ARC Review--Nocturne by Christine Johnson

Some secrets are too dangerous . . .

After the tragic events of the summer, Claire is looking forward to a new school year. All she wants to worry about is finding the most gorgeous dress to wear to the Autumn Ball with her perfect boyfriend.

But as Claire knows all too well, the life of a werewolf is never that simple, or that sweet.

When Claire’s human and wolf lives start to collide, her worst nightmares come true. She is hurting her best friend. She has been caught lying. And then the unthinkable happens: Someone discovers Claire’s secret.

If Claire’s werewolf identity is exposed, everyone she knows will be put at risk. And the pack’s response comes at a cost higher than Claire can imagine. Claire will be forced to determine just how far she is willing to go to protect her family, her identity and her life, before she loses it all . . . .

I received this e-ARC from Simon & Schuster Galley Grab for review

Christine Johnson's Nocturne was a good followup to Claire de Lune. I remember enjoying that one, but wasn't totally "wowed". That's kind of where I fall with this one as well. It was okay, just not spectacular.

Once again we are in a world where only females are werewolves, but there isn't any danger to Claire and her pack from her boyfriend, Matthew's father. That lack of danger kind of made things bland. Although the new girl, Amy, does bring in some suspicion that makes things a little interesting. But its end result was a little too predictable.

Claire is struggling with her human life and her werewolf life. They seem to be two separate lives that she has to keep apart and she's not willing to leave one for the other. With her werewolf life, she's about to go through the ceremony that makes her a full werewolf or pack member, something to that fact, but she's struggling with one simple factor and if she can't overcome it, the results will not be good. There is also the naming ceremony coming up with one of her fellow werewolves who is pregnant.

With her human life, Claire struggles to maintain her friendship Emily and the new girl, Amy makes things difficult for her. She's too nice. Plus it doesn't help that she and Matthew continue to have little spats. And it feels like she's being driven away from her best friend and boyfriend.

There wasn't enough mystery to the book. Not like a mystery to be solved or anything, but no secretive things going on. It was all just sort of blah...kind of like a contemporary book but throwing in werewolf drama to make it a paranormal. 

I don't want to come off like I hated the book. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either. It was one of those books that was okay, but felt like could've been better.

And of course there's the Autumn Ball to think about. Claire is beyond thrilled about going. It feels human and normal for her. It was kind of easy to see how things turn out as you read. There are hints throughout that aren't too hard to figure out. And the ending, while surprising can also be solved. Things wrapped up neatly, yet there still felt like they left some things untouched. Such as events with reporters looking in the woods where Claire and her pack go on full moon nights led by Matthew's father who is trying to "cure" werewolves, but so far only the male ones, which is impossible. So that was another of the letdowns.

Overall the book was okay. Not really my kind of read, but thought I'd give it a try.

Overall rating 2/5 stars

Nocturne releases August 23, 2011