Karma♥Bites’s Mercurial Reads

Genre:  ER-PNR

Length:  @ 127pgs (ebook)

Heat Level/Content:  erotica-lite (m/f; a dash ’o kink)

Publication Date:  April 23, 2013 (orig = Oct 2009)

Publisher:  Loose Id (orig = Changeling Press)

Series Info:  Truckee Wolves #1

BLURB:

* Review copy provided by the author/publisher via NetGalley.

It's rare that I give 4 stars to a novella, especially when it's PNR. But there was so much that I enjoyed about this revised edition of Toxic, starting w/ the luscious hero (or rather, his wolf) who is so infatuated w/ the chocolatey smell of his mate that he forgets that chocolate is a major no-no for canines. Loved the MCs, loved the various secondary characters (especially Briony's mum!), and definitely loved the romance and the HOT! sexy times.

Even tho it's almost to be expected for a novella, lost a star due to less than substantial world-building, as well as sketchy references to common trope of secret military experiments. (TBT, for me, any references to genetic experiments, super-soldiers, traumatised females and such immediately invite comparisons to Lora Leigh's Breeds series.) Also, I found it distracting to have POVs beyond the MCs in a novella-length story; multiple POVs work better for me in a full-length novel with a more substantial plot.

Given the number of interesting characters introduced in Toxic, there's such potential for more stories in this series! If so, hopefully there will be more backstory re: Abraxas, the shadowy organisation involved in the illicit experiments, and how the various pack members came together. Frankly, I'm hoping that Ms. McBride will be inspired to focus on Sage. Or even Dionne. *grins* Oh, and what's the story w/ Kurt and Ethan?!

Whilst I wait, guess that I'll re-read the shorts in the 2 Doms of Dark Haven anthologies so to finally put everything in proper chrono order.  FYI, “Educating Evangeline” (published in Doms of Dark Haven) is first, then Toxic, and then “Hunting Holly” (published in Doms of Dark Haven 2: Western Night).

NB: Review of 2013 revised edition. This got lost in calibre due to being merged with the original 2009 story put out by Changeling Press. B/c of when I read the original version years ago, I didn't remember enough to notice what was different this time around.