Whether Wolf or human, Mason Dillinger has never had to work at attracting a
woman before – females have just naturally flocked to him. Now he has found
his mate – however unwillingly – and he must actually woo the woman,
all while keeping her fragile human body in one piece. See, there’s this
rogue werewolf Mason is hunting, and that rogue would like nothing better
than to exact his vengeance on Mason by destroying everything he loves.
But Mason isn’t new to this game. As a Blood Runner, he’s old hat at
tracking and killing rogue werewolves – those that have developed a penchant
for killing humans. And with the beautiful Torry’s pretty neck on the line,
Mason will stop at nothing to ensure her safety – even if it means his own
life.
When the trail of the killer points to a threat much larger than one lone
rogue werewolf, it will take everything he’s got to keep them both alive.
Rhyannon Byrd was one of the first authors I discovered when I began reading
the romance genre almost two years ago. With captivating plotlines and
engaging characters, she immediately became one of my favorite romance
writers. When I heard she had finally published several books through major
New York publisher Silhouette Nocturne, I was beyond ecstatic, both for her
and for myself, as a fan of her work. While her eBook releases have been
wonderful, this new avenue in her career can only mean good things for her
fans. More exposure equals more sales, which means more books – it is a
win-win for both author and fans, right? *grin*
So now that you know how much I admire Rhyannon Byrd’s previous work, let me
tell you that the first book in her Blood Runners series,
Last Wolf Standing, more than pleased me. She has done a
beautiful job of conforming to Silhouette Nocturne’s standard while still
retaining her own writing voice.
This series is the tale of a werewolf pack, specifically the half-breeds –
part human, part shifter – and their work to ferret out the growing menace
to both the human and the shifter community. The half-breeds are looked
down on by the pureblood shifters, who mandate that each half-breed must
serve as a Blood Runner, hunting rogue werewolves. Only once each Blood
Runner has caught a certain number of rogue shifters are they accepted into
the pack with full rights.
Half-breed Mason Dillinger wants no part of the pack with its myriad
politics or a commitment of any kind. He hunts the rogues for his own
satisfaction, out of his own sense of responsibility and justice. The life
he leads is not suited to that of a man with something to lose – like a
mate. Needless to say, when he accidentally finds his own mate, he is
ill-prepared for the moment, leading to a hilarious scene between him and
Torrance. To the readers’ never-ending entertainment, Mason is at a loss
concerning how to approach his mate from the get-go. Of course, when it
comes to the physical part of their relationship, he more than gains the
upper hand… Torry has no defense for the intense sensuality between them,
or Mason’s skill in this area.
Torry is a bit of a loner. She has a few very close friends, but outside
them, she keeps to herself. Although she’s dated in the past, nothing could
prepare her for the force of nature that is Mason. Regardless, it doesn’t
take her long to stand up to the intimidating Blood Runner, and she proves
she can more than keep him on his toes over the long haul.
Both Mason and Torry grow throughout the course of this story. Torry finds
a core of inner strength she previously had no cause to call on. Mason
finds it within himself to love someone else – something he didn’t think
possible. Watching their individual journeys alongside the one they take
together is absolutely inspiring.
Throughout the book, the plot twists more and more, with new mysteries
brought to light even as others are solved. While we enjoy a very happy
ending for Torry and Mason’s romance, Ms. Byrd leaves us with immense
anticipation for the answers the next book in this fascinating trilogy will
bring regarding the ongoing storyline that arcs through the Blood
Runners stories.
Last Wolf Standing is sure to be an instant hit with lovers of
paranormal romance, especially those with a penchant for sexy shape shifter
stories! Bravo to Rhyannon Byrd for a thrilling entry in the Silhouette
Nocturne line!
Reviewed by Jennifer
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Blood Runners, Book 1:
Last Wolf Standing
Rhyannon Byrd
ISBN: 9780373617821
Silhouette Nocturne
March 1, 2008
Paranormal Romance/Shape Shifter
Mass Market Paperback
Rating:
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