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Mark of the Moon #1
Mark of the Moon
In this first book in a wildly addictive new series, a battle begins and one kick-ass female bartender turned demon fighter is ready for war I'm Dana Markovitz. And my world is shifting. My experience with the paranormal community was a good one, pouring shots in the creature-friendly pit stop where I tend bar. Until last night. Worst. Date. Ever. A hookup with a vampire ended in a scratch from a jealous were-cat. Surprise! I caught a cat-shifting virus. I should be immune. Or so I've always been led to believe. For some reason the infection has riled a demon underworld that apparently knows more about my secret past than I do. They aren't thrilled with me. In fact, they want me dead. At least I have one normal male on my side. Relatively normal. I think he's on my side. Tell you one thing. There's no way I'm being put down like a feral stray. I may not know who to trust, but I'll be damned if I'm not fighting back. Hell, my claws are already starting to show. This book is approximately 90,000 words
254 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 6, 2017
11 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
Beth Dranoff
3 books7 followersBeth Dranoff lives somewhere in the vicinity of the Greater Toronto Area, Canada with her family, her dog, and more books than she can count. Is it before noon? Then there’s probably a mug of coffee nearby too. Mark of the Moon is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 1, 2017
MARK OF THE MOON was.....all over the place. From the characters to the plot, I really had to stretch my imagination to even remotely believe what was happening.
Some BDSM with a vampire turns into Dana getting scratched by one of the vampires crazy lovers, leading to Dana contracting the cat-shifter virus she was 100% positive she could never get. Now people are trying to kill her—between her many sessions of passing out— and she can't seem to pick between the vampire or the new shifter she meets so she continuously has sex with both. I can honestly say that I didn't know what the heck was going on half of the time.
The love triangle was a bit annoying, but the sex scenes were pretty hot. I don't feel that we got enough information half the time. I mean Dana is passing out constantly and when she passes out not only does SHE not know what is going on, but us as the reader are also left in the dark. It made it very hard to connect to the story.
I was able to finish MARK OF THE MOON, but it wasn't for me and I have no interest in continuing the series.
* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Some BDSM with a vampire turns into Dana getting scratched by one of the vampires crazy lovers, leading to Dana contracting the cat-shifter virus she was 100% positive she could never get. Now people are trying to kill her—between her many sessions of passing out— and she can't seem to pick between the vampire or the new shifter she meets so she continuously has sex with both. I can honestly say that I didn't know what the heck was going on half of the time.
The love triangle was a bit annoying, but the sex scenes were pretty hot. I don't feel that we got enough information half the time. I mean Dana is passing out constantly and when she passes out not only does SHE not know what is going on, but us as the reader are also left in the dark. It made it very hard to connect to the story.
I was able to finish MARK OF THE MOON, but it wasn't for me and I have no interest in continuing the series.
* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
August 27, 2017
So, I'm going to start off this review by saying that this isn't normally the kind of book I would seek out and read. Beth Dranoff, the author, and I share an agent. She is a lovely, hilarious person and I just had to see what kind of books she wrote. Was I in for a wonderful surprise!
I haven't read many Vampire/Were-animal novels since the Twilight years, and at first, I was a little worried. Was this going to feel like an old hat? Was this going to be a rehashing of the old, familiar tale? The answer was ABSOLUTELY NOT. From the very first line, I knew that this book was something completely different.
MARK OF THE MOON is sexy, funny, and the kind of fast-paced book that is hard to put down. Dana (our world-worn protagonist) has been around the block. She isn't phased by the clan of shape-shifters that hang around Toronto, nor the demon that owns the bar where she works. She and vamp pal, Jon have a super-hot, friends-with-benefits relationship that bubbles over into the arena of bondage, and I found myself spellbound by what Beth has managed to do so very well.
Despite her penchant for a little BDSM, Dana remains in control of her situation, sexually. She owns her own power, and she gives it to whomever she chooses, whenever she chooses. She is both strong, and submissive. She can be both, which is so different from the usual narrative that a strong woman must maintain her strength at all times, at all costs. Tensions flare when Dana's life takes a turn for the furrier, but no matter who she is purring up next to, consent features prominently in the narrative and Dana controls her own sexual destiny.
