Hunger’s Mate Pts 1-4 by A.C. Arthur-a review

I read Hunger’s Mate as a four part serial but the entire book will be available February 3, 2015

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Half man, half animal, a Shadow Shifter must walk the line between predator and prey, hunger and obsession—to capture the woman he loves…

A natural born hunter proud of his birthright, Ezra Preston agrees to hide his identity and pretend to be human—to learn what his enemies know of his kind. But even undercover, it’s not in his nature to play games with a woman. Especially when he discovers the beautiful creature has been keeping secrets of her own…

This is no ordinary woman he’s stalking but an alluring and mysterious cat thief—with dangerous secrets of her own…

Jewel Jenner has plotted and schemed for months, hiding her knowledge of a top-secret operation to save her ailing father. Captivated by her passion, skill, and courage, Ezra wants to help Jewel on her mission. But when he discovers how far she’s gone—sleeping with the enemy to steal a fortune in diamonds—he must decide if he can trust this enthralling woman with his secret…or trust his fiercest instincts when he’s near her.

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HUNGER’S MATE Part 1 (The Shadow Shifters ) by A.C. Arthur

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 13, 2015

Part One in an Exclusive Four-Part Novel　Half man, half animal, a Shadow Shifter must walk the line between predator and prey. Love and lust. And pure, blind hunger…A natural born hunter proud of his birthright, Ezra Preston agrees to hide his true identity and pretend to be human to learn what his enemies know of his kind. But even undercover, it’s not in his nature to play games with a woman. Especially when he discovers a creature as mysterious—and utterly delectable—as Jewel Jenner. Can she be trusted? The only thing Ezra knows for sure is that she cannot be resisted…

REVIEW: HUNGER’S MATE Part 1 introduces the players in A.C. Arthur’s fifth installment in her adult, contemporary Shadow Shifters paranormal romance series. This is Shadow Shifter feline/ Lead Guard Ezra Preston and Jewel Jenner’s storyline.

We are introduced to Ezra Preston-a Shadow Shifter whose current assignment finds him undercover at Comastaz Labs-a government facility involved in the illegal research and possible modification of Shadow Shifter DNA. While Ezra hunts for any clue behind the attack against the Shifters, his mind and body are drawn to a human female who works for Perryville Resort.

Jewel Jenner is hiding a secret; her fear and pain radiate through Ezra and his cat needs to protect her from whatever threat has her running scared. But Jewel’s secret is about to be exposed, and her days of running have come to an end. Ezra’s emotions are all over the place, and he is having difficulty controlling the cat within.

A.C. Arthur sets up the backdrop to HUNGER’S MATE. Ezra’s need for Jewel can only be measured by the desires and needs of his cat, and in this Ezra may have found the woman to tame the beast within. Ezra’s backstory and history is revealed, letting us aware that there is more to Ezra than meets the eye.

Many of the previous storyline characters play a secondary and supporting role: Shifter Hierarchy is revealed through contention and disagreement: and some of the history between the Shadow Shifters, The Genesis Project and Comastaz Labs is slowly revealed as Ezra begins to uncover the truth.

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HUNGERS’S MATE Part 2 (The Shadow Shifters) by A.C. Arthur

About the book: Release Date January 20, 2015

Ezra can’t help but be on the prowl. Jewel is stunning. Sly. Insatiable. But she is no ordinary human—and he’s about to find out that he’s stalking but an alluring and mysterious cat thief. One who possesses dangerous secrets of her own…

REVIEW: HUNGER’S MATE Part 2 focuses on an attack against Perryville Resort and The Shadow Shifters. As Jewel’s past come looking for revenge, it is the Shadow Shifters that will suffer when Jewel is no where to be found.

Once again, the reader is pulled into the world of shifter violence and supernatural powers. No one is safe when Jewel’s past demands retribution. The Genesis Project at Comastaz Labs comes to the forefront and much will be revealed about a new breed of shifter.

The relationship between Ezra and Jewel takes on a sexual flavor-Ezra’s cat believes it has found their mate but Ezra isn’t sure that Jewel will be safe in Ezra’s presence. Once again, the past is too close for comfort.

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HUNGER’S MATE Part 3 (The ShadowShifters) by A.C.Arthur

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date: January 27, 2015

Jewel has plotted and schemed for months, hiding her knowledge of a top-secret operation—and keeping Ezra guessing. And hungry for more…Captivated by her passion, skill, and courage, Ezra wants to help Jewel on her mission. But can she be trusted? Is his desire for her worth the risk?

REVIEW: HUNGER’S MATE part 3 continues to reveal more about both Ezra and Jewel’s backstory. While Jewel has become the obsession of a man bent on creating the ultimate fighting machine, Ezra’s dark side begins to emerge.

The relationship between our couple continues to build. When Ezra demands obedience from Jewel, horrific memories from her past push Jewel to run. She never wants to be placed in another position of submission.

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HUNGER’S MATE Part 4 (Shadow Shifters ) by A.C. Arthur

Release Date: February 3, 2015

Jewel has always had her own agenda. But when Ezra discovers how far she’s gone—sleeping with the enemy to achieve her means—he has no choice but to ask himself: Can he trust her with his own secrets? Instinct tells him that he must be near her. She is the one who can satisfy his hunger. But will his passion for her mean the destruction of him and his kind? How far will one Shadow Shifter go as he follows his own heart?

REVIEW: HUNGER’S MATE part 4 is the culmination of a storyline that finds Jewel on the run from her past. With over four million dollars in stolen diamonds and the secrets to the next generation of a hybrid soldier in her possession, Jewel’s future is dark but for the man who claims that she is his mate. Ezra will reveal the truth behind the Shadow Shifters and the beast within, but it is Jewel’s prior knowledge that has everyone concerned.

While the Shadow Shifters struggle to recover from an attack against Perryville Resort, Ezra begins to hunt for the people responsible for the attack against his mate. Jewel is a woman with many secrets that have placed her in a position to do more harm than good.

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Throughout the storyline several plotlines begin to emerge and intersect; from Ezra and Eli’s backstory in the jungles of Sierra Leone to an ailing infant child whose Shadow Shifter parents have depleted all known resources to help in her recovery. The Genesis Project comes full circle when the past meets the present and the future of the Shadow Shifters species takes an unlikely turn when a baby’s life is dependent upon an experiment from the past. The darkness is Ezra may be the cure everyone is looking for but Ezra’s brother Eli has a secret of his own.

Our heroine, Jewel Jenner, is a difficult character to like. She has some dark demons; a past riddled with secrets and a family she will do anything to protect but when things begin to fall apart, Jewel likes to run and run often. She is unwilling to accept Ezra’s need and love for his mate as her past is awash in betrayal, abuse and loss. Jewel continued to push Ezra at every opportunity; their mutual lies and hidden secrets were the stepping stones to a difficult resolution.

Many of the previous storyline couples and characters continue to play supporting and secondary roles as A.C. Arthur’s Shadow Shifters series builds upon the prior installments and plotlines.

A.C. Arthur’s Shadow Shifters series is infinitely detailed with a fascinating and colorful history that continues to build throughout each storyline. Each novel looks at a number of different backstories, building plotlines and potential struggles that address the continuing battle between the Shadow Shifters and a secret government organization with plans of their own. Because of the amount of information and the build up of material and data in each installment, it is probably advisable to read the series from the beginning and in order.

There is a familiarity to the Shadow Shifters series-one that does not go unnoticed by this reader. A sense of déjà vu to another series that builds upon a similar set of scenarios and storylines.

Copies supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy