River's Recruit
Author: Charlotte Abel
ASIN: B00A6JI9D0
Release Date: November 12th 2012
Genre: Paranormal, Romance
Series: Sanctuary #1
Summary
Jonathan McKnight lost
everything in Afghanistan. His left hand, his identical twin,
his self-respect and his naive belief that good always triumphs
over evil. Burdened by grief and guilt, he searches for
redemption on a solo backpacking trip into the remote Sawatch
Mountains of Colorado and discovers a secret tribe of shifters.
River, the beautiful young shifter that rescues Jonathan has
been promised to a man she despises. A man that does not desire
her and only wants to use her to achieve his own political
goals. Jonathan is more than a romantic rival. He’s a threat to
those goals.
The only way to save Jonathan’s life is for River to take him
as her recruit.
As Jonathan learns more
about the horrors of River’s cult-like society, he becomes even
more determined to escape it, until he learns that River is
responsible for everything he does and will be executed if he
succeeds.
Escape is not an option—unless Jonathan can persuade River to
leave with him. And if she refuses? Well, then, he’ll just have
to kidnap her.
Review
It really did
surprise me from how different the setting of
this book took place. Most books I read take place in a modern setting,
in a city or town. This book feels like it's in an older time, in a
rural setting. I couldn’t believe how much I enjoyed this book. From
start to finish ‘River’s Recruit’ intrigued me. They're not werewolf
shifters, but rather they have a way of life that is different
from any other book. Almost like a cult. Main character River
keeps telling Jonathan that it’s not a cult. (In some ways it’s a cult,
in other
ways it’s a way of life. Either way I don’t believe her.)
'River’s Recruit' takes place in Sawatch
mountain, in Colorado. It's in a secluded area, where no one ever
travels too. Another way of life hidden in those mountains sound so
mysterious I loved learning about Sanctuary and the place where River
lives in those mountains.
The plot is great. Jonathan, an outsider, come
across
River. He runs into River, who was being stalked by a Cougar, and he
tries to
get the cougar's attention. When the cougar suddenly attacks River,
Jonathan tackles the animal and is attacked instead of her. Jonathan
soon scares off the cougar. Or it decided to find a meal that wasn't
going to fight back. Its
gets amusing when River thought Jonathan had lost his hand to protect
her, when it wasn't there to begin with. As a snow storm hits, River
saves him by bringing him
back to a place where it can be dangerous for
anyone who isn’t from New Eden (a secret Tribe of Shifters). She takes
that risk
and brings him into her world as a recruit. (A
recruit is a human who wants to leave the normal modern human world.
They have to give up electronics, cars, anything modern, even certain
different types of food. He has to go through a bunch of tests to see
if he can become someone like River.) She has to teach him the ways of her
Tribe, such as what they are, how they live, what the rules of the places is. It must be hard on Jonathan though, to have to change his way of life so
suddenly just to make sure he isn’t killed. Oh yeah, about that. If they find out
he actually doesn't want to be a recruit, and is just trying to get home,
he would be killed because he found out about River and how she lives
in the mountains. Good plan, River. At least he’s brave and knows how
to stand up for himself and River. A big twist happens and I got excited for
this because I didn’t expect Jonathan to be that big of a deal, but he is, it.
It left me shocked, and I liked that about this book. 'River’s Recruit' has two
different point of views, River's and Jonathan's. The different views both contrast and compliment each other very well, showing how different their worlds are.
River is an 18-year-old woman of contrasts. She
gives attitude to the people she doesn't like, but is shy to the people
she does like. She doesn't want people she likes to be hurt for her
mistakes. It's a relatable trait. Who would want someone to be hurt for
something they did? She's like an Eve in the Garden of Eden, walking
around naked with no shame. It's when she and Jonathan get close that
she begins to feel modesty and the need to cover herself. If i had to
explain her life, it's a place where women are below men like in olden
times. They have no say in matters, and risk being killed or being
turned into a servant or town whore if they make one small mistake.
River had her
mother killed because River was almost raped and her mother killed the
man. She was then bought by her uncle. He's a kind man and wants whats
best for River. She always thought that she would someday become her
uncle concubine, and have his children (in her mind this is what was
the right thing to do). She learns something from him that can turn her
life upside down. River
does all she can to follow the rules and make sure her family is safe.
Jonathan seems to be your typical macho guy. He
didn't really care for his pre-army girlfriend, only wanted to get to
third base (oral sex) with her. When it became clear that wasn't going
to happen, he went into the army. His life changed when his twin brother
died, and he came home. He blamed himself for his twin's death, even
though he's told that he wasn't to blame. Meeting River changes his life by showing him how to love someone, and how not everything is what it seems in her world. Jonathan's military background gives him the knowledge how to stand up for himself. He
knocked Eli in place quite a few times, showing off and such. He’s also a bit
slow to take in information on the shifter world. I’m not saying it’s a bad
thing, since he is new to everything, but if your girlfriend is on the verge of
dying, YOU BETTER OPEN YOUR EARS MORE.
If you had to describe Eli, it would have to be a brat. He
whines and moans over the littlest thing. Also he thinks he’s all on top of the
world just because he’s the grandson of a important person in New
Eden. To me, I dislike him. He’s a brat and can’t do anything for himself. Doesn’t
help that the life he lives in, women are the ones who do all the work and the
men sit back and act all tough. I can also see why River hates him so much and
doesn’t want to have anything to do with him.
The romance was slow, which is good because I don’t find fast
romances all that great. The characters take the time to learn about each
other, about their past and present. They care a lot about each other and would
run away from the Tribe if they could. River's family stands in their way though, so their love is a secret.
Rating
4 out of 5 Howling Wolves
Author
Charlotte Abel was born and raised in Oklahoma where
she met her soulmate, Pete. She chased him to Boulder, Colorado
and finally convinced him they were meant to be together
forever. They've raised three kids, two ferrets, three dogs and
countless hamsters -- and are still happily married.
She's in love with "real" life and paranormal romance.
When she's not reading or writing, Charlotte enjoys hiking,
bicycling and primitive archery (although she's never shot at
anything other than a target!)
The final book of The Channie Series, "Finding Valor,"
should be available by Christmas.
Giveaway
Your choice of either a necklace, Bookmark or Keychain and a e-book copy of River's Recruit.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
#8 Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer
#2 Whispers at Moonrise by C.C. Hunter It’s been a while since I’ve been this excited to read a
book. This forth book of the series was just so good. Every moment of this book was exciting where I couldn't put it down for even a second. There was quite
a few times it brought me to tears because of the sad scenes that happen in it,
doesn’t help that I was reading this book on the subway with tears in my eyes. 
