I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the library
Wild Invitation
by
Nalini Singh
It is part of the Psy-Changeling #10.5, Psy-Changeling #0.5, Psy-Changeling #3.5, Psy-Changeling #3.5, Psy-Changeling #9.5, Psy-Changeling #9.5 series and is a collection, paranormal romance, short stories that was published by Berkley Sensation on March 5, 2013 and has 339 pages.
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Other books in this series include [books_series]
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Must Love Hellhounds, Kiss of Snow, An Enchanted Season, Archangel's Blade, Angels of Darkness, Lord of the Abyss, Desert Warrior, Angels' Flight, Tangle of Need, Play of Passion, Archangel's Storm, Heart of Obsidian, Archangel's Legion, "Hide and Seek", "Making Dinner", Shield of Winter, "A Conversation", "Home", Angels' Pawn, "New Year's Kisses", Night Shift, "Weapons Training", "Zoë's Workshop", "Wild Night", Archangel's Shadows, Archangel’s Enigma, Shards of Hope, “Fairy Balloons”, “An Unexpected Guest”, Allegiance of Honor, "The Song of the Wolf", Silver Silence, Archangel’s Heart, Archangel’s Viper, Ocean Light, "Elena's School of Horror", Cherish Hard, "Ain’t No Party Like A Bear Party", Archangel's Prophecy, "One Night At The Refuge", "Secret Things", Rebel Hard, Rock Hard, Wolf Rain, "Clean and Dirty", "Wolf School", "Naya’s Most Important Visitors", "Grocery Shopping", "The Cannibal Princess", "A Gift for Kit", "Movie Night", "Kaleb and Sahara’s Meeting with Sascha and Lucas", "Housewarming at the Orchard", "Christmas in the Kitchen", "Stalking Hawke", "Romancing Drew", "Sunday Morning", "Rowan", "Baubles & Ben", Wild Embrace, Love Hard, Rock Addiction, "Music Awards", Rock Courtship, "Rock Courtship Memo"s, Rock Redemption, "Sunshine", Rock Wedding, "With This Memo", "That Lip Ring…", A Madness of Sunshine, "Beary Tiny Ghosts", Alpha Night, "A Wedding Breakfast", "Poker Night", "Knives and Sheaths", "Seedlings", "Star Kissed", "A Walk on the Cliffs", "Wild Cat Blues", Slave to Sensation, Caressed by Ice, Visions of Heat, Kiss Hard, Angels' Blood, Archangel's Kiss, Archangel's War, Archangel's Sun, Archangel's Light, Archangel's Resurrection, Last Guard, “A Perfect Moment”, "Music in the Rain", Storm Echo, Resonance Surge, "Mate", “New Year’s Eve”, Archangel's Lineage, Visions of Heat, Mine to Possess, Hostage to Pleasure, Branded by Fire, Blaze of Memory
These are four short stories in Singh’s Psy-Changeling series. If you’re interested, there is a chronological listing of the Psy-Changeling books at KD Did It Takes on Books.
Series:
“A Beat of Temptation”, 0.5 (also in Enchanted Season)
“Stroke of Enticement”, 3.5 (also in Magical Christmas Cat)
“Declaration of Courtship”, 9.5
“Texture of Intimacy”, 10.5
The Stories
“A Beat of Temptation” confuses me and therefore my critique. On the one hand, Nate annoyed me no end, and I thought Singh’s writing was clumsy in pulling the two together. It is however very worthwhile as it provides the backstory on how Nathan and Tamsyn got together and covers the time period between two years after Lucas’ parents’ death to eighteen years later with Nate and Tammy’s not-yet-three-year-old cubs.
The story is wonderful in that Singh creates a world the reader understands and wants to live in. It’s so typical of Singh’s Psy-Changeling series with the warmth and support the good guys receive from each other. Makes you wish the world could run like this…sigh…
It does have a prologue about Happiness and how the Psy Council tried to outlaw Christmas…snicker…
“Stroke of Enticement” is the story that introduced Singh’s series to me. I absolutely adored the love and care Zach had for a woman so many ignored. Annie’s handicap meant nothing to him except in terms of her comfort. It just made me want to read more by such a compassionate writer.
“Declaration of Courtship” is a touchy courtship between Cooper, a highly dominant wolf, who has fallen in love with Grace, a highly submissive wolf, who is a systems-maintenance engineer for the Pack. It’s so typical of the series with a very cautious Cooper struggling to hold back his own passion in consideration for Grace’s comfort. Naturally, Singh manages to convey pack dynamics with the need for both dominants and submissives as well as great sex along with this sweet romance.
I love Cooper’s idea of giving Grace flowers.
“Texture of Intimacy” is sweet and an excellent example of starting with a happy couple who are experiencing conflicts. Lara and Walker Lauren are mated and in love, but it doesn’t mean happily ever after as there is still too much they don’t know about each other.
I’m not a socialist, but Singh’s series could certainly convert me. I adore that the SnowDancer wolves believe in appointing someone to watch over the children and ensure that each pup is happy, safe, and challenged.
The Cover and Title
The cover lets us know we’re in San Francisco with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background and one of the shifters standing on the beach as waves wash ashore. It’s a lovely sight in spite of the overcast skies as this jean-clad six-pack, er, I mean, hunky guy who is bare to the waist, er, um, well, you get the picture.
The title reflects courtships in all four novellas with a Wild Invitation in each one.
