Bout of Books Mini-Review: Natural Evil by Thea Harrison

 

"Attempted Murder. Passion. Betrayal. It's a dog-eat-dog world. "

Claudia Hunter is on a road trip through the Nevada desert when she sees the body of a dog on the side of the highway. Pulling over to investigate, she quickly determines that the enormous animal is clinging to life. While working to save him with the help of the local vet, Claudia realizes there's something about the creature that seems "more." Other. "Wyr." Which makes this case of animal cruelty attempted murder.

Too injured to shape shift, Luis Alvaraz is reluctant to tell Claudia what he knows about his attack, afraid it will only make her a target. But the sheriff is corrupt, and his attackers know Luis is alive and vulnerable. To make matters worse, a sandstorm is sweeping into town, and if they're going to survive the night, Luis will have to place all his trust in Claudia.

Warning: Take a gorgeous man temporarily stuck in the dog house, add a strong, take-no-prisoners woman, mix in encroaching enemies and a raging sandstorm and stir to combine. Enjoy with a freshly opened can of whoop-ass.

The Deets

Ohh lawdie. What a nice way to wake up and start my day! Can I get an AMEN for a smexy shifter Wyr built like a brick shithouse? A to the MEN. I will take a heaping plate of the Luis Special, please! Ok, Ok. I will discontinue my Luis-obsession so I can actually tell you about this novella. Party poopers.

Thea Harrison is a rock star. She has truly blown me away with her Elder Races series, always bringing bigger and better with her world-building, alpha males and strong female mates. I liked Claudia instantly, mainly because she stopped on the side of the road to help a giant dog who looked to be on the brink of death. Unfortunately for her, she finds herself in a heaping pile of local town WTFckery. Claudia is fierce, however, being ex-military, and decides to use her internal strength and fierce determination to assist a man down.

Luis, a Wyr Peacekeeper, has been assigned a job that gets him a swift ride down an ass-kicking sand dune. He’s hanging by a thread when Claudia finds him, and she nurses his mind, body and soul back to life again. It was apparent that Claudia’s damaged soul was going to be a hard shell to crack, and typical of an alpha male, he did not take no for an answer. I loved those little glimpses of vulnerability from both characters.

This was a great novella set in the Elder Races world. Good action scenes, great romantic tension, vulnerability and passion. Claudia is the main ass kicker in this installment, and that was nice to see. I sure do love me a FIERCE lady!

I can haz a Luis?

Favorite Quote

He had no air in his lungs with which to speak. His bulging gaze was astonished. It asked her, What the fuck?

So she answered his question. She showed him what the fuck.

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