Wolf Trap: Time Bites, Book 1

Time Bites #1

by Aimee Easterling

A dangerous game of memory and magic.

Every morning, I wake up with no knowledge of who I am, except for a few strange I prefer old-fashioned dresses that button to my chin. I can shift into the form of a fox at will. And a werewolf who's equal parts magnetic and terrifying keeps following me around.

Then the human co-worker who helps me gloss over my amnesia goes missing just as a werewolf power struggle erupts around us. To rescue Rosa and protect myself, I must team up with the very alpha whose existence represents my greatest fears and desires.

But my erratic memory offers hints that my past may unlock the secrets that threaten all of us. Can I piece together the truth before dawn steals away my one chance at saving Rosa's life and discovering who I really am?

From USA Today best-selling author Aimee Easterling comes the first book in a thrilling new series filled with magic, danger, and romance.

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Audiobook, Romance, Urban Fantasy, Shapeshifters, Paranormal Urban Fantasy

Audible Audio

Published March 29, 2023

About the author

Aimee Easterling is a USA Today Bestselling author writing on the boundary between urban fantasy and paranormal romance. She specializes in spunky shifters and invites you to dive into her werewolf world in the Wolf Rampant trilogy, the spinoff Bloodling serial, and her new Alpha Underground series.

Studying biology and working as a naturalist have both informed Aimee's writing, but she's quite willing to let reality slide in favor of a good story. When not writing, she loves to read and always keeps books by Robin McKinley, Patricia Briggs, and Elizabeth Peters on her shelf. You can learn more at www.aimeeeasterling.com.

Reviews

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been reading this author for years because I love her writing even though wolf shifters aren’t exactly my favorite. This is probably my favorite series by her yet…even though I’m not fond of MC who have lost their memory. LOL! Even though Tru can’t remember her past, and wakes up every day not remembering the day before, she faces each day with such a great kick-butt attitude. She’s a very strong character and I love that. Add to that her great relationship with the Executioner, her twin who she doesn’t know who she is (daughter/sister?), and Rosa a human coworker, this was an interesting dynamic. It was actually quite fun to find out what is going on with her memory loss, the race to save Rosa when she goes missing, and find out what is up with her sword/umbrella. This is a well-written suspense and romance that is sure to please fans of this author! Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

[Ingeborg Geib · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tru hat aus irgend einem Grund ihre Erinnerungen verloren .Jeden Tag nach dem Aufwachen weiss sie nur noch das sie sich vor Werwölfen in Sicherheit bringen muss. Doch warum ist das bei Drake ,dem Henker der Werwölfe so anders ? Was verbindet die beiden ?
Zusammen müssen sie sich auf die Suche machen nach Rosa und auf Trust Erinnerungen. Doch das ist nicht einfach den die geheimnisvolle Kami grätscht immer wieder dazwischen.

Für mich endete das Buch just als es interessant wurde und Tru langsam ihre Erinnerung wieder zu bekommen scheint .Ich hoffe Mal das man im nächsten Band Antworten auf all die unbeantwortete Fragen bekommt

[Aura Nizharu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: Though I recieved an ARC out of the gentleness of the author, and I really apreciate it, and even if my opinons are my own, I'm going to try to make a more subjective review.
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I really like Easterling works, be good or bad, they're really nice, bite sized books, they made a quick read, and brigh the darker of days.

I have been read most of her books by now and is incredible how much it felt different her books now and what they do when she started, though I liked a lot the xenofictional angle her first works, but that's my personal opinion.

This last book is beautifully done, of course, it's not perfect, but it close to it.
The pace fell more slowed down, the mistery is properly layed on, the twist felt real, the more personal conflict the plot got in the end was fantastic, though the downside is that the global conflict wasn't as strong.

The characters are really likeable, and the world feel weirdly really lived upon, with things happening outside the character lives that made it turn - the worldbuilding is feedback of the books that came before it - and for the main storyline, is fluid, and it works, Tru is written beautifully and I think is one of the strenght of the book, how peculiar she is and how well she is written.
The ending is really nice too, opened to continuation but with a proper satisfactory conclusion

Things that I don't like: with some exceptions, still need more characters and backgrounds descricptions, the weaknees of the global plot with the bad guy, the twist is really built upon but came fast, it felt a bit anticlimatic.

Inconclusion: is a solid 3 stars book, that could become a 4 stars easilly with a little bit of work done.

My personal opinion: I enjoy Aimee Easterling books more than I do Patricia Briggs or Ilona Andrews because of a certain trope I call afectionately "Muh Bael" because they clanched to it and I cannot stand it anymore, it could sound hypocritical because Easterling have used it too, but I would trade excellence for experimentation any time soon and that is what Easterling offers, she don't reinvent the wheel, but know how to play with it and make it fun for everyone instead of doing the same thing again and again and again.
I write this because I don't have a blog anymore and I need to vent my thought somewhere.
The shifter genre have become really trite, with the same tropes overused and all the works ended feeling the same, and the magic word is fun, the genre have stopped being fun.
I really like SMT, is the same game again and again with the same tropes again and again, but the stories and the way they tell them to you is different and fun.
Is not what you tell is how you tell it, and if you feel that this genre is stagnated, and start to dislikes some of the most stupid tropes, search no more.

[Deb Barringer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wolf Trap, is book 1 in Aimee Easterling's new series Time Bites. Tru's story is riveting, and will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. As usual, Ms. Easterling puts an unique spin on the plot. This time Tru awakens every day with no memory of herself, her present or her past. Her time reference is of an age gone by. The storyline is fast-paced and well written, filled with twists and turns, werewolves, danger, murder, intrigue, subterfuge, pack politics and even a little romance.
It is a complicated and somewhat tragic tale. The characters are well developed and engaging. There are three people in Tru's life that seem to be aware of her situation. Drake, aka The Executioner, who Tru is equally terrified of due to his Alpha status and unexplainably attracted to. Rosa, an elderly human that Tru apparently cleans buildings with. And Kami, a mysterious woman who looks exactly like Tru, and who seems to know more than she is telling. With the help of these three, Tru gradually builds her life back up each day. Eventually she is able to remember that she is a kitsune fox shifter, and that she is in possession of an umbrella that masks her grandfather's sword. When Rosa gives her a cell phone and she is able to take notes about her life, she is finally able to start building on it day by day.

This is somewhat of a tragic story. While it can be enjoyed without any history, to fully appreciate the background on kitsune foxes, it is best read after the Kira Fairwood series.

[Jennifer G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each morning Tru wakes with no memory. She seems out of place with her preferences for old-fashioned language and clothing. She is a kitsune. She has her grandfather’s sword. She has memories of her mother. Other than that, her mind is wiped clear. There’s another with her face, an older woman who reminds her of her mother and a werewolf Alpha circling her. Who is she? Is she destined to never have her memories? 

For such a short book, this story has twists and turns, surprises and mysteries. I was entertained, even if left wanting more. We got some major reveals but I would have liked more background on the supporting characters. It was difficult enough to get overly invested in a character who didn’t remember who she was; the other characters should have been fleshed out completely to keep me invested. It came across as more of a teaser or prequel for a more in-depth novel. Still, what I did know of the characters., I liked and the story was intriguing.

[Christine Rains · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every morning, Tru wakes with no memory of who she is. Her thoughts are old-fashioned and traditional, and she's sure she can trust her sister Kami. Yet everyone else? Even the hot werewolf Alpha who pulls her toward him? She has helpers, but they won't be able to help her out of the mess she's gotten herself into this time. Will Tru find her missing past, or will she die with less than a day's worth of memories?

This is a great start to the paranormal romance series, Time Bites. It starts with a mystery and doesn't let go. I'm not fond of the memory loss trope, but the world building and characterization is fantastic, and that kept me reading. Tru is a fox shifter/kitsune who will never go back on her word. When she makes an oath, she sticks to it, no matter the consequences. Drake is the perfect complement to her, and swoon-worthy with his patience. The kitten! Oh my gosh! Lynette is another character I really hope to see more of in the series with a unique power.

[Wanda Jewell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Executioner is an Alpha wolf with an unusual ability of self control over his dominance. Drake is a very enimatic character and I really like him. He has kindness and understanding, but he is also deadly. He works for someone who has a seeming hold over him, yet he defies her to protect his "strays". Tru is one of his strays, yet she is more than that. Tru has amnesia and forgets everything every night and has to relearn it. I like her, but I like Drake the best. All the characters in the book are believable with that supernatural flare. This is a great book and I loved it. I would highly recommend it and I am looking forward to the next book in the series. My only wish was that it was longer and I knew more of the story. It is easy to read and if you like shifter books, then you will like this one for sure.

[Jen T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wolf Trap is the first book in the Time Bites series and tells the story of Tru, who wakes up every morning with amnesia. She doesn't remember who she is, she doesn't recognize her companions, and she seems to come from an earlier time in history. One of her companions is an enigmatic alpha werewolf she's equally scared of and attracted to. Another seems to know much more about Tru's history than she's sharing, and another is a kind coworker who only seems to be looking out for Tru's best interests. When this same kind coworker goes missing, Tru and her big, kinda-scary alpha try to locate her while also navigating the politics of the local werewolf pack.

I really liked Tru and I liked getting to see all the facets of The Executioner's personality after having met him in a previous series. I liked that while there's a lot unexplained at the starts of the book, everything is explained by the end and I didn't feel like there were a lot of unanswered questions about Tru's past and how things came to be how they are now. There's still a lot of the story to be told, but everything makes sense now, especially if you've read Full Moon Saloon. If you haven't, things will still make sense, but it's also a good series that I recommend reading. I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to more of Tru and Drake's story.

[Laure · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tru wakes up every morning with absolutely no memory of who she is and what happened the day before. She has no idea just how different this day will be until her friend Rosa goes missing. She will have to team up with the alpha werewolf who terrifies her to rescue the friend who helps her hide the fact that she doesn’t know who she is, and why she can’t remember.
These characters are wonderful. They are all well written, and compelling, but Tru and her situation are absolutely fascinating, and unique. She’s strong yet determined to face her fear to save a friend. Action, shifters, and surprising twists in the plot, I think this is a must read and a fantastic start to a new series.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ★★★★☆

Wolf Trap is a gripping, high-stakes mystery that puts a unique spin on the shifter genre. The protagonist's daily struggle with amnesia creates an intense "ticking clock" atmosphere—I was constantly on edge wondering if she’d solve the puzzle before her memory reset at dawn.

The chemistry between the fox shifter lead and the terrifyingly magnetic Alpha is electric, and the "missing person" plot kept the pacing fast and urgent. I loved the atmospheric touches, like her inexplicable preference for vintage dresses and the constant feeling of being watched. While the memory-loss trope occasionally felt repetitive, the payoff is well worth it.

Highly recommended for fans of urban fantasy who want a mix of memory games, magic, and a slow-burn romance!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook: I thought this story was an incredible beginning to a new series by this author. I admired Tru as she was an unusual protagonist as she suffered from short term memory loss. I liked Drake as he supported Tru in spite of his title of Executioner. I was pleased by the addition of a kitten as that added some humor and some humanity to the characters. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. I enjoyed Alyse Gibbs' narration as her performance kept my attention. I was given a copy of the audiobook through Spotify. I volunteered, without financial gain, to post this review which reflected my honest opinions regarding this audiobook.

[Dora · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading the stories of the supporting characters and after reading the Kira Fairwood series I became intrigued by various characters and strange events. Fortunately for me, Tru's story offers answers and an interesting development that promises a lot of entertainment and suspense. With no previous memories and stalked by a werewolf Alpha who scares her but intensely attracts her at the same time, Tru faces her fears, searches for answers to her lack of memory, offers protection to those who need it and takes control of her life. Little by little we learn about the terrible story that surrounds Tru and intrigues what seems to be sort of a relationship with Drake. This one, for its part, shows a different side to how we met it in Kira's story. The action is present from the beginning with a lot of suspense, intrigue, abuse of power, strong emotions, violence, betrayal and almost, almost, a romance. The mystery about the memory problem caught my attention and kept me very intrigued and thinking about how the author makes use of folklore and fantasy. Now I’m eager for the next book because this one was good and intense.

[Laure · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tru wakes up every morning with absolutely no memory of who she is and what happened the day before. She has no idea just how different this day will be until her friend Rosa goes missing. She will have to team up with the alpha werewolf who terrifies her to rescue the friend who helps her hide the fact that she doesn’t know who she is, and why she can’t remember.
These characters are wonderful. They are all well written, and compelling, but Tru and her situation are absolutely fascinating, and unique. She’s strong yet determined to face her fear to save a friend. Action, shifters, and surprising twists in the plot, I think this is a must read and a fantastic start to a new series.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book

[JW USA · Rating 3 out of 5]

compelling but gritty

This is a unique story, Tru has amnesia and this makes her an incredibly unreliable narrator. The writing is compelling and the characters around her interesting. However what we learn of her past is brutal, torture and rape. In the present she is incredibly vulnerable and at risk as are other characters and there is betrayal. I was impressed by the idea and the execution but I didn’t enjoy it as it isn’t an easy life for anyone in this world and the writing makes you feel the visceral tension and pain. If that works for you this is a five star.

[Mrs S A Larwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wolf Trap has an interesting beginning with a twist. A woman who every day as she wakes, has completely forgotten everything including the century she is in. A bit confusing at first, but as with every Aimee Easterling book, the characters , at first also a mystery, are interesting and the story just gets better and better.

This another of her series I will continue to read and I know I will enjoy.

[Brad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Different and Engrossing

The first person perspective works well in this story as Tru struggles to remember anything about her life and even what happened yesterday. There are many twists and turns in a story that leaves you as confused as Tru. The relationship with Drake has a clear but uncertain direction. The character development is well done. The world view and its own set of rules evolve along with the story. I found it hard to put the book down to get sleep.

[OnTheSamePaige]

DNF at 28%, so no star rating. I get that WE wake up with our protagonist, experiencing her amnesia, unaware of what's going on. The problem is that this story is written like it's being told to you by a hyperactive 8 year old. BAM, one action sequence, BAM into another. No time for world building. VERY little is explained to the proganist, and thereby US, the reader. It's a fast and sloppy stack of a book.

[Wendy Jennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good start to a new series

I read so many books that it took me a minute (or 50 pages) to remember where Tru originated. Drake I remembered, but I apparently forgot how Kid's story ended so I had to go back. Anyway, this book is just as good as the others and I can't wait for the next one.

[Kira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Props to this book for having a fresh, interesting premise. My biggest issue was that I never felt very invested in the story - I think this just came down to not feeling attached to any of the characters. Another negative was that there wasn't really a story arc, and it just ended very abruptly, making it not feel like a book, but instead part of a story chopped into random pieces.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

What if your memories were wiped every morning? How would you know who to trust? Especially if the one giving you the most support also caused your panic attacks?

Why I started this book: Looking through my TBR pile for a good plane book.

Why I finished it: Quick and engaging. This was a perfect plane book. Especially with the kitsune character...

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐
I ended up staying up much later than planned to finish this book, rather than setting it aside to finish tomorrow.
This was a different shifter story than I've read before. Wolves, humans, foxes (kitsunes), and even a kitten, along with magic, danger, and mystery.
I love the found family storyline too. This is only book one, so I definitely have to get book 2 and continue on.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Aimee's newest book which is obviously the start of a new series. If you read the Kira Fairwood series you might know where Tru came from.

Tru wakes up every morning having no idea who she is as her memories don't seem to make it through the night. It seems there are some who know of her inconvenient amnesia and try to help her make it through the day. Her only memories are of her Okaasan, but that was a long time ago and in another country. She knows she is a fox shifter and she can use a sword. A girl who looks a lot like her named Kami knows who she is. Rosa, a human woman that she works with as a janitor at the mall, knows of her problem and helps her make it through the workday. Then there is the scary alpha werewolf who both frightens her and draws her in. When Rosa's werewolf nephew is shot dead in front of her, Tru is determined to find out who did it. Scary werewolf is apparently The Executioner and he wants to find the killer too.

Lots happening. Murderous werewolves, a cute kitten, a traitor with an agenda... Will Tru be able to hold onto any memories long enough to solve the murder and figure out who is really on her side? I was given an advanced copy of this book by the author. My review is voluntary.

[Laurinda M. Shafer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by Aimee Easterling

I really enjoy Aimee's writing style and I get captured by every one that I read. I just can't put them down!
I wasn't ready for Tru & Drake's story to end, but I'll just have to wait for book 2, to see what happens

[Altivo Overo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fox? Not exactly...

A very complicated story, the more so because the narrator has a broken memory that makes it hard to put together. This tale is well told, even so, but will require a sequel to complete it.

[Georgia Tumbleweed McNabb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tru awakes every day with no knowledge of who she is or memories of her life before waking. Cam seems trying to help, but things seem off, and who is Cam? Tru's twin, daughter, or maybe sister. Narrator does a good job with the various characters voices and the entire storylin

[Karen Wesselmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good

A bit different from Aimee's other wolf books, but very good. I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series.

As usual, I read this one in a day. I know better than to start the next one before getting some sleep, because I won't be able to put it down!

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I generally enjoy this author's work, despite the books being geared more towards a younger audience. This story was really quite good. The plot line twists and turns didn't feel forced, and they really pulled this reader in. I look forward to the next book, hoping it will be just as riveting.
.

[Mary T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading.
Tru has a problem. Every morning she wakes up with no memories. There are a few things she does remember such as being a kitsune, owning a sword disguised as an umbrella and being deathly afraid of warewolves. this book was hard to put down.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book and I would happily read a continuation of Tru and Drake’s unique story. It’s fast paced with plenty of twists and turns to keep you attached to the major characters.

[M]

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