I loved this whole book, in fact this is one of my favorite series! Nell is an amazing main character. She is honest and good, smart and independent, and despite all of the obstacles against her she perseveres. Also, she is crazy powerful! We get a bigger glimpse into Nell's powers in Circle of the Moon and man is she off the charts!

Circle of the Moon also gives us a much bigger look into Rick's past as well. Things and events that make him who he is, and, I'm hoping, an end to some of the suffering he has endured. *Fingers Crossed*. A hero can only take so much torture & suffering and I'm ready for Ricky-Bo's to end. He deserves to be happy too.

The book takes place after the last Jane Yellowrock series book, Dark Queen. So if you're reading Circle of the Moon before Dark Queen, you're going to get a few spoilers for Dark Queen in there. If you are a Yellowrock fan then you will love finding all the Easter Eggs in this book. More of the characters you know from the Yellowrock series and more from newer characters we see in Dark Queen.

There is tons of action, and like I said before, more of Nell's mysterious powers are revealed. We also get some more of Nell's sister Mud, and more info on the rest of the Nicholson clan. And God's Cloud of Glory Church. And the Vampire Tree. I don't want to give spoilers, but lots of story development in this one.

It was a great story that is wrapped up neatly by the end. If you've enjoyed the Jane Yellowrock series, or the Soulwood series, then I'm sure you will love this one. If you haven't tried either, then I highly recommend them! Faith Hunter is one of the author's I actually keep tabs on to see when her new books release, she's amazing.

Circle of the Moon is the fourth book in the Soulwood series. There are lot of things here that could be spoilers for the previous books so if you haven’t read them, beware.

In this installment, we have someone doing a calling spell that seems to be affecting Rick. It’s a huge puzzle trying to figure out not only who is doing this spell, but also why. The PsyLED team has a couple of people join them in their search for answers, but can they be trusted? We are treated to some non-stop action throughout the book. Something is constantly happening and the team must be on their toes.

Not only does Nell have to deal with everything that is happening at work, she is still in the process of bringing her sister, Mud, home to live with her. She must deal with childcare, creepy men wanting to marry Mud and Mud’s plans for when she moves in. Nell also has to deal with some feelings she is starting to have for Occam. A lot of things are happening to bring her out of her church ways.

There was SO much to this story that you can’t help but stay transfixed to the book. There is a lot of reference to the Jane Yellowrock series. I thought that it might have been beneficial in understanding some of the dynamics to have read that series. It can be read without, though, as there is certainly enough happening in the present to keep your mind occupied. Circle of the Moon is a really great mystery with lots of action. I am still quite unfamiliar with Nell’s gifts, and some of the problems she deals with because of it. Hopefully I will understand more as I continue to read.

Circle of the Moon is a spin-off of the Jane Yellowrock series which I attempted to get into but couldn't. Anyhoo's, we have a new character set in the same world. Nell who works for the PsyLed uses her magic to help solve crimes.

This is an intriguing world and very exciting. I enjoyed reading about the different paranormals and how they interacted in this world that Ms. Hunter has built. Nell is a well developed character and I liked her growth throughout this story as well as her relationships with the other characters in Circle of the Moon.

The plot was what I would call typical of what you might find in a paranormal fantasy but I think the author did a good job of keeping you invested in the goings on in COTM.

I haven't read the previous book this series as most may have done so I may be a bit lost on Nell and her fellow detectives so I would suggest going back and reading the books before this one. As with most things about this story, I do believe Ms. Hunter did a good job of giving us some history on these characters...but...this world is a intricate one, so yeah...I highly suggest reading the previous books.

Still I enjoyed Circle of the Moon and will at some point go back and read this series. If you enjoy a good paranormal fantasy, then I highly recommend COTM.

*Thank you to the publisher/Netgalley for the opportunity to review.

Faith Hunter continues the Soulwood paranormal fantasy in which Nell can draw magic from the land in Circle of the Moon. Nell has to manage rogue witches, her religious family, and her relationships within her paranormal law and order unit. Meanwhile the unit is compromised and the vampires are on the warpath. Read and enjoy

Thank you netgalley for my ARC of Circle of the Moon by Faith Hunter in exchange for my honest review.
This is the fourth book in the Soulwood series and I could not wait to jump in.
Nell Ingram and the other PsyLED agents are on the hunt for a witch that is practicing black magic that seems to be targeting their boss, Rick LaFleur.

I have been a fan of Faith Hunter since reading the first Jane Yellowrock book, and this series is a crossover of Jane with a lot of the same characters and parallel storylines. I enjoyed this story a lot. I really love Nell and how she isn’t a punk lol. She is not afraid to stand up for herself or others and I’m loving seeing her magical abilities grow. This book also referenced a lot of stuff that happened in the last Jane book so it has me hype for the next book in that series. I read the arc for this book but I enjoyed it so much that I will be picking up the audio, which is how I listened to the first three books.
This bad boy released today and I highly recommend picking it up if you are in to Paranormal/ Fantasy.

I'm a huge fan of Faith Hunter, and this series is a perfect example why. Our heroine, Nell Ingram, is such a unique and interesting character that I could read about her every day and never get bored. I love the aspect and characteristics of her power and land, and her upbringing in a polygamous cult adds a dynamic aspect to her character that brings her down to earth and makes her relatable. Not because of the cult aspect, but just her simple common sense approach to everything, and even her ability to turn on the church widder woman persona when she wants to prove a point or manipulate someone.

In this installment, Nell and the PsyLED team are going up against an unknown black magic practitioner and their nefarious plans for paras, and team leader Rick in particular. You know, I never liked Rick in the Jane Yellowrock series, for reasons relating to their relationship. But in the Soulwood series, you really get a closer look at Rick, things that have happened in his life (horrible things), and have a deeper perspective of the whole story. Now you can't help but feel for Rick and want him to find his happy ending somewhere, somehow, even when it seems the most unlikely.

The villain(s) and nefarious plans for our suspense plot have been in the works for a very long time, which required us to learn even more about Rick and his past. I thought the plot in this one was well-written and well-developed, and unfolded along at the perfect pace to keep me turning the page all day. It even helped me knock out 5 miles on the elliptical without dying! The story also dropped hints at things that may be happening in the Jane Yellowrock world that have me very intrigued for the next book in that series.

I really like that Nell's personal life is interwoven with the PsyLED work as it helps humanize Nell and advances the plot quite nicely. Nell is still working on her plan to adopt her little sister, Mud, which sees Nell becoming more of a townie, though somewhat reluctantly. Nell and Occam also continue to grow their relationship, and its so freaking sweet that it makes my teeth ache. I just love Occam's "Nell, Sugar..." I can't wait to see what the next book has in store for this couple, and possibly other couples within the team.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from the publisher.

FTC – Got this for review from the tour host – I wanted this book so badly!!

Tags – part-of-a-series, First-person-POV, shifters, strong-heroine, has-to-be-read-in-order, shape-shifters, magic, plant-magic, vampire-tree, previous-trauma, slow-burn-romance, sci-fi

Content warnings – trigger warnings for mentions of rape, physical-abuse, emotional-abuse, violence

Heat-level – there is no sex in this book.

Quick scores-

Plot- 5/5

Before we start, if you are reading the Jane Yellowrock series, and haven’t read Dark Queen, this book contains spoilers for it.

Also, I need, at some point, Rick to get some happiness. My heart breaks for him in each book – this one is no different. Please, Ms Hunter??

The plot is, as usual, thrilling, with unexpected twists as Rick’s secrets start to reveal themselves in a series of terrible events. As his past starts to unravel, the depth and complexity of the conspiracy against him becomes more apparent, leaving me marvelling at the clues I had missed in other books and eager to figure out how it would all work out. This book answers so many questions… it is so very clever.

