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Lion Hearts #1

Savage Pride

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Alpha lion who is all growl and bite?
Defiant human with a broken heart?
An enemy out to break them both?

Running from a devastating betrayal, Hailey's wound is salted when car trouble strands her in the path of a snarly lion shifter with a chip on his shoulder the size of Pride Rock.

She can't decide what's worse—his snarky, human hating attitude, or the fact that her judgement sucks and she is falling in love with the devil in sexy blue jeans. But refusing to trust will cost her more than her future happiness... it could cost her life.

Alpha lion Trent has no one but his pride, a group of misfits holding onto control by a claw under his leadership. He doesn't need the complication of a stubborn, mouthy, human woman who looks him in the eye and sets off every instinct to claim.

Especially since his uncle is threatening to solve Trent's Hailey problem with violence.

For Trent isn't the only one who wants to see all humans kicked out of town and lions back at the top of the food chain. He's just the only one who is starting to change his mind...

...the only one who realizes that the love of a mate is worth fighting, dying, and forgiving for.

Savage Pride, Lion Hearts Book 1, is a standalone lion shifter steamy romance. This paranormal with bite is for readers who love enemies to lovers, snarly lion heroes, and sassy not-quite-damsels in distress.

Download now because you crave an alpha too savage to love. . . unless he's your fated mate.

360 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 29, 2019

824 people are currently reading
555 people want to read

About the author

Cecilia Lane

53 books221 followers
If you'd like to be notified of new releases and special sales, subscribe here: http://cecilialane.com/CLML

Cecilia grew up in a what most call paradise, but she insists is humid hell. She escaped the heat with weekly journeys to the library, where she learned the basics of slaying dragons, magical abilities, and grand adventures.

When it became apparent she wouldn’t be able to travel the high seas with princes or party with rock star vampires, Cecilia hunkered down to create her own worlds filled with sexy people in complicated situations. She now writes with the support of her own sexy man and many interruptions from her goofy dog.

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5 stars
434 (47%)
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283 (30%)
3 stars
151 (16%)
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37 (4%)
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12 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
Profile Image for Angie.
1,404 reviews234 followers
October 19, 2024
This woman, this human woman, challenged him at every turn and knocked him on his ass more often than not. She tamed his inner beast with a single word and calmed him with her touch.
He shouldn’t want her. He needed her. His.

5+ stars! Another knockout shifter read from the great Ceci Lane!!!!

I LOVED THIS BOOK!! It had all the right ingredients of a great shifter read for me: a snarky, take no crap heroine, a broody and moody shifter, and a plot twisted enough to keep you interested with plenty of steam. I LOVED the dynamic between Hailey and Trent! Hailey wasn't afraid to go up against Trent, and Trent admired her deeply and grudgingly for that. She was the unapologetic queen he needed, while he was the broken shifter who needed her tenacity. I loved watching them interact and try to out-snark each other, and I will absolutely be continuing on in this series!! 🖤

Tropes: fated mates, forced proximity, alpha j/p hero, down-on-her-luck heroine, grumpy/sunshine, hate-to-love-you, 'touch her and die' vibes, only one bed, top-notch banter, shifter/human pairing, small town, found family, band of brothers, STEAMY🔥
Profile Image for Sweet and Salty Reviews by DD.
612 reviews240 followers
December 17, 2019
Very strong start to a series!

Great storyline with a bit of a twist which I loved. Sometimes a paranormal read can almost follow in the shadows of another. Making me feel periodically as if I have read it before. Never felt that way with this read.

Strong MC who’s is incredibly sexy. Kind of an ass but the way Lane wrote the FMC you find his assholeyness cute. Trent has an interesting back story which also has a twist. Extremely hot character 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Loved Haileys quick wit. Surrounded by “messed up” shifters she held her on from the start. Never showed fear. Never showed distaste for their nature. Strong smart asses FMC which is my favorite kind.

Great series! Ready for more!

