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She may be his destiny, but she's not his first choice...
Hospital nurse and newly turned red werewolf Carol Woods is being pressured by her pack leader to find a mate, but he's the only guy in the pack who remotely attracts her.
Why is he playing so hard to get?
The fate of the pack rests on his shoulders...
Gray pack leader Ryan McKinley doesn't want anything to do with Carol unless she's willing to embrace her wolf nature-no matter how beautiful she is.
But when a virus infects the local lupus garou pack, Ryan realizes just how wrong he's been not to seize the moment with the woman he's come to love. And now, it may be too late...
Praise for Terry Spear's To Tempt the Wolf :
"Ms. Spear's has spun a web of drama that pulled me in... Get it; read it; you'll love it!"
-Romance Reader at Heart
"A paranormal romp that sizzles! Action-packed romance and suspense-filled plot add up to pure magic. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Terry Spear is a great addition to the paranormal genre!"
-Armchair Interviews
"Terry Spear knows exactly how to extract emotions from her readers, draw them into the story, and how to keep them riveted until the last word's printed on the last page. " - Love Romance Passion
"A perfect example of escapist literature where readers can get lost in a world that is not their own." - Romance Fiction on Suite101.com
"Spear delivers another smash hit again." - RomFan Reviews
"I love werewolves and I love Terry Spea.r.. Her books are always fun and never disappoint. " - Readaholic
"This was an involving story that I simply had to finish. I love the world the author has created and can't wait to read more." - Bookaholics Romance Book Club
"Page-turning excitement that just doesn't stop. Spear's trademark of using realistic wolf characteristics and behavior remains refreshingly delightful... A CK2 Recommended Read!" - CK2's Kwips and Kritiques
"Spear uses great character development, hot passion, facets of many different controversies, and a mysterious twist to keep her readers entertained. " - Coffee Time Romance
"A riveting and entertaining novel, WOLF FEVER is a lot of fun and makes one want to devour all of the rest of Terry Spear's books." - Fresh Fiction
"Who wants sleep when they're in the middle of reading a story by Ms. Spear? Her writing is pure entertainment. " - The Long and Short of It Reviews
Chapter 1
The waxing moon was calling to her. Again. Lying on the soft mattress in Darien Silver's guest room early that spring evening, Carol Wood tried to sleep. But she felt the growing white sphere begging her to shed her human frailties and run with the magnificent grace of the wolf, strong and agile, with purpose in every stride in the crisp, cold Colorado night air.
She did not wish to be one of them-at least as far as being a part-time wolf-no matter how much several in the pack had encouraged her to embrace this new side of herself. The moon would soon be whole, but deep down she rebelled against the werewolf's curse. Because it was a curse to her, just the way her premonitions and psychic touch often were.
She'd grown up with her revved senses and had realized she couldn't do anything about that aspect of her life, once she'd learned it wasn't normal to have the abilities she did. But now to be-she squeezed her eyes tighter and rolled onto her back-a werewolf... No matter how much she wished the truth could be changed, she knew she'd have to deal with it before long. With all her heart, she prayed to keep her newly acquired bizarre condition-shape-shifting-at bay. Her body tingled with heat and her mind with apprehension. Even in the darkness of her half-asleep mind, she fought the change, fought the feeling she was losing control of her physical form. Fresh tension made every nerve ending prickle while she clutched the comforter underneath her chin.
The heat, like the sun shining on a bright and warm Caribbean afternoon, invaded every pore, signaling the unwanted craving to shift. She moaned, tightening her hold on the comforter, her nails digging into the white eyelet. The moon was growing day by day, just like the damnable desire to shape-shift. No, not desire. Compulsion.
Then, as if her psychic side finally gained some ground against the wolf, her second sight kicked in. The room and the need to shift dissolved into blackness, and the wolf in her vision appeared again like a lucid dream.
As big as it was, with massive shoulders, broad muzzle and forehead, and long legs, the wolf had to be a male, standing proud and tall, watching her from the edge of the spring-green forest. Cloaked in rich bluish-silver fur with a lighter mask, and with his ears perked like an alpha male's would be, he panted until he caught her gaze. His amber eyes focused on hers: the wolf wanted her. Beckoned her to come to him. But not as a human.