It was a strikingly refreshing look at sex, romance, and the darkness within us -- both mental and physical -- as Dana navigates the dangerous underbelly of Toronto's supernatural communities. If all Vampire/Were-critter books looked like this (and burned off the page, like this), I'd be reading a hell of a lot more of them.
I haven't read many Vampire/Were-animal novels since the Twilight years, and at first, I was a little worried. Was this going to feel like an old hat? Was this going to be a rehashing of the old, familiar tale? The answer was ABSOLUTELY NOT. From the very first line, I knew that this book was something completely different.
MARK OF THE MOON is sexy, funny, and the kind of fast-paced book that is hard to put down. Dana (our world-worn protagonist) has been around the block. She isn't phased by the clan of shape-shifters that hang around Toronto, nor the demon that owns the bar where she works. She and vamp pal, Jon have a super-hot, friends-with-benefits relationship that bubbles over into the arena of bondage, and I found myself spellbound by what Beth has managed to do so very well.
Despite her penchant for a little BDSM, Dana remains in control of her situation, sexually. She owns her own power, and she gives it to whomever she chooses, whenever she chooses. She is both strong, and submissive. She can be both, which is so different from the usual narrative that a strong woman must maintain her strength at all times, at all costs. Tensions flare when Dana's life takes a turn for the furrier, but no matter who she is purring up next to, consent features prominently in the narrative and Dana controls her own sexual destiny.
It was a strikingly refreshing look at sex, romance, and the darkness within us -- both mental and physical -- as Dana navigates the dangerous underbelly of Toronto's supernatural communities. If all Vampire/Were-critter books looked like this (and burned off the page, like this), I'd be reading a hell of a lot more of them.
February 7, 2017
I was excited to be approved for access to this book and sat down to read it. Dana is scratched by a were-cat and is feeling side effects which should be impossible as she has had the shots. Along with this new normal, she keeps getting kidnapped and everyone seems to be after her. Will she figure out who she can trust and find out what’s going on before it’s too late? This book was a very interesting urban fantasy with some new elements I haven’t really seen before, or if I have, not very much. Yes, there were vampires and shape shifters, but there was a new element of which I can’t say much as I’ll spoil some points of the book. It was very well-written; the plot was, as I’ve stated, very interesting; and the characters also worth mentioning. And, wow, the sex was hot, if you are into that aspect of things. The book was a dark urban fantasy with a few scenes not for the faint of heart. The only down side of the book was I was never quite sure who could be trusted except for her mom and best friend. Almost everyone else was suspect. That aspect of the book almost made it a little too dark for me; I like for the protagonist to have some very true allies, somewhere to turn. And, towards the middle of the book, Dana seemed to be running around everywhere with no clear destination in sight and not getting answers to any of the questions she had about what was going on. That threw me off a little bit. However, that stuff aside, I did really enjoy the book and can’t wait to see what happens next. Recommend!
Thanks to NetGalley and Carina Press for the e-book which I voluntarily reviewed. This exact review posted on both Amazon and Goodreads.
Thanks to NetGalley and Carina Press for the e-book which I voluntarily reviewed. This exact review posted on both Amazon and Goodreads.
January 8, 2019
Dynamic story
What I liked about this is the dynamic narrative and the crisp, colourful writing style. It reminds me very much of Laurel K. Hamilton’s early Anita Blake books, which were fast-paced, kept you on your toes, and had that (self-)ironic tone that you find in early noir books. It’s not easy to keep a balance between humour and suspense in an urban fantasy book, and I think the author has managed to keep this balance – the book is both funny and full of suspense. And hot. The heroine, Dana, is a mixture of tough and vulnerable that worked well for me. I’m an impatient reader who easily gets bored if the characters, plot and style do not have that something which makes them stand out. This book definitely held my interest and kept me reading.
What I liked about this is the dynamic narrative and the crisp, colourful writing style. It reminds me very much of Laurel K. Hamilton’s early Anita Blake books, which were fast-paced, kept you on your toes, and had that (self-)ironic tone that you find in early noir books. It’s not easy to keep a balance between humour and suspense in an urban fantasy book, and I think the author has managed to keep this balance – the book is both funny and full of suspense. And hot. The heroine, Dana, is a mixture of tough and vulnerable that worked well for me. I’m an impatient reader who easily gets bored if the characters, plot and style do not have that something which makes them stand out. This book definitely held my interest and kept me reading.
November 3, 2017
Not having read any of the other books by this author, and since it was a start to a new series I thought I'd give it a try. Unfortunately it fell flat for me. The premise and different occurrences throughout the story were too contribute and a little over the top. I'm sure there are those readers who would disagree with my review, if it was a genre I enjoyed reading, perhaps I might have read it differently and enjoyed it.
This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.
This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.
January 31, 2017
I was graciously given a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This book is ridiculously unoriginal, has horrible characters, and literally has no plot whatsoever. Reading this book was a complete waste of time . The grammar is awful and the sentence structure made me want to throw my head through a window. It's pretty much like any other cheap dimestore novel that you can get anywhere else that has a bunch of porn written in it.
This book is ridiculously unoriginal, has horrible characters, and literally has no plot whatsoever. Reading this book was a complete waste of time . The grammar is awful and the sentence structure made me want to throw my head through a window. It's pretty much like any other cheap dimestore novel that you can get anywhere else that has a bunch of porn written in it.
Read
August 14, 2017"Mark of the Moon is a one-of-a-kind paranormal erotic story. The plot is original, and Dranoff introduces truly authentic creatures. The story is well developed, containing the perfect mix of suspense and action. The plot is well paced, and each location is given the appropriate attention with well-done descriptions" (RT Book Reviews).
Miniseries: Mark of the Moon
Miniseries: Mark of the Moon
May 20, 2019
I'm not a fan of cliffhangers. This one demands you read book two. I don't know if I'm invested enough with the characters to care.
February 10, 2017
Mark of the Moon, Beth Dranoff
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre: romance, Sci-fi and fantasy
Looks as if this is a debut book, I can’t find anything else Beth has written and its a really good start.
I loved the idea of this series, and from the beginning I was quickly brought into the action.
There’s a few issues though that stopped it being a five star read for me, though I think it has that potential. Maybe if it is a debut book, and Beth learns more as she writes –practice makes perfect and all that – hopefully later books will grow and evolve into the kind of reads they could be.
Think of some of the early books of now well known authors, some have really polished their craft as they get more used to the world of creating stories from nothing, and making us readers believe in them.
The biggest issue for me is that Dana spends so much time “in her head” mulling things over, rambling to herself, that the story becomes tell-not-show and that format really doesn’t work for me.
There’s also a lot of action, so much so that at times it becomes hard to sort out who’s doing what and why, what's really going on, and I ended up seeing Dana escape yet again but uncertain of how, or why it happened. That’s possibly because I found myself skimming some of her meanderings, and some of the what felt like repeated attacks.
I’m the kind of reader that needs answers, needs to know that the protagonist gets free using skills I know she or someone else already has. I don’t like new-skills-discovered-at-the-critical-time kind of read, the quick fix answer where they are in a scrape that looks inescapable and then someone comes in, does something hitherto unknown, and everything is perfect once more.
That said I love the characters, the mystery of the seven moon pack – or whatever they were called, wondering who Ansell is, the triangle (or quad?) of Jon, Dana and Sam, with jealous Claude making up an unwilling fourth!! I’m kind of confused over that, as Jon tells her after the first crisis she finds herself in that Claude is an ex, that there’s nothing between them. However Claude doesn’t seem to feel he’s an ex, more a current, and the interaction between him and Jon seems to back that up – so what is the truth?
I like Jon, can feel he genuinely cares for and about Dana, but his relationship with Claude is odd, and i didn’t see how he could let go the things Claude did and said when he cares so much for Dana.
I liked Sam too, but he’s more complex that he first appeared, and did things that made me feel somewhat differently about him.
There’s some serious heat in the scenes in this, with some very sensual sex going on but...I could have done with a bit more attraction between them, not just sexual, lust, physical but emotional, actually liking each other, wanting to support and help.
Jon seems to do a bit of that, but in an understated way, and it’s really hard to tell if he’s doing it because he likes Dana, or whether he just feels its the right thing to do, kind of old school traditional behaviour that many vamps show.
I think – and I really hate to say this as usually I’m banging on about stories being too simplified – this series will work better as it grows, as Beth works out what she wants her characters to be, where she wants them to go and how. Once they know who they are, then maybe their actions will become more simpler, more understandable instead of the random we see curretntly,, and we won't need this constant rescue from unnamed sources with untold skills.
Its a great idea, and by the end I can see that its going to get more complex, so something needs to go, or to get more slick and polished or the plot(s) along with non stop, over-complex and over-explained action is going to spoil what could be for me a terrific 5* series.
Stars: Three and a half. A really good start to a series that has the potential to become a favourite for me, but still needs some fine-tuning IMO.
ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre: romance, Sci-fi and fantasy
Looks as if this is a debut book, I can’t find anything else Beth has written and its a really good start.
I loved the idea of this series, and from the beginning I was quickly brought into the action.
There’s a few issues though that stopped it being a five star read for me, though I think it has that potential. Maybe if it is a debut book, and Beth learns more as she writes –practice makes perfect and all that – hopefully later books will grow and evolve into the kind of reads they could be.
Think of some of the early books of now well known authors, some have really polished their craft as they get more used to the world of creating stories from nothing, and making us readers believe in them.
The biggest issue for me is that Dana spends so much time “in her head” mulling things over, rambling to herself, that the story becomes tell-not-show and that format really doesn’t work for me.
There’s also a lot of action, so much so that at times it becomes hard to sort out who’s doing what and why, what's really going on, and I ended up seeing Dana escape yet again but uncertain of how, or why it happened. That’s possibly because I found myself skimming some of her meanderings, and some of the what felt like repeated attacks.
I’m the kind of reader that needs answers, needs to know that the protagonist gets free using skills I know she or someone else already has. I don’t like new-skills-discovered-at-the-critical-time kind of read, the quick fix answer where they are in a scrape that looks inescapable and then someone comes in, does something hitherto unknown, and everything is perfect once more.
That said I love the characters, the mystery of the seven moon pack – or whatever they were called, wondering who Ansell is, the triangle (or quad?) of Jon, Dana and Sam, with jealous Claude making up an unwilling fourth!! I’m kind of confused over that, as Jon tells her after the first crisis she finds herself in that Claude is an ex, that there’s nothing between them. However Claude doesn’t seem to feel he’s an ex, more a current, and the interaction between him and Jon seems to back that up – so what is the truth?
I like Jon, can feel he genuinely cares for and about Dana, but his relationship with Claude is odd, and i didn’t see how he could let go the things Claude did and said when he cares so much for Dana.
I liked Sam too, but he’s more complex that he first appeared, and did things that made me feel somewhat differently about him.
There’s some serious heat in the scenes in this, with some very sensual sex going on but...I could have done with a bit more attraction between them, not just sexual, lust, physical but emotional, actually liking each other, wanting to support and help.
Jon seems to do a bit of that, but in an understated way, and it’s really hard to tell if he’s doing it because he likes Dana, or whether he just feels its the right thing to do, kind of old school traditional behaviour that many vamps show.
I think – and I really hate to say this as usually I’m banging on about stories being too simplified – this series will work better as it grows, as Beth works out what she wants her characters to be, where she wants them to go and how. Once they know who they are, then maybe their actions will become more simpler, more understandable instead of the random we see curretntly,, and we won't need this constant rescue from unnamed sources with untold skills.
Its a great idea, and by the end I can see that its going to get more complex, so something needs to go, or to get more slick and polished or the plot(s) along with non stop, over-complex and over-explained action is going to spoil what could be for me a terrific 5* series.
