Book 3 of Bell's "Halle Pumas" series. Preceded bySweet Dreams. Followed bySteel Beauty.Books 1 to 3 are available as a paperback anthologyMating Games.Plot:Sheri can't keep running from her stalker, and when Max and Simon invite her to join the Pride, she takes her chance to gain some peace. But the stalker is still out there, and getting closer, and now Adrian wants to Mate her, is she strong enough to keep them both safe?Comments:- Contemporary paranormal (shape shifting) SmallTown romance with explicit bedroom scenes.- 1982 kindle locations, 20,000 words (short novella), but finishes around 1704 locations.- m/f - explicit, reasonably frequent, *happy*.- "Cat of a Different Color" picks up as Book 1 ends. Sheri was introduced in passing as the discoverer of Becky's issues. Adrian has made cameos as Max's optometrist partner.- Sheri has "type one albinism" - she's legally blind (20/200), sensitive to light, and has a seeing-eye dog, Jerry. Bell addresses her issues with care and sensitivity, emphasising Sheri's strengths and abilities.- Sheri is also the survivor of domestic abuse. She "got out" before it became too bad, but he has since stalked her. Sheri is a smart and intelligent woman who made some bad choices that haunted her future.- As a "series", the first three books should really be seen as a trilogy where the stories support each other. You *could* read them independently, as stand alones, but would get more satisfaction from reading them in sequence.- Includes excerpts fromFelicity Stripped Bareby Vanessa Jaye, andDunmore Risingby Gia Dawn.- There is a "free read" available on the author's website which gives us a little epilogue of Adrian and Sheri, "The Ornament Book 3".Opinion:Another clever novella in the "Halle Pumas" series, Bell gives us action, love, caring and respect. The Mating Imperative is rapid. The "I love you"s come pretty fast. But the shifting is important, the one-liners are fun, and the sex is steamy. I like it. I like the series. And I am happy to recommend them.4.5 stars rounded up. Sheri has strength. The book is short but the care Ms Bell has taken in giving Sheri a handicap, and a stalker, is worth the read. Rounding up because I like a heroine with a difference."The Ornament Book3":After what Adrian did to her lawn with Christmas Decorations, he definitely has a lot of making up to do. An unexpected surprise and lots of hot sex will go a long way into Sheri's heart.A sweet erotic short story of their first Christmas together. A nice epilogue to keep the readers happy.-CR-
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