Tangled by Moonlight: A Wolf Shifter Romance

by Kes Winter

He's a hot, older alpha wolf shifter. Obsessed with me. Treats me like a princess. Says I'm his fated mate.

The only problem?

He's my ex-boyfriend's dad.

***

Garrett Kirk is an alpha wolf shifter, a billionaire cowboy, and the guy of my dreams.
Unfortunately for me, he’s also my ex-boyfriend’s dad.

I’m just a twenty-two year old waitress, trapped in a small town with the high school bullies who nearly ruined my life. A shy girl who dreams of a soft life.

He’s trying to fix things with his son.

We both know crossing this line would be the ultimate betrayal.

But now we’re snowed in together in his mountain lodge, and every glance feels dangerous. He can’t hide the heat in his eyes. The way he looks at me like I should have always been his.

And when he touches me... all my rules melt away.

We both know the right thing is to stay away from each other.

Too bad doing the wrong thing feels so right.

♥♥♥♥♥

This is a spicy shifter romance and modern Rapunzel retelling perfect for fans of "age gap but soulmate" energy, a soft, shy heroine and a protective and jealous/possessive wolf shifter hero who falls in love at first sight.

Expect steamy, wintry vibes; snowed-in, sizzling tension; and emotional slow burn that explodes into high spice.

Tropes:

♥ Instalove (hero only)

♥ Age Gap

♥ Ex-boyfriend's dad

♥ Wolf shifter MMC and human FMC

♥ Rapunzel Retelling

♥ Fated Mates

♥ Alpha hero who's only soft for her

♥ Snowed-In

♥ First person

♥ Dual POV

♥ Standalone

432 pages, Paperback

Published December 23, 2025

About the author

Kes Winter loves creating steamy, emotional, high-tension love stories featuring obsessive heroes and strong heroines. She runs on coffee, sugar, and an overactive imagination.

In the rare moments she’s not writing, she’s usually staying up until the middle of the night reading a book or hiding from the California sun like a vampire.

Keep up with my latest releases and get fun behind-the-scenes glimpses and goodies by joining my newsletter! It's always on the last page of my books or on my website: keswinter dot com.

Reviews

[brittany:)]

Started this last night and it’s pulling me out of my mini slump✨🐺

[Christie A · Rating 5 out of 5]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH 😭😭😭
I didn’t read this book — I DEVOURED it. One. Single. Day. The only reason I stopped was because my body physically forced me to eat dinner 🥲🍽️

The plot line??? ✨MAGICAL✨ like sprinkle-some-fairy-dust-and-ruin-my-life magical
The love story??? Sweet, emotional, heart-squeezing in the best way 😭🫶
The drama??? WOOF. The tea was PIPING hot. Absolutely scalding. One book should not be allowed to hold this much chaos 😅☕
The romance??? HAWT. DAMN. I need a man to talk to me the way Garrett talks to Emily in bed because SIR??? 🥵💯 respectfully, I would simply pass away

Page 393 — I THREW MY PHONE.
Like full-on launched it. Shot straight up out of bed. Scared both my dogs. Started tiptoeing around my room whisper-yelling
“NOOOO 😭 no no no no no oh NO no no”
Full body panic. Absolute emotional terrorism 💀🐕

Page 337 – line ~8 — JESUS FUCK.
That’s it. That’s the tweet. I need a man to say that shit to me in bed immediately 🤣🔥

10/10. No notes. No crumbs left.
I am SO, SO glad I got to be an ARC reader for this because WOW. I cannot WAIT for everyone else to read this and fall just as violently in love with these characters as I did 🖤📖✨

Emotionally wrecked. Spiritually fulfilled. Would do it all over again 😌🔥

[Amanda Faye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dear reader, allow me to get rather personal for a moment.

Wolf books have always been my comfort reads. No matter how "trashy," or how predictable, or how cheesy, they've always soothed me when real life shit hits the fan. I can probably thank Wattpad and daddy issues for that.

Dear reader, this past week has sucked ass and this book was a light in the dark when I needed some serious escapism. It had everything my toxic heart loves in a wolf book—fated mates, a damsel in distress, messy relationships, a woman coming into her own, and a man who will bow at her feet. Also, I'm a sucker for Your Dad Will Do vibes (I did say toxic).

If you need a reason to believe in love again and want to see some serious "my future wife" worship, I definitely recommend picking this one up.

A great big, grateful thank you to Kes Winter for sending me an advanced copy of this book!

[Eden Huntsman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now this is how you do an age gap + a dash of cowboy + dollop of shifter book. Garret is the kind of man you just can’t help but want to know more about and be with. Maybe it’s the daddy issues but I’m all for his protective, possessive and soft side. Don’t get me started on his dark side. I loved the relationship they have and how they each develop. They absolute care and love and devotion he has for her.. I couldn’t get enough. I’ll take more of this kind of man please and thank you. If you want to make him a little more dark I would complain either. Just to mix it up.

New to this author but will be sticking around for future books. 👏👏👏

[Ambreezy83 · Rating 5 out of 5]

She had a sweet life until her father met a vampire, now after his death Emily is left to the wolves. Initially figuratively but after a chance encounter with Garrett after an accident on black ice Emily is now in the wolf shifter’s sights. In the small town of Tower, she is the social outcast after naughty pictures emerge. She works at the diner her father left under the thumb of her vampire stepmom and only with the assurance of blood. She thinks she is worthless and after dating Patrick, she just rolls with the punch. Garrett won’t let her go and shows her the finer side of life like only an alpha. The one hitch - Garret is Patrick’s father. How do fated mates wade thru this world together?

[Sammi Loves Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

"you can't take anything a guy says seroiusly when their d*** is hard"

This book literally kept me up all night ( past 2 am) because I couldn't put it down.
This is a really well written Age Gap with Wolf Shifters, Cowboys and a fairytale retelling, what's not to love! There's lots of spice but a really great love story, showing how to trust again after being badly hurt, and loving people as they are, flaws and all.

Garrett is our silver fox (well wolf actually 🐺), who's fiercely possessive. Emily is our Doe eyed girl who's afraid of men (rightly so) who get tangled up together after a chance meeting. Theres lots of gasp worthy moments I don't want to spoil. Also side note, I loved Walt and wanted more of him haha

Tropes

- Age Gap
- Wolf Shifters
- Touch her and ☠️
- Cowboy Sugar Daddy
- Love triangle
- Found family

Pros
- The meet cute was so cute!
- He Calls her baby girl
- F*** it moment

Cons
- I had to look up the word "Zaddy" which made me feel really old 😂
- I don't like the word "Daddy" being used in the bedroomh, it gives me the ick

Overall rating 4.5/5

I feel so lucky to be have been chosen as an ARC for this amazing book. If you're a fan of Ali Hazelwood I think this will be right up your street.

[Priscilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book. If you like wolf shifter, fated mates, vampires, age gap and sorta forbidden love, this is the book. I couldn’t put this down. I literally stayed up until I finished it. Emily is this girl who has been bullied since high school even by her own step mother, who’s a vampire. She has been broken down by the whole town until Garrick, a wolf shifter, from out of town, helps her out of a ditch when her car spins on black ice.

[Miss E · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not stop reading this book. I would give 6 stars if able-loved it. This book had spice and romance and alllll the things you want from a wolf-shifter story. Im now about to buy everything from this author and hoping this becomes a series rather than a standalone (we can live in hope)
Honestly give this one a try because if this is your type of read (wolves, hot mmc, fated mates, spice, cuteness overload) you wont regret it!

[Elicia Sanchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely devoured this book!! It was so sweet with just the right amount of spice and dash of drama…I mean he’s her ex-boyfriend’s dad.😬😂😂
I LOVE a re-telling and I loved the bits of Rapunzel that shone through. Emily’s horrible step-mother that used her to stay young; her resilience and the kindness she gave despite the horrible way she was treated by the town. Then Garrett (swoon 😍) the handsome alpha shifter who becomes fiercely protective and treats her like a queen. But who also happens to be her ex’s dad 😮😂
I had the warm fuzzies the whole time I was reading! Such a sweet story ❤️

[Jennifer Weatherford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought Dom and Willow’s story was hot (first book in this series) but Garrett and Emily took the top spot!
The chemistry and the suspense was chef kiss.
This book deserves a spot on my trophy shelf.

Rate: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Age gap
He falls first
Possessive hero
Ex-boyfriend’s dad
Touch her and 💀

I received an ARC via BookSiren for my honest review.

[Brittney Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I tell you I couldn’t put this book down I mean it! It’s captivating from the first page! How refreshing and relatable Emily is, is just one of the many reason I couldn’t stop reading. This is a slow burn but god is it so good it had me up all night reading it! I’m not normally a wolf book girly but this is my new favorite series.

[Emily Knaus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t know what Kes Winter put in Tangled by Moonlight, but I swear this book had me pacing my living room; I was absolutely feral over this shifter romance. I opened it expecting a fun little paranormal romance and instead got slammed with fated mates, forbidden longing, and the kind of age‑gap, ex’s‑dad tension that is absolutely palpable.

From the moment Garrett and Emily meet, you feel it, that bone‑deep recognition, that magnetic pull that doesn’t care about logic or timing or the fact that he is absolutely, unequivocally the one man she should not want. And yet. Every glance, every brush of fingers, every moment they try (and fail) to keep their distance just winds the cord between them tighter.

The age gap is written with care and precision. Not creepy, not overdone l, just enough to make every interaction feel charged, like he’s fighting years of restraint while she’s discovering a desire that feels older than her bones. The power imbalance never feels icky; it feels inevitable. Like the universe has been quietly arranging them for years and finally snapped its fingers.

And the ex’s‑dad twist… listen. I thought I was prepared. I was not. The emotional messiness, the guilt, the longing, the “I shouldn’t want you but I’d burn down the world if someone else touched you” energy? I ate it up like candy. It adds this sharp, aching layer to their connection because fate doesn’t care about social rules, and neither does love when it hits this hard.

By the time the moonlight run rolled around, I was gone. Absolutely gone. This book is for readers who crave that intoxicating mix of destiny, taboo, and tenderness; the kind of romance that feels like you’re watching as fate writes itself and you see it all play out. Garrett is a protector first and foremost. His sole purpose is Emily’s life and well being. Seeing Emily taken care of after all she’s been through was so satisfying.

If you love fated mates with a forbidden twist and want your age‑gap romances to feel both tender and devastating, and want to feel a little unhinged in the best way… this one delivers.

A huge thank you to Kes Winter for the early copy!

[Rachel’s Coffee & Rain Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ARC Review✨

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

🐺 Rapunzel/Cinderella retelling
🐺 Soft shy FMC
🐺 Cinnamon roll alpha MMC
🐺 Age gap
🐺 Ex boyfriend’s dad
🐺 Fated mates

This was a delicious, sexy retelling with a soft, shy FMC and a cinnamon roll with burnt edges wolf shifter MMC.

I’m a sucker for a soft, gentle, quiet FMC, and Emily brought the best parts of those traits to the story. Bullied by fellow townspeople, used and abused by her stepmother, and picking up the pieces from her break up with long time cheating addict boyfriend, Emily was easy to root for. Smart, hard working, and shy, when alpha wolf Garret saves her from black ice on the road, he knows she’s his fated mate.

Garret was a good blend of dominant alpha and green flag cinnamon roll. He was sexy, smart, and sweet.

The chemistry was palpable, and these two lit the page on fire immediately. The issue? Emily’s ex is Garret’s estranged son.

I liked this book more than book 1, Cursed by Moonlight, simply because the angst and drama weren’t nestled in betrayal and hurt feelings. There were secrets and hidden truths, something I’m learning this author likes, but unlike book 1 I felt things were revealed more authentically and in better time. The reason Emily kept her secrets made sense. Both MCs seemed more emotionally mature and handled situations well.

The “ex boyfriend’s dad” was the only bit I felt dragged a little too long, but that’s a personal preference. It was a huge issue, but it was also in every internal monologue and mentioning it became a bit taxing.

I loved the characters and their growth; I loved their dynamic, the romance was swooning, riddled with green flags. The spice was 🔥 Would recommend if you love wolf shifters, retellings, fated mates, yearning, spice, age gap.

[Hayden Noel · Rating 5 out of 5]

•wolf shifter
•fairytale retelling
•age gap
•ex-boyfriend’s dad
•he falls first

I will start by saying I absolutely LOVED this book. This is one of my favorite fairytale retellings of all time. This book surprised me because even though they were fated mates, Garrett and Emily’s love story was still very much earned over time. Even though he knew right away, you don’t get the cheesy insta love for no reason. When Garrett met Emily, he could instantly tell she was uneasy and not easily trusting. He was so respectful of that and make a conscious effort not to scare her. He offered her a water bottle, making sure to note that it was still sealed and had her take a picture of his license and send it to her best friend before giving her a ride home. And keep in mind, he is a possessive wolf who just found his mate after 12 years of celibacy and thinking at age 40 he would never find his mate and he still gave her all the control in their relationship. The build up is fantastic because you have the palpable tension mixed in with the anticipation of them finding out that he is her ex’s father and when it all plays out the payoff is so worth it. There are little hints of threats to Emily throughout the book and when it all came together I was pleasantly surprised and also genuinely terrified for her. The way the author presents Patrick (Emily’s ex who is struggling with sobriety) is so complex and intentional and the way she wrapped up that relationship was so good. Kes Winter is an amazing writer and I am definitely going to go back and read the first interconnected standalone of this series and anything she publishes going forward. I already see so much potential for possible new storylines with the characters she introduced. 5 stars.

[Stephie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! Thank you to the author for gifting me this ARC. Tangled By Moonlight is a first person, dual POV and is a loose Rapunzel retelling. It is a stand-alone wolf shifter romance and is the second book in the Fanged Fairytales series. The book follows Emily and Garrett as they navigate the multiple challenges to their relationship.

This book was full of emotion and I felt it all. I loved the growth of Emily's character as she overcame her insecurities and bullies. Coming from a small town myself, I understood how Emily was affected by everything and everyone in Tower. I loved how happy Garrett was to finally find Emily. His age, experience, and support definitely helped her grow into the best version she could be. The slow burn was fabulous and when they finally got together… chef's kiss! The pacing of the book was great. I kept waiting for Patrick to find out and when he finally did, it was perfect.

This book brought me a lot of joy and I really wish I could visit this world.

4 out of 5 stars
3 out of 5 spicy peppers
Memorable line: “The most precious gems on this planet are the ones that have been put through hell. It only makes them stronger. More beautiful. You’re a goddamn sapphire, Emily.”
Read this if you like: age gap, cowboys, ex-boyfriend's dad, fated mates, HEA, instalove, possessive protector, shifters, slowburn, small town, snowed in, werewolves, vampires
F*ck appears: 167 times
Spicy chapters: 16, 18, 25, 39, 40, 44, 45, 52, 60

[Annie Anderson]

Another great shifter book from Kes Winter! I finished this book in a day and a half.

Some personal disclaimers: #1 I'm not much of an age gap girly. It doesn't give me the ick, but I don't seek it out. #2 Irl I am not a person who talks to my ex's. Just don't. I'm more of an act-like-that-relationship-NEVER-happened girl. 🤷 Healthy way to handle it? Probably not. BUT I did struggle to relate to a major plot point of the book. After awhile I kinda eye rolled at how often it came up. Again, I'm a cut-people-out-of-my-life-and-have-no-regrets+about-it person. The MFC absolutely took the high road here and good for her.

So while this wasn't the slam dunk hit for me like Book 1, it was still really good! My high school best friend got pregnant her senior year, so I could relate to a lot of the struggles the MMC faced. Supporting her through some of the same shit was HARD, an absolutely relatable MMC.

There is something about grumpy possessive shifter guys that my brain loves. They never get old and I always enjoy watching the fated mates troupe play out. Who doesn't want someone who would burn the world down for you? Such an unobtainable pedestal but yet one I seek in my books. This book delivers all that and more. Absolutely worth the time!

Thank you BookSirens for the ARC. This is my honest review.

[Mariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily has not had it easy growing up in a small town in Montana with a scathing reputation involving fake pictures. When her car skids off the road, a handsome, tattoed cowboy wolf shifter comes to her rescue - offering help and most importantly kindness. Nevermind that he’s also gorgeous. Garrett didn’t know that by helping the driver of the accident he witnessed that he’d be meeting his fated mate. Sparks are instant —— until everything comes to a screeching halt when its discovered that Emily is his son’s ex girlfriend.

***Wolf shifters
***Age gap romance (22/40)
***Fated mates
***Billionaire cowboy
***Dual POV

I do love a good romantasy fairytale retelling, and this was a fun take on a Rapunzel version. I also love a good age-gap romance…..but would have preferred the FMC be a little bit older. The lack of maturity of the side characters at 22 felt extremely young. With that said, the possessiveness of alpha Garrett was hot! I appreciated that he just wanted to love and take care of her. She deserved that with the life she had.

Looking forward to see what else this author writes in the future!

Thank you to Kes Winter and Netgalley for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

[Mary Gallitano · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a Rapunzel retelling but had a bit of Cinderella with a wicked stepmother (and we don't find out how wicked until late in the story).
Poor 22 year old Emily has had a rough life. Her father passed away, she was the victim of a deep fake photo scandal, and she's dealing with the breakup with her boyfriend who needs rehab in the worst way.

We meet her when she has slid on black ice and is in a snowbank. She is rescued by Garrett, an attractive older man. She sees his tattoos and realizes he's a shifter. Garrett realizes she's the fated mate he's been waiting years for.

Unfortunately we find out early on that he's the father of her ex boyfriend. So Emily Friend Zones him. The attraction between them is so strong though that neither one can stay in the friend zone for long. The spice between them is HOT.

This book had really likeable characters, a good plot, and the right level of spice. I couldn't stop reading and finished it in a day.

[Dominique Franklin · Rating 5 out of 5]

16 stars no notes.

I had the best time reading this story. I love a wolf shifter romance, more than that, I love fated mates. The cherry on top was the ex boyfriend’s father trope for me! I ate this up and left not a crumb. Garret had me swooning, giggling and fanning myself. That’s a man you not only bark for, but one you crawl for with a smile on your face. The way he cared for Emily and worshipped the very ground she walked on? PUT IT IN THE LOUVRE! He didn’t ever play about her and I like my men a tad unhinged so the way he handled the situation (if you know, you know and if you don’t, well read the book babe so you can be in the know), had me ready to do just about anything for Daddy G.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am very appreciative of Kes Winter and their team for the opportunity to read an e-ARC of Tangled by Moonlight!

Ugh this was such a fun, entertaining shifter romance! I could not put this book down!!

I loved getting to see Emily and Garrett’s relationship develop. And I absolutely loved getting Garrett’s POV! His protection and care was so sweet.

I also enjoyed reading about all of the different relationship dynamics in this story; how some relationships are worth fighting for while others are worth letting go.

[Jessie Crews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I binged this book SO hard. It was so good! The spice was on point, the way Garrett talked to Emily was 🔥🔥🔥. The way he protected her like she was the only thing important in his life was amazing!!!

There were such good happenings in this book I was HOOKED!
This is also coming from someone who typically doesn’t read romantasy books. It was my first and I’m so glad.

Will Maddie have her own story? I sure as heck hope so.

[Hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book. Garret is such a green flag character and I can’t help but swoon over his protective, obsessive, caring self. The found family element with the pack is wonderful too and the book just has the best most satisfying ending ever. While there are rollercoasters like the Patrick drama and Stephanie’s horrible self, it all has a purpose to the plot line and never felt unnecessary or slow. I hope to goodness that we get a Maddie story because that girl deserves love too.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Garrett and Emily…. *swoon* the way this man speaks to her, defends her, protects her, and ultimately loves her 😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨
The plot, the drama, the romance…everything about this is perfect 🥹 I quite literally devoured this, yes I haven’t slept but thats okay, how could I sleep when I NEEDED to know what was gonna happen next 😮‍💨 I’m in love with every part 🥹🖤

[shauna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was just as much fun as the first one, cursed by moonlight. I love Kes’ writing, making it impossible to put down.
There was just the right amount of giddy, soppy, touch-her-and-die romance and I loved it
Thank you so much Kes for sending me an ARC of this book, you have a new fan for life.

[Courtney Kiah Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me hooked! I loved it! I'm such a sucker for age gap romance... but then to tie in wolves? I need more! I NOW must read the first. Emily and Garrett had me giggling and fanning myself for how steamy it was.... Definitely recommend this!

[Marisa Tualla · Rating 4 out of 5]

*ARC review * if you like forbidden romance, sexy wolf shifters, and fated mates, this is the book for you!
I know this is a rapunzel retelling, but the with the stepmother it felt Cinderella and Snow White as well.

[Lisa Raham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a sweet and spicy story. Loved the daddy vibes of Garrett the mmc. He was possessive but gentle. The way he took care of Emily the fmc was so sweet.
This was a great read, that I couldn't put down. I love a good fated mates story and this delivered!

[Autumn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tangled by Moonlight was such an amazing read! I finished it all as quick as possible haha, I absolutely love these two and would read again!

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this book!! I definitely stayed up waaay too late reading it, but I couldn’t put it down. I read the whole thing once I started😍 everyone who loves Romantasy NEEDS to read this one🥵