Reviewed by Taylin
TITLE: Running Out Of Moonlight
SERIES: Saint Lakes #2
AUTHOR: April Kelley
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 198 Pages
RELEASE DATE: February 10, 2016
BLURB:
Can two broken shifters puzzle out their relationship and find lasting love?
Sage Rickman is afraid of everything. After suffering severe trauma at the hands of a vampire coven, the snake shifter doesn’t know if he’ll ever stop jumping at shadows. Discovering his fated mate is a feral dragon shifter just might be his undoing.
Garridan Arach has been set free. Not only has he been imprisoned for years but he’s also been stuck in his dragon shifter form. If his human and dragon sides can’t merge, not only will he lose his mate, but he might lose his new clan to the coven who held him captive.
With the enemy stalking Sage, healing is impossible. And it’s not just his sanity at stake but fate of the whole town.
Running Out of Moonlight is the touching second book of the MM Paranormal Romance series, Saint Lakes. If you like resilient snake shifters and protective dragons, then you’ll love this emotional novel.
Buy Running Out of Moonlight to walk amongst shifters and vampires.
REVIEW:
Amongst the depths of despair, Garridan, a dragon shifter, and Sage, a snake shifter, realize they are fated mates. However, neither is in a good place to follow through with the union. After being held captive by vampires for years, Garridan is almost feral. And at the hands of vampires, Sage was raped. Will their trauma tear them apart, or can they help heal each other? Both need time, but war is on its way.
Running Out of Moonlight is book two of the Saint Lakes series. Individual couples get their story told, and the end of one tale leads into the next, but an underlying arc spreads over the series. I may be wrong, but I think the author will get all the soldiers sorted before providing a big finish. As frustrating as that may be because there are twelve books in the series (thankfully, they are all in circulation), the individual tales are lovely to read. While there is limited action, Garridan and Sage’s journey revolves around finding something special amid dealing with/healing from trauma, aided by a family of choice, not one of birth.
The story is told in the third person, primarily from the viewpoint of Sage, with an extra side of Garridan. Worldbuilding evolves across the series. While much of the overall scenery was sorted in book one, there are some added extras in this book that include cabins, work, and household. As mentioned, this story is more about recovery and what works for the individual – which may not involve traditional methodology.
As a young child, Bennett (Luke’s mate from book one) lost his parents, and Garridan became his guardian. Unbeknown to Bennett, Garridan was captured by vampires and held in his dragon form for decades. Add in that Garridan has a fated mate, and there is plenty to sort on the relationship side. Then there’s the dominance of dragon vs human and the balance that needs to form between the two so that Garridan can function in the community, and what capacity in the community, too.
Sage, having endured a fate no one should go through, is understandably emotionally and physically shaken. Luke helps him physically using his witch powers, but there is still plenty of emotional trauma to come to terms with. To this end, he suffers panic attacks, self-worth issues, and spirals into depression. Given Garridan’s feral state, and Sage’s natural fears, it takes a while for Sage to let him in, and between them, they find a way to heal that works for them.
Running Out of Moonlight is a tale of emotional angst. After all, there is no magical cure for what they went through, and coping mechanisms differ. It was lovely to see the strength return to both characters in different ways. Lighter moments are provided by the extended cast through actions and banter. The story also contained self-defense lessons that turned flirtatious, explicit scenes, inter-shifter politics, challenges, and the introduction of future fated mates, one of which has no intention of falling into a sentimental relationship. I’ll admit – I’m looking forward to that one.
RATING: 
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