Wilder: The Chosen Ones [Mass Market Paperback]

Christina Dodd (Author)

Book Description

Release date: August 7, 2012 | Series: The Chosen Ones (Book 5)

Only beloved author Christina Dodd could bring you the explosive paranormal excitement of the Chosen Ones combined with Aleksandr Wilder's story ... and redemption...

As a young man, Aleksandr Wilder abandoned his duty--and for that lapse, he was tortured, tormented ... and transformed.  Now he prowls the tunnels beneath the city, fighting on the frontline against the forces of hell, never daring to dream that he can live as a man again.

After seven years fighting the world's ultimate evil, Chosen One Charisma Fangorn has become a tough, strong warrior without illusions or joy...even her gift of hearing the earthsong has faded.  Deaf to her own instincts, she never suspects that a monster lurks in the dark underneath the streets.

When Aleksandr finds Charisma under attack, he rescues and cares for her, and hope stirs once more in his heart...and in the world. But in the secret recesses of his soul, he knows the truth. A woman so exceptional could never love a beast...could she?

    Customers who like books by Christine Feehan and J. R. Ward will enjoy this story.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A tormented hero finds hope, healing, redemption in an action-packed story that is a creative, insightful spin on Beauty and the Beast.--Library Journal.

 

 

Dodd wraps up her thrilling Chosen Ones in superb fashion...packs in dangerous adventure, noble sacrifice & undying passion.-- 4 1/2* HOT!Romantic Times

From the Author

Enjoy an excerpt of WILDER!
            Charisma woke, nerves tingling, aware she was not alone.
            Daylight seeped into the cave, and she could clearly see that Guardian stood over her. But although her heart quickened, she refused to show fear, or even to feel it.
            "You're in my bed," he said in a neutral tone.
            "I didn't feel like sleeping on the ground anymore, and this is the only bed here. Big, too. And comfortable." She turned over with her back to him. "Come to bed. It's big enough for the two of us. I hope you don't snore." She waited to see what he would do.
            A few moments later, the covers shifted. The mattress compressed. He pulled the bed curtains shut. And he was next to her, their world reduced to the size of a mattress.
            What was he thinking? What was he doing? Was he perturbed with her? Was he uncomfortable? Did he think she was coming on to him?
            Because she wasn't. No, no, no.
            When she chose to sleep in his bed, her decision had been all about comfort and recuperation, and not about intimacy. She might think Guardian attractive in an odd, animalistic way, but she planned to help the man, not dance the horizontal mambo with him...
            His voice made her jump. "You've got my pillow."
            "Oh!" She pretended to be surprised. Like she didn't already know she had his pillow.
            The whole bed was this giant phallic symbol, with tall, smooth, polished posts on each corner and heavy purple velvet bed curtains enclosing the California king mattress. The sheets were silky-smooth, latte-colored, and she'd guess about a thousand thread count, and a dozen pillows were tossed against the tall mahogany headboard. More to the point, the whole contraption carried a faint hint of Guardian's scent. 
            How did a man manage to smell like long, lazy days on a white sandy beach? Like blue skies and carefree memories? Like callused hands smoothing lotion over her skin?
            Charisma was a smart girl. She knew the scent was pure testosterone. But knowing the facts didn't make any difference, because she sought out his pillow, buried her face in it, took long, deep breaths, and fell asleep holding it crushed in her arms.
            Then she dreamed of him. And her. And them.
            Now he insinuated that he wanted his pillow back.
            He didn't know about her dreams.
            She should be grateful.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Signet Select (August 7, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451413245
• ISBN-13: 978-0451413246
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (69 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #207,024 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Join New York Times bestselling author Christina Dodd's mailing list to have her news delivered right to your inbox! http://christinadodd.com

Readers become writers, and Christina Dodd has always been a reader. She reads everything, but because she loves humor, she likes romance best. A woman wants things like world peace, a clean house, and a deep and meaningful relationship based on mutual understanding and love. A man wants things like a Craftsman router with attachments, undisputed control of the TV remote, and a red Corvette which will miraculously make his bald spot disappear. When Christina's first daughter was born, she told her husband she was going to quit work and write a book. It was a good time to start a new career, because how much trouble could one little infant be?

Ha! It took ten years, two children and three completed manuscripts before her first novel, CANDLE IN THE WINDOW, was published to great acclaim. In the years since, she has enjoyed writing witty, emotional novels for every reader: historical romances, paranormal romances, and romantic suspense. Her stories have been translated into 25 languages, won Romance Writers of America's prestigious Golden Heart and RITA Awards and been called the year's best by Library Journal. Christina Dodd herself has been a clue in the Los Angeles Times crossword puzzle (11/18/05, # 13 Down: Romance Novelist named Christina.) Publishers Weekly praises her style that 'showcases Dodd's easy, addictive charm and steamy storytelling.'

Christina's most recent releases include:
-- LADY IN BLACK, a full-length romantic suspense, rewritten and updated for your reading pleasure,
-- WILD TEXAS ROSE, an updated Western e-novella,
-- THE SMUGGLER'S CAPTIVE BRIDE (formerly THE LADY AND THE TIGER), an updated Regency e-novella,
-- STONE ANGEL, an original Chosen Ones e-novella,
-- WILDER, the grand finale of the Chosen Ones series!

Christina Dodd is married to a man with all his hair and no Corvette, but many Craftsman tools.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#82 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Romance > Historical Romance

#83 in Books > Romance > Historical

#82 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Romance > Historical Romance

#83 in Books > Romance > Historical

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wilder, A Review for the Blog Bodice Rippers, Femme Fatales and Fantasy September 14, 2012

By Shauni Steenburgen

Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

When waiting for a long anticipated book, knowing that it will bring the story to an end a reader often has mixed feelings. One, will it live up to the hype and two does it really have to end? Oh and will I like the ending.. guess that is three questions.. In Christina Dodd's Wilder the final book of her Chosen Ones Series the answer is yes.. yes ... yes.. What a fantastic ending to a wonderful series. The Chosen ones is a series that tells the story of good vs evil in a very obvious manner. It talks about black, white and grey. It shares when characters we think are good are less than perfect and it shares when characters that we thinks should be irredeemable and yet are. I have enjoyed this series from the very beginning and yes am so very sad to see it end. But Ms Dodd, ends it exactly when she should and let me say she does it with a bang!!

Aleksandr Wilder, miracle baby.. A Child of prophecy who walked through fire at a very young age. He was chosen as a chosen not because he had powers but because of who he was. His family had already beat a millennium old contract with the devil, whose to say this generation couldn't do it again? He was still a child when he was chosen, brilliant, generous, kind but still a child. Four years into his service he went to get married and disappeared no one knew if he was alive or dead... Three years later the only thing he knows is that he doesn't know anything. He is the Guardian, a beast whose sole job is to protect those below. The homeless, the mentally ill, society's cast offs. The ones who weren't protected BEFORE Armageddon and certainly not after.

Charisma Fangorn (and no she does not live with the Ents) has heard the hearth speak to her for most of her life. Raised by a parent who took advantage of her talents she escaped to become her own woman. A free spirited woman who in my opinion was the heart of the Chosen. Smart mouthed and funky she yanked everyone's chains and yet she was always the one who held on to hope. Real hope that good would overcome evil. Charisma was traveling below searching for her missing bracelet when she was attacked by demons and left for dead. Brought to the Guardian's cave where she was able to resist the demon poison she finds more than healing.

Charisma and the Guardian tell a wonderful beauty and the beast story. In many ways it reminded me of Catherine and Vincent (oh come on you remember Ron Pearlman and Linda Hamilton's version of the story). Living in the tunnels below New York City. Seriously, I want to check out those tunnels so much happens down there.. from mysterious beasts to ancient treasures.. *grins* The Guardian knows if he goes to close to the surface he will be found so he is destined to remain below and Charisma is destined to return to her duties as a chosen one.

This story was poignant, it brought tears to my eyes several times. It was fierce, the chosen truly believed that they had a chance to ensure that good would prevail. It was romantic in oh so many ways, the most obvious in being that true love conquers all. It was a story about so much more than one man and one woman and yet in so many ways it was the story of man and woman. I LOVED this book.

I enjoyed seeing the Wilders again, who among us doesn't love Konstantine Wilder? I enjoyed some of the humor.. Rosie the bus driver especially, seriously this woman had a schedule to keep. I appreciated that Ms Dodd made sure that love conquered all for more than Charisma and Aleksandr. The story of choices and sacrifices of doing what was right above all was a truly powerful one. I could go on and on and on about this book but I keep stumbling into spoilerville and I hate doing that so I will just say.. read this book!!

This is not a stand alone book, sure you could read it as one but there is so much history, so much that came before. I suggest you not only read the Chosen Ones but you also read the Darkness Chosen Series first.. But even if you don't want to read all that came before.. read this book!!

Shauni

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wilder, the perfect ending to The Chosen Ones Series September 6, 2012

By parawriter

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Let me first say this has been an exciting paranormal romance series from the first book, even if the genre is not your usual fare. The characters are that mix between human and something more that makes them just like people you may know. Rich with flaws, love, quirks, humor, and intensity, they stumble and grow as they become heroes and heroines you can't help but love. The action well-played out, and the romance beautiful and hot (fanning myself)! Wilder is a beauty and the beast sort of love story, one of the best written. Our hero in Wilder is Aleksandr Wilder, a descendant in the family of characters in the Darkness Chosen Series, joining the two in the fight against the same evil. The romance fires between him and Charisma, the only other chosen one who has not found her mate. The chosen ones are gifted with special abilities, and selected to keep a restraint on the greatest evil present in the world. They also rescue others who are gifted. This story can be read as a stand-alone book, as details are briefly interwoven from the bigger stories, but I would recommend reading both series soon because they are EXCELLENT! With such real characters and no repetition in her books, Christina Dodd remains one of the top writers of paranormal romance, and also other romance sub-genres.

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wild for Wilder!!!! August 7, 2012

By L. Thompson

Format:Kindle Edition

Every seven years a group of "Chosen" are selected and these seven are to battle the evil that is attacking the world. The "Chosen" must work together if they are to succeed in defeating this evil. Unfortunately time is running out!

Aleksandr is a troubled guy. He was instrumental in helping save his family and now is struggling to do his part as a "Chosen" to save the world. So he runs from his fate. But as we all know - no one can run forever!

When Aleksandr finds Charisma being attacked - he can no longer run from fate or from himself! He must face his fears or lose his soul!

I fell in love with the Aleksandr and the Wilder family when reading Christina Dodd's "Darkness Chosen" Series. So I have been waiting patiently - well maybe not patiently - for Aleksandr's story (lol). In "Wilder" you get to revisit old favorites. You get a glimpse into how the rest of his family was getting by. I loved it!

"Wilder" was totally worth the wait!