I have not previously read any stories by Lorie O’Clare. I am trying to widen my reading interests and so am trying out more new authors to see if I like their writing styles and the genres their stories fall into. I have found that I thoroughly enjoy paranormal romance, but as yet my readings in this genre has been too focused on vampire romance. Now I am moving on to werewolf romance – which is where Ms O’Clare (and several other authors) comes in.

Taming Heather is the first in the Cariboo Lunewulf series, and I have enjoyed it so much I will now move on to the next (and so far last), Pursuit. This particular series is loosely connected to another set of Ms O’Clare’s werewolf tales, the Lunewulf series, also published by Ellora’s Cave. I hope to shortly be able to read these, of which there are currently only five.

Taming Heather details the story of a Cariboo Lunewulf and a human – something which has not occurred before. The Cariboo Lunewulf is more aggressive than the Lunewulf, taking what they want rather than asking for it. This difference is subtly demonstrated throughout >b>Taming Heather.

Heather is a reporter, looking for her big break. The increasing uneasiness between the humans and werewolves provide her with a brilliant idea for a story: a full expose' on werewolf life, featuring an inside scoop. She thoroughly researches her topic, even getting the werewolves changing on film. After meeting Marc, she doesn’t feel this is enough. She is drawn to him – and he to her. She follows him after accidentally finding out whom he is, and has an up close and personal encounter with him. She promises to let him read her article before publishing it. Her first draft, however, is full of werewolf myth, infuriating Marc. He decides it would be better to have her mix with werewolves, in order for her to see how they really are, rather than have her betray them in her article as the monsters the myths suggest them to be. By involving her in werewolf life, they come to know each other, as well as Heather coming to know and understand the werewolves as loyal, protective creatures, not at all the monsters they are portrayed as by the legends. The sparks fly between them and they develop feelings for one another that they are each afraid to label – because it would be impossible for them to have a relationship with the way things stand between humans and werewolves. Never before has a match of this kind been attempted. How can they have a relationship when they both have such different metabolisms and laws? Not to mention the opposition they are to face from humans.

Ms O’Clare’s story is about two people who manage to form a relationship despite the many obstacles in their path. The language in this tale is explicit, as are the sex scenes, which even include encounters in the great outdoors. Heather’s misconceptions about werewolves make it difficult at first to picture these two managing to form any kind of relationship, but as Heather comes to know the werewolves for themselves, rather than from myths and legends, as we come to understand that the changing is simply a way for them to release their emotions to an extent that humans can never manage, it becomes easier to picture them together. They have the support of his pack; can they overcome the opposition from humans?

Taming Heather is thoroughly enjoyable, particularly if you take pleasure in the paranormal and/or shape shifting genre. I recommend you give this book, and this author, a go. I believe you will find yourself wishing for a man like Marc for yourself: a man who doesn’t, indeed can’t, hide his emotions from you, and who has the capability of loving you for always.

Reviewed By Elizabeth
© July 2005