Release Day Launch ~ Review: Abandoned and Unseen (Branded Packs #2) by Alexandra Ivy, Carrie Ann Ryan

Title: Abandoned and Unseen
Authors: Alexandra Ivy, Carrie Ann Ryan
Series: Branded Packs #2

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

AbandonedWhen bear shifter, Anya Tucker fell in love with the wrong man, the only thing she left with was a broken heart—and her two bear cubs. Now she’s mended her wounds and learned that in order to raise her babies she can only trust herself. When her sons meet the lazy cat next door and fall heads over tails for him, she’ll do whatever she takes to protect them—even from a past she’d thought she’d left behind.
Cole McDermott is a jaguar on a mission. Long naps, a willing woman, and a full stomach is usually all he needs when it comes to relaxing after a long day of protecting his Pack. Then he meets Anya and the burn of temptation is silky and tantalizing indeed. When a horror from Anya’s past threatens everything she loves, Cole will put everything aside and fight for her family—as well as his own.
UnseenNicole Bradley had no reason to live after the humans murdered her son. Not until she learns to hunt down those responsible for his death. Shifting into her wolf form at night, she slips out of the compound, determined to do as much damage as possible. The last thing she expected was to discover secrets that could destroy the SAU.
Polar shifter, Tucker Stone, lives off the grid. It’s the only way the Unseen can avoid being rounded up by the humans and tossed into a compound. Besides, he’s a loner by nature. But he can’t walk away when he sees the pretty female wolf in danger. Risking exposure, he takes her to his hidden den and tries to heal her wounds.
Can a reclusive polar bear and a wolf with a death wish find happiness together?

Abandoned

After the SAU (Sifter Accommodation Unit) forced the Ursines, the Canines and the Felines to live together in one compound everyone knew that life was bound to become harder. No one understands that better than Anya Dare, a bear shifter and single mother to twin bear cubs, Owen and Lucas.

Anya already has a difficult time trying to keep up with the cubs especially since their favorite hobby is playing with the tail of a very lazy jaguar shifter, Cole McDermott. Cole realizes that he shouldn’t encourage the twin monsters play with his tail all day long but he misses children and he would never say no to them. What he can’t understand is why their mother Anya seems to hate him so much.

All their differences are pit aside when Anya’s cubs go missing and Cole will do anything to find them.

I loved how the attraction between Anya and Cole was there from the beginning, how Anya resisted the bond that knew they could have but at the moment her cubs are gone she becomes feral. She’s practically pulling at the jaguar’s tail to find her children and he’s more than willing to help this stubborn woman.

Unseen

This one is quite special since we get our very first glimpse at the Unseen pack.

Nicole Bradley lost her young son because of the SAU brutality. No one was held responsible for her son’s murder but Nicole never forgot the face of the man who destroyed her life. Nicole manages to leave the compound undetected so she can hunt the people responsible for her son’s death. The only thing she wasn’t counting on is the polar bear shifter determined to stop her.

Tucker Stone and his pack have been collecting evidence against the SAU for a very long time and he can’t let Nicole ruin their only chance to get justice. When he finds out about Nicole son he heart aches for the lovely woman who refuses to listen to reason. He wants her and he’s not shy to admit it.

Unseen was a great story and I really loved it. We get to see the Alpha of the Unseen Pack, Sinclair who with the help of a human woman, Mira uncover more SAU secrets. I was so intrigued. I want to read more about Sinclair and his plan but this was Nicole and Tucker’s story and I was happy for them. I do hope we see more of the Unseen pack though.

Abandoned and unseen were two great additions to the Branded series. Action, suspense, romance, bear and jaguar shifters and two incredible bear cubs. It had everything!

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review*

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Review & Excerpt Tour: Abandoned and Unseen (Branded Packs #2) by Alexandra Ivy, Carrie Ann Ryan

The next in a new dark and gritty paranormal series. Abandoned and Unseen continues the journey with NYT Bestselling Authors, Alexandra Ivy and Carrie Ann Ryan. 

Abandoned

When bear shifter, Anya Tucker fell in love with the wrong man, the only thing she left with was a broken heart—and her two bear cubs. Now she’s mended her wounds and learned that in order to raise her babies she can only trust herself. When her sons meet the lazy cat next door and fall heads over tails for him, she’ll do whatever she takes to protect them—even from a past she’d thought she’d left behind.

Cole McDermott is a jaguar on a mission. Long naps, a willing woman, and a full stomach is usually all he needs when it comes to relaxing after a long day of protecting his Pack. Then he meets Anya and the burn of temptation is silky and tantalizing indeed. When a horror from Anya’s past threatens everything she loves, Cole will put everything aside and fight for her family—as well as his own.

Unseen

Nicole Bradley had no reason to live after the humans murdered her son. Not until she learns to hunt down those responsible for his death. Shifting into her wolf form at night, she slips out of the compound, determined to do as much damage as possible. The last thing she expected was to discover secrets that could destroy the SAU.

Polar shifter, Tucker Stone, lives off the grid. It’s the only way the Unseen can avoid being rounded up by the humans and tossed into a compound. Besides, he’s a loner by nature. But he can’t walk away when he sees the pretty female wolf in danger. Risking exposure, he takes her to his hidden den and tries to heal her wounds. 

