Wolf Untamed

October 15, 2020
A Special Wolf Alpha Team werewolf discovers that his group's latest case is linked to the teenage werewolf he's taken under his wing--and the boy's attractive mom. Though werewolf Diego Martinez typically has his hands full with dangerous SWAT missions, newly turned werewolf Brandon becomes a pet project for the overprotective and somewhat domineering hostage negotiator. A bonus to helping Brandon learn about his new supernatural abilities is that Diego gets to spend time with Brandon's gorgeous mom, Bree, who had no clue werewolves even existed until now. However, the SWAT team's current case investigating a wave of violence perpetrated by victims of some kind of mind control appears to have connections to Bree and Brandon's family, jeopardizing their safety as well as the romance unfolding between Diego and Bree. It's a classic setup of whether to choose love over duty, though Diego's struggle between the two never materializes as a truly tough choice. As the 11th installment in the SWAT: Special Wolf Alpha Team series, this isn't a fair starting point for readers curious about the series or the setup, as questions about the origin and history of such an organization will frequently arise and be left unanswered. Dedicated fans of Tyler's books already know what they're getting into with this genre mashup of romantic suspense, military-inspired alpha wolf heroes, and action-oriented pacing. Those coming to the series as newcomers will have a more difficult time investing the energy in Bree and Diego's happily-ever-after. Much like a Michael Bay film, it's a lot of explosions and fanfare with missed opportunities for a satisfying and emotional romantic arc. Painfully one-note.

COPYRIGHT(2020) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

October 19, 2020
Tyler’s far-fetched 11th Special Wolf Alpha Team romance (after Wolf Rebel) grafts the soapy romance trope in which a single mother meets a good man who helps her evade her unhinged ex onto a gonzo suspense plot. Dallas SWAT negotiator Diego Martinez meets teenage Brandon Harlow, a recently turned beta werewolf, and his mother, Bree, an insurance investigator, while rescuing them from a man who has taken them hostage and who seems to be under some kind of mind control. Diego grows close with the Harlows, and his colleagues on his all-werewolf SWAT team encourage him to take Brandon under his wing as his alpha and to realize that Bree is his fated mate. But Bree’s aggressive ex-husband, Dave Cowell, recently released from prison after serving time for murder, doesn’t appreciate Diego’s presence in Bree and Brandon’s life. Bree and Diego come off as competent and levelheaded in both work and love, and the Harlows’ welcome into Diego’s community is conflict free, but as mind-controlled criminals continue to plague the city, collateral carnage piles up. The eventual resolution strains credulity—even in a world with werewolves. This overstuffed installment will please die-hard series fans, as long as they’re willing to suspend disbelief.