I received this book for free from the author as a free story in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the author as a free story
"Rowan"
by
Nalini Singh
It is part of the Psy-Changeling #15.1 series and is a paranormal romance in a PDF edition that was published by the author on August 22, 2017 Explore it on Goodreads
Other books in this series include [books_series]
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Must Love Hellhounds, Kiss of Snow, An Enchanted Season, Archangel's Blade, Angels of Darkness, Lord of the Abyss, Desert Warrior, Angels' Flight, Tangle of Need, Play of Passion, Archangel's Storm, Wild Invitation, Heart of Obsidian, Archangel's Legion, "Hide and Seek", "Making Dinner", Shield of Winter, "A Conversation", "Home", Angels' Pawn, "New Year's Kisses", Night Shift, "Weapons Training", "Zoë's Workshop", "Wild Night", Archangel's Shadows, Archangel’s Enigma, Shards of Hope, “Fairy Balloons”, “An Unexpected Guest”, Allegiance of Honor, "The Song of the Wolf", Silver Silence, Archangel’s Heart, Archangel’s Viper, Ocean Light, "Elena's School of Horror", Cherish Hard, "Ain’t No Party Like A Bear Party", Archangel's Prophecy, "One Night At The Refuge", "Secret Things", Rebel Hard, Rock Hard, Wolf Rain, "Clean and Dirty", "Wolf School", "Naya’s Most Important Visitors", "Grocery Shopping", "The Cannibal Princess", "A Gift for Kit", "Movie Night", "Kaleb and Sahara’s Meeting with Sascha and Lucas", "Housewarming at the Orchard", "Christmas in the Kitchen", "Stalking Hawke", "Romancing Drew", "Sunday Morning", "Baubles & Ben", Wild Embrace, Love Hard, Rock Addiction, "Music Awards", Rock Courtship, "Rock Courtship Memo"s, Rock Redemption, "Sunshine", Rock Wedding, "With This Memo", "That Lip Ring…", A Madness of Sunshine, "Beary Tiny Ghosts", Alpha Night, "A Wedding Breakfast", "Poker Night", "Knives and Sheaths", "Seedlings", "Star Kissed", "A Walk on the Cliffs", "Wild Cat Blues", Slave to Sensation, Caressed by Ice, Visions of Heat, Kiss Hard, Angels' Blood, Archangel's Kiss, Archangel's War, Archangel's Sun, Archangel's Light, Archangel's Resurrection, Last Guard, “A Perfect Moment”, "Music in the Rain", Storm Echo, Resonance Surge, "Mate", “New Year’s Eve”
A free short story, 15.1 in the Psy-Changeling paranormal romance series, revolving around two races: the Psy and changelings. The couple focus is split between Kaleb and Sahara and Zach and Annie. If you’re interested, there is a chronological listing of the Psy-Changeling books on my website.
My Take
I know, I know…I’m always giving these stories a “5”. There’s a reason for that — they’re dang good! And this one made me laugh and cry. Yes, it will make a big difference if you’ve been reading the series from the beginning, as there is quite a lot of background that impacts how “Rowan” will affect you.
It’s all character-driven, and knowing the past histories of the characters makes such a difference, especially when it comes to Kaleb. Knowing how he grew up, how awful it was for him, how powerful he is now, makes “Rowan” all that much more poignant, especially with this third person protagonist point-of-view from Kaleb’s perspective.
Of course, knowing the emotional history of the Psy also makes an impact on how one interprets Sahara’s bewilderment at Kaleb assuming she knows all about gift choosing, lol. Hmmm, come to think of it, isn’t this how most men see women as well?
As for Kaleb having — friends?? Friends?? Who’d’ve thunk!
The Story
One never knows how fate will turn, and then Annie Quinn discovers the boy who saved her life. A man feared by all and yet her savior.
One who is absolutely terrified at the idea of social interactions.
The Characters
Zach, a senior DarkRiver soldier, and Annie Quinn, Zach’s human mate and an elementary schoolteacher, have had a son, Rowan Kaleb Quinn (Magical Christmas Cat: “Stroke of Enticement”, 3.5, and Allegiance of Honor, 15).
Kaleb Krycheck is a dual cardinal: a telekinetic and a teleporter, who is mated to Sahara, another cardinal Psy.
DarkRiver is…
…the pack of leopard shifters based outside San Francisco. Lucas Hunter is the alpha who is mated to Sascha, a cardinal Psy.
The Title
The title is all about Zach and Annie’s son, “Rowan”.
