Saturday, March 31, 2012

The Wolf Who Loved Me

 
The Wolf Who Loved Me by Lydia Dare (the writing team of Tammy Falkner and Jodie Pearson) features Lady Madeline Hayburn whose loving father has decided to gather suitors in order for her to choose a husband.  The problem is that she’s less than impressed with all of the fortune hunters who have flocked to her father’s estate.  Neighbor Weston Hadley has admired Madeline since meeting her three years ago.  He knows that his status as an impoverished and untitled gentleman eliminates him from aspiring to her hand and his scar probably repulses her as well but he can’t help his attraction to her.  The Hadley family is close-knit as any pack should be but alpha male Dash Hadley is frustrated trying to keep his siblings from getting into too much trouble even as they seem to constantly find ways to try his patience.  Weston seeks to redress his lack of funds one evening by gambling in partnership with Madeline’s brother but neglects to remember the full moon’s effects on his wolf nature in time to avoid changing without witnesses.  Madeline wanted answers from Weston but never would have imagined the questions that his transformation would elicit nor the solution that Weston would resort to in order to prevent her from exposing him and potentially the rest of his pack.  Meddling by Weston’s sister-in-law facilitates a hurried trip to Gretna Green but unfortunately does not result in a happy ever after ending for Weston.  There are plenty of problems, including Weston’s lack of income and Madeline’s ignorance of were traditions, to overcome before the two can find true happiness.

A lighthearted romp featuring scapegrace brothers, twins, unrepentant rakes and a woefully naive heroine.  There are a few things that are not quite to my liking (including a nose-blind person who can’t identify horse poop, Madeline’s passivity/extreme naivete and the blithe propositioning of Madeline’s friend that all seem to accept) but there are entertaining scenarios that provide glimpses of regency society.  An interesting solution to the Hadley money problems and several intriguing secondary characters will provide fodder for subsequent books in the series.

A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.

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