Once Upon a Tiger (Tiger Shifters Book 1)

I don't normally read paranormal romance (I know! Authors hate it when reviews with that line), but Once Upon A Tiger took me by surprise. The plot of this story could have gone down a common road, but the author kept things moving in new directions. At the core of the story, there is an imbalance of male tiger shifters to females, so the community elders have instituted a run for a mate -- males chase a desired female during her estrous, the end of which she must chose her mate. Should she fail to become pregnant, she must run again.

Alexis is a Tracker and has been excluded from the Mate Run, but unbeknownst to her, she's been let go from her job as Tracker and is now subject to the run. She discovers this when a pack of males show up at her doorstep with the news. Alexis would consider running if the man she loved was available. As he's not, she will kill any male who forces her to run.

Victor has been dunned in his community for his mutism, some calling him a freak or defective. This defect has also excluded him from the Mate Run. That's fine with him though, as the only woman he wants refuses to run. When he learns his friend Alexis has been fired and now forced into the run, he goes to help her. He knows she's capable of killing and will fight to the death before being forced into running. As her friend, Victor will do what it takes to protect her.

This story was fabulous on many levels -- The emotions between Alexis and Victor were palpable, the battle scenes were dramatic and well-written, the author's unique voice moves the story quickly without the slow bits that make some stories drag, and Victor's inability to speak bumped this story up to a new level rarely seen in romance.

Once Upon A Tiger is a great introduction into paranormal romance for first timers to the genre, and a fabulous first effort by this author. I love the title, and the cover is muy sexy! This book is first in a series, and I can't wait to read the next.

I definitely look forward to seeing if Ms. Simmons has plans for another visit with this pride. I do hope so and soon.

Alexis Tarasova is tracker for her pride. A pride that has seen the decline in the birth of females over time. Because of the decline the elders stepped in and decreed the “Run” as mandatory for all females. Before there were death matches between males and assaults, gang rapes and even murders of the females. Alex was given exemption from the run in exchange for her service. When she enters her cabin retreat for the three days of her estrous or her fertile period suddenly six tigers show up on her land. One of whom is Nick, a fellow tracker, and another, Victor Romanov, who is the only tiger Alex has ever wanted to mate. She is given the news that the elders have rescinded the exception and the males are there to chase her and the winner gets her.

Victor is not allowed to participate in the Run. That’s due to him being considered defective because he has been mute since the age of four. That did not keep him from loving Alex or from coming to her aid if she was in need. Alex is a strong and determined woman with a touch of mystery in her past. Victor is a soul that has known pain and come out strong with a sense of what he wants from life and is willing to go for it.

What will happen when the passion ignites to the point that these two give into their desires? What happens to the one who would carry out the judgments of their pride's laws is now about to break more than she wants to count? What will become of the one who was denied a chance of a mate who is willing to fight to keep others away from her?

This is a novel of passion long denied. That banked passion is a flickering flame about to become a raging forest fire. You will be panting yourself before the book ends. The ending does bring a couple of surprises. Do not be too sure you know the course the end of the book will take until the last page.

Readers will enjoy reading this page turner. Learn the stories of Alex's and Victor's pasts that made them the people they are today. These are people you would want for friends or watching your back in a dangerous situation.

Review by: MerryNoelle
Disclosure: Free review copy from the publisher/author for an honest review.

Rating: 3.5/5

Alexis Tarasova is special - she’s one of the few female tiger shifters and is also the only female Tracker, seeking, capturing and, if necessary, killing rogue tiger shifters. She’s a fearsome warrior, not to be underestimated and the only female who is usually exempted from the mating run. Or she was . . . this time a handful of males turn up, determined to meet with her. She’s equally determined not to run and not to accept any of them as her mate because there’s only one tiger she wants as her mate, Victor Romanov, and he’s not allowed to join the run.

Victor was seriously injured when he was just four years old. He was attacked by humans and one of the lasting effects is that he is now mute. The elders have never allowed him to take part in the mate run but when he hears that Alexis may be in danger because the elders have now rescinded her abstention so it is open season for the males wishing to mate with her. He’s loved her for years, but whilst she never mated it wasn’t an issue for him. Now he’ll go to help her but can they resist their attraction or will they break the law? The chemistry between them is hot and passionate but will they let it consume them or will the knowledge of possible consequences of letting their love develop prevent them from doing so?

This is a lovely novella, written by an author who clearly has great understanding of animals which she uses to develop a great story about tiger shifters, though the fact that normally tigers are usually solitary and don’t mate for life seems to have been forgotten! The characters are great, a feisty female and a strong, silent male fighting their laws and traditions to find their chance at love whilst being manipulated by one of the Elders who helps create those very laws. It is an enjoyable quick read - I’d love to read a longer, more developed version of this story as I believe that could easily be worthy of a 5* rating.

A rare female tiger shifter who kicks a$$ and takes no names and a yummy, sexy and silent male tiger shifter have a little magical help, whether they want it or not, from their packs Fairy Godmother to fight for their unlawful love!

Alexis Tarasova is a rare female tiger shifter in the Elder State Compound in West Virginia. She is even rarer because she is the only female Elite Enforcer(Tracker)and she trained for 4 hard years with her uncle and became the youngest Tracker ever. Alexis became a Tracker because her whole family was ripped apart by a male's jealously and she will rule her own life with her strength, courage and if needed her fangs and claws! Mo MALE will rule her life and no forced Mating Run for her, ever! She would only let one male catch her, Victor.

Victor Romanov is the Elder's Lead Security Tech at the compound, but shifter call him mentally defective. When he was 4 years old, Victor shift into a tiger in front of humans and they both were almost beating and stabbed to death. His mom killed the humans and she and Victor were placed into confinement, aka shifter jail, and his massive injuries never healed and he lost the ability to talk. Now he lives a lonely and silent life with his mom. He isn't allowed to be part of the Mating Run and that fine with him because he wants only one female and Alexis will never Run!

Alexis is in her Estrous, which means for 3 days she is horny and fertile for any tiger shifter that can catch her, but since she is a Tracker, she has been immune to the Mating Run. She is pissed off when there are 5 shifters outside her home and another one stalking them. One is a fellow Tracker, Nick, tells her that she was basically been canned as a Tracker and they will force her into the Mating Run. The last shifter comes out in tiger form and she knows it yummy, super sexy and silent Victor and she is even hornier now. She tells them to try it because she will kick all their a$$es, so they leave, but stay in the area to wait for a weak moment.

Now we have one horny Alexis alone and in entirely to close to Mr. "I want to rip your clothed off" Victor. They can't and don't keeps their clothes on and get very down and dirty over and over again. When it comes down to the Mating Run, they have to follow the stupid Laws, No Killing and Victor can't, under any circumstances, be part of her Mating Run. What this passionate couple doesn't know is a powerful and "love conquers all" Elder/Fairy Godmother, Elizaveta Chernikova, is working in the background and will send her army of helpers if needed. What's a couple to do when their love is unlawful? Will Victor's love be enough for Alexis to overlook his silence? Can Alexis do the Mating Run to protect Victor? How many tiger shifter a$$es will be kicked, bitten and scratched to death? Will their Godmother be able to protect them both for the Shifter's Law? Will they have kids or a cute litter of purring cubs?

This is my first Kat Simons' book and I can't believe it's her first book ever. Ms. Simon creates a sexy, one of a kind and "people keep your A/C turned on" tiger shifter world. Her hero and heroine were both raised in tragedy and she helps them heal themselves. Lena is my favorite kind of heroine, a strong, determined and also an a$$ kicking one. Let's chat about her hero Victor. I love a scarred and wounded on the inside and out hero and he loves his mom, too. This books also unveils some hard, erotic and passionate sex with energetic positions that kept me turning down my A/C because I forgot to restock my fire extinguishers! Plus there was some fangs, claws and fur flying violence that rocked and made me cheer. The addition of a Fairy Godmother character, Elizaveta, was genius and helped pull the story together. I know Alexis wears ripped jeans with a leather jacket and that Victor has several cool tats and has that "just woke up" sexy look. How do I KNOW all these things? Because Ms. Simons' words built real characters in my mind with her writing skills. She enticed my sense of smell with great lines from Victor and had me wishing I had steal toed boots to back up my girl, Alexis. Ms. Simons MADE me love her tiger shifter cosmos and I can't wait to revisit! I also felt her true love and care for Victor and Alexis as if they were her kids. I give my top score of 5 fingers up and 10 toes for Ms. Simon début novel.

Previewed copy given for my honest review.

Looking for a sexy story with a couple tough, sexy shifters? Once Upon a Tiger might just be a great choice!

Alexis was promised she’d never have to “run” … due to a decline in population, all female shifters are required to mate, and the preface to this is running from males until one catches you, at which point you have sex and if you get pregnant you can either stay together or not. But ultimately, the idea is, of course, that all females bear offspring.

Due to a series of events, Alexis became a tracker and was supposed to be exempt from the mating run. This is a good thing since she’s crazy about a male who isn’t allowed to run, Victor, and can’t imagine being with anyone else. But then one day she discovers her exemption has been lifted. She’s surrounded by randy males who are determined to make her run. She’s equally determined to hold her ground, even if it means killing someone.

I liked Alexis and could certainly feel for her. Who wants to be forced to mate with someone you don’t care for, especially when the man … er… tiger of your dreams is right nearby? The author creates a series of events that forces the hands of Victor and Alexis, after years of dancing around each other believing they would never be allowed to be together. Once they throw caution to the wind and indulge in some time between the sheets, all bets are off. Neither one of them is willing to give up what they have.

The villains here aren’t really villains. The other males are just doing what they’re expected and allowed to do. Still, they’re believable antagonists and integral to the story. So, though the conflict might not have been as strong or worrisome as it could have been, it worked for me.

Victor’s backstory broke my heart. What an amazing guy! No wonder Alexis was mad for him. He’s strong, thoughtful, caring and has an amazing heart. Oh, and I shouldn’t forget that he definitely knows how to please his woman! Though the sex was pretty vanilla for an erotic romance, it still got my heart racing. Yum!

I was surprised at how much story Ms. Simons was able to fit into so few pages, and I’m hoping this is the start of something bigger. I’d sure like to see more of this crew. Well done!

originally posted at long and short reviews

Wow, lots and lots of smexy shifter action in this quick but very thorough story. We are introduced to a dying world of tiger shifters desperate to save their race and trying some pretty antiquated methods to achieve higher conception in their fertile females. Great world building here and totally rational from the readers stand point. Notice I said rational. Were I one of the tiger females subjected to the "Run", I would not be thinking "Well, this is certainly a rational way to make sure I am impregnated." I would be thinking "what sorry excuse of a male thought this up and where is a splintered two by four that I can beat over his head?"

Unfortunately shifter society, much like the human realm is dominated by beings controlled by their prized gonads. Fortunately for our heroine, Alexis, she is a trained and very skilled Tracker who can handle her business. No tomcat on the prowl is going to get the jump on our girl unless she wants them to. And the only tomcat she wants is the mute outcast Victor. He may not be vocal, but he expresses himself very, very well. Grrrrrrrrr.....

This was a great introduction into what I consider to be a series worthy of further investigation. Not only did I really like the premise but I liked the characters and their style. The strong heroine was a huge plus, and Victor was just too scrumptious for words. (pun intended). I absolutely enjoyed my brief but memorable sojourn into this world and hope to have a longer stay in the very near future. Job well done.

A sweet and hot paranormal romance novella, Once Upon a Tiger, was a lovely read. I really liked this book. It was a wonderful, quick romance that I really enjoyed.

Both of the characters were great. Alexis was tough and very strong. She was determined to live in a way that made her happy and I really liked her. Victor was super sweet and utterly wonderful. Other tigers underestimated him because of his muteness, but that was their mistake because he was strong and clever. I totally adored him.

The romance was great. Alexis and Victor were so sweet together, with how they had both been in love with each other for so long, but had been unable to be together. And the chemistry between them was hot. Definitely a lot of steamy moments between these two shifters.

The plot was fast paced and I was hooked the entire way through. There were quite a few thrills in store for a novella and that kept me on the edge of my seat. I really enjoyed the story and I thought the ending was so sweet.

Once Upon a Tiger was a fantastic paranormal romance novella. I really liked this wonderful book. Romance lovers, if you want a quick, lovely read, then this is your book.

*I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review

Wow. I write shifter erotica myself and I'm seriously impressed with the talent that Kat Simons brings to the table. ONCE UPON A TIGER was amazingly hot. The chemistry between the hero and heroine sizzled. The world building was solid with just enough back story to keep the reader informed without bogging down the plot. The attention and thoughtfulness given to goal, motivation and conflict was spot on.

There was a tendency for the information being given to the reader to become repetitive. Fight scenes were good, but with a little too much introspection, which slowed down the flow. The heroine did a lot of thinking during combat versus taking action. The meat of the story is really the excellent characterization and relationship development. Both the hero and heroine were complex and interesting individuals with flaws and strengths. I loved watching them grow closer together.

ONCE UPON A TIGER is a quick, engrossing read. I wish it'd gone on longer and Kat Simons is definitely on my list of authors to watch. I can't wait for the next new release.

I really enjoyed this paranormal tale of tiger shifters. Alexis is a very strong and determined woman who has until now been exempt from the Mating Run because of her job as a tracker. She is suddenly being forced by a group of men to participate and she refuses to let them choose her fate or mate. Victor is an oddity in the tiger shifter community. He is mute. Victor has always been attracted to Alexis and when he finds out that she is in danger, he joins her in her fight. This story is very entertaining and a great romance. Alexis and Victor's attraction is sizzling hot and so well written that it drew me in. This tale is filled with chemistry, action and little bit of mystery. I am looking forward to reading more stories by the very talented Kat Simons!

Received a copy for an honest review.

I loved this story Victor&Alexis were amazing, the 5th Tiger sent to the run "I won't spoil it by telling who he is or why he's there, but..." was a great twist to the story. I hate that Nick seems to be a good Tiger/guy, yet his prejudice, calling Victor "defective" really ticked me off. Hope he finds a human mate? definitely what he needs to redeem himself in my eyes. Amazing, hot&smoking sexy story already downloaded the next in the Tiger Shifters series.

I took a chance and purchased this book not having read anything by the author. I was pleasantly surprised. The hero is a shifter and mute. It's rare that you read a story about a shifter with a disability, and I'm so happy that the author didn't portray this as a weakness but rather his strength. The heroine is his equal, strong and more than capable of taking care of herself. The only negative I would give the book is the length. I wish the story were longer and more information was given about what happened with the council. Otherwise, great story and I hope to read more from this author.

I went looking for not another wolf-shifter story and got so much more! Thanks for the twists,turns, and loops. I ESPECIALLY liked the sign language which takes "strong and silent" to a whole other level(LOL) without the pity party as if to say "not disabled, just different".

I hope more authors will choose to be just as brave because their readers are all unique too.

sap

I chose this rating because this book grabs your attention from the beginning to the end if you are a paranormal romance reader. the story line is very strong and easy to follow. The main character is named Alexis and really overcomes obstacles to get the man she love. I found a few spelling errors in the book but for the most part I do not have any dislike of the book.

The first novella in the Tiger Shifters series is a fascinating and erotic quick read. I really enjoyed this riveting introduction to a new world of tiger shifters with its interesting concepts and bewitching characters, I just wish it had been a little longer because it ended way to fast.

See my full review at: The Romance Reviews .com

My Thoughts:
Great story. Fast paced, wonderful characters and a love that we only wish we could have. The plot is far more in depth than a short story usually offers. I am excited about the opportunity to read more from this talented, creative author.