Awakened by the Wolf by Kristal Hollis (The Wahyas of Walker’s Run #1) #BookReview

Awakened by the Wolf kicks off the Wahyas of Walker’s Run series by Kristal Hollis, and the series is off to a promising start. This book has steam, romance, and plenty of humor. I loved that there was a lightness to the book despite the grief that Brice was going through over the loss of his brother and Cassie’s dark past. The moments of humor in the book (and there were many) strengthened the story and kept the family drama and the pain that both leads were experiencing from consuming the story. Brice provided many of these moments of levity with his sexy confidence and his attempts to flirt with Cassie, but Cassie’s reactions to finding out that he was a wolf allowed for plenty of comedic dialogue.

“Well, what are you waiting for?” She pointed to the road. “Go.”

Crinkling his nose, the wolf pulled his thin lips back in a peevish snort.

“Good boy?” She thumped his head. “Don’t roll your eyes at me. How am I supposed to know what you want? I’ve never owned a dog.”

The book gets off to a great start when Brice sneaks home to his pack’s land and finds a stranger sleeping in his bed. This stranger turns out to be Cassie Albright, who doesn’t respond too well to finding a naked man standing over her bed. This meeting is a standout moment in the book, as Cassie’s reaction to Brice is priceless and shows us how scrappy and fierce she can be.

“Freaking perv, get out.” The woman wasn’t simply frightened. She was downright mad.

“I’m not-” he dodged the second book, “a pervert”

Projectiles of various sizes targeted him with the precision of heat-seeking missiles. Who knew a woman’s hair and beauty products did double duty as a weapons arsenal?

Even though things get off to a bit of a rocky start, especially when Cassie discovers that Brice is a wolf shifter (they call themselves Wahyas), there’s instant chemistry between them. However, Brice is still grappling with guilt over his older brother’s death and Cassie is determined to avoid romantic attachments so that she can achieve her dreams and avoid becoming like her mother. Things get complicated when Brice realizes that Cassie may be his one true mate. This realization sets Brice down a long and difficult path of convincing Cassie that she belongs in his world- and with him.

I loved the relationship between Cassie and Brice. It didn’t move too quickly and their deep connection could be felt in every scene they shared together. I got somewhat frustrated at Cassie’s stubbornness and her continued resistance to her bond with Brice, but I also felt sympathy for how affected she was by past trauma. Plus, the wait pays off in the end and there are enough steamy scenes along the way to keep the reader very satisfied.

Hooking his thumbs inside the waistband of her panties, he inched them down her legs until she wished he’d rip the damn things off. She’d never felt so aware of her body. It was as if Brice had flayed her skin, laid bare her nerves and plugged them into a light socket. By the time she stepped out of her panties, she was trembling.

“Wh-what are you doing?”

“Pleasuring you.”

The Wahyan mythology was intriguing and I liked that there were enough details on pack politics to keep things interesting without being overly complicated. The Walker family dynamic was one of the most compelling parts of the book for me, and I hope to see it explored further. I also look forward to getting to know the rest of the Walker’s Run pack members better, particularly Rafe. There are plenty of stories to tell here and many characters to learn more about. I’m excited to see where this series goes from here! If you’re in the mood for a light, sexy paranormal romance, Awakened by the Wolf is worth checking out.

Awakened by the Wolf is a GraveTells Recommended Read!

This review copy was provided by the Author. No compensation was received for this review.

Buy or reserve your copy online at*: Amazon (Kindle)

Who's been sleeping in the Alpha's bed? 
Exiled from his pack by his father, Brice Walker has secretly come home to visit his ailing grandmother only to discover a human and very desirable female sleeping in his bed. Their attraction is instant. But his new bed buddy seems determined to resist his Southern charm and Alpha allure.  

For Brice, fiercely independent Cassie not only represents a chance to build a new life in Walker's Run but is also his one true mate. Cassie's reluctance dissolves when a rogue shifter kidnaps her, and now she and Brice must work together to save his pack. But once she witnesses the savagery of wolfan justice, can Cassie accept Brice as man, beast and her true love?

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