Never Kiss a Wolf

by Eliza Gayle

Following a lead south to find a missing female shifter, Greer and Calder land in the middle of bear country. Grayslake, Georgia to be exact. Everything there seems innocent enough until their questions begin to ruffle fur and their oddball waitress at the local diner has a meltdown. Leaving Greer covered in an order of chili cheese fries and obsessed with one curvy, but clearly unstable woman.



Lily Hale moved to the small southern town to get as far away from her bleak, Alaskan backwoods family as she could. All she wants is a little color in her life and a taste of freedom. Getting involved with a wolf shifter seems like the last thing she should do.

 Except she kissed him and now he won’t go away. She also can’t shake the feeling her life is about to implode.

Is Greer the kind of man who’d stand up to her family of savage werebears and protect her? Of maybe she can become the woman who stands on her own.


Genres: Paranormal, Shapeshifters, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Fantasy, Wolves, Novella

74 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 30, 2016

About the author

GRAB the first book in my USA Today bestselling Southern Shifters series in Kindle Unlimited. Click
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Eliza Gayle writes dragon romance and fantasy romance with unforgettable characters, fiery passion, and magical twists. A New York Times bestselling author, she’s created series like Dragon Lords and Southern Shifters that keep readers hooked from page one. (She also writes dark contemporary romance under E.M. Gayle) She currently lives on a small island in the Pacific Northwest (but was born and raised in Florida and then spent 10+ years in NC) and spends her days writing romance, wandering the beach, kayaking or defending her keyboard from her cat Salem.

Before her writing career began, she served in the Marine Corps and lived a crazy life of adventure. Then she read her first spicy romance novel and everything changed. So after years of thinking about writing she finally grabbed her laptop and wrote.

Latest Release: THE HEART OF THE DRAGON
Coming next: THE FATE OF THE DRAGON

Reviews

[Marta Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have read the Grayslake series by Celia Kyle you will surely be delighted to see that she has invited other authors to step into her universe with their own unique takes on what her shifters could get up to . This short story is by Eliza Gayle whose Southern Shifter series has already fired up my kindle so getting this book was a must for me.
Now this is a quick read but the beginning is very intriguing . Can I just say crossed wires? Yes there's a lot of confusion initially because Greer is searching for a missing cougar female and he just happens to be overheard discussing it with his partner when what do you know? A terrified waitress who instantly grabs Greer's attention not only starts acting oddly but shifts in public! What on earth is wrong with her and why does his inner wolf feel so darn protective?
Lily has come so far and escaped her hellish life back in Alaska and now it looks like her past has caught up with her . What if she's wrong though and why does her bear want to roll around in that rather gorgeous wolfs scent? O mama it's all about to kick off but clothes are optional hopefully! Then of course there's the slight issue of them being different species but in Grayslake recently anything goes!
I really liked the idea of this book and Greer is a sweetie. Lily might have a few personal issues to work through but there's definitely chemistry there. I loved Greer's partner Calder and could almost hear his eyes rolling at times ! Gotta love a sidekick that enjoys winding up the hero. Plus for fans of the series it will be a joy watching the Itana, Mia step up and challenge her mates authority. My only regret is that the ending came so quickly and it didn't really give me solid answers about what would happen in Lily's old pack. Sexy and enjoyable and a perfect read for a quiet afternoon .

[Maura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Greer and Calder are in Grayslake seeking a runaway shifter. When Lily, a local waitress and bear shifter, who ran away from her pack back in Alaska, hears this she panics, thinking they've come for her. But neither Greer nor Calder have any idea who she is. But Greer does no that Lily is his mate and even though she's clearly hiding something and ready to run, he'll do whatever it takes to protect her...even from the Itan of Grayslake who is rather put out that, in her fear, Lily lost control of her shift and risked exposure to humans.

Meh. It's an interesting set up. I like how the conflict starts with Lily and Greer - with her running out of fear and him following to set the record straight. And then the issue with her shifting and the resulting punishment from the Itan and how upset that makes Greer. But something gets lost when we bring in Lily's past. She's clearly traumatized at the idea of going back, but she seems a whole lot less traumatized at what actually happened back in Alaska. I mean...Lily didn't give much about her past, but she did make it clear that at FOURTEEN, she was sold to another shifter as a breeder. Nothing about that being traumatic...in fact, I got the idea that Lily actually enjoyed sex, presumably with the guy she was sold to. In fact, I think she only experienced trauma because she lost her baby, but she doesn't really focus on that so much either. She's just terrified to go back. So something in Lily's story felt incomplete, so I didn't really connect to her. She needed to be further fleshed out I think.

Greer was a good hero - definitely responding to the whole mating lust thing, but it's a novella so the lack of drawn out emotions is expected. What wasn't expected was my confusion over whether Greer was a wolf or a bear. He was clearly a wolf at first, but he admits that he's a hybrid. Then he starts talking about his bear coming out and his bear wanting Lily and I wasn't sure if this was an alternate animal identity coming out in response to Lily or if this was an editing error.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reason this didnt get 5 stars was because there were typos. Otherwise I really enjoyed the book. It was a very fast read for me. I really felt for Lily. She grew up in the backwoods of Alaska. I'm thinking very primitive. They call their females breeders..ugh. No wonder she ran off and I dont blame her after what happened. She's a bit timid and scared an anxious a lot of the time. She fears her family will come for her. Shes scared to death. Greer is sweet and pretty caveman in his actions. He wants to protect his mate. She's having trouble accepting the mate thing..after all look how she was brought up! Ugh...I cant believe Ty brought up having her to be retrained...we all know how good THAT worked out...especially for Keen. Um no! I liked the alternative though cause honestly she needed help to control her poor bear. Oh...who didnt love Mia challenging Ty's authority. I think those of you who read the Grayslake series agree that Ty needed his butt whipped once or twice...or three times. Ha. He's not a bad guy just needed his eyes opened and in this book too.

[Jamoz23 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book I first read based in the GRAYSLAKE - MORE THAN MATED WORLD of Celia Kyle.
A very enjoyable read that blends well with our Grayslake friends.
Lily is such an interesting character, stronger than she believes she is.
She was raised in a backwoods clan where women are breeders at age 14. She is rough around the edges as she has never known anything else. She has managed to escape and found an ally in Mia the Grayslake Itana.
Greer is a sort of council bounty hunter and stumbles across Lily in the diner she works in and ends up wearing a plate of food due to Lily thinking he is looking for her.
Following protocol is difficult for Lily as she has never learned any of the polite rules of living with humans, this gets her in trouble with Ty the Itan.
What follows is a lot of male posturing, a load of growls and a HEA. What more can you want.
You do not need to have read Celia Kyle’s Grayslake or Eliza Gayle’s Southern Shifters series prior to this book but you will get a better understanding of the other characters and more enjoyment if you have.
This is my honest review of this book.

[Nancy Bodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going with 4 stars but more like 3.5!


Let me start with I think this was a great storyline! The characters are very easy to like. The emotions and chemistry are great. I loved the connection between this couple and the Grayslake clan. This is the first book I have read by this author and will be purchasing Calders book. So my lower ranking comes from small amount of typos and one simple word that should have been caught by the author (For her sake and hers alone he pushed the BEAR back and returned to his fully human state). He's a wolf in the story. It was glaring enough to push me out of the story and have me backtracking looking for something I missed. I will edit my review and up my rating of this is my mistake.

[Joy Ki`Ili · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new life

Our heroine has finally found a place to heal and start fresh, away from the repressive clan she was born into. Our hero is on a job when he comes in contact with our heroine. This book is about choices and the freedom to make them.

[Angie Arnold · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this story from beginning to end. the action flowed smoothly throughout the whole book and the characters were written with a purpose.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read

This was a fast fun read. This book had passion, drama, and action with a HEA. Can't wait to read the next book

[Vic · Rating 4 out of 5]

glad to catch up on Mia and Ty... love them cause they're the best!!!

[Stephanie Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great shifter series

If you like shifters, this is definitely a series you can sink your teeth into (pun intended) it's witty sexy and loads of fun, ☺

[Jody · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure why I could not get into this. Slow start. I was just thinking she was Batshit but she had a reason to be so.... all over the place.

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent short read, a little rushed.

[L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not too crazy about story or main characters, but its well written though short and kept in tune with Grayslake series.

[Sue Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never Kiss A Wolf Eliza Gayle

Reviewed by SFF Dragon*

Never kiss a wolf, it could completely change your life. At least it did for Lily.... I absolutely loved it.

I've been reading Eliza Gayle's books for at least the last five years and haven't found one I didn't love yet. 'Never Kiss A Wolf', which I absolutely loved, is her first entry into Celia Kyle's new multi-author Grayslake: More Than Mated series for Kindle Worlds and can easily be read as a stand alone, although there is an element of crossover with her own multi-author Kindle Worlds series, Southern Shifters. It has a little action, a lot of romance and steam as well as a happily ever after. What more could you want?

Bear shifter Lily Hale has had a tough life with her backwoods family, and we're talking dark ages where women are property here, in Alaska, used and abused since she was fourteen years old, she finally managed to escape her black & white life and, grief stricken, headed for Grayslake. It took her six months of wandering, but the first person to find her is Mia, the Clan's Itana, who takes her under her wing, finds her a job and although the apartment is a falling-down wreck, it's luxurious by comparison to where she came from and her life really begins, in living colour. But all is not idyllic in Lily's new life, she's constantly looking over her shoulder terrified that her family will find her and either drag her back home, or kill her. Then she overhears the town gossips talking about two men in town looking for a missing woman and has a very public breakdown.....

Wolf shifter Greer and his sidekick, bear shifter Calder, are in town searching for a cougar wanted for attempted murder in their Tennessee home town and although the town name isn't given, I think I've met these guys before, or at least I've met Greer before, in Deals Gap. In the diner for lunch, having a conversation about whether bears are colour-blind, totally confused and dumbfounded by the waitress's reaction to them, especially after Greer ends up wearing his chili fries. When she runs screaming from the diner into the nearby woods, they follow her, but they're not the only ones. Then she kisses Greer and now they really have problems...

I'm not going to give spoilers, and I felt sad for the life that Lily had escaped, but I couldn't help laughing. This story is full of confused emotions, and Lily's desperation to never live that life again comes across loud and clear, and although I understood completely and loved Lily's character, she did make me laugh in a cringe-worthy kind of way. I cried for her too. There are lots of wonderful characters as well as a lot of the good, laugh out loud kind of funny moments, along with a kiss that changed more than one life. Never kiss a wolf, it can become addictive. I was lucky enough to get a copy of this terrific book and I absolutely loved it. I can't wait for the next one and hope I'll get to read it. Why lucky enough? And why hope? Well...

Sadly, Kindle Worlds books are only available from Amazon US, and only to US residents, which leaves international readers like me no way to buy them, however, it appears that the Southern Shifters books written by Eliza Gayle herself are no longer part of Kindle Worlds. I've checked Amazon UK this morning, and they're all available. I already had the ones that were released before Kindle Worlds came into existence, but I grabbed the other two while I could, just in case it was some sort of glitch.

[MyzanM · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ugh, I don't know where to start. I feel a bit conflicted about this review. There is almost as much I like about this book as things I disliked.

I will give you the pros first, and then you can stop reading if you want to read the book without my ranting about things that set me off in your ears bringing your reading enjoyment down.

First this is set in GRAYSLAKE, the home of Mia and Ty! This alone make this a must read if you've read their story and liked it. I give Ms. Gayle a bow for daring to venture into an other author's territory. Very brave indeed.

The interaction between the friends Greer and Calder is fun. There just should have been more of Calder! And Greer is so caring and protective. Even if it is in an alpha kind of way I find him sweet.

Lily has a heartbreaking background that would break anyone. I liked the idea of a her coming from an isolated clan with its own rules.


Now to my rants that might include spoilers!

The first thing I object to is Ty. He is such an ass in this story, not at all the Itan I remember from "No Ifs, Ands, or Bears About It". If I had read this story first I would probably avoid reading their book.

I also don't like the emotionless way we are told about Lilys past. Since it is Lilly herself telling Greer, there should have been more feel to it, specially as she obviously is a nervous wreck. Later on, what REALLY happened to her baby that makes the father accuse her?

I also have a hard time connecting with Lily. She is just too much. Her thoughts seem to have no logic to it. She is far too unhinged. To me she doesn't seem ignorant because of her background, but most of the time plain stupid. I would have loved to see her real emotion instead of her just starting to turn furry all the time. It became too much, too frequent and in the end a bit annoying.

An other thing that bothered me a bit is that the whole story is a bit fan fiction. As a reader you are supposed to know about this world and Grayslake. The author does not really put in any description of the place or what is special about it. Further Ty wants to sentence Lily to retraining which is not explained what it entails and why Calder is set against it. If you previously read the Grayslake series by Celia Kyle, then you probably remember from Keen's story what it is. Without that knowledge you are a bit lost.

That said, I would still recommend this book to those who like the genre.

[Jenny Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC for an honest review.

In this book we meet Lily Hale and Derek Joseph Greer. When this book opens we find Lily has come to Grayslake for a fresh start and to hide out from her family. So when she hears the woman come into the diner and talk about two men looking for a missing woman she is immediately on guard. That one statement has her bear looking to protect her however it takes one whiff of Derek and is singing a different tune. Lily doesn't know what her bear is talking about and isn't inclined to figure it out all she knows is she needs to hide quick but how does she run from the people who have helped her. There is also the issue of this new guy what does he mean for her future and can she stick around long enough to figure it out.

Derek is there looking for a cougar that is on the run. The council has decreed that she is to be brought back to stand before them for judgement on her crimes. First he and Calder have to find her first and the Grayslake Itan doesn't want any part of what is happening with these men but will give them 24 hours to figure out if this missing cougar is there. However when they step in to the local diner thinking they can get a little gossip and a little grub Derek never thought he would also find his mate. Derek wonders why she smells of fear and what has her so spooked he vows from the first glance to protect her from what ever has he so rattled. Little does Derek know that what has rattled her is her own mind working on overdrive as to why he is there. When Derek does learn of her past all he wants to do is protect her by killing anyone and everyone that will hurt her.

What happens when two people fall into each others lap when they were never looking for a mate? This book will tell you and will have you on the edge of your seat though it all. Mia is back in full force not only standing up for Lily but driving her own mate nuts. This book will have you laughing one moment and wanting to cry for Lily another. There is so much I want to tell you about this book but as a reader I hate spoilers so I will tell you read this book it is so so good. I would highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone.

[Gwendolyn Thaggard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love it. I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Lily Hale is hiding out in Grayslake, Georgia from her non-traditional clan in Alaska. Lily was separated from her family at age 14 because she was duty bound to breed cubs for the clan. Lily wanted to get away, she planned carefully and made her escape. She is adjusting to life in a new place and under the leadership of Itan, Ty and Itana, Mia. While working a the local diner, she overhears a conversation about men looking for a missing woman. Lily immediately panics. She wants to run again, but the owners need her to get out the hot food to the customers. When she goes to the mystery men's table, it isn't long before her bear makes an appearance and Lily loses her cool. Another development to this dilemma is that one of the men a wolf-possibly bear hybrid is Lily's mate. Then, a very unwanted person from Lily's past comes to Grayslake wanting to take Lily back with him, Greer is then forced to publicly mate claim Lily, but will she accept? Lily has some things she needs to tell Greer to be sure he really wants to mate her.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lily is hiding. And when Greer’s hunt brings him to town she thinks her days of running are over, the only problem she isn’t on the menu. That is until her behavior raises questions. I enjoyed Eliza Gayle’s take on Celia Kyle’s town of Grayslake in Never Kiss a Wolf.
I thoroughly enjoyed Greer. Lily has caught his interest and his wolf screams mate. But she is hiding something and neither he nor his wolf will be satisfied until they know what. Lily is also an impressive character. She is determined to be more than expected or allowed within her family. She wants control and the ability to decide her future. And even as she finds her mate she isn’t sure he can be trusted. I loved that even as she fought her instincts, Greer felt safe. Ms. Gayle allowed Greer’s pushiness to feel protective. She gave Lily the clues she needed to learn what type of man she was coming to care for. And together with Greer, Lily was able to make a stand that allowed her not only the freedom from family but also the freedom to love.
This is a nice, quick read and a wonderful addition to the Grayslake kindle world.


Four Twinkling Stars

[Lexee Toste · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this quick read. It didn't take me long to read it but once I started it, I couldn't put it down. The characters were great and captured my attention right away, Lily especially. Greer is drawn to Lily from the very beginning and it doesn't take him too long to figure out what his wolf is getting at, Lily is his mate. Lily on the other hand, has a hard time accepting that and figuring out exactly what her bear means. She knows her bear wants Greer but doesn't put together that he is his mate. It makes more sense though when you figure out Lily's past. There's some action in this story as well to keep your attention. The sex is explicit when it happens. I really liked the way that it was done with Lily's past being what it is and how skittish she is, in the beginning. This is part of the Grayslake Kindle World and it fits right in. You don't need to have read that series to enjoy this book but it will give you some added enjoyment if you have.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Pat Townsend · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable

At no point did the story Lang. I read straight thru without a break. This is one I'll save for a re-read next year.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This short read takes place in the Grayslake universe and has much of the same “feel” of that world. We meet up with Lily, the eccentric and jumpy shifter who has been adopted by the pack’s alpha female and is just trying to make a new life for herself. Her abusive old pack had essentially used her as a breeder until she escaped and she has vowed to never go back.

Greer is working with his partner to track down a violent shifter. When news of his presence gets to Lily, she obviously assumes he is searching for her. Even that, though, can’t keep these two apart after they scent one another. Greer is forced to take a stand when the true bad guys show up and try to separate them. This darker love story was a nice, quick read that gave you a good taste of the Grayslake world. As a short story, it delivered on all levels, but still left me wanting more.

[Daria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eliza Gayle just rocks and I so love her books. Never Kiss a Wolf was gifted by the author in exchange for an honest review. How can one even think about living in a world where most women are just known a breeder? That is your only plus in the eyes of the men in your clan. The clan has reproduction problems and it falls to the female to fix it wether she wants to or not.

Well Lily tried but in the end of heartache she ran away to a better life and the freedom she craved.

Greer a wolf shifter out on a mission with a friend, in a tiny town of shifters/humans his attention is drawn to a ball of colorful chaotic energy. His wolf knows even if he doesn't get it just yet.

nothing comes easy seems like drama prevails, growling threats, unclaimed claimed, murder war just maybe at hand.

pretty cool read! was fun and loved Lily to pieces, I could close my eyes and just picture her. Greer pretty much rocked it as well, patient understanding and sexy to boot. Enjoy

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot get enough of the Grayslake Series. I loved Never Kiss Wolf. Greer (a wolf) and Calder a( bear ) are enforcers for the Council and they stop in Grayslake for a food stop while looking for a missing shifter, but end up meeting Lily who is fleeing her pack looking for a safe haven. She thought she found it in Grayslake and fears the two men she just met are looking for her. There are some hilarious interactions between Greer and Lily which will make you laugh as he thinks she is colour blind because of the outfits she wears. There are also some really scary moments when her would be mate comes to force her back home. Thank you to Celia Kyle for this review copy of Eliza Gayle's Never Kiss A Wolf it is a wonderful read. Will definitely be looking for more books by this author. Highly Recommend.

[Rebecca Grove]

Lilly is a bear shifter from Alaska who has run away from a horrible situation. She is in hiding from her family and clan who will kill her when they find her. Then two strange shifters come to town looking for a missing shifter female. When the 2 men come into the diner she is waitressing in she freaks out and starts to shift and runs.
Greer is in town looking for a female cougar shifter who is guilty of murder. When the waitress throws food at him and runs, he follows. He knows that she is his mate. When he catches up to Lily, he reassures her he is not there for her but he needs too know what upset her. He just wants to protect her. Lily's problems keep multiplying. Her uncontrollable shift has the Grayslake Itan talking about retraining and another stranger is in town.

[Stace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a darker addition to the Grayslake world. Poor Lily had been raised in the backwoods of Alaska in a very primitive environment with what seems to be a very insular clan. Bad things happened (but I won't spoil her back story) and she finally found the strength to run, which is how she ended up in Grayslake. This is where Greer trips over her and decides that she is his mate. I think Greer may be a crossover from the Southern Shifter world but I'm not 100% sure. Of course trouble ensues, mating frenzy and the HEA. It's a well written story but it just didn't grab me, and I think that was mainly because it was just so dark and there wasn't any humor to lighten it up.

[D Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grayslake: More than Mated: Never Kiss A Wolf (Kindle Worlds Novella)
by Eliza Gayle

A case of mistaken identity. Panic attacks that put everyone in danger and a kiss by a wolf.

All of these are life changing events for Lily and Greer.

I just can't enough of the Grayslake and More than Mated series.

For those who have read Celia Kyle's Grayslake series I highly recommend the More than Mated kindle world books.

If you haven't read the Grayslake series yet, you are really missing out.

Eliza Gayle does a wonderful job of blending this story in with the rest.

*ARC given for an honest review*

[Debbie Swift · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed seeing this look into Graslake from Ms. Gayle's view. I've enjoyed her Southern Shifter's series, as well as Ms. Kyle's Grayslake series, so having them crossover was a real treat! Lily and Greer were such a great couple. I loved how Greer was behind her 100%, even without knowing the whole story. Lily's old clan sounded like the women, aka breeders, were living in a nightmare. So glad she was able to escape and find her fated mate. Can't wait to read Calder's story! I received a copy in exchange for an honest review. Highly Recommended!

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great journey into Grayslake. I am really enjoying the new authors and their stories.
Greer had come to town looking for a missing woman. Little dos he know that he would find his woman instead. Now he just has to convince her and the sheriff that it is what is best.
Lily has been hiding for a while and when she hears that there are 2 men looking for a missing woman she starts to panic and that is never a good thing. Now they will have to figure out the best way to help her and keep her close.
Am looking forward to getting more books by this author.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I'm calling it quits with Grayslake: More than Mated now. After the problems I had with the one written by Alexa Riley, the next couple I read I really liked. I even liked this one, but not as much. There were a few inconsistencies from the original world(and at least two unanswered questions). The absolute worst inconsistency that almost ruined this book for me was that Ty was actually considering sending a female to 'retraining', even after what his baby brother went through as a teen.

[Hsu Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!
I thought that the author did ask a good question:
What happens when one cannot control his/her shift?
In this case, every time Lily got scared, her bear will take over w/ no buts
That meant that at any time Lily could turn into a bear + expose herself to humans
I liked that the answer to the problem is catered to the individual
With help, Lily was on her way to control her shift
It did not hurt that her mate was there for her
Family + Friends are a great support system!