Customer Reviews

Hidden Moon

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Lori Handeland has broken through a million stereotypes that are common in romance novel heroines, and she has definitely done so again with "Hidden Moon," her seventh novel in her Nightcreature series. For that, I applaud her.

Claire Kennedy is the daughter of Lake Bluff, Georgia's, former mayor. She had been in Atlanta trying to make a living as a journalist, until she was raped by a man she was dating. In order to turn her life back around and escape her fear, she goes back home to take up the mantle her father had and become mayor herself (this isn't really logical but it's explained as a normal thing in a small town).

When the Full Moon Festival, an annual celebration in Lake Bluff, approaches, strange things begin to happen. Claire's assistant has hired a group of Gypsies to entertain the townspeople and tourists for the celebration and Claire finds herself attracted to the group's leader, Malachi Cartwright. However, a tourist disappears and wolves are being heard in the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains, which is uncommon since no wolves roam around in the area. Claire's job is constantly being thwarted and she has to deal with the skeptical people who don't think she can handle the job. Also, she's trying to overcome the rockiness of her relationship with her best friend and the town's sheriff, Grace.

"Hidden Moon" is chalk full of mystery, myth, and a little spookiness. When I say that Claire isn't a typical heroine, I mean it. She's able to stand on her own two feet when confronted with her rapist, and she seriously knows how look out for her survival (I won't say how, but trust me, it's a doozy). Her relationship with Malachi is also very sweet-- he knows she's been hurt and actually helps her overcome her pain with gentleness and understanding, even physically defending her honor. What a guy! Even though I don't approve of his constant disappearing (something all of Handeland's heroes tend to do) he's still really sweet.

The bad guys are similiar to those in B-rated movies and when the baddies are revealed it's a little Scooby Doo-ish (I can actually hear Fred saying "Why it's so and so from the old amusement park!"); there is also a "big misunderstanding" thrown in as well, but "Hidden Moon" has some wonderful surprises. And the cover's beautiful.

Can't wait for Grace's book, which comes out next year.

Not every author can adeptly tread the fine line between tense suspense and just a deliciously spooky, slightly creepy read. This author has it done perfectly. Lovely, caring but mysterious lead male is a Gypsy king in a traveling carnival show. The lead female characters--one being the major romantic interest of the Gypsy king--are smart, have real jobs and good friends acting as a large cast of secondary characters. But so many characters seem--somehow-- secretive and maybe even more than they appear at the town's annual Lunar Festival. The novel keeps you guessing in a fun way, the sensuality is loving and not too explicit. Just the perfect read when the winds blow outside and the branches scrape against the the windows and the full moon glows......

Claire has returned to her hometown of Lake Bluff, Georgia following the death of her father, who was the town's Mayor. Running from a secret in her past, she sets out to dedicate herself to fulfilling the Mayoral duties of her late father, a position she never dreamed she would have taken considering her past position of Anchor Woman. Among her new duties is to welcome a caravan of gypsy's that have been hired to entertain the community during the Full Moon Festival. With her childhood friend/Sheriff, Grace, she eventually finds that the traveling Gypsies are not what they appear, especially the ruggedly sexy Malachi Cartwright, who excites her beyond words. Just who and what is this mysterious traveler is why you have to read the book and find out.

Hidden Moon is typical Handeland, and full of interesting characters and plot twists. It is easy to read and proves to be a wonderful paranormal romance that you will enjoy reading.

The only minor criticism that I had is although we get to see our favorites, Elise and Monster Hunter Extraordinaire Edward, there were several characters that appear to be unusual that I wanted to know more about, but I am assuming that they will appear in future books. For example, there was something mysterious about Joyce, the Mayor's right hand and about Grace, who was constantly running around, under the moon naked, with no other explanation that....."I like to worship nature". But, because I know that that may be foreshadowing of future storylines to come, I will not hold that against Handeland.

After four years in Atlanta, Georgia working on a career in
journalism, Claire Kennedy returned home to Lake Bluff, Georgia. Now
she has taken over her recently deceased father's position in
politics. Town Mayor. Being mayor of a small town is not as easy as
one would think.

Malachi Cartwright is a modern-day gypsy. Not by his own choice. A
sexy man of mystery who brings out previously unknown feelings in
calm, cool Claire.

As the yearly Full Moon Festival starts in Lake Bluff, so do strange
events. Is Malachi in the middle or is the truth stranger than Claire
thinks the truth can be.

Hidden Moon is a suspense filled walk through small-town politics,
shape shifting gypsies and lunar eclipses. Ms. Handeland's characters
are well constructed and accessible to the reader. Hidden Moon is a
novel that the reader does not want to put down from beginning to end.
Malachi is a compelling hero with a hidden past and Claire is a
strong-willed woman trying to rebuild her life from betrayal.

Barb
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Boring, boring, boring. Not up to standards of her previous books. Finally stopped reading 3/4 way through. Read Handeland's previous books, but don't bother with this one.

Lori, bring back the spark with your previous characters!

If you are familiar with the Nightcreature series, this one is slightly different with the entry of Mandenauer very late in the book. However it is still the same quality story telling we have come to expect from Lori Handeland. I really enjoyed it, but then I love all her books.

With Hidden Moon, Lori proves to be an author listening to her readers; paying attention to their growth, while continously evolving as an author. Her stories never become bogged down with redundency, and you won't find her treating her readers like they're dimwitted.
Hidden Moon explores the bond between friends, their hurts and healings towards one another, and within, while intrigue and romance bloom by way of a sexy gypsy! Her relationships between hero and heroine are realistic both in timeline, and development.Shadows of the Keeper

I have enjoyed the whole series. this was one of the best. looking forward the next book in series.

As always, I have certain authors I look forward to next in their series. Lori Handeland is no exception. Her Nightcreature "moon" books are all tantalizing and exciting. You may know what's going to happen, but she delights in surprising you. These mostly wolf shapeshifters wind up being lovable characters, and you can't help but hope it all works out for them.

Handeland has successfully kicked butt with this series. Lucky number seven in the series and still going strong. I don't think I've read a bad one, yet. I love the fact that she introduces new and versatile characters in each book. Not only that, she introduces new and strange creatures. Hey, after all, it is called A "nightCREATURE Novel." Her books are romantic, action-packed, mysterious, and even a bit creepy. Her female characters are strong and independent. Even when suffering through a traumatic, life-altering episode in their life, she doesn't turn them into mushy, I-Need-a-man-to-save-me-and-make-me-whole, trauma victims. On the contrary, her characters are everything BUT victims.

In Hidden Moon, the new mayor in the small back-country town is stepping into her father's shoes and discovering that they were a bit more difficult to fill than she expected. Then the one event that her town depends on, tourist-wise, to survive is plagued by a strange werewolf-like creature. Could it be the sexy, gypsy-leader, whose group arrived as entertainment the cause of all the problems? Claire and her life long best friend (the sheriff) team up to discover, hunt down, and research the problem.

PLEASE, PLEASE let the next book involve her best friend, Grace (i.e. the sheriff). She was an absolute gas.