Her Lone Wolf

X-Ops #2

by Paige Tyler

Leaving him was Impossible…

It took everything she had for FBI Special Agent Danica Beckett to walk away from the man she loved. But if she wants to save his life, she has to keep her distance. Now, with a killer on the loose and the stakes higher than ever before, the Department of Covert Ops is forcing these former lovers into an uneasy alliance…whether they like it or not.

Seeing her again is even worse

The last thing Clayne Buchanan wants is to be shackled to the woman who broke his heart. She gets under his skin in a way no one ever has and makes him want things he has no right to anymore. All he has to do is suffer through this case and he can be free of her for good. But when Clayne finds out why Danica left in the first place, everything he’s tried to bury comes roaring back—and there’s no way this wolf shifter is going to take no for an answer this time.

Genres: Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Shapeshifters, Romantic Suspense, Urban Fantasy, Suspense

327 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 4, 2014

About the author

Paige Tyler is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of sexy, romantic suspense and paranormal romance. She and her very own military hero (also known as her husband) live on the beautiful Florida coast with their adorable fur baby (also known as their dog). Paige graduated with a degree in education, but decided to pursue her passion and write books about hunky alpha males and the kick-butt heroines who fall in love with them.

Reviews

[Andrea · Rating 1 out of 5]

Warning: this second chance romance is NOT safe

If you enjoy stories where the heroine broke up with the hero to save his life, loved him the entire separation and remained faithful to him, while the hero slept with other women, this is the book for you.

This author perpetuates sexism. A man can go off and sleep with someone else and it makes him "a man" but the woman can't or else she's a trashy slut. We're told he had many partners while she only had 5, including him. During their separation he had multiple women while she only had her vibrator.

It took too long to get them together for my tastes. It started out with Clayne in jail about to be sentenced for murdering, but he was offered a job by the DCO and escaped his fate. Then it jumped 5 years forward in Danica's POV. She didn't mention one word about Clayne in her chapter and he hadn't mentioned her either. I was mad that he'd gone out on a date with Kendra, even though it had been bad. Until John sent him on this mission to help the FBI in California with a hybrid serial killer. He saw Danica and I did like his reaction to seeing her.
"It had been two years since Danica had dumped his ass, and she looked even more beautiful than she had the last time he'd seen her. That only made it worse. It would have been easier if she'd let herself go to hell. It hurt to gaze at her. Getting away from him had clearly done wonders for her."

Danica introduced Clayne to her partner Tony and Clayne didn't shake his hand and I loved how he hated him! When Tony asked if she wanted to come over for dinner after work Clayne growled. And he growled when Danica said maybe, if they don't pull an all-nighter.

I liked that the author didn't hold everything back and drag it out for so long like some authors do. On pg. 40 Danica remembered the day she'd broke up with him. She told him she couldn't do this anymore and Clayne had wanted to fix it and know what he'd done wrong. But I could see how he hated her because she'd deliberately sent him away by asking if he thought she would spend the rest of her life with a freak like him and bear his pups. That's terrible.

I didn't like Kendra's POV because I don't want to read about another woman, especially one who likes him and went on a date with him. Ivy and Landon were checking out locations in between missions of the doctors who were taking their DNA and making hybrids, humans turned shifters, behind John's back.

I was pissed the fuck off as I read that Kendra had tried to seduce Clayne by wearing a dress and inviting back to her place, even though he'd only been giving her one-word answers and clearly didn't have chemistry with her. And that they'd had sex. "It hadn't been the worst sex she'd ever had, but it definitely hadn't been the earthshaking experience she hoped it'd be." She thought he was The One. Fuck you Kendra. And f authors who write this shit. Thank you to the sick, sexist authors who make us read details like this, in the other woman's POV especially. That is so fucked up. Are you trying to piss readers off? I had been holding out hope that Clayne had remained faithful since they had a relationship and loved each other and it had only been 2 years. And I almost hit the f'ing roof as Kendra remembered Danica telling her her own relationship with Clayne had been a train wreck and asked Kendra to promise to keep on eye on Clayne. "Kendra blushed. Somehow, she doubted the other woman had meant keeping an eye on Clayne's naked body while they had sex." Fuck you again. F every author who has a hero sleep with another woman after being with the heroine. You take what could be a sweet second chance romance and fuck it all up to hell. You just ruined your own story. This is why you can't read f'ing second chance romances ever, because women can't stop being sexist against their own gender. And do the heroines ever get to have sex with another man and enjoy themselves? Hell no.

Then we have to suffer through and read about this stupid bitch thinking about having sex with him in her f'ing head. And she had a matchmaking program and was too afraid to type her name in case no one came up, like I give a shit if this bitch is single. She typed Clayne's name in and Danica came up, which brought her to think of the train wreck memory and keeping an eye on Clayne. F'ing shit. Everything so far was totally ruined as the author eviscerated every moment she'd set up. And it had to kept so f'ing recently before Clayne and Danica met up again, just to fuck us up some more.

Idk how I had the mental capacity to find anything cute after that fucking bomb that she dropped, but it was cute how Ivy and Landon had to hide that they're together. They couldn't say they loved each other so Ivy touched her rings hanging on a necklace under her shirt and Landon touched his ring finger.

If all that wasn't bad enough, she made us read Ivy interrogating Kendra on her date with Clayne and the sex they'd had on their first date. Because of course it wasn't bad enough when she'd made us think they'd only gone out with each other. No, they actually had to have sex. If I had a dime for every author who wrote shit I'd be rich right now. And the f'ing nerve hypocritical, sexist bastards have when they pissed about the heroine having sex with someone else when they just had sex with another woman. Suddenly his jealousy of Tony, and asking Danica if she was screwing him pissed me the fuck off.

