Here you'll find snippets of reviews for Shades of Gray and Shades of Desire, as well as for New Moon Rising. Links to the original reviews are posted underneath each one. If you're on the fence about purchasing any of these books, hopefully these will help make up your mind.
Shades of Gray
"Shades of Gray by L.M. Pruitt is a phenomenal book that follows a young woman by the name of Jude Magdalyn through her new and exciting life. This book is not the typical vampire/supernatural book. It is packed full of magic and includes vampires as part of the scene rather than the primary focus of the book...I not only loved the story and the book but I also loved the characters."
Untamed Book Reviews---www.untamedbookreviews.com
"L M Pruitt has created a dark story with flashes of colour and an apt title, with a heroine whom you find yourself urging on in her battles which are both physical and emotional. "
Neil Kirby, All Review--- www.all-review.co.uk
"As the book wrapped up and I was finally able to release the breath I'd been holding through those final scenes, I realized that I had just found what I've come to term as a HALLEJUAH book. It had totally taken me over, drawing such a powerful response that for a moment I was completely speechless and happily exhausted from the emotional ride I'd just taken. To me, this is a book that needs to be read and I hope that others will be able to have similar experiences to what I had. I can't praise the author and her story enough. A definite read for not just lovers of Urban Fantasy but for anyone who appreciates a book written so well that it comes alive. Enjoy!"
The Bookish Snob-- www.thebookishsnob.blogspot.com
Taken from Amazon:
"This book was so great to read. It was so entertaining from the first page to the last, I felt like I was on a roller-coaster reading it not knowing what the next turn and twist would bring..This author is one to watch out for!"
"One word...PHENOMINAL!! This book was just that....I look forward to reading more from this talented author."
Shades of Desire
I was so excited when I was given the opportunity to read Shades Of Desire because I was still riding high from reading the first book, Shades Of Gray. I eagerly downloaded it to my Kindle, got nice and comfy and started to read, fully expecting to be blown away again. NOTHING could have prepared me for the experience because it blew me away and then some...I've said it once and so you'll have to figure me when I say it again what a master L.M. Pruitt is when it comes to the way she writes her stories...The connection I made with her in Shades Of Gray was solidified in this book as I continued to identify with her and by the end of the story, she had me so invested that if given the chance I would have jumped into the scene, taken up her cause and killed Jack myself. Jude is absolutely, hands down THE character worth reading.....
I'm giving it my HALLELUJAH rating because what other rating could I possibly give to a story that moved me as much as this one did. Shades Of Desire is definitely a book everyone should read so don't forget to bring your heart because for me, that's the only way to fully experience a book like this.
The Bookish Snob--www.thebookishsnob.blogspot.com
From Amazon:
"I wish I was a writer and could, more eloquently, put in to words how much I LOVED this book!! It's FREAKING FANTASTIC!!! I stayed on the edge of my perverbial seat the entire time.... L.M. is not afraid to show her characters' imperfections and flaws. She also gives them religion & faith. I like that they believe in a higher power and not just their own abilities. Keep your eyes on this talented lady, she is writing some great stuff!"
New Moon Rising
My love for all things LM Pruitt continues with this Southern Gothic werewolf novel. I'm not sure if she wrote this before or after Shades of Grey, but it's a far more polished novel, lacking the rough edges of the Jude Magdelyn book. There are still some issues, but overall this is another strong-voiced, page-turning read that just works for me.
Cari Gravier has lived in small town Selene, Georgia, all her life. She's only just learning that there's more to her family, friends, and neighbours than she ever realised, and as tragedy and danger is closing in, she has to learn fast. Hearts will break, friends will turn betrayers, and Cari will find herself a prize in a war she's only just realised is happening.
So, this is a werewolf book. I don't think that's a spoiler, given the title. I'm always predisposed to like a werewolf book, and any time there's a different spin on the mythos, I'm even happier. Pruitt hasn't done anything especially new with her wolves, but I loved the small, Southern-town setting and the no-nonsense pack politics. Cari is a vibrant heroine - and whilst there is a hint of the Mary Sue about her, it's not as pronounced as with Jude Magdelyn. Yes, Cari is the rebel darling of the town, always mouthing off and getting away with it; yes, she's fierce and makes grown men quake in their boots, but Pruitt crafts a town full of fierce, strong-minded women in New Moon Rising, so it doesn't seem like Cari is any more "sassy" or bossy or whatever than anyone else. And as with Shades of Grey, I'm happy to overlook little things like this because I find Pruitt's writing so engaging.
Bigger problems do test your credibility, however. Cari is apparently the only person in Selene who doesn't know that everyone's a werewolf. Her parents and ex-husband (the pack alpha) somehow managed to keep this from her for her whole life. She never saw or heard anything that made her suspect there was anything odd about the people she's know her whole life. Really? Okay... I guess it's not impossible, but it does seem unlikely. We are talking an entire town of werewolves here. Did she never hear howling at the full moons? Hear rumours of wolves in the woods? Cari never wondered where her husband was nipping off to every full moon? Okay...
If you can accept the fact that the entire town maintained this conspiracy of silence for Cari's entire life, this is a good story with a slow-burning plot, as Cari discovers her own role within the pack and wrestles with whether to accept it. She's not a werewolf herself, but she's essential to the pack, which makes her valuable to the wild dogs - wolves without a pack - and the wild dogs are nasty. And not everyone in the pack is friendly either, creating a guessing game for the reader: who's working with the wild dogs and who's just an unpleasant person? Cari has plenty of enemies even amongst Selene's townfolk, so you're never quite sure who's to be trusted or what their motives are.
Cari herself, despite the Mary-Sueish leanings, is a warm and witty narrator; sharp-tongued but with a heart of gold. I haven't read many UF books featuring divorcees (although I'm sure they're out there), and the relationship between her and Mike, her ex, rang very true and very touching. I don't know if there are any sequels in the works, but Pruitt left the door open for further stories and I feel like Cari has plenty of stories to tell. Although the werewolf aspect of the novel does take something of a back seat to the relationship aspect, there's enough there to satisfy my appetite for lycanthropy.----Naomi Clark, Goodreads Review
One thing I’m guaranteed when reading a book by L.M. Pruitt is that I’ll get something dark, something juicy, and something completely engrossing. I loved her Jude Magdalyn series so when I was asked to review her new book, NEW MOON RISING, I jumped at the chance. This author has an amazing way with words for me, telling a story that pulls me in deep and by the end I was left wanting.. craving more.
Driving home one night, Cari is surprised by the sudden appearance of her friend Will, who is wide eyed and terrified, pounding on her car door to let him in. Repeating over and over “they’re coming”, the appearance of eyes in the dark completely freaks Cari out and sets the stage for a suspenseful and emotion packed story. Dead animals appear on her porch and her relentless ex-husband Mike seems to be everywhere she turns. People are turning up dead, mauled by what looks like animals and when it happens to her beloved parents, Cari demands answers. Something is happening in her town and regardless of past pain, she is adamant about getting to the bottom of it. What she doesn’t expect is the answer she’s given and how tightly the town’s secrets wrap around her. Dealing with the death of her parents and coming to grips with a legacy she was unaware of, Cari finds herself once again in the company of Mike, who wants her back and grudgingly she admits to loving him still. Chemistry flames between them as she works through the painful reason for the divorce and begins opening her heart again. Problem is – are some betrayals too hard to forgive? Can love overcome any obstacle? And will the frightening menace and its supernatural nature destroy any hope of a future? Seriously, this is one heck of a story.
One of the things I love most about reading stories by this author is the depth of emotion I find. It’s like it’s not enough for you to feel what the characters are experiencing, she needs to reach in and rip out your heart in the process. Nothing excites me move than reading a book that pushes me and that moves me so intensely that I’m sobbing in parts because I can identify so well with what’s happening. The author shared that she put a piece of her soul in this story and I believe it. The plot itself was addicting as I tried to figure out what was going on and how Cari would be able to work things out. But as I got deeper into the story, the stronger it went past mere reading and I couldn’t help sit in wonder. It takes a great author to be able to capture some of the scenes so perfectly – to have the reader fully believe they are there. When Cari shared the horror and pain of miscarrying, I want to die alongside her. I wanted to shake my fist at everyone involved as anguish and pain coursed through me. It ceased to be words on a page and became personal. LOL I don’t think I can gush enough about the impact.
I really liked the characters in NEW MOON RISING. Each one was well fleshed out and believable. When it was over, I wouldn’t have been surprised to see them walk into my house and sit down like we were all best friends. Cari was this strong, opinionated woman who didn’t take crap from anyone. Her past had forged her into this feisty character and I really enjoyed watching her as she embraced the events unfolding around her. The thing I liked most was that when she finally confronted those that had hurt her, it wasn’t with a “Oh it’s ok you ripped out my heart and decimated me” - it was with a “You really hurt me and I don’t know if I can work through BUT I’ll try” It was much more realistic and it kept her true to her character. I loved the dynamics between her and Mike and that despite it all, sparks FLEW between those two. Mike was this sexy man who knew he’d screwed up but was bound tightly by the town secret. It killed him that he hurt Cari and vowed to make it right with her. I loved the things he said to her, that he was always there for her and he made me MELT into a gooey mess. He was strong and oh so protective – but what really set him apart was his willingness to admit he was wrong. He wasn’t caught up in macho pride. He loved Cari and would move Heaven and Earth for her. I loved watching them reconnect.
This is definitely a book to read for those who love an urban fantasy with a beautiful dose of romance. True to her style, L.M Pruitt delivers another gritty story that is both entertaining and addicting. It completely seduced me and left me wanting more and more. Keep your eye out for this author. Happy reading!---The Bookish Snob
