Wolver's Gold by Jacqueline Rhoades

Title:  Wolver's Gold

Series:  The Wolvers #5

Author:  Jacqueline Rhoades  

Published:  May 20th 2014

Length:  450pgs

Format:  ecopy

Genre:  paranormal romance

Shelf:  bought

Rating:  ★★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Finding gold where you least expect it…

Lone wolf and Special Investigator for the ubiquitous Eugene Begley, Challenger McCall is sent to the town of Gold Gulch to take care of a problem that might involve the exposure of the wolver community. For McCall, it’s like stepping back in time - a hundred and fifty years back in time.

Gold Gulch is a tourist attraction where the wolvers take their work so seriously, they continue their Victorian lives long after the tourists have gone home. Much like their 19th century counterparts, the women are overworked and underpaid.

Rachel Kincaid is one such woman. Exercising the only power she holds, she has become a wolver oddity; a spinster who refuses to mate. Why would she, when she already has to take care of the short-staffed hotel, its restaurant and her ne’er-do-well father? Angry and bitter, Rachel decides she deserves a better hand than the one she’s been dealt and finds herself drawn to the handsome new sheriff, Challenger McCall. Why shouldn’t she, for once in her life, enjoy the same freedom as the Soiled Doves on the hill?

Things get complicated when Rachel's wolf awakens after a long sleep and the town's women seem to awaken along with it. Papa's gambling debts leave them on the brink; the pack is at risk; and the women rebel. Oh, and don't forget the murders. If ever a pack needed rescuing, Gold Gulch is it, but as the girls up at Daisy's Bouquet point out, - A smart woman needs to look after herself!

My Review:

What an unforgettable tale. Rhoades combines the Old West with modernity and throws in some Wolvers to balance it all out. I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that the world of the Wolvers branches out a little bit with this one while remaining true to its roots. She takes the concept of Wolvers that we’ve come to love and turns it on its head, giving her readers a unique experience that, although following suit from the rest of the series, definitely stands out in the best of ways. Mystery and suspense combine with underhanded city officials to make this a story that you won’t be able to put down.

The characters in this novel make the enthralling story even more captivating. I won’t say too much or it’ll ruin the surprise but the main characters are right up there with my all-time favourite characters from Rhoades. Everyone in this novel is so well and naturally developed that they aren’t simply believable; they become real for the reader. The clash of time periods and ways of life, without the necessity of time travel, makes for some interesting moments as well. And perhaps we will get to revisit some of these characters again in the future. One can definitely hope so anyways.

Overall this was a phenomenal novel that can be read as part of Rhoades’ Wolvers series or as a standalone. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone who enjoys contemporary romance with some supernatural on the side.

|  Goodreads  |  Shelfari  |

|  Amazon  |  B&N  |  Smashwords  |

Continue Reading...

Rabbit Creek Santa by Jacqueline Rhoades

Title:  Rabbit Creek Santa

Author:  Jacqueline Rhoades

Series:  A Wolver Novella

Published:  November 28th 2013

Page Count:  94

Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Shelf:  Books I Bought

Rating:  ★★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

It's Christmas!... 

Things are going well in Rabbit Creek. Elizabeth has taken her duties as the Alpha's Mate to heart and as the story opens, that heart is breaking for the loneliness and isolation of one of her pack. It's Christmas Eve and no one should be lonely at Christmas. 

Lindy doesn't feel like she has much to celebrate. After two years of widowhood, she can barely make ends meet without the aid of her pack and while her inner wolf is ready to move on, Lindy isn't sure she can let go of the past. 

New to the pack, Travis had party plans for the Holidays, but he ends up playing Santa to a pretty little widow and her pup. She's not what he was looking for, but she's exactly what he wants and his inner wolf agrees. Now all he has to do is convince Lindy that Christmas gifts aren't always the ones you find under the tree.

Adult-content rating: This book contains content considered unsuitable for young readers 17 and under, and which may be offensive to some readers of all ages.

My Review:

This one is definitely another hit for the brilliant Jacqueline Rhoades. In this tale she returns, along with her characters, to Rabbit Creek and you feel like you never left. Her phenomenal descriptions combine with her inviting tone to draw you into a world you don’t just want to live in, but rather one that you feel like you already do. Rhoades’ amazing abilities as a storyteller draw you in and evoke your emotions. She made me laugh, made me cringe, and even brought a few tears to my eyes. It was absolutely perfect.

I think that Travis and Lindy may just be my favourite wolver couple yet. They are definitely proof that opposites attract but are definitely brilliant individuals in their own rights. Rhoades brings these two characters to us as fully developed individuals who are easy to relate to, even in the short page count of this novella. The supporting cast is developed throughout the series and as they are background players in this tale they shine quite well as they are.

This is definitely a brilliant holiday tale that will warm your heart. It can easily be read as a standalone or as part of the Wolvers series and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone at all.

|  Goodreads |  Shelfari  |

|  Amazon  |  B&N  |  Smashwords  |

Continue Reading...