Review: Jaguar Pride by Terry Spear

Jaguar Pride
Author: Terry Spear
Reviewer: B.
Rating: B+

What I’m Talking About:

Although Melissa Overton has worked with other JAG agents before, she never enjoyed her job quite as much as she has since teaming up with her newest partner, Huntley. Her very capable and attractive partner, that is. It’s a shame that they both have significant others. Still, being professional is better for everyone. Or, at least that’s what she tells herself until another urgent assignment puts them in the most unpredictable situation imaginable, and makes her question everything she thought she wanted.

Being an elite “Golden Claw” is in Huntley Andersen’s blood. He is a formidable agent, but he’s learned the hard way that what makes him so successful won’t necessarily work for others, such as the girlfriend who just left him, for example. It doesn’t help matters that his tough, beautiful, and unavailable partner is absolutely perfect for him. But, things can change very quickly when lives are on the line, and when a fellow agent is in trouble, Huntley and Melissa will face every danger and break their own rules in order see that justice is done.

The Heart of the Jaguar universe is always a pleasure to revisit, and Jaguar Pride was as much fun as I had hoped it would be. Built around a covert organization of Jaguar shifters who are further divided into various agencies that range from “Guardians” to assassins, each story is filled with plenty of action and intrigue, and provides a refreshing sense of normalcy with regards to gender equality in most cases. Since the female agents are just as capable as the males, and don’t have to waste half the novel proving themselves in some way or other, it’s easy to delve into the missions right along with the characters.

While I’ve liked all of the pairings in the series so far, Melissa and Huntley seem particularly well suited for each other. Both are thorough and playful, not to mention fiercely loyal. That they are also stubborn and independent makes them one of the best couples yet. Since they were partners before lovers, Melissa, in particular, has some legitimate concerns about how being romantically involved might affect their existing connection, especially so soon after the dissolution of their previous relationships. For his part, Huntley is very clear that he desires more than just sex with Melissa, but, as is typical for this series, he is willing to wait until she is more certain about things. His fear of losing her entirely is clearly a problem for him, but he respects her need to figure out what she wants for herself.

There are plenty of other things that made Jaguar Pride a good story, not the least of which is Ms. Spear’s use of detail and accuracy in the novel’s settings. Additionally, there is quite a lot of humor in this narrative, the funniest of these moments involving the battle-tested Golden Claws’ sudden acquisition of a pair of shifter cubs. They do learn to manage quickly enough, but the initial panic for both agents was extremely entertaining. Toss in a group of bad guys I thoroughly enjoyed despising, as well as an important lesson about wildlife conservation, and Jaguar Pride may just be my favorite of the series to date.

Although Jaguar Pride could be read as a standalone, the stories are all connected by the agency itself and other factors, and I feel that it is more satisfying within the context of the series as a whole. Melissa and Huntley are strong, clever, endearing personalities, and their enthusiasm for indulging in the sensual nature of their attraction adds even more to their obvious compatibility. Like the other titles in the Heart of the Jaguar series, Jaguar Pride is easy to get caught up in, especially with the puzzle of a case the shifters have to solve and the constant reminder that time is running out. With the addition of new characters, as well as the return of some familiar faces, I hope that there will be more adventures for these wonderful cats very soon.

My Rating:  B+ Liked It A Lot

About the Book:

An impossible mission…

JAG Special Forces agents Huntley Anderson and Melissa Overton are hot on the trail of poachers when they’re suddenly saddled with two jaguar shifter cubs. They have to locate the parents, pronto-but who’s going to babysit in the meantime?

A lifetime of possibilities…

Huntley is a rough, tough jaguar shifter and an all-business agent, but he’s not going to let two abandoned youngsters come to any harm on his watch.

Seeing her super-manly partner try to get the playful cubs under control stirs up some unexpected desires in Melissa, and she begins to feel like Huntley’s not the only one who’s in over his head…

Release Date: February 3, 2015
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Series: Heart of the Jaguar #4
ISBN: #978-1402293795
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): paperback (352 pages), e-book
Book Source: NetGalley

Purchase Info:
Jaguar Pride (Heart of the Jaguar #4)

Reviews in the Series:
Savage Hunger by Terry Spear (Heart of the Jaguar #1)
Jaguar Fever by Terry Spear (Heart of the Jaguar #2)
Jaguar Hunt by Terry Spear (Heart of the Jaguar #3)