Stolen and Forgiven (Branded Packs Book 1)

Way to dark and twisted for my preferences. Not a comfortable world to be in, violence and oppression and routine. I found the characters hard to connect to and the writing slightly stilted. The two stories also felt very repetitive a formula that each pair will take. However I acknowledge that I don't enjoy this style of book so two stars instead of one.

Stolen

This collaboration has a familiar shifter feel in totally unique setting. Kind of like a dystopian shifter romance.

Years after a virus thinned out human existence shifters came forward to help save the human race.

Their thanks was incarceration, branding and why not collar them as well for good measure.

Small community living has enormous down fall for a large group of people suck in tight quarters. With that being said imagine being a shifter, knowing that if you haven't found your true soul-MATE you probably never will. How could you? You are locked up with the same people you have been for decades.

Holden the Alpha has hard choices to deal with everyday between being forced to brand and collar all of his people even the children and the feeling of being trapped and at his wit's end all comes to a halt the instant he smells her. The thought of just letting her bleed out and die when there is a way she could be saved is unacceptable. Not to mention the retribution his pack will suffer if a dead human is found in their compound.

Ariel has had a less than perfect life. Parents are dead, growing up in an orphanage was her all time low or so she thought. I think lab-rat and a real live game of operation just made it to the top of her shitiest moments list. Tossed away like garbage into the Wolves compound with death closely nipping at her heals. In that moment of darkness she never imagined emerging a wolf.

I found the plot to be inventive but the usual flow was not there. Not to mention the sex, it was really choppy. You didn't get any heat from it, no titillation or yearning to run home a strip it down. It felt clumsy. What also brought the rating down for me was the first chapters seem to have an abundance of repeating going on. The need to run, the way the submissive wolves where described. No poetic eloquence. Not to mention the part where she just wants Holden to "Make her feel good" totally made me think of Billy Bob Thornton and Halle Berry in Monster's Ball. No Romance.

Forgiven

Now for the second installment Forgiven, this one was very different. Like night and day. The chemistry was bubbling and overflowing. Loved it. The story had a building up tempo that had you powering through the pages.

Holden's pack feared retaliation from what happened with the doctor. They expected punishment just not in the form of sharing the small living compound they had. With the tigers no less. Higher Powers that be expected them to just fight and let themselves thin the herd. The shifters where smarter than that. They have been in communication for years and the key players in each community already had some history. The in the sheets kind.

Cora the tiger princess is less than happy to see the only male her cat wanted to mate with, Soren. Soren took one for the team and mated in his own pack. Back then the Alpha wasn't mated the pack needed stability. Yet the guilt he holds due to his young mate dying is a palpable thing, so strong that even after she passed away he couldn't approach Cora. But that too is in the past. All they have between them is the walls they built themselves. Which happen to be paper thin...lol They each have a strong mating pull towards each other their other half have absolutely no qualms with human emotion or pride.

When they do come together, fireworks are ignited and the passion that has been tempered pour out. With life seemingly good, of course that is when the other shoe drops. The SAU wants to force the packs to change people of their choosing into a shifter. They got this bright idea that having Cora would make her father more pliable to their whims. What wasn't accounted for was Soren and his determination to have her with him now and always. They just pissed off the wrong wolf.

AS I mentioned before this was gripping and action packed, this story sheds light on new players and gives you an idea of all the possibilities the series can go.

Very good read.

I received this for an honest review. I truly enjoy Alexandra Ivy's writing. This collaboration was not quite what I expected. I just finished Blood Assassin and I was thrilled to pick this book up. But not a total loss.

Alexandra Ivy and Carrie Ann Ryan, two amazing authors for a new paranormal romance series: Branded Packs.
They have both their own story in the book, and you can tell that because the stories are different, but I really enjoyed both the installments.
I loved the setting and I found Original the world created for this series about shifters.
They're powerful but outnumbered against the humans who contained them. They lost their freedom and the very essence of their life as a pack of shifters. They're collared, marked as beasts. It's a dark reality to live in, but it's so unusual and what I liked the most.

STOLEN.
Perfect title for this story, because it can refer to anything that has happened in the past to Holden and his pack, he's the wolves alpha, but also to Ariel's story.
Ariel was kidnapped and used as a Guinea pig by humans, and then she is dumped nearly dead in the camp where live werewolves. Humans want to blame the shapeshifters for the murder and continue to keep alive the fear and smear campaign against them, to justify the detention.
Holden, the alpha of the pack, found her, and he realizes that the woman is his predestined mate and for the first time in his life, Holden must choose to endanger the lives of all members of his pack.
I really loved this story, which introduces perfectly the cruelty of the conditions in which they are forced to live the shapeshifters, contrary to their nature.
Holden is a great character, a real alpha for the whole pack. He cares for them and he sometimes he has really hard. But his life by alfa has never been easy.
Ariel impressed me for her calm after what happened to her, she needs time to adapt, buimprime the start she tries to find a place inside of the Pack and in Holden's life. No tragedies, hysterical or recriminations.
It's a beautiful story, that made me fall in love with this series.

FORGIVEN
In this story the protagonists are Soren, Holden's beta in the pack and Cora, a tiger shapeshifter.
After years in which the different races of shifters were kept strictly separated, as punishment the two groups of wolves and tigers are put together, hoping perhaps to unleash a conflict between the two.
Cora and Soren had a story ended not so well, and this could increase the tension between them.
The romance part is much more developed in this story, is very passionate and I loved when Soren pulled out his dominant side toughness to win Cora back.
Her abduction done by the humans to blackmail her father changed the course of the story, giving it a bit of action and introducing in the scenario the Unseen, real shifters spies infiltrate among humans. This gives me hope for the future andthat shifters for possible rebellion against those who keep them imprisoned.
Can't wait to read the sequel.

Alexandra Ivy and Carrie Ann Ryan bring you a new Paranormal Shifter Romance. This is a great two for one. One thing these ladies have in common is to take a tried and true genre and make it their own. I love these ladies they take something and make it dark, and twist it into an emotional mess that is so deeply entwined in the story it causes such a book hangover when you are done and beg for more. Much like in Kim Harrison's The Hallows a deadly virus has spread throughout the world the cure lies with the blood of the shifter and reluctantly they figuratively come out of the closet and save humanity, now here is where it deviates human instead of thanking them they freak out. They try to wipe them all out the creation of the SAU locked them up and, like in Jennifer Ashley's Shifter's Unbound, they end up collared even more they are branded like cattle. But shifter's are strong and can survive and they have had enough they are just bidding their time.

Stolen is Alexandra Ivy's perfect introduction for a new series. In this story you have Alpha of the River Pack, Holden Carter, who became Alpha at the age of fifteen and everything he has done everything in his power to protect his pack. Knowing how important his pack is he has refrained from claiming a mate until he finds one that his wolf wants but since all the wolf shifter are stuffed in one place it's hard for him to find the one for him. Ariel Sands grew up as an orphan in the post virus world where the government and SAU have spread propaganda and lies about the shifters. Everything is fine in her life until she gets kidnapped by SAU and experimented on, then on the verge of death dumped into the woods on shifter land. Holden finds Ariel before she dies and immediately his wolf claims her and breaking pack laws bites her and changes her. With that Holden changes everything and the secrets the SAU come out as well. Now the dangerous chess game between Shifter and SAU has begun.

Forgiven by Carrie Ann Ryan is Carrie Ann at her best. A second chance, shifter romance between the River Pack Beta, Soren Slater, and Cat Shifter Princess, Cora Wilder. As a punishment for keeping Ariel the SAU merged the dogs with the cats. Soren and Cora meet previously when Soren meet with the cat's several years ago. What started as an innocent flirtation ended in heartbreak, Cora's tiger morns for Soren since he left and chose to mate with another wolf to strengthen the pack. Soren has felt guilty over the death of his mate and the appearance of has rekindled the passion and love he has felt for her. Cora is hesitant still hurting from the initial heartbreak but with the sage advise from her father helps her see things from Soren's point of view. But the SAU has other plans and with the knowledge that they can change people and how to do it they target Cora and her Father. The Cat's and the Wolves, but specifically Soren, work together to change their plans.

This book kicks off an awesome new paranormal series from Alexandra Ivy and Carrie Ann Ryan.

I was easily hooked by this first book. It sets up much of the Pack dynamics and does a great job of explaining the series premise that is set twenty-five years after a catastrophic virus nearly wiped out the human population. The shifters revealed themselves to help find a cure, and then found themselves caged by the same people they helped to save. Of course, change is coming and the journey begins with this first book.

First up is STOLEN, and it was a fantastic story that set an intriguing tone for this exciting new series. I loved the main couple in this one. Holden tried to protect his Pack and it just seemed like he was so sad until he found his mate, Ariel. He risks everything to save her. Ariel had endured a lot being tortured and thrown to the wolves only to be saved by their Alpha. She cheated death and found strength and her own place in the Pack. It wasn't easy though, as prejudice, jealousy and betrayal was laced into the drama of this one. I loved Holden and Ariel's lovestory.
Next was FORGIVEN, and it was an equally awesome story to read. In this one our main couple have a painful history together. In the aftermath of the climactic ending in Stolen it was revealed that two shifter packs would be merged. This story opened with tensions running high as River Pack and Golden Pack tried to settle in together. Canine and Feline normally do not mix well, especially those who've had their hearts broken. Soren had turned his back on Cora and chose to mate with a female wolf from his own River Pack. His sacrifice didn't turn out good, sadly his mate died, and he has been tormented by his guilt. Now Soren wants another chance with Cora. You know what they say about a woman scorned ..... well Cora is the Golden Pack Princess and she doesn't trust Soren anymore. But he is a stubborn wolf who finds a way to get close as they work together trying to ease Pack tensions. Soren is determined to earn Cora's trust again, but someone else has her in his sights. Soren risks everything to rescue Cora when she is kidnapped.

Soren was the BEST kind of hero, one who admits his wrongs and lays his heart bare :
"I would give my last penny to see you smile."
"I would give my soul to earn your forgiveness, Princess."
He was a possessive alpha male, the kind you can't help but love.

STOLEN AND FORGIVEN begins a daring new series that hit all the right buttons for me. I've read a lot of shifter romance, it's a favorite, and this one has a darker, more original, aspect than most. It also had an Unseen twist that totally blindsided me. I loved everything about these stories and can't wait to read the next book in the series.

Stolen and Forgiven is a book that contains two novellas. It's a PNR book that deals with shifters. I do not read much PNR but I felt this was a fun, summer read. Both of these stories deal with a shifter community at large, but I feel both can be read as standalones. Both stories are based on that the human race was almost destroyed due to a virus. The shifter communities, who had been hiding their shifter-nature, are exposed and blamed as the problem. However, they actually helped save many lives but were still used as a scapegoat. As a result of this, the shifter communities are basically sent to camps and under the control of a group who wants to eventually wipe out all shifters.

The story of Stolen deals with Holden, who is the Alpha of the wolf pack, and Ariel, who is a human thrown into the world of shifters. I thought the story was engaging and gave the reader a good basic foundation of this shifter series. I like how Ariel was not a pushover and there was a definite learning curve in their relationship. Some of the parts felt a little "set-up" so the reader could easily figure out what was going to happen. However, I enjoyed this read.

In Forgiven , we learn about Soren, the Beta in the wolf pack, and Cora, who is the daughter of the Alpha to the feline pack. I liked the storyline as it also dealt with a strong female main character. The romantic suspense element of the story worked for me. I also enjoyed that Soren was clear about his love for Cora. However, what I felt was a little disingenuous was the quick resolution to Soren's feelings for his previous relationship.

Both stories had some good points and weak points to them. Overall Stolen and Forgiven was a fun read with shifters galore!

Stolen

This collaboration has a familiar shifter feel in totally unique setting. Kind of like a dystopian shifter romance.

Years after a virus thinned out human existence shifters came forward to help save the human race.

Their thanks was incarceration, branding and why not collar them as well for good measure.

Small community living has enormous down fall for a large group of people suck in tight quarters. With that being said imagine being a shifter, knowing that if you haven't found your true soul-MATE you probably never will. How could you? You are locked up with the same people you have been for decades.

Holden the Alpha has hard choices to deal with everyday between being forced to brand and collar all of his people even the children and the feeling of being trapped and at his wit's end all comes to a halt the instant he smells her. The thought of just letting her bleed out and die when there is a way she could be saved is unacceptable. Not to mention the retribution his pack will suffer if a dead human is found in their compound.

Ariel has had a less than perfect life. Parents are dead, growing up in an orphanage was her all time low or so she thought. I think lab-rat and a real live game of operation just made it to the top of her shitiest moments list. Tossed away like garbage into the Wolves compound with death closely nipping at her heals. In that moment of darkness she never imagined emerging a wolf.

I found the plot to be inventive but the usual flow was not there. Not to mention the sex, it was really choppy. You didn't get any heat from it, no titillation or yearning to run home a strip it down. It felt clumsy. What also brought the rating down for me was the first chapters seem to have an abundance of repeating going on. The need to run, the way the submissive wolves where described. No poetic eloquence. Not to mention the part where she just wants Holden to "Make her feel good" totally made me think of Billy Bob Thornton and Halle Berry in Monster's Ball. No Romance.

Forgiven

Now for the second installment Forgiven, this one was very different. Like night and day. The chemistry was bubbling and overflowing. Loved it. The story had a building up tempo that had you powering through the pages.

Holden's pack feared retaliation from what happened with the doctor. They expected punishment just not in the form of sharing the small living compound they had. With the tigers no less. Higher Powers that be expected them to just fight and let themselves thin the herd. The shifters where smarter than that. They have been in communication for years and the key players in each community already had some history. The in the sheets kind.

Cora the tiger princess is less than happy to see the only male her cat wanted to mate with, Soren. Soren took one for the team and mated in his own pack. Back then the Alpha wasn't mated the pack needed stability. Yet the guilt he holds due to his young mate dying is a palpable thing, so strong that even after she passed away he couldn't approach Cora. But that too is in the past. All they have between them is the walls they built themselves. Which happen to be paper thin...lol They each have a strong mating pull towards each other their other half have absolutely no qualms with human emotion or pride.

When they do come together, fireworks are ignited and the passion that has been tempered pour out. With life seemingly good, of course that is when the other shoe drops. The SAU wants to force the packs to change people of their choosing into a shifter. They got this bright idea that having Cora would make her father more pliable to their whims. What wasn't accounted for was Soren and his determination to have her with him now and always. They just pissed off the wrong wolf.

AS I mentioned before this was gripping and action packed, this story sheds light on new players and gives you an idea of all the possibilities the series can go.

Very good read.

I received this for an honest review. I truly enjoy Alexandra Ivy's writing. This collaboration was not quite what I expected. I just finished Blood Assassin and I was thrilled to pick this book up. But not a total loss.

Alexandra Ivy and Carrie Ann Ryan, two amazing authors for a new paranormal romance series: Branded Packs.
They have both their own story in the book, and you can tell that because the stories are different, but I really enjoyed both the installments.
I loved the setting and I found Original the world created for this series about shifters.
They're powerful but outnumbered against the humans who contained them. They lost their freedom and the very essence of their life as a pack of shifters. They're collared, marked as beasts. It's a dark reality to live in, but it's so unusual and what I liked the most.

STOLEN.
Perfect title for this story, because it can refer to anything that has happened in the past to Holden and his pack, he's the wolves alpha, but also to Ariel's story.
Ariel was kidnapped and used as a Guinea pig by humans, and then she is dumped nearly dead in the camp where live werewolves. Humans want to blame the shapeshifters for the murder and continue to keep alive the fear and smear campaign against them, to justify the detention.
Holden, the alpha of the pack, found her, and he realizes that the woman is his predestined mate and for the first time in his life, Holden must choose to endanger the lives of all members of his pack.
I really loved this story, which introduces perfectly the cruelty of the conditions in which they are forced to live the shapeshifters, contrary to their nature.
Holden is a great character, a real alpha for the whole pack. He cares for them and he sometimes he has really hard. But his life by alfa has never been easy.
Ariel impressed me for her calm after what happened to her, she needs time to adapt, buimprime the start she tries to find a place inside of the Pack and in Holden's life. No tragedies, hysterical or recriminations.
It's a beautiful story, that made me fall in love with this series.

FORGIVEN
In this story the protagonists are Soren, Holden's beta in the pack and Cora, a tiger shapeshifter.
After years in which the different races of shifters were kept strictly separated, as punishment the two groups of wolves and tigers are put together, hoping perhaps to unleash a conflict between the two.
Cora and Soren had a story ended not so well, and this could increase the tension between them.
The romance part is much more developed in this story, is very passionate and I loved when Soren pulled out his dominant side toughness to win Cora back.
Her abduction done by the humans to blackmail her father changed the course of the story, giving it a bit of action and introducing in the scenario the Unseen, real shifters spies infiltrate among humans. This gives me hope for the future andthat shifters for possible rebellion against those who keep them imprisoned.
Can't wait to read the sequel.

Alexandra Ivy and Carrie Ann Ryan bring you a new Paranormal Shifter Romance. This is a great two for one. One thing these ladies have in common is to take a tried and true genre and make it their own. I love these ladies they take something and make it dark, and twist it into an emotional mess that is so deeply entwined in the story it causes such a book hangover when you are done and beg for more. Much like in Kim Harrison's The Hallows a deadly virus has spread throughout the world the cure lies with the blood of the shifter and reluctantly they figuratively come out of the closet and save humanity, now here is where it deviates human instead of thanking them they freak out. They try to wipe them all out the creation of the SAU locked them up and, like in Jennifer Ashley's Shifter's Unbound, they end up collared even more they are branded like cattle. But shifter's are strong and can survive and they have had enough they are just bidding their time.

Stolen is Alexandra Ivy's perfect introduction for a new series. In this story you have Alpha of the River Pack, Holden Carter, who became Alpha at the age of fifteen and everything he has done everything in his power to protect his pack. Knowing how important his pack is he has refrained from claiming a mate until he finds one that his wolf wants but since all the wolf shifter are stuffed in one place it's hard for him to find the one for him. Ariel Sands grew up as an orphan in the post virus world where the government and SAU have spread propaganda and lies about the shifters. Everything is fine in her life until she gets kidnapped by SAU and experimented on, then on the verge of death dumped into the woods on shifter land. Holden finds Ariel before she dies and immediately his wolf claims her and breaking pack laws bites her and changes her. With that Holden changes everything and the secrets the SAU come out as well. Now the dangerous chess game between Shifter and SAU has begun.

Forgiven by Carrie Ann Ryan is Carrie Ann at her best. A second chance, shifter romance between the River Pack Beta, Soren Slater, and Cat Shifter Princess, Cora Wilder. As a punishment for keeping Ariel the SAU merged the dogs with the cats. Soren and Cora meet previously when Soren meet with the cat's several years ago. What started as an innocent flirtation ended in heartbreak, Cora's tiger morns for Soren since he left and chose to mate with another wolf to strengthen the pack. Soren has felt guilty over the death of his mate and the appearance of has rekindled the passion and love he has felt for her. Cora is hesitant still hurting from the initial heartbreak but with the sage advise from her father helps her see things from Soren's point of view. But the SAU has other plans and with the knowledge that they can change people and how to do it they target Cora and her Father. The Cat's and the Wolves, but specifically Soren, work together to change their plans.

This book kicks off an awesome new paranormal series from Alexandra Ivy and Carrie Ann Ryan.

I was easily hooked by this first book. It sets up much of the Pack dynamics and does a great job of explaining the series premise that is set twenty-five years after a catastrophic virus nearly wiped out the human population. The shifters revealed themselves to help find a cure, and then found themselves caged by the same people they helped to save. Of course, change is coming and the journey begins with this first book.

First up is STOLEN, and it was a fantastic story that set an intriguing tone for this exciting new series. I loved the main couple in this one. Holden tried to protect his Pack and it just seemed like he was so sad until he found his mate, Ariel. He risks everything to save her. Ariel had endured a lot being tortured and thrown to the wolves only to be saved by their Alpha. She cheated death and found strength and her own place in the Pack. It wasn't easy though, as prejudice, jealousy and betrayal was laced into the drama of this one. I loved Holden and Ariel's lovestory.
Next was FORGIVEN, and it was an equally awesome story to read. In this one our main couple have a painful history together. In the aftermath of the climactic ending in Stolen it was revealed that two shifter packs would be merged. This story opened with tensions running high as River Pack and Golden Pack tried to settle in together. Canine and Feline normally do not mix well, especially those who've had their hearts broken. Soren had turned his back on Cora and chose to mate with a female wolf from his own River Pack. His sacrifice didn't turn out good, sadly his mate died, and he has been tormented by his guilt. Now Soren wants another chance with Cora. You know what they say about a woman scorned ..... well Cora is the Golden Pack Princess and she doesn't trust Soren anymore. But he is a stubborn wolf who finds a way to get close as they work together trying to ease Pack tensions. Soren is determined to earn Cora's trust again, but someone else has her in his sights. Soren risks everything to rescue Cora when she is kidnapped.

Soren was the BEST kind of hero, one who admits his wrongs and lays his heart bare :
"I would give my last penny to see you smile."
"I would give my soul to earn your forgiveness, Princess."
He was a possessive alpha male, the kind you can't help but love.

STOLEN AND FORGIVEN begins a daring new series that hit all the right buttons for me. I've read a lot of shifter romance, it's a favorite, and this one has a darker, more original, aspect than most. It also had an Unseen twist that totally blindsided me. I loved everything about these stories and can't wait to read the next book in the series.

Stolen and Forgiven is a book that contains two novellas. It's a PNR book that deals with shifters. I do not read much PNR but I felt this was a fun, summer read. Both of these stories deal with a shifter community at large, but I feel both can be read as standalones. Both stories are based on that the human race was almost destroyed due to a virus. The shifter communities, who had been hiding their shifter-nature, are exposed and blamed as the problem. However, they actually helped save many lives but were still used as a scapegoat. As a result of this, the shifter communities are basically sent to camps and under the control of a group who wants to eventually wipe out all shifters.

The story of Stolen deals with Holden, who is the Alpha of the wolf pack, and Ariel, who is a human thrown into the world of shifters. I thought the story was engaging and gave the reader a good basic foundation of this shifter series. I like how Ariel was not a pushover and there was a definite learning curve in their relationship. Some of the parts felt a little "set-up" so the reader could easily figure out what was going to happen. However, I enjoyed this read.

In Forgiven , we learn about Soren, the Beta in the wolf pack, and Cora, who is the daughter of the Alpha to the feline pack. I liked the storyline as it also dealt with a strong female main character. The romantic suspense element of the story worked for me. I also enjoyed that Soren was clear about his love for Cora. However, what I felt was a little disingenuous was the quick resolution to Soren's feelings for his previous relationship.

Both stories had some good points and weak points to them. Overall Stolen and Forgiven was a fun read with shifters galore!

Our review, by LITERAL ADDICTION's Pack Alpha - Chelle:
--Actual rating 4.5 Skulls

Wolves, tigers, and bears. Oh my! Stolen and Forgiven was two amazing books, grouped together into a very fun new series by two superstar authors. Shifter fans will be overjoyed!

In Stolen, we meet Holden (Alpha of the River Pack) and his unexpected mate, Ariel as they try to make sense of the new world they've been thrust into. One 25 years into the future, following the outbreak of a virus that caused the shifters to come out and thus become caged by humans. Conflict, intrigue, and strong characters abound in Carrie Ann's Branded Pack debut.

In Forgiven, we are further introduced to Soren (the Beta of the River Pack) as he's forced to come face-to-face with his old flame, Cora, the princess of the Golden Pack once again. And as if their history and tension wasn't enough, they have to deal with the fact that the Canine and Feline compounds have been thrown together, more than likely in hopes that they'll just kill each other off and constantly look over their shoulders for the danger posed by the humans. Danger, sacrifice, compromise and growth are beautifully rendered in Alexandra's Branded Pack contribution.

As mentioned, if you're a shifter fan, I think you will adore this compilation. I personally cannot wait for Abandoned and Unseen.

*Copy gifted in exchange for an honest review

In STOLEN we are introduced to the world of BRANDED PACKS through the building crisis in the Canine pack. Holden is trying to figure out how to make the lives of his pack members more tolerable when they are all confined to a reservation like area because of the fear that humans have of dual natured beings. After discovering Ariel near death and realizing that she is his mate Holden is now facing a whole new level of problems not only from the humans who despise all of the shifters, but from dissent in the pack as well. STOLEN is fast paced and there is a lot of background and story packed into this short read.

In FORGIVEN the world is expanded through Soren's story and the inclusion of the feline shifters. Things are changing for the shifter community and when wolves and cats are made to live together alliances, loyalties, and even hearts are tested.

There's plenty of action and world building in STOLEN AND FORGIVEN. I enjoyed the paranormal world that is developing. These are novella length stories so things happen quickly and I was left wanting more. The only thing that I didn't like is the fact that the humans are so much the villains in this world. I hope that in future stories there will be more empathetic and basically good humans that come to the forefront. I will definitely continue with this series to find out!

You can find more from me at Monlatable Book Reviews

The 1st book of a wonderful new series! Alexandra Ivy, you've done it again! In Stolen (by Alexandra Ivy) Holden is the alpha of the wolf pack. The shifters have been collared, branded and secluded behind bars since the Verona virus wiped out countless humans years before. Ariel had been tortured and experimented on for years. Her body was dumped and left for dead behind the (wolf) compound's walls, and was discovered by Holden. He knew right away that she was his fated mate. He turned her to save her, and when news of her transformation gets out, life will never be the same for any of them again. He saves her life and she gives him back his. Wonderful story!
In Forgiven by Carrie Ann Ryan, Soren is Holden's beta in the pack. His fated mate is "returned" to him by way of punishment. The feline compound residents have been moved into the wolf compound. Cora is the daughter of the feline alpha and a tiger princess. She and Soren had been together years ago, but he had chosen pack over his mate. When she is kidnapped by the SAU, Soren takes matters into his own hands, to save his mate and the pack. Another wonderful shifter story. I can't wait to read the next book in this series! Way to go ladies!

This is a great new shifter series and you actually get two stories here for the price of one. It is a darker future for shifters -- they are controlled by humans who are afraid to let them roam free.

Stolen tells the story of Holden and Ariel. Canine Pack Alpha Holden had thought his chance to find a mate was long past but when he comes across a gravely injured Ariel he knows he was wrong. And he has to save his mate no matter what. Their struggle to assimilate her into the pack makes for a compelling story.

Forgiven tells of Canine Pack's Beta Soren who meets up again with a tiger shifter, Cora. The way they fight their attraction to each other and then fight for each other is a really great story.

If you enjoy shifters, and true love, these stories are for you.

I receive an ARC from the author for my honest review.

OMG! I truly love this book.
In “Stolen” you meet Holden and Ariel.
In “Forgiven” you meet Soren and Cora.
Holden is a alpha for a wolf pack and he finds Ariel almost
near death and here’s the kicker, shes his mate.
Holden and Ariel are amazing characters.
Holden’s Beta Soren sees Cora again and wants her back.
Cora is a feline shifter. Usually cats and dogs don’t get along
but Soren and Cora don’t care.
Soren hurt Cora in the past but will Cora be able to look past the pain he caused?
I suggest you read this awesome book to find out what happens
To Holden and Ariel and also what happens to Soren and Cora. You won’t be disappointed with this story, I promise you that.
The events in the book that happen are AWESOME!!!

I really enjoyed reading this, will be getting next in series in Sept. A different take on Shifter's! It's about 4 different Shifter's that are in a concertration like camp. It's divided into two short stories. I enjoyed the Characters and would of given 5 stars if it had Holden and his mate blended into the second half. We/I like to know how they are doing! It would have made it seem more like the Authors worked together. I still love Alexandra Ivy, will always read her books, she has a good flow and Character presentation that makes it impossible to not love.

This shifter story brings a new twist with the packs imprisoned in compounds. There is a decent back story to the inevitable mating scenario. I liked the story, but do not like the coarse language used in the love scenes. I believe it is not necessary and actually detracts from the reader's immersion in the world being created. Still, I liked the overall story enough to want to read more.

This is a great new shifter series and you actually get two stories here for the price of one. It is a darker future for shifters -- they are controlled by humans who are afraid to let them roam free.

Stolen tells the story of Holden and Ariel. Canine Pack Alpha Holden had thought his chance to find a mate was long past but when he comes across a gravely injured Ariel he knows he was wrong. And he has to save his mate no matter what. Their struggle to assimilate her into the pack makes for a compelling story.

Forgiven tells of Canine Pack's Beta Soren who meets up again with a tiger shifter, Cora. The way they fight their attraction to each other and then fight for each other is a really great story.

If you enjoy shifters, and true love, these stories are for you.

I receive an ARC from the author for my honest review.