Book 3) (A Shifters Unbound Novel) - Wild Cat (Shifters Unbound

This book had a huge problem with the Spanish used in it. Namely, the male lead kept calling his female romantic interest "Mi ja." Which translates to "my daughter." Basically, mija (which is how it is spelled) is a contraction of mi hija-again literally my daughter. It was very disturbing to read him calling his girlfriend my daughter just before they got it on. Please, please, check this stuff.

Jennifer Ashley is one of my favorite authors. The shifter series is different than I would normally read, but I think they are great. Wild Cat is great reading with a great story line as well as romance. I give it five stars.

I absolutely love Jennifer Ashley's Shifters series but I wish she had written about the main characters brother first. This book seemed out of flow and it didn't make me hungry to finish the book in one night. It started out with a bang but ended with a trickle for me. I'm not sure if this is because the story came from a woman shifter instead (not as much chasing and too much running) but it was disappointing. Does this mean I'll stop reading her books. NO! The next book promises the same flash bang as the others with her brother the clan leader in Las Vegas after a non collared shifter. I would have preferred her to made her current book number 4 and the book she's writing right now 3.

Answering a trespassing call, Las Vegas detective Diego Escobar never thought he'd find a naked woman fifty stories up but Cassidy Warden is no ordinary woman. As a shifter, unfair laws state that Cassidy could face hard jail time or even the death penalty for the harmless act, so Deigo puts his job on the line by covering for her and now must keep a close eye on the feline beauty. Cassidy should be furious that Deigo stopped her from getting the assassin who killed her mate, then arrested her after she saved his life but instead she just wants another chance to get closer to the man who has her feeling more alive than ever. Knowing what it feels like to want revenge, Diego will help Cassidy find her killer and fight for a future he wants with the woman he'll risk everything for.

Diego is a human who has the presence of an alpha. He's intelligent, hardworking, confident, doesn't back down from a challenge and has a need to protect the people he cares about. Diego knows Cassidy can shift into a lethal snow leopard but he still wants to protect her. In Cassidy's world of dominate male shifters, Diego manages to stand out not as a weaker human but a man who can hold his own, whether against feral shifters or close minded humans. I love that Diego doesn't feel the need to prove himself physically against the shifters. He knows his strengths and won't let anyone make him question that. Plus there was no way I couldn't fall for his Latino charm.

Cassidy has a great relationship with her family and I could really feel her pain whenever she talks about the loss of her mate. She's ready to help when there's trouble and while I did like her, I had issues with her character. She's second in command of her Las Vegas Shiftertown, a community that shifters in that area must live in, but I never got the feeling that she held that kind of power. I know that being the strongest is not what makes an alpha and while she would help the women in her town one minute then go on a dangerous mission with Diego the next, I just bring myself to believe she had such high position. Like I said, I liked Cassidy but for the big deal that was made over her being second in command, I wasn't all that impressed.

There's a lot going on in Wild Cat and I thought it was too much. Besides trying to find the killer of Cassidy's mate and find out why he's now after Cassidy herself, Diego is looking to avenge his partner who was murdered. Following a lead, he and Cassidy run into some unexpected trouble that takes the story into another direction. Also, Cassidy's brother Eric has his eyes on a pretty little shifter that won't easily give in to his requests while he's trying to figure out what to do with an unwelcome visitor. This book is barely over 300 pages and I thought all these story lines were interesting but there was just too much happening at once.

Wild Cat is the first book in the Shifters Unbound series that takes place away from the Morrissey clan of the Shiftertown in Austin. I wasn't sure how I'd like it because I'm head over heals in love with the Morrissey men but even with the story overcrowding, I still enjoyed reading Wild Cat. Diego was great and though I had issues with Cassidy, she did end up winning me over in the end. Their love for one another felt genuine and when these two hit the sheets, the pages would sizzle. I look forward to seeing these two again in Mate Claimed, Eric's book and the next installment in the series.

(PureTextuality.com)If you like shifter stories, this series by Jennifer Ashley should be a must read for you. It’s not just about one particular type of shifter, but includes all kinds of large cats, wolves, and bears. In this world the author has built, the shifters are all contained in communities located on the outskirts of certain towns. They are known to the human population and have to have permanent collars put around their necks at age seven. The collar supposedly keeps a shifter from being aggressive by shocking them. Supposedly, because sometimes things like that can be bypassed or gotten around.

This time around, the action takes place in the shiftertown outside of Vegas. Previous to this, the setting was Texas. And as with all of these books, action is the word for these books, as well as romance. Diego is a human cop who has his life saved by a female snow leopard, while on top of an unfinished highrise during a police chase. Cassidy is not who he is chasing, but a victim of the man he is chasing. Cassidy gets arrested, even though she is the victim. Shifters have no rights and can be pulled off the streets for just about any reason. Cassidy is still grieving for the loss of her mate to the man that is chasing her. He’s been gone a year and all she wants to do is kill the murderer-after she pays tribute to her lost mate. She is second in command of her clan, as her brother is alpha. No nepotism here, as she is the strongest in her clan, second only to her brother, Eric. As far as Diego goes, he’s pretty smitten right off the bat with Cassidy. On Cassidy’s part, she knows she has found her mate, no matter that she’s still grieving the loss of her first one. It’s not something that she can help.

I always enjoy Ms. Ashley’s world building. Because she writes about a variety of shifters, she has different attributes for each, as well as some that overlap. This world she has created, where humans treat shifters so horribly, is also part of the overall world building. Diego, as a police detective risks his whole career if he even dates Cassidy. Being her mate, unthinkable! Human hunters of shifters also make for good villains in this world. So do the Fae that manage to find themselves in this world at times, as well. I enjoyed the main characters immensely and Cassidy, in particular. Both are strong and fighters, and perfect for each other-if you leave out the shifter thing. Eric has a side story that intrigued me as well. Finding a lone, unprotected shifter female that is living as human, and who is very vulnerable to any male shifter, was an interesting extra in this book. I look forward to more about that part of the story in the future.

This ended up being not only a good romance, but also a mystery with thriller aspects. I recommend this book to adult paranormal romance fans.

Being human means police officer Diego shouldn't like Cassidy Warden. Something about her calls to his wild side, even as he's cuffing her wrists against that flawless back. Laws are laws and she's broken one, for a shifter that's bad news. Diego knows he needs to treat this case carefully, especially after he learns that she's being hunted by someone that seems to appear and disappear at will.
Feline shifter Cassidy hasn't trusted humans since her mate was murdered a year ago. She needs the closure of finding his killers if she is ever to stop grieving so hard. Diego, the sexy Latino cop, is slowly starting to stir her mate bond again and she is fnding herself powerless to stop it. Diego is still grieving the loss of his partner and he may need some consoling only Cassidy can do.
With their faceless enemy closing in Cassidy and Diego have little time to figure out who is after Cassidy and why. Help from friends shifter and human alike, along with some new allies, will be their only hope.

There is just something about this series that I love. There isn't an overload of action. The sex scenes are hot but not really anything out of the ordinary. The thing I love about this series is the connection I feel with the characters. The connection the characters have with each other. And the sense of family woven throughout the story. Add to that some sexy shifters and you've got a winner in my eyes.
Diego....omg you guys...give me a hot, protective cop that whispers naughty things in his native language, in my ear ANY DAY. He was strong, protective even though Cassidy can more than take care of herself and completely loyal to those around him. His past of gang involvement having shaped him into a great cop and a wonderful human being. He made me melt every time he called Cassidy "mi ja"
Cassidy was a character that was easy to get behind. She was grieving her mate and so in the beginning came off a bit standoffish. However, her mating frenzy was soon kicking into overdrive with the sexy Latino. I loved her take charge attitude even when she was showing her not often seen soft side.
Wild Cat is the third book in the Shifter Unbound series but surprisingly it found us in another shifter clan altogether. We had briefly heard of Eric (Cassidys brother and head of this clan) in the last two books but only from afar. Going into another shifter town was a good idea in my opinion. It may have changed the location a little but it gives the story line a fresh perspective. New characters. And limitless new stories to be told. Eric has a small side story in Wild Cat which will be the lead in for the next book due out in the fall. I will admit I'm bummed it's going to be that long of a wait...even knowing it really isn't long by publishing standard. What can I say, I'm greedy that way. I want more Shifter Unbound! Eric meets Iona, a collarless half shifter trying to pass as fully human. She has resisted "coming out" for fear of the restrictions placed upon shifters. The tension between these two could be cut with a knife. I really look forward to the continuation of their story.
I enjoyed the continued world building with the Fae and their different "species" and conflicts. They aren't unlike humans really in the fact that they have factions and turmoil within the social ranks. I liked the play of the light vs. the dark. I also thought that the social ladders of humans and shifters is really interesting. The shunning of the shifters makes me think of all the races/religions/cultures human groups have shunned over the years. The oppression human have placed on other humans. It makes you stop and think about how you treat others and if laws should be passed allowing people to basically push down others just because of their differences. It boils down to insecurity on behalf of those pushing others down. I applauded Diego for standing up for what he believed in even when Cassidy feared for his job and how he'd be perceived for being with a shifter romantically.
Jennifer Ashley has a total series fan in me! I love this series and I hope others will jump on my Shifter Unbound bandwagon and enjoy the ride with me! Magical, sensual, political and simply wonderful, Wild Cat has it all!

I give Wild Cat by Jennifer Ashley 5 stars!

Nikki - Ramblings From A Chaotic Mind

Cassidy Warden is a Feline Shifter, and second-in-command in her Shiftertown outside Las Vegas. One year ago, her mate was killed by human hunters, men who haven't been caught or punished. While trying to makes sense of his death, someone starts hunting her, chasing her to an abandoned construction site. Diego Escobar is a vice cop with the LVPD, and finds himself face to face with his biggest fear--heights--and his first Shifter--a very naked Cassidy--when she saves his life. He still has to arrest her for trespassing, but promises his captain he'll watch out for her to save her from jail or worse. Their forced intimacy nurtures an intense mutual attraction, and they still have to figure out who has been hunting her.

I came to Wild Cat, the third in Jennifer Ashley's Shifters Unbound series, with high hopes. I picked up Primal Bonds on the strength of her other novels, and loved it, and Bodyguard, an e-novella, was also fabulous. The world Ms. Ashley has created is terrifying in its realism--Shifters have been regulated into second-class citizens and relegated to Shiftertowns, forced to wear collars to control their aggression. Many stores won't let them in, they cannot marry or own property, and nearly any crime committed by a Shifter against a human is an immediate death sentence. Sound like something America would do to people it can't control and doesn't understand?

In spite of all this, the Shifters are thriving. It's in this world that we meet Cassidy and Diego. Unlike the first two novels and one short story set in Austin, TX, Wild Cat introduces the reader to all new characters in Las Vegas. (Not totally: we met her brother Eric briefly in 'Primal Bonds,' and a few of the Austin Shifters have a cameo here.) We meet Diego first, a vice cop whose partner was killed in the same incident that gave him a crippling fear of heights. Despite that, he does his duty and backs up two uniforms when a Shifter is caught trespassing in a 51-story unfinished building. When he gets to the top, he finds the two uniforms taken out by tranquilizer darts, and the shooter taking aim for him as well.

This is the start of my first beef with this book. Ms. Ashley sets up an intriguing mystery--an unknown hunter killed Cassidy's mate one year ago, and seems to be after her. He can disappear at will, and the Shifters suspect a Fae, though they don't have that ability. He almost kidnaps Cassidy twice, and there is a climatic scene where Diego, his brother Xavier, and three Shifters come to her rescue as the villain is about to sacrifice her. Except this all happens in the first third of the book! We then jump to another plotline about avenging Diego's dead partner, which leads to yet ANOTHER different storyline. After that one is resolved, there's still about a quarter of the book left, so, you guessed it, there's one more final plotline. Now, if each of these tied into a central theme or mystery, I would understand. But no, they all are nearly self-contained, with only a few very thin threads connecting them. I felt off-balance for most of the book, wondering if I was missing the clues on how these were all going to tie together and my frustration escalated near the end, when it was obvious they weren't going to.

My other main issue with this book was the sex. It was... dull. Ms. Ashley's books usually have a handful of very hot love scenes (see: the entirety of her Highland Pleasures series and Janet and Mick in her Stormwalker series, rawr!) but not here. They felt almost perfunctory. The first scene, in the shower, had a lot of potential (mmm, shower sex!) that fizzled out quickly. I actually went back to reread it to see if I'd missed something.

Despite these issues, I enjoyed the book. I liked Diego and Cassidy, and thought their romance was natural and lovely. I liked how Diego refused to touch her sexually while she was under his care, and thought Cassidy's mental turmoil over her grief for her dead mate and her attraction to Diego rang very true. The secondary characters all felt real, especially Eric, Cassidy's brother and Shiftertown leader, and Diego's brother Xavier. The interactions between Eric and Iona, a half-shifter posing as human, have me jonesing for their story. (Lucky for me, it's the next novel!) While Wild Cat is not my favorite of this series, I'll keep reading Shifters Unbound, and look forward to the next entry.

Three out of five stars.

Wild Cat by Jennifer Ashley
Paranormal Romance -Jan. 3rd, 2012
4 stars

In the latest installment in the author's Shifters Unbound series, we are treated to a tormented hero and a heroine recovering from the malicious killing of her mate because he was a shifter.

Shifter, Cassidy Warden is mourning the anniversary of her mate's death. When she tries to pay her respects she is chased by an unknown power who wants her blood to open a portal to another world. Their fight alerts the police and she finds herself in the clutches of the handsome and all too human detective Diego Escobar. They are very attracted to each other, but Cassidy finds herself in trouble for breaking human laws. When Diego defends her, he finds himself placed as her keeper in exchange for a lighter sentence.

Cassidy can't believe that she has been confined to Shiftertown for two weeks with a hot detective who is making sure she stays put. She has important responsibilities! But what she doesn't know is that she is being hunted and being unprotected may mean her life. As Diego tries to keep up with Cassidy and keep her safe, they soon find themselves immersed in Shifter politics, feral shifters, and a dangerous Fae.

This is a well written paranormal romance. While not my favorite in the series, I liked the mystery behind why Cassidy is pursued. Diego and Cassidy both have difficult issues that haunt them and which gives them depth. The addition of the lawless feral shifters also adds danger and tension to the story. But my absolute favorite sections in the book are about Cassidy's alpha brother Eric. He is the leader of one of the Shiftertowns and scents a young female half breed named Iona. Their cat and mouse `courtship' is exciting to read. I can't wait to read the next book, Mate Claimed which features their story.

A strong addition to the author's shifter's series, loyal fans will not want to miss this book, especially the budding romance that features the heroine's super sexy brother.

Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club

Love the Shifters Unbound world that Jennifer Ashley has created. She has easily become one of my favorite paranormal authors. Ms. Ashley easily entwined so much action, steamy romance and storylines. Great story and writing. I love when I am so drawn into the story that I feel as if i'm right there with the characters.
The main story follows Diego and Cassidy. Although Diego is human and Cassidy is a shifter, he proves that he is just as strong and loyal as any Alpha.
Can't wait to read the next book in the series.

I really like the new characters and the Vegas Shiftertown but missed those I loved from the first two books. That is the only thing that kept me from giving this book a 5 star rating. As with the other books in the Shifters Unbound series, Wild Cat was action packaged, suspenseful and super smexy. This book set the stage for Mate Claimed which is Eric's book and after getting a better look at him I'm really looking foward to it. He can drag me into a dark room and feed me chocolate anytime. Wis...moreI really like the new characters and the Vegas Shiftertown but missed those I loved from the first two books. That is the only thing that kept me from giving this book a 5 star rating. As with the other books in the Shifters Unbound series, Wild Cat was action packaged, suspenseful and super smexy. This book set the stage for Mate Claimed which is Eric's book and after getting a better look at him I'm really looking foward to it. He can drag me into a dark room and feed me chocolate anytime. Wish I didn't have to wait until October but it looks like my favorite shifter, Spike's, novella Fighting Cat is coming out in May. That makes me a happy, happy girl. I give this book 4.5 stars.

After being chased into an empty building by someone trying to kill her on the anniversary of her mates death, Cassie Warden is arrested on trespassing charges. Humans consider shifters dangerous and to them it doesn't matter the reason for her trespassing they just want to throw the book at her and lock her up. She has no idea what to expect. Until handsome officer Diego Escobar walks in and takes charge.

From the moment they meet there is a connection but she's a shifter and he's the human tasked with making sure she toes the line and behaves. That is until Cassie's life is put in danger again and Diego realizes his life just isn't complete without her. Determined to make it work, even if he has to fight Cassie herself he proves over and over again that he was alpha enough to be her mate.

I just love Jennifer's Shifters Unbound series...Wild Cat is the third book and here we meet Eric's (from book 2) sister Cassidy and Diego the human cop who will be her mate. They both have lost someone and feel responsible for that person's loss. There are a lot of twists to this story and we me meet the Las Vegas shifters. I'm off to read Bodyguard now.

Love lost and reclaimed is this book in a nutshell. Cassidy and Diego are both so strong and giving. Each has endured incredible loss and guilt, both seek retribution and redemption. I liked Diego's relentless pursuit of Cassidy. He's every bit an alpha as the shifter town leaders. Cassidy is a leader but she's willing to relinquish control to Diego. I enjoyed all the twists and turns in this book both with the plot and the characters.
Highly recommended series and author
Adult read

Read for Fun (Library Book)
Overall Rating: 4.00
Story Rating: 4.00
Character Rating: 4.25

First Thought when Finished: Wild Cat by Jennifer Ashley was slow to start but ended up being on of my favorite in the series.

Quick Thoughts: I really loved Cassidy and Diego. Looking forward to Eric's story. That has the potential to ROCK!

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

After I thought all the ideas were taken like fairy and vampires etc, this book is refreshing and different. The plot is good and tight, characters are alive for me and have different personalities that are vivid. And the love/romance tensions are just right. This book became a real world. I started with this book, 3rd in the series, and immediately ordered the first two books since I like to start from the beginning. Have fun!