Review: Moonlight Temptation by Stephanie Julian

Description:
Evie Simmons has magical powers she can’t control, she’s living in a house that isn’t hers, and her best friend is a seventeen-year-old werewolf. It’d be hilarious if it weren’t just so damn depressing. Add in the sexy shifter she can’t keep out of her mind and his hot-as-hell friend and it’s a recipe for disaster.

Dr. Dane Dimitriou knows Evie has had a hard time adjusting to her new life as part of the Etruscan magical community—almost as difficult as his denial of his feelings for her have been. And he’s got the perfect cure—his best friend, Ryan Maguire. Easygoing Ryan is the complete opposite of stick-up-his-ass Dane. He can act as a buffer. Dane can get close, but not too close. Yeah, good luck with that.

Together, these sexy men may be just what the doctor ordered for Evie. And the doctor himself may discover the cure for what ails him has been waiting all along.

Review:
I'm totally hooked on the Lucani Lovers series and I was very intrigued how Evie's book would be like. When we met her in the previous books she was always the vulnerable girl- the one with the bad past that everyone tried to handle with care- it was interesting to see how she experienced all this.

Evie is stronger than everyone believes and she hates that they all underestimate her. She wants to get the acceptance she deserves and she works hard to earn it even though sometimes it seems to be impossible. In the previous books I imagined Evie younger than she felt in Moonlight Temptation. She grew up and I really liked how she matured and started to take responsibility for her actions.

Ryan is a new character and oh my goodness is he hawt. I loved how easy going he is- he's one of those positive thinkers. He's not reckless but he tries to enjoy life at its fullest. At some points his "shrink" skills amazed me- he sees bullshits and calls you out on it. I love this kind of honesty. He was a great contrast to Dane who always seems to worry about what the world or better said his family thinks about him. He's so scared to disappoint them that he keeps himself from what he really wants. I loved the duality we got from those two men.

These three together put the pages on fire- their mutual attraction is breathtaking and as always I'm surprised how some authors can make me believe in this whole threesome thing- even when it's only for the duration of a book. *wink*

I enjoyed how much Julian includes her sidecast. All her characters are shown in such great detail that you just can't ignore them. Cat really intrigued me and I can't wait to see how her HEA will work out. The story itself was captivating and I couldn't put this one down. The plot itself takes a new turn in this book and I'm already breathlessly awaiting the next book.

Moonlight Temptation is a wonderful extra hot addition to the Lucani Lovers Series. It seems I love everything  Julian keeps dashing at us. I'm sure I won't miss the next one.

To learn more about Stephanie and her books please visit her website here. 

The Lucani Lovers Series: 
1. Kiss of Moonlight: reviews @goodreads, buy @Ellora's Cave
2. Moonlight Ménage: reviews @goodreads, buy @Ellora's Cave
3. Edge of Moonlight: reviews @goodreads, buy @Ellora's Cave
4. Moonlight Temptation: reviews @goodreads, buy @Ellora's Cave

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Review: Edge of Moonlight by Stephanie Julian

Description:
Book Three in the Lucani Lovers series.

Etruscan wolf shifter Kaine Giliati has longed for John Simmons since he willingly agreed to wipe all memory of her from his mind. The pain in her heart is only magnified by terror—the inability to call her wolf appears to have deserted her, as well.

For months after he and his sister escaped a crazed kidnapper, John has been dreaming about a beautiful woman he’s never met but who seems so familiar. A woman he’s shocked to find in a dark bar one night. A woman who agrees to come back to his apartment for raw, passionate sex.

One erotic, stolen night reopens old wounds, uncovers buried memories and sets Kaine and John on a path filled with danger, magic and potential heartbreak.

Review:
I received this book as a review copy from Stephanie and I knew the moment I finished the last book, Midnight Menage, that I would love this book. I really like that Mrs. Julian's stories are so directly connected and you can immediately get back into the mood of her stories. Her writing just flows exactly right for me and I loved every second of the dive into her world.

This story is about Kaine who we already met in the last book. She completely fell in love with John in Moonlight Menage and my heart broke for her when he decided to forget everything about her. I can't start to imagine how that must have felt but it's not the only thing that is messed up in her life: she just can't shift and that scares her half to death. What good is a professional assassin without this ability not even to mention what the guys will say when they learn that the only girl in their group can't even do that. She is shattered and helpless in her current situation. You know these characters in books you like ASAP and you know that you would totally get friends with them- Kaine is one of those characters for me. I liked her attitude and the way she handled her life. I saw myself in her liking to be with the guys and she really fit into the story.

John is a wonderful person. He is strong, an alpha at heart but also very caring and just all in all a lovely person. He wouldn't like to hear that but I like him. He wants nothing more than his little sister being safe, okay perhaps there is one thing. *wink* After losing his memories of the lucani in the last book he is not as clueless as we all thought. He dreams about Kaine and when he meets the group again he feels like he knows them. He is a rather hands on, believe only what you see kind of man and it is hard for him to grasp the whole magic world at first but he tries his best. He knows how the odds are and he is not too stupid to accept help when he gets an offer. He is also highly attracted to Kaine and OMG every girl should have her own John. Good for your ego.

These two just belong to each other. The attraction is sizzling form the start and I begged for them to just give this thing a chance. They are so good together, and yes every pun intended. I loved the way they talked and all the other things they did, too. Mrs. Julian's sex scenes are wonderfully written. I love the way she makes them work- very erotic and romantic at onces.

The plot in this installment was thrilling and suspenseful. I was gripped by the story nearly from the start and all the humor and wit on the way made this read more than just enjoyable. It is exactly the right mix of fun, emotion, smex and action. At some points the world was still a bit confusing for me but thanks to the glossary I wasn't lost long. This world is highly fascinating so I really didn't mind that at all.

Highly recommended shifter series and I have to say I can't wait for the next book.
 

To learn more about Stephanie and her books please visit her website here. 

The Lucani Lovers Series: 
1. Kiss of Moonlight: reviews @goodreads, buy @Ellora's Cave
2. Moonlight Ménage: reviews @goodreads, buy @Ellora's Cave
3. Edge of Moonlight: reviews @goodreads, buy @Ellora's Cave

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Review: Moonlight Ménage by Stephanie Julian

Description:

For eight years, Etruscan witch Tira Belludi has longed to give herself, body and soul, to the two shifter men who hold her heart. But visions of death and fears for her sanity have forced her to keep her distance.
Nic Rocca and Duke Ducati are brothers in everything but blood and partners who have each other’s backs. They share a home, a job and had planned to share their life with Tira between them…until the night she saw their future and built a fortress around her heart.
Now danger and death stalk Nic and Duke. And Tira must make a choice—grab love while she has the chance or watch Nic die from afar and lose Duke forever.

Review:
I received this book as a review copy from the author and I was a bit shy to start it at first. I haven't read Kiss of Moonlight so I was afraid to be totally lost in this one but I was wrong. Okay from time to time I noticed that I missed out on something but I plan to get Kiss of Moonlight ASAP.

This book starts with a big bang. We are thrown in the middle of a burning house and with the fear of losing someone important. This part was the confusing part for me because I had no idea who all these people are but after the first chapter I was totally drawn into the story and just couldn't stop.

 

Tira is very complex character. She cares for the ones she loves but she also has to shield her heart from breaking. She knows nearly all her life that she loves Drake and Nic however unusual that may seem. She always accepted that and knew they would live their lives together. But one day she gets this awful vision while touching Nic and she just can't resume living this way. She accepts that the decision to leave them will probably break her but it's better than the alternative. Or that's what she thought before Nic nearly dies in the aforementioned fire. Now she sees how short life could be and she has to grab her opportunity of happiness however short it may be, now.

Drake is the silent broody type and he could never accept Tira's decision. He thinks she hates him because of what she saw in her vision so long ago and he just can't let it go. Every chance he gets he makes some asshole comment and always gets into a fight with her. He still wants her but he just can't stand this situation.

Nic is more outgoing than Drake. He's full of life and some would say he has a death wish with all the risks he takes each day. He's a real Don Juan and didn't waste any time in the eight years without Tira.

What I found real surprising that these relationship seemed so real to me. I'm mostly skeptical when it comes to long time threesomes. I always think that this kind of relationship could be really problematic from time to time. After all there is one person who can get hurt or feel out of the loop. But I could believe it works for these three.

The relationship development between these 3 was heartbreaking. I so felt for them and I was they find a solution through the whole time and I felt as desperate as they felt . The whole situation seemed to be unsolvable.

I also enjoyed the side characters. The whole story around the 3 was gripping and I loved the community Ms. Julian created. I especially liked that all seemed so tolerant and full of love. I'm always a sucker for a strong family and I always had to smile at all the Italian words. That was so like being in Italy. LOL

All in all the book is a really hawt read with good m/f/m action. You will so need extra undies for this one. *wink* At times the story felt a bit rushed and the solution at the end was way too easy for me but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

To learn more about Stephanie and her books please visit her website here.

The Lucani Lovers Series:
1. Kiss of Moonlight: reviews @goodreads, buy @Ellora's Cave

2. Moonlight Ménage: reviews @goodreads, buy @Ellora's Cave

Steph will be here on Tuesday for an interview and she will also give a copy of Moonlight Ménage for one lucky commenter.

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