Hard as Steele

Roxanne never expected her small-town life to collide with the supernatural, but after a head injury lands her in the remote community of Timber Valley, she finds herself face to face with a world she was never meant to discover. Steele Battle, wolf shifter and sheriff, is bound by duty to protect his pack's secret, even if that means holding captive the one woman who ever made him question everything. The third installment in the Timber Valley Pack series blends paranormal romance with the push-and-pull tension of a second-chance story, set against a hidden shifter community with its own laws and loyalties.

Maxine Mitchell brings warmth and comedic timing to Roxanne's self-deprecating inner voice, making her instantly relatable, while capturing Steele's gruff authority with restraint that lets his vulnerability surface naturally. At just over four hours, the runtime moves quickly, and the pacing suits the format well, keeping romantic tension taut without overstaying its welcome. Listeners who enjoy shifter romance will find Mitchell's performance elevates the story's emotional stakes considerably.