Redemption: Reckless Desires (Blue Moon Saloon Book 3)

I liked this book just a little more than the rest since far. Just because the first time he laid his hand on her belly and the bear got so excited about the boy likinget him, really likes him. Takes a real man to be a father. They were always ment to be.

Soren & Sarah

I think this is my favorite couple in in the series so far. I love how they slowly made their way back to each other. While both had valid reasons for their hurt and anger, they didn’t wallow in it. They were very pragmatic about the situation they found themselves in.

Something I really loved was that there wasn’t a silly misunderstanding that had kept them separated from one another. The issues were valid and appeared insurmountable. Too many stories use that cliched and overused trope, imo.

The story was well-composed which is the norm for Ms. Lowe’s books. I’ve never been disappointed with her stories. Her characters are imperfect, but improve throughout the story. The stories are do follow a typical pattern so the reader does know what to expect in the general sense. For myself, this is truly part of the charm. She definitely does *not* let it get stale/boring. I can trust she’s going to tell me a fantastic story that I’m going to love.

The narrator, Ms. Osborne, did a fantastic job of reading/acting out the story. She’s really grown as a narrator.

I’m looking forward to the next book.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of the audiobook. I also purchased the Kindle version.

FABULOUS ADDITION TO THE SERIES!!!
Title: Redemption
Series: Blue Moon Saloon
Author: Anna Lowe
Designation: Book 3 of Series, Long Novella/Short Novel (Approx 160 pages), *Can Be Read As A Standalone (See Notation), Paranormal Romance, No Cliffhanger, HEA
Reading Platform: eBook & Audiobook Editions
My Rating: FIVE DIVINELY ENTERTAINING STARS*****
*The author does an exceptional job of giving the reader ample backstory in each release, and Redemption could certainly be read as a standalone, but please be aware there is an underlying interconnected conflict running throughout the series. For a richer reading experience and to avoid possible spoilers, this reviewer recommends reading the books sequentially. This is such an awesome series, so I’m sure it’s one decision you’ll never regret.

I adore paranormal romance and no one does it better than Anna Lowe! I’m a huge fan of Lowe’s work and own all of her books. She’s one of the few authors on my automatic buy list. When Lowe has a new release, I never even bother to read the blurb; I just one-click. Don’t get me wrong; I adore everything Lowe writes, but the entire Blue Moon Saloon Series has earned a special place in my heart. And I’m not the only one who loves it. Damnation, the first book of this series, was voted Best Shifter Book for 2016 by Reality Bites Magazine. Wow, that’s impressive! I first became hooked on Lowe’s work four years ago after reading Desert Moon, the first release in Lowe’s The Wolves of Twin Moon Ranch Series and have been hopelessly addicted ever since. For almost 70 years, I’ve been a lover of the written word and during that time, I’ve read an incalculable number of books, written by a diverse group of talented authors. So when I say Anna Lowe is one of my favorites, that’s quite a recommendation in itself. It’s a little hard to explain why Lowe’s stories resonate so strongly with me, but I’ll try. Lowe is what I like to call a triple threat. I know that may sound a little ominous, but it’s really not. You see, some writers are stronger in certain aspects of the writing process than others. A few may have a great idea for a book or series but have difficulties developing the story and translating their thoughts to written words. Others may be crackerjack wordsmiths or great with story development but struggle with creativity and ideas. Lowe can create, develop, and write and do it all exceptionally well, but Lowe’s talent doesn’t stop there. She’s not only a truly gifted storyteller and skilled wordslinger but also one of the most reliable authors in the romance genre today, consistently penning unique and highly imaginative storylines, set in fascinating worlds, populated with unique characters who will capture your imagination as well as your heart. Lowe’s books are all well crafted and edited with beautiful formatting and covers. And Redemption is no exception! In addition to having my nose stuck in a book for several hours every day, I also enjoy listening to audiobooks, which is another reason I’m so enamored with Lowe’s work. (Now don’t be a jealous Judas. I worked hard to earn my retirement so I could sit back and enjoy my golden years! lol…) Lowe almost always releases audio versions of her books and Redemption was available, so you guessed it, I snagged it to complement my ebook edition. (OMG, don’t you just love Amazon’s whispersync feature which allows customers to read and listen across multiple devices? And it syncs all my notes and bookmarks! Soooo cool!) There’s nothing better than listening to the characters of a great story come to life through the voice of a talented narrator, and Lowe uses one of the best. I love, love, love the artist Lowe uses for her books. Kelsey Osborne does a fabulous job and is one of my all-time favorites. Osborne’s reading and narration skills are exceptional, enhanced by her pleasing pitch, soothing dulcet tones, delightful and sometimes amusing voice/character inflections, rhythmic and seemingly effortless cadence, always correct pronunciations, and obvious enthusiasm for her work. But as usual, I digress, especially when talking about my favorite authors and books, so let’s discuss a few details about the story itself.

Redemption is an emotionally gripping, fast-paced, well-crafted second chance paranormal romance filled to the brim with pulse-pounding danger, spine-tingling action, heart-wrenching drama, malevolent enemies, agonizing angst, fiery passion, steamy sex, dreamy romance, and laugh-out-loud humor. The narrative is beautifully written in the third person with clearly discernible his and her perspectives. The dialogue is smart, snappy, well-executed, and flows effortlessly. But hands down, my favorite component of every Lowe story is her cast of engaging characters. I found them to be intriguing, endearing, well developed, relatable, and, at times, hilarious. I was immediately smitten with the two protagonists of Redemption, sweet, lovely, and kindhearted Sarah Boone and handsome, man-of-few-words, and always serious Soren Voss. As the new Alpha/Leader of the small ragtag mixed shifter clan of the Blue Moon Saloon, we’ve seen quite a bit of Soren Voss throughout the series to date and I must admit, I’ve had a giant crush on the grumpy bearshifter since the very first book. Soren came from a long line of bearshifter clan leaders and as the eldest Voss brother, he’d been groomed since birth for the role. Tragically, his entire clan was destroyed by Rogue Purists, now leaving only him and his brother Simon to pick up the pieces and continue the Voss name. After losing everyone and everything the Voss brothers held dear, starting over was painful, but thanks to the kindness of the Twin Moon Wolf Pack in the high ranges of Arizona, Soren and his brother found safe haven along with a new beginning at the Blue Moon Saloon. Simon was miraculously reunited with the woman he loved and thought died in the attack, but Soren knew there would be no happiness for him. He would never recover from losing his soulmate, who was also murdered during the rogue attack. He tortured himself thinking had he just been there, he may have been able to save her. And Sarah Boone may have been human, but she was the other piece of his soul. He’d loved her since they were children. Even knowing they could never have been together, since he was a bear shifter and she a human, he was consumed with guilt and haunted by his actions of leaving several months before the attack without telling Sarah how he felt… and now he’d never have the chance. But you know what they say – never say never. It seems fate is nowhere near finished with Soren Voss and Sarah Boone. After a vicious attack almost nine months ago that killed her entire family and the man she loved, Sarah Boone had been on the run for her life, trying to outrun her pain and loss, constantly looking over her shoulder, guilt and unhappiness being her only companion. For no rhyme or reason, Sarah’s inexplicably pulled to a small town in the higher altitude of Arizona – and drawn to the Blue Moon Saloon. Her money is in short supply, her strength is waning, and her time is running out. She’s weak, weary, heartbroken, pregnant, and alone. She desperately needs a job and a place to stay, but who’d hire a pregnant woman who can barely walk? She never expected a miracle and she certainly never dreamed she’d find the only man she’d ever loved, alive and well at the Blue Moon Saloon, the same man who’d broken her heart. And worse, he didn’t look happy to see her. But we all know, the heart wants what the heart wants and fate will not be denied. Oh my! I so looked forward to reading Soren’s story. I knew it would be emotional and heartbreaking, and Lowe didn’t disappoint. These two characters just ripped out my heart. I think I sobbed through 75% of the book and there were several times I wanted to smack Soren on the human head, but thankfully his bear kept him in line! lol… I so loved grumpy Soren and adored kindhearted, courageous Sarah. It was such a heart-wrenching journey for our two starcrossed lovers but never fear, the stars may have forsaken them but the moon never did! And just as she always does, Lowe once again delivers an ending that will warm your heart and leave you grinning from ear to ear. *Happy Sigh*

Did I like this book? No, I LOVED it! Would I recommend it? You bet, and I am but only for adult readers since it does include some steamy, dreamy sex scenes. Will I read this author again? Absolutely! Just as soon as she releases her next book. And finally, was I entertained? Completely! I giggled, snorted, sniffled, sobbed, fumed, and raged through the entire book. There were even a couple of scenes where I was swearing like a sailor and sweating bullets but by the end, I was happy, satisfied, and well entertained! Hey, don’t judge; I’m a very emotional reader. Just wait until you read the shootout scene with Sarah and the silver bullets! Oops, slight spoiler! lol… But just a little piece of friendly advice. Don’t try to listen to this book while driving. I tried it before and it didn’t work out too well. I was speeding down the road, screaming like a banshee! And yes, Osborne’s narration was that good! lol… Fabulous entertainment and an awesome read!