Review: Crux - Moira Rogers

Jackson Holt makes a decent living as a private investigator in New Orleans, home of one of the largest underground supernatural populations in the United States. He and his partners have never met a case they couldn't crack...until a local bar owner asks him to do a little digging on her newest hire.

New Orleans is the fourth destination in as many months for Mackenzie Brooks, a woman on the run from a deranged stalker. After all, any man who shows up on her doorstep claiming to be her destined lover has more than a few screws loose. But crazy doesn't explain why he always finds her no matter how far she runs.

When her well-meaning boss puts a PI on her case, Mackenzie comes face to face with the incredible truth: magic is real, and whatever spell has kept her hidden and separate from the paranormal world is rapidly deteriorating.

With time running out, she has no choice but to trust Jackson as he struggles to uncover the truth of her past-and her destiny.

Southern Arcana Series:
Crux
Crossroads
A Peyton Family Christmas (free short story on Moira Rogers' website)
Deadlock (ebook = January 4th 2011, print = 2011)
Cipher (ebook = September 2011, print = 2012)

Visit Moira Rogers' website for more information

Review:
Mackenzie is running scared, trying to escape from a crazy stalker who seems to be able to find her no matter where she goes.  Running out of options she finds herself a job in a bar to try and build up her dwindling savings and although she finds herself wishing she could stay in New Orleans she knows she must be ready to leave at a moments notice.  Her new boss Nicole is worried about her, she knows Kenzie is hiding something and fears for her safety so she asks her friend and PI Jackson to investigate.  Jackson finds out more than he bargained for and Kenzie soon discovers a whole supernatural society that she had no idea existed.

Crux is a book I purchased ages ago and I have no idea why it has taken me so long to get around to reading it - I wish I'd started it sooner but the good news is that book 2 (Crossroads) is already available and I only have to wait until January to get my hands on book 3 (Deadlock).  I won't be leaving it too long before I read both of those because I thoroughly enjoyed Crux.

Mackenzie is a great heroine, although she is scared of her stalker and then shocked when she discovers this whole supernatural world she doesn't whine and complain the whole time.  She isn't a wimpy character and she is prepared to help herself rather than just sit back and wait to be rescued.  Having said that I also liked the fact that she is willing to accept advice from those who know more about the situation she finds herself in than she does.  Although she is wary of Jackson and Nicole at first she feels instinctively that she can trust them and is grateful for the help and support they offer her.

Jackson is a man who would be easy to fall for, a bit of a player he certainly has the charm and the looks but he also has a more sensitive and caring side and he cooks a mean Italian too.  Although he is protective he doesn't act in an overbearing way which is something I really liked about him.  Jackson and Kenzie together have fantastic chemistry and I loved the sexual tension between them.  There is something more fulfilling about a relationship where the characters don't immediately jump into bed together and believe me it is well worth the wait with these two.  I also loved the banter between them and would have been happy to spend more time with the couple.

Although this is a paranormal romance it is one that straddles the lines with urban fantasy and has plenty of action and an interesting plot to back it up.  There is a great cast of supporting characters and although there are a few different names to remember we got to know enough about each of them to make me want to spend more time with them.  Each of the characters have their own distinctive personality and I didn't find I had any problems remembering who was who. 

I was impressed with the world building and am looking forward to spending more time with these characters.  Crux was a great start to a series which has left me itching to start reading the next book and I'm sure this series will only get better. I'd definitely recommend Crux to fans of both paranormal romance and urban fantasy, I'm sure you'll enjoy it!  If you haven't tried anything by Moira Rogers (writing duo Bree and Donna) yet then you're missing out and this would definitely be a good place to start.

Source: Purchased

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