Her River God Wolf

Obsessed Mates #1

by Ariana Hawkes

Savannah
Rejected by my intended mate, humiliated, then dumped under a river bridge.
Life sucks as bad as this stinking pool of mud I’ve just landed in.
Maybe this is where a halfling like me belongs—with the other bottom-feeders.
Then he appears, like some awesome river god.
A sexy wolf shifter, with endless muscles and eyes like burning skies.
He drags me out of the dirt and breathes new life into me.
A frigid female, they called me. Not worthy of our pack.
But one look, one touch and Beau lights me up inside.
He’s bossy, incredibly protective, and for the first time, I start to believe in fate.
To believe I might be his.
Then he tells me about his wolf—his darkness.
Totally destroyed.

Beau
The moment I lay eyes on Savannah, I know:
She’s mine.
Sweet, curvy, and tough, despite all she’s been through.
A princess, born to be cherished. Protected.
There’s no way I’m letting her out of my sight.
But my beast has history. Crazed, feral, it almost destroyed my pack when I picked the wrong one.
I’ve got to be a lone wolf. Got to keep the madness away.
I’ll just watch from the shadows, protect her from a distance.
I’m sure my wolf will be okay with that.
Right?


This is a totally SAFE, steamy insta-love romance, featuring an obsessed, possessive hero. If you love reading about age-gap, small town, Double V-card romances, you’ll love Beau and Savannah’s story.
Promised: Tons of feels, dirty talk and a sweet HEA!

Genres: Shapeshifters, Paranormal, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Novella, Fantasy, Wolves

127 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 1, 2022

About the author

USA Today bestselling author Ariana Hawkes writes spicy romantic stories with lovable characters, plenty of suspense, and a whole lot of laughs. She told her first story at the age of four, and has been writing ever since, for both work and pleasure. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two huskies.

Reviews

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gather up the shards of my heart and make a vow--that nothing will hurt this girl ever again. I'll protect her with everything I've got. Even if it costs me my sanity.

4.25 stars!

I'm so glad I found another book by Ariana Hawkes that I enjoyed! I love the easy flow of her writing, while her characters have depth and flaws to them. The chemistry and steam between Beau and his mate Savannah were palpable, and I absolutely loved reading their story of acceptance and love.

Tropes: fated mates, will they/won't they, possessive hero, virgin heroine, insta-love, found family, abandoned heroine

[OneDayI'll]

That was... something. It was weird. Like it was trying to be a 90's bodice ripper in dialogue but got confused. Things were contradicted frequently. They would say one thing about their pasts, and then something completely different. Do people know about shifters? No clue, no world building. The characters are 2D and barely exist on page. The entire plot is him getting over himself. That's it. She goes from doormat to her previous pack to doormat for him. He constantly pulls her close and then pushes her away. He runs away, she runs after him. Just no.

[Mo ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all he called her 'girly' 🤮 yuck 💀💀

However, this was a cute, insta-love short story. So I wasn't expecting much, I'm kind of in a dry spell at the moment in regards to reading anything so for now, this series is enough for me. 💟

[Wanda Mayhue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book grabbed my attention right from the very first page. The story was very compelling and reading what these two characters have gone through just touches my heart and makes me unable to put the book down till I have read every single page.

Savannah is a beautiful wolf hybrid shifter who is looking for someone to love her for herself. She is abused and then tossed away as if she is worthless. Beau is a sexy wolf shifter who has given up on love because of a bad experience and his history is tragic as well. These two need each other and this story tells how these two meet, fall in love and get their wonderful HEA.

I highly recommend this author and this book to anyone who loves a really good romance. This book will hold your attention and emotions from page one all the way to the very last page. Be sure to pick up a copy, you will be very glad that you did.

[Kim H · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an awesome read. How the author portrayed the depth of darkness and broken souls of these two characters. Beau – on the verge of losing his being because of a mistake of the heart so many years ago. Not wanting to risk his heart again. Savannah – a halfling, called frigid, always being told that you are worthless and picked on…. Why live. Until they meet… She sees the good in Beau and he feels the need to protect her, even if from a distance. How ever their souls have a different idea. This is an absolutely great story. I can’t wait for the next in this series. Ariana, this is another success. I received an advanced copy for an honest review.

[A-reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

My reviews always contain spoilers, I write them so I can remember the story.

Savannah is a halfling wolf in her 22 years she has never shifted when the alpha of her pack rejects her for his harem she is humiliated. Because he has no use for her he’s going to send her to a feral pack, to save her her mother sneaks her away and abandons her near a town that has a lot of halflings living there. Scared she asks her mom not to leave her but her mom tells her she is not really her mother, she just raised her. Now this story line goes nowhere, as a reader you get no closure or answers from it.
Beau is a wolf shifter, he’s a loner by choice, because the woman he thought he was supposed to be mated to gets fated to another and he loses it, he goes feral and stays in his wolf form for two years. He battles with his wolf continuously and avoids women mostly. He makes his living as a bounty hunter, always on the move.
One morning when he’s out for a swim he finds Savannah, his wolf is stirred by her, Beau takes her to his RV to clean up and he feeds her. His human side finds her attractive but he doesn’t want to get involved so he takes her to town and helps her get a job at a local bar run by Meredith, an older bear shifter.
He runs hot and cold with her further confusing her and preying on her insecurities of rejection and abandonment. When two bear shifters come into the bar her new friend Elinor tries to get them to leave but when they try to attack Savannah Beau comes in and throws them out. He tried to leave but couldn’t so he returns and takes her back to his RV. Lots of kissing and oral sexy times.
When Elinor and her were threatened by the drunk shifters she felt her wolf for the first time, later that night she has her first shift. Beau helps her with understanding the shift and stays with her in wolf form.
Freaked out even more by his feelings and attachment to her he leaves. He tells her it’s for a few days and leaves her his RV. Savannah waits a few days then decides she’s going to look for him and takes the RV and heads out where her instincts lead. She finds him in the forest, they talk and I love yous are exchanged. Back to the RV and their parking spot in town. They finally have their first time, dual virgins! Epilogue four months later with her opening a boutique. She also finds his brothers for him and they come to see him, happy reunion. Beau asks her if she wants to find her birth mom, she says no. Wouldn’t she want that closure?
There were a few inconsistencies, the pack is remote, she does the pack laundry in a river but can drive a truck/RV, she didn’t know much about the outside world but makes sexy lingerie? She awakens that first morning and looks at her phone? Where did she get a phone from?
Why would Beau go nuts when his childhood friend who he “thought” he was going to be mated to got fated to another? Should he have not felt the mating pull? If there was no pull, he admits to Savannah he never felt what he feels for her, then why did his wolf go nuts? The wolf did not lose its mate, just a friend.
The story gets 2 stars, I give an extra star because I liked Elinor and Meredith, they were strong female characters who supported Savannah.

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vanessa has been ridiculed by her pack all her life because of never having shifted and now her so called mother, after telling her she's not her real mother dumps her under a bridge to make her own way at 22 years of age. She is submerged in mud with just her backpack and nowhere to go. Then out of the river emerges a hunk she never imagined to see, he is a god!

Beau rescues a waif from the mud, he can't even tell her age. The waif decides she doesn't like her name and changes it right then and there to Savannah...Alpha in waiting Beau has been on his own for years having almost destroyed his pack after the girl he thought to be his mate since childhood chooses another to be her mate. He went feral for a couple of years, and has been a loner since. Now Savannah has come into his life like a precious breeze, but he has to guard his heart.

Can these two lost souls cure each other and find happiness with each other. Great first book in this new series.

[**Tessa** (semi hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

pretty good

No OM/OW drama. Needed a break from OW drama so this was nice. Coulda used a little angst. I also prefer the H chasing the h. But good overall.

