"Not for the faint of heart, this werewolf tale has bite"

Zoologist Dr. Chloe Evans has loved wolves her entire life. She still recalls the fanciful tales her great-grandmother spun of wolf-human hybrids that stole into unmarried women's beds at night. And of the wolf-man who had loved and left her. Chloe knows these stories are nonsense, but she dreams of finding and loving such a man-beast for herself.

When three wolves walk through open patio doors and into Chloe's bedroom one night, she knows that she's probably dead meat. After all, naked and unarmed, she is no match for three fully grown, hungry wolves. Surprisingly enough, the alpha male climbs onto her bed and becomes familiar with her. Very familiar. Chloe knows this is wrong, so why does the alpha male turn her on? And why does he seem to have human intellect gleaming in his bright blue eyes?

Damon Caine, "Caine", is on the hunt for a mate. He's torn between his wolf side that demands he mate with Chloe immediately and the human side that seeks acceptance from Chloe before consummation. Adding to Caine's troubles is his twin brother Luke's insolence and desire for Chloe. Throw in his younger brother Lee and his infatuation with Chloe and Caine has his hands (paws?) full.

When will Caine reveal his true self to Chloe? Will Luke claim Chloe before Caine acts on his feelings? Just how far is Luke going to push Caine before the situation turns deadly? When will Chloe learn to accept her deepest desires? And why does Caine remind her so much of the alpha wolf?

There are several hysterically funny moments that should not be missed. But I felt the lack of a loving full-length sexual encounter between Caine and Chloe hurt the story. If the ending could have been a little more drawn out, the novel would have benefited from the addition. I also felt that CAINE is bogged down by too much introspection and exposition. If Ms. Edwards lightens the tone a little and utilizes more of her humor that shows up sporadically, she has the makings of a winning series. Remember the writer's mantra of "show, don't tell." Despite these criticisms, I am looking forward to reading more of Ms. Edwards' universe populated with werewolf hybrids seeking mates.

Sensuality: Rated NC-17 by the publisher. Explicit sex, multiple partners, anal play, attempted rape (not by the hero); sexually explicit scenes: 9.

Reviewed by Denise Powers
Courtesy Sensual Romance
Posted August 30, 2003

Summary

She's fertile. And Caine needs a bitch in heat.

As an alpha male of a wolf human hybrid species, Caine knows it's his responsibility to sire the next generation of cubs for his pack. The animal in him can smell when the female upstream can conceive and this part of him has no qualms about mounting her with or without her consent.

The man in him, however, isn't quite so willing to do that.

Dr. Chloe Evans has come home to help reintroduce a timber wolf pack into the mountains where she grew up. She also hopes to record some of the legends concerning a hybrid species of wolf that reportedly once lived alongside the people of the Appalachians. Animals that possessed very seductive and tender human emotions and thoughts, but very brutal and instinct driven needs and desires. Animals like the one she's always dreamed of finding for a mate.

Animals like Damon Caine.

Sexual Content: NC-17. Genre: Werewolf.