Lying With Wolves-Cynthia Cooke

Lying With Wolves

Cynthia Cooke

Harlequin Nocturne, Oct 1 2014, $5.75

ISBN: 9780373009312

In the Cascades, shapeshifter Celia Lawson fell in love with the Colony's leader Malcom Daniels.  However, Malcolm constantly chose his ambition over her.  Unable to cope with his latest power grab when he rejected her for a former chief’s daughter Shay Malloy (see Running With Wolves), Celia leaves the relative safety of her Pacific Northwest pack for the danger of exposure while shifting in Arizona to live by herself.

When the crystals protecting the Colony from Gauliacho demons begin to wane and Celia’s mother Jaya, who possesses the recharging magic, accidentally killed, Malcom travels to the desert to bring the Keeper home to revitalize them.  In the desert he defeats an Abatu soulless one though hurt in the encounter, but his bigger challenge remains in persuading Celia to come back with him.  She is not the same kindhearted compliant person he hurt when he chose to marry Shay.  As they return to the Colony, Malcom prays for a second chance with the woman he loves but kicked aside for power while Celia’s cousins (Ruby and Jade) head to her to keep her safe even as an adversary stalks them.

This Colony novel is an exhilarating romantic urban fantasy as once again Cynthia Cooke’s world filled with shapeshifters, demons, soulless humans and magic comes across as genuine.  Loaded with action from the opening desert scene to the Cascades final confrontation; yet filled with a strong support cast, a wonderful heroine who has gained backbone since she left the pack, and a desperate male seeking redemption after his out of control ambition placed his pack in peril.

Harriet Klausner