THE DARK ONE

Author: Ronda Thompson ISBN: 0312935730 11/2005 HISTORICAL/PARANORMAL Publisher: ST. MARTIN'S PRESS
Time Period: 1821

Rosalind Rutherford knows full well the scandal she courts when she attempts to seduce the notorious Armond Wulf—in fact, she's counting on it as a means to escape her sadistic stepbrother's control. Unfortunately, Lord Wulf's better instincts prevail ...although not before he gives Rosalind a tantalizing taste of what she's missing. And when the opportunity arises to rescue Armond from a grim fate while changing her own, Rosalind knows she must seize it... Armond can no more ignore the Rutherford woman than his ancestor could resist the temptress who cursed the Wulf men with a terrifying transformation that occurs at the appearance of the full moon—and is set in motion by love. Now, to save her reputation and his freedom, Armond must marry Rosalind. But he vows that while they may share the pleasures of the marriage bed, she will never have his heart... Yet as strange and mysterious events bring them closer in body and soul, Armond finds it increasingly difficult to keep his feelings for his new wife locked away. Especially when the reality of unquenchable desire—and certain danger—burn stronger than ever by the light of a full moon...

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Well, I most certainly have "dibs" on the next book in The Wild Wulfs of London trilogy, despite my thinking that anything with a series header like that was going to be cheesy. After reading THE DARK ONE, I hope I get a manuscript copy of its successor because I am hard pressed to wait for it.

THE DARK ONE is fantastic no matter how you look at it. The writing is excellent to the point of painful—you can envision exactly what is happening to the characters in remarkable detail, it's done so well. The storyline is fraught with tension, sexual and nonsexual, and filled with three, yes three, scrumptious heroes, though one in particular is featured here. I read half of the book before finally glancing at the clock and realizing that I would have to wake my kids up for school in three hours.

Everything inside this story is great, from suspense and mystery, to love and the power it has.

When I saw a quote on the jacket from Susan Squires, an author I recently discovered I love, I was hoping this one would enthrall me. Ronda Thompson did not disappoint, and delivers a fresh and everlasting Regency romance with a touch of magic and evil that will stand the test of time. Oh, and the smokin' hero helps! As he has two brothers who will have their own stories soon, I hope to revisit him. They are all sexy and gallant, so who cares if they are cursed to turn into werewolves if they fall in love. Definitely not me!

Shannon Johnson