Book Review: Naked Tails by Eden Winters

Title: Naked Tails
Author: Eden Winters
Genre: Paranormal Romance, M/M Romance
Sensuality Rating: Erotic
Source: review copy from publisher
Published: December 2012 by Dreamspinner Press

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?

Reviewed By: J9

In a Nutshell: Average MM romance with a unique shifter world with gentle opossums.

The Set Up: Seth’s grandmother moved him from the Georgia opossum pack when his parents died but Seth has never forgotten Dustin, his childhood friend. When Seth’s great-aunt and opossum pack leader dies she leaves Seth her land. Now Seth is leaving Chicago for Georgia to claim his inheritance not knowing his inheritance includes shifting into an opossum and possibly leading the pack. Dustin feels the connection between the now-grown Seth but the pack is in danger unless he can convince Seth to embrace his shifter side.

Why I Read this Book: This book has been getting some buzz on Goodreads so thought I’d try it.

What I Liked: I love the world building here. Predatory shifters like wolves and bears are everywhere so to read a world set with opossums was pure fun and different. The passel, as a pack of opossums are called, are full of Southern characters that had me giggling. For instance, Dustin’s best friend, Monica, is a sassy, smart-mouthed guide for Seth and she had me smiling the entire novel through. The other passel members were strong as well.

The Southern setting and charm was almost another character and I enjoyed that. I loved the setting in a small town with busybodies speaking in accents and eating BBQ. As a New Yorker this book is exactly the image of the South that I have and it charmed me.

What I Also Liked: Dustin and Seth’s romance isn’t amazing but it’s enjoyable. They don’t have an instant mate connection but enough of a sexual and emotional connection to make it almost that. I like that the author gave them a space to develop a relationship outside of Seth’s potential leadership role as it gave their romance more of an emotional element.

What I Didn’t Like: This is a neat and predictable novel. There aren’t any real surprises with either the plot or the romance and while that’s not a terrible thing, it doesn’t make for a tremendously memorable book either.

IMO: This is a decent MM romance set in an interesting world that I enjoyed and think other shifter-readers will too.

J9’s Rating: