The Bad Wolf

by Michelle Clay

After her parents divorce, Chloe Williams moves from a comfortable life in Fort Collins to a smaller town. She was popular back home, but at the new school she just doesn't fit in. Everyone is secretive and pretty much ignores her. Everyone that is, except “the pack”, a group of kids that always hang out together and can sometimes be downright mean. Her one and only friend, Jenna, is an even bigger outcast than she is. Jenna dabbles in witchcraft and claims to be able to open Chloe’s eyes to the hidden world around them and that includes the creatures lurking in the dark. The only thing Chloe is interested in “eyeing” is Jenna’s older cousin, Ryan, who also happens to be a werewolf. When a classmate goes missing, the girls form a search party. Everything is turned upside down by fear and hatred as the town begins a manhunt. Chloe has a secret of her own and it just may be the key to finding the missing boy. She has just begun to develop feelings for Ryan when his troubled past and recent friction with the victim comes to light. Can Chloe help prove his innocence or will she lose her first love forever?

Genres: Paranormal, Werewolves, Paranormal Romance, Ebooks, Romance, High School, Shapeshifters

330 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Michelle's visions continuously take shape as she brings life to the worlds she has imagined since childhood. The wild imaginings that often got Michelle out of, or more often into, trouble as a young girl have informed and enriched her storytelling as an adult, bringing a fresh new voice to the paranormal romance genre.

Reviews

[Nina Mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

I downloaded this right after receiving my Kindle for Christmas. It's a YA about a girl named Chloe who moves to a small town in Colorado after her parents separate. (She walked in on her father with his girlfriend, so there's some residual trauma involved). She was popular in her last high school, but is teased and harassed by the new clique (pack) of popular kids at the new one. Only Jenna, a goth type, befriends her. Jenna's handsome, dark-haired cousin Ryan, to whom Chloe feels uncannily attracted, seems to run hot and cold toward her, which vexes and confuses. One minute, he's kissing her, the next, pushing her away. Chloe, who can sense the emotions of animals--a gift she hides from family and friends--soon learns the reason she's being treated so badly in Hunde...and why Ryan acts so mercurial toward her.

I like this kind of paranormal romance. Well, actually, I like this kind of paranormal romance with steamy sex scenes, but, given that it's a YA and Chloe is only 16, I didn't really expect her and Ryan to get it on. What I mean is that I like paranormal romances about a normal heroine (or hero) who finds herself in paranormal circumstances. So many paranormals these days have just gotten too weird for me. Guess that's why I write the kind of books I love to read; books like this one (only with steamy sex and adult characters); books about people falling in love and overcoming obstacles that are perhaps just a little more "out-there" than the obstacles human couples face.

Anyway, I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to those, like me, who just want a good, old-fashioned paranormal romance about a normal girl who finds herself falling for a handsome were or vampire. Kudos to author Michelle Clay for an enjoyable, compelling read with The Bad Wolf.

[Skyye Breeze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic Book!!!!!
I love the concept and idea of the story! It's fresh, fun, and entertaining.. but it also has a presence of mystery and secrets!!!! It's very addicting from just a few words in I was hooked and couldn't stop reading until the end!!!!
I love that you can connect to the story because its very believable, the details and descriptions of the places, people and things are amazing and described so beautifully that it just captures you and you feel like you have been transported to a completely different world!!! everything else just seems to fade away and you are completely lost in the book!
i enjoyed the characters and it was fun watching them blossom and grow throughout the book!
i would definitely recommend this book! this author is new to me and i am loving her work! i look forward to reading more books by her in the future!

[Stephenee · Rating 5 out of 5]

* I received a copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review. *

As an adult I enjoy Young Adult books just as much now as I did then and The Bad Wolf was no exception. It was an awesome read that kept me up way past my bed time. It's hard to explain to your boss that you were kept up by a great story but I enjoyed every minute of this book and couldn't stop turning the pages. This is one book that was well worth the lack of sleep.

The story flowed perfectly and the characters were very well developed and believable. Chloe is the typical bratty, mouthy, whiney teenager. She's hurt, confused,angry and scared when her parents get divorced and she's forced to move from a big city to a small town. She tries everything to fit in but nothing works. She eventually makes friend with a "goth" girl, Jenna, and Jenna's cousin, Ryan, who is very confusing. One second Ryan is nice to her, the next he's being a jerk to her and everyone around them.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves YA paranormal with a touch of romance.
This book contains drama, minor romance, mystery and some paranormal too! It is a page turner from beginning to end! Michelle Clay paints a vivid world with her use of words and it enabled me to easily picture myself friends with Chloe and her mother, at the Veterinary office, I could feel the sensation of fur running through my fingers and the sheer terror in the big fight scene, as well as at the site of the murder. It felt like the reader was actually right there with them and it takes a good writer to make the reader feel this way. Add this to your TBR list and read it sooner rather than later because it is well worth the read!

***Review has been done in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official.
For more information regarding our reviews please visit our Fansite: www.facebook.com/NerdGirl.ng ***

[Shannon Eckrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Chloe William's parents divorce, her mother decides to start a new life with her daughter in the small town of Hunde. But Chloe doesn't seem to fit in with any of the other kids at her new school. In fact, they tease and torment her. Chloe, who used to fit in with the popular kids at her former school, can't understand why this town is so against outsiders. She finally meets Jenna, a goth girl, who has a very strange cousin by the name of Ryan. Jenna and Chloe become best friends while Ryan constantly tries to push her away one minute and then becomes her protector the next.

When she stumbles across the town's secret, including Ryan's,this puts Chloe's life at risk, especially, when people from the town begin to disappear and, Ryan the only one who can protect her from the pack, is the number one suspect.

Ryan and Chloe's relationship deepens as Ryan risks his own life to protect her, but will it be too late for both of them?

The Bad Wolf was an awesome read that kept me up way past my bed time. I enjoyed every minute of this book and couldn't stop turning the pages. The story flowed perfectly and the characters were very well developed and believable. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves YA paranormal. Add it to your TBR list now, because you're definitely not going to want to miss The Bad Wolf!

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll be honest - I'm surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. When the book starts out, Chloe is the typical bratty, mouthy teenager. She's hurt, confused, and scared when her parents get divorced and she's forced to move from a big city to a small, close-knit town.

She tries everything to fit in but nothing works. She eventually makes friend with a "goth" girl, Jenna, and a boy, Ryan, who is very confusing. One second Ryan is nice to her, the next he's being a jerk.

Chloe is strong, I'll say that much. She's attacked by the kids in school, attacked by wolves, and hangs in there. I really love her development throughout the story. She grows up as the pages turn and by the end, that bratty teenager is gone, replaced by a young woman who has seen and done things that most wouldn't be able to handle.

This book is full of secrets. The town has a big one. Chloe has one that she's struggled with for years. Ryan has one he's trying to run away from. Jenna has one that she embraces but still keeps hidden. All of their secrets make this book a page turner!


I look forward to reading a lot more from Michelle Clay!

I give this YA paranormal story 4/5 stars!

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bad Wolf by Michelle Clay is a young adult paranormal fiction novel. Set in Colorado this novel has romance, mystery, murder, werewolves and a bit of witchcraft. What will happen danger stalks the town and closely guarded secrets are revealed?

Chloe Williams’s life is falling apart at the seams. Her parents Karen and David are divorced and her mother is moving her to a new town away from her school and all of her friends. Chloe is used to be popular and liked by all. That all changes with the move to the small town of Hunde, Colorado. Here the high school is ruled by “the pack” a group of teens who do not take well to outsiders. The pack goes out of their way to make her life miserable in their effort to encourage Chloe and her mother to move out of Hunde.

The writing was intense and gripping. Michelle Clay paints a vivid world with her use of words it enabled me to easily picture myself in the car with Chloe and her mother, feel the sensation of fur running through my fingers and the sheer terror in the last fight scene. I absolutely loved this novel and have sincere hopes that this is only the first in a series of The Bad Wolf. I highly recommend this book.

[Theresa Needham fehse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Free book for a free review. juliesbookreview.blogspot.com

Chloe is having a melt down. Her parents divorced she moved to a hole in the wall town . Her mom is now the town veterinarian. Oh and Chloe can read animals emotions and pick up their thoughts. Her first day in school she freaks over a frog in Biology and falls off her stool in front of the whole class. She does not fit it with any of the kids in school. She is treated horribly to the point of serious bullying. The pack has decided that her and her mom are not wanted, they are outsiders and are doing everything they can to make Chloe's life hell.
Ryan a wolf but not of the town pack try's to help Chloe since she is unable to help herself.
Not all is what it it seems nor are the people.

This is a fast read and good book. Teens will like this book if they liked the Twilight Series.

Patches

[Jeannette Joyal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given an arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Small town, strange activity, disappearances and most of all secrets!!
This is what Chloe stumbles upon when her mother decides to start over in a small town after a bitter divorce. Needless to say Chloe is not happy at all. Now she has to start over in a new school and soon finds out that some of the students are just as strange as the town they live in..
OMG!! I love this story!! It has so many twists and turned making it hard to put the book down! The characters where amazing as well as the vivid description that just draws you deep into the story!!
Well done!! I am looking forward to more of this Authors work!!

[Malinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bad Wolf was an awesome read that kept me up way past my bed time. I enjoyed every minute of this book and couldn't stop turning the pages. The story and the characters were perfectly written. Chloe is the typical bratty, mouthy teenager. But she's a strong young lady who has been and is going through a lot. Shes bullied by the kids at her school and yet she stays strong. You watch Chloe grow through the pages. Her development into a young woman is amazing! I would recommend this book to anyone.

[Glenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of Chloe, a young girl who has a lot to deal with. Like any typical teenager, she has to deal with the divorce of her parents, moving to a new town and fitting in at a new school that's filled with bullies. It's the not so typical things that really made this story interesting for me. As Chloe deals with everything, we see her learn and grow into a touch, smart girl who seems to be able to take on anything to save those she cares about. I hope there's a book 2 in the works!

[Ronni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book! Great for young adults but I enjoyed it too. It has all the aspects I look for in a book. Drama, romance, mystery with a bit of paranormal too! Page turner from beginning to end! Highly recommend it.

[Joy Whiteside · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this. This book was very hard to put down once I started.

It moved along at a good pace, it had interesting characters and a story that was entertaining as well.

This is definitely a book worth checking out.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

So loved the town secrets. you will to check out this Totally Awesome book.

[Candice · Rating 4 out of 5]

The bad wolf

well I thought it was a cute story. good story line. chole's mom sure passed me off a lot. Will there be another one....

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF 24%

It’s like a wattpad novel or something written by a kid. The heroine wasn’t likable, she whined a lot about fitting in even though she didn’t have any real friends in her last school anyway. Her father was absent, preoccupied with his own life, and her mother was caring more about herself. Her decision to move out to this outback area was strange.

[C.J. Anaya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit that I almost didn't finish this book simply because I found Chloe and her mother Karen to be totally unlikable. Her mom seemed self-absorbed, clueless and even a little uncaring which I could have excused until Chloe actually told her some of the things the pack had done to her at school, and yet the mom manages to make it seem as if Chloe is either being whiney, cranky or dramatic...which is pretty much what Chloe does do for the better part of the book.

It's one thing to give your character flaws, but they need to be tempered with some good qualities as well. Eventually they are, but not fast enough for me to feel much of a connection to her. The only reason I continued was because of Ryan and the underlying mystery behind the pack. Chloe finally started showing a little maturity about half-way through the book, and I was able to enjoy the action and suspense surrounding the hunt for Travis. That was the Chloe that should have been present from day one. She had a legitimate excuse to be upset about the move and her parents divorce, but her level of immaturity left me grinding my teeth a little. Young adults will probably like this, but I would hesitate to recommend this to adults.

I enjoy werewolf stories, and did like that aspect of this book. There were also some good moments of humor, and the people in the pack finally start behaving as if Chloe is a good person instead of a disease that must be either eradicated or punished. So that was good. Jenna's personality is kind and caring, but her magic is kind of weak sauce, and her locator spell wasn't really a locator spell considering you had to be within a few feet of the individual for the object to illuminate. Seemed counter-productive.

It wasn't a terrible book, but the Chloe and her mom could use some revamping, and some of the staff at the school should have shown some concern for Chloe, considering the extreme bullying they were witness to. In this day and age that kind of bullying isn't tolerated so I got a little angry that the teachers turned a blind eye to it or behaved clueless much like the mom did. The bullying was part of the plot, but there should have been more of a reaction from the staff.

Didn't see that twist with the guy coming. Crazy person! That was an unexpected and interesting way to take the plot so kudos on that. In the end I gave it four stars because the last half of the book took off like I was hoping the whole book would have, and actually kept me reading until the end. Fix the first half, and this will be a great book.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a very good YA story that I really enjoyed. I often have trouble reading books with too much teen angst added to them, and when the story first started, I thought this one would be that type of book, but it absolutely was not. There was, of course, SOME angst, with Chloe having trouble getting along with her parents (especially with the cause and result of a divorce), but let’s be honest…it would be HIGHLY unrealistic, and definitely not real teens if there wasn’t some of that!

Chloe was hoping that in moving to a new, small town, she would have no problem getting people to like her, especially because it was normally so easy to get people to like her. However, she had no idea how different this town was. “Outsiders” were more than unwelcome; it appeared that everyone, especially “the pack”, who seemed to be the popular group, would do everything they could to chase outsiders back to where they came from.

Chloe finally found a friend in Jenna, who did everything she could to be different from everyone else, even though that meant not having many friends herself. Although with her goth look, it wasn’t someone Chloe would normally be friends with, they ended up being perfect friends. Especially because Jenna’s cousin was the infuriating, yet highly intriguing object of Chloe’s attention.

Ryan’s attitude started making much more sense once she found out he was a werewolf. And although she wanted to run at first, she couldn’t. The more she got to know Ryan and Jenna, the more she got to know more secrets about the town. At the same time, she and the town found out there was one more big secret forming that was a danger to all of them.

This book was a quick read, and mostly because I had a very hard time putting it down. Every time I was about to, one more thing happened that drew me back in to find out what would happen next. Although I did figure out the bad person pretty quickly, and that would normally be a letdown, it really wasn’t because wanting to find out what would happen next, and how everyone else came to the conclusion made up for it. I did have a little trouble with how they “changed” from human to wolf, but it was only a mild distraction for me, and I would definitely read the book again. I would really recommend it, and look forward to any future books from this author.
Please do not share without giving Paranormal Reads/Erin full credit or without permission from the author or publisher.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

An okay read but nothing amazing. The story line was a pretty straightforward werewolf story and the writing was decent. The characters were good but didn't seem real consistent throughout the book. Chloe was quite the whiner for most of the first part of the book and wanted nothing to do with animals yet by the end of the story she is assisting her mom with veterinary surgery? Ryan was also quite the jerk in the beginning (to more people than just Chloe) but he is mister nice guy by the end? The sheriff and his pack were absolutely awful to Ryan and almost killed him several times yet suddenly at the end of the story the sheriff says he was wrong about Ryan and suddenly its all okay? See what I mean? Besides that this was actually a decent story. Chloe's whole reading animals emotions was a paranormal power I haven't seen in any books before so I found that intriguing. I would recommend this if you're looking for a quick and easy paranormal read to kill some time with.

[Jennifer Shiels · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good book. This is the story of Chloe and Ryan. Chloe and her mother move to the new town of Hunde after her parents divorce. Chloe was a popular girl at her old school in Fort Collins but in Hunde she is an outcast - an outsider. The town has many members that are werewolves. The town is full of secrets. Chloe has her own secrets. All of a sudden a member of the pack is found dead and another one is missing.

It's a good story and definitely worth the read.

[Elowen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I laughed so hard when I found out who the culprit was! What I don't understand is how they got away with it for so long. I mean, their in a town full of werewolfs! And Chloe is such a crybaby, although she gets better twords the end.

Overall the book wasn't very exciting, just kind of "meh". I wanted more action, more suspense, more danger, more alpha male hotness. Would I recommend it? Nah.

[Amanda Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bad wolf

I enjoyed this take on werewolves. The character development is good and they are easily likable. This book is well written and I didn't want to put it down.

[Sasha Cunliffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was well written and kept me on edge trying to guess who was the bad is.
I would have rated the book 5star but wasn't impressed how the book just ended and didn't mention what happened to travis or mike and if they was excepted by the pack eventually

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

[Sheila Ryals · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great young adult book. Hope there are more. Really good storyline and love interest. The characters interacted well. loved it.

[Maddi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately I couldn't finish this book. Could be an amazing story line, it just needs more work.

[Shannie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read full of suspense & the supernatural on top of that being in high school lol :) Can't wait to read the next book.