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Full Moon Faceoff: Wolves of Burlington
Elijah Sager joins the Burlington Bobcats to escape a brutal breakup and prove he's more than the mistakes his ex made him believe he was. The last thing he needs is the team's star player—publicly straight, impossibly hot Gabriel Sanderson—watching him like he wants to devour him whole.
Gabe has spent years keeping his secrets locked down he's gay, he's a wolf shifter, and his pack's territory is under threat. But when Eli steps onto the ice, Gabe's wolf recognizes something a fated mate. The pull is magnetic and impossible to ignore.
As a rival pack closes in with threats that escalate from intimidation to kidnapping, and a deadly enemy emerges from the shadows, Gabe and Eli are forced together by something neither can control. Between championship games and full moon transformations, they'll have to fight for their lives, their pack, and a love that could destroy them both... or make them unstoppable.
Gabe has spent years keeping his secrets locked down he's gay, he's a wolf shifter, and his pack's territory is under threat. But when Eli steps onto the ice, Gabe's wolf recognizes something a fated mate. The pull is magnetic and impossible to ignore.
As a rival pack closes in with threats that escalate from intimidation to kidnapping, and a deadly enemy emerges from the shadows, Gabe and Eli are forced together by something neither can control. Between championship games and full moon transformations, they'll have to fight for their lives, their pack, and a love that could destroy them both... or make them unstoppable.
310 pages, Paperback
Published March 19, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
April 3, 2026
I really wanted to enjoy this but the sheer amount of continuity errors took me out of this story.
Did Elijah meet his ex on Grindr or was it a blind date?
Did Elijah get dumped by his cheating ex, who then proceeded to belittle him as Elijah packed up to move out or did Elijah dump the ex, who begged and pleaded with him not to leave?
Was Gabe's pack the first ones he told about his draw to Eli or did they not even know he was gay?
Were they having a picnic at a remote riverside location (in winter, in Vermont) or were they meeting up for dinner at Gabe's hideaway cabin?
Was one of the side characters desperately grieving his late wife, whom he'd lost less than a year ago, or was he already deep in another relationship with a member of the pack?
These are just a few examples of the inconsistencies that are rampant throughout this book. I wish I could say it was a one-off for this author, but I feel like I tell myself that every time I try one of his books and find myself struggling to look past the same issue. It's actually why I'm writing my first Goodreads review...so I remember!
(Edited to say...this is not an ARC review. I read this as part of my KU membership. Not sure why it's being labeled that way.)
Did Elijah meet his ex on Grindr or was it a blind date?
Did Elijah get dumped by his cheating ex, who then proceeded to belittle him as Elijah packed up to move out or did Elijah dump the ex, who begged and pleaded with him not to leave?
Was Gabe's pack the first ones he told about his draw to Eli or did they not even know he was gay?
Were they having a picnic at a remote riverside location (in winter, in Vermont) or were they meeting up for dinner at Gabe's hideaway cabin?
Was one of the side characters desperately grieving his late wife, whom he'd lost less than a year ago, or was he already deep in another relationship with a member of the pack?
These are just a few examples of the inconsistencies that are rampant throughout this book. I wish I could say it was a one-off for this author, but I feel like I tell myself that every time I try one of his books and find myself struggling to look past the same issue. It's actually why I'm writing my first Goodreads review...so I remember!
(Edited to say...this is not an ARC review. I read this as part of my KU membership. Not sure why it's being labeled that way.)
March 28, 2026
So like….i finished it but why did nothing add up? There were so many things that didn’t make any sense i genuinely started to gaslight myself into thinking i read things wrong. Turns out the story was just so full of inconsistencies that it wasn’t a me problem after all.
April 20, 2026
2.5 stars
I was SO excited to for this one. Fated mates, wolf shifters, and hockey!?! Unfortunately, this one definitely needed some more editing. There were some continuity things that were glaring to me as I was reading, and I just couldn't ignore them. I also thought it would have more shifter content and a bit more exciting things happening in the plot. This one just missed the mark for me.
I was SO excited to for this one. Fated mates, wolf shifters, and hockey!?! Unfortunately, this one definitely needed some more editing. There were some continuity things that were glaring to me as I was reading, and I just couldn't ignore them. I also thought it would have more shifter content and a bit more exciting things happening in the plot. This one just missed the mark for me.
March 27, 2026
5 stars!!! 3🌶️
Wolf shifter
Hockey teammate
Fated mate
ONE BED
PLOT
Found Family
Friends to lovers
Excuse me while I I add this author to list of faves from now on. The tension was so perfect and the dialogue felt like REAL people!
There’s actual plot on this book too! Not only was on the edge of my seat with their relationship and SWOONING HARD but I was also intrigued by the plot happening too.
This kept my attention the entire read and I need EVERYONE TO READ IT NOW.
Wolf shifter
Hockey teammate
Fated mate
ONE BED
PLOT
Found Family
Friends to lovers
Excuse me while I I add this author to list of faves from now on. The tension was so perfect and the dialogue felt like REAL people!
There’s actual plot on this book too! Not only was on the edge of my seat with their relationship and SWOONING HARD but I was also intrigued by the plot happening too.
This kept my attention the entire read and I need EVERYONE TO READ IT NOW.
April 19, 2026
Tropes: beta/human, AHL hockey teammates, fated mates
Feels: 1.5/5
Steam*: 1.5/5
Kinks: n/a
Angst: low
HEA: HEA
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings/representation: emotional and psychological abusive ex, past death of parents, schizophrenic/early onset dementia minor character, homophobia, violence
Cheating between MCs: No
Any cheating: Eli's ex cheated on him
Other person drama: they're a minor mentions of past hookups/exes. Eli is constantly thinking of his recent ex Ben, who he dated for 4 years, and who was abusive.
3.5 stars
Eli is 27. He recently got dumped by his boyfriend of 4 years, Ben, who was emotionally and psychologically abusive to him. He has been traded to a new AHL team, and he's happy for being lifted out of a bad situation and getting a fresh start. Immediately upon getting to town, he catches the attention of Gabe, who is around the same age, a teammate of his and also secretly a wolf shifter. Turns out they are a rare thing, fated mates, and they are drawn to each other.
The conflict is twofold. Gabe thinks he needs to be in the closet, because if he comes out he will draw attention, and it might expose his secret. And also someone is threatening Gabe's pack and there is danger there.
This was an okay story. Eli and Gabe were nice enough for each other. There was plot, the minor characters were interesting enough. I liked Gabe's relationship with his sister.
Things I didn't like:
- Eli could not stop thinking of and mentioning his ex. He was mentioned up until 81%. And Eli thought of him while they had sex. That is just such an ick for me.
- I felt like Eli and Gabe didn't really love each other for who they were, because of the fated mates component, it seemed like neither of them put a lot of work into getting to know each other, loving them for who they are, doing things for each other. I just didn't feel like the love was earned.
- I didn't love the way the author handled the passage of time. It felt a little abrupt, not artful or significant.
- Why did the author have to remind us so many times that Eli was 27? It seemed excessive.
Some notable moments:
"He didn’t just smell great, either. He looked like more of a prize than anything we could have won tonight. He was my Stanley Cup. He was my Olympic gold medal. Elijah Sager was my everything. I wanted him to know that."
"“I like it,” I said. Chris dropped his head back and put a hand on his face. “Damn, man, I trusted you.” “Don’t you eat like raw deer when you shift?” I noted. Chris spread his fingers open and looked through the hole. “Yes. And that’s still better than pineapple on pizza.”"
*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.
**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.
Feels: 1.5/5
Steam*: 1.5/5
Kinks: n/a
Angst: low
HEA: HEA
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings/representation: emotional and psychological abusive ex, past death of parents, schizophrenic/early onset dementia minor character, homophobia, violence
Cheating between MCs: No
Any cheating: Eli's ex cheated on him
Other person drama: they're a minor mentions of past hookups/exes. Eli is constantly thinking of his recent ex Ben, who he dated for 4 years, and who was abusive.
3.5 stars
Eli is 27. He recently got dumped by his boyfriend of 4 years, Ben, who was emotionally and psychologically abusive to him. He has been traded to a new AHL team, and he's happy for being lifted out of a bad situation and getting a fresh start. Immediately upon getting to town, he catches the attention of Gabe, who is around the same age, a teammate of his and also secretly a wolf shifter. Turns out they are a rare thing, fated mates, and they are drawn to each other.
The conflict is twofold. Gabe thinks he needs to be in the closet, because if he comes out he will draw attention, and it might expose his secret. And also someone is threatening Gabe's pack and there is danger there.
This was an okay story. Eli and Gabe were nice enough for each other. There was plot, the minor characters were interesting enough. I liked Gabe's relationship with his sister.
Things I didn't like:
- Eli could not stop thinking of and mentioning his ex. He was mentioned up until 81%. And Eli thought of him while they had sex. That is just such an ick for me.
- I felt like Eli and Gabe didn't really love each other for who they were, because of the fated mates component, it seemed like neither of them put a lot of work into getting to know each other, loving them for who they are, doing things for each other. I just didn't feel like the love was earned.
- I didn't love the way the author handled the passage of time. It felt a little abrupt, not artful or significant.
- Why did the author have to remind us so many times that Eli was 27? It seemed excessive.
Some notable moments:
"He didn’t just smell great, either. He looked like more of a prize than anything we could have won tonight. He was my Stanley Cup. He was my Olympic gold medal. Elijah Sager was my everything. I wanted him to know that."
"“I like it,” I said. Chris dropped his head back and put a hand on his face. “Damn, man, I trusted you.” “Don’t you eat like raw deer when you shift?” I noted. Chris spread his fingers open and looked through the hole. “Yes. And that’s still better than pineapple on pizza.”"
*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.
**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2026
Highkey, this book was so inconsistent in its characters’ backstories it gave me whiplash.
Lowkey, this book was giving twilight but make it shifters.
Lowkey, this book was giving twilight but make it shifters.
April 11, 2026
I knew from the blurb that this would be a fun read and it absolutely was. With a great mix of ice hockey, fated mates, a wolf shifter pack, and plenty of spice, this story had everything to keep me hooked.
I loved the plot and it was well-paced,which made it an easy and entertaining read. I enjoyed the banter, mystery, and romance. All the characters were great/lovable. There are alot of inconsistencies though, which others have also pointed out to me, more than I even noticed which affected my rating.
I loved the plot and it was well-paced,which made it an easy and entertaining read. I enjoyed the banter, mystery, and romance. All the characters were great/lovable. There are alot of inconsistencies though, which others have also pointed out to me, more than I even noticed which affected my rating.
April 28, 2026
Tienen la química de una ameba y está lleno de errores de continuidad. A otra cosa.
May 10, 2026
a bit too corny at times, but i do always enjoy reading m/m books written by men. picked up for the weird werewolf/hockey mash-up and wish we would've gotten more of both. some of the passage of time was also funky and left me reeling, but still a fun enough read.
March 30, 2026
'Full Moon Face Off: Wolves of Burlington' by Max Walker (Kindle)*
March 2026
Wow, it's finally here; been waiting for this! Walker is one of my fave authors...dragons and wolves and hot guys, Oh my!
(oops...no dragons in this book, that was the last series, lol!)
My point being: one of the reasons why I like this author is his unexpected plot twists, not to mention the creative writing, various & sundry interesting characters, great sense of humor intermixed with levels of drama... and smokin' hot MM storylines!
Case in point: Quote:
"He gave me a grin, flashing his white teeth. For a hockey player, he had some of the straightest and most-cared-for teeth I’d seen. I wanted to lick them."
(I seriously snort-laughed)
(sigh) Hate to say it but storyline has several inconsistencies that a good editor should have easily caught. They are annoyingly disruptive because they keep throwing the continuity off. It's like when you are spinning a vinyl and the needle jumps the groove and ...《SCRATCH》...the focus goes somewhere else and you're just sitting there thinking "wtf?".
For instance:
“But,” Eli said, suddenly taking an arrow straight through my joy with a single word, “this whole ceremony thing. That, that’s something I don’t know about. Not yet.” I nodded. “I can completely understand that.” Without the ceremony, we wouldn’t officially be mates, and the bond wouldn’t seal. Could we continue to date each other without tying our souls together? Sure, but from what I understood, there would always be a yearning for that completeness, and the yearning many times would fester into anger and bitterness."
Um...nowhere previous to this statement has there been ANY mention of any type of ceremony. So this makes no sense. It should have come later in the storyline.
"We’d spent the rest of the day relaxing around the cabin. We had dinner (a barbecue chicken pizza and a stacked bowl of loaded nachos), had some drinks, played a couple of rounds of a racing video game I’d recently bought, and then went up to the shifter room as the sun began its descent. The transformation wouldn’t happen until the moon was at its zenith in the sky—which tonight would be at twelve twenty—and that gave us another thirty minutes."
And yet another anomaly (*rolling eyes*)...so the sun is just setting as they are starting upstairs...and yet, moon will be at zenith @12:20am...which Gabe says gives him another 30 minutes before shift occurs? That makes no sense!
There are several more inconsistencies throughout the storyline; I can overlook some if they aren't obviously impacting the flow of the tale...but these are.
At this point there have been enough to have me flipping pages back and forth to figure out what occured, what was or was not said or done? By breaking the continuity it throws the flow of the storyline out of context, not a good thing when the tale is compelling (it is) and I don't like being distracted from what's going down!
