Reviewer: Tracy
Wanted: Wild Thing by Jessica Sims
Series: Midnight Liaisons #4
Also in this series: Fire and Frost
Publisher: Pocket Books
Publication Date: August 26th 2014
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Series Rating:

Ryder is hiding a dark secret from her coworkers at Midnight Liaisons. Every time she’s sexually attracted to a man, her dragon side breaks through. Not exactly man-bait! But she needs to lose her virginity before her twenty-fifth birthday, or she’ll become a dragon forever.

Her solution? Big, hunky Hugh, the appointed guardian of her chastity. He’s clearly hot for her, but he has powerful reasons to resist Ryder. Can temptation—and love—possibly find a way?

Ryder wants to find “The One.” When she was younger a part Fae woman told her that she was a changeling and that she would continue to transform into her changeling form every time a man that she was attracted to touched her. She continues to go on dates but she’s almost 25 years old and still no man has been “The One.” A month before her 25th birthday she gets a visit from a Fae by the name of Finian. He tells her that there is no such thing as “The One” and that she’s wasting her time. He says that she belongs to him and that on her 25th birthday he will come get her and turn her into a changeling breeder.

Ryder, as you would expect, is completely horrified. She wants nothing more than to lose her virginity because once that happens she is no longer a commodity to Finian. The problem is that Finian left a bodyguard for Ryder when he left. Hugh, the bodyguard, is the epitome of the strong, silent type. When asked what kind of shifter he is, as he’s obviously a shifter, is a Primordial. Ryder has no idea what that is. She figures out that he’s a saber tooth tiger and that his men are also something like Ice Aged shifters. She attempts to help Hugh deal with the world as apparently he’s been living in a primitive realm where hunting and gathering is the norm.

Hugh made a deal with Finian. He watches Ryder to make sure that she doesn’t lose her virginity and in return Finian will return the Primordial women to the mens realm. Apparently the Primordial women were separated from the Primordial men and the men (there are 24 of them) just want mates. Hugh starts to have feelings for Ryder and she for him but in order to save herself she has to sacrifice the mates of 24 different men. Dilemma! How, in this situation, can everyone win?

This book is the fourth full novel in the Midnight Liaisons series (there are 7 novellas placed here and there). I’ve read a few of the novellas and really liked them, but have never read a full novel in the series. While I liked the overall feel of the book it wasn’t my favorite in the series.

Ryder, while a grown woman, was very childish. I gather that this was a happy facade to try and hide the darker parts of her – the changeling part – but I found there was a limit to what I found to be “cute” for a full grown woman. She carried a Hello Kitty purse. Ok, that’s not too bad. Her home looked like it had sherbet thrown up all over it – alright, that’s not horrible but it’s pushing it. Her car was dressed up as a kitten/cat. Whaaaa? Ok, moving along. Lol Despite her fashion sense she was a good friend and had a good head on her shoulders. She was intelligent and while I didn’t always agree with her attempts to get Hugh to have sex with her I could understand her reasons.

Hugh was kind of a caveman but I couldn’t help but love him. He was kind and giving, protective and I appreciated his loyalty to his men – even though that was tested thoroughly. Of course he was a big HOT caveman so there was that extra little bit that made me love him. 🙂

I felt the emotion between Ryder and Hugh but I guess I didn’t feel the intensity between them that I expected. I also found it pretty funny at times – especially when Hugh was watching porn films to try to learn how to kiss a woman. OMG, too funny.

Overall, while I liked the story it didn’t wow me. I think I’d recommend the book if you’re looking for a fun, light read.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5