This is an alternate cover edition for ASIN B08BB1C53Z
Four wildling lovers. Five mates to align. Fourteen missing kids.
With five very different personalities bound by the universe, it's no surprise 'aligning our quint' isn't as easy as I hoped. Still, when all the life and death obstacles hit us, it's Musketeer time – All for one and one for all. Do we have the juice to pull it together and unite the realms? Um... no one seems to agree on that. The one thing that everyone is straight on, though, is that the corruption in the upper levels of the Fae Concealment Office must be rooted out and stopped.
What do superpowered teenagers have to do with anything? Who is moving behind the scenes to make our lives more difficult? And what's the real reason Brant is holding back because I know it isn't what's happening behind closed doors. As a woman who's never made it work with one guy, do I have what it takes to make it work with four? Gawd... I hope so.
* This is book three in a steamy reverse harem paranormal romance series. Expect sexy polyamorous situations (mmmfm), rollicking action, ongoing storylines, and shifter lovers who find what they need from not only their queen but each other as well. Med-burn, med angst, vivid sexual content, and language.*
Well, it’s getting I interesting. I really like the character development of Brant and Hawk. I like the guy now (Hawk).
I love the connection all the guys have with each other. If I’m being honest, I kinda want them to runaway together jajajajaja. It’s wishful thinking but whatever.
They’re really cute. Kotah and Brant, Jaxx and Hawk, Jaxx and Kotah, in other words all of them together. I like Calli but the romance with the guys wins for me.
Anyways, this was good. I want to know more about Riley’s voice, Raven being bad, Doc and Kayla, the council being bad, etc. I also hope to get more cute moments of just the guys. Welp, toodles people!
4.8 stars. Loved this. I’m really enjoying how the five of them are furthering their relationship bonds. It’s so sweet and sexy and fun. I can not wait for more. I want a full on Dom mode moment from Hawke, Dammit! I feel just about as impatient as. Callie.
Still. Everything else happening is super exciting and entertaining. All the twists and turns. I want answers to my suspicions soooo bad.
Hawk’s acceptance of the quint is the best part! I love that he’s opening up and letting the others see him as something other than the alpha asshole. I mean, he’s obviously still that and always will be, but we see some depth. I ❤️ him.
Well I liked this book better than book 2, but there are some things that go down in this book that really makes some of the characters not true to their character -at least to how they were depicted in book 1. I’m assuming there’s going to only be one more book in the series, to give Hawk his chance to get his crystal thing. This definitely wasn’t predictable, I’m totally guessing who I think is causing all the mayhem behind the attacks, but I am not confident in my guess. I really like Kotah & Jaxx the best of all the characters.
Note: I received this book from the author and I voluntarily give this review, it is my honest opinion.
I love this series! Bear's Strength is the third book in the Guardians of the Phoenix series and it was phenomenal, the more I read this series the more I love it.
Things pick up right where the last book left off, things are happening really quickly for everyone. The whole group dynamic has changed in this book, the guys still center on Callie, on loving her and helping her with her shifter (wilding) side but they are also starting to bond with each other and those bonds are growing. They are learning to work together, learning boundaries, and learning to trust each other.
The group dynamic is becoming awesome, the more they get used to each other. When they are all together the shenanigans they get up to is hilarious. There is also a lot of steam in this book and I'm not hating it, I like the bonds that everyone is forming. I also should mention Lukas, Hawk's right-hand man, I love him. Lukas has been with the group the entire time, he takes things in stride, he backs up the group as a whole, not just Hawk and overall he is just a great guy and I hope nothing happens to him.
Shit is crazy in this book, it's one of my favorite things about the series. Things are always crazy between the attacks, political moves, responsibilities, evil plots, new mates, crazy powers, and so much more things are really never dull. There was a couple of surprising things about certain characters that I didn't really expect and brand new information was dropped and I was shocked, plus I was laughing my head off, this book was funny and I love Kotah and Callie together when it comes to certain things those two are two peas in a pod and they are hilarious when together.
Bear's Strength was highly entertaining, I read the entire thing in one sitting, I just could not put the book down. I loved every single crazy second of the story with the non-stop action, steam scenes, evil plots, and messy in-laws. I am so excited to see where the story goes next. I can't wait to see Hawk's Heart.
This book moves the action forward at an incredible clip. While it wasn’t quite as strong for me as the first two books, it still marks part of a great series with enjoyable characters and intense emotion. It’s strange, for a purely magical people, they are so very human.
My rating system * Didn't finish, would not recommend ** Finished book, but would not continue to read series or author *** Enjoyed book, will read more by same author **** Highly enjoyed, addictive read can't wait to get to next one ***** Phenomenal book, usually only given 1-2 a year.
This series was between a 3 and a 4. The storyline was excellent, I downloaded the next book immediately. The author did an excellent job of giving the five main characters differing personalities. It's never made sense to me that other RH have all male alphas, or that a polyamorous group of 3-4 males and one female would consist of only M/F sex. That being said I was disappointed that five such diverse personalities had nearly identical voices that I frequently could not tell whose POV I was reading. Same catch phrases, same overly emotional inner monologue
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Shifters, Fae & Magi/RH MMMM/Enemies to Lovers & Mate bonds
SYNOPSIS (of 5 Book Series): This series is set in the modern world but where the supernaturals hide from the humans. There are 5 Books in this series but it is part of a longer underlying story arc with the first 5 books intended as a self contained story. Years ago there was a civil war in Stonehaven (the Fae world) and fae escaped to the human world before all the portals between the two worlds were closed. There is a prophecy that when the time is right a phoenix will be born with shifter mates from each species (wolf, bear, hawk & jaguar) who will open the gate and reunite the two worlds. This 5 Book series covers a human (Callie) becoming the Phoenix, meeting her mates and their struggle to open the gate against opposition and attempts to stop them. There is a HEA for this group but Book 5 sets up the basis for the next series in the larger story arc.
These books are well written on the whole and well edited. The overuse of the word “Gawd” instead of God got on my nerves a bit though! The heroine is likeable and ballsy but the author, in my view, seems to go over the top in describing her as white trash which label she never really seems to overcome. The MCs are all strong and individual and there is a good amount of world, character and relationship building which means that the story flows organically. There are also some great humorous moments. However, take this as a warning (more detail below) Book 5 (if you get that far) leaves you with multiple unanswered questions and a let down of a climax.
On the sex side, the sex scenes are very hot and better written than a lot of these scenes usually are. There’s a fair amount of MM sex and the amount of sex scenes seem to ramp up as the books go on, especially in books 4 & 5 where I felt there were just too many and ended up padding the books out and sidetracking the story.
I was rating these books as 4 stars up until book 5 which makes me want to revisit my ratings but I won’t. The reason is that the build up was good with a lot of drama and things happening to keep your interest and the plot was constantly moving and developing. That led to a lot of questions and open issues which I expected to be dealt with by the end of Book 5. Unfortunately that was not the case. That, for me, ended up impacting my enjoyment of the series as a whole. After wading through 5 books you expect a strong climax and answers to outstanding questions. That did not happen.
You find out who the Black Knight is in Book 4 but he does not make an appearance until almost the end of Book 5 where he appears briefly and then is gone in a handful of pages. It’s an incredible let down. You don’t get any answers to why he did what he did, where he got his magic, what happened to his other son or why he held fae captive. You don’t find out who was behind all the assassination attempts on the quint or the attacks on Kotah. It was as though an attack or event would happen and then the quint would move on and never bother to discover who was behind it, how the Black Knight always knew where they were or how he managed to do the things he did i.e. the poisoning. For me it was very lazy writing. It was as though the author wanted to throw in all this drama and create tension but couldn’t be bothered to then explain how everything came about. Finally, what on earth was that all about Adahey and Raven? No answers to that either.
In a nutshell, well written and developed , could have been a great series but incredibly disappointing climax. I won’t be continuing with the series as it is just too frustrating.
Brant has been holding back from the Quint. He’s watching as the others get closer to Calli and each other. It’s odd because he’s always been the life of the party, the playboy, but this time it’s different. This time he can’t walk away. If he invests his heart, he could lose it. So, he’s been focusing on the missing teenagers and outside threats. But Callie has had enough. She wants her bear.
I have been so disappointed with the author’s choices for Brant. He started out as my favorite but quickly fell to the bottom because of his reluctance to not only commit to the quint but to even try to get to know them. He distanced himself, using every possible excuse, and seemed to prioritize his former life over his future. And his conviction of Hawk’s guilt without a single conversation was unfair. I love his best friend and family but not his attitude. His backstory helped a bit but we didn’t learn it from him and I hated that Calli had to bribe him with sex to spend time together and get close. I hope this change is permanent and he’s all in now. Hawk, on the other hand, got the reverse treatment. He went from the bottom and me wanting Calli to renounce the bond to committing on every level.
Shifters and reverse harem and vivid steamy scenes – oh my! Callie is one lucky shifter woman! She has the most amazing, sexy, and dynamic group of strong men focused on loving her and being there for her no matter what. They all have an incredible bond with each other. JL Madore gives us a unique world with enjoyable characters and intense relationships. The characters are so diverse and strong. If you love shifters and reverse harems, this series is for you!
Lia Holland and Gabriel Thorne were cast perfectly for their roles. Their timing, tones, pitch, and pace were perfect. This story is very unique and magical, and the narrators really brought that to life. I highly recommend the audiobook version of this book! Thank you to Pink Flamingo Productions for gifting me this great audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Okay fine, Hawk has grown on me. I really enjoyed the developments with the quint, especially Hawk’s acceptance and Brant’s vulnerability. Kotah continues to be my favorite cinnamon roll precious bean, but everyone gets equal growth in this one and I love the way Jaxx is blossoming too. Jaxx & Hawk? F*ck me sideways that was hot 🔥 So was Brand & Kotah, and Jaxx and Kotah… and really all the combos so far 👀 The steam AND the spice levels are off the charts and the polyam aspects of this particular RH just make it all the more exciting!
Plot wise I have to say things get more twisty and interesting and idk I have to say the way things are going it really feels like Raven & Jayne (and possibly that bitchy council member) are in cahoots for the failure of the quint… 🤷♀️ I could be wrong, we shall see!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I’m sorry I feel like this book was to be the bears redemption book but I’m still not a big fan. Yes he finally mated with our Phoenix 🐦🔥 so now she can fully transform.
Sure he’s an orphan and might have a hard time letting people in and sure Bears in general might talk smack more than the other races…. But he’s still kinda an ass.
Sure she had a nice moment with the Wolf and let him Top him, and he fought at the end of the book to save Hawk, but he’s just not my favourite.
But I have to say the Cat topping Hawk and letting him just submit was so hot and beautifully done. Their chemistry was off the charts!
The pointing of fingers every where and not knowing who to trust is getting a little annoying, I would love for this portal to be open so we can see what’s in the other side!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Like other reviewers, I'm finding some of the language (the word hundy in particular) is grating. Sometimes it's hard to tell which of the men is speaking because I think they've all started using the same slang?
I also wasn't prepared for so many combinations of mating moments. I appreciate that the bonds are between all of the men as well as with Callie, but there are so many expressions of love and desire going around through this and the next book (Hawk's Heart) that I kind of... lost interest? I feel like Callie gets lost in all of it, which means this feel less like a Why Choose/Reverse Harem. I like that the men are into each other as well, but I think because we're getting so much of them off in pairings of their own, I'd put this in a category other than why choose or maybe a subset - no one chooses? :D
Good paranormal fated mates romance book with spice thrown in. This is the 3rd book in the series, it is advised to read them first as they aren't stand alone books like other romance/spicy books.
Callie is getting more and more connected to her mates but Bear hasn't mated with Callie which he needs to do in order to make them all stronger and complete their fated bond. The investigation started in the previous two books is getting more and more convoluted as more information comes to light. However, Callie is getting stronger and stronger, her phoenix form is so close to be fully formed.
With Wolf now confirmed as the next Prime, things will get interesting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
In Bear’s strength we get to watch the quint relationship unfold and start reaching its full potential. The Guardians also start to piece together more clues about the missing teens and who may be behind it.
I loved delving into more of each characters stories and personalities. I enjoyed getting to know Brant better and his purpose in the quint. The story easily sucked me in. JL Madore’s writing style easily paints a picture in my head, the spicy-ness is off the charts, and the story is driven with great dialogue.
I really really loved this book. While there are still so many unknowns and near death experiences there are so many more sweet (and smexy) moments between the 5 mates. I love how they mate with each other and not just with Callie too. Hawk and Brant have come so far too. Definitely looking forward to the next couple of books and hope they keep getting better!
This is a really standard medium burn reverse harem shifter female heroine type story with 4 mates with a full circle (aka M/M & F/M).
Great story, great sex scenes, great all around writing. It really absorbs you into the story right from the start and it's easily addicting.
Not too sure if there will be a HEA for this quaint or not. Book 5 is the farthest this series is out currently and I believe book 6 will shift over to Katoa's sister as the main heroine. Sadly.
Book three and the series just keeps getting better. There was everything I could have hoped for in a third installment. Relationship progression, overall storyline movement, some secrets revealed while the plot also thickened, lots of steamy moments, and in the end a feeling of excitement to check out the next book. The narration was amazing and I had zero complaints about the fantastic performance. Lia Holland and Gabriel Thorne continue to do the series justice.
I’m really struggling because I enjoy the storyline through the series and I’m becoming attached to characters. But the authors use of words like “evah” and especially “hundy” are killing me. Next will the broody alpha say bet and break out in tiktok dances? It really takes away from the characters and makes me think they are in high school. I’m going to keep pushing through despite this because I truly enjoy the plot and want to see where it goes I’ll just cringe as I do it
As the third book in this series, the scene has been well set and its straight into the action. Calli goes from strength to strength, the relationships become about more than what's between her and each guy - honestly some surprising bonds are forged in this book and it really makes everything sweeter. Action packed, full of romance and touching moments, this series is just so good!
I'm loving this series! I love the way the guardian bond is getting stronger and everyone is finally accepting the group! The mystery of who is the black knight which my bet is Hawks assistant. The council members that are bad has to include Kotas mom. Can't wait for the next book!
A great story, a wonderful world and a fantastic slow burn romance. It has a fast moving plot, and has great depth. As much as I enjoy the series romantic side, I also really enjoy the conspiracy and how the characters are unraveling it. I look forward to reading more in the next book
Once again, our quint is finding the way to being true mates, and the path is rocky. This series continues to make me cry, hold my breath, and laugh through their journey. I can't wait to dive into the next book, and the suspense is agony!! Very well done book!!
But is also futile. How do you fights gift from the Gods? A warrior on the front lines, a fierce protector, and a teddy bear at heart is the H here. It an easy beginning with him but not for long. I have thoroughly enjoyed this series so far and really love the different take on this paranormal Rh.
I am in love with this quint. I was unsure but this is the first of this genre that I have read that built a true relationship with everyone tastefully. The comic relief is great. I'm in love with all of them. Oh I won't say what it is but I knew it. Excited to continue. I am reading these to fast. I don't want it to end.
There are so many twists and turns in this series! It’s totally UN-predictable! Now that the quint is finally bonding I’m getting all the feels! And I didn’t think it was possible but the spice levels have gone up even MORE than the previous book!! 🌶🌶
Oh my! This book was intense and I loved it. Everything that came out in this one was amazing. Brant blew me away. I loved how he finally became a true mate. Hawk is intense and I loved it. This series is so good and just keeps getting better. I look forward to the next one in this series!
With each book we get to know the characters on a deeper level and they just burrow further into my heart. I adore them and I’m going to be sad when I’ve finished the series. The mystery of who the bad guy is is kind of infuriating, I’ve blamed about four people now and I have one that will really hurt if I’m right. Here’s hoping I’m wrong. Onto book four!
Hawk is making major strides. So is Callie. We’re getting closer and closer to the answers we seek. I was shook by the bomb dropped! I definitely think I have the wrong culprit!
Don’t like the cover. Callie looks old. Still hate Brant calling Kota “buddy.” A few minor grammatical errors.