Darius by Jade Astor

Title: Darius

Series: Moon Lake Wolves 01

Author: Jade Astor

Genre: Paranormal, Shifters

Length: Novella (123pgs)

Publisher: Silver Publishing (25th February 2012)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Darius Lyall fled his hometown five years ago under suspicion of murder. Now Sheriff Ash Rawling seeks to clear his name. Will Darius find a way to love Ash without accidentally tearing him limb from limb during the next full moon?

Sheriff Ashton Rawling never expected to see Darius Lyall back in town. Five years ago, just as their friendship seemed poised to turn into something more, Darius fled the small northern town of Moon Lake under suspicion of brutally murdering a local man whose body was found on Lyall property.

Now Darius has returned to celebrate the twenty-first birthday of his youngest brother at their family’s forest cabin. The moment he sees Ash, the old attraction sparks between them. Ash knows he must solve the murder for their relationship to have a chance. Darius must find a way to love Ash without accidentally tearing him limb from limb during the next full moon.

Purchase Link: https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/darius-ebook-p-748

Review: Darius returns to his hometown to help his brother celebrate his 21st birthday, but his return stirs up trouble as most of the town believe him to be a murderer. Ash is the town sheriff who is trying to keep the peace, but as he butts heads with half the town and Darius, he has to solve a five year old murder to prove Darius’s innocence.

This is a really good shifter story that shows shifters in a more animalistic light. Darius and Ash are two men who five years ago were best friends, but when Darius disappeared without a word, Ash began to doubt his friend’s innocence.   now Darius is back and Ash has to prove his innocence before the town turns into an ugly mob. These two characters strike sparks off each other.   The attraction is strong and the sex between them is hot!

Darius tries his best to keep Ash at a distance because he has a secret to hide.  But not the one that Ash thinks.  And when Ash discovers his secret, he is torn between fascination and terror. I have got to say that this version of shifter sounds painful and horrible and who don’t recognize anyone in their shifted form.   I like the way it is portrayed and the fact that the brothers are not happy to be shifters. The progression of the story is good and moves smoothly and the mystery of the murder is easy to solve when Ash has all the clues and the answers came from an unexpected source.

With this one I will recommend to those who want a more down to earth shifter story, who love a bit of mystery, who love hot sex and a happy ending.