HUNTER'S MOON
REVIEWS
For those who like the whole story! Following are all of the reviews that HUNTER'S MOON has received. Some of these are a bit long, so it could take awhile to read:
MRS. GIGGLES, Everything Romantic! Rating: 75
CT Adams and Cathy Clamp have come up with a fabulous dark fantasy world with Hunter's Moon, a world best described as a noirish adventure populated by shapeshifters and humans. Readers concerned with the morals of the characters - what are you doing here? The hero is a hitman, an unapologetic one at that. Yes, I believe that it's for the best you go back to books by Sherrilyn Kenyon if that kind of thing will bother you. There is a big but to this story with a fabulous hero and fascinating canon though: the heroine. I have never been simultaneously embarrassed by and disgusted with such a weak, insipid, idiotic woman in a long, long time.
Anthony Giodone is a hitman. He is also a werewolf. If that's not enough, he is also the narrator of this story, which makes this book even more cool in my opinion. He is an antihero in every way: he makes no apologies for being who or what he is, but he takes care of the ones he loves. I'm a sucker for well-written bad boys like Tony so I'm a goner from page one. He doesn't whine, he doesn't mope, and he has a dark, almost Fox Mulder-like wit without going overboard with the self depreciation. His story begins when he is approached by Sue Quentin, who wants him to kill her when she's not looking. Sue is tired of being a doormat all her life and she feels that the only way she can get her psychotic family members to stop taking her for granted (especially since she struck jackpot at the lottery) is to be killed. But it becomes apparent that Sue doesn't need a hitman as much as she needs a shrink. Tony falls for her - hey, he's never claims to be perfect - and they are plunged into a dangerous adventure when the enemies from Tony's past catch up with him.
The best part of this book is Tony, the mysterious Bobby, and the assortment of fiendish sociopathic denizens that lurk in these author's underdark world. I love them all. They are fascinating, colorful, and many of them come with all sorts of delightfully perverse traits. I adore the thirteen-year old kid who started killing people when he was six - which isn't there more of Scotty? Tony is larger-than-life compelling and the story, which can get convoluted at times, is dark, violent, and macabre at times enough to thrill that part of me who always believe that there should be more noirish romances like the one I am reading now.
However, Sue is a complete embarrassment. At first I don't mind her enabler personality because the authors make it clear from the start that Sue is a trainwreck. Unfortunately, they never do anything with Sue. There is hardly any progression or improvement in her character. I cringe when she has to pitifully beg Tony not to leave her every time he takes more than ten steps away from her. I grit my teeth until my jaw aches whenever she keeps making herself a victim in this story. I groan painfully whenm after all the crap her family put her through, she is shocked at the end when she realizes that they don't love her. I flinch at every stupid question she asks Tony because Sue seems incapable of even taking a few steps on her own without begging Tony to help her. After a while, I start hearing her voice in my head and it's the voice of a high-pitched five year old girl that won't stop until I start to fear that I will wake up screaming every night because I keep hearing That Voice. And I really want to kill Sue myself when I realize that she has only two purposes in this story: as a victim and as a target.
At the end of the day, I want to give this book a high grade because of Tony and the creep brigade but I keep remembering that I want so badly to see Sue falling headfirst into a wood chipper. No, that's not me pushing her into it. That's some nasty shapeshifter, a were-Mrs-Giggles, dang that creature. I want to give this book a low grade as a way to exorcise the dreadful Sue from my memories but I don't think Tony and his buddies deserve that grade. All I can say is that I hope in the sequel Sue either keeps a very low profile or she spends most of her scenes sedated from tranquilizers. Or she undergoes an uncharacteristic metamorphosis into a tough woman. I don't care what. Just keep this dreadful Sue Quentin away from me. Look at me. I'm literally trembling in terror at the thought of encountering once more this fictional character!
DONNA,
Fallen Angel Reviews.
She'd come to hire him for a specific job. He's an assassin, and when Tony
heard who she wanted him to kill, he turned the job down. Tony doesn't
care what their reasons are for wanting to hire him, he's not their
confessor, only he wants to hear her story. He had a gut feeling that
he'll be sorry later, and taking her to his hotel wasn't a bright idea,
but he did it anyway. Listening to her tell him her reasons for hiring
him, his special talent let him know that she had been deeply hurt and
wanted out. He was a werewolf and his sense of smell was enhanced so much
so that he could tell when someone lied, was hurt, and even when they were
devious. He could smell her arousal as well, and this close to the full
moon, it was hard not to take her right then and there. Taking her to
Vegas was another move he'd never done before, but it felt right. Things
started going down hill from there when the mob becomes involved.
Sue was now a millionaire, thanks to the lottery, but her family still
treated her like she wasn't suppose to have any happiness, or a life of
her own. She couldn't handle the problems anymore, so she went looking for
a killer. When she first met Tony in the bar, he'd scared her. The more
time she spent with him, the more she wanted him. Then the night of the
change, something happened to them both, the wolf didn't attack her, and
she stayed with him and could feel what the wolf felt. Could she have
found something that would make her not want to die after all? Read this
great story to see how these two people find what they didn't know they'd
been missing.
The authors have written a book that is sure to please all readers, not
just the ones who love werewolves. There is something for the mystery
readers as well as the romance readers. I read this book in one sitting, I
couldn't put it down. From the first chapter where they meet for the first
time, until the end, the authors have the readers spellbound. Even the
secondary characters are so believable that anyone reading this book will
want to shoot them. Sue and Tony are two characters that bring out the
protective instinct in the reader, and even though Tony is an assassin,
the readers will love him.
NEW! JEN FOOTE, Crescent Blue Reviews. Tony Giodone's latest client gives him a run for the money. Tony grew up in the Family, and he kills people for a living. Sue Quentin, a recent lottery millionaire, wants Tony's skills used -- on her. Sue can't take any more of her selfish, overbearing, manipulative family and wants Tony to put her out of her misery. Despite his instincts, she intrigues him, and he wants to hear her whole tale.
But Tony's other life comes into play when the full moon peeps out. A fairly new werewolf with no training and werewolf knowledge, Tony can't control his change or his violent nature. He barely manages to shove Sue out the hotel room door before changing. The next morning, he finds her soaking in the bathtub, alive and well, even though he believed he would find little more than a bloody mess.
For her part, Sue doesn't seem repulsed by his werewolf nature or his assassin profession. Tingles and chemistry pull the two into a steamy affair, and Tony ends up as Sue's body guard and security consultant.
But a trip to Vegas puts Tony on the run. An enemy named Leo tries to set Tony up and make it look like Tony planned to take out his boss, Carmine. Tony gets his hands on evidence of the frame. He high-tails it out of Vegas and goes straight to Carmine. Carmine and Tony don't let on that they know about Leo's plan and set up a trap of their own. But the violent power struggle puts Sue in danger as well.
