Lydia Dare

A Certain Wolfish Charm caught my attention almost as soon as I saw the title. I didn't expect it to be about a werewolf family in Regency England--I thought it merely was a statement of the male lead's personality. The description hooked me however and I eagerly awaited the chance to read this. Then I began reading it and I eagerly sacrificed my sleep in order to read it all in one sitting.

The premise isn't a new one, but the way that Dare handles the Lycan side of Simon (and the other show more family members afflicted with the genetics) was certainly interesting. Apparently in order to keep the Beast at bay Simon perfected a routine that involved sleeping women, gambling and carousing (to be fair so did his two brothers William and the absent Benjamin). He is also rather thick-headed when it comes to what will make a woman happy. His original solution to the predicament of Lily wanting to stay near Oliver, Simon wanting to stay near Lily and keeping the secret that he was afraid would repulse her is one of his stupidest mistakes. Which everyone is more than happy to tell him, but he's so excited about that stupid mistake its hard to fault him for it.

Lily is not shrinking violet and doesn't let Simon (or Oliver, or anyone for that matter) make her feel as if she doesn't have a right to what she has to say. Her moments of vulnerability are understandable, given Simon's initial hot/cold/passionate/scared treatment of her as well as her fear of becoming what her sister became after marrying Simon's cousin David. She can come across as being entirely too nosy at times however. Simon...well Simon is hard to resist. I can't imagine too many men would offer to give the girl they want to bed (badly) a dowry and then offer to practically tear an old friend's arm off for even thinking of marrying her all in the same breath.

The two of them are entirely too blind to what's going on between them and it sometimes makes mountains out of molehills. There are definite trust issues involved, but Dare doesn't explore them as deeply as I wanted and Lily's attempts at wheedling information out of Simon (or anyone else) were more annoying then anything else.

Oliver, Lily's nephew by her late sister Emma (who married David, Simon's cousin), is the most surly, obstinate and aggravating child I have ever read about. Lily mentions how sweet and amiable the child was before he hit twelve, but I can't see it. And neither can any other character quite frankly--almost every single character either mentions or thinks that Lily is a Saint for being able to put up with him the last six years. Certainly the fact he is undergoing the transformation for the first time and is scared of what's happening to him explains some of it, but the kid was just this side of being a complete jerk to everyone--including Lily.

As this is the first in the trilogy, there is a lot more set up that will come to fruition in the latter two books. William's past relationship with Prisca (the girl next door) and Benjamin's disappearance for instance. The trilogy is slated to have back to back releases--which by the way, I love when publishers do that, just saying--with A Certain Wolfish Charm due in April, Tall, Dark and Wolfish due out in May (Benjamin) and The Wolf Next Door due out in June (William).

This is Dare's debut novel and is well worth reading and enjoying. The in-jokes between Simon and William (about being wolves), the banter between any of the characters is amusing and witty and the heat is high. I can't possibly recommend this book more, though I'm sure I could fangirl a bit more if anyone would like. show less

A brief description of this book’s main female character caught my attention. She was only 24, but considered herself “on the shelf,” was devoted to raising her dead sister’s adolescent son, and seem to have spunk. I had to know more.

Lily Rutledge needed help with her 12-year-old nephew and who better to turn to than the boy’s guardian even though he hadn’t shown any interest in the lad in six years. She was still mystified why her brother-in-law had chosen his cousin as show more guardian. He wouldn’t even answer her letters.

Little did Lily know that a simple, quick trip to see the Duke of Blackmoor at Westfield Hall would turn her life and the world as she knew it upside down.

Thus begins the tantalizing adventure of “A Certain Wolfish Charm” by debut romance author Lydia Dare.

Simon Westfield, the Duke of Blackmoor, has a scandalous reputation. He is rich, powerful, charming, and devilishly sexy. He keeps the gossip busy with his latest indulgence. He has no time for tedious things like correspondence.

Lily arrives on Simon’s doorstep demanding his help with young Oliver. The once sweet and gentle boy is fast becoming unruly, often given to burst of temper, and growing more rapidly than most youngsters his age. Simon quickly sends Lily away without considering what is troubling the boy. Once he fully realizes the boy’s predicament, he races after Lily to return her to his home and send for the boy.

Lily, glad Simon will finally show Oliver some attention, returns with him. Simon now wants to keep Oliver with him, but Lily will not abandoned her nephew and is determined to stay. Despite his outrageous behavior and scandalous lifestyle, she finds herself drawn to Simon.

Trying to keep his instincts under control, Simon is instantly pulled to Lily. Her strength and resolve stirs him and he vows to protect her from others and himself at all cost.

The attraction between the two is felt immediately. The push and pull between them only entices the reader in deeper. Add in Simon’s sinfully charming brother, Will, along with the handsome men next door and the pot begins to boil. To top it off, Lily is befriended by Prisca Hawthorne of Langley Downs who loves to stir up trouble for the Westfield men.

This isn’t a murder mystery, even though murder is threaten numerous times and you think on occasion it might happen. The book does have a mysterious element even though it’s billed as a historical romance set in Regency England. “A Certain Wolfish Charm” is oh, so much more.

While the attraction between Simon and Lily heats up, the reader is beguiled as a mystery unfolds surrounding the Westfield men, including Oliver. Lily finds a Lycan family tree and the pieces begin to fall in place.

You’ll be laughing out loud one minute, ready to choke one of the Westfield men the next, all the while loving the relationship that is growing between Simon and Lily. By the time the mystery is revealed, you’ll be a believer already fallen under the spell of “A Certain Wolfish Charm.”

Author Lydia Dare captures the feel of 1816 England while stimulating the readers romantic side and arousing curiosity about a mystery tied to the moon. “A Certain Wolfish Charm” is the first in a trilogy with “Tall, Dark and Wolfish” next and “The Wolf Next Door” to follow. show less

This is the story of Ben and Elspeth. Ben is the youngest brother of Simon from the first book. He's a werewolf as well, but has lost his ability to change w/ the full moon. He goes to a healer/witch in Scotland for help. Elspeth falls in love with Ben,despite her sister witches trying everything in their power to stop it because they fear he's going to take Elspeth away and break up their coven. But as it turns out, the self doubts Ben and Elspeth have do more damage than any outsiders ever show more could in keeping them apart. This was another good installment in this series. I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as the first one, even though I liked the couple. Ben and Elpbeth were a good pair. I got really tired at the end of the misunderstandings and the back and forth between the pair, though. And I'm still not entirely happy with the manipulations by that coven. And this book featured an appearance by my favorite Westfield brother, William. Although, his whorishness was really put on display, more so than before. I really hope he can be tamed in his book. show less

Werewolves in Regency England? It may sound a curious premise, but the author, Lydia Dare, makes it work beautifully in A Certain Wolfish Charm. Young Oliver, orphaned Earl of Maberly, has suddenly grown from innocent child to wild teenager driving his dear unmarried aunt to distraction. Said aunt, the enterprising and beautiful Lily Rutledge, turns to Oliver’s fellow guardian for help, but Simon Westfield has his own well-thought-out reasons for hiding in the background all these years. show more The trouble is, he maybe hasn’t thought them out well enough.

The author maintains a consistent picture of Regency manners and mores, while adding that curious twist of lycanthropy. So how does a sincere, sane gentleman cope with “the wrong time of the month?” And how does he hide the fact that his emotions will always spin out of control when the moon comes full? It’s rather a nice way to turn our feminine trials on their head, and Lydia Dare does it delightfully.

The characters are fascinating and believable. The inevitable miscommunications of a romantic tale are kept under careful, and very appropriate, Regency control. And the scenes of love and seduction are nicely done with humorous conversation, pleasant timing, and plausible charm. A Certain Wolfish Charm has all the allure and bite of its title, and I’ll be happily looking out for sequels in the stores. show less