Review: Blood Moon by Teri Harman

Blood Moon by Teri Harman
Release Date: June 22, 2013
Format: ARC, 354 pages
Publisher: Jolly Fish Press
Series: Moonlight Trilogy #1
Source: Publisher in exchange for an honest review

Description from Goodreads:
Willa dreams of true events and her best friend is a ghost. Simon can heal any wound with a touch and senses others’ emotions, intentions. All their lives they’ve felt alone in their bizarre abilities, hiding behind a facade of normalcy, wondering why and how. The night Simon walks into the Twelve Acres Diner and meets Willa face to face, in a swirl of electric heat, they are bound to one another and glimpse the magic of who they are.

Across town a witch is held prisoner in the derelict basement of an old Victorian house. One night as it rains, she dares to reach her filthy, scarred hand out the window. Willa, walking home from work, recognizes the pathetic hand from a recent, terrible dream.

After a daring rescue of the witch, Willa and Simon are catapulted into the alluring but dangerous world of witchcraft and the magic of The Six Gifts. Answers to all their questions are within reach, but they’ve stepped into the middle of a deadly fight for the Powers of the Earth. Do they stay, risk their lives on the promise of power, or walk away?

Teri Harman's groundbreaking debut novel, the first installment in The Moonlight Trilogy, completely reinvents the modern concept of witches and magic. With its authentic translation of the history of witches into a fresh and entertaining package with unprecedented characterization, Blood Moon is sure to capture readers from the first page.

Oh, sweet baby mama of Jesus. THIS BOOK. So, I was expecting to like it. Obviously. I wouldn't have accepted the review request or chosen to read it otherwise. But...holy snap, y'all. I loved this book! So much. I think part of my happiness is timing--I've been wanting to re-read my Secret Circle books for a while now, and then I had this sitting in my stack of books and pulled it out and...wow. Just wow.

My dearest Teri Harman, YOU are a wonderful human being for writing this book. The beginning...you...just...that beginning was made for me. (Not literally. But wouldn't it be cool if I WAS being literal?) It got me and then I read more and was like THIS IS SO COOL, and...magnificent. High five, author lady!

Character Rundown:
Willa: I liked Willa! She wasn't needy or whiny or weak or anything that usually bugs me about female protagonists. She didn't make me angry, like, at all. That in and of itself is a freaking miracle.

Simon: Can I just marry this boy now? PLEASE? He is so mine. I'm calling dibs right now. He was strong and kind, and he just...I approve of this boy. One hundred and ten percent. I am so excited for the rest of this trilogy to see more of him. <3

Plot. I loved how Teri Harman had our main characters meet AND THEN started in on the magical stuff. Because that drew me in (goodness knows I am the biggest sucker for anything even remotely romantic), and then all the cool witch stuff KEPT me there. It reminded me of The Secret Circle by L.J. Smith. I mean, they are two TOTALLY different stories, but that book drew me in with the beginning just like Teri Harman did, and then held me there with awesomeness.

Romance. First of all, this is one of the strongest couples I've read in a while. Usually I need the guy to hold things together, but in this book, they are equally amazing. They are fine separately, but together...together they're just better. Second, I've already talked about this, but Teri Harman doesn't take forever to bring in the romance which made me all flail-y and happy. I started reading and started giggling because I was so HAPPY. And lastly, Willa & Simon aren't the ONLY couple in this book. I loved the idea of the witch couples, how they make magic together and whatnot. Again, high five, author lady!

The ending. What have you got up your sleeve for us next, Ms. Harman? I wonder... I'm definitely going to be reading it. I wish I could read it RIGHT NOW. Can I? PLEASE?

Overall, I was completely impressed by Blood Moon. Its romantic beginning drew me in with ease and the magical story that unfolded within the pages kept me devouring this book in hours. I am STILL smiling about this. Teri Harman, I am most definitely going to stick around to see what comes next. I'm so excited! :)

♥Jessica(: