Romancing the Werewolf

This novella serves as an epilogue to the story of my two favorite characters from Gail Carriger's Victorian-set novels: Biffy and Professor Lyall. It is very funny, there's a mystery, some action and Ms Carriger's signature well written romance. As a bonus I was surprised to discover that the story is Christmas-themed, perfect timing that I read it in late December!

I just love these two characters - I'd happily read another 10 books of these two just doing housekeeping and choosing the curtains. They are great.

To read this you really should have finished the Parasol Protectorate and ideally about a third of the book Imprudence. I'll be honest - I love Gail Carriger's work, but the Custard Protocol books just don't grab me. The only thing that got me reading until book 2 was so that I could read this little story.

I'm so glad I did - it was one of those books that when I got to the end I hugged it with a happy smile, yet felt sad that it was over.

I do hope that Ms Carriger returns to these two.

So, what happens when two werewolves fall into a night of passion and comfort only to be split apart for twenty years? Sparks upon the reunion and a massive amount of pining. I like pining in my stories - especially when both people involved are pining and neither can see that it's mutual. Also, the way they finally got together wasn't all hot sparks and need, but actual talk and communication and that I loved. (Lyall has always been a favorite of mine and seeing how good him and Biffy are together, the way the complement each other is perfect.)

Review from my blog: https://athousandworldssite.wordpress.com/
Twenty years ago, newly turned werewolf Alpha Biffy and Beta werewolf Professor Lyall spent a night of passion and comfort in each others arms. However, circumstances intruded and Lyall had to temporarily join another pack in reparation for a decision he made.

Now Lyall, recompense completed, has returned to London, to his pack, to his Alpha – but not everything is smooth sailing. Twenty years is a long time, even for immortals, and Biffy just took charge of the pack upon the previous Alpha's retirement two months ago. Throw in a pack of werewolves adjusting to both a new Alpha and a new home, children being left on their doorstep and things are just complicated enough for both to wonder if friendship is all they'll have.

Firstly, Lyall was always one of my favorite characters in this setting, so I was thrilled to see the first tentative get together between him and Biffy in Timeless and even more happy when I heard this book would finally give them some resolution. They are perfect for each other and I adore the way they work together and rely on each other.

Lyall is down-to-earth, calm, practical, a true Beta in ever sense of the word. Biffy is an atypical Alpha. He's pretty, he likes fashion and was even planning on trying to be turned into a vampire before events transpired. They are very different, but so complementary – especially in that neither is the ‘usual' rough-and-tumble sort of werewolf.

(Now, I honestly cannot read this book without comparing it to the previous one in the series because I read them back-to-back.)

Where this story wins out over the previous one for me, is three fold. This story has a plot beyond the couple getting together – a plot that we see resolution to and that affords ample opportunity for the typical Carriger insanity that she writes so well. (That was reasons one and two.) (And while Lyall is practical, he's not as extremely normal as Imogene is, which was somewhat detrimental to Carriger's writing style.)

The third reason is a case of major personal preference. I usually prefer a romance where we get to witness it through both characters. I like an alternating point of view. I like seeing what each person thinks of the other. (And, in truth, I prefer more than one perspective even if it's not a romance.) Finally, while I'm not really a fan of the so-called ‘second chance' romances, this one worked for me because they were never actually a couple before. (More like friends with benefits.)