Mate Choice

Mate Choice
Author: Gil G. Rosenthal
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Total Pages: 646
Release: 2017-07-18
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0691150672

A major new look at the evolution of mating decisions in organisms from protozoans to humans The popular consensus on mate choice has long been that females select mates likely to pass good genes to offspring. In Mate Choice, Gil Rosenthal overturns much of this conventional wisdom. Providing the first synthesis of the topic in more than three decades, and drawing from a wide range of fields, including animal behavior, evolutionary biology, social psychology, neuroscience, and economics, Rosenthal argues that "good genes" play a relatively minor role in shaping mate choice decisions and demonstrates how mate choice is influenced by genetic factors, environmental effects, and social interactions. Looking at diverse organisms, from protozoans to humans, Rosenthal explores how factors beyond the hunt for good genes combine to produce an endless array of preferences among species and individuals. He explains how mating decisions originate from structural constraints on perception and from nonsexual functions, and how single organisms benefit or lose from their choices. Both the origin of species and their fusion through hybridization are strongly influenced by direct selection on preferences in sexual and nonsexual contexts. Rosenthal broadens the traditional scope of mate choice research to encompass not just animal behavior and behavioral ecology but also neurobiology, the social sciences, and other areas. Focusing on mate choice mechanisms, rather than the traits they target, Mate Choice offers a groundbreaking perspective on the proximate and ultimate forces determining the evolutionary fate of species and populations.

The Cursed King

The Cursed King
Author: Abigail Owen
Publisher: Entangled: Amara
Total Pages: 448
Release: 2021-10-25
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1682814912

Airk Azdajah, the rightful King of the White Clan of dragon shifters, spent half a millennium being tortured by the false High King Pytheios. The only reason he’s alive is a curse: the man who kills Airk will be consumed in his own fire. So Airk was kept alive—barely—and unable to shift in his prison cage, driving the creature half of him into madness. Airk escaped, but he'll never be truly free. Because what good is a king who can never let his feral dragon loose, never fly, and never lead his people? Angelika Amon is the last unmated phoenix. The problem? She has no powers. Zip. Zilch. Nada. Angelika hates being dormant, especially now that her three sisters are blissfully mated to powerful dragon shifter kings and are very much part of the fight to take down the rotting king Pytheios. What good is a completely powerless phoenix in a battle to save the dragon kingdom? Desperate to find some way to help, she offers herself to Airk as a mate—just for political leverage. Now a dormant phoenix is mated to a dragon who can't shift. But the balance of power is about to change when Pytheios decides to claim Angelika for himself... Each book in the Inferno Rising series is STANDALONE: * The Rogue King * The Blood King * The Warrior King * The Cursed King

Provoked

Provoked
Author: Rebecca Zanetti
Publisher: Lyrical Press, Incorporated
Total Pages: 334
Release: 2015
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1616509449

"A casualty of the war between the demons and the vampires, Jase Kayrs has been missing for six long years. His older brothers want answers-- but they're going to have to get them from an unlikely source. For when Kane Kayrs tracks down Amber Freebird, what he finds is a blonde, vegan pacifist who has no intention of using her skills in his war..."--page [4] of cover.

A Grizzly Kind of Love

A Grizzly Kind of Love
Author: Georgette St. Clair
Publisher: Wordslinger Publishing
Total Pages: 143
Release:
Genre: Fiction
ISBN:

Wynona Bennett, owner of The Mating Game, thinks everyone should find true love, so it goes against her instincts to arrange a mating of convenience. It's even worse when it’s for a spoiled socialite with a shopping list where her soul should be. But when powerful people resort to blackmail, she either has to make semi-feral Zane Shepherd into an eligible match, or find herself behind bars.It’s going to take a miracle. He’s bad-mannered, bad-tempered…and bad for Wynona’s bruised, once-bitten-twice-shy-heart. But Zane isn’t all he seems – underneath that wild exterior beats the heart of a true gentleman. Can they foil his family’s murderous plans and find happiness? They have some unlikely allies in the shape of a tiny dog with a big instinct for trouble and a grammar-Nazi assassin who deals in terminal punctuation. -- Keywords: Paranormal Romance, Shifter Romance, Wolf Shifter Romance, Mating of Convenience, Steamy, Pack, Romance series, Strong heroine, Dating Service, Sexy, Alpha, Alpha shifter, Alpha female, Murder, Family, Blackmail, Paranormal Suspense, Paranormal Shifter Suspense, -- Other readers of Georgette St. Clair enjoyed books by: Milly Taiden, Sam Crescent, Lee Savino, Jasmine Mas , Reece Barden, Heather G. Harris, Alicia Montgomery, Linsey Hall, Kim Richardson, Sara Snow

Vampire: A Dark Protectors/Rebels Novella

Vampire: A Dark Protectors/Rebels Novella
Author: Rebecca Zanetti
Publisher: 1001 Dark Nights Press
Total Pages: 90
Release: 2021-07-12
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1951812387

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti comes a new story in her Dark Protectors/Rebels series… Dr. Mariana Lopez has finally stopped bailing friends out of difficult situations. Well, except for substituting as the leader for another anger management group, pitching in as a campaign strategist for a prospective sheriff, and babysitting three dogs. Even with such a full life, she can feel the danger around her—a sense that something isn’t right. Nightmares harass her, until the real thing comes to life, and only the dark and sexy male sitting in her group can save her. However, with safety comes a price she might not be willing to pay. Raine Maxwell is one of the Maxwells out of Montana, which means he's not only one of the most deadly vampires alive, but his path is set and his mate has been chosen for him. To save him—to continue his line. Unfortunately, his mate is an enhanced human female who has no idea of her abilities, of his species, or of her future. He’d like to lead her gently into this new world, but his people aren’t the only ones who’ve found her, which puts her into more danger than she can imagine. Plus, in order to follow his laws, he only has one week to convince her that immortality with him is what she wants—and needs. **Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.** Reviews for Vampire: “The Dark Protectors series is one of my absolute favorite PNR stories of all time. How can anyone resist hot alphas, fierce heroines, intriguing plots and twists, the danger element, the familial dynamics, the love... the everything??” - The Biblioholic “Vampire gets a GIVE ME MORE OF THAT GOOD STUFF FIVE AMAZING STARS!” - Marie’s Tempting Reads “Rebecca brings on the action and the steam.” - Minga Bookbud “A lot packed into this 1001 Dark Nights!! Mariana Lopez and Raine Maxwell have lots of chemistry to steam up the pages.” - Read All About It “WOW! I loved this book! It was also my first Rebecca Zanetti book, and it will not be my last” - Heather, Goodreads Reviewer “The story had a fast pace, and some great characters who I really enjoyed learning about. This may well draw me to the rest of the series as the plot and characters were very well written.” - Bookworms Corner Blog “This story has humor, suspense, and great chemistry between the characters. I can't wait to read more about Raine's family.” - Rita, Goodreads Reviewer

Courtship and Mate-finding in Insects

Courtship and Mate-finding in Insects
Author: Raymond J.C. Cannon
Publisher: CABI
Total Pages: 658
Release: 2023-06-30
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1789248604

This book explores mate-finding and courtship behaviour in the insect world, in all its subtlety and diversity. Insects engage in courtship as much, or as little, as any other animal; they have songs and dances, and all manner of instruments and ornaments to attract and court the opposite sex. Insects have evolved complex chemical and acoustic communication systems, sending fragrant messages, visual signals and subtle vibrations to attract and persuade. Insects also have many different ways and means of choosing or rejecting mating partners. This beautifully illustrated book shows the incredible variety of courtship behaviours and celebrates the wonderful natural history of a wide range of insects. Varieties of courtship can occur before, during and even after copulation, and numerous examples of the different mating strategies used are presented. This landmark volume will be of interest to students of biology, entomologists, naturalists and anyone with a desire to know more about the love lives of the small creatures with which we share the planet.

Wicked Bite

Wicked Bite
Author: Rebecca Zanetti
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Total Pages: 363
Release: 2017-08-01
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1601838689

A witch shakes up the world of a shapeshifting biker in this paranormal romance by the New York Times–bestselling author of the Dark Protectors series. If you love the Dark Protectors, these wicked hot Realm Enforcers are for you! As she hunts for a drug lord killing her fellow witches, all Nessa Lansa’s instincts point to the Grizzly motorcycle club. That might be because their leader, Bear, is the strong, silent shifter type: warm brown eyes and more muscle and alpha male than any woman can ignore. Which makes Nessa’s plan to seduce and betray him all the more dangerous… Bear doesn’t trust the curvy, blue-eyed witch. But Nessa can heal the injuries that sap his strength. And since he can’t stop thinking of her lush body and teasing smile, her plan to mate him to reclaim her own power is highly tempting. Just one problem. Once a desire this wild is loose, no one will ever control it…. “Zanetti hits a home run with this one. The steam level will appeal to fans of Christine Feehan and Nalini Singh.”—Library Journal “I think you will love this roller coaster ride with this seemingly mismatched couple, who are in truth exactly what the other needs.”—Fresh Fiction —Kate Douglas on Fated “Sizzling sex scenes and a memorable cast.” —Publishers Weekly on Claimed “A fast-paced, excitement-filled explosion of action… Zanetti keeps getting better.” –RT Book Reviews on Marked, 4.5 Stars Top Pick

What the Howl: Paranormal shifter romance

What the Howl: Paranormal shifter romance
Author: Georgette St. Clair
Publisher: Wordslinger Publishing
Total Pages: 207
Release: 2023-07-30
Genre: Fiction
ISBN:

Daphne: Happy Birthday to me, happy birthday to me...on my 25th birthday I was hoping for a spa day with my besties. Instead I get: 1.) kidnapped. 2.) A hot, handsome jailer who claims I'm his "mate" - what even is that? 3.) A pack of new friends, and a pack of trouble. Apparently I’m first prize in in a vicious fight between two warring packs of shifters, but there’s a sexy-as-sin wolf who swears I’m his – and he’ll burn down the world to keep me. Killian: The Stony Slopes pack wants to lay claim to a curvy half-shifter with a mouth full of sass and no idea how much trouble she's in. They’re about to find out how far an Alpha will go to protect his fated mate. -- Keywords: shifter romance, paranormal romance, fated mates romance, Alpha Shifter romance, paranormal shifter romance, Kidnapping, Jailer, Mate, Pack, Wolf Pack, Warring Packs, Claimed, Alpha, Curvy Heroine, Sexy, Steamy -- Other readers of Georgette St. Clair enjoyed books by: Milly Taiden, Sam Crescent, Lee Savino, Jasmine Mas , Reece Barden, Heather G. Harris, Alicia Montgomery, Linsey Hall, Kim Richardson, Sara Snow