Review – ‘Brindle’ by V. Vaughn

Blurb 

Katie Winslow made a life-altering decision the night of senior prom. But once she realized what she had become, Katie wanted nothing to do with her new state. Running off to college seemed like a good idea until mating season hit. Now the fever to reproduce is so great she can’t think straight. 

Brindle Lindholm has his true mate locked in forever. If only Katie would come to her senses and accept that they are meant to be together. Mating season has come, and he knows Katie has to be suffering in heat. Brindle is the only one who can satiate the need, and even though his heart will have to stand the rejection that is sure to follow, he knows he must go to her. When their coupling satisfies more than sexual need, it changes their future, forever. 

Review 

Katie and Brindle were high school sweethearts. He’s a werewolf and turned her into a wolf on prom night. Desperate to be normal again, she breaks up with him and runs away to college. During spring semester, it’s mating season and she’s in heat. Brindle shows up at her school to help her get through it but doesn’t expect her to accept him. She later reevaluates her choices and wants to rekindle their relationship. Problem is, he’s moved on to a new she-wolf and Katie is keeping a secret bound to hurt and anger Brindle to the extreme.

Though I think Katie stayed frazzled and stressed for too long, I understand why she ran away from the love of her life. She was scared and had no one to talk to, other than her mate who didn’t seem to understand why a human-turned-werewolf would be upset. C’mon, the girl’s 18/19 years old. Give her a break.

I didn’t much like Brindle. I did like that he gave her the time she needed to come to terms with what happened and who she is now, but he should’ve accepted her back into his life when she was finally ready. He still loved her and wanted her, but didn’t trust her. He slept with her but didn’t leave his girlfriend. This is totally unacceptable.

The time-period for this story takes place throughout the course of several months but the transitions from weeks to months confused me. In one chapter, Katie’s been home for her summer break for like three days and, in the next chapter, it’s fall time. There’s not much information about what happens off the page.

The whole story is very well-written and is told in Katie’s 1^st person POV. I wish I could’ve seen more of Brindle and got inside his head to know his thoughts and feelings. I might’ve liked him better if I understood him. I downloaded this novella as part of the Lindholm brothers boxed set (Winter Valley Wolves Vol. 1). I liked this story overall and I’m anxious to read the other novellas in the series.

4 Stars

Disclaimer – I downloaded this book for free on Instafreebie and volunteered to review it. I am not compensated in any way, shape or form for this honest review. I will not change or alter this review for any reason unless at my discretion.