Merryn Dexter delivers a knockout with A Mate’s Redeeming Touch, her second novella for the Black Hills Wolves series! Her debut novella, A Mate’s Healing Touch, was a 5 Star read for me. It encompassed everything a great novella should be; tightly written, well-developed characters all wrapped up in a satisfying short story from start to finish. The chemistry between her characters emanates from the pages in sizzling scenes that solidify the mate bond they are fated for. If I remember correctly, I said: Merryn Dexter has made a significant splash into the author pool. Suffice it to say, this time, Ms. Dexter has done a cannonball of a splash!

After getting a glimpse of Caitlyn Burrows in A Mate’s Healing Touch, I knew hers was the next story I wanted to read. Ten years ago, a brutal attack by the pack’s former Alpha left Caitlyn terrified of men. She sticks close to family and keeps to herself. She wants desperately to fulfill her role as Omega but is paralyzed with consuming guilt that she let her family down by falling victim to Magnum. For ten long years, she’s believed she is the chink in her family’s armor. Marjorie Burrows, on the other hand, thinks it high time her daughter let go of the past and find her mate. Mama wolves know best, even though the road she sends Caitlyn on is one challenge after another. It seems her true mate is one very hunky Native American with long dark hair, black eyes and a delicious scent. Unfortunately, even though he recognizes her as his mate, he wants nothing to do with Caitlyn. His very poor manners and nasty attitude should have sent her scrambling, but Caitlyn’s wolf has decided otherwise.

Ven Thorne suffered his own abuse at the hands of his no-good uncle. Ven learned early on that family, the ones you should be able to count on, are just as apt to let you down as everyone else. And that the only way to survive is to keep the bastards in life away by becoming the meanest one of them all. Ven has remained in his wolf form too long and is called out by the Enforcer of the pack to straighten up or else. His new job is to refurbish the gas station just outside of town and keep an eye out for possible trouble. The only trouble he sees is Caitlyn Burrows. When she shows up Ven’s wolf recognizes her as their mate and will stop at nothing to get her.

I loved seeing Caitlyn transform from the scared rabbit into the Omega wolf and take charge of her life. To say Ven has a sharp personality is putting it mildly. His bad attitude is the mother of all bad attitudes! He’s rude and dismissive to Caitlyn. When his wolf demands he claim her, Ven fights tooth and nail against it. His reasoning…he isn’t good enough for the sweet, beautiful, sexy Omega. And yet, he can’t stay away. Ven’s wolf criticizes him for being an asshat, demanding he calms and soothe their mate. And once he eases into the role he was destined to play, he finds he wants nothing more than to protect and care for his “little Red”.

Their road to bliss is riddled with potholes as Ven puts one paw forward for every two backward. Caitlyn decides to pull out all the stops, wearing sweet and sexy sundresses, reading hot romance novels in front of him, and letting him take whatever time he needs to come to his senses. Personally, I would have clobbered him over the head more than once.

Ms. Dexter’s writing is absolutely wonderful! Her way with words puts you smack dab in the story. The pace is fast, the sex is hot, and the story compelling.  Every emotion her characters experience is real and true to life in such a way they float off the page and sink into you as you read. A Mate’s Redeeming Touch is a stellar addition to the Black Hills Wolves series you won’t want to miss!

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“I said, what do you want?” Ven sounded furious as he took a step towards her and Caitlyn shrank back, dropping the cooler as she raised her hands as though trying to ward him off. The box tipped over, spilling its contents across the scruffy lot and the man swore again. He stepped around the mess of food and drinks, advancing rapidly and she caught his scent, amber and dark wood beneath a layer of fresh sweat. Her wolf, normally so quiet, surged forward and she realized in terror that she was practically toe-to-toe with her mate. And he was mean and angry.

Knowing what it was to suffer at the hands of a cruel man, she turned tail and ran as fast as she could. She plunged towards the relatively safety of the trees, kicking off her shoes and dragging her clothes free as she fled.

Her wolf was whining at her to stop, but she pushed on into the heavy brush. Pausing to shed her jeans, she crouched, letting the shift take her over but making sure she retained enough control to force the wolf to keep running. The wolf howled, desperate to turn back, to catch again the glorious scent of her mate and offer her throat in submission to his dominant presence.

