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Coveted #1
Coveted
Natalya Stravinsky isn’t your typical Jersey werewolf.
A pariah from the South Toms River Pack for many years, Natalya spends her days hoarding holiday trinkets and selling antiques to persnickety paranormal creatures. But everything changes when her ex-boyfriend, and soon-to-be alpha wolf, Thorn Grantham returns to town. Nat still has feelings for him, but his family expects him to marry another woman.
Compounding her problems, an attractive, germaphobe wizard is falling for her, her therapy group for anxiety-ridden supernaturals is bringing up a host of issues for her to face, and Nat finds herself bumping heads with her oddball Russian werewolf family.
But when Nat finds herself on the front lines in a blood feud against a rival wolf pack, will she be able to protect those she loves the most? Or will the Long Island werewolves destroy all she holds dear?
Coveted Series:
Prequel Novella: Collected
Book One: Coveted
Book Two: Kept
Book Three: Compelled
A pariah from the South Toms River Pack for many years, Natalya spends her days hoarding holiday trinkets and selling antiques to persnickety paranormal creatures. But everything changes when her ex-boyfriend, and soon-to-be alpha wolf, Thorn Grantham returns to town. Nat still has feelings for him, but his family expects him to marry another woman.
Compounding her problems, an attractive, germaphobe wizard is falling for her, her therapy group for anxiety-ridden supernaturals is bringing up a host of issues for her to face, and Nat finds herself bumping heads with her oddball Russian werewolf family.
But when Nat finds herself on the front lines in a blood feud against a rival wolf pack, will she be able to protect those she loves the most? Or will the Long Island werewolves destroy all she holds dear?
Coveted Series:
Prequel Novella: Collected
Book One: Coveted
Book Two: Kept
Book Three: Compelled
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 24, 2012
268 people are currently reading
2548 people want to read
About the author
Shawntelle Madison
39 books479 followersShawntelle Madison is a web developer who loves to weave words as well as code. She’d never admit it, but if asked she’d say she covets and collects source code. After losing her first summer job detassling corn, Shawntelle performed various jobs—from fast-food clerk to grunt programmer to university webmaster. Writing eccentric characters is her most favorite job of them all. On any particular day when she’s not surgically attached to her computer, she can be found watching cheesy horror movies or the latest action-packed anime. She lives in Missouri with her husband and children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 290 reviews
dnf
August 30, 2015Originally reviewed for www.BookChickCity.com
This is a "DID NOT FINISH" (DNF), which is why I haven't rated it.
“Coveted” is my first DNF (did not finish). I’ve always made a point of pushing on to the bitter end, even if I wasn’t enjoying a book, even if the book was unremarkable or unimaginative. But there are so many aspects to this book I didn’t like, I made the decision that this time I wouldn’t put myself through it. Hence the DNF.
The blurb about this book really piqued my interest – it states: ‘…inventive and funny new take on the ever-popular urban paranormal genre‘ and ‘Charlaine Harris meets Janet Evanovich‘ (two of my favourite authors). It also says ‘If Stephanie Plum were a werewolf, she’s be something like Nat‘ – umm, no she wouldn’t. The writing nor the characters are anything like Charlaine Harris (Sookie) or Janet Evanovich (Stephanie).
To begin with the main character, Nat Stravinsky, is not a particularly likable character. I wanted to like her I really did. On paper she has everything I love in my heroine, but as I read on I realised she just wasn’t it. Even with all her problems, Nat isn’t very interesting and she comes across as pretty selfish and judgmental.
Really? She sounds inspiring enough to me!
The other instance where I saw this was when she went on a date with Quinton, a work colleague. I understand that being a necromancer and having zombie’s following you about doesn’t make for a very romantic hero, but this guy was nothing but nice to her and yet she just blew him off, even though she was the one who asked him out! Then when he saved her life from a pack of werewolves, all she could think about was herself.
I love characters with quirky personalities, problems, flaws and fault’s. They all make the characters more real and relatable. Anything that fleshes out a character and gives them a wonderful backstory hooks me in every time, if done well of course – Chess Putnam from Stacia Kane’s Downside Ghosts comes to mind. But in “Coveted” Nat’s condition was just over done. Every page described her obsession with hoarding christmas decorations, and how her house was rammed with boxes filled to the brim with all these little ornaments she called her ‘friends’. She also has a problem dealing with untidiness and nearly had a fit when her friend made her a batch of cookies in her kitchen. This could have been humorous and endearing, even poignant, but there was no depth to Nat’s condition. Nothing she said stirred any emotion within me and it is this aspect to Nat’s personality that I felt wasn’t executed very well and was therefore unconvincing.
But it wasn’t just Nat that had a mental health problem. Everyone I read about seemed to be a neurotic mess. As well as Nat’s obsessive compulsive disorder, her friend Aggie, a high ranking werewolf, is bulimic and has problems with her weight, Abby, a muse to authors, thinks everyone is after her, which makes her fearful and paranoid, and Heidi, the mermaid friend mentioned above, suffers from anxiety and phobia of dark places, preventing her from entering the ocean and seeing her family.
Nat isn’t a particularly strong character either. She constantly mentions how she isn’t worthy of Thorn’s affections and basically comes across as a bit of a drip, a wet blanket… Listening to a character self-deprecating incessantly doesn’t make for fun reading. The attraction between Nat and Thorn just wasn’t there for me. They had been an item five years previously and he had just come back into town. Although he left Nat without explanation, she acts like a love sick teenager, hanging on to his every word and their dialogue felt forced and unnatural.
There is no complexity to Nat (as there is with Chess), and if my heroine is going to be given flaws and vulnerabilities, then I must believe in them, or have some sort of emotional reaction to them other than just irritation. Such conditions as Nat’s has to be expertly dealt with for it to be successfully integrated into a genre such as paranormal romance, sadly it wasn’t in this instance.
VERDICT:
“Coveted” did not capture or retain my interest. Take away the numerous paragraphs detailing Nat’s OCD and there wasn’t much left to read about. After 110 pages of neuroses, awkward dialogue, non-existent plot and uninspiring romance, I’m afraid I had to call it a day.
This is a "DID NOT FINISH" (DNF), which is why I haven't rated it.
“Coveted” is my first DNF (did not finish). I’ve always made a point of pushing on to the bitter end, even if I wasn’t enjoying a book, even if the book was unremarkable or unimaginative. But there are so many aspects to this book I didn’t like, I made the decision that this time I wouldn’t put myself through it. Hence the DNF.
The blurb about this book really piqued my interest – it states: ‘…inventive and funny new take on the ever-popular urban paranormal genre‘ and ‘Charlaine Harris meets Janet Evanovich‘ (two of my favourite authors). It also says ‘If Stephanie Plum were a werewolf, she’s be something like Nat‘ – umm, no she wouldn’t. The writing nor the characters are anything like Charlaine Harris (Sookie) or Janet Evanovich (Stephanie).
To begin with the main character, Nat Stravinsky, is not a particularly likable character. I wanted to like her I really did. On paper she has everything I love in my heroine, but as I read on I realised she just wasn’t it. Even with all her problems, Nat isn’t very interesting and she comes across as pretty selfish and judgmental.
“…I had an unexpected visitor from New York, Heidi the mermaid stopped by… Every time I saw her, I expected her to look like the legends in books. Long blonde hair, pale, translucent skin. But with bronzed skin, dark red hair and light green eyes, this mermaid in black boots wouldn’t inspire anyone’s bedtime story.”
Really? She sounds inspiring enough to me!
The other instance where I saw this was when she went on a date with Quinton, a work colleague. I understand that being a necromancer and having zombie’s following you about doesn’t make for a very romantic hero, but this guy was nothing but nice to her and yet she just blew him off, even though she was the one who asked him out! Then when he saved her life from a pack of werewolves, all she could think about was herself.
I love characters with quirky personalities, problems, flaws and fault’s. They all make the characters more real and relatable. Anything that fleshes out a character and gives them a wonderful backstory hooks me in every time, if done well of course – Chess Putnam from Stacia Kane’s Downside Ghosts comes to mind. But in “Coveted” Nat’s condition was just over done. Every page described her obsession with hoarding christmas decorations, and how her house was rammed with boxes filled to the brim with all these little ornaments she called her ‘friends’. She also has a problem dealing with untidiness and nearly had a fit when her friend made her a batch of cookies in her kitchen. This could have been humorous and endearing, even poignant, but there was no depth to Nat’s condition. Nothing she said stirred any emotion within me and it is this aspect to Nat’s personality that I felt wasn’t executed very well and was therefore unconvincing.
But it wasn’t just Nat that had a mental health problem. Everyone I read about seemed to be a neurotic mess. As well as Nat’s obsessive compulsive disorder, her friend Aggie, a high ranking werewolf, is bulimic and has problems with her weight, Abby, a muse to authors, thinks everyone is after her, which makes her fearful and paranoid, and Heidi, the mermaid friend mentioned above, suffers from anxiety and phobia of dark places, preventing her from entering the ocean and seeing her family.
Heidi raised her face to the sun. “So glad to be farther inland. I get the blotchies when the full moon approaches. The tides kick my ass.
“Blotchies?” [Nat]
She [Heidi] pulled up her tank top to reveal light blue dots that resembled hives along her ribs. Most likely her body’s reaction to anxiety.
Nat isn’t a particularly strong character either. She constantly mentions how she isn’t worthy of Thorn’s affections and basically comes across as a bit of a drip, a wet blanket… Listening to a character self-deprecating incessantly doesn’t make for fun reading. The attraction between Nat and Thorn just wasn’t there for me. They had been an item five years previously and he had just come back into town. Although he left Nat without explanation, she acts like a love sick teenager, hanging on to his every word and their dialogue felt forced and unnatural.
There is no complexity to Nat (as there is with Chess), and if my heroine is going to be given flaws and vulnerabilities, then I must believe in them, or have some sort of emotional reaction to them other than just irritation. Such conditions as Nat’s has to be expertly dealt with for it to be successfully integrated into a genre such as paranormal romance, sadly it wasn’t in this instance.
VERDICT:
“Coveted” did not capture or retain my interest. Take away the numerous paragraphs detailing Nat’s OCD and there wasn’t much left to read about. After 110 pages of neuroses, awkward dialogue, non-existent plot and uninspiring romance, I’m afraid I had to call it a day.
July 26, 2025
Coveted by Shawntelle Madison
Coveted series #1. Paranormal, urban fantasy. Secondary romance.
Natalya Stravinsky is just trying to live her life without bothering others. As a werewolf, she has to follow pack law and that means she’s mostly an outcast. She works at an antique shop, organizing the incoming inventory and making sure regular shoppers find what they want. Nat is a collector herself to the point of obsession although she’s mostly sure she’s not at the hoarder level. Christmas ornaments are her comfort and downfall. She’s going to counseling now and she’s paired with wizard Nick for weekly goals to help with their collection tendencies.
South Toms River, the town, the South Toms River werewolves pack, and her family is all under attack by the Long Island werewolves. She’s thrown under the bus by the leader but she’s hit a wall, and she’s not rolling over and taking it this time.
A unique werewolf situation and why not? We all have issues of some kind and her need to purchase ornaments isn’t hurting anyone. I’m glad she’s found a job she can use her organizational skills. Not sure Thorn was good for her. Sad for the destruction but so heartwarming when everyone from her group pitched in.
More heart and empathy than I expected starting a werewolf power struggle story. I will definitely continue this story.
4.5
Coveted series #1. Paranormal, urban fantasy. Secondary romance.
Natalya Stravinsky is just trying to live her life without bothering others. As a werewolf, she has to follow pack law and that means she’s mostly an outcast. She works at an antique shop, organizing the incoming inventory and making sure regular shoppers find what they want. Nat is a collector herself to the point of obsession although she’s mostly sure she’s not at the hoarder level. Christmas ornaments are her comfort and downfall. She’s going to counseling now and she’s paired with wizard Nick for weekly goals to help with their collection tendencies.
South Toms River, the town, the South Toms River werewolves pack, and her family is all under attack by the Long Island werewolves. She’s thrown under the bus by the leader but she’s hit a wall, and she’s not rolling over and taking it this time.
A unique werewolf situation and why not? We all have issues of some kind and her need to purchase ornaments isn’t hurting anyone. I’m glad she’s found a job she can use her organizational skills. Not sure Thorn was good for her. Sad for the destruction but so heartwarming when everyone from her group pitched in.
More heart and empathy than I expected starting a werewolf power struggle story. I will definitely continue this story.
4.5
October 18, 2012
Reviewed by: Rabid Reads
Let me start off my saying that I. Did. Not. Like. This. Book. In fact, I barely finished it. Now, let me fill you in on the why. The main heroine is extremely hard to like. She comes off as flat, selfish and judgmental, not to mention the fact that she seems to care more about her Christmas ornaments than her family. The main plot line barely makes a ripple; it's so mundane that's it's almost invisible. And finally, there's zero spark between Nat and her love interest, Thorn. Coveted is weighed down by unnecessary details and contains next to no substance. This book definitely wasn't my thing. The werewolves couldn't even save this one.
Natalya Stravinsky is a hard character to connect with and an even harder one to like. I thought that her OCD would make her "real"; shed some light on the mental disorder, or at the very least, be amusing in a quirky kind of way. Unfortunately her hoarding problem was just plain annoying. Madison doesn't explain the what or the why's behind her Christmas ornament obsession but instead bores readers with the useless details surrounding the acquiring and the storing of her decorations. A riveting read this does not make. Then there's the fact that instead of being sensitive to others' problems Nat is extremely judgmental. Who is she to turn down her nose at a potential date or to criticize how someone dresses? She needs to take a good look in the mirror before she insults others.
The main plot line is barely identifiable. Apparently the Long Island pack wants her dead. We're not really sure why; it's not like Natalya's a big threat or anything. The reason is blurted out towards the end almost as an afterthought and the "big reveal" only gets a one sentence explanation. The whole thing seemed rather trivial to me. I think that it would have been helpful had Madison filled readers in on the why a little earlier on in the story. It would have at least given some context to the werewolf war and how someone as weak as Nat became their prime target.
The romance (if you can even call it that) between Natalya and Thorn fell short. The majority of the male characters in this book are underdeveloped. Other than the occasional emotion from Thorn, he's very two dimensional and as a result, it's hard to understand the attraction between him and Nat. Also, the fact that mr. zero personality totally eclipses sweetie-pie Nick is a shame. There's an insane amount of prets introduced in this first installment but none of their abilities are explained, no background info is provided and I'm still not entirely sure whether humans know of their existence or not. There's countless huge gaping holes in the story that make Coveted an extremely frustrating read.
This book is very much character driven thanks to Nat's first person POV narrative and because Kept promises to be more of the same I am having a hard time committing to reading the second book in this series. I'm sure that there was some good in Coveted but I had a difficult time finding it buried underneath all of the irritating flaws.
Let me start off my saying that I. Did. Not. Like. This. Book. In fact, I barely finished it. Now, let me fill you in on the why. The main heroine is extremely hard to like. She comes off as flat, selfish and judgmental, not to mention the fact that she seems to care more about her Christmas ornaments than her family. The main plot line barely makes a ripple; it's so mundane that's it's almost invisible. And finally, there's zero spark between Nat and her love interest, Thorn. Coveted is weighed down by unnecessary details and contains next to no substance. This book definitely wasn't my thing. The werewolves couldn't even save this one.
Natalya Stravinsky is a hard character to connect with and an even harder one to like. I thought that her OCD would make her "real"; shed some light on the mental disorder, or at the very least, be amusing in a quirky kind of way. Unfortunately her hoarding problem was just plain annoying. Madison doesn't explain the what or the why's behind her Christmas ornament obsession but instead bores readers with the useless details surrounding the acquiring and the storing of her decorations. A riveting read this does not make. Then there's the fact that instead of being sensitive to others' problems Nat is extremely judgmental. Who is she to turn down her nose at a potential date or to criticize how someone dresses? She needs to take a good look in the mirror before she insults others.
The main plot line is barely identifiable. Apparently the Long Island pack wants her dead. We're not really sure why; it's not like Natalya's a big threat or anything. The reason is blurted out towards the end almost as an afterthought and the "big reveal" only gets a one sentence explanation. The whole thing seemed rather trivial to me. I think that it would have been helpful had Madison filled readers in on the why a little earlier on in the story. It would have at least given some context to the werewolf war and how someone as weak as Nat became their prime target.
The romance (if you can even call it that) between Natalya and Thorn fell short. The majority of the male characters in this book are underdeveloped. Other than the occasional emotion from Thorn, he's very two dimensional and as a result, it's hard to understand the attraction between him and Nat. Also, the fact that mr. zero personality totally eclipses sweetie-pie Nick is a shame. There's an insane amount of prets introduced in this first installment but none of their abilities are explained, no background info is provided and I'm still not entirely sure whether humans know of their existence or not. There's countless huge gaping holes in the story that make Coveted an extremely frustrating read.
This book is very much character driven thanks to Nat's first person POV narrative and because Kept promises to be more of the same I am having a hard time committing to reading the second book in this series. I'm sure that there was some good in Coveted but I had a difficult time finding it buried underneath all of the irritating flaws.
April 24, 2012
GENRE: Urban Fantasy
THEME: werewolves, wizards, necromancer, goblin
RECEIVED: Received for Review from Author
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/
REVIEW:
Coveted is the first book in a new Urban Fantasy series by debut author Shawntelle Madison. I’m a big fan of werewolf novels and always looking for something different with that genre. Madison does just that with creating a lead character having a unique habit of collecting Christmas ornaments, which made me laugh. I can only image what her house looks like.
Natalya is an outcast of her pack, picking up this habit after her ex-boyfriend left her and she gave up her chances of a real job. She begins working at a small shop in town, where years later her ex comes back and is now the Alpha of her old pack. While trying to get her life back together and getting control of her OCD, she has to deal with being a target of a rival pack. Along with some friends she meets in her therapy sessions, she has to step up and fight her past and stay alive.
Natalya, was a really interesting heroine, not really a tough as nails type of girl I normally read about in Urban Fantasies. Her OCD is a little strange and I really wished she should would have stood up for herself a little more, especially with Thorn. Otherwise near the end she really starts to show her kick butt side and picking up the pieces.
Then there are the boy, Thorn and Nick. Both have a unique relationship with Natalya. Thorn does have a past and there is definitely chemistry but sadly his father doesn’t approve of her. Nick is a bit of a mystery, he helps Natalya with her OCD and I can see there might be some more interactions later on. Plus he’s a wizard and gave her a rose; I think he might make for an interesting love interest. Don’t expect a lot of romance, there are some hints but not majorly focused on.
Overall I enjoyed this new UF, it has a lot of humor but still keeps its focus on Natalya trying to recover from her past and growing up in a way. There are a lot fun side characters, including Natalya’s BFF Abby who makes for some more drama in her life. Plus a lot of involvement with Natalya’s family and her friends in therapy, bring a lot of excitement to Coveted.
RECOMMENDATION:
This is an adult novel that is perfect for fans of authors Jenn Bennett and Devon Monk and for those looking for a different twist in the Urban Fantasy genre.
THEME: werewolves, wizards, necromancer, goblin
RECEIVED: Received for Review from Author
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/
REVIEW:
Coveted is the first book in a new Urban Fantasy series by debut author Shawntelle Madison. I’m a big fan of werewolf novels and always looking for something different with that genre. Madison does just that with creating a lead character having a unique habit of collecting Christmas ornaments, which made me laugh. I can only image what her house looks like.
Natalya is an outcast of her pack, picking up this habit after her ex-boyfriend left her and she gave up her chances of a real job. She begins working at a small shop in town, where years later her ex comes back and is now the Alpha of her old pack. While trying to get her life back together and getting control of her OCD, she has to deal with being a target of a rival pack. Along with some friends she meets in her therapy sessions, she has to step up and fight her past and stay alive.
Natalya, was a really interesting heroine, not really a tough as nails type of girl I normally read about in Urban Fantasies. Her OCD is a little strange and I really wished she should would have stood up for herself a little more, especially with Thorn. Otherwise near the end she really starts to show her kick butt side and picking up the pieces.
Then there are the boy, Thorn and Nick. Both have a unique relationship with Natalya. Thorn does have a past and there is definitely chemistry but sadly his father doesn’t approve of her. Nick is a bit of a mystery, he helps Natalya with her OCD and I can see there might be some more interactions later on. Plus he’s a wizard and gave her a rose; I think he might make for an interesting love interest. Don’t expect a lot of romance, there are some hints but not majorly focused on.
Overall I enjoyed this new UF, it has a lot of humor but still keeps its focus on Natalya trying to recover from her past and growing up in a way. There are a lot fun side characters, including Natalya’s BFF Abby who makes for some more drama in her life. Plus a lot of involvement with Natalya’s family and her friends in therapy, bring a lot of excitement to Coveted.
RECOMMENDATION:
This is an adult novel that is perfect for fans of authors Jenn Bennett and Devon Monk and for those looking for a different twist in the Urban Fantasy genre.
November 24, 2015
My first time reading so many supernaturals AND a werewolf that has OCD. Very interesting.
I like Nat, but I was really crossing my fingers for her to get her mental illness under control. I was also hoping that she would fight harder to keep Thorn.
Maybe next book.
Supernaturals I found in the book
1. tree nymphs
2. mermaids
3. necromancer
4. goblin
5. witch and wizard
6. werewolves
7. Feline shifter (leopard?)
8. Indian deity Raj
9. Harpy
10. Zombie
11. water sprite
12. banshee
13. Fairy folk
14. Brownies
15. Succubus
16. Dwarf
17. Muse
18. elf
I like Nat, but I was really crossing my fingers for her to get her mental illness under control. I was also hoping that she would fight harder to keep Thorn.
Maybe next book.
Supernaturals I found in the book
1. tree nymphs
2. mermaids
3. necromancer
4. goblin
5. witch and wizard
6. werewolves
7. Feline shifter (leopard?)
8. Indian deity Raj
9. Harpy
10. Zombie
11. water sprite
12. banshee
13. Fairy folk
14. Brownies
15. Succubus
16. Dwarf
17. Muse
18. elf
October 21, 2012
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I went into COVETED knowing very little about it and I was pleasantly surprised. Shawntelle Madison has created a unique and engaging world that I am excited to learn more about.
Natayla Stravinsky isn't like most UF heroines. Even though she is a werewolf, she is considered useless by her pack and has been kicked out. Nat suffers from extreme OCD and she copes by excessively cleaning and hoarding Christmas ornaments. She is a wounded, flawed character but I enjoyed her spirit and sense of humor. She is really trying to change her life and make it into something she can be happy with.
Ms. Madison has assembled a varied but interesting group of side characters around Nat. Sometimes I really hated her family, but at other times they were great. I loved Aggie, Nat's best friend and housemate. She was spunky and helped keep Nat upbeat, even while she was dealing with her own problems. The therapy group Nat attends was filled with kooky, cool characters such as Tyler the oversized Dwarf, Heidi the water-fearing mermaid, and Abby the muse. They had very small parts in this book, but what they did was show Nat that she wasn't alone and she did have people that cared about her. The other wolves in the pack weren't really discussed, but the ones we did meet were pretty horrible. I don't know if I would want to rejoin the pack if I had to be with people like them. Hopefully we will see a different side to the pack in the next book to help redeem them and to show why Nat would really want to belong with them after how horrible they treated her.
The two main men in Nat's life are Thorn and Nick. There wasn't really a love triangle her per say, but they are definite possibilities on both fronts. While Thorn is Nat's college love and they have a lot of heat between them, I think I am pulling for underdog Nick. The wizard definitely cares for Nat and has shown that he will do just about anything to protect her. Plus, he is infinitely more available than Thorn at the moment and can relate to her on a different level as he also shares her hoarding tendencies. I think they would be stronger together.
All in all, I think Ms. Madison has crafted a great debut novel. The plot was steadily paced, the characters interesting, the heroine very likable, and just enough threads left loose to make you want the next book RIGHT NOW! I will absolutely be checking out her second novel, KEPT.
Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for providing a review copy of this book!
I went into COVETED knowing very little about it and I was pleasantly surprised. Shawntelle Madison has created a unique and engaging world that I am excited to learn more about.
Natayla Stravinsky isn't like most UF heroines. Even though she is a werewolf, she is considered useless by her pack and has been kicked out. Nat suffers from extreme OCD and she copes by excessively cleaning and hoarding Christmas ornaments. She is a wounded, flawed character but I enjoyed her spirit and sense of humor. She is really trying to change her life and make it into something she can be happy with.
Ms. Madison has assembled a varied but interesting group of side characters around Nat. Sometimes I really hated her family, but at other times they were great. I loved Aggie, Nat's best friend and housemate. She was spunky and helped keep Nat upbeat, even while she was dealing with her own problems. The therapy group Nat attends was filled with kooky, cool characters such as Tyler the oversized Dwarf, Heidi the water-fearing mermaid, and Abby the muse. They had very small parts in this book, but what they did was show Nat that she wasn't alone and she did have people that cared about her. The other wolves in the pack weren't really discussed, but the ones we did meet were pretty horrible. I don't know if I would want to rejoin the pack if I had to be with people like them. Hopefully we will see a different side to the pack in the next book to help redeem them and to show why Nat would really want to belong with them after how horrible they treated her.
The two main men in Nat's life are Thorn and Nick. There wasn't really a love triangle her per say, but they are definite possibilities on both fronts. While Thorn is Nat's college love and they have a lot of heat between them, I think I am pulling for underdog Nick. The wizard definitely cares for Nat and has shown that he will do just about anything to protect her. Plus, he is infinitely more available than Thorn at the moment and can relate to her on a different level as he also shares her hoarding tendencies. I think they would be stronger together.
All in all, I think Ms. Madison has crafted a great debut novel. The plot was steadily paced, the characters interesting, the heroine very likable, and just enough threads left loose to make you want the next book RIGHT NOW! I will absolutely be checking out her second novel, KEPT.
Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for providing a review copy of this book!
November 16, 2015
Coveted is the first full length book in the Coveted series, and fleshes out Natalya a bit more from the prequel. This is strict urban fantasy with very little romance but that was fine with me. We're diving deeper into the why of Nat's OCD, her on-again, off-again relationship with Thorne, and meeting old friends and new who, for me anyway, made the story enjoyable.
I can see why some reviewers didn't "get" Nat. Unless you are OCD, you probably won't. It's a mental disorder that is rooted in deeper emotion than just hoarding for the sake of hoarding, as is the case with Nat. She's lost her pack, she's lost her man, and she's lost the mojo that makes Nat who she should be. Personally, I thought it was a bit heartrending.
I didn't like Thorne at all. I thought he was an ass and the way he treated Nat was wrong. I hope she moves on from him in a hurry. What I did love was Nat's family of crazy aunts and brothers, and I absolutely adored her (grandmother) Babushka. I also really enjoyed her new friends she meets at her support group for OCD behavior. There's a scene at the end of the book that ROCKS, and it's all due to them!
Overall, I think if you go into this book expecting a romance, you're going to be let down. But if you give yourself time to enjoy the nuances of the story, you'll be pleasantly surprised. 3.5 stars
I can see why some reviewers didn't "get" Nat. Unless you are OCD, you probably won't. It's a mental disorder that is rooted in deeper emotion than just hoarding for the sake of hoarding, as is the case with Nat. She's lost her pack, she's lost her man, and she's lost the mojo that makes Nat who she should be. Personally, I thought it was a bit heartrending.
I didn't like Thorne at all. I thought he was an ass and the way he treated Nat was wrong. I hope she moves on from him in a hurry. What I did love was Nat's family of crazy aunts and brothers, and I absolutely adored her (grandmother) Babushka. I also really enjoyed her new friends she meets at her support group for OCD behavior. There's a scene at the end of the book that ROCKS, and it's all due to them!
Overall, I think if you go into this book expecting a romance, you're going to be let down. But if you give yourself time to enjoy the nuances of the story, you'll be pleasantly surprised. 3.5 stars
July 20, 2012
This was a really great book and not a typical UF/PNR. I was surprised and delighted by the characters, especially Natalya. first and foremost because she has the mental illness of OCD and hording. I've never seen an fantasy character portrayed with an illness quite like this. Lot's of them are nurotic and have emotional issues, but Natalya is quite different. But she's also strong, smart and even funny. the story is strong and will leave you ready for the next book, just to see more of Thorn and Nick. Great job Shawntelle :)
November 15, 2012
Originally posted at: Confessions of an Opinionated Book Geek
4.5 Stars
There are many werewolf/pack/shifter stories out there. Many of those stories have multiple supernatural creatures like fae, witches and necromancers. What makes Shawntelle Madison’s debut series “Coveted,” stand out is her unique, completely messed up and incredibly entertaining characters. This book has a motley crew of obsessive compulsives, hoarders and germaphobes. Natalya, the heroine of this story, is at the top of the dysfunctional pyramid being in possession of all three.
This book is action packed with battle scenes, malicious attacks and even a hoard of zombie warriors. The writing is entertaining and flows so wonderfully from page to page, that it’s easy to breeze through and difficult to put down. In just about every version of werewolf fantasy novels, the Pack is portrayed as old school, incredibly brutal and not at all fair. The pack in “Coveted,” is no different. What is different is the quite compelling idea of how a werewolf with a mental disorder as debilitating as OCD, is not only treated, but viewed in this tough animal like world.
The story begins with the return of Natalya’s ex-boyfriend, Thorn. From the first moment his name is mentioned, it’s clear that Thorn is a trigger of Natalya’s condition. Her anxiety and discomfort grows just from the mention of his name. The minute he appears, all goes south. It’s easy to say, “well, that’s love,” but Madison takes her character to a different level of complexity. While Natalya is pleased at his return, she is terrified that he will see what she has become.
Natalya’s OCD is viewed as more than just a weakness. It is seen as a potential threat to the pack. She is more than ignored or abused, Natalya was tossed aside due to the pack’s inability to understand or help her. Thorn’s abandonment pushed her over the edge and allowed her disorder to swallow her up. His return forces her to face her issues and seek help. It is her desire to improve herself and regain access to her pack that pushes Natalya to join a quite awesome therapy group filled with supernaturals. The group ranges from a mermaid who is afraid of returning to the ocean to a dwarf who is too tall to find love within his own people. Their disorders and issues are wide ranging, faintly ridiculous to consider and yet so well mirrors real life problems.
In the midst of group therapy and reconnecting with her food addict best friend named Aggie, the werewolf pack from Long Island attacks. The Long Island pack takes the brutal and sneaky mode of action. The invading pack sneaks in kills the weakest and kidnaps beloved members of the pack for ransom. Being an rogue wolf and weak, Natalya is instantly marked for execution. While trying to keep her extremely neat world in order, Nat is constantly under attack, spurned by her fellow wolves and getting mixed signals from Thorn.
What follows is an incredibly entertaining story that ends with a battle so awesome and engaging, you will be cheering on these characters to the end. Throughout, there are moments of injustice, amusing Russian family dinners and adventures with an intriguing white Wizard, named Nick.
January 6, 2013
I have to admit... it was slow going at first. Natalya is a hard character to sympathize with initially- at least for me. OCD female, Russian werewolf and hoarder of beautiful Christmas ornaments. It's much to take in and grow fond of. But somehow, by the end (despite my doubts) I eagerly read and even open up book #2 upon completion. A solid 4♥'s on this first installment of the Coveted series.
What I really liked about this series:
While it's not a traditional romance by any means, there are still moments that hold such romantic promise, and some spicy memories as an added bonus. With romance being on the back burner, it allowed for more world building and the opportunity to meet many characters. Despite the plethora of supernatural critters, following along without getting overwhelmed was surprisingly easy. Also, you have to give a special nod to complete originality of pairing a werewolf with severe OCD. I also found Nick to be like a more girl-knowledgeable (and probably more attractive) version of Dresden. Not quite as snarky as Dresden and a series dose of OCD in it's place. And something must be said about the variety, a near buffet of supernatural for every persuasion. If you are looking for a challenge that requires some sort of shifter/goblin/mermaid/muse/dwarf (and more) then you may well find it in this book. There are some moments of humor that made me smile and on occasion laugh, which is always a nice addition to any story.
What I was not in love with:
It's really, really not easy to sympathize with Nat with the lengthy descriptions of her OCD. Yes, at adds depth to the story, but for me I was a little sick of the OCD after a while. Monk, she is not (if anyone out there was a fan of the OCD, comedic mystery TV show) and it was an uphill battle. Also, I 'get' the whole ranking in werewolf society; it's nearly to be expected - but Nat took meek to a new all-time low. I wanted to scream at her to grow a backbone and be the strong wolf I know is in there somewhere! And my dissatisfaction was not reserved for only Nat. Thorne... other than the meager look into the past passion and the obvious physical attraction, I'm just not 'sold' on him being the guy for her. All the Erica drama, pack drama, OCD drama, oh, let's not forget one out of left field 'revelation' that made me huff in frustration while reading. Thorne should beg and grovel, and Nat needs to put on her big-girl (slightly less OCD) panties.
The latter half of the book providing more action which can be harder to wait for. I do ultimately feel the entire read was worth it, and it did earn the full 4♥'s. I was intrigued enough with Natalya by the end to want to immediately pick up book 2 and continue the series. It may be a harder sell, but I think it has real possibilities. I'm rather interested to see if anything further happens with Nick and if Thorne gets the kick in the pants I think he deserves.
I received this eBook from NetGalley for free in exchange for an honest review.
What I really liked about this series:
While it's not a traditional romance by any means, there are still moments that hold such romantic promise, and some spicy memories as an added bonus. With romance being on the back burner, it allowed for more world building and the opportunity to meet many characters. Despite the plethora of supernatural critters, following along without getting overwhelmed was surprisingly easy. Also, you have to give a special nod to complete originality of pairing a werewolf with severe OCD. I also found Nick to be like a more girl-knowledgeable (and probably more attractive) version of Dresden. Not quite as snarky as Dresden and a series dose of OCD in it's place. And something must be said about the variety, a near buffet of supernatural for every persuasion. If you are looking for a challenge that requires some sort of shifter/goblin/mermaid/muse/dwarf (and more) then you may well find it in this book. There are some moments of humor that made me smile and on occasion laugh, which is always a nice addition to any story.
What I was not in love with:
It's really, really not easy to sympathize with Nat with the lengthy descriptions of her OCD. Yes, at adds depth to the story, but for me I was a little sick of the OCD after a while. Monk, she is not (if anyone out there was a fan of the OCD, comedic mystery TV show) and it was an uphill battle. Also, I 'get' the whole ranking in werewolf society; it's nearly to be expected - but Nat took meek to a new all-time low. I wanted to scream at her to grow a backbone and be the strong wolf I know is in there somewhere! And my dissatisfaction was not reserved for only Nat. Thorne... other than the meager look into the past passion and the obvious physical attraction, I'm just not 'sold' on him being the guy for her. All the Erica drama, pack drama, OCD drama, oh, let's not forget one out of left field 'revelation' that made me huff in frustration while reading. Thorne should beg and grovel, and Nat needs to put on her big-girl (slightly less OCD) panties.
The latter half of the book providing more action which can be harder to wait for. I do ultimately feel the entire read was worth it, and it did earn the full 4♥'s. I was intrigued enough with Natalya by the end to want to immediately pick up book 2 and continue the series. It may be a harder sell, but I think it has real possibilities. I'm rather interested to see if anything further happens with Nick and if Thorne gets the kick in the pants I think he deserves.
I received this eBook from NetGalley for free in exchange for an honest review.
May 1, 2012
Alright, I just have to say that as a debut novel for Shawntelle Madison this book is amazing and I think more authors should follow her example. Her writing and characterization is fantastic. It kept me interested throughout and made me want to continue even after finishing the last pages. What happens to these characters? Where will the storyline go from here? Not surprisingly, I am watering at the mouth in expectation for the next book in the series.
My favorite characters in this book were basically everyone but if I had to pick one or two I would say the main heroine Nat and her sidekick of awesomeness Aggie. Aggie's witty repartee was a constant source of amusement for me. She acted like a friend should in my opinion and she wasn't always giving the kindest remarks or holding the heroine up, she gave it as she saw it. Nat's character is where I really connected with the book though. I don't like to advertise my condition but I too suffer from mild to moderate OCD. I am not like Nat in the collecting holiday ornaments area but I do purchase quite a few things and take pleasure in owning certain items. Therefore, having a main heroine in a book who I could relate to on such an intimate level really made this book that much more wonderful for me. Also, I feel like lately urban fantasy heroines are so perfect - usually good-looking, skilled, desired etc. and suffer from few to little humanizing tendencies. Therefore, Madison exploring a mental illness like OCD with a heroine who already is outted by her pack and not the best fighter, makes her that much more believable and real.
I think the only downside I could even think of concerning this book is the fact that sometimes I really wished Nat would just push Thorn aside, give up on him, and move on. In some sense she did that by the end of the book but I didn't appreciate Thorn stringing her along while he was engaged/already promised to another woman. I think I liked Nick better anyway ;) Although, don't get me wrong both men were hot. If Thorn changes his ways a bit and gets rid of Erica then I am all for a Thorn/Nat pairing, but not before he shapes up!
One other thing: GRANDMA STRAVINSKY! SHE IS SO AWESOME AND I WISH I HAD A GRANDMA LIKE HER!
My favorite characters in this book were basically everyone but if I had to pick one or two I would say the main heroine Nat and her sidekick of awesomeness Aggie. Aggie's witty repartee was a constant source of amusement for me. She acted like a friend should in my opinion and she wasn't always giving the kindest remarks or holding the heroine up, she gave it as she saw it. Nat's character is where I really connected with the book though. I don't like to advertise my condition but I too suffer from mild to moderate OCD. I am not like Nat in the collecting holiday ornaments area but I do purchase quite a few things and take pleasure in owning certain items. Therefore, having a main heroine in a book who I could relate to on such an intimate level really made this book that much more wonderful for me. Also, I feel like lately urban fantasy heroines are so perfect - usually good-looking, skilled, desired etc. and suffer from few to little humanizing tendencies. Therefore, Madison exploring a mental illness like OCD with a heroine who already is outted by her pack and not the best fighter, makes her that much more believable and real.
I think the only downside I could even think of concerning this book is the fact that sometimes I really wished Nat would just push Thorn aside, give up on him, and move on. In some sense she did that by the end of the book but I didn't appreciate Thorn stringing her along while he was engaged/already promised to another woman. I think I liked Nick better anyway ;) Although, don't get me wrong both men were hot. If Thorn changes his ways a bit and gets rid of Erica then I am all for a Thorn/Nat pairing, but not before he shapes up!
One other thing: GRANDMA STRAVINSKY! SHE IS SO AWESOME AND I WISH I HAD A GRANDMA LIKE HER!
December 7, 2012
I read this book without many expectations. I had heard about it in the buzz world of blogs and I was tempted into buy it.
It has potential, I can't deny it. I'm not even sure if two stars is a fair rating, but the nits were strong enough to overcome any positive reaction. Moreover I really wanted to DNF it for over half the book. :)
It has a nice world, even if shallow (there were many unexplained points ), and a bountiful of interesting female characters (negated by bland male ones). Unfortunately the heroine, Natalya, was pathetic. Her OCD (which I expected to be more in the "Monk" category than in the housewife one) and her reactions to life made her extremely grating on my nerves.
I never got why out-of-pack meant omega. I understand the lack of status within the pack, but dominance is something different.
Kitty Norville doesn't start life as an alpha. And she'll never be the kind of alpha that screams bad-ass or kick-ass heroine. But she is real or, if you prefer, "normal" (which in this context -I fear- takes a negative/mainstreaming meaning I do not want to give). She's the weakest in her pack too. But she is never pathetic. Hell, Anna in Alpha & Omega is abused. But she never comes out as pathetic. You suffer for and with her. You do not want her to disappear.
I realize this is really unfair towards people who suffer with compulsive buying, but this kind of problems doesn't make a very interesting read. Not here, at least.
The plot was good enough, but the ending was a WTF moment. Let's believe your fellow OCDers come to your help, but the reveal was one big clusterfuck. There is no reason why it comes out at the moment. She's either too dumb to realize why she has been targeted or she has willing killed her packmates lying on her past.
As a finale note, I had to re-read a few paragraph to understand if I was particularly dumb (which may be) or the author managed to write two opposite sentences in the same paragraph. As I'm not the only one to notice this, I suspect the writing may have needed a bit more editing.
It has potential, I can't deny it. I'm not even sure if two stars is a fair rating, but the nits were strong enough to overcome any positive reaction. Moreover I really wanted to DNF it for over half the book. :)
It has a nice world, even if shallow (there were many unexplained points ), and a bountiful of interesting female characters (negated by bland male ones). Unfortunately the heroine, Natalya, was pathetic. Her OCD (which I expected to be more in the "Monk" category than in the housewife one) and her reactions to life made her extremely grating on my nerves.
I never got why out-of-pack meant omega. I understand the lack of status within the pack, but dominance is something different.
Kitty Norville doesn't start life as an alpha. And she'll never be the kind of alpha that screams bad-ass or kick-ass heroine. But she is real or, if you prefer, "normal" (which in this context -I fear- takes a negative/mainstreaming meaning I do not want to give). She's the weakest in her pack too. But she is never pathetic. Hell, Anna in Alpha & Omega is abused. But she never comes out as pathetic. You suffer for and with her. You do not want her to disappear.
I realize this is really unfair towards people who suffer with compulsive buying, but this kind of problems doesn't make a very interesting read. Not here, at least.
The plot was good enough, but the ending was a WTF moment. Let's believe your fellow OCDers come to your help, but the reveal was one big clusterfuck. There is no reason why it comes out at the moment. She's either too dumb to realize why she has been targeted or she has willing killed her packmates lying on her past.
As a finale note, I had to re-read a few paragraph to understand if I was particularly dumb (which may be) or the author managed to write two opposite sentences in the same paragraph. As I'm not the only one to notice this, I suspect the writing may have needed a bit more editing.
August 8, 2012
I was lucky enough to snag an early copy of COVETED. A great book by a fantastic new author! I'm always anxious to find new werewolf series and Shawntelle Madison's South Toms River pack is a great addition to my werewolf list.
The story follows Natalya, a were who's been cast from her pack because of OCD tendencies that come in the form of collecting and hoarding Christmas ornaments. In order to take control of her life and gain re-entry into her pack, Natalya joins into therapy with a group of eclectic supernatural creatures. Throughout the course of the story she has to not only deal with coming to terms with her OCD, but fighting off attacks from a rival werewolf pack set on killing her. The sexual tension in this story doesn't disappoint, as Natalya is confronted not only with her former lover and soon-to-be pack Alpha, Thorn, but an intriguing white wizard from her therapy group, named Nick.
Madison entertains throughout the story with her colorful secondary characters including a goth necromancer, goblin employer, and her best friend Aggie, a lone wolf with problems of her own. The book is heavy on humor while dealing well with the very serious issue of OCD. Natalya finds strength in herself as the story progresses, and with help from her new-found friends, becomes the kick-ass werewolf she never though she'd be. I'm already anxious to read the sequel, KEPT. A definite must-read!
The story follows Natalya, a were who's been cast from her pack because of OCD tendencies that come in the form of collecting and hoarding Christmas ornaments. In order to take control of her life and gain re-entry into her pack, Natalya joins into therapy with a group of eclectic supernatural creatures. Throughout the course of the story she has to not only deal with coming to terms with her OCD, but fighting off attacks from a rival werewolf pack set on killing her. The sexual tension in this story doesn't disappoint, as Natalya is confronted not only with her former lover and soon-to-be pack Alpha, Thorn, but an intriguing white wizard from her therapy group, named Nick.
Madison entertains throughout the story with her colorful secondary characters including a goth necromancer, goblin employer, and her best friend Aggie, a lone wolf with problems of her own. The book is heavy on humor while dealing well with the very serious issue of OCD. Natalya finds strength in herself as the story progresses, and with help from her new-found friends, becomes the kick-ass werewolf she never though she'd be. I'm already anxious to read the sequel, KEPT. A definite must-read!
May 14, 2012
Coveted is advertised as a paranormal romance. It has these elements, but I think it makes quite a nice urban fantasy, as well. I enjoyed the lead character, not to mention her good friend, Aggie. Many of the other characters improved as the book went along, and I'm deeply intrigued by the world beginning to peek out from under the covers. All in all, I'm looking forward to the sequel!
A nice little read!
A nice little read!
August 16, 2018
This was not very good. It was simply dull and inconsistent. One moment the narrator was going on about how Nat had no friends, the next her best friend was showing up on her doorstep. One moment she's being treated like a pariah by her family, the next they're there for her. (And visa versa, they flipped several times.) For the whole book Nat was completely spineless, super subservient and inferior to everyone, then she randomly whipped out the alpa attitude.
Then there was all the back and forwards with Thorn. The fact that he abandoned her five years earlier and basically ruined her life wasn't ever addressed. This irritated me on two fronts. First that the loss of a man ruined her life and no one seemed to blame him for the dick move or give her time to grieve. (Instead they made her condition significantly worse by being inconsiderate and then further blamed her for the predictable results). Second he was never expected to apologize or even explain and she instantly forgave him. Worse, she'd been waiting for him for 5 years without word and didn't seem to need to forgive him.
This forgiveness for men carried over in the whole book. Nat was thrown out of the pack and practically disowned by her family for not behaving just as they want (they called it being weak). But her brother was a womanizing ass, her father a killer, the alpha cruel, and her love was fickle and disloyal. Still, no one ever did anything by praise and support them.
I disliked the book. I can come up with a dozen reasons why, but the main one is that Nat was so weak, and whiny that I basically hated her. I thought her OCD was interesting, but that wasn't enough to make me warm up to someone so willing to be a doormat and who shows NO GROWTH throughout the book.
Then there was all the back and forwards with Thorn. The fact that he abandoned her five years earlier and basically ruined her life wasn't ever addressed. This irritated me on two fronts. First that the loss of a man ruined her life and no one seemed to blame him for the dick move or give her time to grieve. (Instead they made her condition significantly worse by being inconsiderate and then further blamed her for the predictable results). Second he was never expected to apologize or even explain and she instantly forgave him. Worse, she'd been waiting for him for 5 years without word and didn't seem to need to forgive him.
This forgiveness for men carried over in the whole book. Nat was thrown out of the pack and practically disowned by her family for not behaving just as they want (they called it being weak). But her brother was a womanizing ass, her father a killer, the alpha cruel, and her love was fickle and disloyal. Still, no one ever did anything by praise and support them.
I disliked the book. I can come up with a dozen reasons why, but the main one is that Nat was so weak, and whiny that I basically hated her. I thought her OCD was interesting, but that wasn't enough to make me warm up to someone so willing to be a doormat and who shows NO GROWTH throughout the book.
November 12, 2014
This was a bit of a frustrating book to be honest and I really wasn't sure what to rate it. There are some good bits of funny and ironic humour and then we get a lot of boring bits that slow the story down and make my mind drift off to other places.
OK we'll start as always with the good. I liked the fact that our heroine was a werewolf with OCD and a desire to hoard Christmas related items. She has panic attacks over dirt, dust, people being untidy and the thought of parting with her stash. I liked these human qualities and it leads to some funny scenes with Aggie. Aggie is a werewolf and Nat's only friend, who has a compulsive eating disorder and loves making food, turning the kitchen into a mess and getting Nat twitchy! Nat's brother Alex has managed to get an irate tree nymph pregnant and Quentin the necromancer janitor who likes Nat, commands an army of zombies. This is where the humour in the book comes from, giving us the best parts of the story. The author was really creative in giving real personality to these characters. I also liked sending Nat to a therapy group for supernaturals.
Funniest bits? Nat's date with Quentin especially when she gets to meet Neil. Neil's obsession with serving the lasagne. Aggie being threatened with death each time she makes a mess. Nat's shopping spree after her therapy session.
The problem for me is that we have those great characters then we have the one dimensional plank of wood that is Thorn, the ex lover, and his new uberbitch girlfriend who picks on Nat all the time. I don't feel any chemistry with Nat and Thorn. He picks her up when he wants then throws her away when things get difficult and I just didn't like him. I never really felt that he was genuine about loving Nat. His bitch girlfriend bugged me and Thorn never seemed to warn her off from upsetting Nat. If he was alpha and loved Nat, he would have told her to stop it. Adding in the guy from the support group as another potential love late in the book didn't work for me either. I much preferred Quentin who we should have seen much more of.
The other issue for me was the lack of a good strong plotline. Thorn is back just as a rival pack plan a takeover but we only hear brief bits of news about it and two minor threatening moves on Nat by p124. Instead we get countless pages of Nat being shunned by the pack, mooning over Thorn and continual visits to her idiot family. If it had not been for the amusing personality flaws of the girls, I'd have given up way before this point. If the attacking pack is the main plot, it should feature more heavily instead of this relationship drama that plods along and smothers the decent parts of the story.
This book had massive potential but it seemed to get a bit lost trying to decide whether to be urban fantasy or paranormal romance, and coming up a bit short. This author has really good writing skills and had tightened up the plot by the end of the book, adding in some good tension and action. It was just that over emphasis on Thorn and Nat's family issues that let the book down a bit. I'd still recommend it as there is a lot going for it but I don't know that I would go on with the series. I would look at other work by the author though as I think she has great potential for the future.
OK we'll start as always with the good. I liked the fact that our heroine was a werewolf with OCD and a desire to hoard Christmas related items. She has panic attacks over dirt, dust, people being untidy and the thought of parting with her stash. I liked these human qualities and it leads to some funny scenes with Aggie. Aggie is a werewolf and Nat's only friend, who has a compulsive eating disorder and loves making food, turning the kitchen into a mess and getting Nat twitchy! Nat's brother Alex has managed to get an irate tree nymph pregnant and Quentin the necromancer janitor who likes Nat, commands an army of zombies. This is where the humour in the book comes from, giving us the best parts of the story. The author was really creative in giving real personality to these characters. I also liked sending Nat to a therapy group for supernaturals.
Funniest bits? Nat's date with Quentin especially when she gets to meet Neil. Neil's obsession with serving the lasagne. Aggie being threatened with death each time she makes a mess. Nat's shopping spree after her therapy session.
The problem for me is that we have those great characters then we have the one dimensional plank of wood that is Thorn, the ex lover, and his new uberbitch girlfriend who picks on Nat all the time. I don't feel any chemistry with Nat and Thorn. He picks her up when he wants then throws her away when things get difficult and I just didn't like him. I never really felt that he was genuine about loving Nat. His bitch girlfriend bugged me and Thorn never seemed to warn her off from upsetting Nat. If he was alpha and loved Nat, he would have told her to stop it. Adding in the guy from the support group as another potential love late in the book didn't work for me either. I much preferred Quentin who we should have seen much more of.
The other issue for me was the lack of a good strong plotline. Thorn is back just as a rival pack plan a takeover but we only hear brief bits of news about it and two minor threatening moves on Nat by p124. Instead we get countless pages of Nat being shunned by the pack, mooning over Thorn and continual visits to her idiot family. If it had not been for the amusing personality flaws of the girls, I'd have given up way before this point. If the attacking pack is the main plot, it should feature more heavily instead of this relationship drama that plods along and smothers the decent parts of the story.
This book had massive potential but it seemed to get a bit lost trying to decide whether to be urban fantasy or paranormal romance, and coming up a bit short. This author has really good writing skills and had tightened up the plot by the end of the book, adding in some good tension and action. It was just that over emphasis on Thorn and Nat's family issues that let the book down a bit. I'd still recommend it as there is a lot going for it but I don't know that I would go on with the series. I would look at other work by the author though as I think she has great potential for the future.
October 15, 2012
My Rating: 3 stars: Liked it, but I had some issues - recommend (B)
Full Review: http://www.twimom227.com/2012/10/revi...
I’m going to say right up front that I am very conflicted about Coveted. At times I absolutely enjoyed the story, Nat, and several of the side characters. However, at other times I was annoyed by the direction of the plot, the actions of some of the characters, and well, I did not care for Thorn at all. About halfway through the book I wrote a note to myself: This book is like a train wreck. Nothing is going right, but I can't take my eyes off. I keep waiting for things to turn around for Nat. And although the storyline did pick up, I still feel like it was too little, too late.
Nat... What do I say about dear Nat? At times I adored her. I actually LOVE that she is a flawed heroine. Her OCD nature is fun, and also gives a framework for emotional drama while providing room for her to grow and mature. However, while I enjoy when a heroine who isn't perfect or strong, Nat had very little self-respect. She lets everyone treat her like crap, to include her family. It's hard to cheer for a character that doesn't cheer for herself.
I am not a fan of Thorn. First, he left Nat to move across country, and he never once checked in as her life fell apart. Then he pops back into town, and he still apparently crazy for her. He continually ran to her side each time she was attacked by the Long Island Pack, practically swooning over her as he cuddled her and made sure she was safe. Yet if she returned any of his affection, Thorn would coldly remind her that he is engaged to another. Ass. I just couldn’t stand him by the end of the book, and if there is to be any sort of future connection, I will need a lot more convincing in the next book.
Overall Coveted was a decent book. There were some good to great exchanges and scenes, yet at other times I felt something was missing. In particular, there were a couple situations where something fairly big would happen, I’d wonder what happened, only to never have it brought up again. There were some minor plotlines that felt like fluff - only there to add drama. The book is definitely urban fantasy, but it's pretty light for UF, I dubbed it “UF chick lit.”
In general, Nat's character is agreeable, and although I was not happy with how she was treated or how she treated herself through most of the book, she had redeeming qualities. I was glad to see Nat moving forward towards the end of the book. I liked Aggie, the support group and her grandma, but didn't care for most of her family. I also didn't like Thorn or his father, and I wondered how such a jerk could be alpha! I felt the majority of the fight scenes were too short and anti-climatic. Despite all of that, the story was easy to read, and had a quick pace. Even with its flaws, I couldn’t put down Coveted and am looking forward to reading the next installment.
Full Review: http://www.twimom227.com/2012/10/revi...
I’m going to say right up front that I am very conflicted about Coveted. At times I absolutely enjoyed the story, Nat, and several of the side characters. However, at other times I was annoyed by the direction of the plot, the actions of some of the characters, and well, I did not care for Thorn at all. About halfway through the book I wrote a note to myself: This book is like a train wreck. Nothing is going right, but I can't take my eyes off. I keep waiting for things to turn around for Nat. And although the storyline did pick up, I still feel like it was too little, too late.
Nat... What do I say about dear Nat? At times I adored her. I actually LOVE that she is a flawed heroine. Her OCD nature is fun, and also gives a framework for emotional drama while providing room for her to grow and mature. However, while I enjoy when a heroine who isn't perfect or strong, Nat had very little self-respect. She lets everyone treat her like crap, to include her family. It's hard to cheer for a character that doesn't cheer for herself.
I am not a fan of Thorn. First, he left Nat to move across country, and he never once checked in as her life fell apart. Then he pops back into town, and he still apparently crazy for her. He continually ran to her side each time she was attacked by the Long Island Pack, practically swooning over her as he cuddled her and made sure she was safe. Yet if she returned any of his affection, Thorn would coldly remind her that he is engaged to another. Ass. I just couldn’t stand him by the end of the book, and if there is to be any sort of future connection, I will need a lot more convincing in the next book.
Overall Coveted was a decent book. There were some good to great exchanges and scenes, yet at other times I felt something was missing. In particular, there were a couple situations where something fairly big would happen, I’d wonder what happened, only to never have it brought up again. There were some minor plotlines that felt like fluff - only there to add drama. The book is definitely urban fantasy, but it's pretty light for UF, I dubbed it “UF chick lit.”
In general, Nat's character is agreeable, and although I was not happy with how she was treated or how she treated herself through most of the book, she had redeeming qualities. I was glad to see Nat moving forward towards the end of the book. I liked Aggie, the support group and her grandma, but didn't care for most of her family. I also didn't like Thorn or his father, and I wondered how such a jerk could be alpha! I felt the majority of the fight scenes were too short and anti-climatic. Despite all of that, the story was easy to read, and had a quick pace. Even with its flaws, I couldn’t put down Coveted and am looking forward to reading the next installment.
July 15, 2012
SOMETIMES WHAT YOU COVET IS IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP.
For werewolf Natalya Stravinsky, the supernatural is nothing extraordinary. What does seem strange is that she’s stuck in her hometown of South Toms River, New Jersey, the outcast of her pack, selling antiques to finicky magical creatures. Restless and recovering from her split with gorgeous ex-boyfriend, Thorn, Nat finds comfort in an unusual place: her obsessively collected stash of holiday trinkets. But complications pile up faster than her ornaments when Thorn returns home–and the two discover that the spark between them remains intense.
Before Nat can sort out their relationship, she must face a more immediate and dangerous problem. Her pack is under attack from the savage Long Island werewolves–and Nat is their first target in a turf war. Toss in a handsome wizard vying for her affection, a therapy group for the anxious and enchanted, and the South Toms River pack leader ready to throw her to the wolves, and it’s enough to give anybody a panic attack. With the stakes as high as the full moon, Nat must summon all of her strength to save her pack and, ultimately, herself.
My thoughts:
When I first picked up the book, I thought – great another book about shifters. But I quickly changed my mind as I continued reading. I literally read this book from start to finish in one sitting.
Natalya Stravinsky is a werewoif suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder who works in an antique shop selling antiques to creatures of the magical world. She is content to do just that until her ex bofriend Thorn returns.
In many ways Thorn is a catalyst of change, when he left five years ago Natalya’s OCD worsened and she only found comfort in her collection of Christmas ornaments, and because of her OCD she was cast out of her pack. Thorn’s return seems to throw her life into chaos.
Now Natalya must seek out her old pack and try to regain her place in it, as a rival pack seems set upon ending her life. Throw in a support group for magical creatures (they have those?), a wizard who seems to have more that a friendly interest in her, and an ex-boyfriend who cannot let go and Coveted will keep you engaged until the very end.
It’s like the excitement of riding a rollercoster – thrilling and at the end you want to go again. With Coveted, when I got to end I wanted more, and am eagerly awaiting the next novel.
March 31, 2012
5 Stars- Spellbinding
Natalya Stravinsky is just your everyday, average hoarding werewolf with a major case of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. When the love of her life, Thorn, abandoned her five years ago, her world dissolved. Cast out of her pack, Natalya’s only true joy comes in the form of her many Christmas decorations. When Thorn returns to South River Toms to assume role as the pack’s alpha, Natalya must confront the pain of his abandonment, cast aside her pride and turn to him for aide as the Long Island pack threatens her very existence.
Debut author Shawntelle Madison is truly gifted. Her dynamite debut kept me enthralled until I turned the final page. I could not put this book down. A riveting, fast-paced, action packed story with a heroine readers will adore. Ms. Madison’s characters are so full-bodied they leap off the page with their hilarious antics. But this story would not be what it is without the heroine. Natalya is such a compelling, dynamic character who touches your heart on so many levels. Ms. Madison finishes her tale with a gut-wrenching ending that left me breathless. This is one of 2012’s must have books to add to your keeper shelf. I can’t wait to read the next installment in Ms. Madison’s series and see what else this powerhouse author has in store for her readers.
Natalya Stravinsky is just your everyday, average hoarding werewolf with a major case of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. When the love of her life, Thorn, abandoned her five years ago, her world dissolved. Cast out of her pack, Natalya’s only true joy comes in the form of her many Christmas decorations. When Thorn returns to South River Toms to assume role as the pack’s alpha, Natalya must confront the pain of his abandonment, cast aside her pride and turn to him for aide as the Long Island pack threatens her very existence.
Debut author Shawntelle Madison is truly gifted. Her dynamite debut kept me enthralled until I turned the final page. I could not put this book down. A riveting, fast-paced, action packed story with a heroine readers will adore. Ms. Madison’s characters are so full-bodied they leap off the page with their hilarious antics. But this story would not be what it is without the heroine. Natalya is such a compelling, dynamic character who touches your heart on so many levels. Ms. Madison finishes her tale with a gut-wrenching ending that left me breathless. This is one of 2012’s must have books to add to your keeper shelf. I can’t wait to read the next installment in Ms. Madison’s series and see what else this powerhouse author has in store for her readers.
July 21, 2012
I'm not sure where to start... I adored this book. This was an incredibly riveting read. My soft spot for all things werewolf aside, this was a must read.
The main character was so flawed and believable, you couldn't help but love her. She is a mess, but trying to turn her life around. Her illness has caused her to lose her place in the pack and now she is treated like an outsider, a weak link.
The supporting characters were well written and creative. There were wizards, necromancers, zombies, succubi, goblins, warlocks and muses just to name a few of the many characters. Of course, there were lots of werewolves as well.
Gosh, the plot was also good. I was guessing until the very end, but enjoyed the entire story. I wasn't so fond of the doomed romance with bad boy Thorn, but it worked. Thorn is yummy.
This was a fast paced read that I highly recommend for any adult paranormal fantasy lover. Due to sexual situations and adult themes, it is not suitable for young adults. The sequel Kept, will be out soon and I for one can't wait. I give this fascinating read five glittery stars:)
The main character was so flawed and believable, you couldn't help but love her. She is a mess, but trying to turn her life around. Her illness has caused her to lose her place in the pack and now she is treated like an outsider, a weak link.
The supporting characters were well written and creative. There were wizards, necromancers, zombies, succubi, goblins, warlocks and muses just to name a few of the many characters. Of course, there were lots of werewolves as well.
Gosh, the plot was also good. I was guessing until the very end, but enjoyed the entire story. I wasn't so fond of the doomed romance with bad boy Thorn, but it worked. Thorn is yummy.
This was a fast paced read that I highly recommend for any adult paranormal fantasy lover. Due to sexual situations and adult themes, it is not suitable for young adults. The sequel Kept, will be out soon and I for one can't wait. I give this fascinating read five glittery stars:)
September 1, 2012
I immediately took a liking to Nat. I felt so bad for her being an outcast and getting treated so badly even by her own family just because she wouldn't succomb to the life that was intended for her as a werewolf. She also has an unusual hoarding condition for collecting an exorbant amount of holiday ornaments. It's so bad that she has let them totally take over her life and her house by the boxfuls and is ashamed when anybody comes to visit.
On top of all this she is still very much infatuated with her old flame Thorn but because he leads the pack and she is a shunned member he can barely offer her his friendship much less the love and protection she needs when enemies begin to invade the turf who want her dead.
I am very interested to see what happens in the next book because Nat is in training to try to reclaim a spot in the clan. I can't wait to see if she will rekindle an old flame or start one up with Nick (a wizard) whom I also took a liking to! I am sooo pro Nick at this point because I just felt Thorn could have stood up more for Nat if he had such strong feelings for her?
At any rate this was an awesome debut and totally is going on my keeper shelf!
On top of all this she is still very much infatuated with her old flame Thorn but because he leads the pack and she is a shunned member he can barely offer her his friendship much less the love and protection she needs when enemies begin to invade the turf who want her dead.
I am very interested to see what happens in the next book because Nat is in training to try to reclaim a spot in the clan. I can't wait to see if she will rekindle an old flame or start one up with Nick (a wizard) whom I also took a liking to! I am sooo pro Nick at this point because I just felt Thorn could have stood up more for Nat if he had such strong feelings for her?
At any rate this was an awesome debut and totally is going on my keeper shelf!
May 14, 2014
Full review at
Talk Supe
Overall I felt food after reading COVETED, it's not as action-packed compared to other UF series but what it lacked in adrenaline it made up for the world building and well fleshed-out characters. SMadison planted a lot of seed in this one and I want to be there when she starts reaping them one by one, harvesting it all too could work. Nevertheless I want to be there when it happens! Nat's a great heroine and I want to be in the sidelines come her happy ending.
Overall I felt food after reading COVETED, it's not as action-packed compared to other UF series but what it lacked in adrenaline it made up for the world building and well fleshed-out characters. SMadison planted a lot of seed in this one and I want to be there when she starts reaping them one by one, harvesting it all too could work. Nevertheless I want to be there when it happens! Nat's a great heroine and I want to be in the sidelines come her happy ending.
May 14, 2012
I was lucky enough to read the first 100 pages last year, but I had to wait patiently for the book to come out to find out what happened next. It did not disappoint me... well, except for the fact I wanted more. ;) S glad to know there's a sequel coming out that continues the story.
November 20, 2015
4-1/2 *'s.
I really enjoyed this first book, and look forward to reading the second in the series.
I really enjoyed this first book, and look forward to reading the second in the series.
Read
May 2, 2022There are so many good things about this book that when I finished, I couldn't believe how bad it was.
The writing is fun. I love being inside the main character's OCD, anxious head, because I sympathize a lot with her viewpoint, and I think characters with anxiety/depression/OCD/other mental health struggles are underrepresented and hard to pull off. I think the author did a really beautiful job of that. (BUT on the other hand, our heroine is the biggest doormat in the history of doormats. And that's a large part of why I won't be continuing the series and I'm sorry I spent the time to read through this whole book.)
The setting and descriptions throughout are great. The heroine has Russian roots, and the meals she shares with her family seemed very realistic.
But the plot. WHAT PLOT????? I have no freaking clue. Thing after random thing seem to just happen to her, and it got old. After being attacked more times than I could count, our heroine still didn't carry any sort of self defense weapon or take classes or anything... She just went on with her life going to work and worrying... I mean, come onnnnnnnnnnn.
For a book that was so well-written, the main character did nothing to help herself, and she keeps wanting to "rejoin the pack" and get the boy, when ALL THOSE PEOPLE SUCK. YOU HAVE BETTER OPTIONS, GIRL!!!!! I know she's held back by her mental health struggles, and she's going to therapy to try to help herself, but there were just WAYYYYYY TOO MANYYYYYYY times when she had to be rescued, or didn't act, and she doesn't even really ever stop to think about the people around her being toxic and terrible, she just keeps wanting to reunite with her awful family and the wretched pack she's not even part of, and the hero who rejects her time after time.
Based on all the good things that I liked about the book, it could have been so much better. But it wasn't.
Sigh.
The writing is fun. I love being inside the main character's OCD, anxious head, because I sympathize a lot with her viewpoint, and I think characters with anxiety/depression/OCD/other mental health struggles are underrepresented and hard to pull off. I think the author did a really beautiful job of that. (BUT on the other hand, our heroine is the biggest doormat in the history of doormats. And that's a large part of why I won't be continuing the series and I'm sorry I spent the time to read through this whole book.)
The setting and descriptions throughout are great. The heroine has Russian roots, and the meals she shares with her family seemed very realistic.
But the plot. WHAT PLOT????? I have no freaking clue. Thing after random thing seem to just happen to her, and it got old. After being attacked more times than I could count, our heroine still didn't carry any sort of self defense weapon or take classes or anything... She just went on with her life going to work and worrying... I mean, come onnnnnnnnnnn.
For a book that was so well-written, the main character did nothing to help herself, and she keeps wanting to "rejoin the pack" and get the boy, when ALL THOSE PEOPLE SUCK. YOU HAVE BETTER OPTIONS, GIRL!!!!! I know she's held back by her mental health struggles, and she's going to therapy to try to help herself, but there were just WAYYYYYY TOO MANYYYYYYY times when she had to be rescued, or didn't act, and she doesn't even really ever stop to think about the people around her being toxic and terrible, she just keeps wanting to reunite with her awful family and the wretched pack she's not even part of, and the hero who rejects her time after time.
Based on all the good things that I liked about the book, it could have been so much better. But it wasn't.
Sigh.
February 6, 2022
Nat is a lone werewolf. She was cast out of her pack. Now she sells antiques and (hoards) collects all kinds of Christmas/holiday decorations. She also has OCD. Complications arise when Thorn, her ex, arrives back in town.
I did like that Nat's OCD wasn't played for laughs and it was part of who she was. I didn't like how she was treated by her former pack, nor did I like how hung up she still was on Thorn. He had so much power over her even when he wasn't around and I hated that. I did think the werewolf turf war could have been better explained (my main issue is it was glossed over why Nat was a central target). The world was interesting (it's not just werewolves, but all kinds of supernatural beings).
Nat was an okay character; I felt she was judgmental at time and could have been more supportive of her friends. I hated Thorn. To really like a book (and want to continue to read the series) I have to like the love interest too or at least read something redeeming. Pass on the next.
I did like that Nat's OCD wasn't played for laughs and it was part of who she was. I didn't like how she was treated by her former pack, nor did I like how hung up she still was on Thorn. He had so much power over her even when he wasn't around and I hated that. I did think the werewolf turf war could have been better explained (my main issue is it was glossed over why Nat was a central target). The world was interesting (it's not just werewolves, but all kinds of supernatural beings).
Nat was an okay character; I felt she was judgmental at time and could have been more supportive of her friends. I hated Thorn. To really like a book (and want to continue to read the series) I have to like the love interest too or at least read something redeeming. Pass on the next.
August 7, 2022
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I really liked it! The band of characters were all very interesting and relatable. The book was full of action and I couldn't put it down. I read it much faster than I thought I would.
June 12, 2012
Stumbled Over the Heroine's Issues
Five years ago, werewolf Natalya Stravinsky lost the man she loved to a job across the country and the responsibilities inherent to the pack alpha's son. The devastation from that loss changed her, turned a quirky werewolf with OCD into a shadow of herself. While she was still reeling from that loss, she was put into an untenable situation at a pack event and she went a little crazy, making a scene and embarrassing her family.
As a result, she was kicked out of the pack. Her alpha refused to tolerate any individual weaknesses that could threaten the strength of the pack as a whole.
Now Nat lives on the outskirts of her own town, skulking around the edges as a lone wolf. Her home, her job...even her life is solely at the discretion of the pack alpha. With a word she could be banished from her town, even killed. Her relationship with her family is tense, she has no love life, and her OCD has worsened and expanded to include compulsive hoarding behavior.
On the bright side she's got the most diverse and extensive set of Christmas decorations...in the world.
She's living her life as best she can, getting through the days, when her ex-boyfriend Thorn returns to town to assume the mantle responsibility for a pack in crisis. The heat between them is still intense, the need as clear in his eyes as it is in Nat's heart. Problem is, Thorn is promised to another werewolf, a high ranking female of the pack. And that pack crisis, attacks from an encroaching pack intent on gobbling up their territory, paints a target on Nat's back because of her lone wolf status and her lack of pack protection.
~*~
I'm glad I went into this book knowing that it was an urban fantasy instead of a paranormal romance. I was able to focus on the world building, plot, and evolution of characters. In that regard, though, this is one of the more difficult types of books for me to rate and review.
I fully appreciate the originality and unique story elements Madison introduces in this series debut. I admire the risk she took with a main character not just flawed, but suffering a mental illness. There were also many lovely aspects of solid storytelling here on every level, and I can completely understand why this book would appeal to many.
After a promising prologue, the first half of the book was a little slow for me, but that was more a minor issue. Unfortunately, this is just one of those stories that has a main character who is the absolute antithesis of my preferred type for heroes and heroines. I was completely incapable of connecting to her or garnering much in the way of sympathy for her myriad of psychological, ideological, and situational troubles.
This is my peccadillo, not the fault of the author, but I have little patience and less enthusiasm for demonstrably weak characters, especially female characters, and there aren't many I've read who are as excessively passive in their subjugation as Natalya.
And let me just say, I was so disgusted by Thorn and his treatment of Nat, treatment masquerading as concern and star-crossed emotion, of course, that I would have happily turned him into a wolf-skin rug and nailed his furry butt to my wall. Every time Nat turned around after he'd returned to town, Thorn seems to pop up, even sneaking into her room and stirring her body, mind, and heart.
That'd be all kinds of all right if he wasn't virtually engaged to another woman. He flat-out says he has no choice in his future, but if that's the case, man the hell up. Don't torture the woman who still loves you with yearning, passion-filled looks and soft caresses even as you're telling her she can't have you. That's not only wrong, it's pathetic and cruel. Especially with Nat's obviously unhealthy mental and emotional state.
It sure as hell didn't endear Thorn to me as a character.
This is such a character-driven story, with the narrative told from Nat's perspective in first person, that my issues with her made it almost impossible for me to really enjoy the strengths and many pluses that the book offers. I was a little heartened as the end drew closer, though, and the climax of the book started to get rolling. Several enjoyable elements came together and Nat finally flashed some fang.
It was too little too late to pull this one out for me, but it may speak well for the next book in the series, or give a hint of future progress for Natalya. I'm just not sure yet if I'd be willing to return to this series and see if and how any character evolution develops. Unless of course, Nat suddenly switches the focus of her hoarding to male wolf statues with their head's forcibly removed. Bitten off would be good, too. I'm pretty sure I'd be all over this series at that point.
Disclosure: An ARC of this book was provided to me by Ballantine Books publisher Random House Publishing Group via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
Five years ago, werewolf Natalya Stravinsky lost the man she loved to a job across the country and the responsibilities inherent to the pack alpha's son. The devastation from that loss changed her, turned a quirky werewolf with OCD into a shadow of herself. While she was still reeling from that loss, she was put into an untenable situation at a pack event and she went a little crazy, making a scene and embarrassing her family.
As a result, she was kicked out of the pack. Her alpha refused to tolerate any individual weaknesses that could threaten the strength of the pack as a whole.
Now Nat lives on the outskirts of her own town, skulking around the edges as a lone wolf. Her home, her job...even her life is solely at the discretion of the pack alpha. With a word she could be banished from her town, even killed. Her relationship with her family is tense, she has no love life, and her OCD has worsened and expanded to include compulsive hoarding behavior.
On the bright side she's got the most diverse and extensive set of Christmas decorations...in the world.
She's living her life as best she can, getting through the days, when her ex-boyfriend Thorn returns to town to assume the mantle responsibility for a pack in crisis. The heat between them is still intense, the need as clear in his eyes as it is in Nat's heart. Problem is, Thorn is promised to another werewolf, a high ranking female of the pack. And that pack crisis, attacks from an encroaching pack intent on gobbling up their territory, paints a target on Nat's back because of her lone wolf status and her lack of pack protection.
~*~
I'm glad I went into this book knowing that it was an urban fantasy instead of a paranormal romance. I was able to focus on the world building, plot, and evolution of characters. In that regard, though, this is one of the more difficult types of books for me to rate and review.
I fully appreciate the originality and unique story elements Madison introduces in this series debut. I admire the risk she took with a main character not just flawed, but suffering a mental illness. There were also many lovely aspects of solid storytelling here on every level, and I can completely understand why this book would appeal to many.
After a promising prologue, the first half of the book was a little slow for me, but that was more a minor issue. Unfortunately, this is just one of those stories that has a main character who is the absolute antithesis of my preferred type for heroes and heroines. I was completely incapable of connecting to her or garnering much in the way of sympathy for her myriad of psychological, ideological, and situational troubles.
This is my peccadillo, not the fault of the author, but I have little patience and less enthusiasm for demonstrably weak characters, especially female characters, and there aren't many I've read who are as excessively passive in their subjugation as Natalya.
And let me just say, I was so disgusted by Thorn and his treatment of Nat, treatment masquerading as concern and star-crossed emotion, of course, that I would have happily turned him into a wolf-skin rug and nailed his furry butt to my wall. Every time Nat turned around after he'd returned to town, Thorn seems to pop up, even sneaking into her room and stirring her body, mind, and heart.
That'd be all kinds of all right if he wasn't virtually engaged to another woman. He flat-out says he has no choice in his future, but if that's the case, man the hell up. Don't torture the woman who still loves you with yearning, passion-filled looks and soft caresses even as you're telling her she can't have you. That's not only wrong, it's pathetic and cruel. Especially with Nat's obviously unhealthy mental and emotional state.
It sure as hell didn't endear Thorn to me as a character.
This is such a character-driven story, with the narrative told from Nat's perspective in first person, that my issues with her made it almost impossible for me to really enjoy the strengths and many pluses that the book offers. I was a little heartened as the end drew closer, though, and the climax of the book started to get rolling. Several enjoyable elements came together and Nat finally flashed some fang.
It was too little too late to pull this one out for me, but it may speak well for the next book in the series, or give a hint of future progress for Natalya. I'm just not sure yet if I'd be willing to return to this series and see if and how any character evolution develops. Unless of course, Nat suddenly switches the focus of her hoarding to male wolf statues with their head's forcibly removed. Bitten off would be good, too. I'm pretty sure I'd be all over this series at that point.
Disclosure: An ARC of this book was provided to me by Ballantine Books publisher Random House Publishing Group via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
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