Review: A highly enjoyable werewolf novel.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 26, 2012
From the very start I liked Aurelia Fridell. We meet her whilst she's standing backstage at her brother's bar waiting to be called out for a bachelorette auction that her best friend, Astrid (or Az for short) has roped her into participating in."There were so many other things I should be doing with my Saturday night. Yet here I sat, nursing my Summer Ale, waiting for the current Barbie Bimbette to be sold. Soon it'd be my turn -- I left my cheer meter at home."A little snarky and sarcastic - just how I like my heroines!Aurelia is somewhat of an anomaly among werewolves - able to partially change her features and grow claws but not able to complete a complete shift into wolf form. This `defect' makes her an outsider in her community and - despite their best efforts at being supportive - her family too. Depite this (or maybe because of it) Aurelia is a strong and capable heroine. She's an incredibly smart, brave and passionate woman.One year after the bachelorette auction, Aurelia comes face to face (quite literally as he tackles her to the floor of Az's tattoo parlor) with Ceithin Starkley - a werewolf visiting the area on a business opportunity with Aurelia's father. From the moment they meet they share incredible sexual tention - I could almost see the sparks flying! - but Ceithin sees himself as a little bit oldfashioned. He won't cheat. Just Aurelia's luck to meet the man who may be her fated mate and him be involved in a relationship with another woman. I admired Ceithin for that. I have to admit I get slightly annoyed when just because someone meets their fated mate - all rules and manners fly out the window.I also relished in the chanced to see Aurelia jealous - and play a little dirty!Just because Ceithin is in a relationship and trying to fight his werewolf nature and be faithful to his girlfriend doesn't mean that Aurelia isn't going to make a play for her potential mate! Her playful, sensual and jealous side made itself known when she was in the club. I didn't expect it from her but it made me like her more. And made me realize that she wasn't going to let circumstances stand between her and what she wanted in life. Her lack of shifting ability weighs heavily upon her and I was glad for her to see that she wasn't going to give up. And this is fiction and a story of true mates! - so I don't feel bad at all rooting for a woman trying to steal another woman's boyfriend.Ceithin unable and unwilling to ignore his desire for Aurelia, breaks up with his girlfriend and starts to court Aurelia. I loved the courting. Ever since I was 12 years old and read Jane Austen's Persuasion for the first time, I've loved letters in novels. And whilst Ceithin's emails weren't quite as formal as Captain Wentworth's, I loved them. He's blunt and slightly awkward but I felt it was honest and that in itself was beautiful. Despite the chemistry and sexual tension between them - Ceithin and Aurelia got to know each other. The sex - when it happened - was hot but, for me, what made it ever better and that bit more intense was that the characters had fallen in love. This isn't a story of instant love for no reason - these two knew each other. They knew their faults and their good qualities and genuinely cared for the other.In addition to the romance plot, Aurelia has someone tormenting her with no apparent reason. Her tires are slashed and her house ransacked. Throw in some nearly incapacitating and blinding headachesAs the story goes on we get to find out more about why Aurelia can't shift, her special mental bond with her brother, Ville. I thought it was an inventive and creative plot. I really enjoyed how everything unfolded. Many questions I had early in the novel were answered and I was satisfied with the ending. There was a shift in the point-of-view for a few chapters that I didn't really like. I understand why it was necessary but the main reason why I liked this book was  Aurelia's sassiness, her cheekiness and how at times she mentally berated  herself. She was a fantastic narrator. I missed that when we switched to Ceithin's POV.I really enjoyed reading this book. There is a lot to love about the characters and the storyline. It was interesting and sexy and highly enjoyable.