Sabine and the Beast, Moira Rogers

4 out of 5 stars

The Blurb from moirarogers.com

After three years at war, the High Lord of the Forest returns to his lands, a victorious wolf leader intent on claiming his mate. Instead Ciar finds an empty bed and a court with no recollection of the woman he loved. Following her long-cold trail proves far easier than facing what awaits him at the end.

Sabine's first instinct is to beg her beloved to leave. The High Lord's mother hired a witch to curse Sabine, desperate to wipe the lowborn wolf from her son's mind. But the spell worked too well, and Sabine has vanished from the thoughts of everyone who sees her. Including her own family.

The edges of his memory already blurring, Ciar and Sabine must race to find a way to reverse the spell. Yet every searing moment together is not enough to stop the curse's inexorable progress. His only chance is to bind Sabine to him too tightly to be forgotten, before she disappears once and for all.

Warning: This story contains cruel betrayal, destined love, vile curses, smoldering reunions, wicked deeds between wanton shapeshifters and a happily-ever-after worthy of any fairy tale.

My Review

The dynamic duo that is Moira Rogers strikes again! These talented ladies have the frustrating ability to have me cursing them one minute and praising them the next. The page-turning twists can send me into emotional upheaval. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not a bad frustration. The mere fact that these lovely writers have the ability to make me want to scream in frustration and passion is a testament to the talent that drives their books.

Their new Paranormal Romance, Sabine and the Beast, introduces us to two new shapeshifters Sabine and Ciar, just as they are reunited after years of separation. I admit that the Southern Arcana series holds more appeal for me than this one, however, that could be because I have a connection with those characters after spending so much time with them. I’ve grown attached and invested in those characters. That said, I also tend to like aggressive, take charge female leads like Mackenzie Brooks (Crux: Southern Arcana#1) and Nicole Peyton (Crossroads: Southern Arcana #2). While those characters have their own struggles, they faced the action. There just isn't a lot of action for her to stand against. However, Sabine is strong in her own right. As I ponder her personality, I note her strength lies not only within her desire to prevail over her curse, but in her ability to survive a life of such loss.

So, while I may not have had an instant connection to Sabine’s personality, I was definitely drawn in by her circumstance, by her heart. I suffered with her. Rejoiced with her. Loved with her. But I think it was Ciar that stole my heart in this one. His determination that he could prevail, that nothing could erase her from his mind, spurred me through the pages to see if his will alone could keep the terrible curse at bay. A short, but worth-while read.

My Favorite Lines

Sabine: “Your distance must have protected you from the spell’s effects. But my own mother forgot me, Ciar, and now so will you.”

Ciar: “Never.”

Ciar to Sabine: “Magic can do many things, but it will never strip you from my heart.”