Coveted [Mass Market Paperback]

Shawntelle Madison (Author)

Book Description

Release date: April 24, 2012

SOMETIMES WHAT YOU COVET IS IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP.

 

For werewolf Natalya Stravinsky, the supernatural is nothing extraordinary. What does seem strange is that she's stuck in her hometown of South Toms River, New Jersey, the outcast of her pack, selling antiques to finicky magical creatures. Restless and recovering from her split with gorgeous ex-boyfriend, Thorn, Nat finds comfort in an unusual place: her obsessively collected stash of holiday trinkets. But complications pile up faster than her ornaments when Thorn returns home--and the two discover that the spark between them remains intense.

 

Before Nat can sort out their relationship, she must face a more immediate and dangerous problem. Her pack is under attack from the savage Long Island werewolves--and Nat is their first target in a turf war. Toss in a handsome wizard vying for her affection, a therapy group for the anxious and enchanted, and the South Toms River pack leader ready to throw her to the wolves, and it's enough to give anybody a panic attack. With the stakes as high as the full moon, Nat must summon all of her strength to save her pack and, ultimately, herself.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A smart, sexy, rip-roaring good time."--New York Times bestselling author Angie Fox

"I'm obsessed with Shawntelle Madison's fantastic urban fantasy debut, featuring hoarding werewolves, magic, and mayhem! More, please!"--Michelle Rowen, bestselling author of That Old Black Magic

"If you like your urban fantasy original, quirky, and offbeat, this is the series for you. Natalya is the craziest heroine since Carolyn Crane's Justine Jones, and you will love her just as much."--Ann Aguirre, bestselling author of Devil's Punch

"Madison tells her story with a lot of humor, and readers will be waiting with bated breath for her next story." (4 1/2 stars) --Romantic Times Book Reviews

"Coveted is odd, funny, original and not at all what you'd expect. The writing is excellent, the characters come off so realistic they should have their own reality show, and the story is authentic and original." --NYT bestselling author Lynn Viehl

About the Author

Shawntelle Madison is a web developer who loves to weave words as well as code. She'd never admit it, but if asked she'd say she covets and collects source code. After losing her first summer job detassling corn, Madison performed various jobs--from fast-food clerk to grunt programmer to university webmaster. Writing eccentric characters is her most favorite job of them all. On any particular day when she's not surgically attached to her computer, she can be found watching cheesy horror movies or the latest action-packed anime. She lives in Missouri with her husband and children.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; Original edition (April 24, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345529189
• ISBN-13: 978-0345529183
• Product Dimensions: 4.3 x 0.8 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (58 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #715,230 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Shawntelle Madison is a web developer who loves to weave words as well as code. She'd never admit it, but if asked she'd say she covets and collects source code. After losing her first summer job detassling corn, Shawntelle performed various jobs--from fast-food clerk to grunt programmer to university webmaster. Writing eccentric characters is her most favorite job of them all. On any particular day when she's not surgically attached to her computer, she can be found watching cheesy horror movies or the latest action-packed anime. She lives in Missouri with her husband and children.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting start to a new series May 20, 2012

By Debbie Richardson

Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Hmmm..what to say about this book. I'm pleased that the author came at the fantasy from a whole new angle of calling out that supernatural folk can be neurotic, too! Most all other urban fantasies the supernatural are either with the hero, or they're not. Here we are presented with a whole slew of folk who just ARE. They live, love, shop, go to the dr - even psych docs, and get knocked up. A very very refreshing change.

The author did a great job of putting me in Nat's head. I got it. I understood why she was the way she was, and why she wasn't a kick butt take names kind of gal. And I lIKED it, how weird is that? I'm rooting for her growth. I dont necessarily want her to become Kate Daniels, but I do want her to feel more empowered and in control.

The love triangle was ok, but I'm clearly going to be in the Nick camp. Thorn had his shot, and has done nothing to indicate he deserves another. She needs to move on. Hopefully in the next book she'll figure that out.

The writing was not weak, by any means. Good plot, a little of Harry Dresden meets Stephanie Plum. However, definitely more skill needs to be developed to be able to mature and sustain this series. That said I will add the next to my wish list so I'll know when it's available. It's been a long time since I've done that. I'm looking forward to seeing if this author can hit a home run. I think she can!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun and unique start to a promising series May 5, 2012

By Pamela (@SpazP)

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Rogue wolf Natalya has found herself back at home in South Thoms River. We learn very early on that she has a very extreme anxiety disorder manifesting itself as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. It's not far-fetched to see how this compulsive behavior has led her to her ejection from the local pack. Her addiction is shopping for holidays items; be it Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, shopping for these ornaments and trinkets gives her a sense of control, and yet to everyone on the outside, makes her look crazy. Boxes and boxes of untouched and cherished ornaments and items are "coveted" in her home, to an alarming and shame-inducing degree.

Her best friend, Agatha AKA Aggie, shows up one night to stay with her on her way out west, and she is a total delight. She has an addiction to food, so she can comprehend Nat's obsessive-compulsive tendencies, and their relationship was so endearing. In fact, it's how they met, at a camp for supernatural kids with 'issues'. Always with, or wanting for, a bag of Doritos, she is not to be underestimated. As a high-ranking alpha female from another pack, Aggie's friendship with Nat was the real thing. She has her back.

And then there is Thorn... sigh. He and Natalya had something intimate going on 5 years ago, and we slowly discover how and why they both find themselves in their hometown of South Thoms River, apart, after losing touch. There is still something between them, but due to pack politics... it can't be. Enter a mysterious white wizard named Nick, and there might be some bow-chicka-bow-bow in her future! CROSSING FINGERS.

From a hilarious first date with the necromancer janitor Quinton from work, to a truly entertaining support group for supernaturals with anxiety disorders, Coveted is a truly charming and enjoyable novel. The werewolf mythology is not very in-depth which I could have used more of, and there is not a great amount of romance. I would almost classify this as YA, due to the mild content and the light tone, but that is not a complaint. Coveted does have a "first book" feel to it, in that a lot of things are set up, and characters are introduced. My biggest concern with this series, going forward, is the set up of a possible love triangle. I personally am not a fan of the love triangle deal in general, but I am not going to jump to conclusions, because I definitely want to check out the next book Kept.

Nevertheless, I truly found Coveted a delightful read with a very endearing heroine, and fantastic secondary characters whom I ended up really caring about and wanting more. The theme of the book, covet, was truly well-done, and I look forward to what Ms. Madison has in store for us next in Kept.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 Stars- Spellbinding !! April 25, 2012

By MORWA PAL Reviews

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Natalya Stravinsky is just your everyday, average hoarding werewolf with a major case of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. When the love of her life, Thorn, abandoned her five years ago, her world dissolved. Cast out of her pack, Natalya's only true joy comes in the form of her many Christmas decorations. When Thorn returns to South River Toms to assume role as the pack's alpha, Natalya must confront the pain of his abandonment, cast aside her pride and turn to him for aide as the Long Island pack threatens her very existence.

Debut author Shawntelle Madison is truly gifted. Her dynamite debut kept me enthralled until I turned the final page. I could not put this book down. A riveting, fast-paced, action packed story with a heroine readers will adore. Ms. Madison's characters are so full-bodied they leap off the page with their hilarious antics. But this story would not be what it is without the heroine. Natalya is such a compelling, dynamic character who touches your heart on so many levels. Ms. Madison finishes her tale with a gut-wrenching ending that left me breathless. This is one of 2012's must have books to add to your keeper shelf. I can't wait to read the next installment in Ms. Madison's series and see what else this powerhouse author has in store for her readers.