Romance book review: Heart of the Wolf (Heart of the Wolf #1) by Terry Spear

Title: Heart of the Wolf (Heart of the Wolf #1) 

Author: Terry Spear 

Source: Netgalley

Length: Novel

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Reviewer: Laurie

Rating: 3 1/2 

Sexual Rating: 4 

Their forbidden love may get them both killed. Bella is a red werewolf, sole survivor of the fire that killed her entire pack. Devlyn is a beta male werewolf in a pack of grays. Forced to flee her adopted gray pack when the alpha male becomes a vicious threat, she struggles to live as a lone wolf, until Devlyn, the gray male who rescued her as a pup, comes to bring her home.

When a local red werewolf goes on a killing spree, Bella and Devlyn must flee the murderer, the police and their vengeful pack leader. With the full moon rising, and her heat upon her, Bella can't resist the pull to her destined mate, even if means Devlyn will have to face the wicked alpha male in a fight to the death..

This is a re-release which I have read several years ago, but at the time I wasn’t reviewing and now a lover of Terry Spears books I wanted to have a chance to write a review of this one.

I have always been a series order reader and I have no clue how, but when I started this series years ago I stated with a later book and I have always been glad I did because this book fell short for me compared to others in the series. I never felt a true love connection between Devlyn and Bella and there was the fact Bella was a 150-year-old virgin, I never got that one and Bella thoughts we overly repetitive, which got on my nerves at times.    

Overall the book is well written and there is a lot of mythology in the story for you PNR lovers. 

A Very Jaguar Christmas by Terry Spear

Title: A Very Jaguar Christmas (Heart of the Jaguar #4.5)

Author: Terry Spear
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: 320 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Release Date: October 4, 2016
Source: NetGalley
Rating: 2
Heat Rating: 3
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

There are all kinds of surprises under the mistletoe!

As a protector of all jaguar-kind, Guardian agent Demetria MacFarlane isn’t surprised to get a call near Christmas—but when she’s sent to protect a cub whose species she didn’t even know existed, her holiday season gets complicated. And it doesn’t help that her partner is a distraction of the hottest kind.

Hotshot JAG agent Everett Anderson can handle dangerous poachers and wildlife traffickers, no problem…but kids? Everett fears he’ll be stuck cub-sitting under the Christmas tree, but working with one sexy Guardian she-cat may be the best present he’s ever gotten.

I really wanted to love this one. There were so many great elements, but they never really came together. Demetria and Everett have a shared grief that has kept them apart - it was quite a sad beginning, which you don't usually see in a Christmas novel, and that was good. It set it apart a little. But, things change very quickly when they find an abandoned cub. Now, this cub is quite a surprise - it's beyond a surprise, but I can't give it away. Let's just say the Jaguar world will never be the same.

It was cure and well done, this introduction to something new. But it sort of took over the story. Instead of watching Demetria and Everett bond over a little cub, it turned into more of a mystery with a dash of sex. I needed more romance and feelings and denied attraction.

It also sort of bounced around a bit. At times it was hard to follow the dialog and keep up with who was doing what.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

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Who's Your Holiday Hero by Sourcebooks Casablanca - Book Blitz and Giveaway

Sourcebooks Casablance has some really hot Christmas romances for you this year. Curious which one is going to be just right? Just answer the questions on this handy flowchart to help guide your way? 

Think you might still be missing out? Then scroll on down and take a peek at each book and decide for yourself. I've included a link to my review of each title - because you all know you love my opinion.

Title: A Silver Wolf Christmas

Author: Terry Spear

Series: Silver Town Wolves, #5

Pubdate: October 6th, 2015

ISBN: 9781492609506

IT’S A SILVER TOWN CHRISTMAS, AND THE WOLVES ARE READY TO HOWL

CJ Silver and his brothers have returned to Silver Town eager to reconnect with the pack. And with the she-wolf newcomers renovating the old Victorian Silver Town Hotel, it looks like the holidays are going to be very merry indeed.

Laurel MacTire and her sisters are excited to be living in a wolf-run town, but they have another motive— to solve the fifty-year-old mystery of their aunt’s disappearance. When CJ gets a whiff of trouble brewing, his protective instincts kick in—now Laurel has a hotel opening to prepare for, a mystery to solve, and a brawny wolf shifter underfoot. Perhaps she should have resisted the temptation to kiss him so wickedly in the snow.

USA Today bestselling author Terry Spear has written over fifty paranormal and medieval Highland historical romances. In 2008 Heart of the Wolf was named a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year. A retired officer of the U.S. Army Reserves, Terry also creates award-winning teddy bears that have found homes all over the world and is raising two Havanese puppies. She lives in Crawford, Texas.

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Title: Cowboy Firefighter for Christmas

Author: Kim Redford

Series: Smokin’ Hot Cowboys, #1

Pubdate: October 6th, 2015

ISBN: 9781492621478

Warm up this Christmas with a sexy cowboy firefighter who knows how to ignite flames as well as put them out…

He’s hotter than a wildfire

Trey Duval is a rancher, proud as can be of his Wildcat Ranch. He’s also the top volunteer firefighter of Wildcat Bluff, Texas, the town that pulls out all the stops for its Christmas festivities.

City girl Misty Reynolds comes to Wildcat Bluff just in time to help Trey put out a suspicious fire, leading him to dub her his “Christmas angel.” Unfortunately, Misty’s past has left her with terrible memories of fire, and of Christmastime.

As the two are thrown together again and again, Trey finds himself wanting Misty more and more, and Misty feels stronger and braver when Trey is around. Though their trust grows slowly, their passion for each other is burning hot…

Kim Redford draws her inspiration from a Texas lifestyle of cowboys, cowgirls, horses, cattle, rodeos and small towns to create her bestselling novels. When she’s not writing steamy romances, she’s a rescue cat wrangler and a horseback rider. She divides her time between Texas and Oklahoma. A Cowboy Firefighter for Christmas is first in her Smokin’ Hot Cowboys series with Blazing Hot Texas Cowboy coming soon. Visit her at www.kimredford.com.

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Title: The Christmas Cottage/Ever After

Author: Samantha Chase

Pubdate: October 6th, 2015

ISBN: 9781492622598

Legend has it that any couple who spends the night in the Christmas Cottage shall have love everlasting...

THE CHRISTMAS COTTAGE

Lacey Quinn does not believe in happily-ever-after or the legend of the Christmas Cottage. But her best friend does, and she’s the one getting married. It’s Lacey’s job to make sure everything at the cottage is perfect for the newlyweds. Instead, she finds herself snowed in with the best man, and she begins to wonder if fairy tales really can come true.

EVER AFTER

Ava Callahan wants desperately to believe in love everlasting. But when Brian McCabe walks back into her life and upsets her carefully organized world, her commitment to perfection makes it hard to accept the love that’s right in front of her. Will it take a night in the Christmas Cottage for Ava and Brian to find their happy ending?

New York Times and USA Today bestseller Samantha Chase released her debut novel, Jordan's Return, in November 2011. Although she waited until she was in her forties to publish for the first time, writing has been a lifelong passion. Teaching creative writing to students from elementary through high school and encouraging those students to follow their writing dreams motivated Samantha to take that step as well. Stay With Me (Montgomery Brothers book 3) hit the USA Today bestseller list upon its debut. Catering to the CEO was included in the romance bundle Loving the CEO, a five-book package that made the New York Times and the USA Today bestseller lists. In March 2013, The Christmas Cottage was nominated for two Indie Romance Convention Awards—Best Indie Romance Novella and Best Indie Contemporary Romance—while Samantha was nominated for Indie Author of the Year. When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading contemporary romances, blogging, playing Scrabble on Facebook, and spending time with her husband of twenty-four years and their two sons in North Carolina.

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A Silver Wolf Christmas by Terry Spear

Title: A Silver Wolf Christmas (Heart of the Wolf #17)
Author: Terry Spear
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Christmas
Length: 384 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Release Date: October 6, 2015
Source: NetGalley
Rating: 4
Heat Rating: 3
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

C.J. Silver is eager to help the new she-wolves in town renovate the old hotel in time for the holidays, especially if it means spending time under the mistletoe with the alluring Laurel MacTire.

The bustle in the long abandoned hotel attracts the attention of human ghosthunters out to prove the place haunted, but the bigger problem is keeping them from discovering the werewolves in Silver Town. CJ and Laurel have to pull the wool over everyone’s eyes. Working together is a surprisingly hot holiday treat for two attractive and clever wolf shifters.

First off, you do not need to read the previous books to enjoy this really good Christmas werewolf romance.  There seem to be couples from previous books in the story, but you don't need to know their story to enjoy this one.

The three MacTire sisters were a little hard to keep separated at times. Being introduced to them in such quick succession made them all sort of roll into one for me and it took awhile before I was able to separate them into their own individuals. They have very similar personalities, maybe they become more distinct in later books? I did love them. I loved their tenacity in trying to find their aunt, and how loyal they were to each other - with just enough bickering to keep it a little interesting.

C.J. was all big bad wolf - in a good way. Willing to anything to prove to Laurel that he's the right wolf for her, he goes out of his way to make her feel at home in Silver Town. Their little adventure/dates were soooo much fun. I wish I could do every single one of them. I could really see their connection. It grew in a very natural way, which can sometimes be hard to find in a romance book. They became friends, then lovers, then more. I loved it.

The mystery surrounding the inn, the sisters, and the ghost hunter wasn't so much fun. At times it was a little hard to follow. There were just enough creepy and scary moments to add that nice element to the story though. I really liked the little twist at the end for the ghost story - it was a really nice finishing touch.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

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Review: Savage Hunger (Heart of the Jaguar #1) by Terry Spear

Title: Savage Hunger (Heart of the Jaguar #1)
Author: Terry Spear
Source: Self-Purchased
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: October 2, 2012
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 3
Sexual - 3

As a jaguar he is graceful and gorgeous. Speedy and stealthy. Fierce, independent and
wild. As a man he is passionate and powerful, wilful and wonderful.

And he'll stop at nothing to protect what's his...

In the heat of the jungle, jaguars are clawed, dangerous, and hungry for love. With hopes of overcoming night terrors and thanking the man who saved her life, Kathleen McKnight returns to the Amazon.

A jaguar at heart, Connor Anderson doesn't just protect her, but wants to claim her for his own.

After loving a book later in the series, I had to go back and read this one from the beginning.  I will say that Terry Spear has improved over the books.  While book one wasn't quite as good as later books, it was still a really great story.

There were just a couple of things that were a bit off for me.  Connor's sister, Maya, was a bit immature and childish.  This wouldn't have been a problem if she was young or had a minor part in the story, but she played a very major role and a lot of her decision making regarding this role reminded me of a twelve year old's thought process at times.  I understand her motivations and emotions, but the way they were portrayed just wasn't quite right.  Also, Kathleen is a bit too forgiving and trusting - especially after what Maya does to her.  Ya - I would soooo not get over that easily.

What really makes this book work well is how Kathleen and Connor are together.  They just fit in a way that is really hard to understand.  I loved their parts of the book - which is good since they are the main characters.  Their flight from the bad guys got a bit repetitive at times.  I mean, how many times are they going to almost catch them but they shift and save they day.

Overall, this was cute and really fun. I enjoyed this "introduction" to the jaguar world and I see why so many people are in love with this series.

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More Posts on Terry Spear

Jasmyn's Review of Jaguar Pride (Heart of the Jaguar #4)
Carol Dee's Review of A SEAL in Wolf's Clothing (Heart of the Wolf #9)

Guest Post - What Happens When You're Bitten by Paranormal Characters

Guest Post - What If?

Jaguar Pride by Terry Spear: Spotlight and Giveaway

Title: Jaguar Pride
Series: Heart of the Jaguar
Author: Terry Spear
ISBN: 9781402293795
Pubdate: February 3, 2015

 An impossible mission… 

 JAG Special Forces agents Huntley Anderson and Melissa Overton are hot on the trail of poachers when they’re suddenly saddled with two jaguar shifter cubs. They have to locate the parents, pronto—but who’s going to babysit in the meantime?

A lifetime of possibilities… 

 Huntley is a rough, tough jaguar shifter and an all-business agent, but he’s not going to let two abandoned youngsters come to any harm on his watch. Seeing her super-manly partner try to get the playful cubs under control stirs up some unexpected desires in Melissa, and she begins to feel like Huntley’s not the only one who’s in over his head…

USA Today bestselling author Terry Spear has written over fifty paranormal and medieval Highland historical romances. In 2008 Heart of the Wolf was named a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year. A retired officer of the U.S. Army Reserves, Terry also creates award-winning teddy bears that have found homes all over the world. She lives in Crawford, Texas.

Excerpt

Once inside the park, Melissa and Huntley trekked for miles, not seeing much of anyone or anything, not with the way the rains were coming down in torrents in the steamy rainforest. They hadn’t found any sign of Jackson. Just a few hikers, hardier than most, who endured the rains and mud to see glimpses of wildlife here and there. When Melissa and Huntley finally set up camp for the night, she felt wet and miserable. And she couldn’t believe how Huntley looked like he could go on for several more hours when she was totally beat.

She should have regretted not sleeping more last night. But making love to him was what she’d needed. Not that she thought anything permanent was likely to come out of the relationship.

Just the same, she’d needed to feel sexy and wanted and loved. Huntley gave that to her and more. So when he’d wanted more, she just couldn’t say no, despite knowing that she needed a good seven hours of sleep to feel normal the next day.

She was thinking of Jackson and how he had slipped away from them the first time. She hoped they’d find him soon. Then gunshots fired off in the distance.

Her heart skipped a couple of beats.

“We don’t have time to take down the tent. Do we go as humans or jaguars?” Huntley quickly asked her.

She loved that about him—how he always included her in the decision making. “If they’re rangers or police, I want to go as humans. Even if they’re poachers, I think we’ll be safer if we look like we are ‘tourists.’ We can always shift when we get there if we need to.”

“Sounds good.”

At least they were armed with tranquilizer guns this time.

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ARC Review: Jaguar Pride (Heart of the Jaguar #4) by Terry Spear

Title: Jaguar Pride (Heart of the Jaguar #4)
Author: Terry Spear
Source: NetGalley
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: February 3, 2015
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 4
Sexual - 3

JAG Special Forces operatives like Golden Claw agent Melissa Overton and her
partner, Huntley Anderson, are trained for the most dangerous missions in the harshest environments. These hardened jaguar shifters can handle any variable, even . . . babies?

When Huntley and Melissa find two jaguar shifter cubs snoozing in their jungle hut while on assignment, they have to keep the cubs and each other safe from ruthless poachers, bringing these partners closer in ways they never expected...

This was such a cute story.  I loved the lore of the jaguar shifters and the way Terry Spears was able to make the cubs such a big part of not only the mission, but the romance between Huntley and Melissa.  As JAG Special Forces operatives, Huntley and Melissa are used to running into complicated and difficult situations, but neither expected to be put on cub duty after their parents are nabbed by poachers.  I fell in love with the two little ones.  They had such personality and even though they are only in a short part of the book - their influence lasted through to the very last page.

These cubs helped draw Huntley and Melissa together, but at the same time they were a wake up call to what life for a family in JAG could be like.  This scares Melissa and she dwells on the topic a bit much for my taste, but looking back it wasn't all they long in "real" time in the book.  Huntley and Melissa make an amazing team - both as agents and a couple.

I also fell in love with the jungle scenery.  It was the perfect setting with an element of creepy with all the fog, snakes, and swamps - while still remaining very beautiful.  There is quite a healthy dose of action that was very thrilling to read as the poachers are tracked down and it added a really great feel of momentum to the story.

While this book is part of a series, I read it as a stand-a-lone and it still worked great!

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

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More Posts on Terry Spear

Carol Dee's Review of A SEAL in Wolf's Clothing (Heart of the Wolf #9)

Guest Post - What Happens When You're Bitten by Paranormal Characters

Guest Post - What If?