Hello everyone!
I took a number of books with me to my mini-vacation last week and I figured I'd take a look and see if any of them could be useful for this week's book blog post.
Sometimes, some just aren't, or they're literally only a few pages long, not even novellas, and I really don't think that qualifies as a book review, does it?
This one isn't exactly Lord of the Rings length, either, but it's got a lot of endearing elements to it, and something about werewolves running around just amuses me to no end. Plus, the premise of there being OTHER shifters around and not just wolves is intriguing!
I discovered Riley Rivers completely by accident one time because this particular book of hers was free online, and I thought to myself, what the heck.
It sounded promising from the blurb, and occasionally I'll indulge in whims.
The Werewolf's Nymph Neighbor was amusing, and very sweet.
It's a relatively short story all in all, not exactly full length novel material, but it has a solid beginning, middle and ending, and it opens doors for more follow-ups (of which there are two, natch, and I've read both of those as well because ... reasons).
Also, baby werewolves!
The story goes like this:
nymph Eric has just moved to his new place and is in LOVE, especially with the garden outside which he's now planting, and he also works at a greenhouse because, hello, nature, plants, all that stuff.
He's a little bit grumpy about the neighbour's two kids always coming up to talk to him, though, not that he can complain all that much about the dad ...
Leon is a single father and he's ALSO interested in this new guy the kids have taken to so much (Leon has a son and a daughter, by the way), but he also just doesn't want to bug him, although Eric somehow finds himself inviting Leon to come visit him at work so they can pick up some plants for the kids to take care of.
And I mean, there's chemistry. Of course there's chemistry, this is a romance!
But the thing is, Eric, as a nymph, ALWAYS thinks about sex, and can apparently influence others around him so that they reciprocate the feeling to make it mutual, but it isn't always mutual because if HE plants those seeds with his impulses and powers, then ...
Yeah it's convoluted, but basically, Lean likes Eric, and it's not about him being a nymph, either.
Actually, Leon doesn't figure out Eric's a nymph until way later.
Anyway, a reluctant Eric keeps on getting dragged into activities with the two kids, helping them plant the tomatoes and flowers and such, and he's slowly starting to thaw because, really, how can you deny an inquisitive child anything? Especially one as cute as the little girl who also happens to be a baby werewolf, so can you IMAGINE the cuddles?
I can. Who cares about the biting.
But happiness isn't to be, not so easily, anyway, because one day, when the kids are being babysat by Tommy (another werewolf, who also features in the second book), Eric realizes that there's been some other plants planted around the property, ones he DIDN'T plant - and ones that are lethal to werewolves.
He'd seen the people who'd planted them, but initially thought Leon had just ordered some stuff done, but with the flowers, and the knowledge that the family are werewolves now, Eric's pretty sure something's up, and Leon agrees with him, but they can't prevent what happens next:
there's hunters in the neighbourhood.
And they operate out of the daycare unit, poaching their targets there.
They snatch Tommy, Eric and Leon's daughter, intent on doing who knows what - poor Tommy gets the heavy brunt of the restraints and the poison, but Eric manages to get the girl (in cute little wolf form) out of her cage, although he's not really all that strong. So what can he do?
Well see, here's the thing about his little flirtation with Leon: having gone to bed together, Leon realized Eric is his mate, and there's a mating bond in place, and this is one he can follow to find his family.
Which is exactly what he does, exploding into the room with the captives and hunters as a gigantic wolf on the warpath, and with the help of a detective (who happens to also be from the supernatural world), it's all over quickly.
They're taken to the hospital and eventually released home, and Leon overrides Eric's continuous reluctance - because how could Leon want something more when people usualy just want sex from a nymph? - by explaining that it isn't Eric doing anything. It's the mating bond, so why fight it? Why not be a family?
Eric can hardly believe his luck - but it's Leon, he's fallen head-over-heels, and he loves the two kids, too, so it's a match made in heaven!
And on that note, the story ends, continuing in The Werewolf's Dragon Defender, which I'll be reviewing soon enough. It's Tommy's story, and I happen to have fallen in love with the hero who he falls for, so what's not to like about this?
It's an easy afternoon read for a rainy day or maybe for when you're on the beach. The covers might not be the glossy professional work you see on big fantasy novels, but they're cute and tell the story, which is exactly the point, obviously. The writing is fast-paced, the characters are quirky and likeable, and it has a happily ever after, so if you ever need a pick-me-up (and some cute cub visions!), make sure to read this one!
xx
*image not mine
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