Claimed

The Lair of the Wolven, Book 1

By: J. R. Ward

Narrated by: Jim Frangione

Length: 11 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

A heart-pounding new series set in the Black Dagger Brotherhood world, with a scientist fighting to save the timber 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 instinctively 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?

©2021 J. R. Ward (P)2021 Hachette Audio UK

Critic reviews

"Utterly absorbing and deliciously erotic." (Angela Knight)

"Hot, sexy, unique, intriguingly wicked." (Christine Feehan)

Claimed?

Although I love JR Ward's books, this isn't my favorite. It's very disjointed, and it seems only to be setting the scene for a future story. Having said that, I have better hopes for the next book.

No. 1 BDB FAN.. BUT I’M ON THE FENCE WITH THIS

I love JRW.. especially her Black Dagger Brotherhood which I’ve greedily followed from the start so any new book of hers I’m going to either preorder or ‘one click’ as soon as I can.. however, I’m sadly on the fence with this book. Animal Researcher/Behaviourist Lydia works for Wolf Study Project - a non profit organisation studying wolves at the wildlife preserve but someone is poisoning the wolves.. and she’s got a good idea who it is. There’s a chain of high class Hotels that’s building a new one close by and passionate Lydia is emotionally invested to protect the wolves.. and to stop the deaths. Proof.. none, determination.. high, missing Boss.. one, suspicions.. growing by the day.. and secrets.. oh there’s plenty of them. Lydia’s attraction and attitude to the sexy drifter/WSP’s new very temporary Groundsman is instant.. but she resists.. resists.. resists.. resists.. crumples.. and eventually caves. As for Daniel.. well he’s a mystery man with secrets and revelations I just couldn’t possibly share.. but the sands of time has started for both of them.

This is a slow-build romance and a missing person/murder-mystery plot which simmers for quite a while dropping drama slowly revealing the concealed and, as it did, there were parts I liked and parts that were just “meh“. The who, what and why is forefront and the sweet denial between Daniel and Lydia runs alongside it as Lydia searches for answers and Daniel protects what he’s not there to protect. The book has twists and surprises and, although it’s not the Brotherhood’s story, Xhex, John Matthew and a few others make appearances and, as the plot weaves its web of suspicion, I’m sure these invested Vamps will materialize again in the next tbc Wolven book. I don’t think you need to have read/listened to the BDB books prior to this.. or to book 8 Lover Mine which is John Matthew and Xhex’s story.

Worth a credit? Sorry, I’m undecided.. I thought it’s a good base to build the continuing Wolven series on and, even though the book just has a happy-ish for now tbc ending, it failed to hook me in and I’m just not invested enough to see where the next book goes. I know I’m comparing it to the BDB, to the intensity, banter and style of writing but I just can’t help it and it may be better NOT to have previously followed the delicious Vampires. Jim Frangione IS the voice that brings the BDB to life and I love him in that series.. but sadly I just didn’t love his dual POV narration in this.

Just perfect

Very well written, surprising and narrated. I look forward to hearing the next one soon.