Wes and Naomi are good characters and the play off of each other in an interesting way. This is book one in the Seven Range Shifters and while the world building and back story were good I kept feeling like I was missing something. I wonder if part of both were handled in a previous series. There was a lot of action and tension. The rules for the pack were written in stone and Wes just could not follow them. That was part of the tension. I did find that there was too much of the passive voice and not enough of the active for me. More dialog less internal thinking.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

Cowboy Wolf Trouble is a tale of love and redemption. Bad-boy wolf shifter and horse wrangler Wes Calhoun has issues to overcome and human rancher Naomi Evans seems like she is going to be the catalyst for that change. Watching these two come together was a wonderfully cinematic western tale of adventure, feuds and love. This is the first in what looks to be a terrific new series.

Cowboy Wolf Trouble is part supernatural tale, part cowboy romance. The wilds of Montana seem like a perfect place for various groups of shifters/cowboys! In this world, humans are forbidden from knowing about shifters. Learning of their existence could lead to death. Naomi of course doesn't know this, and when she encounters a wolf in a trap, her world tilts. Then, this werewolf tells her its vampires draining her flock and she is shook. The story is a mix of humans set on 'defending the human race' with violence, a malicious wolf pack, and some freakish half vampires.

Wes was once a packmaster. He gave up his title and joined another pack. He hasn't quite felt like a real packmember since though. Now Wes has discovered his old pack is up to no good and Naomi might be right in the middle. The suspense is pretty high throughout the story. These shifters are brutal and none of them give a "warm fuzzy" vibe. It was a different feel to the shifter trope in subtle ways-killing humans, fighting each other. Wes had some annoying hero habits though-he pushed Naomi away, he constantly thought he wasn't worth anything, and he didn't trust her even though she had given him no reason to feel that way.

Naomi is an uncommon sight in the world of Montana cattle ranchers. A woman running a ranch is still not common, and add to it she is part Native American, and you have a recipe for discrimination. In addition to all that, she is a college educated Biologist. She knew she would one day inherit the family ranch, but she wasn't sure she really wanted the job. Her brother, on the other hand, did want the job and is NOT happy that the ranch passed to Naomi when their father died. As the story continues, you learn that Naomi is torn between her familial obligations to the ranch and her own desires.

The story is unique and the characters are likable enough, but I struggled to get into this one. I can't put my finger on why exactly, though. I think some of it was Wes. Some of it was it felt too long. However, there is lots of action and deception and danger, so there is plenty to keep you going. I liked the book overall and I am interested in checking out book 2 for sure. The world Ballenger has created is interesting and the other Grey Wolves sound like they might have some good stories to tell.

Cowboy Wolf Trouble is the first story of Kait Ballenger’s Seven Range Shifter series and will definitely be added to my “MUST READ” list. As with any PNR read, this story enables readers to escape the reality of everyday life and dwell in the supernatural world for a short time and bask in the wonders of the Alpha males and their over-protective tendencies (and lets not deny we would all like a super sexy shifter to sweep us off our feet) and the women that enter their lives; usually at the most inopportune times.

I loved Wes Calhoun, with his bad boy reputation and obvious need for some TLC, and Naomi Evan’s with her strong independent nature is easily recognisable as a huge challenge for this Alpha wolf. The story is well developed, with great world building and easy to follow dialogue; and Wes and Naomi’s chemistry is explosive, which only adds intensity to this intriguing story. I can’t wait for the next in this series!

I enjoyed it. I didn't love it, I liked the story enough to finish it. I will look at reading more from the author in the future, and continue with this new series. I love shifters, I wasn't at all expecting myself to struggle to get into the story. Once I did it was enjoyable. This has potential to be a great series for PNR lovers!

I didn’t think Naomi and Wes would mesh with their less then desirable first meeting. She seemed kind of shy, while Wes was just so...angry! So I was tickled pink when their chemistry blossomed and became something more! Naomi turned out to be a spitfire who gave as good as she got and then some. Wes had a damaged heart that hid a heart of gold under his rough exterior. And together, these two found more trouble then anyone else could imagine!

I’m hoping a few secondary characters get their story in the future...like Colt, Blaze, and even grouchy Malcolm...

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

As paranormal romance where the mountain ranges of Montana are inhabited by shifters, more specific seven groups, “Cowboy Wolf Trouble” tells the story of a wolf shifter, Wes, that is haunted by his past and sees himself in another difficult situation. Formerly the packmaster of the Wild Eight pack, is now a member of the Grey Wolves pack and thanks to his trouble personality he tries to find out what the Wild Eight pack are plotting even if it risks his life and position as a member of the Grey Wolves. Through the story Wes meets a woman called Naomi and feels an instant attraction. Together they face the emerging problems.
Wes is character with a dark past and when he meets Naomi he tries to make up for the evil he did and become a better man. Along the story his past actions are expose and we see a man who is convince he’s a monster but seeks to do good. Naomi is a strong female character with a strong conviction. As Wes, she feels an attraction even knowing he’s dangerous and has also some past concerns haunting her. Through bad events they get to meet, and they can’t separate, their chemistry is excellent. Despite their unique personality and many quarrels in the middle of their journey they were able to work together and succeeded. There are good characters that surround the main ones like Maverick and Colt that I think contributes to the Wes’ features, they are fair wolves who follow the rules, the opposite of Wes.
Never read Kait Ballenger books but I’m a new fan. I liked this world of supernatural, the rival pack that is dangerous and vicious that tries to be the new ruler. The fact that exist other shifters and not only werewolves is interesting, usually these types of story has only werewolves, vampires and witches. It’s also interesting the existence of Execution Underground, an organization form by humans that hunt these supernatural beings. And seeing all the groups interact brings more excitement to the story.
Can’t wait for the next book!

This one sounded good. A werewolf cowboy trying to right the wrongs he’s created in his past. Stumbling upon a woman...human woman who is bent on getting into trouble. It wasn’t bad. The action was constant but I felt the connection between Naomi and Wes to be a bit lacking. However it was a decent book and enjoyable.

Great Read.

I haven't read a book by Kait Ballenger for a while, I have wanted to, just my TBR gets bigger and books get lost in the list :( - so when I read the blurb for this book I knew it had to be read asap, and it didn't disappoint.

Naomi is a rancher, yes a woman running a ranch all by her self, so you know she is a strong woman straight away, she doesn't pretend its easy and accepts the restrictions it puts on her social life - which is almost non-existence.

Wes Calhoun is troubled by his past and trying to make good, did I mention his a shifter <3

Naomi and Wes collide one dark night, a night that changes Naomi's life for good.

I loved the set up of the book, the wolf pack and the characters within. The story kept me hooked and eager to find time with my kindle.

Wes and Naomi have a simmering heat between them from the first meeting and I loved the ups and downs of their story.

I'm looking forward to reading more in this series and I'm moving the rest of the Execution Underground books back up my TBR!

4.5 stars

A cowboy shifter story in the beautiful setting of Montana. How could I say no?
Team up an H cowboy shifter with an h American Native and you've created an interesting recipe for fast adventure. Wes is our sexy cowboy badboy. Right from the get-go he's disobeying orders, getting into trouble, and getting caught in Naomi's trap. Literally. Now he has to find away to keep Naomi alive from the packs, as well as himself.

Kait Ballenger brings to life a rancher's life in wonderful detail. The romance is steamy and the paranormal politics were well done.

I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book, so I could give an honest review.

"Cowboy Wolf Trouble" was an interesting start to a new paranormal romance series. Shifters (in seven groups) inhabit the mountain ranges of Montana in relative peace. There are many types of shifters in those mountains, all types of predators (bears, wolves, coyotes, etc.). Wes is a wolf, and the wolves exist grouped into several packs. Wes was formerly the alpha/head of the Wild Eight pack, but he is now a member of the Grey Wolves pack, which is a large pack that also runs a huge ranch.

As the Wild Eight and Grey Wolves are enemies, it has been a difficult transition for Wes. However, Wes is loyal, even if not obedient, to his new pack. He knows the Wild Eight are up to something, and he is determined to find out what it is and save his new pack- and all the shifters. On top of these conflicts, there is also a human group, the Execution Underground, who are out to kill all the shifters and supernatural creatures (beyond shifters, there are also vampires and witches, etc.).

Naomi is none of these. She is a human running her family's small ranch, which has been terrorized by some wild animals, killing their sheep and cattle. She has no idea that anything other than humans lives in the world, much less her backyard. Her brother has set up some animal traps without her knowledge, and it is when she hears one catch an animal that she ventures out to see if she needs to put the animal down. To her shock, the wolf caught shifts into a human man, and Naomi is rapidly pulled into the battles to come.

Wes should have killed Naomi when she learned what he was, but he finds himself wanting to protect her instead. As they set off on a quest to learn what is happening at her ranch and what the Wild Eight pack is up to, they are also unable to deny their attraction for each other. With loads of steamy scenes amidst action/adventure type sequences, this was a fast-paced read that is full of plot. There's a lot that happens in this book, and so many new things to learn about this world. While a smaller battle is wrapped up in this book, it is clear the war will wage on in future books of the series (maybe featuring different shifter groups, I suspect).

Overall, I enjoyed the book and the new world created. Sometimes I felt a little lost and did not totally understand what was going on, but it's a lot of new things to introduce so it is understandable- I did get the big picture, but especially at the beginning, it could be a little hard to follow and understand the main characters' motivations (particularly why Naomi had to leave her ranch and why Wes was so driven to protect her). The romance was very well done, and I really understood the push-pull relationship between the two and liked how it evolved over time. I would definitely be interested to read more from this series.

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Cowboy Wolf Trouble is the first book of Kait Ballenger's Seven Range Shifters series, and fans of Kait's Execution Underground will enjoy this book. Fans of Kait's EU books will also get a taste of EU in this book, which is something I enjoyed since I've loved Kait's EU world. I'll take anything I get and if that is EU causing a ruckus in Kati's new series, then yes, I'm all for reading these books. EU are not fans of the supernatural, and this book is all about the supernatural world. Bring on the action and drama!

The Seven Range Shifters start with Wes Calhoun who happens to be a bad boy character. He was a part of the Wild Eight pack but now is with the Grey wolfpack. Unfortunately, most of the grey wolves don't trust him for his actions at Wild Eight, and his past is starting to rear back up thanks to some trouble brewing at a ranch near the Grey Wolves. In comes the female character, Naomi who happens to stubble into Wes's supernatural world, when he ends up in one of her traps. Although, she ends up being swept off her feet by the handsome shifter. Although, in this case, taken against her will into Wes's world. Poor Naomi is about to find out a lot of things that she was not aware of in this other world, and Wes is not going to make it easy for her, especially since he doesn't trust easy.

There were several things I definitely enjoyed about the first book in Kait's new series. Naomi is one kick-butt female character. She can hold her own, and I always love women who fight back and are not always damsels in distress. My favorite scene happens to be when she shows off her skills to a bunch of shifters. You go, Naomi!!

I loved the storyline and all the different shifters and how EU played a role in this book. There was also the villains of the story who you will hate in the story. You have to love when authors can make you hate the villains that you are waiting to see what happens to them. Don't let me forget about the other characters that were introduced. I want to know more about Blaze, Maverick, and Colt. I'm also interested in the other shifters that were presented too.

There's only one thing I didn't like about this book and that was actually the male character, Wes Calhoun. He was definitely an a-hole. I didn't really click well with him at all and how he treated Naomi. I enjoy alpha males, but not an alpha who is also a jerk. I can understand he had trust issues, but dang it, Wes, there were times I wanted Naomi to pour her skills on you! Grrr! I was frustrated with him throughout the story and it was even worse towards the end of the story. Sometimes I wished that Naomi would've hooked up with someone else in the story, but she did put him in his place a couple of times. There are times I don't click well with a character, but the rest of the story makes up for a jerkish character.

Will, I read the next book? Most definitely. Do I already have it on my TBR in Goodreads? Yes.

Do I recommend this book to fellow PNR readers? YES! Get it today!

I also recommend you read Kait's other books too - Execution Underground series. You will enjoy those books too.

Kait Ballenger is a new-to-me author, so I was really excited when I got hold of her newest book! Set in the same world as her first series, Execution Underground, this series focuses on the shifters. It starts with a former bad guy hero and pairs him with a human who is ignorant of the paranormal surrounding her. I felt engaged and thrilled from the very first page, and that feeling soared through me all the way to the end. Definitely a series to keep my eye on!

Wes Calhoun is a reformed ex-member of the Wild Eight wolf pack, who are now causing trouble for his new pack, the Grey Wolves. Attempting to bring evidence to his alpha of their nefarious plans, he is injured and runs straight into a human woman with a shotgun. Naomi Evans is tired of her livestock being killed, but she is furious when she finds out her brother laid a trap to catch whatever had been doing the killing. She was hoping to deal with it in a non-violent manner. When she finds a wolf in the trap, she intends to put it out of its misery, but before she can do so, it transforms...into a man. Now she knows about a society that is forbidden to outsiders, and her safety depends on the wolf whose life she almost ended.

The characters of Wes and Naomi are written really well! I enjoyed their banter, how strong and independent they each were, and their commitment to doing the right thing. As a couple, their chemistry was felt almost instantly, and I had no trouble believing that they would become closer as the story progressed. Wes was very protective of Naomi, even at the risk of his own life, and though Naomi didn't bow to his dominance very often, she partnered well with him when they worked together. Naomi was a strong, spirited woman who was not afraid to stand up for herself. There is a moment in the story where she takes down a shifter twice her size, and it was magnificent! It was inspiring and made me want to yell, "You go girl!" Even when she and Wes argued, she refused to be the weaker one and made sure he knew she was his equal. Loved it!

I am so happy that this is the start of a series, because that means I get to have more of these sexy shifters! Hopefully Colt will get his book soon, as he was particularly mysterious and intriguing.

First in a the Seven Range Shifters series, this book tells the story of Wes Calhoun, a wolf shifter, and Naomi Evans, a human rancher who collides with the hidden world of shifters which also includes bears and cats. Wes was part of a renegade shifter pack until something happened causing him to reform from the violence, death, and destruction his former pack thrives on. When Naomi is threatened by that pack who has a new deadly collaborator which could lead to destruction for all the allied shifters, Wes decides to bring her back to his pack lands for protection despite breaking numerous rules about human and shifter relations.

Naomi has struggled to maintain the ranch bequeathed by her father. Now something odd and deadly has been happening to her sheep. When she finds Wes caught in a trap on her property, her whole world is rocked by his ability to shift. As a trained biologist, Naomi knows that should not be. As they work towards a common goal, Wes and Naomi feel a strong attraction. No matter how forbidden and how much guilt he feels for the sins that stain his soul, Wes wants Naomi.

The forces at work that seek to destroy the packs and rule over humans require all of Wes and Naomi’s combined skills and strength to overcome this new and powerful evil. Naomi is quite resourceful for a mere human caught up in the supernatural world. Wes has never played by the rules despite knowing the consequences of breaking them is deadly. Not only forbidden love, but courage and determination in the face of losing everything drive this tale. Since the backstory takes a while to unravel, the switch Wes had made from the enemy to the Grey Wolves pack is not quite clear at first. Fans of cowboy romance and shifter stories will likely this enjoy Western story set in the paranormal world of Montana which has a few unique twists.

Well Well Well.....

This is the first time I've picked up this author. I have to admit that I was immediately drawn to the cover and the blurb. I mean, helllllo....look at those abs!!!!!

Naomi runs a family ranch. Well, she's trying to save her father's ranch, but is obviously struggling a bit. Add in the fact that her brother's trap captures a wolf and her entire life is completely turned upside down. And now that she knows a secret that no human should, her life is in danger. But can she count on her new wolf to protect her?

Wes has a troubled past that he's trying to escape. So much so that he ends up getting trapped on a human's ranch, causing him to do the one thing he's forbidden to do...shift in front of a human. And now that she's seen him, he needs to protect her. But at what cost? And will his past come back to bite him?

Although this took me a while to get in to, once I did, I was completely engaged. The "bow chica bow wow" scenes are super hot and the drama is just enough to keep you wondering. I really liked that multiple packs had to come together, introducing us to more shifters (hopefully getting their own book). All in all, good start to a series that has serious potential.

reviewed by Chris

The Story in 4 Sentences or Less: The centuries of peace between the shifters that roam Montana is being threatened by the violent rebel pack that rancher Wes Calhoun used to lead and he’ll do anything he can to stop them and protect the Grey Wolf pack that has become his chance at redemption. While chasing rebel wolves from his new home Wes runs into and is forced to shift in front of human rancher Naomi Evans and then he abducts her to keep her safe and to figure out if she has anything to do with the mounting threat. Naomi for her part just wants to get back home but as the impending war gets closer she spends more and more time in Wes’ company, getting to know him and wondering if maybe the future she had planned out for herself is the one she still wants.




Like It? Hate it? Love it? Why? How did I not know about author Kait Ballenger before now??? I actually picked this book on a whim while in a reading funk and oh man am I glad I did! Cowboy Wolf Trouble combines two of my favorite types of heroes: Cowboys and wolves and it did it in a way that left me wanting more of this rough and tumble world where pack rules are strict and punishments are stricter. It’s dark, gritty, and filled with heated moments between its two main characters.


Wes Calhoun is one yummy, growly bad boy of a wolf that I couldn’t get enough of! He’s not brooding or solitary for weak reasons, he’s got quite the past. He had been the leader of a violent renegade pack of wolves known as the Wild Eight Pack prior to the beginning of Cowboy Wolf Trouble and after one horrible night he turned his back on them and pledged his loyalty to the Grey Wolf Pack where he’s been trying to make amends for all the wrongs he committed. While his past isn’t chronicled in detail, there’s enough there to put Wes firmly in the “Rehabilitation and Redemption” camp for sure. Wes not only had to struggle with his past crimes but with his volatile, rebellious nature that wanted to make the decisions for himself rather than follow his new pack leader. Wes could easily be seen as reckless and selfish and maybe he was in some cases but to me he was a guy fighting his demons while trying to stay one step ahead of his former pack in order to protect his current pack. I loved that he was just the right amount of wild and that he was an alpha in his own right. He isn’t just pretending to be a former bad guy, he was the ultimate bad guy and his journey from villain to unlikely hero was one I won’t forget for a while.


With a characters like Wes and his Grey Wolf packmates it would be easy to cast Naomi as the damsel in distress type heroine (i.e. boring and useless) especially since she’s the human to Wes’ wolf shifter but I was pleasantly surprised at Naomi’s strength, common sense, and intelligence. She’s a survivor and a fighter but she isn’t an idiot, she knows when she’s up against a stronger being and she knows just when she can catch them off guard enough to give herself a fighting chance. I loved it when she sassed Wes even knowing he was capable of killing her with a flick of his wrist. She didn’t let him get away with using his size and strength to control or intimidate her. She respected his abilities and even feared them at first but she wasn’t the type to go down without a fight. She was awesome and a real partner to Wes in the most dangerous moments but in the quiet moments she was compassionate and kind to Wes.


One thing I loved a lot when it came to the romance between Wes and Naomi was that while Wes was an all powerful shifter capable of killing with a flick of his wrists, he wasn’t one of those guys who “knew” everything like some mind reader. There weren’t a bunch of scenes where Wes was throwing “knowing looks” or “knowing smiles” at Naomi. He might know a lot about her physical reactions to him but he didn’t know squat about her mind and heart, putting him at a distinct advantage as he and Naomi grew closer. Naomi challenged him emotionally and mentally which made the romance that much more appealing. I hate it when it seems like the guy knows everything and is overconfident and thankfully that wasn’t the case here. Their romance was filled with obstacles for both characters and they both had some growing to do before they could find that happiness with each other.

I noticed that while Cowboy Wolf Trouble takes place in the middle of a large pack of wolves, there weren’t a bunch of supporting characters doing a revolving door of appearances which I was grateful for. There was already a lot going on with the Wild Eight Pack and the growing feelings between Wes and Naomi to have included characters that didn’t serve a purpose at the moment. The ones that were introduced played key roles in the plot and spent just enough time on the pages to pique my interest. I can’t decide who I’d like to see in the next book to be honest.

Click It or Skip It? Click It. Especially if you like a good redemption story with a tortured former villain and a strong, intelligent heroine.

* review scheduled to go live closer to release date.

Not a bad read, would like to read more books in the series as some of the other characters are going to be good stories.

THIS WAS ALMOST A 5*! Great shifter romance with a hero that needs some TLC. Wes Calhoun reformed bad wolf only wants to protect Naomi Evans. Attraction of these two is forbidden so this is the force that drives the pages to a HEA. Some amazing secondary wolf characters! Should be a great series to add to MUST BE READ SHELF. "A copy of this book was supplied by SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca via Netgalley with no requirements for a review. Comments here are my honest opinion." DON'T MISS Naomi's struggle to save her ranch and Wes' fight to save his Soul!

This book was well written, fast paced and totally enthralling. It was filled with action and a steamy romance. I voluntarily read and reviewed and advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Review by 2shay..........

This is a rollicking good read. As with most shifter stories, it challenges every single reality as we know it, which gives the reader a welcome exit from the real world for a while. The main character, a wolf shifter, Wes Calhoun, was the leader of a bad boy pack before leaving them and joining the Grey Wolves. He has a nasty back story, but is trying his best to become a better man...ummm....wolf. After being attacked on Grey Wolf land by his former pack, he follows them for miles and gets caught in a trap on Naomi Evans ranch. He has to shift from wolf to man to keep her from shooting him. Oops. That’s a problem. The shifters are bound by oath to keep their existence secret, and are supposed to kill a human who learns their secret. He doesn’t want to. And doesn’t. It causes problems for them both. This occurs early in the story, so no spoiler.

...The problems and why this very good story didn’t get 5 Stars...

I have indicated that I like this book. I did, but I had to get past a couple of bad mistakes. I’m writing this review on the 1st of October, and the book doesn’t release until the 1st of January, giving the publisher, the editors or the author a lot of time to correct the errors. I hope they do and you will never see these mistakes.

First, the author calls bales of hay “barrels”. Not just once, but several times. There is no possibility that it’s an autocorrect blooper. It doesn’t matter the size or shape, hay is always baled. That should be general knowledge, not something that needs to be googled. The characters in this story are ranchers. That mistake is major.

Second, Naomi, a rancher, refers to a horse as being “blond”. “Blond” is not a recognized horse color, and I can’t think of a single person connected to horses in the most casual way that would call a palomino a “blond horse”.

Third is a bit more difficult to describe. There are many horsemanship errors. These characters are experienced ranchers, but they act and think like novice riders. Any true horseman will spot this immediately. And the horses behave in ways that you would only see on old reruns of Fury, My Friend Flicka or cartoons. Horses don’t do those things...well, maybe a highly trained circus horse. Not general use ranch horses.

Having said all that, I repeat that I enjoyed this book. It’s highly imaginative, and inspite of the mistakes, it’s well done. I like the world that Ms. Ballenger has created, and I hope that, being pre-warned, you will ignore the bloopers and pick up a copy and...

Enjoy! ARC graciously provided by Sourcebook Casablanca and NetGalley for an honest and voluntary review.