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The Wolf Within

by Kristi Chestnutt (Goodreads Author)

3.52 of 5 stars 3.52 · rating details · 23 ratings · 9 reviews

When Gwyn, a quirky college student, bumps into Faden, a private investigator with a secret past, life as she knows it will not just change, but end. Faden can't deny the powerful connection he and Gwyn have right from the start, a connection that pulls him towards her when he knows he should be staying away.As his investigation into the town's most recent murders heats up...more

Paperback, 146 pages

Published February 25th 2010 by Black Rose Writing

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Sep 01, 2010 Erin rated it 1 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. After seeing the overall rating of this book and reading some of the reviews, I was looking forward to reading The Wolf Within.

This book just wasn't for me. I struggled with everything from the characters to the story line to the content/context to the grammar. For being such a short book, I only made it through the first 50 or so pages before I started skipping and skimming. By page 90'ish, I had given up and just skipped to the last couple of pages.

I had a hard time identifying with and even...more

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Mar 25, 2010 Kristin Rae added it

Shelves: own, signed, read-in-2010

Very unique story! Interesting main characters (hello Faden!), and an intense climax I didn't see coming! The reader truly gets inside the heads of both Gwyn and Faden. I loved switching every couple of chapters from one perspective to the other. Just when you think you're going to see a detective solve a string of serial killings, it becomes SO much more than that... Very creative.

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Mar 26, 2010 Kimberly Franklin rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Wolf Within is a story of love between Gwyn and Faden (and let me tell you, girls. Sigh. Faden is oh so dreamy!!!). But, TWW is more than just a love story (very steamy love story, might I add). It's fueled by equal parts romance, mystery and action, which all culminate together to build a wonderful story that will leave you on the edge of your seat, frantically flipping the page to see what happens next.

And the fact that TWW is told in alternating chapters between Gwyn and Faden's POVs, on...more

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Oct 21, 2010 Jacqueline rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: werewolves-shifters, paranormal-romance

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I received this book as a First Reads book to review. I think the book has promise but is essentially a long way from finished. I appreciate being given the chance to review the book and have tried to be honest and helpful.

I think this falls somewhere between 1 and 2 stars for me. The story was quite short and I felt at times like I was reading a synopsis of a story or maybe a movie script. The story lacked details. There was very little description of place or the movements of the characters or...more I received this book as a First Reads book to review. I think the book has promise but is essentially a long way from finished. I appreciate being given the chance to review the book and have tried to be honest and helpful.

I think this falls somewhere between 1 and 2 stars for me. The story was quite short and I felt at times like I was reading a synopsis of a story or maybe a movie script. The story lacked details. There was very little description of place or the movements of the characters or even of the characters themselves. The conversations were stilted. Instead of only the important parts of a conversation, whole conversations were used. I guess what I mean here is that we humans add a lot of filler into our conversations. That's fine in real life but should be edited out in a book. I couldn't really get a sense of movement in the book. The characters did a lot of stuff but I was told about most of it not shown it happening. The whole falling in love relationship was awfully rushed even leaving aside the finding their 'soul mates' thing. Using references to actual bands and books and TV shows should also be avoided in my opinion as it can date a book very quickly.

The world building/development was lacking. When did this book take place? Faden brought the police chief photos to show he'd been alive 300 years. Is the story taking place in 2150? Three hundred years after photography was invented? If so I'd like to see some sci fi details or some explanation of how society collapsed and technology stopped advancing. Also, the police chief was entirely too accepting of Faden being immortal. And the explanation the Faden gave was unclear. If I had been the police chief I'd have locked him up.

I liked the heroine, Gwyn up until she got kidnapped. She seemed fairly real if somewhat stilted. I liked that she was very self aware and she seemed like an ordinary girl. That part was pretty well developed. After the kidnapping, she accepted the werewolf thing entirely too easily though. And what's more she understood it too easily. I thought that having the whole thing explained by Mick instead of Faden was a poor choice on the author's part. The important characters are supposed to be Faden and Gwyn. Any major revelations especially in a paranormal type book would be inherently stronger between the hero and heroine. They should at least have been together when the truth was told. As it is Faden seemed a bit like a schmuck left out of the know instead of any type of alpha, wolf or no.

I spent the last half of the book obsessing about why Mick was still alive if he was human and was a childhood friend of Faden's. Only to have all that wondering blown off with a “that's my secret to know and yours to wonder about” type line. Sounds to me like the author did not have a good explanation and so ignored it,covering it over with fluff. Here again I wondered when the story was taking place. When Faden was a child 300 years ago, some doctor had been working in a lab developing a drug given via hypodermic needle. This needle was invented in 1853 which again means that the story is taking place in 2150.

More world building would have been nice. Who were the werewolves? Where did they come from? How many were there? Where did they live? In groups with an alpha? Spread out hither and yon on their own? Why exactly was Faden the chosen one to lead the good werewolves? Since neither Faden or Gwyn knew anything about them, these details would have been easy to insert into the explanations about the werewolves that Mick gave. In view of how much Gwyn knew about wolves, her decision to become one without the inhibitor seemed odd. Why was she so adamant that she stay a wolf? Never explained. I suppose so that she could use their strength and senses. But she doesn't know anything about those according to the explanations she's been given.

Cole came out of left field. Probably he's there to pull the story on to a sequel. It was unrealistic that Gwyn was planning her life around him after 10 minutes.

Mick was just an odd character. There was no real need for him to be so obscure with his 'serial killer' calling card. No need for him to take a body part or to leave the bodies exactly 10 miles from town. That was all just a red herring by the author to make him seem like a serial killer then have the big switch to find out he's killing werewolves who are tired of living. Maybe just leave out the body part and 10 mile bits.

I did like the switching between characters every chapter. I'm not fond of first person but it was okay especially to develop characters. However, there were jarring slips in the use of the first person past tense.

Here's an example. Page 112 last paragraph “For the first time tonight, I took a deep breath and began to relax.” In first person past tense, which most of this book is written in, the main character is essentially telling a story about something that happened to them some unspecified time ago. Therefore the proper sentence would be : “For the first time that night, I took a deep breath and began to relax.” Otherwise you are using first person present tense and you would say “For the first time tonight I take a deep breath and begin to relax.”

There were also misspellings. Such as someone taking up the 'reigns' of leadership. The proper word is 'reins.' These sorts of things are annoying and throw you out of the story.

I feel as if I am being a bit too mean to a new author and I want to say again how much I appreciate being given a chance to read and critique this book. I have given an honest opinion here with real critique because I sincerely want to help a new author out and just saying it was wonderful does that author a disservice. The book has promise and if Ms. Chesnut were to go back and rewrite and fill out the bare bones of this story and resolve some of the issues, I think it has great potential.(less)

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Aug 24, 2010 Holly rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy, romance

I had a difficult time getting into this story, but once I did, I finished it the same day. The story dragged at times and other times it felt rushed. I wanted more. It almost seemed like a condensed version of a greater story.

I’m looking forward to the author future work.

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Mar 11, 2010 Ashley rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved loved loved this book! Compared to Twilight this book was just as amazing!! I completely fell in love with Faden and Gwen's relationship, and how romantic it was. I couldn't put the book down because all the adventures left me wanting more! I hope there's a sequal!

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Mar 04, 2010 Sandy rated it 5 of 5 stars

I LOVED this book! I can't wait for the sequel! I found myself sucked into the world of Gwen and I fell in love with Faden. I could NOT put this book down. Action, romance, danger, what more could you ask for!

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Oct 17, 2010 Melanie Lalonde rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: owned

I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I first started reading this book and ended up really liking it and looking forward for another book. I do admit there could have been more action or detail (in violence and pleasures) but I was really excited to learn that the end of the book is left open for a much bigger story.

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Sep 26, 2010 Kelly rated it 3 of 5 stars

I hope there will be a sequel to know what happens!

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Shelves: born-to-fight, fantasy, shapehifters, paranormal, romance, urban, werewolves

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Insomnia Book Club: The Wolf Within by Kristi Chestnutt	1	3	Jan 30, 2012 06:34pm

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