The Howling Heart blog tour: spotlight, review and giveaway

By Laurie T - August 13, 2013

The Howling Heart by April Bostic

Paranormal romance*eBook, 262 pages

Published August 8th 2013 by Eternal Press

Purchase: Amazon | All Romance | Eternal Press

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 12th 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.

About the Author: April Bostic

Website

April Bostic is a New Jersey-based 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 will release her second novel "The Howling Heart" in August 2013, a paranormal romance that delves into the mystical world of werewolves and Norse gods.

Paige Donovan has inherited her father's cabin in the Black River region of Colorado. She hasn't been back since her family's brief visit thirteen years earlier, when she ran away from her parent's arguing and befriended a white dog. Now Paige is all grown up, with a successful position at Elle magazine and an apartment in NYC. To be closer to her father, she visits his cabin which he left her in his will. A small town, mountain living, and a cabin which needs cleaning. Paige isn't sure what to do with the cabin. When she sees a gorgeous guy staring at her inside the General Store, she's smitten but knows she has to return to her city life. Then life throws a curve ball at her and Paige has to rethink her decisions and soon her feelings.

The Howling Heart was an interesting paranormal read. I liked the early scenes between a young Paige and the white pup. When she's older, I found her brash at times. Living in Colorado begins to affect her and spending time with Riley and his twin sister Quinn also makes Paige see how families act, even if they're wolves. The story, especially with the wolf history of Norse gods and pack laws held my interest. The author delved deeply into the supernatural wolf culture of the Varulv, sharing so many things with the reader, including intimate details between a wolf and his human mate. The story is romantic and has some spicy moments to entice adult readers. There were a few twists which I enjoyed and kept me reading. Paige learns a lot about the strictness of pack laws and their mentality which doesn't always gel with her contemporary viewpoints and yet, their way of life does present a new level of living for her. I really thought the ending scene came together in a wonderful way and I admired both Paige and Riley at that part.

My only comments pertain to the sections where there was too much telling and Paige's voice. I wanted to see more of Paige and Riley's budding relationship, not be informed of what they did. Since romance is a part of the novel's allure, being shown more of their relationship would have been helpful. There were also a few moments when I questioned a phrase Paige used as something being outdated or not sounding like her. In those instances I questioned her credibility (and then forgave her as the story progressed). I also found her too wordy at times. It was refreshing to see the main male character be the angst-ridden one, but in Riley's defense his feelings had been brewing since he first met Paige thirteen years earlier. I laughed when his father said he didn't want to hear his howling anymore.

For a paranormal, there was a fair amount of action, intrigue, mystery, drama and erotica to keep any reader entertained. Fans of this genre will want to read about Paige and Riley. The Howling Heart will have readers howling for more.

Rating: 3 I liked it.

Cover comment:

It's an attractive cover but I don't understand the three light-haired wolves. Riley was the only white wolf so seeing one light haired with two different shaded animals would have made him stand out as he did in the story. The model does look like Paige. I question the fur lining around her head. I'm not sure Paige would have worn something like that out for respect to the pack.

Book source:

I received a promotional copy in return for my honest review during a book tour.

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