Review: Mating Instinct by Katie Reus

Posted February 28, 2013 by Gikany-Una in 4 stars, Paranormal Romance, Rating A, Reviews Tags: , , ,

Mating Instinct
Author: Katie Reus 
Release Date: March 5, 2013
Publisher: Signet
Moon Shifter #3
ISBN: #978-0451239600
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): Paperback (368 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
      As the beast within struggles to break free, he must learn to be what she needs…
      Surviving for centuries, powerful lupine shifter Jayce Kazan managed to stay away from humans until he met Kat Saburova and was consumed by the need to protect her. But while Jayce shared his passion with the human seer, he refused to make her his bondmate—a refusal that caused the end of their relationship.
      A year later, an attack that left Kat near death has resulted in another lupine shifter turning her. Furious that he wasn’t the one to save her, Jayce is determined to show Kat that he is the one she should rely on. But the newly turned shifter is still traumatized and worried that she’ll hurt those she loves, unless she can learn to control her inner wolf.
      And as Jayce struggles to protect Kat from her own worst instincts and convince her to rekindle their love, the extremists who almost killed her are looking to finish the job…
What G & U are talking about:
      Mating Instinct is the fascinating third novel in the Moon Shifter series.  There was a huge back-story and build up to this novel in that it is where Jayce and Kat finally fess up with each other and make a decision.
      Although the series started a bit rough for Gikany and Una, as each book progresses we find ourselves drawn more into the world and its characters.  So much so that we found the novella, Lover’s Instinct – bought it, downloaded it and read it after finishing Mating Instinct.  Although it wasn’t necessary – we love the characters too much to skip the story of how a lovely beta female mated with one of the sexy warriors.
      Jayce is not just a sexy warrior, he is the enforcer for the whole council.  It is his job to put down wolves that go feral and solve issues that cause havoc in the pack – permanently.  His sexiness comes from his rugged and scarred appearance.  His face puts most people in a state of panic – but not Kat.  Not only does she not fear him, she goes toe-to-toe with this dangerous wolf without batting an eye (but maybe armed with a baseball bat).  However, Jayce broke Kat’s heart, and without telling him she ends their relationship before he can.
      During the course of the previous book, Primal Possession, Kat is turned into a wolf shifter in order to save her life by one of Connor’s warriors.  Jayce is haunted by the simple fact that he didn’t find her in time, didn’t save her and was not the one who gave her the gift of life.  Kat is still angry with the lies that Jayce told her, and also angry that he failed in saving her.  However what makes Kat the most frustrated is that her heart seems to forever bear Jayce’s name.  Therefore Kat keeps her distance from Jayce and the pack in an effort to be left alone to find the one who gave the order that resulted in her torture and almost death.  However, if Kat thinks she can hunt this higher-ranking Antiparanormal League (APL) member on her own – she is underestimating Jayce.
      Mating Instinct is full of passion, poor communication and burning desire.  Kat and Jayce had left the bridge between them burned and broken.  To watch them deny the deep attraction and love they have for each other is heartbreaking.  The most difficult issue between them is their silence and the refusal they have to be the first one to open up and talk.  Jayce, being an enforcer, is a man of few words – something Kat seems to forget.  Kat on the other hand desperately wants to save face from the one who crushed her heart so viciously.  Yet, if they would just step out from the hurt and self-torment, they would be able to start healing – together.
      As Kat and Jayce work through (or against) their attraction and desires, there is a horrible force at work.  It seems members of the APL are taking vampire blood – making them stronger and therefore a greater threat.  However, to make matters worse, it seems a shifter is on a killing spree and all the arrows seem to point to Jayce.  Which means Jayce needs to find out who the killer is and stop them before the public finds out and turns fully against shifters.
      Gikany and Una thoroughly enjoyed Mating Instinct.  We anxiously anticipate the next novel in the Moon Shifter series.  If you enjoy passionate, romantic paranormal stories filled with action and mystery – give this series a shot.
Their Rating:
Enjoyed – strongly recommend (A-)
 
 
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