Wild Fire Review: Who Needs A Snuggie When You Have a Hot Alpha Cat to Keep You Warm
3 May, 2010 in Paranormal Romance 17 Comments
Genre Paranormal Romance
#4 Leopard People
496 Pages
book purchased by me
Mating is a higher law and there’s no getting around it. You can’t pretend it away. This is between us, no one else. We’ll work it out.” Conner.
She blinked rapidly to stop the burning tears. Damn him. He’d destroyed her.
Normally I wouldn’t put cats in the alpha hotness category, but Feehan does a nice job of mixing the sensuality and grace the leopard species melded with a healthy dose of possessive uber-male which makes for an exciting combination. I’ve been on the fence regarding Feehan’s books since I’ve already broken up with the Carpathian series and am damn close to putting the Ghostwalker series in the doghouse. I was pleasantly surprised with Burning Wild and found that Wild Fire was just as good.
Conner Vega has betrayed his mate, the worst offense a leopard can do. Unbeknownst to him, he was sent to seduce information out of then virgin Isabeau Chandler, and take down her father. Unaware of Conner’s scheme, she falls in love only to find out while her father lay dying, the man she thought she knew used her and left her without a father. Fast forward a year and Conner is back in the Jungle. Called on a mission to take down and seduce Imelda he knows he’s lost his mate forever, but once a leopard finds his mate it literally sickens them to be with any other. He doesn’t have the stomach for this type of job, but children have gone missing and he is the only leopard for the job.
Isabeau has not forgotten nor forgiven Conner for his betrayal and hand in her father’s death. If he can seduce her, he should have no problems seducing Imelda. Mates are forever, can she forgive Conner for his betrayal…
I’m a big fan of the shapeshifter genre but Feehan manages to put a personal touch on the animalistic side of shapeshifters that can be lacking in most stories and adds an authenticity that enhances the ‘otherness’ of her characters. As always, her stories are well-crafted and suspenseful and thank god without telepathic mind messages of sending ‘love and affection to their partner’s mind’ or any healing chants. This was a vast improvement from her latest installments from her other series. *Reference Dark series, “Please God No More Carpathian Chants”. This series is a bit darker and more ‘erotic’ than her other series and I find that I like this style of writing best when it comes to Feehan. (I put erotic in quotations because on the scale of erotic naughtiness this is pretty staid but for a Christine Feehan book it is definitely more steamy than her usual installments).
I admit, I wasn’t jumping for joy at the betrayal angle when I read the back blurb. My heart just can’t take a whole lot of angst right now and usually, past betrayal plot lines don’t appeal to me. However, I didn’t seem to mind this angle in Wild Fire because I thought Feehan did a darn good job blending the ‘you’re my mate’ plot with some nice action and suspense. I’ve been reading shifter books for quite some time, so it takes more than growls, mating heat, and hissing to keep me interested. Initially I thought to myself, okay no surprises in this book, but Feehan did manage to put in a few twists and “oh really(s) into Wild Fire that kept me on my reading toes. As always, she is the master of writing interesting, hot alphas that make my inner feminist hide in a deep, dark, place only to appear when Mr. Smokin’ asks me to cook him dinner.
Although Wild Fire didn’t bring anything new to the shape shifter genre, I find I didn’t mind the lack of world-building. I enjoyed the mystery and relationship between Conner and Isabeau. Although not as good as Burning Wild (previous leopard release), it’s still an interesting and entertaining read for those that enjoy Christine Feehan’s books. I find that I am curious to see where this series will go and am looking forward to meeting some more hot alpha-leporads.
Other Reviews
Burning Wild – Kindle (Leopard #2) | Wild Rain Kindle (Leopard #1)
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I haven’t read this series yet…we parted ways half way through her Carpathian series..but maybe I would have more luck with these.
Great review.
This series has brought me back to Feehan after my nasty break up with the Crapathians.
Okay I think I’m going to have to read this one now. The last one was so good that I was a little nervous. I’ll have to download it for my weekend reading.
I’m so on the fence with Feehan’s series I read her Carpathian’s, I read book one in this series and then you have the Ghostwalker series. In all of them I have read books I utterly love and those that can stir only a lukewarm response. *deep sigh* I want another book that blows me away! Ányho…I really did enjoy myself again with reading your review KC! I’m currently reading MARKED by Elisabeth Naughton, so far…very interesting *grin*
@Mandi Leopard series is just okay, I like it but plot line is comfortably predictable.
@Tori I think I’m gonna do it. I will buy one more Carpathian book (Skyeler’s story) & then I really am breaking up with the Carpathians.
@Eliza I thought the last book, Burning Wild was a bit better than Wild Fire.
@Leontine when Feehan first released her Carpathian books there wasn’t any books on the market like that. Now, the books are a bit outdated as the paranormal romance genre has become more popular and grown. I do like her leopard series (books 2 & 3), series is more up to date.
I haven’t read any Feehan – but I also hate the betrayal angle.. though I do like cat shifters..
btw..when I first read Leopard people I thought it said..Leotard people.. hehe..
K.c.- Is she FINALLY at Skyler’s story? Geesh, it’s been what, 4 yrs?
@Heather Bahahahha “leotard ppl” –> they are a rare race where they wear tight leggings & spanx.
@Tori the next bk is ….someone who isn’t Skyler *sighs* Skyler has to be 30 by now.
I’ve only read the Carpathian series by Christine Feehan and I think I stopped at 3 books in. This one sounds appealing though, I might giver her another try.
Big cat shifters must be a good thing to write about. I did like the one I won @Fiction Vixen’s site. Purrrr….
@Heather… I recently saw leopard tights in both gold and blue. You were right!
Never read any of her books yet and by the sound of all the comments and your review I haven’t missed much
I have won three of her books though and I think one of them is from this series: Wild Rain. The other two are from the Drake Sisters series. They’re all dead tree books and somehow they stay longer on my tbr because of that…
Nice review! Loved the part on your inner feminist only appearing when Mr Smokin asks you to cook him dinner, lol! My inner feminist has persuaded Mr ErotRom to cook dinner every night.
@Melissa I think I remember that book…Hunting Julian..? Am I close…
@Janna Tell me your secret! How do you get Mr. ERR to cook you dinner every night *whips out notebook* I’m taking notes.
The Drake books are just okay, much lighter read aside from Ella’s story. Wild Rain was written many moons ago, but at the time it was pretty darn good. I like Burning Wild (2nd book).
Okay KC, I’ll share my secret with you, but only you, so sshht…
Listen carefully, here’s how I did it… just (pretend to) forget you put something on the stove. After a few burned meals hubby will be more likely to feel open for a discussion about talents and dividing tasks differently. If that won’t do it, start boiling eggs and leave them to explode – after repainting the ceiling a couple of times, he’ll be convinced that it’s not safe to leave you alone in the kitchen.
In all honesty, there wasn’t any pretending involved in my case, I’m just really a disaster when it comes to staying focused on things that I dislike, lol! And hubby happens to like cooking much more than I do! So, all I have to do now is choose what we’ll eat every day so we don’t end up eating pizza all the time *grin*
And another tip: praise him endlessly when he’s done the cooking and give him a reward he thinks is worthwhile every now and then. It’s magical how that makes him love the cooking thing
Tell me if it worked
@ Janna I stand in awe of your brilliance. I shall institute secret mission, “Never cook again” code name Foxtrot after Mr. K and I are married. I think it will take lots of treats in order for this mission to be successful.
I really enjoy this series by Feehan. Her Carpathian series is beyond formulac and I’ve long since given up on it but her Leopard series is one that I love. Sorry to read that this one was a little lackluster compared to the previous installment but it still sounds like a worthwhile read.
Thanks for the great review, KC!
Hugs, VFG
@K-Khan your wedding present will be a fanny pack treat bag to train Mr. K. It will be purple and have faux fir.
@VFG Sadly I’m now only reading Feehan’s Leopard series, I’m not ready to let go of her just yet.
@K-Khan: LOL! It works best at the very beginning of a marriage when hubs doesn’t know yet if you can actually cook or not! So I bet your secret mission will be succesful. And lots of treats work both ways *grin*