When the War Between the States came to its end, the battle inside Isaiah Jones raged on. Neither fully human nor fully wolf, he found his peace-and the passion his inner wolf craved-with Adelaide Cameron. Though their union was forbidden by the werewolf soldiers, Isaiah satisfied his urges by guarding her from afar. But when Adelaide is abducted, Isaiah must not only expose his dark nature, but invite her into the shadows with him.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. (1)romance author
Sarah has traveled extensively throughout her life, living in other cultures, sometimes in areas where electricity was a concept awaiting fruition and a book was an extreme luxury. While she could easily adjust to the lack of electricity, living without the comfort of a good book was intolerable. To fill the void, she bought pencil and paper and sketched out her own story. In the process, Sarah discovered the joy of writing.
Sarah writes what she loves to read; fast paced stories with vivid dialogue, intense emotion and well developed characters. Her attention to detail in her stories has earned her multiple awards and a reserved spot on Keeper shelves everywhere.
Sarah writes for Ellora's Cave, Harlequin HQN, Harlequin SPICE, Berkley HEAT and Berkley SENSATION.
I absolutely could not finish this book. There was so much descriptive monolog in between spoken blurbs that I continuously lost track of everything and all content. So bad was it, I absolutely convinced myself that I am developing Alzheimer's.
DNF with no rating, but wish that I could give a negative star rating.
First this bored me and I was hoping that it would pick up, then it pissed me off so I just threw in the towel and now wish that I hadn't spent a whole $1.99 at the thrift store just so that I can be infuriated.
Let me just say, that when an author refers to the Civil War as the 'War Between the States" it always raises a red flag with me because I just KNOW that there will be some romanticized B.S. and good people on both sides crap coming and in this case McCarty didn't waste time, it was in the same paragraph. Let me hip you to something that no one is going to be able to rationalize for me-there were no great moral southern heroes fighting for the south during the Civil War. So when I read "Some had been heroes for the South. Some for the North." You better believe I'm tapping out of that pile of crap. Also, I went through and read some reviews and did no one else read that same paragraph and find it problematic at all? No? Just me? Ok, cool. It must just be me and my overly sensitive liberal self.
I wasn't sure what to expect with this book. I was pleasantly surprised with this historical, kind of read. Most of the world building is great, there are several vague spots that make me think it is connected to another series or that there was a prequel I did not know about. I was able to follow, just felt there were holes in the overall background.
Addy is kind of awesome! I love her spunk and sassy attitude. She has been through some trials and tribulations, but she comes out stronger. She is a great character and a joy to read. Her interactions with her cousins and Isaiah are filled with witty banter.
Isaiah is an interesting fellow, his back story feels incomplete. Perhaps it was in another series or will become clearer with the next book. I am trying to understand the whole Reaper world, it was just tough. I loved seeing him grow more social and come out of his shell with Addy and with her cousin Reese.
This is a smexy read, the steam comes in after a nice getting to know you period. There is a fair amount of detail, open bedroom door! Not as much as a full erotic, but enough to make things hawt.
It is a mixed narrative, which really helps you get to know the two leads on a deeper level. They are both complex and have so much going on in their heads, makes the insights very important.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Käthe Mazur, who does a very nice job. This is my first listen from her, so I have nothing to compare it with. I thought pace was steady and she had plenty of energy to add to the read. I enjoyed the levels she added to the voices, not too deep for the men. Just the right touch all around. I would be interested in checking out other narration from her.
I am going to have to look into this author’s other books to see if I was missing anything or just not getting it. I would definitely like to see more of her books, because she weaves an engaging tale!
*** I hope this review was useful to you and helped your decision to read or not read this book. I love reading and sharing my opinions with other readers. I listen at double speed; all my impressions of the narration are from that setting. Thanks for taking the time to read my review! You can see more audiobook reviews on my blog www.eargasmsaudiobookreviews.com ***
I have been pretty disappointed with Sarah's writing in the Shadow Wranglers the last couple of stories. While I liked them they just were not great like her werewolve anthologies or her Ellora's Cave books. So when I saw this at the book store I just had to get to see if this would be as good as the werewolf anthologies that she wrote.
I must say I loved this world and characters much better than the Shadow Wranglers. Isaiah is so sweet and dominant at the same time and Addy is strong yet has some series issues. While we don't really know exactly what happened when she was younger when she was kidnapped we get how she feels and copes with the aftermath.
I liked how the story starts out slow with Isaiah's story and how Addy came into his life then we meet Addy and see how strong she is dispite what has happened to her. We also see Billings/Blade and wow boy I want to know more about him. Then we meet Addy's cousins. I think this part of the story was a little too short. I wanted to know more about them and why they were so important and why they took care of Addy. We meet Cole and Reese but I think there are more cousins than that.
So the build up and the ending of the story made sense but again I wished what happened to Addy was longer and more detailed about how she dealt with her situation. It was a little rushed. Hopefully we get more about Isaiah and Addy in the next book. Can't wait to learn more about this world and the characters.
This is a werewolf romance of the best kind. As a matter of fact, it is a romance of the best kind. I am not quite sure what kept me from giving it five stars, but it was certainly a solid four-and-a-half. For those who know the author writes in several sub-genres, this book would fall into the category of hot romance rather than erotic romance. Safe for all but the most timid among us.
I really liked the plot, the setting, the theme, and the characters. The heroine is one with mental health issues who does not yet know her own strengths. The hero seems to be recovering from years of PTSD and does not yet trust his own mental stability. Their progress is shown but not discussed, keeping the story from being anywhere near preachy.
The tale is set in the post-civil war wild, wild west. Part of the setting is the heroine's history and her overprotective male cousins. I hope they feature in future stories in this series.
My favorite scene was where the heroine was teaching the hero to bake bread. A book with bang-bang action would have missed the quiet interludes where character really comes out.
I was surprised by progress of the climactic battle. Who could have predicted the course of it? This is a sign of writing skills of the highest order.
As this easy paced, smooth flowing story unfolded so did my enjoyment of the way in which Addy managed to overcome a lifetime of Isaiah pulling back from allowing himself to connect with anyone. The first peace that he has known is a gift she gives him without even knowing it and he treasures those brief moments as a treasure richer than gold or diamonds.
This was not a new take on alpha male/fragile female romance but it was a pleasant foray into the paranormal romance genre that I thoroughly enjoyed from beginning to end and am looking forward to Cole's story in book 2 Reaper's Vow.
Me encanta esta autora, pero que manera de no contar nada. Es una trama interesante, pero no te suelta un dato relevante ni aunque su vida dependiera de ello. Aún así, me gustó un poco. Me faltaron explicaciones, pero se lee.
Sarah McCarty is one of those authors who writes about everything and all that I have read is good. I have read some of her Western historicals and so I was delighted to have the opportunity to read and review the first book in this paranormal series.
The characters in this novel are gritty and edgy and as such make an impression on the reader right from the first. Isaiah Jones is a wolf-shifter and angry about that. He calls his inner wolf "beast" and barely manages to live with his duality, angry that this condition was foisted on him when he was a boy, angry that he is now and has been an assassin under the direction of others, and angry that he has now found a woman who "speaks" to his human self and believing himself to be a monster, must accept that there is no future with this woman. In fact, in those days of dealing with shape-shifters, a "Council" of guardians has ruled that no shifter can be in contact with a human woman. Now, there are no shifter women, either, so these individuals are looking at a long, lonely life filled with violence and not much else. Isaiah Jones, however, has pushed the rules and been "guarding" Adelaide Cameron for over a year without her knowledge. He knows her history: that she was a captive of Indians who slaughtered her family, that she has been run ragged by the over-protective "love" of her Cameron cousins, and that she wants more than anything to be an independent woman with a future of her own choosing and being respected rather than sheltered. Her abduction by a gang of men bent on selling her South of the Mexican border only adds more terror and hurt to her life story. It is from this situation she is rescued by Isaiah and another "reaper" (as shifters were then called) named Blade. In some sort of twisted way he and Isaiah have formed a pact--maybe even a friendship--and Blade knows Isaiah's attachment to Adelaide is such that it is, in truth, love.
This is a very emotional story. The reader is pummeled with Isaiah's sense of hopelessness, his anger at being what he is, his frustration that the "beast" wants Adelaide as much as he does but is unwilling to claim her with any finesse or kindness. There is also his deep sorrow at failing to guard her against further harm or terror. Against almost unbelievable odds, Isaiah, with Blade's help, is able to wrest her away from her captors, but then begins their deeper connection and friendship. Addy knows nothing about the true nature of "reapers" but she knows that for some reason she is not fearful of Isaiah, even to the point that she acts on her attraction to him by requesting that he sleep with her and asks that for this one night, he love her sufficiently that she will always have that memory, even if she ends up married to someone else. During those loving encounters, his "beast" manages to take over sufficiently that she is bitten twice--occurrences she deems erotic and nothing more.
This is not a simple love story but Isaiah's love for Adelaide permeates this tale. There is violence as Isaiah must protect her--somehow a pack of "reapers" wants Adelaide for sport--and learning what Isaiah is becomes Addy's journey of discovery. This is the kind of paranormal romance I have come to love where there are struggles and loving encounters--the kind or eroticism that serves the story and flows from the human encounters of the principle characters--there are issues over family and the evidence that Adelaide is a strong and stubborn woman, especially where Isaiah is concerned and insisting on the right to make her own choices. The historical context is not just like a stage setting--it is very much a part of why this story works and gives credence to the plot and story development. McCarty's style of writing, her adept use of words to bring feelings and actions to life, are the foundation of a truly splendid novel that paranormal romance lovers will enjoy. I most enjoyed watching Isaiah find himself, struggling to calm and live in sync with his inner beast, while wanting so much to realize fully what humanity he possessed. There are surprises all along the way as one works through this text, and all keep teasing the reader to move forward--there is an implied promise in the narrative that ultimately the reader will have all questions answered.
This novel was such an entertaining one and a book that I don't think McCarty fans, paranormal fans, and certainly historical romance fans will want to miss. Adelaide is a spendid heroine as a woman who has come through hell and still use all her faculties to think and reason, especially in difficulty circumstances. Isaiah is such a mixture of dark and light, of wolf and man, yet he is the kind of hero that I love to love--one who never wavers in his determination to keep Addy safe with the hope that somehow they will be together in the future. If not, he will give his life for her ultimate good. What a guy!! I sincerely hope you will think seriously about reading this novel and that you will enjoy it as much as I did.
I give it a rating of 4.5 out of 5.
This review was originally posted on Book Binge by Judith.
Reaper’s Justice by Sarah McCarty Paranormal Romance -Feb. 1st, 2011 4 stars
Reaper’s Justice is the 1st in the Reapers series. A new paranormal western about men who were changed against their will into werewolves. These men struggle with the ‘animal’ inside them that hungers to break free, which leads them to live apart from others and alone.
Isaiah Jones is a Reaper, a werewolf used during the end of the Civil War. He was kidnapped, injected and tortured. He lives alone and has no memories of his early life. But the war is now over and the land is as desolate as Isaiah. He wanders in his territory and watches over the lovely Adelaide Cameron. Isaiah is attracted to Adelaide and it makes him feel warm knowing she is alive and well. Adelaide fascinates him, and she is unaware that he is protecting her from afar. But the one time he isn’t there, he discovers that Adelaide has been kidnapped by ruthless men. Isaiah rushes to save her. And although she is grateful, she is wary of the aura of danger and potent sexuality that he exudes.
This is an exciting new series. I love the idea of Reapers and hope the author reveals more about their past and how they were changed. Isaiah is a fascinating character who longs for something more but is afraid of who he has become. His glimpses of Adelaide and how he wishes for another, gentler life filled with caring, and maybe love, make him a very sympathetic character. Once Isaiah is forced to save her, he learns that perhaps he can live another life. Because while Adelaide is at 1st afraid of Isaiah, she soon learns to trust him. (She even proposes to him to have sex!) Adelaide is in turns bold and sassy but also shy and unsure. When she was younger, she was kidnapped by Indians and can only survive when she can completely control her environment. When she is kidnapped again, she must face her fears again. The only quibble I have with this book is that is moves very slowly in certain areas. It takes a while before Adelaide is actually rescued, and they spend time together by themselves. I wanted more interaction between the 2 main characters and a faster pace.
Readers who love this author’s books will enjoy this fresh start to her new Reapers paranormal series. No one writes westerns like Sarah McCarty. I just wished that the pace had been more even.
Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
I was caught off guard by this novel and was pleasantly surprised to learn about the reapers. Also, being set in the old west added to the special vibes of Reaper's Justice. There was so much world building, I can't wait to read the next novel in this series. And the narration was wonderful, it was so easy to hear the difference in each character's voice.
This book is a glorious, full-throttle romance that earned every one of my five stars for its crackling banter, dangerous stakes, and the way the author shapes two very different emotional paces into a single, satisfying love story.
Addy’s romance is deliciously slow burning, her walls coming down in small, believable increments; Isaiah moves at a quicker, more decisive pace, which makes his protectiveness feel urgent and real rather than overpowering. I treasured seeing Addy’s vulnerability laid bare and watched Isaiah respond by creating safety around her.
Their chemistry is both smoldering and grounding, with dark humor and tense action charging the plot while quiet, intimate scenes deliver the emotional payoff. Both Addy’s cousins and the kidnappers sharper both the danger and the tenderness. You could feel both the grit and the glow in this story.
I like the paranormal but didn’t love this as much as the hells eight series. Story of Isaiah and Addy. Without spoiling good story slightly predictable good setup for a series curious about book 2 and Cole...
Don't mess with a Reaver, after Adelaide is kidnapped Isaiah steps out from the shadows to retrieve her and protect her and in doing so we learn about the Reaver's and watch him emerge from wild thing to a return to his humanity. I think this is going to be a great series
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Realmente me gusta mucho esta nueva serie. Una historia sobre un alfa crecientemente bestial que encuentra a su pareja, la cual lo complementa perfectamente. Bueno, por supuesto, hay más que eso y es muy divertido llegar allí.
Mixed feelings about this book. Well written, I have never read a fantasy cowboy and western theme book before. It needed some more depth, to many questions left unanswered.
This is my first experience reading author Sarah McCarty as well as my first experience with a historical paranormal romance. I’m not quite sure how I feel about Reaper’s Justice. It’s got wolf shifter’s, cowboy’s and the old west. Things I enjoy reading about.
Isaiah, a Reaper, is sweet and dominant, he has a brutal past, has trouble coming to terms with the wolf inside him, but is protective of one women that has calmed his inner best.
Addy is strong yet has some issues, with a past that is never fully explained only hinted at, she still manages to keep her cool when most women in that time period and situation would have given into hysterics.
Some interesting characters are introduced to us along the way. We meet Billings/Blade another Reaper, who shows up at odd times, has some witty comments and played a roll in helping Isaiah and Addy out. I am interested in reading his story. We are also introduced to Cole and Reese, Addy’s cousins, who are very protective of her almost to the point of suffocation. It felt a little short meeting the cousins and it was never full explained how Reese new so much about Reapers or how Cole could hold his own with a Reaper. I wonder if their is more to this?
The intimacy between Addy and Isaiah was quick, though Isaiah has been watching over Addy for a year in secret, they only had been together for a day before hitting the sack, but it did not feel like an insta-love thing. It felt right and the love grew over time as they both got to know each other. The only thing that bothered me was the descriptive monolog it was a little much at times. I wanted more spoken blurbs between the characters. The action was intense just not as much as I would have liked or felt should have been in the book.
By the end I had a few questions: Wanted more explanation on the Reapers, their Council and laws as well as Addy’s cousins. I don’t like to have questions at the end, but sometimes it just happens with a book. Maybe it’s because I’m not used to historical paranormal romances or maybe this genre is not my thing. Reaper’s Justice was an ok start to the Shadow Reaper series. It’s not a book I would read again.
"When civilized people prepared food, they probably used different utensils than the ones used for killing people." Issiah Jones, Shadow Reaper
That quote is my single favorite line in the book, and while I have problems with the story, Sarah MCCarty's sense of humor is a welcome relief in a book whose plot has very high melodrama potential. The story is that werewolf assassin Issiah becomes enraged when Adelaide Cameron, the woman he has long adored from afar is kidnapped. She is no stranger to peril, since she spent two years as an Indian captive after a Comanche raid killed her parents. Issiah goes off to rescue her, and vows to protect her. Some sex, some bloody fighting and lots of emotional upheavals ensue.
This is an interesting entry form Sarah McCarty. I actually enjoyed it while I was reading it, but there were too many questions in the end, which was a little too easy. This might be expected if the book had been the typical Sarah McCarty sex marathon, but this wasn't the case here. For this author, the sex here is pretty tame and conventional. We had realizations. without enough background to give them weight. The pasts of the characters were hinted at but never fleshed out, so we know that Adelaide was a captive and was rescued but not much more than that, despite the fact that it is used to explain all of her actions for the whole book. This is also true of Issiah and his Shadow Reaper/ werewolf assassin/ slave to shadowy cartel past. He gets a partial pass, though, because he has memory issues.
In addition enjoying the occasional flashes of the author's humor, enjoyed the characters and I liked the post Civil war setting. I just felt like something was missing here that would have made me really love it.
I wasn't too sure what to expect from this book, it is set right after the Civil War and there are werewolves, who knew where it could go.
The story dealt with Isaiah, who is a Reaper, but we aren't sure what that is. Turns out it is a werewolf. Isaiah's background and how he became a Reaper is murky. He is at odds with his beast and thinks that he needs to keep away from people and this is what he does until he comes upon Adelaide. For reasons he doesn't know, for a year he paces around her house slowly learning her routines and finding a peace he hasn't felt since he became a Reaper.
Things change when he goes by Adelaide's house and discovers her missing and upon a closer investigation realizes she has been kidnapped and his beast comes to the forefront and needs to get her back.
It is here that the story becomes interesting, Isaiah is constantly at odds with his beast, smitten with Adelaide and doesn't know why. Adelaide feels an odd kinship with Isaiah and starts to act very non-traditional. They start this odd courtship, odd because it takes them forever to realize that is exactly what they are doing, which leads to some very funny scenes.
Of course there comes a time when Isaiah's Reaper nature comes out to Adelaide. It is amazing in how she accepts it and shows Isaiah that there is a better way to deal with his beast.
This beginning of a new series was a good one. The ground work was laid to let us know what is going on, but left us with lots of questions about the Reapers and how they are now changing.