Claimed by her Cougar

Cougar Creek Mates #1

by Felicity Heaton

Having lost his parents and mate in a brutal attack on his cougar shifter pride by a hunter organisation, Rath burns with a need to keep humans off his land and out of his life. He’ll do whatever it takes to protect his pride from them, but when a lone female wanders into his territory, it isn’t a burning need to drive her away he’s feeling and it isn’t his pride that needs protecting—it’s his heart.

Down on her luck, Ivy follows a lead to a spot where she hopes to photograph black bears, but what she discovers there is a mountain of a man who lacks manners and seems determined to drive her off his property—a man who stirs unbidden fire in her veins and a strange sense of home.

With a pride gathering on the verge of happening at Cougar Creek and the air charged with a mating heat, the last thing Rath needs is a human on his land, especially one as beautiful and alluring as Ivy, one who rouses a fierce need to fight for her, but he can’t convince himself to let her go… and that proves dangerous for them both.

Genres: Romance, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Shapeshifters, Audiobook, Fantasy, Novella

174 pages, Paperback

First published July 28, 2018

About the author

Felicity Heaton is a New York Times, USA Today and international best-selling author writing passionate paranormal romance books. In her books she creates detailed worlds, twisting plots, mind-blowing action, intense emotion and heart-stopping romances with leading men that vary from dark deadly vampires to sexy shape-shifters and wicked werewolves, to sinful angels and hot demons!

If you're a fan of paranormal romance authors Lara Adrian, J R Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter and Christine Feehan then you will enjoy her books too.

If you love your angels a little dark and wicked, the best-selling Her Angel series is for you. If you like strong, powerful, and dark vampires then try the Vampires Realm series or any of her stand-alone vampire romance books. If you’re looking for vampire romances that are sinful, passionate and erotic then try the best-selling Vampire Erotic Theatre series. Or if you prefer huge detailed worlds filled with hot-blooded alpha males in every species, from elves to demons to dragons to shifters and angels, then take a look at the new Eternal Mates series.

You can find out more about Felicity at:
Website - http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/
Blog - http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/blog/
Twitter - http://twitter.com/felicityheaton
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/felicityheaton
Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/felicityheaton/
Newsletter - http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/newsl...

Reviews

[Angela (Angel's Book Nook) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Claimed by her Cougar is the fist book in Cougar Creek Mates series by Felicity Heaton. We get to return to one of my favorite universes the Eternal Mates. This story stands on it’s own, so if you have’t read the Eternal Mates series, you are ok to pick this up. It’s a chance to visit a different kind of shifter and see how they deal with the Archangel organization and other things.

Heaton takes us into the lovely Canadian woods with a bunch of cougar shifters who will soon be getting together for the pride gathering.

Rath is battling his cougar nature. It’s that time of year and many of the cougars in his pride will be returning home for the gathering. Rath was a nice character to get to know and we got to see him battling a lot of conflicting feels in this story.

Ivy is a human and stumbles onto Rath’s home while looking for black bears to photograph. She’s hesitant at first; because she’s had her issues with difficult men and doesn’t want to get hurt again. I liked her passion and pride in her photograph work.

Claimed by her Cougar is a quick read. It’s insta-attraction leading into them being mates. The sexual scenes are steamy and we get only one scene with a little conflict. What I loved the most about this story is the detailed description of the scenery in the Canadian woods. It brought nature to life.

I enjoyed Claimed by her Cougar and am looking forward to the others in the series.

Rated: 3 Stars

*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy provided by Felicity Heaton with the sole purpose of an honest review. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A jaded shifter finds his mate in a human who threatens his peace..

This was an enjoyable shifter story about Rath who's determined to protect his family from human Hunters. After the attack on his family decades earlier, Rath has become very suspicious of humans who wander too close to his territory. So when wildlife photographer Ivy crosses onto his land in search of grizzly bears, his need to protect his pack wars with his instincts to protect his mate.

This story was one of the most descriptive books I've ever read. I don't mean that in a good or bad way, just as a statement of fact. Every scene was described by the author in great detail (including the steamy scenes), so if that bugs you maybe skip this one. The characters flip-flopped between "I want you but I don't want to want you", which annoyed me at times, but overall I enjoyed the story and characters ♡

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (9/16/2019)! 🎁

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Claimed by her Cougar is the first book in Felicity Heaton's new Cougar Creek Mates series, this is a spin off set in the same world as the Eternal Mates books but can be read completely separately. I don't believe there will be any crossover of characters in this series so you won't be lost if you start here.

Rath's parents and mate were killed in an attack on their pride by a group of Hunters and ever since then he ha done everything in his power to protect the survivors. Cougars tend to be solitary creatures so although they have a meeting point where they can come together for gatherings most of the time they roam alone or in small family groups. Rath is preparing their isolated home ready for a gathering when a human enters their territory, he has sworn to keep their community secret and the last thing he needs is a woman walking around taking pictures but his instincts want him to claim the stranger rather than send her on her way. Ivy is a photographer who is searching for bears when she comes across Rath and his home, she knows nothing of shifters and has no idea what she has stumbled into but when danger comes calling she has to decide what path her future will take,

If you've read any of the Eternal Mates books you'll know what to expect from this series, Felicity Heaton always writes great paranormal romances with characters that are easy to root for, sweet and sexy romances and a nice amount of action thrown into the mix. We haven't met many members of the pride yet but I'm already looking forward to Storm's story and to meeting the rest of Rath's brothers too. These are the perfect kind of story for when you just want something quick and satisfying to read and I'm glad we don't have to wait long for the next release!

