Customer Reviews

The Touch A Dark Wolf

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Erin Morgan sensed it was going to be a bad day before discovering four dead bodies drained of blood where she worked in the posh, state of the art medical center of Manhattan, but not one that saw her running for her very life! Nor could she ever imagine while fleeing to her home state of Tennessee that two snarling beasts would be landing on the hood of her car causing her to drive off the road. No, and if that wasn't bad enough -- waking up to find one very big, virile, and very naked man on the hood of her car - well.... now depending on how you look at it, things could be looking up!

*** Newer author Jennifer St. Giles is certainly making people sit up and take notice and with this fast action fantasy/thriller she starts off a new series that is sure to entice a whole new set of paranormal romance genre fans. In it, she introduces a new set heroes called Shadowmen -- shape-shifters whose purpose was to guard mortals like Erin from the evil blood-sucking Vladarians. Unfortunately, as our hero Jared battled one of the demons he was bitten. The poison it inflicted, would in time, turn Jared into the very evil being he was sworn to battle. A great portion of the plot is spent with St. Giles doing an admirable job of showing the anguish of Jared and also of his fellow comrades who made the heartbreaking choice of allowing him to live before the poison destroyed all that was pure and good before overtaking his very soul.

Erin had her own problems to contend with knowing that the miracle doctor she worked for, hailed as a hero for his ground breaking cancer treatments was in fact a murderer! After her disenchantment with her former employer it was no stretch for her to be wary of Jared as he aroused a passion in her that she was deathly afraid of giving into. In developing Erin, the author developed her deftly in both keeping her interested in the man, by showing compassion for his injuries, yet being wary of his mental state when he tried to explain who/what he was.

As well as the two main protagonists, you are also introduced to a plethora of secondary characters including a delightful pixyish Irish lass called Emerald, who in addition to her other-worldly connections of receiving messages from the Druids, is a sex-therapist who councils her patients via a `blackberry'. This is an exciting introduction to the series, and St. Giles sets the stage in whetting your appetite for future installments that are eagerly anticipated.

Marilyn Rondeau, RIO - Reviewers International Organization

What do you do after you find out that the Doctor you thought had the cure for cancer is a murder?
What do you do when you are on the run afraid for your life and two creatures crash onto the hood of your car and begin fighting?
what do you do when you wake up from running your car into a ditch to find a naked man on the hood of your car?

Don't know? Well that is the way Erin Morgan started her day today. And the naked man well he's a Shadowmen. A warrior shape shifter, sworn to protect mortals like Erin. And he's just been infected with a poison that could very well turn him into the very thing that he has for century's been fighting to protect people like Erin from.

This book hits the ground running. So unlike Erin who has her hands full. The hardest problem you will have is putting this book down........

Not as bad as some reviewers said, but I admit it does need some work. The book begins when the herione is run off the road when two wolves have it out on the hood of her car. I know, it sounds interesting, but the author mucks it up at this point. I suppose St. Giles is attempting to give her novel an epic touch by switching scenes from villian to hero to watchers. She moves from one point of view to another. A master writer can do this successfully, but St. Giles only ends up confusing the reader. I read through about six chapters before I felt I had a vague understanding to what was going on. She should have stuck with one point of view and let the reader discover what was going on along with that character. If it wouldn't have been for this confusing point of view stratagy she adapted, I think it would have been a good book. Or at least much more enjoyable.

A nurse at the cutting edge of medicine at the Sno-Med Clinic in Manhattan, Erin Morgan loved working there as her employer Dr. Cinatas provided miracle cures for cancer. That is until she realized that the main ingredient consisted of poor people that Dr. Cinatas murdered to treat his wealthy patients. Knowing he is so well regarded and needing time until she can figure out what to do next, Erin flees New York City to hide in the Tennessee Mountains. However, preoccupied and paranoid, Erin hits a wolf on the remote mountain road before crashing off to the side. When she regains consciousness she finds a naked hunk lying like a trophy across the hood of her car.

Jared Hunter feels battered from the run in with Erin's car. However, he finds the pain vanishes when the nurturing Erin touches his injuries, soothing the savage beast inside him. He desires her like he never has anyone before though he has lived as a shapeshifter for centuries. When Dr. Cinatas arrives to kill Erin, Jared knows he must risk all to keep the woman he loves safe from the malevolent medicine man, but wonders who will keep her safe from him

TOUCH A DARK WOLF is a fabulous Beauty and the Beast romantic fantasy starring two amiable protagonists, who need each other; though the hero is in denial out of fear he will harm his beloved. The action-packed story line is fast-paced even before the caricaturist villain arrives and remains gripping as readers meet the St. Giles paranormal environs who add depth to the plot. Still evil doctor, psychic shrink, shapeshifting human-beasts, and amoral demons aside, it is the relationship between the lead couple willing to die for their soulmate that makes for a strong outstanding mystical thriller.

Harriet Klausner

Wow. I picked this one up cold, having no expectations whatsoever. Okay, that's not true. There's a half-nekkid man on the cover and a wolf in the background--that along with the title made me think "werewolf romance"--just a wild guess.

In fact, that's one of my few quibbles with this story--it's a bit of false advertising. Yes, the hero does shapeshift, but that's not the main point of the story. Or rather, it's not your typical werewolf story, which is what I was expecting.

Instead, it's more comparable to Angela Knight's Mageverse. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Erin Morgan is confused, frightened, and on the run after discovering that the doctor she worked for, who she thought was working on an innovative cancer cure, is actually a murderer. Then her car is hit by a creature that's subsequently attacked and driven off by a wolf. She crashes, passes out, and when she wakes up, there's a naked man on the hood of her car.

Jared is the Shadowman who, in wolf form, protected her from the Tsara that attacked her. Unfortunately, in defending her, he was bit himself, and the poison from the Tsara's bite will spread until he becomes Tsara himself, dependent on the blood of humans, especially a particular kind of human--the Elan, like Erin.

Erin's torn between two goals: help Jared, who's injured and apparently feverish, and expose Dr. Cinatas. Jared's goal is to protect Erin, not only from the Tsara, but from himself and what he's becoming. Unfortunately, touching Erin is the only thing that eases his pain, even while his desire for her blood grows stronger.

Which brings me to my second quibble, and only major one: I got confused. Which is no doubt evident in my attempt to summarize. To be fair, I probably shouldn't have read this when I did--I was exhausted. The night after I finished it, I slept 11 hours straight. So a re-read would probably make it much clearer. Still, I loved it anyway, so that's saying something.

This is an exciting, action-packed story in an intriguing contemporary fantasy world, but what really makes it stand out for me are the characters. Erin's character rang very true to me--she was neither too good to be true nor too stupid to live; neither was she too credulous or too doubting. She was determined, but she was also scared. The force keeping them apart--Jared's fears that he was a danger to her--was likewise believable. While in his POV, I could feel his conflict and desperation.

There were several secondary characters I'd like to see more of; not to mention that I'd like to spend more time in this world. I hope this is just the first of a long series. In the meantime, I'll be looking for Jennifer St. Giles's backlist.

The evil minions of Heldon are about to wreak havoc in the mortal world and only the Guardian Forces of Logos stand in their way. But Erin Morgan knows nothing about this as she travels the foggy roads of Tennessee on a search to find information about why there are 4 dead bodies in the medical clinic where she works as a nurse. There are clues to this approaching war, the first of which lands on the hood of her SUV. What exactly is this black creature and did the blue-eyed silver wolf fighting with it really tell her to LEAVE NOW? After running off of the road, she discovers a naked man on the hood of her car, Jared the Blood Hunter. This is Erin's introduction to the Shadowmen, the shape-shifting elite fighting force of Logos, sworn to protect human life. At first, she is unwilling to believe what Jared tells her, but evidence of the truth rapidly begins to appear. Jared is in a race against time as his poisonous wound slowly corrupts him into one of the Damned and he is hunted by his brother Blood Hunters as they attempt to save his soul. There is something about Jared that fascinates and excites Erin. Can her burgeoning love for him, and the allies they discover in the town of Twilight, stem the approaching darkness from stealing Jared's soul before claiming him as a powerful force for evil? Can their combined power slow the approaching conflict between the spirit warriors of Logos and the evil power of Heldon?

"Touch a Dark Wolf" is the first novel in Jennifer St. Giles new paranormal romance series, "The Shadowmen". Set in the present day, with a backdrop of current world problems, St. Giles' supernatural heroes battle against the evil threatening to take over the world. Her characters are compelling, unique individuals. The story is fast paced and pulls the reader along with her protagonists to a satisfying conclusion. Although not a typical "gothic" romance, this book contains many of the same elements, and the paranormal twist definitely adds spice to the mix. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and recommend it.

I'm a cynical person by nature. Like anyone, I've seen thousands of romance novels with Fabio on the cover lining supermarket shelves throughout the years. I never expected to pick up a romance novel and actually begin reading one, let alone read half of it in one sitting!

"Touch A Dark Wolf" is most definitely different from the kind of 'romance novel' I was expecting, with a firm anchor in plot and character, the romance and sexuality accenting it instead of trying to carry it. St. Giles has a great way of entwining the story with the romance, instead of feeling like you're reading out-of-place sexual situations for the sole purpose of having such in the book.

As I said before, I read half of the book in one sitting! And from someone who, first off, has never read a categorized romance novel before; and secondly, grew up not liking to read, that is saying something! I would in fact recommend this book to my fantasy-reading brothers (hoping they could get past the idea of reading a 'romance novel') as an intriguing and intricate fantasy, and a great otherworldly read.

Some reviewers labeled this nothing more than a Gerard Butler fanfic, which I find extremely odd. Though there were a few possible references to the Scottish actor, if you aren't "looking" for them, it's doubtful they will detour you. The physical description of Jared actually caused me to picture a character different from Butler, as many of the characteristics weren't shared between the actor and the book's principle male character. I compliment St. Giles on the character of Jared, who lived and breathed on his own, as did Erin, the story's principle female hero.

Wonderful, intriguing read, waiting for the release of its sequel!

Jennifer St. Giles has done it again! Jennifer paints a visual picture which few authors have the ability to do. Her characters draw you in immediately and you are captivated by the twists and turns of this paranormal plotline. I especially love the very real characters - yet very intriguing characters which add dimension and color to this fabulous book. I love the dynamics between the three female characters. I have friends who are just like them!

The heroine is so genuine I felt she could have been writing about me! As usual, the romance is spectacular and you find yourself exhaling deeply after each encounter. Jennifer writes very sexy love scenes - without the crassness some authors insist upon.

The hero is to DIE for and I found myself hoping a naked man would some day wind up on the hood of MY car!

This is a must read. I couldn't put the book down.

I could not put this one down, The story held me captive and the sexual tension between the hero and heroin was fantastic!!!
Don't miss this one and can not wait for the next!

Maybe not a novel of epic proportions, but definitely not as bad as some other reviews indicate. The story starts out promising- heroine on the run from her boss, what appears to be a werewolf battle on the hood of the poor woman's vehicle- and then things start getting a little muddled. There is a lot of cutting back and forth between Jared & Erin's immediate problems and the villain/Jared's brethren. There is also a lot of bad coming from a lot of different sources and characters that seem to come up out of the blue, which is confusing at times. More than once I had to reread something to make sure I understood what was going on and where, or how, these characters came to find Erin & Jared.

Over all, it was an enjoyable, quick, read if you were able to keep up with what was going on.