Mate Claimed (Shifters Unbound, Book 4) [Mass Market Paperback]

Jennifer Ashley (Author)

Book Description

Release date: October 2, 2012 | Series: Shifters Unbound (Book 4)

Eric Warden knows that half-Shifter wildcat Iona is passing for human, living without a Collar in the human world. He also knows that if she does not acknowledge her Shifter nature and her mating hunger, it could kill her.

Iona finds the mysterious and dangerous Eric, a wildcat and leader of his Shiftertown, haunting her dreams, but she vows never to take the Collar, fearing backlash against her mother and sister for hiding the fact that she's Shifter. But Eric is a compelling Shifter male, and Iona's hunger calls to him. Book 4 in the Shifters Unbound series. This is a full-length novel.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Eric Warden, leader of the wildcat Shiftertown, has enough trouble on his plate; he doesn’t need a half-human, half-shifter running around without a collar. Unfortunately, Iona Duncan refuses to entertain the idea that she needs Eric’s help in dealing with her wildcat shifting capabilities. Iona is terrified that if U.S. government agents discover she is a half-shifter, they will not only put a collar on her but will also punish her mother for keeping her secret. However, time is running out for Iona. The longer Iona refuses to deal with her shifter side, the more her mating hunger increases, putting not only herself in danger but everything Eric is working for at risk. With her patented page-singeing sensuality and flair for creative plotting, Ashley delivers another sexy installment in her Shifters Unbound (Bodyguard, 2011) series. --John Charles

Review

Praise for the Shifters Unbound novels

“Exciting, sexy, and magical.”--Yasmine Galenorn, New York Times bestselling author

“Danger, desire, and sizzling hot action!”--Alyssa Day, New York Times bestselling author

“[A] sexually charged and imaginative tale…[a] quick pace and smart, skilled writing.”--Publishers Weekly

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Berkley; Original edition (October 2, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425251012
• ISBN-13: 978-0425251010
• Product Dimensions: 4.1 x 1.2 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (98 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,572 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Jennifer Ashley writes historical and paranormal romance as Jennifer Ashley; paranormal romance and urban fantasy as Allyson James; and mysteries as Ashley Gardner. Jennifer's novels have won RWA's RITA and RT Reviewer's Choice awards among others.

For information on all her novels visit www.jennifersromances.com. Also see http://www.gardnermysteries.com (Ashley Gardner) and http://www.allysonjames.com (Allyson James) for her other works.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#10 in Books > Romance > Fantasy & Futuristic

#34 in Books > Romance > Historical

#63 in Books > Romance

#64 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Romance

#70 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Romance > Historical Romance

#10 in Books > Romance > Fantasy & Futuristic

#34 in Books > Romance > Historical

#63 in Books > Romance

#64 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Romance

#70 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Romance > Historical Romance

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A very seductive game of cat and mouse. Or should I say cat and cat? October 2, 2012

By Letitia

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Rating: B+ ... Heat: Hot

I love Jennifer Ashley's historical romances. In fact, The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie is one of my all-time favorites. So why on earth did it take me so long to try out her PNR novels? I honestly have no clue but it was definitely long overdue! And, even though I'm starting with book four (such a bad habit of mine, I'll admit), it was so easy to immerse myself in the Shifters Unbound world.

And, wow, what a world. Miz Ashley hits you with sensual and arousing scenes from page one. Literally. When Mate Claimed (perfect title for this one!) opens, our hero and heroine are playing a very seductive game of cat and mouse. Without even having the time to build up the characters, get to know them, their chemistry still manages to leap off the pages. It is super sexy stuff, ladies.

You know, I think that might actually be the simplest way to describe Mate Claimed: a very seductive game of cat and mouse. Or should I say cat and cat?

Our heroine, Iona Duncan, is in denial--even though her body is sending out clues, bright flashing and flaring signals, that she's going through the mating frenzy: a time where her body has entered its breeding years and is desperate for a mate. Half-Shifter, she is long used to hiding and suppressing her animalistic tendencies, which she tries her darndest to do with her now-raging hormones. Except, this time, she can't ignore her Shifter side's needs.

Not that Eric Warden, alpha of Shiftertown, is about to let her. He knows the repercussions for doing so could cost her everything--she could go feral. But, more than that, his own body is responding to hers. Eric, a widow and a father, has done the mating frenzy before and never planned to do it again. He has his cub and he can get his jollies when he needs to. But there is something about Iona that leaves him incapable, and unwilling, to pass her on to another, younger male.

Watching Eric woo Iona was such fun and so friggin' hot. There isn't much that's sexier than a man who is both masculine and commanding while also being in touch with his sensitive and considerate side. And Iona is no wilting violet. She is independent and self-assure and definitely doesn't cower under the force of Eric's alpha power. Fantastic combo.

One of my favorite things about this book, this world, is how natural it all feels. Sometimes in PNR or UF novels, elements can come across as being way out there and not at all possible. The Shifters and their clans and the way they behave, it felt very human combined with realistic animal behaviors. And the sense of family, camaraderie, between the Shifters--I like seeing such love and loyalty in the characters I read.

Mate Claimed is one wild and feverish frenzy full of sex and romance and drama and action. If you've ever wanted to experience the frantic and frenetic passion of a Shifter in heat (and, really, who wouldn't?) then you don't want to miss this book! This series is going on my auto-buy list!

Favorite Quote:
"You've been in the mating frenzy before."
Eric looked up at her, his eyes quiet. "Yes."
"With Kirsten."
"Yes."
Iona touched her hands together. "You must have loved her very much."
Eric nodded. "Yes. Very much."
"Then why do you want another mate?"
Eric pushed himself from the fireplace and came to her, the first flickers of fire shadowing his tall, naked body. He skimmed warm hands down her arms.
"Because I saw you."

-- A Romantic Book Affairs Review

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Good...not as good as the others October 3, 2012

By Yankee_Godiva

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Slight spoilers!

I am really enjoying this series so far. I was hooked after the first in the series, Pride Mates. For some reason I couldn't get into this one like the others. I think it had to do with how long it took him to claim her and for one of the reasons behind this. I understand that he was trying to give her time to adjust to the idea of being his... the thing that bothered me was the scene where he and his sister were sitting in front of a shrine to his late mate (I guess so he could say good-bye?). He also asked his 30+ year old son if he minded... I mean, it's been 30 years! In the previous book Wild Cats (the one about his sister Cassidy), she was in deep mourning for her mate who had died a year prior; this I could understand. Even Cassidy didn't have as much trouble letting go of her late mate after she found Diego, her new true mate. This really bothered me. I felt like Iona was a fill-in as a mate and the romance portion suffered from my perspective. They didn't get to really enjoy each other because there was so many other issues taking away from their mating. I almost wonder if she had been better off with Graham, the obnoxious Lupine shifter. For an Alpha and romantic lead, Eric fell short for me. He did the whole 'mine' scene enough and fought for her, but the devotion just seemed more one-sided (on Iona's side). Oh, well... I'm looking forward to the next in the series... Tiger Magic.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful world building. Sexy shifters. Good read October 2, 2012

By D. Antonio

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Eric Warden leader of the Las Vegas shiftertown has a lot on his plate. The humans have decided that the lupine shifters from Elko need to move to the Vegas shiftertown and aren't even giving them enough time to build new houses for them. The Wolves leader is a bit of a pain in the butt. Eric's sister is pregnant with her first cub. Eric is having problems with his collar (the device humans have put on shifters to keep them from fighting) and most of all Eric is having problems with what to do with the half-shifter Ilona who is passing for human but is entering a phase in her life where she will need shifter help with her control or out herself and her human mother for hiding her. And then there is the fact that Eric wants her for his mate.

There is a lot going on in this book. The pace is not as smooth as the previous books but I think that is due in part to the set up for future stories. Still a good read.