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Moon #4
Crimson Moon
Hoping to turn his life around, Johnny Marshall, a troublemaking young werewolf, heads west and changes his identity to that of Sam Morgan, a ardent environmentalist dedicated to protecting the land from those who would abuse it, but his plans are undermined by his growing attraction to a ruthless lumber baron's beautiful daughter, Olivia. Original.
348 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 4, 2005
15 people are currently reading
621 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca York
322 books449 followersRuth Glick (born 1942) is a best-selling author of healthy cookbooks and has also written dozens of romantic suspense romance novels under the pen name Rebecca York.
Ruth earned a B.A. in American Thought and Civilization from George Washington University and an M.A. in American Studies from the University of Maryland. Although she always wanted to become a writer, Glick was convinced that her lack of spelling skills meant that her goal was unattainable. As a stay-at-home mother, she took a community college course to help her choose a career. The course made it very clear that writing was her primary interest. Glick began writing articles for newspapers and magazines, but after several years decided to try writing fiction. Her first book, a kids' science fiction book, was finally purchased by Scholastic Inc..
Since then, Glick has become a highly successful author of over 50 romantic suspense and paranormal novels. Many of her novels are published under the Harlequin Intrigue line, and in June 2003, she became one of the first authors published under Berkley's new Sensation imprint. Before 1997, she often collaborated with Eileen Buckholtz and Kathryn Jenson.
Glick also is a highly regarded author of cookbooks focusing on healthy eating. She sometimes hires trained chefs to test the recipes that she creates, and makes sure that every recipe is tested at least three times before it appears in one of her cookbooks.
Glick is the head of the Columbia Writers Workshop. She and her husband, Norman Glick, live in Columbia, Maryland, where Ruth collects rocks, and enjoys cooking, walking, reading, gardening, travel, and Mozart operas. They have two grown children, Elissa and Ethan, and two grandsons (Jesse and Leo).
Ruth earned a B.A. in American Thought and Civilization from George Washington University and an M.A. in American Studies from the University of Maryland. Although she always wanted to become a writer, Glick was convinced that her lack of spelling skills meant that her goal was unattainable. As a stay-at-home mother, she took a community college course to help her choose a career. The course made it very clear that writing was her primary interest. Glick began writing articles for newspapers and magazines, but after several years decided to try writing fiction. Her first book, a kids' science fiction book, was finally purchased by Scholastic Inc..
Since then, Glick has become a highly successful author of over 50 romantic suspense and paranormal novels. Many of her novels are published under the Harlequin Intrigue line, and in June 2003, she became one of the first authors published under Berkley's new Sensation imprint. Before 1997, she often collaborated with Eileen Buckholtz and Kathryn Jenson.
Glick also is a highly regarded author of cookbooks focusing on healthy eating. She sometimes hires trained chefs to test the recipes that she creates, and makes sure that every recipe is tested at least three times before it appears in one of her cookbooks.
Glick is the head of the Columbia Writers Workshop. She and her husband, Norman Glick, live in Columbia, Maryland, where Ruth collects rocks, and enjoys cooking, walking, reading, gardening, travel, and Mozart operas. They have two grown children, Elissa and Ethan, and two grandsons (Jesse and Leo).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
January 3, 2018
Crimson Moon is really weak compared to, well, most other paranormal romances I've read so far. There are a number of things that annoyed me to no end, but since I knew what I'm getting into and what to expect, I didn't hate it. That is mostly because it's so lukewarm, it didn't leave any impression on me.
The paranormal elements are werewolves and some other things mentioned later in the story. The romance part is pretty much in your face. I'd call it instant, but for it to be instant it should at least knock the characters off their feet when they meet. We are told they are knocked off their feet, though. I guess that counts.
The villain is over-the-top evil and insane and if there weren't one particularly disturbing scene featuring a woman he holds captive in his tower (yes, tower) that lasted too long, I'd say he is even cartoonishly evil.
Speaking of the said scene, it fortunately doesn't take you to the end and it cuts off only to be replaced with our two protagonists all hot and bothered about each other talking about sex. If someone read this story before publishing, they should have told the author this is bad. From one chilling horrifying (sexual) scene to the romantic one is weird to say the least.
Then you have characters themselves. Olivia is eye-roll worthy Mary Sue. Her brother (computer genius, we're told) is sick, her father (horrible man) is sick, her uncle is sick and insane. She holds the family together. By the end of the book, she is added a couple of more attributes. And, get ready for the eye-roll, she's . It was a 'oh, come on' moment for me. Don't get me wrong, I don't care if a character is or isn't, but to make it cherry on the top () of all the other things is ridiculous.
Sam is bland and the only thing going for him is that he can turn into a wolf. I love wolves. I am biased.
So, there you have it. An okay (kind of) story that you'll neither love/like nor hate.
The paranormal elements are werewolves and some other things mentioned later in the story. The romance part is pretty much in your face. I'd call it instant, but for it to be instant it should at least knock the characters off their feet when they meet. We are told they are knocked off their feet, though. I guess that counts.
The villain is over-the-top evil and insane and if there weren't one particularly disturbing scene featuring a woman he holds captive in his tower (yes, tower) that lasted too long, I'd say he is even cartoonishly evil.
Speaking of the said scene, it fortunately doesn't take you to the end and it cuts off only to be replaced with our two protagonists all hot and bothered about each other talking about sex. If someone read this story before publishing, they should have told the author this is bad. From one chilling horrifying (sexual) scene to the romantic one is weird to say the least.
Then you have characters themselves. Olivia is eye-roll worthy Mary Sue. Her brother (computer genius, we're told) is sick, her father (horrible man) is sick, her uncle is sick and insane. She holds the family together. By the end of the book, she is added a couple of more attributes. And, get ready for the eye-roll, she's . It was a 'oh, come on' moment for me. Don't get me wrong, I don't care if a character is or isn't, but to make it cherry on the top () of all the other things is ridiculous.
Sam is bland and the only thing going for him is that he can turn into a wolf. I love wolves. I am biased.
So, there you have it. An okay (kind of) story that you'll neither love/like nor hate.
January 27, 2021
The plot of this book is interesting and engaging. However, the unrelenting political correctness was distracting. I don’t mind it when someone has a different viewpoint from mine. However, this book checked all the checkboxes for every progressive cause I can think of. It felt much more like virtue signaling then being authentic.
February 26, 2024
I'm always a bit annoyed with her characters in the first half or so, when it's all instant burning lust they can barely control, ere we get to the actual story, which was mostly fun to read; though, personally I could have done without the sexualized violence.
July 12, 2009
It took me a while to get into this book. I liked it but I enjoyed the previous books in this series more.
April 24, 2021
DNF!!!!! I had read a few reviews that said the villain was a sicko, so I had steeled myself for something disturbing. I obviously didn't read enough reviews because I was totally unprepared for the BEASTIALITY dream scene. GROSS!!!! That's a hard brick wall for me and I'm throwing the book in the trash. I don't expect this kind of stuff from main stream authors. Very disappointed. If you are reading the series, SKIP THIS ONE!!!!!!
May 8, 2023
This was curious: I'm glad the author added in other elements of the supernatural. The bad guy reminded me a lot of Silence of the Lambs. Very suspenseful.
May 10, 2015
Setting: barroom & hospital Baltimore; mansion, Montecito CA – treasure room, garden, her bedroom, halls/stairs, brother’s office/den, chapel; evil man’s home in La Jolla, castle-like, built into mountain with basement vault and booby traps and high tower room where he kept his Sarah look-a-like imprisoned; his isolated ranch, house built into side of hill, overlooking the valley; south of Lompoc; motels & rental house to hide out in;
Theme: Both carrying supernatural secrets, she needing serious help now, both carrying an interest in the other that started when investigating the other… they come together, defeat evil, to get their happily after.
Characters:
Johnny Marshall aka Sam Morgan: werewolf, chased away by father, unable to tolerate another with power; 8 years earlier, bar fight, wakes up in morgue, overhears other bikers planning on pinning a death on him, so he sneaks out, allowing all to think he is dead;
Olivia Woodlock: family blessed (cursed) with an elixir that gives them supernatural powers, or without leads to death; her father, uncle, and brother are all suffering as it has been stolen by their enemy, who wants her to sacrifice herself (marry him) in order to save her family; she and her brother devise a plan to get Sam to help them…
Colin Woodlock and his partner Brice Brayman: Colin feeling weak; computer and analytical genius; gay, and his partner into whatever spirituality might give him some relief; he is the one who determines Sam is a burglar of high end artifacts… and when he and Olivia disappear, Colin applies what his talent to tracking them – unfortunately the household spy steals the information for him…
Wilson Woodlock: patriarch; power hungry and willing to trade daughter for the elixir back; he’s feeling the ill effects of not having taken the elixir;
Barbara Andres: college student, kidnapped by Luther, plastic surgery done in Mexico so face looks like Olivia, locked in Luther’s tower; when Luther wanting to play out his fantasies about Olivia, he sends a gas into her room that paralyzes her so he can rape her without a fight; she helps her rescuers in every way possible;
Luther Ethridge: his family competed with Woodlock family for a few generations… and Luther was forced to go to the same wealthy school as the Woodlocks – where he was bullied (partly his fault, mostly not); he developed a crush on Olivia… when his father fed his crush, and he thought Olivia was open to him (he was 30, she 17), he made a pass, she ran away… he vowed vengeance…
Ross Marshall: Sam’s brother; Sam emails him when he realizes that Olivia is his lifemate, to ask for help – especially as Ross’ wife a geneticist; Ross responds warmly, with how they can manage their were aggressiveness with one another, and comes to help him in the break in at Luther’s
Summary:
Colin and Olivia draw Sam to their house, to catch him in the act of burglaring, so as to blackmail him into helping him them retrieve the elixir & it’s magic box from Luther’s dungeon, booby trapped vault…
Both know the other is someone important, but both hold onto their secrets, but little by little come to trust one another, as they face dangers…
Memorable scenes:
First werewolf book I’ve read where the were fantasizes about making love to his human mate as a wolf – and she seems open to it. hmmmm
“Liberating some of their ill-gotten wealth was his chosen profession, as well as one of his chief pleasures.”
Theme: Both carrying supernatural secrets, she needing serious help now, both carrying an interest in the other that started when investigating the other… they come together, defeat evil, to get their happily after.
Characters:
Johnny Marshall aka Sam Morgan: werewolf, chased away by father, unable to tolerate another with power; 8 years earlier, bar fight, wakes up in morgue, overhears other bikers planning on pinning a death on him, so he sneaks out, allowing all to think he is dead;
Olivia Woodlock: family blessed (cursed) with an elixir that gives them supernatural powers, or without leads to death; her father, uncle, and brother are all suffering as it has been stolen by their enemy, who wants her to sacrifice herself (marry him) in order to save her family; she and her brother devise a plan to get Sam to help them…
Colin Woodlock and his partner Brice Brayman: Colin feeling weak; computer and analytical genius; gay, and his partner into whatever spirituality might give him some relief; he is the one who determines Sam is a burglar of high end artifacts… and when he and Olivia disappear, Colin applies what his talent to tracking them – unfortunately the household spy steals the information for him…
Wilson Woodlock: patriarch; power hungry and willing to trade daughter for the elixir back; he’s feeling the ill effects of not having taken the elixir;
Barbara Andres: college student, kidnapped by Luther, plastic surgery done in Mexico so face looks like Olivia, locked in Luther’s tower; when Luther wanting to play out his fantasies about Olivia, he sends a gas into her room that paralyzes her so he can rape her without a fight; she helps her rescuers in every way possible;
Luther Ethridge: his family competed with Woodlock family for a few generations… and Luther was forced to go to the same wealthy school as the Woodlocks – where he was bullied (partly his fault, mostly not); he developed a crush on Olivia… when his father fed his crush, and he thought Olivia was open to him (he was 30, she 17), he made a pass, she ran away… he vowed vengeance…
Ross Marshall: Sam’s brother; Sam emails him when he realizes that Olivia is his lifemate, to ask for help – especially as Ross’ wife a geneticist; Ross responds warmly, with how they can manage their were aggressiveness with one another, and comes to help him in the break in at Luther’s
Summary:
Colin and Olivia draw Sam to their house, to catch him in the act of burglaring, so as to blackmail him into helping him them retrieve the elixir & it’s magic box from Luther’s dungeon, booby trapped vault…
Both know the other is someone important, but both hold onto their secrets, but little by little come to trust one another, as they face dangers…
Memorable scenes:
First werewolf book I’ve read where the were fantasizes about making love to his human mate as a wolf – and she seems open to it. hmmmm
“Liberating some of their ill-gotten wealth was his chosen profession, as well as one of his chief pleasures.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2016
Now this one’s different than the previous. Sam Morgan is an art thief. After having to run from his life of drunken bars and women, he’s made his way to San Francisco and cultivated the lifestyle needed to enter the world of high society and secretly steal their art collections.
Olivia Woodstock is the daughter of one of those society families, but her family has a terrible secret. Catching Sam during a robbery on their family home, she talks him into helping them retrieve a valuable object stolen from them by Wilson Woodlock, (who is one sick psycho.)
As they unwillingly work together and they find their attraction growing, they have to decide how far they can trust the other with their family secrets.
This story both had a lot of potential good ideas that didn't quite pay off There’s plenty of interesting possible enemies in this story and the actual one is unexpected, but simply because it’s so basic you don’t think of it. I love Olivia’s secret and how it affects each member, but some of the abilities are a little too convenient to the plot.
Quick Thoughts: 1) Even though I've lived nearby I never thought to look up the meaning behind the name Pismo Beach. It’s an interesting little bit of info.
Fave Scenes: 1) climbing into Darwin’s window, escaping from the locked room, rescuing Barbara and avoiding Luther’s traps.