The thing that makes this series for me will always be the way Nell works with the team. I love every character and, in this one, they have to become even closer to help Rick out of this mess. Each member has a part to play in ensuring that he is safe and I adored reading all their interactions as they race against the clock. Faith Hunter writes fully fleshed, engaging characters that I love to read about in this world.

I can’t go too much into it without spoiling both the book or the series arc (for newbie readers) so I will stop there, but I am so glad I found both this series and Faith Hunter’s writing.

Heroine – 5/5

Nell is wonderful. A previous child bride in a mysogynistic church, this series has been about her evolution. It is clear throughout the series that her core characteristics of strength and determination have always been there but, now she has learned to trust others and life outside the church, she has started to use those characteristics to shape the life she wants, free from restrictions and self-doubt. I loved seeing her strength develop into belief in herself and her determination become a focus to have the life she wants. Watching her grow into a excellent psy-led officer has been another favorite part of the series.

This series is told from her point of view, in her voice. I should warn you all of that as I know that first-POV is not for everyone, however I truly love her voice.

Romance 5/5

The central romance is Nell and Occum, a romance that has been developing for 4 books. I loved them; they are sweetness and respect personified. It is slow-burn romance at its best and the way that Occum waits for the woman of his dreams, who has had a truly awful experience of relationships to this date, left me with a smile a mile wide. The way he explains what happens in Gabon…. Well, I won’t spoil it, but I laughed and awed at the same time.

Cover 5/5

It reflects the book well

Reread –

Already done 🙂

Favourite part –

There is a scene between Occam and Nell that made my heart melt. You’ll see what I mean.

What didn’t work for me-

What I will say is that this series is very complicated and, in this one, because the crossover between the Jane Yellowrock and this series was so heavy, I found myself reading some sections again to see if I could figure out/remember all the events that were mentioned. It isn’t a bad thing, just a point to mention.

Nell Ingram is back in Circle of the Moon! After her experience as a tree, Nell feels everything is back to normal. As always, Nell is focused on her job, getting custody of her young sister, Mud, and her relationship with Occam. Although Nell and her team are recovering from their last big assignment, they are soon pulled into another one. It all starts when Nell gets a call from her boss Rick LaFleur who woke up to find himself naked outside a witches circle where a black cat has been sacrificed. Due to not remembering what happened to him, Rick wants his team to investigate this. It soon becomes clear to the team that someone is using magic to summon Rick in his werepanther form. What started out as a mystery of what happened to Rick soon turns out to be something bigger.

Overall, Circle of the Moon was another fantastic addition! We not only get to see how Nell has grown since the series began but other characters as well. It was also cute to see more of Nell and Occam’s growing romance. One character I felt sorry for was Rick, poor guy cannot seem to catch a break. It’s a good thing he has Nell and the team to support him when he needs it. I look forward to reading the next installment by Faith Hunter especially because there is never a dull moment with her heroines.

Every once in a while, you come across a series that you just can’t get enough of…Circle of the Moon is part of one of those series.

Nell is now a member of the Psy-LED. Even though she is a rooky, she is a superior detective. Now she must uncover who is calling Rick and causing all the deaths around them.

Hunter knows how to write UF. She catapults the reader right into her UF world. Strong plot, engaging mystery and marvelous characters, I just can’t get enough.

I loved it. I love how Nell has evolved. Hunter has perfectly melded an amazing urban fantasy with a superbly crafted mystery to entice, engage and mystify the reader, holding them captive for each and every word.

I received this ARC copy of Circle of the Moon from Berkley Publishing Group - Ace. This is my honest and voluntary review. Circle of the Moon is set for publication Feb. 26, 2019.

My Rating: 5 stars
Written by: Faith Hunter
Series: A Soulwood Novel
Sequence in Series: Book 4
Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Ace
Publication Date: February 26, 2019
ISBN-10: 0399587942
ISBN-13: 978-0399587948
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Circle-Soulwoo...
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/circ...
Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/sv/book/circ...
20 likes

Nell Ingram has recently returned to work at Psy-LED after months on “disability” at the end of the previous book. She’s mostly been doing research and filing reports, so she’s surprized when team leader Rick LaFleur calls her into the field. When she and her partner arrive, they find Rick, a shifter, recently returned to human form at the site of a witch circle with no memory of how he got there. So was Rick’s presence a coincidence or did the circle summon him? Nell’s research finds that similar circles have been appearing for months. And Rick seems to be keeping secrets from the team.

Much like in other books in the series, the mystery develops slowly. There’s a lot of information to digest and only short bursts of action. But the world is so interesting that I never really mind the slower pace. I do wish that Nell would do some research about her own magic at some point. I feel like she, and therefore the reader, doesn’t know much more about what she is than she did at the beginning of the series.

Though it’s not told from his point of view, I feel like this is mostly Rick’s story. After the way he’s been tormented throughout the series, I’m happy with the resolution he gets, even if I did see most of it coming. But first, he really gets put through the wringer. The events surrounding his tattoos, told in the short story Cat Tats (which is included in the anthology Blood in her Veins and also currently available on Hunter’s website) play a big part in the book. Though helpful, it’s not absolutely necessary to read that story first - it’s summarized pretty well. It’s been several years since I read it and I didn’t have any trouble following.

Things are changing for Nell as well, though most are works in progress. I’m happy to see her embracing her relationship with Occam, even though she’s not sure about what she wants yet. I’ve been rooting for them from the beginning. She is, however, quite confident in her dealings with her other team members, especially the new regional boss. It’s fun to see Nell challenge him, especially knowing how far she’s come since the series began. I’m excited to see where Nell and her team, especially the new additions, will go next.

I’ve never felt like you had to be reading the Jane Yellowrock series to read Soulwood, but there are a lot of characters who cross over in Circle of the Moon. If you are reading Jane, you definitely want to be caught up before starting this one since there are some major spoilers for Dark Queen.

CIRCLE OF THE MOON ended up being my favorite installment of the Soulwood series yet. Weeks later and I'm still thinking about the story and wanting to read more.

Nell has evolved so much since we first met her in the Jane Yellowrock series. I admit that when I started reading the Soulwood series I didn't fully connect to her, but over the course of 4 books I have really gotten to love her character and the way she thinks and works.

Not only has Nell evolved as a character, but her relationships with her team and Occam have grown as well. They all work well together and the romance between Occam and Nell is getting mighty interesting. I thought at first their slow progress would be frustrating, but it hasn't been and every step they take is a breath of fresh air.

We get quite a bit closer to Rick with every Soulwood installment. CIRCLE OF THE MOON has drawn me closer to him. We learn about and meet the person behind a lot of his bad luck and troubles in book 4.

CIRCLE OF THE MOON made me fall more in love with all the characters and the world they live in. I'm excited to see what will happen next with the storyline.

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Robin and I discussed our ideas and I am paraphrasing them. I couldn’t have done this without her. I really needed to talk things out because there were some confusing aspects. The Soulwood series is urban fantasy so I would definitely read these in order to not be lost. We debated about whether one needs to read the Jane Yellowrock series (we both have) but I think you could just read the novella Cat Tats, or read it as part of the anthology of shorts Blood in Her Veins, and it would be fine. Robin had read all the books but not the novellas. I really think one should make an effort to read at least Cat Tats in advance. Robin and I were both distracted by wondering about certain things on the Jane side, while reading.
As much as we have hated Rick in the past, we almost felt sorry for him. He’s having all kinds of problems and it isn’t even the full moon. Once the villains are known, Rick is actually kind to them, protective of them, even when we know they are lying. With Rick showing a much softer side and not seeming like so much a dick, there is room for the new D I C (Dick in Charge) in Firewind.
The investigation into what is happening with the circles is handled really well considering all the secrets. I mean – way too many secrets. Rick has secrets; Nell has secrets; Margot has secrets. The witches have fled, rather than help. Nell has trouble contacting Jane or the Youngers or anyone who might provide more information.
Nell is also getting ready for Mud to live with her. It means some upgrades to the house. She also needs to find someone to care for her when Nell is at work. I was severely worried about Mud’s safety several times because she was NOT safe at Nell’s office or home or with the church family. Because of course, some churchmen are still into their way of the polygamous cult. I didn’t feel Nell gave this enough attention.
Nell also worried us because she continues to use her own talents without knowing the consequences and does too many things without backup.We both understand how she doesn’t want to share her secrets or in some cases cede control but if you are going to be on a law enforcement team, you must have backup.
Nell is broken in a lot of ways due to her childhood growing up in the polygamist church. She is still so innocent in the ways of love and real world courtship, so it is incredibly cute and semi-frustrating, since we just want her and Occam to kiss. Occam was adorable in his declaration of love for Nell. We loved it and thought it was absolutely perfect. She needed someone to take the reins but also to give her control, since she has never really had that.
Circle of the Moon seems to be a turning point of sorts. There are changes for Rick, Nell, Mud, Unit 18, and on Jane’s side of things. We’re fascinated to see where things will go with cases and how connected they are to Jane.

When PsyLED leader and werepanther Rick LaFleur finds himself naked outside a witches circle where a black cat has been sacrificed he calls in his team to investigate. When it happens again it becomes apparent that someone is using magic to summon Rick to them. What they have to find out is who, why and how to stop it before Rick becomes the sacrifice that will summon a demon.

Circle of the Moon advances Nell’s journey away from her Churchwoman background towards a “city” life. Her magic gets stronger and she has to constantly fight the urge to kill for her land, Soulwood, but she is also in a more maternal role with becoming the guardian of her younger sister Mud, who also has earth magic tendencies similar to Nell’s. Her tentative feelings for Occam resolve into want and his feelings for Nell into love. It is so easy to love them as a couple because it’s a healing kind of love where they are better together than apart.

Nell’s character wasn’t the only one evolving in Circle of the Moon. Tandy seemed to be taking on some new characteristics that I’m curious to see where they lead in future novels. Rick, also, went through quite a evolution and of course being at the center of they mystery he would, but I felt different towards him after seeing what he was going through. More sympathetic to him? I think I am!

The thing about Faith Hunter novels that always amazes me is how she intertwines a few plots so that they seem separate and then all of a sudden converge onto the same path. This novel was no different. Although the Church was more of a subplot than in previous novels, her “adoption” of Mud kept her family in the story. Her romance with Occam was stronger than in previous books because she is finally ready to move forward towards a relationship with him. The mystery was fabulous. I’d imagine if I had kept pace with the Jane Yellowrock series I may have been just a little more informed over Rick’s background but I really didn’t care. I was caught up in the action, the characters, and the resolution of this case. It was great reading and I enjoyed it thoroughly! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I was given a free ARC of this book for my honest opinion and it was honest!

Circle of the Moon is the fourth book in the Soulwood series by Faith Hunter. It is currently scheduled for release on February 26 2019. This series is set in the same world as Hunter's Jane Yellowrock series and there is some significant cross over. However, you can enjoy one series without the other. I do recommend reading the Soulwood series in order, as newcomers will be missing quite a bit of important backstory. Those that read all of Hunter's books (like me) will get the most out of the story because of the interrelated characters.

Nell can draw magic from the land around her, and lately she's been using it to help the Psy-Law Enforcement Division, which solves paranormal crimes. Joining the team at PsyLED has allowed her to learn more about her powers and the world she always shunned--and to find true friends. Head agent Rick LaFleur shifts into a panther when the moon calls him, but this time, something has gone wrong. Rick calls Nell from a riverbank--he's naked, with no memory of how he came to be there, and there's a dead black cat, sacrificed in a witch circle and killed by black magic. Then more animals turn up dead, and team rushes to investigate. A blood-witch is out to kill. But when it seems as if their leader is involved in the crime, the bonds that hold the team together could shatter at any moment.

Circle of the Moon is just as complex and exciting to read as everything else I have read from Hunter. I will admit that it has been long enough since the previous book in the series that I had to go back and look at my thoughts on the previous book to make sure I was up to speed before getting too far into the story, and I wished I have revisited the most recent Yellowrock book as well. There is a lot going on here, and I had to give the book my full attention to take in all the character and story line development. Nell continues to grow into her independence and understanding who and what she can be in the world. Mud, Rick, and Occam are only a few of the secondary characters that I loved getting to know better as the story progressed. The mystery and case that the unit is working on, and the people that become part of the larger story because of it, are very well done, and some are fascinating in their own right, even without the ties to Jane's story. The magic circles, vampires, and magic flying around are complicated and tangled, leaving the characters and most readers puzzled as to the end game, at least until it is almost too late. My only complaint with this book is that at times it felt too complicated and tied in with Jane's story that I think those that for one reason or another have not read those as well will be even more lost in the tangle of stories than those of us who think we are all caught up. That being said, when the book was over, I only wanted more, so I still consider it a must read for fans.

Circle of the Moon is another wonderful read by Hunter. This book had me wanting to go back and reread some Jane Yellowrock, and hoping that the stories written in this world continue on.

This review was originally posted on <a href="https://booksofmyheart.net/2019/02/19/blog-tour-circle-of-the-moon-by-faith-hunter/" target="_blank"> Books of My Heart</a>
&nbsp;

Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
&nbsp;
<a href="https://booksofmyheart.net/about-2/robin/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Robin</strong></a> and I discussed our ideas and I am paraphrasing them. I couldn't have done this without her. I really needed to talk things out because there were some confusing aspects.  <em><strong><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/144830-soulwood" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Soulwood series</a> </strong></em>is urban fantasy so I would definitely read these in order to not be lost. We debated about whether one needs to read the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/161451" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em><strong>Jane Yellowrock series</strong></em></a> (we both have) but I think you could just read the novella <strong>Cat Tats</strong>,  or read it as part of the anthology of shorts <strong>Blood in Her Veins</strong>, and it would be fine. Robin had read all the books but not the novellas. I really think one should make an effort to read at least Cat Tats in advance.  Robin and I were both distracted by wondering about certain things on the Jane side, while reading.

As much as we have hated Rick in the past, we almost felt sorry for him. He's having all kinds of problems and it isn't even the full moon.  Once the villains are known, Rick is actually kind to them, protective of them, even when we know they are lying.  With Rick showing a much softer side and not seeming like so much a dick, there is room for the new D I C (Dick in Charge) in Firewind.

The investigation into what is happening with the circles is handled really well considering all the secrets. I mean - way too many secrets. Rick has secrets; Nell has secrets; Margot has secrets. The witches have fled, rather than help. Nell has trouble contacting Jane or the Youngers or anyone who might provide more information.

Nell is also getting ready for Mud to live with her. It means some upgrades to the house. She also needs to find someone to care for her when Nell is at work. I was severely worried about Mud's safety several times because she was NOT safe at Nell's office or home or with the church family. Because of course, some churchmen are still into their way of the polygamous cult. I didn't feel Nell gave this enough attention.

Nell also worried us because she continues to use her own talents without knowing the consequences and does too many things without backup.We both understand how she doesn’t want to share her secrets or in some cases cede control but if you are going to be on a law enforcement team, you must have backup.

Nell is broken in a lot of ways due to her childhood growing up in the polygamist church. She is still so innocent in the ways of love and real world courtship, so it is incredibly cute and semi-frustrating, since we just want her and Occam to kiss.  Occam was adorable in his declaration of love for Nell. We loved it and thought it was absolutely perfect. She needed someone to take the reins but also to give her control, since she has never really had that.

<strong>Circle of the Moon</strong> seems to be a turning point of sorts.   There are changes for Rick, Nell, Mud, Unit 18, and on Jane's side of things.   We're fascinated to see where things will go with cases and how connected they are to Jane.

&nbsp;
<h3><strong>Faith Hunter And Her Heavy Drinkers</strong></h3>
<blockquote>It’s no secret that I have a drinking problem. Tea addiction is not always a pretty thing.  Like coffee drinkers, I drag out of bed, stumble down the stairs, and go straight to the pot. Tea pot, not the currently illegal kind. I usually go through a pot of good chai with peri-peri peppers, stevia, and cream (the real stuff, not the powdered or chemical or palm oil stuff, thank you very much) before lunch.  In fact, tea is my breakfast. It’s also my desert after supper when I tend to dive into the herbal, non-caffeinated kind. Because I do like to sleep at night.

My characters tend to be heavy drinkers too. It’s one of the few ways my characters are like me. There’s Jane Yellowrock with her strong, caffeinated tea—the good kind as well as the comfort kind, with Cool Whip or aerosol  whipped cream in a can. It sounds gross, but if you’re out of cream, it works. Nell Ingram of the Soulwood series, tends to take after night-time me with a good herbal.

Nell has an appreciation for medicinal herbals, probably she grew up in a polygamous cult where the members (especially the women) saw little modern medical help, and used natural substances to treat their medical complaints.  Nell is also not human anymore, being part tree. Yeah, you read that right. Nell Ingram is part tree, so it makes sense she’d like herbal teas, right? Being part tree doesn’t get in the way of her job at PsyLED (the Psychometric Law Enforcement Division of Homeland Security) however, because Unit Eighteen is composed mostly of paranormals, like her coffee-drinking boss, Rick LaFleur, who has moon-called problems of his own.

Rick is Nell’s boss, and Jane’s ex, and he’s pretty much addicted to caffeine in the form of Community Coffee Dark French Roast, and because of his addiction, he’s shared that lovely coffee with his team. They all like it, even Nell, when she’s pulling an all-nighter.  It’s the coffee I used to drink when I had a coffee addiction of my own, because the best coffee is Louisiana coffee. Seriously. It’s a gateway drug.

So. Got tea?

Faith</blockquote>
&nbsp;

Nell is just getting back into the full swing of her job at PsyLED Unit Eighteen after recovering and healing from her time as a “tree.” Their last big assignment was harsh on everyone especially her sweetie, Occam, whom she called back from death. Nell has several tasks as usual between still learning the intricacies of her job, finding the money to get her house up to modern standards so as to obtain custody of her young sister, Mindy(Mud), and figuring out what is going on with her boss, Rick LaFleur. Life has been harsh to Rick the last few years especially after his cat shifter taint took hold. Now he may have a connection to someone, a blood-witch, who has a vendetta and is creating curse circles with deadly intent.

Nell’s own continued transitioning towards a non-human as she is according to Faith Hunter, a “new form of nature spirit” along with her connection to Soulwood and the troublesome Vampire tree on the church property presents challenges on several levels. Surprisingly, the Vampire tree which is constantly encroaching on Soulwood, may have something to offer Nell in a positive way. Nell’s relationship with her werecat fellow teammate, Occam, has taken some tentative steps in the direction of more than just casual, but her issues with men are still in the forefront. Occam has a cat’s patience and after declaring his intent, the ball as the saying goes, is in Nell’s court.

For those who have been fretting over Jane Yellowrock after her latest extremely major problem, she makes a brief appearance by phone. Jane’s brother, Ayatas Firewind, is the unit’s newest up line boss coming in at a critical point to help and irritate the team in equal measures. Nell takes a dim view of arrogant males whom she feels underestimate her unique skills. Rick’s supernatural past keeps not only catching up with him, but culminates in a way that he may not survive. Nell has a lot of control through Soulwood over the werecats, but is hesitant to exert too much power. She and Soulwood are always hungry to absorb the life of anyone they claim so considerable restraint on her part is needed not to consume those she owns by virtue of their blood having been spilled on her land.

The physical and emotional changes Nell is going through present trials and mysteries as to where things will all shake out. She is not sure what the alterations mean, especially the physical ones, but Nell wants to live life to the fullest and live it abundantly. Fans of Nell will enjoy the thrills, chills, and intensity of Circle of the Moon, #4 in the Soulwood series. The pace and force of this story will keep readers’ pulse racing and anxious to see how it all turns out for Nell and the gang.

5 Heart, RECOMMENDED READ!!!!!
SJ, Romance Junkies

The fourth book in Faith Hunter's SOULWOOD series delivers action, an intriguing plot, a romance, and amazing growth for all the characters. Faith Hunter just keeps getting better! I read this book in one sitting, let it sit a few days, then read it again! 

In this installment (and this book is best read after reading books one through three), Nell is maturing, drawing information and power from the land, in particular, through her land, Soulwood. 

When head agent Rick LeFleur sends an SOS, unable to recall exactly why he was drawn to a particular witch circle with no memory of having done so, the mystery begins. Black magic, vampires, death and more death. As Rick's past catches up to him and Nell deals with vampires and her own past, a new villain emerges to draw something monstrous into the world. Nell continues to grow, her character development a thing of beauty as the author rounds her out perfectly.

Nell's relationship with her sister, her family (God's Cloud of Glory Church) and the PsyLed team, not to mention her feelings for Occam, all work together to create a fascinating, enchanting heroine with both strengths and weaknesses that carry the plot as much as the action does. 

I loved how the author used all the characters on the team, as well as the vampires (LOVE Yummy!) and the mystery of the villain/s to build suspense. 

Faith Hunter writes must-read urban fantasy like no one else. If you haven't already read the beginning of this series, BLOOD OF THE EARTH, pick up a copy right now and dive in. You won't regret a single minute of it.

SOULWOOD SERIES

BLOOD OF THE EARTH
CURSE ON THE LAND
FLAME IN THE DARK
CIRCLE OF THE MOON

Great installment. We learned so much more about Rick and his were-leopard origins. Nell-sugar and Occam...sigh. Great additions to the Jane Yellowrock/Soulwood mythology(ies). As well as the addition of a new character...well kinda new. Can't wait to see what happens next at Soulwood!

My favorite books are part of a series - specifically long series. Beyond that I LOVE when an author has managed to create a world so intricate, wide-spread, ad well-written that it can then spawn spin-off series with some of the characters. Faith has managed to do this brilliantly.

Circle of the Moon becomes an integral tie-in book between the Jane Yellowrock and Nell Ingram worlds. Focusing on Ricky-Bo, the story gives many more details regarding his tattoo, how and why it was created... and why it has become the magical "backdoor" anyone familiar with pc hacking would be proud to know about.

I don't want to go into too many details as that may spoil the story, but both Nell & Ricky-Bo grow quite a bit in this story, and once I opened the book it was hard to put it down. The whole team is still recovering from their last magical firefight, and being the nuturer that she is, Nell feels strongly responsible for fixing them. Ricky-Bo is torn between his responsibility to lead and feeling that he is letting the team down.

Overall once of the best reads I have had in quite a while!

Wow, I loved reading this book! And having read it just after Dark Queen, was so great, because those events do have an impact on what's happening in this book! We also got continuations of plots like her sister Mud coming to live with her (ah, the expenses of living on the grid!), and her relationship with Occam!

So going into this book, it turns out that there's one important short story from Rick's past that's very important to what's going on now. I wasn't going to mention it, but since Faith Hunter has, I figure that gives me permission to do so, as well! Given how private Rick is, and how little the group knows about his past, this was not an easy time for him!

One thing that I was really looking forward to in this book, was whether or not Jane's new-found brother, FireWind, would be in this book. Since he's Rick's boss and all. I loved his and Nell's interactions, because they're very different people!

The mystery in this book is pretty complicated, which is awesome to read! I love how this series is different from Jane's, not only with Jane and Nell being different people and thus, different narrators, but that Jane is adjacent to the law, and Nell has become the law (in the sense that she's a LEO.) That was really noticeable in this book because of the mystery, at least, for me. I don't know how to explain it, my head works strangely!

Loved this book so much, and I can't wait for more from this series!