Book Review and ARC Giveaway: In The Heat of the Bite by Lydia Dare

A tasty bite of witches and vampyres.
In the Heat of the Bite by Lydia Dare

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca; Original edition (July 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402245106
• ISBN-13: 978-1402245107

Genre: Paranormal
 My Rating: 4:25 of 5.0

Product Description

Chivalry is far from undead...
Matthew Halkett, Earl of Blodswell, is one of the few men in the ton who can claim to be a knight in shining armor- because that's precisely what he was before being turned into a vampyre. When he spies a damsel in distress in the midst of a storm in Hyde Park, his natural instinct is to rush to her aid...

But not every woman needs to be rescued...
Weather-controlling witch Rhiannon Sinclair isn't caught in a storm-she's the cause of it. She's mortified to have been caught making trouble by the imposing earl, but she doesn't need any man-never has, and is sure she never will...

But when Rhiannon encounters Matthew again, her powers go awry and his supernatural abilities run amok. Between the two of them, the ton is thrown into an uproar. There's never been a more tempestuous scandal...

Review: The storms rage, lightning strikes and fangs drop in this fun read.
Matthew’s knight in shining armor character made this book for me.  You might think that is hard to imagine since he is vampyre but his chivalrous code of honor carried over even after his human death. Matthew thinks to rescue Rhiannon when he first finds her in the middle of a storm.  He is struck by her beauty, her lively spirit and her indomitable strength.  He soon learns that she doesn't just get caught in storms, she makes them.

Rhiannon seems a bit young and not always in control of her powers, but I liked her strong, independent nature. She doesn’t like vampyres so it is a bit surprising when she decides to convince Matthew to escort her around ton to give her the appearance of respectability. She doesn’t expect to fall for him in the process, especially since all her witch sister’s werewolf family seem set on keeping her away from him.

There is the fun camaraderie among the werewolf brothers and plenty of interesting side characters.  Rhiannon’s nasty aunt is sponsoring her sister but shuns Rhiannon. Rhiannon’s childhood friend, Alec, is now a young vampyre learning the rules under Matthew. I particularly liked the feisty Duchess of Hythe who takes Rhiannon under her wing.

Matthew and Rhiannon have a strange effect on each other causing their powers to go a bit haywire. There is plenty of fun conflict and fast paced action in this tale. I do think I may have missed some facts from the first book in the series. Although I knew the witches and werewolves a bit from The Taming of a Wolf, it was never clear to me what happened with Rhiannon’s prior bad experience with a dark vampyre. But that didn’t disturb my enjoyment of the banter and easy fun style of this author. I enjoyed the heart warming and surprising twist of the love that develops between Matthew and Rhiannon. If you like your paranormal romance sensual and fun this is a good series to enjoy.

xxx

Thank you to Sourcebooks for this book to read and review.

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY:
1. Tell me: would you rather fall in love with a Vampyre or a werewolf? Or some other super natural being?   This is required for entry.

2.  For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.

3. For two entries, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.
(Four total entries possible.)

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.

* No P.O. Boxes Please - for shipping reasons.

* Limit one win per household.

* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on August 5 2011.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED on AUGUST 6 and will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement. 

Winner of ARC copy of The Taming of a Wolf by Lydia Dare

CONGRATULATIONS

to the winner of

The Taming of a Wolf

by Lydia Dare


The winning random number was #17

Thank you everyone who entered.
I will email latishajean for her mailing info so that I can send the book.

Book Review and ARC Giveway: The Taming of a Wolf by Lydia Dare

This is a warm, fast read with really likable characters.
The Taming of a Wolf by Lydia Dare.

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca; Original edition (November 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402244371
• ISBN-13: 978-1402244377

    Genre: Paranormal Romance
    My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Product Description from Sourcebooks:

He could never lose control…
Dashiel Thorpe, Earl of Brimsworth, has spent his life fighting the wolf within him. But when the full moon rises, Dash is helpless. A chance encounter with Caitrin Macleod on a moonlit night inadvertently binds the two together irrevocably, and Dash’s impulsiveness plunges them both into a nightmare…

She never saw him coming…
Caitrin Macleod is no quiet country lass, but a witch with remarkable abilities. But when it comes to Dashiel, she’s as helpless to fight his true nature as he is. Her senses overwhelmed, she runs back to the safety and security of her native Scotland…

But Dashiel is determined to follow her—she’s the only woman who can free him from a fate worse than death. And Caitrin will ultimately have to decide whether she’s running from danger, or true love…

Review: I liked the characters right away in this easy read.  The story is completely character centered and since I had not read the previous books in the series I had no prior impressions. The action is basically in the "chase".  The story is focused on the dilemma Dashiel creates when he bites Caitrin, inadvertently claiming her as his mate.

Dashiel apparently (prior book?) has only recently learned that he is a Lycan and he wants to learn how to control his beastly nature. He is determined to seek out the mentor who has been recommended to him. But on the trip from England to Scotland he is glad to follow and accompany the beauty who now compels his attention. He is extremely charming and the interaction between the two is fun to follow.

Caitrin has the ability to see the futures of those around her. This can be used to help but is also quite distressing in public places.  Caitrin is surprised when she is unable to sense any future whenever she is with Dashiel.  However, Caitrin is adverse to those of wolf nature having apparently had a bad experience (prior book?) with at least one. This dislike remains even though her best friend and former coven member has married a Lycan.  Caitrin  doesn’t realize the import of the bite from Dashiel and attempts to ditch him even as she is drawn in by his charm and warmth.

A very pleasant and sensual courtship dance ensues as Dash directs his efforts to wooing Caitrin. When she finally surrenders, her love is strong and all accepting, which is quite nicely portrayed. There are other characters to flesh out the story including Caitrin’s light-hearted father and her very quirky coven “sisters.”  The most difficult character is Dashiel’s very critical, negative and bitter father who has contributed to Dashiel's self loathing. The father’s rather easy turn around with Caitrin’s help seemed a bit too simplistic but since it was only a side note to Dashiel’s own changes I didn’t let it bother me.

I liked the historical setting as well as the paranormal, wolf and witch, elements. This was just a fun and pleasant read and was fine as a stand alone although I think the whole series would be enjoyable to read. I would certainly like to read more by Lydia Dare.  I recommend this book if you are looking for a quick, warm romance.

Thank you to Sourcebooks for the book to read and review. I'm sorry I have only one of these to give away.

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY FOR THE ARC COPY:

1.Visit the author's website and tell me something of interest you find there.
Please leave your e-mail!

2. For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.

3. For two extra entries, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

(Four total entries possible.)
It is not necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.

* This contest is open to US and Canada only.
* No P.O. Boxes Please - for shipping reasons.
* This contest will close 10:00 PM (Central) on December 14, 2010. The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.