Unleashed

A GraveTells Review: A promising start to a fresh new series

This book is like a Darwinian chameleon... constantly evolving to keep the plot moving and the characters growing. Sometimes the flow of the story felt a little slow, as Ms. Humphreys thoroughly sculpted the world of the Amoveo shapeshifters, and other times it was a frantic, heart-pounding mad rush of action (more than one kind too, if you get my drift) and story progression.

The slower parts were, for me, the sections set in Sam's little home town after she moves in with her grandmother. I think the reason these parts of the story didn't resonate with me was strictly personal and not necessarily a reflection of Ms. Humphreys' skill as a writer (I just don't like small towns - grew up in one and they bore me). That said, Malcom's initial personality did grate on me a little. I find it frustrating when authors, especially female authors, write men as "prissy". Not that Malcom was really prissy or feminine, he just used vocabulary and phrasing that felt less than "alpha", "powerful", "masculine" (yes, I know, not all men are "alpha" - that may be just another personal preference). Maybe that's just his personality (although I did notice it with all of the other Amoveo men except Dante and Steven, so maybe it's an age-propriety-stuffiness cultural thing?), but later in the book his character began to feel more organic and grounded. Like he'd finally found his voice. About halfway through is when things started to pick up for me, both with the pacing and the characterization.

The mystery in Unleashed is well designed. I wasn't actively trying to figure it out, but I wasn't blindly ignoring clues either, and I didn't "get it" until the very end. I like it when a story surprises me (on multiple levels) and isn't formulaicly predictable. I especially enjoyed the characters of Nonnie, Sam's grandmother, and Tony, the Caedo baddie. Sam's friend Kerry was also a really great contribution to the cast; she had a vibrant personality and I especially liked that she's a plus-size model who is still considered beautiful despite her dress size.

Once the story picks up momentum, the connection between Sam and Malcom is intense. Tender, passionate, protective, supportive... they are, to borrow from The Twilight Saga: Eclipse's Jacob, exactly right for each other. I like her personality, Sam. It reminds me a little of Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse, except heavier on the smarts and common sense and lighter on the country twang. Sam has country hospitality with determination, spunk, and a great sense of humor. The heat between Malcolm and Sam is steamy without feeling dirty- intense but not explicit.

As I approached the end of the book and the action still hadn't wrapped up, with the number of remaining pages quickly dwindling, I worried it was going to be a serious cliff hanger, which really wouldn't have been fun. Instead, Ms. Humphreys wrapped it up wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am style, keeping it relevant, edgy, and a little bit shocking. Unleashed may have had some pacing issues in the first half, but the ending was most definitely a dynamic finish, leading right into the next book in the series.

Continued... (truncated for length)
Original full available on GraveTells: search for "Unleashed"
*ARC provided by Urban Girl Reader. No compensation was received for this review and all opinions expressed are the honest opinion of the reviewer,

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

WOW

What a surprise this was i really enjoyed this one have to say i was getting bored and this one has a new edge. Read this in one day awsome a must read for people like me who read everyday

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Favorite book! MUST READ!

This is one of my favorite books of all time! Unleashed is Amazing! Highly recommended!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Unleash the Animal Within

Samantha is a struggling artist in the Big Apple, waiting for her lucky break. When Sam's thirtieth birthday arrives, she is consumed by the dreams of a man telling her to return to her childhood home. As she settles back into her grandmother's beach house, Malcom, her mysterious neighbor, introduces himself, sparking Sam's flame and ultimately revealing to her the truth of his nature.

Passion and mystery dwell within the pages of Sara Taney Humphrey's "Unleashed," magically leading the reader through the rousing and paradox world of The Amoveo Legend. The story that transpires will unleash the animal within you.

-Nely Cab, Author of Creatura

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A great new read

Humphreys dives into the paranormal world with zest and builds engaging characters and an exciting storyline. She is setting herself up for a can't-miss series. The story of Malcom and Samantha leaves the reader wanting to know more about the Amoveo world. A little repetitive at times and a it does start slow, but don't quit, or you'd miss out on a great read.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great book for the paranormal romance lover!

I could not put the book down. The leading characters were sexy and hot. A very interesting take on shapeshifters. I will definitely add this series to my list which includes BDB, Anita, and Sookie. If you like those series, you will like this one too. Thank you Sarah for visualizing this world and bringing it alive for us on the pages. Looking forward to Untouched.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Refreshing Shape changer book

New to me author and I got the privilege to read the ARC. The beginning starts out slow but this is to be expected for the first book in any series. Sara does a complete and wonderful job of setting up the background of The Amoveo. Then the story gains it's momentum, drawing you in to read more about Malcolm and Samantha.

This book is for anyone who loves animal shape-shifter stories. The history of The Amoveo is important, so do not try to skip or skim those parts. Else you would not get a clear and deep understanding of the characters.

Malcolm - In the beginning I was struck by how different he was from the other Heros I read about. Clueless how to interact with Samantha's human side, I like the fact that he was patient with Sam. The way he approached the matter in the beginning of their relationship, the mindset, that though he was impatient and wanted his mate, HER feelings and opinions mattered.

This endeared me to the hero BIG time. It was found to see such an arrogant man flounder in our social customs.

Sam - Her character I did connect with. She was easy to like. I gave her kudos for how she handled her past relationship before Malcolm. Here we have a heroine that has some self doubts about her appearance. This made her human to me, able to connect.

Will I read more in the Amoveo series? Oh yes! Unleash whetted my interest and I'm anticipating the next book. ( Really stink at reviews(

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Can't Miss!

The characters within this story will be running through my mind indefinitely. Unleashed is the type of story you think about months and even years later and decide you must read it again.

Amoveo's are like shape shifters but much more. With the paranormal romance industry booming, it can be difficult to find a story that distinguishes itself from the thousands of others, but this story has done so. I tried to think of other stories to compare it to, and I could not think of one. This attribute alone would have been enough to keep me interested, but that was not the only thing that kept the pages turning.

Samantha is unique -- the first human amoveo hybrid -- and that can't be easy. There is something to be said about her composure when so much is thrown at her. Her life is turned upside down when she decided to move back home, but then she finds about a secret race and that she is part of it, yet she still never looses who she truly is. That is one tough woman that anyone might feel threatened by. The subtle strength that she demonstrates throughout this story is what really makes her remarkable.

Malcolm is everything you want in a hero of a paranormal romance story. He has brute strength, is drop dead gorgeous, a little arrogant, and has a huge heart. I had to check to see if I was drooling a few times because he was just perfect in all ways that matter.

The conflict was another fascinating aspect of this story. It created mystery and excitement. I keep trying to pinpoint who exactly was targeting Malcom and Samantha, but every time I tried to figure it out, I came up with more questions than answers, which I loved. Up until the very end the author kept me on high alert while trying to figure out who the antagonist could be. With all the buildup I was expecting an extremely climatic ending, and that is exactly what I got.

Unleashed earned its Best Book rating in spades because I can't wait to reread it and am dying for the sequel. The characters haunted my dreams and I thought about this book constantly. I am recommending this story to everyone I know.

Originally posted at The Long and Short of It Romance Reviews

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Highly Recommended...Do Not Miss This!

Unleashed is Phenomenal! Engaging! Addictive! Ms. Humphrey's talent for bringing characters to life and drawing you into their world with believable settings and enviable talents is unmatched. The depth of feelings the characters experience had me believing they could be real and left me wanting to experience more. I never wanted to put the book down and can not wait to pick the next one up!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great Read!

Loved this book and the series. Can't wait to read more.

A paranormal worth sinking your claws into

Sara Humphreys is new author that is here to stay. Her writing is fresh, fun and edgy with characters whom you can connect with, root for and fall in love with. The Amoveo is a new and exciting mythology with hot heroes and feisty heroines who will keep you turning page after page, until well past your bedtime until you reach "The End." I can't wait for book #2 - UNTOUCHED in April 2012!!!

Highly recommended!!

I really enjoyed reading about Samantha & Malcolm. Can't wait until Untouched!!!

Fresh, sexy, and dangerous.

Ms. Humphreys has successfully spun a shifter tale all paranormal romance lovers should experience, in my opinion. It's fresh, it's sexy...and it's dangerous; sure to keep you turning those pages well into the wee hours of the morning.
Malcolm's masculinity and soft natured romantic side oozes from each and every single page, and on more than one occasion, I wished it was me he was falling in love with.
Five stars just doesn't seem enough to rate this extraordinary paranormal romance story. One of my favorite reads for 2011. No, it IS MY top read for this year! Consider me waiting, not so patiently, for book two in the Amoveo Legend series.

Great read.

This book is full of surprises and is a great read overall. Sara humphreys is full of surprises in this novel. Cant wait for the next book in the series.

Looks like another great series!

The majority of this book is focused on Malcolm's attempt to explain to Sam her Amoveo heritage and more importantly her status as his mate. There as a strong bond between them that kept growing as the story progresses. Throughout the story there is danger lurking in the background in the form of the Caedo stalker and his mysterious partner that needs to be unmasked. This was an enjoyable and well written story, and the few pages included at the end for her next book Untouched left me wanting more. I will definitely be putting Untouched on my TBR list so I can pick up a copy when it comes out in April 2012.

A sexy new paranormal romance series to fall in love with!

If you love Christine Feehan or JR Ward, then you will love this series.

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