The Heat (The Big Bad Wolf, #1)

The Heat  - Heather Killough-Walden Would you believe me if I told you I’m not exactly sure how many times I’ve read this book? The sad thing is that I’ve read it several times and this is the first time that I’ve reviewed it. Sure, I’ve rated it so people know that I liked it, but this is the first time that I’ve actually sat down and put into words why I liked it. For that I owe not only Heather Killough-Walden an apology, but also potential readers as well. Like I said, that’s what my Deja Vu Review posts are all about. I’m trying to rectify that lapse in reviews. The fact that I get to go back and read some of my favorites is just an added bonus. *sigh*The Heat is the first book in Heather Killough-Walden’s Big Bad Wolf Series and an introduction that got me hooked. As I read further into the series, I realized that even though I fell in love with the characters, it didn’t end up being my favorite. That happens to me a lot in series though so it’s no reflection on the book at all. It’s just the nature of the beast. First books lay a lot of ground work. Even though there isn’t a tremendous amount of that in The Heat, it’s still there.Readers need to know that this book is definitely not for everyone. The alpha males in this book are very ‘alpha’ and at times borderline abusive. If you’re not a reader who is used to that strong sense of ownership and protection that comes from a book centered around that mind set, you might as well not pick this one up. There is a lot of violence and abuse that happens in this story. It brings out the strength and determination in Lily and it shows readers exactly how strong the bond is between an alpha and his chosen mate. It’s raw, powerful and intense. If you can get past all that, it’s also funny, romantic and an easy, quick read. It’s a great introduction to the world that Heather has created.If you continue reading the series and following these alphas you’ll discover something else about Heather’s writing and story lines. She’s extremely good and making you change your mind about characters that you thought that you were supposed to hate. It doesn’t happen right away. There are still aspects of the character that you don’t quite trust, but eventually you unexpectedly find yourself changing your attitude. It really took me by surprise the first time it happened, but now I’ve come to expect it. The beauty of it is, you never know exactly where your loyalty is going to lie next. I think that’s what I like so much about this series and others that Heather has written. They are never predictable or cut and dry. I’m also sure that’s why I like to go back and re-read them. It helps me remember why I thought I should hate the characters in the first place.If you haven’t read The Big Bad Wolf Series and you like a hot, alpha male story line, you should check them out. There are 4 books in the series. The Heat, The Strip, The Spell and The Hunt.