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Of a Wolf #1
Touch of a Wolf
On a rebound from his cheating lover, Matt Winter has sex in a Philadelphia alley with a man packing a gun and sniffing like a coke addict. When Matt’s stranger from the alley lets himself into Matt’s apartment through the window, Matt learns that the man has a badge to go with that gun. Detective John Channing of the Philly PD has been passing as a dirty cop.
Channing needs a safe place to get himself clean and sober so he can be a credible witness in court against a murderer. And he wants sex. The anonymous encounter was not enough for either of them. As Channing goes into withdrawal the hallucinations start, but it’s Matt who wakes up in bed with a wolf. Matt doesn’t believe in werewolves. But then, he doesn’t believe in love at first sight either...
Channing needs a safe place to get himself clean and sober so he can be a credible witness in court against a murderer. And he wants sex. The anonymous encounter was not enough for either of them. As Channing goes into withdrawal the hallucinations start, but it’s Matt who wakes up in bed with a wolf. Matt doesn’t believe in werewolves. But then, he doesn’t believe in love at first sight either...
181 pages, ebook
First published July 10, 2010
About the author
Jez Morrow
10 books203 followersI am a madam's granddaughter.
I write homoerotic fiction.
Scarlet Blade is a swashbuckling romance between a dashing Spanish nobleman and a fallen priest in colonial California.
In Chasing Shadows the trail of a killer leads two Chicago police detectives to each other.
Beloved Captor is a sci fi love story between a prisoner of war and his keeper.
Sovereign's Gladiator is a tale of lust, loyalty, betrayal, and love between a sovereign and his bodyguard.
Touch of a Wolf starts in a Philadelphia alley with anonymous sex between a young graduate student and an ageless wolf shifter from Valley Forge.
Force of Law is a Pretty Woman tale, but with a tomcat garage mechanic in the Julia Roberts role.
Shadow of a Wolf takes place in contemporary Washington DC. The men are wolf shifters.
Lover and Commander is science fiction.
The men are space fighter pilots.
In Name of a Wolf I'm back to wolves, but Craiglaren is a sort of highland neverwhere neverwhen.
The stories always involve two men. No threesomes. Always erotica. A strong plot. Always an HEA.
Other than that, I never know where the next road leads.
I write homoerotic fiction.
Scarlet Blade is a swashbuckling romance between a dashing Spanish nobleman and a fallen priest in colonial California.
In Chasing Shadows the trail of a killer leads two Chicago police detectives to each other.
Beloved Captor is a sci fi love story between a prisoner of war and his keeper.
Sovereign's Gladiator is a tale of lust, loyalty, betrayal, and love between a sovereign and his bodyguard.
Touch of a Wolf starts in a Philadelphia alley with anonymous sex between a young graduate student and an ageless wolf shifter from Valley Forge.
Force of Law is a Pretty Woman tale, but with a tomcat garage mechanic in the Julia Roberts role.
Shadow of a Wolf takes place in contemporary Washington DC. The men are wolf shifters.
Lover and Commander is science fiction.
The men are space fighter pilots.
In Name of a Wolf I'm back to wolves, but Craiglaren is a sort of highland neverwhere neverwhen.
The stories always involve two men. No threesomes. Always erotica. A strong plot. Always an HEA.
Other than that, I never know where the next road leads.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
October 30, 2014
WUT. EVA.
I DO WUT AH WANT.
*update*
read this a week ago. but tearing it a new asshole would take just to much energy for me right now.
mostly i'm just sick of looking at it on my "currently reading" sidebar.
SOON
I DO WUT AH WANT.
*update*
read this a week ago. but tearing it a new asshole would take just to much energy for me right now.
mostly i'm just sick of looking at it on my "currently reading" sidebar.
SOON
July 10, 2010
This is an amazing book. I loved it because of its many surprises, great characters, and the sense of wonder and quiet analysis that somehow comes through in the writing and fits the main character perfectly. There is the odd humorous observation and interlude as well, which only makes it an even better story.
Matt is a graduate student who has a lot more brains than common sense. I loved seeing the world through his eyes. He analyzes everything, comes up with the cleverest solutions to the weirdest problems, and is desperate to find "the One". He instinctively trusts John Channing, despite all the evidence to the contrary. His brain tells him he needs to be careful, and leads him to quite a few incorrect conclusions where his relationship with Channing is concerned. His heart sends a clear message from the very start, but he has trouble believing it.
The book basically tells the story of Matt finding out that he can trust his instincts and what they tell him not just about the man he has fallen in love with, but his relationship with that man. A very interesting read.
Matt is a graduate student who has a lot more brains than common sense. I loved seeing the world through his eyes. He analyzes everything, comes up with the cleverest solutions to the weirdest problems, and is desperate to find "the One". He instinctively trusts John Channing, despite all the evidence to the contrary. His brain tells him he needs to be careful, and leads him to quite a few incorrect conclusions where his relationship with Channing is concerned. His heart sends a clear message from the very start, but he has trouble believing it.
The book basically tells the story of Matt finding out that he can trust his instincts and what they tell him not just about the man he has fallen in love with, but his relationship with that man. A very interesting read.
July 11, 2010
Channing and Matt, what a quint love story tis be. LOL What a pile of crap. This story kept the stucco of my heart beating at a wild pace throughout. A very good book for some light humor after reading another book that leaves you wanting to upchuck what's left curdled in your gut.
Matt is witty and charming. Channing is tough, but that's all an act as far as I can see. He's just one big big lovable mutt.
The story starts off with a wonky yet hot alleyway scene of groping, want and lust while Matt feels on the rebound, but low and behold Channing comes to the rescue to make him change his mind and move on in life. The two seriously get it on, but Matt has his self doubts right up till the end, even after the... Ah, I shouldn't say! :zipping my lips firmly shut:
But the elephant in the living-room is always the ex's. You have to love those. What would the world be without one or two or three? You gotta enjoy when a dork of an ex is part of the scenario. A part of me wishes that it was Matt that put Cord in his place or just maybe Vickie should be the one to end up with Cord. I think they'd make the perfect match. One in Heaven :snickering:
I'd love to tell you more about this story but I'd spoil it for those who haven't picked up the book yet. All I'm saying is Jez pulled off a very entertaining story here. It deserved the 5 star and thinking most will agree.
Matt is witty and charming. Channing is tough, but that's all an act as far as I can see. He's just one big big lovable mutt.
The story starts off with a wonky yet hot alleyway scene of groping, want and lust while Matt feels on the rebound, but low and behold Channing comes to the rescue to make him change his mind and move on in life. The two seriously get it on, but Matt has his self doubts right up till the end, even after the... Ah, I shouldn't say! :zipping my lips firmly shut:
But the elephant in the living-room is always the ex's. You have to love those. What would the world be without one or two or three? You gotta enjoy when a dork of an ex is part of the scenario. A part of me wishes that it was Matt that put Cord in his place or just maybe Vickie should be the one to end up with Cord. I think they'd make the perfect match. One in Heaven :snickering:
I'd love to tell you more about this story but I'd spoil it for those who haven't picked up the book yet. All I'm saying is Jez pulled off a very entertaining story here. It deserved the 5 star and thinking most will agree.
July 10, 2010
Wow. This book starts off on nuclear heat setting and rarely dials it back down. Best first opening scene I have read in....a very long time. That alone would rank it a five star read but fortunately the story itself is great and the characters are likeable.
Seriously, hottest opening scene ever. Have a a fire extinguisher at the ready to help put out the flames....
Seriously, hottest opening scene ever. Have a a fire extinguisher at the ready to help put out the flames....
August 31, 2010
2.5 stars. The story's beginning was very promising. It was all right until they hid with the werewolves. I wasn't too convinced of the way Matt fit in with them. And I couldn't understand Vic's reasons for anything he did. From that point on, I kept getting thrown off from the flow of the story and couldn't get back in.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2010
I went into this one not expecting much since this is a subgenre I rarely venture into. It started off okay and my interest was kept up. In fact, I was applauding Matt's decision to walk out on Cord and not fall for his crap, happy that I had a protag with balls. Before I knew it, I was loving the whole story, not just Matt giving Cord the proverbial middle finger to his rationalizations. My favorite part, though, was Matt living with those weres, seeing how precious he became to them even though, in his mind, he was welcomed only because he was useful - the same reason why he thought Channing kept him around.
Channing's character was kept at arms length so while I knew everything that went through Matt's mind, Channing remained that shadowy stranger who accosted Matt in the alley at the start of the story. It wasn't until towards the last quarter or so of the book that I was able to get a better look at him. Yet this isn't a complaint. Just an observation. Morrow did the right thing IMO because, the story being told from Matt's POV, I was able to feel Matt's frustration and insecurity in the face of Channing's guardedness. That's why I enjoyed that latter part of the book when Channing takes Matt "home" to a sanctuary of sorts for weres.
The introduction of Vickie who was, I think, an ex-lover of Channing, injected a different type of tension to the earlier one where Channing was to testify in the trial of a druglord. Whereas the trial contributed to the suspense, Vickie's presence revved up the romantic tension as Matt's jealousy and insecurity is spectacularly displayed, resulting in Matt, in wolf form, biting Vickie's balls. Believe me, he deserved it. While Channing, true to form, never gives details of what went down between him and Vickie, it's clear the two had a history together and Vickie wants to keep that in the present. Especially when competition, in the form of Matt, turns up with Channing.
There were a couple of things I didn't understand and perhaps someone else who reads it can enlighten me: 1) that whole conversation about 'Lakota' being the Red Indian Channing turned. I didn't understand Matt's reaction as if he'd suddenly realized something significant because there was no further reference to the entire Lakota thing. 2) why did Vickie bite Matt? Turning him into a wolf would have made him immune to sickness and Matt, at the time, was suffering from an infection after an injury. Why make Matt one of them when Vickie was jealous of him?
Despite these, Touch of a Wolf had all the elements I hope for in a romantic suspense and they all worked together such that I turned off my e-reader with a satisfied smile. I enjoyed Jez Morrow's previous book, Lover and Commander and I liked Touch of a Wolf even more. 4.5 stars.
I checked out the author's backlist and was surprised to read the poor ratings for the earlier 'Wolf' books. Shadow of a Wolf (2008)had a pretty bad review by Adrienne Gallagher, which made me cringe and relieved I checked the book out before buying it. The release after that one was Name of a Wolf (2009) and fared slightly better in that there were no stinging reviews. Both those books had me thinking Ms Morrow must have taken a crash course on M/M sex before writing Touch of a Wolf because the issues raised in the Shadow review, I did not detect in Touch of the Wolf. There were some repetitive parts in the sex scenes and I agree those could have been dispensed with but other than that, I did not come across anything that would have resulted in grievous anal hurt, as the reviewer of Shadow mentioned.
Anyhow, if I'm now curious as to whether there are any reviews that compare this installment with the previous ones and I'm interested to see what Ms Morrow comes out with next.
Channing's character was kept at arms length so while I knew everything that went through Matt's mind, Channing remained that shadowy stranger who accosted Matt in the alley at the start of the story. It wasn't until towards the last quarter or so of the book that I was able to get a better look at him. Yet this isn't a complaint. Just an observation. Morrow did the right thing IMO because, the story being told from Matt's POV, I was able to feel Matt's frustration and insecurity in the face of Channing's guardedness. That's why I enjoyed that latter part of the book when Channing takes Matt "home" to a sanctuary of sorts for weres.
