Review: Dark Wolf by Kate Douglas

Title: Dark Wolf
Author: Kate Douglas
Series: Spirit Wild, #1
Release Date: April 30th 2013
Publisher: Aphrodisia
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Rating: 2.5 Hoots
Reviewer: Dori
Buy From:  Amazon/ Barnes and Noble

Sum It Up! This was the perfect recipe for a great paranormal thriller, but I am hesitant to read the next installment of this series. 

Summary:
Sebastian Xenakis is still coming into his power as a wizard. He can shapeshift by magical means and runs as a wolf using the power he draws from the elements. But young women are dying—raped by a human and then slaughtered by a wolf. Suspicion falls on the shapeshifting Chanku, but Sebastian wonders if he might somehow be guilty of the crimes.

Then he meets Lily Cheval, the uncrowned princess of the powerful Chanku, and realizes he will do whatever it takes to clear his name and win her love. But evil walks where Sebastian goes, and there are mysteries neither Lily nor her father, the powerful wizard, Anton Cheval, cannot unravel. Is Sebastian the perfect mate for Lily, or is he instead, one she should fear? (Goodreads)

Review:
As I read Dark Wolf, I was excited to see a new take on the shifter genre. In the beginning Kate Douglas shows us a world where shifters and humans coexist. Power struggles, murders, and betrayal make the story a fantastic read. So why am I struggling with this review?

From the beginning you see Lily Cheval trying to keep peace with humans due to a rash of horrific murders. She knows there is something familiar about these murders but cannot understand why. She meets Sebastian Xenakis, the son of  a powerful wizard and anti-Chanku  supporter Aldo Xenakis. Although Lily and Sebastian are cautious of one another,  the chemistry between them is instantaneous.  Together they try to solve the murders, struggle with their growing feelings for one another, and try to save the reputation of the Chanku. 

This was the perfect recipe for a great paranormal thriller. Unfortunately, in the middle of the story, I am reading the story of another Chanku couple falling in love and bonding. It was as if I was reading a completely different story.  This new couple changed the tone of story.  Just as I am struggling to find a reason for this change, a bizarre sex scene comes in out of nowhere.  I sat in my chair blaming the editor of the story for allowing this mess to continue. The rushing of the climactic end only made the story more disconnected. I am hesitant to read the next installment of this series.