Reviews

Bitten By Deceit by Shawntelle Madison

foreverbeautifulbooks's review against another edition

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2.0

This novella turned out to be a really hard one for me to rate. While the writing voice in this story was very strong. Nothing about the characters reached out to me and pulled me in. For the most part I search for unique and sexy shifter stories. When I saw one that looked unique I grabbed up this one.

However, there was something about it that just didn't quite reach out to me as a reader. The characters, although flushed out and sound in their personalities and reasoning didn't make me care for them. Nothing about Emma really made me go, "Oh, I get her." Mostly I got a whole lot of disloyalty to someone that was supposed to be her mate all for the sake of not making waves.

The mild background peaks we have into the couple sort of gives us an idea that they were doing ok. Then this Liam dude comes out of the wood work to challenge him.

See, this my issue with most werewolf books. They make werewolves look like white trash and easy to turn on each other. The rest of the pack easily brainwashed by said disloyal member. I don't like that. I believe based on research done by wolves in the wild that this whole white trash concept flies in the face of how half human breeds would act.

Yes, I just got discovery channel on you all.

Then we are brought to the romance.

I get this is novella.

Its hard to really sell a romance in 20k words. However, if you don't think you can sell it, then write a full length. Because you didn't sell this 'five seconds ago I hate you, now I'm humping you while you are dying of the werewolf equivalent to rabies.' Erm--nah that doesn't work.

I wasn't even quivering in lust at any of the sex scenes I just kinda read through it and went, "Oh, they humped, good for them."

The author as a whole is a strong author, I believe in this case it was just personal preference on my part in my inability to enjoy the story. I encourage those that enjoy shifter book to read this, it is unique and original.

*I received a copy of this book via Shawntelle Madison via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

literaryfeline's review against another edition

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3.0

Review originally posted on my blog, Musings of a Bookish Kitty:
http://www.literaryfeline.com/2017/11/mini-reviews-from-fantastic-beasts-to.html



Bitten by Deceit (Hadley Werewolves #1) by Shawntelle Madison
2012; 61 pgs

Emma chose to remain behind when her mate left the pack. Now she is begging for his help when the pack leader falls under the curse of a black witch. Danger follows fast on her heels, and Kyle must think fast to prepare a defense--and an end to the plague. It's the only sure way to save Emma. I have read other books by Shawntelle Madison, which I enjoyed, and have had this short novella on my Kindle for awhile now. It was hidden away, as sometimes Kindle books can be. E-books aren't as in your face as books on an actual physical book shelf. I enjoyed Bitten by Deceit for being quick to and full of action, and Madison's ability to give just enough backstory and set up to make this story feel more complete. Still, it did seem too short, and I wouldn't have minded knowing more about the pack Emma and Kyle come from. Overall, this was a satisfying quick read to scratch my itch for something short and intense.

abkeuser's review against another edition

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2.0

The whole “smelling of sickness” thing is what really killed this book for me. If the were characters in this book have that great of noses, and this smell was so disgusting, how am I supposed to believe that they were overcome by the throes of passion? Scents have huge psychological impacts and if you’re that sensitive to them, it’s going to be extremely hard to ignore. Aside from that, the book felt thrown together. As a lead in to a series, it did not provide me with the desire to read more.
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