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rogue_lurker's review
3.0
3.5
I'm a big fan of Rien Gray based on their Fatal Fidelity series and was looking forward to them branching out to another genre.
Her Wolf in the Wild is a paranormal romance and very different from the other series. There's enough hints and mentions around Micah and her family that would easily allow the story to be expanded into a series but the book easily stands on its own and you won't be left with a cliffhanger or a lot of unanswered questions or plots.
On the run from her boyfriend, Christiana's luck seems to run out when her car gives up the ghost on a lonely highway. Lucky for her, Micah is passing by and offers her a safe place to hide from her crazy ex. Hidden away, Micah and her motorcycle crew (The Hounds of God ... love that name) live off the grid and by their own code of honor and justice - and helping a woman being pursued by a unstable cop is right up their alley, but they also need to protect their secret.
Overall, this is a light paranormal romance that doesn't have quite the same level of ambiguity or smolder that the Fidelity series has. The romance has very few obstacles (other than the whole "I'm a werewolf" thing ... and a bit of angsty guilt on Micah's part) but there's a decent amount of chemistry.
If Gray expands this into a series, I'll pick up the next one - I think that there's some interesting worldbuilding ahead that will give a some original twists to a shifter/paranormal storyline.
I'm a big fan of Rien Gray based on their Fatal Fidelity series and was looking forward to them branching out to another genre.
Her Wolf in the Wild is a paranormal romance and very different from the other series. There's enough hints and mentions around Micah and her family that would easily allow the story to be expanded into a series but the book easily stands on its own and you won't be left with a cliffhanger or a lot of unanswered questions or plots.
On the run from her boyfriend, Christiana's luck seems to run out when her car gives up the ghost on a lonely highway. Lucky for her, Micah is passing by and offers her a safe place to hide from her crazy ex. Hidden away, Micah and her motorcycle crew (The Hounds of God ... love that name) live off the grid and by their own code of honor and justice - and helping a woman being pursued by a unstable cop is right up their alley, but they also need to protect their secret.
Overall, this is a light paranormal romance that doesn't have quite the same level of ambiguity or smolder that the Fidelity series has. The romance has very few obstacles (other than the whole "I'm a werewolf" thing ... and a bit of angsty guilt on Micah's part) but there's a decent amount of chemistry.
If Gray expands this into a series, I'll pick up the next one - I think that there's some interesting worldbuilding ahead that will give a some original twists to a shifter/paranormal storyline.
lezreadalot's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed the two books that I read by this author this year; Love Kills Twice might make my favourites of the year list (assuming I do one). Unfortunately, I didn't like this quite as much. It's a pretty fun read, with great characters, but I had my issues.
This is a fated mates paranormal werewolf/shifter romance between Micah, a big, butch, totally swoon-worthy werewolf biker, and Christiana, a woman fleeing her abusive ex. I can't tell when was the last time I read a fated mates romance, but I was intrigued enough to give this a chance. Sadly, I think that's where most of my issues lay. Turns out I still don't like insta-love, even when it's plot/trope related. I really liked both characters, and thought they'd be good together, but I barely felt the chemistry between them. It felt like the fated mates trope was expected to do all of the heavy lifting for the relationship, and I didn't enjoy that at all. I would much rather a slow getting-to-know-each-other process, rather than a lightning quick realisation that you've found the One. Even though this is fated mates, I still expected to get more chemistry and character interaction, and there just wasn't enough for me.
I also think I might have liked these character more in a different story? Not that I disliked this story, but I wasn't particularly compelled. The plot was shaky in certain places. I wanted to know more about werewolf society and Micah's parents, but we only got snippets. The ways that characters reacted in certain situations didn't always really fit/make sense to me. The third act conflict was, as it so often is in romances, way overblown. I liked the writing fine, but I do think Gray has written better. There just wasn't a lot making me fall in love with this book.
But though I didn't fall in love, I still liked this. I liked Micah a lot, and the type of alpha she was. I love reading about pack dynamics, and the fact that we had a found family of all queer werewolves made me super happy. You can't call this book slow burn, but they also didn't fall into bed immediately and break all the tension, and I appreciated that. Micah and Christiana are really sweet together.
This is definitely a unique paranormal romance. If you're in the mood for f/f shifters, this would be a good pick for October. I didn't love it, but it was mostly solid.
Content warnings:.
☆ Review copy provided via the publisher and NetGalley. Thank you!
This is a fated mates paranormal werewolf/shifter romance between Micah, a big, butch, totally swoon-worthy werewolf biker, and Christiana, a woman fleeing her abusive ex. I can't tell when was the last time I read a fated mates romance, but I was intrigued enough to give this a chance. Sadly, I think that's where most of my issues lay. Turns out I still don't like insta-love, even when it's plot/trope related. I really liked both characters, and thought they'd be good together, but I barely felt the chemistry between them. It felt like the fated mates trope was expected to do all of the heavy lifting for the relationship, and I didn't enjoy that at all. I would much rather a slow getting-to-know-each-other process, rather than a lightning quick realisation that you've found the One. Even though this is fated mates, I still expected to get more chemistry and character interaction, and there just wasn't enough for me.
I also think I might have liked these character more in a different story? Not that I disliked this story, but I wasn't particularly compelled. The plot was shaky in certain places. I wanted to know more about werewolf society and Micah's parents, but we only got snippets. The ways that characters reacted in certain situations didn't always really fit/make sense to me. The third act conflict was, as it so often is in romances, way overblown. I liked the writing fine, but I do think Gray has written better. There just wasn't a lot making me fall in love with this book.
But though I didn't fall in love, I still liked this. I liked Micah a lot, and the type of alpha she was. I love reading about pack dynamics, and the fact that we had a found family of all queer werewolves made me super happy. You can't call this book slow burn, but they also didn't fall into bed immediately and break all the tension, and I appreciated that. Micah and Christiana are really sweet together.
This is definitely a unique paranormal romance. If you're in the mood for f/f shifters, this would be a good pick for October. I didn't love it, but it was mostly solid.
Content warnings:
Spoiler
stalking, abusive relationship, emotional and verbal abuse, violence and gore☆ Review copy provided via the publisher and NetGalley. Thank you!
meleven's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
agmaynard's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Although the fated mates trope is not really my jam, and I no longer seek out shifter tales, this story worked for me. A young woman in peril meets a biker badass hottie, and goes off for protection in the desert. The werewolf lore is just enough as needed to understand the mechanics, and the pack is a good family group.
peppermintbat's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
rakhya's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
I don't actively seek out paranormal stories, but was immediately hooked by the author's reading of Christiana's and Micah's first encounter.
I very much enjoyed the cast of characters, pack dynamics, and the two leads' relationship. I would have hoped to get more about the latter, as well as Micah's backstory.
The book includes content warnings, which I appreciated because one of the hard topics hits a little too close for my comfort.
Despite my personal struggles, I found Her Wolf in the Wild to be an enjoyable read.
I very much enjoyed the cast of characters, pack dynamics, and the two leads' relationship. I would have hoped to get more about the latter, as well as Micah's backstory.
The book includes content warnings, which I appreciated because one of the hard topics hits a little too close for my comfort.
Despite my personal struggles, I found Her Wolf in the Wild to be an enjoyable read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Violence
Minor: Gaslighting
mommasaystoread's review against another edition
3.0
Her Wolf in the WIld is an entertaining fated mates story. It's not the first time I've seen the MC storyline for shifters, but there were some elements that stood out - particularly the wardens. The world Rien Gray has created here certainly has a lot of potential, and I don't know if another book is planned, but I'd like to see where things go for some of the other characters. There was also some intriguing backstory for Micah that would make for an exciting storyline.
As for this one, the story has good pacing, and it has a fair amount of action and danger to keep the blood pumping. The romance between Micah and Christiana is sexy, and they do have good chemistry. The danger comes by way of a crazy ex, and while I liked the angle, I had some issues with the way things happened. There were some things that I felt were overlooked or glossed over to further the plot, and those things stood out. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed the romance, and I'd definitely be interested in reading more about this world.
As for this one, the story has good pacing, and it has a fair amount of action and danger to keep the blood pumping. The romance between Micah and Christiana is sexy, and they do have good chemistry. The danger comes by way of a crazy ex, and while I liked the angle, I had some issues with the way things happened. There were some things that I felt were overlooked or glossed over to further the plot, and those things stood out. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed the romance, and I'd definitely be interested in reading more about this world.
annarella's review
3.0
Even if i liked this book and found it entertaining I found it a bit on the average side.
The world building is interesting, there's a lot of potential but it never became exciting or gripping.
The characters are bit underdeveloped and the romance is sweet but very average.
I think this could have been a gripping story but somehow it didn't work for me.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
The world building is interesting, there's a lot of potential but it never became exciting or gripping.
The characters are bit underdeveloped and the romance is sweet but very average.
I think this could have been a gripping story but somehow it didn't work for me.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
jenaw1n's review
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0