Review – Black Gold by Vivian Arend

Publisher: Samhain
Publish Date: September 13th
How I got this book: eARC from author

 

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.
*Blurb from Goodreads*

 

I love Arend’s wolfies, and when she told me she was going to be coming out with full length wolfie novels, starting with Shaun…. SCORE!

Shaun is a little lonely, his friends are all mated and the summer flying “busy-season” hasn’t started yet. He is itching for a change, but doesn’t know what he wants to change, or what he wants to do. When he wakes up still a little drunk on moonshine, he smells her and knows he has found his mate. But Gem isn’t what he expected.

Gemmita is up north for her research project, and looking to prove something to her father. She wants to live in the wild and prove she is more than a rich little girl. Meeting Shaun is more than she could ever imagine, but the two are having trouble seeing eye-to-eye and Gem worries that although they are mates, they might not be able to make their relationship work. When their research trip is turned into a kidnapping, they will have to work together to get out and get on with their lives. But when all is said and done, will they be able to compromise?

Arend does such a wonderful job of incorporating an amazing setting along with her books. I personally don’t think I’d ever want to vacation in the Yukon, but I’ll admit to being intrigued for a minute or two. I love the adventure that went along with this book: the small towns in the far north and the open wilderness of the bush. Her descriptions are enough to make me feel as if I’m really there.

Shaun and Gem are so fun together. They are both so happy to be mated, and at the same time are so scared. They are polar opposites in every sense of the word and are both stubborn enough that the thought of a compromise doesn’t even occur to them. Shaun was a little smarter in that he realized if he wanted to keep his mate, he would have to do what he could to keep her happy. They had some great moments between them as they each were trying to point out the positives of “their” idea of the future.

As is customary, the sexy times were so hot, and although Shaun has some trouble remembering the night he was drunk on moonshine, he and Gem have no problems in that aspect of their relationship.

I was super happy with the way they both were able to come to a compromise too. I liked the new role they will be taking on in future books, and can’t wait to find out more about the Takhini area and the wolves within.

I liked that we were introduced to more shifters besides the wolves, and I’ll be the first to admit that if Arend wants to write a bear shifter book, I’ll be the first in line to pick it up. I don’t know why, but bear shifters are hot.  Speaking of hot, Shaun’s Alpha, Evan, is smokin’ hot, he’s laid back and stern at the same time. I can’t wait until we get to see more of his story. The characters in this book are all wonderful.

All in all Black Gold is another winner in the wolfie world. Shaun is alpha to the core and desperate to make Gem happy. Gem is the sweet, wolf-next-door that you want to cuddle and protect, until you find out she can kick your ass. The story is fun and moves quickly and introduces a great cast of characters that I can’t wait to learn more about.

I give Black Gold a B+

 

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