'The Taming of the Wolf' by Lydia DARE

From the BLURB:

Lord Dashiel Thorpe has fought his true nature his entire life, but whenever the moonlight proves too powerful, Dashiel is unable to control the werewolf within him. It is on one such moonlit night that Dashiel accidentally bites the beautiful Scottish witch, Caitrin McLeod. Though now bound to him irrevocably, Cait decides that she wants nothing to do with him. When she flees to her native Scotland, Dashiel has no choice but to follow her and convince her that it was nothing short of destiny that has bound them together body and soul.

Lord Dashiel Thorpe was introduced in Lydia Dare’s third ‘Westfield Brothers’ book, ‘The Wolf Next Door’. In that book, Dashiel ‘Dash’ Thorpe was a rogue Lycan trespassing on William Westfield’s territory by trying to marry his mate, Prisca Hawthorne. In ‘Taming of the Wolf’ Dash has lost the girl but decided to reclaim his life and humanity. He no longer wants to be a wild and dangerous Lycan – he wants to reform and learn how to control his ‘beast’. But on the night of this decision the beautiful and ethereal Caitrin McLeod stumbles into his life, and he can’t help marking her as his mate.
Now Dash and Caitrin are irrecoverably entwined, destined as soul-mates. . . if only Dash can convince her to have him as a husband.

“My mate?” Dash gaped at him. “But I don’t even know the girl. Surely something like this has happened before. There has to be a way to remedy–”
“Aye, Brimsworth. This is not the first time a Lycan, drunk on the spell of the moon, has claimed an unintended mate.” The major shuddered. “I don’t know of one instance where there was a happy ending, however.”

I went into this book a little sceptical. I wasn’t a big fan of Caitrin since her appearance in ‘The Wolf Next Door’ left me irritated. Caitrin is a witch who can see the future – and as such she tends to meddle in other people’s affairs and have a fairly ‘high and mighty’ attitude. I found her annoying and abrasive in ‘The Wolf Next Door’. . . but everything I disliked about Caitrin in that book is what annoys/charms Dash in ‘Taming’, and I found myself reluctantly turned around.

Dash and Caitrin are a great pair – between them they’re bossy, pretentious and mule headed. But they’re also utterly charming and bring out the best in each other. Dash is starved for affection after a disastrous childhood spent knowing he was a cuckolded bastard and ‘beast’. Caitrin’s life is dictated by her foresight, and she is worried when her visions don’t encompass Dashiel. These two had a lot to overcome – but just being together is a soothing balm for both of them.

One small complaint I had about ‘The Wolf Next Door’ was not enough sex. I know, I know – my head is in the gutter. But I was glad to read a noticeable smutting-up in this fourth book. And better yet, the storyline and characters call for it. Dash is a wicked rake when Caitrin meets him – he even has a little black book of conquests which Caitrin stumbles across. Dash is a highly-sexed individual, and in Caitrin he has found a woman who incites endless lust in him.

Lydia Dare has very cleverly introduced a new trajectory for the ‘Westfield Brothers’ series in ‘Taming’. I think the Lycan boys are going to be put aside for the next two books in the series. . . since Caitrin’s foresight has hinted at a Vampire focus. In ‘Taming’ Caitrin has visions of dead men stalking her friends, and she meets a handsome man who conjures images of broadswords and cudgels. I got goosebumps when I read all of Lydia Dare’s dropped-vampire-hints. . . I can’t wait for these new supernaturals to be introduced to the coven witches! Yay!

Lydia Dare is actually two people – writing team Tammy Falkner and Jodie Pearson. I did not know this! And the ‘about the author’ page at the back of ‘Taming’ explains exactly how their process works – with each writing 1500-word instalments and editing the other’s previous work. Writing-team’s have always fascinated me – and Lydia Dare is particularly perplexing because I would have never guessed this was a combined effort! The writing is so seamless. . . and I really appreciated the insight into their duo-style. Incredible!

I really loved ‘Taming of the Wolf’ and look forward to the next two books in Lydia Dare’s list, ‘It Happened one Bite’ (approx: March 1 2011) and ‘In the Heat of the Bite’ (approx: July 1 2011). Bring on the vampires, I say!

5/5

(cover in progress)
Book #6 - March 1st 2011

'The Wolf Next Door' by Lydia DARE

From the BLURB:

Rogue, Rake.Werewolf. Years ago on a full moon, Lord William Westfield gave way to his inner beast and nearly ruined young Prisca Hawthorne. Knowing he can never trust himself in the arms of the woman he loves, he throws himself into a debauched lifestyle. When Westfield discovers he has a rival for Prisca's love, he decides if she's going to marry a Lycan it damn well better be him. But time is running out as Prisca's other suitor takes an instant and potentially fatal dislike to Westfield.

This is the third book in Lydia Dare’s werewolf series (the series that does not actually have a title?).

This book completes the romance between middle Westfield brother, Will, and his childhood sweetheart, Prisca.
From book #1 Lydia Dare has dropped hints about a complicated romantic past between Will and Prisca ‘Prissy’ Hawthorne. And in book #2, ‘Tall, Dark and Wolfish’, Dare really lay foundation work for Will’s HEA.

It is revealed in ‘The Wolf Next Door’ that 4 years ago Will and Prisca were engaged to be married. But a nasty rumour about Will impregnating a local miss sent Prisca into a tailspin and breaking their engagement. The accusation was false, but Prisca quickly learnt through the grapevine that it *could* have been true. Will is a rake and for years he was a cavorting and unrepentant bachelor. Prisca panicked that he would not be faithful and thus ended their relationship. For 4 long years Prisca has built a wall around herself, to guard against Will and heartache. She has turned down numerous suitors and refused to enter into the marriage-mart. All the while she has been paying close attention to Will’s rakish behaviour as it’s reported by the society rags. Will, meanwhile, has been bedding anything in a skirt in an unsuccessful attempt to forget his one true love – Prisca Hawthorne.

This is one tangled romantic web Lydia Dare weaves. And it gets more knotted when one lord Dashiel Brimsworth sets his cap for Prisca. Will is less than pleased, especially because Brimsworth is a rogue Lycan. Will kicks into territorial-mode and is determined to win his mate back, once and for all.

I was so looking forward to Will and Prisca’s book, right from the moment Dare introduced their twisted love/hate affair in book #1; ‘A Certain Wolfish Charm’. In that book Prisca and Will were at each other’s throats – throwing taunting jabs and witticisms at one another to clearly mask their tumultuous feelings. In ‘Wolf Next Door’ all is revealed – though not all satisfyingly. The back-story to Will being accused of impregnating a local girl is offered, but not really followed up. I wanted to meet Will’s ‘accuser’ and to know more about the fall-out from 4 years ago. But Dare mentions it and then moves on. It seems a shame, especially because Will’s rakishness is the focus of this book.

That’s one thing I liked – the fact that Will’s past behaviours are what really hampers his romance with Prisca in the present. So often in regency romances a ‘rake’ is introduced, but reformed the minute he meets his sweetheart. Lydia Dare did an admirable job of moulding Will into a rake through book’s 1# and 2# and it all comes to a head in this 3rd instalment. I loved that. I loved the fact that Prisca threw Will’s past back in his face and that Will had to admit he made mistakes and bought regrets for himself. It made for a really meaty and complicated tension-filled storyline to get caught up in.

“How could you doubt that I want you Prissy?” He watched her face as he asked the question.
“I've no doubt that you want me, Will,” she sighed. “But I also know that you want anyone who wears a skirt and has a beating heart.”
Will nearly flinched at her words. But he deserved every one of them, truth be told.
She pushed against his chest, but he just tightened his arm around her. “No,” he said softly. “Let’s finish this before you pull away from me completely.”
“We can talk just as well if we’re several feet from one another, Will,” she rationalized.
“I’ll not let you go, Priss.”

However, the resolution between Will and Prisca wasn’t particularly gratifying. Throughout the book Prisca is rebuffing Will’s advances because she doesn’t think he will remain monogamous. Will does an admirable job of courting Prisca and soothing her worries. And during their trials and tribulations their lust and sexual frustration is a palpable thing to read. But dare writes only one sex scene between them. One culmination to all that pent-up wanting. After going through Prisca’s 4-year-long heartache and feelings of betrayal, and Will’s efforts to prove himself and his love... I just wanted *more* of them being loved up.

I did like this book, I didn’t *LOVE* it like I did the first two, but I did like it. I think maybe I had too high an expectation of Prisca and Will, which is my fault entirely.

3/5

Lydia Dare’s 4th book is ‘Taming of the Wolf’ which comes out November 2nd. I’m not sure about this next instalment... the heroine is Caitrin McLeod who had a minor role in ‘The Wolf Next Door’, but I don’t really like her. It might just be because Prisca didn’t particularly warm to Caitrin in this book, but I found her to be a prickly and egocentric character. Hmmm... I’ll definitely read the 4th book, but with a bit of trepidation.

'Tall, Dark and Wolfish' by Lydia DARE

FROM THE BLURB:

The reckless, rakish younger brother of a powerful duke, Lord Benjamin Westfield transforms into a wolf under the light of the full moon - until one fateful evening when he doesn't change and his life is shattered. Fearing he may never be able to change again, Benjamin sets out for Scotland in search of a witch who can heal his inner beast. The noble werewolf is drawn to the beautiful young woman, but what does he have to offer in this broken state?

I was a little hesitant going into this one. I really loved ‘A Certain Wolfish Charm’. In that first novel, Lydia Dare set up the plot for at least two future books focused on lycanthrope brothers Ben and Will Westfield.
Ben was mentioned in passing, and because Will was the brother whom Dare set-up a clear love interest, I assumed his book would be next. I was a little disheartened to learn that ‘Tall, Dark & Wolfish’ would be Ben’s book. I was even more disheartened to learn that his love interest would be a Scottish witch.

Like Ben, I made the connection to the three witches of Shakespeare’s infamous ‘Macbeth’ play and was generally uninterested in a werewolf/witch romance. Boy, was I wrong.

Elspeth is a healer. She takes other people’s illnesses and injuries into herself and alleviates their pain. Elspeth’s witchy magic is less about ‘double trouble, toil and bubble’ and more about spirituality, herbal remedies and even zen-healing.
Elspeth is a wonderful heroine. She was born out of wedlock to her witchy mother, Rose, and has beared the brunt of Edinburgh’s small-minded and sometimes cruel societal cast. What high-society doesn’t know is that Elspeth is half lycan, and her werewolf father abandoned her and her mother while Elspeth was still in the womb.

Enter Ben Westfield, who is in dire need of healing. Ben is a lycan, but after a troublesome encounter with a prostitute he has lost his ability to transform into his wolf. Elspeth and her coven of witches are recommended to Ben in order to correct his ailment... so off he goes to Edinburgh, to be bewitched by Elspeth.

I loved Ben and Elspeth. There’s instantaneous attraction, but Dare balances out the immediate lust by having Ben be reluctant to endanger Elspeth’s life when his wolf comes to the fore (especially with the memory of an injured prostitute fresh in his mind).
Elspeth lives up to her hair and is one fiery little heroine. I loved the fact that she doesn’t stand down to Ben’s bull-headedness, and equally that Ben revels in her tough attitude.
Plus these two are utterly scorching in the bedroom;

Elspeth turned to take a towel from the rack behind her and found Ben blocking her path. How had he moved so fast?
“Speed,” he whispered before his lips pressed to her temple. “It’s one of our traits.”
“Do ye do everythin’ so fast?” she asked.
One eyebrow lifted. He smiled as he brushed a lock of hair from her face. “No. There are some things that should be done slowly.”

In this second novel, Lydia Dare effectively introduces a new cachet of characters to carry the rest of the series. Elspeth’s coven is made up of three other young witches who have various abilities; psychic, ability to control the weather and an ability to control plants. These women are wonderfully introduced, and though their scenes are small, Dare certainly gives each of them vibrant personalities that I look forward to reading in future novels.

Dare also does a wonderful job of setting up the romance for book #3 ‘The Wolf Next Door’. This will be Will Westfield’s book, though his story and romance with Prisca Hawthorne started in book #1. I started out wishing that this second book would be Will’s, but Lydia Dare does such a great job of adding more layers and complications to Will’s love life that I completely understand why she needed one more book in which to set the scene. There will certainly be angst, but I am most certainly looking forward to reading about Will’s complicated love life!

If I have any complaints, it’s that I would have liked for Simon and Lily (of ‘A Certain Wolfish Charm’) to make a reappearance; but Ben & Elspeth steal the show so effectively that I only lamented their missing for a moment.

This werewolf series is fresh for the fact that it’s set in 1800’s England and the lycanthrope heroes are trying to mingle in polite Ton society. Dare knows her way around a sex scene, and her heroes and heroines are feisty, loyal and sweet. Thanks again to Patti of ‘book addict’ fame for introducing me to this hot little series!

5/5

'A Certain Wolfish Charm' by Lydia DARE

From the BLURB:

The rules of Regency Society can be beastly - especially when you're a werewolf. Simon Westfield, the Duke of Blackmoor has spent his entire life creating scandal and mayhem. It doesn't help his wolfish temper that since he's rich, powerful, and sinfully handsome, the town is willing to overlook his outrageous behavior. Lily Rutledge has a wild streak of her own. When she turns to Simon for help, he falls for her immediately. For Simon is drawn to the fearless Lily more powerfully than the moon...

‘A Certain Wolfish Charm’ is a werewolf paranormal romance set in 1800’s England. I loved this novel.

Simon always believed that because of his lycan heritage he would never knowingly subject a wife to his beastly behavior or chance hurting her when the wolf came to the fore. Simon’s rejection of holy matrimony was influenced by his brother Daniel’s disastrous marriage to human woman, Emma. Though lycans marry human women (since there are no female werewolves), their wolf is able to ‘mate’ to their human wives. If the werewolf male ‘takes’ his wife while the wolf is prominent in him, and he marks her with his teeth during the throes of passion, then they are mated. Daniel attempted this, but Emma was forever terrified of him afterwards.
Simon never wants to risk exposing his deepest, darkest secret to the woman he loves, only to have her reject him. He can think of no greater horror. And so when he meets Lily, Simon has been living the lothario lifestyle. His female exploits have made for titillating reading in various society rags, and he is firmly set in his bachelor ways.

I really appreciated the fact that Lydia Dare didn’t conveniently forget Simon’s caddish behavior once he falls for Lily. His past becomes a point of contention between the two of them after their marriage – even more so when one of Simon’s ex’s makes an appearance, and stakes a claim. It would have been easy enough when the storyline concerns Lycanthropy, for Dare to conveniently dismiss such nitty-gritty complications to the Simon/Lily love story. But I really appreciated the fact that she addresses Simon’s past, and Lily’s sometimes discomfort with the knowledge of it. Dare even integrates Simon’s past into the werewolf storyline – by having Lily think he has reverted to his old whorish ways when he starts mysteriously disappearing once a month.

I loved Simon and Lily. Especially because readers are privy to Simon’s big, bad wolf secret, but Lily is none the wiser. Lydia Dare sticks close to Lycanthropy lore and seems conscious of the fact that her readers are cluey enough on the finer werewolf points to not need pages and pages of explanation.
It was interesting/frustrating to read Simon keep dodging Lily’s enquiries and inklings and the various manifestations of his werewolf traits;

Lily sniffed and pulled her hand from his. He immediately reached to capture it again. And didn’t let go.
“One thing we need to be very clear about is that you are never to pull away from me. I might annoy you to the end of time, but you mustn’t take yourself away from me. Not any part of you. From your hands to your feet. In fact, I believe we should solidify this rule right now.”
Lily’s heart jumped in her chest. “Rule?” she was able to choke out.
“Yes. You may beat my furniture. You may even strike me when you’re so frustrated with me you just can’t tolerate any more, but you will never take away what’s most important to me. And that’s you.”

My one complaint about the book was the rather rushed romance between Simon and Lily. To some extent, I did buy the oft-used reasoning that Simon’s wolf-nature recognized his mate in Lily upon meeting her. But that didn’t change the fact that Simon had a fairly quick turn-around from ‘cad about town’ to ‘contented werewolf hubby’. That being said, a rushed-romance is usually my number 1. complaint in a paranormal werewolf romance. Most authors do rely on the ‘mating instinct’ to explain away the fast-paced romance, so maybe it’s just a personal pet peeve of mine.

This was a very sweet paranormal romance read. I really liked the fact that it was a werewolf story set in the 1800’s and that Lydia Dare addressed supernatural as well as humdrum relationship obstacles for her characters.

Thanks to book addict, Patti, for recommending this series.

5/5