The Howling Heart

by April Bostic

[Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading]

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.