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Soul's Harbor Pride #1
Dance with the Devil
"Born to be enemies. Destined to be lovers. "
After killing one of her father s enforcers, half-blood lion shifter Jillian Winters ran for her life, landing in an upscale bar halfway across the country. Her boss, Carrick a pure-blood shifter has no idea his barmaid is a fugitive.
When her father s recklessness puts the Pride at risk, Jillian must return home and assume his place as Alpha. But not before she indulges in a taste of the attraction that s been building for years between her and Carrick.
Carrick Granger has had a soft spot for Jillian from the moment she stepped into his bar, soaking wet and afraid of her own shadow. He knows she has secrets. So does he. He s also the outcast son of an Alpha and now that his father is dead, he, too, has been summoned home.
Thinking they ll never see each other again, the simmering heat between them ignites like a match to gunpowder. But then the bullets start flying, forcing them to choose duty to their Prides, or the one person they can t live without.
" This book contains deception, lies, betrayal, a sexy lion who is determined to claim his mate, and a mating bond that will change the landscape of the Prides forever."
After killing one of her father s enforcers, half-blood lion shifter Jillian Winters ran for her life, landing in an upscale bar halfway across the country. Her boss, Carrick a pure-blood shifter has no idea his barmaid is a fugitive.
When her father s recklessness puts the Pride at risk, Jillian must return home and assume his place as Alpha. But not before she indulges in a taste of the attraction that s been building for years between her and Carrick.
Carrick Granger has had a soft spot for Jillian from the moment she stepped into his bar, soaking wet and afraid of her own shadow. He knows she has secrets. So does he. He s also the outcast son of an Alpha and now that his father is dead, he, too, has been summoned home.
Thinking they ll never see each other again, the simmering heat between them ignites like a match to gunpowder. But then the bullets start flying, forcing them to choose duty to their Prides, or the one person they can t live without.
" This book contains deception, lies, betrayal, a sexy lion who is determined to claim his mate, and a mating bond that will change the landscape of the Prides forever."
182 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 22, 2015
1 person is currently reading
239 people want to read
About the author
Angela Dennis
8 books244 followersAngela Dennis lives in the Midwest with her husband, son and a sheltie with a hero complex. When she is not at her computer crafting stories, she can be found feeding her coffee addiction, playing peek-a-boo, or teaching her son about the great adventures found only in books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
December 18, 2015
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy
While DANCE WITH THE DEVIL is the first in a series, there was so much backstory as to how the warring packs got to where they are at the start of the story that I think there should be some sort of short story to go before this book. What we get told about the past is fascinating and complex and this conflict between the packs is what the main plot of DANCE WITH THE DEVIL revolves around. What we get in the present is a complex and dangerous political game over who will replace the alphas of each pack and debates over half-breed shifter rights, you know your typical political thriller story except with claws. I enjoyed the complex web of shifter politics and seeing how Jillian and Carrick find a way to beat the system in a sense and bring peace to the packs.
The romance was pretty steamy and I enjoyed how well Jillian and Carrick worked well together even when they were at odds. I enjoyed learning about the uniqueness of Jillian's 'half-shifter form. She is quite tough and bad ass, a good quality for an alpha. I liked that Carrick was persistent in having a relationship with Jillian without being to douche or stalker-ish. He gave her space when she needed it and showed some sexy finesse in seducing Jillian. The side characters were amusing and I hope we get Jillian's friends' story in a future book because they have some backstories that I would love to see fleshed out.
One issue I had with the story was the big Claiming or massive pack sanctioned orgy. They do this orgy to find a mate and what goes on during this time was a bit confusing as I had to re-read the explanation a few times to really 'get' it. The fact that the pack was forced to participate in this and it's a tradition didn't sit right with me. There was also the claustrophobic location of said orgy being held underground. Being underground helped with building up the tension of the story as the characters had limited space to move and really no escape. Issues with massive forced orgies aside DANCE WITH THE DEVIL is an excellent start to the Soul's Harbor Pride series.
While DANCE WITH THE DEVIL is the first in a series, there was so much backstory as to how the warring packs got to where they are at the start of the story that I think there should be some sort of short story to go before this book. What we get told about the past is fascinating and complex and this conflict between the packs is what the main plot of DANCE WITH THE DEVIL revolves around. What we get in the present is a complex and dangerous political game over who will replace the alphas of each pack and debates over half-breed shifter rights, you know your typical political thriller story except with claws. I enjoyed the complex web of shifter politics and seeing how Jillian and Carrick find a way to beat the system in a sense and bring peace to the packs.
The romance was pretty steamy and I enjoyed how well Jillian and Carrick worked well together even when they were at odds. I enjoyed learning about the uniqueness of Jillian's 'half-shifter form. She is quite tough and bad ass, a good quality for an alpha. I liked that Carrick was persistent in having a relationship with Jillian without being to douche or stalker-ish. He gave her space when she needed it and showed some sexy finesse in seducing Jillian. The side characters were amusing and I hope we get Jillian's friends' story in a future book because they have some backstories that I would love to see fleshed out.
One issue I had with the story was the big Claiming or massive pack sanctioned orgy. They do this orgy to find a mate and what goes on during this time was a bit confusing as I had to re-read the explanation a few times to really 'get' it. The fact that the pack was forced to participate in this and it's a tradition didn't sit right with me. There was also the claustrophobic location of said orgy being held underground. Being underground helped with building up the tension of the story as the characters had limited space to move and really no escape. Issues with massive forced orgies aside DANCE WITH THE DEVIL is an excellent start to the Soul's Harbor Pride series.
October 16, 2015
I enjoy a good shifter PNR, but so often I find them ruined by an Alpha-hole hero or a blinding case of insta-love. I am happy to report that this story suffered from neither of these problems. It had two main characters who I actually liked, a romance I could get behind, and a decided lack of d/s themes in the bedroom or out of it. Win. Win. Win.
One of the things that helped me buy in to the relationship, is the fact that our hero and heroine worked together for three years before the the book got started. They’re both lion shifters, but Jillian is so good at hiding her nature, Carrick had no idea. Neither has ever acted on the attraction they feel for one another, until each gets called back to their respective Prides to do their duty. Before they go, they indulge in a little carnal pleasure… only to find out they were sleeping with the enemy.
Jillian and Carrick’s Prides have been at war for years. Now both Alphas need to be replaced. But it’s complicated by the prejudices toward half-bloods and a mysterious governing body that may have its own agenda. Oh yeah, and they all have to get together for a sex-swap thing called a Claiming so they can find their mates.
Jillian is an interesting heroine. She is crazy-strong, which I love, but at the same time, she has no desire to use that to her own ends. She just wants to live her own life. She has honor, though, and a sense of duty to her Pack, so despite their awful treatment of her, she tries to protect them.
Carrick is sexy and enigmatic. The sexual tension between him and Jillian is great and the pull between them feels tangible. I loved how he was jealous and possessive and growly, without ever undermining her or making her feel less-than. The love scenes are hot. The conflict is interesting. And the pacing is good.
My only complaint would be that I felt like there was more build-up to a secret past for Carrick than the author delivered on; that there is more to his history than we got to see. But it didn’t get in the way of my enjoyment. The author does a good job setting up stories for the secondary characters and I would definitely give the next book a try.
Rating: B
*ARC provided by publisher
One of the things that helped me buy in to the relationship, is the fact that our hero and heroine worked together for three years before the the book got started. They’re both lion shifters, but Jillian is so good at hiding her nature, Carrick had no idea. Neither has ever acted on the attraction they feel for one another, until each gets called back to their respective Prides to do their duty. Before they go, they indulge in a little carnal pleasure… only to find out they were sleeping with the enemy.
Jillian and Carrick’s Prides have been at war for years. Now both Alphas need to be replaced. But it’s complicated by the prejudices toward half-bloods and a mysterious governing body that may have its own agenda. Oh yeah, and they all have to get together for a sex-swap thing called a Claiming so they can find their mates.
Jillian is an interesting heroine. She is crazy-strong, which I love, but at the same time, she has no desire to use that to her own ends. She just wants to live her own life. She has honor, though, and a sense of duty to her Pack, so despite their awful treatment of her, she tries to protect them.
Carrick is sexy and enigmatic. The sexual tension between him and Jillian is great and the pull between them feels tangible. I loved how he was jealous and possessive and growly, without ever undermining her or making her feel less-than. The love scenes are hot. The conflict is interesting. And the pacing is good.
My only complaint would be that I felt like there was more build-up to a secret past for Carrick than the author delivered on; that there is more to his history than we got to see. But it didn’t get in the way of my enjoyment. The author does a good job setting up stories for the secondary characters and I would definitely give the next book a try.
Rating: B
*ARC provided by publisher
September 1, 2015
While I absolutely love paranormal romance, deeply and honestly do, this novel just wasn't doing it for me. I wanted to love this book but I found my mind wandering as I was reading it which is never a good sign. The overview intrigued me because forbidden love is like the best and usually means the end result comes about at a mighty cost and fight. I kind of weaved in and out of liking and being bored by the story which bothered me. This was hard to rate but I think a solid kind of liked 3 stars is fair.
I think what stuck out most to me was how Carrick was persistent. He didn't give up on being with Jillian and made every move to ensure she never forgot how goo and "right" it felt to be with him. He put himself in her path, kissed her, touched her, made love to her, owned her, marked her, and did whatever he had to do to keep her. Essentially, the most memorable part of this novel for me was him. I more than liked Carrick.
The writing style wasn't my issue but how the story itself unfolded might have been it. I have found it really hard to pinpoint why I would get bored and struggle to keep involved in the book's world. I could chalk it up to being tired but that's never been an issue before. I read Tracy Wolff's first Ethan Frost book at 3 am after only having 5 hours of sleep and was thoroughly engrossed in the world and Ethan freaking Frost. I can't figure what was missing for me to love or like this book more but it wasn't a love fest for me, sadly.
I think what stuck out most to me was how Carrick was persistent. He didn't give up on being with Jillian and made every move to ensure she never forgot how goo and "right" it felt to be with him. He put himself in her path, kissed her, touched her, made love to her, owned her, marked her, and did whatever he had to do to keep her. Essentially, the most memorable part of this novel for me was him. I more than liked Carrick.
The writing style wasn't my issue but how the story itself unfolded might have been it. I have found it really hard to pinpoint why I would get bored and struggle to keep involved in the book's world. I could chalk it up to being tired but that's never been an issue before. I read Tracy Wolff's first Ethan Frost book at 3 am after only having 5 hours of sleep and was thoroughly engrossed in the world and Ethan freaking Frost. I can't figure what was missing for me to love or like this book more but it wasn't a love fest for me, sadly.
September 17, 2015
5*s
Review posted here...
http://bookpassionforlife.blogspot.co...
Dance with the Devil is the first book in the Soul's Harbor Pride series and I have to say….. I’m impressed!
We start the book with a hook up between Jillian & Carrick, both are hiding the fact that they are shifters and both are unknowingly enemies living away from their prides. To be able to live away from the pride they must accept that if they are summoned back – they go straight back home. Both have been summoned, both assume that it’s because there will be a claiming and they are about to be mated off with someone and it will be totally out of their control……What they don’t know though…. The summoning is about to change both of their lives forever.
I have to say – I loved this book! I loved the premise, I loved the romance, I loved the characters and everything that happened throughout the story, so much so that I devoured it and read it in one sitting.
Both of our main characters were likable and easy to connect with, they had an air of mystery about them from the start – where are they from? Who are they really? How they both not realise each other was a shifter? Why are they being called home? They had undeniable chemistry from the start too, giving plenty of sexytime to the story before the shiz hit the fan.
Now, those questions I asked, are going to be answered - big time! And both of them are in for a shock. I don’t want to spoil any of the story and a lot of the secrecy is about their origins but the storyline is great. There’s trouble at home, the pride will soon be leaderless, there is a governing body that has decreed that certain things need to happen, it’s time for everyone to find a mate or have one found for them and those that hold power will do as they’re told or it will mean a death sentence. Not only that, there are murders to contend with too, someone is killing women and seems to be sending a message to Jillian. She is more than capable of defending herself but what about when the enemy doesn’t play fair? They are all trapped underground for 3 days to claim a mate but it also means that the killer could be down there with them and they’re sitting ducks with no chance of escape.
As I mentioned, I devoured this book and it was such an easy read that delivered all of the elements that kept me turning page after page. I was so engaged in the story, it had it all – mystery, secrets, lies, manipulation, misdirection, plenty of plotting and scheming, danger & violence but also a couple with great chemistry that you could really route for and of course some awesome sexual tension and sexytime to get us hot under the collar. I’ll definitely be looking out for more.
Review posted here...
http://bookpassionforlife.blogspot.co...
Dance with the Devil is the first book in the Soul's Harbor Pride series and I have to say….. I’m impressed!
We start the book with a hook up between Jillian & Carrick, both are hiding the fact that they are shifters and both are unknowingly enemies living away from their prides. To be able to live away from the pride they must accept that if they are summoned back – they go straight back home. Both have been summoned, both assume that it’s because there will be a claiming and they are about to be mated off with someone and it will be totally out of their control……What they don’t know though…. The summoning is about to change both of their lives forever.
I have to say – I loved this book! I loved the premise, I loved the romance, I loved the characters and everything that happened throughout the story, so much so that I devoured it and read it in one sitting.
Both of our main characters were likable and easy to connect with, they had an air of mystery about them from the start – where are they from? Who are they really? How they both not realise each other was a shifter? Why are they being called home? They had undeniable chemistry from the start too, giving plenty of sexytime to the story before the shiz hit the fan.
Now, those questions I asked, are going to be answered - big time! And both of them are in for a shock. I don’t want to spoil any of the story and a lot of the secrecy is about their origins but the storyline is great. There’s trouble at home, the pride will soon be leaderless, there is a governing body that has decreed that certain things need to happen, it’s time for everyone to find a mate or have one found for them and those that hold power will do as they’re told or it will mean a death sentence. Not only that, there are murders to contend with too, someone is killing women and seems to be sending a message to Jillian. She is more than capable of defending herself but what about when the enemy doesn’t play fair? They are all trapped underground for 3 days to claim a mate but it also means that the killer could be down there with them and they’re sitting ducks with no chance of escape.
As I mentioned, I devoured this book and it was such an easy read that delivered all of the elements that kept me turning page after page. I was so engaged in the story, it had it all – mystery, secrets, lies, manipulation, misdirection, plenty of plotting and scheming, danger & violence but also a couple with great chemistry that you could really route for and of course some awesome sexual tension and sexytime to get us hot under the collar. I’ll definitely be looking out for more.
September 10, 2015
3.25 Stars
I was asked to review this book by the author and based on the synopsis, I was intrigued. I enjoy reading paranormal/fantasy books and I have never read a shifter book with lions. It's usually werewolves or panthers, so when I saw it was something slightly different form the norm, I am always more interested.
The idea of forbidden love is always a good way to capture my attention. And it's always a plus when you add in some type of mystery to the characters and their pasts.
I have to be honest and say that the plot was really good but I feel that somewhere it fell short. The characters were not fully developed and I had a real hard time connecting to them. I would find myself getting bored at parts and skimming over things.
I am not sure if it was the writing style or how everything unfolded. As I said, the plot was really good, but personally for me, the book needed more depth and mystery.
This book did have some pretty hot scenes and good action sequences, and those did keep in interested in the book and what would happen next. Just give me more.
Would I read another book from this author - absolutely! Would I read another book in this series, definitely. I am just hoping that I get more oomph in the next one.
I was asked to review this book by the author and based on the synopsis, I was intrigued. I enjoy reading paranormal/fantasy books and I have never read a shifter book with lions. It's usually werewolves or panthers, so when I saw it was something slightly different form the norm, I am always more interested.
The idea of forbidden love is always a good way to capture my attention. And it's always a plus when you add in some type of mystery to the characters and their pasts.
I have to be honest and say that the plot was really good but I feel that somewhere it fell short. The characters were not fully developed and I had a real hard time connecting to them. I would find myself getting bored at parts and skimming over things.
I am not sure if it was the writing style or how everything unfolded. As I said, the plot was really good, but personally for me, the book needed more depth and mystery.
This book did have some pretty hot scenes and good action sequences, and those did keep in interested in the book and what would happen next. Just give me more.
Would I read another book from this author - absolutely! Would I read another book in this series, definitely. I am just hoping that I get more oomph in the next one.
September 21, 2015
4 Stars
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked this book. I loved the twists of the story and the trials the characters have to go through.
The main point of the story is to bring the two packs together.... only how to do it without causing a war.
I liked that decisions weren't taken lightly from the main characters since there were many lives hanging in the balance of the outcome.
However, that being said, I felt like some aspects of the story were left undeveloped or unanswered. Like what was going on with her friends? We never got a real answer there. As well as a few other ladies we saw in the story and hints about what may or may not have been going on.
Also, I have to note the sex scenes seemed... half-hearted. They seemed mechanical and lacked any sort of detail to make them sexy and could've easily been left out.
Overall, thought, I felt the story was interesting and I had no problem reading it due to the nice flow and pacing of the writing.
I definitely would be interested in reading more of this story and finding out what comes next in their lives.
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked this book. I loved the twists of the story and the trials the characters have to go through.
The main point of the story is to bring the two packs together.... only how to do it without causing a war.
I liked that decisions weren't taken lightly from the main characters since there were many lives hanging in the balance of the outcome.
However, that being said, I felt like some aspects of the story were left undeveloped or unanswered. Like what was going on with her friends? We never got a real answer there. As well as a few other ladies we saw in the story and hints about what may or may not have been going on.
Also, I have to note the sex scenes seemed... half-hearted. They seemed mechanical and lacked any sort of detail to make them sexy and could've easily been left out.
Overall, thought, I felt the story was interesting and I had no problem reading it due to the nice flow and pacing of the writing.
I definitely would be interested in reading more of this story and finding out what comes next in their lives.
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
September 25, 2015
Reviewed @ Confessions From Romaholics
Review copy kindly provided by Give Me Books in exchange for a honest review
I must the admit the contradicting title and cover drew me to this book. As obviously it was a paranormal romance and it looked like it was going to be about shifters, lion shifters to be exact. So why Dance with the Devil?
I only could assume that the hero/heroine was a bad person or one of the other ideas that crossed my mind. So I dove into the book expecting the typical normal paranormal romance but got anything but that. Dance of the Devil is to the story of two alpha lions hiding secrets. Jillian is a half breed with special powers who been hiding away from her pride in order to remain save. She is no ordinary woman and she regrets that she is forced to hide and wishes it can be anything else but that .
Until her father forces fate in order to changes things in the hopes of changing things for the Pride A place that she doesn’t best memories and she would rather stay where sh is . As whilst she has been gone in the hiding she has fallen with Carrick her boss a full blood shifter and she isn’t sure he will accept her considering that she is half breed to say the least. Not knowing that he is tied with her past and looks like her future as well.
Returning home after three years and discovering the man she loves is forbidden and that her return means that everything comes at a price. It should be no surprise considering the amount of shifter stories I have read over the years. However it did to an extent as this where the story got interesting. I was reading two stories at the same time , this book being one but this one had my interest .
There is a bit of a role reversal in this story. Carrick is such a sweet soul but happens to be a dominant with a secret that has cost him a lot. He is lucky that he had choices given his position in the Pride and the fact that he only there to support his younger brother who is the next alpha his pride unaware that home brings back to the one woman he can’t get out of his head
Jillian , a woman who knows the drill and knows that returning home isn’t going to be easy. Not expecting her Pride to be in shambles. She never lets anything her beat her. She faces a lot in the novel and everything is stacked against her and can’t help and admire this woman
The only let down it was missing the oomph I wanted, whilst there was plenty of action and twist and turns. I wanted the secondary characters stories to play out more fleshed in other books as they were intriguing and considering the dynamics. I wanted Jillian and Carrick’s relationship to be the starring role and them fighting to be the dominant . As whilst I loved that Jillian was deemed Alpha not because of her circumstances but the way she carried and act. I would of thought Carrick’s lion wouldn’t be so happy. As why all the fighting she goes through to prove herself when she herself stating she need someone would make her lion happy.
That why I can only give it 4.5 couples
For more of my reviews, visit Confessions From Romaholics.And drop by the blog's Facebook page
Review copy kindly provided by Give Me Books in exchange for a honest review
I must the admit the contradicting title and cover drew me to this book. As obviously it was a paranormal romance and it looked like it was going to be about shifters, lion shifters to be exact. So why Dance with the Devil?
I only could assume that the hero/heroine was a bad person or one of the other ideas that crossed my mind. So I dove into the book expecting the typical normal paranormal romance but got anything but that. Dance of the Devil is to the story of two alpha lions hiding secrets. Jillian is a half breed with special powers who been hiding away from her pride in order to remain save. She is no ordinary woman and she regrets that she is forced to hide and wishes it can be anything else but that .
Until her father forces fate in order to changes things in the hopes of changing things for the Pride A place that she doesn’t best memories and she would rather stay where sh is . As whilst she has been gone in the hiding she has fallen with Carrick her boss a full blood shifter and she isn’t sure he will accept her considering that she is half breed to say the least. Not knowing that he is tied with her past and looks like her future as well.
Returning home after three years and discovering the man she loves is forbidden and that her return means that everything comes at a price. It should be no surprise considering the amount of shifter stories I have read over the years. However it did to an extent as this where the story got interesting. I was reading two stories at the same time , this book being one but this one had my interest .
There is a bit of a role reversal in this story. Carrick is such a sweet soul but happens to be a dominant with a secret that has cost him a lot. He is lucky that he had choices given his position in the Pride and the fact that he only there to support his younger brother who is the next alpha his pride unaware that home brings back to the one woman he can’t get out of his head
Jillian , a woman who knows the drill and knows that returning home isn’t going to be easy. Not expecting her Pride to be in shambles. She never lets anything her beat her. She faces a lot in the novel and everything is stacked against her and can’t help and admire this woman
The only let down it was missing the oomph I wanted, whilst there was plenty of action and twist and turns. I wanted the secondary characters stories to play out more fleshed in other books as they were intriguing and considering the dynamics. I wanted Jillian and Carrick’s relationship to be the starring role and them fighting to be the dominant . As whilst I loved that Jillian was deemed Alpha not because of her circumstances but the way she carried and act. I would of thought Carrick’s lion wouldn’t be so happy. As why all the fighting she goes through to prove herself when she herself stating she need someone would make her lion happy.
That why I can only give it 4.5 couples
For more of my reviews, visit Confessions From Romaholics.And drop by the blog's Facebook page
September 25, 2015
Posted on What I'm Reading
Yesterday, I finished Dance With The Devil by Angela Dennis, and I liked this story a lot. Okay, we have Carrick and Jillian who are both running from their past, but they both get called home. They didn't know they were technically enemies until they reach their pride lands. When they return chaos is in the air and Jillian needs to pretty much assume the roll of Alpha. However, she never thought this to be possible since she's a half-blood. Man there is a lot of politics that go into this pride. She needs to find a mate, and the conclave has chosen one for her. However, it's a little late, because she had accidentally mated with Carrick. Boy does it all get all kinds of crazy when she needs to ignore that she mated with Carrick and pretend to mate with his brother Lucas. Say what. Yep, and this is for the good of the pride.
Jillian is faced with the challenge of staying with her actually mate or try to mate with Lucas for the good of the pride. Definitely, a hard choice. She's always been consider an outcast by her kind, but she's willing to protect them from whatever course.
I did enjoyed the story, but it did have me biting my nails at times. It's pretty intense at times and sitting there hoping she picks Carrick. There are so many risk factors if she chooses Carrick, and she weighs all the options. She does have wonderful friends that help with her choice. I like how they break things down so she can see that it would be a disaster if she didn't stay with Carrick.
Dance With The Devil is a great start to Angela's new series. You see the politics of the pride and how they are challenge on all sides of the story. We have Jillian and Carrick trying to see what is the best for everyone, which isn't always the easiest. By the end, we have a happy ending for Jillian and Carrick, but at the same time gearing up to face the conclave. Not a cliffhanger per se, but leads to the next book. By the end of Dance With The Devil, I'm clamoring for the next book, because I want to see who gets mated next and what happens with the concave show up. Cause they are not going to be happy with certain events. Now I have to wait and be patient. Ugh. Other than the issue on waiting, Dance With The Devil is a pretty good read, and Angela does a pretty good job building this world with lion shifters.
Copy provided by author.
Yesterday, I finished Dance With The Devil by Angela Dennis, and I liked this story a lot. Okay, we have Carrick and Jillian who are both running from their past, but they both get called home. They didn't know they were technically enemies until they reach their pride lands. When they return chaos is in the air and Jillian needs to pretty much assume the roll of Alpha. However, she never thought this to be possible since she's a half-blood. Man there is a lot of politics that go into this pride. She needs to find a mate, and the conclave has chosen one for her. However, it's a little late, because she had accidentally mated with Carrick. Boy does it all get all kinds of crazy when she needs to ignore that she mated with Carrick and pretend to mate with his brother Lucas. Say what. Yep, and this is for the good of the pride.
Jillian is faced with the challenge of staying with her actually mate or try to mate with Lucas for the good of the pride. Definitely, a hard choice. She's always been consider an outcast by her kind, but she's willing to protect them from whatever course.
I did enjoyed the story, but it did have me biting my nails at times. It's pretty intense at times and sitting there hoping she picks Carrick. There are so many risk factors if she chooses Carrick, and she weighs all the options. She does have wonderful friends that help with her choice. I like how they break things down so she can see that it would be a disaster if she didn't stay with Carrick.
Dance With The Devil is a great start to Angela's new series. You see the politics of the pride and how they are challenge on all sides of the story. We have Jillian and Carrick trying to see what is the best for everyone, which isn't always the easiest. By the end, we have a happy ending for Jillian and Carrick, but at the same time gearing up to face the conclave. Not a cliffhanger per se, but leads to the next book. By the end of Dance With The Devil, I'm clamoring for the next book, because I want to see who gets mated next and what happens with the concave show up. Cause they are not going to be happy with certain events. Now I have to wait and be patient. Ugh. Other than the issue on waiting, Dance With The Devil is a pretty good read, and Angela does a pretty good job building this world with lion shifters.
Copy provided by author.
September 21, 2015
I gave it 3.5 stars
Shifters, a reluctant alpha, mystery, danger and forbidden love all wrapped up in a new series from Angela Dennis.
Jillian left her pack long ago and had no intentions of going back, but when she's called home she finds herself back and in the middle of pack politics. As a half-breed she has always been an outsider and now that she finds herself in the position of needing to take over the Pride she looks at everything with a new sense of purpose. Carrick left his pack to make things easier for his brother who would be the next alpha (and because he has a secret that no one can find out). When he finds himself called back home he would rather do anything but go, but he has no choice and wants to be there for his brother. When he gets there he finds out that the woman he just found to be his mate is expected to marry his brother.
Jillian and Carrick's romance starts off with a bang before either even truly knows who the other is. When Jillian finds out who Carrick truly is she flees and heads home. Carrick had no clue who Jillian was until he goes home and sees her on the neighboring packs land. He wants her and Jillian wants him, but Jillian wants to do what is best for her pack so she is conflicted. Carrick refuses to give up and when they are finally on the same page, things move pretty nicely in the romance department.
I really enjoyed the storyline in DANCE WITH THE DEVIL, but I did have a few minor issues. There are multiple POVs throughout the book and there was a bit of a flow issue that made it so that I had to re-read a few paragraphs to catch up multiple times to figure out who's head I was in. And finally I was really sad when DANCE WITH THE DEVIL ended, it didn't feel long enough and there are still so many things that need to take place. I will be picking up a copy of book two when it's available.
* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Shifters, a reluctant alpha, mystery, danger and forbidden love all wrapped up in a new series from Angela Dennis.
Jillian left her pack long ago and had no intentions of going back, but when she's called home she finds herself back and in the middle of pack politics. As a half-breed she has always been an outsider and now that she finds herself in the position of needing to take over the Pride she looks at everything with a new sense of purpose. Carrick left his pack to make things easier for his brother who would be the next alpha (and because he has a secret that no one can find out). When he finds himself called back home he would rather do anything but go, but he has no choice and wants to be there for his brother. When he gets there he finds out that the woman he just found to be his mate is expected to marry his brother.
Jillian and Carrick's romance starts off with a bang before either even truly knows who the other is. When Jillian finds out who Carrick truly is she flees and heads home. Carrick had no clue who Jillian was until he goes home and sees her on the neighboring packs land. He wants her and Jillian wants him, but Jillian wants to do what is best for her pack so she is conflicted. Carrick refuses to give up and when they are finally on the same page, things move pretty nicely in the romance department.
I really enjoyed the storyline in DANCE WITH THE DEVIL, but I did have a few minor issues. There are multiple POVs throughout the book and there was a bit of a flow issue that made it so that I had to re-read a few paragraphs to catch up multiple times to figure out who's head I was in. And finally I was really sad when DANCE WITH THE DEVIL ended, it didn't feel long enough and there are still so many things that need to take place. I will be picking up a copy of book two when it's available.
* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
September 12, 2015
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
Jillian left her Pride because of her father's insane machinations to force her to become more and more like him. Being a half-blood shifter in a world where pure-bred shifters are favored, she's always felt like an outsider.
Carrick has been exiled from his pack since he was a teen. His father hated all half-bloods, including his own son.
When a call has been issued for the Lion shifters to return home, Carrick and Jillian return to face an issue bigger than themselves: becoming Alphas and uniting the packs.
What worked/what didn't: Carrick and Jillian worked together for years but he didn't realize she was a shifter because she had wove a spell to hid her shifter scent, yet she wasn't didn't use her magic hardly at all during the rest of the book.
I enjoyed the story and would like to read more about these shifters.
~~Wicked Reads Review Team~~
Jillian left her Pride because of her father's insane machinations to force her to become more and more like him. Being a half-blood shifter in a world where pure-bred shifters are favored, she's always felt like an outsider.
Carrick has been exiled from his pack since he was a teen. His father hated all half-bloods, including his own son.
When a call has been issued for the Lion shifters to return home, Carrick and Jillian return to face an issue bigger than themselves: becoming Alphas and uniting the packs.
What worked/what didn't: Carrick and Jillian worked together for years but he didn't realize she was a shifter because she had wove a spell to hid her shifter scent, yet she wasn't didn't use her magic hardly at all during the rest of the book.
I enjoyed the story and would like to read more about these shifters.
~~Wicked Reads Review Team~~
September 22, 2015
~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for a Wicked Reads~~
I enjoyed this book, although there were points where I got confused by the complex rules, levels of strength, magic etc. There were enough twists and turns that I was always waiting for something to go wrong - which it sometimes did! The romance between Carrick and Jillian had to take second place to the challenges that they faced, but clearly the ties are strong, and as this is the first of the series, I hope we get to see more of them in the future.
If you are looking for an action packed, dramatic lion shifter story, with an interesting pair of mates, this fits the bill.
I enjoyed this book, although there were points where I got confused by the complex rules, levels of strength, magic etc. There were enough twists and turns that I was always waiting for something to go wrong - which it sometimes did! The romance between Carrick and Jillian had to take second place to the challenges that they faced, but clearly the ties are strong, and as this is the first of the series, I hope we get to see more of them in the future.
If you are looking for an action packed, dramatic lion shifter story, with an interesting pair of mates, this fits the bill.
December 7, 2015
Everything about this book felt abbreviated to me - the action felt too short; the romance felt too fast and not authentic; the world-building felt both complicated and superficial...I just couldn't connect to this story. The biggest showdown in the book, between father and daughter, was over in a heartbeat. This is a slim 182 pages which explains why it moved too fast but perhaps the story would have been better served with more page time to develop characters, relationships, and complicated magic systems and shifter politics.
January 1, 2017
3.25 stars
This paranormal story is filled with—multiple factions that all have a different agenda, a territory in dispute, packs that have succession issues and heirs that aren’t comfortable with the requirements for leadership nor the strictures attendant with the position, unique genetics, complicated families, plus the heroine has some ongoing issues stemming back to a horrific attack in her past. In other words, there are number of things taking place in a short amount of time and lots of detail to absorb in a relatively brief story. I think the premise is good, but there are so many different issues being addressed that it is easy to get lost trying to follow a particular storyline. It might be better if this were a longer story so that some of the complications can be explained in more detail and perhaps the action wouldn’t be so forced.
I felt that some things were a bit too predictable and others weren’t set up enough, but that this is a good start and has some very intriguing aspects. I wasn’t quite able to connect with the characters enough and I thought that they were a bit too willfully obtuse at times, being especially oblivious to the danger that lurked. There are sensual scenes that are very nicely done, and several fairly gory struggles that resulted in serious injuries…but I didn’t feel quite connected to the danger or have that intense sense of cheerleading for success that I do for some characters. This is an introduction to a series that has the potential to be fascinating, I think it just needs to be expanded upon and given more depth.
“Dance with the Devil” by Angela Dennis is the first book in the ‘Soul’s Harbor Pride’ series, and centers on Jillian Winters, a rare half-blood Black lion shifter, and her complicated relationship with Carrick Granger, who is also a lion shifter. A Conclave has been called and both have been summoned back, but neither realizes there are far more factors that threaten to keep them apart than they expect.
© Night Owl Reviews
I received a copy of this title in return for an honest review.
This paranormal story is filled with—multiple factions that all have a different agenda, a territory in dispute, packs that have succession issues and heirs that aren’t comfortable with the requirements for leadership nor the strictures attendant with the position, unique genetics, complicated families, plus the heroine has some ongoing issues stemming back to a horrific attack in her past. In other words, there are number of things taking place in a short amount of time and lots of detail to absorb in a relatively brief story. I think the premise is good, but there are so many different issues being addressed that it is easy to get lost trying to follow a particular storyline. It might be better if this were a longer story so that some of the complications can be explained in more detail and perhaps the action wouldn’t be so forced.
I felt that some things were a bit too predictable and others weren’t set up enough, but that this is a good start and has some very intriguing aspects. I wasn’t quite able to connect with the characters enough and I thought that they were a bit too willfully obtuse at times, being especially oblivious to the danger that lurked. There are sensual scenes that are very nicely done, and several fairly gory struggles that resulted in serious injuries…but I didn’t feel quite connected to the danger or have that intense sense of cheerleading for success that I do for some characters. This is an introduction to a series that has the potential to be fascinating, I think it just needs to be expanded upon and given more depth.
“Dance with the Devil” by Angela Dennis is the first book in the ‘Soul’s Harbor Pride’ series, and centers on Jillian Winters, a rare half-blood Black lion shifter, and her complicated relationship with Carrick Granger, who is also a lion shifter. A Conclave has been called and both have been summoned back, but neither realizes there are far more factors that threaten to keep them apart than they expect.
© Night Owl Reviews
I received a copy of this title in return for an honest review.
September 23, 2015
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: A dark paranormal “Romeo & Juliet” type romance with action, intrigue and even a murder mystery. There were things that I liked and didn’t like about it but overall it was a good read.
Opening Sentence: It was half a degree past freezing as Jillian stumbled across the snow-covered pavement.
The Review:
Dance with the Devil is the first novel in the Soul’s Harbor Pride series. This paranormal romance series has an intriguing twist on paranormal creatures that I really want to see more of in future books. This book has a dark back story, a sexy romance and action.
Dance with the Devil begins with Jillian feeling the supernatural tug that is forcing her to go back home, but before she can do that she must clean up some loose threads. Jillian wants to cover up that fact that she has spent the last couple years working at a bar before she leaves. Her boss, Carrick, won’t let her leave so easily, especially after her big secret is revealed. She’s a lion shapeshifter! Then another bombshell! So is he.
Jillian’s father has killed Carrick’s father so the two packs that share Soul’s Harbor Island are in a tizzy. One pack is only accepts pureblood shapeshifters while the other accepts all but is very violent towards its members so it isn’t a very healthy pack. The packs must decide on a new leader and they must go through a mating ritual to do so. But not just the potential leaders have to go through with the ritual, all pack members have to take part in the hope that the two packs will combine into one.
My only real complaint about the novel is that I didn’t really care for the whole mating thing being forced on the entire pack. Because to me it seemed like whoever you had sex with during the mating ritual would be your mate whether you liked them or not. Or you’re just forced to have sex with as many people as possible until matching tattoos showed up on you and your mate. Yes, matching tattoos is how you know you are compatible.
This novel was quite action packed and then an added murder/mystery is in store while the packs are trying to determine their mates and the future of the packs.
Jillian starts off the novel knowing exactly what she wants but when her plans change she has no idea what she wants to do and she has a hard time making decisions. She is willing to forgo her own happiness. For the most part, I did like Jillian I just wish she would have stood up for her feelings a little bit sooner. Jillian was quite badass when it came down to it.
Carrick was quite the hottie that knew what he wanted and he definitely wasn’t going to let Jillian forget about him. He was persistent and passionate.
I really enjoyed the side characters in this novel. Jillian’s two best friends are hilarious and fun, even in their tension filled moments. I can’t wait to find out what more is in store for them.
The one thing I would really like to see more in this series is in the power of the mixed supernatural species. I felt like we didn’t get to see much of the magic side of Jillian after the beginning of the novel. I don’t think we ever got to see it in Carrick. They mention they are stronger than purebloods because of the mixing of species. I especially want to see the cross of lion and vampire.
Overall, Dance with the Devil is a decent start to a paranormal romance series. The ending was quite abrupt but I really do want to see what is next for this pack.
Notable Scene:
Carrick rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling. “What we have comes once in a lifetime. Why not give it a chance?”
She blew out a hard breath. He still didn’t get it. “Maybe I will. I have to weigh the pros and cons.” She held out her hands like the halves of a scale. “My happiness versus the lives of my Pride.”
He sat up with a shake of his head. “You’re thinking about it wrong. You need to balance our shot of surviving the Conclave, combined with our happiness, against maintaining the farce that will be the Pride if you choose Lucas.”
Her frustration quickly turning to anger, she stared at him. “What are you getting at?”
“You choose Lucas and you’re not just turning your back on me, you’re turning your back on our laws. You and Lucas will have to lie to maintain your positions. If the Pride finds out, pure-blood or half-blood, they’ll rebel against you.”
FTC Advisory: Samhain Publishing provided me with a copy of Dance with the Devil. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: A dark paranormal “Romeo & Juliet” type romance with action, intrigue and even a murder mystery. There were things that I liked and didn’t like about it but overall it was a good read.
Opening Sentence: It was half a degree past freezing as Jillian stumbled across the snow-covered pavement.
The Review:
Dance with the Devil is the first novel in the Soul’s Harbor Pride series. This paranormal romance series has an intriguing twist on paranormal creatures that I really want to see more of in future books. This book has a dark back story, a sexy romance and action.
Dance with the Devil begins with Jillian feeling the supernatural tug that is forcing her to go back home, but before she can do that she must clean up some loose threads. Jillian wants to cover up that fact that she has spent the last couple years working at a bar before she leaves. Her boss, Carrick, won’t let her leave so easily, especially after her big secret is revealed. She’s a lion shapeshifter! Then another bombshell! So is he.
Jillian’s father has killed Carrick’s father so the two packs that share Soul’s Harbor Island are in a tizzy. One pack is only accepts pureblood shapeshifters while the other accepts all but is very violent towards its members so it isn’t a very healthy pack. The packs must decide on a new leader and they must go through a mating ritual to do so. But not just the potential leaders have to go through with the ritual, all pack members have to take part in the hope that the two packs will combine into one.
My only real complaint about the novel is that I didn’t really care for the whole mating thing being forced on the entire pack. Because to me it seemed like whoever you had sex with during the mating ritual would be your mate whether you liked them or not. Or you’re just forced to have sex with as many people as possible until matching tattoos showed up on you and your mate. Yes, matching tattoos is how you know you are compatible.
This novel was quite action packed and then an added murder/mystery is in store while the packs are trying to determine their mates and the future of the packs.
Jillian starts off the novel knowing exactly what she wants but when her plans change she has no idea what she wants to do and she has a hard time making decisions. She is willing to forgo her own happiness. For the most part, I did like Jillian I just wish she would have stood up for her feelings a little bit sooner. Jillian was quite badass when it came down to it.
Carrick was quite the hottie that knew what he wanted and he definitely wasn’t going to let Jillian forget about him. He was persistent and passionate.
I really enjoyed the side characters in this novel. Jillian’s two best friends are hilarious and fun, even in their tension filled moments. I can’t wait to find out what more is in store for them.
The one thing I would really like to see more in this series is in the power of the mixed supernatural species. I felt like we didn’t get to see much of the magic side of Jillian after the beginning of the novel. I don’t think we ever got to see it in Carrick. They mention they are stronger than purebloods because of the mixing of species. I especially want to see the cross of lion and vampire.
Overall, Dance with the Devil is a decent start to a paranormal romance series. The ending was quite abrupt but I really do want to see what is next for this pack.
Notable Scene:
Carrick rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling. “What we have comes once in a lifetime. Why not give it a chance?”
She blew out a hard breath. He still didn’t get it. “Maybe I will. I have to weigh the pros and cons.” She held out her hands like the halves of a scale. “My happiness versus the lives of my Pride.”
He sat up with a shake of his head. “You’re thinking about it wrong. You need to balance our shot of surviving the Conclave, combined with our happiness, against maintaining the farce that will be the Pride if you choose Lucas.”
Her frustration quickly turning to anger, she stared at him. “What are you getting at?”
“You choose Lucas and you’re not just turning your back on me, you’re turning your back on our laws. You and Lucas will have to lie to maintain your positions. If the Pride finds out, pure-blood or half-blood, they’ll rebel against you.”
FTC Advisory: Samhain Publishing provided me with a copy of Dance with the Devil. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
September 21, 2015
3.5 stars. Lion shifters, magic, alpha males, even stronger females, Pride politics, interspecies prejudices, a forbidden romance, a few death threats here and there, and a mating bond that threatens to burn it all down. Welcome to the Soul’s Harbor Pride series.
At first glance Jillian seems an unimpressive kind of girl. She sneaks about and has clearly been hiding for some time, she seems a little timid and almost afraid – until she gets her hands on Carrick, anyway. Then the real Jillian starts to come out. I really liked her. She’s strong and powerful, yet her psychotic father saw to it that her childhood turned her biggest strengths into her greatest weaknesses. She’s learnt to be more afraid of herself and her potential power than anyone else. Yet when she’s called home she goes, and when she has to choose between her own happiness and the lives of a bunch of ingrates who mostly couldn’t care if she died a horrible death, she still wants to save them. And she’s kickass when she needs to be. Oh, and a mythical black lion. Of course I liked her.
And then there’s Carrick. Oh, Carrick. Alpha to the max, deeply secretive and rather possessive, yet he doesn’t want to claim Jillian and keep her his alone, he offers her support and acceptance and a challenge. A real partnership. I loved him. In fact I found most of the men in this book compelling – more so than the women, sadly. I really liked Lucas, Carrick’s brother, and manipulative Quinn intrigued me from the start, even if I couldn’t decide whether to love or loathe him most of the time. I also really liked Jillian’s friends, Gareth and Abbey, and look forward to finding out more about what’s going on between them.
The plot too is intriguing, with the two prides on the island being so clearly divided between the pure and the half-bloods and the need to bring them all together. There’s plenty of outside pressures and prejudices stirring up trouble, not to mention Jillian’s unstable father and his malignant influence on the pride. Add in the Claiming idea, where the unmated dominant males and females are essentially trapped together in an underground bunker for a handful of days to “encourage” them to pair up, and there’s certainly plenty going on here to keep readers entertained.
However, as interesting as it is and as good as I found the characters, I was also left wondering about the magic. Most of Jillian’s pride are half-breeds, mixing witches, vampires and even fae with the shifters, and I wanted to know more about this magic – especially Jillian’s. Since most magic is suppressed while they’re underground, it doesn’t really have a part to play in this book and I was a tiny bit disappointed about that. I hope future books will go into that in more detail – not least because I want to know more about the paranormal aspects of this world, beyond the backwards traditions of the shifters. I was also a bit worried about some of the lion details – like lioness-Jillian licking Carrick’s thigh without taking off several layers of skin, and where were the manes? I need to know about the manes!
In all, though, I liked this one. The world is interesting with plenty of potential for more exploration, the characters are intriguing and the romance is hot, there’s also plenty of other things going on in the plot to make it a quick, compelling read. And also, lions. Did I mention the lions? Regardless, this is a solid start to this new series and I can’t wait to see where it heads next.
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
At first glance Jillian seems an unimpressive kind of girl. She sneaks about and has clearly been hiding for some time, she seems a little timid and almost afraid – until she gets her hands on Carrick, anyway. Then the real Jillian starts to come out. I really liked her. She’s strong and powerful, yet her psychotic father saw to it that her childhood turned her biggest strengths into her greatest weaknesses. She’s learnt to be more afraid of herself and her potential power than anyone else. Yet when she’s called home she goes, and when she has to choose between her own happiness and the lives of a bunch of ingrates who mostly couldn’t care if she died a horrible death, she still wants to save them. And she’s kickass when she needs to be. Oh, and a mythical black lion. Of course I liked her.
And then there’s Carrick. Oh, Carrick. Alpha to the max, deeply secretive and rather possessive, yet he doesn’t want to claim Jillian and keep her his alone, he offers her support and acceptance and a challenge. A real partnership. I loved him. In fact I found most of the men in this book compelling – more so than the women, sadly. I really liked Lucas, Carrick’s brother, and manipulative Quinn intrigued me from the start, even if I couldn’t decide whether to love or loathe him most of the time. I also really liked Jillian’s friends, Gareth and Abbey, and look forward to finding out more about what’s going on between them.
The plot too is intriguing, with the two prides on the island being so clearly divided between the pure and the half-bloods and the need to bring them all together. There’s plenty of outside pressures and prejudices stirring up trouble, not to mention Jillian’s unstable father and his malignant influence on the pride. Add in the Claiming idea, where the unmated dominant males and females are essentially trapped together in an underground bunker for a handful of days to “encourage” them to pair up, and there’s certainly plenty going on here to keep readers entertained.
However, as interesting as it is and as good as I found the characters, I was also left wondering about the magic. Most of Jillian’s pride are half-breeds, mixing witches, vampires and even fae with the shifters, and I wanted to know more about this magic – especially Jillian’s. Since most magic is suppressed while they’re underground, it doesn’t really have a part to play in this book and I was a tiny bit disappointed about that. I hope future books will go into that in more detail – not least because I want to know more about the paranormal aspects of this world, beyond the backwards traditions of the shifters. I was also a bit worried about some of the lion details – like lioness-Jillian licking Carrick’s thigh without taking off several layers of skin, and where were the manes? I need to know about the manes!
In all, though, I liked this one. The world is interesting with plenty of potential for more exploration, the characters are intriguing and the romance is hot, there’s also plenty of other things going on in the plot to make it a quick, compelling read. And also, lions. Did I mention the lions? Regardless, this is a solid start to this new series and I can’t wait to see where it heads next.
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
February 11, 2017
Originally reviewed at Dark Faerie Tales: http://darkfaerietales.com/review-dan...
Quick & Dirty: A dark paranormal “Romeo & Juliet” type romance with action, intrigue and even a murder mystery. There were things that I liked and didn’t like about it but overall it was a good read.
The Review:
Dance with the Devil is the first novel in the Soul’s Harbor Pride series. This paranormal romance series has an intriguing twist on paranormal creatures that I really want to see more of in future books. This book has a dark back story, a sexy romance and action.
Dance with the Devil begins with Jillian feeling the supernatural tug that is forcing her to go back home, but before she can do that she must clean up some loose threads. Jillian wants to cover up that fact that she has spent the last couple years working at a bar before she leaves. Her boss, Carrick, won’t let her leave so easily, especially after her big secret is revealed. She’s a lion shapeshifter! Then another bombshell! So is he.
Jillian’s father has killed Carrick’s father so the two packs that share Soul’s Harbor Island are in a tizzy. One pack is only accepts pureblood shapeshifters while the other accepts all but is very violent towards its members so it isn’t a very healthy pack. The packs must decide on a new leader and they must go through a mating ritual to do so. But not just the potential leaders have to go through with the ritual, all pack members have to take part in the hope that the two packs will combine into one.
My only real complaint about the novel is that I didn’t really care for the whole mating thing being forced on the entire pack. Because to me it seemed like whoever you had sex with during the mating ritual would be your mate whether you liked them or not. Or you’re just forced to have sex with as many people as possible until matching tattoos showed up on you and your mate. Yes, matching tattoos is how you know you are compatible.
This novel was quite action packed and then an added murder/mystery is in store while the packs are trying to determine their mates and the future of the packs.
Jillian starts off the novel knowing exactly what she wants but when her plans change she has no idea what she wants to do and she has a hard time making decisions. She is willing to forgo her own happiness. For the most part, I did like Jillian I just wish she would have stood up for her feelings a little bit sooner. Jillian was quite badass when it came down to it.
Carrick was quite the hottie that knew what he wanted and he definitely wasn’t going to let Jillian forget about him. He was persistent and passionate.
I really enjoyed the side characters in this novel. Jillian’s two best friends are hilarious and fun, even in their tension filled moments. I can’t wait to find out what more is in store for them.
The one thing I would really like to see more in this series is in the power of the mixed supernatural species. I felt like we didn’t get to see much of the magic side of Jillian after the beginning of the novel. I don’t think we ever got to see it in Carrick. They mention they are stronger than purebloods because of the mixing of species. I especially want to see the cross of lion and vampire.
Overall, Dance with the Devil is a decent start to a paranormal romance series. The ending was quite abrupt but I really do want to see what is next for this pack.
Quick & Dirty: A dark paranormal “Romeo & Juliet” type romance with action, intrigue and even a murder mystery. There were things that I liked and didn’t like about it but overall it was a good read.
The Review:
Dance with the Devil is the first novel in the Soul’s Harbor Pride series. This paranormal romance series has an intriguing twist on paranormal creatures that I really want to see more of in future books. This book has a dark back story, a sexy romance and action.
Dance with the Devil begins with Jillian feeling the supernatural tug that is forcing her to go back home, but before she can do that she must clean up some loose threads. Jillian wants to cover up that fact that she has spent the last couple years working at a bar before she leaves. Her boss, Carrick, won’t let her leave so easily, especially after her big secret is revealed. She’s a lion shapeshifter! Then another bombshell! So is he.
Jillian’s father has killed Carrick’s father so the two packs that share Soul’s Harbor Island are in a tizzy. One pack is only accepts pureblood shapeshifters while the other accepts all but is very violent towards its members so it isn’t a very healthy pack. The packs must decide on a new leader and they must go through a mating ritual to do so. But not just the potential leaders have to go through with the ritual, all pack members have to take part in the hope that the two packs will combine into one.
My only real complaint about the novel is that I didn’t really care for the whole mating thing being forced on the entire pack. Because to me it seemed like whoever you had sex with during the mating ritual would be your mate whether you liked them or not. Or you’re just forced to have sex with as many people as possible until matching tattoos showed up on you and your mate. Yes, matching tattoos is how you know you are compatible.
This novel was quite action packed and then an added murder/mystery is in store while the packs are trying to determine their mates and the future of the packs.
Jillian starts off the novel knowing exactly what she wants but when her plans change she has no idea what she wants to do and she has a hard time making decisions. She is willing to forgo her own happiness. For the most part, I did like Jillian I just wish she would have stood up for her feelings a little bit sooner. Jillian was quite badass when it came down to it.
Carrick was quite the hottie that knew what he wanted and he definitely wasn’t going to let Jillian forget about him. He was persistent and passionate.
I really enjoyed the side characters in this novel. Jillian’s two best friends are hilarious and fun, even in their tension filled moments. I can’t wait to find out what more is in store for them.
The one thing I would really like to see more in this series is in the power of the mixed supernatural species. I felt like we didn’t get to see much of the magic side of Jillian after the beginning of the novel. I don’t think we ever got to see it in Carrick. They mention they are stronger than purebloods because of the mixing of species. I especially want to see the cross of lion and vampire.
Overall, Dance with the Devil is a decent start to a paranormal romance series. The ending was quite abrupt but I really do want to see what is next for this pack.
September 5, 2015
I love this book. thank you Angela
Two prides, Two lions, One war, will they be able to reunite the two pride or not ?
This story is about Jillian who ran from her pride three years ago and who wants to come back for the claiming. She’s doing it for her two best friends, Abbey and Gareth. This is also a story about Carrick who leave his pride too and must come back because his father was murdered and his brother will become the new Alpha.
Jillian is a very strong lion shifter but she had a hard childhood, her father is the pride’s alpha and he’s not a good man. She’s independent, strong and kind, she knows what she wants and sometimes can be a little rough. Someone wants to kill her and he won’t hesitate to kill her loved one so she will be very angry.
Carrick is stronger than his brother but he has a secret. He will do everything to protect Jillian and his jealousy is kind of sweet. I have a deep respect for his brother and the only thing he wants is Jillian, he does agree with his brother being the alpha.
I like these characters; they are really perfect for each other’s. They have a strong temperament and they are sexy and sweet together. In this couple I don’t know who is the leader, I think it’s more jillian but sparks can occur between the two lovers.
I like Quinn too, he’s the temporary alpha of both pride, he’s arrogant, strong and very smart.
The book is full of action, adventure, romance, fun dialog and friendship. You’ll find a lot of happy and strong lions who loves to fight for power and love.
Angela Dennis writes very well, her imagination has no limit. I loved her first series, Shadow Born, and Soul’s Harbor Pride promises to be really interesting. I’m impatient to read the next book about Lucas because war is coming and also because Lucas seems very nice.
Just a little word about the cover, she’s very gorgeous, I love the woman, the man, the lion and the color too. I will buy this one in paperback because I want it in my shelves.
To conclude, you absolutely have to read this book which will transport you in a world of lions full of energy.
Two prides, Two lions, One war, will they be able to reunite the two pride or not ?
This story is about Jillian who ran from her pride three years ago and who wants to come back for the claiming. She’s doing it for her two best friends, Abbey and Gareth. This is also a story about Carrick who leave his pride too and must come back because his father was murdered and his brother will become the new Alpha.
Jillian is a very strong lion shifter but she had a hard childhood, her father is the pride’s alpha and he’s not a good man. She’s independent, strong and kind, she knows what she wants and sometimes can be a little rough. Someone wants to kill her and he won’t hesitate to kill her loved one so she will be very angry.
Carrick is stronger than his brother but he has a secret. He will do everything to protect Jillian and his jealousy is kind of sweet. I have a deep respect for his brother and the only thing he wants is Jillian, he does agree with his brother being the alpha.
I like these characters; they are really perfect for each other’s. They have a strong temperament and they are sexy and sweet together. In this couple I don’t know who is the leader, I think it’s more jillian but sparks can occur between the two lovers.
I like Quinn too, he’s the temporary alpha of both pride, he’s arrogant, strong and very smart.
The book is full of action, adventure, romance, fun dialog and friendship. You’ll find a lot of happy and strong lions who loves to fight for power and love.
Angela Dennis writes very well, her imagination has no limit. I loved her first series, Shadow Born, and Soul’s Harbor Pride promises to be really interesting. I’m impatient to read the next book about Lucas because war is coming and also because Lucas seems very nice.
Just a little word about the cover, she’s very gorgeous, I love the woman, the man, the lion and the color too. I will buy this one in paperback because I want it in my shelves.
To conclude, you absolutely have to read this book which will transport you in a world of lions full of energy.
November 16, 2015
I love this author and she has made me so happy finally adding shifters to her writing skills. And Lions, boy oh boy, do they roar in here. And I know I'm getting ahead of myself but I can't wait to read the next book in the series. Anyways, it's all about to go down when this book starts. Jill has to go home, she is being summoned by her very evil father, and she can't let him hurt her friends just because she got out and ran from his evil. Carrick needs to go home to help his brother after their father died. Little do they both know, they now will share a home. Neither knows about the other, nor their pasts, and how it got to be their present, but it's complicated and there's some serious flaws with how each pack has been run in the past. Now, with that said, let me tell you what impressed me so much about the characters!
Jill needs to be stronger than she has been, but not how she thinks. She was strong to run, get out, help herself. Now she needs to stand her ground and fight for what she loves. She finally got a taste of Carrick after being in love with him as his employee for years. But she learns she's going to have to deal with him a whole lot longer. She's an interesting character, and she likes her alcohol, which made me giggle. And I loved her best friends. She's going to be a great leader, because she always thinks of everyone else before herself.
Carrick is the strong silent type. He knows he needs to stay away, but he loves his brother and he will do anything to help him. Even kill for him. But when Jill gets thrown into the blender with them, he now needs to protect her too because there's assassins out for her. I liked him. He has an intriguing character basis and I can't wait to see how it turns out for him and Jill.
I really really liked the secondary characters. Jill's two BFFs, come on they need to hook up already. Carrick's brother. Oh he's hawt in his own right. Quinn, who might be my new obsession! Yeah he's good. And I loved how the plot went from their romance, to murder mystery, to finding yourself. It had a great plot with twists I did not see coming. I definitely want so much more!! 5 PAWS!!
Jill needs to be stronger than she has been, but not how she thinks. She was strong to run, get out, help herself. Now she needs to stand her ground and fight for what she loves. She finally got a taste of Carrick after being in love with him as his employee for years. But she learns she's going to have to deal with him a whole lot longer. She's an interesting character, and she likes her alcohol, which made me giggle. And I loved her best friends. She's going to be a great leader, because she always thinks of everyone else before herself.
Carrick is the strong silent type. He knows he needs to stay away, but he loves his brother and he will do anything to help him. Even kill for him. But when Jill gets thrown into the blender with them, he now needs to protect her too because there's assassins out for her. I liked him. He has an intriguing character basis and I can't wait to see how it turns out for him and Jill.
I really really liked the secondary characters. Jill's two BFFs, come on they need to hook up already. Carrick's brother. Oh he's hawt in his own right. Quinn, who might be my new obsession! Yeah he's good. And I loved how the plot went from their romance, to murder mystery, to finding yourself. It had a great plot with twists I did not see coming. I definitely want so much more!! 5 PAWS!!
September 14, 2015
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book throws you into the deep end of this world and doesn’t let up. There are surprises, betrayal, and oodles of secrets that fuel this story.
Jillian has been hiding her shifter identity right under the nose of another powerful shifter, much to Carrick’s shock. These two have been skirting around their attraction for years, unwilling to act until the night Jillian knows she must head home. Her abusive home is the last place she wants to go, but when they call a Claiming, everyone must attend. Carrick has also been avoiding his home and enjoying his freedom. Fate (or meddling friends) have a hand in these two crashing together when they are from neighboring rival packs. When Jillian’s father kills Carrick’s, they both end up with a bucket full of drama.
After their explosive night together, the real world intrudes in a horrible way when they realize their Romeo and Juliet status. To make matters worse, the lion shifter governing body has already decided who Jillian should mate with, and it isn’t Carrick. Oh, and there’s a murder mystery, too. Wrap all that up and you’ve got a book that reads like more than one book, but somehow manages to mostly wrap everything up at the end. While the romance takes a little bit of a back seat in this book, readers who are more inclined to enjoy a mystery/action shifter read would enjoy this book.
This book throws you into the deep end of this world and doesn’t let up. There are surprises, betrayal, and oodles of secrets that fuel this story.
Jillian has been hiding her shifter identity right under the nose of another powerful shifter, much to Carrick’s shock. These two have been skirting around their attraction for years, unwilling to act until the night Jillian knows she must head home. Her abusive home is the last place she wants to go, but when they call a Claiming, everyone must attend. Carrick has also been avoiding his home and enjoying his freedom. Fate (or meddling friends) have a hand in these two crashing together when they are from neighboring rival packs. When Jillian’s father kills Carrick’s, they both end up with a bucket full of drama.
After their explosive night together, the real world intrudes in a horrible way when they realize their Romeo and Juliet status. To make matters worse, the lion shifter governing body has already decided who Jillian should mate with, and it isn’t Carrick. Oh, and there’s a murder mystery, too. Wrap all that up and you’ve got a book that reads like more than one book, but somehow manages to mostly wrap everything up at the end. While the romance takes a little bit of a back seat in this book, readers who are more inclined to enjoy a mystery/action shifter read would enjoy this book.
September 3, 2015
This book was one of those rare middle of the road ratings books for me. I really wanted to rate it higher than a 3.5, but the abrupt beginning and the back and forth POV in the middle of the chapters really threw me for a loop. I love dual POV books, but this one just grated on me a little bit by changing in the middle of the chapter. Had each chapter been from a single characters perspective and switched back and forth, I would have felt differently about this story. I spent several seconds trying to figure out who the hell was talking at some points in the book. I also feel like we weren’t given enough information going into the story to really forge a connection with the characters. I’m not a huge fan of detailed histories of all the characters, but I felt like there was something missing at the beginning.
That part aside, the story itself has great potential. The characters are engaging and the story is unique enough that you feel like it’s a new take on shifter romance. The plot was delivered well, but the aforementioned issues above really took away from the story in my opinion. A tough female shifter was a good touch to the world of rather pussy cats inside of hell cat females. I liked this book, but I just couldn’t love it as much as a I wanted to.
September 24, 2015
If you like paranormal books at all, you will love this. Especially if you also like some mystery, action, and suspense mixed with a bit of romance. This one has it all. It is a wonderful read.
The characters were wonderfully flawed, but very likable. Well, most of them anyway. There is always the antagonist that everyone hates, but they too are needed to make a good story.
Lion shifters are a bit out of the norm of the usual shifter book. They are – literally – a different animal all together. The “Pride” dynamics are very different from the “Pack,” for instance. The author did a good job of seamlessly showing this difference in her story. Add in the “half-breed” aspects of this world and one finds conflict all over. It made for a fascinating story that pulled me and kept my attention. I didn’t want to put this down. It was an interesting world populated by even more interesting people – each with their own baggage and/or agendas. Much of the time I wasn’t for sure who the good guys were. There was some doubt.
But, in the end, everything seemed to work out well – if a bit abruptly. There is definitely room for more books in this fascinating series and I really cannot wait to see what happens next.
I received an ARC copy of this title for the purpose of an honest review. I was not compensated in any way for this review. All conclusions are my own opinions and responsibility.
The characters were wonderfully flawed, but very likable. Well, most of them anyway. There is always the antagonist that everyone hates, but they too are needed to make a good story.
Lion shifters are a bit out of the norm of the usual shifter book. They are – literally – a different animal all together. The “Pride” dynamics are very different from the “Pack,” for instance. The author did a good job of seamlessly showing this difference in her story. Add in the “half-breed” aspects of this world and one finds conflict all over. It made for a fascinating story that pulled me and kept my attention. I didn’t want to put this down. It was an interesting world populated by even more interesting people – each with their own baggage and/or agendas. Much of the time I wasn’t for sure who the good guys were. There was some doubt.
But, in the end, everything seemed to work out well – if a bit abruptly. There is definitely room for more books in this fascinating series and I really cannot wait to see what happens next.
I received an ARC copy of this title for the purpose of an honest review. I was not compensated in any way for this review. All conclusions are my own opinions and responsibility.
September 22, 2015
Initial Thoughts: Overall I liked this debut series and new-to-me author. Though it started off a bit shocking to me, jumping right into passion, it did not go as I thought. I liked how the romance between Carrick and Jillian was twined with the fate of the pride. I was nervous due to the start of the novel that the passion would be more heavily weighted in the overall story, thankfully this wasn't the case. The story was balanced. The mystery of the assassination attempts wasn't quite a mystery, the heavy handed manipulation of the Regulator and Jillian's father was fairly plain to see. However, I liked how it progressed and was resolved. Though I would have liked to have seen the aftermath of their mating and joining of the packs, but since we did not, I hope that means there is more to come in the series. I really liked Garth and Abbey as well as Lucas and Quinn and I hope to see more of them in the next novel. Overall it was a good start to an interesting lion shifter series that has witches and vampires in the mix (though they are only mentioned and not seen). Please click on the link to the full review by myself and my review partner Gikany, posted at That's What I'm Talking About blog: http://twimom227.com/2015/09/review-d...
September 8, 2015
★★★★★
Jillian ran away from her pack after she killed one of her father's enforcers. As a half blood she has been abused by the whole pack all her life. She is masking what she is, and living as a human.
Three years later she has been ordered home. But there are some that will do anything to stop her from returning.
Garrick has been running a bar in the city for years. When Jillian applied for a job, he was drawn to her. But he couldn't risk a relationship with a human. He has been ordered home for the "claiming". That is when all the unmated dominants are closed up together to hope some will find their mates.
Carrick's Alpha father has been killed by a rival, so he must support his brother to claim his rightful place.
The "Conclave " who are the ruling body of the shifters, have decided who should be mated up to run the warring packs. They don't care if the shifters themselves have found a mate on their own. They cannot have half-bloods taking too much power.
This book is full of action, and lion shifters fighting for what is right. Putting the lives of others over their own happiness might not be the best in the long run.
This book is a lot of fun, with some rule changes to fit this author's world. The characters are nearly all keeping secrets from each other, and are a lot stronger than they seem. I hope this is the start of a series.
Jillian ran away from her pack after she killed one of her father's enforcers. As a half blood she has been abused by the whole pack all her life. She is masking what she is, and living as a human.
Three years later she has been ordered home. But there are some that will do anything to stop her from returning.
Garrick has been running a bar in the city for years. When Jillian applied for a job, he was drawn to her. But he couldn't risk a relationship with a human. He has been ordered home for the "claiming". That is when all the unmated dominants are closed up together to hope some will find their mates.
Carrick's Alpha father has been killed by a rival, so he must support his brother to claim his rightful place.
The "Conclave " who are the ruling body of the shifters, have decided who should be mated up to run the warring packs. They don't care if the shifters themselves have found a mate on their own. They cannot have half-bloods taking too much power.
This book is full of action, and lion shifters fighting for what is right. Putting the lives of others over their own happiness might not be the best in the long run.
This book is a lot of fun, with some rule changes to fit this author's world. The characters are nearly all keeping secrets from each other, and are a lot stronger than they seem. I hope this is the start of a series.
August 25, 2015
I wasn't sure what to expect from this, but I really enjoyed it. I think Abbey may have been my favorite character, and I'm curious how the rules of vampirism work in this universe because she's a half lion, half vamp. It's not the most interesting thing about her, and I found she seemed to get almost all the great lines and quips. The main characters, Jillian and Carrick, have undeniable chemistry, and the sexy scenes are well-written. They're not over the top, not crass or crude, but not annoyingly technical or use the word "core." (Seriously. A woman's vagina is not her core! And who ever thought that that description is sexy?) I look forward to seeing where things go from here with the pride. This book had great sexy times, villains who weren't total bumbling idiots, fleshed out and well-established characters, humor, and mystery. A lot to pack into the pages, but it was done so convincingly enough for me. And with my editor's brain unable to be shut off, trust me, that's saying a lot. Definitely recommend for those who enjoy paranormal/shifter books. The mystery, romance and character focus are well-balanced.
February 4, 2016
As the first in a series, Dance with the Devil took some time to get to the meat of the story. The beginning is full of backstory and sets up the rest of the series. Necessary? Yes. But, it is still hard to push through to get to the good stuff. With that said, it is well worth the time to keep going!
Jillian and Carrick both have their secrets. Some were suspected, but others were surprises to each other. When they are each summoned home to their respective packs, they find chaos and danger. While trying to do their honor and duty, they must also make the decision to fulfill that duty or put it all aside for each other.
I found the set up to the well done and the characters to be interesting – flaws and all. Like I mentioned, the beginning is a lot of set up, so you need to be patient to get to the actual story-line. I did enjoy the intense action in the beginning that set up the couple finding out about each other. Plus, the sexy scenes were HOT!! There is a lot left hanging at the end, which is what keeps this from being a 5 star book, but I have a feeling that the author will address everything in the coming books for the series. Well done!
*Copy provided for review
Jillian and Carrick both have their secrets. Some were suspected, but others were surprises to each other. When they are each summoned home to their respective packs, they find chaos and danger. While trying to do their honor and duty, they must also make the decision to fulfill that duty or put it all aside for each other.
I found the set up to the well done and the characters to be interesting – flaws and all. Like I mentioned, the beginning is a lot of set up, so you need to be patient to get to the actual story-line. I did enjoy the intense action in the beginning that set up the couple finding out about each other. Plus, the sexy scenes were HOT!! There is a lot left hanging at the end, which is what keeps this from being a 5 star book, but I have a feeling that the author will address everything in the coming books for the series. Well done!
*Copy provided for review
books-i-have
August 5, 2016After killing one of her father’s enforcers, half-blood lion shifter Jillian Winters ran for her life, landing in an upscale bar halfway across the country. Her boss, Carrick—a pure-blood shifter—has no idea his barmaid is a fugitive.
When her father’s recklessness puts the Pride at risk, Jillian must return home and assume his place as Alpha. But not before she indulges in a taste of the attraction that’s been building for years between her and Carrick.
Carrick Granger has had a soft spot for Jillian from the moment she stepped into his bar, soaking wet and afraid of her own shadow. He knows she has secrets. So does he. He’s also the outcast son of an Alpha—and now that his father is dead, he, too, has been summoned home.
Thinking they’ll never see each other again, the simmering heat between them ignites like a match to gunpowder. But then the bullets start flying, forcing them to choose—duty to their Prides, or the one person they can’t live without.
September 17, 2015
Jillian is a half-breed shifter, son of the Alpha leader of her Pride. After killing a man, and maiming another, she runs away. She finds herself in an unknown city. She walks up to a bar and is taken in by Carrick, the owner of the bar as a soaked and miserable looking cat. That's what Garrick thought when he first saw her, but knows nothing of the fact that she truly is a cat shifter. Magic keeps everyone from sensing her animal form. One thing leads to another and she finds herself called home for a claiming, and the need to take over her Father's Pride. Carrick finds himself face to face with the brother who is to be Alpha now that his father is dead. Read this book and see what happens when their paths collide again. Life certainly does get interesting as soon as Jillian gets back home. This book is full of love, hate, intrigue, murder, plots, and hope. A great read! I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book.
RECEIVED THIS BOOK AS A GIFT FOR A FAIR/HONEST REVIEW and REVIEWER FOR Bloggin' With M.Brennan.
RECEIVED THIS BOOK AS A GIFT FOR A FAIR/HONEST REVIEW and REVIEWER FOR Bloggin' With M.Brennan.
September 22, 2015
A Very Good Start to a New Series
I am a lover of all things paranormal so when I was offered the chance to read and review this book, I didn't even read the blurb, I was honestly attracted enough by the beautiful cover and the title. So I wasn't sure what to expect when I dove headlong into the story. I really enjoyed it and it was a extra added bonus that the two lovers are actually bitter familial enemies. Way to ramp up the drama. The whole plot was very well executed and the story is told from multiple POV's and while it caused me to stutter a few times during the read, it did not really detract from the enjoyment of the book. Other than that the story flows very well and the characters while being very mysterious, they are very likable and east to connect with. I loved they mystery and intrigue, and read the book straight through, and was kind of bummed when the book ended. I definitely recommend this book and can't wait to read then next! I was given a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review.
I am a lover of all things paranormal so when I was offered the chance to read and review this book, I didn't even read the blurb, I was honestly attracted enough by the beautiful cover and the title. So I wasn't sure what to expect when I dove headlong into the story. I really enjoyed it and it was a extra added bonus that the two lovers are actually bitter familial enemies. Way to ramp up the drama. The whole plot was very well executed and the story is told from multiple POV's and while it caused me to stutter a few times during the read, it did not really detract from the enjoyment of the book. Other than that the story flows very well and the characters while being very mysterious, they are very likable and east to connect with. I loved they mystery and intrigue, and read the book straight through, and was kind of bummed when the book ended. I definitely recommend this book and can't wait to read then next! I was given a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review.
October 17, 2015
I really enjoyed this story. Carrick and Jillian are memorable characters: powerful, charismatic, and intelligent. The plot is exciting with unexpected twists and turns, and was so suspenseful I was unable to put it down until the last page. The author has created a fascinating society here, and I am finding the half-blood lions infinitely more interesting than the purebloods so far. I cannot wait to find out what happens to Carrick’s brother and Jillian’s best friends in future stories.
Maura
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More
Official Review @ Coffee Time Romance & More
Maura
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More
Official Review @ Coffee Time Romance & More
August 27, 2015
I was gifted a copy of this book for review.
This is my first book by this author. It was definitely a bit different. One of the things that I liked was having a tough as hell female that held her own and even other shifters feared. She was definitely all of that.
The one thing I was not thrilled about the way they discovered mates. With that being said it was still an interesting story and worth a read.
This is my first book by this author. It was definitely a bit different. One of the things that I liked was having a tough as hell female that held her own and even other shifters feared. She was definitely all of that.
The one thing I was not thrilled about the way they discovered mates. With that being said it was still an interesting story and worth a read.
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