Title:  Stone Bear: Sentinel
Series:  Stone Bears #1
Author:  Amelia Jade
Published:  February 9, 2016
My Rating:  3 stars
Source:  Kindle Unlimited
Cover Description:

Gabriel is a Stone Bear—one of the the elite shifters trained by the Lionshead Mining Consortium to protect their precious goods. He’s given up almost everything to be the best at his job, including the chance to take a mate. But after meeting his boss’s new assistant, he can’t help but wonder about the possibilities. Gabriel can withstand just about anything a shifter can throw at him in a fight, but when it comes to this strong, gorgeous, and witty woman, he finds himself weak in the knees. Could she truly be the one?

Caia Rowan is tougher than she seems. Hired straight out of school to go through training as a police negotiator, she’s seen her fair share of the ugly side of society. So when she’s offered a job in Genesis Valley, the harsh lifestyle and brutal nature of its inhabitants doesn’t faze her. But the tall, utterly intoxicating, and surprisingly well-mannered bear shifter she’s partnered with has the butterflies in her stomach doing circus acts.

As the pair investigate a series of odd occurrences within the Valley, they find that they can’t ignore the tension growing between them. But one wrong move could cost them not only their jobs, but their lives. The darkness invading Genesis Valley is more perverse than either of them suspected, and it will take the power of their bond to burn it away. Can they survive the journey, or will the brash actions of one doom the other?

 Sexy shifters and their feisty mates who aren’t shy about loving each other – so, this is an adult, 18+ reader tale.

Stone Bear: Sentinel is an interesting concept.  It takes the role of “enforcer” within a community, a business to a different level.  This is an edgier world.  The shifters who find their way to Genesis Valley are on their last chance, if they cannot function here then they are ended.  For whatever reason they cannot make it out in the world, they can make it in this mining community… if they can fit in and be productive.  If not, then there is no where left to go but to their death.  Gabriel as a Stone Bear is an elite enforcer along with his team.  They are responsible for the pickup of the Dragon Stones found in the mines – and for other duties as well, those not so very pleasant.

Since this is the beginning of another offshoot of the Ridgeback Bears series, it may help to have read that series… but there is enough mentions within the dialog to keep you informed as to who people are and their story.  I’ve read two of the Jade Crew stories, and decided to approach this larger series from another angle of the Stone Bears.  Why?  Because I’m looking for a connection to these characters and their story – I want to enjoy these series and care about the people living in these stories.  I cannot put my finger on why I cannot connect or care about these characters.  I don’t know what it is and I think that is what keeps bringing me back, I want to decide one way or the other but I’m caught in that middle ground of… it’s a good story.  And I think I have to leave it at that.  A good story, gritty and dark but one that while I enjoy aspects of it, I’m not connecting enough to call it a favorite.  I will be picking up the next story in the Stone Bears series, since I do want to know what happens next.  So, yes in a way it has me hooked but I cannot tell you why.  I really prefer to be able to say yay or nay on a series and move on.. but I’ll keep trying until I get an answer that I can live with – which means more reading for me.  Not a totally bad thing. *grin*

Available for the Kindle