Maxie Briscoe: Werewolf: A Review by Dempsey Sanders

Dempsey Sanders, all around awesome movie guy and friend of the Imaginarium,is making his inaugural guest appearance today with his first ever book review. I am so proud and happy that he chose my own Maxie Briscoe: Werewolf. Welcome Dempsey and take it away...

Hi Imaginarians!

This is the first time I have ever guest appeared over at someone else’s blog, and I am delighted to have the chance to write here. As an avid follower of Melissa’s Imaginarium I have read many musings and reviews from Melissa Bradley, I have come to respect her opinion on all matters of things especially novels and movies.
Though previously not reading many novels and preferring the visual aspect of what I see on TV and the big screen, in January I received Maxie Briscoe: Werewolf, a new novel written by Melissa Bradley herself.

Now just to give you an insight before I begin this review - I had promised a review of the novel giving my honest opinion regardless if I like the author personally or not, for in the blogging world your written word is your bond and if I had to let one of my own favourite followers down by saying her novel was a complete load of boll**ks with the risk of me looking like a Simon Cowell wannabe, then so be it.
For those of you that have not read or heard of the book, the back of the novel reads…

The name’s Maxie Briscoe and I am a werewolf…

That’s right, Maxie’s a real life, full-moon-loving, Halloween icon. It’s hard for a girl like Maxie. To survive, she hides her true self and acts the part of a normal human, all the while discreetly indulging the Beast within her. Talk about walking a narrow ledge. And that’s not even the worst part of her life. Sex is. Maxie can bench press a pick-up truck and that spells disaster in the bedroom. She can’t have any real fun knowing she might accidentally crush a lover while in the throes. Kind of kills the mood.

When a friend’s murder shatters the careful existence Maxie has carved out for herself, she comes face to face with Damien and Noah, two of the hottest men she’s ever laid eyes on. And it only stirs her Beast and turns her on more when she realizes they’re hot for each other. They’re also the first werewolves she’s run across since her own conversion. The attraction between the three of them is instant, but complicated, and the sex...explosive.

Too bad there’s a killer out there with his sights set on her...
　
Now like many of you I would imagine, I read the back first, and though intrigued - was I about to read a Stephanie Meyer alternate Twilight story?, a book that I had not long read and was not all that content with, well let me relieve you right there by saying NO, it was clear from the very first chapter that it would be nothing like it which has you hooked at every turn of the page.

From an attack by a werewolf when she was 15 years old, Maxie herself was burdened with the curse of the wolf. She learns to manage both human and wolf sides of her personality by her mother and best friend, and it would seem life is all dandy until she comes across two sexy males who also howl at the moon on a frequent basis, and they want to claim Maxie for their own.

Damien and Noah, two werewolf’s that have been searching all over the country for ‘people like them’, have their sites set on Maxie as a mate after scenting her in a club. Damien is the alpha male, the most dominant one and has a need to take care of everyone. Maxie’s inner beast wants them also, but her human side withdraws for fear of her secret being exposed.

Through the intrigue and excitement both of these dashing men, Maxie’s life takes a dramatic turn after she finds her neighbour dead and she herself looks to be the main suspect. She takes it on herself to investigate the killing, in the hope that the killer does not find her first. Damien and Noah assist with her investigation.

My opinion

From the very first word, the one thing this novel has is plenty of attitude which I found refreshing and quite brilliant, author Melissa Bradley not frightened of delivering a raunchy R-rated line.

Maxie’s character is well thought out and executed throughout the novel, with great character build up to the story. Maxie’s sassy ways, strength and attitude make her a marvellous and enjoyable character that on many occasions are belly aching funny.
The chemistry between Maxie, Damien and Noah continues to work well all the way through the book, the sexual tension between the three enough to creep out from the page and slap you in the face.

Of course then there’s the mystery surrounding the killing which again Melissa Bradley delivers very well, making turning the page more of a must than putting a bookmark in there for later.

Overall this book made me excited, intrigued, and laugh for a 178 pages of absolute pleasure which I found hard to put down.

I may not have experience of reading books or reviewing them for that matter, but Maxie Briscoe: Werewolf is a novel I very much enjoyed, and has made me interested in giving reading a go instead of always venturing out to the big screen.

Here’s hoping Maxie’s adventures don’t end quite yet!

To find out more about Dempsey and his passion for film, visit The Movie411