Publisher: Samhain
Publish Date: Jul 9th
How we got this book: ARC from the author via Novel Sidekick
Lorelei Adams has lost many things–her humanity, her life, even her son. She’s always fought through her exhaustion, always stayed strong for her pack, but now there are new alphas to take care of the others. Unfortunately, time to rest means time to think about her own pain.
Colin Knox knows about exhaustion. He’s acted as judge, jury and executioner to rogue wolves for over a decade, but never lingered long enough to help the survivors pick up the pieces–until now. Lorelei rouses his instincts, both protective and carnal. She’s willing, but only to indulge in physical distraction. Colin wants more, to be the hero who slays her monsters.
Especially when it becomes clear that malicious magic is loose in their sanctuary. The danger draws them together until it’s impossible to separate lust from affection, good intentions from rationalizations. Darkness is stirring at Green Pines. If they can’t fight it together, they could lose everything they have left.
Warning: Contains a weary vigilante hero looking for a place to call home and a stubborn werewolf heroine unwilling to admit she needs help. Also appearing: small town prejudices, big city dangers, naked chases through the woods and ghosts. Lots of ghosts.
This blurb came from the authors’ website.
E: If you have been following The Bookpushers website or any of our twitter accounts for a while you will have noticed that we are huge fans of Moira Rogers because of their ability to build very diverse worlds, strong intriguing characters, and compelling storylines. Haunted Wolves continues in this tradition as we get to watch a lone tired alpha find his home and a woman who forgot what home was create a new one as they struggle to assist in strengthening the new werewolf sanctuary. Haunted Wolves takes place immediately following Haunted Sanctuary with the decimated pack still dealing with the aftermath of torture, death, and a brutal fight for safety. Although the wolves have found a safe place to live, they are still threatened. First, they have to support themselves not just physically but financially and most of their belongings as well as the supplies needed to expand their fledgling business were left in storage when they fled. Second, the ghostly presences around Green Pines appear to targeting the wolves one by one and killing them slowly without leaving a mark. And third they are all wounded in heart and soul still struggling to heal.
MinnChica: I think Rogers does such a wonderful job creating paranormal worlds that are rife with political turmoil. The Red Rocks and Green Pines series are both all about the corrupt alpha wolf packs, and the few good men and women who want to make a difference. I love reading these books because there is always such a huge sense of triumph at the end of each story. Not only does one lucky couple get their HEA, but as a reader, I always feel like the characters are taking one huge step in the fight for their freedoms. I love it. This book was no exception. The Green Pines characters are all so traumatized, and poor Lorelei has a lot of history she hasn’t fully dealt with. I loved that although she was scared of Colin, she also was so attracted to him that fear wasn’t able to manifest. I thought both characters were so strong and fit each other perfectly. I adored them together.
E: Colin was one of the lone wolves who made his way by killing rogue Alphas who were abusing their position as leader but never stayed in one place once his job was finished. Over the years Colin has grown tired of his lifestyle but does not think that change is possible. However, something about the wolves in Green Pines has kept him in place helping as they try to build themselves back up. He finds that attraction focused mainly on Lorelei who was one of the pillars that kept the group together and going long enough to find safety. But she is also tired, worn down and mistrusting.
Lorelei lost everything she had more than once but never let herself quit fighting because someone else always needed her to be the strong one. For the first time she doesn’t have to be strong but she also isn’t prepared to deal with her multiple losses so she can heal. In an attempt to keep her memories and sadness at bay she goes until exhaustion, barely recovers and goes again. As she becomes aware of Colin on different levels she is willing to use him to satiate her more primal urges but refuses to let herself actually depend on him for anything. Past history has taught her never to trust. I loved watching their interactions together throughout this story as they learned to heal and trust each other in order to save the sanctuary.
MinnChica: I thought they had great interactions together as well. Colin was so worried about being too much for her, about hurting her inadvertently. At the same time, Lorelei was worried that she wouldn’t be enough for him, that her past would be too much to overcome, both for herself and for Colin. The way they were able to lean on one another and provide a stability to their little pack was wonderful to see. I also loved getting to see the way the pack is growing and becoming more healthy. I am so excited to see where Rogers takes this group of people next!
E: Yes, their equal tentativeness mixed with protectiveness was just wonderful. It was like watching them dance some steps were together, some were apart some in opposite directions but the whole was beautiful. Lorelei proved that she was strong enough and learned that Colin trusted her on an elemental level when they were facing the unseen threat that was targeting their pack. Those scenes were so very intense and I remember having to uncurl and remember how to breathe again as that particular tension was released. Colin made my heart completely melt (along with Lorelei’s) when he demonstrated towards the very end that he has listened and heard everything she said and didn’t say. If there was ever a grand gesture of love when one wasn’t required it was right then and there.
Like MinnChica said, watching the entire pack grow and become healthier was also a treat. I enjoy how Rogers is able to meld the couple’s journey seamlessly with that of the greater environment because it helps me stay invested in the world. I am so looking forward finding how who the next couple will be and what they will have to overcome as they continue to strengthen the sanctuary.
As I said in the beginning Rogers continues their string of stories I love and demonstrates why they are an auto-buy with this installment. They provide heat, tension, suspense, tenderness, and high stakes for more than the focus couple creating a story and world that stands up well to re-reading. Haunted Wolves answered several questions raised in Haunted Sanctuary and asked even more questions that I can’t wait for the answers in Haunted Magic.
I give Haunted Wolves an A.
MinnChica: All in all I thought that Rogers had another stellar installment to their Green Pines series. I thought the relationship between Lorelei and Colin was so well done, with their romance being both sweet and sexy. Rogers has done an amazing job creating a pack of characters I am so interested in and can’t wait to see them all get their happily ever after (especially Zack!). I love the way dynamics in the pack are changing, and how each new couple is stabilizing the whole of the pack. I can’t wait to see how the political climate changes as the series progresses.
I give Haunted Wolves a B+
Awesome review ladies, thank you! I want to read this series.
You are very welcome. It is such a great series 😀
@xaurianx – Happy reading in your future! 🙂