Wolf Gone Wild

Wolf Gone Wild was one of my favourite paranormal romance books of 2020, and introduced me to the wonderful writing of Juliette Cross. I was very fortunate to receive a full audiobook review copy of the book this last week and I was so excited to revisit all of these characters.

I will preface this review with the information that I do not listen to lots of audiobooks - it's not a format that works well for me. When I do listen to an audiobook, it's usually with the physical book (or ebook) with me, which is what I did for this re-read. (It was also just a great excuse for me to go through and add tabs to all my favourite parts of the book!)

Wolf Gone Wild is the first book in the Stay a Spell series, set in New Orleans. We start by following the Savoie sisters, witches who own local businesses in the city. Evie Savoie is a hex-breaker approached by werewolf, Mateo Cruz, who's inner wolf is trapped inside him. He believes he's been hexed, but doesn't know by who or why, and despite not normally doing business with the werewolves, Evie agrees to help him out, alongside her sisters.

There's so much to love about this book.

Evie and Mateo (and Alpha, who we'll talk about in a minute) are just such dynamic and fun characters. Their chemistry is off the charts, and narrators Johanna Fairview and Aiden Snow really bring them to life. There's an element of forced proximity to this story, when Mateo realises that Evie's presence helps calm his wolf, Alpha, who's been talking to him non-stop now that he's stuck inside.

Which brings me to Alpha, who is utterly delightful in his blunt, forthright way. Alpha is the devil on Mateo's shoulder, who's constant state fluctuations between fighting and sex, and his inner commentary is just delightful. Aiden Snow brings him to life in an incredible way. Listening to it brought me a ridiculous amount of joy.

While there is the central mystery to solve, regarding Mateo's mysterious hex, the true story is the development of the romance between Mateo and Evie. Brought together by the curse, they develop a friendship, which turns into a pop culture fest as Evie - a self-confessed Star Wars and comic book fan - sets about converting him to her ways. (I approve!) This equates to plenty of very sweet, sexy scenes between the two of them.

This book is as close to a paranormal romance rom-com as you can get and it's amazing.

Do yourself a favour and pick up this book/audiobook.

What an incredible audio performance! I LOVED the voice actors in this, Mateo/Alpha is perfection!

Mateo is a werewolf with a hex on him that makes him not able to shift into his wolf form. His inner wolf, Alpha, is taking up too much space in Mateo's head and pushing him to be aggressive and out of control.

He seeks out Evie a witch known for her hex breaking ability, but the only problem is witches have a rule about avoiding dangerous werewolves at all costs.

But Evie can't help the sympathy (and attraction) she feels for Mateo and ends up bending the rules to help him, sending them both into an epicly hot relationship and putting them in the middle of some dangerous and sinister magic.

This book was FANTASTIC. A new all time favorite for me and one I could see myself rereading over and over again.

The banter in this between Evie and Mateo is NEXT LEVEL spicy and humorous and I LOVED the way Juliette built up the sexual tension between them. This romance had me swooning I LOVED IT!

I loved the geeky references to comics and Star Wars and really thought the magic was well thought out and believable.

I was completely immersed in this story and I can't wait for the next!

Just reread this via audiobook. So excited for everyone to get their hands on this. This story really comes alive as an audio performance. It was funny, sexy, clever, and delightful. I love the world that the author has created and spending more time with the Savoie Sisters is always a great time. Witchiness, spells, familiars, and hex breaking is a vice I just LOVE.

So glad I read this again. Mateo and Evie just make me smile and I didn't stop smiling the whole time. I cannot wait to have the entire Stay a Spell series in my hands and in my ears.

If you love paranormal romance that is more contemporary with just a dash of magic, this is going to be a great mixture for you.

5/5 stars all over again.

*Thank you to the author and podium audio for an ARC of the audiobook*

I absolutely loved the narration.
Evie's voice was perfect.
And the transition between Mateo and Alpha was on point.
And since I've already read the book twice, I already love the story.

I read the book back in 2020 and loved it so much! This is a whole new experience that made it seem like I was enjoying this story for the first time. The characters, setting and feel of this story comes alive. I was already in love with Mateo/Alpha but getting an even more in-depth look into who they are cemented my love for this man and his wolf that I don’t see ever changing. If you’re like me and are a sucker for paranormal romances with strong female leads and a swoon-worthy love story get this audiobook. You won’t regret it!

*Thank you to the author and Podium Audio for providing the audio ARC for my honest review.

Stunning read! This author is just perfect. I had a smile plastered on my face from the get-go! Johanna Fairview and Aiden Snow did a phenomenal job as narrators. I was completely lost in the world created by Juliette Cross the entire time.

The Stay a Spell series is filled with creative characters with a sexy bite. Especially when it comes to Mateo Cruz. Fantastic storylines and a plot that had me guessing till the very end.

Wolf Gone Wild has this Venom vibe to it that sucker-punched me right in my comic-loving heart. Especially with the choice of narrator, Aiden Snow. I can't get his voice saying "Prepare for combat" and "I like" out of my head.

I loved it all!
~Tanja

Listening to the audio book for Wolf Gone Wild reminded me just how much I enjoyed reading this story the first time around!
The narrators were perfect for Evie & Mateo!
Johanna nailed Evie's internal dialogue and picking up on the slight nuances I missed when reading helped me connect with her character much better. Aiden narrating Mateo/Alpha was something else entirely. I have not laughed so much when reading/listening to a book in a long time. His take on Alpha honestly had me choking on my coffee. Mateo/Alpha added the perfect blend of humour, steam and protectiveness and Evie balanced everything out with her sweet attitude.
I also found I picked up on hints of what's to come for other characters in this series and I was reminded of just how mysterious the Grim and his connection to the sisters is.
This audio book is perfect for those who are new to the Stay a Spell Series as well as those that have already been introduced to the Savoie Sisters. I will warn you though, if you listen to this in public - you WILL laugh out loud and swoon over this steamy romance so proceed with caution.

What a great new direction for Juliette Cross’s latest series! I love the New Orleans setting and the newest cast of characters. Witches, werewolves, vampires and other paranormal creatures form the basis of the Stay a Spell series. The Savoie sisters are the head of the witches coven of New Orleans and Mateo Cruz, a werewolf with a problem that only Evie Savoie, known hex breaker, can help him with. Nerds and geeks be prepared to get your thrill on as this romantic comedy hits some fun high notes. Loved having the opportunity to heard the voices the author chose to represent Evie and Mateo/Alpha!

I just reread Wolf Gone Wild, via audiobook and I loved it just as much as the first time! It's such a fun read and I love all the characters we meet. Meeting them all make me so excited for the rest of the series!
The narrators play the roles of Evie and Matteo so well and it's really nice to have the different voices for their chapters. It also brought Alpha alive even more, making his witty banter with Matteo hilarious!
I absolutely love this book and series and can't wait to hear the audio for Don't Hex and Drive!

Aiden Snow and Johanna Fairview have brought Juliette Cross's characters to life!

I think I laughed even harder during this reread/listen of Mateo and Alpha antics and Evie's adorable comic book geek fan-girling. Aiden Snow did a phenomenal job of encapsulating Mateo's inner wolf, Alpha, and his primal personality. You can feel Mateo's exasperation in Aiden Snow's subtle inflections. Johanna Fairview's voice is so soothing as Evie. I could listen to her all day!

Wolf Gone Wild is one of my favorite paranormal romcoms - a refreshing take on the oftentimes dark and angsty romances usually set in New Orleans. The Savoie sisters rule over all of Nola supernatural, each sister with their own vibrant personalities and magical witch abilities. The one rule they have that Evie is about to break: NO WEREWOLVES! But she can't help but put her reputation and safety on the line when confronted with an artistic werewolf who is having trouble going furry each month.

Together they will have to discover who hexed Mateo and why!

With the book coming out over a year ago, I was beyond excited to listen to the audio. And wooowwwww, it was an elevated experience that EVERYONE needs to get on board with.

When I first read Wolf Gone Wild, it was an insta love with Evie, Mateo and of course, Alpha. And in the audio, we're getting three POVs essentially and Aiden Snow's voice is absolutely divine.

As I was listening, there were sooo many things that I forgot, that happened. And there's some things that I don't remember Mateo doing, so it was almost like reading this book for the first time all over again.

If you're looking for a witch and wolf pairing, with some nerdy vibes, protective sisters and a questionable chicken ... this audio is the one to get! And ahhhhh, all the steam, soo here for it.

I can't wait for the rest of the series and more from these narrators!

***5 Stars***

Narrators: Johanna Fairview & Aiden Snow
Listening Speed: 1.25x

I love audiobooks.
Especially when they are books I’ve already read and loved.

But.

As much as I love them, I’m very picky when it comes to the narrator, or narrators, because if my ear doesn’t like the cadence or tone of their voice and how it brings the other characters to life, well, it can ruin the story for me.

On the flip side, the right voice can elevate my enjoyment of the book and Johanna Fairview & Aiden Snow totally elevated Wolf Gone Wild for me. I’ve listened to Aiden Snow read before and already loved his voice, but what really got me was how he was able to keep Mateo and Alpha separate but connected all at the same time. I had many laugh out loud moments when it was just the two of them going at it. Johanna Fairview is a new to me narrator and I loved how she brought Evie and the joy she has for the things she is truly passionate about to life. And as for altering their voices when it came of the many unique characters that populate the Stay A Spell world, I thought they did a great job at giving each character a personality of their own.

I’m not going to re-review the story, the review for that is below, so no need to re-do it. As for listening speed. I did start off listening to this audiobook at 1x, which is not my normal listening speed nowadays, and while I liked the performance, it wasn’t hooking me. So I sped it up a bit to my norm and it clicked and I loved getting lost in the story and cannot wait to get my hands on the next audiobook in the series!

~ Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley & voluntarily reviewed ~

eBook Review

***4 Stars***

This was a great start to a new series! It has everything I love about this authors writing from the great world building to bringing to life unique characters I really want to get to know a whole lot better. It was a quick, smexy, a little quirky and fun read that kept me turning the pages until the very end.

Evie was a blast. This girl is sweet, sassy and quirky, but owns every bit of it. I loved her confidence and just how much she loved everything she did. Mateo is a sweetheart. I know, not the first word you’d associate with a werewolf, but he is. He’s charming, has a good heart and is simply a good man...and then there is his Wolf. He is definitely a unique character that brings that alpha AF protectiveness to the forefront, along with no edit button whatsoever.

Mateo and Evie’s journey to their HEA is all kinds of slow burn opposites attract goodness. I really enjoyed watching as they got to know each other and work really hard to deny their oh, so obvious attraction to each other. Their bantering was fun, the chemistry was hot and I loved how they accepted each other’s quirks and simply enjoyed who the other was. The angsty/drama between them is low, which I liked, and though there were a few bumps in their road, I loved how everything worked itself out in the end.

I’m a fan girl of the authors, have been for a while now, and I thoroughly enjoyed this lighter, more humorous side of her writing. The world is vibrant and really has me wanting to visit NOLA ~ and Louisiana in general ~ sooner rather than later ~ especially the Abita Brewery (I got real thirsty for one and had none on hand) and she has brought to life a whole slew of characters I NEED to get to know better. I don’t have an absolute favorite at the moment, but, crazy as it seems, the ones I’m most intrigued by are Clara and Violet ~ trust me when you meet them you’ll totally understand. So, bring on the rest of the series or as they say in the Big Easy laissez les bon temps rouler!

I LOVE the Sit A Spell series by Juliette Cross. So ,I was extra excited to receive an advance copy of the audio of Wolf Gone Wild, narrated by Aiden Snow and Johanna Fairview. These narrators are perfect for the roles of Mateo/Alpha and Evie and the rest of the Savoie sisters! I had a bit of a hard time following along with the dialogue between Mateo and his wolf, Alpha, when I read the book but Aiden Snow’s voice changes in the audio made all the difference. If you love a sweet and sexy paranormal romance with a dash of mystery and suspense, then you’ll love Wolf Gone Wild!

Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Bust out the hurricanes and the Sazeracs and get ready for the wild ride that is Wolf Gone Wild by Juliette Cross

There's witches and werewolves, comics, art, Star Wars, magic, hexes gone wrong, a zombie cat, a weird chicken, meddling sisters, a haunted house (🔥🔥) and so much more. SO.MUCH.MORE.

Cross has created this fun, magical, steamy world (all set in New Orleans) in her Stay A Spell series and I can't wait to read the other sisters' books!

But first, you need to check out the audiobook of Wolf Gone Wild that came out TODAY (5/18)!

If there's only one thing you take out of this review it should be that Aiden Snow's voice as werewolf Mateo/Alpha is très magnifique and just like a piping hot beignet from Cafe Du Monde will have your mouth watering for more. 🥵🔥

The audiobook rendition of this story is so perfect!! The voices and characters all work so well to bring the story to life. I thought I liked this book when I read it back in February but listening to it...oh wow. So much wow.

So Stay a Spell (🤣) and read/listen to this book! The ebook is currently on sale for $0.99! And you can find the audiobook on Audible!

Special thanks to Juliette Cross, Podium Audio and NetGalley for the ALC!

Wolf Gone Wild was one of my favorite books of 2019 and I was so ecstatic when I found out that there was going to be an audiobook version!⁠
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I am so glad I was able to get an early copy and listen to it because I am in love! 🥰 Wolf Gone Wild is read by Aiden Snow and Johanna Fairview and they are amazing together! I am not gonna lie - I LIVE for Aiden Snow's voice as Alpha! Also, I may be biased because Alpha is my favorite character!⁠ Swipe to hear Aiden's 🔥 voice!⁠
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Wolf Gone Wild is about Mateo, a werewolf who is unable to shift and needs a hex breaker to break the curse he is in. Enter Evie, a top-notch hex breaker, and sparks begin to fly because Mateo's wolf, Alpha WANTS Evie!⁠
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The most outstanding aspect of Wolf Gone Wild is Alpha's commentary! I love that he has no filter and basically is all ALPHA! I will miss hearing his inner thoughts! Didn't I say that I love Alpha? 😍⁠

The audiobook was perfect - the tone and pacing of both narrators were great! I prefer normal speed for listening and both narrators were perfect with that speed.
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If you love amazing unfiltered commentary, a sexy hot romance, a cinnamon bun artist-hero, and a strong heroine, Wolf Gone Wild is the book for you!⁠
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This is one of the best audiobooks I’ve listened to! Not only is Aiden Snow the perfect voice for Mateo, but his voice is hot enough to melt kindles and ear buds everywhere. And Johanna Fairview did fabulously with Evie.

I read this book over a year ago and loved it A LOT. It was one of my top reads of 2020. So imagine my squeals of excitement and delight when I heard there would be an audiobook! And then add Aiden Snow on top of that news? YES. PLEASE. NOW.

From the first chapter, I was easily pulled into the fun and sweet and sexy story full of beautiful witches and growly, alpha wolves. As I said before, I loved the book. But this time, listening to the story read to me by a voice so smooth and sultry was even more magical and way more delicious.

Do you love paranormal romance?
Do you love audiobooks?
You need this in your life!!

This audiobook was great! Aiden Snow was a perfect Mateo/Alpha and Johanna Fairview was also great! The narrators brought the story to life and I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook version of this book. This wasn't my first time reading this book, I read the print when the book was originally published, but there was definitely something extra there when listening it. I think it why I love audiobooks so much!

I love this book more now than I did the first time. The narrators make this story come alive. I could not have chosen 2 narrators more perfect for these characters! Johanna Fairview did an amazing job as Evie and even when she had to speak for Mateo's side of the conversation it was great! Aiden Snow as Mateo / Alpha -> PERFECTION. His voice is so deep and growly. And the way he transformed his voice from Mateo to Alpha to make both personalities stand out was so good. They both did an amazing job! This audiobook releases May 18, 2021 - So preorder it now however you can, add it to your wishlist, this is one you are not going to want to miss! The audiobook for this novel takes it to the next level.

Thank you to the author for an advanced copy of this audio version of Wolf Gone Wild.

Listening to this book was an absolute delight. I had previously read the paperback version of this story, and I felt the readers captured the characters perfectly; all of Evie’s sassy, nerdy charm and Mateo’s grumbly alpha trapped in the most delicious cinnamon roll were on full display.

After finishing this audio, I am even more excited to get the THIRD book in this series; I could live in Juliette Cross’s pages forever.

I love, love, love this series from Juliette Cross, so I jumped at the opportunity to check out the audiobook for the first of the series!!! Evie and Mateo come bright into life through the Johanna Fairview and Aidan Snow!!! Evie isn't just feminine, she's quirky and goofy and a bit awkward, and Fairview was an excellent choice! She's so easy to listen to, clear, and full of personality without being distracting.

Likewise, Aidan Snow has a grumbly, deeper than deep voice that does Mateo and Alpha...too well....It's very distracting. Listening to his wolf-tough flirting awoke my own obnoxious "Alpha" in my head. Focus on the story, reader!

Just kidding, the flirting is the story, and the audiobook delivers just as amazingly as the print. Even at 3x speed it's toe curling, shiver inducing, and man, is it hot or is it just me goodness. I'm stoked to see how the choices for the next books turn out!

Thank you NetGalley and Juliette Cross for a copy for me to review! This series is such a treat!

I loved Wolf Gone Wild when I read it last year and listening to the audiobook was an equally enjoyable experience!

This paranormal romance set in New Orleans follows Mateo, a werewolf who is unable to shift, and Evie, a witch who specialises in breaking hexes. Sparks fly as they work together to solve Mateo’s problem.

Aiden Snow was the perfect narrator to read Mateo/Alpha and Johanna Fairview beautifully captured the playful sass of Evie. They both brought the story to life in a whole new way!
5/5🌟

“𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔𝒂𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒔”

Y’all, @juliettecrossauthor is the queen of writing fun filled paranormal romances! This book just gets better & better with each read! I was thoroughly impressed with the way Aiden Snow & Johanna Fairview brought to life Alpha/Mateo & Evie!

This book included so many of my favorite things “cue in Julie Andrew’s singing My Favorite Things” from all the Marvel/Wolverine mentions, to Evies absolute unwavering love for Star Wars, to the amount of amazing food that was described! I had to legit refrain myself from going out and buying a po’boy!
But my most favorite thing about this book & series is the love between the sisters. There’s just something about reading family banter that resonates with my soul.

Alpha, my sweet & loving Alpha has my entire heart! His witty remarks on everything Mateo did gave me life! I just pictured him as a wolf in a devils costume on top of Mateo’s shoulder whispering to him all the naughty things he should do! Haha!

Is there any better feeling than when a book lives up to every bit of hype? I'd heard incredible things about Wolf Gone Wild, the first book in Juliette Cross' Stay a Spell series, and I lept at the chance to listen to the audiobook. The story follows Mateo Cruz, a werewolf who thinks a curse is keeping him from shifting, and Evie Savoie, the witch who he believes can break it.

Evie is the kind of heroine I want to go grab a drink with. It was such a joy to read along as her confidence in herself and her abilities built throughout the book. And I adored her unabashed love of all things nerdy, and the way she shared her passions with Mateo.

Then there's Mateo and Alpha. I'm still new-ish to PNR, and wasn't sure how it would be to read a book where the hero has the voice of his wolf in his head. But honestly, Alpha stole the show for me! Mateo is a cinnamon roll at heart, while Alpha is bold, brash, and crass. Together they create the perfect balance, and Cross clearly had a lot of fun calling out and subverting typical alpha hero behaviors and thinking through this duo.

The audiobook was fantastic! Johanna Fairview did a wonderful job as Evie, and Aiden Snow absolutely hit it out of the park narrating Mateo and Alpha. He brought so much humor to Alpha's narration—I couldn't get enough of him and was laughing out loud constantly.

This was such a delightful romp, packed with an amazing cast of characters, hilarity, and steam. I can’t recommend the audio highly enough. I’m so excited to read book two.