This collection of three short stories takes a look at a world where shifters have lived in Yellowstone for millennia, Native Americans (especially the shamans) know all about them and even occasionally communicate, but so-called “modern man” has no idea what is going on. Except for the three men who feature alongside three very special coyote shifters in the three stories contained in this book. Each one has a slightly different focus, but I loved all of them. The way the coyote shifters think and prioritize gives them a unique voice, and makes each of them really cute in coyote form, and very hot when taking their human shape.

Coyote Non Grata
The first story is about a vulcanologist of Comanche descent who wanted to make a living outside the reservation, and a coyote shifter who was kicked out of his pack for sniffing around the pack leader’s mate – laughable since he is gay. Neither of the men found a home with their original packs, yet both are happy to find a new family/pack in the other.

Jeff, while living a life of science, is very much aware of his heritage. When a wounded coyote comes to the cabin he uses as a base for his observations, he picks up on the fact pretty quickly. The way he manages to gain the shifter’s trust is hilarious. Rody is very skeptical in the beginning, not sure the human can be trusted. He has heard nothing but bad things about humans from his cruel pack leader, so he approaches Jeff with utmost caution.

The whirlwind affair that follows is overtaken by a surprise event which forms the basis of Jeff’s future with the coyotes, and indeed all the shifters of Yellowstone. And Rody, cute as can be, finally has not just a lover but the acceptance of his whole pack. If you like short stories about men who are made for each other, if you enjoy reading about shifters who are closer to animals in their thinking than their more “civilized” brethren in other paranormal worlds, and if you’re looking for a read that is as cute as it is hot, then you will probably like this short story.

Wild Thing
The second story has an entirely different slant than the first. Here, a man returns to his family homestead thinking he is sick and just needs some R&R, when actually he is suffering from quite a serious affliction. The coyote shifter who is rescued by Lee is ecstatic about his new pack mate, but has no idea what he’s really in for once they both realize what sickness Lee is suffering from.

Lee and Will are great together! Lee is finding out he isn’t only human, and has to deal with suddenly being part of a shifter world he never knew existed. Will has found a new pack mate, and I loved his attempts of explaining to the “poor human” what that actually means. His reaction to Lee’s shifting and the animal he turns into is so sweet, it made me smile. Neither of them will accept the barriers their animal forms seem to raise, and for once, being able to turn into humans becomes a life saver for both of them in terms of having a relationship.

If you like stories about men whose world turns upside down and they need to learn how to cope, if you enjoy a relationship that starts on a purely physical basis but quickly evolves into more, and if you’re looking for a fun read with a large ide of emotion, then you will probably like this short story.

Man vs. Wild
The third story set in Yellowstone focuses on a survival show star who loves the city life, but makes a living by surviving the wilderness in front of a camera, and a coyote shifter who leaves his pack because he is desperate to find out how to be a human, and what all these creatures get up to.

Foxxe fears that his career as a “survivalist” on TV may come to an end, at the very least he feels bored. Once he runs into Reno, everything changes and he finds himself far more attracted to life “in nature” than he ever would have thought possible. Little does he know that Reno can’t wait to go live in a city, but has no idea how to accomplish this. I loved Reno’s myriad questions about human habits, and his private thought about the futility of some of the things humans do, as well as their lack of ability to perceive the truly important things in life. Too cute!

If you like stories about men who find new joys in what they do for work, if you enjoy reading about shifters who are very animal-like in their thoughts and perceptions, giving you a new perspective on how we as humans see the world, and if you’re looking for a read that is as funny as it is hot, then you will probably like this short story.


NOTE: This book was provided by Changeling Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
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