Shadowspell by Jenna Black

On top of spending most of her time in a bunkerlike safe house and having her dates hijacked by a formidable Fae bodyguard, Faeriewalker Dana Hathaway is in for some more bad news: the Erlking and his pack of murderous minions known as the Wild Hunt have descended upon Avalon. With his homicidal appetite and immortal powers, the Erlking has long been the nightmare of the Fae realm. A fragile treaty with the Faerie Queen, sealed with a mysterious spell, is the one thing that keeps him from hunting unchecked in Avalon, the only place on Earth where humans and Fae live together. Which means Dana’s in trouble, since it’s common knowledge that the Faerie Queen wants her – and her rare Faeriewalker powers – dead. The smoldering, sexy Erlking’s got his sights set on Dana, but does he only seek to kill her, or does he have something much darker in mind? (courtesy of Amazon)


Book 2 in Jenna Black's Faeriewalker series.  


A well-written young adult is a favorite of mine.  Shadowspell is so much more then well-written.  This is a must read, when you open it, you won't want to put it down, even after you're read the last page.  


Black's set up an intriguing world of Faerie - with the mortal realm and Faerie meeting in Avalon, the one place where all can live.  Dana is a 16 year old that has taken on a lot of responsibility in her early childhood, hence, she's always on point to make an adult decision.  She's not afraid to back down and has no plans to be walked over.  Great qualities for our heroine, however, she could be in a little over her head this time.  We all know how tricky the Fae can be.  Dana is still trying to settle in Avalon, of course, settling is hard when you are on the hit list.  Living underground for a teen, not much fun...plus she can't decide where to go with Ethan...he's tainted her trust already.  


I'm still in awe of how Black conjured this story and played it out so well.  Taking teen trials and turning it up notch after notch.  The Erlking's arrival and his interest in Dana sets up to be for her death...of course that's exactly what he wants you to think.  Thrown off guard, Dana will do anything in her power to save the ones she cares for and the Erlking pledges to keep her from harm.  How can anything go wrong?  Of course, Black tosses in the huge twist.  I was completely caught off guard, while I knew a deal couldn't be that easy, I never expected the flip.  Astonishing!  


Black's writing is intense, spicy, and vivacious.  Thank the publishing gods, Siren Song, book 3, will be out July of this year!


5 slices 

Blood Challenge by Eileen Wilks

Ex-cop Lily Yu and werewolf Rule Turner's engagement announcement is stirring up ugly passions in the Humans First camp. There's hate mail, followed by death threats. And when a lupus in Tennessee goes on a killing spree, Lily realizes that it's only the opening skirmish in an all-out war.(courtesy of Amazon)


The above description may be brief and lacking, but this book is anything but.  


Wilks has created such an amazing world of the Lupi.  Book 7 in the series, I still can't get enough of Lily and Rule. They are my 2nd ALL-TIME favorite couple from a book series, and I've read a lot of series.  Wilks has given us two characters and evolved them to be so memorable.  Lily had so many reservations in life when she met Rule in book 1, everything she knew and had resolved to live by has been questioned and turned upside down.  Lily has grown so much from the beginning, and watching her changes have been amazing.  Rule takes live as it is, and handles it.  He's the perfect match for Lily.  You can’t get enough of them.  Throw in the rest of the cast and you have one of my favorite teams. 


The C couple (trying not to spoil) along with Rule's family and pack have complimented the whole story.  These books are not just about the paranormal, while magic and fantasy are a large part of the books, mystery and thrills along with true crime investigation are the drivers that keep this series alive.  Wilks researches to give the books a real feel, meeting with crime scene investigations, trauma nurses, and probably weres themselves (just kidding on that last part).  This book, gives us insight to more of Rule's brother, Benedict.  We also place Lily in the pack and out of the police world for a bit.

Wilks Lupi series is action-packed, charged with mystery and true crime solving.    The base of the Lupi world she has created is imaginative and, yet, believable.  She has a talent matched only by a few.  I am on pins and needles awaiting Death Magic Book 8, due out this year also, Nov 2011.  

Read a better product description at Eileen Wilks site - Blood Challenge

Unraveled by Gena Showalter

Since coming to Crossroads, Oklahoma, former outcast Aden Stone has been living the good life. Never mind that one of his best friends is a werewolf, his girlfriend is a vampire princess who hungers for his blood, and he's supposed to be crowned Vampire King—while still a human! Well, kind of.

With four—oops, three now—human souls living inside his head, Aden has always been "different" himself. These souls can time-travel, raise the dead, possess another's mind and, his least favorite these days, tell the future.

The forecast for Aden? A knife through the heart.

Because a war is brewing between the creatures of the dark, and Aden is somehow at the center of it all. But he isn't about to lie down and accept his destiny without a fight. Not when his new friends have his back, not when Victoria has risked her own future to be with him, and not when he has a reason to live for the first time in his life….(courtesy of Amazon)

Book 2 in the Intertwined series – Showalter is still packing action and twists.  

Picking up right where we left in Book 1 (my favorite way to start a sequel), Aden barely has time to recover from his meeting with the vampires, when the Fae are up for a battle.  Aden and Riley are glad to give them a run for their money.  Of course, there’s more factions where they came from.  Everyone wants a piece of Aden.  Mary Ann learns that she’s not such a good girl after all, she has a unique and deadly ability.  Showalter has done the great task of setting up delightful characters.  She gives us action and intrigue mixed with a little spice.  Some how, Showalter amazingly manages to throw so much our way in the book, yet, when you start to feel like it’s too much, she grabs you back in, makes it work, and plays it out right before your eyes.  I thoroughly ended up enjoying this book, and look forward to seeing where this series goes.  

Bravo!

4 slices

Intertwined by Gena Showalter

There's something about the new guy at Crossroads High…

Most sixteen-year-olds have friends.

Aden Stone has four human souls living inside him:

One can time travel.

One can raise the dead.

One can possess another human.

One can tell the future.

Everyone thinks he's crazy, which is why he's spent his entire life shuffled between mental institutions and juvie. All of that is about to change, however. For months Aden has been having visions of a beautiful girl—a girl who carries centuries-old secrets. A girl who will either save him or destroy him.

Together they'll enter a dark world of intrigue and danger…but not everyone will come out alive. (courtesy of Amazon)

Holy Wow.  I read the comment on the book from an author “couldn’t put it down” and that was certainly the case.  The book starts out immediately in action and interest.  The characters are very interesting at first.  The lead Aden has 4 souls inside his body, so schizophrenia has nothing on Aden.  When he meets the only one able to turn it all off.  Mary Ann has the pull but like a magnet the closer he gets the more he wants to run away.  The two of them have no idea what it is that it going on.  Showalter doesn’t let the book go stagnant, she immediately tosses in the vamps and the weres, then the demons and the fae…and we can not forget the witches and the goblins.  At first I was a little overwhelmed, tossed into the otherworld so quickly had me confused where the story was going.  Of course, that’s exactly where you are supposed to be.  Love interests, Riley and Victoria give us a little young adult heat to the book.  The plot is overflowing with side stories and unique situations that explain the ties that fall on these 4 characters. 

A surprise twist at the end of the game for the vampire world leaves you hanging for book 2.  I give this 3 slices.

Awakened by PC & Kristin Cast

Exonerated by the Vampyre High Council and returned to her position of High Priestess at Tulsa’s House of Night, Neferet has sworn vengeance on Zoey.  Dominion over Kalona is only one of the weapons she plans to use against Z.  But Zoey has found sanctuary on the Isle of Skye and is being groomed by Queen Sgiach to take over for her there.  Being Queen would be cool, wouldn’t it?  Why should she return to Tulsa? After losing her human consort, Heath, she will never be the same – and her relationship with her super-hot-warrior, Stark, may never be the same either…

And what about Stevie Rae and Rephaim?  The Raven Mocker refuses to be used against Stevie Rae, but what choice does he have when no one in the entire world, including Zoey, would be okay with their relationship?  Does he betray his father or his heart?

In the pulse-pounding 8th book in the bestselling House of Night series, how far will the bonds of friendship stretch and how strong are the ties that bind one girl’s heart? (courtesy of Amazon)

Book 8 in the House of Night Series.  

There's definitely mixed feelings about this installment in the series.  Cast is constantly giving us great 'omg' cliffhangers which have kept me greatly anticipating the next book.  I was on pins and needles waiting for Awakened.  The Wiccan and Native American 'religious' aspect mix added with a pinch of mythology has always been a freshly unique concept for this book, adding in the Vampyre's and it was a no brainer for me.  Sure it's classified as Young Adult, which if it's good, I'm diving into any book, the great thing for this series is that the characters are maturing and therefore the stories are turning on a little heat.  With the young population today, at Book 8, had Cast not, it would have pushed the series 'realness'.  Yet as much as I want to truly feel the book, and I did in many parts, there were a few too many forced references toward other authors and TV shows that just didn't fit.  

Zoey is in over her head and has been, but somehow she keeps it above water and pulls it together.  Who wouldn't want a break from it?  Of course, I wouldn't want a break from Stark.  He's just want she needs.  The story unfolds perfectly as Zoey has to redevelop with Stark, after Burned there's a lot to heal from and overcome.  She's getting a chance to learn from a Queen of the old magic.  It's a direction I could feel the book moving toward.  Of course, it doesn't last, Zoey needs to help her friends back home, sadly predictable.  Stevie Rae and Rephaim, let's just say, just what they needed.  Although, I could have done with out the twist at the end, like they don't have enough to overcome...

Our other cast - well a little overdone, there's just enough interaction, but some of it was a little too emphasized.  I could say that there are parts of everyone that could have been penned a little differently.  However, don't get me wrong, I liked the book.  At this point in the series, you are reading to see where it's going.  At 8 books, a writer has to give you some changes, try on something new and see where they are moving.  Even if they have it planned out, there always that one twist that's added.  I did not like the references and end with a certain 'previous' character coming back into 'Zoey's life'.  

Overall I gave it 3 slices, I liked it, still plan to see where Cast is going with the series and how Zoey and Stark further develop.  It's a 3 because I felt a few things were just too much for the book.  Still I had to finish it, just like always with the HoN series, you want to read it and keep it going until you are done, then you sit in anticipation for the next. 

Counterfeit Magic by Kelley Armstrong

The first rule of a supernatural fight club? Don't kill your opponent.

When the fighters come with lethal spells, werewolf strength and half-demon powers, that can be a lot tougher than it sounds. It's hard to attract talent if they know they might not leave the ring alive. So when fighters at a California club start dying -- it's bad for business.

Witch detectives Paige Winterbourne and Savannah Levine take the case. Going undercover in the power-heavy arena of the fight club is a welcome change of pace for Paige, relegated to the role of The Wife as her husband struggles to find his place in his family's Cabal--the corporate Mafia of the supernatural world.

As Paige is drawn deeper into new and dangerous corners of her world, she quickly discovers the greatest threat isn't the killer in her sights. It's something much, much closer to home. And this is one fight she can't afford to lose. (summary on the back of the book)


Kelley Armstrong is definitely on my list of favorite authors! If you like paranormal books, her Otherworld series is a must read. Typically each book is told from the point of view of one main character and tells their story, often including characters you’ve met in previous books. Her characters are great and well developed. You definitely get inside their heads and have a good understanding of who they are and where they’re coming from. She also brings many different aspects of the paranormal world into the series. There are vampires, werewolves, witches, necromancers, demons, ghosts, something for everyone!!


