I wish I could give this book so much more than five stars...

I have so much I want to say about this book that I hardly know where to start.
First off, let's talk about that cover. It's eye-catching and mysterious - I couldn't have resisted it if I tried.
Coyote Blues is so much more than just the story of Riley Dawson trying to make her way as a were-coyote. It is the story of family, of trust and faith and second chances. There are layers here that the blurb doesn't hint at. There are characters I loved, one I hated, characters my heart broke for, some I cheered for and a couple I wanted to high-five. And all of them are completely necessary to the tale. They all feel so real, I want to sit and invite them over for dinner. Well, not Jim.

As with Ms. Williams's other book, As The Crow Flies, I learned something new with this book, and I love it when fiction can teach me as well as entertain. I found myself noting entire passages in this novel, and then thinking about them when I wasn't reading. Like the passage on the Karpman Triangle. (And what an eye-opener to see my own family reflected there!)
I still cannot get this book out of my mind, and I think it is a great testament to any author's work if the reader thinks about a book long after they've finished reading it.

My life has been changed because I read this book, and I do not say that lightly or in jest. My life has literally been changed by Coyote Blues.
You have to read this.

Karen Williams has once again created a novel that has left me in awe of her writing skills. Sometimes we reviewers choose certain books simply because we know the author is an excellent writer. That is the main reason I wanted to read Coyote Blues, I figured I would enjoy this book simply because Ms. Williams is the author. In this case, I underestimated my reaction to the story. I not only enjoyed the novel, I LOVED it!

Ms. Williams is turning me into a lover of paranormal tales, at least the ones that she writes. I think this is because she makes the paranormal aspects of the story seem normal. She did the same with the paranormal traits in her book, As the Crow Flies. This is probably the reason I love her paranormal stories so much.
Coyote Blues is not only a paranormal shapeshifter story. It is also a second chance love story with characters that are so believable, I feel I should be able to go visit them and their friends. The main character Riley, is a shapeshifter, a clinical social worker and psychotherapist as well as a part time professor teaching a course in personality disorders. Since the author herself is a psychotherapist in real life, the therapist aspect of the story definitely rings true. I would love to be a student in either Riley Dawson’s or Karen Williams’ class. This leads me to the bad guy in the novel. Ms. Williams has used her real life knowledge in social and psychological abnormalities to create a character you are going to despise. I know I did. Unfortunately this character also is very realistic since there are people in real life just like him.

This novel has several themes; family, loyalty and secrets. I think the major theme of this tale is family. It demonstrates how sometimes we have to make our own families when we are faced with destructive or non-existent family dynamics.

I do want to give a trigger warning. Part of the family theme involves the physical and psychological spousal abuse of a character. For those of you who might have a problem with that, just be aware it is discussed in the story.

I totally loved this story. Both the novel and the author are in my favorites list. This book has my highest recommendation.

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

Holy psychology lesson! I wan't expecting for this book to go so in-depth in that aspect. It does make sense, since Riley is a psychologist and a professor part time, but the author really goes into long lectures about relationships and personalities so that I felt like I was in an actual college course. I learned a lot, but started to skip over some of those parts the further into the book I got. I wanted to get to the good stuff, which was Riley with Fiona Bell.

It was also a different take on the whole werewolf, or were-coyote in this regard, than I've read before. Riley's friend's reactions to her when she first changed was pretty hilarious, but for the most part she's pretty alone in her shapeshifting. There is no clan, or den, or whatever it would be called other than her and actual other coyotes. I found the loneliness intriguing.

Warning to readers, this book does contain physical assault in a relationship, so some people may be triggered.

Overall, a decent read.

4.25 Stars. I really enjoyed this one. Williams has me hooked. She is an excellent writer that always manages to impress me every time I pick up one of her stories. And every time I read one them, it just makes me want to read more. I’ve been slowly collecting Williams back library for a while now. I think I have all her stories so you will be seeing more reviews of Williams book's in the future. Her writing style really works for me and I can’t wait to read more by her.

As a huge paranormal fan, I love that this is Williams’ main subject to write in. What I have noticed, in her last few books, is she doesn’t just write paranormal, she writes paranormal books as if they could be true. As the Crow Flies and now Coyote Blues, both of these books are not so far out there. I know that sounds odd to say when I am talking about a werewolf book, but if werewolves and werecoyotes truly existed, I think they would be like in this book. While I love to be taken to different worlds and on grand adventures, it is very appealing that Williams brings a little bit of paranormal magic to the real world. And because some of her books feel realistic for a paranormal story, I believe this book (and As the Crow Flies) would appeal to people who are not giant paranormal fans. This is a second chance romance, mixed with some family drama, that just happens to have a werecoyote as a main character.

If you have read Williams before, you will know she is very intelligent. I have seen her speak on a webinar and you can tell she is a smarty-pants. There are certain subjects she is very learned in and she tends to put them in her books. So while this is a werewolf book, it is also cerebral at times. One of the mains is a professor of social work so there are some very interesting scenes that take place in the class room. I studied sociology in college so I knew some of what Williams was explaining, but some either I forgot over the years or was just new to me and so I enjoyed hearing about it. I love learning something while reading especially when it’s in an entertaining fiction book. Plus Williams always explains herself well and never talks down to us as readers which makes the little learning experience all the more enjoyable.

As I mentioned before, this is a second chance romance. That is what the heart of the book is about and finding family in the people you love. I liked the two mains as a possible couple. Both have been through it all and you had to wonder was there ever really a chance of them getting back together? Williams left me hanging for a while and I was quite pleased with the climax of the book. It was a little messy but I liked it that way. The story choices that Williams made all worked for me which makes me happy.

This was a really good book. It was sweet and cute at times but also harsh and a bit dark at times. It was a well-rounded, almost realistic paranormal book. Heck even the few flashbacks worked really well. I’m the kind of person who hates flashbacks but this is an example of how to do them right. I absolutely recommend this book to paranormal fans but also second chance romance fans too. Williams is a talented author and I can’t wait to read more by her.

A gripping paranormal, second chances thriller, this one had us in a thrall from word go.

Riley Dawson was a foundling. She was literally found on the Appalachian trail. Adopted by a rich couple, Riley is unusual in some ways but mostly an above average student and a 'good' child. The family has a holiday home in Lenox, Massachusetts, where they spend every summer. One summer, Riley meets Fiona Bell with large blue eyes and a zest for life, and the two girls become inseparable. As they grow into their teen years, they have a deeper attraction towards each other. With the fearlessness of teens and first love, they confess their feelings and consummate their love.

And then, disaster strikes Riley. Riley was born with a tail that was surgically removed. On the night of the most fantastic day she spent with Fiona, she transforms into a coyote. She is a werecoyote (like a werewolf).

Riley's parents witness the transformation and literally throw her out of their lives soon after. Her mother withdraws from her immediately and her father is more than happy to drop the scared teen off to a rented house in Northampton, Massachusetts where she is to atten Smith College, with instructions to not socialise with others lest her lycanthropic affliction becomes known and stricter instructions to never get in touch with them again. She is essentially cast out, though with financial support. (To their credit, the parents make Riley financially more than secure for life even when they've abandoned her).

Fast forward twenty years. Riley is a psychotherapist. She has a successful practice with Dr. Margaret Spencer (Peggy) who once her professor. Early in their acquaintanceship, Riley had confided in Peggy about her condition and found unconditional acceptance from Peggy and from Peggy's wife and brother-in-law.

The Spencer-Dawson practice has a couple of new clients, the Barrett family -- mother and daughter, with the father already in an anger management program. Peggy asks Riley to take the mother as a client.

When her newest client walks in, Riley is shell-shocked to see her Fiona who she'd never heard from since that fateful day twenty years back.

As the two reconnect, Fiona's grim reality surfaces and continuing meeting could put both their lives in danger. Plus, despite their undeniable connection, Riley's truth could well rend them apart immediately.

Riley and Fiona are lovely women individually and quite wonderful together. Both of them have not had easy lives but never come across as weak. For the author to pull this off, especially with Fiona is especially commendable because her challenges are not of the supernatural kind. She has made some questionable choices but given her background, they are justified. In fact, Fiona is psychologically and very, very well thought out and well defined character -- her behaviour typifying that of anyone in similar circumstances.

This book has all the edge-of-seat tension of Sleeping with the Enemy. The looming spectre of Fiona's abusive husband is nerve-wrackingly omnipresent which makes you root for the couple even more. The sheer horribleness of the man ensures that none of Fiona's actions actually feel like she's cheating him.

With so much drama of the circumstances going on, we're thankful that there was no unnecessary relationship-level emotional angst added. Both the ladies had reason to feel angsty about the way the other disappeared on them, but their confessions only speak of deep love rather than accusation or betrayal. It was particularly gladdening that their feelings for each other never changed and when they re-meet they confess their feelings with the same speed and fearlessness as in their teens.

While the paranormal aspect (and the incredible support group) was nice, the romance was particularly rewarding to read. We absolutely loved the Psychology 101 parts too.

As we mentioned at the start, this is a gripping, oh-so-good read.

PS: We have to mention some trigger warnings because they are important drivers in the book: domestic violence; emotional, psychological, verbal and physical abuse; mentions of homophobia and self-harm and reference to homophobic characters; animal cruelty.

But these triggers are perfectly balanced and offset by unconditional platonic love and support; romantic love that meets all our ideals and then some; great chemistry between all characters and particularly between Riley and Fiona; one adorable child and a bunch of adorable animals (including dogs, kittens and turtles); great supporting and tertiary characters; lots of love, sympathy and empathy for all creatures (including earthworms in one very, very sweet scene) and above all, the extreme satisfaction of the bad guy getting what was coming to him.