A King's Pride

Paranormal Africa: The Lion Shifters #1

by Ella Wilde, Vered Ehsani, Su Boddie

Shifts happen. Hearts change. Africa awaits.

Emma Knight is leaving Kenya as soon as the witch is buried.

But hostile forces are pushing her into a role she doesn’t want.

When Emma breaks a cardinal rule and rescues a lion Shifter, she finds herself at a dangerous crossroads. Does she move on, or risk her secrets and her heart to save the lion’s Pride and establish peace in Nairobi?

Lion Shifter King David Kiprop is on a time-sensitive mission, one that leads him into a poacher’s snare. While he’s relieved to escape the trap, he’s not happy to owe a life-debt to the snarky, secretive female who rescued him, even if he does find Emma attractive. She’s a bewitching distraction King can’t afford.

Too bad the gods have other plans ...

★★★★★ "I love that there was a good bit of action and suspense in the novel. I also adore the sisterly relationship among Emma, her cousin Grace, and their new female friend Tiger. All three of them are somewhat snarky but have great depth." -- Diana in SC@AudiobookObsession

★★★★★ "This book had me on page 2. The first Ella Wilde novella was a good introduction to this series and I enjoyed the plot, characters and new timeline but I wondered where she was taking me next. A Lion’s Pride was what I’ve been missing." -- Tiz

★★★★★ " Despite forces that try to rip these characters to shreds, their love and loyalty keep them together, and alive! I highly recommend this book, and series. If you are unfamiliar with this author - take the chance and enter into a most amazing world full of adventure, love, and some very incredible creatures!" -- CJ

★★★★★ "I was impressed on how Ella Wilde could make the the imaginations sore with the beauty of the animals and sites around Nairobi come alive in my eyes... I would have to say she did a great job in her story telling and also her vivid imagination." -- Athena Lee Brown

★★★★★ "Great story, love the set up for the series, ready to read the next one!! Wish I could write reviews that convey my thoughts, but, sigh... regardless, I truly enjoyed this book, I can't wait to see how the characters develop through each installment" -- Elizabeth Sloan Dobbles

Join the Kiprop Pride and escape to a land where everything is possible. A King's Pride is the first book in Ella Wilde's "The Lion Shifters" series. Start your adventure today!

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Romance

299 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 6, 2019

About the author

(Also writes as Vered Ehsani)
I was born and raised in Kenya. Living up to my name, I decided an office job wasn't my cup of tea. When I'm not rescuing orphaned elephants or conducting a lion census, I write about people who walk the thin line between the human world and the supernatural. Visit my world at www.ParanormalAfrica.com to receive exclusive gifts and top secret info.

Reviews

[Charles van Buren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Kindle edition
Publication date: May 6, 2019
Publisher: Africa Creates
Language: English
ASIN: B07QWMJJ1Y

I gave 5 stars to A LION'S CAGE, the first book in Vered Ehsani's new paranormal Africa series. I like A KING'S PRIDE much better. Six stars? Or change A LION'S CAGE to four and a half?

This story begins with the aftermath of a funeral and is not at all cheerful. However, stick with it, Beatrice Knight Timmons' daughter Emma proves to be a worthy main character joined by other great main and supporting characters. Many of these are recurring characters from Ms. Ehsani's first two series. There is a fine plot with romance, tension, conflict, danger, nasty villains and all of the little touches we have come to expect from Vered Ehsani/Ella Wilde.

[Martha B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Come to Nairobi, bury Mother, catch the next plane out.

Emma Timmons hasn't been back in Nairobi for 20 years. Now, she's here to bury Beatrice Knight Timmons, her mother, and a paranormal legend. As if that's not bad enough, her day (and her life) is about to get much more complicated.

King David Kiprop had only one agenda, find his brothers. That is going to be very difficult since he is trapped in a paranormal snare and he is slowly dying. Now what?

First off, I loved this story. That said, I also was very sad during the first few chapters because a character I had come to know and love was being buried. After reading Vered Eshani's two series (Society for Paranormals and Cozy Tea Shoppe Mysteries), I did wonder what was to become of baby Emma Timmons. Now I know, and so will you when you read A King's Pride by Ella Wilde.

I liked dysfunctional Emma, but I loved take control Emma more. I also liked King, but only after he proved himself worthy of Emma's trust and affections. I also enjoyed getting reacquainted with Grace, and getting to know King's lion-shifter brothers. All in all, if you loved Mrs. Knight Timmons, you'll love Emma. After all, she is her mother's daughter.

Content alert: This book a clean read. It is free of vulgarities and sex.

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book from the author via BookFunnel. I am voluntarily submitting my honest review.

FYI: I also submitted my review to Amazon and Book Bub. It also made my Pinterest page; Rural Reader – My Favorite 5 Star Reads (https://www.pinterest.com/marthajane6...).

[Celeste · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great start to a new series! Having truly enjoyed the two series before this one, Society for Paranormals, and Cozy Tea Shoppe Mysteries, I was thrilled to see and hear of some of the beloved characters from those series being included here. I have to say that I stumbled upon the first Paranormals book quite by accident, and was immediately hooked into Vered Ehsani's (aka Ella Wilde) quirky, fantastical, funny, tender, action-filled, stories, despite the fact that I usually stick to romance books. I am now a die-hard fan, and consider myself lucky to be given the opportunity to read advance copies of these books, with the option (always taken) of leaving a completely honest review of each of them. The characters are amazing - both in their humanity (even if they are not quite human) and in their paranormal sense. The dialog is clever, there is always a touch of humor - even in the most dire of circumstances, and good always overcomes evil - even if the ending includes sadness in knowing that uncertainty lies ahead. Emma and King David are dead center in a tumultuous world full of danger and despair - surrounded by family and friends who will become center-stage in upcoming books. Despite forces that try to rip these characters to shreds, their love and loyalty keep them together, and alive! I highly recommend this book, and series. If you are unfamiliar with this author - take the chance and enter into a most amazing world full of adventure, love, and some very incredible creatures!

[Cheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the premise of the book, I how ever wasn't a fan of either of the Main characters, There was no chemistry between them, Emma was a flighty drunk, King felt like a side character through out the book. I don't think I will read the other books.

[Diana in SC · Rating 5 out of 5]

A richly imagined new urban fantasy with a flawed but lovable heroine

Ella Wilde is the new pen name of Vered Ehsani, author of the fantastic ”Society for Paranormals” funny Victorian cozy mystery/urban fantasy series. I have been looking forward to this new series, and I was very surprised and pleased that it is set in the same world as the Society series, just in modern times! It is set in an alternate version of modern-day Nairobi, Kenya, in which the general population of humans are not aware that African gods, shifters, demons, and magic exist. These nonhuman people are called “Paranorms”. The world-building is incredible! “King’s Pride” has a distinct sense of place because the author actually lives in Nairobi. In addition, the heroine of this novel, Emma Timmons, is the long-lived daughter of the illustrious Beatrice Knight, the main character in the Society series! You don’t need to read the previous series to start this one, although you should know that there are tons of spoilers for the old series. This new novel is suitable for teens and adults. There are no sexual situations, and I don’t think there is any bad language.

I felt that the novel was a little slow getting started, but I became immersed in it after a few chapters. The perspective is first person past alternating between the two primary characters, Emma and King. I am usually not a fan of first person perspective, but I love this one because neither character sounded egotistical.

Emma is a flawed, alcoholic, traumatized heroine, but I could tell early on that she had great potential for growth. Although she is a century old, she looks and acts like she is in her mid-twenties. Emma inherited her witch mother’s long life. She has great magical healing abilities, but something in her past caused her to be afraid of failure when trying to heal someone. Emma has been living in London for decades, but has returned home for her mother’s funeral and does not want to stay. However, she rescued a lion shifter named King David Kiprop caught in a magical trap, and they made an impression on each other. King is a bit arrogant but likable. His family is extremely important to him.

I love that there was a good bit of action and suspense in the novel. I also adore the sisterly relationship among Emma, her cousin Grace, and their new female friend Tiger. All three of them are somewhat snarky but have great depth. It seems that each book in the series will have a different starring couple, and Grace (a shape-shifting African bat-like demon) will be in the next one! I can’t wait!

As I mentioned before, I love the world-building. Not only do the sights and sounds of Nairobi make it seem like I am there when I am reading, but the characters from African folklore are fascinating. I had never heard of a Popobawa before I read this author’s books. Also, an ancient African god of lightning makes an appearance. It is so cool! I highly recommend this book to everyone who wants a meaty urban fantasy with a touch of romance. I also recommend the prequel “A Lion's Cage” that involves one of King’s long lost lion shifter cousins.

[D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will have to say that I'm a slacker; yes, I have been procrastinating. My sister told me to read The Society of Paranormals by Vered Ehsani, and I did read book 1 and started on book 2, but I didn't finish. It was not because they weren't good, but I tend to be one of those readers who gets distracted very easily by another book. So, when I saw that she had written a shifter series under the pen name of Ella Wilde, I knew I had to read it, simply because I love fantasy and paranormal and the author did not shy away from making this an interracial romance.

I wasn't going to read A King's Pride because my first thought was: here is another author writing about people in Africa, but the black Africans are never the main characters and in most books they are treated as less than human. But I was wrong; Wilde did an awesome job with this story. Once I started reading, I couldn't stop. There was suspense, intrigue, humor, and romance. Wilde didn't make a big deal out of the two main characters being different races, she just wrote a wonderful story about two shifters having to come to acknowledge some things in their lives so they can move forward with their futures.

My fellow fantasy/paranormal readers, you will love this story. It's everything and more. If you are in a reading slump, this might be the book to shake you out of your slump. Wilde has captured me. I'm ready for the next adventure. I want to know what will happen to everyone who is part of King's Pride. I'm running, no skipping, no dancing over to Kobo to get the next book in the series.

[Su · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do you know about Nairobi, Kenya?
What do you know about African Paranormal?

This series will teach you a great deal about both. It's real-world fiction: Nairobi is a real place, the characters are made up. I kept writing the author: Is this real? She kept answering me: Yep.

Storyline: What do you do when your lawyer and a god both give you the same instructions?

A young woman travels from London to Nairobi to bury her mother. Simple. Bury Mom, clear up her estate, go home. Well, two out of three ain't bad, as they say. Her mother is in the ground. The paperwork is signed. And the keys to a new life are in your uncle's hands. Hiding your own hands behind your back is simply a gesture, it doesn't change anything.

A lion caught in a snare does change everything.

Especially when that lion is a king.

The good news is: This is Book 1 in the series. The best news is: Book 3 has just been released. So you'd better hurry, you're already behind!

In fact, you're even further behind. Check out Society for Paranormals and Cozy Tea Shoppe Mysteries series. They are prequels, set in Nairobi in 1900. Great summer reading. I promise!

[Natasa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've received the copy of the book from the author for my honest review. I love her other books very much so I was very happy with this new series. I like the twist with the setting, it's modern day Nairobi. I think I actually got a sneak peek into the town as it is today. The tone of the book is also different than when we had Emma's mother Miss Knight as the leading character, which is also refreshing.
As always, I really enjoyed this author's work. Thank you for sharing it with me so generously.

[Lady The Owls · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was impressed on how Ella Wilde could make the the imaginations sore with the beauty of the animals and sites around Nairobi come alive in my eyes. To see wild animals walking around and not seeming afraid of humans. If this is how she grew up she was blessed. I love the characters and world build. Each grow within their own strength just as we do in the real world. I would have to say she did a great job in her story telling and also her vivid imagination.

[Julian White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sequel/continuation to earlier books about supernatural Africa. Here we are in modern Nairobi - and the Shifter element is to the fore. Emma, Beatrice's daughter, returns from London for the funeral and meets a lion king. Literally...

[Froggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and love this author. I read her previous series and was excited to read this book and series to see how the children of the previous characters have fared. The characters are well developed and the writing is great.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

An African Story!

I can't believe it ... There are (apparently) paranormals in my hometown Nairobi!!
I am so excited to read "A King's Pride". I am driving on those streets every week ... This is truly amazing!

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun new series

I fell in love with the characters in previous two series. Overjoyed to continue their saga in this latest series.

[Pam Siloti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clean, exciting, fun.

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (9/10/2020)! 🎁

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story of romance and suspense. Emma only planned on attending a funeral in Africa, not rescuing a Lion Shifter. Can’t wait for more by this fabulous writer.