Review: Tiger's Quest (Tiger Saga #2) by Colleen Houck

Tiger's Quest by Colleen Houck


The Scoop:


We are back in Oregon with Kelsey after her whirlwind adventure with cursed Indian prince, Ren. She has returned after forcing Ren (who appeared to be desperately in love with her) to let her go so he could explore his options (aka sow his wild seeds or some such nonsense). Upon her return to Oregon she found a duplex that she could live in, an awesome car for her to drive, a bunch of new clothes, her college classes picked out and paid for and anything else she might possibly desire (like classes in the martial art of wushu). She was going to school, taking wushu classes, casually dating and ferociously missing Ren (so much so that she bought a stuffed white tiger to sleep with).

With Kelsey's fondest wish that Ren forget her and move on to more princely diversions she decides to really start dating and decides that her wushu instructor, Li, is the best choice (after going out with some real duds). Her heart isn't really in it, which is good, because on Christmas Ren shows up in Oregon to tell Kelsey enough is enough and he only wants her. But, still, that isn't good enough and because she can't commit, Ren and Li decide that they need to have a competition on who can date Kelsey the best (and they lay out rules). Finally, Kelsey picks Ren as the winner (after torturing him to break one of the rules which was only she could instigate a kiss) and they live happily ever after--for about two weeks.

Ren's brother, Kishan, shows up with news that their long time enemy, Lokesh (the guy who put the tiger spell on the brothers), was getting close to finding them in Oregon. The prepared for d-day and when the hired thugs showed up they raced through the woods to their getaway vehicle. Along their way to the truck Ren was hit several times with tranquilizer darts and we find out that Kelsey can summon lightning from her hands. Ren encourages Kishan to take Kelsey and get her away, sacrificing himself to the enemy (and lots and lots of torture). Kelsey and Kishan return to India where they go on the next leg of the journey to remove the tiger curse from the princes. Instead of only in India this search takes them into Tibet and the Himalayan Mountains.

Review: Tiger's Curse (Tiger Saga #1) by Colleen Houck

Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck

The Scoop:

Kelsey Hayes is a regular old high school graduate. Or so she thinks.

Kelsey ends up like many post-high school graduates in line at the temp agency in her hometown of Salem, Oregon looking for a summer job. Some recent grads might be looking for an office, fast-food or retail summer job but the one that Kelsey ends up with is a two-week overnight position as assistant to the dog and tiger trainer at the visiting circus. She starts out mainly doing clean-up and selling tickets but after a few days of walking the dogs she is introduced to Dhiren, the white Bengal tiger. She instantly feels a connection to him and, even though he looks dangerous like any tiger might, Kelsey doesn't fear him and feels comfortable enough to want to spend time near his enclosure, writing in her journal and reading him plays and poetry.
One night, Kelsey stands staring at Dhiren (she has affectionately shortened his name to Ren) and whispers to him, "I wish you were free." A couple of days later she meets a distinguished Indian gentleman named Anik Kadam who has come to purchase Ren from the circus and take him back to India and release him onto a wildlife reserve. Kelsey is hired by Mr. Kadam to come along to India as Ren's caretaker. Before leaving for India Mr. Kadam shares a story of a prince from over 300 years ago that was well-loved by all but was betrayed by his brother and betrothed. The story Mr. Kadam tells Kelsey ends with Prince Dhiran being killed and ripped limb-from-limb and his pieces tossed in the river. Upon arriving to India, Kelsey finds that the story ends much differently. Her tiger Ren is actually Prince Dhiren and it appears as though Kelsey is a daughter of the goddess Durga and can aid Ren and his brother, Kirshan, in obtaining all of the objects that will help them break their curse and live as mortal men.