WICKED COWBOY WOLF (Seven Range Shifters #3) by Kait Ballenger- a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 28, 2020

To his enemies, he’s known as the Rogue. To her, he’s her only chance at survival…

Years ago, Grey Wolf Jared Black was cast from the pack for a crime he didn’t commit. Now, he’s the mysterious criminal wolf known only as the Rogue, a name his former packmates won’t soon forget. But when a vampire threat endangers the lives of their entire species, Jared must confront his former packmates again, even if that means betraying the only woman he’s ever loved…

Ever since Maeve Gray escaped the pack’s bloodsucking enemies, she’s been determined to save her species—and fast. Each passing day risks the lives of her friends and family. But when a wicked cowboy wolf shows up on the Grey Wolf ranch, offering everything Maeve’s heart desires, her eyes are opened to a whole new world beyond the packlands. For this cowgirl, sleeping with the enemy could prove as desirable as it is deadly…

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REVIEW:WICKED COWBOY WOLF is the third instalment in Kait Ballenger’s contemporary, adult SEVEN RANGE SHIFTERS erotic, paranormal, romance series- a spin off from the author’s EXECUTION UNDERGROUND series. This is rogue Grey wolf leader Jared Black, and Maeve Gray’s story line. WICKED COWBOY WOLF can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

SOME BACKGROUND: Shifters have been targeted by a group of vampires in an effort to procure a ‘pure blood’ donor in their plans to develop an injectable serum that would allow vampires to feed from shifters, a feeding that would make the vampires ten times stronger. The vampires’ latest victim is Maeve Gray, a pure bred wolf princess whose blood can also be used to develop an antidote making Maeve Gray a threat to their own success.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Jared and Maeve) WICKED COWBOY WOLF follows the building but tempestuous relationship between rogue leader/ Grey Wolf Jared ‘Rogue’ Black, and Maeve Gray. Twenty years earlier Jared Black was banished from the Grey Wolves, taking the fall for a murder he did not commit. Fast forward to present day wherein, following the rescue of Grey Wolf princess Maeve Gray, Jared aka Rogue, takes Maeve to the rogue wolf compound in an effort to procure a cure for the vampire serum. But Maeve is unaware of Rogue’s true identity, an identity with links to the Grey Wolf past. What ensues is the building but acrimonious relationship between Maeve and Rogue, and the potential fall-out when the truth is revealed.

Jared ‘Rogue’ Black has never stopped loving our story line heroine but a past mired in secrets and lies, and the death of an alpha finds Jared Black a rogue wolf whose reputation as a fighter and killer is known to all. Maeve Gray keeps the memories of the wolf she once loved, close to her heart, but her attraction to Rogue brings with it the familiarity of years before.

The relationship between Rogue and Maeve is one of immediate attraction but Rogue believes he is not worthy of love especially from the woman that has always called to his heart. A twenty-year secret threatens any sense of peace between our leading couple but Maeve believes she has fallen in love with a man whose is scarred both inside and out. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including Maeve’s brother and the Grey Wolf Alpha Maverick Gray; Wes Calhoun (Cowboy Wolf Trouble #1), as well as a number of elite Grey Wolf warriors. We are introduced to Rogue’s team: Murtagh, Frenchie, Sterling and Boone; casino owner and rogue wolf Walker Solomon; and Sophia, a woman whose struggling under the control of Solomon.

WICKED COWBOY WOLF is a story of second chances; of secrets, lies, betrayal and loss; of enduring love and happily ever after. The character driven premise is action packed and engaging; the characters are colorful and energetic; the slow building romance is heart breaking and edgy.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
The Reading Cafe
Cowboy in Wolf’s Clothing
Wicked Cowboy Wolf

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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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