Review and Giveaway: Avenger's Heat

Avenger's Heat (Moon Shifter - Book 4) by Katie Reus

Publication Date: 02/04/2014
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Signet Eclipse
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 368
ISBN-10: 045141795X
ISBN-13: 978-0451417954

(Received for an honest review from Signet Eclipse)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Indiebound

Katie Reus on the WEB: website, blog, twitter, facebook, goodreads

Books in the series: 

Alpha Instinct (2012), Primal Possession (2012), Mating Instinct (2013), Avenger's Heat (2014)

Coverart: Click the Image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.

Excerpt from, Avenger's Heat, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature.

Synopsis:

To truly have her, he must free her from her dark secret....

Enforcer Erin Flynn has dedicated her life to protecting her kind. But keeping her heart safe from Noah Campbell, the smoking-hot shifter who saved her life last year, is more difficult. The deadly beauty would love to sink into his arms and become his mate, but she knows she can’t—he must never know about her dark past.

When Erin is sent to investigate the disappearances of pregnant shifters in New Orleans, Erin and Noah find themselves involved in a mystery more sinister than anyone expected. And as Erin delves further into the crimes, chilling information about her own past is revealed. The people who wanted her dead in the first place are trying to finish the job, and Noah wants nothing more than to shield her from harm. But can Erin truly trust Noah and let him see the wounded beast she’s hidden for so long?

Thoughts:

Avenger's Heat is the fourth book in the Moon Shifter series by Katie Reus. With werewolves, vampires and fae, Reus hits all the paranormal hot spots and gives readers a lot of different areas of interest. Her writing is intense and will leave readers will a feeling of having had an adrenaline rush, every time they open the pages. Reus takes on a some traumatic issues from the heroine's past and brings abuse to the forefront in this fast paced paranormal romance. Readers who are looking for a unique paranormal series, will find this one full of potential and brimming with sexual tension.

What I liked:

Katie Reus knows a thing or two about world building. Though this is book four of the Moon Shifter series, Reus is still bringing new aspects of the shifter world to light. She continues to show the life of the park on the ranch, but begins to branch further afield in this book, by taking the reader to New Orleans on a field mission. Setting is often the key to realism in paranormal romance, and I think Reus takes that into consideration here as she starts to change the dynamics of the pack and starts to incorporate more paranormal influences like the vampires in this novel. A great shift for the fourth book and perhaps a new direction for the series.

Erin was a main character that I could really get behind. She has a tragic past, that involved some serious abuse that will threaten to make any reader a bit emotional. To see this character who has lost so much in her life, be able to still live out her dream of becoming an enforcer was incredible. She still has her issues with self worth and trust, but she is facing her demon's head on and it was wonderful to see her character development shine throughout this book. Reus does a fantastic job of showing Erin's strength, her resolve and her heart.

Noah has his own issues to face back in New Orleans the home of his former pack mates and especially his father. He goes on this mission to protect and help Erin. He realizes her worth and knows he will wait forever to have her has his mate. His patience with her knows no bounds and though readers will see him as a true alpha, his treatment of this tortured soul was delicate and gentle. He never strays from being her champion, her back bone and her partner. Reus writes Noah as a man who knows his strength in all things and what an asset a woman who his is equal will be in his life. A great attitude for an alpha, in control, yet able to allow a mate to share in his responsibilities and his heart.

There was a lot of sexual tension between these two and when they finally give in that side of their relationship, it is heart pounding and full of passion. I loved the fact that Reus didn't make her story contingent on the fact that Noah and Erin consummate their relationship. If was just an inevitable part of the story that evolved right along with the rest of the action. It didn't seem contrived only necessary... like breathing. Very well done. 

The vampires have always been a bit in the background in this series so far, until this book. They make their presence known in this one and set the overall story on a different arc. This could be good and bad, but I think it is a positive shift for the most part. Adding a stronger vampire presence in the series will give readers added interest and diversify what kinds of readers pick up the series. A good change to the series.

What I didn't like:

I liked the secondary romance between Briana and Angelo, but I felt that it took time away from the main couple. It is obvious that these two will eventually get their own story. A lot of their interaction perhaps could have been saved for that. Yes, it was important to introduce their story, but it should have been left at that, for maximum benefit to the story. I wanted more time with Noah and Erin and less with Briana and Angelo.

Bottom Line:

This story sets the Moon Shifter series on a new path. The vampires really got some page time in this one and added a whole different dynamic to the book. I think Reus is changing the main story arc subtly but in a good way. I look forward to whats next for this series. 

Avenger's Heat is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Katie Reus is the New York Times bestselling author of the Moon Shifter paranormal romance series including Mating Instinct, Primal Possession, and Alpha Instinct, and the Moon Shifter novella, Lover's Instinct, and the author of Targeted, in the Deadly Ops series. She fell in love with romance at a young age thanks to books she’d pilfered from her mom’s stash. After changing majors too many times to count, she finally graduated with a degree in psychology. She now spends her days writing dark paranormal romance and sexy romantic suspense. She currently lives near Biloxi, Mississippi, with her family. When she’s not creating stories, she can usually be found spending time with her family or one of the many animals they’ve adopted over the years.

Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Avenger's Heat by Katie Reus.

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~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, March 5th.

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