Review: The Howling Heart

****Copy provided by author for an honest review.****

The Howling Heart by April Bostic

Genre: Paranormal Romance 
Edition Reviewed: eBook
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle
Goodreads: The Howling Heart

Paige Donovan is an ambitious college graduate who aspires to reach the top of the corporate ladder. She’s climbing fast when given the promotion of a lifetime at a prestigious fashion magazine in New York City. Her bright future comes to an unexpected halt after news of her father’s death. She inherits his old cabin in the Colorado Rockies, and just when she thinks her luck couldn’t get any worse, she has a car accident in the mountains and awakens in the small, remote community of Black River.

Soon, she’s engulfed in the mystical world of Varulv---wolves descended from 13th century Scandinavia and blessed by Norse gods with the ability to appear human. Paige is desperate to return home, but never expects to fall for her rescuer, Riley Gray, a charming young werewolf from England who offers her an alternate future with his pack.

Now, she must choose between the career she’s always wanted and the love she’s always dreamed.

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Review:

Even with the male lead crying and emotionally blackmailing the lead into staying with him I might have been OK. Because as the book progresses Riley, the male lead, does prove himself. The hopeless romantic in me really starts to believe his case of love at first sight. Despite some of the minor sexism and the . . . rushed pacing. Where each event feels like:
And then. And then. And then. And then. And more and then!

Paige and Riley have chemistry. It's hot! The world of the Varuvl—also known as werewolves—and the Norse mythology is a real treat, which I would have loved even further explored. Even though the book and plot felt as standard as it comes to the Paranormal Romance genre. I could have loved it. Truly. Despite all of my issues with crybaby Riley. God he's pathetic. Alpha material. No. Beta. Heck yeah. Even though I thought Paige and Riley could have been better as a role reversal. Riley makes a great cry baby fragile girl, but I kind of respect Bostic for making such a male lead.

This writing is underdeveloped.

The writing tells instead of shows. Even with barren writing like the Anita Blake series, you can feel the world being painted in your mind. Heck, even P.C. and Kristin Cast House of Night books have a way with words. (And we all know how childish I find the dialogue and sometimes the characters' thoughts.) At times the sentences in Howling Heart are choppy. Even scenes. Other times I'm left going, “Wait, what? How did that make it past editing?” It felt like a ton of writing clichés and “what would an author paste in hear” mash up.

Bostic hasn't found her writing rhythm or flow yet. Nor, her own personal writing style. When she does . . . I'm pretty sure her books are going to rock! There are a lot of good things present here. Just not enough. There are two things that kill books for me. Lack of decent writing. Check. Lack of character depth and realism. Bostic does a pretty good job of creating the characters here, and the two love interests definitely have chemistry. The writing just wasn't advanced enough to support it.

Sexual Content: Steamy! Standard PNR scenes.

  
1/5- I couldn't finish it or wish I hadn't

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Previous book(s) in series:
Reviewed on BW:	Amazon:	Goodreads:
The Howling Heart	The Howling Heart	The Howling Heart