MOONSTRUCK (Diablo Lake #1) by Lauren Dane-a review

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About the book: Release Date June 20, 2016

In Diablo Lake, Washington, a town populated by werewolves, witches, and more, magic woven deep into the earth protects the town’s secrets from outsiders.

Katie Grady left Diablo Lake to get over a humiliating breakup; but her family needs her help, so she’s back, in a sublet right across the hall from the guy she’s lusted after for years. Jace Dooley is hotter than ever, and their friendship picks up along with massive doses of grown-up chemistry.

The very scent of Katie sharpens Jace’s canines, makes the wolf within him stir. There’s nothing more alluring to a Pack Alpha than a sexy female who is so very in charge. She won’t be coddled, but if he plays his hand just right she might be convinced to become his.

Katie presents a challenge to Jace’s wolf nature, whose chief instinct is to protect. Especially now that she’s coming into the magic that is her birthright – and suddenly Jace isn’t the only one who’s interested in Katie, or the raw power she’s just learning to use.

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REVIEW: MOONSTRUCK is the first installment in Lauren Dane’s contemporary, adult DIABLO LAKE paranormal, romance series focusing on the small town of Diablo Lake, Washington. This is wolf Patron (pack alpha) and town police officer Jace Dooley, and witch Katie Faith Grady’s story line.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Jace and Katie) MOONSTRUCK focuses on the friends to lovers, second chance romance between police officer, wolf shifter Jace Dooley, and Katie Faith-a witch who has yet to come into her true powers. Several years earlier our heroine ran from Diablo Lake following the disaster that was to be her wedding. Stood up at the altar, Katie found herself in Chattanooga until present day when she was called home following her father’s heart attack. With her return comes ill-feelings from the man who stood her up, and even darker threats from his extended family. Enter Jace Dooley, the werewolf who calls to Katie’s heart, and the man who would one day lead the werewolf pack. Katie and Jace have danced around one another for years, but Jace’s quick exit from town years before found our heroine looking elsewhere for love and attention.

The relationship between Katie and Jace is one of immediate attraction; they have always found a kindred spirit with one another and Jace knows that Katie is his mate-the one. There is some definite sexual chemistry and tension between our leading couple. The $ex scenes are intimate and provocative without the over the top graphic text or imagery.

MOONSTRUCK is a story about family and friendship; magic and power; betrayal and revenge. There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including two werewolf packs, and a ‘coven’ of witches whose powers are tested with the impending threats against one of their own. Because MOONSTRUCK is the introductory story line in the series, there is a large amount of information and backstory revealed, as well as the numerous characters and potential problems that comes with warring packs and magical powers-very little is resolved by the end of the first story. The premise is entertaining; the characters are animated and magical; the romance is passionate. I am looking forward to the second book-PROTECTED –coming in October 2016.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy