Lupa by Alexandra Lattey

In this romantic suspense, our heroine, Natalya Sylvane, comes from a generations-old family, steeped in secrets and traditions. With these come powers and burdens. For years she has been hunted because of what she has inherited—she is a shapeshifter, changing from human into wolf. She also possesses a power that enables her to see into the minds of those around her and to transport her thoughts into the minds of others.

Working as a forest guide, she meets James Ericsson, an elite agent for Sentinel, an organisation that deals in counter-terrorism, espionage and special security. He employs her services as a guide to take him high into the mountains. She forms an instant sense of connection with him, more than just a female-male attraction. When James is captured, she is forced to divulge her shapeshifter abilities to rescue him, and in turn, he cares for her after she is shot during their escape.

Instead of the shock and horror she expects James to feel, he is amazed at her abilities and surprised at the depth of feeling he has for her; fascinated by her altered form. In the hours they spend alone in mountain cabins, she shares some more of her background and from that moment, James develops the need to protect Natalya from the one man who hunts her. Marcus De Guerre. He and his brethren have been searching for her kind for hundreds of years and now, not only has he come onto Sentinel’s radar, but he knows that Natalya is close. Soon Natalya and James will be forced to fight for their survival.

James makes the decision to enlist the help of his Sentinel team, but in doing so, Natalya must again share her inherited abilities. With the clock ticking, James and the team will rely on every skill they have to protect Natalya from the most dangerous enemy he has ever faced. Not only is the life of the woman he loves at risk, but thousands of people also face genocide. The stakes are high and Natalya must call upon all her powers, her love for James and her loyalty to her ancestors to fight against Marcus.

Although lengthy, Lupa was an easy-to-read story that moved with pace. There were numerous typos that a good proofreader should have picked up, but overall, this New Zealand author will be one to watch out for in the future. Lattey lives on a 12-acre property and divides her time between working, writing, and the outdoors. Lupa is Book One in her 'Winter Soul' series.

Reviewer: Carole Brungar

Self-published