Blue Moon (Nightcreature, Book 1)

by Lori Handeland

Book Overview

Winner of the RITA(R) Award for Best Paranormal Romance!When darkness falls, another world comes alive . . .The summer I discovered the world was not black-and-white but a host of annoying shades of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312991347
• Release Date: October 2004
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.8" x 1.0" x 4.2"

Customer Reviews

An incredible werewolf story with a twist

Courtesy of Love Romances Reviews Wow! This story packs a punch! If readers want an incredible werewolf story with a twist, then this book is one that must be read. Officer Jessie McQuade has seen much in her job as a policewoman, but strange things have been happening in Miniwa, Wisconsin lately. The normally subdued wolves in the area are striking out, attacking humans for no apparent reason. As she investigates deeper, more and more leads don't tie up, and many doubts surface. Everything comes back to the huge, lone black wolf she keeps seeing everywhere. So her practical nature causes her to turn to a professor for help. Will Cadotte is an expert in Native American mythology and the logical person for Officer McQuade to turn to when an animal totem charm is found. He has a lot of answers, but even more questions are raised as he helps in her investigation. The things he talks about are unbelievable to Jessie, things that just cannot be. And what's the matter with her? She's inexplicably drawn to this enigmatic man, and he makes her toes curl in the most delightful of ways. As things grow stranger and the time for the full moon, a rare Blue Moon, draws near, danger is more imminent and Jessie doesn't know what to believe. All of the evidence is pointing to something she can't even begin to comprehend or accept. Is it really something supernatural and therefore beyond her control? And what about Will, is he friend or foe, incredible lover or deadly enemy, man or man-wolf? Want to know the answers, then drop everything and read this book! Welcome back to the paranormal genre, Ms. Handeland! This story is one of the best this reviewer has read in quite a while. The plot leaps and bounds forward, like the running wolves, but is not in the slightest bit confusing or disturbing. One will become entrenched in the story from the very first line, and want to keep reading uninterrupted through the end. The Native American mythological spin on the legend of the werewolves adds depth to the story, making it all the more intriguing for the tantalizing glimpses into those beliefs. Jessie is a great character, full of sass and with a delightful, sarcastic sense of humor. One will laugh out loud many times as a result of her unexpected witticisms. Will is a hero to drive women crazy, tall dark, handsome, and yes he's got a brilliant mind to go with it! Who wouldn't fall for a guy like that? Jessie didn't stand a chance. Add in the very elderly police dispatcher, Zee, with the mouth of a sailor, who loves her job and loves Jessie like a daughter, a very frightening wolf hunter who may be more then he seems, and a score of townspeople, and this story has incredible life built in to it. This story is absolutely incredible and the only bad thing about it? That it can't go on forever! Have no fear readers, there are already at least two more books in the works to extend this foray into the otherworldly. Ms. Handeland has a breakout hit with this series! Thi

Even If You Are Not A Fan of "Paranormal Suspense"...

It really was a fluke ordering "Blue Moon" by Lori Handeland. I don't usually read "paranormal suspense/romances;" don't read "horror" stories or books; Stephen King movies (on the rare occasions that I have watched one) scare me to death and generally I have found the realism sorely wanting in these subjects. That said, I absolutely loved this book. I urge readers who don't normally read this type of book to give this one a try. "Blue Moon" introduces Miniwa, Wisconsin cop, Jessie McQuade, who thrives at her job in this small town that is overrun with tourists each summer. A rather plain loner, Jessie is smart, witty, and great at her job, and...lonely. Life is going along at its same somewhat boring pace when a teacher hits a wolf and is attacked. Suddenly the town seems to have a vicious pack of wolves within their midst. Jessie discovers a wolf totem at the scene of the accident and wears it for safekeeping when she realizes that she can no longer trust those around her. Mandenauer,an old German Jager-Sucher is brought in to kill the wolves and a mutual respect develops between them. Accompanying him, Jessie becomes a hunter of these wolves as she tries to protect the town and prevent the impending ritual set to occur during the next blue moon. Jessie encounters Prof. Will Cadotte - a Native American activist while tracking the first wolf from the car accident and later discovers that he is an authority on the subject. Their romance not only brings passion, but lends itself to realism when the issues of prejudice from both of their ethnic groups are confronted. Credibility; realism - that is what worked for me with this book with both the supernatural and the romance. Lori Handeland does not ask the reader to simply accept the rationale of werewolves. Her storyline provides a completely plausible and believable scenario for the mutation of these wolves. "Blue Moon" is suspenseful, romantic, and BELIEVABLE. I couldn't put it down. It was THAT good and I have just ordered Handeland's next novel, "Hunter's Moon." Great writer; great concept. I have become a fan.

