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The Big Bad Wolf #1 - 4
The Big Bad Wolf Romance Compilation
Enjoy Heather Killough-Walden's critically acclaimed, New York Times bestselling Big Bad Wolf series, now combined in one tome of sexual tension, romantic suspense and dark paranormal bliss....
The Heat, Book One:
Lily St. Claire is a simple Southern girl who has no idea what she is in for when she decides to move back to her home town in Louisiana after a decade of being away. But between the two very different alpha werewolves who instantly begin fighting to claim her as their mate and the serial killer who has her in his sites, she's about to find out.
2. The Strip, Book Two: (warning, contains graphic violence)
Green-eyed Malcolm Cole is a cursed werewolf, an alpha in the most powerful sense who has given up hope for any kind of happiness or peace in his life.
Until he catches wind of Claire.
Claire St.James, Charlie among friends, is an amazing young woman with an incredibly special gift. Cole recognizes this at once and swears on the spot to claim Charlie as his mate.
Of course, he isn't the only one with such plans. Charlie is too precious to let go without a fight, and one of the most powerful alphas in the world has already staked a claim, whether Charlie - or Cole - like it or not.
3. The Spell, Book Three:
Dannai, aka the Healer, has begun dreaming of werewolves. She'd always been able to hide the fact that she was a dormant, using her magic to shield her promising scent from the alphas she's been forced to work with. But now that they've invaded her dreams, her world has been turned upside down. For, though every dormant dreams of her intended mate - Dannai is dreaming of two wolves, not one. And neither one of them is good news. One is a notorious killer. The other is Lucas Caige.
Lucas Caige is a man with a haunting past. A warlock took his brother from him fifty years ago and he's spent his life outrunning that dark magic. But fate has a way of throwing sand in your gears, and just when Caige thought he could forever leave behind the magic that brought pain to his life, his path crosses that of the Healer. Dannai unwittingly casts her spell over him the moment he lays eyes on her. She's stunning, she's kind, and everything about her wreaks havoc on his senses. She's also magic incarnate.
But if Dannai thinks that's going to stop him from doing everything in his power to make her his mate, the little witch has another thing coming.
4. The Hunt, Book Four:
Byron Caige has been a prisoner for the last fifty years of his supernaturally long life. Just when he gives up hope of ever knowing freedom again, he is unwittingly rescued by the very same woman who only wants to see him dead. Katherine Dare – Kat – is smart, fast, strong and beautiful – but unfortunately she’s a Hunter, and she’s convinced that Byron murdered her father twenty years ago.
She’s also Byron’s dormant.
As war breaks out amongst the otherworldly of Earth and threatens the existence of entire races, Kat is faced with a terrible decision. Should she give up her cause and believe Caige when he professes his innocence? Or should she fight him and possibly avenge her father’s taken life – even while she forfeits her own?
Also catch a tantalizing sneak peak at Heather's upcoming paranormal series, The Lost Angels.
The Heat, Book One:
Lily St. Claire is a simple Southern girl who has no idea what she is in for when she decides to move back to her home town in Louisiana after a decade of being away. But between the two very different alpha werewolves who instantly begin fighting to claim her as their mate and the serial killer who has her in his sites, she's about to find out.
2. The Strip, Book Two: (warning, contains graphic violence)
Green-eyed Malcolm Cole is a cursed werewolf, an alpha in the most powerful sense who has given up hope for any kind of happiness or peace in his life.
Until he catches wind of Claire.
Claire St.James, Charlie among friends, is an amazing young woman with an incredibly special gift. Cole recognizes this at once and swears on the spot to claim Charlie as his mate.
Of course, he isn't the only one with such plans. Charlie is too precious to let go without a fight, and one of the most powerful alphas in the world has already staked a claim, whether Charlie - or Cole - like it or not.
3. The Spell, Book Three:
Dannai, aka the Healer, has begun dreaming of werewolves. She'd always been able to hide the fact that she was a dormant, using her magic to shield her promising scent from the alphas she's been forced to work with. But now that they've invaded her dreams, her world has been turned upside down. For, though every dormant dreams of her intended mate - Dannai is dreaming of two wolves, not one. And neither one of them is good news. One is a notorious killer. The other is Lucas Caige.
Lucas Caige is a man with a haunting past. A warlock took his brother from him fifty years ago and he's spent his life outrunning that dark magic. But fate has a way of throwing sand in your gears, and just when Caige thought he could forever leave behind the magic that brought pain to his life, his path crosses that of the Healer. Dannai unwittingly casts her spell over him the moment he lays eyes on her. She's stunning, she's kind, and everything about her wreaks havoc on his senses. She's also magic incarnate.
But if Dannai thinks that's going to stop him from doing everything in his power to make her his mate, the little witch has another thing coming.
4. The Hunt, Book Four:
Byron Caige has been a prisoner for the last fifty years of his supernaturally long life. Just when he gives up hope of ever knowing freedom again, he is unwittingly rescued by the very same woman who only wants to see him dead. Katherine Dare – Kat – is smart, fast, strong and beautiful – but unfortunately she’s a Hunter, and she’s convinced that Byron murdered her father twenty years ago.
She’s also Byron’s dormant.
As war breaks out amongst the otherworldly of Earth and threatens the existence of entire races, Kat is faced with a terrible decision. Should she give up her cause and believe Caige when he professes his innocence? Or should she fight him and possibly avenge her father’s taken life – even while she forfeits her own?
Also catch a tantalizing sneak peak at Heather's upcoming paranormal series, The Lost Angels.
877 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 16, 2011
206 people are currently reading
718 people want to read
About the author
Heather Killough-Walden
61 books2,186 followersHeather Killough-Walden is a California native currently living in Texas with her husband and child. She is the New York Times bestselling author of the Big Bad Wolf series. Heather’s educational background includes religious studies, archeology, and law. She has traveled all over the world but hopes to one day live in a town with a world-class hockey team. (Let’s Go Pens!) Visit Heather’s website at www.killough-walden.com, where you can sign up for her newsletter. Also, be sure to keep in touch with her and other fans through her Facebook fan page and through Twitter (killoughwalden)!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
August 17, 2011
Heat me up, strip me down, bespell me, hunt me down....
...sorry, I got a little carried away there -- which is what these books do to me. When I first came across them, I was looking for something different to vampires (my first big love). I was dubious. Werewolves have never done it for me in the past -- Heather changed that with one book: The Heat.
The first thing you need to know, is that this is dark romance. It's dangerous, daring, seductive and deeply sensual. The males are dominant, but also harbour hearts of gold; the females are strong and independent, but also know how to be feminine.
The plot, throughout all the books, is action-packed and fast-paced -- it's a page turner -- don't expect to breathe.
But perhaps what I love most about this author's writing, is her ability to put an awesome imagination onto the page in a way that makes it feel tangible. I also found this with another of her books I read, Forever Neverland (so totally different to the Big Bad Wolf series, that it shows her versatility as a writer). Both that book and the BBW series captured my mind in a way not a lot of books do.
If you're looking for colourful characters, a larger than life plot with many twists and turns, HOT Alpha men/wolves, dangerous seduction, that strong bond between two people/wolves that cannot be broken, strong women who can take anything thrown at them, villains who'll stop at NOTHING to get what they want, and the ride of your life, you've found it.
...sorry, I got a little carried away there -- which is what these books do to me. When I first came across them, I was looking for something different to vampires (my first big love). I was dubious. Werewolves have never done it for me in the past -- Heather changed that with one book: The Heat.
The first thing you need to know, is that this is dark romance. It's dangerous, daring, seductive and deeply sensual. The males are dominant, but also harbour hearts of gold; the females are strong and independent, but also know how to be feminine.
The plot, throughout all the books, is action-packed and fast-paced -- it's a page turner -- don't expect to breathe.
But perhaps what I love most about this author's writing, is her ability to put an awesome imagination onto the page in a way that makes it feel tangible. I also found this with another of her books I read, Forever Neverland (so totally different to the Big Bad Wolf series, that it shows her versatility as a writer). Both that book and the BBW series captured my mind in a way not a lot of books do.
If you're looking for colourful characters, a larger than life plot with many twists and turns, HOT Alpha men/wolves, dangerous seduction, that strong bond between two people/wolves that cannot be broken, strong women who can take anything thrown at them, villains who'll stop at NOTHING to get what they want, and the ride of your life, you've found it.
July 20, 2012
Originally, I bought The Hunt, the fourth of the series, first. I read that, and instantly wanted to read the first three, even if it was out of order. Ms. Killough-Walden gifted me the compilation, and I read through the other books in one sitting.
Summary:
The Heat: Lily St. Claire is a southern girl who moves back to her home town. She has no idea that her friend's brother and another alpha wolf will start to fight in order to claim her as their mate.
The Strip: Malcolm Cole sets his hopes on Claire St. James, a beautiful women with an amazing gift. But he is not alone in his hunt for her.
The Spell: Dannai is a healer who hides the fact that she is a dormant. But when she dreams of wolves, her world is no longer the same. Lucas Caige is one of the wolves. And he will stop at nothing to get her.
The Hunt: Katherine Dare, a Hunter, has wanted revenge for her father for years. She believes that Byron Caige, a man imprisoned for fifty years, is the one who killed him. But, she's his dormant. A war between Hunters, wolves, and more paranormal beings breaks out. Should Kat believe Byron? Or should she fight?
What I Liked: Unfortunately for me, I read the fourth book first, and then the first, second, and third. However, I liked how I was still interested in each story, even though I knew how the first three were resolved. Each story was enthralling in its own way. My personal favorite was The Hunt. I loved Byron and Kat, and the war action that ensued. The Heat was my second favorite, because I liked the simplicity of it, as the first of a series. As each book came, the author's writing got better and more natural. Each character was unique and had a distinctive being. It was hard not to like certain characters, and to dislike others.
What I Did Not Like: I personally found The Strip a little distasteful compared to the other three books. Charlie did not interest me and I could not find myself in her shoes, experiencing or believing what she felt. She seemed more flat than the other heroines. All of her "special" powers and who she was was not really convincing. The Strip was still a great read, characters aside.
Would I Recommend It: Yes. Especially for only $3.99. This is a romance series, and for that reason I'd say mature upper teens and adults would highly enjoy this series.
Rating: 5 stars. Ms. Killough-Walden got better and better with each book, and I will continue to read her books.
This is a fabulous series! You will not be disappointed :)
Summary:
The Heat: Lily St. Claire is a southern girl who moves back to her home town. She has no idea that her friend's brother and another alpha wolf will start to fight in order to claim her as their mate.
The Strip: Malcolm Cole sets his hopes on Claire St. James, a beautiful women with an amazing gift. But he is not alone in his hunt for her.
The Spell: Dannai is a healer who hides the fact that she is a dormant. But when she dreams of wolves, her world is no longer the same. Lucas Caige is one of the wolves. And he will stop at nothing to get her.
The Hunt: Katherine Dare, a Hunter, has wanted revenge for her father for years. She believes that Byron Caige, a man imprisoned for fifty years, is the one who killed him. But, she's his dormant. A war between Hunters, wolves, and more paranormal beings breaks out. Should Kat believe Byron? Or should she fight?
What I Liked: Unfortunately for me, I read the fourth book first, and then the first, second, and third. However, I liked how I was still interested in each story, even though I knew how the first three were resolved. Each story was enthralling in its own way. My personal favorite was The Hunt. I loved Byron and Kat, and the war action that ensued. The Heat was my second favorite, because I liked the simplicity of it, as the first of a series. As each book came, the author's writing got better and more natural. Each character was unique and had a distinctive being. It was hard not to like certain characters, and to dislike others.
What I Did Not Like: I personally found The Strip a little distasteful compared to the other three books. Charlie did not interest me and I could not find myself in her shoes, experiencing or believing what she felt. She seemed more flat than the other heroines. All of her "special" powers and who she was was not really convincing. The Strip was still a great read, characters aside.
Would I Recommend It: Yes. Especially for only $3.99. This is a romance series, and for that reason I'd say mature upper teens and adults would highly enjoy this series.
Rating: 5 stars. Ms. Killough-Walden got better and better with each book, and I will continue to read her books.
This is a fabulous series! You will not be disappointed :)
September 4, 2012
2.5/5; 3 stars; B-
I did a lot of yard work this last week, mowing, weeding, taking in the garden, canning, painting...you name it. I listened to these four audiobooks while doing that. I haven't read anything by this author before and I liked her story telling style and voice but didn't think much of the lack of complexity in the stories. The world building was good but basically each of the four books was a slightly different rendition of the same story. They were perfect for background noise because they provided something pleasant for my brain to listen to but were about as stimulating and memorable as the radio station.
Each of the four books follows a set recipe. A shape shifter finds his mate but she either doesn't know it or doesn't want it to happen. There is a race against time before some other, much more nasty shape shifter claims her. There are evil magical people lurking around doing evil magical things. Bad guys are vanquished, some good guys die, some bad guys die. True love prevails.
I did a lot of yard work this last week, mowing, weeding, taking in the garden, canning, painting...you name it. I listened to these four audiobooks while doing that. I haven't read anything by this author before and I liked her story telling style and voice but didn't think much of the lack of complexity in the stories. The world building was good but basically each of the four books was a slightly different rendition of the same story. They were perfect for background noise because they provided something pleasant for my brain to listen to but were about as stimulating and memorable as the radio station.
Each of the four books follows a set recipe. A shape shifter finds his mate but she either doesn't know it or doesn't want it to happen. There is a race against time before some other, much more nasty shape shifter claims her. There are evil magical people lurking around doing evil magical things. Bad guys are vanquished, some good guys die, some bad guys die. True love prevails.
June 23, 2025
Amazing
My sister and I read the same types of books and she recommended these to me. I'm really glad I didn't wait to read them. Now I have another author that I LOVE. For anyone who hasn't read her books, I highly recommend that you do. Make sure you start with these first as her King series is a spin-off of these books. That's what I'm going to do right now!
My sister and I read the same types of books and she recommended these to me. I'm really glad I didn't wait to read them. Now I have another author that I LOVE. For anyone who hasn't read her books, I highly recommend that you do. Make sure you start with these first as her King series is a spin-off of these books. That's what I'm going to do right now!
November 27, 2011
I'm really working to get through this. In defense of the author, I didn't really think it was just a romance compilation. It is, though. I will get through it!
January 19, 2012
Compilation of 4 ebooks : the heat; the strip; the Spell; and the Hunt based on werewolves and their quest for their 'mate'.
I suppose this was a fairly typical set up for these types of werewolf stories but I liked the writing, characterisation and increasingly as time went on, the world building. The characters were also not just one dimensional and there was actual character development as the books developed. That said I think I liked the second book the best although the fourth was the met hopeful in tone.
Anyway:
the Heat, introduces us to the world where werewolves are a dying breed as the females do not pass on the gene or themselves properly become wolves and for any hope of offspring, the male wolf must find a human female known as a 'dormant' with whom to have children. Once a male catches sniff of a dormant he gets a bit overwhelmed and can act rashly in order to claim her, whether she wants this or not . So far, this isn't exactly atypical of books of this kind.
The story focuses on Lily who has come back to Baton Rouge and meets up with her best friend Tabitha. It turns out that Tabitha's family are actually were wolves and her older brother Daniel Kane is an alpha wolf who has just been made chief of police. Tabitha has hidden the fact that Lily was a dormant and made Daniel stay away from her when they were growing up but he gets one sniff and realises his ship has come in.
Lily is attracted to him and always has been but has also been dreaming of Malcolm Cole a famous writer, who has just arrived in town for a book signing. It turns out that he is also an alpha wolf who is suspected of multiple murders and so Daniel goes off the deep end, drags a lily back to the house, ties her to the bed, brands her with a blood share and pretty much overwhelms her.
Malcolm is not to be put off though and through foul means kidnaps Lily and sensually overpowers her into agreeing to the removal of the mark by a warlock. Daniel arrives and puts stop to this, killing the evil warlock, but Malcolm escapes with Lily. She eventually escapes by burning his house down.
Malcolm gives up and let's Lily go after we realise that all is not quite what it seems and she and Daniel return home where they get it on and she is turned into a were wolf.
However they are further menaced when another police officer Alan Jennings turns out to be a Hunter with a big thing for Lily and he kidnaps her and tortures her with a side on attempted rape. Eventually he is caught. Lily starts to have visions of the future and becomes a seer to the wolves.
This was a good introduction. Daniel needed more depth of character and they spent a large amount of time apart with Lily being threatened on all sides. The character that really shone through was of course Malcolm and that made me really keen to move on to the next story.
The Strip
This was the stand out story for me as it involved Malcolm finding his mate Claire, who usually was born of were wolf parents but is unaware of same.
Claire is a musician who has always found that she is a bit of a violent man magnet and has been taking self defence lessons with the creepy David Reece, who appears to enjoy the violence and domination a little too much. They get an offer to o and work in one of the Vegas casinos for 6 months in the employ of the mysterious Gabriel Phelan.
Malcolm has a gypsy curse which brings him to the scene of horrible murders, but at one he catches a brief whiff of Claire and Identifies her as a dormant. He then swings into action and takes off for vegas. When he gets there he tricks her into accepting the brand which actually works well for her as she is soon after captured by Phelan aka Reece who is a fairly twisted sadist alpha were wolf who is also head of the Hunters who enjoys torturing Claire but due to the brand, he can not mark or mate her himself. We are also introduced to Seth, an evil seeming being which the were wolves are unable to identify but that also has fangs. The were wolf Council is also introduced and it emerges that Claire's grandfather is the head of same and he embarks on a rescue mission. The hotel where Claire is held on the Strip is blown up but after some further shenanigans involving helicopters etc Claire is eventually rescued. Claire is introduced to her grandfather and then pretty quickly she and Malcolm seize the moment and she is turned into a were wolf. The curse transfers to Claire but in a better way so that it triggers before the murder has happened and allows her an opportunity to stop same. Gabriel seeks to trigger the curse ( not knowing this development) so that he can take Malcolm by surprise and kill him. A big fight ensues and the Hunters also make an entry and Gabriel escapes.
Nb - This might not be to everyone's taste as there is a scene of violent sexual torture and even the consensual sex has fairly strong elements of bondage and rough play.
The Spell
This is the story of Dannai ( Danny ) a coven witch with healing powers introduced in the last book. She has hidden the fact that she is a dormant with her magic due to the fact that she has been told that if she were to mate with a were wolf she would lose her powers. Nonetheless she starts to dream Of two wolves - plelan ( who for obvious reasons scares the crap out of her ) and Lucas Caige - to whom she is definitely attracted. From the outset it is clear that Danny is also under some pressure from the leader of their coven Jason, who is not quite what he seems and it emerges that he is a warlock who is using dark magic. Anyway Lucas is a magic hater as a warlock is thought to have killed his brother and so when Danny meets him she hides the fact that she is a dormant and also that she is a witch. Of course attraction flares anyway and it is hard to keep a secret and everything comes out. Jason has put Danny under a dark spell but this is also discovered and they initially think Phelan is dead but is is brought back to life by the warlock and seth drinks his blood to allow him to have some of the powers of a were wolf. there is a final denouement with Lucas the warlock, Seth the Vampire and Phelan all working together to do a spell to put aside Claire and Malcolm's mating as Phelan is still obsessed with her. This initially succeeds and Claire tries to commit suicide before Phelan can claim her. The forces of good appear and Danny heals Claire. The overseer of the Council is killed as is Phelan and Jason is also apparently killed but again all is not what it seems.
The Hunt
Is the story of Byron (lucas's lost brother) and his mate Katherine. Unfortunately Katherine believes that Byron killed her father and she then grew up seeking revenge and is one of the most successful hunters around. Byron has been held hostage by the King of the Warlocks as a sex slave for his daughter for more than 50 years. Jason also makes a reappearance having been brought back to life and is also held as a sex slave by the daughter who is a real piece of work. An escape is finally mounted- really arranged by Seth who is seeking to have his love ( the queen) freed from imprisonment with the help of the vampire king ( further interesting world building). Byron and Katherine bump into each other and she tries to kill him and then herself but he recognises her as his mate. They go through various ordeals at the hands of the hunters and eventually Katherine grows to see that her revenge killings have been just as bad as what happened to her as a child. They come together and in the process the key to the securing the future of were wolf society emerges with the help of vampires. Seth and Jason were pretty much rehabilitated in this book and that made for interesting reading.
The end opens the door to a book about the vampire king and I would be keen to read it when it comes out.
This was not a perfect series and I am not entirely keen on e books either and some of the sex had stronger over tones than readers may be used to. Nonetheless there were some interesting ideas and world building ; the characterisation was more than two dimensional and the story of Claire and Malcolm was particularly strong. There were some flaws but I felt that the author showed promise and I wanted to read more.
I suppose this was a fairly typical set up for these types of werewolf stories but I liked the writing, characterisation and increasingly as time went on, the world building. The characters were also not just one dimensional and there was actual character development as the books developed. That said I think I liked the second book the best although the fourth was the met hopeful in tone.
Anyway:
the Heat, introduces us to the world where werewolves are a dying breed as the females do not pass on the gene or themselves properly become wolves and for any hope of offspring, the male wolf must find a human female known as a 'dormant' with whom to have children. Once a male catches sniff of a dormant he gets a bit overwhelmed and can act rashly in order to claim her, whether she wants this or not . So far, this isn't exactly atypical of books of this kind.
The story focuses on Lily who has come back to Baton Rouge and meets up with her best friend Tabitha. It turns out that Tabitha's family are actually were wolves and her older brother Daniel Kane is an alpha wolf who has just been made chief of police. Tabitha has hidden the fact that Lily was a dormant and made Daniel stay away from her when they were growing up but he gets one sniff and realises his ship has come in.
Lily is attracted to him and always has been but has also been dreaming of Malcolm Cole a famous writer, who has just arrived in town for a book signing. It turns out that he is also an alpha wolf who is suspected of multiple murders and so Daniel goes off the deep end, drags a lily back to the house, ties her to the bed, brands her with a blood share and pretty much overwhelms her.
Malcolm is not to be put off though and through foul means kidnaps Lily and sensually overpowers her into agreeing to the removal of the mark by a warlock. Daniel arrives and puts stop to this, killing the evil warlock, but Malcolm escapes with Lily. She eventually escapes by burning his house down.
Malcolm gives up and let's Lily go after we realise that all is not quite what it seems and she and Daniel return home where they get it on and she is turned into a were wolf.
However they are further menaced when another police officer Alan Jennings turns out to be a Hunter with a big thing for Lily and he kidnaps her and tortures her with a side on attempted rape. Eventually he is caught. Lily starts to have visions of the future and becomes a seer to the wolves.
This was a good introduction. Daniel needed more depth of character and they spent a large amount of time apart with Lily being threatened on all sides. The character that really shone through was of course Malcolm and that made me really keen to move on to the next story.
The Strip
This was the stand out story for me as it involved Malcolm finding his mate Claire, who usually was born of were wolf parents but is unaware of same.
Claire is a musician who has always found that she is a bit of a violent man magnet and has been taking self defence lessons with the creepy David Reece, who appears to enjoy the violence and domination a little too much. They get an offer to o and work in one of the Vegas casinos for 6 months in the employ of the mysterious Gabriel Phelan.
Malcolm has a gypsy curse which brings him to the scene of horrible murders, but at one he catches a brief whiff of Claire and Identifies her as a dormant. He then swings into action and takes off for vegas. When he gets there he tricks her into accepting the brand which actually works well for her as she is soon after captured by Phelan aka Reece who is a fairly twisted sadist alpha were wolf who is also head of the Hunters who enjoys torturing Claire but due to the brand, he can not mark or mate her himself. We are also introduced to Seth, an evil seeming being which the were wolves are unable to identify but that also has fangs. The were wolf Council is also introduced and it emerges that Claire's grandfather is the head of same and he embarks on a rescue mission. The hotel where Claire is held on the Strip is blown up but after some further shenanigans involving helicopters etc Claire is eventually rescued. Claire is introduced to her grandfather and then pretty quickly she and Malcolm seize the moment and she is turned into a were wolf. The curse transfers to Claire but in a better way so that it triggers before the murder has happened and allows her an opportunity to stop same. Gabriel seeks to trigger the curse ( not knowing this development) so that he can take Malcolm by surprise and kill him. A big fight ensues and the Hunters also make an entry and Gabriel escapes.
Nb - This might not be to everyone's taste as there is a scene of violent sexual torture and even the consensual sex has fairly strong elements of bondage and rough play.
The Spell
This is the story of Dannai ( Danny ) a coven witch with healing powers introduced in the last book. She has hidden the fact that she is a dormant with her magic due to the fact that she has been told that if she were to mate with a were wolf she would lose her powers. Nonetheless she starts to dream Of two wolves - plelan ( who for obvious reasons scares the crap out of her ) and Lucas Caige - to whom she is definitely attracted. From the outset it is clear that Danny is also under some pressure from the leader of their coven Jason, who is not quite what he seems and it emerges that he is a warlock who is using dark magic. Anyway Lucas is a magic hater as a warlock is thought to have killed his brother and so when Danny meets him she hides the fact that she is a dormant and also that she is a witch. Of course attraction flares anyway and it is hard to keep a secret and everything comes out. Jason has put Danny under a dark spell but this is also discovered and they initially think Phelan is dead but is is brought back to life by the warlock and seth drinks his blood to allow him to have some of the powers of a were wolf. there is a final denouement with Lucas the warlock, Seth the Vampire and Phelan all working together to do a spell to put aside Claire and Malcolm's mating as Phelan is still obsessed with her. This initially succeeds and Claire tries to commit suicide before Phelan can claim her. The forces of good appear and Danny heals Claire. The overseer of the Council is killed as is Phelan and Jason is also apparently killed but again all is not what it seems.
The Hunt
Is the story of Byron (lucas's lost brother) and his mate Katherine. Unfortunately Katherine believes that Byron killed her father and she then grew up seeking revenge and is one of the most successful hunters around. Byron has been held hostage by the King of the Warlocks as a sex slave for his daughter for more than 50 years. Jason also makes a reappearance having been brought back to life and is also held as a sex slave by the daughter who is a real piece of work. An escape is finally mounted- really arranged by Seth who is seeking to have his love ( the queen) freed from imprisonment with the help of the vampire king ( further interesting world building). Byron and Katherine bump into each other and she tries to kill him and then herself but he recognises her as his mate. They go through various ordeals at the hands of the hunters and eventually Katherine grows to see that her revenge killings have been just as bad as what happened to her as a child. They come together and in the process the key to the securing the future of were wolf society emerges with the help of vampires. Seth and Jason were pretty much rehabilitated in this book and that made for interesting reading.
The end opens the door to a book about the vampire king and I would be keen to read it when it comes out.
This was not a perfect series and I am not entirely keen on e books either and some of the sex had stronger over tones than readers may be used to. Nonetheless there were some interesting ideas and world building ; the characterisation was more than two dimensional and the story of Claire and Malcolm was particularly strong. There were some flaws but I felt that the author showed promise and I wanted to read more.
November 9, 2017
Couldn’t Finish
I have to say that honestly I didn’t really give this book a fair shot as I just couldn’t keep reading this any further- which I might add is extremely rare for me. The writing and execution is extremely juvenile and reads like a YA book entirely in the third person. There is no real world- building that I had seen by the time I threw in the towel and the characters were extremely lacking. I’m sure had I continued with the storyline, I may have found some interest there (maybe) but as it stands, I can’t get past the writing style. Its over simplistic nature and lack of detail was just too aggravating for me.
I have to say that honestly I didn’t really give this book a fair shot as I just couldn’t keep reading this any further- which I might add is extremely rare for me. The writing and execution is extremely juvenile and reads like a YA book entirely in the third person. There is no real world- building that I had seen by the time I threw in the towel and the characters were extremely lacking. I’m sure had I continued with the storyline, I may have found some interest there (maybe) but as it stands, I can’t get past the writing style. Its over simplistic nature and lack of detail was just too aggravating for me.
June 8, 2023
Series is a series of love, finding your soul mate, fighting for whats right, and werewolves. Not only is this book about werewolves but there's also warlocks, witches, and vampires. Heather does a great job with each book explaining about the werewolf race being in danger and the love each character finds. Each character compartments each other and each one of them is in all four books. Each story told from every characters point of view is very easy to follow and understand.
April 5, 2020
I really enjoyed this series. It was well-written and everything was connected between the different books in the series. Would recommend it for those that enjoy the genre.
The Heat
Great book about a woman who returns to her hometown after being away for some years. Lily's best friend's brother shows up at his sister's house and it is like she hasn't been gone at all. Daniel still draws her like a moth to a flame. Everything from his smouldering dark good looks to his monster steed of a motorcycle calls to her. Daniel can't believe that Lily is back in town after ten years. He had managed to finally put her out of his mind as he worked his way up in the local police force to his current position as chief. His sister Tabitha had made him swear he wouldn't touch Lily back in high school. He has always known there was something different about her and now he knows what it is, she is a dormant and he is pretty sure she is his mate. He knows she has no idea he is a wolf shifter and he also knew she is in danger until she is claimed. When Lily finds out her favorite author is going to be in town she tries to convinces Tabitha to go to a book signing with her. Daniel can't believe that Lily plans to go to see Malcolm Cole. If there is one person Daniel needs to keep her away from, it is Cole. He is not only an Alpha werewolf but a suspected serial killer. Obviously he knows what Lily is and plans to take her for himself. Daniel is not about to let that happen.
The Strip
Claire has always had to fight to keep herself safe. She lost her parents when she was young, but they had told her that she was special and she had to keep herself safe. She found that she seemed to attract would-be rapists and so she began taking self defense courses. Her current instructor was good, but he seemed to like getting the best of her and hurting her in the process. She put up with it because she knew she needed to learn from the best. Charlie, as her friends called her due to her habit of apologizing for everything, had discovered that she was a natural at playing the drums so she had her own band. When they are offered a chances to play exclusively at a big hotel in Vegas they can't turn the contract down. Even their practice space is awesome.
Malcolm Cole has been cursed with popping into crime scenes that involve someone innocent being brutally murdered. Usually the murders involve women or children. Malcolm does his best to track down the killers and take care of them. This night he "pops" into Las Vegas and while he is there catchs a whiff of something he never thought he would again - a dormant. Not only that, but a natural born female wolf. He knows he has to get back to the city and find the woman before another alpha smells her. Little does he know it is too late to stop that from happening. Gabriel Phelan not only knows what Charlie is; he has big plans for her.
The Spell
The third book in the series gives us Dannai's story. Dannai is a witch with a special power, the power to heal. Her ability is a closely guarded secret to keep her from being overwhelmed and taken advantage of, among other things. Dannai also has a secret, she is a dormant. Fortunately, she can spell herself to mask this quality. She works with Lily and Charlie when Charlie gets transported to a potential crime scene Dannai goes to heal the victim. She had begun kept busy in the last several months and she is close to exhaustion so one night when she returns to her car after assisting her friends, she drops her spell that shields her dormancy while she drives home.
Lucas Caige, alpha werewolf shifter, has been on the road riding his motorcycle through the country for two months now. He is riding through Northern California when a car does its best to run him off the road and over a steep dropoff. He manages to save himself, but his bike is toast. When a car stops to offer assistance he its surprised when the female driving it weakens and eventually passed out. She did manage to tell him where to take her to get help. Dannai can't believe that the man she dreams about is right there in the middle of the road. She knows Lucas is an alpha and she also knows he hates witchcraft. She immediately shields both things, but that overwhelms her strength and she passes out.
Find out what happens when a magic user and a magic hater are drawn together by a force stronger than either one of them can fight. Throw in a pissed off warlock and the interference of Gabriel Phelan, who just refuses to die and stay dead, and you have a situation that can only end badly for someone.
The Hunt
Last, but not least, we get the story of Lucas' long lost brother, Byron, who had been missing for about half a century. Though it was reported that he was dead he had really been kidnapped and imprisoned by the Vampire princess, daughter of the Warlock king. Yeah, confusing.on top of that when he once had a chance to escape he ended up getting a man killed when the King found him. Now when someone comes to rescue the king's wife who has also been kept prisoner he finally gets another chance at freedom only to run right into a Hunter who is also a dormant, his mate, and who blames him for her father's death. More mayhem will erupt and things in the werewolf world will be forever changed when Byron and Katherine get together. Don't miss it.
The Heat
Great book about a woman who returns to her hometown after being away for some years. Lily's best friend's brother shows up at his sister's house and it is like she hasn't been gone at all. Daniel still draws her like a moth to a flame. Everything from his smouldering dark good looks to his monster steed of a motorcycle calls to her. Daniel can't believe that Lily is back in town after ten years. He had managed to finally put her out of his mind as he worked his way up in the local police force to his current position as chief. His sister Tabitha had made him swear he wouldn't touch Lily back in high school. He has always known there was something different about her and now he knows what it is, she is a dormant and he is pretty sure she is his mate. He knows she has no idea he is a wolf shifter and he also knew she is in danger until she is claimed. When Lily finds out her favorite author is going to be in town she tries to convinces Tabitha to go to a book signing with her. Daniel can't believe that Lily plans to go to see Malcolm Cole. If there is one person Daniel needs to keep her away from, it is Cole. He is not only an Alpha werewolf but a suspected serial killer. Obviously he knows what Lily is and plans to take her for himself. Daniel is not about to let that happen.
The Strip
Claire has always had to fight to keep herself safe. She lost her parents when she was young, but they had told her that she was special and she had to keep herself safe. She found that she seemed to attract would-be rapists and so she began taking self defense courses. Her current instructor was good, but he seemed to like getting the best of her and hurting her in the process. She put up with it because she knew she needed to learn from the best. Charlie, as her friends called her due to her habit of apologizing for everything, had discovered that she was a natural at playing the drums so she had her own band. When they are offered a chances to play exclusively at a big hotel in Vegas they can't turn the contract down. Even their practice space is awesome.
Malcolm Cole has been cursed with popping into crime scenes that involve someone innocent being brutally murdered. Usually the murders involve women or children. Malcolm does his best to track down the killers and take care of them. This night he "pops" into Las Vegas and while he is there catchs a whiff of something he never thought he would again - a dormant. Not only that, but a natural born female wolf. He knows he has to get back to the city and find the woman before another alpha smells her. Little does he know it is too late to stop that from happening. Gabriel Phelan not only knows what Charlie is; he has big plans for her.
The Spell
The third book in the series gives us Dannai's story. Dannai is a witch with a special power, the power to heal. Her ability is a closely guarded secret to keep her from being overwhelmed and taken advantage of, among other things. Dannai also has a secret, she is a dormant. Fortunately, she can spell herself to mask this quality. She works with Lily and Charlie when Charlie gets transported to a potential crime scene Dannai goes to heal the victim. She had begun kept busy in the last several months and she is close to exhaustion so one night when she returns to her car after assisting her friends, she drops her spell that shields her dormancy while she drives home.
Lucas Caige, alpha werewolf shifter, has been on the road riding his motorcycle through the country for two months now. He is riding through Northern California when a car does its best to run him off the road and over a steep dropoff. He manages to save himself, but his bike is toast. When a car stops to offer assistance he its surprised when the female driving it weakens and eventually passed out. She did manage to tell him where to take her to get help. Dannai can't believe that the man she dreams about is right there in the middle of the road. She knows Lucas is an alpha and she also knows he hates witchcraft. She immediately shields both things, but that overwhelms her strength and she passes out.
Find out what happens when a magic user and a magic hater are drawn together by a force stronger than either one of them can fight. Throw in a pissed off warlock and the interference of Gabriel Phelan, who just refuses to die and stay dead, and you have a situation that can only end badly for someone.
The Hunt
Last, but not least, we get the story of Lucas' long lost brother, Byron, who had been missing for about half a century. Though it was reported that he was dead he had really been kidnapped and imprisoned by the Vampire princess, daughter of the Warlock king. Yeah, confusing.on top of that when he once had a chance to escape he ended up getting a man killed when the King found him. Now when someone comes to rescue the king's wife who has also been kept prisoner he finally gets another chance at freedom only to run right into a Hunter who is also a dormant, his mate, and who blames him for her father's death. More mayhem will erupt and things in the werewolf world will be forever changed when Byron and Katherine get together. Don't miss it.
August 6, 2017
Good story, well written and entertaining
I really enjoyed this series. I plan to continue reading the next set of spin off stories. The characters were interesting and even though some of the plot was a bit repeatative at times there was enough difference in each struggle to keep me reading to the end.
I really enjoyed this series. I plan to continue reading the next set of spin off stories. The characters were interesting and even though some of the plot was a bit repeatative at times there was enough difference in each struggle to keep me reading to the end.
November 12, 2019
Read the first book which was ok although I struggled to get through. Fail to see where this gets put into the romance category. Nothing romantic in the first book at all but I guess it depends on how you define romance. If you believe that being dominated is romantic(it isn't) then I guess this is for you
Read
May 7, 2020I haven't read a good book like this in years. I don't pull any pushes when it comes to me reading books and taking up my time or money. If you gonna write, write something exciting and thrilling with lots of romance and heavy sex . Haven't disappoint so far. Right now, I can't get enough of this book.
April 1, 2018
Loved this series
This series started awkwardly for me, but I kept reading and got sooo into it. I loved it. I'm a little sad about not getting to read about the other wolfs and other side characters in the series tho (jesse, imani, etc)
This series started awkwardly for me, but I kept reading and got sooo into it. I loved it. I'm a little sad about not getting to read about the other wolfs and other side characters in the series tho (jesse, imani, etc)
April 29, 2021
Awesome. Just read it. You’ll be hooked so engaging
Loved this. Suspenseful great characters. I’ve read multiple times and still engaging great character development snd storyline. I want more
Loved this. Suspenseful great characters. I’ve read multiple times and still engaging great character development snd storyline. I want more
May 29, 2024
I can’t get enough of this series. Heathers characters and the development of each and in moving forward is exciting. Just as you begin to throughly hate said villains, you soon find yourself cheering and loving them also. What a roller coaster ride of all emotions.
August 12, 2022
There were a lot of words spelled incorrectly that I guess spell check didn't identify. Are proof readers no longer used? Other than that, I found the author to be very repetitive. It was an okay read.
July 15, 2012
BOOK1----In a world where the Alphas are strong and dominant males Heather has created a worl dwhere the Big Bad Wolf could be so bad and soo good at the same time. In a world where the population of werwolves are dwindling and only certain females known as "dormants" can be a practical mate for an alpha, we follow Lily St Claire who has come back to her home town, trying to get a start on her life. un beknownst to Lily her best friend has the werewolf gene in her. What LLily's long time friend has failed to let on to Lily are the secrets of the werewolf community and the biggest secret of all- Lily is a dormant. This secret leads to a dangerous deep battle for Lilly between two Alphas. But will Lily find her way can she be with the one her heart desires or the one love which is forced upon her. Steamy love sessions with a dominating twist. Book one really shows you that the wolf can be big and bad. Two thumbs up.
BOOK2----
So Malcome Cole is not as Evil as we thought, but he still seems to be really Bad. Can he find his mate? or is he doomed to serve out his cures life alone. Charlie a cute young energetic girl has had to fight all her life. She always had a knack for attracting the wrong type of crowd. The only light in her life was Jessie- let's just say friend with HUGE benefits. When Charlie and her band is offered up a deal of a lifetime to hard to pass up, she leaves everyhting behind to start a new life. Unknownst to Charlie is the fact that she is a dormant. In this new town she meets Malcome Cole who is a mysterious stranger she cant help but feel drawn too. At the same time Charlie has a secret suitor one who she has known for a long time yet remained anonymous of his attraction to her. but when this secret suitor comes out of his hidding spot Charlie soon realizes he is not the man she had thought he was and what's even worse, he is going to do just about anything to make Charlie his. Can Malcome save Charlie? Can he make her his mate? Will charlie ever escape the dark shadows of the werewolf community? Dark sweet and hard pleasure. Skeletons are comming out of the closet. If you can't take it rough this is not for you, but Heather lets you see the dark and light sides to BDSM.
BOOK 3--
A witch who has a secret alliance with the wolves. Dannia has a rare ability among her kind- she is a healer and she has chosen a path to help as much people with her gift as possible. Dannia has deep secrets as well- she is a dormant, but with her powers she has managed to keep this secret at bay all her life. Dannai has dreamt of Lucas Caige which only means that he is a possible mate for. The downfall, Lucas hates witches and wants nothing to do with them. Can Dannia convince Lucas that not all witches are bad? or will his predjudice satnd in the way of him finding a possible mate.?
Dannia also has to face the possibility of loosing everything she has ever known. Her long childhood friend is trying to guide her while secretly trying to court Dannia for himself. Can he win her affections over whatever affections she feels for Lucas? and how far is he willing to go? Heather even introduxces us to some new species as the werewolf community realizes that they may not only be the lone supernaturals roming around. Great action and grip holding page turner.
BOOK4- So Byron Caige is alive after all this time. Vampires have remained a secret among all the supernatural community for the longest, but as their existence are coming into light, Byron has a chance to find his way home. To escape the evil bars that has imprisoned him all these years. Kat is a hunter driven by her need for revenge. To hunt the wolf that killed her father. When the opportunity arises for her to do such a thing, Kat takes a grab at it, but she soon realizes that revenge is not something so easily done and that in life there are always the shades of gray. Will Kat ever get to the truth of her father's death, can Byron prove his innocence, and will the Warlock king give up his need for revenge on Byron. This story was a little slow at some points but still captivating none the less the supernatural world Heather has created has expanded and grown into a vast world where the wolves are not the only big and bad creatures out there. Can we finally be rid of the hunters? And can Lucas find Byron before its too late. Two thumbs up.
BOOK2----
So Malcome Cole is not as Evil as we thought, but he still seems to be really Bad. Can he find his mate? or is he doomed to serve out his cures life alone. Charlie a cute young energetic girl has had to fight all her life. She always had a knack for attracting the wrong type of crowd. The only light in her life was Jessie- let's just say friend with HUGE benefits. When Charlie and her band is offered up a deal of a lifetime to hard to pass up, she leaves everyhting behind to start a new life. Unknownst to Charlie is the fact that she is a dormant. In this new town she meets Malcome Cole who is a mysterious stranger she cant help but feel drawn too. At the same time Charlie has a secret suitor one who she has known for a long time yet remained anonymous of his attraction to her. but when this secret suitor comes out of his hidding spot Charlie soon realizes he is not the man she had thought he was and what's even worse, he is going to do just about anything to make Charlie his. Can Malcome save Charlie? Can he make her his mate? Will charlie ever escape the dark shadows of the werewolf community? Dark sweet and hard pleasure. Skeletons are comming out of the closet. If you can't take it rough this is not for you, but Heather lets you see the dark and light sides to BDSM.
BOOK 3--
A witch who has a secret alliance with the wolves. Dannia has a rare ability among her kind- she is a healer and she has chosen a path to help as much people with her gift as possible. Dannia has deep secrets as well- she is a dormant, but with her powers she has managed to keep this secret at bay all her life. Dannai has dreamt of Lucas Caige which only means that he is a possible mate for. The downfall, Lucas hates witches and wants nothing to do with them. Can Dannia convince Lucas that not all witches are bad? or will his predjudice satnd in the way of him finding a possible mate.?
Dannia also has to face the possibility of loosing everything she has ever known. Her long childhood friend is trying to guide her while secretly trying to court Dannia for himself. Can he win her affections over whatever affections she feels for Lucas? and how far is he willing to go? Heather even introduxces us to some new species as the werewolf community realizes that they may not only be the lone supernaturals roming around. Great action and grip holding page turner.
BOOK4- So Byron Caige is alive after all this time. Vampires have remained a secret among all the supernatural community for the longest, but as their existence are coming into light, Byron has a chance to find his way home. To escape the evil bars that has imprisoned him all these years. Kat is a hunter driven by her need for revenge. To hunt the wolf that killed her father. When the opportunity arises for her to do such a thing, Kat takes a grab at it, but she soon realizes that revenge is not something so easily done and that in life there are always the shades of gray. Will Kat ever get to the truth of her father's death, can Byron prove his innocence, and will the Warlock king give up his need for revenge on Byron. This story was a little slow at some points but still captivating none the less the supernatural world Heather has created has expanded and grown into a vast world where the wolves are not the only big and bad creatures out there. Can we finally be rid of the hunters? And can Lucas find Byron before its too late. Two thumbs up.
March 12, 2013
This series as a whole should actually get 4.5 stars but since I can't do that, I'll have to live with the 4 star review :(
Since there are 4 books in one package, I think I'll review them each separately...
The Heat *** ~ This book is the reason this series only got 4 stars. I would have rated this book on it's own as a 3 star book for several reasons but the most glaring being the lack of a strong plot. Lots of details are glossed over and if wasn't for the fact that I have read so many shifter/vampire/supernatural books I would have been very confused. The characters themselves are very flat, predictable, and not well developed. The whole book seemed very rushed. In the long run I'm ok with all of this. I still enjoyed the book in general and it was necessary to set up the rest of the books which were Fantastic!
The Strip ***** ~ Deliciously dark. The bad guys are pure evil and the good guys are misunderstood Bad Asses with a heart of gold. And Charlie, what can I say about Charlie...first off, the girl is from my home town of the Burgh so that gives her an automatic kindred spirit advantage in my heart. Add in the fact that she is a Kick Ass fighter and you got my favorite type of female character (san Rachel Morgan, Reily Jenson, etc). And BONUS there is a real plot with great action sequences.
The Spell ***** ~ By FAR, my favorite of the series. The story line was fantastic, Lucas Caige is just flat out yummy, and Danny is 100% me if I had magic. She drives a great car, has excellent taste in women, and can take care of herself when she has to, but also lets her delicious man take care of her when the need arises. The other women in this series are pig-headed to the point of stupidity sometimes but Danny knows when to give. Now Lucas I need to give major praise to for the simple fact that he didn't claim his women like some 15 year old hormonal teenage caveman! For God's Sake Daniel and Malcolm didn't even bother to take ANY clothes off AT ALL. Talk about wame-bam no thank you mam! Now don't get me wrong, I'm all for getting tied to the bed (*evil grin*) but Damn! Lucas was aggressive but still gentle too. He showed Danny how much he loved her and gave her everything she needed before he took what he needed. Now that's a man I want in my bed.
The Hunt ***** ~ (fans self) What is up with these Caige men! I think we need to clone them in the real world. Bryon is just, just, DAMN! He's intelligent, thoughtful, and when the situation demands immediate, decisive action, he still does it in a way that takes Kat's feelings into account. Even if you don't take the mate hormones into account, how can she NOT fall deeply in love with that man. Kat seems a little tiny bit wishy-washy at times but is a really good person deep down and that makes her a character that I can get into and love. The Hunter part of the story line is a little forced at times but the rest of the plot really makes up for it. In the end it may only be my second favorite book in the series but defiantly my favorite Wolf!
Over all, I really loved this series and I'm looking forward to getting my hands on some of Heather's other books...The King's series, here I come!
Since there are 4 books in one package, I think I'll review them each separately...
The Heat *** ~ This book is the reason this series only got 4 stars. I would have rated this book on it's own as a 3 star book for several reasons but the most glaring being the lack of a strong plot. Lots of details are glossed over and if wasn't for the fact that I have read so many shifter/vampire/supernatural books I would have been very confused. The characters themselves are very flat, predictable, and not well developed. The whole book seemed very rushed. In the long run I'm ok with all of this. I still enjoyed the book in general and it was necessary to set up the rest of the books which were Fantastic!
The Strip ***** ~ Deliciously dark. The bad guys are pure evil and the good guys are misunderstood Bad Asses with a heart of gold. And Charlie, what can I say about Charlie...first off, the girl is from my home town of the Burgh so that gives her an automatic kindred spirit advantage in my heart. Add in the fact that she is a Kick Ass fighter and you got my favorite type of female character (san Rachel Morgan, Reily Jenson, etc). And BONUS there is a real plot with great action sequences.
The Spell ***** ~ By FAR, my favorite of the series. The story line was fantastic, Lucas Caige is just flat out yummy, and Danny is 100% me if I had magic. She drives a great car, has excellent taste in women, and can take care of herself when she has to, but also lets her delicious man take care of her when the need arises. The other women in this series are pig-headed to the point of stupidity sometimes but Danny knows when to give. Now Lucas I need to give major praise to for the simple fact that he didn't claim his women like some 15 year old hormonal teenage caveman! For God's Sake Daniel and Malcolm didn't even bother to take ANY clothes off AT ALL. Talk about wame-bam no thank you mam! Now don't get me wrong, I'm all for getting tied to the bed (*evil grin*) but Damn! Lucas was aggressive but still gentle too. He showed Danny how much he loved her and gave her everything she needed before he took what he needed. Now that's a man I want in my bed.
The Hunt ***** ~ (fans self) What is up with these Caige men! I think we need to clone them in the real world. Bryon is just, just, DAMN! He's intelligent, thoughtful, and when the situation demands immediate, decisive action, he still does it in a way that takes Kat's feelings into account. Even if you don't take the mate hormones into account, how can she NOT fall deeply in love with that man. Kat seems a little tiny bit wishy-washy at times but is a really good person deep down and that makes her a character that I can get into and love. The Hunter part of the story line is a little forced at times but the rest of the plot really makes up for it. In the end it may only be my second favorite book in the series but defiantly my favorite Wolf!
Over all, I really loved this series and I'm looking forward to getting my hands on some of Heather's other books...The King's series, here I come!
July 10, 2013
I picked this up because I've been craving some PNR lately and it was pretty cheap on Amazon. There were good bones to the story, but the execution was stunted. This was such a True Blood wannabe that the author herself points the resemblance out near the end. I don't mind trope-y books (this is romance, after all), but The Heat failed to capitalize on any clever or unique touches that would have differentiated it form a hundred other novels in the genre. For example, lots of PNR universes rely on mate-for-life magic (one of my favorite plot devices), and I thought the author touched on some interesting issues -- sure, having powerful magic bring you and your One True Love together is exciting and all, but where does Free Will fit in? I was hoping that Killough-Walden was going somewhere with Lily's reticence after a genuinely rape-y introduction to her supernatural future, but as juicy as this drama might have been, it's all swept under the carpet by the end of the book.
The pacing was a bit off, too. I would have really enjoyed fifty or more extra pages in the beginning to develop actual romantic feelings between the two main characters, but all they get is one measly bike ride before the proverbial poo hits the fan. But then the ending seems to drag on forever because there's no dramatic tension to drive the action. We already know who the bad guy is about a third of the way through.
And talk about inappropriate -- I guess we can throw domestic abuse and rape onto the list of undercurrents in this book that just left me unnerved. Yes, yes, it's all fantasy and wish fulfillment and entertainment and titillation. Goodness knows I have thoroughly enjoyed much more violent and non-consensual novels before this. Something about the way these issues were presented and even joked about in this novel just really rubbed me the wrong way, like maybe the author wasn't exploring these themes with the intensity and gravitas they deserved. If a book about vampiric werewolves can even be said to have gravitas, of course.
At the time, the only way to get The Heat was to buy it as part of a compilation of books 1-4 in the series. Despite the fact that I've already purchased books 2-4, I won't be reading the rest of these.
The pacing was a bit off, too. I would have really enjoyed fifty or more extra pages in the beginning to develop actual romantic feelings between the two main characters, but all they get is one measly bike ride before the proverbial poo hits the fan. But then the ending seems to drag on forever because there's no dramatic tension to drive the action. We already know who the bad guy is about a third of the way through.
And talk about inappropriate -- I guess we can throw domestic abuse and rape onto the list of undercurrents in this book that just left me unnerved. Yes, yes, it's all fantasy and wish fulfillment and entertainment and titillation. Goodness knows I have thoroughly enjoyed much more violent and non-consensual novels before this. Something about the way these issues were presented and even joked about in this novel just really rubbed me the wrong way, like maybe the author wasn't exploring these themes with the intensity and gravitas they deserved. If a book about vampiric werewolves can even be said to have gravitas, of course.
At the time, the only way to get The Heat was to buy it as part of a compilation of books 1-4 in the series. Despite the fact that I've already purchased books 2-4, I won't be reading the rest of these.
September 2, 2018
Second time reading these series. I love the characters. Looking forward to moving into the spinoff series with the Vampire King.
August 6, 2013
This is undoubtedly the best werewolf series I've ever read and I've read many! Although the compilation is around 4000 pages, it got me so hooked into it that I read it in 2 days after work. Yes, I hardly slept.
The compilation consists of all four books in the series - The Heat, The Strip, The Spell and The Hunt. Each story tells of a unique woman with magickal or shifter capabilities and their romance with handsome and dangerous, previously 'hard to get' shifters. Yes, that is a fairly standard plot. But the beauty of the compilation is not in the plot but in the telling of the tale and the world Killough-Walden created around them. It contains many elements that I look for in a paranormal read - magick, intriguing secondary and peripheral characters and the right combination of fantasy and realism so that a reader is allowed to truly escape into the book while being able to relate to the characters' vulnerabilities.
The compilation is not so much a revelation in that it has a new angle to werewolves. I personally found that it stuck to a lot of the tried and tested literary myths concerning these shifters. Reading this was a helluva ride and I won't forget it. In fact I haven't forgotten it although I read this compilation months ago.
On a different note, I appreciate what this compilation represents. I admit that when I picked it up I was curious as to what standard of writing obtained Killough-Walden the NY Bestseller status with this series. I was prepared to enjoy it but I wasn't prepared to be sucked into it so thoroughly. It is undoubtedly a must-read for any werewolf fans. I don't think you can truly say that you're a fan of paranormal romance without at least sampling this series. After having read this, I believe that Killough-Walden has earned the accolades that she's achieved. And as an indie writer, I take umbrage in that and just like this compilation 'kicks proverbial', it reinforces the belief in me that indie writers are on their way to making a significant difference in the literary world.
Review of Big Bad Wolf by Aneesa Price
Author of The Coffin Girls Series and Reviewer at www.sugaryspicyreads.com
The compilation consists of all four books in the series - The Heat, The Strip, The Spell and The Hunt. Each story tells of a unique woman with magickal or shifter capabilities and their romance with handsome and dangerous, previously 'hard to get' shifters. Yes, that is a fairly standard plot. But the beauty of the compilation is not in the plot but in the telling of the tale and the world Killough-Walden created around them. It contains many elements that I look for in a paranormal read - magick, intriguing secondary and peripheral characters and the right combination of fantasy and realism so that a reader is allowed to truly escape into the book while being able to relate to the characters' vulnerabilities.
The compilation is not so much a revelation in that it has a new angle to werewolves. I personally found that it stuck to a lot of the tried and tested literary myths concerning these shifters. Reading this was a helluva ride and I won't forget it. In fact I haven't forgotten it although I read this compilation months ago.
On a different note, I appreciate what this compilation represents. I admit that when I picked it up I was curious as to what standard of writing obtained Killough-Walden the NY Bestseller status with this series. I was prepared to enjoy it but I wasn't prepared to be sucked into it so thoroughly. It is undoubtedly a must-read for any werewolf fans. I don't think you can truly say that you're a fan of paranormal romance without at least sampling this series. After having read this, I believe that Killough-Walden has earned the accolades that she's achieved. And as an indie writer, I take umbrage in that and just like this compilation 'kicks proverbial', it reinforces the belief in me that indie writers are on their way to making a significant difference in the literary world.
Review of Big Bad Wolf by Aneesa Price
Author of The Coffin Girls Series and Reviewer at www.sugaryspicyreads.com
November 19, 2012
When I give out a 3 stars i feel the need to explain.
I actually have yet to finish the fourth one, but i needed a break from this series. But with that being said, i liked the other three, they were interesting enough...I guess thinking about it though the first three are pretty much similar story lines. Two guys - one be crazy, the other the right most perfect guy. The girls of the stories are all these kickass women - which don't get me wrong I like strong woman heroes but once in a while it would be nice to have a somewhat I don't want to say "weaker" but somewhat more innocent type. Just to mix it up I mean. There is some variation between the girls but with Danny who was supposedly this sweet, kind, and loving soul, she was not really she had that underlining bad streak. I don't know maybe that is just me.
What I can say is that they were good enough to try out, and give a shot, but if you are looking for variety in series (as in each person's story) keep looking. These story-lines are similar. Though hitting the second book and you get a continuing villain which is nice. So in my opinion, if you like werewolf stories this is slightly different than most, the wolf doesn't feel as "vocal" or known i guess as in most series well up until the third book. Anywhos, I liked the new-ish take of the wolves.
I actually have yet to finish the fourth one, but i needed a break from this series. But with that being said, i liked the other three, they were interesting enough...I guess thinking about it though the first three are pretty much similar story lines. Two guys - one be crazy, the other the right most perfect guy. The girls of the stories are all these kickass women - which don't get me wrong I like strong woman heroes but once in a while it would be nice to have a somewhat I don't want to say "weaker" but somewhat more innocent type. Just to mix it up I mean. There is some variation between the girls but with Danny who was supposedly this sweet, kind, and loving soul, she was not really she had that underlining bad streak. I don't know maybe that is just me.
What I can say is that they were good enough to try out, and give a shot, but if you are looking for variety in series (as in each person's story) keep looking. These story-lines are similar. Though hitting the second book and you get a continuing villain which is nice. So in my opinion, if you like werewolf stories this is slightly different than most, the wolf doesn't feel as "vocal" or known i guess as in most series well up until the third book. Anywhos, I liked the new-ish take of the wolves.
May 28, 2013
Book 1 is 'The Heat' and the heroine Lily is dormant mate, a fact she is unaware of. The story starts with her returning home to Baton Rouge after an absence of 10 years. She stays with her childhood best friend Tabitha (Tabby) and her schoolgirl crush on Tabitha's older brother Daniel Kane is resurrected in full force.
Unbeknown to Lily, Tabitha and her brother are werewolves and Daniel is the Alpha wolf of his pack. Aside from wanting to take Lily as his mate, he is also the police chief and is on the hunt for a serial killer. Enter Lily's favourite author Malcolm Cole, who Lily is also attracted to. Malcolm who also happens to be an Alpha wolf also wants to take Lily as his mate and is also Daniel's No.1 suspect for the murders in Baton Rouge.
Lily is a strong, independent woman but will she mate with either of the Alpha wolves in her life? And will her unique ability be a help or a hindrance? As this is the first book in the series, we are introduced to the author's take on pack law and the Clan Council which is like a central government in the lycan world.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and it was surprisingly easy to get into. I'm looking forward to reading the rest in the series.
Unbeknown to Lily, Tabitha and her brother are werewolves and Daniel is the Alpha wolf of his pack. Aside from wanting to take Lily as his mate, he is also the police chief and is on the hunt for a serial killer. Enter Lily's favourite author Malcolm Cole, who Lily is also attracted to. Malcolm who also happens to be an Alpha wolf also wants to take Lily as his mate and is also Daniel's No.1 suspect for the murders in Baton Rouge.
Lily is a strong, independent woman but will she mate with either of the Alpha wolves in her life? And will her unique ability be a help or a hindrance? As this is the first book in the series, we are introduced to the author's take on pack law and the Clan Council which is like a central government in the lycan world.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and it was surprisingly easy to get into. I'm looking forward to reading the rest in the series.
July 23, 2013
Having come backwards, from the King's Series to this series, and not being a huge fan of werewolves, I was proven wrong in so many ways when I started reading these. Honestly I had never been a fan of the furry guys, they never seemed to hold the draw and attention that other fantasy beings seemed to, ie vampires, fae, the likes. Walden made me eat my thoughts/words. The complex nature of her version of werewolves made them less of dogs on leashes and more like something that stood right next to other fantasy beings. No standing behind the vampires, these are right in line next to them.
One of the greatest things I find with any Walden book, and these are no exception is that while there are twists, turns, bends and fast straight aways in your reading, the flow of her words and the story are wonderfully easy to follow. I finished the series in a few days, often reading well into the evening because I wanted to follow through, to know what happen next and next and.....I couldn't put them down.
One of the greatest things I find with any Walden book, and these are no exception is that while there are twists, turns, bends and fast straight aways in your reading, the flow of her words and the story are wonderfully easy to follow. I finished the series in a few days, often reading well into the evening because I wanted to follow through, to know what happen next and next and.....I couldn't put them down.
June 3, 2013
Lily and Daniel
My God!! How much can a girl go through in few days??!!
Lily is a great heroin. Never giving up and dtill quite stubborn after all her challenges she get out of them stronger. As for Daniel, we don t really see any different side of him except the stubborn dominiering alpha male who will stop at nothing to get his mate. Which is fortunate, knowing the events.
Claire and Malcom
Well we go up one step in term of hardship here. Claire is in serious problems but Malcom is hot on her steps. And what a mess between who is who, in which team and so on. Really great read, non stop suspens and action!!
Kat and Byron
Wow this story rocks!!! Byron is again one 100% alpha male and against Kat, the dormant Hunteress, that much is needed. They litteraly create fireworks together. I was impressed with the detours used in this story, with all the different characters and sides involved. An intense read for the fans of the genre.
My God!! How much can a girl go through in few days??!!
Lily is a great heroin. Never giving up and dtill quite stubborn after all her challenges she get out of them stronger. As for Daniel, we don t really see any different side of him except the stubborn dominiering alpha male who will stop at nothing to get his mate. Which is fortunate, knowing the events.
Claire and Malcom
Well we go up one step in term of hardship here. Claire is in serious problems but Malcom is hot on her steps. And what a mess between who is who, in which team and so on. Really great read, non stop suspens and action!!
Kat and Byron
Wow this story rocks!!! Byron is again one 100% alpha male and against Kat, the dormant Hunteress, that much is needed. They litteraly create fireworks together. I was impressed with the detours used in this story, with all the different characters and sides involved. An intense read for the fans of the genre.
October 21, 2013
it is difficult, I think, to come up with a new idea about werewolves and vampires, but by golly I think she's got it!!
the werewolves are a dying breed and only dormants can produce offspring, usually only one. but dormants are rare, and appeal to every alpha they come across. so, when dormants dream of not one, but TWO alphas, you know it isn't gonna end well.
each book follows on from the next, and need to be read in order to get the full picture. you get serial killers, murderers, witches, wolves, vampires, magic and mayhem abounds! I loved these books. I did start book three as a separate book, then went back to read some reviews, as I do sometimes, and realised this was part of a set and promptly bought the box set. the follow on series, the kings, will be on my wish list just as soon as I get to a computer :-)
the werewolves are a dying breed and only dormants can produce offspring, usually only one. but dormants are rare, and appeal to every alpha they come across. so, when dormants dream of not one, but TWO alphas, you know it isn't gonna end well.
each book follows on from the next, and need to be read in order to get the full picture. you get serial killers, murderers, witches, wolves, vampires, magic and mayhem abounds! I loved these books. I did start book three as a separate book, then went back to read some reviews, as I do sometimes, and realised this was part of a set and promptly bought the box set. the follow on series, the kings, will be on my wish list just as soon as I get to a computer :-)
July 14, 2012
I was hesitant about this book because it came as a recommendation after I purchased 50 Shades of Gray. Well I'm hooked now. It a series of short stories in which all the main characters are interconnected. A combination of werewolf love stories (but not too much sex nauseating loves stories) mixed with vampires, warlocks, witches, etc. If you a fan of the genre then you will enjoy these books. I would prefer a bit more character development, but the pace is great, and its a perfect easy read after a a long day of work and schoolwork. Its kind of a like a True Blood with werewolves. I have to say it definitely peeked my interest in the werewolf literature....I will definitely be exploring more of Walden books...good reads!
July 24, 2012
Fantastic series! I LOVED them. My only criticism would be that Book 3 seemed a little too much like Book 1 for my liking. But, it doesn't stop me from giving them all 5 stars!!! Also, it was almost like the same thing over and over, yet not! They were a true whirlwind from start to finish.
My only criticism would be that maybe there was just too much. Too many characters, too much history, just too much. I was so excited and in the moment that sometimes I had to stop myself to let my brain catch up. Who can remember all those names? And nicknames? And first names? And last names? And can we all just keep calling them by one name? Holy crap.
But, don't get me wrong. I am a BIG fan!
My only criticism would be that maybe there was just too much. Too many characters, too much history, just too much. I was so excited and in the moment that sometimes I had to stop myself to let my brain catch up. Who can remember all those names? And nicknames? And first names? And last names? And can we all just keep calling them by one name? Holy crap.
But, don't get me wrong. I am a BIG fan!
August 31, 2012
I have to admit that I have never really been a Wolf girl - for whatever reason, the vampires were my thing and my reading tended to dictate that preference - and then I came to the BBW Heather Killough Walden party:) I love that I found this series when all 4 were available - I finished one and went directly to the sequel and so on until I just finished The Hunt. Now I am at a loss as to what to read next!!!
This series is so different in that it creates these wonderful relationships and bonds and carries them throughout each book. The original "couple" of Lily & Daniel can be found in all 4 novels and each couple in each book become family.
LOVE this series and am very hopeful that the author will someday revisit these fabulous characters again!!!
This series is so different in that it creates these wonderful relationships and bonds and carries them throughout each book. The original "couple" of Lily & Daniel can be found in all 4 novels and each couple in each book become family.
LOVE this series and am very hopeful that the author will someday revisit these fabulous characters again!!!
September 23, 2012
My absolute FAVORITE author. The Big Bad Wolf romances are the first I've read by her, but now I just can't get enough. I usually read authors like V. C. Andrews, Stephen King, James Patterson and Dean Koontz --- all main stream horror/mystery. I just accidently happened on one of Heather's books because it was free on Amazon (Book 1) and I had a breand new Kindle, so I thought what the heck, why not try something different. OMG, I thought I was reading an adult version of the Twilight Saga only so much better (wolves and all). I found myself dreaming about seeing the first book as a movie and had to compliment Heather myself. I went to her Facebook page and hve not stopped "stalking" her books since.
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