ARC Review: Big Bad Wolf by Laurie Gilmore

Ruby Bellerose lives on the edge of the woods, in a cottage more akin to a fairy tale than modern day life. Her love life is basically non-existent, and she keeps away from the whispered gossip that travels through Maple Hollow.

Until a chance encounter with Rafe.

As mysterious as he is brooding, Ruby is drawn to the woodsman, curious to find out more about the stranger who lives deep within the woods.

But Rafe is hiding a secret. And with something lurking in the shadowy forest, will Ruby find that Rafe is her knight in shining armor or something altogether more dangerous...

I very much love Laurie Gilmore's Dream Harbor series and was both excited and not sure of this new one. Let me explain. Sometimes authors/publishers claim something is paranormal when it's really just paranormal lite. You have talk about different beings, but they don't show up in person. If that's your thing it's okay, but if you think you are getting a shifter you want a shifter. 

I'm happy to say this stands up to the paranormal title. I love the idea of a small town paranormal, and this delivers all that I wanted. I also loved the mention of the mayor of Dream Habor. 

For me the story starts a bit slow but that only lasted about a chapter. I think it was more me than the book. I was trying to figure out what was what and it took me a second. But once I got into the story, I really enjoyed it. 

I really enjoyed the characters and for me that's important in a small-town romance. May the characters but ones you love or hate you have to want to know more about them. That happens with Big Bad Wolf. I wanted to know all about them. They made themselves important to me. 

Rafe and Ruby are the perfect couple. I do think she tries harder to make the relationship work than he does but that has more to do with his upbring. He grew up horribly. Yes, Ruby's life had some very sad moments in it, but she was loved which we see from the town even when she can't see it for herself. 

I also enjoyed the secrets she learned as the book progressed. I'm keeping those to myself you'll learn soon enough. I will tell you that the story ends in a cliffhanger, but it's based on the storyline with I'm thinking will got through all three books. Rafe and Ruby get together in Big Bad Wolf, but the main storyline isn't over. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. 

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