Ash’s review of Alpha Instinct (Moon Shifter Series, Book 1) by Kate Reus
Paranormal Romance published by Signet Eclipse 07 Feb 12
I have been in a reading slump for awhile now, but after I picked this book up, I couldn’t put it down. It is by no means perfect, but I got sucked into the story anyway.
I definitely enjoyed Alpha Instinct; however, after reading it and thinking about it, there are a few things that keep this story from being a higher grade. Ana and Connor have a past. He left her life without even a goodbye. She hasn’t gotten over that in the past fifty years. Connor had a good reason to leave, but, of course, he won’t tell her why. He doesn’t actually tell her much of anything, and even when she calls him out on it, it goes nowhere. One of my least favorite things is a heroine who says she has a backbone, but as soon as she sees his rock-hard abs, she gives into anything. Sadly, Ana is like that. I never get a sense of her as a person. I also feel like none of their conflicts with each other are really solved. Connor is such a strong character that next to him, Ana kind of gets lost.
She isn’t the only one either. Aside from Connor’s brother, Liam, I don’t really know who any of the other characters are. There is a lot that is going on, and it seems like building the other characters gets left out. There are numerous bad guys, and even when one dies another anonymous bad guy shows up. I guess it is building the story for future books, but it’s too much. None of the three, yes three, bad guy story lines gets enough page time to really turn them into believable villains.
Lastly, I never do get a clear picture of the world. There are shifters, wolf, cat, and bear. Then there are suddenly vampires, and later on fairies are mentioned. We keep getting told about the world they live in but are never shown any of it. Anything behind the ranch they live on is fuzzy to me.
So, while not the best paranormal romance I’ve read, I like it immensely and I can’t wait for Liam’s book in September. Connor and Liam are strong enough and great enough the carry the book. I only hope that everything else is just as strong in the next one.
Grade: C+
Summary:
Fear has a scent. So does desire…
Ana Cordona has been a strong leader for the lupine shifters who survived after all the males and most of the females in her pack were mysteriously poisoned. As tough as she is, with no Alpha male, the pack is vulnerable to the devious shifter Taggart, who wants to claim both their ranch and Ana as his own. When Connor Armstrong comes back into her life, promising protection, it’s almost enough to make Ana forget how he walked out on her before–and reluctantly accept his offer to mate.The minute Connor sees Ana again, it reawakens a raw hunger. He must have her for his bondmate–his wolf cries out for it. But his human side knows he must proceed with caution because of their complicated past. If he is to truly have her body and soul, he must go beyond his burning desire and win back her heart. Whatever it takes, he is determined not to leave her side again.
But Taggart and his rival pack are not their only enemies. A human element in town is targeting shifters. Their plan not only threatens Ana and Connor’s future, but the lives of the entire pack…
Read an excerpt.
