To Challenge a Wolf

Apex: Moonbound #5

by Charlotte Vane

After a ten-year search for the wolf who was once her best friend, Vivian Rossi has located him at last in Tennessee. Rhett is alive, safe, annoyingly attractive, and snarky as ever. He’s furious with her for showing up in his town, but of course he won’t tell her why. He refuses even to introduce her to his pack, but thanks to her honed sleuthing skills, Vivian has the pack alpha’s phone number, and she’s not afraid to use it.

Rhett Jones doesn’t need one more problem. The rogue wolves who attacked his pack are likely to come back for more. His long-escaped past made him an incomparable fighter, and protecting his pack has become his sole focus. Then another problem shows up in his his annoyingly persistent and beautiful former best friend. A lifetime ago, Vivian meant everything to him. Now she’s just one more person to protect, an unwelcome link to his past…and a distraction he can’t afford. Too bad she refuses to leave town on his say-so.

With a rare invitation from the pack alpha, Vivian shows up at the wolf pack’s next social gathering. Over the next few days, Rhett can’t ignore how well she fits in with the people who matter most to him…or how he enjoys getting to know her again. He almost wishes he still had a heart to offer her. Meanwhile Vivian finds real connection and friendships among his pack, and she’s determined to win her wolf’s guarded heart. But Rhett has carried deep fears since the days of their shared past, and Vivian’s signature persistence might not be enough to beat them.

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy

272 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 6, 2024

About the author

Charlotte Vane writes the sort of romance she wants to read. Her Apex series features a closed bedroom door, found family, wolves, and vampires. She lives in the South and daily savors the weather (yes, even the humidity). She enjoys time in nature, acoustic music, and most desserts.

Reviews

[Tara Grayce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was SO excited to finally get my hands on Rhett's story, and it did NOT disappoint! This whole series is so cozy, and I adore this loyal werewolf pack and all their members. I'm so sad this is the last book!

[Linds · Rating 5 out of 5]

"This is the Apex Moonbound series by @charlottevanebooks and it was the perfect series for me to binge this past week. I was feeling a fantasyish romance wolf mate book ( if that makes sense, lol). Each book brought something different and a different relationship, and I loved seeing all the couples. And of course, I love how they are in TN! You see strong FMC's , a family (pack) bond, and each MMC is different but loveable. In parts, you get some mental health rep and some and a little suspense at times. They are closed door but still romantic and loveable. You feel for each couple and their story and I just loved reading this series."

Emoji Summary 👉 🐺 🐈❤️‍🩹💪🏼🍔🥩☕️🩸🩹🫂🛤🌚

[Between pages · Rating 5 out of 5]

This pack is just getting stronger and stronger. The title of this book has lived up to the story. I love how Vivian challenged every boundary Rhett has set. I love how Vivian works her way into Rhett's armour without asking him to change. She sees through him while he's been fighting the ghosts of his dark past. Rhett has always been a mysterious character who appeared in previous books, and knowing his story is heartbreaking yet heartwarming how he won his battle from his past. I love the dynamic of this pack and the struggle of each pack member that made them stronger. I love how Rhett and Vivian's story had woven together into healing. This is one of my favourite closed-door shifter romances.

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frustrating But Adorably Sweet

Something I really appreciate about this author is her ability to tackle mental and emotional health in a love story that is focused on community support and romantic love.
At times I was so frustrated with the main characters and just wanted them to “get over it” or just “get with the program.” But the journey that both main characters went through was really poignant. The romance (when it finally worked) was really sweet. Highly recommend this entire series, and this was a great next book.

[Ken]

As excellent as the other 4 books

I love this series and the characters. I was feeling ho hum today and did not know what to read when I noticed To Challenge a Wolf had released. I could not click and start reading fast enough. I love that Rhett gets his story. His woman Viv is the perfect match for him. This story ends with all the feels. excellent clean book.

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely Amazing!!!!

I loved this book, when I bought it I speed read through it and finished it in a day! The author did such a good job, I loved how it all came together. I just wished it was a little longer, but overall it was an amazing read! I can’t wait for the next book in the series ❤️!

[Amy Bee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Solid Effort (just not particularly exciting)

The title says it all. Nothing was wrong with this book at all. But when I finished, it was a solid meh for me. I wasn’t excited about the hurdles the main characters overcame, didn’t get that swoony satisfaction at the inevitable HEA.

[Cyndel Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this books

This book was so good, so precious. I very much understand feeling numb emotionally. Choosing to not feel. I was never as good at it as Rhett, but I've done it, and I will attest that coming out of the numbness is hell.
This book is the best of the stories, imho, probably because of my understanding of Rhett, the numbness, and then the hell of feeling again.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

I love this series. Clean romance but depth. I hope we get more in this series. Maybe meet Rhetts sister? But I am looking forward to the vampire books of they are anything like the werewolf ones.

[Eliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Laurel Tonti · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75⭐️ this series was so good and this was a perfect wrap up. rhett and viv are amazing together.

[Rachel L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Binged the whole series on a long road trip—quite enjoyable. I think this was my favorite.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

What am I gonna do? I’m running out of cute werewolf material.

Cry count: 2 times.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story.

Content: clean - passionate kissing, innuendo

[Golda Ahawo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good end to the series

[Mileruichi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't believe my eyes. Five books and five amazing experiences. The only one that lost me a little was book 4, but here she did it again. She does dual POV amazingly well, and not a lot of authors can claim that.
I won't ever tire of saying that romance in a book has to have a reason why. And once again, she puts the nail in the coffin. Fated mate isn't the driving force in the romance, it's the romance in itself that makes the “fated” archetype make sense. And not even that solves the big traumas and issues that both our character had. Which is the issue I had in the previous book, and here is done so more maturely I think. For some things, even if you love someone, you can't change them, and instead they have to take the first step towards healing.
I'm really excited to see what else she has in store for us!!

[Jacque · Rating 5 out of 5]

#secondchanceromance #friendstolovers #Broodyhero #Wolves #PNR/Urban

Summary: We have a chick on a mission to find her former best friend/wolf. She finally tracks him down to everyone’s favorite wolf-pack and he has some EXPLAINING to do.

Some wolf fights and cozy romantic drama ensue!

Pros: I liked Rhett in the pervious books and was glad to get more of his story here. Nice way to end the series!

Cons: Despite my COMPLETELY VALID complaints about some of the previous books feeling incomplete (resolving the romance arcs for each character but leaving some of the larger action bits unresolved), all of the arcs are resolved in this book, so I’m happy.

Conclusion: Great cozy series to binge. Would recommend it for people who have been enjoying Shea’s Magiford series and want some more wolves!