Author: Lucynda Storey
Source: Requested Review
Genre: Erotic Paranormal - Werewolf
Format: ebook - 194 pages
Release Date: September 2006
Author's Website
Buy Link: http://www.aspenmountainpress.com/new-releases/reynardine/prod_19.html
A research grant takes Agnis Fitzgerald to western Ireland where she evaluates the possibility of reintroducing wolves to the coastal habitat. It's an uphill job, and the superstitious residents fight her every step of the way. They’re afraid…of werewolves.
Reynardine O’Brien has a secret. He’s the big black wolf that’s been hanging around Slieve Callan. More than that, he’s cursed to pass on his shapeshifting to his firstborn son. Determined never to let another O’Brien suffer as he has, Rey avoids serious involvements.
Until he meets Agnis.
Danger and destiny, sex and superstition…can Rey survive the hunt for the black wolf to claim Agnis as his mate?
Rating -
Sexual -
My Review -
Set in Ireland we meet the extremely good-looking and charming Reynardine who lives a solitary life due to his curse of being a werewolf. Not that he has any problems finding bed partners, in fact in the openly scene we find him waking up from a one-night stand, but he is frustrated by his inability to develop a long-term relationship with anyone.
That is until he meets Agnis who comes to his hamlet to work on her doctoral thesis regarding the re-introduction of wolves to Ireland. Upon setting eyes on Agnis, Reynardine finds himself drawn to her the moment she enters the pub upon her arrival in town. What starts off as a "knight in shining armor" rescue of Agnis from a drunk turns to instant heat for each other.
From the beginning of the book to around the midpoint I was able to accept their instant attraction to each other, but even during that point some things just didn't feel right to me. One of the problems I had with the book was with Agnis and her how she act, think and feels. One moment hot and obsessed with Reynardine and then the next stating the opposite that her work comes first and she needs to focus on her thesis. It became hard to understand what she wanted when she seems to act like a nymphomaniac at one point and then pull away from Reynardine to focus on her job. The other aspect is that she keeps saying this is a one-night stand (even though it drags out over several weeks), yet in the next breath she wishes that she could have Reynardine forever. She constantly goes back and forth stating that she knows Reynardine is hers and accepts her for who she is, but at the same time she is afraid he will reject her.
Then from the middle to the end of the book that is where it really fell apart for me. At this point the storyline with the wolves took center stage to the point it dragged out so long I found myself falling asleep. The whole issue with the wolves was not intriguing at all. Some references to Agnis' background and why this whole project was so important to her was never established. Along with the fact that once revelations are made near the end of the book she once again reacts one way and in the very next breath says and does the complete opposite. I was completely confused as how the character could do such an about face without any further elaboration. Reynardine on the other hand, he knew what he felt for Agnis was real and wanted to make her part of his life. However due to his condition he knew the implications and what he would be exposing Agnis to. You couldn't help not wanting Reynardine to have a "happily ever after".
In the end this book was ok if all you wanted to focus on was the graphic sex scenes, which included some masturbation using an instrument, some anal play and lots of hot sex, but in terms of plot and fluidity of the storyline it fell flat.
