“The chemistry between these characters is downright palpable.” –USA TODAY on The Wolf at the Door Solve the crime or fix the relationship–Cooper Dayton can’t seem to do both in this stunning and suspenseful follow-up to The Wolf at the Door by Charlie Adhara Going home digs up bad memories, so it’s something Bureau of Special Investigations agent Cooper Dayton tries to avoid. When he’s … Dayton tries to avoid. When he’s guilted into a visit, Cooper brings along Oliver Park, his hot new werewolf partner, in the hopes the trip will help clarify their status as a couple…or not.
When Park’s keen shifter nose uncovers a body in the yard and Cooper’s father is the prime suspect, Cooper knows they’re on their own. Familial involvement means no sanctioned investigation. They’ll need to go rogue and solve the mystery quietly or risk seeing Cooper’s dad put behind bars.
The case may be cold, but Park and Cooper’s relationship heats up as they work. And yet if Cooper can’t figure out what’s going on between them outside of the bedroom, he’ll lose someone he… Well, he can’t quite put into words how he feels about Park. He knows one thing for sure: he’s not ready to say goodbye, though with the real killer inching ever closer…he may not have a choice.
Big Bad Wolf
Book 1: The Wolf at the Door
Book 2: The Wolf at Bay
Book 3: Thrown to the Wolves
Book 4: Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
Book 5: Cry Wolf
more
I am so enjoying Oliver and Cooper’s romance and working relationship. There are so many hidden depths to both men’s personalities plus all the family drama. I am so glad that the author gave us some insight into Oliver’s origins. It was saddening but made me see some of his issues in his behavior. Cooper always was so eloquent about Oliver’s reactions.
The mystery was rather good. As always interagency squabbles ensued as well as toe stepping, all the sarcasm and underhanded tactics I could possibly want when Cooper’s family was threatened. Through it all Cooper and Oliver got closer and had some absolutely the sweetest moments as well as hottest but with underlying tenderness. Those two were just irresistible together.
I really liked how the author finished the book. It had enough feelings flying around to make me want to read more of Cooper and Oliver but not too sugary sweet to make it all unbelievable. Many family secrets revealed helped me to understand Cooper’s repressed emotional state and Oliver’s protectiveness as well as the power of Park name somewhat. I can’t wait to dig into next one.
I have the biggest grin at the moment. This series keeps getting better and better, more interesting and high-stakes and complex, more romantic and gut-wrenching and riveting. I’m hooked.
I loved Cooper so much here: he’s still quick to anger and assumptions, but he’s slowly getting better at communicating his feelings, growing. He’s also still heartbreakingly insecure and so tough on himself: I wanted to jump in the book and hug him many many times. This is what makes him such a relatable character though, and I saw myself in many of his insecurities and his attitude.
I also loved how much his and Park’s relationship has grown, and is developing still: I’m expecting so much from the next few books and I know I won’t be disappointed. Park is still a bit of a mystery, but we do get to know him a bit better here: I’m so very curious to see more of his wolf-ish side, especially after those last chapters.
The mystery at the heart of this second book was fantastic, a 25 year old murder that kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat the whole time.
I loved that we got to see Cooper’s family home and past, his relationship with his brother Dean (and his fiancé Sophie, both of whom I absolutely ADORED) and the troubled relationship with his Dad, who wasn’t the bad guy I was expecting, but someone much more complex and faceted, and I would be lying if I said some of his and Cooper’s scenes together didn’t hit me like a sucker punch.
I’m jumping into book three right away
The reviews weren’t kidding, this series does get better and better. Don’t get me wrong, The Wolf at the Door is excellent. One of my favorite first books of a series. But all the character development in this book is outstanding. The fact that I didn’t want to punch Cooper, most of the time, says it all. I truly can’t wait to dive in in the next one!
This book is set four months after the events in The Wolf at the Door. And right from the beginning is packed with action. There were still some misunderstandings between Oliver and Cooper, generally due to lack of communication. Though, those got sorted out pretty quickly. Like I said before, Cooper has grown a lot since the last book.
The mystery for me wasn’t that intriguing, comparing it with the previous book. It was good, but the story was more focused on Cooper, his past and how that affected his behavior in the present. And, accordingly, his relationship with Oliver. I’m hoping to see more about Oliver’s family in the future, we could only get a glimpse here.
A new mystery to solve. Secrets unveiled. Two men struggling to share their feelings. I already know this is going to be one of my all-time favorite series.
This series is sooo good. I cannot get enough of it. It has everything I love. This one we get a better looks at both Cooper and Park’s private lives. It is great to see this, as it gives you an idea of why each are the way they are. We also get to meet Cooper’s family and on top of it get to solve a murder/mystery. These books are also just a great balance of humor/mystery/romance and all the feels. Erik Bloomquist remains a favorite narrator, and I want to listen to all of his narrations. Cannot wait to see what Cooper & Olie get up to in the next one.
This book is not standalone. It is a continuation of The Wolf at the Door.
I enjoyed this series. Cooper is an FBI agent who survives a werewolf attack. He’s in a space of ‘What the fuck? Werewolves aren’t real but I know what I saw!’ and he is offered a new role in a new division which will explain everything….on the understanding that if he accepts the new role, his career in the FBI is over. He accepts, and is told that yes, werewolves are real, and he is now part of the Bureau of Special Investigations which investigates werewolf crime. Oh, and his new partner is a werewolf.
The first book in the series is set in neutral territory as Cooper and Park investigate a suspected serial murderer. I love it when I can’t predict who the killer is. The book kept me guessing.
This second book is set in Cooper’s hometown, and there were more whodunits, and some interesting action.
The humour across the series was brilliant. I loved Cooper’s snark.
If you enjoy paranormal romance, this series is great. A nice balance of action and emotion, and I thought the incorporation of the werewolves into the real world was realistic and well done.
ou know those nights where you aren’t quite tired enough to fall asleep so you decide to read a chapter before you nod off? Sometimes it works, and off into dreamland I go, riding on a happy cloud of fictional character tomfoolery to spice up my night’s rest. (Or, ya know, so I hope. Depends on the story. And the chapter. And the author. )
Other times… yeah, y’all know what I’m about to say. We’ve all been there. Those nights where that one chapter turns into two… which turns into three… then the next thing you know the morning birds are squawking their heads off and sunlight is piercing through your closely drawn curtains, attempting to burn your vampiric readerly eyeballs.
Yep, you guessed it, this week’s read was one of those. Carina Press’ The Wolf at Bay, by Charlie Adhara, sucked me in so hard I forgot to pee. Literally. I vaguely remember thinking somewhere around the middle my bladder was angry, but I didn’t pry my butt outta bed until I hit “The End” several hours later. Reading can be a cruel mistress, can it not?
Now, it must be said: I’m not the biggest fan of paranormal stories. A book in that genre has to be done really, really well or I get cringe-face while I read. That’s not to say I haven’t adored many a paranormal romance (PNR), but they tend to get a little less leeway from me. They gotta give it their all and maybe just a little bit more or I can’t claim fandom.
That being said… shall I remind you how this post began? Yep. The Wolf at Bay is a werewolf PNR that did its genre such exceptional justice, I stayed up all night without a single bathroom break. I, quite simply, devoured this bad boy.
I discovered, after doing a touch of investigation, this is book two in the series Big Bad Wolf. The whole reason I did research is because I had a feeling it was part of a series based on the way previous events were discussed as if I already knew about them. I feel like it does a decent job of acting as a standalone novel, with a satisfactory HEA, but I kept getting that twinge of recognition I was missing out on something. I’m definitely gonna pick up book one, entitled The Wolf at the Door, and fill myself in on the missing pieces, but guess what? My research also showed this isn’t just a sequel… it’s a book two of at least three.
No lies, y’all… I about died when I realized there’s a third book coming out April 2019. If I had a calendar that stretched that far out, you best believe it would be marked. I’m not sure where Ms. Adhara is going to take things after the quite satisfying HEA feel of this book’s end, but that just makes me even more desperate to read and find out!
Another aspect of this book I was surprised to discover did not bother my delicate readerly sensibilities was its use of single POV. In my romance, I like to get into both character’s heads. I often feel cheated if I only see one side of the story, which is one of the reasons I’m not the biggest fan of first person… unless it’s dual POV first, then I’m more agreeable. However, it worked for this story. Really, really well. In fact, had it been in dual, it would have destroyed some of the tension and buildup that made it so enjoyable.
I applaud the author for making a staunch dual POV supporter walk away from a single POV book thinking, “Okay, that really couldn’t’ve been written any other way.” Kudos to you, kid.
I’m not going to touch much on the plot because seriously… y’all should just read this for yourselves. I went into it blind and regret nothing. All I’m gonna say is this… one of the characters—the love interest of our MC—is a werewolf. A fantastically handled werewolf that induced absolutely zero cringes from an easily cringe-able PNR reader. Oh, and there’s a twenty-five-year-old murder mystery with a fun and well managed investigation spearheading the main, non-romance plot.
Overall, I would recommend this to just about anyone who enjoys a good read, but most especially male/male romance lovers, PNR addicts, werewolf fanatics, and murder mystery enthusiasts.
Love this series!!! Book 3 knocks it out of the ballpark, again! Not only is this a good mystery with a great storyline, but we get to see growth for both of our guys. In Thrown To The Wolves, we have Agent Cooper Dayton attending the funeral for Oliver Park’s grandfather, and boy-oh-boy is he in for surprise after surprise. For one thing, Park didn’t tell his family about Cooper nor did he tell Cooper about all of the wolf pack politics and etiquette. Things get quite hairy and we’re caught up in unpredictable twists and turns and a mystery that needs to be solved.
All 3 of these books are suspenseful and character-driven stories that get better with each book. I loved seeing Cooper and Oliver’s story unfold, and getting caught up each mystery.
Romantic suspense, intriguing mystery, unique paranormal universe, unpredictable twists and turns, banter and sexy times…highly recommended
4.5… while I didn’t like this one as much as the first, it was still a great book. I’m hoping that some of the “does he or doesn’t he” angst is gone and the third book will be another amazing story.
The author did a stellar job with the premier book in this Big Bad Wolf series and now that its follow-up is here, it was all I could do to take my time and read it slowly. *GRABBY HANDS* Which of course I didn’t because OHMYGOSH I needed to know what was on the agenda for Cooper and Park next!
An unwanted trip home, an unknown status, past histories, and a dead body – things are definitely not going to be boring for Cooper and Park! Cooper, dude! Check your Caller ID next time. He’s not too keen to go back home but his father dishes out the guilt and he caves and goes. Maybe things won’t be so bad with Park by his side. The only question is, what kind of ‘partners’ are they really. They definitely have the working part down, and yes, they are friends but what exactly IS their relationship? If things weren’t bad enough, a cold case crops up during their visit…right in Cooper’s dad’s backyard. O.o
Honestly, I don’t know where to begin because I loved it all. Cooper struggles with everything from discovering past truths to working up the nerve with Park. The past is just…WOW! Yes, I can understand why it was quite a shock to Cooper. Equally, as Park’s comes out, let’s just say it wasn’t what I expected but it certainly explains a lot. As for their relationship outside of work, there were so many times I just wanted to shake Cooper and tell him to just SPIT IT OUT and ask him! As for the cold case – slash – murder, what a layered mystery! So many times, I felt I had it figured out, then another layer is exposed, and I’d throw out all my theories to start again. Man, I love those kinds of stories.
The end was very much worth all the twist and turns the author has put Cooper and Park through to only find out the next book isn’t out until next spring. WHAT?! Noooo! Two books and I am very much addicted. I’m not quite sure if it’s the author or my favorite M/M couple mixed paranormal couple. Either way, I am setting up a reminder in my calendar to start looking out for the next installment. This is going to be a long winter. *Sighs*
I received this book from The JeepDiva with the express purpose of an honest review. The opinions, contents, and rating of this review are solely mine
The Wolf at Bay by Charlie Adhara is book Two in the Big Bad Wolf series. This is the story of Cooper Dayton and Oliver Park. I haven’t yet read the previous book, so for me this was a standalone book.
Cooper and Oliver are partners as they work for the Bureau of Special Investigations. Along with being partners they also share some personal ‘benefits’. When Cooper is talked into coming home for a quick weekend family engagement party he has Oliver come with him to work on clarifying their relationship. But they don’t count on a murder mystery in their back yard it leads to a longer stay to solve that and work on where they are headed.
Enjoyed this book and hope to read more books by this author.
4.5 stars-
The Wolf at Bay is the second book in the Big Bad Wolf series. I had every intention to read the first of the series prior to this release, but life got in the way and I ended up going in blind. Though there were references to past plot points, characters, and scenes, The Wolf at Bay certainly can be read as a standalone without too much difficulty. If anything, the developing relationship between Park and Cooper was the hardest aspect to catch up with, but I quickly fell for these men and was completely swept up in both the investigation and romance.
The Wolf at Bay features an established couple, but the relationship is new and the book opens with Cooper and Park still needing to discuss their status. With both men keeping their feelings for one another under wraps, the romance has a slow burn vibe and allows for plenty of development. I found the lack of communication fairly frustrating at times, especially considering I didn’t have the background from the first book to draw from. Despite that, the physical and emotional chemistry was certainly palpable and I liked seeing how the men grew as a couple by the end of the book. This was my first book by the author, and I was definitely impressed. The writing flowed well, the suspense developed steadily, there were a good number of twists, and the book delivered a satisfying resolution- making The Wolf at Bay an enjoyable read and ensuring I’ll be following this series and author.
*eARC received via Netgalley*
Small town drama, murder, and romance with werewolves! When I picked this one up, I wasn’t aware that it was book two in a series, but even though there is backstory, I had no problem figuring out who was who and where Cooper and Park were in the relationship. I will add that I was quite impressed with this one and will be reading that first book. There is drama, angst, and mystery mixed in with this romance, but there’s also some great moments of levity, along with some sexy fun between Cooper and Park, to keep things from getting too heavy. Cooper’s relationship fears did drive me a bit bonkers at times, to the point that I really wanted to give him a good shake and show him what was right in front of him, but this pair is good together and they’re so likable that they’re easy to root for. There are also plenty of twists along the way to keep things moving at a good pace. For me, this one was one of those easy reads where the pages keep turning and before you know it, chapter after chapter has flown by.