As a wolf.
Even in her visions, the scene was one of cajoling, begging her to recognize her destiny, to give in to her wolf's half. At least that's the way she viewed him.
Carol refused the wolf's alluring gaze and the moon's sensuous serenade.
But the moon commanded her! Aroused her to do its bidding through its seductive pull, yanking her abruptly from the vision.
The heat invading her body intensified now, like a fever that couldn't be squelched. Never had the shift overtaken a vision in progress. The urge was growing. Yet she knew she still had some influence over the shift, like those born as lupus garous had an inborn ability to prevent humans from catching them during the conversion. Like them, if she wanted to change, the shift happened in a flash. And since she hadn't just automatically shifted, she must have some control.
Still, her muscles twitched with need as she shrugged off the comforter and blankets. She lay in her silky gown on the soft mattress in the pack leader's chilly guest room, ready to yank off her garment before the transformation took over in case she couldn't stop it. She envisioned the horrifying image of getting hung up in her gown as a wolf. Trapped, snarling, and growling, she'd try to free herself until she woke someone in the household. He or she would find her struggling in a cocoon of silk-furry legs kicking and sharp, wicked canines snapping.
She gritted her teeth and pressed the palms of her hands flat against the soft mattress, battling the moon's domination. She would not give up control and shapeshift! Not when she couldn't rule her paranormal abilities. Not when she would now have to relinquish control over her physical form as well.
But more than that, she feared the shift would change her forever. Forever! Doomed to live life as a wolf with the conscience of a human. Even a single moment as a wolf could permanently seal her fate. At least that's what she thought a new vision was telling her, yet she couldn't know for certain. That's why fear consumed her to a greater degree every time the damnable shift threatened to overtake her.
Cursing her fate, she ground her teeth and clenched her hands into fists, her fingernails biting into the palms of her hands, and attempted to think of anything that would halt the raging need to shift.
She visualized Lelandi, the pack leader's mate, throwing a first-ever All Girls' Night Extravaganza the previous week exclusively for women in the pack-complete with werewolf-romance writer Julia Wildthorn's latest novel made into a feature film, Wolfly Desires, popcorn, margaritas, and lots of laughter. They were still finding popcorn underneath cushions and beneath the couch in little clusters. Carol smiled at the memory, hoping they could repeat an activity like that soon.
But then the heat rushed through her body again with a new wave of warning. Every muscle tightened, preparing for the fight. As if she'd called to the gods of psychic phenomena and they'd taken pity on her, her thoughts began to blur, and she knew her psychic sense was trying to take control again.
Holding her thoughts hostage, the dreamlike image showed an out-of-focus man, dressed in red and white stripes, who had knocked her down and was holding her there. Instantly, her blood cooled, the need to shape-shift withdrawing. A scrap of relief trickled through her. She focused, trying to see the mental picture more clearly, attempting to determine who had tackled her and why. Annoyance was the driving feeling she experienced from the encounter. Not fear. Loss of control, maybe. But the strongest emotion was definitely annoyance.
The vision grew mistier, the man's shadowy face becoming hazier and the red and white stripes blurring into pink until they faded completely from her mind. She was in control again-of her thoughts and her physical form. Taking a deep breath, she rubbed her arms, which were covered in chill bumps. Once more, she'd successfully stopped the change, and she felt some measure of triumph in overcoming the need to shift. She shivered. The compulsion grew stronger every month with each full moon. She could also shape-shift anytime a crescent moon appeared-waxing or waning. Only the royal werewolves, whose roots had not been diluted by strictly human genetics in their recent ancestry, could shapeshift during the phase of the new moon.
She feared that one of these times she wouldn't be able to conjure up a vision quickly enough or maybe not at all. The arrival of her visions was as unpredictable as the timing of the craving to shape-shift. But what if she did manage a vision and the shift superseded it again? Worrying about that wouldn't change a thing. She meant to dream up a fantasy world that would distract her so she could fall asleep again, because she desperately needed the sleep, but her thoughts drew back to the wolf in her vision earlier. He would come for her. Why? She didn't have a clue. But she knew she couldn't put off the inevitable.
LASR_Reviews
Posted October 30, 2010
Who ever heard of biological warfare against werewolves actually succeeding? This is another great story from the mind of Ms. Spear sure to amaze and intrigue readers of her wonderful series; and even garner new fans.
Carol Wood isn't a pushover. The story revolves around a young woman who had dreams and goals and finds herself now a werewolf. She doesn't want to give anything up but being a werewolf has certainly derailed the plans she made for her life. It's all about compromise, yet Carol won't budge an inch. She has this ability that confounds her alpha and pack and sometimes makes her the odd one out. This talent of which she tried to exercise great control over comes at a cost and it plays into the plot quite effectively. She also has some inner pain that gets dealt with.
And isn't it romantic that Ryan wants to help? Not that his help is wanted initially. That made for some interesting reading. I liked Carol's character. When things get nasty, her strengths shine - she's smart, has a clever brain process, is dedicated and goes after what she wants. She's feminine enough to feel insecure at times when confronted with what she sees are perfect werewolf females, until Ryan has her believing what he sees in her. I found that quite romantic. She's also woman enough to fight for her man, even when he tells her to 'stay put'. I really liked that about her.
Ryan is the hero. On top of that, he's a yummy Scotsman as well as an alpha. I like that he did his own thing and is his own man but still respected the local alpha. Although he's visiting and states that he's tying up a loose end, he's determined to keep Carol safe and he's not quite sure why. I really enjoyed his slow fall into love. He actually got hit with Cupid's arrow early on but he didn't recognize the fact and that made me smile. He's such a guy. He's also a great protector and he's tenacious, all good traits.
A lot of the secondary characters are familiar to readers of previous books but for first time readers, if they jump into the series with this story, they'll feel like they're getting a complete picture. It stands alone just fine because this story is carried by Carol and Ryan. The intrigue started in a previous book but this one blows it right open so instead of being teased, a reader gets the whole enchilada. There is terrific suspense, action and even comedic moments to keep a reader fascinated and interested. When Carol and Ryan get together and they explore the physical aspect of their budding relationship, it's sensual, passionate and very well written. There are some bittersweet moments among the secondary characters as well. Everyone had a job in this story for good or ill, and they're all very well fleshed out and I believe accomplished whatever the author needed them to do. Another reason I enjoyed this book is that it gave me a sense of community which provided more shocking power to the maniacal plot.
Wolf Fever is another winner of a story that kept me on the edge with its unique master storytelling and plot. There are villains of different flavors and degrees that prevented me from guessing which way Ms. Spear was going to go. I enjoyed the brisk dialogue and the insights it gave me as I read. The quality of writing is as strong as ever and a must read for paranormal wolf fans who enjoy a romance laced with humor along with great suspense.
Originally posted at The Long And Short of It Romance Reviews
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 9, 2012
I love this series. This is another great one to the series :)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted March 21, 2011
I Also Recommend:
I loved this book...it is the best of this series so far. I kind of was pulling for Jake in this book a little bit but the author's website states that I will not have to wait too long for him to find love. I will definitely will be waiting on the next installment of this series to be released.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.BookAddictPatti
Posted March 18, 2011
Carol Woods sees the future - and she's a werewolf. She's not a natural born werewolf - she was attacked 5 months ago and turned. Since then, she's been fighting the change (successfully so far) and Darien, her pack leader, is concerned. She's fighting the change because she's been having visions of some of the men in her pack shifting into wolves and not being able to shift back. In addition to trying to convince her to shift, Darien is also trying to convince her to take a mate, as females are a precious commodity and he doesn't want her attacked and/or stolen.
Ryan McKinley is a former cop, now a PI, who assisted Darien's pack a few months ago with a problem they were having. Since then he hasn't been able to get Carol off his mind - he doesn't believe her visions are real. So he's back on Darien's turf to figure out how Carol figured out the clues to his case.
When Carol is almost kidnapped, she hires Ryan to be her bodyguard. He agrees, and that's where things start to really heat up. The attraction is definitely there, but Carol can't be with someone who doesn't believe in her "talent", and Ryan needs a mate who can embrace her wolf. Then, Carol's visions come true and the wolves can't shift back and the pack looks to her to find a cure.
My thoughts: I really enjoy reading Terry Spear's wolves; she is very good at making the wolf come across in their human counterparts. I love her Alpha males, and even though she was a new wolf, Carol was such a stubborn Alpha female, it was fun to see the Beta males trying (unsuccessfully) to win her affections. The social hiearchy of the packs was also well-done; although not the hero of this story, Darien was a great Alpha leader who was willing to work with another Alpha to resolve his problems. The sickness plot was interesting - biological warfare within werewolf packs is a novel storyline and it worked here, providing a dose of urgency to the story.
I'm looking forward to the next book in this series - Heart of the Highland Wolf.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted December 21, 2011
I can't get enough of Terry Spear and her wolf series. I'll take any of the Gorgeous men any day of the week.
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Posted December 4, 2011
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Interesting plot to the story and lots of action, romance and drama. Didn't realize this was part of a series didn't see the book was numbered in any way. The plot was great in this book, with multiple packs - some working togethers while others plotted revenge and to take over. The main characters has a ability to see glimpses of future events that have not yet come to pass. She's a very agressive character and independent which makes her a prime target for an alpha male leader. Enjoyed the book.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.My Synopsis: Carol is a recently turned lupus garou - who has another ability. She has visions of the future - usually signifying trouble. These visions have enabled her to keep from shifting for five months. She is troubled because one of her visions has shown her members of her new wolf family as wolves - unable to shift back. She is afraid that if she shifts, she will not be able to shift back again.
Since she is newly turned and unmated AND has not shifted - Darien, the pack leader - has moved her into his house in order to keep an eye on her. He wants her to learn their ways and doesn't want her shifting unexpectedly. He knows it will happen, it is just a matter of time. He also feels it is his responsibility to find her a mate.
Ryan McKinley is leader of a pack from a neigboring town and a P.I. Carol's visions had helped him to solve a murder, but he has been unable to get her out of his head. He says it is because he doesn't believe she is psychic and wants to get to the bottom of how she came upon her information. The harder he tries to prove she is a fraud, the more he starts to believe her, all the while neither one of them can seem to fight the growing attraction between them.
A mysterious flu sweeps through the community and before anyone can stop it, some of the wolves have shifted and cannot change back. It is up to Carol and Ryan to figure out what is going on and if they are going to be able to stop it in time.
My Thoughts: I did like this book - but I had a hard time picturing Carol. I don't think it had so much to do with her description, but the fact that I know too many Carols. My mom is Karol, my MIL is Carol and my next door neighbor is Carol. None of these women are young, sexy, wolf-like, (lol) so it took some time for me to erase my Carols and embrace this Carol. Once I really got into the story though, it got easier. This book was a little slower moving than previous books by Ms. Spear that I had read. It seemed to take longer to get to the "mystery" that needed to be solved. And while I grew to like Carol and Ryan together, I didn't instantly feel their chemistry - and maybe that was how it was supposed to be as neither one of them really wanted to be mated either.
Anonymous
Posted December 16, 2010
To begin with this series is amazing. It's fun, entertaining, good for any type of reader, keeps you interested, and has fantastic characters. I loved that we got to see a glimpse into Lelandi & Darien's life along with the pack favorites. Carol & Ryan's story was very romantic. The action was weaved in to perfection as Terry Spear always manages to do.
Carol Wood is an amazing character. She's sweet, caring, apprehensive, selfless, and well loved by everyone. Ryan McKinley is like your typical alpha male protective, scared to show his feelings, but always manages to show the softer wilder side. I don't want to give anything away because you should read it for yourself how great the book is along with the whole series. It's very well developed.
And in Wolf Fever we maybe get a possible glimpse into Rosalind's life?? Could be interesting!! Read for yourself to see what I mean.
So yes absolutely READ READ THE BOOK!!!
Enjoy!!
I love werewolves and I love Terry Spear. Need I say more? Her books are always fun and never disappoint. The plot was intense and the virus had me on the edge of my seat. Carol and Ryan's characters made the story even better. Four stars!
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Overview
She may be his destiny, but she's not his first choice...
Hospital nurse and newly turned red werewolf Carol Woods is being pressured by her pack leader to find a mate, but he's the only guy in the pack who remotely attracts her.
Why is he playing so hard to get?
The fate of the pack rests on his shoulders...
Gray pack leader Ryan McKinley ...