Joy to the Wolves by Terry Spear

Wolf shifter paranormal romance. Red wolf pack in Portland, Oregon. First in the series.

Brooke moved to Portland to run the inherited antique shop. All the single men are interested in the new red wolf shifter, but Josh takes the lead when criminal activity surrounds the shop.

Baby reindeer make the story a fun start to the series. It’s a Christmas season story that has heart and good intentions when the wolf leaders find a family for a lost teen in need of strong upstanding guidance.
Brooke and Josh grow into a relationship of first support and then potential mates with plenty of hot and steamy sexual encounters.

To me, the prologue was flat and more data dump that much else. The story got better and more active as it moved along. The writing seemed choppy in the first quarter of the book but evened out so that I enjoyed the reindeer, the suspense of criminal activity endangering Brooke and her shop, as well as the familiar relationships between Josh, his brother and enforcement friends.
3.5

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. I also purchased a copy to share.

So, I thought I’d love this book as I’m starting my seasonal book reading time of year, and I’m delving back into the paranormal/shifter genre. But while there was Christmas elements sprinkled in, it was very shifter-lite. I’m used to fated mates, more sensuality between the leads and maybe a bit of pack drama. There was none of that. And their mating ritual, if you want to call it that, not impressed.
Outside of that, there was so many different mysteries and plot lines going on, it was sort of chaotic. Brooke and Josh were forced into close proximity due these issues, but I didn’t sense a lot of chemistry. I didn’t buy their attraction. Then again, it all goes back to that lack of fated mates.
This is my first Terry Spear book. I see that she has many other shifter books to choose from, so I’ll try again through the KU program on Amazon to see if there’s something more to my liking.

So this was my first book by Terry Spear, and also the first in her new series, and I will admit I chose this book primarily because of that title. It's just absolutely fantastic and whoever came up with it, the author or the editing department, needs a massive pat on the back. It's wonderfully festive whilst also still alluding to the paranormal aspect in the plot.

Anyway, onto the review.

I had a hard time initially getting into this one because the writing doesn't flow especially well. It's very clunky, with a lot of information thrown at you right from the get-go. We get Brooke's entire family history all within the first 5% of the book and it was just a bit much.

The dialogue as well was very stilted and unnatural, but that does improve a little as the book goes in.

The actual plot was intriguing, I loved the mystery, and I adored the treasure hunting aspect. The characters themselves were interesting, Josh came off as a bit of an ass to begin with, but the closer the two became, the more likeable Josh was. The romance developed very quickly, but it never got into insta-mates territory which I appreciated.

Overall Joy to the Wolves was an entertaining book, primarily for the characters and the interesting plot which kept you reading, but I did struggle with the writing a lot which dampened my enjoyment in the end.

{Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.}

This is the start to a new paranormal series with wolves. I haven't read this author before, but I definitely enjoyed this new series. It was the perfect blend of romance and mystery.

[I received a digital arc for an honest review]

I have only read one other book by this other and I wasn't a fan but I decided to give her another shot because can you really say an author isn't for you if you've only read one? My answer to that question is now a Yes.

Joy to the Wolves is the story of wolf shifter Brook Cerise inheriting her aunts antique shop, and she finds herself in possession of items wanted by bad guys. Local detective wolf shifter Josh takes it upon himself to keep her safe and get to the bottom of things. He doesn't make the best first impression on Brooke but the more time spent together they realize their meant to be.

Sadly, Terry Spears writing style and my reading tastes don't mix. Let's ignore the fact that she uses my least favorite word repeatedly for a certain part of the female anatomy. There just seemed to be a whole lot going on and while interesting I just wasn't interested in Josh and his partners interrogation of the witness'. I was bored more than I should have been while reading. I felt a lot of chapters could have been left out and made the story stronger. The characters themselves were entertaining but I wish the conversation between them flowed.

Wolves...Mates... Baby Reindeer... Love... Intrigue

Joy to the Wolves is the first in the book in the new Red Wolves series by Terry Spear. This book has everything we expect from a Terry Spear book. The book has humor, love, intrigue, hope, and mated wolves.

Brooke Cerise is a red wolf shifter who has inherited an antique shop from her aunt, and she must run it for three years before she can even think of selling and moving on from Portland, Oregon. One morning, she unexpectedly finds a reindeer calf in the courtyard of her property.

Detective Josh Wilding sees a picture of the reindeer and sets out to investigate the “reindeer-napping”. Little do they know that there are far more sinister things happening than a reindeer kidnapping. Someone is out to destroy something Brooke inadvertently has in her possession.

As the two red wolves discover, life can be challenging, but when you find the one person/wolf you are meant to be with, the challenges pale in comparison to love.

I could not put this down (metaphorically)! The characters of Josh, Brooke, and the other wolves are real enough that I can see myself wanting to run with them. Christmastime is a special time of year and more so because of my situation in life and books like “Joy to the Wolves” encourage me to look for the good in situations.

Sadly I DNF’d this one at 10%. I could not for the life of me get into the story. The characters weren’t compelling and the writing style was chopping, awkward, and drawn out in an unappealing way. At least for me. I didn’t really get the point of the prologue and it confused me from the rest of the story. It just dragged for me.

Brooke Cerise is a red wolf shifter who has inherited her aunt's antique shop, as long as she runs it for at least three years. With it being near the Christmas season trade should start well. She didn't know quite how hectic it would be.

Detective and red wolf Josh Wilding is trying to find out who stole a young reindeer from the family ranch, not find a beautiful suspect.

Moving to a new city is going to mean major changes for our heroine and also some very real danger.

There are robberies and murders all seeming connected and a very exciting treasure hunt. It is also quite a sexy but not crude read.

A fast paced story with fabulous characters . It is the first in the series and I can't wait to read the next one.

I loved it.

When the new she-wolf in town reawakens his chivalrous side ...

I have read some shifters stories but none like Mrs Spear. Her shifters meddle with the humans and live like them outside their longer life-span and their need to run.
What I also learned is most are born wolf, the royals and can shift at their convenience when a few have been changed by a bite, but the royals try to avoid it, and they shift only with the moon.
This story is a cute girl meets boy, a turn of events brings them together.
Brooke after having lost her last living relative moves to fulfill her aunt’s will. She now has another antique shop to run and some Easter eggs to hunt. And now a suspicious cop is driving her crazy about she being behind a reindeer calf abduction.
Josh is a bit of a jerk at the beginning but he is some excuses to be wary of she-wolves. Still there is this instant chemistry that drives him to her. And he quickly makes up as when in need, he is the one rushing into danger to rescue her.
What has begun like a lark takes a more serious turn when her life is threatened.
It is a tale with two twines as there is the fun merry treasures hunt as a last gift by Brooke’s aunt and then the sleuthing thread with who is behind the many attacks and why.

So while different from the paranormal romances I have thus far read, this one was a pleasant tale with fun guys, bad ones, cute reindeers, lot of food and a heroine with a knack to find herself in danger at the worse time possible to have the hero dashing to her defense.
4 stars

I was granted an advance copy by the publisher Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

Joy to the Wolves
by Terry Spear
SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca
You Like Them
Sourcebooks Casablanca
Sci Fi & Fantasy
Pub Date 29 Sep 2020 | Archive Date 30 Sep 2020

Great book but a little too racy for our library. I enjoyed the book but will not buy it. Thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for the ARC.
3 star

I could have finished this in a day cause I was loving it that much, but I did need to get some sleep. I loved loved Brooke Cerise and her antique store. I love antique shopping and this book was perfect for me. The characters had me laughing and making me feel like I was right there with them. I loved the chemistry between Brooke and Josh, it was believable even though they were wolves. The treasure hunt her great aunt created for her was wonderful and I loved how excited everyone got when they went hunting for the treasures. This has to be my favorite book by Brooke Cerise and it will be on I will probably I read over and over again. I will be buying this book as soon as it comes out.

Joy to the Wolves by Terry Spear
Publisher: SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca
Genre: Sci Fi & Fantasy
Release Date: September 29, 2020

Wow!!!! I absolutely LOVE this book! The mystery, the flirtation, the romance! What more could you ask for?

I absolutely love the characters and the story line in this book. I'm a huge fan of shifter novels and this was hot and steamy! There was also an incredible mystery with tons of suspense. The chemistry between Brooke and Josh is so intense and their flirtation is so adorable. I also loved Maverick, I want him to be my book boyfriend!

Keep in mind, this book is steamy at times and is NSFW.

There is also a sweet Christmas story line and it makes the book even better! I really hope this becomes a long series because I need more of this wolf pack!

I'm so grateful to Terry Spear, SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

JOY TO THE WOLVES is a delightful Christmas-themed story filled with intrigue, danger and, of course, gorgeous (if a little irritating at first) shifters. Author Terry Spear moves her readers from one scenario to the next so smoothly from the kidnapping of the reindeer, treasure hunts, antique lessons, classic cars and pack life, that before you know it the mysteries are solved and the happily ever after begins in earnest.

Annetta Sweetko, reviewer for Fresh Fiction

complete review: https://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=71752

Brooke and Josh are both werewolves but you know what- werewolves need love too! Brooke has just come to town because she' s inherited an antique store,. A reindeer calf unexpectedly shows up and she takes it in. When Josh. a law enforcement officer, shows up to take it back, well, that's the beginning of a beautiful relationship. The two have good chemistry. It's a fun read that is not especially Christmas-sy but that''s ok. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good relaxing read.

I wanted to go inside Brooke store and have some hot chocolate and whatever other goodies. I wanted to look around and maybe pet the baby reindeer. I felt like I was a visitor and I wanted to shop and enjoy. I love a book that I feel part of, even if I am not a shifter :) Brooke was intelligent, feisty and fun. Josh seemed a tad pig headed and when we find out why it wasn't hard to feel sorry. I loved the mystery, the twists, the turns and what lays the groundwork for a whole new series. Sign me up, I am on board. Romance, humor, mystery, shifters, what's not to love. Thank you Sourcebooks Casablanca, Terry Spear and Netgalley for an enjoyable read I could lose myself in and bring Christmas closer. I freely share my thoughts and opinions.

If you enjoy reading paranormal romance, you will like this book. It’s the first one in a series and I need the sequels as soon as possible. The characters are great and the setting feels like you’re there with them. I highly recommend it!

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review !

The first thing that caught my attention about this book was the title, I love puns and so when I saw a werewolf romance novel with a christmas pun I simply had to know more about it.

I went into it not knowing too much about it, just the basics, a werewolf detective, christmas and a main character who is on a farm and becomes wrapped up in all this when a reindeer calf or a bambi as I like to call them, showed up on her property.

This is really all the information you need, it read fast and was funny it felt like something that could become one of those cutesy christmas movies which is exactly what I was looking for when I picked this up. Is it a book that will stay with you for the rest of your life, probably not, is it a hell of a good time that gives you all the christmas vibes you could want, YES. Their chemistry was undeniable, from the moment they meet until the end of the book it felt like they were presented in a way that truly made me believe they were made for one another.

Our main character Brooke, who is also a werewolf, was funny, quirky and so much fun to read about. She's one of those main characters you easily get attached to. Her love interest Detective Josh, is HOT, I mean the way he's described makes us all need a little water, if you know what I mean... Mix them together and BOOM! sparks fly. Well, not at first as he is "not interested" and his twin is much nicer to Brooke when he arrives to interrogate her for their missing reindeer calf that she has called in as found. I love that the romance was not an instalove as it often is with these types of books, while I do want that sometimes, it was a nice change of pace to have them meet and be not enemies, but a type of annoyed-to-lovers romance ! The side characters were attaching and the dialogue between our couple funny, they just were so sarcastic with each other, especially in the beginning and then just had funny moments happen with normal dialogue.

The plot is interesting and engaging which is not always the case with these types of books and left me pleasantly surprised because, both the romance and the kidnapping case we are following intrigue us. We start the book with when Brooke was forced to once more, after taking over her parents antique shop for three years and then selling it, do the same with her aunt's as she died and put in her will that she can't sell it for three years. This is not what Brooke wants, it is not her dream to own an antique shop and so she takes over to respect the will of her aunt and things happen until our main characters meet ! They meet very early on which was lovely as the romance was the main interest for me in this reading experience. Equal part mystery, romance and funny this book was a quick read that left me wanting more of their story. A perfect Christmas read for all fans of werewolf books !

Overall 4/5 Howling stars !

Bookarina

This is my first time reading this author. And I must say that I really enjoyed this book. I am looking forward to reading more. Shifters, mystery, romance, and Christmas. What could be better. Wolf shifter Brooke inherits a antique shop from her late aunt. Mysterious things begin to happen soon after she arrives and wolf shifter detective Josh comes to investigate.

I really loved how this one opened, how Brooke was concerned about the lone reindeer calf that she brought it into her shop, which didn't seem prudient to me, but sure was fun to read about. I also loved how the reindeer helped her business and how enamoured everyone was to see it. It made for a nice welcome to the town for Brooke and helped introduce her to some of the local wolves. I wasn't sure about Josh, as he came off as an ass at first and Brooke really didn't need that in her life. But as things went on he changed.

The treasure hunt aspect in the book was fun to read about too. Even it was little things Brooke and those helping her find it was exciting, but when they found the big treasures...man you couldn't help but be just as excited as they were.

I was glad to see how thing one ended, glad that new wolves were introduced to the pack, glad that Brooke found her place to belong and glad that the bad guys were caught.

Really enjoyable Christmas read. I love PNR and Christmas books so having both in one novel were a real winner for me.