Stars: Three and a half. A really good start to a series that has the potential to become a favourite for me, but still needs some fine-tuning IMO.
ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers
February 10, 2017
Jon and Dana were doing some BDSM things and then there was some pounding on the door . Jon had unmasked Dana and then a feline shifter breaks through the door but also leaves a scratch on Dana’s thigh. Then the male feline said to Jon i wasn’t enough for you that you had to take a mortal female. Then Dana tried to get Jon’s attention to let her out of the bondage he had her in but then her leg started to throb and Dana passed out. When Dana came to she couldn’t move as she was strapped to a bed but also in horrendous pain. Dana was surrounded by shadows of beings but didn’t know how many. Then Dana passed out again. When Dana comes to again she is sore and still strapped down to a hospital style bed. A wild looking lady with white matted hair had went to dana and said” here kitty, kitty- a while ago . Dana had seen the woman three times in seven days. Dana had pretended the woman didn’t exist. The woman had reached out to Dana and asked her if she knew who she was. There was a cat by Dana's ankle and it introduced itself as Jun. before all this happened Dana had been a bartender at the Swan Song for three years. and one night ended up at Jon’s place. Jon was a vampire. Dana also did a little freelance writing and that is how she originally met Jon. Goth Libertines had hired Dana to do an article on a local Toronto artist who was rumored also to be a vampire. That artist had been Jon. Dana had been vaccinated against being turned into a shifter . Something Dana had been trained to hunt. Teachings Dana had abandoned when she had left the Agency behind. Madame des Perth had been Dana’s training officer in Covert Preternatural Operations . It all started the night Dana went to do the interview with Jon, the drinks, the interview, the jokes. and easy banter. Then meeting for coffee, more drinks and casual conversation and always after dark. Jon spent a lot of time laughing and they did get along so well. When Dana really came to it was Wednesday what happened to Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday? The Swan Song was a three story warehouse that functioned as a barf/meeting place/ conference facility where mortals and others met. Sandor was Dana’s boss and she liked him as he was a good friend. Dana told Sandor what happened as she was making her way to her truck she noticed the Goth guy who had been at the bar held down by several knives and vampires feeding off him.then Dana heard a voice asking her if she was ok . Dana wasn’t sure as one of her hands had become a paw. Together they got rid of the vampires and got the barely alive man to her truck. The man behind the voice said his name was Sam. The Goth guy’s name was Joseph Dalton. Dana’s best friend was Lynna and she had gotten a message that they had Lynna . Sam and Anshell- the doctor or whatever he was that had been there when Dana came to - went with Dana and rescued Lynna. Dana went to Ezra to see her vaccination had expired and noticed Cybele was Ezra’s assistant and she is the one who had tried to pick Dana up in the bathroom at the bar. All Dana wanted to know was what was going on.
I just didn’t really connect with this story I did read it just really didn’t WOW me and had a lot of trouble keeping my interest. I needed more information on dana and other aspects of this story and didn’t get them. I also didn’t like how the story ended I felt it left you hanging but not quite a cliffhanger if that makes sense anyway I am sure someone else will love this story just wasn’t for me.
I just didn’t really connect with this story I did read it just really didn’t WOW me and had a lot of trouble keeping my interest. I needed more information on dana and other aspects of this story and didn’t get them. I also didn’t like how the story ended I felt it left you hanging but not quite a cliffhanger if that makes sense anyway I am sure someone else will love this story just wasn’t for me.
January 12, 2017
Dana is a human with a rather unusual history. One night while engaging in a hot romp with a vampire, she ends up getting scratched by a jealous were-cat... and those vaccines she had several years ago don't seem to be doing the trick. Now she's trying to figure out if she's actually going to turn into a kitty... or if there's something else different about her. When she starts getting attacked by strange demon-like creatures, she begins to think that there's definitely something hinky going on.
First... the positives... From the first few pages, the book is downright... HOT. I immediately got sucked into this new world of vampires, shifters and demons. I loved the descriptions of the strange demon-like creatures -- both gross and really freaking cool! The author has a talent for creating rich descriptions and crafting an intriguing plot with lots of action. This isn't some fantasy fairy tale world with sparkles and glitter... it's darker and far more edgy than your traditional urban fantasy stories.
Unfortunately, I struggled a bit to get through this book. The author lost me more times than I can count to the point that half the time, I wasn't quite sure what was going on. The main character, Dana, must have passed out in the book at least half a dozen times. There were so many fade-to-black moments that it got a little annoying. Those moments made it even worse because not only did the main character not know what was going on, but as a reader, I didn't have a clue either. The main character also didn't really stop to ask the important questions or demand answers. So for the majority of the book, I felt like I was along for the roller coaster ride, but everything around me was pretty much a blur.
My biggest issue though was the stilted and fragmented writing style. I think this was what lost me in the majority of the book and why I didn't really know what was going on. Some people may be fine with it, but I stumbled over this repeatedly. There was also a bit too much description about things that I didn't really care about -- like the clouds -- but then not enough description about what was actually happening. I would have rather seen the plot unfold through actions and dialogue. Dana got stuck in her own head a bit too much.
There was a little bit of a love triangle in the book... and some of the sex scenes were downright hot. *fans self* However, I didn't get those delicious tingles that I was looking for. I like a bit of emotion with my sex, and I didn't really get that from this book. It was mostly physical attraction and Dana didn't seem to have deep feelings for anyone or anything. I have a hard time classifying this story as a romance, but I guess since there was sex in it... that falls under the "romance" genre.
Overall, I'd give this book 3/5. I think the author definitely has talent, but I didn't care much for the style of writing. Maybe in the future, I'll check out some of her other works, but I probably won't be following this series.
This review was originally posted on The Novel Lady.
*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy provided by Carina Press via NetGalley with the sole purpose of an honest review. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.
First... the positives... From the first few pages, the book is downright... HOT. I immediately got sucked into this new world of vampires, shifters and demons. I loved the descriptions of the strange demon-like creatures -- both gross and really freaking cool! The author has a talent for creating rich descriptions and crafting an intriguing plot with lots of action. This isn't some fantasy fairy tale world with sparkles and glitter... it's darker and far more edgy than your traditional urban fantasy stories.
Unfortunately, I struggled a bit to get through this book. The author lost me more times than I can count to the point that half the time, I wasn't quite sure what was going on. The main character, Dana, must have passed out in the book at least half a dozen times. There were so many fade-to-black moments that it got a little annoying. Those moments made it even worse because not only did the main character not know what was going on, but as a reader, I didn't have a clue either. The main character also didn't really stop to ask the important questions or demand answers. So for the majority of the book, I felt like I was along for the roller coaster ride, but everything around me was pretty much a blur.
My biggest issue though was the stilted and fragmented writing style. I think this was what lost me in the majority of the book and why I didn't really know what was going on. Some people may be fine with it, but I stumbled over this repeatedly. There was also a bit too much description about things that I didn't really care about -- like the clouds -- but then not enough description about what was actually happening. I would have rather seen the plot unfold through actions and dialogue. Dana got stuck in her own head a bit too much.
There was a little bit of a love triangle in the book... and some of the sex scenes were downright hot. *fans self* However, I didn't get those delicious tingles that I was looking for. I like a bit of emotion with my sex, and I didn't really get that from this book. It was mostly physical attraction and Dana didn't seem to have deep feelings for anyone or anything. I have a hard time classifying this story as a romance, but I guess since there was sex in it... that falls under the "romance" genre.
Overall, I'd give this book 3/5. I think the author definitely has talent, but I didn't care much for the style of writing. Maybe in the future, I'll check out some of her other works, but I probably won't be following this series.
This review was originally posted on The Novel Lady.
*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy provided by Carina Press via NetGalley with the sole purpose of an honest review. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.
February 10, 2017
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Mark of the Moon was a good 3.5 star read.
This is definitely a different storyline than I’m used to.
The first scene in the book is hot until a jealous were-cat interrupts the scene. Dana is scratched during the incident and she starts to feel different sensations. Dana will have to wait until the full moon to see if she will shift.
There are so many people trying to come after Dana. She’s not sure who she can trust.
There is one torture scene that really made me cringe, ew.
So many ways this could go, so few of them good.
I have to say that the sex scenes were panty melting hot. A few things really threw me, I wasn’t sure what was reality at times. There is so much more to this read that I don’t want to give away. Secrets are revealed with some twists. There are some very interesting characters that were new to me. All of the secondary characters added a great element to the story. I did like Jon, who doesn’t like a hot vampire. Beth Dranoff does a great job with her storytelling, there was so much going on. I look forward to reading more from her.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. Reviewed by MAustin from Alpha Book Club
Mark of the Moon was a good 3.5 star read.
This is definitely a different storyline than I’m used to.
The first scene in the book is hot until a jealous were-cat interrupts the scene. Dana is scratched during the incident and she starts to feel different sensations. Dana will have to wait until the full moon to see if she will shift.
There are so many people trying to come after Dana. She’s not sure who she can trust.
There is one torture scene that really made me cringe, ew.
So many ways this could go, so few of them good.
I have to say that the sex scenes were panty melting hot. A few things really threw me, I wasn’t sure what was reality at times. There is so much more to this read that I don’t want to give away. Secrets are revealed with some twists. There are some very interesting characters that were new to me. All of the secondary characters added a great element to the story. I did like Jon, who doesn’t like a hot vampire. Beth Dranoff does a great job with her storytelling, there was so much going on. I look forward to reading more from her.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. Reviewed by MAustin from Alpha Book Club
February 8, 2017
This book knocked my socks off! I could not turn the virtual pages fast enough for my liking and yet was still completely sad when I reached the end and there was no more awesome book...
This book introduces Dana and right away, I fell in love. She's sarcastic, quirky, independent, damaged, and super tough. She's an ex-paranormal-fighter turned paranormal bar-bartender who prefers her men with no strings attached. Unfortunately for her, she appears to be the center of some pretty strange happenings. It all begins when her current vampire lover's ex (or current?) lover barges in on some bondage play. While tied up and unable to fight back, Dana ends up with a scratch from the partially shifted cat. This ends up putting her in a shifter hospital, where she meets some even more dangerous and alluring people, one of which pushes all her sexytime buttons.
There's the inevitable love triangle play, Dana's struggle with possibly becoming something she once captured, trying to keep everyone safe, failing to keep everyone safe, failing to keep herself safe, and a crapload of mystery and deception all rolled into one addictive book. I absolutely love where this world is taking me and cannot wait for more - there is more, right? I really want to see Dana's next step into her even more complicated life.
This book introduces Dana and right away, I fell in love. She's sarcastic, quirky, independent, damaged, and super tough. She's an ex-paranormal-fighter turned paranormal bar-bartender who prefers her men with no strings attached. Unfortunately for her, she appears to be the center of some pretty strange happenings. It all begins when her current vampire lover's ex (or current?) lover barges in on some bondage play. While tied up and unable to fight back, Dana ends up with a scratch from the partially shifted cat. This ends up putting her in a shifter hospital, where she meets some even more dangerous and alluring people, one of which pushes all her sexytime buttons.
There's the inevitable love triangle play, Dana's struggle with possibly becoming something she once captured, trying to keep everyone safe, failing to keep everyone safe, failing to keep herself safe, and a crapload of mystery and deception all rolled into one addictive book. I absolutely love where this world is taking me and cannot wait for more - there is more, right? I really want to see Dana's next step into her even more complicated life.
February 11, 2017
I thought thought this was a great introduction book to a new series. Even though some of the book was a little annoying, like all the passing out she did, I think this series could grow into a much better series than is out there now. I'm looking forward to seeing what is going on with Sam and Dana.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
April 4, 2017
Mark of the Moon is book one in Beth Dranoff's debut series. I love an Urban Fantasy with different paranormal beings so I knew I had to read this when I saw the blurb. There's a healthy mix of vampires, weres and demons in the story and the cast is quite large. Our leading lady, Dana Markovitz was a normal human living in a paranormal world until she gets scratched by a were and contracts the virus. Now she's coping with everything that brings to the table as well as someone seeming to want her and the people surrounding her dead.
We start off meeting Dana Markovitz in a BDSM scene with Dana's no strings attached lover Jon. Things turn interesting when she gets scratched by Jon's jealous lover that happens to be a were and Dana winds up getting the virus. She tries to go back to her normal life of working in a paranormal bar as the bartender but things get out of hand when people start trying to attack her and her friends. Not sure who to trust, Dana has to rely on new and old friends to try to survive.
Mark of the Moon is a promising start to a new series. I enjoyed the mixture of paranormal beings and the characters kept my interest. I did have a few issues with the novel though that I want to point out. I feel like the cast was a bit too large for me to keep track of who was who. I tend to have this issue with large casts in books though so that might just be my issue. There's also a love triangle so know that going in if you're not fond of those. Another issue is that Dana seems to pass out/black out/get knocked out a ton in this novel. I didn't care for that being the transition scene so often and hope that doesn't continue in the next installment. That's pretty much my main complaints and overall I enjoyed this book. I will most definitely be grabbing book two when it's released in July 2017. All in all, if you're looking for a new Urban Fantasy with vamps, weres and demons I suggest you try this novel.
We start off meeting Dana Markovitz in a BDSM scene with Dana's no strings attached lover Jon. Things turn interesting when she gets scratched by Jon's jealous lover that happens to be a were and Dana winds up getting the virus. She tries to go back to her normal life of working in a paranormal bar as the bartender but things get out of hand when people start trying to attack her and her friends. Not sure who to trust, Dana has to rely on new and old friends to try to survive.
Mark of the Moon is a promising start to a new series. I enjoyed the mixture of paranormal beings and the characters kept my interest. I did have a few issues with the novel though that I want to point out. I feel like the cast was a bit too large for me to keep track of who was who. I tend to have this issue with large casts in books though so that might just be my issue. There's also a love triangle so know that going in if you're not fond of those. Another issue is that Dana seems to pass out/black out/get knocked out a ton in this novel. I didn't care for that being the transition scene so often and hope that doesn't continue in the next installment. That's pretty much my main complaints and overall I enjoyed this book. I will most definitely be grabbing book two when it's released in July 2017. All in all, if you're looking for a new Urban Fantasy with vamps, weres and demons I suggest you try this novel.
July 18, 2017
I was given this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
2 Stars
Dana is a former Agent turned bartender, and when a relatively benign BDSM scene turns into a jealous ex scratching her and turning her furry, things get...weird. Now she's trying to figure out herself, and all the crazy things that keep happening with her at the epicenter.
I wanted to like this book, and in fact made it about 70% of the way through, but the plot was scattered and all over the place. The book is supposed to be about why the underworld has gone bananas now that Dana has contracted a feline-shifting virus, but every time you turn the page it's all about Dana and Jon, or Dana and Sam, or the tension when the three of them are all together. I would've liked a more linear plot that the reader is better able to follow. Although Dana is an ass-kicker and an independent woman, she keeps getting twisted up in her glands and hormones like a teenager.
2 Stars
Dana is a former Agent turned bartender, and when a relatively benign BDSM scene turns into a jealous ex scratching her and turning her furry, things get...weird. Now she's trying to figure out herself, and all the crazy things that keep happening with her at the epicenter.
I wanted to like this book, and in fact made it about 70% of the way through, but the plot was scattered and all over the place. The book is supposed to be about why the underworld has gone bananas now that Dana has contracted a feline-shifting virus, but every time you turn the page it's all about Dana and Jon, or Dana and Sam, or the tension when the three of them are all together. I would've liked a more linear plot that the reader is better able to follow. Although Dana is an ass-kicker and an independent woman, she keeps getting twisted up in her glands and hormones like a teenager.
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