On my quest for new authors and reads I stumbled upon this series. As much as I wanted to enjoy this series it didn't work out in my favor. Thank you for allowing me early access to these titles.

3.5 stars

This has got to be the most frustrating entry to the "Valentine Shepherd" series and the most personal. Well, not that all that befallen Val and Max on the previous books not personal either. But Reckoning clearly had Val and Max marked down as (easy) target, along with their four year old twin kids, and - with their history with the cabal and what they're capable of - to see Shepherd/Carressa's butting head on something they usually see eye to eye was just ...exasperating. The author really got a way with words to twist reader (meaning: me) emotionally.

So there's the first and crucial warning: be ready to get frustrated reading this you just wanted to smack both characters upside the head, or scream at them, or shoving the list of grievances they had had on previous books, and just. Just. Talk and listen to each other.

Reckoning tied up the loose-ends from previous books; brought back familiar (and still gray) characters and also brought forward the upper tier of Northwalk on page. The final showdown so to speak. Told from multiple POVs and revealed twisted minds of more than one characters, it's intense and unsettling - you can expect graphic sex and violence from this author - from start to finish, with the kind of finish you expected from a B grade action movie, gunfight and all.

As on previous books, the secondary characters had me yelling furiously the whole time; particularly one churlish, spiteful, scorned "friend", though they more than made up for it with the decision they made in the end. This book also had me wishing there's a spin-off story for Sten Andler and something happy for him. Nothing new there, I've always thought Val rather dense in "understanding Sten 101".


Copy of this book is kindly provided from the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited when I got the chance to read Reckoning early . I dived into this book as soon as could and OMG it was so good !!. In the book we pick up again with Val and Max and their twins , they have lived 5 years in peace and at the same time on edge waiting for someone to strike , so the minute that things do start happening is when things start to really start to pick up in this story . I love Val and Max the connection they have is so fascinating, just seeing how there abilities work together is so amazing. It has been a while since I have read a book with a married couple and Its always interesting to read about these two lol , we got to see Val and Max go through a lot of difficult situations and this took a strain on their relationship, there were times that I was worrying about if they were going to have their happy ending in this book, however all my worrying as usually went in vain because I just seemed to forget temporarily just how much Val and Max love each other, I love the way there love story has been written . We also got to see Stacy and I just love how her story intertwined with this one and at same time how it brought Val and Stacy closer again as friends. Besides love story , there was much more going on and I just love how Shan Figureroes wove everything together to make such a fantastic story, I was literally at the edge of my seat needing to know what would happen next at the end of every page. I had a bittersweet feeling finishing this book . I was sad to see the story end but at the same time I was happy how everything concluded. Reckoning is thrilling sexy , action-packed paranormal romance and if you love all those things in your story or you have already ready read the first 2 book in this series you should definately pick up this book.

Reckoning is the final book in the Valentine Shepherd series by Shana Figueroa. It's a supernatural romance/suspense novel and it's phenomenal. I don't normally read this genre since the few I have managed to read have felt dumbed down especially compared to this series.
 
Val and her husband, Max, know that hell is going to unleash its fury eventually. It's been 5 years of peace that has allowed them to watch their twins grow but Val knows her enemies are plotting their revenge. She also knows there is no way she will be able to protect everyone she loves. The desire between her and Max gives them an advantage- being able to see visions of the future; which will help them but it may not be enough.
 
I loved this entire series and this book wrapped that up nicely. I am always afraid to read the final book in any series because I am afraid I will not like how it ends. I thought Reckoning ended in a way that gives the author the opportunity to revisit this world at a later date if she so chooses. I love the chemistry between Val and Max and we don't lose any of that throughout. I also love when Val goes on a warpath and the deaths start stacking up. That makes me sound like a sadist but trust me if you read this series you will understand what I mean. I'd recommend everyone give this series a try even if the genre isn't your usual. You might be surprised.

Rating: 4.5 stars

So I fell more in love with Max in this story. He is my favorite. His way with his children. His easygoing nature but also being fierce when needed. His fight for his family and wanting to be all that Val needs. Seeing them have to go through danger again was hard but also exciting. It was an edge of your seat deal.

Val was tough as nails. her protection of her children and her husband was so amazing and wonderful. It shows how much she has changed. She has regrets over the past but is now determined not to run anymore. She is determined to fight for her children and husband. And what a fight it is wow. And that ending...do wonder what is next there.

The story is filled with twists and turns. Danger and intrigue and you just feel for those who are in the thrall of the Alpha. I hated to see the suffering of those who just want to have someone to accept them. hated to see what people would do for what they perceived as love and approval.

Shana Figueroa has entwined so many tales seamlessly that it is amazing. You have many plots unraveling and yet they all relate in one way and come back to Val and Max. I do wonder though why they are such a key to everything. And their children were just too precious for words.

The writing is addictive as is the story. The character I didn’t like: Stacey. Why? I didn’t like how she was. At the end of the second book she let her anger and jealousy take over. She was acting like a child and let her emotion rule her. Now she is doing more of the same but she knows that she is putting people in danger. She is helping to put innocent children in danger and she still does it. She knows what Kat is up to and yet doesn’t stop it out of a misguided anger and feeling that Val betrayed her and didn’t care. I think the problem there is Val cared too much. but for stacey it was all about what she felt was a slight and her wanting love. She felt Kat was the one to give it to her and she liked the life that she had with Kat. It didn’t matter that what they were doing was wrong she wanted the perks of that life. It was sad to see because she was a character that at the beginning you like but now you shake your head at her.

The story ends in a way that has you wonder what is next. Who will win out and where will this lead. Will Max and Val get normalcy? What about their children? And Sten what is up there? What about Kat and Stacey? So many questions left and so much more to have the favorite couple go through. Can't wait for the next to come out to find out what is next for these characters.

Reckoning, Shana Figueroa

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre:  Romance

I missed book one, but loved book two, a supernatural romance/suspense novel thats not the oh-so-popular dumbed down type.
I like a book that makes me work, not too hard, I want the story to flow, but not the sort that spoon feeds the reader every little bit of info.
I want to see the clues and try to work out for myself where the stoy is going, who's good and loyal, who's doing the dirty, and ultimately how its all going to meld togeher into an ending.

This trilogy does all that and more, fab characters, not flawless impering types, but gritty and real, prone to bias, to making mistakes and yet at the heart Love plays such a strong part.
Its definately a re-reading trilgoy for me and then I really must get book one so I can see the beginning of how it all started, maybe understand a bit more of some of the characters. Sten especially is one who I didn't like at first, but have come to love, and wonder if maybe book one has more about him there. 

Its another great adventure, with murders stacking up quickly and Valentine on the warpath. How dare Northwalk threaten her family? She adores Max and their twins, but has always felt the threat of Northwalk is near, and yet now she thinks they're on the track of them again she can't seem to convince Max. 

I love Val, she's not an easy person to get along with but she'd give her life in a heartbeat for the small circle she considers family and freinds.
She's not one to run from danger, Max seems to think she's over-reacting to her suspicions but willing to pick up and move if that will help her, but she knows moving = running and Northwalk will still follow. She wants to stand up to them, take preemptive action, Max isn't so convinced.
In a way that's understandable, he's been through so much and just wants to enjoy his life now, with his adored Val and their twins. 

Northwalk play a long game though, and once more its a cracking paced drama, with me wondering who was on which side, and why, and how and looking at people and events trying to work out motives.
Max made me so cross at one point...and yet I understood where he was coming from. Likewise Val, she really does run headlong into danger at times. 

Its a perfect wrap up....for now ;-) Ending works really well, and then...there's that hint that Northwalk may be down but not dead, and that they aren't the only players in the game. It finished off this section of Val and Max' life perfectly, but leaves the way open for more. 
I know its a trilogy I'll want to re-read, and at some point when I'm ready to do that I'll get book one and start in the proper place, get a better understanding of the characters and events. 

Its a supernatural read with an unusual twist, and it was refreshing to read something so different to most books offered. The Seer part, the visions and predictions reminded me a little of the Seers in JC Andrijeski's Allie's War and Quentin Black series. Most supernatural reads follow the more usual vampire/shifter/fae structure while this is really humans with a supernatural extra - humans-plus maybe ;-) and it was interesting and easy to believe for me.  

 Stars: Five, perfect wrap up for this trilogy leaving the door ajar for more books later as the family grow.  

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

Excellent read.