A heavy crash behind had her doubling her efforts and her paws scrabbled over the soft ground, seeking purchase as she ran as though the hounds of hell were on her heels. She risked a glance over her shoulder and an involuntary yip of fright loosed from her throat. An enormous gray wolf was gaining on her with every stride, the snarl on his face more terrifying than the scowl he’d worn in his human form.

She put on another burst of speed, her wolf suddenly in accordance that escape rather than submission was the best idea. Dodging around a massive pine tree, trunk broader than her back, she pulled up short at the remains of another fallen trunk that suddenly blocked her path. A snarl set her in motion again and her claws scratched at the bark as she desperately tried to clamber over the downed tree. The wood was soft, rotten in places and her front legs slid from under her as a huge set of jaws clamped around the thick fur at the back of her neck.

Black Hills Wolves Series

♥ 1. Wolf’s Return – by Rebecca Royce – Drew & Betty ♥ 2. What a Wolf Wants – by Heather Long – Ryker & Saja(h) ♥ 3. Black Hills Desperado – by D.L. Jackson – Xio & Marcus ♥ 4. Wolf’s Song by Taryn Kincaid – Brick & Summer ♥ 5. Claiming his Mate by M. Limoges – Jace & Michelle ♥ 6. When Hell Freezes by Rebecca Royce – Colt & Tasha ♥ 7. Portrait of a Lone Wolf – by Katalina Leon – Rio & Sela ♥ 8. Taming His Mate – by M. Limoges – Stephen & Kate ♥ 9. Alpha in Disguise – by Afton Locke – Lara & Ogden ♥ 10. A Wolf’s Promise – by Cara Carnes – Kinsey(h) & Drace ♥ 11. Reluctant Mate by Chandra Ryan – Aimee & Jackson ♥ 12. Diamond Moon by Celia Breslin – Ross & Darci ♥ 13. Tempting the Wolf by Lia Davis – Alanna & Bastian(h) ♥ 14. Your Wild Heart by Dena Garson – Isabelle & Wyatt ♥ 15. Wolf on a Leash by Virginia Nelson – Patch & Kennedy(h) ♥ 16. Seducing the Schoomarm by Mahalia Levey – Ravage & Adrie ♥ 17. Naming his Mate by M. Limoges – Mike & Damien ♥ 18. A Wolf Awakens by Cam Cassidy – Jaxon & Argeni ♥ 19. The Wolf and the Butterfly by Kerry Adrienne – Kimi & Nika ♥ 20. Infiltrating her Pack by Dominque Eastwick – Z & Ripley ♥ 21. Omega’s Heart by TL Reeve – Kole, Jasper(h) & Max ♥ 22. Rebel’s Claw by Afton Locke – Roark & Carrie(h) ♥ 23. Claiming the She-Wolf by Louisa Bacio – Yas & Tala ♥ 24. Dangerous by D.L. Jackson – Xan & Liv(coyote) ♥ 25. Uncaged by Katalina Leon – Mitchell & Christy ♥ 26. Worth Fighting For by Virginia Cavanaugh – Kaden & Myka ♥ 27. Under a Mating Moon by Celia Breslin – Jake & Lexi ♥ 28. Promiscuous Wolf by Mahalia Levey – Ford & Caress ♥ 29. Disquieted Souls by Deena Remiel – Greyson & Willow(h) ♥ 30. The Long Road Home by Chandra Ryan – Hank & Thom(h) ♥ 31. Wolf’s Holiday (Winter Solstice Run #1) by Rebecca Royce – Drew and B ♥ 32. Winter Magic (Winter Solstice Run #2) by TL Reeve ♥ 33. Winter Secrets (Winter Solstice Run #3) by Melissa Limoges ♥ 34. Winter Solstice Menage (Winter Solstice Run #4) by Louisa Bacio ♥ 35. A Wolf in Winter Clothing (Winter Solstice Run #5) – Roland & Claudia (h) ♥ 36. A Mate’s Healing Touch by Merryn Dexter – Caleb and Hannah ♥ 37. Scent of Murder by Cara Carnes ♥ 38. Scent of the Hunt by Cam Cassidy ♥ 39. Scent of His Woman by Rebecca Royce ♥ 40. Scent of Madness by Heather Long ♥ 41. Another Chance by Taryn Kincaid ♥ 42. Broken Silence by Jennifer Kacey ♥ 43. A Wolf’s Contract by TL Reeve ♥ 44. A Mate’s Redeeming Touch by Merryn Dexter