My Thoughts
Under A Mating Moon is a short but sweet story about a second chance at love. Jake came to Lexi when they were young to have her as his mate. Lexi being immature and so not ready for him, rejects Jake in a way that breaks him and chases him away. Jake will not give anyone else a chance to hurt him and builds up a huge wall around his heart. Years later he comes home and Lexi makes the decision to pursue him. She will definitely have to work to win his heart again as he isn't so receptive after what happened. I loved reading about her breaking down those walls and opening his heart to all that is possible for them. I really enjoyed their story and can't wait to read more of this series.
I give Under A Mating Moon 4 hearts!
About the Book
British Alpha wolf Jake Marsden spends his days among
humans, pursuing a lucrative music career and avoiding his pack’s politics.
When his current DJ tour takes him to the US, he stops in Los Lobos to visit
family, and runs into the one Wolf he never wants to see again—the mate who
rejected his claim.
While visiting her brother in Los Lobos, free-spirited Lexi
Luparell is shocked to encounter the Wolf she’d denied when they were teens.
Now she must face her guilt for the cruel way she spurned him all those years
ago, make amends, and admit the truth. Jake was right all along—they’re meant
to mate.
Lexi would love to explore the mate concept and her
overwhelming attraction to virile, alpha Wolf Jake, but he wants nothing to do
with her. How can she break down his defenses when she’s the reason he built
them in the first place?
Jake dates only human women now. Lexi had her shot at being
his mate, and she threw it away. But when her life is threatened, he may have
to rethink his position and do whatever it takes to claim his one true mate.
Purchase Links
Excerpt
A billion butterflies battered Lexi's stomach. She shifted
her attention from Ross to the piano. Sure enough, the music had stopped, and
Jake faced her from his seat on the bench. Man oh man, the heavy stare from those
sky blue eyes sent shivers skittering down her spine. His gaze held the same
intensity she remembered from him as a kid, as if he saw into the heart of
people, exposing their deepest secrets. It had driven her crazy back then, and
she'd spent much time teasing him, pulling his hair, trying to distract him
from being so serious all of the damn time. They were teenagers—partying was
supposed to be their sole focus.
With his ice-blue stare locked on her, Jake rose to his
feet, all taut muscle and predatory power. His energy swept over her like a
tsunami, forcing all of the moisture to abandon her mouth while parts much
lower wept with want. Her inner Wolf howled, answering the call of this Alpha,
the first Dominant male ever to make her sit up and take notice. Holy crap. Her
muscles shook with the need to bound over to him, jump in his arms, wrap her
legs around his torso and writhe against his hard, hot, tattooed body.
Jake said something to his uncle then stalked straight at
her, cutting a path right through the middle of the tables and the many,
too-curious patrons.
A whimper escaped her throat.
Surprise sparked in her brother’s brown eyes. "You're
kidding me. Him?" He burst out laughing. "Wow, sis, that's some
major, big-time irony right there."
Darci’s expression conveyed her bewilderment. "Now what
are you two talking about?"
Her annoying brother grinned. "See that angry Alpha
headed our way? My sister here rejected him when they were teens and he's
apparently her—"
Lexi socked her brother in the ribs. "Shut it,
Ross."
"Ouch." Ross rubbed his side and chuckled at her
plight. The jerk. "Come on, Lexi, you have to admit the hilarity of the
situation."
No, she did not. Nor did she have to admit that J-Bird was
right all those years ago. He was her mate. O to the M to the G…. They were
mates.
Even so, he didn't look happy to see her at all. In fact, he
looked positively enraged. Shit, shit and triple shit. What a mess she'd made
eight years ago. Well, she was woman enough to pull on her big-girl panties and
fix it. She straightened her spine and lifted her chin in challenge, meeting
Jake's stormy stare. He halted before her.
I can do this. "Hey J-Bird. Nice to see you."
Lovely. Her voice sounded like she'd eaten the gravel from the lot in front of
Gee's bar. Embarrassment heated her cheeks.
One breath, two breaths, three…. J-Bird glared. Tension
coiled between them in the silence. Lexi bit the inside of her cheek to avoid
babbling at him. She'd said hello. It was his turn. Damn it, J-Bird, say
something. He wasn't making this easy.
"Alexina."
His arctic tone dismissed her and slapped her in the face at the same
time, leaving her disappointed and confused. No one called her by her full
name. No one except her parents when she'd done something wrong as a kid. He
might as well have said, "Screw you," while slamming a door in her
face.
His focus shifted to her brother. "Hello, Ross. Been a
while." His hand shot out to grasp her brother's in a cordial shake.
"Good to see you, Jake. Join us for lunch? My treat. We
can catch up on old times."
"No, thank you. I'm done. Nice to see you again,
Ross." Jake nodded at Darci. "Miss." He brushed past them and
out the door.
"What. Just. Happened?" The, “I'm done,” he
uttered in his delicious British accent seemed aimed more at her than at her
brother's offer. And the fact he hadn't even looked at her before stalking out
all sexy in his gloom and doom? Yeah, that hurt.
"I think you know, sis." The amusement left her
brother's face and sympathy glimmered in his gaze. "Question is, what are
you going to do about it?"
She'd never run from a fight in her life. She wouldn't start
now. "Grab a table. I'll be back in a second. Or not." She ignored
her brother's knowing grin and hurried out the door.
About the Author
Celia lives in California with her husband, daughter, and
two feisty cats. She writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance, and has a
particular fondness for werewolves, vampires, and the Fae. Her award-winning
vampire series - The Tranquilli Bloodline - is available from Champagne
Books. Under A Mating Moon is her second
werewolf story for Decadent Publishing’s multi-author, shifter line: Black
Hills Wolves.
When not writing, you’ll find Celia exercising, reading a
good book, hanging with her family, or indulging her addiction to Joss Whedon’s
TV shows and movies.
Giveaway
HI Wendy,
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting my wolves on your blog today, and thank you for taking the time to read and review Jake and Lexi's story. Much appreciated!
best,
Celia