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Sentinels #1
Jaguar Night
Imagine a world where a sleek, dark jaguar wanders after twilight, seeking his mate, offering her protection from harm and the most sensual nights her heart could ever desire....
At dusk he prowled the Southwest, a huge, sleek black jaguar with startling blue eyes and a man's thoughts. A shape-shifting Sentinel, Dolan Trevio projected an intensely animalistic aura that hid the scars of his past. Yet as fierce as his pride was, this immensely powerful guardian needed the intuition and spirit of an innocent horse trainer to find redemption.
The moment he set foot on her ranch, Meghan Lawrence rejected the shape-shifter's protection - but she couldn't turn her back on her family legacy. Her mother had died protecting a magical manuscript that the Sentinels' dark counterparts would now do anything to recover. With an unbreakable will and all-consuming passion, only Dolan possessed the strength to save Meghan. But was she strong enough to tame the beast within?
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 2009
20 people are currently reading
465 people want to read
About the author
Doranna Durgin
115 books227 followersDoranna Durgin is an award-winning author (the Compton Crook for Best First SF/F/H novel) whose quirky spirit has led to an extensive and eclectic publishing journey across genres, publishers, and publishing lines. Beyond that, she hangs around outside her Southwest mountain home with horse and highly accomplished competition dogs. She doesn't believe in mastering the beast within, but in channeling its power--for good or bad has yet to be decided! She says, “My books are SF/F, mystery, paranormal romance, & romantic suspense. My world is the Southwest, and my dogs are Beagles!”
Doranna’s most recent releases encompass the three books of the Reckoners trilogy--a powerful ghostbuster raised by a spirit, her brilliantly eccentric backup team, a cat who isn't a cat, and a fiercely driven bounty hunter from a different dimension who brings them together when worlds collide.
Doranna’s most recent releases encompass the three books of the Reckoners trilogy--a powerful ghostbuster raised by a spirit, her brilliantly eccentric backup team, a cat who isn't a cat, and a fiercely driven bounty hunter from a different dimension who brings them together when worlds collide.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
October 26, 2012
I was pleasantly surprised by this series. My thought was eh, it's a numbered romance that just happens to feature shifters. How much excitement could it possibly contain (outside the usual TSTL h and overbearing jackass H). A lot in fact. The h...has issues with the shifters. Her mother was a shifter and... her help never arrived, she was badly injured, and died. The shifters didn't figure the kid worth fooling with since she couldn't shift. Ooops. The H's brother was the help that died en route to assist her mother. He has his own issues because the bureaucracy in the shifter world never sent backup or help to his brother.
Tha's the setup. There are other things, like the fact that initiation involves a blood exchange. H didn't think about that and h was perturbed (initiation unlocks any latent non-shifter powers). Of course, H didn't do it intentionally - he was dying at the time. Oddly enough, he never really explained to her what happened - just apologized because he didn't think about it. Yeah - I kept expecting him to actually explain what happened, but he never did.
Anyway... the biggest gripe I had was the same one the H had - his backup showed up at the last minute, so I can't really hold a grudge, unless of course the H still is. :D
Tha's the setup. There are other things, like the fact that initiation involves a blood exchange. H didn't think about that and h was perturbed (initiation unlocks any latent non-shifter powers). Of course, H didn't do it intentionally - he was dying at the time. Oddly enough, he never really explained to her what happened - just apologized because he didn't think about it. Yeah - I kept expecting him to actually explain what happened, but he never did.
Anyway... the biggest gripe I had was the same one the H had - his backup showed up at the last minute, so I can't really hold a grudge, unless of course the H still is. :D
January 1, 2017
Setting: Southwest – Encontrados Ranch – main house, casita, barns, sheep pen, corrals, abandoned old shack with outhouse,
Characters:
Meghan Lawrence: daughter of a semi-Sentinel coyote shifter; mother went on a mission when she was 10 and never returned; Meghan blamed the Sentinels and cut herself off; she as some of her mother’s power – healing, ward building, second sight; she runs a ranch, with a family she brought together, that rescue abused horses;
Dolan Trevino: Sentinel; his older brother worked with Meghan’s mother to hide the Liber Nex, and was killed; Dolan resented the Sentinels not providing support to bro as should have, but not having a choice he is one of them but more rogue than not; when hears rumors that the Core is back at ranch looking for the Nex, and the Sentinel council is slow to respond, he goes to investigate… and is immediately snared by Meghan;
Jenny / Anica / Chris: Meg’s found family; they have some latent powers themselves, of perception and empathy; when Meghan realizes the scope of the trouble coming she tries to get them to leave, but they insist on staying;
Liber Nex: evil, blood magic book, brought to the New World by the Conquistadors and recently rediscovered; the Core wants the power it can bring, the Sentinels want it destroyed; Meghan’s mom hid it, disguised as toilet paper in the abandoned outhouse, and layered wards to keep others from noticing it, and she laid a fake path to make it look like the book was handed off;
Fabron Gausto: prince of the local Core sect; he and his brother have been dabbling in blood magic, and had captured Dolan 7 years earlier, tortured him (and took some of him blood) and laid a spell in the wounds; Dolan managed to escape and killed Fabron’s brother;
Summary:
Especially for the first third of the book, the tying of Meghan and Dolan is a confusing mishmash of emotions both feel – attraction, anger at past, guilt, passion, etc- and once she heals him (from Fabron’s poison attack) and ties them together closer it’s even more mushy…
But the bottom line is that they get closer as he heals, and the truth of her mother/brother’s sacrifice is made clear to them both; when they finally have sex, she is officially initiated into her Sentinel powers, at first unwanted, but then with Dolan’s assistance, she is able to draw from the power of the land, and to do more…
Fabron shows up, disables Dolan with the blood magic, kidnaps Meghan (who had just discovered and rehid the Nex) – he uses the blood magic, she dies, he brings her back but has cut her ties to Dolan and made her his slave (she must do what he says)… the Sentinel council finally shows up and with Dolan they assault Fabron’s base (thinking Meghan is dead)… Meghan starts to find more of her own with Dolan’s presence, and when Fabron commands her to make a powerful ward to keep the others out, she does so – but the ward keeps him in – no one can reach him, he can’t reach anyone else… hmmmm… and then drawing on the earth power, she breaks the connection…
And the council takes the Nex, the council acknowledges Meghan’s power and her right to self-determination, but leave Dolan there to help her navigate.
Characters:
Meghan Lawrence: daughter of a semi-Sentinel coyote shifter; mother went on a mission when she was 10 and never returned; Meghan blamed the Sentinels and cut herself off; she as some of her mother’s power – healing, ward building, second sight; she runs a ranch, with a family she brought together, that rescue abused horses;
Dolan Trevino: Sentinel; his older brother worked with Meghan’s mother to hide the Liber Nex, and was killed; Dolan resented the Sentinels not providing support to bro as should have, but not having a choice he is one of them but more rogue than not; when hears rumors that the Core is back at ranch looking for the Nex, and the Sentinel council is slow to respond, he goes to investigate… and is immediately snared by Meghan;
Jenny / Anica / Chris: Meg’s found family; they have some latent powers themselves, of perception and empathy; when Meghan realizes the scope of the trouble coming she tries to get them to leave, but they insist on staying;
Liber Nex: evil, blood magic book, brought to the New World by the Conquistadors and recently rediscovered; the Core wants the power it can bring, the Sentinels want it destroyed; Meghan’s mom hid it, disguised as toilet paper in the abandoned outhouse, and layered wards to keep others from noticing it, and she laid a fake path to make it look like the book was handed off;
Fabron Gausto: prince of the local Core sect; he and his brother have been dabbling in blood magic, and had captured Dolan 7 years earlier, tortured him (and took some of him blood) and laid a spell in the wounds; Dolan managed to escape and killed Fabron’s brother;
Summary:
Especially for the first third of the book, the tying of Meghan and Dolan is a confusing mishmash of emotions both feel – attraction, anger at past, guilt, passion, etc- and once she heals him (from Fabron’s poison attack) and ties them together closer it’s even more mushy…
But the bottom line is that they get closer as he heals, and the truth of her mother/brother’s sacrifice is made clear to them both; when they finally have sex, she is officially initiated into her Sentinel powers, at first unwanted, but then with Dolan’s assistance, she is able to draw from the power of the land, and to do more…
Fabron shows up, disables Dolan with the blood magic, kidnaps Meghan (who had just discovered and rehid the Nex) – he uses the blood magic, she dies, he brings her back but has cut her ties to Dolan and made her his slave (she must do what he says)… the Sentinel council finally shows up and with Dolan they assault Fabron’s base (thinking Meghan is dead)… Meghan starts to find more of her own with Dolan’s presence, and when Fabron commands her to make a powerful ward to keep the others out, she does so – but the ward keeps him in – no one can reach him, he can’t reach anyone else… hmmmm… and then drawing on the earth power, she breaks the connection…
And the council takes the Nex, the council acknowledges Meghan’s power and her right to self-determination, but leave Dolan there to help her navigate.
February 25, 2019
This is book 1 in the sentinels series, there are 8 in total.
Dolan is a shape shifter sentinel, he takes the form of a jaguar. He is on a mission to find a magical manuscript before the core. He just has to convince meghan the daughter of the woman who died trying to protect the manuscript to help him.
Meghan wants nothing to do with the sentinels , they left her mother to die and then a bandana her so it's safe to say she isn't happy when Dolan turns up on her door step.
After saving Dolans life an all- consuming passion flers up between them and although meghan trys her hardest to fight it, she soon gives into temptation.
Although I did enjoy reading this book there was one point in it that I came to a halt and struggled to go on. However I am glad that I did carry on and read it to the end as once I got over that section it was enjoyable again.
I liked the storyline and the characters you have a shape shifter who I am a bit off a rough and doesn't follow all the sentinel rules. He blames them for the death of his brother who was working with meghan mum. Then there is meghan who is new to the sentinel world, although she is a non shape shifter she still has power and through out the book you see that grows as she learns to use it.
You meet some off the other sentinel in this book to which made me interested to read their stories.
Doranna Durgin writing style was different to what I normally read, which was a nice change. She is very good at descriptions to so you can almost picture it.
I would recommend this for anyone who likes shape shifter romances .
Dolan is a shape shifter sentinel, he takes the form of a jaguar. He is on a mission to find a magical manuscript before the core. He just has to convince meghan the daughter of the woman who died trying to protect the manuscript to help him.
Meghan wants nothing to do with the sentinels , they left her mother to die and then a bandana her so it's safe to say she isn't happy when Dolan turns up on her door step.
After saving Dolans life an all- consuming passion flers up between them and although meghan trys her hardest to fight it, she soon gives into temptation.
Although I did enjoy reading this book there was one point in it that I came to a halt and struggled to go on. However I am glad that I did carry on and read it to the end as once I got over that section it was enjoyable again.
I liked the storyline and the characters you have a shape shifter who I am a bit off a rough and doesn't follow all the sentinel rules. He blames them for the death of his brother who was working with meghan mum. Then there is meghan who is new to the sentinel world, although she is a non shape shifter she still has power and through out the book you see that grows as she learns to use it.
You meet some off the other sentinel in this book to which made me interested to read their stories.
Doranna Durgin writing style was different to what I normally read, which was a nice change. She is very good at descriptions to so you can almost picture it.
I would recommend this for anyone who likes shape shifter romances .
June 14, 2018
I wasn't expecting much from a Harlequin paranormal title, but boy was I surprised! I was totally sucked into this world, and really appreciated how different the paranormal "rules" are applied here. I think Durgin has come up with some fairly original mythology in how she deals with shapeshifting (even the language of "taking" an animal, rather than "shifting"), and using natural talent vs. amulets to differentiate the two opposing groups.
I'm so glad I randomly (finally! it's been on my TBR list for 4 years) decided to check this out from the library and now I have a new series to binge!
I'm so glad I randomly (finally! it's been on my TBR list for 4 years) decided to check this out from the library and now I have a new series to binge!
June 29, 2025
Not a fan of Doranna Durgin but this was a slightly better installment than "Lion Heart". The strongest aspect of the story is following the heroine's rancher life, and all the horseback riding, and the development of her two friends who had witty dialogue. The hero "The Jaguar Sentinel" is beyond bland. I mean there is literally no characterization for him, lacks any sort of sensuous or romance. The Sential powers are just confusing. She is a fan of the "..." in writing and jumps around a lot, and their powers don't make sense.
October 6, 2019
Loved this book and series.
March 10, 2018
I didn't finish this book. I couldn't get past the horrible writing.
October 18, 2016
A shifter romantic suspense w/some unique bits of world-building
This is the first PNR I've read by Doranna Durgin, though I've enjoyed a number of her fantasies and a mystery or two. I'm pleased to see that she maintained her standards of building three-dimensional characters and an exciting, coherent plot, even with the addition of more sexual content.
Meghan is the non-shifting daughter of a loving coyote-shifter mother who had little to do with the shape-shifter organization who call themselves the Vigilia, Sentinels, until the vital task which cost her her life, and Meghan has blamed the Sentinels ever since. They made no effort to complete her training in whatever other magical skills she might have inherited from her ward-master mother, or to otherwise be involved in her life, so she's had no reason to change her perspective until Dolan shows up at the animal-rehabilation ranch she's made her life's work. Dolan, on the other hand, has mixed feelings, believing in the Sentinels' purpose, but not the cold and diliatory way their current administration goes about supposedly fulfilling it. He's made it HIS life's work to do whatever it takes to accompliush what needs to be done, protecting others from the threat of the Atrum core, the group which opposes them -- a group which began by considering themselves the protectors of humanity from the presumed threat posed by the powerful shifters, but now seems to be willing to use truly evil magic that the Sentinels are unprepared to defend against.
As Meghan and Dolan are drawn together by an unexpected attraction, deepened by a tangled bit of untrained Meghan's magic, both must re-examine their assumptions about each other and themselves. The mission for which both Meghan's mother and Dolan's older brother died when help did not arrive in time was never really completed. A manuscript containing spells of the darkest sort is still hidden, probably behind wards created by a clever coyote, and in the race to keep it out of the wrong hands, it starts to look like history may repeat itself on more than one front: they're on their own, facing a Core leader determined both to get control of the book and to enact a very personal revenge on Dolan.
The wardcraft and mental communication possible between the Sentinels is an unusual inclusion, the latter being "more" and at times uncomfortably revelatory between the h/H. I appreciated Meghan's loyal concern for her "chosen family" of volunteers, and for the animals they heal from damage both physical and emotional. (Durgin owns her own Lipizzaner, I believe, and her admiration for these noble warrior steeds shines clear in Luka, who is a full character himself.) The climax is emotional and intense, and all seems lost, despite Dolan's careful partial truths making sure the belatedly-arrived Sentinel team's priorities align with his.
I don't want to get spoilery, so I'll just say I definitely intend to read more of the series, but this one does have its own satisfying ending. Many books in the Harlequin & Silhouette lines, including these Nocturnes, are currently on sale (10/18/2016), so it's a good time to do as I did and give them a try.
This is the first PNR I've read by Doranna Durgin, though I've enjoyed a number of her fantasies and a mystery or two. I'm pleased to see that she maintained her standards of building three-dimensional characters and an exciting, coherent plot, even with the addition of more sexual content.
Meghan is the non-shifting daughter of a loving coyote-shifter mother who had little to do with the shape-shifter organization who call themselves the Vigilia, Sentinels, until the vital task which cost her her life, and Meghan has blamed the Sentinels ever since. They made no effort to complete her training in whatever other magical skills she might have inherited from her ward-master mother, or to otherwise be involved in her life, so she's had no reason to change her perspective until Dolan shows up at the animal-rehabilation ranch she's made her life's work. Dolan, on the other hand, has mixed feelings, believing in the Sentinels' purpose, but not the cold and diliatory way their current administration goes about supposedly fulfilling it. He's made it HIS life's work to do whatever it takes to accompliush what needs to be done, protecting others from the threat of the Atrum core, the group which opposes them -- a group which began by considering themselves the protectors of humanity from the presumed threat posed by the powerful shifters, but now seems to be willing to use truly evil magic that the Sentinels are unprepared to defend against.
As Meghan and Dolan are drawn together by an unexpected attraction, deepened by a tangled bit of untrained Meghan's magic, both must re-examine their assumptions about each other and themselves. The mission for which both Meghan's mother and Dolan's older brother died when help did not arrive in time was never really completed. A manuscript containing spells of the darkest sort is still hidden, probably behind wards created by a clever coyote, and in the race to keep it out of the wrong hands, it starts to look like history may repeat itself on more than one front: they're on their own, facing a Core leader determined both to get control of the book and to enact a very personal revenge on Dolan.
The wardcraft and mental communication possible between the Sentinels is an unusual inclusion, the latter being "more" and at times uncomfortably revelatory between the h/H. I appreciated Meghan's loyal concern for her "chosen family" of volunteers, and for the animals they heal from damage both physical and emotional. (Durgin owns her own Lipizzaner, I believe, and her admiration for these noble warrior steeds shines clear in Luka, who is a full character himself.) The climax is emotional and intense, and all seems lost, despite Dolan's careful partial truths making sure the belatedly-arrived Sentinel team's priorities align with his.
I don't want to get spoilery, so I'll just say I definitely intend to read more of the series, but this one does have its own satisfying ending. Many books in the Harlequin & Silhouette lines, including these Nocturnes, are currently on sale (10/18/2016), so it's a good time to do as I did and give them a try.
June 3, 2010
The first of her Sentinels series of paranormal romances, Jaguar Night is basically Doranna Durgin Does Shapeshifters. The worldbuilding is a bit thin for my tastes: you've got the Sentinels vs. the Atrum Core, who are two warring factions theoretically descended from a pair of half-brothers in ancient Britain, one a Druid and the other from a Roman father. The Druid descendants are the Sentinels who can shapeshift and do your basic grab bag of other magical abilities, while the Atrum Core are the bad guys, who are essentially out to grab the power that the Sentinels have. And that's really about all the setup you get. Fortunately Durgin's writing remains sound, and even if the worldbuilding is less detailed than I've seen her do in her fantasy novels, the characters in this series are appealing.
In this installment we've got a young woman, Meghan, who's the daughter of a coyote Sentinel who died to hide a magical manuscript. The Sentinels have deemed Meghan, who isn't a shifter herself, beneath their notice--which of course means that she gets to step up to the plate when rogue Sentinel Dolan Treviño comes looking for her, and the Atrum Core comes looking for the manuscript.
I give this story points for a Hispanic hero, for the heroine not actually being a shifter herself even if she's of Sentinel blood (which is a theme that gets bounced around with other characters later), and for Meghan's civilian friends who help her work the ranch being brought into the paranormal action in reasonable ways. There's nothing terribly unusual here in how the plot plays out, either from a paranormal romance standpoint or a fantasy one, but it does play out enjoyably. And the resolution with the antagonist is important to note, as it sets up ramifications that show up in further Sentinels books. So I'll give points for continuity, as well. Three stars.
In this installment we've got a young woman, Meghan, who's the daughter of a coyote Sentinel who died to hide a magical manuscript. The Sentinels have deemed Meghan, who isn't a shifter herself, beneath their notice--which of course means that she gets to step up to the plate when rogue Sentinel Dolan Treviño comes looking for her, and the Atrum Core comes looking for the manuscript.
I give this story points for a Hispanic hero, for the heroine not actually being a shifter herself even if she's of Sentinel blood (which is a theme that gets bounced around with other characters later), and for Meghan's civilian friends who help her work the ranch being brought into the paranormal action in reasonable ways. There's nothing terribly unusual here in how the plot plays out, either from a paranormal romance standpoint or a fantasy one, but it does play out enjoyably. And the resolution with the antagonist is important to note, as it sets up ramifications that show up in further Sentinels books. So I'll give points for continuity, as well. Three stars.
February 14, 2014
Such an intriguing series. I started with #5 "Kodiak Chained", loved it, and decided I wanted to read the series in order. As fascinating as are the concepts (amulets, tracings, wards, shields, etc), what holds my attention is the writing and the style of story telling - a mixture of action, suspense, and introspection. The plot itself is fairly simple but it's the richness of the writing that moves this series into the upper echelon of paranormal romance. The characters are complex, talented, and often struggling with events in their past that interfere with their inclination to trust others. The background histories are revealed slowly, and sometimes this lack of information leaves me feeling as though I've missed something. I'm in the dark, similar to the other main character. But with further reading the details are revealed. This is one book/series where skimming the paragraphs rather than reading the words can result in the reader missing pertinent information - these nuggets are often buried in paragraphs.
Needless to say, I loved this book and I'm eager to start the next in the series.
Needless to say, I loved this book and I'm eager to start the next in the series.
September 13, 2013
This was a good book. I loved the characters and the story line. I wouldn't mind reading it again either. There were emotions, action, some suspense, history, connections, and written well enough to pull you in. I laughed some, got angry, encouraged the characters, held my breath, and wanted to put the Ka-Pow moves on some people. The ending was great and had me almost standing up and pumping my fist in a 'Oh yeah, take that you puny pompous puss pocket of an a**'. Sorry...had to get it out of my system. Anyhow, this definitely whets the appetite for more in this series. I think I've read two of the books now and can't wait to get my hands on more. Definitely want to see what's going on in there. Overall, a great read for cuddling-up, rainy-day, passing time, for an escape, or pretty much anytime. (But don't be surprised if you lose time!) Enjoy and live to fight (he he...read) another day!
February 8, 2012
I thought the book was okay. It held my interest for the first 3/4 of the book, but the ending just kind of dragged on. And I felt like there could have been more closure. All in all, though, it was a good read.
December 7, 2012
This was a good paranormal romance. I enjoy stories of shapeshifters, and this fit the bill quite nicely. If you're looking for a quick fun read, with a lot of romantic tension and a hero who is not infallible, but needs help from the heroine and admits it, this is a great read for you.
Read
June 11, 2009This is a shiftshaper story but I have to admit that I did not finish this one. I just could not get into the story and felt that the lead characters did not have much chemistry.
August 7, 2009
4 out of 5 stars.
Read
September 30, 2009Book #198, for 2009
Series (not in Goodreads)
Book #197(A) Wild Thing (short)
Book #198, Jaguar Night
Book #199, Lion's Heart
Series (not in Goodreads)
Book #197(A) Wild Thing (short)
Book #198, Jaguar Night
Book #199, Lion's Heart
October 27, 2009
A read once... Not bad but I won't be actively pursuing the rest of the series.
Sentinels
1. Jaguar Night (2009)
2. Lion Heart (2009)
3. Wolf Hunt (2010)
Sentinels
1. Jaguar Night (2009)
2. Lion Heart (2009)
3. Wolf Hunt (2010)
Read
January 9, 2010Amazon preorder,Amazon received
August 8, 2023
Read this book before joining Goodreads in May 2010 , so I rated this just by what I feel after I finish read. Of course I already forget the story, it's been more than 13 years.
August 25, 2010
I really enjoyed this book. The downside is it was felt rushed to me. The plot was great as were the leads. I can't wait to read more of this series.
August 21, 2012
I cant say anything bad about the Sentinel Series! everytime another book comes out, i just want more! Love to re-read these too :) cant go wrong!
February 1, 2013
Good story, well written and love the whole Sentinel thing they had going. the reason for 3 stars I felt some scenes just dragged out too much. Im hoping the rest in this series dont do the same.
February 12, 2015
It was a harlequin. What else needs to be said?
October 22, 2013
Paranormal Suspense at it's best. Strong characters, strong supporting characters, great storyline.
And, villains that you just love to hate. Great entertainment!
And, villains that you just love to hate. Great entertainment!
March 12, 2014
Read 10-15x
Good plot, characters, and a believable story line- it's a good paranormal romance quickie.
Good plot, characters, and a believable story line- it's a good paranormal romance quickie.
February 22, 2016
The Coyote finally meets a Jaguar and sparks fly! She initially hates him due to what the group did to let her mom die but circumstances throw them together for a cause (to keep her ranch safe).
July 26, 2009
Keep putting down, not holding my interest.
December 30, 2014
Pretty good read. Interesting plot and characters.
Read
July 7, 2017Has the plot gimmick magically-bound-to-hot-stranger-and-now-overwhelmingly-wants-to-jump-them which I am just.... so not a fan of.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews