Tanner’s and Zarina’s story has been a long time in coming, their ups and downs well catalogued through Paige Tyler’s X-Ops series. And this starts on a down, so to speak, after Tanner has run off into the woods, tortured and determined to stay isolated because of his uncontrollable hybrid instincts. But Zarina is unwilling to give up on this man (?) who’s seen enough torture for a lifetime and her stubbornness somehow pulls Tanner from the brink, though all isn’t as it seems.

This far down the series, ‘X-Ops Exposed’ is near-impossible as a standalone with a narrative arc that has already been flung wide open and many dangling loose ends held by a multitude of secondary characters. With a focus on a pairing (as well as potential ones) and a different plot-line in every book, ‘X-Ops Exposed’ like every other book in this series, rushes ahead to tell its bursting-to-the-seams story without looking back too much because there’s just so much going on. The recap—and there is a bit of it—of previous events is understandably brief and Tyler pushes ahead with Tanner’s backstory that adds on to an already complicated canon that involves super secret departments, shifters, hybrids and genetic experimentations. As the 8th book of the series, appreciating the pairing, let alone the ever-expanding storyline, could be difficult for those trying to wade into the series right here.

It’s also probably worth noting that Zarina and Tanner’s ongoing saga is just what makes up half of the story; the other half is a rather major sub-plot taking place across the country in Maine as the now-partnerless Tate Evers teams up with a potential new lead (but cool) character trying to solve more of the same problem. I’m admittedly not too fond of the part where Tyler introduces survivalists, but they do play a part in the larger narrative arc, even if the push-pull between Zarina and Tanner doesn’t make much headway as the sub-plot gains in traction.

If I started out ‘X-Ops Exposed’ thrilled about Zarina and Tanner—Tyler’s action scenes are good and reading through them is akin to watching cool action-movie fight scenes—,the structure of the plot was such that the pace faltered in parts, along with some cock-blocking moments to the point where picking up later doesn’t quite have the same impact dimmed my enthusiasm somewhat. There is a vague notion of ticking clock that counted down to zero hours, a forward but somewhat muddied drive about how hybrids and their nefarious creators still cause trouble, but in the end I couldn’t step back and say for certain that I knew where the book was headed.

Only towards the end does Tyler bring these threads together (somewhat) and I started enjoying the action again. But like every other book in the series, ‘X-Ops Exposed’ closes some loops and opens others, upping the stakes in this political game as well. Frustrating as it can be, that’s also what keeps me coming back, truth be told.

Zarina is a Russian doctor who helped Tanner escape the facility where he was being held and experimented on. Tanner was in the Army when his whole team but one was killed. Now he’s a hybrid shifter who can’t keep his animal side controlled. He loves Zarina, so he heads for the mountains in Washington state to protect her from himself. But when she figures out an antiserum that change him back to human, she goes looking for him.
When some of Tanner’s friends are taken, he goes to look for them but ends up captured himself. What they’re doing is pitting people against each other in a cage . People are betting on the fights and some are recording it. After they get free, it’s all over the news and people are starting to protest outside the DCO compound.
Excellent story. Blood, suspense, and sex. Shifters, evil scientists, and a few new characters.

Tanner became a hybrid lion shifter after he was experimented on in a lab where Zarina worked as a doctor. She was being held against her will but was able to escape and free Tanner. He can't control his animal behavior so he left to live in a remote area to protect those he loved. Zarina created a serum that can make him human again but she has to find him first. Lots of suspense and romance make this a great read!

I have read just about all the books in Paige Tyler’s X-Ops Series, published under Sourcebooks Casablanca (April 3, 2018) without a doubt this title stands with all the rest in this series, when it comes to smoking hot romance and suspense.
When Dr. Zarina Sokolov takes a track into the forest of Washington State to find Lion hybrid and former Army Ranger Tanner Howland to offer him chances to become human again.
Tanner Howland just wants to be left alone. He once was human. But now he has become something that even he is afraid of. But when Zarina tracks him down, he may get a second chance at being human and better yet to finally have Zarina in his life forever. But, before they can obtain that chance they must first overcome hurdles. For even in the deep forest there are elements that just want to keep these two apart.
X-Ops Exposed a great suspense romance. With fast-pace action and excellent plot. Twist and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the turning of the last page.
This book like the others in this series can be read as a stand-alone. However, to get the full entertainment value I recommend you read this series in order.

I always enjoy Paige Tyler's books and this one was no different. After what happened in the previous X-ops books, I was so happy to learn that Tanner and Zarina were getting their own book. I love these two. Being a hybrid, Tanner has had trouble controlling himself. Zarina is the one thing that always calms him, but he is terrified he is going to hurt her. So he ran off the grid to put some distance between them.

Zarina going looking for Tanner in the middle of nowhere was an amusing thought to me. I just couldn't picture the good doctor as an outdoor type. That she did was so sweet. The trouble that the two of them find themselves in would be absolutely terrifying. I enjoyed knowing Tanner's back story. Despised the bad guys in this one but was happy to see some of the team that I've come to love. The next book cannot come out fast enough because I must know what happens next to these characters!

It was a 4/5 for me.



Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this book. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.