Protector of the Pride by Terry Bolryder

Posted September 12, 2016 by Marsha in Shifter Series / 0 Comments

protector-of-the-prideTitle:  Protector of the Pride
Series:  Lions of Pride Island #3
Author:  Terry Bolryder
Published:  June 13, 2016
My Rating:  5 stars
Source:  Kindle Unlimited
Cover Description:

Axel Hunt knows what’s expected from him in life. Find a mate that’s suitable to the oracle, mate her, and rule his country, ensuring peace. But all of that is turned upside down when curvy Lucy comes into his life, drawing his attention as never before. Only problem? She’s his secretary.

Lucy has never planned to put down roots or settle down. She enjoys the single life and her work, and her sketchy family history don’t give her a lot of hope that the right man would give her a chance. But when she meets Axel Hunt, she realizes two things. First, he’s hot and makes her feel all kinds of things she never expected to feel. Second, he’s hopeless with women and has no chance of winning over a mate when one is picked for him. With only a small ulterior motive, she proposes a win win situation. Date her, just for pretend, and learn how to woo a woman.

But when a make believe relationship turns into real feelings on both sides, how will Axel and Lucy reconcile their love with the needs of a nation? And can the fight the dangers lying ahead?

Sexy shifters and their feisty mates who aren’t shy about loving each other – so, this is an adult, 18+ reader tale.

It’s always a slightly bittersweet moment when I come to the ending of a series.  I’ve grown found of the characters, I cared about what happened to them and to say good-bye is not always easy… even if necessary.  Yet – I’ve come to know Shifter Romance authors enough to know that the ending isn’t always the end of meeting up with favorite characters – so time will tell.

The princes Beau and Cain have found their mates, even if they were picked out by the Oracle, still they found their happy ever after in strong, sassy and loyal women.  So far for Axel, the prince who has taken up the reins of King since his father’s death – the Oracle has been silent.  And the waiting is getting on his nerves.  It was true that some of the weight of being leader of his people, in name at least if not yet fact, has lifted since the Oracle did send his current secretary, Lucy, to him not so long ago.  If she was perfect for the job, if his eyes strayed to her curves and her smile a bit too often, if he thought about her far more than he should… well, that was between him and his lion.  Axel knew he had no true choice for picking out his own mate, the Oracle always made that choice for the royal family.  But if he could, his heart was telling him to look in Lucy’s direction.

Lucy has secrets.  Ones that have hurt her in the past, and ones that she will never let her guard down enough to tell the man who should be told.  Axel has been the perfect boss, for a King that is.  And if she watches the frown lines on his face deepen and longs to ease the tension there, if she does everything in her power to lighten his heavy load, if she cannot get him out of her mind or the things that she’d love to do with him either… well, that is between her and her lioness.  He could never pick her as a mate, his path was decided by the Oracle.  But… what if she could help him and herself out just a bit while he waited for that decision.  What if… they indulged in a pretend romance, just to give him some practice of course.  It wouldn’t count, it wouldn’t be real… they wouldn’t let emotions get in the way.  Right?

I enjoyed Protector of the Pride.  Axel has been that perfect brother, the one who takes on the responsibilities while Beau and Cain went out and lived their lives.  Doesn’t really seem fair, does it?  Finally, Axel is stepping out from those responsibilities and leading with his heart, his instincts.  Everything within him is saying Lucy is his mate.  And he’s about to defy convention to prove that to her and the Oracle.  Would he give up his crown, the country he loves with all his heart?  Yes, if it means he cannot have his own heart next to Lucy.

I loved the banter between Axel and Lucy, how she never let’s him get too full of himself.  There is tenderness within the passion between them.  Oh, yeah the sexy times were sizzling… but the obvious affection and need for each other was there from the start.  It was the perfect ending of a series that I enjoyed …and if I have secret hopes of a spin-off, that’s between me and my Kindle.  *grin*

Available for the Kindle

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