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Shelter

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Raw and risky, a new rural romance that explores the dark side of small towns, and the people who put everything on the line to protect them...

Kat Daily is excited to trade her Sydney airport quarantine uniform for an RSPCA inspector’s uniform and a job in the rural town of Walgarra. A fresh start in a new place, where she can make a real difference in the lives of the animals that she loves.

But Walgarra doesn’t offer a peaceful, bucolic existence. Like many small towns, the distance from urban settings — and urban law enforcement — has allowed a criminal element to set in. Kat may only be looking after animals, but that doesn’t mean she will be immune to people with sinister agendas.

The previous RSCPCA inspector was murdered, and Officer Luka Belovuk is determined to keep the new inspector from the same fate. He may have very broad shoulders, but carrying the safety of the law-abiding community just trying to live their lives has weighed him down, and one more death might be more than he can take.

Not all small towns are quaint and quiet, but they all have one thing in common: a community of people willing to protect their population with everything they have.

210 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 15, 2017

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20 people want to read

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Rhyll Biest

18 books48 followers

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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Profile Image for Lily Malone.
Author 26 books183 followers
July 20, 2021
In 2014, this author wrote my favourite book for the year - the brilliant Unrestrained. Well folks, she has done it again. I just devoured Rhyll Biest's latest book, Shelter, and it's gone with a bullet to my best book of 2017, and it's gonna take a bit of knocking to get it off there!
What did I love about Shelter?
The setting. This is rural romance with a difference, and the blurb does tell us so... there are no rolling valleys, vineyards, sweet-smelling hay bales, mountains, mists, forests, wide-open fields in this book... and if there ARE wide-open fields, they're probably growing marijuana; and if there ARE rolling valleys, there are probably several half-starved horses dying of thirst in them...
This is rural as in rural/regional ugly towns with all the problems of drugs, underemployment, guns and crime (but also with some positive parts of the community)... and our heroine works for the RSPCA and as the book begins, Kat's the new girl in town.
Rhyll Biest does scarred heroines like I've never really seen them in romance. In Unrestrained, the wonderful character of Holly is hiding a terrible physical secret. She's prickly and guarded, and it takes the hero Stein an eon to make Holly trust him enough to let this secret out.
In Shelter, Kat takes 'prickly' to a whole new level, including a secret inner self - the character of 'Galenka' who appears in Kat's thoughts, usually if she's ever in danger of doing something soft or trusting, or showing a speck of vulnerability.
Now, I have to be honest. I could take or leave Galenka. I liked this part of Shelter, but other reviews don't, and other readers won't. I doubt it would have changed my feelings one iota had the Galenka character not been written... I didn't feel she altered Kat that much, and she could be intrusive during the read. That said, I know why she's there - as a coping mechanism for the 'young' Kat. And it does work from that perspective.
There were wonderful scenes in this, and it felt really well researched without going over the top. In particular the scenes with Luka detailing de-escalation techniques and the de-escalation training; discussion of Kat's rather healthy fear of bugs and infection (she knows all the scientific names); and in Kat's customs background & career (animal welfare) expertise.
Yet it never felt 'preachy' to me.
The scene where Kat, Luka, Stacey and Nick all go wine-tasting - well that was just gold, especially some of their one-line descriptors of wine. In all the bleak realism - this was a scene that was pure snort-my-tea fun, and what follows later ... (well sorry, but that would be a spoiler!)
I loved the character trait of Kat that had her pegging people she came across based on what she figured she'd bust them with were they trying to steal something through customs. (e.g. he was the type who'd stuff lizards down his pants; she was the type who wouldn't declare plant-based material...)
This is really clever writing in the Ainslie Paton vein (another of my Aussie favourites)... but like Ainslie I find Rhyll Biest's is a voice you have to give a couple of chapters to. (In Shelter's case - 3 chapters). You need to let her warm you up, then you get carried away... usually by Germans (Stein in Unrestrained) or, in Shelter, it's Luka - a mountain of a filthy flirty Serb.
And did I mention, the sex is hot, cheeky, and banging good fun - but I don't expect anything else from this author.
I loved it big time and I can't wait for what Rhyll Biest does next.
Profile Image for marlin1.
731 reviews23 followers
February 4, 2017
Leaving Sydney and her job as a quarantine officer behind, Kat Daily travels to Victoria to take up a new position in a country town as a RSPCA Officer. But this is no nice, happy small country town, Walgarra is being over run by ICE and the bikie's that sell it and being an RSPCA officer is quite dangerous, with the murder of the previous officer proof of the matter. Working closely with local policeman Luka Belovuk, who is all brawn and an alpha protective male, their attraction to each other is mutual but scares commitment phobic Kat.

From the first word this book had a gritty edge and this continues throughout with lots of sexual tension....and more. As Kat's self doubting alter ego she calls Galenka would say, 'This book played with my lady bits'. Kat is independent, snarky and funny and I loved the argy-bargy comments between characters. Kat's alter ego voice Galenka would voice thoughts in Kat's head at the most inopportune times that had me smiling. There are lots of layers to Kat's and Luka's characters, which are revealed during the story. Walgarra seems like a very dark town and it certainly didn't seem over friendly but there were a few other characters introduced, Nick another RSPCA Officer and Stacey, the local vet and I would like to know their stories. There were a few descriptions of animal cruelty which was very saddening and it's terrible to know it happens in real life.

This was just the book that I needed at the time. I love lots of snarky and sexual innuendo's between characters and I believe this is the first in a series, I certainly wouldn't hesitate to seek out the following books.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy to read and review.

Profile Image for Dísir.
1,742 reviews188 followers
March 23, 2017
Devirginised from my first Rhyll Biest’s read, “Shelter” quite frankly, raced past the quirky and slid straight into the bizarre for me, even though it was an interesting setup that showcased the menacing, broken down part of rural Australia with equally broken characters littering the pages. But my struggle with this book lay mostly with the characters and the writing style, which do run contrary to my personal tastes.

On their own, Kat and Luka are characters that at best, could function as single protagonists but not together. I found their chemistry non-existent, built only on a frustrating one-sided chase where Kat pushes Luka away because of her complete fear of relationships, then turns that energy instead into taking on reckless tasks in her work to punish/atone.

But Kat wasn't the most likeable character to begin with: deceptive, defensive and immaturely prickly, whose own issues somehow made her go around petulantly with a chip on her shoulder in a small-minded and emotionally vindictive way, especially with Luka. The constant insistence that she wasn’t made for relationships and the constant running away simply wore thin as the story wore on, escalating my own frustration level until I was ready to give up on the pairing. Throw in the alter-ego of an imaginary fairy called Galenka (or some strange voice that dictates what her subconscious really wants) that dictated her mental thoughts made me want to go mental myself sooner rather than later.

The snarky commentary—part Galenka and part Kat—felt overdone, as though every single thought needed to be catalogue and revealed, even during sex which sort of broke those hot moments somewhat. The caveat here is that the writing isn’t bad—Rhyll Biest can write up a storm—but her hyperbolic, anthropomorphising style (“her car, lurking by the kerb, gave her a sympathetic look”, “his hand, big as a frisbee”, “arms outstretched like a zombie hungry for brains”) is distracting enough to make me do several sentence re-reads just to try to get the metaphors or similes the right way up.

Or maybe I’m just slow. Or call it my inability to appreciate this sort of quirk enough.

Whatever it may be, “Shelter” isn’t quite my brand of humour nor my cup of tea, sadly.

*ARC by netgalley
(always grateful, mind)
Profile Image for Talking Books.
870 reviews4 followers
January 16, 2017
Kat's introductions and first interactions with the townsfolk of Walgarra were comical and a nice surprise laugh. There were twists in the story and some shock moments that jumped out at this reader. I liked Kat and Luka's characters - each of their respective character layers revealing themselves throughout the read that had the puzzle pieces falling into place well. Their ideas or agendas, while not always obvious, show themselves through the happenings within the story, having some surprise elements. Their interactions and dialogue were entertaining from one chapter to the next. Kat's inner dialogue and obvious attraction to Luka (and likewise Luka's attraction to Kat) had many amusing elements that bring the chuckles. I felt the story tied up the loose ends in the story rather quickly, which had this reader doing a double read over the last few chapters thinking I had actually missed something in the story - it wasn't disappointing, but rather unexpectedly quick. That said, the story as a whole, was a stand out from its vivid descriptions, to the likeable characters that all combined in what was a great series starter from author Rhyll Biest.
Review copy received from Escape Publishing via Netgalley
4.5 Stars
Profile Image for Cathy Geha.
4,346 reviews119 followers
February 9, 2017
I loved the style and feel of this author’s writing. I felt I was in the moment and with the characters seeing just what they did as I read. I wrote an e-mail to my sister telling her to see if she can find this book even before finishing it – I really liked this story in so many ways.

What did I like?
* as mentioned, the author’s writing style
* the strength of both Kat and Luke
* the regard for animal welfare held by most in the story
* the location - in Australia (I like traveling through books)
* the growth of Kat and her relationship with Luke
* Stacey and Nick – wonder if they get a book of their own
* the empathy that was shown
* Luke’s ability to read Kate
* the fact that nobody was perfect but some were perfect for one another
* Galenka - though at times I want to wave her away
* Stumpy – what a sweetheart

What didn’t I like? Not much at all. I might have wondered at some of Kat’s thinking and actions toward the end but I was actually sorry to see the book end.

This is a new author to me and I am hooked. I look forward to looking for other books to read by her.

Thank you to NetGalley and Escape Publishing for the ARC. This is my honest review.

Profile Image for Claire Louisa.
2,114 reviews123 followers
July 1, 2018
4.5***** This was a new take on rural romance, showing the darker side of small country towns. The residents, the drug problems, crime, rather than a focus on farming problems. Kat is completely out of her comfort zone both in her new position as an RSPCA inspector and as a new resident in country town Walgarra. She has so many internal issues she is going to need to overcome due to a traumatic childhood if she is going to survive both the job and the cop in town Luka. Luka has issues himself to deal with, especially after his friend has been killed under his watch. Luka and Kat have a chemistry that is sizzling hot as well as pretty kinky. I loved the by play between them, though at times Kat's relentless pursuit of justice for animals baffled me in that she constantly put herself in danger much to Luka's disgust. Reading about the dark side of humanity where animals were concerned was heartbreaking, and I think these officers are amazing in what they do. A great read and I will be reading more by this author.
Profile Image for Julie.
2,655 reviews42 followers
February 19, 2017
A highly charged page-turner packed with romance, intrigue and drama, Shelter is an engrossing read you will struggle to put down.

Animal lover Kat Daily wants a fresh start and a new beginning, so she eagerly packs in her job at Sydney airport and heads off to the small rural town of Walgarra, where she is looking forward to her new job as an RSPCA inspector. Protecting the animals she loves is something that is of the utmost importance to Kat and she is looking forward to her new role, however, Kat quickly realises that her new home, far from being a rural idyll, is a hotbed of crime, deception…and murder!

Sinister agendas seem to reign supreme in Walgarra, and after the previous RSPCA inspector had ended up murdered, Officer Luka Belovuk had vowed to protect Kat from a similar fate. Walgarra might not be a bustling metropolis, but the abundance of crime has been getting to the broad-shouldered officer and another murder might just push him over the edge. As he begins to spend more and more time with Kat, Luka soon realises that his interest in the new RSPCA inspector is not merely professional and as the heat between them compels them to take their attraction to another level, they find themselves wondering whether they should grab this unexpected chance at happiness with both hands…or whether they are ready to knock down the defenses which they had built around themselves and take a leap of faith.

Readers be warned: if you are expecting a cutesy small-town romance, then this is not the book for you. Shelter is a gripping, gritty and affecting tale of secrets, danger and pathos that cleverly juxtaposes nail-biting suspense and heart-pounding jeopardy with humour, emotion and heart. Rhyll Biest certainly does not shy away from dealing with hard-hitting issues such as domestic violence and abuse in her novel, however, Shelter is by no means a melancholic or dispiriting read, but an uplifting, sexy, funny and riveting romantic read that you will find absolutely impossible to resist.
Profile Image for booksofallkinds.
1,021 reviews175 followers
February 21, 2017
SHELTER by Rhyll Biest is an unusual story with plenty of raw emotion and conflict to get your teeth into, as well as a little romance thrown in for good measure. Kat Daily is moving away from the only city she has ever known, to have a fresh start in small-town Walgarra as their new RSPCA Inspector. Hoping to leave behind her haunting childhood and do a lot of good in her new role, she is positive that this is the right move for her. But life in this beautiful countryside town is far from idyllic, where its isolation and solitude is also part of its problem. The previous Inspector was murdered, and there are plenty of people who would like to see the back of her too. But with Luka by her side, determined to bring the murderer to justice, while keeping Kat safe at the same time, who knows what will happen? SHELTER by Rhyll Biest has danger, damaged souls, a flaring attraction, and a unique plot line to keep you interested - an entertaining and emotional read.

*I voluntarily reviewed this book from LRR Promotions
399 reviews3 followers
March 8, 2017
What a lovely, well-written story. I loved the relationship between Luka and Kat, how intense it was. The action is so descriptive that it literally plays a video in your head as you read.Definitely a 5-star read. (I voluntarily reviewed this free ebook).
Profile Image for Helen.
2,912 reviews66 followers
February 18, 2017
This is a story that has the best one liners in it honestly the hero Luka and heroine Kat and their banter will have you laughing and smiling throughout this one. Both are in need of some love after being through so much in their childhood and what life has thrown their way so sit back and enjoy their spark filled journey.

Kat Daily has packed up and moved to the small town of Walgarra from Sydney to take on the job of RSPCA inspector she has many issues from her past and is pretty much a loner loves animals and will go to any lengths to protect and save them, but the previous inspector was murdered and the killer or killers have not been found so the quiet life she was looking for has not been found especially when she meets the local cop Luka and wow the spark between them could start a bushfire this is going to be good.

Luka Belovuk is a big man known as the brick because of his size is very protective and caring and has lived in Walgarra all of his life the town has changed over the years bikers moving in and the drug problem growing and of course his best friend murdered but now the new inspector is here and she is a feisty snarky female and one he cannot help being drawn to.

The heat that passes between Luka and Kat on the pages of this story is amazing so much going on both trying to push each other and their banter is just fabulous. I did enjoy this one I loved seeing them finally so happy after the lives they had as young kids and the issues that Kat needs to get over that was caused by her parents. Sit back and enjoy.
Profile Image for Annie.
400 reviews2 followers
February 7, 2017
I really enjoyed this story. Once I started I couldn't put it down. I loved the way the characters are slowly revealed to us and each other. The hints about Kat's past and the way she reacted in certain situations still left room to be surprised by the truth she hides from the rest of the world. I liked that at the first sign of conflict she froze and assumed the victim role - that was more realistic for her in that situation. Followed by her slow transition to the hero of her own story. This book was really easy to read, which surprised me considering the first few pages had a few one word sentences that felt a bit choppy, but quickly resolved into an enjoyable and appropriate (for this book) style. The nice meld of extremely steamy sex scenes and yet maintaining the flow of the core story left me really cheering for the characters to have a happily ever after. An excellent read.
Profile Image for Georgina Penney.
Author 9 books83 followers
February 4, 2017
There are so many reasons to love this story. I'll set aside the kickass heroine with a bunch of surprises up her sleeve and the hottie cop hero for now and just say that any book featuring animals is going to be high on my to-read list. Especially rescue animals. And better yet, the heroine is the one rescuing them.

Kat is a former quarantine officer with a hilarious talent for spotting shiftiness who relocates to a country Australian town with a bunch of secrets. She's the new RSPCA officer, replacing the former guy who managed to get killed somehow. That's where Luka, our hero comes in. He knows there are bad guys out there and that they've killed his friend. He doesn't want the same thing to happen to Kat but Kat's not ready to have someone steamrolling over her efforts to succeed in her new job.

The humour mixed with sexiness and a brilliant plot with no-few surprises grabbed me by the lady balls and didn't let go. I absolute love Shelter and I can't wait to read the next in the series. There's a hot enigmatic RSPCA guy with some scars I want to get to know better...
Profile Image for Wattle.
346 reviews26 followers
did-not-finish
February 23, 2017
This one was just not for me, but I'm sure others will love it!

DNF at 11%

I usually try to get a quarter of the way through a book but I just couldn't with this one. The writing is good but the characters and story itself had zero interest to me - and if I'm honest, I'm not so sure I want to know what goes on at the RSPCA and now awful humans can be.

I do have another book by the same author on my kindle, different genre (paranormal I believe - demons!), that I'm going to give a whirl soon :)
Profile Image for Megan =^..^=.
636 reviews7 followers
May 13, 2017
A unique and heart warming love story that all fans of romance should read!
Profile Image for Dawn.
465 reviews
March 17, 2017
Enjoyed this story with the main characters against the back drop of small town and mysteries to solve. First book by this author that I have read and was good page turner.

Ebook from netgalley and publishers with thanks. Opinions are entirely my own.
Profile Image for Maria.
835 reviews5 followers
February 18, 2017
Two lost souls will be crossing their paths in the lonely rural village of Walgarra. There's been a murder and Kat Daily and Luka Belovuk will try to discover who killed him if they are not distracted by their mutual passion.

I thought this was a mystery book, but it has more erotism than mystery, yes, there is a crime, but the detective Luka Belovuk doesn't try very much to catch the killer. Instead he prefers to centre his attention to the new member of the RSPC, Kat, who has an obscene imaginary friend with some really dirt vocabulary!
I was surprised with the hard work the RSPC members have to do, they put their lives in danger almost every day to safe battered animals, they should receive a medal!
Kat loves animals, that's something certain, and after the few drops she tells us about her childhood, I can believe she prefers them as humans, who would not?
This is a book for lovers of romance and erotism, good read!
Profile Image for Cathy.
677 reviews4 followers
February 20, 2017
I have to say overall I liked the romance and even the strong female lead of this book BUT...I didn't like her having an inner voice named Galenka as that was a little frustrating and odd.

I love how Luka and Kat met and how they both described each other in their heads. You could tell they thought the other was attractive but it didn't scream I WANT THEM. I liked that it was slower and yet you always saw that attraction. Sexual innuendos are always fun and add a little humor to the book.

I just felt it started out a little slow, even with it being about the death of the previous agent.
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