Review: Black Gold - Vivian Arend

Lone wolf Shaun Steven’s automatic response to the words “happily ever after”? Kill me now. Yet with all his friends settling down he’s begun to think there may actually be something to this love-and-roses crap.

One thing’s for sure: his dream mate will have to out-cuss, out-spit and out-hike him. So he never expected the one to push his forever button would be a blue-blooded Southern debutante with a voice as dark and velvety as her skin.

When Gemmita Jacobs steps off the plane in Whitehorse, Yukon, it’s about more than her research project. It’s her declaration of independence from an overprotected upbringing. Except there’s something in the air she can’t quite define—something that unexpectedly rouses her mating instincts.

Moments after their eyes lock, the deed is done—and done thoroughly. When the pheromone dust settles, though, all the reasons they don’t belong together become painfully clear.

It’s enough to make a wolf learn a whole new set of cuss words…

Warning: Two strong wolves getting exactly what they deserve. Includes wilderness nookie, shifters being naughty in public places, the Midnight Sun as a canopy for seduction and grizzly shifters on the loose. Oh, and don’t forget the sarcasm.

Takhini Wolves Series: (This is a spin off from the Granite Lake Wolves series but can be read seperately)
Black Gold
Silver Mine
Diamond Dust
Moon Shine

Granite Lake Wolves Series:
Wolf Signs (Novella)
Wolf Flight (Novella)
First Howl (Short Story free on Vivian's website)
Second Howl (Short Story free on Vivian's website)
Wolf Games (Novella)
Wolf Tracks (Novella)
Wolf Line (Novella)
Wolf Nip (Novella)

Takhini Shifters Series:
(This is a spin off off the Granite Lake and Takhini Wolves series but can be read separately)
Copper King (Novella)
Laird Wolf (Novella)

Visit Vivian Arend's website for more information

Review:
I've been a big fan of Vivian Arend's since I read the first Granite Lake Wolves novella last year, she writes fabulous paranormal romance stories (and great contemporary erotic stories too!) so I was very excited about getting started on her new series.  Black Gold is the first novel in her Takhini Wolves series which is a spin off from the Granite Lake series but can be read separately.  The main difference between the two series (apart from the fact that they revolve around 2 different wolf packs) is that the Granite Lake Wolves stories are all novellas where the books in the Takhini Wolves series will all be full length novels.  Considering that my only (minor) complaint about the first series was that I wanted more of them this is definitely a good thing and I definitely wasn't disappointed with Black Gold.

Shaun was a character I loved from the very beginning, we have met him briefly in some of the Granite Lake novellas but it was nice to get to know him better.  He has always been a happy go lucky guy who doesn't take life too seriously and tends to bumble along from one thing to the next much to the frustration of his alpha Evan.  However, since his friends have all started finding their mates and settling down Shaun has started to become lonely and all he really wants is to find his mate and start a family.  Gem couldn't be more different and I have to admit it took me a little longer to warm to her.  She has been raised in a very secluded environment by an overprotective family and this visit to the Yukon to do research is her way of finally asserting her independence.  She wants to prove to her father that she can manage on her own and that she doesn't need him running her life anymore like she was still a child.  Throughout the story Gem really comes into her own, she learns to stand up for herself and by the end I felt she made a worthy mate for Shaun.

Sparks fly immediately when Gem and Shaun first meet and they are quick to recognise the fact that they are both mates.  However, just because they are destined to be together doesn't mean that they immediately agree on how their lives will fit together.  Gem has every intention of returning to her home in the south while Shaun is happy in the north and really doesn't want to have to move to live with Gem's pack.  Shaun is naturally protective of Gem but she doesn't want someone else coming along thinking they can take control just like her family have always done.  They have a lot to work out before they can have a happy ending.

I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of Black Gold, there are some hilarious moments - when Gem first meets the Tahkini alpha Evan, as Shaun & Gem try to work out their differences and in the side story with Evan and the pack females who are all chasing him.  The interactions between Shaun & Gem are scorching hot from the beginning, I think this is the hottest of Vivian's wolfie stories so far.  If you're looking for an intense paranormal romance you can't go far wrong with this one and I'd highly recommend it.  I didn't think Vivian Arend could beat the Granite Lake Wolves books but Black Gold has now become my favourite of her stories to date.  I can't wait to read the next one and I'm particularly excited to see more of Evan in the future.

Source: Received free from the author in exchange for an honest review

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