Guest Review: The Covert Wolf by Bonnie Vanak

Posted August 3, 2012 by Book Binge Guest Blogger in Reviews | 0 Comments

Judith’s review of The Covert Wolf by Bonnie Vanak.

Loyalties collide, passions ignite and a high-stakes adventure ensues in Bonnie Vanak’s sensual new military series.…

When a mission gone wrong kills his best friend, Navy SEAL Matthew Parker will stop at nothing to destroy the demons who threaten his team. To do so, Matt must locate a mysterious orb before the demons use it to destroy the world. But the only woman who can help him—Sienna McClare—has her own agenda…and every reason for hating his kind.

A half blood, Sienna hopes returning the orb to her people will gain her acceptance back into the only family she’s known. But working with a Draicon werewolf like Matt comes with a high price—one that could cost Sienna her dreams. A natural-born leader, her werewolf lover must now teach Sienna to listen to her heart—and go where their all consuming passion leads them.

Those who know that I read lots of books are often surprised that I like paranormal romance. I have more often than not been found with my nose in a non-fiction book, a historical romance, or an academic tome of some sort. Now I have sunk my teeth into a book that is filled with surprise, mystery on several levels, prejudice and sexual attraction, a deep sense of abandonment, and wounds of the heart and soul. Sienna is half fae and part Draicon werewolf but she is determined to prove her worth to the fae community in order to bring home a magic orb and re-establish herself as a full, functioning member of the community she has long called home. Yet with Matt she found an acceptance that went far beyond that of the community she called family and who eventually kicked her to the curb. She also found a new understanding of family, one that wasn’t based on a judgmentalism that called one’s sense of worth into question. She found love but she was afraid to accept it because it involved the very species she had long hoped to deny in herself.

This author has a deft touch in working all the varied aspects of this story into a remarkable textured whole, replete with magic and humanity, caring and family, hunger for community and a deep desire to do good for all people. It is a story that is intense and multi-layered and which draws the reader into a world where people appear just like you and me and yet they are filled with magic and the ability to live in another dimension of our world. The slowly developing love between Matt and Sienna keeps the tension level at just below sizzle and even when they become lovers, there are still miles to go before full trust grows between them.

There are lots of paranormal romances “out there” and lovers of that romance genre have lots to choose from. But this is a book that is easy to read and yet is filled with adventure and loving, good people and strange demons, fear and reassurance. So do yourself a favor and put this on to “to read” list. I think you’ll be glad you did.

I give it a rating of 4 out of 5

You can read more from Judith at Dr J’s Book Place.

This book is available from Harlequin Nocturne. You can buy it here or here in e-format.