It’s constantly amazing to me the change the typical romance story has gone through in the last twenty to twenty-five years. I remember reading (be gracious—I’m dating myself here) Barbara Cartland and Victoria Holt. One of the changes are that the women of today’s books stand up and fight for what they want, no more screaming and fainting away. And the men are both tender and protective without being overbearing (or maybe only a little overbearing). The romance genre has expanded past the old Victorian’s to today’s vampires, werewolves, aliens and all the others that only an imaginative author can dream up. Still, romance stories prove that old saying, “the more things change, the more they stay the same”. For me, as a reader the one thing that hasn’t changed is wanting strong characters, a well written story and a happy ever after ending

Recently I discovered one of those imaginative writers in Kate Steele and her world of small town of Whispering Springs where half of the town’s inhabitants are werewolves.

Hayley Royden has decided that she needs to follow her dreams. With one book contracted and another begun, she has quit her job and dumped her old boyfriend. She has come to Whispering Springs to visit her sister Bryn and her soon to be brother-in-law, Logan. When she meets Logan’s best friend, Jace McKenna, Hayley knows that he is the type of man she should avoid like the plague. Sexy as sin and well aware of it, Jace is just a heartbreak waiting to happen. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to make Whispering Springs her new home. But then again, Hayley loves a challenge and Jace McKenna is certainly going to be one of those. Even as they begin the game she senses he has secrets. She never would have guessed what that secret was until the knowledge was thrust upon her. Does she love Jace enough to accept what he is? Will she run from him, or to him?

As the Alpha of the Iron Towers Pack, Jace McKenna has yet to find his mate. But everything changes the night he spies a beautiful woman bathing in the woods. Finding out that she’s Bryn’s sister and she’s going to be staying permanently makes this chase a whole lot easier. For whether Hayley knows it or not, the hunt has just begun. Jace’s past reputation as a bad boy who enjoys spending time with the ladies, lots of different ladies, is making it difficult to prove to Hayley that he’s ready to settle down. But Jace is nothing if not determined and he’ll win this battle and Hayley’s heart.

To Tempt a Wolf is blessed with well drawn characters and an interesting storyline. Strong, possessive, protective and charismatic to the nth degree, Jace is the type of man you want to bring home. Hayley is not a clingy dependent type of woman. Determined to stand on her own two feet, she is a perfect match for Jace. While the chemistry between Jace and Hayley is explosive, their encounters are also laced with a sense of humor that’s irresistible. So if you are looking for a new author to read pick up one of Kate Steele’s wolfies and you won’t be disappointed.
 
 
Reviewed By Theresa
© July 2007