Legends: Catori

LEGENDS: CATORI

By

Maggie Adams

REVIEWS FOR TEMPERED STEEL SERIES

Whistlin’ Dixie –

5.0 out of 5 stars #HARDTOPUTDOWN

By Jennifer Pierson: The Power of Three Readers

"Maggie Adams easy writing style reeled me in quickly, and I read the whole book in one sitting. Her twists and turns made for serious suspense and great OMG moments that came out of left field. I'm very excited to read about the rest of the brothers, so I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!"

5.0 out of 5 stars A SPICY READ THAT MAKES U HAPPY!!!

ByEROZ

IF U WANT A SPICY, EXCITING READ THAT WILL MAKE U FEEL VERY HAPPY & SENSUAL, THEN U HAVE GOT TO GET 'WHISTLIN' DIXIE'!!!

4.5 out of 5 stars Mac and Dixie are a must read

BySarah Reads

If you are looking for a western with a fiery heroine and a smokin’ hot cowboy look no further! 

Leather and Lace-

5.0 out of 5 stars The story feels as real as any true love story…

By Devi Nair, The Verdict's Out Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars The series gets better and better.

ByPicky Kay

4.0 out of 5 stars "Loving the Tempered Steel series"

ByTracy ~ Book Loving Pixies

Something’s Gotta Give –

5.0 out of 5 stars – Everyone needs a Coalson Brother!

By DayReader Reviews 

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!!

ByAmy Musselman (2 Amy's Love Reading Blog)

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!

ByBooks Laid Bare The journey they took was fabulous, it was eventful and I absolutely love these guys but from the brothers so far, I have to say that Chance is my favourite.

Getting Lucky –

5.0 out of 5 stars "Sometimes What Happens in Vegas - Does Not Stay in Vegas! A Must Read Novella!"

ByDeb_Loves2read

5.0 out of 5 starsReview from Abibliophobia Anonymous Book Reviews

ByTonya Allen Can’t wait for the next book in this series. I have to find out what is going on!!

Love, Marriage & Mayhem –

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet With Twists ByPage Turners Book Blog

5.0 out of 5 stars Another 5 stars for Maggie Adams and the Coalson Brothers!

ByMelodyslove4books

Forged in Fire –

5.0 out of 5 stars" Maggie Adams’ books are all great and I love the Coalson family so much!"

By Heather Szczesiak, author of Enticing Sky

5.0 out of 5 stars Lucky is finally getting lucky!

ByMelodyslove4books

Cold as Ice –

4.6 0ut of 5 stars This series is a winner!

ByErotic Romance Book Blog with Sandy

Cold as Ice (Tempered Steel Series Book 6) by Maggie Adams is SIZZLING hot, romantic, suspenseful, and will keep readers engaged through out.

4.0 out of 5 stars It had the perfect blend between suspense and romance

Reviewed by Kathleen, The Small Girl from A small girl, her man and her books

5out of 5 stars Full of Oh-My-Goodness! Contemporary Romance with Suspense

ByDeb_Loves2read

Other books by Maggie Adams –

Lustful Letters -

5.0 out of 5 stars "A steamy read"

BySassyCupcake

5.0 out of 5 stars "A Different Type of Erotic Book"

ByTom100

Lustful Lies –

5 out of 5 stars "Seriously Hot Book - One of the Best"

ByWalters

4.0 out of 5 stars A Lustful Pursuit Of Desires And Love

ByLiz Castillo

Lustful Longings –

4.0 out of 5 stars I so enjoyed these characters and her life .

Review by Yvonne Evans

This was a wonderful journey that I enjoyed following. I love the way the story is told in journal form, it just adds a certain quality to the story.

Introduction

In many Native American cultures, the name Catori means spirit. It is a name given to a female who may embody the wisdom of the owl, the cunning of the wolf, and the courage of the bear. For purposes here, each of these spirit animals will be an intricate part of the outcome of the love story as well as the plotline for future books.

With a nod to creative license, I have written this series with the assumption that not only do particular individuals have the spirit of their power animal, but each one can physically attain the ‘manifestation’ of the animal itself, therefore becoming a shapeshifter. Furthermore, some species have a genetic mutation which allows the manifestation to skip a generation. This series is my interpretation of these spirit guides as flesh and blood men and women -  well, perhaps with a slight shift in normal human reactions.

If you would like further information on Native American animalism philosophies, please see my author’s notes at the end of this book.

Maggie Adams

Prologue

Talon Cavanaugh stood on the grassy knoll above the cemetery, watching the procession as it wound through the cracked tombstones to the final resting place of the Wisdom Council’s leader, Leonard Cavanaugh. He smiled in satisfaction as the urn was laid into the dirt pit next to where his human wife would someday reside. Soon, he thought, soon all would be in place and he could claim his birthright.

Son, I know how much you loved your uncle. Are you sure you don’t want to go down and join in the ceremony? his father asked.

Well, the man he had called ‘father’ for most of his life, enquired. It was only on his mother, Sylvia’s, death bed, that Talon had learned the truth. He was the son of Leonard Cavanaugh, the owl leader of the Wisdom Council, who had died never knowing he had fathered a son. Sylvia had wanted to ensure the bloodline stayed pure when it became apparent that the old fool was planning to wed that woman, Paige, an inferior human. Sylvia had slipped a potion into his wine as the family celebrated her engagement to the leader’s brother, Lester, Talon’s assumed father. Leonard Cavanaugh had mated with Sylvia that night, the potion making him hallucinate that he was with his beloved Paige. Sylvia’s plan worked, and she gave birth to Talon, who was a pureblood shifter, keeping the bloodline intact.

Glancing over his shoulder, Talon shook his head in the negative at Lester. He had no need to go down there. He was the true heir to the leadership position of the Council. He knew the death procedure - one year of grieving for the widow and the family. He looked to Frankie Cavanaugh. She was a beautiful woman, despite her human blood. Her red hair glowed like flames in the sunlight. She was appropriately dressed in black, her cultural brooch, made of gold and the feathers of her father, pinned to her breast. She was crying quietly into a handkerchief, hugging her mother, in solace. It was almost a pity she would have to die, but there could only be one true leader.

And that position would be filled by him.

Chapter One

Tanner Coalson steered his old blue truck into the driveway of the family farm. He parked, got out, and walked down to the mailbox. He grabbed the day’s mail, turned and headed back up the driveway as he surveyed what he called, his little piece of heaven. As the youngest of the seven Coalson brothers, he had been away at college during most of the past few years, so he had missed the troubles that had plagued the small river town of Grafton, and his family in particular.

Devastating floods had brought all kinds of vermin into their small town, and he wasn’t simply thinking about the animal variety. The whole county had suffered through vandals, arsonists, and drug dealers trying to set up shop in abandoned buildings that had been condemned after the flood. It had then escalated to kidnapping and murder, that is, before his family and a few good lawmen, had put an end to it all last year. He chuckled when he thought of his brother, Sam, as the new sheriff. Sam had been the hell raiser of the group, but he was a new man – and happily settled down with his wife, Angel, and the kiddos. In fact, all of his brothers were married. It just didn’t seem possible.

But now it was time to look to the future. As far as his eyes could see, there were rows and rows of apple trees stretched out off to the right. Scanning the area, he noticed the absence of the old oak tree where he and his brothers had crafted a tree house, put up a tire swing, and carved the initials of more than one true love into the trunk. Hell, his brother, Chance, had practically decorated the entire thing with all of his many conquests over the years. But Tanner had only ever placed one heart on that tree when he was six years old, and that sentiment still held true today.

The tree wasn’t the only thing missing from his memory. The old farmhouse was gone, a casualty in a massive fire. It had also claimed over a third of the orchard and fields. In fact, the acreage off to Tanner’s left still showed the scorched remains. That was fine as far as he was concerned. He had other plans for that plot - big plans for not only the land, but for the entire Coalson family farm. He hadn’t studied hard for that dual degree in agriculture and business management for nothing.

Tanner? Tanner Coalson! Just the man I need.

He turned at the sound of the familiar sweet, husky voice, searching across the road for the beautiful woman that it belonged to. Frankie Cavanaugh bounced down the steps of the old Callahan cabin - soon to be the Coalson Christmas Cabin and ate up the distance between them with her no-nonsense stride. She was a tiny thing. He’d often wondered how many shoes she wore out trying to keep up with the long legs of, well, just about everyone she’d ever had to follow.  Only his sister-in-law, Dixie, Mac’s wife, was shorter than Frankie. But what they each lacked in height, they each made up for with their energy. 

What can I do for you, Frankie? he asked as she reached his side and a gust of wind whipped up the long curls of her flame-colored hair, sending some strands across her cheek. He resisted the urge to brush it aside and feel that soft, peaches and cream complexion in contrast to his rough hands. He couldn’t help how his jeans stretched a bit simply because she was near. He hoped she didn’t notice.

That man, Jackson what-ever-his-name-is, says he’s not moving the deer head one more time, but I’ve finally figured out exactly where it’s supposed to go. Could you?

He looked down at her and tried not to drown in those gorgeous baby blue eyes. Could I what?

Move it, she said, looking at him like he was slightly ignorant.

Move what?

The deer!

There’s a deer in the cabin? he purposely misunderstood just to rile her. That’s gonna make a mess, woman. We need to get it out of there. He started across the road.

No! She hurried after him, tugging on him to a stop.

No? He grinned. You mean you want that damn animal in there?

She stamped her foot. He noticed the red creeping into her cheeks, a sure sign she was getting angry.

Dammit, Tanner, she shouted. I want you to get the deer head down from the rafters and put it above the fireplace!

Well why didn’t you just say so? he said, grinning as he watched her