Review: Wilder's Mate (Bloodhounds #1) by Moira Rogers

Release Date: March 8, 2011
Synopsis (via Goodreads):

Wilder Harding is a bloodhound, created by the Guild to hunt down and kill vampires on America's frontier. His enhanced abilities come with a high price: on the full moon, he becomes capable of savagery beyond telling, while the new moon brings a sexual hunger that borders on madness.

Rescuing a weapons inventor from undead kidnappers is just another assignment, though one with an added complication--keeping his hands off the man's pretty young apprentice, who insists on tagging along.

At odds with polite society, Satira's only constant has been the aging weapons inventor who treats her like a daughter. She isn't going to trust Wilder with Nathaniel's life, not when the Guild might decide the old man isn't worth saving. Besides, if there's one thing she's learned, it's that brains are more important than brawn.

As the search stretches far longer than Wilder planned, he finds himself fighting against time. If Satira is still at his side when the new moon comes, nothing will stop him from claiming her. Worse, she seems all too willing. If their passion unlocks the beast inside, no one will be safe. Not even the man they're fighting to save.

Warning: This book contains a crude, gun-slinging, vampire-hunting hero who howls at the full moon and a smart, stubborn heroine who invents mad-scientist weapons. Also included: wild frontier adventures, brothels, danger, betrayal and a good dose of wicked loving in an alternate Wild West.

My Thoughts:  Would ya'll look at that cover!  It's gorgeous!  Honestly, it so perfectly catches the feel, the vibe, the feral edge of this book that now that I've seen it I can't imagine anything else fitting.  *shivers*  Yes, this book really is all edgy and sexy and violent and steampunky.

Here's a secret: I've been holding off on writing this review until the cover was released.  In other words I read this book about a month ago, put it aside, and then had to make the supreme sacrifice to sit down and read it again so I could give it a detailed review.  I know what you're thinking!  The things I'll do for authors I adore!  It's tragic, really.  Tragic.

Oh, guys.  This book is AWESOME!  And I'm not just saying that because I really do love anything Moira Rogers writes.  This story is so ... sexy and naughty and, man, I love the world that's been created.  It's just twisted enough to make my imagination run wild.  The Bloodhounds are freakishly Alpha, a melding of man and beast.  Wilder comes across as a ruthless, blunt man with a conscience.  *swoon*  He's man enough to use Satira's inventions where other Bloodhounds would choose to only rely on themselves.  He sees the strength in her and her willingness to fight for the things she believes in and he accepts it.

Satira is a woman who's doing the best she can in a world dominated by men.  Her skill at inventing and tinkering set her apart from other women.  Her gender throws up a roadblock to being a recognized for what she can do.  Her loyalty toward the man who taught her to harness her mind throws her into Wilder's path.

And those two start sparking off each other from the first.  It's fabulous!

I really don't think I can emphasize enough how much I enjoyed this book (both times I read it!).  The worldbuilding is fantastic.  The characters are well rounded.  The bad guys are bad.

I'm expecting good things from this series.  Goooood things.

More books by Moira Rogers

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