THE CURSED ONE

Author: Ronda Thompson ISBN: 0312935757 12/2006 HISTORICAL/PARANORMAL Publisher: ST. MARTIN'S PRESS
Time Period: 1821 London

Wed and widowed in one day, stunning socialite Amelia Sinclair’s honeymoon is anything but typical. Then again, neither is Amelia—rebellious and impulsive, marrying Robert Collingsworth was the one sensible thing she ever did. Now he’s dead and she must escape the vicious creatures stalking her—even if it means relying on a stranger. Well, maybe not a complete stranger. Amelia first glimpsed Gabriel Wulf years ago on the busy streets of London; since then he has haunted her dreams. But in the flesh, Gabriel is much more tantalizing than she ever dreamt, and much more complicated… Gabriel Wulf, the strong one, the sensible one—the, and the curse that plagued them, were his only priorities; there was little time for women and none for love. Now, he must protect an enticing beauty—and not just from the dangers that prowl the woods around them. Gabriel has secrets, dark ones he’s sure Amelia must never know and could never understand. But she has already awakened his heart...and the beast within. Will Amelia be the key to his salvation, or the architect of her own demise?

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Though I know I sound like a broken record, I make no excuse for it because the Wild Wulfs of London series is Hot! Hot! Hot! I admit THE CURSED ONE features the last(?) brother cursed by a witch, but that certainly does not make him least!

Well, as much as I like the hero and plot, I have to be honest about the heroine. She is whiny and annoying until almost three-quarters of the way through the book. At times, she is a complete turn-off. I am used to the heroines in Thompson's books being more self-assured and strong from the beginning. Perhaps this one had to grow on me, because for all her talk of independence and shocking behavior, she is pampered and spoiled, though still likeable.

Anyway, I will not give too much more away with this review because some unique and intriguing plot twists occur that I confess, I never saw coming. One in particular leads me to believe that I have not read the last about these brothers, but I will leave you to discover why I feel that way on your own. Suffice it to say, I like how Ronda Thompson has taken such a great premise and spun it into some phenomenal books that could very well develop into a stream of novels. No, I don't know that she will do that, but I think she could and I hope she does!

Shannon Johnson