Sandy M’s review of Haunted Sanctuary (Green Pines, Book 1) by Moira Rogers
Paranormal Romance published by Samhain 22 Jan 13

My drought of reading good werewolf stories is finally over. I’m so very glad Moira Rogers has returned to her alpha shapeshifters she writes so well and that I love so much. In this new series, surprises and action, as well as some sensual and intense romance, fill the pages to pull readers into a dangerous world where sanctuary means everything.

Eden has harbored a dark secret most of her life, keeping her family, especially her cousin Zack, safe. All of that is about to change. Zack is back and with him are more of his kind – werewolves. Having been run off by the man who raised him but who wasn’t his father, this is the first time in twenty years Zack’s been to the farm. He’s brought with him the remnants of his pack, wolves who have been traumatized by Memphis alphas who terrorize for the fun of it. Zack himself is the worst of the lot, the light in eyes now the mirror to a soul lost.

Being the resident lone wolf, Police Chief Jay Ancheta has taken refuge in Clover’s laid back style from the city pack he’d called home. His need to protect fully comes to the fore when he discovers the ragtag team of werewolves on Eden’s farm. When all hell breaks loose the night he investigates and Eden is caught in the fray and bitten, Jay’s at first amazed she turns so quickly and then is quite happy to have her at his side when he decides to build a sanctuary for these outcasts and others who will need safety at one time or another in their lives. Informing the Memphis alphas of his plan seems to go well enough, but Jay knows to be cautious during renovations at the farm. Attack is more than likely imminent.

This book has it all. The opening action when Eden is bitten takes off in a flurry and ends in the style only werewolves can pull off. Once Eden turns, her wolf is alpha and wants Jay with more than a passion. The scenes between them when she wants more than she’s ready to give or receive are packed with sexual tension. And when the full moon makes its appearance? Eden is in her element with Jay to guide her, and those scenes are wild and fun in every way. Ms. Rogers does a wonderful job of making you feel the desolateness Zack’s pack feels after their ordeal. Each reacts in their own different way and you feel every pain, hurt, and even the rare small smile. But what I love the most? These wolves shift! The last several shifter stories I’v read, wolves or not, there’s not much shifting going on, and that’s why I read these books. So I had the best time with the wolves as well as their human counterparts.

I’m looking forward to every book in this series. Ms. Rogers has made sure of that. The ending here? Well, when I first realized it was the ending, I wanted to scream something fierce. But then I decided that this story is very memorable, so when the next book is released, I know I’m not going to have a difficult time picking up where it all left off. It’s only a few months off, hopefully. If you’re a shifter fan like I am, read this one now. Don’t get behind in the series, because you’ll be sorry you did!

Grade: A

Summary:

Eden Green can’t remember a time she didn’t believe in monsters—her cousin was born one. Her family’s dark past casts a long shadow, making it hard to make friends and harder to commit to a lover. She lives a quiet life in small-town Clover, Tennessee, but she’s always waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Tired of the city packs’ corruption, yet too alpha to be a subordinate in a sanctuary town, Jay Ancheta satisfies his need to protect by serving as Clover’s Chief of Police. As much as he’s drawn to Eden, he can’t offer forever to a woman who doesn’t know what he is—or trust himself to let her go after one taste.

When Eden’s cousin and his battered pack stagger into town, their tormentors hard on their heels, Eden is bitten in the chaos. Now Jay not only has a traumatized pack to deal with, but a newly turned wolf with enough hungry alpha power to consume them both.

With their combined strength, they can create a new sanctuary—if their passion can survive the ghosts of the Green family’s legacy.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Haunted Wolves – summer 2013