[Lyndi W. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quite a few contradictions and things that didn't make any sense. But I think the story was just a way to deliver some really long sex scenes, so I guess that kinda stuff doesn't matter.

[AnnMarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Claimed by her Cougar is the first book in the Cougar Creek Mates Paranormal Romance Series by Felicity Heaton.

Rath is a cougar shifter and he happily lives in isolation in the beautiful mountains of Canada. He looks after the clan's cabins ready for when they use them. One of those times is approaching quickly because it's time for a gathering where the males of the clan get together to mate with the females. Rath has no interest in mating with a woman after losing his wife to hunters many years ago. He is content with being single. Or so he thinks.

Ivy literally walks into his life and nothing is the same after that. She is a photographer looking for bears to photograph and when she inadvertently ends up on Rath's land he isn't very happy about it. Not only is she breaking his privacy, but she is on the mountain at one of the most dangerous times, when no single woman is safe from any of the on heat cougar shifters that will soon be arriving too. He is also worried that she is a hunter!

He goes from being fuming with her and ordering her off his land, to feeling as if she could be his life mate! She convinces him to let her stay the night so that she can try to get photos of the bears when they visit the river in the early hours of the morning. Rath cannot believe that he actually says yes, he should have known from then that life would never be the same for either of them. He needs to keep his secret from her, and he needs to keep the whole area private from the outside world. He also is constantly fighting the urge to grab her and mate with her.

Are they destined to be together, or will just her presence on the mountain end up ruining the quiet safe life Rath has made for himself and fellow cougar shifters? Inadvertently she brings danger to Rath and his fellow shifters. Will Rath believe that she didn't plan anything bad to happen? Will he be able to keep them all safe, including Helen?

I have read many of Felicity Heaton's books, mostly her vampire ones which I am a huge fan of. They keep me gripped from the first page to the last. This book although very good, and with some very passionate scenes, not just involving lovemaking, but passion about the shifters and their safety, wasn't as captivating as the vampire books. That could purely be down to the fact that I am a bigger fan of vampires than shifters though. The story was still very good, and a pleasure to read, and I absolutely adored the build-up of lust and love between our couple and seeing where it took them.

I would definitely recommend this book because let's face it, I don't believe that Felicity Heaton could write a book that isn't worth a read! She is the queen of paranormal story writing! I will definitely read the next books of the series.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

[Sportochick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Visit my blog for more reviews: Sportochick's Musings

The author keeps this book interesting with Rath's obvious rudeness and Ivy's intentional disregard of his tempers. Additionally, the reader will see the well written progression as both of these main characters become more open exposing their deep and hidden emotions. Thus, watching their characters develop adds interest to this storyline and keeps the reader from wondering if this is just another paranormal book.

Rath is the strong silent type that thinks a lot but doesn't show anything to outsiders. The fact that he is happy alone makes this story very amusing to me as he keeps trying to get rid of Ivy and she keeps making excuses to stay.

For female main characters, Ivy caught me interest right away with her dedication to her photography and this part of her is expressed to perfection for this reader. Another highlight is her ability to move forward from a horrible mistake. This allows the reader to feel she is believable, and they have compassion for her and her purpose.

As in most of this author's books she throws in a really bad guy/guys to force the reader to sit on the edge of their seat and try to figure out the resolution to this part of the book. For this reason, I give this book 4 STARS.

[Traceys · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rath is a cougar shifter, preparing for the cougar women going into heat, his also always on guard as he has lost loved ones to humans before.

Ivy is a photographer, she's a  brave lady trekking and camping out to catch the perfect wildlife photo, then she stumbles into Raths patch!

Both Rath and Ivy are a little guarded to begin with but the longer they spend together the more they start to show the spark they share.  The author makes us wait for 'that' moment but it's such a relief when they get their sexy on. 

**He had ended up licking his wounds instead, giving her time and space that she needed **

Now getting together is sweet but being a FH book you know there's a danger element to come.

This is book one of a new series and it's an enjoyable read,  but I wouldn't say it grabbed me as much as book 1 of the Eternal Mates series, but I will definitely be reading the rest of series as I enjoy the authors books.

4 stars

[Ela (Mouse333) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was fine, but not much happens, and then Ivy and Rath mate.

The idea of people hunting Rath’s people to experiment on them, while it might be realistic, is boring. I wasn’t interested in the plot at all.

Ivy and Rath don’t know each other at all and yet they fall in love with each other, without even spending time together.

This book wasn’t for me. Nothing was developed so I won’t be continuing with this series.

[Rochelle ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

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[Maria11]

Not feeling it. I think I’m bored out of my mind

[Lynn Worton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is the first book in a new shifter series called Cougar Creek Mates Shifter Romance Series, which is an offshoot of the Eternal Mates series (which I love) and based in the same world.

Rath is a character whom I liked a lot. He has all the traits of an alpha male - strong, protective, and possessive. Being a cougar shifter, however, he also likes his space and is used to being solitary. When a human unexpectedly crosses into his territory in search of black bears to photograph, Rath is determined to chase her off before the rest of the pride arrives for the gathering, but it quickly becomes apparent that there's more to Ivy than being just a pesky human - she's his mate.

Ivy Wentworth is a strong female character. I liked her a lot too. A freelance photographer, she is determined to track down black bears in their natural habitat. Instead, she finds herself confronted by a surly man determined to drive her off his land. As danger draws unknowingly closer, Ivy finds herself fighting her attraction to the mysterious Rath.

I started reading this story, told through Rath's and Ivy's points of view, and it swept me up into the tale and carried me away. Rath is a little rough around the edges, and Ivy is like a babbling brook that smooths them, so together they make a lovely couple. My only bug-bear about this story was the insta-love between the main characters. Insta-love, no. Insta-lust, yes. They knew each other for less than a week and, with Ivy being a human, I don't think she would fall head over heels so quickly. Another thing I found about this story is that it felt too short - more like a novella than a novel even though there are 150 pages, and it also felt a little rushed near the end as if the author had quickly wrapped it up to get an HEA ending.

As this series is part of the Eternal Mates world, there is mention of Archangel, the same agency that has been hunting other shifter species in that series. Alexander, Ivy's sponsor, is vaguely introduced; he only appears close to the end of the story and is in one scene. I felt he didn't have enough development into a villainous character for me to love to hate him. It's as if the author just used him as a way to introduce Archangel into the equation, which annoyed me. Rath's younger brother, Storm, is also introduced to the reader. Again, this character doesn't get much page time, but as he is the intended main character in the next book in the series, I suppose we'll get to know him better then. Gabriella, Alexander's half-sister, is also brought into the tale near the end and will be in the second book as one of the main characters. There's a preview of Storm and Gabriella's story at the end of this book.

I reached the end of the book with mixed feelings. I love the shifter world the author has created but feel let down by the rushed feel to the story. I don't know if she is putting on too much pressure onto herself to get these books out quickly, or not. I prefer quality over quantity, and this book is decidedly below her best work, even though I still loved it. I hope the other books in the series are less rushed, and I am looking forward to reading the next book soon.

Felicity Heaton has written another fast-paced, sexy paranormal romance that I thoroughly enjoyed. I love her fast-paced writing style, which flows effortlessly from scene to scene. She is still on top of my favourite author's list.

I do not recommend this book to younger readers due to the extremely HOT and explicit sexual scenes. However, I highly recommend this book (and series) if you love sexy paranormal romances full of cat shifters and other paranormal species. - Lynn Worton

[Nadene (Totally Addicted to Reading) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Felicity Heaton has created a brand new series, the Cougar Creek Mates. Claimed by her Cougar is the first book in this new series. This is a spin-off of her Eternal Mates series, which I absolutely adore, so when I heard about the Cougar Mates series I immediately signed up to receive copies of the books for review.

Claimed by her Cougar introduces Rath and Ivy. Rath, a cougar shifter is preparing for the gathering in his role has a protector of his community. He has no interest in mating, but then a human of the female variety entered his territory who had him rethinking his decision of not taking a mate.

Ivy a photographer stumbled onto Cougar Creek when she went in search of Canadian Black Bears to photograph. Her experience with difficult alpha males proved a disaster. Therefore, when the mountain of a man she encountered while on her quest tried to scare her off his land, she was not having any of it.

I found both characters likeable. For a short story (150 pages), I thought they were well developed. Their initial encounter was riddled with mistrust, fear and anger. Mistrust on Rath’s part as he thought Ivy was a hunter who came to scout out the land. Fear on Ivy’s part, as she did not understand what his intentions were towards her and anger because he prevented her from taking her photos.

Claimed by Her Cougar is a quick and enjoyable read. The action scenes were intense, which came as no surprise and the sex scenes scorching. A note of warning if you are not a fan of insta-love then you may have an issue. However, remember this is a shifter romance and based on my experience with this genre shifters recognise their mates from the moment they lay eyes on them.

Despite my enjoying this installment, I had a few issues. My first issue lies with the villain. I did not have enough information to decide if I liked or disliked him. My second issue lies in how the story wrapped up. The romance lacked substance, which is not what I have come to expect from the author. I believe it stemmed from the fact that the romance was not adequately developed and the story felt as if the author was in a hurry to wrap up the installment.

Conclusion/Recommendation
Despite the issues mentioned, I enjoyed this installment. Fans of shifter romance would enjoy visiting this world.

[Annie · Rating 1 out of 5]

It seems my choice in reading material is not getting off to a good start for the new year. Nothing and I mean nothing happened in this book until a little after the 50% mark, then the sex until the mid 60% mark and finally....the entire 'plot' (see outline) all condensed into the last 20% of the novella before the last 10% for more sex.

I know that self-publishing authors pump out their paranormal "romance" books at a dime-a-dozen pace to make a quick buck and it's not meant to be the shining crown of literary achievement but that does not excuse them from the error of thinking they don't need an editor and/or proof reader. You do! Also, these kinds of books, are really just paranormal erotic novellas with an outline of a plot not a real one (just the sex matters), not paranormal romance. Attention authors! Sex does NOT equal romance! Just because someone is hot and you want to fuck them does not mean you love them. And why does starting out a meeting a man who is usually mean/cruel and/or abusive to you mean that you need to be the 'one' for them or that you would need/want to fuck them after they treated you so bad and you more than likely just left/got away from an abusive or shitty partner...are you that eager to repeat yourself but this time the overbearing cave man will magically "love" you because...well becasue you are most likely his mate....because...well you are. And 50/50% chance of ending up pregnant because no one has a condom (or even heard of one for that matter) or a second thought about protection really. Sigh.

Yes, a woman hiking alone in the woods and meeting a huge scary man who hurts and manhandles you to his hidden cabin accusing you of being a hunter on their land when you know it's public land should ask him if she can stay there...

How does one get to know someone by ignoring them all day? If I don't talk to and don't interact with someone I just met for a full day how is it that I am getting to know and understand them? It must be the constant long periods of staring at each other every time one of you moves too much.

MFC is trying to photograph black bears who in the wild are actually shy. The MMC tells her that the bears won't come to this cabin because something has scared them off and she is disappointed...he then proceeds to hammer away fixing the roof of the said cabin, which he has been doing for a while...gee I wonder why shy bears are not interested in a noisy area where they don't know what's there causing what would be an alien scary noise to them.

Do the shifters in this book have super strength or what? What kind of bathtub does this guy have and where can I get one? A bathtub that is big enough to be half full but long enough and deep enough for an average-height woman to lay down in completely and be completely immersed in water...two full days of heavy hiking off trail into the dense forest? Oh and this guy has great speedy internet thanks to...solar panels...without a cell,cable, or repeater tower? Wait possibly a satellite connection in the dense tree cover? Sweet why can't I have that kind of set up when I'm way way out in the middle of the woods? How much money does it cost for the use of a satellite and how can I get it to penetrate to the ground through all that tree foliage to a cabin google earth can't see because of all the tree coverage?

A tib bit, the FMC is decked out in all the proper hiking gear (kudos for getting that right!) the MMC is consistently in jeans. Jeans are terrible clothes to wear in the woods unless you are on a wide well beaten trail... and yet he is the master of living deep in the forest and walking into the freezing creek at least once a day without having to worry about heavy, wet, rough, cold, soggy pants all day?

So it's totally cool morally for shifters to just kidnap and rape women who they come across during their "season" and possibly murder them or just keep them captive. Even if they live in the "city" and only come out to the woods for a week or so for this "season" (see just being horny as fuck) time. They live around humans constantly but I guess all common decency and morality go out the window when they get perpetually horny for the week.

Why yes, there it is! The MFC has fallen in lust oops I mean love with the MMC after a full 2 days and one orgasmic fuck! Most of which was spent not talking to each other! Wow, she loves him so much just the sight of another woman in the area and knowing him is enough to break her heart and almost send her into a hysteric fit. And he has to be an asshole to her because he loves her so much but she can't really know him, and shouldn't love her, and is terrified of losing her and will literally (not really just thinks so) die without her... Oh and apparently the "lost" love she is getting over might be her boss who may or may not have taken advantage of her while she was drunk one night and thought for one night that she loved him...gag.

55% mark the sex that comes straight from a porn film, some of the pre-sex is physically impossible if you actually think for a second. Again are these shifters super strong? We don't know but have to assume they are which makes the whole next 12% of the book illogical and unrealistic to the story and had to have happened in a weird paradigm shift where time has slowed down and every action takes minutes to perform.

The main characters now 'love' each other after some really intense sex but the MMC is about to send the MFC packing. But wait! The obligatory villain and 'plot' must finally arrive! (Open the window folks and prepare to send any and all logic out of it!)

MFC's boss helicopters in (again to an area so dense with trees you can't see the ground via satellite image) with goons with automatic rifles. She thinks he's there to hunt the bears she has been photographing, but MMC knows better! (How?) The villain has super long arms as he holds a gun (see automatic rifle) to the MFC head...and goes on about how he knows who and what the MMC is (How?) He knows that they have been fucking (how?) and states that he knows she's pregnant (I bet she is! Sex without condoms with hot beast men = insta-pregnant) and he and some shady group can't wait to experiment on them (why?) How did he even know that MFC was with a shifter in the first place when she never mentioned him, he is not in any of her photos, she used her own email and there were no location tags on her photos? We'll never know.

Queue big fight to the death where the MFC finally sees what the MMC is (obligatory transformation! Once again do these wereguys have super strength? or super speed?) that should have been over in 2-3 pages but gets dragged out for no reason. (Oh yes and time has slowed down for the fight, magic mystery wounds appear, even though time has slowed down the wereguys get sudden mico bursts of speed to avoid bullets from automatic rifles!)

Oh yeah, we killed the bad guy! (Don't worry no one will miss and wonder what happened to this famous rich millionaire (or his female cousin who was the pilot) and no one will come looking for your super secret hiding place! Oh wait that would make a good sequel...maybe. The main characters can worry about that later if the author needs more money.)

Revelations that the MFC doesn't care what the MMC is and isn't freaked out because she loves him and accepts him and will never leave him. By the way, he doesn't know this because he's in a mini coma from a gunshot wound to the arm which the bullet lodged into his bone. (Anyone who knows about guns will not believe this, his bone would have been shattered and the bullet would have gone all the way through.) Oh yes, and the super healing which the MMC had earlier is nowhere to be found now. MFC wants explanations about the bad guys and any danger she/they might be in, MMC distracts her with... halting...incomplete...information...about...mates. Then puts the brakes on said mating (yet the FMC feels everything the MMC does already?) and wants her to go away (again because having her around makes her a rape target for the other males coming...and they are keeping another human woman prisoner in their camp without this worry? Also, he would kill all the other males if they even looked at the MFC) Inner thoughts about the bad guys without really addressing them and bad continuity timeline as the main characters ignore each other.

