Review: ‘Heart of the Wolf’ by Terry Spear
Heart of the Wolf
by Terry SpearPublished by Sourcebooks Casablanca on April 1, 2008
SubGenres: Paranormal Romance
Format: Paperback
Pages: 384
Source: Purchased
Audience: 18+/Adult
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Danger, intrigue, and forbidden love in a wolf shifter world so compelling, you'll swear it's real life...
Bella, a female red werewolf, was adopted by a pack of gray wolves as a pup. Now grown up, the alpha of the pack tries to make her his mate against her will--Bella knows she has no choice but to run away.
She makes her way as a lone wolf until childhood friend, Devlyn, comes to bring her home. On their journey back, they get tangled in up in unimaginable danger and must apprehend a werewolf murderer while keeping their identity secret from humans. The chemistry between them sizzles like never before...but they both know if they mate, Devlyn will have to fight the pack's wicked alpha...and it's a fight to the death.
As a companion to Bella and Devlyn's story, this edition includes an exclusive, brand new novella that brings the story of the lupus garou family full circle.
Heart of the Wolf series: Heart of the Wolf (Book 1) To Tempt the Wolf (Book 2) Legend of the White Wolf (Book 3)Seduced by the Wolf (Book 4)
What People Are Saying about Terry Spear: The couple's chemistry crackles off the page." --Publishers Weekly for Heart of the Wolf, a PW Best Book of the Year "Funny, fun, and extremely intriguing...I haven't read a book by Terry Spear that didn't keep me glued to the pages and still wanting more." --Fresh Fiction for SEAL Wolf in Too Deep"A sizzling page-turner. Terry Spear is wickedly talented." --Night Owl Reviews Top Pick for Savage Hunger 5 Stars
I read Heart of the Wolf by Terry Spear years ago and recently decided it was time for a reread, especially since I’ve never reviewed this book. I know that rereading can sometimes lead to a different rating, as our tastes and perspectives on reading can change over time. However, in the case of Heart of the Wolf, I stand by my original rating—this book remains a solid 5-star read even after fourteen years. It was the first shifter romance I read and opened the door for me to explore more titles in the subgenre.
Terry Spear captured my attention right from the beginning with Heart of the Wolf. The story revolves around a forbidden romance between two wolf shifters who have secretly loved each other for a long time but have never confessed their feelings—especially after one of them left the pack years ago to escape becoming the alpha’s mate.
Fast forward several years, and the heroine, Bella, finds herself captured and placed in a zoo while in wolf form. She knows she can’t stay there and risk revealing her kind. That’s when the hero, Devlyn, arrives to rescue her. Bella understands that Devlyn is only tasked with bringing her back to the pack, where she is meant to be the alpha’s mate. However, Bella escaped years ago to avoid that fate, and she is determined never to return—especially since she has always been in love with Devlyn.
What Bella doesn’t realize is that Devlyn has harbored feelings for her as well and will do anything to protect her, even if it means confronting their alpha and anyone else who stands in his way. He is a very protective and possessive wolf who readers will undoubtedly fall for. I certainly did when I first read this book fourteen years ago, and I am still head over heels for Devlyn after rereading it years later.
This story is not only a steamy romance between two wolf shifters but also a suspenseful tale in which the main characters must protect themselves from their alpha while uncovering the mystery behind the recently deceased women in the area. Terry Spear does an excellent job of developing the romantic storyline and introducing the dynamics of wolf shifters. I was on the edge of my seat, wondering whether Bella and Devlyn would give in to their feelings and trying to figure out who was responsible for the deaths. Poor Bella had to fend off several red wolves who wanted her as a mate, but she had always belonged to Devlyn. I loved that Devlyn ultimately fought for her.
I’m so glad I decided to reread this book because it made me realize that I need to revisit one of my favorite subgenres: shifter romances. It also reminded me that I should go back to reading Terry Spear’s books. She will always be one of my favorite paranormal romance authors and will forever be an author I recommend everyone read if they love shifter romances.
Single/Dual POV: Dual POV (Third Person)
Standalone or Part of Series: It’s the first book in the Heart of the Wolf Series and can be read as an interconnected standalone.
Would I recommend this book? Yes. I recommend this book to readers who love reading Paranormal Romances/Shifter Romances with a suspenseful and steamy storyline.
What to Expect:
✓Paranormal Romance
✓Wolf Shifter Romance
✓Forbidden Love
✓Heroine in Danger, but she is a Kickbutt Heroine who can handle her own.
✓Alpha Hero (Very Possessive and Protective of the Heroine)
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About Terry Spear
USA Today bestselling author Terry Spear has written over fifty paranormal and medieval Highland historical romances. In 2008 Heart of the Wolf was named a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year. A retired officer of the U.S. Army Reserves, Terry also creates award-winning teddy bears that have found homes all over the world and is raising two Havanese puppies. She lives in Crawford, Texas.
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