Sandy M’s review of Sinful Intentions by Amy Redwood
Paranormal Romance published by Ellora’s Cave 24 Feb 11
I always try new authors when they offer werewolves to read. Those alpha beasts just rev my motor.
But one thing that hangs me up when reading a shifter story is when there’s not a whole lot of shifting going on. If that happens, then everything else, characters, storyline, etc, has to be extraordinary. While I did like this book to a certain extent, there’s just not enough wolf for me, which is the main reason I requested to read and review it.
First, the characters. Katherine is on her honeymoon in New Zealand alone after discovering her fiance’s infidelity. While in this beautiful country where she’s originally from, she’s going to sell her grandmother’s house, the home where she grew up, and also take some time to regroup. But meeting a stranger at the airport and sharing the close confines of a taxi with him puts her on a different path than anticipated. Starting with a one-night stand with the handsome man. “Welcome sex,” he calls it. Welcome, indeed.
I like Trent for the most part. He knows he can’t really have anything with Katherine because of his “nature.” His life is planned out, even so far as who he’ll marry. But he can’t stay away from Katherine. When he’s with her, the scenes are intense and raw at times, including the love scenes, but when he realizes nothing long-lasting can be had, he becomes rude and walks out. I know it’s because he’s trying to save hurt for all involved, but sometimes his actions even go beyond alphaness. That’s a very fine line and Trent does cross it a time or two, which makes him a bit less appealing, despite his wolfishness. But he’s still sexy and knows how to please a woman, so those issues do balance out for me, especially with what transpires near the end of the book.
Katherine doesn’t get a pass on attitude either. She takes the “it’s my house and I’ll do what I want” bit to the edge. As she does with the vacillation concerning her fiance. She hasn’t talked to him since she left him, thinks she should, even goes so far to think she should maybe stay with him. Sorry, that sucker doesn’t deserve a second thought from her, so that wishy-washy-ness did irritate me.
What makes up for those little tidbits, however, is the twist at the end. And Trent’s about-face. But it’s the lack of shifting that I really couldn’t get past. If you’re going to give me a wolf, give me a wolf. I like the thoughts and mannerisms and whatnot that show up in human form, but just give me the darned wolf to go along with the rest. Ms. Redwood does have a couple of other shifter books on her backlist and I’d like to give them a try. I’m ever hopeful.
Grade: C+
Summary:
A jilted bride, a wolfishly sexy stranger, one sinful attraction under New Zealand’s sun.
When Katherine finds out her fiancé cheated on her, her heart is bruised. With a mission to get her life back on track, she takes the first flight to Auckland, New Zealand. And bumps heads with a sexy stranger. Their attraction is instant, powerful and undeniable. Taking a vacation from being a good girl, she succumbs to this sinful stranger who pushes the limits of her sexual needs as he explores every inch of her body. No strings of course.
Trent seduces her…in a bed, at the beach, in a truck, against the wall…until the wolf within him lifts its head and pays attention. Suddenly, after a tiny bite, it’s everything but no-strings.
Read an excerpt.
