Desert Hunt (The Wolves of Twin Moon Ranch) by Anna Lowe

Rae has a secret — one she can’t let any wolf pack discover. But with an old enemy hot on her heels, her options are running out. Taking off on the back of Zack's Harley seems like good idea at first, but when she lowers her defenses for the captivating coyote shifter, she might just be risking it all.

The new she-wolf in town may be strictly off-limits, but Zack just can’t keep away. When the thrill of the chase gets his blood pumping in more ways than one, he’s ready to overstep every boundary and break every rule. Destiny says she’s his — but the pack’s ruling alpha says she belongs to another.

A paranormal romance with adult content / 43,000 words.

Inspiration for the story & characters of DESERT HUNT, the Prequel to the Wolves of Twin Moon Ranch

I actually wrote Desert Hunt, the prequel to the series, after writing books 1, 2, and 3! The concept of a prequel was born when I had the opportunity to participate in my very first boxed set called Masters of the Hunt, and took that as my theme. It was also the perfect opportunity to show Ty and the pack at a time when the younger generation (personified by Zack and Ty) was just starting to push at the limits set by the overly traditional old alpha, old Tyrone. Since Books 1, 2, and 3 hadn’t yet gone to press when I worked on this story, I was able to work hints of Rae and Zack into each of those stories. Did you catch them? Remember that early scene in Desert Blood, when Heather wistfully watches couples at the dance? If you read closely, you’ll find that Zack and Rae are two that strike her. These two make many more appearances throughout the series, so keep your eyes open for them!

Zack has so much depth, I just love him. He came to me bit by bit: first as a coyote, then coyote-wolf mix, and finally as Ty’s best friend, the kid from the wrong side of the tracks. Zack is one of the wounded hero-in-waiting types I love so much, one of those rare people who is born into difficult circumstances yet overcomes the odds. He’s a good man who gets his chance to shine despite many trials and travails. I love how he ultimately wins the recognition of the entire pack and even the grudging respect of the old alpha – but he would never have dared push himself that far if it weren’t for Rae.

As a kid, I was a huge fan of Robin Hood, and I couldn’t resist making Rae a skilled archer. I love the idea of the balance of nature: how wolves are actually the friends of their prey because they keep the herds strong. It didn’t take much tinkering with that idea to fill out the rest of Rae’s character and give her a mystical role as Mistress of the Hunt. I wanted a strong villain to add into the mix, so along came Jed, Rae’s old nemesis from her days as a member of North Ridge pack. Jed and Rae’s back story also helped this prequel tie in to the rest of the series – specifically to Desert Fate (Book 3), in which Greer, the evil alpha of North Ridge pack, is finally vanquished for good by Kyle.

MY FAVORITE SCENE:

Rae and Zack riding his Harley to the remote cabin to sit out the storm. I experienced exactly that kind of desert storm myself (too bad I didn’t have a handsome shapeshifter to see me through it!), and love how the tension in the air plays off the tension between the two characters.

BIGGEST CHANGE FROM THE EARLIEST DRAFT OF THE STORY:

I played with several variations of the hunter/guardian theme before I honed in on Zack and Rae’s story. In one early version, I had Zack as the hunter and Rae as a guardian type! Then I had Zack being sent to Nevada to bring Rae safely to Twin Moon Ranch (and unwittingly, to bring her to be mated to Ty). That eventually went by the wayside in favor of the hunting scene that appears in the final version of the story now. It’s funny how a story plays out in your mind in different variations until exactly the right one develops – and that’s exactly how the story of Rae, mythical Mistress of the Hunt, came to be!

USA Today and Amazon bestselling author Anna Lowe is a middle school teacher who loves dogs, sports, and travel - and letting those inspire her fiction. Once upon a time, she was a long-distance triathlete and soccer player. Nowadays, she finds her balance with yoga, writing, and family time with her husband and young children.

Anna started reading romance in spite of herself (because tomboys don't read romance – right? Wrong!) and has enjoyed reading and writing in the genre ever since. Two of her favorite romance authors are Kristan Higgins (for sweet love stories) and Rosalind James (for the combination of a New Zealand setting and sports). She's a fan of capable heroines like Rylee Adamson (by Shannon Mayer, who mixes action, fantasy and romance). On any given weekend, you might find her hiking in the mountains or hunched over her laptop, working on her latest story. Either way, the day will end with a chunk of dark chocolate and a good read.

PS - Who Anna Lowe is not: She is not the Anna Lowe of the Paris boutique (!) nor is she the Anna Lowe of an autobiographical book concerning her childhood. She's just plain old Anna of this site!