The Wolfing Hour

Smokethorn Paranormals #4

by C.P. Rider

“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.

Genres: Shapeshifters

300 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 30, 2025

About the author

C.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.

Reviews

[Orla · Rating 4 out of 5]

No how didnthat just end like that. I need more. This was a great installment in the series.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 😘

[Susan1566 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Jacqueline Gomez · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Dawn Cavenee · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!