When I first read the synopsis for Coyote Blues, I was immediately reminded of Wild by Meghan O’Brien and I loved that book so decided to give this one a go, as well.

This is my first book by Karen F. Williams but it will NOT be my last. I love everything supernatural and a second-chance romance is something we don’t see enough of.

Riley is a psychotherapist werecoyote—say that 5 times fast. She was separated from her teenage love, Fiona, after her first transformation. When Fiona walks into her practice, 20 years later, Riley is shocked. Both women have been through a lot in the last 2 decades, with Riley because a recluse because of her lycanthropy and Fiona is in an abusive relationship.

The characters very developed and believable and you couldn’t help rooting for them. The romance was SO real and so well done. I HIGHLY recommend this book!

I’ve been a big fan of Ms Williams books for the last few years. Her books tend to Urban Fanatasy or Paranormal Romance but there’s always a level of originality that brings her stories to the next level. Despite the paranormal elements, she weaves a story that is grounded in reality and there’s an air of believability in her characters and situations.

In Coyote Blues, we are introduced to Riley E Dawson, therapist and werecoyote. And what an introduction it is – a memorable opening that delivers on the promise of a really good read. As a teen, Riley’s sexual awakening coincided with her lycanthropic awakening – causing her horrified parents to flee their idyllic vacation home and seperating Riley from Fiona, her first love. Years later, once she is established as a therapist and adjunct professor, Riley’s practice takes on two new patients – a mother and her young child – who have been referred for counselling due to suspected domestic abuse.

I really loved Riley’s character and how skillfully Ms Williams blended in coyote attributes – most shifters are portrayed as alpha/aggressive, but Riley is more wiley and her past abandonment gives her an outsider feel that ups the pathos without overdoing the angst. It’s easy to sympathize with Riley but its even easier to like her.

The romance is a second chance and it works well as both characters are engaging and the chemistry that they had as young women hasn’t waned in the intervening years. It’s difficult to read about Fiona’s current situation, but Ms Williams handles it well and gives a realistic and understandable backstory as to how and why Fiona isn’t able to extricate herself and Edy and just how precarious things are in an abusive relationship.

The writing was spot on – from the fist page I was drawn in by the tone and cadence, there’s a wonderful underlay of humour that kept smile on my face. Despite there not being a phenomenal amount of action, things kept moving and I was completely hooked into learning more about Riley and Fiona. The final showdown scene worked particularly well – Riley is smart and the thought and planning in setting things up rather than barging in and having a direct confrontation was true to the Riley’s character.

The psychology presented in the book is quite fascinating and gave an extra dimension to Fiona’s situation as well as adding an extra layer of suspense/dread. I loved the lecture on the drama triangle (and wow … it was effective). It was really interesting and gave the story more depth.

Definitely Recommended

I found the book well written and very easy to read. It is a tender lovestory between two likeable woman. The daughter was a delight and the friends a great cast of characters.
I did find at times the author tended to launch into tutorials about a lot of subjects, which I found stopped the nice flow of the actual story.

This is the book that started my 20+ book review drought. I had a hard time determining what to write. And even after so much time has passed I am still struggling.

Riley is something not quite human. She had a rude awakening as a teenager that traumatized both her and her adoptive parents. She was sent off to college with a strong suggestion to not return home.

There is a time gap and we are re-introduced to Riley as an adult. She is a professor at a college and has a close friend, Dr. Margaret Spencer, who is her confident. She gave Riley a chance when she was younger and is also well aware of the more sinister side to her.

Riley is quite surprised when Fiona Bell comes back into her life unexpectedly. The childhood love that was lost because of her shape shifting ways. Riley will have to protect her from her abusive husband as well as from herself.

I did like this book. I love it when stories or comics or anything supernatural or undead are done in a way that make it seem realistic and believable. I can suspend my belief and think 'this could happen!' This book is written in exactly that way. I also visualized this as a movie. Particularly the way it alternates between her life and classroom lecture. Unfortunately, this was the one aspect of the book I didn't really enjoy. I felt like the classroom content was boring and info dump. I can see how it paralleled what was happening with Fiona's challenges but I really could not get into it.

So overall, I though this was realistic and entertaining. I just could have done without the classroom stuff. But don't let that discourage you. I've read other reviews where that was part of what made them enjoy this book so much. So read it for yourself and decide!

I recommend this to people who like to read about romance, shape shifting, family estrangement, chosen families, second chances, education, and turtles.

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I am including a disclaimer that I am 20+ book reviews behind. Unfortunately, that means quite some time has passed since reading. So this review is likely not as in depth as normally would be as it is not fresh on the brain.

This is not at all the type of book I usually read but I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed it quite a lot. As I told my teenage boys when they asked what I was reading yesterday, "It's a book about a social worker who's a were-coyote. Oh, and she's also a lesbian." They approved. :)

The book is well told and most of the characters are quite likeable. There's a sweetness to them all, and it reminds me of those worlds you meet in Hallmark shows or "cozy mysteries" where viewers/readers want to find a way to really live there. Riley is a therapist and professor who has had to live a very lonely life because of her secret -- that she changes into a coyote at times. Her adoptive parents have disowned her in horror and she never got over abruptly losing the love of her life after their short summer teenage fling. Just three friends know her secret and they are supportive and like family. I won't spoil the rest but there's an abusive villain, a love story, and a few more mysteries and surprises. Almost all of the good characters are LGBTQ and there are some sweet love stories past the main character's. There is also quite a lot of animal advocacy, which I appreciated, and interesting sidelines about social work, drama triangles, sociopaths, wildlife rehabilitation and other topics. It does get steamy in a few places or I'd recommend it to my kids. It was an interesting, well written story that was easy to get caught up in.

This feels as though it might be a set-up for a series, and I'd happily read the next installment.

I read a digital ARC of this book for review.

If you're looking for a lesbian read with real depth, one that goes beyond simple romance and HEA, then read this book! It's got it all, fantasy, romance and a good dose of psychology. There's nothing boring in here, I found myself being educated on religion, negative personality traits and domestic abuse while experiencing the strong emotions of the main characters. The writing is excellent. My only criticism would be that the psychological elements were too detailed.

Coyote Blues by Karen F. Williams

This is my second novel by Williams and I loved it nearly as much as the first (As the Crow Flies). Riley Dawson is a foundling adopted by wealthy parents. At their summer house she meets Fiona Bell who is the epitome of curiosity, joy and life in spite of her rigid, evangelical parents. Even though they only see each other once a year young love blossoms. Riley’s first transformation to werecoyote coincides with the day they first make love. Unfortunately her parents witness the transformation and everything in her life changes. The story picks up 20 years later where Riley has a thriving therapy practice and a lecturing job at the college.

The thing I’ve loved about both of Williams’ books is that she is a master at juxtaposing the paranormal with reality. In Riley’s teen years she expresses what could be legitimate feelings and reactions to discovering she’s a werecoyote. Her struggles are painfully human and heartbreaking. The pain caused by her parents is palpable. It becomes difficult to remember that this doesn’t really exist. Adult Riley is also an incredibly realistic portrayal.

The information on narcissists, sociopaths and psychopaths is very cleverly woven into the story so that it’s not didactic. It’s interesting and frightening but also creates an entires cast of characters with minor appearances or integral parts. Fiona’s reappearance creates so many ethical conflicts that I was enveloped in the tension of possible outcomes. I really enjoy books that make me think about situational ethics and make me question what I think are my core beliefs.

Although the paranormal genre is not everybody’s cup of tea, if you’re thinking of trying one this is a good entry point because of the over-arching reality. It’s also beautifully written with well-developed characters.

Book received from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

Wow. I had read (and loved) As The Crow Flies, so I was excited to read another book by Karen Williams. You can tell by her writing style that she is very intelligent and writes about things that some may consider "out there", but she always teaches you something too. Even if you think you don't like paranormal, give this book a try or you'll be missing out.

In exchange of an honest review that I received an ARC of « Coyote Blues » by Karen F. Williams from BSB (via NetGalley).
And so once again, I have been left to speak on a book. When I was chosen to review this book, something told me that it was gong to be great and it did not disappoint. Now this was the book that I was looking for, the trauma of the characters and who they are bounces right off the page, but it does not wallow in self-pity for long and it goes on to the stirrings of adulthood. It took me a while to get the hang of the time jumps back and forth but that was the only gripe along with two minor, minor things. Otherwise I would recommend Coyote Blues to another person who wants a deep dive, and not a sloppy one-two-three kind of book. Coyote Blues was a well-paced book and I could not put it down as I only hope that this book serves as an example to other writers names will not be mentioned, but if you read my other reviews for things you will know who I’m talking about.
Karen delivers on this rollercoaster of a book and it dives into lessons about the mind and the nature of religion, just as well I enjoyed the social triangle theme in the beginning as it reminded me when I went back to college. I mean it really was a great foreshadowing of what was to come, and that is was I call AAA writing in the making. I loved that Karen made well rounded the characters were as there was depth that is sorely lacking in the Paranormal Romance factor. I loved the chemistry between Fiona and Riley as it felt tangible and I wanted to shake Fiona more than once. Yet, I had to re-read this six times to make sure that I was in love with this book and well I was. Now the only thing that dock off some points are the abusive husband, only because that plot has been done one million times in lesbian-novels and I did not believe that issue reflected reality, but that might be my own bias talking because I live in very liberal state.
Now I do think there are some issues with the editing department and I really feel like Old Strokes lol needs to address that as your making authors look bad. I mean its not that hard to have Word read back to you, but I am not docking points from Karen for that as it is Bold Strokes mess up. Otherwise I loved this story for me as A Song of Ice and Fire and a All the Little Moments fan I enjoyed the heavy topics; heavy topics are what drives a book and it is what I like to see in my story as it gave the characters risks and deep dives into the mind especially with Riley controlling herself as Werecoyote. I only wished that there were an official F-You to Fiona and Riley’s parents, but I enjoyed the abrasiveness of the religion and how it tied into Riley and her situation as a Werecoyote. This book is a deep dive into the mind, and I love that the relationship between Riley and Fiona is not a one and two solution as all real-life-relationships are not like that, but still I got my happy ending. The sexual scenes are steamy, but I am glad it was not a freaking overload like an author that I know.
Riley and Fiona are the star-crossed lovers that missed each other, but they reconnected, and the ride was worth it. As a writer myself I got some respect for Karen F. Williams, as Coyote Blues gives me hope that lazy writing is not here to stay. The book was well thought out and I will be buying it on Amazon. For me it is a 4.50, if that is a possible score.

I loved this book with my whole heart. The way it was written and the way psychologie is used is just perfect.

Psychotherapist Riley Dawson was abandoned on the Appalachian trail as a newborn. A well-to-do young couple adopt her and life seems great, until her lycanthropic genes reassert themselves and she turns into a werecoyote. First love and sexual exploration with her best friend Fiona trigger the change, but having her parents witnesses the transformation leads to the end of her idyllic life. Abandoned for a second time, Riley becomes a therapist and carves out a life alone. Chosen family replace what she’s lost. When, twenty years later, Fiona Bell walks into her practice with huge problems of her own, Riley must find a way to help her. She also has to find a way to deal with her emotions - and stop Fiona finding out she’s a werecoyote. Can she help Fiona without putting her own future on the line?

I really like Riley. She was strong and capable, despite the enormous hurdles she had to overcome. Fiona was the love of her life, but circumstances and family kept them apart. They needed each other, but how on earth could they ever be a couple when the world seemed to be conspiring against them? The secondary characters were also well written. I especially liked Barbara. Her interventions were spot on and she made the other characters stop and think.

‘Coyote Blues’ is a story with many layers. Thwarted love, the fear of being found out, intense peril and ever-heightening tension . But there was also friendship, chosen family and hope. There was always hope. An excellently plotted story with twists that had me gasping. I really enjoyed this book.

I was given this ARC for review.

I wouldn't really call this a romance - the romantic storyline, although a big motivation for some of the events taking place in the novel, actually had very little airtime. Having said that, despite not being a paranormal fan, I was so drawn in by the author's fantastic storytelling that I finished the book in a couple of sittings. The university scenes were very interesting and I really enjoyed the discussions on social work and psychology. Every single character was perfectly developed and their inner worlds were so well written. I was right there in their minds, horrified at the thought of a poor turtle almost being boiled alive, devastated for Van Gogh the fox, and cheering when one of the characters met their fate in the end. The author is clearly very talented and has a unique tone of voice.

This book follows the story of Riley, a psychotherapist who is also a shapeshifter, and Fiona, Rileys's first love and what happens to their lives when they come into each others lives 20 years after Riley's first shift.

I was very excited for this book because I love stories of childhood lovers that come together again and because lately I have also been into shapeshifting stories. I enjoyed the beginning of the book where the story of Riley and Fiona gets stablished. I kept enjoying the book as you get to know the adult characters and everything they have gone through. I found both characters to be well developed, complex and likeable. However, I was expecting the shapeshifting to be a big part of Riley and Fiona's love story. I was a bit disappointed it wasn't. Also while I enjoyed the story I didn't enjoy reading from someone else's point of you besides the protagonists. Sure the supporting characters were nice but I really didn't care about them much.

Overall it was a great book.

I received this ARC via NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books in exchange for this review.

I absolutely loved this book! Riley was so well written and so realistic, that amazed me.
The story is about Riley who found out she was coyote. But not any coyote, a werecoyote. She was fifteen when the transformation happened, the same night she had her first sexual experience with someone, her best friend Fiona.
After that, her adoptive parents decided they couldn't continue raising her, so they make her live in another place and go to school, she had to learn to live alone and forget about her first and only love, Fiona.
Twenty years later, she's an adult with a career in psychology, and in one of the sessions, Fiona reappears in her life, but she's married with a man (who is an abusive) and a daughter.
I love the parts about the animals, Fiona's passion and her daughter's.
The romantic part is so on point, it's hard to find a book that could balance with the drama and the romance like Williams did. I recommend it 100%.
I received a copy for a honest review.

I did not want this book to end. If enough of the readers hope, maybe this will become a series or at least the author writes a sequel. This book will take you on a journey and you'll learn some things about yourself and others. The psychology of humans and animals are discussed at length. This is the story of love lost, family, overcoming fear, and acceptance.

It is a one sitting read and you will be wanting to read it again and again.

This is my first book by this author, and let me tell ya, I was pretty much blown away by the thought put into the characters of Fiona and Riley. Yes, there is a supernatural element in this, but it really feels more like a metaphor, even though Riley's ability to shift is an important part of the story. So it's weird, because while I would put this in the more paranormal light category, it still relies on that paranormal element to help tell the story. If anything, I would make a small complaint about is about Fiona's reaction to Riley's shifting. I think it was just done a little too fast, even with some of the set up being there. That did knock it down a star for me, but this was an otherwise fantastic read.

This was one of the most thoughtful reads about abuse, acceptance and empowerment I have read. I was not really sure what I was getting into with this one, but I am glad I read it. It is a little longer than your typical paranormal romance, but it does not leave any page to waste. Riley is a psychology professor and owns her one practice, and her lectures are often used as foreshadow. Riley is isolated because her parents couldn't handle her coyote shifting, while Fiona is essentially forced into an abusive relationship because of her sexuality. Also, Fiona's abusive husband is one of the most menacing abusers I have read about in lesfic. It is hard to write abusers, but Fiona's husband gets to feel like he is everywhere at once, Fiona's and Edy's fear of him is palpable. The resolution of that plot felt more vigilante than what could be believable, but I mean one of the characters is a werecoyote, so it works.

I don't want give too much away, but this is an excellent work about the people involved in this story. It just happens to have some supernatural elements in it. Riley is an likable, complicated lead, and Fiona is a capable co-lead and her struggles are just as important to the plot as Riley's are. The side characters are amazing. The plot is, for the most part tightly paced, with just a bit of a rushed ending. I loved this book, and look forward to checking out more from Williams' works.

I think I'll start by saying this book wasn't what I expected. I guess I thought the shapeshifter/werewolf part would be the big portion of this story. And yes, it played a part, it was not the BIG thing. It was also longer than I expected.

Coyote Blues had a lot of things happen. And got pretty dark, without giving too much away. The main characters, Riley and Fiona, were first loves who, due to circumstances beyond their control, were torn away from each other but reconnected 20 years later. But a lot can happen in the span of two decades and both had scars and baggage.

I struggled with some of the themes in this book. And I never really grew to like either Riley or Fiona, although their chemistry was palpable. My favorite character: Edy, Fiona's daughter. Frankly she made the story for me.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC ebook from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books in exchange for this review.

4.5 stars. I quite enjoyed this book. The content was well rounded and included several genres without feeling scattered or verbally cluttered. I am a sucker for long books, but this book could have been dozens of pages shorter if some of the excessive mental health diagnostic educational material was cut. Maybe my 17 years in the mental health field made me sensitive to it, but some of it felt repetitive. Otherwise, I really like the main characters, especially Riley and Edy. I love smart kids in lesfic. It reminds me of my own family. The secondary characters were all awesome with the exception of despicable parents and a heinous husband. Using those adjectives shows how the writing is good enough to make you feel strongly about a character. This is my first book by this author, but definitely not the last. I am happy to recommend this book. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Very intriguing. I couldn’t put this book down. The characters are captivating, the storyline keeps your interest and the writing is well done. If you’re looking for a book that grabs you from page one, look no further. Coyote Blues will capture your attention and keep you wanting more.

This is one of the few well rounded paranormal lesfics I've read, it had a little of everything; some angst and some fluff but also fairly realistic despite its supernatural elements. This is a second chance romance and while you can feel the chemistry and your rooting for them to get back together there were quite a few times I wondered if they would because of all the challenges and obstacles the characters individually had to face. Spoiler alert! They do find their way back to each other but it was done in a sort of unorthodox manner that provided an enjoyable climax.