Prides of the Moon, Book 4 (a 1Night Stand tale ...)
Marcus Galin has searched the world for a very special kind of werepuma, a Beta who has also been blessed by the Goddess as a shaman. His prayers are finally answered when Madame Eve of the 1Night Stand matchmaking service arranges for him to meet a man in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica that fits his requirements. Only problem is that Marcus is terrified of magic and doesn't know if he can overcome his fear enough to open his heart to a stranger that his pride and his heart desperately need.
Vashan Dulphin has spent all of his life as an outcast among his people. By a twist of fate and gentics at puberty he became a werejaguar much to his family and pride's disgust. Since then he has lived in solitude among his people, barely tolerated only because of his power as both a Beta and a shaman. Desperate for a chance to find a home where he will be loved, he calls on the aid of Madame Eve who sends him Marcus.
Together the men will have to overcome their fear and self-doubt for a one in a million chance at love.
Ann is Queen of the Castle to her wonderful husband and three sons in the mountains of West Virginia. In her past lives she's been an Import Broker, a Communications Specialist, a US Navy Civilian Contractor, a Bartender/Waitress, and an actor at the Michigan Renaissance Festival. She also spent a summer touring with the Grateful Dead(though she will deny to her children that it ever happened).
From a young age she's been fascinated by myths and fairytales, and the romance that often was the center of the story. As Ann grew older and her hormones kicked in, she discovered trashy romance novels. Great at first, but she soon grew tired of the endless stories with a big wonderful emotional buildup to really short and crappy sex. Never a big fan of purple prose, throbbing spears of fleshy pleasure and wet honey pots make her giggle, she sought out books that gave the sex scenes in the story just as much detail and plot as everything else-without using cringe worthy euphemisms. This led her to the wonderful world of Erotic Romance, and she's never looked back.
Now Ann spends her days trying to tune out cartoons playing in the background to get into her 'sexy space' and has learned to type one handed while soothing a cranky baby.
Onyx Moon was another short, hot story in the 1 Night Stand series. As in the earlier volume, Emerald Moon (reviewed here), the one night stand is really just the excuse to get two shifter mates together. While this is the fourth second book in the Prides of the Moon series, it reads really well as a stand-alone, so don’t let that stop you. Or if you like m/m/f ménages, read the first three books before you dive into this one.
Marcus is a powerful Alpha who is secretly scared of being overwhelmed and/or conned by magic. His plan of looking for and mating with a beta who is a shaman sounds good – until he meets the man and finds it difficult to trust him. A careless ‘test’ of the other man insults the shaman deeply, and Marcus has to risk everything to apologize. Not an easy thing for a proud Alpha to do, but Marcus has no choice.
Vashan has been excluded from his pride ever since his first shift revealed him to be of an inappropriate shifter race. He sees no way out, but is willing to go on a one night stand to check if an Alpha from another pride would be willing to accept him. His pain and disappointment when Marcus rejects him is crushing, but, luckily, the cats aren’t completely in charge and they manage to let the humans work out their differences.
If you like shifter stories, reading about men who are clearly meant for each other and appreciate some very hot sex added to the mixture of a story of consolation, you will probably like this book. It offers a fresh interpretation of the one night stand concept and an intriguing peek at a bigger ‘shifter world’ which will hopefully evolve over the next few sequels.
A small note of warning: there is a hint of female bond mate at the end of the story, but it is no more than a mention at this stage.
NOTE: This book was provided by Decadent Publishing for the purpose of a review on Queer Magazine Online
Onyx Moon penned by Ann Mayburn is a love story that will not disappoint. The mystical and other paranormal elements are clearly defined. I always find myself lost in the ambiance of a steamy, free flowing, paranormal, erotic story by one of the most talented writers' Ann Mayburn.
Ms. Mayburn creates a story with intriguing plots, adventure and erotica that appeals to the sensory elements required in order to be an entertaining yet thought provoking read. In Onyx Moon she creates the woodsy, sensual aroma that sizzles and pops seamlessly between lovers overcoming obstacles they tackle together. Ms. Mayburn delivers a powerful message to her readers that may take a few minutes after the story ends for the ah! ah! moment that taps you oh so tenderly on your shoulders. I am always in awe with the wonderful manner in which Ms. Mayburn weaves her characters, settings, plot and theme to orchestrate an unforgettable erotic romance.
Marcus Galin is a gorgeous and strongly vibrant man in search of a shaman for the Onyx Moon Pride pack as well as a beta for the pack.
Marcus decides that it is time to employ an expert to jump start his troubled past of finding the perfect mate. This leads him to the best matchmaker, Madame Evangeline of the 1 Night Stand dating services.
Under the beauty of the Jamaican island and its romantic settings Marcus meets Vashan of the Deadly Shadow Pride. The sparks between them ignite and the metaphysical energies are difficult to maintain. Marcus being a reserved type was not as receptive to the public displays of affection as Vashan was comfortable, which took time to overcome.
I loved the manner in which Ms. Mayburn makes the reader feel the sacred bond between lovers.
If you are looking for a fast paced and quick erotic romance, set on the beautiful island of Jamaica, I believe you will enjoy this book.
Marcus Galin knows the day will come when he will be expected to take his place as the Alpha of his pride. Bitter and angry at being subjected to the evil magic of a shaman to have him believe the words of a serial killer Marcus has been seeking the guidance and learning from the new alphas of the Turquoise Moon Pride.
Vashan Dulphine has always been an outcast to his people and if it wasn't for him being the shaman and their fear of the goddesses he would have been cast out years ago.
Marcus hates magic and wants nothing to do with it but with the evil that is still loose Marcus knows he needs to find a shaman to help protect his people. When Marcus meets Vashan both are surprise by what they find but with the torments of their pasts still fresh how will they react will they find peace and be drawn together or will Marcus resist and drive them apart.
What a way to have a 1NS, but to travel to Jamaica! That is where Marcus is waiting for his possible mate. Marcus is hoping to be able to find a shaman for his Pride and it appears the matchmaking service may have found him. A hang-up Marcus still has is that he is not sure he’ll be able to tell if his possible mate will be using magic on him, because of the spell put on him and others by his last Alpha.
Vashan is a great shaman; however, his people shun him because of his cat not being a puma but a jaguar. They meet and a bad misunderstanding has him running but Marcus pursues and apologies are offered. Two men baring their souls is possibly the best turn-on for me, loved this story and hope to read more about them in the next book.
This installment gives us Marcus, one of the shifters that crazy-Stephen had under his spell as he attempted to subjugate Kara, in his quest to find the other half of his soul. Marcus is a little gunshy around shamans due to the spell that Stephen had used to quash his mind and he's (quite naturally) not all-together trusting of this man who Madame Eve has set him up with. BUT... he's willing to give it a try. Vashan has his own issues to overcome and when they finally sort things out enough to get down to business, it's hot. HAWT.
While Onyx Moon is the fourth in the Prides of the Moon series it can be read as a stand-alone story because there is just enough backstory to provide the information needed without retelling three previous stories. I enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who also likes m/m romance, shifter tales, and a bit of a paranormal mystery set in a gorgeous tropical location.
This is another great book in the series, even with it being MM. I was enthralled. There is so much story packed into this little read. I wish it were longer because it was a delight to read.
There is a yummy smexy scene that will scorch your kindle. Love it when they go all Alpha. Sigh
I have enjoyed every bit of this series and really would love seeing it expanded into full books.
✰✰✰ Marcus and Vashan get off on the wrong foot at their first meeting. Their matchmaker knows better. Another hot, sexy mm paranormal from the Prides of the Moon series.