Review of A Handful of Wolf by Sofia Grey

Full disclosure: I received an ARC of this book for an honest review.  Also full disclosure: I’ve only read one other shifter book, but I know they are hugely popular and wanted to see what all the hubbub was about. So, this was me reading out of my comfort zone.

A Handful of Wolf– 4 1/2 Shooters. This book will certainly give you a book hangover.

For a full rating scale breakdown, see my Me Reviewing Books page.

Now, on with the review! 

A Handful of Wolf is a well-written ride that starts out smokin’ hot and then kicks into overdrive. Megan meets Sasha when the construction worker bets a buddy he can get a kiss from her. It doesn’t take long for him to realize this girl is different from the many before. Pretty soon he recognizes that difference—she’s his mate. I loved how Megan wasn’t Sasha’s usual type, but he fell ass over teakettle for her in a very brief time nonetheless.

The fact that their love affair takes place within just a few short days didn’t put me off as it might in some books. It was well-handled and seemed to me that they knew each other much longer. Megan is also a realist at the end and wants to spend more time together to see where it leads, not “This is it! We’re mates!” and I appreciated that (even though this is it and they are mates).

There was a little nod to Romeo and Juliet to add to the tension. Megan is the daughter of a prominent and well-off politician, while Sasha is slugging it on the wrong side of the tracks (don’t worry—turns out he’s got mad prospects and social consciousness to make up for his lack of affluence—Booyah!). Add in a jilted ex (Megan’s) and a tense meeting between two different shifter packs, throw in a rogue wolf and his evil minions hell-bent on breaking/enforcing the rules, and mysterious sympathetic pains between Sasha and his twin sister, and you have a recipe for a fast-paced read with pockets of scorching hot mate on mate boot-knocking.

I loved how Megan wondered if she would turn into a werewolf after being bit. Apparently she has also read more werewolf books than shifter books. 😉 The thought had crossed my mind as well (doh!). I was intrigued by the whole mating bond thing and found myself wondering what happens if a mated pair is separated for a long period of time. A slow and miserable death, I’ll wager! Please write one like that next, Sofia, only the lovers don’t die at the end, they get back together. Think of the angst! 🙂

Both Megan and Sasha were likable and realistic characters, each with their own faults and their own baggage, which made them three-dimensional and totally relatable. I was sympathetic toward both, and found myself rooting for their happily ever after the whole way through.

I thoroughly enjoyed Sofia Grey’s A Handful of Wolf and plan to read the rest of the series now that she has me hooked. The small spurts of information about Sasha’s Alpha had me curious to know what his story was. If anyone is like me and hasn’t already read the first book in the series, have no fear—this one stands alone just fine. Don’t hesitate to pick it up. And if you love wolf shifters, well this is definitely the book for you.

Excerpt:

Sasha stuck by Megan’s side while she tossed down shots with the girls, and as she tottered on unsteady heels toward the stage.

“Howlin’ Wolves are on next.” It took a moment before he realized she meant the live act. There were howling wolves all around, mixing easily with the very bohemian crowd. He felt like a hick. He’d never seen so many tattoos or piercings, and the way they knocked back their drinks made him feel distinctly uneasy. Shifters usually had a higher tolerance for alcohol than humans, but even these wolves were off their heads. How did Megan and her friends keep up? He clung to his half empty bottle of beer like a lifeline.

The band members were all wolves and played loud, fast rock music that ignited the audience. Before the opening chords finished, there was a surge toward the stage and Sasha automatically caught hold of Megan before she was knocked over. Lou and Nessa took position on the edge, but Megan wanted to be in the center, despite the jostling and pushing from the other dancers. He moved to stand behind her, arms circled around her waist and shielded her as best he could. She was in the perfect position for him to nuzzle her hair and he took advantage and buried his nose deep in the soft, brown waves. She snuggled closer to him and his cock sprang to life. She couldn’t miss the hard ridge pressing against her ass. When she ground against him with her pelvis, he groaned. This was torture of the sweetest kind.

Another rub against his hard-on, and he retaliated. He slipped both hands under the trailing edge of her top and found warm, silky bare skin. Velvet. With both palms against her flat stomach, he held her even closer and nuzzled the back of her neck. Her dancing faltered and she trembled. Christ, she felt good in his arms. It didn’t matter that they swayed together amidst a crush of sweaty dancers, she had his sole attention. Her throat was just a breath away. He kissed a slow path up the side of her neck, over the shell of her ear, and down again with a nip to her earlobe. The taste of her skin was like a drug. His blood heated and pulse surged, and he had to go back for a second taste. Her caramel scent intensified and exploded in a burst of sensation on his tongue. There had to be something in the smoky atmosphere that was melting his synapses. He wanted to bite her neck. The urge to mark her thrummed in his veins, pounding at his consciousness. His wolf urged him on, scratching at him, demanding that he claim her.

Whoa.

Claim her?

As in claiming a Mate?

He was drunk. He had to be. It was the only explanation.

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-Kimber