Paranormal Police Procedural that keeps you turning pages...

Miniwa, WI cop, Jessie McQuade is a tough pragmatic woman who only believes what she sees. That is, until a schoolteacher who was bitten by a wolf goes rabid in her schoolroom the next day. Miniwa is under seige. Are these wolves infected by a new strain of rabies, as she is first led to believe, or something even less acceptable? Can Jessie trust the man she's come to love and who appears to be helping her--or, is he part of the plot? The ending surprised me--and that doesn't often happen! This book is a fast-paced first-person narrative that actually works comfortably. I like Handeland's 'voice' for Jessie. What's more---this is not one of those romance novels where the heroine starts strong and loses all sense when she falls in love. Jessie stays Jessie throughout. I like that. I'll be looking for more of Handeland's books!

A story that comes along once in a "Blue Moon"

"Blue Moon" by Lori Handeland is one of those books that really do come along once in a "blue moon". The story is captivating, as are the characters. There are no simpering wimps in this book. The lead character, Jessie McQuade, is a sheriff's deputy who depends on no one to "take care of" her. She is independent and smart. Although the book alludes to the fact that Jessie is not a petite or small woman, it never comes right out and calls her a BBW (Big Beautiful Woman). I think she must be what is American average - just not one of those tiny model thin women the fashion magazines and fashionistas say we should all aspire to be like. So what if she's a bit larger than the average size 8, 10 or 12 - she is, as I said before, smart, talented and independent. Now, let's talk about the lead male of the story, Will Cadotte (that's Professor Cadotte). He is also a strong character with very definite opinions - especially about Jessie. I loved the fact that although he is one hunky, sexy man, he still has some vulnerability and uncertainty about why Jessie would be attracted to him - its nice not to read about a man who is conceited about his looks and expects every woman to fall at his feet in adoration. Both have a wicked sense of humor / sarcastic wit that I found wonderfully refreshing and perfect for the story. If this were simply a love story, it would be a good book - the fact that it has the paranormal, werewolf story makes it a terrific book. The secondary characters are great additions, especially Edward Mandenaur, the hunter, and Zee, the dispatcher. Zee has an attitude and a half and she runs the sheriff's department with an iron will - no, she's not the sheriff, as I said before, she's just a dispatcher, but oh what power she wields from that position. If you love a good paranormal story, are a fan of werewolves, or simply a fan of a good romance, pick this one up - it's good reading!! I didn't want to put it down once I started and stayed up late on a work night just to finish. Now, I can't wait for the next installment, "Hunters Moon". There are 3 chapters of it in the back of "Blue Moon" and it's a good way to whet your appetite for more of these fascinating characters as well as the new ones. Keep up the good work Ms. Handleland!

entertaining paranormal police procedural romance

In Mimiwa, Wisconsin, police officer Jessie McQuade investigates a car accident between Karen Larson and a wolf that apparently bit the teacher. As Karen is rushed to the hospital, Jessie searches the woods until she runs into a naked man living in a nearby cabin. He offers her nothing new on her case except a desire to make love with him. Jessie does find a small totem at the accident site. The next day Karen goes berserk at school forcing Sheriff Clyde Johnston to kill her. Jessie realizes that rabies takes three months to incubate in people so wonders what really happened. On a hunch she takes the totem to Mimiwa University where she meets visiting expert Will Cadotte, the naked man from the night before. He is stunned by the totem who says he belongs to the wolf clan that uses these artifacts, but this one is different. It is that of an auwishuk, an evil Manitou. As Jessie struggles with a supernatural evil truth, she and Will fall in love, but as the evidence piles up she wonders if she can trust the professor. BLUE MOON is an exciting werewolf romance starring the ultimate disbeliever and the "perfect" counterpoint to prove that sometimes there are strange phenomena beyond the norm. The who-done-it is cleverly drawn enhanced by deep secondary characters, some of whom are on the wrong side of the American law (who knows what the law is on the other side). Still, it is the match up of the lead duo that makes for a howling time for those who read this entertaining paranormal police procedural romance. Harriet Klausner