Fan service

Alex Lawson has been a fan of the TV show The Arcane Files--and its werewolf detective--since it debuted. She even started and moderated a website for the show. But when she finally had the chance to meet the show's star, Devin Ashwood, he broke her young heart. Now Devin has reappeared in Alex's life, seeking her help--he claims he has become a real werewolf. Though Alex initially believes it's just a publicity stunt, she agrees to help, for a price, as she needs the money to help take care of her dad. Then Devin actually shifts, and Alex begins to dig through the archives of The Arcane Files to find answers. His transformation means Devin has to stick around, and the more Alex gets to know him, the more her heart softens. Maybe he isn't the evil jerk who once wounded her; he could even be the werewolf of her dreams. VERDICT This quirky, humorous romance is well-written and plotted, and readers will quickly fall in love with its interesting characters. Fans of Olivia Dade's "Spoiler Alert" series will especially fall for this superfan homage from Danan (Do Your Worst).--Heather Miller Cover

When an actor who once played a werewolf starts to turn into one for real, he seeks out his former biggest fan for help. Devin Ashwood made a name for himself as the lead heartthrob onThe Arcane Files, a long-running supernatural detective show, but since it ended, the now 42-year-old has struggled to find his next gig. When he wakes up outside one day, naked and with no memory of the night before, and then a video of him howling and growing fangs and claws goes viral, the public thinks it's a pathetic PR ploy, but Devin knows it was real. His transformation appears to be mirroring the lore from his series, so when he discovers a thorough fan archive website, he figures the moderator is the closest thing to an expert he'll find and reaches out to her for help. As an outcast teenager in Florida, bisexual Alex Lawson became obsessed withThe Arcane Files and made lifelong friends through the fandom. She met Devin at a convention once, and though some mean remarks she overheard him make about her ("A freak like that? Poor thing's gonna die alone") made her think he was an asshole, they also spurred her to embrace being a weirdo. Now 34 and covered in tattoos and piercings, she still sticks out in her small town, where she works as a vet tech. She's reluctant to help Devin at first, but then they start to understand each other better than anyone else ever has…and their sexual desires continue to grow stronger. The paranormal elements in this story are fun, and Devin's wolfishness makes the spicy scenes extra delicious. These are flawed characters and the ways they become better because of their relationship is endearing, but it might take some time for readers to warm up to them. Several side plots make the story feel bloated, but they add to the characterization. Both playful and thoughtful, with extra appeal to readers involved in fandoms. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.