Title: Moon-Touched
Author: Vivien Dean
Genre: Dark Fantasy, Shifter
Length: Novel (155pgs)
Publisher: Amber Press (Amber Allure) (16th October 2011)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: Thomas Durling escaped his small-town upbringing for over ten years, until a single phone call draws him back. Told his mother has been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s, Thomas returns to the small northern Michigan town he once called home to find a mute stranger named Andre taking care of her in his stead. On the surface, Andre seems harmless enough, but Thomas has enough problems trying to deal with his mother’s illness. He doesn’t need a gorgeous young man to distract him, especially in a town that already drove him away once with its homophobia.
But Andre Nezat has nowhere else to go. A wolf without a pack, he’s been on the run since witnessing his father’s murder, always looking over his shoulder, never looking ahead. Taking care of Thomas’s mother has given him a welcome sanctuary, as well as a place he can call home for a couple months. He wants to stay, but more importantly, he wants to help, even if Thomas isn’t ready to accept that they can actually be friends…
Purchase Link: http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/MoonTouched.html
This title is part of the Howling At The Moon 2011 AmberPax™ Collection.
Review: Thomas is back in town to ensure his mother’s well-being. He doesn’t need the added complication of being attracted to Andre, the man who has been helping to care for his mother. Andre has been on the running from the past some time, his attraction for Thomas complicates his plans when his past begins to catch up.
This is a well written story that is different from the usual run of the mill shifter story. Thomas returns to his hometown that he couldn’t wait to get out of because of the small-minded bigotry. , he returns because of his mum; she has been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s. We see him struggle with the effect it has on him, as he sees how Alzheimer’s is affecting her. Andre is helping Thomas’s mum as much as he can but he knows that he will have to move on soon as his past is always following him. We feel sorry for him as we learn the truth of his injuries and the effect it has on him.
I loved how being a shifter in this book is not easy and that the change is harrowing and painful. I thought it was great that there wasn’t any instant mating and that they got to know each other quite well in the short amount of time that they had. Thomas’s reaction to Andre’s change was great and wasn’t overdone or overplayed. The sex was emotional and connected the two men together in a way that was more than just physical release.
This is a wonderful story that I will recommend to those who love shifters, emotional pasts, a difficult present and a hopeful future.