Title: The Howling Heart
Author: April Bostic
Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Eternal Press
Release Date: Aug 8 2013
Editions/Formats Available In: eBook & Print
Blurb/Synopsis:
Paige Donovan is an ambitious college graduate who aspires to reach the top of the corporate ladder. She’s climbing fast when given the promotion of a lifetime at a prestigious fashion magazine in New York City. Her bright future comes to an unexpected halt after news of her father’s death. She inherits his old cabin in the Colorado Rockies, and just when she thinks her luck couldn’t get any worse, she has a car accident in the mountains and awakens in the small, remote community of Black River.
Soon, she’s engulfed in the mystical world of Varulv—wolves descended from 13th century Scandinavia and blessed by Norse gods with the ability to appear human. Paige is desperate to return home, but never expects to fall for her rescuer, Riley Gray, a charming young werewolf from England who offers her an alternate future with his pack.
Now, she must choose between the career she’s always wanted and the love she’s always dreamed.
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EXCERPT 3
Riley was a beautiful wolf. It made sense, considering he was a beautiful man. The sunlight streaming through the windows in the living room touched parts of his body and revealed his entire coat was the color of pure snow. A soft glow emanated from his amber eyes, and they were almost hypnotic. In the light of day, they didn’t glow as brightly as they did at night.
Riley and I were both still, our gazes locked on each other. I had lost the capacity to speak. I couldn’t believe what I had witnessed. Two humans had transformed into wolves, one right in front of me. How is this possible?
He stepped forward, slowly and cautiously, and my muscles tensed. He took another step until he was close enough to touch. My breathing increased, and I pressed my back against the sofa. I wouldn’t dare touch him. I wasn’t sure if he could control his animal form. He whimpered as he sat on his hind legs and put his head on my knee. There was a message behind his eyes that I didn’t understand.
“He’s not going to hurt you, Paige.”
I turned my head to see Quinn had transformed back into her human form. Her breasts were exposed, but she didn’t seem embarrassed. It became obvious the twins were comfortable being naked around me. She looked at her brother and then settled her blue eyes on me.
“It’s still Riley,” she said quietly. “He’s fully aware of what’s going on. He knows it’s you.”
Quinn must’ve noticed my hesitation. I’ll admit her words made me feel more comfortable.
I need to be honest with you dear readers. I don’t like shifter books. I’m not sure why except that most of them are erotic, involve a menage, aren’t realistic enough for me or just bore me to tears. Yes, I’ve DNF a lot of them but authors that others rave about. Sigh…In my PNR’s, I like fae, angels, demons and gargoyles. Yes, I’m weird but there you have it. So why did I give this book a 5 Harlie, Recommended Read and Best of 2014? Let me explain:
1. The Plot – Extremely well thought out and it shows in Ms. Bostic’s world building. She showed us the world, not “told” us about it. That’s a huge difference for me. I felt like I was really there in Colorado and New York. Yes, the story takes place in two different settings and that makes it a more exciting book for me to read. It showed the shifter world of Riley and Paige’s world in New York.
2. The Characters – Again, well thought out and richly drawn to keep my interest. Plus, with Riley’s twin sister Quinn as Paige’s new friend, you could tell that again, Ms. Bostic took her time for the characters to get to know one another. It wasn’t insta love/lust with Riley and Paige. Yes, Riley knew that Paige was his mate, but Paige had a lot of questions that needed to be answered. Paige needed some convincing but she wasn’t pushed into her decision. It was a decision that she made on her own.
3. The World According to Ms. Bostic – Good lord, what a world. It wasn’t mythical or enchanting. It was real and how she was able to incorporate the shifter world and the real world was brilliant. It made sense to me and the action flowed from one to another. Another thing about the world that she created, every question that Paige had, I had and Ms. Bostic explained simplicity but didn’t dumb it down for me. Yes, was the taboo subject of having sex with a wolf touched on? You bet. Paige needed answers and she got them. Was the act in the book? NO! (I know that some reviewers raked the book over the coals for that; I didn’t because of the way that Ms. Bostic handled the situation)
4. Mating Ritual – This didn’t happen until over half way through the book. At least them having sex. It was well written but the actual ritual didn’t happen until later. And of course, there was another shifter that wanted Paige. Oooo, the intrigue. Yes, was there a fight to the death? You bet and I loved it. I cringed the whole time but the outcome was well worth it in the end.
5. Riley and Paige – Theirs is such a sweet story. Yes, its sweet. I’m a romantic at heart and to see how their childhood played a hand into their adulthood was sweet. Was Paige confused by it all? You bet but she had Riley and in a sense Quinn to help her figure it out.
6. Complaints – Paige’s mother was a beyotch behind compare. I really, really wanted to slap her, maim her or whatever. Paige was a grown woman and she treated Paige like she was 10 years old. I also felt like the ending was a bit…I don’t know…weird. Yes, did everything work out in the end? Sure but unfortunately, there are a lot of unanswered questions that I will never know. Ms. Bostic has decided to stop writing. Yes, there will be no sequel, no Quinn story…nothing. I’m extremely upset over this because I finally found a PNR author that I adored and shifters that I liked. *pout*
Overall, if you want to dip your toes into the shifter world that makes sense, The Howling Heart is where you need to start. Its a well thought out romance between two people that straddles two different worlds. The outcome is sweet and tender between Riley and Paige. And nothing cringe worthy happens (things that make you go Yuck) either. Plus there is a touch of the Viking in here too and oh man…I loved it!
April Bostic is a New Jersey-based, Adult Romance author who enjoys unleashing her creativity and letting her imagination run wild. Her love of romance books inspired her to become not just a reader, but also a writer. In December 2008, she self-published her first novel, a contemporary romance with a supernatural twist entitled “A Rose to the Fallen”.
Her first short story, “Right Here, Right Now”, released in January 2012, is an erotic romance with a dash of S&M. The following year, she released two more short stories: a romantic urban fantasy inspired by the Greek myth of Eros and Psyche entitled “Eros, My Love”, and a sexy romantic comedy entitled “Love Addiction”.
After five years, she released her second novel, “The Howling Heart” in August 2013, a paranormal romance that delves into the mystical world of werewolves and Norse gods. To end her busiest year in publishing, April will release her fourth short story in December 2013, a historical paranormal romance entitled “A Dark Scandal”.
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Hi Marika, Thanks for reviewing my book. I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Hi Marika!
I loved your review of The Howling Heart as well as the wonderful excerpts! I love to read Scottish Historical Medieval romance because Scotland is the land of my ancestors and no one writes them better than April! She really brings the time period to life and takes you on a journey that is so much fun to read!
Thanks for highlighting The Howling Heart and letting more readers know about April’s wonderful stories!