This book was very clearly, the author even states it in her afterward, a way to process the 2016 US election and all the racist BS surrounding the president at the time. Suleikha Snyder invented a possible post-2016 America that doesn’t look very different from our own, with one exception: outed supernaturals. Layering into the racial tensions of the time, adding supernaturals adds another layer of commentary on “humanity” and “keeping people in cages”.

The romance at the center of this story is between (mostly) Neha, a Punjab woman who works as a psychologist/lawyer. She is acting as co-counsel for Joe, a blue-collar, werewolf vigilante, who killed six Russian were-Mobsters. Joe has a lot of hang-ups about himself, his self-worth, but he cannot stop thinking about Neha. He feels drawn to her and his clumsy, gruff, inappropriate flirting does it for her.

When, at a pre-trial hearing, a hit is attempted on Joe, he and Neha escape and go “underground” in Queens, hiding among the Middle Eastern community there. They, along with allies known and unknown, have to figure out how to take out the Russian mobster before he kills them both.

Joe and Neha have a lot of intense sex before even really getting to know one another, Joe always keeping Neha at arms length emotionally. The sex scenes are mostly FTB (fade to black), but there are a few more explicit ones.

Another unique thing about this book is that it’s not just from Neha & Joe’s perspectives. We also see Neha’s co-worker, the sister of the Russian mobster, and the NYPD officer who loves her, which, to a reader like me, seems to be setting up some future books I’d for sure read. —Ford

—

I came to Suleikha Snyder from reading Tikka Chance on Me. I liked her voice and her very "take no shits" leading lady. So I was stoked to find out that she was writing a full-length paranormal novel with a killer cover. (Shout out to the Graphic Artist on that!).

The book is an interesting mix of politics, romance, supernatural intrigue, and Russian Mafia. There is a lot to unpack here, and ultimately not all the things worked for me.

The Russian Mafia - the well-developed infrastructure of this world, the nuanced research into the Little Odessa underbelly, are very well executed. I loved the addition of the Bear-Shifter into the mix of how scary these people can be.

The current politics as presented in this magical world - almost X-Men-esque expulsion policies, side-by-side with the actual bans and caged children that the administration was doing in real life, were shockingly believable, mostly because it is not a stretch to imagine this kind of oppression.

The Apex Initiative and Third Shift - Extremely fun and engaging. I need a second book about these people (there is a hint in the afterword that this is happening, squeeee!). These side characters stole the show for me. This could be an episodic show or a movie about supe-spies or just more and more books in this world. I NEED the Nate-Clare-Finn thruple story!

Neha and Joe - the central love story, was the least effective for me. Their insta-lust was somewhat believable, but the insta-love that followed did not hold water for me. He just kept repeating the same self-loathing mantra over and over while she kept telling him that she needs him inside her. It just didn't work and I am usually all about the sex.

I am definitely going to be on the lookout for book two in hopes that it is about the other operatives of Third Shift. -Sky.

For a video review head to: https://youtu.be/nxGhloaz-gY

Reading the blurb, it’s not my usual read of PNR. But I'm glad I took the chance.

Neha is a lawyer and a psychologist.....

Joe is a convicted killer.....

Their lives will be changed forever after a chance meeting.....

A really good story. The plot well thought out. Cleverly written with a few surprises along the way.

Neha knows there is no rehabilitation for her client Joe, just looking at him gives her the chills, but not in a scary way!! There is something about him that just makes her want to help him.

Joe knows he’s not a good guy, he may have killed men that take advantage of weaker people, those who are prey to the likes of the mob. And maybe he should feel regret, but what’s done is done, and now he’s going to take whatever the judicial system throws at him.

The sparks between Joe and Neha are in evidence from almost the start.
But how can this end any other way but badly?

Neha and her team (well she’s not in charge, she’s there to get inside Joe’s head) are here for a retrial, no one wanted to take the case on, no one wanted to go against the Russian mob, but here they are, trying to get Joe to talk!! Good luck with that! He said he did it, and that should be the end to it....

Joe has shifter DNA, but no one knows what he can shift into (he’s not shifted at all whilst in prison) can his defence team use that? Well they would if they can get Joe to talk!!

We also get to see the inside of the Russian mob that want Joe dead. And it’s interesting, a few characters aren’t all darkness and killing, and it has you hoping they get out of this mess...

Back to the story..... Joe and Neha are on the run?! How? Why? Well for those answers your going to have to read it.
They will have the police chase them, the mob wants Joe dead, and so will never let him live.
But why escape if your guilty?

The sparks between Joe and Neha are there all the way through the book, is it because she knows he’s innocent? Or is it the animal magnetism that pours from this alpha? I don’t know, but I keeps you wanting to read more about this couple.

So..... whilst on the run, Neha learns a lot about herself and Joe.
He’s totally into Neha, alpha mode to the max, so it’s not like he’s using her to get out of prison.
Neha also realises that she’s more than just a legal head, she has skills that are brought out and honed!

Can Joe and Neha evade the cops and the Russians? And why did Joe want to run anyway? He’s guilty, he said so..... but as o said, this book is not clear cut, there is so much going on.


But it’s not all as it seems at first, so is it a romance? Yes, PNR? Yes, murder/mystery yes and yes, it’s all those and more. Much much more. It had drama and intrigue, it pulls you in, until you’ve read the whole thing. Political? Just a bit, and as I’m not really a politically motivated person that part didn’t interest me, but it’s such a good book that I’m willing to overlook that part.

And to find out that there is another book out in 2021, that’s just made my day.

Big Bad Wolf was…weird. It suffers a bit from “first in a series” syndrome, where the world building overshadows the romance.

Neha meets Joe when she’s working as part of his defense team in his murder case. There is some immediate insta-lust on both sides. And for about 40% of the book, nothing happens. We get multiple points-of-view but it’s all vague history or information regarding the security or legal system.

And then the action picks up. But the romance and relationship growth never does. Neha and Joe have all the sex but why? They never develop deeper feelings so I had a hard time believing in their love story.

The shifter world and how everything related to our current political climate in the USA was the highlight. I think there is some potential for a pairing (or even a throuple!) with some of the side characters and I’m interested in who is featured in the future books.

In 2016, NYC became a sanctuary city for supernaturals. Third Shift is an elite team of operatives tasked with exposing the city's criminal supernatural underworld.

Neha Ahluwalia is a lawyer and psychologist working to help build a defense for shifter Joe Peluso. A ruthless clan of bear shifters who control Brooklyn's Russian Mafia are after Joe to make an example of him. So when they attack the courthouse right before his hearing he and Neha are forced to go on the run.

I didn't have any specific favorite part of this book because there was a lot going on in this book. But I did have a favorite character and that's Neha. I loved how strong she is and how well she knows herself. She never needed Joe, she just wanted him,

If you like paranormal romance, suspense, shifter, fantasy books this one is for you.

Thanks so much to Sourcebooks, Netgalley, and the author for this copy to review.

Wolf shifter romances are my absolute favorite type of paranormal romances! Joe is on trial for killing a handful of men and his new team of lawyers includes the very attractive Neha Ahluwalia who is there to dig more into who Joe really is. This is a fast paced romance where there is a lot going on from the very beginning. I loved learning about Joe's history as well as the reason he is what he is. The romance between the two main characters was also quick but they explain why that is and it is also very steamy! For part of the story we have a second storyline about two other characters and I wasn't as invested in them, it felt more like filler than essential to the plot. The group that is helping Joe and Neha which is called Third Shift was some of my favorite parts of the story and I am so happy that we will be getting more books for them! Overall this was a fun suspenseful romance and I am excited to read more from this author. Thank you Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley for my complimentary copy for review!

Review Copy generously provided by #Netgalley and the publisher. (Thank you!)

I came to Suleikha Snyder from reading Tikka Chance on Me. I liked her voice and her very "take no shits" leading lady. So I was stoked to find out that she was writing a full-length paranormal novel with a killer cover. (Shout out to the Graphic Artist on that!).

