Nothing ever happens in Selene, Georgia. The biggest events in the past ten years have been a marriage, a funeral, and a bar fight. It's slow, sleepy, a little narrow-minded--but for Cari Gravier it's home.Now things are starting to happen that nobody's seen before. Strange things in the woods, dead animals--and dead people. Cari's about to discover a whole new side to Selene. And a past that may come back to bite her...
L.M. Pruitt has been reading since before she can remember, and writing nearly as long. She fell in love with New Orleans after spending one week there, and visits the city as often as her schedule permits--which isn't nearly often enough. She is the best selling author of the Jude Magdalyn series, the Moon Rising series, the Frankie Post series, and the Winged series. She makes her home in Florida.
What I love about L.M. Pruitt is that she just doesn’t do “standard” paranormal plots. Her narrative is always a fresh perspective, and it will hold your attention until the last page. New Moon Rising was full of all those things I love, romance, mystery, paranormal activity and great story-telling.
In this book, we meet, Carolyn “Cari” Gravier, whom I could only describe as an “abrasive town hellion”. It just seemed that she had more people who wanted to take her down a peg or two, than people who genuinely appreciated her. Her parents adored her and an ex-husband who couldn’t seem to move on, but she just had a chip on her shoulder. When strange things started happening in their little town of Selene, like dead animals and people turning up ravaged by some kind of wild animal, Cari asked questions. The more she asked, the more vague answers she got. We were able to deduce that whatever was going on, the occurrences had a connection to Cari.
Then something unthinkable happens, and her ex-husband Mike is forced to reveal to Cari the secrets that he had been keeping from her. After that, everything Cari thought she knew about herself, her parents and her hometown began to unravel. It devastated her to find out the depths of their deception and the fact it seemed that everyone (including her parents and her own best friend) knew, but didn’t share the town secrets with her.
As the events unfolded, Cari showed a resolve and strength that it seems that people didn’t think she was capable of. She assumed a leadership role and fought to protect her town instead of running away. Finally, Cari and Mike are able to come to an understanding about their past and arrive at a common ground. The ending was not a cliff hanger, but it definitely left room for a sequel (and I am crossing my fingers hoping for one).
I highly recommend this book to fans of paranormal romance and those who love a great storyline.
***Reviewed as a member of Paranormal Romance Guild
Paranormal readers, if you are looking for a new werewolf series, look no farther than the Moon Rising series. This book is emotional, well-written, completely absorbing.
Cari Graver's life suddenly stops making sense. Suddenly her small, boring town becomes dangerous and she feels out of the loop. She has to contend with past grief, her ex-husband, and new revelations that will rock her world forever.
From the beginning of this book, I was hooked. Cari is an intriguing character, she has been through a lot and in this book, her past catches up to her. She knows that her ex, Mike, keeps secrets from her, but she never would have guessed the depths of the secrets he holds. When everything comes together (or apart, if you will), her entire world is flipped on it's axis. Suddenly, things start making sense, but all she feels is grief and betrayal. I was drawn right into the story with Cari, the emotions she felt, her confusion and her anger and grief. This is a powerful story, and when combined with the mystery and allure of the supernatural, New Moon Rising proved to be an amazing read.
As I mentioned, New Moon Rising is extremely well-written. I have read other books by LM Pruitt, and I have really enjoyed every book that I have read by this author. She writes intriguing characters, highly developed plots, and the relationships and romance are enough to seal the deal. All of this was present in New Moon Rising. There are plenty of twists and turns in the story, and I guarantee that you will wind up cheering for Cari, and feeling her confusion for Mike. The story is not exactly a romance, it is relational. Cari struggles with her feelings for her ex husband, and so there is a touch of romance in the story, and there are some pretty hot scenes.
As soon as I finished New Moon Rising, I immediately picked up book 2, Harvest Moon Rising. The Moon Rising series is they type of series that you want to devour, to keep reading to find out what the characters will do next. I absolutely loved this book, it is a "must-read" for paranormal readers.
One thing I’m guaranteed when reading a book by L.M. Pruitt is that I’ll get something dark, something juicy, and something completely engrossing. I loved her Jude Magdalyn series so when I was asked to review her new book, NEW MOON RISING, I jumped at the chance. This author has an amazing way with words for me, telling a story that pulls me in deep and by the end I was left wanting.. craving more.
Driving home one night, Cari is surprised by the sudden appearance of her friend Will, who is wide eyed and terrified, pounding on her car door to let him in. Repeating over and over “they’re coming”, the appearance of eyes in the dark completely freaks Cari out and sets the stage for a suspenseful and emotion packed story. Dead animals appear on her porch and her relentless ex-husband Mike seems to be everywhere she turns. People are turning up dead, mauled by what looks like animals and when it happens to her beloved parents, Cari demands answers. Something is happening in her town and regardless of past pain, she is adamant about getting to the bottom of it. What she doesn’t expect is the answer she’s given and how tightly the town’s secrets wrap around her. Dealing with the death of her parents and coming to grips with a legacy she was unaware of, Cari finds herself once again in the company of Mike, who wants her back and grudgingly she admits to loving him still. Chemistry flames between them as she works through the painful reason for the divorce and begins opening her heart again. Problem is – are some betrayals too hard to forgive? Can love overcome any obstacle? And will the frightening menace and its supernatural nature destroy any hope of a future? Seriously, this is one heck of a story.
One of the things I love most about reading stories by this author is the depth of emotion I find. It’s like it’s not enough for you to feel what the characters are experiencing, she needs to reach in and rip out your heart in the process. Nothing excites me move than reading a book that pushes me and that moves me so intensely that I’m sobbing in parts because I can identify so well with what’s happening. The author shared that she put a piece of her soul in this story and I believe it. The plot itself was addicting as I tried to figure out what was going on and how Cari would be able to work things out. But as I got deeper into the story, the stronger it went past mere reading and I couldn’t help sit in wonder. It takes a great author to be able to capture some of the scenes so perfectly – to have the reader fully believe they are there. When Cari shared the horror and pain of miscarrying, I want to die alongside her. I wanted to shake my fist at everyone involved as anguish and pain coursed through me. It ceased to be words on a page and became personal. LOL I don’t think I can gush enough about the impact.
I really liked the characters in NEW MOON RISING. Each one was well fleshed out and believable. When it was over, I wouldn’t have been surprised to see them walk into my house and sit down like we were all best friends. Cari was this strong, opinionated woman who didn’t take crap from anyone. Her past had forged her into this feisty character and I really enjoyed watching her as she embraced the events unfolding around her. The thing I liked most was that when she finally confronted those that had hurt her, it wasn’t with a “Oh it’s ok you ripped out my heart and decimated me” - it was with a “You really hurt me and I don’t know if I can work through BUT I’ll try” It was much more realistic and it kept her true to her character. I loved the dynamics between her and Mike and that despite it all, sparks FLEW between those two. Mike was this sexy man who knew he’d screwed up but was bound tightly by the town secret. It killed him that he hurt Cari and vowed to make it right with her. I loved the things he said to her, that he was always there for her and he made me MELT into a gooey mess. He was strong and oh so protective – but what really set him apart was his willingness to admit he was wrong. He wasn’t caught up in macho pride. He loved Cari and would move Heaven and Earth for her. I loved watching them reconnect.
This is definitely a book to read for those who love an urban fantasy with a beautiful dose of romance. True to her style, L.M Pruitt delivers another gritty story that is both entertaining and addicting. It completely seduced me and left me wanting more and more. Keep your eye out for this author. Happy reading!
For her whole life Cari has been surrounded by secrets. And if her ex-husband and parents - -and actually all the people in her home town - haven't been exactly been lying to her neither have they been telling her the truth. But when that secret which has cost Cari so much brings even more loss and heartache to her life, Cari is determined to have the whole truth once and for all and while it will set her free it also it will also tear open old wounds. But armed with her new knowledge, at least Cari now has a fighting chance against the danger that swirls around her.
There are so many good things going on in New Moon Rising which is probably more urban fantasy than paranormal romance – if you can extend that label to a story set in a small rural town. Author Pruitt's characters are all really good. I loved leading lady Cari, her parents, her ex and her mother-in-law. Cari is bold and abrasive but still appealing and the people who surround Cari – both allies and enemies – and her relationships with them really bring Cari's southern small town to life. I may be a bit perverse, but I really liked that once Cari discovers what's been kept from her and realizes how other peoples' choices have impacted her life, she takes them to task and doesn't offer to forgive them for the harm that they've done – even as she finds it in her heart to offer the possibility of a second chance for someone whose own mistake has cost them even more.
And I just have to say that I really liked how the dynamics of the paranormal element/world-building were integral to the story. This is not always the case in mainstream paranormal fiction, I can think of a lot of stories I've read where the world could be altered by simply replacing a few nouns and verbs and the story would be affected not one bit.
I did have a few trivial nits with the story, though they aren't anything that detracted from my enjoyment of reading New Moon Rising in fact they were minor things that struck me thinking back on what I'd read. Still I really liked New Moon Rising, and I am really hoping that Pruitt revisits this world in the near future.
As a huge fan of L.M. Pruitt, I was not surprised I loved this book as much as I did her others. I could NOT put it down. I've never really been interested in werewolves other than as secondary characters in my favorite fantasy books. New Moon Rising HAS changed that. The story itself kept me enthralled, not once lacking in excitement or emotion. One thing I love about Pruitt's characters is I either want to hang out with them, Cari for example, or smack them, like Amelia. This is another series I eagerly await the next book in.
More like 3.5. In the beginning the transitions were difficult to follow, that smoothed out but the end was abrupt, mid phone call, that the second book picks up from the beginning. Still liked the world that built and I'm now reading the second one. It's a great $2.99 pick up for Kindle.
This was so well written. I finished in a day. The story. The characters you become so attached to. Real life with a healer and werewolf twist. Sadness. Laughter. Love. Hate. Was all in there. Great book. Looking for the next one!!