Cathy Clamp and C.T. Adams weave a suspense-filled mob tale with more twists than a pan of lasagna together with steamy romance and the werewolf legend. And they do it masterfully, though the first half of the novel could use a bit more polish. It felt a little rough around the edges, but final editing hopefully fixed that (I read an advance readers copy). The last 50 or so pages barreled along swiftly as the action sped up.
The authors' vision of a shapeshifting world -- hierarchy, leadership, history -- unfortunately got crammed into about 10 pages. It made sense with Tony's backstory, but I would've preferred they spend a little more time and space to explore that would. Another little quibble came with the names. The authors occasionally selected similar names for different characters, making for some momentary confusion. Even so, the authors seem poised to give Laurell K. Hamilton (who blurbed the book) some serious competition. Hunter's Moon, despite its occasional roughness, reads vastly better than anything written lately by Hamilton.
1. LAURELL K. HAMILTON, NY Times Bestselling author of the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series and Merry Gentry series. "I read the book in one sitting. I look forward to the next book in the series, because it has to be the beginning of a series. A world this enjoyable deserves more than one visit. This book has some new twists in the werewolf's tail that were very cool"
2. diana tixier herald, American Library Association BookList. Hit man Tony Giodone has seen some wacky whack jobs but this takes the cake. Sue Quentin, winner of a huge lottery jackpot, wants him to off her. She is so desperate to get away from her obnoxiously calculating and avaricious family she feels that death is the only escape. Tony, meanwhile, has made a miscalculation. Ever since he was bitten by one of his targets, he has experienced three days of amnesia at the full moon, during which he turns into a wolf, so he usually locks himself away in a soundproof suite in the Plaza. Fortunately, he wakes up this time to find that Sue is still alive and well. A powerful bout of lovemaking leaves Tony certain that he has found his mate, and he will do anything for Sue, even kill her if that’s what she wants. This unusual, artfully constructed, and enticing blend of horror and romance will have wide appeal with its male point of view, intensely sexy love story, and caperlike action.
3.
TOP
PICK!
JILL M. SMITH, RT
Bookclub Magazine Tony Giodone is
not your typical businessman. For starters, he's a mafia hit man and a
newly turned werewolf. After he adjusts (somewhat) to his new
circumstances, a potential client throws Tony for a loop.
Sue Quentin has finally reached the end of her rope. Dumped on and abused most of her life, she wants to end it all, so hiring a hit man to kill her seems like the perfect solution. But when Tony and Sue meet, sparks fly. For her part, Sue doesn't flinch after seeing Tony in his wolf form, and even though Tony's world is filled with danger and darkness, none of that puts Sue off. But a sudden threat to Tony's boss throws them into danger.
Talk about your perfect anti-hero! Tony Giodone is in a class by himself. This incredible novel is inventive, totally riveting as well as surprisingly tender in spots. Adams and Clamp are a powerhouse team that have opened the door to an amazing new world.
4. TESS MALLORY, Author of Jewels of Time, Circles In Time, The Fairy Bride, To Touch the Stars, Highland Dream, Highland Fling, and in June 2005, Highland Magic. "Take an ex-Mafia hitman, turn him into a werewolf, send in a fragile female willing to pay big bucks for her own murder, and you’ve got an amazing, cutting edge paranormal adventure — Hunter’s Moon. Written by the collaborative team of Cathy Clamp and C. T. Adams, this entertaining, well-written novel is a gritty, fast-paced adventure with just the right touch of sexy romance. I couldn't help but compare the first person, male narrative style to Mickey Spillane.
When Tony Giodone was accidentally turned into a werewolf by a mystery woman, he never got the lowdown on how his kind are supposed to operate in the human world. So he does the best he can. Ruthless and unemotional, Tony meets a new client, Suzi Quentin. Normally, he doesn't blink an eye about killing someone, but the client's request is an unusual one — she wants to hire him to kill her! Her family uses her and abuses her, and she doesn’t want to live anymore. But before he can do the deed, Tony finds himself swept up in an intricate game of cat and wolf, with all roads leading back to Sue. Werewolves mate for life in this new reality and although Tony struggles against it, any thoughts of killing his client begin to disappear in the face of an all-consuming, supernatural need for her. As the two battle the forces of evil, along with the evils only men can do, Sue finds a new reason to live. Tony learns more about the creature he has become--and about the dark inner circle which steadily draws him inside its secret realm.
Men will especially enjoy this fast-paced, action/adventure paranormal, and women will be enthralled by the incredible, deftly written love-making scenes. I will anxiously await the next installment on Tony’s life as a shapeshifting wolf. Although this novel stands alone, this has to be the beginning of a new paranormal series from TOR. Tony’s character is just too unique, and too darn SEXY to stop with only one book. This has earned a spot on my keeper shelf!"
5. CHARLOTTE MORGAN, Roundtable Reviews. CT Adams & Cathy Clamp’s HUNTER’S MOON is the story of Tony an assassin with a difference, he’s also a werewolf. He is a man that neither has nor wants the baggage of romance or anything else in his life, he’s a natural loner, who neither likes or dislikes what he does for a living, to him the people that he gets hired to kill are just ‘marks’ that have to die and if he didn’t do it someone else would. It’s not personal its just business.
Tony meets a new client at a seedy bar, his new client is a young woman called Sue who wants someone dead and is willing to pay whatever it takes to get the job done quickly, Tony is deeply attracted to Sue, he wants and needs this woman he hardly knows which confuses him. Tony’s never felt this way before but there’s a twist, Sue is ‘the mark’ and she wants Tony to kill her.
HUNTERS MOON is a fantastic story that kept me wondering and imagining what was going to happen next. Reading each page I could see in my mind the story unfolding and it was like watching a really good movie, all I needed was soda and popcorn. This story has a good balance of romance, a thriller with plenty of action and the paranormal thread of Tony the werewolf thrown into the mixture to spice things up, and it certainly does that. This book is one that will fill you with excitement, make you care about the characters and make you want to see how it all turns out in the end. I more than enjoyed this book it was excellent it had a brilliant storyline and extremely well written, I hope that the authors will write more of this type, I know I would definitely queue outside or inside a bookstore to get a copy of this or any like it from these authors. This is a book you won’t want to miss out on.
6. KATHY
SAMUELS, Romance Reviews Today.
Anthony
Giodone (This is not actually his real name. but we'll go with it for
now.), assassin and former mobster, is amused when he watches his new
client entering the rather seedy bar for their first meeting. Be-wigged,
in a designer original, and with huge sunglasses covering her face, the
woman stands out like a sore thumb in the blue-collar environment. But
what stands out most to Tony is not the woman's looks but her smell --
sweet, musky, and a little tangy. You might be wondering how Tony can
smell anything over the smoke in Nick's Tavern, and the simple answer is
that Tony is a werewolf. Not too long ago, through no fault of his own,
while trailing a target looking for an opportunity for the hit, the hunter
became the hunted, and Tony found himself stalked, attacked, and left for
dead. Too bad he didn't stay dead. Instead, Tony "changed", and now, on
the three nights around the full moon, he finds himself furry instead of
human. With his new state of existence, Tony has a new sense he relies on
heavily -- smell. And his client's smell is definitely intriguing.
