Ami's Hoard

Well, hell, THIS is a nice surprise!

I was intrigued with this book after reading a review -- I honestly forgot where, but the reviewer basically said that she had read so many urban fantasy/paranormal romance over the years, and they became the same-old but this one was good for her. I didn't exactly know what 'pushed' me into it, it was one of those unexplainable things when it comes to reading. I know that the author had another series (with the first book actually offered for free) but this one has shifters and I'm always a bit keen on that.

And I really enjoyed it! Yes, the first 1/4th of the book was a bit of a challenge for me. Not because of the world-built, but because of the NAMES and connections between the people of Cambio Springs.

See, Cambio Springs is a fictional tiny town, tucked into an isolated canyon in the middle of the Mojave Desert. Cambio Springs was made of the descendants of seven families that basically built the town. It was a town of shapeshifters, as the first seven ancestors drunk the water from the magical mineral springs and ended up being able to shape-shift.

Thus there were a LOT of McCanns, Crowes, Campbells, Quinns, Vasquez, and they were practically related in one way or another. It was a bit hard to keep track at first. But the writing was easy, and soon I was swept away with the story. ESPECIALLY, after the murder happened since the victim was one I didn't see coming (I thought it would happened to one of the husbands).

I really liked Jena and Caleb. Jena was a single mother of two (her childs were adorable, especially the youngest one, Aaron); she was also one of the avian shifters (from her family, the Crowe). Meanwhile Caleb was the outsider, brought from outside Cambio Springs to be appointed as the town's Chief of Police.

At first, Jena must danced around the truth (well, her and the rest of the town) but then something happened to Caleb (which was frickin' cool) that made him somehow part of the town as well. I liked their 'flirting' dance. I liked that Caleb -- despite his past -- had an easy-going attitude in him. I liked that he was not the usual brooding Alpha male. I enjoyed reading about Caleb and Jena's sons. I just found everything to be likable, including the light mystical sense surrounding Caleb's ancestry.

The mystery was nice too -- it wasn't very heavy in investigation; probably because the suspect was an animal (so to speak) and it wasn't like Caleb could easily check who turned into what animals and asked each and every one of them. I thought the murderer was a good one, and the motive believable.

So yep, despite the slightly rough start, I totally liking this. I am definitely going to read the sequel. Plus, I might have to check that other series by Elizabeth Hunter.

Personal note:
Has 'baby' as endearments but not as annoying as usual.