Other books from this author have been hits or misses for me, however, Hidden Moon read almost like a gothic novel and I couldn’t put it down. The sometimes mysterious and creepy atmosphere, along with the enigmatic hero, really added to the adventure.

Claire Kennedy has returned to Lake Bluff, Georgia from Atlanta. Nothing in Atlanta turned out to be what she wanted when she left her hometown to become a famous journalist. Instead, she had a fairly mediocre career and a terrible experience that sent her back home to lick her wounds. Her deceased father was the mayor of Lake Bluff her entire life, so when the election came up, Claire decided to run for mayor. To her surprise, she was elected.

Lake Bluff’s big fundraiser for the year comes in the form of a festival. This year a traveling gypsy caravan is booked for the three day event. When Claire and her best friend (and town sheriff) Grace go and check on the gypsy camp, Claire meets the gypsy leader Malachi Cartwright, who just happens to be the most attractive man she’s ever seen. Still, Claire is firmly in the “once bitten, twice shy” camp and is determined to stay away from Malachi and her attraction to him.

Once the gypsies arrive however, strange events start happening in Lake Bluff. Wolves are heard howling in the night, people are attacked and some disappear outright. Malachi and his people are under suspicion, but Malachi is also deeply disturbed by the events surrounding his camp. However, he is hiding some dark secrets in his past that will affect the outcome of the mystery.

Malachi and Claire are a great couple. Malachi is definitely a mystery man. While I was savvy enough to know what he wasn’t, I desperately wanted to know his secret. He interacts with Claire gently but firmly. He wants a relationship with her, but it also counteracts everything in his cultural upbringing. Claire is more wounded than Malachi, but she’s a strong person and recognizes her weaknesses and strengths.

For those who have read the previous books in this series, there is a very, very brief glimpse of two former characters, I won’t say who, but it should be no surprise when they arrive.

My only quibble, which may or may not be resolved in the future, has to do with Grace, Claire’s friend. There were many unanswered questions involving her character, and I’d love to see her in a future book. As a result, I felt somewhat dissatisfied at the end, but otherwise this was a quick and very enjoyable read. It’s not strictly necessary to have read any of the other books in this series to enjoy this one, which is a plus, but it does enhance the reading experience knowing about the Nightcreatures involved.

I know fans of this author will want to pick up Hidden Moon, and if you’re a paranormal fan who hasn’t read this author before, this one will be a fun and slightly creepy read.