What do you think?
Rate this book
Wolves of Stone Ridge #12
A Cajun in Colorado
Out of the cage: First impressions are rarely accurate when shifters are involved.
Christopher ‘Chris’ Peterson loses a bet. Now, he has to spend an evening at a straight bar dressed in drag. But don’t worry, his friends will be there to protect him. Too bad they do a lousy job of it. His knight in shining armor takes the form of a sexy Cajun, Manon Lemelle. Chris immediately finds himself drawn to the handsome man. Too bad Manon thinks Chris is a woman. Still, Chris can’t resist accepting a date with him. His friends are right, and it ends in disaster, because Chris finds himself liking Manon entirely too much.
Manon Lemelle’s maman warned him that his mate would lead him on a merry chase. Nothing could be truer. When he meets his mate, Chris Richardson, he’s introduced to a lovely, slender young woman. He enjoys her wit and charm, her shy attitude, and longs to hear her breathy voice whispered into his ear. There’s just one small problem. Chris, is really Christopher, and he’s a man.
Can he convince his mate that even though their entire relationship started with lies, on both sides, they can still make this work?
Christopher ‘Chris’ Peterson loses a bet. Now, he has to spend an evening at a straight bar dressed in drag. But don’t worry, his friends will be there to protect him. Too bad they do a lousy job of it. His knight in shining armor takes the form of a sexy Cajun, Manon Lemelle. Chris immediately finds himself drawn to the handsome man. Too bad Manon thinks Chris is a woman. Still, Chris can’t resist accepting a date with him. His friends are right, and it ends in disaster, because Chris finds himself liking Manon entirely too much.
Manon Lemelle’s maman warned him that his mate would lead him on a merry chase. Nothing could be truer. When he meets his mate, Chris Richardson, he’s introduced to a lovely, slender young woman. He enjoys her wit and charm, her shy attitude, and longs to hear her breathy voice whispered into his ear. There’s just one small problem. Chris, is really Christopher, and he’s a man.
Can he convince his mate that even though their entire relationship started with lies, on both sides, they can still make this work?
94 pages, ebook
First published September 15, 2012
22 people are currently reading
178 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
December 14, 2015
At first, I found this to be off the wall The end result is I found it to be a pleasant read, thou my favorite of this series continues to be book 5 Finding Balance!
October 30, 2012
My total guilty pleasure series!
And it has it all..a misunderstanding..Chris is a boy not a girl, although how Manon the magnificent with his shifter nose didn't figure that one out? Protective friends, gay bashing, finding out your BF is a shifter from a third person, injury, mayhem, accidents...oh it goes on and on..
And the next book is already set up, will it be Demitri the bottom boy looking for an older lover, or Remy the injured human looking for love, or maybe Baxter the annoying teen or his brother...and what of the government conspiracy with the bad scientist.....tune in next week ....
And it has it all..a misunderstanding..Chris is a boy not a girl, although how Manon the magnificent with his shifter nose didn't figure that one out? Protective friends, gay bashing, finding out your BF is a shifter from a third person, injury, mayhem, accidents...oh it goes on and on..
And the next book is already set up, will it be Demitri the bottom boy looking for an older lover, or Remy the injured human looking for love, or maybe Baxter the annoying teen or his brother...and what of the government conspiracy with the bad scientist.....tune in next week ....
June 4, 2013
1.5 stars
Meh, I like the premise of these books, I really do. I just don't like the books themselves. It makes me so sad, because the plot looks really good, but when I read the book.
It's just not for me.
Meh, I like the premise of these books, I really do. I just don't like the books themselves. It makes me so sad, because the plot looks really good, but when I read the book.
It's just not for me.
September 16, 2012
3.5
I enjoy all of the Stone Ridge books.. My rating is only pulled down because of the length of the story.
I would prefer each storyline to be fleshed out more.
I enjoy all of the Stone Ridge books.. My rating is only pulled down because of the length of the story.
I would prefer each storyline to be fleshed out more.
March 1, 2019
Love for the whole person
This felt more unresolved than other stories with the introduction of several humans into the universe who have information about the missing shifters and yet no exploration is done into that. Clearly to be touched on in another story it felt a bit like a forgotten plot point this time around.
As to the couple it was a cute story with lots of wooing outside of the mate paradigm. Manon is afraid to tell Chris about being a shifter and so works on getting close and winning his heart first. This was cute to see and worked well for the couple.
Good couple as usual, but with plenty of open plot points for future stories.
This felt more unresolved than other stories with the introduction of several humans into the universe who have information about the missing shifters and yet no exploration is done into that. Clearly to be touched on in another story it felt a bit like a forgotten plot point this time around.
As to the couple it was a cute story with lots of wooing outside of the mate paradigm. Manon is afraid to tell Chris about being a shifter and so works on getting close and winning his heart first. This was cute to see and worked well for the couple.
Good couple as usual, but with plenty of open plot points for future stories.
October 25, 2020
A good find
I found this book on a Goodreads list for cross dressing. I'm trying to read just paranormal books for the month of October and this sounded good. I don't usually jump ahead in a series but I decided to try it anyway. I'm glad I did. I liked Chris and Manon. They made a good couple. I wish Manon would have opened up to Chris sooner but I really liked when they were in the woods together.
I do wish there would've been more of Chris's friend Remy. I liked him. I hope he shows up again. I'm intrigued by the use of shifters to make soldiers so I definitely want to read more of this series.
I found this book on a Goodreads list for cross dressing. I'm trying to read just paranormal books for the month of October and this sounded good. I don't usually jump ahead in a series but I decided to try it anyway. I'm glad I did. I liked Chris and Manon. They made a good couple. I wish Manon would have opened up to Chris sooner but I really liked when they were in the woods together.
I do wish there would've been more of Chris's friend Remy. I liked him. I hope he shows up again. I'm intrigued by the use of shifters to make soldiers so I definitely want to read more of this series.
September 14, 2024
reread - While each of these stories is an interesting short story or novella, each in their own little series, they become much more if they are read in the suggested reading order by Charlie Richards as a whole. https://charlie-richards.com/reading-...
While they are still not a 5/5, at least they become a bit more than okay and are much more interesting as characters mesh across and around individual series. Individually they are a 3/5 so that is where I mark them.
While they are still not a 5/5, at least they become a bit more than okay and are much more interesting as characters mesh across and around individual series. Individually they are a 3/5 so that is where I mark them.
August 17, 2017
Fine but repetitive
Despite the couple unique factors, the early drag aspects and Cajun lead, I have to admit this is one of my least favorite of Charlie Richards books. Even recognizing the authors person preferred tropes, this felt fairly repetitive of previous additions.
Despite the couple unique factors, the early drag aspects and Cajun lead, I have to admit this is one of my least favorite of Charlie Richards books. Even recognizing the authors person preferred tropes, this felt fairly repetitive of previous additions.
June 25, 2017
Female or male
Paying off a bet he went to a bar in drag. Manon was happy to meet his mate thinking female but was happier to relies Chis was short for Christopher
Paying off a bet he went to a bar in drag. Manon was happy to meet his mate thinking female but was happier to relies Chis was short for Christopher
August 13, 2019
3.5 stars
October 11, 2019
Helicopter Pilot Manon and Weather Outfitters Employee Christopher
May 31, 2021
I loved the beginning but the rest of it was just okay.
February 8, 2016
A Merry Chase Indeed
When you make a stupid bet - you'd better make sure you don't lose. Just ask Chris Peterson. Otherwise he wouldn't be a pretty young woman dressed in drag in a bar that doesn't cater to gay men like he and the two best friends he lost the bet to. Even the other two of them had to tone down their appearance in order to attempt to go undetected in the macho bar. Chris attracted a lot of attention, much of it undesirable. Her would be shifters didn't care about the presence of her "boyfriend".
Lucky for her a rough, but smooth talking Cajun comes to her rescue. And despite knowing she shouldn't - she accepted a date. The next night she came to her senses and let the sweet talking man down easily. Unbeknownst to him Manon Lemelle had found his mate. Having her be a shy young Human lady meant he had to woo her slowly while his Wolf was ready to go full steam ahead. Everyone was happy that he'd discovered his mate, but Declan cautioned him about dealing with Human mates. If only had listened!
There is an underlying story of men using tranquilizers to trap Wolves. What happens when a missing young male Wolf leads to the discovery of the environmentalists. Captured for interrogation, the men aren't as forthcoming mostly out of the shock of the discovery of Wolf shifters, but also one is being protective of his younger brother. Something that comes back to bite them on their wolfie butts.
There were quite a few surprises in this story. Some shocking, others pleasing, a few could have been prevented. Keeping secrets has dire consequences. Manon has been a good friend to a few of the Stone Ridge Wolves. He definitely is deserving of a great mate, but as his Mama said, "His mate was gonna give him a merry chase". And she/he did! I wonder if any of the captured men are going to turn out to be mate's? And how are the Wolves going to insure the Humans won't reveal their identity? Can't wait to find out.
When you make a stupid bet - you'd better make sure you don't lose. Just ask Chris Peterson. Otherwise he wouldn't be a pretty young woman dressed in drag in a bar that doesn't cater to gay men like he and the two best friends he lost the bet to. Even the other two of them had to tone down their appearance in order to attempt to go undetected in the macho bar. Chris attracted a lot of attention, much of it undesirable. Her would be shifters didn't care about the presence of her "boyfriend".
Lucky for her a rough, but smooth talking Cajun comes to her rescue. And despite knowing she shouldn't - she accepted a date. The next night she came to her senses and let the sweet talking man down easily. Unbeknownst to him Manon Lemelle had found his mate. Having her be a shy young Human lady meant he had to woo her slowly while his Wolf was ready to go full steam ahead. Everyone was happy that he'd discovered his mate, but Declan cautioned him about dealing with Human mates. If only had listened!
There is an underlying story of men using tranquilizers to trap Wolves. What happens when a missing young male Wolf leads to the discovery of the environmentalists. Captured for interrogation, the men aren't as forthcoming mostly out of the shock of the discovery of Wolf shifters, but also one is being protective of his younger brother. Something that comes back to bite them on their wolfie butts.
There were quite a few surprises in this story. Some shocking, others pleasing, a few could have been prevented. Keeping secrets has dire consequences. Manon has been a good friend to a few of the Stone Ridge Wolves. He definitely is deserving of a great mate, but as his Mama said, "His mate was gonna give him a merry chase". And she/he did! I wonder if any of the captured men are going to turn out to be mate's? And how are the Wolves going to insure the Humans won't reveal their identity? Can't wait to find out.
September 28, 2012
This latest installment was a decent read for me and had a cute twist in Manon's story of getting his mate.
It started out kind of exciting with Chris losing a bet and being forced to dress as a woman and parade himself in public at a straight bar for an evening. Manon comes to Chris' rescue when a guy at the bar won't take 'no' for an answer and discovers that the pretty human female is his mate. Chris is attracted to Manon, but is conflicted because Manon's attraction to him is based on the deception that he's a girl.
The story progresses with Chris, who wants to be with Manon, foolishly agreeing to a date. Then do to a terrible beating that Chris took because of a gay bashing, Manon learns the truth.
The plot turns solicitous as Manon cares for his mate and then steamy when Chris is recovered enough for the two of them to get it on. An incident in the woods leads to further developments that give them another piece to the scientist experimenters puzzle and an unexpected complication for Manon in his relationship with Chris.
There was some excitement and some steamy passion, but for some reason I just had a disconnect from the story. It just didn't have the sparkle that some of the earlier ones had. Maybe it was because there was no really strong dangerous conflicts with the scientists and their super-charged humans like in the other stories. And because the lead characters weren't really the angsty sorts, there wasn't much in the way of conflict there- not that I'm complaining about that because I like to shake up the personalities of the heroes on occasion.
Still love the series and look forward to the next book. I like the guess work as to who will get their story next.
It started out kind of exciting with Chris losing a bet and being forced to dress as a woman and parade himself in public at a straight bar for an evening. Manon comes to Chris' rescue when a guy at the bar won't take 'no' for an answer and discovers that the pretty human female is his mate. Chris is attracted to Manon, but is conflicted because Manon's attraction to him is based on the deception that he's a girl.
The story progresses with Chris, who wants to be with Manon, foolishly agreeing to a date. Then do to a terrible beating that Chris took because of a gay bashing, Manon learns the truth.
The plot turns solicitous as Manon cares for his mate and then steamy when Chris is recovered enough for the two of them to get it on. An incident in the woods leads to further developments that give them another piece to the scientist experimenters puzzle and an unexpected complication for Manon in his relationship with Chris.
There was some excitement and some steamy passion, but for some reason I just had a disconnect from the story. It just didn't have the sparkle that some of the earlier ones had. Maybe it was because there was no really strong dangerous conflicts with the scientists and their super-charged humans like in the other stories. And because the lead characters weren't really the angsty sorts, there wasn't much in the way of conflict there- not that I'm complaining about that because I like to shake up the personalities of the heroes on occasion.
Still love the series and look forward to the next book. I like the guess work as to who will get their story next.
November 11, 2012
Reviewed for Hearts On Fire Reviews
Oh, cross dressing and shifters! Wow, did I want that to continue. Alas, Chris is cross dressing because he lost a bet, not because he is actually enjoying it. Pity! Manon is immediately drawn to Chris, knowing this is his mate. What he doesn’t realize is Chris is not the gender Manon thinks he is. I admit, I questioned this because isn’t the scent what the shifters always use to identify their mates? Then Ms. Richards answered it for me, “With the cloying scents of sweat, beer and perfume, Manon’s sense of smell had been going overtime. He desperately wanted to press his nose to Chris’s shoulder and inhale so he could learn her true scent.” Well, okay then.
Chris gives Manon his phone number even though he knows the man considers him a woman. But Chris has a habit of thinking second when it comes to men.
There is a serious topic of gay bashing in this book that saddens me because of how real life it is. When Remy (his story next, please!) is bashed, his friends hope he won’t remember what happened. Chris understands because “his first gay bashing put him in the hospital for a week…” How tragic, that it is like an unavoidable fact of life that people need live in fear of that.
Manon is an interesting character, though his decision that Chris, an affectionate, huggy type of person, may no longer be touchy with anyone but himself (including the aforementioned truly beaten Remy) was off putting. Deal with it, Manon!
There is the continuing story of captured shifters, and we may be getting closer to who is behind it. This is an interesting addition to the Wolves of Stone Ridge, and Chris is a wonderful add on to the pack.
Oh, cross dressing and shifters! Wow, did I want that to continue. Alas, Chris is cross dressing because he lost a bet, not because he is actually enjoying it. Pity! Manon is immediately drawn to Chris, knowing this is his mate. What he doesn’t realize is Chris is not the gender Manon thinks he is. I admit, I questioned this because isn’t the scent what the shifters always use to identify their mates? Then Ms. Richards answered it for me, “With the cloying scents of sweat, beer and perfume, Manon’s sense of smell had been going overtime. He desperately wanted to press his nose to Chris’s shoulder and inhale so he could learn her true scent.” Well, okay then.
Chris gives Manon his phone number even though he knows the man considers him a woman. But Chris has a habit of thinking second when it comes to men.
There is a serious topic of gay bashing in this book that saddens me because of how real life it is. When Remy (his story next, please!) is bashed, his friends hope he won’t remember what happened. Chris understands because “his first gay bashing put him in the hospital for a week…” How tragic, that it is like an unavoidable fact of life that people need live in fear of that.
Manon is an interesting character, though his decision that Chris, an affectionate, huggy type of person, may no longer be touchy with anyone but himself (including the aforementioned truly beaten Remy) was off putting. Deal with it, Manon!
There is the continuing story of captured shifters, and we may be getting closer to who is behind it. This is an interesting addition to the Wolves of Stone Ridge, and Chris is a wonderful add on to the pack.
May 9, 2016
He held open the door "as a guy should for a woman..." Criminy, what century is this? Whoever gets there first should open it for everyone else. I just picture a modern woman in a business suit just standing there waiting for some man who wants to go into the place. There could be a whole long queue of women if the shop happens to be for women's clothes. "Oh no, we can't open the door ourselves. We can't remember we have opposable thumbs!" You can like it. You can prefer it. But the "should" is what pisses me off. Politeness is not reserved for men to show women. It goes both ways.
Some funny typos: "...as they all took a seat on the table."
His wolf couldn't tell by scent that he's not female?
For once I do want a description. A twink in a dress is so hot.
Hospital scene!! Score!!
Why were the "environmentalists" capturing a wild in the first place?
I would thing with a jaw so severely bruised they thought it might be broken that it would hurt to kiss deeply.
Timing's off. It's supposed to be tomorrow but when did that happen?
Muttered is a negative word. This author uses it a lot. I think she means murmured, but it always throws me.
The last couple of books have had new ways that the human finds out he's a wolf. It's good.
Earlier his accent became thicker when agitated. Now he's lost it because he's mad. Huh? Oh but now he's scared and it's come back?
Where was Daren during all of this?
Manon wouldn't be wearing a shirt--he just shifted. And why would the tiger have a towel handy? And how did the elephant get there in the couple of minutes it all had taken?
Oh wait, the narrative remembered he was naked again. Seriously in need of editing.
Wonderful peril if ordinary story.
4 stars
Some funny typos: "...as they all took a seat on the table."
His wolf couldn't tell by scent that he's not female?
For once I do want a description. A twink in a dress is so hot.
Hospital scene!! Score!!
Why were the "environmentalists" capturing a wild in the first place?
I would thing with a jaw so severely bruised they thought it might be broken that it would hurt to kiss deeply.
Timing's off. It's supposed to be tomorrow but when did that happen?
Muttered is a negative word. This author uses it a lot. I think she means murmured, but it always throws me.
The last couple of books have had new ways that the human finds out he's a wolf. It's good.
Earlier his accent became thicker when agitated. Now he's lost it because he's mad. Huh? Oh but now he's scared and it's come back?
Where was Daren during all of this?
Manon wouldn't be wearing a shirt--he just shifted. And why would the tiger have a towel handy? And how did the elephant get there in the couple of minutes it all had taken?
Oh wait, the narrative remembered he was naked again. Seriously in need of editing.
Wonderful peril if ordinary story.
4 stars
February 26, 2014
Charlie Richards – Wolves Of Stone Ridge 12 – Cajun In Colorado. (Review.)
4.5 twinkling stars.
I loved this book. I have to say that I think it’s the best book of the series so far. I was really looking forward to Manon’s story and it did not disappoint.
Chris’s dilemma made me cringe ‘specially at the hospital. I wanted to hide behind my hands, wondering what Manon was going to do when he realised but everything worked out okay and that was one of the many reasons why I loved Manon.
I have to admit that he is one of my top five characters.
Everyone deserves a Manon.
4.5 twinkling stars.
I loved this book. I have to say that I think it’s the best book of the series so far. I was really looking forward to Manon’s story and it did not disappoint.
Chris’s dilemma made me cringe ‘specially at the hospital. I wanted to hide behind my hands, wondering what Manon was going to do when he realised but everything worked out okay and that was one of the many reasons why I loved Manon.
I have to admit that he is one of my top five characters.
Everyone deserves a Manon.
October 29, 2012
Alas, this one had issues with continuity, such as Chris discovering Manon’s height twice, and having to tell him where he works twice, in a manner that clearly states it has not occurred already, since Manon again discloses in return that he knows Chris’ boss. They really exchange the same information all over as brand-new. Sloppy.
And I thought “Detective Stryker” was looking into the gay bashing? So why is Grady confused later as to who Chris is and why his arm’s in a cast?
Somehow I found these problems more irritating this time around. Maybe, despite Manon being kinda sweet, the story just did not hit the spot that much. Well, okay, the storylines for these books are mostly the same, so perhaps it was the characters overall this time. Dunno. It was still a nice read.
I do feel like not moving on to the currently last volume I have for this series, though. Guess this stuff’s more entertaining in small doses.
And I thought “Detective Stryker” was looking into the gay bashing? So why is Grady confused later as to who Chris is and why his arm’s in a cast?
Somehow I found these problems more irritating this time around. Maybe, despite Manon being kinda sweet, the story just did not hit the spot that much. Well, okay, the storylines for these books are mostly the same, so perhaps it was the characters overall this time. Dunno. It was still a nice read.
I do feel like not moving on to the currently last volume I have for this series, though. Guess this stuff’s more entertaining in small doses.
October 9, 2012
This should have been a 4-star rating. The characters were good, the story was interesting. What dragged this down: spelling and grammar errors. If it had been a free read, I could have looked past them. But to pay for a book that was pushed to publication with the kind of computerized spellcheck that lets things go by that a real person reads, shaking head, thinking "that's not right" .... Sorry, Charlie. You need to have a real person read your book, not a computer.
October 6, 2014
This book is the quick, relatively-enjoyable read that all the others of the series have been thus far. Nothing really heavy, nothing really shocking.
There were just a couple more errors (dropped words, a couple of punctuations, and continuity issues) than expected that I just can't bump it up to 4 stars. Not enough problems to pull me out of the story but enough to annoy me.
Though, I gotta give props for one of the characters having a "White and Nerdy" ringtone on his phone.
There were just a couple more errors (dropped words, a couple of punctuations, and continuity issues) than expected that I just can't bump it up to 4 stars. Not enough problems to pull me out of the story but enough to annoy me.
Though, I gotta give props for one of the characters having a "White and Nerdy" ringtone on his phone.
September 26, 2012
3.5 stars. I was hoping for Manon's story and this was it! I just wish it was longer. Chris is a fun character and I enjoyed the way he tried to stay away from Manon even though he really wanted to be with him.
I'm wondering whose story will be next and if the mate will be Remy since he's still unattached and hurt ;)
I'm wondering whose story will be next and if the mate will be Remy since he's still unattached and hurt ;)
April 9, 2015
Much like Stormy Glenn, Charlie Richards infuses her stories with just enough intrigue and endearing romance to make it possible for to me overlook bad writing. Not great, but a pleasant way to pass the time if you're in the mood for some sappy m/m shifter fun. Be warned that Richards sucks at dirty talk. The sex scenes can be a little awkward at times.
January 28, 2013
Cute. But Chrismobvi had some issues going on. Someone who hates mind altering substances either has a serious phobia ( I know this bc I have it myself) or they were a previous addict. He also mentioned that it wasnt his first gay bashing but didnt elaborate! Kind of frustrating!
March 9, 2013
I really like reading her books. After reading the book I think about the next 2 or 3 people who will be in future books. This is a good thing because that means there is always another book to read.
May 1, 2015
2nd reading April 2015
First read 12-20-13
I don't think I got enough of Chris to really like him. Plus, I wanted him to explain why he was dressed as a woman. It just seemed like his "lie" was glossed over.
First read 12-20-13
I don't think I got enough of Chris to really like him. Plus, I wanted him to explain why he was dressed as a woman. It just seemed like his "lie" was glossed over.
Want to read
September 17, 2012why isn't this on BN.com?
December 14, 2012
another good one in this series
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews