Transforming Love (Koning Clan 1) by Debra Smith [review & giveaway]

Hello to all,

              If you follow the blog, you know how mucjh i love shifters and paranormal romance, urban fantasy in general. I always appreciate to find author i didn't know and new series and this month i have been lucky.

I’ve discovered Debra thanks to Brenda and her review of the second book of this series and from the excerpt I was instantly caught, I wanted to read more so I ordered book 2 “ Escaping his Love” and it’s on the way.

However I couldn’t introduce you to the series without starting by book 1 titled “Transforming Love” so I asked Debra if I could have a copy for review which she kindly accepted, even better she will be offering to two persons who comment a digital copy of one her books so if you are tempted you could win this one or discover something else. It’s really generous of her don’t you think?  I will explain later what you need to do to win but until then here is my opinion on “Transforming Love” (you can read the fist chapters on her website here)

 Happy reading!

Publisher: Drebra Smith

Publication: 2012

ISBN:  0373277210

Genre:  erotic paranormal romance
Violence: mild
Language: mild
sex: VERY hot, Very Strong
Public: 18+

Source: ecopy received in exchange for an honest review

Short description from goodreads :

Jenny never expected her thirst for freedom to lead to her capture. Family secrets prevent her from running from the only man tempting enough to make her submit to her body's desires.


Gryph is dark, sexy, and determined to win Jenny in the Slag, a contest revered by his kind. As the leader of his Clan he's used to getting his way, until her. Can he give Jenny her freedom while winning her heart?

My opinion:

          I have been quite surprised I admit, now I did read the first chapter on Debra’s website and I knew that I liked it, even if the first chapter of book two was my favourite, but I didn’t expect it to be so hot!... it’s even a euphemism, this is a novella that introduce us to her universe of shifters so a short read but full of more than steamy scenes. It’s really an erotic paranormal romance when I expected more a simple though a little steamy paranormal romance. “Transforming Love” really took me by surprise since those scenes arrive already in chapter two, but that one is really soft comparing to the rest, the first chapter didn’t let me expect anything like that.

The story is really fast paced so the novella is complete, no cliffhanger at all but perhaps a little too fast at some parts, I would have loved more. Now it’s not that the plot is not there or uninteresting but sometimes the erotic part takes over in a detrimental way, the balance isn’t mastered yet. 

The universe is there, they are shifters in our world but are they living with us or in a scheduled part we don’t know. We don’t know exactly how things are done except that they are a special clan whose female have a special powers, for the rest you have different kinds of shifters clan: wolves, hyenas, jaguars to cite a few each clan has an alpha and all of them are rules by a queen and a king.  I was left hanging for some info on the characters but if we get some about Jenny, like her mother is dead and if she ignore all about the shifters it’s because her father tried to save her from her destiny and suppressed her powers thanks to a trinket. … not a lot true but in the circumstances pertained to how she was raised it’s understandable, she knows nearly nothing so we don’t but I would have liked to know for example if they left when her mother was alive or after and how she died but Debra perhaps has plan to answer that in a future novella or  a later books. So we discover Jenny as the shifters community discover her, a determined young woman who speaks her mind and dare to oppose males.

If for Jenny we have learned enough, I was disappointed with Gryph though, he is the leader of his clan and owner of a bar…that’s it. We can guess that Clint is his beta or second in command but it’s not really confirmed in this book so I would have loved more descriptions, more information. He is still a mystery in fact ( to be honest I got more on him reading the first chapter of book 2 than in the whole first book). I want to learn more about all the characters, their personality, how they come to be what they are etc.

The main idea though was something I really appreciate.

So in the end I only liked the book but I sincerely think it will only get better with each new book in the series, from what I have seen so you really could give it a try if you love really hot and steamy read, paranormal romance.

 It’s only a introduction ( it would have been a really promising book if longer) and the author is improving so I can’t wait to receive my copy of book two “Escaping Love” to share my opinion with you and to learn more about the characters as well as discovering new ones (really read the first chapter and you will understand how excited I can be, you can see the improvement too)

Score:  3,5/5

Disclaimer: Source: a copy in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was received. All opinions are my own.

 For more info on Debra Smith and her books you can check her Website  HERE

 You can buy Transforming Love  on amazon

Now like I told you in the beginning of the post, Debra has generously offered two of her ebooks (choice of title and format), there will be two winner who will each get one.  It’s an opportunity to try this book if you want a very hot book for example or if you have read this one already to discover more.

Entering is simple: mandatory entry: comment on this post before August, bonus entry if you are a follower ( Linky, bloglovin, or email : tell me how and under which name/username/email). Don’t forget to add your email ( if you are really uncomfortable with that just said so and check back on  the 1th august to see if you have won and then it will be your job to contact me in less than 48h or you forfeit your prize)

 I will contact the winners to have confirmation of their email, if they don’t answer in 48h a new winner will be chosen

Kindlemom and VampedChik are the winners, Congrats! email have been sent! If no answer before sunday i will contact a new winner. Thank you once again a lot Debra.

So question(s): What do you think of this book if you have read it? If not, have you tried the first chapter?

Which kind of shifters do you prefers and why ( species and/or behaviour ( alpha, beta, dominant etc). Have you already read something written by Debra if yes which book and what did you think of it?

Challenge: