He can sense that she’s the descendent of a powerful shifter clan, and she is destined to become his mate. If only he was ready to fall in love again ...
As Ryan and Alex are drawn together, they realise they are facing bigger problems than Ryan’s stone-cold heart. Crookshollow is being overrun with a different kind of shifter - ruthless and deadly, these shifters are killing humans indiscriminately for no apparent reason. And they are hot on Alex’s scent. Can Ryan keep Alex safe from harm, or will his need for her endanger them both?
Reader Warning: Art of Cunning is the first book in the 3-part Crookshollow Foxes serial. This book contains scorching sex, adult language, and a cliffhanger ending. If you like dirty, raunchy sex with a hot fox and one clever, sarcastic heroine, then this book will have you howling for more. Enjoy!
Billionaire artist Ryan Raynard hides a dark secret. He is a fox shifter, who shuns the company of humans and hunts alone at night in the forest surrounding his home. But the moment he laid eyes on Alex, he can't help but be drawn to her. He can sense that she’s the descendent of a powerful shifter clan, and she is destined to become his mate. If only he was ready to fall in love again ...
As Ryan and Alex are drawn together, they realise they are facing bigger problems than Ryan’s stone-cold heart. Crookshollow is being overrun with a different kind of shifter - ruthless and deadly, these shifters are killing humans indiscriminately for no apparent reason. And they are hot on Alex’s scent. Can Ryan keep Alex safe from harm, or will his need for her endanger them both?
Reader Warning: Art of Cunning is the first book in the 3-part Crookshollow Foxes serial. This book contains scorching sex, adult language, and a cliffhanger ending. If you like dirty, raunchy sex with a hot fox and one clever, sarcastic heroine, then this book will have you howling for more. Enjoy!
164 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 14, 2015
174 people are currently reading
565 people want to read
About the author
Steffanie Holmes
93 books1,394 followersSteffanie Holmes is the author of steamy historical and paranormal romance. Her books feature clever, witty heroines, wild shifters, cunning witches and alpha males who get what they want.
Before becoming a writer, Steffanie worked as an archaeologist and museum curator. She loves to explore historical settings and ancient conceptions of love and possession. From Dark Age Europe to crumbling gothic estates, Steffanie is fascinated with how love can blossom between the most unlikely characters.
Steffanie lives in New Zealand with her husband and a horde of cantankerous cats. Learn more about Steffanie at her website: www.steffanieholmes.com. She also writes dark science fiction under the name S C Green.
Want to be informed when the next Steffanie Holmes paranormal romance story goes live? Sign up for the mailing list! http://eepurl.com/ZrowD
Before becoming a writer, Steffanie worked as an archaeologist and museum curator. She loves to explore historical settings and ancient conceptions of love and possession. From Dark Age Europe to crumbling gothic estates, Steffanie is fascinated with how love can blossom between the most unlikely characters.
Steffanie lives in New Zealand with her husband and a horde of cantankerous cats. Learn more about Steffanie at her website: www.steffanieholmes.com. She also writes dark science fiction under the name S C Green.
Want to be informed when the next Steffanie Holmes paranormal romance story goes live? Sign up for the mailing list! http://eepurl.com/ZrowD
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
August 20, 2017
'Art of Cunning' by Steffanie Holmes is the First Book in The New Series called "Crookshollow Foxes". This is the story of Alexandra Kline and Ryan Raynard. This does end in a Cliffhanger that will continue their story in book two "Art of the Hunt".
Alex used to be a painter but she has found that very hard to do since her parents death. But she still works in the Art field and she has been assigned to get Ryan's paintings displayed. But he isn't cooperating and working through his assistant/butler isn't working either. They had agreed on the Art show but now the paintings are not being sent and Alex job is on the line. So she choices to go to Ryan's house. Ryan is a recluse who hasn't been seen in 10 years and lives in an old mansion time house. Alex argues her way into the house and when Ryan comes to greet her he thought she was to be a man due to her name. Ryan quickly tries to get away from her even being sharp and mean to her but he agrees she can get the paintings she needs.
Ryan quickly runs to his studio where he calms himself down because he knows he just met his mate but he needs to fight the feelings.
Alex too finds Ryan attractive but she knows he is not for her but neither one can stop being drawn to the other.
Crookshollow Foxes:,
Book 1 Art of Cunning,
Book 2 Art of the Hunt,
Book 3 Art of Temptation
"My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."
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https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1...
https://twitter.com/soapsrus68
https://www.facebook.com/RomanceBookR...
http://sissymaereads.blogspot.com/
Alex used to be a painter but she has found that very hard to do since her parents death. But she still works in the Art field and she has been assigned to get Ryan's paintings displayed. But he isn't cooperating and working through his assistant/butler isn't working either. They had agreed on the Art show but now the paintings are not being sent and Alex job is on the line. So she choices to go to Ryan's house. Ryan is a recluse who hasn't been seen in 10 years and lives in an old mansion time house. Alex argues her way into the house and when Ryan comes to greet her he thought she was to be a man due to her name. Ryan quickly tries to get away from her even being sharp and mean to her but he agrees she can get the paintings she needs.
Ryan quickly runs to his studio where he calms himself down because he knows he just met his mate but he needs to fight the feelings.
Alex too finds Ryan attractive but she knows he is not for her but neither one can stop being drawn to the other.
Crookshollow Foxes:,
Book 1 Art of Cunning,
Book 2 Art of the Hunt,
Book 3 Art of Temptation
"My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."
https://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A2H...
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1...
https://twitter.com/soapsrus68
https://www.facebook.com/RomanceBookR...
http://sissymaereads.blogspot.com/
May 4, 2015
ARC received via NetGalley
The beginning of this book didn't really grab me. I thought it didn't read easily and was a bit too wordy. However, as the story went on, I thought it improved and the writing seemed to flow better. I also thought that the storyline started out okay but then drifted off a bit before picking up again later on.
The way in which the book ended, with that little cliffhanger, would make me pick up the next book to find out what is to come.
The beginning of this book didn't really grab me. I thought it didn't read easily and was a bit too wordy. However, as the story went on, I thought it improved and the writing seemed to flow better. I also thought that the storyline started out okay but then drifted off a bit before picking up again later on.
The way in which the book ended, with that little cliffhanger, would make me pick up the next book to find out what is to come.
May 21, 2015
This book was filled with over used fillers, bad and painfull sex. Did not have a conclusive ending on top of that a cliffhanger. So you need to read the next book when it comes out. Not sure i Will be interested to read it tho.
Want to read
November 13, 2019🎁 FREE on Amazon today (11/13/2019)! 🎁
May 14, 2015
I received a copy of this book through The Naughty List ARC Club in exchange for an honest review.
I had such high hopes for this book. Art of Cunning by Steffanie Holmes started with a bang. To be honest, I wasn't aware of the page count of the book when I picked it up, and had I known, I probably wouldn’t have. I’m not a fan of short stories or novellas in general, and I try not to pick up books with less than 100 pages bare minimum… this book clocked in at about 95 pages. So, full disclosure: I didn’t know this was a short book, and some of my nitpicks about the pacing were made without that information.
The book started strong. I immediately fell in love with the main female lead of the story, James Alexandra Kline (or as she prefers to be called, Alex). She was witty, smart-mouthed, and strong willed. She was the type of woman who didn’t put up with a lot of BS, and she wasn’t afraid to take control of a situation when needed. I thought she was fantastically written from the very first page, and she was the major reason that I immediately became engrossed in the story.
The other characters, however, were not as strong. Outside of Ryan Raynard, the story’s main male lead, none of the other characters seemed fleshed out. Not one of them was explained past a cursory greeting. The characters were mostly 1-dimensional, with a little more filler for Alex’s roommate and Ryan’s mother. Even Ryan himself was a little 2-dimensional. My first impression of Ryan was standoffish and recluse, which quickly changed to domineering, and then… well…. flimsy. The man ran hot and cold with his personality and his decisions, and it was a bit hard to follow at times. One moment he was stiff as a board and trying to stay as far away from Alex as possible, the next he was trying to seduce her… and five minutes later he was back to trying to abandon her again.
As for the plot, well, it was good—but it could have been great. The story started strong with a lot of mystery and danger, but by halfway into the plotline, it all seemed incredibly rushed. It felt as if there was a lot more to the world building that could have been woven into the story—but because of the page count, most of the backstory and world building that we needed to understand the storyline was dumped onto the reader all at once in monologue-like tirades. As I read, I sincerely began to wish that the author had made this into a full fledged novel rather than a novella—because I think with a little more leeway with the pacing, this story could have been great.
Technically speaking, the writing was… dare I say it? Sloppy. There were a few typos and missing words—nothing too jarring—but the biggest problem with the quality of the writing was the amount of contradictions present in the character’s decisions as well as in the way the author handled the narrative. If you want to avoid spoilers, now is your time to look away. (Go ahead and skip the next two paragraphs).
From practically the moment Ryan met Alex he was trying to push her away. He acted disgusted with her—which, okay… I get it. She showed up in his life like a sudden shotgun blast to the groin, and he didn’t handle the situation well. The second time they meet, as he’s explaining to her that he’s a shapeshifter, he clearly states that he isn’t looking for a mate. He doesn’t want one in any way shape or form, and he’s certainly not interested in falling in love with anyone. His position on the matter is made very clear… but within the first hour after that he’s doing everything in his power to try and win her over. Whatever Ryan’s misgivings about having a mate, he seems to totally forget them in the blink of the eye. He spends the rest of the book being pushy and trying to weasel his way into a relationship with her. It felt, well… sleazy—as if the author had lied to me. I was expecting Ryan and Alex to fight their attraction to one another for a little while, but the conflict was lost because of Ryan’s about-face as far as the relationship was concerned. Alex didn’t fair much better. By the end of their second day together she was basically throwing herself at this guy she barely knew. I won’t even get into the amount of red-flags this set off.
That wasn’t the only plot hole though. Despite Ryan’s insistence that the shifter world be kept secret, he barely flinched before explaining everything to Alex’s roommate, and the next day the couple have a full-out conversation about shifter mates in front of a taxi cab driver—and this wasn’t even in the back seat of the cab… Ryan insisted in sitting up front next to the poor confused man. Not even the one-and-only sex scene was spared. Not long after Ryan puts on a condom (let’s not even stop to talk about the fact that he’s claiming his “fated mate” at the time—one I can only assume he’s planning to have cubs with… since that’s kind of the point—and so a condom seems kind of needless… but… whatever), the narrative goes on to say—and I quote—“Finally, Ryan’s own orgasm claimed him. He cried out and collapsed against me, pumping his seed deep within me.” You can argue with me over the semantics if you want to, but this isn’t a line you read in a sex scene usually when a condom is involved… that’s kind of what the condom is for.. to prevent the deep pumping of said seed.
(If you were waiting for the spoilers to end, you’re safe now.) Overall, the story was interesting. It started off strong, and I really liked Alex as a female lead. The plot was interesting, and the writing, though it had its flaws, flowed well. I do think the story could have benefitted from a slower pace, and I do think that there was an uncomfortable amount of contradictions in the story, but those problems didn’t keep me from enjoying most of the book.
If you’re looking for a solid paranormal romance, this probably isn’t going to meet your expectations. The characters personalities tended to be a little all over the place, and they made some pretty terrible decisions throughout the course of the story. If you’re looking for a steamy erotica… well, this might not meet expectations either. There is one sex scene. Yup, just one, and you have to wait until the very tail end of the book to get to it. There were undertones of BDSM involved, but it clearly didn’t stick to the safe practice thereof, and to be honest, the sex didn’t seem to fit the characters personalities. If you are looking for a fun, slightly naughty read that you can devour in an afternoon… this is going to be right up your alley. Though the book wasn’t perfect, it was an entertaining read, and overall, I did enjoy it. It was spectacular by any means, but it wasn’t something I’d turn my nose up at either.
I had such high hopes for this book. Art of Cunning by Steffanie Holmes started with a bang. To be honest, I wasn't aware of the page count of the book when I picked it up, and had I known, I probably wouldn’t have. I’m not a fan of short stories or novellas in general, and I try not to pick up books with less than 100 pages bare minimum… this book clocked in at about 95 pages. So, full disclosure: I didn’t know this was a short book, and some of my nitpicks about the pacing were made without that information.
The book started strong. I immediately fell in love with the main female lead of the story, James Alexandra Kline (or as she prefers to be called, Alex). She was witty, smart-mouthed, and strong willed. She was the type of woman who didn’t put up with a lot of BS, and she wasn’t afraid to take control of a situation when needed. I thought she was fantastically written from the very first page, and she was the major reason that I immediately became engrossed in the story.
The other characters, however, were not as strong. Outside of Ryan Raynard, the story’s main male lead, none of the other characters seemed fleshed out. Not one of them was explained past a cursory greeting. The characters were mostly 1-dimensional, with a little more filler for Alex’s roommate and Ryan’s mother. Even Ryan himself was a little 2-dimensional. My first impression of Ryan was standoffish and recluse, which quickly changed to domineering, and then… well…. flimsy. The man ran hot and cold with his personality and his decisions, and it was a bit hard to follow at times. One moment he was stiff as a board and trying to stay as far away from Alex as possible, the next he was trying to seduce her… and five minutes later he was back to trying to abandon her again.
As for the plot, well, it was good—but it could have been great. The story started strong with a lot of mystery and danger, but by halfway into the plotline, it all seemed incredibly rushed. It felt as if there was a lot more to the world building that could have been woven into the story—but because of the page count, most of the backstory and world building that we needed to understand the storyline was dumped onto the reader all at once in monologue-like tirades. As I read, I sincerely began to wish that the author had made this into a full fledged novel rather than a novella—because I think with a little more leeway with the pacing, this story could have been great.
Technically speaking, the writing was… dare I say it? Sloppy. There were a few typos and missing words—nothing too jarring—but the biggest problem with the quality of the writing was the amount of contradictions present in the character’s decisions as well as in the way the author handled the narrative. If you want to avoid spoilers, now is your time to look away. (Go ahead and skip the next two paragraphs).
From practically the moment Ryan met Alex he was trying to push her away. He acted disgusted with her—which, okay… I get it. She showed up in his life like a sudden shotgun blast to the groin, and he didn’t handle the situation well. The second time they meet, as he’s explaining to her that he’s a shapeshifter, he clearly states that he isn’t looking for a mate. He doesn’t want one in any way shape or form, and he’s certainly not interested in falling in love with anyone. His position on the matter is made very clear… but within the first hour after that he’s doing everything in his power to try and win her over. Whatever Ryan’s misgivings about having a mate, he seems to totally forget them in the blink of the eye. He spends the rest of the book being pushy and trying to weasel his way into a relationship with her. It felt, well… sleazy—as if the author had lied to me. I was expecting Ryan and Alex to fight their attraction to one another for a little while, but the conflict was lost because of Ryan’s about-face as far as the relationship was concerned. Alex didn’t fair much better. By the end of their second day together she was basically throwing herself at this guy she barely knew. I won’t even get into the amount of red-flags this set off.
That wasn’t the only plot hole though. Despite Ryan’s insistence that the shifter world be kept secret, he barely flinched before explaining everything to Alex’s roommate, and the next day the couple have a full-out conversation about shifter mates in front of a taxi cab driver—and this wasn’t even in the back seat of the cab… Ryan insisted in sitting up front next to the poor confused man. Not even the one-and-only sex scene was spared. Not long after Ryan puts on a condom (let’s not even stop to talk about the fact that he’s claiming his “fated mate” at the time—one I can only assume he’s planning to have cubs with… since that’s kind of the point—and so a condom seems kind of needless… but… whatever), the narrative goes on to say—and I quote—“Finally, Ryan’s own orgasm claimed him. He cried out and collapsed against me, pumping his seed deep within me.” You can argue with me over the semantics if you want to, but this isn’t a line you read in a sex scene usually when a condom is involved… that’s kind of what the condom is for.. to prevent the deep pumping of said seed.
(If you were waiting for the spoilers to end, you’re safe now.) Overall, the story was interesting. It started off strong, and I really liked Alex as a female lead. The plot was interesting, and the writing, though it had its flaws, flowed well. I do think the story could have benefitted from a slower pace, and I do think that there was an uncomfortable amount of contradictions in the story, but those problems didn’t keep me from enjoying most of the book.
If you’re looking for a solid paranormal romance, this probably isn’t going to meet your expectations. The characters personalities tended to be a little all over the place, and they made some pretty terrible decisions throughout the course of the story. If you’re looking for a steamy erotica… well, this might not meet expectations either. There is one sex scene. Yup, just one, and you have to wait until the very tail end of the book to get to it. There were undertones of BDSM involved, but it clearly didn’t stick to the safe practice thereof, and to be honest, the sex didn’t seem to fit the characters personalities. If you are looking for a fun, slightly naughty read that you can devour in an afternoon… this is going to be right up your alley. Though the book wasn’t perfect, it was an entertaining read, and overall, I did enjoy it. It was spectacular by any means, but it wasn’t something I’d turn my nose up at either.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 29, 2015
A cliffhanger seriously that not cool, but anyway Ryan is a strange one, "why did you let this ... this... woman into my home? You know I'm not to be disturbed in the studio." In times of duress Alex sure loses focus easily, "stop trying to watch me undress," he growled, moving behind a tree. "Take those clothes back to the house with you. That's a nice jacket. I don't want it ruined out here." I liked this book just not the cliffhanger, it was a quick read which I liked. Did I mention the cliffhanger?
August 7, 2018
Interesting tale but ends in a cliffhanger.
I have read the shorter version in a box set previously and picked this new extended version up as a free read.
Still enjoyed this story, the characters and the extra information we get but I totally forgot it ends in a cliffhanger which I hate.
Not sure if I will read the next two installments.
Update - I have read them and they were okay.
I have read the shorter version in a box set previously and picked this new extended version up as a free read.
Still enjoyed this story, the characters and the extra information we get but I totally forgot it ends in a cliffhanger which I hate.
Not sure if I will read the next two installments.
Update - I have read them and they were okay.
August 22, 2015
I loved it. I need to get the next ones but this one was really good minus the cliffhanger
October 2, 2019
Alexandra always wanted to be an artist but being a curator is just as nice. And as a new curator it is an honor to work on an exhibit with the renown recluse of an artist Ryan Raynard. But they are coming close to the deadline and he hasn't gotten back to her about when she can pick up the paintings.
After a dreadful first meeting Alexandra decides Ryan is a jerk and she is just happy to get the paintings but she brings them home instead of taking them to the museum for safekeeping. And when two men decide to break in she is introduced to a world she had never thought about before.
Ryan is a fox, like a real-live, fluffy-tailed forest animal that British people used to hunt. And when he tells her that she is his mate, she is the exact amount of freaked-out. Not only is he a fox but the entire town of Crookshollow is his territory and there are other shifters trying to take it from him so that they can rise above humanity. This was not what Alexandra thought she was getting into when she began working on the exhibit.
I think that the story line is very interesting. The topic is funny, I just wish that Ryan was a bit more believable as a character. He starts off as a quiet guy but turns into a joking flirt out of nowhere really. It was like a switch was flipped. On another note, Holmes does a marvelous job of integrating the supernatural into the natural world.
After a dreadful first meeting Alexandra decides Ryan is a jerk and she is just happy to get the paintings but she brings them home instead of taking them to the museum for safekeeping. And when two men decide to break in she is introduced to a world she had never thought about before.
Ryan is a fox, like a real-live, fluffy-tailed forest animal that British people used to hunt. And when he tells her that she is his mate, she is the exact amount of freaked-out. Not only is he a fox but the entire town of Crookshollow is his territory and there are other shifters trying to take it from him so that they can rise above humanity. This was not what Alexandra thought she was getting into when she began working on the exhibit.
I think that the story line is very interesting. The topic is funny, I just wish that Ryan was a bit more believable as a character. He starts off as a quiet guy but turns into a joking flirt out of nowhere really. It was like a switch was flipped. On another note, Holmes does a marvelous job of integrating the supernatural into the natural world.
December 2, 2019
I ALWAYS read other reviews before deciding on a book, series or even an audible book and this one has mixed ratings. 1st it seems quite a few readers who do not like cliff hangers. Sigh~
I understand that but it is a sure fire way to get you back for the next book if you even liked the first one even a little bit. LOL! Sorry not laughing at anyone I just know from experience my sighs or screams of "ARE YOU KIDDING ME"! With that said I have left some series go by and not continued but I found this one intriguing. The characters are not what I expected and I personally like different.
Since this is the first book ( and yes mistakes are made be it grammar, spelling etc), I found the book cute, sassy and different. So, yes I will be continuing with this series.
Alex and Ryan have their differences :) but a common interest brings them together. It's a fun journey watching these two together. And just when things are getting interesting after the build up....yes! IT'S CLIFF HANGER TIME! With that said, I leave you to beginning the next book so that I can come back and review again.
If you can look past the minor errors all writers have, and focus on the story....this book can be very entertaining and fun.
I understand that but it is a sure fire way to get you back for the next book if you even liked the first one even a little bit. LOL! Sorry not laughing at anyone I just know from experience my sighs or screams of "ARE YOU KIDDING ME"! With that said I have left some series go by and not continued but I found this one intriguing. The characters are not what I expected and I personally like different.
Since this is the first book ( and yes mistakes are made be it grammar, spelling etc), I found the book cute, sassy and different. So, yes I will be continuing with this series.
Alex and Ryan have their differences :) but a common interest brings them together. It's a fun journey watching these two together. And just when things are getting interesting after the build up....yes! IT'S CLIFF HANGER TIME! With that said, I leave you to beginning the next book so that I can come back and review again.
If you can look past the minor errors all writers have, and focus on the story....this book can be very entertaining and fun.
October 3, 2017
I have to admit that I really enjoyed this series. I was in the mood for a little shifter romance and this is hitting all the right spots for me. Alex is a very refreshing and real character and the chemistry been her and Ryan almost ooozes off the pages. Ms Holme's writing has a wonderful flow to it, and I will easily read more by this author. If I had to be picky, the only negative thing is that I think the relationship happened a little too quickly, but whatever, I can totally get past that. It was a quick, wonderful read that definitely left me wanting more. I am currently almost finished book 3. Highly recommended.
December 30, 2020
Cute story, cliffhanger
I enjoyed the heroine's lack of self-pity; she's not a weak, broken thing waiting to be rescued. I like her sardonic humor and backbone, right up to the point when she falls into the hero's bed and the story devolves into bondage kink. Really, that foray into kink wasn't necessary and just seems gratuitous. There are some proofreading errors that ought to be fixed--and, no, I'm not talking about stylistic differences between US and UK/AU English conventions. I did not expect the cliffhanger and cannot recall whether the book description mentions it. If not, then it should. The content errors, unnecessary kink, and cliffhanger reduce what would have been a solid 4-star review to two stars.
I enjoyed the heroine's lack of self-pity; she's not a weak, broken thing waiting to be rescued. I like her sardonic humor and backbone, right up to the point when she falls into the hero's bed and the story devolves into bondage kink. Really, that foray into kink wasn't necessary and just seems gratuitous. There are some proofreading errors that ought to be fixed--and, no, I'm not talking about stylistic differences between US and UK/AU English conventions. I did not expect the cliffhanger and cannot recall whether the book description mentions it. If not, then it should. The content errors, unnecessary kink, and cliffhanger reduce what would have been a solid 4-star review to two stars.
June 24, 2017
Frustrating, but good
I haven't !marked a book 3stars in a long time. As good as the stories and the characters are, I don't know what is missing for me. I was intrigued because of the fox shifter and I've never known of any books with the kind. I know the book takes place I'm Britain, so the spelling was British spelling, but I did come across a few things that felt incorrect. This aside, I did enjoy the story and I am curious to read the next book. I'm a fox lover, after all.
I haven't !marked a book 3stars in a long time. As good as the stories and the characters are, I don't know what is missing for me. I was intrigued because of the fox shifter and I've never known of any books with the kind. I know the book takes place I'm Britain, so the spelling was British spelling, but I did come across a few things that felt incorrect. This aside, I did enjoy the story and I am curious to read the next book. I'm a fox lover, after all.
September 19, 2018
Alexandra’s job is on the line unless she can get Ryan’s paintings to the art institute where she works. She decided that the only way she is going to keep her job is to go after the paintings on her own. She meets Ryan and he can’t get away from her fast enough. He recognized her as his mate but there are troubles abound and he needs to protect her. Trouble chases them but they get away and.....oops it’s a cliff hanger!
November 13, 2018
Awesome story
Great book! Loved the mystery, intrigue and the cliffie! I really liked Alex, she had a tough exterior to hide her pain, but was soft and vulnerable inside. Super smart and insightful. Ryan is your typical bad boy billionaire recluse art savant. They are a match on a number of levels, but there is much that he is not telling Alex. And it comes back to bite him, and her in the end. Buying the next book now!
Great book! Loved the mystery, intrigue and the cliffie! I really liked Alex, she had a tough exterior to hide her pain, but was soft and vulnerable inside. Super smart and insightful. Ryan is your typical bad boy billionaire recluse art savant. They are a match on a number of levels, but there is much that he is not telling Alex. And it comes back to bite him, and her in the end. Buying the next book now!
August 19, 2017
I received Art of Cunning as a free copy from the author/publisher. The gifting did not determine the review/rating, which reflects my honest opinion. While the plot was good, the writing lacked detail and tension. I also had a hard time with Alex's easy acceptance of shifters. Book ends abruptly on a cliffhanger, so it feels like the first part of a book, rather than a series.
January 11, 2018
Holy cow. I know some readers hate books that end on a cliffhanger, so I will just put that out there as a warning. However, I gotta read the next. Well worth the time it took to read.
I know some people who read my reviews are sensitive to this, so I will warn you that the one sex scene was pretty intense, and maybe even slightly triggery.
I know some people who read my reviews are sensitive to this, so I will warn you that the one sex scene was pretty intense, and maybe even slightly triggery.
September 11, 2018
Shapeshifter foxes, wolves, ravens, ect. in a small town in England with a supernatural reputation.
This is part one of Ryan & Alex's story. Told in 3 parts to part you from more money.
This isn't too bad. I'm interested. Got a cliffhanger ending, so make sure you have part 2 loaded up on your device!
This is part one of Ryan & Alex's story. Told in 3 parts to part you from more money.
This isn't too bad. I'm interested. Got a cliffhanger ending, so make sure you have part 2 loaded up on your device!
December 31, 2016
Ryan and Alex's Story
This is my first Fox shifter story I've read and I must say I am very intrigued by it. It is by far one of the best I've ever read and definitely has me wanting more. Thanks Steffanie Holmes and keep them coming. Outstanding!
This is my first Fox shifter story I've read and I must say I am very intrigued by it. It is by far one of the best I've ever read and definitely has me wanting more. Thanks Steffanie Holmes and keep them coming. Outstanding!
August 28, 2017
Ryan and Alex
This is my first time reading this Arthur I can't wait to finish the rest of the series. This is a shifter romance about foxes which is interesting. If you enjoy paranormal then I definitely recommend this author.
This is my first time reading this Arthur I can't wait to finish the rest of the series. This is a shifter romance about foxes which is interesting. If you enjoy paranormal then I definitely recommend this author.
August 22, 2018
Well it was free, so it was ok I guess. The H has secrets, few are revealed, the h is a sweetly pathetic, and his mate. So he denies her because he has secrets. It was choppy with lots of 'telling', but worst it is a cliffie. Not a fan of cliffhangers, the characters or writing style. Not for me.
July 7, 2019
Alex and Ryan
Oh, I enjoyed this one...got and steamy reclusive artist fox shifter and sassy and bold confused human/potential mate yes please lol This book ends in a cliffhanger that leaves Ryan is in big trouble. I can't wait to read more.
Oh, I enjoyed this one...got and steamy reclusive artist fox shifter and sassy and bold confused human/potential mate yes please lol This book ends in a cliffhanger that leaves Ryan is in big trouble. I can't wait to read more.
January 6, 2021
On it’s own I was only mildly invested in this book, but after finishing parts two and three I found it to be a half decent story.
Some editing issues.
At the time of my review the author has another series called Nevermore that I think I may find more appealing.
Some editing issues.
At the time of my review the author has another series called Nevermore that I think I may find more appealing.
December 3, 2023
Ryan Raynard is a gorgeous reclusive artist and is not very nice at all. He is driving Alex insane. She works in a gallery and Ryan is not easy to work with when she is put in charge of putting together his showing at the gallery. What an absolutely fantastic story. Loved it.
July 3, 2025
Characters: 5/5
World Building: 5/5
Spiciness: 🌶🌶🌶🌶
Editing: 4/5
Cliffhanger: Yes
Other than a few grammatical errors and inconsistency errors, the book was very enjoyable. Wish I had known it was a cliffhanger though.
World Building: 5/5
Spiciness: 🌶🌶🌶🌶
Editing: 4/5
Cliffhanger: Yes
Other than a few grammatical errors and inconsistency errors, the book was very enjoyable. Wish I had known it was a cliffhanger though.
June 20, 2017
Love it!
I haven't read a book a fox shifters before so was not sure want to expert! Live it right from the start, can't wait to read the next one!
I haven't read a book a fox shifters before so was not sure want to expert! Live it right from the start, can't wait to read the next one!
October 23, 2017
I enjoyed this book.
September 27, 2018
More like 3.5 stars, but I’m not feeling generous today.
December 24, 2018
Not as good as the wolf book but a decent read.
August 19, 2019
Enjoyable, but...
I enjoyed this novel but couldn’t get over the feeling it needed more fleshing out. Hot sex scene though 😉
I enjoyed this novel but couldn’t get over the feeling it needed more fleshing out. Hot sex scene though 😉
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