Joint Review – Wolf Line by Vivian Arend

Publisher: Samhain
Publish Date: June 12th
How we got this book: Review copy from author

Jared’s not sure how his quiet morning coffee near the harbour ended with him on a cruise ship impersonating one of his pack mates. Well, it might have something to do with a woman, but who can blame him? The female of the species was made to love, and he’s more than willing to share his considerable skills in that area. Especially since he figures the chances of meeting his own one-and-only are slim.

Warning: Really? You need to be warned about the hot nookie and sarcasm? Yeah, it’s in here. Also colourful cat shifters, lupine royalty, and wild adventures in cabins like you’ve never seen before.
This blurb came from Goodreads.

MinnChica: I’ve long been a huge fangirl of Arend, and her Granite Lake books are amongst some of my favorites. This novella was no exception. I love that these shorter books are so fun and light and are so easy to get into. I loved the idea of a cruise ship for just shifters, and both Keri and Jared were such fun characters!

E: It was great getting to see the Granite Lake wolves again if only for a few minutes. I liked the setup with Jared running onto the cruise ship and only much later discovering that his temporary hiding spot turned into something much longer. I think the mental arguments that both Jared and Keri told themselves was probably my favorite part of the novella.

MinnChica: I loved that we were left a little in the dark about Jared. I liked finding out as Keri did about his family and his job within the pack and overall wolf culture. It was fun to watch that unfold at the same time as his relationship with Keri developed. I also liked the twist with Jared and his sense of smell, or lack there of. I thought it was a great and neat little twist. One of the things I love about Arend and the Granite Lake series is that she is kinda known for putting these little twists in her story. I still have a super soft spot for Robyn, the deaf Alpha from book one. She’ll always hold a special place in my heart.

E: Oh my goodness, Jared certainly had a lot underneath his playboy exterior. I really enjoyed how we learned what Jared’s “huge problem” was and I felt poor Keri’s shock when she discovered who his family really was. I also liked how they were both determined to support and protect their mate from an issue involving onboard ship security. It reminded me a little bit of the story, A Gift of the Magi, only without the bittersweet ending. I do really like how the wolves aren’t all powerful, perfect creatures but suffer from some of the same permanent ailments or disabilities that you would see in a normal population. It makes the characters and world that much more approachable in my opinion.

MinnChica: Oh definitely, I couldn’t agree with you more. I liked the little mini-suspense plot of who the cruise thief was as well. I thought it played nicely into the story, and was a good chance for conflict between Jared and Keri’s relationship, as well as overall to the story. I loved that they both tried to cover for the other, and eventually were able to prove just who was behind it all. It was a quick and well-done addition to the novella. I have to admit though, I really hope we get to see more of these all shifter cruises, I loved how fun and wild and free everyone was onboard the ship!!

E: I really only have one thing to say. I know Ms Arend finished the main arc for her Granite Lake wolves and she really doesn’t have to go back there but she did mention other shifter breeds and this cruiseline/ship so reading a (or several) novels set on cruise ships would be wonderful. Thinking back on the one I went on and stories I have heard about others… oh the fun that could be had *grin*. Anyways back to this novella, the mini-suspense was needed to ground the story and take it from all hormone based into something much more rounded.

MinnChica: All in all this was another knockout wolfie novella from Arend. There was plenty of sexual tension and rocking good times between Jared and Keri. The suspense plot and cruise ship theme were fun and engaging and kept the story moving at a quick pace that made the novella seem to fly by. This series continues to remain one of my favorite novella PNR series.
I give Wolf Line a B

E: This was a fun entertaining read for me. I never knew what was going to happen next in the continuing hijinks. The cruise director and her need to continually move, Jared’s lack of initial movement regarding Keri’s attraction, Keri’s attempts to avoid Jared, not to mention the rest of the support crew and passengers kept me laughing. I enjoyed the glimpse into the less life in danger side of the shifter world.
I give Wolf Line a B

Links to Purchase

Kindle