TEST
Readers who enjoyed Laurell K Hamilton’s Anita Blake series before Anita turned into a complete ego/nymphomanic will probably enjoy Blue Moon, the first in a new paranormal series by Lori Handeland. This story is a lot less bloody, but the cynical, wisecracking heroine will seem familiar.
Jessie McQuade is a policewoman in backwoods Wisconsin. She likes things black and white with no discrepancies, and she doesn’t believe in the paranormal, or “woo woo,” as she calls it. Then one night, in the space between two full moons (the second of which is the titular “blue” moon), she gets a call to check on a car crash. The victim, Karen Larson, hit a wolf that subsequently bit her and then escaped into the woods. Jessie calls for backup, makes sure the other cop takes Karen to the emergency room, and goes looking for the animal hoping she can prove it isn’t rabid.
Only the wolf is long gone by the time she sets off on the blood trail, and the only thing Jessie tracks down is naked, gorgeous Ojibwe professor Will Cadotte, who is inexplicably in the bushes in the dark hours of pre-dawn. With a huge bruise on his hip. Temporarily befuddled by his extreme attraction factor, Jessie nevertheless pulls herself together and heads back to the scene of the accident where she bags the evidence, the oddest piece of which is a small wolf totem that looks like it had been worn as a necklace. Before she can make anything of the events of this strange night or even go to bed, Jessie is called in on another emergency – Karen Larson, the bite victim, has gone hyper-rabid and killed the elementary school principal. Now she’s ready to eat a child. What follows is more strangeness – missing evidence, missing bodies, and werewolf mythology cropping up left and right. And unfortunately for Jessie’s peace of mind, the local mythology specialist is none other than Will Cadotte, the man (or werewolf?) she has a hard time resisting…
Jessie McQuade is very reminiscent of Anita Blake in the beginning books of that series, except that she’s her physical opposite. Jessie is tall, sturdy, and tomboyish. She hunts for fun, collects deer racks, and would rather hang out with the guys. She likes her job as a cop and the wonderful excuse it gives her not to take any crap from anyone. She’s no good at the “girl stuff.” Her encounters with Will leave her feeling excited but way out of her element. He’s prettier than she is. What could he want with her?
This book is more of a love story than any of the Anita Blake books, romance readers will be glad to know. Unfortunately, the relationship that evolves isn’t terribly developed. Love scenes abound, and the first several of these are hot and fun, but after awhile because there’s little emotional intimacy between Jessie and her lover, they start to read a lot alike. The reader can’t help but wonder why exactly they feel the way they do about each other.
The paranormal mystery angle of the book is at first quite engrossing, and Handeland keeps the reader guessing about who, if anyone, is the werewolf, and what exactly is going on. Will and Jessie share some fun, sexually charged dialogue, and Jessie’s point of view is frequently wry. The pages practically turn themselves for the first two-thirds of Blue Moon, and then the story loses some steam as the love scenes start to feel like filler and the truth begins to be revealed. Handeland’s rationale behind what is happening differs from any other werewolf story I’ve ever read, but it seems off somehow – not quite believable. The ending would have had more emotional punch if the secondary characters in the story had more layers and if Jessie’s relationship to them had been written in more detail.
Still, I enjoyed reading Blue Moon and don’t regret my time with it. Jessie is a likable character, and much of the story was compulsively readable. Handeland has another book – Hunter’s Moon – set in this universe coming out next February. I might have to check it out.
Grade: B-
Book Type: Shapeshifter Romance
Sensuality: Warm
Review Date: 22/10/04
Publication Date: 2004
Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.