ARC Review: Deadlock by Moira Rogers

Description:
Carmen Mendoza's shapeshifter father abandoned her. Raised by her psychic mother, Carmen ignored her paternal family's political machinations--until the day they decided to use her in their bid for power. Trapped between two worlds and snared by a vicious spell meant to wake her inner wolf, Carmen's only hope is to trust the one man strong enough to soothe her darkest instincts.

Born a pureblood wolf, Alec Jacobson lives as a rebel, the black sheep alpha who protects the supernatural residents of New Orleans from wolf politics. Too bad he can't protect himself from his need for Carmen. Staking a claim on his enemy's niece will turn his city into a battleground, unless he can find a way to stop breaking the rules--and start making them.

Review:
After what felt like a never ending wait we finally get the chance to dive into the wonderful world of the Southern Arcana series again. I loved the first  books and Deadlock didn't disappoint at all. I just say Alec. *insert swoony voice*

Carmen Mendoza is an empath working as a doctor in the local independent hospital. She knows how the shapeshifter politics work first hand because her ambitious father left her and her family to secure his political station. She put her back on everything connected to this prejudiced and discriminating system and tries her best to stay out of it. But her family just won't let it go. Her uncle and father are working together to right the "wrong" he did by marrying her mother. They want her to accept an "appropriate" husband who had the right position in the werewolf society. But Carmen won't budge. She's a strong woman and won't give in. I love her- Carmen is compassionate, strong and won't back down even from the strongest alpha. Being an empath makes her better at her job and improves the way she understands and helps people.  I really liked her. She's a good person but her character didn't stand out enough.

But then we have Alec. *swoons* That guy makes my knees weak. He's the big bad alpha- possesive and protective of what he sees as his. Stubborn but also very sexy. He's a caretaker and sets everyone else's needs over his own. His past is branded with heartbreak and betrayal and he keeps his heart behind tons of shields to avoid being hurt again. I loved him to pieces. He's my kind of alpha hero. Strong, passionate, dirty but not overbearing or too stubborn. He always said the right things to make my toes curl and I really start to swoon again every time I think about him. He's in my top 5 heroes of 2010- and all mine. ;)

As always the worldbuilding and pace of this book was masterly done. I was drawn into the story from the start. This world is one of this rare gems that makes you think- it combines a paranormal world with a political system based on prejudices and intolerance that make you think about the world we live in. I love when a book makes me think. But the best thing about the Southern Arcana series for me is the way Moira Rogers includes the sidecast. Each story doesn't focus 100% on our couple but we also see the characters we loved in the previous books. And I so can't wait to read about Kat and Andrew- and I swear to god these two deserve a HEA. I so can't wait.

Deadlock is a great addition to this series. It's an action packed paranormal romance with a swoon worthy hero and a lovable heroine. Moira Rogers writes in a way that draws you in and won't let you go till you read the last word. For me her books are going on top of my tbr pile as soon as I get them. If you haven't started this series yet: what are you waiting for? Get your hands on Crux and believe me you won't regret it for one second. Great book in an awesome series.
 
To learn more about Donna and Bree (the author duo behind Moira Rogers) and their books please visit the Moira Rogers website here.

The Southern Arcana Series:
1. Crux: my review, reviews @goodreads
2. Crossroads: my review, reviews @goodreads
3. Deadlock: reviews @goodreads release date: January 4th
4. Cipher (Andrews book *g*) September 2011 ebook release / print release in 2012

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Review: Crossroads by Moira Rogers

Description:

Derek Gabriel was born human in family of psychics, aware of the supernatural world but never a part of it...until a rogue shapeshifter took humanity from him in a vicious attack. He's spent two years struggling to adjust, not just to a change that's driven many insane, but also to the prejudices of a culture where transformed wolves are considered inferior. A serious struggle, indeed, when the woman who attracts the man and the wolf inside him is the daughter of the most powerful wolf in the country.
For Nicole Peyton, nothing is more important than escaping the stifling confines of elite shapeshifter society, an old-fashioned world where women are valued only for their bloodlines and bank accounts. In New Orleans, she has a bar she loves, friends she cares for, and a smoldering, unspoken tension with an unsuitable but incredibly attractive man.
Neither could predict how quickly forbidden longing would erupt into burning need, but Nick and Derek have more than themselves to think about when Nick's sister arrives in the city with a shapeshifter strike team hard on her heels. The only way Nick can save her sister may be to play by the Conclave's rules--but it will mean giving up the man she's falling in love with, unless he's willing to risk everything in a challenge that will shake the foundations of their world.(author's website)

Review:

In Crossroads we finally get the chance to see Nick and Derek becoming closer.
In Crux the tension between these too build up and I was so curious about them both.

Nicole is the daughter of the alpha but she tries to stay out of all the political stuff that goes on in the supernatural world. She likes her life the way it is. Being a bar owner suits her and Nicole likes to decide for herself what to do and who to love. She is independent but also caring for the ones she loves. Nick finally has enough of all these back and fourth between herself and Derek. She decides to take the initiative  and pursuits him. But as always in life nothing is as easy as it seems. Her sister is in deep trouble and Nick has to save her, no matter what!

Derek is a turned werewolf. He struggled for years to get control over his new urges and his strength. His life wasn't easy before the attack. He fosters his cousin, an empath alone and always knew about the supernatural world. But being young and alone with a girl in her teens is not easy at all, count in the attack and you can imagine that his whole life got chaotic. Even worse is that he now is one of the unaccepted made-ones. The turned werewolves aren't worth anything in the eyes of the most other wolves. He has to stand his own to survive and with each time he gets challenged he gets stronger. His attraction for Nicole is nothing he can ignore for a long time. He is fascinated by her and can't keep his eyes from roaming her body. He knows that for Nick having a made werewolf partner could become a great problem. She's one of the most watched and most powerful woman in the wolf society and in the eyes of the majority she should only consider a high-standing full-blood for this role. That so not good for the male ego.

These 2 have serious chemistry going on since the first day they met. That hasn't changed after Derek's turning into a werewolf, okay perhaps the attraction got even more unbearable. It was such a salvation to see these two finally getting together and it was exceptional hot! After this long waiting they really knew how to sate their desires. *wink* It was even more sad for me that all this happened at a so inconvenient time.

I really loved Crux but I have to say Crossroads blew me away. This book is full of action that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Love, family and obligations play a big role and they seem so real that I just couldn't put this book down. The plot is heartbreaking but never too hard to stomach and the mix with funny witty conversations makes it into one of the best urban fantasies I ever read.
I recommend this series to everyone with at least a bit interest in urban fantasy. You will not regret this! Moira Rogers is definitely one of my best discoveries so far!

Crossroads will be released as an ebook on February 9th and the print release is November 2nd.
To learn more about Donna and Bree (the author duo behind Moira Rogers)  and their books please visit the Moira Rogers website here.

The Southern Arcana Series:
1. Crux: my review, reviews @goodreads, buy @amazon, 
               buy the ebook @fictionwise
2. Crossroads: reviews @goodreads, preorder @BooksOnBoards

Read more...

Review: Crux (Southern Arcana #1) by Moira Rogers

Description:

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. (goodreads.com)


Review:

I received this book as a review copy and started it in a hurry as I noticed the release date is next week. SO I put my newly loved In Death series down and started reading. So, you can see this book had no good starting point cuz I had to cheat on Roarke for it. But I can truthfully say: I so don't regret it. I really loved reading this book. 

It's a great developed urban fantasy with a great variety of supernatural beings. We have my beloved shifters: not only the werewolves but all kind of them. They all have unique talents and attributes. On the other hand we have casters: kind of witches and warlocks. With this mysterious mumbling of spells and strange things put together for a potion. And don't worry nothing like Harry Potter. LOL We also me psychics like empaths and telekinetics. It's a great variety of supernaturals but one thing they have in common: their society-rules suck even more than ours. It's full of prejudices and archaic notions. Great potential for the bad guys!


This book is about Mackenzie, an ordinary girl with a great problem. Someone chases her from one city to the next and she has no idea why this lunatic finds her again every time. She finds help in New Orleans and meets the wonderful Jackson there. She's scared half to death but she would never give up. She doesn't want to get anyone else in harms way and is awe-inspiring brave for such a young girl. She's instantly attracted to Jackson but would never risk to bring him trouble so she wants to stay alone.

Jackson is a caster and one great man. He's a little Casanova and known for attracting the eye of the fairer *snort* sex. He works as a private investigator and knows all these little tricks- ordinary and supernatural- to get the information he needs without attracting attention. He's not a super strong shifter but he knows how to defend himself and the ones he cares about.

These two have some serious chemistry going on. They want each other but they know all the reason why they shouldn't get down and dirty. The build up between them can cause you real sexual frustration but I loved every minute of it. I thought the first time they finally get going was a bit rushed, I don't mean the act itself- not at all-  but the way it came to it. Yeah, I know, that's really vague said but it's all I'm gonna say.

The plot is action packed and has a few nice and unexpected twists in it.
I like that we learn all about the world on the way together with our heroine. This way it always feels more real to me. 
The tension builds up to a certain point and the outcome was a bit too smooth for me but it didn't ruin my reading pleasure at all.

Crux is a great start for a  new urban fantasy series with the right amount of spice. Enjoyed every page and couldn't wait to start Crossroads, book 2 in this series.
The paperback of Crux releases next week on the January, 5th. The ebook is already available(for the ones who just can't wait).

To learn more about Donna and Bree (the author duo behind Moira Rogers)  and their books please visit the Moira Rogers website here.



The Southern Arcana Series:
1. Crux: reviews @goodreads, preorder the paperback @amazon, 
               buy the ebook @fictionwise
2. Crossroads:
reviews @goodreads, preorder @BooksOnBoards

Read more...