![A Shifter's Claim (Pale Moonlight Book 4) by [Johnston, Marie]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51vsVxgH0tL.jpg)
Time is the ultimate enemy when heartbreak and hurt feelings rule your life. Dismissive, brooding, and casual describe Waylon after he left his mate and a coincidental meeting brings all the hurt roaring back when he looks into her eyes and hears her venomous barbs. Volatile, impulsive, and fleeting draws a picture of Shilo as she attempts to hide her decent into madness and a surprise visit from the mate that abandoned her both riles and calms her. Both have a heap of things to make peace with and they find that proximity and vulnerability open them each up to the possibility of a second chance. But the machinations of a rival alpha might ruin both that chance and her entire colony if they can't stop him.
I'll admit that I had a really hard time with this premise. Not only is it skirting the edge of my comfort with the line of what constitutes cheating, but it has a lot of bitterness and jabs meant to hurt before they figure things out. Except I know this author pulls off stunning turnarounds producing novels that have redemption, love, strength, and commitment. Knowing that allowed me to suspend my doubts for a couple/few hours while I devoured this book. I'm so very glad that I did.
There's a lot of pain that both feel and each feel that they were justified and emotionally abandoned by the other so they had a lot to reconcile. While I would have liked a bunch of the feels to precede the steamy reunion, sometimes the stubborn just needs to be...sexed out of the combatants. But more than just connecting on a sexual level, there was an intimacy there as well as a whole lot of perspective that they could pull from this time around.
Shilo is a very strong character and despite her insecurities and her doubts in the value of her talents, she is a fierce female that knows what her life should be about. She got lost along the way because she was pulled in so many directions that she wasn't sure which to let win and ultimately made the young and scared choice. Waylon was interesting in that he was only dominant enough to have a will of his own but was happy to support Shilo as the leader. When his role changed near the end I was almost disappointed but then the big reveal for Shilo happened and the whole situation suddenly felt right, so precisely what both characters needed to feel truly fulfilled and to pioneer a new way for the lives of everyone that needed them.
Second-chances are hard to come by and while the road was rocky, Shilo and Waylon grew, evolved to be the best individuals they could be and came together as truly solid partners. This was a really great book that had feels, steam, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Definitely another win for Marie Johnston.
*$2.99 on Amazon!
Other Buy Links:
About Marie
Marie Johnston is an award-winning writer of paranormal and contemporary romance, and a RITA® Finalist. Marie decided to pursue her passion for writing and traded in her lab coat for a laptop to write her first book ever, Fever Claim. She lives in the upper Midwest with her husband, four kids, and two kittens. Other than hanging out with her family, Marie enjoys reading, movie dates with her hubby, getting outside on sunny days, and the all too rare - girls' night out.
Follow Marie...
No comments:
Post a Comment