I really enjoyed the characterization in this book. The author did a fantastic job at bringing the emotions to life (which is one of the most important things I look for in a book). I was sucked in from the the moment we stepped into the art gallery!

This was one of those stories where it did take me a few to really get going with it. But once I did it was fabulous. I need to get a copy of the first book as well. Because, I could not put this one down. The characters were fabulous!

PROTECTING THE GRAY WOLF will have you on the edge of your seat, flipping pages as fast as possible and once you get to the end – you will want more.

Reviewed by Annetta Sweetko for Fresh Fiction

Complete review: https://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=86128

Protecting the Gray Wolf is a spicy dish that was fast paced with well written characters l. I enjoyed the unique lore of a role for lone wolves that are stronger bigger and fill the role of judge jury and executioner in the magic world m. I found it interesting that usually there is only one but for some reason there rise. Thus is the story of the Gray Wolf.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Protecting the Gray Wolf is book two in the Lone Wolf Legacy series by N.J. Walters I am in love with this series and I can’t wait to see what’s next.

Thank you to N.J Walters, NetGalley, and Entangled for this ARC to review!

Listen, you like werewolves? You like that good ol classic paranormal romance of the 2000s? Then you're going to want to give this book a read. It's got all those good tropes.

My only issue with this (and it's going to be more of a style preference) is that I didn't feel the chemistry between the two love interests. We get hit with a make out scene in a dreamscape in the first act and, though it was well written, I wasn't excited about it. Having a slower more flushed out romance is more my flavor tastes. I am rounding up my 3.5 review because I can see that this could so be a just me thing. Others can and will feel differently.

This is my first ever wolf book and i was not disappointed. Im strongly going into my wolf era. This book blew my mind and was more than what i originally expected. I could not put this book down. I need more books like this

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars
M/F Paranormal Romance

To start, I just want to point out that I did not read book one. However, I never felt that I was truly missing a piece of the puzzle. Walters does a good job at being thorough in the explanation, and while I'm sure I would have had more details had I read book one, this didn't deter from book two.

Kade has lived his life alone. Protecting, standing alone, defending. For 85 years, he's been alone. Now, with magic in the air, he's drawn to a new place. He isn't quite sure why or what is happening, but with his limited contact with the white wolf, Kade has an idea of what's happening.

Luna is an artist who knows that where she is in life isn't where she wants to be, but she's paying her dues. When she has a gallery showing, the last thing she expects is someone wanting to purchase her painting for an obscene amount of money. There's something about him... she can't help but want him to have the wolf painting.

As Kade and Luna are thrust further into this conspiracy of a dark witch's doing, they will learn that sometimes, it's best to take a chance. Kade will stop at nothing to protect Luna and Luna learns that she will stop at nothing to protect Kade. As the magic swirls around them, they will have to learn to lean on each other, trust each other and themselves.

I really enjoyed this story, but it did take a while before I was truly interested. I think it was about 60% into the book before it truly took off and became much more fast-paced. However, I can't wait to see what happens in the next installment. There are some great characters and I really want to see how things play out.

In ‘Protecting the Gray Wolf’ we read the story of Kade, a.k.a. the Gray Wolf and Luna. Kade has been the Gray Wolf for a long time and he is used to being alone. Their aren’t a lot of people out there he can trust, since everyone seems to be after him. And when Kade meets Luna, he knows an evil Mage made sure Kade and Luna would be attracted to each other. At first he is determined to keep his distance from Luna. But when he realizes the kind of person Luna is, he isn’t so sure he can stay away from her. Especially when her life is in danger.

Luna has been abandoned by her family from the moment she was born. She grew up in boarding schools, and with the help of nanny’s. For years now, she has had this fascination with a Gray wolf. As an artist Luna has been painting and drawing a wolf for a long time. So when her boss decides Luna can show of her painting on an open gallery night she is beyond excited. Especially when a handsome guy walks in interested in buying it. From the moment Luna meets Kade she knows there is more to him than you see at first. And the chemistry between them is just crazy!

After loving the first book in the series, I was really excited to start reading this one. ‘Protecting the Gray Wolf’ definitely is a very fun read. Just as with every book by N.J. Walters I read, there is no slow introduction. Right from the very first page we are back in the middle of things. Somehow, this always seem to work for this author, and I enjoyed getting to know Kade and Luna.

This book is written through both Kade and Luna’s point of view, which was really fun. Both characters have trouble trusting people, but when they learn they are both in danger they are forced to take a leap of faith. The chemistry between them was fun, and something you could definitely feel coming of the pages. There was romance, action and a bit of mystery and I really had fun reading this book. The paranormal aspect was so fun. Wolves, witches and magic.. Those are some great subjects if you ask me.

I did wish this book didn’t go as quickly at times though. Everything seems to happen in only a few days, and it all feels a bit to much for such a short of amount of time. Especially for two people with trust issues. But overall I definitely enjoyed this book, and I’m looking forward to reading the third book.

I enjoyed reading this story! A great paranormal romance following Kade, the Gray Wolf, and Luna, a human artist. I didn't read the first book in the series but that was not a problem and I got immersed in the story quickly. I loved seeing the romance bloom between two people who both having trouble trusting people. My only hesitation was the pacing occasionly felt too rushed.

Thank you to N.J Walters and NetGalley for proving me a free copy in an exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book in this author’s Lone Wolf Legacy series. I devoured book one and couldn’t wait to dive back into this intriguing world. Once upon a time, I wouldn’t have called myself a paranormal/fantasy romance fan. Then, several of my go-to authors began writing in the genre, pulling me along somewhat reluctantly. But calling yourself a superfan gives you great power, and we all know that comes with great responsibility, so I did the responsible thing, began reading PNR, and something crazy happened: I figured out I actually LOVED it! Not long after, I found N. J. Walters’ Forgotten Brotherhood series, and she quickly joined the ranks of my go-to PNR authors. This brings us to the start of this series, and after reading about first the white wolf and now the gray one, I am officially here for them all! Like the first book in the series, there is plenty of action, suspense, and, of course, shifter romance throughout to keep you turning the pages (I devoured it in one sitting). As the underlying mystery will continue to the end of the series, I highly recommend reading Taming the White Wolf before reading this one. Now, I’m anxiously awaiting what I think will be the last book in this series. Strap in, PNR fans! It’s a fabulous ride!

NICUnurse’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A good read for fans of the genre -- definitely had a swoon worthy interest and was a great book to pick up and enjoy on a weekend afternoon.

We're back and the bad guys are now looking for the next lone wolf, to steal his power. It was full of action and I can't wait to see what happens with the black wolf. And that reveal was great!

Kade is used to being alone. No alpha, no pack just him and the other two lone wolves. He's also used to other wolves trying to take him out because he's stronger, harder, meaner, and immortal.

But a power-hungry mage is gunning for him. They're in New York City and he plans on hunting them down.

When he sees Luna West, every cell in his body goes on alert. He's filled with a primal longing he never thought he could feel. She's only a human but there is definitely something connecting them.

He knows she's bait but there is no denying he and his wolf are attracted to her. And they'll do anything to protect one another.

Thanks so much to the author and Entangled for this ARC to review.

Steamy Shifter Romance With An Action Packed Plot

This one was fun! It has all the feels and angsty vides that you get with pnr romance combined with the action of an urban fantasy. Think Annette Marie’s Guild Codex (with a less complicated magic system) meets Celia Kyle shifter romance.
The MCs both have deep backstories and motivations so even though there’s explosive chemistry between them, al la fated mates instalove goodness, they take their time to work through it and develop their romantic relationship. So if you’re a fated mates junkie like me then you’ll love this one.

🌶️🌶️
Characters: 💙💙💙💙💙
PNR: Shifter Romance, Lone Wolf, Fated Mates, Crime Thriller Vibes, Action Packed
First Person, Past Tense, Dual POV
⚠️: Violence, Blood, & Gore

I was pleasantly surprised how much I really enjoyed this book despite starting on number 2 in a series!

Luna, the female lead, is a human artist who dreams about and has art that is heavily influenced by wolves.

Kade is the male lead of our story, and one of three immortal wolves. He ends up finding Luna through one of her paintings at an Art Gallery.

The book drops you instantly into the action and you are swept along for the ride- the banter and conversations between the two leads was incredibly engaging. I loved how much their relationship grow as they literally fought for their lives and to get answers they desperately need and find a solution that keeps them safe, alive, and together.

I’m actually really excited to jump back to the first book! While these can be read as standalone books, now I WANT to dive into all of them!

A pleasing read. I found the opening scenes grabbed my attention with Kade meeting Luna at the art gallery and seeing the Wolf painting. I also liked the dream connection they have. My only issue was that the story dragged a good deal in the middle and I didn't see a significant emotional connection between Kade and Luna beyond lust.
The few chapters were fast-paced and very exciting where Luna and Kade have to fight for their lives. A nail-biting end.

This series just keeps getting better and better. While I already knew I could expect good things from this author, this series exceeded my expectations.

Kade is the Gray Wolf from the title and he was already dragged into the mage drama of the last book, but if this is your first book that’s probably OK too! He knows that there is something at play, pairing off lone wolves with their seemingly fate mates. Are they actually fated if an evil mage made it that way? It kind of doesn’t matter because the sizzle is off the charts between them. Luna is a bit of a loner herself and she runs into Kade at the art studio she works at. They are drawn to one another, but in truly paranoid fashion, he does a deep dive on her past before meeting up again.

These two are both hesitant, but willing to take the leap when bigger danger is going after them. This book also had a lot of broker action, who was already a mysterious figure in the previous book and hopefully gets all those mysteries answered in the next one. While we get a bit of wrap-up in this installment, there is definitely a storm brewing for the final lone wolf. Can’t wait to see where this series takes us next!

I liked this book alot. We didn't get to see a ton about the Gray or Black wolves in the 1st book.

This one does suffer a bit like the first, there is alot going on but it is still slow. The number of times the characters barely escape death is numerous. So much happens in the dreamworld, it got a little confusing.

I did love the Black wolf's brief interactions. He was a fun little bit and I can't wait for his book next.

This is book two of the series. Kade a lone wolf, one of three who has lived his whole life alone. Someone is hunting them. Kade meets a girl who he is immediately pulled to. They soon find out that there is others at play in their love, and are using Luna to capture him. This second book is full of surprises and answers. It brings more information about the 3 lone wolfs and who is hunting them. So excited for the next one!

I do like N.J. Walters's books. She really writes great paranormal romance. Saving the Gray Wolf was another fun read. I missed the first book in the Lone Wolf Legacy series and while I'm sure the extra back story would have been nice to have it was not needed. The story works on its own.

These lone wolves have it hard. No friends, no allies, no pack and their entire job is to hunt and kill the worst of their species. It's OK though. Kade is all in. What he never saw coming was a fated mate in Luna. Luna has no idea the paranormal isn't just fantasy in books. Haunted her entire life by a gray wolf who finds its way into her art, she has no idea Kade and his ilk are real. Or even that her dream wolf is also a man. Imagine both of their surprise when fate puts them in each other's paths.

I like the characters, the intense conflicts and the journey in this book. I really wanted to see Kade and Luna find their answers, defeat evil together, and find their happily ever after.

I look forward to whatever Walters has next.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.