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Sunday, March 1, 2015

Book Review: Portrait of a Lone Wolf (Black Hills Wolves Book 7) by Katalina Leon

Portrait of a Lone Wolf (Black Hills Wolves Book 7)
by Katalina Leon
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
ASIN: B00RSF22U6
February 20, 2015.
A mixed-blood Native American wolf-shifter, abandoned by a teenage mother and ignored by an absentee father, Rio Waya has never fit in or felt worthy of love. But when he comes home to the Black Hills, he realizes he wants a mate of his own.


Recovering from a cheating ex who started a new family behind her back, Sela López seeks escape to pull her life back together. As a documentary filmmaker and wildlife photographer, she rents a cabin in the Black Hills with plans to film the beleaguered wolf population. But she’s so busy looking through a camera lens she doesn’t see trouble coming.

Sparks fly as mutual fears and vulnerabilities surface when Sela and Rio meet. She can’t figure out why the mysterious Mr. Waya is so anxious about having a documentary made of the Black Hills Wolves. But when his secret is exposed, all hell breaks loose. Can Rio win Sela’s trust and soothe her fears about allowing a hunky wolf-shifter into her heart?

Sela Lopez came to the Black Hills to film a documentary about the wolves of the area and to also heal from the breakup with her husband who cheated on her. Renting a cabin from Rio Waya, ranger and veteran, she hoped to get some good footage. Rio tried to convince her not to do it, but still rents the place to her. Rio has good reason to not want her poking around about the wolves. They have secrets, and if she learns, it could be deadly for him and his wolf-shifter pack.

This is a novella, a fast and easy read. Though I’d wish she added more story to the spot between after he convinces her to stay and the ending. That was quick to me, and cheated me out of their romance growing and being even more believable. Though, to many others this may be fine. If you enjoy paranormal romance with a happily ever after ending and werewolves, this novella may fill the bill for you. For me, I just wish she added more to what I felt was missing.

Excerpt
Following her nose through the front door, she was thrust into a honky-tonk time warp. Bars like this one didn’t exist in Los Angeles. The Den was cozy enough but appeared to have been decorated by a taxidermist in the late seventies and zealously preserved since. The shaggy heads of several unfortunate buffalo dominated the far wall. At the front door, two stuffed raccoons offered a mock greeting with outstretched paws. The chairs, booths, and even a few of the tables were covered in forest green vinyl. No doubt a sticky misery to come in contact with on a hot day.

Movement caught her eye. A burly man with an inscrutable expression rose from behind a counter as if he was part of a magic act. He was tall with a barrel chest. A nappy brown sweater coupled with hunched posture lent him a distinctly bearlike appearance.

The dour gentleman focused on Sela with a frown. “Where did you come from?”

Steppenwolf’s “Born To Be Wild” was cranked to eleven. She had to shout to be heard, “Can I order some food to go?”

The saggy-faced Papa bear behind the counter appeared perturbed. “Fair warning, miss. The kitchen’s closed. Pretty sure we don’t have what you want.”

The explosive clack of a pool cue making hard contact with a ball nearly drowned her out. “Except for you, everything’s closed in this town!”

A few customers cast her a brief glance then looked away. The lucky bastards sat in front of pitchers of cold beer, towering hamburgers, paired with heaps of french fries or onion rings. Her stomach growled embarrassingly loud, but she doubted anyone could hear above the blaring music. “Something smells heavenly. Could I at least order onion rings to go?”

Bear man shook his head. “Sorry. No can do. Fryer’s turned off.”

“Really?” Digging through her purse, she wondered if this place would accept a credit card. “I’m willing to pay a little extra for the trouble.”

With a sullen pout, he rubbed a limp rag across the countertop. “After hours The Den ain’t open to the general public. Guess what? It’s after hours.”

“Oh, come on!” She sounded desperate.

A man in a red plaid shirt, who appeared to be in his mid-thirties, sat at the counter. He shot her a smoldering look filled with mixed emotions. Perhaps he was angry or lost in thought. She couldn’t tell. The flash of fire in his eyes beneath brooding black brows was impossible to decipher. When he opened his mouth, the tough gravel voice of a drill sergeant rumbled out. “Gee, don’t be a hard ass. Get the lady some onion rings.”

The lumbering hairy thing behind the counter, presumably named Gee, thrust out his bottom lip and lifted his hands into the air in mock surrender. “Why not? It’s not like my house rules ever get any respect anyway.”

From the corner of her eye, Sela glimpsed a huge silver-furred canine dart from under a table, push a swinging door open with its muzzle, and disappear.

“Did I just see a wolf?” Sela gasped.

3 ½ sheep





Pamela Kinney

About the Author:
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Katalina Leon is an artist and author who can’t commit to a single genre. Her favorite playgrounds are historical, Sci-fi, contemporary, and most of all paranormal realms. Katalina brings a sense of adventure and a touch of the mystical to erotic romance. She believes there's a daring heroine inside every woman who wants to take a wild ride with a strong worthy hero.



4 comments:

  1. This sounds like a good shifter book but I'm not one for novellas. Pretty much for the problem you had. I always feel like half of the story was left out in order to keep it to novella size.
    Kristin @ Book Sniffers Anonymous

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  2. Novellas are only good when they don't feel rushed or that things have been left out. I do love wolf shifter stories though.

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  3. Portrait of a Lone Wolf book 7, is part of the Black Hills Wolves series. More of Rio and Sela's continues in my next book in this series.

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  4. Sounds good Mary, thanks for the review. Adding this series to my wishlist. It has been a while since I read a "just" werewolf series.

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