Lori Handeland
Blue Moon (2004)
Author: Lori Handeland
Genre: Romance (Paranormal/Suspense)
Plot Summary:
Twenty-six year old police officer Jessie McQuade is expecting just another dull summer "watching the corn grow" in rural Miniwa, Wisconsin, when a series of violent wolf attacks begin terrorizing the locals. The first victim, a schoolteacher, turns rabid the day after being bitten, ripping out the principle's throat in front of her class before being taken out by a shot in the head. When her body mysteriously disappears from the morgue, the investigators are forced to keep the story under wraps while they figure out what's going on. Edward Mandenauer, a wolf-hunting specialist (aka: "Jager-sucher") is finally dispatched by the DNR to track and eradicate the intelligent, blood-thirsty wolf. However, this eerie outsider discloses to Jessie his suspicions that this problem may be much bigger than "one mad wolf". Shrewd and suspicious, Mandenauer encourages Jessie to trust no one, already her modus operandi due to an unloving childhood. In the meantime, Jessie has been conducting her own investigation into the meaning of the wolf totem she found at the scene of the first attack. This leads her to a series of prurient encounters with the gorgeous and enigmatic college professor Will Cadotte. An Indian, he specializes in the local Ojibwe mythology and traditions. The spontaneous and beguiling magnetism between the two brings Jessie to the point of distraction, and she becomes torn between her universal distrust of people and her inability to stop the development of their relationship. Cadotte's knowledge and assistance become essential in helping Jessie understand and navigate the unearthly dangers that suddenly plague Miniwa. It becomes apparent that they must work fast too, since the werewolf danger will culminate on the upcoming blue moon. In the midst of these troubles, Jessie slowly learns to trust, and maybe even love, Cadotte, despite the ultimate possibility that he may actually be one of the werewolves they are hunting.
Geographical Setting: Miniwa, Wisconsin
Time Period: Contemporary
Series: Moon trilogy (1st title)
Appeal Characteristics:
This RITA award-winner (Best Paranormal Romance, 2005) is equal parts romance and suspense, offering an interesting and alternate version of werewolf legend, based on Nazi medical experimentation during WWII that resulted in a "Nazi werewolf army". The story moves along at a fast clip thanks to short chapters, a compelling plot with hot, distracting sexual interludes, and convincing dialogue. Electrified sexual tension between McQuade and Cadotte leads to numerous steamy encounters, starting as early as chapter two, but spaced far enough apart to really ratchet up the tension. The protagonist is a smart, witty, and self-deprecating narrator who will have you frequently laughing out loud. Unlike the traditional romance heroine, Jessie is average looking, big-boned, and unashamed of her practical "white cotton granny undies". Her wry observations and blunt, sarcastic personality are definitely one of the big draws of this book, and being told in first person is essential in getting to know the protagonist, who is actually a sensitive and vulnerable character. The secondary characters are vibrantly sketched and offer opportunities for unexpected plot twists.
Read-alikes: An obvious suggestion for those who enjoyed Blue Moon would be the rest of Handeland's "Moon" series which are all still set in Wisconsin, feature Jager-suchers, and present more of the same paranormal/suspense werewolf story lines (although the following books do not feature Jessie as the main protagonist). Hunter's Moon is the next in this series, followed by Dark Moon. Beyond this book, the series continues under a different name (Nightcreature) and setting. Another romantic suspense title with werewolves includes Killing Moon by Rebecca York. This supernatural novel set in Lisbon and Maryland features a werewolf, serial killer, and private detective. For readers who enjoyed the paranormal subgenre, along with quirky humor, they might enjoy the Dark-Hunter series by Sherrilyn Kenyon. Starting with Fantasy Lover (The Dark-Hunter Pre-quel) and Night Pleasures (Book One). These stories abound in adventure and hot sex scenes with well developed characters, blending Greek mythology with vampire lore for some unusual tales. If you appreciated the funny, less-than-perfect heroine in Blue Moon, you might enjoy some of Karen Moning's time-travel Highlander romances, such as The Highlander's Touch. This title won the RITA award for best Paranormal, and features a heroine with real-life struggles and concerns, who finds herself thrown into a medieval relationship against her will, yet full of wit and humor. Another engaging Romantic Paranormal series which might appeal to the reader is the Mageverse series by Angela Knight, which includes Master of the Night, Master of the Moon, Master of Wolves, and Master of Swords. These books include everything from werewolves, vampires and witches which all include elements of the supernatural, fantasy, action and erotic romance featuring an independent heroine. Kissing Sin by Keri Arthur has a lot of similar characteristics as Blue Moon. The main character is a half vampire and half werewolf who works as a detective for the police department, and in this book is also investigating a mysterious werewolf uprising in her town. There are also elements of forbidden love, although this book is quite a bit more sexual than Blue Moon. Readers who have no problem with an increase in sexuality will find this title to be an excellent read-a-like suggestion.
Another suggestion is Moon Called by Patricia Briggs. The main character, Mercy Thompson, lives next door to a werewolf, has a gremlin for a boss and is fixing up a Volkswagen for a vampire. This title is full of fun, quirky characters which will appeal to fans of Blue Moon who enjoyed McQuade's character. There are also touches of humor and mystery in the plot. The sensuality in this book is very light. One final suggestion is The Promise by Donna Boyd. This title deals mainly with a clan of werewolves and their mingled history with humans. The book is written mostly in narrative form, which will appeal to readers who also liked the narration style in Blue Moon and has a romance between a human and a werewolf in the plot. The Promise is also a quick read, is not overly sensual and main characters are very well developed. The author of this title has been called the Anne Rice of werewolf tales, a high honor in the paranormal romance genre.
Red Flags: Dialogue peppered with profanity; fairly graphic descriptions of sexual encounters; some violence
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