Can a reclusive polar bear and a wolf with a death wish find happiness together?

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Review

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Abandoned

After the SAU (Sifter Accommodation Unit) forced the Ursines, the Canines and the Felines to live together in one compound everyone knew that life was bound to become harder. No one understands that better than Anya Dare, a bear shifter and single mother to twin bear cubs, Owen and Lucas.

Anya already has a difficult time trying to keep up with the cubs especially since their favorite hobby is playing with the tail of a very lazy jaguar shifter, Cole McDermott. Cole realizes that he shouldn’t encourage the twin monsters play with his tail all day long but he misses children and he would never say no to them. What he can’t understand is why their mother Anya seems to hate him so much. 

All their differences are pit aside when Anya’s cubs go missing and Cole will do anything to find them. 

I loved how the attraction between Anya and Cole was there from the beginning, how Anya resisted the bond that knew they could have but at the moment her cubs are gone she becomes feral. She’s practically pulling at the jaguar’s tail to find her children and he’s more than willing to help this stubborn woman. 

Unseen

This one is quite special since we get our very first glimpse at the Unseen pack.

Nicole Bradley lost her young son because of the SAU brutality. No one was held responsible for her son’s murder but Nicole never forgot the face of the man who destroyed her life. Nicole manages to leave the compound undetected so she can hunt the people responsible for her son’s death. The only thing she wasn’t counting on is the polar bear shifter determined to stop her.

Tucker Stone and his pack have been collecting evidence against the SAU for a very long time and he can’t let Nicole ruin their only chance to get justice. When he finds out about Nicole son he heart aches for the lovely woman who refuses to listen to reason. He wants her and he’s not shy to admit it.

Unseen was a great story and I really loved it. We get to see the Alpha of the Unseen Pack, Sinclair who with the help of a human woman, Mira uncover more SAU secrets. I was so intrigued. I want to read more about Sinclair and his plan but this was Nicole and Tucker’s story and I was happy for them. I do hope we see more of the Unseen pack though.

Abandoned and unseen were two great additions to the Branded series. Action, suspense, romance, bear and jaguar shifters and two incredible bear cubs. It had everything!

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review*

Excerpt

First, he wasn’t going to shift because he’d be naked. And being naked near her when he had a hard-on—because, come on, she was freaking sexy—wasn’t worth risking his life after she got a look at him sporting wood because of her. Second, he wasn’t lazy, he just picked his battles. As for her boys? Next time, he might just send them back. She had a point when it came to safety. He would never hurt them—they were cubs—but there were human patrols coming through the compound at all times. He wouldn’t see those boys hurt because the humans were in the wrong. However, he wasn’t going to shift and tell her this. She didn’t want to hear it. She had her own reasons for being angry, he suspected, and him defending himself wouldn’t help. Instead, he swished his tail, his eyes on hers.

She lifted her lip in another snarl then threw up her hands. “I can’t with you.” She turned on her heel and stomped back toward her home. He couldn’t help but watch the way her jeans hugged her ass as she did so. She was one sexy blonde Amazon of a woman. Not for him, but it didn’t hurt to look.

“I see you’re making all kinds of friends,” Gibson drawled as he slid through the trees. 

Cole had scented the wolf come up a few moments before but hadn’t let on to Anya. He wasn’t sure she’d noticed the man there since she’d been so focused on Cole. Plus, with all the new smells around her, he knew it would take a bit longer than a couple of weeks for her to get her bearings when it came to the different scents of the compound. He didn’t want to see her embarrassed for her outburst in public. And he didn’t know how he felt about that last thought. Instead of dwelling on it, he stretched, lifting his back in a curl before jumping down to the forest floor. With a shake, he shifted back to human. It was fast, a painful reminder that his body held two forms that didn’t quite mesh when one thought of the physics behind it.

“Get some pants on,” Gibson said smoothly. He ran a hand through his dark black hair that always ended up in his face. The damn man had one of those emo rocker haircuts that looked like it took an hour to get perfect each morning. Though Cole knew it just came naturally to the wolf. “You’re late for your appointment, and I don’t need to see your bare ass.”

“It’s a cat ass,” Cole said with a grin and shook it before bending over to grab the pair of sweats he’d left in a nearby bush.

“I so didn’t need to see that. I think I’m blind.”

Cole smiled wide as he slid his sweats over his hips. “You know you liked it.”

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                            About The Authors 

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan never thought she’d be a writer. Not really. No, she loved math and science and even went on to graduate school in chemistry. Yes, she read as a kid and devoured teen fiction and Harry Potter, but it wasn’t until someone handed her a romance book in her late teens that she realized that there was something out there just for her. When another author suggested she use the voices in her head for good and not evil, The Redwood Pack and all her other stories were born.


Carrie Ann is a bestselling author of over twenty novels and novellas and has so much more on her mind (and on her spreadsheets *grins*) that she isn’t planning on giving up her dream anytime soon.


Website: http://carrieannryan.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarrieAnnRyanAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CarrieAnnRyan

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/18aFEqP

Alexandra Ivy Bio:
Alexandra Ivy graduated from Truman University with a degree in theatre before deciding she preferred to bring her characters to life on paper rather than stage. She started her career writing traditional regencies before moving into the world of paranormal with her USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and New York Times bestselling series The Guardians of Eternity. Now she writes a wide variety of genres that include paranormal, erotica, and romantic suspense.

Website http://alexandraivy.com/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/alexandraivyfanpage

Twitter https://twitter.com/AlexandraIvy

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ARC Review: Stolen and Forgiven (Branded Packs #1) by Alexandra Ivy, Carrie Ann Ryan

Title: Stolen and Forgiven
Author: Alexandra Ivy , Carrie Ann Ryan
Series: Branded Packs #1

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

Stolen
The first rule of being Alpha of the Canine Pack is to protect their secrets from the humans at all cost. One look at the dying human at his doorstep and Holden Carter knows he will have to break it. The broken woman with no hope at survival is his mate. When he forces the change on her to save her life, he not only sets forth motions that could risk both their lives, but the lives of every shifter in the world.
Ariel Sands grew up in a post-Verona infection world and under the care of the very humans she thought had cured the disease. When they betray her in the worst ways imaginable, she finds herself not only mated to the Alpha of a the very species she’s been taught to fear, but the focal point of a traitor and path to destruction for everyone’s way of life. It will take more than trust and a mating bond for Ariel and Holden to not only survive their enemies, but the burn of their own temptations.
Forgiven
Soren Slater is a Beta wolf who understands that duty to his Pack comes before his own needs. At a young age he takes a position as a liaison between his Pack and the other species of shifters. He never expected his enticing flirtations with Cora Wilder, a Tiger Princess, would encourage her cat to consider him a potential mate. He’s forced to walk away, choosing a partner among the wolves to try and strengthen his Pack.
Cora has no intention of forgiving or forgetting Soren’s rejection. Not even when the Packs are forced to live together and she discovers Soren’s former mate has died. But then, she’s kidnapped by the SAU and she has no choice but to work with Soren to escape. Together they must put the past behind them if they’re to survive the human’s evil plot

A brand new series by one of my top 5 authors, Alexandra Ivy and a fabulous soon-to-become a favorite new author to me, Carrie Ann Ryan.

Stolen and Forgiven is a paranormal (kind of dystopian) book. Twenty five years ago, a virus called the Verona Virus nearly wiped out humanity. It was at that time that the shifters decided to come out and help since they were immune to the virus. Instead of finding peace though, humans used their blood to destroy the virus and made the shifters appear as savages to the public. They collared and forced them to live as animals in compounds. Each pack is suffering and especially now as they are forced to shared their barely enough space with other shifters.

Stolen 

Holder Carter is the alpha of the River Pack. He is struggling to keep his pack from revolving because he knows that although they are stronger than humans, they could very well lose their weaker member such as their submissive, the elders and the children. Holder is aware that the guards of the SAU (shifter accommodation unit) will do anything to get a chance to blame them for something and thus punish them by killing them.

So, when he finds a dying woman on their compound, he knows that the humans left her there to die and accuse them of killing her. He can’t be surprised by their tactics but he sure damn can be when he realizes that the dying woman is his mate.

Holder never thought that he would find his mate especially now that they are imprisoned in the compounds. His mate is a step away from death and Holder has no choice but to save her. He waited forever for her and he’s not about to lose her. Turning her might be her only chance at survival but it will also put his pack in grave danger and for an alpha his pack always comes first.

The scientists working for SAU have long wanted to find a way to turn humans. If they see that the human they left for dead is now a shifter, holder knows that his pack will be slaughtered to uncover their most sacred secret.

I loved Stolen, I loved Holder and I loved Ariel (his mate). I loved everything. Holder was such a great alpha. He would sacrifice everything for his pack and Ariel (I love he name!). Ariel was very strong too. She was kidnapped from her home and later taken to the SAU labs to be experimented on. She was tortured by the very humans who had promised to protect her. The irony!

Holder and Ariel were just amazing!

Forgiven 

Forgiven tells the story of Soren, Holder’s second in command, his Beta and the princess of the Golden pack, Cora Wilder.

Soren and Cora have loved each other in the past but then Soren had to do his duty to the pack and marry one of their own to keep the pack’s stability. Cora never forgave Soren for his betrayal. He seduced her, made promises to her but then he turned his back on her and married one of his pack members.

Now forced to share the same territory and with Soren’s mate dead, Soren wants to make up for the mistake that cost him the woman he loves. He always felt guilty about leaving Cora but he would never disrespect the memory of his mate. Cora may be stubborn but she can’t deny the chemistry that still exists between them.

Soren wants Cora to be his mate but he will take anything that she’s willing to offer and in this case a friends with benefits deal. What neither anticipates is the threat that SAU still poses. They still need the shifters to “help” them turn humans and Cora is their perfect prey, daughter of an alpha and soon to become mate of a Beta, both men would do anything for her.

Stolen and Forgiven were beyond incredible. I loved both stories and I can’t wait for Abandoned and Unseen (September 2015).

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

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