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Wolf Island
Being bitten doesn’t change the man who becomes a wolf. Only the love of a strong alpha does that.
Markus Julson IV is a billionaire investment financier who lives in New York with his husband, Danny Fletcher. His family has led the Manhattan pack for more than a century. Once a month, he flies to a secluded island in the ocean to let the wolf living in him run free. But when a stranger crashes onto his island and is bitten by his wolf, Markus’ world changes in an instant.
Dr. Peter Roberts is an assistant professor of marine cell and molecular biology at NYU whose research vessel is forced ashore onto an uncharted island during a storm. To find help, he leaves the protection of the boat and is bitten by a wolf during the storm, which changes him in more ways than one.
Markus must quickly bring Peter into the underbelly of wolf politics, because their chance encounter on the island may be fate or something more sinister. To further complicate things, Markus must manage his life with his husband while dealing with his wolf, who has chosen Peter as his mate.
Polyamorous relationships with paranormal beings are always complicated.
Reader advisory: This book has a scene of double anal penetration, and a murder.
Markus Julson IV is a billionaire investment financier who lives in New York with his husband, Danny Fletcher. His family has led the Manhattan pack for more than a century. Once a month, he flies to a secluded island in the ocean to let the wolf living in him run free. But when a stranger crashes onto his island and is bitten by his wolf, Markus’ world changes in an instant.
Dr. Peter Roberts is an assistant professor of marine cell and molecular biology at NYU whose research vessel is forced ashore onto an uncharted island during a storm. To find help, he leaves the protection of the boat and is bitten by a wolf during the storm, which changes him in more ways than one.
Markus must quickly bring Peter into the underbelly of wolf politics, because their chance encounter on the island may be fate or something more sinister. To further complicate things, Markus must manage his life with his husband while dealing with his wolf, who has chosen Peter as his mate.
Polyamorous relationships with paranormal beings are always complicated.
Reader advisory: This book has a scene of double anal penetration, and a murder.
152 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 11, 2022
5 people want to read
About the author
Jason Wrench
29 books34 followersJason Wrench writes. He writes a lot. He’s authored eleven academic textbooks, thirty-five plus research articles, authored numerous chapters in other books, and edited eight academic books. When he’s not in his day job as a college professor at SUNY New Paltz where he teaches in the Department of Communication, he’s writing romantic thrillers like 12 Days of Murder (November 2021) and Till Death Do Us Wed (February 2022), both with Pride Publishing. Jason loves reading/writing, Broadway, coffee, and his puggles. He’s a member of the Romance Writers of America and the Textbook and Academic Author Association.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 8, 2022
I was very excited when I started reading the book becauseI am a poly reader and I love when more of this kind of books are coming out. What was disappointing was the lack of emotional depth of the characters. I couldn't feel the emotionality and build a picture of everyone involved due to the lack of descriptions, inner monologue, feelings, motivation, personal preferences. Although a big part of the main character is his wolf, they are both living like separate entities. I hoped to see the pack, the members and the dynamics as a part of the world building but it wasn't described at all and seen on page. The way the action unfolds in the book did not allow me to merge with what I was reading and grab my attention. I was expecting more suspense,angst more complexity, more difficulties and a gradual development of the relationship between the three main characters.
It's a well-written book but the story is somehow flat. There is a good foundation for a build up, there are interesting ideas but they need developing and some more work.
I received the book as an ARC and this is my honest review.
It's a well-written book but the story is somehow flat. There is a good foundation for a build up, there are interesting ideas but they need developing and some more work.
I received the book as an ARC and this is my honest review.
October 17, 2022
This was a real good read for me! I don’t usually read books with paranormal or shifters but since I really enjoy reading Jason Wrench’s “Up on the Farm” series, I wanted to give “Wolf Island” a try and I’m happy I did! I really like JW’s style of writing. This one is a MMM type of story which I absolutely love! One of my favorite trope!
The story focuses on Markus, a billionaire investor who has to go to Wolf Island, an island that he owns once a month when there’s a full moon. I guess that’s a giveaway. Yes he does and the term is eigi einhamir, an Icelandic term for it. This is when he’ll allow the wolf to come out since there’s nobody around when it happens. The only person who is allowed to be on the island is Greta and she makes sure the estate is on a lockdown so Markus doesn’t accidentally bite another human and convert him/her into an eigi einhamir. His husband, Danny who isn’t one has to stay behind in NYC. That night, no matter how secured the island is from the outside, a Dr. Peter Roberts manages to get on the island since he was shipwrecked. He got bitten by Markus. What happens afterwards? How is his husband going to react since whoever Markus bites is attached to him. Also what happens to their marriage and their future? That’s where I’m going to stop and have you pick up the book to read to find out! Would make for a great movie! 5 stars for me!
The story focuses on Markus, a billionaire investor who has to go to Wolf Island, an island that he owns once a month when there’s a full moon. I guess that’s a giveaway. Yes he does and the term is eigi einhamir, an Icelandic term for it. This is when he’ll allow the wolf to come out since there’s nobody around when it happens. The only person who is allowed to be on the island is Greta and she makes sure the estate is on a lockdown so Markus doesn’t accidentally bite another human and convert him/her into an eigi einhamir. His husband, Danny who isn’t one has to stay behind in NYC. That night, no matter how secured the island is from the outside, a Dr. Peter Roberts manages to get on the island since he was shipwrecked. He got bitten by Markus. What happens afterwards? How is his husband going to react since whoever Markus bites is attached to him. Also what happens to their marriage and their future? That’s where I’m going to stop and have you pick up the book to read to find out! Would make for a great movie! 5 stars for me!
October 19, 2022
While Markus is on his monthly trip to his private island, he wakes up to find that a stranger has somehow found his way on to the island. When circumstances have Peter going to Markus for help their lives are turned upside down. The two have many obstacles to overcome including Markus’s husband. Enemies seem to come out of hiding and bonds are tested.
As much as I found the plotline interesting, I am sorry to say this book missed the mark for me. There was a lot of telling and a too much details descriptions about almost every material thing mentioned that is either owned or around the main characters. I did not connect with any of the characters, nor did I feel the emotions or attraction that the men have for each other. I am not a fan of Markus and the way he thinks and reacts when he realizes just what he has done. There are some plot twists that will grab your attention, for me though this story and its characters did not pull me in.
As much as I found the plotline interesting, I am sorry to say this book missed the mark for me. There was a lot of telling and a too much details descriptions about almost every material thing mentioned that is either owned or around the main characters. I did not connect with any of the characters, nor did I feel the emotions or attraction that the men have for each other. I am not a fan of Markus and the way he thinks and reacts when he realizes just what he has done. There are some plot twists that will grab your attention, for me though this story and its characters did not pull me in.
October 8, 2022
Rounded up from 3.5 stars. I really like the plot of this book, and the idea of the characters. Markus is very different from a lot of alpha wolf shifter characters. He’s not as connected to his wolf, and it definitely effects him and the plot. The bad guy was pretty obvious, but it didn’t really bother me. I also hate cheating storylines, so I was actually happy with how easily Danny accepted Peter into their dynamic. The smexy times were pretty hot, if not a little unrealistic (what gay man has been married for 10 years and never had his pspot stimulated?). All in all I think it was a solid effort, but definitely should have been longer to get more character and world development.
October 5, 2022
Ok. So I'm rounding up on this one from 3.5 stars. I was very interested in the premise for this book and it is an intriguing story. It just felt like the pacing was a little off for me. It felt a bit slow until you get over 60+% finished. Then it kind of feels a little rushed.
I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
October 29, 2022
I was really hoping Jason Wrench would be another author to add to my regularly-read-list, but I simply think his writing style and me are not compatible. The author's penchant for inconsistent pacing with slower builds and quick accelerations leaves me feeling as though I missed something. Additionally, as much as I enjoy some heat in my romance, I prefer more character and relationship development than steam and this author seems more apt to focus on the sexy scenes.
I had wondered if I would feel different reading a shifter story, as I tend to expect some insta-love and a fair bit of heat in this trope. However, as I read Wolf Island, I once again found myself wishing I had a chance to see and understand more of Markus and Danny's marital relationship outside of their bedroom escapades. Similarly, although the idea of adding a third to their relationship intrigued me, I wanted to see more with Peter and Markus first coming together, especially when Danny is told about the unexpected pairing, rather than it just being quickly introduced and accepted. I guess I keep thinking I'm getting more of an erotic storyline versus the romance. While I have no doubt there are plenty of readers who are looking precisely for this dynamic, they just aren't what makes for good or great reads for me—super unfortunate as I do find the author's plotlines and characters pretty interesting and unique.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
I had wondered if I would feel different reading a shifter story, as I tend to expect some insta-love and a fair bit of heat in this trope. However, as I read Wolf Island, I once again found myself wishing I had a chance to see and understand more of Markus and Danny's marital relationship outside of their bedroom escapades. Similarly, although the idea of adding a third to their relationship intrigued me, I wanted to see more with Peter and Markus first coming together, especially when Danny is told about the unexpected pairing, rather than it just being quickly introduced and accepted. I guess I keep thinking I'm getting more of an erotic storyline versus the romance. While I have no doubt there are plenty of readers who are looking precisely for this dynamic, they just aren't what makes for good or great reads for me—super unfortunate as I do find the author's plotlines and characters pretty interesting and unique.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
October 25, 2022
Wolf Island by Jason Wrench was totally unexpected. It was totally unpredictable and absolutely enjoyable. It also had some haaaawwwt scenes.
April 19, 2023
I think the book did a lot of telling but not much showing. There was plenty of dialog to tell us what they did, the history of how Markus' family came to America in the 1800s, and some pack law, but it didn't really seem to matter. We were told something and then it moved to the next scene. I would've liked more descriptions of their emotions, some internal monologues, even weather/lighting/food descriptions to give us an environment to picture while they are spitting dialogue to each other.
There's an HEA but again, it's all telling. We're not shown much of the action scenes, or emotions in any of the moments. The pounding of their hearts in fear as they await what would happen, the sweat, the chill, the silence. The relief when it ends? Heavy breathing, tears, adrenaline? Descriptions of everything else is a bit lacking to help build a fuller picture of the story.
There was also one use of the word "water closet" by Markus to describe the bathroom that threw me out of the reading. Markus's great great (great?) grandparents came to America in the 1800s, so he should be well-versed in American English and not have any lingering European English tendencies in his speech. Hearing him say that he heard Peter flushing the toilet inside the water closet was very weird.
There was also a lot of Icelandic(?) or non-American English terms and names that would've been nice to have pronunciations for. It was a nice touch to have Peter stumble once on the non-english name for wolf shifters but would've been better if they sounded it out for him when they were correcting him instead of just saying it.
I'm glad though Danny was mad and reluctant at first, he came around pretty fast in having Peter in their lives. The MMM aspects were pretty low-to-no angst and everything flowed smoothly.
I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by the author.
There's an HEA but again, it's all telling. We're not shown much of the action scenes, or emotions in any of the moments. The pounding of their hearts in fear as they await what would happen, the sweat, the chill, the silence. The relief when it ends? Heavy breathing, tears, adrenaline? Descriptions of everything else is a bit lacking to help build a fuller picture of the story.
There was also one use of the word "water closet" by Markus to describe the bathroom that threw me out of the reading. Markus's great great (great?) grandparents came to America in the 1800s, so he should be well-versed in American English and not have any lingering European English tendencies in his speech. Hearing him say that he heard Peter flushing the toilet inside the water closet was very weird.
There was also a lot of Icelandic(?) or non-American English terms and names that would've been nice to have pronunciations for. It was a nice touch to have Peter stumble once on the non-english name for wolf shifters but would've been better if they sounded it out for him when they were correcting him instead of just saying it.
I'm glad though Danny was mad and reluctant at first, he came around pretty fast in having Peter in their lives. The MMM aspects were pretty low-to-no angst and everything flowed smoothly.
I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by the author.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews