Title: Lion’s Need
Series: N/A
Author: Anya Richards
Genre: Gay Erotic Romance/ Paranormal/ Shape-Shifter
Length: Novella (82 Pages)
ISBN: 978-1-63443-005-0
Publisher: GRU Publishing (December 10, 2014)
Heat Level: Explicit
Blurb: Freed by his master, running for his life toward a new beginning, Androcles takes refuge from a wolf pack in a cave, not realizing it is already occupied…by a wounded lion. While self-preservation tells him to flee, the majestic animal’s pain makes him hesitate, and when the beast transforms into an equally magnificent man, Androcles knows he has to render aid.
Thus begins a new adventure for the man seeking only autonomy and a place of his own in the world. In Okyin Androcles sees everything he is running from—a man- beast who could, with passion and his commanding presence, easily enslave another. A masterful lover able to seduce Androcles into wanting whatever he can get, even into wanting what he cannot have—or should not even desire. A superior being who causes the lines between freedom and slavery to blur, and causes a true crisis to an already damaged spirit. Unable to believe in the peace and sanctuary Okyin offers, Androcles knows he has no choice but to once more flee.
For personal liberty is more important than physical need, and the desire to be accepted as an equal overrides all passion. Even if when running away he leaves his heart behind.
Purchase Link: http://www.grupublishing.com/our-authors/anya-richards/lion-s-need/
Lisa’s Review: Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3.5Hearts
This is the first book by Anya Richards that I have read and it was a great start. I must admit though that it was missing something for me to truly love. It was a bit hard to understand it at first but once I started reading it I couldn’t put it down. I suppose if there was a bit more explanation in the lion’s way that it might have made it a bit easier.
Androcles had been taken from his home and made to service women and men, and then his last master Cato had bought him. He serviced his master’s needs, but what he had wanted was his heart and freedom. On the day Cato was dying, he gave Androcles his freedom. He had told him to run and escape. He had somehow ended up in a cave after escaping a pack of wolves only to find himself in front of an injured lion. He thought he was going to lose it when the lion took the form of a gorgeous man.
Okyin had not remembered that he had taken his lion form, so now he feared that he would have to take Androcles’s life. However, what he wanted was his love. He offered him safety and protection in exchange for his silence, but it was also to keep the man he wanted besides him. The problem was Androcles couldn’t let the past go. So it was up to Okyin to show him the way.
This was a blast to read. I had a bit of difficulty with it, but I think I would love to check out the rest of Anya’s stories.
I would recommend reading this if you love sexy men, tender hearts, lion shifters, a bit of danger, a touch of excitement and surprises.
Prime’s Review: Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3Hearts
This book is just about everything I love – historical fantasy (there was almost the opportunity to give an alternate history, too, but we did not get that) and shape shifters. I enjoyed this one – truly, I did – the only problem I had was that this was written as first person in present tense. I’m not a huge fan of first person despite the fact I read enough of it but I really only like first person written in past tense. But I was able to ignore my dislike the first person present tense enough to at least enjoy this novella from start to end.
Androcles is an interesting one, he’s been a slave all his life and only recently freed when mortal danger came upon him. Androcles is also a realist, so he knows if he gets caught, no one will believe that he was freed by his master. Okyin, a lion shifter, is a sweet man with a heart of gold. He’s been wandering the known world after leaving his tribe for a time.
Okyin comes across as somewhat naive, or perhaps just innocent despite the fact that he has known violence. He also has a magical calmness about him, that’s the best I can do, so I hope that makes sense. Regardless, I really enjoyed his character and would have loved to have known more about him and his clan. Because of the POV, Okyin’s character was lacking and mostly because I wanted to know his perspective.
The fact that this is set in the time of Julius Caesar and the Roman Empire is just incidental, and while I love the idea of that I think it would have been cool to have a bit more involvement of the time. This is really a book that could happen at any time in history, or even in some created universe, which is why I think the involvement of the time its set in is lacking. Probably if it was longer, this would have been the case, but nonetheless this is a hot and fascinating read.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *