Savage Hunger (Heart of the Jaguar Book 1)

JAG Special Forces Agents Melissa Overton and her partner Huntley Anderson, not only are they agents they are Jaguar shifters. In this story they are on a mission to prevent poaching in the Costa Rican rainforest.
On their second trip to try and catch the organizer of the poachers, they run into some unexpected jaguar shifter cubs and have to find their parents as well as taking down the poachers.
Terry’s characters are strong and well developed. The chemistry between the agents is potent and humorous. I was pleasantly surprised and happy that I did not guess who was behind the poachers.
If you are looking for a great shifter romance with a lot of action and a bit of humor, Jaguar Pride is a wonderful choice.
http://www.bittenbylovereviews.com/2015/02/review-jaguar-pride-by-terry-spear.html

Savage Hunger started out a little slow for me, but it did pick up around chapter ten or so. Kathleen’s journey back to the the store after her attack there didn't turn out quite like she had planned it.

The chemistry between Kathleen and Connor is apparent although he chooses to ignore it at first. Maya, Connor’s sister, was a welcome additional character to provide a distraction from Connor and Kathleen’s dance around one another. I really felt for Maya and her need to a mate and family outside of Connor. I’m hoping she finds her mate in Wade, Kathleen’s guide she was supposed to meet up with.

To me, I found more entertainment in Maya and Wade just because Connor and Kat were a little to neatly written. If Wade and Maya get their own story I’ll definitely be continuing the series.

Although not as glamorous as werewolves/wolves, Terry Spears has written a fantastic story about shapeshifting humans, this time using jaguar as the romantic animal. Not your usual, traditional lore but new and wildly exotic, Connor and Kat have to evolve and learn to love and trust while constantly racing to outwit the bad guys. Well written but somewhat predictable, action and twisted plot scenes apporpiate, the story has followed very few genuinely unique lines. I enjoyed the action, the romantic interplay, but was rather disappointed in the anticlimactic ending. It definitely set you up for the sequel, which I will have to read to find out Wade Patterson s story.

Enjoyed the read but Kat was really getting on my nerves because her actions didn't add up with the person you'd think would be in the situtation she was in when they first met. The thought of her going back into the jungle to say thanks was a bit much, especially after what she'd gone through. Seemed like when the trouble arrived she was just too scary seeing she was all for going into the jungle in the first place. I just wanted them to get on with it all after a while. Just seemed to drag on with much of nothing going on.

Author Terry Spears usually writes about wolves in the paranormal romance genre. This time in Savage Hunter, the author decided to write about jaguars and I am one reader who is glad she decided to branch out. There is just something about this authors writing that sucks me into the story no matter what is being told on the pages.

The plot and suspense of this story was written pretty well. I liked each of the characters in the book as well. Kathleen held her own as the main heroine and Conner was sexy and swoon worthy many times throughout the story. I think the only problem I have is the way the author took the story of Kathleen and her transformation. It was kind of a let down, but one that didn't completely stall me from reading the remainder of the book.

Suspenseful, romantic, danger, and even some quirky bring a beautiful new series from a great author I follow.

One year ago Jaguar Connor Anderson saved the life of Captain Kathleen McKnight. Since then neither of them has stopped thinking about the other. Now that Kathleen has returned to the the store she is determined to find Connor again.

Great read! I have really enjoyed Spear's wolves, but was excited to see her branching off into jaguars. Beautiful creatures! Terry Spear has created another engaging world that is rich in detail and has fascinating characters. Connor is one sexy beast that had me eager to read more. Savage Hunger is a tantalizing read filled with adventure, danger and romance. A very sweet ending, plus an excellent set up for the next book. A must read for shifter lovers.

Savage Hunger was a well written book about jaguar shifters, that I found to be a good solid read. The story was somewhat slow-paced for me, which is the opposite of what, I'm sure, the author intended (since they were running for their lives). Maya, Connor, and Kat are constantly avoiding bad guys, but I never felt a sense of urgency- in some places there were possibilities for some good drama or conflict but the writer just couldn't quite make it suspenseful. I was tempted to give this one a 3-star rating because I wasn't really drawn into the story, but the book is well written and I liked the characters, so I decided to go with a higher rating. This is a library book, and not one I'd be interested in purchasing. As the writing is good, I will definitely try another book by this author.

Rating: C+

Captain Kathleen McKnight is kidnapped and held hostage in a South American jungle, while trying to capture a drug lord. Connor Anderson, on his yearly vacation with his sister, hears her cries of pain and rushes off to rescue her. Shifting into his jaguar form, he fends off the kidnappers, only to leave her as her Army team shows up.

A year later, Kathleen, now discharged from the army, returns to the jungle to find the man she can't forget and his "pet" jaguar. Connor hasn't forgotten Kathleen either, but knows the unlikelihood two of them being together. However, when Connor and his sister find Kathleen lost in the jungle, he can't resist the temptation to spend more time with her.

The book to this point was fun and romantic. I especially enjoyed the suspense scenes, which is not the usual for me at all. Normally, suspense scenes are either too graphic for me or not suspenseful at all, if that makes sense. Sometimes it is not enough to hold my breath, sit on the edge of my seat and read on to see what happens; more like, I get more suspense driving down the road at rush hour. Here was just enough suspense to keep me turning the pages but not too much to take away from the romance.

It is after Connor and his sister bring Kathleen to their home that the book started to fall flat for me. Maya, Connor's sister, scratches Kathleen and injects her with shapeshifter DNA, transforming her. And when Kathleen finds out, she just accepts it and her new shifter status, and joins in with Connor and Maya.

She just accepts it?! This is hard to believe for me. Her whole life has just been changed forever, and she is okay with that? She doesn't resent Connor or Maya? She doesn't complain?

No way. Not happening.

After this, the book loses its charm for me and goes from wonderful to just okay. I have a difficult time believing that a strong, independent woman in charge of her life just meekly accepts the change someone else made for their life.

This book wasn't bad; it had wonderful moments of humor and plenty of smokin' hot scenes. My feelings toward it were just not there after that beginning. For me, it didn't quite measure up to the promise implied in the beginning of the story.

*ARC provided by publisher through Edelweiss

We have siblings who are jaguar shifters. They are trying to find their mates without any luck than Kathleen enters the picture. She is army and undercover looking for the drug cartel in the the store. Connor runs to help Kathleen from being tortured and ends up saving the beauty. He finds her a year later wandering in the the store looking for him and he has no idea why. She is unaware of him being a jaguar. This is a great story and full of action. I really enjoyed the characters they were cleverly written.

Loved this shifter book about jaguars!! My first book from Terry on her jaguar series and I really liked it.Kept me intrigued until I finished the book. I now need to get more of her jaguar series. Don't think you can go wrong reading about shifters and Terry's descriptions are really good about the area.

Great start to a series, stand alone tale which leaves a detail or two open for the rest of the series to tell. My kind of book...if I do not get a chance to read the next for months, this novel was complete enough to keep me from feeling like I have missed something. Good job.

Books about shifters are some of my favorite paranormal stories. This is a good one about a brother and sister who are jaguar shifters. Connor saves Kat from members of a drug cartel and they are separated for a time. He and his twin, Maya, find Kat again and the suspenseful story is on. An enjoyable story set in the the store rain forest.

Title: *Savage Hunger
Author: Terry Spear
Series: Heart of the Jaguar, #1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Format: ebook
Date/Year: October 1, 2012
Reviewed by: ElaineReads

*This book was provided to me by the publisher for review.

Summary from the publisher:

In the heat of the jungle, jaguars are clawed, dangerous, and hungry for love. With hopes of overcoming night terrors and thanking the man who saved her life, Kathleen McKnight returns to the the store. A jaguar at heart, Connor Anderson doesn't just protect her, but wants to claim her for his own.

My Musings:

This is the first book I have read by Terry Spear, but it definitely won't be the last. Savage Hunger is the beginning of her new series titled Heart of the Jaguar. I have read other series featuring jaguar shapeshifters, but Connor is in a class by himself.

Male shapeshifters are generally portrayed as aggressive and dominant . . . very much the alpha. Although Connor is definitely alpha in regards to his streak of protectiveness and very possessive of Kathleen, he is also tender and loving. He cares about Kathleen. He doesn't just want her.

Kathleen is a former Army officer who suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. She was captured by drug runners in the the store and suffers from nightmares a year later. The main thing she remembers about the experience is being rescued by a jaguar.

Hmmm . . . I wonder who that could have been.

She returns to the the store in hopes of alleviating her nightmares and becomes separated from her guide. Fortunately, Connor and his sister Maya are there vacationing and rescue her - again.

I only had one real issue with this book. I thought that Kathleen accepted the existence of shifters far too easily. She was also very calm when Maya tried to turn her into a shifter.

I have a soft spot for shifters and cannot wait to start on the author's wolf series. She is also writing a sequel to this book which will feature Maya. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find out anything about a publication date for Maya's book.

UPDATE - The next book is Jaguar Fever and will be released August 2013.

Ratings:

Overall: 4
Sensuality level: 3.5 (No kink, but definitely explicit)