Wolf Town

Title: Wolf Town
Author: Joely Skye
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Genre: M/M paranormal romance
Length: Novella
Rating: 4 stars out of 5

A guest review by Jenre

Summary Review
An offshoot from Joely Skye’s Shifter’s series which contains some very sympathetic characterisation, Wolf Town tells of young wolf shifter and son of the Alpha, Rory, who is sent on a mission to find and protect an isolated Minder.

THE BLURB

Poised to run. Aching to stay. What lies between is sweet torture.

For nine years, Scott Lund has been erasing himself. Making sure his own kind—those who can control people’s minds—can’t track him down. It has been a lonely existence. So lonely, that when he makes a real connection with a stranger, he breaks his own cardinal rule and falls asleep in the man’s arms.

Rory McIntyre has been sent by his pack alpha to keep a protective eye on Scott. Seduction wasn’t part of the plan, but once he lays eyes on the Minder, Rory isn’t satisfied to keep his distance.

The moment Scott opens his eyes, he panics and flees—straight into a Minder trap. The handsome stranger from the night before turns out to be his rescuer, who whisks him away to a safe place. Wolf Town.

Overwhelmed by Rory’s family, Scott knows only two things for sure. His attraction to Rory is growing by the minute. And to keep his lover safe, he must put as much distance between them as possible…

THE REVIEW

Scott is a Minder, a man with paranormal abilities to manipulate the thoughts and actions of others. Minders often band together in pods where they can become a destructive force. After a bad experience in a pod Scott has fled to the city where he is attempting to hide who he is. It’s a lonely existance as he daren’t get close to anyone. Rory has been sent by Trey and his Alpha wolf father to follow Scott and prevent any other Minders from trying to force Scott to join their pod. This is a lonely and tedious job, and Rory just can’t help himself or his attraction to Scott when he introduces himself to Scott at a bar. Things don’t quite go to plan after that point, and Scott finds himself drawn into the world of wolf shifters.

Much of the appeal of this novella was in the characters of Rory and Scott. Rory was just so loveable, I wanted to take him home with me! He’s stifled by his overbearing, but loving father, and as the son of the Alpha wary of any romantic relationships in case he’s being seen for his status in the pack, rather than for himself. He’s also got a sweet and caring nature as was shown in the way he handles the skittish Scott, and a heart to protect others which comes to the forefront in his mission to guard Scott. I also liked that he was still young enough to make mistakes, or follow the calling of his libido rather than his brain. I just found him to be completely endearing. Scott is the complete opposite to Rory in that he’s not touchy-feely, and he’s very used to living on his own, as opposed to Rory who lives in a structured pack society. He’s so sympathetically drawn in his loneliness and the mix of wanting to interact with others, but being fearful of getting close to anyone, that my heart ached for him. When the two men come together, there’s a lot of adjusting to do, especially for Scott who usually lives with one foot out the door ready to flee if necessary. The comfort and ease of family and pack life bewilder Scott and I thought that part of the book was realistic in the way it showed Scott’s fright and Rory’s frustration.

There were also a whole host of secondary characters – mostly connected with Rory – who were well drawn. I liked Aileen the wolf/teen who is sent to keep watch on Scott and takes her role very seriously. I also liked Rory’s father, Angus, and felt that the author had done well to show the mix of Alpha wolf and caring, if too caring, father in him.

Any problems I had with the story were to do with the plotting. The story takes us from the city and an encounter with Minders into the safety of Wolf Town. Then there is a sudden complication and the plot speeds up before ending quite quickly. I thought it a shame that everything got wrapped up, on a HFN, so easily, especially as I thought more would happen towards the end. There are a few loose ends left hanging, such as Rory’s relationship with his ex, the views of the shifters on Rory having a relationship with a Minder, and the sub-plot involving Aileen, which made me wonder whether a sequel is being planned. There were also a couple of ‘well, that’s convenient’ moments in the plotting of the story which again spoiled what was on the whole an engrossing book.

However, the strength of the characterisation was such that I still enjoyed this story a great deal. If you have read Joely Skye’s other Shifters books, then this one will be a must for you. It can be read as a stand-a-lone and I would recommend Wolf Town to those who like shifter books and are wanting to read a book with a great set of characters.