Review: Natural Evil (Elder Races #4.5) by Thea Harrison

Natural Evil (Elder Races #4.5) by Thea Harrison
Format: ebook
Source: purchased

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Date read: 2012

Elder Races
1. Dragon Bound
2. Storm's Heart
3. Serpent's Kiss
3.5. True Colors
4. Oracle's Moon
4.5. Natural Evil - Paperback | Kindle
4.6. Devil's Gate
4.7. Hunter's Season
5. Lord's Fall
5.5. The Wicked
6. Kinked
6.5. Dragos Takes a Holiday
6.6. Pia Saves the Day
6.7. Peanut Goes to School
7. Night's Honor
8. Midnight's Kiss
8.5. Dragos Goes to Washington
8.6. Pia Does Hollywood
9. Shadow's End
9.5. Liam Takes Manhattan
9.7. The Chosen
9.8. Planet Dragos
9.9. The Unseen
9.95. The Adversary

Thea Harrison
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Synopsis (Goodreads)

Claudia Hunter is on a road trip through the Nevada desert when she sees the body of a dog on the side of the highway. Pulling over to investigate, she quickly determines that the enormous animal is clinging to life. While working to save him with the help of the local vet, Claudia realizes there’s something about the creature that seems more. Other. Wyr. Which makes this case of animal cruelty attempted murder.

Too injured to shape shift, Luis Alvaraz is reluctant to tell Claudia what he knows about his attack, afraid it will only make her a target. But the sheriff is corrupt, and his attackers know Luis is alive and vulnerable. To make matters worse, a sandstorm is sweeping into town, and if they're going to survive the night, Luis will have to place all his trust in Claudia.

Warning: Take a gorgeous man temporarily stuck in the dog house, add a strong, take-no-prisoners woman, mix in encroaching enemies and a raging sandstorm and stir to combine. Enjoy with a freshly opened can of whoop-ass.

My Thoughts:  Disclaimer for those that haven't heard me rave about Thea Harrison and her outstanding Elder Races series before: I am MADLY in love with this world. Madly. I have no problem whatsoever finishing up one of these books and then flipping back to the first page and starting all over again. Seriously, I am shameless in my love. Shameless.

This time around we're given the delectable Luis and the strong, silent Claudia. Claudia intrigued me. She's capable, smart and she has a feeling that the half-dead critter she rescues is more than just an abused dog. She gains Luis' trust when she protects him when he's at his worst and Luis finds himself falling for her.

Storyline-wise, I was very impressed by the twists and turns of the story. I loved how the title played into the overall arc and how we were left with a bit of an open-ended ending - I'm firmly of the belief that there was a beautiful off-page HEA (full of sweaty, Wyr sex and other delicious things), in case you were wondering.

Greed, loyalty, and unexpected connections make this a home-run in my book. Thea Harrison is officially on my fangirl flail list.