It’s been about four months since Cooper Dayton and Oliver Park got partnered up and solved a case that hit way too close to home for both men. Things are tense at work in the aftermath of the case, with lots of animosity being directed at Cooper. On a personal front, the guys are still seeing one another, but Cooper isn’t really sure the status of their relationship. He and Park are sleeping together on the regular and spending lots of personal time together. But does that mean they are in a relationship? Cooper is too afraid to ask and so he kind of keeps Park at a distance, not wanting to assume anything.

After solving a case, the guys have a few days off and that’s when Cooper forgets not to answer his dad’s phone calls and finds out it is his brother’s engagement party weekend. Cooper has been avoiding his family for a while now, as he always feels his father’s disapproval, and after getting out of his small hometown, he doesn’t really want to look back. But he can’t miss the event and Park agrees to come along for a few days.

When they find a decades-old body buried in Cooper’s family yard, suspicion immediately turns to his dad. While Cooper may not get along well with the man, he knows his father is not a murderer. However, the FBI isn’t so sure, so with Park’s help, Cooper decides to do a little investigating on his own. As he talks to friends and neighbors, Cooper learns way more than he ever expected about what was really going on in his quiet neighborhood years ago. As Park and Cooper get ever closer to figuring out who is behind the murder, they find that their own lives may be on the line.

The Wolf at Bay is the second book in Charlie Adhara’s wonderful Big Bad Wolf series. I just loved the first book and was thrilled to catch back up with Cooper and Park. Adhara has created a really exciting combination of paranormal and suspense with this series, giving us a world where werewolves are known to some, but not all. Park and Cooper are partners in the Bureau of Special Investigations, an organization that investigates crimes involving wolves (with Cooper the human partner and Park the wolf). The FBI aren’t huge fans of the BSI, and neither organization is particularly thrilled with Cooper after what went down in book one. I just love the way Adhara incorporates the paranormal elements into her mysteries, and it makes for some really clever world building and interesting cases.

While in the first book we got some more inside information into wolves in general, and Park’s family in particular, here the focus shifts to Cooper’s family. We know that things are tense between him and his dad, and we learn that he has been distant with his brother as well. His family doesn’t know he is gay, as Cooper doesn’t want to add one more thing to disappoint his father. But I did appreciate that while things start off tense, by the time the book ends, the family is all in a much better place.

The mystery here is incredibly well done. Adhara is really masterful at pacing, something I noted in the first book as well. Each bit of information is parsed out at just the right time, so we are meeting the suspects and learning information at the perfect rate to keep the story engaging and exciting. What adds a nice twist here is that we are in Cooper’s POV, and so we are learning things through his somewhat skewed perspective. Cooper was a child when his mother died, as well as around the time the murder took place. So as we learn details of the case, it keeps giving Cooper a new lens with which to view his own past. His personal history and the murder investigation intertwine in interesting ways, helping illuminate more about his character and his past as the case goes on.

On the relationship front, things start of rough. I’ll admit that the first chapter or so I was kind of sad to see the way things were going with the guys. It seems pretty clear to everyone but Cooper that Park is totally into him. But Cooper is not a guy to be open with his emotions, and he is so scared to find out that his feelings may not be returned that he keeps Park at somewhat at a distance. At times, I wanted to kind of yell at him to wake the heck up already. But never fear. As the guys spend more time together, and as Cooper opens up a bit with his own family, he starts to really see Park. Not only that, but Cooper finally gets comfortable enough to share his feelings with Park and really open up to him. So it is super rewarding and the guys end up in a really good place. I really like this pair, and there is some fun banter between them that brings some levity to the heavier moments. I am thrilled to see them in such a good place going forward.

It looks like there is another book in the works and I couldn’t be more excited. I am really loving this series and can highly recommend it, particularly to mystery fans. Adhara is really great at crafting fascinating cases and investigations, and I am really looking forward to more.

Imagine my surprise when, while rereading the Big Bad Wolf series in preparation for the fourth book, I realized I’d never actually officially reviewed the second one. So, I’ve updated my personal notes from my first read through and added on some additional insights.

Oh, Charlie Adhara, how is this only your second book??? If you may recall, I fangirled endlessly over the first in this series, The Wolf at the Door, and I highly recommend reading it before this book. I was simultaneously excited and worried about this book, as how could it possibly live up to the first? Well, it did, and in some ways even surpassed it.

