Book Review: Robin’s impression of Wolf Blood by Maggie Anderson

Hi, readers! The latest I Love Romance Blog review selection is Wolf Blood by Maggie Anderson.

Take it away, Robin!

Thanks!

Wolf Blood by Maggie Anderson

I received this book for free. This does not impact my review in any shape or form.

Wolf Blood, by Maggie Anderson, is a paranormal romance about finding and falling in love despite a terrifyingly broken family legacy looming near. Dr. Paige O’ Connell moves back to her childhood town of Moon Grove after learning of the death of her uncle, Jake. She inherits his property and attempts to establish a private practice at Moon Grove, only to find danger at every corner and monsters hiding in the dark. Eli Blackwood is the sheriff of Moon Grove and the Alpha of his own pack. After reuniting with his childhood friend Paige, he becomes acutely aware of the target she has on her back, and the feelings he has for her bubbling to the surface.

I like Paige. There are definitely times when she’s stubborn as hell, and more than a few instances when she and Eli clash, but that’s what makes her interesting. I also like that she’s a psychologist trying to make her place in Moon Grove and miserably failing; true, she may be educated, but that doesn’t mean she knows anything about the population she wants to help. Paige’s haughty attitude has definitely landed her a lot of messy situations, werewolves not included. (Also Paige, there are a lot of mental health professionals that have their own therapists.). I enjoyed the realism that Paige and Eli bring to the relationship; even though they’re attracted to each other, they table it for more pressing matters, whether it be protecting friends or family, or worrying about reputation.

The political backdrop was also a treat to read. The conspiracies brewing in the background made the story interesting, especially since both Eli and Paige have a role to play. I had a little too much fun with Redmon and Elijah’s though, as well as the general chaos that Craig was implied to cause.

That being said, I wished Eli was a bit more aware of what’s going on in the town. He’s the Alpha of the pack, and it’s his job to keep people safe, regardless if they’re wolves or not (the cops are supposed to serve and protect, even if it doesn’t seem like it nowadays). Although wolf packs are just extended families, it would’ve been nice for Eli to, at the very least, be aware of the enemies he may have, and whether those enemies will go after Paige. Additionally, when it comes to the gore, I would’ve preferred reading those scenes too. What would happen to Paige had Eli not saved her? It brings an additional horror element to the already gothic components of the book that I think would’ve enhanced Paige and Eli’s relationship.

So for now, I would give this book a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Many thanks, Robin! ♥

Book Info:

She isn’t looking for romance or danger but is destined for both. Now all she has to do is stay alive!

An isolated town, a near death escape, and a man she should stay away from…

When psychologist Paige O’Connell learns of her uncle’s untimely death, and discovers she’s his sole beneficiary, she moves back to the rural country township of Moon Grove where she was born to begin a new phase in her life. But it’s not the new beginning she is hoping for. The picturesque town is rife with sinister secrets and the unwelcoming residents want no part of her.

Soon after settling in, a series of bizarre events puts Paige’s life in jeopardy and when the police are called in she is drawn to tall, dark and handsome Eli Blackwood, the local Sheriff. The attraction between them is undeniable, but what she doesn’t know is he possesses dark secrets of his own.

Secrets can come at a costly price. Will Paige follow her instincts and keep her distance or will temptation pull her into the nightmare world she’s stepped into and seal her fate?

Universal Reader link: https://books2read.com/u/md2leX

Here’s a teaser from the book…

PROLOGUE
The echoing, thunderous footsteps gained on her, the ground shaking
beneath her feet. Paige pushed every ounce of strength she had left into her throbbing legs and propelled herself forward through the eerie trees, peering over her shoulder into the pursuing darkness, her blood pounding in her ears.
The creature was fast as lightning. It had matched her speed in micro
seconds. She had hoped she’d have enough time to get some distance
between them but it had remained at her heels with every terrifying step.
Her heaving chest constricted and she forced dry mouthfuls of air into
her lungs to keep the oxygen flowing through her body so she could
continue to run. To save herself. To flee for her life from — she wasn’t sure
what. All she knew was the creature was big. Massive.
It’s gaining on me. I can’t go any faster! Tears stung the backs of Paige’s
eyes and her throat burned as she rocketed through the gloom. She pushed
her body to its limit, every tortured fiber screaming in agony. She tripped
and stumbled forward, fumbling to retain her balance. Her breath caught in her throat, her knees buckled, and she crashed to the forest floor, skinning her hands and knees on jagged tree roots and rotting fallen branches.
She tried to scramble to her feet, the soles of her running shoes slipping
on the soggy leaves beneath them, and landed flat in the mud. A huge
clawed hand reached out of the dark, shredding her blouse and the skin
beneath it. She opened her mouth to scream but the monstrous palm slid
across her face, smothering the sound before she could make it.
Paige sucked in a strangled breath, her heart thumping against her
ribcage, her sweat-soaked nightdress clinging to her trembling body. She
sprang up in bed, nervous eyes flitting around the dark bedroom. Gulping in another mouthful of air, Paige attempted to calm her ragged breathing and racing heartbeat. “It was just another nightmare,” she assured herself with a shaky breath.
In the peculiar half-light, Paige studied the familiar shapes and shadows
around her room and gave a relieved sigh. Nothing out of place. She’d been
having these nightmares since she was a child and had no idea what they
were supposed to mean. Even her psychiatrist couldn’t comprehend them.
He’d told her it had to be related to some kind of childhood trauma locked
inside her subconscious. But what? As far as she was concerned, she was a
happy, well-adjusted young woman who had lived a normal childhood.
Paige threw back the covers, climbed out of bed and padded bare foot
across the room to the window. She gazed up at the beautiful, iridescent full moon hovering above the soft, gray clouds and sighed. Maybe a change of scene would help. She’d been considering it for a while now.

CHAPTER ONE
Paige O’Connell sat opposite her fidgeting patient scribbling notes and
intermittently doodling swirls around the edge of the page. Mrs. Franklin
believed her husband was trying to kill her, that her son moved to a
different state to college because he hated her, and her daughter never
visited because she blamed her for God knows what. Paige did her best to
be supportive and empathetic but sometimes she felt like killing the woman herself. There were people out there with far more serious conditions who needed legitimate help. Mrs. Franklin wasn’t one of them. Paige had referred her to a psychiatrist but Judy preferred to remain her client and without the assistance of medication.
A knock on the door echoed into the room and her receptionist stuck her
head around the edge. “Dr. O’Connell, there’s an important call for you on
line one.”
Paige breathed a relieved sigh. “Thank you, Steph.” She glanced at her
patient. “Time’s up for this week, Judy. Make an appointment for the same
time next Thursday.” She stood up, walked over to the door and opened it.
“But I didn’t finish telling you about…”
“You can tell me next week.”
“Very well.” The woman gave her a disgruntled scowl and marched out
of the office.
Paige closed the door, walked over and dropped the notebook and pen on
the desk blotter, then sat down in her high-backed, leather executive office
chair, kicked off her heels and gave another sigh. Perhaps she really should
consider a change of location. Some of her patients were driving her insane.
The door opened and Stephanie stuck her head in. “Are you going to
answer the call on line one?”
“Oh?” Paige straightened. “I thought you were rescuing me from Mrs.
Franklin again.” Her eyes moved to the telephone on her right. “Thanks.
Yes, I’ll take it.” She picked up the digital handset. “Hello, Dr. O’Connell
speaking.”
“Miss O’Connell, my name is Myles Chesterfield. I was your uncle’s
lawyer. Can we meet?”
Was her uncle’s lawyer?
“Can you tell me what this is about?” Paige leaned back in the chair and
rubbed her aching left temple. The makings of a headache were forming
there.
“I’d prefer to discuss it with you in person, if you don’t mind.”
She sighed. “Ok. When and where?”
“I’m across the street at the café so whenever you have some free time. I
don’t mind waiting.”
Paige jumped out of her seat, rushed to the window and peered through
the venetian blinds. “I’ll be there in five minutes.” She stepped into her
shoes, hurried across her office, opened the door and rushed out into
reception. “Steph, can you reschedule this morning’s appointments and hold my calls. Something’s come up and I have to leave for a while.”
Her receptionist, who was also her best friend, frowned up at her from
her desk. “Everything okay?”
“I’m not sure yet. I’ll let you know when I get back.” She headed for the
stairs.
Standing on the sidewalk, Paige’s stomach did anxious flip flops. The
man on the telephone had said he was her uncle’s lawyer. Had something
happened to Jake? She sucked in a calming breath, put on her professional
face and crossed the street.
When she entered the café a man in his mid-forties, wearing a dark blue
suit stood up at one of the booths. “Hello, Paige, thank you for meeting me
on such short notice.” He extended his hand.
Paige shook it and sidled into the bench opposite him.
“Can I get you something?” Myles offered. “Coffee?”
She shook her head. “No thanks. I’d just like to know what this is
about.”
He reached into the top pocket of his suit jacket, retrieved a pair of
spectacles and placed them on his nose. “I’m sorry to have to tell you this,
but I’m here because your uncle has passed away and you are his sole
beneficiary.”
Tears stung the backs of her eyes. She hadn’t spoken to her uncle in a
while and now she’d never have the chance to. She swallowed the painful
lump in her throat and asked in a quiet voice, “What happened?”
“The investigation is ongoing so I’m afraid I can’t tell you.”
Paige’s eyes widened. “Investigation? I don’t understand. What
investigation? What happened?”
He cleared his throat. “I wish I could tell you more, but I’m sorry I
can’t.”
“You said I’m his sole beneficiary?”
“Oh, yes.” Myles dug into the black leather briefcase sitting beside him
on the padded, green vinyl seat, pulled out a folder, sat it on the table and
opened it. “As he wasn’t married and had no children that we’re aware of,
you are his sole heir… or heiress, as is the case.”
Paige eased her body back against the seat. “Oh.”
“He left you his house and land and a hundred thousand dollars in cash.”
“What?!”
“Yes, it’s all yours.”
Her moist gaze moved to him. “Has there been a funeral? Why didn’t
someone let me know before now?”
Myles shook his head. “Not yet. As I said the investigation is ongoing.
They won’t release the body until the case has been solved. And I am
informing you now.”
“But you can’t tell me anything?”
“I’m afraid my hands are tied. I’d be breaking the law.”
Paige attempted to take it all in. Her uncle Jake was dead by suspicious
circumstances and she now owned his house in Moon Grove, Illinois. From
what she could remember from visiting her uncle a few times over the
years, it was a small town of no more than twelve hundred people, give or
take, but the scenery was beautiful and, as she recalled, the townsfolk
friendly. Maybe this was the change of scene she’d been looking for. Could
she set up her practice there? Would it be worth the move? Something she’d
have to consider. Washington was far removed from a backwater town in
the middle of nowhere. And she had a thriving practice and close circle of
good friends. Would she leave it all behind and move back to a place she
didn’t know?
“It was obviously a crime, right?”
He nodded.
“Was he murdered?”
He nodded again. “I’ve said too much already.”
Paige gasped and her eyes moved to the file sitting on the table then back
to him. “Why? He was a good man. I doubt he had enemies. He’d give
people the shirt off his back if they needed it.”
Myles gave her a pained look. “I’m sorry. Truly I am. I wish I could
answer all of your questions. I understand how overwhelming this must be
for you, Paige.” He reached across the table and rested his hand on hers.
Paige eased her hands out from under his and placed them in her lap. “So
what happens now? With the will, I mean.”
“I have a couple of things for you to peruse and sign, and then I can hand
you the keys to the house and the banking information, which has already
been transferred into your name.”
She blew out a noisy breath. How could this have happened? She loved
her uncle Jake. He was a kind, gentle man who had always been there when she needed him. His death would leave a huge hole in her heart.
The lawyer slid the paperwork across the table. “It’s pretty standard
stuff. What I do need you to read is here,” he said, pointing to several
clauses marked with a sticky, red ‘SIGN HERE’ arrow, “and here. If you have
any questions don’t hesitate to ask.”
“I think I’ll have that coffee now,” she said, gazing up from the papers.
“Of course.” Myles waved the waitress over and ordered their drinks.
After reading the important clauses and signing the documents, Myles
handed her the keys and other information. “It’s been good meeting you,
Paige. I’m sure I’ll see you again when you visit Moon Grove.” He stood
up and extended his hand.
She shook it. “Thank you.”
Once the lawyer was gone, Paige sat in silence, feeling numb. Her uncle
was the last family member she had. Aunt Ruth, her mother’s sister, had
passed away in a car accident five years before leaving Paige on her own,
and now this. She’d never considered marriage and kids because of her
career so she was the last of their bloodline, as far as she knew.

CHAPTER TWO
Six weeks later…
Eli Blackwood sat behind his desk, going over the report on Jake O’Connell.
They’d been friends for years and he couldn’t get his head around why
someone would want him dead. Moon Grove had its fair share of secrets
and its crazies too, but Jake wasn’t one of them. There had been a similar
death over the past two months and Eli wondered if they were related. Both
victims were male and each one had had their heads taken off. Well, ripped
off.
He’d heard Paige O’Connell was moving into her uncle’s place and
remembered her from kindergarten: red, wavy hair and rosy cheeks. She
had always been a happy little girl as far as he could remember. She’d been
taken away to live with her aunt after her parents disappeared.

The case was never solved, and Eli had recently pulled the files to see if there was anything the investigating officers had reported that had been missed by their sheriff. He knew there were certain aspects that had to remain undocumented but, nonetheless, the whole scenario was suspicious because there had been blood in the house. A lot of blood — and no bodies. And now that her uncle was dead in similar, suspicious circumstances, he deemed it necessary to dig deeper.
Eli wondered what Paige was like now. She’d be close to thirty, if his
calculations were correct. He was thirty two. Not the little girl tucked away
in his memory. He heaved his six foot four inch, solid frame out of his
office chair and gathered up the folders on his desk to take home. He
figured he’d find out what Paige was like soon enough as she’d be arriving
in town the day after tomorrow. Would she remember him? They were just
kids when they’d known each other, she around five years old and he
around seven. Did she remember what had taken her from the town? She
had lived a very different life all of these years, why had she decided to
come back after all this time?
It was late, and as Eli switched off the light in his office the station fell
into deep shadow. It didn’t bother him; he was comfortable in the dark.

***

When Eli arrived home he found one of his deputies sitting on the steps of
his front porch. He pulled his four wheel drive up to the garage, turned off
the engine and gave a heavy sigh. All he wanted to do right now was have a
bite to eat and fall into bed before another day began with its own set of
problems. What could Craig possibly want at this time of night? Eli glanced
at his watch. 11:26. He pulled the keys from the ignition, stepped out of the
vehicle, and walked up the path to the porch. “Craig.” He could hear the
tightness in his voice. There was a certain, unspoken animosity between
them and no matter how hard he tried to alleviate the tension, Craig
wouldn’t yield.
“Eli.” He fingered the neck of the empty beer bottle in his hand before
sitting it on the step with the other three and standing up.
“What brings you here so late?”
“Jake’s murder.”
“What about it?” He dug his hands into the pockets of his dark blue,
police issue anorak and sighed.
“I’ve been thinking about who would do that to him. Maybe he had a
secret just like the rest of the town.”
Eli frowned. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. Jake was a
good guy. He didn’t have secrets. Like the rest of us.”
“Come on, Chief, this town is full of secrets. Everyone here has
skeletons in their closets.”
“You need to go home and sleep it off, Craig.”
“I’m not drunk!” He stumbled on the step and Eli gripped his arms to
prevent his fall.
“Let me take you home,” Eli offered, wrapping an arm around his deputy
and leading him toward his car.
Craig pulled out of his grasp. “I don’t wanna go home. You have to listen
to me. I think someone thought Jake was…”
“Stop!” Eli grabbed him by his jacket front and pulled him close. “You
don’t want to go around saying the things you’re thinking. You need to keep
your mouth shut. It’s dangerous.”
“See.” The deputy swayed, stumbled backwards and landed on his butt
on the front lawn.
Eli grabbed his coat front and hauled him to his feet. “I’m taking you
home or I’m putting you in a cell. Up to you.”
Craig’s harsh gaze met his. “Put me in a cell. I’d be better off there. At
least I’d be safe from whoever’s killing everyone. You know there’ll be
more, right?”
“What are you talking about?” Eli frowned.
“Someone’s picking us off, Chief. And I don’t wanna be the next in
line.”

AUTHOR: Maggie Anderson

TITLE: Wolf Blood

GENRE: Paranormal/Dark Romance

RELEASE DATE: December 26, 2016

PUBLISHER: Bella Luna Books, Australia

ISBN/ASIN: ‎B01N9LNSBD

OUR RATING: ♥♥♥♥ 4 stars

REVIEWED BY: Robin G.

Guest Blogger/Reviewer Bio:

My pen name is Robin Goodfellow. I fell in love with reading after I picked up Fallen by Lauren Kate. I am currently a licensed substance abuse counselor and LPC-A (although I hope to be an LPC soon). I was also a former math and special education teacher. Although I tried going to medical school, it didn’t work out. On the bright side, I’ve got more time for reading and writing! Mental health is a personal passion of mine, as is crochet, and annoying my husband.

This book looks great! ♥ We’ll check it out…

Thanks for reading our latest book review on ILRB! ♥ Have a great rest of your week, everyone!

Originally published at http://iloveromanceblog.wordpress.com on May 28, 2024.