Title: Felice: Book one of the Shield-Mates fantasy romance with magic, mayhem, and family devotion. (Shield-Mates of Dar 1)
Author: D.V. Stone
Genre: Shifter Romance, Fantasy Romance
Book Blurb:
Enter a fantasy world of exhilarating adventure, political intrigue, and fiery romance.
Felice of Dar, a warrior and panther-shifter, is resilient, fighting for family and kingdom. She refuses to surrender to anyone or anything, but when a diplomatic mission to the human realm goes astray, she’s wounded and struggling for control.
Ayer is a man who thinks he is a charming prince. However, behind his back, people call him Prince Arrogant. When he meets Felice, Ayer resorts to deception about his true identity, setting off a chain of lies and mistrust. As he gets to know Felice, he desperately wants her respect and realizes he needs to earn it.
Sparks fly, and passions ignite. Will Ayer be able to get Felice to trust him again, or will his arrogance continue to get in the way? War is looming. Can the pair put their differences aside to save their people and, in turn, find love epic enough to heal broken hearts?
Find out in this gripping tale of love, trust, and redemption.
My Review:
Lies lead to deception which leads to mistrust, but can it possibly lead to love for Felice and Ayer? Felice is book one in a gripping fantasy romantic suspense with paranormal elements and shifter characters. It is also enemies to lovers romance. Combining complex characters, riveting world-building, and epic romantic adventure, Felice is an exciting book worth reading.
Let’s start with the characters. Felice is a panther shifter who has suffered greatly at the hands of others. She may be the daughter of King Dar and a fierce warrior but she’s also a broken woman. My heart broke for her. Such pain, such grief, no woman should have to face. It takes a great love to strengthen her spirit, to make her whole again. Ayer is a foolish fop of a prince. That is, until he meets Felice. There’s something that changes in him, and he vows to be a better man. The rest of the characters fill out the story and add substance to the overall plot. Each character has their own voice and personality.
The world-building is some of the best I’ve read. D.V. Stone takes her vision of this world filled with animal shifters plus humans and makes it her own. She amasses an intricate society and makes it believable. The hierarchy in ranks is poignantly described and detailed. By the time I finished, I wanted to become a citizen of Dar.
The descriptive narration is a treat to read. Each scene is described down to the last detail. There is a balance between action and emotion in the narration. I couldn’t stop reading and became a part of the story.
I’m a big fan of shifter romance and Felice is a true gem. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
My Rating: 5+ stars
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Author Biography:
D. V. Stone is an award-winning, multi-genre, traditionally and independently published author. She writes books people want to read. Whether romance or fantasy, paranormal, contemporary, or mid-grade, her stories are about the importance of friends and family. About overcoming obstacles while often with humor.
Around the Fire is a popular weekly blog where she introduces both established and new authors giving an insider’s look into their lives and books as well as tidbits about her own life.
Now retired, she is a full-time author and incorporates her life experiences into her books.
A former Emergency Medical Technician, she volunteered in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania. At the same time, she worked as a professional EMT in a women’s state prison. She was the proprietor of a coffee shop, and a small restaurant/ice cream stand in the years that followed. The years following were as a manager in an animal emergency hospital, while her last position was in a human medical office.
When not behind the wheel of 2Hoots—a 41-foot long 13.2 feet high 5th Wheel camper, she rambles around town in Northern New Jersey in a white Camaro. She also loves travel and history.
D.V. is a wife to an amazing husband, mother to one son, and not your average grandma to three beautiful grands. A woman of faith, she believes and trusts in God.
“My greatest pleasures are spending time outside with friends and family, cooking over the open fire, sipping a glass of wine, and reading.”
Hali, her rescue dog, always reminds her to let readers know, “Woof, woof.” Which is loosely translated as support your local animal rescue.”
She is also a contributing columnist with Still Moments magazine.
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Reviewed by: Nancy