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Category: Erotica/Erotic Romance
Description: Aspen Detective Sean McMurray has a serial killer threatening the quiet resort during the off season. In the course of his investigation, he learns some life altering facts about himself which will change him forever. Rhiannon Drake shares his secret and tries to help him, but the fear of the unknown causes him to push her away. While in emotional turmoil, she is abducted by those who seek to exploit her for cruel profit. Can Sean came to his senses to keep his mate, family and those close to him safe, or will a killer extinguish the spark of a wolf before it can ignite into a powerful flame?
eBook Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press, 2005
eBookwise Release Date: January 2006

70 Reader Ratings:

Great	Good	OK	Poor

Available eBook Formats: OEBFF Format (IMP) [265 KB]
Words: 59562
Reading time: 170-238 min.

"This is a great read. It held me from beginning to end and kept me on a roller coaster ride that went from hot and erotic to nerve-racking and scary. Ms. Poff knows how to tell a good story and she obviously knows both the paranormal and romantic suspense markets. Her book fits into both and rides the line very well... Congrats, Ms. Poff on your grasp of the craft and art of writing a great story." - 5 Rose Review from Shara at My Book Cravings "Christy Poff has written a wonderful story where Sean and Rhiannon find their lives are on a fast track, rollercoaster of danger, uncertainty, and erotic passion. Not only are the characters beautifully portrayed, but the plot is riddled with many twists and turns, sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats. Sean is a true alpha even if he does not know it yet and Rhi is just as stubborn. The different levels of emotions that they go through are intense and rewarding for readers to experience. The sizzling and feisty passion between them will leave readers breathless and aching for more. This short story was a pleasure to read and one that I will definitely recommend to others. Eyes of Darkness Book 2: Spark of a Wolf is the second story in the Eyes of Darkness series and I hope that there is a third one out there waiting to grace the pages of a book. I have not read the first story, but I am planning on adding it to my collection very soon. This story is wonderfully written as a stand alone book, but I imagine it only makes the series more enjoyable when you read them all. The bits of danger and passion that Sean and Rhi encounter held me captivated in suspense; while the passion will leave readers flustered. These are two characters that I will remember for some time. Christy Poff has done a tremendous job writing a story well worth its rating of 5 Angels!"--Jessica, Fallen Angel Reviews

"Spark of a Wolf snagged my attention from the first page. We've got the bad guys who are kidnapping women, using them for guinea pigs and tossing them aside with yesterday's garbage when they die. Sean and Rhiannon are in-depth characters with emotions and desires that heat up the pages. Their relationship moves to sex rather quickly but because they are destined mates, and wolves, it seems plausible. Ex Special Forces, Sean was the best in his field. The first time he has sex with Rhiannon it's raw, powerful, and satiating. She takes everything he has to give and begs for more. Rhiannon fears how he will accept her once he finds out she is a wolf. Things are never easy and for Sean and Rhiannon. Secrets abide in the walls of The Sanctuary and once revealed all will become clearer, but only if Sean and Rhiannon can forgive each other for words spoken in the heat of the moment. The mountainous backdrop, fresh air, and waterfalls are vivid and so realistic I could almost imagine hearing the water and smell the mountain air. Secondary characters that play an important role in Rhiannon and Sean's lives are Julian and Elizabeth Hawthorne, Hunter Lockwood, Sean's partner and friend, and Gabriel Holt, childhood playmate of Rhiannon. Our villains are men who are vile and ruthless and who get exactly what they deserve in the end. One word that describes Christy Poff's Spark of a Wolf is spine-tingling. Captivating characters, torrid sex, secrets, and danger are all the components Ms. Poff combines for a thrilling tale. The next book in the series is Love Hurts and I can't wait to see whose story it will be."--Sinclair Reid

"Eyes of Darkness Book 2: Spark of the Wolf is a wonderfully well-written story that grabbed my attention and held it. This story makes you feel what the main characters are going through and the emotions that drive them. You long for Sean and Rhiannon to realize that they have something so very special. You want to shake them when they let their pride and stubbornness drive them apart. The story made me cry through almost the entire last third of the book, so keep the tissues handy. Ms. Poff has written some of the hottest sex scenes that I have read in sometime. I really thought that my computer was smoking through most of them. I know that steam was coming off of me. However this story isn't just about the sex, there is a great mystery woven in, an evil, nasty bad guy and his equally sinister second in command. There is also the sense of freedom that being able to run through a forest calls to mind. This book is definitely a keeper. I look forward to the next book in this series. Rating: 5 Stars!"--Oleta M. Blaylock, Just Erotic Romance Reviews

"Ms. Poff has penned a terrific book that I recommend to readers who enjoy contemporary tales of werewolves and the supernatural. Fans of romance tinged with mystery and suspense are sure to enjoy this exciting book just as much as I did. One of the things I really appreciate about the book is the fact that, as a park ranger, the heroine has an occupation that is not typically found in romance novels. This non-traditional gender role helped to make the story more intriguing to me. Spark of the Wolf is a great book to read on a crisp fall night or at any other time of the year. 4 Cups!"--Susan White, Coffee Time Romance

"This is a wonderful werewolf story, even if you prefer mystery over romance. The story has so many twists and turns, surprises, and action going on that it kept me glue to the pages. The character's have loads of depth, and the sex is plentiful but not so much that it overshadows the story. The flow is smooth and easy to follow, the descriptions make visualizing easy and the ending satisfying. I also enjoyed the family attitude of the werewolves and the respect they showed each other. I cried and I smiled and thoroughly enjoyed this story from beginning to end with no slumps between."--Kim, MayReviews.com

Prologue

A darkened cemetery to an abandoned church. The moon full of ominous warnings.

Shadows surrounded him and encircled him as he walked deeper into the Garden of the Dead. A shiver ran down his spine, causing him to stop and look around.

He heard a twig snap and turned toward the noise, though he could still see no one. He calmed and forced himself to go a little further. Another twig snapping stopped him.

"Whoever you are, come out and face me," he stated. He hoped he had not betrayed his apprehension. He waited, then heard the rustle of dried leaves as someone approached. Again, he turned to where the sound came from, though he could find no one near him. He sensed the presence of another. Why hadn't they shown themselves?

The note had been clear.

Meet me at Saint Anne's Cemetery if you want the answers you seek. Midnight. Come alone.

Cryptic at best, something in the message compelled him to be at this place at the stroke of midnight. Never had an invitation held power over him like this.

He heard a nightingale sing its mournful song, then fly away. The air around him changed and closed in on him, intense and dangerous. Should I leave now?

No, you shouldn't--not if you want answers.

"Get out of my mind, damn it! Come out and face me!"

He heard another sound and spun around to come face-to-face with the largest silvery-gray wolf he had ever seen. The moonlight bathed the animal, giving it the appearance of having white fur. His eyes locked with the animal's glare, red with a devilish fire.

I will not harm you unless you force me to.

"Who are you?" he asked aloud, taking comfort in the sound of his own voice.

I am your future.

"Excuse me?"

You are one of us--a hunter.

"No, I'm human--a cop."

A good one, but you need to discover your true potential. We need your knowledge.

"And you know about me how?"

Our history tells of a great hunter who'll give us what we need to survive.

"You're crazy. This is a dream."

No dream, my friend. It's time...

"No!" he yelled. His voice shattered the silence of the cemetery. He backed away, then ran. He knew it would be fatal if the wolf caught up with him but he realized he had to escape this insanity--his nightmare. He raced to the gates of the ancient graveyard, but only made it a short distance when the huge wolf tackled him. He rolled on his back and tried to fight the animal off. He grabbed a handful of thick fur to pull him away to no avail.

Teeth bared, the wolf bore down on him as his thunderous growl echoed through the night.

Why couldn't you have made this easier?

"Leave me alone!"

I'm afraid it is too late for that.

The wolf bent down, his teeth sinking deep into his prey's shoulder.

A pain-filled scream ripped through the night. God help me.

He can't help you now.

Chapter 1

Sean McMurray bolted up, soaked in a cold sweat. Why the nightmare kept coming to him, he had no clue. As real as any of his dreams had ever been, this one had been the worst and too close to his own life. The setting had changed, but the nightmare remained the same. He would inevitably fight a mystic wolf and lose the bloody battle.

At first, he cast them aside and blamed stress, but he could no longer do so. They meant something to him and sooner or later, he would be driven to find out what.

He had been a detective on the Aspen Police Force since leaving Special Forces, where he had served the elite group as a tracker and surveillance specialist. His incredible night vision had been one of his greatest assets and garnered him nighttime covert assignments worldwide. When he had put his papers in for retirement, his commanding officer tried desperately to change his mind. Sean refused with three simple words--I've had enough.

The feel of the cool, hardwood floor under his bare feet chilled him and calmed him at the same time. He ran his hand through his dark brown hair and rubbed his neck. The dreams had to stop or he'd go mad. He stood up, the sheet dropping away from his naked body. Since his retirement from the military, he'd lived alone and felt no need for proprieties.

He walked to the bathroom and washed his face off, the heat of the water giving him some comfort. He dried off and went to the bar in his study, where he poured himself an old-fashioned glass of Jack Daniels. He looked at what he'd poured, downed it and refilled the glass. With bottle in hand, he walked to his leather couch and dropped down on it.

"I have got to get it together."