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A Sexy Shifter Fairytale Romance

When Red packs her goodies to Grandma’s house she gets more than she bargains for seducing the new forest ranger, Evan Brewster.

Feisty wolf-shifter Red only wants to get out of the small, mountain town of Radon and experience life, but her mother, brother, and the pack are all out to make sure she stays put. When packing her goodies up to Grandma’s house she runs into the hunky new forest ranger, Evan Brewster, she jumps on the opportunity to let loose her desires. But her new romance with Evan puts the pack in danger of discovery and she’s forced to make a choice.
Evan is stoked when he meets the petite red haired hottie and combined with his new discovery of wolves in Colorado, thinks his career and life are made. Then Red pushes him away, her hostile brother threatens his life, and things begin to spiral out of control.
Caught between her sexy lover and her pack can Red trust Evan with her secrets? Or must she sacrifice her human lover—and her heart?

Lions and wolves and bears, oh my.

Previously published as Little Red Riding Wolf.

161 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 18, 2012

119 people are currently reading
318 people want to read

About the author

Jessica Aspen

43 books426 followers
Jessica always wanted to be spirited away to a world inhabited by elves, were-wolves and dark dangerous men who walk on the sharp side of the knife. Luckily, she's able to explore her fantasy side and delve into new worlds by writing Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romantic Suspense.

Jessica loves indulging in dark chocolate, reading eclectic novels, and dreaming of exotic vacations. When she isn't crafting magical adventures she spends most of her time walking on the beach and hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Jessica Aspen writes dark witchy Urban Fantasy and fast-paced Paranormal Romantic Suspense.
As her alter-ego, J.B. Aspen, she writes the magical para-cozy mystry series MAGICAL MIDLIFE IN RETROGRADE. You can also find her fantasy romance series, HUNTED BY THE FAERIE QUEEN, under the pen-name, Jesica Ash.

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5 stars
88 (41%)
4 stars
62 (29%)
3 stars
46 (21%)
2 stars
10 (4%)
1 star
7 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
Profile Image for Kathleen Bradbury (Bulfon).
16.4k reviews217 followers
August 22, 2019
Wow this book get so hot you may need a cold shower I absolutely could not get enough of this I was hooked from the first page great writing job bravo loved it and if anyone is looking a steamy wonderful read then add this one to your list you will not be disappointed I was not, I loved it

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Sharon Clare.
Author 9 books62 followers
August 7, 2012
Little Red Riding Wolf is a wonderful tale of sweet, forbidden love. We all want to be loved for who we are, so the moment is extra tender when Red realizes the sexy forest ranger admires her in her were-wolf form. As Evan falls for the lively red-head, passion sizzles at grandma's house, as he proves to be the only man who can dominate her inner wolf. Little Red Riding Hood never had this much fun at grandma's house, but Jessica Aspen keeps the pace fast and the conflicts constant with lovely sensory details as Red and Evan's struggles grow as fast as their love.
Profile Image for A. Cook.
401 reviews24 followers
September 13, 2016
This one struggled for a three star rating. Red by Jessica Aspen isn't poorly written but the rating is based on the development of the main character Red. As I read, I was under the impression that her character would turn into a real bad ass but that isn't that case. Therefore, I was disappointed in the development of this character (which is the heroine). The story as a whole is good and had a nice flow but this one thing kind of threw it off for me.
Profile Image for Valerie Mcqueen.
204 reviews7 followers
September 3, 2012
My review of Little Red Riding Wolf by Jessica Aspen

RATING 4****

This book was provided free from the author in exchange for honest literary review.

This book and review intended for audiences over the age of 18.

Red has one heck of a life. Smothered by her parents at 22 she can't even leave town for college. She isn't even allowed to go to work any longer in her parents store because they feel she needs to be staying at home with her mom learning how to be the proper housewife. In fact, no one in her family seems to understand Red's desire to have an identity away from her small town.
Red is a female werewolf. Since her species is becoming scarce it has become an obsession of her parents to hurry up and pair her off with a member of the pack so she can start breeding. To them that is and should be her main goal in life.
While going to visit her grandmother Red meets a delicious ranger named Evan. He is human but calls to her wolf in ways she thought would never be possible. He can even make her wolf submit by the sound of his voice. How can she convince herself and her pack that her true mate is a human and that he means no harm to the pack ??????
This book was amazing. I have a soft spot for weres in general. I sure wasn't disappointed here. While this book is classified more to the erotica genre, its told in a very tasteful way. There is plot substance, action and suspense. The characters have a storyline and the steamy scenes add to the book not take away or distract from the novel. Excellent quick read !!!!
Profile Image for Clare O'Beara.
Author 25 books371 followers
August 7, 2016
Well, that was fun!

What a nice take on the Red Riding Hood story. In this American mountainside setting, Red with her bright red hoodie to make hunters aware of her, is a wolf shifter. There's a granny (with big teeth), an isolated cabin in the woods, a new woodsman - the park ranger, and a scary big bad wolf, who is Seth, Red's older and very protective brother. If Evan the ranger gets wind of the wolf population around here, or realises the truth about the locals, that's the end of Red's college dreams and her pack's safety. Pity then that Red and Evan fall in instant lust on the Montana mountain.

I particularly like the nature detail and the sensory descriptions as the wolf shifter girl enjoys her environment. We may not be in Middle Europe any more, but we can look out for a happy ever after, 'cause it's a fairytale. I think the series of titles by this author - Red, Gold, Cinder, Snow etc. is inspired. And I'm determined to read more of them.

This is an adult romance and there is occasional strong language.
Profile Image for Emily.
5,880 reviews551 followers
February 18, 2013
Red wants to go to college and be a normal, even if she is a shifting wolf. Her family is fighting her tooth and nail blaming her incident with a human boy at eighteen as not able to be in control, they would rather have her mated and settled down. Biding her time she meets Evan Brewster who ignites every desirable bone in her body, the problem is he is human. Passion is high, but allowing Evan into Red’s world could destroy everything her family has built or end with Evan's death on her hands.

I liked this one, I thought it had a different twist in shifter stories that you don’t see often where the female is the shifter and the male is human. Another fantastic interpretation of a classic fairy tale, Jessica Aspen has a way of crafting a modern day tale that keeps the reader entranced.
Profile Image for Jordan.
Author 37 books202 followers
May 27, 2012
From the very get-go I was completely engaged by Red's situation and totally frustrated for her. Jessica does a great job of showing Red's status in her family and the fact that everyone else wants to control her decisions. From the moment I started reading I wanted her to gain control of her life and have whatever she wanted. The introduction of Evan Brewster was great and I loved the way the two characters shared in the relationship, both strong personalities, struggling with their own weaknesses and desires. The love scenes are very hot, too. I enjoyed the book and recommend it.
Profile Image for Lizzie T. Leaf.
Author 23 books61 followers
June 8, 2012
Really enjoyed this take on a childhood favorite, Little Red Ridding Hood. How things have changed...Red is now the wolf and the hunky ranger her prey. A hot, fun read!
Profile Image for Keridak Silk.
Author 3 books2 followers
September 28, 2012
Enjoyed the fast pace and of course the romance. Bob enjoyed the after effects :) Have fun with this one if you love sensual fantasy.
2,794 reviews40 followers
June 2, 2019
RED (Sexy Shifter Fairytale Romances, #1) by Jessica Aspen RED: A Sexy Shifter Fairytale Romance (Sexy Shifter Fairytale Romances Book 1) By: Jessica Aspen
Lil "RED" Just Wanted Some Learn'n... But The Lesson Wasn't What She Sought!
"RED" just wants to GO to School,
But EveryOne keeps Tell'n Her 'H€LL NO, "RED," you can't GO!'
Sooo "RED" IS off to Granny's Cabin for a bit of a Forced-Break,
Where, Li'l does "RED" know IT, But She's About to meet Her FATE!
IN a Hunky Retired Military MAN turned Irresistible S€X¥ Forrest Ranger,
WHO also just Sooo Happens to be... Her ONE & ONLY M.A.T.E!
Looks like Li'l "RED" IS gonna have,
Quite an interesting trip to Granny's this Time Around...
Especially as nobody in the Pack wants "RED" Mat'n an OutSider!
Can These TWO get IT together with Sooo Much Resistance standing in their Way...
or Will the threats keep them Apart in a Deadly Way...
or Maybe what they NEED is SomeOne Rooting for their Team!!
Even though I already owned Jessica Aspen's "RED: A Sexy Shifter Fairytale Romance (Sexy Shifter Fairytale Romances Book 1)," I agreed to review it as an ARC for Her via B00|{$P®0UT. I recommend this book to others based upon its own recommendations. All opinions expressed within this review are uniquely my own & freely given!
Until next time... Happy Reading!
Profile Image for Jessica M-E Nitsch.
9 reviews1 follower
November 23, 2016
This is the first book that I've read by this author. While shifters aren't my favorite romance genre, I've read more than a few. This one stacks up pretty well with the others. The main twist (which isn't giving anything away) is that the main character, Red, is a wolf. In general the author does a good job of blending elements of the "Little Red Riding Hood" fairy tale with the modern shifter mythology. So Red wears red, but a hoodie, not a cape. She has a grandmother, but also a family who treats her like a child instead of the 22-year-old woman that she is. Since they're wolves, the source of danger comes from a non-wolf. The danger is to Red herself, in being attracted to someone she shouldn't be, as well as to her family, since their way of life could be affected. And since she is a woman and not a little girl, this retelling is definitely for an adult audience, but in a good way!!

While I liked the book overall, I did have some issues with it. First, it's actually a novella, not a novel, since it's fairly short. I don't mind that but the ending seemed rushed compared to the rest of the story. The writing in general was good, and I liked the characters and the development of the story. I gave it 2 stars instead of 3 because of the errors in the text. I'm probably pickier than most people, but I'll overlook errors if there are only a few. However a story this short should have had another edit, or two, or three, before it was published. It's simply a pet peeve of mine to purchase a book that looks like a work in progress rather than a finished product!

The author does say that this is one of the first stories/books that she wrote, so based on what I liked about "Red", I plan to read more of her books. There are at least two more fairy tale/shifter books so I'll probably start there.

"Red": sexy + shifter + fairy tale = a new author for me to follow :)
Profile Image for kymagirl.
6,288 reviews89 followers
December 17, 2025
She was never meant to fall for a human. Too late now.

Red's world is built on blood ties, forest paths, and rules she never agreed to. A wolf shifter stuck in a small town, she's expected to mate, settle, and stay in line. But when she meets the new forest ranger on her way to Grandma’s house, everything shifts. He sees her, wants her, and most dangerous of all... respects her.

Evan’s just looking for quiet and a new start. What he finds is Red, fierce, untamed, and unforgettable. When instincts spark and secrets stir, he starts asking questions the town does not want answered. Red’s the only one who can pull him closer or push him away.

As the tension builds, so does the heat. But Red's choices carry weight. Her family sees Evan as a threat, and her world demands silence. To fight for him means risking more than her heart. The question is, will she run or finally stand her ground?

Red grows from restless and constrained to a woman who knows what she wants and refuses to be caged. Evan sheds his outsider status and proves he is not just brave, but worthy. Together, their bond burns through fear and doubt, built on trust, loyalty, and a passion neither saw coming.

A steamy, forbidden, shifter-human, fated mates, small town romance with enemies to lovers tension, protective instincts, and a heroine torn between tradition and desire, exploring identity, freedom, trust, belonging, love, sacrifice, and transformation. It's about fighting for freedom, claiming identity in a world that demands obedience, and choosing love even when it hurts.

The Elevator Pitch: A rebellious wolf shifter meets a human forest ranger, and their explosive connection sets off a chain of secrets, danger, and desire. As loyalty and passion collide, neither is ready for how far they’ll go to protect each other. Steamy, sharp, and full of bite.
605 reviews7 followers
December 22, 2025
This paranormal shifter romance centers on a relationship between a shifter and a human, and much of the conflict comes from the pack dynamics surrounding them. Unfortunately, those dynamics are deeply toxic. The pack is openly hostile toward non-shifter mates, which reads as a form of prejudice that drives a large part of the tension in the story. This aspect is portrayed very clearly and, at times, quite bleak.
The stakes are high throughout the book, with threats, aggression, and mentions of violence. In some instances, the hostility even escalates to attempts to end the relationship entirely, which makes the story emotionally heavy and tense. While this certainly keeps the pages turning, it also means the romance often has to fight for space against the darker pack politics.
Based on the title and setup, I was expecting a stronger Red Riding Hood–style retelling. However, aside from a grandmother living in a cabin in the woods, there are very few elements that actually connect the story to that fairytale. Readers looking specifically for a retelling may therefore feel a bit misled.
Overall, this is a fairly standard paranormal shifter romance with intense conflict, strong external pressure on the couple, and a darker tone than expected. If you enjoy high-tension stories with problematic pack structures and a romance that has to survive against all odds, this book may work for you. If you’re hoping for a clear fairytale retelling or a lighter shifter romance, it may fall a bit short.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Amber Jones.
374 reviews8 followers
November 25, 2017

This is a must read for anyone into Shifter romance books. Red is the runt of her family with bright red hair that isn't allowed to do anything because of a mistake with a human when she was young. Now she is trying to get to at least be able to go to college but not being able to because of her family.
Then she meets Evan the new Park ranger who threatens the packs whole way of life by taking pictures of wolves. What she doesn't know if he is her mate and a way for her entire packs way of life to change for the better.
Evan oh my what a hunk of a sexy dominating man. The poor guy goes through red's emotional roller coaster numerous times before she decides what she wants and feels for him.
I am an avid Shifter romance reader and I just adored this. It is part of a series of Fairytale romance books and I am looking forward to reading more in this series.
I recently read another book by this author and was emedietly addicted to her novels. She is quite a wonderful shifter writer. As I said before, she gets straight to the strong points of the story and doesn't waste time like most authors do.
5 stars
540 reviews
October 19, 2022
What can I say, I love a good werewolf romance and this one fit the bill. Has been very difficult over the last year for me to find a good fantasy read of this sort and I've tried. This read is a novella, but packs a punch. The author right away pulls us in to her characters and we are committed immediately. Red is our h and Ethan the park ranger our H, she is a lupine and he is human but Red realizes he is indeed her mate. Exciting read that is action packed and extremely segsy! This is the first of a series and I definitely will look up the next one. I see that Jessica Aspen has written a lot in the fantasy genre. She is a new author to me and this will definitely not be my last read of hers. Bravo, you get the genre and how it is meant to be.
Profile Image for Elaine Kirby.
972 reviews2 followers
April 30, 2022
Pretty Good

To me this book was just pretty good as there wasn’t any good vs bad plot & only a couple of sex scenes.

Evan is the new Forest Ranger in town & Red is the shifter wolf (this book felt more like Romeo & Juliet except for the ending of them). Red came across Evan in wolf form & thought he smelled really delicious & was instantly attracted to him. Evan was also instantly attracted to Red.

But, what Evan didn’t know is that Red & all the townspeople are wolf shifters. & they are against humans.

Now it’s your turn to read this book to find out what happens next & if you agree with my rating.
56 reviews
November 27, 2025
This story is equal parts sweet and steamy. At its heart, it’s about a young woman who falls for someone her family doesn’t approve of, and the emotional tug‑of‑war she faces while trying to figure out how they can make it work. It’s an instalove romance—but the fast pace fits perfectly with the short book length. Very enjoyable!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
2,117 reviews5 followers
June 1, 2019
This is a new author for me, and I'm quite surprised. I really enjoyed her work; this was like a fairytale retelling with a twist. The storyline had a great flow and pace, and the characters were really well developed.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Nicole Deanne Veracruz.
2,418 reviews15 followers
December 19, 2025
I understand that this is a novella, but that said, it still seemed extremely rushed. And the ending was very abrupt. Not sure how I felt about Red. It's definitely a twist on the fairy tale because in the fairy tale, there's Red Riding Hood and the Wolf. In this book, Red Riding Hood is the wolf.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
1,141 reviews7 followers
December 30, 2025
Red is a spicy retelling of the Little Red Riding Hood fairytale with an interesting spin on it. There was some angst and drama, but I felt the ending came a bit too fast and I would have like it drawn out with some detail on how everything was finally resolved.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Jane.
429 reviews8 followers
May 10, 2017
Ok read.

Decent read. Ok characters. The whole thing felt rushed and the ending was very abrupt.
Several grammatical and spelling errors.
Not a bad read, but not a memorable one either.
Profile Image for Maryjane.
369 reviews1 follower
July 1, 2017
Red and Evan

A wonderful story about Red and Evan (the human). Wonderfully written with down to earth characters, and Jessica Aspen makes you feel like you are watching a movie. Bravo Jessica!
Profile Image for Catherine Marie Meyer.
790 reviews4 followers
June 3, 2018
short and sexy sweet

i was happily into the fantasy of little red riding hood and the wolf. however, red was the wolf and she was an unhappy wolf woman. thank goodness for grandma wolf and her experience with life. good story, looking forward to snow.
Profile Image for Corlis Tindel.
36 reviews
August 5, 2019
A Fantastic Book I loved it!

A great book a play on "Little Red Riding Hood" but Red is a wolf and her will be mate is the human. I love the way the author told their love story. I recommend this book to anyone that loves a great love story.
Profile Image for Cynthia Brooks.
2,351 reviews12 followers
June 2, 2019
A twisted fairytale Of Red Riding Hood, where Red is a wolf shifter. I loved this book. The story and characters held my interest.
179 reviews
July 25, 2019
Sexy and cute

This story was short, sweet and sexy. I really liked the lighthearted plot. I'm glad I decided to read this one.
680 reviews3 followers
September 3, 2019
Fun

A short but well written shifter romance story that is full of action and romance and the perfect book for a late night read
88 reviews
June 8, 2020
Wow

I have read Jessica Aspen before and I love her. She has me on the edge of my seat, I can't wait to read more from Aspen.
46 reviews1 follower
January 20, 2022
Red riding wolf

Quick read, but very enjoyable. Packed with action, drama, and lots of sparks...a great read that keeps you turning pages.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews

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