Sandy M’s review of Sanctuary’s Price (Red Rock Pass, Book 3) by Moira Rogers
Contemporary Paranormal Romance released by Samhain 27 Oct 09

I never get tired of a good shifter story, and Moira Rogers has become a favorite of mine over the last couple of years when it comes to these sexy and dangerous wolves in This Red Rock Pass series. It’s still going strong, and as much as I love an alpha hero, this time it’s the beta who get his story and his girl.

We met Dylan in the first book of the series, Cry Sanctuary, when he helps the heroine of that story escape their jerk of an alpha, one who controlled others with fear, especially the females of the pack. In the second book, Sanctuary Lost, Dylan is living with the healer of his new pack, but things aren’t going that well for them when witch Sasha Wallace shows up, and it’s all downhill from there, which is where Sanctuary’s Price picks up.

Dylan is feeling a little sorry for himself, now on his own and beginning to work on an old fixer-upper so he’ll have a place to live. He doesn’t feel like the hero everyone else claims he is. He should have done more so that others like Abby and her sister weren’t hurt before he finally, along with others, took care of the evil that threatened them all. But with his new pack and new alpha, all is not lost.

Feeling she owes a number of people in Red Rock Pass for her life and now a temporary home, Sasha is staying put for the time being, even though there are a number of wolves who still look at her with suspicion, mostly because of her magical abilities. But she’s needed and she’ll help the best she can. Working with Dylan to fight a new evil attacking wolves is unexpected but Sasha pays her debts. And there’s something about the man that she just can’t resist.

Both Dylan and Sasha have scars, internally as well as externally, from their former lives that make them cautious on one hand but bold on the other, and when Dylan volunteers to help Sasha work her magic to help lessen the current threat, feelings and emotions multiply with spells and enchantment literally coursing through them. I like how the story begins with these two working together to solve the immediate problem while first fighting their attraction and then welcoming it and then letting it grow on its own.

Then the story takes off when they’re sent by their alpha to investigate odd goings-on at a once friendly pack. The action there and the intricacies of magic, both good and dark, are nonstop. We are also introduced to a number of new characters who are quite interesting and intriguing and I hope we get to meet them again in later books.

I love Dylan. Though he’s had a rough time of it since he’s been a shifter, he’s a survivor and a loyal friend, which I think even surprises him here and there. He exerts some alpha-ness near the end of the book while staying true to the beta inside, and he stole the rest of my heart at that point. It took me a bit to warm up to Sasha. I’m thinking that’s because I so like Abby and Brynn and for me Sasha just pales a little in comparison. But she’s good for Dylan, she’s brave, and she’s willing to work on their relationship, do what it takes to make it work.

This has been a terrific series, and I sure hope this Moira Rogers team has a few more for the future.

Grade: B

Summary:

After a decade under a corrupt alpha’s thumb, Dylan Gennaro is still reeling from the changes in his life: a new home, a new alpha, a pack at war. Even normal things like an ending relationship. Still, when he’s asked to work with an outcast witch, he agrees without hesitation. Maybe by protecting her, he’ll rediscover his own inner strength. If, indeed, it exists.

Sasha Wallace lost her mentor in a vicious attack that left her scarred in spirit as well as body. While she’s grateful for the refuge offered by the Red Rock alpha, it’s tough living with the pack’s suspicion. Even though–or maybe because–she’s willing to use her powers to help them fight their war. Except for Dylan. When she’s finally free to find a new home, he’ll be the only one she regrets leaving behind.

Their attraction is a balm to their wounded hearts, until their journey for knowledge brings them face to face with a terrifying vampire. Neither has the strength for this fight–but if they can let go of their pasts and trust each other, they might just be able to do it. Together.

Warning: Contains dangerous magical binding spells, a flannel-wearing vampire lumberjack, paranormal road-trip hijinks and a quietly brilliant werewolf willing to defy his society and his past to protect the witch he loves.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Sandy M’s review of Sanctuary Lost (Red Rock Pass, Book 2) by Moira Rogers
Contemporary Paranormal Romance ebook published by Samhain 9 Jun 09

I’ve been in a shifter mood lately and what better way to feed that mood than to read a Red Rock Pass book by Moira Rogers. I’ve been anticipating this book since I read and reviewed the first book in the series, Cry Sanctuary, last year. Not only do we get a new romance in this book, but we also get to catch up with all those previous characters. And instead of slaking my hunger for shifters, SL only made me want more.

