Stolen and Forgiven: A Paranormal Fantasy Shifter Branded Packs Romance Novel

Alexandra Ivy · Carrie Ann Ryan

Jul 2015 · Branded Packs Book 1 · Carrie Ann Ryan

About this ebook

 Stolen

The first rule of being Alpha of the Canine Pack is to protect their secrets from the humans at all cost. One look at the dying human at his doorstep and Holden Carter knows he will have to break it. The broken woman with no hope at survival is his mate. When he forces the change on her to save her life, he not only sets forth motions that could risk both their lives, but the lives of every shifter in the world.

Ariel Sands grew up in a post-Verona infection world and under the care of the very humans she thought had cured the disease. When they betray her in the worst ways imaginable, she finds herself not only mated to the Alpha of a the very species she’s been taught to fear, but the focal point of a traitor and path to destruction for everyone’s way of life. It will take more than trust and a mating bond for Ariel and Holden to not only survive their enemies, but the burn of their own temptations.

Forgiven

Soren Slater is a Beta wolf who understands that duty to his Pack comes before his own needs. At a young age he takes a position as a liaison between his Pack and the other species of shifters. He never expected his enticing flirtations with Cora Wilder, a Tiger Princess, would encourage her cat to consider him a potential mate. He’s forced to walk away, choosing a partner among the wolves to try and strengthen his Pack.

Cora has no intention of forgiving or forgetting Soren’s rejection. Not even when the Packs are forced to live together and she discovers Soren’s former mate has died. But then, she’s kidnapped by the SAU and she has no choice but to work with Soren to escape. Together they must put the past behind them if they’re to survive the human’s evil plot. 

Read what others are saying about New York Times bestselling author, Carrie Ann Ryan:

“Count on Carrie Ann Ryan for emotional, sexy, character driven stories that capture your heart!” – Carly Phillips, NY Times bestselling author

“Carrie Ann Ryan’s romances are my newest addiction! The emotion in her books captures me from the very beginning. The hope and healing hold me close until the end. These love stories will simply sweep you away.” ~ NYT Bestselling Author Deveny Perry

“Carrie Ann Ryan writes sexy emotional romances that'll make you cry and fan yourself from the heat, especially because of all that sexy ink.”

–#1 NYT Bestselling Author Lauren Blakely

 “Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop! This is definitely going in my re-read pile!” 

–NYT Bestselling Author Susan Stoker

"Carrie Ann Ryan writes the perfect balance of sweet and heat ensuring every story feeds the soul." - Audrey Carlan, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

“Carrie Ann Ryan never fails to draw readers in with passion, raw sensuality, and characters that pop off the page. Any book by Carrie Ann is an absolute treat.” – New York Times Bestselling Author J. Kenner 

“Carrie Ann Ryan knows how to pull your heartstrings and make your pulse pound! Her wonderful Redwood Pack series will draw you in and keep you reading long into the night. I can’t wait to see what comes next with the new generation, the Talons. Keep them coming, Carrie Ann!” –Lara Adrian, New York Times bestselling author of CRAVE THE NIGHT

"With snarky humor, sizzling love scenes, and brilliant, imaginative worldbuilding, The Dante's Circle series reads as if Carrie Ann Ryan peeked at my personal wish list!" – NYT Bestselling Author, Larissa Ione

"Carrie Ann Ryan writes sexy shifters in a world full of passionate happily-ever-afters." – New York Times Bestselling Author Vivian Arend

“Carrie Ann’s books are sexy with characters you can’t help but love from page one. They are heat and heart blended to perfection.” New York Times Bestselling Author Jayne Rylon

Carrie Ann Ryan's books are wickedly funny and deliciously hot, with plenty of twists to keep you guessing. They'll keep you up all night!” USA Today Bestselling Author Cari Quinn

"Once again, Carrie Ann Ryan knocks the Dante's Circle series out of the park. The queen of hot, sexy, enthralling paranormal romance, Carrie Ann is an author not to miss!" New York Times bestselling Author Marie Harte

Read the Entire Branded Packs Series:

Stolen and Forgiven

Abandoned and Unseen

Buried and Shadowed

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Topics: Wolf, Werewolf, Shifter, Romance, Series, Fantasy, Paranormal, Dominant, Paranormal Series, werewolf romance, shapeshifter romance, fantasy romance, dragon, fat, cat shifter, menage romance, alpha male, series and saga, magic, witch, demon, sexy, heartwarming, heart-warming, family, love, love books, kissing books, emotional journey, contemporary, contemporary romance, romance series, long series, long romance series, sassy, strong heroine, captivating romance, hot, hot romance, forbidden love, sparks, loyalty, swoon rescue, kidnap, claiming, defending, protect

Other readers of Carrie Ann Ryan’s books enjoyed books by: Kate Rudolph Felicity Heaton, JR Ward, Kresley Cole, Nalini Singh, Thea Harrison, Ilona Andrews, Jennifer L Armentrout, Lynsay Sands, Grace Goodwin, Lora Leigh, Jessie Donovan, Shelly Laurenston, Donna Grand, Mandy M Roth, NJ Walters, Abigail Owen, and Eve Langlias.

Ratings and reviews

**I received an e-copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.** -------------------------------- Alphas never have it easy, and the trials of the River and Golden Eye Pack Alphas is no different. In a post-apocalyptic world where shifters have had to reveal themselves in an attempt to save the humans from the Verona Virus, they instead find themselves the subject of animosity. Subjected to wearing metal collars and brands that indicate their shifter status they have been rounded up into compounds - unable to leave the gated & fenced areas without explicit permission from the government. Stolen - Holden, the River Pack Alpha, has given up hope of ever finding his true mate when she is suddenly thrust into his life. He has decisions to make, and their results could endanger the lives of every shifter in his care... or, make the Pack even stronger. Forgiven - Soren, the River Pack Beta, has put the needs of his pack before his own in the past and has the ghosts to prove it. When the Golden Eye Pack is forced to move into the same compound as the River Pack it comes back to slap him in the face. Can he and his true mate overcome those ghosts to ensure the continuation of their Packs, or will their choices bring the danger even closer? I have enjoyed MANY of Alexandra's series, and jumped at the chance to read the beginning of a new one - co-authored or not. Much like the Bayou series co-authored with Laura Wright my only complaint is they always seem to be over too soon!

I really enjoyed the the first book in this new series. I have read all of the Bayou Heat series and both Wicked Firsts and Sinful Seconds by Alexandra Ivy as well as the first of the first volume of the Redwood Pack by Carrie Ann Ryan, so I knew this story and series had to be a winner! I really like the world being created in the Branded Pack series. Carrie Ann and Alexandra are working to create something unique. In Stolen, we get our first introduction to the post Verona Virus world. In this story, we learn a lot about the new world order. Holden is a alpha for the River Pack, and our education starts with his thoughts and perceptions. More and more details are revealed as follow Holden's journey in the Stolen story. Holden's character shows you the strengths of the shifters, and unfortunately, a very realistic vision of how humanity would react to finding out about them. He carries a very heavy burden and approaches it with a very realistic attitude. Holden is doing the best he can in an untenable position, and it speaks volumes he is more concerned with the submissive and children under his protection. He shows his strength with his concern for others over himself. Ariel is another all to real example of how the world kinda does work. Used and left for dead, when she is taken into the River Pack, she finds the strength to accept a whole new reality and world. She shows strength of character without being a witch. She is likable and able to see beyond her own pain, which is very hard to create in a character. The only thing about this story I would have changed is to make it longer!! Holden and Ariel's story could have been another 100 pages and would have been even more rich and engaging! As it was, a solid foundation was created for this new world - not sure its brave - well yes I am sure the Branded Packs are brave, too bad the rest of the humans aren't. In Forgiven, the pacing felt much more natural. Cora and Soren had a past and were already basically mates, they just needed to understand that. Soren understood much earlier than Cora, but then he took a mate he thought his pack needed rather than the one his heart wanted. Soren punished himself for not loving Leah like he should have, but he did his best. I like the self realization that Cora was holding back and punishing Soren when she shouldn't. I loved both of these characters. I can't wait to find out how children work out in a feline/canine family. This was an amazing start to what promises to be a rich world. I thought Holden and Ariel's story was a little rushed, but it laid a strong foundation to what I hope is an amazing series. I am looking forward to more!

Talk about your book Hangovers, I picked this story up because I love shifter romance and boy I was so not disappointed. Their take on shifter lore is very entertaining and the premise that they come out of hiding to save the human race from their own stupidity was awesome. And how do we repay them for salvation, we lock them up and through away the key (right). Great series beginning can not wait to read what happens next. Holden Carter and Ariel Sands story is how this series begins and they are a interesting match. The detail given brings you in to a griping story about family bonds and they way they can get twisted in hard times. Soren Slater and Cora Wilder are a story about the sacrifices we make for family and I love that they get a second chance at the love they where denied. Love every hart pounding moment.

About the author

Alexandra Ivy began her career in 2000 under the name Debbie Raleigh, writing traditional regencies and now as Deborah Raleigh writing regency historicals.

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan never thought she’d be a writer. Not really. No, she loved math and science and even went on to graduate school in chemistry. Yes, she read as a kid and devoured teen fiction and Harry Potter, but it wasn’t until someone handed her a romance book in her late teens that she realized that there was something out there just for her. When another author suggested she use the voices in her head for good and not evil, The Redwood Pack and all her other stories were born.Carrie Ann is a bestselling author of over twenty novels and novellas and has so much more on her mind(and on her spreadsheets *grins*) that she isn’t planning on giving up her dream anytime soon.