Their meeting 4 years ago was good. Too bad I couldn't stop thinking about him having sex with another woman. See what you did there?
John called him to the office, where he smelled Danica from the hallway and really liked her scent. Clayne got mad at her being his new partner, said it would take more than a pretty face to get the job done or get on his good side, and went to storm out but she grabbed his arm. She told him she wasn't going to be his partner, he was going to be hers.
"John told me that you had problems working with your previous partners and that it affected team performance."
She got on tiptoe. "Well, those issues aren't going to hurt our team." She said "Fortunately for you, I'm good enough at my job to carry your dead weight for a while. But I won't do it forever, so you better get your crap together." She told him to pay attention because he didn't want this pretty face pissed off at him. John said he'd met his match.

Once she dropped that bomb and took a shit on the story and Danica, I emotionally checked out. I can barely describe the upset and anger I felt at this. I found this book in my library's bookstore and when I looked it up I discovered it had been on my to-read list since 2014. I bought and saved it for the summer when I had 4 days off in a row and was so excited to read it. And then I got a big smack in the face in return. Women expect to be betrayed, I guess. They expect to be cheated on. They expect to be traded up. They expect to be #2. They not only expect it, they want it. How are things going to change if authors keep choosing to write sexist shit?

Clayne had thought what he felt for Danica was that once in a lifetime deal, and that she was his soul mate. Which just made the betrayal that much worse. He also pointed that he'd had sex with women before Danica, "plenty of women." Well he wouldn't be a man if he didn't, now would he? Thank you for sharing that. I wouldn't have seen him as attractive or manly had you not said that.

After they were so close to catching the killer during the hunting game, but came too late instead, Clayne was pissed so Danica took him to a bar. He made a comment about her leaving him to get out of the DCO and she said didn't have a choice, prompting him to demand to know what she was talking about. Rick told her he wouldn't send Clayne to prison if she left him and the DCO. He had blackmail against Clayne, video footage of the killings he made. Even though Clayne was stopping human traffickers, no one knew the men were traffickers and would think Clayne killed them for no reason. She figured that Dick knew she was the only thing keeping Clayne in line and Clayne wouldn't lose it with her there, but Dick needed Clayne to go off so the shifter program would be shut down because he hates shifters.

I expected Clayne to feel like a shitty ass bastard that he slept with someone else after Danica had sacrificed what she wanted to save his sorry life. I expected for him to confess to sleeping with Kendra, who they both know, and for her to rightfully feel betrayed. But he never once felt any of those things. He immediately wanted to leave to go back to her place, as if he deserved to have sex with her. Danica needed to know what he'd done, not that it would matter, but he was a piece of shit and she needed to know that.

And of course Clayne got the relief of knowing she hadn't had sex with anyone else. There goes that hope out the damn window. When he asked if she had condoms at her house she said she hadn't needed them and he looked amazed. "She'd slept with a grand total of four men before she'd met Claynr. And after leaving him, she'd still been too much in love with him to have sex with anyone else."
Fuck hypocritical fucking asses. Fuck this. I want to freaking boycott sexist authors who have the heroine faithful to a hero who isn't faithful to her. That son of a bitch doesn't deserve her.

Danica found that he still had her number in his phone and her name was the password on his laptop. Too had the author screwed it up beyond redemption!

I was pissed all over again as Clayne and Danica were in her apartment going over info on the hunter and he called Kendra with the clues they came up with. Danica sat there listening to Clayne talk to Kendra, remembered her didn't know she did intel. And then Kendra asked to speak to her. Knowing Danica and Clayne had been together. What a bitch. Clayne told Kendra he owed her one and Kendra said she'd remind him of that. Wtf is going on here?

Kendra wanted to go in the field instead of doing intel work like I gave a shit. I was pissed off at the thought of her going to California and being around Clayne and Danica. Get her the f out of the story. Declan, a bear, has liked her and had been asking her out but she kept turning him down because she liked Clayne. So now he didn't ask her out and she shallowly noticed how muscular he is. WTF are authors thinking?! You have the nasty hero sleep with a woman on the first date like he doesn't give one shit about the heroine, have some slut come out of the woodwork who's been after him for years, have it not work out, and then foist her off on a guy who's actually good, she thinks too shy and sweet. Well fuck you. You don't deserve him you piece of crap. Idk anything about Declan but I sure as hell know he deserves better than her. I couldn't stand for her freaking name to appear on the page and for this bastard to actually use her name in front of Danica with no shame, remorse, guilt, or anything--like he had amnesia and forgot he slept with her. I expected for him to think he should have held out; he should have trusted Danica, he shouldn't have slept with someone else, he shouldn't have gone out on the date, etc. None of which would have excused the action or made me feel any better, but there needed to be an acknowledgement. He never even admitted it or thought about it, or explained it. All he called it was a date, that was it. And what was the point? If you weren't going to have it be an issue or even have him think about it, why have it happen?

She can't deliver emotion at all. Clayne finally learned she still loved him, and he barely said anything. He kept questioning why Dick would do it and what he had on him. All he said was that they lost so much time and that was about it. Then they rushed out to have sex that I didn't want to read. How mundane. You'd think he would have had more to say than that...And Danica never once wondered if he'd slept with anyone else, like it didn't even matter. It was so unrealistic.
This is a second chance romance with the worst betrayal possible.

And then she had Danica call the DCO with the info they had and Kendra answered, of course. Let's keep putting the other woman in contact. "It was Kendra, thank God." You're really going to have the heroine be thankful to God that she's talking to the woman who slept with Clayne? And Danica didn't even get to know, just went around like a clueless fool out of the loop while Kendra and Ivy knew it. She made Danica look like a fool, being nice to Kendra when she didn't deserve it.

She made such a big freaking deal about Clayne and Danica knowing where the other was. Like a tracking device, like a GPS tracker, a radar detector, a subconscious locator.

The killer took Beth, Tony's wife, "because Tony was working the case," but there was no explanation whatsoever to how he found out about Beth. How did he know Tony was working the case? How did he know he had a wife, and how did he find out where Tony lived?? All great questions that were not addressed at all.

In the woods after he had taken down the killer, Danica thanked Clayne for giving her a chance to fix things and being willing to love her. He never said he loved her now...and she didn't know if he would admit it because guys have a hard time with the l word. Then when they were talking to Beth before she was loaded up, Danica announced she was moving to Washington DC now that she was with Clayne. Without ever talking about it with him. I don't like when the woman puts words in the man's mouth that he loves her, or makes plans to live together when he never invited her to and they didn't even talk about it.

And then on pg. 267 she had to go there. Danica commented on what good friends Ivy and Landon were to search Dick's apartment for the evidence and Clayne said Ivy was the only one who kept him sane after she left. Danica wondered how good of friends they'd been, knew it was better not to ask. She told herself she wouldn't be mad. She'd broken up with him and "it was only natural he'd try to move on." She couldn't promise she wouldn't be jealous. He said they didn't sleep together. "Not for lack of trying on my part, though." Well fuck you twice, loser. Did you have to say that? I f'ing hate authors who have a series of people who have all hooked up with each to her, tried to hook up with each other, and sleep with characters who are going to go on and have their own book and end up with someone else. Things were ugly after Ivy got with Landon, and he'd treated them horribly. He realized he would have ended up hurting whoever he was with because they weren't Danica. He said "none of them" were her, meaning more than one. And he never mentioned that he slept with Kendra, which she deserved to know because it's a mutual acquaintance. And Danica wanted to be jealous but she just hurt for what she'd done to him...Fuck this.

They already killed the killer but there was still quite a bit left. I thought is it just going to be them looking for Dick's evidence? Because boy the pace really fell off there. Ivy, Landon, and Kendra went to search the DCO building and I read one line where Landon thought Kendra wasn't being utilized because she was good at this and I started skimming over it because I'm not reading about that stupid bitch. I wondered why Danica hadn't been taken because there's always a threat on the heroine's life, but now when she went for a jog, she saw the killer.

Breaking news: It wasn't the killer; it's the killer's twin brother. I almost started laughing. Just like a freaking soap opera. It was the twin brother all along! That is the dumbest idea. As a twin, I'm laughing at how pathetic this plot idea is and how many people use it like it's the ultimate surprise. How lame.

So while he tied Danica up and was going to torture her, she stalled in the overdone and completely tired device of asking questions until help arrived. Ugh. She shared that Clayne knows where she's at and she knows where he's at because she's a wolf's mate. How special. It was a good moment when he asked then where is he and she smiled and said behind you.

Dick came up and threatened her, saying she put her boyfriend in prison. Danica said she didn't know what he was talking about. It was good that she tested him to see if he had copies of the evidence, and told him that he should be careful threatening people when he doesn't have anything to back it up, because some people might take it the wrong way and rip his face off, and she looked at Clayne. He guessed that she had Ivy and Landon search the office and she dates him to try to arrest them, because he won't find a single piece of evidence against them. Danica said that if someone like Ivy and Landon had broken in, they wouldn't leave any evidence behind.

It ended with a party and of course freaking Kendra was there. I blew past every line she spoke or was in. Danica had a ring because Clayne had proposed that day...Who cuts out the proposal? Ivy and Landon said they found files where the DCO, Dick and John, had signed over money to the doctor making hybrids, so it looks like John is a bad guy. Don't care. I couldn't care less where this series is going. The epilogue wasn't even about Clayne and Danica. There was a character I never heard of and I didn't care. There was a sneak peak after that of Declan and I saw Kendra's name and I stopped right there. Not supporting a broad who couldn't wait for her own man and a man who's too good for her, kept asking her out while she slept with a man on the first date. I'm done with this series and this author. First and last and I won't be supporting her. This piece of shit is going back to the bookstore.

Besides the huge fuck-up that turned this into a big pile of shit, there were a lot of other problems that ensured this wouldn’t be getting anything over 1 star. Too many POVs. The MCs. Ivy. Her husband Landon. Kendra, the woman he slept with. I hate other POVs beside the MCs.

She had annoying tendencies to repeat phrasing.
Pg. 16 "his industrial-espionage-slash-counter-intelligence team."
Pg 22 "The behavioral-scientist-slash-training-officer."
Pg 55 senior behavioral-scientist-slash-training-officer-slash-personal assistant
Pg 103 husband-slash-boyfriend-slash-father
She’s a big fan of the slash…
She had both of them think "Daaaammmn" about each other. She did it 3 times.
When you use something that stands out that like, readers are going to remember if you use it a second time. But when you keep doing it a handful of times throughout the book it becomes extremely annoying.

Once that happened I mentally checked out and no longer cared one bit about the book, the story, the characters, anything. The serial killer aspect dominated the entire story and the romance took a backseat. The plot sucked and it was so boring, and the romance was a total fail.

[Lover of Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance

 

Her Lone Wolf is the second in the series, and the last book of Paige Tyler's that I haven't read and boy was this one fun. I have really been looking forward to this one ever since I read Her Wild Hero, which features this couple quite a bit. This is a second chance romance and I loved seeing these two come back together. Two years previous, Danica and Clayne were partners with the DCO (Department of Covert Ops) but this division of the government has a strict rule of not romantic involvement between partners. Well, Clayne and Danica fell in love and were romantically involved. Danica was blackmailed, and if she didn't break it with Clayne than he would go to prison. So Danica knew that prison is practically a death sentence for a shape-shifter. In Clayne's mind, Danica broke his heart and he has sworn never to open himself up ever again. Until he is ordered by his boss, to hunt down a shifter serial killer and he ends up working with Danica Again. What was most interesting about this story was how well they work together.

When Danica named a fast food place known for their monster burgers, Clayne almost laughed. Danica knew him pretty damn well--maybe better than he knew himself. She knew when he was frustrated, when he was pissed off, when he was hungry, and apparently what he liked to eat. And as the past few days had reminded him, she knew how to keep him calm and focused on the task ahead of them, and she knew what to say to keep him from losing it. She brought out the best in him,

Despite their history and the pain they both have gone through, the mission comes first. I love that they can still work on a relationship and not let it affect the mission. We also see more of Landon and Ivy and they are also hiding their relationship from the DCO and they have been married for a while now. The romance is pretty well written, and I loved seeing these two reconnect again and fight for their relationship to the point where they refuse to get separated even if that means leaving the life they both love. The team really pulls together in this book and helps each other out even though they are on different missions. Paige Tyler has won me over again with an action packed and paranormal romance with a dash of mystery to keep me as happy as a lark. If you love paranormal and military mixes, then this series is for you!! I love the way it's balanced out, with the serial killer, and the hunt and the spicy romance that makes me wish the fourth book was ready Now!! hehe Next year, though.

Her Perfect Mate (1)

Her Lone Wolf (2)

Her Wild Hero (3)

Her Fierce Protector (4)

[Ronda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a couple of Paige Tyler's books, I'm hooked on her SWAT series, it is amazing! However, I read X-Ops book 1 (and the novella before that) and they gained 3 and 4 starts respectively. Why I left it so long between the 1st story and this one, I have no idea but I do know that I've struggled to read some books lately and I decided to pick up Her Lone Wolf.

Amazing! This novel goes straight to my 'favourite shelf'! The twists in this book were unexpected, the storyline was absolutely brilliant and the characters superb! Paige Tyler has written a book, for me, that goes beyond what books should be like - I certainly didn't struggle in any way, shape or form to devour these pages and I am definitely picking up the next book right away.

If you're into shifters, this is an amazing series to get your claws into! Every pun intended!

[Anne - Books of My Heart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
 

Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
 
I'm enjoying the X-Ops series as they release on audio, as I've always wanted to read them.  I haven't been reading too much PNR lately but this feels like romantic suspense with shifters. There is a new couple in each book.  So you could read them out of order, but I wouldn't.  I'm enjoying how the world and characters continue to develop.

An overview on the shifters in this world is they do not change completely. Their eyes change color and they may grow claws. They always have more strength, better hearing, healing and sense of smell than humans. They are born into human families and have just slight genetic differences.

Her Lone Wolf is a second chance romance. The couple were DCO partners in the past. Danica, the human partner, transferred to the FBI in another state.  Clayne, as wolf shifter,  stayed in the DCO without a partner.  The previous romance made this more believable.

There is a serial killer, who is likely a shifter, and Clayne gets sent to work with the FBI. Nobody is happy about it at first.  The suspense and action are great as they try to figure out who the killer is.  Working together gives Clayne and Danica time to reconnect and figure out what happened in the past to separate them.

The bad guys from the previous story with Ivy and Landon remains a continuing side arc here and there are hints about the next story. Kendra is a key figure in each book so far and I REALLY like her.  I have guesses about her story and who she will love, but I won't share my wild speculation. I enjoyed the characters who are continuing along in the series.  Well not Dick, he's a dick. And John is confusing.

As is sometimes the case, PNR is on the steamier side. The language and sex scenes are hot.   Each person grows as they become part of a couple,  and they all have excellent skills and compassion for others. The team gets closer and more closely connected as the series continues.  I'm looking forward to more stories and more couples.

Narration:
This series is my first experience with Holly Adams. I really enjoyed her approach to male and female voices. The chapters alternated between Clayne and Danica's point of views but also sometimes Kendra or Ivy. We got some of their thought along with dialogue.   The voices for the non-dialogue parts in the chapter were also more male or female depending on whose chapter it was.  I can't recall hearing other narrators do it, though.  I really liked it.  I listened at my usual 1.5x speed.

Listen to a clip: HERE

[Wild_irish_rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Danica and Clayne's story especially the fact that the misunderstanding didn't go on forever. This series is providing hours of fun reading.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this 2nd book in Paige Tyler's X-Ops series!

[All Things Urban Fantasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy

HER LONE WOLF is a fun, suspenseful paranormal romance that leans heavily towards the thriller genre. There are government conspiracies and elaborate chase scenes with a tight plot and tons of twists and turns. The hunt for the murderer is really the highlight of the story and I enjoyed seeing the figure out how to catch him using some creative strategizing considering they had to hide some of their knowledge of supernaturals from the police. I also like the way shifters are integrated into the storyline and the interesting way they are handled in this series.

It was interesting to see how Danica and Clayne's relationship progressed to where it is at the beginning of the book through a series of flashbacks sprinkled around the story. While constantly having flashbacks can come off as tiring or confusing the way its done in HER LONE WOLF is pretty seamless and makes for fun layering of plot points and storylines. I liked seeing them rekindle their relationship and work through the issues they had previously that made the relationship break down. Although the reason for their break up was a bit weird at first the reasoning was finally cleared up with a pretty major plot twist. I also enjoyed seeing these two work together because they are a really well oiled machine when it comes to doing their jobs even after not talking for a few years.

HER LONE WOLF is a action packed romantic thriller with a dash of fur and claws to make things really exciting. This book can be read as a stand-alone as it goes over the details of the worldbuilding pretty well in the first few pages. While I loved the paranormal aspect of this story it could have so easily been just a straight up thriller and still been just as great.

[Stephine · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a killer on the loose and the stakes higher than ever before, former lovers FBI Special Agent Danica Beckett and DCO operative Clayne Buchanan are being forced into an uneasy alliance whether they like it or not in this thrilling paranormal suspense.

A fast pace and smooth flowing plot keeps readers hovering on the edge of anticipation with plenty of suspense, excitement and romance. Paige Tyler brings the story to life with well written scenes and details that inspire vivid images and capture the imagination and the well orchestrated suspense and action draw the reader deeper into the story while the strong compelling characters and fascinating world of shifters ensure that the readers want to know everything that is happening.

The attraction between Danica and Clayne still burns hot despite what has happened between them, but the relationship is so very complicated. The reader can’t help but get caught up in their story as Danica, for very important reasons – namely Clayne’s life – tries to deny their attraction and Clayne is still hurting from the past so he doesn’t even want to work with her but as the emotional turmoil boils so does their desires and soon the truth comes out along with some hot and steamy sex scenes. Clayne is the ultimate bad boy that makes the heart beat faster and I have to say Danica is the perfect match to tame him…even if I do want him for myself.

Spine tingling tension builds throughout the story as they hunt the serial killer and the stakes continue to rise and I have to say the author surprised me with a few twists I didn’t see coming and then there is the ongoing inner conflict within DCO and their hunt for the psycho scientist to spice the story up even more. There was never a dull moment in this story and I was completely engrossed from the very beginning and I can’t wait to read the next one.
- Eva

[Frankie Ness · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed HER LONE WOLF, the pace was great, never a dull moment and the serial killer really had me gripping my copy hard. The smexy is scorching and I really love the straightforward reconciliation between Clayne and Danica, PTyler didn't add too much angst between the two even if their initial break-up was nothing but stupid office politics with a side of blackmail. Btw, it seems some of their higher ups are involved in something dirty and I can't wait to see how that's going to unfold. Lastly the main thread regarding the experiments and the elusive mad doctors have me piqued and itching for more. Genius villains are the best IMO and I want to know who's behind it and how far and deep their reach is.

HER LONE WOLF is a solid follow up to the X-Ops series. The chase, action-adventure, and romance thrilled me and the paranormal aspect added a gritty sheen to the tale. There's nothing like fangs and claws with a hint of fur to make things hairy right? So if you're a fan of romantic suspense with or without the supernatural, you'll enjoy PTyler's X-Ops series, satisfaction guaranteed.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leaving Clayne Buchanan was the hardest thing Danica Beckett has ever had to do. That is until they are required to partner up again to catch a killer. Every bit of attraction and passion is still there and it's inescapable.

Clayne Buchanan was first introduced in Ivy and Landon's story in Her Perfect Mate. To say Clayne was an ass is an understatement. Thankfully this time around he is much more likable and we get to see a different side of him. Danica is just what Clayne needs, she tames his beast like no other. I loved their journey. Her Lone Wolf, is an exciting read. I'm loving this series and look forward to more. There is mystery, romance and action. Flashbacks telling Clayne and Danica's history were great. If you've read the first book you'll be happy to see Ivy and Landon making an appearance. A must read.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars... The second book in the series focuses on Clayne's story, and we are finally introduced to the mysterious Danica who betrayed him and shattered his heart... Wrapped in an intense serial killer plot with a shifter twist, Clayne's and Danica's story unfolds revealing secrets leading to a potential conspiracy in the DCO... We also get to touch base with Ivy and Landon as they continue to track the hybrids and the scientists behind the experiments... Fast paced, action packed, second chance romance with a paranormal twist; I absolutely enjoyed this read and all the components coming into play as the overall story unfolds... Looking forward to the next book in this exciting series:)

[Paranormal Kiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paranormal romance filled with action, suspense and sex…

Her Lone Wolf by Paige Tyler is the 2nd book in her X-Ops series. Her Lone Wolf focuses on Clayne, a wolf shifter and Danica a human. They have a history together and Danica broke his heart two years prior when she ended things in a way that left him bitter and disillusioned. It broke her heart too and she did it because she saw it as the only way to keep him safe.

Danica is an agent with the FBI and they meet up again when Clayne comes to assist the FBI with a serial killer case. Both Danica and Clayne know that the killer isn’t human and they must work together to solve the case and keep the FBI from realizing that the killer is different. The attraction between Clayne and Danica is still burning strong and things quickly reach a boiling point. The question is, can they overcome the past to find their way to a future and can Danica risk Clayne finding out the truth? For she knows the truth will put him in the path of danger once again.

I really enjoyed Her Lone Wolf. It’s a fast paced read, filled with action, suspense, romance, and danger. I found both the plot and the characters to be interesting and engaging. The romance is poignant and sexy. I liked reading along as Clayne and Danica found their way together again. The suspense was well done and had me turning the pages to find out what happens next. It’s a great addition to the series and I look forward to the next one.

I would recommend Her Lone Wolf and the X-Ops series to fans of paranormal romantic suspense.

*ARC (Advanced Review Copy) received from SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca via NetGalley.

[Anna (Bobs Her Hair) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars from me (but may be a 4 star read for more flexible PNR readers)

What's Good:
- hero and heroine chemistry; sexual tension
- thriller and suspense aspect
- steady to fast pacing
- steam level and balance amount of love scenes

What's Weak:
- 'super secret' government group
- non-fraternazion rule (solution: keep it a secret, even if married)
- kill shifter partner rule (which no one will do) all to avoid exposure (problem: DNA)
- poor government security and limited ability to connect-the-dots, all which benefits h/h
- the language (bad guys, super secret, ultra secret)
[note: I watch many police procedurals (documentary and fiction)]

But I remain eager to read the next book in the series. Heh.

[mer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf @ 23% (15/3/2017)

Kinda disaster imo. I really disliked reading the jumping between past and present situations, wasting my time and energy. The hero already slept with one of the coworkers although it didn't work out, it just felt ugh cos I bet this lady coworker will associate with the main lady so talk about awkward. Also, I never liked the hero. He's a jerk.

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the first book in the series, there was no way I wasn't reading this one. I was thrilled that this was Clayne's story as he was such an interesting character in the first book. And like the first one, this one was full of action, suspense, and not just engaging, passionate characters.

I thought it would jump in right where the other one left off and it did chronologically, but it pushed the big suspense story arc to the side and brought in another one letting the series story arc move to an on going piece in the background. I was going to say that this leaves some wiggle room for the person who grabs them out of order, but I'm going to say that reading out of order isn't a good idea. Even though this one has a new main story line and the main characters and their romance don't build from the last book, the world building, bits of the secondary story running through the book, and several of the side characters are presented in a way that assumes the reader already read the first book.

The story opens with FBI agent, Danika Beckett, and her partner getting called in on a new case. She gets a close look at the latest killing by their serial killer and realizes that they're not dealing with a regular human killer. It forces her to make a call to a secret agency that she never thought she would have contact with ever again. It has been two years since she walked away from the agency and now she must set aside her own qualms for the sake of catching the killer.

Clayne Buchanan is a restless and touchy operative who prefers to go his own way. He doesn't have a partner and gets called in on assignments that suit his particular skills these days. Then he gets sent out to Sacramento to be put on a task force involving local law enforcement and the FBI to catch a serial killer. The sight of his ex-partner and former lover, Danika, who coldly told him that she couldn't be with someone who was half animal before walking out his door and all the way out of his life and her job is a gut-punch. Worse, he has to work with her to catch the shifter who has taken to treating humans like they are prey for the hunter.

In the meantime, Ivy and Landon continue to pursue every lead to tracking down the scientists hoping to stop them before they successfully use her DNA to create stronger hybrid shifters as part of their plot. They can never seem to draw close and then Landon makes a discovery that ups the ante and proves to a few trusted members of the X-Ops group that someone might be working against them from within their own organization leaving them not sure who they can trust.

Wow! So much good stuff went on in the book. The serial killer angle was exciting and had some really good twists that definitely appealed to the suspense lover in me. The ongoing story arc stuff both the tracking of the scientists and those secrets coming out about their own organization are building up to something big and I look forward to where it's all going.

But the main event was definitely the unfinished business between Clayne and Danika now that they have their second chance. She broke off their love affair and quit the agency in an abrupt cold way. I was actually a bit nervous because this sort of plot is a gamble with me. I can go with the 'I did it to save you' line so long as I'm convinced that its a powerful enough reason. Clayne is a shifter and they're both black ops trained, it was going to have to be a humdinger of a reason. I'm not going to give it away b/c wondering about it is one of the things that kept me reading like mad, but I will acknowledge that I bought it particularly when the details came out. I think the real reason I let it fly was because of the way they both handled what led up to her telling him the truth and just the marvel that she did cough up the truth when asked without the dog and pony show that some books make. Do you know how refreshing it is to come across a smart pair of characters who handle life's issues in a mature, sensible manner? I think I sat there with this huge smile of gratitude on my face. These are black ops specialists and they behave as such. It makes this series just a notch above many others in that respect.

I really loved following along as these two worked together as partners, but their passion was good stuff too. They didn't jump into bed together right off the bat because there was a lot of stuff that had to be dealt with first, but once they did. *wolf whistles*
They totally fit together perfectly and the author gave several scenes showing them in action as they brought out the best in each other whether it was studying the evidence and clues or out in the field on the killers trail. Or just trusting each other without grappling for the lead- they shared. So neat!

I'll leave off with a teaser quote: Then again, if he couldn't smell anything, neither could MacDermott, and Clayne had no problem using that to his advantage. And he'd take any advantage he could get- since he realized about five minutes ago that his Colt was sitting on the night stand next to his bed. But that's what happens when a serial killer grabs the woman you love. You stop thinking about slowing down to get your man made weapon and bring the ones God and nature had given you. p. 302 Clayne from Her Lone Wolf

Another abso-fab installment in the series that keeps coming on strong with plot, characters, and steamy passionate paranormal romantic suspense. I cannot wait for the next book and I hope it's Kendra's story. She was good stuff as a secondary character in this one.

My thanks to Sourcebooks for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A second chance full of roadblocks

I wasn’t too sure about Clyne from book one, but his story with Danika has me completely a fan of his and his attitude. They have great chemistry and I love the special aspects of trust and skills in their relationship. The missed time and story behind it was heartfelt and sneaky. There are twists behind the sabotaging of the EVA program, the prior time in jail and the hybrid DNA search, which were well developed and paced. One could enjoy this book on its own, but to fully get the moving pieces and characters and twists I would recommend reading the prequel novella and book one first!

[Liz]

During separation, H slept with a coworker who also works closely with the h. Le sigh.

[Sherri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, that had a plot twist I didn't see coming! I am really loving this series so far.

[Jessica Robbins · Rating 4 out of 5]

For complete review check out my blog at https://booksaplentybookreviews.blogs...

[Marta Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the X.Ops series and follows on from the previous book Her Perfect Mate . This is a series that features shifters working for a top secret organisation known as the Department of Covert Affairs. It's a strange mixture of both humans and paranormals working together to " police" the rogue shifters but not everyone is exactly what they seem. There are those who seek to manipulate the natural shifters and even suppress them but most worrying of all are the scientists who would manipulate DNA and create terrifying hybrids. Learning to control their inner beasts is one thing but fighting for survival is about to become a priority.
Clayne be is a wolf shifter and until he was recruited by the DCA had drifted about getting involved in all sorts of trouble. Being a part of the secret organisation has given him focus and a new purpose but losing his partner and lover Danica two years ago rocked his world. He really thought they had a future but she walked away taunting him cruelly and now there's no place in Claynes life for love.
Danica works for the FBI and there's a serial killer on the loose hunting down his victims and to Danicas trained eye the inflicted wounds look decidedly " animal"! Reluctantly contacting the DCA for help the last thing she expects is for her former lover Clayne to roll into town. He has never forgiven her for her leaving him but this is a job and they both need to put the past behind. Danica never told Clayne the truth when she left him and she's determined to protect her secret but Clayne has always had a way to get under her skin and time has certainly not changed that. If anything Clayne is even more of a temptation but somehow Danicas has to resist. The killer realises that Clayne is on the case and a bizarre game begins where only the strongest and fastest will survive. If Clayne is to catch the dangerous shifter he will need to release his own animal and most frightening of all trust the woman who stamped on his heart!
This book is a mixture of storylines that just adds layers. Yes this is a suspense with a serial killer pulling the strings and our hero and heroine need to catch him but it's also a romance. The romance is steamy and there's a very strong connection between Clayne and Danica but for this reader it all happened a little too quick. I know that they are ex lovers but I woukd have preferred the sexual tension to have built for a bit longer. That being said this couple can hardly keep their hands off each other and I know many readers will enjoy the heated moments they share. I'm not sure if I really like Clayne at times and he is certainly no angel! Danica has had to live with the choice she made and I found her to be a very stoic and courageous heroine but not a totally stupid one. When she realised that her prey was "other" she didn't hesitate to do the right thing and involve the DCA even though it would open up a can of worms.
As for the multi layers well there's a strong story arc running through this book as the couple from the previous book are still being allowed to tell their story. The author has cleverly got a thread about experimentation to produce hybrids running through this book and I fear there's going to be a lot more pain to come. The DCA may be an organisation working within the government but not everyone wants to see the shifters survive. This series is just getting into its stride and I forsee an awful lot more underhand activities will be forthcoming. Fast paced, riddled with danger and very sexy, this is a series to follow!

[Adria's Musings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on Adria's Romance Reviews


Discovering a new to you author who’s writing style suits your reading style is something I never get tired of.


Two years ago FBI Special Agent Danica Beckett was forced to break the heart of the man she loved in order to save his life. Now she’s being forced to work with shifter Clayne Buchanan again in order to catch a serial killer. What starts off as a tense situation filled with bitterness and regrets turns into a second chance romance once Clayne finds out why Danica walked out on him.

Her Lone Wolf is the first book I’ve ever read by Paige Tyler and boy oh boy did I have fun with this one. For starters, Clayne and Danica worked so well together as a team! Clayne never discredited Danica’s ideas or skills because she was a woman and Danica never stepped back and let him run the show just because he was a man. They played so well off one another that it was hard to remember that their personal relationship ended badly. Speaking of their personal relationship, these two never had a problem in the chemistry department. Even after spending time apart, it was clear that there was still much more than just a spark. What made their story better in my opinion was that Danica already knew that Clayne was a shifter so it didn’t feel like Clayne had too much on his plate with the murder cases, his feelings for Danica while still having to keep his secret from her.

Aside from the romance there’s a great murder/suspense story. When I say great I mean because it had some unpredictability. Sure, Clayne and Danica know what kind of killer they’re looking for but what they don’t anticipate is going up against a very clever killer who treats his kills as a game. It was a real challenge for them and it said something about the killer that it took two people plus an entire police force to try and catch him. There were plenty of scenes that showcased what a great team Clayne and Danica made as well as the suspense that comes with knowing that they were getting closer and closer to their killer.

Though it’s the second book in a series, it can be read as a stand alone. There are a few scenes involving a previous couple but that only made me more curious about their story and what happened to them that it had to be brought into Her Lone Wolf as a side story/continuing arc. Another thing I enjoyed about this story is that it’s light on the paranormal aspect. It’s not that I don’t love a die hard paranormal romance but sometimes I crave one that doesn't have too much going on. This one is perfect because while Clayne is a shifter, I didn’t feel thrown into a topsy turvy paranormal world that was too complicated.

Author Paige Tyler did a great job in hooking me with the plot but it was what came after those first few pages that made me add this author to my “Watch” list. Her Lone Wolf combined


Final Verdict: I really want to read the first book to prepare for the third. I loved Her Lone Wolf that much!

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally posted at RabidReads.com.

This is the second book in Paige Tyler’s X-Ops series. I have to admit, I think this one is even better than the first. I read the first X-Ops book last summer. Then I listened to the SWAT books on audio at the end of last year. Now, I’m going back to the X-Ops books. I’m glad to be back in the world of X-Ops world.

While the SWAT and X-Ops books are similar, they are also different. SWAT, is all werewolves. X-Ops has an array of different shifters. SWAT, mostly just the males are in the police. X-Ops both partners are part of the federal government unit (Department of Covert Affairs, called DCO) that is unknown to most of the public. X-Ops, is always a human partnered with a shifter. And if the shifter is about to be compromised, the human has to eliminate them. There are people who want to see the shifter program fail. They also don’t allow partners to have sexual/romantic relationships with other members of the unit.

The story starts off when FBI Special Agent Danica Beckett realizes that she and her team are dealing with something that is more than human on her most recent serial killer case. She makes a call to her former boss that she thought she would never speak to ever again, but she didn’t know who else to call. She hasn’t talked to anyone at DCO in the two years since she left. But she knew that the local police and the FBI would not be able to catch this killer on their own.

Clayne Buchanan is a wolf shifter, one that is always on the verge of going over the edge. He was brought into the DCO when he was caught surrounded by a bunch of mutilated dead bodies. He is one of the reasons why some of the people think that the shifter program should be shut down, or at least shifters like him. He is like a time bomb, always on edge and quick to agitate. He doesn’t have a partner since his partner and lover walked out on him and crushed him two years earlier, so he’s sent out to help with this shifter. He’s a great tracker and great dealing with shifters who’ve gone off the rails.

This is a story that is full of action, heat, romance, politics, police procedure and much more. If you like crime dramas filled with action and you like shifters, this series will bring those two aspects together into a great story with fun characters. While this story does stand alone, there are aspects of the first story that I think will add to this story. I don’t think you will be lost if you read this one first, but you will get more if you read Her Perfect Mate first. Plus, it is great story too, so you have nothing to lose there.

[Christi Snow · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Review:
Ooh, this was such a good installment to this great series. Danica and Clayne...ahh...seriously, I love stories where lovers get a second chance...especially when neither of those lovers truly wanted to be separate in the first place. But no spoilers!

In this story, there is a serial killer in California who is a shifter. Danica who now works for the FBI sees the signs that this is not a normal person so she calls in DCO...the covert secret law enforcement organization full of shifters and their human partners who are the only ones capable of safely bringing in this guy. The DCO sends Clayne to help out...Danica's former partner and the love of her life. The thing is...she's the one who dumped and broke Clayne's heart and he can't forgive or trust her.

I loved the way this story wove in and out...both with the serial killer suspense story line and the romantic story line. There is also a lot happening at DCO behind the scenes which is building up some intrigue that is going to affect the overall series long-term. Everything about this book was good.

I loved the chemistry between Clayne and Danica and how they are connected even though they've been apart for two years. I liked that Danica as a human seemed to feel the connection better than Clayne...I though that was pretty cool. Clayne is one of those guys who simply doesn't play well with others. He has rough edges that he doesn't even try to hide. I love that Danica smooths those when she's with him. He's just a more level-headed and controlled guy when they are together (except in the bedroom and then there are some fun, sexy times to be had by all.)

Overall it was a great book and I can't wait to read more from this series...and am so intrigued by Tanner's character...he's gonna have a great story. I can't wait!

I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.

[Jasmyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off, this did not pick up anything like I expected it to based on the ending of book one. But, don't disregard that ending - it's super important, just not quite yet it seems. Instead we get to see jerk-wad Clayne, the wolf shifter, be not such a jerk-wad. Now, don't expect to see his softer side - I really don't think he has one, but you will get to see him put in his place just a little by the woman he never stopped loving.

There are a ton of flashbacks in this story. Danica and Clayne have a history and the important parts are shared this way. There were a little too many for my taste - flashbacks pull me too far out of the story and I think they should be used more sparingly than they were in this book. But that was really the only downside to the story.

The chase is on for a serial killer shifter, and he is one crafty guy. He's highly intelligent and has managed to stay one step (or more) ahead of everyone for a very long time. Watching Clayne and Danica put the pieces together to figure out who he is and where he may turn up next was great. And of course it gave them plenty of time to find out the truth of their past and spend some "quality time" together. This bad guy will keep you on the edge of your seat - so be prepared. Every time I thought he was definitely caught - something happened and the whole game took off in a new direction.

We get to see Lily and Landon from the first book, too. And not just as quick cameo type roles, they are on their own chase as a result of the events in book one (you definitely want to read these in order) and even have a small part in helping out Clayne and Danica with a little issue they run in to.

While book two wasn't quite as good as the first book in my opinion. This is a series that I'm falling in love with!

[Cocktails and Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her Lone Wolf is the second in a fantastic and unique shifter series from Paige Tyler, and it didn’t disappoint. I loved the first in the series because it introduces these new and unique shifters. They’re unique because they don’t shift into full animals but they have the all the advantages of their animal side and a lot of the quirks too.

Danica is now a FBI agent, and working really hard to forget about Clayne, a wolf shifter that she came to love, but of course fate, with a little help from Clayne’s supervisor throws them back together. They’re hunting a serial killer in California, he’s very obviously another shifter who enjoys hunting humans.

So while Danica and Clayne fight their attraction they also battle to find the killer and stop him. I really loved the action in this story, while they are in some ways falling in love again, the action of finding the killer keeps this story moving at a fast pace.

There is a great twist at the end that I didn’t see coming and I really look forward to more in this series, there is a bit of the storyline from the first book, and I imagine that particular storyline will continue throughout the series, but even with that little bit, this could easily be read as a standalone. It does a good job of reintroducing the shifters without boring someone who has already read the first book.


Reviewed by Sheri for Cocktails and Books

[BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is best to read this book only after reading the first. I wasn't a fan of Clayne from the first. I knew he had some problems because of his partner leaving, Danica. This book reveals it all. Clayne is the anti-hero who makes women sigh. They love his bad boy protective instincts. His bodacious body only enhances his attraction. His early childhood is sad and does pull a bit at the heart strings. What really saddens a reader is how Danica tears his heart out. Most of the unrequited love stuff happens prior to the start of the book so it works out.

I liked how Ms. Tyler moves back and forth between time periods. The flashbacks are nicely integrated in and provide good character building for both Clayne and Danica. The plot of this story is all too realistic even with its paranormal twist. The balance between catching a killing and healing a broken relationship is nicely done. Neither overpower the other and it actually makes it a key element for the conclusion to the book.

I whipped through this book and enjoyed it from beginning to end. I am really getting into this series and can't wait to read more. Recommended for romantic suspense readers who enjoy a bit of a shifter bad boy.

[Eva Millien · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a killer on the loose and the stakes higher than ever before, former lovers FBI Special Agent Danica Beckett and DCO operative Clayne Buchanan are being forced into an uneasy alliance whether they like it or not in this thrilling paranormal suspense. Spine tingling tension builds throughout the story as they hunt the serial killer and the stakes continue to rise and I have to say the author surprised me with a few twists I didn’t see coming and then there is the ongoing inner conflict within DCO and their hunt for the psycho scientist to spice the story up even more. There was never a dull moment in this story and I was completely engrossed from the very beginning and I can’t wait to read the next one.

See my full review at:

http://paranormalhaven.com/2014/11/bo...

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

HER LONE WOLF had a great flow to it. There was plenty of action and danger and a great amount of tension and romance between Clayne and Danica. It was nice to see some more of the world of X-Ops and the corruption that was starting to show in HER PERFECT MATE.

I enjoyed getting to know Clayne a little more and meeting Danica, It was also great to see a little bit of Ivy and Landon while they all worked together towards the end. I am beyond excited for book 3, which will feature Kendra and Declan.

* This book was provided free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

With this book it looks like the DCO is up to so much more than what we first thought. I find it interesting that we learn this as our characters do, as they've been wronged. Going forward it could be an us against them scenario, not sure how that would work, but we can only hope that all those implicated don't have bad intentions.

I did like how things worked out with Clayne and Danika. Was glad that they got their second chance and thumbed their noses at a few people in the process. It will be interesting how their group of 5 goes forward with all that they learned.

[Rinou · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5/5
I liked the great compatibility and chemistry in the couple, and how they don't dwell on what happened once the heroine explains why she left the hero 3 years before. I'm intrigued but their ability to feel the presence of the other, something the previous couples didn't have
I was pleasantly surprised by the plot twist with the Hunter, and the plot with the mad scientists is interesting even if too slow.