Wicked Cowboy Wolf (Seven Range Shifters Book 3)

An unexpected second chance
This book contains so many of my favorite things, shifters, vampires, and cowboys, yum! The author really did a fantastic job of creating these characters and building their current situations around the back story that Maeve cannot remember the details of. I love that both of them have turned into protectors of the innocent. Their reconnection is a long rough ride, but we are talking about cowboys here, they always take the hard path to the HEA. The author was able to capture me within the pages of the book from the very first chapter and then I was unable to put it down until the very end. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and now I can’t wait to see what the author has in store for us next.

Wicked Cowboy Wolf is the third book in the Seven Range Shifters Series by Kait Ballenger. This is the first book I read by her. Although, I haven’t read the other two books in the series, there was enough information given so I didn’t feel lost.

I really liked the main characters especially Rogue. He has had a painful past, and I felt for him. I also felt Mae grew throughout the story. I thought the secondary characters were written very well. There is plenty of adventure, suspense, and twists in this book. I really enjoyed the Wicked Cowboy Wolf.

Seven Range Shifters #3, This one is my favorite of the three so far. I knew I would love Rogue and Maeve. I loved that they had history, even if Mae doesn’t know it at first. The romance between them definitely has some Beauty and the Beast like qualities. I think this can be read as a standalone but I would at least recommend reading book #2 even though certain events are mentioned and explained book two is where it happens so you get the full story, if I remember correctly.

Maeve is once again the target of the vampires, her blood was used to create a serum so that the vampires could drink from the shifter and now the vampires want her dead so an antidote can’t be made. Rogue’s plan is to hide her away safe from everyone while they track down the scientist who created the serum in the first place and have him make the antidote. Mae reluctantly agree for the safety of her pack. She doesn’t trust Rogue especially since she has an undeniable attraction to him. Rogue has always loved Mae, even before he became Rogue, not that Mae recognizes him anymore, and he plans to keep it that way until necessary. But the longer she’s on his ranch the more she worms her way into his heart and the hearts of his people.

Overall, I think this one was paced better than the previous books. I loved all the characters, I felt a connection for both Rogue and Maeve, loved the secondary characters especially the kids. I’m really getting into the series I can’t wait to find out what happens next.

You get the best of three things in this one. Luscious cowboy whom happens to be a shifter in a romance. But the bad things out there are not just a few snakes it also happens to be vampires also. It was good to get back into this world again with another episode as in this series. Jared and Maeve will fill us up in this one. He comes at the right time. So with the one battle going on battles of the heart will wage also. They are the best to watch and feel. This one has all the stops-action,humor,danger, steam with much more. I got so into this one I felt alittle lost when it was done.

Full of action and an anti-hero with nothing to lose, this enemies to lovers/second chance romance was a great read. This is the third book in this series (easily read as a standalone) and my favorite to date.

I am a huge fan of Maeve Gray. She’s tough and loyal, but also bound to a life that has been set out for her simply by the fact that she is the alpha’s sister…and inside she’s always wanted more. It was no surprise that when opportunity knocked on her door (well, broke into her home), she was ready to do what she had to for her pack, which also offered her a chance to experience some of the freedom that she has always desired. Rogue has always been considered an outlaw, but at his core he is honest and decent, something that Maeve quickly begins to see. These two together definitely had chemistry, which was no surprise since they also have a past. I did find myself getting aggravated with Rogue for not being truthful with Maeve, but after the life he has led, it wasn’t totally surprising that he didn’t feel he was worthy of redemption…or her love, so I did understand why he hesitated with the truth.

The supporting characters were great. You can feel the loyalty and bonds between all the lone wolves, and I loved how it was so clear that this group truly embodied what a pack should be – even if they are not seen that way by anyone on the outside. Maeve’s brother, on the other hand, is going to need quite a bit of redemption, so I look forward to seeing if/how that will happen, perhaps in another book? There were also appearances of other characters from the series, and it’s always nice to see a familiar face on the page, as well as the addition of some new ones that really helped this story and the overall story arc of the series along and hopefully be the subject of a future book…perhaps for Sophia?

There is plenty of action and at times the scenes can be a bit on the dark side, but there is also romance, a pet pot-bellied pig named Tucker, and some horses that tie that knot, which help add a lightness and additional emotional depth to the story. Things get a bit intense at the end, but the ending pulled things together nicely with a hard-worked for happily-ever-after. This one is definitely worth checking out.

WICKED COWBOY WOLF is the third instalment in Kait Ballenger’s contemporary, adult SEVEN RANGE SHIFTERS erotic, paranormal, romance series- a spin off from the author’s EXECUTION UNDERGROUND series. This is rogue Grey wolf leader Jared Black, and Maeve Gray’s story line. WICKED COWBOY WOLF can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

SOME BACKGROUND: Shifters have been targeted by a group of vampires in an effort to procure a ‘pure blood’ donor in their plans to develop an injectable serum that would allow vampires to feed from shifters, a feeding that would make the vampires ten times stronger. The vampires’ latest victim is Maeve Gray, a pure bred wolf princess whose blood can also be used to develop an antidote making Maeve Gray a threat to their own success.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Jared and Maeve) WICKED COWBOY WOLF follows the building but tempestuous relationship between rogue leader/ Grey Wolf Jared ‘Rogue’ Black, and Maeve Gray. Twenty years earlier Jared Black was banished from the Grey Wolves, taking the fall for a murder he did not commit. Fast forward to present day wherein, following the rescue of Grey Wolf princess Maeve Gray, Jared aka Rogue, takes Maeve to the rogue wolf compound in an effort to procure a cure for the vampire serum. But Maeve is unaware of Rogue’s true identity, an identity with links to the Grey Wolf past. What ensues is the building but acrimonious relationship between Maeve and Rogue, and the potential fall-out when the truth is revealed.

Jared ‘Rogue’ Black has never stopped loving our story line heroine but a past mired in secrets and lies, and the death of an alpha finds Jared Black a rogue wolf whose reputation as a fighter and killer is known to all. Maeve Gray keeps the memories of the wolf she once loved, close to her heart, but her attraction to Rogue brings with it the familiarity of years before.

The relationship between Rogue and Maeve is one of immediate attraction but Rogue believes he is not worthy of love especially from the woman that has always called to his heart. A twenty-year secret threatens any sense of peace between our leading couple but Maeve believes she has fallen in love with a man whose is scarred both inside and out. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including Maeve’s brother and the Grey Wolf Alpha Maverick Gray; Wes Calhoun (Cowboy Wolf Trouble #1), as well as a number of elite Grey Wolf warriors. We are introduced to Rogue’s team: Murtagh, Frenchie, Sterling and Boone; casino owner and rogue wolf Walker Solomon; and Sophia, a woman whose struggling under the control of Solomon.

WICKED COWBOY WOLF is a story of second chances; of secrets, lies, betrayal and loss; of enduring love and happily ever after. The character driven premise is action packed and engaging; the characters are colorful and energetic; the slow building romance is heart breaking and edgy.

Wicked Cowboy Wolf is a wonderful tale of lost love. Pack princess Maeve Gray may have escaped the pack’s bloodsucking enemies with some help from the outlaw wolf known only as the Rogue. Now he needs her for her blood to develop an antidote to the serum the bloodsuckers made from her blood; but he needs her for so much more. Mae is strong, smart and sassy with a heart as big as Texas. Watching her tame the Rogue will have you laughing and sighing. Though this is part of a series it can be read standalone.

WICKED COWBOY WOLF by Kait Ballenger is the third book in the Seven Range Shifters series. The novel takes place mainly in Montana and Idaho and the first chapter drew me into the story of Jared Black and Maeve Gray.

In this story the wolf shifters work as ranchers. Jared was cast out of his pack for a crime he did not commit. Now he is known as Rogue, a shifter known to be a criminal. Maeve wants to save her species from the vampires. The two enter into an uneasy alliance.

This book has plenty of action as well as some humor to offset some of the darker scenes. It also has several steamy and passionate scenes. The attraction between Rogue and Maeve was front and center throughout the book. However, there is also suspense, deception, adventure, battles and much more. The characters are compelling and someone you can root for. They felt real and three-dimensional with believable motivations. Additionally, they reacted to events in a plausible manner. The descriptions were vivid and gave a clear sense of time and place.

I thoroughly enjoyed this well-written novel and recommend this fast-paced book to those that enjoy paranormal romance with some suspense and adventure. I look forward to reading other books in this series.

Thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca and Kait Ballenger for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

This is a fantastic series!! I was so happy to see a new book had come out in this wonderful world.

My heart broke for Jared Black aka the Rouge. This man who thinks he’s this awful man is actually the best kind of man. He is protective and willing to stand up for those that can’t. He might go about things in a questionable way, but its usually for a good cause. He won’t allow woman and children to be hurt on his watch.

I liked the character of Maeve Gray though there were times she got on my nerves. An entire race is depending on her staying hidden until a solution is found but yet her stubborn streak won’t let her stand down. She causes more problems than helps in some situations. Her heart was in the right place, but sometimes she didn’t listen to reason.

I loved the Rouge and Maeve together. I loved their past, present and future. The lengths they are willing to go for each other was wonderful to read. Their sparing was hot and they just fit.

“The Rogue. The Dark Devil. The King of the Misfit Wolves. She’d heard the nicknames more than once.”

Wicked Cowboy Wolf is the third exciting installment in Kait Ballenger’s fabulous Seven Range Shifters series. It can be read as a stand alone if that is your preference. However, reading the series in order would increase your enjoyment. This series revolves around the seven shifter clans that call the Montana Mountains their home. I was drawn by Jared “The Rogue” Black’s and Maeve “Mae” Gray’s second-chance-at-love story from the beginning.

Jared is the mysterious, clandestine leader of the rogue shifters who has been mentioned before in the previous books. It’s a perfect time for his story as the last book ended with Maeve Gray being rescued from the vampires by him. While he is known and feared by many names, he’s actually a good man at heart – a miracle considering the horrendous hand he has been dealt in life.

Maeve is the beautiful, vegetarian princess of the Grey Wolves pack. Her brother, Maverick, is the pack’s alpha and her place is to support him without question. She is expected to marry well to benefit the pack even as she still mourns for Jared, her childhood friend. Her elusive dream is of living her own life and making her own choices. Dreams aside, of necessity, her focus is on eliciting the other clans’ support to save shifters from the vampires. In desperation, Maeve enters a dubious alliance with a dangerous criminal, the Rogue, to find the antidote to the lethal serum developed by the vamps.

Jared and Maeve were inseparable childhood besties. When Jared was just fifteen, he took the fall for a crime he didn’t commit to protect Maeve, sacrificing his life for her. Jared was cast out from his pack while Maeve was told that he died. In truth, Jared did not die though he was badly disfigured. His life reminded me of a famous quote: “That which does not kill us, makes us stronger.” He believes himself to be a villain and unworthy. He disavows being a hero as he protects the weak, gives hope to society’s misfits and doesn’t allow women and children to be hurt on his watch.

Believing Jared to be dead, Maeve never considers that The Rogue is he while Jared hides his true identity from her. I wanted to shake them both.

Supporting characters include Tucker, a teacup pig, and Bee – short for Beelzebub, Jared’s “gentle giant” mustang.

Following please find a few of my favorite lines from Wicked Cowboy Wolf.

“Nothing good ever comes from deals with a devil like me.”
—
“You’re playing with fire,” he warned.

“I’ve never been afraid of fire,” she whispered back.
—
“You don’t scare me,” she whispered.

“Pity,” he said. “I should.”
—
“Make no mistake, Princess. I’m no hero.”

I have been a fan of Kait’s since she shared a release, After Dark, with Gena Showalter. Kait’s contribution to the anthology was Shadow Hunter – a page-turner that introduced her fabulous Execution Underground series. Her Seven Range Shifters series is set in that same complex world populated with a variety of supernaturals. No worries. It’s not necessary to be familiar with that series to fully enjoy Wicked Cowboy Wolf.

Wicked Cowboy Wolf is a fast-paced, steamy adventure. It’s action-packed and peppered with horrible betrayals and dangerous battles. The characters are well-written and the ramifications from the tragic circumstances that split them asunder as teenagers will break your heart. All is not dark as there’s plenty of witty banter to provide comic relief. Wicked Cowboy Wolf is a wonderful addition to this series and I can’t wait to see where Kait takes us next.