VERY short story, just four disjointed chapters long. Characters lacked depth, and the plot was virtually nonexistent. Some male/female misunderstandings from the past, some sex, and a brief confrontation with the bad guys. Meh. English This was a quick little tie-in to Durgin's Sentinel series. I like the series, especially Lion Heart, but this one really needed to be a bit longer to be satisfying from a romance standpoint - though since the leads had to have sex to awaken the heroine's powers there was plenty of steamy stuff. English I enjoyed this! Honestly, it's a decent set up to what I feel is going to be a solid series, and I like the author's voice and the parameters of this world, as well as the Arizonan setting. I did some digging on author Doranna Durgin's website as well, trying to determine which book in this series came first (after accidentally buying #5 first on sale on Harlequin's website, then going back for this short story prequel,) and she seems extremely cool (she's a wildlife illustrator by trade!) and like someone I can spend a series with, so to speak. The only questionable things in this volume were: why couldn't Mark, the male lead shift, or become his lion form, and why on earth is there an initiation for a shifter accessing their full power that relies on them having sex (for the first time?) After reading a few other reviews here on goodreads, it seems I should have started with the first full length entry in the series, which I'm reading now. I still recommend checking this series out, as it held my interest and is an interest concept with what seems to be a multi-layered overreaching plot that I'm enjoying. I look forward to the rest!
Also, there was a fluffy dog involved. You'll see. English A short but very entertaining addition to this series. If you're not familiar with this series, I'd recommend you start with the first novel rather than this short story. Concepts and terminology specific to the series are used without much explanation in this story. You'll get the gist of things, but to really appreciate the richness of the Sentinels world, the background information provided in the earlier novels is very helpful. This story does, however, have all the elements I like in the series - terse writing style, danger, tension, something resembling magic, and great romance. English I wasn't quite sure what to expect going into this novella, Doranna Durgin's shortest installment in her Sentinels paranormal romance series. The description of the story makes it sound like it's erotica, since the main character, Tayla Garrett, must be initiated by another Sentinel before she can gain full command of her abilities. And by initiated, I mean she needs to have sex with another Sentinel.
In this case, that other Sentinel is Mark Burton, after whom she's been pining for ages. Burton is pretty much ordered point-blank to initiate Tayla by none other than Nick Carter, the male lead from Wolf Hunt. Cue the obligatory wait you're only having sex with me because you were ordered to angst on Tayla's part.
However, the story is more than just that, happily. Yes, these bits are there--but as is the case with all of Durgin's writing, it's nicely low-key. And there's a larger plot in play as well, one which relies upon Tayla's specific abilities as well as on the fact that Mark is a rare Sentinel who does not in fact change shape. (Something I liked about him, in fact; he was described a lot with leonine imagery, despite the fact that he's not a shifter at all.)
Plus, the short length of the story, a mere four chapters, meant that what angst there is here just doesn't have time to get too drawn out and therefore overbearing. Instead, it blows over very quickly, letting the story get on with it. Very much appreciated, that. Three stars. English
Mark Burton and Tayla Garrett are Sentinels, members of an ancient clan of shapeshifters who protect the earth and humanity. As part of the covert organization, Tayla and Mark had known each other for years...though neither of them recognized the deep desire they secretly harbored for one another.Then Tayla and Mark are teamed up to work on the summit, a meeting with an informant from the Atrum Core, a ruthless group that uses their abilities to gain power at any cost. But Mark also has another assignment--to help a struggling Tayla meet her full potential. And the only way to get Tayla's powers to fully mature is by becoming her Sentinel bedmate.... Wild Thing (Sentinels)
Doranna Durgin ´ 6 Read
Read this before GR era, so I rated this just by what I feel after I finish read :') English