The Untamed One (Book 2 of The Wild Wulfs of London) [Mass Market Paperback]

Ronda Thompson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2, 2006

Running from angry villagers and the man who ravaged her, the witch Lucinda flees into the forest to have her child. But Lord Jackson Wulf hunts her down, believing her death will break the family curse that transforms him into a monster. Instead of killing the witch, Jackson is moved by her beauty and desperate plight. And Lucinda seizes the chance to find safety for herself and her babe when a bargain is struck between this outcast woman and this doomed man--and sealed by their marriage in name only…

In return for his protection, Lucinda has promised that her magick can free Jackson from his torment. But this pretty witch soon finds herself in danger of being seduced by Jackson's charms and pursued by the man who would see both her and her child dead. Can she trust a Wulf with her safety and the safety of her child? Can she trust her heart to Jackson? To surrender to a Wulf is a terrible risk, for love will either unleash the beast within the man...or finally set him free.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The second book in Thompson's Wild Wulfs of London trilogy follows the attempts of Lord Jackson Wulf to break the lycanthropic curse unleashed inside of him by love. In the belief that killing a witch will release his family from the werewolf hex, Jackson seeks out the sorceress Lucinda, finding a beautiful young woman rather than the hag he expects. After saving Lucinda from the throes of a painful breach birth, Jackson finds himself unable to kill her. Instead, she promises to cure him with her magic if he enters into a marriage of convenience, for the sake of protecting her son's identity. Lacking in both narrative and sexual tension, the book charts the couple's constant thrust and parry-though fewer thrusts than a story about a frustrated wolfman would suggest-in a struggle to discover each others' true motives. Though the series has both fans and promise, this faltering entry begs the question: if sexy paranormals can't get any satisfaction, how is a common reader supposed to?
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Review

"Gripping, intriguing, and sexy. Engaging characters and edge of the seat action--this book has it all." --Christine Feehan on The Dark One

"The Dark One grabbed me and wouldn't let me go. Sensual and engaging, Thompson redefines the werewolf story even as her characters redefine for themselves the meaning of love." --Susan Squires on The Dark One

"This story hooked me from page one and never let me go. I can't wait for the next one!" --Amanda Ashley on The Dark One

"This well-written tale, complete with fascinating characters, utterly romantic love story, and divine sensuality captivated me from the very beginning to the heart-stopping ending." --Paranormal Romance Writer on The Dark One

"Completely, utterly, absolutely engaging. I was swept away by the story of Armond Wulf and Rosalind Rutherford. The Dark One is one of the most wonderful tales I've gotten my hands on in a long time. I'm so thankful Ms. Thompson decided to make this a series. The Wild Wulfs of London will definitely be on my "must buy" list!" --Romance Divas on The Dark One

"Ronda Thompson delivers a fresh and everlasting Regency romance with a touch of magic and evil that will stand the test of time. Oh, and the smokin' hero helps!" --Romance Reader At Heart on The Dark One

"I love paranormals, and this one is one of the best!" --Romance Junkies on The Dark One

"Readers will believe in the existence of the werewolf…sub-genre fans will fully treasure the first Wild Wulfs of London thriller. 5 stars!" --Harriet Klausner on The Dark One

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks; 1st edition (May 2, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312935749
• ISBN-13: 978-0312935740
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #324,968 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a mesmerizing Wild Wulfs tale, May 3, 2006

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Untamed One (Book 2 of The Wild Wulfs of London) (Mass Market Paperback)

In 1821 Lord Jackson Wulf comes to Whit Hurch, England seeking to kill the witch he heard rumors lived in the vicinity. Jackson knows that the curse that changes him and his brothers into monsters can only be lifted by facing and defeating his greatest enemy, which he assumes since a witch cursed the family, means a witch's death.

Jackson finds his target deep in the forest, but Lucinda begs him to let her deliver her child before he kills her. Jackson agrees to allow her to give birth before he completes his quest by killing her. He assists her with the birth of her son, born of a rape, but immediately loved and cherished by his mother. However, the villagers are after both of them; he for sleeping with one of their daughters; her because Lord Cantley, father of her infant, said so.

Jackson is unable to complete his task. Instead he offers a haven for Lucinda and her son, which she accepts for the sake of her child and in return she promises to find the magic to lift the curse. As they fall in love, Cantley demands he return the outlaw witch to him, but Jackson refuses to hand over his wife.

THE UNTAMED ONE is a fabulous paranormal historical romance with the otherworldly elements used more as a plot device to bring the lead couple together and to propel the fun story line forward. Jackson is a wonderful protagonist stressed between the devastation of the curse especially because of what it will do to his brothers and his love for the witch he must kill. Lucinda is a courageous soul, somewhat inept as a witch, but perfect as the woman for the Wulf. Ronda Thompson provides a mesmerizing Wild Wulfs tale (see THE DARK ONE).

Harriet Klausner

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous Addition to Series - 4-1/2*, June 7, 2006

By 

M. Rondeau (West Springfield, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Untamed One (Book 2 of The Wild Wulfs of London) (Mass Market Paperback)

In book two of the Wild Wulfs of London series, Thompson focuses on the second lycanthropic cursed brother, Lord Jackson as he attempts to solve his forebear's riddle in order to break free of the beast within him.

The opening pages show Jackson seeking out and finding the witch Lucinda -- fully intending to kill the hag in thinking that with the witches death, he and his brothers would be free of an other witche's curse. Instead of what he assumed would be a wart-ridden hag, Jackson found Lucinda. A beautiful young witch, in the throes of what looked to be a potentially fatal breach birth. Rather than kill an unborn innocent child, she begged and bargained for Jackson to help her deliver her son and see that he would be provided for -- then he could kill her. After delivering the child Jackson found he could not kill a defenseless woman. Other men hired to find Lucinda and kill the babe did find them and Jackson helped Lucinda escape. Thinking Jackson had been killed Lucinda found her way to London passed herself off as Jackson's widow with infant son and was now living the good life; and then Jackson showed up. A new arrangement was negotiated. Jackson would marry Lucinda, raise Sebastian as his own; in return after she lifted the curse, she would disappear. Unfortunately, Lucinda as a `white' witch who could only heal and protect, didn't have a clue as to how to lift a curse. Lucinda felt cursed in knowing that in healing Jackson, she would be leaving the child she adored and the one man she herself had come to love.

*** Thompson's second entry to her Regency set werewolf paranormal, while not quite as exhilarating as the first book, still had the ability to grab this readers attention from the very first pages. In a brave move from the more common innocent virginal heroine, you are introduced to a woman giving birth to another man's child. The fact that the child was conceived via a twisted man's rape upon an unconscious innocent immediately supported my initial regard for Lucinda. Later, her inept attempts at casting spells for a myriad of causes furthered my appreciation and pleasure in her character.

Jackson was a complicated hero. After years of attempting to live with the curse by drowning himself in liquor and using his unnatural scent and fabulous good looks to seduce and fornicate across London, discovering a woman who didn't succumb to his desires was a `wake-up call' to his humanity. From the moment he held the tiny life of Sebastian in his hands he was ready to start on the road to recovery.

The struggle both made to overcome their fears as each began to hold one another in high regard was paced well with enough narrative to ease both parties into acceptance of one another on a basic level inculding a sensual aspect which was quite inspiring. With the re-emergence of the twisted villain and the final outcome the author had this reviewer standing up to cheer! Bottom line - I believe fans of this new series will find book two a worthy addition to the Wild Wulfs of London saga and I can't wait to see what delights are in store for brother Gabriel.

Marilyn Rondeau, RIO - Reviewers International Organization

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Better than the first book, I give it 3 1/2 stars..., May 18, 2006

By 

adhaley "AngelaDionne" (Keller, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Untamed One (Book 2 of The Wild Wulfs of London) (Mass Market Paperback)

Although the first book was just so-so for me, I decided to go ahead and give the second book a chance. I enjoyed this book, maybe not with a keep it and reread it vigor, but I will now buy the last book in this trilogy to read. Not sure why this book isn't a four or five star book for me...maybe because I couldn't understand how Jackson went from wanting to kill Lucinda to rid himself and his brothers of the curse to all of a sudden just accepting that she had moved herself into his house and was claiming to be his wife. There was no angst for him, it just seemed too easy a transition for me. Hmmm...