Review: Wild Card (Down & Dirty #1) by Moira Rogers

Format Read: eBook
Number of Pages: Novella, 60 pages
Release Date: November 2008
Publisher: Changeling Press LLC
Formats Available: Adobe Acrobat (pdf), Microsoft Reader, HTML, Mobipocket, Epub
Purchasing Info: Author's Website, GoodReads, Changling Press, Omnilit, Fictionwise



Book Blurb:
As Alpha of the Lonely River Pack, Jack Owens is responsible for keeping the peace between what's left of the human population and the wolves who have taken over since the War. All wolves are his responsibility, even the ones like Virginia Howard who don't necessarily recognize his authority. Ginny's been a thorn in Jack's side since she took over her parent's operation and established herself as one of the area's premiere ranchers. The fact that she's everything he wants in a mate makes it hard to stay away from her, but any good hunter knows how to bide his time.



Ginny fights hard to maintain her independence from men, human and werewolf alike. The humans may not like having a woman as their chief competition, but they're not the ones determined to see her submit. When a group of angry wolves try to run her out of business, she's forced to accept Jack's assistance. But in saving her ranch, Ginny runs the risk of losing something far greater--her heart’




My Thoughts:

I read Wild Card in one sitting, for 2 reasons :
#1 - This is a novella, we’re talking 60 pages here, not long term commitment guys.
#2 - I couldn’t stop reading it, I just wanted more, more, more!

But let’s start at the beginning:


The Cover:
I find this cover to be very sensual. It’s erotic without being overly sexual. Translation: I can read it next to my mama without blushing too much (yes, that is a criteria!) When I look at this cover I see love (there we are, the romantic in me is back), look at how his hand is delicately brushing her face…huh-huh. The font is well chosen, when I see the title I think of cowboys! (heh! close enough…). All in all I find the cover very appealing. *thumbs up*

The World:
‘War on Earth ended fifty years ago with the Sickness, a nanite plague that killed without prejudice and set the human race back two hundred years. The only ones immune to the Sickness are the werewolves, who have been forced out of hiding in the aftermath. Now human and werewolf must form an uneasy alliance and find a way to rebuild a new world.’
The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where technology no longer exists. We’re back at the time of cowboys and Saloons (well nearly). This just works for me, I loved the idea. This world reminded me of the Atlanta in the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews. Yes, I know they have nearly nothing in common…but in these worlds technology isn’t reliable anymore, or in this case doesn’t exist anymore and it makes it all the more interesting.

The story:
Virginia Howard (a.k.a Ginny) is one tough lady…or I should say, werewolf. She’s tried to stay independent all her life, which is not easy when you live in a world full of possessive male werewolves. She’s got her own Ranch and minds her own business. Most of all she wants to stay clear from the Alpha, Jack Owens.

Jack Owens is the Alpha, he’s got lots of responsibilities and he has waited years to see Ginny ask for his help. Should I mention that he’s really hot? Okay, I won’t mention it.

The story is simple enough, 2 very different characters will fall for each other…hard. A little more details? Okay. Ginny is having problems with a band of werewolves doing all they can to ruin her business. She has to ask for help to the one man she’s tried to avoid for years…Jack Owens, the Alpha, the only one that can stop the wolves. Needless to say that Jack is more than willing to help. *wriggles eyebrows* Ginny is attracted to him but she knows that she can’t have a one night stand with this man…sleeping with him would mean accepting to submit to the wolf, abandoning her independence, and that is something she just can’t bare. She's torn between reason and lust. The sexual tension between the characters is strong - one thing leading to another - they end up sleeping together anyway (didn’t see that one coming huh?). The sex scenes are sizzling, they are very well written and I found myself blushing more than once (Cookie points for that!). The story resolved itself after some blood being shed and I got my Happy Ever After! Yay.

Was the story predictable? Yes. Did it diminish my pleasure in reading it? No. As I said before, it is very well written, and while it was easy to see how this was going to end, I had a great time reading it. We’re introduced to some interesting secondary characters, such as Hazel Young and Oliver Russell. I was very happy when I learned that the second novella Calling the Bluff focuses on them as the heroes. I thought they deserved their own story.

There’s just one thing that got me a bit frustrated…it’s a novella! It’s very short, so the story seemed a bit rushed sometimes, there wasn't enough time to build the tension. I’m not used to reading novellas. I think it would have been perfect if the characters had been given more time to build their relationship. This is why I’m giving Wild Card 4 and a half Bookies. (I know it’s not fair!). But It is a quick, fun and hot read, I strongly recommend Wild Card.

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