A Silver Wolf Christmas

Spear's 17th Heart of the Wolf paranormal (after SEAL Wolf Hunting) sticks close to a reliable formula. Having settled in as deputy sheriff of Silver Town, Colo., CJ Silver feels safe and comfortable enough to seek a mate. Laurel MacTire and her sisters are new in town, renovating the old hotel and uncovering the town's secrets. The MacTire sisters are investigating the disappearance of a relative, and soon they turn up a series of duplicities and convolutions among the living and the dead. Though most of Silver Town's inhabitants are werewolves, all suggestions of paranormal adventure are resolved through ordinary means, robbing many moments of their haunting appeal. Spear's characters are harmless and likable, though a trifle quick-tempered, but structural problems and too much focus on mundane details slow the pace to the point of tedium. The Christmastime conclusion is endearing but predictable. (Oct.)