Review: A Must Read!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 7, 2013
While this was my first book review of the Shadows series, it won't be my last.  If you haven't read previous books from the series, don't worry this book transitions you in  and you get just enough background to catch up to the plot.The story is about Kendra  and Cale Terriot,  and and soon to be Leader of the House of Terriot shape shifters.  Kendra is held hostage by a Cale's  barberic dictating  father the clan leader.  She is forced to choose one of his treacherous and evil sons as her mate to unite their clans.  Kendra  must play a careful courtship game when choosing among the dangerous Shifter heirs, as she waits for rescue.As a Prince in the House of Terriot, Cale knows he can be the leader his clan needs with Kendra at his side.  He has loved her since they played together as children.  But Kendra has seen his father murder her parents, and she believes him to be just as cruel and brutal.  Kale wants to show Kendra his love and prove to her that he can be the man she desires, but in a treacherous competition  for the crown, and future princess, any show of weakness means surrendering his throne and even death.  He struggles to find a way to win her heart, which also could mean letting her go to the one he thinks she loves.Givens  does a great job of making a believable plot with modern day settings mixed with just a bit of supernatural.  The result is believable and not too much sci fi or  fantasy.  I loved the way she developed the plot and it had a great twist to the end that brought it all together in an unexpected ending.There were a paragraphs where it seemed like she was trying to go back and add in background details and got a bit off track, the story was great.  The characters were interesting, and the book kept my interest through over 384 pages (wow!!)  I had to stop reading just as I got to the last 5 pages, and I almost decided to skip PTA meeting.  I couldn't wait to get back to it!!  Watch out J. R. Ward, this author could definitely give you a run for your money!!  I had the same "I can't wait to see what's next" melt down I get when I read Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series--Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 1).  Which, by the way, also has released Quinn and Blay's story in the latest book in the series--Lover At Last: A Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood.I give this book 4 out of 5 stars with a steam index of 3 out of 5.  For more book reviews, new release info, author interviews, or just to question or comment, please visit my blog ROMANCE READER'S BOOKSHELF.I received a complimentary copy of this book.