Mauled

Urban Jungle, Book 1

By: Espen Arcadia

Narrated by: Ryan Kraayvanger

In true enemies to lovers style, when the fox touches the jaguar with his spirit, the big cat touches the fox’s soul with his heart.

Trent, powerful jaguar shifter, and one of the biggest business names in Chicago, has a lot on his plate. He’s taken on the role as leader of the urban shifters and finds himself at odds with the surrounding rural community. His latest plan to buy land from the country shifters, with the promise of a better future for them, has them up in arms.

When they grow desperate enough, the rural leaders call on Ash, a fox shifter with "skills". His job is to take the high and mighty and bring them crashing down from their own hubris and corruption. Born and raised in Chicago, Ash returns to his home city, with his crafty gaze set on destroying Trent’s career.

When the two meet, personalities and intentions will bounce and crash off of one another. Sparks will fly, and secrets will come pouring out of the shadows. Ash and Trent will deal with not only with their growing attraction to one another, but getting caught in the middle of a deadly scheme.

©2020 Espen Arcadia (P)2020 Books Unite People, LLC

Mauled

Trent believes in what he is doing especially when he sees it as making things better for others. When his latest project hits a wall, it look like it is more than just a snag. The shifters that oppose Trent have hired a man known to bring down anyone he sees doing wrong. Yet when Ash comes into Trent’s life, he finds something else and the attraction between the two cannot be denied.

Trent and Ash’s story is an interesting one, but I would have liked a bit more character and story development. Their story moves quickly, and things are glossed over. Trent and Ash are strong characters, but they are one dimensional. It was not hard to figure out who was behind everything the big climatic scene left me wanting. While Trent and Ash figure things out there is still more to come. Their story is only the beginning of this world. Although I was not fond of some of the voices used for these characters narrator Ryan Kraayvanger does a good job of making the narration flow and keeping the listener engaged.

Short and Sweet Listen

I liked this story, it was fast paced, with some action and interesting characters. Enemies to Lovers is my favorite trope and I enjoyed following how relationship between Trent and Ash started and then grew due to common goals and hot and steamy times together. I was waiting for more to happen, but maybe it will be in the next book. Narrator has a good voice and I liked his narration. This was my first book by this author and narrator and I will try the next book in the series.

Phenomemal!!

OMG!! this story was phenomenal!! It was a quick listen but fast paced! Exciting, great story line!! The narration was excellent... kudos to Ryan Kraayvanger, you did a great job!!

Exciting and Fun read !

I enjoyed this listen :) the MC were fun and I felt
their chemistry ...I’m looking forward to the next book :)

A really good story

This was a great enemies to lovers story. The narrator did a good job as well. I look forward to the next book.

Okay, but I enjoyed book 2 far more

I read the book listed second for this series, Clawed, prior to reading this book, and it made it a different experience perhaps. I found that the two books occur semi-concurrently in time. Therefore, this book could be read as a prequel, sequel or as a bonus. In fact, it kind of sets of spoilers for Clawed, in some ways, showing some events and characters from a more distant point of view.
Clawed focuses on a group of "country shifters" who do not want their land taken over by "city shifters." This story focuses on the city shifters involved in the purchase, (or sabotage of said purchase), of their land. Each side has their own difficulties and dangers and each side is fairly ignorant of what the other is going through, being told only some of what goes on.
I enjoyed Clawed quite a bit and totally recommend it. It has quite a bit of action, suspense and likeable, interesting characters. Mauled, I found to be just okay. I think Mauled suffered a bit from needing a little less conversation and little more action, as well as greater emotion. The development of the romance and the parts of the storyline involving various other shifters all felt very muted to me. Ash and Trent are reasonably likeable and relatable, and there is some action, but I felt like something was missing to really suck me in. I'm not sorry I read it, but I'm glad I read Clawed first, so I could see this more as a bonus story.
For the audiobook, the narrator did a good job of differentiating voices, but I didn't feel enough emotion; I think perhaps he should've raised or lowered his voice or changed the pace more than he did. I think he's not a bad narrator on the whole, but this book's narration felt like it was missing a certain amount of oomph.

EtL Non-MPreg Shifters book.

I found this book entertaining. It's a who-done-it mixed in with enemies to lovers.
Trent is a control freak business man who is trying to buy country shifter territory with the intention of dragging all of the country's shifters into the "modern age" whether they like it or not. Since the urban and the country shifters are vastly different in this world the country shifters have been fighting him every step of the way but they do not have the financial means to totally block the sell of their homes and properties because Trent is a wealthy businessman who just keeps on piling the lawyers to make this sell happen. Enter Ash.

Ash is not the biggest guy but he's mighty, smart, sly, and crafty. Having a reputation for bringing down the rich and corrupt the country shifters hire Ash to try and shift the balance in their favor and get Trent to back off the deal and leave them in peace when negotiations between each of their representatives fail over and over again. Trent is simply not listening and is insistent that he's trying to help and make their lives better. Ash goes digging and doesn't really find much especially with the short time he was given. So he does something else he's also good at. Getting underneath people's skin. And he gets the undivided attention of Trent who can't decide if he wants to love or hate him. He's annoying, but wickedly smart and that seems to intrigue Trent.

This book checks off a lot of my favorites in a book.
-Hate S*x
-EtL
-Shifter
-Daddy Issues (the non kink kind)
-Crafty likeable MC who annoys the other MC in a fun way
-Control freak undone
-Mild Size difference

The only reason I rank the performance a four star is because during one of "chapters" you can hear laughing in the background. Some where in the 5th "chapter" (Ash) including the opening credits, if you're paying attention you can hear laughing in the background that's not related to the book. But I did enjoy the narrator. He wasn't a mic breather and didn't sound like robotic-like. Great voice. Will re-read/listen to and look for the next book to add to my ever growing TBR pile.

Deceits favourite role is playing the victim.

~Paul E. Galindo~
This book was absolutely Phenomenal!!! Trent and Ash's chemistry was off the charts. The sex was hot as hell and the storyline was captivating. I was completely drawn into this book from the start to finish and really enjoyed the drama between the country bear shifters and the city shifters. I liked that fact that because of how Trent was raised he always had good intentions when it came to business endeavours but those intentions didn't portray well to others, making him look bad. Ash was an awesome addition. I loved the back and forth banter between them and how Ash would just show up to get a meeting with Trent while driving him crazy, so funny. I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery, suspense and action. Amazing story & narration!! I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Love

Great book and also a good narration, definitely recommend . Looking forward to the rest of the series.

Great Book !!!

Exceptional book. Great story line, exciting and ended well! I highly recommend it to anyone interested in this genera!