The Taruskin family is of an ancient bloodline descended from Russian wolves. They’re connected to the British Crown, performing duties in secret as their wolfish tendencies are not common knowledge. What
is common knowledge is their seductive appeal to the opposite of sex—the Taruskin brothers are a legendary clan of bed warmers among London’s high society.
Semyon is one of the more famed Taruskins among women. Unexpectedly, he encounters a vision of magnificence at a ball and finds himself completely enraptured. Angelica is obviously more than she appears to be, but Semyon misses the chance to learn more when she mysteriously disappears. Put on the trail, he calls on his wolfish senses to track the beauty.
Angelica is in more trouble than she can comprehend. Thinking this new predicament will only repeat past abuses and horrors from her life, she is unaware of the evil planned for her. Semyon’s desire to protect Angelica may prove premature as her
naïveté and careless need for independence paint a target on her. With all the focus on Angelica, thoughts of protecting the pack of St. James are greatly minimized—much to the dismay of those who become victims.
In a nasty, demoralizing, and truly demeaning series of events, Angelica is
forced to face more than the skeletons hanging in her closet. Her torment at the hands of others is only the beginning. The aid of the pack of St. James would be greatly beneficial, but chances are she won’t be receiving it. Semyon has unwittingly left Angelica unprotected and friendless in his efforts to protect what he has come to cherish.
In a similar fashion to other paranormal romance authors like Sylvia Day, Noelle Mack
unites the dark and dangerous with the sensual and romantic. The paranormal aspects of the story and characters within Wicked are markedly tame when matched against similar novels
- i.e. the werewolf side of the characters is rarely seen and woefully weak where included.
Nonetheless, a great plot and characters bring fire to the story’s twists and turns,
and Mack makes a limited success of another installment in her pack of St. James series.