Review: The Taming of the Wolf - Lydia Dare

Westfield Brothers, book 4

Genre: Historical paranormal romance
Pages: 384
Published: November 2010 Sourcebooks Casablanca

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.

First my usual reassurance. Yes this is actually book 4 but fear not! You can read this as a standalone with any problems, the facts that are important are there, and of course it's a good way to get surprised too. But if the OCD hits you bad, then go and read book 1 and work up to this one. Or just jump in and have fun.

Plot:

Lord Dashiel is staying at the house of the Westfield brothers. He fears himself for what the beast could do and without thinking he bites Caitrin McLeod, a Scottish witch who flees from me. Now he must follow as he has claimed her as his mate, and there can never be anyone else.

My thoughts:

I liked the book from the start, but it took me a while to really enjoy it. Let me explain. Dashiel has claimed her and he knows he will never look at anyone else, but is he in love? That thought bothered me as he chased her and tried to get into her heart and bed. He needed to prove himself a bit more before I started enjoying the book, and then I did not stop reading before I hit the end.

Dashiel is a womanizing rake with a hidden side and he has a sad past. And no one ever taught him what a Lycan really is, so he has got issues and is afraid to harm Caitrin. I was on my guard when it came to him, but I must confess that it was fun to see him try anything to get near her. While Cait is not afraid to tell him what a brute, and hound he is. And that he should just go away, but at the same thing there was something there, building up, and those two needed each other. My fav part of the book were the chasing part, he is not a man to back down. Slowly I did what she did, I started falling for him, and as I did that I saw that he was changing too. Into a real man, and a real Lycan. I liked it. And what he needed was a woman that would speak her mind and not fall all over him.

Something else shows up in this book, I shall not say, but it bodes well for the next series from Lydia Dare. I wonder how that will be handled. I am rather intrigued. 

The Lycans are an interesting bunch, and I do love and feel sad over the fact that they only love once. So beautiful and yet so tragic. Then there are the witches, and what is a book without real Scottish witches. They are a fun bunch, and I can't wait to see them fall in love too.

Recommendation and final thoughts:

I still like book 3 the best, the bantering was just so fun there. But this one comes as my second fav from Lydia Dare. It's fun, there is passion, and hearts that can't make up their minds. It will get a 3,5 from me, because I always reach that point where I do not want to put it down anymore. The book also feels very different from usual paranomals. It's lighter some way. So both paranormal lovers and historical lovers can like this book.

Will I read more, yes.

Cover: The cover actually differ from mine. It's nice, but I kind of liked my cover more, she looked a but more..nice. Still the yellow is really nice and it has the same format as the other covers.

The Quote might differ in the actual version of the book.

Quote I remember: 

"Naughty little girls who tease big, bad wolves deserves to be mauled," he said, a half-smile upon his face.

Review copy from Sourcebooks

Review: Paradise Rules - Beth Kery

This comes from an idea Parajunkee @ Parajunkees View had. So I too will put up a little warning sign. And look, now and went and found a sparkling one, lol. So people know, and hey perhaps some will come over faster ;)

Paradise Rules by Beth Kery

Genre: Romance
Pages: 336
Published: October 2009

She didn’t believe in paradise…

To most people Hawaii’s crystal blue shores are an inviting opportunity to escape reality. But for Lana Rodriguez who grew up there, the picture-perfect vacation getaway disguises the bitter truths she escaped years ago, and not without some emotional scars. Now a successful blues singer, Lana’s returning to Waikiki with a different outlook on the past, and a bold defiance when it comes to men, romance, and sex. This time, it’s on her terms.

Until she found it in him.

Local celebrity, businessman and island god, Jason Koa, may be every woman’s dream. For Lana, it’s not exactly love at first sight. Though their start is rocky, they can’t deny the passions they arouse in each other. Jason refuses to become Lana’s pawn. It’s time to show her who makes the rules on this island—and in the bedroom. But will Jason’s attempt at breaking Lana’s shell reveal secrets that neither are prepared to face, or will they allow themselves to get swept away by a tidal wave of desire?

Oh, oh, what can I say other than my fingers burned cos of this book. Yes it is one of those books that puts fire to the room. Very hot, scorching.

These two dislike at first sight, but at the same time there is lust at first sight. And that will soon lead to some hot Hawaiian nights. Jason wants her to let loose. She seems too rigid, uptight, and bitchy now and again. This surely comes from the fact that she hates the Islands. Why, well we will learn that later but it is pretty obvious that she is hiding some deep secrets. And he, well he does come off like somewhat arrogant but hey it is still smoking between those two and he clearly wants to be in control.

Here is a lovestory that does not want to be a lovestory. He does not need some non-Islander looking for a fling coming in and trying something, she just wants sex. But then things are never that simple, the attraction is clear and something else is sizzling underneath too.

And while those too are working things out, something else will happen too, that might drive them apart, and what about that haunting past?

Ok hot is the word of the day, yes very hot. I will never look at Hawaii the same way after this. Jason is a true alpha, dominant and controlling, and gorgeous. Lana let go of some control and finds that she likes it. He is also nice, and he who can talk about his childhood tries to get her to talk about it. He wants to fix things, and I melt away there. He has fallen. Great romance between two very different people in a way, and there is one thing at the end that I like and find really sad. But you just have to look for that yourself.

I like Kery's style, it is easy flowing and the pages moves fast forward, and never gets stuck anywhere.

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: Very nice, and I so wanna go there at once.

Reason for Reading: Own copy

Final thoughts: If you are looking for a hot read then this is it.