Nalini Singh – Wild Invitation

A collection of stories in the Psy-Changeling universe, published March 5, 2013.
Genre: paranormal romance
Cover: nice



A PSY-CHANGELING COLLECTION BY NALINI SINGH

In Beat of Temptation, innocent Tamsyn has always had a place in her heart for Nathan, a blooded DarkRiver sentinel. But is she ready for the fierce demands of the mating bond?


I’ve read this story before, but I still loved it. Tamsyn is 19 now, and she has known she is Nathan’s mate since her 15th birthday. But he has kept his distance from her sexually, not allowing her skin privileges, and she is slowly going crazy. Nate wants to give her space, to live a little, and perhaps see something of the world, like he did at her age. But Tamsyn is a healer, and his been the Pard’s healer since she was 16. She is rooted at Dark River, and she doesn’t need to go wandering. If he doesn’t want to change things, she will have no choice but to leave. She tries to seduce him, to feed him, to ignore him, but he still won’t mate with her. But of course he cannot let her leave him either, no matter what he says.


I love Tamsyn, she is a very skilled and caring Healer, and she knows what she wants. Still Nate keeps her at a distance, until she goes crazy with needing. She doesn’t want to wait any longer, she wants him now. And she will be able to deal with the mating bond or else they would never be mated. I did love the little Christmas bits, how she interacts with the rest of the pack (who were then very young, and who have their own stories by now).
Stubborn Nate thinks he can dictate her, as he is a dominant soldier, going to be a Sentinel. But he can’t just choose what parts of the bond he wants, and which not, and she certainly makes him go crazy as well. They are good together, but I could live with a bit more grovelling. Tamsyn is too kindhearted being a healer sometimes.


In Stroke of Enticement, a wary young teacher, sceptical about love, arouses the man--and the animal--in an aggressive leopard changeling who must prove his affections are true.

Another story I already know, it is short but sweet. Annie is a teacher, and some of her pupils are changelings. She loves them just as much, and one of them has an uncle Zach. Zach takes an instant liking to Annie, he knows he has found his mate in this small human. But he will have to tread carefully, as she has been wounded before. As a child, she was in a train accident, leaving her leg splintered. She still has a limp, and her mother sees that as an imperfection, and that Annie needs to be taken care of. She keeps setting her up on dates with other academics. But Annie is not interested in them, and as she witnesses her parents’ marriage, her mother so in love with her father, and her father ignoring her and hurting her without seeing it, she will pass.
But the ways of the changelings really draws her in, and Zach especially. If he can only be hers for a short period of time, so be it. But she will live a little and go for it. Not knowing Zach intends it to be forever.


I enjoyed Annie, she has spunk, and she is not spineless against her mother, who really does love her. And well, Zach, sigh, he is just a dream guy, doing everything right and knowing when Annie needs some space and when to push. He accepts her without reservations, and does not pity her or something.
And though Zach is some kind of forester, he also has a degree, which mollifies mom.


NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED:
In Declaration of Courtship, Grace, a shy submissive wolf, finds herself pursued by the last man she ever would have imagined: a SnowDancer lieutenant said to be "mad, bad, and dangerous to know."

I am very sorry, but this story just did not grab me. It takes place at a subsidiary of Snow Dancer territory, and Grace is a mechanic, and Cooper the big boss there. She is ultra submissive and he is as alpha as they get. And Cooper wants her, but as a woman and not a submissive. But things kept getting broken down, and I kept suspecting sabotage, especially after the bits with the Psy who wanted to take over their land.
The courting was fun but I just never felt much for Cooper.


In Texture of Intimacy, SnowDancer healer Lara discovers the searing joys--and unexpected challenges--of being mated to quiet, powerful Walker, a man used to keeping his silence.

I so loved this story. A bonus after what happened in the “war” with Councillor Ming and how Sienna killed them all. Lara and Walker have mated, but this is what happens in the next days, and I loved it. And well, perhaps, a bit of insight in the Ghost? I do think it is this Arrow mentioned.


All in all, a good collection of stories, and so worth your money if you did not yet buy the anthologies that have the first two stories (which I did). Still, I enjoyed reading all four stories in one book. If you love this series as much as I do, it is a must for your collection.

9 stars.

© 2013 Reviews by Aurian