Ok, one more: Gabe & Eli are in Gabe's cabin...in the forest...in the mountains...isolated...and they're talking about ordering Chinese food? Maybe it's delivered by drone... (*rolling eyes*) Yeah, right.
However, it's lines like the following that keep me coming back for more books from Walker:
"It was pure fucking ecstasy, having Gabriel down on his knees, and behind him was a backdrop that looked like it was painted by Bob Ross himself. And wow, was I a happy little bush right now."
(lol) I used to watch reruns of Bob Ross' TV show about teaching people to paint, and he absolutely would say things like "let's put a happy little bush over here."
Even with all the glitches I still liked this storyline; definitely entertaining!
March 2026
Wow, it's finally here; been waiting for this! Walker is one of my fave authors...dragons and wolves and hot guys, Oh my!
(oops...no dragons in this book, that was the last series, lol!)
My point being: one of the reasons why I like this author is his unexpected plot twists, not to mention the creative writing, various & sundry interesting characters, great sense of humor intermixed with levels of drama... and smokin' hot MM storylines!
Case in point: Quote:
"He gave me a grin, flashing his white teeth. For a hockey player, he had some of the straightest and most-cared-for teeth I’d seen. I wanted to lick them."
(I seriously snort-laughed)
(sigh) Hate to say it but storyline has several inconsistencies that a good editor should have easily caught. They are annoyingly disruptive because they keep throwing the continuity off. It's like when you are spinning a vinyl and the needle jumps the groove and ...《SCRATCH》...the focus goes somewhere else and you're just sitting there thinking "wtf?".
For instance:
“But,” Eli said, suddenly taking an arrow straight through my joy with a single word, “this whole ceremony thing. That, that’s something I don’t know about. Not yet.” I nodded. “I can completely understand that.” Without the ceremony, we wouldn’t officially be mates, and the bond wouldn’t seal. Could we continue to date each other without tying our souls together? Sure, but from what I understood, there would always be a yearning for that completeness, and the yearning many times would fester into anger and bitterness."
Um...nowhere previous to this statement has there been ANY mention of any type of ceremony. So this makes no sense. It should have come later in the storyline.
"We’d spent the rest of the day relaxing around the cabin. We had dinner (a barbecue chicken pizza and a stacked bowl of loaded nachos), had some drinks, played a couple of rounds of a racing video game I’d recently bought, and then went up to the shifter room as the sun began its descent. The transformation wouldn’t happen until the moon was at its zenith in the sky—which tonight would be at twelve twenty—and that gave us another thirty minutes."
And yet another anomaly (*rolling eyes*)...so the sun is just setting as they are starting upstairs...and yet, moon will be at zenith @12:20am...which Gabe says gives him another 30 minutes before shift occurs? That makes no sense!
There are several more inconsistencies throughout the storyline; I can overlook some if they aren't obviously impacting the flow of the tale...but these are.
At this point there have been enough to have me flipping pages back and forth to figure out what occured, what was or was not said or done? By breaking the continuity it throws the flow of the storyline out of context, not a good thing when the tale is compelling (it is) and I don't like being distracted from what's going down!
Ok, one more: Gabe & Eli are in Gabe's cabin...in the forest...in the mountains...isolated...and they're talking about ordering Chinese food? Maybe it's delivered by drone... (*rolling eyes*) Yeah, right.
However, it's lines like the following that keep me coming back for more books from Walker:
"It was pure fucking ecstasy, having Gabriel down on his knees, and behind him was a backdrop that looked like it was painted by Bob Ross himself. And wow, was I a happy little bush right now."
(lol) I used to watch reruns of Bob Ross' TV show about teaching people to paint, and he absolutely would say things like "let's put a happy little bush over here."
Even with all the glitches I still liked this storyline; definitely entertaining!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 2, 2026
I’m not mad. I’m disappointed. 2.5 Stars.
This was another book that I was excited to read and had high hopes for. NB4R, do authors not use editors anymore? Beta readers? No?
If you’re an author who thinks you do not need feedback then you are not for me. (Because I refuse to believe anyone proof, edit, or beta read this and said nothing.)
The Good:
I liked the MC's and the “fated mates” love story was cute. The intimacy was there. I was here for it. I really liked the SCs in the pack. IF (and that's a big if) I read more in this series it would just be because I liked them so much as characters but there has to be writing, story, and plot improvements.
The Bad:
Any shifter series without a knot is already a let down for me.
The story inconsistencies man….. In one chapter the MC grew up poor, in the next they’re upper middle class.
