Christine Warren

WELCOME TO ALPHAVILLE, where the she-wolves and alpha-males play. . .for keeps. Renny Landry is a wolf on the run. Pursued by a shapeshifting stalker and his slobbering pack of killer coyotes, she is forced to flee her job as a librarian to find sanctuary in the wooded hills of Alpha, Washington. A well-secluded safe space for troubled shifters, Alpha is Renny’s last hope. But the first person she meets there is a gorgeous alpha male with fiery eyes, fierce tattoos, and one ferocious appetite—for her... Mick Fischer thought he left his past behind when he moved to Alpha. But fate has a way of biting him in the tail when a female wolf shows up on his property. Wounded, desperate—and disarmingly hot—Renny brings out the snarling, protective alpha beast in Mick like no other woman he’s known. Can these two haunted, hunted wolves manage to mate for life...even as the deadliest past demons howl at their heels? “Warren is a master of paranormal romance.”—Night Owl Romance

Baby, I'm Howling For You

Lauren Sullivan

Trigger warnings: attempted rape, sexual assault, death of significant other (in past), stalking

Besides the prequel novella to this series, this is the first Christine Warren novel I’ve read. While the prequel gives a little bit of extra backstory, you can read this as a standalone without any problems.

The story started out with the action – Renny’s car running out of gas miles from the town of Alpha, and her leading the pursuing coyotes in a chase in (hopefully) the right direction. The initial scenes got me hooked, with lots of interesting characters, including a grumpy alpha wolf, and lots of humor, but then, unfortunately, it petered out.

“In the space of a week she’d gone from fearing for her life and struggling to survive on the run, to having a home and a mate and now the job she’d been dreaming of since she was a child.”

Overall, this is an average destined mates romance, with the overly possessive and protective male and the female in danger. Renny and Mick’s relationship gave me whiplash. They literally went from Mick being in complete denial about their mating to jumping headfirst into bed together. I never really got a sense of love from them, just lust. I would’ve liked to see more of them falling in love and getting to know each other, rather than just going at it like rabbits. For example, at one point, Renny is worried because she’s falling in love with him and he hasn’t said anything about his feelings. An older woman counsels her that sometimes men show their love through actions instead of words (eye roll). So when the bad guy destroys their bedroom, Mick arranges for it to be fully redecorated (in a day!) using furniture Renny had bought when she thought she’d be sharing an apartment with her friend. Sid note: I’ve refinished furniture before, and it takes much longer than a day for things to be stripped, sanded and repainted. Yes, this is a weird thing to fixate on in a book about werewolves, but it was just such an odd detail to be off on. Back to my point – Renny takes this as a sign that Mick actually cares about her, partly because of much money he must’ve spent (?!). To me, it looked like a grand gesture, but it was also just another example of Mick making decisions for her without her consultation.

“’Whatever I wanted before is gone. I know I did everything I could to pretend you meant nothing to me, but I think I can stop now, because that ship hasn’t just sailed, it’s hit an iceberg and been lost at sea. You are my mate. So, from here on out, we’re going to forget about my idiocy and move forward together. Deal?’
Her lips twitched. ‘Sounds pretty convenient for you, if you ask me. I just pretend you didn’t treat me like a leper for the first eighteen hours of our acquaintance, and you get all the benefits of having a mate without even having to work for it?’
He let himself grin. ‘Sounds good to me.’”

As for other cons, I felt like the characterization was practically nonexistent. They’re both wolf shifters, Renny’s a librarian and Mick writes graphic novels and…. that’s pretty much it. Mick, at least, had a pretty interesting back story, and while it factored into the main story, it felt like it only scratched the surface of the emotional depth possible. I liked the secondary characters (especially Molly and her brother Zeke) and the idea of this town filled with misfit shapeshifters.

It’s fine – it just felt like the same old thing I’ve read before, with no new insights to offer. So if you’re a big fan of shifter insta-love stories, you’ll probably like this, but, for me, it fell flat.

Nicola Sarah Brooks

1st full length novel set in this new world.

Mick is a lone wolf through choice. After his mate was killed Mick dealt with those responsible in a bloody fashion. Now settled in Alpha, he is content with his cabin in the middle of nowhere and his 
 calling as a Graphic Novellist.

Renny is a Librarian and just loves books. But that love of books got her into a sticky situation and when she rebuffed the Alpha of the town, he started to harass her. Now he has graduated to stalker and uses his goons to track her down. Her last hope is Alpha, haven for shifters of all kinds. But when her car breaks down and the goons are on her tail, she hightails into the forest and lands on the unsuspecting Mick's door! 

Poor Mick doesn't know what way is up. His wolf says she is his mate but he already had a mate and doesn't believe what he feels. Renny is in so much danger she can't work out why she feels so safe with this strange, lonely male. But she feels an attraction that she can't deny..she just keeps getting mixed signals from Mick!

Mick is a man in denial! He may still has a few issues but he is dealing with them and is just perfect for Renny. His inner rants at himself are quite entertaining. He loves Renny for who she is and at turns loves her intelligence and hates that downright stubborn streak she has. He really has to lock her out of decisions for her own safety sometimes because she is so damn independent! 

Renny is no damsel in distress, ooh i broke a nil type! She is brilliantly feisty and I loved her. 

Looking forward to more in this series cos the cocky mayor has got to get knocked off his feet!

Totally Addicted to Reading

Despite my disappointment with Something to Howl About I approached this installment in a positive light. I hoped my tour of Alphaville would prove to be better this time around. As this was full length novel, I was looking forward to improved character development and an exciting and thrilling story. My expectations were met in some regard, however I felt my experience could have been better.

What The Story is About
Baby, I’m Howling for You features Renny Landry and Mick Fischer. Renny, a beta wolf shifter came to Alphaville seeking sanctuary from the coyote shifters who were pursuing her. As Alphaville is a town, which provides sanctuary for troubled shifters she saw it as the one place where she would be safe from the crazy coyote shifter and his minions. Unknown to her, the decision to seek sanctuary in this town would bring her in contact with an alpha wolf shifter who would make it his mission to protect her from the threat posed by her pursuers.
Mick Fischer came to Alphaville eight years ago to escape the pain of his past. However, the pain is as raw today as it was eight years ago and as a result he lived an isolated life. However, when Renny happened upon his property isolation would no longer be an option. His protective nature kicked into gear and his desire to protect a she-wolf in distress became his top priority.

What I liked.
The story started out with a bang. Fast-paced, adrenaline pumping, and it had me on edge of my seat for the whole chapter. Although the pace changed at the end of the first chapter, it did not take away from the story. There were some humorous moments, which made me smile from time to time.

I thought the author did an excellent job with plot thread involving Renny’s stalker. I found this aspect of the story engaging and I kept turning the pages as I had to know the outcome. The coyote shifters were crazy, arrogant and determined which made the threat to Renny serious dangerous.

It was a pleasure watching how the community members welcomed Renny into their fold. Each resident willingly played a part in keeping her safe, which reinforced Renny's belief that she came to the right place.

Renny is a character I enjoyed spending time with as she possessed the qualities of a strong female. Determined, brave, smart, independent and not afraid to stand up and fight her demons.

What I did not like
The attraction between the protagonists was instantaneous, which is a common factor for most books in the PNR genre. Despite the instant attraction Mick fought his feelings for Renny, which proved frustrating for her, as she recognized immediately he was her mate. Then, when she least expected it he mated with her, which confused her. I had a difficult time with this aspect of the story. Mick's actions made it difficult for me to buy into their relationship, which was further compounded by the fact that they never got to know each other, prior to their mating. Mick did not give Renny an option. He claimed and took, what he believed he was entitled to.

Mick is a character I had a hard time getting to know. First, I never got inside his head. Second, I found his actions rude and overbearing. I never got the feeling he loved Renny. It felt as if his need to protect was more from a sense of obligation, and a way of making up for not protecting his first mate.



Conclusion/Recommendation
This was an interesting read, but I felt it could have been better. I enjoyed the time spent with the quirky residents of Alphaville and I am curious to know their story. If you are a fan of the paranormal genre, then you can consider partaking in a journey to Alphaville.

3.5 Stars

Jolie

I like shifter/werewolf books. I like shifter/werewolf romances even more. Unfortunately, finding a good solid shifter/werewolf romance is a dime a dozen. I have reviewed the good, the bad and the ugly. I have become very picky about what I read because of the duds I have met. I can say with absolute certainty that Baby, I’m Howling for You is one of the good ones.

Baby, I’m Howling for You has an interesting plot. Renny is on the run from an obsessed coyote. She is running to the town of Alphaville. Alphaville has a reputation as a city that takes in the cast-offs of the shifters society. Renny is hoping that if she can make it there, that the city’s alphas will be able to help protect her. Unfortunately for her, the coyotes’ catch up to her when her car runs out of gas. Forced to run for her life, Renny ends up in the backyard of a solitary Alpha wolf named Mick. What Renny doesn’t know is that fate has connected them. What draws them together? Will Renny be able to get around Mick’s walls? Will she lose her coyote stalker? Will the residents of Alphaville allow her to stay? Want to know…..read the book.

I loved the idea of Alphaville. A city made up of shifters who either do not have a pack or are by nature solitary was fascinating to me. Add in that all the government positions were filled by Alphas’ and I loved it. I liked that it was Renny’s version of Shangri-La. What I liked, even more, was that it was attainable. That it was real and there were people ready to help Renny with her stalker.

I could not stop reading this book. It kept me on edge the entire time I was reading it. I needed to find out what happened to Renny. I needed to know what would happen with Renny and Mick. I also was very curious about the residents of Alphaville. What residents that were introduced were very interesting. This is a series that I can sink my teeth into!!

I liked Renny. I thought her stalking situations was portrayed very realistically. Everything that coyote did, I could see a human who was a stalker doing the same thing. She was brave. I mean, she took off running towards safety in her wolf form instead of letting the coyote pack take her back. I did feel that her personality was kind of suppressed during the story. But, it was done on purpose. She was in a life or death situation. She couldn’t be a peppy, happy cheerleader. Instead, the author chose to let her reveal different aspects of her personality slowly. I also did think that her reaction to Mick’s revelation was very understated. Very understated. I also would have had the same thoughts she did afterward. I mean how do you compete with a ghost?

Mick was such an enigma during the first half of the book. The author chose to reveal his secrets at the same pace that Renny started to open up. I will say that I was pretty surprised at some of the things revealed about him. I was also surprised at some things that he had done. When that was revealed, I couldn’t relate it to the Alpha that was portrayed. He also did his darndest to keep Renny away from him. He didn’t want or need her in his life. But his wolf (and hers) had different plans.

The sexual tension between Mick and Renny was off the charts. I did find it a little odd when he was attracted to her when she was injured. When they did finally have sex, it was off the charts. It was so good that they stayed cloistered for almost a week.

The end of the book was action packed. I did find it a little unfortunate about what happened to the coyotes. But considering that they were a huge problem for so many shifters, they deserved it. I am excited to see what the rest of this series will be like. If it is anything like Baby, I’m Howling for You, then I will be pretty happy.

Baby, I’m Howling for You is a sizzling action-packed shifter romance novel. It will keep you engaged for the entire book. The main characters were very relatable. The plotline was engaging. I couldn’t put this book down. I needed to find out what would happen with Mick and Renny. I am looking forward to the rest of the series. I would recommend Baby I’m Howling for You. I would also reread it.

I would suggest that no one under the age of 20. So adults only. Why adults only? Well, there is explicit sex. There is also language and violence.

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Paperbacks, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Baby, I’m Howling for You.

All opinions stated in this review of Baby, I’m Howling For You are mine.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

Baby, I'm Howling For You

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