Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Sometimes it’s harder to teach a young dog new tricks.

That’s why werewolves embark on a Howling: a three-year rite of passage in which they’re sent to a group residence to wrestle with their wolfy instincts and assimilate into the Wider World. But Tanner Araya’s Howling is almost over, and he could be called back to his remote pack at any moment. His twenty-first birthday might be his last chance to act on his strongest instinct and finally kiss Chase Denney.

 

Chase is RA at the Howling residence affectionately dubbed “the Doghouse,” and he takes his job seriously. So seriously that when he realized he was developing feelings for a resident, he forced himself to keep Tanner at a distance. But now that Tanner’s twenty-one, he’s not Chase’s charge any longer. They could be friends or—if Chase is lucky—something more. At least until they both return to their home packs for good, as tradition demands.

 

It would take a miracle for them to get together—especially when the other Doghouse werewolves insist on “helping.”

 

 

Warning: Many Frisbees are harmed in this story, forgiveness is not always easier than permission, and the five-second rule does not apply.

 

Book Review

This was perhaps one of the most enjoyable paranormal/shifter books I have read in a quite a while. The idea that young wolves on the cusp of maturity (their twenty-first birthday) are required to attend a Howling – a wolfy residential schooling program to work on impulse control, how to fit in in the Wider World, and become productive members of their packs – was a delightful and unconventional setting. I loved it!

I thought the cast of characters varied and engaging – Jordan who has no impulse control, Gage as a coastal wolf who enjoys salmon, Hector who wants to be a computer programmer, to the main characters Chase and Tanner who discover they have mutual feelings toward each other. There are wolfy similarities between the characters, with well written human differences. There are also fae, vampires, bear shifters, and some paranormals that I have never heard of.

The range of emotions the main characters move through was so well written – resignation, despair, hope, love, fear, apprehension, humor, and more. Oh gosh! The humor was wonderful! There is even a nicely done plot twist that I should have seen coming, but I was so taken in by everything else going on that totally missed it. I also greatly appreciated the lack of the word “mate!” in this book, a word that I find overused in shifter books. Tanner and Chase have a beautiful and evolving relationship that wasn’t sullied by cries of “mate”.

I do have one small nitpicky item, and that would be all of the couple pairings were male/male. With so much paranormal-urban fantasy in this, I would have preferred to have seen one or two male/female or even a female/female pairing just to balance out the overall characters, the couples, and the romance.

I’ve gushed enough. This is a book that I would read again when I need a pick-me-up read or something light and fun. Go read it!

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Riptide Publishing for the purpose of a review.

Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novel, 252 pages/78000 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	13-January-2020
Price	$3.99 ebook, $17.99 paperback, $21.98 bundle
Buy Link	https://riptidepublishing.com/collections/new-releases/products/howling-on-hold