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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
...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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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!
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.
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.