Castle of the Wolf

This is one of the best romance novels I've read in quite a while. Schwab does an excellent job of drawing the reader into the action. She also writes passionate, steamy love scenes in a tasteful manner. I read this in one night because I couldn't put it down! It was so good that I've already ordered The Lily Brand (her first book.) Sandra Schwab is an author to watch!

This story is a hugely enjoyable historical romance with a paranormal touch set in the Black Forest in Germany in the early 1800s. Woven through with references to fairy tales and with evocative writing about the surroundings of Castle of Wolfenbach, this is different from the usual historical romance of gowns, balls and peerages. Celia Fussell's father Baron Hailstone has died and her life is going badly downhill. Her father was a noted academic and shared his interests with his daughter, but now that he is dead Celia looks likely to become a spinster sister to her brother and his awful wife. But then her father's Will is read and Celia discovers that she is now the owner of the Castle of Wolfenbach in the Black Forest - but only if she weds the former master of the castle within four months. Celia, although initially seeming rather quiet and mousy, has an intrepid side and decides to go and claim her inheritance. After all, her father was good friends with the Graf von Wolfenbach, father of the man she is supposed to marry, and he's a very good man; surely his son will also be a worthy male? Celia has a long journey to her Castle, accompanied by a kindly widow Mrs Chisholm, but as she arrives she discovers that the castle has a bad reputation. It's falling into disrepair and her welcome is hardly warm. When she meets her intended, Fenris von Wolfenbach, he is a rude, dark and mysterious man and he does his best to drive her and Mrs Chisholm away. Why is he so bad-tempered and what caused the injury to give him a wooden leg? When Fenris's brother Leo arrives things seem considerably brighter. He's a charming, friendly, open man, the complete opposite of his brother. But Celia is learning that things aren't always what they seem, that there is more going on in this family relationship than she originally thought, and that her life and the life of Fenris might be in danger. But can she help Fenris to thaw enough to work out how they can live together? "Castle Of The Wolf" was an excellent read from start to finish. It was a real change to read a historical romance set in Germany rather than England and with such a shadowy hero - Fenris spends large parts of the book avoiding Celia. Celia is an excellent heroine as she finds her niche in life, becomes courageous and tries her best to help those around her. She has spent her youth reading fairy stories and some of these are woven into the story in a charming way. As in most good novels the characters learn more about themselves and each other and help each other to grow and put behind them bad experiences from the past; this is mainly happening to Fenris with Celia's help - Celia herself seems to have made the decision to grow up and take charge of her life at the beginning of the story and she then works at it with great success. She's a charming heroine who will appeal to most readers. The story is strong on description, setting and the feel of a different country in a different time. The plo

I love a good gothic romance and Castle of the Wolf fits the bill. You get a spunky herione, a brooding hero, a crumbling castle, and a deep dark secret. I also loved that it's set in Germany which you don't see that often. The only thing that bugged me was a couple of time the herione used too modern language but overall it's a very good book. Also check out her first book The Lily Brand also very good.

Celia Fussell's father has passed away leaving her feeling as if an anchor has been cut. She has also experienced a lowering of her status to that of poor unmarried aunt to her brother. It wouldn't be so bad if his wife was a whole lot more charming. Just when she thinks life is going to be a horrid existence she learns of her inheritance hidden deep in the wilds of the Black Forest in Germany. There she finds her home a dark, mysterious castle full of secrets. It wasn't perfect but it was hers. There was just one thing...er person standing in her way. The man she is supposed to marry. Fenris is not exactly what he appears and his dark secret is one that keeps him bound, silent and very moody. Celia is so much what he wants and yet he doesn't think he can do right by her. Forces will keep them apart but only if he lets him. Will he allow love to open his heart and his mind to what could be his. I love Ms. Schwab's way of telling a story. She's not shy about being creative and thereby developing storylines, characters, and conflict that will hold the reader captive. Her second effort has well been worth the wait. Fenris and Celia are such wonderfully dynamic characters and when added to the totally fresh setting the reader is in for a treat. You never know what to expect when you read Ms. Schwab...except for the fact that you will be well entertained. This is one author I highly recommend.

I loved this book--loved the setting, loved the heroine, loved the hero. Cissy has 2 choices, go to Germany and marry an unknown man or stay in England and be the spinster sister. She chooses Germany and it was the right one. Her castle, which she will get if she marries above unknown man, has a decidedly Gothic flair to it. But, for readers who have tired of paranormals, there is just a bit of the paranormal about this story. It mainly focuses on Cissy and Fenris. They are together at the castle, there are no big separations, and it helps the story. The story totally focuses on them. The secondary characters are charming and non-intrusive. Cissy is my favorite kind of heroine. She is innocent, but she knows what she wants. And the way she goes about getting it is irresistible. She is never obnoxious or TSTL. It seems like you get one of those in most romances today. And Fenris is simply scrumptious. The tortured hero--he knows what he wants, but he can't have it. He was TSFW (too sexy for words!!). This book is probably a "warm" read. But, the writing makes it seem a lot hotter than that. The tension in this book is non-stop and wonderful. I read it in one sitting. The only quibble I had with this book was that occasionally the characters would lapse, I felt, into modern slang. I read a "whatever" and a few other phrases that felt out of place to me. But I skimmed right over them and kept on reading. This was great!