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Southern Arcana #5
Impulse
Southern Arcana, Book Five
Sera Sinclaire is a submissive coyote trapped in a town overrun by dominant shapeshifters. She can’t turn away the alphas-in-shining-armor who need her soothing presence--even when their protectiveness threatens to crush her hard-won self-reliance. But when an obsessive ex endangers her life, it’s time to get out of town for a while.
Julio Mendoza doesn’t have the luxury of indulging in a vacation, thanks to his new responsibilities as a member of the wolves’ Southeast council. But protecting Sera from her ex isn’t optional--it’s instinct. Watching her come to life outside the city makes him feel like he's finally done something right, and her touch ignites a desire he can’t ignore.
Soon, lighthearted flirting turns into a dangerous game of seduction, where every day spent falling into each other is another day of avoiding the truth. Sera's ex isn't the only one who’d disapprove of their relationship. There are wolves who would kill to get Sera out of Julio's life—starting with his own blood kin.
Sera Sinclaire is a submissive coyote trapped in a town overrun by dominant shapeshifters. She can’t turn away the alphas-in-shining-armor who need her soothing presence--even when their protectiveness threatens to crush her hard-won self-reliance. But when an obsessive ex endangers her life, it’s time to get out of town for a while.
Julio Mendoza doesn’t have the luxury of indulging in a vacation, thanks to his new responsibilities as a member of the wolves’ Southeast council. But protecting Sera from her ex isn’t optional--it’s instinct. Watching her come to life outside the city makes him feel like he's finally done something right, and her touch ignites a desire he can’t ignore.
Soon, lighthearted flirting turns into a dangerous game of seduction, where every day spent falling into each other is another day of avoiding the truth. Sera's ex isn't the only one who’d disapprove of their relationship. There are wolves who would kill to get Sera out of Julio's life—starting with his own blood kin.
318 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 4, 2012
40 people are currently reading
679 people want to read
About the author
Moira Rogers
83 books909 followersHow do you make a Moira Rogers? Take a former forensic science and nursing student obsessed with paranormal romance and add a computer programmer with a passion for gritty urban fantasy. Toss in a dash of whimsy and a lot of caffeine, and enjoy with a side of chocolate by the light of the full moon.
By day, Bree and Donna are mild-mannered ladies who reside in the Deep South. At night, when their husbands and children are asleep, they combine forces to unleash the product of their fevered imaginations upon the page.
By day, Bree and Donna are mild-mannered ladies who reside in the Deep South. At night, when their husbands and children are asleep, they combine forces to unleash the product of their fevered imaginations upon the page.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
May 27, 2020
I enjoyed the romance and plot, I just feel like too much time was spent on the Council and Conclave business. But if you've read the previous books and have followed the over arcing plot, maybe you will find that more interesting than I did.
March 24, 2015
Summary:
I love you.
I love you, too.
Put it in my butt.
I thought you'd never ask.
I love you.
I love you, too.
Put it in my butt.
I thought you'd never ask.
December 30, 2015
I recommend this series to anyone who loves shifters. It's terrific.
August 5, 2012
Favorite Lines: “One more thing, I don’t break, okay? I bend. The rest of you stand strong until you shatter, but I ride the rough spots so I can get back up when they’re over. But sometimes that means I don’t learn, because I never get hurt badly enough to teach me a lesson.” (p. 94)
Book five (Impulse) in the writing duo Moira Rogers’ Southern Arcana series can be read as a stand alone, but you may want to read the previous books to get a feel for the world and its secondary characters. I read book five, then went back and read book one, Crux. I don’t think that was a good idea because they have too many similarities and while I liked Impulse, I didn’t like Crux because of those similarities. (Both have a thread about a male shifter chasing a female shifter to breed.)
But let’s talk about Impulse. It features a submissive fox shifter named Sera who is attracted to a dominate wolf shifter named Julio. Both are traumatized from past events. I think I’d have a clearer understanding of those things had I read book four. Rogers gives enough information that I was able to understand the damage done to both Sera and Julio without reading those events as they occurred. Those events are important because they set up the situation which leads to Sera and Julio to need a vacation.
Impulse is a character driven romance. Both Julio and Sera have emotional issues that they need to work out and a lazy vacation is their route to happiness. Of course along the way there are speed bumps, but what kept bringing me back were the dynamics between Julio and Sera. Sera was more than a woman who liked to be dominated. She wanted to be seen as an asset who could fight when she needed too, but liked to offer comfort. She is capable of bending which is something an alpha can’t do. She’s a survivor who eventually learns to be confident in herself while living in a world in which many paranormal shifters consider her to be scum.
Julio is hard on himself. He feels guilty about not stepping up in the supernatural world while his father and uncle bullied and ran shifters into the ground. We meet him as he deals with his guilty conscience which forces him to accept all forms of responsibility. Sera doesn’t want to be his responsibility. She wants to be his lover and later–his partner. Once she gets through to him, the possibilities seem endless. It’s the paranormal world’s prejudice that affects them.
Julio is a good guy and I love it when the good guy wins. That’s especially true when he’s paired with a woman who fits him the way Sera fits Julio. She’s the grass to his wind. He blows hard and she bends to fit him no matter where he needs to go.
The plot lines were less interesting to me. There was a fear of Sera’s ex-husband showing up and worry that Julio’s family would make a violent move that never really reached the level I expected. I like my bad guys really bad, but the bad guys in Rogers’ world didn’t feel evil. I actually felt kind of bad for one of them.
The joy to be found in Impulse came from the interactions between Sera and Julio. Their sex scenes were hot, but their ability to just “be” while together were even better. I felt their attraction turn from lust to love and that made me happy with the romance.
Scooper Speaks
Book five (Impulse) in the writing duo Moira Rogers’ Southern Arcana series can be read as a stand alone, but you may want to read the previous books to get a feel for the world and its secondary characters. I read book five, then went back and read book one, Crux. I don’t think that was a good idea because they have too many similarities and while I liked Impulse, I didn’t like Crux because of those similarities. (Both have a thread about a male shifter chasing a female shifter to breed.)
But let’s talk about Impulse. It features a submissive fox shifter named Sera who is attracted to a dominate wolf shifter named Julio. Both are traumatized from past events. I think I’d have a clearer understanding of those things had I read book four. Rogers gives enough information that I was able to understand the damage done to both Sera and Julio without reading those events as they occurred. Those events are important because they set up the situation which leads to Sera and Julio to need a vacation.
Impulse is a character driven romance. Both Julio and Sera have emotional issues that they need to work out and a lazy vacation is their route to happiness. Of course along the way there are speed bumps, but what kept bringing me back were the dynamics between Julio and Sera. Sera was more than a woman who liked to be dominated. She wanted to be seen as an asset who could fight when she needed too, but liked to offer comfort. She is capable of bending which is something an alpha can’t do. She’s a survivor who eventually learns to be confident in herself while living in a world in which many paranormal shifters consider her to be scum.
Julio is hard on himself. He feels guilty about not stepping up in the supernatural world while his father and uncle bullied and ran shifters into the ground. We meet him as he deals with his guilty conscience which forces him to accept all forms of responsibility. Sera doesn’t want to be his responsibility. She wants to be his lover and later–his partner. Once she gets through to him, the possibilities seem endless. It’s the paranormal world’s prejudice that affects them.
Julio is a good guy and I love it when the good guy wins. That’s especially true when he’s paired with a woman who fits him the way Sera fits Julio. She’s the grass to his wind. He blows hard and she bends to fit him no matter where he needs to go.
The plot lines were less interesting to me. There was a fear of Sera’s ex-husband showing up and worry that Julio’s family would make a violent move that never really reached the level I expected. I like my bad guys really bad, but the bad guys in Rogers’ world didn’t feel evil. I actually felt kind of bad for one of them.
The joy to be found in Impulse came from the interactions between Sera and Julio. Their sex scenes were hot, but their ability to just “be” while together were even better. I felt their attraction turn from lust to love and that made me happy with the romance.
Scooper Speaks
September 4, 2012
Impulse is the fifth book in Moira Rogers Southern Arcana series, and all the components one expects from this series are present.
Sera Sinclaire is New Orleans' lone submissive coyote, surrounded by dominant shapeshifters of all kinds, who would love to make her theirs, if only temporarily. Her submissive nature is absolutely necessary to help sooth all the discomforts that come with being so very alpha. Julio Mendoza is the ultimate hot alpha male, so dominant that he has earned himself a seat on the Southeast council. He needs what Sera has, even if he doesn't want to take it. So when the two of them decide to take a road trip together, the sparks are already flying off the pages.
Impulse is sexy and fun, a little lighter, I felt, than the previous books. There was not a lot of internal conflict, as the hero and heroine were wayyyyy in to one another by the time Impulse starts. That led for some smoldering sex scenes right off the bat. We've watched Sera and Julio interact previously, and I thoroughly enjoyed them coming together. Moira Rogers does a fantastic job writing the ultimate hot alpha male. Julio is the most alpha, and Sera is the most submissive, and together they made hot smexy times. It's the perfect partnering and I enjoyed every hot steamy scene.
The external conflict was pretty awesome, I love the politics and regime changes that are continuously going on. The series setting has become pretty complex, and kept my interest up, especially waiting to see when Sera's ex-husband would pounce in to the scenario. Because of the extensive world building and characters that have been developed over the previous 4 books, Impulse *could* be read standalone, but I really really recommend your starting from the beginning. Pick this series up for a consistently smokin hot time!
Sera Sinclaire is New Orleans' lone submissive coyote, surrounded by dominant shapeshifters of all kinds, who would love to make her theirs, if only temporarily. Her submissive nature is absolutely necessary to help sooth all the discomforts that come with being so very alpha. Julio Mendoza is the ultimate hot alpha male, so dominant that he has earned himself a seat on the Southeast council. He needs what Sera has, even if he doesn't want to take it. So when the two of them decide to take a road trip together, the sparks are already flying off the pages.
Impulse is sexy and fun, a little lighter, I felt, than the previous books. There was not a lot of internal conflict, as the hero and heroine were wayyyyy in to one another by the time Impulse starts. That led for some smoldering sex scenes right off the bat. We've watched Sera and Julio interact previously, and I thoroughly enjoyed them coming together. Moira Rogers does a fantastic job writing the ultimate hot alpha male. Julio is the most alpha, and Sera is the most submissive, and together they made hot smexy times. It's the perfect partnering and I enjoyed every hot steamy scene.
The external conflict was pretty awesome, I love the politics and regime changes that are continuously going on. The series setting has become pretty complex, and kept my interest up, especially waiting to see when Sera's ex-husband would pounce in to the scenario. Because of the extensive world building and characters that have been developed over the previous 4 books, Impulse *could* be read standalone, but I really really recommend your starting from the beginning. Pick this series up for a consistently smokin hot time!
September 9, 2012
4.5 stars
Each book holds a special place in my heart.
But Julio and Sera's has to be my favourite. There was something special about the book.
Julio being a reluctant Alpha wolf male, chased the girls, but with no responsibilities. Sera an abused submissive coyote.
They both skirt around each other, but when they decide to vacation together, you know there will be fireworks. And it was. I loved the twists and turns in the story.
Will wait to see who is in the next story :-)
Each book holds a special place in my heart.
But Julio and Sera's has to be my favourite. There was something special about the book.
Julio being a reluctant Alpha wolf male, chased the girls, but with no responsibilities. Sera an abused submissive coyote.
They both skirt around each other, but when they decide to vacation together, you know there will be fireworks. And it was. I loved the twists and turns in the story.
Will wait to see who is in the next story :-)
August 12, 2018
Patrick the human bounty hunter is hunting down every single person who had anything to do with the death of his brother and the torture of Kat and Julio. But his magic tatts don’t work as well after his skin was burnt and Julio worries about patching him up all the time. At least he has somewhere to go.
Sera is the coyote shifter daughter of Franklin, who ran the medical clinic. She’s a natural submissive and she was the first to touch Julio after they escaped.
But he’s over thirty and he’s a Mendoza; the high society shifter family. He’s also a wolf alpha with some precognitive abilities.
Sera’s just over twenty and still bruised (literally) from an ugly marriage. Her ex, Josh, is a coyote shifter and they’re rare, he’s the only healthy male she’s ever met who isn’t family, so her nature makes her want to be with her own kind. But her human side knows that’s a very bad idea.
***
It’s an intriguing idea that being submissive might have a power of its own.
Both Julio and Sera need a break and it’s probably part of his precog abilities that they unerringly go to places that need their help. The council has been taking levies from packs for years, and not investing much of it back with the people who need funds; preferring to line their own pockets. Here, Sera is in her element as someone who knows what it’s like to be poor.
It’s the final straw for Alec, Andrew and Julio who basically hold enough seats on the council to just vote to disband it. Plus, all the time they spend doing council business means less time to spend in their own areas.
The themes of empowerment for ladies, and destruction of flawed systems of power remind me again of the Beyond series. Good bones, eh?
4 stars
Now onto the bounty hunter pair, Patrick and Annie.
Sera is the coyote shifter daughter of Franklin, who ran the medical clinic. She’s a natural submissive and she was the first to touch Julio after they escaped.
Sera had been the one to soothe him. Her touch, her presence. She'd fumbled at first, tried too hard to do the right thing or say the right thing, and in the end all she'd needed to do was close her eyes and just…be. She'd never forget Julio's fingers rasping over her hair, or the way he'd pulled her close and inhaled her scent. Not sexual, not even sensual. Primal and raw, shapeshifter magic at its most basic. An alpha's desperate rage and a submissive's quiet trust.
But he’s over thirty and he’s a Mendoza; the high society shifter family. He’s also a wolf alpha with some precognitive abilities.
Sera’s just over twenty and still bruised (literally) from an ugly marriage. Her ex, Josh, is a coyote shifter and they’re rare, he’s the only healthy male she’s ever met who isn’t family, so her nature makes her want to be with her own kind. But her human side knows that’s a very bad idea.
***
It’s an intriguing idea that being submissive might have a power of its own.
Both Julio and Sera need a break and it’s probably part of his precog abilities that they unerringly go to places that need their help. The council has been taking levies from packs for years, and not investing much of it back with the people who need funds; preferring to line their own pockets. Here, Sera is in her element as someone who knows what it’s like to be poor.
It’s the final straw for Alec, Andrew and Julio who basically hold enough seats on the council to just vote to disband it. Plus, all the time they spend doing council business means less time to spend in their own areas.
The themes of empowerment for ladies, and destruction of flawed systems of power remind me again of the Beyond series. Good bones, eh?
4 stars
Now onto the bounty hunter pair, Patrick and Annie.
June 8, 2013
Re-read just cuz!
Re-reading this for my upcoming review. Soo good.
Full review to come soon. Enjoyed reading this the second time around as much as I did the first.
Review originally posted here: http://thebookpushers.com/2012/09/03/...
Publisher: Samhain
Publish Date: Sep 4th
How we got this book: eARC from author
Sera Sinclaire is a New Orleans rarity: a submissive coyote trapped in a town overrun by dominant shapeshifters. Worse, she lacks the willpower to deny the alphas-in-shining-armor who need her soothing presence, even when their protectiveness threatens to crush her hard-won self-reliance.
The only shifter she doesn’t want to push away is Julio Mendoza, a wolf so dominant he’s earned a place on the Southeast council.
Julio doesn’t have the luxury of indulging in the vacation his psychic shrink insists he needs. He can’t turn his back on responsibilities he’s beginning to wish he’d never shouldered. When an obsessive ex endangers Sera, though, instinct drives him to get her out of town. Watching her come to life outside the city makes him feel like he’s finally done something right, and her touch ignites desire he doesn’t want to ignore.
But soon, lighthearted flirting becomes a dangerous game of seduction, where every day spent falling into each other is another day avoiding the truth. Sera’s ex isn’t the only one who’d disapprove of their relationship. There are wolves who would kill to get Sera out of Julio’s life—starting with his own blood kin.
Product Warnings
Contains endless summer road trips, family drama, redneck werewolves, sexual power games and a taboo love affair between a submissive coyote who’s among the last of her kind and a dominant wolf who loves his heroine’s ass. Literally.
This blurb came from Goodreads.
E: I am a die-hard Moira Rogers fan and as the Southern Arcana series has continued we have been treated to all sorts of combinations involving strongly alpha women and men finding their HEA in the midst of deadly politics and realizing that in order to live in an environment where weaker individuals were not exploited they had to rule. This is the first one with a submissive heroine, not a weak person but one that showed exactly how dominance isn’t everything in a healthy structure. I loved how she had to change her self-perception while allowing others to realize her as an individual not just someone to protect. Not to mention that the sex scenes were extremely hot.
MinnChica: I too have been a long time fan of Rogers, and the Southern Arcana series is one of my all time favorite paranormal romance series. Add in Julio, the sexy alpha I’ve been dying to get more of since the moment he walked into the series. And Sera is one of those heroines that I’ve been waiting for her to get her HEA. And like E said, it was a change of pace for this series to focus on a heroine who was more submissive than dominate. It was a fun twist for both Sera and Julio and the overall tone of the series.
E: Impulse deals with a lot of the aftermath of the previous books and how some things have lingering effects on people. It also deals with the intense drive for survival. Not just of an individual but as a species. The combination of those two things made Julio and Sera very complex characters. Throwing in the overall disfunction in the ruling structure not to mention some nasty people out for revenge and the entire world continues to be extremely fascinating. While Julio and Sera’s relationship is mainly between the two of them, their actions have reverberations in the larger world just like that world impacts them. As I think about all of the different threads that have been spun and how they continue to come into play I am really in awe. Yet with all this complexity I never felt lost as a reader.
MinnChica: One of the things I love most about this series is that it really does take a look at the social structure of the overall world. Rogers doesn’t sugar coat things. The world is gritty and unfair and full of complications that are constantly being addressed by the characters. I loved and hated watching Sera have to go through the pain and heartache of what is expected of her, and what she truly wants. With Julio at her side, she really seemed to come more and more out of her shell. She stuck up for her desires, her needs instead of pushing herself into the background of what was best for the “greater good.” Plus, the fact that she and Julio sparked up the page with their sexy times was just another added bonus!
E: Sera’s character development was amazing. I also really loved watching Julio come to grips with himself, his past, and what he actually had the power to control. The self-control he had to allow/support Sera’s growth was truly impressive. I think one of my favorite scenes with them was when he basically told Sera that while they would have sex, if she wanted, it wasn’t going to be quick. He wasn’t just talking about the physical act but the entire build up from becoming comfortable around each other, flirting, making out, and not over the course of an hour or so but stretching over days. My heart completely melted then because it had been evident just how much he desired Sera and had for months. That same patience carried over into his dealing with the much smaller, poor, scattered packs across the south.
MinnChica: Agreed, that was probably one of my favorite parts as well. Julio and Sera just meshed so well together. Their romance built up over time, even though it was obvious in the last book that the two were attracted to each other. They took their time becoming friends before lovers, and it made their journey that much sweeter. But also on the political front they were perfectly balanced. Sera was the calming presence, she had an almost den mother quality to her as they traveled around. And then Julio would take over the father role, nurturing and providing and yet stern when it was needed. The book really just worked for me on so many different levels!
E: I never would have guess they would have made such a perfect combination when it came to politics but as Impulse unfolded I loved seeing them work together. Like MinnChica said this worked on so many different levels. It hit all of my book happy spots while continuing the storyline and providing hints for future events, struggles and relationships. Even after re-reading this specifically for the review I found myself unable to escape the spell that Rogers had cast and just enjoyed reading it again.
I give Impulse a very strong A.
MinnChica: All in all this might have been one of my favorite Southern Arcana books. I absolutely loved and adored Julio and Sera together, and not just in the steamy moments, but in all the tender ones too. They worked so well together and I just loved their romance and their relationship and everything they had to go through to be together. Although I love everything Rogers writes, I secretly wish they would put me out of my misery and just write Southern Arcana books back to back to back.
I give Impulse an A
Re-reading this for my upcoming review. Soo good.
Full review to come soon. Enjoyed reading this the second time around as much as I did the first.
Review originally posted here: http://thebookpushers.com/2012/09/03/...
Publisher: Samhain
Publish Date: Sep 4th
How we got this book: eARC from author
Sera Sinclaire is a New Orleans rarity: a submissive coyote trapped in a town overrun by dominant shapeshifters. Worse, she lacks the willpower to deny the alphas-in-shining-armor who need her soothing presence, even when their protectiveness threatens to crush her hard-won self-reliance.
The only shifter she doesn’t want to push away is Julio Mendoza, a wolf so dominant he’s earned a place on the Southeast council.
Julio doesn’t have the luxury of indulging in the vacation his psychic shrink insists he needs. He can’t turn his back on responsibilities he’s beginning to wish he’d never shouldered. When an obsessive ex endangers Sera, though, instinct drives him to get her out of town. Watching her come to life outside the city makes him feel like he’s finally done something right, and her touch ignites desire he doesn’t want to ignore.
But soon, lighthearted flirting becomes a dangerous game of seduction, where every day spent falling into each other is another day avoiding the truth. Sera’s ex isn’t the only one who’d disapprove of their relationship. There are wolves who would kill to get Sera out of Julio’s life—starting with his own blood kin.
Product Warnings
Contains endless summer road trips, family drama, redneck werewolves, sexual power games and a taboo love affair between a submissive coyote who’s among the last of her kind and a dominant wolf who loves his heroine’s ass. Literally.
This blurb came from Goodreads.
E: I am a die-hard Moira Rogers fan and as the Southern Arcana series has continued we have been treated to all sorts of combinations involving strongly alpha women and men finding their HEA in the midst of deadly politics and realizing that in order to live in an environment where weaker individuals were not exploited they had to rule. This is the first one with a submissive heroine, not a weak person but one that showed exactly how dominance isn’t everything in a healthy structure. I loved how she had to change her self-perception while allowing others to realize her as an individual not just someone to protect. Not to mention that the sex scenes were extremely hot.
MinnChica: I too have been a long time fan of Rogers, and the Southern Arcana series is one of my all time favorite paranormal romance series. Add in Julio, the sexy alpha I’ve been dying to get more of since the moment he walked into the series. And Sera is one of those heroines that I’ve been waiting for her to get her HEA. And like E said, it was a change of pace for this series to focus on a heroine who was more submissive than dominate. It was a fun twist for both Sera and Julio and the overall tone of the series.
E: Impulse deals with a lot of the aftermath of the previous books and how some things have lingering effects on people. It also deals with the intense drive for survival. Not just of an individual but as a species. The combination of those two things made Julio and Sera very complex characters. Throwing in the overall disfunction in the ruling structure not to mention some nasty people out for revenge and the entire world continues to be extremely fascinating. While Julio and Sera’s relationship is mainly between the two of them, their actions have reverberations in the larger world just like that world impacts them. As I think about all of the different threads that have been spun and how they continue to come into play I am really in awe. Yet with all this complexity I never felt lost as a reader.
MinnChica: One of the things I love most about this series is that it really does take a look at the social structure of the overall world. Rogers doesn’t sugar coat things. The world is gritty and unfair and full of complications that are constantly being addressed by the characters. I loved and hated watching Sera have to go through the pain and heartache of what is expected of her, and what she truly wants. With Julio at her side, she really seemed to come more and more out of her shell. She stuck up for her desires, her needs instead of pushing herself into the background of what was best for the “greater good.” Plus, the fact that she and Julio sparked up the page with their sexy times was just another added bonus!
E: Sera’s character development was amazing. I also really loved watching Julio come to grips with himself, his past, and what he actually had the power to control. The self-control he had to allow/support Sera’s growth was truly impressive. I think one of my favorite scenes with them was when he basically told Sera that while they would have sex, if she wanted, it wasn’t going to be quick. He wasn’t just talking about the physical act but the entire build up from becoming comfortable around each other, flirting, making out, and not over the course of an hour or so but stretching over days. My heart completely melted then because it had been evident just how much he desired Sera and had for months. That same patience carried over into his dealing with the much smaller, poor, scattered packs across the south.
MinnChica: Agreed, that was probably one of my favorite parts as well. Julio and Sera just meshed so well together. Their romance built up over time, even though it was obvious in the last book that the two were attracted to each other. They took their time becoming friends before lovers, and it made their journey that much sweeter. But also on the political front they were perfectly balanced. Sera was the calming presence, she had an almost den mother quality to her as they traveled around. And then Julio would take over the father role, nurturing and providing and yet stern when it was needed. The book really just worked for me on so many different levels!
E: I never would have guess they would have made such a perfect combination when it came to politics but as Impulse unfolded I loved seeing them work together. Like MinnChica said this worked on so many different levels. It hit all of my book happy spots while continuing the storyline and providing hints for future events, struggles and relationships. Even after re-reading this specifically for the review I found myself unable to escape the spell that Rogers had cast and just enjoyed reading it again.
I give Impulse a very strong A.
MinnChica: All in all this might have been one of my favorite Southern Arcana books. I absolutely loved and adored Julio and Sera together, and not just in the steamy moments, but in all the tender ones too. They worked so well together and I just loved their romance and their relationship and everything they had to go through to be together. Although I love everything Rogers writes, I secretly wish they would put me out of my misery and just write Southern Arcana books back to back to back.
I give Impulse an A
May 16, 2021
Damn, I can't believe I'm nearly at the end of this series - I'm kind of sad that I'm about to pick up the next book!
Ever since I read Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel set, I've had a love for authors who can write a complex, independent, competent character who's wired as a sub. There aren't a lot of them out there, so I treasure them when I find them. And yes, with Sera, I feel like Bree and Donna (the authors who make up Moira Rogers and Kit Rocha) have done exactly that.
I loved her journey from a tangle of grudging acknowledgement / fear of what she was and what she needed through to acceptance and even celebration of what makes her her. And while the abusive ex is a common trope in romance stories, I liked that the authors made it just a little more complex (albeit still totally unacceptable) in this book.
When it comes to the male lead, I didn't really gel with Julio in the previous books, but after reading this one, I kind of want to go back and reread them to see if the authors have woven in the seeds of who he is in this book, or whether it's all come in out of the blue. I liked what we got to see of him in this instalment - my only criticism is that while the other books in the series have felt like they've equally been the stories of both leads, this one felt much more like it was Sera's story, and Julio was much less developed as a character.
Still though, I loved the book, and felt like it continued the 'every book better than the last one' trajectory this series has been on since Book 2. And I simultaneously can't wait / am dreading starting Book 6 because, damnit it, then the series will be over.
Ever since I read Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel set, I've had a love for authors who can write a complex, independent, competent character who's wired as a sub. There aren't a lot of them out there, so I treasure them when I find them. And yes, with Sera, I feel like Bree and Donna (the authors who make up Moira Rogers and Kit Rocha) have done exactly that.
I loved her journey from a tangle of grudging acknowledgement / fear of what she was and what she needed through to acceptance and even celebration of what makes her her. And while the abusive ex is a common trope in romance stories, I liked that the authors made it just a little more complex (albeit still totally unacceptable) in this book.
When it comes to the male lead, I didn't really gel with Julio in the previous books, but after reading this one, I kind of want to go back and reread them to see if the authors have woven in the seeds of who he is in this book, or whether it's all come in out of the blue. I liked what we got to see of him in this instalment - my only criticism is that while the other books in the series have felt like they've equally been the stories of both leads, this one felt much more like it was Sera's story, and Julio was much less developed as a character.
Still though, I loved the book, and felt like it continued the 'every book better than the last one' trajectory this series has been on since Book 2. And I simultaneously can't wait / am dreading starting Book 6 because, damnit it, then the series will be over.
June 10, 2018
Part of my frustration may be that I'm binging this series, and part may be that Cipher is a tough act to follow. This felt repetitive.
Oh, look, another impromptu road trip that ends up in true love. Where have I seen that before? The setting is getting stale.
But there were still aspects I enjoyed. Even if Sera's constant internal hangups about being a coyote in a wolf society were tiring, it was a new dimension to explore, because the last time we saw a non-wolf shifter in love was back in book 1, but Mackenzie wasn't in love with another shifter, so the power dynamic was different.
And while this was definitely still about power dynamics, Julio was a much more laid-back dominant type than we've seen in this series, and in my personal experience across most of the romances I've read. I liked him, in terms of both personality and character development, much more than I liked Sera. They did have great banter together, which was a light and breezy change from the previous book's angst.
It wasn't a bad read for me, but the formula is showing through the story at this point.
Oh, look, another impromptu road trip that ends up in true love. Where have I seen that before? The setting is getting stale.
But there were still aspects I enjoyed. Even if Sera's constant internal hangups about being a coyote in a wolf society were tiring, it was a new dimension to explore, because the last time we saw a non-wolf shifter in love was back in book 1, but Mackenzie wasn't in love with another shifter, so the power dynamic was different.
And while this was definitely still about power dynamics, Julio was a much more laid-back dominant type than we've seen in this series, and in my personal experience across most of the romances I've read. I liked him, in terms of both personality and character development, much more than I liked Sera. They did have great banter together, which was a light and breezy change from the previous book's angst.
It wasn't a bad read for me, but the formula is showing through the story at this point.
March 1, 2025
Submissive coyote Sera Sinclaire fled her controlling, abusive husband, Josh, to get to her badly injured dad in NOLA, a town full of dominant wolf shifters. Remembering the shape Sera arrived in, alpha Julio Mendoza, watched Sera struggle for independence very protectively from a distance, for months. Josh arrives ready for Sera, to come home and start a family. Julo offers protection and shelter at SE-HQ. After Sera accepts, they get close to admitting mutual attraction and take a road trip.
Since many wolves would prefer coyotes be extinct, Sera’s unease lessened while accompanying Julio but his rose as many of the people his new position represent identify with Sera’s life challenges more. Meanwhile, Julio’s dad and uncle go to extremes because of their displacement and Alex has conclave news to share. To my taste, this outing concentrated much more on the romance and this reader wanted more tension and action for a read I’d more than like.
Rating: 3.75stars
Since many wolves would prefer coyotes be extinct, Sera’s unease lessened while accompanying Julio but his rose as many of the people his new position represent identify with Sera’s life challenges more. Meanwhile, Julio’s dad and uncle go to extremes because of their displacement and Alex has conclave news to share. To my taste, this outing concentrated much more on the romance and this reader wanted more tension and action for a read I’d more than like.
Rating: 3.75stars
July 25, 2017
If you like your paranormal crammed full every sort of paranormal there might be, this series is for you. Warning, the volumes in this series must be read in order as all the world building takes place in the first volume and then each story flows from the one before.
I really loved these. Complicated plots, full of unexpected twists and turns, well-developed characters.
Something I especially appreciated and something that is not common enough on the part of series writers is that the author did the world-building and then told each story and didn't waste my time by building up for the fifth or ending on a cliffhanger. She allowed this story to be this story, not an ad for the next.
So glad I read the entire series.
I really loved these. Complicated plots, full of unexpected twists and turns, well-developed characters.
Something I especially appreciated and something that is not common enough on the part of series writers is that the author did the world-building and then told each story and didn't waste my time by building up for the fifth or ending on a cliffhanger. She allowed this story to be this story, not an ad for the next.
So glad I read the entire series.
October 8, 2018
Can we talk about how much I love the intersections of shifter type, social class, and race here? BECAUSE I FUCKING LOVE THOSE THINGS. I love that Sera is more than a battered woman. I love that Julio is exactly who he is. I loved their tour of the southeast and the different people they met along the way, especially the pack at the beach. I extra plus plus plus loved Sera’s awareness of the fact that she is pushing people away who can help her and that she might be overdoing it, and the complicated intersection of her kink and her magic. Hhhhhh yes.
September 4, 2012
Joint Review with E originally posted here: http://thebookpushers.com/2012/09/03/...
E: I am a die-hard Moira Rogers fan and as the Southern Arcana series has continued we have been treated to all sorts of combinations involving strongly alpha women and men finding their HEA in the midst of deadly politics and realizing that in order to live in an environment where weaker individuals were not exploited they had to rule. This is the first one with a submissive heroine, not a weak person but one that showed exactly how dominance isn’t everything in a healthy structure. I loved how she had to change her self-perception while allowing others to realize her as an individual not just someone to protect. Not to mention that the sex scenes were extremely hot.
MinnChica: I too have been a long time fan of Rogers, and the Southern Arcana series is one of my all time favorite paranormal romance series. Add in Julio, the sexy alpha I’ve been dying to get more of since the moment he walked into the series. And Sera is one of those heroines that I’ve been waiting for her to get her HEA. And like E said, it was a change of pace for this series to focus on a heroine who was more submissive than dominate. It was a fun twist for both Sera and Julio and the overall tone of the series.
E: Impulse deals with a lot of the aftermath of the previous books and how some things have lingering effects on people. It also deals with the intense drive for survival. Not just of an individual but as a species. The combination of those two things made Julio and Sera very complex characters. Throwing in the overall disfunction in the ruling structure not to mention some nasty people out for revenge and the entire world continues to be extremely fascinating. While Julio and Sera’s relationship is mainly between the two of them, their actions have reverberations in the larger world just like that world impacts them. As I think about all of the different threads that have been spun and how they continue to come into play I am really in awe. Yet with all this complexity I never felt lost as a reader.
MinnChica: One of the things I love most about this series is that it really does take a look at the social structure of the overall world. Rogers doesn’t sugar coat things. The world is gritty and unfair and full of complications that are constantly being addressed by the characters. I loved and hated watching Sera have to go through the pain and heartache of what is expected of her, and what she truly wants. With Julio at her side, she really seemed to come more and more out of her shell. She stuck up for her desires, her needs instead of pushing herself into the background of what was best for the “greater good.” Plus, the fact that she and Julio sparked up the page with their sexy times was just another added bonus!
E: Sera’s character development was amazing. I also really loved watching Julio come to grips with himself, his past, and what he actually had the power to control. The self-control he had to allow/support Sera’s growth was truly impressive. I think one of my favorite scenes with them was when he basically told Sera that while they would have sex, if she wanted, it wasn’t going to be quick. He wasn’t just talking about the physical act but the entire build up from becoming comfortable around each other, flirting, making out, and not over the course of an hour or so but stretching over days. My heart completely melted then because it had been evident just how much he desired Sera and had for months. That same patience carried over into his dealing with the much smaller, poor, scattered packs across the south.
MinnChica: Agreed, that was probably one of my favorite parts as well. Julio and Sera just meshed so well together. Their romance built up over time, even though it was obvious in the last book that the two were attracted to each other. They took their time becoming friends before lovers, and it made their journey that much sweeter. But also on the political front they were perfectly balanced. Sera was the calming presence, she had an almost den mother quality to her as they traveled around. And then Julio would take over the father role, nurturing and providing and yet stern when it was needed. The book really just worked for me on so many different levels!
E: I never would have guess they would have made such a perfect combination when it came to politics but as Impulse unfolded I loved seeing them work together. Like MinnChica said this worked on so many different levels. It hit all of my book happy spots while continuing the storyline and providing hints for future events, struggles and relationships. Even after re-reading this specifically for the review I found myself unable to escape the spell that Rogers had cast and just enjoyed reading it again.
I give Impulse a very strong A.
MinnChica: All in all this might have been one of my favorite Southern Arcana books. I absolutely loved and adored Julio and Sera together, and not just in the steamy moments, but in all the tender ones too. They worked so well together and I just loved their romance and their relationship and everything they had to go through to be together. Although I love everything Rogers writes, I secretly wish they would put me out of my misery and just write Southern Arcana books back to back to back.
I give Impulse an A
E: I am a die-hard Moira Rogers fan and as the Southern Arcana series has continued we have been treated to all sorts of combinations involving strongly alpha women and men finding their HEA in the midst of deadly politics and realizing that in order to live in an environment where weaker individuals were not exploited they had to rule. This is the first one with a submissive heroine, not a weak person but one that showed exactly how dominance isn’t everything in a healthy structure. I loved how she had to change her self-perception while allowing others to realize her as an individual not just someone to protect. Not to mention that the sex scenes were extremely hot.
MinnChica: I too have been a long time fan of Rogers, and the Southern Arcana series is one of my all time favorite paranormal romance series. Add in Julio, the sexy alpha I’ve been dying to get more of since the moment he walked into the series. And Sera is one of those heroines that I’ve been waiting for her to get her HEA. And like E said, it was a change of pace for this series to focus on a heroine who was more submissive than dominate. It was a fun twist for both Sera and Julio and the overall tone of the series.
E: Impulse deals with a lot of the aftermath of the previous books and how some things have lingering effects on people. It also deals with the intense drive for survival. Not just of an individual but as a species. The combination of those two things made Julio and Sera very complex characters. Throwing in the overall disfunction in the ruling structure not to mention some nasty people out for revenge and the entire world continues to be extremely fascinating. While Julio and Sera’s relationship is mainly between the two of them, their actions have reverberations in the larger world just like that world impacts them. As I think about all of the different threads that have been spun and how they continue to come into play I am really in awe. Yet with all this complexity I never felt lost as a reader.
MinnChica: One of the things I love most about this series is that it really does take a look at the social structure of the overall world. Rogers doesn’t sugar coat things. The world is gritty and unfair and full of complications that are constantly being addressed by the characters. I loved and hated watching Sera have to go through the pain and heartache of what is expected of her, and what she truly wants. With Julio at her side, she really seemed to come more and more out of her shell. She stuck up for her desires, her needs instead of pushing herself into the background of what was best for the “greater good.” Plus, the fact that she and Julio sparked up the page with their sexy times was just another added bonus!
E: Sera’s character development was amazing. I also really loved watching Julio come to grips with himself, his past, and what he actually had the power to control. The self-control he had to allow/support Sera’s growth was truly impressive. I think one of my favorite scenes with them was when he basically told Sera that while they would have sex, if she wanted, it wasn’t going to be quick. He wasn’t just talking about the physical act but the entire build up from becoming comfortable around each other, flirting, making out, and not over the course of an hour or so but stretching over days. My heart completely melted then because it had been evident just how much he desired Sera and had for months. That same patience carried over into his dealing with the much smaller, poor, scattered packs across the south.
MinnChica: Agreed, that was probably one of my favorite parts as well. Julio and Sera just meshed so well together. Their romance built up over time, even though it was obvious in the last book that the two were attracted to each other. They took their time becoming friends before lovers, and it made their journey that much sweeter. But also on the political front they were perfectly balanced. Sera was the calming presence, she had an almost den mother quality to her as they traveled around. And then Julio would take over the father role, nurturing and providing and yet stern when it was needed. The book really just worked for me on so many different levels!
E: I never would have guess they would have made such a perfect combination when it came to politics but as Impulse unfolded I loved seeing them work together. Like MinnChica said this worked on so many different levels. It hit all of my book happy spots while continuing the storyline and providing hints for future events, struggles and relationships. Even after re-reading this specifically for the review I found myself unable to escape the spell that Rogers had cast and just enjoyed reading it again.
I give Impulse a very strong A.
MinnChica: All in all this might have been one of my favorite Southern Arcana books. I absolutely loved and adored Julio and Sera together, and not just in the steamy moments, but in all the tender ones too. They worked so well together and I just loved their romance and their relationship and everything they had to go through to be together. Although I love everything Rogers writes, I secretly wish they would put me out of my misery and just write Southern Arcana books back to back to back.
I give Impulse an A
October 17, 2017
The Moira Rogers team is fantastic! I find myself continually drawn into their worlds and caring about their characters to such an extent that I actually cry and feel for them. And the romance is steamy hot! If you love sexy, engaging stories with strong heros and equally strong heroines plus a HEA, I highly recommend any of their books! (Though I am partial to the Bloodhounds series... C'mon, yall - give me some more books, please!)
January 30, 2018
I took a break from reading the series because it was getting repetitive. I thought maybe it hadn’t been long enough, as I found a good portion of this slow and sort of boring, and as thinking I should have waited longer. But in the end, I did finish and I thought it went out on a stronger note than it started.
Still waiting for that shifter book that doesn’t use alphas and submissive and dominants, though, because real wolves aren’t like that. Maybe some day...
Still waiting for that shifter book that doesn’t use alphas and submissive and dominants, though, because real wolves aren’t like that. Maybe some day...
dnf
November 29, 2020This DNF was on me. I got 35% of the way through and couldn't connect with the people or the story. I read the first 4 books in this series several years ago (I forget now how long ago it was) and I don't remember any of the characters or the back story. Also, I'm finding in my old age (35 lol) that I am reading far less paranormal romance/shifter stories. I don't think that has anything to do with this particular story, I think I should have tried to finish this series years ago
October 24, 2018
Not as good as the last 3, but over all good story. Glad to see Sera and Julio find love, even if its outside the species they were born, wonder what you would call a mix species shifter? A Colf? A coyolf? Wolte? Either way I'm here for it!! Sorry about the patricide and also the glad for the road trip!
November 7, 2025
Sera is a submissive coyote shifter living with wolf shifters
What I enjoyed most:
* Pretty much any scene with others like Patrick, Anna and Jackson
What could have been better:
* If I did a drinking game about how many times Sera mentioned/thought about being a submissive coyote, I would be dead
* I just didn't care about either lead
What I enjoyed most:
* Pretty much any scene with others like Patrick, Anna and Jackson
What could have been better:
* If I did a drinking game about how many times Sera mentioned/thought about being a submissive coyote, I would be dead
* I just didn't care about either lead
April 30, 2023
I would rate this a 3.5 and rounded up to 4 because of just how strong this series is overall.
The banter between Julio and Sera was so good. As was the push and pull between instinct and what they really, truly want and need. The action was the perfect compliment to the emotional tension.
The banter between Julio and Sera was so good. As was the push and pull between instinct and what they really, truly want and need. The action was the perfect compliment to the emotional tension.
May 22, 2020
Great
Awesome series great read need my next fix of this series thank you.awesome as always great story lines.love it!!!!!!<3 love love this series
Awesome series great read need my next fix of this series thank you.awesome as always great story lines.love it!!!!!!<3 love love this series
September 26, 2012
Really 4.5 Stars
reviewed at http://scorchingbookreviews.blogspot....
Coyote shifter Sera is a submissive female of a dying breed. This means that every male Coyote thinks it is their God given right to impregnate her in the interest of continuing their species. Sera is so submissive that she can’t seem to say no to anyone slightly Dominant to her and it left her in an incredibly unhappy marriage. When her husband finds she is taking contraceptive pills, he beats her badly, sending her running to the sanctuary offered by her much tougher friends.
