Review: Naked Tails by Eden Winters

Reviewed by Fehu
Naked Tails by Eden Winters
Dreamspinner Press
Novel: 234 pgs
4 Pants Off

Blurb:
Seth McDaniel wasn’t raised among a shifter passel and has no idea what it’s like to turn furry once a month. An orphan, torn from his father’s family at an early age, he scarcely remembers Great-aunt Irene. Now her passing brings him back to Possum Kingdom, Georgia, to take up a legacy he doesn’t understand and reconnect with a friend he’s never forgotten.

As Irene’s second-in-command, Dustin Livingston has two choices: assume control of the passel or select another replacement. Unfortunately, the other candidates are either heartless or clueless. Dustin’s best hope to dodge the responsibility is to deliver a crash course in leadership to his childhood pal Seth, a man he hasn’t seen in twenty years. However, while Dustin's mind is set on his task, his heart is set on his old friend.

Seth’s quest for answers yields more questions instead. What’s with the tiny gray hairs littering his aunt’s house? Why do the townsfolk call each other “Jack” and “Jill”? Do Dustin’s attentions come with ulterior motives? And why is Seth suddenly craving crickets?

Review:
Seth lost his parents when he was a child and had to move in with his grandmother, away from his childhood home, his aunt and his best friend Dusty. Now, 20 years later, Seth lives in Chicago, has a career he likes as a photographer and more than 1000 friends on his page. His relationship status isn't looking very good and after getting his hopes up about another reunion, with his sometimes boyfriend Michael, there is bad news he has to deal with. First Michael tells him about his engagement to an old lover, and then he gets a letter about his aunt’s death and has to go back to Georgia, Possum Kingdom, to settle her estate. It's there that things start to become interesting for Seth and he learns more about his parents death, his family history and something new about himself.

Now Seth has to deal with an unwanted suitor, a newfound appreciation for his former best friend Dusty and an unfriendly female Jill Monica, whatever that was supposed to be! And there isn't even an internet connection in his new home, just to top it all off. After a possum encounter, where one bites him, strange things start happening. Suddenly there is the possum’s community he has to win over and a challenge to face if he wants to retain his family's heritage.

Overall, it's quite an enjoyable novel, well written and it's not the typical wolf/cat shifter paranormal romance, so it gets point for creativity! Seth is cute, a bit of a loner but one can empathize with him. Dusty, well I have mixed feeling about him and their instant attraction. For a guy who only had three lovers Seth is quick to offer sex to Dusty, I found that a bit out of character. The whole possum thing is actually pretty funny, because really a werepossum doesn't sound all that glamorous (Seth agrees with me there after reading his mothers book/diary). Preening possums youth, crickets and issues with dogs are quite entertaining.

The plot is a bit predictable, I'm afraid and I don't like instant lust/love, which more or less happens here. Also, there is the issue of Dustin; I disliked him and Andy setting Seth up, about the coyote issue, to see if Seth would cheat in a fight. What loving partner would do that and then not tell Seth about it all being a test?  A hurt lover should come first, at least in my humble opinion. The hot/cold behaviour in the beginning didn't endear him to me, either.

Should you read this? Well everybody to their own, but if one likes shifter, stories and want something different, then I would recommend Naked Tails. If one need some fun, light read, which is also well written and doesn't mind were possum... say it with me: WEREPOSSUM, that concept alone sets me off laughing, then this is a perfect fit.

4 Pants Off