Sandy M’s review of The Taming of the Wolf (Westfield Brothers, Book 4) by Lydia Dare
Paranormal Romance published by Sourcebooks Casablanca 1 Nov 10

I wasn’t sure what to expect in this fourth book in the Westfield Brothers series, especially since we’re out of brothers to read about and the fact the hero of this book isn’t the nicest of men in The Wolf Next Door when we first meet him. He comes clean about his behavior in that story, but what happens next, of course, is left up in the air. All is revealed here, and what a wolf Dashiel Thorpe has turned out to be.

Dash has agreed to mentoring proposed by the Westfield brothers, the hope being he’ll learn to control and live with his wolf. On the night of a full moon before he’s to begin his journey to his mentor’s home, he by chance comes across Caitrin MacLeod, the witch who has no soft spot whatsoever for Lycans. Her best friend is married to one, but that doesn’t stop her from voicing her opinions loud and clear.

Unable to help himself from stealing a kiss from the beautiful Caitrin also leads to his inadvertently claiming her as his mate, something neither of them realizes until much later. Dash only wants to be with her and Caitrin only wants to be away from him. As fast and as far as she runs, however, can’t keep Dash from the love he’s always looked for.

I enjoyed first the banter between these two, serious and lighthearted in the beginning and then turning sensual and fun the more Caitrin falls under Dash’s spell. Next I enjoyed their love play after Caitrin capitulates and then welcomes becoming Dash’s countess. Ms. Dare has done a tremendous job of turning Dashiel’s character into a charming and loving wolf who goes after what he wants and vows to keep Caitrin safe, even from himself.

I also like the fact that Caitirin stops fighting the inevitability of her future with Dash. No one is more amazed at her feelings changing than she is, but she decides to embrace this new life ahead of her, enjoy her man, all the while still doing what needs to be done when it comes to her gift of foreseeing the future.

This is a very nice addition to this series. The only nitpick I still have is these werewolves shift only during a full moon and I would have liked to have seen more of their Lycan sides involved in the stories. But the author has made up for that with interesting storylines and engaging characters, along with a shift here and there to keep us shapeshifter fans happy.

This has been a fun series and I’m glad to have read it. I’m looking forward to Ms. Dare’s future books, the next few involving vampires. I’m wondering if our remaining witches from this current series will be included in the new one. Just a feeling I get from hints in this book. But who knows? Not me, that’s for sure. It’s only a guess and a hope.

Grade: A

Summary:

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…

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series: