DNF
I just couldn't get into this book. I tried and tried, but Jennifer Ashley totally missed the mark for me on this one.

I really like the Shifters Unbound series by Jennifer Ashley. Red Wolf follows two un-collared shifters from Kendrick’s pack, Dimitri and Jaycee. They were introduced in White Tiger. Jaycee thought she was in love with her alpha (Kendrick), but realized it was just being safe and loved in the pack she wanted. When Kendrick and his mate start mate bonding, Jaycee and Dimitri end up in bed together, too. They’ve been best friends as long as either of them can remember. Dimitri had a speech impediment and Jaycee is the only one who seems to always get him. During a tense situation Dimitri mate-claimed Jaycee, in the hope that he could tell her not to put herself in danger. That didn’t work. Still, the mate-claim stands until Jaycee either accepts it or rejects it. She wants to accept it because she loves Dimitri and wants him in her life, but she doesn’t want to be controlled by a male. Nor does she want to lose the easy friendship they have. For Dimitri, there’s never been anyone but Jacyee. He didn’t claim her on a whim, he’s wanted her all along. When they’re put on an undercover op, their mate-claim will really be tested and Jaycee will have to decide what’s really important.

This started out slow, with a lot of the focus on Jaycee’s internal feelings and exploring a borrowed house. It does eventually pick up and I really enjoyed the second half. The story-arc is continued from White Tiger, and we also saw threads from other books coming together here. Ashley has a wonderful, solid writing voice that really brings this world to life. Though the romance was slow and somewhat lacking, the overall story-arc and progression of things inside the world really worked for me. I love how she tugs so many threads at once. In this book we see how many of them are connected.

I didn’t much care for Jaycee’s internal struggle about the mate-claim. Her main hesitation was that she didn’t want to be controlled or under the thumb of another. That would make sense if Dimitri ever tried to control her. He didn’t want her in danger, of course, but that’s because he loved her. He never tried to stop her from doing her job and in fact often encouraged her. So her fears there were groundless and therefore didn’t hold sway with me. The outside conflict was much more interesting and kept me reading.

3.75 out of 5

Wasnt aware that this was part of a series when i took it to read, but i didnt feel as though i had missed out on much of the story as backstory was explained and the rest you could have a guess at.

I enjoyed Dimitri and Jaycee as a couple and would read others in the series.

Red Wolf (A Shifters Unbound Novel) is a great addition to this series. The characters and story line are well-developed. Jaycee and Dimitri team up with the Austin shifters to infiltrate a group of shifters who have radical ideas about female shifters. They are to investigate the disappearance of some shifters. This group appears to be working with the Fae. This is bad news for all shifters. This was such a joy to read. Each story in this series just gets better and better. If you have not read this series I urge you to start now. I recommend this book and series to everyone. I give RED WOLF 5/5 STARS.

Wonderful book!! It is a great addition to the storyline and world!!!

Favorite Quote: “When you live thousand of years, people who annoy you tend to die."

Red Wolf is the tenth book in Jennifer Ashley’s Shifter’s Unbound series. This paranormal romance series continues to deliver with strong characters, cutting humor, intricate plots lines, sexy romances, and engaging narrative. Ashley’s clear and concise voice allows for easy comprehension even as the world continues to evolve and grow. These can be read as standalones though I don’t recommend. You’ll lose out on character and world comprehension along with the arc development by not starting from the beginning of the series-Pride Mates. Various plotlines further add to the developing arc as Ashley begins to set the stage for the end.

Fans will remember Dimitri and Jaycee from White Tiger. Trackers and friends with Kendrick; an alpha white tiger and a Guardian. Jaycee crushed on Kendrick until she realized it was an attraction built out of respect and safety, not true love. Towards the end of White Tiger, Dimitri and Jaycee celebrate the rescue of their alpha and his mate claiming with some nookie of their own. :) Dimitri decides to embrace the mate bond though Jaycee doesn’t. She’s not sure she’s ready to mate with anyone, much less her best friend. When Dimitri is drugged at an underground fight club, Dylan and Kendrick approach and ask them to investigate rumors of shifters allying themselves with the fae. Dimitri and Jaycee head to New Orleans and work to integrate themselves into a secretive shifter cult while trying to survive a sentient antebellum home (Wild Things) who likes them. A lot.

Red Wolf picks up a plot thread that began in White Tiger and narrows its focus while strengthening it into the new main story arc. A steady pace pushes the story right along with Ashley splitting her attention between the romance and the conflict. It does start out slow, the emphasis heavy on the romance with bits and pieces of the conflict coming into play. It’s not until the halfway point do we see any real action and the conflict gains the upper hand. We finally learn what Dylan Morrissey’s been up to and how it plays into the next shifter/fae war that is coming. This entire series is built on shifters and the prejudices and bigotry they face from the humans since winning their freedom from their makers; the fae. However, the fae want their battle beasts back and our Using the shifters themselves, the fae are secretly luring them back to Tuil Narath through any means necessary.

While I liked the main conflict and the direction Ashley is taking, I did find the romance lacking. Dimitri and Jaycee just didn’t capture my interest. I found their characterization weak and predictable. Their evolution from friends to lovers is off scene so we don’t get to see the romance develop and that contributed heavily to my apathy towards them. While their chemistry was hot and I liked how easily they worked together not only as lovers but as friends, I found Jaycee’s excuses for not accepting the mate bond weak. It felt like a plot device to amp up the anticipation and sexual tension.

Ashley uses Dimitri and Jaycee’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. Lady Ashling looks to be quite the game changer and I can’t wait to see where Ashley chooses to use her…and in what fashion. I am still #teamBen and I think he deserves a mate or at least a friends with bennies. :) Angus Murray is quite the dark horse and luckily, his story is next.

The ending resolves the main conflict in a climactic fashion while leaving readers with plenty of questions and more than ready for book eleven, Midnight Wolf, tentative release date October 2018. Though this wasn’t my favorite of the series, it was still an engaging read and perfect for paranormal romance fans who enjoy earthy heroes and heroines who love, laugh, and fight with joyful abandonment.

Grade: C+

RED WOLF is the tenth full-length installment in Jennifer Ashley’s contemporary, adult SHIFTERS UNBOUND paranormal/fantasy romance series. This is Lupine shifter Dimitri Kashnikov, and leopard shifter Jaycee Bordeaux’s story line. RED WOLF can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty but for cohesion and backstory I recommend reading the series in order as RED WOLF continues the latest arc of the series focusing on the impending war with the Fae.

SOME BACKGROUND: Thousands of years in the past, the Fae created the shifters-a cross between beast and man-and in the ensuing time the Fae lost control and power over the battle creatures they had created for war. Approximately twenty years ago shifters were exposed to the human population. Out of fear, discrimination and specieism, the shifters were collared with Fae magic in the belief that it would control aggression; then they were forced into segregated communities known as Shiftertowns. There are several Shiftertowns located throughout America where shifters live in a relative but strained peace amongst their own kind.

Told from dual third person points of view (Dimitri and Jaycee) RED WOLF follows lupine shifter Dimitri Kashnikov, and leopard shifter Jaycee Boudreaux as they are tasked by their leader Kendrick to infiltrate a suspected shifter alliance between the shifters and the Fae. Dimitri and Jaycee are two of Kendrick’s best and loyal trackers and they have been assigned to ferret out the shifter behind a series of missing shifters and a cult-like organization. What ensues is the strengthening relationship between Dimitri and Jaycee, and the struggle to gain control when magical forces are put into play.

RED WOLF takes the reader into the land of the Fae where friends become foe, where enemies become the only chance for survival.

The relationship between Dimitri and Jaycee has already been established but Jaycee has yet to accept Dimitri’s mate claim, and struggles with the idea of a happily ever after. Throughout the story Dimitri and Jaycee’s bond strengthens; there is no question about their love for one another. The $ex scenes are intimate, and mostly implied, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language or text.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including several previous story line couples and leads, as well as a new group of shifters, fae and the return of the ever present goblin.

RED WOLF is a story with action, suspense, romance and magic. There are moments of betrayal and revenge; retaliation and battles; revelations, friendships, survival and love. The premise is engaging and electrifying; the characters are colorful, numerous and dynamic; the romance if passionate and fated. RED WOLF brings the shifters closer to war with the potential for an unexpected ally from the other side.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

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I'm a huge fan of Ashley's shifters. I just love them and look forward to reading when they come out, before even. I enjoy them that much.

Each book in the series keeps getting better and better. I think part of that reason is the fact that she writes such good characters, ones that you'd love to be around. Of course it's not only the characters that make her stories so good, it's the writing of course.

They are filled with laughter and tears.

Red Wolf is no different then the rest. There a some very funny moments in this story, but there are also ones that got to my heart.

I really loved both Dimitri & Jaycee. Right away Dimitri knows that Jaycee is his mate. She fights it a little but only because she doesn't believe he could care that much about her. Silly cat!

You are just going to love these two together and really enjoy their story.

Red Wolf moves the main thread of the story nicely and also brings us back to New Orleans where we've been in prior books. That was fun! Red Wolf will leave you both satisfied and wanting. You be happy that you've had Dimitri & Jaycee's story, but you'll want more! Not of their story of the series stories. Ashley might write really fast but sometimes it feels not fast enough.

Review & Giveaway: RED WOLF: A Shifters Unbound Novel by Jennifer Ashley http://wp.me/p3d0RZ-8DT
Publication Date: May 2, 2017
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Donna
Rated 5 Stars

I truly enjoyed this installment of the Shifters Unbound series. Jaycee was a strong, capable female without coming across as bitchy. Even her reluctance to accept the mate claim was handled well. (I tend to get frustrated at all the females refusing a relationship over and over.) I absolutely loved Dimitri. Sexy, strong and….with a stutter. That too was written so that it only added to his charm. They made such a charming pair, loyally covering each other’s back as things got weird. Sentient houses, fae and shifters all have a voice and I loved it.

*Review copy provided by Penguin in exchange for an honest review.

~*~*~*~

Kindle http://amzn.to/2lgMJ8A

This is one of those series where the books are either a hit or a miss. I absolutely loved the last book and I was excited to read about Dimitri and Jaycee. But unfortunately, their book was one that was a miss for me. It started out exciting, but I their story just couldn't capture my interest. I'm always disappointed when I can't get into a story, but I know every book is not for every person.

I do think that fans of the series will love RED WOLF because we finally get Dimitri and Jaycee's story.

***I voluntarily read a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings are my own***

Dimitri and Jaycee are wolves in Kendrick’s pack; they are very close to their leader and valuable assets. They have grown up together, free and uncollared, as friends since their adolescence and then into the shifter version of adulthood. Dimitri is a rare red wolf who was orphaned at a young age as was Jaycee, who is a leopard shifter. They have a strong bond and since Dimitri mate-claimed his feisty, headstrong leopard in a previous book, that bond will become even stronger if she accepts his claim. Both are skilled trackers; they are sent by their leader and Dylan, the retired but very active head from the Austin shiftertown, to check out a group in New Orleans that may be working with the High Fae who seem intent on building an army of shifters to fight their way back to control of the human world.

The Fae world and their connection to the shifters is greatly expanded in this book. We find out much more history about shifters, their control by the Fae as well as Fae politics, and what they are up to, both the High and Dark ones plus someone that even these arrogant, battling Fae fear and respect. This story is a good mix of Dimitri and Jaycee’s developing relationship interspersed with their undercover mission to find out who is friend or foe among the shifters.

As this book is the tenth in the Shifter Unbound series, I am pleased to say it is still going strong. I enjoyed the intermixing of previously featured characters besides Dylan such as Zander, and Tiger. The shifters are a wild and crazy bunch who love a good fight as well as their mates with every fiber of their being, and a good rowdy party where their animal natures can come out to play. Fans of the series should find this one quite enjoyable.

When an author writes a series that keeps going it's hard to keep it fresh whilst at the same time expanding the overall arc. Well Ms Ashley has cracked it here by giving us characters we know and yet at the same time pushing them into the unknown. Dimitri is a rare Red Wolf who has grown up uncollared within Kendrick's pack. His origins are unknown as his memories are hazy but one thing Dimitri has no doubt about are his feelings for Jaycee, the cutest leopard he's ever seen and also one who absolutely takes no bull from anyone! So he's mate claimed her but whilst he waits for Jaycee to decide the couple are tasked with infiltrating a group who seem set to cause trouble which could threaten the freedom of all shifters!
Oo what a conundrum the author poses for this pair! Best friends and now lovers but can Jaycee really give up her freedom ? There's obviously so much love and trust between them but that final step just might be a step too far. Still with their undercover assignment in the most quirky sentient house Dimitri and Jaycee have lots to keep them on their toes or is that claws? Getting involved with shifters who seem more than obsessed by the Goddess leads them to discover a link to the Fae. Only shifters have come a long way since they were Battle Beasts that served the Fae but what if there are some who still think the old ways are the best? Dimitri and Jaycee will face their worst enemy and also confront the past that Dimitri has forgotten .
I really enjoyed this and thought bringing the Fae into it really opened up this series for future possibilities . It's been fun learning about how the humans view them in previous books but obviously as they were originally servents of the Fae I've always been curious about just what has and indeed what could happen . Still this is a romance too so it would be remiss of me to ignore that . Dimitri is a sweetie and his love for Jaycee is palpable. Jaycee is so fiercely protective of him I was truly surprised that she wavered so long but their relationship is without doubt solid. Yes I got swept away by this book and love that it's ended in a way that means certain characters will return but for now it's a happy union for Dimitri and Jaycee which leaves this reader smiling
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and is my honest opinion

I LOVED THIS ONE. Honestly it's more of an anomaly when I don't love a Jennifer Ashley shifter book, but this one is fun.

Dmitri has a stutter, and is also pretty much the perfect guy. He's loved Jaycee forever, and has recently mate-claimed her. I don't usually like when a book picks up in the middle of a couple's relationship, but here it worked beautifully. I love that their romance is based on a long-standing friendship, that Jaycee hugely respects Dmitri, and that both of them struggle to accommodate the other, but are determined to figure out how to make their relationship work.

4 stars.

*I received a review copy from the publisher/author via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.*

Loved, Loved, Loved this book!!!

I love this couple, the story is engaging and well written. I was quickly wrapped in the characters and could not put it down to the very end. Lupine Shifter Dimitri hasn’t had it easy always defending himself against those who don’t see him worthy. Jaycee Bordeaux, a leopard Shifter she is Dimitri’s old friend and supporter. As individuals, they are amazing but together they are dynamic I can’t wait to read more.

Full review to come on my blog during release week.
I enjoyed the book. It was good, it just wasn't great. Lately this series seems to have ups and downs. Guardians mate was exceptional, as was White Tiger but Red Wolf didn't hit my expectations. I never really connected with the characters the way I have with past installments.
Jennifer Ashley is still a terrific author so despite my frustrations, it was still a good book but it isn't one I'd pick up again. 3.5 Stars

Full review to be published online in early May.

In RED WOLF, Dimitri and Jaycee have grown up together in the same Shifter group, the one run by Kendrick. They went through transition together, and have always been each other's best friend. Dimitri (a Red Wolf Shifter) has asked Jaycee to accept his mate claim; but she has been hesitant due to the changes it will bring to their easy friendship.

They are asked by Dylan to attempt to infiltrate a fringe Shifter group, one which may be involved in shady dealings that are a threat to all Shifters. Dimitri and Jaycee head off to New Orleans, where they are rather easily accepted into the group by their enigmatic leader Brice. It isn't long before they realize that the Shifter group is a cult, with Bruce as their all powerful leader. They also discover that Brice may have very close ties with the Shifters worst enemy, the Fae.

Interesting entry into the 'Shifters Unbound' series. A bit of different plotline for the books, while staying true to the world. It's good that this far into the series Ashley can still keep the stories fresh and entertaining

Loved the book -- can't believe I have to wait a year for the next book in the series.