Liviania’s review of Red Wolf (Wolf Moons, Book 3) by Linda Thomas-Sundstrom
Paranormal Romance published Silhouette Nocturne 01 Feb 10

When I read Moon Marked, Linda Thomas-Sundstrom confused me and created a world in which I wanted to spend more time.  Fortunately, Red Wolf was far less confusing.  Thomas-Sundstrom had much more space to explore the different factions of her world, although there may be less world-building in the novel than the novella.

Adam Scott is a policeman who accidentally stumbles upon the activities of crime lord Chavez.  Tory McKidd is the sister of one of his victims, as well as a genetic werewolf.  She’s out for revenge and doesn’t have time to protect a human caught up in the world of monsters.  She doesn’t have much choice when she imprints on him.  I don’t really mind the destined mate plot, but Thomas-Sundstrom fails to provide much chemistry aside from the imprinting.

There’s also a flaw in how the series is structured.  Chavez is the big bad to all the heroes and heroines, with no minor bosses for distraction.  So the book ends with the hero and heroine going against Chavez and losing.  (They do win in the sense that neither of them dies.)  The climatic battle goes by quickly, perhaps to distract from the fact it’s a disappointing ending.

Red Wolf also contains Blackout, Thomas-Sundstrom’s first Wolf Moons Nocturne Bite.  The heroine is Dana Delmonico, Adam’s surprisingly competent rookie partner.  I think I would like Blackout better if I had read it before Red Wolf.  Instead, I’m confused by how it relates to the main story line.  Dana is apparently infected awhile before the full moon.  Does she no longer have any contact with Adam?  It seems like he would notice and help her.

The hero, Dylan Landau, is a genetic werewolf like Tory.  His approach to the change does not match hers.  He considers himself and monster and avoids the moonlight.  How does his family remain separate from the other werewolves in Miami?  It seems like two groups with opposite ideology would clash.  Miami may be a big city, but two good wolf packs and one bad one seems unsustainable.

I’m not sure if I’ll read the next Wolf Moons novel.  The series has potential, but there’s something lacking in the execution.  Red Wolf was fun to read, but its flaws are distracting.

Grade: C-

See Sandy M’s review here.

Summary:

Tory McKidd understands exactly what kind of monster is stalking the moonlit streets. She, too, is a werewolf and is ready to bring the rogue shifter to justice. What she isn’t prepared for is Adam Scott, the sexy detective whose investigation crosses paths with her own–a human who inexplicably stirs her senses.

Adam Scott is searching for a killer, not a lover, but with one look at the flame-haired beauty, he is ensnared. When one steamy night ignites their animal passion, there is no denying their fate. But when werewolf meets human, danger lurks–and the one they hunt may be the one hunting them….

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series: