Book 2), Primal Bonds (Shifters Unbound

This book is just "okay". There are too many little things that just ruin this series. I gave it two books to see if it got better-it didn't! Of course this is after reading Mercy Thompson series. For example-the wolves have to call each other on the phone to communicate!? Really? Story line is okay but your time might be better spent elsewhere.

I really enjoyed both of the books in the Shifter Unbound series. These books give you a new way to think about the paranormal-- being out to the public and rounded up like a modern day trail of tears. Living shunned by the majority of the normal crowd and striving to do whats necessary for the safety of there people it makes for strong characters and a good read.

Let's talk about shifters, man. I LIKE SHIFTERS. A lot. I like when they're poking fun at the other breeds. I like when they go all mushy around their family. I like when they get territorial over their special someone. I REALLY like it when the mating frenzy kicks in and they're all about the sexy times. RAWR!

First off, let's take a look at Sean. The guy has a ROUGH job. Being the one who has to send the dead to the Summerland is not that great a gig. Most everyone fears him. He's kind of resigned himself to being alone from a mating aspect. Sure, it's a sacred responsibility and he's been goddess-blessed and everything, but I could see that sort of thing wearing on a man.

Mate-claiming Andrea sight unseen so that she'll be granted safe passage into their territory might seem like a crazy move, but it works for these two. He likes her, she likes him. And because of her fae heritage, she's not bound by the same rules all the other shifters are.

Which gives Andrea some power when it comes to finding her place with the Morrisseys. I always love when the ladies meet their men head-on.

Danger, betrayal, familial ties, and sexy times. *thumbs up*

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

This could have been great, but it fell short for me personally.

The pros:
* I love the creative concept of this world created. "Shiftertown" as a series has so much potential

The cons:
* It just felt like something was missing between the hero and heroine. They felt unrealistic to me, and one dimensional.
* Insta-love - this is always a buzz kill to me
* The hero constantly referring to the heroine as "love". It was overly repetitious
* There were so many attempts for Andrea and Sean to be whitty, and to throw some humor or cute banter in, but it didn’t work for me. They just seemed lame.
* A book virgin .......... Sigh
* I had a hard time sticking with this book - I almost discontinued reading it a couple of times because nothing seemed to happen. Lots of long dull spells.
* WAYYYYYY overpriced. It's currently listed at $7.59 and was nowhere worth that price.

Overall, this one was not for me. I do still like the idea of a town of shifters, so I may give other books in this series a try later on.

Primal Bonds by Jennifer Ashley
Paranormal Romance -March 1st, 2011
5 stars

Primal Bonds is the second in Jennifer Ashley's shifter series but can be easily read by itself. It is a thrilling an emotionally satisfying romance. I liked it even better than the first book, Pride Mates.

In this story, the half Fae and half lupine shifter named Andrea Gray has found sanctuary in a new Shiftertown. She fled her old one because she was terrorized by a lupine who wanted to mate with her. But as a condition to being allowed to stay in this new Shiftertown, Andrea had to find someone who would volunteer to be her potential mate.

Sean Morrissey is the Shiftertown Guardian. A powerful protector who carries a magical Fae sword that allows shifters to be released to 'heaven' before they die. When he first saw the beautiful and vulnerable Andrea, he couldn't help volunteering himself as a potential mate and has vowed to wait until she is ready for him. But their relationship is complicated by prejudices against shifters. A rash of human shootings on various Shiftertowns causes severe injuries. When the police ignore the shifters' pleas for help, the Morrissey family becomes more determined to find out the cause and 'fix' it.

This is an exciting story that I read in one sitting! I loved the 2 main characters and the chemistry between them is super hot. Jennifer Ashley also has separate storylines including Sean's father which add a lot of depth to this book and made me feel like I really knew these characters. There are some really good surprises concerning Andrea and her Fae nature, which drives the story. It was also fascinating to learn about Sean's role as a Guardian and the Guardian history. As I mentioned earlier, this book is even better than the first, and I can't wait for the next which features an alpha, shifter heroine!

Exciting and immensely enjoyable, paranormal fans will love this series. It is already one of my favorites!

Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club

Ahh there's just so much paranormal goodness going on in Primal Bonds. Sexy alpha males, awesome heroines. Romance and unrest in the shifter community. A little danger and an arranged marriage. *shivers* I just loved it all and getting lost in Shifterville for a few hours.

Sean and Andy were fabulous. I loved the pairing of a feline and a wolf/fae and that they had an arranged marriage--the only way she could leave her shifter town and escape an abusive forced mating. The humor in the relationship reminded me a bit of Shelly Laurenston who is one of my all time favorites. The snark and teasing between them over their differing species. How they pulled the playfulness out of each other. They were just a really fun couple and great individuals.

Andy, whew, this girl never backs down from all the alpha males, she's headstrong and stubborn. Has a hard time trusting or understanding why Sean wants to help her escape the situation back home when he doesn't know her...but I loved her. And Sean. Gah. I seriously cannot get enough of these Irish men. So lickable! The way they talk, the way they look after their women, the strength in them. Mragrh! And he's got a panty fetish. ::snort:: that's pretty adorable. There's some pretty damn hot sex scenes too that are a bit naughty. Even better!

Primal Bonds was just a fun read. The romance was well done, the tinge of not really knowing who you can really trust added some nice excitement and the secondary characters were excellent. I seriously want a book for all of them. They're just such an interesting group. If you love shifters it's definitely a series to check out.

First and foremost if you're not reading this series I need to ask...WHY NOT? Jennifer Ashley writes fun, easy to read shifter romance with ease. Coupled with the smexyness located within the pages and its a winning combination!

Primal Bonds finds the stoic Sean still grieving years after his brother Kenny was killed. Being the "Guardian" of his clan is enough work and heartache on it's own. He doesn't see the point of adding to it by thinking of taking a mate. When word comes to him that a woman, a half Fae, half Lupine shifter needs a mate he agrees. Sight unseen. Sean sees it as an easy escape. Take a mate that there is no chance of actually bonding too and save himself the agony of ever loving and losing again.

Andrea is running from an unwanted mate claim gone wrong. Though in running from one mate she runs straight into the arms of another. Now Seans Guardian sword is whispering things to her and a unwanted Fae is haunting her dreams. The shifter that claimed her unseen is heating up her blood and the mating frenzy is imminent. The move to this shiftertown isn't at all like she imagined. Now finding out about her past is important because it dictates her future.

I love Sean and Andrea together. Sean, being an alpha, wasn't used to a woman not backing down and being submissive. Andrea was headstrong and being submissive never even crossed her mind. That made plenty of shifters in the past mad, but Sean is different. He enjoys it, even when its annoying him. Together there were a ton of sparks and protective instincts. I like when a woman feels just as protective as the male. It makes the playing field more even to have a woman be able to step up and dish out carnage just as easily as the male. I also love when a woman is depicted as "lush and curveous" instead of stick thin. Shifters seem to like a bit of meat on their women since when dealing with shifters the women are taller and bigger all around anyway.

The last book, Pride Mates I said a couple of key things that bugged me. The touching. All the touching. It was still in this book but maybe because this book is from the POV of a shifter instead of a human, it didn't bother me nearly as much. To these characters it wasn't odd at all and so I didn't think of it nearly as much. It seemed in this one the nephew, Conner, who I had previously said was very immature in cat years though he was 21 in human years, is slowly getting set up for his own book maybe in the future. I really hope its a LONG way in the future or the books skip like 10 years, because with his immaturity it would be a weird read.

One aspect of this book did slightly annoy me. In one scene they take off Andreas collar and replace it with a fake that is supposed to make other shifters think she still has her original collar on. Ok. Fine. BUT the original collars are fused to the skin, meaning they don't move....ever. Are you telling me this woman can shift, run, bend over...whatever...and no one is going to notice that it moves away from the skin? That bugged me.

Primal Bonds was a excellent book overall and I did enjoy it more then Pride Mates. This one had more action, more interactions, and it seemed, at least to me, a better connection with the characters. I also enjoyed the side story of Glory and Dylan in this one that was a slow simmer in Pride Mates. Jennifer Ashley has a winning series in my mind and I will be eagerly awaiting the next book, Wild Cat in January 2012!

Nikki- Ramblings From A Chaotic Mind

The Shifters Unbound series features shapeshifters in a world where they are collared second class citizens forced to live in shifter towns. Primal bonds revisits the wold of Pride Mates with Sean (brother to Liam from the first book) taking the spotlight. Sean is a cat-shifter set apart from his tightly knit community by his role as Guardian - he frees the souls of dying shifters to move on to the next world. But now Sean finally has a shot at having a mate and a family when a half fae/wolfshifter Andrea needs a sponser in Sean's town in order relocate and escape a stalkerish suitor.

I really liked Primal Bonds. I love shapeshifter romances and I really liked both the Sean and Andrea - they were both strong yet vulnerable and both had a sense of humor. It was also nice to see an alpha male who could deal with an alpha female without a whole bunch of power games. I thought that author Ashley also managed a successful balance between story and steam - with an action packed plot in the background and some steamy tension building in the romance. There was also a nice little bonus resolution to the relationship between two of the secondary characters from the last book.

I eagerly look forward to more Shifters Unbound, if you missed it there was also a connected short, Shifter Made (Shifters Unbound) (originally part of the The Mammoth Book of Irish Romance) , which starred one of Sean's ancestors and told of the creation of the Guardian's sword. As a quick side note, I am glad that the publishers rethought the original title - Primal Bonds has more dramatic impact than "Shifter Lovin'"

To get out of her shiftertown, Andrea Gray had to agree to being mate claimed without ever seeing the man. But Andrea is willing to risk anything to be allowed to move to her aunt's shiftertown. After all, Andrea isn't your normal wolf shifter, she is also half Fae and as such, looked down upon by all. In the shiftertown she has lived in, all Andrea can expect is to become mated to some male who will only want her to be a breeding machine and even then her kids will be looked down upon.

Sean Morrissey is second in command to his brother in their shiftertown. He is also a feline shifter and the town's Guardian. Being Guardian means that having a female shifter agree to a mating isn't really likely. When Sean gets a chance to mate claim Andrea, sight unseen, he jumps at it. After all, Sean has some idea of what to expect since Andrea's aunt lives next door to him. Hoping that they would be agreeable to each other, Sean is immediately attracted to Andrea when they first meet.

Andrea definitely finds Sean sexy enough but she is hoping to discover something of herself before taking the mating step. A couple of the things she really wants are a sense of independence, and to know who her father is. Changes are coming to all the shiftertowns, and now suddenly, it seems that humans are taking pot shots at them but is that really all that is happening? As Sean and Andrea are beginning their mating dance, danger is surrounding them from all fronts, or so it seems. Help might just come from one of Andrea's wishes but is it help the couple can truly trust? Things are looking pretty bleak for Sean and Andrea but the other shifters as well. But isn't that about the time the sliver lining shows?

When two souls agree to the ultimate blind date, it's just the beginning of an adventure of a lifetime. Primal Bonds brings Sean and Andrea together just when life as they know it might be broken forever. I have been looking forward to this next book and I have to say that shockingly, it was almost better than the first one. I loved the sexy humor between Sean and Andrea, and watching them figure out just what their relationship would be and how. I also loved that they were able to accept the one another's needs to be what they were. While the main story was focused on Sean and Andrea, the side stories were just as engaging and told me a lot of just where this world was heading. I have to admit that I read the entire book in just a few hours because I seriously did not want to put it down and was a bit sad when I reached the last page. The final revelations were just mind blowing, and have me waiting on the edge of my seat for the next book in this series. Primal Bonds has sexy adventure with a backdrop of danger and humor that made it a real page-turner. What more can I say without giving it way - Only that it is a keeper and of course Joyfully Recommended as one you'll be reading often.

While you can certainly read Primal Bonds as a stand alone novel, I'm betting that you will go back to grab Primal Mates to discover the beginning of this intriguing world.

Jo
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Humans keep shapeshifters in run down squabble. They also insist the beasts wear fae created collars to insure these monsters are unable to use their animal nature.

Half-breed fae-lupine Andrea Gray flees from a potential mate who insists she belongs to him. She arrives at the Shiftertown section of Austin where she hopes to find protection. Feline shifter Sean Morrissey, who possesses the powerful shifter soul release sword, claims her as his mate though he does so in name only to keep Andrea safe. As the two alphas begin to investigate their desire for one another, they fall in love, but each fears to raise the issue of being true life mates as he expected no one due to his sword's skill and she has always detested the concept of belonging to any mate even as she knows he is not just any mate.

The latest Shifters Unbound urban fantasy (see Pride Mates) is an enjoyable thriller as the Ashley mythos is further developed with a sense that shifters exist and what happens in Austin is genuine. The story line is fast-paced with the sexual taut relationship between the feline and the lupine cutting across the action packed tale. Readers will enjoy the Primal Bonds between two alphas who mate at the drop of a page to the delight of fans.

Harriet Klausner

Read for Fun (Library)
Overall Rating: 4.00
Story Rating: 4.00
Character Rating: 4.00

First Thought when Finished: Primal Bonds by Jennifer Ashley just confirmed that I need to go find where the heck these TX shifters are and go have a drink at their bar!

Quick Thoughts:Sean was every bit the hot alpha male that I enjoy (protector, smart ass, and delectable). However, it was Andrea that really stole the show! Loved the underwear thing. Loved her no BS attitude. Loved her "just because you tell me too doesn't mean I have too" attitude. So glad my library had the rest of these!

Part of my Read It, Rate It, File It, DONE! Reviews

The characters are very well-done and likable which is what carries this entry into the Shifters Unbound universe. I did love this novel, don’t get me wrong. It was well-written and I couldn’t put it down. However, I wish it had started when Andrea was applying to move to the Austin Shiftertown, instead of after she had been there awhile. And it seemed like the ‘villains’ of the piece were simply thrown in here. I don’t know, just didn’t quite fit. So because of that, I give it 3.5 stars! Probably could push 4 since Sean is so tortured and sexy.

2nd book in the Shifters Unbound series. Loved this book. Great characters, writing and plot. I was drawn in and hated when the story ended. I love paranormal books with a strong alpha male and strong heroine and thought that Sean and Andrea complimented each other. I look forward to reading the rest of this series.

Humans keep shapeshifters in run down squabble. They also insist the beasts wear fae created collars to insure these monsters are unable to use their animal nature.

Half-breed fae-lupine Andrea Gray flees from a potential mate who insists she belongs to him. She arrives at the Shiftertown section of Austin where she hopes to find protection. Feline shifter Sean Morrissey, who possesses the powerful shifter soul release sword, claims her as his mate though he does so in name only to keep Andrea safe. As the two alphas begin to investigate their desire for one another, they fall in love, but each fears to raise the issue of being true life mates as he expected no one due to his sword's skill and she has always detested the concept of belonging to any mate even as she knows he is not just any mate.

The latest Shifters Unbound urban fantasy (see Pride Mates) is an enjoyable thriller as the Ashley mythos is further developed with a sense that shifters exist and what happens in Austin is genuine. The story line is fast-paced with the sexual taut relationship between the feline and the lupine cutting across the action packed tale. Readers will enjoy the Primal Bonds between two alphas who mate at the drop of a page to the delight of fans.

Harriet Klausner

Read for Fun (Library)
Overall Rating: 4.00
Story Rating: 4.00
Character Rating: 4.00

First Thought when Finished: Primal Bonds by Jennifer Ashley just confirmed that I need to go find where the heck these TX shifters are and go have a drink at their bar!

Quick Thoughts:Sean was every bit the hot alpha male that I enjoy (protector, smart ass, and delectable). However, it was Andrea that really stole the show! Loved the underwear thing. Loved her no BS attitude. Loved her "just because you tell me too doesn't mean I have too" attitude. So glad my library had the rest of these!

Part of my Read It, Rate It, File It, DONE! Reviews

Primal Bonds ... Jennifer Ashley's second book in the Shifters Unbound series did not disappoint. I got right into the story and was happy that Sean met his half fae mate Andrea. They are both strong and when he first claimed her it was more to help her out than to find his mate. That changes as the story unfolds. I enjoyed how the characters from the first book were included in this story. I'm really enjoying this series and am off to read Wild Cat now.

The characters are very well-done and likable which is what carries this entry into the Shifters Unbound universe. I did love this novel, don’t get me wrong. It was well-written and I couldn’t put it down. However, I wish it had started when Andrea was applying to move to the Austin Shiftertown, instead of after she had been there awhile. And it seemed like the ‘villains’ of the piece were simply thrown in here. I don’t know, just didn’t quite fit. So because of that, I give it 3.5 stars! Probably could push 4 since Sean is so tortured and sexy.

2nd book in the Shifters Unbound series. Loved this book. Great characters, writing and plot. I was drawn in and hated when the story ended. I love paranormal books with a strong alpha male and strong heroine and thought that Sean and Andrea complimented each other. I look forward to reading the rest of this series.

Sean carries around a huge burden of responsibility. Grief from losing his brother and being the one to deliver death to his kind has left him damaged. Andrea is a fiery woman. She's has one foot in two worlds and neither one are welcoming. I loved how they mended the broken pieces of the other. They quickly come to see beyond the surface to the heart of what is needed.
Highly recommended series and author
Adult read

"Primal Bonds" is the story of Sean, younger brother of Liam (the hero in book 1) and Andrea, a lupine Shifter new in town.
I loved Sean in "Pride Mates" and I adored him in "Primal Bonds". I just have a soft spot for the strong and silent hero type. And while he personifies that he's still extremely affectionate and playful when it comes to Andrea and his family. His position as Guardian, where he has to make sure that all dead or dying Shifters can cross to the afterlife, confronts him with the mortality of his loved ones on a regular basis. It gave him a vulnerable touch, while making him extraordinarily strong at the same time. His protectiveness is honed to its maximum limit, which might make him seem overbearing at first glance, but in the end is just attributed to his deep rooted wish to keep everyone around him safe.
This lead to quite some confrontations with Andrea, who, in the manner of all "strong" heroines, obviously had to prove her independence by disagreeing with Sean on principle. But since that made for some steamy love scenes I'm not complaining too much.
Andrea was an okay heroine. She didn't impress me too much, but apart from her typical quest for independence, she kept her attitude and behavior relatively drama-free, which I'm really grateful for. But seriously, she's mated to a Shifter, which equals A LOT of animalistic and deep rooted instincts to conquer and protect on his side, so what exactly does she expect?

Unlike in "Pride Mates" the mating (the bonding of two Shifters) in book 2 actually got enough time to develop with a natural pace, but at the same time Ashley shortened the whole getting-to-know-each-other process, by cutting out the scene when Sean and Andrea first met. By the time the book started Sean had already mate-claimed her, which is the preliminary stage of the actual mating and Andrea has already settled into the Austin Shiftertown. So I don't know what problem Ashley has with a natural and measured build-up for her relationships in this series, but it's getting kind of exhausting. It's so much harder to get into the whole love story if she refuses to give us time to accommodate to all the stages or rather doesn't even give us all the stages.

Then there were the action elements of this book. And I have to say to me they felt rather random, I felt pretty much completely detached from them, especially towards the end. Again there has been so much going on that I wasn't even sure what I was supposed to watch out for: drive-by-shootings on Shifter establishments, rival clan leaders from other Shiftertowns and then... faeries. I'm sorry, but that was just a bit... ridiculous. Why couldn't have Ashley picked up one of the issues from book 1 instead of creating a whole new set of problems. Things that were a huge issue in book 1 weren't even mentioned in "Primal Bonds", for example the feral Shifters. It just doesn't feel right since this is a series.
And even though I enjoyed the romance part of the book, it was kind of hard for me to bond with the book in general. If there isn't a solid story to support the romance, not even the best love story can fix it (and like I wrote before, the love part was far from perfect).

I was happy though to revisit Glory and Dylan, who had a secondary plot line in "Pride Mates". But since their issue was very satisfyingly resolved in "Primal Bonds" and since I had quite some problems with both books, I guess I won't go on with the "Shifter Unbound" series. I don't regret reading it, but I'm just not interested enough.
I definitely prefer Jennifer Ashley's historical romance books which have been a delicious treat!

I am a teen reading addict that must read everything I get my hands on. I got this on sale from a bookstore that was closing. To be honest with you all. I didn't pick it out. My lovely mother did and let me tell you she definitely handed me something I enjoyed. Technically I read this one first and then I just recently ordered the first one.
This was a great read and I am proud to admit that I have read it at least four or more times since getting it on sale. Normally I sell some books to stores when I am finished with the book. All I can say is that this book is a definite keeper and I am looking forward to reading the original. I apologize if I don't give details about the book, but I am just giving my personal opinion and letting you decide on buying it. I prefer people exploring a story on their own.

Jennifer Ashley is quickly becoming one of my favorite shifter authors. The concept of Shifter town and the world building she created is richly imagined and ties shifters and fae together. This book was brimming with mystery, supernatural and steam. Overall, I loved the plot, the characters, and actually the whole book. Five glittery stars for Primal Bonds!

Primal Bonds tells the story of Feline Shifter Sean Morrissey and a half-Fae, half-Shifter Andrea Gray. Andrea Gray comes to town seeking refuge and Sean Morrissey claims her. Andrea had not been accepted in the shifter world because she is half-Fae. Sean never expected to have a mate because he is the Guardian of the sword and the Guardian life is always lonely, but Andrea brought hope to his life. Andrea left her old town due to an unwanted mate-claim and came to Sean town not knowing that she would find the answer to her past and find her scared mate.

Primal Bonds is a really enjoyable suspenseful love story. I loved the connection between Sean and Andrea. I loved the way Andrea defends Sean every time there is a conflict. Andrea healing powers are amazing and the way that they do wonders when she is connected with the sword and Sean. It was great that Andrea was a Fae princess but kind of expected. I enjoyed being hooked to the book wanted to know Andreas past, who were behind the Shifter shootings, Was Fionn Cillian Andrea Father, why did the Sword spoke to Andrea, and why as Andrea having nightmares and what they meant. I really love a Paranormal Romance book packed with Suspense.

This one was better then the first book. The main couple had more chemistry and some how more respect for each other. The mystery of the collars lives on and the Fae are introduced. I am hoping Conner gets his story soon. Good read.

This was a great addition to the first Shifters Unbound story, it brought the Fae more into it which at first I wasn't so sure of but by the the end I enjoyed. Andrea and Sean were sweet and their mating different from Liam's

Love this series of books, getting to know each family and falling in love with them. Being excited for the new lovers, great adventures. These books really have it all. But Tiger still holds my heart. It's going to take one mind blowing book to ever beat him. Come on it is a really big challenge here....

Love this book. I have liked Sean Morrissey throughout the series. When he was sweet enough to claim Andrea before seeing her just to help her out, it was great that she turned out more then he expected. It had a wonderful ending.