Howling Holidays

by Autumn Daniels

A city girl with icy-blue eyes is about to unravel my life, and the ancient curse that binds me and my pack.As alpha, my life's been a solitary one, scarred by loss.But all that changes when I rescue Emily, the fierce beauty with hair like spun gold.Her fiery spirit and determination thaw my frozen heart.As a journalist, she'll stop at nothing to uncover the truth, a truth I must protect at all costs.Our fates are entwined, and the pull between us is undeniable.But I fear the darkness lurking, and the ancient curse that hungers for her.I'm torn between love and duty, as Everwood's secrets threaten to consume us.Will our love be our salvation or our undoing?The fate of the town, the wolf shifters, and our hearts hang in the balance.Howling Holidays is a steamy holiday shifter romance featuring a journalist determined to uncover the truth of the town’s folklore and the enigmatic alpha cursed to guard its secrets.

Genres: Paranormal, Romance

195 pages, Paperback

Published November 13, 2023

Reviews

[Cath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Logan is the alpha of his cursed pack of wolf shifters and protectors of the small town of Everwood. His pack are cursed with never being able to leave the town or the woods surrounding it, nor are they welcome by most of the town folk, who see them as outsiders and fear them. Only the founding families know of the history of what happened and the town has other supernatural beings in it, unknown to most. Emily is a journalist in Boston, who used to visit her grandmother Amelia in town when she was younger. With her mother moving them away and then college and work, she hadn’t been back to see her for quite some time until a phone call made her guilty. But it came too late, as her gran died days later. Now she has come to town to settle her gran’s estate and for her funeral, just weeks before Christmas. She ends up in a sudden snowstorm and slides of the side of the road into a snow drift. Knowing she is not too far from town, she starts walking and Logan comes across her in his truck, as he was going home to his gran Iris’ cabin. He takes her back there, as the roads have gotten too bad for them to make it into town. He had always put his role as alpha and protector ahead of everything and never thought he would have a mate. Now Emily’s presence has awoken something inside him and an immediate attraction has formed.

He drops her off in town the next day, but not before insisting on taking her for breakfast first. She asks him to come to the funeral as a friendly face for her, but also asks him about the strange stories her gran had told her growing up. He tries to be blasé about her questions, knowing the curse means he can’t tell her any of the truths about what happens in the town and what he really is. If he does, it will place her in danger and the shadows will come for her! Her usual journalist tendencies don’t allow her to ignore the strange tensions and feelings she gets in town, and so she starts asking lots of questions around town as she explores. Logan is busy doing extra patrols, sensing danger coming ever closer, as well as checking on the pack at the Christmas tree farm they run, to make a living for the pack. Emily meets a shadow person who has a warning for her to stop meddling with matters that are not her concern, but she is falling in love with the town, and more importantly with Logan. When he finally reveals all to her, she tells him she will help him break the curse, so all his pack can live normally once more. It all started generations ago, when one wolf shifter went rogue, killing his mate and the curse was created to punish them all. Emily finds the pack accept her quickly, especially with his gran helping. His beta Ethan brings Logan to a local witch, Callie, who he believes could help them. Logan and Emily are together now, entwined in their attempt to break the curse, as he tries to balance his duty to the pack with his love for Emily. Their quest will need the whole town to come together and help, with danger ready to attack any who dare to break the curse. Love and coming together will win the day, if they stay the course and don’t falter under pressure. A great twist on the fated mate tale, with a cursed pack left to protect a town they couldn’t be part of! I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.

[Donna · Rating 1 out of 5]

The writing seemed very dry, almost clinical. The characters did not appear to have personalities. I felt as if I was being told about their feelings, not actually experiencing them. The following plot points also bugged me:

Everwood, my home, is a town shrouded in secrets...

The townsfolk celebrate their traditions, ignorant of the supernatural world that lurks beneath the surface.

Only a few descendants of the founding families know the truth - that we walk among them as both man and wolf. They keep our secrets in exchange for protecting the town from any danger lurking about.

It sounds like the majority of the town doesn’t know about the shifters. And yet,

While the town celebrates their joyous seasonal traditions, the shifters mostly participate on the sidelines while being met with wary glances and whispers.

Everwood thrives on community, where everyone knows each other’s name, even if they still don’t accept our pack as their own.

The wariness in the eyes of Everwood’s residents as we drive through town bother me more than expected. I know their misgivings toward my kind linger generations later...

They tolerate my presence. Yet I will never truly be one of them.

Anyway, I got irritated at what I saw as fairly glaring discrepancies and the writing style so dnf.

[Alicia Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I struggled with this book due to the writing style.
The characters didn’t talk to each other as much as I would have expected and wanted. When they talked about their own feelings it was more like they were writing a journal and leaving quite a bit out. At one point I was thinking I’d give this book a 3 ⭐️ rating because it was bothering me so much.

However, the main storyline had me hooked. I wanted to see if this curse would break and how hard it would be. Kind of gave me beauty and the beast vibes as the pack never truly engaged with the town they protect and the townspeople always keeping their distance and worried about the pack even though they didn’t know they were werewolves.

A girl who used to visit every summer as a kid to her grandmother comes back years later after falling out of touch as her gma passed. She has to take care of all the funeral arrangements and her home. Instantly she fees attraction to the alpha and between the two of them they work to better understand the curse upon the wolves and try to break it.

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a book with a lot of folklore and hidden secrets… oh and wolves, shifters, and witches then this is perfect. The alpha and FMC are trying to solve hidden secrets in a town with people who like to believe them to be fake, so when they start deep diving into all the generations and secrets before them some crazy stuff starts happening. Did I also mention that our main male character along with his pack run a tree farm for town for the holidays? Definitely a nice, quick read for the holiday with a tiny amount of spice too.

[Joanne H · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good solid to the heart book. Love is hard to find but it shows up in the strangest places.
Emily's grandmother died, and she was going to a small town to settle her estate. Little did Emily know that a pack of wolf shifters lived in the woods run by alpha Logan.
Emily was stuck in a snowbank and was walking to find help when Logan came by in his truck. The story takes off from there, and so starts a new chapter in Emily's life.

[Leslie Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Howling Holidays is a standalone small town holiday shifter romance that follows the story of Emily, a human journalist, and Logan, a mysterious wolf shifter, in the town of Everwood. This steamy Christmas holiday tale is filled with mystery and intrigue, making it a captivating read.
I was given this as a Arc for a honest review and I am very glad that I read it. If you want a cozy, mystery filled with romance, Christmas, small town vibes and intrigue, this is for you!

[Carol Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful, Heartwarming!!!

I couldn't put this book down until the end. I can't wait to read more about Logan and z Emily's life together. This is one of the best paranormal romance books I've read so far. I recommend this book to everyone who olives the paranormal, romances, and happy endings.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Howling Holidays is a standalone small town holiday shifter romance. Emily, a human journalist, returns to Everwood to bury her grandmother. Here she meets Logan, a mysterious guarded wolf shifter with secrets she is determined to uncover. This was an enjoyable steamy Christmas holiday story, filled with mystery and intrigue. I couldn't put the book down. I highly recommend this one!

[Lee Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the story .all the things you want in a shifter meets mate.has love mystery battle and a community coming together. did have a little struggle of some repetitive - Ness all in all a good story and enjoyable read.

[ajscenic · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good holiday romance between Logan and Emily.
I liked this as it was a well written story that got you hooked on what would happen with the curse.
It was a romantic fairytale that kept you in suspense to see if the wolf would get the girl. A good solid 4 star,

[Jane Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

😊😊😊😊

This is a good story. It has a slightly different take on the wolves and a mysterious curse to break... somehow!

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Angie Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Autumn Daniels has written a 5-star book. This is the story of Emily and Logan. Logan is the Alpha of the Everwood pack. Emily is going to Everwood to take care of her grandmother's estate. She is driving in the snow when she loses control of her car and it goes into a ditch. Emily decides to go to the Christmas Tree farm she sees in the distance to see if she can get help. Logan is on his way back home after patrolling with his pack. He feels a change is coming to Everwood and it is not in a good way. He feels the evil in the air around town. He sees someone walking on the road and he stops to offer help. She tells him her name and what happened. He said that he was Logan and he would go and tow her car out for her. After he gets her car out, he offers to take her up to his grandmother's house. She doesn't know why but she feels an attraction to Logan. Logan feels connected to Emily but he knows that shifters and humans don't mix. Emily feels like she has come home as soon as she gets to Everwood. There are things that she heard from her grandmother and she plans to get to the truth. Emily and Logan get along and when he takes her to the inn the next morning after breakfast, they make plans to see each other later. Emily is walking around town and asking questions when she feels like someone is watching her. The town tells Emily about the tails that have been told through time but she feels like they are holding back. She talks to Logan about it and he tells her that they are just stories. Emily is going through her grandmother's things when she finds her grandmother's journals. She starts reading them and finds answers to some of her questions. She lets Logan know what she found and he decides to tell her about himself and the town. He tells her about the evil that he feels is coming to cause trouble. She said that she would help him find the truth and help him in any way she could. They start looking through her grandmother's journals and find things about the curse on Logan's pack and the town. Logan tells Ethan, his beta what he and Emily found and Ethan tells him that he knows Callie, a witch that might be able to help. They go and see her and she tells them that she knows of the curse and there is one thing they will need and she knows where it is. She agrees to help if Logan does something for her. Callie tells them that it will not be easy to get the moonstone they need since it is guarded by the shadow shifters and the cave they need to go to is full of traps to keep people out. Emily and Logan talk and she tells him that she is going to be by his side the whole way. They have become a couple and he tells her that he won't let anything happen to her. Emily, Logan, Ethan, and Callie go to the cave to get what they need to help take care of the evil. When they get the moonstone, the shadow shifters start to attack. The cave starts shaking and they need to get out. Emily is grabbed but she gets away and she and Logan get out. Logan tells his grandmother what is going on and she tells him that he needs to go and talk to the council and ask for their help. The council agrees that they need the town's help and he goes to ask the town leaders for help. Bonnie, Callie's grandmother agrees to help him break the curse on his pack and the town. It is a brave thing for Logan to do when he gets up in front of the town and tells them what he needs their help with. When the meeting ends, Bonnie tells him that they will need to meet the next morning to get things started. When everyone gets to the meeting the next morning, they are attacked by the shadow shifters. They win the fight but know it is not over for them. That night is the night they plan to break the curse but things do not go the way they plan. The shadow shifters are waiting on them and they have to fight their way to the center of the forest. Emily and Logan have to do a ritual in the center with the witches casting a spell around them. Bonnie tells them it is time for them to do their part. At one part, Logan starts to go into a trance but Emily pulls him out of it. They finish the ritual and the curse breaks with a loud boom and the shadow shifters disappear. Everyone that was there, started yelling and were happy. Logan's pack, the witches, and the townspeople were there together talking to each other. This was the one thing that Logan wanted.
Will Emily stay with Logan or go back to her job in Boston?
This was a wonderful book and I would recommend it to anyone.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Addison · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This wintry shifter romance wraps primal longing, curses, and small-town mystery into a cozy, steamy package. Emily, a determined journalist with fire in her veins, collides with the broody alpha of Everwood in a story that blends fated mates with hidden magic and heartbreak. The tension between truth and duty simmers as secrets unravel, and the curse lurking in the background adds a touch of danger to the romance. The chemistry is instant but layered with vulnerability, especially from the alpha hero who’s spent too long alone. It’s a perfect read for when you want a little bite with your holiday spirit.

[Stox4story · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some Things Are Just Meant to Be

A beautiful love story in the making. Emily and Logan are brought together quite by accident … a real accident. She’s caught in a snow storm and the car slides into a tree. It’s late at night so what can she do? Hope someone happens to come along on that narrow, icy road while the wind is gusting hard? Her other choice is to get out and walk and try to find help.

Every night Logan goes out to run in the woods of the pack land. As alpha he has to keep the pack safe. Those woods seem to call out trouble, especially during an ‘angst’ moon. He senses being watched but never can find the source.

This is where he meets Emily. Walking alone and needing help. Logan senses something very different about her and his wolf eagerly agrees Emily is different. He’s drawn to her, attracted to her. But there’s too much on the line to let feelings get in the way. Danger is everywhere, secrets reign and shadowy figures lurk. Logan must stay focused.

Emily was driving to Everwood to attend her grandma’s funeral and help settle the estate. She use to spend a lot of time there with grandma listening to all the town’s legends and folklore… scary tales and mysteries of bygone days. But were they really of bygone days? She’s on high alert. She senses something that seems too real for fairy tales.

Meeting at this time in this dark, mystical forest turns out to be fate, meant to be. Together they forge a team, one of love and respect, in more ways than one. Together they defy the evil that lies ahead. Together they fight.. one a human, one a wolf shifter… and what a team they make.

🤔OBSERVATIONS

✒︎ For me, the first of the book was a faster pace while the last part was more slow burn.

✒︎ There weren’t a lot of intimate scenes but the ones presented were detailed, I felt to long and too detailed. I wanted to know more about what was going to happen than have page after page of bedroom detail.

✒︎ I appreciated the lack of profanity. So many stories throw profanity in when it’s unnecessary and takes away from the plot. This story doesn’t do that and stays with the main plot line.

✒︎ I kept wondering about Emily’s mother? Did she and Emily ever work things out?

✒︎ Good to know Logan got closure concerning his mother and father.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Linda Stokes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Logan is the alpha of the wolf shifter pack in Everwood. Years ago a rogue shifter killed his human lover and the witches of Everwood put a curse on the shifters. They were to protect the town of Everwood but they could not reveal themselves. Logan’s mother disappeared while trying to find a way to break the curse and his father the alpha got killed by the rogue shifter making Logan the alpha at 18. Years later Logan can feel a change in the air. Emily is coming back to Everwood to bury her grandmother, she hasn’t been back for too long. Emily’s car slides into a snow bank and she can’t get out. Emily can feel something in the air. She is walking toward the tree farm in a snow storm. Logan is just going home from the tree farm that the wolf shifters run when he sees a woman on the side of the road. Logan has never figured he would find a mate since he is so busy. Emily is cautious about Logan offering to help her but she is too cold not to take the help. There is an instant connection between Logan and Emily. Logan tows Emily’s car and they go to the cabin that Logan lives in with his grandmother. Emily feels very comfortable around Logan and his grandmother Iris. The next day Emily goes to her grandmother’s house that was left to her to sort through things and she plans the funeral. Logan is very drawn to Emily and Emily is drawn to Logan. Emily wants to find out more about the folklore of Everwood. After trying to get information out of Logan a few times he finally tells her that he is a wolf shifter and his pack is here to protect Everwood. When Emily finds out about the curse she wants to help break it. Emily is confronted by a shadow shifter warning her to stop searching. Logan has fallen in love with Emily. Emily has fallen in love with Logan and she doesn’t care that he is a wolf shifter. Will the townspeople, the witches and the shifters come together to save Everwood? Will Emily decide to stay in Everwood? Will Logan and Emily find a way to break the curse? Will Logan and Emily find love and happiness in their fated mate relationship in Everwood?

Fabulous Fated Mate romance!

[Susan McWhinney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fated meeting between Logan and Emily leads to an interesting story of a town and its occupants being protected by the local wolf pack. Logan, the Alpha of the wolf pack is cursed to protect the town and all who live there decides he needs to try and break the curse. Unknown to him, when he meets Emily, he finds she is the key to unlocking the curse that surrounds them and the town.
Emily feels a pull towards Logan as does Logan feel one towards her. As an alpha wolf he realizes that she is his fated mate but does not want to endanger her to what lurks in and around the town in the surrounding woods, therefore ignores the pull towards her and keeps her at a distance. But as fate intervenes, he finds himself unable to stay away from her and eventually feelings take over and they give into their desires.
A slow burn romance, where Logan guards his secrets from Emily, until he realizes she is in danger from the darkness that lurks just beyond the town.
Emily and Logan need to work together to rid the town and the wolf pack of the curse, and this story encompasses their journey that is full of danger as they lead the townspeople and the rest of the pack towards the woods to start the ritual to free the town.
How does Logan keep Emily safe from the dark forces that threaten to tear them apart? Can the witches, townspeople and the wolf pack succeed in ridding the town of the curse so they can all live in harmony once again?
An overall great read. I received an ARC and am giving an honest review

[Nikki Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emily is back in the town of Everwood following the death of her grandmother. As a journalist she is intrigued by the tales of lore and legend that her grandmother spoke about and wants to dig further while sorting out her grandmother's things. When she gets stuck in a snowdrift she is rescued by Logan who takes her back to his cabin that he shares with his grandmother. As they spend more time together Logan is aware that Emily is his mate but the shifters and the town are cursed. An ancient curse has kept the shifters isolated from the town and no-one knows how to break it. Emily and Logan get closer and fall in love and as they go through her grandmother's things she discovers journals that may help them but the shadow shifters that protect the curse will do anything to make sure the curse stays and it will take not just their love but the town knowing the truth and coming together if they have any chance in breaking the curse forever. Full of drama this beautiful and heartwarming story can't fail to captivate you and keep you turning the pages. A lovely Christmas tale of adversity, love and hope.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nora Ellen (Nbbookery) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute story about a big city journalist falling in love with a cute small town and its resident shifter alpha. Emily comes to Everwood to say final farewells to her grandma, and finds herself knee-deep in a town mystery. Her journalist spirit uncovers the truth about the wolf shifters who share the town with humans, and she finds out the kind stranger who helped her is one of them. His passion and love for his pack and her smarts and never-give-up attitude were the makings of a great team. Now, Emily and Logan have to work together to break the curse on the town in time for Christmas.

It was very cute read. I loved the whole overlapping Christmas magic vibes the town had going on, and it almost read like a holiday cozy mystery with a splash of romance. Emily and Logan's characters were likable, and I wish we got to see more of their future after Christmas morning. I also wanted Ethan and Callie to have a side fling (spoiler alert: they do not). Overall, I enjoyed this holiday story by a new-to-me author.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. The two main characters are are Emily a human journalist who comes back to the little town of Everwood to bury her grandma and Logan a wolf shifter who is the alpha of his pack and very protective of his pack, the town and its secrets. There is an instant connection with these two that they feel and they complement each other. There is also a mystery to uncover and Emily is just the person to do it. With a curse at play and the many stories and folklore surrounding Everwood and its pack of shifters will Logan and Emily get their HEA? Will Logan be able to keep everyone safe with the Angst moon approaching and sinister shadows lurking in the woods? Throw in the approaching Christmas holiday and its magical vibes and it makes for an interesting tale. I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review and am voluntarily leaving my review. I highly recommend this story. It kept me quite entertained.

[Judy Gittleson Hendrickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emily arrives back in Everwood for her grandmother's burial, and then inherits her home. Stuck in a snowbank on the way to Everwood, she meets Logan, the local pack alpha and also her fated mate. There is a terrible uneasiness between the shifters and the townsfolk due to a curse placed hundreds of years before. They go on quite an adventure, chasing clues to rituals and the cause of the curse. The connection between the shifters, witches and townsfolk turns and united, they might just have a chance at a future. Loved all the characters, the storyline that keeps you on the edge of your seat, and the playful banter. Terrific ending that pulls it all together.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sarah Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this book and it is such a good read for the holiday season. A fated mates shifter spicy romance with a curse thrown in!

It follows Emily who journeys to a little town just before Christmas for her Grandmothers funeral and feels drawn to Logan who is Alpha of the pack of wolves that protect the town. Fate has brought them together and now the fun starts ......

This book is full of exciting adventure as the characters learn more about the secrets the town holds and struggle to break the curse held over them all. It gives you a feel good buzz and has a HEA. Definitely one to add to your list!

[Sara Sigler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily came back to town for her grandmother’s funeral and also decided to look into the curse around the town as it intrigued her journalist part of her. Logan and his pack had to keep the town safe especially from the shadow creatures but the town couldn’t know about them. Logan saved Emily from them, she found her grandmother’s journals that talked about the curse and how to defeat it. Had to get the town involved and they also had to know about the wolf shifters too, everyone had to help and believe in breaking the curse. Good book!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[52kaosangel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, it was very well written and I loved the story, but I found some parts of it repetitive - like certain ideas or thoughts were repeated often within the same paragraphs.
I really loved the mystery of the shifters and the curse of the town, the folklore that has been passed down from generation to generation. I love that one single event brought Emily to this little town and started a whole chain reaction and changing the way of life for Everwood.
I also really enjoyed Emily and Logan's story in this and their connection from the moment that they met.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Diana Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

Howling Holidays was a well written story that proves that working together to solve a problem is better than working at cross purposes. Logan the alpha wolf shifter and Emily , the witch must come together to combat shadow shifters to save Everwood and All of its inhabitants; human and supernatural. With humor, love, and moments of self doubt, they do just that. 4✨’s for a read that teaches “us to come together and protect each other, despite our differences." As quoted by Emily toward the end of the book.
I received a copy of the book from the Author and am choosing to leave this review.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Logan the Alpha of his pack has more loss in his life than he should have to live with but a chance meeting with a stranger stranded on the road is going to change his life.
Emily is going to sort out her grandmothers things and plan her funeral but on the way into the town her grandmother lived in she breaks down in a winter storm. Lucky for her Logan comes along.
The meeting of these two characters and their strength together to help their town and his pack is so heart warming and a great story for the holidays!
Highly recommend it!

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lifting the Curse . . .

Emily is a journalist on her way to Everwood for her grandmother’s funeral. She has an accident in the snow, loses control of her car, and is found by Alpha wolf shifter Logan. Emily is a human, yet the two of them feel a strong connection. But something is going on and she will join him in figuring it out, especially with the help of her grandmother’s journals. Logan’s pack is cursed. Can Logan protect his pack and the town from what is lurking in the woods? Or has Emily’s arrival changed the possibilities?

[Rodney Wiedrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. I was very skeptical about reading paranormal romances because I didn't think the supernatural and romance would go together, but I was proven wrong with this book. The characters are well written and very relatable. I loved that the two fated mates were the ones who could break the curse and free the town and the shifters. The power of coming together and conquering a common enemy. If you love shifter romances than read this book.

[Debdutch · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartwarming tale blending small-town charm with supernatural mystery. The book is full of festive spirit and a touch of romance. Emily's journey from big city journalist to uncovering the secrets of a wolf-shifter community adds an intriguing layer to the plot. The author skillfully weaves together Christmas magic and a cozy mystery, creating a delightful atmosphere. Emily and Logan make a dynamic duo, their teamwork and individual strengths shining through.

[kimmypins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Shifter Romance
Tropes: Fated Mates, Forbidden Love

Howling Holidays was a fun read featuring a human Emily who is fated mates with a damaged alpha shifter, Logan. This is a slow burn romance, but the feels between the two MCs is immediate. MMC, Logan is definitely giving cinnamon roll vibes. Grab a cup of hot cocoa, your fluffiest blanket and fall in love with Logan and Emily as they work together to break the curse that has fallen over the town of Everwood.