PNR Review: Pride Mates (Shifters Unbound) [Paperback]

I've finished "Pride Mates" the 1st book in her Shifters Unbound series by Jennifer Ashley.

Product Description

Collared and controlled, Shifters are outcast from humanity, forced to live in Shiftertowns. But waiting within are passions that no collar can contain ...

Like most Shifters, Liam Morrissey has learned that trusting humans leads to no good. But when beautiful attorney Kim Fraser enters Shiftertown alone in order to prove her client's innocence, Liam's alpha nature leaves him no choice but to offer his protection.

Product Details
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Berkley; Reprint edition (July 5, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0425245047
ISBN-13: 978-0425245040

My Review:

In Shifterstown in the Austin area, human attorney Kim Fraser is defending shifter Brian Smith from the charge of murdering his human girlfriend. Brian is the first shifter she ever met though their existence has been known for two decades. Like most humans, she assumed shifters were beasts who needed collars to keep them from going berserk. In spite of her fears of shifters being violent beasts she believes her client is innocent so she comes to Shifterstown to obtain the help of the Morrisey shifter family father Dylan and brothers Liam and Sean.

Liam informs Kim that Brian never came to him so why should he help him. Kim explains she got the short end of the straw as the junior lawyer, but believes Brian is innocent because the collar prevents violent crime. She also says the prosecution, cops, and judge have not played fair and her client has given up but she has not. Although he has doubts about getting involved because of his attraction to the brave lawyer who came alone, Liam is forced to intervene when a shifter without a collar threatens Kim's life.
I really liked getting to know the shifter dynamics and the way they operate.  The leader was a very scary and cruel.

I really loved Kim's take charge and spunky attitude no matter what was thrown her way.  I'm really glad that she was very determined to prove Brian is innocent and her passion for her work.

I really enjoyed the romance between Liam and Kim because it was very hot and steamy and I enjoyed how she denied she was attracted to him.  Their love scenes were oh so hot!

Loved Liam's laid back attitude and the way he wanted to protect Kim from harm.  Loved the way he decided she was the one he wanted and went after her.  It was very amusing that he laid his Irish brogue on thick and it irked Kim!

4/5

Thanks Laura from Penguin Canada for sending me this book to review, greatly appreciated!