[Coco.V]

🎁 Books 1-3 in the series are FREE on Amazon today (3/23/2023)! 🎁

[Birteful · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ich lese Werwolf- und Rudelgeschichten nicht zum ersten Mal, aber hier… uff. Die Grundidee hat Potenzial, das muss ich zugeben. Leider fehlt es an einer ordentlichen Erklärung und Wordbuilding - selbst für eine Kurzgeschichte. Wie funktioniert die Struktur? Wer steht wo und warum? Keine Ahnung. Und dann noch dieser Harems-Teil? Neu für mich, aber so richtig ausgearbeitet wurde das auch nicht. Ein großes Fragezeichen bleibt zurück.



Savannah: ein komplett kaputtes Weltbild
Savannah, die Protagonistin, kommt mit einem derart zerrütteten und kaputten Bild von Männern und ihrer Umwelt daher, dass ich nur sprachlos den Kopf schütteln kann. Sie ist schüchtern, unsicher, und plötzlich – nach ihrer ersten Verwandlung – zack! Frau des Jahrhunderts, die weiß, was sie will. Sex wie ein Profi, natürlich. Sorry, aber das passt vorne und hinten nicht zusammen. Konsistenz? Fehlanzeige.

Die "kleine" Savannah – warum diese ständige Verkleinerung?
Savannah wird total verniedlicht. Kleine Hände, kleine Muschi, kleine was-weiß-ich. Leute, wir haben es verstanden. Sie ist kleiner als er. Aber muss ich das bei jeder einzelnen Szene lesen?



Es ist nicht sexy, es ist nicht süß, es ist einfach nur… unangenehm. Wenn ich so viel „klein“ lese, fühlt sich das irgendwann nicht mehr nach einer erwachsenen Frau an. Und nein, so etwas will ich weder lesen noch denken.

Dass Beau sie dann auch noch permanent „Kleine“ nennt, macht es nicht besser. Erst war da das „Ma’am“ – als er dachte, sie wäre ein Teenager. Okay, geschenkt. Aber dann? Er kennt ihren Namen, und trotzdem bleibt es bei „Kleine“. Und später setzt er noch einen drauf mit „Prinzessin“. Ehrlich, müssen wirklich alle Klischees einmal durchgekaut werden?

Sexualisierung: mehr als erwartet, aber nicht im guten Sinne
Dass die Geschichte stark sexualisiert ist, überrascht mich nicht. Ich hatte keinen literarischen Meilenstein erwartet, sondern leichte Unterhaltung mit einer Portion Erotik. Aber das hier? Es geht nur um eines: Sex. Savannah hat Angst davor, will aber gleichzeitig unbedingt, dass Beau sie „nimmt“ und damit zu seiner macht.

Im Fokus steht: penetrativer Sex. Alles andere zählt anscheinend nicht. Selbst nach all dem, was die beiden miteinander treiben (und glaubt mir, es ist nicht wenig), glaubt sie immer noch, dass sie keinen „richtigen“ Sex hatte. Äh… was? Das ständige Hin und Her zwischen „Ich will“ und „Ich traue mich nicht“ von ihr und „Ich will, aber ich kann nicht, weil ich sie vor mir selbst schützen muss“ von ihm ist ermüdend und verliert schnell seinen Reiz.

Beau: Alarmglocken überall
Dann hätten wir noch Beau. Er will sie beschützen, okay, schön. Aber seine „Liebeserklärung“? Katastrophe. Ich nenne das nicht romantisch, ich nenne das toxisch. Er sagt ihr, dass er sie nicht aus den Augen lassen wird, dass er ihre Freunde und Umgebung überprüfen wird, dass er fordernd sein wird. Hallo? Stalking? Kontrollzwang? Jeder Satz lässt bei mir die Alarmglocken schrillen, aber Savannah findet das total hinreißend. Womit wir wieder bei ihrem komplett kaputten Weltbild sind.



Fazit: keine Fortsetzung für mich
Insgesamt ist die Geschichte übersexualisiert, klischeebeladen und – ja, ich sage es – anstrengend. Und das von jemandem, der weder Tiefgang noch eine komplexe Handlung erwartet hat. Aber das hier hat selbst diese niedrige Erwartungshaltung unterboten. Von den Fortsetzungen werde ich daher erstmal absehen.

[Ciru · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

I completed this book a few days back. While it is basically a safe and insta-love story, short enough to carry the plot through, it isn't memorable enough.

It also has a plot device that I think is becoming a pet peeve of mine, disadvantaged heroine who relies on the kindness and goodness of others to get by in life.

Ask yourself if Beau wasn't conveniently there to direct Savannah at the very beginning, would she have survived a complete 24 hours on her own?

The backstory with the rescue family had/has potential for future books.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

This was the first time I've read anything by this author. I liked it enough to want to read more in this series. This is a short less than 150 pages book. It's a steamy 🔥🔥,fated mates, no cheating, with a little angst HEA type story. It's told in dual point of view by the MFC & MMC. While I enjoyed the book. The reason for the 3.5 stars is it just felt like there was so much more backstory. That could have been fleshed out. This could have easily been twice as long and I would have read it and probably liked it even more. Saying that, the book is still good and worth a read in my opinion.

This is the story of Savannah the MFC and Beau the MMC. Savannah has been humiliated and then rejected by her supposed mate along with her whole pack. This pack sounds like a terrible one from the bits and pieces told in the story. This was part of the backstory that could have been dipped into more. Savannah's mother helps her escape. She tells her to head toward Perdue town. What seems to be the town at the center of this series. She winds up walking a long way from where she was dumped off. She's fallen into the stinking mud. Along side a river under a bridge. She's so tired from her ordeal. She falls asleep right there in the mud. She's awakened the next morning by a gorgeous river god. Coming up out of the water in soaked clothing. Forming to his irresistible body like a second skin. He takes her back to his home. An old school bus he has converted over time into a nice homey living space. She's impressed by the little home. He offers her a shower, cooks for her, and takes her to where she can get a job. Which is Sinners a bar in the heart of the town. There's even a dormitory style room upstairs. Where she can stay for awhile to get on her feet. The older female bear shifter that owns the place. Is a big ole Mama bear to the girls that stay there. Savannah is grateful for all of the help Beau has given her. She feels a strong connection to him. She doesn't want him to leave, but he does. She wonders if she will ever see him again.

Beau has been living on his own. Traveling from place to place in his trusty old school bus. He's affectionately names Bertha. He has a trailer attached with his bike on it. So he doesn't have to drive Bertha everywhere he may need to go. He works as an investigator and sometimes bounty hunter. Beau has a difficult wolf. As he calls it. He was rejected by his mate at a young age. She chose his most hated rival over him. Beau was in a dark place for a long time. He has figured out a way of life that works for him and helps keep his wolf calm. He does lots of physical exercise, lets his wolf run daily, then rides his bike for a bit. Most importantly he avoids women as much as possible especially shifter women. He doesn't want to take the risk of what might happen if he ever found another mate. He doesn't think he could make it threw that. One morning while swimming in the river. He sees a small woman covered in river mud. Huddled near the bank of the river under a bridge. He feels drawn to help her. When she raises her head and he looks at her. He knows he's in trouble. His wolf is screaming in his head. Telling him she's his mate. He wants to run. Run far away and as fast as possible. He just can't seem to make himself at least not yet. He takes her back to Bertha. Sees to it she gets cleaned up and feed. Then he takes her to Sinners. Where she can get set up with a place to stay and a job. Then he can leave her in safe hands and be own his way. He doesn't want to leave her but he knows it's for the best. He'll only hurt them both if he stays. Will he ever be able to go back? Can he go back? What'll happen if he does?

You'll have to read to find out the rest. It is a good story. It just could have been a great one with more backstory. There was so much potential in my opinion. I understand the author was going for a quick steamy read. She accomplished that in spades for sure. I think the author leaving us wanting more. Is a good thing. It shows the hallmark of real talent. Which is why I'll check out more of the series. As well as possibly other books by her. I do recommend this book. Hope you enjoy it!

[Petra Škobalj · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5 stars)

"Savannah and Beau" has all the makings of an engaging, steamy paranormal romance, but ultimately, it left me feeling like it could have been more. The story centers around Savannah, a halfling wolf who’s been rejected by her pack and sent to fend for herself in the world. After a humiliating rejection, she’s abandoned by her mother near a town full of halflings, only to stumble across Beau, a rugged loner with a painful past. The sparks fly between them instantly, but there are many elements of the story that felt rushed and unresolved, leaving me craving more depth.

Savannah’s backstory with her pack and her mom’s mysterious role in her life was intriguing, but it never really went anywhere. The whole "mom is not really her mom" plotline was a tease—something that felt like it should have been explored but was left hanging without answers. Beau, on the other hand, has an interesting past as a bounty hunter who’s been battling his inner wolf since he was rejected by his fated mate. His journey toward healing is engaging, but his hot-and-cold behavior with Savannah felt a bit frustrating, especially considering the instant bond they share.

The romance between Savannah and Beau was steamy and full of tension, with plenty of passion, but their relationship dynamics could have been fleshed out more. There were moments where Beau’s hesitance and Savannah’s insecurities made things feel unnecessarily dramatic. But I did appreciate the strong supporting characters like Elinor and Meredith, who added some much-needed depth and positivity to the narrative. They were like the cool aunt and best friend that made the whole thing feel a little more grounded.

The writing itself is easy to follow, and the book certainly delivers on the steamy moments, so if you're in the mood for a quick, passionate read, it fits the bill. However, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was so much potential left untapped. The world-building around Savannah’s pack and Beau’s backstory could have been expanded, giving the story more weight. As it stands, the book feels like a quick, enjoyable read that could have been more impactful with a little more development.

Despite its shortcomings, I’m intrigued enough to check out more books in the series. It’s a fun, fast-paced read with an interesting premise, but it’s one of those stories where you feel like it could’ve been great with a little more time and care spent on the details. I’d recommend it for fans of steamy shifter romance, but be prepared for a bit of frustration with the unresolved plotlines.

[Cary Morton · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one didn’t quite work for me.

The premise is bold—an age-gap, insta-love shifter romance with a possessive wolf hero and a rejected halfling heroine—but the execution felt rushed and overly formulaic. The story leans hard into tropes: fated mates, double V-card, small-town setting, and a hyper-protective alpha. If you’re into that very specific flavor of romance, it might hit the spot. For me, it felt more like a checklist than a story.

The characters lacked depth. Savannah’s emotional arc is thin—she goes from humiliated and rejected to completely swept up in Beau’s obsessive attention with very little internal development. Beau himself is more archetype than character: growly, dominant, and immediately all-in. Their connection is physical and instant, but not emotionally convincing. There’s chemistry, but no real buildup.

The pacing is fast—almost too fast. The book moves from setup to resolution in under 160 pages, and while that can work for novella-length romance, here it felt like the emotional beats were skipped entirely. There’s no real conflict, no tension beyond the initial rejection, and no time for the relationship to breathe.

The writing is serviceable, but the tone leans melodramatic. Dialogue is heavy on declarations and dirty talk, light on nuance. The worldbuilding is minimal, which isn’t a dealbreaker, but it left the setting feeling generic.

Other positives: it’s unapologetically steamy, and it delivers exactly what it promises in terms of heat and possessiveness. Negatives: flat characters, rushed romance, and a lack of emotional depth.

Overall, the book wasn’t for me. It’s a quick, trope-heavy read with lots of steam but little substance. I won’t be continuing the series.

Best suited for readers who love ultra-fast fated mate romances with dominant shifters and minimal plot. If you’re looking for emotional complexity or character growth, this one might not be the right fit.

[Katie Goodson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Savannah finally made it out of her feral shifter pack, but now she has nowhere to go and no one to turn to. Especially once the woman that she thought was her mother drops her off in a neutral town, where no one can find her, and tells her that she isn't her real mom. Then, she speeds away, leaving Savannah to fend for herself. Savannah tries to seek refuge under a bridge but falls into the mucky river bank, and stays there until the next morning when Beau, another wolf shifter finds her.

Beau was once supposed to be mated to another she wolf in his former pack, but when she found her true mate and left him, his wolf went feral, attacking his own packmates until he sought refuge in the woods until he was able to shift back into a human. Now, he does everything in his power to avoid other she wolves and packs, constantly on the go as a bounty hunter. But when he finds Savannah covered in mud on the river bank, he can't turn her away. Especially when his inner wolf pipes up claiming her as his true mate. Beau wants no part in that, so he decides he will help Savannah get established and comfortable before leaving her behind.

But every time Beau tries to leave, his wolf stops him, and every time he denies his true mate bond, he worries he will go feral once again, losing the humanity he clings to like a lifeline. But for Savannah, he is willing to do anything, even let her go. Even if it causes his own sanity to crash and burn.

Notes:

If you are into shifter romance, I highly recommend giving this series a try! Beau is a cinnamon roll, and absolutely protective. He literally goes to her work to guard her as she waitresses / bartends. Just because he isn't willing to establish a relationship between them, doesn't mean he is going to let anyone else, either.

[Cecilia Mora Jimenez · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was good, it has some good ideas, but the storyline is missing A LOT. I wish this book were a bit longer if it was meant as a standalone, just because of all the plot holes that did not get any answers at the end. If there is a sequel book, then the plot holes make a bit more sense, but as of right now, I don't see any plans for a sequel to this book. For example, there's not much backstory to Savannah. Just bits and pieces and random bits of information thrown about the story that seem out of place without a proper backstory. Beau is a dreamy character, but his story is also missing A LOT of information. Even though the story does not seem to have ended in a cliffhanger but a HEA, with all the missing information and even more questions, it feels like it does. You see a half reunion of Beau's brothers at the end, but it just leaves more questions. I really wish the author would rewrite the story a bit to fill in the plot holes, or make a sequel that will continue Savannah and Beau's story and include the missing information there. Even with the plot holes and missing information, I did really enjoy this book. I wish we had half-star reviews because this book isn't deserving of a 3-star, but it isn't 4-star or 5-star ready yet. A 3.5 stars would have been more appropriate.

[Evelyn Hazel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it, I just wouldn’t recommend it to the average person.

(⚠️WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!!!⚠️)

Quotes & Notes/ Reactions:

(Page. 42): The dangers passed and I’m free. But it doesn’t feel like that at all. It feels like I’ve lost something I’ll missed forever. [That wasn’t very smart. 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️]

⭐️(Page. 65): I gather up the shards of my heart and make a vow—that nothing will hurt this girl ever again. I’ll protect her with everything I’ve got. Even if it costs me my sanity. [Thats devotion right there.]

(Page. 74): With a ragged sigh, he presses his hand against my pussy. “So wet, so ready for me,” he murmurs.

(Page. 88): I pleasured him, took his big, beautiful cock in my mouth. And I made him come. This big, powerful alpha climaxes in my mouth, legs trembling, groaning out my name like it was a precious jewel. I felt strong, wild, sexy. I felt like his.

(Page. 91): I’m no longer an unwanted balding, but the mate of the river god. [Fact. 😎]

⭐️(Page. 113): I absolutely love the idea of Beau protecting me. Being all bossy and growly and possessive. [😉]

(Page. 119): My heart beats hard. “You’ll be my first,” I say. “And you, mine,” he growls in my ear. [Never thought I’d hear a guy like him say that, but okay.]

[Ashkenia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet Short Story!

H- Beau Matherson
h-Savannah
It’s a very short story, to me it lacked the connection between them.
We meet Savannah being pushed out of the car & packed by her mother who told her at that time that she is not her mom. She had to run away from the pack since her mate (the alpha) rejected her by being frigid & also because she couldn’t shift. She was told once she finds her mate she would be able to shift but that didn’t happened with her alpha who then decided to sell her to another pack, At that revelation her mom decided to help her escape.
Beau has been a lone wolf for many years after almost destroying his previous pack due to being rejected by someone he thought was his mate. His wolf went crazy & took control of him for many years.
They meet & instantly he knew she was his mate but he was afraid of his wolf going crazy. She is very naive & because of that there is a lot of push & pull between the 2.

[Sharon Akshar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story 'Her River God Wolf' very much because even though Savannah was being rejected by her pack alpha and the woman she had always thought was her mother drove her far away and told her to make a life for herself, the story takes a wonderful turn when she is found by a wolf shifter who is swimming in the river where she is sleeping under a bridge. He sees her fragile and terrified state and is extremely gentle and kind with her. I love that even though he senses that she is his mate he is considerate enough to help her find her footing in the town and he buys her clothes and helps her find work. He finds that he cannot stop hovering around though to make sure that she is safe. They are good for each other because he has been hurt in life too. What I most appreciated about the story was his sweet protective treatment towards her. I can see why she refers to him as her river god.

[Sarah Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

i really liked this book and i really liked the characters. for a light-hearted read i would give it 5* but i had hoped that it would have been more exciting. Ariana is such a good author i own pretty much all her books. But i'll say i was disappointed when i finished this. I think she could have made it a lot longer read than it was, and she built such good characters and personalities for those characters i feel they were wasted. (SPOILER) She spoke a lot of Beaus wolf and the trouble he had with it. I would have liked to see his true Alpha power and protecting Savannah. I was hoping she would of been found by her old pack and taken back, Beau obviously having to go back to his old pack for help, then he charges in and rescues his mate. Perhaps even a twist where Savannahs pack is the pack that his friend (kellie) is part of.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trust your instincts.

I really liked this story. It was different than I expected but it was still entertaining. The characters were interesting and likable for the most part but they were also frustrating at times. Beau and Savannah were made for each other. While Savannah should have been more wary of Beau and his motives, she trusted her instincts and hoped for the best. Beau was super sweet and helpful while also being protective and possessive. Beau wanted Savannah to have everything she wanted and deserved but first he had to convince her that it was ok to want whatever it was that she wanted. There was a lot of pushing and pulling in this story, mainly from Beau which was understandable given his history. I liked how the story ended. I recommend reading this book.

[Lorraine Kaplan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beau and Savannah

Love a good shifter story!!!

Savannah was rejected by her intended mate and ridiculed for being a halfbreed. When it gets to dangerous to stay with her pack, her mom drives her to the edge of Perdue Town. Its a safe place for shifters like her.

Beau has been a lone wolf for 15 years, he left his pack when his intended mate rejected him and chose his sworn enemy. He was stuck as a wolf for 2 years until he finally was able to calm his wolf enough to shift back to human form.

Their story is sweet but filled with a little angst. They both have never been with another so it was definitely worth the wait for both of them.

The cover is what drew me in, don't know if that is real or AI but if this guy is for real then I will gladly move to wherever he lives.😍

[Sara Marquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good short read? Savannah is quickly and quietly taken to Perdue Town? She was rejected, humiliated for not being able to shift; with a threat to be sold to a different pack. Savannah also discovered that her mother wasn’t her mother? She finds refuge under a bridge but is actually in mud, poor girl.

Beau is an Alpha wolf who left his pack after going crazy his girlfriend choose someone else. Beau has been loner almost losing his human side.

Beau discovers Savannah and they are drawn to each other. Beau senses her wolf as she his but they both have their defenses up. His sense of protection is strong but she must keep her guard up, her mother told her to keep her heart guarded.

Will Beau be able to walk away once she’s settled. Will his wolf take over again? Can she let him go and survive? There is a HEA, find out how they get there.

[Racy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I totally loved Savanah and Beau. They were like two lost souls trying to just survive one more day. This story gives the true meaning of what mates should be, two souls completing each other.

I loved reading about these two healing. Beau helping her understand that the things she experienced in the her old pack was not right. I believe this helped with her healing process.

I love the friends that Savanah made. They truly had her back and she had theirs. I believe they were just as much of the healing process for her as Beau was.

This was a great book and glad I got to read the book. It has a little bit of everything you want in a shifter book. I am so looking forward to book 2 in the series.

[Nancy Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

HER RIVER GOD WOLF: An Age-Gap Instalove Shifter Romance (Obsessed Mates Book 1) by Ariana Hawkes! They are two lost souls and lonely shifter wolves, that find they need each other. He dragged her out of the muddy water under a bridge, and brought her back to life. Her name had been Vanessa, a name she never liked, he then renamed her Savannah. She was his and he was hers. He was a possessive wolf. He would not let her out of his sight. He would get bossy and demanding at times, but she loved the attention and love that she had found with him. She wished her mom had told her about the complexities of men. She did not understand men at all. They have found a happiness with each other and it would be enough to get them through!

[Katie Roberts · Rating 2 out of 5]

Obviously this is very short so you can't expect too much from it. However, it still just doesn't quite hit the mark. It starts off well, and you get glimpses of their pasts, the whole found family vibe and full insta love.

However the whole 'tortured wolf' running off thing, just doesn't quite work. It just seems a bit weird. Both of them seem to have multiple angles to their characters - which obviously is to be expected - but in a book this length it leaves them feeling disjointed and like they were different people rather than having a cohesive character with nuance.

It's a very quick read, and entertaining enough to not dnf, but I don't think I will read more of the series as it just didn't satisfy.

[Serena Buffaloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story !!

This was such a fantastic story !!! Lots of angst -y storylines and some funny spots and then a delightful time when it all works out !! Lots of characters that hint at more story after this one !!

Savannah is a half breed wolf that has been rejected by the male supposed to be her mate . She finds out a terrible fate awaits her. She gets smuggled out of the pack lands, but she has no where to go.
Beau, is a former Alpha , and his post is murky to say the least. At present he is a bounty hunter. One early morning he spots a bunch of rags that had not been there yesterday. Turns out there was something IN the rags !!
This story was a great read, and I would most definitely read more !!!

[Crystal Ortiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick cute read

I am the first person to say I love a short Novella read this one was cute no angst no drama. I adore a good shifter story that includes other shifters as well. I mean a bird shifter wait what..... Also I am a huge fan of no huge drama lol keeping the romance simple that's how I like it.

Both Savanna and Beau have come from rough backgrounds not similar in anyway either. It's about two people finding their mates and healing each other and I adore that. The ending did get a little bit all over but I like that siblings of Beaus was brought into the mix that I do like.

Overall with no more spoilers on anything this read was cute and quick and just what I needed as a filler in my time. Highly recommend if you want a romance shifter short read

[Sarah_A6210 · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little too much happening

This is a novella and the story and the characters were a good story and I enjoyed this book when it started but as it went on I felt like there was too much happening, too much ‘backstory’ that needed explaining, too many characters introduced but not really built within the story, too many random occurrences. I think had this been a longer book it might have worked better. Better chance for natural development than everything forced and rushed. Literally talking days and it was happily ever after. Just felt a little disconnected for me but the bones of the story were good and it was an interesting story

[Lory · Rating 5 out of 5]

I totally enjoyed Savanah and Beau story. Two lost souls trying to survive definitely gave what true mates are suppose to be completing each other. Just great read. If your looking for a great quick romance story that's going to hold your attention from beginning to end. I totally recommend that you picked up a copy of this book believe me you won't regret it. As always my reviews are totally voluntarily and no monetary compensation was received and the opinions I have expressed are completely my own.