Joe Mitchell is a Guide, one who helps newly turned wolves through their journey, in the Red Rock Pass pack, and when Brynn Adler begins talking about wanting to be turned, because of a past experience gone bad as a Guide and his growing feelings for Brynn, he’s not sure he’s the man for the job. He tries to get her to slow down on this idea, but it’s Brynn’s fear of not being able to defend herself against the attack they all know is coming.

Alan Matthews is the wolf who turned her sister, Abby, kidnapped Brynn to get to Abby but was ultimately defeated, and they’ve all been relatively safe for the past few weeks. Not wanting to cause her sister any more trouble, to have Abby worry about her constantly, Brynn believes the only way to do that is to become a wolf herself. Then she can fight back on her own and not need everyone else around her to do her fighting for her.

Trying to get the situation in hand, the alphas of Red Rock Pass have brought in other alphas to discuss the problem, but even with all that power on site, Matthews continues his forays into enemy territory, becoming bolder and getting through the defenses of the pack. Brynn’s decision is made for her when she’s attacked by a Matthews wolf, her resulting transformation taking place during a full moon, a time when new werewolves rarely survive.

But Brynn is determined to survive, and with the help of Joe she tries to get her new nature and power under control. They’ve grown closer during this time, both afraid to love but just as afraid not to. When the chips are down, though, they do whatever is necessary for the pack and for each other, if tomorrow comes after a night intense fighting. Joe and Brynn are terrific together. They both have fears to overcome, one of which is to trust their hearts. Brynn doesn’t want to lose herself in the submission that comes naturally to her wolf and Joe isn’t sure a relationship is the thing for him after giving it a try once before that didn’t work out. But they’re worrying against something more powerful than those fears and they really don’t have a chance when it comes to their destiny.

The only thing I wanted more of in this book was shifting. I wanted to see their wolves run and fight and whatever else wolves are wont to do, but most of that went on in the background. What I did get, though, was terrific. Keith, Abby, Gavin and Sam, the Red Rock Pass alphas, are all involved full force in the story, as well as other secondary characters from Cry Sanctuary. They’re all family, they all fight for each other, and that comes through loud and clear in these books. I’m already anticipating the next book, so I headed over to Ms. Rogers’ website to find out what I could about it. So sad, nothing there yet. Please don’t keep me waiting too long!

Grade: A-

Summary:

If there’s one thing that Brynn Adler hates, it’s feeling helpless and vulnerable in unfamiliar territory. Three weeks ago, life tossed her into a just such a world. A world of werewolves she never knew existed-until she found out her sister is one of them.

The pack seems determined to hurry her back to the normal world of humans. But after everything she’s witnessed, she’s not sure she wants to go-especially if it means leaving not only her sister behind, but the one man who makes her forget her life is falling apart.

Now all she has to do is convince him to agree to a plan to force the pack to let her stay.

Joe Mitchell has been battling his protective instincts since he rescued Brynn from her kidnapper. Getting involved with her is a bad idea for a lot of reasons. She’s on shaky emotional ground, and a supernatural war is no place for a human woman. He’s not about to let her make a hasty decision, one that will only bring her pain and regret.

Now all he has to do is let her go.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

I suck at being in charge of contests. This is something I did not know about myself until recently, but it’s true nonetheless.

A few weeks ago we asked Bree and Donna of Moira Rogers fame to come talk to us about their writing process.

The three winners of anything from the Moira Rogers backlist are as follows:

• Natasha
• BridgetH
• Nancy Bristow

Please send your book requests to shannonc (at) tgtbtu (dot) com with the subject Moira Rogers contest and we’ll get your books to you ASAP.

I met the Bree half of Moira Rogers several months ago in a multi-fandom community, and from there it was like some kind of synergy had taken place. Our taste in books, particularly romance, is frighteningly similar, and so when the first Moira Rogers books came out, I became an instant fan. Now, with Crux, the dynamic duo of Bree and Donna have taken a leap into urban fantasy that Sandy and I both love. In celebration of the release of Crux, Bree and Donna, the two halves of Moira Rogers, stopped by the pond to talk to us about their writing process. Stay tuned at the end of this post for a contest!

And now, please welcome Moira Rogers!

When Shannon gave me a long leash to come up with my own topic for a guest blog post, my first thought was, “Oh, she’s going to regret this.” Before we get started, I feel like I should issue a disclaimer up front so no one can say they weren’t warned:
I, the Bree half of Moira Rogers, am an enormous geek.

There, I said it. No take backs. I’m a dorky McDork pants geek princess, and on most days my partner in crime is no better. Donna and I love gizmos and gadgets, comic books and computers, and we really, really like RPGs. We met our husbands in a table top role playing game at the local comic book store in a true romantic comedy tale too geeky for publication. We played dozens of games over the years, and we always had one thing in common: we drove everyone crazy with our elaborate back stories and highly flawed characters who were more likely to get the party blown up than actually kill the bad guy.
What can I say? We love a good redemption storyline.

Donna and I are a comparatively rare oddity in the writing world. We’re two people who share a single penname, and that penname is our career. We’re not two authors who have joined forces to write works together; we’re two writers who have joined forces to become one author. There’s a Captain Planet joke in there I’m dying to make, but I don’t want Shannon to beat me too severely when this is over, so I’ll refrain.

We get a lot of questions about how we write and what our process is. People are always fascinated that we have taken this seemingly terrifying leap of faith together, that we do something so intensely personal as telling a story together and somehow at the end of the day are still friends.

The first thing I tell everyone who asks is this: it is not for everyone. We have our epic battles and fights, our spats and our disagreements. We have hurt feelings when someone says, “Oh, okay, so what you’re saying is you want them to name that baby Deus ex machina.” (Ouch, I’m still smarting from that, Donna. More so because you had to be right.)

There are a hundred ways to write a story, and I don’t think any of the methods are the one true way. What I do know is that I can’t imagine working with someone who didn’t prioritize the story elements in the same way I do. Donna and I have our gamer roots to thank for this agreement, I think, because our number one concern is always the characters. Every character in every book we write has a complex history, family, a personality, trouble and triumphs. Every character. That guy who showed up for 3 minutes on the telephone? Him too. We love creating characters. We stash facts and tidbits about them in a top secret wiki—facts that might look a little like a character sheet.

At the end of the day, we almost never have a story idea before we have characters. Our characters shape our stories because each one is the story we think we want to tell for this character. It also means killing them feels like the loss of a person with so many potential stories left to tell, but when you’re writing dangerous books, sometimes you lose people. (Sob.)

Now the nitty gritty: how do we do it?

We each have our stable of characters, and we are the boss of them. All their words, actions, reactions and feelings are ours to decide. We do not have fights over what a character “should” do, we discuss what a character “would” do and how the heck we’re going to fix the repercussions of any given action. We literally write around each other. We don’t each write a chapter, or a POV scene, or anything like that. We write…paragraphs. Or sentences. Or sometimes words. Sometimes those words go in each other’s sentences.

Our husbands are used to listening to us hash out plots. “What would Joe do if…” “But how would Keith react if…” We don’t get to wing it, or we might be writing two different scenes. Even with careful planning sometimes the story can feel a bit like wrestling something into place, because while Donna and I think almost the same…well, almost is still not completely. Sometimes she’ll write a character saying something that would have never in a million years occurred to me, something I never would have written on my own.

And that’s when it feels a little bit like magic.

I could talk all day about the little details, but sometimes it’s hard to tell just what parts of this people really want to know about. So if you have a burning question about life as one half of Moira Rogers, ask! Nothing is sacred…well, a few things are sacred. Like the true location of the Bat Cave. But other than that, ask away!

CONTEST! Three winners will be chosen to win copies of anything from Moira Rogers’ backlist But you have to work for it! Leave a comment on this post with your questions about Bree and Donna’s writing process and you’ll be entered into the contest!

Thanks to Bree and Donna for stopping by and quacking with us!

Shannon C‘s review of Crux (Southern Arcana, Book 1) by Moira Rogers
Urban fantasy/paranormal romance released by Samhain Publishing 3 Mar 09

This is yet another of those reviews about which I cannot be objective, because if I were to be trapped on a desert island with only a cabana full of nekkid mens and one erotic romance author for company, that author would be the Bree half of Moira Rogers. Not that Crux is all that erotic, really. What it is, though, is a very strong urban fantasy that introduces us to a world that is a lot of fun to visit, and yet surprisingly dark.

Mackenzie has been on the run for a month now, and finally has landed in New Orleans. She’s being chased by a crazy man bent on destroying her life because he says they have a destiny together. Of course, her life is only going to get more complicated when her boss sends Jackson Holt to ferret out her secrets. Jackson is sexy and as charming a good old Southern boy as anyone could want, and Mackenzie is attracted to him. But before they can consummate their feelings for each other, they must first deal with the complications of Mackenzie’s past.

Not to repeat myself, but I think the strength of this writing duo is their ability to make their characters exist in a fully realized world. Not only are we introduced to Mackenzie and Jackson, but we’ve also got their friends and associates and enemies. This lent the book a definite sense of verisimilitude without feeling like the authors were trying for sequel-baiting.

I also really liked the politics of the shapeshifters in this world. Their society is fucked up in some ways, but it definitely makes sense, and feels very original and organic, not merely like they borrowed tropes from other books. I also like that bad things happen to secondary characters. I know not everybody does, but I felt it made the danger the characters faced quite authentic.

While this book does have a romantic storyline which is central to the plot, I would definitely call it urban fantasy, if only for the darker tone and the fact that the conflicts keeping Mackenzie and Jackson apart are more external than anything else. I’m not sure it’s a book I plan to read over and over again, but it is a strong start to a series, and I am eager to see where else the authors want to take me.

Grade: B+

Read other reviews by following the series tag.

Summary:
To find her destiny, she must trust him with her life…and her heart.

Jackson Holt makes a decent living as a private investigator in New Orleans, home of one of the largest underground supernatural populations in the United States. He and his partners have never met a case they couldn’t crack…until a local bar owner asks him to do a little digging on her newest hire.

New Orleans is the fourth destination in as many months for Mackenzie Brooks, a woman on the run from a deranged stalker. After all, any man who shows up on her doorstep claiming to be her destined lover has more than a few screws loose. But crazy doesn’t explain why he always finds her no matter how far she runs.

When her well-meaning boss puts a PI on her case, Mackenzie comes face to face with the incredible truth: magic is real, and whatever spell has kept her hidden and separate from the paranormal world is rapidly deteriorating.

With time running out, she has no choice but to trust Jackson as he struggles to uncover the truth of her past—and her destiny.

Warning: This book contains devious schemes, epic battles, forbidden love between a shapeshifter and a spellcaster, nosy secondary characters, furniture-endangering sex and a woman fighting to choose her own destiny.

Read an excerpt.

Sandy M’s review of Crux (Southern Arcana, Book 1) by Moira Rogers
Contemporary Paranormal Romance published by Samhain 3 Mar 09

I found Moira Rogers late last year when I read and reviewed her Cry Sanctuary.  I love shapeshifters and Ms. Rogers catches the right feel of them, along with a great storyline and love scenes. This book is no different — great characters from the start, action that flies right along, and this time around we get wizards and cougar shifters.  Who could ask for anything more?

Mackenzie has been on the run for a month, running from a crazed monster who’s telling her things she knows just can’t be true. All she does know for sure is the man will probably see her dead if she stays in one place too long. When she hits New Orleans and meets people who are willing to help her, as much as she’d love to stay and maybe start over, she refuses to have their deaths on her conscience. But before she can do anything about it, the latest attack takes place and thank God for Jackson.

She’d been attracted to him anyway, but when she sees him in action, his magic flying all over the place, her fears are somewhat allayed, though her amazement and confusion at what she sees abound, and she wants to spend some time with the handsome wizard. When she finally reveals her story, the whole truth comes out and she’s stunned to learn the crazy things she heard are actually true. She’s a cougar shifter who has no memory of her early life, let alone the fact she’s a shapeshifter. She’s being pursued in an effort to repopulate her species, but the madman behind it all wants it done his maniacal way.

When she and Jackson team up with the local wolves and wizards, they can only hope their mission to rid the world of a very powerful master is successful. I enjoyed all of those characters. Nick is the local bartender, to the chargin of her Alpha wolf father; her sister is a Seer, one of the all powerful of her kind. Alec is Jackson’s business partner in their private investigation firm and he’s also a wolf shifter.  Mahalia is Jackson’s protege, she taught him all he knows of magic and then some.  Steven is another cougar, the nephew of the man they’re after, and he’s more than willing to help put a stop to his machinations.  All of these characters work together beautifully, suffer losses, but still love one another no matter what.

The only little nitpick I have is I would have liked to have seen more shifting, though the cat fight near the end almost made up for that.  Either way, this is another good book by Ms. Rogers.  It doesn’t quite measure up to Cry Sanctuary for me, but it comes close. And it makes me want to keep reading her stories.

Grade: B+

Summary:
.
Jackson Holt makes a decent living as a private investigator in New Orleans, home of one of the largest underground supernatural populations in the United States. He and his partners have never met a case they couldn’t crack…until a local bar owner asks him to do a little digging on her newest hire.
.
New Orleans is the fourth destination in as many months for Mackenzie Brooks, a woman on the run from a deranged stalker. After all, any man who shows up on her doorstep claiming to be her destined lover has more than a few screws loose. But crazy doesn’t explain why he always finds her no matter how far she runs.
.
When her well-meaning boss puts a PI on her case, Mackenzie comes face to face with the incredible truth: magic is real, and whatever spell has kept her hidden and separate from the paranormal world is rapidly deteriorating.
.
With time running out, she has no choice but to trust Jackson as he struggles to uncover the truth of her past-and her destiny.
.
Warning: This book contains devious schemes, epic battles, forbidden love between a shapeshifter and a spellcaster, nosy secondary characters, furniture-endangering sex and a woman fighting to choose her own destiny.
.
Read an excerpt.

Shannon C.’s review of Last Hope by Moira Rogers
Paranormal erotic romance eBook released by Loose ID 6 Jan 09

Standard Disclaimer: I consider the two writers that make up Moira Rogers to be personal friends. I still think I can make a go of writing an honest review, but if you disagree, you might want to read some other review. That being said, while I did enjoy this book, a number of things held it back from reaching the pinnacle of awesome that I know this author duo can reach. 

The setting of this novel is Mystic Ridge, which seems to be a sanctuary for paranormal creatures of all kinds. A group of humans who aren’t fond of supernatural beings have been attacking shapeshifters and other psychics, but they make the mistake of going after a dominant werewolf woman. Nurse and empath Kiara is called onto the scene in order to treat her, and in so doing runs into Adrian, a private investigator and werewolf. Adrian wants to catch the people responsible for the killings, but he doesn’t count on his wild attraction to Kiara.

There was a lot I liked here. The world feels concrete, and I never once felt like these characters lived in a vacuum. It is refreshing to note that both characters have friends outside of each other, a fact I often lament in other books I’ve read. Both Adrian and Kiara are likeable, and I felt both were equally well-drawn. I also like that these two constantly subvert several paranormal tropes, like that there’s no downside to having sex with an empath, and having female characters who aren’t always bowled over by the alpha-ness of their men.

My problems were largely subjective. I felt that the conflicts between Kiara and Adrian were largely irrelevant. Kiara is always completely understanding, and Adrian is domineering in a way she finds sexy. The result was that, though I did like them both, together they just weren’t very interesting to me and I didn’t get that thrill from knowing that a couple of characters I’ve been rooting for are finally going to find happiness.

My other major beef with the story is that it all felt like something I’d read before. I can think of several books with supernatural-hating humans. I can think of others where werewolf politics play a major role. This book does not set itself apart from anything else.

I’m glad to see that this writing duo is going to start doing more urban fantasy in the future. I think their voice will work better in that genre than it does in paranormal romance. Still, this isn’t a bad book, and if you’re a fan of hot shapeshifters, you should definitely check it out.

Grade: B-

Summary:
Sex has always been awkward for Kiara, mostly thanks to a strong empathic gift that men seem to find far more interesting than the woman who possesses it. Tired of men who assume a psychically shared orgasm is the end of their responsibility, she’s spent the last few years concentrating on her job. But when her latest patient brings her face to face with a shape-shifter private investigator with sexual energy to spare, she can’t resist the temptation to offer him what she senses he wants: her absolute surrender.

The last thing Adrian needs is a distraction. His latest case has taken a turn for the fatal, and the pretty psychic nurse is looking like she might be the next victim. But no alpha could resist her trusting submission, and what starts as a passionate one-night stand turns into something far too deep. When it turns out the only way to keep her safe may be to declare himself the leader of Mystic Valley’s shape-shifting wolves, he’ll have to decide if he’s ready to accept one responsibility he never wanted–even if it means losing her forever.

Publisher’s Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Strong violence.

Read an excerpt.

Sandy M’s review of Cry Sanctuary (Red Rock Pass, Book 1) by Moira Rogers
Contemporary Paranormal Romance ebook published by Samhain 21 Oct 08

I have just found a new author to glom.  All thanks to ShannonC.  She suggested I read Cry Sanctuary because I love shifters and because Ms. Rogers is a friend of hers, she felt another review besides her own should be had.  Thanks, Shannon.  This is one terrific book, I loved every minute of it. And in checking out Ms. Rogers’ website, I’m going to have a wonderful time with all the new-to-me reads she has available. 

This is how a werewolf story should be written. Strong main characters, a good storyline, action to keep you on the edge of your seat, a little magic for good measure, and some of the sexiest, rawest love scenes around. I got to the end of this book and I was so disappointed it was over.

Keith is an enforcer for his pack. He’s back in Red Rock after fighting in the war with other werewolves against wizards in Europe.  He now just wants peace and quiet, but that’s not to be when he’s sent after two runaway wolves from another pack.  One is a newly turned wolf, and she’s the one trouble will be coming after even though his alpha has offered her sanctuary.  She’s also one that’s trouble to his senses and his heart.  He knows he’ll be perfect for her if she chooses him as her Guide to help her learn about her wolf and her new way of life because she’s a dominant wolf just as he is.  Keeping her out of the clutches of the neighboring alpha she ran from is the first order of business, though.

She never even knew werewolves existed and now Abigail’s life as she knew it is gone because she’s been turned and is on the run from a controlling alpha.  Hoping to be safe at last in Red Rock, she finds some peace and help in learning who and what she now is, but that peace doesn’t last long.  Alan Matthews is determined to get her back and he’s taken the one thing in her life that will guarantee her cooperation.  She doesn’t want to give her new life with Keith up, but she really has no choice.  Keith refuses to let her go along to face Matthews, so he and Joe, another pack member, team up to take care of Matthews once and for all, all without the knowledge of their own alpha.

Keith and Abby are a very strong hero and heroine.  Even though Keith has some emotional baggage from his prior Guide days, he has to learn to leave his guilt behind now that he’s found Abby, and with her he definitely can do that.  In between all that, he’s lethal at his job and a lover who can make any woman hot and bothered.  He made me shiver every time he wanted to rub his scent all over Abby. And their love scenes are powerful. Abby is definitely his equal in every aspect of their lives.  I enjoyed all the secondary characters from the alpha mates to Doc Cindy sniffing out the new guy to Joe, another Guide and badass wolf to die for.  Joe has a great sense of humor, especially when he gets to blow things up.  In fact, his book is next, Sanctuary Lost, due out sometime next year.

I look forward to that book, but in the meantime I’ve already purchased a couple of Ms. Rogers’ other books and I can’t wait to get started.  I haven’t been this excited about a new author since I discovered Beth Kery early last year. I see lots of good times ahead.

Grade: A

Read ShannonC’s review here.

Summary:

He is tired of fighting. She has nowhere to run.

Keith Winston is tired of fighting. The war between werewolves and wizards rages on in Europe, but he’s come home to Red Rock, Montana in hopes of finding a bit of peace. Instead he finds more strife as he struggles against the pack’s dictates that he resume his place as the alpha’s right-hand man.

When he rescues a new wolf on the run, he knows his instant attraction to her could cause trouble. What he doesn’t expect is to find himself embroiled in another battle that goes against all his instincts—and his heart.

Abigail Adler learned about the existence of werewolves only when she became one. With her life threatened by a corrupt alpha, she flees to the only sanctuary she knows: Red Rock. While she’s grateful for the pack’s protection, she chafes under its unbreakable rules of conduct—except when it comes to submitting to the passion Keith stirs in her.

Then her tormentor kidnaps her sister in an attempt to lure her out of hiding. To save her, Abby and Keith must be willing to do the very thing that could get them all killed—break all of the rules.

Read an excerpt.

Shannon C.’s review of Cry Sanctuary (Red Rock Pass, Book 1) by Moira Rogers
Paranormal romance eBook released by Samhain 21 Oct 08

Disclaimer: Moira Rogers and I are the kind of friends who send each other weird random emails all the time about nothing. This probably means I’m not qualified at all to review her first book with Samhain, but that has never actually stopped me before. And honestly, if she hadn’t been my friend, I probably would have had the same reaction to her book. I think that, though her debut Samhain book isn’t perfect, she is definitely an author to watch, especially if you enjoy well-written paranormals. 

Keith has just returned from Europe, where he’s been fighting the ongoing war between the werewolves and the wizards when he is called on to rescue two werewolves who have entered the Red Rock territory in order to seek sanctuary. Keith is still not over Kelly, his first wife, even though he has been urged to settle down, so he is nonplussed when he meets Abby, the newly turned werewolf who arrives in Red Rock. Abby will need a guide to help her transition fully to her life as a werewolf, and Keith really wants it to be him she picks.

A lot works well here. Keith and Abby are both very likeable. I could totally picture both of them existing here in the real world. I particularly appreciated that, while Keith was definitely alpha, he was smart, and he was also a really nice guy. No random posturing for him. As for Abby, I thought as a fish out of water, she worked really well, and I liked that she knew what she wanted and went for it.

The other characters here are well-drawn. I didn’t get a sense of sequel-baiting, though any number of them could feature in their own books. I believed the connections that formed between the characters, and was glad that Abby and Keith had other people they would legitimately do things with besides each other.

Unfortunately, other aspects of the plot didn’t quite work for me. I didn’t feel that the villain’s motivations were fleshed out enough, and I thought the introduction of the concept of wizards, while unique, wasn’t explored much at all.

I really appreciated being tossed into this world, though, and I never felt like my intelligence was being insulted or that important bits were glossed over in favor of more sexual chemistry. I always appreciate when authors do this, particularly in ebooks.

Though this wasn’t a keeper book for me, I will definitely be looking forward to more stories set in the world Ms. Rogers has created.

Grade: B+

Summary:

He is tired of fighting. She has nowhere to run.

Red Rock Pass, Book 1

Keith Winston is tired of fighting. The war between werewolves and wizards rages on in Europe, but he’s come home to Red Rock, Montana in hopes of finding a bit of peace. Instead he finds more strife as he struggles against the pack’s dictates that he resume his place as the alpha’s right-hand man.

When he rescues a new wolf on the run, he knows his instant attraction to her could cause trouble. What he doesn’t expect is to find himself embroiled in another battle that goes against all his instincts—and his heart.

Abigail Adler learned about the existence of werewolves only when she became one. With her life threatened by a corrupt alpha, she flees to the only sanctuary she knows: Red Rock. While she’s grateful for the pack’s protection, she chafes under its unbreakable rules of conduct—except when it comes to submitting to the passion Keith stirs in her.

Then her tormentor kidnaps her sister in an attempt to lure her out of hiding. To save her, Abby and Keith must be willing to do the very thing that could get them all killed—break all of the rules.

Warning: Hot werewolf sex, violence, explosions, and a heroine wielding a makeshift implement of destruction.

Read an excerpt.