From the first, Michael Faolan and Natalie Terrence knew they were destined to be Lycan mates, but constant danger in Michael’s life keeps them separated. They are stalked by the hunters, a group of men who plan to eradicate all Lycan as vermin.Natalie refuses to acknowledge the bond that she has with Michael until hunters burn down his barn and he is gravely injured. She cannot resist his call, … call, even with the threat hanging over his head.Michael Faolan has secrets of his own, but he is happy to accept Natalie’s ministrations. Their attraction ignites into flames of passion as they continue to fight the hunters. Could his secrets dampen the hunger Natalie feels for her mate, or can they use that desire to build a family and forge a love so strong no man, woman, or beast can tear them apart?
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When Michael and Natalie first meet, they know they are mates and are destined to be together, but they fight their attraction. However, when Michael is injured by Hunters who have vowed to eradicate all Lycans, Natalie goes to his ancestral home to help him heal and to help restore his home to its former glory. While there, Natalie discovers Michael’s protection of Lycans includes half-breed orphans, she finds herself falling for him despite herself. His surly exterior hides a noble character.
Good things: This is a moving story with solid world-building, well-crafted, believable characters and well-done fantasy mixed with realism. The end was a satisfying (and fun) HEA for the two main characters—with the surprise wedding being really cute. The way the characters care for the children, especially the half-breeds, is beautifully done.
Issues: I had trouble getting into the story. It was like coming into the story in the middle of it. This is the second book in a series and it shows. It was only after I was into it that I realized this one must take up after the first one ends so unless you’ve read the first one, you may not “get” everything that’s happening. Also, although the end is satisfying, it also leaves an awful lot of threads dangling so you know there’s going to be more. Once I was into the story, I enjoyed it, but honestly, had I not been reading this for a review, I probably wouldn’t have gone past the first chapter. I’m glad I did, but I believe you really need to read the first one (Emeralds) before this one in order to understand what’s going on with the characters.
Recommendation – pick this one up only if you’ve read the Emeralds one first.
Michael and Natalie are Lycan mates destined to be together from their first meeting. When Michael is injured protecting his home and family from Hunters who have vowed to eradicate his species, Natalie goes to the ruin of his ancestral home to help him heal and restore the place to its former glory–complete with crystal chandaliers, hidden passageways, and ghosts. Their friends and family work tirelessly to get the two of them together or warn them away from each other in turns. When Natalie discovers the extent of Michael’s “protection,” which includes half-breed orphans, she finds herself falling for him despite herself. His surly exterior hides a noble character.
This is a wonderful, moving story with fully realized characters, solid world-building, wonderful dialogue and descriptions, and the perfect mix of reality and fantasy. I kept turning pages well into the night because I was unable to stop reading. It makes me want to go back and read Book 1, and I will definitely be following this author in the future!
I love Krystal Dawn Harris’s Rings of Faolan series! While the “Emeralds” installment was a slow burn romance, the follow-up, “Rubies”, is action, action, action! This page-turner had me on the edge of my seat and gasping for air between chapters. Michael Faolan’s life is a rollercoaster with hidden twists, turns, and creepy tunnels for love interest Natalie. Michael’s scary haunted house, Heather Ridge, is as much a part of the story as a third main character. I loved how this story couldn’t take place anywhere else.
Michael is brother to Elise (main character of Emeralds) and the grouchiest werewolf on the block. Perhaps it is the injuries he sustained in Emeralds or his personality that makes him the worst patient in the world for Natalie. Alternating between flirting and grousing, Michael keeps Natalie guessing on whether he will ever claim her as his mate. The two dance around the subject until they have a late-night dance in his ballroom. SWOON-ALERT! The rugged man can ballroom dance.
Natalie is strong enough to take Michael’s crappy attitude and turn it back on him. She not only nurses him to health, cleans up his messes, hosts his family but also renovates his house without breaking a nail…err…claw. She’s the independent female lead, I would love to be friends with. With her love of gardening, we would be thick as thieves.
Overall, I highly recommend this fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants, action-packed paranormal romance.