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Wolf #1
Wolf, WY
There's nothing like a fresh start, and for Randy, still nursing wounds left by a cheating ex and harboring a deep mistrust for all things corporate, Wolf, Wyoming seems like the perfect place to start over. Secluded, quiet, and self-sufficient, Wolf is bound to not only inspire, but to bring Randy the peace he needs. The view's not bad, either.
Vaughn O'Connell and his family are Randy's only neighbors for miles, and while Randy knows it's somewhat unlikely that a man with three kids is gay, it doesn't hurt to look. When a misunderstanding brings Randy face to face with both Vaughn and his eighteen year old son, Lyle, Randy's not sure what to feel about either of them.
But things are not what they appear in Wolf, and the closer Randy gets, the stranger the O'Connell family seems...
Vaughn O'Connell and his family are Randy's only neighbors for miles, and while Randy knows it's somewhat unlikely that a man with three kids is gay, it doesn't hurt to look. When a misunderstanding brings Randy face to face with both Vaughn and his eighteen year old son, Lyle, Randy's not sure what to feel about either of them.
But things are not what they appear in Wolf, and the closer Randy gets, the stranger the O'Connell family seems...
223 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 21, 2015
10 people are currently reading
515 people want to read
About the author
A.F. Henley
39 books215 followersHenley was born with a full-blown passion for run-on sentences, a zealous indulgence in all words descriptive, and the endearing tendency to overuse punctuation. Since the early years Henley has been an enthusiastic writer, from the first few I-love-my-dog stories to the current leap into erotica.
A self-professed Google genius, Henley lives for the hours spent digging through the Internet for ‘research purposes’ which, more often than not, lead seven thousand miles away from first intentions but bring Henley to new discoveries and ideas that, once seeded, grow like weeds.
A self-professed Google genius, Henley lives for the hours spent digging through the Internet for ‘research purposes’ which, more often than not, lead seven thousand miles away from first intentions but bring Henley to new discoveries and ideas that, once seeded, grow like weeds.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
September 30, 2023
Atmospheric, poetic, and introspective. I went in expecting a simple shifter story, and what I got was so much more than that.
Randy’s jerk of a boyfriend cheated on him, so after years of struggling in the corporate world and feeling disillusioned with love, he purchases a house in a town called Wolf. His neighbor is a single man with three children.
Vaughn is sick and tired of unprepared city folk, moving to the country and having no idea how to survive the winters of Wyoming…but his new neighbor is quite attractive.
Randy can’t help but admire the way Vaughn looks, but their personalities couldn’t be more different.
There is a running theme throughout the story of not seeing the truth. Until the day you do, and then you can never unsee it again. Mixing personal growth into a gay shifter love story just worked.
Plus, I loved them together.
Randy’s jerk of a boyfriend cheated on him, so after years of struggling in the corporate world and feeling disillusioned with love, he purchases a house in a town called Wolf. His neighbor is a single man with three children.
Vaughn is sick and tired of unprepared city folk, moving to the country and having no idea how to survive the winters of Wyoming…but his new neighbor is quite attractive.
Randy can’t help but admire the way Vaughn looks, but their personalities couldn’t be more different.
Physically, he was everything Randy had never known he wanted in another man—no expensive scent, no perfectly sculpted slimness. He was the difference between a prized show horse and one of the stallions that came down from the mountains. He was built by labor and hardened by weather. He was wild.
There is a running theme throughout the story of not seeing the truth. Until the day you do, and then you can never unsee it again. Mixing personal growth into a gay shifter love story just worked.
Plus, I loved them together.
He wrapped his arms around Randy’s waist and pulled their bodies together, but when he tried for a kiss, Randy grimaced.
“Did you brush all of the bunny out of your teeth?”
“Mm-hmm.” Vaughn nodded. “I even showered.”
January 15, 2016
A Hearts On Fire Review
FOUR HEARTS--
Ex-lawyer Randy has run to Wolf, Wyoming to lick his wounds left from his cheating lover. He's a city boy through and through and winter's coming. His hunky but standoffish neighbor, Vaughn and his equally hot barely legal teenage son Lyle are locals and don't seem to take too kindly to city folk...namely Randy. And mouthy Randy can't fathom why. But he doesn't need them until he does. because he knows nothing about living in the woods in the middle of nowhere especially with the wicked snowstorms and wildlife that seems to be friendly...
The premise? It was different.
I can't say I've read a shifter book like this before. It reminded me of those shifter television shows of the mid-2000's. And I read a lot of shifter fan fiction, so let's just say I've read a lot of different types of premises. This one was pretty cool. We get a sort of triangle, a little stalking, shifter mythos, great setting imagery. I don't think all of the characters were described in full, namely Randy since he was mainly narrating the novel, but I could picture the starkness, the cold.
This was my first A.F. Henley. And it will not be my last. I liked a lot of it. And good outweighed the not as good. Solid book is solid. And sexy. I wasn't expecting the sexy so when it crept up in there, I was pleasantly surprised. (Especially the bout of dirty talk from a certain shifter - I wish it happened...*ponders* oh wait it did *grins* That's how I like my shifters to be.)
Why this was a solid read (and why I'm so there for book #2):
The snark! - I'm a girl who loves the words and will give props to authors who sling them interestingly enough. This author was funny and snarky. So what? The story starts off with a lonely man in his lonely house with just his mysterious antisocial neighbors for barely any company. This guy is talking to the coffeepot. The coffeepot! And it was interesting. The author kept the pace up for the most part. Maybe the author's humor and my humor are more in accord but damn did I laugh out loud at some of Randy's inner thoughts.
The slow burn/pacing - I think it help set the tone and lent to the entire feel of the story. I think readers who prefer the main characters to be extremely overt, sexual or dramatized to be entertained might not enjoy this book. This book seems slow at first. *grins* But it's not at all. Each chapter begins with wolf's thoughts then we cut to Randy and each month he's made it in Wolf, WY. We get to learn this fictional town through his eyes, learn his neighbors through his eyes while the reader gets to be one step ahead with knowing the paranormal secret (but not all of the components). The first third of the book didn't seem to have a direction but once it started to fall into place and went where I wanted it to go, I was all in. The story comes into its own around the halfway mark.
The main characters/plot - I love gruff characters, okay? I love when they can't speak, can't share their feelings. Some might say they're an asshole but guess what? I happen to be fluent. ;) And if you pair said asshole with a chatty love interest, aka total opposites, and give me a few uncomfortable moments. *wiggles* Let's just say I can't stop the grins from forming. Their talks were great. I enjoyed the pacing of their relationship. There was an ease and it read believable.
Issues:
- The last 10% - if everything remained local or contained, I think I might've gave it an extra half heart. I'd have rather read about the events instead of reading what the main characters are getting from second hand news, especially as this drove the plot along for a major part of the story. Also...something felt rushed or unfinished. I don't know if it is because this is the first of a series. I think for the love interests in this novel, their story is done. If the next book features them again, I don't know what more could be told about them. When I rate, I like to reflect, look back at my notes and think about the chemistry the couple had. This book's couple was solid but far from perfect. And the ending, which skyrocketed from slow burner into really interesting, might've overshadowed them for part of the last 10%.
- The O'Connell kids - (the last two) - I believe they're under ten. Up until around 80% or so, they were adorable. And then...they started acting like little mini adults. And when they went back to being mini humans with childlike thoughts after speaking like adults and even cursing (I don't like kids saying bad words. Sue me.)
I hope for more from two characters, both of whom were secondary Arias and the remaining O'Connell. I think there were interesting characteristics to give them their own stories (separately of course).
Great start to a promising paranormal series. I think readers who are looking for different might want to check this out. There can only be so many different werewolf books out there. They all start to meld together.
This one won't. :)
FOUR HEARTS--
"You don't don't know anything about Wolf and you don't know anything about her people. You breeze in and you use us all up until you're happy with yourself again, and then you'll run back to the city and live happily ever after. And everyone here in Wolf has to go on until the next city brat shows up and tries to do it again. Things are different here, Shield Wolf. You're either part of the pack or you're not." He took a breath, and then drained his glass. "And you're not."
Ex-lawyer Randy has run to Wolf, Wyoming to lick his wounds left from his cheating lover. He's a city boy through and through and winter's coming. His hunky but standoffish neighbor, Vaughn and his equally hot barely legal teenage son Lyle are locals and don't seem to take too kindly to city folk...namely Randy. And mouthy Randy can't fathom why. But he doesn't need them until he does. because he knows nothing about living in the woods in the middle of nowhere especially with the wicked snowstorms and wildlife that seems to be friendly...
The premise? It was different.
I can't say I've read a shifter book like this before. It reminded me of those shifter television shows of the mid-2000's. And I read a lot of shifter fan fiction, so let's just say I've read a lot of different types of premises. This one was pretty cool. We get a sort of triangle, a little stalking, shifter mythos, great setting imagery. I don't think all of the characters were described in full, namely Randy since he was mainly narrating the novel, but I could picture the starkness, the cold.
This was my first A.F. Henley. And it will not be my last. I liked a lot of it. And good outweighed the not as good. Solid book is solid. And sexy. I wasn't expecting the sexy so when it crept up in there, I was pleasantly surprised. (Especially the bout of dirty talk from a certain shifter - I wish it happened...*ponders* oh wait it did *grins* That's how I like my shifters to be.)
Why this was a solid read (and why I'm so there for book #2):
The snark! - I'm a girl who loves the words and will give props to authors who sling them interestingly enough. This author was funny and snarky. So what? The story starts off with a lonely man in his lonely house with just his mysterious antisocial neighbors for barely any company. This guy is talking to the coffeepot. The coffeepot! And it was interesting. The author kept the pace up for the most part. Maybe the author's humor and my humor are more in accord but damn did I laugh out loud at some of Randy's inner thoughts.
The slow burn/pacing - I think it help set the tone and lent to the entire feel of the story. I think readers who prefer the main characters to be extremely overt, sexual or dramatized to be entertained might not enjoy this book. This book seems slow at first. *grins* But it's not at all. Each chapter begins with wolf's thoughts then we cut to Randy and each month he's made it in Wolf, WY. We get to learn this fictional town through his eyes, learn his neighbors through his eyes while the reader gets to be one step ahead with knowing the paranormal secret (but not all of the components). The first third of the book didn't seem to have a direction but once it started to fall into place and went where I wanted it to go, I was all in. The story comes into its own around the halfway mark.
The main characters/plot - I love gruff characters, okay? I love when they can't speak, can't share their feelings. Some might say they're an asshole but guess what? I happen to be fluent. ;) And if you pair said asshole with a chatty love interest, aka total opposites, and give me a few uncomfortable moments. *wiggles* Let's just say I can't stop the grins from forming. Their talks were great. I enjoyed the pacing of their relationship. There was an ease and it read believable.
Issues:
- The last 10% - if everything remained local or contained, I think I might've gave it an extra half heart. I'd have rather read about the events instead of reading what the main characters are getting from second hand news, especially as this drove the plot along for a major part of the story. Also...something felt rushed or unfinished. I don't know if it is because this is the first of a series. I think for the love interests in this novel, their story is done. If the next book features them again, I don't know what more could be told about them. When I rate, I like to reflect, look back at my notes and think about the chemistry the couple had. This book's couple was solid but far from perfect. And the ending, which skyrocketed from slow burner into really interesting, might've overshadowed them for part of the last 10%.
- The O'Connell kids - (the last two) - I believe they're under ten. Up until around 80% or so, they were adorable. And then...they started acting like little mini adults. And when they went back to being mini humans with childlike thoughts after speaking like adults and even cursing (I don't like kids saying bad words. Sue me.)
I hope for more from two characters, both of whom were secondary Arias and the remaining O'Connell. I think there were interesting characteristics to give them their own stories (separately of course).
Great start to a promising paranormal series. I think readers who are looking for different might want to check this out. There can only be so many different werewolf books out there. They all start to meld together.
This one won't. :)
June 30, 2016
I love a good wolf shifter book and I definitely enjoyed this one.
Randy is my kind of character. Sarcastic and sassy. I loved his inner dialogue. He was by far my favorite character. It took me awhile to warm up to Vaughn, but I got there. He was standoffish and a bit of an asshole who seemed to have control issues barking (no pun intended) out orders that he expected Randy to follow. But Randy isn't that kind of guy and he fought back with his wit and stubbornness which made for some great back and forth commentary between the two characters.
Vaughn and his family was quite the mystery and like Randy, I wanted to figure them out. Of course we already know the big secret, but in the end it was different type of wolf story. I liked that the author put their own spin on werewolves. It was interesting and I would like to know more about it. Maybe (hopefully) there will be another book.
The tension between Vaughn and his son Lyle was thick. I really didn't understand what was happening. Lyle was as standoffish as his dad one moment with Randy and then the next he was coming on strong. Daddy Vaughn was not to happy about that. Randy seemed to be the main source of the problems between father and son. I would say why but I think that would be kind of spoilery so the mystery will have to be untold. Read the book peeps! LOL
I enjoyed the secondary characters like Vaughn's younger kids and Randy's dad. The kids were adorable and Randy's dad was a sweet heart. I loved him and how supportive he was towards his son. Randy's mom probably meant well but I found her to be annoying especially when she wanted Randy to take his sleazeball ex back.
Enjoyed this one and hopefully these characters will see another book because I feel like this was a great introduction to what could come.
August 24, 2015
I received this book as an ARC though NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book. I found the characters to be interesting, and well developed. I liked Randy very much. He was far from a perfect character, and I really enjoyed seeing him grow over the course of the story. I took a little while longer to warm up to Vaughn. He came across as more than a bit of a controlling jerk at first, but I learned to see beyond that, and it helped that Randy never let Vaughn push him too far, and he wasn't afraid to push back either. I liked the different take on werewolves, and it was interesting seeing the challenges of Vaughn and Lyle's relationship, and how Randy's presence played into that. I liked that Randy was far from a pawn, and he was able to stand for himself, and didn't need anyone to save him. I liked the secondary cast. Vaughn's kids were cute, but not obnoxiously so. I really enjoyed Randy's dad as well, and how much he supported Randy. It was nice to see the father as the nurturing one for a change. The plot was well paced, and interesting. I liked how the relationship developed at a natural pace, and there was no real talk of destined mates, or anything silly like that. I'm really looking forward to reading more.
I really enjoyed this book. I found the characters to be interesting, and well developed. I liked Randy very much. He was far from a perfect character, and I really enjoyed seeing him grow over the course of the story. I took a little while longer to warm up to Vaughn. He came across as more than a bit of a controlling jerk at first, but I learned to see beyond that, and it helped that Randy never let Vaughn push him too far, and he wasn't afraid to push back either. I liked the different take on werewolves, and it was interesting seeing the challenges of Vaughn and Lyle's relationship, and how Randy's presence played into that. I liked that Randy was far from a pawn, and he was able to stand for himself, and didn't need anyone to save him. I liked the secondary cast. Vaughn's kids were cute, but not obnoxiously so. I really enjoyed Randy's dad as well, and how much he supported Randy. It was nice to see the father as the nurturing one for a change. The plot was well paced, and interesting. I liked how the relationship developed at a natural pace, and there was no real talk of destined mates, or anything silly like that. I'm really looking forward to reading more.
January 31, 2016
3.25 stars
Randy moves from the city to a small town, Wolf, Wyoming. He hopes to find some peace and quiet there, and perhaps some friendly people. What he gets is peace and quiet, but no friendly people.
His neighbors, Vaughn and his 3 kids are just plain rude to him. He doesn’t get what’s going on with them and why Vaughn seems interested in him, but pushes him away at the same time.
For the first half of this book Vaugn is such an ass. I truly hated him and wanted him to just go away.
But when he grew on Randy, he kind of grew on me too.
Of course it was clear to me what was going on with Vaughn and his family from the start, but I liked the little twist with the 18 year old son, Lyle.
For most of this book I was kind of rooting for Randy to please get it on with both Vaughn and his son, Lyle. That would have been SO HOT.
We got some shifters, some action, some smexy times, and a nice romance. Yep, I enjoyed this one.
Randy moves from the city to a small town, Wolf, Wyoming. He hopes to find some peace and quiet there, and perhaps some friendly people. What he gets is peace and quiet, but no friendly people.
His neighbors, Vaughn and his 3 kids are just plain rude to him. He doesn’t get what’s going on with them and why Vaughn seems interested in him, but pushes him away at the same time.
For the first half of this book Vaugn is such an ass. I truly hated him and wanted him to just go away.
But when he grew on Randy, he kind of grew on me too.
Of course it was clear to me what was going on with Vaughn and his family from the start, but I liked the little twist with the 18 year old son, Lyle.
For most of this book I was kind of rooting for Randy to please get it on with both Vaughn and his son, Lyle. That would have been SO HOT.
We got some shifters, some action, some smexy times, and a nice romance. Yep, I enjoyed this one.
January 16, 2016
4.25 stars. Really enjoyed this one. I liked the descriptive writing style, the wintery setting. I liked how Randy's loneliness and isolation was portrayed. I liked the slow burn and the sex scenes (only about 3 of them I think). And I liked the werewolf mythology. Hopefully this is the start of some great new shifter romance discoveries in 2016.
June 18, 2017
I really liked this book a lot. I hadn't read this author before so I had no idea going in what this would be like. When I hear the words "shifter" or "werewolf" I think of the traditional, alpha, Me Tarzan, You Jane (or John I guess) type of story. This wasn't like that at all and that is very good imo. The story is told from Randy's pov. He has recently moving to Wolf, WY in search of a fresh start and a new life. He knows going in the town is very small but he's not really prepared for the quiet and the isolation. The only neighbors he has are the man next door and his three children. For some reason Randy can not figure out the man seems to dislike him on principle. With some major effort on Randy's part the two start talking but things are not at all simple.
There were quite a few things I liked about this book. First of all the author does a great job setting the atmosphere. I could see it so well I felt like I was right there with Randy, alone in this cold, isolated world. I loved how we get a point of view from the wolf. And since this is not a traditional shifter story the wolf doesn't think like a human. It was hauntingly done. I liked that this was a unique plot and it all worked for me. The overall story, the romance, the relationships, they way Randy reacts to things. It all seemed realistic.
So....overall a really good book. I am going to be checking out more work from this author asap and this is a definite recommend.
*review copy provided through Netgally*
There were quite a few things I liked about this book. First of all the author does a great job setting the atmosphere. I could see it so well I felt like I was right there with Randy, alone in this cold, isolated world. I loved how we get a point of view from the wolf. And since this is not a traditional shifter story the wolf doesn't think like a human. It was hauntingly done. I liked that this was a unique plot and it all worked for me. The overall story, the romance, the relationships, they way Randy reacts to things. It all seemed realistic.
So....overall a really good book. I am going to be checking out more work from this author asap and this is a definite recommend.
*review copy provided through Netgally*
October 24, 2015
That was different.
At times I worried about the direction it was going in, but it never went there...and I kept reading.
Edited to add: I did enjoy the book a lot, and it was well written.
At times I worried about the direction it was going in, but it never went there...and I kept reading.
Edited to add: I did enjoy the book a lot, and it was well written.
November 16, 2015
I was captivated by the eyes staring at me from the cover and curious about a title that was a city and state. I checked the blurb. Again, sounded like my kind of story. So I was good to go.
Paranormal stories particularly those involving shifters can be all over the place for me. I love them, but they generally hit the shallow end of the pool for me relying hard on the heat in the romance or the action instead of developing the tone and setting to create an atmosphere that 'feels' paranormal. I'm not sure if I'm explaining myself well enough to be understood. This story felt genuine and authentic instead of contrived. If a guy was to uncover the fact that 'others' live alongside the humans, this is how I would expect it to come about and how he would react.
The story opens when Randy moves from big city, Washington DC, to the sticks of Wolf, WY. He made a quick, arbitrary decision. He needed to get away from his lying, cheating ex-fiance, his stifling life as a long hours high pressure lawyer and he needed time to reassess away from his controlling mother. It was like moving to another planet. And the locals want nothing to do with the newcomer most especially his own next door neighbors.
Randy has this cozy day dream of living in a nice neighborhood, talking over the fence, participating in Halloween candy giving and enjoying the peace and harmony of the country. But then he meets his standoffish, unfriendly neighbor, Vaughn O'Connell. Vaughn is a widower with three kids. His oldest is eighteen and his other two are in grade school. The family ignore all attempts at friendly waves, hellos, or even eye contact. What gives? Randy bristles from the treatment and so is ready to explode when he catches the drool-worthy Vaughn and his oldest in his yard cutting down one of his trees.
They have their say and he, naturally has his. He can out snark and out argue the best of them. But the bottom line is they think he's a helpless city guy who will screw up often and force them to have to pull him out of difficulties before he eventually either goes back to where he's from or dies from exposure. Randy has full intentions of proving Vaughn wrong, but unfortunately he does prove rather inept when it comes to winterizing his vehicle, to generators, to the wolves, and to even knowing to wear the right clothes for the cold. And then there are the odd moments of weirdness about that family. Randy can't quite figure it out. Lyle seems to be on some kick of proving himself by showing an interest in Randy because his dad, Vaughn doesn't approve. And Vaughn's behavior around Randy are confusing at best.
Randy is learning that life in the country certainly isn't dull and there is definitely the possibility of something with the irascible Vaughn, but then the secret of Wolf, WY is revealed in the most shocking way.
So, this one was a more gently-paced book that had nuances and subtlety to it. It eased the reader into Randy's life. Randy is the sole narrator. He's a fascinating individual. I didn't like him much, but I enjoyed experiencing his story. I don't think I was meant to like him to tell the truth. He comes with expectations, assumptions, a chip on his shoulder, and a truckload of attitude. The reader can see that while Randy is busy judging and assuming about his neighbors that he misses the fact that he's no paragon of virtue. He's offended because Vaughn worries about the new neighbor watching his kids and warns him off, but then turns around and worries that Vaughn is an abusive parent. Later, there is a moment where Vaughn tries to tell Randy that he needs space to deal with some issues Lyle is going through. Randy jumps down his throat with a 'gay' rant and how Vaughn needs to accept his son. It's not always about your trigger issues, Randy, my man. Sigh...
The pair of them were both pretty crotchety cranky sorts. Maybe that's why I had fun watching the hostilities slowly morph into something else. The story takes place over several months and Vaughn's hesitations and slow advances leave Randy off balance and unsure. Randy is slowly figuring out country living and slowly getting through to Vaughn and making friends with Vaughn's children even if he has to be careful with the oddly volatile Lyle.
The big reveal of Vaughn's secrets was the high point and moment of crisis in the story. I enjoyed how it came about and the fall out. Emotions and reactions were genuine to the characters and situation. Doesn't mean that I didn't think Randy was a putz for snarling at Vaughn's kids the way he did while he was in a moment, but it was an example of things getting real.
Another twist comes after that and I loved it because it came out of nowhere, but made sense.
I'm glad to see this one is part of a series. Not sure who gets their story next since this one is very isolated to mostly Randy, Vaughn and the kids with maybe four other characters even mentioned far in the background. Getting Lyle's story would be good.
All in all, I found the story something refreshing in the way the characters were portrayed along with the paranormal tone. I would recommend it to those who enjoy M/M Paranormal Romance.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
Paranormal stories particularly those involving shifters can be all over the place for me. I love them, but they generally hit the shallow end of the pool for me relying hard on the heat in the romance or the action instead of developing the tone and setting to create an atmosphere that 'feels' paranormal. I'm not sure if I'm explaining myself well enough to be understood. This story felt genuine and authentic instead of contrived. If a guy was to uncover the fact that 'others' live alongside the humans, this is how I would expect it to come about and how he would react.
The story opens when Randy moves from big city, Washington DC, to the sticks of Wolf, WY. He made a quick, arbitrary decision. He needed to get away from his lying, cheating ex-fiance, his stifling life as a long hours high pressure lawyer and he needed time to reassess away from his controlling mother. It was like moving to another planet. And the locals want nothing to do with the newcomer most especially his own next door neighbors.
Randy has this cozy day dream of living in a nice neighborhood, talking over the fence, participating in Halloween candy giving and enjoying the peace and harmony of the country. But then he meets his standoffish, unfriendly neighbor, Vaughn O'Connell. Vaughn is a widower with three kids. His oldest is eighteen and his other two are in grade school. The family ignore all attempts at friendly waves, hellos, or even eye contact. What gives? Randy bristles from the treatment and so is ready to explode when he catches the drool-worthy Vaughn and his oldest in his yard cutting down one of his trees.
They have their say and he, naturally has his. He can out snark and out argue the best of them. But the bottom line is they think he's a helpless city guy who will screw up often and force them to have to pull him out of difficulties before he eventually either goes back to where he's from or dies from exposure. Randy has full intentions of proving Vaughn wrong, but unfortunately he does prove rather inept when it comes to winterizing his vehicle, to generators, to the wolves, and to even knowing to wear the right clothes for the cold. And then there are the odd moments of weirdness about that family. Randy can't quite figure it out. Lyle seems to be on some kick of proving himself by showing an interest in Randy because his dad, Vaughn doesn't approve. And Vaughn's behavior around Randy are confusing at best.
Randy is learning that life in the country certainly isn't dull and there is definitely the possibility of something with the irascible Vaughn, but then the secret of Wolf, WY is revealed in the most shocking way.
So, this one was a more gently-paced book that had nuances and subtlety to it. It eased the reader into Randy's life. Randy is the sole narrator. He's a fascinating individual. I didn't like him much, but I enjoyed experiencing his story. I don't think I was meant to like him to tell the truth. He comes with expectations, assumptions, a chip on his shoulder, and a truckload of attitude. The reader can see that while Randy is busy judging and assuming about his neighbors that he misses the fact that he's no paragon of virtue. He's offended because Vaughn worries about the new neighbor watching his kids and warns him off, but then turns around and worries that Vaughn is an abusive parent. Later, there is a moment where Vaughn tries to tell Randy that he needs space to deal with some issues Lyle is going through. Randy jumps down his throat with a 'gay' rant and how Vaughn needs to accept his son. It's not always about your trigger issues, Randy, my man. Sigh...
The pair of them were both pretty crotchety cranky sorts. Maybe that's why I had fun watching the hostilities slowly morph into something else. The story takes place over several months and Vaughn's hesitations and slow advances leave Randy off balance and unsure. Randy is slowly figuring out country living and slowly getting through to Vaughn and making friends with Vaughn's children even if he has to be careful with the oddly volatile Lyle.
The big reveal of Vaughn's secrets was the high point and moment of crisis in the story. I enjoyed how it came about and the fall out. Emotions and reactions were genuine to the characters and situation. Doesn't mean that I didn't think Randy was a putz for snarling at Vaughn's kids the way he did while he was in a moment, but it was an example of things getting real.
Another twist comes after that and I loved it because it came out of nowhere, but made sense.
I'm glad to see this one is part of a series. Not sure who gets their story next since this one is very isolated to mostly Randy, Vaughn and the kids with maybe four other characters even mentioned far in the background. Getting Lyle's story would be good.
All in all, I found the story something refreshing in the way the characters were portrayed along with the paranormal tone. I would recommend it to those who enjoy M/M Paranormal Romance.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 1, 2016
What a unique shifter book! Wolf, Wy approaches shifters in a fresh way that wasn't about instalove and mine but focused on the human implications of being a shifter.
This story was less about the romance between Randy and Vaughn and more about Vaughn and Lyle navigating pack dynamics, Randy going through a midlife crisis and then making a home in his new world. And of course how a normal human deals when "that which is seen cannot be unseen".
I would have liked a little more romance, some more positive interactions between our boys. The first half of the book seemed to drag a little bit, almost too much building.
Side note: I loved the fact that Randy's parents were not the stereotypical 50s people in that Mom was a driven judge and Dad seemed to be the stay at home parent and more nurturing. It struck me (because their roles struck me while reading them) that this is so unusual to read in these books although it's common now in real life and certainly in mine.
In sum, I enjoyed this story a lot. I will definitely read the next one.
This story was less about the romance between Randy and Vaughn and more about Vaughn and Lyle navigating pack dynamics, Randy going through a midlife crisis and then making a home in his new world. And of course how a normal human deals when "that which is seen cannot be unseen".
I would have liked a little more romance, some more positive interactions between our boys. The first half of the book seemed to drag a little bit, almost too much building.
Side note: I loved the fact that Randy's parents were not the stereotypical 50s people in that Mom was a driven judge and Dad seemed to be the stay at home parent and more nurturing. It struck me (because their roles struck me while reading them) that this is so unusual to read in these books although it's common now in real life and certainly in mine.
In sum, I enjoyed this story a lot. I will definitely read the next one.
October 21, 2015
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
Okay, I have to say that I was a little iffy when this book started. The prose is lyrical and beautiful, but it seemed a bit over the top at some points. I had trouble getting into Randy’s head, even though he’s the POV character, and I disliked Vaughn at the start. I was unsure of what was going on with Lyle, and it was just a little bit weird the way that Randy was thinking about father and son. So it started out shaky for me, but as the story progressed, I was dragged into the story, absorbed in the characters, and became totally involved.
So after the first 20 pages or so, when I was struggling to get the rhythm of the story, Randy absolutely endeared himself to me. He felt so real. His thought processes where hysterical and believable, and I just loved the way he worked things out. He did read a little bit younger to me than his supposed 32 years, and I had to remind myself that just because I knew the things that he didn’t seem to know, it was entirely plausible and even quite possible that he wouldn’t. He was at once adorable and trying, and I basically just adored him. He made me laugh, I loved the way he interacted with the two younger kids, and every time he showed how logical and thoughtful he was, I all but cheered. I really liked the growth he showed over the course of the story, and I loved the way he worked things out and came to the right conclusions. Really, Randy ultimately made the book for me, and since he’s the POV character, that worked exceedingly well.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
Okay, I have to say that I was a little iffy when this book started. The prose is lyrical and beautiful, but it seemed a bit over the top at some points. I had trouble getting into Randy’s head, even though he’s the POV character, and I disliked Vaughn at the start. I was unsure of what was going on with Lyle, and it was just a little bit weird the way that Randy was thinking about father and son. So it started out shaky for me, but as the story progressed, I was dragged into the story, absorbed in the characters, and became totally involved.
So after the first 20 pages or so, when I was struggling to get the rhythm of the story, Randy absolutely endeared himself to me. He felt so real. His thought processes where hysterical and believable, and I just loved the way he worked things out. He did read a little bit younger to me than his supposed 32 years, and I had to remind myself that just because I knew the things that he didn’t seem to know, it was entirely plausible and even quite possible that he wouldn’t. He was at once adorable and trying, and I basically just adored him. He made me laugh, I loved the way he interacted with the two younger kids, and every time he showed how logical and thoughtful he was, I all but cheered. I really liked the growth he showed over the course of the story, and I loved the way he worked things out and came to the right conclusions. Really, Randy ultimately made the book for me, and since he’s the POV character, that worked exceedingly well.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
November 24, 2015
What I love about Henley’s writing is his ability to make me laugh. Or cry. Depending on the scene of course. Wolf, WY did not make me cry but it did make me laugh out loud a few times because of Randy’s sense of humor.
The author AF Henley has a way with words. I loved how Randy described his thoughts (I did not mean how Randy articulate his thoughts on Vaughn and Lyle and their muscular and mouthwatering physique *laughs* although there is that of course. Ahem), his feelings, his surroundings.
I also love that Henley makes his character easy to relate to. No, I did not mean that I saw a neighbor of mine morph into a wolf like Randy did. Lol. But some of us do tend to run away. That, or at least we want to run away from our problems even if it’s just for a time (or from someone else the way Randy ran away from his ex-fiancé Avery). While we cannot all do a Randy and move to Wolf, Wyoming to nurse our heartaches, we could at least read a book. That’s what Wolf, WY is for.
I do wish there were more lovey-dovey scenes between Randy and Vaughn (maybe Henley can write a short story about the two in the near future *nudge, nudge. Poke, poke*) minus Lyle and the little tykes Hannah and Isaac though I must admit I loved them too. :)
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
The author AF Henley has a way with words. I loved how Randy described his thoughts (I did not mean how Randy articulate his thoughts on Vaughn and Lyle and their muscular and mouthwatering physique *laughs* although there is that of course. Ahem), his feelings, his surroundings.
I also love that Henley makes his character easy to relate to. No, I did not mean that I saw a neighbor of mine morph into a wolf like Randy did. Lol. But some of us do tend to run away. That, or at least we want to run away from our problems even if it’s just for a time (or from someone else the way Randy ran away from his ex-fiancé Avery). While we cannot all do a Randy and move to Wolf, Wyoming to nurse our heartaches, we could at least read a book. That’s what Wolf, WY is for.
I do wish there were more lovey-dovey scenes between Randy and Vaughn (maybe Henley can write a short story about the two in the near future *nudge, nudge. Poke, poke*) minus Lyle and the little tykes Hannah and Isaac though I must admit I loved them too. :)
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2015
Randy runs to Wolf, Wyoming to escape the headaches he’d found while being a lawyer in Washington DC. He thinks some time in the sticks will help him develop his creative side of writing and painting. But he’s a city boy through and through and notghing has prepared him for living in the country during a Wyoming winter.
Vaughn and his family have lived in the isolated community for their entire lives. They live in Wolf for a reason and have to be careful of who they allow to get close to them. At first they’re very stand-offish with the city slicker Randy, but later things become far more complicated.
There are some strange dynamics going on and in a strange turn of events both Vaughn and his 18 year-old son Lyle seem to be sort of vying for Randy’s attention. Vaughn is more on again/off again about his feelings, but Lyle is all in.
Though Randy can appreciate Lyle’s attractiveness, it’s his father that catches his eye.
When the tension between father and son comes to a head, the secret gets out and Randy has to decide if what Vaughn offered is worth sticking around and fighting for, or should he run from his problems as he has done all his life?
**
SPOILERS TO FOLLOW
I have to admit to spoilers, though not very surprising, they aren’t spelled out until late in the book. So be warned, if you want the full “experience” don’t read the rest of this review.
Ok, with that out of the way… Vaughn and Lyle are werewolves. Duh. They have to hide it from humans, until there’s a reason to let them in on it. I’m not exactly sure what the “rules” are for this, because it never made sense to me. At one point Randy is told, “Once the eyes have seen it can’t be unseen”… and? So I guess now that Randy knows about werewolves suddenly all paranormal creatures can be seen. I didn’t really understand that part.
There is more I never quite understood. First, it was extremely uncomfortable having Lyle and Randy do their weird, flirty, domination dance while we are supposed to be rooting for Vaughn (Lyle’s Dad for Pete’s sake!) and Randy to get together. I think the author would have done much better making Lyle a friend of the family or another competing male … something other than his child. It was weird and felt gross.
Second, I never understood what the issue was between father and son. Was it a play for alpha-ness? They don’t have pack dynamics that we see in other shifter novels, so I wasn’t sure what they were fighting each other for. Was it just weird werewolf teenage rebellion? I didn’t get it, and like I said it felt gross.
Third, I never really liked Randy. Yes, he was funny and his inner dialog was witty. But it went on and on and on and on. It took up to 53% of the book before anyone even kissed and most of that was inside Randy’s head. This book needed a lot of heavy handed editing so that it could be whittled down to a much shorter book.
Fourth, Randy’s parents and the running away thing should have been fleshed out or left alone.
Finally, when Randy and Vaughn do end up “together” I was left wondering, together how? Did Randy give up being a lawyer? Is he now a writer? What happened? And what about Lyle? It was abrupt and again didn’t make sense.
So… to sum up. I thought this was a weird and sometimes inappropriate book that didn’t always make sense and though it had some elements of charm to it (Randy’s funny dialog both internal and external), I can’t recommend it.
I’m sorry to say this is the first book I’ve read by this author and it may be the last.
1 of 5 stars
Vaughn and his family have lived in the isolated community for their entire lives. They live in Wolf for a reason and have to be careful of who they allow to get close to them. At first they’re very stand-offish with the city slicker Randy, but later things become far more complicated.
There are some strange dynamics going on and in a strange turn of events both Vaughn and his 18 year-old son Lyle seem to be sort of vying for Randy’s attention. Vaughn is more on again/off again about his feelings, but Lyle is all in.
Though Randy can appreciate Lyle’s attractiveness, it’s his father that catches his eye.
When the tension between father and son comes to a head, the secret gets out and Randy has to decide if what Vaughn offered is worth sticking around and fighting for, or should he run from his problems as he has done all his life?
**
SPOILERS TO FOLLOW
I have to admit to spoilers, though not very surprising, they aren’t spelled out until late in the book. So be warned, if you want the full “experience” don’t read the rest of this review.
Ok, with that out of the way… Vaughn and Lyle are werewolves. Duh. They have to hide it from humans, until there’s a reason to let them in on it. I’m not exactly sure what the “rules” are for this, because it never made sense to me. At one point Randy is told, “Once the eyes have seen it can’t be unseen”… and? So I guess now that Randy knows about werewolves suddenly all paranormal creatures can be seen. I didn’t really understand that part.
There is more I never quite understood. First, it was extremely uncomfortable having Lyle and Randy do their weird, flirty, domination dance while we are supposed to be rooting for Vaughn (Lyle’s Dad for Pete’s sake!) and Randy to get together. I think the author would have done much better making Lyle a friend of the family or another competing male … something other than his child. It was weird and felt gross.
Second, I never understood what the issue was between father and son. Was it a play for alpha-ness? They don’t have pack dynamics that we see in other shifter novels, so I wasn’t sure what they were fighting each other for. Was it just weird werewolf teenage rebellion? I didn’t get it, and like I said it felt gross.
Third, I never really liked Randy. Yes, he was funny and his inner dialog was witty. But it went on and on and on and on. It took up to 53% of the book before anyone even kissed and most of that was inside Randy’s head. This book needed a lot of heavy handed editing so that it could be whittled down to a much shorter book.
Fourth, Randy’s parents and the running away thing should have been fleshed out or left alone.
Finally, when Randy and Vaughn do end up “together” I was left wondering, together how? Did Randy give up being a lawyer? Is he now a writer? What happened? And what about Lyle? It was abrupt and again didn’t make sense.
So… to sum up. I thought this was a weird and sometimes inappropriate book that didn’t always make sense and though it had some elements of charm to it (Randy’s funny dialog both internal and external), I can’t recommend it.
I’m sorry to say this is the first book I’ve read by this author and it may be the last.
1 of 5 stars
September 1, 2015
What a great book, certainly different from other books in this genre, because here we don't have cheesy love, and the characters are not ridiculous in the least! I normally don't read much paranormal, because of all of the above, but i'm happy I gave this a chance; it proved that a paranormal book can be serious and intense without the dramatic factor.
After his cheating ex left him with a broken heart, Randy packed up his life, put his career oh hold and moved to Wolf, WY to experience some peace and quiet and the feeling of a close knitted community. What he gets instead is a big dose of isolation and some amazing eye candy, provided by his sexy neighbors Vaughn and his son Lyle. Vaughn doesn't want to have anything to do with Randy, instead he's focused of protecting the secrets his family has. But after a confrontation between Randy, Vaughn and Lyle, sparks fly, and neither Randy nor Vaughn seem to be able to stay away from each other.
Let me tell you, i loved being in Randy's head! He's very funny, I found myself constantly chuckling, and he's a very likable and lovable character! But be warned, Randy liked to ramble a lot, and when he doesn't ramble, his overactive imagination seems to get ahold of him, so you're in for a wild, and at times confusing, ride. The attraction between him and Vaughn is obvious, but the blurb led me to believe this was going to be a threesome where Lyle was the the 3rd wheel. Thank goodness it wasn't; the relationship is exclusive between Vaughn and Randy.
I loved the secondary characters, the wolves, the inner monologue of Vaughn's wolf, and Vaughn's kids. They seemed to be behaving accordingly to their age, and they are 2 little mischievous darlings.
I can't wait for the next book, I hope we get Lyle's story.
After his cheating ex left him with a broken heart, Randy packed up his life, put his career oh hold and moved to Wolf, WY to experience some peace and quiet and the feeling of a close knitted community. What he gets instead is a big dose of isolation and some amazing eye candy, provided by his sexy neighbors Vaughn and his son Lyle. Vaughn doesn't want to have anything to do with Randy, instead he's focused of protecting the secrets his family has. But after a confrontation between Randy, Vaughn and Lyle, sparks fly, and neither Randy nor Vaughn seem to be able to stay away from each other.
Let me tell you, i loved being in Randy's head! He's very funny, I found myself constantly chuckling, and he's a very likable and lovable character! But be warned, Randy liked to ramble a lot, and when he doesn't ramble, his overactive imagination seems to get ahold of him, so you're in for a wild, and at times confusing, ride. The attraction between him and Vaughn is obvious, but the blurb led me to believe this was going to be a threesome where Lyle was the the 3rd wheel. Thank goodness it wasn't; the relationship is exclusive between Vaughn and Randy.
I loved the secondary characters, the wolves, the inner monologue of Vaughn's wolf, and Vaughn's kids. They seemed to be behaving accordingly to their age, and they are 2 little mischievous darlings.
I can't wait for the next book, I hope we get Lyle's story.
December 31, 2015
This is a hard book to review, because there were some aspect of it I really liked, some that got on my nerves and then there was the ending which I thought fell apart. But on which of these do I base a review?
What I liked, I quite liked. I liked that Randy wasn't a pushover, even if he was out of his element. I liked that Vaughn put his family first. I liked seeing Lyle's situation. The scene in which Vaughn obliquely tells Randy about it is one of my favorite in the book. I thought the sex was sexy.
What I didn't like was the cliche, status-greedy mother (How many times can we read the same character?) and everything after Randy leaves Wolf. I had two main issues with the last bit of the book. The first was that if felt like it was simply trying to deliberately open the universe to allow for sequels. Two, it just got too saccharine and sweet for my tastes.
All in all, I quite enjoyed the book and Henley's writing style. I'll be up for more.
What I liked, I quite liked. I liked that Randy wasn't a pushover, even if he was out of his element. I liked that Vaughn put his family first. I liked seeing Lyle's situation. The scene in which Vaughn obliquely tells Randy about it is one of my favorite in the book. I thought the sex was sexy.
What I didn't like was the cliche, status-greedy mother (How many times can we read the same character?) and everything after Randy leaves Wolf. I had two main issues with the last bit of the book. The first was that if felt like it was simply trying to deliberately open the universe to allow for sequels. Two, it just got too saccharine and sweet for my tastes.
All in all, I quite enjoyed the book and Henley's writing style. I'll be up for more.
October 25, 2015
This book is an almost seamless blend between reality & fantasy that makes it a highly likable read to get lost in.
January 8, 2018
Re-read. Still enjoyed though I did a bit of skimming here and there this time.
January 8, 2019
Sophomoric writing, mundane, minimal world building, one particularly unlikeable protagonist. Didn’t care for the author’s take on paranormal creatures.
October 30, 2015
5 Heart Review by Amber
“He’s got me. I’d say about as bad as Jackie got me back in her day. The smell of him, the taste of him, the whole fucking lot of him.”
I haven’t said it in a few months so I’m just going to get it out of the way…I FRIGGIN LOVE A.F. Henley BOOKS!!! LOVE!!! There is something about this author that just sucks me right in and never lets me go. It’s happened from the very first A.F. Henley book I read and it hasn’t changed. This story has incredible passion. Passion for one’s family, passion for tradition, and romantic passion there was so many aspects of this story that I truly loved. I thought the paranormal aspect was very unique. I love the idea of a paranormal government that protects humans and the supernatural. I really liked how the whole “gay” thing was never really an issue. It just sort of was and I kind of liked that there was no overabundance of angst over sexuality. Everything was just so well done. Loved it!
Randy is a former lawyer tired of the grind of crazy city life he moves to a tiny town in the middle of nowhere to mend his broken heart and start over. Even though he’s not use to the quiet, the weather, or the peace he’s enjoying it. He also has no complaints about the eye candy that lives close by.
Vaughn O’Connell lives with his 3 children in the small town of Wolf, WY. He’s content and not at all prepared for the feelings his new neighbor ignites in him. And try as he might, he finds himself drawn to him.
I don’t want to give too much away but there is a very unique subplot in this story. I’ve never read an alpha/dominance struggle quite like this and I was mesmerized. I didn’t know how this was ever going to play out while maintain strong healthy relationships. It was the perfect addition to an already amazing story.
Vaughn and Randy have this crazy tension that’s so thick it’s almost tangible. They fight hard and often. They deny their feelings at every turn, but you can’t stop reading because you know what’s building. You know what’s coming and you can’t wait for it. AHHHHHH…this book is sooooooo friggin GOOD!!! You have to get it…have to!!!! Oh, and have I mentioned how much I LOVE this author?????
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
“He’s got me. I’d say about as bad as Jackie got me back in her day. The smell of him, the taste of him, the whole fucking lot of him.”
I haven’t said it in a few months so I’m just going to get it out of the way…I FRIGGIN LOVE A.F. Henley BOOKS!!! LOVE!!! There is something about this author that just sucks me right in and never lets me go. It’s happened from the very first A.F. Henley book I read and it hasn’t changed. This story has incredible passion. Passion for one’s family, passion for tradition, and romantic passion there was so many aspects of this story that I truly loved. I thought the paranormal aspect was very unique. I love the idea of a paranormal government that protects humans and the supernatural. I really liked how the whole “gay” thing was never really an issue. It just sort of was and I kind of liked that there was no overabundance of angst over sexuality. Everything was just so well done. Loved it!
Randy is a former lawyer tired of the grind of crazy city life he moves to a tiny town in the middle of nowhere to mend his broken heart and start over. Even though he’s not use to the quiet, the weather, or the peace he’s enjoying it. He also has no complaints about the eye candy that lives close by.
Vaughn O’Connell lives with his 3 children in the small town of Wolf, WY. He’s content and not at all prepared for the feelings his new neighbor ignites in him. And try as he might, he finds himself drawn to him.
I don’t want to give too much away but there is a very unique subplot in this story. I’ve never read an alpha/dominance struggle quite like this and I was mesmerized. I didn’t know how this was ever going to play out while maintain strong healthy relationships. It was the perfect addition to an already amazing story.
Vaughn and Randy have this crazy tension that’s so thick it’s almost tangible. They fight hard and often. They deny their feelings at every turn, but you can’t stop reading because you know what’s building. You know what’s coming and you can’t wait for it. AHHHHHH…this book is sooooooo friggin GOOD!!! You have to get it…have to!!!! Oh, and have I mentioned how much I LOVE this author?????
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
September 23, 2015
Wolf, WY (Book 1) by A.F. Henley
4 stars
M/M Shifter, Romance
I was given this story for an honest review by Inked Rainbow Reads.
Randy and Vaughn were a complex couple of guys. You have Randy, who is running to figure out what he really wants in life - who he wants to surround himself with. Then you have Vaughn, who is trying to hold his family together.
Randy's character was someone that I liked right away. He was somewhat playful, polite, no-nonsense and reasonable. I also really loved his family. Despite his mom's less than graceful way of phrasing things, she was a ball buster and I liked that. Then you have his dad, whom I absolutely loved! He was supportive, kind, gentle and able to see who his son truly was.
The dynamic between Randy and Vaughn was somewhat contentious when the story begins and I think that helped me to like their connection even more. It was definitely not an insta-love story - but one full of getting to the bottom of what makes the other tick.
Vaughn is trying desperately to figure out how to keep his son alive, all the while trying not to be distracted by Randy. Despite not having the best bedside manner, I ended up really liking Vaughn's strong silent, stern dynamic a lot. He was loving, stern, strong and soft all wrapped in to a yummy package.
Lyle worried me for a while, but I liked how Henley was able to incorporate some of what Lyle's story was, without letting Lyle's issues overrun the story. I do hope that the next story is about Lyle, because I am incredibly curious about what happened to him during his time away.
I really enjoyed this story and what it represented. Fight for what you want - don't let life pass you by.
4 stars
M/M Shifter, Romance
I was given this story for an honest review by Inked Rainbow Reads.
Randy and Vaughn were a complex couple of guys. You have Randy, who is running to figure out what he really wants in life - who he wants to surround himself with. Then you have Vaughn, who is trying to hold his family together.
Randy's character was someone that I liked right away. He was somewhat playful, polite, no-nonsense and reasonable. I also really loved his family. Despite his mom's less than graceful way of phrasing things, she was a ball buster and I liked that. Then you have his dad, whom I absolutely loved! He was supportive, kind, gentle and able to see who his son truly was.
The dynamic between Randy and Vaughn was somewhat contentious when the story begins and I think that helped me to like their connection even more. It was definitely not an insta-love story - but one full of getting to the bottom of what makes the other tick.
Vaughn is trying desperately to figure out how to keep his son alive, all the while trying not to be distracted by Randy. Despite not having the best bedside manner, I ended up really liking Vaughn's strong silent, stern dynamic a lot. He was loving, stern, strong and soft all wrapped in to a yummy package.
Lyle worried me for a while, but I liked how Henley was able to incorporate some of what Lyle's story was, without letting Lyle's issues overrun the story. I do hope that the next story is about Lyle, because I am incredibly curious about what happened to him during his time away.
I really enjoyed this story and what it represented. Fight for what you want - don't let life pass you by.
November 5, 2015
I was given this book by Inked Rainbow Reads in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this book and also enjoyed the writing style of the author. To me the writing style can make or break a book. I really enjoyed how Randy found out about shapeshifter/werewolves and really loved his sense of humor. However, I didn’t like Vaughn, he came off pompous. I did like that Vaughn was a man that took his responsibilities seriously and it was clear that he was doing everything he could to keep his family together and under the radar. I did love Vaughn’s younger children and how they just accepted everything that came their way.
I would recommend this to anyone who loves’ shapeshifter stories.
I enjoyed this book and also enjoyed the writing style of the author. To me the writing style can make or break a book. I really enjoyed how Randy found out about shapeshifter/werewolves and really loved his sense of humor. However, I didn’t like Vaughn, he came off pompous. I did like that Vaughn was a man that took his responsibilities seriously and it was clear that he was doing everything he could to keep his family together and under the radar. I did love Vaughn’s younger children and how they just accepted everything that came their way.
I would recommend this to anyone who loves’ shapeshifter stories.
October 31, 2015
I loved this book! It was a rich story with believable characters. The various conflicts in it, Man v. Nature & Man v. Neighbors were wonderfully thought out! I look forward to another book in the series.
October 25, 2015
I loved this book! I'm hoping that Lyle gets his happy ending too.
June 10, 2016
That was surprisingly well written story plot and if we would get more romance between main couple I would rate it with 5 stars.
October 26, 2015
Ok, I'm hooked! Waiting impatiently for Book 2 :-)
Well done, A.F.!
Well done, A.F.!
March 19, 2024
Okay read, nothing really special about it. The ending was very rushed and sudden.
October 22, 2015
One of the many things I love about AF Henley’s novel Wolf, WY is his brilliant choice of the setting for the events unfolding. Wolf is a tiny community in the middle of nowhere. The isolation and the place being so secluded and to set the story during autumn and winter makes the novel even more intense and adds greatly to the mood.
I think Intensity is the best way to describe this stunning novel. The intensity in the interaction of the characters, the characters themselves, and the intensity in mood provided by the cold and dark seasons. Henley seems to enjoy exposing his readers to the feelings these surroundings bring forth. And why should he not since he is so good at creating them! Especially a very eerie hospital scene!
The novel draws great strength from the characters being so relatable. Especially Randy and Vaughn. I know that saying that the protagonists being relatable in a paranormal novel seems to be a little odd but AF Henley really excelled in making them believable for the reader.
I find that to be a very important thing. This is still mainly a m/m romance novel without making a big deal of it and it can only be believable when the characters are. And believe me: They are.
Until recently, Randy was a successful lawyer. But his work left him disillusioned. Being tired of witnessing law and justice being twisted or bought in the courtrooms daily. On top of that his partner in a six year relationship cheated on thirty year old Randy in favour of a younger man.
In a way, Randy is fleeing this kind of life, this world. He moves as far away as possible from his former life as possible. To Wolf. He yet has to figure out what to do with his new life in that quiet place not knowing how dramatically his life is about to change.
In a greatly entertaining and hilarious scene, Randy meets his neighbor Vaughn and his eighteen year old son Lyle O’Connel. The O’Connels keep to themselves, not trusting outsiders and certainly not a newbie city brat like Randy who knows nothing about life out there.
Vaughn is the rough no-nonsense top of guy. And he has every reason to be. Out here he is responsible to raise three children without a mother and he is extremely protective about his kids.
I would be negligent if I do not mention the supporting characters since they are so important to the ongoing of the story as a whole. They are an impressive group of people. Randy’s very supportive and understanding dad, his mother to whom his relation is strained, the O’Connel’s little kids Hannah and Issac, and Lyle, who certainly sparks fantasies but becomes so scary during the story.
AF Henley’s awesome talent in doing character driven novels shows here with so much intensity! The continued misunderstandings between Randy and Vaughn are carried out in a brilliant way! They reach so deeply and are grounded on their respective heritage. Randy is convinced that Vaughn hates him because he is an outsider and Vaughn believes that Randy has no intend to truly form deep relationships with the people of the community. That he is there just to heal old wounds and then move on. And that when this guy from the city understands the truth about living in Wolf, he would just ran away like he did from his old life.
It turns out that Randy indeed does not have the slightest idea of what is going on and about the true powers behind Wolf. Powers that threaten the life of Lyle whom Vaughn desperately is trying to protect.
This awesome novel is definitely a must read and it is the beginning of a great adventure!
Don’t miss it! :)
I think Intensity is the best way to describe this stunning novel. The intensity in the interaction of the characters, the characters themselves, and the intensity in mood provided by the cold and dark seasons. Henley seems to enjoy exposing his readers to the feelings these surroundings bring forth. And why should he not since he is so good at creating them! Especially a very eerie hospital scene!
The novel draws great strength from the characters being so relatable. Especially Randy and Vaughn. I know that saying that the protagonists being relatable in a paranormal novel seems to be a little odd but AF Henley really excelled in making them believable for the reader.
I find that to be a very important thing. This is still mainly a m/m romance novel without making a big deal of it and it can only be believable when the characters are. And believe me: They are.
Until recently, Randy was a successful lawyer. But his work left him disillusioned. Being tired of witnessing law and justice being twisted or bought in the courtrooms daily. On top of that his partner in a six year relationship cheated on thirty year old Randy in favour of a younger man.
In a way, Randy is fleeing this kind of life, this world. He moves as far away as possible from his former life as possible. To Wolf. He yet has to figure out what to do with his new life in that quiet place not knowing how dramatically his life is about to change.
In a greatly entertaining and hilarious scene, Randy meets his neighbor Vaughn and his eighteen year old son Lyle O’Connel. The O’Connels keep to themselves, not trusting outsiders and certainly not a newbie city brat like Randy who knows nothing about life out there.
Vaughn is the rough no-nonsense top of guy. And he has every reason to be. Out here he is responsible to raise three children without a mother and he is extremely protective about his kids.
I would be negligent if I do not mention the supporting characters since they are so important to the ongoing of the story as a whole. They are an impressive group of people. Randy’s very supportive and understanding dad, his mother to whom his relation is strained, the O’Connel’s little kids Hannah and Issac, and Lyle, who certainly sparks fantasies but becomes so scary during the story.
AF Henley’s awesome talent in doing character driven novels shows here with so much intensity! The continued misunderstandings between Randy and Vaughn are carried out in a brilliant way! They reach so deeply and are grounded on their respective heritage. Randy is convinced that Vaughn hates him because he is an outsider and Vaughn believes that Randy has no intend to truly form deep relationships with the people of the community. That he is there just to heal old wounds and then move on. And that when this guy from the city understands the truth about living in Wolf, he would just ran away like he did from his old life.
It turns out that Randy indeed does not have the slightest idea of what is going on and about the true powers behind Wolf. Powers that threaten the life of Lyle whom Vaughn desperately is trying to protect.
This awesome novel is definitely a must read and it is the beginning of a great adventure!
Don’t miss it! :)
January 15, 2016
I got hooked by Wolf, WY after reading the teaser on a friend’s blog. I love reading teaser as it gives a little glimpse of what to expect from the book the book. Wolf, WY teaser promised me a fun and humorous read. And it was. There were things that Randy has said and did in the story which I can’t agree, but I learned to love Randy unconditionally. I can’t get enough of his humor. At first, couldn’t wipe the smile off my face even during his tragic monolog because he just god damn funny! I know he's gay but I fell for his charms. But there were a lot of moments when my heart aches for what he gone through.
I kind of predicted who Randy’s beautiful wolf was but that didn’t stop me from screaming like a fan girl when it was finally revealed. And don't get me wrong I’m happy for whoever Randy choose to have but I kind of, you know… rooted for Lyle. He has a sweet and innocent approach.
Arius: Arius is a minor character in the book but he made a big impact on me. I've mentioned this a lot before, I’m not against it, but I'm not really into reading about vampires, but somehow Arius just seems so adorable. I wouldn’t mind reading another story with him as the main character.
Anyway, I don’t have more to say about the book other than this was a wonderful M/M book or that it was a satisfying read. But I did wish that the story was a bit longer, still I’m happy that I bought it.
Now allow me to end this review with some of my favorite quote from the book:
I wish my own parents had said this to me before, not that I haven’t fight for what I want but hearing this words would prove how much you meant to them. You know… *sniff*
Wahaha!
I feel sorry for Arius but this part sends me to laughing pit, making my sore throat and dizziness from the cold worse, but laughing was really the best medicine because I felt better afterward.
I kind of predicted who Randy’s beautiful wolf was but that didn’t stop me from screaming like a fan girl when it was finally revealed. And don't get me wrong I’m happy for whoever Randy choose to have but I kind of, you know… rooted for Lyle. He has a sweet and innocent approach.
Arius: Arius is a minor character in the book but he made a big impact on me. I've mentioned this a lot before, I’m not against it, but I'm not really into reading about vampires, but somehow Arius just seems so adorable. I wouldn’t mind reading another story with him as the main character.
Anyway, I don’t have more to say about the book other than this was a wonderful M/M book or that it was a satisfying read. But I did wish that the story was a bit longer, still I’m happy that I bought it.
Now allow me to end this review with some of my favorite quote from the book:
“We all get scared. The thing is, you can only run from things for so long. Eventually you have to stand up and fight for the things you've told yourself are yours."
I wish my own parents had said this to me before, not that I haven’t fight for what I want but hearing this words would prove how much you meant to them. You know… *sniff*
"Wolf, Arius. And not just any wolf, but a werewolf. Calling him a dog is kind of like calling you an overgrown mosquito."
Wahaha!
I feel sorry for Arius but this part sends me to laughing pit, making my sore throat and dizziness from the cold worse, but laughing was really the best medicine because I felt better afterward.
January 12, 2016
This book was just wow!!!
Randy moves into a new house out in the woods to get away from a past were his was hurt by his fiancé. His neighbors at first were not so nice then when they start opening up with each other... Just wow!!
So much of this I was confused by, was it Lyle and Randy or was it Vaughn Lyle's father and Randy. The way Lyle came after Randy for a lack of better words was crazy!!!
Then the way Vaughn dealt with everything... Just wow this was a whole different side to werewolves for me and I really liked this book! I thought everything was dealt with perfectly. Of course they are the secrets and the angst between Vaughn and Randy at first but once everything really starts going it was like they were meant for each other. My only complaint would be I wished they had more time together but otherwise you get the steamy scenes.
I really loved how much Randy cared for Vaughn's children. Randy came across to me a shy nervous man who was so unsure on how to act around Vaughn at first but also went out and got what he wanted. Someone who knows when to admit he made a mistake.
Vaughn you really don't see a whole lot of him or learn that much about him but what you do learn made me really like his character!
All together this was a really good book!
I would definitely recommend this book!
Rating: 4 Stars
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Inked Rainbow Reads.
Randy moves into a new house out in the woods to get away from a past were his was hurt by his fiancé. His neighbors at first were not so nice then when they start opening up with each other... Just wow!!
So much of this I was confused by, was it Lyle and Randy or was it Vaughn Lyle's father and Randy. The way Lyle came after Randy for a lack of better words was crazy!!!
Then the way Vaughn dealt with everything... Just wow this was a whole different side to werewolves for me and I really liked this book! I thought everything was dealt with perfectly. Of course they are the secrets and the angst between Vaughn and Randy at first but once everything really starts going it was like they were meant for each other. My only complaint would be I wished they had more time together but otherwise you get the steamy scenes.
I really loved how much Randy cared for Vaughn's children. Randy came across to me a shy nervous man who was so unsure on how to act around Vaughn at first but also went out and got what he wanted. Someone who knows when to admit he made a mistake.
Vaughn you really don't see a whole lot of him or learn that much about him but what you do learn made me really like his character!
All together this was a really good book!
I would definitely recommend this book!
Rating: 4 Stars
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Inked Rainbow Reads.
October 17, 2015
I don’t think I’ve read one book by this author that I haven’t loved and Wolf, WY is as brilliant as all the rest. Unique from what I’ve read recently but still brilliant.
Randy is an early thirties lawyer that found his partner/fiance cheating on him with possibly multi relationships. Not only that, he cleaned out the bank account. (separate accounts ppl, always!) Randy decides to pick up and start over. Comes across this perfect town, perfect home, in the middle of know where. Starts licking he’s wounds and figures out what he wants to do with rest of his life.
The neighbor, is the rough and sexy father of three. That pushes all of Randy buttons. The eldest son is also trying to push those buttons which everyone is stopping.
Randy and Vaughn is this chemistry of HAWT, smexy and cold that just works. Randy is brooding and yet trying to get past the father’s shell. Trying to figure the what and why of the strangeness of everything. All the while keeping his distance when asked. The books takes place over months time. The only I didn’t care for was the end seemed a little rushed to me. Have to see how book 2 opens?
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review by Crystals Many reviews
Randy is an early thirties lawyer that found his partner/fiance cheating on him with possibly multi relationships. Not only that, he cleaned out the bank account. (separate accounts ppl, always!) Randy decides to pick up and start over. Comes across this perfect town, perfect home, in the middle of know where. Starts licking he’s wounds and figures out what he wants to do with rest of his life.
The neighbor, is the rough and sexy father of three. That pushes all of Randy buttons. The eldest son is also trying to push those buttons which everyone is stopping.
Randy and Vaughn is this chemistry of HAWT, smexy and cold that just works. Randy is brooding and yet trying to get past the father’s shell. Trying to figure the what and why of the strangeness of everything. All the while keeping his distance when asked. The books takes place over months time. The only I didn’t care for was the end seemed a little rushed to me. Have to see how book 2 opens?
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review by Crystals Many reviews
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