Hunter Easton is screwed. Fans, producers, and his agent are
all chomping at the bit for the next book in his wildly popular Wolf’s Landing
series, but he’s got epic writer’s block and is way behind deadline. Then he
reads The World Tree, a fanfic novel by his online friend “Lone Wolf.” It isn’t
just a great story—it’s exactly what the series needs.
Kevin Hussain is thrilled when “Wolf Hunter” wants to meet up after reading The World Tree. When Wolf Hunter turns out to be Hunter Easton himself, Kevin is starstruck. When Hunter tells him he wants to add The World Tree to Wolf’s Landing, Kevin is sure he’s being pranked. And when their online chemistry carries over—big time—into real life, Kevin is convinced it’s all too good to be true.
The problem is... it might be. The book deal, the sex, the money—everything is amazing. But fame isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and Kevin is left wondering if Hunter really loves him, or just loves his book.
Book 4
Buy Links
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ARe ~ B&N ~ iTunes ~ Kobo
Riptide Publishing
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Kevin Hussain is thrilled when “Wolf Hunter” wants to meet up after reading The World Tree. When Wolf Hunter turns out to be Hunter Easton himself, Kevin is starstruck. When Hunter tells him he wants to add The World Tree to Wolf’s Landing, Kevin is sure he’s being pranked. And when their online chemistry carries over—big time—into real life, Kevin is convinced it’s all too good to be true.
The problem is... it might be. The book deal, the sex, the money—everything is amazing. But fame isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and Kevin is left wondering if Hunter really loves him, or just loves his book.
Book 4
Buy Links
Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon Au ~ Amazon Ca
ARe ~ B&N ~ iTunes ~ Kobo
Riptide Publishing
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Erica – ☆☆☆
3.5 Stars.
Lone Wolf can be read as a standalone, or out of order of the Bluewater Bay series (I know from experience), but I do believe it best to read it within the series for emotional impact and the knowing of side characters.
Hunter Easton is the writer behind the wildly popular Wolf's Landing television show. But there is a problem – the man is blocked on how to continue on with the series, and his publisher is breathing down his neck. He's not supposed to read any of the fanfiction surrounding his universe, but he is drawn to Wolf Hunter's words...
Kevin is a fanfiction writer known as Wolf Hunter, who has had an online friendship with Lone Wolf (Hunter) for some time. Trust and friendship has Wolf Hunter sending a completed fanfiction manuscript to Lone Wolf... and that is how this couple collides.
I loved the fact that Hunter was a silver fox, struggling to continue on with his popular series. As a writer myself, the look into my craft, the stress and pressure to create, and the way Hunter's mind worked was as much a comfort to read as it was realistic.
Then there is Kevin, all he was missing was confidence in himself when it came to writing. He was a solid character, and they balanced each other out nicely. There was a good amount of tension, a feeling of friendship, once they met in person, along with a dose of hero-worship with Kevin meeting his idol.
The age difference – the silver fox and the young man just starting out – was beautifully written. The premise itself was more fantasy than reality. But since this is fiction, it was more than welcome as an escape from the realities of everyday life.
The reason I wasn't blown away was simply how the book seemed to stall, just sort of hung in stasis for about 50% of the book. At 30%, without drawing in unnecessary strife and drama, the book felt completed relationship-wise, like the couple was already 'there.' I was missing the tension from that point on, knowing the outcome while just waiting it out 'til the end.
In a nutshell, the book just felt too long – took longer to read than the page-count usually takes, without much happening on the pages. In all honesty, and I feel horrible stating this, the pacing was too slow for me, without enough angst and tension, leaving me feeling bored rather than engrossed.
With that being said, I enjoyed the writing, the characters, and how seamlessly the authors tucked their story into a series featuring a huge universe created by many authors. This was a good edition to the Bluewater Bay series, especially with such a pivotal character overall.
Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
Oooh wow! I loved this. This really should have been the book that started this series. Hunter Easton created the books that were made into the TV series that made the Bluewater Bay books possible. And this is Hunter’s story. The famous, reclusive writer, crippled by writer’s block, falls in love with Kevin, a fan who writes amazing fan fiction. Their online friendship and flirtation is sexy and sweet and the connection between the two men when they actually meet is wonderful.
I’m not usually a fan of stories with huge age gaps between the romantic leads, but the online relationship between Hunter and Kevin offers a shared passion that makes them feel like soulmates. There were a few moments where Hunter’s interest in Kevin’s writing feels slightly exploitative and mercenary, but most of the time theirs feels like a real and exciting collaboration.
Two collaborating writers writing about the pressures, struggles, and trials of two collaborating writers was always going to be fun and I loved the detailed insights into the world of professional writers. I loved Kevin’s observations of his writing groups and his reactions to the snobbery within his serious writing group. A famous writer falling in love with his own fan fiction poses all sorts of interesting questions, making Hunter and Kevin’s relationship even more complex.
This is fun and sweet and sexy and I absolutely loved these two men together. The action is understated and as is fitting for a pair of introverts, there is very little drama, some awkward half conversations, and some wonderful quiet moments of contentment and companionship that resonate deeply with my own introverted self.
Veronica – ☆☆☆
Kevin pretty much gets every fan's dream when his fan fiction is read by the author of the series he adores. Hunter has writer’s block in a bad way and when he reads Kevin's story he thinks it is perfect.
In Lone Wolf we get to see inside the life of an established author and an up and coming writer, sharing their struggles, uncertainty, and having to deal with fame. But we also see the joy and passion for their work and each other.
It took me five days to get just over half way through this book. There were so many words and so little happening. I only persevered because I love this series. The second half of the book moved at a pace more to my liking and I read the second half of the book in one morning. Kevin dealt with the issues of having his dreams start to come true. Overall this was a good story, but it was far too drawn out for my tastes.
Aleksandr Voinov
EPIC Award winner and Lambda Award finalist Aleksandr Voinov is an emigrant German author living near London, where he works as a financial editor. His genres range from science fiction and fantasy to thriller, historical, contemporary, thriller, and erotica. His books were/are published by Random House Germany, Samhain Publishing, Riptide Publishing, and others.
If he isn't writing, he studies hypnotherapy, explores historical sites, and meets other writers. He single-handedly sustains three London bookstores with his ever-changing research projects. His current interests include special forces operations during World War II, the history of chess, European magical traditions, and how to destroy the world and plunge it into a nuclear winter without having the benefit of nuclear weapons.
Connect with Aleksandr
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L.A. Witt
L.A. Witt is an abnormal M/M romance writer who has finally been released from the purgatorial corn maze of Omaha, Nebraska, and now spends her time on the southwestern coast of Spain. In between wondering how she didn't lose her mind in Omaha, she explores the country with her husband, several clairvoyant hamsters, and an ever-growing herd of rabid plot bunnies. She also has substantially more time on her hands these days, as she has recruited a small army of mercenaries to search South America for her nemesis, romance author Lauren Gallagher, but don't tell Lauren. And definitely don't tell Lori A. Witt or Ann Gallagher. Neither of those twits can keep their mouths shut...
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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Lone Wolf (Bluewater Bay #4) by Aleksandr Voinov & L.A. Witt to read and review.
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