Naomi Parker’s gut was telling her to hide or else become a dead woman, so hide she did. Her life may have been spared during the attack on her classroom by the Comancheros but now the guilt of what she has done is starting to settle in, leaving a foul taste in its wake. The despair Naomi feels for allowing her students to be terrorized and snatched from her protection drives her to devise a plan.

If she is to rescue the young women placed in her care, she’s going to need help so she decides to hire the services of one Charlie Wolf McCallister, a half-Kiowa savage who is far too used to getting his own way. He also doesn’t think twice about taking what he wants and Naomi can sense danger the moment she sets her sight on him. She may have thought she knew what she was doing but Naomi’s body is reacting to Charlie Wolf in ways she doesn’t yet understand. However if Naomi is to make amends for her past mistakes she needs to start putting those young girls’ lives before her own and stop thinking about the effect this intriguing man is having on her head and on her heart.

Wolf’s Tender is a vivid snapshot of the dangers and harsh existence of nineteenth century America. The detail and richness of the setting was superb. I could almost feel the dirt and grime under the intense conditions and the ever present backdrop of lingering trouble had me suitably on edge. At the start, I was thrown head first into a very detailed situation with strong characters that were slightly overwhelming. However the story soon settled into a well devised, interesting plot that kept my attention throughout its well paced unravelling.

The establishment of Charlie Wolf McCallister as a character was slightly awkward to begin with but I was eventually able to connect with his plight and see the reasoning behind his vicious exterior. I warmed to Naomi Parker immediately and was hooked by her determination to remain in control of a situation that quickly spiralled. Charlie Wolf and Miss Parker only seemed to become whole once in each other’s company and it was wonderful to see two strong, independent characters come to the realization that they need each other so powerfully. The primal need awakened by their actions was sweltering and very enjoyable to read.