Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
I've found my new favorite romance writer. I did not finish this book and [b: Guard Wolf|28232172|Guard Wolf (Shifter Agents, #2)|Lauren Esker|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1450362523s/28232172.jpg|48262580], but I still loved both of these. I finished [b: Dragon's Luck|3692209|Dragons Luck (Dragons, #2)|Robert Lynn Asprin|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1442059437s/3692209.jpg|3735694] and [b: Tiger in the Hot Zone|35052692|Tiger in the Hot Zone (Shifter Agents #4)|Lauren Esker|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1493753870s/35052692.jpg|54848219] and I loved those. They're going on to my list of comfort rereads.
Things I liked about this series, as compared to the usual romances I come across: I like how much kindness and gentleness there is in the romance, and I love that there was no alpha male. God, I hate that trope with a burning passion. Anyway. The book wasn't drenched in lust (thank god), and most importantly, instalust does not drive the development of the relationship, bless the lord. The heroes and heroines actually got to know each other without thinking of jumping each other's bones every five seconds. I can't believe the bar is this low.
Another thing I forgot to add is that I liked how the world was actually developed?? Esker dealt with shapeshifting in a pretty thoughtful and realistic way, and it's so rare to see in PNR.
I feel like Esker gets better, because by the time I got to the fourth book, I loved everything that I was reading. I love her heroes. I have a soft spot for Avery ([b: Guard Wolf|28232172|Guard Wolf (Shifter Agents, #2)|Lauren Esker|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1450362523s/28232172.jpg|48262580]), and especially Noah ([b: Tiger in the Hot Zone|35052692|Tiger in the Hot Zone (Shifter Agents #4)|Lauren Esker|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1493753870s/35052692.jpg|54848219]). I love the softness between Peri and Noah in the fourth book; loved their playfulness and their love for each other. I forgot to mention she's got great heroines too. I love Jen from the third book. I'm so happy to have found this series. It was so fun reading my way through these.
Things I liked about this series, as compared to the usual romances I come across: I like how much kindness and gentleness there is in the romance, and I love that there was no alpha male. God, I hate that trope with a burning passion. Anyway. The book wasn't drenched in lust (thank god), and most importantly, instalust does not drive the development of the relationship, bless the lord. The heroes and heroines actually got to know each other without thinking of jumping each other's bones every five seconds. I can't believe the bar is this low.
Another thing I forgot to add is that I liked how the world was actually developed?? Esker dealt with shapeshifting in a pretty thoughtful and realistic way, and it's so rare to see in PNR.
I feel like Esker gets better, because by the time I got to the fourth book, I loved everything that I was reading. I love her heroes. I have a soft spot for Avery ([b: Guard Wolf|28232172|Guard Wolf (Shifter Agents, #2)|Lauren Esker|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1450362523s/28232172.jpg|48262580]), and especially Noah ([b: Tiger in the Hot Zone|35052692|Tiger in the Hot Zone (Shifter Agents #4)|Lauren Esker|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1493753870s/35052692.jpg|54848219]). I love the softness between Peri and Noah in the fourth book; loved their playfulness and their love for each other. I forgot to mention she's got great heroines too. I love Jen from the third book. I'm so happy to have found this series. It was so fun reading my way through these.
adventurous
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is a quick, entertaining paranormal romance read, the plot of which is largely summed up by the title—in Handcuffed to the Bear, Casey wakes up naked in the woods and finds that she's been cuffed to a similarly naked stranger, Jack. They have to work together to make it out alive. Esker does a good job on the action-adventure side of the plot, and in having the romance build slowly and believably (there's no stopping for sex while they're running for their lives, for instance), and the cast of characters is refreshingly diverse along a number of axes. There were a couple of points where I found myself squinting at the dialogue, though—for instance, when was the last time you heard a person in real life address a group of people as "you fools"? Still, a light, escapist read.
3.5 stars
This was surprisingly enjoyable. Despite the fact that the h/h spend 70% of the book naked and handcuffed to each other against their will, the story is not focused on sexytimes. There is plot, character development, and interesting secondary characters. The romance is really sweet and, given how socially awkward both Casey and Jack are, helped along greatly by their friends in a way that was really satisfying. Action, adventure, romance, and enough angst to add depth.
This was surprisingly enjoyable. Despite the fact that the h/h spend 70% of the book naked and handcuffed to each other against their will, the story is not focused on sexytimes. There is plot, character development, and interesting secondary characters. The romance is really sweet and, given how socially awkward both Casey and Jack are, helped along greatly by their friends in a way that was really satisfying. Action, adventure, romance, and enough angst to add depth.
Casey wakes up handcuffed to Jack, naked, on an island. And it turns out, they are being hunted by a pride of deadly lion shifters! Wow! I was really impressed with this one. Great adventure, excellent chemistry, it hit all the marks.