SEAL Wolf Undercover

Heart of the Wolf #22

by Terry Spear

No wolf is safe in USA Today bestseller Terry Spear's new installment of the SEAL Wolf series.

Navy SEAL wolf turned PI Vaughn Greystroke has always worked alone. But when a string of attempted shifter murders put him in the path of an alluring—and potentially dangerous—she-wolf, having a partner doesn't sound so bad...

SEAL Wolf Series:
A SEAL in Wolf's Clothing (Book 1)
A SEAL Wolf for Christmas (Book 2)
SEAL Wolf Hunting (Book 3)
SEAL Wolf in Too Deep (Book 4)
SEAL Wolf Undercover (Book 5)

Genres: Paranormal, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Shapeshifters, Adult, Werewolves, Adventure

322 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2017

About the author

Love, love, love romance, the paranormal, hunky Highlanders with their delicious brogue and hot kilts, so Terry Spear writes about those hunky Highlanders both in medieval times and as wolves in contemporary times. Jaguar shifters too! And young adult urban fantasy. And romantic suspense.

She grew up reading mystery, adventure, mythologies from around the world, ghost stories, the paranormal, fell in love with Dracula and Wolfman, and felt they needed loving too. Everyone should have someone to love. Which means her stories always have a HEA.

USA Today Bestseller residing in Central Texas from Sacramento, California who creates award-winning teddy bears too!

Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

She shot him, she actually shot him and in a case of mistaken identity, shooting first and asking questions later almost cost Vaughn Greystroke his life, but she also had his inner wolf completely intrigued, in lust and wanting out. Jillian as looking for her brother in his friend’s remote cabin when he didn’t answer his cell or show up at the cabin they had rented. What she found was blood, and the body of the cabin owner, barely clinging to life. Then, there was the noise, and she took chase. What she didn’t know is that she wasn’t alone in her discovery and the shadow she was shooting at was Vaughn, chasing the real perp.

In a small world story, they had not only seen each other before, but they had a connection going even further back and both of their animals were hooked and determined to get what they wanted, but first, there was evil to catch, questions to answer, including where was Jillian’s brother? Was he another shifter victim or had he run for the hills to save his own hide? Was there a woman involved in the deaths? Why? Was she a “Black Widow” or was there something more nefarious going on? The questions continue to mount, and the plot thickens as the heat between two strong shifters grows.

Terry Spear’s SEAL WOLF UNDERCOVER is a good read. With quirky bickering, and one-liners, two strong shifters must work together, one on the job, one originally not involved, although his SEAL training couldn’t let him turn away. Their passion was kept low key, yet obvious while not overpowering the action, but seemed to be a bit rushed at the end. As always Terry Spear delivers solid writing, action and characters that are well-defined, but this one lacked her usual spark and sizzle her characters exude for me. There just wasn't that fresh twist to grab me around the throat and drag me in all the way. Maybe I expect too much from this talented author who rarely fails to deliver for me?

I received an ARC edition from Sourcebooks Casablanca in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.

Series: SEAL Wolf - Book 22
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (August 1, 2017)
Publication Date: August 1, 2017
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Print Length: 322 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Reading In Pajamas · Rating 4 out of 5]

✦Spotlight, Review & Giveaway: SEAL Wolf Undercover (SEAL Wolf Series Book 5) by Terry Spear http://wp.me/p3d0RZ-9lE
Publication Date: August 1, 2017
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Donna
Rated 4 Stars

This was a fun addition to the SEAL Wolf series – fast paced and full of mystery. Even though Jillian and Vaughn didn’t trust each other right away, they didn’t fall in to the “fighting the inevitable” trap. The chaos around them took care of the sexual tension for them. I liked that the story kept you guessing until the end, and there was enough romance to counteract the drama. I just thought there was too much telling and not showing. That being said….I enjoyed it and can’t wait to read the next installment.

*Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an review.

Kindle http://amzn.to/2qpdr1H

✦SEAL Wolf Series by Terry Spear
Amazon Series Link http://amzn.to/2uZm6dv
1. A SEAL in Wolf's Clothing ➢ Kindle http://amzn.to/2uz1oQV
2. A SEAL Wolf Christmas ➢ Kindle http://amzn.to/2uZgyj4
3. SEAL Wolf Hunting ➢ Review http://wp.me/p3d0RZ-2Jb | Kindle http://amzn.to/2tF0q2m
4. SEAL Wolf In Too Deep ➢ Review http://wp.me/p3d0RZ-403 | Kindle http://amzn.to/2uyHMvW
5. SEAL Wolf Undercover ➢ Review http://wp.me/p3d0RZ-9lE | Kindle http://amzn.to/2qpdr1H

[Marsha Keeper Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf

Although their first meeting was rather low keyed as they flirted across a club’s dance floor but never got to connect. Vaughn and Jillian’s second meeting was… memorable, nothing like shooting a handsome, sexy wolf that gets his attention focused on you. To be fair, tensions were high, he was chasing her brother and no one knew the good guys from the bad guys… then. When a friend is mauled and near death from the attack more questions than answers seem to be found. Right then Jillian had no idea who to trust, she’d soon learn that she’d shot one of the good guys… and her mate.

SEAL Wolf Undercover will reunite us with characters from A Very Jaguar Christmas. I absolutely love seeing the wolves and jaguars begin to work together. Letting both shifter groups align and work hand in hand brings so much more to this series in enjoyment and possibilities. Part of the fun, for me, in following a long running series is discovering old friends and what whey’re up to now.

This time around we have an attack on a pack mate, mysterious shifters sneaking around causing chaos, a lot of if not secrets then things family didn’t know about other members, a sexy romance and seeing old friends once again. SEAL Wolf Undercover offers a lot in one package, but most of all an enjoyable, tension filled story. I like Jillian. She’s sassy, smart and takes no crap from any man. Vaughn is definitely sexy and stubborn, and when he’s not being suspicious of everyone a very enjoyable partner in more than solving crime. As a couple they work, and will have some memorable tidbits to pass down to the kids one day.

With such a long ongoing series it’s difficult to recommend that you go back to the beginning if this is your first encounter with these wolves and jaguars. I know the cost and time that would take. I don’t believe you “have” to have read the other stories in either series, but it would make for a more enjoyable read if you know everyone’s back story, in my opinion. There was an interesting note from the author in the very back of this book which is making me think about going back to the beginning for a re-reading session with some of the earlier characters. Nothing specific, just a hint of what might be coming down the line. In any event, I am looking forward to Ms Spear’s next release which will once again give us a Christmas with old friends.

I would not hesitate to recommend SEAL Wolf Undercover or any of the other stories in these series. You’ll find a good solid story, likable characters, mystery, danger and definitely sexy moments.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Also reviewed at Reviewed at Shifter Haven

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

SEAL Wolf Undercover is my first Terry Spear novel and I really enjoyed myself while reading it. With it being the #22 in the Heart of the Wolf series I did not feel lost at any point in the plot. Like most PNR series I’m sure each book has its own plot line with inter-crossing world building and characters. In fact I was curious about some of the secondary characters so I researched them and the jaguar couple has their own book in the Heart of the Jaguar series (A Very Jaguar Christmas #5) so I may start reading that series from the beginning since it’s a shorter series. But someone new to the series like me can easily jump in with SEAL Wolf Undercover.

Jillian and Vaughn start with a physical attraction after spotting each other across a dance floor at a club 6 months before the real story starts. They are brought back together to finally meet after she shoots him while he is chasing her brother. Taking about awkward.

With both having military back grounds and now work as PIs, the two of them work together to investigate a series of shootings and attacks within their shifter community. The chemistry between the two are super charged and their dialogue was fun to read.

SEAL Wolf Undercover had many elements that kept me reading on and wanting to know what would happen. Mystery, action, sexy and great dialogue. I look forward to reading more from Terry Spears.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

Book 22!! Don't let that intimidate you, so far the ones I have read can be read as standalone, this is my fourth book of the Heart of a Wolf series and each one is a great story with no overlapping story arc. This is also book five in the SEAL Wolf series. This one starts and it just kind of throws you into it after the prologue, which introduces you into some of the main characters. The pace of the story is good with some slow parts in between action packed ones, and a nice romance. I wish I had started reading Terry Spear sooner.

Vaughn Greystroke is a former NAVY SEAL turned PI, as a private investigator he has become accustomed to working alone. Jillian Matthews is former Army Intelligence turned PI, but she has recently been asked to assist a group of Jaguar shifters and their group United Shifter Force. Jillian has a personal stake in the matter it was her brother who was shot at, she was suppose to meet up with him when he was a no show she went to another wolf shifter's house to see if he was there what she found was the shifter with his throat almost ripped out. Vaughn was on his way to talk to the alpha of the area about a possible team up when he decided to swing by and visit his pack mate and friend what he found was a wolf with a bloody muzzle, he took off after the wolf only to be shot at by someone else. When Vaughn makes it back to his cabin he finds three jaguar shifters and one wolf shifter, the wolf shifter Jillian admits that she is the one who shot him because he was chasing her brother. Then Vaughn promptly passes out and has to be taken to the shifter clinic.

Vaughn agrees to team up with Jillian and the USF team to find out what happened to his friend. All the while looking up leads and trying to track down Jillian's brother Vaughn and Jillian grow closer the chemistry between them is palpable, I mean it gets pretty amusing their banter and kind of shy feelings toward each other. Vaughn embarrassingly buys Jillian a coloring book and color pencils when she gets injured to keep her occupied while recovering. They are very sweet and I really do love, in this series, that they don't have sex until they are ready to mate and that it is part of the bonding process.

Overall, this was another great one by Terry Spears.

[Darla Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another thrilling Wolf book by Terry Spear, whether considered fifth in her SEAL Wolf series or book 22 in the Heart of the Wolf series, SEAL Wolf Undercover proves that Terry keeps the Wolves fresh. Combining one SEAL wolf turned PI, a wolf Special Agent, and three jaguar Agents, this book keeps you intrigued from beginning to end.

Despite each being intrigued by the other at a club 6 months prior, this meeting between Vaughn Greystoke and Jillian Matthews isn't going well. Vaughn finds a wolf with blood on his muzzle at the scene of an attempted murder of a friend so when the wolf takes off, Vaughn goes after him which is when he's shot. Turns out the wolf was Jillian's brother and she was protecting him. Jillian and Vaughn must work together as he joins her and the jaguars on their jaguar-run United Shifter Force to solve a string of attempted murders. They have their work cut out for them as the clues are a real puzzle. There are a number of people to look at and the crimes go back several years.

In addition to solving the crimes, Vaughn and Jillian are dealing with an attraction that is beyond physical and the decision of mating. Will they mate? If so, when?

I've loved Terry Spear's books from the beginning and this one is no exception. She pulls you into the world of Shifters and before you know it, it's after 3:00 am and you have to be up in a couple hours!

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some spins on shapeshifters just don't work for me, and this was the case. By pg. 3 I was already fed up with cats and dogs. There had been a hundred references to people smelling of cats and dogs, owning cats and dogs, people asking others if they loved cats and dogs, wondering if people had a lot of cats and dogs at home. Omg, enough already. So you're a shifter and you smell like a cat or dog, I got it. I don't need to be hit over the head with it.

I also hate sleazy clubs and for some reason so many authors do them. Vaughn was at a bar with a date, surrounded by women in leopard print bikinis and men in loincloths. He danced with several women but only wanted the heroine, wearing a skirt and low-cut top, who was dancing and kissing another man. Ugh.

But kudos for having the hero watch the heroine kiss another man. But then it was ruined as a platform fell and a dancer was hanging by a chain, and Vaughn climbed a ladder to rescue her and she wrapped herself around him and kissed him after, and other women did too.

I was relieved to learn that Jillian shooting at Vaughn wasn't as psycho as the summary made it out to be. She didn't go all half-cocked and shoot him on a whim. She came to meet her brother, where she found that his friend had been attacked and was dying. Her brother was running through the woods in wolf form, and Vaughn was pursuing him, believing that he had attacked Douglas. So Jillian shot at Vaughn to help her brother.

By pg. 15 I was fed the freak up with the writing. She wrote a million questions, paragraphs peppered with questions the characters had as they tried to figure things out. A crap-ton of inner dialogue and hypothesizing about every single possibility. Every single minute possibility of every single occurrence was broached and I was like SHUT UP ALREADY. We have brains, we can use them to wonder about what's going on without the author clubbing us upside the head with questions to make sure we're on the same track. I can't STAND authors who think they have to spoon-feed readers every little thing and over-explain to the point of exhaustion. Some people just can't write engagingly. This was boring as crap.

“Then somewhere in the deep forest ahead, the wolf suddenly howled. Calling for help? Out there?
That meant he’d stopped long enough to howl. Vaughn raced forward to close the gap, trying to reach the wolf before he ran off again. Or before reinforcements arrived.
Why else would the wolf howl? Other members of his pack must be out there. Maybe he thought he could scare Vaughn off, making him think a wolf shifter pack was out there and would back him up any minute. Vaughn had used that plot himself a time or two. He wasn’t giving up on his prey no matter what. He had to learn the truth. Had the wolf standing next to the bloody mess on the cabin floor been the same wolf who had torn into Douglas? If the blood on the wolf’s muzzle was any indication, and the way he had run off, Vaughn would have to say he certainly could be.
Yet how had a she-wolf, Jillian Matthews, found Douglas, called Leidolf for help, and not been injured by this same wolf?
The chance that this wolf would have left Douglas for dead, run off, then returned after Leidolf’s people had come for Douglas would be pretty slim. Unless the wolf had nearly killed Douglas in anger, then got his rage under control and came back to get rid of any evidence. Maybe he realized he hadn’t made sure Douglas was dead and went back to see. What if Jillian had actually witnessed the attack, and that’s how she knew a wolf had severely injured Douglas and needed Leidolf’s help?
Leidolf hadn’t said Jillian had seen the attack though. Not that Vaughn had given him a chance to respond much. Except for a quick mention that Leidolf would give him the cabin located closest to Douglas’s on the north side while he investigated the attempted murder, Vaughn hadn’t had time to do anything but agree. He was certain Leidolf had as many questions for him as Vaughn had for Jillian. Like how had Vaughn happened to be at the cabin so soon after the incident when he lived in Colorado?
And Vaughn wanted to know just who Jillian was. Douglas’s girlfriend? He didn’t remember Douglas dating anyone by that name.”

Why would you think people want to read the characters obsessing over hypotheticals, almost all of which turn out to not even be true? What a waste of time.

"She wondered how Vaughn had known to come there if he had sneaked out of the clinic and hadn't asked anyone where the guest house was. Unless he'd asked someone earlier."

So interesting! Please keep going on. No, really. When they're hot on the case of an unknown attacker, I was dying of curiosity on how Vaughn left the clinic and then how he managed to find the cabin. You're the only one thinking of that. Trying to cover every single possibility. It drove me insane.

I liked that Vaughn told Jillian that she could kiss him to say she's sorry for shooting him, and she could dance with him like he knew she wanted to at the club. He requested that she be the one to donate her blood to him.

It was a bit much that they both went into the service, and then became PIs. And they both eat ice cream in the winter and their favorite is toffee.

I was getting really annoyed at the repeated petty attempts at jealousy. First all the women at the club 6 months ago when they first saw each other. Then when she was going through Douglas's phone. It wasn't once, the author kept doing it. She would not give it up. She was like a dog with a bone.

She had seen a text where Douglas asked how things were with Cindy, a SEAL, who Jillian had seen him kissing like there wasn't anyone else in his life. It was from a month ago. Vaughn explained that she's focused on her job and just wanted into about being a SEAL and she likes another guy. So I thought we were done. Like don't do that again.

But then Jillian brought up Douglas's pictures and Vaughn worried they were of him up close and personal with women. And I sat there wondering what kind of creep would go around photographing their friends touching and kissing women. And what kind of author would have a side character who keeps photographic evidence of all of the hero's past women? Thanks for that.

She saw him with a woman in a bikini, who turned out to have been Douglas's date. Then saw a picture of him kissing another woman but it was really Vaughn's twin brother and not him. Give it up already! Stop using picture after picture to stir up jealousy.

But to my delight, she wasn't done! No, Jillian just had to bring up another picture she saw of him kissing another woman. You can stop any time now...I had no doubt that she'd do it again.

If you find yourself curious about what happens to the wrapper when the characters have eaten an ice cream bar, have no fear. Spear will take care of it. Because as Jillian and Vaughn were directly in the middle of investigating a treasure hunting lead on her brother and Douglas, she made sure to take time to share that Jillian threw her stick and wrapper in the trash, and then Vaughn was done with his, he threw his wrapper in the trash. Since she didn't mention his stick, I assumed he ate that too. See, if you don't say that he threw his stick away I'm going to assume he hate it. And if you don't say that the characters threw their wrappers away once they're done eating, I'm going to think they have raccoon tendencies and they eat their trash. Because I have to know what happens to the trash from their food. As they were trying to figure out a lead I was wondering where are the ice cream wrappers?!

She said that wolves heal quick and something along the lines of Vaughn would be okay, but then dragged it out for over 3 days. He kept complaining of pain in his shoulder, not being able to do anything, needing rest, etc. And the second day she had Jillian incapacitated too. A jaguar jumped on her and knocked her unconscious, gave her a concussion, which caused her to be in pain and needing rest.

She also managed to slip in an adult coloring book. Guess they were just coming out at this time and it was supposed to drum up popularity or something. I found two adults sitting down to color together to be extremely unrealistic and also so far from hot it wasn't even funny. I thought this was supposed to be a romance, not an old person hobby. It felt like a day in the life of an elderly person.

When Vaughn thought they couldn't even have sex unless they were mated, I was like what? You’re really having these two adults, who are in bed getting each other off, postponing sex because they have to be mated first? I couldn’t believe it!

She made use of the twin device, actually overuse of it. It felt like a soap opera. And this featured not one set of twins, but 3! Vaughn is a twin and Jillian mistook him for his twin in a picture where his twin brother was kissing another woman.
Vaughn told her of a case where he had served divorce papers to a man, except his twin brother came charging to the door with a gun, thinking that his wife was serving him.

They went to visit Douglas and saw that a jaguar had snuck into his room. They pursued him and a human shooter started firing at them. Jillian pursued him, where she identified him as Wayne, the quiet friend of the jaguar Kira and Brutus. He went to a vehicle, where another man who looked exactly like him started firing too. Because he had a twin brother! 3 sets of twins...As a twin, I was rolling my eyes.

Things really took a then then and got ultra-complicated. I could barely follow along as they sat down for another rousing game of 20 questions. Kira, who Jillian's brother Miles had been sleeping with, claimed to have a brother Brutus, who she was caught kissing in a picture because Douglas apparently photographs every moment of his life--convenient!--so he was obviously not her brother.
So many names were being thrown out.

The author, in typical fashion, started going on about every possibility under the sun, like we care. I didn't care about Kira's past and her 3 dead husbands of mysterious circumstances. They wondered if one was related to one of her deceased husbands, if Simon and Wayne were cousins and that would explain why Wayne had a different last name, or half brothers, or twins and both brothers or cousins to Kira's dead husband. Then they started hypothesizing on if Simon and Wayne were related to the man and were avenging his death at the hands of Kira. I DON'T CARE.

I did enjoy the phone call Jillian pretended to be on in front of Brutus at the jail, where she pretended to talk to Demetria, the female jaguar, about apprehending Kira and her turning on Brutus. She put on a good show about it with the info they had, and suggested that Brutus had been the one to murder Kira's husbands in hopes that Brutus would talk.

There seemed to be a bizarre ritual, and I couldn't believe the author actually used the word courting, where you just mate everyone you're going to sleep with. I couldn't pinpoint exactly what mating meant in here because it wasn't explained, but it was crazy. It made a mountain out of just dating someone. So there they were, not able to have sex because they weren't mated, only had one soft sex scene where they pleasured each other but didn't go all the way, and now they were "courting." She had a phone call with her parents where they were already planning to move in next to them for when they have kids, and they weren't even mated, whatever that meant. I was like slow down. I hate overbearing parents. And Vaughn was sure their courting would work out. This was the earliest one in the series that the library had, so I guess by this point the author had stopped explaining how mates worked. But I sure didn't get it, and I didn't like it. So antiquated and boring and proper.

They had their claiming in front of Douglas. Vaughn always talked to Douglas while he was in the coma to try to bring him back, so he was telling Douglas about being with Jillian. So Douglas spoke for the first time and asked if they were mates and they declared it right there, in front of a third party. And it was shared that they knew each other for 3 days! What kind of a messed-up timeframe is that to have two people fall in love? I can’t stand that.

I like how he said it better be Kira who was bleeding and not Jillian.

So then Kira and Brutus was cleared because their DNA didn't match what was on Douglas. So there went our bad guys. It felt like it was just done for the sake of surprising readers and throwing a twist in. Like you thought it was the obvious bad guys, it's not! It's only 2 of the bad guys...I really didn't care but I did want it to be them because I didn't like them. It was down to just Simon and Wayne, who were somehow related to her dead husband.

If you like reading extremely long-winded conversations of the characters going over what happened, why it could have happened, another reason why it could have happened, another reason why it could happened, and maybe yet another reason why it could have happened, and then telling everyone else about what they're going to be doing, and then listening to what everyone else is going to be doing, and then doing it, and then calling everyone to tell them what they learned, and then what they'll be doing now, this is the book for you. Talking ad nauseum.

The conversations were so stilted and unnatural. Every character just kept going on these tangents every time they opened their mouth. Like "Idk how they could have happened. I can't believe it. I wonder if that's because he's related to him, and he's getting back at her. Or if he's related to another guy, but that would mean this...Or what if that's not it at all, and it's really this? I would have told you but I didn't know. And then I just kept it to myself and JUST SHUT UP ALREADY. Gosh it was freaking killing me! My patience was being ripped through.

They went on and on about how they were going to cross the creek, which one would be a human and have the gun, and which one a wolf, who would carry what supplies, how they would carry them, when they would switch. I couldn’t believe what I was reading!

This was one bumpy ride. Brutus pretended to be sick so the guard would come in, and he escaped with Kira. He attacked Vaughn so Jillian had to shoot him dead. Brutus had killed all 3 of her husbands and she hadn't known about it. Wayne and Simon were avenging their brother's death but when they found out about the treasure they waited to see if they could cash in first. And the guy had been diving at the time and had managed to take a picture at the exact moment that Brutus was coming up behind him and again when Brutus grabbed him. I was snorting at the incredible evidence these photo-loving people provided. Oh so convenient and oh so unbelievable.

Brutus and Kira were after the treasure, wanted to be Douglas's only partners. Brutus tried to kill Wayne and tried to kill Miles to get them out of the picture. Wayne went to the cabin to confront her, where Douglas told him he knew what they were all up to and didn't want them diving with him. Wayne got mad and attacked him.

Kira's mom came to town, suddenly knowing something about her estranged daughter. All of a sudden she was sure Kira had killed all 3 of her husbands and that she'd set into Miles next. Miles was a desperate loser to believe Kira anyway. If he was stupid enough to fall for her act after everything they told him about her, he would deserve it.

But when she said she wanted to find evidence to prove Kira and Brutus were lovers, and she said she found a photograph, I felt like busting out laughing. You have got to be kidding me! The millionth photograph saved the day. Almost the only evidence this author can think of is pictures. How many cases can claim to have an incriminating photo, much less a million like in here?

It was so boring. I was reading so much because I had nothing else to do, not because I wanted to know what happened. When the treasure hunting thing came up I couldn't believe it because it was so random.
There wasn’t enough alone time between the MCs. They were always with other people. The case took priority and when they did manage to have like those 2 or 3 bedroom scenes, it was at bad timing. Like right after they were talking about the case, and then once they were done they’d go right back to trying to figure the case out. Terrible moments to have sex. They were all ruined.

She said “she-wolf” and “she-cat.” I really didn’t care for that, like females always have to be differentiated from males. They’re a wolf or a cat, the same as the men. Being a woman doesn’t mean you’re a separate being and these terms sounded ridiculous and sexist.

I can't even articulate how moronic it sounded to have these adults saying the "Kitty Cat Club."

It wasn't until pg. 221 that wolf dating was explained. Wolves know instantly if they meet their mate and if they'll suited, and dating is just for their human sides. But since Jillian and Vaughn weren’t virgins, how does that work?? They just mate every person they sleep with?? Explain!

The only reason they were together was because they "knew" they were meant to be together. They were mates and that's why, like it was predetermined. I didn't feel any real attraction on their part. It just wasn't believable or done well.

If you enjoy hearing about every meal the cast of characters has, and who's cooking what, and how good it is, and if you want to read about a group of adults sitting down and coloring together, then this is it. How Vaughn knew they were cooking chicken, how he got there to eat the chicken, how he’d smelled the chicken, how good the chicken was. Who made the potato salad, who helped with the potato salad, how good the potato salad is. I DON’T CARE WHAT THEY’RE EATING.

I couldn’t believe I was reading grown adults coloring. It wasn't just the adult coloring books, the term "selfie" and "photobombed" made appearances too. So cool! I hate when social media lingo and these stupid fads appear in books. Let's keep reading sacred.

Everyone kept frowning all the time and showing their displeasure in other ways. Namely Jillian, which made her come off as really abrasive and temperamental. She needs to use synonyms.

She kept having them bring up that Jillian shot him. They both brought it up over and over throughout the entire novel, milking it for all it was worth. It wasn’t funny.

The only good things about this were the cover and the new book smell. It still had that delicious smell and those were the only 2 things I really enjoyed. Too focused on side characters, heat factor was lukewarm, and a "mate bond" that seemed to eliminate a need for any semblance of a real relationship, chemistry or tension.

[Tania · Rating 3 out of 5]

"SEAL Wolf Undercover" by Terry Spear. Book 22 in the Heart of the Wolf Series. Book 5 in the SEAL Wolf Series.

I liked this book about Vaughn and Jillian. Their romance was a little slow to start with but got better as the book went on. The overall story line was a bit lacking for me and a little confusing to follow but had a good concept. Also, from the title of the book, I expected a different story altogether. I expected Vaughn, the SEAL Wolf, to be an undercover agent of some sort, but nobody is undercover in this story at all.

Vaughn, a SEAL wolf and PI, has been offered a new job working for the USF, the United Shifters Force, which is run by the newly discovered jaguar shifters. Vaughn is used to working alone but when he finds out his friend has been attacked and then he himself is shot at, he decides working with others may not be such a bad idea. Especially when he gets to work with Jillian, a wolf he's been longing for since he saw her in a bar a few months ago and didn't get to talk to her. But can he keep his feelings for Jillian separate from the job or will his attraction to her get in the way of accomplishing their job?

Jillian is a special wolf agent who just joined the USF. She's tracking down a dangerous criminal who happened to shoot her brother. When her brother howls for her help when he's being chased by another wolf, Jillian comes to the rescue and scares the wolf by shooting at him with non-lethal warning shots. She can't believe the wolf she shot is now her partner! She and Vaughn both have a personal stake in bringing this criminal to justice. But it seems that more attacks are happening. Are they all related to the same case? Who is really guilty and who is innocent? And to top it all off, the attraction between her and Vaughn is hard to deny. Can they solve the case without letting their blooming romance distract them?

So that's a little about the story line in this book. Of course there's the romance between Vaughn and Jillian. It's not a deep, emotionally heart-rending romance. It's a I'm a wolf, you're a wolf, we both are attracted to each other and really like each other, so let's just figure out when we should mate, type of romance. It's a soft and easy-going type of romance between them with very good sexual chemistry toward the middle of the story and there on. I liked the overall story line of the mystery of who shot Jillian's brother and who attacked Vaughn's friend. The only issue I had was that the overall action in the story was lacking. It was a lot of "let's go to this place and find clues" and then "let's go to THIS place to find clues" and so on. At some points I lost track of where they were going. The overall story line is not very action packed but has a few scenes of "chasing the bad guy". The culmination of the story was a little confusing for me because you don't really know who is telling the truth about what happened. I guess we're just supposed to take the "good guy's version" of what happened as the truth.

Overall, I thought this was a not a bad book, I liked it and would recommend it to anyone looking for a light, soft, warmhearted romance with an interesting mystery to solve.

[Linda Rea · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Jillian came to see her brother she was surprised to find a man who she thought may have been Douglas with his throat and arms injured. When Vaughn came to see Douglas all he found was blood and a wolf sniffing around so he changed into a wolf and chased him. When Jillian heard her brother howl she gave chase and took a shot at the wolf chasing him but she didn't realize he was the guy she was eyeing six months ago at the kitty cat bar that she went with her brother. When backup shows up and they sort out that they are both trying to find who hurt Douglas, Vaughn still doesn't trust it wasn't her brother Miles. Jillian feels bad for shooting Vaughn but she knows her brother didn't do it and she tries to help him with his shoulder. When Vaughn shows her he trusts her judgement she begins to warm up to the former Seal and he warms to her which begins the partnership with the Jaguars to find out who is after Douglas. The more danger they are in the closer Jillian and Vaughn become and it's nice to see each of them thaw just a little. This story has suspense danger mystery and of course love it's a perfect balance.
Reviewed on behalf of Once upon an Alpha

[Darcy · Rating 2 out of 5]

For some reason this book bored me. I felt like I should have really liked it was the Jaguars and Wolves learn to work together in a dedicated way to go after those that break the laws within their society. It was fun to see them all work together, to see how different they are, yet the same. The core group seemed to gel really well together, soon teasing each other like they had known each other forever. I also really like how JAG seems to take the "screw ups" not discounting them, but turning their skills useful.

The romance between Jillian and Vaughn was luke warm for me. At first it seemed like they were trying to one up each other with their investigative skills, I didn't see any attraction. Later you could, but it seemed forced. The one funny spot was learning that Jillian's father was a trainer when Vaughn was going through SEAL training.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first time to read a book by Terry Spear and while I liked it I just did not love it. I liked the characters but I was a little behind on the world building and backstory. Special wolf agent Jillian Matthews starts out shooting Vaughn Greystroke then has to work with him to find out who attacked one of Vaughn's pack members. There are two types of shifters in the book and a interesting mystery that is very well presented. What I did not feel was the tension and interest between the two main characters. You can read this as a stand alone. I did think I would have enjoyed it more if had read previous book in the series.

I received a free copy of the book from the publisher.

[Julianna K · Rating 4 out of 5]

SEAL Wolf Undercover is the twenty-second installment of Heart of the Wolf by Terry Spears. 

Jillian Matthews is a Special Wolf Agent and she’s just recently teamed up with the jaguar-run United Shifter Force to catch a deadly criminal, who may be connected to her brother’s shooting a few years back. With a PI in the area, Jillian and the rest of the jaguar’s head out to recruit him to help, but when she gets a distressed call from her brother, she ends up shooting…Vaughn Greystroke. The man they were going to see.

Will these two be able to work past their first impressions or will the culprit slip away with the tide?



I absolutely love Terry Spears and was grateful when I was able to review. SEAL Wolf Undercover is a great read. I love that Jillian and Vaughn chemistry leaped off the page. However, it wasn’t overwhelming until further on in the story when they got to know each other. The relationship between all of the characters were great. Even with being different shifters, they were able to work really well with each other. Also, I love the friendship that was present throughout the whole story. As we watch Jillian and Vaughn court each other, Terry Spears made sure that the main storyline wasn’t lost. She made both the romance and plot quiet present and moving at a steady pace. 



Once again, Terry Spears has created a wonderful story! I look forward to more to come and highly recommend to read the full series.

Reviewed on Behalf of Once Upon An Alpha

**ARC for an Honest Review**

[All Things Urban Fantasy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy

SEAL WOLF UNDERCOVER is a good read with witty banter between two strong shifters and a plot that evolves into something bigger than you think it will be when starting the story. The rhythm of the plot is pretty steady and moves in a typical way you'd expect from a book in the Heart of the Wolf series. I was a bit let down that one of the main romantic pairs wasn't a jaguar considering they featured in the story so much. That would have been awesome but at least we get to see the wolves and jaguars work together to hunt the bad guys in this book.

On the romance front, the relationship between Vaughn and Jillian is a slow burn. It's actually so slow that it kind of took a back seat to the main story many times. I liked them together as theirs is a relationship full of snark and bickering (so you know they are destined to be together). Both Vaughn and Jillian are so super headstrong to the point that I wasn't sure they'd end up together which would have been a pretty cool twist in a paranormal romance.

Unlike the previous Heart of the Wolf books, SEAL WOLF UNDERCOVER wasn't that interesting or exciting to me. Typically the action, story, and romance is pretty solid in these books. I enjoyed it well enough but I just wasn't as drawn to anything here as much as I had been in the other books in this series.

[Nikki Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jillian Matthews has been tasked to work with a specialist unit, manned by newly revealed Jaguar shifters. On the way to meet them she decided to drop in on her brother who is staying nearby. But when she arrives she finds his friend almost dead. She manages to get him to safety with a nearby pack and awaits another new recruit to the team.

Vaughn Greystoke planned on dropping in on his friend and another wolf on his way to a meeting with a possible new team. But when he arrives he sees a wolf, muzzle covered in blood, blood which smells of his friend. But the wolf runs and he has no option but to follow. He didn't figure on shots being fired at him by an accomplice though! When he later finds out that the shooter is his new partner and the wolf was her brother? Well life just got a whole lot more interesting!

Jillian and Vaughn sparkle! Their chemistry is instant and can be seen by all their team mates.
I loves knowing that they were interested in each other at the Kitty Kat club but neither acted on, being with dates at the time. But this time there are no impediments. The team dynamics were great, considering they were different species, and I loved the camaraderie they shared, even the teasing of the circling potential mates.

Great mix of action/adventure, passion and with a treasure hunting sidestory and a femme fatale who just makes your mind spin!!!!

[Rosemarie Grainer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great shifter romance by Terry Spear

I love that we are now seeing combined shifter stories. This story takes up where the Very Jaguar Christmas ended. We see United Shifter Force members Demetria, Emmett and Howard again and now meet a couple of private investigator wolves. I loved how Vaughn and Jillian interacted with each other, as well as how they worked with the USF jaguar members. The storyline was very twisty right from the start, and the surprises just kept coming. Jillian's brother Miles was another great addition to the story. I can't wait to see what the next USF story will be. I am also happy to see that we will be getting some Arctic wolf shifter stories, which takes us back to the early Heart of the Wolf books, as well as the Very Jaguar Christmas. I am on the waiting list for every shifter story that Terry Spear writes.

So if you like shifter romances with a lot of action, Terry Spear is the author for you, but you will want to read The Heart of the Wolf series (this is #22) as well as the Heart of the Jaguar series which has at least 5, I can't remember for sure. You will be glad you did. I know I sure am. Enjoy!

[Angel Hatfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

SEAL Wolf Agent Jillian Matthews planned to meet up with her brother while she started working on a case with a Jaguar United Shifter Force. When she shows up, her brother is missing and another shifter has been shot. When she hears her brother’s distress, she runs to the woods and shoots a wolf that seems intent on attacking her brother. Vaughn Greystoke didn’t expect to be shot after chasing a wolf from a cabin where his friend had been shot. He certainly didn’t expect to have to work with another wolf and a group of jaguars to try to figure out what happened, but the more he’s around Jillian, the more he can’t help but want to trust her and get a bit closer to her.
This story was ok. There were parts that I liked and parts that were meh. I think some of my problem is with the side characters. I didn’t particularly like Jillian’s brother’s actions or his interactions with Jillian. It actually changed the book from a 4 to a 3 for me. I did like Jillian and Vaughan together, especially as they pieced together how far back everything was interwoven.
I recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

[Kimmie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh My God what a book! Oh how I love this series. The
whole series is well-written, thoroughly engaging, and
downright sexy as hell. I love this series which is just a part
of a bigger one.

This book is about Jillian and Vaughn. How they met and
what brought them together. Jillian and Vaughan met a while
back and are reunited by her brother and his friend. All
starts off bad. His friend is attacked and her brother has just
recovered from being shot. But when he finds her brother
standing over the blood of his friend, he gives chase only
to have Jillian shoot at him. And then all the fun begins.
Now they have to team up to find out who the real bad guys
are. And somehow figure out how they will be together.
And omg when you find out who his training officer was.
Let's just say surprise.

Now before I ruin this for you I will leave off here. I hope you
enjoy this book as much as I did. If you do like this book,
please consider leaving a review. The Authors really like it
when you do; they value your opinions too

[PepperP0t · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both SEAL Vaughn Greystroke and Jillian Matthews find themselves very much attracted to each other when they're out for the evening on dates with humans in a club favored by cat lovers. Little did either of them know they'd run into each other month's later when they visit the red wolf guest cabins to vacation friends and family member.

The wolf PIs stumble into a seemingly random and at the same time targeted attack with convoluted ramifications, too many players and unclear motives. Both Vaughn and Jillian are asked to join a new cross-species enforcement team to take down rogues.

A cute romance is woven between the camaraderie building of the task force, chasing red herrings and unraveling the knotty jumble of players. While it's an enjoyable story with fine pacing, likable characters and a good way to cross over this author's scribbles, this reader felt the outing was a little light, making perfect for a rainy day or poolside read.
Rating 4stars

[Debs · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Seal Wolf Undercover" for me was an okay read. PI Vaughn and Agent Jillian, both wolf shifters became romantically involved while working together, as well as working with jaguar shifters. Getting to know each other and trying to find and catch the criminals, I felt there were just too much going on at one time with the many different characters. You have both good guys and bad guys, and it took too much time for me to really connect with the characters. Vaughn and Jillian do however, get their HEA. That being said, I would recommend it for young adults that love romance and fun shifter stories, with some suspense tossed in. I would like to thank NetGalley and Sourcebooks for gifting me "Seal Wolf Undercover". My opinion is my own. This is mine 3 Stars!

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

Maybe it’s because this is the 22nd in a long line of books in the series but I just never connected with this story. It was a tough read. Mainly because I just didn’t seem interested. The story was fine but I think the series has done as much as they can possibly do already.

It wasn’t that it is a bad book. It’s not. I think someone reading this for the first time would find it quite interesting. And I enjoyed the wolf/jaguar romance. I will probably go back and re-read this story at some point just to see if my opinion changes.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Myst]

Very enjoyable! Though little confused where this is placed, as in A Very Jaguar Christmas the pair from that get a call about capturing a Jaguar on Leidolf's property which would make sense in this but I can't remember if the White Wolf boy had a mom and if she was from the earlier book about the White Wolf. Then there's the fact the next book is about White Wolves, a young white wolf boy and Christmas. Always enjoy reading anything by Terry Spear though! Can't wait for the next one about the White Wolves.

This is a voluntary review via netgalley, I do not get paid for this review.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jillian is determined to keep her brother safe and clear him of the attack on another shifter. Vaughn is determined to keep Jillian close so he can find out the truth of her brother's involvement in the investigation. Both Jillian and Vaughn are PIs used to working alone. Now they have to learn to work together and with the newly established shifter unit to solve this case.
There's lots of suspense and lots of chemistry between Jillian and Vaughn. Can they solve the case and work out their relationship?

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely one of my favorites in the series! Love these characters, their quick mating, and the fact that they are now all a part of Devlyn and Bella's pack now!!!

Plus we actually got to see some of their honeymoon gifted to them by all of their family and friends. The whole ending was so incredibly sweet!!!

[Donna Fournier · Rating 5 out of 5]

A case of mistaken identity. I loved it. It was quirky, fun, sexy, action packed. Terry delivers a solid story, with lots of fun, one-liners , and great main characters, and lots of fun secondary characters.

[Suzan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book, love that the Jaguars and Wolves are now collaborating to catch rogues that cross the boundaries between both! Vaughn and Jillian were a perfect match as well! Looking forward to the next book!

[Amber Hinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

More please

Respect for the Seal 's that serve our country with Honor and what it costs them and others to do so. For the author's great storytelling. And we all need a little more magic in our lives.

[TinaMarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

These two wolves get thrown together to investigate who's been shooting shifters. After a bumpy start these two are fun. The story revolves around these two more than the hunt for the attackers. As these two learn about each other and take care of each other when injured. Nice romance.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story but more on the realistic side. Also more detective mystery than romance. This was a slow get to know you before anything goes further romance. The main couple were super cute together but I was hoping for more steamy pages than a couple pages total for the entire book.

[Karen Hackett · Rating 5 out of 5]

SEAL Wolf Undercover by Terry Spear, Book 5 of SEAL Wolf series

Action packed, bullets flying, wolves and jaguars chasing rogue jaguars, hot attraction between a SEAL wolf and a she-wolf, especially after she shot him. Once again Terry Spear captivates her readers with her storytelling.

[Nextbookaroundthecorner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review on my blog on July 11th: https://nextbookaroundthecorner.wordp...