Wolf Takes the Lead by Terry Spear is the fourth book in the Billionaire Wolf series. It is a paranormal romance novel with some suspense, and is set in California on the coast. Billionaire wolf Derek Spencer has been disappointed in his past relationships with female wolves, but he is looking forward to taking Kate Hanover to the charity gala. Kate had applied to be his bodyguard, but he selected a male wolf instead to avoid mixing personal and business relationships. Kate has been avoiding him since her rejected her application, but she agrees to be his last minute date for the gala. This is the beginning of Derek and Kate getting to know each other better. However, things keep going wrong. What happens next is an entertaining story of suspense, action, and romance.

Kate and Derek are likeable characters. However, their relationship seems to progress a little too quickly in this story. Trying to come to terms with and understand the fallout from their past interaction doesn’t provide quite enough angst. However, the chemistry between them is fun and brings a lot of laughter to the book. I enjoyed spending them with characters from previous books in the series as well.

Several twists and surprises enhanced the storyline. The writing was compulsively readable and engrossing. There was always something new and exciting happening. These ranged from plot twists to new adventures for the couple to danger and suspense.

Overall, I this was fun to read and had great characters. It was well crafted, entertaining and I would recommend it to those that read this genre. It worked well as a standalone novel. However, having read the previous book in the series, I enjoyed spending time with old friends, too. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.

SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca and Terry Spear provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for February 7, 2023.

Derek is a wolf shape shifter who only dates human women his heart was broken twice by Shapeshifting females and he doesn’t want to risk it again. When his current girlfriend Brenda gets him an ultimatum to get engaged or to break up he’s sets her free. After all he told her in the beginning it could never be more than casual friendship. This however leaves him with the problem there’s a social engagement that he was going to go with Brenda to but now that they have broken up he needs a date. When he asked his good friend rider they said them up with K. She was Lexi‘s bodyguard but originally applied to be the bodyguard for Derek but because she was female and the shape shifter he didn’t hire her but any awkwardness quickly passes in from the beginning Kate shows the route she is unlike any woman Shapeshifter or not that he’s ever met. I love the story I love how despite Kate water Derek she played toy and didn’t give him until she knew it was going to be something real. I loved everything about this book and although I usually say Shapeshifting books on my guilty pleasure this is one I would be proud to tell others to read it really is a good book with a great story and I can’t wait for the next book. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Wolf shifter and billionaire Derek Spencer has avoided the risk of mating the wrong she wolf by dating humans. That could have caused an even bigger problem.
Kate Hanover is an independent wolf shifter. She's a bodyguard and assistant who works for friends of our hero.
A feel good paranormal romance with good characters and a little danger. A very modern and descriptive steamy story .

Enjoyable read! I enjoyed this being a story more about relationships, family (aka wolf pack) with minor mystery and few pages I had to skim as I am more of behind closed door when it comes to hanky panky. In my younger days more was better, now its like enough already. I digress, that was not the issue here :) Surprise I am not a fan of Billionaire books as they are usually rude, arrogant with the proverbial heart of gold - not here, thank you! Terry was not afraid to have a Billionaire who gave to charities, was polite to people etc. What a refreshing change of pace! I liked Derek! I liked Kate who was a bodyguard. I really enjoyed watching this relationship grow, between 2 adults not playing games! While someone appears to be targeting Kate, the real win to me was the getting to know the two main characters, watching them getting to know each other and the humor that Kate welded like a sword. A truly enjoyable entertaining story. Thank you for the arc! I freely volunteer my thoughts and opinions! #Wolftakesthelead #billionairewolf #terryspear #sourcebookscasablanca #netglley

Quick Summary: A wolf to wolf romance

My Review: Wolf Takes the Lead by Terry Spear was a mixed bag love story.

The underlying love match between the main characters, Derek and Kate, was of the insta-click variety. It lacked veracity, in my opinion. The chemistry they had was seemingly manufactured. Their coupling came across like a high schoolers attempt at "petting and parking" for the first time. Unfortunately, every time the couple came together to "mate," it was too much fluff and not enough substance. It was almost unbelievable.

The most interesting aspects of the story related to the drama concerning an ex lover of the alpha and the descriptions of food prepared for the wolves to eat on various occasions.

I adored the inclusion of the dogs. The love and care shown towards them was sweet.

My Final Say: I really wanted to love this story. It was just an ok read to me. It had enough draw to attract my attention, but it needed more punch when it came to the connection between the main characters. Also, there were a number of places where the story could have ended, yet it kept going. I was a bit put off by it, honestly. By the time I got to the epilogue, I was quite happy to be done.

Rating: 2.5/5
Recommend: +/-
Audience: A

I voluntarily read this title via NetGalley. The words I have shared are my own.

1.75 stars

DNF @ 84%

My dudes. I cannot.

Apologies in advance. I have a wicked headache and it's making me cranky. I'm sorry. I'm sure the author is a lovely person. I looked at her profile. She makes adorable bears. She seems to genuinely love writing, she has an audience, and she's written like 60 trillion books. Fucking kudos and brava. Keep doing what you're doing.

That said, I cannot <i>not</i> shit all over this book right now.

Authors, please. For the love of fucking god. Do not give stupid pet names to genitals and expect anyone to find that hot.

In this book, the clitoris is referred to as the "nubbin"

"Then he found her nubbin and began stroking her"

"Then he slipped a hand between her legs and began his slow seduction of rubbing her nubbin"

"Their hearts were pounding hard and fast when he began to work on her nubbin"

"He slid his hand over her belly and then lower, through her short curly hairs, and then he connected with her nubbin"

"He stole her thoughts with his heady strokes on her nubbin"

"His questing fingers continued to stroke her nubbin"

Throughout this book, it is the only term used to refer to the clitoris. I actually lol'd out loud on more than one occasion because of how fucking badly this shit was written. It's like...

<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/500/1*ABP5hRz1oXaXnIIAafs9cg.jpeg"/>

On which note, who puts their soaped up digits into a vagina? Who wants their vagina lubed up with soap? My urethra is stinging at the thought of this. My meatus is unhappy with the visions this evokes.

In terms of sexy bits, please note that no one is getting their junk licked or sucked in this book. The only sexual exploits are finger banging and wang jacking until they finally have sex (which is underwhelming). Throughout, these acts are referred to as unconsummated love.

"We made unconsummated love with each other on Sunday night." Oh, did you do it after bible study? I doubt anyone took their metaphorical socks off for these shenanigans.

I don't know if you've ever watched Orgazmo, which is an excellent ridiculous movie, but there is a part where one of the porn stars is having porn sex, and the guy's like 'yeah I'm gonna give it to you' or something, and she replies 'oh good, because I'm so badly wanting it' and she says it so perfectly terribly, like the best fake porn robotic acting voice. This is the voice in which I read such things as:
"He just had to pleasure her and make her come to prove to her he had what it took to make her collide with heaven and earth and shatter into a million pieces of ecstasy."

"Just from showering and thinking of their hands running all over each other's soapy body, his drying her hair had all been enough to prep her for making love to him--again."

"He moaned. 'Man, does that feel great.'"

And what is this leave it to beaver vibe? "But boy, when it came to making love to him, all that tiredness sure had gone away." Shucks Beaver, that sure was wholesome. Boy Wally, you sure are right.

Exclamation points abound!!

It's awkward as fuck, super stilted, and tangential, including such riveting information as: ""They swam for a bit, got out of the pool, and grabbed terrycloth robes out of an outdoor closet, and she smiled. 'Wow, now this is living.' He smiled at her. 'I never expected to be wrapping up my wolf mate in a terrycloth robe here anytime soon.'"

One thing I strongly dislike in any writing is the use of the same word too close in succession, and unnecessarily. Why? We already know it's fucking terrycloth.

Okay, I know I sound petty, but throughout this fucking book we read the most extraneous, inane bullshit, and it's written in a way that is like.. I don't know how to explain it. Like a fucking children's book. Like every action needs to be explained after it is already explained. We know that fire is hot, for example, but this book just has to let you know that the hot flaming flame burned her with its fiery hotness.

So much is told. While you could easily have the character say "I hope it works out," you instead get "Kate thought Lexi was right and hoped everything would work out the way they hoped it would." Like, for everything. "'I hope so.' And really, Kate did. Then she walked on the path to her inane home."

Okay that was a legit Freudian slip. She actually just says she walks on the path to her home. I'm leaving it.

"Then they ate their meal. While drinking sarsaparillas poolside, they talked over some business, comparing sales data for various product lines, phasing out a line of cosmetics, and a few products in another line that weren't selling well. Afterward, they swam in the pool. Kate heard the guys watching football on TV in the house and smiled."

Fuck off. Fuck right off with this filler. This book has more filler than Naruto.

Also, how fast are these people shifting? Like, okay whatever it's magic, but it just seems like there's no difficulty to it, no effort, no downside. It's instant. Children are born wolves one minute, the next they turn into human babies. One time they left the house in wolf form, just to get to the gate, change back to human, lock the gate behind them, and change back.

I'm scanning my notes checking to see if I've forgotten to bitch about anything. I will leave you with this note to self:

"Almost DNFd at the 70% nubbin"

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for this arc. This was enjoyable and a great story. I like Terry Spears other books as well

The story line of a forever bachelor and the body guard he turned away is so much fun.

However, the writing feels very juvenile. I enjoy the characters at some points however I could not stay intrigued.



I hoped to love this because shifters are my favorite.

Kate a body guard finds herself going to a gala with Derek a fellow wolf shifter. She goes with every intention of just helping since she has kept her distance from Derek since her rejected her application for a job. She knows he only dates humans and not fellow shifters. Derek asks Kate to go with him when he is suddenly dumped and needs a fill in , he keeps his distance from dating other shifters since he has never had any luck with a mating. Things are about to change for both of them.

I really enjoyed their story, it was funny and intriguing. They have a lot of chemistry and the additional characters in the story are great. Can;t wait for more books.

Some Things Are Meant To Be!

Derek and Kate were fated to meet and be together, both were Wolves but Derek had sworn off she wolves due to some bad experiences in his past but he was really envious of his best friend’s lives with their mates.

Kate had trained as a bodyguard and when she had applied for a position with Derek, he had refused her. Kate was now working with her best friend and was enjoying her independent life style. Yes she was attracted to Derek but stayed out of the picture, she didn't want to be one of many.

Derek needed a date for one of the gala’s he was attending and all his friends suggested Kate. Kate agreed to go on the pretend date with him but when his ex human girlfriend turned up trying to pester him, she stepped in to make it look like they were now a couple.

A really fun shifter romance with a great plot! It had everything, a little help from his dogs, best friends and bodyguards, an obsessive ex girlfriend, action packed and steamy. The secondary characters personalities were great and I loved the way they all got together as a pack and that Derek re-connected with his best friends.

A recommended sexy, steamy romance with a HEA.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wolf Takes the Lead
3 Stars

When Derek's human date was canceled on him due to his commitment phobia. His friends set him up with Kate. I loved Kate confidence and her corky sense of humor. I was in the mood for a fun shifter romance. It was fun to watch as Derek and Kate showed his ex, Brenda, that she was in the past. That said, I was very slow to like Derek. He's not very likable. I wanted to love this book, but it's just an OK read. So much drama! It took away from the romance.

Thank you, NetGalley and Source Books, for an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

Well, I was not too impressed with Derek at the start and hoped that Kate knew what she was getting into when she offered to help him out.

It was fun to watch as they tried to show his ex, Brenda, that she was in the past. Unfortunately, she did not take that well and had her sights set on bagging a billionaire.

As the book went along, I started to like Derek a bit more and found he really wasn't as bad as I thought at the start of the book.

Lots of drama, action, and romance so it was fun to read and hard to put down!

Book was a great read about shape shifters and finding love with a little mystery in it.
Shape shifter dates humans cause he does not want commitment until he need a date for a gala and escorts a she wolf

Derek needs a last minute date and gets his friends to set him up with Kate. They knew each other and had mutual friends and both were wolf shifters. Their attraction grows, as does the animosity his former girlfriend has. The courtship of Derek and Kate is fast and busy. They fill every minute with adventure. This is a sweet and hopeful paranormal romance.

Omgg. I loved this book so much. The author is one of my many favs. She doesn't miss a mark. Took days to get through it just because i didnt want it to end.

Action, romance, and some obsessive ex's make for a light and fast wolf shifter tale. A fun read for the weekend or vacation and not too explicit so appeal for a wide audience.

Overall a good story. Derek and Kate's romance is filled with lots of steamy scenes and fun. Not sure what it means, but I enjoyed the scenes with Derek's crazy ex Brenda the best. Would recommend.

From page 1 I was hooked on the adventure and romance in this sexy and steamy story. Can't wait for the next book already!.

Billionaire wolf Derek has a rocky romantic past. Kate, his former bodyguard, reluctantly agrees to be his date because she doesn't want to be another fling....

Like all Terry's books, this book has lots of action. Many steamy scenes too. The plot is terrific. The characters are likable. Really enjoy it.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.