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Shelley Holmes, Werewolf Detective #1
The Wolf of Haskell Hall
With the coming of the moon, wild happenings disturb the seaswept peace of Haskell Hall. And for the newest heiress, deep longing mingles with still deeper fear. Never has she been so powerfully drawn to a man as she is to Ian Griffith, with his secretive amber eyes and tightly leashed sensuality. Awash in the seductive moonlight of his tower chamber, she bares herself to his fierce passions. But has she freed a tormented soul with her loving gift or loosed a demon who hunts unsuspecting women as his prey?
400 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
2 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
About the author
Colleen Shannon
19 books48 followerscolleen1011@gmail.com
Colleen Shannon's ancestor signed the Texas Declaration of Independence and her West Texas roots give her the optimistic yet inquiring viewpoint that she tries to reflect in her books. Believing in the redeeming power of love, the benefits of knowledge, with a bit of sprituality included, are the elements she most enjoys in books and that's what she tries to write. With a bit of humor thrown in for spice!
The strength of her first book for Berkley many years ago led to her nomination by Romantic Times as Best New Historical Author. She went on to win and/or be nominated for numerous other awards, including a Kiss Award for all three heroes of her Fairy Tale trilogy which she wrote for Dorchester Books.
She recently sold three Ranger series books to Lyrical Press. #16 Foster Justice debuted December 2014, and its stand alone sequel #17, Sinclair Justice, will be released in July 2015. The third series book will be released sometime in 2016, tentatively titled Austin Justice. They are her first published romantic suspense-- contemporaries about Texas Rangers.
Colleen Shannon's ancestor signed the Texas Declaration of Independence and her West Texas roots give her the optimistic yet inquiring viewpoint that she tries to reflect in her books. Believing in the redeeming power of love, the benefits of knowledge, with a bit of sprituality included, are the elements she most enjoys in books and that's what she tries to write. With a bit of humor thrown in for spice!
The strength of her first book for Berkley many years ago led to her nomination by Romantic Times as Best New Historical Author. She went on to win and/or be nominated for numerous other awards, including a Kiss Award for all three heroes of her Fairy Tale trilogy which she wrote for Dorchester Books.
She recently sold three Ranger series books to Lyrical Press. #16 Foster Justice debuted December 2014, and its stand alone sequel #17, Sinclair Justice, will be released in July 2015. The third series book will be released sometime in 2016, tentatively titled Austin Justice. They are her first published romantic suspense-- contemporaries about Texas Rangers.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 23, 2009
Okay, so, before I gave up on this book, on page 38, our hero and heroine had already been sweapt away by their undeniable passion, so I have no idea what they find to do in the rest of the 379 pages. My guess is that he's a werewolf, can her love finally free him from his curse? You know, based on all the nonsense about his primal passions and animal lusts, and, you know, the book title.
But so far as I'm, concerned, this book's real sin is the dialects attributed to all the servents. Sample:
Yeah. And I haven't even told you yet how "the more frightened Safira became, the more she retreated into her magic."
And the housekeeper gets a brogue, as well.
Do Not Want.
But so far as I'm, concerned, this book's real sin is the dialects attributed to all the servents. Sample:
"Blimery, she's a frowsy bitch, drawers a-droppin' round her knees at the first sign o' interest," came the ribald appraisal from Jeremy, Lil's groom, bodyguard, and favorite general nuisance.
...
As usual, Safira gave him a censorious look out of slanted, exotic eyes luminous against her burnished Haitian skin. "Mon, ye have no need to stir up trouble before we even set foot inside the place."
Yeah. And I haven't even told you yet how "the more frightened Safira became, the more she retreated into her magic."
And the housekeeper gets a brogue, as well.
Do Not Want.
July 4, 2022
I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would! Full review forthcoming (after book club).
July 29, 2025
Delilah, an American, finds herself as soul heiress to a castle in England after her predecessor dies. In fact, she discovers all of her predecessors have met a gruesome and tragic end at the hand of a curse formed hundreds of years ago when her ancestor destroyed the life and unborn child of his gypsy lover. Since that night, tales of werewolves surround the castle and the neighboring village. Yet that’s not the only thing Lil must concern herself with. The other side of the curse is her unnatural and fated attraction to the gypsy woman’s ancestor who happens to be under her employment as a grounds keeper. She finds Ian Griffith to be a proud, frustrating and mysterious man with excessively too much confidence for a man of his station. Why, he acts like they are equal and while Delilah has never been one for airs, the man has a way of getting under her skin. But any fight she had in resisting him is pointless as she succumbs to sleeping with him. Only, when she awakens in the middle of the night under the full moon- she encounters a wolf in Ian’s bedchamber!
Ian Griffith has lived under a curse his whole life and it’s made him a tortured soul who cannot afford to risk getting too close to anyone, let alone the beautiful American whom shares her part of the curse laid on them by their ancestors. Only, no matter how hard he fights, he can’t help himself from loving her. But he is cursed to live as a beast, cursed to fear he’ll harm or worse, kill her while he is transformed. Their only hope is to somehow find a way to break the curse before the other werewolves of the village destroy them.
I really liked this book. It’s a gothic book in a lot of aspects and certainly a different vibe then most traditional PNR. It was dark and haunting and a little scary. When the hero wakes up in the woods in the presence of the dead body of his lover. When the heroine finds the body and realizes that the man she loves could actually be a savage killer. (To that point she definitely white-washed and downplayed the severity of his situation). The story is told by the heroine’s POV for the most part with few glimpses into the hero’s mind and I really liked that as it added to his mystery. The heroine? A little delusional and silly. She absolutely should have been killed many times in this book because of her stubbornness and ignorance to the real danger she was in but otherwise, I enjoyed her character. I enjoyed her devotion to the man she loves, despite his curse. You have to admire a woman who would stand by a man who openly sleeps with other woman in front of you early into your acquaintance. A man who turns into a wolf. An a man who confesses to the killing of a woman hours before you make love in the forest…..Okay, maybe not so admirable but I still enjoyed this book!
Ian Griffith has lived under a curse his whole life and it’s made him a tortured soul who cannot afford to risk getting too close to anyone, let alone the beautiful American whom shares her part of the curse laid on them by their ancestors. Only, no matter how hard he fights, he can’t help himself from loving her. But he is cursed to live as a beast, cursed to fear he’ll harm or worse, kill her while he is transformed. Their only hope is to somehow find a way to break the curse before the other werewolves of the village destroy them.
I really liked this book. It’s a gothic book in a lot of aspects and certainly a different vibe then most traditional PNR. It was dark and haunting and a little scary. When the hero wakes up in the woods in the presence of the dead body of his lover. When the heroine finds the body and realizes that the man she loves could actually be a savage killer. (To that point she definitely white-washed and downplayed the severity of his situation). The story is told by the heroine’s POV for the most part with few glimpses into the hero’s mind and I really liked that as it added to his mystery. The heroine? A little delusional and silly. She absolutely should have been killed many times in this book because of her stubbornness and ignorance to the real danger she was in but otherwise, I enjoyed her character. I enjoyed her devotion to the man she loves, despite his curse. You have to admire a woman who would stand by a man who openly sleeps with other woman in front of you early into your acquaintance. A man who turns into a wolf. An a man who confesses to the killing of a woman hours before you make love in the forest…..Okay, maybe not so admirable but I still enjoyed this book!
June 29, 2015
Not sure why the rating is so low, but I loved this book.
December 2, 2012
This is the first romance novel I've ever read. I picked it up simply because it occurred to me I'd never read anything in the romance genre, and I figured it might broaden my mind. I'd be lying though, if I said I wasn't anticipating an awful lot of boredom.
As it turned out, this book was strong enough for me to finish it in one sitting. I found Colleen Shannon to be a quick-witted, strong writer with an excellent sense of storyline, great character development, and a flair for unique content...which I love.
Since finishing this book several years ago, I've read and learned a lot from other romance novelists as well. Many of them give the most fantastic descriptions of the surrounding world, and I thought this book did a great job at just that. Well done, Colleen Shannon!
As it turned out, this book was strong enough for me to finish it in one sitting. I found Colleen Shannon to be a quick-witted, strong writer with an excellent sense of storyline, great character development, and a flair for unique content...which I love.
Since finishing this book several years ago, I've read and learned a lot from other romance novelists as well. Many of them give the most fantastic descriptions of the surrounding world, and I thought this book did a great job at just that. Well done, Colleen Shannon!
November 23, 2025
The Wolf of Haskell Hall” is a gothic romance that understands atmosphere in a way few modern books do. Shannon builds Haskell Hall with such rich, shadowed detail that the setting becomes a character of its own. Ian Griffith is the perfect gothic hero intense, wounded, compelling and the chemistry between him and the new heiress is both sensual and haunting.
What I enjoyed most is how the story blends mystery, emotional tension, and supernatural hints without losing the romance at the heart of it. It feels like a classic from the moment you start reading. A perfect pick for fans of dark historical romance with a beautifully moody edge
What I enjoyed most is how the story blends mystery, emotional tension, and supernatural hints without losing the romance at the heart of it. It feels like a classic from the moment you start reading. A perfect pick for fans of dark historical romance with a beautifully moody edge
July 28, 2018
Not my type of romance.
February 25, 2024
I literally had to force myself to finish this book …. unlike most of the books i’ve read for this challenge, this one almost made me give up ….. thankfully i got through it. I do not recommend this book at all
February 22, 2010
It took forever but i finially waded myself through. I can't say that it every really caught up my interest or any real enjoyment.
October 27, 2015
I felt this was more of a Paranormal Romance than a Gothic, though I remember considering the next book in the series a Gothic when I read it years ago.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews