Camp H.O.W.L.

Dreamspun Beyond, Book 7

By: Bru Baker

Narrated by: Dorian Bane

Moonmates exist, but getting together is going to be a beast....

When Adrian Rothschild skipped his "werewolf puberty", he assumed he was, somehow, human. But he was wrong, and he’s about to go through his Turn with a country between him and his Pack - scared, alone, and eight years late.

Dr. Tate Lewis’ werewolf supremacist father made his Turn miserable, and now Tate works for Camp H.O.W.L. to ease the transition for young werewolves. He isn’t expecting to offer guidance to a grown man - or find his moonmate in Adrian. Tate doesn’t even believe in the legendary bond; after all, his polygamist father claimed five. But it’s clear Adrian needs him, and if Tate can let his guard down, he might discover he needs Adrian, too.

A moonmate is a wolf’s missing piece, and Tate is missing a lot of pieces. But is Adrian up to the challenge?

©2017 Bru Baker (P)2018 Dreamspinner Press

Refreshing Entry into the Werewolf Genre

3.5

In this unique, slow burn fated-mates story, Tate, a packless werewolf who has isolated himself in his psychologist/counselor role at Camp H.O.W.L, is confronted by an unexpected and unwelcome bond to Adrian, whose loving upbringing and somewhat strained, but still deep ties with his pack are completely opposite to Tate’s experience. Unlike Tate, Adrian, while just as surprised and concerned about the complications a moonmate bond would create, is excited and open to being Tate’s mate.

However, he is often frustrated and overwhelmed by Tate’s continual hesitancy and the hormonal upheaval that being new to the Turn brings, especially having believed himself to be human for almost a decade and being long past the hormonal chaos of adolescence (or so he thought). As the month progresses and Adrian relearns control, Tate slowly opens up to Adrian and the bond, while learning how to separate the trauma of his past and his ideas about mating from the promise of a future with Adrian.

This was a likeable, well-written story with an interesting spin on several common themes in werewolf/shifter books and a solid cast of main and secondary characters. If you like a fated-mate story that does not follow the usual “hot, steamy sex now, ask questions waaaaay later” path with an emotional conflict that has a realistic pace for resolution, you’ll enjoy this book.

Love this series :narration really good

I really loved this story . I think the fact that it was a Dreamspun slowed it down and took some of the “bite” (pardon the pun!) out of it – made it a bit more mild than I would have liked it.

The physical chemistry/ tension between the MCs goes on for maybe a bit too long – but I think that is more the sub-genre than anything else. (Dreamspun)

I’m excited to see more from this world and loved this unique twist on shifter romance. I thought the world building was great and the romance wonderful in the end.

4.5 of 5 stars

Audio

Dorian Bane does growly really well! He’s well-suited to this story for all it’s shifter males and hoarse, emotion-choked dialog. I don’t love his non-dialog reading tempo/cadence – it’s a bit too sing songy at times – but it’s not too distracting and overall it’s an easy thing to forgive.

I think this is a great way to enjoy this wonderful story and I highly recommend it!

4.5 of 5 stars