I have not previously read any of Jaden Sinclair’s works, but this plot line grabbed my attention so I thought, ‘give it a go’. Of the paranormal erotic romance genre, this story offers yet another slant on this category, one that I was not expecting. It is this very slant that will turn some people off from Stefan’s Mark, and whilst I was not completely enamored of it, I thought that for this story this slant worked well. I am going to read others from the series, as I like the author’s style. I also like the characteristics of this werewolf family, whom so far I know consists of two brothers and a sister.

Stefan’s Mark is the first in the Shifters series. The second, Dedrick’s Taming, has also been released and I shall move on to reading this soon. Hopefully, the ones following Stefan’s Mark will live up to the standards that it has set.

Sidney Martin is kept isolated from the rest of the world by her father. He is a man obsessed with werewolves, which Sidney does not believe exists. He seems to blame her for something although what, Sidney does not know. One night her father brought home a man who he claimed was a werewolf, and chained him up to the wall in the basement. Sidney snuck down to see him without her father’s knowledge. He appeared to be a young man, though obviously not entirely human. The cuts inflicted on him by her father were healing before her eyes, leaving no trace or scar. He seemed intensely focused on her, only her. He pushed himself inside her mind, and she pictured them in an intimate encounter, blacking out after several moments. Awakening in her room, his promise to her that he will be back for her and that she is his, is the last thing she hears before finding him in front of her, repeating his refrain. Then he is gone.

It is four years before she sees him again, though she has continued to be plagued by erotic dreams, and wears the denim jacket he left behind.
Her father has kept her even more isolated since that time, but her friend, Jaclyn, has helped her to get out every now and again, to experience life. On this particular night, they have gone to a club during Mardi Gras, when she suddenly finds herself cornered by him. He repeats his refrain from that long ago night, kissing her and fondling her intimately. He gives her a choice, either come with him willingly or the hard way. Unwilling to leave with him, his kiss is her last memory before feeling a needle prick in her leg, soon after which she blacks out. Waking to the delicious sensation of being made love to, she at first thinks she is dreaming. When she realizes it is reality, she tries to push him away but his strength is too overpowering. Will he take her against her will? Why did he kidnap her to begin with?

Stefan found his mate four years ago in Sidney. Unable to claim her at the time, for she was still a child, he had to leave her to mature. He has been searching for her, knowing she is finally ready for him to claim. He finds her at a club during Mardi Gras. Quickly moving her to a shadowed corner, he renews their intimate acquaintance with kisses and caresses. When she won’t come with him willingly, he renders her unconscious with the help of a syringe. He carries her out of the club and takes her to his family home. He aches with the need to claim her. When she awakens to his lovemaking, he has every intention of taking things all the way then and there. With her resistance he gives her three days to get used to the idea of their mating, then leaves her alone in the bedroom. Does he allow her the three days? Does he go ahead with his claiming of her?

Stefan’s Mark is a fairly enjoyable werewolf erotic tale, but it will not be for everyone. It is only fair to warn you now that this story contains scenes of forced seductions and kidnappings, as well as violence. Whilst I think they work well in this story and are not taken to a hardcore extreme, some of you may still find this aspect of Stefan’s Mark highly objectionable and offensive. Having said that, those of you who don’t mind these features in a story as long as they fit in should find it enjoyable, even though it has perhaps not been developed as much as it could have been. These particular werewolves have only one mate, whom they search for avidly for a long time. It is not unusual in their world to kidnap or force sex. As Stefan says in this tale, there is no such thing as raping your true mate. The sex scenes are very detailed and at times explicit.

Stefan’s Mark has peaked my interest in this particular family, and I am looking forward to reading the others that follow in this series, though currently Ms Sinclair is not on my list of authors to keep an eagle eye out for. A number of unexpected twists in the tale keep the reader guessing, which adds to the story’s overall likeability.

Reviewed By Elizabeth
© October 2005