Customer Reviews

Wolf Tales

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(16)

 

 

After reading the first chapter of Wolf Tales I it's easy to understand the mixed reactions. This is one weird book!

After Alexandria walks in on her fiance buck naked with another woman -- in their bed no less -- she decides to hop in her car and escape for awhile. As luck would have it, she ends up getting run off the road while caught in a blizzard. She begins to walk in the hopes of finding some shelter but gets all turned around and lost in the blinding snow. She succumbs to the cold and collapses in a heap giving up all hope of rescue. When she awakens she feels an intense heat emanating from the male form laying naked beside her now naked body. What? Where'd he come from? Overcome by lust and gratitude, she allows him to do as he wishes with her body. Never seeing his face. Yes, Never Seeing His Face. She then passes out from exhaustion. Life is so tough some days.

Thus begins Stefan (the naked, faceless man) and Xandria's love affair. From the moment they touch they're connected and Xandria finds herself overwhelmingly attracted to him despite the fact that he's, eh, covered in gray downy fur, has a "muzzle" and a beastly protrusion where a man-part is supposed to be located (I'm thinking this is where the other reviewers went "ick!!"). It's weird, oh yes it is, but so vividly written that you just can't turn away even though your brain is screaming "this is so not right, stop reading, STOP READING NOW!".

I'm sad to say this book went downhill at the midway point. A little more plot would've gone a long way here. One sex scene after another gets excruciatingly dull when there's no plot to get in the way. I ended up bored and skimmed my way to the end so I could it pass it along to the next victim.

After reading the many and diametrically diverse reviews of this book, I just purchased it. I must say, it turned out better than I thought it might. In fact, the wolf-human-hybrid 'triangle' was cool. It is a new twist on some old taboos. I didn't think the characters were the most grabbing for me, emotionally, that I've ever read about, but I did enjoy their situation and resolutions. I liked them. Very satisfactory all the way around. And the sex was very good. Remember, although caution, safe sex, etc., are all very well and necessary in the real world, in our fantasies, all bets are off. Now that my appetite is whetted, will probably try the other Wolf Tales books. Hope they stretch the envelop a bit more. Stretching the envelope is good exercise!

Sliding off the road in the middle of a snow storm, Alexandria "Xandi" Olanet's plan to get her life in order is not going well. After catching her fiance with another woman, Xandi took some time off to find herself. Now Xandi simply needs to find her way back to the highway... uphill in a blizzard! Having blacked out before finding help, Xandi finally wakes to find herself unexpectedly bathed in warmth. The mind blowing sex with an unknown man that follows is overwhelming. It is unlike anything Xandi has ever experienced!

Xandi's new lover and savior is Stefan Aragat, the famous magician. He is also a werewolf trapped between forms as part man and part wolf. Unable to fully become a human, Stefan believes he is cursed by his own hubris and has given up hope. This powerful new connection with Xandi encourages him to seek forgiveness from his former master. He hopes that werewolf wizard Anton Chavel can reverse the curse.

Although Stefan wants Xandi's company, he is unsure how to explain the attraction he shares with his mentor. His worst fears are realized at their first meeting when Xandi sees him being dominated by Anton. Stefan fears he has lost her, but their bond proves strong enough to handle this new dimension. Xandi's love helps Stefan see that hope is not lost. Maybe there really is no curse. Maybe there is a place for Anton in both their lives. Maybe this is a new beginning for all of them.

Ms. Douglas' Wolf Tales, a collection of four connected stories, is a unique and intense werewolf story that sends the reader into a sensual world. I especially liked the way Ms. Douglas' werewolves are unique from werewolves of myth. The early scenes with Xandi and Stefan are hot enough to cause a heat wave in a blizzard. Xandi is a strong woman who has finally found where she belongs. Stefan is a flawed man discovering redemption through the strength of their bond. Anton's search for a mate and family is heart wrenching.

Ms. Douglas deftly handles controversial subjects such as sex in animal form, homosexuality, dominance, and partner sharing. This isn't your typical romance, and the strong characters and story line made it all work. Without giving too much away, the introduction of a fourth character late in the story was key in my accepting the Chanku's nontraditional social structure. Wolf Tales is an atomic hot erotic romance with real emotional depth.


Cheryl
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

STORY BRIEF:
Xandi is driving in a snowstorm. A truck runs her off the road. She gets lost walking in the blizzard and passes out. She wakes to find herself with a strange man. She accompanies Stefan on a trip to find Anton, the magician who turned him into part wolf. Stefan learns how to shift between human and wolf form, as does Anton. They want Xandi to stay with them. Later Anton discovers Keisha who had been brutally raped. He invites her to stay with them.

REVIEWER'S OPINION:
I suggest the first sex scene be nominated for some kind of award. It surprised me. It was hot, intoxicating and sensual. After being lost in the snow, Xandi wakes up in a warm bed in the dark next to a strange naked body. The next day was the first conversation between Xandi and this man. The scene of the conversation was mesmerizing. The story was different, nothing run-of-the-mill about this. Although I should mention that this group of characters seem to spend most of their time running through the forest and having a lot of sex. Apparently the two men were wealthy enough to support them all without anyone needing to have a job. The author doesn't go into that. But it's not necessary because the purpose of the book is for the erotic, not the mundane activities of life. The second half wasn't as good as the first half, but it was still ok. Be forewarned, some readers will not like the following. There are gay sex scenes, men with men and women with women. The characters are not monogamous. There are group sex scenes, rear door activity, mild bondage, spanking, rape and murder - all of it explicit and graphic.

THE SERIES:
Wolf Tales was originally written as an online serial, with a new story coming out every six weeks through Changeling Press. When Kensington bought the series, they put all the stories together to create the first book. The rest of the books in the series were written as novels or novellas and have a lot more continuity to them. (Source: from one of the author's comments.)

DATA:
Story length: 255 pages. Swearing language: strong. Sexual language: strong/erotic. Number of sex scenes: 16. Total number of sex scene pages: 75. Setting: current day Oregon, Montana and California. Copyright: 2006. Genre: erotic paranormal romance.

OTHER BOOKS:
To date, I've read one other book by Kate Douglas. My 3.5 star review of "Wolf Tales III" copyright 2007 was posted 5/2/09.

I'm relatively new to the erotic romance scene, but let me tell you that this book is awesome! I was hooked from the first chapter! You could really feel everything that the character felt, saw, smelled, and oh yes, tasted. This book not only had a lot of hot sex scenes, but being someone who doesn't find two men together hot(actually it's gross), after reading this book, I think I've changed my mind. The threesomes and foursomes were totally a turn on, and so where all the other sex scenes. The plot was sooo good, I wish there was an x-rated movie made from it. As long as the budget was big. I'd even want to star in it! Since reading it, I have passed it along to my friends, and they are hooked too. Also after reading this book, I've never had any interest in Montana, but now I want to move there! Kate did so well describing how beautiful it was, now I at least have to visit it. Anyway, if you're looking for something different in the way of an erotic romance, this book has it all!!!

I'm not going to bother with a synopsis of this book, as this has been done.
This book worked for me.

Yes, there are sexual scenarios that might be challenging to those who prefer more traditional erotica, as some of the reviews point out. This book has: polyamory, group sex, m/m, f/f, m/f, mmf... pretty much every combo you can think of, and there is sex between partners when one or both is in shifted form (wolf).

To me, all of the above is neither a selling point for this book, nor a deterrent. When I read erotica, I want great sex scenes in the context of: creative plot (this book definitely has that!), likable characters (definitely likable!), and most of all, sex in a loving context. In this book, love does not come off as a plot device. It pervades everything each character does and thinks, whether sexual or not. Sex, in this book (though frequent) is only one way that each character shows their love for the others. I like that.

I also want to note that I like seeing characters who are smart and open-minded, who don't spend half the book doubting who they are, what they want, etc... I really Liked these characters!

In summary, I would strongly recommend this series of books to those who are very open minded, want strong likable characters and an interesting plot-line, as well as hot sex scenes in loving context.

I prefer more of a storyline rather than back to back sex scenes. This is a story about shapeshifters so there are sex scenes with humans & shapeshifters in various phases. Also, group sex, man on man, woman on woman, every manner of sexual act. So, if any of that makes you uneasy, this is not the book for you.

As much as I love erotic novels, I can only give this book 1 star. If you looking for a book with hot erotic sex and nothing else, then this book is for you. However, I like my books to contain a story line and even though this book had some, it did do enough to hold me. There are very few authors who is able to pull off an erotic romance with story line. Unfortunately, for me Kate Douglas got the sex right and nothing else. I also did not like the male on male and female on female sex or the sharing of partners. I can handle the menage but the rest just did not do it for me. I believe that we all have choice of the romance novels we read and I am not into gay, lesbian or sharing of partners. I am not saying this was a gay or lesbian romance novel, however, there are love scenes that contains both. I would have to agree with some of the reviews, this book does border on beastiality. At first the story went great but then Stefan and Xandi left to find Anton and everything changed. Even though Anton found his own mate, Stefan and Anton continued to have homosexual relationship and sharing of partners. For me a book has to contain 5 things in order to gain 4/5 stars.

1. Great character development. This book did not describe the characters well enough for me.
2. Great erotic/sensual sex. This book was filled with great sex, however it was just that sex, there was no passion, no love. I felt like I was reading a porno movie and not reading a love story.
3. There was no story line. I felt the book was all over the place, no content except for page after page with sex.
4. Great ending. This book did not have a great ending.
5. Great price. I feel I paid too much for this book.

I am going to try the second book in the series. I try to be fair because sometimes the second book is better than the first. However, if you truly want to read a great paranormal series then try Lora Leigh's Feline Breed. One of the best paranormal series ever! Also, try other erotic authors like Shayla Black, Annemarie McKenna, Jaci Burton, Leah Brooke, Angela Knight and Maya Banks.

The first half of the book was quite good. Then it just sort of dulled out. It's sad to say that this story actually bored me after such a nice start. Read the first half and then don't hold your breath because it may easily disappoint you too.

An incredibly erotic, sexually explicit novel with an amazingly decent storyline as well. If you like tales of paranormal, wolf-like beings (not werewolves, something else) mixed in with hot, kinky, sex then this is the book for you.