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Type of bind: Mass Market Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN num: 9780553580211
ISBN number: 0553580213
Label: Bantam
Manufacturer: Bantam
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 400
Printing Date: July 05, 2000
Publishing house: Bantam
Release Date: July 05, 2000
Sale Popularity Level: 216865
Studio: Bantam
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Product Description:
His love was wild... his soul untamed... his touch forbidden....
From acclaimed author Susan Krinard comes the second novel in a magnificent trilogy of a powerful clan whose sensual legacy is cloaked in secrecy-and a beautiful woman kidnapped by an outlaw whose forbidden embrace could reveal her true identity.... Once a Wolf
In the unspoiled expanses of the American West, Tomás Alejandro Randall was called El Lobo, the desperado and sworn enemy of powerful financier Cole MacLean. Few humans knew his true identity: heir to a wolf bloodline that made him as much an exotic beast as a devastatingly attractive man. It was Tomás's plan to lure Cole MacLean's elegant fiancée, Lady Rowena Forster, from her New York mansion to the wild frontier. There he planned to seduce the golden-haired beauty as revenge for the destruction of his family at MacLean's hands. But once she was in his possession, El Lobo found himself unable to resist the call of his own untamed passion-a passion that would claim the beauty for his own. As for Lady Rowena, she desperately hid her own wolf heritage behind an icy, controlled exterior. Yet the famous 'Lady Ice' found her inhibitions melting and her true nature emerging in the presence of this handsome desperado. Both knew the danger of their pairing, but their wild hearts would risk everything-even death-for a chance at everlasting love.
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Rated by buyers 
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Has a supernatural component that is refreshing (though I admit to being new to the loup-garou lore). The main characters are neither perfect, nor knightly. Both of them have to gain something from each other before their love can come to life. And this is not one of those romances where sex occurs early and often throughout the book. But when the story does heat up, it is great.
This story takes place in the 1890's, in New York and New Mexico. It is the time of the Indian Wars, also of the elegant societies of New York and London from The Golden Bowl (Henry James) and The Age of Innocence (Edith Wharton). In contrast to the elegant books just mentioned, the protagonists of Once a Wolf are were-wolves. Rowena belongs both to the elegant world of The Golden Bowl, being English aristocracy, as well as that of The Age of Innocence, having fled to New York. Her society credentials give her finacee (also a were-wolf) the acess he wants to the most influential circles of the world. (That's where the comparison to those books ends).
Unlike her fiancee, and her kidnapper, both were-wolves, Rowena, a were-wolf, herself, has foresworn any Change, and any animalistic tendencies. Because of her affinity for her high society world, she has a hard time 'letting go' and being a less rigid, moralistic person. Her fiancee, on the other hand is the worst sort of evil, using his were-wolf powers against unsuspecting and weak men (including Rowena), to steal, in true Robber-baron fashion, and build a financial empire. Tomas, her kidnapper, is the kind of man who lives for the moment, animal fashion, (running from his cruel past, but trapped and unable to imagine a future).
Interestingly, this is where Once a Wolf separates itself from paranormal romances like those of Lora Leigh (The Man Within), that focus like a laser beam on the mating aspect of were-wolf existence. This story is about a blood feud between great were-wolf families. Once a Wolf explores those aspects of human nature that separate from the animals. Tomas, a desperado from the wild west, is wrapped up in a life dedicated to revenge. He kidnaps Rowena, then finding himself attracted to her, makes a decision to seduce her, and 'free' her animal nature. He learns the hard way that Rowena is made of sterner stuff than he suspected, and finds himself having to come to terms with love, duty, and human vision.
In many respects, Tomas resembles Slade, from Johanna Lindsey's Tender is the Storm, only he has a little more character growth to do. And everybody has a lot to learn about Rowena's fiancee.
The showdown at the end is well worth waiting for, with all the players in the great feud facing off, including Cole's brother(s) and the mysterious witch. The conclusion is somewhat a disappointment, as I can't imagine these two powerful characters spending the rest of their days in a canyon in New Mexico. Also somewhat annoying to have the author constantly refer to events from an earlier book, without having any reference at all to the name of the book (where I might read the pre-events).
Rated by buyers 
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Sometimes I liked Tomas very much; other times he was very spoiled and irresponsible. Rowena, too, was sometimes likeable and sometimes uninteresting or "stupid" & rashly stubborn. What was really good was the way Tomas got Rowena to open up and relax, to accept her "wolfness". I agree with another reviewer that some of the secondary characters were as interesting (if not more so at times) than the main characters. All in all, it's just average.
Rated by buyers 
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This was the very first book I've read by this auhor, but let me tell you, I was impressed. I admit, the heroine disappointed me at very first with her submissive behavior toward that jerk sh eplanned to marry. It always pisses me off when women let men walk all over them. And to hear the way Cole MacLean the ways he was going to break her down just... oh, it gets me so angry. But then it adds to the gradification I got at the end when she'd finally learn to stand up to him.
Now, the hero -Tomas- he is such a hunk. He treats Rowena so nicely, yet manage to infuriate her at the same time. The tension between the hero and herione was pretty obvious. I especially loved the scene at the water fall, where Tomas watch her bathe in wolf formed and then... (chuckle)
The ways Tomas tries to help Rowena learn to accept herself was very touching. I loved their relationship. It was beautifful.
However, the character that intrigue me most was Sim. Sim's this character who's kind of brooding, dark, and cynical of women because he's been hurt in the past. I've read a lot of books where the hero is portrayed to be dark and dangerous, but then he doesn't really do anything wretched or mean. But Sim, he was not a disappointment. It amused me how he constantly threatens the herione to stay away from his friend, he cause he doesn't want Tomas hurt. He was really mean, but as a reader, I find myself drawn to him, wanting to understand more. I keep looking for his name among the review lists but it never came up. That's why I'm writing this. I find his fleeting relationship with Felicity so much more...er... engaging than that of Tomas and Rowena. And boy did that revelation about him at the end surprised me. I hope miss Krinard'll write a story for him, too.
Rated by buyers -
Lady Rowena Forster has escaped England and her werewolf heritage to New York where she meets and is betrothed to powerful Cole MacClean. Tomas Randall is a devastatingly handsome man/werewolf from the West who has a grudge against the ruthless Cole MacClean. In order to get his revenge on Cole, Tomas manages to lure Rowena from the saftey of New York Society to the wild frontiers of the West. Along the way, Rowena and Tomas full for each other but will Tomas manage to persuade Rowena that her betrothed is not who he seems to be.
We very first meet Rowena in Touch of the Wolf where she is betrayed as a very cold character. Here she seems to be warmer but still a lady of ice. Tomas Randall is an absolutely gorgeous and a really charming character. The splaterring of Spanish, will make you believe that you are in the wild frontiers of the West. There is plenty of adventure and suspense throughout the whole book. A very good read indeed. If only I could get the last book (Quentin's story) in the trilogy but it's not available in France.
Lealing
Rated by buyers 
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I could give this one high marks for character development (hence the one star), but little else. It was far too slow and uninteresting. It was all I could do to finish the book.
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