“I'll have what she's having.”
After almost two decades of reviewing paranormal fantasy, I’ve had the distinct, ahem, pleasure of reading some amazingly well written supernaturally-powered erotic romance: LKH’s Anita Blake sequence, Adrian Phoenix’s The Maker’s Song, Stacia Kane’s Downside novels, etc. but the truth of the matter is that the majority of stuff out there falls well short of being truly steamy. Writing a novel that succeeds in being simultaneously romantic and erotic is an exceedingly rare talent – and I’m here to tell you that Jennifer Ashley is one of the very best out there right now.
Ashley’s latest Shifters Unbound novel Wild Cat (after Pride Mates and Primal Bonds) is so hot it’s more than a page-turner; it’s a page-burner. Set in the same universe as the previous two novels but a standalone read, Wild Cat revolves around the relationship between Las Vegas vice detective Diego Escobar and Cassidy Warden, a beautiful Shifter (lycanthrope) who comes to Diego’s attention when an unknown assassin tries to kill her.
Shifters are kept separate from humankind – they live in their own communities (called Shiftertowns) and wear collars to supposedly regulate their violent tendencies. Humans and Shifters are not supposed to mix but when Diego and Cassidy – who are both emotionally wounded and struggling with the tragic loss of loved ones – fatefully meet, the attraction is immediate, intense, over-powering, undeniable. They both know on some level that they belong together, even if the rest of the world is against their union.
“Diego knew, as he kissed her again, that he had to have this woman in his life. For always. No matter what he had to do to get her there.”
There is a real emotional intensity to Ashley’s writing, an authenticity – it’s not just about the sexual acrobatics, it’s about experiencing pure love, mutual adoration, connecting with someone who worships you as much as you worship them.
The sex sequences are obviously noteworthy in Wild Cat but one stood out from the rest. In it, a Shifter named Eric masterfully seduces a woman with chocolate. It’s just a perfectly choreographed seduction replete with imagery and allegory that will make anyone who reads this sequence experience an insatiable craving for “the sweet darkness”…
“She smelled the night, wildness, musk, and chocolate. Her body went tight, the craving for the sweet darkness transforming into a craving for Eric… Her world melted. She found herself against the wall, Eric’s warmth covering her body. Eric’s taste fused with the chocolate, his tongue strong inside her mouth…”
But here is why I love these novels – Ashley just doesn’t deliver an “I’ll-have-what-she’s-having” erotic romance, she intertwines Diego and Cassidy’s plotline with much larger storylines involving the plight of a pack of feral Shifters, a rogue Fae desperately trying to return to his realm, and an ongoing war between Fae factions. Wild Cat is an utterly readable novel that shines new light on the Shifter universe – particularly the backstory involving the rationale for creating Shifters so many millennia ago. It’s a paranormal fantasy with exceptional character development and world building that also happens to be deeply romantic and wildly erotic.
Why do I read paranormal romance? I suppose I’m an idealist at heart and I enjoy reading about relationships that are powered by absolute love and undying attraction. I’ve been mocked out plenty of times over the years for being a man who reads paranormal romance but you know what they say about the one who laughs last…. I honestly think that reading erotic romance makes me a better husband and a better lover. Now if I could only figure out how to shape-shift into a wolf.
The bottom line is this: Jennifer Ashley’s Shifters Unbound novels are top-notch paranormal romance, particularly the first one, Pride Mates, which remains one of my all-time favorite steamy reads. Paranormal fantasy fans who want to heat up their winter months don’t need to turn up their thermostats – they need to read these books!
“Kim laughed. Liam growled and sprinted up the last of the stairs, slammed into the bedroom and tossed her on the bed. As her clothes came off, then his, Kim gave in. For one night of her life, she was going to enjoy making wild, crazy love with a man who promised to make it unforgettable, no matter what might come in the morning...”
– Pride Mates by Jennifer Ashley
Paul Goat Allen has been a full-time book reviewer specializing in genre fiction for the last two decades and has written thousands of reviews for companies like Publishers Weekly, The Chicago Tribune, Kirkus Reviews, and BarnesandNoble.com. He is a member of the National Book Critics Circle.
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After reading your blog review I can't wait to start the book, Paul!
Although I'm not a paranormal romance reader, I make an exception for this series. The first two books in the Shifters Unbound series managed to combine smoking hot romance and thriller-like plot lines, so I'm really looking forward to this book.
