Crux (Southern Arcana, #1)

Jul 25, 2011 Mandi Schreiner rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review

Mackenzie Brooks is scared. She has been running from her ex-boyfriend, Marcus through five states, and no matter how many times she dumps her car or hides out, his people always seem to track her down. She has ended up in New Orleans, and has taken employment at the local bar, in desperate need of money. While working, she craves normalcy and desperately just wants to fit in. However, she is so scared of the men chasing her and their crazy ideas about magic and other unbelievable things that sh...more Mackenzie Brooks is scared. She has been running from her ex-boyfriend, Marcus through five states, and no matter how many times she dumps her car or hides out, his people always seem to track her down. She has ended up in New Orleans, and has taken employment at the local bar, in desperate need of money. While working, she craves normalcy and desperately just wants to fit in. However, she is so scared of the men chasing her and their crazy ideas about magic and other unbelievable things that she can not allow herself to let her guard down. She does her best to be a flirty, carefree bartender but she is not fooling the patrons especially her boss Nick. Although she is on edge, she can’t help but notice the hunky guy that hangs out, Jackson Holt.

Worried she is in trouble, Nick sends Jackson, a private investigator, to follow Mackenize home one night. Mackenzie, who is used to being followed and totally on edge, realizes Jackson is following her and has to make a decision right there whether she is going to fight and flee, or fight to stay. Making the very hard decision that Nick probably wouldn't try to hurt her, she decides to trust these people. She ends up moving into the apartment above the bar.

Nick, Jackson, and his partner Alec all know something is a little off with Mackenzie, and it is not just her fear. They have a feeling she is a shapeshifter, but not a wolf like Nick and Alec, nor a wizard like Jackson and they are stumped. Jackson decides there is something special about Mackenzie is he is not going to let her run off. When Marcus’ men track her down again, Jackson uses his magic to fend them off. Now Mackenzie must believe magic and supernatural beings exist and trust those around her to keep her safe.

The writing team of Moira Rogers, aka Bree and Donna, really impressed me with Crux. It is one of those books where you sit down and are immediately at ease with the pages. They have a really great smooth, witty writing style and some of the most engaging characters I have read.

Jackson describes himself as a “charming bastard,” and that sums him up well. He very alpha in his protectiveness but over all a really nice guy. He is not cocky, or arrogant, just a man you definitely would want to take home to your mother. He is also built, tall and as Mackenzie tells him, “unfairly sexy.”

I loved Mackenize too. At the beginning of the book she is terrified and on the run, but once she trusts Jackson and the events happening to her and around her, the true Mackenize opens up and she embraces life and is carefree. What I truly love about this heroine is when she is in trouble, she accepts help. She listens when they tell her what to do – she knows they know more about this magic then she does. She never puts herself in a TSTL (too stupid to live) situation, which I often find heroines who just discover magic fall into.

The love scenes, while not abundant in quantity, make up for in in quality. My favorite part is the amount of talking during the scenes. These two never stop the chatter, and it really is a turn on during these scenes.

My absolute favorite part of the book are the supporting characters. We get introduced to so many, yet as the reader you will definitely come to know all of them, and quite well. There is Alec (ladies I’ve already claimed him so move along) who is Jackson’s partner and very quiet, very alpha, very mysterious (he will be the hero in book three, Deadloc). Kat, the secretary who is more of a computer whiz and like a kid sister to Jackson and Alec.

There is also Nick, who owns the bar and her father just happens to be head alpha wolf, although she wants nothing to do with the politics that status brings her family. Nick becomes a great friend to Mackenize, making sure the boys keep themselves in line. Nick is the heroine in the next book, Crossroads, which I am starting very soon!

I absolutely recommend Crux and I am very eager to try more from Moira Rogers.(less)

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Mar 11, 2013 Crystal Starr Light rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: it-s-not-you-it-s-me, paranormal-romance, ebook

REVIEW SEQUENCE INITIATED

READ STATUS: DNF (Did Not Finish)

LAST PAGE READ: 10%, end of Chapter 3

SUNMARY: Mackenzie flees a mysterious guy and takes up a job bartending where nick is the owner and Jackson is the sexy investigator that patrons the bar. Nick thinks Mackenzie may have a secret - she is a shifter.

REASONS FOR DNF: This book is clearly paranormal romance and not urban fantasy. Reviewer is willing to read new genres, but this book was filled with cliches. Pace was slow, too many question...more

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Aug 28, 2012 Heather in FL rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: a-i-own-it, elements-pnr, mix-m-f, group-read, z-free, z-from-amazon

This was a group read or I might not have chosen it. It's PNR, and I've been moving away from that. This was very interesting, though. I thought it was interesting that there was this underground shifter/witch/magic-users society, but they didn't think vampires existed. Makes me wonder if they're going to pop up in a future installment of the series.

I can't imagine growing up thinking you're human and then this gorgeous guy shows up on your doorstep talking to you about shifters and destiny and...more

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Sep 22, 2011 Book Chick City rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance-paranormal

Reviewed by Laura for Book Chick City. 7/10 on the blog.

This is one of those books that I have had sitting on my ereader for quite a while now but have never quite got around to reading it. Then as soon as I started it, I wondered why I'd left it so long as it was thoroughly enjoyable. Moira Rogers is the name for a writing team of two ladies, Bree and Donna, in their words: "a former forensic science and nursing student obsessed with paranormal romance and ... a computer programmer with a passi...more Reviewed by Laura for Book Chick City. 7/10 on the blog.

This is one of those books that I have had sitting on my ereader for quite a while now but have never quite got around to reading it. Then as soon as I started it, I wondered why I'd left it so long as it was thoroughly enjoyable. Moira Rogers is the name for a writing team of two ladies, Bree and Donna, in their words: "a former forensic science and nursing student obsessed with paranormal romance and ... a computer programmer with a passion for gritty urban fantasy." And a great writing team they make too.

Our heroine is Mackenzie, a frightened woman on the run from a crazy stalk who claims they are destined to be together. A man that wherever she runs to seems to eerily be able to find her. His pursuit of her is violent, unrelenting and terrifying and she has nowhere left to turn.

Ending up in New Orleans, working in a bar, she has stumbles upon a supernatural underground she didn't even know existed. As her crazy stalker's behaviours escalates it appears that she needs to find out about her past and where she fits into this world.

This book is like a cross between a paranormal romance and an urban fantasy novel, kind of sitting on that wavy line between the two genres. There's darkness, horror, mystery and preternatural creatures as well as a warm and sexy romance. The action in the book keeps the pages moving and there are enough plot surprises to keep you guessing.

While Mackenzie is frightened and vulnerable, there is a tough core to her which made her likeable. It would have been very easy to make her a simpering female overwhelmed with her supernatural discovery, and I'm so glad this wasn't the case. Scared yes, but willing to stand on her own two feet and learn to fight too.

There was something about Jackson I just couldn't help but like. A rugged, supernatural PI, with a nice hint of gentlemanly manners. He accepts Nici's request to investigate Mackenzie as a favour, but protects and helps her out of honour and of course as the book progresses a growing attraction between them.

This book has created a world of supernatural beings which were rich and fascinating, and I felt as though we hadn't really scratched the surface of where the story could take it. The politics and the hierarchy system of the shape shifters alone left me intrigued and we were introduced to many characters I would like to read more about. I would go as far as to say the secondary characters were as interesting as the two main leads.

VERDICT:

A great book that will appeal to shape shifting fans. If you're not normally a romance fan, but love urban fantasy, I would urge you to give this a go as I think you will enjoy it. It's a romance book with a bit more grit in it and a great start to new series.
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Apr 09, 2013 Amanda Byrne rated it 3 of 5 stars

Three and a half stars. I loved Mackenzie's strength (and yes, her fear). She got up, did what needed to be done, went to sleep, and did it all over again the next day. And the day after that. And so on and so forth. She could have given in, could have given up, and she didn't.

Jackson...oh, Jackson. You adorable bumbling man. Yes, bumbling. He's not quite as smooth as he thinks he is, at least not around Mackenzie, and that makes me love him even more.

I wish they'd spent more time together (a so...more

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Jan 17, 2013 Care rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranornmal-romance

I got this as a free ebook when a friend, who had not read it yet, recommended it to me. Which meant that it was either going to be good, or like a lot of free ebooks and not be good. I give free ebooks -really just about any book, but especially free ones because you never know what you will get- about 20 pages to capture my attention and hold it or else I stop reading.

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. The paranormal would this book portrays is interesting and believable. (Prove...more

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Aug 15, 2012 Kristy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-romance, 2012-dhc

When I saw this as a free read on B&N I was skeptical. There are very few free reads that I come across on my own that I enjoy and this was one that I really enjoyed.

The story revolves around Mackenzie who is on the run from a guy she had met a few months prior. He's been stalking and chasing her through city after city. The reasons behind it are for an agenda that is revealed roughly in the middle of the book. Mackenzie finally ends up in New Orleans and gets a job as a bartender in a local...more

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Jul 23, 2012 Dark Faerie Tales rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-by-sheila

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: A gut twisting tale of destiny versus free will, love versus duty, and fighting for individual rights compared to the greater good.

Opening Sentence: ”Nicole Peyton, as I live and breathe.”

The Review:

Crux is about a woman unknowing of her past and her destiny. But Destiny is a funny thing: Is it our fate to follow this pre-ordained series of events or do we have the free will to start down that path to begin with? Mackenzie doesn’t know about...more

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Aug 11, 2011 Between the Covers rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: science-fiction, urban-fantasy, paranormal-romance

REVIEWED by Louise for Between the Covers blog:

Mackenzie Brooks is on the run. She’s been chased across several states by her crazy ex-boyfriend and his thugs. Now she’s in New Orleans, and has managed to land a job at a local bar. Mackenzie is trying to keep a low profile and fly under everyone’s radar, especially her ex’s. Unfortunately for her, she’s in the middle of the supernatural stomping grounds and about to get a reality check.

Jackson Holt is a P.I. with a twist... he’s a caster. A spe...more REVIEWED by Louise for Between the Covers blog:

Mackenzie Brooks is on the run. She’s been chased across several states by her crazy ex-boyfriend and his thugs. Now she’s in New Orleans, and has managed to land a job at a local bar. Mackenzie is trying to keep a low profile and fly under everyone’s radar, especially her ex’s. Unfortunately for her, she’s in the middle of the supernatural stomping grounds and about to get a reality check.

Jackson Holt is a P.I. with a twist... he’s a caster. A spell caster, that is. He agrees to check Mackenzie out at the request of her boss, who is his best friend, but finds himself unable to look at Mackenzie as just a “job,” especially once he realizes she’s in danger.

Crux is the first book in the Southern Arcana series by the writing duo that makes up Moira Rogers. The storyline in Crux moves very fast and you have action almost from the beginning. The dynamic of Were culture as briefly explained in the book is interesting, and I look forward to learning more about it in future books. One aspect of the story I really enjoyed was the unusual distribution of power between the hero and heroine. Mackenzie is physically stronger than Jackson. But he didn’t waste time on “guy ego,” and didn’t complain about her being stronger than him. In the end, it took both Jackson and Mackenzie working together to overcome the big, bad, evil guy.

There were some things that bothered me about the book... some problems switching between person and tense. Also, the instant attraction and trust Mackenzie feels toward Jackson despite having been chased by her madman ex was a little hard for me to believe. However, the mythology supporting were or shifter senses / instincts is well documented, so I chalk that up to me not being anything that resembles animalistic. (No, seriously... my idea of camping is a 5 star hotel with a view of the mountains. I own my city girl.) I felt some scenes were glossed over... what should have been a major fight between two extremely powerful Seers was reduced to a couple of paragraphs and was very anti-climatic.

While billed as an urban fantasy, Crux seemed more like a paranormal romance to me. It was an interesting read, and while there were things that bothered me, it was well written enough for me to be interested in the next book in the series. Add to it the banter I see displayed by the Bree half of the Moira Rogers duo on twitter, and I have high hopes that the series will continue to grow and become more engaging over time.

Rating: 3 stars (less)

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Jul 31, 2011 Sandy M rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, paranormal, shapeshifters, werewolves

I found Moira Rogers late last year when I read and reviewed her Cry Sanctuary. I love shapeshifters and Ms. Rogers catches the right feel of them, along with a great storyline and love scenes. This book is no different — great characters from the start, action that flies right along, and this time around we get wizards and cougar shifters. Who could ask for anything more?

Mackenzie has been on the run for a month, running from a crazed monster who’s telling her things she knows just can’t be tru...more I found Moira Rogers late last year when I read and reviewed her Cry Sanctuary. I love shapeshifters and Ms. Rogers catches the right feel of them, along with a great storyline and love scenes. This book is no different — great characters from the start, action that flies right along, and this time around we get wizards and cougar shifters. Who could ask for anything more?

Mackenzie has been on the run for a month, running from a crazed monster who’s telling her things she knows just can’t be true. All she does know for sure is the man will probably see her dead if she stays in one place too long. When she hits New Orleans and meets people who are willing to help her, as much as she’d love to stay and maybe start over, she refuses to have their deaths on her conscience. But before she can do anything about it, the latest attack takes place and thank God for Jackson.

She’d been attracted to him anyway, but when she sees him in action, his magic flying all over the place, her fears are somewhat allayed, though her amazement and confusion at what she sees abound, and she wants to spend some time with the handsome wizard. When she finally reveals her story, the whole truth comes out and she’s stunned to learn the crazy things she heard are actually true. She’s a cougar shifter who has no memory of her early life, let alone the fact she’s a shapeshifter. She’s being pursued in an effort to repopulate her species, but the madman behind it all wants it done his maniacal way.

When she and Jackson team up with the local wolves and wizards, they can only hope their mission to rid the world of a very powerful master is successful. I enjoyed all of those characters. Nick is the local bartender, to the chargin of her Alpha wolf father; her sister is a Seer, one of the all powerful of her kind. Alec is Jackson’s business partner in their private investigation firm and he’s also a wolf shifter. Mahalia is Jackson’s protege, she taught him all he knows of magic and then some. Steven is another cougar, the nephew of the man they’re after, and he’s more than willing to help put a stop to his machinations. All of these characters work together beautifully, suffer losses, but still love one another no matter what.

The only little nitpick I have is I would have liked to have seen more shifting, though the cat fight near the end almost made up for that. Either way, this is another good book by Ms. Rogers. It doesn’t quite measure up to Cry Sanctuary for me, but it comes close. And it makes me want to keep reading her stories.

See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com (less)

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Jul 29, 2011 Raquel Vega-Grieder rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I totally loved reading this story. I found Moira's book very hard to put down. Mackenzie (Kenzie) Brooks and Jackson Holt are two very fascinating characters. I was instantly drawn to Kenzie's plight and feared for her like she was someone I knew and cared about. Jackson is a drool worthy character with charm as well as a caring heart even though he tries not to show it. Bar owner Nicole (Nick) is someone you would want on your side. She just hires Kenzie and immediately she wants to help her o...more I totally loved reading this story. I found Moira's book very hard to put down. Mackenzie (Kenzie) Brooks and Jackson Holt are two very fascinating characters. I was instantly drawn to Kenzie's plight and feared for her like she was someone I knew and cared about. Jackson is a drool worthy character with charm as well as a caring heart even though he tries not to show it. Bar owner Nicole (Nick) is someone you would want on your side. She just hires Kenzie and immediately she wants to help her out and make sure she is staying at a safe place/neighborhood (even before all hell breaks loose). Alex Jackson's partner in their private investigating business doesn't have a lot to say but when he does you listen because he knows what he is talking about. Ever character in this book have a function and is not some random name just thrown in there to make the story seem full (if that makes sense). I haven't read many shapeshifter books but if they are done the way Moira writes them I will be reading a whole lot more of them. She also has really good creative use of some really great paranormal characters in this book that I think everyone will enjoy. Let us not forget the sexy times between Kenzie and Jackson. Although their frustration at times of not having it are just as great as them getting it. I don't want to give anything away but there is a scene where kenzie and jackson are driving in a car and at one point Jackson ends up banging his head on the steering wheel in frustration. Trust me you are gonna want to read that scene for yourself to understand why that was actually one of my favorite scenes in the book. I was riveted to this book from beginning to end. I highly recommend that everyone 18+ should read this book. In my opinion there is something for everyone (well except maybe hard core Vampire fans....lol). On a scale from 1-10 I actually give this book a 20 because Moira just has such a flare for story telling and this series has now become one that I will read over again that's how much I enjoyed it. If you have not read any of Moira's books I think now is the time to start and why not start with Crux. The rest of the Southern Arcana Series Crossroads book #2, Deadlock book #3 (Available January 4,2011), and Cipher book #4 (Available September 2011).(less)

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Apr 02, 2011 Tracy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal-romance

~* 2.5 Stars *~
The Crux of a Different Matter Altogether
Mackenzie Brooks is on the run from a crazy stalker. For a month she's fled from city to city, forced to survive in ratty motels, burning through her meager savings, haunted by confusing dreams and desperately trying to stay ahead of the threat chasing her. When she ends up in New Orleans, her financial situation demands she takes a job as a bartender to try to bolster her funds. The owner of the bar, Nicky Peyton, knows something isn't qui...more ~* 2.5 Stars *~
The Crux of a Different Matter Altogether
Mackenzie Brooks is on the run from a crazy stalker. For a month she's fled from city to city, forced to survive in ratty motels, burning through her meager savings, haunted by confusing dreams and desperately trying to stay ahead of the threat chasing her. When she ends up in New Orleans, her financial situation demands she takes a job as a bartender to try to bolster her funds. The owner of the bar, Nicky Peyton, knows something isn't quite right with Mackenzie, guessing she's on the run and doubting she's got a place to stay as Mackenzie had insisted. Nicky calls in a favor, asking her best friend and private investigator, Jackson Holt, to shadow the skittish Mackenzie on her way home from the bar one night to assure Nicky that her newest employee and friend is safe and has a place to sleep. When Mackenzie picks up her tail that fateful night, and they meet face to face, it sets their lives on a path neither could have dreamed of...even in their worst nightmares...and introduces Mackenzie to a truth she would have to be insane to believe. Soon the reality of magic and shapeshifters, mad Seers and psychics is set to crash down on them both and only their bond - and the help of a few friends - will save them.

Crux started out strong, the visceral fear and uncertainty of Mackenzie was well written and the plot quickly paced through the induction of Mackenzie both to Jackson and into a world she isn't sure she can actually believe in. I was set to really enjoy this book and thought it had a lot of potential with an interesting premise and unique character set. Unfortunately, I'm starting to feel like a bit of a curmudgeon, because much like the last few books I've read that got great reviews and were highly rated, I just barely liked this book and almost rated it two stars. After a great beginning, I think the book just fell apart for me. On just about every front.

The pieces were there for a really kick ass urban fantasy/paranormal romance. I thought the cast of characters were strong and the plot definitely appealing and interesting. The execution, however, was so lacking I repeatedly stumbled over my willing suspension of disbelief. I could understand why some characters were willing to help Mackenzie, and utterly befuddled by the motivation in others - and no believable explanation for those questionable motivations were given. I totally bought into the decisions made as the plot got more and more dangerous...but couldn't figure out why some aspects of the plot were even included, as they did nothing but lesson tension at important points. There were a few instances where I felt actions taken or character development directly contradicted previous definitions and information. And without wanting to include spoilers, I know I sound overly critical and vague, and that frustrates me because I have several pointed questions about specific events.

I will say this...I don't think this will add too many spoilers...one of the bigger points that bothered me was the Alpha's personal participation, given his definition in a previous part of the book. And I was never fully invested in the relationship between Mackenzie and Jackson because of the odd way I felt it developed. I liked them together, but I just didn't feel like they were given enough time to develop beyond a physical attraction, nor was the narrative in that area fleshed out enough to get me to where they were by the end of the book.

As a result, Crux ended up feeling very much like a puzzle with a bunch of brilliantly colored pieces, but the placement of each just wasn't quite right, so the puzzle as a whole didn't come together for me into one cohesive story. There was a lot of promise, and a lot of potential, but I just didn't feel it was ever realized for me. And the parts that didn't work for me didn't work to such a large degree that I would have to think very hard before continuing on to book two of the series.

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Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.(less)

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Nov 20, 2010 Emily rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: dee-the-kindle, keeper-shelf, reviewed-books

It's getting to the point where the creative minds behind Moira Rogers' stories could write ads for the phone book and I'd not only preorder the damn thing, but salivate all over it once it arrived. Crux is another fun, engrossing offering from this dynamic duo that doesn't disappoint.

One of the things that most books that I really enjoy have in common is a really thoroughly detailed, really believable world that serves as the setting, with rules that make sense and are "enforced" consistently....more It's getting to the point where the creative minds behind Moira Rogers' stories could write ads for the phone book and I'd not only preorder the damn thing, but salivate all over it once it arrived. Crux is another fun, engrossing offering from this dynamic duo that doesn't disappoint.

One of the things that most books that I really enjoy have in common is a really thoroughly detailed, really believable world that serves as the setting, with rules that make sense and are "enforced" consistently. Crux doesn't apologize for being the first book in a series at all; instead, a lot of time and pages are devoted to explaining how the world works, what the supernatural elements are and how they work, and why the super bad guy is a) super bad and b) just what exactly his aims and goals are anyway. The bad guy here's goal is to preserve Cougar shapeshifters at all costs, and what would otherwise be a relatively normal seeming goal is twisted into something seriously creepy.

There are some standard elements from PNR here that seem to show up everywhere; Mac is completely unaware that she's a Cougar and therefore is completely unaware of just why she's being pursued so doggedly. The hero, PI/spellcaster Jackson Holt, has to save the day and the lady by tapping all of his supernatural powers. Of course there's a supporting cast of characters who have to be available to save the day, and the setup for the next book is done well.

I really enjoyed the realism that was infused into the characters; Mac was incredulous about the supernatural woo woo that was the source of all her problems but not to the point that it slowed down the story, and Holt was reluctant to act on his feelings for Mac because of the obviously bad timing and the fact that he figured she'd need some time to process things before getting involved with him. When the time came, though, there were no hurt feelings or stupid misunderstandings; they were two adults, making adult decisions in an adult way.

If you're into shapeshifters and magic, romance and adventure, and writing that rolls with the punches, then I definitely recommend this book to you.

Overall Grade: A

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Oct 02, 2010 Lady Rogue rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Can you imagine, someone chasing you across 5 states. They proclaim, you were meant to be together and you were destined to have "special" babies, all the while voicing words like "magical" and "shapeshiftings"? Not to mention, those very people were killing innocent people, who happened to get in the way of capturing of you...I would have freaked out too. Such was the case with Mackenzie. For over a month, she had been running from Marcus and his goons. No matter where she went, he always manag...more Can you imagine, someone chasing you across 5 states. They proclaim, you were meant to be together and you were destined to have "special" babies, all the while voicing words like "magical" and "shapeshiftings"? Not to mention, those very people were killing innocent people, who happened to get in the way of capturing of you...I would have freaked out too. Such was the case with Mackenzie. For over a month, she had been running from Marcus and his goons. No matter where she went, he always managed to find her. Short on money, she got a job at a local bar. Nick, owner of the bar, suspected something was different about Mackenzie (of the supernatural persuasion) and that she was in some kind of trouble. Nick asked Jackson Holt, Private Investigator and personal friend, to look into the matter. As Jackson dug deeper into Mackenzie's life, they began to learn, things were not as they appeared to be. There were powerful beings and more sinister plans at work, and Mackenzie was the key to making it happen.

The chemistry between Mackenzie and Jackson was instant. She wanted to trust someone badly, but didn't want anyone else to get hurt. Jackson was confused at his sudden protectiveness of her. Slowly, thier relationship grew. I love the fact, this writing team kept the character's actions true to thier personas. Mackenzie wanted to get closer to Jackson, but remained frightened. Jackson was the true southern gentleman. Oh don't get me wrong, he wanted her...but, he was compassionate and understanding of her fears. He didn't force her, but guided her into regaining her confidence and courage. I also appreciated, the characters actually talked. Not the standard blah-blah chit-chat, but revealed some of thier personality through thier dialogue, which I thought to be refreshing.

The world the authors created was symplistic. Basically, the supernatural world remained hidden from the humans. So, at first, I thought the plot was going to be just as predictable...But, like many things within the story, things were not always what they seemed. The writing team of Moira Rogers cleverly wrote in several twist and turns that totally had myself thinking, "I didn't see that coming."

Overall, this book had been on a my wishlist for a good while. I have been holding out for a paperback, but when I saw that Moira Rogers was giving out free PDFs for review, I jumped at the chance. I admit, I was surprised when I finally read it. In truth, I was thinking it was going to be more paranormal erotica than anything else. Instead, I read an edgy urban fantasy, combined with a delicious parnormal romance, filled with action, intrigue, and suspense. Each of the characters were engaging and quirky, and thier dialogue was both fun and realistic. When I finished reading Crux, I was craving for more...I look forward to reading the next installment in the Southern Arcana series, Crossroads.
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Jul 07, 2010 Marsha rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Adults

I have been in a reading "funk" lately. Almost everything I have been reading is just "O.K." So, when I read the description for Crux, I thought I might have stumbled upon a new series with the promise of truly being good. Unfortunately, it did not deliver for me. Don't get me wrong, I liked it, I just did not love it.
Mackenzie Brooks has been on the run for over a month from an insane stalker, Marcus who believes she is destined to be his wife and the mother of many supernaturally gifted babie...more

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Feb 16, 2010 Heather C (Darkly Reading) rated it 4 of 5 stars

In Crux we meet Mackenzie Brooks who has been on the run for months from a crazy stalker that seems to find her no matter where she goes and is willing to go to any extreme to get her. After months of running, she ends up in New Orleans working at Mahalia's which is run by Nicole Peyton, a shapeshifter that comes from a world Mac knows nothing about. Nick enlists her friend Jackson Holt, a private investigator and spell caster, to find out more about Mac and to possibly help her out. Jackson get...more In Crux we meet Mackenzie Brooks who has been on the run for months from a crazy stalker that seems to find her no matter where she goes and is willing to go to any extreme to get her. After months of running, she ends up in New Orleans working at Mahalia's which is run by Nicole Peyton, a shapeshifter that comes from a world Mac knows nothing about. Nick enlists her friend Jackson Holt, a private investigator and spell caster, to find out more about Mac and to possibly help her out. Jackson gets a glimpse at the type of trouble she is in and being the southern gentlemen he is - offers to help her out. Mac is hesitant at first accepting help from Jackson, in part because she doesn't want to see him get hurt by her stalker and in part because she is attracted to him but can't afford to be distracted by her emotions while trying to escape a crazed stalker. As the danger surrounding Mac grows, Jackson steps in to protect Mac and figure out why the stalker is after her and risks everything to keep the woman he has begun to care about safe.

The book is a well-paced read where you want to rush ahead to the next pages to figure out the mystery of Mac's stalker as well as her upbringing. Mac is a tenacious heroine that has faced difficult trials in her life and particularly in the past few months. Mac really needs someone to trust and follows her instincts about making friends with Jackson and Nick. Nick is a great character that gives everything to help people she cares about. She is definitely a favorite of mine and I loved her in the second book - Crossroads. And Jackson, what's not to like - he saves damsels in distress and cooks delicious Italian food. The authors do a great job of creating dynamic characters that you understand and care about and fight scenes that you hold you breath during because you're afraid of what's going to happen. The villian they created as well was well done and super creepy. I was happy with the ending he met up with, it was well deserved.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars, sexy shapeshifters and spell casters combined with a story you didn't want to put down.(less)

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Jan 04, 2010 Patti Loves FAB Romance rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal, shapeshifters

I honestly cannot remember how I came across Moira Rogers' website, but I'm so glad I did. I really liked this book!

Mackenzie is on the run from a crazy ex-boyfriend. The problem is, no matter where she goes, he keeps finding her and trying to bring her back. He's really crazy - he keeps telling her she's a cougar and is going to be the mother of his cubs; what a weirdo!

She ends up running to New Orleans and working in a bar there, where unbeknownst to her the owner and several patrons are shape...more I honestly cannot remember how I came across Moira Rogers' website, but I'm so glad I did. I really liked this book!

Mackenzie is on the run from a crazy ex-boyfriend. The problem is, no matter where she goes, he keeps finding her and trying to bring her back. He's really crazy - he keeps telling her she's a cougar and is going to be the mother of his cubs; what a weirdo!

She ends up running to New Orleans and working in a bar there, where unbeknownst to her the owner and several patrons are shapeshifters. The bar owner, Nicole (Nick), asks a friend, Jackson, to follow Mackenzie home from work to see if she's okay. Nick suspects Mackenzie is a shapeshifter but can't confirm it, and is worried she's hiding from someone/something. Mackenzie detects Jackson tailing her, and when he sees the hellhole she's living in he brings her back to stay at the empty apartment over the bar. The next morning, as Mackenzie is getting ready to skip town again, Jackson tries to stop her but they are attacked by a werewolf and a magician. Jackson is able to fight them off (he's not what he appears to be) and brings Mackenzie back to his place where they talk about magic and shapeshifters and whether or not Mackenzie might be a shapeshifter. She's 23 and has never shifted, which is very strange if she is a shapeshifter.

Someone ransacks Jackson's house, and once they figure out who is really after Mackenzie they take off to see Jackson's magic mentor; they need more information to keep her safe. Mackenzie ends up captive and the bad guy is pretty formidable (and crazy).

As I mentioned above, I really enjoyed this book. Jackson and Mackenzie's quest to find the truth and escape the ex was action packed right up to the end. The romantic relationship was believable and I enjoyed their interactions together. The secondary characters were good, although towards the end there were a lot of names to keep up with.

I'm ready to read book 2 - Crossroads, although I don't see a release date yet. Crux is available by e-book at Samhain and will be coming out in print in January 2010. I think I may give her Red Rock Pass books a try as well.
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Feb 22, 2011 Blodeuedd Finland rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy, paranormal-romance

My thoughts:

I have heard good things about these books so I wanted to give them a go. As for the genre, I am a bit unsure again because it felt like a mix.

Mackenize was a nice heroine, she is running from a crazy stalker who talks about magic and shapeshifting. She is strong, and resourceful. The hero of the book is Jackson Holt, a private investigator who helps her out. And Jack is all nice and sweet. Him I certainly liked. There is a nice romance building up between them too, and some hot pass...more

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Jul 05, 2010 Dorri rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: shape-shifters, magic-ties, sexuality

What a wild, fun, addicting ride! I was in the mood for a good shapeshifter book with a little spice and I was happily surprised by Crux. This is my first foray into any of Moira Roger's worlds and I'm happy to report I will be going in for more and more, until I've read it all!

Crux begins it's tale with Nick, a bar owner in New Orleans quietly asking her P.I. freind, Jackson, if he could check out her new hire, MacKenzie. Nick has an odd feeling that MacKenzie might be in some trouble and she f...more What a wild, fun, addicting ride! I was in the mood for a good shapeshifter book with a little spice and I was happily surprised by Crux. This is my first foray into any of Moira Roger's worlds and I'm happy to report I will be going in for more and more, until I've read it all!

Crux begins it's tale with Nick, a bar owner in New Orleans quietly asking her P.I. freind, Jackson, if he could check out her new hire, MacKenzie. Nick has an odd feeling that MacKenzie might be in some trouble and she finds herself wanting to protect her, so she asks Jackson to follow her home one night to make sure she has a safe place to rest. Jackson, being a born southerner, accepts. It doesn't hurt that he finds MacKenzie easy on the eyes. What Jackson doesn't expect is the protective feels he has for her after she catches him following her home, to an admittedly sleazy hotel in a bad part of town. We quickly learn that MacKenzie has quite a few trust issues, as she's been on the run from a man, Marcus, who she believes is crazy. What's even more terrifying to MacKenzie is that Marcus has managed to find her in four different cities over the course of a single month. It doesn't seem to matter how far she runs, he always finds her.

With Jackson and Nick making her feel comfortable and somewhat safe for the first time since she began running, MacKenzie thinks she might actually be able to settle in and maybe even have some semblence of a a life. All that changes when two of Marcus' goons find her again. Only this time she's with Jackson and he exposes MacKenzie to something she didn't think was possible, the world of magic and shapeshifters. Of which she suddenly learns she is a part of.

Now I'm not going to tell you any more, because it's worth reading (and re-reading). I will say I found a perfect breakdown of the book on a review by KindleVixen (over on Amazon.com). She writes: "The story arc is reminiscent of a paranormal romance.... girl is in trouble, our hero must use his super powers and super friends to save her. But, in this story our heroine isn't weak or waiting around to be saved and our hero doesn't expect her to sit back in a safe corner and wait it out. I found the characters to be honest. The dialogue between them was easy and free flowing. The relationship was realistic, a nice mix of playful flirting with sincerity."(less)

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Dec 08, 2009 Tiffany Danner rated it 4 of 5 stars

Moira Rogers is a new author for me, or rather a new duo of authors. For some reason I went into reading this one expecting a plot heavy on the romance and was pleasantly surprised to find that this book is just as heavy on the action, plot, and character building. I love it when an author surprises me.

The story is about Mackenzie who is on the run from some crazy shifters looking to use her for her body. While on the run she falls into a web of really cool people who convince her the supernatur...more Moira Rogers is a new author for me, or rather a new duo of authors. For some reason I went into reading this one expecting a plot heavy on the romance and was pleasantly surprised to find that this book is just as heavy on the action, plot, and character building. I love it when an author surprises me.

The story is about Mackenzie who is on the run from some crazy shifters looking to use her for her body. While on the run she falls into a web of really cool people who convince her the supernatural is real and give her an unexpected support system. Jackson Holt takes a liking to her immediately and will do whatever he needs to keep her safe.

The story arc is reminiscent of a paranormal romance…. girl is in trouble, our hero must use his super powers and super friends to save her. But, in this story our heroine isn’t weak or waiting around to be saved and our hero doesn’t expect her to sit back in a safe corner and wait it out. I found the characters to be honest. The dialogue between them was easy and free flowing. The relationship was realistic, a nice mix of playful flirting with sincerity. Jackson is funny and sexy, protective without being overbearing.

The plot of Crux builds quickly. The book is action packed and I had a hard time finding stopping points so I could get some much needed sleep! There is an atypical twist in the plot three quarters of the way through. After it I thought for sure we were getting an ending and the “Big Bad” would continue to haunt us in the next book, but instead the story keeps going! Because of this small twist in plot sequence, the story loses a bit of momentum and I felt the true ending was smidge anti-climatic. Not overly so, and definitely not enough for me to dislike it.

In Crux Moira Rogers has built a strong supernatural world with an exciting plot and realistic characters. With as much as I enjoyed the interactions between Mackenzie and Jackson, I am looking forward to the next books in the series! There were so many intriguing side characters introduced in this group of friends… only more good stories can come after this!(less)

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Aug 06, 2012 Jessica `~Blahyze~` rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebooks

This read is the perfect blend of paranormal romance meets urban fantasy. I really enjoyed Mackenzie as a character, her vulnerability didn’t come across as helplessness which I liked and towards the end she came into her own and embraced what she was. I loved Jackson, he had a spark about him that I just couldn’t get enough of and he and Mackenzie together are dynamite. I wasn’t expecting to twist with Marcus to happen, I started off wanting this guy to get his butt-kicked and what was coming t...more

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Oct 05, 2010 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have been reading the Red Rock Pass series and really enjoying it, but I think this series is going to become my favorite from the duo known as Moira Rogers if this first installment is any indication.

I really enjoyed the characters in this story and the development of the relationships between them. The intricacies of the politics underlying the culture of magical creatures were another interesting layer.

The story itself was an enjoyable page turner which plot twists and turns around every...more

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Sep 03, 2012 Samantha Weck rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Storyline...

This book was better than I expected. I was a little nervous to read it. I'm so glad I did though. I couldn't put it down. I was sucked in from the very beginniung. I loved te different point of views. It really helped me understand the book a lot more.

The Characters...

Mackenzie is a strong female lead character. She ran away from a stalker and is on her own. I think she was smart and brave. I would have done the same thing. Jackson was such a player but I thought he was perfect...more

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Aug 20, 2012 Cheryl M-M rated it 3 of 5 stars

Crux has quite a few similarities with the R.Vincent Stray series. Young shapeshifter, who doesn't know anything about her kind, being fought over for breeding purposes. The end scene culminates in a ranch like magic fight finale. Not sure who read which book first, as they seem to have been published almost at the same time.
However this book lacks some of the finesse of other books in the genre. Rogers has created a nice setting and many multifaceted characters. I would even go as far as to say...more

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Feb 01, 2012 Amy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: action, adventure, animals, enjoyed, fantasy, happy-ending, magic, powers, sex, strong-leading-lady, witches, shapeshifters, warewolves, paranormal, new-orleans, new-powers, hidden-powers

I decided once I finished this book tonight, that I was going to give it an extra star. (three stars in lieu of two) The reason was because, although I wasn’t blown away by the whole story, I found myself highly entertained reading it. The characters were likeable, the book moved at a rather good pace, the plot was fairly interesting, and the writing style was smooth and simple to comprehend.

I think what I appreciated most was the fact that the main character wasn’t a sniveling whining female w...more

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Sep 01, 2012 Mary Grace rated it 4 of 5 stars

Mackenzie is afraid. She is being hunted and she thought it was just because of a broken hearted lover that she didn’t endulge. Little does she know that it is something more than just being a girlfriend.

Mackenzie running through 5 states eventually meets Nick Peyton who owns a barn in New Orleans. Working as a bartender, Mackenzie eventaully meets Jackson and that night, everything changed for Mackenzie. Without genting into too much detail, Mackenzie now discovers that everybody and everything...more

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Aug 17, 2012 Abby rated it 3 of 5 stars

check out my full review here: http://pugs-story-corner.blogspot.co.uk

KEYPOINTS: Romance,Magic, Shapeshifting, Sexual Content,Action

In-Short: A good first debut book from a new author for me, it was action packed with plenty of magic for my taste.

Ginny (The Book Reading Pug) Review:

My owner got this book as at the time as it was free on kindle and i have to say for a free book it was a gem of a find.

In this adventure by Moira Rogers we are introduced to Mackenzie Brooks who is on the run from a...more

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Aug 15, 2011 Bethany C rated it 3 of 5 stars

I wanted to love this book as the authors are really generous and gracious, but I just kind of liked it. It's strength was in the well-developed, likable, and believable characters. I did think some of the dialogue between the two protagonists as their relationship developed got a little cheesy, though. And I was a little put off by the random switches to first person narrating (majority in third person.) I feel like if they wanted to include a first person thought, it should have been in the co...more

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Jul 31, 2011 Alyssa (Hesperia Loves Books) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: won-contest, read-in-2011

Review posted at Hesperia Loves Books

Great start to what I believe will be an even more amazing series. The world building & setup balanced perfectly with the overall plot/story arc. We get just enough to help us understand what is going on but to also leave us curious and wanting the next book because we want to know more.

Jackson & Mackenzie were a great couple and I loved the immediate attraction between them. However, what I also found refreshing was, the build-up & wait for them...more

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Nov 01, 2012 Sigourney "Ripley" Reader rated it 2 of 5 stars

More like 1.5

BUT it could have been SO good! It had potential!

This story was more about the quick relationship between Jackson and whatever her name was. Matter of fact, most of the characters were in some sort of tentative romantic tryst. It didn't really have a plot, the villain was weak, and i didn't really get the feeling that he was a bad villian and i should hate him. So he wanted to make cougar babies... sue him. he killed a few people along he way- what means-to-an-end villain doesn't ge...more

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title link	preview: Crux
avg rating	preview: Crux Goodreads rating: 3.61 (1494 ratings)
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Crux (Southern Arcana #1)

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