The book is an interesting mix of politics, romance, supernatural intrigue, and Russian Mafia. There is a lot to unpack here, and ultimately not all the things worked for me.

The Russian Mafia - the well-developed infrastructure of this world, the nuanced research into the Little Odessa underbelly, are very well executed. I loved the addition of the Bear-Shifter into the mix of how scary these people can be.

The current politics as presented in this magical world - almost X-Men-esque expulsion policies, side-by-side with the actual bans and caged children that the administration was doing in real life, were shockingly believable, mostly because it is not a stretch to imagine this kind of oppression.

The Apex Initiative and Third Shift - Extremely fun and engaging. I need a second book about these people (there is a hint in the afterword that this is happening, squeeee!). These side characters stole the show for me. This could be an episodic show or a movie about supe-spies or just more and more books in this world. I NEED the Nate-Clare-Finn thruple story!

Neha and Joe - the central love story, was the least effective for me. Their insta-lust was somewhat believable, but the insta-love that followed did not hold water for me. He just kept repeating the same self-loathing mantra over and over while she kept telling him that she needs him inside her. It just didn't work and I am usually all about the sex.

I am definitely going to be on the lookout for book two in hopes that it is about the other operatives of Third Shift.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Casa & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.


I have so many thoughts about Suleikha Snyder’s Big Bad Wolf. So many.

The first is just how excited I am to find such an emotionally nuanced, sexy shifter read that isn’t afraid to throw some punches at our current political & social climate. A novel that puts a new spin on common themes of the shifter romance—mates, violence, etc—& that features a diverse, charismatic cast of characters who are sometimes noble & foolish & reckless & devoted & anything but one-note.

Neha Ahluwalia is a junior associate at a criminal attorney firm who’s been asked to sit in on meetings for shifter & accused (& confessed) murderer Joe Peluso as they prepare for his second trial.

He’s a murderer. He’s crude. He’s abrasive. But Neha starts having uncontrollable feelings for him & vice versa. There’s a lot standing in their way, including that they’re sitting on opposite sides of the law—plus the fact that his enemies want him dead.

Like others & the blurb on the cover have said ;) this is a dark read that’s full of big emotions—guilt & lust & uncertainty & trust. The worldbuilding is really cool & the difference in voice for each character feels special. There’s so much about Big Bad Wolf that feels special.

But the relationship arc between Neha & Joe feels a little rushed. As steamy as the book is, I wanted more conversational intimacy between the leads & more of a basis outside of physical need for Neha to initially cross her ethical boundary. In addition, the fallout for Neha’s decision is treated pretty simplistically in the novel’s conclusion, to me.

On balance Big Bad Wolf is a really exciting foray into paranormal romance & I can’t wait to pick back up with the next in the series.

4 ⭐️. Big Bad Wolf is available on 01/26/21.

Big Bad Wolf is a paranormal romance with a side of mafia and dystopia. Set in an alternate present where the things that go bump in the night are real and the government went full authoritarian since 2016, it's not low angst or low drama.

The author builds a dark world with omnipresent danger and strong characters. The hero, Joe, is in jail when we meet him, and the heroine, Neha, is the profiler meant to crack him. But there's a little fated mates zing in there and things go sideways. I enjoyed that, even though you've got the fated mates insta-lust going on, Joe and Neha still had serious conversations.

I found the first half of the book a little slower as I figured out the world, but the second half is action packed. There's a secondary romance that I would have loved to see have a book of its own.

While I think this book is really well done, it's not personally my thing. I love a PNR romance, but mafia and ex-military isn't for me. But if you like all three, you're going to adore this.

I received an ARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley.

