ARC Moonglow by Kristen Callihan Book reveiw

Moonglow by Kristen Callihan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

ARC Copy from Netgalley.

This story takes place in 1883.

I will say I was pleasantly surprised with this book. As the first chapter turned me against it, but I gave it a chance. See I am not into erotica type books, and don’t even know if this one is in that category, but that fist chapter was quite offensive in a sexual nature from a man’s thoughts (Ian) as he is with a, we will just say women, and it was something that made me 2nd guess this book. But I continued on. And I am glad I did. I actually got very involved with the characters of this book. I was a bit lost at times, as I never read the first book, which is based on Daisy’s sister (Miranda), and Daisy is the main character in this one I got ARC copy from NetGalley to review, so I had to wing it without reading the first book (Firelight by Kristen Callihan).

I was however very impressed with the authors writing itself. She did well in world building for me, not as extensive as some fantasy authors, but did well, and getting into the heads of many characters was nice. I did get lost at times, not really knowing who’s pov I was reading, as it would switch around a lot. (It’s written from 3rd person perspective, so we are in minds of all people)

I was really caught up with the main characters Ian and Daisy, I came to really care about what happened to them. The love story with them is great, and had me in tears at the end, as I was so sad at what happens. I was glad that the really raunchy sexual scenes didn’t come up too much. As I said, that’s not for me, I am more invested in the story told, not the sexual actions that go X rated at times, lol. For those who do like that, there should be just enough to keep you happy. And those like me, who are more into the story told, I think you will be happy too, as it’s a great story to be told, just have to look past those erotic scenes.

Here is an example of the authors beautiful writing, Daisy is describing Ian in this quote:

(Kindle location 283 of 4345 pdf format)(Start quote) Good God, but this man was beautiful. Distractingly so. He was a masculine beauty that artists often replicated. Lean of face, saved from femininity by the sharp V of his jaw and the strength of his chin, with high cheekbones so defined they might have been cut from marble. Only his mouth was soft. Soft and mobile, the corners twitched as if wanting to smile.
However, there was nothing soft about his eyes. Deep set under dark brows that were currently slashed in a scowl, they pierced into her, their light color indistinguishable until she came close. A chuff of air escaped her. “Azure.”( End quote)

The story starts with Daisy finding herself free of the constraints of mourning the cruel husband she hated. She has been so unhappy and gone without for so long. She has a lust for life that is frowned upon by society. She finally goes out to enjoy some life, when at a friend’s party, she is making out with a young man on a balcony, and gets a huge shock, she sees her friends dead body, and ends up living to tell the tale, as the diseased killer attacks her, but gets the young man instead and she gets roughed up a bit.

Ian Ranulf is an exiled Lycan. He knows his behavior is not acceptable, and I am assuming his behavior in the first book towards Miranda (Daisy’s sister) and Archer (old friend and married to Miranda) was even worse. He seems to have a jealousy of Archer, but it’s for a different reason that you would first think, I will leave that as a surprise. He is running from ghost of his past and keeps his wolf mollified. Then one night he scents a werewolf and blood—lots of blood with the overlay of disease.

Ian works it out quickly that Daisy is in danger from the diseased werewolf, but talking Daisy into accepting his protection is a whole other thing. Daisy has trust issues and she has no intention of trusting him or the attraction she feels for him. Ian would not allow them to have more than a fling, as he will not get into a deep relationship with a mortal again-not ever. Although we will see, there is more to Daisy than we initially think. She has a power all her own.
They soon discover greater forces are play than just a mad, sick werewolf, and Ian and Daisy must work to expose them before more people are killed and worse things happen.

We get some revelations from Ian’s past which is dangerously close to catching up to him and a few other plots twist that have devastating ramifications that left my heart twisting and aching for Ian and Daisy.
The relationship that finally develop between Ian and Daisy is all that I hoped for because of their similar love of adventure and feisty fun along with their great capacity to experience passion. Lots of back and forth on the relationship developing, but it finally happened.
We get some twist and turns, and some big discoveries, but all in all, a great story, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes Paranormal Romance’s, especially historical ones. As long as the erotic scenes won’t bother you. The passion that grows between Ian and Daisy is very sweet, and came to really care about them. The ending is sad, but satisfying too.

It would probably be best to read Firelight first, but I do not think its nesesarry either. As I have heard many people say, they like this book way more than the first. It is not like some sequels that fall flat, this one I am told is better than the first one. All I personally know, is I like this story a lot, and can’t speak for the first book. To me, I think I like Daisy better than her sister Miranda, so I would not be surprised if I would also like this one better.
I find myself looking forward to book 3 Winterblaze when it comes out, because it will continue with a plot that was left very open that had to do with Poppy and Winston (Poppy is Daisy’s other sister, and Winston her husband)

Summary from Amazon


Once the seeds of desire are sown…
Finally free of her suffocating marriage, widow Daisy Ellis Craigmore is ready to embrace the pleasures of life that have long been denied her. Yet her new-found freedom is short lived. A string of unexplained murders has brought danger to Daisy’s door, forcing her to turn to the most unlikely of saviors…

Their growing passion knows no bounds…
Ian Ranulf, the Marquis of Northrup, has spent lifetimes hiding his primal nature from London society. But now a vicious killer threatens to expose his secrets. Ian must stop out of the shadows and protect the beautiful, fearless Daisy, who awakens in him desires he though long dead. As their quest to unmask the villain draws them closer together, Daisy has no choice but to reveal her own startling secret, and Ian must face the undeniable truth: Losing his hear to Daisy may be the only way to save his soul.

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