Happy reading! DD
Profile Image for Lover of Romance.
3,721 reviews1,126 followers
May 24, 2021
I saw a fellow GR friend ( and for the life of me I can't remember who but I thank you) reviewed this and shared their love of this series and since I have been meaning to pick up some shifter romances I knew that I wanted to give this one a try here. And I actually really enjoyed it. It had some "Suzanne Wright" vibes in some respects but not a copy cat in any way. It had its own unique style and charm that I fell so hard for. It had a edginess to it that I don't normally see in the genre and really kept me on the edge of my seat. But I really fell in love with the lion/human pairing and this whole angsty hate to love you type of trope we see come into play here. But I found the world building so unique and wanted more of this pack. And by the end I was grabbing up book two with no shame of it.
Profile Image for Mettesknit .
1,165 reviews6 followers
May 27, 2021
The reason for the low score, is that I felt this was a re-read.
Like a copy 😐

If you've read TS Joyce, skip this.
You've kind of already read it.

Now - if you haven't read TS Joyce, I can warmly recommend it 💛
Profile Image for Lisa.
447 reviews24 followers
May 24, 2021
Thank Angie!!!!
I read this book all night hadn’t slept couldn’t put it down
This was so much fun to read!
Loved the characters so much. It was fun, snarky, and just a great storyline.
Shame the uncle is running around still tho.
But I loved this so much fun in the book why I couldn’t put it down all night
..
Profile Image for Hsu Lee.
1,743 reviews9 followers
December 5, 2019
I voluntarily offered to review this book with no obligations and my opinions are honest!
This was a great book !
Hailey is stranded on the side of the road.
It is totally normal to look for help in this kind of situation.
Grumpy Trent does not agree.
Trent is trying to hold on to his Lion pride, so he does not have time for a human.
Will his stubborness prevent Trent from giving love a chance ?
Loved the characters + the storytelling !
It has all the ingredients that you need for a great book!
I can't wait for the next book in this series.
32 reviews
May 28, 2021
Lions

what a nice change to find a shifter story about lions, and batshit crazy ones at that. Although, crazy might not be the correct word, horribly hurt would be more justified. Hurt and trying to cope and find a sliver of happiness.
1,240 reviews10 followers
December 7, 2019
Savage Pride is the first book in the Lion Hearts series, set within the Shifting Destinies world. Hailey is going on a vacation of self discovery to Bearden, but when she’s caught in a snowstorm, she gets a reluctant savior. Trent has a severe dislike of humans and while his lion is insisting that Hailey is special to him, there’s other obligations he needs to focus on first. As Hailey and Trent spend more time together, they see beyond the surface, but when danger is threatening them both, can they stay safe to find their future?

Holy smokes, this book was so good, full of a few twists, lots of tension, a grumpy alpha with a heart of gold, and his feisty mate that gives as good as she gets! I absolutely loved Hailey and Trent, I loved their kind of enemies to lovers vibe, I loved their passion, and I loved that they were both able to see the good in each other! Hailey doubts herself at times due to her past, but I loved her fearlessness, her brash attitude, and that she was willing to accept Trent and his lions exactly as they are! Trent might have come across as a raging alpha-hole, but between his past and his current responsibilities, he has a lot on his plate that he tries to handle, and has a huge protective streak that you can’t help but admire. I loved where the danger was coming from, I loved that not everything was figured out or settled, but I was completely captivated with this book from the very beginning! I loved reading this book and can’t wait to see where these lions will take us next!
Profile Image for Patricia Hoffstaetter.
3,160 reviews40 followers
December 5, 2019
An adventurous lion shifter romance with an undertone of “enemies to lovers” It has a fantastic well-written plot & well-developed characters, that are inclined to have their own options & assumptions about each other.
There is: a feisty human female (Hailey) might have some sad memories about an ex-boyfriends (Cory) deceit but takes no nonsense from a grouchy human-hating alpha lion shifter (Trent) but he soon changes his mind when he discovers that Hailey is his mate but his uncle (Jasper) has devious plans in mind, lion shifters, wolf shifters, bear shifters, hunters, drama, suspense, twists & turns, humor, snarky attitudes, pride issues, prejudices, action, adventure, deceit, betrayal, danger, devious plans, enemies, threats, violence, conflict, strange attractions, memories, jealousy, protectiveness, confusion, paranoia, longings, playfulness, complications, abduction, choices, decisions, happiness, love, contentment, steamy scenes & a well-deserved satisfying conclusion for this couple with a very interesting epilogue that could be paving the way for the next book in this series. It was a pleasure to read this shifter romance & would definitely recommend it.
Profile Image for Shelley.
537 reviews9 followers
June 19, 2021
Very good romance and story and characters. The bad guy was almost too villainous but overall a good book.

If you like TS Joyce, this is very much in that vein in terms of passion and heart.
Profile Image for Addison Powell.
45 reviews
March 14, 2024
I liked the story and the spice. Trent and Hailey were very good together but I didn’t like how it’s written in 3rd person. I really wish it would have been told in 1st person.
Profile Image for Marsha Keeper Bookshelf.
4,290 reviews88 followers
February 17, 2020
Reviewed at Shifter Haven

Savage Pride starts off the Shifting Destinies: Lion Hearts series with a very strong story of the elusive lions who live on the very outskirts of Bearden and have up until now been successful in keeping their distance from anyone else, Human or Shifter, through their bad attitudes and very obvious “Keep Out” signage. Not any longer, these lions are about to be brought into the world of mates, fighting for the right to survive, and some, at times, very tough love. Most of the time we’ve run into Trent who reluctantly provides additional horses for the Black Claw Ranch, and Mr. Cheerful he is far from that, not even by a long shot.

Hailey needs a break from the mess her life has turned out to be thanks to one lying jerk. She’s set off from sunny, warm Florida to the very snowy winter of Montana to reassess what she wants from her life now, and to just escape her awful luck – unfortunately, that’s not going to change much when she’s caught in a blizzard, her car slides off the road, her reservations at the local B & B can’t be found and she finds herself stuck staying with a snarly, grouchy, rude, hot, handsome man or lion shifter, each is equally growly at this point. Trent has strong rules about females on his property for his lion pride is completely out of control most days and barely in control on other days. Mates will simply make that worse, in Trent’s opinion – but he’s wrong and he’s about to discover just how right a fated mate can be. But he and Hailey are going to go through some hard times, dangerous situations, and stubbornness on both sides before he will admit that Hailey is exactly what he and his pride needs.

Hailey and Trent’s story is strong in plot, character development and, in the emotions this story will bring out in any reader. Trent doesn’t know the truth of what happened to his family but as a long lost relative shows up he is about to find out the hard way. Hailey is such a strong character, she’s snarky when needed, isn’t afraid of Trent, and determined to be true to herself – even when that hurts. Together they make a fantastic couple and will be strong Alpha leaders for this motley crew of lion shifters.

I was easily caught up in Savage Pride and will be diving into Savage Claim later today. If you love a snarly hero and a snarky heroine who fit perfectly together then you’ll enjoy this one very much.

I read this title through my Kindle Unlimited subscription.
Profile Image for MooseGirl.
792 reviews4 followers
June 6, 2021
I picked this up when it was free. I download free books quite often (it's a great way of trying out unfamiliar authors), and generally most of them are average (i.e. worth a read, but not overly exciting). Some are awful. But every so often, I come across one that is seriously good. This one was seriously good.

Trent is alpha of a pride of misfit lions who wouldn't be accepted anywhere else. Daily brawls, insubordination, and all-out craziness... all things Trent has to deal with. His entire family are dead at the hands of humans, and all he wants is to stay in the middle of nowhere and stay far away from all humans. Hailey is running from the humiliation of discovering her boyfriend is married. At the start of her trip, she finds herself stranded in the snow and eventually ends up staying with a pride of lion shifters. The sexy alpha clearly doesn't want her there, but he also seems drawn to her.

I adore the author's voice with the snarky humour. I loved the rough, dysfunctional pride of lions that Trent is trying to wrangle. I also liked Trent's grumpy nature and Hailey's confidence in dealing with him.

This book is well-written and is also steamy, fun, dramatic, and gives me the warm fuzzies. I thoroughly enjoyed the story from beginning to end, and I've already bought book two. I note that this author has quite a few books, so it looks like I'm about to be very happy. Broke, but happy.
Profile Image for Mary Lou Hoffman.
1,954 reviews35 followers
December 23, 2019
SAVAGE PRIDE is the first book in the Lion Hearts series set in the Shifting Destinies world, which includes the Black Claw Ranch series and the Shifters of Bear’s Den series. Characters from those other two series are involved, but you do not need to have read their stories before reading this one.

This was an absolutely wonderful shifter romance. I loved snarky, take-no-bull, but still vulnerable Hailey and I-hate-humans, alpha, sexy Trent. When they take on “the world” (their corner of it anyway, with Uncle Jasper as the head villain) together they discover what real love is all about.

I love the way they accept each other’s quirks. It reminds me of a Dr. Seuss’s quote that I love: “People are weird. When we find someone with weirdness that is compatible with ours, we team up and call it love.” Hooray for Cecilia Lane for writing a story that shows that weirdness and how it perfectly describes the love that Hailey and Trent have found.

I love that this is the start to a new series with the lion pride who live next door to the Black Claw Ranch. I’m looking forward to more of those prickly kitties finding the girls who can tame them.

Note: While I received this book as a gifted ARC via Booksprout, my opinions are my own and are given freely.
895 reviews
June 19, 2021
Loved This Story OVER 18 READING

A human woman plans a vacation in winter to a place unlike any thing she'd ever been around after discovering her boyfriend of six months had a pregnant wife he never told her about. Unable to handle a car in a snow storm she ends in a ditch. A lion shifter finds her on their pride land and takes her to his alpha. Their is a no guest rule on their land but because of the weather at the time they couldn't get her to the town where she had reservations. So the alpha lion is forced to let her stay. These two are so much fun because this human doesn't back down at all against the five male fighting messed up lions. But she deals with all their shi* , gets kidnapped, throw out on a road, grabbed by another pride who throw her in with their female lions who she will convince to run with her when the fighting starts. Caught again and a knife to her throat but her mate is their. After everything he can't believe she is willing to except it all and stay. He also learns that his bear clan neighbors are worth having around . Lots of things happening with many storylines and five messed up male lion shifters, and one very strong woman who finds all she ever wanted.
1,140 reviews2 followers
December 9, 2019
Hailey found out that she was the 'other' woman from the wife of the man she thought she would bring home to meet her family. With that blow she decided to go away from sunny Florida for a while on a vacation to Montana in the dead of winter. When she arrived there it was snowing. As she drove to her destination the storm got worse and with no experience driving in that kind of weather, she skidded and ended up in a ditch. She got out of the car and headed for the nearest house, ignoring the signs posted along the narrow road tlling folks to stay away.
The house at the end of the road belonged to Trent, the alpha of a pride of four misfit lions and he wanted nothing to do with humans.
Haile was picked up on her walk to the house by one of the pride. Her arrrival in the yard was not greeted wih enthusiasm. Trent did not want her to stay but the weather was getting worse. She could stay the night but would have to go to town the next day.
The story evolves from that point and a is very good tale.
I enjoyed it very much.
Profile Image for Sharon Richmond.
1,118 reviews11 followers
December 4, 2019
Savage Pride: A Shifting Destinies Lion Shifter Romance (Lion Hearts Book 1)
By Cecelia Lane. 5 Stars*****

Loved it!!
The town of Beardon sure has a mixture of some very stubborn shifters, lol. I fell in love with them all.

You have Hailey who's human but has the best come back shots and snarkey remarks. She's not afraid of Lions but tell her a lie and watch out, haha.

Trent may be Alpha Lion of his Pride, but to Hailey he's just a big old grouchy kitten needing to be put in his place.

The rest of the characters are just plain fun, well most of them, those are just plain cruel mean personalities.

A great story of shifters who dislike humans, they have their reasons, but find a 5ft. woman who will rock their world. Danger and mystery along with some laughs will give the reader a fantastic book to get lost in.

I have voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
Reviewer for Nook Books and More Blog
Profile Image for Frances Law.
1,123 reviews14 followers
December 15, 2019
Revisit Bearden

Trent is an alpha lion who hates humans. In previous books about the town of Bearden he tried to attack the human mate of a bear. Now he finds himself in a situation where he has no choice but to take in a defenceless human woman! Hailey is running from a two timing ex! Unfortunately, she was the person he was two timing his pregnant wife with! Talk about humiliating. So she decided to take some time off and go from the sunshine to snow and complete a list of things to do. Her next humiliation is not being able to control her car on the icy roads and ending up in a ditch.
When Trent found her she expected to be on her way to her B&B booking at the latest the next day. Trent did his part (he couldn’t wait to get rid of her) but fate had other plans.
Quite a cute story but definitely 18+
Profile Image for Ingrid Stephanie Jordan.
1,862 reviews24 followers
December 16, 2019
Borrowed From KINDLE UNLIMITED
Title: Savage Pride
Series: Lion Hearts #1
Release Date: #AlreadyReleased
Author: Cecilia Lane
Reviewer: Ingrid Stephanie Jordan
Serial: Standalone, No Cliffhanger
Genre:#SciFi #Aliens
5Stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
••••••••••••••
💢 Ooooooo what a treat Bearden has a Pride.
🔹️ Trent Crowley is a Alpha LionShifter, he has a small pride. Each one was almost over the edge like he was. When a human came life changed. Especially since he hates humans.
🔹️ Hailey Simms is taking a well deserved vacation she had to get out of town, she was so embarrassed and her brothers wanted to go beat him up. After traveling by plane, then car it was just so tiring especially when she got stuck in a blizzard. Lucky for her she was found and taken to someone very special.
☄️ This review is my own opinion, this author is one that I love to read her books.
738 reviews5 followers
May 27, 2021
A little different, but pretty good.

Human Hailey Simms and lion shifter and pride alpha, Trent Crowley hit it off with a bang. Not. Although he tries to be a grumpy loner, he's basically a good guy. Hailey (little sister to many brothers) has her first experience with shifters, and has some cute snarky backtalk that's LOL. The snarling alpha has a good honorable side, and a need to help others that he fights constantly. The suspenseful plot kept me engaged, but there's insta-lust, some unanswered questions (like what happened to the bad guys?), an ongoing saga, and a suspension of beliefs on how these two will blend their lives in the end. This is a HFN story, and I got the feeling this was a spin-off of another series- references were made of a bear clan next door. I rate this an quick, fun, beach read 3.5 stars. Will keep reading.
Profile Image for Carey Sabala.
370 reviews15 followers
June 13, 2020
Audiobook review - I'm assuming this book is part of a series because you have already established characters and a cliffy at the end that sets up another book, so thus my assumption.
Other than that, it was an ok shifter story. Sort of a second chance romance. Why didn't I rate it higher? Pacing for one - 3/4 of the book was internal angst. I really felt the end was rushed and I felt like more could have been done with the hero. I was expecting him to take over the bad pride or come into his own but nope. His yard fighting and being broody really had no place in the story except to add to his past relecting on his present and the heroine was an absolute wimp for too long. Yes, she found a spine eventually but it was a little too late for me. I was just over it.
3,126 reviews
June 3, 2021
Trent and Hailey

After being embarrassed by her boyfriend’s pregnant wife, Hailey, a vet, goes on a vacation. Hailey doesn’t trust her judgement when it comes to men. She goes to Bearden to get away from it all but her car breaks down in lion territory. Trent, the Alpha to several misfit lion shifters. He doesn’t like humans after a group killed his family when he was six. Between a grouchy lion and being snowed in, Hailey tries her best to get along with Trent. Someone is determined to get rid of the mouthy woman but Trent realizes she’s his mate and will do whatever it takes to keep her safe.

Excellent paranormal story with sex and a little bit of suspense. Opposites due attract and this story proves it. Going to have to check out the others in the series.
Profile Image for Linda Levine.
4,640 reviews25 followers
December 5, 2019
I really enjoyed reading this well written story. She is on a mission to forget her mistake in believing in the wrong man when she finds herself with a lion shifter. He battles to stay sane and keep his pride alive. They struggle to control their lions too.

I really enjoyed watching her stand up to everyone and not take any disrespect. She was used to her older brothers taunting her and didn't back down. He becomes quite protective despite his hatred for humans. They have a real connection. I loved the ending and look forward to reading the next book.

I am voluntarily reviewing a copy I received.
Profile Image for Pam Louis.
1,722 reviews7 followers
December 23, 2019
Trent Crowley is a lion shifter. He has an uneasy partnership with the best alpha Ethan who lived next door. They used his horses to run the trail rides and he didn't have the deal with the people. He had enough to deal with with his crazy crew.
Hailey is human with bad luck with men. So with a broken heart she is going on a vacation to get way from it all. Her someplace new? Lands her in a snowstorm and stuck at Trents ranch. Omg. Can't tell you more but there is lots of action, betrayal, mystery, spice, drama and so much more. I the characters are awesome . I could not put it down. It's fantastic. Voluntarily reviewed a copy and I honestly lived it
Profile Image for Karen Shortridge.
1,459 reviews19 followers
January 8, 2020
When you get a lion shifter romance with an “enemies to lovers” you know it's going to keep your attention. It has a great plot with some brilliant characters that have their own colourful story to tell I'm sure. You meet feisty human female Hailey who is escaping some sad memories about an ex-boyfriend, deciding to go away with her list of things to do. Trent is a human-hating alpha lion shifter and has good reason to feel like that after losing his parents and pride to humans but when Hailey turns up at his ranch things are about to get interesting. You certainly get plenty of emotions and actions to keep your attention throughout, well worth reading.
Profile Image for Sue MacKenzie.
1,681 reviews15 followers
November 29, 2019
Finally one of the reclusive lion pride finds a mate and what an interesting way about it to happen.
As usual this author has blown my mind with her imagination and I have loved this story just as much as all the rest I have read in the Bearden series.
If you love shifters of every kind I would strongly suggest you give this series and this author a go, it will be worth your time.
I now sit impatiently by while this author works her heart out producing the next story in the series :)

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Judi.
1,915 reviews15 followers
December 2, 2019
A heartfelt action romance, with Lions. Whether it’s pride the emotion or pride the group of lions Trent’s savagery is just an illusion. His heart is still strong, his protective instincts as active as any shifter. Hailey has been knocked down, but she picked herself up and is going on a grand adventure. Thank goodness she is oddly prepared to deal with alpha guys. This well written easy to read story brings this “world” to vivid life. Expanding on previously defined “Bearden” enclave we also get to revisit some old favorite characters. I’ve really enjoyed all of this series.
Profile Image for gwendolyn Robin.
476 reviews2 followers
December 5, 2019
This one made me want to beat my chest and roar. Hailey is dealing with the past drama from an Ex and deciding on a vacation in the snow only to have everything go wrong. The unexpected meeting with Trent changes everything for the good. Trent has a lot on his plate keeping his pride together. Having a dislike for human everything changes when he meets Hailey. Passions flare, drama consumes, disception continues and life goes on. If you like shifters and in for a heartfelt story than this is for you.
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