Olivia Woodstock is the daughter of one of those society families, but her family has a terrible secret. Catching Sam during a robbery on their family home, she talks him into helping them retrieve a valuable object stolen from them by Wilson Woodlock, (who is one sick psycho.)
As they unwillingly work together and they find their attraction growing, they have to decide how far they can trust the other with their family secrets.
This story both had a lot of potential good ideas that didn't quite pay off There’s plenty of interesting possible enemies in this story and the actual one is unexpected, but simply because it’s so basic you don’t think of it. I love Olivia’s secret and how it affects each member, but some of the abilities are a little too convenient to the plot.
Quick Thoughts: 1) Even though I've lived nearby I never thought to look up the meaning behind the name Pismo Beach. It’s an interesting little bit of info.
Fave Scenes: 1) climbing into Darwin’s window, escaping from the locked room, rescuing Barbara and avoiding Luther’s traps.
March 28, 2008
I have read the others in the moon series years ago and loved them. Just recently picked this one up after finishing a couple other fantasy series I was reading (actually I got a few new books to start and had trouble getting into any of them....hard to get out of the world of a series that has 12+ books when that is all you have been reading straight) Reading the Sookie Stackhouse books as well right now. Going to pick this one up tonight and see if I can't get moving on it. My review to follow :)
February 3, 2016
So, I started with the first book and really enjoyed it. The in between books, I kind of looked at and it didn't interest me. I picked this one up because it seemed more interesting. This is a 2.5 for me. It was better than okay but not quite 3.
The writing is fine. I mean she does a good job with world building, characters and storyline. It just didn't capture my attention. This can be read as a standalone for those who want to skip around in the series.
The writing is fine. I mean she does a good job with world building, characters and storyline. It just didn't capture my attention. This can be read as a standalone for those who want to skip around in the series.
September 24, 2013
I love how you don't need to read the books in order. It makes them better but for me I came into the series and read them randomly. I still understood everything and was never confused. I like York's style. Not typically my thing to read romance novels with steamy scene's in them. This book was good it didn't really become a favorite ,but it was a good book. I like how some of the characters struggle and how they are relatable.
September 12, 2015
I didn't like this book as much as the previous ones. It's like she took the previous books, combined them and diluted them with a whole lot of sex (or the characters fantasizing about sex). The bad guy was especially heinous but the take down was pretty quick.
December 8, 2013
I think this series is deifintely high up there on my liking list. Definitely a a series you don't need to read in the correct order. I do enjoy Yourk's style of writing. It keeps me entertained when I don't have much else to read on hand. I love how fast these books are.
September 21, 2007
Disclaimer: Ruth Glick writing as Rebecca York is my mom. But I really did love this one! I stayed up way too late reading it. 4 1/2 stars.
November 11, 2007
read 05.12.07
August 16, 2008
Crimson Moon (The Moon Series, Book 4) by Rebecca York (2005)
August 20, 2008
i loved this book and the character's
August 20, 2017
read 1/11/2009
re-read sept2015
re-read sept2015
Want to read
November 21, 2008TBR
December 25, 2008
a really good book very intriguing. the characters are very easy to relate to. i enjoyed the inner struggles of each character.
November 14, 2009
While this is still a good series. I don't know that I will be finishing it. In each new book I am finding them harder and harder to read. I will probably be stopping with this book.
July 22, 2010
Another one in the series that I enjoyed. A good read for fans of PNR :)
September 13, 2012
สนุกผิดคาดดี
เรื่องราวค่อนข้างเข้มข้น
มีเรื่องราวโน่นนี่ มาเรียกความสนใจ
พระเอก-นางเอก มีความซับซ้อนดี
มีเรื่องราวต้องปิดบัง โกหกกันไปมา
อ่านเพลิน ๆ ดีค่ะ
เรื่องราวค่อนข้างเข้มข้น
มีเรื่องราวโน่นนี่ มาเรียกความสนใจ
พระเอก-นางเอก มีความซับซ้อนดี
มีเรื่องราวต้องปิดบัง โกหกกันไปมา
อ่านเพลิน ๆ ดีค่ะ
March 22, 2011
Were who targets enviromental rapists finds love with a lumber barons daughter. The supernatual twist surrounding her family adds more interest.
September 26, 2012
As usual Rebecca York does not disappoint!
Want to read
June 11, 2012not on kindle, hire from liabrary
February 5, 2013
Another decent book in the series. Took a little time getting started, but once I was finally into the book, I didn't want to put it down.
March 22, 2013
Actually liked this one more than the others.
August 26, 2016
Oh, how I loved this book! Before you know it, your approaching the final pages! I must go back to the beginning and start the entire series now, maybe even re-read this book (#4).
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews