Lonely Alpha

Half Moon Shifters #1

by Ranae Rose

When Mandy leaves the city behind and embarks on a retreat to the Great Smoky Mountains, she expects to spend the week alone with nature and a stack of novels. Instead, she ends up trapped on a remote mountain by a big game hunter who’s hell-bent on bagging a werewolf. Lonely alpha wolf-shifter Jack, the last of the once-strong Half Moon Pack, is his target. Jack is determined to keep Mandy safe while hunting his hunter, but being around Jack brings out a wild side Mandy never knew she had. As silver bullets fly, so do sparks. If they can manage to defeat their attacker, Mandy will still have one problem to contend with: Jack is convinced that she’s his mate.

Genres: Paranormal, Shapeshifters, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Werewolves, Fantasy, Adult

130 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

I write what I know and love: adult romance with blue-collar heroes and real-life flavor. Tattoos, handcuffs and men in uniform are a few of my favorite things, and it shows in my thirty+ published books.

I live in the South with my man in uniform, who I married for the entertainment value. Just kidding - it was the handcuffs, err, true love. ;)

So far, our happily ever after includes a couple kids, German Shepherd dogs and a mutual appreciation of timely 'that's what she said' jokes.

When I'm not writing, I love reading, good coffee, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and whatever outdoor adventures I can find.

I also love hearing from readers, so don't be shy! If you've enjoyed something I've written, hearing from you would make my day.

Reviews

[Sallie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mandy Foster is meandering through life, pleased with her career accomplishments and hopeful for the future. But pleased and hopeful are not synonymous with happy and complete. There is an old adage, “sometimes you don’t understand how precious something or someone is until lost or the possibly of loss exists.” This is the case for Mandy Foster. She is plodding along through life until she meets Jack Bryant and she doesn’t understand the gift that he is until circumstances lead her to understand how lonely her life would be without him.

GPS failing, Mandy Foster tries to make her way to a vacation cabin in a very isolated area when she sees a rustic cabin. She’s mistakenly believes she has found the right cabin. But, thankfully, she has found Jack Bryant, a lone wolf, literally. Jack is an alpha werewolf without a pack. It’s complicated. To add fat to the fire, there are human hunters who’d like nothing better than to mount a werewolf head on their walls. For these hunters a werewolf kill is like Captain Ahab catching Moby Dick or Wile E. Coyote catching the Road Runner. You see where I am going with this. These hunters are ruthless squared and Mandy Foster’s “wrong turn” places her in the path of danger with Jack Bryant. Be still my heart; let’s hear it for wrong turns. Mandy Foster's mistake leads her to unknown perils and impossible truths.

Ranae Rose’s, Lonely Alpha is action driven. Consumers of the paranormal romance genre and werewolf lovers in particular will get their “howl on.” So with that in mind, you should note, this book is meant for adults.

Let’s hope Ranae Rose does not end Jack and Mandy’s story here. Maybe the next book will be entitled “The Mated Pair.” As for the cover, it does two things well: 1) It draws the eye because of the attractive man and 2) It evokes feelings of loneliness, which is perfect given the story.

Reviewed by:
Sallie Lundy-Frommer
Author of Yesterday’s Daughter

[Joyfully Reviewed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mandy needs a break from her high stress job and a weekend in the great Smokey Mountains sounds like the perfect solution. Mandy didn’t count on getting lost in the middle of nowhere with only a grumpy mountain man to help but that’s exactly what happened. Jack can’t stand it when city slickers show up on his mountain but he can’t ignore the way that Mandy makes him feel. He also can’t ignore the fact that someone has trapped her on his mountain. Being an Alpha Jack is no stranger to werewolf hunters but having Mandy in the line of fire ruffles him beyond repair. Jack vows to protect Mandy from the shooters and perhaps woo her as well. Will these two opposites find they have more in common than they first thought? Will love bloom in the Smokeys?

Lonely Alpha is one sizzling hot romantic thrill-ride. Mandy and Jack make one sexy couple. I just love the twist that Ms. Rose plotted it makes things oh so interesting. The danger is intense and it keeps things heated as the romance builds between Mandy and Jack. Ranae Rose’s Lonely Alpha is a sultry delightful novella.

Reviewed by Miranda for Joyfully Reviewed

[Mariann {at} Belle's Book Bag · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started off with Lonely Alpha and the title alone sucked me in. I loved how Jack and Mandy met and how they reacted to each other. I liked how their relationship progressed throughout the story. I liked Jack, although I thought he could have talked a little more~his character definitely gave new meaning to the strong silent type!! LOL I also liked Mandy~she was sweet and funny and she held her own when dealing with Jack.

Lonely Alpha was a good story with likable characters that I wanted to see get their HEA. I was happy to see that Jack and Mandy's story continued in True Alpha as I was entertained enough that I wanted to continue on with the series. 3 out of 5 rating.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

In much need of a break, Mandy is excited to be vacationing alone in the Great Smoky Mountains by herself. However after her GPS goes out on the fritz, she ends up at the wrong cabin and under the watchful eye of a grumpy young man Jack.

Alpha to no one and wolf-shifter Jack, doesn't want to be bothered. Mandy ends up on his doorstep not once, but twice of course when he realizes it's her scent that is bothering him and he has found his mate, he will do everything he can to protect her. Especially when another hunter has come to take him out.

3.75 there was a lot I enjoyed about this one but I found I had a ton of questions. I think this could turn out to be a good series, but wanted a bit more from Jack in the aspect of getting Mandy to understand what was happening. It is explained but in a very rapid way. Good chemistry though and a few twists for a paranormal story.

[Dawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review for Lonely Alpha This is a super short book - in short woman goes on vacation meets man he turns out to be a shifter, she also turns out to be a shifter (who knew?) they are being hunted and they are mates.
 
Yep that is the story - sorry I spoiled it for you. Here is the thing what I read I liked the problem was to much was left unexplained. Really you had no idea shifters exist and you turn into on and you are good with it. Then the guy is the alpha pack of one? I totally skimmed the smexy bits so maybe I missed something. 
 
Anyway the book has potential - I do not think it is worth $2.99 though.
 

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

ok so i gave it 5 stars because im a sucker for a southern accent, yummy, lol. without its a 4 star because i seemed too short. though the auther explained everything about the plot well and with detail i just wished we got a bit more of Jack and Mandy, i read it within a few hours. great quick book to read..

[~*~Princess Nya Vasiliev~*~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid 3.5 Stars


This was a pretty good entry to this series. I enjoyed it. There were a few things that were a bit cheesy but for the most part it was a solid read.

If you are looking for a quick, sexy, entertaining & some what suspenseful read, then I would recommend this one.

And Jack & Ronnie, two very fine men of the "Shifter" world ;D

[Elise Marion · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice, light read, one that I appreciated very much for what it was. Jack is exactly what the title describes him to be; an Alpha wolf who has lost his pack because of a shapeshifter witch hunt. Someone has decided that shapeshifters are dangerous, leaving Jack without a family and constantly having to watch his back lest he end up some overzealous hunter's trophy.

Mandy is just a girl looking forward to her vacation in the mountains. She heads up to a rented cabin with plans of rest, relaxation, and privacy. When she winds up at the wrong cabin and runs into Jack, a sexy but gruff woodsman who is conveniently never wearing a shirt (wink,wink). After she ends up stuck with him overnight, a series of action-packed events leads Mandy toward the startling truth: Jack is a werewolf shifter....and so is she!

As Mandy struggles to deal with her identity (one she was clueless about until now) she also fights for her life (those overzealous hunters have found her and Jack and can't pass up an opportunity at TWO werewolf trophies) and deals with her burgeoning feelings for Jack.

I will say I thought Jack and Mandy's relationship developed at warp speed....but in a story where the characters shift into animals, I took into account the fact that primal instinct plays a big role in that. Jack is a were and an Alpha...he knows what he wants and he never wavers. Mandy needs a little convincing though, but Jack has no problem doing that for her. He's a fierce protector and a possessive one, a very tried and true trait of the male Werewolf. The sensuality is hot, the action is pacy, and the storyline flows to a sweet finish.

I was very intrigued by the ending and am glad to see that this is only the beginning for Mandy and Jack. Because things happened between them so fast in this book, I will be interested to read the next book to see where they in their relationship and how things are going with the other shifters around them....I am particularly interested in Ronnie, the bear shifter introduced toward the in.

All in all, a good book, a great prelude to the rest of the series!

This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for my fair and honest review.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

An unexpected vacation forever changes her! Loved this story of Jack, a lonely alpha wolf who is the last in his pack, and Mandy, a city girl on vacation in the mountains. I could imagine running through the pines with Jack and Mandy, smelling the clean air, and relaxing in the moonlight! Great characters you will fall in love with. And now a bit about they story...

Mandy is climbing the career ladder, but finally decides to take a vacation in the Smokey Mountains. She is trying to find the cabin she rented, but when her GPS fails and darkness descends, she gets lost. Pulling into the drive way of a cabin she is excited until a gruff guy comes out and attempts to throw her off his property. After finally getting directions she heads to her cabin only to find a large tree over the road. Turning around she decides to head back to town and not to the ornery man and his nearby cabin, however there is now another tree down on the road - she is trapped. Did he do this or is there someone else out there? Starting to worry and with no cell phone signal she decides to stay in her car for the night. That is until the man knocks on her window and tells her it isn't safe. Will she believe him? Give this book a try to see what happens when she gets out of the car - it will change her forever!

Favorite Quote: "What I mean is that I have a life four hours away in Nashville." She tried to gentle her tone, but was afraid that it still came out sounding harsh. "You don't really expect me to abandon it to stay here in the mountains..."

[Gaele · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great start to a series! I was given a copy of this book by the author to start a series read, with expectations of honest review .. I was not compensated for this review and all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Let me start by saying that I adored Mandy - and am amazed that she wasn't huddling in a corner sucking her thumb halfway through the book. I think I would have been. But Jack went a long way to making her comfortable, eventually, and you can just SEE the sparks fly between the two.

This is a short (about 60 pages) so of course I wanted more..but it's a great start to a fun series. You should know that there is sex - hot and raw and detailed: if that isn't your cup of tea -this is not a series for you. But the writing is clever and the characters manage to invade your thoughts while the story leads you along on a hunt.

I can't wait to read the next installment .. This is book One of the Half-Moon Shifters series.

[Kristy Mills · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it, but I felt bad for Jack. All of his pack gone. :( He was just up in the mountains all by himself with no pack anymore. It was sad.

I LOVED how Mandy and Jack met. Mandy has just pulled up to what she thinks is her vacation rental cabin. She just got out of her car and was walking towards the cabin when...

"What the hell?" The cabin's screen door banged open, and a man stepped out, swearing loudly.

Mandy jumped, tripping backward into her car and rolling across the hood like a spy in an action move, only not nearly as graceful. She barely managed to catch herself before she hit the ground and dirtied her new khaki hiking shorts.

haha Now there's a good first impression. There were a couple of funny parts in this book. It was a fun read.

[Delphina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love shifters and was excited to find this series. Lately I have found that more and more books are being written about shifters (yay), but many are forgetting that the shifters are not just shiny happy people who can become and animal just because it is a cool party trick (boo). Ms. Rose did not forget that a were wolf is half wolf. She included the darkness and animal side of her were and also included the darkness of humans. Somehow she managed to do all of that while writing a super hawt story. Not only was there suspense, a bit of mystery, and the darkness I love, but there was also a hot and steamy romance. I really like the main characters and am excited to see where this story goes from here. I will definitely be reading all of this series. I am so glad I made my trip through a blog hop one Saturday afternoon and discovered this series!

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charnel's review posted on Guilty Pleasures

Lonely Alpha is a good, fast paced story about a vacation in the woods turning into a nightmare for city woman, Mandy. Jack comes to Mandy's rescue but he also brings more trouble, danger and adventure than she could ever imagine.

Jack and Mandy start of arguing but things quickly heat up between the two. I honestly was surprised by a few aspects of this story; usually I stay away from stories where the main characters are being chased throughout the book because I don't understand how the characters can be intimate when in fear for their lives. However, in this story the love scenes fit perfectly, Jack and Mandy always had the danger in the front of their minds.

Lonely Alpha is full of action and has a unique twist that I've never seen in a book before.

3.5 Stars

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was lackluster for me. The pacing was too fast so there was no time for character development. As such, I felt disconnected from the main characters and didn't really care one way or another what happened to them.

For me this is a definite filler book. It is a book where you don't have to really think or pay attention to what you are reading. It was meh and a waste of time. If you are looking for a good shifter romance this is not it.

[Chrystina Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for as short as it was. The only problems I had with this book were the usual ones you encounter with a novella length book, it was a little rushed here and there and felt too short. That said, I did enjoy it and am going to read the rest in the series. Luckily I bought the boxed ebook set :)

3 1/2 Stars

[Lizzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know she did it, but Ranae was able to pack quite a punch in such a quick read. Vacations, strong sexy men, wolves, shapeshifters,crazy hunters...(GASPS FOR BREATHE.) It had everything; I might have missed it but I'm sure I read about a kitchen sink.

[Denna · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved every minute!

[Tricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! What an amazing book. Can't wait to read more from Ranae Rose.

[Christiana · Rating 3 out of 5]

...3.5 stars!

[Clarke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad but nothing special.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like shape shifters this book is for you. Once I started reading this I couldn't put it down. Looking forward to seeing what happens next.

[Tia · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was actually quite a timid novel to read. Even the hunter part wasn't too exciting. It mostly definitely wasn't the best shifter novel I've ever read but was good enough on it's own.

[Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good little short read. To the point without carrying on.
Great intro to the main characters Jack & Mandy.

[Kathy Harrington · Rating 3 out of 5]

not too bad, steamy sex.

[Sussan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what an awesome book. Loved the storyline and the two characters. The suspense of a killer after them was thrilling

[gail broomfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not put this book down. The characters jumped off the page and took me along for the ride. Brilliant. Enjoy!

[Steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute shifter love story with a nice little twist.

[Pamela Rosensteel]

Would like to read it again before reviewing. :)