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| daniharper.com |
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Kensington Brava; Original edition (June 28, 2011)
Kindle Edition: 597 KB
Publisher: Kensington Books; Original edition (July 1, 2011)
Kindle Ed. Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Provided by author through publicist. No remuneration exchanged. All opinions
expressed are my own unless otherwised noted.
Age level: Adult
Some cliché in the romance tropes, but interesting and exciting.
Well written intimacy.
Well written intimacy.
In times of stress Jillian Descharme has always found calm in her dream of a great white wolf with haunting blue eyes.But she is startled when the visions return and this time seem so real. Late atnight he comes to her, speaks to her, touches her. It's almost as if he's
alive...
Thirty years ago James Macleod lost his wife and unborn child to a killer bent
on destroying the Changelings. Though he longed for death, his animal instinct
fought for survival and James has been a wolf ever since. Yet now a woman has
reawakened the man in him, taming wild instincts but arousing still wilder
needs. With his ancient enemy hunting the legendary white wolf, James
must fight for new life, new hope, new love. (Amazon.com)
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| Wolves in Kolmarden. Daniel Mott from Stockholm, Sweden |
Dani hits her stride in the second book of what promises to be a long-running series about
Changelings in Western Canada. You know all the Highlanders that other series have? I think they have all moved to Dani’s story, which may be why Connor MacLeod, the veterinarian Changeling in
the first book shares his name with the character in The Highlander series.
Werewolves in this series are called Changelings. One character, Zoey, Connor’s wife, can become almost any animal. Changelings are born or bitten and live a very long time. Dunvegan, the town in or around which much of the family Macleod live, is loaded to the gills with
werewolves.
When Jillian arrives she finds a mostly friendly town and surrounding farms. She and MacLeod
do a lot of large animal work on site and back at the very well appointed clinic.
do a lot of large animal work on site and back at the very well appointed clinic.
The details of the story, go back thirty years to James' first wife who was murdered by a less than sane man who nearly killed James as well. But the wolf in him gave him protection. Jillian was almost killed as well; a large white wolf scared off her attackers. Her counselor doesn’t believe the wolf was really there but thinks Jillian’s mind created him as a protector.
However, she had been in love with wolves since and became a veterinarian to eventually rehab
wild animals. In fact she sacrifices a lot to become a vet—it is her true vocation.
wild animals. In fact she sacrifices a lot to become a vet—it is her true vocation.
The story is about two people who have come through the worst life can offer and survived. Jillian
is surviving a little better than James is since he hasn’t gone into human form in 30 years. In the romance world, even the paranormal sub-genre, you know the two characters will get together, come apart, until finally they are able to work through a variety of issues. The otherness of the
Changelings also comes into play—it is more than a backdrop for the romance.
is surviving a little better than James is since he hasn’t gone into human form in 30 years. In the romance world, even the paranormal sub-genre, you know the two characters will get together, come apart, until finally they are able to work through a variety of issues. The otherness of the
Changelings also comes into play—it is more than a backdrop for the romance.
We come to know both characters well. Jillian’s character is one with whom most women could sympathize. Instead of a Knight in Shining Armor, her prince is a White Wolf. It takes a while for her to realize that. Jillian is smart, sensitive, when she is upset she distracts herself by doing something. Now, in Dunvegan she has friends so she hangs out with them.
It takes James longer, but his wolf knows before he does that Jillian will play an important part in his life. He doesn’t even know why he is drawn to her and then why he is propelled out of his wolf form after so long. I felt badly for him about his loss, but did not find him as sympathetic as Jillian. I wanted to hit him, shake him into not being an ass who thinks he's protecting someone by not being with them. He wasn’t there in time to save his wife, but one would think that being a changeling would give him some wisdom, like Birkie, the resident witchy character and vet clinic receptionist.
The crux of the story is that James has to learn that he can love Jillian without taking away from how he felt for his late wife, and that you cannot blame yourself for theinsane actions of another person.
Dani’s werewolves are hot; more so than Jacob and friends from Twilight. When Dani’s changelings aren’t in wolf form they are Men.
I like the equality Dani gives the females of all species in this series. One gender isn’t always the savior or the leader
It takes Jillian a while to believe the whole wolf thing. In some books people get a paranormal shocker and they are instantly accepting. But Dani’s characters want to see proof, and then they want a little more proof.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to Changeling Dawn due out in January. The writing is quite sophisticated with nothing amateurish about it. The dialogue is great, not just expletives. Men relate to each other with more intelligence and emotion than is often the case in novels. The women also sound real. And, the dialogue between James and Jillian has some really nice episodes. I highly recommend Changeling Dream.
AUTHOR GIVEAWAY
Prize will be one copy of Changeling Dream -
- You must be EIGHTEEN or older.
- YOU MUST HAVE A US SHIPPING ADDRESS
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- East Coast US is the Time zone for all contest entries, Contest will begin at 12:00 AM on Saturday, July 2, 2011 and end at 11:59 PM on Sunday, July 3, 2011
- WINNER HAS 24 hours from my sending the email to them to respond. If the e-mail address is invalid or non-functioning, the entry will be null and void, and I will immediately choose a new winner. Winner will also be posted on the website but such posting is voided if the winner's email address is invalid or non-functioning.
- While unlikely I reserve the right to change or alter the contest rules, prize or form if necessary. All changes will be with the intent to correct an error or maintain fairness.
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THIS IS THE FORM!!!!!