Amongst those friends is wolf-shifter Julio, a Dominant who makes both woman and Coyote want to howl with pleasure. Julio has his own nightmares to deal with but he never shy’s away from hers. He seems to treat her with kid gloves but when her husband finds out where she is and starts to stalk her, he decides to take her on the road whilst they neutralise the threat. Sera is a woman he shouldn’t want to mix with but he can’t help but be attracted to all aspects of the fiery little Coyote. Surely being in such close contact will only amp up the sexual tension between them?
Whilst on the road, they take the opportunity to visit the more rural packs, making sure that they are getting everything they need. It is whilst visiting these packs that Sera starts to realise that maybe she brings more to a situation than being a “Coyote slut”. There are those that don’t look down on her for what she is, there are those that appreciate her heart and strength. As the relationship between her and Julio starts to heat up, the bonds between them start to strengthen. But there are those that would happily see the two of them apart, shifters that think such an inter-species union is wrong on many levels. Will our couple be able to survive the actions of some of the more dangerous opponents to their relationship?
First off, I will state that this is not a standalone. You need to read the others in the series to be able to know the characters back story. I will go further and say that you should reread the others before beginning this one to refresh your knowledge of them too. That being said it is worth doing both of these things because this is a really hot little book.
The sexual tension between Sera and Julio is obvious from the start of the book. They both feel it, but they won’t openly admit it to each other. Once they hit the road, I knew they didn’t have a hope in hell of keeping their hands off each other. Once they give in, the action is blooming hot and heavy. Turns out Sera’s submissive nature extends to the bedroom and she is willing to try almost anything in her quest for pleasure. Julio is a very Alpha male; he is more than willing to keep up with Sera in the bedroom. This leaves us with some incredibly smoking scenes. Seriously. Like need a fan installing in my underwear hot.
I loved both of the characters, but I have to say I loved Sera more. Julio was hot as hell, protective, lovely and sexy, but I expected that. Sera was a complete surprise. She had been basically been broken by a situation that was out of her control. She couldn’t help being a female coyote, a submissive or not maternal, yet she was punished for being all of the above. In the case of the latter, physically punished as her delightful husband beat the ever loving crap out of her for it. Once she gets on the road she discovers so much about herself. She discovers there is no shame in being a submissive, that with the right Dominant she can flourish and be an active part of a relationship, there to buffer out Dominant urges and be a support mechanism for a worthy man. She also discovers that she is a good person, no matter what her lineage. All of this is in no small part down to Julio and the confidence that he instils in her. I loved them together.
Overall, this is a fabulous addition to the series. With a submissive, kinky coyote and a lovely Alpha, there is fire-works, heat and even a gun-toting bad guy. I highly recommend it.
reviewed at http://scorchingbookreviews.blogspot....
Coyote shifter Sera is a submissive female of a dying breed. This means that every male Coyote thinks it is their God given right to impregnate her in the interest of continuing their species. Sera is so submissive that she can’t seem to say no to anyone slightly Dominant to her and it left her in an incredibly unhappy marriage. When her husband finds she is taking contraceptive pills, he beats her badly, sending her running to the sanctuary offered by her much tougher friends.
Amongst those friends is wolf-shifter Julio, a Dominant who makes both woman and Coyote want to howl with pleasure. Julio has his own nightmares to deal with but he never shy’s away from hers. He seems to treat her with kid gloves but when her husband finds out where she is and starts to stalk her, he decides to take her on the road whilst they neutralise the threat. Sera is a woman he shouldn’t want to mix with but he can’t help but be attracted to all aspects of the fiery little Coyote. Surely being in such close contact will only amp up the sexual tension between them?
Whilst on the road, they take the opportunity to visit the more rural packs, making sure that they are getting everything they need. It is whilst visiting these packs that Sera starts to realise that maybe she brings more to a situation than being a “Coyote slut”. There are those that don’t look down on her for what she is, there are those that appreciate her heart and strength. As the relationship between her and Julio starts to heat up, the bonds between them start to strengthen. But there are those that would happily see the two of them apart, shifters that think such an inter-species union is wrong on many levels. Will our couple be able to survive the actions of some of the more dangerous opponents to their relationship?
First off, I will state that this is not a standalone. You need to read the others in the series to be able to know the characters back story. I will go further and say that you should reread the others before beginning this one to refresh your knowledge of them too. That being said it is worth doing both of these things because this is a really hot little book.
The sexual tension between Sera and Julio is obvious from the start of the book. They both feel it, but they won’t openly admit it to each other. Once they hit the road, I knew they didn’t have a hope in hell of keeping their hands off each other. Once they give in, the action is blooming hot and heavy. Turns out Sera’s submissive nature extends to the bedroom and she is willing to try almost anything in her quest for pleasure. Julio is a very Alpha male; he is more than willing to keep up with Sera in the bedroom. This leaves us with some incredibly smoking scenes. Seriously. Like need a fan installing in my underwear hot.
I loved both of the characters, but I have to say I loved Sera more. Julio was hot as hell, protective, lovely and sexy, but I expected that. Sera was a complete surprise. She had been basically been broken by a situation that was out of her control. She couldn’t help being a female coyote, a submissive or not maternal, yet she was punished for being all of the above. In the case of the latter, physically punished as her delightful husband beat the ever loving crap out of her for it. Once she gets on the road she discovers so much about herself. She discovers there is no shame in being a submissive, that with the right Dominant she can flourish and be an active part of a relationship, there to buffer out Dominant urges and be a support mechanism for a worthy man. She also discovers that she is a good person, no matter what her lineage. All of this is in no small part down to Julio and the confidence that he instils in her. I loved them together.
Overall, this is a fabulous addition to the series. With a submissive, kinky coyote and a lovely Alpha, there is fire-works, heat and even a gun-toting bad guy. I highly recommend it.
September 14, 2012
I sure wish I’d read more of these Southern Arcana series books. I’m a huge shapeshifter fan, and Moira Rogers has become one of the best at writing solid paranormal stories with intriguing characters.
First off, I do have to say that reading Book 5 in the series probably isn’t the best place to start. While Ms. Rogers is good at filling the happenings of previous events, there are times I felt my reading would have been more enhanced if I’d read the other books to know exactly what these characters had gone through to get them where they are right then. Especially in the case of our hero, Julio, a wolf. He’d been tortured and Sera, his heroine who is a submissive coyote, was there for him at the end. Now, granted, since I haven’t read any of the other books, I don’t know if this particular scenario is in one of them. If it is, it would have helped reading that story. If it’s not, I would have liked more depth of that situation in this book that Julio went through.
The same is also true with Sera. The coyotes are few in number. Her marriage to Josh, an alpha coyote, has ended in her leaving him behind after too much abuse. We do get a bit more with this situation when Josh locates Sera to make her return to him. Her submissive coyote wants to give in, but the woman in her knows better. Julio’s protection is what she needs, and that wolf is determined to keep Josh away from her. I don’t know if Sera’s and Josh’s relationship has been depicted in earlier books, but if so, it would have been nice to read about it instead of being told about it in this book. However, the few times we do see Josh brings home how far gone he is when it comes to Sera.
But what makes this book is the slowly developing relationship between this alpha wolf and submissive coyote. They go from protector/abused to friends and then lovers. Julio is cautious with Sera in the beginning, wanting to make sure she’s ready to move on. She wants to move on. Now. With Julio in her bed. He still takes it slow, inviting her along on a short vacation with no stress and a lot of fun. Sera only wants to be with Julio, but looking forward to a good time turns into something else entirely for them both. They see firsthand how other regions of wolves are now living after being left high and dry by their prior leaders. Though this adds more responsibility onto what Julio has on his shoulders already, the fact he has Sera by his side helps tremendously. They’re becoming partners, sharing everything from the most important to the smallest detail in their lives.
The balance between Julio’s guilt due to his family causing such havoc for his kind and Sera’s need for protection and fear of losing her independence, along with her giving nature, is nicely done, and it works well with these characters. There are a few actual shifting scenes, which seem to be disappearing from a lot of shifter stories lately – at least the ones I’ve read. I would have liked even a few more here, but what’s done adds to the character of both leads. I do like the end for Sera when she has to protect herself, make her coyote stand up and fight her instinct of showing her belly to be dominated. Julio also has his moment of finally doing the right thing, though it’s quite difficult for him, as it would be for anyone put in that situation. He handles it well, but then he has Sera by his side.
I’m heading to the TBR pile to make sure I have the first four books in this series lined up. I’m intrigued by other characters from those books, their stories as engrossing as this one, I’m sure.
See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com
First off, I do have to say that reading Book 5 in the series probably isn’t the best place to start. While Ms. Rogers is good at filling the happenings of previous events, there are times I felt my reading would have been more enhanced if I’d read the other books to know exactly what these characters had gone through to get them where they are right then. Especially in the case of our hero, Julio, a wolf. He’d been tortured and Sera, his heroine who is a submissive coyote, was there for him at the end. Now, granted, since I haven’t read any of the other books, I don’t know if this particular scenario is in one of them. If it is, it would have helped reading that story. If it’s not, I would have liked more depth of that situation in this book that Julio went through.
The same is also true with Sera. The coyotes are few in number. Her marriage to Josh, an alpha coyote, has ended in her leaving him behind after too much abuse. We do get a bit more with this situation when Josh locates Sera to make her return to him. Her submissive coyote wants to give in, but the woman in her knows better. Julio’s protection is what she needs, and that wolf is determined to keep Josh away from her. I don’t know if Sera’s and Josh’s relationship has been depicted in earlier books, but if so, it would have been nice to read about it instead of being told about it in this book. However, the few times we do see Josh brings home how far gone he is when it comes to Sera.
But what makes this book is the slowly developing relationship between this alpha wolf and submissive coyote. They go from protector/abused to friends and then lovers. Julio is cautious with Sera in the beginning, wanting to make sure she’s ready to move on. She wants to move on. Now. With Julio in her bed. He still takes it slow, inviting her along on a short vacation with no stress and a lot of fun. Sera only wants to be with Julio, but looking forward to a good time turns into something else entirely for them both. They see firsthand how other regions of wolves are now living after being left high and dry by their prior leaders. Though this adds more responsibility onto what Julio has on his shoulders already, the fact he has Sera by his side helps tremendously. They’re becoming partners, sharing everything from the most important to the smallest detail in their lives.
The balance between Julio’s guilt due to his family causing such havoc for his kind and Sera’s need for protection and fear of losing her independence, along with her giving nature, is nicely done, and it works well with these characters. There are a few actual shifting scenes, which seem to be disappearing from a lot of shifter stories lately – at least the ones I’ve read. I would have liked even a few more here, but what’s done adds to the character of both leads. I do like the end for Sera when she has to protect herself, make her coyote stand up and fight her instinct of showing her belly to be dominated. Julio also has his moment of finally doing the right thing, though it’s quite difficult for him, as it would be for anyone put in that situation. He handles it well, but then he has Sera by his side.
I’m heading to the TBR pile to make sure I have the first four books in this series lined up. I’m intrigued by other characters from those books, their stories as engrossing as this one, I’m sure.
See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com
August 4, 2013
Impulse: Southern Arcana PJV Quickie: Impulse delivered exactly what I expect from the awesome writing duo that is Moira Rogers: great characters, fast-paced action, hot, hot sex, and fabulous world-building.
Review
Julio Mendoza is a very alpha wolf. He’s been through an extremely traumatic experience, and is spending more time trying to take care of others than himself. He’s dealing with the after-affects of torture, and fighting to keep dirty shifter politics from affecting the shifters he considers to be under his care. His psychic healer decides he needs a vacation to avoid self-destruction.
Sera is one of the last remaining coyote shifters and as beta as they come – her drive to please the other shifters no matter how much it might hurt herself is overpowering. She left her abusive ex husband and came to New Orleans for protection, but when it appears he’s followed her to the Crescent City, the best plan of action appears to be sending her along with Julio on his vacation.
Of course, the vacation doesn’t turn out to be very relaxing, and life on the road has a few surprises in store for Julio and Sera.
_____________________
I am a huge fan of Moira Rogers, and of all their books, the Southern Arcana series is probably my favorite. Julio and Sera both appear at first to be pretty straight-forward characters, but as you read you uncover new layers and nuances, and understand why they are perfect for each other, even as they both fight the attraction. Moira Rogers has a way of writing that shows the complexity of the characters while highlighting important world-building elements instead of using the dreaded ‘info dump’:
"None of it would matter if her ex was back in town. Josh could corner her and drown her in shapeshifter magic, and everything she wanted would fade away under the purest driving need of all. The coyotes had a few generations left, at most, and desperation pulsed in her blood. She didn’t need to love Josh. She didn’t even need to like him. The instinctive parts of her would always submit to him, because nothing was more important to the coyote than the survival of their species. He’d take her. She’d let him. Together, they’d recreate the worst nightmares of her family’s past. Shooting him would be a lot less painful, for both of them."
I really liked these two together: Sera is submissive but wants to help, not just sit back and let others do the work for her, and Julio has to fight his nature to take over and protect her. The conflict between Sera’s want to be with Julio and her responsibility to carry on the coyote line was so much deeper than I expected.The political changes that have been brewing throughout the series are still in play, and it was very interesting to be able to visit other places and see how things work outside of New York and New Orleans. As a resident of a city known for public bribes and ‘kick-backs’, I found the distrust by the other shifters very interesting and true-to-life.
And I have to mention the magical gadgets – So. Freakin. Cool. I love the stuff Moira Rogers comes up with!
I would not recommend as a stand-alone as there are a lot of recurring characters whose back-story might make it hard to follow. I would recommend, however, grabbing this series and starting from the beginning (Crux) – you won’t be disappointed.
Recommendations:
If you like shapeshifters, political intrigue, hot sex scenes, action, and cool magical gadgets, I highly recommend this series.
Review
Julio Mendoza is a very alpha wolf. He’s been through an extremely traumatic experience, and is spending more time trying to take care of others than himself. He’s dealing with the after-affects of torture, and fighting to keep dirty shifter politics from affecting the shifters he considers to be under his care. His psychic healer decides he needs a vacation to avoid self-destruction.
Sera is one of the last remaining coyote shifters and as beta as they come – her drive to please the other shifters no matter how much it might hurt herself is overpowering. She left her abusive ex husband and came to New Orleans for protection, but when it appears he’s followed her to the Crescent City, the best plan of action appears to be sending her along with Julio on his vacation.
Of course, the vacation doesn’t turn out to be very relaxing, and life on the road has a few surprises in store for Julio and Sera.
_____________________
I am a huge fan of Moira Rogers, and of all their books, the Southern Arcana series is probably my favorite. Julio and Sera both appear at first to be pretty straight-forward characters, but as you read you uncover new layers and nuances, and understand why they are perfect for each other, even as they both fight the attraction. Moira Rogers has a way of writing that shows the complexity of the characters while highlighting important world-building elements instead of using the dreaded ‘info dump’:
"None of it would matter if her ex was back in town. Josh could corner her and drown her in shapeshifter magic, and everything she wanted would fade away under the purest driving need of all. The coyotes had a few generations left, at most, and desperation pulsed in her blood. She didn’t need to love Josh. She didn’t even need to like him. The instinctive parts of her would always submit to him, because nothing was more important to the coyote than the survival of their species. He’d take her. She’d let him. Together, they’d recreate the worst nightmares of her family’s past. Shooting him would be a lot less painful, for both of them."
I really liked these two together: Sera is submissive but wants to help, not just sit back and let others do the work for her, and Julio has to fight his nature to take over and protect her. The conflict between Sera’s want to be with Julio and her responsibility to carry on the coyote line was so much deeper than I expected.The political changes that have been brewing throughout the series are still in play, and it was very interesting to be able to visit other places and see how things work outside of New York and New Orleans. As a resident of a city known for public bribes and ‘kick-backs’, I found the distrust by the other shifters very interesting and true-to-life.
And I have to mention the magical gadgets – So. Freakin. Cool. I love the stuff Moira Rogers comes up with!
I would not recommend as a stand-alone as there are a lot of recurring characters whose back-story might make it hard to follow. I would recommend, however, grabbing this series and starting from the beginning (Crux) – you won’t be disappointed.
Recommendations:
If you like shapeshifters, political intrigue, hot sex scenes, action, and cool magical gadgets, I highly recommend this series.
September 3, 2012
Originally posted at: http://whippedcream2.blogspot.com/201...
Sera Sinclaire is happy with where she is in life. She likes her job, loves her friends, and hopes she never has to see her ex-husband, Josh, again now that she lives far from his Arkansas home. She loves New Orleans, even if she is a bit of a rarity there: a submissive coyote shifter in a town filled with dominant wolves. Most of them, she just ignores, but one man keeps her on her toes. Julio Mendoza is the hottest thing she has ever seen, and she wouldn’t mind getting to know him better.
When her obsessive ex shows up in New Orleans, Julio convinces Sera to take a bit of a vacation, and he decides to combine business with a bit of pleasure and join her. Once they are out of town, both are able to relax and enjoy each other’s company. Harmless flirting becomes something more, and the attraction between them grows. Julio has pack business to attend to, and Sera worries that trouble could arise from her being along, since most wolves see her as less than worthy. But there is trouble around every corner, and Sera proves to Julio and to the others that being submissive doesn’t mean she can’t take care of herself. And Julio discovers that dominant doesn’t have to be bad with the right partner. Can these two learn to accept the growing feelings between them? When danger threatens, can Julio get to Sera in time to stop Josh and protect what he has come to realize is his mate? Will the wolves accept Sera as a wolf’s woman, or will trouble erupt?
Impulse is the fifth book in Moira Rogers’ Southern Arcana series, and is my favorite to date. This one takes the characters out of the familiar locale of New Orleans, and on a road trip across the south. I like the interaction between Sera and Julio, at times light and teasing, two people getting better acquainted while enjoying the trip. I liked watching as they began to sense that each of them wanted more than a light flirtation. I love the Southern Arcana world, and enjoyed this expansion of it to other areas.
Sera Sinclaire is strong, determined and ready to fight for the life she wants. She knows the wolves see her as weak; at times even she thinks she is. But with Julio, she learns that being submissive isn’t necessarily a bad thing, that it doesn’t make her a pushover. I like Sera’s inner strength, and her ability to make friends and soothe hurt feelings.
Julio Mendoza is strong, in both his magic and in sheer physical strength. He's handsome, sexy and protective of those he cares for. With Sera, he learns that he can let go for a while and just let her be in charge when it's the one thing she needs. I liked seeing him let her have her victories, and listening to her ideas without vetoing them out of hand. I enjoyed watching as he fell for her and discovered she wanted the same things he did.
This wouldn’t be a Moira Rogers book without the steamy and passionate romance, and there are a couple of absolutely toe curling scenes in this one. There is also non-stop action, danger, treachery and a bit of family betrayal to be dealt with. There are lots of new characters along the road trip, and some I would enjoy meeting again in the future. I enjoyed seeing how Sera and Julio were able to bring attention to the problems in the area outside of New Orleans, and it was fun seeing some of the characters from past books step up to help as well.
Do these two beat the odds for a happy ever after? I’m not saying, but I will warn you to stay by the air conditioner, this one is a scorcher.
Sera Sinclaire is happy with where she is in life. She likes her job, loves her friends, and hopes she never has to see her ex-husband, Josh, again now that she lives far from his Arkansas home. She loves New Orleans, even if she is a bit of a rarity there: a submissive coyote shifter in a town filled with dominant wolves. Most of them, she just ignores, but one man keeps her on her toes. Julio Mendoza is the hottest thing she has ever seen, and she wouldn’t mind getting to know him better.
When her obsessive ex shows up in New Orleans, Julio convinces Sera to take a bit of a vacation, and he decides to combine business with a bit of pleasure and join her. Once they are out of town, both are able to relax and enjoy each other’s company. Harmless flirting becomes something more, and the attraction between them grows. Julio has pack business to attend to, and Sera worries that trouble could arise from her being along, since most wolves see her as less than worthy. But there is trouble around every corner, and Sera proves to Julio and to the others that being submissive doesn’t mean she can’t take care of herself. And Julio discovers that dominant doesn’t have to be bad with the right partner. Can these two learn to accept the growing feelings between them? When danger threatens, can Julio get to Sera in time to stop Josh and protect what he has come to realize is his mate? Will the wolves accept Sera as a wolf’s woman, or will trouble erupt?
Impulse is the fifth book in Moira Rogers’ Southern Arcana series, and is my favorite to date. This one takes the characters out of the familiar locale of New Orleans, and on a road trip across the south. I like the interaction between Sera and Julio, at times light and teasing, two people getting better acquainted while enjoying the trip. I liked watching as they began to sense that each of them wanted more than a light flirtation. I love the Southern Arcana world, and enjoyed this expansion of it to other areas.
Sera Sinclaire is strong, determined and ready to fight for the life she wants. She knows the wolves see her as weak; at times even she thinks she is. But with Julio, she learns that being submissive isn’t necessarily a bad thing, that it doesn’t make her a pushover. I like Sera’s inner strength, and her ability to make friends and soothe hurt feelings.
Julio Mendoza is strong, in both his magic and in sheer physical strength. He's handsome, sexy and protective of those he cares for. With Sera, he learns that he can let go for a while and just let her be in charge when it's the one thing she needs. I liked seeing him let her have her victories, and listening to her ideas without vetoing them out of hand. I enjoyed watching as he fell for her and discovered she wanted the same things he did.
This wouldn’t be a Moira Rogers book without the steamy and passionate romance, and there are a couple of absolutely toe curling scenes in this one. There is also non-stop action, danger, treachery and a bit of family betrayal to be dealt with. There are lots of new characters along the road trip, and some I would enjoy meeting again in the future. I enjoyed seeing how Sera and Julio were able to bring attention to the problems in the area outside of New Orleans, and it was fun seeing some of the characters from past books step up to help as well.
Do these two beat the odds for a happy ever after? I’m not saying, but I will warn you to stay by the air conditioner, this one is a scorcher.
August 29, 2013
Reviewed for www.bookchickcity.com
Another great instalment from the Moira Rogers writing team! The fifth instalment in the Southern Arcana series and this time the lead characters are Sera and Julio. If you remember Julio was brutally tortured in Cipher, protecting Kat. This book sees him coming to terms with those events, and also understanding his place on the werewolf council following the political coup led by Alec in Deadlock.
Julio is an alpha werewolf with pre-cog skills. Super alpha and super dominant, but he also had this kind of laid back style I really liked. Sera is a coyote a dying out, shape-shifter breed, she’s also a submissive. It’s really easy to think submissive equals weak, and I nearly fell into that trap at the beginning of the book, but Sera is a survivor and a while she needs to submit she also is strong and determined to make her own decisions. Since Deadlock we’ve seen her trying to stand inner own two feet after escaping from her abusive marriage. Of course, as you know in books, abusive husbands always come back to bite you on the arse! Impulse is no exception.
In an attempt to come to terms with their pasts, and escape their surroundings, Sera and Julio go on a road trip. Cue, smoking hot chemistry and some interesting, kinky sex. Although perhaps not as kinky as erotic romance readers are used to reading . I would say, don’t read submissive and dominant and think this book is about BDSM, because while it touches on it, I wouldn’t say that is really what this book is about.
I found it interesting how Sera balanced her need to be submissive in the bedroom, yet tried to fight against her coyote nature to submit to Julio in real life. It added an extra dynamic to their relationship as Julio had to fight the opposite desires.
Their road trip takes us deeper into the werewolf community. We see and begin to understand the implications of the werewolf rule and how it has impacted people outside of the New Orleans cast featured in the series. From poverty to deep resentment. We also encounter horrible bigotry as Julio and Sera try to carve their way for a new leadership and a new way of thinking, when others are determined to keep things how they are or were.
Politics play an important part once more and that’s one of the things I really enjoy about these books. The political manoeuvrings, almost like werewolf chess, but also the twists and thrills as each characters are delivered blows or developments you never really saw coming.
Patrick is fast becoming a character who really intrigues me, he might be human but he most definitely has a few tricks up his sleeve and I really can’t wait for his and Anna’s book (they better be getting one!).
VERDICT:
I perhaps didn’t love this book as much as Cipher, but I think that’s more that I just loved Kat and Andrew more than there was any deficiency in the story. The Rogers writing team aren’t afraid to tackle difficult subjects and Impulse faces domestic violence, bigotry and poverty head on, all delivered in a sexy package. A really enjoyable read.
RATING: 4/5
Another great instalment from the Moira Rogers writing team! The fifth instalment in the Southern Arcana series and this time the lead characters are Sera and Julio. If you remember Julio was brutally tortured in Cipher, protecting Kat. This book sees him coming to terms with those events, and also understanding his place on the werewolf council following the political coup led by Alec in Deadlock.
Julio is an alpha werewolf with pre-cog skills. Super alpha and super dominant, but he also had this kind of laid back style I really liked. Sera is a coyote a dying out, shape-shifter breed, she’s also a submissive. It’s really easy to think submissive equals weak, and I nearly fell into that trap at the beginning of the book, but Sera is a survivor and a while she needs to submit she also is strong and determined to make her own decisions. Since Deadlock we’ve seen her trying to stand inner own two feet after escaping from her abusive marriage. Of course, as you know in books, abusive husbands always come back to bite you on the arse! Impulse is no exception.
In an attempt to come to terms with their pasts, and escape their surroundings, Sera and Julio go on a road trip. Cue, smoking hot chemistry and some interesting, kinky sex. Although perhaps not as kinky as erotic romance readers are used to reading . I would say, don’t read submissive and dominant and think this book is about BDSM, because while it touches on it, I wouldn’t say that is really what this book is about.
I found it interesting how Sera balanced her need to be submissive in the bedroom, yet tried to fight against her coyote nature to submit to Julio in real life. It added an extra dynamic to their relationship as Julio had to fight the opposite desires.
Their road trip takes us deeper into the werewolf community. We see and begin to understand the implications of the werewolf rule and how it has impacted people outside of the New Orleans cast featured in the series. From poverty to deep resentment. We also encounter horrible bigotry as Julio and Sera try to carve their way for a new leadership and a new way of thinking, when others are determined to keep things how they are or were.
Politics play an important part once more and that’s one of the things I really enjoy about these books. The political manoeuvrings, almost like werewolf chess, but also the twists and thrills as each characters are delivered blows or developments you never really saw coming.
Patrick is fast becoming a character who really intrigues me, he might be human but he most definitely has a few tricks up his sleeve and I really can’t wait for his and Anna’s book (they better be getting one!).
VERDICT:
I perhaps didn’t love this book as much as Cipher, but I think that’s more that I just loved Kat and Andrew more than there was any deficiency in the story. The Rogers writing team aren’t afraid to tackle difficult subjects and Impulse faces domestic violence, bigotry and poverty head on, all delivered in a sexy package. A really enjoyable read.
RATING: 4/5
July 27, 2012
As someone new to the Southern Arcana series, I went round and round debating with myself about whether I should jump in with this fifth installment. The short answer: I should have started at the beginning. This is clearly a series with a wide canvas that is very rich in characters. They're all interconnected and they have a mountain of backstory. Moira Rogers does an admirable job filling in the blanks and I felt like I caught up... eventually. But I have no doubt that I would have been able to enjoy the book much, much more had I not been struggling to figure out who everyone was and what the hell happened before the book ever started.
Now that I have that out of the way, let me give you the low-down on the story. Sera is a coyote shifter who is trying to start her life over after leaving an abusive marriage. But her ex doesn't want to let her go. Sexy alpha wolf shifter Julio gives her the perfect opportunity to get away from the threat when he takes her along on an impromptu vacation.
Julio could stand some time away from his pack. He still has not come to terms with being tortured last year and he has thrown himself into helping his people ever since it happened. He and Sera have harbored feelings for one another ever since the night he rescued her father from a burning building and he helped her through her recovery from her husband's fists. Though their friends see the trip as an excuse for an extended booty call, his intentions are actually more noble. He cares about Sera and he wants to protect her.
This brings me to the whole dominant/ submissive element of their relationship. It's usually a dynamic I avoid, but I can deal with it a bit better with shifters than in, say, contemporary romance. As I said earlier, Julio is very alpha... and all his instincts are possessive and protective towards Sera. She, on the other hand, isn't just submissive, she is uber-submissive and she has a lot of self-image problems wrapped up in that. I don't think I would have minded her tendencies so much if she didn't have such self-loathing attached to them. Beyond that, she is already considered kind-of redneck and lower-class, simply because she is a coyote and not a wolf.
Their plans for a vacation shift into something of an ambassador mission, where Julio reaches out to some of the nearby packs in his brother-in-law's territories. And along the way, he and Sera give in to their attraction. I can tell you unreservedly that this is where the book knocked my socks off. The sex is hot. Crazy hot. Hot. Hot. Hot. It's also plentiful... though it never overshadows the story. Even though d/s relationships generally are not my brand of kink, it's clear that these two complete each other. They need what the other has to give, both in the bedroom and out.
The story advances an overall series arc... and it makes me want to go read the backlist. I just wish I had done that in the first place!
Rating: B
*ARC provided by author for review
Now that I have that out of the way, let me give you the low-down on the story. Sera is a coyote shifter who is trying to start her life over after leaving an abusive marriage. But her ex doesn't want to let her go. Sexy alpha wolf shifter Julio gives her the perfect opportunity to get away from the threat when he takes her along on an impromptu vacation.
Julio could stand some time away from his pack. He still has not come to terms with being tortured last year and he has thrown himself into helping his people ever since it happened. He and Sera have harbored feelings for one another ever since the night he rescued her father from a burning building and he helped her through her recovery from her husband's fists. Though their friends see the trip as an excuse for an extended booty call, his intentions are actually more noble. He cares about Sera and he wants to protect her.
This brings me to the whole dominant/ submissive element of their relationship. It's usually a dynamic I avoid, but I can deal with it a bit better with shifters than in, say, contemporary romance. As I said earlier, Julio is very alpha... and all his instincts are possessive and protective towards Sera. She, on the other hand, isn't just submissive, she is uber-submissive and she has a lot of self-image problems wrapped up in that. I don't think I would have minded her tendencies so much if she didn't have such self-loathing attached to them. Beyond that, she is already considered kind-of redneck and lower-class, simply because she is a coyote and not a wolf.
Their plans for a vacation shift into something of an ambassador mission, where Julio reaches out to some of the nearby packs in his brother-in-law's territories. And along the way, he and Sera give in to their attraction. I can tell you unreservedly that this is where the book knocked my socks off. The sex is hot. Crazy hot. Hot. Hot. Hot. It's also plentiful... though it never overshadows the story. Even though d/s relationships generally are not my brand of kink, it's clear that these two complete each other. They need what the other has to give, both in the bedroom and out.
The story advances an overall series arc... and it makes me want to go read the backlist. I just wish I had done that in the first place!
Rating: B
*ARC provided by author for review
September 22, 2012
Moira Rogers is one of the authors I turn to when I want to read a shifter book. Her latest book in the Southern Arcana series, Impulse, is #5 and still manages to bring her standard strong world building with its mix of interesting characters. This book focuses on Julio, an Alpha wolf shifter who is one of the three wolves residing on the Southeast council. However, recently Julio was the victim of torture when he and his human friend Kat were kidnapped. He doesn't want to do any ridiculous counseling, and he really wishes everyone would stop staring at him as if they are trying to analyze what's going on his brain. But no matter whether he wants to admit it or not, Julio is still suffering from nightmares and such from the ordeal.
Our heroine is Sera is a submissive coyote shifter, who escaped an abusive marriage approximately a year earlier from her much older coyote shifter husband. Sera battles with herself on a few levels. First she battles her coyotes instincts because the coyote shifter race is on the verge on extinction. If she gave into her animal she would find herself back in the grasps of her abusive ex-husbands clutches and actively working to breed a coyote pup. Secondly she battles her natural submissive tendencies that unfortunately, will often lead her to be the person that mean dominant shifters love to push around. Her submissive status does have perks though, in the fact that when in the company of dominant shifters who are not sadistic, and treasure her for what she is, then she has the ability to be what they need in the terms of the natural tendencies to want to please and soothe riled up dominants. Thirdly, Sera is battling the aftereffects of abuse. She hates the impulses she has to run and hide when there is a big bad dominant storming around her. She wants to be stronger. Maintain the ability to take care of herself, rather than others taking care of her. All of Sera's problems tell her that Julio would be bad, bad, bad news for her since he is one of the most dominant Alpha shifters in the Southeast. However, that doesn't prevent her from drooling over him whenever he is in the vicinity.
One day, Julio and Sera decide they're taking a vacation to get away from her stalkery ex-husband and the people who keep watching Julio, waiting for him to crack under pressure. So naturally when they are all alone, with nothing to stop them from lusting on the other, animal attraction ignites. I thoroughly enjoy Moira's world in this series. All the first few books still seem to be my favorites, this book was still pretty good to. So kick back, clear your mind, and let Moira take you away with hunky Julio and loveable Sera as they go on a vacation that ends up not being much of a vacation. This is a 4 wine glass salute!
Check out this review and more at Reading Between the Wines Book Club!
http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub...
Our heroine is Sera is a submissive coyote shifter, who escaped an abusive marriage approximately a year earlier from her much older coyote shifter husband. Sera battles with herself on a few levels. First she battles her coyotes instincts because the coyote shifter race is on the verge on extinction. If she gave into her animal she would find herself back in the grasps of her abusive ex-husbands clutches and actively working to breed a coyote pup. Secondly she battles her natural submissive tendencies that unfortunately, will often lead her to be the person that mean dominant shifters love to push around. Her submissive status does have perks though, in the fact that when in the company of dominant shifters who are not sadistic, and treasure her for what she is, then she has the ability to be what they need in the terms of the natural tendencies to want to please and soothe riled up dominants. Thirdly, Sera is battling the aftereffects of abuse. She hates the impulses she has to run and hide when there is a big bad dominant storming around her. She wants to be stronger. Maintain the ability to take care of herself, rather than others taking care of her. All of Sera's problems tell her that Julio would be bad, bad, bad news for her since he is one of the most dominant Alpha shifters in the Southeast. However, that doesn't prevent her from drooling over him whenever he is in the vicinity.
One day, Julio and Sera decide they're taking a vacation to get away from her stalkery ex-husband and the people who keep watching Julio, waiting for him to crack under pressure. So naturally when they are all alone, with nothing to stop them from lusting on the other, animal attraction ignites. I thoroughly enjoy Moira's world in this series. All the first few books still seem to be my favorites, this book was still pretty good to. So kick back, clear your mind, and let Moira take you away with hunky Julio and loveable Sera as they go on a vacation that ends up not being much of a vacation. This is a 4 wine glass salute!
Check out this review and more at Reading Between the Wines Book Club!
http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub...
September 28, 2012
I am a huge fan of the Southern Arcana series, in fact I love pretty much everything that the awesome duo behind the name Moira Rogers write so of course I was excited to get my hands on Impulse. I have to say I think this was my favourite instalment to the series so far - I definitely have a new favourite couple in Julio and Sera!
As a submissive coyote shifter Sera has the ability to sooth the dominant alpha werewolves in her life. Just spending time with her calms them and she instinctively wants to do their bidding even when it goes against her own wishes. Having escaped her dominant and abusive ex husband the last thing she wants is to let someone else have control over her future, she is determined to be independent and stand on her own two (or four!) feet for once. Although she longs for the freedom to make her own choices deep down she loves her submissive side, she is just frightened of having her trust abused again by letting the wrong person into her life and into her heart.
Julio is an extremely dominant and sexy alpha werewolf who is strong enough to have become a member of the Southeast council. It has been 13 months since the torture he suffered when trying to protect his friends in the last book and he is still trying to deal with the emotional effects that has had on him. I absolutely fell for Julio, he pushed all the right buttons for me and I thought he and Sera were perfect together. I loved the way their personalities complimented each other, I loved that although Julio wanted to protect Sera he also wanted to give her the confidence to achieve her dreams and I particularly loved the fact that they're both just a little bit kinky!
One of my favourite quotes from the book:
"You're a dirty bastard" "Are you complaining?" "No"
I have to confess that I wouldn't be complaining either if I was Sera - she is one lucky, lucky coyote! The tag line from the story "Her submission can heal him. His dominance can free her" sums up their relationship perfectly.
It was also great to have a chance to catch up with some of the other characters from the series and see how they are getting on now. There are also some really interesting developments with the Southeastern council and the Conclave that are going to have some huge knock on effects in future books. My only disappointment with this series is that I now have to wait again for the next instalment - I just wish I could have a new book every month! If you're new to the series then I would highly recommend reading them in order starting with Crux - this is one of my favourite paranormal romance series and one I think everyone should be reading. Fans of the series are just going to love Impulse!
As a submissive coyote shifter Sera has the ability to sooth the dominant alpha werewolves in her life. Just spending time with her calms them and she instinctively wants to do their bidding even when it goes against her own wishes. Having escaped her dominant and abusive ex husband the last thing she wants is to let someone else have control over her future, she is determined to be independent and stand on her own two (or four!) feet for once. Although she longs for the freedom to make her own choices deep down she loves her submissive side, she is just frightened of having her trust abused again by letting the wrong person into her life and into her heart.
Julio is an extremely dominant and sexy alpha werewolf who is strong enough to have become a member of the Southeast council. It has been 13 months since the torture he suffered when trying to protect his friends in the last book and he is still trying to deal with the emotional effects that has had on him. I absolutely fell for Julio, he pushed all the right buttons for me and I thought he and Sera were perfect together. I loved the way their personalities complimented each other, I loved that although Julio wanted to protect Sera he also wanted to give her the confidence to achieve her dreams and I particularly loved the fact that they're both just a little bit kinky!
One of my favourite quotes from the book:
"You're a dirty bastard" "Are you complaining?" "No"
I have to confess that I wouldn't be complaining either if I was Sera - she is one lucky, lucky coyote! The tag line from the story "Her submission can heal him. His dominance can free her" sums up their relationship perfectly.
It was also great to have a chance to catch up with some of the other characters from the series and see how they are getting on now. There are also some really interesting developments with the Southeastern council and the Conclave that are going to have some huge knock on effects in future books. My only disappointment with this series is that I now have to wait again for the next instalment - I just wish I could have a new book every month! If you're new to the series then I would highly recommend reading them in order starting with Crux - this is one of my favourite paranormal romance series and one I think everyone should be reading. Fans of the series are just going to love Impulse!
August 27, 2012
Loved this book so much! I have heard wonderful things about this series but have never gotten a chance to read one. When I was offered this one I jumped on it even though I was a bit worried that being fifth in the series would hinder my ability to understand the continuing story line. While I do think I would have enjoyed the inter-relationships better had I read the prior books, it really didn’t hinder my understanding of the book at all.
The simmering relationship between submissive Sera and dominant Julio was a thrill to read! I enjoyed how Sera approached her attraction to Julio. She is a submissive coyote which is rare but she seemed to revel in her need to have Julio. While he was often in charge she also had the ability to bring him to his knees, which gave her a lot of the power in the relationship. Julio was never afraid to assert his dominance with her. As a wolf, one with considerable power among his people, he had an image to uphold but his growing emotional attachment to Sera was always forefront in his mind. I loved how protective he was of her. Never once backing down when someone said something ignorant or racist to her. Growing under his love Sera became less afraid and skittish as the book continued on and that growth was well wrote and paced evenly. I just adored them together.
Racism played a big role in Impulse. Being a coyote seems to bring out the worst in people and Sera had to put up with a lot. Especially being seen with a wolf in a world where different species just don’t mix. You can have one as a mistress but as a mate just isn’t heard of. I enjoyed this aspect and the light it shed on the subject. It’s no different then real racism that still exists today, how people handle it and how that can define their character.
The suspense aspect was also well paced and while I generally like a bit more action, what was there was very well done. Since Julio fought with his thoughts/emotions concerning his father and the role he has played thus far in his life, I felt it fitting that he played a vital role in the story. Along with Sera’s dominant and slightly crazy ex-husband there was plenty of suspense to be had. Everyone was hell bent on protecting the coyote from everything but when push comes to shove Sera has more backbone then she gives herself credit for. The journey to her self discovery, while riddled with obstacles was one I enjoyed taking with her. I love when a woman realizes what she is made of and how she can be scared but she’s still capable.
If you enjoy Shelly Laurenston’s pack books you will surely enjoy this series! Wrote with a thread of humor along with the hotness of the characters, Moira Rogers has a winner in Impulse! Sexy alpha wolves for everyone!
I give Impulse by Moira Rogers 4 stars!
The simmering relationship between submissive Sera and dominant Julio was a thrill to read! I enjoyed how Sera approached her attraction to Julio. She is a submissive coyote which is rare but she seemed to revel in her need to have Julio. While he was often in charge she also had the ability to bring him to his knees, which gave her a lot of the power in the relationship. Julio was never afraid to assert his dominance with her. As a wolf, one with considerable power among his people, he had an image to uphold but his growing emotional attachment to Sera was always forefront in his mind. I loved how protective he was of her. Never once backing down when someone said something ignorant or racist to her. Growing under his love Sera became less afraid and skittish as the book continued on and that growth was well wrote and paced evenly. I just adored them together.
Racism played a big role in Impulse. Being a coyote seems to bring out the worst in people and Sera had to put up with a lot. Especially being seen with a wolf in a world where different species just don’t mix. You can have one as a mistress but as a mate just isn’t heard of. I enjoyed this aspect and the light it shed on the subject. It’s no different then real racism that still exists today, how people handle it and how that can define their character.
The suspense aspect was also well paced and while I generally like a bit more action, what was there was very well done. Since Julio fought with his thoughts/emotions concerning his father and the role he has played thus far in his life, I felt it fitting that he played a vital role in the story. Along with Sera’s dominant and slightly crazy ex-husband there was plenty of suspense to be had. Everyone was hell bent on protecting the coyote from everything but when push comes to shove Sera has more backbone then she gives herself credit for. The journey to her self discovery, while riddled with obstacles was one I enjoyed taking with her. I love when a woman realizes what she is made of and how she can be scared but she’s still capable.
If you enjoy Shelly Laurenston’s pack books you will surely enjoy this series! Wrote with a thread of humor along with the hotness of the characters, Moira Rogers has a winner in Impulse! Sexy alpha wolves for everyone!
I give Impulse by Moira Rogers 4 stars!
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