We have a whole ass discussion on who it's impossible to take a photo of shifter shifting because of magic I guess (they don't elaborate) but then a few chapters later he wants to ask if it's okay to photograph the shift. Pretty sure we already covered that buddy.
At the beginning of the book he meets his ex on grindr, then at the end of the book they met on a blind date.
At the beginning of book Eli and his ex broke up because his ex “found someone new” and then at the end of the book Eli left him* and he was crying and begging.
At one point he “fucking hated bugs and snakes with fiery passion” and then later he loves all bugs but hates spiders.
The shifter MC doesn't believe fated mates are real, then when someone else tells him they are suddenly he knows a few couples who were fated mates he just didn’t think they were real for him? (idk its never explained)
The MCs bond over their love of photography but seem to switch favorite brands of cameras several times. (why include details like make and model number if you are not going to be consistent with it? Like it hella specific (eg Nikon D7500)
MEGA SPOILER
But the thing that really annoyed me was there is all this talk a build up to forming the mate bond that has to happen on a bonding ceremony under the full moon where the shifter MC is fully shifted and then they have to consummate for the bond to finalized and the book ends on them “kissing” just after he shifts. It just ends. Then in the afterward it says if you wanna read what happens next (i.e. the consummating of the bond ⅔ of the book is about you have to go to the authors Patreon….)
This was another book that I was excited to read and had high hopes for. NB4R, do authors not use editors anymore? Beta readers? No?
If you’re an author who thinks you do not need feedback then you are not for me. (Because I refuse to believe anyone proof, edit, or beta read this and said nothing.)
The Good:
I liked the MC's and the “fated mates” love story was cute. The intimacy was there. I was here for it. I really liked the SCs in the pack. IF (and that's a big if) I read more in this series it would just be because I liked them so much as characters but there has to be writing, story, and plot improvements.
The Bad:
Any shifter series without a knot is already a let down for me.
The story inconsistencies man….. In one chapter the MC grew up poor, in the next they’re upper middle class.
We have a whole ass discussion on who it's impossible to take a photo of shifter shifting because of magic I guess (they don't elaborate) but then a few chapters later he wants to ask if it's okay to photograph the shift. Pretty sure we already covered that buddy.
At the beginning of the book he meets his ex on grindr, then at the end of the book they met on a blind date.
At the beginning of book Eli and his ex broke up because his ex “found someone new” and then at the end of the book Eli left him* and he was crying and begging.
At one point he “fucking hated bugs and snakes with fiery passion” and then later he loves all bugs but hates spiders.
The shifter MC doesn't believe fated mates are real, then when someone else tells him they are suddenly he knows a few couples who were fated mates he just didn’t think they were real for him? (idk its never explained)
The MCs bond over their love of photography but seem to switch favorite brands of cameras several times. (why include details like make and model number if you are not going to be consistent with it? Like it hella specific (eg Nikon D7500)
MEGA SPOILER
But the thing that really annoyed me was there is all this talk a build up to forming the mate bond that has to happen on a bonding ceremony under the full moon where the shifter MC is fully shifted and then they have to consummate for the bond to finalized and the book ends on them “kissing” just after he shifts. It just ends. Then in the afterward it says if you wanna read what happens next (i.e. the consummating of the bond ⅔ of the book is about you have to go to the authors Patreon….)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2026
This book was good, I mean it had hockey AND werewolves in it, so I was super excited to read it.
As a lot of other reviews have been pointing out, there are quite a few inconsistencies in the book.
Harrison later on reveals he had a daughter that had passed, hence his whole vendetta thing, but did we know that? I know it was mentioned that his mom was in a care home/assisted living, but nothing about his daughter. It just seemed a random addition at the end (again, maybe I missed it). And him bugging their phones? This man is rarely mentioned so how did no one notice him coming in to the locker rooms and messing with ALL of their phones? A coach would make more sense but there's really no reason for a GM to be in the locker room.
Viktor had a wife? Weren't the packmates speculating Viktor was jealous of Gabe because he wanted Eli as his boo thing or something? But, if mans is married...
With Gabe's sister having early onset dementia, isn't that a hereditary condition because it's so rare to happen in your 30s? Are we concerned for Gabe? And for the schizophrenia diagnosis, if Gabe was a freshman in college, she must have been in her early 30s, which is arguably pretty late for a new diagnosis, as it usually presents in your late teens/early 20s. Obviously seeing a parent die in front of you is traumatic, but it sounds more like PTSD? As a healthcare girlie, I know Lily's backstory isn't the main focus of the story, but there were way too many unanswered questions.
The whole scene the book is named after is only a chapter and was a little more anticlimactic than I expected. Also, how did all these shifters expect no one in management not to find out they were shifters???
As a lot of other reviews have been pointing out, there are quite a few inconsistencies in the book.
Harrison later on reveals he had a daughter that had passed, hence his whole vendetta thing, but did we know that? I know it was mentioned that his mom was in a care home/assisted living, but nothing about his daughter. It just seemed a random addition at the end (again, maybe I missed it). And him bugging their phones? This man is rarely mentioned so how did no one notice him coming in to the locker rooms and messing with ALL of their phones? A coach would make more sense but there's really no reason for a GM to be in the locker room.
Viktor had a wife? Weren't the packmates speculating Viktor was jealous of Gabe because he wanted Eli as his boo thing or something? But, if mans is married...
With Gabe's sister having early onset dementia, isn't that a hereditary condition because it's so rare to happen in your 30s? Are we concerned for Gabe? And for the schizophrenia diagnosis, if Gabe was a freshman in college, she must have been in her early 30s, which is arguably pretty late for a new diagnosis, as it usually presents in your late teens/early 20s. Obviously seeing a parent die in front of you is traumatic, but it sounds more like PTSD? As a healthcare girlie, I know Lily's backstory isn't the main focus of the story, but there were way too many unanswered questions.
The whole scene the book is named after is only a chapter and was a little more anticlimactic than I expected. Also, how did all these shifters expect no one in management not to find out they were shifters???
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2026
Were is the Love
Dee’s Grade: A
This is a really sweet shifter story. It could have went the angsty route but instead it’s much more rainbows and sunshine.
Dee’s Grade: A
This is a really sweet shifter story. It could have went the angsty route but instead it’s much more rainbows and sunshine.
April 25, 2026
3.75 stars
April 14, 2026
Super fun read with a nice mix of banter, hockey, mystery, romance. AND WOLF SHIFTERS.
Out and proud (but also slightly traumatized and anxious) Eli is traded to a new AHL team, arrives with emotional baggage from a bad relationship. Closeted wolf shifter Gabe is focused on hockey and family and not looking for a partner when turns out Eli is his possibly fated mate. Then rival hockey team drama, sabotage, laughs, found family; I devoured it in a day.
A few things pushed this book to 5 stars for me. The writing is clever, with humour to balance the heavier parts of the story. This isn’t insta-love. It’s insta-attraction, but the boys need a big helping of personal growth, which they get over the span of the book. I liked that genuine conversations happen on-page to get them over the finish line, no miscommunication tropes, no formulaic third-act breakup, no magical D energy. Eli references his therapist. Gabe talks to his friends about his feelings. Healthy masculinity all over the place. The author gives us queer joy and tackles toxic parts of hockey and popular culture, no lecturing or getting bogged down. The hockey is fairly accurate (should never be taken for granted in this genre.) Like the author’s other work, the story is more interesting for having some non-romance plot lines and relationships like Gabe and his sister, a rival team/pack, and a mystery that doesn’t get too angsty.
I adored this book. I’ve been a Max Walker reader for a while, and this is one of my favourites. I love authentic main characters with real struggles and a well paced romance. Plus HOCKEY. And again, WOLF SHIFTERS. (And for those for whom a spice rating is important, this would be explicit open door. POV is dual first person past tense.)
I received a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. But honestly, I would have paid for this book and still given it five stars, it’s going on my comfort re-reads shelf.
Out and proud (but also slightly traumatized and anxious) Eli is traded to a new AHL team, arrives with emotional baggage from a bad relationship. Closeted wolf shifter Gabe is focused on hockey and family and not looking for a partner when turns out Eli is his possibly fated mate. Then rival hockey team drama, sabotage, laughs, found family; I devoured it in a day.
A few things pushed this book to 5 stars for me. The writing is clever, with humour to balance the heavier parts of the story. This isn’t insta-love. It’s insta-attraction, but the boys need a big helping of personal growth, which they get over the span of the book. I liked that genuine conversations happen on-page to get them over the finish line, no miscommunication tropes, no formulaic third-act breakup, no magical D energy. Eli references his therapist. Gabe talks to his friends about his feelings. Healthy masculinity all over the place. The author gives us queer joy and tackles toxic parts of hockey and popular culture, no lecturing or getting bogged down. The hockey is fairly accurate (should never be taken for granted in this genre.) Like the author’s other work, the story is more interesting for having some non-romance plot lines and relationships like Gabe and his sister, a rival team/pack, and a mystery that doesn’t get too angsty.
I adored this book. I’ve been a Max Walker reader for a while, and this is one of my favourites. I love authentic main characters with real struggles and a well paced romance. Plus HOCKEY. And again, WOLF SHIFTERS. (And for those for whom a spice rating is important, this would be explicit open door. POV is dual first person past tense.)
I received a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. But honestly, I would have paid for this book and still given it five stars, it’s going on my comfort re-reads shelf.
March 26, 2026
This did not live up to the great cover. This was not nearly as edited (some spelling and grammar and very clear discrepancy errors) and polished as it should have been.
Not sure what GR is doing as I did not receive an ARC. I read the book through KU on 3/26 and the book was released on 3/25.
Not sure what GR is doing as I did not receive an ARC. I read the book through KU on 3/26 and the book was released on 3/25.
March 26, 2026
Full Moon FaceOff
Wolves of Burlington
Max Walker
Wolf Shifters
Hockey
Fated Mates
Found Family
Instant Attraction
Feral Love
Hidden Identity
Wow, this was great. Hockey playing wolf shifters? Yes, please?!
I loved this. These two had an insta lust towards each other, not realizing they were fated mates.
This was a great story. Slow burn in a sense, because of the hidden identity.
We also get action and suspense as usual from a Max Walker book, I love that aspect. The tension, suspense, and angst from rival packs was exciting.
Their intimacy was everything. It took trust for these two to let their guards down. It was everything.
The ending was so good, eek my heart, this was really great. I adored their relationship.
I enjoyed this, I’m looking forward to seeing what else comes from this world.
So thankful for this arc
Wolves of Burlington
Max Walker
Wolf Shifters
Hockey
Fated Mates
Found Family
Instant Attraction
Feral Love
Hidden Identity
Wow, this was great. Hockey playing wolf shifters? Yes, please?!
I loved this. These two had an insta lust towards each other, not realizing they were fated mates.
This was a great story. Slow burn in a sense, because of the hidden identity.
We also get action and suspense as usual from a Max Walker book, I love that aspect. The tension, suspense, and angst from rival packs was exciting.
Their intimacy was everything. It took trust for these two to let their guards down. It was everything.
The ending was so good, eek my heart, this was really great. I adored their relationship.
I enjoyed this, I’m looking forward to seeing what else comes from this world.
So thankful for this arc
March 27, 2026
well. that's two days of my life i'm never getting back.
April 2, 2026
Full Moon Faceoff: Wolves of Burlington by Max Walker | 3 Stars
Genre: MM Sports (Hockey) Romance / Paranormal Romance
Tropes: Wolf Shifters, Hockey, Fated Mates, Instant-Attraction, Found Family, Coming Out
Trigger Warnings: Emotional Abuse in a Past Relationship, Mental Illness, Death of a Parent / Spouse (off-screen), Caregiving of a disabled sibling, Physical Violence
*I received an e-arc of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
Release Date: March 25th 2026 | Will Be Available on Kindle Unlimited
A relatively, short, quick-paced read. It's fun, cute, and look - it's a hockey, wolf-shifter romance - you know exactly what you are getting into when you pick this up. It's definitely a fun read, I liked Eli and Gabe, and the way the wolf shifter lore and world building was dealt with in this book. The plot was definitely a bit thin, especially in the first half, and the writing is a bit choppy / under-edited though I'm able to read past it and forgive it especially in an indie novel. I enjoyed the dual-POV of our main MMC's (though the first-person narration isn't my personal favorite).
One note - I will say, I have some issues with the way the character of Lily is handled. Lily is Gabe's disabled older sister - he is tasked with being her caregiver after their parents death, which would have been perfectly nice representation, but the amalgam of diagnosis she has (late-onset schizophrenia, developmental delay and an aversion to using the word autism, a description of PTSD without using that term, early-onset dementia, etc.) combined with an overall infantilization of a grown woman with disabilities left a sour taste in my mouth. Assuming positive intent, we can call it well-intentioned, just poorly educated.
Genre: MM Sports (Hockey) Romance / Paranormal Romance
Tropes: Wolf Shifters, Hockey, Fated Mates, Instant-Attraction, Found Family, Coming Out
Trigger Warnings: Emotional Abuse in a Past Relationship, Mental Illness, Death of a Parent / Spouse (off-screen), Caregiving of a disabled sibling, Physical Violence
*I received an e-arc of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
Release Date: March 25th 2026 | Will Be Available on Kindle Unlimited
A relatively, short, quick-paced read. It's fun, cute, and look - it's a hockey, wolf-shifter romance - you know exactly what you are getting into when you pick this up. It's definitely a fun read, I liked Eli and Gabe, and the way the wolf shifter lore and world building was dealt with in this book. The plot was definitely a bit thin, especially in the first half, and the writing is a bit choppy / under-edited though I'm able to read past it and forgive it especially in an indie novel. I enjoyed the dual-POV of our main MMC's (though the first-person narration isn't my personal favorite).
One note - I will say, I have some issues with the way the character of Lily is handled. Lily is Gabe's disabled older sister - he is tasked with being her caregiver after their parents death, which would have been perfectly nice representation, but the amalgam of diagnosis she has (late-onset schizophrenia, developmental delay and an aversion to using the word autism, a description of PTSD without using that term, early-onset dementia, etc.) combined with an overall infantilization of a grown woman with disabilities left a sour taste in my mouth. Assuming positive intent, we can call it well-intentioned, just poorly educated.
April 17, 2026
I kept waiting for something to pull me in, but nothing ever did. The story felt strangely flat, and everything moved so quickly that Eli joining the team almost felt like both the beginning and the end of the conflict.
The mate trope is supposed to hurt—in a good way. It’s meant to ache, to build, to consume. Instead, everything was reduced to a rushed encounter in a sauna. Centering the relationship mostly around smut took away from the emotional resonance that the trope typically promises.
In the end, it just didn’t work for me.
The mate trope is supposed to hurt—in a good way. It’s meant to ache, to build, to consume. Instead, everything was reduced to a rushed encounter in a sauna. Centering the relationship mostly around smut took away from the emotional resonance that the trope typically promises.
In the end, it just didn’t work for me.
April 20, 2026
okay i thought i would be the only one utterly confused by certain things in the book, because there was quite a bit that didn’t add up, but im glad i wasn’t the only one who noticed.
like the main thing being how all of a sudden his pack just forgot that gabe said eli was his fated mate, that they possibly didn’t know he was gay after that fact? like having to come out to his pack all over again? i just-
so many things were just off and weird about it and with this being my first dive into this author… it’s not promising. i’m just glad i was able to get through it because it definitely left a lot to be desired.
i mean i get through a book this size easily in a handful of hours but it took me over a day to do so this time. 🤷♀️
like the main thing being how all of a sudden his pack just forgot that gabe said eli was his fated mate, that they possibly didn’t know he was gay after that fact? like having to come out to his pack all over again? i just-
so many things were just off and weird about it and with this being my first dive into this author… it’s not promising. i’m just glad i was able to get through it because it definitely left a lot to be desired.
i mean i get through a book this size easily in a handful of hours but it took me over a day to do so this time. 🤷♀️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2026
Something is truly in the water because I got super into this right away. Realistically, it had similar problems to other books of Max's that I've read and not totally enjoyed, I don't think the world was explored very well and the mystery/suspense element of it was totally flat. But hey, put it in a world with werewolves and hockey and I'm down for the ride, apparently!! Elijah is babygirl, period.
April 5, 2026
I was very excited to start this one, hoping I would find another favorite series.
But I was quite disappointed by the several plot holes and inconsistencies.
The evil guy was quite obvious from the start, and I felt pretty neutral about the couple, not invested at all.
What a shame, werewolves and hockey, could have been the perfect combo for me.
But I was quite disappointed by the several plot holes and inconsistencies.
The evil guy was quite obvious from the start, and I felt pretty neutral about the couple, not invested at all.
What a shame, werewolves and hockey, could have been the perfect combo for me.
April 25, 2026
Absolutely devoured this book! From page one, the only thing that stopped me from finishing in 24 hours was work got in the way 🤣
Loved all the aspects — MM, hockey, and shifting!
Beyond excited for the next book! Dylan deserves his HEA!
Loved all the aspects — MM, hockey, and shifting!
Beyond excited for the next book! Dylan deserves his HEA!
March 26, 2026
3/5
Didn't really like the writing
Didn't really like the writing
March 31, 2026
I really enjoyed this one, what a fun start to this new series. I really loved Eli and Gabe, and the rest of the side characters. We get Dyl's story next, I really love him, so I can't freaking wait, to see who he'll get with. I had a really great time reading this book.
April 1, 2026
Rating: 3.5/5 🌟
Spice: 3/5 🌶️
Heroes: Eli and Gabe
Spice: 3/5 🌶️
Heroes: Eli and Gabe
April 11, 2026
a mm tw x hr combo lol.
definitely had potential but it just under delivered
definitely had potential but it just under delivered
April 24, 2026
This was sadly a let down, but I’m not giving up on this author. Everyone can have bad days/books. However, the continuity issues in this were abundant and disappointed me in that it did not read like what I expect from this author.
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