Claimed, the sizzling and addictive first book in the Lair of the Wolven Series from #1 New York Times bestselling author J.R. Ward is available now, and we have a sneak peek!
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Blurb
A heart-pounding new series set in the Black Dagger Brotherhood world, about a scientist fighting to save the gray wolves—and getting caught in a deadly trap herself…
Lydia Susi is passionate about protecting wolves in their natural habitat. When a hotel chain develops a tract of land next to the preserve, Lydia is one of the most vocal opponents of the project—and becomes a target.
One night, a shadowy figure threatens Lydia’s life in the forest, and a new hire at the Wolf Study Project comes from out of nowhere to save her. Daniel Joseph is both mysterious, and someone she intrinsically wants to trust. But is he hiding something?
As the stakes get higher, and one of Lydia’s colleagues is murdered, she must decide how far she will go to protect the wolves. Then a shocking revelation about Daniel challenges Lydia’s reality in ways she could never have predicted. Some fates demand courage, while others require even more, with no guarantees. Is she destined to have true love…or will a soul-shattering loss ruin her forever?
Review
3.5 stars
The first book in J.R. Ward’s new series, this is a surprising mystery/suspense PNR story with a chemistry-filled romance. It’s a spin-off from the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, and while the story itself stands alone, there is a close tie-in that non-BDB readers may struggle to understand. But more about that later.
Lydia is an animal behaviourist who works for a non-profit, passionately protecting local wolves and their habitat. Her biggest adversary is a major hotel chain that is building a new resort in the woods next to her preserve, and she suspects them of poisoning the native wolves as a way of protecting their guests. She’s ruffling feathers, and people have noticed. So when she discovers evidence of people sneaking around her home, and then her colleague goes missing, she’s desperate to figure out who is behind it and what is going on.
Luckily, she has her new groundskeeper, Daniel, by her side. Protective, caring, and kinda badass, Daniel takes it upon himself to protect Lydia and help with her investigations. He’s also gorgeous, and their attraction to each other is evident from the very start. But she’s protecting her heart and keeps him at arm’s length… for a little while anyway.
There is romance, and it’s really sweet. It’s slow-moving with good build-up, there is sexy time and a whole lot of feels, but it’s definitely in the background of the mystery of who is behind the attacks, why, and what is really going on at Lydia’s workplace.
There’s a whole lot of secrets to unravel, and Daniel himself is hiding something about his past, and his presence in town, and it’s a twisty road full of surprises as it all plays out. Like I said, this is only the first part of the story, so while we do get some answers, there’s still a lot more to uncover, and I’m really curious to see how it’s going to happen.
This series takes place in the Black Dagger Brotherhood world, and chronologically fits into the series after book #19, Lover Unveiled. There is a secondary storyline for Xhex that brings the Brotherhood and their world into the picture, and it’s definitely helpful to know about Xhex and her background in order to fully understand what’s going on (bonus points for us getting a bit more John Matthew and seeing how happy they still are together). It’s still a bit confusing yet, but this book sets up an intriguing storyline for Xhex that will continue into the next book, and I’m so curious to see where it’s going and how it will all tie together.
Somewhat different from J.R. Ward’s usual books, this is not a complete story. It’s the beginning of a story which will continue in at least one more book, possibly more. So we’re left on a bit of a cliffhanger, which is not too brutal, but definitely leaves the story unfinished. It brings some surprises and lots of feels, and I’m looking forward to seeing how Lydia and Daniel’s (and Xhex’s) story will continue in the next book.
3.5 stars.
An Advanced Reader Copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Lair of the Wolven
A spin-off from the Black Dagger Brotherhood series
Claimed (#1)
Review
Amazon | Paperback | Audio
Forever (#2)
Buy: Amazon
Mine (#3)
Buy: Amazon
Find details about the Black Dagger Brotherhood series here
Excerpt
In so many ways, Lydia should have known. From the moment Daniel Joseph had appeared in her office doorway, there had been something about him.
But she hadn’t expected . . . this.
“Unless you tell me to go,” he said in a husky voice, “I’m going to kiss you.”
As Lydia stared up into his face, they both knew what she wanted. What she needed. Still, she kept them on the edge for a heartbeat or two.
“I don’t want you to leave.”
“Good,” he growled.
When he lowered his head, there was a rumble of satisfaction in his chest—and then she wasn’t hear- ing anything. Thinking anything. Worried about anything.
As big and strong as he was, his lips were soft against her own. Gentle, too, as if he knew she wanted to be handled with care—not because she didn’t want him, but because she did. Too much. And God, there were more reasons to pull away than get close to him, except there was no denying the chemistry. The connection. The heat.
And the experience was even better than the anticipation.
Aware that she was going to stop this sooner than she wanted, but much later than she should, Lydia lifted her arms and put them on his shoulders. His heavy body was rock-hard under his windbreaker, the muscles roping up to his neck—and that was where her hands went.
She just wanted to see if his hair was as thick and lush as it looked—
It was.
As she dug into the waves, he purred in response, like he was a great cat and she had found his favorite stroking place. And that was when he wrapped an arm around her waist. She did not feel trapped, though. She had the sense, as he continued to stroke her lips softly, that he would let her go immediately.
Not that she was going anywhere anytime the hell soon.
Inch by inch, their bodies came into full contact, her breasts against his chest, the front of her thighs meeting his, their hips brushing. And then the kiss deepened, his tongue licking into her—
Letting out another moan, she tightened her hold on his nape, in his hair, a sense of desperation making her rougher than she should have been—she was holding him to her now, grabbing on to him. But he was going with it. One of his hands traveled from her shoulder to her waist, to her hip, and she moved against his palm, imagining what it would be like to be naked with him touching her.
With those workman hands.
Daniel eased back and stroked her hair away from her face. “You’re a good kisser, you know that?”
“Am I?” She smiled like an idiot. “I could have sworn it was you.”
“I guess it’s us.” His eyes roamed her face. And then one side of his lips tilted up. “I’m going to go now.”
Lydia exhaled in surprise—but like she was going to sleep with him here on the mauve kitchen floor?
Not a bad idea, actually, she thought as she glanced down.
“Okay,” she said. “I understand. We do work together—”
“That’s not why I’m leaving.”
“So why are you?”
He traced her cheek. Then her jawline. “If I stay, I’m not going to let you get any sleep at all.” He stepped back. “You know where to find me, if you need me. And I’ll see you after we’re allowed to wake up at four-oh-one a.m.”
She nodded. “Good night, Daniel.”
Turning away, he lifted a hand over his shoulder. When he got to the door, he said, “Don’t forget to lock up.”
And then he was gone.
About J.R. Ward
J.R. Ward is the author of over thirty novels, including those in her #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling series, The Black Dagger Brotherhood. There are more than 15 million copies of Ward’s novels in print worldwide and they have been published in 25 different countries around the world.
After graduating from law school, Ward began working in healthcare in Boston and spent many years as Chief of Staff of one of the premier academic medical centers in the nation. She lives in the south with her incredibly supportive husband and her beloved golden retriever. Writing has always been her passion and her idea of heaven is a whole day of nothing but her computer, her dog and her coffee pot.
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