My Sister Is A Werewolf [Paperback]

"My sister is a Werewolf" initially appears to be one of the slightly humorous paranormals that are so popular at the moment. However this book doesn't have any particular humour but it does have a very well-written tale of two people with lots of baggage falling in love and carving out a future together. It's a follow-up to three other books about the heroine's brothers but this book works fine as a standalone novel and any relevant backstory is given.

Elizabeth Young isn't quite what she seems - a research scientist living in a quiet backwater. Yes, she is those things, but she also has a secret life as a Werewolf and her research aims to 'cure' herself of lycanthropy. She has broken away from her pack and is living on her own but she has a 'mate', Brody, so her life is not her own, even though she has run away from him.

Jensen Adler is the local veterinarian and little else. Since his fiancée Katie died he hasn't dated any other women and isn't really living much of a life, just looking after his grandfather and working. When some friends arrange a blind date for him he finds himself completely knocked sideways by a woman - unfortunately not his date. The woman seems to respond to him and they end up leaving the bar together.

The relationship in this book is rather backwards - sex first, getting to know each other later - but there's a reason for it which becomes clear in due course. However Jensen finds himself with a woman who seems to either try to seduce him or to run away. Her behaviour appears in some ways outrageous but he is also aware that this isn't her normal nature. Jensen notes there are some strange things about Elizabeth, and her brothers are also a bit odd, and yet he continues to try to have a relationship with her and to put up with her vacillations about whether they should see each other.

Most of this book focuses on the relationship between Jensen and Elizabeth. The couple appear on almost every page and even the return of Brody and the potential harm he could cause Jensen doesn't intrude too much into the plot. This story is about characters getting to knew each other and finding out each others' history, even though much has to be kept in the dark.

The writing style in this book was very good and it was an easy read with excellent pacing. Despite the fact that the plot is actually rather thin, it felt like a satisfying book to read and was never boring. I wondered if the author could have made more of the threat from Brody, especially as the final denouement happened very quickly and was solved in a rather facile way, but it was still a worthwhile read.

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book, www.curledup.com. © Helen Hancox 2007

Kathy Love does another hot and sexy tale in My Sister Is A Werewolf.

Elizabeth Young has been finally reunited with her long lost brothers. This should bring her joy but she has that pesky werewolf business to deal with. Plus she is hard at work trying to find a cure for her ailment. Elizabeth can't explain why she is so restless of late, she is on edge. She spots an attractive man at her brother's bar that she approaches for a night of passion with no strings.

Veterinarian Jensen Adler has moved back home to help his aging grandfather with his vet practice. This is also a chance for him to start to socialize again after a tragic loss. When a stunning woman offers to rock his world there is no way he is saying no. But this wild and sexy woman has a sweet and vulnerable side that Jensen is also intrigued by.

Elizabeth and Jensen both have troubled past that are affecting their daily lives. When a man from Elizabeth's past tries to cause trouble, Elizabeth tries to protect her love ones. But Jensen has his own ideas about keeping Elizabeth safe.

My Sister Is A Werewolf is a wonderful addition to the previous books in this series. It was a special treat for me to reconnect with her brothers and their mates. Seeing them interact with Elizabeth just made me love them more. This book is another keeper for me.

Plot Summary: Elizabeth Young has an old and interesting family. Her brothers are vampires, and she's been a werewolf for nearly 200 years. She ran away from her cruel mate, Brody, and she's researching cures to her `problem,' but nothing feels right. Elizabeth has been inexplicably edgy and anxious, and when she spots Jensen Adler in a bar one night, her hormones take over. She uses this mortal man (every guy should be so lucky) and then vows to never see him again, but like moths to the flame, they both feel drawn to each other. At first, their relationship is all about physical gratification, but the romance blossoms despite their mutual reluctance. Meanwhile, Elizabeth's werewolf mate has tracked her down, and she's part of his plan to gain control of their pack.

Everything worked well here, but I just wasn't wowed into giving this book a higher rating. I enjoyed the read, but I don't think I'll remember it down the road, which puts it firmly in the category of nice, but forgettable. Based on the cover art, and the allusions to excessive body-hair problems for a female werewolf, I had high hopes that this would be a romantic comedy, but no, the humor was thin at best.

The romance took center stage, and I give Kathy Love props for keeping it rolling even though the characters did the wild monkey dance before they knew each other's names. Usually I prefer to see a slow build up to the big climax, so to speak, but this relationship was worked in reverse, and I have no complaints in this case. Elizabeth's wolf-in-heat condition literally transforms her proper good-girl personality into a wanton dominatrix, and like any red-blooded American male, Jensen's bits are along for the ride, even if his brain hasn't caught up yet.

Both characters do more self-flagellation over their respective pasts than I thought was absolutely necessary, but the story was light on angst, so I guess it had to come from somewhere. The bad guy, Brody, was too one-dimensional to make him anything more than a weak boogeyman from the past, and Elizabeth's former pack makes a regretfully brief (blink and you'll miss it) appearance. I thought a lot more could have been drawn from the evil mate and former pack material, and it felt like a missed opportunity.