Book Reviews

Book Blurb

What lurks in Dartmoor?

After his father’s death, Finn Darcy returns to his ancestral home to become chief of his werecat clan. The mysterious Druids Lodge lies nestled in the shadows of Dartmoor National Park, where the legendary Beast of Dartmoor, a large panther, roams the woods and moors.

Finn cannot take his place as the head of the clan before he claims his mate, Luke Devlin, the one he marked when they were children. Feeling he was deceived at the start of their relationship, Luke refuses to accept his fate. He bides his time, determined to escape when the opportunity presents itself, before Finn’s jealous and possessive dual nature destroys everything they have left.

But then werecats and their mates start disappearing, and Finn is adamant his mate must be protected at all costs. Events take a grim turn when Finn is abducted and forced to fight for his life. Luke must choose between his chance at freedom or saving Finn.

Book Review

Mates determined by fate are all well and good, but what if there are other forces at play? Like the fathers of the men concerned making the choices rather than fate? Like a forced separation that drives one partner crazy with need and leaves the other feeling left behind and ignored? Like their reunion happening under less than favorable circumstances and leading from one misunderstanding and problem to the other? This is what Finn, a werepanther, and Luke, his human mate, face when they are finally reunited once they are both adults.

Luke has missed his childhood friend for years. He feels abandoned, ignored, and can’t even remember some of the details thanks to having had his memory tampered with. But that is not the worst of it. Suddenly he is supposed to be Finn’s mate, without even knowing the man. Then he finds out Finn is a werepanther and feels deceived. The physical side of their relationship works well, but Luke wants more. And he has no idea if he can have that with Finn. Not the way Finn is behaving.

Finn feels just as cheated as Luke – their fathers were the ones who decided what happened once Finn’s cat marked Luke, hurting him in the process, when he was only thirteen. He has waited for years, and expects obedience from the mate he desires like no one else. But his insistence falls on deaf ears, and Finn realizes he has to change his behavior if he wants Luke as a real partner. But then the mystery of vanishing werepanthers and their mates catches up with them and all hell breaks loose.

Set in Britain, with a focus on Wales and Scotland, this is a paranormal tale full of secrets, mystery, and traditions that only slowly emerge as the story develops. With more than one twist and turn, this is an adventure with lots of action and a struggling couple at its center. Luke and Finn’s relationship is more than rocky, but the upheavals they go through are actually what helps them figure out that they may belong together after all. Building trust under these circumstances is tough, and more than one setback made me hold my breath and hope for the best.

If you like stories about shifters who face dire threats, if you like stories about men who need to find out how they fit together rather than falling into loving bliss from the start, and if you’re looking for a read that is mysterious, suspenseful, and has more than one twist and turn, then you might like this novel.

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review.

Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novel, 214 pages/76347 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	02-May-2016
Price	$6.99 ebook, $14.99 paperback, $14.99 bundle
Buy Link	https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/druids-lodge-by-kelly-clemmons-6754-b