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Tooth & Claw #1
Blind Man's Wolf
A night-blind vampire. A werewolf with lousy self-confidence. And a whole hell of a lot of danger...
Ellis O’Neill is an art dealer with too many problems: his eyesight has deteriorated to the point of night-blindness; he’s estranged from his family, to whom he owes a considerable sum of money; and his guide dog went right off him the night Ellis died. Without his dog, Ellis is trapped in a life bouncing between home and work, dependent on his personal assistant.
Werewolf Randall Carter has problems of his own. He loves his pack, he really does, but as their Omega he’s always the one to bear the brunt of their rage. It’s a role he can’t avoid, and Randall isn't sure he can take it for much longer, so he buries himself in his day job. Randall’s the best dog trainer in the city, and when he’s offered a client who needs him to work evenings he’d be a fool to turn it down.
Soon Randall is falling for someone he should despise. Everything about the undead is anathema to his kind, but Ellis is exactly the kind of guy Randall would want to ask out on a date – if he were still breathing. Worse, they may not have too long to figure their feelings out. Someone or something is gunning for Ellis and anyone else who gets in the way; they won’t rest until the vampire is destroyed.
Ellis O’Neill is an art dealer with too many problems: his eyesight has deteriorated to the point of night-blindness; he’s estranged from his family, to whom he owes a considerable sum of money; and his guide dog went right off him the night Ellis died. Without his dog, Ellis is trapped in a life bouncing between home and work, dependent on his personal assistant.
Werewolf Randall Carter has problems of his own. He loves his pack, he really does, but as their Omega he’s always the one to bear the brunt of their rage. It’s a role he can’t avoid, and Randall isn't sure he can take it for much longer, so he buries himself in his day job. Randall’s the best dog trainer in the city, and when he’s offered a client who needs him to work evenings he’d be a fool to turn it down.
Soon Randall is falling for someone he should despise. Everything about the undead is anathema to his kind, but Ellis is exactly the kind of guy Randall would want to ask out on a date – if he were still breathing. Worse, they may not have too long to figure their feelings out. Someone or something is gunning for Ellis and anyone else who gets in the way; they won’t rest until the vampire is destroyed.
206 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 5, 2014
38 people are currently reading
389 people want to read
About the author
Amelia Faulkner
22 books291 followersAmelia Faulkner was born in Thame, Oxfordshire, and sprouted upward in short order. The ground around Thame is reasonably mucky, especially in the winter, and she can’t be blamed for wanting to get away from it.
Raised on a steady diet of Star Trek and Doctor Who, Amelia stood no chance in not becoming a grade-A geek. She has sat on the board of the British Fantasy Society, contributed fiction and fluff to various published roleplaying games, and written non-fiction for SciFiNow and SFX Magazines. For every positive there is an equal and opposite negative, and Amelia is forced to admit that she loves Wild Wild West.
In her spare time she enjoys travel, photography, walking her Corgi, and trying to convince her friends to replay the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game with all the Goblins decks.
Visit her website at http://ameliafaulkner.com!
Raised on a steady diet of Star Trek and Doctor Who, Amelia stood no chance in not becoming a grade-A geek. She has sat on the board of the British Fantasy Society, contributed fiction and fluff to various published roleplaying games, and written non-fiction for SciFiNow and SFX Magazines. For every positive there is an equal and opposite negative, and Amelia is forced to admit that she loves Wild Wild West.
In her spare time she enjoys travel, photography, walking her Corgi, and trying to convince her friends to replay the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game with all the Goblins decks.
Visit her website at http://ameliafaulkner.com!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
March 24, 2015
What an amazing story!
There was a fabulous infusion of wry British humor,
The characters were unique,
The romance was sweet and cute,
The dialogue was quirky and smart,
The sexytimes were pure smutty perfection,
& There was even a bit of heart-pounding suspense!
I'm in awe, people.
Amelia Faulkner is a new-to-me author and I am officially a fan.
I can't wait to continue the series and find out what happens next for these characters.
Ellis O’Neill
In order to navigate London, Ellis relies on his seeing eye dog, Tiberius. Unfortunately, Tiberius has been leading him astray lately. The dog has been taking him far out of his way and even growling at strangers. Ellis fears one day he'll be led so far from home that he won't be able to make it back before sunrise.
The solution - call in an experienced dog trainer to observe Tiberius and correct his behavior.
Randall Carter
It's a lust that Randall can't act on - Ellis is his client, and there's nothing professional about the thoughts he having... What's worse, there's something not quite right about the blind art dealer: He doesn't seem to have a scent.
Randall turns to his pack for answers, but his relationship with his pack is shaky at best...
Randall has seen more than his fare share of adversity - the story line with his pack (which I fervently hope will be explored further in the second book) shines a spotlight on bullying. The give and take of pack-life in the city of London is so unlike the family-oriented, close-knit packs I've come to expect in my PNR. Randall is the Omega of the pack - the designated punching bag, and yet Randall retains his kind and sensitive nature.
The pack believes Ellis might be a Vampire, and tells Randall to investigate and kill Ellis if their suspicions are confirmed.
We've got a fabulous forbidden romance in bloom between these two.
In addition to the whole Vampire/Werewolf feud, Blind Man's Wolf explores themes about discrimination against the blind, the pitfalls of being a black man on the London gay scene, and oh so much more...
There was quite a bit of serious subject matter to round out this romance, and I feel that the balance between sincere and silly was beautifully achieved. This book seemed to have everything I look for in a Paranormal Erotic Romance and it surpassed every expectation I had for it.
I could go on and on about all the awesomeness in this book...
1. I want the second book in my hot little hands right this second, but it isn't due out for another month or so. There wasn't a cliffhanger, exactly, but there were definitely more obstacles for this couple to overcome before we can have a true HEA.
2. I don't think I can call this an 'insta-love' situation, but these characters certainly fell fast. With all the reasons Ellis & Randall shouldn't be together, I would have liked to see more reasons why they should before the L-Bomb was dropped.
3. I think a bit more information on Vampire physiology would have saved me a small heart attack during one tense moment in the book. I panicked, but apparently I was ignorant of the awesome Vampire Powers in this fantasy world.. Perhaps a prologue with a bit of Vampire lore and law would have set my mind at ease?
When I think about it, I think all of my tiny complaints can be summed up in one sentence: I WANT MORE.
This is a phenomenal start to a series - so much potential for future plot-lines and I'm already invested in the characters. It would be difficult to resist falling in love with these characters.
Side Note: Ellis O’Neill's dog is named Tiberius. If you followed my updates as I read this book, you know that I just happen to have a Beagle named Trillian Tiberius - Her names are an homage to 'Trillian' (the female lead in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series by Douglas Adams) and 'Tiberius' (The middle name of Captain James Tiberius Kirk from Star Trek) - I realize I've just exposed myself as a great big nerd, but you probably already knew that ;) This is my sweetie:
I'm always a sucker for a character who is a dog lover...
Evan Arden's Oden (Otherwise Alone)
Wrath's George (First appearance: Lover Avenged)
The more I think about it... I might need to put together a list of the Top Five Fictional Pets in Modern Romance... Any ideas for pets you would add to such a list?
"...You can't go through life alone just because you don't need to breathe anymore."Maybe this was a case of reading the right book at the right time, but I fell in love with this story. I had a huge grin on my face while reading it and I have a feeling this is going to be one of those books I recommend frequently.
"Oh, you don't think the blood-drinking and sunlight-allergy is an issue? Be still my already-still heart. Jay is going to find me the man of my dreams."
There was a fabulous infusion of wry British humor,
The characters were unique,
The romance was sweet and cute,
The dialogue was quirky and smart,
The sexytimes were pure smutty perfection,
& There was even a bit of heart-pounding suspense!
I'm in awe, people.
Amelia Faulkner is a new-to-me author and I am officially a fan.
I can't wait to continue the series and find out what happens next for these characters.
Ellis O’Neill
Ellis couldn't help but feel flattered. Dangerously, terrifyingly flattered. Apparently he had the power to make this powerful creature forget he could tear people asunder. Was that a good thing?Ellis is a blind Vampire who owns an art gallery in London. He was turned about a year before this story starts, and he was almost completely blind at the time of his turning. Since his form was 'fixed' at the moment he joined the ranks of the undead, he will forever be almost blind.
In order to navigate London, Ellis relies on his seeing eye dog, Tiberius. Unfortunately, Tiberius has been leading him astray lately. The dog has been taking him far out of his way and even growling at strangers. Ellis fears one day he'll be led so far from home that he won't be able to make it back before sunrise.
The solution - call in an experienced dog trainer to observe Tiberius and correct his behavior.
Randall Carter
He took the bullying and the taunts because it kept the pack sane; kept it thriving. But he was buggered if he was ever going to like it.Randall is a werewolf with a gift for patience and empathy - traits that make him a wonderful dog trainer. He doesn't mind his new client's odd working hours, and it's lust at first sight when he meets Ellis O’Neill.
It's a lust that Randall can't act on - Ellis is his client, and there's nothing professional about the thoughts he having... What's worse, there's something not quite right about the blind art dealer: He doesn't seem to have a scent.
Randall turns to his pack for answers, but his relationship with his pack is shaky at best...
Randall has seen more than his fare share of adversity - the story line with his pack (which I fervently hope will be explored further in the second book) shines a spotlight on bullying. The give and take of pack-life in the city of London is so unlike the family-oriented, close-knit packs I've come to expect in my PNR. Randall is the Omega of the pack - the designated punching bag, and yet Randall retains his kind and sensitive nature.
The pack believes Ellis might be a Vampire, and tells Randall to investigate and kill Ellis if their suspicions are confirmed.
We've got a fabulous forbidden romance in bloom between these two.
In addition to the whole Vampire/Werewolf feud, Blind Man's Wolf explores themes about discrimination against the blind, the pitfalls of being a black man on the London gay scene, and oh so much more...
There was quite a bit of serious subject matter to round out this romance, and I feel that the balance between sincere and silly was beautifully achieved. This book seemed to have everything I look for in a Paranormal Erotic Romance and it surpassed every expectation I had for it.
I could go on and on about all the awesomeness in this book...
"I don't know what I am to you, but to me you are a reason to be. You're something good, something pure, and you're worth fighting to stay afloat for."I do have a few itty-bitty complaints:
1. I want the second book in my hot little hands right this second, but it isn't due out for another month or so. There wasn't a cliffhanger, exactly, but there were definitely more obstacles for this couple to overcome before we can have a true HEA.
2. I don't think I can call this an 'insta-love' situation, but these characters certainly fell fast. With all the reasons Ellis & Randall shouldn't be together, I would have liked to see more reasons why they should before the L-Bomb was dropped.
3. I think a bit more information on Vampire physiology would have saved me a small heart attack during one tense moment in the book. I panicked, but apparently I was ignorant of the awesome Vampire Powers in this fantasy world.. Perhaps a prologue with a bit of Vampire lore and law would have set my mind at ease?
When I think about it, I think all of my tiny complaints can be summed up in one sentence: I WANT MORE.
This is a phenomenal start to a series - so much potential for future plot-lines and I'm already invested in the characters. It would be difficult to resist falling in love with these characters.
Side Note: Ellis O’Neill's dog is named Tiberius. If you followed my updates as I read this book, you know that I just happen to have a Beagle named Trillian Tiberius - Her names are an homage to 'Trillian' (the female lead in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series by Douglas Adams) and 'Tiberius' (The middle name of Captain James Tiberius Kirk from Star Trek) - I realize I've just exposed myself as a great big nerd, but you probably already knew that ;) This is my sweetie:
I'm always a sucker for a character who is a dog lover...
Evan Arden's Oden (Otherwise Alone)
Wrath's George (First appearance: Lover Avenged)
The more I think about it... I might need to put together a list of the Top Five Fictional Pets in Modern Romance... Any ideas for pets you would add to such a list?
August 29, 2015
I like the premises: A blind fledgling vampire has to employ a shy omega werewolf to help with his service dog's eccentricities. The dog's quirks lead to discovery of a madman on a killing spree. Between that, a were-alpha's murderous intent and each other's fears and prejudices, the vamp and the omega are trying to date and form some kind of a relationship.
However, the author tends to ramble off, the dialects and the street jargon(?), that magically appear and disappear, are a distraction and some parts of the story don't make any sense (i.e. the vampire's clothes disappear with him, but not a dog leash that he holds).
2.5 stars.
Jeffrey, thank you so much for lending this book! I did enjoy the story, apart from bits I've mentioned :)
However, the author tends to ramble off, the dialects and the street jargon(?), that magically appear and disappear, are a distraction and some parts of the story don't make any sense (i.e. the vampire's clothes disappear with him, but not a dog leash that he holds).
2.5 stars.
Jeffrey, thank you so much for lending this book! I did enjoy the story, apart from bits I've mentioned :)
dnf
May 21, 2015Meh. So disappointing. I absolutely loved the blurb and had high hopes for this one. Sadly the characters are underdeveloped. There's a lot of extraneous details while other concepts are thrown out there only to be forgotten. It didn't take long for me to start skimming and ultimately I didn't care enough to finish.
did-not-finish
September 30, 2015DNF at 50%. Not bad-bad, but not good enough to keep reading.
August 29, 2018
The author was still coming into her powers but the series is well worth reading. As a series highly recommended.
June 10, 2015
DNF at 40%.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I really thought this book was going to be a hit for me, because on paper it has two key things that I love : urban fantasy and a man living with a disability. At the very least, I thought those two things would keep me entertained enough for me to read until the end.
I tried. Oh did I try. I wanted to give up after the 25% mark but I told myself to struggle on, in case it got better. I managed for a little while and then I just couldn't do it.
I was so bored.
I couldn't get attached to Ellis and Randall. Ellis wasn't so bad but Randall was a big pushover and I hated his pack dynamic. Why would you stay with people who beat the shit out of you? Now I know there are situations where domestic/familial abuse leave the abused feeling like they don't have a choice in the matter and they feel trapped, or obligated to stay for one reason or another. Well if that's what the author was going for I really don't buy it. It doesn't read that way at all. It feels like Faulkner wrote him in that situation as a means for easy character growth. It felt lazy.
And Ellis' best friend trying to set them up "because he obviously fancies you like crazy" or something came out of nowhere. I didn't buy it. The guys met 30 seconds ago, give them time to breathe, Jesus. Anyways most of the conversations between Ellis and Randall were awkward and didn't flow right. The humor fell flat. Everything was flat. And let's not talk about the typos. I counted four, at least, and two of those were in the third sentence of the book. Was this proof-read at all?!
The only character I really liked was the dog.
Meh.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I really thought this book was going to be a hit for me, because on paper it has two key things that I love : urban fantasy and a man living with a disability. At the very least, I thought those two things would keep me entertained enough for me to read until the end.
I tried. Oh did I try. I wanted to give up after the 25% mark but I told myself to struggle on, in case it got better. I managed for a little while and then I just couldn't do it.
I was so bored.
I couldn't get attached to Ellis and Randall. Ellis wasn't so bad but Randall was a big pushover and I hated his pack dynamic. Why would you stay with people who beat the shit out of you? Now I know there are situations where domestic/familial abuse leave the abused feeling like they don't have a choice in the matter and they feel trapped, or obligated to stay for one reason or another. Well if that's what the author was going for I really don't buy it. It doesn't read that way at all. It feels like Faulkner wrote him in that situation as a means for easy character growth. It felt lazy.
And Ellis' best friend trying to set them up "because he obviously fancies you like crazy" or something came out of nowhere. I didn't buy it. The guys met 30 seconds ago, give them time to breathe, Jesus. Anyways most of the conversations between Ellis and Randall were awkward and didn't flow right. The humor fell flat. Everything was flat. And let's not talk about the typos. I counted four, at least, and two of those were in the third sentence of the book. Was this proof-read at all?!
The only character I really liked was the dog.
Meh.
June 9, 2015
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Ellis and Randall. Vampire and Werewolf. Night and Day. Perfect together.
Ellis is a vampire who was just recently changed. While he was alive, he had a progressive disease that caused his eyesight to fail over time to the point of being fully blind. As a vampire, he maintains the traits he had the day he died, which makes him a blind vampire. This was a nice twist to the usual vampire traits that tend to be perfect night vision. Here is a vampire who needs a seeing eye dog. Very cool twist.
Randall is a werewolf who is a dog trainer by day. He belongs to a pack of wolves, but they are not family. They are a pack put together by circumstances (he is found as a cub and assisted through the transition). The werewolf story is different than the other ones I’ve read in that the werewolf gene is recessive and none of Randall’s family members are werewolves. Randall struggles with the fact that he is given the position of Omega and gets bullied by the other wolves just because of his position. He hates it and it makes him question the pack mentality and rules.
Ellis and Randall meet when Randall is hired to help Ellis with his guide dog (Ellis thinks there is a problem because Tiberius seems to be acting strange). The two get to know each other and find that they like each other a lot. Randall helps Ellis with his problems, yet Ellis seems to cause more problems for Randall because it makes him question his loyalty to his pack and his feelings for Ellis.
There was one thing that made me wonder and bothered me a little bit. The blurb of the story stated "and his guide dog went right off him the night Ellis died. Without his dog, Ellis is trapped in a life bouncing between home and work, dependent on his personal assistant", yet in the book, he has his trusted sight dog Tiberius. I'm not sure if perhaps it was British wording, but I assumed this meant there was something negative about his dog. I kept waiting for some story about how there was a different dog previously or a scene where Tiberius runs off, but Tiberius was present all throughout and was his trusty companion. This didn't match for me. That said, Tiberius is a great dog and aide and I’m glad he didn’t run off.
I really enjoyed reading about these guys. The major story from the book was wrapped up by the end of this book, but it is clear that more is about to come and Book 2 is a must read. I can’t wait to see what more is in store for these guys.
Ellis and Randall. Vampire and Werewolf. Night and Day. Perfect together.
Ellis is a vampire who was just recently changed. While he was alive, he had a progressive disease that caused his eyesight to fail over time to the point of being fully blind. As a vampire, he maintains the traits he had the day he died, which makes him a blind vampire. This was a nice twist to the usual vampire traits that tend to be perfect night vision. Here is a vampire who needs a seeing eye dog. Very cool twist.
Randall is a werewolf who is a dog trainer by day. He belongs to a pack of wolves, but they are not family. They are a pack put together by circumstances (he is found as a cub and assisted through the transition). The werewolf story is different than the other ones I’ve read in that the werewolf gene is recessive and none of Randall’s family members are werewolves. Randall struggles with the fact that he is given the position of Omega and gets bullied by the other wolves just because of his position. He hates it and it makes him question the pack mentality and rules.
Ellis and Randall meet when Randall is hired to help Ellis with his guide dog (Ellis thinks there is a problem because Tiberius seems to be acting strange). The two get to know each other and find that they like each other a lot. Randall helps Ellis with his problems, yet Ellis seems to cause more problems for Randall because it makes him question his loyalty to his pack and his feelings for Ellis.
There was one thing that made me wonder and bothered me a little bit. The blurb of the story stated "and his guide dog went right off him the night Ellis died. Without his dog, Ellis is trapped in a life bouncing between home and work, dependent on his personal assistant", yet in the book, he has his trusted sight dog Tiberius. I'm not sure if perhaps it was British wording, but I assumed this meant there was something negative about his dog. I kept waiting for some story about how there was a different dog previously or a scene where Tiberius runs off, but Tiberius was present all throughout and was his trusty companion. This didn't match for me. That said, Tiberius is a great dog and aide and I’m glad he didn’t run off.
I really enjoyed reading about these guys. The major story from the book was wrapped up by the end of this book, but it is clear that more is about to come and Book 2 is a must read. I can’t wait to see what more is in store for these guys.
January 16, 2015
Did I like this? Eh. It was okay. However, I felt like I was missing half the story. Okay, not really half, but an entire storyline.
Also, it said something about Ellis not eating food. Which is normal for vamps. But, he ate when he was with Randall. There was no mention of him getting sick after he ate. But later, it talks about how he gets sick if he eats. I was confused for a minute.
This looks like it's going to be a series, so I will probably read on if it's a dollar again. Maybe I will get some answers?
Also, it said something about Ellis not eating food. Which is normal for vamps. But, he ate when he was with Randall. There was no mention of him getting sick after he ate. But later, it talks about how he gets sick if he eats. I was confused for a minute.
This looks like it's going to be a series, so I will probably read on if it's a dollar again. Maybe I will get some answers?
August 26, 2018
Great start
4 ⭐️
Great start to a series. I enjoy the take this author has on vampires and how they only get one extra special ability. I also like that Ellis is still the same as when he was turned. He still needs his guide dog to get around.
Looking forward to the next instalment
4 ⭐️
Great start to a series. I enjoy the take this author has on vampires and how they only get one extra special ability. I also like that Ellis is still the same as when he was turned. He still needs his guide dog to get around.
Looking forward to the next instalment
February 7, 2020
2.5 Stars. I wanted to love this - I loved the concept unfortunately for me the execution left a bit to be desired. The pacing was very slow and it took forever to get into the book. The dialect seemed to be there and then disappear and felt off as well. I also found Randall a bit frustrating. The way he let his pack treat him. Finally a few things just made no sense to me.
March 24, 2020
look i can’t defend this other than: i have kindle unlimited and haven’t left my apartment in 7 days. but joke’s on me because the first half was fun, but the second half...was not.
August 17, 2018
Rating: 4 stars
This was a good start to a series. Loved all the characters. I really like when we get the perspective of characters other’s than the MCs and really liked that we got a small portion from Jay’s perspective. The story ended in a bit of a cliff-hanger but that is okay since the next one in the series is out already and I can go straight to it. All in all, a highly enjoyable book.
This was a good start to a series. Loved all the characters. I really like when we get the perspective of characters other’s than the MCs and really liked that we got a small portion from Jay’s perspective. The story ended in a bit of a cliff-hanger but that is okay since the next one in the series is out already and I can go straight to it. All in all, a highly enjoyable book.
September 21, 2016
Not bad but takes a while to get going
2.5* really as its not a bad read but there's a few editing mistakes and it takes a while for the story to get going.
I liked the British feel to the story but as a born and bred Yorkshire girl, I have to say that the use of dialect was completely wrong for someone York born.
'appen isn't used in the way the author used it, she didn't have Ellis using t' in front of common words which is standard for all parts of Yorkshire and is the easiest way to convey how we speak and the other words are more common in South Yorkshire.
Still, I appreciate the efforts and most people wouldn't be bothered by it.
2.5* really as its not a bad read but there's a few editing mistakes and it takes a while for the story to get going.
I liked the British feel to the story but as a born and bred Yorkshire girl, I have to say that the use of dialect was completely wrong for someone York born.
'appen isn't used in the way the author used it, she didn't have Ellis using t' in front of common words which is standard for all parts of Yorkshire and is the easiest way to convey how we speak and the other words are more common in South Yorkshire.
Still, I appreciate the efforts and most people wouldn't be bothered by it.
August 6, 2016
2.5*
So this started off really well. In my status update, I already mentioned this author's tendency to be overly detailed and descriptive, in a way that's distracting and overwhelming and gives me a headache. If Randall suspects that the guy he's attracted to is not human, and goes to a fellow shifter for advice, I don't need to sit through a description of her office, the linoleum on her floor, the description of her teapot...I.don't.care!! What does she think about Ellis having no reflection?? Get to it! I constantly had to skim parts of the story so I didn't lose my mind trying to keep up with the minutiae. Still, I found the characters interesting, as was the plot idea - blind vampire meets werewolf - so I abandoned thoughts of bailing, and plodded along. For the most part, things were going fine, then we got to plot points that made no sense to me and took away from me enjoying the story. Mainly, stuff like:
1. When tracking down the person trying to do Ellis harm, why didn't Randall just shift to his human form, take Ellis there...a human can guide a blind person by...oh, talking!...and then shift back as needed? Are you telling me a werewolf shifter can't break though the vest and dog harness for a seeing eye dog that Randall was wearing...you had to be there.. lol. Why on earth did I have to endure pages of 'dialogue', full of woofs and growls, while Randall and Ellis tried to communicate while Randall was in wolf form? Really?? Made no sense. The actual confrontation, with Randall taking so long to actually do something, was anti-climactic. He's a werewolf for pete's sake. My toy poodle would have been on that dude faster than Randall reacted.
2. The aftermath - the sex scene. Totally understandable given the high adrenalin pumping through their systems. Not so understandable given [spoiler] Ellis had a chunk of his chest, and half an arm, missing[/spoiler]. No problem. Nothing to see here folks. Let's just get the lube and get this party started right!
So yeah, some room for improvement there, but I do love these characters and I really want to see what happens with them, especially with the werewolf faction being very anti-vampire. I will definitely be there for Book 2!
So this started off really well. In my status update, I already mentioned this author's tendency to be overly detailed and descriptive, in a way that's distracting and overwhelming and gives me a headache. If Randall suspects that the guy he's attracted to is not human, and goes to a fellow shifter for advice, I don't need to sit through a description of her office, the linoleum on her floor, the description of her teapot...I.don't.care!! What does she think about Ellis having no reflection?? Get to it! I constantly had to skim parts of the story so I didn't lose my mind trying to keep up with the minutiae. Still, I found the characters interesting, as was the plot idea - blind vampire meets werewolf - so I abandoned thoughts of bailing, and plodded along. For the most part, things were going fine, then we got to plot points that made no sense to me and took away from me enjoying the story. Mainly, stuff like:
1. When tracking down the person trying to do Ellis harm, why didn't Randall just shift to his human form, take Ellis there...a human can guide a blind person by...oh, talking!...and then shift back as needed? Are you telling me a werewolf shifter can't break though the vest and dog harness for a seeing eye dog that Randall was wearing...you had to be there.. lol. Why on earth did I have to endure pages of 'dialogue', full of woofs and growls, while Randall and Ellis tried to communicate while Randall was in wolf form? Really?? Made no sense. The actual confrontation, with Randall taking so long to actually do something, was anti-climactic. He's a werewolf for pete's sake. My toy poodle would have been on that dude faster than Randall reacted.
2. The aftermath - the sex scene. Totally understandable given the high adrenalin pumping through their systems. Not so understandable given [spoiler] Ellis had a chunk of his chest, and half an arm, missing[/spoiler]. No problem. Nothing to see here folks. Let's just get the lube and get this party started right!
So yeah, some room for improvement there, but I do love these characters and I really want to see what happens with them, especially with the werewolf faction being very anti-vampire. I will definitely be there for Book 2!
December 22, 2014
I loved this book. I love a good romance but I don't love a lot of gratuitous sex. Sex should ADD to the story not be the focus of the story. I loved this book because the two main characters, Randall and Ellis, didn't even share their first kiss until I was finished with 42% of the book. The story was about Randall, a werewolf with a confidence problem, and Ellis, a night-blind vampire who has to use a seeing eye dog to get around.
Randall and Ellis meet when Ellis thinks his dog, Tiberius, is acting out and needs some retraining. Randall answers the call and a relationship ensues. The book is about the relationship between the two men and how it develops over the course of about a week or so.
They couldn't be any more different yet they develop a relationship that seems truly as if it was meant to be.
If I have any complaints it is just that Amelia Faulkner goes out of her way to tell us that Ellis has no heartbeat and only breathes if necessary to take in oxygen so he can speak. However, when Randall and Ellis do finally get around to having anal sex Randall remarks as to how large Ellis is and how deep he feels him inside. This left me with a question. In order for a male to become erect blood must flow into sacs in the penis and fill them. This means the blood must actually be flowing. But if Ellis' heart doesn't beat then that means no blood is flowing and therefore cannot fill the penis so he becomes erect and can therefore penetrate Randall. So how is it possible for Ellis to become erect when his blood does not flow?
Still this is a minor detail and takes nothing away from a wonderful story I would recommend to anyone who likes paranormal romance and/or GLBT stories. If I were making this book into a movie I would rate it a hard R and give it two thumbs up.
Randall and Ellis meet when Ellis thinks his dog, Tiberius, is acting out and needs some retraining. Randall answers the call and a relationship ensues. The book is about the relationship between the two men and how it develops over the course of about a week or so.
They couldn't be any more different yet they develop a relationship that seems truly as if it was meant to be.
If I have any complaints it is just that Amelia Faulkner goes out of her way to tell us that Ellis has no heartbeat and only breathes if necessary to take in oxygen so he can speak. However, when Randall and Ellis do finally get around to having anal sex Randall remarks as to how large Ellis is and how deep he feels him inside. This left me with a question. In order for a male to become erect blood must flow into sacs in the penis and fill them. This means the blood must actually be flowing. But if Ellis' heart doesn't beat then that means no blood is flowing and therefore cannot fill the penis so he becomes erect and can therefore penetrate Randall. So how is it possible for Ellis to become erect when his blood does not flow?
Still this is a minor detail and takes nothing away from a wonderful story I would recommend to anyone who likes paranormal romance and/or GLBT stories. If I were making this book into a movie I would rate it a hard R and give it two thumbs up.
August 25, 2015
Sounded like my kind of book, vamp and were get together. Wanted to love this book but didn't. It was okay, not bad but something was missing. The framework was there for a great story. Blind Young vampire who didn't know much about being a vampire. Werewolf who was unsure about his place or his so called pack. So much potential. I wanted more emotion between the two MCs, more build-up. More about their worlds. Maybe this will happen in the next books, but I felt I was just left hanging.
I love books set in England or Scotland. I love the language of the characters home. Yet it was in the story and then gone from the story. A slang word just seemed to appear out of nowhere in a conversation that had no slang.
I did like how Ellis coped with his physical challenge and I liked his love for his dog. Randall was not as deeply written. His treatment by his "pack" was horrible. I liked how he did not judge Ellis by his blindness. I just wanted to know him better. Jay was a delight.
I will read the next in the series as this was not a bad story, just not as deep as I thought it would be.
I love books set in England or Scotland. I love the language of the characters home. Yet it was in the story and then gone from the story. A slang word just seemed to appear out of nowhere in a conversation that had no slang.
I did like how Ellis coped with his physical challenge and I liked his love for his dog. Randall was not as deeply written. His treatment by his "pack" was horrible. I liked how he did not judge Ellis by his blindness. I just wanted to know him better. Jay was a delight.
I will read the next in the series as this was not a bad story, just not as deep as I thought it would be.
March 1, 2016
I really enjoyed this book and it came at a perfect time for me. I've been looking for a new series that follows the same couple. In this Ellis is a vampire with a twist. He's blind. He needs some dog training assistance with his seeing eye dog and hires Randall. As luck would have it Randall is a werewolf. He's not your typically growly, macho alpha though. He's quiet and reserved and lacks in self confidence. The two men end up falling for each other and it comes at a perfect time as someone is threating to kill Ellis and he needs the help.
The book had a perfect blend of action, adventure, romance and sexy times. I liked that it was a paranormal but the characters were more like every day guys. Not stereotypical prn stuff. Also something you don't see a lot was that the couple were different ethnicities. Overall I thought this was a good start to a new series and I will definitely be reading the next one.
**Copy received via IndiGo Marketing & Design in exchange for an honest review.**
The book had a perfect blend of action, adventure, romance and sexy times. I liked that it was a paranormal but the characters were more like every day guys. Not stereotypical prn stuff. Also something you don't see a lot was that the couple were different ethnicities. Overall I thought this was a good start to a new series and I will definitely be reading the next one.
**Copy received via IndiGo Marketing & Design in exchange for an honest review.**
June 4, 2015
A Nervous Werewolf This is by no means a perfect shifter tale but I will say it is a fun read. In fact I feel like Amelia Faulkner got more comfortable as she wrote. Without giving too much away a nervous werewolf and a blind newbie vampire meet and hit it off even if life & death conspires against them. I enjoyed this take on the supernaturals. There are so many different directions and possibilities for Faulkner to go in the future. Jay is wonderful and no evil should ever befall him.
May 23, 2017
Actual rating 3.5. Once it got going, it got going. I liked the little twists and turns (I hope we get to see more of Constable Hughes.) more than the relationship between Ellis and Randall. I especially liked the vampire lore Ms. Faulkner came up with.
I can also understand why some readers felt there were loose ends. It's going to be interesting to see them get tied up.
What I'd like to know: what happens with Randall's pack. They deserve to lose him.
Does the Council learn what really happened to Jonas and "Peter".
Will Ellis eventually turn Randall, (a vampire werewolf!) and if he does, will drinking his blood result in Ellis regaining his eyesight?
Looks like there will be three more books in the series. It should be an interesting ride.
I can also understand why some readers felt there were loose ends. It's going to be interesting to see them get tied up.
What I'd like to know: what happens with Randall's pack. They deserve to lose him.
Does the Council learn what really happened to Jonas and "Peter".
Will Ellis eventually turn Randall, (a vampire werewolf!) and if he does, will drinking his blood result in Ellis regaining his eyesight?
Looks like there will be three more books in the series. It should be an interesting ride.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2017
Well that was a different take on vamps and werewolves and I liked it. Unfortunately for my severely depleted book budget not all was sorted so I will have to carry on. We weren't told too much about this supernatural world that existed within the human world except that vamps and were didn't like each. On the vamp side there is a constabulary and a council but how they work even Ellis didn't know. Definitely reading more.
4 stars
4 stars
February 22, 2025
You noticed that it's an older work when you're familiar with the Author's other series, but I loved it nevertheless. A bit traditional on the lore, and very short, but don't get distracted by the three stars, those two live in my head rent-free now, and as I am writing this, I am half-way on my way to the website and order the rest of the books
October 13, 2017
This was interesting. You have a blind vampire and a shy, introverted guide dog trainer who happens to be a werewolf. They find each other when Ellis needs help with his guide dog. Sparks fly between them and the fun starts when someone wants Ellis dead.
February 18, 2018
nice ... and interesting but something was missing. at least in the first half.
not sure if I will read the next one
not sure if I will read the next one
August 6, 2018
Vampires and werewolves in London? Sign me up. Loved this story.
May 3, 2023
Blind
I will give this book a 4/5. I found the book interesting and I would like to read more of the series. I enjoyed the interspecies mix of the book. Ellis is a young vampire who owns an art gallery. He has one other person who works with him. Ellis is also blind. His maker did not realize that he was blind before he turned him into a vampire. Ellis has a guide dog, Tiberius, that is very good at his job, but he keeps getting off their route going home. This bothers Ellis so he looks for someone to re-train Tiberius. Randall answers the ad. Randall is a werewolf, so he and Tiberius get along well. Randall does not figure that Ellis is in danger until he gets a painting showing someone killing him. So the two men will have to work together. Eventually they will also have to explain to each other what they really are and how they feel about each other.
I will give this book a 4/5. I found the book interesting and I would like to read more of the series. I enjoyed the interspecies mix of the book. Ellis is a young vampire who owns an art gallery. He has one other person who works with him. Ellis is also blind. His maker did not realize that he was blind before he turned him into a vampire. Ellis has a guide dog, Tiberius, that is very good at his job, but he keeps getting off their route going home. This bothers Ellis so he looks for someone to re-train Tiberius. Randall answers the ad. Randall is a werewolf, so he and Tiberius get along well. Randall does not figure that Ellis is in danger until he gets a painting showing someone killing him. So the two men will have to work together. Eventually they will also have to explain to each other what they really are and how they feel about each other.
September 6, 2016
3.5 stars on Goodreads scale; 4 on Amazon's -- and promising better to come
A well-written M/M UF romance with appealing characters that break the mold.
Randall has allowed himself to be bullied, but even before meeting and falling for Ellis, he was starting to rebel against his pack's assumptions, which I was glad to see: a pack should make you feel strengthened and supported, not like you're less than you are.
Having a blind, relative-newbie vampire as the more dominant lead is also unusual, and both his abilities and difficulties, and the way his "death" changed them for better AND worse, are handled frankly... and how can you not like a guy who cares about his dog so much, even when things aren't going smoothly?
Speaking of frankness, there is a bit of "language", both in the sexy scenes and in teasing ones with Ellis's assistant/confidante Jay, but I did more smiling than frowning; YMMV.
Also speaking of language, this time in a different sense, the story takes place in London, using British vocabulary, idiom, and spelling, including a scattering of (particularly Yorkshire) slang/dialect. I wish the link directing readers to a glossary of (most of) that slang on the author's website had been in the FRONT of the book rather than the back!
Anyway, I enjoyed it, and am looking forward to seeing where their complicated situation with Randall's pack and Ellis's vampire council and constabulary take them, especially once their secrets are out.
Edited to add: I've now read (and reviewed, at least briefly) all four books currently extant in the series. Clearly, I found them entertaining reading. I hope AF doesn't consider herself definitely finished with these characters; there are a number of potential stories not yet told. However, it occurred to me that other than the one brief mention here, I don't think I've discussed the actual sexual content at all, and since it is an important element, I decided I'd better explain.
I don't feel I can really judge, because I just read through M/M sex scenes to get the gist and the emotion, w/o overthinking, partly because it's not personally sexy to me, and partly because I don't consider a female novelist (which most of them are) a truly reliable source re. how gay men go about finding pleasure together.
There are in the series some (not all) "urgent" bedroom sessions where I'm dubious it would feel good without at least a bit more preparation, and I recall there was one scene in book 1 or 2 where I said to myself, "Wait, did I misunderstand what position they're in? Arms don't bend that way" ... but then I just went, "Whatever" and didn't even read back to check.
A well-written M/M UF romance with appealing characters that break the mold.
Randall has allowed himself to be bullied, but even before meeting and falling for Ellis, he was starting to rebel against his pack's assumptions, which I was glad to see: a pack should make you feel strengthened and supported, not like you're less than you are.
Having a blind, relative-newbie vampire as the more dominant lead is also unusual, and both his abilities and difficulties, and the way his "death" changed them for better AND worse, are handled frankly... and how can you not like a guy who cares about his dog so much, even when things aren't going smoothly?
Speaking of frankness, there is a bit of "language", both in the sexy scenes and in teasing ones with Ellis's assistant/confidante Jay, but I did more smiling than frowning; YMMV.
Also speaking of language, this time in a different sense, the story takes place in London, using British vocabulary, idiom, and spelling, including a scattering of (particularly Yorkshire) slang/dialect. I wish the link directing readers to a glossary of (most of) that slang on the author's website had been in the FRONT of the book rather than the back!
Anyway, I enjoyed it, and am looking forward to seeing where their complicated situation with Randall's pack and Ellis's vampire council and constabulary take them, especially once their secrets are out.
---------------------------------------
Edited to add: I've now read (and reviewed, at least briefly) all four books currently extant in the series. Clearly, I found them entertaining reading. I hope AF doesn't consider herself definitely finished with these characters; there are a number of potential stories not yet told. However, it occurred to me that other than the one brief mention here, I don't think I've discussed the actual sexual content at all, and since it is an important element, I decided I'd better explain.
I don't feel I can really judge, because I just read through M/M sex scenes to get the gist and the emotion, w/o overthinking, partly because it's not personally sexy to me, and partly because I don't consider a female novelist (which most of them are) a truly reliable source re. how gay men go about finding pleasure together.
There are in the series some (not all) "urgent" bedroom sessions where I'm dubious it would feel good without at least a bit more preparation, and I recall there was one scene in book 1 or 2 where I said to myself, "Wait, did I misunderstand what position they're in? Arms don't bend that way" ... but then I just went, "Whatever" and didn't even read back to check.
June 27, 2015
Werewolves and vampires… two of my favorites when it comes to PNR reads. It’s not very often that the two ‘species’ become love interests though. I kind of liked the twist.
There are some pretty strict guidelines the supernaturals created by Amelia Faulkner have to follow. Makes sense because if there weren’t rules, there would be utter chaos. Ellis keeps his ‘identity’ pretty quiet because of those rules. Humans aren’t supposed to know that they exist. Randall’s never encountered anyone ‘like’ Ellis before so he can’t quite figure out exactly what he is. He only knows that he’s attracted to him and by the time he figures out that’s not allowed, it’s too late.
I really liked the connection between Ellis and Randall. I also liked the story itself. Ellis had an unknown enemy that was determined to destroy him. By the time the story ended… yeah, there’s a lot more to come. Basically if I had one complaint it would be that there wasn’t a lot of closure at the end. One problem was solved, but it opened the door for an even bigger one that remained. I suppose that’s what sequels are for… Speaking of which, Blood Moon Rising is the next book in the Tooth & Claw series and I’m pretty sure it won’t be long before I pick that one up too. ;
There are some pretty strict guidelines the supernaturals created by Amelia Faulkner have to follow. Makes sense because if there weren’t rules, there would be utter chaos. Ellis keeps his ‘identity’ pretty quiet because of those rules. Humans aren’t supposed to know that they exist. Randall’s never encountered anyone ‘like’ Ellis before so he can’t quite figure out exactly what he is. He only knows that he’s attracted to him and by the time he figures out that’s not allowed, it’s too late.
I really liked the connection between Ellis and Randall. I also liked the story itself. Ellis had an unknown enemy that was determined to destroy him. By the time the story ended… yeah, there’s a lot more to come. Basically if I had one complaint it would be that there wasn’t a lot of closure at the end. One problem was solved, but it opened the door for an even bigger one that remained. I suppose that’s what sequels are for… Speaking of which, Blood Moon Rising is the next book in the Tooth & Claw series and I’m pretty sure it won’t be long before I pick that one up too. ;
June 8, 2015
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
Ellis, a lover and seller of art was already going blind when he was ‘turned’, he manages his daily life with the use of modern technology and his guide dog Tiberius. Lately however, Tiberius has been leading his owner off route and getting them both lost.
This is where Randall comes in. He is a dog trainer, hired to help retrain the guide dog and try to discover why he is acting out. What Ellis doesn’t know, is that Randall is a werewolf. The more time Ellis and Randall spend together, the clearer it becomes that they are falling for each other and despite all the reasons they shouldn’t be together, they work round it.
When threats are made on Ellis, they work together to find out who is behind it and why.
I liked the development of the relationship between the two MC’s though there were a few things I felt just didn’t work. I realise there wouldn’t be a book if Ellis wasn’t blind but what kind of Vampire can re-grow an entire limb but can’t cure his sight? For a werewolf and a vampire, they both felt a bit weak. Overall, it’s an enjoyable story with a HFN ending but with a cliff hanger.
Ellis, a lover and seller of art was already going blind when he was ‘turned’, he manages his daily life with the use of modern technology and his guide dog Tiberius. Lately however, Tiberius has been leading his owner off route and getting them both lost.
This is where Randall comes in. He is a dog trainer, hired to help retrain the guide dog and try to discover why he is acting out. What Ellis doesn’t know, is that Randall is a werewolf. The more time Ellis and Randall spend together, the clearer it becomes that they are falling for each other and despite all the reasons they shouldn’t be together, they work round it.
When threats are made on Ellis, they work together to find out who is behind it and why.
I liked the development of the relationship between the two MC’s though there were a few things I felt just didn’t work. I realise there wouldn’t be a book if Ellis wasn’t blind but what kind of Vampire can re-grow an entire limb but can’t cure his sight? For a werewolf and a vampire, they both felt a bit weak. Overall, it’s an enjoyable story with a HFN ending but with a cliff hanger.
December 15, 2014
Ellis lives his life in solitude since becoming "undead" and depends on his assistant heavily. He also has a guide dog to help him move about the city at night. When his dog starts to stray from his training during night walks Ellis is forced to look for help.
Randall is an Omega werewolf who takes the brunt of the abuse for his rag tag pack with no way to stop it. As a means of escape he trains dogs. Ellis seeks his help to get his guide dog back on track.
Neither knows about the other but sparks fly and a connection happens whether it should or not. Randall is hired to help retrain the guide dog. Ellis is forced to reveal more than he wants. Together they forge their way towards a HEA and stop a killer at the same time.
Randall is an Omega werewolf who takes the brunt of the abuse for his rag tag pack with no way to stop it. As a means of escape he trains dogs. Ellis seeks his help to get his guide dog back on track.
Neither knows about the other but sparks fly and a connection happens whether it should or not. Randall is hired to help retrain the guide dog. Ellis is forced to reveal more than he wants. Together they forge their way towards a HEA and stop a killer at the same time.
September 15, 2016
3.5
This wasn't a bad book...the writing was good it just took me awhile to get into the story...I didn't care for the 1st half but it came together in the 2nd... not enough world building for me as well...if your going to not do the "norm" with paranormal you need to explain...the plot got interesting in the 2nd half as well so I will continue on to book 2..
This wasn't a bad book...the writing was good it just took me awhile to get into the story...I didn't care for the 1st half but it came together in the 2nd... not enough world building for me as well...if your going to not do the "norm" with paranormal you need to explain...the plot got interesting in the 2nd half as well so I will continue on to book 2..
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