Guard

Dark Moon Rising #1

by Ellie Pond

He’s grumpy, and no amount of her sunshine is going to fix him.

Flint Larsen understands what he wants, and it’s not Emma Davis. It’s not her curves, her genuine laugh, or the waves of red hair flowing down her back, begging for his touch. Why would a wolf shifter who wants nothing to do with his own magic want to bind himself to a witch?

Emma is on the verge of getting her thirty-year-old self together. A string of bad decisions has dumped her on her ass, including giving her ex-fiancé the down payment for his house and taking a job as a bookkeeper when she doesn’t do numbers. Finally, she finds a job where she can excel. There’s no time for a hot firefighter who tempts her to make more poor choices.

That is, until he kisses her.

With each shift, his infuriating wolf drags him to her townhouse. And Flint can’t help but turn up the heat once he’s there. Things get flaming hot between them, and Emma realizes Flint isn’t all grumpy ruffled fur. But when danger strikes, he must guard her, fated mate or not.

Genres: Paranormal Romance, Paranormal, Witches, Shapeshifters, Romance, Ebooks, Wolves

266 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 18, 2022

About the author

Ellie Pond is an author of Paranormal Romance. Ellie’s had many professions, including costume designer, contract archeologist, organic farmer, fabric store owner, and airline gate agent. She’s happy to be a full-time writer now. She lives in New England with her three teenage sons, husband, and father. It’s a lot of testosterone. To combat all the Axe body spray in the house, Ellie likes to travel. You can follow her on social media for her travel adventures, when we can do that kind of thing again.

Reviews

[Sheila Schoenauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't read a ton of paranormal romance but every once in awhile I get that itch. When I do my favorite to read are wolf shifters. I don't know why but there is just something about an alpha wolf claiming his mate. This book had all of that plus a witch who seemed to not always have the best of luck. I loved getting to know Flint and Emma. Emma was just starting out in a new town with a new job. She didn't know very many people and didn't know what to expect from a community that had outed shifters. However she wasn't expecting to meet half wolf/half witch creatures. Flint was one of those half wolf/half witch creatures. Except he wasn't willing to accept his witch half and had a serious amount of anger toward it. I loved these two. The fight and pull was intense. Flint's wolf was crying that Emma was his mate but he never felt it so he fought it as much as he could while gravitating to her every chance he could get. I loved how he fought for her no matter what. But their smexy times? I wanna float! Lol... Emma wasn't perfect and I think that's why I loved her so much. She wanted Flint but didn't understand him which confused her so much. In the end nothing and no one was keeping these two away from each other. I wasn't sure if I wanted to read this book but I'm glad I took the chance on it. It was a fun easy read with plenty of heat and angst but not so much that I wanted to throw my kindle.

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review*

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by Ellie Pond and I found it to be entertaining and fun. I love paranormal romances.

These characters were engaging and a little unique. A wolf shifter/witch who tries to ignore his witch powers, and a witch who doesn’t s powerful yet clumsy.

While reading this first book in the series the author referenced things that happened outside this storyline which I later realized took place in an interconnected series. I’m interested in reading some of the books in the Dark swing Holiday Cruise series and the Dark Wing Hidden Valley Wolves series.

The world building is interesting with some unusual characteristics I’ve not previously encountered in paranormal romances (i.e. orgasms that induce floating). Oh wow!

Flint is both grumpy and sweet. I loved the ‘Rocky’ scenes and his inner dialogue about inviting a mal wolf into the house or petting a strange male wolf.

I received a free ARC from the author and Elle Woods PR; and I am voluntarily leaving an unbiased review.

[Nicole Potter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will they be burnt by the flames of their desire?

I love paranormal romance & couldn't go past this one. Once I started reading I couldn't stop until I had finished. Flint is a wolf shifter who wants to ignore his magic. Emma is a witch who is on the cusp of getting her life together & she has no time for the sexy firefighter wolf shifter.
A kiss changes it all. The burning desire between them is out of control & could prove a distraction when danger strikes.
What lengths will Flint go to for Emma?.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debbie Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm voluntarily leaving a review after receiving a free copy. It is an interesting first meeting between Emma and Flint. They are drawn together despite well-meaning friends that are trying to protect Emma. Emma helps Flint with his magic, and he protects her. I really liked how they get together despite everyone and how they solve their magic issues. I like how their magic knew before they did that they belong together.

[Aimee Lombardo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guard is a fantastic story that had me completely captivated and I couldn't put it down.

It takes place In the dark wing universe that has shifters, humans and witches entwined with each other.

This story featured a hot Firefighter wolf shifter who refuses to accept his mother's side of the family and a witch with over protective friends.

The poor girl gets thrown into some crazy and life threatening situations and with the help of the hottie she over comes them.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Gladys · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book very enjoyable. Flint and Emma were complex, likable characters. I liked the intense attraction, chemistry and tension that brewed and bubbled between them. The storyline grabbed and kept my attention well. Drama, emotions, twists and heat make a lush combination that went down easy and kept me very entertained. This was a new to me author, but I have no doubt I'll be reading much more from them because I am eager to explore more of this series. I am objectively posting a candid review.

[Jeanne Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read written by Ellie Pond; I can’t wait to read more of her books.

This is the first book in the Dark Moon Rising Series; it is a stand-alone book. The story is about Emma & Flint.

I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lynn Stifle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good start to a new series. I loved Flint and Emma, they were engaging and likable, and I enjoyed their attraction to each other and their chemistry was palpable. There’s plenty to keep you entertained in this book, it’s filled with humor, drama, twists, mystery, heat, and romance. A recommended read.

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book to read. It was a pretty easy book to follow. And the characters are ones you like and not ones you get frustrated with… there was a point it was a bit confusing but it cleared up pretty quickly..

overall I recommend this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great paranormal/shifter romance! I liked it very much.. Love the grumpy/sunshine vibe! It is steamy and dangerous..

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cynthia Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Book 1 of Dark Moon Rising the story of Flint Larsen and Emma Davis. What will magic and and shifter have in common that is a loaded question and one with a surprising twist and a mate that is a witch to boot, and she comes with a group of crazy well meaning friends too. This one will have you laughing and shaking your head. This was a great first book and I can not wait to see what happens next.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing book! The characters were well thought out and the storyline held your attention. Once I started to read Emma and Flint's story, I couldn't put the book down!.


I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sam Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love both main characters. Both of them have attitudes and actual reasons to be reserved and not looking for love. Of course that doesn't stop the two of them.

Both of them actively grow through the story and learn things about themselves which is always refreshing to see. Flint is also so protective and kind. And who doesn't love a werewolf firefighter.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Shawna Jimenez more.books.forever · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a new to me author and man am I glad I pick this baby up. First off shifter books are my freaking jammmm! I thought Emma and Flint were fantastic characters I love how both are not looking for a mate but the moment they meet they are drawn to one another. I loved watching their relationship grow throughout the story. I love the dual PVOs. While these two may not have been looking for a romance the higher powers have another idea. Such a fantastic start to a new series and a must read.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has humour, heat, magic, mystery, romance (and more humour), set in the Dark World universe. Loved it!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma and Flint have an amazing story. There is magic, shifters, twists and fun friends. It had me laughing. It is a very fun read. I am so excited to read more of this series.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good main female character. Emma is like a real person with her own quirks and mistakes she isn't perfect and doesn't pretend to be. Flint is a good match for her even if he doesn't think so.

[Team Starlite · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something different for me to read and a new author, but I enjoyed the story from the beginning.
Flint and Emma are a great couple.

[DesN2004 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable read!!
This was a thoroughly enjoyable from a new to me author! The storyline holds your attention as do the characters. I will need to find more of this series as I feel there is more to this world I would like to explore. Flint and Emma are amazing together. I found myself smiling at the banter through this read. There was steam, action, mystery, and a couple falling in love and fighting it the whole time!! Great read, will look for more in the series!!

[Silindile · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book it's romantic charming and spicy I loved the main characters I would definitely recommend this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mickala · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is book one in a new series and got off to a
great start i really loved this book great story and
characters can't wait for next book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[ajscenic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flint is still getting over the fact that he is half wolf and half witch and has both sets of powers. He meets Emma under unique circumstances and finds himself drawn to her. He doesn’t want a relationship but he cannot stay away.
Emma has just moved to town and is working in the old school which sits next to the Fire Station, and cannot get the grumpy firefighter out of her mind.
This is a great story about trust and moving on.
Both characters are great and this follows on from the Hidden Valley Wolves series so the world building had already started and so many characters have already been fleshed out.
You don’t need to read the series first before you start this book.
If you liked the Hidden Valley Wolves series then this is a must-read!

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. This was not very good, which was a bummer because the ratings are high. I don’t usually rate indie pubbed books lower though unless I really hated something about the book, so this was just inoffensively not great? The premise has a lot of potential, and I thought there were interesting aspects to the story (the magic system is slightly different, witches aren’t detectable by shifters and shifters can’t see magic, the power of three thing), but the execution was lacking. The writing felt kind of stilted/choppy at times, and things just kind of jumped around and happened. I had no emotional investment in either of the two main characters because I felt like I had a very surface level understanding of them, and there’s a lot of telling instead of showing. There’s no emotional component to the romance, either, even though it’s a fated mates scenario, and I love fated mates. It was also weird that Flint’s sisters liked Emma so much when they didn’t even know her… and Emma’s best friends suck. The resolution over that was way too quick and glossed over the heart of the problem. Daphne and Shiori, Emma’s best friends since childhood, seem super controlling and infantilize Emma when they’re all I think at least in their mid-twenties, probably later (the ages aren’t super clear but based on cues about how long Flint worked)… I didn’t get how they were good friends at all. Idk, I won’t think about this story again.

[Tima · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emma, the female witch lead, struggles to keep her powers under control and regularly sets off the smoke detector. When Flint, the male wolf shifter/witch hybrid lead, is part of her fire response team, they’re shocked by their response to each other. But Flint’s wolf doesn’t recognise her as his true mate, and neither of them is looking for a chosen mate. And there appears to be a threat towards Emma.

This story is dual POV, well written, and an interesting, complex, multi character story. This is my first story from this author and the beginning of a new series but I suspect there are others in this world that would have enhanced the story. Regardless, I deeply enjoyed the secondary character integration and the importance of both biological family and family of choice. I enjoyed her character development. I adored Flint and Emma’s interactions and their intimate scenes and chuckled as I read the story. I’ll be looking for more from this author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A witch?! Really? When he hated witches and had his choice of female wolf shifters.

Hybrids in paranormal beings aren’t always welcome, but there is a community where shifters wolves, bears, hybrids and humans live side by side. And Emma, a witch with seer magic has finally landed. Past relationships with males and her of her magical powers magic been failures. However, both her new job and the community just might help her make a new Emma. One that doesn’t get walked on, overlooked or bullied. Except right out of the gate at the new job she flubs up and sets off the smoke alarm, in turn the call summons the fire department, then she knocks over a good looking fireman and leaks the rest of her dwindling store of magic into him. She knew he was good looking because when she ran into him both of them went to the ground with her on top of him face to face.
Flint, hated witches. He hated the fact that he was a hybrid witch/wolf shifter, had a practicing witch for a Mother who had been responsible for his father’s death and that now he seemed to be attracted to a beautiful red headed witch. He had been happy as a fire fighter for the last decade, had no problem filling his free time with women and loved his nieces and nephews. So why was life and his wolf throwing him at the beautiful troublesome witch?

While primarily a paranormal romance, there is a lot of family interaction and interference, along with the mystery and danger of who is stalking Emma and why are they trying to harm her, scare her or simply wants her out of the way. Of what? The story answered most of the questions I had a a reader, filling in some family history for both main characters, while not fully answering other things I wanted to know more about, such as Emma’s part /role in her friend Carter’s new start up business. Who is the main villain are they simply a henchman, who do they work for and why they were targeting Emma?
I enjoyed that most of the story focused on building the relationship between Flint and Emma with a final happy solution. However, I wanted more about the mystery behind the attacks on Emma. If you enjoy paranormal, shifters and witches with heated segments of love making with a bit of mystery thrown in check this one out.

[DMCechak · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Emma sat alone with the hot, grumpy, but also adorably loving to his sisters firefighter Larsen. The male had acquired more adjectives than a royal child had names and titles.’

I adored Emma and Flint’s crisis of a relationship. As each had to overcome obstacles they had placed on themselves, the hearts became more and more entwined. But what really sold me on Guard, authored by Ellie Pond, was the hysterically charming banter, and the side lines, that we the reader were privy to.

Pond wrote a true paranormal romance, but is was elevated by her uniquely bringing her audience in on the inner monologues of Emma and Flint. That made me feel so cherished, and also made me laugh out loud-repeatedly! We won’t even talk about the steam level! (Yes, we will! 🔥🔥🔥)

I will be recommending this book to all of my PNR friends, as it was able to make me enjoy the clash between shifters and witches, while portraying each as individuals with relationship ups and downs.

What an absolute pleasure it was to read Ellie Pond’s, Guard!

[Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guard is the first book I've read by Ellie Pond, and I don't know how I've missed her. The story was a lot of fun, and I like the world introduced in this series. At first, I kind of felt like things were moving slowly, but I think it was just me getting the gist of the Dark Moon Rising world. I do appreciate that the author doesn't bog the story down with info dumps but builds the world organically as the story progresses. Once I settled in, I was completely taken with this world and these characters. Flint and Emma are a combination of engaging and amusing, and boy, do the sparks fly between them (in more ways than one). Flint has so much trouble getting comfortable in his own skin, and Emma is just a mess with her luck. I love the push and pull between them as they go between banter, disagreement, and magnetic attraction. The story is well-written, and the characters are interesting and engaging. This may be my first read by Ellie Pond, but it won't be my last, and I'll be on the lookout for the next in this series.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guard is the first book in the Dark Moon Rising series. Emma is trying her hardest at a job that should be perfect for her, but a chance encounter with a grumpy wolf will change the course of her life. Flint hates the magic that flows through his body, hates witches in general, but can’t help but be drawn to Emma. Will this reluctant couple choose a path that has love and passion, or will danger that stalks Emma rip them apart before they give each other a chance?

This is my first book I’ve read by Ellie Pond, but I guarantee that it will not be my last! I loved Emma and Flint! I loved how reluctant they both were to a relationship, but I also loved how they just couldn’t resist one another, especially when Flint was in his wolf form! I loved that Ellie would stand up for herself, for what she wanted and needed from Flint, but it was really cool watching him stand up for her in front of friends and family. I really liked their dynamic. Ellie was sweet, full of enthusiasm, and ready to face any challenge, while Flint was practical, grumpy, and would hold himself back from his full potential. There was a bit of a mystery about what was going on with Ellie and the danger that surrounded her, which I really enjoyed! It definitely played into the relationship dynamic, but also added an element that made me want to flip through the pages faster to find out what was going on and why! I really liked this book! I am looking forward to the next in the series!

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a start to the Dark Moon Rising series Emma and Flint meet through mutual friends but friends that want to keep her safe but not understanding the magnetic pull between them drawing them to each other she decides to help him with his magic, and he ensure she is safe. The back and forth between them will have you laughing so hard and the antics their friends get into. See Flint is a sexy as all get out wolf shifter/witch who is trying get his magic under control or better still to control it and the roller coaster ride they agree to ride but keep in mind once you step on this ride you get off until the ride has ended (the last page has been turned) but where does it lead the two of them, will he learn magic to where it is effective, will their friends get the message about the two of them feeding off of each other’s energy, and are they headed to happiness or is there more?.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emma is a witch. Her friends treat her like a child. Her ex chested on her and got all her money during their relationship. Flint is a wolf shifter and a witch. He refuses to except his witch side and drain his powers into storing orbs. When Flint and Emma meet, there's an attraction but not the fated mate feel to it. Someone was coming after Emma and Flint was determined to protect her regardless if she's fated his or not. What neither knew was that Emma's friend had put a block spell on her so neither could tell if its fated, yet they still fell in love.
Emma and Flint have a hot and cold relationship. Flint fights hard not to own his magic and his dislike for witches. Emma is stronger than her friends believe and treat her. Both Emma and Flint's potential shows up when they're togther.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.