This urban fantasy has 1000-year curses and shapeshifters. Ann Smith is Jasha Wilder's office assistant. She has harbored a crush on him for all of the years that she's worked for him. The time has come for her to confront him and let him know. She thinks a trip to his mountain home to seduce him is a great idea.

However, the time isn't good. Jasha has just learned that the enemies who have been tracking his family for many years have gotten close. Also, his mother had a vision at the annual fourth of July picnic which indicates that they have a limited time to find a mysterious relic that was broken and scattered 1000 years ago if they want to save their father from damnation.

Jasha has gone to his retreat where he can turn to a wolf and think about what he can do to save his father. The last thing he wants to do is bring anyone into the danger with him. But Ann arrives and the enemies arrive shortly after.

Ann is keeping secrets of her own. She was found abandoned in a dumpster as in infant with a strange tattoo on her lower back. Raised by a convent of nuns, she has been taught that evil follows her and that she has an unknown destiny.

When Ann finds the relic during a particularly strong storm, Jasha knows that he needs to protect it and her from the enemies who want to destroy his family. He also wants to convince her that he is her intended mate which might be harder to accomplish than defeating a number of shapeshifters sent to kill him.

This was entertaining urban fantasy and is the first of four books in the story arc. I enjoyed the characters and the worldbuilding. ( )

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. This was a re-read for me. I first read this book around the time of its original release, which was 2007, and didn't remember a whole lot about it besides the fact that the Hero is able to turn into a wolf and I liked it. As I read the book, there were some things that were somewhat familiar but in a lot of ways, it was like experiencing the story all over again for the first time. I am really glad that I decided to pick this one up again.

I love the set up for this series. The Wilder family is descended from a man that made a deal with the devil years ago. Since that deal was made, only male children have been born and each of those children is able to transform into a predator once they reach puberty. These are violent men who don't form attachments or marry but take what they want. Jasha's father broke tradition when he married his mother and hid his family from the larger family.

Jasha knows that his family is in danger from his mother's prophecy. Jasha is the oldest and is quite the businessman, owning a winery. He is the oldest of the four children in his family and he is able to turn into a wolf at will. Ann works for Jasha as his assistant but has wanted him for a very long time. She doesn't realize that when she goes to see him at his home that she is going to get more than she bargained for.

I found this book to be really exciting. I think that the fact that these characters are faced with a situation that is bigger than they are is really interesting. Their goal is really just to keep their family safe and despite the fact that their abilities come from a deal with the devil, they do want to do the right thing. I liked that the enemy could pop up anywhere and really that anything could happen.

I did like Jasha and Ann and thought that they did make a good pair. They did have a lot of chemistry and liked each other before the book actually began. I thought that Ann's history was really interesting and I liked the fact that she was able to accept everything going on as quickly as she did. Jasha really did care for Ann although he sometimes did need to learn to include her in the decisions that were being made.

I would recommend this book to fans of paranormal romance. I found this to be a fast-paced story with a rather unique premise. I am looking forward to continuing my re-read of the series very soon! ( )

it was a good book as a whole but some parts mainly the ending left me a little cold, hopefully the next one once I get it will wow me better. ( )

Scent of Darkness by Christina Dodd
Book #1 in Darkness Chosen
4 stars

Synopsis:
The Wilders must break the pact their vicious ancestor forged with the devil or be cursed for all eternity. On the night Ann Smith decides to seduce her boss, Jasha Wilder, she is astonished to see him transform into a wolf and soon learns that she holds the key to his family’s salvation. Chased by shapshifting assassins, Ann and Jasha must control their passion and work together to outwit these dangerous predators or they will never survive.

Review:
A fresh and invigorating story in a genre inundated with vampires. Christine Dodd has crafted an spellbinding mythology involving demons and holy relics that grip the reader throughout. The characterization is excellent, especially Ann who begins her journey as a naïve girl and develops into a proud and strong willed young woman. The back story regarding her mysterious childhood and tattoo is particularly intriguing. Jasha, however, can be a little overbearing but Ann has no problem putting him in his place.
Recommendation: For lovers of paranormal romance. I will definitely be continuing with the series. ( )

Rich businessman is a shifter, but is also raised with really old-school attitudes, especially regarding women. The dual story was basically a good one, but too much violence and specific erotica for my taste. ( )