Sandy M’s review of Jace (Shadow Wranglers, Book 3) by Sarah McCarty
Paranormal Romance published by Berkley Trade 3 May 11
I’ve been looking forward to this book in Sarah McCarty’s Shadow Wranglers series. Jace is the youngest of the Johnson brothers, and when we last saw him, he was headed straight into danger to find someone not even his brothers were aware of at that time. He’d been acting recklessly, even for Jace. In this book we find out why.
We pick up where Jared left off, Jace and his brothers and werewolf allies attempting to gain entry to a Sanctuary laboratory/stronghold to rescue Jace’s mate. No wonder he’s been running headlong into perilous situations at every turn. But now he knows where Miri is and nothing will keep him from her after searching for her for the past year. The only thing that matters now is to get Miri out of Sanctuary’s hands and to help her heal, and she needs a lot healing.
Miri, however, wants only to find her daughter. Born from experimentation and rape, Miri’s little girl was taken from her immediately by a vampire who swore to keep her safe, leaving a clue on Miri herself as to the infant’s whereabouts. Jace is the epitome of patience and protection now that he’s found his mate again. He’s determined to make Miri see that what the Sanctuary bastards did to her matters not to him. Well, only in that he’ll find the SOBs just to kill them for the revenge they deserve. But her scars and everything else she suffered at their hands doesn’t mean anything next to making her happy, keeping her safe, and finding their daughter.
The tone of this book is very different from the previous two. Jace himself tones down after he finds Miri. He confronts everything with a wry sense of humor, especially where Miri is concerned, which I think is part of what eventually wears her down, because she too gets into the bantering game with him after a while. Of course, there is evil afloat all around and they have to contend with that, with help from the other Johnson brothers and werewolf allies save the day.
Jace finally realizes Miri needs her home. With her pack. When the alpha dies, because Miri is high ranking, it’s Jace who is looked to to take over. He’s not going for the whole idea at first, but knowing it will help Miri, they make the trek to visit the wolves who, they discover, lived under the thumb of a man who wanted and took only for himself. They’re determined to make things better for the pack, in between any challenges that come Jace’s way. Which infuriates Miri. She’s as ready to take on all comers as much as Jace is.
Even though this story is a bit of a departure from the first two books, I still enjoyed it quite a bit. It’s Jace’s caring and loving ways toward Miri that kept me reading. Even in her vulnerable state she stands up to him, but he’s not about to let anything else happen to her. I’m curious if the new wolf pack will play a part in the next book. It does seem odd to send Jace away from his brothers, so maybe there is something brewing. I hope so!
Grade: A
Summary:
He had one need.
She had one hope.
Together they have one chance…Vampire Jace Johnson was not a family man until he met Miri. But their forbidden relationship ended when she disappeared. After a year of searching, Jace finds Miri in a Sanctuary enclave.
After a year of cruel experimentation by the Sanctuary on her werewolf form, Miri is no longer the passionate wife Jace remembers. She only lives to rescue the daughter Jace never knew they had.
Now, they must overcome the tragedy of their pasts if they are to reclaim the future they both desire…
No excerpt available.
Other books in this series:
