I really like Eve Langlais. Nothing about her stuff is polarized (good-bad, virgin-slut, hot-ugly) and that isn't all that common in romances. I didn't realize it (until I had read some of Langlais other stuff), but so many romances have very polar heroines in terms of their sexual experiences. These woman are either virgins, experienced from other long-term relationships (that hurt them, generally), or repentant sluts. Again and again Langlais presents us with women who are sexually aware and don't need to justify it, in fact, their sexuality is mostly used as a character descriptor rather than a plot builder.

An example of that using another element would be: Character descriptor: She grew up in a single parents household with her father v.s. Plot Builder: She grew up in a single parents household with her abusive father. With the latter we can assume that this will probably have a big impact on the character that affects the plot in some way. The former is just sort of a detail about the character.

I really really really likethat Langlais uses sexual experience/preference as a character detail. I can't think of any author that does this as well as Langlais and it really captures the people I know in life. Therefore, I'd argue it's a realistic portrayal of women in our society today. Yes she can be sexually active, yes she can enjoy it, no she might not be in a committed relationship, but none of this is a bad thing, it doesn't make her a slut, in fact it doesn't really matter at all.... now on with the story.

Ok, so praise of Langlais aside, let's get to what I didn't like about this story.

Teddy is fat...ter than other people she knows. I'm not sure how large she was but we know she is short and curvy having grown up with Amazonian-like women in her bear pack. She has always been different in a negative way, has been bullied for it and has only come to terms with herself and found self-love in adulthood.

Maybe it makes a difference that I'm not fat but I really walked away with a bad impression of Teddy and her fatness. At first it seemed all good, Teddy seemed comfortable in her skin and ready to defend her hotness but that all started to fall apart and Teddy's fears were all based around this element of herself that she can't change.

I don't know. I felt like telling her to shut up and work it. So she get this mate and she's worried that he will lose interest in her so she push him away. Ok fine, I sort of get that, but why did she never try to hold his interest? Not once. She didn't smack on a sexy bra or act especially flirty and sexy. I'm sitting here not knowing why he is still with her.

Let's face it, nothing comes to anyone without work and effort. This is true in all aspects of our lives including relationships. Our hero puts effort into winning the heroine's trust and love (?), but she just sits there all unhappy about the probablys and maybes of her life. She only puts effort in trying to get away from the relationship. Seems like a bit of a double standard that the man is bending over backwards to woo her and she does nothing, absolutely nothing, back. That's a bit of a bad message to the youth, isn't it?

I didn't see her as strong or confident. I saw her as a whiny cry baby who isn't willing to try for things she wants even when it seems like a lost cause.

To finish of this compliment sandwich of a review I want to end by giving Langlais kudos on the plot (major conflict) of this story. When I read it I just thought "Oh Man! That would totally happen to me". The premise here is that they are mates, they smell each other before they see each other, and when he sees her he's surprised (disappointed) that she isn't his physical type. How great is that? To be sexually drawn to someone but then still be a bit let down by who you end up with (at first) but then growing to appreciate them. I love that idea. I can't remember reading anything similar to that before.

So, because all of the good in this book I am rating it 4/5. I am disappointed with the weak heroine but I guess you win some you lose some. There is another Langlais book with a chunkier heroine who is amazing, it's [b:wickedest witch|9517019|Wickedest Witch|Eve Langlais|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1287147465s/9517019.jpg|14402875] and I'd recommend reading that after you read this one.