I thought this story was decent. I enjoyed the dual pov and I’m a sucker for a fated mates troupe! I feel like plot had some gaps in it that made me always wonder how the story got to this point. The romance was very insta love and I wish we had more of a friendship built up instead of a 0 to 100 love story. It was entertaining enough to make you curious about the second story and find out more about the sister’s abilities. I found my self more intrigued by the mystery and magic plot than the love story.

I don’t usually read werewolf stuff (vampire girlie 4 eva) but I might be converted!

I read this book on the back of the authors other book “The Pumpkin Spice Café” as I utterly loved that. And I’m glad I did because this book did not disappoint!

What would you do if you knew someone was following you through the woods at night? You pine over them of course. Or at least, that’s what Ruby has been doing since she noticed him. She’s inexplicably drawn to him, and when she finally puts a name to the hulking figure, life is never the same. Danger lurks in the woods. Ruby is attacked by a wolf causing unsettling questions to be raised, and her sickly sister Lena might hold some answers.

Rafe can’t stay away from the girl with the ruby red lips. He can’t explain it; is it his wolfish instincts or is he duty bound? While on the hunt for some answers as to who attacked Ruby, Rafe can’t help his growing feelings for her. He fights them at every turn, haunted by the actions of his past, but can he fight them forever? Tensions raise between Rafe and his brothers, Lena’s ramblings become more bloody – why did he have to follow the girl through the woods?

Ruby and Rafe’s romance was equal parts sweet and spice. Their entire relationship while moving quickly (fated mates) it felt natural (which is always hard to do with fated mates!) The lead up to the spice was perfectly done – the sexual tension! It was clear the pair both have their own personal issues they have to sort through, which added a good depth to the characters, and gave good explanations for their actions and thought processes.

The story as a whole was intriguing and kept a good pace throughout. But I do think that some stuff felt rushed or brushed over, as well as seemingly dropped in and just accepted (think werewolf existence acceptance and Ruby’s suspected gift). And Rafe’s inner turmoil did get on my last nerve towards the end. Like, my boy, please. It was literally over a century ago. Please get some professional help!!! It didn’t stop me from enjoying the book, however.

I’d like to ask the author if she purposely set out to out me as a “big, bad, handsome stalker in the woods, please chase me through said woods and ravish me when you catch me” gal. I feel SEEN.

I am interested to see where the rest of this series goes!

Read this book if you want big, bad wolf-men, a sweet and spicey paranormal romance, and if you want Once Upon a Time Vibes.

Thank you to One More Chapter, Harper Collins UK, Netgalley, and Melissa for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I have waited for a long time to get stuck into a werewolf story and this sadly fell very flat for me. I wanted more from this book and the biggest issue I had with it was the fact it felt like I was reading a wattpad fanfic authored by a sixteen year old girl - not that there is anything wrong with that, it just wasn’t what I wanted to read.

I cared little for the characters and even less for the romance. The smut was fine and the dialogue was choppy. I also felt like the pacing was off throughout the book. One minute it was really ramped up and the next I was skimming pages.

Sadly this is not a paranormal romance I would recommend.

I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book pulled me in immediately. I wanted to know more about this world and would love a more in-depth description of many elements. HOwever, all in all I did enjoy myself.

This is heavy on The Little Red Riding Hood vibes. While the beginning of the book grabbed me and pulled me in, I was unfortunately left being let down. The rest of the book fell completely flat for me.

The slow burn was too slow. And while there were some “spicy” scenes, I wanted more heat.

However, while this book may not have been for me, I would recommend it to some of my friends!


Thank you One More Chapter for gifting me a copy of this book to review!

2.75 ⭐ (rounded up to 3)

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

While the summary of this book sounded great, it fell a little short for me. I love fated mates, some spice, and darker books but it wasn't executed in how I imagined it would be. The middle felt very long when not a lot happened. I get they are mates and are physically attracted to each other but not much happens to figure out what is coming for them. If the world building was better I think this would easily be a 4 to 5 star.

While I appreciate the opportunity to read this, unfortunately I will not be reviewing this title. It felt kind of flat to me and I couldn't really get into it. I also don't feel like the characters had much depth.

I really couldn't get in to this one. Unfortunately I did not finish it. It was too slow and did not capture my imagination.

(2,5✨)

This book was rather hard to read and difficult to finish. so a DNF for me.

The story had some promising aspects, but the execution wasnt to my liking. I tried several times, but didnt manage to read more then just a couple of sentences each time. I wanted to see what would happen if I read a bit more, maybe get some answers or that it would flow better.. but it did not for me. Eventually, I found out that I was reading for the smut to arrive asap so I could like the story more... But that isnt fair to me or the author I realised. I reached 28% of the book.

I did like the stalking part in the beginning, that showed some promising build up, but it was quickly over when they made a connection. This made the story take a turn and I guess it was all connected without much reason..
So every event or scene wasnt backed up with much... I wished for much more information or detailing for it to be intriguing. It was more a guessing game and I prefer my books to be just straight to the point so I can enjoy the book.

Also the dialog of Ruby and Rafe are so jumbled up in the chapters that I dont know who is saying what or when. This was time consuming. Also the jumps to the past; it would have been nice if it had a more strong indication when this would happen in the book. This also made me double, triple, reread so I know what I am reading. again, time consuming.

I know that with more attention to detail and some technical changes this will be a great book!

Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC! The plot really drew me in and I wasn’t disappointed. My expectations were a romantasy so I wasn’t disappointed by the lack of world building or explanations of the “magical” elements in the novel.. However, I enjoyed it so much that I wish we had more background and details.
The pacing for the characters relationship seemed a bit rushed to me once you realize their bond grew over 2 ish weeks. In my head a lot longer had passed and it made sense.
Really excited to read the rest of the series and get to read Theo & Knox’s stories
. (My heart tells me Lena and Knox?!)

Ruby works her butt off to help care for her ailing sister, and every night when she's taking the shortcut through the woods after her shift at the bar, she feels like she's being watched. Not one to take anything sitting down, Ruby calls out her stalker and ends up face to chest with the most beautiful man she's ever seen - the reclusive Rafe. The very next night Ruby is attacked by a wolf but saved by another. In place of an injured wolf in the morning, is a very naked, very human, Rafe. A forced proximity, fake dating situation happens when Ruby and her sister, Lena's, lives appear to be in danger.

I'm a sucker for a fairytale retelling and quite enjoyed this. There is basically no world building, you're just kind of told some things and expected to run with it. And to be honest, that doesn't make me mad. It was a quick and dirty read. Was it perfect? No. But I definitely enjoyed it for exactly what it was! Plus, the sexual tension at the beginning was top notch and the payoff (while slower burn) was worth it.

Ends of a cliffhanger, but not in terms of the romantic plot. This story will carry on with one of the other brother's (my guess is Theo) POV.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️

I was so excited for a Little Red Riding Hood retelling.
This was not it.

Ruby is a 24-yr old living in a town that shuns her because she's emo/goth. She reeks of #notlikeothergirls to the point of annoyance. She takes a shortcut home from work, through the woods, late at night even though she can feel someone's presence following her. Rafe, a werewolf, has been stalking Ruby through said woods but is unaware of what is about her that draws him to her. He is displaced from his pack, supposed to be hundreds of years old but radiates insecurity, ignorance and has the emotional processing of a teenager. Example: Rafe is a few hundred years old yet didn't realize Ruby is his Fated Mate until more than half-way through the book. Even though he makes reference to being unable to stay away from her, inexplicably drawn to her, can smell/sense her. It was just sort of dumbfounding. The two-dimensional feel of this couple makes it hard to identify with, or even care about them.

The pacing of this story was off; based on the cliffhanger ending, you know this series is going to follow different couples but that just made the end of Rafe and Ruby feel like it was rushed in order to tie it all up. I was interested in the story of Ruby and her sister, Lena, and what they were but that wasn't even fleshed out well and it just leaves you going back several pages to see if you missed something.

I thought about DNF'ing this so many times but kept up with it because, again, I wanted to find out what was going on with the sisters.

Thank you to NetGalley, Melissa McTernan, and publishers for an advanced copy of this book. My reviews and thoughts are my own.

⭐⭐⭐.5
🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book hooked me quite unexpectedly. I read the first few paragraphs and thought that it wasn't going to be for me, but something about it kept me engaged and I finished it within a few hours! A nice snappy read, with werewolves, mates, touch her and you die type brooding man and spice!
It wasn't the best writing in the world, but the short sentences kept me absorbed and waiting for what came next. The characters could have done with more fleshing out, but it was a shorter book and went straight into the grit of the story, which I'm not entirely opposed to.
All in all, I really enjoyed this and I'll be purchasing a paperback when it comes out, and I'll be keeping my eyes out for the next installment!

Little Hot Riding Hood! This steamy retelling of the fairytale is atmospheric, romantic and spicy! McTernan deftly sets up the first in this paranormal series, featuring a contemporary world with reclusive werewolves, where you root for protagonists Ruby and Rafe fast and hard.

Little red riding hood retelling...YES PLEASE! I did enjoy this book and but felt it lacked a little and could have been expanded more throughout the book. Rafe's background was very detailed and i very much loved that

This was a super quick read. I was invested from the first chapter. One of my favorite things is when a book can draw me in so quickly and keep me locked in.

This is a slow burn, which I have a love hate relationship with, mostly because I am impatient, and by the end I was craving more and more of Ruby and Rafe’s story. The pacing in this book was fast and exciting, I never felt like I was dragging my feet. Ruby is a very independent character who is solely focused on the well-being of her sister which is a constant theme throughout the book. And Rafe is a broody and a lot of times self-loathing wolf who is intent on being alone forever. They struggle to grasp their relationship and clash constantly.

I did not realize I was finished with the book until it was over and the large cliffhanger at the end really got me. I am desperate for more and to know what’s going to happen next. I never imagine enjoyed werewolf romance, but Melissa McTernan has opened up a whole new world for me and I am so excited to delve in deeper!

Thank you to Net Galley and
HarperCollinsUK for the digital advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

A Curse of Blood and Wolves
Melissa McTernan
Coming October 1st, 2023
☆☆☆

Fate doesn't make mistakes.

This is a re-imagined tale of Little Red Riding Hood.

It had a lot of potential, but it fell a little short for me. It's a slow burn, but the on again, off again drove me NUTS. I understand a little push and pull, but for me, that was too much. I liked Ruby as a character, and I would have adored Rafe if he wasn't so set on hating himself. He's supposed to have been around for many years. I get that he feels a lot of what he does because of his father, I just wish he had better developed from those thoughts and opinions being forced on him.
I'm definitely curious to know more about his brothers and to see how other creatures may be weaved into future books. I did overall get pulled into the story, and I would read more.

Thank you to Harpercollins for the opportunity to read and review this book. I'm always interested in werewolf/shifter novels!

#netgalleyarc #netgalleyreviewer #harpercollins #melissamcternan #October1st #readandreview #readeveryday

I love new interpretations of well known stories and the tale of Little Red Riding Hood has so much fricking potential. Sadly, it is wasted in this meandering retelling with uneven pacing and stock characters.
Ruby (get it?) is #notlikeothergirls - she may look like a goth but she also likes wildflowers and paints her toenails bright colors. She also walks through the woods every night even though she knows someone is stalking her. Which is not, despite the author's insistence, sexy.
Rafe, whose ex's name is Scarlet (get it?) has been stalking Ruby to "protect" her from others who uh, may be stalking her too. He's a werewolf, hundreds of years old, but still acts like a teenage boy, which is also not, despite the author's insistence, sexy.
I found the secondary characters more interesting than the two mains, although not enough to read the next book in this series. The prose is very, very simple, there is no mastery of the written word to be found here and definitely no originality when it comes to throwing popular tropes together in a cohesive, interesting manner.

An adult retelling of Little Red Riding hood. A dark and steamy romance definitely not what I was expecting it. Got my heart racing. A quick read and beautifully written. Full of magic, myths and legends and so much more. This was one retelling of a fairy tale I actually liked.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the Arc in return for an honest review.

ARC Review: A Curse of Blood and Wolves ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

“Fate doesn’t make mistakes”.

This book was amazing. A Red Riding Hood retelling for grown-ups, with all the best tropes:

🔥fake dating
🔥body guard
🔥fated mates
🔥seers, nymphs, WEREWOLVES

Ok, cons first: the beginning really felt like we were falling head first into the story, with Ruby and Rafe’s attraction being almost instantaneous. However, that also meant that we fell straight into the good stuff.

Ruby is 3D and well developed as a character, and you wind up wanting to know more and more about her. Rafe is *chefs kiss* the wolf you have always wanted to read about. His POVs were my favourite.

And the ENDING!!! Major cliffhanger, and I am desperate to read more (and see more of Theo, if you know you know).

Publish date is October 1st 📖