Six long years ago, Jess Heichman had her entire life planned out. She had a good job, was in a steady Crew, and she was newly Promised to a high-ranking shifter who had made a deal with her. In return for her loyalty, he was to keep her safe from the curse that had plagued her family for generations. They had a plan, and then Kade did something unforgivable and was taken away, leaving Jess to pick up the pieces of his broken promise. Now that she is finally moving forward and ready to pledge her loyalty to another, the handsome villain himself shows up to wreck her heart again.

Kade is newly escaped from Cold Foot Prison and is settling into a brand-new Crew in Wreck’s Mountains, but he can’t quite get past the girl he left behind. When he finds out Jess is being Promised to an enemy, he knows she had one chance to escape that dead-end Crew and secure her freedom once and for all. Jess was supposed to build a life for herself while he was locked away, but she stayed stagnant in the same place he’d left her, and now her life is about to take a turn for the worse. If he can separate her from her Crew for just a few weeks and show her what life is like on the outside, perhaps she can realize her prison was even worse than Cold Foot. He’d made a promise to her once upon a time—to pair up with her and never fall in love. His intentions are good, but Jess isn’t the same as he remembers. Now, he can’t stay away from the beauty, and all he can think about is being with her.

The Heichman curse is calling, and Kade has no idea about the wild ride he is in for.

He’s breaking the rules, and the consequence is his demise unless Jess can figure out a way to save the man she’s falling for…even if it means saving him from herself.

Titles in the Wreck’s Mountains series (part of the Damon’s Mountains universe) include:  Cold Foot King ~ Cold Foot Komodo ~ Cold Foot Croc ~ Cold Foot Cash ~ Cold Foot Curse ~ Cold Foot Sentry ~ Cold Foot Revenge ~

This is an adult 18+ story that contains language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

Title:  Cold Foot Curse
Series:  Wreck’s Mountains #5
Author:  T. S. Joyce
Published:  May 24, 2025
My Rating:  4.5 stars

Cold Foot Curse is the fifth title in the Wreck’s Mountains series, a connection to the Damon’s Mountains Universe, and brings us Jess’s and Kade’s tumultuous relationship… and, at times, a heartbreaking one as well.

Kade and Jess were once Promised, until he was accused of murder and was sentenced to life at the infamous Cold Foot Prison.  At that time, theirs wasn’t a love match, but the loyalty between them was as strong as any mate bond could have been.  Kade believed that Jess was out in the world, no longer tied to their destructive crew… he couldn’t have been more wrong.

A story like Cold Foot Curse is the reason I return to T. S. Joyce’s incredible stories time and time again.  While there are moments of humor (mostly provided by Cash) and acceptance by the Cold Foot Crew, the majority of Kade’s and Jess’s story is full of hurt, promises denied, and people taken advantage of by evil alphas and family who should have done better, but didn’t.

Watching Jess emerge from the harm that’s been done to her, to start believing in possibilities once again, was such an emotional journey.  I loved watching her true self come to the forefront, and seeing the newly formed connections with Kade felt just right.  Theirs won’t be an easily rekindled romance, but a fight for something new, something worth fighting for, something worth risking everything for.  I loved every moment spent back in this world.  And the 1010 reference always gives me a smile.

If you enjoy getting lost in an emotional shifter romance story that’s well-written, with danger, confrontations, and touches of humor at just the right places, then you’re going to love Cold Foot Curse by T. S. Joyce.

I read this title through my Kindle Unlimited subscription.

If you love this author, then be sure to visit our T.S. Joyce page for other series you might have missed over time.

This title is available at Amazon (affiliate link)