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Sean's ready to turn his life upside down when the girl of his dreams lands in his arms, literally. After rescuing Sam from a devastating blaze, this stubborn shifter falls fast and hard. But when Sam bolts in the middle of the night, he's left alone in Grey Ridge, wishing he never let his guard down.

Sam has never relied on anyone. She's forced to lean upon a brawny stranger after a fire that nearly took her life, and while she enjoyed every minute, it can't turn into something real. Or can it?

When Sam is forced to return to Grey Ridge and accept Sean's help once more, she has a chance to repair the damage she's done. But will he ever trust her again?

And more importantly, should he?

This is a standalone novella linked to the Shifters of Grey Ridge series. It features handsome heroes, shifters of all kinds and lots of heat.

112 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 25, 2023

607 people are currently reading
1075 people want to read

About the author

Reece Barden

51 books515 followers
Reece is a steamy paranormal romance author writing wickedly wild romance. She is currently working on the shifter romance series, The Shifters of Grey Ridge and the Steel Pack Alphas.

She loves creating steamy stories about hot, growly alpha men and the women who love and torment them.

She writes for people just like her who love a little light-hearted fun with their naughty heroes and edge-of-your-seat storylines.

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5 stars
552 (36%)
4 stars
480 (31%)
3 stars
360 (23%)
2 stars
103 (6%)
1 star
30 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
Profile Image for Jody Lee.
807 reviews45 followers
September 23, 2025
I think I have put my finger on what hits absolutely wrong about this series (then why am I reading them? You tell me. I know I'll read book 3 at some point because I own it, but really I need to stop). Anyway, it's that these people just absolutely refuse to communicate in any way, even on the most basic level. I mean, they are all in their late 20s/early 30s, act like it. In this book, Sean saves Sam's life when she's in a fire in the previous book, and then takes her back to his house to recover, they have a magic week together and then she sneaks out in the middle of the night after their first time and refuses to talk to him. Like, come on. You owe him basic human decency considering what he's done even apart from the sexytimes.

Sean, on the other hand, did forget to tell Sam one teensy thing, that he was a shifter. So it turns out she left because the sex was "too perfect" and it all felt "too good." First of all, girl, get a grip. Second of all, maybe someone should have explained the whole Fated Mates issue to her so she'd know why.

There's actually a great confrontation scene about it where he's all, you left my bed in the middle of the night like I'm a shameful one night stand (valid) and she's all "Is that how he felt? Instead of apologizing and explaining..." LIKE WHAT. And then when they want to try again, neither of them says that. Well, he does (without the, so hey....I'm a shifter part) and she's all, "And how I'm going to convince him I know how stupid I was? How special this is. And that this time, I'm all in." Maybe by using your words? Spoiler, she does not.

Anyway, she stays true to herself, because she bounces again, he's sadboi again, and then she grand gestures by...not calling or communicating and letting him be miserable for weeks. "I should have called, but I thought a bold statement was the way to go." YIKES. I hope this shifter community has a great marriage and family therapy practice, because they should make attendance a condition of living there.

Up to a firm three stars because of the hilarious scene where everyone is shifting in order to get into a bar fight and there's big "dang it I really liked this shirt [rips in the transition]" energy.
Profile Image for Poppy || Monster Lover.
1,817 reviews506 followers
November 19, 2023
Super awesome until…

I loved the whole hurt/comfort thing the MCs had going on. When she pulled out her phone to listen to a voicemail from Sean to snap out of a panic attack? Yeah, I melted. I was 100% invested.
And then in the last 5-10%, Sam makes a decision that called to mind why I hate most hallmark movies. Lemme just make this clear real fast:
YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE TO GIVE UP A CAREER YOU’RE PASSIONATE ABOUT FOR A MAN.

Spice: 3.5/5

Triggers: house fire, panic attacks/flashbacks
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
1,537 reviews14 followers
January 28, 2023
Sam is still getting over the trauma of the fire and the only person that can help is Sean but… she left him
This is a great followup story. Sam’s character changes massively since she has been trying to cope. The effect is caught perfectly in the writing style and how Sam interacts with people. Sean is also suffering but instead of showing it outwardly, he keeps everything hidden inside.
Both Sam and Sean bounce off each other well. You can see that the longer Sam is with Sean, then the more she reverts back to her original character, the more she begins to live again.
Not only it this book well written but also has some very sensual scenes, but they are not overblown and are within keeping with the story.
This is an enjoyable book and a good addition to the series.
Profile Image for Sarina.
125 reviews2 followers
November 11, 2023
I know it’s a novella, but it was too short for me. This made it lack more substance for me to really be sucked into the story.
Profile Image for Mel.
235 reviews4 followers
January 17, 2024
My Rating: ★★★☆☆

"The Alpha's Catch" by Reece Barden, a standalone novella in the Shifters of Grey Ridge series, presents a tale of unexpected love and second chances. Sean, a stubborn shifter, rescues Sam from a blaze, setting the stage for a whirlwind romance that faces challenges when Sam abruptly leaves, leaving Sean grappling with newfound loneliness.

The plot explores themes of trust and redemption as Sam, accustomed to self-reliance, must confront her past decisions and accept Sean's help once more. The reviewer praises the novella for its spice, romance, and compelling storyline, admitting a surprise at how much they enjoyed a book they initially doubted.

The novella's success is evident in its ability to draw the reviewer into the Shifters of Grey Ridge series. The promise of handsome heroes, diverse shifters, and sizzling heat creates an appealing backdrop for the unfolding romantic drama. While the review awards a solid three stars, it's evident that the novella has successfully ignited the reviewer's interest in exploring the entire series.

In conclusion, "The Alpha's Catch" serves as a compelling standalone novella, weaving spice and romance into a well-crafted storyline. Reece Barden's ability to captivate the reviewer, converting initial skepticism into a desire to delve into the series, speaks to the novella's success in delivering an engaging shifter romance.
Profile Image for Chaneen Hicks.
88 reviews
January 20, 2024
Alright, so first off, I wanna state how damned CURIOUS I’ve been about Sean since he was mentioned to be a shifter, but they weren’t so sure what kind of shifter. That shit has had me scratching my head trying to work it out whenever he happens to enter a scene and you know what? I would NOT have pegged him to be what he is.
Not only that, but the way it was revealed to Sam? Gods, it’s been a very long time since I’ve laughed/wheezed that hard. My poor little asthmatic ass could barely handle it! This little novella was addictive too. I sat down about midnight with this little beauty and didn’t put it down until I was finished. And that’s fresh off of polishing off ‘The Alpha’s Revival.’
My brain feels melted, quite frankly. In a good way, of course. The emotions I run through with this series is a lengthy list but I’m addicted and there are so many shifter romances to smash through? I need to know all the stories. The drama. The scenes that have me squealing in amusement into my pillow so I don’t disturb people that, unlike me, have a healthy sleeping schedule.
For this one, I reckon we’re gonna go 9.5/10. My only complaint, is that it’s far too short.
Profile Image for Lauren Dunsmore.
89 reviews3 followers
February 6, 2023
It started out strong but the fact she just accepts he is a shifter with no big reaction is so fake.
Profile Image for Mary Kirkland.
772 reviews33 followers
July 16, 2024
Sam is rescued from a building fire and Sean is the guy who catches her. They spend some time together and it's clear that Sam is having a really hard time with the PTSD/nightmares from the fire. so when she just ups and leaves one day and doesn't look back, it really messes Sean up mentally. He thought they really had something special.

Months later Sam's friend knows she has to do something to help her friend because she's not eating, sleeping or living. She's just moving through life and still having nightmares. So she gets a hold of Sam's phone and calls Sean. He's not sure he was the right person to all since he thinks she made it clear she never looked back when she left but things are not always what they appear. So he comes to see how she is and what he finds makes him act and try to help her even though he's still mad that she just up and left him with out even a goodbye.

Sam is in need of some serious help because she's not dealing with the trauma of the fire but seeing Sean again makes her feel bad for leaving him. Now he's back and she's not sure how to feel. These two had so many miscommunication problems that if they had just talked to one another and explained things, it probably would have stopped a lot of heartache on both their parts. Sam is human and Sean is a shifter but Sam doesn't know that for most of the book.

Goodness, I loved these two. This storyline was so good. This series (even though I'm reading it totally out of order) is so good! I've definitely found a new favorite series to read.
Profile Image for Cary Morton.
989 reviews42 followers
August 12, 2025
This one was short—like blink-and-it’s-over short—but it still managed to pack in a decent punch of heat and emotional tension. The setup is classic shifter romance: a dramatic rescue, instant chemistry, and a second-chance arc that leans into vulnerability more than angst. It doesn’t waste time with elaborate world-building or side plots, which works fine if you’re just here for the vibes and the romance.

Sean, the alpha lead, is your typical growly protector with a soft spot for the heroine. Sam’s got her guard up, and while her backstory isn’t deeply explored, her emotional hesitation feels believable enough for the length. Their dynamic is fast-paced and steamy, with just enough conflict to keep things from feeling too easy.

For some, the brevity might make the story feel rushed or underdeveloped. There’s not a lot of time to sit with the characters or explore the world beyond the immediate romance. But if you’re in the mood for a quick hit of shifter chemistry and don’t mind skipping the slow burn, this novella delivers.

It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s fun, flirty, and doesn’t overstay its welcome. Definitely one to keep in your back pocket when you want something light and spicy.
Profile Image for Razan Zher.
112 reviews
November 25, 2025
Why are you running ?



Anyway why the heck did she run the second time after braking his heart the first time ???? The fuckkkk
Why are phones for ??

The second time when they met she didn’t run up to him ,he ran to her and even after all that … she think to herself “oh, I’m sorry I thought “ she was turning away to go back to the city like whattt ???

I lovedddd that he is a lionnnn and we have a lioness

Actually, when she explained her crash out at the last night, it was so freaking real and valid !!!!

I literally loved them bothhh but first :
How did she keep her luscious hair after losing so much weight? That’s not real ( says the girl reading shifter romance )
Second why we didn’t get a scene when she is petting the lion ??? 😭

Third what the fuck happened with Jimmy ??? And why she never told him that he was not her boyfriend I just inferred that..


Anyway, this was really good for a short book. I just love them books like that.
Profile Image for Victoria Rebecca Hawkes.
459 reviews1 follower
March 16, 2023
Sean's ready to turn his life upside down when the girl of his dreams lands in his arms, literally. After rescuing Sam from a devastating blaze, this stubborn shifter falls fast and hard. But when Sam bolts in the middle of the night, he's left alone in Grey Ridge, wishing he never let his guard down.
Sam has never relied on anyone. She's forced to lean upon a brawny stranger after a fire that nearly took her life, and while she enjoyed every minute, it can't turn into something real. Or can it?

The alpha's catch was very beautifully written from start to finish and i found myself getting quite emotional in different parts of the book. the was it was written it felt like it was playing right in front of me. Reece Barden, wow what an author I hadn't heard of them until this book and wow they blew my mind and I love it.

Profile Image for Angie.
1,405 reviews234 followers
November 29, 2025
Couldn't she see how perfect we were together, and how I would do anything for her? Was I not good enough for her?

3.75 stars

I enjoyed Sean and Sam's story in this series! Their chemistry was undeniable, but Sam was scared of how fast and how deep her feelings developed for Sean. I loved how devoted Sean was towards Sam; even though she had walked out on him before, he still cared about her enough to risk getting his heart broken again to ensure her safety. Their story was low-angst but still emotionally charged and steamy. I look forward to the next book🖤

Tropes: fated mates, one-night stand, jaded but protective hero, girl-next-door heroine, hurt/comfort, second chance romance, trauma healing, low angst, found family, steamy🔥
Profile Image for Alejandra Guerrero.
1,705 reviews5 followers
October 5, 2024
It was boring. Repetitive. The fact that he's a shifter is barely mentioned and has no impact on the story. Aside from a couple of mentions to his claws and the fact he's a lion (I have absolutely no idea what he looks like, by the way) he could be just some human guy (I wanna say biker because she talks about his motorcycle at some point, but he drives a truck here, so...) and this would have been a very mediocre second chance romance. I read the first book in the series, and I couldn't for the life of me remember Sam as a character, but apparently, she was a close enough friend of Hayley's to be at her bachelorette party.
38 reviews
October 28, 2023
Cementing my new found enjoyment of paranormal books

I just recently opened my reading genre to include paranormal tropes and found this book. Needless to say I will be binge reading the rest of her work!! I love the novella-length books and Reece did an awesome job of weaving the storyline in a shorter read while keeping the spice level right where I like it. I loved the use of the “memories” both Sean and Sam had of their time first together to help the story along. Great read and thank you for pulling me into another genre!
Profile Image for Denise Heatley.
316 reviews13 followers
December 17, 2023
This novella was perfect for me after reading The Alpha's Savior! I fell hard for Grey Ridge and it's residents, so I very much enjoyed a peek into Sean's life since he was a bit of a mystery for me. Reece Barden did such a good job developing these characters, and I found myself yearning for each person to tell me their story! This is a true novella, but I never felt like anything was rushed just to get to the end. And the 🌶 was exactly what I wanted and never felt there for the sake of being 🌶.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
1,437 reviews19 followers
January 6, 2024
Fast read. But I get frustrated at how many times she runs from him. when she knows she wants him. I just want to to rip my hair out.

Idk what order these books are in, but I haven't read any others yet. So there was alot of back and forth and a few flashbacks about why she had left, at what point in their relationship she ran out on him, why was she having panic attacks, and what were the details with the fire. I found the order of the story telling weird but bearable. It was a novella so it went by quickly.
Profile Image for Grinning Cat.
3,708 reviews120 followers
March 2, 2024
MMC/FMC- Sean and Sam
POV- 1st person dual
Genre- Paranormal Romance
Sub Genre- Shifters
Heat- 🌋🌋🌋☄️ (1🌋=2☄️) They remember the thing, talk about the thing, do the thing, and use the P word.
Series! Y
Length- novella
Safety? Y
Triggers- language, explicit erotic content
Tropes- Fated Mates, The Lion Sleeps Tonight
What I liked- I loved the scene with the three shifters when they were so rueful and embarrassed after.
What I didn’t- the heat level was kind of erratic. There were times it was hot, and others when not.
Profile Image for Yvonne.
274 reviews4 followers
June 25, 2024
Von diesem Buch bin ich etwas enttäuscht. Die Charaktere von Sean und Sam haben mich total angesprochen und waren mir beide total sympathisch, sodass diese Kurzgeschichte dann einfach wirklich viel zu kurz für mich war. Da hätte die Autorin echt mehr daraus machen können, vor allem weil ich auch grad die Idee mit dem Löwen-Gestaltwandler sehr gut fand.
Leider hat mir das Ende der Geschichte auch nicht zugesagt. Plötzlich war alles ganz rasch und abrupt vorbei. Dieses Buch ist nicht unbedingt die Glanzstory dieser Serie.
523 reviews4 followers
August 15, 2024
Rating: 3 stars

I wouldn't really recommend it as a standalone read, more so as a complementary story to the Shifters of Grey Ridge.
I feel like the novella length didn't do it. I much prefer full-length novels from this series. Even though there was good backstory it sort of fell short.

Also I found one inconsistency particularly annoying - I know I can be officious but details matter in world building. Spoiler maybe?
Profile Image for Kellie Waldron.
777 reviews17 followers
March 13, 2025
This was a cute quick read.

Sam had been involved in a horrible fire. She was having problems coping with it. The one person that was helping her, but she didn't want to seem weak in front of him. She was a astrong confident woman. But in front of Sean she melted.

Sean loved her. Knew that she was his mate. But that is impossible Lion Shifters don't have mates. After one great night, she leaves him. Can they get over the past? Can Sean tell her that he is a lion shifter? Lots of questions.
Profile Image for H.D. Bergen.
Author 3 books33 followers
February 5, 2023
I had read all the previous books in the series and while not a complete novel, this novella fits perfectly with the rest.

Sam has been through some trauma after the fire and leans on Sean, panicking when things between them turn serious quickly. She bolts without contacting him and both are left with the shards of the sudden rupture. A sweet HEA for this couple wraps the plot up and leaves you wanting more of these glimpses at other characters in Grey Ridge.
56 reviews
April 17, 2023
Amazing

I'm now four books into this author and paranormal is new to me. Decided to try paranormal and it now seems I'm hooked. Never thought I'd like reading books about wolves, bears,witches and vampires. Exciting and interesting.
They pull you in. Can't say I'm crazy about explicit sex but not letting that stop me from the drama and a good story. So far I have all this authors books in line to read. His books are super
great, hard to put down. An amazing writer.
Profile Image for Candice's Library .
203 reviews3 followers
January 3, 2024
It was good

Obviously it's a Shifters book with mates, which is my favorite 😍 this book had all the right emotions. The 3 stars is mainly for some of the mistakes found in the novella. I also found myself wanting the ending to be more than what was given. Like what happened to Sam and Sean next. But no such luck. I did enjoy the book though very quick read. Finished in about an hour.
Profile Image for Livey.
1,436 reviews
August 7, 2025
Mild PTSD or Mate bond?

Sam and Sean have an instant attraction after a brutal fire put Sam’s life in danger. Part of the rescue team, Sean guides Sam through her nightmares until she runs away from him. When he is in touch with her again, after many months, he is willing to do whatever it takes to keep her with him! Good to see Marcus is still bad azz. Cooper and Hayley cameos were nice too.
Profile Image for Savannah Cherniwchan.
681 reviews10 followers
October 16, 2025
✅Second chances
✅ Big growly alphas
✅Emotional angst with your spice
✅“She left me but I still love her” energy

Sean — big, brooding, protective Alpha energy. The kind of man who smells like cedar, guilt, and bad decisions. 🥵
Sam — strong, scarred, and running from her past (literally). Girl’s been through FIRE 🔥 (no really — an actual fire), and yet still somehow manages to catch the attention of a certain alpha wolf 😏
Profile Image for Christine.
152 reviews17 followers
January 10, 2026
A quick but sweet read. I actually read this out of order by mistake, but it didn't ruin or change anything. Sam and Sean's relationship was cute and easy. Sam's mental issues from past events are quite relatable to anyone who has experienced anxiety or panic attacks. Sean is a very interesting shifter, and it was a small look into how vast the whole series could become. I'm excited to see if Sam and Sean appear in other parts of the story and if their story will continue as well.
Profile Image for Kim.
326 reviews14 followers
September 13, 2023
Sam and Sean! Just wow! When sams best friend calls on Sean for help after sams tragic accident will he come? Will she be happy she called him? What will she do after running after Sean mends her back to health! This shapeshifter second chance romance is the perfect novella to this series! It can be read as a stand-alone but also apart of the series! I can't wait to read the others! Well done!
Profile Image for Izzy SM.
421 reviews6 followers
September 23, 2023
One freaking hundred pages and the author still manages to repeat the same shit every page! And yes, we do have tons of flashbacks to some time ago about things that were already described!!!

Pretentious and boring... almost DNF'ed

Yawn worthy spice.

The only good thing is the way you feel what a panic attack is and what functional depression is.
Profile Image for Cheryl.
2,099 reviews61 followers
December 31, 2023
Good but

I got this free on stuff your kindle day. I liked it just not enough to pay 4 to 5.00 A book for the series. Guess I will look back off and on to see if there's a sale.

Sam suffers from anxiety from a fire and she hasn't been sleeping or eating. Her friend calls Sean which happens to be a Lion Shifter. I was happy in the end that she came back.
Profile Image for Georgia Dalianis.
144 reviews
June 10, 2025
This was a great little novella about some of the side characters in the series. It was great to read about what happened to them after an incident in book 2!
I enjoyed it ♥️

Tropes and stuff:
❤️Novella
🦁Paranormal romance
❤️Lion shifter x human
🦁Healing from trauma
❤️Fated mates
🦁Second chance
🌶️Open door spice
Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews

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