July 16, 2011

Abandoned by her wolf shifter father and raised by her human psychic mother, Carmen Mendoza can't deny she's different. She craves things most women shy away from--and she has a trail of shapeshifting ex-boyfriends to prove it.

Working at a clinic for supernatural creatures, she's escaped the notice of her father's legacy-obsessed family. Until they need a pawn in their bid for power. Snared by a vicious spell designed to wake her inner wolf, Carmen's only hope is to trust the one man strong enough to soothe her darkest instincts.

Alec Jacobson was once the heir apparent to the wolves' ruling elite, until he walked away to marry the woman he loved. She paid with her life. He lives as a rebel, a black-sheep alpha who protects the supernatural residents of New Orleans from the wolves' barbaric class system. Too bad he can't protect himself from his need for Carmen.

Yet staking his claim on his enemy's niece will turn his city into a battleground. Unless he can find a way to stop breaking the rules--and start making them.

Warning: This book contains a renegade alpha wolf, a smart empathic doctor, very dirty sex with psychic safe-words, the occasional dominance game in and out of the bedroom, and a group of supernatural citizens ready to take on the corrupt leaders of their world.

Reviewer's note from Pearl:
I read this book way before release date and this should have been an ARC-review but circumstances beyond my control had me writing the review months later and more circumstances caused the belated posting on the blog, which is why I have labeled it as an ARC-review but haven't used it in the title of the post.



Title: DEADLOCK
Author: Moira Rogers
Series: Southern Arcana, book 3
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Year of release: 2011, January 4
Format: eBook
Source: received an e-ARC from author for review

First line:
Alec wrenched himself out of the path of a flying fist and acknowledged, for the first time in his increasingly long life, that he might be getting old.

Memorable Scenes:
- the love scene at Carmen's place > explosively hot
- the challenge fights > Never thought I'd be so bloodthirsty and enjoy reading them as much as I did


Alec Jacobson is a born wolf shifter. He’s gruff, a commanding and protective straight-shooter who is alpha to the bone. The subtle humor and especially Alec's dry humor made me smile numerous times throughout the book. But there were also moments I choked up at Alec's loneliness and pain that was always there in the background.

Carmen Mendoza is a half-breed wolf and an empath. Apparently I didn’t write much else down about Carmen, which makes me think that I probably was too engrossed by Alec to notice Carmen much. Some heroes do that to me, especially the dirty talking ones.

The love scenes were very hot and absolutely spine-tingling without being overly explicit. They were awesome and not in the least because of Alec's dirty mouth. I absolutely loved the slow, simmering chemistry and banter between Carmen and Alec. It built up nicely to the point of no return and it was one of the elements that kept me reading and not wanting to leave the book for long when I really had to stop because of my pesky non-reading life.

I love the Southern Arcana series. CRUX hooked me, CROSSROADS reeled me in and DEADLOCK sealed the deal. From the first page I was back in the world of alpha shifters and powerful psychics and enjoying myself reading how uber-alpha Alec was romantically brought to his knees by love and Carmen.

As far as the secondary cast is concerned, quite some interesting characters were introduced and took their place next to the familiar ones from CRUX and CROSSROADS. Enough new introductions to assure me this series has the potential of sticking around for awhile. From events and an interaction in DEADLOCK I guessed a future pairing right (as Bree confirmed for me through Twitter) and I can’t wait to read their story.

I really like how Moira Rogers incorporates the family and shifter politics into this series. It’s what keeps it very interesting and also forms a great balance for the romance parts. The different subplots in the book came together brilliantly yet still left some wiggle room for stuff to be played out in future installments and I like it when authors do that in the subtle way it was done in this book.

DEADLOCK had a feel of rightness and ease to it that made it the best of the series for me to-date. Going back to the Southern Arcana world and its characters was like a comforting trip home. And if you haven’t embarked on this series yet, please do…you will not regret adding another addictive series to your paranormal reading palette.

Favorite Quotes:
He kissed the way she'd seen him live, reckless arrogance and power and an intensity that bordered on intimidating.

"Belonging to me means you get what you need, whenever I can give it. Tonight it means me proving that you set off every dominant, animal urge I've got, whether you're stoned on magic or not."





4 comments:

Leontine said...

With each review you keep popping this series up on my radar again and it has been quite a while since i've started/read a shifter novel ;)

Blodeuedd said...

So I guess this was part of your I will write 7 reviews in a day review :)
Nice .D

Edie said...

Leontine! You haven't read the Southern Arcana series???
It is one of my fave current series!

BTW Love this review!

Aurian said...

Not sure about this series, though I love most things magic. Combine that with a hot alpha male, and mmm.

Nice to meet you!

My Photo
Pearl
Netherlands
39, married to my real life romance hero, addicted to TV shows, reading romance novels and Twitter. I'm a chronic (e)book hoarder and my absolute favorite genres within romance fiction are contemporary romance and romantic suspense, but I don't shy away from historical, paranormal or erotic romance either. Even the occasional (urban) fantasy romance, futuristic and sci fi romance may make it to my Mount TBR. This is my corner of the world wide web where I let you know what books I'm hoarding, reading and reviewing.
View my complete profile

Search This Blog

Reviews by Author


Reviews by Rating

Fellow Bloggers

Powered by Blogger.

GR Reading Challenge

2011 Reading Challenge

Pearl has read 10 books toward her goal of 50 books.
hide

On My TBR Shelf

  • Unforgivable - Laura Griffin
  • Snapped - Laura Griffin
  • Darkness at Dawn - Elizabeth Jennings
  • Sizzle and Burn - Alexis Grant
  • No Mercy - Lori Armstrong
  • Animal Magnetism - Jill Shalvis
  • Crazy for Love - Victoria Dahl
  • Kink - Saskia Walker/Sasha White
  • So Sensitive - Anne Rainey
  • Dark Taste of Rapture - Gena Showalter
  • The Darkest Secret - Gena Showalter
  • Vampire in Atlantis - Alyssa Day
  • Vampire Dragon - Annette Blair
  • Captive Spirit - Anna Windsor
  • Chosen by Blood - Virna DePaul
  • Rebel - Zoe Archer
  • Stranger - Zoe Archer
  • A Taste of Desire - Beverley Kendall
  • Mistress by Midnight - Maggie Robinson
  • To Desire a Devil - Elizabeth Hoyt
  • To Tame a Dangerous Lord - Nicole Jordan

Digital TBR Next

  • Driven - Jayne Rylon (reread)
  • Shifting Gears - Jayne Rylon
  • Beg Me - Shiloh Walker
  • Tempt Me - Shiloh Walker
  • Jazz Baby - Lorelie Brown
  • Playboy Prankster - Pamela Britton
  • Just Like That - Erin Nicholas
  • Sweet Inspiration - Penny Watson
  • Breathe - Donna Alward
  • My Gigolo - Molly Burkhart
  • Scent of Persuason - Nikki Duncan

Grab My Button!

Followers

Visits

You're from...

The ROOB Posse

Leontine's Book Realm


Marissa's Romance Retreat




Realms On Our Bookshelves


Blog Archive