Customer Reviews

The Lure of the Wolf

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

One thing I really like about the Shadowman paranormals is that the author, Jennifer St. Giles, not only fleshes out her main characters but also allows them to grow through their experiences. She also makes excellent use of her supporting cast, carrying them forward from her previous book The Shadowmen: The Lure of the Wolf (Book 2). While there is plenty of steamy stuff to keep the romance fans sated, the characters both good and bad are developed so well that they have life beyond the pages and the plot framework gives them a reason for that life.

Annette and Aragon move to center stage in this book. Each has a quest that they are totally committed too. Wolf-shifter Aragon's is ridding the world of his evil former mentor Pathos. Aragon betrays his oath as leader of the Shadowmen and accepts the death sentence he knows that will bring to right a wrong his honor can no longer tolerate. Annette will risk everything, even her very soul, to find her missing sister Stephanie, the sister she feels she's failed. As Annette and Aragon come together and find a true connection with each other mind, body and spirit, the shadow of their inevitable parting hangs over them. Knowing that neither can forsake their search no matter the cost they themselves must bear.

Although not the stars of the show, the sparks continue to fly between Sam and Emerald, and they play important roles here. Sam, the skeptic, in the last book becomes a grudging believer here. Now that he is fully on the team his covert ops skills and contacts are key to the struggle. We learn of Sam's hidden vulnerabilities, scars that he carries from his tortured past. This knowledge gives us insight into Sam's protective nature and his fight to hold himself apart from Emerald. Emerald is as fascinating and fey as ever but we find out that she is also way more than she seems and are given a glimpse of her true power here. Emerald struggles against Sam's pigheadedness and though he doesn't realise it yet he has already lost the war, she just hasn't told him yet.

St. Giles does an excellent job of moving her series along and setting up the characters and situations for her next book. Is Sam at risk from his encounter with the vampires? Has he been handed clues to a missing piece of his past? Will he stop fighting his attraction to Emerald and allow her to help him heal? And what about Stephanie and Sirius the dragon-shifter shadowman, is there a connection there? I can hardly wait for the next installment to find out.

Aragon, the former leader of a band of Blood Hunters, has deserted his duty and has condemned himself to one of the worst punishments possible for a member of the Guardian Forces. He is doomed to become a faded warrior, a formless spirit trapped between life and death, for eternity. He has knowingly chosen this fate to atone for his failure as a leader, pledging to kill Pathos, the leader of the Vladarian Order. Ages ago, Pathos succumbed to a poisoned bite and turned against his fellow Guardians to become one of the strongest and most evil of Heldon's minions. Aragon intends to hunt down and destroy Pathos before he completely fades away. But he hadn't counted on Dr. Annette Batista finding his Blood Hunter medallion and using it to call him to her. Annette intends to find her sister, who has been missing for 6 months, and she needs all of the help she can get. It has become increasingly obvious that Stefanie's disappearance is in some way connected to her job at Sno-Med, a medical corporation with ties to the forces of Heldon. Jared (a former Blood Hunter), Erin Morgan, Sherriff Sam Sheridan and the mystical Em have all pledged their help. And Aragon has sworn to find Stefanie before he destroys Pathos. He is slowly losing his warrior powers, but his growing love and passion for Annette provides his weakened spirit with the strength he needs to fulfill his oath. The search for Stefanie leads them from the burnt shell of Sno-Med's research facility in Twilight to the jungles of Central America, following the trail of Pathos. Can Aragon keep his promises before completely succumbing to his fate? Can he submit to the Guardian Council's punishment now that his spirit is irrevocably melded with Annette's?

"The Lure of the Wolf" is the second offering in St. Giles' Shadowmen series. This one is better than the first. St Giles has a talent for weaving complicated plotlines and characters together to create an exciting whole. Characters from previous volumes in the series return as the plot shifts its emphasis to the viewpoints of others and her heroes get sexier with each book!! And even though there is a continuing story arch, each novel stands on its own merit, a quality I have seen in St. Giles' other books. If you are a fan of romantic fiction with a twist, this one is a must read. Fans of St. Giles' other work will not be disappointed. My only problem is that I have to wait until spring of 2009 for the next 2 books in this series!

Aragon made some horrendous mistakes when he led the Shadowmen; errors caused because he trusted his mentor Pathos. Aragon knows he will suffer deservedly for eternity for his transgressions regardless of the cause, but he feels he must do one last deed; he must kill the malevolent Pathos.

Dr. Annette Batista suffers two traumatic shockers. First her sister vanishes without a trace and then she learns that Dr. Cinatas is providing sustenance to vampires. She plans to stop Cinatas and find her sibling. She finds and touches Aragon's tossed away amulet only to connects with the anguished shapeshifting former Shadowmen. They quickly realize that they share the same quest, but neither expected love to enter their shaky relationship nor that duty might tear them apart.

The second Shadowmen romantic fantasy suspense thriller (see TOUCH A DARK WOLF) is an entertaining tale mostly because of Aragon's obsessive quest. His debt of honor means more to him than his eternal soul; yet the love of Annette makes him reconsider what he perceives is his damning responsibility as he holds himself accountable. Although Annette is out the female heroic handbook and likewise Dr. C is from the supervillain guide, sub-genre readers will appreciate the lure of Jennifer St. Giles exciting tale.

Harriet Klausner

OK, the first book caught me, and the second book hooked me. And to be honest with you, it hurts. I want to pick up the third right now and find out which set of characters I get to delve into next. This book throws us into the lives of Dr. Batista. From the first book I really thought this chick was an ice queen. Now that we get to meet her and see what is going on in her world and get to understand her world, she has a right to be an ice queen. Again, I guess we shouldn't judge the proverbial book by its cover. Now, Aragon **sighs deeply and heads into the other room to change into something a little more comfortable** is smokin' hot. These Shadowmen just keep getting hotter! How is this even possible? Jared was hot, but Aragon has got to be my favorite so far..... OK Ms. St.Giles, what have you got in store for me now? Well written characters...check. Action...check. Steam...check. Hot men...check. Strong women...check. What more could I ask for? Let's find out in Shadowmen 3......I'll be back!

[...]

I give it five stars *****

The Lure Of The Wolf is book two of the Shadowmen series by Jennifer ST. Giles. If anything I found her second book to be even better than the first. It grips you right from the start and never lets up from start to finish. The writing is superb, the tension gripping and the romance hot,hot,hot.

Now THIS is in another class completely. This novel is magic. I am assuming Ms St. Giles learned from her blatant errors in the first installment of this Shadowmen series and invested quality time in the development of the characters and plot of this novel.
The reader is emotionally tired to Annette and Aragon from the first sentence. Every shift, pain, puncture and process is felt.
Wonderful, interesting, engrossing read.

Jennifer St.Giles second installment of the Shadowmen series is a wonderful continuation of the first book about Jared and Erin. The bond between Aragon and Annette is the kind of bond all women fantasize about. Now I can't wait for Stephanie's story of which the author has given us tantalizing little hints.

Loved the first book in this series so I had to immediately order the second (and am waiting impatiently for the third!) Another paranormal page turner. The author has created a tightly consistent world/mythology for her series - filled with interesting characters and exciting events. This book starts up exactly where the first left off and contains the same characters from the first book (Touch of the Wolf). Another keeper!

Dr. Annette Batista is searching for her missing sister, Stephanie, who worked for the research facility Sno-Med. She is determined to find her, but so far, has had no luck. When Annette finds a strange amulet at the site of Stephanie's disappearance, she isn't sure what to think. Then, while taking a bath at home, she rubs the amulet and a strange man appears.

Aragon is a Blood Hunter, half-man, half-werewolf. In an effort to track down a Blood Hunter who has turned evil, he forsakes his vow as leader of the group and travels to the Earthly plain to track down Pathos and kill him. When a strange woman somehow pulls him to her side, he isn't sure what to do. When it happens again, he is equally confused, but he knows there is a bond with this woman.

Annette isn't sure what to do about Aragon, but she knows that she wants him. Together, they search for her missing sister and work to find Pathos and a number of evil minions, who deserve the fate of death.

The Lure of the Wolf is a fascinating tale of good verses evil. Ms. St. Giles has created a world full of mythical creatures and entertaining humans that come to life on the page. Aragon is full of honor, and full of love for Annette. I loved the strength that Annette showed through the entire book, even in the face of danger.

The Lure of the Wolf is a wonderful continuation in the Shadowmen series and I can't wait to see which Blood Hunter will be featured next. Lovers of paranormal should run to pick up a copy of The Lure of the Wolf. This book is the second in the series, and although it's not necessary to have read the first book, Touch a Dark Wolf, it will increase a reader's enjoyment of The Lure of the Wolf, as the characters are introduced in the first book.

Amelia reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

I wrapped up "The Lure of the Wolf"...the paranormal romance between Aragon, an outcast Blood Hunter who is half wolf, half man and Dr. Annette Batista was a good read. The secondary characters of Sam, the local Sheriff with a haunted past with Spec Ops and Emerald, an Irish single mom witch was waaaaaaay more interesting. I kept flipping past the Aragon/Annette moments in hopes of finding the infinitely more interesting combination of Sam and Emerald. I hope they have a book dedicated to their attraction next.