Jared Ayers works outdoors, embracing a solitary life, hiding from his inner demons. But after so many of his Pack brothers have found their mates, he starts wondering if there might be a mate in his future too. His world turns upside down after he's hired by the "Ice Queen of Lake Tahoe". One touch is all it takes. One touch to send the wolf howling within...
A gifted psychic with pyrokinesis, Taryn Goldstone wields fire beyond her control– sometimes with dire consequences. With Jared, she discovers that some flames are meant for passion–and healing. She has enemies who covet her powerful gift, but they are about to learn just how far a wolf will go to protect his mate.
Lisa Kessler is a Best Selling author of passionate, page-turning paranormal fiction. She's a two-time San Diego Book Award winner for Best Published Fantasy-Sci-fi-Horror and Best Published Romance. Her books have also won the PRISM award, the Award of Excellence, the National Excellence in Romantic Fiction Award, the Award of Merit from the Holt Medallion, and an International Digital Award for Best Paranormal.
Her short stories have been published in print anthologies and magazines, and her vampire story, Immortal Beloved, was a finalist for a Bram Stoker award.
She also publishes horror and thriller novels under the pseudonym, L.A. Kessler.
When she's not writing, Lisa is a professional vocalist and tarot card reader. Her first tarot deck, Practical Tarot, is being release by Beyond Words Publishing with a companion book, Practical Tarot: Learn to read tarot cards intuitively in 2025.
Ice Moon by Lisa Kessler Moon series #5. Paranormal shifter romance. Can be read as a stand-alone but better as part of the series in order. Jarred is building a deck for the local Ice Queen of the real estate market. When he realizes her son is a werewolf and she’s not aware of it, he becomes intrigued and involved.
Jared and Charlie together are adorable. Taryn is heartbreaking in thinking she can’t touch any one without harming them. Having her attitude and rust change a little at a time with Jared’s patience was rewarding and romantic. Ah, those twins. Bound to be trouble even if they only have a very short appearance in the story. It was a fun series addition and I’ll be continuing the series.
Ok, so I admit to continuing to stalk this author and her publisher looking out for when the next book in this series will be available - and then I get in as quick as I can to get a copy to read! Considering the number of books I've been reading lately, that should be a great indicator of how highly I appreciate the whole series and this is another great addition to it.
Jared is the member of the pack who is the star of this story. He became a carpenter after traumatic events in his past, leaving his twin to become the doctor he also originally intended training to be. He's been hired to help a local realtor, Taryn Goldstone, to carry out home improvements. She's nicknamed the "Ice Queen of Lake Tahoe" and usually avoids any physical contact with anyone - including her young son. When Jared and she touch, it is like lighting a flame. It turns out she's a psychic who burns everything around her when out of control. She's so scared of her own ability, she's largely isolated herself to protect everyone she cares about. Jared, however, knows she's his mate and is determined to help her gain control of her gifts and to make her his. Unfortunately, Nero are not far behind, coming for her again and her young son has a secret she hasn't yet discovered, too . . . .
Superb - the historic involvement of Nero and the pack revelations (no, not telling you what) are definitely unexpected! A new gifted psychic, another threat to the pack and another romance, wow, what an action packed story! I couldn't put it down . . . . the characters may well be paranormal and highly talented but their interactions, emotions and lives are portrayed in a brilliant manner, suspending disbelief to take the reader on their journey through life, complete with all the drama, turmoil and love that goes with it. I'm so happy to have been able to read an ARC of this, thanks to the author, publishers and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to do so. Only problem now is I can't wait for Blue Moon, the sequel, to be released, too, so the stalking will continue!
I have no hesitation in highly recommending this (and the other books in the series) to anyone who enjoys to read a mix of genres, including an on-going thriller, suspense, romance, paranormal and mystery, too, in a superbly crafted story where the novels do follow on and add to the developing saga but may also be read as a standalone.
Ice Moon was a wild thrill ride to write, and I hope you'll have just as much fun reading it!
Jared and Taryn had sparks, literally, and lots of new secrets were revealed between the Pack and their connection to the evil Nero Organization.
The books are all written to stand alone so you can jump in if you haven't read the rest of the series, but I hope you'll be enticed to grab the rest of the books too! :)
ICE MOON is a fun paranormal romance with an interesting central story and conflict. While I was a bit annoyed/sad that Taryn wouldn't even touch her son which probably isn't going to be good for his emotional development in the future (in reality, I'm sure he'll be fine in this series!), I liked seeing the reason behind her 'no touching' rule unravel as the story progressed. It made sense and what Taryn went through to get to her 'not touching' persona was pretty horrible. I enjoyed seeing Jared work his way into Taryn's life and see him help her make some progress and deal with her trauma. Her relationship with Jared was sweet despite the rather fiery start and I enjoyed the fact that there was at least a short period of them getting to know each other before jumping into bed. I've gotten tired of the insta-love and meant for each other forever tropes in stories so even with their very short 'courtship' for lack of a better word I was happy they took their time.
The plot expands the over arching series story line and it's explained well enough in this book that you can just jump right in with this book and not be too lost. There are some big revelations about Nero, the big, evil corporation going after shifters and magic users that will most likely spell some bigger things happening in the next book. ICE MOON was action packed and thrilling to follow especially when Nero inevitably shows up for the big final fight. While there are big revelations I am enjoying the fact that there is so much I don't know. Typically this would frustrate me and I'd grumble about wanting to be just told already. But we are given just enough information about Nero to make it fun to follow and attempt to put the puzzle pieces together.
Fun plot movements and sweet romance aside, I always enjoy a good pet character. Jared's pet dog is adorable and his interactions with Taryn are equally adorable. Taryn's son has some interesting quirks about himself that I wont spoil but they sort of make sense once Jared puts two and two together about him and his mom's past. ICE MOON is a powerful story about love and trust and I'm looking forward to what the next book in this series will bring.
*** This ARC was received from Entangled Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review***
I really enjoy the books I have read in this series and look forward to reading the ones I missed.
Jared is just as fantastic as his brother Jason if not more so. He is battling a crippling issue since the death of his past girlfriend and still finds the strength to help Taryn learn to come back into the world and be able to touch her son. That Damian creep get crazier every time and now he may possibly have werewolf capabilities also! Sebastian is hit or miss, he only helps if it benefits himself but have helped the Pack out of some sticky situations.
Another brilliant addition to the Moon series. Jared is a strong but gentle soap who has found his mate in a damaged woman. With the strength of the wolf within him he is willing to fight for her. This is a moving and exciting and suspenseful story written as only Lisa Kessler can do it. She allows the reader to feel the emotions and strength within the characters.
I received an ARC of this book from the Publisher, via Netgalley, this does not affect my opinion of this book or the content of my review.
Book 5 in the Moon series and up to this point it has seemed like the action was really ramping up. So Kessler changed the tune and really hit us in the feels. Dang but Taryn has had a hard row to hoe. And meeting Jared just doesn’t initially make it any easier. Fortunately for her he’s a hottie who knows what he is doing (when he isn’t being a bonehead with testosterone poisoning), and fortunately for us, this is romance so we know we’re going to get that happy ending.
It is a good installment. We’ve got wheels within wheels conspiracies and counter conspiracies. We have both an adorable plot-moppet AND a plot-pet. Both too cute for words. I shouldn’t really call them that, both characters are integral to the plot and not merely sops for cuteness. And we have a rugged, sensitive, rough-tough-cream puff for a hero. And then there’s Taryn, who for some reason reminds me of a Nalini Singh’s Ashaya from Hostage to Pleasure.
I’m still intermittently struggling with the alternating first person POV, it didn’t suck me in quite as well as it did with Gareth and Nadya (those two are still my favorite couple), but I do enjoy getting to be in both people heads throughout their courtship. How’s that for contrariness? But seriously, I think that you get a much richer sense of both characters this way, it is just that spending so much time in both characters heads has a tendency to slow the pace of the story down and, for me at least, the action. But that is a personal preference, as any long time readers here know, I tend toward more action-adventure Bruce Willis-esque stories.
As for the plot of this particular book, we took some strange and interesting turns, we’ve got some insight into multiple characters, and a pretty exciting conclusion to this books’ individual story arc. Though the overall series arc seems even more shrouded in mystery than ever. It is hard to say much more than that, since this is a series that definitely adds up, but suffice it to say I can absolutely see where the showdown is coming from.
But even with the small lags I mentioned, I find this series addictive. I like the characters, and I really love how the author is building up to a completed and cohesive story arc. This is the sort of thing you can easily binge on.
3.5 stars and I am eagerly anticipating the next one in March, bot because I am super curious who our hero is,and because it puts us that much closer to Book 8-the finale and the amoral hero that I love and love to hate.
(RabidReads.com)Lisa Kessler’s Moon series tells the story of a pack of werewolves that lives near Reno and Lake Tahoe. Simple premise. Or is it? Throw in a lot of suspense, romance, and some wicked villains, and you have this fun series, one that I have enjoyed since book 1. I must say, this fifth book in the series, is actually one of the better ones of the group. I received this book from Net Galley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Last time, we got Jason’s story, and now we have his twin brother, Jared’s, story, and it’s about time! Jared is of course a werewolf, but one that has had a bad issue in his past. Due to this, he now suffers from claustrophobia, to the point that he had to give up medical school. Now a talented and sought after carpenter, he likes his work, his cabin, his pack, and his dog, Tank. When he goes to design and build a deck for a woman that lives on the shore of Lake Tahoe, it’s not long before he realizes that he has found his forever mate. Taryn is called the “Ice Queen” by the community she lives and works in. And that’s because due to her psychic gift of pyrokinesis, she can never touch anyone, including her nine year old son, Charlie. So she has surrounded herself with people that can help her with Charlie, and anything else that might cause extreme emotions-which causes her to burn indiscriminately and Charlie has the burned arm to prove it. Still she has made a life for her and Charlie, owns her own successful real estate business, and keeps to herself except at work. Meeting Jared was definitely not part of the plan.
As with all of the books in this series, this one is a good romance. But it also features the villain from last time, Damian, Sebastian’s brother. Damian and Sebastian’s father is the head of Nero, the clandestine organization of jaguars with nefarious motives concerning psychic women who they can interbreed with jaguars-and not in a good way. Sebastian has been in all the books and as always has his own agenda-some of which is helpful, but he really is a piece of work! Needless to say, there is a lot more to the Nero problem and five books in, they have proven to be really bad villains in all the books.
My favorite part of this read was the characters. In addition to the main ones, Charlie was a good character, and added a lot to the story-at times even being the story. Tank, the dog, ended up being a fun character, as well. Of course, the other members of the pack and their mates are on board as peripheral characters, and it’s always great to catch up with them. But the best part of this read, would have to be Taryn, and how she begins to break away from her ice queen image, and in doing so, starts to take control of her life again.
You could read this without reading the others, but you should really at least read the first one, Moonlight, for all the background information. It’s my other favorite book of the series, although, I have enjoyed the rest as well. Recommended to adult paranormal romance readers. Good Read!
"That first day when we met, when I gave you my estimate for the deck project and you wouldn't shake my hand..." I laced my fingers with hers. "There was something sad and lonely in your eyes. I knew all about your reputation, your nickname the Ice Queen, but that wasn't what I saw that day. When I looked into your blue eyes, I saw a princess locked away in a tower, a prisoner. I wanted to set you free."
ICE MOON by Lisa Kessler has it all: suspense, mystery, humor, warm fuzzy moments, holiday magic, fairy tale allusions, sexy wolf shifters, and a breathtaking romance. The story is told in the alternating points of view of the hero and heroine, which allows the reader to be aware of the thought processes of each. This is the story of Jared Ayers, a talented werewolf carpenter, and of Taryn Goldstone, who is psychically gifted with pyrokinesis, but far from being in control of that gift, making it extremely dangerous, if not deadly, to being around her.
I loved Jared and grew to love Taryn, who has been nicknamed the "Ice Queen" due to her defensive reclusive nature. I'm so glad that Jared has found his mate; but they each have serious issues to work through first. Being a fan of fractured fairy tales, comparing the heroine to Rapunzel locked away in her tower, and the hero being the prince destined to free her, completely captured my imagination. Supporting characters who ensnared my heart included Taryn's darling son, Charlie, and Jared's cherished canine companion, Tank. Favorite characters from the previous books figured prominently in the story and are guaranteed to increase the pleasure level for fans. The plot thickens with Nero, the nefarious quasi-military organization; Its people amaze me with their sick thought processes.
Even though ICE MOON is the fifth book in the author's MOON series, it can be enjoyed as a standalone, if that is your preference, However, the story's entertainment quotient will be exponentially increased if you have read this series in order, as you will then become invested with the characters and captivated by the storyline that involves Nero. Lisa fills in the basics so the reader is never lost if the series is read out of order, but reading the books in order with all of their nuances, imparts a whole other perspective. The entire series is fantastic; I'd recommend a week of binge reading to catch up; You won't be sorry.
Lisa is one of the most talented authors I know. I've read every books she's published and enjoyed each immensely. ICE MOON hit all the paranormal romance notes for me. I highly recommend ICE MOON and the whole Moon series to anyone who enjoys paranormal romances! Hunky wolf shifters are a plus! I can't wait now for BLUE MOON!
Welcome back to the pack. Jared is the one wolf that is hiding demons and is looking for his mate. He is the master carpenter and loves to work outdoors. But as his brothers all find their mates , he wonders if his mate is out there. Well as we all know the brothers find their mates and when they do nothing will keep them from their loves . Jared finds that out the day he goes to do an estimate on a new deck . For the Ice queen of Nevada . Where with one touch his wolf starts howling and the pull of the mate is strong . He along with his dog Tank will protect them from the evils of Nero .
I loved the characters in this book, they are so strong , Jared is the man that any woman would want to have . He is tall sexy as sin and good with his hands the kind of man you want to have around . He is also sweet and lovable and charming . He will do anything and everything to help out the pack and keep Taryn and Charlie safe. You see him let down his guard and become friends with both Taryn and Charlie first and watch the love grow between Taryn and Jared grows and goes to a slow boil . Taryn kind of annoyed me at first she was such a well lack of a better word a ice bitch . You see her closed off and well actually scared of what could happen and what did happen in the past. As I was reading along I started to warm up to Taryn as I saw her opening up and becoming more of the happy woman that Charlie and Jared need .
I think that Charlie was my favorite character in the book. He was so lovable and sweet . You just wanted to hug him and watch him be a boy. Charlie is such an honest sweet character that loves with all his heart and wants to be happy. The rest of the pack also make appearances in the book and there is a surprise that I cheered about . I am not going to tell you , you have to read for yourself but its good really good
The author has combined suspense and romance seamlessly . The way the author just characters go about falling in love naturally was so nice to see . But when they did finally end up in bed lets just say it as so hot on so many levels. I will never look at another bowl of ice the same way again. You have to read the book but lets just say WOOOOOHOOOO. Even though this is book 5 in the series , the author still keeps it fresh and new with each character . The romance mixed with the mystery and the wickedly evil bad guys . Turn it up to be a great read . So come back to the pack and take a chance on Jared an Taryn
Ice Moon by Lisa Kessler is still as exciting and intensely gripping read as the first book was in this series. Fascinating is the word that comes to my mind concerning the story of Jared Ayers and Taryn Goldstone with her son Charlie. Their romance is tied with the overall bigger story of the wolf pack and the jaguars, so for that reason it would enhance the enjoyment to read these in order. However, for just Jarred and Taryn’s romance it stands well on its own.
What a powerful story about love, honesty and the strength to be gained by standing with family and loved ones. It has complex, memorable characters as to be expected from a Lisa Kessler’s book. Ice Moon reveals more history of the overall story’s past but by no means bring a finale. Instead the suspense and intrigue continues to build making it hard to wait for the next in the series.
Copy provided by the publisher through Net Galley for an honest review.
This is book 5 in the series but works well as a stand alone.
I loved Taryn Goldstone. She is so protective of those she loves. The same with those she does business with. She does not touch anyone even her son but she finds great ways to let him know she loves him. Then Jared comes into her life and everything changes.
Jared is also a get character. He has given up on finding his mate and then he meets Taryn. When he accidently touches her he realizes who she is but realizes that he will have to tread softly to win her.
Add a son who does not know that he is a werewolf but will need someone to act as his guide when he starts to shift you have another thing added to a mix.
Thus starts a great story filled with tension, great characters and a wonderful romance. The plot unfolds slowly and builds to a climax that leaves the reader with a warm feeling.
Ok this has been a great story. Also a great series I was hooked from the beginning of the first book. Every book in the series is a stand alone story and has a H E A . Jared and Taryn story is a great conclusion to the series. I am hopeful though there will be more stories to come. I mean Nero is still around Is Damien really dead? What about Luke and Logan? Very good, a great escape. Be forewarned though o certainly you start you may not be able to put it down. I couldn't! ENJOY
I loved this book. The story line was exciting and all the characters were well-developed as well as very likable. I liked Jared and Taryn's couple. I also like the irony behind her "Ice Queen" nickname when it was actually her ability to ignite fire that kept her aloof. It was a very engaging book from the very start. I like paranormal romance and this is definitely going among one of my favorites.
Jared's story!He is like Hugh Jackman.Le sigh.At the maskerade he was Wolverine.I melted!I loved how protective he was too! I have a new book boyfriend!
The cover is one of my favorites! <3 Can't wait until the next one release!
I love that 2 scared damaged people can find love and their hea. I loved that he loved her kid ,so much so that Charlie was his .I loved tank. I just loved this book lol hope you do too.
Five books into this series and this one was full of "fire and ice." You'll need to read it to get the pun. Werewolves are howling, pyrokenesis flames, and a blizzard blowing. Great characters who grab your attention and your heart.
We often make assumptions about people based on what we can see on the surface. Little do we know about the reasons lying in wait underneath a carefully crafted persona.
Taryn can create fire. When she is emotionally upset, when things are crashing in on her or even in an innocent touch, her ability to burn anything or anyone without warning terrifies her. And she has reason for that fear from a personal cost. Her way to deal with possible tragedy is to hide herself, her ability behind a wall of ice. Never touching another human, not even her beloved son. Taryn’s ability to create fire is beyond her control, there is no living a “normal” life for her. Until Jared slowly began to melt the walls that she has erected. Until a man who loved her as only a mate can saw beyond her fears and began to work with her to hone her abilities, to bring them under control and free her to love and to touch once again.
Jared is not without his own reasons to hide his true self. Yet one inadvertent touch told him that Taryn was his, his mate at last. And her son, this sweet young man would soon need guidance, help that Jared can certainly give him along with the love of a man who would love him as a father should. But first Jared must break through Taryn’s walls. That would be difficult under normal circumstances, but with an enemy closing in wanting Taryn’s specific ability for his own purpose, Jared must not only free the woman who is his mate from her own fears but fight for her life as well.
Ice Moon has many layers. An evil man whose actions have harmed Jared’s pack and beyond has resurfaced. There is Jared’s longing for a mate and his underlying anxiety. Taryn’s fear of her power and her desperate solution to wall off any touch, any emotion as a way to protect those she cares about. And the building of trust, of a new family for Jared, Taryn and her son, Charlie will be the reward at the end of a long, dangerous journey.
I enjoyed Ice Moon very much and it is an excellent addition to the Moon series. I really hesitate to say that it could be read as a standalone. You would certainly enjoy the story, and it is an amazing romance with additional suspense, tensions and a very hot couple (no pun intended). So as a compromise opinion, if you haven’t read the entire series you will definitely enjoy this story, most of what has gone on before and relates to this couple is lightly explained, so I don’t feel you will miss anything if you pick up the series at this point. But, as with any ongoing series, if you get the chance to start from the beginning you will have a better overview, a deeper feel for the characters.
I would recommend Ice Moon for any reader who enjoys Paranormal Romance and a very believable couple working on solving unique troubles.
*I received an e-ARC of Ice Moon from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*
I’ve loved this series but did feel the last book felt a little slow, but for me this is back on track. Doc Jason’s twin Jared is the subject here, and when he meets Taryn Goldstone about a new contract, some decking at her house he realises she’s his Mate. Taryn has issues though, as a Psychic with fire-starting talents she’s scared of hurting people so closes herself off. She adores her young son Charlie, but never touches him, never hugs him for fear of burning him. Her talent seems to be allied with strong emotion and she doesn’t have control, so avoids letting her emotions out. That’s why she gets nicknamed The Ice Queen. As we get to know more of her and Charlie we can see she’s just in the right place, just where she needs to be, guided there by an unexpected source. The shocks and connections keep getting stronger, and I can see how the Pack is amassing people with the skills they’ll need if and when there’s a final head to head with Nero. As well as keeping her Pyro-kinesis a secret Taryn knows nothing of werewolves, so Jared has a hard task in front of him. He learns about her problems by accident and of course then he’s waiting for the right moment to tell her about himself. Its not only him he needs to tell her about too....Of course as always Nero are looking out for those with skills they can utilise, and they don’t ask politely but will use anything to force people to them. Jared needs to protect her and Charlie but how to protect someone when you can’t tell them everything yet, as they’ll think you need locking up. He has a plan to show her its all real but until then his family agree to keep it secret. What happens with those though? Yes, they always get released at just the wrong time! There’s love and heated (!) emotions here, dangers once more from Nero, problems to overcome for not just Taryn but Jared too, and a wonderful boy, Charlie, to protect! Its a great read and one I really enjoyed, kept me gripped right through. . Stars: Five, a great instalment to the series.
ARC supplied by Netgalley and publishers
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Once again Lisa Kessler has captivated me with her characters and swept me into her story with the world and lore she has created for the Moon Series. I just loved Jared and Taryn and think this may be my favorite story yet. The raw emotion from both Jared and Taryn could be felt throughout the book, leaving me with quite the case of “the feels”!
Both Jared and Taryn are dealing with some pretty significant issues from events that have happened in their past. They have both found coping mechanisms, but have not really dealt with their problems. When Jared realizes that Taryn is his mate, he knows he needs to take things slow – although she herself has a psychic gift, she has no idea that werewolves are real. And to make matters even more interesting, she has yet to master her control over her pyrokinesis and strong emotions tends to have her setting things on fire. Between the attraction that exists between them and the danger that Taryn finds herself in, Jared finds himself on the receiving end of more than a couple of burns.
I loved the inclusion of Taryn’s son Charlie in this story. He added such a wonderful depth to Jared and Taryn’s story. It was heartbreaking to watch Taryn struggle with her inability to control her power and her need to touch and comfort her son. You could see the love that mother and son had for each other, and even though it was hard to understand at first how they could be close and how Charlie didn’t resent his mother for keeping him at arm’s length, seeing the little things, like the journal they wrote messages in to each other at night, it was clear that Taryn found ways to be a good mother despite her refusal to touch Charlie for fear of hurting him.
It was great to catch up with the Pack to find out how all the newly mated couples are settling into their lives. And of course getting more information on the Nero organization and the Severino family makes me anxious to get my hands on the next book to see where that story is going to go.
This was another great book in the Moon Series that I would highly recommend to just about anyone, especially those who enjoy paranormal romance and shifters. Thank you Lisa Kessler for another great read and sharing your Wolf Pack with us!
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley for an honest review.
Aroooooooo....werewolves of Lake Tahoe. Yeah okay, it's not quite as catchy as the original, but it is accurate for this series.
It's Jared's turn to find his HEA. It won't be easy, but it'll be worth it. While bidding on a job, Jared meets Taryn, aka the Ice Queen. The funny thing is, that nickname couldn't be more ironic for Taryn. Jared and Taryn both feel the pull towards each other, but they also both have some intense emotional baggage. Jared suffered a tragic loss during his younger years, which also resulted in a personal issues he still struggles with to this day. Taryn suffered a heartbreaking loss and still blames herself to this day. Her way of coping? She's very careful about everything she does, going so far as to have very limited physical contact with anyone.
Jared is working a lot of hours at Taryn's and brings his dog, Tank, along for the ride. Charlie, Taryn's son, absolutely adores Tank. Once Jared realizes who Taryn is to him, he starts the wooing. Yes, he has a lot of emotional barriers to get through to win Taryn's heart, but he knows she's it for him and is looking forward to winning her over. As for Charlie, Jared is already head over heels for the little boy and Charlie looks up to Jared. Psst...Jared and Charlie also have something else in common. Plot twist!
While Jared, Tank, Taryn, and Charlie are starting the foundation for their new family, Nero is still lurking in the shadows, just waiting for a chance to attack. Damian Severino, did you notice that last name?, is eyeing Taryn and not being subtle in his pursuit. But it's not really a personal pursuit, so much as its a business related one. Yes, Nero wants Taryn for what she can do. We also meet someone new, Vivianna, and I just have a feeling she's going to be someone's mate. I can't wait to see if I'm right, and if so, who it'll be.
I loved this book. I do recommend you read the series in order due to the sake of continuity so you can get full enjoyment out of it. They're worth the time. You'll love them.
**I received a copy of this story from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.** I also pre-ordered this book, as I do every book in this series, so that should tell you how much I love them.
So, you'd think after so many books in a series featuring predominantly the same cast, things might start to go downhill. When it comes to the Moon Series, that's as far from the case as you can get! In Ice Moon, we get to hear Jared's story (the last book we learned more about his twin brother, Jason), and Taryn, another psychic girl from Brightwood Academy, the school Nero ran for psychically gifted girls. But there is even more to Taryn than you think, when Jared discovers a surprise about her son, Charlie. To top it off, Nero is back again, and more threatening than ever. With Taryn being pyrokinetic, I had a bit of trouble reading this book. Fire and death by fire is a big subtopic within the narrative. Taryn is scarred by a time when her powers got out of control, so her anxiety disorder makes her not want to touch anyone, be it Jared or her own son. She put up a huge wall between herself and her emotions, and when Jared starts to chip away at it, it could unleash more than her heart: it could make her powers flare up. Jared has his own issues, stemming from a deadly car crash. He has a service dog because his anxiety is so severe he needed a calming agent. So Tank the bulldog goes where he goes, helping keep him centered and grounded. I really liked Jared. Not only is he one of the sexiest Pack members, he is also the most vulnerable. I really, really loved learning his story and watching his old emotional wounds begin to heal. This was more than a paranormal romance: this was a story about healing and accepting the past. Not since Beg Me To Slay has Mrs. Kessler written a book so emotionally charged, and she brought me to near tears with this one, because these are characters I can relate to. I understand them. I felt them more realistically than any of the others in the Moon Series. So, emotions aside, yes, this was a seriously romantic book. The love between Jared and Taryn is tangible. You can feel it as you read about them. And the mystery and danger presented by Nero seemed tripled this time around. Is it safe to say that I loved this book? ;)
5/5--if you haven't read the Moon Series yet...what are you waiting for?!
Aroooooooo....werewolves of Lake Tahoe. Yeah okay, it's not quite as catchy as the original, but it is accurate for this series.
It's Jared's turn to find his HEA. It won't be easy, but it'll be worth it. While bidding on a job, Jared meets Taryn, aka the Ice Queen. The funny thing is, that nickname couldn't be more ironic for Taryn. Jared and Taryn both feel the pull towards each other, but they also both have some intense emotional baggage. Jared suffered a tragic loss during his younger years, which also resulted in a personal issues he still struggles with to this day. Taryn suffered a heartbreaking loss and still blames herself to this day. Her way of coping? She's very careful about everything she does, going so far as to have very limited physical contact with anyone.
Jared is working a lot of hours at Taryn's and brings his dog, Tank, along for the ride. Charlie, Taryn's son, absolutely adores Tank. Once Jared realizes who Taryn is to him, he starts the wooing. Yes, he has a lot of emotional barriers to get through to win Taryn's heart, but he knows she's it for him and is looking forward to winning her over. As for Charlie, Jared is already head over heels for the little boy and Charlie looks up to Jared. Psst...Jared and Charlie also have something else in common. Plot twist!
While Jared, Tank, Taryn, and Charlie are starting the foundation for their new family, Nero is still lurking in the shadows, just waiting for a chance to attack. Damian Severino, did you notice that last name?, is eyeing Taryn and not being subtle in his pursuit. But it's not really a personal pursuit, so much as its a business related one. Yes, Nero wants Taryn for what she can do. We also meet someone new, Vivianna, and I just have a feeling she's going to be someone's mate. I can't wait to see if I'm right, and if so, who it'll be.
I loved this book. I do recommend you read the series in order due to the sake of continuity so you can get full enjoyment out of it. They're worth the time. You'll love them.
*****This was gifted to me in exchange for an honest review on raesrockinreviews.blogspot.com***** Ice Moon by Lisa Kessler is in the Moon series by Lisa Kessler. A paranormal Shifter romance with and HEA, packed with enough sexy times and action to keep your blood pumping and toes curled. Known as "Ice Queen," Taryn was detached from her emotions and especially from everyone else. While that served her in her negotiations (she runs a profitable real estate business in Tahoe.) She is left wanting in her personal life, with only her son left she fears to even be close to him, to hurt him or anyone else. Jared has to work outside, it calms his wolf, and he doesn't do BS either. Hes always charming to a fault and treats everyone the same, expecting the same in return. The last thing he expected was to have the stuck up woman he's building a deck for, and her son turn his life upside down, and wanting everything he never knew he wanted. This story warmed my heart with the gentle growth of their caring for eachother-- with a lot of shifter stories its very "you mate, we fornicate now" and this one was all about having the slow torture that we all love and crave. The gradual incline allows you to not only learn more of the characters but actually allow your subconscious to "become" one with them, feel what they feel and and experience what they experience-- and isn't that what reading a good book is all about? I hadn't read the other books in this series but I have to say that I am thoroughly looking forward to reading the rest of them and getting the full story-- this one COULD be read as a stand alone, but I truly think--- and will comment at a later date if I am correct-- that you should read them in order to get the full affect-- As far as I can tell, each story is a stand alone for a different couple with a central plot in play and I have to say the love scenes are deliciously steamy x
5 stars One of the best paranormal romance audiobooks ever!
OMG! This audiobook got me addicted from the first few minutes, and I never wanted to stop listening! This is a masterpiece of romance writing coupled with an outstanding performance by the pair of narrators. I will definitely listen to “Ice Moon” multiple times in the future. I think that it is just as fantastic as an Immortals After Dark audiobook by Kresley Cole. That is really high praise from me because Kresley Cole has been my favorite PNR author for over a decade. Lisa Kessler has written a marvelously suspenseful story filled with characters that I love so much. I completely connected with Teren and Jared right from the beginning. Jared felt so real; he is now one of my favorite male characters ever. Teren's little boy Charlie was so adorable and full of personality. I also was fascinated by Teren’s super cool and scary pyrokinetic psychic ability. Teren herself has admirable inner strength; she rocks! In addition, I love the practical, well-thought-out details of Jared’s group of non-immortal werewolves. The beautiful Lake Tahoe setting sounds just like the real world (except for the secret psychics, werewolves, and werejaguars). The two narrators, J.F. Harding and Sasha Dunbrooke, did such a perfect job. They each performed alternating chapters. They made each character's voice very consistent throughout no matter which narrator was portraying the character. Both narrators were so expressive and had fantastic pacing. The suspense and action scenes had me on the edge of my seat. The love scenes were wonderfully intimate and exciting. I will definitely look up these narrators' other work because they are fantastic! I highly recommend this audiobook to all fans of paranormal romance. It can be read as a standalone.