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: A certain Wolfish Charm - Lydia Dare

 A certain Wolfish Charm - Lydia Dare

Genre: Historical paranormal romance
Pages: 352
Published: April 6th 2010 by Sourcebooks Casablanca

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.

When I first heard of this one I wanted to read it at once. First historical, second, werewolves. Two of my favorite subjects.

The book starts with Lily Rutledge, the guardian of a young Earl, who is also her nephew. He is behaving in an odd way, and he is growing really fast. She has been trying to get a hold of his other guardian, Simon Westfield, his father's cousin. But the Duke rather spends his time gambling and fooling around with women. What is a woman to do than to go straight to the source and give him a piece of her mind.  There the story takes off and he is attracted to her at once.

Lily is a strong independent woman who has come to terms that she will be on that shelf for the rest of her life. She has no suitors, she has no dowry. No one has ever paid any real attention to her. But along comes a handsome duke who is following her around with his eyes. He wants her and he does everything to show her just that. But she is not any woman, all or nothing. I do like her, she is strong, she has flaws, but they come natural.

Simon is, well yes wild, womanizer and all that. He can also get really aggressive. That is because of his hidden nature. We learn quickly that he is a werewolf, no need to hide that. But nobody knows that they exist and they want to keep it that way. He knows he can never be what she want and he is afraid to hurt her. I like him, but then he is the big bad alpha and who can say no to that.

Two minds, two hearts, they both want the same thing but the road will take some twist and turns before they get there. Some passion is promised. This books also has some great side characters and I can't wait to read book 3 that is about William and Prisca. William is so fun and he tries to soothe Lily in this book, and Priscilla and him is always bantering.

This was a sweet book and fun too. It had some tension since some want one thing and the other another thing. And then there is the big bad secret that Lily wants to know about.

I also like the idea of the traditional regency novel transformed into a paranormal romance. The werewolves fitted perfectly into this story.

I am looking forward to book 2, and Benjamin, the brother not present in this book.

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: Do no know if you can see it, but chest hair alert! Yes he has plenty on those pecs. I like it, a real werewolf has some hair on his chest. And we get to see a human head and not a torso. Always good.

Reason for Reading: Review copy from the publisher.

Final thoughts: If you want some paranormal with your historical then this something to try
Final grade: 3,5
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