The Wolf Who Loved Me

What The Wolf Who Loved Me is about:


Lady Madeline has money problems...specifically she has so much of it that she's dogged by fortune hunters, including her bewildering attractive, penniless neighbor, with his wild nature and uncouth manners.
Weston Hadley has an identity crises....specifically, he's just turned into a wolf while Madeline was watching. Now it's up to the regal lady to tame the wild beast...if she can...

When Lydia Dare (writing team of Tammy Falkner and Ava Stone) released her newest creation, I knew that I had to read it because I loved the Regency Vampyre Trilogy so much!! I was not disappointed one bit with this story and gobbled it up in just a few days! I love the characters that this duo brings to the pages and I honestly can say that it was very easy for me to conjure up specific images of them in my mind while reading about their fantastic adventures!! The male leads are always these strong and virile men, but they also have that hint of vulnerability that makes you immediately fall in love with them!! Madeline is sassy and starts to really come into her own during the book and I love her innocence when she and Weston finally become "married"!

Recommend? If you're looking for a fun paranormal regency romance then look no further than Lydia Dare's entire booklist!! Even though this was number five in the Westfield Wolves series, I really feel that it can be a stand-alone without having to start at the beginning! (I know..I never read out-of-order! and truth be told, I had no idea this was number 5 until I was done!!).

Author: Lydia Dare
Source: review copy from Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Pages: e-book
Published:  April 2012
*Uncorrected eARC via NetGalley


Disclaimer:Thank you toSourcebooks Casablanca/NetGalley for sending me a review copy. I was not compensated for my review. My thoughts on this book were in no way influenced by the author or publicist.They are my personal reflections based solely on MY experience while reading this novel.

Review Book #14
© 2011, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission. 

Thrush Green- Bookish Thoughts #29

What Thrush Green is about:
This volume introduces Thrush Green, the neighboring village to Fairacre: its blackthorn bushes, thatch-roofed cottages, enchanting landscape, and jumble sales. Readers will delight in a new cast of characters and also welcome familiar faces as they become immersed in the village's turn of events on one pivotal day -- May Day. Before the day is over, life and love and perhaps eternity will touch the immemorial peace of the village.


Why I wanted to read it: I have been reading Nan's blog, Letters From a Hill Farm, for quite some time and have enjoyed her book reports and felt like I needed to make time for this book that she loved.


Source: My public library

• I have to say that I found this book extremely charming. Sometimes I am just in the mood for a book where I get to spend time with characters and not much happens. Well, at least much in earth-shattering events that is.
• I enjoy books that play out over the course of one day and the author captures this perfectly for the reader and the characters come to life very easily in ones mind. I also loved the occasional sketchs to give the reader another vision of the inhabitants of Thrush Green.

If you're looking to slow down a bit in life, to just sit back and spend a day in a bucolic and charming village, then this book may be perfect for you!

 The following paragraph illustrates perfectly what this book is about:

   "I've never been to Thrush Green yet without feelin' the better for it."   She climbed heavily into bed sighing happily.   "Ah, well! I've had a good day," said Mrs. Curdle, and blew out the light."

Bookish Thoughts #29

© 2012, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Tuesday Intros- Naked Werewolf?

Every Tuesday, Diane @ Bibliophile by the Sea

 posts the opening paragraph (maybe two) of a book

 she decided to read based on the opening paragraph (s).

 Feel free to grab the banner and play along!

My pick this week comes from a book that I happened to come across it at the library. Immediately loved the cover and the title so I checked it out.

  When a naked man shows up on your doorstep with a bear trap clamped around his ankle, it's best just to do what he asks.

Would you continue reading this one

 based on the opening paragraph?

Memorial Day

 

Saturday Snapshot- Yep, it's broken!

Saturday Snapshot

is hosted by Alyce of At Home With Books.

It’s easy to participate – just post a picture

that was taken by you, a friend, or a family member and add your link on Alyce’s site.

This is a picture that was taken yesterday at the orthopedic doctor's office after it was determined that Marc actually DID fracture his thumb 4 weeks ago! I feel like the world's worst mom! But my son doesn't complain about pain so we really just thought that it was badly jammed! Don't you love that purple? We had to get some groceries afterwards and a little girl laughed at the color of his cast! Too funny!

The Lightning Thief (audio)- Bookish Thoughts #28

What The Lightning Thief is about:
Fantasy-adventure novel based on Greek mythology, it is the first novel in the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, which charts the adventures of modern-day twelve-year-old Percy Jackson as he discovers he is a demigod, the son of a mortal woman and the Greek god Poseidon. Percy and his friends go on a quest to prevent a war between the gods Zeus, Poseidon and Hades.


Why I wanted to read it: Because I work in a middle school library and all of the kids are reading this series and the others by Riordan. And because I need to know what gets them so excited about each new book that is released!!


Source: Public Library for the audiobook

• I thought the narrator for this book was a perfect choice. His voice wasn't too old sounding and he actually made me think of Percy when he spoke (is that weird?) 
• The action in the story never stopped and so this was a very fast audio book for me. I actually sat in my car a few times so that I could listen to just one more sentence!!
• I loved being able to talk to the students about listening to this one on audio. Many of the kids were very interested and hoped that I loved the book as much as them!
• Many, many aspects of this story felt almost parallel to Harry Potter. The powers, the invisibility hat, the three friends, going on a quest, losing your parents.....you get the picture. 

Even though at times I thought the book was a bit cheesy (but it is targeted to 9-13), I can absolutely see why the students love it and I'm pretty sure that I will continue on with the rest of the series. Not sure if I will do them on audio books or read them, but either way I've found out that I love Greek mythology and want to read more about Percy Jackson and what happens next!!

Bookish Thoughts #28

© 2012, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

True Sisters- Bookish Thoughts #27

What True Sisters is about:
Sandra Dallas delivers the story of four women---seeking the promise of salvation and prosperity in a new land---who come together on a harrowing journey. In 1856, Mormon converts, encouraged by Brigham Young himself, and outfitted with two-wheeled handcarts, set out on foot from Iowa City to Salt Lake City, the promised land. The Martin Handcart Company, a ragtag group of weary families headed for Zion, is the last to leave on this 1,300-mile journey. Three companies that left earlier in the year have completed their trek successfully, but for the Martin Company the trip proves disastrous. True Sisters tells the story of four women from the British Isles traveling in this group. 


Why I wanted to read it:  I love Sandra Dallas and gobble up her books every chance I get. I requested this one from my library as soon as I knew it was available!


Source: Public Library

• One of the main reasons I love to read historical fiction is because I am almost certain to learn about an event that without the book I would never have heard about. This is most certainly the case with the story in Dallas' newest release. I have been to SLC and to Temple Square and had I been more aware of the Mormon's history I would've spent more time looking at the statues that I saw on the grounds that depicted the Mormon Handcart Pioneers. 
• I found it hard at first to keep track of all of the characters and who belonged where, but eventually I got it all squared away and was able to really enjoy the story. I found myself more often than not in absolute awe of what these people endured all in the name of religion and believing that the valley was Zion and if they stopped for any reason their souls would burn in hell. That part was hard for me to swallow. These people endured hardship beyond belief. They had to push/pull their handcarts 1300 miles from Iowa City to Salt Lake City through all types of weather conditions, without food towards the end, and with no help in sight. Many of the women were pregnant, many became sick and laid down on the path and died right there, and others lost limbs to frostbite. The loss of life was devastating to read about.
• "The oxen could not paw away the snow to reach the dried grass beneath it, and each day, one or two fell and would not rise. So the Saints slaughtered any beast that was almost starved or was chilled to death, hitting it with hammers and hatchets and even frying pans to knock it senseless so that is throat could be cut. Then two or three men who could do the butchering cut up the carcass, setting aside the tenderest parts for the leaders" When I finished reading that sentence I was pissed beyond belief. The leaders got the best part of the oxen, imagine that?? Here were all of these people who believed the Leaders were godlike and never questioned any of their decisions. The Blizzard was God's plan, children dying was a part of God's plan, and if you didn't follow these men, they would excommunicate you and leave you on the trail to die. 

Sanda Dallas never fails to deliver a well executed novel that grabs my attention immediately and makes me care desperately for the people she introduces to the reader. I am so glad that I read this book because I love to learn about the history of the United States and I also like to read about people with extreme faith. Even though these women were not real people, the journey they traveled was very real and has been written about extensively. I have tremendous respect for those whose faith never wavered and made it to their final destination. My heart aches for all the ones who lost their lives in search of God and who didn't feel that they could question the Leaders without fearing eternal damnation. 

Bookish Thoughts #27

© 2012, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission. 

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros

Every Tuesday, Diane @ Bibliophile by the Sea

 posts the opening paragraph (maybe two) of a book

 she decided to read based on the opening paragraph (s).

 Feel free to grab the banner and play along!

My selection this week is from Below Stairs: The Classic Kitchen Maid's Memoir That Inspired Upstairs, Downstairs, and Downton Abbey (Whew! that was a long title!!). I picked this one up from my library because I'm having Downton Abbey withdrawals!!

I was born in 1907 in Hove, the second child of a family of seven. My earliest recollection is that other children seemed to be better off than we were. But our parents cared so much for us. One particular thing that I always remember was that every Sunday morning my father used to bring us a comic and a bag of sweets. You used to be able to get a comic for a halfpenny plain and a penny coloured. Sometimes now when I look back at it, I wonder how he managed to do it when he was out of work and there was no money at all coming in.

Would you continue reading this one

 based on the opening paragraph?

Mailbox Monday and It's Monday...What Are You Reading?

Mailbox Monday 

is a gathering place for readers to share the books that

came into their house last week and explore great book blogs. 

Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

The May Host is:

Martha of Review's by Martha's Bookshelf

Sea Change by Karen White- courtesy of NAL/Penguin

----------------------------------------------------

Hosted by

 Sheila @ One Person's Journey Through a World of Books

We discuss the books that we've read 

and what we're planning to read for the week.

Last Week's Bookish Thoughts:

Nothing happened on my blog last week because I was so sick that I actually felt sorry for myself!! I was, "I want my mommy" sick!! Thankfully, the antibiotics have really kicked in and a week later I'm starting to feel halfway human! Thank you to my friends that stopped by to wish me well and for the virtual hugs!!

Books I will be talking about this week:

True Sisters- new release from Sandra Dallas

The Lightning Thief- middle school series on audio

Friday Fitness is coming back this week! I was detoured by unexpected life curveballs last week so I didn't spend a lot of time on the computer. Will discuss this in my upcoming post!!

In my Book Box:

I'm flirting with a few library choices and a few review books. I guess I will pick whatever speaks to me!!

• Thrush Green (library)
• Glow (review copy)
• Perfect (library)

Saturday Snapshot- The Witch Doctor is in!

Saturday Snapshot

is hosted by Alyce of At Home With Books.

It’s easy to participate – just post a picture

that was taken by you, a friend, or a family member and add your link on Alyce’s site.

The Witch Doctor

aka

Marcus

Last night was the premiere of Marc's Drama club's latest endeavor, Lagooned.  Above you will see The Witch Doctor totally decked out and the make-up was out of this world! The play was great as usual and I'm pretty sure Marc enjoyed running out without many clothes on!! 

Under the weather......

I have been feeling a bit under the weather. In fact, I think I do resemble this little critter above. Went to the doctor on Monday but the antibiotics are taking their time kicking in. I just don't have the energy to blog at this moment, nor to spend much time reading blogs because the computer screen exacerbates my sinus headaches that just don't seem to go away! I'm hoping to be feeling better soon!!! Until then I will be checking out for a few more days!

Love and hugs,
Staci

Mailbox Monday and It's Monday...What Are You Reading?

Mailbox Monday 

is a gathering place for readers to share the books that

came into their house last week and explore great book blogs. 

Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

The May Host is:

Martha of Review's by Martha's Bookshelf

In the Bag by Kate Klise- courtesy of William Morrow/Harper Collins

----------------------------------------------------

Hosted by

 Sheila @ One Person's Journey Through a World of Books

We discuss the books that we've read 

and what we're planning to read for the week.

Last Week's Bookish Thoughts:

Deep Down True- would make a good summer read.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo- not the stellar read I was hoping for.

Books I will be talking about this week:

True Sisters- new release from Sandra Dallas

The Lightning Thief- middle school series on audio

Friday Fitness is coming back this week! I was detoured by unexpected life curveballs last week so I didn't spend a lot of time on the computer. Will discuss this in my upcoming post!!

In my Book Box:

I'm flirting with a few library choices and a few review books. I guess I will pick whatever speaks to me!!

• Thrush Green (library)
• Glow (review copy)
• Perfect (library)
• The Wolf Who Loved Me (review copy)

Saturday Snapshot- friendly visitor

Saturday Snapshot

is hosted by Alyce of At Home With Books.

It’s easy to participate – just post a picture

that was taken by you, a friend, or a family member and add your link on Alyce’s site.

I have been stalking this Hairy Woodpecker for a few weeks now and every time he shows up I don't have my camera out!! But the other day he was so busy eating that I was able to sneak in the house, turn the camera on inside, and then quietly walk back out front to snap a few photos!! I have two teacher friends who make suet bags with their daughters and then give them away at school. I can't wait to show them what was snacking on the feed bag hanging from my tree!

The Girl with the Dragon Tatto- Bookish Thoughts #26

What The Girl With the Dragon Tatto is about:
Mikael Blomkvist, a once-respected financial journalist, watches his professional life rapidly crumble around him. Prospects appear bleak until an unexpected (and unsettling) offer to resurrect his name is extended by an old-school titan of Swedish industry. The catch--and there's always a catch--is that Blomkvist must first spend a year researching a mysterious disappearance that has remained unsolved for nearly four decades. With few other options, he accepts and enlists the help of investigator Lisbeth Salander, a misunderstood genius with a cache of authority issues. 


Why I wanted to read it: Because of all of the hype surrounding this trilogy!!

Source: Personal Shelves

• Thank goodness that I watched the Swedish version of this movie before ever trying to read this book. Sometimes it is beneficial to see the movie before reading because without some of my prior knowledge I think I would have bailed on this book.
• The first 300 pages were so hard to plod through. Every time I thought about stopping I would go back and read a fellow blogger's review that said is was slow in the beginning but it got better. 
• The characters were a bit hard to keep track of, especially the family that Mikael was writing a book about..talk about head swimming with details, people, and financial information that went right over my head. All of it together made it hard for me to enjoy reading.
• I think for me the book started to get more interesting and compelling when Lisbeth showed up more and the author started to peel away her layers of insecurity. I still don't know what makes her tick and why she is like she is, but I believe that more information about her childhood will be brought to light in book two!

This was a book that I wanted to love from page one, however, it turned out that I didn't really enjoy my reading until I was more than halfway involved in this story. I would be hard pressed to tell my friends that it was a stellar read. How can I convince them that even though the first half of the book is tedious, you need to wade through it because it's important to the story??? I will continue on with the next book but I don't feel any rush to get to it. 

Overall: 3/5

Bookish Thoughts #26

© 2012, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission. 

Deep Down True- Bookish Thoughts #25

What Deep Down True is about:
Newly divorced Dana Stellgarten has always been unfailingly nice- even to telemarketers-but now her temper is wearing thin. Money is tight, her kids are reeling from their dad's departure, and her Goth teenage niece has just landed on her doorstep. As she enters the slipstream of post-divorce romance and is befriended by the town queen bee, Dana finds that the tension between being true to yourself and being liked doesn't end in middle school... and that sometimes it takes a real friend to help you embrace adulthood in all its flawed complexity.


Why I wanted to read it: I read Juliette's debut novel, Shelter Me (my review here), and really enjoyed it. I noticed that she had a new book out and wanted to read it.


Source: Public Library

• The book started out slowly for me and I wasn't too sure that I was going to keep reading it. It could have been my mood at the time but for whatever reason I had a hard time connecting to the story. About 60 pages in though, something changed and I was a bit more invest into the main protagonist's story. 
• Dana was a character that I liked and sometimes wanted to throttle. I understood how uncertain she was of her own strength having relied on her ex-husband for so long to provide for her and their family. I really liked her more when she realizes that she may be divorce, she may be over forty, but she's still desirable and worth loving!
• The way the author wrote the kids in the story felt pretty authentic and I thought she got the teen angst, the adolescent fears, and the way divorce impacts the children spot on.

Even though the story ends a bit predictably, it was still a good read. I didn't like it near as much as Shelter Me, but I was satisfied.  This book would make a great beach read, easy summer reading pick, or even a book club choice as there is plenty to talk about: divorce, infidelity, eating disorders, financial problems, insecurities, and finding love again.

Bookish Thoughts #25

© 2012, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission. 

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros

Every Tuesday, Diane @ Bibliophile by the Sea

 posts the opening paragraph (maybe two) of a book

 she decided to read based on the opening paragraph (s).

 Feel free to grab the banner and play along!

My selection this week is Stillmeadow Daybook by Gladys Taber. I've been following Nan's (Letters From a Hill Farm) monthly posts about this book and the author's life. I was so inspired by them that I had to get my hands on a copy (Thank you public library!) and read it for myself!!

Foreword
I sat on the old stone steps this morning, paring potatoes. It was one of those mild sweet days in early spring, with a sense of beginnings in the damp sunny air. Whenever I lifted my eyes to look at the blue Connecticut sky, and the soft line of hills that roll away toward Litchfield, Hollyberry Red, the young Irish, thrust her velvet muzzle in the pan and neatly removed a potato. Then she flew around the yard, tossing it in the air, and catching it.

Would you continue reading this one

 based on the opening paragraph?

Mailbox Monday and it's Monday...What Are You Reading?

Mailbox Monday 

is a gathering place for readers to share the books that

came into their house last week and explore great book blogs. 

Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

The May Host is:

Martha of Review's by Martha's Bookshelf

The Age of Miracles- TLC Tour review copy. Courtesy of TLC, the author, and Random House.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Hosted by

 Sheila @ One Person's Journey Through a World of Books

We discuss the books that we've read 

and what we're planning to read for the week.

Last Week's Bookish Thoughts:

Phantoms in the Snow- excellent YA/Middle School book.

Deep Dish (audio)- fun story but the narrator was lacking.

Books I will be talking about this week:

Deep Down True- Wednesday

Girl With the Dragon Tattoo- Thursday

Fitness Friday- bringing back this weekly feature thanks to Nan! and also to my fat behind!

In My Book Box:

Currently reading- True Sisters (I started this last week but had to put it aside because I got totally wrapped up in Fifty Shades of Grey. Yes, you read that correctly!)

The Lifeboat

The Wolf Who Loved me

Saturday Snapshot

Saturday Snapshot

is hosted by Alyce of At Home With Books.

It’s easy to participate – just post a picture

that was taken by you, a friend, or a family member and add your link on Alyce’s site.

With the weather being extremely strange this year, my Flowering Plum Bush exploded with flowers a few weeks ago. We had about a week of lovely temps and then several nights with freeze warnings. Not the greatest picture....I apologize for my lack of photography skills!!

Deep Dish (audio)- Bookish Thoughts #24

What Deep Dish is about:
Chef extraordinaire Gina Foxton doesn't expect anything to be handed to her on a platter. After years of hard work, the former runner-up Miss Teen Vidalia Onion is now the host of her own local Georgia public television show called Fresh Start, and she's dating the show's producer.
But when her show gets canceled, and she catches her boyfriend in flagrante delicto with the boss's wife, Gina realizes that she's meant for bigger and better things. The Cooking Channel is looking for its next star, and Gina is certain that she fits the bill. Trouble is, the execs also have their eye on Mr. "Kill It and Grill It" Tate Moody, the star of a hunting, fishing, and cooking show called Vittles. Tate is the ultimate man's man, with a dog named Moonpie and a penchant for flannel shirts. Little does Gina know, though, that she and Tate are soon to embark on the cook-off of their lives.

Why I wanted to listen to this one: I enjoyed a previous book by this author and thought it would be fun to have a lighthearted book to listen to while driving back and forth from work.

Source: Public Library

This will be my first NEGATIVE audio book for this year. I thought the story was fun and I think it would've played out wonderfully in print form, however the narrator's lack of inflection drove me bonkers and made me want to throw the CDs out the window! I found it extremely frustrating that she portrayed the main character with so little gumption and everything she said was flat and with no emotion. Normally I love southern accents but after listening to 12 discs of that monotone drawl, I was ready to have myself a few drinks!

Note to self: Make sure before you listen to another of Mary's books on audio that it isn't Isabel Keating reading the story.

Recommend? Read the book, skip the audio!

Bookish Thoughts #24

© 2012, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.