The introduction of Vickie who was, I think, an ex-lover of Channing, injected a different type of tension to the earlier one where Channing was to testify in the trial of a druglord. Whereas the trial contributed to the suspense, Vickie's presence revved up the romantic tension as Matt's jealousy and insecurity is spectacularly displayed, resulting in Matt, in wolf form, biting Vickie's balls. Believe me, he deserved it. While Channing, true to form, never gives details of what went down between him and Vickie, it's clear the two had a history together and Vickie wants to keep that in the present. Especially when competition, in the form of Matt, turns up with Channing.
There were a couple of things I didn't understand and perhaps someone else who reads it can enlighten me: 1) that whole conversation about 'Lakota' being the Red Indian Channing turned. I didn't understand Matt's reaction as if he'd suddenly realized something significant because there was no further reference to the entire Lakota thing. 2) why did Vickie bite Matt? Turning him into a wolf would have made him immune to sickness and Matt, at the time, was suffering from an infection after an injury. Why make Matt one of them when Vickie was jealous of him?
Despite these, Touch of a Wolf had all the elements I hope for in a romantic suspense and they all worked together such that I turned off my e-reader with a satisfied smile. I enjoyed Jez Morrow's previous book, Lover and Commander and I liked Touch of a Wolf even more. 4.5 stars.
I checked out the author's backlist and was surprised to read the poor ratings for the earlier 'Wolf' books. Shadow of a Wolf (2008)had a pretty bad review by Adrienne Gallagher, which made me cringe and relieved I checked the book out before buying it. The release after that one was Name of a Wolf (2009) and fared slightly better in that there were no stinging reviews. Both those books had me thinking Ms Morrow must have taken a crash course on M/M sex before writing Touch of a Wolf because the issues raised in the Shadow review, I did not detect in Touch of the Wolf. There were some repetitive parts in the sex scenes and I agree those could have been dispensed with but other than that, I did not come across anything that would have resulted in grievous anal hurt, as the reviewer of Shadow mentioned.
Anyhow, if I'm now curious as to whether there are any reviews that compare this installment with the previous ones and I'm interested to see what Ms Morrow comes out with next.
December 9, 2010
I've wanted to rate this one with 5 stars just because a lot of people gave it 2. But in the end it is a 4 star read for me. I loved the flow of the story and could easily follow the plot. The sex scenes at the beginning were surprisingly hot, and it would have been expected of me to skip one or two. But somehow they were all very well written and held the same dose of sexy and exciting.
The book has this certain edge to it, were you're constantly below that intense line; waiting for it to become impossible to put down, but never really reaching that level. Instead the story has this even pace at which everything develops, and even when you get wolves thrown into the mix, it's not shocking, nor does it interrupt the flow of the events.
For me it was a very well written book, without 'biting my nails' moments, but overall very pleasant. It put a smile on my face and I certainly want more to read.
The book has this certain edge to it, were you're constantly below that intense line; waiting for it to become impossible to put down, but never really reaching that level. Instead the story has this even pace at which everything develops, and even when you get wolves thrown into the mix, it's not shocking, nor does it interrupt the flow of the events.
For me it was a very well written book, without 'biting my nails' moments, but overall very pleasant. It put a smile on my face and I certainly want more to read.
June 21, 2011
Wow, this book was really great and was even better than I was expecting since it was kinda short. It had the perfect amount of paranormal touches and didn't go into tons of world building that you usually see in PNRs. It also had a sweet romance and a lot of hot sex. Unfortunately the cover just doesn't do it justice!!
September 18, 2010
I loved this book just as much the second time.
I love the word "Faggage"
I love the word "Faggage"
July 29, 2012
3 stars – Wow, so this was like reading two different books. The first one I was really fine with and was all "four stars!" as I was coasting along, but it goes WTF during the last 25-30%, and just completely threw me out.
First off, I picked this because I totally enjoyed Force of Law by the same author. Yeah, it's a total wish-fulfillment fantasy, and goes the route of Super-HEA in the end, and has the "I loved you at first sight" thing going on (bleh), but Morrow's style is ridiculously readable; I dug her sly humor that slid into the dialogue and character thoughts, and it was just a total "gleeful read" for me. (And I think it's hilarious that it's the #1 in the M/M Harlequin list. I'm so happy that someone made that list.)
So, I was psyched to read another book by her, and this "shifter cop meets grad student" story sounded rad. And that first book in here was rad.
Matt (the grad student), reeling from a break-up with his cheating boyfriend, is walking the dark Philly streets wanting to feel something, anything, to replace the bitterness that is consuming him, and that "feel anything" is a hot guy in a rumpled trench coat who takes one look at him and pulls him into an alley to have some fast, consensual Sexy Times. Afterwards, Rumpled Trench Coat says "Can I see you again?" And Matt, now reeling for a whole new reason, says, "Sure." But Rumpled then exits stage (alley) left, and Matt is all, "He didn't even ask me for my number, so this is super going somewhere."
But to his surprise, Rumpled shows up suddenly in Matt's apartment (after breaking in), introduces himself as John Channing, a detective for the Philly PD, and requests if he can lie low at Matt's place for a little while. Matt's excitement for more Sexy Times is dampened only slightly when he realizes that John wants to chill out there because he needs to detox from his drug-taking dirty cop act before a court case. But Sexy Times wins out, and Matt realizes that he's wants to learn more about the mysterious Channing.
Especially when he finds out that Channing is a wolf shifter. Bazinga!
This first book had several directions, and it was a little hard to pin down, but I just went with the flow. Is it a thriller with the court case? Will that ex of Matt's be a crazy stalker? Will Matt flunk out of school? How hard is it to become a cop if you're a wolf shifter? Somewhere in the middle, I wondered if Morrow was doing a "slice-of-life," like this is what it's like to go to school, and come home to a detoxing wolf shifter detective, and have Sexy Times and be afraid of falling in love, and I was cool with that. Slice-of-life could be fun, in that Muscling Through-kind of way, although sometimes you can miss the conflict or drive that pushes the tension up.
But then book 1 begins the shift to book 2, with a sudden road trip, but I'm still coasting fine here. Sudden road trips are cool in that Last Stop-kind of way. Sexy Times on the road!
And then they get to a commune-like farm for other wolf shifters. I'm still fine here. The Alpha who runs it and the people running around seem interesting. I'm having a hard time pinning down how this story ties to the cops and drugs and court cases from the first book, but whatevs. Wolf Shifter Commune Sexy Times! Maybe here there will be a build-up of tension, suspense, or some kind of conflict that ties these two stories together.
But then it shifts to the WTF--through the power of the internet, and his super-smarts, Matt starts making false IDs for the shifters. This false ID factory is just glossed over which really bugged me. Like, I know Matt is really smart (even though he was "failing" in grad school), but how does he know how to make fake social security numbers? And then all the wolf shifters love Matt because of his Mad Skillz, which felt a little Mary Sue-ish and random at this point in the story. And then there's the angst about guys that Channing might have slept with in the past, or made into a werewolf in the past, and then the last major conflict is one of those that could have been solved if people just sit down and talk out their misconceptions...sigh.
Part of my impetus to push forward through that last 25% was just to see what would happen next because it just felt like total crazy-town compared to that "first book" which I had been going through fine, even though I was confused sometimes about what exactly the book wanted to be.
So, it's hard to recommend this book, even though I did still like Morrow's writing style. Although sometimes her heavy use of "name verb, name verb" felt repetitive, her sly humor still often came through, especially in the first book. I really enjoyed the dialogue and back-and-forth between Matt and Channing during that part.
In the end, I kind of wished someone had reined in the scope, maybe whittled down some parts from Wolf Commune (or chopped it out entirely) and told a tighter love/suspense story of a wolf shifter detective who unwittingly falls for and has Sexy Times with a sweet anthropology student, and then the challenges that arise from that, and how they reach that Super HEA.
So, four stars for book 1, two stars for book 2 = three star read for me. But I still like Morrow's style, so will look forward to checking out more from her.
First off, I picked this because I totally enjoyed Force of Law by the same author. Yeah, it's a total wish-fulfillment fantasy, and goes the route of Super-HEA in the end, and has the "I loved you at first sight" thing going on (bleh), but Morrow's style is ridiculously readable; I dug her sly humor that slid into the dialogue and character thoughts, and it was just a total "gleeful read" for me. (And I think it's hilarious that it's the #1 in the M/M Harlequin list. I'm so happy that someone made that list.)
So, I was psyched to read another book by her, and this "shifter cop meets grad student" story sounded rad. And that first book in here was rad.
Matt (the grad student), reeling from a break-up with his cheating boyfriend, is walking the dark Philly streets wanting to feel something, anything, to replace the bitterness that is consuming him, and that "feel anything" is a hot guy in a rumpled trench coat who takes one look at him and pulls him into an alley to have some fast, consensual Sexy Times. Afterwards, Rumpled Trench Coat says "Can I see you again?" And Matt, now reeling for a whole new reason, says, "Sure." But Rumpled then exits stage (alley) left, and Matt is all, "He didn't even ask me for my number, so this is super going somewhere."
But to his surprise, Rumpled shows up suddenly in Matt's apartment (after breaking in), introduces himself as John Channing, a detective for the Philly PD, and requests if he can lie low at Matt's place for a little while. Matt's excitement for more Sexy Times is dampened only slightly when he realizes that John wants to chill out there because he needs to detox from his drug-taking dirty cop act before a court case. But Sexy Times wins out, and Matt realizes that he's wants to learn more about the mysterious Channing.
Especially when he finds out that Channing is a wolf shifter. Bazinga!
This first book had several directions, and it was a little hard to pin down, but I just went with the flow. Is it a thriller with the court case? Will that ex of Matt's be a crazy stalker? Will Matt flunk out of school? How hard is it to become a cop if you're a wolf shifter? Somewhere in the middle, I wondered if Morrow was doing a "slice-of-life," like this is what it's like to go to school, and come home to a detoxing wolf shifter detective, and have Sexy Times and be afraid of falling in love, and I was cool with that. Slice-of-life could be fun, in that Muscling Through-kind of way, although sometimes you can miss the conflict or drive that pushes the tension up.
But then book 1 begins the shift to book 2, with a sudden road trip, but I'm still coasting fine here. Sudden road trips are cool in that Last Stop-kind of way. Sexy Times on the road!
And then they get to a commune-like farm for other wolf shifters. I'm still fine here. The Alpha who runs it and the people running around seem interesting. I'm having a hard time pinning down how this story ties to the cops and drugs and court cases from the first book, but whatevs. Wolf Shifter Commune Sexy Times! Maybe here there will be a build-up of tension, suspense, or some kind of conflict that ties these two stories together.
But then it shifts to the WTF--through the power of the internet, and his super-smarts, Matt starts making false IDs for the shifters. This false ID factory is just glossed over which really bugged me. Like, I know Matt is really smart (even though he was "failing" in grad school), but how does he know how to make fake social security numbers? And then all the wolf shifters love Matt because of his Mad Skillz, which felt a little Mary Sue-ish and random at this point in the story. And then there's the angst about guys that Channing might have slept with in the past, or made into a werewolf in the past, and then the last major conflict is one of those that could have been solved if people just sit down and talk out their misconceptions...sigh.
Part of my impetus to push forward through that last 25% was just to see what would happen next because it just felt like total crazy-town compared to that "first book" which I had been going through fine, even though I was confused sometimes about what exactly the book wanted to be.
So, it's hard to recommend this book, even though I did still like Morrow's writing style. Although sometimes her heavy use of "name verb, name verb" felt repetitive, her sly humor still often came through, especially in the first book. I really enjoyed the dialogue and back-and-forth between Matt and Channing during that part.
In the end, I kind of wished someone had reined in the scope, maybe whittled down some parts from Wolf Commune (or chopped it out entirely) and told a tighter love/suspense story of a wolf shifter detective who unwittingly falls for and has Sexy Times with a sweet anthropology student, and then the challenges that arise from that, and how they reach that Super HEA.
So, four stars for book 1, two stars for book 2 = three star read for me. But I still like Morrow's style, so will look forward to checking out more from her.
January 6, 2014
Ugh, this book started okay but the middle and the end were all over the place. I guess writing a book is like experimanting with cooking. You can throw everything in the mix and see what you get. But let me tell you something, usually it just end up tasting like shit.
I loved the slutty, dangerous, have seks with a stranger bit. Even the police part and dirty cop bit i could overlook. But throw in a and you lost me.
The blurb was so promising that i bought a couple of books in the series. That will teach me to buy before i read a single book in a series.
I loved the slutty, dangerous, have seks with a stranger bit. Even the police part and dirty cop bit i could overlook. But throw in a and you lost me.
The blurb was so promising that i bought a couple of books in the series. That will teach me to buy before i read a single book in a series.
November 22, 2010
The relationship starts fast and I was skeptical that the romance will be even remotely believable, but I'm glad that I was wrong.
The book has a few things that I didn't like such as a testicle being bitten off (that should NEVER be in a romance ;))) and a way too perfect main character (the bottom/human is a former model, with a Mensa IQ, modest and with a great personality) that somehow manages not to be succesful in live (how the hell does that happen when you're gorgeous, a genius and friendly?).
Fun read, with werewolves, a bit of a detective subplot, hot smut and did I mention werewolves? And it's long enough to sink your teeth into it XD
The book has a few things that I didn't like such as a testicle being bitten off (that should NEVER be in a romance ;))) and a way too perfect main character (the bottom/human is a former model, with a Mensa IQ, modest and with a great personality) that somehow manages not to be succesful in live (how the hell does that happen when you're gorgeous, a genius and friendly?).
Fun read, with werewolves, a bit of a detective subplot, hot smut and did I mention werewolves? And it's long enough to sink your teeth into it XD
June 29, 2011
This...was NICE!!! :) (Thanks HC for the rec!)
The book grabbed my attention from the very first sentence till the end of the story... That is something only a well written book can do and this one certainly did it!
I'm generally a sucker for paranormal - i love it, but it was quite refreshing how the author chose a different yet interesting take on shifters/werewolves and the spin on history was a marvelous little twist. Let's just say that the focus of the book was solely the romance between the 2 people rather than the paranormal dynamics and/or world.
I enjoyed it! Very nice indeed!
The book grabbed my attention from the very first sentence till the end of the story... That is something only a well written book can do and this one certainly did it!
I'm generally a sucker for paranormal - i love it, but it was quite refreshing how the author chose a different yet interesting take on shifters/werewolves and the spin on history was a marvelous little twist. Let's just say that the focus of the book was solely the romance between the 2 people rather than the paranormal dynamics and/or world.
I enjoyed it! Very nice indeed!
June 26, 2011
Some days you just want to read something that captures you, but doesn't make you too uncomfortable. Touch of a Wolf provided exactly what I needed at the right time. I really enjoyed Matt and Channing together and was perfectly content with all the subplots because the pacing was good. It felt like cold lemonade on a hot day, just right!
September 2, 2010
Reread-My rating went down one star for this book. I think I am more discerning in this genre now than I was three years ago.
What a great book. I was hooked from the first few sentences and and the thrill never ended.
What a great book. I was hooked from the first few sentences and and the thrill never ended.
September 19, 2010
Very good paranormal m/m romance about a grad student who just caught his boyfriend cheating and moved out. He has an uncharacteristic sexual encounter in an alley with a mysterious guy he runs into on the street - who later shows up on his fire escape - and his life is changed, possibly forever.
December 18, 2010
Loved the characters. At first I really didn't like Channing, he really seemed selfish and like a jerk. He grows on you. I did think Matt was way naive. It was a fun read with just enough angst to make it keep my interest.
July 13, 2010
This is a fantastic story.
The beginning starts out very quick … in that “I can’t believe I’m doing this but I just can’t help myself” sort of way. Heavily sexed for the first 15%-20% of the book. Its hot and very consuming.
What happens next is the lead up to the “human” side of the plot. We see everything from Matt’s head so we have to wait for him to find out what is going on … and Channing is very honest but tight lipped. Matt isn’t real sure why he trusts him but he does. The scenes leading to Channing’s testimony are very endearing, witty, a bit gritty, and revealing. Especially when Matt finds out about the wolf.
One scene in particular, Channing is detoxing and is convinced he sees a spider, terrified that it is going to hurt Matt. He’s tearing up the bed and searching the room while Matt is telling him that there is no spider, that he is hallucinating. Chinning isn’t willing to take that chance. He starts describing it to Matt in great colored detail. Once Matt points out that it was dark, he couldn’t possibly have seen any color on the spider then Channing is able to calm down and become more aware of his surroundings, slip back into bed sleep much more soundly. This scene is done with such great ease that we know that Matt isn’t the only one who trusts so blindly.
Just about the time the human crisis looks to be over, someone isn’t so ready to let it go and the couple is threatened again. Here is where the shifter and human world collide.
In the 2 books that I’ve read by Jez Morrow, I see that she prefers to write 80%-90% from 1 POV … jumping into the other brain only after the majority of the story has been laid out. Usually the silent character acts a bit of a jerk, or has a big secret and makes the vocal character (and the readers) wonder what he is doing with such an asshat. It is only after we see into the big lugs head that we realize that the previously silent guy has been gripped with fear, worry, and a bit of pride in his overwhelming, and sometimes overbearing, protection of his love.
Something that I have come to appreciate greatly in Jez Morrow’s work is the originality. She isn’t the 1st to write about wolves or undercover cops. But I love that she doesn’t go for the obvious. No cookie cutter here, as far as I can tell.
There aren’t any “mate” bonds or super strength. No wolfy, technological, science or family structure. Any information gleamed from the book blurb is easily less than half of what actually happens. The criminal trial isn’t even really shown because Matt only comes in on the tail end of the proceedings.
The dialogue is smart, tight, and with very little fluff. The details of both men, who they are and where they come from are surprising and individual. The events follow each other seamlessly.
And, of course, I like a good supporting cast. Matt’s talents and intelligence make a big difference in how the wolves live. His simple, yet modern solutions and quick thinking ensures that all they silently wished for becomes a reality.
The beginning starts out very quick … in that “I can’t believe I’m doing this but I just can’t help myself” sort of way. Heavily sexed for the first 15%-20% of the book. Its hot and very consuming.
What happens next is the lead up to the “human” side of the plot. We see everything from Matt’s head so we have to wait for him to find out what is going on … and Channing is very honest but tight lipped. Matt isn’t real sure why he trusts him but he does. The scenes leading to Channing’s testimony are very endearing, witty, a bit gritty, and revealing. Especially when Matt finds out about the wolf.
One scene in particular, Channing is detoxing and is convinced he sees a spider, terrified that it is going to hurt Matt. He’s tearing up the bed and searching the room while Matt is telling him that there is no spider, that he is hallucinating. Chinning isn’t willing to take that chance. He starts describing it to Matt in great colored detail. Once Matt points out that it was dark, he couldn’t possibly have seen any color on the spider then Channing is able to calm down and become more aware of his surroundings, slip back into bed sleep much more soundly. This scene is done with such great ease that we know that Matt isn’t the only one who trusts so blindly.
Just about the time the human crisis looks to be over, someone isn’t so ready to let it go and the couple is threatened again. Here is where the shifter and human world collide.
In the 2 books that I’ve read by Jez Morrow, I see that she prefers to write 80%-90% from 1 POV … jumping into the other brain only after the majority of the story has been laid out. Usually the silent character acts a bit of a jerk, or has a big secret and makes the vocal character (and the readers) wonder what he is doing with such an asshat. It is only after we see into the big lugs head that we realize that the previously silent guy has been gripped with fear, worry, and a bit of pride in his overwhelming, and sometimes overbearing, protection of his love.
Something that I have come to appreciate greatly in Jez Morrow’s work is the originality. She isn’t the 1st to write about wolves or undercover cops. But I love that she doesn’t go for the obvious. No cookie cutter here, as far as I can tell.
There aren’t any “mate” bonds or super strength. No wolfy, technological, science or family structure. Any information gleamed from the book blurb is easily less than half of what actually happens. The criminal trial isn’t even really shown because Matt only comes in on the tail end of the proceedings.
The dialogue is smart, tight, and with very little fluff. The details of both men, who they are and where they come from are surprising and individual. The events follow each other seamlessly.
And, of course, I like a good supporting cast. Matt’s talents and intelligence make a big difference in how the wolves live. His simple, yet modern solutions and quick thinking ensures that all they silently wished for becomes a reality.
Read
November 1, 2010I haven’t read all the books by Jez Morrow, true, but till now I haven’t found one that I didn’t like. Mostly paranormal stories about shapeshifters, she did well also with contemporary romance, but I think the werewolves are her preferred playfield.
When Matt meets John, it’s a bad night for him: he has just dumped his cheating boyfriend, and in-living partner, and he needs to rebound. John is alone in the street like him, and like him he needs something, someone. They have rough sex in the street followed but more sweet sex in Matt’s shitty apartment and like a stray dog who chose his home, John asks Matt if he can stay, and Matt has not really good reason to say no: no matter that John is carrying a gun, no matter that he is a drug addicted trying to detoxing, no matter that he doesn’t really know him aside from what John told him, that he is a police detective who needs to testify on a process. Those are no really good reasons to kick out a man who is always able to make sweet sex with him, that is caring and cuddling, that makes Matt feels safe and loved, feelings that his former lover Cord never was able to make him achieve.
I think Matt is a love’s deprived soul in a desperate need of a family: a single child of a single parent, and now orphaned, he has never had a real old fashioned family; plus Matt is a bit old fashioned himself, he believes in romance and love, and he wants a pretty ordinary life, the only not so ordinary thing him being gay. Even if he knows John only since few days, he feels a soul mate in him, John is very old fashioned, always out to protect him, with the right dose of jealousy, but it’s not a wrong jealousy, just that much to make Matt feel wanted and cherished. Plus John has the family thing in him, his only presence makes a shitty apartment feel like home, Matt wants to get back to him everyday, knowing that John will be there, waiting for him.
John is in deep trouble and his life is everything other than ordinary, but he has never once involved Matt in it, other than asking him for a place to crash. And even when everything seems to go down south, John is always able to see the positive side and make Matt smile. John had an hard life, but that life hasn’t hardened his heart: he is still plenty capable of loving and he is redirecting this love towards Matt, right in the moment when he needs it more. The problem is that, while he can fulfill Matt’s desire to be loved, he is not really able to accomplish the task to giving him an ordinary life: if Matt wants to love John, he has to make a choice.
I like as the author plays with the werewolf theme, John is a shapeshifter through and through but he is also a scarred man, and he is not invincible. In a way, Matt, with his cute and little body, is way stronger than John, and he will become the mainstay of their relationship.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00422LLQO/?...
When Matt meets John, it’s a bad night for him: he has just dumped his cheating boyfriend, and in-living partner, and he needs to rebound. John is alone in the street like him, and like him he needs something, someone. They have rough sex in the street followed but more sweet sex in Matt’s shitty apartment and like a stray dog who chose his home, John asks Matt if he can stay, and Matt has not really good reason to say no: no matter that John is carrying a gun, no matter that he is a drug addicted trying to detoxing, no matter that he doesn’t really know him aside from what John told him, that he is a police detective who needs to testify on a process. Those are no really good reasons to kick out a man who is always able to make sweet sex with him, that is caring and cuddling, that makes Matt feels safe and loved, feelings that his former lover Cord never was able to make him achieve.
I think Matt is a love’s deprived soul in a desperate need of a family: a single child of a single parent, and now orphaned, he has never had a real old fashioned family; plus Matt is a bit old fashioned himself, he believes in romance and love, and he wants a pretty ordinary life, the only not so ordinary thing him being gay. Even if he knows John only since few days, he feels a soul mate in him, John is very old fashioned, always out to protect him, with the right dose of jealousy, but it’s not a wrong jealousy, just that much to make Matt feel wanted and cherished. Plus John has the family thing in him, his only presence makes a shitty apartment feel like home, Matt wants to get back to him everyday, knowing that John will be there, waiting for him.
John is in deep trouble and his life is everything other than ordinary, but he has never once involved Matt in it, other than asking him for a place to crash. And even when everything seems to go down south, John is always able to see the positive side and make Matt smile. John had an hard life, but that life hasn’t hardened his heart: he is still plenty capable of loving and he is redirecting this love towards Matt, right in the moment when he needs it more. The problem is that, while he can fulfill Matt’s desire to be loved, he is not really able to accomplish the task to giving him an ordinary life: if Matt wants to love John, he has to make a choice.
I like as the author plays with the werewolf theme, John is a shapeshifter through and through but he is also a scarred man, and he is not invincible. In a way, Matt, with his cute and little body, is way stronger than John, and he will become the mainstay of their relationship.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00422LLQO/?...
July 19, 2010
I was sucked in from the very first scene, and remained so for most of the time in reading this one. The dynamics are awesome and the unapologetic nature that Channing has. He doesn't push his way into Matt's life per se ... he just sort of integrates himself into it and Matt is okay with that happening. The first part of the book is basic establishing so there is some pretty hot, HOT schmex scenes, and not a lot is explained. There's not really anything Matt can get from Channing anyway, since Channing is basically detoxing and doesn't always seem to make much sense. Oh, he's perfectly logical in his way of thinking - that unapologetic nature again - but when Matt points something out, Channing steps back and thinks it over and factors it in, even when he's not at his most lucid. That tells a great deal about his character.
Matt is revealed a little slower simply because Channing is the most interesting with what's going on. But a few scenes here and there - including Matt's honest belief in Channing's honesty without having proof, but also without the naive hero-worship mentality - sum him up well.
After the first half of the book the details of the plot start coming together. When they are forced to run, it kind of loosens up again, because it turns from crime-drama into a kind of pack-home adjustment case. Not bad, just different, and not expected. Didn't lessen the enjoyable aspect of the read.
Things that irked: time passing. There was a great deal of minor information, unneeded, that was used to try and indicate time passing. For instance, Matt goes to his friend's ... one full page written, skimming over what happened in the three days he was there. Skip a random few months, two paragraphs on his cramming for and failing to pass a course. Skip a month. His loneliness on a random day.
It was just too much information, or too little. Still not sure which.
Things that intrigued: Channing's character; his not-so-subtle views and actions, his honesty, his loyalty, his realism. Not many characters out there are as well-rounded as he was, with both shadows and light and a hell of a lot of grey area between. The results of seemingly cliff-hanger-like scenes: this kind of took me off guard, but after a few times I liked it. Not every seemingly uber-dangerous happening turns out to be life-threatening or be caused by some super-evil bad guy. Sometimes things just happen, without threat or injury, and then we end up changing our view on things because of it.
Very much enjoyed.
Matt is revealed a little slower simply because Channing is the most interesting with what's going on. But a few scenes here and there - including Matt's honest belief in Channing's honesty without having proof, but also without the naive hero-worship mentality - sum him up well.
After the first half of the book the details of the plot start coming together. When they are forced to run, it kind of loosens up again, because it turns from crime-drama into a kind of pack-home adjustment case. Not bad, just different, and not expected. Didn't lessen the enjoyable aspect of the read.
Things that irked: time passing. There was a great deal of minor information, unneeded, that was used to try and indicate time passing. For instance, Matt goes to his friend's ... one full page written, skimming over what happened in the three days he was there. Skip a random few months, two paragraphs on his cramming for and failing to pass a course. Skip a month. His loneliness on a random day.
It was just too much information, or too little. Still not sure which.
Things that intrigued: Channing's character; his not-so-subtle views and actions, his honesty, his loyalty, his realism. Not many characters out there are as well-rounded as he was, with both shadows and light and a hell of a lot of grey area between. The results of seemingly cliff-hanger-like scenes: this kind of took me off guard, but after a few times I liked it. Not every seemingly uber-dangerous happening turns out to be life-threatening or be caused by some super-evil bad guy. Sometimes things just happen, without threat or injury, and then we end up changing our view on things because of it.
Very much enjoyed.
July 10, 2010
This is my first read for this author. So, I picked this after reading the description and the sample first chapter. It's about John, a wolf-shifter detective trying to get clean from drugs so he can testify in a murder case and Matt, a student/teacher on the rebound from his cheating lover. The story starts off right away with teh smexing, so that pretty much sucked me in. lol They met on the street and John drags Matt into an alley and they make out. Afterward John asks to see Matt again, to which Matt replies 'Sure'. Matt realizes there have been no information exchange and doesn't think he will see John again. Then much to his surprise after moving out of his lover's place into his own apartment, John breaks in while he is there and tell him he's going to stay awhile. Matt just says 'ok'.You don't really know at first that John is a detective or that he's trying to get clean or what his doing with Matt. It's revealed kinda slowly but doesn't hurt the flow of the story. The wolf-shifter thing didn't come into play until much later. I really loved John's character. He was kinda Alpha-ish, but not really, he wasn't all 'Mine, Mine' with Matt. Matt character was smart and sweet and funny. Someone you felt the need to protect. It was funny, with lots o'smexy time, and had some drama and angst. I really enjoyed this story. This will go on my re-read list. And I'll be looking for more books by this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2012
Interestingly weird?
I mean, overall the effect was...weird. I'd like to say it seemed like a weird melange of stuff, but it somehow came together. The portrayal of the withdrawal was framed in a way that seemed realistic. Channing...he was just such an adorable child. (Well, not a child, but you know what I mean)
The wolf thing was really weird at first, but the entire thing forced me to suspend my disbelief so much that after the initial shock, I kind of took it in stride.
I guess it kind of is a light, fluffy-ish read with some serious-ish moments. Parts of it were just ridiculous, though...
I mean, overall the effect was...weird. I'd like to say it seemed like a weird melange of stuff, but it somehow came together. The portrayal of the withdrawal was framed in a way that seemed realistic. Channing...he was just such an adorable child. (Well, not a child, but you know what I mean)
Channing went on, “It’s stripy. Orange, yellow, brown. I saw it as clearly as I see you now. It was coming from the ceiling, straight down on my face.” He swept his arm over the bed, feeling for a strand of webbing that would prove the spider’s existence.
“You know it’s probably a hallucination,” Matt said.
“Probably,” Channing allowed. “Not good enough.” He scanned the ceiling. “‘Kay, Matt. You’re a smart guy. Do you know if there are any real spiders that look like that?”
Matt didn’t know anything about spiders. “I know you can’t see colors in the dark.”
Channing stopped mid-sweep. “You’re right.”
He instantly calmed down, suddenly sleepy again. Channing nodded, satisfied. “That’s a good point. I like that.” He crawled back into the bed. “You’re the best,” he said, and passed peacefully out.
The wolf thing was really weird at first, but the entire thing forced me to suspend my disbelief so much that after the initial shock, I kind of took it in stride.
I guess it kind of is a light, fluffy-ish read with some serious-ish moments. Parts of it were just ridiculous, though...
August 20, 2012
This book was so funny. I loved the first 3/4 of it soooo much. I really wish that it had ended before the road trip because that's where it started falling apart for me.
I really wish they hadn't left Philly. Amazing fun, intense book up to that point. Great story though and I'm glad I read it.
I really wish they hadn't left Philly. Amazing fun, intense book up to that point. Great story though and I'm glad I read it.
July 16, 2010
My problem with this story, I think, lays in the two points: Channing the wolf, and Channing the drug addict/undercover cop. I feel like there are two disjointed story, which in the end make me feel a bit off. Like, which one that is more important? It will be better for me if it's focus on one thing, you know. When I read it, it's jumping from one to another - and it's hard for me to keep track. The second part of the story also seems like coming out of nowhere, with the bunch of wolves and the revenge of the ex -- as well as what happens to Matt. I was going to give this 2.5 stars, but then again, the first chapter is indeed HOT, and I must bump it to 3 stars for recognition of that chapter alone.
May 17, 2011
It's nice to read a shifter story that's not all about fated mates which I think often kills the romantic tension. This ones a little different. There's a little bit of everything in this from drug use, police work & criminals to clueless ex's on both guys part & wolf packs. If you watch any reality TV you know at some point the announcer will offer a challenge with a twist & then add another twist until we get down to extra, extra twisty. That kept running through my head when reading this book, as the author kept adding twist & turns. Did the author take on too much for the limited amount of pages this story had? Probably. Maybe it coasted on the strength of its opening scene. This is no flawless story but it does offer good pacing a fun reading ride.
January 30, 2012
2.5 stars
The weakest book in the series. The MCs are damsels with dick. And it has one of my pet peeves: The Big Misunderstanding (seeing someone enter the boyfriend room and just assume everything the worse without talking.)
The beginning is quite great. The middle is still good. The end, however, changed my ratings completely. We have a badass cop and analytic graduate student who suddenly become very emotional drama queens.
A missed opportunity, IMO.
The weakest book in the series. The MCs are damsels with dick. And it has one of my pet peeves: The Big Misunderstanding (seeing someone enter the boyfriend room and just assume everything the worse without talking.)
The beginning is quite great. The middle is still good. The end, however, changed my ratings completely. We have a badass cop and analytic graduate student who suddenly become very emotional drama queens.
A missed opportunity, IMO.
September 10, 2013
3.6 stars. A lot of intriguing ideas and plot avenues, but it felt as if the story lost focus since so much was going on and was not sufficiently developed... The first chapter had been very intense and promising, so deserves a special mention.
September 22, 2010
Cute story. A little bit unbelievable in parts, but it had some fun twists to it.
April 10, 2011
I wish I could give negative stars.
May 8, 2011
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I would have liked it to be a bit longer so that Cord was dealt with better.
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