Fast paced , loved the characters , loved the interaction between the characters , as well as the written of the author

So here's the thing. When I first started this book, I felt like it was initially a bit light on the PNR and there were all these other characters and I was a bit confused. And the political reality aspect of it threw me for a loop even though, I knew that was a big part of this book. But as I got deeper and deeper into the book, I realized that it was actually meant to be the series starter to a hopefully epic and lengthy series. The world building was done through character introductions and honestly, I want every single one of these characters to get their own books. (But not the Russian mafia people, obvs). I loved Neha and Joe, I loved how badass they were. I loved Neha's courage and how fierce she was. I loved Joe's inability to stay away from Neha despite wholeheartedly believing himself unworthy of her. And I loved the B plot romance as well. I can't wait for the next in this series and I really want a polyamorous love story between F/G/N. WITH SWORDS CROSSING.

Big Bad Wolf is the snarly, snarky, steamy shifter cross-cultural romance I didn't know existed and now will accept nothing less. Not only are gifted with a kickass desi heroine and her brutishly obsessed wolf shifter hero, there's an obscene amount of danger banging, gorgeous secondary star-crossed lovers romance with a Korean-American cop and Russian bear shifter (as you do), intriguing side characters that shamelessly steal the spotlight (looking at Irish pansexual vampire). Not to mention this all is cheekily set in an obviously Trumpian nightmare version of Queens. Neha and Joe's story is nonstop drama in a completely against all odds, hot as hell, run or die, life or death, sex and/or love, kill or be killed, middle finger to 2020, and my only wish was that the story could be even better on-screen than on the pages. Somebody, please DM Netflix.

To be fair, the first third drags a bit after Neha and Joe meet when she joins his his legal defense team. Joe is a military veteran turned wolf shifter who admitted to killing six Russian underworld associates and Neha is the junior associate (with a PhD, thank you very much) assigned to assist his attorneys. Joe and Neha's attraction is immediate, overwhelming, and completely unwelcome by the man who knows he has nothing to live for and the woman who thinks she's just some ordinary desi girl. They are both so very wrong.

Things pick up once Joe and Neha are on the run, trying to escape the Russian crime lord who wants Joe dead, and the many authorities who want him and Neha captured, including Third Shift Security, the shadowy elite shifter force. After the slow drift of the first third, the chase and battle scenes of the book's last part are positively frenetic and dizzying in impact.

I have to confess that despite Neha and Joe's drama, I was far more enthralled by Danny and Yulia's Romeo and Juliet storyline. A Korean American police officer and Russian bear shifter mob princess pining for each other? Totally my romance catnip and I would have loved for them to have their own story.

I could go on and on about the intense sexual connection between Joe and Neha, her questioning her sanity and values, the intriguing side plots and characters, but what really stuck with me was this: this was a fantastically snarky middle finger to the country's last four years. The author doesn't mince words or metaphors. In her world, things might seem dark and desperate but throughout, there are strong, smart, sexy characters who will fight for each other and what's right. This book releases right after the presidential inauguration and that feels very right. Can't wait for what's next in the Third Shift series.

I am a big believer that there needs to be more shifter/ urban fiction stories on our shelves, especially ones that aren't super white and written by an author of color. All that being said, I'm not sure this book will find its way on my favorites shelf for two reasons. One, my biggest pet peeve with all books is when there is sudden shift of POVs and with characters that are not the two leads. I dont know why it bothers me, but it always has, and when it happens my brain shuts down and i either skip the rando POV or DNF the book. The other issue i had was i could no get myself to care about the main female character. From the beginning I was more compelled of Joe's journey then Neha's, but there was no questioning the chemistry when the two got together. Overall, it was a solid book, and i cant wait to read more from this author.

This is a series opener that starts with a bang. Or several. Reminiscent of J.D. Robb, with its near-future setting and intriguing alternate history (of sorts - there are places where it reminds us of awful truths about our current situation in terms of racism, police brutality, and authoritarianism. The inclusion of these details is a gritty plus in my mind, not a minus), Snyder also weaves in a Punisher-style narrative about grief, revenge, and redemption.

I was given an Advance Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed Snyder's <i>Tikka Chance on Me</i> so when I saw she's coming out with a paranormal romance I jumped at the chance to read it. I usually shy away from books with mafia elements or ex-military heroes, but I enjoyed her look at motorcycle gangs so why not give it a try?

I'm so glad I did. Off the top, this book won't be for everyone - the hero is a bit of an arse, there are two danger bangs, and while the consent is there it isn't the most explicit. None of it ended up bothering me, though.

On to the good!

- This is the first fiction I've read that truly interacts with what America has become politically since 2016, pushing it further into a dystopia. Think new Patriot Acts, detention camps on both borders, and drones tracking people in Sanctuary Cities. It's an alternate 2021 that went off the rails even more than we actually did.

- There are a bunch of supernatural folx, but Snyder doesn't try to explain them all at once. Many series start with one kind of shifter then branch out, so I like that we're starting with a mix here.

- While we have a wolf character packs aren't a thing. Instead of those forced relations we're heading towards a found family, which is utterly my jam.

- There are many PoVs and they work well together - the hero, heroine, Neha's coworkers, and the staff at Third Shift.

- Pretty much every character is from a marginalized group, including people of color, LGBTQIA+ folx, a Jewish guy, Sikh folx of varying devotion, and of course shifters.

- The diversity of Indian culture is emphasized and celebrated - different languages, religions, styles of dress, and more. We even have a naga, so bonus points for non-Western supernatural beings.

- I love the secondary characters and cannot wait for them to get their own HEAs, especially a certain Irish vampire who's too charming for his own good.

- One character is a cop but he has reservations about his day job, and things… change by the end. I like the way it's handled.

The not-so-good:

- Instalove, thanks to the fated mates trope. If you're a paranormal romance fan it's par for the course.

- If you're into explicit consent the danger bangs may leave you feeling squick-y. I'm not a huge fan of sex just after getting away from the bad guy, but I got through okay.

<i>Big Bad Wolf</i> takes place in a world that I do not want to live in but am happy to visit in fiction, especially with such a great cast of characters - I can't wait for the next book in the series.

<i>Thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing a review copy.</i>

This was such an interesting take on the paranormal romance genre? I wasn’t entirely in love with the inclusion of very intense political issues, not because I think such issues shouldn’t be discussed in paranormal but mostly because I think the 2020 of it all made reading such things difficult.

An action-packed start to a new paranormal series from Snyder! Like many have already said, the worldbuilding in this is one of the best parts; the care that has gone into fleshing out the setting and the Third Shift organization is something I really enjoyed, and the motley cast of characters who make up this little secret agency promises a lot of fun in future sequels. (I think there’s a triad ship coming up in the second book, which is delightful.) Anyone who ever thought Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle deserved a romance novel should pick this one up, because Joe Peluso was clearly written as a love letter with that character in mind. (Bonus points that he happens to be a wolf shifter.) It took me a bit to be fully sold on the main couple’s romantic potential, but I’m always weak for a ship where both halves would readily sacrifice themselves for each other and once that happened I was more invested in their love story.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the first book I've read from this author, and there was as a lot to like about it. It was a very diverse read in terms of characters. It was high on the paranormal suspense scale, which I really liked. It also had a different take on the paranormal shifter idea that I haven't read before, that was cool, as I really like shifter reads and when something different comes along that's always a bonus. The beginning of the book was a little dense and slow going as the author was world building this alternate modern day world, however she dropped these interesting little tidbits into it about the characters and the plot to keep the reader hooked. After about a quarter of the way in then the book started to pick up and really dig in. I really liked Joe as the main character, his character traits and flaws were believable. Neha, it took me a little to warm up to her as she didn't play off terribly conflicted about what she was doing, which made her a hard to believe character. The secondary characters are really intriguing and I'm really curious to see where this series go, I'll definitely be picking up the rest of the books to follow.

Big Bad Wolf is book one in the new Third Shift series by Suleikha Snyder. The story focuses on main characters Joe Peluso and Neha Ahluwalia. Neha is a junior associate who also has a background in behavioural psychology. She is given the task of analysing the recently incarcerated Joe who is on trial for a sniper attack on the local Bratva and the reasons why he did it. Mixed in with the story is the introduction to paranormals who have burst onto the scene during the Darkest Days which has now pitted humans and paranormals against one another.

There is a lot going on in this book (hence it being the first book in the series). Firstly, we have the will they/won’t they relationship between Neha and Joe. Then we also have the paranormals themselves and world building. Even though this book is set in 2016, it is a completely different world from the one we know and has huge urban fantasy vibes going on. We also have the story on how Joe became what he is and the background information on that.

Overall, this is a good start for a new series, with some insta love characters who go to and fro with their feelings, but they are still pretty likeable and help shuffle the story along. The world building is good if a little long, but the story does get there in the end. A different take on the werewolf genre, but still a good read.

ARC received for a fair, honest and sometimes long review. All opinions are my own. 😊

More of my reviews can be found on my blog: http://thehotmesslibrary.blogspot.com

At the beginning of this year, I reviewed Suleikha Snyder’s short story anthology, Prem Numbers, and said Snyder wrote “radical hope and face sitting.” I’m a fan of her work. She is not a low angst author. Her lovers are passionate. Her stories have all the angst and agony of love in a world that will punish people for looking the wrong way and loving the wrong way. She carves out pockets of safe space for her characters to love in and it feels like a respite from the world. In Big Bad Wolf, she takes all that and then dials it up to 11.

Imagine if the administration elected into power in November of 2016 had been more competent in their authoritarianism. In Big Bad Wolf, The United States has moved into an authoritarian, surveillance state dystopia, with a few veneers of democracy still remaining. On top of that, the public has only recently learned about supernaturals. The armed forces, of course, have been experimenting with turning soldiers into shifters for a while.

I’ve written, deleted, and rewritten this review so many times because I keep falling into the trap of retelling the plot as if I’m a toddler telling anyone who will listen about their favorite episode of Paw Patrol. The plot is a wild ride and Suleikha Snyder does a much better job of telling her story than I do. The basics: Joe was turned into a wolf shifter while he was a soldier. He thinks being a killer is all he has to offer and has turned vigilante. Neha is a psychologist turned lawyer, part of the team hired to defend Joe. They strike sparks immediately with verbal sparring, eye fucking and some serious pining. When an attack on Joe’s life sends them on the run, it’s all exploding lust and feelings. Outside of Joe and Neha, there is a whole underground world of shifters and magical beings waiting to come to light.

Snyder brings her love of soap operas to her world building in Big Bad Wolf. This is the first book in a series, so she is building a world and introducing characters and hinting at their future stories. The folks at Third Shift Security start to populate the novel and become intriguing characters on their own right without stealing focus from Neha and Joe*. There are a couple of significant fight scenes, which is not something I’ve read from Snyder before, and she writes it so well. The fight scenes solidified my 5 star rating, because she clearly communicates the violence and chaos while keeping in character growth and emotional epiphanies. When I finished I almost cried at how long I have to wait for the next book. I am anxious for more of this world and just from this book I can see so many stories I want to read. I feel like the direction this is going is the team working to put a world that has gone wrong to rights and creating a safer place for them to live and love.

Joe isn’t going to be everyone’s favorite kind of hero. He’s moody and keeps trying to do the right thing for Neha without listening to Neha’s opinions. Big Bad Wolf is very much a redemption story for him. I am bouncing in my seat waiting for Pretty Little Lion.

I received an advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

*Except for Finn. The vampire steals every scene he is in.

Book one in the new Third Shift series by Snyder is, as always with a new series, packed to the rafters with world-building and character establishment. Having said that, I really enjoy it when an author throws us right into the thick of it from the very first page. It's a firm thoughtful introduction of Joe and Neha. We're immediately intuned to who and what we think they are and definitely understand the predicament.

Big Bad Wolf has so many things going for it. It's a procedural meets-mafia-meets-supernatural combination. Its well flushed out and commands the reader's attention.

I can't wait for more.
~Tanja