Suzi Quentin has come to the end of her rope and has decided to take the
bull by the horns and end her personal torment. Suzi, by all rights,
should be on top of the world. Earlier that year she won the state's
largest lottery jackpot and has since realized that money doesn't solve
everything, especially when it comes to family. Hiring an assassin seems
like an extreme answer to her current problems, but it's the only thing
she can think of to stop the pain. Uncertain of the protocol for hiring a
killer, Suzi tries to take cues from Tony. Unfortunately, he's like a
blank wall and not providing any clues about her next steps, until, that
is, she manages to surprise him. You see, the person Suzi wants killed is
herself.
Usually Tony doesn't care to hear a client's story. He just wants the
target's name, to be paid, and to move on. But something about Suzi calls
to his inner beast. Instead of smelling like food, Suzi reeks of heat and
sex. Despite his better judgment, Tony finds himself drawn into Suzi's
life and dysfunctional family. Before he knows it, Suzi is exposed to
some of his deepest and darkest secrets, including his wolf nature.
Surprisingly, she accepts them and him very easily, and they go from
assassin/client to lovers within a few days of meeting. Still, Tony is
very leery about the relationship. A loner by nature, the speed and
intensity of his feelings for Suzi are, frankly, scary. Every moment with
her ties them closer together both physically and psychically, and one
word keeps repeating in his mind -- mate. Will Tony be able to keep Suzi
safe when some of the more dangerous elements of his profession intrude in
their lives? Even more important, can Tony keep Suzi safe from her crazy
family?
At first glance at the synopsis, HUNTER'S MOON might seem like any other
suspense tale with shades of the paranormal. But that would be wrong --
this book is so much more than the standard. It is fast-paced, gritty,
and just plain gripping. Tony Giodone is not your average hero. An
assassin, he makes no bones about what he does for a living and expects
Suzi to accept his job along with everything else. An alpha male,
although an alpha-in-training by Wolfen standards, Tony is still man
enough to admit when he needs help. At the start of the story, Suzi is a
woman without a backbone. Her inability to say no to anyone has led her
into a suicidal depression. Suzi's connection to Tony slowly changes
that, as she realizes that her relationship with him is more important to
her than the antics of her family. In addition, through their psychic
link, Suzi has started to take on some of Tony's more aggressive
tendencies.
Secondary characters, including Tony's mobster friends and enemies and
Suzi's family, are numerous, but it's not hard to keep them straight.
They add depth and background to the story and one can hope, based on the
strong hints in the ending, that they will be featured in any future books
in the series.
Filled with an abrasive charm, intriguing characters, and a dry wit,
HUNTER'S MOON is a must read for the fall season.
7.
CHERE GRUVER, ParaNormal
Romance Reviews. Tony is waiting in
Nick’s Tavern for his client to show up. Tony and Nick are both part of
the "family" and go way back. This is one of the few places Tony feels
comfortable. See, Tony has a special job within the "family". For some
reason, he became an assassin, and a good one. Unfortunately, one of his
"jobs" didn’t go as planned and the victim turned around and killed him.
Only he didn’t die, he woke up the next morning as a werewolf. So he’s
sitting in his favorite booth and watching the door. Finally, he spots
her. It’s kind of hard not to, considering the get up she’s wearing, right
down to the dark glasses. It turns out this client wants Tony to kill her!
Of course, Tony takes her wig off once he recognizes her name. Knowing she
recently won a high dollar lottery and is in the public eye, Tony tells
her she will have to wait at least a year due to the publicity. Surprising
himself, Tony invites her to his hotel room and offers to listen to her
for a fee. Not fully understanding why he did this, (he’s never taken
anyone to his hide out during the full moon) Tony realizes there’s just
something about her he wants to know better.
Suzie "Sue" Quentin just can’t take it anymore. Her family has finally used her up and she just wants to end the pain. Everyone in her family has taken advantage of her. Of course, since she won the lottery, it’s gotten even worse. Now she’s even got her mother living with her! And faking accidents to keep Sue by her side. Somewhat disappointed at the assassin’s telling her he won’t be able to "do" her for at least year, she decides to take him up on his offer to talk. So she goes to his hotel room, and realizes Tony is a werewolf! Surprisingly, he doesn’t hurt her, but somehow, the two of them have a weird connection. They can sense each other. Sue can actually see Tony running as a wolf, she can smell the same things he does!
Will the two of them have a chance at a relationship? Will Tony kill Sue? Will they fall in love? Will Tony ever learn about his special werewolf abilities?
HUNTER’S MOON is a highly original werewolf story. C.T. Adams and Cathy Clamp have given us a very realistic look into the life of a hired killer, and not just any paid assassin, but a werewolf. The characters are all very realistic, from the main characters of confident, smart Tony and insecure Sue, to the secondary characters as well. I really loved the way Sue’s percocet popping, vodka drinking, scheming mother was portrayed and she busted herself. If you enjoy werewolf stories, with a totally unique perspective look at the origination of the shapeshifter society, you don’t want to miss this one!
8. JULIA, Fallen Angel
Reviews.
Tony has
a business. His front is security, but in reality he’s a hired assassin
for the "Family." He picks his jobs carefully, and is very methodical
about them. After all, it’s not the killing he likes but the money.
Unfortunately last year he had an unexpected complication. Unknown to him,
he was hired to kill a female werewolf. Not knowing they even existed, he
managed to get bitten and still survive. The woman he was hired to kill
understandably won’t help him, so he’s had to learn the ropes of being a
werewolf the hard way. Now he’s sitting in a bar, waiting on another woman
who wants to hire him for a job. He’s had a rough week, and even though
it’s close to the full moon he thinks he will be able to handle it.
Susan is desperate. She knows she’s being a doormat to her family; she just can’t seem to stop it. Cruel and vicious though her family is, they are still blood. The only way she can think to stop it is to take drastic measures, and that means hiring Tony.
Hunter’s Moon is written in first person purely from Tony’s point of view, and it is a very different book from what I am used to seeing in romance. It reads more like a detective novel than a romance, until the story gets farther along. Tony comes across hard and unforgiving, but just like Susan you begin to really like him in the end. He was an intriguing character, a cold hearted killer one minute and worrying about Susan the next. Even he seemed bewildered by how much he began to care for Susan, and I found that to be one of the reasons I liked the book. Susan has an unbelievably devious and cruel mother, and her sister isn’t much better. Susan and Tony are a mated pair, and Tony fights it every step of the way. There isn’t a lot of sex in this story; it’s more about how Tony copes with finding his mate. I’m sure there will be other books in this series, and I look forward to reading them.
9.
KARA HASH, Sime-Gen
Midnight Reviews. Hunter’s Moon
is a fantastic yet modern romance that brings a hard-edged assassin and a
woman with nothing to lose together. Tony Giodone is a werewolf and an
assassin. He’s fairly happy with his world, careful not to get too
involved, and good at what he does. Sue Quentin is a recent millionaire
and a woman with a whole family full of problems. We meet the two of them
because Sue attempts to hire Tony to kill someone- her! Tony refuses
without getting more information, and he definitely gets in over his head.
The chemistry between the two main characters, the problems brought on by
Sue’s manipulative and greedy family, and the added complication of Tony’s
special abilities all give this wonderful book depth and richness. The
various supporting characters- Tony’s friends, his "boss," Sue’s family,
and various others -- all have surprising depth. They are not just
two-dimensional. The ending includes a surprising and very sweet twist
that made the book all the better.
Hunter’s Moon is a lively adventure combined with a sweet romance. The
intent is to entertain and to move the reader, and the authors definitely
succeed. There are a number of references to the mafia, but the author
succeeds in keeping the reader engaged and sympathetic to the characters
even though they definitely work on the "darker side" of life. In
particular, Sue’s wariness to some of the things that Tony does helps the
reader stay aware that they are right to question things. The psychology
included is also amusing and very on-target!
The book’s strength is in its pacing. The combination of action, some of
it quite intense, and the periods of romance and simple downtime are quite
well done. The romance is also slow enough to make the reader impatient
but never too slow. Tony’s reluctance to give into his need for Sue is
believable and definitely makes for a more subtle conflict. The various
politics of Tony’s boss and other Mafia individuals give the book an edge
quite appropriate to a story about a werewolf. I found that its only real
weakness was that it didn’t make any real social judgments, in the end. I
was expecting some kind of moral revelation, but the romance triumphed
over any other themes.
Hunter’s Moon is a romantic fantasy and will definitely appeal to lovers
of both star-crossed love stories and modern day fantasy novels. The magic
of the werewolf and the romance of the two main characters are a great
combination in a fun, well-paced book. Hunter’s Moon rates four of five
stars and earns a rollicking recommendation.
10.
ELIZABETH FARADAY, Science Fiction Romance Reviews -
[Editor’s Note: HUNTER’S MOON is a
Dreams Unlimited
orphan]
Secrets are an integral part of Tony Giodone’s line of work. A
professional hit man, he’s paid to do his job and keep his mouth shut.
Even his true name is a secret. Yet there is one secret he keeps which is
darker than any other. For Tony is a werewolf, an unwilling and unwitting
member of a group of shapeshifters known as the Sazi.
Lottery winner Sue Quentin is also cursed. Cursed with a kind heart,
cursed with a responsible nature, cursed with the inability to say no, and
above all, cursed to be the only decent person in a family of emotionally
abusive vultures.
As Tony tries to cope with the changes his curse has wrought in his life,
Sue seeks him out to put an end to her own curse – by taking out a
contract on herself. For the first time in his life, Tony’s professional
code is threatened by his personal feelings. Sue doesn’t smell like prey –
she smells like a potential mate.
The first and most striking thing a reader will notice about this is the
way the world appears through Tony’s eyes. Or rather, his nose. Changes in
emotion, even lies, cause shifts in odor that Tony can detect -- yet being
human at his base and without a guide, Tony lacks much of the lexicon to
figure out all of what his sharpened senses are revealing to him. As a
device, it serves well to put the reader into the mind of a struggling
lycanthrope. The next surprise is how readily Clamp and Adams manage to
engage sympathy for an ostensibly weak heroine. A multi-million dollar,
perfectly healthy lottery winner who wants to have herself killed is not
someone most of us would expect to sympathize with or even like. Yet one
ends up doing just that.
The first-person tone and general flavor of HUNTER’S MOON is reminiscent
of classic detective fiction, though the setting and plot are Sopranoesque
in nature. While the plot seems simple at first, like Tony himself, few
characters are what they appear to be. The suspense is not in how or when
Tony will carry out his contract, but in the twists that arise as various
characters and features show their hidden facets. Despite the plot’s
complexity, however, the pace is quick.
In the end, this is a tale of metamorphosis, not just the standard
lycanthrope-dealing-with-the-world fare, and an entertaining story as
well.
11. TAMI BRADY, Blether, The book review site. The day started out like any other for Tony Giodone. Tony is an assassin for hire and an adopted member of the Family, though he prefers to describe himself as a businessman who works the wrong side of the street. Today, Tony is meeting a client at Nick's Tavern.
At
first, the meeting with the client, Suzi (Sue) Quentin, is pretty
standard. That is, until Sue mentions that the hit is on herself. The
reason for her suicide by hit man, is that she is being terrorized by her
sisters Bekki and Mitzi and her mother Myra. Far from kind and loving,
these three women treat Sue like a servant and make every effort to ruin
her career and love life. Sue feels the only way out of this situation is
death. Tony is both perplexed and intrigued by this woman.
Hunter’s Moon has a little bit of something for everyone. There’s romance.
There’s comedy. There’s action, and there’s intrigue. These aspects
intermeshed to create a very entertaining action filled storyline. By far,
however, the best part of this book is the characters themselves. How
often does one read about a teenage assassin who still plays video games
and is shy with girls but was incarcerated for his first murder conviction
at age six; a mother who throws herself down the stairs so that her
daughter has to take care of her; or a hit man who just happens to be a
werewolf? These characters are highly original, hilarious, entertaining,
and add a little extra flare to the story.
12. TERESA SANDERS, Paranormal Romance Writers (A Romance Design Community website). Tony Giodone is a shrewd businessman and hitman for the mafia. He is also a man with a dark secret, he is a werewolf. Just returning from a job that went bad he meets Sue Quentin. Sue should have everything her heart desires now that she’s won the lottery but all the money has brought her is nothing but grief especially from her family. Sue wants out, really out and is referred to Tony to plan her murder. However, Tony doesn’t believe Sue’s troubles are bad enough for her to pay him to kill her, especially not with the sparks that fly between them when he touches her so he plans to get to know her a little better. The only problem is the full moon is upon him and he’ll change into the werewolf. Tony’s change doesn’t seem to bother Sue since she has experienced a brush with a werewolf when she was young. After one night together, Tony cannot explain the bond between them and as their relationship continues to grow that bond grows stronger, to the point where he can read her thoughts and see through her mind’s eye.
However, Tony’s encounter with Sue is only the beginning of a series of strange things in his life. When he discovers he is being set-up he begins to question the loyalty of some of his closest friends and much to his amazement he discovers he is not a lone wolf but that a whole world of shapeshifters known as the Sazi exists. But someone wants him dead and they’ll stop at nothing to get to him including killing his mate. On the other hand, wolves mate for life and the bond between he and Sue will be tested more than he could ever have dreamed.
Hunter’s Moon is a cleverly written and an enjoyable read. This fast-paced thriller kept me turning pages well into the night. The plot has some interesting twists which will make you believe the Sazi could exist. A well planned story and well developed characters will make you not put this book down. Tony is the cool headed businessman who soon learns the greatest power is love. Although Sue’s character starts out as a pushover, she develops a spine of steel by the end of the story. Happy reading.
13.
HARRIET KLAUSNER,
Independent Reviewer 
A pure delight!!
Mob hit man Tony Giodone, who also free-lances, meets a client Suzi
Quentin at Nick's Tavern. She wants to hire him to kill her as she no
longer can stand her life, but is unable to commit suicide. She explains
that her mother and her sisters treat her with contempt and are destroying
any relationships she fosters. Tony is stunned by her solution, but also
finds himself attracted to her with ferocity like nothing he ever felt
before even when he was bitten and changed into a werewolf.
Tony is unable to do the deed, something he has always been able to do for a fee. Instead he wants to protect Sue, who he considers his lifemate and is willing to kill her abusive family for harming her. While he persuades Sue that she has a reason to live as his mate, they must face evil stronger than vile nasty human females while Tony is becoming acquainted with his furrier side.
HUNTER’S MOON is a strange tongue in cheek paranormal romantic suspense that readers will cherish. The interesting story line is unique because of Tony’s occupation making him a werewolf antiheroic version of The Greatest American Hero. Besides a werewolf Mafia hit man and a victimized suicidal lead female, the rest of the characters are as wacky and weird as a South Florida who-done-it. Cathy Clamp and C. T. Adams need to bring back Tony and Suzi in future satirical good vs. evil adventures while he learns more about his hairier essence.
14.
DIANE T., Love
Romances.
5 Roses! "Meet Bob, a.k.a. Tony, who looks like your average
man, but looks can be deceiving. You see, he’s far from normal. Tony is an
assassin for hire. One night, Tony’s life changed drastically. His mark
turned the tables on him and gave Tony a bite that changed him forever.
Now, Tony’s werewolf abilities gives him an edge other assassins lack.
Then one night, Sue Quentin walked into his life and changed everything in
his well-ordered world.
Sue Quentin wants to end her life. She’s tired of being everybody’s lap dog. Sue never does anything right, so says her family. Not even when she wins the lottery and becomes a millionaire overnight. Nothing is ever enough. Pushed beyond endurance, Sue seeks to escape and death seemed the best way.
Sue intrigues Tony; he senses a deep sadness in her and feels the need to ease it. Tony refuses the contract, but can’t let her go. Something about Sue calls to him on a level he doesn’t understand. It was more than just sex, although that too was a strong need to be fulfilled.
Before Tony and Sue can discover what this feeling between them means, a dark force by the name of Leo Scapoto, a man runs a casino and launders dirty money, comes after Sue. Can Tony save Sue, both from Leo and her own desire to die?
Cathy Clamp and C.T. Adams have created a world of mobsters and assassins, along with a paranormal aspect by making our assassin/hero a werewolf. But Tony isn’t the only creature of the night in this intriguing and even hilarious story. You will meet several different shape-shifters in this book. There are aspects to this story that will have you laughing as you discover Tony’s unusual way of using his nose. There is excitement on every page as Ms. Clamp and Ms. Adams give depth to their characters. The pages steam with passion between Tony and Sue as they find each other. This is definitely a keeper and would make a great Christmas present for all readers. This reviewer recommends this book highly. Enjoy!"
15. LINDA, The Coffee Cramp Reviews. Hunter's Moon is truly a unique read. I venture to say you have never read a book about werewolves like this one. Tony Giodone is a very unique character, and Sue is a study in normalcy that is rare in literary heroines today.
Hunter's Moon draws you in from the first paragraph and holds you enthralled till the very end. This one is a taut thriller, as well as a strangely beautiful love story. The ending was a real surprise for me, and completely unexpected. C.T. and Cathy have found a wonderful storytelling voice that is darkly humorous, reminiscent of Stephen King.
Hunter's Moon takes you on a dark journey into the world of the Sazi and once you're there, it will be hard to leave. I highly recommend this book to those of you who enjoy a good supernatural romp.
16. TRACY MARSAC, Reader to Reader at NewAndUsedBooks.com. Tony is a man of many talents: security expert, assassin, and most recently, werewolf. Although having only been this way for a year, he's still very much a pup. He's at the mercy of the 'change' and trying to adjust to how the curse has affected his life. The plus side is his sensitivity to the smells of people's emotions has made him an even better judge of character. Combined with his super human strength, both are very handy to have in the line of business where deceit is everyday and being on guard a must.
Sue Quentin is a potential client who wants to hire Tony to kill someone. He doesn't learn until after they meet that the target is Sue herself. Tony's been around the block many times and was brought up by the mafia but this surprises him. But Sue isn't your average Jane and what should have been easy money turns into something much more.
Hunter's Moon is fantastically unique and unbelievably riveting! The book takes off from Tony and Sue's first meeting and doesn't slow a bit. Because the business he's in and the people he's involved with, chaos follows Tony and Sue everywhere. The pair are hit from both sides as Sue's relatives make problems for the couple just out of spite. The paranormality escalates and lends an interesting slant to the story. The book is told from Tony's point of view but, because he can smell Sue's emotions, she also has a voice. The lovers soon develop a telepathic bond which becomes more intense as they grow closer. Tony diagnoses Sue with depression and she's very personable in her struggle to overcome it and find self value. You only have to meet her bitter, manipulative family to understand and sympathize with why she wanted to hire Tony's services to begin with. And what's revealed in the end will have readers, especially me, hoping another book will be released very, very soon!
17. JODI, Romance Junkies - 5 BLUE RIBBONS! Sue Quentin has a problem saying no to people. Although most people wouldn't let this somewhat annoying trait get to the drastic point that she does. Driven to near madness by her diabolical mother, insulted and browbeaten by spoiled sisters, and just generally taken advantage of by society at large has pushed Sue to the end of her tolerance. This is where she brings Tony into the story; she wants him to kill her.
Tony has no problem saying no. Being a contract assassin takes away any possible guilt that hurting someone's feelings may cause. Not being completely human and turning furry with the full moon takes care of what little other emotions he might feel.
Tony's not sure why, but he is drawn to the svelte and confused Sue. He finds himself agreeing, if not to kill her, to listen to her so sad life story. He also finds himself reacting differently to her in other ways. Heck, it scares him that he's reacting to her at all since he had long ago cut himself off from any emotions. But this quirky brunette has brought feeling back into his life with a vengeance.
Tony is shocked to find that 'Ms. Perky' accepts and is willing to co-exist with his furry side. He is able to remember his experiences while in wolf form when she is near and experiences a very odd sort of protective behavior toward her. His wolf form declares her as his mate, but can this actually be love? Some very unsavory characters who are after Tony decide that Sue will make a nice bargaining chip. Tony now has to keep Sue safe as well as find the man behind the sent assassin's.
Ms. Clamp's and Ms. Adams' HUNTER'S MOON is a refreshing twist on werewolf fiction. I absolutely loved the way that Tony scented emotions. The absolutely original characteristics of their werewolves kept me entertained throughout the book. I found myself thinking of emotions in olfactory terms. The quirky and confused Sue made me laugh out loud more than once. The dangerous and taciturn Tony is an Alpha male that would make any woman want to be the one to tame him. I found myself wanting to skip to the end to make sure everything turned out good; I haven't done this since grade school. HUNTER'S MOON has fast become a favorite book that I will read over and over again. Fans of Kelley Armstrong and Laurell K. Hamilton's lupi will quickly fall in love with HUNTER'S MOON. I am anxiously awaiting a sequel. With character this good, writer's this talented definitely deserve many more voices of praise.
18. DESHANNA
HEAVELOW, Coffee Time Romance.
Rating:
Sue Quentin had won the lottery and
should have been on top of the world. Instead,
she hires "Bob" to kill her.
"Bob" is Anthony Giodone, an assassin who was
transformed into a werewolf a year ago when a
hit went bad.
Right from the start, these two have a connection that
neither understands. They are starting to find out about each other when
Anthony's enemies cross their path and Sue is
caught up in the middle of "family" business.
From the first sentence, I was hooked and could not
stop reading. This was one of the best books I
have read in a long time. The interaction between Sue and
Anthony was incredibly realistic and entertaining. Ms.
Clamp and Ms. Adams have a gift for creating memorable
characters and storytelling. If you love
fast-paced engrossing books then this book is perfect for you.
19. THIA McCLAIN, Romance Readers Connection. Anthony Giodone is not your normal Family connected assassin. He has special "talents". Actually, he is a werewolf. Since the change, he has only gotten better at his profession. His latest prospective client throws him for a loop, though. See, she wants him to kill her.
With the weight of the world, well her family at any rate, on her shoulders, Sue Quenton simply cannot take the pressure anymore. The solution seems to be just having herself killed and making it look accidental. She finally has found just the man to take care of that problem for her. The thing is, he won't do it. He says it is a bad risk. Finally, she gets him to listen to her story and before they realize it, they are headed towards serious territory.
Tony helps Sue with her family and all the problems that are involved. At the same time, he has some of his own issues to handle. Together, they solve every one of their tribulations and are ready to settle down to a life of love and full moons.
There are a lot of great twists and turns to this story. Giving up the slightest detail can easily take away from the pleasure. This is a very well written werewolf story that is, and is not, all about the beast inside. It has something new around each corner and keeps you guessing the whole way. The authors do a great job with every aspect, from heart wrenching moments to sensual escapades. This one is chocked full of the good stuff!
20. AMANDA KILLGORE, Huntress Reviews. Sue Quentin offers Tony one of his more unusual jobs in his career as a hitman. Because of her stiffling family life, she wants to die; however, due to her notoriety, doing so immediately is not possible. Then, two things begin to change her mind- falling for Tony and people she isn't paying begin using her for target practice. Tony smoothly transitions from killer to bodyguard, almost as easily as he does from man to wolf. His enemies might be determined to kill Sue, but no one will do so, but himself, if he has anything to say about it.
The two authors have taken the lycanthrope world and given it new dimension and magic by melding it with a mafia-esque story. Sue's situation immediately captures readers' sympathy, if not empathy, but don't make the mistake of seeing her as weak.
21. SHANNON, Romance Readers at Heart. Well, these Tor Romance paranormals are starting out with a bang! First up was SHIFTING LOVE, by Constance O'Day Flannery, and now C.T. Adams and Cathy Clamp introduce us to the world of the Sazi in HUNTER'S MOON. Keep them coming Tor, as they just keep getting better and better.
How many times can I say the story is original and fresh and still mean it without the comment sounding stale? Plenty, it seems. But this one is the MOST outrageously original book I have read to date. Yes, when you write about the paranormal—this one is about werewolves and such—you have plenty of creative license. But man, oh, man, an assassin for a mob family/werewolf hero? That is pretty out there. I love it!
Did I mention said hero, Tony Giodone, also makes no excuses for what he does and stays true to himself all the way through the book? That is hard, so very hard, for an author to do with a character. Usually the hero loses a little bit of his, shall we say "bad habits" when he meets the heroine, and is reformed a bit in the sunshine of her adoration. Not Tony. Oh, he recognizes that he has to make some small changes for her safety, but he has no intention of giving up his night job. Well, unless he is killed. He is also a werewolf. Deal with it. I find that so very cool.
The heroine, Sue, has just as many issues as Tony, and sometimes I wonder how she stays around her crazy family without taking them out. No obligation is worth the crap she puts up with. But that is why Tony comes into the picture in the first place. What a plot!
There is just so much to recommend and indulge in here, that I find myself wanting to gush about the whole thing. Don't worry, though, I won't bore you with all my favorite scenes. It would take a rehashing of the whole story. Let's just say this one is worth your time and opens up a new world in the paranormal you can't wait to explore. I know other books will spin off of this one. You just can't leave something this unique, hot, wild and crazy alone.
22. CATHY CODY, Romance Junkies. Tony Giodone is good at his job. He’s never been caught taking out a mark, and he doesn’t plan on getting caught any time soon. That’s why he insists on meeting his clients in person, so he can tell if they’re lying to him or trying to set him up. It’s gotten much easier since he’s been turned into a werewolf.
Sue Quentin has had enough of being used. She can’t take her family any more, the abuse has gone to far and she’s going to do something about it. At least, that’s what she’d planned on doing when she met up with the hit man in a seedy bar on the bad side of town. What she didn’t expect was to be in his hotel room with him when he turned into a wolf right before her eyes.
Something strange is going on between Sue and Tony, and he has no idea what to do about it. He was only just getting used to being a wolf three nights a month, and now he has to figure out why he’s becoming addicted to this woman who has more baggage than anyone he’s ever met before. Things were much simpler when he just tried to kill people and not help them out.
The writing team of C.T. Adams and Cathy Clamp do a phenomenal job digging into the mind of a killer and showing the man inside—or wolf. By the time I finished this book, I felt like I had grown up with Tony and would recognize him on the street. He was an endearing character with morals and flaws like anyone else, and a great big heart it took Sue to uncover. I am looking forward to future trips into this world, and with an upcoming sequel, I don’t think I’ll be disappointed.
23.
CINDY LYNN SPEER,
Affaire de Coeur.
Tony is a Mafia assassin, and he's
very good at what he does, skills improved when an accidental
confrontation changed him into a werewolf. When he meets Sue at a bar to
discuss the target she wants him to take out, he's shocked to discover
that it's none other than herself. She won a multimilion dollar lottery,
making her rich beyond her dreams, but it's only brought her sorrow, since
her family, especially her mother, is playing manipulative mind games
designed to make her do what they want -- take care of their every need
and have no life of her own. When her mother sets it up so that she
"accidentally" breaks a hip, Sue has had enough.
When Tony touches her, he feels electricity beyond anything he's ever experienced. He doesn't want to kill her, but he will. If, in one year, she still wants to die, he'll take her contract.
Hunter's Moon is a very fast paced book, well written and filled with interesting twists. Her mother is truly horrid, but there is even more tension when Tony realizes that he's made Sue a target by bringing her into his life. There are some interesting contrasts…we have two families here -- the Mafia Family and the regular relations family -- and it's funny to see how the Family, with its reputation, is actually a better sort of people than Sue's. You would think that a Mafia hit man turned werewolf would be hard to live with…especially since we spend the whole book in his head, but it's not. You find yourself liking Tony, even though he's never repentant. He is who he is, the perfect combination of danger and charm. Definitely a world worth a second look!
24. JUDI McKEE, The Romance Reader. This book squeaks under the wire to be the best surprise of 2004. It’s romantic, sexy, original, fast-paced and a huge pleasure to read. Happy New Year, from authors Adams and Clamp!
Tony Giodone is a hit man, raised by a mobster after his mother died. He is also a werewolf, ‘changed’ accidentally a year ago by a woman he was hired to kill. She meant to kill him, but Tony didn’t die and when he recovered, he found that he changed into a wolf during the three nights around the full moon.
Even in human form, Tony has extremely heightened senses, heals rapidly and, although he tries to control it, reacts swiftly and aggressively when angered. But there are problems associated with his new state and he is struggling to deal with them.
He still has to earn a living though, so he agrees to meet a new client, Sue Quentin. Tony’s a little bemused when he discovers that Sue wants him to kill…her. She can certainly afford his fee; she recently won a 268 million dollar lottery jackpot. Tony tells her she’s too high-profile to kill immediately – he might not be able to do the job for a year or more. Sue is desperate, so she buys a couple of hours of Tony’s time so she can explain the situation to him more fully. She believes that, if he understands, he’ll do the job.
Tony doesn’t normally care much about the ‘whys’ of his jobs, but he finds himself strangely intrigued by Sue, so he agrees and takes her to his hotel suite. There’s just one problem. He’s lost track of the dates, and he changes into a werewolf when she’s there, but Sue does not freak out.
Okay, I’m going to tell you something right off about this book, and I want you to promise that you won’t let it put you off. It’s written in the first person. From the point of view of the hero. But it totally works. I know people say they don’t really like first person (I’m usually one of them), and it was a bit of a shock when I realized at the beginning of the fourth paragraph that it was male first person, but I was already hooked.
It’s a terrific voice – honest, natural and compelling. Romance authors, generally, are not renowned for authentic male voices. There are wonderful exceptions, of course, but too often the male voices in romance are either cardboard stereotypes or some odd version of what the author thinks she wishes contemporary men sounded like. You know who I mean, characters who use words like ‘tresses’ or ‘locks’ when they’re talking about the heroine’s hair. Yeah, right.
But this voice just rolls along like someone actually talking to you. I don’t think there was a single mis-step in the whole book. It makes Tony a very real, three-dimensional character. This is wonderfully enhanced by the fact that, in spite of everything, Tony is not a particularly dark character. He knows who he is, and he accepts himself. Being an assassin is a job to him, consistent with the way he was raised. He’s not casual or sadistic about taking lives, and he has a strict code of honor. That may sound contradictory to you, but as a character he’s beautifully integrated and believable.
Sue is equally three dimensional, although perhaps slightly more problematic because her essential problem is that she’s a doormat. It works within the well-constructed story, but there was always a little voice in the back of my head wondering why someone with 268 million bucks couldn’t think of a way other than suicide to solve her problems. I loved the fact that Tony actually made her get therapy.
The plot, which develops far beyond the issue of whether or not Tony is going to kill Sue, accelerates like one of the sporty Mustangs the characters in this book like to drive. I wasn’t just a willing passenger, I was practically an abductee, the book was so easy to pick up and so difficult to put down (I probably should have read it after Christmas).
It’s good. You should read it.
25. RASHMI SRINIVAS, Curled Up with a Good Book. Sue Quentin, the multi-million dollar Lotto winner, is so unhappy that she wants nothing more than to end her life. To that end, she hires hitman Tony the Nose to kill her. Even a cold-blooded assassin like Tony is taken aback at this and inquires as to her reasons why. The more Tony listens and understands the depth of selfishness of Sue’s family - particularly of her own scheming mother - that has caused soul-searing agony to this gentle, caring woman, the more he feels connected to her. To his own horror, he begins to care and counsel her to abandon her crazy plans.
Sue relishes the attention and care Tony lavishes on her in his own brusque way, so much so that she is not shocked when she discovers that he is also a werewolf. The uncanny psychic bond between them grows, as does the physical passion. Just as it begins to look like this odd duo might have a chance at a future together, Tony’s enemies strike - and they are not all human. When Sue becomes a prime target, Tony has no choice but let his animal part take charge, and what happens next makes for some breath-holding action and drama with surprises galore.
Famous for their line of fantasy books, publisher Tor recently ventured into the growing world of paranormal romance with C.T. Adams and Cathy Clamp's spectacular debut, Hunter’s Moon, the second jewel in Tor's crown. It becomes clear this is a series that not only promises but successfully delivers more darker, creative and in-depth paranormal. Take this book for example - this is not your typical werewolf-human romantic story, as the central characters are nowhere near predictable. Neither is the plot. The story is complicated not just by the leading lady’s suicidal tendencies and the scheming antics of her virulent, grasping family, but also by her werewolf lover’s deep involvement in Mafia affairs. The growing psychic bond between them adds yet another dimension to the whole supernatural saga.
With threats looming from all directions, this unlikely pair must quell both inner and external demons, and from this emerges the pivotal suspense as to whether their fledgling love and even their very lives will survive this brutal assault on all fronts and senses. Comprehensive characterizations, dark violence with a deeply romantic core, and uncanny twists in the plot are guaranteed to hold readers enthralled up until the very and again surprising, end. The efforts of author duo C. T. Adams and Cathy Clamp in crafting this exotic new world of Sazi pays off handsomely, and hopefully they’ll take us there again in the near future.
26. JANE JORGENSON, All About Romance. Sensuality: Warm, Grade: B- With all the hoopla about Linda Howard's To Die For, the newest from Tor's new paranormal romance line should draw a lot of attention. Antihero Tony's first person narrative would cause buzz all by itself. But this interesting and different romance has a million other things going on. All of them good in and of themselves, but increasingly overpowering as they pile on what is supposed to be the central (and most important) element, the romance.
Sue Quentin has it all, or so you'd think. She's young and single and just won 268 million dollars in the lottery. Sounds just about perfect. Sue's trouble is she's finding it impossible to enjoy any of it. Her family has always treated her like a doormat and she's been too nice to stop them. When Sue's mother appeared too feeble to take care of herself, the family decided she should live with Sue. When Sue's sister Becky needs a daycare provider, she stops by and drops the kids off at Sue's house. The list goes on and on, and winning the lottery hasn't changed anything. In fact, it's made them worse. Now her family wants money and her services. Now Sue is feeling suicidal but too cowardly to do the deed herself. The solution: a hitman. Enter Tony Giodone.
Tony Giodone was raised by a mobster and as an adult is a killer for hire - and he's very good at what he does. Especially since a hit that went wrong transformed him into a werewolf. When Sue Quentin walks into the bar to meet him, his senses go crazy. The woman who wants to hire him to kill her smells like "heat and sex" and something about her draws him in - much against his will. Tony is reluctant to take the contract Sue offers because of her recent notoriety, but he does agree to listen to her story. Big mistake. By the time he's heard her out, Sue seems more like a potential mate then a target.
I loved this set-up and the initial interactions between Tony and Sue. Tony may be an assassin, but he feels no remorse about what he does. What's more, because the story is told in his voice, the reader can't help but like him. In fact, I liked him more for his lack of angst and the matter-of-fact way he goes about business. Too many authors try to give their dangerous heroes an unbelievable out. Either they're not really killers but rely on reputations as such, or they only kill evil, villainous types. Tony is what he is and he's not going to apologize to anyone about it. And Sue's dilemma is drawn well enough that I could believe she'd want to die at Tony's hands. Though she is as ineffectual as she tells Tony, Sue did have the gumption to seek him out and that made her instantly interesting.
Their slow-building relationship was done just right for the first half of the book. Tony is drawn to Sue but he's still going to do his job. And Sue continues to believe the job is necessary even though she is equally attracted to him. And though the sometimes staccato writing distracted me occasionally, I wanted to know what was going to happen to these people and this relationship.
Given how well the book began I was disappointed with where it went. By about two-thirds of the way through I thought the authors had lost track of where the story was supposed to go. Suddenly it wasn't about whether Tony would kill Sue or about whether Sue would regain control of her life. It was about the mafia and shapeshifters and Sue's family, and okay, a little about whether Tony would kill Sue and a little about whether Sue would regain control of her life.
Multiple subplots are fine, but they shouldn't make the reader lose track of the main story thread. And losing track of that main story is what stunted Sue's progress as a character and a viable half of this dynamic relationship. Sue doesn't have the space she needs to progress into the capable, independent woman I thought she would be. That's fine, writers can do what they want with a character. If they want to keep Sue incapable of standing up for herself, that's their right. But I have the right to believe it weakens the romance a bit and makes it hard for me to believe that this couple is going to keep their HEA.
Complaints aside, the energy that went into the writing of this book shines through every page. These women are writing with gusto and are trying something new. That excites me. I'll definitely pick up the next in the Tor paranormal line and the next by these authors.
27. TRACEY WEST, The Road to Romance. Tony Giodone, a Mafia hitman and a werewolf, can smell fear, read emotions and always gets the job done. But when he is hired by Sue Quentin, a little slip of a woman, his life is thrown even more off-course than when he was changed into a werewolf. Sue has hired him to kill someone for him. Should be a simple job, however, when she reveals that the mark he must kill is HER, he is drawn into her life, the pain she has endured and even cares enough to want to change the future for her.
Tony never expected to come to care for Sue and he sure as heck never expected his enemies to use her to get to him. When Sue is taken by his enemy, who is also a shapeshifter, Tony has the toughest job of all…getting to the woman he has come to love, before it’s too late…
These are new paranormal authors to add to this reviewers list of ones to watch for! Cathy Clamp and C.T. Adams write a magnificent paranormal romance with Hunter’s Moon. Tony…man, he was a hero ten-fold. A tortured, unsure hero, whose tough bravado just endears him to the reader. Sue, her pain of the past and even her quiet mouse persona in the beginning, still captures a reader’s attention. Neither of these characters is easy, Tony especially, but the reader really connects with each of them and is held riveted as to where the story will lead. As Tony rushes to save Sue, the adrenaline is pumping and it is edge of your seat drama watching everything unfold. The chemistry of these characters is profound and can be felt immediately within moments of Tony and Sue meeting.
Hunter’s Moon was riveting, dramatic, exciting and sensual. But of course, the road to the end is nothing without some twists and turns, and these authors have provided that for their readers. I especially loved that this story was told in the first person, from Tony’s point of view. Not very often do we ever see a book that is told from the male’s point of view, and I for one loved that Ms. Adams and Ms. Clamp decided to try this route. It added flair and a more inventive feel to the story, which this reader relished. I hope to someday read about Tony and Sue again. I will most definitely be watching out for more work by these authors!
The recipient of The
Road to Romance Reviewer’s Choice award, Hunter’s Moon gets
my highest recommendation!
28. MARTINA BEXTE, BookLoons. Tony Giodone has the reputation of being one of the best hit men in the business. Long-time ties to the mob ensure that his standing remains intact and his identity an enigma. But over the last few months he's had a run of bad luck. A victim he'd been stalking turned the tables and ended up ripping out this throat. Though he survived the werewolf attack, the bite transformed him. Since then he's been working hard to understand, control and incorporate this new dimension of his personality into his profession.
Though Sue Quentin hit the mega jackpot in a recent lottery win, she still feels like the unluckiest woman in the world - her life sucks and she wants out. Her demanding family and friends are pulling her in a hundred different directions and she can't take it any more. Too timid and insecure to kill herself, she does what she believes is the next best thing - she hunts down an assassin. Her only stipulation is that Tony arrange the hit at a time and place of his choosing. Tony is taken aback by his new client and her odd instructions. This is definitely a first for him. While he commends Sue for her creative, if unorthodox wish, he wants to make very sure that death is the right choice for her.
The more time they spend together going over the details, the more they're drawn to one other. Tony's new wolf senses tell him that Sue could well be his life mate - why else would he be so attuned to her? And Sue begins to think that she and Tony might just have a shot at being happy together. But when a fun weekend in Vegas reveals very dirty dealings and double crosses by a fellow mobster, Tony and Sue become targets, not only of Tony's arch rival Leo, but of his own shape shifting kind as well.
Hunter's Moon breaks away from some of the common denominators of today's romances. The story is entirely from the viewpoint of male lead Tony, whose profession and outlook on life are contrary to those of popular romance heroes. Tony makes no apologies for what he does for a living. Sue is his exact opposite, so much so that it's hard to believe that a man like Tony would fall for her. The authors wisely solve that problem with the 'life mate' explanation - otherwise Sue's painfully insecure personality would have stretched the believability meter just a tad.
Though the story gets bogged down half way through with an overly busy plot and too many chapters showing just how greedy, dysfunctional and annoying Sue's family is, Adams and Clamp make up for this by kicking up the action and adding some surprising twists before the ending. Theirs is a unique new voice in paranormal romance, and their fascinating shape shifter world bodes well for half a dozen sequels at least.