Lois Greiman - Tempting the Wolf

To the ladies of the ton he is the "Irish Wolf," an unobtainable object of their most hidden desires. But centuries ago, O'Banyon fell victim to an enchanting witch. Once ruthless in battle-and in the bedchamber- he is now cursed . . . and the wolf is set free.
Antoinette Desbonnet knows there is much to fear from this dashing, magnificent stranger who stirs heated longings deep within her. And, in turn, O'Banyon's aroused senses warn him to beware this alluring young countess in shimmering white-for he knows he can never conquer her . . . yet cannot resist her. Something mysterious and powerful in her is calling to him. And he must have the bewitching beauty-even if it costs him his twice-damned soul.

Comment: Having read the previous book, Taming the Barbarian, and not being much impressed, it was with low expectations I started this one. I thought it best to get it over with because like I said before, having books just laying around when I could just get them over is one of my manias as a reader...pretty much a need, much like organizing my books in the shelves by size.

Anyway, this was the story of O'Banyon, he was cursed like the hero from the first book and sometimes he changes into a wolf. He sees a woman one night and is enchanted. Just the regular enchantment of attraction, not magically so.
Antoinette is a woman used to keep her face. She has secrets but people see what it's in front of them and not the reality, so she lives her life protecting her secrets and trying to live apart while among others. But O'Banyon sees her for who she is and her live changes.

This said, it almost looks like I paid a lot of attention to the story, right?
Actually, I was so bored and unimpressed and confused I really just wanted it to be over so I could read something better.
The plot is confusing and not very easy to follow, as there are sudden changes in the narrative and many details look random and it's almost like the author wanted to give the idea of time moving forward after each end of chapter but I always got confused by that abruptness. Not very easy to follow and I think it was one of the reasons why I had so much trouble to enjoy keeping on.

The story itself wasn't that special...I mean, O'Banyon wanted to fight his curse, he had the whole doubts and fears about falling in love with someone so alike the one who cursed him, and Antoinette had her fears as well and her wish for a family but she never thought she could have one because of her past and her secrets.
Then there's the writing, which isn't very easy to follow or to enjoy. There were many sudden changes in the rhythm of the story and the fact the author ended a chapter and the next one was already set in something different was making the reading both confusing and tiring. I really think she wanted to give a certain ethereal feel to her story, even with the fogginess and the night and all that, but honestly I wasn't very impressed or eager to now more.
The characters were ok I guess, but as I didn't care for what they were doing, I also didn't find interest about them or their path.

In the end I was glad it was over and I really didn't miss it at all. I think some things could have been done better and that would have given a different air to this story, but I just didn't like the style and ultimately, the plot. So, I just feel it's good to have read it so it's not hovering in my head, but no love lost here.

Lois Greimen - Taming the Barbarian

Since escaping a dangerously abusive marriage, Fleurette Eddings, Lady Glendowne, has reveled in her freedom--turning the heads of the ton with her unrestrained enjoyment of life. But her extravagant purchase of the statue of a fourteenth-century Celtic mercenary seems beyond the pale, even for the vivacious young beauty--especially when a powerful, breathtaking, and oddly familiar stranger mysteriously enters her world 

The warm caress of an exquisite lady has awakened Killian, Sir Hiltsglen, the legendary "Black Celt," from his centuries-long slumber. To end the curse that encased his spirit in cold stone, his destiny is now bound to the infuriating lass who set him free--and who tempts the great warrior with a smoldering sensuality that inflames his barbarian desires. For Fleurette is hiding a dark secret and is in dire need of a champion--and Killian's mission could be compromised by an unbidden love that transcends time.

Comment: Here's another one of the books in my TBR list that got here for some reason I can't remember right now. But I got it and the sequel because it seemed a good thing at the time.
This author apparently has other types of stories but I haven't tried anything else by her before, so this was a completely new experience for me.

This is the story of Fleurette, she's a young widow and she lives her life to the fullest. During one of her travels she sees a captivating statue and somehow that statue turns up in her garden. She doesn't now why but surely it isn't a coincidence that at the same time her path crosses with Sir Hilsgren, a man from the Highlands.
Killian, the "Celt" has been the target of a curse and he has live as a statue for centuries until Fleurette touched the statue and somehow made him return to life. But there's something very alluring about her...

Ehh..I'm not even sure how to start, but to be honest, this story wasn't that amazing. I wasn't that eager to turn the pages or to know what would happen and I just wanted to get it over with.
The story had many confusing moments, segments and many ideas all mixed together. I wasn't sure of what was really important in this story and I found many elements not properly dealt with. For instance, Killian had come from another century, had been a statue and had to learn how much different things were now in the 19th century but apart from one scene or another, there wasn't much emphasis on that experience for him. I found it really strange. Then, there was Fleurette herself, she had a lot to deal with from her past, but she never found out who and how Killian was to be there...it was all so very unexplained. Oh and Killian's friend, the wolf, which I suspect will be the hero for the following book, his presence was never explained and no one seemed to wonder about him. Everything was so...randomly mentioned that I didn't like the writing style at all.
The characters had their good and bad characteristics but I think at some point the author wanted to add some mystery but for me it felt rather unnecessary as the things we wanted to know about Fleurette and Killian were inserted throughout the story when needed.
The villain was smart but I don't think it was that brilliant. But in a way it was the "punch" the story needed to have some sort of finish because all things considered, the story felt very weak for me.
This was one of those cases where the story was a big let down, but not as much as I thought because I didn't have any specific expectations about it.
Considering I wasn't impressed at all with this one I wonder why should I read the next one...oh well, who knows, it has a shape-shifter, perhaps that will save the day....