Wolf at the Door by NJ Walters (Salvation Pack #1)
Released: April 15, 2014
Paranormal Romance
Samhain
Reviewed by May
When Gwendolyn Jones inherits a Tennessee cabin from a great aunt she never knew, she quits her job and follows her dream to write full time. Meeting a stranger in a local cemetery isn’t a risk she normally takes, but she needs the information on his flash drive for an article she’s writing on werewolves. Later that night, when two honest-to-God werewolves come knocking on her cabin door, they’re definitely “not” Photoshopped.
Jacque LaForge is on a mission to retrieve a flash drive before it endangers his pack. He never thought he’d find a mate, but the chemistry between him and Gwen is unmistakably off the charts. Now to convince her he’s only trying to protect her from his vengeful former pack-led by his own father.
Gwen’s first instinct to flee only gets her a smashed car and a concussion. She wakes up in a dangerous new world she never thought existed-and in the arms of the one man who stands between her and certain death.
I really thought that this set-up and author had a lot of potential. I always like the idea of someone who isn’t in the supernatural world discovering that different types of beings are in fact real. It always helps set up the unique world rules the author may have, and it is interesting to read about how they react and fit in.
The problem with this story is that there is no development. Mr. Alpha instantly scents her as his mate, and she is immediately attracted to him. I really couldn’t buy into her falling for him so hard and fast when she was kidnapped, and is being told she will be held by these werewolves maybe forever. Her quick acceptance of this as well as many of the actions that she takes just didn’t work for me.
I don’t have much to say about this book because while I was intrigued enough to keep reading – ultimately it failed for me. There was nothing unique about it, the story and events weren’t believable, and nothing was satisfying about this book. These characters had no distinguishing characteristics – they were generic and truly disappointing.
If more tension and time had been given to develop the romance, if we had seen more relationship development, and if there had been more of a story plot besides ‘our dad is scary and a creeper so we have to all live here in this house in the woods now’ then maybe it would have worked a lot better. Based off the lack of depth in this book, I won’t be trying the next in this series.
Grade: F
This sounds a bit disappointing. Sorry to hear you didn’t enjoy it more. I do love a story with plenty of tension and conflict, makes it a much more satisfying read.