Book Review: Wild Card

Wild Card (Wildcats #3) by Rachel Vincent 

Kaci Dillon is a man-eater.

She’s grown up on the fringes of shifter society, hearing the whispers. One desperate act as a starving, terrified child has made her the first tabby in history with no romantic prospects. But whatever. Eighteen is too young to get married anyway. Still, when she stumbles upon an opportunity to get away for a few days, who could blame her for seizing it?

Justus Alexander is screwed.

Confined to the South-Central territory, awaiting trial for crimes he committed as a traumatized, newly infected stray, Justus has discovered that the tribunal already intends to vote for the death penalty. He has no choice but to run. Too young to touch the trust fund that could finance his escape, he’s betting on a big win at the poker tables—until Kaci, his secret crush, catches him sneaking out and demands that he take her with him to Las Vegas

After a wild night she can’t remember, Kaci wakes up with a ring on her finger, next to a young billionaire who can’t access his fortune until he turns twenty-five—or ties the knot. If she can keep her hands off her hot, charismatic new groom, she can have their unconsummated marriage annulled. But can she really abandon Justus to his death sentence, just to undo her own mistake?

MEOW . . . MEOW . . . MEOW

We aren't too far from where Blind Tiger ended, and we are now focus on the not so young anymore Kaci Dillion. The Kaci we knew was a fearful young werecat, born with two recessive werecat gene that triggered her shift.

Now Kaci is a teen, with much to learn. But she has no doubt that being married young was not on her radar, until she wakes up with a ring on her finger to a man that is about to stand on trial.

Justus was infected by a werecat with the intent on framing Titus (his older brother) for the crimes, but Justus's actions still lead to large consequences. So he's running away but then Kaci convinces him that there's a chance to clear his name.

Throughout this book, Kaci has taken her knowledge of growing up in the Lazy S ranch and convince a few alphas that Justus deserve a fairer trial despite their bylaws.

We do see Faythe and Marc taking an very parental side when it comes to Kaci, but they do know that she's growing up and they're learning to accept that as well as this sudden marriage.

The Tribunal are face with changes, some are agreeing to the new changes while some are still set in the old ways. We learned so much about the Tribunal in this book similar to following Faythe's journey, but again we see changes happen.

This book was fill with all sort of elements that I enjoy.

As always I love Rachel's books and I'm so glad she's is getting back into the werecats world again, I have no idea who she should write next but I want more!

Book Review: Lion's Share

 Lion's Share (Werecats #1) By Rachel Vincent

Abby Wade has a dangerous secret.

Two months ago, she disobeyed an order, but instead of kicking her out of the Pride, Jace offered her a job. Since then, she’s been battling a completely inappropriate crush on the young, hot Alpha. But when accepting his job offer seems like the only way to keep her skeletons safely in their closet, Abby doesn’t hesitate.

Jace Hammond has a big problem.

A rogue is slaughtering humans in his territory, and he must eliminate the threat before the entire shifter species is exposed. There could not be a worse time for Abby to accept a job he only offered as a boost to her confidence. Abby is smart, beautiful, and resilient—more than enough to distract any man from the mission. Unfortunately, she may just be the worst enforcer ever to hold the title.

As they hunt the killer, Abby’s secret becomes a threat to Jace’s authority and to her own life. But the real danger is the grip she has on his twice-shy heart.

Paperback, 340 pages

Published (first published February 23rd 2015)

Review

Being a werecat means a lot of rules . . . You don't expose yourself in cat form to humans, you don't tell humans that you're a cat and you certainly DO NOT infected a human.

What do you do when HUMANS knows what you are and is hunting you like a prized trophy?

Abby Wade been through a lot but she also grown a lot from her horrid past.

But now Abby Wade might be putting herself at risk of being DECLAWED . . . because of a secret she's been harboring.

Jace Hammond took over his stepfather's pride but he's has some maturing up to do before he can really call himself an leader.

Jace need to solve the uprising of werecats deaths and who is hunting werecats before it becomes where a Tabby becomes a prize. 

Will Jace be able to protect Abby from being declawed or will they both face something far much worst?

I give this an 4.5 Cat's Tails Up, I love that Rachel dove back into the werecat's world it been so long! I'm glad that as a reader we got to learn more about Abby and see how she's been doing since Stray came out. 

MEOW . . . MEOW . . . MEOW

Okay everyone that follows me on goodread and twitter and all other things, knows that I'm a HUGE Rachel Vincent fan. Her shifters series were my first love of urban fantasy and basically first adult novel believe it or not.

I have always hope that Rachel would dive back into this world but she has always said no because SHE believes that she was done with it but thanks to some of her authors friends telling her she should write that world again, she took a big leap in getting back into this world.

Lion's Share has a double POV, it portray Abby Wade and Jace Hammond. Lion's Share shows their journey together but it also show the growth (a lot of Growth) between the two characters that we're familiar with, Jace is NOW an alpha and Abby is a tabby with an attitude just like her cousin Faythe only more stubborn.

When Abby is needed home (kind of sounds familiar right?) she is hesitant on returning home . . . WHY? Because she's has a BIG BIG secret. But right now Abby has to deal with the threats of humans that are hunting specifically for shifters. The worst part of it was that both Abby and Jace knew who they were dealing with, it was one of Jace's biggest concern after the horrid camping trip that Abby was a target of just a semester ago.

I like this new idea of where its not necessary strays or rouges that were a problem but HUMANS. I know there was a Pride law where you can't exposure yourself as a Cat to humans. You also better DARE NOT infected anyone either which sadly has happen before..Lion's Share has a dangerous game of Hunter Vs Prey.

Romance between Jace and Abby, I know when I read Hunt that there was something between them but I thought it might have been the HUGE age difference between them that drove the wedge between them. But there was actually more things added to the wedge. Abby had suffered a terrible ordeal in Stray that basically left her fragile and scared.

I was actually stunned that Abby current relationship status was ENGAGED, I had no idea when that happened and don't get me wrong Brian seems nice enough but you can clearly tell that there was no fire. In fact I'm not even sure what made either one of them decide to become engaged because there was no real interlude to that story. But I'm sure it would have been boring . . . but not boring in making the book bad I mean boring as it doesn't need to be in the book.

Now Jace knows Abby, he knows when to offer her comfort and when it's okay to touch her because of what happen to her in Stray. What these two develop in a short amount of time wasn't really like "Passion" it was more along the lines of the two being "riveting" towards one another. With that they both start developing feelings they never thought they would have and now they have to learn how to express those feelings.

Throughout the book, Abby works hard on trying to be an enforcer under Jace but it's clear that she has her own agenda, one that could cost her very claws. The human hunters also have their own agenda, and they're after the most precious things that makes a pride and what's keeps a pride going . . . TABBIES.

Now let's talk about the old characters because you know I love them to death and have been wondering what has been new to them. The Lazy S has a lot going on, with kids running around and a teenage Kaci and Faythe as Alpha of her own Pride with Marc by her side as husband, father and co-alpha. Everything coming to the Lazy S is new and different.

Towards the ending of the book, after the good guys defeat the bad guys the Council must now debate on the actions that Abby committed. Like I said earlier that this GIANT secret she had harbor for a few months now could and would get her DECLAWED. However since it is a spoilers I'm not telling you what it is so SORRY! Then Jace turns around and does something as well! Just to protect Abby, the ending part was a really shocker to me because I would have never seen it coming but some of you might see it coming.

I can't wait for Lion's Den to come out and read the next couples that we haven't met yet.

Kitty Blitz: Lion's Share

With Lion's Share coming out in just a few days, I thought I would brush up to you newbies or veterans on Rachel's self-published-new book.

I read Rachel's Shifters Series way in the beginning of 2011, yes I know I've been living under a rock at that time my bad. I immediately fell in love with Faythe, her being so strong-willed and stubborn on top of it being a Tabby werecat.

Cats are about my favorite animal in the world and I really at that time and place I was looking for something with Cats in them and that how I came across Rachel's books. It had the right components that I was looking for in a book even though I didn't know what to expect once I started reading it.

You meet Faythe's family basically, her on and off again ex-boyfriend Marc, the brother's best friend girl crush Jace and then you meet a whole lot of trouble.

I finsihed her series as quickly as I could get them since I had to order some and wait for the mail to come, and then I re-read them . . . I still love them and then I re-read them again. Still REALLY LOVE them and then I secretly wish that there was more.

Well Rachel answers everyone's hope, she decided to dive back into that world and present New Rules, New dangers and A different Alpha.

Lion's Share is taken place  a couples years after ALPHA the conclusion of Faythe's journey but don't worry she'll pop in every now and then in Lion's Share in Abby Wade's point of view. Abby is Faythe's cousin had went through a pretty traumatic experience (Taken placed in Stray) being tied up, beaten, and raped.  Now she's older, more stubborn, more rules breaking and is running but from what?

Lion's Share is an NA romance genre, a whole new ball game with Jace being the Alpha in this story and Abby being a nuisance to him, he has to show her who's the boss . . . MAYBE?



Abby Wade has a dangerous secret.

Two months ago, she disobeyed an order, but instead of kicking her out of the Pride, Jace offered her a job. Since then, she’s been battling a completely inappropriate crush on the young, hot Alpha. But when accepting his job offer seems like the only way to keep her skeletons safely in their closet, Abby doesn’t hesitate.

Jace Hammond has a big problem.

A rogue is slaughtering humans in his territory, and he must eliminate the threat before the entire shifter species is exposed. There could not be a worse time for Abby to accept a job he only offered as a boost to her confidence. Abby is smart, beautiful, and resilient—more than enough to distract any man from the mission. Unfortunately, she may just be the worst enforcer ever to hold the title.

As they hunt the killer, Abby’s secret becomes a threat to Jace’s authority and to her own life. But the real danger is the grip she has on his twice-shy heart.

Release  February 23, 2015

Where to Buy

Amazon: Smashwords: Barnes & Noble 

Paperback edition TBD

A Look back . . .

  

STRAY

There are only eight breeding female werecats left . . .
And I'm one of them.  

I look like an all-American grad student. But I am a werecat, a shape-shifter, and I live in two worlds. 

Despite reservations from my family and my Pride, I escaped the pressure to continue my species and carved out a normal life for myself. Until the night a Stray attacked. 

I'd been warned about Strays -- werecats without a Pride, constantly on the lookout for someone like me: attractive, female, and fertile. I fought him off, but then learned two of my fellow tabbies had disappeared. 

This brush with danger was all my Pride needed to summon me back . . . for my own protection. Yeah, right. 

But I'm no meek kitty. I'll take on whatever -- and whoever -- I have to in order to find my friends. Watch out, Strays -- 'cause I got claws, and I'm not afraid to use them . . . 

Released in June 2007 by Mira Books

ROGUE 

Okay, so cats don't always land on their feet.  

I know that better than most. Since rejoining the Pride, I've made big decisions and even bigger mistakes: the kind paid for with innocent lives. As the first and only female enforcer, I have plenty to prove to my father, the Pride, and myself. And with murdered toms turning up in our territory, I'm working harder than ever, though I always find the energy for a little after-hours recreation with Marc, my partner both on- and off-duty. 

But not all of my mistakes are behind me. We're beginning to suspect that the dead are connected to a rash of missing human women and that they can all be laid at my feet--two or four, take your pick. And one horrible indiscretion may yet cost me more than I can bear... 

Released in April 2008 by Mira Books 

 PRIDE 

I'm on trial for my life. Falsely accused of infecting my human ex-boyfriend--and killing him to cover up the crime. Infecting a human is one of three capital offenses recognized by the Pride--along with murder and disclosure of our existence to a human.I'm two for three. A goner. 

Now we've discovered a rogue stray terrorizing the mountainside, hunting a wild teenage tabbycat. It's up to us to find and stop him before a human discovers us. With my lover Marc's help, I "think" I can protect the vulnerable girl from both the ambitious rogue and the scheming of the territorial council. 

"If" I survive my own trial... 

Released in Feburary 2009 by Mira Books

PREY

Sometimes playing cat and mouse is no game...Play? "Right." My Pride is under fire from all sides, my father's authority is in question and my lover is in exile. Which means I haven't laid eyes on Marc's gorgeous face in months. And with a new mother "and" an I-know-everything teenager under my protection, I don't exactly have time to fantasize about ever seeing him again.

Then our long-awaited reunion is ruined by a vicious ambush by strays. Now our group is under attack, Marc is missing and I will need every bit of skill and smarts to keep my family from being torn apart. Forever.

Released in July 2009 by Mira Books

SHIFT
Being the first female werecat enforcer isn't easy. Scars accumulate, but I'm stronger in so many ways.

As for my personal life? It's complicated. Choices worth making always are. Ever since my brother's death and my father's impeachment, it's all I can do to prevent more blood from spilling. Now our Pride is under attack by a flight of vicious thunderbirds. And making peace with our new enemies may be the only way to get the best of our old foe.

With the body count rising and treachery everywhere, my instincts tell me to look before I leap. But sometimes a leap of faith is the only real option...

Released in Feburary 2010 by Mira Books

ALPHA

 The unscrupulous new Council chair has charged Jace, Marc and me with trespassing, kidnapping, murder and treason. Yeah, we've been busy. But now it's time to take justice into our own hands. 

We must avenge my brother's death and carve out the rot at the heart of the Council.It's not going to be easy, and loss seems unavoidable, but I have promised to protect my Pride, no matter what. 

With a target on my back and Marc at my side, I'm heading for a final showdown that can--that will--change everything forever. A showdown I'm not sure I'm ready for.But life never waits until you're ready.

Released in October 2010 by Mira Books

HUNT

This short story was previously in the anthology Chicks Kick But

It’s been more than four years since Abby Wade survived capture and torture by a quartet of rogue shifters. Back then she was a scared kid, just trying to survive.

Now Abby is all grown up, and if she’s learned anything from training with Faythe Sanders, the world’s first female Alpha, it’s that she can take care of herself—and anyone else who comes along. So when her college roommate is abducted from a campsite deep in the Appalachian woods, Abby knows exactly how to get her back…

The rules of the hunt are simple. Kill or be killed.

Abby Wade is not ready to die

Released Originally June 2011, Re-Released in October 2014

Hide & Seek: Lion's Share

Does anyone know how much of a Rachel Vincent fan I am? YEP, she is one of my very first authors that made my heart soars for a werecat novel. I actually did an goodread search for something with werecats or cats into it and her werecats (Faythe's story) was the first option and I also realize that I had read her YA Soul Screamers until I found her werecats novels and consumed the entire series in one week. 

Now I'm so exciting to be taking part of revealing her newest addition to the werecat's world nearly 5 years after Alpha came out in 2010. Even Rachel didn't think there would be more to that world that jump started her writing gig.

Lion’s Share (Wildcats #1) by Rachel Vincent

Abby Wade has a dangerous secret.

Two months ago, she disobeyed an order, but instead of kicking her out of the Pride, Jace offered her a job. Since then, she’s been battling a completely inappropriate crush on the young, hot Alpha. But when accepting his job offer seems like the only way to keep her skeletons safely in their closet, Abby doesn’t hesitate.

Jace Hammond has a big problem.
A rogue is slaughtering humans in his territory, and he must eliminate the threat before the entire shifter species is exposed. There could not be a worse time for Abby to accept a job he only offered as a boost to her confidence. Abby is smart, beautiful, and resilient—more than enough to distract any man from the mission. Unfortunately, she may just be the worst enforcer ever to hold the title.
As they hunt the killer, Abby’s secret becomes a threat to Jace’s authority and to her own life. But the real danger is the grip she has on his twice-shy heart.

Publication date: February 23rd 2015
Genres: New Adult, Paranormal

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23507277-lion-s-share?ac=1

How about a little Giveaway provided by Rachel herself 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

AUTHOR BIO:

Rachel Vincent is the author of the Shifters series and the Unbound series for adults, as well as the Soul Screamers series for teens.

Rachel's next young adult book is THE STARS NEVER RISE, coming from Delacorte in June of 2015, and her new series for adults will debut with MENAGERIE, coming from Mira books in the fall of 2015

Rachel Vincent is a former English teacher and an eager champion of the Oxford comma. She shares her home in Oklahoma with two cats, two teenagers, and her husband, who's been her # 1 fan from the start. Rachel is older than she looks and younger than she feels, and she remains convinced that writing about the things that scare her is the cheapest form of therapy--but social media is a close second.

Author Links:

http://rachelvincent.com/

https://www.facebook.com/rachelkvincent

https://twitter.com/rachelkvincent

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/415967.Rachel_Vincent