Our prickly porcupine Cooper is back on the job with Park, though his serial killer ex-partner is still causing problems for him, as no one seems to believe that he wasn’t involved in the werewolf killings. After an op that nearly gets him seriously injured (again), Cooper’s contemplating taking a vacation, from both his job and his undefined possible relationship with Park… and then his dad calls to remind him to come home for his brother’s big engagement party that week. Cooper lost his mom to cancer when he was eleven, and his dad was much more of a tough love kind of person, leading Cooper to repress his grief, and well, basically all of his feelings. Cooper’s so certain of how his family will react that he hides anything “real” in his life from them – they think he works a desk job, as opposed to his job as an BSI agent, and have no idea that he’s gay. His father’s attempts at removing a ghost from the past – his mother’s falling down arbor – result in him digging up a body, and more secrets from the past than could ever have been expected. Cooper is left with the realization that while his family doesn’t know him, he doesn’t really know his family either.

“If he can’t be proud of every part of me, he doesn’t get to know the rest,” Cooper hissed. “I’m not some kind of fucking pick’n’mix bag.”


Cooper is scarred, mentally and physically, and returning to his childhood home causes an unwelcome reevaluation of what he thought he knew about his family. He’s so desperately broken and yet he’s still trying to do the right thing – even if that means doing his own investigating in to who could possibly have killed the man found under the arbor. So there’s plenty more of Cooper’s highly insightful question, and, of course, more Cooper and Park, though of course Cooper’s manages to find some way to screw everything up. He’s not sure if what he and Park have is even a relationship, and he’s afraid to bring the question up for fear of finding out that it means nothing to Park. Their banter is as hilarious as ever, and their chemistry remains off the charts. The mystery is also quite well done, well paced, and well interspersed with scenes that further Cooper’s relationships with his family and Park.

“I don’t need you,” Cooper repeated, whispering into Park’s sweaty hair now. “But I want you. All the time.”


A lot of the family background – and secrets – help finally explain what makes Cooper tick. Sure, he’s a prickly hedgehog, more likely to stick his head in the sand and ignore something than, oh, I don’t know, communicate or express feelings, but he’s got good reasons for being that way. Some of those reasons – and especially some of the things from the previous book – really made me want to hate his dad, but, oof, when him and Cooper finally have it out, I cried like a baby. Like, how is this book so full of feels and yet also so incredibly steamy? Seeing the progress Cooper and Park have made in their relationship is just barely more fulfilling than the resolution of the murder mystery, and that’s saying something.

While more of Cooper’s background is explained, there are even more unresolved questions about Park and his family – and that’s where Thrown to the Wolves, the next book in the series comes in. Seriously, this is one of my favorite series of all time, and overall, I recommend it to pretty much anyone who loves both romances and mysteries.

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Book two of the series sees Cooper reluctantly visiting his home town on his way back from investigating a case. Park is with him and agrees to accompany Cooper. Cooper has questions about his relationship with Park but he doesn't dare ask them because he is afraid to hear what Park will say.

Home is not a place Cooper wants to be. Going home reminds Cooper of all the reasons he left and it places pressure on him. He has a strained relationship with his father, his brother is marrying Cooper's ex girlfriend and he has deep feelings for Park which he can't voice.

And add to the mix a dead body and his father implicated in a murder and there you have the quintessential nightmare home coming.

This is an enjoyable second book. I didn't like it as much as the first because I thought the mystery wasn't as strong as in book one but it was still a good read. It was lovely to see the difficulties Cooper had with his different relationships and how he manages his coming out, secrets of the BSI and the shadows from his childhood.

All in all an enjoyable read!

Copy provided via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

I am absolutely LOVING this series, you guys. I fell in love with Cooper Dayton and Oliver Park in Charlie Adhara’s first book, The Wolf at the Door, and fell even harder in the sequel. The new book, The Wolf at Bay, picks up about four months after the first one ended. Park and Dayton are still partnered up, working for the BSI, solving cases involving werewolf crimes, and working together seamlessly, but as they also grow closer in their personal relationship, Cooper begins to struggle with how to label what’s going on between them. Or, to be honest, with figuring out what it even is that’s going on. Are they just fuck buddies? Boyfriends? Possibly more? Cooper is pretty sure he wants more. He’d love to take their partnership to a new level outside of work, but isn’t sure what Oliver wants, and he’s such a goofball he can’t even figure out a way to just talk to Park.

The guys have just finished up a case, but Cooper doesn’t really have any down time to stew over their relationship status, though, because his dad calls and reminds him that he’s supposed to be coming home for his brother’s engagement party the upcoming weekend. And, as icing on the awkward-family-visit cake, Cooper’s dad suggest he bring Park along. They’ve got a few days off coming to them, so they decide to go for it. If nothing else, they should be able to use the time over this super relaxed and celebratory weekend to clear things up between them, right? Ha! I think we all know that things are probably not going to go to plan.

As the blurb states, a body turns up in Cooper’s dad’s back yard, and Cooper and Oliver end up working covertly to do some digging of their own, before the local police or FBI agents finger Cooper’s dad for the murder. I really liked the mystery aspect of the storyline. It was well-done and intriguing, and definitely kept me guessing. And Adhara also did an excellent job weaving together the mystery thread with the romance thread and giving each equal time. At times, because Cooper’s neighborhood is so quirky and full of secrets, I felt like I was watching an episode of Desperate Housewives! And, I mean that in a totally complementary way! And the guys are just so sweet and genuine with each other. I died at moments like this one (delivered in Cooper’s classic deadpan style, of course):

“…Shit, you might not believe in magic, but to me you’re as close to magical as anything I’ve ever known. And not just because of the whole werewolf thing, but because you’re you. All special and brilliant and patient and funny and you know, sort of good-looking sometimes, I guess.”
Also, throughout the investigation, we get more pieces of both Dayton and Park’s histories, bigger glimpses into each of their backstories. We learn quite a bit more about Park’s family background, and some stuff from Cooper’s childhood that helps explain a little more why he is the way he is. And there is a fair amount more in this book as far as wolf stuff goes. At least, as it pertains to Park. Adhara shows us more about how being a werewolf affects Oliver in different situations, and we might even get a littttle peek of his wolf in action. 😉

I loved so many things about this book. My love for Park and his dry, snarky sense of humor is ridiculous. I one million percent adore him. I love Cooper, and also Cooper’s family. His brother, Dean, is totally amazing, as is his fiancée, who is also Cooper’s childhood best friend. I love the little hints of domesticity we see in the very beginning of the book—the guys watching movies and reading poetry, and Oliver making Cooper meals so that he’ll take care of himself. And, the heat, you guys…Guhhh. These two are an inferno. Not even joking.

So, go grab this one! Charlie Adhara’s writing is fantastic, and the story and characters are engrossing. And, if you need me, I’ll be rocking in the corner waiting for April, which is when we’ll be getting the next book!

Reviewed by Jules

I really enjoyed this. The writing is really tight and it's hard to believe this is only the author second book. This builds well off of the first book and I ended up liking it a little bit more just because the reader isn't dealing with working through both the beginnings of a relationship and a mystery. I like when authors allow their characters' relationship to develop naturally. Normally I shy away from the just will not communicate trope, which this does do, but I found it believable in The Wolf at the Bay because the author wrote such believable dialogue. The reader can read the characters just misinterpret each other and it was just well written.

The mystery was well done. I did figure out the mystery before the characters but was also surprised at how the author wrapped everything up, which is my favorite. And I liked the themes of family and expectations and how the author worked through a lot of the issues that come up with those themes. All of this could have made for a ponderous pace but the author's writing really pulled everything together really well.

5 stars

Amazing story!

The mystery was soooo good. The suspence had me reluctant to stop reading even though it was the middle of the night and I had an early morning. And the romance? That had a nice comfy spot in the plot as well.

Bit by bit the fantastic world that Charlie Adhara created for her characters is revealed to us and we can do nothing but buckle on and get ready for the ride.

There is no paragraph after paragraph of information about what being a werewolf means and I liked that. The details we get are few and far between, but the clues and the teasers are all over the place. The half sentences drove me crazy with curiosity about what their end was supposed to be. For some we get the answer a few pages later. For others we'll have to wait some more. We did get some answers and some details about Parker's past though so I can't complain.

With the third book having the title Thrown to the Wolves my guess is that Oliver and Cooper are going over to Oliver's family. And maybe this time we'll get to see a wolf on page and learn a bit more about them. Only five more months to find out!



