Masked by Moonlight by Nancy Gideon

NGideon-Masked by MoonlightThe beginning of my love affair with Max Savoie began with Chased by Moonlight.  I fell hard for this man…er series after only a few chapters.  And so, I’ve been waiting in pure torture to read the first book of the Moonlight series, Masked by Moonlight ever since.  Once it was in my hands, I pretty much ignored the world.

ALL SHE WANTS IS REVENGE.

New Orleans homicide detective Charlotte Caissie is dedicated to bringing down the crime boss responsible for her father’s murder. Using Jimmy Legere’s mysterious and irresistible right-hand man is a dangerous gamble, and not only due to his reputation as more monster than man. Because her feelings for Max Savoie are . . . complicated.

THEN HE RISKS HIS LIFE TO SAVE HERS.

Rescued from the swamps as a child, Max exists silently in Legere’s shadow, heeding only his voice—until Charlotte Caissie awakens his emotions and tests his loyalties. Stepping outside his cautious rules threatens more than just his heart. He could expose his darkest secret.

NOW THEY’RE BOTH IN OVER THEIR HEADS.

Testing boundaries they weren’t meant to cross means facing the truth about who and what they are—and what they need from each other. If Max is the murderer she seeks, Charlotte could be his next victim. She can’t afford to trust any man. Good thing Max isn’t one.

I discovered something new that I love about the Nancy Gideon and her Moonlight series. I hate to say goodbye to characters from previous books, but it annoys me to no end to have to reread each thing that has happened in lengthy descriptions over and over again the farther the series goes, especially if it’s a series that I like to reread.   However, Gideon gives you bits and pieces in the current novel about the previous one, but just enough to say ‘here are the main pieces to the puzzle that will you need, to understand what’s going on’.  She doesn’t overdo it to the point that you have to skip over the inner monologues and flashbacks because you already know what happened.  This means I had no clue what to expect from Masked by Moonlight.  It made this book a completely new experience which solidified my love for this series.  I’ve done this before, reading the first book last, and almost every time I know what is going to happen and there’s no point to even reading it, but not this time.  I was on the edge of my seat the whole book waiting and wondering what was going to happen next.

And now I want to reread the whole series right this second…

The Max in Masked by Moonlight isn’t the one I knew thanks to the later books.  He really was Jimmy’s lapdog, and here I thought it was just a pun.  It’s strange in a way to see who he became first then to go back and see where he began.  I can see now how much he’s grown and changed, and how he’s found his footing and himself.  I never imagined him to not be Max, the confident, sure of himself and of his power, swagger when he walks into the room guy that I knew.  Oh he was there, don’t misunderstand me, but he’s a whisper of the man he becomes.  He’s literally under Jimmy’s thumb, without his own life or thoughts or place in this world.  He’s just there at Jimmy’s beck and call, he’s just a shell compared to who he becomes.  It makes me loathe Jimmy Legere even more.  And loooove Max more.

And Charlotte?  Charlotte is just as fiery and amazing as ever.   Even though I knew where things go for them, I felt sad and torn when she was accepting her feelings for him.  She fights herself a few times in later books as well but nothing like this time, or maybe that was just my take on things.  I found myself rooting for her to say yes to him!  It’s sad to say that one of my favorite scenes in the book is when she hears about Mary Kate/Sister Catherine being hurt, she beats the shit out of Max thinking he had something to do with it.  I know this was supposed to be an emotional turning point, and it was, but to read pages later of him stumbling through the streets bleeding and hurt…well I had to giggle and mentally high five Charlotte for being able to beat up a shape shifter.

There is a place in my heart for these two and I LOVE seeing them together.

Like I said above, I had no idea what to expect and just like always Nancy Gideon had me at hello.  Nothing was forced or predictable (well some of it was since I knew some of what happened).  Nothing was corny or over the top.  Dialogue and characters were believable and well done.  Everything was smooth, understandable, perfectly mysterious and completely awesome.  If there was a complaint, is that you don’t see Sister Catherine/Mary Kate as much as I thought you would.  I was hoping to get to know her better, BUT this story is more about Cee Cee and Max anyway, so it’s not that big of a complaint.

Buy Masked by Moonlight!  Take that back, buy the whole series!  Trust me, you will fall in love!

Read Order:
Masked by Moonlight
Chased by Moonlight
Captured by Moonlight
Bound by Moonlight
Hunter of Shadows
Seeker of Shadows

About Nikki R 120 Articles
SAHM of 2, happily married bookworm, blogger and aspiring author. If I could read/write all day, every day, I would. Luckily I have a very understanding, and patient, husband who lets me get away with it as much as possible. Now if only the kids would understand my obsession, and the house would clean itself, then I'd be all set.