Celtic Moon (Celtic Wolves, #1) By Jan DeLima
Like father, like son…
Sophie Thibodeau has been on the run from the father of her son for more than fifteen years. Now her son, Joshua, is changing, and her greatest fears are about to be realized. He’s going to end up being just like his father—a man who can change into a wolf.
Dylan Black has been hunting for Sophie since the night she ran from him—an obsession he cannot afford in the midst of an impending war. Dylan controls Rhuddin Village, an isolated town in Maine where he lives with an ancient Celtic tribe. One of the few of his clan who can still shift into a wolf, he must protect his people from the Guardians, vicious warriors who seek to destroy them.
When Sophie and Dylan come together for the sake of their son, their reunion reignites the fierce passion they once shared. For the first time in years, Dylan’s lost family is within his grasp. But will he lose them all over again? Are Joshua and Sophie strong enough to fight alongside Dylan in battle? Nothing less than the fate of his tribe depends on it… Celtic Moon (Celtic Wolves, #1)
Read Celtic Moon (Celtic Wolves, #1)
I really liked this book. The writer took an original starting point to becoming a werewolf. Apparently they were made by a goddess to protect Guardians. But the Guardians were misnamed because they don’t guard anything but themselves and their evil doings.
Enter a fresh young naive girl. She falls in love with the werewolf leader and becomes pregnant. When she discovers the truth of her true love she runs in terror. 16 years later she stops running.
This is a good story and beginning of what looks like a thrilling and original werewolf saga. 304 I stand by Wyrdness' review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I'm less generous with rating as I expected (read wanted) more grovelling from the hero and, well, given past and present lies I did really wish the heroine stood strong a little longer :) 304 Surprisingly good.
I sometimes pick up obscure, never heard of books on a whim and on occasion it does pay off. I mean, it’s not as if no one’s heard of this book, but I didn’t see any reviews/ratings by friends so I was going in blind.
I really wanted some paranormal romance with shifters/witches/any supernatural creature & some cool manufactured history weaved into it. This book had it all, plus a strong female lead. All around winner.
I can’t say that the plot was unique or mind blowing but it did the job. I think it was the writing style that kept me hooked most of all. It was just my thing.. that’s the best explanation I can come up with.
304
I can't freaking believe! Finally! Finally, after I don't even know how many crappy books, one that is totally awesome! :D
I loved Celtic Moon!
I loved the fact Sophie Thibodeaux, the heroine, was such a strong woman, who wasn't afraid of kicking ass and taking names, and who did everything for her son Joshua.
I understood her position, why she ran away from Dylan, the hero, and why she spent 15 years on the run from him.
In fact, I think I would have done just the same thing.
Dylan wasn't really my kind of guy. He was too overbearing and demanding for my tastes, plus I don't like to be lied to or kept in the dark, just like Sophie.
I very much preferred Luc, his younger brother. He is a mysterious guy and I can't resist a big sexy mystery. LMAO
Moving on, let's not forget the fact poor Sophie was ill-treated at Dylan's home by a lot of his people, so of course she feared the same would happen to her son, or even worse.
But all that is in the past, since she decided to come back because of her son, Joshua.
I loved him too. He was such a carefree, funny guy. I loved his relationship with Sophie. You could really see they loved each other and, in a sick way, I loved the fact he always looked up to Sophie first.
It happens in a lot of books that when the son is finally reunited with the father, the poor mother always gets the second place in his life, thus losing him in some way.
Serves you right, Dylan! You will never be more important to Joshua than Sophie! :P
Anyway, I don't know if this series is going to be like the Black Dagger Brotherhood, for example, when we have different main characters in each book, but I hope it is like that and that Joshua gets his own book.
Another character about whom I would love to read more is Taliesin aka Sin aka Matthew.
He was such a surprising mix of naiveté and worldliness and knowledge.
Sometimes he seemed to be a little boy, like when he was excited about Sophie making pizza, and other times he seemed so ruthless.
But one thing is certain. He has a certain sadness about him. I want him to be happy.
I have only one more thing to say - was that foreshadowing I detected in Taliesin's words about a future
If it was, oh boy, this is going to be good.
304 I am not usually a fan of secret baby stories, and while Celtic Moon isn’t necessarily that, it’s a close second. It would be easy to dislike a heroine that left her baby’s father and deprived him of his child, but in this case, I admired Sophie for doing that. Fear of the unknown could have ruled her, and she could have stayed simply because she knew nothing of his world. Instead of cowering to his threats, she went on the run to remove her son from what she perceived to be a bad situation. She devoted her life to learning how to better keep him safe and teaching him to fend for himself if it came to that. She was very strong and determined, and I liked her. I had a bit of a harder time with Dylan. I have to remind myself when reading shifter books that wolves, by nature, are very dominant. I try not to judge them by human standards, but Dylan may have been just a bit too heavy handed for me, especially in the way he revealed his shifter side to Sophie and essentially demanded she accept it. He did, however, learn the error of his ways, and it was hard not to feel his pain, because it was clear how much he cared for Sophie and his son. The romance between him and Sophie was a bit glossed over. It was like a switch – one moment she couldn’t trust him and was determined she wasn’t his wife, and then the next she was all in. I would have liked there to be a bit more build up to their reunion.
A little more world building could have enhanced this story and given the reader a clearer picture of Dylan’s world, geographically and pertaining to his pack. But I am hopeful that the author is pacing us, and more will be revealed as the series progresses. While what we’ve learned so far was interesting, it just whetted my appetite for more. The highlight of this book was Dylan’s brother and sister, Luc and Elen, as well as their pack mate Cormack. We’ve been given little morsels of each of them, and I’m excited to dive into their histories. The action scenes in this book were also very well done, and it was easy to picture what was happening.
While Celtic Moon had its shaky moments, it was an intriguing start to the Celtic Wolves series. I can’t wait to read the next book!
This review was originally posted at Badass Book Reviews. 304
A lucky random pick. At last a good new werewolf world. The world building here was stellar. This was a well thought out complex world. There were a lot of different elements suck as only those who were born equally wolf/man being acceptable to the ruling class. All the others those born human who could shift to wolf and those born wolf who couldn't shift to human being either killed or enslaved by the rulers called Guardians. In this world you have to be born a werewolf not changed and there hasn't been a werewolf born in 300 years. So of course the heroine's son throws things into a bit of chaos.
This book starts in the middle of the story. The heroine, Sophie, has been on the run from her werewolf husband, Dyland, for 15 years with their son whom he knows about but has never met. She ran on the night that she was shown that Dylan was a shifter and he told her that he would take her child from her if she ever tried to leave. So she ran.
She has been on the run for 15 years and really I kept getting flashes of Sara Conner. She's turned herself into this super bad ass fighter chick and has brought her son up the same way. She has to return to Dylan though when she realizes that Joshua will be a shifter too and is going to need his father's help.
In addition to great action, and great world building I loved the love story. Because they were reuniting lovers there wasn't an unbelievable insta love element to get over. They had both made mistakes and were willing to try harder and differently this time. Well drawn secondary characters really rounded out the story. I am totally looking forward to the next one. 304 4.75stars actually
Who says you can't teach an alpha wolf new tricks? When Sophie Thibodeaux ran away from Dylan Black fifteen years ago, she was frightened, pregnant and injured. Sophie didn't understand Dylan's overprotective actions and she didn't know he was keeping a secret from her. When he showed her he was a shape-shifter and their child should be raised with him it was too much for her and she left, getting injured in the process. Dylan now knows he could have handled things better to ensure his family's well-being. Joshua has been changing lately and Sophie realizes Joshua has inherited Dylan's shifter genes and she is ill-equipped to help him through this phase of his life, so she contacts Dylan.
The reunion for this family unit had the right amount of tension for this situation. Old truths and hurts come to light as Sophie fiercely protects their son. For his part, Dylan doesn't repeat the mistakes of the past and explains things to Sophie as he never did before so that she understands both his actions and what is at stake. Dylan's been protecting those of his race that are unable to shift from his race's powerful governing body, Guardians. The Guardians have discovered Dylan's enclave and plan to kill those it sees as traitors in addition to those with shifter genes that cannot shift and they don't plan to spare the humans in the meantime. Dylan has to choose to protect either his family or his clan. I really liked both Sophie and Dylan individually and adored them as a couple. Joshua was pivotal to the family unit and the storyline, his voice added to the richness of both as his bonds with his extended family grew.
There was so much for me to like in this exciting origin story from a debut writer. The only things I would have changed is the writing style which was a bit formal for my taste and the flashbacks of which I'm not a fan. Both were minor hindsight. Also the male lead here is named Dylan. Really?!?!? He is thousands of years old! All of the characters were likable, well defined and fully fleshed. The pacing, plotting and storyline were perfectly presented. I enjoyed the romance, action, and dramatic suspense pieces that were expertly woven together so well. I am very much on board for the next entry and am already chafing at the delay.
304 Pretty good shifter romance from a new to me author. I will read more in the series. 304 It's been a long time since I've been so captivated with a paranormal romance. Starting with a bang, Celtic Moon offers readers a unique take on the werewolf mythology coupled with an engrossing storyline. Relying heavily on Celtic origins, the story integrates shifters, malevolent Guardians, and even gods. But now I’m getting ahead of myself...
Celtic Moon is simply a good story and wonderful romance. Having discovered the true nature of her lover and father of her unborn child, Sophie ran from Dylan and kept herself and their son hidden for 16 years. However, now that Joshua is showing signs that he inherited more than his father's good looks and charming smile, Sophie realizes she must return to Dylan and his people for help. What she does not realize is that the real danger comes not from Dylan, but those who seek to destroy what he has made for himself.
The tale of reunited lovers who remained faithful to one another despite the odds they’d be together again was touching, steamy, and emotionally satisfying. I enjoyed seeing the changes in both characters, as they have matured and learned to be more accepting. Toss in the fierce love for their son, Sophie and Dylan have wonderful chemistry and their tale is exciting to read.
Ms. DeLima does an excellent job building her world without overwhelming the reader. The storytelling has just the right balance of fast-paced action and quieter, reflective moments. While the romance is probably my favorite part of the book, the story of the Guardians and Dylan’s attempts to keep his people safe is gripping and engrossing. I was immediately drawn in and excited to find out what will happen next.
Overall, Celtic Moon is a highly enjoyable and entertaining story. Ms. DeLima is weaves a wonderful tale and interesting world. The characters are interesting and the romance is sweet yet sexy. While the book is a complete story, it sets up conflict for future titles, and I for one am looking forward to reading it!
My rating: A-, Enjoyed A Lot
I won this book from the author at Coastal Magic Con.
304 Reviewed by: Rabid Reads
I’m not sure if this is a new trend in Paranormal Romance but more and more titles have been featuring “older” heroines and Celtic Moon falls into that category with Sophie, a 36 year old protagonist. Thibodeau doesn’t just stand out because of her age, she also brings to the table something that a lot of female characters lack: experience. You can’t help but admire a woman that’s willing to put her fears aside in order to do right by her child; even if it means confronting the man that she’s been running from for over fifteen years. My respect for her continued to increase with every new page I read because Sophie not only learned from her previous mistakes but actually took steps to ensure that she’d never be a victim again.
Two of my favourite things come together in this book: werewolves and Celtic mythology. Both elements are closely intertwined in this story and I loved how rich the lore was as a result. The author incorporates a few very unique components which helped it stand-out from other comparable titles in this genre. It’s been weeks since I finished reading Celtic Moon and yet, I’m still thinking about the extremely memorable “serpent” weapon. I’d be curious to find out whether its origins stem from historical facts or are the imaginings of a very talented author. Either way, I approve! In my opinion, this first installment is only the tip of the iceberg where the Celtic Wolves are concerned!
DeLima allows readers to make up their own minds about what actually happened fifteen years ago by presenting the facts from three very different perspectives. I really enjoyed weighing each character’s viewpoint and drawing my own conclusions; even though I knew what the end result was going to be, I still appreciated the process. This book has a real story within a story feel to it which makes it as fulfilling as it is entertaining. I also liked that the author didn’t rush the romance and gave the characters time to adjust. There may be danger on the horizon but that’s still no excuse for jumping in bed with your ex!
Celtic Moon is not your average werewolf book thanks the Jan Delima’s distinctive layered writing style, original mythology and unlikely heroine. A brilliant effort by this debut author!
304