March 29, 2011

Review: Moonlight by Rachel Hawthorne

Dark Guardian #1: Moonlight Moonlight by Rachel Hawthorne


Genre: Paranormal YA (UF)
I see him and knows what this turmoil inside of me means: He's the one. My forever.



KAYLA is the nature lover, the all-American beauty who can't understand why she's so drawn to distant, brooding Lucas. Adopted as a young child, she has no way of knowing that she's inherited a terrifying-and thrilling-gene that will change her life forever.

LUCAS is dangerous, gorgeous ... and a werewolf. As leader of the Dark Guardians, shape-shifters who gather deep within the state park, he has sworn to protect his pack. But when Lucas finds his true soul mate, his love could put them all in harm's way.

As Lucas and Kayla struggle with their feelings for each other, a greater danger lurks: Humans have discovered the Dark Guardians and are planning their destruction. Kayla must choose between the life she knows and the love she feels certain is her destiny.

Review:

Moonlight is a guilty pleasure. Not because it has naughty sex scenes or bad language jumping off the page—quite the opposite. It's pretty sweet and innocent, like PNR novels accept YA approved. Of course I have to say right up front if you’re seeking something that has mind blowing writing, hidden depths, and a unique plot this is the not the book. It’s not really fantastic in any form, but there is something about it that draws a reader in and just takes hold.

Moonlight goes where you expect it to and with a 263 page count it really doesn't get to explore all the fantastic ideas that are lurking around. It focuses on girl meets wolf boy, girl is soon to turn wolf, wolf boy perfects girl, and they mate for life. Moonlight is not all romance, there is an interesting plot about humans trying to get the secrets of the Guardians (werewolves) and an evil brother bent on revenge.

Again for how small it is, the characters are well fleshed out. This is Kayla’s journey to grow up and become her “true-self”. Lucas is the cliché brooding male lead that the ladies love to swoon over; mysterious, quiet, and devoted to his future woman. Kayla and Lucas bonded well together, both being really likable.

The world of the Guardians is clearly something that needs to be explored more in later books, there are more boys and girls to turn into wolves and find mates. All of the guys already have their future mates tattooed onto them, so my curiosity is killing me to see if I guessed the right couples. In the short course of the book Hawthorne made me appreciate the cast of side characters.

While it reads like a beach book, it does not have the tone of one. It deals with death, loss, fear, and dealing with the choices we make and living with them. There’s not much meat to it, but readers will find themselves engrossed in the world of the Guardians and the mystery of finding a life mate. Moonlight’s power is to take an “adult” plot from paranormal romances and turn it in to a YA read.

Sexual Content:
Kissing and a few heavy make out scenes. There is a scene where a boy pushes himself on to the main character in the acts of making it look like he might rape her. A few dirty jokes and questions sprinkled in every now and again.



3/5- Adored it, just a few minor details held it back

Add it:

Amazon:Dark Guardian #1: Moonlight
goodreads: Moonlight

2 comments:

Natalie Frampton said...

I have this on my bookshelf. Will read it when I want an easier read maybe

Shera (Book Whispers) said...

This is definitely a light read. It's good for when you're burned out.