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Gladiator Shifters #3

Gladiator Hawk

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Their love will soar again….

Ten years ago Susan Connolly walked out on her boyfriend when she accidentally discovered the secret of his shapeshifting heritage. She's left regrets and romance in the past, holding on instead to the best thing he ever gave her: a son that he never even knew about. Susan will do anything to protect her child, even face off against a consortium of shapeshifters and humans alike.

The last thing hawk shifter Blake Lockwood expected was to discover his ex entangled in a shifter conflict. Susan is everything he remembers…and more. Now the powerful director of the Gladiator Foundation, whose covert mission is to protect shapeshifters whose ancestry comes from an ancient magic in the Roman Colosseum, Susan may know more about shapeshifters than Blake himself does—and she's willing to help him bring down the illegal fight ring that Blake has been caught up in more than once.

Neither of them are looking for love, but fate has different ideas. Thrown together in a whirlwind of passion, then torn apart again by circumstances, Susan and Blake must decide whether they will risk it all for each other…or whether the risk itself will cost them their lives….

Can love take flight again, or will a conflicted history ground them? Find out in the second-chance romance GLADIATOR HAWK!

179 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 4, 2020

80 people are currently reading
16 people want to read

About the author

Murphy Lawless

31 books23 followers
C.E. Murphy

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5 stars
190 (65%)
4 stars
74 (25%)
3 stars
22 (7%)
2 stars
3 (1%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Profile Image for Kazen.
1,497 reviews315 followers
did-not-finish
May 23, 2023
The tropes are against me on this one - second chance, secret baby, precocious 10 year old? No thanks. Searched on Joash's name for any character development (none to be found) and jumped straight to book five.
Profile Image for Tammy Moldovan.
1,977 reviews26 followers
August 14, 2024
Finding love again

I loved this second chance, single mom, fated mates romantic suspense tale. The story had the perfect balance of humor, heartwarming love, real life issues, danger, and spice. Susan is executive director of the Gladiator Foundation, the charitable arm of the Gladiator Group. She’s also the mother of Jason, a 10 year old shape shifter. She’s determined to find her ex, Scott, who stole the secret shifter database from the Foundation. Blake is a hawk shifter and the father of her son, who she rejected before she knew she was pregnant, when he unintentionally sifted in front of her. Susan and Blake are fated mates but neither was aware of it a decade ago. When a chance meeting reconnects them while they are both going after a common enemy, the intensity of the story and their relationship spins up higher. Jason was a wonderful and integral addition to the story rather than a flimsy story prop. The story would not have been as rich and well rounded without the full development and inclusion of his character. The story was well written and included engaging dialogue, three dimensional characters, good world building, and an interesting storyline with danger, excitement, shifter politics, evil machinations, faith, love and hope. While this could be read as a standalone, there is an overarching storyline that weaves the series together so reading the books in order will flesh out that piece of the plot and make the entire story richer. I am looking forward to reading more in this world. 4.5 stars.
829 reviews
December 28, 2021
Second chance romance for fated mates

Susan is the no nonsense, uber director of a billion dollar foundation. Determined to be the best at everything, she won't rely on anyone. She met and dated Blake over a decade ago but freaked out and ran away when she accidentally discovered he's a (hawk) shifter. Unbeknownst to him, she subsequently gave birth to their son. When their paths cross again, he's older and more mature. Rescuing her from her dangerous ex, Blake doesn't hesitate to step up to protect her and their son. Plenty of heat, gladiator style fights and a second chance at love make this my favorite in the series so far.
Profile Image for Susan Cook.
358 reviews
October 28, 2021
Four and a half stars

It has been more than 10 years, since Gladiator Foundation director, Susan Connelly saw Brett, the father of her 10 y.o. son. However, after she is attacked by a lion shifter in Cork, Ireland, there he is, in the flesh. Now she has to figure out how to tell him, he is a father and how to assist him in freeing captured shifters, who are being forced to fight in gladiator competitions, for human entertainment.
Profile Image for Rachel.
975 reviews63 followers
October 4, 2020
Funny and sweet

I mean, there’s all the melodrama of the Gladiator world, but in this one they get together early, and there’s a charming kid in the way (in the best sense). It was fun to read, made me laugh out loud several times, and definitely moves the Gladiator world plot along.
1,236 reviews3 followers
April 25, 2022
Kicking A And Taking No Prisoners!...

...Well, maybe one or two bad guys. This series is very physical! Very physical! The characters are wonderful and the shifters are wonderfully imaginative. Jason is a precocious breath of fresh air when things get tense. The storylines are exciting with plenty action, drama and suspense. Highly recommend. Enjoy!
Profile Image for Laura Beltran.
1,025 reviews7 followers
March 3, 2025
Amazing.

This is the third book of Gladiator Shifters and once again I was completely hooked start to finish and completely drawn into the story. Murphy Lawless creates an amazing world with wonderful and unique characters. I loved Susan and Blake's story and of course Jason is absolutely adorable. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.
Profile Image for Catherine Marie Meyer.
525 reviews
January 6, 2022
Blake

Susan and Blake were lovers in college and they separated before she found out that she was pregnant. She worked her way up the corporate ladder while he went to school to be an architect. After10 years they got back together while trying to break up a shifter fighting ring.
Profile Image for Teresa .
1,903 reviews3 followers
January 22, 2022
Susan and blake

I felt sorry for Blake and I thought he let Susan off to easy.she was the one in the wrong she left him and did not find him and tell him about jason.I know jason is smart but he talked to much like a not 10 year old.
63 reviews
April 25, 2022
Story line keeps you page turning.

I have read all 3 books now and can't wait for the next one to be released. A great writer of paranormal romance and will gladly find more of her books to read.
Profile Image for Nita.
541 reviews2 followers
March 13, 2023
This was Fantastic!

I love the fact that you don't have the typical freakout that most shifter books have! Yeah Suzan had one ten years ago, but not now!

I also like that she aloud herself to feel for a change.

Blake is awesome and so is Jason. That's what I named my son too!
Profile Image for angela gunstone.
1,857 reviews8 followers
July 11, 2024
Gladiator hawk

Couldn't put it down loved the characters and the storyline and can't wait to read more in this series so it's a well deserved five stars and I would recommend this book to everyone
105 reviews
August 26, 2024
Third is the charm!

I loved this book. Maybe it was because the world is a bit already fleshed out. Maybe it was because a woman scorned got her payback. Either way, I’m so glad she’s going to have her happy ever after too.
1,553 reviews4 followers
July 4, 2025
Interesting read

I found the book interesting. It's A different take on how some shifters came to be and people who exploit them. Jason is quite the character. I love that he got to call the cops and be the hero!
Profile Image for Ness Povey.
25 reviews
October 26, 2025
Loved it

Another fantastic story. Love all the twist and turns. Jason is becoming a great addition as well. Have it when I come to the end of the book. Looking forward to reading the next one.
Profile Image for Jane Elizabeth .
4,342 reviews5 followers
August 12, 2021
😍😍😍😍😍

I completely enjoyed reading this story. There is more than enough action, danger, and intriguing scenario twists to keep you engrossed.
1,465 reviews3 followers
September 9, 2021
Good read

Really good 👍 story Relaxing intriguing and suspenseful Could not put it down Looking forward to the next story Thank you
Profile Image for Kathy Brickert.
3,467 reviews18 followers
January 21, 2022
Great addition to the series!

Really loved this story, maybe my favorite so far! Susan's son Jason is a typical smart savvy kid! Loved that character! Great read!
Profile Image for Ada.
2,156 reviews36 followers
tbr-calibre
July 4, 2022
***Why?***
I saw the words 'Gladiator' and 'Shifter' and I was hooked...
description
1,749 reviews
December 11, 2022
Susan & Blake

Thoroughly enjoyed Susan & Blake's story very much. I love reading a happy ever after story it makes my day. Thank you for writing this story.
1,501 reviews9 followers
June 25, 2023
This kind of felt like the middle book of the series. The storyline didn't quite draw me in like the previous book. Maybe because it revolves around an established relationship hooking up again a decade later ...

I really like Blake though. He's been through a lot, and completely takes each hit in stride. He knows what he wants, and keeps his focus on obtaining it.

Susan, on the other hand, is fighting fate and contradicting herself at every turn. It was kind of facinating watching this strong woman come to grips with embracing the unplanned & unknown. She's definitely a force to be reconned with.

3,230 reviews6 followers
August 14, 2023
Just as fluffy as the first books. If you liked them, you'll like this.
491 reviews7 followers
January 22, 2024
Love. Secrets

Now secrets be told, then watch out it's a dozie, hot loving and fun,a child who is very to smart
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews

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