What do you think?
Rate this book
Wanting the Wolfman
Can love be more than a memory?
Three years ago, an attack cost Joel his leg… and his memories. Though he was told a dog he’d befriended savaged him, he has one hazy the stunning silver eyes of a wolf… or maybe a man. Desperate for the truth, he struggles back into the woods where his life changed in search of his animal friend.
When he finds the wolf who has stalked his thoughts, he demands it reveal its true form, and he meets Guy, the man within the wolf. Guy is guarded, but the wolf knows Joel belongs with them, and gradually, Guy can only agree. Things fall into place, but then Joel inadvertently exposes the man and the wolf he’s coming to love.
Guy and the wolf are forced to flee, but can Joel follow?
Three years ago, an attack cost Joel his leg… and his memories. Though he was told a dog he’d befriended savaged him, he has one hazy the stunning silver eyes of a wolf… or maybe a man. Desperate for the truth, he struggles back into the woods where his life changed in search of his animal friend.
When he finds the wolf who has stalked his thoughts, he demands it reveal its true form, and he meets Guy, the man within the wolf. Guy is guarded, but the wolf knows Joel belongs with them, and gradually, Guy can only agree. Things fall into place, but then Joel inadvertently exposes the man and the wolf he’s coming to love.
Guy and the wolf are forced to flee, but can Joel follow?
200 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 26, 2018
5 people are currently reading
118 people want to read
About the author
Louise Collins
45 books630 followersWriter of mm romance and erotica.
I write the stories I'd love to read, I hope you enjoy them too.
Lover of Romance but not without angst along the way.
Seduced by the dancing of a neanderthal and now a mother of two monsters.
Drinks tea with a passion, adores dogs, and their sea dwelling cousins.
Failed two chocolate eating challenges but will return for round three.
https://mailchi.mp/ad6955eed18f/louis...
♥
Facebook
I write the stories I'd love to read, I hope you enjoy them too.
Lover of Romance but not without angst along the way.
Seduced by the dancing of a neanderthal and now a mother of two monsters.
Drinks tea with a passion, adores dogs, and their sea dwelling cousins.
Failed two chocolate eating challenges but will return for round three.
https://mailchi.mp/ad6955eed18f/louis...
♥
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
June 27, 2018
Sometimes it is worth taking a chance on a new-to-me author, simply because of the blurb. Yes, it was the blurb that pulled me in when I received the advanced copy newsletter from the blog and DSP. First, it said “cost Joel his leg” then “a dog he’d befriended savaged him”. I thought, “Huh, it doesn’t feel like usual shifters story, let me give it a go.”
Well, I was pleasantly surprised because it wasn't like what I expected. I mean yes, I had a feeling it would be different, but I wasn’t exactly expecting how the author described Guy and the wolf.
See, Guy is not exactly a werewolf. He is a result of . So, the Wolf (yes, I am using capital to describe him) is sort of a separate identity from Guy. Guy describes that him and the Wolf are not the same; they have different feeling, different thinking. Which for me makes this book a very INTERESTING read!
I loved the parts where it was just Joel and the Wolf (Wolf is like a beast of a dog!) but I also enjoyed Joel’s time with Guy. The Wolf has crush on Joel first, so he is more affectionate and protective of Joel. While Guy is more reserved and keeps his distance from Joel – because hey, he’s a human who can change into wolf, and I assume he’s way older than Joel’s twenty-one years old.
In a way, this is like two love stories *laugh*. Joel and the Wolf’s is sweet, like human love for their pets. While Joel and Guy’s is tentative but slowly turn into something more.
There are threats to their relationship of course – which you must find out by reading it yourself. Beware of one jerk of an ex-boyfriend, frustrating mother who thinks she knows better for her son, and small town people who prefer to side with the rich and powerful family.
Even if I wanted some things to be more explored, especially about Guy and his past, but in overall I was satisfied with this book *happy face*
A Guest Review for The Blogger Girls
The ARC is provided by the publisher for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
Well, I was pleasantly surprised because it wasn't like what I expected. I mean yes, I had a feeling it would be different, but I wasn’t exactly expecting how the author described Guy and the wolf.
See, Guy is not exactly a werewolf. He is a result of . So, the Wolf (yes, I am using capital to describe him) is sort of a separate identity from Guy. Guy describes that him and the Wolf are not the same; they have different feeling, different thinking. Which for me makes this book a very INTERESTING read!
I loved the parts where it was just Joel and the Wolf (Wolf is like a beast of a dog!) but I also enjoyed Joel’s time with Guy. The Wolf has crush on Joel first, so he is more affectionate and protective of Joel. While Guy is more reserved and keeps his distance from Joel – because hey, he’s a human who can change into wolf, and I assume he’s way older than Joel’s twenty-one years old.
In a way, this is like two love stories *laugh*. Joel and the Wolf’s is sweet, like human love for their pets. While Joel and Guy’s is tentative but slowly turn into something more.
There are threats to their relationship of course – which you must find out by reading it yourself. Beware of one jerk of an ex-boyfriend, frustrating mother who thinks she knows better for her son, and small town people who prefer to side with the rich and powerful family.
Even if I wanted some things to be more explored, especially about Guy and his past, but in overall I was satisfied with this book *happy face*
A Guest Review for The Blogger Girls
The ARC is provided by the publisher for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
June 27, 2018
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.75 stars
I liked the different take on shifters here and it made the story grab my attention. First, there is Joel. An accident deep in the woods claimed his leg, and while most of his memory is intact, the memory of the attack is fuzzy because no one believes his claim, especially his ex, Keen.
The book opens with Joel and Keen, who is by all accounts a jerk, as they try to sort out what remains of their relationship. Keen was a fixture throughout the entire book, but I did need some more as to his motivation with Joel. Joel isn’t interested in Keen, but feels some sense of misplaced loyalty to him even though Keen has proven himself to be untrustworthy and cruel time and again. Keen is interested in repairing their relationship, mostly the physical side of it, but Joel isn’t interested in much of anything, except for what he saw in the woods.
The shifter aspect is slightly unique here and it’s better to read it fresh, so I’ll only tell you that Guy and the wolf, while living in the same body, are separate. They have different personalities and do not react as typically seen in a shifter book and there is a reason for that. When we learn Guy’s story, I suspected there wouldn’t be enough time to get into the whole story and there wasn’t. The majority of the book is Joel figuring out where he can fit in with the wolf and Guy as they live isolated in the woods.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
3.75 stars
I liked the different take on shifters here and it made the story grab my attention. First, there is Joel. An accident deep in the woods claimed his leg, and while most of his memory is intact, the memory of the attack is fuzzy because no one believes his claim, especially his ex, Keen.
The book opens with Joel and Keen, who is by all accounts a jerk, as they try to sort out what remains of their relationship. Keen was a fixture throughout the entire book, but I did need some more as to his motivation with Joel. Joel isn’t interested in Keen, but feels some sense of misplaced loyalty to him even though Keen has proven himself to be untrustworthy and cruel time and again. Keen is interested in repairing their relationship, mostly the physical side of it, but Joel isn’t interested in much of anything, except for what he saw in the woods.
The shifter aspect is slightly unique here and it’s better to read it fresh, so I’ll only tell you that Guy and the wolf, while living in the same body, are separate. They have different personalities and do not react as typically seen in a shifter book and there is a reason for that. When we learn Guy’s story, I suspected there wouldn’t be enough time to get into the whole story and there wasn’t. The majority of the book is Joel figuring out where he can fit in with the wolf and Guy as they live isolated in the woods.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
June 29, 2018
3.5 Stars
Review:
*I received an ecopy of this book from the publisher. This has not influenced my review.*
This was a sweet, relaxed romance with a small paranormal element and great disability rep!
Contrary to what I expected when I picked this up, this wasn't exactly a werewolf story. That aspect was a little more unique. I don't think it's a spoiler, but if you don't want to know, just skip to the next paragraph because I'm about to explain. This wasn't a werewolf story because the man and the wolf were separate beings with separate personalities/thoughts/emotions, but they shared one body that could shift forms and could communicate with each other in their mind. For that reason, the paranormal element was actually very minimal. But I still thought it was a neat idea and enjoyed it. And anyone who likes reading about dogs or animals will love this sweet, adorable wolf.
The blurb makes the book sound like it's going to be ominous, but it was actually quite slow-paced and laid-back, focused on Joel hanging out in the woods, finally finding out the truth and healing from the trauma of his past experience, and starting a romance with Guy. The conflict was barely a blip in the book, to be honest. It didn't come up until near the end, and it was resolved quickly and easily.
The book was fairly predictable with some typical paranormal romance aspects---like how perfect the love interest, Guy, was and how he had had feelings for Joel ever since he first saw him. But these things did add to the light feel of the book.
Joel's ex, Keen, was an unexpected part of the story, but he, and the relationship between him and Joel, was well-written. He was the perfect portrayal of a manipulative person, someone who sometimes does nice things and seems like he cares but whose abusive and selfish behavior far outweighs that. The more I learned about him and how he treated Joel, the more I hated him.
For me, the best thing about this book was the fantastic disability rep for Joel's amputated leg! Or at least, it seemed like it was great (I don't have any missing limbs though). It wasn't just a plot device or an afterthought; there was so much about what it was like for Joel having an amputated limb and using a prosthetic. Like how walking on a prosthetic is all about getting the right balance and pressure, so just having a few drinks could completely throw off your walking. And although part of Joel's growth was about accepting his body (or rather, accepting the idea that other people could accept it), he was still more than just his disability. As for the erectile dysfunction caused by Joel's trauma and his confusion over the memories, I have no idea whether that was done well or not.
Overall, this was a quick, light, enjoyable paranormal romance!
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes laid-back stories, sweet M/M romance, a small paranormal element, and disability rep.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
---------------------
Initial Thoughts:
Relaxed, sweet romance with a small paranormal element & great disability rep.
Review:
*I received an ecopy of this book from the publisher. This has not influenced my review.*
This was a sweet, relaxed romance with a small paranormal element and great disability rep!
Contrary to what I expected when I picked this up, this wasn't exactly a werewolf story. That aspect was a little more unique. I don't think it's a spoiler, but if you don't want to know, just skip to the next paragraph because I'm about to explain. This wasn't a werewolf story because the man and the wolf were separate beings with separate personalities/thoughts/emotions, but they shared one body that could shift forms and could communicate with each other in their mind. For that reason, the paranormal element was actually very minimal. But I still thought it was a neat idea and enjoyed it. And anyone who likes reading about dogs or animals will love this sweet, adorable wolf.
The blurb makes the book sound like it's going to be ominous, but it was actually quite slow-paced and laid-back, focused on Joel hanging out in the woods, finally finding out the truth and healing from the trauma of his past experience, and starting a romance with Guy. The conflict was barely a blip in the book, to be honest. It didn't come up until near the end, and it was resolved quickly and easily.
The book was fairly predictable with some typical paranormal romance aspects---like how perfect the love interest, Guy, was and how he had had feelings for Joel ever since he first saw him. But these things did add to the light feel of the book.
Joel's ex, Keen, was an unexpected part of the story, but he, and the relationship between him and Joel, was well-written. He was the perfect portrayal of a manipulative person, someone who sometimes does nice things and seems like he cares but whose abusive and selfish behavior far outweighs that. The more I learned about him and how he treated Joel, the more I hated him.
For me, the best thing about this book was the fantastic disability rep for Joel's amputated leg! Or at least, it seemed like it was great (I don't have any missing limbs though). It wasn't just a plot device or an afterthought; there was so much about what it was like for Joel having an amputated limb and using a prosthetic. Like how walking on a prosthetic is all about getting the right balance and pressure, so just having a few drinks could completely throw off your walking. And although part of Joel's growth was about accepting his body (or rather, accepting the idea that other people could accept it), he was still more than just his disability. As for the erectile dysfunction caused by Joel's trauma and his confusion over the memories, I have no idea whether that was done well or not.
Overall, this was a quick, light, enjoyable paranormal romance!
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes laid-back stories, sweet M/M romance, a small paranormal element, and disability rep.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
---------------------
Initial Thoughts:
Relaxed, sweet romance with a small paranormal element & great disability rep.
June 28, 2018
People see what they want to see, and there are only very few who are able to look for and accept the truth. Joel has been looking for something, maybe sensing something “out there” beyond accepted reality, for a few years, despite the ridicule from his ex-boyfriend and others. His need to explore the forest only gets stronger after he loses his leg. People tell him it was a dog, but he knows he saw a wolf, and the fact that he got bitten doesn’t feel right either. Joel doesn’t give up looking for the wolf (or maybe man) he knows he has seen, and this is the story of what he discovers about the wolf/man as well as himself.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
May 6, 2023
This was surprisingly adorable! My favorite aspects were the role of nature in the story, how Joel's disability was portrayed and the unique take on the 'werewolf'. Unfortunately, I felt the story didn't have as much substance as I wanted it to have, since there was minimal conflict and it was quite repetitive but it was an enjoyable story.
One of the things I loved was the big focus on Joel's disability. He had lost the lower part of one leg during the 'werewolf attack' 3 years before. Since then, he's learned to use a prosthetic and he can get around on it fairly well but he's still suffering from depression, loneliness and being haunted by conflicting details regarding the attack. Throughout the book, I loved that Joel's disability always stayed an important factor. If he's using his prosthetic, there are scenes focusing on how he puts it on and takes it off and how he cares for the stump. When he's not using it, the author never forgets about how difficult it is for him to move around and readers are constantly reminded how even simple mobility tasks are difficult and painful when Joel only has one leg to use. I also loved how the other MC treated Joel's disability.
Another thing I liked was the importance of the forest/wilderness setting. Joel has always loved being in the woods and spending time in nature and it was great how coming back to the woods helped him heal. Being in the surroundings he loves again did more for his mental health than any amount of talk therapy and supportive friends/family did, which was great. The simple day-to-day life that Joel settled into when he's back in the woods is something that I found very soothing. He didn't have to worry about social media nonsense, paying bills or dealing with unwanted social obligations. Instead, his entire life revolved around meeting his basic needs by using the forest around him. I love wilderness survival stories and I love spending time in the woods too, so I think this aspect meant more to me than the general majority of readers, but it was a beautiful addition.
Lastly, the author's unique take on 'werewolf shifters' added so much to this story. The author made the great decision not to make the other MC a werewolf (which would have forced the wolf to only appear once a month) and he's not even a traditional shifter (ie a man who transforms into an animal form but still retains a lot of the human's characteristics). Instead,
Connected to the situation, I also liked the slow reveal of how Joel's 'attack' came about. Before starting the story, I was wary about reading a romance between Joel and a feral shapeshifting beast who tore off Joel's leg, but that ended up being far from the truth. We find out that
As is normal for Louise Collins' books, there are a lot of plot conveniences and some eye-rolling OTT situations, but as usual - they're done to make the story better and they're glossed over so neatly that they don't bother me. We have the hilarious situation involving Joel's parents, who . It was also funny that . Yeah, right!
But the funniest plot convenience was near the end, when we learn that . Lastly, having Joel not remember anything about his attack for 3 years but then having the memories all come rushing back when was pure plot convenience. But like with all the other conveniences, it helped push the plot forward so I didn't mind.
Unfortunately, I started getting bored in the last third of the story and that's because there wasn't much effort to create interesting plotlines or multiple sources of conflict during Joel's time in the woods. We get many repetitive scenes of . There are tiny bits of conflict, like when a wind storm destroys part of their rain-catching system or when Joel goes for a wander by himself and Wolf assumes Joel has left them. It's not helped that the beginning and ends of the story involve conflict coming from the same source: Joel's asshole ex-boyfriend Keen. He was written like an OTT cartoon villain and I got tired of him really fast. I was hoping the author would tone down his behavior at some point and give him a more balanced role in the story, but that didn't happen.
I did love the ending because it ended exactly the way the MCs wanted things to end: . Even better, I felt some patriotic pride when they settled into the enormous wilderness of Canada, having decided to leave the miniscule amount of dense forest that England has.
However, I did laugh when I realized the author had no clue how big the Canadian wilderness is and she clearly didn't bother doing any research. She calls their new home the 'Alberta Boreal Forest'. First - this isn't an official name. Alberta is a Canadian province and it contains 460,000 square kilometers of boreal forest. Second - this forest is carved into various provincial parks, townships and other areas but having was absurd. What made this decision strange is that Alberta has some of the best known and most beautiful provincial parks and small towns that are nestled on the edges of huge wilderness expanses. All she had to do was pick one of these and call it done and it's irritating that she couldn't be bothered to do that.
Anyway, overall, I thought this was a really cute and low-key story that contained interesting characters and some really unique plotlines. I just wish the author had done a bit more to make the middle section more interesting.
One of the things I loved was the big focus on Joel's disability. He had lost the lower part of one leg during the 'werewolf attack' 3 years before. Since then, he's learned to use a prosthetic and he can get around on it fairly well but he's still suffering from depression, loneliness and being haunted by conflicting details regarding the attack. Throughout the book, I loved that Joel's disability always stayed an important factor. If he's using his prosthetic, there are scenes focusing on how he puts it on and takes it off and how he cares for the stump. When he's not using it, the author never forgets about how difficult it is for him to move around and readers are constantly reminded how even simple mobility tasks are difficult and painful when Joel only has one leg to use. I also loved how the other MC treated Joel's disability.
Another thing I liked was the importance of the forest/wilderness setting. Joel has always loved being in the woods and spending time in nature and it was great how coming back to the woods helped him heal. Being in the surroundings he loves again did more for his mental health than any amount of talk therapy and supportive friends/family did, which was great. The simple day-to-day life that Joel settled into when he's back in the woods is something that I found very soothing. He didn't have to worry about social media nonsense, paying bills or dealing with unwanted social obligations. Instead, his entire life revolved around meeting his basic needs by using the forest around him. I love wilderness survival stories and I love spending time in the woods too, so I think this aspect meant more to me than the general majority of readers, but it was a beautiful addition.
Lastly, the author's unique take on 'werewolf shifters' added so much to this story. The author made the great decision not to make the other MC a werewolf (which would have forced the wolf to only appear once a month) and he's not even a traditional shifter (ie a man who transforms into an animal form but still retains a lot of the human's characteristics). Instead,
Connected to the situation, I also liked the slow reveal of how Joel's 'attack' came about. Before starting the story, I was wary about reading a romance between Joel and a feral shapeshifting beast who tore off Joel's leg, but that ended up being far from the truth. We find out that
As is normal for Louise Collins' books, there are a lot of plot conveniences and some eye-rolling OTT situations, but as usual - they're done to make the story better and they're glossed over so neatly that they don't bother me. We have the hilarious situation involving Joel's parents, who . It was also funny that . Yeah, right!
But the funniest plot convenience was near the end, when we learn that . Lastly, having Joel not remember anything about his attack for 3 years but then having the memories all come rushing back when was pure plot convenience. But like with all the other conveniences, it helped push the plot forward so I didn't mind.
Unfortunately, I started getting bored in the last third of the story and that's because there wasn't much effort to create interesting plotlines or multiple sources of conflict during Joel's time in the woods. We get many repetitive scenes of . There are tiny bits of conflict, like when a wind storm destroys part of their rain-catching system or when Joel goes for a wander by himself and Wolf assumes Joel has left them. It's not helped that the beginning and ends of the story involve conflict coming from the same source: Joel's asshole ex-boyfriend Keen. He was written like an OTT cartoon villain and I got tired of him really fast. I was hoping the author would tone down his behavior at some point and give him a more balanced role in the story, but that didn't happen.
I did love the ending because it ended exactly the way the MCs wanted things to end: . Even better, I felt some patriotic pride when they settled into the enormous wilderness of Canada, having decided to leave the miniscule amount of dense forest that England has.
However, I did laugh when I realized the author had no clue how big the Canadian wilderness is and she clearly didn't bother doing any research. She calls their new home the 'Alberta Boreal Forest'. First - this isn't an official name. Alberta is a Canadian province and it contains 460,000 square kilometers of boreal forest. Second - this forest is carved into various provincial parks, townships and other areas but having was absurd. What made this decision strange is that Alberta has some of the best known and most beautiful provincial parks and small towns that are nestled on the edges of huge wilderness expanses. All she had to do was pick one of these and call it done and it's irritating that she couldn't be bothered to do that.
Anyway, overall, I thought this was a really cute and low-key story that contained interesting characters and some really unique plotlines. I just wish the author had done a bit more to make the middle section more interesting.
July 2, 2018
~ 3.5 Stars ~
I was pleasantly surprised by this sweet little paranormal romance and the unique take it gave to werewolf lore. As often is the case with paranormal books out there, I had to suspend disbelief a bit in some areas in order to go with the story, but ultimately, I found it quite enjoyable.
The story starts with Joel in a really bad place, emotionally. Depression lies heavily on Joel’s shoulders, from the loss of his leg three years before. The experience changed Joel and affected not just him, but his relationships suffered too. I His lack of memory of the “dog attack” keeps him in a sort of stasis, not really able to move forward with his new normal. Before the injury, he traveled the forest, at one with nature, feeling complete and whole. After the accident, he is conflicted, fearful of the forest he loves but drawn to it all the same. The information Joel was given about his injury doesn’t quite sound right, but he doesn’t remember enough to understand why. Keen (his awful ex) pushes him constantly, treating him horribly. His relationship with his parents is filled with tension, anger and disappointment. His “friends” true colors became clear, and he shed them too. He is essentially alone, partially because he pushes people away due to his inability to get passed his disability but also because the one thing the injury led to was helping him to see the truth of certain people such as Keen, his now ex-boyfriend, and his so-called friends.
A particularly horrible night, resulting in the recovery of his memories, leads to embarrassment and additional betrayal. How could what Joel remembers be true? But he doesn’t doubt the images filling his head. He decides he has had enough and needs to disappear. With the recovery of his memories, no matter how farfetched they seem, Joel finds himself back at the place where his life changed forever.
The wolfman is real, that much Joel finds out. What differs a bit in this tale is Guy and the Wolf are essentially two separate entities, with desires and thoughts all their own, occupying one body. Because they aren’t the one in the same, instead of romance with Guy and Joel, there is also the relationship with Wolf and Joel explored.
I adored Joel and the Wolf’s bond. Similar to that of man and dog, there is comfort and love, though not romantically. Wolf is the friend Joel had been without for so long, offering comfort, caring for Joel, fearful of Joel being hurt again, guilty for what happened three years before, but unconditionally loving Joel with a devotion most humans can’t quite comprehend.
Guy and Joel’s relationship was more of a simmer. Guy wants to protect the Wolf, hiding from his past and those that wish to harm them. He can communicate with Wolf, but they are distinct individuals, with different thoughts and desires. Though Guy is attracted to Joel, and he is always hearing Wolf’s adoration in his head, Guy keeps Joel at a distance in an effort to protect everyone from what he fears could happen. Wolf doesn’t understand Guys reasons for the distance, and there is often conflict between the two—wolf being instinctual and trusting the emotions, Guy being logical and analytical, letting fear hold him back. Eventually, though, Guy can no longer keep himself at a distance and gives in to his desire for Joel. The two begin a separate connection all their own.
The relationships were sweet in their own way, and it was refreshing to watch Joel heal with the different bonds he was forming with Wolf and Guy. He begins to heal emotionally from his past trauma while he learns what really happened to him years ago.
There are some secondary characters, but one of the main forms of angst comes from Keen, Joel’s ex. He is an antagonistic, selfish, arrogant, possessive, mean and overall a very repugnant guy. From the beginning he just pushed all my wrong buttons. Though some of his actions after Joel’s injury were explainable (not necessarily understandable), it was everything else about his personality that made him wholly unlikable. His audacity astounded me. Though he did get some form of comeuppance, it wasn’t nearly enough, in my opinion.
As stated previously, I had to suspend disbelief in some areas, mainly about the attack and the doctor’s medical diagnosis versus what really happened. I can’t see how an injury like the one Joel received would be misdiagnosed to that extreme. Or maybe there were just theories, and the medical profession went with it rather than confirmed? I find it doubtful, but that is just me overanalyzing, I think.
I also should touch on the worldbuilding, which was a bit underdeveloped for me. After the detail of how they lived and survived in the forest, and the relationship detail, the lack of worldbuilding and resolution on Guy and Wolf’s nature was underwhelming. I was hoping for a bit more information, more details revealed, more understanding of how they came to be and what happened, as well as those that they were running from. Though it as touched on, and there was a sort of climax where Guy faces his past, it seemed a little to clean-cut for my liking, with the bad guys from Guy’s past being little more than a caricature.
Despite the few niggles I had, my overall experience was a good one. I enjoyed this unique take on the werewolf trope, and reading about both Guy’s and Wolf’s relationship with Joel gave me the warm fuzzies. Totally would recommend for those looking for a sweet romance sprinkled with an adorable friendship.
Reviewed by Lindsey for The Novel Approach
I was pleasantly surprised by this sweet little paranormal romance and the unique take it gave to werewolf lore. As often is the case with paranormal books out there, I had to suspend disbelief a bit in some areas in order to go with the story, but ultimately, I found it quite enjoyable.
The story starts with Joel in a really bad place, emotionally. Depression lies heavily on Joel’s shoulders, from the loss of his leg three years before. The experience changed Joel and affected not just him, but his relationships suffered too. I His lack of memory of the “dog attack” keeps him in a sort of stasis, not really able to move forward with his new normal. Before the injury, he traveled the forest, at one with nature, feeling complete and whole. After the accident, he is conflicted, fearful of the forest he loves but drawn to it all the same. The information Joel was given about his injury doesn’t quite sound right, but he doesn’t remember enough to understand why. Keen (his awful ex) pushes him constantly, treating him horribly. His relationship with his parents is filled with tension, anger and disappointment. His “friends” true colors became clear, and he shed them too. He is essentially alone, partially because he pushes people away due to his inability to get passed his disability but also because the one thing the injury led to was helping him to see the truth of certain people such as Keen, his now ex-boyfriend, and his so-called friends.
A particularly horrible night, resulting in the recovery of his memories, leads to embarrassment and additional betrayal. How could what Joel remembers be true? But he doesn’t doubt the images filling his head. He decides he has had enough and needs to disappear. With the recovery of his memories, no matter how farfetched they seem, Joel finds himself back at the place where his life changed forever.
The wolfman is real, that much Joel finds out. What differs a bit in this tale is Guy and the Wolf are essentially two separate entities, with desires and thoughts all their own, occupying one body. Because they aren’t the one in the same, instead of romance with Guy and Joel, there is also the relationship with Wolf and Joel explored.
I adored Joel and the Wolf’s bond. Similar to that of man and dog, there is comfort and love, though not romantically. Wolf is the friend Joel had been without for so long, offering comfort, caring for Joel, fearful of Joel being hurt again, guilty for what happened three years before, but unconditionally loving Joel with a devotion most humans can’t quite comprehend.
Guy and Joel’s relationship was more of a simmer. Guy wants to protect the Wolf, hiding from his past and those that wish to harm them. He can communicate with Wolf, but they are distinct individuals, with different thoughts and desires. Though Guy is attracted to Joel, and he is always hearing Wolf’s adoration in his head, Guy keeps Joel at a distance in an effort to protect everyone from what he fears could happen. Wolf doesn’t understand Guys reasons for the distance, and there is often conflict between the two—wolf being instinctual and trusting the emotions, Guy being logical and analytical, letting fear hold him back. Eventually, though, Guy can no longer keep himself at a distance and gives in to his desire for Joel. The two begin a separate connection all their own.
The relationships were sweet in their own way, and it was refreshing to watch Joel heal with the different bonds he was forming with Wolf and Guy. He begins to heal emotionally from his past trauma while he learns what really happened to him years ago.
There are some secondary characters, but one of the main forms of angst comes from Keen, Joel’s ex. He is an antagonistic, selfish, arrogant, possessive, mean and overall a very repugnant guy. From the beginning he just pushed all my wrong buttons. Though some of his actions after Joel’s injury were explainable (not necessarily understandable), it was everything else about his personality that made him wholly unlikable. His audacity astounded me. Though he did get some form of comeuppance, it wasn’t nearly enough, in my opinion.
As stated previously, I had to suspend disbelief in some areas, mainly about the attack and the doctor’s medical diagnosis versus what really happened. I can’t see how an injury like the one Joel received would be misdiagnosed to that extreme. Or maybe there were just theories, and the medical profession went with it rather than confirmed? I find it doubtful, but that is just me overanalyzing, I think.
I also should touch on the worldbuilding, which was a bit underdeveloped for me. After the detail of how they lived and survived in the forest, and the relationship detail, the lack of worldbuilding and resolution on Guy and Wolf’s nature was underwhelming. I was hoping for a bit more information, more details revealed, more understanding of how they came to be and what happened, as well as those that they were running from. Though it as touched on, and there was a sort of climax where Guy faces his past, it seemed a little to clean-cut for my liking, with the bad guys from Guy’s past being little more than a caricature.
Despite the few niggles I had, my overall experience was a good one. I enjoyed this unique take on the werewolf trope, and reading about both Guy’s and Wolf’s relationship with Joel gave me the warm fuzzies. Totally would recommend for those looking for a sweet romance sprinkled with an adorable friendship.
Reviewed by Lindsey for The Novel Approach
June 18, 2018
3 1/2 stars
I received a copy to read and review for Wicked Reads.
It took me a bit to get into this book. It was really wordy and overly descriptive at times. I honestly didn't connect with Joel or Guy. I am not sure how anyone in the medical field would have believed Joel was attacked by a dog, his wounds would have shown it was something else. I also couldn't underatand how Guy and the Wolf could talk but weren't one and the same. That would have been one of the times I wanted more description! I felt the conncetion between Joel and Wolf which was odd. I just wanted to know more about that whole thing. The book seemed to go on and on at times but the ending felt rushed to me and too simple and easy. Overall the book was just ok to me.
I received a copy to read and review for Wicked Reads.
It took me a bit to get into this book. It was really wordy and overly descriptive at times. I honestly didn't connect with Joel or Guy. I am not sure how anyone in the medical field would have believed Joel was attacked by a dog, his wounds would have shown it was something else. I also couldn't underatand how Guy and the Wolf could talk but weren't one and the same. That would have been one of the times I wanted more description! I felt the conncetion between Joel and Wolf which was odd. I just wanted to know more about that whole thing. The book seemed to go on and on at times but the ending felt rushed to me and too simple and easy. Overall the book was just ok to me.
July 16, 2018
I was dithering between a 2 and a 3 for this one because there were parts that I liked. But the part I didn't like was about 90% of the book -- and his name is Joel. This guy seriously po'd me multiple times and I almost tossed the book aside. But then we got "wolf" and "Guy."
My misgivings about Joel are many but here are the main ones: so, he whines about his ex being a gossip and telling the world his personal business, but then keeps telling him stuff! omg, really? Really? Joel appears to have no friends other than Joel, but his whininess is reason enough for that, even if the author never gives us anything else. I seriously had a hard time finding Keen the bad guy here. The wrong steps he made are so over-played as to be ridiculous. I kept wanting to slap Joel and tell him to find his balls.
I will leave you with this last thought: no wolf or human in the history of mankind (except maybe superman) can f'ing SWIM from England to Canada. WTF
My misgivings about Joel are many but here are the main ones: so, he whines about his ex being a gossip and telling the world his personal business, but then keeps telling him stuff! omg, really? Really? Joel appears to have no friends other than Joel, but his whininess is reason enough for that, even if the author never gives us anything else. I seriously had a hard time finding Keen the bad guy here. The wrong steps he made are so over-played as to be ridiculous. I kept wanting to slap Joel and tell him to find his balls.
I will leave you with this last thought: no wolf or human in the history of mankind (except maybe superman) can f'ing SWIM from England to Canada. WTF
dnf-2018
June 28, 2018DNF at 62%.
The main reasons:
1. I don't like the wishy-washy, whiny MC. I tried to understand him since his foot got amputated when he's just 18 year-old, but 3 years in a funk?
2. This whole story was built on a flimsy plot, in which the doctors in this village couldn't differentiate between the wounds that came from dog bite and the wounds that came from bear trap. I wonder if it's only forensic pathologists who can master that skill.
The main reasons:
1. I don't like the wishy-washy, whiny MC. I tried to understand him since his foot got amputated when he's just 18 year-old, but 3 years in a funk?
2. This whole story was built on a flimsy plot, in which the doctors in this village couldn't differentiate between the wounds that came from dog bite and the wounds that came from bear trap. I wonder if it's only forensic pathologists who can master that skill.
September 9, 2019
I'm a huge fan of Louise Collins. She can do adorable pining (in Saving the Super-man), drop dead sexy UST (in The Freshman), and a tension-filled thriller (in Adrenaline Jake and Mad Dog Maddox). However, this particular work was a little too angsty for me. The first 25% is literally all misery--a manipulative ex boyfriend, awful parents, crappy friends, an unethical therapist, small town gossipmongers etc...Just can't do it.
I think if I were to re-read again, I'd jump right to about the 40% mark, where he encounters Guy (the man behind the wolf) again.
I think if I were to re-read again, I'd jump right to about the 40% mark, where he encounters Guy (the man behind the wolf) again.
December 1, 2021
The ex-bf had a bigger role than the werewolf **eye-rolling**. Hello, Guy/Wolf appeared around 30% in the story. The ex couldn't understand they have broken up, he got on my nerves.... and Joel needed a lot little more backbone. I mean, he was together with Keen for 3 whole years? with how he described him, and how little he cared for Keen, it was too long.
Can' rate it more than 2, not only was the ex annoying but let's face it, this was a love triangle 😅: Joel, Guy and the wolf.
Can' rate it more than 2, not only was the ex annoying but let's face it, this was a love triangle 😅: Joel, Guy and the wolf.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2018
I took me a while to figure it out if I liked it or not and I'm still undecided.
It definitely was different from the usual shifter genre, I liked the explanation of how the shifter came to be, but some of the plot twists really put me off and I hated illogical actions. Some of the decision-making by both MCs did not make any sense except creating drama and some of the weird actions by ex-boyfriend felt over-the-top.
I ended up both liking and disliking this book. It was well-written and edited, which deserves 4 stars.
I bought this book because of the shifter genre, but willing to try another book to get a feel if this author is for me or not.
It definitely was different from the usual shifter genre, I liked the explanation of how the shifter came to be, but some of the plot twists really put me off and I hated illogical actions. Some of the decision-making by both MCs did not make any sense except creating drama and some of the weird actions by ex-boyfriend felt over-the-top.
I ended up both liking and disliking this book. It was well-written and edited, which deserves 4 stars.
I bought this book because of the shifter genre, but willing to try another book to get a feel if this author is for me or not.
June 26, 2020
So, I really wanted to love this one, from the blurb it sounded perfect. Unfortunately, I found it “just OK”. I enjoyed the take on how Guy and the wolf interacted. The relationship between Joel and Keen was a mystery, I was confused as to why they stayed connected. The ending seemed rushed and a bit unbelievable as the “bad guys” seemed to give up all too easily.
July 6, 2018
3.5 Stars
August 11, 2018
Really enjoyed this book. The characters' flow and story's pacing was an absolute wonder. Felt like I was reading a Japanese Shounen Ai manga.
January 9, 2026
sweet, kind, funny and to the point. a brief look into grief and what being believed means to people. also porn! yay!
July 7, 2018
Check out our
Wanting the Wolfman
post on Wicked Reads.
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Angie – ☆☆☆
3 1/2 stars
It took me a bit to get into this book. It was really wordy and overly descriptive at times. I honestly didn't connect with Joel or Guy. I am not sure how anyone in the medical field would have believed Joel was attacked by a dog, his wounds would have shown it was something else. I also couldn't understand how Guy and the wolf could talk but weren't one and the same. That would have been one of the times I wanted more description! I felt the connection between Joel and Wolf which was odd. I just wanted to know more about that whole thing. The book seemed to go on and on at times, but the ending felt rushed to me and too simple and easy. Overall the book was just okay to me.
Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Wanting the Wolfman by Louise Collins to read and review.
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Angie – ☆☆☆
3 1/2 stars
It took me a bit to get into this book. It was really wordy and overly descriptive at times. I honestly didn't connect with Joel or Guy. I am not sure how anyone in the medical field would have believed Joel was attacked by a dog, his wounds would have shown it was something else. I also couldn't understand how Guy and the wolf could talk but weren't one and the same. That would have been one of the times I wanted more description! I felt the connection between Joel and Wolf which was odd. I just wanted to know more about that whole thing. The book seemed to go on and on at times, but the ending felt rushed to me and too simple and easy. Overall the book was just okay to me.
Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Wanting the Wolfman by Louise Collins to read and review.
July 18, 2018
Hm, this was quite an anjoyable story. My reading time was fast and good.
July 2, 2018
REVIEWED BY CINDY
Joel’s whole life got turned upside down and he’s having a hard time coming to terms with it because he can’t remember what happened. He’s sure the story that the people who are supposed to be close to him have told him isn’t right, but he just can’t seem to break past the barrier in his mind.
This story is Joel’s journey to find himself and his desperation to find where he fits in the world and it was a lovely trip to follow him on.
Guy is a man who’s so much more, but his devotion to Joel is sweet and heartwarming and watching him overcome his fear of letting others close is as heartbreaking as it is uplifting.
Joel’s ex is a clichéd sort of bad guy, but he does just fine as a plot device that spurs Joel on to taking control of his life back. Joel’s mother is the same. If she was my mother, I’d have smacked her just to get her to quit talking. The only one in his family that is the person he deserves is his sister and it makes my wish I had a sister like her.
The wolf? Well, I don’t want to say too much because I want you to get to know him in your own way. The little twist with the whole situation makes this story kind of unique and that’s not something you can say these days very often. So many of the tales told, while brilliantly done, are just rehashes of old familiar themes and it takes something really inventive to make a book really different.
It’s not perfect. It a little easy to guess what’s going to happen, twist aside, but I liked it anyway. The author made me fall for her character right away and I spent the whole time on pins and needles wondering exactly where the story would take the turn towards its happily-ever-after.
If werewolves are your thing like they are mine, you will not be able to put this story down. I have no problem recommending this for genre lovers and people who are looking to explore something new.
This book was provided for free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
Joel’s whole life got turned upside down and he’s having a hard time coming to terms with it because he can’t remember what happened. He’s sure the story that the people who are supposed to be close to him have told him isn’t right, but he just can’t seem to break past the barrier in his mind.
This story is Joel’s journey to find himself and his desperation to find where he fits in the world and it was a lovely trip to follow him on.
Guy is a man who’s so much more, but his devotion to Joel is sweet and heartwarming and watching him overcome his fear of letting others close is as heartbreaking as it is uplifting.
Joel’s ex is a clichéd sort of bad guy, but he does just fine as a plot device that spurs Joel on to taking control of his life back. Joel’s mother is the same. If she was my mother, I’d have smacked her just to get her to quit talking. The only one in his family that is the person he deserves is his sister and it makes my wish I had a sister like her.
The wolf? Well, I don’t want to say too much because I want you to get to know him in your own way. The little twist with the whole situation makes this story kind of unique and that’s not something you can say these days very often. So many of the tales told, while brilliantly done, are just rehashes of old familiar themes and it takes something really inventive to make a book really different.
It’s not perfect. It a little easy to guess what’s going to happen, twist aside, but I liked it anyway. The author made me fall for her character right away and I spent the whole time on pins and needles wondering exactly where the story would take the turn towards its happily-ever-after.
If werewolves are your thing like they are mine, you will not be able to put this story down. I have no problem recommending this for genre lovers and people who are looking to explore something new.
This book was provided for free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
July 19, 2018
Full review at :
https://optimumm.blog/2018/07/19/review-wanting-the-wolfman-by-louise-collins/
At eighteen years old, Joel had an awful accident in the forest that cost him his leg. People told him that he was attacked by a dog, a huge rogue dog, but Joel didn’t believe them, he saw a huge wolf, but he can’t remember the accident correctly. For 3 years, Joel lived in a world of pain, confusion and severe depression. He lost his boyfriend Keen. He lost his relationship with his father, but mostly, Joel lost himself.
One day Joel decides to go back to the forest alone to find the wolf by himself. He didn’t expect to meet Guy and Wolf, and he didn’t expect to reconnect with himself either.
Joel will have to make a choice: take a risk with his safety, or have faith in Guy.
Wanting the Wolfman by Louise Collins is a standalone and the first book that I’ve read from her.
It was a beautiful and poetic story that I loved a lot.
Joel is hurt and lost. He’s hurt after his accident, at eighteen years old, his life changed completely, and Joel lost everything, starting with himself. People around him don’t know how to treat him, except his sister. His friends are awful and Keen is probably the worst human being in the entire humanity. It annoyed me a lot how Joel let people treated him badly, but when he finally fights back, he really fights back. He may have a disability, but he’s not weak and Guy, as well as Wolf, will have to deal with his fierce, strong temper.
Guy and Wolf share the same body but are two entities. Guy is human and Wolf…. Well, he’s a wolf. They aren’t the typical “werewolf” that I’m used to reading, and I loved it. Wolf isn’t in the background and comes only when he’s needed, not here. He has his temper, his own personality but he’s in tune with Guy, they are in perfect symbiosis, the human and the wolf. Guy is a caretaker, a protector. He’s alone and spent the last decade hiding in the forest, protecting wolf and taking care of him. When Joel comes into their life, Guy feels the urge to protect him at any cost. I completely melted for Guy, this guy is THE guy, strong, beautiful, loyal… my dream man!
I loved this book. The story was beautiful. It was written from Joel’s point of view, and the whole book, we follow him. How he connects with Wolf, how they bond and then how Joel has to tame Guy, how he fights hard to be with him, to take care of him too. I loved this! I loved that Joel didn’t have to tame the animal but the human.
The plot reminds me of Beauty and the Beast. The love story between the MC, the bad guys trying to hurt Guy and Wolf, Joel ready to fight and sacrifice everything for them. For me, it was a free adaptation of this tale.
The author wrote a sweet and poetic love story that put a beautiful smile on my face at the end.
I recommend this book; it’s worth your time!
4 OptimuMM’s for the Beast, his human, and their soulmate
***The ARC was provided by Dreamspinner Press. My review is an honest opinion of the book ***
https://optimumm.blog/2018/07/19/review-wanting-the-wolfman-by-louise-collins/
At eighteen years old, Joel had an awful accident in the forest that cost him his leg. People told him that he was attacked by a dog, a huge rogue dog, but Joel didn’t believe them, he saw a huge wolf, but he can’t remember the accident correctly. For 3 years, Joel lived in a world of pain, confusion and severe depression. He lost his boyfriend Keen. He lost his relationship with his father, but mostly, Joel lost himself.
One day Joel decides to go back to the forest alone to find the wolf by himself. He didn’t expect to meet Guy and Wolf, and he didn’t expect to reconnect with himself either.
Joel will have to make a choice: take a risk with his safety, or have faith in Guy.
Wanting the Wolfman by Louise Collins is a standalone and the first book that I’ve read from her.
It was a beautiful and poetic story that I loved a lot.
Joel is hurt and lost. He’s hurt after his accident, at eighteen years old, his life changed completely, and Joel lost everything, starting with himself. People around him don’t know how to treat him, except his sister. His friends are awful and Keen is probably the worst human being in the entire humanity. It annoyed me a lot how Joel let people treated him badly, but when he finally fights back, he really fights back. He may have a disability, but he’s not weak and Guy, as well as Wolf, will have to deal with his fierce, strong temper.
Guy and Wolf share the same body but are two entities. Guy is human and Wolf…. Well, he’s a wolf. They aren’t the typical “werewolf” that I’m used to reading, and I loved it. Wolf isn’t in the background and comes only when he’s needed, not here. He has his temper, his own personality but he’s in tune with Guy, they are in perfect symbiosis, the human and the wolf. Guy is a caretaker, a protector. He’s alone and spent the last decade hiding in the forest, protecting wolf and taking care of him. When Joel comes into their life, Guy feels the urge to protect him at any cost. I completely melted for Guy, this guy is THE guy, strong, beautiful, loyal… my dream man!
I loved this book. The story was beautiful. It was written from Joel’s point of view, and the whole book, we follow him. How he connects with Wolf, how they bond and then how Joel has to tame Guy, how he fights hard to be with him, to take care of him too. I loved this! I loved that Joel didn’t have to tame the animal but the human.
The plot reminds me of Beauty and the Beast. The love story between the MC, the bad guys trying to hurt Guy and Wolf, Joel ready to fight and sacrifice everything for them. For me, it was a free adaptation of this tale.
The author wrote a sweet and poetic love story that put a beautiful smile on my face at the end.
I recommend this book; it’s worth your time!
4 OptimuMM’s for the Beast, his human, and their soulmate
***The ARC was provided by Dreamspinner Press. My review is an honest opinion of the book ***
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews