REVIEW by Lorna: Bodyguard (Shifters Unbound #2.5) by Jennifer Ashley (@JennAllyson , @Mollykatie112)

Elizabeth Chapman is saved from an armed robber by a giant Kodiak bear who shifts into a large, well-muscled, and fully naked human male. But when it’s revealed that the robber is the brother of a dangerous criminal, Elizabeth finds herself the target of a vendetta.

Ronan, the Bear Shifter, takes her to Shiftertown for safety, where Elizabeth learns that the mateless Ronan, alone in the world, takes care of Shifters who have also been left on their own. Having grown up in foster care, Elizabeth can only admire how protective Ronan is.

But Ronan will only let Elizabeth leave the confines of Shiftertown if he becomes her 24/7 bodyguard. Elizabeth chafes at her restriction, but agrees. The trouble is, the sassy human Elizabeth is triggering Ronan’s long-buried need to find himself a mate.

A short novel of the Shifters Unbound series (46,000 words; sixteen chapters).

Bodyguard
by Jennifer Ashley

Series:
Shifters Unbound #2.5

Genre:
Urban Fantasy
Paranormal Romance

Publisher:
JA / AG Publishing

Publication Date:
November 18, 2011

Third in this series about the shiftertown outside of Austin, Texas, this one picks up the story with Ronan, who just happens to be one of my favorite characters from the previous two books. Ronan is a Kodiac bear shifter originally from Alaska, now leader of a small clan of bears in shiftertown that live together. I say leader, but actually he is almost a foster father to some of the younger bears. He’s been alone for a very long time, and never thought he would ever mate claim anyone. That all changes when he meets Elizabeth, the owner of a small store. She is one of the few human’s that allow shifters to shop in their stores.

The story starts out with an exciting robbery of her store-not a spoiler because that really is on the first page. The robber stupidly didn’t realize that Ronan was in the store. So the two main characters meet in a highly charged part of the story. As the story continues, more bad guys are introduced, and consequently Elizabeth and her younger sister Mabel, are thrown into life in shiftertown for protection.

Shiftertown, and it’s inhabitants are all collared by humans so that they can not be aggressive. In this authors world building, human’s know about shifters and are afraid of them. So they treat them as less than animals. They aren’t allowed new vehicles, new technology, nor are they able to live outside of a shiftertown. Hence the reason that Ronan, a once reclusive Alaskan bear, has been moved away to a shiftertown willing to take him. He has built a good life there and made friends. And of course he is my favorite character in this story. He is a huge man, but tame and loving as can be. He’s extremely protective of what he considers his, and he considers Elizabeth his. Elizabeth is definitely not what she appears to be, and has a dark past. It doesn’t take Ronan long to realize this, and to get involved right in the middle of it.

I find this world fascinating from one book to the next. A lot of the characters seem like old friends now, even though I am only three books in. I have every intention of continuing on with the books as I love the world building, the characters, the romance, and each so far has featured an interesting and excitingly told premise. You could read this as a stand alone, but there are elements that continue from one book to the next, so I recommend reading from the beginning. I also recommend these to adult paranormal romance/urban fantasy fans. Great, enjoyable, and at times sensual read!

The review copy of Primal Bonds was purchased by the reviewer.

ABOUT JENNIFER ASHLEY

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Jennifer Ashley writes historical and paranormal romance as Jennifer Ashley; paranormal romance and urban fantasy as Allyson James; and mysteries as Ashley Gardner. Jennifer’s novels have won RWA’s RITA and RT Reviewer’s Choice awards among others.