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Howl For Me: A Psychological Case Study of Forced Wilderness Retreats, Brooding Coping Behaviors, and Observed Mate-Bond Hypotheses in Lupine Shifters ... Habits of North American Cryptids Book 2)
[Begin Transcript]
Start from the beginning Dr. Hart.
Dr. Rowan Hart, a practicing psychologist, prefers her plush and life in Seattle over the scent of pine needles and mosquitoes, but when a mandatory work retreat forces her into Northern Cascades National Park, she finds herself intrigued—professionally, of course—with the grumpy, broad-shouldered lead ranger, Cyrus Blackwood.
He’s quiet, gruff, and visibly offended by the existence of other humans in his general vacinity. Rowan insists the curiosity is purely psychological, just a normal desire to unravel the world’s grouchiest man—until a dreaded midnight hike is disrupted by a single gunshot and she stumbles into the trees after him.
That’s when she sees it.
Him.
The transformation no one was ever supposed to witness.
She should have run. She should have screamed. She should have felt that bone-deep, survival-instinct kick into hyperdrive as she looked at the rows of sharp, inhuman teeth.
But instead?
Her intrigue only sharpens.
What is he?
Why is he here?
And why does her skin spark like electricity whenever he’s near, like her body knows something her brain refuses to name?
One thing is Rowan wasn’t supposed to see Cyrus Blackwood’s secrets…
Yet now she can’t seem to walk away from it.
[End Transcript]
Start from the beginning Dr. Hart.
Dr. Rowan Hart, a practicing psychologist, prefers her plush and life in Seattle over the scent of pine needles and mosquitoes, but when a mandatory work retreat forces her into Northern Cascades National Park, she finds herself intrigued—professionally, of course—with the grumpy, broad-shouldered lead ranger, Cyrus Blackwood.
He’s quiet, gruff, and visibly offended by the existence of other humans in his general vacinity. Rowan insists the curiosity is purely psychological, just a normal desire to unravel the world’s grouchiest man—until a dreaded midnight hike is disrupted by a single gunshot and she stumbles into the trees after him.
That’s when she sees it.
Him.
The transformation no one was ever supposed to witness.
She should have run. She should have screamed. She should have felt that bone-deep, survival-instinct kick into hyperdrive as she looked at the rows of sharp, inhuman teeth.
But instead?
Her intrigue only sharpens.
What is he?
Why is he here?
And why does her skin spark like electricity whenever he’s near, like her body knows something her brain refuses to name?
One thing is Rowan wasn’t supposed to see Cyrus Blackwood’s secrets…
Yet now she can’t seem to walk away from it.
[End Transcript]
189 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 31, 2025
3 people are currently reading
2 people want to read
About the author
E.M. Ashwood
4 books5 followersI’m E.M. Ashwood, and I write monster romances with too many footnotes, ridiculous levels of absurdity, and spice levels that could probably Mothman himself blush. My home life is equally cryptid-coded: one dog who moves like a wrecking ball, two cats that double as Halloween decorations, and a husband who keeps me fed when my ADHD brain forgets.
When I’m not writing (Who am I kidding, I’m always writing) I’m either cranking out yet another Star Wars fan-fiction to defend Anakin Skywalker’s honor with my best friend, researching cryptids I’d probably let take me to dinner, or with my nose stuck in my kindle reading about them.
When I’m not writing (Who am I kidding, I’m always writing) I’m either cranking out yet another Star Wars fan-fiction to defend Anakin Skywalker’s honor with my best friend, researching cryptids I’d probably let take me to dinner, or with my nose stuck in my kindle reading about them.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 13, 2026
Thus far this is my favorite E.M.Ashwood story. I really enjoyed the pacing. It was quicker than book one, which I guess I liked.
I also felt like the FMC, Dr. Hart, was a friend. Like, I am sure I am friends with someone like her. She has this very fun coping mechanism of cracking jokes when situations are tense or absolutely unreal.
There’s also fun banter between the FMC and the MMC, Cyrus, which I am learning I thoroughly enjoy when stories have this.
Dr. Hart has the most character development…although maybe it’s more character interiority? Like, we almost get a snippet of her past life and then we get cut off.
It does go with her character because she’s a psychologist who seems to have a lot going on, internally.
Cyrus is kind of a closed book. We know he’s the only one of his kind, but not much else. I think I like it this way. Both are very mysterious and it’s kind of left open that maybe in book three we’ll slowly learn more?
I also thought it was brilliant for the setting to be a psychologist retreat in the woods. There’s some workplace drama, but nothing that takes away from the story
Oh, there’s some fighting. Like physical fighting and maybe a little gore. It’s quick and towards the end.
If you’re into knots and werewolf romance stories check this one out
I also felt like the FMC, Dr. Hart, was a friend. Like, I am sure I am friends with someone like her. She has this very fun coping mechanism of cracking jokes when situations are tense or absolutely unreal.
There’s also fun banter between the FMC and the MMC, Cyrus, which I am learning I thoroughly enjoy when stories have this.
Dr. Hart has the most character development…although maybe it’s more character interiority? Like, we almost get a snippet of her past life and then we get cut off.
It does go with her character because she’s a psychologist who seems to have a lot going on, internally.
Cyrus is kind of a closed book. We know he’s the only one of his kind, but not much else. I think I like it this way. Both are very mysterious and it’s kind of left open that maybe in book three we’ll slowly learn more?
I also thought it was brilliant for the setting to be a psychologist retreat in the woods. There’s some workplace drama, but nothing that takes away from the story
Oh, there’s some fighting. Like physical fighting and maybe a little gore. It’s quick and towards the end.
If you’re into knots and werewolf romance stories check this one out
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2026
You can find this review of Howl for Me on my blog, Heart's Content!
A big shout out and thank you to the author for providing me with a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!
When I received the early reader acceptance mail, I had such a giggle over it. I enjoyed how the author had fashioned the mail to match the tone, theme and nature of the story! I’ve always enjoyed consistency and efforts to keep the magic alive across any and all interactions with the book. Special shout out and mention to the author for that!
Howl For Me is a bite (ha!) sized read that can honestly be such a nice palette cleanser between two heavy reads. It’s light, but emotional, sweet, but spicy, funny, but with a dash of science. It takes place over a short period of time, and it dives nearly immediately into the meat of the story. It’s almost like the book was written solely to tickle the reader’s funny bone and make them smile and then smile some more.
As mentioned earlier about the acceptance mail, the author’s writing has this … balance it maintains across themes. It’s a little bit of everything, knitted into a short and sweet novel that also introduces other characters you either already know—because you’ve read book one—or you’re now curious about, because they’ve piqued your interest. The book/novella was written to be read as a standalone within an interconnected series and works wonderfully as intended.
As another credit to the writing, I’ve highlighted so many conversations and had so much fun that I had to make this review a favourite quotes feature as well.
The plot in this story, tied in very sweetly (and humorously) with the way it was narrated, unfolds as exactly that: a narration. It was such a fun way to establish the personality of the main character, create intrigue and establish the world all in one shot. The eventual revelation of the names of the characters doing the primary narration, mid-way as the story unfolds, only adds to the experience! I don’t think this is a very heavy-on-the-mind book. In fact, it might just be a lean-back-stop-thinking-and-enjoy kind of book. It’s fun, funny and fast!
It was extremely interesting to read a book that required so little world-building that it was done in parts and portions over the course of two (maybe three?) chapters. It’s simple, it’s straightforward and it’s rooted in our understanding of the mythical beings. However, the characters—in this book at least—are primarily interacting with the “real” world, so it was truly the smoothest journey to assimilate the magical world Ashwood has created, within the world we already know.
The pace—as you may have guessed—is as can be expected from a short, sweet read. I did find it very interesting that the author managed to write this book without it feeling too less or much or rushed.
Happy happy reading! Please do check trigger warnings as always. There are themes in this book that can be difficult for some!
A big shout out and thank you to the author for providing me with a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!
When I received the early reader acceptance mail, I had such a giggle over it. I enjoyed how the author had fashioned the mail to match the tone, theme and nature of the story! I’ve always enjoyed consistency and efforts to keep the magic alive across any and all interactions with the book. Special shout out and mention to the author for that!
Howl For Me is a bite (ha!) sized read that can honestly be such a nice palette cleanser between two heavy reads. It’s light, but emotional, sweet, but spicy, funny, but with a dash of science. It takes place over a short period of time, and it dives nearly immediately into the meat of the story. It’s almost like the book was written solely to tickle the reader’s funny bone and make them smile and then smile some more.
As mentioned earlier about the acceptance mail, the author’s writing has this … balance it maintains across themes. It’s a little bit of everything, knitted into a short and sweet novel that also introduces other characters you either already know—because you’ve read book one—or you’re now curious about, because they’ve piqued your interest. The book/novella was written to be read as a standalone within an interconnected series and works wonderfully as intended.
As another credit to the writing, I’ve highlighted so many conversations and had so much fun that I had to make this review a favourite quotes feature as well.
The plot in this story, tied in very sweetly (and humorously) with the way it was narrated, unfolds as exactly that: a narration. It was such a fun way to establish the personality of the main character, create intrigue and establish the world all in one shot. The eventual revelation of the names of the characters doing the primary narration, mid-way as the story unfolds, only adds to the experience! I don’t think this is a very heavy-on-the-mind book. In fact, it might just be a lean-back-stop-thinking-and-enjoy kind of book. It’s fun, funny and fast!
It was extremely interesting to read a book that required so little world-building that it was done in parts and portions over the course of two (maybe three?) chapters. It’s simple, it’s straightforward and it’s rooted in our understanding of the mythical beings. However, the characters—in this book at least—are primarily interacting with the “real” world, so it was truly the smoothest journey to assimilate the magical world Ashwood has created, within the world we already know.
The pace—as you may have guessed—is as can be expected from a short, sweet read. I did find it very interesting that the author managed to write this book without it feeling too less or much or rushed.
Happy happy reading! Please do check trigger warnings as always. There are themes in this book that can be difficult for some!
January 5, 2026
Once again, E.M. Ashwood delivered. I’m OBSESSSSSSSSSED. Pls go read this series. Not just saying because I’m an ARC reader. It seriously had me cackling and was such a good time. The banter was bantering. The tension leading up to the spice…divine. The plot: solid. Just. So. Good. I’m so happy to have found my people with this author. I just love it.
This book mixes interview and storytelling, with Dr. Lila Rhodes (from the first book) interviewing Dr. Rowan Hart for a post-incident debriefing. Rowan is a psychologist forced into a mandatory corporate wilderness retreat who becomes intrigued by super hot and super grumpy lead Ranger Cyrus Blackwood. When a single gunshot is heard during a hike, Rowan accidentally sees a part of Cyrus she was never meant to witness.
Tropes etc
One cabin
Forced proximity
Women in STEM
Grumpy x Sunshine
Banter
FMC is absolutely hilarious
Protective MMC
Bite marking
Fated mates
“F*ck it”
Primal play
Touch her and d!e
This book mixes interview and storytelling, with Dr. Lila Rhodes (from the first book) interviewing Dr. Rowan Hart for a post-incident debriefing. Rowan is a psychologist forced into a mandatory corporate wilderness retreat who becomes intrigued by super hot and super grumpy lead Ranger Cyrus Blackwood. When a single gunshot is heard during a hike, Rowan accidentally sees a part of Cyrus she was never meant to witness.
Tropes etc
One cabin
Forced proximity
Women in STEM
Grumpy x Sunshine
Banter
FMC is absolutely hilarious
Protective MMC
Bite marking
Fated mates
“F*ck it”
Primal play
Touch her and d!e
January 10, 2026
HAPPY PUBLISH DAY HOWL FOR MEEEEEEEE!
i am officially screaming. if you told me i’d spend my weekend reading a “psychological case study” that is actually 90% grumpy werewolf smut and 10% a therapist having a mental breakdown in the woods, i would have sign me up immediately.
here's the plot; imagine a mandatory corporate retreat where the "team building" involves dodging bigfoot and trying not to drool over a brooding park ranger who looks like he was cut from granite. Dr. Rowan Hart is my new spirit animal; she is a city girl, a therapist who needs therapy, and she is 100% allergic to the woods. her internal monologue is peak comedy, especially when she’s trying to stay clinical while a 6-foot-something silver-eyed ranger is sucking up all the air in the room. YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH I LAUGHED READING THIS BOOK- TWICE.
then here's Cyrus Blackwood. sir. the man is the definition of "if he wanted to, he would." he starts off as a total prick who scowls at tourists for breathing too loud, but the chemistry is instant. the tension between them is so thick you couldn't cut it with a chainsaw, and when the full moon finally hits it was ABSOLUTE. FERAL. ENERGY.
what i fell in love with in this book is the humor: the way the chapter titles are formatted like clinical observations (e.g., "observations on transitional stress, room assignments, and the initial presentation of ranger blackwood") is so clever and funny. please take note: this is high-heat monster romance at its best. the mate-bond chemistry was sizzling from the very first accidental collision on the trail, and the payoff is so worth the wait, plus the growth: beneath the smut, there’s actually a really sweet connection. I LOVED THEM SM.
rowan seeing the beauty in cyrus’s true form when he thinks he’s a monster? my heart was squeezed into pieces.
if you like the grumpy x sunshine trope, forced proximity, and heroes who are protective to the point of being feral, read this now. just don’t read it in a public place unless you want people to see you blushing as hard as rowan did.
10/10 would get lost in the cascades if it meant finding a Cyrus of my own, maybe 2..better yet more.
thank you Em for my arc!!!! this is so amazing 🐺🌒🖤
i am officially screaming. if you told me i’d spend my weekend reading a “psychological case study” that is actually 90% grumpy werewolf smut and 10% a therapist having a mental breakdown in the woods, i would have sign me up immediately.
here's the plot; imagine a mandatory corporate retreat where the "team building" involves dodging bigfoot and trying not to drool over a brooding park ranger who looks like he was cut from granite. Dr. Rowan Hart is my new spirit animal; she is a city girl, a therapist who needs therapy, and she is 100% allergic to the woods. her internal monologue is peak comedy, especially when she’s trying to stay clinical while a 6-foot-something silver-eyed ranger is sucking up all the air in the room. YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH I LAUGHED READING THIS BOOK- TWICE.
then here's Cyrus Blackwood. sir. the man is the definition of "if he wanted to, he would." he starts off as a total prick who scowls at tourists for breathing too loud, but the chemistry is instant. the tension between them is so thick you couldn't cut it with a chainsaw, and when the full moon finally hits it was ABSOLUTE. FERAL. ENERGY.
what i fell in love with in this book is the humor: the way the chapter titles are formatted like clinical observations (e.g., "observations on transitional stress, room assignments, and the initial presentation of ranger blackwood") is so clever and funny. please take note: this is high-heat monster romance at its best. the mate-bond chemistry was sizzling from the very first accidental collision on the trail, and the payoff is so worth the wait, plus the growth: beneath the smut, there’s actually a really sweet connection. I LOVED THEM SM.
rowan seeing the beauty in cyrus’s true form when he thinks he’s a monster? my heart was squeezed into pieces.
if you like the grumpy x sunshine trope, forced proximity, and heroes who are protective to the point of being feral, read this now. just don’t read it in a public place unless you want people to see you blushing as hard as rowan did.
10/10 would get lost in the cascades if it meant finding a Cyrus of my own, maybe 2..better yet more.
thank you Em for my arc!!!! this is so amazing 🐺🌒🖤
January 5, 2026
Wow I couldn’t put this book down, this story had danger, romance, longing, banter, humour, touch her and 💀 vibes and a lot more.
Rowan is not looking forward to spending the weekend on a team building exercise in the woods. She a city girl the thought of being near bugs, the outdoors in general is not something she wants to do.
All she can think about is surviving the weekend but if she hadn’t gone she wouldn’t have met Cyrus. As she calls him “a holy gorgeous man” and indeed he is with broad shoulders, tall and he had an effect on her the moment she saw him.
The tension and banter between the MMC and FMC had me in stitches especially when they say things like “Any allergies”…”Yes…”To what?”… “”Your shitty attitude” .
Rowan likes to talk and she tries to make a conversation with Cyrus but he’s not much of a talker, but she’s on a mission to get him to open up to her.
What should have been a normal hike in the woods ended up being not so normal, when Cyrus transforms into his Wolf she should have been terrified but she found him to be beautiful. Everything falls away when she sees him, can’t stop blushing when she sets her eyes on him.
The sizzling steam scenes “Are you going to be a my good girl and take your Alphas knot” 🥵🥵
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed reading howl for me, the banter, the humour, the tender moments, the twilight references. I was Hooked from the first chapter, definitely recommend reading it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rowan is not looking forward to spending the weekend on a team building exercise in the woods. She a city girl the thought of being near bugs, the outdoors in general is not something she wants to do.
All she can think about is surviving the weekend but if she hadn’t gone she wouldn’t have met Cyrus. As she calls him “a holy gorgeous man” and indeed he is with broad shoulders, tall and he had an effect on her the moment she saw him.
The tension and banter between the MMC and FMC had me in stitches especially when they say things like “Any allergies”…”Yes…”To what?”… “”Your shitty attitude” .
Rowan likes to talk and she tries to make a conversation with Cyrus but he’s not much of a talker, but she’s on a mission to get him to open up to her.
What should have been a normal hike in the woods ended up being not so normal, when Cyrus transforms into his Wolf she should have been terrified but she found him to be beautiful. Everything falls away when she sees him, can’t stop blushing when she sets her eyes on him.
The sizzling steam scenes “Are you going to be a my good girl and take your Alphas knot” 🥵🥵
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed reading howl for me, the banter, the humour, the tender moments, the twilight references. I was Hooked from the first chapter, definitely recommend reading it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2026
Fun, Spicy Follow-Up with 'Howl for Me'; Mate-Bond Hypotheses in Lupine Shifters
Stars:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Darkness:🖤🖤/5
Angst:💔💔/5
Ashwood has done it again! I absolutely adored “Howl for Me” by E.M. Ashwood, and I love that it was published on the Wolf Moon! This quick, funny, and spicy follow-up in the quirky and fun “Mating Habits of North American Cryptids” series is fantastic. I appreciate how Ashwood adds extra depth to the story by using field notes and case reports; it also features a visit from our previous FMC, Dr. Lila Rhodes. During an ill-fated mandatory work retreat in the woods, clinical psychologist Dr. Rowan Hart feels drawn to the grouchy and handsome forest ranger Cyrus Blackwood. Things go completely sideways during a night hike, forcing proximity between the clumsy Dr. Hart and the surly Ranger Blackwood, leading them to break down each other's boundaries with banter and steady protectiveness. “Howl for Me” was such a fun and spicy read — I loved the banter and the complexity of the characters. I can't wait to see what Ashwood comes up with next!
Stars:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Darkness:🖤🖤/5
Angst:💔💔/5
Ashwood has done it again! I absolutely adored “Howl for Me” by E.M. Ashwood, and I love that it was published on the Wolf Moon! This quick, funny, and spicy follow-up in the quirky and fun “Mating Habits of North American Cryptids” series is fantastic. I appreciate how Ashwood adds extra depth to the story by using field notes and case reports; it also features a visit from our previous FMC, Dr. Lila Rhodes. During an ill-fated mandatory work retreat in the woods, clinical psychologist Dr. Rowan Hart feels drawn to the grouchy and handsome forest ranger Cyrus Blackwood. Things go completely sideways during a night hike, forcing proximity between the clumsy Dr. Hart and the surly Ranger Blackwood, leading them to break down each other's boundaries with banter and steady protectiveness. “Howl for Me” was such a fun and spicy read — I loved the banter and the complexity of the characters. I can't wait to see what Ashwood comes up with next!
January 5, 2026
“𝕊𝕦𝕓𝕛𝕖𝕔𝕥 𝕖𝕩𝕙𝕚𝕓𝕚𝕥𝕤 𝕤𝕦𝕓𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕒𝕝 𝕝𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕝𝕤 𝕠𝕗 𝕣𝕖𝕡𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕠𝕟. ℍ𝕪𝕡𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤: 𝕔𝕙𝕣𝕠𝕟𝕚𝕔 𝕤𝕥𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕖𝕟𝕤𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕓𝕖 𝕣𝕖𝕕𝕦𝕔𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙 𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕘𝕖𝕥𝕖𝕕 𝕚𝕣𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟.”
MY GIRL ATE WITH THIS ONE! Rowan is absolutely hilarious. I feel as if I have spiritually connected with her in a way that I didn’t know was possible. Her sense of humor, the ‘your mom’ jokes, and the Shrek references had me cackling so loud that my partner kept interrupting my reading time to see if I was okay 😂.
Rowan is forced to attend a company retreat in the wilderness where she is faced with the grumpy park ranger, Cyrus Blackwood, who just so happens to have a lupine-natured secrets. When Poachers are found wreaking havoc in the surrounding woods, they must push their banter aside (they don’t) and come up with a plan to stop them.
And what a wondrous, chaotic plan it was. 😂
I love them. I love this book. I love EM’s brain. 💕
Did I mention there’s knotting? And you definitely don’t want to miss out on Cyrus’s dirty talk.
MY GIRL ATE WITH THIS ONE! Rowan is absolutely hilarious. I feel as if I have spiritually connected with her in a way that I didn’t know was possible. Her sense of humor, the ‘your mom’ jokes, and the Shrek references had me cackling so loud that my partner kept interrupting my reading time to see if I was okay 😂.
Rowan is forced to attend a company retreat in the wilderness where she is faced with the grumpy park ranger, Cyrus Blackwood, who just so happens to have a lupine-natured secrets. When Poachers are found wreaking havoc in the surrounding woods, they must push their banter aside (they don’t) and come up with a plan to stop them.
And what a wondrous, chaotic plan it was. 😂
I love them. I love this book. I love EM’s brain. 💕
Did I mention there’s knotting? And you definitely don’t want to miss out on Cyrus’s dirty talk.
January 6, 2026
STEM FMC: psychologist
This one was slightly better than the first one, but that might just be because werewolf romances are so much more mainstream than big foot romances? I don’t know, but this one was better.
If you want a short spicy werewolf shifter romance with knotting, this will do it
I kind of hated the FMC for the first half of the book, but she calmed down and grew on me. The set up of this book was odd and distracting. The constant interruption of the story for the previous book’s FMC to interview this book’s FMC was strange but it made sense if you read the first book. The two girls just keep aggravating each other the whole time.
This book needed to go through editing one more time. There are quite a few grammatical errors.
3.5 stars
This one was slightly better than the first one, but that might just be because werewolf romances are so much more mainstream than big foot romances? I don’t know, but this one was better.
If you want a short spicy werewolf shifter romance with knotting, this will do it
I kind of hated the FMC for the first half of the book, but she calmed down and grew on me. The set up of this book was odd and distracting. The constant interruption of the story for the previous book’s FMC to interview this book’s FMC was strange but it made sense if you read the first book. The two girls just keep aggravating each other the whole time.
This book needed to go through editing one more time. There are quite a few grammatical errors.
3.5 stars
January 7, 2026
Howl For Me fully commits to its premise and absolutely owns it — part paranormal romance, part tongue-in-cheek “academic” case study, and entirely entertaining.
The faux-scholarly framing is what really makes this book stand out. Treating brooding, forced proximity, and mate-bond tension like observed behavioral phenomena is both clever and genuinely funny, especially when contrasted with how emotionally feral the characters actually are. There’s something deeply satisfying about watching a lupine shifter unravel while the narration calmly analyzes his coping mechanisms like he’s a lab subject.
Beyond the humor, the chemistry is intense, the forced wilderness retreat trope works beautifully, and the slow burn toward mate-bond realization feels earned. The writing balances sharp wit with emotional depth, making the characters feel real even in a supernatural setting. This was fun, smart, and surprisingly tender — a perfect read if you like your paranormal romance with bite, brains, and a lot of yearning.
The faux-scholarly framing is what really makes this book stand out. Treating brooding, forced proximity, and mate-bond tension like observed behavioral phenomena is both clever and genuinely funny, especially when contrasted with how emotionally feral the characters actually are. There’s something deeply satisfying about watching a lupine shifter unravel while the narration calmly analyzes his coping mechanisms like he’s a lab subject.
Beyond the humor, the chemistry is intense, the forced wilderness retreat trope works beautifully, and the slow burn toward mate-bond realization feels earned. The writing balances sharp wit with emotional depth, making the characters feel real even in a supernatural setting. This was fun, smart, and surprisingly tender — a perfect read if you like your paranormal romance with bite, brains, and a lot of yearning.
January 4, 2026
Psycholigist Rowan Hart ends up on a madatory company retreat in the woods.When they hear a loud shot on their night time hike ranger Blackwood tries to make sure everyone is safe.Rowan had other plans and follows him deeper into the forest. What she finds in the forest though is not anything she had planned for her work retreat. Can she keep what she saw to herself... you'd think as a Psychologist maybe she should. No one would believe her anyway.
This book is another fantastic one just enough smut in a whirlwind of plot.Rowan is written in a way that her thought process of self doubt mimic my own sometimes. And it was nice to see her try to deal with that.
This book is another fantastic one just enough smut in a whirlwind of plot.Rowan is written in a way that her thought process of self doubt mimic my own sometimes. And it was nice to see her try to deal with that.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews