Review: Dreaming of the Wolf by Terry Spear

Dreaming of the Wolf
~Terry Spear 

Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages 
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca; Original edition (December 6, 2011) 
Language: English 
ISBN-10: 1402245556 
ISBN-13: 978-1402245558 
ASIN: B005UF0V7C 

From Goodreads:
Werewolf pack leader Jake Silver is an acclaimed photographer. He sees a beautiful woman at the art gallery where his photos are on display, and his intrigue turns into wolfish protectiveness. Alicia Greiston has never met anyone like Jake-he's sexy, alpha, and totally irresistible, and he calls to something primal in her soul.

Alicia Greiston is a bounty hunter.  She's working a big case, trying to bring in two hardened mob criminals.  This case is personal, they killed her mother and Alicia is determined to put them away.  They'll stop at nothing though, and after a threat to Jake, the gorgeous guy she's falling for, she's got to go into hiding to protect him.

Jake Silver is triplet-brother to the pack Alpha, Darien.  He's in town, dropping off his landscape photos at an art gallery.  When he comes across a young lady who seems to be in trouble, he pretends to be her boyfriend in order to scare off the guys threatening her.  He's intrigued by this woman, and wants to get to know her better, but he knows it's pointless since she's human.  But he can't get her out of his mind, and after a fabulous afternoon of amazing sex, she disappears...but then he starts dreaming about her - every night.  And when he gets a call that she might be back in town, he goes looking for her.  What he finds changes everything...

My thoughts:
Dreaming of the Wolf is the 8th book in Terry Spears' Heart of the Wolf series.  You can definitely read this book as a stand-alone, although Silver Town and it's inhabitants are featured in previous books.  It's actually nice to see how Darien and Lelandi are doing since their book, Destiny of the Wolf (book 2).

I must admit I had a hard time starting this book, Alicia was a bit annoying and the mob tie-in was a bit fantastical (But werewolves aren't?  I know, I know!), but as I read on I started to like Alicia more.  The other thing that put me off at first was that the romance happened a bit quickly - like the same day they met.  But, once they were separated and the story progressed, I fell into it and enjoyed their dream sharing.  Then, when they got together again it felt "right".  I should also mention here that the sex in Dreaming of the Wolf is pretty hot *winks*.

There were some plot twists I didn't see coming, which always makes me a happy reader.  I liked how Jake and his brothers helped Alicia with her problems - both being a new wolf and her legal issues that kept cropping up related to her bounty-hunting the mobsters.

The other thing I liked about Dreaming of the Wolf is that the secondary characters are not just wooden cut-outs.  They're interesting and bring depth and humor to the story; there were several characters I wouldn't mind seeing get their own book.

Dreaming of the Wolf is a nice installment to the Heart of the Wolf series.  I'm hoping we'll see more of Silver Town and it's residents soon.



My Rating: 
Book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Pam's Review: Unleashed by Sara Humphries

Unleashed
~Sarah Humphries

Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages 
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca 
Publish Date: October 1, 2011 
ISBN-10: 1402258437 
ISBN-13: 978-1402258435 
ASIN: B005EU511O

From goodreads:

What if you suddenly discovered your own powers were beyond anything you'd ever imagined...

Samantha Logan's childhood home had always been a haven, but everything changed while she was away. She has a gorgeous new neighbor, Malcolm, who introduces her to the amazing world of the dream-walking, shapeshifting Amoveo clans...but what leaves her reeling with disbelief is when he tells her she's one of them...

And shock turns to terror as Samantha falls prey to the deadly enemy determined to destroy the Amoveo, and the only chance she has to come into her true powers is to trust in Malcolm to show her the way...

Get swept away into Sara Humphreys's glorious world and breathtaking love story...

Samantha Logan tries to make it as an artist in New York, but her work isn’t selling, she just ended a relationship with a man who is turning into a stalker, and then there are the dreams. Samantha has been having strange dreams lately; dreams involving a man, one that she can’t see. There is also something about these dreams that makes her want to return home to live with her grandmother. Samantha decides to do just that. She starts to settle in back home, but then she meets her neighbor, Malcolm Drew, and she starts to feel anything but settled.

Malcolm Drew is a shapeshifter, part of the Amoveo clan. It is important for the Amoveo to find their mates; not only does it increase their power, but it significantly lengthens their lives. Malcolm is happy to have found his mate, Samantha. There is one problem. Samantha has no idea that shapeshifters actually exist. Will she be able to open her mind to all that Malcolm will present to her? Most importantly, will she be able to open her heart?

My thoughts:
I liked this book. It was different then any other shapeshifter books that I have read. I was able to vividly imagine all of the settings and scenery the way they were described; that doesn’t always happen easily for me. I could clearly see Sam’s art studio and her paintings that she was working on, and I had no problem picturing her house and bedroom.

Nonie, Sam’s grandmother, was a riot. Here’s something that she said that I’m going to hold on to and use when I get older.

“Don’t even think of arguing with me. I’m an old woman. If you fight me about it, it could give me a heart attack.” (p. 44-45)

She made me laugh out loud. I loved how she always seemed to know what was going on, and how she even had a few secrets of her own.

Malcolm was strong, tall, handsome, and confident. What’s not to like? Well, the one thing that irked me about him was the nickname that he used for Sam. The endearment itself was cute; I just thought it was a little overused. However, Sam didn’t seem to mind.

I had a hard time relating to Samantha, I’m not sure why. I liked her as a person. She is driven, and caring about her family and friends. One thing that bothered me was her acceptance to everything that Malcolm told her. She would be bothered by it but then would forget about it for a minute because she was so attracted to him. I just felt like it wasn’t realistic in that respect.

All in all, this was a good book. Even though it is about three hundred pages, I read it in about three days; it’s very fast paced. I enjoyed getting lost in the story and look forward to the next book in the series.



My Rating:

Pam

Book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Wilder's Mate by Moira Rogers

Wilder's Mate
~Moira Rogers

Format: e-book
File Size: 487 KB
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Publish Date: March 8, 2011
ASIN: B004KKYX9A

From the author's website:
Wilder Harding is a bloodhound, created by the Guild to hunt down and kill vampires on America's frontier. His enhanced abilities come with a high price: on the full moon, he becomes capable of savagery beyond telling, while the new moon brings a sexual hunger that borders on madness.

Rescuing a weapons inventor from undead kidnappers is just another assignment, though one with an added complication--keeping his hands off the man's pretty young apprentice, who insists on tagging along.

At odds with polite society, Satira's only constant has been the aging weapons inventor who treats her like a daughter. She isn't going to trust Wilder with Nathaniel's life, not when the Guild might decide the old man isn't worth saving. Besides, if there's one thing she's learned, it's that brains are more important than brawn.

As the search stretches far longer than Wilder planned, he finds himself fighting against time. If Satira is still at his side when the new moon comes, nothing will stop him from claiming her. Worse, she seems all too willing. If their passion unlocks the beast inside, no one will be safe. Not even the man they're fighting to save. 
Warning: This book contains a crude, gun-slinging, vampire-hunting hero who howls at the full moon and a smart, stubborn heroine who invents mad-scientist weapons. Also included: wild frontier adventures, brothels, danger, betrayal and a good dose of wicked loving in an alternate Wild West.

How to describe Wilder's Mate?  A Futuristic Old-West Steampunk Paranormal Romance?  Yeah, let's go with that.  For now...

Satira is a young woman who lives in a border town in the futuristic old west.  She's not your typical young woman; she likes working with her mentor, Nathanial, an inventor for the Guild.  When Nathaniel goes missing, the Guild sends Wilder, a Bloodhound.  Satira insists on accompanying Wilder in his search to find Nathanial.  Sparks fly and adventures ensue:  vampires, double-agents, and a shocking surprise will have you holding your breath until the end.

My thoughts:
I had no idea what to expect from Wilder's Mate; I loved it!

The setting, frontier-style wild west meets steampunk is brought to life this unusual story.  While reading, the scenes rolling through my mind were sepia-tinged like an old western movie.  I could see the clothing, the dirt, the stagecoaches, all made for a gritty feel to the story.

I liked Satira, a young woman who wanted to be an inventor even though women weren't allowed to do so.  Her fears for her future due to the loss of her mentor/protector Nathaniel had her desperate to find him and bring him home.  She stood up to Wilder, sometimes stubbornly so, and was not a shrinking violet when the action got intense.  I also liked that she wasn't a shy virginal type, and took what she wanted.

Wilder - how many ways are there to say "yum!"? As a Bloodhound, he's strong, persistent, fighting machine.  We don't get too much about how he became a Bloodhound - he was wounded in the war and volunteered.  He's one of the best and because Nathanial is working on a super-secret project for the Guild, they sent Wilder to find him.

The tension between Satira and Wilder smoulders.  Tentatively at first, then, as the full moon approached, a full-on inferno... I loved how his protective instincts kicked in when Satira was in danger - very, very sexy.

My one complaint:  Not enough information as to the world building.  Are the Bloodhounds part of or separate from the Army?  What kind of men to they accept to be Bloodhounds and how are they created?  It also sounds like there's an interesting backstory to the vampire situation but we don't know what it is.

I'm looking forward to the next book in this series, Hunter's Prey, which centers around one of the Bloodhounds we meet in Wilder's Mate, Hunter, and Ophelia, who we meet only briefly.  Hunter has an interesting story in Wilder's Mate and I'm curious to read more about him.

My Rating:

Book received from the author.

Review: The Renfield Syndrome by J.A. Saare

The Renfield Syndrome
~J.A. Saare

Format: e-book 
Size: 430 KB 
Publisher: Mundania Press LLC 
Publish Date: August 21, 2011 
ASIN: B005IEIJY2


From the author's website:Rhiannon thought facing off against a deranged child vampire was the most dangerous task she would ever have to undertake, but she's about to discover making a deal with a demon is far, far worse...

Rhiannon Murphy is having a rough day.  In attempting to help her vampire lover, Disco, erase a debt with a demon, she is tricked and sent 101 years into the future.  Her part of the deal is that she's got to deliver a message to Disco, and even though she's in this strange, future New York, she is still beholden to the terms of the deal - she must find Disco and deliver the message.

Rhiannon starts off in search of Disco, and is suddenly involved in a fight between vampires and some sort of military-type group.  The army guys grab her and force her to come with them, against her protests.  She's taken back to their compound, and Carter, the man who grabbed her, tells her that in this future New York, vampires are in charge and humans are cultivated like cattle for food.  Rhiannon must get to Disco, but Carter won't let her leave; he's convinced she's a former vampire slave and is concerned for her safety.  Complicating things is that Carter and his men are werewolves, and Carter has decided he wants Rhiannon for his mate.

Eventually, Rhiannon is able to get to her former mentor, Goose, who is still working for the vampires.  Disco, however, is not there.  From there on in, the story shifts to Rhiannon's time with the vampires, her race to end her debt with the demon, and a desperate attempt to save Disco's life.

My thoughts:
At the end of the first book, Dead, Undead, or Somewhere In Between, I was not a happy camper - I ddin't like where Rhiannon ended up, 101 years in the future. I'm not really a fan of Dystopia and didn't want that situation for Rhiannon.  Strangely enough, that element ended up being one of my favorite parts about The Renfield Syndrome.

The plot was intense, I love the idea of the Renfield Syndrome but wish the author would have gone more into it.  Rhiannon's time with the werewolves showcased how kick-ass she is - there is a particular girl fight that had me wincing more than once.  I may get some flack for this, but I really liked Carter, the werewolf who "rescued" Rhiannon.  He  was very Alpha; strong, compassionate, territorial, and all around sexy; I wish she would have given him a chance.  Of course, it wouldn't have been the Rhiannon we know and love if she had just picked the easiest path and stayed.

What was also unusual for me was that I was more into plot than romance this time around:  I just couldn't see how Rhiannon was going to get out of this mess she ended up in!  There were several new characters that I hope the author can somehow work back into the story in the future.  As mentioned above, the worldbuilding was interesting and I wanted to know more.

I suppose this is where I admit I'm not a fan of Paine, so his part in the story was not my favorite and I was disappointed with some of the events involving Paine that took place.  I think Paine is supposed to be a tortured but sympathetic character, but to me he just seemed needy and moody.

I was very pleased with the ending; it felt full circle and brought us back to where we first met Rhiannon.

This is a fabulous series and I cannot wait until Book 3, The Ripple Effect. I would not recommend reading The Renfield Syndrome without reading Dead, Undead, or Somewhere In Between first; you'll miss a lot.

My Rating:

Book received from the author.

Review: Vanish by Sophie Jordan

Vanish 
~Sophie Jordan 


Reading level: Ages 13 and up 
Hardcover: 304 pages 
Publisher: HarperCollins  
Publish Date: September 6, 2011 
ISBN-10: 0061935107 
ISBN-13: 978-0061935107 
ASIN: B004S333OK

From the author's website:
To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely-guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will's memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone.

Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family's. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride's heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love?

In bestselling author Sophie Jordan's dramatic follow-up to Firelight, forbidden love burns brighter than ever. 

*SPOILERS FOR BOOK 1*
When Firelight, the first book in the series, leaves off, Jacinda and her family are fleeing home to the Draki pride they ran away from, narrowly escaping hunters.  Jacinda's betrothed, Cassian, came back for them and is bringing them home.  She's leaving behind her boyfriend, Will.  Her twin sister, Tamra, had previously been believed to be "dormant", but in the last few pages of Firelight, she surprised everyone. (I'll admit, I totally did not see it coming, lol)

As Vanish begins, Cassian, Jacinda, her mother, and Tamra are rushing back to the pride.  As soon as they arrive, they take Tamra to someone who can heal and train her in her new talents.  Jacinda and her mother, however, are placed under house arrest.  They're traitors for leaving the pride, and are treated with suspicion and derision.  Jacinda is having a hard time going from the pride's "golden girl" to a pariah.  Her mother's response to the situation is to lose herself in a bottle, ultimately forcing Jacinda deal with her situation on her own.

Cassian is still pursuing her, but now she's aware that her sister is also a suitable candidate to mate Cassian.  She's pining for Will, and being pursued by Cassian's uber-creepy cousin and watched by the pride.  When a series of events leads her back outside the pride, she's going to be in more danger than before, but this time she's not alone...

My thoughts:
Vanish is an excellent follow-up to Ms. Jordan's YA debut, Firelight.  The stories are so different:  In firelight, Jacinda flees the pride only to find acceptance in the forbidden love Wil provides.  In Vanish, she's back in the pride that needs her, but now she's an outcast.

I was thrilled to see more of the inner workings of the Pride, the individual roles and day-to-day activities that take place. As archiac as some of the social mores were, it was interesting to read and made me smile each and every time Jacinda rebelled.

The love triangle in Vanish is skillfully written:  Where Cassian seemed to be a roadblock to Jacinda's happiness with Will in Firelight, in Vanish he becomes a viable hero and this particular reader is firmly on the "Team Cassian" side, lol.  His patience and tenderness towards Jacinda when the rest of the pride is cruel stole my heart.

As with Firelight, Vanish leaves us with a cliffhanger ending - big things are about to go down and everyone involved may not survive the experience.  I cannot wait to find out what happens next in this fabulous series!

My Rating:

 

Book received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Whoopsie Review: Firelight by Sophie Jordan

Firelight
~Sophie Jordan
Reading level: Ages 13 and up
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins; 1 edition (September 7, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061935085
ASIN: B004WB1A3Y

From the author's website:
A HIDDEN TRUTH 
MORTAL ENEMIES 
DOOMED LOVE 

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet of her kind, she nearly pays with her life, only to be spared by a beautiful stranger sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki--a descendant of dragons whose ability to shift into human form is her best defense. 

Forced to flee into the mortal world, Jacinda struggles to adapt. The one bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away - if it dies she will be left a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy. 

Mythical powers and irresistible passion ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide ...

Firelight is the story of Jacinda, a fire-breathing dragon.  As the story opens, she is preparing to fly at dawn - flying during the daytime is forbidden by her pride, because there are Hunters who hunt the Draki, dragons who can take human form.  As she flies into the sunrise, she is surprised by Hunters, who trap her and her friend.  Jacinta provides a distraction so her friend can escape.  While she is hiding in a cave, one of the hunters finds her...and tells the other Hunters she's not there.  Then he disappears.

That night, Jacinta's mother takes her and her twin sister and flees the pride.  Her mother knows the elders want to mate Jacinta with Cassian, a powerful young dragon, to ensure more fire-breathers in the pride. Her twin's dragon never manifested, and her mother's dragon died from not shifting.   Jacinta's mother is determined to let Jacinta's dragon die, and they will live as humans.  Jacinta is miserable, until she sees him.  And he makes her feel alive again.

But can she fall in love with a Hunter?  Or will Cassian find her and bring her back?  Can she go back to life with the pride after she's felt true love?

My thoughts:
Complete honesty?  I thought this book was going to be about werewolves.  Then, when I saw the cover, I was confused because the girl on the cover has scales so I thought she was a mermaid.  WRONG.

Here's what happened:  I received the next book in the series, Vanish, for review.  Because I have BOCD (book obsessive compulsive disorder), I had to read Firelight before I read Vanish.  But I guess I didn't read the blurb very carefully for Vanish because I could swear it said werewolves...  So to say I was surprised once I started reading is an understatement.

That being said - I loved it!  The worldbuilding is fabulous and I liked the heroine.  She's a bit impulsive but hey - she's a teenager.  She's special to her dragon pride - the first fire breather in about a hundred years, so she's been treated well.  When her mother takes her away - she's miserable; not only does she miss her friends, her dragon is dying and she physically needs to go back to the pride.  The author's use of the character's physical surroundings to emphasize her feelings makes the book come to life.

Then, Jacinta sees Will.  He was the Hunter who let her go, and he goes to her school!  He's attracted to her, even though he only saw her in dragon form.  To say sparks fly is putting it mildly - Jacinta's dragon wants to come out and play :)  But Cassian isn't out of the picture...he kinda stole my heart a little bit...

The Hunters are scary dudes - the scene when she walks into the room full of dragon hides - Oh!  Poor Jacinta, I felt a little faint myself.  I'm curious about the Enkros - the creatures the Hunters sell the Draki to - what do they use them for?

To summarize:  Great world, interesting characters, intriguing storyline.  I read it in a day.  So, even though I started out a bit confused, I really enjoyed Firelight!  I couldn't put it down and as soon as I did I ran right over and picked up book 2 in the series, Vanish.  Fair warning:  it ends on a cliffhanger, you will definitely be left wanting to know what happens next.

My Rating:

Review: Dark Awakening by Kendra Leigh Castle

Dark Awakening
~Kendra Leigh Castle

Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Forever
Publish Date: July 1, 2011
ISBN-10: 1609418379
ISBN-13: 978-1609418373
ASIN: B004T4M5TC

From the author's website:
Tynan MacGillivray has spent the better part of his three hundred years serving at the pleasure of the queen of the Ptolemy dynasty, her prized hunter in a world where blood is destiny. But the lowblood cat-shifter gets far more than he bargained for when his new target, a human woman whose rare abilities make her the only hope for saving the greatest of the vampire dynasties, turns out to be far more than she seems. Lily Quinn is an innocent whose beauty hides secrets that could change the world of night forever…and Ty will have to choose between the loyalty that has kept him alive, or a love that promises more than he ever imagined…if it doesn’t destroy them both.

The story:
Tynan MacGillivray is a vampire.  In the vampire world, there are several sects; Ty is a "lowblood", a cat shifter who works for the Queen of the Ptolemy. Someone has sent a Mulo, a crazy dead thing, to attack the Ptolemy when they are in groups - effectively killing off the sect.  As their numbers dwindle, the Queen has sent Ty on a quest to find a Seer; someone who will be able to tell them who sent the Mulo and where to find  it so they can destroy it.

Lily Quinn lives a boring life that she's happy with.  Ever since "the incident" when she was a child, she's known she's different, so she tries hard to fit in and be normal.  She meets a handsome stranger at a friend's ghost hunt party, but after a searing kiss he quickly disappears.  She meets him again a few days later in the parking lot where she teaches, and their meeting leaves her unsettled. When she gets home, she is attacked by a vampire, and she loses control of her carefully compressed emotions, causing damage to everything in the room.

Lily reluctantly goes with Ty once they figure out there is more than one vampire sect looking for her. They travel through the underbelly of vampire society, trying to find answers about why the Queen really sent Ty on his quest.  Things are not what they seem and he finds he's reluctant to deliver Lily to the Queen, but if he doesn't, the Ptolemy may die out forever.

My thoughts:
I am a fan of Ms. Castle's MacInnes Werewolves trilogy, so when I saw that she had a new series coming out, I was thrilled!  I knew that this book would be nothing like her previous books, so I had no illusions going in.

That being said, I really didn't enjoy this story as much as I would have liked to.  I really liked the idea of different dynasties of vampires, and their potential for conflict and interaction, but I felt like the author didn't pursue this part of the storyline as much as she could have.  We learn there are different  dynasties and they don't get along, but that was about it. Tynan is a vampire who can shapeshift into a cat, placing him at the bottom of the vampire "caste" system. 

I was also disappointed in Tynan's character - he seemed to be more a shapeshifter who was called a vampire, but I never really saw any vampiness.  This could have been due to the fact that he was constantly referred to as a cat, but it seemed to me like all his vampire action took place "offstage".

I did like was the Lilith storyline, although again I felt like it could have been fleshed out a bit more.  I'm wondering if possibly due to the worldbuildling some aspects of the story had to be sacrificed?  I'm hoping the next book in the series, Midnight Reckoning, will be more character oriented since the world has already been established.  Midnight Reckoning will feature Ty's friend Jaden, who's story is hinted at briefly in Dark Awakening.

My Rating:

This book was received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I think I'm in love...Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison

Dragon Bound
~Thea Harrison
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Publish Date: May 3, 2011
ISBN-10: 0425241505
ISBN-13: 978-0425241509
ASIN: B004Q7DQLS

From the author's website:
Half-human and half-wyr, Pia Giovanni spent her life keeping a low profile among the wyrkind and avoiding the continuing conflict between them and their Dark Fae enemies. But after being blackmailed into stealing a coin from the hoard of a dragon, Pia finds herself targeted by one of the most powerful–and passionate—of the Elder Races.

As the most feared and respected of the wyrkind, Dragos Cuelebre cannot believe someone had the audacity to steal from him, much less succeed. And when he catches the thief, Dragos spares her life, claiming her as his own to further explore the desire they’ve ignited in one another.

Quickie Review:
Pia Giovanni is in trouble and she knows it.  Under duress, she's just stolen from the most powerful dragon on the planet, and he's going to come searching from her.  She knows her life is pretty much over, it's just a matter of when and how.

Dragos Cuelebre is outraged - he cannot believe someone found his treasure, let alone was able to steal from it!  He's got a few clues, and he plans to find this thief - not only because he wants to know how she did it, but because he can't get her scent out of his thoughts.

My Quick Thoughts:
OMG - this was such a fun, sexy read!!  Dragos is such a fabulous Alpha male - very "You're mine, I must protect you", and Pia is an independent woman - very "Don't tell me what to do, I can take care of myself".  Together they make sparks fly.

Dragon Bound is about more than sexy dragon time though - we learn that the people behind Pia's initial foray into Dragos' treasure lair are quite unsavory and will do anything to cripple Dragos and his empire, and aren't afraid to use Pia and her special talents to achieve their goals. Pia also has a secret that she's been hiding her whole life, and when she finally shares her secret with Drago - Oh, it was a pretty sweet secret :)

In addition to a fabulous hero and heroine, Ms. Harrison's secondary characters were interesting and I want to read more about them.  I'm super-excited about the next book - Storm's Heart - which will center around Dragos' vivacious head of PR, Tricks, and one of his bodyguards, Tiago.

My Rating:

Review: Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews

Magic Slays
~Ilona Andrews

Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Ace
Publish Date: May 31, 2011
ISBN-10: 0441020429
ISBN-13: 978-0441020423
ASIN: B004LRPJ72

From the author's website:
Plagued by a war between magic and technology, Atlanta has never been so deadly. Good thing Kate Daniels is on the job.

Kate Daniels may have quit the Order of Merciful Aid, but she’s still knee-deep in paranormal problems. Or she would be if she could get someone to hire her. Starting her own business has been more challenging than she thought it would be—now that the Order is disparaging her good name, and many potential clients are afraid of getting on the bad side of the Beast Lord, who just happens to be Kate’s mate.

So when Atlanta’s premier Master of the Dead calls to ask for help with a vampire on the loose, Kate leaps at the chance of some paying work. Turns out this is not an isolated incident, and Kate needs to get to the bottom of it—fast, or the city and everyone dear to her might pay the ultimate price . . .

*SPOILERS FROM BOOKS 1-4*

When Book 4, Magic Bleeds, ends, the sh!t has hit the proverbial fan. Kate has left The Order of Knights of Merciful Aid, her best friend Andrea is gone, she's killed her Aunt, and feels responsible for almost killing her mate.

When Magic Slays opens, Kate has opened up her own mercinary business, with the financial assistance of the Pack. Things are slow going though, until she gets a call that a runaway vampire is headed in her general direction. One thing leads to another and suddenly she's got a new employee (or two) and their first big case: she's got to find a man who has disappeared. Not just any man, but a man who invented a "magic doomsday machine" - when the machine is turned on, it removes all magic in the vicinity, and kills anyone who has magic. In her search for the missing man and machine, they discover a super-secret cult of anti-magic fanatics.  If Kate doesn't find him before the anti-magic zealots do, the aftermath will be devastating.


My thoughts:
When I have a favorite series, I'm always cautiously optimistic about the next book - will it disappoint me? Will the story go in the direction I hope it does? Have I built it up in my head to be more than it really is? By now I should know better than to have these fears, at least in respect to this writing team.  Ilona Andrews consistently delivers unputdownable books, and Magic Slays is no exception. I have to be honest - I sat on this review for days. Why? Because I didn't feel like I could adequately express what an amazing book this is. Fans of the series will not be disappointed.

My personal highlights:

If I was worried at all that Kate and Curran would lose their "spark" after they got together, they don't. Kate and Curran after the mating are just as good as before - he tells her what to do and she ignores him.  Can I tell you how much I love his possessiveness towards Kate?  They joke about it, but he is and she knows it:

     I threw a bread roll at him.  Curran snapped it out of the air.
     "Would you like me to carry a foot-long stick?  I can just poke people with it when they get too close."
     "That's a good idea."  He held his arm out.  "If you can extend your arm and touch them with the stick, they are too close."
     "You're insane."
     "If I'm insane, what does it make you?"
     "A terrible judge of character."
     I went back to the couch.  I could've fallen for someone steady.  Dependable.  Well-grounded.  But nooo, I had to lose my head over this idiot.
~Magic Slays page 275

Kate still as ballsy as ever - she goes through this book kicking ass and taking names.  She's involved in Pack life and managing well.  But there's also a personal side of Kate that we're slowly seeing more of as the series progresses:  I was thrilled that we learn more about her childhood in Magic Slays; a lot of the things she thought were truths about the people she loved were not necessarily so.  My heart breaks for her as she struggles with her inner demons:  does Curran love her for herself or for who and what she is?  What's going to happen when she inevitably meets her father?


Curran continues to be wonderously and terribly Alpha.  The Beast Lord has not gotten soft being mated to Kate:

     "Will you acquiese to our terms?" the man asked.  "Your answer?"

     "No," Curran said.  "Here are our terms:  you line up in front of the Capitol, beg forgiveness for murdering hundreds of people, and blow your brains out.  You can hang yourselves or fall on your swords.  You can set yourselves on fire.  I guarantee that any method of suicide you choose will be pleasant compared to what we will do to you.  You have until the end of tech."

     The disconnect signal sounded like the toll of a funeral bell.
 ~Magic Slays pg. 261

Julie, Kate's teenage ward, hasn't had a huge part in the books up until now, but in Magic Slays, all that changes.  I don't know what's going to happen in future books with Julie, but I'm sure it's going to be interesting.  All I will say is that Kate has some serious ethical challenges ahead.

Andrea is back and I love her! She had a rough time between Magic Bleeds and Magic Slays, but she's back in true Andrea form and she and Kate are great together. I was surprised we didn't see Raphael in Magic Slays.

One of the best parts of the book, for me, was seeing all the different magical factions band together to fight the anti-magic fanatics: The Pack, The People, the Natives, the Mercinary Guild, the Norse Heritage group, The Mages (including witches, volhuvs, druids, and others), and the Red Guard.  I loved seeing them all unite to grudgingly work as a team as they attempt to defeat their common enemy. 

Magic Slays is my favorite book in the series to date.  You can't tell from my review, but the authors manage to inject a lot of humor into an action-packed story.  I wouldn't recommend reading it without reading the previous books, there is too much going on at this point to fully understand the world and the players or their motives without having all the back-story.  (Trust me, it won't be a hardship to read the series - it's that good.)

I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series - the way Magic Slays ended, while not a cliff hanger, blatantly hints at much more to come.

My Rating:

 

This book was received by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Heart of the Highland Wolf by Terry Spear

Heart of the Highland Wolf
~Terry Spear

Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publish Date: June 1, 211
ISBN-10: 1402245521
ISBN-13: 978-1402245527
ASIN: B004Y5AV1K

From Goodreads:
Ian McNeill, laird of Argent Castle finds his capital squandered through unwise investments and the wolf clan's home that has been theirs for centuries is in danger of being forfeit for nonpayment of taxes. When a movie producer contacts him with the notion of using his castle to produce a movie, Ian abhores the idea, but it's his only salvation. Even worse, his people become extras in this epic Highland movie. But when one American werewolf romance author, Julia Wildthorn, slips into the castle under the guise of being with the movie company, except she is trying to jumpstart her muse with writing a book set in old-world Scotland--specifically about his castle and his people as the characters in her newest book venture--she and Ian tangle.

Julia Wildthorn is a werewolf. She's also a romance author with writer's block. She's accompanying her friend Maria (who's also a werewolf) to Scotland for a movie shoot in the hopes that she'll find inspiration for her next book. She's also got a secret task given to her by her grandfather - find an ancient box that's hidden somewhere in the castle.

Werewolf Ian MacNeill is Laird of Argent Castle. Due to some bad investments, his pack is having some financial difficulties, so he reluctantly agrees to let the production company use his castle to make their movie. He's forbidden any of his people to associate with the movie people, and has set very clear boundaries about what areas of the castle can be filmed and what can't.

When Julia and Maria are involved in a car accident, Ian and his brother come to check things out. Ian can't believe how attractive Julia is, and doesn't want to let her out of his sight. Julia, however, doesn't want Ian's attentions while she's searching for the box. The only problem with that is that she can't stop thinking about him.

My thoughts:
Another fun and sexy read by Terry Spear! I enjoy her werewolf world and the characters in it.

Julia was a fun heroine - I loved that she was a romance author. The scenes where everyone is reading her books were cute. I laughed when she tried to be stealthy and sneaky and find the box, she really wasn't very good at it. Ian was definitely an Alpha - he was good at barking out orders, and Julia was very good at ignoring them :)

The secondary characters were just as much fun - I'm in love with Ian's brothers and am hoping that they'll get their own stories later on. I also liked Heather, a young werewolf who wants to get out and see the world without her pack watching over her.

Some of my favorite scenes in the book were the movie fight scenes where all the locals dressed in kilts and re-enacted sword battles.

I can't really get into the plot point I didn't understand without spoilers: it has to do with the box and a binding promise handed down between generations. Once things got to a certain point in the book, I didn't understand why it was still important.

Overall though, a fun sexy read with lots of werewolves and highlanders (two of my favorite things!), and as I stated above, I'm hoping we'll see some of the characters again.

My Rating:

Come back tomorrow for an interview and giveaway with Terry Spear!

This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Big Bad Beast by Shelly Laurenston

Big Bad Beast
~Shelly Laurenston

Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Brava
Publish Date: May 1, 2011
ISBN-10: 0758231709
ISBN-13: 978-0758231703
ASIN: B004NEW4Y4

From the author's website:
When it comes to following her instincts, former Marine Dee-Ann Smith never holds back. And this deadly member of a shifter protection group will do anything to prove one of her own kind is having hybrids captured for dogfights. Trouble is, her too-cute rich-boy boss Ric Van Holtz insists on helping out. And his crazy-like-a-fox smarts and charming persistence are making it real hard for Dee to keep her heart safe...

Ric can't believe his luck. He's wanted this fiercely-independent she-wolf from day one, but he never expected teamwork as explosive as this. And now is his last chance to show Dee what she needs isn't some in-your-face Alpha male-but a wily, resourceful wolf who'll always have her back in a fight…and between the sheets.

I am a huge fan of Shelly Laurenston's shifters. They've been my guilty pleasure for a long time. Why guilty? Her characters are such over the top and laugh-out-loud funny caricatures of Southerners (with names like Sissy Mae and Bobby Ray, what do you expect?), I feel like I should be offended - but I'm not, I'm too busy laughing at the crazy situations they get into.

The prologue to Big Bad Beast is one of the best I've read - Ric sees Dee-Ann in his uncle's office when he's six years old and knows she's the one:

"She's perfect for me, Uncle Van."
"No, Ulrich. She's not. From what I can tell she's just like her father and that means she needs to be avoided at all possible costs. Understand?"
"I understand, Uncle Van."
"Good," Van said, reversing out of the parking spot.
"I'll wait until we're both older," the kid went on, "and then I'll nail her."
~Big Bad Beast, page 7

25 years later, Ric is working in his family's restaurant and is also a supervisor for The Group, a sort of shapeshifter CIA. They're working on finding and shutting down a ring of illegal "hybrid-shifter fights" - hybrids are being captured and forced into fighting to the death.

Like her father before her, Dee-Ann is a former Marine who now works for The Group in a more hands-on capacity: she's good at killing and doesn't think twice about it. Ric assigns her to work as part of a team to find out who's financing the illegal fights and stop them by any means necessary.

Even after all these years, Ric still has it bad for Dee-Ann but hasn't acted on his feelings because he doesn't want to scare her off. He knows he'll have to use his brains to get her to see that he's the one for her. There's almost a Romeo & Juliet feel to their relationship, as the Van Holtz's and Smith's have been bitter enemies for years. Both Ric and Dee-Ann have been warned off each other by their parents based on their families alone.

Ric and Dee-Ann's chemistry was off the charts - I loved how he turned the tables and made her chase him! And once she caught him, ooohhh! These two were sizz-a-ling!

Big Bad Beast brought back a lot of characters from previous books - the lions, hyenas,and bears. Bo Novikov was back with his charts and need for order, and oh how Ric loved to mess with those charts! Bo's mate Blayne (Teacup), with her master plan for getting Ric and Dee-Ann together - project Wolf/Wolf - was great.

(between Novikov and Ric)
"I need to borrow a house. I know you have several locally."
"What do you want a house for?"
"Why do you care?"
Dee's finger tightened on the trigger, her lips pulling back over her fangs. But Ric made her lower the gun, his hand firm against hers, pressing it down onto the bed.
"You have your own houses," Ric argued. "One with a seal farm."
"Not around here. And Blayne wants a party."
"What's wrong with your apartment? It's massive."
"And?"
"Do it there," Ric reasoned.
"I don't want people around my stuff."
"But you want them around mine?"
"I don't care about yours."
~Big Bad Beast, page 189/190

In Big Bad Beast, Ms. Laurenston blends a fabulous storyline of the hybrid thieves, with Ric and Dee-Ann's romance, Ric's issues with his father, and highlights some of the younger hybrid shifters that we've met in previous books. I'm hoping some of the younger characters will eventually get their own stories, as I don't see these series ending anytime soon.

My one complaint is that I couldn't keep all the side characters straight. Even though I've read all but one of her previous books, throwing so many of the characters together got a bit confusing for me because her shifter world is so large. I wonder if she has some sort of chart to keep them all separate.

In summary, another fabulous installment to the Pride series. I can't wait for the next book!

My Rating:

This book was received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review: How to flirt with A Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper

How to Flirt with A Naked Werewolf
~Molly Harper

Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Pocket
Publish Date: February 22, 2011
ISBN-10: 1439195862
ISBN-13: 978-1439195864

From Goodreads:
Northern Exposure

Even in Grundy, Alaska, it’s unusual to find a naked guy with a bear trap clamped to his ankle on your porch. But when said guy turns into a wolf, recent southern transplant Mo Wenstein has no difficulty identifying the problem. Her surly neighbor Cooper Graham—who has been openly critical of Mo’s ability to adapt to life in Alaska—has trouble of his own. Werewolf trouble.

For Cooper, an Alpha in self-imposed exile from his dysfunctional pack, it’s love at first sniff when it comes to Mo. But Cooper has an even more pressing concern on his mind. Several people around Grundy have been the victims of wolf attacks, and since Cooper has no memory of what he gets up to while in werewolf form, he’s worried that he might be the violent canine in question.

If a wolf cries wolf, it makes sense to listen, yet Mo is convinced that Cooper is not the culprit. Except if he’s not responsible, then who is? And when a werewolf falls head over haunches in love with you, what are you supposed to do anyway? The rules of dating just got a whole lot more complicated.

Mo Weinstein has packed up her life in Mississippi and is getting as far away as she possibly can - Grundy, Alaska. She's leaving a broken relationship and well-meaning but overbearing parents. An accident has her working as a cook in the town's bar/restaurant on her second day. It's a great place to work and she makes several friends and begins to build a new life.

Cooper Graham is a handsome stranger - kind of a jerk, really. Mo can't figure out why he's so rude to her. They have a few run-ins and she starts to put things together, she realizes Cooper is a werewolf! Even with that knowledge, she can't help but be attracted to him.

"But Cooper said to try her pie," I whispered.
Evie was too distracted with Buzz to pay either of us any attention. "He said it was a life changer."
"Well, being trapped on the can for a week probably would change your life," Pete conceded. My jaw dropped, and I glared at Cooper. Well, that clinched it. He was an asshole. I was definitely going to end up sleeping with him.
~page 36 & 37, How to Flirt with A Naked Werewolf

There have been some wolf attacks in the town, and Mo is afraid it might be Cooper, but she knows she can't say anything. As they begin to fall for each other,Cooper starts to worry that it might be him, and he doesn't want to risk hurting Mo.

My thoughts: Absolutely fabulous! Molly Harper has done it again - a laugh-out-loud funny book about werewolves in a small Alaskan town. She's got the funny, the sexin', a love triangle, a dog in a sweater, and a borderline obsession with meat products. After reading this book I wanted to pack up my things (and yes, I suppose, my family too) and move to Alaska. I can't think of a single thing I didn't like about this book.

I loved her Nice Girls Don't books (my review here) and her contemporary romance (And One Last Thing... -my review here); now I will be adding How to Flirt With a Naked Werewolf to my Molly Harper book shrine.

My Rating:

Spoiler-Free (rambling) Review: River Marked by Patricia Briggs

River Marked
~Patricia Briggs Hardcover: 336 pages

Publisher: Ace Books
Publish Date: March 1, 2011
ISBN-10: 0441019730
ISBN-13: 978-0441019731

From Goodreads:
Car mechanic Mercy Thompson has always known there was something different about her, and not just the way she can make a VW engine sit up and beg. Mercy is a shapeshifter, a talent she inherited from her long-gone father. She’s never known any others of her kind. Until now. An evil is stirring in the depths of the Columbia River—one that her father’s people may know something about. And to have any hope of surviving, Mercy and her mate, the Alpha werewolf Adam, will need their help…

This is going to be another one of those rambling reviews where I just throw all my thoughts in the air and let them fall were they may. I can't seem to get them to form into any coherent form:

There are mysterious deaths and disappearances in the Columbia Gorge area, which is "coincidentally" where Mercy and Adam are going camping for 10 days. A few days after they get there, they find an injured man in a boat. His friends, who are Native American, show up to help get him to the hospital. They know Mercy is also Native American, and she gets a mysterious visitor who knows who and what she is. As they piece together what's going on in the water, Mercy also learns about her father - who and what he really was.

Thoughts: I love this series! Let me say up front that I don't think this book would make a good stand-alone. I think you could do it, but I wouldn't recommend it.

I loved seeing Mercy and Adam interact in River Marked. The wolf/coyote nuances, signals, and feelings that they deal with, showing their feelings beyond just saying "I love you" or "I'm upset right now". I like that their bond doesn't just automatically make things perfect between them, that there are issues they'll have to work through, just like any other couple (okay, maybe not just like any other couple, lol).

I liked that Mercy got some insight into her heritage as a Native American and as a Walker. She doesn't see herself as such, but it was a fun twist that in River Marked, Mercy was more accepted and Adam was the outsider. The Native American lore was interesting, although I was frustrated that a running joke was that several of the stories supposedly had a naughtier version, and when Mercy was finally told the naughty versions, the reader was not privy to the stories. I felt like I was missing an inside joke. The scene in mini-Stonehenge was fascinating on so many different levels.

The villain was pretty bad. Like creepy bad. And cruel. The fact that the victims walked
complacently to their deaths made it worse. Mercy's tough decision regarding the girl and her brother was heartwrenching to read.

Confession: I've been fascinated with Mercy's "pimp stick" since the day it appeared. I love that it has been a constant through several books and am intrigued by the potential changes to the stick in River Marked.

I want more Stefan!!! I'm frustrated that we didn't see much of Stefan in this book or the last. The end of River Marked left me feeling hopeful about Stephan - both that we'll see more of him in the next book(s) and that things are going to work out for him.

I would have also liked to see more Warren/Kyle...I was glad she was able to work in the few scenes they did appear in.

All in all, I couldn't put it down. It will be a long, long wait until 2013 for the next book!

My Rating:

Review: The Werewolf Upstairs by Ashlyn Chase

The Werewolf Upstairs
~ Ashlyn Chase


Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Release Date: February 1, 2011
ISBN-10: 140223662X
ISBN-13: 978-1402236624


From Goodreads:
Desperate for change, public defender Roz Wells decides moving into a new apartment is just what she needs to shake things up. But she'll get more than she bargained for when she starts dating the drop dead gorgeous boy next door, who just happens to be a shape-shifter...and quite possibly a criminal. Security salesman Konrad Wolfensen has made a living staging break-ins to spook people into buying his security system, but when he's accused of a much more serious crime, he'll have to enlist the help of his sexy new neighbor/girlfriend to keep his cute, slightly wild rear end out of jail.

I love these covers! I'm not normally a fan of cartoony covers, but these are adorable. I hope they stick with them throughout the series.

Now, on to the story: Roz Wells (say it out loud - you'll get it) is an attorney who's not happy with her chosen profession. She's a public defender but wants to do something different. She's moved into her best friend's recently-vacated apartment, and the first person she meets is uber-hunky Konrad Wolfensen.

Konrad works for a security company in a less-than-typical capacity. After he's arrested for breaking and entering, he decides he wants to do something else with his life.

Together they decide to figure out what they want to do instead of their chosen careers. The mishaps they experience are unbelievable! As they're working their way through career choices, they decide to help another resident of the apartment building. Konrad is falsley accused of a crime and Roz must delve into a past Konrad has tried to forget.

Roz and Konrad are adorable. Konrad is a little boneheaded at times but he's got a good heart :) I really enjoyed reading their adventures - they did stuff I'd actually enjoy doing with my own husband! Ms. Chase writes a great combination of Contemporary and Paranormal romance - upbeat and fun with just the right amount of weird. I am loving getting to know the quirky residents of this apartment building and I can't wait to see who's story is next!

My Rating:

This book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Deadlock by Moira Rogers

Deadlock
~Moira Rogers

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 972 KB
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Publish Date: January 4, 2011
ASIN: B004C44OXO


From the author's website:
Abandoned by her wolf shifter father and raised by her human psychic mother, Carmen Mendoza can't deny she's different. She craves things most women shy away from--and she has a trail of shapeshifting ex-boyfriends to prove it.

Working at a clinic for supernatural creatures, she's escaped the notice of her father's legacy-obsessed family. Until they need a pawn in their bid for power. Snared by a vicious spell designed to wake her inner wolf, Carmen's only hope is to trust the one man strong enough to soothe her darkest instincts.

Alec Jacobson was once the heir apparent to the wolves' ruling elite, until he walked away to marry the woman he loved. She paid with her life. He lives as a rebel, a black-sheep alpha who protects the supernatural residents of New Orleans from the wolves' barbaric class system. Too bad he can't protect himself from his need for Carmen.

Yet staking his claim on his enemy's niece will turn his city into a battleground. Unless he can find a way to stop breaking the rules--and start making them.

Warning: This book contains a renegade alpha wolf, a smart empathic doctor, very dirty sex with psychic safe-words, the occasional dominance game in and out of the bedroom, and a group of supernatural citizens ready to take on the corrupt leaders of their world.

If this book is any indication of the rest of my reads in 2011, I am going to be a happy, happy girl this year - Deadlock kicked ass!!

I have been a fan of Moira Rogers' Southern Arcana series since the first book, Crux. Deadlock, book 3 in the series, is my favorite so far:

Alec Jacobson is about as Alpha as they come - he's the unofficial leader of the New Orleans area "pack", and a lot of people rely on him to keep things running without interference from the official pack hierarchy up in New York. In previous books he's been a bit gruff, tough, and bad-ass, but you know he's got a heart of gold. In Deadlock we see some of Alec's past... we learn he was married to a human, and she died because of it. He hasn't really gotten over it, and pushes himself to protect the supernaturals in New Orleans so that they can live and love like he didn't get to do.

Carmen Mendoza is a doctor who is new to New Orleans - she's come to work in the supernatural hospital. She's half-werewolf and an empath. She's also got a very power-hungry father and uncle, and they're disappointed that they haven't been able to marry her off to another powerful werewolf family. When she refuses to meet their latest potential suitor, they decide to take matters into their own hands using powerful, dangerous magic.

Alec's protective instincts go into overdrive to save Carmen, and when she's near him she feels safe. The heat between them is scorching hot; I love that a 44-year-old man and a 30-something woman get to have this amazing, sexy, primal romance.

I also felt like this book did a great job of focusing on the rest of the supernatural community, both in and outside of New Orleans. Political issues that we've been watching in the first two books come to a head and I am love-, love-, loving where that storyline is going.

I can't do a proper review without mentioning Andrew and Kat. OMG I need their story NOW!!! Their pain and desire leaped off the page. I want these two to get an HEA so badly!

The combination of the love story, the political machinations, and Andrew and Kat's yearning storyline made for a fabulous read! When I wasn't reading Deadlock I was wondering about the characters; I love it when a book grabs me like that.

I know this review has been all over the place; I feel like I'm pointing in every direction and saying "how cool is this", and "look at that", and "check this out", "and this too!", but there were so many good things going on!

I'll leave you with this little fun thing: One of the locations in Deadlock is Algiers Point, a small neighborhood on the Westbank of New Orleans. I've lived in Algiers for over 20 years, and for many of those years lived 2 blocks away from Lavergne Street, which is specifically mentioned in the book. In addition, Alec mentions that "they've got someone in the 4th", which is where one of my brothers works. You know as soon as I read that I wanted to call him and ask him which of his co-workers he thought was a werewolf! So those things took an already great read and made it a bit more fun for me ;)

I do recommend reading Crux and Crossroads, the first two books in the series, before reading Deadlock. It can be read as a stand-alone, but will be much more enjoyable if you know all the background players and their history.

My Rating:

This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Wolf Fever by Terry Spear

From the author's website:
Carol Woods wanted more than anything to be a nurse at the hospital in Silver Town, Colorado where her family lives, but she never foresaw how she’d end up with the job. Now she’s a red werewolf facing a mating, trying to forestall shifting for a variety of reasons—one of which has to do with a swine flu virus that seems to be attacking the werewolf kind in a bad way, while working with a private investigator who doesn’t believe in her psychic abilities one bit. So why does she thinks she’s falling in love with the infuriating gray?

Chester "Ryan" McKinley can’t get his mind off the entrancing woman, a nurse, a newly turned red lupus garou belonging to another gray pack and the only one left who might be able to learn how to stop the swine flu virus from making a permanent impact on their kind. Although he doesn’t want to draw Carol into this dangerous situation or believe she is involved, he has no other choice. But does the woman really have psychic abilities that are keeping her from shifting, or is she a fraud, a master at deception, and is behind the infections of their people? And how can he keep his hands off the intriguing woman, and his mind on the mission as the virus takes its toll?

________________

Carol Woods sees the future - and she's a werewolf. She's not a natural born werewolf - she was attacked 5 months ago and turned. Since then, she's been fighting the change (successfully so far) and Darien, her pack leader, is concerned. She's fighting the change because she's been having visions of some of the men in her pack shifting into wolves and not being able to shift back. In addition to trying to convince her to shift, Darien is also trying to convince her to take a mate, as females are a precious commodity and he doesn't want her attacked and/or stolen.

Ryan McKinley is a former cop, now a PI, who assisted Darien's pack a few months ago with a problem they were having. Since then he hasn't been able to get Carol off his mind - he doesn't believe her visions are real. So he's back on Darien's turf to figure out how Carol figured out the clues to his case.

When Carol is almost kidnapped, she hires Ryan to be her bodyguard. He agrees, and that's where things start to really heat up. The attraction is definitely there, but Carol can't be with someone who doesn't believe in her "talent", and Ryan needs a mate who can embrace her wolf. Then, Carol's visions come true and the wolves can't shift back and the pack looks to her to find a cure.

My thoughts: I really enjoy reading Terry Spear's wolves; she is very good at making the wolf come across in their human counterparts. I love her Alpha males, and even though she was a new wolf, Carol was such a stubborn Alpha female, it was fun to see the Beta males trying (unsuccessfully) to win her affections. The social hiearchy of the packs was also well-done; although not the hero of this story, Darien was a great Alpha leader who was willing to work with another Alpha to resolve his problems. The sickness plot was interesting - biological warfare within werewolf packs is a novel storyline and it worked here, providing a dose of urgency to the story.

I'm looking forward to the next book in this series - Heart of the Highland Wolf.


Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Release Date: December 1, 2010
ISBN-10: 1402237529
ISBN-13: 978-1402237522

My Rating:

This book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

From the author's website:
Adopted by the Alpha of a werewolf pack after a rogue wolf brutally killed her parents right before her eyes, fifteen-year-old Bryn knows only pack life, and the rigid social hierarchy that controls it. That doesn't mean that she's averse to breaking a rule or two. But when her curiosity gets the better of her and she discovers Chase, a new teen locked in a cage in her guardian's basement, and witnesses him turn into a wolf before her eyes, the horrific memories of her parents' murders return. Bryn becomes obsessed with getting her questions answered, and Chase is the only one who can provide the information she needs. But in her drive to find the truth, will Bryn push too far beyond the constraints of the pack, forcing her to leave behind her friends, her family, and the identity that she's shaped?

__________________________

Raised by Wolves started off by grabbing my interest and holding it for almost the first half of the book. Then it lost me. I liked the premise, a human girl raised by a pack of wolves. I liked the secondary characters - from her Alpha, Callum, to her adopted human mother, Ali, and her best friend, wolf Dev. She's a spunky kid who constantly pushes her boundaries.

Callum is hiding a secret, and once she figures out what (who) it is, she's determined to get answers to questions she's been holding inside since she was four. She's immediately drawn to Chase, a bitten wolf. And that's where things start to get out of control.

I loved the first half of the book - Bryn was a cute heroine, her pack dynamics were interesting, and I liked her best friend, Dev. Then she meets Chase, and I was still into the story. But then Ms. Barnes hurries the story along, where I was enjoying the characters and scenery and the plot was slowly unfolding, suddenly things rush forward and it felt hurried and disjointed from the beginning of the story. It almost felt like two different people wrote the first and second half of the story - I didn't care for her friend Lake, and Dev, who felt like such a huge part of the beginning of the story, disappeared and then suddenly reappeared in time to fight the villian. The end was nice and I was glad the author let us see into Callum's motivations for his actions, but I would have liked to see more about how the principal characters were adjusting than just a general status report.

I'd be curious to revisit these characters in a few years and find out how things turned out.

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 432 pages
Publisher: EgmontUSA (June 8, 2010)
ISBN-10: 1606840592
ISBN-13: 978-1606840597

My Rating: