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Smokethorn Paranormals #4
The Wolfing Hour
“Ah, Ronan. This witch is about to make your life a whole lot more complicated.”
Just when Betty Lennox thought she had a handle on her life—reconnected with her earth magic, brought the saguaros back from the dead, sexy alpha wolf sharing her bed—everything goes sideways.
Turns out she’s not just an earth witch. Thanks to dear old Grandpa Sexton, she’s got a demon side that's tired of being locked away. A powerful and ruthless demon side with zero qualms about damage control when someone threatens her people. When Demon Betty takes the wheel, Witch Betty ends up doing morally questionable things like killing people who really, really need to die.
Meanwhile, Ronan's birth father—Alpha Floyd Pallás, certified creep and all-around evil person—has kidnapped his sister to force him into submission. The pack is in chaos, shifters across the county are dying, and Betty’s running out of time to find her before the convocation where Ronan must challenge Floyd for the pack.
But here's the thing about power-hungry wolves: they cheat. And here's the thing about Betty: She won't let the people she loves get hurt—even if it means embracing the monster within.
For fans of urban fantasy with a side of slow-burn romance.
Just when Betty Lennox thought she had a handle on her life—reconnected with her earth magic, brought the saguaros back from the dead, sexy alpha wolf sharing her bed—everything goes sideways.
Turns out she’s not just an earth witch. Thanks to dear old Grandpa Sexton, she’s got a demon side that's tired of being locked away. A powerful and ruthless demon side with zero qualms about damage control when someone threatens her people. When Demon Betty takes the wheel, Witch Betty ends up doing morally questionable things like killing people who really, really need to die.
Meanwhile, Ronan's birth father—Alpha Floyd Pallás, certified creep and all-around evil person—has kidnapped his sister to force him into submission. The pack is in chaos, shifters across the county are dying, and Betty’s running out of time to find her before the convocation where Ronan must challenge Floyd for the pack.
But here's the thing about power-hungry wolves: they cheat. And here's the thing about Betty: She won't let the people she loves get hurt—even if it means embracing the monster within.
For fans of urban fantasy with a side of slow-burn romance.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 30, 2025
About the author
C.P. Rider
19 books348 followersC.P. Rider has worked as a decorative and mural painter, a fitness instructor, and a background investigator for nuclear power plants, all of which prepared her in strange and different ways for writing paranormal and urban fantasy romance.
Originally from the California southwestern desert, she now lives a little closer to the ocean with her family, including 3 dogs, a cat, 2 fish, and the occasional friendly ghost.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
February 2, 2026
This series keeps getting better and better! This one took a sharp turn about 30% in but I'm happy to report that it was resolved on page and explained in detail why it happened which made everything flow naturally and the book did not break its magic system or world building (as soooo many fantasies/mysteries tend to do)
I'm so stoked for the next one and can't wait! in the meantime I'll be reading everything else by this author as I'm very impressed
I'm so stoked for the next one and can't wait! in the meantime I'll be reading everything else by this author as I'm very impressed
December 2, 2025
No how didnthat just end like that. I need more. This was a great installment in the series.
December 1, 2025
A thriller of an urban fantasy romance that’s absolutely amazing and satisfying in every way.
Rating: 5⭐️
Such an excellent series, my only regret being the wait time between releases. But its absolutely worth it as proved by the newest book in C. P. Rider’s Smokethorn Paranormals series, The Wolfing Hour.
In a series already bursting with thoughtfully crafted, complex and compelling storylines about multi dimensional damaged characters, this story took them all to new levels.
Of betrayal, pain, loss, self discovery, recovery and revelation. New depths to their relationships and, of course, a cliffhanger of a twist in one or maybe two of the series plots.
Never has the writing been better or more engrossing, able to pull the reader immediately into the story and the ongoing conflicts and never losing their interest.
Betty’s character here undergoes an extraordinary transformative growth. It’s startling and terrifying. To her, those characters around her and the readers who have come to know her. It’s truly a remarkable piece of her journey and the story. And we’re not done yet.
A thriller of an urban fantasy romance that’s absolutely amazing and satisfying in every way. I’m highly recommending this series. And eagerly awaiting the next one to come.
Cover design by The Book Brander
The Smokethorn Paranormals Series (5 book series):
Strike It Witch #1
Any Witch Wolf #2
Wicked Witch of the Wolf #3
The Wolfing Hour #4
Last Witch Effort #5 - July 31,2026
Rating: 5⭐️
Such an excellent series, my only regret being the wait time between releases. But its absolutely worth it as proved by the newest book in C. P. Rider’s Smokethorn Paranormals series, The Wolfing Hour.
In a series already bursting with thoughtfully crafted, complex and compelling storylines about multi dimensional damaged characters, this story took them all to new levels.
Of betrayal, pain, loss, self discovery, recovery and revelation. New depths to their relationships and, of course, a cliffhanger of a twist in one or maybe two of the series plots.
Never has the writing been better or more engrossing, able to pull the reader immediately into the story and the ongoing conflicts and never losing their interest.
Betty’s character here undergoes an extraordinary transformative growth. It’s startling and terrifying. To her, those characters around her and the readers who have come to know her. It’s truly a remarkable piece of her journey and the story. And we’re not done yet.
A thriller of an urban fantasy romance that’s absolutely amazing and satisfying in every way. I’m highly recommending this series. And eagerly awaiting the next one to come.
Cover design by The Book Brander
The Smokethorn Paranormals Series (5 book series):
Strike It Witch #1
Any Witch Wolf #2
Wicked Witch of the Wolf #3
The Wolfing Hour #4
Last Witch Effort #5 - July 31,2026
December 16, 2025
Fast paced and fabulous 💖
Wow, every subsequent book in this series levels up, expands further than the last one and surpasses what I’ve imagined might happen! It’s a real rollercoaster of a ride for Betty and her found family - which surprisingly (as much to Betty as the rest of us!) has expanded to include Margaux - in this instalment, with ‘stuff’, so much ‘stuff’ happening and piling up left, right and centre (along with the body count 🙈). There’s a shocking revelation or two, or three if you include the emergence of Demon Betty! And an ending that I wasn’t expecting (yet) with an ‘Oo!’ turn I wasn’t expecting 😆 Now I have even more to ponder about before the next book - how’s this twist going to play out I wonder 🤨🤔 However it does, I know it’ll be superbly written and I’ll be as sucked into it as I have been with all the previous books in this series - I’m so onboard for it! 😁
Oh and a big thank you to Ida, for getting Cheryl to write yours and Betty’s story 😘
Wow, every subsequent book in this series levels up, expands further than the last one and surpasses what I’ve imagined might happen! It’s a real rollercoaster of a ride for Betty and her found family - which surprisingly (as much to Betty as the rest of us!) has expanded to include Margaux - in this instalment, with ‘stuff’, so much ‘stuff’ happening and piling up left, right and centre (along with the body count 🙈). There’s a shocking revelation or two, or three if you include the emergence of Demon Betty! And an ending that I wasn’t expecting (yet) with an ‘Oo!’ turn I wasn’t expecting 😆 Now I have even more to ponder about before the next book - how’s this twist going to play out I wonder 🤨🤔 However it does, I know it’ll be superbly written and I’ll be as sucked into it as I have been with all the previous books in this series - I’m so onboard for it! 😁
Oh and a big thank you to Ida, for getting Cheryl to write yours and Betty’s story 😘
December 4, 2025
Betty’s life is getting more difficult. Just when things are going okay with her and Ronin even with the threat of his father, she discovers that she is not only an earth witch but is also part demon.
According to her grandfather she must get her two halves working together to survive.
Adding to this problem there are some missing werewolves, Mason who along with Bronwyn has been spying on her, and Rory, Ronin’s half sister.
This book has action, major character growth for Betty, tension, surprises, humour, some romance.
As with the other books, the music mentioned is basically all from the 70’s so I actually know the songs mentioned.
Betty is an amazing character, torn between her two halves but determined to protect everyone she loves and more.
I’m just loving this series, unfortunately the next book isn’t out for about seven months.
A fairly fast, easy read.
According to her grandfather she must get her two halves working together to survive.
Adding to this problem there are some missing werewolves, Mason who along with Bronwyn has been spying on her, and Rory, Ronin’s half sister.
This book has action, major character growth for Betty, tension, surprises, humour, some romance.
As with the other books, the music mentioned is basically all from the 70’s so I actually know the songs mentioned.
Betty is an amazing character, torn between her two halves but determined to protect everyone she loves and more.
I’m just loving this series, unfortunately the next book isn’t out for about seven months.
A fairly fast, easy read.
December 15, 2025
There were a TON of moving parts in this one. So many, it almost became difficult to keep up. Betty was injured so many times and some of it was due to TSTL moments. She finds out a lot about a new side that was not expected, and the struggles are hard and real - almost thru the entire book. It seemed like a number of things that had been brewing all hit at the same time. The only constants were her relationships with Ronan and the team. The ending was a nail biter and didn't end the way we wanted it to. The next set of books will be pulling us into a new direction with Ronan and Betty trying to save the packs.
January 29, 2026
So impressed!
What I am NOT impressed with is the fact that once again I chose a series that is incomplete. With that said, I am literally mourning my inability to finish reading this series because seriously.. it was just that good! Every book was simply perfect. The characters and their relationships and.. seriously, just everything. The romance part especially was perfect. Just the right amount of it .. the sexy scenes just right.. not pornographic but fully felt and understood. I think that was the best part.. the fact that these books held real content and not smut. I need to go find whatever else she has written. Ta!
What I am NOT impressed with is the fact that once again I chose a series that is incomplete. With that said, I am literally mourning my inability to finish reading this series because seriously.. it was just that good! Every book was simply perfect. The characters and their relationships and.. seriously, just everything. The romance part especially was perfect. Just the right amount of it .. the sexy scenes just right.. not pornographic but fully felt and understood. I think that was the best part.. the fact that these books held real content and not smut. I need to go find whatever else she has written. Ta!
March 29, 2026
The tension is racking up, Betty finds out she has a demon side and spends most of the book trying to deal with it, while Ronan is missing and the group do their best to prevent an all out war. Ronan however waits too long to deal with his father and then it is too late.
Grandfather Sexton is a demon and being a demon, he does what a demon does, lies and manipulates until he gets what he wants and forcing her to accept her demon side is what he wants. He succeeds, but at a cost.
Grandfather Sexton is a demon and being a demon, he does what a demon does, lies and manipulates until he gets what he wants and forcing her to accept her demon side is what he wants. He succeeds, but at a cost.
December 7, 2025
I'm sad. Now gotta wait months
Every book she writes is filled with characters I miss when the book is over. The world is somewhere I want to live. There's plenty of action, conversations that move the plot forward and humor that kept me reading late into the night. Just right amount of spice.
Every book she writes is filled with characters I miss when the book is over. The world is somewhere I want to live. There's plenty of action, conversations that move the plot forward and humor that kept me reading late into the night. Just right amount of spice.
December 23, 2025
5 Star - Couldn't put this book down. Its stay up late reading and be late to work good.
4 Stars - Couldn't put this book down but I still got a goodnights sleep
3 Stars - An enjoyable read that took me a few days to a week to finish
2 Stars - An okay book that I struggled to get through in places - next book is still on my TBR list
1 Stars - DNF
4 Stars - Couldn't put this book down but I still got a goodnights sleep
3 Stars - An enjoyable read that took me a few days to a week to finish
2 Stars - An okay book that I struggled to get through in places - next book is still on my TBR list
1 Stars - DNF
December 3, 2025
Can’t Miss Read!
O-M-G! This book was so action packed I have no more fingernails left. Unexpected twists at every turn. Same lovable characters, with all the psycho drama….but so much MORE. I love this series so much!
O-M-G! This book was so action packed I have no more fingernails left. Unexpected twists at every turn. Same lovable characters, with all the psycho drama….but so much MORE. I love this series so much!
January 27, 2026
Wow
What a wild ride. This book kept me hooked until the very end. I love that Betty and Ronan finally admit they love each other. That part is so sweet and beautiful. Love the way its threaded throughout the book. Can't wait to see what's next!
What a wild ride. This book kept me hooked until the very end. I love that Betty and Ronan finally admit they love each other. That part is so sweet and beautiful. Love the way its threaded throughout the book. Can't wait to see what's next!
April 9, 2026
wolfing around
Wow I really love this series and this book was brilliant, lot of action excitement and all round great read , I have a wait till the next one but I’ve marked my calendar I highly recommend these books , a huge big 5 stars
Wow I really love this series and this book was brilliant, lot of action excitement and all round great read , I have a wait till the next one but I’ve marked my calendar I highly recommend these books , a huge big 5 stars
December 13, 2025
Idk if it’s been too long since I read the rest of the series but the demon stuff really came out of nowhere
Ending happened really fast, interested to see what happens next
Ending happened really fast, interested to see what happens next
December 26, 2025
3.5 stars
January 1, 2026
First book of 2026 down - let's go!
It was...okay. Not as good as the third. A few things up in the air that will get resolved I'm sure next book.
It was...okay. Not as good as the third. A few things up in the air that will get resolved I'm sure next book.
March 1, 2026
Loving this series, getting even better with every installment!
March 10, 2026
4.5 Stars:)
March 18, 2026
Another good story
I liked the continued growth and strength of the characters. The love story is heating up too. Have to wait for the next one.
I liked the continued growth and strength of the characters. The love story is heating up too. Have to wait for the next one.
March 18, 2026
I need more!
I need more, no more self depreciation! We need our strong, hero's, no more second guessing please! Our no fear strong witch and her allies and mate.
I need more, no more self depreciation! We need our strong, hero's, no more second guessing please! Our no fear strong witch and her allies and mate.
December 29, 2025
I love this series and completely adore the author!! Great character growth although I’m not a fan of a few ‘twists’ in this story, I do understand the necessity. Looking forward to the next book!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews