Novella Mini Review: Touching Paradise by Cleo Peitsche

Title: Touching Paradise
Series: Shark Shifter Paranormal Romance #1
Author: Cleo Peitsche
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: August 27th 2014
Source: Pouch Productions & Netgalley

Description via Goodreads:

TOUCHING PARADISE is an erotic paranormal romance of 41,000 words.

Despite his billions in the bank, Koenraad is a shark shapeshifter haunted by secrets and regrets. Unable to move on with his life, he relentlessly patrols the waters near the island he once considered home. Fate puts the beautiful Monroe in his path, and duty demands he offer his services, but one look into her eyes and he knows the lonely, frightened woman secretly yearns for adventure.

Monroe is having a hard time getting into the vacation spirit. She’s surrounded by powdery white sand and swaying palm trees, but she’s terrified of the ocean. When her tour boat breaks down at sea, she’s thrilled to skip the so-called trip of a lifetime. However, a gorgeous man with a sleek yacht is determined to change her mind… and maybe her life.

Contains explicit sexual content and graphic language that may be objectionable to some readers. Includes sexual dominance and submission and very mild BDSM elements. For adults only.

★★★★

I've read a fair amount of erotica in my life, and a very large portion of those titles contain shifters that are either some sort of jungle cat or most commonly, a wolf. I tried passing this book by as I looked through titles, but I just couldn't do it. How often does one stumble across a shifter romance where the hunky lead's shifting form is a shark? I thought this would be just what I needed to get out of the wolf-cat shifter romance rut I've been in, and I was largely correct.

I really liked both main characters in this story. Monroe is likable and relatable. She's trying to figure out what she wants out of life and how to get it, and has self-worth issues that I think we all have grappled with at some point or another. She gains her inner strength and decides to take what she wants, and I like that about her. And then there's Koenraad, the hunky shifter previously mentioned. He's rich and protective and alpha and all other things good in the world of romance books. Together they're explosive and I loved reading about them growing together as a couple. The sex scenes are well written, and the rest of the plot is too.

I also really liked the setting. It's very detailed so that the reader feels like they've been whisked off to a beautiful island paradise too. The shark shifting ties into the island's history, and I found this to be a nice touch to the setting and explanation of the significance of Koenraad's abilities.

This was my first experience reading a romance where a shark shifter takes center stage, but oddly enough it really worked for me and I hope that it won't be the last. If Goodreads proves correct, this is a series, and I would definitely read the next book to follow what happens. If you're tired of run of the mill shifter romances, this is a book for you. Thanks to Pouch Productions & Netgalley who provided me with a copy in exchange for my honest review.