Sebastian/Aristide are books seven and eight in the Bayou Heat series. I like this series. It is well written, the characters are well developed, I like the world that has been created for these puma shifters, it's sexy and filled with very alpha males. The Pantera live in the Bayous of Louisiana. In a place that holds their magic called the Wildlands. But for the last fifty years their lands and their magics have been dying. Their females have been unable to conceive or carry a child. Until a miracle happens. Raphael's human mate, Ashe, is expecting a child. A child that may be the savior to their people. But Shakpi, the evil twin of the goddess who created the Pantera, has been trying to kill the magic and with it the Pantera. Now she needs to end the life of the new baby, to complete her mission.Sebastian, is a suit, one of the Pantera's diplomats. To ensure the safety of his people, he is forced into the city, to work with a human FBI agent. Someone has been killing humans, making it look like large cats are responsible. Sebastian, knows better. The Pantera cannot shift outside of their Wildlands. So someone is out to cause panic among the humans. And Sebastian knows exactly who is responsible, Shakpi's disciples. Reny Smith, a new agent with the FBI needs this case to go well, to advance her career. She's finally making something of her life. She has created a new identity for herself, after waking up in a hospital nine years earlier with no idea how she got there or who she was. Now she is forced to work with the Pantera to determine who or what is assaulting people in her city. But when she meets Sebastian, something long dormant in her wakes and she's not sure how to handle what she's feeling. Especially when it comes to Sebastian.Book eight is Aristide's story. He has always believed he would follow in his parents footsteps by mating with a Pantera female and settling down and raising several cubs. Until he meets the new human waitress at the local bar. Aristide may want a Pantera female, but his cat, wants Katherine. Even after learning she is the reporter writing false stories about the shifters living in the Bayou. But Kat has secrets she cant share with Aristide about the reason she has written those stories. Reasons she will do anything to protect.After reading Aristide's story, I was a bit confused. I'm not sure whether it was the last book in the series, or if there are more coming. Each story so far has had no conclusion, building toward the big war and the fight for the Pantera. But after finishing this story, there were lots of questions left unanswered. The big war to save their people was more like an after thought in the plot, and the epilogue, really had no new information to pass on. Such a great series, I was disappointed with the ending. These two stories in the Pantera series seemed more unfinished in their brevity than previous ones. They were an easy read, too easy, meaning simplistic. Each story left me wanting to know more about the characters, what was happening to previous characters, and especially for such a critical plot point, to shift the birth of Ashe's baby and the attack of the assassins all happen offstage and with almost no detail left me feeling cheated. Not sure these short novellas are working any longer. The series needs a wider scope and more character and plot development.
What do You think about Sebastian/Aristide (2000)?
3.5 stars. Liked it but overall no surprises.
—kenny
