Sandy M’s review of Tooth and Claw by Annmarie McKenna
Contemporary Paranormal Romance novella released by Samhain 28 Apr 09
It was the title that first drew me to this ebook. I was curious. Then when reading the blurb, I didn’t get any further than half vampire/half shifter and I knew I wanted to read it. I’m a sucker for both shifters and vamps. so this story seemed like it would be right up my alley. And Id’ never read Annmarie McKenna, though I’d always wanted to. I let destiny take its course.
And I wasn’t disappointed. Ms. McKenna gave me what I love in a hero: dominant, alpha, protects his mate despite her protestations and the fact she can take care of herself. Seth is all of that and then some. It’s been six months since he found his mate in Paxton, who is a police officer and partner with Seth’s best friend. He’s waited to claim her because she hates vampires. Her lover was killed two years before by a rogue vampire, so she wants nothing to do with the man. But Seth has other ideas and when he sets out to seduce her, Paxton doesn’t stand a chance.
He’s even assigned to work with her and Luke on, of all things, tracking down a panty thief. Being near Seth more than ever wears Paxton down and once Seth claims her, marks her as his, she can’t imagine why she denied herself so long. The man and his lovemaking are phenomenal and now she can’t get enough.
The only thing I didn’t like about this book is that it’s a novella. It’s way too short. Ms. McKenna does a good job of packing a lot into it, including some great humor in the way of teasing between the characters and, of course, some hot love scenes, but when it comes to the shifter side of Seth, I definitely wanted more. We only get one shift and though it’s a good one, more of his jaguar would have been terrific. The length of the book also caused the investigation to wrap up a little too quickly and conveniently, but I forgave that considering what I did get.
I have several of this author’s ebooks and I’m looking forward to reading them after this introduction to her work.
Grade: B+
Summary:
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Vampire: (noun) Bloodsucker, murderer, bedpost-notcher, God’s gift to women, fiend.
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Seth Gramble is a prince among his people. Half vampire, half jaguar, he is one of a rare few who can shift into an animal form. Both his halves have found their mate in a female detective determined to lump all vampires in with the rogue who killed her former lover. He’s given her six months to see him differently. He’s done waiting.
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Paxton Tenor wants nothing to do with a blood-sucking fiend, no matter how much he makes her body sing. Nothing good can come of a vampire. A case she’s working on partners her with Seth, and she’s forced to reconsider her hatred. He doesn’t seem at all like the rogue who sucked the life from her boyfriend in cold blood.
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When Seth’s kitty comes out to play, Paxton realizes she’s been stupid to deny herself this man. And when he puts his life on the line to protect hers? All bets are off.
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Warning: Let’s be realistic here people; there’s sex. Who doesn’t want to be coerced into bed by a sexy, God’s-gift-to-women vampire? And when they can be undressed and on you before you can blink—hello. Even if said vampire faints at the sight of his own blood…
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Read an excerpt here.
