Christine would do anything to get away from it all.After escaping an abusive marriage and heading up a group of brand new performers, she's tired and in need of a vacation. So when her sister Sara wants her to go camping out in the mountains of Georgia with the girls, she packs her bags for some rest and relaxation. Not even meeting a gorgeous park ranger like Colton Donnelly is going to distract her.Except Sara didn't tell her the real reason for the trip: she's running away from a terrible secret. One that puts all of their lives in danger.Now the vacation that Christine so desperately needed is ruined, but that's the least of her worries. She has to use her wits and skills to save them all. Because she soon finds out that werewolves are very real. And they'll stop at nothing to get their claws into her sister.***Originally published as I'm Not Afraid of Wolves.
Sci-fi junkie, video game nerd, and wannabe manga artist Erin Hayes writes a lot of things. Sometimes she writes books.
She works as an advertising copywriter by day, and she's a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author by night. She has lived in New Zealand, Hawaii, Texas, Alabama, and now San Francisco with her husband, cat, and a growing collection of geek paraphernalia.
You can reach her at erinhayesbooks@gmail.com and she’ll be happy to chat. Especially if you want to debate Star Wars.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review
I'm Not Afraid of Wolves was a great read! I've been looking forward to sink my teeth into this one as I love shifter stories and enjoyed this series so far. This book follows Christine, who we meet in book 1 How to become a Mermaid, but besides a few mentions of the other main characters this one can be easily read as a standalone.
Christine her sister asks Christine to join her on a vacation, but Christine knows there's something her sister isn't telling her. I really liked the direction this story took and there was a big plot twist pretty early on in the book which was great! I totally didn't see that one coming and I really liked the twists. There are some nice twists and turns later on as well and a few scenes that totally didn't go as I expected, which is a good thing as I liked how the story progressed.
Christine is a great main character. She has been in an abusive relationship and the mental scars are still there, but she's finding her own way in life. I think in a sense a lot of the characters find their way in this book and it was great how there was so much change and twists in one book. I also appreciated how the romance was handled in this book. It's very subtle and basically nothing happens except they meet, there's an attraction and there is a promise of more. I think it fit the book.
At first it seemed easy to get a feel for each side character, but they all show their colors once the book progresses and we learn more about them. I didn't like Emily at first, but I sure felt bad for her later in the book. Sara had landed in a difficult situation and was trying to get out of it and I liked how Christine was there for her. Every characters turned out to be different than I thought at first and I liked how the book mixed things up and surprised me. And we get to see Neptune and the professional mermaids for a bit as well, which was neat. And there are a few short mentions of the previous main character, which was neat as I have already read those books.
While the focus isn't on the world building, I did like how we got a bit of a feel for how the shifter society worked. The change is pretty much instantaneous here and they can shift back and forth basically. I did wish we got to see more, but it was enough to make the story come alive. And like with every book in this series I just keep wondering what else is out there and if we ever get to see the different paranormals interact, but I don't think so. Each book focuses on one character and one type of paranormal creature.
To summarize: I really enjoyed this book! There are some great twists and turns and surprises. It was an interesting read and I liked the twists and the direction the story took. I liked the shifter aspect and we get enough of a feel for the shifter world to make the world come alive a bit. Christine was a great main character and I liked seeing her relationships with the other characters. How she thought of the mermaids, her friendship with Neptune and how she was there for her sister. Each side character seemed easy to figure out at first, but as the book progressed we see their true colors. Another great book in this series!
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review over on my blog page Pretty Little Book Blog.
I love all of the stories in this series so much and this one is the perfect mix of the supernatural and girl power! After escaping a abusive marriage Christine goes to work as a professional Mermaid (like the characters from a couple of the previous stories) but after ten years people keep telling her she needs to take a break and a vacation. Her sister calls out of the blue with a plan and so the plans for a girls weekend glamping trip is born!
Then things begin to esclate when Christine learns that her sister is being threatened by Werewolves and the relaxing weekend that Christine planned on isn't going to go as planned! I loved every pulse pounding minute, the strength of Christine's character (all of the ladies in these books always start out the story not really believing in themselves but by the end they are these incredibly strong women who shine like the sun-- a definite perk of Erin's writing)
Secrets begin to be revealed pretty quickly and it ratchets the tension (both romantic tension with the introduction of a park ranger who may be more than he seems and the supernatural situations that definitely raise the stakes for everybody) this story got more intense than some of the other stories and I really liked the journey that this story took us on!
Erin Hayes is one of my go-to authors for a reason. She's creative, a witty writer, and always keeps me entertained.
Like all her stories, I'm Not Afraid of Wolves centers around a fully-fleshed out female protagonist. In this tale, Christine is facing the big task of protecting her younger sister from an ex-boyfriend in very unique circumstances.
One of the aspects of this story that I really enjoyed was the relationship between the two sisters. I appreciated how the author captured the emotional weight of being the older sibling and in some ways a third parent.
The supporting cast are described with enough personality to make you care for their fates. Though the story is light on romance, the romantic lead is pretty damn hot! The plot moves along in an exciting arc and lands on a solid ending.
Oh man. It's going to take me some time to find words to describe my feelings for this book, but I can guarantee how much you'll love it! Dark, but not too dark. Playful at times. This perfect balance may even move it up in the ranks to be my favorite book so far in the Cotton Candy Quintet!
A middling story. I did download it for free some time back, and as such it's been a good enough read, though.
Generally spoken it lacks meat, it's a pretty straight foward novella length story without much surprises, that gets marred by an a tad too long epilogue drawing it out needlessly.
Fans of Karen McInerney's "Tales of an Urban Werewolf" might enjoy it more than I did as there's IMO a similar feel to it.
Oh Erin Hayes, you are seriously awesome at what you do. I loved this book so much! Its such a compelling and obsessive read making it a major page turner! This story has so many twists and turns, you just don't know whats going to happen next and i think that's what made this story such a compelling read. It was obvious while reading this that so much thought and emotion was put into each character and the world in which this story creates. Christine...She is awesome!!! I loved her spunk and her inner fire, she has a temper on her when those she cares for are in danger or feeling threatened. She is a complex woman with her own inner demons relating to her past, keeping her secrets close. Colton...You will fall in love with him! I would say that he is my favourite character in this book. He is a strong Alpha male, with all the stubbornness and protective instincts. He is very caring and thoughtful but will put his foot down with unruly wolves. Seriously, you NEED to go and get yourself a copy of this amazing book, there are no dull moments in this book and you will feel compelled to turn page after page, just to find out what happens net. Awesome!!!
Curses can come in many forms and for Christine it started with her soldier husband coming home from war so badly damaged that her own life became hell. Now, based on the title, I'm sure you've figured out werewolves are involved (no spoilers )and if you are a fan of Ms. Hayes you will be expecting her usual deft dialogue and light touch and humor. Yes, it is all there but, surprise! This gets a bit darker than some of her other tales.
There are three previous standalone but interwoven books in this series of which I'd recommend reading the first, "How to Be a Mermaid," as a general background: How to be a Mermaid (unnecessary for this plot but definitely enriching overall with regard to several of the side characters). Of course EACH of the series is delightful so you can continue to feed your sweet tooth when you are finished nibbling on this dainty morsel!
I was given an ARC copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Christine escaped an abusive marriage and now performs as a mermaid in an aquarium spreading the word of conservation. She reluctantly agrees to go away for a girls weekend with her sister Sara where she meets the gorgeous park ranger Colton.
The relaxing break is sabotaged when the real reason for this break is revealed to Christine by Sara - she is running from a boyfriend called Chad who is convinced she is his mate. I won't add any more detail in order to spoil the book. ;-)
I really enjoyed this book. The descriptions of the people, emotions and situations meant I was gunning for Christine and Sara to be ok, and for Colton to be part of a happily ever after scenario.
I hadn't read the previous books but read this one fine on it's own. It does however persuade me to go back and read them. Definitely give this one a try.
I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
Christine is in desperate need of a vacation. After having escaped her abusive ex and being the lead of the mermaid troupe for so long, she needs a break to just relax for awhile. Her sister Sara wants her to go camping in the mountains with her and a few friends. Turns out, Sara herself is trying to escape her own kind of danger. Their vacation quickly becomes anything but relaxing.
It's official, "The Cotton Candy Quintet" is amazing! I have adored all of the previous books in this series, and "I'm Not Afraid Of Wolves" was a fantastic addition. This story had me glued and I found myself reading it every chance I got until it was finished. The author does such a wonderful job about drawing us into her worlds, in this story, as well as the others. I highly recommend "I'm Not Afraid Of Wolves" and the entire "The Cotton Candy Quintet" to any fans of fantasy and just anyone looking for a great book!!
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Christine agrees to go camping with her sister Sara and two friends. It seems like a good idea at the time. And then all hell breaks loose. Well this is kind of a girl power book. Yes you do have a love interest and he is a alpha and tries to help her...but mostly she helps herself. She had years of abuse from her ex husband and it made her a fighter. Her sister doesn't know everything about her marriage but enough to know he wasn't right and she would probably quite happily beat him with sticks, worse if she knew the whole truth. But then Sara has got herself involved with werewolves which puts everyone in danger and outing Christines secret. But the then she might not of got to spend time with Colton if this didn't happen. Who by the way even though he is an alpha, around her he so cute with his little sheepish smirks. But truthfully this book is Christines and you can not help but be proud of how she has come along.
Wow! Frequently when you get to books 3and 4 of a series, the storylines start to be somewhat formulaic and the characters a little thin. Not so with Book 4 of the Cotton Candy Quintet!
Rein Hayes reaches out and draws you into a somewhat dark adventure that pits two different Wolf pack shifters and a werecat against each other. It's a fast moving story with enough plot twists and turns to make you almost punch drunk!
The characters are fully developed; the action fast-paced and exciting. It's a real adrenaline rush! You're going to love. You definitely need to get a copy of this book for yourself. I started it, and could not put it down.
I'm Not Afraid of Wolves is a great read. Don't miss it! (I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
Wow this was totally unexpected in a good way. What starts off as a weekend away from the craziness of life turns into a whirlwind adventure. While Christine has gotten out of the relationship she was in there are some things she can't change and that works out to her benefit. She hasn't shared the news with her sister but it seems like baby sis is hiding some things as well. Secrets and half-truths and the sexy Park Ranger who shows up right on time lead to laughs, fights, and lots of excitement. Christine is gutsy, strong and a natural leader and it all works out in the end. . . with a little help from some friends. Great story, fun characters and a little intrigue make for great fun and a great read.
I seriously love this Cotton Candy Quintet series by Erin Hayes. They are stand alone books but also a series, so they work for new and old fans alike.
This book was particularly surprising. When I laid down to bed with it, I didn't expect to have myself spooked by werewolves attacking the house the girls were in! lol... but it was so well written I couldn't put it down!
If you haven't read any of the books in this series, I highly recommend them all. Erin has a way of writing that really feels natural and pulls you into the story.
I was privileged enough to get to BETA read this book. WOW! there were certainly times where my mouth fell to the ground and I was rendered speechless.
I am in love with the entire cotton candy quintet series. I love how they intertwine and are always a continuation of Erin brilliant imagination. Every time I pick up an Erin Hayes book I expect to read one thing only to find she has gone down a completely different track.
Christine goes on vacation to rural Georgia with her sister Sara, unaware that her sister is hiding a secret. But Christine has a secret of her own, one that will come in handy when they are attacked by werewolves. This was an entertaining read, Christine seems like a strong character who has had to deal with a lot in her past, but it has made her stronger. I enjoyed the story, but I think there could have been more to Christine and Colton's relationship.
So awesome and not quite what I was expecting. I love shifters of all sorts (I've got a real weakness for wolves because I've had a pet wolf) so that wasn't really a shock, but I wasn't expecting Christine's surprise. It's a good one too. As with the other books in this series this book is amazingly fast paced and it just grabs you and doesn't want to let you go. I just love reading Erin's works because they are a wondrous escape from reality for awhile.
I loved this story. From the moment that I started reading this awesome story I was hooked. I could not put it down. It moves along at a great pace, has awesome characters that you cannot help but fall in love with and a story that will keep you interested and entertained from beginning to end. This book must be read, no doubt about it.
An exciting adventure, bringing a werewolf and a werecat together to solve a kidnapping. Good strong characters and fast-paced action. really enjoyed it. This ebook was given to me for an honest review.
A different kind of 'shifter story' with a little twist. Interesting story, great characters. Colton and Christine are both strong alphas and perfect for each other. I would like to read more about them and others in this story. I received an arc for an honest review.
While I'm Not Afraid of Wolves is probably my least favorite book in this series, it still held my attention and had me curious to see what would happen next. It is hard to say anything without giving spoilers away... there were lots of twists and turns in this book, some that I didn't see coming at all. I just wanted a little more explanation about them. They seemed to come out of nowhere and thrn just BAM! there was a huge twist! Now, don't get me wrong, twists should surprise you, but then after I want all the nitty gritty details. What's the full backstory on what just happened, why, how, feelings all that good stuff. But I felt like I was left hanging here. While some backstory was given, I craved for it to be fleshed out more. This was a slightly different wolf story that was an entertaining and easy read. While this is book 4 in the series it can most certainly be read as a standalone. My backstory issues weren't covered in previous books - the story would have been unique to this one.
I really enjoyed the first 2 books in the Cotton Candy Quintet, then the third book happened. I was hopeful that Christine's book would rival the first two though, so I gave it a chance. I enjoyed this book and felt as though the series was back on track. There was at least one twist that came out of left field. I did not see it coming, but I like when that happens! The story had a steady pace that seemed to pick up when things got hot. I was not a fan of how things were left after the ordeal, though and I can't gripe cause it would reveal things that you should find out when you read this book. The story flows well and is appropriate for YA+. There is lots of fighting action in this story, but it's not gory. There were some grammar issues but they were minor, not enough to really bother me.
This is book 4 in this series, and involves werewolves; yes, as in shifters. But the author takes a slightly different tact than traditional werewolf shifter books. It's as much a adventure/thriller book as it is a romance. Be warned too, that there is some pretty graphic violence scenes in the book; and it's a pretty good book. I enjoyed reading it.
But one thing that all the books in this series have in common is that the ending doesn't quite tie everything up in a nice neat ribbon. It's not what I would call HEA endings. They're nice endings, pleasant endings, but they left me wanting just a bit more.
Probably my least favorite in the series, but still good. I'd read this series again. I read the 1st a while back, but I've been reading all the rest back to back just now. And by doing so you see a repetitive word a lot. The author likes to use the word 'gulp' a lot, especially the phrase "gulp down air". Apparently her characters like to do that a lot lol. Other than that little annoyance is a very good series. Sad that the 5th one isn't in digital yet so I can read it and finish the series.
I couldn't have guessed what Christine had in herself! The main character is older and more mature than in previous books. I was really intrigued how it will go in Christine's case - and that was great! She was manure and hard, she knew her way. I really enjoyed her way of being and how she was behaving. Colton was so masculine and he also was like the ground during the blizzard.
Christine reluctantly goes with her sister, Sara, on a trip only to find out that her sister is being stalked by an ex and his pack of werewolves because he is hellbent on making Sara his mate.
A fast paced action story with some romance tied in, I love some of the plot twists that I didn't even see coming. This is my favorite in the series that I've read so far.
I thought this book was different and intriguing. It was a nice change from the books I usually read. Was not expecting the twist in the story about Christine so that was a very nice surprise. This was definitely a fun read!
love these Cotton Candy stories. This one was really good. Lots of excitement and adventure, with a nice twist to keep you guessing. A definite must read, you will not be disappointed.