Sandy M’s review of A Werewolf in Manhattan (Wild About You, Book 1) by Vicki Lewis Thompson
Contemporary Paranormal Romance published by Signet 4 Jan 11
What fun I’m having with Vicki Lewis Thompson’s paranormal books lately. I recently read and reviewed Chick with a Charm and enjoyed it a lot. Now she’s started a new series, Wild About You, and this first book is a terrific start with a delicious hero and a feisty heroine, who gets herself into trouble with her werewolf stories she writes. She has no idea how accurate her imagination is!
My favorite part of this book is Aidan. I love him. Though he starts out enjoying Emma’s books, they – and she – a’re on his and his pack’s radar because her descriptions of pack life are spot on in most instances. Because of that and because their kind have kept their existence a secret for centuries, it’s Aidan’s job to check Emma out to see how she’s getting her information. They suspect a werewolf, of course. It’s finding out who, if it’s a rogue wolf and just what the circumstances are. Thus, Aidan has learned about Emma quite intimately over the last three months and it’s time to move his investigation to the next level. His plan is to travel with her on her book tour to check out his suspicions. It’s getting the lady herself to agree that might be the difficult part of his plan.
I also like Emma a lot too. She’s very independent, strong-willed, and quite passionate when the right man comes along. Her current boyfriend is an accountant, so you can imagine how boring the sex is. So while Emma is, of course, attracted to Aidan, especially because he reads her book, besides being so good looking, she’s a woman who believes and lives doing what is right. She can’t give in to Aidan while still with the numbers man. I admire her sense of right and wrong and I love her curiosity. Once she’s “in custody” of the pack, she can’t help but ask questions about their way of life and the animals inside them and that won’t help her case with them at all. But before all of that, the time with Aidan and Emma is just plain old fun.
Aidan has a genetic flaw in that when he becomes aroused, his body goes through an involuntary shift. I had to chuckle a couple of times when this happened and the man still tells himself he feels nothing but lust for Emma, his life is mapped out for him as heir, he has no choice, and other excuses. He’s fooling only himself, though he is trying to do the right thing too, but going in that direction will bring unhappiness. I enjoy the hell out of Emma goading Aidan about his wealth and his response she shouldn’t knock it till she tries it. Their banter keeps things moving along at a nice pace.
What I want more of is the shifting. It happens only a few times, though I have to say when Aidan breaks down a door to get to Emma when she’s in danger is a terrific scene. As is the scene between Aidan and his family later in the book. He stands his ground as the heir and I love him all the more for it. I just wish there’d been more scenes in that vein, though there is a good job of his growling and other characteristics of the wolf in him in between it all. The whole wolf would have been nice, however.
All in all, I know I’m going to really like this series. I’m looking forward to Roarke’s book, Aidan’s brother. It will be enjoyable to watch him fall when his time comes.
Grade: A
Summary:
Emma Gavin writes bestselling novels about werewolves, but that doesn’t mean she believes in them — and she certainly doesn’t think she’ll meet one. But that’s exactly what happens when her books catch the attention of a rich and powerful pack of Manhattan Weres, who have kept their existence hidden for centuries. Alarmed by the accuracy of her novels, they’re determined to find out if a renegade is acting as her informant.
Aidan Wallace, the pack leader’s son and heir, knows he’s the wolf for the job, but when he gets close to Emma, they are both surprised by an attraction too strong to deny. To surrender to it, Aidan will have to risk everything— including the security of the pack he’s sworn to protect…
Read an excerpt.
