Otterly in Love by Lorelei M. Hart and Aria Grace

Title: Otterly in Love

Author: Lorelei M. Hart and Aria Grace

Series: #3 in The River's Edge Shifters series

Genre: M/M Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Surrendered Press (November 21, 2020)

Source: Kindle Unlimited

Rating: ☕☕☕

Synopsis: An M/M MPreg Shifter Romance

Sometimes the past holds your future...

Omega otter shifter Doc loved his adopted son and wanted to protect him from his past. But when the boy's past flings itself at him in the form of a series of letters, Doce is faced with the heart wrenching decision of either ripping open old wounds or keeping unforgivable secrets from the child.

Rabbit shifter Levi hates his life as Alpha of his Colony. Put there by birthright and held there by his past, he has no choice: If he leaves, they will kill his one true mate. Rabbits were brutal like that.

When the colony is all abuzz with word of a stranger in town, Levi doesn't expect an otter and he certainly doesn't expect the man to be the bearer of both the worst and the best news of his life: His mate was gone and he had a son. And he most definitely doesn't expect to have his rabbit announcing the man as his mate. 

Otterly In Love is a sweet with knotty heat M/M shifter mpreg romance featuring an otter shifter looking out for his son, a rabbit shifter who fears he isn't strong enough to fix the wrongs of his path, an evil sheriff who won't stay gone, a boy who in some ways has more to teach him, true fated love, and an adorable little baby. This is the third book in the River's Edge Shifters series brought to you by the co-writing team of Lorelei M. Hart and Aria Grace and can be read as a stand-alone.

(Synopsis courtesy of GoodReads)

My Thoughts: I was really looking forward to getting to know Doc more and although this was his story it left me wanting more.

The Good, The Bad, and Everything Else: So, about the synopsis.... for the most part it is exactly what this book is about, but that last paragraph isn't quite accurate. The evil sheriff is taken care of in book 2 and although it's been 4 days since I finished this book, I'm pretty sure I am remembering this book correctly. Also, the "adorable little baby"...not sure which baby this is in reference to. I believe August and Jase's baby is in the book and she is adorable, but she isn't in a lot of the scenes as at least half the book takes place at the rabbit Colony and not in River's Edge. There is another baby, but I believe doesn't make an appearance until the very end. One more complaint about the last paragraph of the synopsis and then I'll move on....it says it is the 3rd book in the series but can be read as a stand-alone. I'm terrible about reading things in order and my GR friends could attest to this. I often pick something up based on what I get approved at NetGalley. I'll pick something up based on what my library has available at the time. I'll even pick something up based on the shiny cover. However, I really think in order for Doc's story (and Xander's as well) to be fully appreciated the first book in the series should be read before this one, at the very least. Book 2 is almost an independent book within the series as the characters in that story don't make an appearance in book 3 but more about that later.

While I did enjoy this book, I was sad that Leo and Ron (from Feline the Love) weren't in this book. I really liked those characters. Also, I know Doc was older, but I don't recall how much older (I'm actually thinkin it never said) and for some reason this bugged me. I like an age gap romance but like to know what ages I'm working with LOL. 

With the background story of Xander being heartbreaking and intense from the first book I was disappointed that part of that story was concluded off page, happening sometime after book 1 ended and book 3 started (but not mentioned in book 2 at all.) I know that is quite vague, but I don't want to include any spoilers for anyone who may want to read the series.

As far as Levi and Doc go, I really wanted more from their story. On one hand it was a really good story, but I think the page count limited the development of a believable love story. As with most fated mate tropes the "I Love You's" happened quickly and in shifter romances sex usually means love. Too bad I'm not a shifter and can't appreciate this type of relationship. Hello insta-love. <insert should shrug here>. 

In a Nutshell: I am definitely moving on to book 4 although I'm not sure who will find their true love as there weren't any new shifters introduced except 3 bunny adults (new adult age so not viable for relationship status in my mind), a handful of rabbit Colony asshats (only good for evil mastermind status), and Mama (a widowed lion shifter who played a major role in helping Levi leave the Colony....loved her by the way.) I guess I'll have to wait until I can pick up book #4, Canine Love You after I finish up my current reads.

Feline the Love by Lorelei M. Hart and Aria Grace

Title: Feline the Love

Author: Lorelei M. Hart and Aria Grace

Series: #2 in the River's Edge Shifters series

Genre: M/M Paranormal Romance

Publisher:  Surrendered Press (August 6, 2020)

Source: Kindle Unlimited

Rating: ☕☕☕☕

Synopsis: An M/M MPreg Shifter Romance

Sometimes love arrives with a purr...

Omega cat shifter Leo needs to get out of city life. He’s sick of people trying to rescue him when he shifts. He’s no domesticated animal—he’s a cat shifter descended from lions for goodness sakes. If only he hadn’t been saddled with a recessive gene that made him the least fierce of his clan...and sent him running to the big city.

A city he now loathed.

It seemed that a move to the country was in order.

Alpha human Ron loves his job as the Deputy of Riverview Township, even with his annoying boss, but he needs more out of life than just his career. If only he had figured that out sooner, back when he still turned a few heads. Now he was just The Deputy and no one looked at him as a potential anything.

Ron’s life is turned completely upside down when Leo moves to town, taking over a fixer upper that was barely standing. There’s just something about Leo that has him wanting to both protect and help him.

Feline the Love is a sweet with knotty heat M/M shifter mpreg romance featuring a cat who finds more in Riverview Township than just a new home, a human who discovers there is an entire world he never knew about, a real estate bargain that very much isn’t one, two men who finally find their place in the world, true fated love, and an adorable little baby. This is the second book in the River’s Edge Shifters series brought to you by the co-writing team of Lorelei M. Hart and Aria Grace and can be read as a stand-alone.

My Thoughts: I very much enjoyed this book and both heroes so much.

The Good, The Bad, and Everything Else: Another instance of me not doing great on doing my reviews this year so I never did one on book 1 in this series. In this series we have short paranormal books with unconventional shifters set in the Omegaverse. In the first book there was a bunny shifter. In this book we have tabby cat. 

Leo is one of our heroes. A tabby cat shifter who purchased a rundown property in the small town of River's Edge. I adored Ron (not a fan of the names of the heroes in this book especially after the first book's heroes Jase and August.) He's an adorable deputy who loves his job. The romance was really good. Although the series really relies on more of a fated mate trope, we did get to see them fall in love by them spending time together a little while before they fell into bed. The sexy times were spicy but not overly so. The humor of the story made me laugh. Multiple times someone suggested the tabby should be neutered. As the tabby was Leo, it made me laugh quite a bit.

In a Nutshell: A short book but well written. I liked this one as much, if not a little more, than the first. I'll definitely read the next book in the series.

An Alpha Bear for Lucian by Lorelei M. Hart and Colbie Dunbar

Title: An Alpha Bear for Lucian

Author: Lorelei M. Hart and Colbie Dunbar

Series: #1 in The Bruin Ridge Bear-Ginnings

Genre: M/M Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Surrendered Press (February 27, 2022)

Source: Kindle Unlimited

Rating: ☕☕☕☕

Synopsis: Aspen didn't know you could accidentally become Alpha of Den, but that's exactly what he just did.

Apha bear shifter Aspen was ready to begin his new life in the big city. He has a job lined up, a lease signed, and his truck packed. All he has left is to get there. Too bad that's easier said than done because his truck picked the middle of nowhere to break down--alongside a bear den's land of all places. When Aspen seeks permission to spend the night, he plans to keep his head down and just mind his own business and he does, until he hears the scream that changes everything.

Omega bear shifter Lucian hated his den. No, that wasn't fair. It wasn't the den he hated as much as it was the leadership. Wehen the Alpha he had most of his life died, he crossed his fingers the new one would bring their den into this century. He didn't--the alpha was not only old-school, but also cruel. When rumors of an alpha bear seeking refuge until his truck is repaired reach him, Lucian forms a plan. If he can convince the shifter to take him when he leaves, he can escape this horrible life. 

Sneaking out to find the new bear sounded like a great idea, until Lucian gets caught. His den Alpha is a strike first kind of guy, and strike he does. Lucien knows better than to scream, it only makes the punishment worse, but scream he does, the pain too much to hold inside. A flurry of furm, teeth, a dead Alpha, and the scenting of his fated mate leaves the visiting shifter a their new Alpha.

So much for best laid plans.

An Alpha Bear for Lucian is the first book in the anticipated Bruin Ridge Bear-Ginning series, a sweet with knotty hear M/M Mpreg Shifter Romance by the popular writing team of Colbie Dunbar and Lorelei M. Hart. It features an alpha bear thrown into a role he is woefully unprepared for, an omega whose plans for the future very much did not include being his den's Alpha Omega, a pack on the verge of collapse, the challenge that changes everything, true love, fated mates, and of course an adorable baby. If you love your shifters hawt, your omegas strong, and your mpreg with heart, download your copy of An Alpha Bear for Lucian today.

(synopsis courtesy of GoodReads)

My Thoughts: This was a darn good book with a great balance of love and conflict.

The Good, The Bad, and Everything Else: It's been a while since I finished this book (3 weeks ago) so I don't necessarily remember every little detail, but I do remember how I adored these characters. I'm so character driven that if I can connect with the characters, I'm sure to love the book even if the plot is weak. In this instance I don't think the plot was weak either, but I was so wrapped up in Aspen and Lucian I might not have noticed. Grant also gets special consideration from me as well. He's a great friend to Lucian. 

The whole dynamics of the Den was very interesting when Aspen took over after the death of the previous alpha. There was some set-in tradition and refused to accept the new path Aspen was taking the Den and the ones who were happy about the changes were mostly Omegas who were considered less than in the hierarchy of the Den. Aspen never planned on being the leader of a Den, ever, but he ends up being great at it. 

In a Nutshell: I'm certainly invested in the future of the Bruin Ridge Bear Den and the shifters living there. I am really looking forward to reading more about them.