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Diablo Falls

First Instinct

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A Steamy Shifter Mate Romance

She’ll make him purr for more...

Darcy Mae is certain she's a witch. Her mother was, as her mother before, but her stutter botches every spell she tries. Convinced that an eloquence potion will solve her problem, she heads to Devil's Crown to gather ingredients. But a rugged park ranger with golden eyes shows up and awakens something wild inside of her. A need so strong, it scares her. A desire she's helpless to resist.

Adrian's inner animal demands seclusion, a place away from humans and shifters alike. His job patrolling the mountain wilderness is all he needs to be happy—until he rescues a curvy human from a rogue shifter. Darcy smells of catnip and makes his mountain lion growl for a mate.

He’s going to claim her even if she’s a witch.

Content Warning: A reclusive shifter, a wanna-be witch, and a whole lot of steamy explicit purring.

~✫~✯~✫~

Welcome to Diablo Falls, where the world of the supernatural is out in the open, and where fangs, fur, and magic are the norm. Join the authors of Bite Club and meet those who are experiencing paranormal firsts in our growly, filthy collection of thirteen steamy “First Time” short stories.

Because we all know… you never forget your first.


102 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 22, 2019

50 people are currently reading
96 people want to read

About the author

Tamsin Ley

57 books347 followers
Steamy Sci-Fi with a Pinch of Pixie Dust
USA Today Best-selling author Tamsin Ley builds worlds full of sexy heroes who don’t know they need a mate - that is, until they meet the woman they can’t resist. Sign up for her newsletter to learn more, plus receive exclusive, subscriber-only content!
https://www.tamsinley.com/newsletter

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Community Reviews

5 stars
49 (42%)
4 stars
34 (29%)
3 stars
22 (19%)
2 stars
9 (7%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
Profile Image for Debra Johnson.
11k reviews181 followers
January 9, 2023
Purchase Amazon October 15, 2019

3.5 Stars.

Notes:
I liked it.
A bit too 'Sweet' for me.
The situation with the rogue wasn't answered. Left hanging even though there was an epilogue.
Likable characters.
Fun, short, sweet story.
Some adult steamy scenes. One scene was super hot, one medium. Both could have been a bit more.
Only 1 editing error.
Well written with decent flow. Even though I found it just a tad boring.
Profile Image for Sydney M Neblett.
2,664 reviews27 followers
June 28, 2020
Create your own pack

What a cute little addition to the Diablo Falls collection. This short little story is full of endearing characters, dangerous encounters, and steamy scenes. I love how the author brought these two misunderstood characters together and how they were there when they were needed each other most. I truly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by this author.
Profile Image for shannon  Stubbs.
1,980 reviews12 followers
April 16, 2021
Not bad

Not a bad short story. I just love the characters in this story. They aren't perfect. One has a studders and the other is afraid of large crowds. Darcy and Adrian just made a cute couple.
Profile Image for Donna.
1,626 reviews34 followers
June 8, 2020
I really wish this book had been longer. I loved the bickering between the two MCs. The story line felt a bit rushed. It wasn't a bad story. I just wanted there to be more to it.
Profile Image for lisa jung.
5,511 reviews44 followers
July 30, 2019
Cute shifter book

This is a short shifter book set in Diablo Falls about acceptance of differences . Him a mountain lion in a wolf pack her a witch with a stutter and no coven. Happy book with happy ending
2,150 reviews30 followers
June 28, 2020
Sweet, fast, light SPN romance. Nothing super outstanding, but still an enjoyable read. Solid 3 stars.

Darcy (h) is a witch-to-be, trying to prepare for her coven trials. Unfortunately, her stutter makes the results of her incantations... unpredictable. She heads to the woodland park to gather some herbs for an eloquence spell. But her unfortunate luck holds steady when she encounters a crazed bear instead. Park ranger Adrian (H) is a mountain lion shifter born to a pack of wolves - a genetic throw-back. He's never been comfortable in a pack, his animal demanding solitude instead. He rescues a hiker from a rogue bear shifter, and is surprised to discover that his rescued hiker is his mate. But could his solitary animal ever accept her? Even more of a pressing question, when she is a witch and not another shifter.

This is a simple supernatural romance, sweet story with some steam. Short, light, enjoyable escapism. A touch of angst as Adrian tries to figure out how a solitary animal like his lion can have a mate, and as they both try to figure out the shifter-witch dynamic. But we ultimately get happy endings on many fronts - the loner finds his match and his peace, the outcast finds acceptance and her own inner strength, a family gets reunited. Sweet epilogue. Warm and fuzzy all around.

There are some plot threads introduced that aren't answered (the whole rogue shifter thing, and the possible witch involvement). Not cliffhangers, exactly, but they aren't resolved here and will (presumably) continue through subsequent books.

Alternating 3rd person POV. No OW/OM drama, no love triangles, no cheating. Novella-length, so not as much depth, but still a sweet and fairly light bit of escapism. Satisfying HEA for the leads, and while not exactly cliffhangers, there are some plot threads unanswered setting up future stories.

Would I read more in the series? By the author? Yes to both. Always like some light, quick SPN romances. And these compilation worlds can introduce you to some authors you might not encounter otherwise - always a plus.

UPDATE: With a few tweaks, this story has been rereleased as Untamed Instinct, set in the Alaska Alphas world. Mostly the same story, so still an enjoyable read - we'll see how the two worlds develop the characters and plots, see how similar they end up being.
Profile Image for Tonya Cheton.
287 reviews
February 7, 2021
The mountain lion has met his match

These two are perfect for each other i am wondering if she shifted? He was protective of his first love. He could have called for back up. Darcy's aunt was a bit naive about her joining the coven.
29 reviews1 follower
July 31, 2019
This story is about a stuttering witch, trying to get in to a coven. She meets a forest ranger who happens to be a cougar as well. He saves her from a rogue bear that has white spots and is drawn to her. This cute little witch is his mate. Witches and shifters don't usually get together, will they be able to make it work? He has been alone for years, not even talking to his family. Can he get past the past? Will his family support him or send him away again? The death of the bear is being brought to the bear tribunal, will he be set free or be put to death? Will she get into the coven? Will she agree to be his mate? I am leaving this review for having received the ARC, but I do so gladly because this book is a great read. The story line is different from other shifter stories I have read and has a mysterious issue that I can't wait to find out how it unfolds. The story can be read alone, finishing the main story; but is the start of the deeper problem facing the town/shifter populations. The characters have great chemistry and each have personal issues they must face. It makes for an interesting tale. I can't wait for the next book in this series to find out more about the deeper plot. This story is engaging and you don't want to stop reading until the book is finished. But then you realize it is finished and want more. You will not be disappointed in this story. Tamsin Ley is a great story teller and I can't wait to read more. Her writing is captivating and draws you into the world she has created. Enjoy, I did.
Profile Image for Annie.
1,883 reviews13 followers
August 8, 2019
The witch and her mountain lion

Darcy is a witch with a stutter who badly wants to join her aunts coven. Her stutter interferes with her spell casting. A trip to the mountains is search of ingredients to help nearly gets her killed by a rogue best shifter.
Adrian is a mountain lion shifter who works for the forestry service. Hunting down rogues is part of his job. He never expected to find his mate, and having to save her from a rogue bear. She is a human, a witch. His cat is a loner. What's he suppose to do with a mate. He didn't even for into his own family.
Adrian gives Darcy confidence. Darcy gives Adrian peace. The both accept each other for who they are. When Adrian's life is in danger Darcy doesn't hesitate in coming to his defense.
A sweet and a little steamy romance. Loved Adrian and Darcy. Nice epilogue to wrap up their story. The rogue bear and the strange markings and working with witches is left unresolved. All the evidence pointed to something sinister, but goes no further. The story felt unfinished. Over all a good story.
Profile Image for Shawna Sears.
309 reviews2 followers
July 25, 2019
First Instinct is a standalone book in an author collaboration based in the fictitious town of Diablo Falls (somewhere in the great Pacific northwest) about a wide variety of paranormal creatures. Mrs. Ley's contribution involves a mountain lion shifter and a witch. Always a fun combo.

Adrian is a mountain lion shifter and park ranger who is generally happiest when he's by himself. Darcy is a witch with a stutter who wants nothing more than to be accepted into her Aunt's coven so she can train properly. The two meet under far less than ideal circumstances when Adrian saves her life but shows off his cat in the same breath.

This book is a very sweet romance (with a good dollop of steam) that mixes in some self realization and family love to make it even warmer. There is a little bit of action and some mystery that I believe will cross over into some of the other books as well. If you like your romance hot, paranormal, and sweet, don't pass this up!
179 reviews2 followers
October 20, 2019
Welcome To The Bite Club. 4.5 Star's

If your looking for a quick PNR story filled with action, suspense, a quandary of emotional up's and dwn's, a mystery to be solved and an intensely sensual hot read, then I recommend you one click and enjoy.
Introducing Darcy, a wannabe witch, and Adrian, a Lion Shifter Ranger, who hate's social niceties.
Catnip rules and Sparks fly.
First Instincts by Tamsin Ley is my first foray into Diablo Falls, but most definitely won't be my last.
Looking forward to reading more about the characters of Diablo Falls, as though there is a HEA, there is still an unresolved mystery to be unearthed.
Well done Tamsin ley, great start to (for me at least) a new series from the Bite Club.
Now I'm off to hunt down more of the First Books.
4.5 Star's, only because I wanted it to be longer.
1,000 reviews6 followers
August 4, 2019
I’m on the fence about short stories. Some authors just can’t pack everything into a story but there’s no danger of that in this book. Adrian is a shifter and a loner. Daisy is a witch and a loner. The two are so different and never should a shifter and a witch get together, but these two are more alike than they first appear. This was a fast and easy read that didn’t feel rushed or incomplete. If you want a quick read with all the feels, great characters and enough sparks to be dangerous this is a winner. This is my first visit to Diablo Falls although I’ve been eyeing it. There is an overall story arc so although Adrian and Daisy get their HEA in this stand-alone, there are other books that continue the story line. Guess I’m off to grab some more books from the set. (I voluntarily reviewed an ARC).
Profile Image for Alethia.
1,022 reviews16 followers
December 31, 2019
First Instinct

This was a fun, Insta-love style book. Darcy and Adrian had challenges to work through, and I enjoyed reading the journey. Written from a dual point of view, it helped to understand the characters better. Not everything gets solved, but you get the couple's ending, paving the way for the next book in the series and an overarching story to follow. I'm anxious to read what happens next.
139 reviews1 follower
July 22, 2019
This is a sweet fated-mate romance between a maybe-witch and a mountain lion. There’s a rogue bear attack; the maybe-witch stutters & messes up her attempts at spells, and the mountain lion has unresolved family issues. There’s even more drama that I’ll leave to the reader. Tamsin Ley packs a lot into 95 pages, and with KindleUnlimited this is a real steal. This is a great way to spend an evening, and you’ll still be able to go to bed on time!

I received an ARC from the author, and I am voluntarily leaving this review.
Profile Image for The Mysterious Reader.
3,589 reviews66 followers
August 3, 2019
Oh. Dear. Lord. Tamsin Ley’s First Instinct (A Diablo Falls Paranormal Short Story) is a very hot tale. Darcy Mae may be having troubles being the witch she wants to be but who cares when you’ve got a delicious-ness like Adrian. Totally yummy and totally fun, this short take us definitely worth the read. But for the fact that I’m literally dictating this review to my husband from my hospital bed I could go on with praises. The book definitely deserves it. Since I can’t do that I will simply note that it is easy to highly recommend.
Profile Image for Emily Lindsey.
Author 4 books22 followers
August 17, 2019
A wonderful story, the story builds steadily, so as you read you become more invested in the characters. Darcy is a relatable character, as she has issues with her self-confidence and her place in the world. She has an evil-ish aunt, and as the story develops, I can kind of feel like the aunt has a dark inclination. Adrian had a lot in common with Darcy, so their pairing is nicely done. There is a real story happening before they get busy intimately, but when it happens, wow, it's worth the wait. I love that the ending was not a cliffhanger but still left the door open to continue the saga.
2,430 reviews13 followers
August 2, 2019
I fell in love with this story about Adrian a mountain lion shifter and Darcy a witch. This story captured me with the chemistry and storyline about the world of Diablo Falls, but maybe I'm spoiled since I fell in love with Tamsin Ley's stories from the first one I read "The Merman's Kiss". Though written wonderfully, this is a short story. Again I'm spoiled! I wanted more! I'll be waiting for more stories in this series. I volunteer to read and review this ARC.
Profile Image for Sherry Westendorf.
4,603 reviews22 followers
July 23, 2019
She is looking for something to help her. He is a ranger who is also a shifter. In this short story you have excitement, suspense, hot and steamy emotions and much more. I really enjoyed it. When you have a good story it is hard to put down. I recommend it. I voluntarily review this copy I received.
Profile Image for Meleeta.
786 reviews10 followers
July 26, 2019
A happily ever after that doesn't take forever to reach

Nicely written with intriguing characters that made me want to know everything about them. I hope we find out more about some of the secondary characters in the future.
380 reviews
August 4, 2019
I really liked this novella. I read an early addition of the story and it was really good, so I can only imagine how good a polished final edition would be. "First Instinct," by Tamsin Ley, is a shifter/witch romance and very enjoyable.
Profile Image for Heidi.
4,343 reviews2 followers
August 6, 2019
Darcy found life difficult with her stutter and wanted to prove to her aunt she could get in to the coven, that is until a wild ginseng patch and a handsome mountain lion changes everything and she learns how to truly be herself.

4 Out Of 5 Hearts From Cariad Books.
Profile Image for LORRIE.
3,547 reviews63 followers
July 23, 2019
Hot sexiness and action packed
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
107 reviews1 follower
July 23, 2019
A fun quickie!

Woohoo, a new series in a whole new world of Diablo Falls! Although, the story is short you get enough to get you hooked. I can't wait to see what happens next!
Profile Image for Carmel Allen.
44 reviews
July 25, 2019
If you want something bad enough you can find away to make it happen.a must read.
Profile Image for angela gunstone.
1,858 reviews8 followers
July 26, 2019
First instinct

Loved the characters and the storyline so it's a well deserved five stars and I would recommend this book to everyone
Profile Image for Marlys.
1,530 reviews9 followers
August 3, 2019
I thought this was a great novella. This was the first story that involved a mountain lion shifter
I was given an ARC by the author and this is my voluntary review.
Profile Image for Aida Jacobs.
Author 11 books33 followers
August 8, 2019
Once again, Tamsin Ley captivated me with a great story. This story is quick, steamy, and entertaining, and I'm only too happy to add it to my Tamsin Ley collection!
12.7k reviews190 followers
August 11, 2019
An adorable story to warm your heart. Darcy might be a witch but having a stutter makes it hard to do spells. Meeting a handsome ranger might be the answer. Short but worth the read.
Profile Image for Michelle Vandal.
1,126 reviews1 follower
September 24, 2019
Heart warming story of love

Darcy and Adrian are true soul mates. They were both loners until they found each other then they had it all. I very much enjoyed their story
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews

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