Customer Reviews

The Jaguar Prince

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Jaguar Prince is the first book in Karen Kelley's new series and combines two paranormal aspects of shapeshifting and aliens that keeps the reader enthralled as the story evolves.

Callie Jordan has always fended for herself and made her own way since being abandoned at an orphanage when she was very young. She has worked hard at the zoo where she is employed and aspires to be a zoo keeper for the big cats, in particular a jaguar named Sheba, who she feels a connection to. A chance encounter with a black jaguar that is loose shakes Callie but when suddenly a naked man appears in its place she thinks she is going crazy. Nothing compared to how she feels when she awakens to find him in her apartment the next morning and hearing his absurd story that he tells her.

Prince Rogar Valkyir from New Symtaria realizes he will have a hard time to convince Callie that she is part Symtarian, a race of shapeshifters from another galaxy. He has come to earth to find their people and bring them back to their planet. His time is limited and he must convince Callie because her life is in danger. Zerod, a son from an elder ruler, is out to kill all mixed bloods to ensure that Symtarian's stay pure.

This is a very cleverly written story with the trademark humor of Ms. Kelley that the reader has come to expect. The chemistry and heat between Rogar and Callie is undeniable and Rogar will do everything in his powers to protect Callie. There are a few surprises along the way which only makes the book more enjoyable. I found this to be a great read and look forward to the next release in this series.

Callie Jordan is an orphan who has finally found a place for herself, working at a zoo in Texas. She especially loves working with the big cats and is eager for the day when she will be promoted to a job where she will work with them exclusively.

One day she comes into contact with a naked man in the zoo, who later turns up just as naked in her apartment. He tells her his name is Rogar, and that he's here to escort her to New Symtaria, the planet from where he hails. He has some great abilities, like being able to shape shift into a jaguar. Add to that the fact he's a prince and things look pretty cool.

Until he tells Callie that she's also from New Symtaria, and he's here to take her back to the planet to help repopulate New Symtaria after the old planet died. He tells her she's also a shape shifter, although she's not of pure blood. While Callie doesn't believe him about her "abilities," there's nothing to stop her from believing that the man who shows up to kill her is real.

Can Rogar keep her safe, and convince her she's a shape shifter that needs to go to New Symtaria with him?

The Jaguar Prince is a fun romp into a new galaxy. Karen Kelley uses her trademark humor and engaging writing to draw the reader into a new world that is intriguing and engaging.

Callie is a real character who has worked hard for everything she has in life, and isn't ready to give it up. Rogar's intensity and his gentle way with her made me tingle. He's definitely an enticing hero.

The Jaguar Prince is the first in a new series by Karen Kelley. It is lighthearted entertainment that will make you giggle in many places, and make you sigh in many more. Ms. Kelley knows how to pen a page-turner, and The Jaguar Prince is proof of that.


Amelia
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Callie Jordan was a newborn left at an orphanage by someone who failed to stick around to see if she was okay. She grew up depending on no one but herself. Thus working at a zoo is perfect for her.

New Symtaria Prince Rogar seeks his people's colonists and their mixed-species offspring. His goal is to bring everyone back to New Symtaria where he can insure their safety from a murderous alien. When he first sees Callie at the zoo, she cannot believe a streaker would come here to compare his parts to that of the well endowed chimps. Later he arrives at her apartment still in his birthday suit as a man and as a jaguar. He explains her heritage to her; as she considers the first hanging hunk wanting her is a head-case. While someone wants them dead neither the royal purebred shapeshifter or the orphan hybrid expected the attraction between them.

This is an amusing romantic fantasy starring two likable lead characters. The underlying premise is mindful in some ways of Witch Mountain although Karen Kelley's plot is meant for adults. Although the villain seems feeble, sub-genre fans will enjoy the jocular frolic of ET falling in love with the perfect commoner, a zookeeper used to animal behavior.

Harriet Klausner

Enjoyable read-once. A shifter book with a relationship driven plot that has occasional action scenes. The heroine doesn't handle change well - as an abandoned orphan she keeps her dreams controlled and her expectations small. When some naked guy shows up claiming to be a prince from another planet adding that her mother was from there too [and incidentally they're shape shifters and she should be able to do it too] and he's there to take her home... Needless to say she thinks he's cute but crazy. But she buys him clothes, gives him her last $20 and sends him on his way. Of course he keeps showing back up and inserting himself into her life explaining he's also there to save her from a crazed person who wants to kill off all those with mixed blood.

The book is frequently amusing as our heroine discovers her shapeshifting abilities. The heroine sometimes comes across as not the sharpest knife in the drawer and the hero must have been on his first recall mission because he seems singularly unprepared to convince her to return. Actually his spirit animal [Balam, the black jaguar he turns into] seems to be the smartest one in the cast. But they are fun and likable.