Title: The Taming Of The Wolf (Westfield Brothers #4)
Author: Lydia Dare
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publication Date: November 2010
ARC: 384 pages
Genre: Historical/ Paranormal Romance
Reviewed by Laura
RATING: 7/10 – Very good, would definitely recommend
GOODREADS SUMMARY:
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.
REVIEW:
This is a fun book. It opens as witch Caitrin, staying at her friend’s in Hampshire goes exploring the house on the night of a full moon, and encounters a rather handsome man. Inexplicably drawn to the man, they share a passionate kiss and then before she knows it the man is biting her!
Shocked by her encounter, Caitrin flees the house the very next day to return home to Scotland.
Dashiel is a lycanthrope, raised by his human father he has never come to terms with his condition and has never fully learned to control or accept his beast. Then in one moment of passion he’s claimed a women as his mate and bound them together forever, only to find she’s disappeared in the morning.
In a bid to try and control his beast, Dash has been assigned a mentor. A man he must travel to Glasgow to meet. Cue lots of fun and games as Dash ends up chasing Cait all the way to Scotland, while she tries her very best to elude him.
As well as a paranormal novel, this book also has a historical setting. Although I’m not really sure what the historical setting added to the novel. Caitrin is as independent as any modern woman, which makes a great match for the undeniable alpha male that is Dash.
Before claiming Caitrin, Dash was a promiscuous rake even writing his own ‘Journal of Debauchery’ cataloguing his exploits. So it’s rather entertaining watching the previous womaniser trying to seduce the prickly Caitrin.
But Dash is not a two dimensional alpha male, he has a sad past and a broken family life that weighs down on him. This past adds layers to the character who otherwise may have been a touch irritating.
By comparison, Caitrin has a gift of her own. She’s a witch who has the gift of foresight. A gift that brings with it responsibility and often pain. Imagine knowing every person you know and loves destiny, and having to be careful not to influence it, even if that inaction can upset them.
The romance between the two characters is sweet, perhaps a little twee towards the end, but cute never the less. It’s a warm story about acceptance and true love that only serves to make you stronger.
A small comment on the use of Scottish dialect in the narrative. It does take a little while to get used to and made some of my reading halting at first, but after you get used to it, it’s really not a problem.
Also, this book is the fourth in a series, but I have not read any of the previous stories and think it’s very easy to pick up as a stand alone novel.
VERDICT:
I liked this book, it was light-hearted, fun and a nice bit of escapism. The interactions between the characters were amusing and the pages flicked by with ease. I’ve now gone and added the first three books in the series to my increasingly large wish list.
SOURCE: Thanks to Sourcebooks for sending BCC this book for review.
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3 Comments
I can honestly say I've never read a 'Regency Paranormal Romance' – I guess there's a first time for everything!
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Book 3 is my personal fav
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@Zosia I don't think I've come across a regency paranormal romance before either, but it is fun
@Blodeuedd I'll look out for book 3 then, thanks
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