Wolf at the Door by Mary Janice Davidson (Wyndham Werewolf #7)
Paranormal Romance
October 4, 2011
Paperback
Berkley
Reviewed by May
Favorite Quote: “Please stop talking about Darth Vader and fuck me.”
Rachael is an accountant werewolf, and cousin to the leader of the Wyndham Pack (aka basically all werewolves). So when her Alpha tells her to grab her things and head out to St. Paul, MN to watch a vampire queen and keep an eye on things she really has no choice. For the first time she’s leaving her home and pack, and setting out into a place she never wanted to be.
That is, until a run in with a geeky human in a Barnes & Noble has her lusting after him and forgetting all about her job and finding out what’s going on with Queen Betsy or why her potential clients keep dying before she can meet them…
“Dave, could you get up here? I got another set of geeks making out in the paranormal romance section. And they are not stopping. Repeat, they are not stopping. Code Vlad, repeat, Code Vlad!”
I’m not sure what to say about this book. My first reaction upon finishing it was “what was that?” Because it was funny, yes – but it was also very light in plot and fluffy to the point of making my stomach hurt. I have read a few of the Betsy series novels, the first being my favorite and the only one I really liked. I’ve also read Derik’s Bane the other Wyndham Werewolf novel and I recall liking that one. In other words I’m familiar with this world so it wasn’t that I was lost.
I just could not figure out what the point to this story was, why it was made into a novel, or why I was supposed to care about it. As I said before there are some funny lines, pop culture references, and it was a good time.
My problem was that these are characters that were utterly impossible to take seriously or see as anything but flat and without depth. Though our heroine is sent on a job, she spends most all of her time having sex with and bedazzling the hero of our tale – an adorable geeky guy who flew to St. Paul to watch the Vampire Queen for his vampire slayer friend.
If this had been romance heavy and intrigue light I could have handled it, but there was no romance either. As a wolf she likes how he smells and how very honest he is. As a man, he’s smitten with the smokin’ hot babe who wants to have sex with him lots. There is no emotion, depth, or relationship outside a love of accounting, geekery, food, and sex.
While I giggled at times, it was on no level a satisfying read. I would only recommend to serious fans wanting a glimpse of their favorite characters or someone looking for a funny and exceptionally light and action-free paranormal novel with simple romance.
Grade: C-
Recent Review:
All Things Urban Fantasy – 2/5
Beth Fish Reads
Goodreads
Author’s Website l Series Listing
I don’t like judging books by their covers but this one looks like one of those teen mystery books I used to read years ago. I’m not a fan of cartoonish looking covers, too cutesy… although based on your review the book is indeed too cutesy. Not my cup of tea. mostly because the romance is lacking, I guess because she’s a werewolf her take on love is more “animalistic” and not deep at all, a common problem with shifter romances. The Darth Vader quote was good though.
Great review May!
Love the quote! I don’t mind cutesy and I certainly like humor in my reading when it’s appropriate-this one doesn’t sound like it’s for me though.
Another less than glowing review for Wolf at the Door. I haven’t read it yet but I received a review copy so I feel obliged to read it. Ooh, well, thanks for your honest review! It’s better to know what to expect going in! Maybe I’ll delay reading it just a little while longer…
Thanks for the review! I’ve been a big MaryJanice fan for years, but I have to say I have not been happy with the last half dozen or so books she has put out, so I was already keeping my expectations extra low for this one. It is currently on my to-be-read shelf and will probably stay there a little longer.
My top three favorite MJD books are The Royal Treatment and the first two Betsy Taylor books (Undead and Unwed and Undead and Unemployed).
To be honest, I think this book caught me in a generous mood when I reviewed. I’m hesitant to ever grade a book a D… But I think this one qualified.
Do not know about this one, but at least I gotta read her Besty books :)
Great review May. I haven’t read many MJD novels so it’s nice to know I’m not missing much.
I love that quote, but I think I’ll pass on the book. I got tired of the Betsy series, and this one sounds like it doesn’t really have much plot or action or romance or anything really.
I think her first novels were good, and now she is still riding on her success. The novels are overpriced regarding the word count. So, not reading her anymore.
I haven’t read a MJD book in years. I loved the first few Betsy books then I got one (I think the one where she was just about to marry Sinclair) and there was absolutely no plot. I didn’t mind light and fluffy before that, but no plot at all. I think I read it in like an hour or something crazy like that. I was so pissed, I haven’t picked up a book of hers since.