Librarian's Pick of the Week: Fateful

Title:  Fateful
Author: Claudia Gray
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Historical Fiction
Published: 2011
Age: 13+

Synopsis: Eighteen-year-old maid Tess Davies is determined to escape the wealthy, troubled family she serves. It's 1912, and Tess has been trapped in the employ of the Lisles for years, amid painful memories and twisted secrets. But now the Lisle family is headed to America, with Tess in tow. Once the ship they're sailing on' the RMS Titanic ?reaches its destination, Tess plans to strike out and create a new life for herself. Her single-minded focus shatters when she meets Alec, a handsome first-class passenger who captivates her instantly. But Alec has secrets of his own. He's in a hurry to leave Europe, and whispers aboard the ship say it's because of the tragic end of his last affair with the French actress who died so gruesomely and so mysteriously. . . . Soon Tess will learn just how dark Alec's past truly is. The danger they face is no ordinary enemy: werewolves exist and are stalking him and now her, too. Her growing love for Alec will put Tess in mortal peril, and fate will do the same before their journey on the Titanic is over. In Fateful , New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray delivers paranormal adventure, dark suspense, and alluring romance set against the opulent backdrop of the Titanic's first and last voyage.

Review: Strict class divisions, dashing werewolves, and the fateful journey of the RMS Titanic combine in a perfect storm of romance and drama. Tess is in service to a British family, but she has a plan in her pocket that she hopes will lead to something better: her life savings are stitched into her dress, and she looks to make a new, free life for herself in America. Handsome and honorable Alec is also hoping for freedom in the expansive west, running from the danger he knows he poses to others. Alec is a werewolf at the mercy of the moon and the Brotherhood, a powerful werewolf cabal that craves the wealth and authority Alec holds as heir to a steel company. As the layers of this story build and unfold, readers will be drawn deep into the action, emotion, issues, and danger. Plenty of historical detail lends a compelling frame and helps edge this paranormal romance ahead of the pack, while a satisfying conclusion will leave readers warmed after the ship's frigid descent. -Booklist

If you're intrigued, don't forget to check our library's catalog for this book!