Rating: 4 stars
Buy Links: 
 Amazon | All Romance
Length: Novella


When Quinn Fitzgerald and his rescued Asiatic lion, Aseem, show up for their job posing for an animation studio’s artists, all he wants is a chance to promote the mission of his big cat sanctuary and earn some needed funds for his cause. The last thing Quinn expects is to find romance in the form of animator Charlie Deagman. But the quiet artist captures his attention and on impulse Quinn invites Charlie up to the sanctuary for the weekend.

Charlie Deagman can’t believe the gorgeous zoologist is asking him to come visit for the weekend. During the entire session, Charlie could barely keep his eyes off of the man and his lion. Charlie loved watching the affection that was obvious between man and cat, and the gentle way Quinn had about him, a far cry from Charlie’s ex. And when the weekend came around, Charlie found himself on the road to Wyoming, and just perhaps on the path to love as well.

Caitlin Ricci’s Taming The Lion Tamer is just an adorable story, fun, light and very sexy. Ricci gives us two lovely, decent men in search of love, a meet cute situation and lovely big cats to boot. Both the characters of Quinn Fitzgerald and Charlie Deagman are so likable in their own way that our affections for them are engaged immediately. Quinn found his love for big cats on a mission to Kenya and has worked to rescue them in the U.S. ever since. The isolation of his sanctuary has made him a single guy for far too long and we get that totally. Charlie is shy, kind, and family oriented as he lives with his sister and her kids. His ex who runs the animation studio is a jerk and not deserving of Charlie. So both men are available when they meet at the studio. Ricci lets us watch as Quinn and Charlie fall into lust with each other during the weekend that also sees them acknowledging that they like each other as well. Thank goodness there is no real “instant love” but two men who click with each other. At the end, there is the possibility of love, an acknowledgement that each missed the other when the weekend was over and hope for a future together.

I also like the fact that Ricci seems to have done her homework as to what the big cats are fed and the treats that are given as part of the new approach to animals kept in captivity. All in all, a good job with the Sanctuary descriptions involved, including the long hours required and the devotion needed to the animals rescued. Definitely not a job for those not totally committed.

This is such a fun, romantic and yes, sexy little story and I would love to see more of Quinn, Charlie, and Aseem the Asiatic lion. On the cover of this book is says it is part of The Men In Uniform series but quite frankly that is a stretch (and the other books in the series aren’t mentioned) unless you consider khaki shorts and shirt a uniform. So my only real quibbles here are with the title and the cover. It looks like there is a man in a circus outfit on the cover and the title alludes to a Lion Tamer which is the exact opposite of Quinn Fitzgerald who would be appalled by that association, given that he rescues big cats, not “tames” them. Nor would you consider kind, gentle Charlie to fit that description either. *shakes head* But the story is just lovely, the men charming, and the ending just the right amount of HEA. More please, Caitlin Ricci!

Cover: Reese Dante. Too dark to see the details. My other quibbles with the cover are mentioned above.