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zoe_e_w's review
4.0
Greta is a werecat about to be sacrificed by her tribe, and so she is sent to the home of a sorcerer for protection, the same sorcerer who slaughtered half of Greta's tribe twenty years earlier. Shortly after she arrives, Greta goes into heat, setting the stage for a romance between werecat and Dayne, the sorcerer.
I like the concept of werecats as small housecats, and the sex scenes between Greta and Dayne are pretty intense. Still, the werecat tribe leader's motivations for wanting to sacrifice Greta are just petty, and as an antagonist Simon might as well rub his hands together and say "muah-hahaha!" Because really, he's just a cardboard cutout villain with zero reason to do what he does except to be even more evil. With a story that put so much thought into the worldbuilding and magic system, I kind of hoped the villain might get a little more thought put into them.
Howver, Simon has a very small place in the book, given the romantic focus, and Greta and Dayne are quirky and interesting enough to make the pages pass by quickly. Because of their odd charms, I give Kept 4 stars and recommend it to all fans of paranormal romance.
I like the concept of werecats as small housecats, and the sex scenes between Greta and Dayne are pretty intense. Still, the werecat tribe leader's motivations for wanting to sacrifice Greta are just petty, and as an antagonist Simon might as well rub his hands together and say "muah-hahaha!" Because really, he's just a cardboard cutout villain with zero reason to do what he does except to be even more evil. With a story that put so much thought into the worldbuilding and magic system, I kind of hoped the villain might get a little more thought put into them.
Howver, Simon has a very small place in the book, given the romantic focus, and Greta and Dayne are quirky and interesting enough to make the pages pass by quickly. Because of their odd charms, I give Kept 4 stars and recommend it to all fans of paranormal romance.
thegenerale's review
1.0
Makes wonder if I read the same book as all the other reviewers. Heroine annoyed me and had a couple of TSTL moments, in my opinion.
As a side note, which I actually didn't include in the ratings, were the sex scenes. Oh, Ms. Winters, you are a tease, bringing up the heat and then cutting out all the good bits. (Only one pun was intended.)
But I suppose people who don't really like sex scenes would like this part though.
Spoiler
Greta has a dream twice that Dayne betrays her. And so naturally, the dream must be true? Sure, this is paranormal, but as far as I know, she isn't psychic. Then, right after that, she leaves Dayne, aka the only person she professed who could keep her safe, and gets captured. >.<As a side note, which I actually didn't include in the ratings, were the sex scenes. Oh, Ms. Winters, you are a tease, bringing up the heat and then cutting out all the good bits. (Only one pun was intended.)
But I suppose people who don't really like sex scenes would like this part though.
elliefufu's review
3.0
This is three stories in one book and all three stories are tied together. The first and last were good but I didn't care for the second one at all. Very short read and just a good book.
aminowrimo's review
2.0
Found this on FreeBooks and saw it was written in 2008 (which is an oddity on FreeBooks), so I downloaded it.
Very short.
Including the 'heat' was a good plot device to enable Winters to cram sex scenes in over the top in this book. The plot is interesting enough to be carried into a longer book with actual nuance.
The basic idea of Therians is interesting, but only bare-bones explained. Of course more wasn't possible in this story or it would have gotten bogged down in info dumps.
But still.
I would have liked to know more. I would have liked less sex scenes. A bit more nuance. But then, I'm a nuance sort of person.
Very short.
Including the 'heat' was a good plot device to enable Winters to cram sex scenes in over the top in this book. The plot is interesting enough to be carried into a longer book with actual nuance.
The basic idea of Therians is interesting, but only bare-bones explained. Of course more wasn't possible in this story or it would have gotten bogged down in info dumps.
But still.
I would have liked to know more. I would have liked less sex scenes. A bit more nuance. But then, I'm a nuance sort of person.
lalabristow's review
4.0
Previously Published on my blog: Welcome to Larissa's Bookish Life
Blood Lust is a compilation of three Paranormal novellas, all part of Zoe Winters’ The Preternaturals Series. Each one tells the story of a couple and their journey into their Happily Ever After. All the stories are set in the same world and some characters cross over between them at times.
I have to say that I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. I tend to enjoy a shorter story now and then but I do prefer full length novels. I feel it is hard to make a HEA work in less than that.
However, I feel that Zoe has done an amazing job in introducing us to these characters, this world and telling their stories. I loved the mix of supernatural races that Zoe has written. We have Vampires, Cat Shifters, Werewolves, Witches, Warlocks, Demons and so much more.
Kept is the story of Greta, a cat therian (shifter), and Dayne, a very dangerous sorcerer. Greta’s life is in danger when she finds out that her tribe plans to sacrifice her because of something she has no control over, Dayne is the only one who can keep her safe. Dayne is HOT and his bad boy reputation gives him the privacy he needs, that is until Greta comes into his life and steals his heart.
Claimed is all about Anthony and Charlee. Charlee is Greta’s best friend and co-worker and for a while she has been flirting almost daily with this very hot man that keeps showing up at the store where she works. Anthony can’t seem to resist stopping by and flirting with Charlee, specially since her blood seema to draw him more than any other person’s blood has. But one night, Anthony loses control and does the imaginable, he drinks from Charlee. Ashamed of what he has done, Anthony erases her memory of the night, but something goes wrong and she wakes up the next day not remembering anything at all. Now, the only one who can help her claim her life back is the Vampire who took it all away in the first place.
We meet Jane in Claimed, when Greta meets her as one of Anthony’s adversaries’ girl. In Mated, Jane is now the being mistreated by another vampire and Cole, the local Werewolf Alpha, saves her by taking her as payment for gambling debts. Jane has been in Vampire’s radars for as long as she can remember, something about her just attracts them, but now she has the chance to leave that all behind. However, she is not sure how safe she is, hiding away in a Werewolf den, where one of them seems to be enjoying human meat.
I really enjoyed all these stories, but my favorite was Mated! I love a shifter and Cole is just a great specimen of the race LOL.
All in all, Blood Lust is a full plate for any Paranormal Romance lover out there! The romance is great, but it never overshadows the story, I think Zoe did a great job in balancing that out and I can’t wait for more books from her!
Blood Lust is a compilation of three Paranormal novellas, all part of Zoe Winters’ The Preternaturals Series. Each one tells the story of a couple and their journey into their Happily Ever After. All the stories are set in the same world and some characters cross over between them at times.
I have to say that I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. I tend to enjoy a shorter story now and then but I do prefer full length novels. I feel it is hard to make a HEA work in less than that.
However, I feel that Zoe has done an amazing job in introducing us to these characters, this world and telling their stories. I loved the mix of supernatural races that Zoe has written. We have Vampires, Cat Shifters, Werewolves, Witches, Warlocks, Demons and so much more.
Kept is the story of Greta, a cat therian (shifter), and Dayne, a very dangerous sorcerer. Greta’s life is in danger when she finds out that her tribe plans to sacrifice her because of something she has no control over, Dayne is the only one who can keep her safe. Dayne is HOT and his bad boy reputation gives him the privacy he needs, that is until Greta comes into his life and steals his heart.
Claimed is all about Anthony and Charlee. Charlee is Greta’s best friend and co-worker and for a while she has been flirting almost daily with this very hot man that keeps showing up at the store where she works. Anthony can’t seem to resist stopping by and flirting with Charlee, specially since her blood seema to draw him more than any other person’s blood has. But one night, Anthony loses control and does the imaginable, he drinks from Charlee. Ashamed of what he has done, Anthony erases her memory of the night, but something goes wrong and she wakes up the next day not remembering anything at all. Now, the only one who can help her claim her life back is the Vampire who took it all away in the first place.
We meet Jane in Claimed, when Greta meets her as one of Anthony’s adversaries’ girl. In Mated, Jane is now the being mistreated by another vampire and Cole, the local Werewolf Alpha, saves her by taking her as payment for gambling debts. Jane has been in Vampire’s radars for as long as she can remember, something about her just attracts them, but now she has the chance to leave that all behind. However, she is not sure how safe she is, hiding away in a Werewolf den, where one of them seems to be enjoying human meat.
I really enjoyed all these stories, but my favorite was Mated! I love a shifter and Cole is just a great specimen of the race LOL.
All in all, Blood Lust is a full plate for any Paranormal Romance lover out there! The romance is great, but it never overshadows the story, I think Zoe did a great job in balancing that out and I can’t wait for more books from her!
seashell83's review
4.0
I read this book in a matter of an hour. I couldn't tear myself away. Very good plot line.
see_sadie_read's review
1.0
This book is gross. Instead of a review, I'm just going to post my Kindle highlights here. You'll have to excuse the grammar, as typing on it is a pain in the behind, but I think my opinion of this work will come through.
Greta leaped off the table and scurried out the cat door.
Note: She shifts into a house cat. how lame.
He had to restrain himself as Greta took the milk from the fridge and drank it straight from the carton.
Note: She wouldn't do that in a stranger's house, let alone someone she wasn't comfortable with.
A few drops of the creamy white liquid dribbled around the sides of the carton and down her chin and long neck. She arched back, and some of the milk dripped down to dampen her shirt.
Note: too cliche and cheesy to be believed
The next day he’d caught her in the basement rolling some of his herbs in rolling paper and smoking them. Then he realized it was catnip. He’d wanted to be angry. He had a few spells he needed that for and the good stuff was expensive, but she’d rolled around on the stone floor giggling like a maniac.
Note: cheesy!
Then he’d grown hard as he’d watched her shift and sunbathe nude, still cursing the missed catnip opportunity.
Note: Why is she so free with her nudity in a house she's supposed to not be comfortable in? She is otherwise shown to be modest.
She was in heat.
Note: oh, isnt that convieniant for moving the romance along? rolling eyes.
“I have to sleep with someone now,” she said. “If you don't do it, I’ll have to find someone who will.”
Note: because women have no control over their sexual urges. isnt that why men always have to control their bodies and sexuality? rage
The kitty didn’t want foreplay.
Note: of course not, 'cause what woman would? proximity to a dick has always bern enough for women to be satisfied. -disgusted sarcasm
Instead, he went to the adjacent room, came back with rope, and tied her wrists to the bars.
Note: of course, not only does she beg and not expect foreplay, he's going to take away her ability to even participate or protect herself. Bet all he has to do is shove it in and she'll be happy. every MAN'S fantasy. too bad it's a book predominantly for women. gag
He wanted to take it slow, not just rut like two mindless animals, but she wouldn’t let him.
Note: See, how is this appealing to WOMEN? This is like male directed porn. No need for emotions or effort on his part.
slid inside her. In that moment he felt one thing. Possession. This belonged to him. He felt it in the same primal way he felt magic when he’d followed the proper formulas.
Note: because having sex with a woman means you own her. so gross
She lurched off the bed as her orgasm took her, and he joined her.
Note: all he did was enter her!
When it was over, Greta’s face telegraphed equal parts shame and fear.
Note: of course, a woman must be ashamed of her own desire. could we hit one more detested cultural belief about women? and how do hormones dissipate so quickly from the body?
Without that crucial knowledge, he could have had a magical boo-boo of pyrotechnic proportions.
Note: boo-boo? no, just no
“Greta, look at me. You had a nightmare. There’s nothing here.”
Note: now she's a child afraid of the bad dreams? This author really hitting all my rage buttons.
The pills had stalled the immediate need of the heat, but the adrenaline from her fear had caused her to weaken when his hands were on her.
Note: Of course, she needs an excuse. No woman is allowed her own genuine desire.
“Forgot what?” He didn’t know what she was apologizing for until he saw the signs of the heat. “I was supposed to take it after breakfast. And then you came in and distracted me.”
Note: again with an excuse for her own sexuality and would it really hit so fast after missing a dose by less than an hour?
She had no illusions he wanted to keep her around, and she didn’t want to sleep with him again if it was going to be just another meaningless ritual biology had set up as a physical act with no feeling.
Note: speaking of biology, wouldn't being in heat mean she was also ovulating and fertile? don't remember mention of a condom.
Anything so she wouldn’t have to make the choice to throw herself at him. Let him be the one on a conquest, not her.
Note: So she doesn't even want to be responsible for her own actions.
Now her heart hurt to leave the man she kept finding herself in bed with.
Note: now TSTL jumping to conclusion and endangering herself so he can save her from her own stupid move. i hate that trope.
Tears teased the corners of her eyes. She wished Dayne hadn’t turned out to be evil. She could have imagined living here with him in his quiet cottage in the woods. It felt comfortable, like home.
Note: Of course, they had sex so she's in lurve. Blerg.
And he and Greta fit together perfectly, in the carnal way.
Note: how would she know? Rutting seems all they've done.
“Okay, that’s enough,” she said as the strength in her voice returned.
Note: how did that strengthen her? she lost more blood.
She felt revulsion at the kindred feeling flowing between them as they shared not only blood now, but power.
Note: a little world-building to explain things like that would have been nice.
“Damn, woman, how many days does this go on?” “Couple of weeks sometimes. Was in a cage. No pills.”
Note: STILL with an excuse for wanting sex
She was sure she’d been a nice diversion, but he’d only agreed to let her stay until after the full moon, and she wasn’t about to show her naiveté by hoping for more.
Note: because obviously communication is a no go. Who would do that?
Practically every sexual encounter they’d had had amounted to pity sex. She couldn’t handle further pity or possible rejection. She’d become stupidly attached to him.
Note: based on what if she thinks it was just pity sex?
His hands started to stroke over her flesh and she relaxed and allowed her legs to fall open. A contented purr began to rumble through her chest. This was how Greta became kept.
Note: Yep, apparently a man just needs to touch a woman to have sex with her and once he has sex with her he owns her and she'll be pleased about that. so gross a theme.
Greta leaped off the table and scurried out the cat door.
Note: She shifts into a house cat. how lame.
He had to restrain himself as Greta took the milk from the fridge and drank it straight from the carton.
Note: She wouldn't do that in a stranger's house, let alone someone she wasn't comfortable with.
A few drops of the creamy white liquid dribbled around the sides of the carton and down her chin and long neck. She arched back, and some of the milk dripped down to dampen her shirt.
Note: too cliche and cheesy to be believed
The next day he’d caught her in the basement rolling some of his herbs in rolling paper and smoking them. Then he realized it was catnip. He’d wanted to be angry. He had a few spells he needed that for and the good stuff was expensive, but she’d rolled around on the stone floor giggling like a maniac.
Note: cheesy!
Then he’d grown hard as he’d watched her shift and sunbathe nude, still cursing the missed catnip opportunity.
Note: Why is she so free with her nudity in a house she's supposed to not be comfortable in? She is otherwise shown to be modest.
She was in heat.
Note: oh, isnt that convieniant for moving the romance along? rolling eyes.
“I have to sleep with someone now,” she said. “If you don't do it, I’ll have to find someone who will.”
Note: because women have no control over their sexual urges. isnt that why men always have to control their bodies and sexuality? rage
The kitty didn’t want foreplay.
Note: of course not, 'cause what woman would? proximity to a dick has always bern enough for women to be satisfied. -disgusted sarcasm
Instead, he went to the adjacent room, came back with rope, and tied her wrists to the bars.
Note: of course, not only does she beg and not expect foreplay, he's going to take away her ability to even participate or protect herself. Bet all he has to do is shove it in and she'll be happy. every MAN'S fantasy. too bad it's a book predominantly for women. gag
He wanted to take it slow, not just rut like two mindless animals, but she wouldn’t let him.
Note: See, how is this appealing to WOMEN? This is like male directed porn. No need for emotions or effort on his part.
slid inside her. In that moment he felt one thing. Possession. This belonged to him. He felt it in the same primal way he felt magic when he’d followed the proper formulas.
Note: because having sex with a woman means you own her. so gross
She lurched off the bed as her orgasm took her, and he joined her.
Note: all he did was enter her!
When it was over, Greta’s face telegraphed equal parts shame and fear.
Note: of course, a woman must be ashamed of her own desire. could we hit one more detested cultural belief about women? and how do hormones dissipate so quickly from the body?
Without that crucial knowledge, he could have had a magical boo-boo of pyrotechnic proportions.
Note: boo-boo? no, just no
“Greta, look at me. You had a nightmare. There’s nothing here.”
Note: now she's a child afraid of the bad dreams? This author really hitting all my rage buttons.
The pills had stalled the immediate need of the heat, but the adrenaline from her fear had caused her to weaken when his hands were on her.
Note: Of course, she needs an excuse. No woman is allowed her own genuine desire.
“Forgot what?” He didn’t know what she was apologizing for until he saw the signs of the heat. “I was supposed to take it after breakfast. And then you came in and distracted me.”
Note: again with an excuse for her own sexuality and would it really hit so fast after missing a dose by less than an hour?
She had no illusions he wanted to keep her around, and she didn’t want to sleep with him again if it was going to be just another meaningless ritual biology had set up as a physical act with no feeling.
Note: speaking of biology, wouldn't being in heat mean she was also ovulating and fertile? don't remember mention of a condom.
Anything so she wouldn’t have to make the choice to throw herself at him. Let him be the one on a conquest, not her.
Note: So she doesn't even want to be responsible for her own actions.
Now her heart hurt to leave the man she kept finding herself in bed with.
Note: now TSTL jumping to conclusion and endangering herself so he can save her from her own stupid move. i hate that trope.
Tears teased the corners of her eyes. She wished Dayne hadn’t turned out to be evil. She could have imagined living here with him in his quiet cottage in the woods. It felt comfortable, like home.
Note: Of course, they had sex so she's in lurve. Blerg.
And he and Greta fit together perfectly, in the carnal way.
Note: how would she know? Rutting seems all they've done.
“Okay, that’s enough,” she said as the strength in her voice returned.
Note: how did that strengthen her? she lost more blood.
She felt revulsion at the kindred feeling flowing between them as they shared not only blood now, but power.
Note: a little world-building to explain things like that would have been nice.
“Damn, woman, how many days does this go on?” “Couple of weeks sometimes. Was in a cage. No pills.”
Note: STILL with an excuse for wanting sex
She was sure she’d been a nice diversion, but he’d only agreed to let her stay until after the full moon, and she wasn’t about to show her naiveté by hoping for more.
Note: because obviously communication is a no go. Who would do that?
Practically every sexual encounter they’d had had amounted to pity sex. She couldn’t handle further pity or possible rejection. She’d become stupidly attached to him.
Note: based on what if she thinks it was just pity sex?
His hands started to stroke over her flesh and she relaxed and allowed her legs to fall open. A contented purr began to rumble through her chest. This was how Greta became kept.
Note: Yep, apparently a man just needs to touch a woman to have sex with her and once he has sex with her he owns her and she'll be pleased about that. so gross a theme.
pandemoniumpizza's review
I’ve had Kept in my ebooks for a long time and thought I’d read it because it was quite short. I like cats and a werecat is something I would find fascinating in books.
I enjoyed Kept but like some novellas I felt that it lacked in detail for some things. At times I felt the plot whizzed by without much explanation and I did find it hard to follow.
I thought Greta was an interesting character. I liked that Zoe Winters portrayed her as a cat at times. Like, some of her characteristics when she was a human were like that of a cat. It was definitely a surprising but also a different thing.
Overall, I enjoyed reading Kept and thought it was quite interesting. I liked that it was unique with the werepeople and how they interact with vampires and such. It was a fun read and if you’re into adult paranormal stories then this one might appeal to you.
I enjoyed Kept but like some novellas I felt that it lacked in detail for some things. At times I felt the plot whizzed by without much explanation and I did find it hard to follow.
I thought Greta was an interesting character. I liked that Zoe Winters portrayed her as a cat at times. Like, some of her characteristics when she was a human were like that of a cat. It was definitely a surprising but also a different thing.
Overall, I enjoyed reading Kept and thought it was quite interesting. I liked that it was unique with the werepeople and how they interact with vampires and such. It was a fun read and if you’re into adult paranormal stories then this one might appeal to you.
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