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Southern Arcana #6
Enigma
Southern Arcana, Book Six
Anna Lenoir has always fought. First to escape a broken childhood, then to prove a female shapeshifter can stand shoulder to shoulder with the men. Now she fights for money, and her reputation is as legendary as her stone-cold heart. She’s never met a man she couldn’t walk away from.
Until him.
Bounty hunter Patrick McNamara has a scary reputation of his own, along with mysterious powers linked to his many tattoos. On the clock, they’re the perfect supernatural-crime-solving team. After hours, she’s ready to rock his world. But Patrick won’t settle for just her body, and Anna’s better at breaking homes than making them.
When the heir to the Southwest council goes missing, their combined skills are the best chance of averting a territory war. But the hunt will drag them through the most vulnerable parts of their broken pasts. Daring to risk her heart might be the first fight she loses, and the stakes have never been higher.
Because Patrick will sacrifice anything for her. Even his life.
Anna Lenoir has always fought. First to escape a broken childhood, then to prove a female shapeshifter can stand shoulder to shoulder with the men. Now she fights for money, and her reputation is as legendary as her stone-cold heart. She’s never met a man she couldn’t walk away from.
Until him.
Bounty hunter Patrick McNamara has a scary reputation of his own, along with mysterious powers linked to his many tattoos. On the clock, they’re the perfect supernatural-crime-solving team. After hours, she’s ready to rock his world. But Patrick won’t settle for just her body, and Anna’s better at breaking homes than making them.
When the heir to the Southwest council goes missing, their combined skills are the best chance of averting a territory war. But the hunt will drag them through the most vulnerable parts of their broken pasts. Daring to risk her heart might be the first fight she loses, and the stakes have never been higher.
Because Patrick will sacrifice anything for her. Even his life.
310 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 13, 2014
34 people are currently reading
640 people want to read
About the author
Moira Rogers
83 books907 followersHow do you make a Moira Rogers? Take a former forensic science and nursing student obsessed with paranormal romance and add a computer programmer with a passion for gritty urban fantasy. Toss in a dash of whimsy and a lot of caffeine, and enjoy with a side of chocolate by the light of the full moon.
By day, Bree and Donna are mild-mannered ladies who reside in the Deep South. At night, when their husbands and children are asleep, they combine forces to unleash the product of their fevered imaginations upon the page.
By day, Bree and Donna are mild-mannered ladies who reside in the Deep South. At night, when their husbands and children are asleep, they combine forces to unleash the product of their fevered imaginations upon the page.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
May 14, 2014
Originally posted at http://smexybooks.com/2014/05/review-...
Favorite Quote: “Sometimes, you just had to endure.”
Anna Lenoir has always fought. First to escape her broken childhood, then to prove a female shapeshifter can stand shoulder to shoulder with the men. Now she fights for money, and her reputation is as legendary as her stone-cold heart. She’s never met a man she couldn’t walk away from.
Until him.
Bounty hunter Patrick McNamara has a scary reputation of his own, along with mysterious powers linked to his many tattoos. On the clock, they’re the perfect supernatural-crime-solving team. After hours, she’s ready to rock his world. But Patrick won’t settle for just her body, and Anna’s better at breaking homes than making them.
When the heir to the Southwest council goes missing, their combined skills are the best chance of averting a territory war. But the hunt will drag them through the most vulnerable parts of their broken pasts. Daring to risk her heart might be the first fight she loses, and the stakes have never been higher.
Because Patrick will sacrifice anything for her… even his life!(Goodreads)
Enigma is the sixth book in Moira Rogers’ dark and intense Southern Arcane series. A paranormal thriller with plenty of hot steamy romance and edge of your seat suspense. Evolving world building and dynamic tortured characters explode to life as we are taken on a journey through a past and present filled with tragedy, remorse, and redemption. Fast pacing, multiple plotlines, and heavy character interaction keeps the arc fresh and addictive. Though each book revolves around one hero and heroine and has a resolvable conflict, I don’t recommend reading out of order. The characters and ongoing arc bleed over into each new installment without much recap.
Enigma provides an intriguing and horrific storyline that backdrops the protagonists journey to deal and move forward from events in book four, Cipher. Particularly the events that surrounded Patrick McNamara and Anna Lenoir. Patrick, an untrained caster/bounty hunter, shoulders a heavy burden of grief and sorrow over his brother Ben’s death. His carries a lot of guilt over not being able to save Ben and for the lives he took in revenge. Wounded in Cipher, Patrick struggles daily with his loss. The tattoos that bound and controlled the magic inside him were damaged and now Patrick is likened to a walking time bomb…able to go off at any given time.
Anna Lenoir, alpha wolf shapeshifter/bounty hunter, has her own ghosts to battle. Abandoned by her mother and used by her drug addicted father, Anna struggles with her feelings of inadequacy and abandonment. This is especially true as the Supernatural Conclave she works for is decidedly misogynist, though huge steps been taken to change this.
Anna and Patrick are two damaged reluctant heroes who will capture your heart from page one. Both have suffered horribly at the hands of their families yet their inner strength and loyalties don’t allow them to wallow long in self pity. From the beginning you see their only shells-neither of them are whole-and watch as both unknowingly push away the one person who completes them.
“You tell yourself it’s noble. You tell yourself it’s right and just and you’re so fucking dangerous that our poor little human hearts or bodies or whatever can’t survive you. But walking away hurts us even more, so what you really mean is you’re not brave enough to stick around and keep trying.”
Anna is a strong heroine who’s trials through life have forged her into the seemingly unemotional hardened woman that stands before us. Yet, buried beneath her strength is a vulnerability that speaks to you. Physically and emotionally drawn to Patrick, she shies away from the levels of intimacy he tries to offer her. Anna feels she is unable and unworthy to love anyone and fears that Patrick will feel the same once she lets him in.
Patrick is remarkably sane and well balanced considering how people have and continue to treat him. Abused as a child, he and his brother Ben escaped the insanity of their childhood and created a new life for themselves. Now a renowned and feared bounty hunter, he faces bigotry for being a castor yet he buries it all out and continues to fight for those who can not. His bond with Anna is strong but submerged in fear. He is spiraling out of control and fears if he allows himself to commit fully to Anna, he will take her down with him.
Someone had to do the wrong thing for the right reasons, after all, and he belonged in the gray areas between the heroes and the villains.
Rogers’ does a fantastic job of blending the suspense of the story with the emotional journey of Anna and Patrick. Non stop action speeds the story along as you frantically absorb all the nuances and shifts. The plot is a intense, suspenseful, and horrific blend of magic and revenge. I found myself riveted as it revealed itself. The multiple plot lines are easy to follow with Rogers’ clear and concise writing. With each scene we watch Anna and Patrick face their fears and overcome obstacles while dealing with external factors trying to kill them. Neither plot nor romance is sacrificed. They balance and complement each other through the entire arc; merging together towards the end.
The romance evolves slowly as they struggle to reconcile their feelings for one another. Both have some heavy issues and Rogers’ requires them to deal with those issues. The chemistry between Patrick and Anna is a curious mixture of love and sorrow. Even though the physical aspects are so smoking hot you can’t deny their connection, it’s their dialog and the undercurrents that sparks between them that is the most telling.
“You’re a dangerous woman, Lenoir.”
“Anna.” She turned again, tugged the bar of soap from his hand and slid it over his chest.
“My name is Anna.”
He closed his eyes and savored the slick brush of her fingers. “What’s my name?”
“Patrick.” Her voice came in a whisper as her hands slipped lower.
“Patrick.”
The supporting cast is strong and imposing. Complex and convoluted. The good and bad are merely defined by degrees of separation and much plays out behind the scene. Everyone has a long game. We see many old faces along with some new ones. I found each one to be a satisfying addition to the story. There are plenty characters to cheer and hate with abundance.
Nail clenching tension heralds the conclusion. Rogers’ plays it close to the vest and keeps you guessing to the very end. It’s a climatic affair of heart pounding action and wide eyed trepidation that leaves enough open end questions to assure us we haven’t seen the last of this world.
RATING: B+
Favorite Quote: “Sometimes, you just had to endure.”
Anna Lenoir has always fought. First to escape her broken childhood, then to prove a female shapeshifter can stand shoulder to shoulder with the men. Now she fights for money, and her reputation is as legendary as her stone-cold heart. She’s never met a man she couldn’t walk away from.
Until him.
Bounty hunter Patrick McNamara has a scary reputation of his own, along with mysterious powers linked to his many tattoos. On the clock, they’re the perfect supernatural-crime-solving team. After hours, she’s ready to rock his world. But Patrick won’t settle for just her body, and Anna’s better at breaking homes than making them.
When the heir to the Southwest council goes missing, their combined skills are the best chance of averting a territory war. But the hunt will drag them through the most vulnerable parts of their broken pasts. Daring to risk her heart might be the first fight she loses, and the stakes have never been higher.
Because Patrick will sacrifice anything for her… even his life!(Goodreads)
Enigma is the sixth book in Moira Rogers’ dark and intense Southern Arcane series. A paranormal thriller with plenty of hot steamy romance and edge of your seat suspense. Evolving world building and dynamic tortured characters explode to life as we are taken on a journey through a past and present filled with tragedy, remorse, and redemption. Fast pacing, multiple plotlines, and heavy character interaction keeps the arc fresh and addictive. Though each book revolves around one hero and heroine and has a resolvable conflict, I don’t recommend reading out of order. The characters and ongoing arc bleed over into each new installment without much recap.
Enigma provides an intriguing and horrific storyline that backdrops the protagonists journey to deal and move forward from events in book four, Cipher. Particularly the events that surrounded Patrick McNamara and Anna Lenoir. Patrick, an untrained caster/bounty hunter, shoulders a heavy burden of grief and sorrow over his brother Ben’s death. His carries a lot of guilt over not being able to save Ben and for the lives he took in revenge. Wounded in Cipher, Patrick struggles daily with his loss. The tattoos that bound and controlled the magic inside him were damaged and now Patrick is likened to a walking time bomb…able to go off at any given time.
Anna Lenoir, alpha wolf shapeshifter/bounty hunter, has her own ghosts to battle. Abandoned by her mother and used by her drug addicted father, Anna struggles with her feelings of inadequacy and abandonment. This is especially true as the Supernatural Conclave she works for is decidedly misogynist, though huge steps been taken to change this.
Anna and Patrick are two damaged reluctant heroes who will capture your heart from page one. Both have suffered horribly at the hands of their families yet their inner strength and loyalties don’t allow them to wallow long in self pity. From the beginning you see their only shells-neither of them are whole-and watch as both unknowingly push away the one person who completes them.
“You tell yourself it’s noble. You tell yourself it’s right and just and you’re so fucking dangerous that our poor little human hearts or bodies or whatever can’t survive you. But walking away hurts us even more, so what you really mean is you’re not brave enough to stick around and keep trying.”
Anna is a strong heroine who’s trials through life have forged her into the seemingly unemotional hardened woman that stands before us. Yet, buried beneath her strength is a vulnerability that speaks to you. Physically and emotionally drawn to Patrick, she shies away from the levels of intimacy he tries to offer her. Anna feels she is unable and unworthy to love anyone and fears that Patrick will feel the same once she lets him in.
Patrick is remarkably sane and well balanced considering how people have and continue to treat him. Abused as a child, he and his brother Ben escaped the insanity of their childhood and created a new life for themselves. Now a renowned and feared bounty hunter, he faces bigotry for being a castor yet he buries it all out and continues to fight for those who can not. His bond with Anna is strong but submerged in fear. He is spiraling out of control and fears if he allows himself to commit fully to Anna, he will take her down with him.
Someone had to do the wrong thing for the right reasons, after all, and he belonged in the gray areas between the heroes and the villains.
Rogers’ does a fantastic job of blending the suspense of the story with the emotional journey of Anna and Patrick. Non stop action speeds the story along as you frantically absorb all the nuances and shifts. The plot is a intense, suspenseful, and horrific blend of magic and revenge. I found myself riveted as it revealed itself. The multiple plot lines are easy to follow with Rogers’ clear and concise writing. With each scene we watch Anna and Patrick face their fears and overcome obstacles while dealing with external factors trying to kill them. Neither plot nor romance is sacrificed. They balance and complement each other through the entire arc; merging together towards the end.
The romance evolves slowly as they struggle to reconcile their feelings for one another. Both have some heavy issues and Rogers’ requires them to deal with those issues. The chemistry between Patrick and Anna is a curious mixture of love and sorrow. Even though the physical aspects are so smoking hot you can’t deny their connection, it’s their dialog and the undercurrents that sparks between them that is the most telling.
“You’re a dangerous woman, Lenoir.”
“Anna.” She turned again, tugged the bar of soap from his hand and slid it over his chest.
“My name is Anna.”
He closed his eyes and savored the slick brush of her fingers. “What’s my name?”
“Patrick.” Her voice came in a whisper as her hands slipped lower.
“Patrick.”
The supporting cast is strong and imposing. Complex and convoluted. The good and bad are merely defined by degrees of separation and much plays out behind the scene. Everyone has a long game. We see many old faces along with some new ones. I found each one to be a satisfying addition to the story. There are plenty characters to cheer and hate with abundance.
Nail clenching tension heralds the conclusion. Rogers’ plays it close to the vest and keeps you guessing to the very end. It’s a climatic affair of heart pounding action and wide eyed trepidation that leaves enough open end questions to assure us we haven’t seen the last of this world.
RATING: B+
July 19, 2014
I really am such a fan of this series, and this latest installment has to be one of my favorites. It’s a story of two really screwed up people who have no family and very little faith in the permanence of love. Patrick is still mourning the death of his brother, Ben, and he has a wealth of childhood baggage he is toting around… including the fact he killed his crazy father. On top of that, his magic is all messed up –and he never really understood it to begin with. He is a heavily tattooed, motorcycle riding bounty hunter, and people cross the street when he passes by. He’s an outcast and he knows it.
Despite Patrick’s buckets of angst, he is actually more emotionally functional than Anna. At least he had Ben and people in his past who loved him. Anna has never had any family. She has no idea how to love. And she is 100% percent certain that if she were to ever even try, she would not only break Patrick’s heart, but her own as well. The thing is, they each want the other so much, but there is real fear there. So they dance around each other, flirt, tease, run away, and do it all over again. They trust each other as partners, but beyond that, they don’t trust themselves.
As the story begins, Anna and Patrick are teaming up on a mission for Alec. An important wolf has gone missing and it turns out he is one of a string of shifters who have disappeared in recent weeks. The book follows their investigation, which is fast paced and interesting, but more importantly, we see what happens when the two of them are thrown together and no longer able to fight their feelings for one another.
I know Anna has lived an emotionally barren life, but I found myself struggling to sympathize with her at times, because Patrick was just so damn crazy about her. He puts himself on the line, despite his fears and his past heartbreaks. He is ready to love her and she puts him through the wringer. Yet despite my inability to love her, I wanted it to work out so badly, simply to see Patrick get his HEA. Not only that, but the ladies who write as Moira Rogers are masters of writing sex scenes. They burn up the pages in every single book of theirs I have read. And this one is no exception. Anna and Patrick are super-sexy together; and they are both vulnerable and prickly –and anyone with eyes could see they belong together.
It’s a road-trip book, which means we don’t get to spend all that much time with fabulous supporting characters in the series. BUT we do get a quality visit with Michelle that reminded me of that lingering feeling fluttering in my chest, hoping for a book for her and Luciano. (He loves her so much!) Even if the memory of Aaron makes me feel a little guilty about it. Make it happen Moira Rogers. I also continue to be impressed with the world-building and, specifically, the interesting way all the shifter politics play out.
Any book in the series could probably be read as a standalone for the romance. But the series as a whole is so much more enjoyable if you read from book 1. There is so much backstory, it really makes it a richer experience. I recommend the series to any PNR fan. These books don’t disappoint.
Rating: B+
*ARC Provided by authors for review
Despite Patrick’s buckets of angst, he is actually more emotionally functional than Anna. At least he had Ben and people in his past who loved him. Anna has never had any family. She has no idea how to love. And she is 100% percent certain that if she were to ever even try, she would not only break Patrick’s heart, but her own as well. The thing is, they each want the other so much, but there is real fear there. So they dance around each other, flirt, tease, run away, and do it all over again. They trust each other as partners, but beyond that, they don’t trust themselves.
As the story begins, Anna and Patrick are teaming up on a mission for Alec. An important wolf has gone missing and it turns out he is one of a string of shifters who have disappeared in recent weeks. The book follows their investigation, which is fast paced and interesting, but more importantly, we see what happens when the two of them are thrown together and no longer able to fight their feelings for one another.
I know Anna has lived an emotionally barren life, but I found myself struggling to sympathize with her at times, because Patrick was just so damn crazy about her. He puts himself on the line, despite his fears and his past heartbreaks. He is ready to love her and she puts him through the wringer. Yet despite my inability to love her, I wanted it to work out so badly, simply to see Patrick get his HEA. Not only that, but the ladies who write as Moira Rogers are masters of writing sex scenes. They burn up the pages in every single book of theirs I have read. And this one is no exception. Anna and Patrick are super-sexy together; and they are both vulnerable and prickly –and anyone with eyes could see they belong together.
It’s a road-trip book, which means we don’t get to spend all that much time with fabulous supporting characters in the series. BUT we do get a quality visit with Michelle that reminded me of that lingering feeling fluttering in my chest, hoping for a book for her and Luciano. (He loves her so much!) Even if the memory of Aaron makes me feel a little guilty about it. Make it happen Moira Rogers. I also continue to be impressed with the world-building and, specifically, the interesting way all the shifter politics play out.
Any book in the series could probably be read as a standalone for the romance. But the series as a whole is so much more enjoyable if you read from book 1. There is so much backstory, it really makes it a richer experience. I recommend the series to any PNR fan. These books don’t disappoint.
Rating: B+
*ARC Provided by authors for review
December 6, 2014
I love the Southern Arcana series but it was a long wait after reading Impulse for Enigma to be released and I was a bit nervous about picking it up in case I'd forgotten what was going on. Thankfully it was really easy to jump back into this world and seeing all the characters I love was like catching up with old friends.
Fans of the series already know how much Patrick has suffered and I've been desperately waiting to finally see him get his happy ending. Patrick feels a lot of guilt because he wasn't able to save his brother's life, ever since Ben's death Patrick's life has been on hold and all he's been interested in is getting revenge. Now he's a damaged shell of his former self, the tattoos that bind his powers have been nearly destroyed and his magic is now eating him from the inside out leaving him unstable and out of control. As much as Patrick is struggling with his guilt and grief there is one woman who makes him dream of more and there is something about Anna that he finds impossible to resist.
Anna has never had the support of a family who loved her, she has always been alone and she's never really learnt to rely on others. As much as she is attracted to Patrick she is terrified of getting hurt by giving into her feelings. She is happy for them to have a no strings attached affair but she can't bring herself to risk more than that. I have to admit I found Anna a little frustrating at times, Patrick is such a fab character and I was annoyed that she kept pushing him away but I could understand where she was coming from and I did enjoy seeing him prove her fears were unfounded.
This is a romance between two emotionally damaged characters and it's all the more rewarding seeing them grow stronger by each other's sides. Alongside the romance (and incredibly hot sex!) this series always contains plenty of action, a good dose of mystery and the camaraderie amongst a group of characters who know each other well. We get to catch up with old favourites and see how they're getting on which is always nice. I can't seem to find any information about further books in this series but I really hope this isn't the last we've seen of the Southern Arcana world and if Moira Rogers does write more they will definitely go straight to the top of my wish list!
Fans of the series already know how much Patrick has suffered and I've been desperately waiting to finally see him get his happy ending. Patrick feels a lot of guilt because he wasn't able to save his brother's life, ever since Ben's death Patrick's life has been on hold and all he's been interested in is getting revenge. Now he's a damaged shell of his former self, the tattoos that bind his powers have been nearly destroyed and his magic is now eating him from the inside out leaving him unstable and out of control. As much as Patrick is struggling with his guilt and grief there is one woman who makes him dream of more and there is something about Anna that he finds impossible to resist.
Anna has never had the support of a family who loved her, she has always been alone and she's never really learnt to rely on others. As much as she is attracted to Patrick she is terrified of getting hurt by giving into her feelings. She is happy for them to have a no strings attached affair but she can't bring herself to risk more than that. I have to admit I found Anna a little frustrating at times, Patrick is such a fab character and I was annoyed that she kept pushing him away but I could understand where she was coming from and I did enjoy seeing him prove her fears were unfounded.
This is a romance between two emotionally damaged characters and it's all the more rewarding seeing them grow stronger by each other's sides. Alongside the romance (and incredibly hot sex!) this series always contains plenty of action, a good dose of mystery and the camaraderie amongst a group of characters who know each other well. We get to catch up with old favourites and see how they're getting on which is always nice. I can't seem to find any information about further books in this series but I really hope this isn't the last we've seen of the Southern Arcana world and if Moira Rogers does write more they will definitely go straight to the top of my wish list!
April 26, 2015
I love these. Sometimes I just want to zone out with some mindless smut and the Southern Arcana series really does it for me. Are they predictable? YES. Dirty? Yep. But there is a little more to them than just sexual tension leading up to 3-4 hibbity dibbity chapters. There is some political stuff, there is some character development. There is some magic. All in all a pleasant diversion from my heavier reading :)
August 13, 2018
Anna Lenoir is a feared woman. She’s both an alpha werewolf and a dedicated hunter; the only woman to train with the conclave assassins. She’s the person Alec sends after you if you’ve betrayed the region or you’re a newly turned wolf gone rogue. And if she isn’t available, he’ll call in Patrick McNamara.
Patrick ticks all Anna’s boxes but he’s usually not in town for long enough for it to become a problem.
But with the death of his brother, Ben, he’s sticking around.
At least until Oscar Ochoa is kidnapped and then Alec sends them both to investigate. Oscar is the son of another region leader and is engaged to Alec’s niece in a final hangover from the power swapping council days. The first thing they find out is Oscar has a girlfriend and a child. And they don’t know where he is either.
***
It seems that Patrick’s magic tattoos don’t give him magic abilities, they keep his own untrained magic blood under control. And when his back was burnt, the scars have damaged those magical bindings. He’s leaking like a sieve and he doesn’t know how to control it or use it safely. But the longer he doesn’t use it, the worse it’s getting. He’s a magical pressure cooker.
Pushing these two into close proximity on a long, intense road trip also leads to the inevitable. [squees]
After years of loss, Patrick, wants more than just wallbanging sex in a hotel room. And that scares Anna.
This one went heavy places magically, with some frankly terrifying spells.
They end up at the home of the best magic user around, Michelle. Anna trained with Aaron, bodyguard lover and father of Michelle’s baby. I adore that merely hearing her speak on the phone scares other magic users into cooperation.
Tragically, the series ended here and I reckon they weren’t ready for it to do so. There are so many things left undealt with. For one, I’m sad Luciano and Michelle never got their story. Miguel? The lions-shifters? How does Alec cope when all the shifters move to his territory for preference?
But at least the authors got the rights back from Samhain when it shuttered in early 2017, and thanks to indie publishing we still get to read them.
4 stars
Patrick ticks all Anna’s boxes but he’s usually not in town for long enough for it to become a problem.
But with the death of his brother, Ben, he’s sticking around.
At least until Oscar Ochoa is kidnapped and then Alec sends them both to investigate. Oscar is the son of another region leader and is engaged to Alec’s niece in a final hangover from the power swapping council days. The first thing they find out is Oscar has a girlfriend and a child. And they don’t know where he is either.
***
It seems that Patrick’s magic tattoos don’t give him magic abilities, they keep his own untrained magic blood under control. And when his back was burnt, the scars have damaged those magical bindings. He’s leaking like a sieve and he doesn’t know how to control it or use it safely. But the longer he doesn’t use it, the worse it’s getting. He’s a magical pressure cooker.
Pushing these two into close proximity on a long, intense road trip also leads to the inevitable. [squees]
After years of loss, Patrick, wants more than just wallbanging sex in a hotel room. And that scares Anna.
This one went heavy places magically, with some frankly terrifying spells.
They end up at the home of the best magic user around, Michelle. Anna trained with Aaron, bodyguard lover and father of Michelle’s baby. I adore that merely hearing her speak on the phone scares other magic users into cooperation.
Tragically, the series ended here and I reckon they weren’t ready for it to do so. There are so many things left undealt with. For one, I’m sad Luciano and Michelle never got their story. Miguel? The lions-shifters? How does Alec cope when all the shifters move to his territory for preference?
But at least the authors got the rights back from Samhain when it shuttered in early 2017, and thanks to indie publishing we still get to read them.
4 stars
May 18, 2021
I'm not going to lie, I didn't enjoy this one nearly as much as I've enjoyed the other Southern Arcana titles. Don't get me wrong: it was Moira Rogers/Kit Rocha, so the 'didn't enjoy as much' is still solidly in the realm of a 4-star read. And yet...
I think my biggest issue with the book for me is that - if anyone else had written it - the inability of either lead to communicate with the other like a grown-ass adult would have made it a DNF. Somehow, Bree and Donna still managed to make me care about them on some level - enough to keep reading at least - but they made me care about them as individuals, rather than being invested in their relationship. And while I get why both characters are the way they are, I also didn't really enjoy hanging out with them to nearly the extent that I've enjoyed pretty much every other book in this series.
The other issue I have with it is that - as far as I can tell - it's the last book in the series, but it doesn't feel like a series finale. Yes, there've been developments in the overall political landscape, but no more than in any other book - and significantly less than in Alec's story. Nothing feels like it's resolved or tied up beyond Anna & Patrick's individual stories. I'd wonder whether there was another trilogy in the universe planned if it hadn't been so long since this one came out, and there hadn't been so many other books in other series released since this one.
So why, despite this, am I giving it a 4-star? Because I really love the sheer competence of both characters, and the fact that - despite both being psychologically broken hot messes - they can still work so beautifully together as a team when they're on the job. Also, I seriously want Mitch's story now. And because - yes, I know I'm shallow - I have a real thing for tattoo magic.
So overall, while it's definitely not my favourite book in the series, a 'non favourite' from Bree and Donna is still far better than a vast amount of the PNR out there.
I think my biggest issue with the book for me is that - if anyone else had written it - the inability of either lead to communicate with the other like a grown-ass adult would have made it a DNF. Somehow, Bree and Donna still managed to make me care about them on some level - enough to keep reading at least - but they made me care about them as individuals, rather than being invested in their relationship. And while I get why both characters are the way they are, I also didn't really enjoy hanging out with them to nearly the extent that I've enjoyed pretty much every other book in this series.
The other issue I have with it is that - as far as I can tell - it's the last book in the series, but it doesn't feel like a series finale. Yes, there've been developments in the overall political landscape, but no more than in any other book - and significantly less than in Alec's story. Nothing feels like it's resolved or tied up beyond Anna & Patrick's individual stories. I'd wonder whether there was another trilogy in the universe planned if it hadn't been so long since this one came out, and there hadn't been so many other books in other series released since this one.
So why, despite this, am I giving it a 4-star? Because I really love the sheer competence of both characters, and the fact that - despite both being psychologically broken hot messes - they can still work so beautifully together as a team when they're on the job. Also, I seriously want Mitch's story now. And because - yes, I know I'm shallow - I have a real thing for tattoo magic.
So overall, while it's definitely not my favourite book in the series, a 'non favourite' from Bree and Donna is still far better than a vast amount of the PNR out there.
June 10, 2018
This was a struggle. Anna and Patrick are two minor characters from earlier in the series who get their own love story to cap it off, and I don't think it's a good choice. My emotional investment in them at the start was near zero, and by the end, it hadn't deepened much. The entire book was like a competition between the two of them to see which was more emotionally and physically broken, and who was the bigger martyr, with some occasional motel-room-destroying sex thrown in.
On top of my disappointment with the featured romance, this felt inadequate at ending the series as well, in terms of the overarching story of the paranormal world. The "mystery" is a bunch of mystic mumbo jumbo about a murdered guy that's supposed to be a big deal because he's the son of someone powerful, but the stakes just aren't high, and the threat Mr. Powerful posed the New Orleans crew who we've come to know and love simply wasn't compelling. It was an excuse to put our two badass bounty hunters through their paces and let them fall in love, but it didn't matter beyond that.
At the epilogue, it fell into place for me, the reason I was so annoyed by this. Patrick finding his long-lost brother and witnessing that happy endings are possible after all--this wasn't the huge climax of the story (the way Beyond Surrender is for the authors' later series) but a drawn-out denouement, where we're supposed to be satisfied that everyone's gotten their happy endings, so wrap it up, let's move along.
But if that's the point, why save the weakest romance plot of the whole series for the final book?
On top of my disappointment with the featured romance, this felt inadequate at ending the series as well, in terms of the overarching story of the paranormal world. The "mystery" is a bunch of mystic mumbo jumbo about a murdered guy that's supposed to be a big deal because he's the son of someone powerful, but the stakes just aren't high, and the threat Mr. Powerful posed the New Orleans crew who we've come to know and love simply wasn't compelling. It was an excuse to put our two badass bounty hunters through their paces and let them fall in love, but it didn't matter beyond that.
At the epilogue, it fell into place for me, the reason I was so annoyed by this. Patrick finding his long-lost brother and witnessing that happy endings are possible after all--this wasn't the huge climax of the story (the way Beyond Surrender is for the authors' later series) but a drawn-out denouement, where we're supposed to be satisfied that everyone's gotten their happy endings, so wrap it up, let's move along.
But if that's the point, why save the weakest romance plot of the whole series for the final book?
October 8, 2018
This book has a whole lot to handle as the last in a series: wrapping up everything that went before it and also providing a satisfying stand-alone romance. It delivers admirably. One problem that series can have is that the leads start to feel interchangeable, and that isn’t happening here. Each set of characters has their role to play and their place in their own arcs and the larger story.
One thing I really loved about Anna and Patrick was the way family twined around their story - found family and blood family. I loved how their damage intersected and complemented each other.
I super loved the way that the tensions that had been building with the council structure were handled - not an easy quick happy ending, but also not a disaster. I really liked the continuing themes of prejudice in the supernatural world and how different people handled it well or poorly.
And also, damn, that was hot.
One thing I really loved about Anna and Patrick was the way family twined around their story - found family and blood family. I loved how their damage intersected and complemented each other.
I super loved the way that the tensions that had been building with the council structure were handled - not an easy quick happy ending, but also not a disaster. I really liked the continuing themes of prejudice in the supernatural world and how different people handled it well or poorly.
And also, damn, that was hot.
July 25, 2017
If you like your paranormal crammed full every sort of paranormal there might be, this series is for you. Warning, the volumes in this series must be read in order as all the world building takes place in the first volume and then each story flows from the one before.
I really loved these. Complicated plots, full of unexpected twists and turns, well-developed characters.
Something I especially appreciated and something that is not common enough on the part of series writers is that the author did the world-building and then told each story and didn't waste my time by building up for the sixth or ending on a cliffhanger. She allowed this story to be this story, not an ad for the next.
So glad I read the entire series.
I really loved these. Complicated plots, full of unexpected twists and turns, well-developed characters.
Something I especially appreciated and something that is not common enough on the part of series writers is that the author did the world-building and then told each story and didn't waste my time by building up for the sixth or ending on a cliffhanger. She allowed this story to be this story, not an ad for the next.
So glad I read the entire series.
October 17, 2017
The Moira Rogers team is fantastic! I find myself continually drawn into their worlds and caring about their characters to such an extent that I actually cry and feel for them. And the romance is steamy hot! If you love sexy, engaging stories with strong heros and equally strong heroines plus a HEA, I highly recommend any of their books! (Though I am partial to the Bloodhounds series... C'mon, yall - give me some more books, please!)
May 4, 2023
This book snuck up on me. I wasn't too into the book at the beginning but all of a sudden it had me in a chokehold and I was crying and could not put it down. It was just so emotional and raw. It was beautifully written and personal.
I would give it a 4.5 but rounded up to 5. I will definitely be reading this again.
I would give it a 4.5 but rounded up to 5. I will definitely be reading this again.
January 4, 2019
A satisfying entry in the series, although the MCs' motivations seemed a little blurry to me. I'd like to see more in this world, but it's a lot to take in with a cast of thousands and political machinations.
March 30, 2025
The heat between hunters Anna Lenoir and Patrick McNamara was scalding when they met and has only increased in the last year. They’re great work partners but can’t get the romance thing on track… So, work it is and right now the problem is wolves are missing from the SW territory, and the latest is heir apparent, Oscar Ochoas, Alec’s future brother-in-law. Anna and Patrick are dispatched to find answers and hopefully avoid a political nightmare.
Anna and Patrick pool their resources to develop leads as gruesomely manipulated bodies begin to turn-up and the pair gets in a shootout with low-level but deadly wizards. When one is injured, allowing a bit of tenderness and care to peek out and crack the block to understanding and accepting what’s next for them for work and romance. Continuing the job, dark magic becomes more prevalent and more deadly making Anna and Patrick realize they’re in over their heads!
Rating: 4.25stars
Anna and Patrick pool their resources to develop leads as gruesomely manipulated bodies begin to turn-up and the pair gets in a shootout with low-level but deadly wizards. When one is injured, allowing a bit of tenderness and care to peek out and crack the block to understanding and accepting what’s next for them for work and romance. Continuing the job, dark magic becomes more prevalent and more deadly making Anna and Patrick realize they’re in over their heads!
Rating: 4.25stars
October 26, 2018
Another great story, Anna and Patrick. Loved that they were able to work together and still get the job done after their romance took a turn for the worse. Love the plot twist!!
Read
April 11, 2020What about Miguel history and Michelle and Luciano what about Veronica? Are they gonna have their own book. I really hope so
April 10, 2014
Two wounded souls, attracted to each other, but neither is ready to admit they could actually have a future together.
Patrick still misses his brother Ben, and has secrets he’s kept buried so deep, no one has ever discovered them. Anna is also alone, believing that she isn’t worthy of anyone’s love, since her mother walked away from her when she was just a child. These two have worked as partners, with a trust between them that begins to become much more as they tackle their next assignment…find out why wolf shifters in the Southwest area are going missing, especially the son of the pack leader in that area. As Anna and Patrick investigate, they find that there is a sinister magic behind it, and they know the only trust they can depend on is theirs. Patrick has wanted Anna for so long, and as they work, they finally yield to temptation, and he finds that he may not be able to walk away when this is over, although Anna insists this is only temporary. With their lives and their hearts in danger, can these two stop the evil that has hit the supernatural community, and stop the witch behind it all? Can Patrick convince Anna to take a chance on them for more than just a short term affair? Can Anna get past the hurt and pain of her past to forge a future with Patrick?
Enigma is the latest in the Southern Arcana series from Moira Rogers, and I was happy to see Anna and Patrick finally get their chance in the spotlight. These two have played supporting roles in the past, and I enjoyed watching as they came into their own with this one. As with the other books in this series, the characters are charismatic and well defined, and the world Ms. Rogers has built is ever so slowly expanding to show other supernatural communities outside of the original New Orleans locale. I enjoyed seeing some of the pack hierarchies, and catching up with a few old friends from the earlier books.
Anna Lenoir has fought all her life to prove that a female shape shifter can be just as strong and lethal as her male counterparts. She now fights for money, as a bounty hunter and sometimes enforcer, and has never met a man she couldn’t walk away from…until Patrick. He accepts her as she is, respects her abilities, and she fights to her very core the attraction she feels for him. Anna is strong and lives by a code of ethics that keeps her from getting close to anyone. I like Anna, and enjoyed watching her finally relax enough to let someone inside her walls. I liked the snarky dialog and verbal sparring between Anna and Patrick, and laughed a bit at some of her comments.
Patrick McNamara is a mystery, an enigma in the supernatural community of New Orleans. Although not a shifter, he has beaten many of them at their own game, and has been a very successful bounty hunter and fighter. No one knows exactly what Patrick really is, but he can hold his own in a fight, and is the one man you always can count on to have your back in a serious situation. He is strong, sexy and has secrets that he keeps from the world…even his friends, what few there are, don’t know much about him. When his brother is murdered, he is determined to find every single one responsible, and he hides his pain from everyone except Anna. With her, he can be vulnerable, and he trusts her more than anyone. I enjoyed watching as Patrick began his campaign to win Anna’s heart, and I enjoyed their verbal jousting as they worked together to stop the evil trying to take over in the Southwest.
Enigma is a bit darker than some of the other Southern Arcana books, but that is because both of the primary characters are deeply wounded souls, and both have faced such hardships and pain in their pasts. Anna and Patrick deserved their chance at happiness, and the path to their happy ever after is not an easy one. I like this one, because we finally learn more about two of the most private people in this series, and I also enjoyed catching up with Alex, Andrew and Kat and all of the characters Ms. Rogers has created for this world of magic and mystery. This book is a perfect addition to the Southern Arcana world of Moira Rogers, and I recommend it to anyone who likes their romance with a side of mystery and magic.
Patrick still misses his brother Ben, and has secrets he’s kept buried so deep, no one has ever discovered them. Anna is also alone, believing that she isn’t worthy of anyone’s love, since her mother walked away from her when she was just a child. These two have worked as partners, with a trust between them that begins to become much more as they tackle their next assignment…find out why wolf shifters in the Southwest area are going missing, especially the son of the pack leader in that area. As Anna and Patrick investigate, they find that there is a sinister magic behind it, and they know the only trust they can depend on is theirs. Patrick has wanted Anna for so long, and as they work, they finally yield to temptation, and he finds that he may not be able to walk away when this is over, although Anna insists this is only temporary. With their lives and their hearts in danger, can these two stop the evil that has hit the supernatural community, and stop the witch behind it all? Can Patrick convince Anna to take a chance on them for more than just a short term affair? Can Anna get past the hurt and pain of her past to forge a future with Patrick?
Enigma is the latest in the Southern Arcana series from Moira Rogers, and I was happy to see Anna and Patrick finally get their chance in the spotlight. These two have played supporting roles in the past, and I enjoyed watching as they came into their own with this one. As with the other books in this series, the characters are charismatic and well defined, and the world Ms. Rogers has built is ever so slowly expanding to show other supernatural communities outside of the original New Orleans locale. I enjoyed seeing some of the pack hierarchies, and catching up with a few old friends from the earlier books.
Anna Lenoir has fought all her life to prove that a female shape shifter can be just as strong and lethal as her male counterparts. She now fights for money, as a bounty hunter and sometimes enforcer, and has never met a man she couldn’t walk away from…until Patrick. He accepts her as she is, respects her abilities, and she fights to her very core the attraction she feels for him. Anna is strong and lives by a code of ethics that keeps her from getting close to anyone. I like Anna, and enjoyed watching her finally relax enough to let someone inside her walls. I liked the snarky dialog and verbal sparring between Anna and Patrick, and laughed a bit at some of her comments.
Patrick McNamara is a mystery, an enigma in the supernatural community of New Orleans. Although not a shifter, he has beaten many of them at their own game, and has been a very successful bounty hunter and fighter. No one knows exactly what Patrick really is, but he can hold his own in a fight, and is the one man you always can count on to have your back in a serious situation. He is strong, sexy and has secrets that he keeps from the world…even his friends, what few there are, don’t know much about him. When his brother is murdered, he is determined to find every single one responsible, and he hides his pain from everyone except Anna. With her, he can be vulnerable, and he trusts her more than anyone. I enjoyed watching as Patrick began his campaign to win Anna’s heart, and I enjoyed their verbal jousting as they worked together to stop the evil trying to take over in the Southwest.
Enigma is a bit darker than some of the other Southern Arcana books, but that is because both of the primary characters are deeply wounded souls, and both have faced such hardships and pain in their pasts. Anna and Patrick deserved their chance at happiness, and the path to their happy ever after is not an easy one. I like this one, because we finally learn more about two of the most private people in this series, and I also enjoyed catching up with Alex, Andrew and Kat and all of the characters Ms. Rogers has created for this world of magic and mystery. This book is a perfect addition to the Southern Arcana world of Moira Rogers, and I recommend it to anyone who likes their romance with a side of mystery and magic.
June 11, 2014
Since I finished the last book, IMPULSE, I've been waiting for Anna and Patrick's story. And now it is finally here and I'm finally reading it. The Southern Arcana series is one of the few pnr series still on my auto-buy and auto-read list because I love the world, the politics, the characters and the writing so much.
On the very first page it says Anna is 'more comfortable with weapons than hugs' and this immediately set the tone for me...this was going to be one hell of a romance! And I say this in the most positive way possible! I loved how compatible Anna and Patrick were and how they still kept fighting the attraction and the feelings between them.
I've probably mentioned in reviews of previous books in this series how much I love the world, the politics and the plots in this series. ENIGMA was no different so it's safe to say that is still working for me. There was a lot going on but there wasn't a single moment I felt lost or confused! I loved the plot and the politics in this book! With everything that was happening, every discovery and every step closer to unraveling what was going on I got more and more enthralled, intrigued and I wanted to know what exactly was going on and why.
This book is all action all the time and in the center of all that action are Anna and Patrick, two broken souls with childhoods that would make anyone cower in a corner and just cry. They're broken yet anything but weak! Some crazy stuff happens in this book and they manage to take it all. I loved the emotional development they went through from the beginning where they were fighting the attraction and denying their feelings, straight to the end where they (at first) reluctantly accept the undeniability of their bond.
Though ENIGMA didn't push my faves in this series (CIPHER, DEADLOCK & IMPULSE) from the top faves spot, I really enjoyed it and contrary to most previous books I have absolutely NO idea who is going to be next! Or wait...now that I think about it, maybe I have someone (2 or 3 someones even) in mind who could be next :)
Memorable Scenes:
- the one with the ghost > yes, I said ghost...and it was memorable because I was glued to the pages and I really dislike ghosts in my books
- the one in the shower > holy hotness!
- the one with the emotion-infused sex scene > hands down one of the most beautiful, most powerful sex scenes I've read in years!
Favorite Quotes:
That left her with the cold, hard truth she’d been facing for the past half a year—the one man she couldn’t have was the one who made all the others look like silly little boys.
“Take off your damn clothes before I mess this up.”
“You couldn’t.” But she tore off her jacket, tossed it off the bed and pulled his hand up under the hem of her T-shirt. Every soft brush or hard bite of his fingers sparked fire in her belly, and she shivered. “You could probably make me come by breathing on me.”
He lunged to his feet, and her back thumped against the wall next to a crookedly framed print of a cheerful seascape. “This is how I thought our first time would be.” He dragged her hands up and slammed them back against the wall, and the force of it shocked her into a shudder. “Against a brick wall in some dark alley because I couldn’t stay out of you one more goddamn second.”
“Sleep okay?”
“It was awesome.” She stretched through a yawn. “I’m going to cuddle up on you all the time from now on.”
“Sounds cozy.” God help him and his too-eager dick, which was more than ready for another round of sweaty fucking. The damn motel room might not survive it.
“I wish it was, because there isn’t anybody but you. There hasn’t been, not since the night we met. I thought, ‘If I can love anyone, if anyone can love me, it’s this crazy bastard.’” [Anna]
“I’m not heartless, McNamara. Just broken.”
And yet here he was, stripped down to something worse. Lust and pain, twisted need and furious hurt. He could feel her all along his body even though they weren’t touching, and he wanted to be touching. He wanted to close the distance and rub against her, rub away all those other scents so that she had to feel him, not merely on her skin but under it, overwhelming every sense, clinging to any part of her he could touch.
On the very first page it says Anna is 'more comfortable with weapons than hugs' and this immediately set the tone for me...this was going to be one hell of a romance! And I say this in the most positive way possible! I loved how compatible Anna and Patrick were and how they still kept fighting the attraction and the feelings between them.
I've probably mentioned in reviews of previous books in this series how much I love the world, the politics and the plots in this series. ENIGMA was no different so it's safe to say that is still working for me. There was a lot going on but there wasn't a single moment I felt lost or confused! I loved the plot and the politics in this book! With everything that was happening, every discovery and every step closer to unraveling what was going on I got more and more enthralled, intrigued and I wanted to know what exactly was going on and why.
This book is all action all the time and in the center of all that action are Anna and Patrick, two broken souls with childhoods that would make anyone cower in a corner and just cry. They're broken yet anything but weak! Some crazy stuff happens in this book and they manage to take it all. I loved the emotional development they went through from the beginning where they were fighting the attraction and denying their feelings, straight to the end where they (at first) reluctantly accept the undeniability of their bond.
Though ENIGMA didn't push my faves in this series (CIPHER, DEADLOCK & IMPULSE) from the top faves spot, I really enjoyed it and contrary to most previous books I have absolutely NO idea who is going to be next! Or wait...now that I think about it, maybe I have someone (2 or 3 someones even) in mind who could be next :)
Memorable Scenes:
- the one with the ghost > yes, I said ghost...and it was memorable because I was glued to the pages and I really dislike ghosts in my books
- the one in the shower > holy hotness!
- the one with the emotion-infused sex scene > hands down one of the most beautiful, most powerful sex scenes I've read in years!
Favorite Quotes:
That left her with the cold, hard truth she’d been facing for the past half a year—the one man she couldn’t have was the one who made all the others look like silly little boys.
“Take off your damn clothes before I mess this up.”
“You couldn’t.” But she tore off her jacket, tossed it off the bed and pulled his hand up under the hem of her T-shirt. Every soft brush or hard bite of his fingers sparked fire in her belly, and she shivered. “You could probably make me come by breathing on me.”
He lunged to his feet, and her back thumped against the wall next to a crookedly framed print of a cheerful seascape. “This is how I thought our first time would be.” He dragged her hands up and slammed them back against the wall, and the force of it shocked her into a shudder. “Against a brick wall in some dark alley because I couldn’t stay out of you one more goddamn second.”
“Sleep okay?”
“It was awesome.” She stretched through a yawn. “I’m going to cuddle up on you all the time from now on.”
“Sounds cozy.” God help him and his too-eager dick, which was more than ready for another round of sweaty fucking. The damn motel room might not survive it.
“I wish it was, because there isn’t anybody but you. There hasn’t been, not since the night we met. I thought, ‘If I can love anyone, if anyone can love me, it’s this crazy bastard.’” [Anna]
“I’m not heartless, McNamara. Just broken.”
And yet here he was, stripped down to something worse. Lust and pain, twisted need and furious hurt. He could feel her all along his body even though they weren’t touching, and he wanted to be touching. He wanted to close the distance and rub against her, rub away all those other scents so that she had to feel him, not merely on her skin but under it, overwhelming every sense, clinging to any part of her he could touch.
May 13, 2014
3.5 stars
When the son of a powerful Southwest council member goes missing, bounty hunters Anna and Patrick are sent to stop a potential territory war and learn what's going on is more than a simple missing shifter case. While working to uncover one mystery after another, Anna and Patrick are all business and show why they're the best at what they do. Off the clock, Patrick battles Anna to convince her that what's between them is far beyond physical and worth risking everything for.
Anna and Patrick have bruised hearts and wounded souls stemming from growing up in horribly broken homes. Patrick still feels the pain of losing his brother and despite the best efforts from his friends, he feels alone. Anna is the only one he craves anything from yet she feels her upbringing makes her too damaged to love and will offer him her body but not her heart. Anna and Patrick are not my series favorites, nor second place, yet they're still note worthy characters. I'm not big on magic and Patrick being a reluctant blossoming spell caster of sorts, we just didn't hit it off. I admire the fact he's a well written hero with great emotional depth that Anna is the only one privileged to see, not to mention he's a total hunk. Hello tattoos, motorcycle, and stamina. Again, Anna's not my favorite, Carmen and Nicole share that position, but she has her bad ass alpha qualities and really makes Patrick work for her love. They're perfect for each other and would not have made sense anything other way.
Alec and the gang are putting everything they have into fixing all the mistakes of the Conclave and shifter council members. Not everyone agrees with what they're doing, everyone being mainly the ones holding the power, and the disappearance of the son of a rival council member can bring war to the Southeast territory. Anna and Patrick have connections no one else does so they're sent in to find out what happen and help prevent any fallout from the disappearance. I love paranormal romance and nearly everything that comes with it. Two aspects that have never really worked for me are an abundance of magic talk/magic in general and ghosts and both are involved here. As with Patrick and Anna, this story had nothing to do with it. It's all a matter of personal preference and all this just wasn't my cup of tea so I'll admit to skimming several pages here and there. In the end I didn't feel like I was missing out on anything yet I felt I had to admit to not hanging on every word.
I know it seems like all I'm doing is nitpicking but I don't hate the book and found elements to keep me reading. The comfortable familiarity with the world and characters that has been building which each installment in the series never faltered and felt like a welcomed embrace each time I picked the book back up.
When something doesn't satisfy my paranormal romance craving, I'm usually able to recognize it's more of my personal preference than the story/characters/writing being terrible. I've had the utmost pleasure of reading some really fantastic PNR from this awesome writing duo and believe they did a good job with the latest Southern Arcana book. Enigma and its headliners unfortunately just didn't click with me but that doesn't mean for one second I won't continue on with this series and eagerly look forward to whatever they have in store next for fans.
- Stephanie
When the son of a powerful Southwest council member goes missing, bounty hunters Anna and Patrick are sent to stop a potential territory war and learn what's going on is more than a simple missing shifter case. While working to uncover one mystery after another, Anna and Patrick are all business and show why they're the best at what they do. Off the clock, Patrick battles Anna to convince her that what's between them is far beyond physical and worth risking everything for.
Anna and Patrick have bruised hearts and wounded souls stemming from growing up in horribly broken homes. Patrick still feels the pain of losing his brother and despite the best efforts from his friends, he feels alone. Anna is the only one he craves anything from yet she feels her upbringing makes her too damaged to love and will offer him her body but not her heart. Anna and Patrick are not my series favorites, nor second place, yet they're still note worthy characters. I'm not big on magic and Patrick being a reluctant blossoming spell caster of sorts, we just didn't hit it off. I admire the fact he's a well written hero with great emotional depth that Anna is the only one privileged to see, not to mention he's a total hunk. Hello tattoos, motorcycle, and stamina. Again, Anna's not my favorite, Carmen and Nicole share that position, but she has her bad ass alpha qualities and really makes Patrick work for her love. They're perfect for each other and would not have made sense anything other way.
Alec and the gang are putting everything they have into fixing all the mistakes of the Conclave and shifter council members. Not everyone agrees with what they're doing, everyone being mainly the ones holding the power, and the disappearance of the son of a rival council member can bring war to the Southeast territory. Anna and Patrick have connections no one else does so they're sent in to find out what happen and help prevent any fallout from the disappearance. I love paranormal romance and nearly everything that comes with it. Two aspects that have never really worked for me are an abundance of magic talk/magic in general and ghosts and both are involved here. As with Patrick and Anna, this story had nothing to do with it. It's all a matter of personal preference and all this just wasn't my cup of tea so I'll admit to skimming several pages here and there. In the end I didn't feel like I was missing out on anything yet I felt I had to admit to not hanging on every word.
I know it seems like all I'm doing is nitpicking but I don't hate the book and found elements to keep me reading. The comfortable familiarity with the world and characters that has been building which each installment in the series never faltered and felt like a welcomed embrace each time I picked the book back up.
When something doesn't satisfy my paranormal romance craving, I'm usually able to recognize it's more of my personal preference than the story/characters/writing being terrible. I've had the utmost pleasure of reading some really fantastic PNR from this awesome writing duo and believe they did a good job with the latest Southern Arcana book. Enigma and its headliners unfortunately just didn't click with me but that doesn't mean for one second I won't continue on with this series and eagerly look forward to whatever they have in store next for fans.
- Stephanie
June 3, 2014
Original review posted here: http://mamakittyreviews.com/?p=7183
This is the sixth book in a series. Because of the extensive world building and character interactions, you should start at the beginning (http://moirarogers.com/book/crux/ ).
I’ve had this book on my Kindle to review for a while (bad MamaJo) because I knew it was going to put me through the wringer and it did. The duo that is Moira Rogers has a special knack for completely overwhelming you with the written word. As I was reading Enigma, I found myself reliving the poignant loss from two book previous (Cipher). Mind you, that was a book I had read more than two years ago.
The dedication could not have been more perfect for the story, the main characters, and the readers who will embark on this journey. And this story is a journey.
The world building: When you read a Moira Rogers book you had better be prepared to be fully immersed into the world with the characters. When I’m reading these books, I find myself checking out people’s tattoos (IRL) to see if maybe the Ink Shrink has been to work on them.
The characters: In each installment the reader feels how the characters are growing and adapting to an ever-changing political environment. Incorporating shifters, psychics of all varieties, and magical humans this series has truly amazing characters. Do you love the dominant alpha males? The submissive but protective female “underdog”? Powerful psychics afraid of what their love will do to another person? All that and so much more await you in this world. Each and every character you meet will jump off the page at you because they are written so well. Patrick and Anna are no exception, both scared of who they are and what they will become, both protective, and both just a little broken.
I was so anxious to see what would happen between Anna and Patrick when left to their own devices, and I wasn’t disappointed. The couples from the previous books play a role in this story, but not so much that Anna and Patrick are out of the spotlight. Patrick and Anna have much to overcome, and I truly enjoyed seeing them come out on the other side so much stronger for having journeyed together. The tension between the two of them had my kindle smoking and when they do hook up: FLAMES BABY. Of course it wouldn’t be a Moira Rogers book if it didn’t put you through hell and bring you back out just a little changed. My heart broke for them, individually and as a couple so many times in this book that when the end came I felt like my heart had been ripped out, sewn back together, and then lovingly placed back in my chest. Truly exquisite writing that prompted me to go back and read the entire series including Enigma again.
If you are a fan of PNR, UF, or just a gritty and emotional story then Moira Rogers’ Southern Arcana series is for you. Buy it, borrow it, beg for it, just get it :D
This is the sixth book in a series. Because of the extensive world building and character interactions, you should start at the beginning (http://moirarogers.com/book/crux/ ).
I’ve had this book on my Kindle to review for a while (bad MamaJo) because I knew it was going to put me through the wringer and it did. The duo that is Moira Rogers has a special knack for completely overwhelming you with the written word. As I was reading Enigma, I found myself reliving the poignant loss from two book previous (Cipher). Mind you, that was a book I had read more than two years ago.
The dedication could not have been more perfect for the story, the main characters, and the readers who will embark on this journey. And this story is a journey.
The world building: When you read a Moira Rogers book you had better be prepared to be fully immersed into the world with the characters. When I’m reading these books, I find myself checking out people’s tattoos (IRL) to see if maybe the Ink Shrink has been to work on them.
The characters: In each installment the reader feels how the characters are growing and adapting to an ever-changing political environment. Incorporating shifters, psychics of all varieties, and magical humans this series has truly amazing characters. Do you love the dominant alpha males? The submissive but protective female “underdog”? Powerful psychics afraid of what their love will do to another person? All that and so much more await you in this world. Each and every character you meet will jump off the page at you because they are written so well. Patrick and Anna are no exception, both scared of who they are and what they will become, both protective, and both just a little broken.
I was so anxious to see what would happen between Anna and Patrick when left to their own devices, and I wasn’t disappointed. The couples from the previous books play a role in this story, but not so much that Anna and Patrick are out of the spotlight. Patrick and Anna have much to overcome, and I truly enjoyed seeing them come out on the other side so much stronger for having journeyed together. The tension between the two of them had my kindle smoking and when they do hook up: FLAMES BABY. Of course it wouldn’t be a Moira Rogers book if it didn’t put you through hell and bring you back out just a little changed. My heart broke for them, individually and as a couple so many times in this book that when the end came I felt like my heart had been ripped out, sewn back together, and then lovingly placed back in my chest. Truly exquisite writing that prompted me to go back and read the entire series including Enigma again.
If you are a fan of PNR, UF, or just a gritty and emotional story then Moira Rogers’ Southern Arcana series is for you. Buy it, borrow it, beg for it, just get it :D
May 22, 2014
Anna Lenoir has always fought. First to escape her broken childhood, then to prove a female shapeshifter can stand shoulder to shoulder with the men. Now she fights for money, and her reputation is as legendary as her stone-cold heart. She’s never met a man she couldn’t walk away from.
Until him.
Bounty hunter Patrick McNamara has a scary reputation of his own, along with mysterious powers linked to his many tattoos. On the clock, they’re the perfect supernatural-crime-solving team. After hours, she’s ready to rock his world. But Patrick won’t settle for just her body, and Anna’s better at breaking homes than making them.
When the heir to the Southwest council goes missing, their combined skills are the best chance of averting a territory war. But the hunt will drag them through the most vulnerable parts of their broken pasts. Daring to risk her heart might be the first fight she loses, and the stakes have never been higher.
Because Patrick will sacrifice anything for her... even his life!
Review:
I love this series! And what an exciting story for Anna and Patrick!
The story really kept me on the edge of my seat, it was an action packed story from beginning to end. Now, the whole book is not just action, we have to main characters; Anna and Patrick who really have had a crappy life growing up. These two tormented people really deserved their happy ending. I wanted to smack Anna a couple of times when she kept shoving Patrick away, I mean I understand her trust issues, but after his initial bulking he wants Anna to be with him forever....I mean he gives his life for Anna. I enjoyed the twists and turns of the story and the mystery behind trying to find out who and why the shape shifters were disappearing and being killed. The skinwalker aspect to the story was really great and I enjoyed that as the catalyst for the story. Secondary characters were really great from Oscar, to the others we have met in previous books.
You cannot beat the Author's world building and hot, sexy love scenes!
If you have not read Moira Rogers, you really, really should!!!
4 stars
Until him.
Bounty hunter Patrick McNamara has a scary reputation of his own, along with mysterious powers linked to his many tattoos. On the clock, they’re the perfect supernatural-crime-solving team. After hours, she’s ready to rock his world. But Patrick won’t settle for just her body, and Anna’s better at breaking homes than making them.
When the heir to the Southwest council goes missing, their combined skills are the best chance of averting a territory war. But the hunt will drag them through the most vulnerable parts of their broken pasts. Daring to risk her heart might be the first fight she loses, and the stakes have never been higher.
Because Patrick will sacrifice anything for her... even his life!
Review:
I love this series! And what an exciting story for Anna and Patrick!
The story really kept me on the edge of my seat, it was an action packed story from beginning to end. Now, the whole book is not just action, we have to main characters; Anna and Patrick who really have had a crappy life growing up. These two tormented people really deserved their happy ending. I wanted to smack Anna a couple of times when she kept shoving Patrick away, I mean I understand her trust issues, but after his initial bulking he wants Anna to be with him forever....I mean he gives his life for Anna. I enjoyed the twists and turns of the story and the mystery behind trying to find out who and why the shape shifters were disappearing and being killed. The skinwalker aspect to the story was really great and I enjoyed that as the catalyst for the story. Secondary characters were really great from Oscar, to the others we have met in previous books.
You cannot beat the Author's world building and hot, sexy love scenes!
If you have not read Moira Rogers, you really, really should!!!
4 stars
June 15, 2014
Originally posted on Swept Away Again
Enigma is sixth book in the Southern Arcana series and one I didn't enjoy as much as I thought I would. I've found that the characters in the Southern Arcana series tend to be a lot more troubled than you originally think they are. Anna was no different. Patrick on the other hand you know up front {if you've been reading the series} what his issues are and how he's not really dealing with them well.
Anna was abandoned by her Mother and treated badly by her Father who has a rather nasty drug habit and while she is physically strong she is emotionally vulnerable and I felt that Ms Rogers really brings that across with Anna's relationship with Patrick and how Anna feels that she's unworthy of not just Patrick's love but anyone's, even though she has a strong group of friends. Patrick on the other hand has just as awful past with being abused as a child and {in Cipher} losses his younger brother Ben and even though he's grown up to be a badass bounty hunter who is also an untrained caster he is afraid he may not have long left to control his untrained caster ability.
On top of all that is the continuing storyline that has been running through this series of political intrigue, magic, revenge and fighting for ones own existence and a better future.
My only problem with Enigma was after the the previous books I was hoping Anna and Patrick would start their book with a slightly better relationship between them and not the banter that they've had in the past. I don't really know why I expected this because Ms Rogers does so like to put us, the readers through the ringer along with her character's.
As usual the previous characters appear and provide an interesting addition to Enigma
Enigma is sixth book in the Southern Arcana series and one I didn't enjoy as much as I thought I would. I've found that the characters in the Southern Arcana series tend to be a lot more troubled than you originally think they are. Anna was no different. Patrick on the other hand you know up front {if you've been reading the series} what his issues are and how he's not really dealing with them well.
Anna was abandoned by her Mother and treated badly by her Father who has a rather nasty drug habit and while she is physically strong she is emotionally vulnerable and I felt that Ms Rogers really brings that across with Anna's relationship with Patrick and how Anna feels that she's unworthy of not just Patrick's love but anyone's, even though she has a strong group of friends. Patrick on the other hand has just as awful past with being abused as a child and {in Cipher} losses his younger brother Ben and even though he's grown up to be a badass bounty hunter who is also an untrained caster he is afraid he may not have long left to control his untrained caster ability.
On top of all that is the continuing storyline that has been running through this series of political intrigue, magic, revenge and fighting for ones own existence and a better future.
My only problem with Enigma was after the the previous books I was hoping Anna and Patrick would start their book with a slightly better relationship between them and not the banter that they've had in the past. I don't really know why I expected this because Ms Rogers does so like to put us, the readers through the ringer along with her character's.
As usual the previous characters appear and provide an interesting addition to Enigma
April 14, 2014
It felt so good to climb into back into the Southern Arcana world. Badass shapeshifters, dominance fights in and out of the bedroom, bad guys who do VERY bad things, and characters who are wonderfully broken. Anna and Patrick have that last part covered in spades. Frankly, it only made me enjoy them all the more.
With Anna, we have a bounty hunter who honestly believes she ruins everything she touches. As much as she might want Patrick, she's determined to keep things casual so she won't drag him down when things go bad. Which is a sad way to live and it's wearing on her.
Patrick has his own set of problems. He's a powder keg of magical power and he has it bad for Anna. Since he's not a shapeshifter, he's had to learn how to hold his own against those who look down on him. He has friends in high places, but that doesn't make convincing Anna he's going to stick around any easier.
We get to revisit a few familiar faces (a lot of familiar faces, actually), see the dark underbelly of werewolf political maneuverings (dark-ish. More like the distasteful underbelly, really), and the really nasty things bad guys will dip their fingers into to get what they want. Oh, and Anna and Patrick? Pretty much smokin' every time they start steaming up the sheets. Or the wall. Or a table.
Frankly, I think they should be charged extra every time they check into a motel just to cover the cost of broken furniture. Those two are wild when the clothes start coming off.
Man, I've missed this world!
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
With Anna, we have a bounty hunter who honestly believes she ruins everything she touches. As much as she might want Patrick, she's determined to keep things casual so she won't drag him down when things go bad. Which is a sad way to live and it's wearing on her.
Patrick has his own set of problems. He's a powder keg of magical power and he has it bad for Anna. Since he's not a shapeshifter, he's had to learn how to hold his own against those who look down on him. He has friends in high places, but that doesn't make convincing Anna he's going to stick around any easier.
We get to revisit a few familiar faces (a lot of familiar faces, actually), see the dark underbelly of werewolf political maneuverings (dark-ish. More like the distasteful underbelly, really), and the really nasty things bad guys will dip their fingers into to get what they want. Oh, and Anna and Patrick? Pretty much smokin' every time they start steaming up the sheets. Or the wall. Or a table.
Frankly, I think they should be charged extra every time they check into a motel just to cover the cost of broken furniture. Those two are wild when the clothes start coming off.
Man, I've missed this world!
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
April 17, 2014
WHOA!
Just read enigma bk 6 of the southern arcana series, by Moira Rogers.
Their books are Intense. The action -the chemistry between the hero and heroine is just wow.
Like the previous 5 books one or both of the main characters are flawed in some way. This one is Anna and Patrick.
They fight their attraction,while acting on it.both bounty hunters, running from their pasts and each other. It gets frustrating listing to them self flagellate. Moaning about how bad they are for each other, how they should find someone else. While the romance is everyday. What I really like about Moria Rogers books are the story line. The mystery, the action the lives of the characters make the story work. Each book so far is like a soap opera instead of humans, there are witches shape shifters. Rich and poor, mixed bread and pure breeds. Mix those combinations up and you can make a variety of plots and sub plots.. And these two women know what they are doing.
I shed a tear when Patrick found ... Oh wait Read it. I know you'll enjoy it I DID
C
Just read enigma bk 6 of the southern arcana series, by Moira Rogers.
Their books are Intense. The action -the chemistry between the hero and heroine is just wow.
Like the previous 5 books one or both of the main characters are flawed in some way. This one is Anna and Patrick.
They fight their attraction,while acting on it.both bounty hunters, running from their pasts and each other. It gets frustrating listing to them self flagellate. Moaning about how bad they are for each other, how they should find someone else. While the romance is everyday. What I really like about Moria Rogers books are the story line. The mystery, the action the lives of the characters make the story work. Each book so far is like a soap opera instead of humans, there are witches shape shifters. Rich and poor, mixed bread and pure breeds. Mix those combinations up and you can make a variety of plots and sub plots.. And these two women know what they are doing.
I shed a tear when Patrick found ... Oh wait Read it. I know you'll enjoy it I DID
C
July 31, 2015
Oh my.
This one knocked my socks off. Anna and Patrick have been intriguing me since we were introduced earlier in the series. Both of them unbelievably tough survivors, also incredibly damaged and broken by their pasts. They share an undeniable attraction, but have also carefully danced around it, pulling back when they might actually cross the line over into acting on it. They've been able to work together efficiently as partners when on a case (like supernatural enforcers), but have avoided actually taking that partnership to a personal level.
Moira Rogers does an incredible job in this story--loved the exciting plot, and how it allowed us to see the emotions driving this tough-but-running-scared twosome. And the ending nearly brought me to tears.
Definitely a keeper, and I am hoping that there might be more to come in this series.
This one knocked my socks off. Anna and Patrick have been intriguing me since we were introduced earlier in the series. Both of them unbelievably tough survivors, also incredibly damaged and broken by their pasts. They share an undeniable attraction, but have also carefully danced around it, pulling back when they might actually cross the line over into acting on it. They've been able to work together efficiently as partners when on a case (like supernatural enforcers), but have avoided actually taking that partnership to a personal level.
Moira Rogers does an incredible job in this story--loved the exciting plot, and how it allowed us to see the emotions driving this tough-but-running-scared twosome. And the ending nearly brought me to tears.
Definitely a keeper, and I am hoping that there might be more to come in this series.
June 25, 2014
Unfortunately not everyone has lived a white picket fenced life. There are those who are broken as a result of their past. My life was broken and thankfully not as bad as Patrick's or Anna's. I found a way to fix those broken pieces but it takes a long time. So if you find yourself becoming frustrated with the relationship between Patrick and Anna, give yourself a moment to think about being exposed to a fraction of their lives and truly feel what they experienced. This may be a series set in the paranormal world but it is not far from the real one. Great book and series. If there will be another book in this series, I will be waiting for it.
March 22, 2021
I didn't realize I hadn't read the last book in this series until recently. So I went in without completely remembering the other five stories. Due to this, I felt a little lost. I couldn't remember why Ben died, I couldn't remember if these two characters where in other stories. At one point I didn't know what Anna was (magic user/witch/wolf) and still don't know if I 100% understand what Patrick was/is (they called him a caster, is that a mage/witch? or something outside those?).
Also, I was bored with the story (maybe because my lack of remembering).
Major take-away - this is not a standalone!
Also, I was bored with the story (maybe because my lack of remembering).
Major take-away - this is not a standalone!
December 16, 2015
Never give up
Both were broken. Yet together each could do damage when it comes to hurting their friends and family, besides being a little rough around the edges if your innocent you won't ever see them. As the packs start to learn how to take care of everyone not just the privileged few there's always someone who wants what's not theirs. Looking forward to the next book as the story goes on.
Both were broken. Yet together each could do damage when it comes to hurting their friends and family, besides being a little rough around the edges if your innocent you won't ever see them. As the packs start to learn how to take care of everyone not just the privileged few there's always someone who wants what's not theirs. Looking forward to the next book as the story goes on.
May 27, 2014
I think I would have liked this one better and the story itself not been so tedious had Anna and Patrick not been so "woe is me" for the whole story. The way that each of them didn't think they were worth anything, despite their friends words drove me nuts. I did like that by the end they were able to see past that.
May 17, 2014
A little too much drama, but some of the best steamy scenes I've read in a while. I love the fact that Moira Rogers added shifter characteristics to the heroine (the scene where they have to go to a shapeshifter bar and she wants his scent over her) - one of the best scenes in PNR.
I'm a big fan of this series.
I'm a big fan of this series.
June 29, 2014
Really enjoyed Anna and Patrick's story. Anna is a great woman with strong personal polity but vulnerable heart and Patrick's a broken man after his brother died but they are so pulled to each other.
It's a great read. One I would read time and time again. Hope to see another one from moira...maybe fir veronica next.
It's a great read. One I would read time and time again. Hope to see another one from moira...maybe fir veronica next.
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