Counterfeit Magic is the latest novella in the Otherworld series.


Paige Winterbourne and Savannah Levine are both witches. They also both work at Cortez-Winterbourne Investigations, a business Paige and her husband Lucas started together. Page and Savannah take a case in which they go undercover in a supernatural fight club to try to figure out why their client’s brother was killed.
Things, of course, aren’t always what they seem and they investigating even more deaths, while Lucas takes the original case.


While on the case, with Lucas away working on his, Paige is also forced to take a closer look at her marriage. She believes that everything is fine, but there could be problems under the surface that she is overlooking, or ignoring.


As usual, Kelley Armstrong has given us another great story. I’m already looking forward to her next book, Spell Bound, which comes out in July and is another book with Savannah Levine as the main character.


5 Slices

Cities of Night by Philip Nutman

Ten stories.
Eight cities.
Three continents.
One voice.

From Atlanta to Blackpool, London to New York…from Rome, Italy to Albuquerque, New Mexico via Hollyweird and the city of Lost Angels…are all cities of night.

And the night is forever. Now. (summary on the back of the book)



Cities of Night is a collection of dark, and some rather twisted short stories by Philip Nutman. For the most part the stories were good reads. A couple of them were really slow moving and I couldn’t wait for them to end. Others were really good, some with surprising endings, which I love!

Each tale is very different, too; bored teenagers getting into trouble and a boy that has visions, a writer that stumbles into a weird opportunity, a kidnapped Elvis impersonator, a Hellboy, Van Helsing, yeah – there are all sorts of things. While it’s not your typical paranormal book, there are tidbits of the paranormal in some of them.

My favorite thing about this book is how some of the stories tie into later ones. I liked that I’d be reading and suddenly realize the main character in the current one was in one of the previous ones. I’m a big fan of revisiting some of the same characters later on in their life.

Overall not something I’d typically chose, but still pretty good.


3 Slices

 
 
 

Vampires Not Invited by Cheyenne McCray

Vampire attacks are on the rise in the city that never sleeps. So why is half-human, half-Drow private eye Nyx tracking down Sprites? Sure, these “young bloods” are causing mischief all over town—like painting the Statue of Liberty’s toenails neon pink. But it’s not until Nyx finds herself at the Pit, Manhattan's hottest nightclub for paranorms, that she understands what she’s really up against…

Seems Master Vampire Volod has a plan—and the Sprites are in on it. By targeting the weaknesses of every paranorm in the city, from Elves to Shifters to Zombies, Volod and his fang gang aim to rule the night once and for all. Over Nyx’s dead body. She loves a good challenge—and she will seduce danger at every turn to throw Volod off course. It’s time for Nyx to enter the beating heart of this dark conspiracy…before driving a stake through it. (courtesy of Amazon)

Cheyenne McCray quickly became one of my favs with her steamy Magic Series.  This is book 3 in her Night Tracker series.  (Demons Not Included - 1, Werewolves Not Allowed - 2)

To truly enjoy these books, you've gotta start off with book 1 - Our lead heroine is one kick ass woman - well Half Drow, Half Human.  She's fighting as a night tracker to protect the world against the rogue paranorms.  

I love Nyx' character and her interaction with her business partner Olivia, her cat, and her man.  McCray gives us tons of action in this book, almost non-stop. I'm not complaining, I enjoyed it.  Keeping the interest in her series going is what I like best about an author.  McCray does it over and over.  

McCray gives her book an edge, tweaking the 'normal' view of the Vampire.  Not always the ones with the most bite in this book, Vampires are on the bottom rung, overlooked, until one overheard conversation.  

Nyx has always had great color in both her personality and her skin at night :).  She shows amazing growth in this book.  She's got her mind in the right spot, seeing the bigger picture of her actions.  Her man, Adam, lays his claim and she's ready and willing and feels the same.  At the same time, Nyx has to keep her independence.  She's had preconceived views of 2 of the paranorm races that are flipped up and found to be completely unexpected.  Her mind racing in every direction, there no time for rest in this action packed installment.  

I felt this book has to be pivotal for the series to bridge into the next (Zombies Sold Separately) due out in May 2011.  I think we're going to see BIG things to come!

3 Slices

Real Vampires Have More to Love by Gerry Bartlett

Glory St. Clair is a vampire with problems. First there’s her on-again, off-again lover Jeremy Blade, back in town and expecting her to fall into his arms. Doesn’t he remember that they have issues? And what about smoking hot rock star Ray Caine? He’s back too and sinking his fangs into someone else. Glory told him to move on, but does his new love interest have to be so thin? At least Valdez is still loyal. But her former bodyguard is no longer dogging her. Instead, he’s now a gorgeous guy determined to share her apartment and maybe something more. So much man-candy is enough to make even a gal with a liquid diet feel a sugar rush.


Glory's got no time to enjoy it, though, considering that she's in the middle of planning her best friend's wedding. And let's not forget that there happens to be a hit on her head, thanks to when she took out a techno-freak billionaire. Now, between planning a bachelorette party and dodging stakes, Glory has to decide which man she really wants, before her love life meets an early grave...(summary on the book’s back cover)



I love Gerry Bartlett’s Glory St. Clair (Real Vampires) series. The characters she has created are so much fun! Glory is so relatable. She curvy and isn’t happy with the way she looks – as many of us aren’t. Unfortunately for her, being a vampire, she’s stuck that way. She’s also always on a budget which is hard for her because she has expensive taste. I SO understand that feeling!!

Real Vampires Have More to Love is book 6 in the series. Since it is so far in, there may be a few spoilers below – but I’ll try to keep them to a minimum!

In this book we see Glory still determined to be independent. She’s convinced Blade, her sexy sire and sometimes boyfriend, that she can handle herself without a bodyguard. So Valdez, the shape-shifter who had been her bodyguard, is now her roommate: her HOT roommate. And he seems interested in doing more than just guarding her body!

She also has to help plan her best friend Florence’s wedding and throw her a bachelorette party. Of course Flo can’t make it easy for her. She wants Ray Caine, the gorgeous rock star that Glory pretended to be engaged to, to sing at her wedding. So Glory has to call in a favor with him, and when she does, it seems he’s not over her.

As if all that isn’t enough to deal with, there’s someone out to get her. Glory killed a vampire hating billionaire and now his kids are trying to kill her.

This book, like the rest of the series, was an entertaining read. It was fast past and definitely kept my attention. I couldn’t put it down. I already can’t want for the next book, Real Vampires Don’t Wear Size Six!! I hope Mrs. Bartlett keeps ‘em coming!


5 Slices

Sins of the Flesh by Eve Silver

The blood of the Underworld lord of evil runs through soul reaper Malthus Krayl's veins. Raised to fight for survival and to kill for victory, he can destroy anyone who poses a threat. As he searches for the one responsible for his brother's murder, he refuses to succumb to any distraction…until his sworn enemy crosses his path and tempts him beyond all reason.

Calliope Kane, a Daughter of Aset, has a personal hatred for soul reapers. Their savage attack against her family still haunts her. But only Malthus can help her find the traitors of her kind, and only she can help him hunt the source of betrayal amongst the reapers. As they unite, the danger grows closer…and the passion between them ignites. (courtesy of Amazon)

Book 3 in the Otherkin Series by Eve Silver

Silver knows how to give your the right level of heat, mystery, and romance.  Continuing the mystery of who has killed the brother Lokan, Silver keeps you on the edge of your seat with the suspense.  Hard core roller coaster of twists and turns in this series.  Book 3 is about my favorite brother, Mal, the womanizing pirate.  Heck yea that's what we all want :) .  Silver's character development in this series has me in love with the three brothers, I picture them over at my house, and great friends.  For an author to make them so real, so early in the first book, I'm impressed.  Mal became my favorite as soon as he was introduced.  

