Daring the Wolf

by Skylar M. Cates

Can a human ever dominate a werewolf?

Living in a strict world of paranormal dos and don’ts is exhausting for Gabe Ryan. After fleeing his home when he became a werewolf, Gabe attempts to forget his family and the young boyfriend he left behind. But he is still haunted by his memories—until a birthday wish leads him to an unexpected confrontation.

A busy emergency room doctor, Ethan Dunn has closed off his heart. He sure as hell does not trust Gabe Ryan, not after the way he abandoned Ethan. If Gabe wants a second chance, he better be ready to risk everything and break all the rules between humans and wolves.

Genres: M M Romance, Shapeshifters, M M Paranormal, Paranormal

177 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 25, 2016

About the author

Skylar M. Cates loves a good romance. She is happy to drink coffee, curl up with a good book, and not move all day. Her novels feature strong and passionate men. Skylar loves to craft stories where realistic characters are challenged with emotional situations. Although lately the laundry room is the farthest place she has visited, Skylar loves to chat with folks from all around the globe.


Please feel free to follow Skylar on other social media.
links:
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Reviews

[~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semi-colons~✡~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love werewolves, and I love Skylar Cates' work. Her Sunshine and Happiness series remains one of my favorites.

But this book didn't grab me like I thought it would. Hell, don't get me wrong, this is a very, VERY steamy read. Gabe and Ethan burn up the page. If you're looking for rough, no-holds-barred sex, look no further.

Unfortunately, the story didn't really gel; it felt disjointed and jumpy. Ethan and Gabe hadn't seen each other for nearly fifteen years. Gabe left his parents and Ethan behind when he turned into a werewolf at age 16.

When Gabe returns to his home town (against his alpha's wishes) and is injured during a fight with a human assassin, Ethan is the ER doctor who stitches him up.

Ethan tells Gabe he doesn't want to see him, but when Gabe shows up on Ethan's doorstep, Ethan says he wants to fuck Gabe. Submission is a big no-no for werewolves, but Gabe wants Ethan more than anything. Gabe gets so turned on, Ethan has to restrain him, lest his wolf come out.

There's almost no relationship development here. One minute Gabe and Ethan are estranged, and the next Ethan is helping Gabe and his pack look for evil human scientists experimenting on werewolves.

The world building is sparse. We learn humans turn into werewolves due to a gene mutation and an environmental factor, but this is all very vague. Gabe also mentions a chromosomal abnormality, which is not the same thing as a gene mutation.

Vampires, empaths, and bunny shifters are mentioned, which just confused the story more. At one point, Gabe (who's a tracker and part of the private investigation firm his small pack runs) is looking for a cheating vampire princess, but this plot point never goes anywhere.

The books ends with a HFN. Too many plot points are left dangling. I feel like this has the potential to be a series, and I would read Sebastian's story; he's Gabe's scarred, violent alpha, and there's just something about him that calls to me.

This isn't a long read, and I enjoyed it well enough. But this author is usually fantastic at fleshing out characters, and I never truly connected with either MC. I expected more, so I'm a little disappointed.

This is a solid three-star read, but I wasn't wowed.

Warning: contains graphic on-page violence, sexual humiliation, and references to torture.

[Jennifer☠Pher☠ · Rating 1 out of 5]

This wasn't very good. At all.

It read like the first book in a series and left so much unfinished. I am under the impression this is not a series so that makes the read even more strange.

I didn't like the world building and what there was of it didn't make sense to me. These were just not my kind of werewolf.

I was more turned off by the sex scenes than I was turned on and I mostly skimmed.

I didn't care about anything until Sebastian met Presley and unfortunately that was way at the end and nothing happened. Shame because these were the secondary characters and this was the only time I perked up.

[Ami · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars rounded up.

Definitely different than Cates' usual stories. Daring the Wolf didn't shy away from both erotica and violence. While I didn't really mind the numerous rough sex scenes and the kinks (I've been warned) but the world-built and the relationship progress were not the best coming from her.

Honestly, I didn't really feel Gabe and Ethan *shrugs*. Considering that Gabe and Ethan had history -- which makes this a "second chance" theme -- I thought it was lacking (unresolved) tension between them. Plus Ethan ended up forgiving Gabe quite fast, with a way that I thought was rather ridiculous (Really, just let Gabe bottom for you because it was a way to show "trust"?). I guess I was missing "something" that would make me care for this couple.

Also, I kept wondering about the whole werewolf part. So if being a werewolf is genetic, what could trigger the gene? Since I assume not all people with the werewolf gene was turned into werewolves. Plus I was a bit annoyed that the name of the gene was mentioned only once, but not explained later on, like it was suddenly forgotten.

So yeah, not my favorite of hers at the moment. Having said that, if Sebastian's story is written next, I might return to read his. Especially if his mate is Presley. That should be interesting.

[Stella ╰☆╮╰☆╮ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review @STRW

I’m a huge fan of Skylar M Cates, when I say huge I mean enormous. I love her writing and I truly enjoyed what I read by her so far. Daring The Wolf is not the usual Skylar book. Totally different from her previous works and this is the reason why I picked it. I was curious to see what else she could engage me with. For some ways it is what I was expecting. Still it missed that little more that made Skylar books unforgettable.

The story is a second chance at love which I adore. Gabe is back to the town he left when he was sixteen, now thirty he’s ready to forgot the pack rules and he’s back to see his parents, the ones he let believe their son was dead instead of telling them he is a werewolf. He’s back to see someone else too, his ex-boyfriend Ethan. Their meeting in the emergency room where Ethan works is not what Gabe was hoping in but he is determined to have him back, although it seems Ethan can’t trust him anymore.

I liked the chemistry between the MCs, it was clear from the start and from the various very hot sex scenes. There were some violences in the plot, which were unexpected but I didn’t dislike in this case. The second characters were so interesting I’m already begging the author for more about Sebastian, I’m sure he has too much to tell me.

There were a couple of elements that left me dubious. First of all, after so many years the reconciliation between the MCs was too easy to be believable and took away space from the development of a new relationship which was non-existent, they basically meet and then are together. Then I was waiting for more from the mystery and action part, I hope the author will give me answers in a next book cause here I found almost nothing.

That said, Daring the Wolf was to me an okay read from a great author and I will surely read a sequel if she decides to write it.

The cover art by Dar Albert is not a winner to me cause it doesn’t fit the story at all.

[Leta Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

I beta read this book in various stages as it's been worked on for the last few years and to say that I became obsessed with Skylar putting it out is an understatement. Every time I saw her at a con, "Hey, hey, hey, WHAT ABOUT THAT HOT WEREWOLF BOOK!??!" It's out now, guys! It's here! Yaasssss!!!

(Oh, and it's on Kindle Unlimited!)

[.Lili.]

DNF 20%

I didn't vibe with the story. :( No rating..

[JustJen "Miss Conduct" · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 star review by The Blogger Girls.

Gabe left town when he was 16. Left his family, his bff/boyfriend, Ethan, everything, without a word. In his mind, he was doing them a favor, and he was also following the rules of werewolves – cut all ties. But now, years later, he is drawn back home where a run-in with assassins has him seeking care in the ER where Ethan happens to be a doctor.

Going further against the rules, Gabe tries to reconcile with Ethan who, along with Gabe’s family, thought he was dead for all these years. Ethan is not happy to find Gabe has lied to them for so long, but it doesn’t take much for him to give in, but Gabe must earn Ethan’s trust again. This poses yet another rule Gabe must break, for which he is quite reluctant – let Ethan top him – a strict no-no in the werewolf bylaws. In order for Gabe to stay in control of his wolf, Ethan restrains Gabe. Their system seems to work really well for them and they finally start trusting each other. But there are other secrets that link to the other part of the storyline.

Sebastian, Gabe’s alpha, is strict, crass and makes no bones about his unhappiness with the turn of events surrounding Gabe and Ethan, but he sees a way to use Ethan to find and take out the scientists who are torturing and experimenting on wolves (Sebastian is one of the only wolves to have escaped such treatment). So, the rest of the story is about their search for these scientists.

Once I got past how quickly Ethan forgave Gabe for his deceit, I quite enjoyed this. I liked how Gabe followed his heart going against the rules and making it work. They made a great couple, and I could easily see them together for the long-term. Gabe’s pack was quite interesting as well, with Sebastian and his mysterious past and Luc and Dave being mated wolves (which is rare). It felt more like the start of a series than a stand alone book. There definitely felt like there was more story to tell, and I am hopeful we will see more of this world in the future.

[Diverse · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

I’ve read a lot of Skylar Cates in my day and this book is a bit different from her usual. I love that she is showing another side of herself. Daring the Wolf is a shifter Erotica novel only just touching the edge of darkness. There are a few scenes that showed the evil side of man but like I said only ever so slightly.

Gabe ran away from home many years ago when he began to turn. He left behind his parents and the man he loved more than anything in the world. Now, many years later, on his 30th birthday he returns.

These Werewolves have rules and like other novels they have packs as well. Gabe breaks so many just to be with Ethan in this, that it shows the strength of love. His pack isn’t huge; it’s him and three other wolves but these guys are something else. The Alpha, Sebastian, is a scarred, tough, sex addicted, and a bit on the mean side. Luca is the GQ wolf and a bit obsessive compulsive. Dave is the chef and the calmest of the lot. And then you have Gabe… You’ll get to know him well.

Ethan may be human but he’s so strong and doesn’t take any crap from anyone, even the big bad alpha. And since these five decide to take down an Assassin Cell of men who kill and torture werewolves, he kind of has to be.

We meet a few other ensemble cast members and they are each important in their own way. There’s some mystery too so pay attention. The introduction of one side character has seriously peeked my interest and if I had to guess I’d say this is book one of what will be a very exciting series!
Skylar has written quite the shifter story here. There’s suspense, serious hot and sexy times, mystery, action, deep love, and a wonderful plot!

Her writing is wonderful, great flow, and grammar is spot on! I really found very little wrong with this story other than I very much want more lol! I love a well written and engaging shifter story and this one is just that. It’s utterly creative and stands out from the others!
Awesome read.

[Sierra · Rating 1 out of 5]

These are not your sexy, caring werewolves. They are killers and man-whores. The first scene involves Gabe propositioning a guy to screw in an alley. Later he goes home and his alpha is in the livingroom practicing BDSM with multiple partners that includes biting and clawing his young partner (even though we are told there is a well-appointed dungeon in the basement). Gabe also reveals that he's killed before and probably will again (we even get to see him rip out someone's throat, partly shifted, in self defense). I quit reading only a short way in. These are not the kind of people that I find attractive or would ever want to know. There is nothing bad about the writing or editing and I wouldn't rule Cates out as an author for later on, but this story was not for me.

[Viki Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was a very different shifter book than what I'm used to but I enjoyed it nevertheless. Sebastian is a prick and I couldn't stand him but if there is a book 2 in this series (and it seems that way) I would gladly read it x

[Amanda Jean · Rating 2 out of 5]

Up side? I finished it. I feel like I just read about a lot of stuff, but nothing really happened and absolutely no questions were answered. Very surface and, even when meeting back with Gabe's parents they didn't really discuss anything. Two stars just for finishing it

[Tiuri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Strange ending that felt like the beginning of a series that never materialised. A relationship developing from 0-100 in about one day. This did not really work for me.

[Caroline Brand · Rating 3 out of 5]

REVIEWED FOR PRISM BOOK ALLIANCE

The world in which werewolves and humans live in Daring the Wolf is quite different from the stories you usually read. These werewolves leave their families and friends behind when the change hits, they are drawn in by the pack instinct to live with other wolves, they use people for sex and they don’t think twice about killing. Gabe left his family when he was 16 as soon the change hit as per werewolf rules – he also left his boyfriend Ethan right before a date and without a word of explanation.

Ethan never really got over or forgave Gabe for leaving him. He had his own troubles at the time, he was desperate to leave town but he thought he would be leaving with his lover. Years later he is a Doctor in the local ER, he has remained friends with Gabe’s parents and he honestly doesn’t expect to ever see the other man again.

Gabe has spent years curious about how everyone he left behind is getting on. That curiosity draws him back to his hometown, against his own better judgement and the rules he lives by, but when he arrives he is attacked by a hunter and ends up having to go the hospital where he of course runs into the old love of his life.

Gabe’s current life as a tracker and his past life as Ethan’s boyfriend clash and they find themselves tracking down a group of scientists who have been experimenting on the wolves. They are led by Sebastian an easily angered alpha who obviously has secrets of his own and is quite a difficult character to like. In the end the rules seem easily broken, or without too much consequence, and it finishes quite abruptly and open ended – it felt like the beginning rather than a complete story.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good paranormal tale. Vampires, werewolves, shifters can be exciting but I tend to like the paranormal characters to be heroic and good. I am torn how I feel abut how violent the wolves are in this book. Parts of them are good, but their natures are to kill. They only kill those whose auras mark them as bad, but they still kill. It bothers me in a way but at the same time, it makes the characters more authentic to their roots as horror book and movie villains. Despite my mixed feelings about their actions, I do love the love story that takes place. It's a second chance romance and it doesn't come easy to them but their trust in each other is won eventually and I was glad to see them together. I am not seeing a series name, but I do hope there are more books after this one. There are plenty of secondary characters I would love to read about.

[Bogusia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

KU
Well written but about the time it got to the meat of the story, it ended. No cliffhanger, just ended. There's a lot more of this story to tell.

[Dihmar · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Libbsmm · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars... I liked this author's other titles I have read but this one was not my favorite.