MFC decides that she wants the MMC to mate with her because she knows what it means...because he had told her everything there is to know about it...even though they have ignored each other and not spoken to each other in two days! More sex ensues. The end.

[MillsyLovesBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Claimed by her Cougar is the first book in Felicity Heaton's all new paranormal/shifter series Cougar Creek Mates.

Rath is a Cougar shifter living a quite and simply life in the mountains. He maintains cabins for his kind hidden in the mountains. For when the Shifters need a safe place to meet or when the female Cougars are in heat for mating.

As Rath is busy getting the area prepared when something catches his attention. Thinking Hunters have found their safe haven he investigates. Only its not a gun he finds being pointed at him but a camera!!

Ivy is a photographer, she has been sent to capture photo's of the mountain Black Bears. But what she stumbles upon is about to irrevocably change her life.

Rath is a very guarded person for very good reasons. So when his path crosses with Ivy he's very wary of her reasons for being there. He soon realises that there is even more to Ivy, that she is his one and only true mate. But how does he push her away for her own safety and the safety of the returning shifters. When his Cougar side calls for it's true mate, calls for her!

Ivy doesn't understand the hot and cold feelings she's getting from Rath. She knows he want her but he's still trying to keep his distance. All is revealed when her boss unexpectedly shows up and she finds out the real reason she was sent there. Is she strong enough to face this new challenge.

I enjoyed Rath and Ivy's story it was written and paced very well. I love that Felicity doesn't just give us a romance story in her writing. She gives us so much more with the scenery she writes about and the connection with her characters. Gives us more depth and feelings to this paranormal/shifter world. With the hint we get at the end of this first book i'm looking forward to carrying on with this new shifter three book series.


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[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, man, I liked this one. A surly, solitary male cougar meets a wandering human woman and...well, acts surly. As surly people act.

Rath has his reasons, though. As one of the guardians of his pride, it's his (and his brothers') duty to keep his people safe. Ivy showing up out of the blue claiming she's only there to take pictures of black bears in the area sends all his senses tingling. Even after she proves she's just a wildlife photographer and not an advance scout for Archangel, he's still on edge.

But that's kinnnnda because she stirs his other instincts, you know? The non-protective ones. Well, wait. He still has protective instincts toward her, but the ones I'm talking about involve a bed and lots of growling.

Except Rath isn't ready to drop his guard and go for the gold. His cougar is, but his man-side is a little more leery.

Good thing his animal side is insistent.

I'm loving being back in the Eternal Mates world. Rath and the cougars have a big shindig coming up that will likely throw a wrench into all the brothers' plans. Rath's orderly world has already been upended by one lone human female. Not that he's complaining, mind you. The guy got WAY more than he bargained for when he stormed up to Ivy and demanded she get off his land.

And by that, I mean he got everything he wanted even though he didn't know he wanted it.

Good times!

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

[Elizabeth Neal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rath, a cougar shifter, hates humans and wants nothing to do with them. He doesn't even want them on his land. Granted, this may sound a little extreme, but he has reasons. A hunter organization attacked his pride and killed his parents and mate. See, reasons. The hatred is easy to continue, it burns through him, until a woman wanders into his territory. He doesn't hate her. He doesn't want to kick her out for trespassing. Oh, he feels something, but it isn't anything he expected.

Ivy is not having a good run. Now, she's following a path, hoping to find some black bears to take pictures of...from a distance of course. LOL She finds so much more though in a man with a rude attitude and singular purpose, it seems, to get her to leave. For some reason though, he still makes her feel safe, like she's finally found home.

Rath knows she can't stay. The pride will be gathering soon, and the mating heat is building, so Ivy being there is dangerous for both of them. But he can't let her go.

Can Rath separate his feelings about his losses and those for Ivy? Or will his past always impact their relationship? What happens when the others arrive? When the mating heat hits? Can Ivy heal Rath's heart? Can they find their HEA together?

One-click now and follow along as two people must decide if their love can weather any storm.

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.**

[Laura Nelson (Tangents and Tissues) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m ashamed to admit it’s been an age since I’ve picked up a Felicity Heaton book. CBHC reminded me why I first fell in love with her writing to begin with.

Losing your loved ones under any circumstances is bound to leave its mark, especially that of your mate and parents, but to lose them after being targeted by a group hellbent on eradicating ‘your kind’ is a heavy burden to bear indeed. Closed off from the world, Cougar-shifter, Rath is determined to protect not only his pride brethren, but his heart, at any cost.

When a human wanders onto his land, Rath’s hackles are immediately up. Engage protector mode! What is it they say? The best defence is a good offence... but Ivy awakens feelings within Rath he long thought dead. Things are about to get complicated *smirks* You hear that too? 🎼 bow chicka wow wow 🎼 Oh, thank goodness it’s not just me *snorts*

Photographer, Ivy Wentworth, is finally getting her mojo back. Following a tip on where she can see black bears in the wild, she sets off on her mission. Only she gets more than she bargained for in the shape of a tall, dark, and very growly man. To say he isn’t happy that she’s stumbled onto his property is an understatement. The fact Ivy has sworn off men is neither here nor there, for the mere presence of Rath ignites nerve-endings Ivy never even knew she had. What is a gal to do? *whispers* Well, I can think of a few things... *snorts*

Le sigh, shifter books are just amazing, aren’t they? I love the whole heightened senses thing. You know what I mean? The whole ‘smell’ thing *winks* The fated/true mate thing, where even when you’re a Hard-Hearted-Harriet, pulls at your heart-strings - although you’ll point-blank deny all knowledge of such a thing. The whole growly thing, the biting... *shivers* And one word, ladies: STAMINA! Am I TMI-ing yet? *belly laughs*

CBHC was an intense adrenaline ride (oi, that was you this time, not me!), and I can’t wait to return to Cougar Creek for Storm’s story. I have a feeling this series is only going to get better and better.

[Amanda [Novel Addiction] · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Review: Felicity Heaton should be on every paranormal romance reader's buy list. I've always enjoyed her work, and this book is no exception. I loved Rath and Ivy.. Rath is overly protective of his land, and still mourning the loss of his wife.. and then in walks Ivy, and his life is thrown upside down.

The one thing that always sticks with me when I finish one of Felicity's books is how completely passionate they are. When Rath and Ivy come together, they practically burn. It's not just gratuitous sex, it's just.. beautiful. Beautifully written, hot as heck, and so amazing. I can't wait for book two!

Cover Lovin': Two thumbs up, and works great as part of the series.

Recommendation: Be ready to be desperate for book two!

Final Rating: FIVE out of FIVE stars (5/5)!! A one sitting read perfect for my weekend relaxation. I can't wait for the next one!

See an excerpt, buy links, and more on my blog, Novel Addiction!

[Lauren Seiberling (Romance Novel Giveaways) · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW, did I love this book!!

Felicity has really been on a roll lately, first with her recent release, Esher (he is my favorite hero of all time) and now with this book...I'm ECSTATIC to read the next one!

Firstly, I LOVE the idea of the "true mate" or the "fated mate," and that's what this book was all about. But Felicity drew it out so perfectly, from when the couple first mt each other to Rath's realization (and resistance to) their pull towards each other.

As always, the imagery was perfectly done. I felit like I was at Cougar Creek seeing the mist rising off the water and the black bears and Rath's shirtless fly fishing :)

I am THRILLED there are more book sin the series, and I'm dying to read them all!!!

(I received a copy of this book in consideration of my honest thoughts)

[T.M. Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Reviewed: Claimed by her Cougar (Cougar Creek Mates #1)
My Rating: 5 Stars
Author: Felicity Heaton
Publication Date: 7/28/2018
Reviewed by: Tammy Payne- Book Nook Nuts

REVIEW
The first story in a new series which starts us off with a bang.
Rath hates hunters plain and simple, he also refuses to be apart of his pride wanting him to mate with whom is chosen for him.

Ivy is a young woman who loves photography and she finds herself on Rath' land chasing photos of bears. She is being sponsored by well what she only thought of as a jerk. But this woman is in for one heck of a shock.

When the mating call and fates join together it's next to impossible to ignore them and Rath may be a strong male but is he strong enough?

Great start to a new series

Felicity Heaton

[Sandy S · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars--

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 28, 2018

Having lost his parents and mate in a brutal attack on his cougar shifter pride by a hunter organisation, Rath burns with a need to keep humans off his land and out of his life. He’ll do whatever it takes to protect his pride from them, but when a lone female wanders into his territory, it isn’t a burning need to drive her away he’s feeling and it isn’t his pride that needs protecting—it’s his heart.

Down on her luck, Ivy follows a lead to a spot where she hopes to photograph black bears, but what she discovers there is a mountain of a man who lacks manners and seems determined to drive her off his property—a man who stirs unbidden fire in her veins and a strange sense of home.

With a pride gathering on the verge of happening at Cougar Creek and the air charged with a mating heat, the last thing Rath needs is a human on his land, especially one as beautiful and alluring as Ivy, one who rouses a fierce need to fight for her, but he can’t convince himself to let her go… and that proves dangerous for them both.


•••••••••••

REVIEW: 3.75 stars--CLAIMED BY HER COUGAR is the first instalment in Felicity Heaton’s contemporary, adult COUGAR CREEK MATES paranormal, romance series focusing on the cougar shifters of Cougar Creek, Canada. This is cougar shifter Rath, and human photographer Ivy’s story line. The Cougar Creek Mates series is a spin-off from the author’s Eternal Mates series. It is not necessary to have read the previous series but there is an on-going premise throughout with the inclusion of the group known as Archangel.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Ivy and Rath) CLAIMED BY HER COUGAR follows the building relationship between cougar shifter Rath, and human photographer Ivy. With the approach of the ‘pride gathering’, a time of mating heat between unmated females and males, Rath must ensure the protection of his kind but the unexpected and unwelcome arrival of a human photographer puts Rath on alert to the possibility of the return of Archangel, a group of human hunters who hunt the supernatural beings for experimentation and torture. Enter Ivy, the woman with whom Rath would fall in love. What ensues is the building relationship between Rath and Ivy, and the potential fall-out with the return of Archangel, and its’ possible connections to our story line heroine.

Rath knows grief at the hands of Archangel, having lost his parents, his mate and unborn child to a group of human killers whose goal in life is to destroy that which they do not know. Ivy struggles in the face of rejection and betrayal but her love of photography is the soul source of happiness for our story line heroine.

Like most of Felicity Heaton’s story lines CLAIMED BY HER COUGAR is more of a narrative where the story is told through thoughts and the emotional struggle of fated attraction. The relationship between Ivy and Rath is one of immediate attraction; an insta lust/love attraction but with the ‘gathering’ on the horizon Rath is worried that Ivy, as an unclaimed female, will be targeted by the unmated males forcing our hero to kill in order to protect. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate.

We are introduced to Rath’s brother Storm, another unmated male who suspects his brother is out of his element with the human female Ivy; cougar shifter Ember; Ivy’s boss and former lover Alexander, and Alexander’s sister Gabriella. Gabriella and Storm’s story is next in CAPTURED BY HER COUGAR.

CLAIMED BY HER COUGAR is a quick read; a flirty story with a feisty heroine and protective hero. The premise is entertaining; the romance is fast and furious; the characters are spirited and passionate.

Copy supplied for review

www.thereadingcafe.com

[Maida (Medley of Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

RATING: 3.5 Hearts!

[Georgina Parkin · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

I love FH’s Eternal Mates series, so I thought I’d really love this but there was honestly just nothing to this to like. There’s not really any story, they meet & have sex, the bad guy shows up and they have sex again and that’s legit the story. It wasn’t really long enough to connect to anyone/anything but was an OK in between book to just read something light that you don’t really have to pay that much attention to.

[~V~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a while since I've read a Felicity Heaton book so I can't say I remember anything about her writing style but I can definitely say that I enjoyed this book! A good first entry in the Cougar Creek Mates series! It's hard to find a good shifter romance..or it has been for me anyways, so I'm glad I stumbled across this one! Looking forward to the other books in this series!

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

A few writing and continuity errors like he swept her into his arms and then later a paragraph or so without putting her down he swept her into his arms... No background on her family or why she could or could not stay with him. Just a small background on him but that was mainly describing is world. Rath and Ivy are a sweet pair though.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Fantastic Start To A New Paranormal Romance Series.
I am already a big fan of Felicity Heaton's writing style; it's the way she creates a believable paranormal world and then fills it with complex, multifaceted characters and then weaves their stories with such depth that it just draws me in. Although Claimed by her Cougar is a novella, it is no exception!

So, what did I like about it?
I enjoyed the dilemma aspect of this tale - following your heart, submitting to your instincts or carrying out your duty - which Ms Heaton gives us here; Rath tries to fight the Fated Mate urge for various personal reasons and it made compelling reading.

I definitely enjoy a story more if the lead female character is intelligent, resilient and has plenty of gumption and I wasn’t disappointed here. Ivy was all of these and more.

As I’ve said before, one of the reasons why I love Ms Heaton’s books is how she makes the most explicit sex scenes very romantic (I think that it takes a very talented writer to accomplish this), the erotic liaisons are balanced with beautifully written imagery and poignant internal dialogue from Rath and Ivy; the tender insights into their inner fears and emotional confusion throughout this book was heart-warming to read.

I liked Claimed by her Cougar because it is a heart-warming story with titillating passion, that also managed to surprised me with unexpected twists, had me holding my breath during some amazing fight scenes and had me sniffing away a few tears.

So, ummm, was there anything I disliked about it?
OK, so here’s when I have to be completely honest and tell you why my rating was 4 stars rather than 5.

I did really enjoy reading Claimed by her Cougar and having read many shifter romances before, I revelled in Rath’s inner battle to contain his animal instincts but what niggled was how quickly Ivy seemed to buy into her feelings. I just felt it was all a tad rushed and would have enjoyed a few more pages or another chapter of seeing her feeling for Rath grow or perhaps how the fated mate instincts work in inter species situations like this; Ivy is human after all and although we may enjoy the titillation of insta-lust, usually propriety, life experience and self-preservation cause a more reticent approach to acting on our attractions.

So, basically what I’m saying is...
The story has got everything that I look for in a great story; action, drama, passion and plenty of well written steamy sex scenes. Couldn't stop reading this book!

As with all of Ms Heaton's books, due to the graphic violence and sexual content, I'd recommend this novella to adults who are not offended by content of this nature who are fans of relationship and romance stories with a bit of fire and passion.

You can read my full review on my WordPress blog, Flora's Musings...

[Sesshkyaah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I CAN’T.
I just can’t bring myself to finish this book without ripping my hair out from frustration.
The miscommunication, or the lack there of, is strong in this one.

SPOILERS ALERT
Ivy is a curvy photographer who accidentally went into the Cougar Creek when she was looking for Canadian bears. She’s a woman with a history with men that’s so bad that she’s sworn off men, until she met Rath.

*Shifters have longer life span than humans.

Rath is a Cougar shifter and protector of the Cougar Creek. He had a history of a mate but she was “taken away from him” 50 years ago. How? I didn’t read far enough to find out. But I did find out that the disappearance of his first mate had made him “sworn off women.”

Rath and Ivy had this instant attraction for each other since initial meeting and because they both “sworn off men/women,” they literally spend the first 50% of the book in denial. Dude literally spends first 50% of the book in dilemma; “oh I must protect her!” And “no I don’t need a female, she has to GO.”

He’s hot then he’s cold, he says yes then he says no, he’s in it then he wants out. Like holy shit I’ve never read such a story with the male like this for 60% of the book. I feel sorry for Ivy, girl just wants to make a few bucks with photography and ends up going on an emotional roller coaster.

At 55% of the book, their sexual tension finally snapped after another misunderstanding and they had hot, glorious makeup sex. They both finally admits to their initial attraction to each other.

Until the morning after came and Rath had this inner dialogue with himself about “sending Ivy away for her own good” and that’s where I stopped reading.

I shit you guys not, these are direct quotes from the book.

“He wasn’t like the man who had hurt her, but sleeping with her might have been a mistake, not because he didn’t like her, because he did.”

“It was because he couldn’t let her stay, knew he had to make her leave today, before more cougars arrived, and that it was going to hurt her and she wouldn’t understand. The alternative would produce the same results though. If she remained, and discovered what he was, what everyone who came to Cougar Creek was, she wouldn’t understand then either.”

“But he had to protect her.

That need ran deep in his blood, in his soul, an urge he had to obey no matter what, because her safety came first.

It killed him that he wouldn’t be able to give her a reason when he made her leave, because the only way to make her see the real reason she had to go was to tell her what was about to happen at the creek. How the fuck was he meant to explain a gathering of males coming to service the needs of females in heat?”


*slowly inhales from nose*

Mind you, he had suspected that she might be her “fated mate,” but because, yes you’ve guess it, she’s human and it’s for her protection and him being in denial that he had to hurt her by pushing her away without proper communication.

Okay I know what y’all are thinking, that she doesn’t know the existence of shifters and that Rath needs to look after his kind as well.

WELL MAYBE HE SHOULDVE THOUGHT OF THAT BEFORE LETTING HER STAY AND DICKING HER DOWN INTO HIS MATTRESS.

Either follow your primal instincts and come through or be responsible for your actions.

Be a man Rath, do the right thing.
Now I’m having second thought of reading the other books from this series….

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 out of 5 stars
Welcome to Cougar creek, a secluded area in the Canadian Rockies for a good reason . This is cougar territory but there are more to these cougars then meets the eye . Lets meet Rath a surly , sexy man who doesn't want humans on his land and Ivy the woman that will capture more then the bears she is going to photograph . With the gathering happening and the sexual tension heating up between the two of them . Will they survive the onslaught of what is to come and will they survive each other .
I must say when I found out that the author had written a new series with cougar shifters . Well I thought if they are going to be anything like the vampires from her other series . We would be in for a roller coaster ride of emotion that would keep you on the edge of your seat . They would also melt your kindle at the same time . She didn't disappoint one bit . The characters are complex and well lets just say hot as sin . Rath is a mountain of man , who is sexy as sin and oh so broody . One moment you want to smack him upside the head and the next moment you want to climb him like a spider monkey in heat. Yes he is that sexy . But there is more to this mountain of a man . He has some heartache that has made him distrust any human that he comes in contact with . He would rather be by himself then mate with anyone . Until Ivy , I really liked her , she is spunky and sweet . She is such a good character . She will stand her ground when she needs to but also is a little unsure of herself . You really just want to wrap her up in a blanket and hug her tight .She does surprise us though and really starts to stand up and kick butt towards the end of the book She shows that she is tougher then she looks and wants what she wants and will go after it . They are great characters alone but when they are together they are hot and I mean hot.
This was a really good read , I read it in an afternoon I just couldn't put it down . The author takes us on a rollercoaster ride . I really love the fact the author is using the Canadian Rockies as the back drop . Being a Canadian girl that makes me so happy . I also liked how the author slowly and steadily builds the story and takes us along for the ride . There are hot scenes that will melt your kindle and she also adds some intrigue and danger too. I so can't wait to read the rest of the series and meet the rest of the brothers . I know they will be as hot as Rath . So if you want a great series to heat up your fall nights check out this series . I promise you will not be disappointed

[Krys · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lord save me from romance heroines who think they know everything. She wasn’t too bad most of the book, but there were a couple particularly bad times that had me wanting to slap gorilla tape over her mouth or press the “record” button and overwrite her “know-it-all” inner monologues. Like in the final scene. She was completely tone-deaf. There was obviously something going on that was beyond her understanding of the situation, yet she blundered on, like two conjoined bulls in a china shop. She also acted very uppity with the male MC when she first met him. Granted, he was very gruff and handsy at first, but her amount of sass showed me she was not particularly bright as a woman alone, far from friends in a remote location without a weapon. Even the fact that she took such a trip under these circumstances (with no companion or weapon or a daily check-in/location-share set up when she was planning to track down friggen bears) told me such. It’s kind of idiotic.

The book got very repetitive after maybe the first day passed. There was a lot of talk of being compelled to fight the other males in a show of dominance, and when Insay a lot, I mean it was mentioned at least twice every chapter presented in basically the same manner. It was much. Way too much. Especially because the male MC’s concern about killing all the other males was stupid. When the process of the gather was described the other 552 times, there was no mention of fights to the death. If that were the case, there’d be fewer and fewer males meeting every year. Also the idea of these solitary shapeshifters getting together (and going through all this trouble to do it) just so that the males could fight for the pleasure of pleasuring ladies was silly. What keeps them from meeting up outside of the gathering. Why do all the females go into heat at the same time (I thought there was a singular mention of “heat”, but it was so brief I cannot be sure)? To my understanding, the gatherings are just big sexfests, but what’s the purpose? Pleasure only? Breeding and pleasure would make way more sense.

Overall, this book was cute and different and the fem MC only mildly annoying until I got to the end. The end ruined it for me.