Reviewer: Andrea
I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
The Summary:
New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Cynthia Eden spins a dark and sexy new paranormal romance tale…
He’s a man with a beast inside…
Connor Marrok never intended to work for the Seattle Para Unit. He’s not one of the good guys—he’s a real monster, and the beast he carries doesn’t exactly play nicely. But now he finds himself being blackmailed into a new assignment. It’s supposed to be his last gig. His mission? Protect the beautiful Chloe Quick. Keep her alive. Destroy her enemies. Easy enough…until he starts to fall for Chloe.
She just wants to escape.
Chloe is tired of being a prisoner. She wants to get away from her Para Unit guard and run fast into the night. So what if Connor is the sexiest guy she’s ever met? Chloe knows trouble when she sees it, and Connor is one big, dangerous package of trouble. But, when an obsessed werewolf begins stalking Chloe, she realizes that her paranormal bodyguard may just be the one man she needs the most.
Their attraction is primal.
Every moment that Chloe and Connor spend together increases their attraction. Chloe has never felt a need so strong or a desire so dark. The beast that Chloe carries inside has always been silent, but Connor is stirring up her animal instincts. And as the danger and desire begin to twist together, Chloe wonders just how far she’d be willing to go…in order to spend one more night in Connor’s arms.
The Review:
Charming the Beast is a fast-paced romp with plenty of action. Werewolf books are my thing, and for the most part, this one lives up to my standards in every ferocious way. Dark handsome wolf with baggage? Check! Heroine in need of rescuing? Check! Creepy supernaturals with nefarious plans? Check! I loved the Para Unit idea, a whole gaggle of amped-up para-agents hell bent on keeping the world safe. And despite my dislike of reading sequels when I haven’t read the other novels, I had no trouble following the plot.
Connor is as dangerous as he should be to add just the right spice to this sexy stew. Chloe’s abilities made for interesting plot twists, and the novel moves quickly along. In fact, that might be one complaint I have. There wasn’t a great deal of build up to the start of their explosive relationship. You don’t have to wait long for the couple to realize they are meant-to-be and, well, do what couples in these kinds of novels do.
There were some other nit-picky issues I had. The author uses ellipsis dots to excess. These dramatic pauses . . . can . . . become . . . tedious. Overuse of a technique meant to heighten dialogue just becomes annoying. I also had issues with some awkward dialogue, characters saying things that didn’t sound natural. All respect to Eden, but at times, the novel sounded immature. However, I still enjoyed the story and would consider more of her titles.
