The Taming of the Wolf by Lydia Dare (Westfield Brothers #4)
Historical Paranormal Romance
November 1, 2010
Paperback, 384 Pages
Sourcebooks

Reviewed by Tori

Favorite Quote: ”Miss Sinclair, do you often stand naked at the top of Arthur’s Seat”

“Only when I’m feeling particularly sad.”

Catilin Macleod has had quite enough of the Westfields and Lycans so when she comes across Dashiel Thrope on a full moon night and he BITES her-well, that’s it. She packs her belongings and steals out in the middle of the night.
Dashiel Thrope, Earl of Brimsworrth didn’t mean to bite Caitlin Macleod but during a full moon he’s helpless to resist the call of nature. But the bite of a Lycan on a full moon is binding so unless Dash can convince Caitlin that they are meant to be together he will be doomed to spend eternity bond to her until one of them dies.

In Lydia Dare’s 4th installment of her Westfield saga, we are given Dashiel (Dash) Thorpe’s story. The bad boy in The Wolf Next Door, Dash meets his match in Scottish witch Caitlin Macleod. After Dash kisses then bites Caitlin in the heat of the full moon, Caitlin is confused and bewildered by her reaction to Dash and decides to go home to Scotland to put distance between them. Dash is informed that biting a female during the full moon is claiming them and now binds him and Caitlin together. He also learns if she refuses his suit, he is destined to remain alone and miserable until one of them dies-breaking the bond. Dash is attracted to Caitlin and follows her to Scotland in hopes of pressing his suit. What follows is a humorous, romantic journey as Caitlin and Dash find their way to trust, love, and family.

This story is well told with a smooth story line filled with romance, laughter, and plenty of smoldering smexy scenes. We see a few old faces but the story is character driven and focuses mainly on Dash and Caitlin. I admit I didn’t like Caitlin or Dashiel in The Wolf Next Door. Their characters were shown only in the present (no background information for either of them) and we were only shown their selfish sides. In this story we are shown different sides of them. We see the incredible pressure that Caitlin’s gift puts on her. I cannot imagine knowing the future and not being able to do anything because you cannot or should not change time. We also see her caring selfless nature towards friends and family.

We also are given a more in depth look into Dash’s circumstances. We see that he is not the selfish man we thought but rather a man who has been treated abominably by his family and is mad at the world. But he tries with Caitlin. He starts out a little autocratic but soon sees that wooing will accomplish more then demanding. I also like how he defends Caitlin to those who have only seen her bossy side. He wants to give her the world and it shows.

The romance of the story is enjoyable and I enjoyed the interactions between Dash and Caitlin. But it differs from the first three. We don’t get quite as much action or paranormal suspense in this one as the others and it seemed to pale in comparison. Angst is present but only in relation to Caitlin being scared of herself, Dash, and falling in love. There are no real conflicts or the tension that pushed this series up a level. You know, or at least I did, what was going to happen from the beginning. Ms. Dare gives us some small clues centering around Caitlin’s coven and Alec MacQuarrie (whom we met in Tall, Dark, and Wolfish) but nothing that develops within the story.

The ending wraps up cleanly and ends their story on a nice note. I have heard the next 3 books, in the series, first due out in 2011, will deal with vampyres. Should prove to be an interesting read.

Rating: C+

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Goodreads

This series includes
A Certain Wolfish Charm 
Tall, Dark and Wolfish 
The Wolf Next Door
The Taming of the Wolf

Author’s Website.