mrsmar10thereader's review
4.0
Be Still my Shifter Heart
This book is shifter paradise! Imani is Alpha Were-elphant, but she's also a War Elephant due to her lineage through her grandmother the Great War Elephant Seraphine. Imani is tired of being forced into her Alpha training and entertaining bulls from around the globe to mate and make babies. She runs away from her herd home in Atlanta from the "bull-parade" to Texas. She's an esteemed strengthening and conditioning coach and finds a home in Marshall at Wiley College. While it's not Clark Atlanta, she manages to find a shifter group and other Alphas to convene with, as well as a herd of "phants." There is one co-worker she meets her first day who is handsome and electric, but she's not looking for a man as that's what she was running from in the first place...even if he is very Djimon Honsou-esque! Ansel is the Alpha of the Rare and Unknown and when Imani runs into him at the Alpha meeting, that electric attraction is still evident. He's in a similar situation as Imani, find a mate quick. These two may not want a mate, but their animals have recognized each other and have a desire to imprint, but danger is lurking in the shadows that has implications for millions of shifters. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book is shifter paradise! Imani is Alpha Were-elphant, but she's also a War Elephant due to her lineage through her grandmother the Great War Elephant Seraphine. Imani is tired of being forced into her Alpha training and entertaining bulls from around the globe to mate and make babies. She runs away from her herd home in Atlanta from the "bull-parade" to Texas. She's an esteemed strengthening and conditioning coach and finds a home in Marshall at Wiley College. While it's not Clark Atlanta, she manages to find a shifter group and other Alphas to convene with, as well as a herd of "phants." There is one co-worker she meets her first day who is handsome and electric, but she's not looking for a man as that's what she was running from in the first place...even if he is very Djimon Honsou-esque! Ansel is the Alpha of the Rare and Unknown and when Imani runs into him at the Alpha meeting, that electric attraction is still evident. He's in a similar situation as Imani, find a mate quick. These two may not want a mate, but their animals have recognized each other and have a desire to imprint, but danger is lurking in the shadows that has implications for millions of shifters. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
bronxgirlreading's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
The few reasons why this wont get a 5 star from me: 1) felt a little rushed at parts and 2) too many misspelling.
But a shifter romance with a purely POC cast?!?!?! SIGN ME TF UP. I was obsessed from the start and honestly read the entire book in one sitting. I loved how you get introduced to not only the characters but the world as a whole. You could tell that the book for the most part was really thought out and involved tons of details. PLUS an ELEPHANT SHIFTER?!?!? you never see that. Loved the rare shifters out of the norm, made me v. v. happy.
But a shifter romance with a purely POC cast?!?!?! SIGN ME TF UP. I was obsessed from the start and honestly read the entire book in one sitting. I loved how you get introduced to not only the characters but the world as a whole. You could tell that the book for the most part was really thought out and involved tons of details. PLUS an ELEPHANT SHIFTER?!?!? you never see that. Loved the rare shifters out of the norm, made me v. v. happy.
blackgirltiredbooks's review
5.0
First off a shifter series comprised of Black main Characters let's just start there.
Secondly a world built on diverse shifters that incorporate an urban aspect.
Thirdly I love a tall thick man in my paranormal romance!
Imani is a part of the shifter community and a princess/Alpha as her grandmother is a legendary war elephant. Imani's mother who is the alpha over the herd (were-elephants) in Atlanta, but she's also a war elephant in which is very rare. Her family has started the bull parade (mating prospects) because they need their female numbers to increased and by mating she would breed more females to the herd. Imani isn't ready to settle down just yet so she leaves the herd in Atlanta and takes a job in Marshall at Wiley University in the Athletic department as a conditioning and strengthening coach. Ansel is a part time professor at the college and a chance meeting at the campus coffee shop with Imani sends electricity throughout his body (Literally). Ansel is an Alpha himself, but a very powerful one that he is runs the biggest clan of shifters in the world. Ansel has to find a mate before he goes insane from not having one. The chances of Imani finding a mate she's willingly wants to settle down with is slim well that's until Ansel comes into the picture because fate has other ideas.
There's so many characters in this book that can all have standalone books and I like how easily the author brought them in the mix, but they didn't over shadow the main characters. The world in which all this is happening isn't over saturated with the cliques you see in a lot of paranormal writing and the story building around the Rare and Unknown shifters concept was really good. The importance of every character in the book made it easy to follow and read. Chile the way I squealed when the author described Ansel as looking like Dijmon Honsou but a bigger version in size and the way this man ...alpha...was walking around with a elephant trunk in his panes ...yes lord! I also loved how he didn't feel emasculated that his woman was stronger than him. If anything he was turned on and loved her even more because of it. I truly love this series !!
Secondly a world built on diverse shifters that incorporate an urban aspect.
Thirdly I love a tall thick man in my paranormal romance!
Imani is a part of the shifter community and a princess/Alpha as her grandmother is a legendary war elephant. Imani's mother who is the alpha over the herd (were-elephants) in Atlanta, but she's also a war elephant in which is very rare. Her family has started the bull parade (mating prospects) because they need their female numbers to increased and by mating she would breed more females to the herd. Imani isn't ready to settle down just yet so she leaves the herd in Atlanta and takes a job in Marshall at Wiley University in the Athletic department as a conditioning and strengthening coach. Ansel is a part time professor at the college and a chance meeting at the campus coffee shop with Imani sends electricity throughout his body (Literally). Ansel is an Alpha himself, but a very powerful one that he is runs the biggest clan of shifters in the world. Ansel has to find a mate before he goes insane from not having one. The chances of Imani finding a mate she's willingly wants to settle down with is slim well that's until Ansel comes into the picture because fate has other ideas.
There's so many characters in this book that can all have standalone books and I like how easily the author brought them in the mix, but they didn't over shadow the main characters. The world in which all this is happening isn't over saturated with the cliques you see in a lot of paranormal writing and the story building around the Rare and Unknown shifters concept was really good. The importance of every character in the book made it easy to follow and read. Chile the way I squealed when the author described Ansel as looking like Dijmon Honsou but a bigger version in size and the way this man ...alpha...was walking around with a elephant trunk in his panes ...yes lord! I also loved how he didn't feel emasculated that his woman was stronger than him. If anything he was turned on and loved her even more because of it. I truly love this series !!
j_themoodreader's review
adventurous
challenging
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
This was a really interesting and different read for me. I enjoy the creative use of African mythology and I found this fantasy world to be captivating. But, it felt rushed in some some parts. I wished the author did more world building while weaving in the romance and outside conflict. Still, I enjoyed it and I could see myself reading more of this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual violence
Moderate: Slavery and Death of parent
coraotf's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I love Imani and Ansel and I wish we had seen so much more. I wish we had seen more of the Centumrogatio so that we would not have to be told in the middle of Ansel being resurrected about how close he and his twin are. I wish it hadn’t ended so abruptly. I was waiting for Ansel’s mom to have a come to Jesus moment and apologize for the whole bachelorette thing. For Imani to tell them what she heard so they could realize that one of her bachelorettes was the one to mark Ansel and start this whole mess. So many missed opportunities to see more of Imani and Ansel’s story. Also, it could have benefited from a proofreader. Still, I really, REALLY loved it and I can’t wait to read more about this world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence, Death of parent, and Slavery
ashleycmms's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
nikkiplans99's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
brandiwyne4018's review
5.0
Something new
I do so love when an author changes the direction of a genre. As a sucker for shifter stories, I love that this book is a new set of shifters, they celebrate African heritage but are inclusive. Ansel is so endearing and not arrogant, as I thought he would be. Rather, it's Imani who has the chip on her shoulder and aura of superiority about her. Definitely a go for shifter and paranormal lovers.
I do so love when an author changes the direction of a genre. As a sucker for shifter stories, I love that this book is a new set of shifters, they celebrate African heritage but are inclusive. Ansel is so endearing and not arrogant, as I thought he would be. Rather, it's Imani who has the chip on her shoulder and aura of superiority about her. Definitely a go for shifter and paranormal lovers.
kittykat's review
3.0
Spoiler
| Chapter Three | 27/08/2022 11:59:04going to the Pinterest app to look for office decorating tips. Forty-five minutes later she had filled three, large sticky notes full of ideas to decorate her side of the office. Two other notes held ideas for her and her new office mate, Coach Gleason, to discuss for the entire space. Sometime next week she would also ask Coach Henry if she could pry the seventies wood paneling off the wall. Even if she had to snatch it off with her bare hands.
Love this detail
| Chapter Three | 27/08/2022 12:01:11
Those chairs were going to give her a complex. Yes, at a size eighteen, she was considered plus size by human standards, but she was an elephant shifter; she had to carry a certain amount of body weight. There was no effortless way to pack fourteen thousand pounds into a human body even with the innate magic of a shifter body.
How refreshing
| Chapter Four | 27/08/2022 12:42:36
Imani had wanted the lady’s cell phone information, but the Alpha was old school and Imani felt the fission of power come for her. She locked her knees expecting the power to hit her like a freight train. Then she would end up prostrate on the floor like Coach Harrison had this morning. Which would be karmic justice if nothing else. Instead it curled around her like a comfy sweater with a warm breeze.
“Greetings from Louise Levanger,” it whispered. That tendril of power also had Ms. Louise’s cell number and other information in it.
Imani was impressed, tucking away the tendril until later when she could pass the information to her grandmother. She was going home later to practice adding her contact information into her powers. When you pack as much Alpha power as an elder anyway to use it up was welcomed.
How unique
| Chapter Five | 27/08/2022 12:47:58
. There will be a few group dates — a fishing excursion, a photo safari in the ‘wilds’ of East Texas, a trip to the rodeo, and a reading by that author you love with the wild hair. Then each lady and you will have a private meal every night of the week,” his mother said in a rush as if hoping to get it all out before Ansel could object.
“Mother! Are you putting cameras in too and filming for your own version of The Bachelor: Shifter Edition?”
Lol
| Chapter Seven | 27/08/2022 12:52:36
Stanley
Really
| Chapter Nine | 28/08/2022 00:49:03
Already, he had to pull two of the women, Renee and Jessica, away from each other before claws and paws came out as they got into an argument over who was more fertile and willing to give him more cubs or krams. He’d stopped Evelyn, a pouty, potty mouthed bear from feeling up his thigh to his crotch. Pulled multiple fishhooks out of Morgan Murphy McDonald’s hand, an injury that he was pretty sure was self-inflicted while she chatted with him about her extensive luxury handbag collection and her luxury cars and her luxury crossbred dog. He’d also been forced to decline two outright offers of marriage, one from Angela who assured him she would earn a seven-figure bonus from her Wall Street banker father and would deem to share parts of the bonus with him. The other one was from Sybil whose offer came with a caveat of open marriage.
Not give him kids have them
| Chapter Nine | 28/08/2022 00:50:26
Ansel sighed. He was never able to tell his baby sister no when she called him her pet name and begged.
Thought they were twins
| Chapter Ten | 28/08/2022 01:03:13
Time slowed as her Alpha powers collided with Ansel’s Alpha powers putting on a full color pyrotechnic light show for the whole assemblage to witness.
What
| Chapter Ten | 28/08/2022 01:03:48
don’t want to mate,” Imani stammered out. “Let me go.”
“Well the animal inside of you and the animal inside of me say otherwise or it wouldn’t have looked like a world class, Fourth of July fireworks show out here a moment ago.” His hands lowered from her shoulders to her waist, but the strength of Ansel’s hold didn’t lessen at all. In fact, it felt tighter. “I’ll never let you go, beautiful baby girl, but I won’t pressure you for anything quick.
Babygirl
| Chapter Ten | 28/08/2022 01:06:48
pulling her forward. As strong as Imani was from years of weightlifting and cross fit and her own natural elephant shifter strength, Ansel was stronger. She was being dragged. “Ansel, I don’t want to be your mate. I don’t want this.”
“Our animals chose one another.” He kept walking. They reached the steps. He started climbing, clutching Imani’s hand like a lifeline.
Imani grabbed the stair railing with her free hand. Holding tight trying to stop Ansel from dragging her. “I didn’t choose this. Are you going to force me?” she asked.
He turned back to her. His expression was more horrified than she felt. “I would never force you. We chose one another.
I wonder...
| Chapter Eighteen | 28/08/2022 02:03:30
to stop us or Imani’s magic repellent is too much for you to handle. If something or someone does come for us; I’ll be Alpha enough to hide behind my mate because she can be scary, downright frightening as a human. I can’t wait to see her War Elephant emerge; fully charged up and ready to take on the world.”
Love
| Chapter Twenty-Two | 28/08/2022 02:36:19
Tomorrow, I’ll shave you. There should be no hair between your legs except my beard.
Wtf
| Chapter Twenty-Four | 28/08/2022 02:40:47
There was only one thing he wanted. It was too early, but he felt like he’d waited twenty years and couldn’t do another day. Even another hour was too long. “Imani, tell me you love me.”
Uh it doesn't work that way
bigbuttandabook's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Imani is goals and Ansel is to. This will forever be one of favorite books and series. This is my fourth re-read. It’s better every time.