COWBOY WOLF TROUBLE (Seven Range Shifters #1) by Kait Ballenger-Review,Excerpt & Giveaway Tour
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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 1, 2019
Seven shifter clans call the Montana mountains home.
But a new evil will stop at nothing to tear their world apart.
For centuries, the shifters that roam Big Sky country have honored a pact to keep the peace. Even bad-boy rancher Wes Calhoun, former leader of a renegade pack, has given up his violent ways and sworn loyalty to the Grey Wolves. But his dark past keeps catching up with him…
Human rancher Naomi Evans cares only about saving the ranch that was her father’s legacy. Until a clash with Wes opens up a whole new world—a supernatural world on the verge of war—and Naomi, her ranch, and the sexy cowboy wolf stealing her heart are smack dab in the middle of it.
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REVIEW: COWBOY WOLF TROUBLE is the first instalment in Kait Ballenger’s contemporary, adult SEVEN RANGE SHIFTERS erotic, romance series, a spin-off from the author’s EXECUTION UNDERGROUND series. This is wolf shifter and rancher Wes Calhoun, and human rancher / biologist Naomi Evans’ story line. You do not have to have read the previous series to understand or follow the current release.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Naomi and Wes) COWBOY WOLF TROUBLE follows the building but forbidden relationship between wolf shifter and rancher Wes Calhoun, and human rancher Naomi Evans. Naomi Evans is at war with an unknown force when she suspects a pack of wolves is laying waste to her flock of sheep. A trap set to catch the thief netted Naomi the surprise of her life when she pointed her gun at a naked male. Once shifted, Wes Calhoun was caught between head and heart when his pack leader decided Naomi knew too much to remain alive. What ensues is the building but forbidden romance between Naomi and Wes, and the potential fall-out as Wes’s reputation as a killer comes into question when Naomi becomes the unknown entity in a potential, supernatural war.
Wes Calhoun knows betrayal and loss. Once the packmaster for the Wild Eight’s, a rogue pack of shifting wolves, Wes sought out solitude, and forfeited his leadership when he swore loyalty to the local Seven Range Pack. Unable to forgive himself for sins of the past, Wes’ history would continue to follow in the wake of threats against the woman he loved. Bad boy to the bone, Wes must battle to prove there is more to Naomi’s story than meets the eye. Naomi Evans’ family owned ranch is struggling to survive but an offer to buy her property becomes fodder for a potential war when Naomi’s appearance in Wes’ life, is questioned by the people in control. Strong-willed, feisty and driven, Naomi is willing to risk her life to save the man with whom she is falling in love. Unfortunately, Wes’ troubled history, continues to mar any semblance of peace and retribution for our leading hero.
The relationship between Naomi and Wes is a forbidden romance. The Grey Wolves are forbidden to enter into sexual relationships with humankind, preferring to keep their supernatural species pure and untainted but Wes suspects Naomi is his mate, and struggles to stay one step ahead of the people trying to destroy their growing love. A lack of trust complicated by lies and deceit, and the pull of the man in control force Wes to push Naomi out of his life. The $ex scenes are passionate and intense, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
We are introduced to a large ensemble cast of colorful secondary and supporting characters including packmaster Maverick Grey , medic Austin, High Commander of the Grey Wolf armies Colt Cavanaugh, IT specialist Blaze,and shifter Malcolm. The requisite evil has many faces.
The world building follows the potential for war as the Wild Eights target Wes Calhoun and the Grey Wolf pack. The Wild Eights have drawn the proverbial line in the sand, and have merged with a more powerful species in their attempts to takedown their once mighty leader.
COWBOY WOLF TROUBLE is a story of secrets and lies; betrayal and deceit; family, forgiveness and love. The premise is engaging, dramatic and startling; the characters are impassioned and strong; the romance is heart breaking and intimate. COWBOY WOLF TROUBLE is a strong start to the Seven Range Shifters series.
Copy supplied by Netgalley
Reviewed by Sandy
“I didn’t kill your livestock.” Slowly, he pushed into a plank position above her before he stood. He’d take his chance with her running again if it meant escaping the hazy fog her scent flooded over his brain.
She scrambled to her feet with some complication considering her hands remained bound. Her full lips pulled into a scowl. “Evidence says otherwise. After all, you were the one in the trap not far from the sheep’s pen. Not to mention, I smelled it on you just now.”
“Trust me, sweetheart, if I wanted a mutton steak, I’d take a chomp out of my pack’s flock.” He didn’t know which bristled him more, the accusation that he’d murdered her flock or the fact that she implied he smelled like the inside of a barn. Which he likely did at the moment, considering he’d spent the morning herding a couple hundred of the Grey Wolf calves into the barn so they could begin preparing to take them to market soon, but that was beside the point. “If it’s the blood you’re referring to, that’s the blood of my enemies. Not your precious lambs.”
She struggled with the bindings at her wrists, attempting to remove them to no luck. “I won’t take your word for it.”
“You’re a feisty one, huh?” He shook his head. What the hell had he gotten himself into? She was a pistol, and he liked irritating her. Every time those gorgeous brown eyes blazed in challenge his head filled with naughty thoughts. He’d always had far too much appreciation for feisty women.
“If you wanted cooperation, maybe you shouldn’t have abducted me from my pasture.”
“You had a gun to my head,” he said.
“You ate Lambie,” she countered.
When the frustration on his face made it clear, he had no clue what she was blabbering on about, she sighed. “My sheep,” she elaborated. “A wolf has been killing them. My guess is that’s why I caught you in the trap my idiot brother set.”
“You name your livestock?” His gaze swept over her. From her faded jeans, cowgirl boots, and the worn overlaid suede jacket, she looked as if she knew her way around the ranchlands. Ebony hair, dark skin, and sharp sculpted cheeks, said she was Native American. Thanks to the language she’d muttered earlier and considering their proximity to the reservation, he guessed Crow Tribe. Crow Agency was only a few hours drive from here.
“Just one: the sheep that you slaughtered two weeks ago. His name was Lambie, and he was a sweet, gentle yew. My father gave him to me when I was ten. The only thing worse would’ve been if you killed our family ranch dog, Blue. You’re lucky he’s with my brother right now or he would have taken a good chunk out of one of your back legs.”
Wes stared open-mouthed at the woman before him. He wasn’t even sure where to begin. Who did she think she was, Little Bo Peep? Call him ignorant, but as far as he knew, no rancher in their right mind named their flock like they were house pets.
When he’d been stuck in her trap and she’d stared down at him in wolf form, apologizing for holding her gun on him, he’d imagined the Wild Eight wolves turning around in search of him, but instead finding her and something inside him had snapped. In that moment, he’d been back there again. The memory shook him and he’d imagined himself in that godforsaken bedroom, blood dripping from him and an innocent woman…
He closed his eyes, and released a long exhale. He hadn’t been able to bear the thought.
So he’d shifted in front of her. Pack law be damned. He’d done it both because he had no other way to escape the trap he’d been locked in—not without opposable thumbs—and also to warn her. The Wild Eight were bound to circle back looking for him, and with their blood pulsing from the night’s battles, if she managed to get in their way, an innocent human female like her would serve as nothing more than a bloody diversion to them. He knew they weren’t safe. Not even now that they were hidden in the forests of the Grey Wolves territory again.
She was a stranger to him, but he wouldn’t allow those monsters to kill another innocent. Though he should have taken her life as pack law dictated when she’d laid passed out in front of him, he couldn’t bring himself to kill an innocent. Not again.
BIO: Kait Ballenger is a full-time paranormal romance author, wife, bellydancer, graduate student, and soon-to-be-professor. She is the multi-published, award-winning author of the Execution Underground paranormal romance series. With a B.A in English from Stetson University, Kait is currently earning an M.F.A in Writing. Kait believes anything is possible with hard work and dedication. One day, she hopes to be a bestseller and to see her novels on the big screen. Look for the next two books in her page-turning Execution Underground series: Twilight Hunter, book one (August 2013) and Immortal Hunter, book two (January 2014). For more information, please visit www.kaitballenger.com or follow her on Twitter @kait_ballenger.
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Great review, Sandy. Looks like a great start to this series.
Terrific review, Sandy. I am adding this to my tbr list. Looks fantastic.
Another great review and excerpt, thanks Sandy. Congratulations to Kait on the new release.
Looks wonderful. Thanks for the great excerpt.
Very nice review and excerpt, thanks Sandy.
Sounds great, Sandy. Thanks.
Fabulous review Sandy!! Awesome cover!! Shared on my socials!??
wonderful review, sandy. sounds very good.
Great review, Sandy. Looks very good.
Very nice review, thanks Sandy.
Thanks for the great review and excerpt.