Fateful by Claudia Gray

Fateful:
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.

Fateful by Claudia Gray was a quick, easy read that was brimming with romance and a menacing villain that kept me drawn to its pages. Fans of the paranormal and Titanic movie will love Claudia’s characters, and while there were a few similarities between this book and the movie, Fateful still manages to stand on its own. Claudia put her own unique spin on the ill-fated voyage of the Titanic by adding werewolves and a secret society that will stop at nothing from gaining more wealth and power. Tess was a great heroine, working as a ladies maid for a wealthy (and sometimes unkind) family. She was driven to make a better life for herself, and was determined that opportunity would greet her in America. Alec, the hero of the story, was turned into a werewolf against his will and is being pursued by a secret society of werewolves called: The Brotherhood. The Brotherhood wants Alec’s wealth and connections, but Alec is determined to avoid them, because they kill humans for sport. A chance encounter between Alec and Tess sparks their attraction. When it becomes apparent that she is in danger from The Brotherhood, Alec becomes her protector. Their love for one another saves Alec from succumbing to his wolf and from hurting people against his will. Inevitably the Titanic sinks and Tess believes she has lost Alec for good, but it is his wolf that ultimately brings him back to her.