Wilder’s Mate

by Moira Rogers

 Published by Samhain Publishing

My Rating: 

Wilder Harding is a bloodhound, created by the Guild to hunt down and kill vampires on America’s frontier. His enhanced abilities come with a high price: on the full moon, he becomes capable of savagery beyond telling, while the new moon brings a sexual hunger that borders on madness.

Rescuing a weapons inventor from undead kidnappers is just another assignment, though one with an added complication–keeping his hands off the man’s pretty young apprentice, who insists on tagging along.

At odds with polite society, Satira’s only constant has been the aging weapons inventor who treats her like a daughter. She isn’t going to trust Wilder with Nathaniel’s life, not when the Guild might decide the old man isn’t worth saving. Besides, if there’s one thing she’s learned, it’s that brains are more important than brawn.

As the search stretches far longer than Wilder planned, he finds himself fighting against time. If Satira is still at his side when the new moon comes, nothing will stop him from claiming her. Worse, she seems all too willing. If their passion unlocks the beast inside, no one will be safe. Not even the man they’re fighting to save.

Warning: This book contains a crude, gun-slinging, vampire-hunting hero who howls at the full moon and a smart, stubborn heroine who invents mad-scientist weapons. Also included: wild frontier adventures, brothels, danger, betrayal and a good dose of wicked loving in an alternate Wild West.

My Review: 

Moira Rogers affirm their author clout with Wilder’s Mate, novella that masterfully merges werewolf and vampire lore within a steampunk setting.  I found Wilder’s Mate to be an inventive, smart, and very steamy read.

Wilder’s Mate is the story of a young woman (Satira) who teams up with a bloodhound (Wilder- a werewolf) to find her missing guardian and mentor.  The mentor is an inventor who uses very modern technology to create inventions, such as a steam powered elevator or ultra-violet filled weapons (handy for killing the vampires).  When the inventor is missing, Wilder is tasked to find him so the Order can continue to hunt and kill the vampires, who are a threat to all human civilization.  When Satira and Wilder meet, there are definite sparks between them, and as time passes they only grow closer.  When Satira is the only female available to help Wilder through the phase of the moon where his libido takes over, the sparks ignite and their relationship becomes much deeper than either expected.  However, they still have to find the missing inventor, and the task is no easy matter.

I loved both Wilder and Satira.  Satira is a resourceful and strong-willed woman, she doesn’t judge Wilder too harshly for his bloodhound nature.  Wilder is the tough, alpha male who is willing to do what it takes to get the job done.  The pair are a good match, their interactions held chemistry, and I believed their relationship.  The Bloodhounds themselves are a great spin on werewolves.  They have a darker edge, but their purpose is to protect humans from the Vampires.  The bloodhounds are more animal than human, but this just makes the story even more intriguing.  For being a novella, the story is fully developed.  The pacing is excellent, and there was never a dull moment.  From the very beginning, I was absorbed in this story and read it in one sitting.

While Wilder’s Mate is a novella, the story is packed with action, paranormal beings, and some smoking hot sex.  I loved this novella, the setting is unique and intriguing, the characters engaging, and the romance is scorching hot.  Paranormal romance readers, I very highly recommend reading Wilder’s Mate, it’s a quick read not to be missed.

Where to buy this book: Fictionwise, All Romance Ebooks, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Samhain Publishing, Amazon UK, Kobo, Amazon.de,iTunes