Seduced by the Wolf

Heart of the Wolf #5

by Terry Spear

His first priority is to protect his pack
Werewolf pack leader Leidolf Wildhaven has just taken over a demoralized pack. With rogue wolves on the loose causing havoc and the authorities from the zoo suddenly zeroing in on the local wolf population, the last thing he needs in his territory is a do-gooder female, no matter how beautiful and enticing she is...

She'll do anything to help wolves
Biologist Cassie Roux has dedicated her life to protecting wolves in the wild. On a desperate mission to help a she-wolf with newborn pups, the last thing Cassie needs right now is a nosy and entirely too attractive werewolf pack leader trying to track her down...

With rogue wolves and hunters threatening at every turn, Cassie and Leidolf may find their attraction the most dangerous force of all.

Genres: Paranormal Romance, Paranormal, Romance, Shapeshifters, Werewolves, Fantasy, Ebooks

416 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 1, 2010

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

[Shadow Jubilee · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 - 2 stars

Pros: good research and decent premise
Cons: lots of tell, not enough show; poor world-building; poor characterization; ineffective writing style; not a good stand-alone; boring; unexciting sex scenes; unbelievable emotional connection between main characters

Continue below for extended explanation

This book could have been better - I think. I could see that the author made efforts to do research about red wolves. There was at least one particular scene when Cassie and Leidolf played that proved to be a nice example. However, good research does not necessarily yield good writing and good story.

This book is apparently the 5th book in a series. I didn't think that this would bother me so much, relying on the optimistic hope that the author would neatly add in the details that would be necessary to understand the culture of the people and the world. While the author did attempt this through endless narration and info-dumping, by the end of the story, I was still left baffled and with unanswered questions about the culture, the world, and the time period. Therefore, as a stand-alone, I do not recommend.

I didn't care for the writing style. There was a great deal of telling rather than showing, which I objected to. For example, Leidolf is supposed to be the alpha in the pack. Perhaps I am too used to paranormal shapeshifting romances (*coughNaliniSinghcough*) where there is what may be an exaggerated sense of "alphaness", but I didn't think Leidolf exhibited much of an alpha in him. In fact, the teenage alpha, Evan, showed more alpha characteristics. Or maybe that was simply teenage rebellion. There was info-dumping. One particular line in which Cassie is defining an omega wolf to Leidolf had me snorting in disbelief. Seriously, wth? He's the alpha of the damn pack. Of course he would know what the omega of the pack. At any rate, I felt that this really slowed the pacing of the book. There was also too much going on, which did not fail to further confuse me. I also didn't understand why the whole Poseidon dreams were in there. It seemed silly and unnecessary. While the premise of the story was promising, I was actually pretty bored by the execution of it.

The world didn't make sense to me. What was the time period? When Cassie and Leidolf spoke about their past, it sounded like 19th century Western, but most of the time sounds like modern day US. I didn't quite understand what the difference between royals and non-royals were, and whether there was a hierarchy that was influenced by the "royal" status. I was confused about the "pack" hierarchy, and why the heck the pack wanted so much for Leidolf to stay. How did they determine who was alpha or beta? We were just told, oh such-and-such is alpha and such-and-such is beta. We weren't shown this. In short, I really couldn't get a good sense of what the world and the culture of the werewolves was like.

None of the characters really stood out at me, not even the damn hero. Cassie ran away a lot. Leidolf chased after her a lot. The others just stood around grinning. The big, bad wolves went around skulking. Was Cassie's colleague, Alex, really that necessary? Or the zookeepers? What was this whole tidbit about Bella-and-Devlyn-whoever-they-were? The romance wasn't entirely believable. I didn't really feel that there was much of an emotional connection between them. It seemed entirely physical. And the whole thing about Cassie wanting to help out the lone mother wolf with her pups because she wanted to be a mother just ticked me off for some reason.

I did not start off this book hating it. In fact, I had skimmed a glowing review prior to reading it so I'd had hopes - which were dashed within 2% of the book. Since I dislike leaving something uncompleted, I forced myself to finish it. I didn't realize until now how much it bothered me though.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leidolf Wildhaven is the leader of a new pack that was abused by it's former Alpha. Between protecting the pack and running his ranch he doesn't have time for much else. But when Cassie Roux, a biologist that specializes in wolves comes to town he's absolutely captivated by her.

Terry Spear has given us another great werewolf story. I jumped into the middle of this series earlier this year when I read Legend of the White Wolf. I fell in love with the characters almost right away. Leidolf Wildhaven was introduced in that book as a secondary character, at least as far as I know that was his first appearance. Anyway even though he was a secondary character when he entered into the story he demanded your attention. I was really fascinated by him, so glad he got his own book.

Seduced by the Wolf is a fast, riveting novel of danger and romance. A fine addition to the series. Both Cassie & Leidolf in their own way are playing a game of seduction- that was quite fun to watch. Ms. Spear has creates unique werewolf stories that are hard to put down.

[Marina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay so I am reading totally out of order but this is my new fav author. Love this series. Cute and sexy. Fascinating world. I want to know more!

[Leah Hester · Rating 2 out of 5]

SO- its more like a 2.5

I like some of Spear's other books, but something about this one just rubbed me the wrong way a little bit. Its not uncommon necessarily in books like this, the shifter variety, where you have the whole 'alpha' male and female and that kind of pack dynamic type of thing. But here it just came across borderline obsessively possessive and doesn't actually seem to resolve in a real positive way? Cassie does worry-literally through the whole book- that being mated to Leidolf will mean she has to give up her freedom, and she kinds does it anyways. And I didn't like that.

But it's in general a fun story, and I did like some attempts at bringing real wolf biology into play (obvs the 'alpha' theory has been heavily disproved, but the family/social dynamics is closer). I don't think I'll ever really reread it, but it was enjoyable for a one time romp in the woods!

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well that was an odd book. Glad I got it for $1.

[Jacqueline J · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pretty solid entry in the werewolf genre. I like TS's werewolf world. This is the second or third one I've read and the world building is staying pretty consistent. I few things happen quicker than they really might in real life but it's pretty minimal. For example in this one near the end, Leidolf tells a man who works for the zoo that he's been having problems with cougar killing his cattle and a couple of hours later the zoo guy tells him he's captured her and her cubs. That just seems highly improbable and really wasn't necessary to carry the story forward. The whole book feels a bit condensed like that as if things don't take as long physically as they really would but it only occasionally bothers my enjoyment of the story.

The writing is well done and I liked both the hero and the heroine. I do think if you've read others in the series you'll enjoy this one better. I've got to go back and read the one or two I've missed. If you like straight forward werewolf stories without a lot of other supernatural beings cluttering things up, as I do, then you'll like this series.

[Myndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed finally being able to read Leidolf's story. I think the pack dynamic is a bit different than any of the earlier books and that made it interesting. I also liked the strong female personality that we found in Cassie. I wish we'd gotten a bit more into the Aimee and Carver story line, but other than that I was satisfied with the story and the conclusions. I look forward to more from this series.

[Runningrabbit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kindle Unlimited

Boring, definitely a disappointment.

[Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever have one of those days when bad luck seems to follow you around?

Well, that seems to be the case for Oregon rancher Leidolf Wildhaven in author Terry Spear’s latest release, SEDUCED BY A WOLF. Leidolf is terrible at managing the finances of his ranch and he had his hands full with several abused youths he’s taken in. The fact that he has also just taken over as Alpha leader of the wayward pack of lupus garou (werewolf) just adds to his problems.

The wolf biologist Cassie Roux shows up to lecture on wolves. Leidolf is instantly attracted to her, which makes no sense. He’s never been drawn to a human female before.

Cassie has her own agenda. She is fearlessly protective of wolves. She is able to study them in ways no other wolf biologist can. Having lost her family at an young age, Cassie was raised by wolves and being a lupus garou, she git right in.

When Leidolf and Cassie meet for the first time, she is wearing a cover scent so he doesn’t know she’s a lupus garou. But she knows he is and vows to stay clear of him. Leidolf learns Cassie has spotted a red wolf in the nearby Mount Hood National Forest. He’s determined to find out more, afraid it could be one of his rogue pack members disobeying his orders again.

The search for the red wolf leads both Cassie and Leidolf into harrowing encounters with hunters and authorities from the local zoo intent on capturing wolves. Along the way, Leidolf learns of Cassie’s true nature making him more determined to know her.

As Cassie and Leidolf fight for the survival of their species and the wolf, they battle their feelings for one another.

Author Terry Spear has done a wonderful job of blending light paranormal, romance, suspense, and mystery into a tantalizing story that will capture your heart. There is bits of humor and mischief woven into the right places of this story of dedication, honor and loyalty. The author makes the world of lupus garou come to life.

This is the fifth book in Terry Spear’s werewolf series, but it is a stand alone book. Readers meet characters from previous books - including Leidolf - but aren’t left in the dark if they haven’t read the prior books yet.

For an enjoyable read and the opportunity to let your imagination run wild, pick up SEDUCED BY A WOLF and escape to Leidolf and Cassie’s world where love does rule.

[Melindeeloo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seduced by the Wolf was the best of Spears' werewolves so far, but then again I was waiting for Leidolf to get his book (he's made short appearances in several of the others)

When wolf biologist Cassie Roux comes town to give a lecture, pack alpha Leidolf finds himself captivated by the enticing redhead. But since she's only human, she's not mate material. But Cassie's actually hiding a lot, and discovering that there are shifter's in town is going to make her job more difficult and her attraction to Leidolf is going to make her life even more so.

One thing I like about Spear's series in general, is that unlike some other shifter paranormals in which you could easily substitute 'vampire' or 'demon' for 'Lupus' without affecting the story, Spear's characters are not just called wolf shifters - there's bits of wolf behavior and pack dynamics woven into the characters and their relationships.

What I liked about Seduced by the Wolf in particular, that I liked the pull between Cassie and Leidolf and found it amusing that at the same time Leidolf is lamenting that Cassie's not a wolf so he can't keep her and Cassie is lamenting that Leidolf is a wolf so she can't just love him and leave him. And I really liked Leidolf later in the story when the deviously seductive alpha discovers Cassie's secret and tries to get Cassie to stay and I like how Cassie manages to avoid much of Leidolf's clever entrapment.

Ultimately, my only nit with the story was that as Leidof's mate, Cassie wasn't really willing to compromise to have the relationship with him - she just wanted the perks without giving up much to get them.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

SPOILER. Disjointed. You know it's not gonna be good when the story is so tedious, you start skimming ahead in the book. I've only read 25% but I can't make myself read another page.

Started out great with fun premise...wolf researcher catches attention of local wolf pack leader. But then she's trying to get away from him because she doesn't want him to know her secret, but she just happens to run into him forrest, and then her long lost cousin is trying to track her, and a fellow wolf researcher is infatuated with her and is tracking her, and she's running away again from the alpha, and she's trying to rescue a female wolf, and there are some hunters, and maybe some rogue werewolves, and everyone is running all over the damn forrest trying to find each other. If that felt like a tedious run on sentence, that was my experience trying to read Seduced By the Wolf. Time to move on to something else.

[Terri]

I'm changing my bookshelf from "currently reading" back to "to-read" because I'm so confused by this story. I didn't realize it was number five in the series before I started it, so maybe that's the problem. I hope I just need to read the others first to make sense of this one. It might be good, once I can sort through just who all the different characters are and what motivates them. I'll try later. My head can't take it now.

[Darcy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Normally I find this authors books to be a solid good read, but this one was just lacking for me. I think part of that was the whole thing with Cassie and Leidolf, they weren't all that interesting. I found that the pack was much more fun and entertaining. They all seemed like quirky characters, that all of these people make up a pack of misfits. I am hoping the next book is better.

[Katherine · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just couldn't keep reading this book. There is a good story trying to get out here, an interesting world of wolf shifters and wolves. But the story kept tripping on itself, there was so much inner monologue in all the characters heads. It drove me mental.


This was a freebie from kobo.

[Paraphrodite · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This one was about Leidolf, who's been around in the last couple of books. For some reason, I expected him to be more alpha from the previous books. The zoo people are back and that bit turned out quite interesting. Overall, another OK read.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I totally loved this book. Was so looking forward to reading Leidolf's book and I was not disappointed. Great series this one, LOVE IT :)

[Blodeuedd Finland]

This one actually had promise! And it was a pnr! But, I was not in the mood for a just ok book. I wanted more, so dnf

[Marsha Keeper Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed at Shifter Haven

It’s hard to believe that the overall main series of Heart of the Wolf is now in the twenty-something numbers and still growing. I have enjoyed every series and spin-off or related series But because I had read the earlier titles long before I started my Shifter Haven bog I’ve been going back to re-read, when time permits, those first stories that captured my imagination.

Leidolf and Cassie’s story is strong, fast paced, steamy and in some ways revisits the first story in this series. As a wolf biologist, Cassie has made it her goal in life to protect all wolves and to educate humans about wolves, explain the reality and caution about the intense hatred towards them in some communities. What is not known to the general public is that Cassie has actually lived among wolves, as one of them when her own world imploded due to the actions of human hunters. But most people, thankfully, don’t really know abut the wolves that can turn human and back again. Shifters are far from commonly known, and her kind will do everything in their power to keep it that way. Her goal is two-fold, protect the red wolves that she discovers and give back for something she believes she caused. She had spotted a red wolf in this area, and set up lectures to tell the townspeople about the truths about red wolves – as well as try to learn what the community could tell her about a sighted red wolf. She certainly wasn’t prepared for the intense attraction towards one member of the audience. Leidolf was polite, obviously interested and a temptation she could not act on. She was a lone wolf, had no intention of taking a mate… and Leidolf was far more than he appeared. Hopefully the hunter’s spray she’d used would continue to mask her scent, the give away that she, like Leidolf, was a red wolf shifter.

As the relatively new alpha of a pack that had been controlled by a mad, abusive, dangerous alpha Leidolf already had his hands full. The ranch was losing money and he had no clue why, some of the former pack mates were causing trouble probably more than he could prove at the moment, a recently turned member was certainly a handful that couldn’t be fully trusted – all of that was really quite enough to keep him busy. But attending the lecture of a wolf biologist was necessary to find out exactly what she’d sighted in his territory – wolf or pack member in their fur coats. His attraction to Cassie was immediate, sure he’d thought of taking a mate one day but hadn’t considered a human. As a royal he’d hoped to find his true mate at some point and bring their pack back to a solid foundation… but this woman was tempting, perhaps enough to change his plans.

Seduced by the Wolf has a lot going on within this story. There are threads woven with several sub-plots that having read the entire series I now know how some of them will play out… but back at the beginning I’d no clue that this overall series would be so long and so involved. I mention that because now in re-reading this story I hesitantly feel it’s a bit crowded… yet, every aspect of the story is needed to come to the conclusion. So, yeah – there’s a lot going on but it’s not difficult at all to follow the directions.

I liked Leidolf and Cassie both individually and as a couple. The secondary characters are strong and interesting – even the nasty bad ones. The chance to reconnect a little bit with the very beginning of this series was a nice touch. I felt there was some closure on some open threads, but… never say never, I’ve learned. The reality is that I enjoyed Seduced by the Wolf very much, it’s sexy, intense, a bit of a mystery and some very strong willed characters are involved. I believe any reader who loves Paranormal Romance or Shifter Romance would enjoy this story and series. I realize it’s not always easy to go back to the very beginning of a long series – but if you can I would recommend getting to knows all of these amazing characters.

I re-read this title through my Kindle Unlimited subscription. (I owned a paperback copy that lost it’s way during a move *frown*)

[Katie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I haven't technically finished this book yet. I'm actually only halfway through it but I can already tell it's not one of TS's better ones. This one is actually making me very uncomfortable to read. I like the main character Cassie. She's a determined, driven woman who really cares about her job and wildlife conservation. She's also emotionally scared from what happened to her and her family in the past. Her I can actually like, but the male lead actually makes me cringe and want to bath in bleach. It obvious the writer wanted him to be the primal alpha male dreamboat, but he comes across more as the kind of man you fear is going to stalk and rape you, rather than seduce you. He spends all his time thinking about how he can convince her to stay, trapping her in his home, letting his pack try to do all kinds of things to make her stay, blatantly stairring at her while she's naked and uncomfortable with him doing so. Hell, he keeps the other women in the pack guarding her so she can't leave his home, and steals her clothes. Then, knowing she wants to leave, her drugs her food and drink she that she can't! Then he crawls, naked, into bed with her while she's drugged! Who would consider that kind of behavior romantic!

The author stresses how much Cassie doesn't want a mate, even if she misses being a pack and finds Leidolf attractive. And yet you know that eventually she's going to be "seduced" into being his mate despite how much emphasis has been put on the fact that she doesn't want to be mated. It feels like stalkholm syndrom. At the very best this "romance" feels like dubious consent. At the worst points 160 pages in, it feels more like one of those stories where a guy kidnaps a woman and hold her hostage in his basement as a sex slave.

I'm honestly not sure if I can finish this book or not. I've read most of the other books in the series and really loved them. There is just too much about these characters and the way they have been written that feels forced, non-consensual, and very uncomfortable.

[Frances Law · Rating 5 out of 5]

Line wolf.

Caddie Roux is a Wolf Biologist. She is also a Red Lupus Garou. She spends her days studying wolf packs in the wild and sells her articles to magazines. She also lectures farmers in the importance of the wolf packs hoping to stop them killing the wild packs. But, since losing her extended family to arson when she was only 13, she has no pack of her own and wants to keep it that way.
Leidolf Wildhaven is the leader of the local pack and meets her at a lecture she gives.
Sparks fly immediately and Leidolf is determined to have Caddie as his mate.
But, in the meantime, there is trouble occurring all over the place. There's a wild red wolf with pups, a couple of murderers on the loose, our old friend Henry Thompson and his sidekick, Joe, from the zoo. Put that together with unruly pack members and Leidolf had more on his hands than ever.
Terry Spear sets the standard for all werewolf stories and few can match her. I first read this some years ago but it is an evergreen that is well worth rereading.

[Lynn Grier · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW, what a story! A page turner for sure, from the start! Cassie Roux, a beautiful red lupus garow, is also a Wolf Biologist. She is in Oregon to give a lecture and meets up with sexy male alpha, Leidolf. Do sparks fly or what! Fast paced and full of action, loved it!

[Pyu · Rating 3 out of 5]

I get a headache reading this. Cassie forever running away bla bla bla. Like what is this? Feels like the book is all over the place. The only nice moment is when Leidolf took care of her and wanted to make things work.

[April Mc Vey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. So happy to see Leopoldo meet such an exciting mate! Just love the way they meet and tangle their way to mutual enjoyment! I always wished for a strong mate for him in past books and I feel this was the ultimate choice. Thank you!

[Angela Griffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable reading

I am so glad that Leidolf gets his own story in "Seduced by the Wolf"... as well as a willful handful in his Cassie! The bonus novella featuring Janice and Brad is such a sweet, HEA fairytale read.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could relate to the independent, stubborn Cassie. Leidolf is a sexy, controlling alpha that I wouldn't complain about trying to dominate me...

[Leanne Vincent · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting3

[Mimi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too many eye roll moments, and apparently no one is allowed to write about female anatomy with the correct terms (but male anatomy is totally fine). Also nobody pees after sex.

[Christa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great ready

Deep story lines. So much more to learn and many more stories to really. Love the page turning plots and more.

[Patsy Gazaleh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this author!

Very entertaining as always! She never fails to impress me. I always an looking forward to reading her next one. If I can't find one, I reread an old one!

[Meranda Semeniuk-Wappel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great series! Glad something happened to this wolf. He was really starting to make bigger messes than fix them but at least he had found something!