A deer shifter? Seriously? Aren't they more prey than paranormal bad asses? But Kiara has more problems than being a tiny Pudu deer shifter. She's on the run from her own kind, headed for Lakewood where she desperately hopes she'll find help. She's so small, fragile. She doesn't make it far before collapsing. Dorian, Gavin, Alec, and Riley Walker are red deer shifters, soldiers at the Lakewood compound, headed for a well-deserved vacation, when Dorian's sharp eyes see a flash of brown and white on the edge of the road. It may be nothing, but his intuition tells him otherwise. Warning his brother and cousins to stay put, Dorian's horrified to see a tiny little woman, covered in way too many clothes for the hot temperatures. Worse, she has all the outward signs of the Scourge, a unique shifter disease. It's 100% fatal to smaller shifter breeds. This is so much more than a stranded shifter. As the Walkers rush Kiara to Lakewood, she only has one chance. Her life's at stake. Only one thing will save her...an experimental serum created by an infamous doctor whose work borders on the unethical and craziness. But Kiara's dying. Is there really a choice? The Walker men aren't about to let her die! All of them feel the irresistible attraction to her. They may not understand it, but they're convinced she's their mate. Little does anyone realize just how much the lifesaving serum will affect their lives! The serum changes Kiara. She may no longer be the helpless, fragile creature the Walkers first discovered. As she slowly recovers, the Walkers take her in. What happens when a fragile Pudu deer shifter's nature changes, when she comes face-to-face with red deer shifters more than twice her size, and they think she's their mate? Interesting question! But Kiara hasn't been honest with the Walkers about what pushed her past her limits and why she ended up on that highway. That's about to catch up to her, jeopardizing not just her life but the future of the Walkers, their entire community, and even Kiara's former Pudu clan. Can Kiara's newfound mutated strength make any difference? Just how committed are the Walkers to Kiara? Can a tiny Kudu deer shifter truly be the fated mate of not just one, but four, deer shifters? And what about Kiara's secrets? Will they tear these five apart? So much uncertainty surrounds them. Nothing is clear, and everything's at risk for so very many. Ultimately, Kiara, the Walkers, and their community will have to set aside a lifetime of prejudice and preconceptions. If they can't, there won't be a future for any of them!
Golden Angel has created a very unique and special story. The reverse harem subgenre is very popular right now. You might think that each one is so similar to the others that they'd be repetitive and boring. Nothing could be further from the truth. Each one has been excellent. But this one has Golden Angel written all over it. Most shapeshifter stories, reverse harem or not, focus on bigger animals (dragons, wolves, bears, lions, and other large cats). Golden Angel takes on the task of making smaller shifters just as important and every bit as dangerous as the larger shifters. That's one of the hooks that makes this book captivating! You might think the storyline would be weak based on that one fact. And you would be VERY wrong. Kiara is initially very hesitant, totally unsure of herself, and very tentative. She knows nothing of the world except her isolated community. She's not just small. She's naïve, inexperienced, and totally clueless in many ways. But she's not a doormat! She gives as good as she gets from anyone. Dorian, Gavin, Alec, and Riley are dominant, of course. But they're not overwhelming. And they're each unique. They're definitely not a "one size fits all" group of shifters. Dorian's the leader. Gavin and Alec are childlike pranksters. Riley's quiet and intellectual. Yes, they're all dominant. But, more importantly, they're family. The sense of love and community within their family and the extended shifter community around them is extraordinary and all-encompassing. Golden Angel's written a story that's absolutely riveting, and I adored it! This book is a truly unique take on the paranormal world of shapeshifters. I can't give Night of the Wild Stags anything less than five stars! Thank you, Golden Angel, for creating an exceptional story that captivates and enthralls!
One final note. Be an informed reader! This is an ADULT book. It contains explicit language and sexual scenes. If you don't enjoy this genre, this may not be the book for you. There are book synopses and reviews available on Goodreads and Amazon. Use these resources. DON'T LEAVE A NEGATIVE REVIEW WHEN YOU KNOW YOU WON'T ENJOY THE BOOK. It's not fair to the author. She works hard to provide a quality work product. If you know you'll object to a book's subject matter before you buy it, you're doing yourself and the author an extreme disservice.
Thanks for reading my review and happy reading!