Midnight Wolf by Jennifer Ashley
Shifters Unbound, #11
Paranormal Romance
April 24, 2018
Berkley
Favorite Quote: “Goddess damn my brother. I know he’s in Summerland but I hope all the shifters there are kicking his sorry ass.”
Reviewed by Tori
Tamsin Calloway, an uncollared shifter, has flown under the radar for years. When she witnesses a brutal murder, she finds herself on the run from the shifter bureau and a relentless tracker.
Angus Murray enjoys two things in life, his job as a bouncer for a New Orleans shifter bar and his young cub. When the shifter bureau kidnaps his son to force him to track a rogue shifter, Angus unwilling agrees and the big bad wolf is on the hunt.
Tamsin will not go quietly into the night though and leads Angus is on a merry chase. Soon the chase becomes more as an unwanted attraction blooms between them…but Angus will do anything to get his son back. Even if it means giving up his mate.
Midnight Wolf is the eleventh book in Jennifer Ashley’s Shifter’s Unbound series. Continuing to expand upon the existing arc, fans may notice that the tone has changed a bit since White Tiger. New shifters with different loyalties and views are coming out of the woods along with some familiar faces who won’t and don’t play nicely with Dylan Morrissey, the self-proclaimed King of the Shifters. These can be read as standalone though I don’t recommend; you lose out on character and world comprehension along with the arc development by not starting from the beginning.
Ashley picks up a side plot and character that was introduced in Wild Things. Angus Murray lost everything (his mate, job, status…) when his radical brother’s plans were revealed and he was forced to help Kendrick (White Tiger) take him out. A grumpy tracker who bounces at the local shifter bar, Angus now keeps to himself while raising his son. His story bursts out the gate and firm pacing push it along as Ashley builds a romance on the fly while digging into the main conflict to expose the true motivations beneath it. Action, mayhem, and humor keep the reader engaged.
Tamsin Calloway is a new character whose mischievousness and love of life is a perfect match to Angus’ taciturn nature. Born free, she refused to turn herself in to be collared and stayed on the run until she fell in with Angus’ brother, Gavin. Realising Gavin was insane, she left but not before two agents for the shifter bureau were killed and she was blamed. She knows why the bureau wants her and it spells her death.
Ashley uses Angus and Tamsin’s adventure to introduce new allies and enemies; divulging deeper into the background of the fae and adding another layer to its already convoluted world. A sexy slow burning romancer spiked with laughter and antagonism offers Tamsin and Angus both a chance at redemption and forgiveness. I love how Tamsin teased and poked at Angus. Morrissey’s back and demanding as ever though Angus is no pushover. We meet a carnival owning bear and his lovely shifter wife. Ben plays a pivotal role in here as does Zander and Tiger. We learn more about the next civil war with the fae and the tricks they are using to bring shifters back under their rule.
A strong ending resolves the main conflict in an interesting fashion while leaving readers with plenty of questions of what’s to come. Though on the quieter side with a heavier focus on the romance then the arc, it was still an engaging read and perfect for paranormal romance fans who enjoy earthy heroes and heroines who more then deserve their happily ever after.
Grade: B
Recent Reviews
Vampire Book Club
Harlequin Junkie
Edgy Reviews
Goodreads I Author Website I Series List
I’ve enjoyed many of the books in this series. Thanks for your review, Tori.