Lion's Share (Wildcats Book 1) Kindle Edition

Start of a new series that is spun off from the Shifters series that ended quite a few years ago. I’d always wanted more, so this does fit the bill. As a matter of fact, with this first book, we are re-introduced to many of the characters from the prior series.Abby, a teen tabby that had been kidnapped, abused and terrorized in the Shifters series, had elected at Faythe’s suggestion, to go to college and she’s now a completely different person. This is a problem because she’s been engaged for the last four years and she knows she’s not going to be happy being married to Brian, especially since she’s attracted to Jace, the Alpha of the territory her college is in. But a bigger problem is the hunt for a rogue werecat who has killed 3 humans, drawing attention to them.I enjoyed the story and seeing many of the old characters. But it’s been years since I’d read that series and there was much I hadn’t remembered. Thankfully there is enough back story to make many of the names familiar again.Whether or not you’ve read the prior series--and you’d probably enjoy this one more if you had--you’ll want to read The Hunt, the short story that bridges both series. The actions that take place in that story are referred to a number of times in this book and it would give you a better feel for Abby’s situation.We know from almost the start that Abby is taking the path she is because of something else. We don’t find out what that something else is until about 70% into the story. It’s a little surprising and somewhat annoying, but it does fit and makes sense.Unlike the Shifter series, this one definitely has a romance aspect to it and the sexual tension was handled well. I believe there are only 2 scenes involving sex.A good start to a new series, and I like the premise being used to spin this from the prior series.

It’s been too many years since I’ve been away from the Pride, but Rachel Vincent has returned to her beloved world that first gained my attention to her name with Lion’s Share and it is basically the MOST AWESOME thing ever!!While you may be wondering about this spinoff and thinking, there’s a 6 book series ahead of it, is it necessary to read all of those first? No. But should you, just to enjoy the incredible awesomeness that is Rachel Vincent? Hell yes. There was also a short story Rachel wrote years ago, and then revised and re-published last year, Hunt, that would actually be beneficial to reading before this one. Events that happen there are sort of the prelude to what goes down in this story.Now I believe I finished the Shifters series before my blogging days, but friends from the old Pride discussion board, know that I was totally and 100% Team Marc! Faythe and Marc belonged together. I liked Jace. I just didn’t feel like he was meant to be with Faythe. So when he went his own way at the end of Alpha, I was sad and happy for him. And then when I saw his role in Hunt, I suddenly realized how much he and Abby belonged together! That she was THE ONE for him! Though there is an age difference between them, it almost seems nonsensical in the light of day. Plus, both Abby and Jace have to get over their deliberating feelings about having a relationship with the other.Abby is engaged to one of Jace’s enforcers, but it’s clear that there’s no love going on between them. Which is sad, because Brian is a really sweet guy. But he’s almost too sweet for Abby’s liking. Something I wasn’t sure I could totally grasp, but when Abby explains things to herself and others, it totally makes sense.But the ever debating/growing romance is only a part of the story. The bulk of the story starts with an enforcer bring a tabby home from college unexpectedly. Sound familiar? LOL. There’s a stray on the loose who is killing humans and basically putting the existence of the Prides at risk of exposure and all sorts of bad things that come with it. Abby manages to finagle her way to be an enforcer to help solve the case. And all the while, she lets on that she knows more than she’s telling.I haven’t really mentioned it yet, but this story is told through both Abby and Jace’s point of views and I loved that! I loved getting to know Jace on a deeper level. And I will admit to be a little weepy over his growing feelings for Abby, because Abby is after all “spoken for” and Jace has been down that road before and got hurt. But I think based on the cover alone we kind of know what direction these two are headed in! And Rachel did not disappoint!!Lion’s Share is the first in the new Wildcats series, which is a spinoff of the original Shifters. In earlier talks, Rachel says that the books will show us more of the other characters that we hardly got to know. Though I am expecting it will be among Abby and Jace’s new circle of friends, so to speak. Needless to say, I will be breathlessly waiting over here for the next book!Rachel reminds us old fans why we adored the Shifters series with Lion’s Share. Abby is not Faythe, yet you can see some of that same stubbornness Faythe had in Abby as well. Both were strong minded women, though it does seem clear that Abby knows exactly what she wants. No debating here! What was also a wonderful experience was seeing some of the Shifters gang again, some five years late (if I am remembering right, so five years after Alpha). Faythe and Marc, Owen and Manx, Michael and Kaci…it was great! I loved seeing everyone again. I loved seeing them in their happy endings, so to speak, as the chaos that’s about to hit their lives might interrupt that a bit!But basically, this book was just so amazing!! And as I said before, if you’re new to the Shifters world, you don’t “have” to read the first 6 books to enjoy this new adventure. You’ll definitely receive some spoilers to endings and such, but at least you all can binge read the books! I was among the unlucky few who was waiting for every book, especially after Prey. Yeah, not even going to go there! But to all my Shifters fans, please do read this book, because it’s truly the GREATest read ever!!!Overall Rating 5/5 stars

This day was a long time coming.5 years ago I finished reading a series that was full of action, romance, and shocking moments. The stray series. I fell in Love with it, And when I found out Rachel Vincent was going it alone and bringing out a new spin off series was heaven to my ears. I loved Lion's Share. Abby Wade is defiantly one of my favourite NEW ADULT/EROTICA/ROMANCE characters from a novel right now. She's Brave, Cool, Doesn't take no S*it and beautiful inside and out.Jace Hammond is back and as still as appealing as five years ago. Its from his point of view and Abby's which i think is always great reading from two points of views. The sexual tension between them both is off the scale and it brings back great memories from the other series.I love the werecat aspect. I haven't read anything else like these books in terms of the animal shifting. Yes there is werewolves but you don't see many were cats. I think the plot was so addicting and I was on the edge of my seat through out!The only thing I wish there was more of was them shifting! I loved the shifting in the Stray series and how they acted around each other while in the shift. So I'm very excited to see more shifting in the next novel! I'm so excited to be back in this world. Defiantly check these books out!

I live this author and I live the Shifter series mist of which I read in paperback. So far the spin-off has lived up to my expectations. I find I cannot put the book down, even though it is now a reader. I had wondered what was happening with Jace and I am really pleased to now know some of his story. I find it very easy to enter into the Shifter world and live there while I read about their lives, I am sad when I have finished as it feels like I am leaving friends behind.I would and have recommended to friends and family.

INITIAL THOUGHTSAs I totally adored the Shifters Series by Rachel Vincent, it was a no-brainer that I would definitely want to read this spin off series. I consider myself as a Rachel Vincent Shifter Series fan so to say I have high expectations for the Wildcats series is a bit of an understatement!MY REVIEWI purchased a kindle copy of this book from amazon UK. As I have said above I do consider myself a Rachel Vincent Shifters Series fan so couldn't resist purchasing this one. I also should add that though the Shifter Series was published by Mira Books, the Wildcats Series is self published by Rachel herself. The Cover features a female who I'd presume to be Abigail Wade with her gorgeous red hair! leaning up against Abby is Jace Hammond(gorgeous werecat hunk) leant towards her kissing her. phew quite a hot cover really!So would the cover encourage me to pick this one up from a bookstore shelf? The cover certainly attracts the eye and then the imagination so yes I'd say this cover works well. Both the characters featured on the cover correspond to the imagery the book gives me for them.I admit I kind of did things the wrong way round in that I read this book before realising there was a novella which bridged the Shifters Series to Wildcats Series. Having said that it really didn't affect my enjoyment of either this book or the bridging novella by doing so.So this book begins with Abby being on campus at school, she has transferred to the Appalation Pack being run by new younger than normal Alpha Jace Hammond. It was necessary for Abby to switch packs to attend the college she wanted, as the Kentucky College is right in Appalachian territory. Abby does still secretly crushes on new Alpha Jace Hammond, and has done so since she was just 15 years old. Abby is quite happy at college living and studying in the Appalachian territory, it's the cold that bothers her most as she is more accustomed to the hotter weather of her home in South Carolina. Abby is handling "the incident" of her kidnap and the horrendous slaughter of her friends during a camping trip. (The trip is covered more in Hunt, Shifters 6.5 novella) quite well on the surface even though she struggles with nightmares, and room mate Robyn Sheffield is the only one that knows and as she was on the camping trip also understands the horror of the "incident" from first hand experiencing it. Abby has planned to stay over at campus with Robyn for the holidays but there's a pack-related situation that is becoming a possible danger to her, so her Alpha father has sent Jace to bring her to a meeting and her to then fly home for the holidays. Naturally Abby protests, repeating her plans to stay over with Robyn on campus, but her father Alpha and her current Alpha, Jace insist on her going home. It seems Abby is very reluctant to leave Robyn alone and makes sure her friend promises to ring her is she should need her for anything. When Abby hears about the people being killed in the Appalachian territory and the strays going missing it's quite clear to see she knows much more about this situation than she is letting on. A preoccupied Jace doesn't think to push Abby for answers putting her reluctance to speak is perhaps due to the old "camping incident". But Abby has a hidden agenda, and will do anything to protect her friend Robyn who is also caught up in the action. Another reason Abby doesn't want to spend the holidays with her family is the fact that once she has her degree she will have to meet the proposal of a wedding and having babies to further the werecat race. There aren't that many tabbys, so they are usually married off quite young and are resigned to having babies and continuing to do so until they have at least one female baby and then the cycle begins over. Tabbys are somewhat spoilt and are well protected so its a shock when Abby manages to trick Jace Hammond into making her an enforcer on his team and allowing her on the current case that she seems to be quite obsessed and very knowledgeable about too. Abby also has to face her intended husband and cope with the conclusion that she is without a doubt not in love with him. Her heart doesn't beat faster when she hears his voice or at the prospect of meeting up with him, not in the way it does with Jace Hammond! In returning her former fiance's ring she makes some bad feelings towards her and Jace. In fact something Abby has done\known about comes to give those with bad feelings towards her and Jace the prime opportunity to seek and receive a nasty revenge of sorts. Sorry if this sounds a bit cryptic, it will all fall into place as you read the book.We get a catch up with the other tabby's from the Shifters Series, Faythe an Alpha of her own territory as well as a wife and mother, Manx who married Owen and they have their family too. I really enjoyed re-visiting the older characters as well as the central plot around the perhaps lesser explored characters that appeared in the Shifter's Series.Mmm favourite character's in this one. . . that's a hard one because I love all the characters really, even the more old fashioned "a tabby's place is home making babies" have their place within the pack and this book. Obviously I truly love Abby and the gorgeous Jace Hammond and can't wait to hear what happens next for the two werecats. As for one of the other characters in the book I genuinely liked a lot was Robyn. Robyn has been through a heck of a lot after the "camping trip incident"and there are lots more changes to put up with and become accustomed to, she is so loyal to Abby too.So did I enjoy the book? Oh yes, every word and every chapter. Loved the whole book!Would I recommend the book? If you read and loved the Shifter's Series, then this spin off series is a must read for you.Would I be interested in reading more of this series? Thoroughly captured by it already after just one book. Already looking forward to more!Would I read other books by Rachel Vincent? I am actually reading Menagerie now. A completely different pace and plot to the first Wildcats book but still enjoying. I also have The Stars Never Rise to read too.FINAL THOUGHTSOh wow! Oh Jace! Oh Abby! Oh Rachel Vincent I soooo loved it! What an ending! An ending that hints at many new beginnings! A catch up with older favourite characters from the Shifter's Series. Further introductions and a more in depth look at some lesser known character from the Shifter's Series, as well as meeting some new characters too. I am wholly captivated by this series already and super enthusiastic to read more and more!

As someone who loves the Faythe Saunders series, I was really excited to read on and find out what happens with Jay. I think my only gripe with this book is that the relationship development is a lot quicker than in the original books and although these are a lot saucier, they feel a bit more rushed. I would loved for the love in this book to be a slow burn but they fall thick and fast. It didn’t immediately make me want to get the second in this series, which is a shame.

It's been many years since I read the Shifters series and I've forgotten a lot of characters and the stuff that happened. I only really remember Faythe, Marc and Jace and the love triangle thing they had going on--and that I was very much Team Jace.So for this to be Jace's story I was looking forward to reading his HAE. However, I was a little disappointed with the story. It didn't pull me in and make me desperate to know more about Jace and Abby and their relationship. And the love declarations seemed to come a little out of the blue, whether they'd been lusting after each other for years or not. Oh, I don't know. It just didn't work for me but it did make me cry a little at the end.