Chosen Wolf

Moonlight Mountain #1

by Minerva Howe, Julia Talbot

Brantley is perfectly happy with his life. He has a good job, a strong wolf pack behind him, and a trip into Denver every so often to take care of his needs. So when the Pack has the kind of meeting that only happens once in a blue moon, he's more annoyed than worried. At least until the meeting turns out to be the stuff of Pack legend, with a vampire appearing to choose a new guardian from all of the eligible male wolves.


Vampire Paul has a good arrangement with the Moonlight Mountain pack. He gets to choose a wolf as his guardian, and they get a draught of his blood to strengthen their line. His connection with Brant is immediate, and he knows Brantley will be the first guardian in maybe centuries who will match him need for need. Paul likes games of dominance, likes to put his guardians to the test. Brantley is pretty sure he doesn't even like men, let alone a vamp who's into whips and chains. Can Paul convince Brantley that they really are made for each other?

Author's note: This is a previously published story with a new edit and new material. The publisher has changed. This is a paranormal fated mates story that contains strong elements that some readers may find darker.

Genres: BDSM, Shapeshifters, M M Romance, Vampires, Paranormal, Erotica, Wolves

111 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 8, 2014

About the author

Minerva Howe is the kinky alter ego of author Julia Talbot. Julia lives in the great Southwest, where there is hot and cold running rodeo, cowboys, and everything from meat and potatoes to the best Tex-Mex. A full time author, Julia has been published by Samhain as well as other publishing houses. She believes that everyone deserves a happy ending, so she writes about love without limits, where boys love boys, girls love girls, and boys and girls get together to get wild, especially when her crazy paranormal characters are involved.

Reviews

[Candice · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I finished the story, it was not for me. The writing was not the factor, it was the content for me. I wish I had known it was BDSM and for people who read those type of stories, it is probably minor and not a big deal, for me personally, I don't enjoy those type stories. I take the blame since I read without waiting for others to read and review, so the two star rating is because for me it was just ok. I had some other issues with consent and such, but once again, my personal views.

[Jesslan Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chosen Wolf
By Minerva Howe

Paul is a vampire that lives on the mountain, but to the pack of wolves who live at the base he is but a boogeyman story to scare children with. In reality Paul provides the pack with money, wealth, and strength and every so many generations they provide him with one male wolf guardian to bind to him and feed off him, but not all guardians have the same relationship with him. When Paul sees Brantley he knows he's the one meant for him. One he hasn't had the likes of in a long time. But Brantley is brash, outspoken, and argumentative. Paul is thrilled with his new guardian, but Brantley claims he wants nothing to do with Paul.

I did like this book. I liked Paul more so than Brantley just because of Brant's obnoxious personality. The dynamics of the relationship they had together was interesting. There wasn't much world-building only because most of the world was Paul and Brantley in Paul's home.

There is BDSM in this book as well as non-con in the beginning and dub-con. So be forewarned. Despite that however the book is not a seriously dark read. It's funny and light-hearted at times, but Paul needs to learn no means no and respect that.

The book is in both Paul and Brantley's POV. Though mostly Paul's. The angst level is low.

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Genevieve · Rating 1 out of 5]

Consent not required and generational slavery

How hard is it to come up with fantasy worlds that have respect for consent and find something other than forms of slavery to move their plots along....

Your “love interest” is not only sold off by his pack for a promise his ancestors made - bitten while denying consent to even considering the idea.

Add a Rape and Non Consent Trigger warning please - I have no desire to even finish reading the scene. This was not what I was expecting from the blurb. I was expecting your vampire to win him over not just take away any choice and use his power to violate his rights....

[Rielle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Erotic novella with some light D/s between a vampire and werewolf.

This had a very promising storyline and maybe my expectations were too high, but it missed the mark by a king shot. There was way too much sex way too quickly and I was honestly confused for about a third of this story. There was no buildup or investment in the characters and their connection. I felt vaguely uncomfortable the entire time. I just don’t like my doms “knowing” what their sub needs when they have literally just met. I want some trust and it feels wrong without it.

[m · Rating 4 out of 5]

A vampire. Vampires really existed, and this one knew he was gay and wanted to hump him like a naughty puppy. And eat him. Christ.

I liked this! It’s primarily smut with a dominant vamp and submissive werewolf with a bit of dubcon at the start bc Wolfy doesn’t trust the bond between them. Not sure if I’ll continue the series but it was a quick spicy read.

[M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so freaking hot!

Paul is a powerful vampire who protects the local pack. The deal? Paul gets a Guardian wolf who will protect and feed him. When his latest Guardian dies, Paul leaves his mountain home in search of his new Guardian in the local pack.

Brantley is an asshole who doesn’t believe in the Manu (Paul). When Brant is chosen as the new Guardian, his human side fights the bond even though his wolf knows to stay. The chemistry is off the charts between Paul and Brant. I think that has a lot to do with me loving characters who fight their submission. It makes it that much sweeter when they finally submit.

All in all, this book is SEXY! I’m excited for the next one.

[Sherry F · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is Julia Talbot writing BDSM.

A lot of internal and external angst and dialogue that didn't work very well for me.

Brant is chosen to be the guardian of centuries old vampire, Paul. Paul knows that Brant will learn to love Paul's craving for BDSM. How, it doesn't say how cuz he just does. Paul is smooth and urbane while Brant is modern and rather a wimp, as it turn outs.

All the characters felt undeveloped with lots of head hopping.

[Tricia Ledford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bdsm and maybe a mix of dub-con. Paul and Brantley. Paul is a vampire and takes a wolf as a guardian every hundred yrs because the wolfs die.... But I wanted more for an ending. Like Paul and Brantley fall in deep love with each other and now all I can think about is how Brantley's gana die in a hundred yrs and Paul's gana need another wolf.... WTF. I was sad reading this because the other guardians Paul had, yeah Paul loved them but they died and he needed to get another wolf or guardian.... Paul is sad from his past lovers and Brantley I feel is more to Paul than any of them ever were.
Paul is dominate and Brantley completely submits to Paul, full trust and love. Full submission given and that's exactly what Paul has always wanted. So Brantley will eventually die, and I get this a BDSM book, but it was way more than that. Why did have to be so sad like that. I want Brantley to be immortal and live with Paul forever. 🥺🥺🥺 And the ending is fine. They are happy, but I'm not. 🥺🥺🥺🥺😥😥
Now I'm left with a sad little hole to fill. Means I'ma have to go find something sugary sweet to read.

[ReadToFilth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay, I enjoyed other books by this author but this one I just couldn't.

I felt like the story was rushed. Not only that but, and I hate to say this when we are talking magic/vampires/wolf-shifters, it was just unbelievable to go from hating someone to that ending in such a short period of time. Maybe I didn't catch the narrative time-lapse? I don't know but I do know this book put me off reading other books by this author for awhile & that I will not continue this series.

[John-Torleif Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m a bit iffy on this

I liked the relationship that eventually developed between Brandt and Paul, but consent is a real thing, and I’m very sure that Paul was capable of seducing Brandt while still letting his Guardian consent. Instead, we got a whole lot of dub-con that was ‘ok’ because they were fated, so there’s no such thing as rape between fated mates…

[Alexis Woods · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this because I love Julia's works but this one was a little too non con and a whole lot more erotica than I was expecting. I really felt like the vampire was coercing his fated mate wolf into sex and BDSM sex at that.

[Carrie Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good story.

I wasn't sure about this series at first. But as I got to read about Paul and Brant more I realized that it was going to be very interesting. Can't wait for the next.

[Greg · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lack of consent is not fun to read.

If it bothers you to read about being forced into a relationship and coerced to accept it using dubiously consented to sex as the means of coercion, don’t read this book.

[☔️ Stormy Day Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Different

So, that was not what I was expecting at all. The author's other books I've read are so sweet. I can't really even think of how to describe this. Paranormal BDSM? Intense. I liked the ending I just wish there was more relationship stuff.

[Denise GremoryKohta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was different.

This was totally unlike anything I’ve read by this author. I enjoyed it and found the guardian concept fascinating. I’m looking forward to see where the next one goes and what it brings us.

[Christine Stutzke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brant is wolf form was so adorable. I wanted more of it.

[Katy Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favourite

To be honest this book was not my favourite read. I am not a big fan of BSDM and vampire stories so was left disappointed.

[MM_RomanceBooks Favorites]

Vampire x wolf shifter, BDSM. CW: Dubcon, blood play.

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a fan of non-consensual

Not a fan of non- consensual relationships or dub con. I love, love love this author but it’s a nope here.

[Kobie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much sex, not enough story, in my opinion.

[Damian · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

I didn't like this book at all. I was thirty percent in and I didn't like the way it was headed. Some readers may like it but not me.

[Trefoil · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was just no depth to this story or to its characters. It all felt very surface level and was hard to get invested in

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Review copied from my Amazon review.* Caveat first: I'm not associated with the author in any way, nor did I get an ARC copy. I came across it in a recommendation, downloaded the sample, and liked it so much I bought it and the next book in the series.

I really, really liked this book. I initially wanted to review it just to counter the ridiculous allegations of rape in the story (from Amazon reviewers). I saw those and was surprised. It's such a rare thing to see in a review. Heck, I even read the second book, then read both books again before posting this review, just to make sure I didn't have blinders on. But they are quite incorrect.

Without giving out too much detail or spoilers, this story isn't about a wolf shifter (Brantley) fighting against a vampire (Paul) who chooses him to be his Guardian. It is about the bond that forms between a wolf shifter and his vampire, and how the wolf/human aspects in Brantley fight against EACH OTHER due to confusion surrounding their needs. Brantley is a very strong, willful character, and is the perfect foil for Paul. These two were made for each other, which becomes clear as the bond strengthens and Brantley finally begins to understand his own needs.

Paul needs a Guardian like Brantley to survive, but it's about more than just feeding. Paul doesn't actually choose Brantley, the bond does. With that in mind, it doesn't make sense for that type of bond to be with someone who does not meet Paul's needs; forcing it through rape, non-con, or any other manner is simply not present in this book. The story does have BDSM elements, including the aspect of self-discovery, which I already mentioned Brantley goes through...not just with his own need to submit, but in connecting with his wolf self as well. Part of that self-discovery is the typical "mouth says no, soul screams yes" contradiction. Since Paul has a telepathic bond with Brantley, as well as heightened vampire senses like scent (I like the way Minerva Howe makes Brantley's need an actual scent in his blood and makes Brantley's blood react to Paul in a sensual manner), he knows that the words coming out of Brantley's mouth contradict his actual wants and needs.

And well, if that's not reassurance enough there's this: Paul isn't the typical (and somewhat overdone) irritating vampire who is unemotional, reserved, cold hearted, etc. He's all fire and passion, which is brought out through his bond with Brantley. On top of that is love and affection for Brantley's wolf. There is so much lighthearted play to go with the fire, it's like a one-two punch when these two get together: smiles at the wolf play, scorching heat at the human play. I loved these guys.

Is the book perfect? No, but so few are. And it's still relatively short, not a 600-page epic, so there isn't a huge amount of depth to the story or characters. Is it for everyone? No again, but so few books are. But if you like vampire/shifter stories, and are OK with light BDSM elements, I recommend you try this story. It's so much deeper than superficial sex, but only if you are willing to look beyond the surface.

[Fifika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Taste is a personal thing, isn't it?
And not only that but taste has it's days - one day you want pasta , the other chicken;go out and have a beer , go next time and have a cocktail.If you choose martini you betray Bud light? Or you officially pronounce that you no longer like beer?
Books are like that , you know.I allow myself as many pleasures as possible and books are certainly at the top 5 of them . Why the hell should i limit my bookshelf? It's all a matter of timing.
I have times that all i want to read is love, hugs , flowers and so happy ending that my eyes are licking honey.Times that i NEED to read about kinks so hard cored that i have to change underwear at night - twice.Other times , a story full of angst and pain that all the floggers in the world combined don't even start to reach that level.
And times like this , when vampires and wolfs come together although from so different worlds - and they have a playroom too , yay!
For me , this is as relaxing as could be - therefore the 3 stars .
A nice story , a good challenge between the main characters , no complex thoughts and feelings - this is bare instincts , nothing more , nothing less.And a kinky vampire who likes to redden the ass he fucks , before he bites and sucks blood that is.
I like it and i will read this writer's next books as well.

Btw reviewers , don't be so snob and so bitchy.It's a book , not a Picasso .

[Hc · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have NO clue how this could turn into a series. Frankly, the bdsm elements were not to my liking. On top of that, this is watching part of a never ending cycle! Almost like, why bother! Brantley is the 14th guardian and there's no indication that he's not temporary just like the others before him.

Just not to my taste at all.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

One really could discuss if this dub-con or not... but overall I liked the book :)

And Brant in his wolf form is simply adorable! :)

[Izzy Anderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay it was short maybe I didn't have enough time to fall for the main characters?