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The Sanctuary #1
Rescuing Markas
The love of his life will bring out his roar.
John Dallas has lots of money, but no real direction in his life. He cares for lions at a local petting zoo where people can pay to pet the cubs. He’s heard stories and read about shifters—creatures who can shift from an animal form into a human form. Seeing the lions makes him wonder if those lions can shift. When he witnesses an act of cruelty to the lions, he finds his purpose in life—to save the lions.
Markas knows he can shift, but hasn’t yet. He’s fascinated by John and wants to shift in order to get to know the human better. But lions don’t last at the petting zoo past their third birthday. Once he’s at the age of being moved, he’ll lose his chance with John. Will John accept him his his human form? He’s determined to shift and snag the man of his dreams.
What will happen when the shifter and the human are thrown together by fate? White hot sparks.
John Dallas has lots of money, but no real direction in his life. He cares for lions at a local petting zoo where people can pay to pet the cubs. He’s heard stories and read about shifters—creatures who can shift from an animal form into a human form. Seeing the lions makes him wonder if those lions can shift. When he witnesses an act of cruelty to the lions, he finds his purpose in life—to save the lions.
Markas knows he can shift, but hasn’t yet. He’s fascinated by John and wants to shift in order to get to know the human better. But lions don’t last at the petting zoo past their third birthday. Once he’s at the age of being moved, he’ll lose his chance with John. Will John accept him his his human form? He’s determined to shift and snag the man of his dreams.
What will happen when the shifter and the human are thrown together by fate? White hot sparks.
88 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 26, 2015
4 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
About the author
Megan Slayer
323 books497 followersMegan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and white hot themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been nominated at the LRC for Best Author, Best Contemporary, Best Ménage, Best BDSM and Best Anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on Amazon.com.
When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice. She’s an active member of the Friends of the Keystone-LaGrange Public library. Find out more about Megan and Wendi at: http://wendizwaduk.com/indexMegan.htm Sign up for the newsletter here: http://ymlp.com/xgjmjumygmgj
When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice. She’s an active member of the Friends of the Keystone-LaGrange Public library. Find out more about Megan and Wendi at: http://wendizwaduk.com/indexMegan.htm Sign up for the newsletter here: http://ymlp.com/xgjmjumygmgj
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 12, 2020
Are shifters real or not? Most people in the world of the ‘Sanctuary’ series haven’t made up their minds one way or the other, but I suspect that may change as the series progresses. John certainly has his eyes opened in this story, and Markas – well, as a shifter he has no doubts about their existence, but he does need to learn how to be human. A cute beginning to what promises to be a fun series with a whole petting zoo full of lions who need rescue – whether they are lions or lion shifters.
Please find my full review of the third edition on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review of the third edition on Rainbow Book Reviews.
June 12, 2020
Are shifters real or not? Most people in the world of the ‘Sanctuary’ series haven’t made up their minds one way or the other, but I suspect that may change as the series progresses. John certainly has his eyes opened in this story, and Markas – well, as a shifter he has no doubts about their existence, but he does need to learn how to be human. A cute beginning to what promises to be a fun series with a whole petting zoo full of lions who need rescue – whether they are lions or lion shifters.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
June 1, 2015
3.5 stars. Looking forward to more of this series.
February 9, 2017
Rescuing Markas is book one in the Sanctuary series by Megan Slayer. It tells the story of John Dallas, a man with money, but no real passion in life. He works at a local petting zoo where people can pay to pet lion cubs. John enjoys looking after the lions, but on seeing the intelligence in their eyes, often finds himself wondering if shifters are real, and whether his lions could be shifters.
When he finds out something shocking about the zoo, he figures he has only one option - he has to save the lions. But the act of heroism raises a whole bunch of other questions and issues. Can John overcome them in order to find the man of his dreams?
This is a great start to a series - I've added all the others to my to be read list. I very much enjoy Megan's writing, and this book is no exception. It's engaging, sexy and romantic, and I look forward to finding out what she has in store for the characters next. Definitely recommended to paranormal romance fans.
When he finds out something shocking about the zoo, he figures he has only one option - he has to save the lions. But the act of heroism raises a whole bunch of other questions and issues. Can John overcome them in order to find the man of his dreams?
This is a great start to a series - I've added all the others to my to be read list. I very much enjoy Megan's writing, and this book is no exception. It's engaging, sexy and romantic, and I look forward to finding out what she has in store for the characters next. Definitely recommended to paranormal romance fans.
December 17, 2019
Are shifters real or not? Most people in the world of the ‘Sanctuary’ series haven’t made up their minds one way or the other, but I suspect that may change as the series progresses. John certainly has his eyes opened in this story, and Markas – well, as a shifter he has no doubts about their existence, but he does need to learn how to be human. A cute beginning to what promises to be a fun series with a whole petting zoo full of lions who need rescue – whether they are lions or lion shifters.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
October 31, 2025
Awesome start to the series
A little different shifter book them I'm used to but it's not a bad thing - I loved the book it was well written to bring all the characters together & start the sanctuary together
Thank you - Lori
A little different shifter book them I'm used to but it's not a bad thing - I loved the book it was well written to bring all the characters together & start the sanctuary together
Thank you - Lori
May 20, 2016
What I find disturbing is that Markus the LION is about three years old! 3 yrs and then shift into human and equivalent to approx 30? He saw Markus born or close enough and now they are bumping bunnies...
Oh, and that there is a strong implication that the 4 escapees are brothers by blood not association. However the blurb for the next book at the back.. well lets hope they aren't brothers by blood but more like 'blood brothers'.
And, Markus goes from leading lion, to recovering and figuring out his new place, to strong alpha insert dominance like he's figured out how to be mostly human and been doing it for a while. Little bit too fast for me, plus I'm really still stuck on the age thing.
Mates: conflicting information. Shifters aren't widely confirmed existence. Still KIND of a myth? WTF? That didn't make sense.. but back to mates. Those that do know about shifters say mates are a thing but lions don't mate, they sex it up with whoever takes their fancy. How do the boys know this if they just shifted for the first time? They know nothing of their heritage. Like its not a straight answer, but something muddied up.
So 2.5 or 3? Hmm somewhere in the middle?
Oh, and that there is a strong implication that the 4 escapees are brothers by blood not association. However the blurb for the next book at the back.. well lets hope they aren't brothers by blood but more like 'blood brothers'.
And, Markus goes from leading lion, to recovering and figuring out his new place, to strong alpha insert dominance like he's figured out how to be mostly human and been doing it for a while. Little bit too fast for me, plus I'm really still stuck on the age thing.
Mates: conflicting information. Shifters aren't widely confirmed existence. Still KIND of a myth? WTF? That didn't make sense.. but back to mates. Those that do know about shifters say mates are a thing but lions don't mate, they sex it up with whoever takes their fancy. How do the boys know this if they just shifted for the first time? They know nothing of their heritage. Like its not a straight answer, but something muddied up.
So 2.5 or 3? Hmm somewhere in the middle?
August 30, 2016
Rescuing Markas by Megan Slayer starts off the Sanctuary series. John cares for the lions at the Zoo. He has money and does not really need this job, but he loves his job. He has read stories of shifters but never really believed they were out there. His life mission is to save abused lions.
John is a good person with a big heart. He has compassion his fellow workers do not. Risking his life and job he will rescue the lions. I loved his bravery.
Markas he has not shifted yet. He wants to shift. He wants to get to know John better, but as a human not a lion. He is an alpha. He wants John to accept both of his duel personalities.
Markas is strong, but vulnerable at the same time. I liked that very much because in alpha male stories that is really not played up much. He is an alpha male but he has weaknesses and I loved him more for having seen them.
Over all this is a great start to this series. I hope there are many more books in the future. I would love to see where this pride goes and who falls in love next.
Five shooting Stars
John is a good person with a big heart. He has compassion his fellow workers do not. Risking his life and job he will rescue the lions. I loved his bravery.
Markas he has not shifted yet. He wants to shift. He wants to get to know John better, but as a human not a lion. He is an alpha. He wants John to accept both of his duel personalities.
Markas is strong, but vulnerable at the same time. I liked that very much because in alpha male stories that is really not played up much. He is an alpha male but he has weaknesses and I loved him more for having seen them.
Over all this is a great start to this series. I hope there are many more books in the future. I would love to see where this pride goes and who falls in love next.
Five shooting Stars
June 5, 2015
I wasn't expecting much going into this one, but the baby lions had my interest piqued enough that I had to give it a shot.
And it wasn't bad. It was frequently silly, the villain was over-the-top villainous, and John needs WAY too much reassurance WAY too often. But it wasn't awful. Short enough that the things I hated didn't really have time to drive me too crazy.
Some Favorite Quotes:
"What if he's the one you've been waiting for, but you're too scared to jump because of the last time you fell?"
"Nah, he caught me." John kissed Markas on the cheek. "Been the best rescue of my life."
"We don't have any big cats here. Just my housecat and he's hiding because he's scared of you. I don't blame him."
And it wasn't bad. It was frequently silly, the villain was over-the-top villainous, and John needs WAY too much reassurance WAY too often. But it wasn't awful. Short enough that the things I hated didn't really have time to drive me too crazy.
Some Favorite Quotes:
"What if he's the one you've been waiting for, but you're too scared to jump because of the last time you fell?"
"Nah, he caught me." John kissed Markas on the cheek. "Been the best rescue of my life."
"We don't have any big cats here. Just my housecat and he's hiding because he's scared of you. I don't blame him."
August 29, 2015
John works at a petting zoo, and when he see the lions there being abused he works very hard and manages to save them. Markas, a young lion shifter, attracted to & saved by John, and now able to shift. As John & Markas get to know each other as they work together to set up a sanctuary for lions & lion shifters and to save more of them from the greedy & dangerous zoo owner. This was an interesting take on lion shifters and how they are treated. I enjoyed the way these two interacted with each other and also how Markas had to step up as the leader of his little pride. Looking forward to seeing what happens in the upcoming books in this series.
June 20, 2016
Love this book
My first book by Megan Slayer. I love it. I could not put it down. I love how John loves the lions and his shifters. Markas is so hot when he confronts John old boyfriend/boss. Can't wait to read more about the pride.
My first book by Megan Slayer. I love it. I could not put it down. I love how John loves the lions and his shifters. Markas is so hot when he confronts John old boyfriend/boss. Can't wait to read more about the pride.
February 18, 2016
The dialogue was just awful.
April 13, 2016
Addictive.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews