I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own.

I struggled with my decision on how to rate this book. After much reflection, I finally decided to give it a four-star rating. You may be wondering what could have led to this struggle. The story was good, but there were aspects that had me rethinking my decision to read it. There was a hint of the possibility of sexual deviation. Thankfully, it was just a hint because that would have been too much for me to handle.

With that being said, my reasons for awarding a four-star rating was due to the following:

1. A Unique and interesting storyline:
The Howling Heart is not your typical werewolf romance. It delved into a world where fantasy met reality and mythology. I found the concept surrounding the origin of werewolves fascinating and refreshing. They were not considered to be werewolves, but wolves that appear human. They are larger than your typical werewolf and this was due to centuries of inbreeding.

2. Pacing:
The story is well paced. It flowed smoothly from start to finish. There were a few scenes that had me on the edge of my seat. There was never a dull moment in this book.

3. Well portrayed characters:
Howling Heart tells the story of Paige Donovan and Riley Gray. Paige works with a prestigious fashion magazine. She is in a solid relationship or so she believed until she caught her boyfriend cheating. When she thought things could not get any worse, she received news of her father's death. In a bid to handle her grief, she returned to the cabin she had inherited from her father. This cabin and the surrounding areas held a lot of memories for Paige. One memory that stood out most in her mind was the day she made friends with a white wolf pup. Little did she know that returning to the Black River area would change her life in ways she could never imagine.Paige is a complex character. She grew up under unhappy circumstances, however, she did not allow it to define her as an adult.She is strong and vulnerable at the same time. The fact that she is willing to give up the life of comfort that she is accustomed to for love demonstrates her brave and unselfish nature. However, I must confess that there were times when I wanted to knock some sense into her. It baffled me how someone who claims to be smart could behave foolishly at times.Riley's character was somewhat confusing. He is sexy and strong-willed. It's his strong-willed nature that led to him constantly butting heads with his father. He is a charmer, a take charge person and protective of those he cared about. However, he has a dark side. Now, what confused me was his actions when thought he was going to lose Page. He cried, begged and whined. These are not traits one would expect to find in a male such a Riley.

4. The Ending
The ending was not what I was expecting. It took me by surprise, but I believe it was a beautiful ending. The author is new to me as such I had no idea what I was getting into. Now, that I am at the end, I can honestly say that I enjoyed the way she made the story come alive.

There is not much more I can say for fear of giving away the story. Nevertheless, I can say this much. I am glad I read this book. If you love shifter romance and want a refreshing take on the world of shifters, then I recommend that you get a copy.

Emma (SCR)

Written on Oct 15, 2013

This review was originally posted on Star Crossed Reviews I received this book for free an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Firstly I would like to thank Fiction Addiction Tours for letting me take part in this blog tour. I would also like to thank April Bostic for my review copy.

I thought this book was great. I loved the story.

Paige was an easy character to sympathise with. I lost my mum at a young age and I understood her pain when her father died. I did think she rather quickly went from "oh my boyfriend just cheated on me" to "oh I'm in love with Riley". I mean I understand he was sex on legs but I just found it a little fast. She certainly proved her love for him though.

Talking of Riley He's also sweet, kind, caring and thoughtful. He's also strong and would do absolutely anything for Paige. I found his dedication to her to be extremely romantic. Oh and did I mention he was hot?

I really loved Quinn. She was a fantastic character and her and Paige were really there for each other in the difficult times.

I thought this book had a great ending but I would love to read a sequel or short story follow up to see what happens next.

stressedrach

Written on Sep 26, 2013

The Howling Heart is a different kind of paranormal romance.
Paige was a city girl, had a great job, and only went back to Black River to see the cabin and what work would need doing to sell it. Little did she know Riley, hot, sexy and naked a lot wanted her to be his mate. This book has Werewolves or their proper name is Varulv and Norse Gods, which Paige didn't even know existed until she went back to Black River. A romance and sex which is quite graphic.
The story flowed really well, the character development was great and it seemed like I got to know everyone properly. I did get a little worried how the book was going to turn out as something happens that you will have to find out yourself but luckily the author didn't "go there".
Very well written and I will be looking out for more books from April Bostic.

Lindsey Gray

Written on Jul 31, 2013

When Paige's father dies, she inherits his cabin in Black River, Colorado. She met the love of her life there when she was a child but she never knew it.

Riley was a young wolf pup who found Paige when she was running away from her screaming parents while they were at the cabin. She played with him in his wolf form and saw him briefly as a human but didn't know they were one in the same. Fast forward to the present and Paige is thrust into a world she never thought there was even a slight possibility of being real. I love how Paige handles being told about the wolves. She doesn't just automatically accept it even with the connection she feels with Riley. It takes time and some painful experiences for her to come to grips with the world in Black River.

I applaud Bostic for her very thought provoking plot. She takes the whole "werewolf" archetype and transforms it into a whole new perspective; wolves who can take human form. That plot point alone blew me away. It was only the beginning though.

This story took me on a ride I have not experienced in a long while. It is told from Paige's point of view and completely appropriate in this setting. The characters were strongly developed and the writing was witty, crisp, and thought provoking. If you are looking for a large dollop of steamy goodness, there is plenty of that in there too. Bravo, Ms. Bostic. You have created a wonderful story I won't soon forget.