Healer's Need

Wow, what a beautifully written story filled with so much depth and emotion. I never anticipated feeling such a connection to these characters. I enjoyed Elise’s journey from vulnerable and innocent to fully capable and confident. Even as she experienced her soul quest I cried at the pain, the beauty, the healing that comes from choosing to let go of the past and embrace a different way. How one decision can change the outcome in so many ways. It moved me in a way I would have never expected. Tate was the epitome of an alpha male hero. His sole focus was always on Elise. He exhibited all the alpha traits of jealousy, though there was really no reason to be jealous except if someone happened to look at Elise, possessiveness and overall protectiveness…even from his base desires. And yet that too gave me an opportunity to witness Elise’s transformation as she proves to him she is his perfect mate in every way. The pacing here is slower, the story all the richer for it. The chemistry between the hero and heroine perfectly perfect causing the heat level to reach volcanic proportions. I loved that despite their intense desire, this couple did not fast forward into consummating their relationship. There really wasn’t much drama here, despite the background this clan has and the danger lurking, and this story is centered mostly on Elise and with her, Tate. It’s been some time since I read the first book, Guardian’s Bond, and with the slew of books I’ve read between then and now I simply could not remember all the details of the events that led to the opening of this story. That caused a bit of trouble for me and leads me to advice readers to read the first book of the series prior to this one. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by NetGalley and Carina Press. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Healer’s Need by Rhenna Morgan Ancient Ink #2 Coyote Shifter and warrior Tate Allen is taking his time as he courts Elise Ralston. He believes that Elise is not ready for his more aggressive side so is courting her tenderly and letting her grow comfortable with him. He KNOWS she is his mate but she is perhaps not as up on all things Volάn as she needs to be thus the slower going than his coyote might like. Elise has a vision-quest to go through, a position in the clan to assume, her past to put into perspective, power to claim and a man who knows she is his…quite a bit for her to tackle but tackle it she does. She is a lot stronger than Tate might think and their relationship was a joy to watch. Throw in Draven (the terrible evil of this series) and coming up with a way to thwart him while saving another is also dealt with in this book as is the setup for book three in what may be a trilogy although a longer series would not be a bad idea according to me ;) I really enjoyed spending time with the Volάn and look forward to reading book three when it is ready. Thank you to NetGalley and Carina Press for the ARC – This is my honest review. 5 Stars

Healer’s Need is a fascinating and wonderfully unique shifter romance full of bold, convincing characters that seize readers by their imaginations and refuse to let go. The characters are bold but Elise may not end up being some readers’ favorite because of her shyness and insecurity which stems from childhood issues but Tate and Elise has some rocking chemistry that sets senses aflame as Elise works through those emotional obstacles and takes her place among the clan and building a relationship with Tate which has quite a bit of heated passion and lots of sweetness as Tate courts his mate. The plot has a steady build up with a magnetic pull that keeps readers glued to the pages with lots of thrilling suspense and excitement with an adrenaline pumping climax. There are twists and turns throughout and while some of the suspense takes place in the relationship between Tate and Elise, the story also builds intrigue regarding their enemy and the steps the clan is taking to find him. The author has created a fascinating world with some creative and unique elements that make for an ideal change regarding shifter romances. Readers love how the characters receive their beasts through a “Soul Quest” and how the author integrated the tattoos as part of their magic and culture. This book can be read as a standalone, but to receive maximum enjoyment and understanding, they should be read in sequential order.