*An ARC of this book was kindly provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. *

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*

reviewed by Jac

This is the second book in m/m romantic suspense/mystery series with werewolves. It follows the same couple and you need to read The Wolf at the Door first. A bit of uneven pacing but an intriguing suspense plot and a strong romance arc + great family dynamics! It's very character focused and I loved seeing more both MCs - completely different yet complementing each other perfectly. The support Copper got from his family was so unexpected, yet so sweet and real and heart-warming. Intriguing side characters made the story even richer in detail and kept the suspense plot going strong till the end, I appreciate the anxiety rep which was as good as in the first book.
In short, I greatly recommend the series..

Waouh mais ce tome est excellent !!!

Cela fait depuis environ 4 mois que Cooper et Oliver sont ensemble. Alors qu'ils viennent tout juste de terminer une affaire, Cooper est invité par ses proches pour la fête de fiançailles de son frère. C'est alors qu'il arrive chez son père, accompagné d'Oliver.
Sauf que... tout ne se passe pas comme prévu : un cadavre est déterré du jardin de son père.

J'ai vraiment beaucoup aimé ce tome. La relation entre Cooper et Oliver est bien développée. On sent qu'ils sont attachés l'un à l'autre mais tous d'eux n'arrivent toujours pas à nommer cette relation. Cette fois, Cooper se retrouve chez lui, dans la maison de son enfance, auprès de son père et de son frère, où les relations ne sont pas au bon fixe.
J'ai adoré voir Cooper évoluer avec ses proches, il leur ment, il a tellement peur de les décevoir.
A côté, Oliver est un homme si gentil et protecteur envers Cooper.
Je les avais aimés dans le premier tome, mais j'avoue avoir craqué complètement pour eux ici. Ils sont extrêmement touchants ensemble. J'aime beaucoup comment leur relation évolue, doucement mais sûrement ^^

Concernant l'intrigue, elle était absolument passionnante. En parallèle, les secrets de famille sont déterrés en même temps que ce cadavre. Tout le monde est suspecté, famille, voisins, amis...et j'ai eu droit à pas mal de surprises. J'ai dévoré ce livre, j'étais complètement prise dans cette histoire !
On a encore une fois pas mal d'humour grâce à ces deux hommes. Mention spéciale à l'imitation d'Oliver à la fin, j'étais pliée !!
J'attendais une certaine scène... J'espérais la voir déjà dans le premier tome, je me disais donc que c'était partie remise dans le second, et j'en ai eu des frissons ^^

J'aime décidément beaucoup cette série, l'atmosphère y est vraiment particulière et j'aime la façon dont l'univers fantastique est mêlé à celui du monde réel. On y croit vraiment !

Vivement la suite !

4 strong stars

I liked this book much better than the first one. My complaint about the 1st was I didn't feel the emotion. That wasn't an issue with this 2nd book. The story is told from Cooper's perspective. I'm a huge fan of the dual POV so I get a bit frustrated. Yes, the dual POV may take the "mystery" out of a burgeoning relationship, but I prefer knowing what both MC's are thinking/feeling. However, it's apparent that Park, as well as Cooper, have feelings for each other. While there is sex, it's a relationship slow burn and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. The mystery was also well done with several potential suspects.

My only issue is this is a shifter book and Park never shifts on page. We only see his glowing golden eyes and/or elongated canines. Cooper has never seen him shifted. I'm not sure why the author hasn't played more on this aspect but it's a bit frustrating for a shifter fan.

Highly recommended. NOT A STANDALONE.

This was an entertaining, sexy, and suspenseful m/m shifter romance, and a satisfying sequel to The Wolf at the Door. I like how sensitive and vulnerable Park is inside his mysterious, cool persona. Like Park, Cooper is insecure about their relationship and has fears about opening up and getting hurt. They’re not real great at communicating, so it was nice to see them work things out in the end. Working the case together moved their relationship forward, showing that they were good partners in both their professional and personal lives. I thought the sex scenes and romantic scenes were a little rushed, while exposition and Cooper’s interior musings/overanalyzing slowed down the story. I wanted the story to linger more in the emotional moments, and was impatient with the slow parts. I liked Cooper’s and Park’s contrary personalities, and this book really showed how they complemented each other and were meant to be together. They’re a very cute and sexy couple. I liked seeing Park’s big, bad wolf in action, and wanted more of that as well. This novel also introduced Cooper’s family and revealed what happened to Park’s parents. I’m interested in learning more of Park’s backstory, meeting his werewolf clan, and going on more adventures with Cooper and Park.

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 / B+

Charlie Adhara’s début novel, The Wolf at the Door, was a hugely entertaining combination of paranormal romance and romantic suspense. Set in a world in which werewolves exist and have recently made themselves known to world governments, readers were introduced to the BSI (Bureau of Special Investigation) which is the division of the FBI specifically tasked with investigating werewolf-related crimes. Special Agent Cooper Dayton was seriously wounded in a werewolf attack around a year before the book opened, and once recovered, was offered the opportunity to join the BSI, where he has been partnered with Oliver Park, a handsome, somewhat enigmatic werewolf and former college professor. Given the way Cooper was injured, and the way his former partner had drummed the necessity for suspicion into him, it wasn’t surprising he wasn’t pleased at being part of what, according to his ex-partner, was a PR exercise designed to pander to the werewolf population; but as the book progressed, it became clear to Cooper – and to the reader – that not everything he’d been told was the truth, and that Park was charming, intuitive, droll and trustworthy – absolutely nothing like Cooper had expected.

By the end of the book, Cooper and Park have moved beyond the professional and become lovers, their physical intimacy evolving naturally out of the strong working relationship they develop during the story. By the time The Wolf at Bay opens, they’ve been together for four months, although of course, it’s not something they can be open about if they want to remain as work-partners. They spend a lot of time together, enjoy each other’s company (and the sex) but Cooper isn’t willing to think beyond that, or about what they’re really doing – things firmly on the long list of things he and Park Don’t Talk About.

Following a shake-down that doesn’t go according to plan, Cooper and Park are on their way back to DC when a call from Cooper’s dad, former Sherriff Ed Dayton, sees them making a detour to Jagger Valley in Maryland in order to attend the engagement party being held for Cooper’s brother Dean – which Cooper had completely forgotten about. Cooper’s relationship with his father is an uneasy one, and he rarely visits his childhood home; he’s always felt the Sherriff never thought he was good enough, and Cooper has never told his father or his brother how dangerous his job really is and lets them believe he’s a glorified pen-pusher, which gives rise to some disparaging comments and not so subtle ribbing from his dad. He’s not out to them either, and on top of all that, there’s an uncomfortable tension between him and Park he’s aware is mostly his fault because he’s deliberately holding back from him. On impulse, Cooper asks Park to go to Jagger Valley with him, hoping that perhaps some time away from the professional arena will allow them to just be a couple and maybe to figure out exactly what they are to each other; and Park, being Park, says he’d be honoured to meet Cooper’s family.

The first part of the book does get a little bogged down in Cooper’s insecurities, his reluctance to admit to himself how he really feels about Park and his inability to actually talk to him about their… whatever is going on between them. Fears of rejection, of being hurt and thirty years of emotional repression all conspire to keep holding him back, and while he does want to talk to Park about where they stand, he simultaneously keeps finding ways to put it off. And when a decades old dead body is found buried in the back garden of the Dayton family home, Cooper grabs the opportunity to put it off yet again with both hands.

Once this discovery is made, the pace picks up, and the revelations concerning the dead man – who lived in the house next door but was believed to have upped and left twenty-five years earlier – come thick and fast and Cooper learns some things about his family history that shock and unnerve him. Even though he’s not there in any official capacity – and is warned off becoming involved – when his father falls under suspicion, Cooper is even more determined to discover the truth about the man’s death.

The mystery plot is extremely well done, but the thing that has really stuck with me about this book is the astonishing amount of character and relationship development Ms. Adhara packs into it, and how skilfully she juggles her different plotlines. Through Cooper’s investigations into the murder, readers learn more about his past, his familial relationships and how they have informed his character; and even though he and Park are on shaky ground for part of the book, the discoveries they make about each other only serve to strengthen the bond developing between them. It’s apparent right away that their relationship is about more than ‘just sex’ for both of them; they hang out together, they watch movies, talk about books and enjoy being together, but Cooper is terribly insecure and fearful that eventually Park will just stop showing up at his place, and those anxieties communicate themselves to his lover and send mixed signals.

As with the previous book, the story is told entirely from Cooper’s point of view, but once again the author does wonderful job of showing the truth of Park’s feelings through his words, actions and expressions. Cooper might not be able to read the signs properly, but the reader can, and it’s crystal clear that Park is very much in love, but is trying to give Cooper whatever he needs while he figures things out. Unfortunately, Cooper reads his willingness to give him space as aloofness; but thankfully, he does eventually come to realise that his unwillingness to let himself be vulnerable is what is most likely to drive Park away, and after a particularly steamy sexual encounter decides it’s time to man up and be honest with the man he loves.

The mystery is wrapped up neatly by the end and Cooper and Park have at last admitted how they feel about one another, but a plot-thread left hanging for book three suggests that not everything in the garden of love will continue to be rosy. Although The Wolf at Bay gets a little bogged down in the first part, it’s still an excellent read and one I’m recommending very strongly. I’m thoroughly enjoying this series, and can’t wait to read book three next Spring.

The author's GR bio says "...her stories feature imperfect people stumbling around, tripping over trouble and falling in love..." and that's exactly what she writes. Writes wonderfully, I might add.

The Wolf at Bay is not a stand-alone novel and should be read after The Wolf at the Door. Please be aware that this review may be spoilerish regarding book 1.

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Cooper and Oliver are officially work partners now. During their off hours they may be a little more to each other, but neither of them have the courage to take that personal partnership to the next level yet.

But even alphaholes can have their sweet momments. This is one of several "awww" quotes that left a smile on my face:
"...to me you’re as close to magical as anything I’ve ever known. And not just because of the whole werewolf thing, but because you’re you. All special and brilliant and patient and funny and you know, sort of good-looking sometimes, I guess.”
When Cooper is forced home for family obligations an unexpected murder discovery throws everything into upheaval. Clues are overturned and reveals rock Cooper's family world.

Not only is this a great murder mystery, I had no clue whodunnit, we are also treated to great, emotional character growth for both of our MCs. The plot originality in this series still boggles my mind. I read a lot, so for a storyline to really surprise me takes something special.

This series is special. I highly recommend it!

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
The second book in this series focuses on an exciting and complicated cold case murder investigation in Cooper’s hometown. Cooper and Oliver are forced to figure out their own messy relationship while Cooper tries to sort out the even messier relationships he has with his brother and father.

I love the characters in this book and I love the way Cooper and Oliver continue to grow together. For the most part, I enjoyed the romance and the relationships more than the murder investigation. I love that Cooper’s dad and his brother are both more complicated and interesting characters than they first seem. And I love that it takes a while for Cooper to really see his father and his brother. While parts of the investigation are exciting, there’s a lull at the midpoint where Cooper and Oliver start going round in circles – and I got a little bit bored. I loved the revelations Oliver offers about his life and I’m hoping we get to see Oliver’s family in the next book.

I’m loving this series. Cooper and Oliver are brilliant characters and there’s a great mix of action, humour, and reflection in these books. There are also some pretty hot sex scenes! I’m already looking forward to book three.

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.

I gave this an A- at All About Romance.

If you haven’t read The Wolf at the Door, the first book in the Big Bad Wolf series, be warned – there are spoilers in this review. In it, the author introduced readers to a world in which werewolves exist, although humans are largely unaware of them. I was completely sucked into the suspense and romance elements of the story and had high hopes for book two, The Wolf at Bay, which proved to be another addictive page turner, although this time out, the novel frustrates early on and only hits its stride in the second half. The suspense plot is less intriguing this time, but the romance more than makes up for it. While the ending is still firmly in the happy for now column, the relationship feels destined for happily ever after. This is a partnership – professional and personal – that readers will root for… and despite our principal characters frequent, oft repeated missteps, I loved them.

The Wolf at Bay, like The Wolf at the Door, takes place entirely in the PoV of BSI (Bureau of Special Investigations) Agent Cooper Dayton. Cooper, who only joined the BSI after he was nearly eviscerated by a werewolf, found himself partnered up with Oliver Park, a werewolf and agent for The Trust (a werewolf organization). Wary and suspicious, conditioned by his near-death experience and former BSI partner to distrust and dislike werewolves, Cooper initially treated Park as his adversary, but as the investigation unfolded, he found himself unable to resist his handsome, enigmatic and capable partner. When The Wolf at the Door ended, he and Park were lovers, Cooper learned his original BSI partner was the killer targeting werewolves – and realised almost everything he knew (or thought he knew) about werewolves was wrong.

The Wolf at Bay picks up four months later; Cooper and Park are still BSI partners and lovers, but Cooper is plagued with insecurities about the relationship and unable to confess his feelings for Park. He wants more, but doesn’t know how to ask for it, and worries that Park doesn’t feel the same. In the opening sequence, Cooper finds himself again at the mercy of a werewolf; Park intervenes to protect him and later chastises him for taking unnecessary risks. Cooper is resentful and angry at Park’s overprotectiveness, and struggles to reconcile those feelings with his affection for him. After the case wraps up, there’s an awkward tension between them. Cooper is terrified Park wants to end the… whatever it is they’re doing, and desperately wants and simultaneously dreads ‘The Talk’. He nearly screws things up again, but before he can gather the courage to talk to Park, his father calls – reminding him of his brother’s upcoming engagement party. He agrees to go and invites Park to join him. The visit home – Cooper’s first in nearly two years – starts off awkwardly, and quickly goes sideways when a skeleton is found buried in the backyard of his family home.

One of the many pleasures of this novel is the intricate manner in which the author links the secrets between Cooper and Park – truths they’re both seemingly too afraid to confess to one another – with the ones revealed once the murder subplot is introduced. Cooper is forced to examine his feelings for Park whilst trying to clear his father’s name and determine just how and why a dead body turned up in his backyard. It’s a tricky bit of maneuvering as Ms. Adhara deftly keeps the two extremely complex plotlines moving in tandem as the novel progresses. Cooper wants more from his relationship with Park; he adores and desires him, but subconsciously sabotages every opportunity for honesty. He’s kept his job at the BSI and his sexuality a secret from his family, and can’t seem to find a way to bridge the distance that’s grown between them. He isn’t even sure he wants to. Meanwhile, there’s a dead body in the backyard – one the FBI is convinced his father put there – and as Cooper and Park investigate, old secrets finally come to light. Cooper has to reexamine his childhood, the small neighborhood in which he was raised, neighbors he thought he knew, and the part he’s played in pushing his family away when they only wanted to be closer to him. It’s a lot of moving pieces, but Ms. Adhara juggles them all with aplomb.

Cooper is an emotional mess . He doesn’t trust that anyone can love him or understand why they might, and he second-guesses all of his personal relationships. Those closest to Cooper struggle (in their own way) to break through his self-imposed walls, and it’s painful to witness his bumbling attempts to meet them part way. The first half frustrates – Cooper alienates Park, his family – and then, mid-way through the book, after a particular steamy encounter with Park, Cooper chills out. He stops fighting his feelings, starts opening himself up to the people who love him… and the story opens up too. Cooper isn’t easy to love. But he tries. And fails. And tries again. I liked this voyage of self-discovery, and although it’s crystal clear to readers that Park is waiting for Cooper, it’s equally clear Park has some pretty significant secrets of his own. Readers will either root for this couple or grow frustrated by the slow pace in which they work out their issues… but it’s worth the wait.

While I ultimately came to love the relationship dynamics, the investigation is also compelling and clever. I enjoyed the slow revelation of clues and the introduction of the various secondary characters – all of whom are Cooper’s suspects at one time or another – and it’s impossible to guess who did it. Unfortunately, once the murderer is revealed, it doesn’t have quite the same impact as it did in the first book. I like surprises, but this one was random. Luckily, it leads to a sweetly satisfying happy for now ending that sees Cooper forging better relationships with his family, and with Park. Although I’m concerned Park’s secrets threaten to derail Cooper’s newfound openess. Oh, Park.

The Wolf at Bay is an engaging and affecting follow up to the wonderful The Wolf at the Door. The first half frustrates, but ultimately, Cooper examines the clues and finds a killer and a partner to love. Ms. Adhara leaves readers satisfied, but eager for more.

The Wolf at the Door was a great start to Charlie Adhara’s Big Bad Wolf series and The Wolf at Bay was an even better continuation. Even though readers still only had Cooper’s POV, we still got to know Park a lot better in The Wolf at Bay. I’m a huge fan of multiple POVs in a book or series, but not being in Park’s head really works in Big Bad Wolf – mainly because it keeps him just a little bit more mysterious.

There was a lot more going on in The Wolf at Bay than the heat between Park and Cooper. Family drama, crazy revelations, a decades old murder mystery and more. Lots of action to keep the pages turning.

It may not have been clear to Cooper how Park felt about him, but he had a lot going on so I can forgive him for missing the obvious. There’s still a lot for readers to learn about the shifter world that Charlie Adhara’s created in Big Bad Wolf, but I like what we’ve discovered so far.

As for the mystery? I have to say, I was surprised at both the who and the why… mainly because there were a lot of possible suspects that would have been just as believable. Then there was the family drama… let’s just say, I wasn’t a fan, although Cooper’s brother and future sister-in-law kind of grew on me. Like I mentioned… Cooper went through a lot in The Wolf at Bay, but through it all, Park was there for him – whether Cooper knew it or not. Thrown to the Wolves is next and I can’t wait to see how the series continues.

Rep: Gay MC, Jewish main character, POC side characters, m/m romance, Queer characters.

Content warnings: Violence, assault, outed without consent, Murder, cheating( not main couple), explicit sex.

“The next morning was beautiful. The sun was shining, the sky was clear, and the fall air was crisp but not too chilly. It was the perfect day for a jail break.”

Copper and Park are back in the brilliant sequel to Wolf At The Door. Both decide to take a peaceful trip to Copper’s family home only to deal with, bad neighbors, relationship problems oh and a body in the back garden...

Let me start by saying: I freaking loved this sequel! I had my problems which I will talk about but more importantly it kept me entertained and on the edge of my seat.

Our characters were brilliant. Copper has a lot of anxiety about coming home, he hasn’t yet told his family he’s gay and to top it all off he doesn’t know wether to tell Park how he really feels about him. Poor Cooper really didn’t need this body to be in his old back yard but alas that is what happens. I adore how perfectly flawed Copper is; he's self centered and constantly thinks about how situations would make him feel as opposed to Park or anyone else. I love how defined this makes him, he's human and makes many mistakes past and present. Copper has grown so much from that judge-mental a-hole he was but he’s still got a long way to go.

Park continues to be a mystery. We get hints of his past and little clues about his family, which continues to bring both curiosity and tension. I’m really hoping that the following book will settle on Parks family or that we even get a Park POV.

Our side characters were just as entertaining. Coopers brother and his brothers fiancé were amazing. I adored Sophie. She was brilliant and I hope she shows up in future novels to come.

Copper and Park make a brilliant couple. However, they take their sweet time figuring that out. Which annoyed me. They struggle to communicate at first but eventually throughout the novel, they get there. I do love how much they stood together on and off the force, they’re a team to be reckoned with!

One thing that soured the book in my opinion: Cooper is forced out to his father. Grown man or not, as a queer women I know that coming out is terrifying. Coming out without your consent? That’s one of the worse things that can happen. I didn’t like how the option was taken from Copper. His father didn’t mind but Copper doesn’t know that! We as readers didn’t know that.

I also didn’t enjoy the mystery aspect as much as the first one. Some clues were way to obvious. The mystery was much more easier to solve than book one. I knew who the killer was within the first few chapters!

Overall, The Wolf At Bay was a solid sequel. I think the author added the perfect amount of interest revolving around Park and his family, to have people automatically picking up future books just to know his past. It wasn’t perfect but I really enjoyed it and will be reading the next book.

4 stars!

*

The Wolf at Bay is a great addition to the series, packed with a wonderful cast of characters and a mystery that hits a lot closer to home. The fast-moving plot and good writing are engaging, with quite a few twists and turns throughout the novel. The romance is still really sweet, yet the lack of communication between Cooper and Park is a bit of a bump in an otherwise great story.

Charlie Adhara sets up another great story with the introduction of quite a few new and very interesting characters. The family-focused aspect of the story adds so much depth to the novel and delivers quite a few sweet and touching moments to the series. This is very much a book that reveals quite a lot of secrets and, in turn, make this an even better and more entertaining series.

Another quick read! There’s something so engrossing about Adhara’s writing and Cooper as a narrator. He can be totally oblivious at times, still a bit of a jerk, and really terrible at talking about his feelings, but his perspective and loyalty grab your heart and keep you glued to the pages. His relationship with his family and the way it develops throughout the novel is amazing and one of my favorite parts of this series. A few scenes even brought tears to my eyes.

The mystery, this time, is totally surprising! There is so much tension throughout the story, which only keeps building and building as the plot progresses. All twists and turns caught me off guard, which is a big improvement from the previous novel. This is such a compelling story and it has a great pay off at the end.

The romance continues to be really really sweet, but Cooper’s inability to talk about his feelings and Park’s unwillingness to push him or confront him about it is a bit of a disappointment. There is so much that goes unsaid with those two, so it’s a little worrying that they can a healthy relationship with each other. I do hope some of this is addressed in the next book, because I do love them together.

In the end, The Wolf at Bay is even better than its predecessor. It has so many touching moments between several characters, the mystery is compelling, and the ending is rather sweet. I’m really really looking forward to the next book, and I definitely recommend this to everyone who enjoys a good mystery with a sprinkle of romance!