Never anticipating to meet his match in the love department, he's knocked right off his feet when he comes in contact with Calli.  Calli is one hot female, she's known to love you and leave you, right in the back of the club; but she's also kick a$$.  High up in the Aset Guard, and extremely strong for her female stature, she gives Mal quite the run.  

Silver turns up the heat in this book, from hot to scorching!  Oh Man!

In my heart I knew the ending was coming, but Silver surprised me still.  I can't wait for book 4 and 5 due out this year, Spring and Fall.  

5 Slices

Sin's Daughter (short) by Eve Silver

Cursed with immortality, driven into a nomadic life on the fringes of society to escape those who hunt her, Amber Hale has learned the bitter lesson that she can never grow close to anyone. Never love.

Only once did she break her own rules. And her lover, Kai Warin, paid for her mistake with his life. For decades, she's been numb with grief. Now, confronted by a soul reaper--an agent of one of the most powerful of the Underworld deities--with Kai's face, she must acknowledge the likelihood that he betrayed her...to the Lord of Evil himself.

Forced into an uneasy alliance and plagued by the unwanted yearning between them, they must work together to elude the dark forces hunting them both...(courtesy of Amazon)

As I completed 2 of the 3 main books in the Otherkin trilogy by Eve Silver, I wanted to make sure I read the short story that inserts itself between book 1 and 2.  I was glad that this was created as what seemed to be a prequel to the stories, and even more so happy that it didn't really fit into the stories and I did not miss or spoil anything.  

I was a little disappointed because I expected it to tie in, but I thought the story was well done as a short quick interlude to the world of the Otherkin.  There was an interesting twist, and I do like Silver's writing. If you are looking for a quick read - grab this one, it's  able to stand alone and gives you a taste of Silver

2 slices

The Wolf Next Door by Lydia Dare

They can't even be in the same room together...

Ever since their failed elopement years ago, Prisca Hawthorne has taunted, insulted, and in every way tried to push him away. If only her heart didn't break every time Lord William Westfield left her...

But staying apart is even worse...

Lord William throws himself into drinking, gambling, and debauchery and pretends not to care about Prisca at all. But when he returns to find a rival werewolf vying for her hand, he'll stop at nothing to claim the woman who should have been his all along.

Can Prisca forgive the unforgivable, or are the moon-crossed lovers going to be forced into a battle of wills that could be fatal?

Book 1 - A Certain Wolfish Charm Review    Book 2 - Tall Dark and Wolfish Review
Lydia Dare's third installation in her series is - The Wolf Next Door - Book 3.

Finally we get Will's story.  Will was in both prior books, and although the reputation of these boys doesn't not hold their virtue, he is definitely honorable and caring with his family/brothers shown in his actions in Book 1 and 2.  The anticipation for his story was almost too much.  I had to know all the specifics of his past and hope for his future.  Dare is very good at creating lovable characters as well as a world from the past that amazes me each time I open the book.

Will is forced to be jealous of his one true love, forced to test her love for him and to claim her in a unhappy way.  Prisca has dreamed of only one person.  She has loved only one wolf.  Amazed to find they are the same person.  She is the only daughter in the home of 5 boys, raised by her father after her mother passed when she was just a babe.  Of course, Pris and Will's past has driven a wedge between them the size of all Europe.  Set again in 1800 England, Will must find how he will win her heart, but instead he does the unthinkable and compromises her, forcing her into what she wanted most, but not in this way.

The banter between this couple, had to be the best in the series.  Dare didn't leave out the action and suspense for this book.  I felt it held true to the series, setting us up for so many choices for the next book in the series (Taming the Wolf) as well as giving us the historical paranormal romance the book promised.  The anticipation of the heat in this book will keep you warm in the winter for sure.
5 Slices

Tall, Dark and Wolfish by Lydia Dare

In Lydia Dare’s debut trilogy, Regency England has gone to the wolves!He’s lost the most important part of himself…Lord Benjamin Westfield is a powerful werewolf—until one full moon when he doesn’t change. His life now shattered, he rushes off to Scotland in search of the healer who can restore his inner beast, only to find she’s not at all what he expected…She would make him whole, if she could…Young, beautiful witch Elspeth Campbell will do anything to help anyone who calls upon her healing arts. Then Lord Benjamin shows up, and she suddenly discovers she may need him even more than he needs her…(courtesy of Amazon)




Check out our review of Book 1 - A Certain Wolfish Charm.  This is Book 2 in Lydia Dare's series - Tall, Dark and Wolfish.  I read this one first by accident, thankfully, these events happen at the same time as Book 1 so it wasn't spoiled too much.

Again set in 1800's, this time in Scotland (and briefly in England), Dare does the story right as she brings in the magical coven of witches into her werewolf stories.  As a brother has lost his beast, he heads in search for the only witch that can fix him, however what he finds is her beautiful irish daughter and a coven of witches that is extremely protective.  Their 'seer' has forwarned that a wolf will come and tear them apart.

Elspeth (Ellie) is a healer, and she stops at nothing to help all that she can.  Sadly, it's draining her.  When one comes to look for her mother's help, she is faced with a handsome Benjamin.  Once again, historical times, women on their own is unheard of, yet the women in these books, are quite strong and confident.  Ben and Ellie face the unforbidden.  As their relationship develops somehow there are so many misunderstandings that have them in the weirdest predicaments.

Dare gives us again delightful conversation, sexy heat, and a wonderful read!

4 slices

A Certain Wolfish Charm by Lydia Dare

He gets crankier and crankier as the moon gets full...

The rules of Society can be beastly-especially when you're a werewolf and it's that irritating time of the month. Simon Westfield, the Duke of Blackmoor, is rich, powerful, and sinfully handsome, and has spent his entire life creating scandal and mayhem. It doesn't help his wolfish temper at all that Miss Lily Rutledge seems not the least bit afraid of him, and in fact, may be as untamable as he is...

A woman whose charm is stronger than the moon...

When Lily's beloved nephew's behavior becomes inexplicably wild, she turns to Simon, the boy's cousin and guardian, for help. But Simon's idea of assistance is far different than hers, and Lily finds herself ensconced in his house and engaged to the rogue.

They both may have bitten off more than they can chew when each begins to discover the other's darkest secrets...(courtesy of Amazon)

Lydia Dare gives us a new Series - and what better - about werewolves!  A Certain Wolfish Charm is the first in the series.  

Dare definitely sucked me into this series.  Werewolves set in 1800 England - historical paranormal romance.  What could be better than that??  Well, Dare tops it, adding the element of fun and giving us a story behind it.  

I truly adore when a book has been full of smiles as well as keeps up the steamy lust.  As this series begins we have 3 wealthy English men, all with the sultry stories of their past conquests.  In this book, we meet Simon, who is a Duke and often forgets what women he has invited where.  He's a leader as well as a skirt chaser, but he tries to remain in control of his inner beast.  Until, Lily, who is a strong-willed, independent woman who has resolved her self to do the right thing.  And she has not tolerance for anyone getting the way of her care for her nephew.  Of course, it doesn't help Simon that she is his perfect woman.  

Throughout the book, Simon and Lily have quite the quipped conversations.  To think back to 1800 England and the 'traditional' male/female roles and then reading this book...let's say I couldn't put it down.  Dare has created amazing characters.  We have brief commentary on the other 2 brothers, one making a brief appearance.  Simon fights the urges of his beast in addition to trying to keep his secret from Lily, but she'll have none of it.  In the end, their sex is hot, and the claiming even hotter.  

5 slices