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Being(s) in Love #4
Little Wolf
For five years, Timothy Dirus has lived on the run, in fear of his family. Kept away from other werewolves by his uncle, Tim knows almost nothing about his own kind except that alpha werewolves only want to control and dominate a scrawny wolf like him. But when Tim finds himself in Wolf's Paw, one of the last surviving refuges from the days when werewolves were hunted by humans, he immediately draws the attention of its sheriff, Nathaniel Neri.
Nathaniel is the epitome of alpha wolf: powerful, intimidating, and the most beautiful man Tim has ever seen. Tim should be terrified. But everything Tim feels says that Nathaniel is safe and good and right, if only Tim knew what that meant.
Tim isn’t sure what to trust—what he was told by his uncle, or his instincts. He’s not even certain what his instincts are, and feels like a failure of a were in a town like Wolf’s Paw. But Nathaniel is patient and willing to wait while his little wolf figures out not just how to be a wolf, but that he is more than a match for this particular alpha.
Being(s) in Love:
Magical creatures known as beings emerged from hiding amid the destruction of the First World War. Since then they’ve lived on the margins of the human world as misunderstood objects of fear and desire. Some are beautiful, others fearsome and powerful. Yet for all their magic and strength, they are as vulnerable as anyone when it comes to matters of the heart.
Nathaniel is the epitome of alpha wolf: powerful, intimidating, and the most beautiful man Tim has ever seen. Tim should be terrified. But everything Tim feels says that Nathaniel is safe and good and right, if only Tim knew what that meant.
Tim isn’t sure what to trust—what he was told by his uncle, or his instincts. He’s not even certain what his instincts are, and feels like a failure of a were in a town like Wolf’s Paw. But Nathaniel is patient and willing to wait while his little wolf figures out not just how to be a wolf, but that he is more than a match for this particular alpha.
Being(s) in Love:
Magical creatures known as beings emerged from hiding amid the destruction of the First World War. Since then they’ve lived on the margins of the human world as misunderstood objects of fear and desire. Some are beautiful, others fearsome and powerful. Yet for all their magic and strength, they are as vulnerable as anyone when it comes to matters of the heart.
478 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 8, 2015
70 people are currently reading
826 people want to read
About the author
R. Cooper
78 books996 followersI'm R. Cooper, a somewhat absentminded, often distracted, writer of queer romance. I'm probably most known for the Being(s) in Love series and The Suitable 'Verse stories. Also the occasional story about witches or firefighters in love.
You can visit my website for updates or sign up for my newsletter . My newsletter is free! And comes out once a month or once every two months or so.
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If you just want book release updates, I have a BookBub profile.
Also, I now have a Storygraph where I will try to track my reading in an organized fashion.
You can visit my website for updates or sign up for my newsletter . My newsletter is free! And comes out once a month or once every two months or so.
Otherwise... have some social media links if you want updates and whatever the hell else I am talking about.
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BlueSky
**With Meta's current policies, I do not use FB or Insta or Threads for anything but the bare minimum.**
Instagram and Threads
You can also support me on Patreon if you like
If you just want book release updates, I have a BookBub profile.
Also, I now have a Storygraph where I will try to track my reading in an organized fashion.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 226 reviews
February 22, 2019
Enormously frustrating
You know how an author can create interesting tension by giving the reader knowledge that a character doesn't have? The reader then chortles to herself, or bites her nails, or rolls her eyes, as, let's call him "Tim", strides blithely along, unaware of the assassin around the corner, or the monster in the closet, or the werewolf who has all but hired a skywriter to announce his love.
In this book though, the reader, the love interest, and EVERY INHABITANT OF THE TOWN, have information that Tim doesn't have, and they don't tell him because of werewolf tradition or some fucking thing. Thus a sweet, smart, hot, and romantic potential book is instead bloated into a non-communication drama of approximately 13 million pages.
The book this should have been was hauntingly close in places, rendering the entire thing into an object lesson on the importance of editors and making me very angry at Dreamspinner for neglecting it.
You know how an author can create interesting tension by giving the reader knowledge that a character doesn't have? The reader then chortles to herself, or bites her nails, or rolls her eyes, as, let's call him "Tim", strides blithely along, unaware of the assassin around the corner, or the monster in the closet, or the werewolf who has all but hired a skywriter to announce his love.
In this book though, the reader, the love interest, and EVERY INHABITANT OF THE TOWN, have information that Tim doesn't have, and they don't tell him because of werewolf tradition or some fucking thing. Thus a sweet, smart, hot, and romantic potential book is instead bloated into a non-communication drama of approximately 13 million pages.
The book this should have been was hauntingly close in places, rendering the entire thing into an object lesson on the importance of editors and making me very angry at Dreamspinner for neglecting it.
January 4, 2020
I had to read this book for three reasons:
1. I read a previous book in this series and a friend convinced me to give it another try.
2. The cover looks like bad-touch uncle is at it again.
3. I needed to know just how little this wolf was. Is it like a teacup wolf? I could go for a purse-wolf to carry around town.
Color me intrigued.
So, this little wolf is an angsty guy who is slightly self-conscious about his size. I mean, jeez, he gave himself the fake last name of Littlewolf. Dude, really? You don't play that way. Accentuate the positive man. Instead of Littlewolf, try Bigdog. It's all about the marketing.
Glass half full or half empty. You decide.
It turned out that this guy, little wolf, wasn't even that little. He was average size. I was disappointed in this. I was really hoping things were going to go a different direction and really blow my mind. Oh well. I guess my miniature werewolf book has yet to be written.
Woah, wait a minute. How small were the kids in the picture? I see another great book in the making.
Little wolf has a crush on Big Cop and he angsts pretty much 24/7 over the whole thing. He is also completely oblivious to the fact that they are mates. Destiny and all that. So, he makes himself and big cop miserable for hundreds of pages.
See? A chihuahua would never call itself a little dog. They know they kickass.
I liked the town this was set in and the friends that little wolf has. I didn't like how much angst there was because it was just a bit OTT. But, I also liked the smut. I can sit through angst for smut. It's the way I can convince myself that it's a romance, not porn. It's all in how you spin it.
1. I read a previous book in this series and a friend convinced me to give it another try.
2. The cover looks like bad-touch uncle is at it again.
3. I needed to know just how little this wolf was. Is it like a teacup wolf? I could go for a purse-wolf to carry around town.
Color me intrigued.
So, this little wolf is an angsty guy who is slightly self-conscious about his size. I mean, jeez, he gave himself the fake last name of Littlewolf. Dude, really? You don't play that way. Accentuate the positive man. Instead of Littlewolf, try Bigdog. It's all about the marketing.
Glass half full or half empty. You decide.
It turned out that this guy, little wolf, wasn't even that little. He was average size. I was disappointed in this. I was really hoping things were going to go a different direction and really blow my mind. Oh well. I guess my miniature werewolf book has yet to be written.
Woah, wait a minute. How small were the kids in the picture? I see another great book in the making.
Little wolf has a crush on Big Cop and he angsts pretty much 24/7 over the whole thing. He is also completely oblivious to the fact that they are mates. Destiny and all that. So, he makes himself and big cop miserable for hundreds of pages.
See? A chihuahua would never call itself a little dog. They know they kickass.
I liked the town this was set in and the friends that little wolf has. I didn't like how much angst there was because it was just a bit OTT. But, I also liked the smut. I can sit through angst for smut. It's the way I can convince myself that it's a romance, not porn. It's all in how you spin it.
August 15, 2025
Loved it.
R.Cooper's writing doesn't work for everyone but for me? It works so well!
Tim and Nathaniel are werewolves. Their journey to finally being together as mates was long and awesome. It was slow, very slow, but I didn't mind that at all.
R.Cooper is a master at writing oblivious characters, and Tim might be the most oblivious I've encountered so far. His lack of knowledge in everything werewolf - related (because of his past) combined with his deep-rooted need to be on his guard, to expect the worst from those who seem to care, and to distance himself with sarcasm and hurtful snaps from those he feels attracted to (all because of his past) make him blind for what's right in front of him.
Nathaniel on the other hand was the perfect counterpart for Tim. Nathaniel had patience, was strong and sure of himself and his feelings for Tim.
Oh and the sex scenes? Their first kiss was wayyyy better than most sex scenes in other books, that's all you need to know (hehe.. enjoy).
Spoiler ahead about one chapter for those who want to go in with open eyes, since this is a romance (or altogether skip chapter 9!). I guess it's also the reason why the average rating isn't higher.
:
:
:
:
:
I usually don't enjoy it when one of the MCs starts something with a third person (and was kind of encouraged by the other MC, and then goes through with it), and I wasn't the biggest fan of it here, but it seemed to make some kind of sense to these werewolves... and afterwards, having fulfilled its purpose, the two MCs picked up their storyline figuring things out between the two of them.
R.Cooper's writing doesn't work for everyone but for me? It works so well!
Tim and Nathaniel are werewolves. Their journey to finally being together as mates was long and awesome. It was slow, very slow, but I didn't mind that at all.
R.Cooper is a master at writing oblivious characters, and Tim might be the most oblivious I've encountered so far. His lack of knowledge in everything werewolf - related (because of his past) combined with his deep-rooted need to be on his guard, to expect the worst from those who seem to care, and to distance himself with sarcasm and hurtful snaps from those he feels attracted to (all because of his past) make him blind for what's right in front of him.
Nathaniel on the other hand was the perfect counterpart for Tim. Nathaniel had patience, was strong and sure of himself and his feelings for Tim.
Oh and the sex scenes? Their first kiss was wayyyy better than most sex scenes in other books, that's all you need to know (hehe.. enjoy).
Spoiler ahead about one chapter for those who want to go in with open eyes, since this is a romance (or altogether skip chapter 9!). I guess it's also the reason why the average rating isn't higher.
:
:
:
:
:
I usually don't enjoy it when one of the MCs starts something with a third person (and was kind of encouraged by the other MC, and then goes through with it), and I wasn't the biggest fan of it here, but it seemed to make some kind of sense to these werewolves... and afterwards, having fulfilled its purpose, the two MCs picked up their storyline figuring things out between the two of them.
August 17, 2016
I can honestly say I did not enjoy one single part or moment of this story, either listening or reading.
There is a gross miscommunication between the two main characters.
I cannot recommend it.
I haven't read the series and I can admit after my experience with this story I have absolutely no desire to read any of the other stories in the series after this taste either.
Audio copy of Little Wolf provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange of an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2015
Better than the previous book but still nothing on the first two of the series.
--
I'm torn on this one. There was enough there that I wanted to like it and yet it dragged and frustrated me. I was checking my status in disbelief it moved so slow. The first half has so much chaotic internal emotion that it's exhausting.
The descriptions, the 'Instinct' lead emotions were often beautiful:
Cooper doesn't stint, there's all the senses giving a mesmerising impression you want to wallow in.
Tim aka Little Wolf, resists. He keeps resisting. It's one inch forward then three miles back! He's a panic of conflicting emotions, clueless, the most thoroughly oblivious character I've ever encountered. At times his snark is such the it's hard to see any endearing qualities and there's glimpses of awareness that make him less likeable.
The Sheriff. What a matyr! A hot matyr but still.. I'm not sure if I pitied his situation, applauded his epic self-less consideration or just really wanted to shake him so he'd tell Tim they were mates or about mates already, please!
It all goes on for far, far too long. They talk continually but never talk, never say anything.
Worse is the townsfolk - I had the same issue with the previous book set in the same place - it's clearly intended to be a cosy small town of quirky individual beings. Unfortunately they read like a bunch of voyeuristic creepers who gather to watch personal conflicts play out and applaud through the window. It's claustrophobic and unpleasant with a plethora of speaking glances that say nothing. I came to dislike the town with it's moral code that stops it from explaining things to the lost. None of the side characters are given enough time to really build a connection, I kept feeling with Carl especially that any friendship was built off page, at one point some names are mentioned and I had no idea who they were. Possibly Cooper is better with her main characters isolated, on reflection most of her stories have them in a bubble.
While I struggled through most of the book there were moments I loved. When Tim shifts it is sweet. When he connects with the Sheriff it's scorching hot. I liked his realisations over his family and how that was dealt with. Parred down, possibly halved this would have been a great story. There's good here but hidden in the blah.
One BIG no was Albert though. I wont spoil but that was the most squirm-some scene ever. Fingers over eyes squealing NO bad.
It's incredibly late into the story that Tim discovers he and Nathaniel are mates. Every time they seem to reach an understanding an errant word breaks everything down. It's frustrating and clouds the potential.
Exasperating all this is the fact that in a bid to save money I've immersed myself in Sterek (Teen Wolf) fanfic of late. Stoic older wolf and flaily, mole marked, inexperienced, younger character, with a little magic. Fans will be making links. There's even a reference to 'throat ripping'!
While R.Cooper is generally one of my few auto-buy authors I'm afraid this can't compete to the best of that fandom. I'm looking forward to the book of 'Being' shorts due soon but now have reservations for the next book in this series. Hopefully it'll step away from this town and it's 'instinct' but I have a suspicion it wont.
--
OTT - The cover - scared zombie eyes and naked chests. It doesn't work.
--
I'm torn on this one. There was enough there that I wanted to like it and yet it dragged and frustrated me. I was checking my status in disbelief it moved so slow. The first half has so much chaotic internal emotion that it's exhausting.
The descriptions, the 'Instinct' lead emotions were often beautiful:
The space between them felt like magic had been worked, like delicate glass, some of it sharp, had been spun....
Cooper doesn't stint, there's all the senses giving a mesmerising impression you want to wallow in.
Tim aka Little Wolf, resists. He keeps resisting. It's one inch forward then three miles back! He's a panic of conflicting emotions, clueless, the most thoroughly oblivious character I've ever encountered. At times his snark is such the it's hard to see any endearing qualities and there's glimpses of awareness that make him less likeable.
The Sheriff. What a matyr! A hot matyr but still.. I'm not sure if I pitied his situation, applauded his epic self-less consideration or just really wanted to shake him so he'd tell Tim they were mates or about mates already, please!
It all goes on for far, far too long. They talk continually but never talk, never say anything.
Worse is the townsfolk - I had the same issue with the previous book set in the same place - it's clearly intended to be a cosy small town of quirky individual beings. Unfortunately they read like a bunch of voyeuristic creepers who gather to watch personal conflicts play out and applaud through the window. It's claustrophobic and unpleasant with a plethora of speaking glances that say nothing. I came to dislike the town with it's moral code that stops it from explaining things to the lost. None of the side characters are given enough time to really build a connection, I kept feeling with Carl especially that any friendship was built off page, at one point some names are mentioned and I had no idea who they were. Possibly Cooper is better with her main characters isolated, on reflection most of her stories have them in a bubble.
While I struggled through most of the book there were moments I loved. When Tim shifts it is sweet. When he connects with the Sheriff it's scorching hot. I liked his realisations over his family and how that was dealt with. Parred down, possibly halved this would have been a great story. There's good here but hidden in the blah.
One BIG no was Albert though. I wont spoil but that was the most squirm-some scene ever. Fingers over eyes squealing NO bad.
It's incredibly late into the story that Tim discovers he and Nathaniel are mates. Every time they seem to reach an understanding an errant word breaks everything down. It's frustrating and clouds the potential.
Exasperating all this is the fact that in a bid to save money I've immersed myself in Sterek (Teen Wolf) fanfic of late. Stoic older wolf and flaily, mole marked, inexperienced, younger character, with a little magic. Fans will be making links. There's even a reference to 'throat ripping'!
While R.Cooper is generally one of my few auto-buy authors I'm afraid this can't compete to the best of that fandom. I'm looking forward to the book of 'Being' shorts due soon but now have reservations for the next book in this series. Hopefully it'll step away from this town and it's 'instinct' but I have a suspicion it wont.
--
OTT - The cover - scared zombie eyes and naked chests. It doesn't work.
no-thank-you-i-quit
May 11, 2016I reached to that point where I just can't continue anymore.
I was enjoying the book so much. I was giggling like silly, I was loving Littlewolf and his obliviousness, Nathaniel and his patience, and the whole town hanging on any little interaction those two had.
Nathaniel, the sheriff, who was suffering so much because he knew Tim was his mate, but since Tim is new in the whole werewolf-thing, did not want to shock him with the news. So instead, and this is what I love the best in R.Cooper's books, the alpha courts his mate; he does not claim him, like a caveman. No, the mate has to come willingly while the alpha has to wait and suffer. The mate is a treasure, not a possession. Nathaniel does what a good alpha does, but Tim is not aware of anything. Sure, he knows Nathaniel is waiting for The One, but he does not realize that HE is the one. He accepts all Nathaniel offers, because Tim, who likes Nataniel very much, thinks that Nathaniel is just attracted to him.
"Weres are creatures with basic needs." Nathaniel seemed like he wanted to grimace, but he kept talking. "We like to offer protection, if needed. Shelter. Food, usually. Or something unique to show off our skills."
Tim, on the other hand, was so funny at the beginning. He talked without thinking; he was a little thing (a young were on the run) with a bit of temper. All his babbles...
Tim was not a blushing maiden, except in the sense that he was a virgin whose face was on fire.
Like usual, there are a lot of dialogues and inner struggles. I think that Nathaniel thought at the beginning that Tim may have been scared of him, just like Bertie did. Confusing arousal and excitement with fear.
All was going so well....
**sobs with angry tears**
Until THAT happened....
I stopped reading it for some time, to calm down. Then I continued it and just after like, 2 pages after this terrible sin, Tim and Nathaniel are having their first time together. That decided it. I could not continue anymore. If something so anticipated could not make that awful image go away, it was time to quit. They started to kiss but I just couldn't. I was cheated on. I felt it like a treason.
I am not sure if someday I will finish it. I am so angry with what happened and just looking at that cover (the cover I once thought was beautiful and sweet) makes me want to punch both punks. Ok, Nathaniel not so much, but I Do want to kickLittlef**ker Tim's scrawny, selfish ass.
I was enjoying the book so much. I was giggling like silly, I was loving Littlewolf and his obliviousness, Nathaniel and his patience, and the whole town hanging on any little interaction those two had.
Nathaniel, the sheriff, who was suffering so much because he knew Tim was his mate, but since Tim is new in the whole werewolf-thing, did not want to shock him with the news. So instead, and this is what I love the best in R.Cooper's books, the alpha courts his mate; he does not claim him, like a caveman. No, the mate has to come willingly while the alpha has to wait and suffer. The mate is a treasure, not a possession. Nathaniel does what a good alpha does, but Tim is not aware of anything. Sure, he knows Nathaniel is waiting for The One, but he does not realize that HE is the one. He accepts all Nathaniel offers, because Tim, who likes Nataniel very much, thinks that Nathaniel is just attracted to him.
"Weres are creatures with basic needs." Nathaniel seemed like he wanted to grimace, but he kept talking. "We like to offer protection, if needed. Shelter. Food, usually. Or something unique to show off our skills."
Tim, on the other hand, was so funny at the beginning. He talked without thinking; he was a little thing (a young were on the run) with a bit of temper. All his babbles...
Tim was not a blushing maiden, except in the sense that he was a virgin whose face was on fire.
Like usual, there are a lot of dialogues and inner struggles. I think that Nathaniel thought at the beginning that Tim may have been scared of him, just like Bertie did. Confusing arousal and excitement with fear.
All was going so well....
**sobs with angry tears**
Until THAT happened....
I stopped reading it for some time, to calm down. Then I continued it and just after like, 2 pages after this terrible sin, Tim and Nathaniel are having their first time together. That decided it. I could not continue anymore. If something so anticipated could not make that awful image go away, it was time to quit. They started to kiss but I just couldn't. I was cheated on. I felt it like a treason.
I am not sure if someday I will finish it. I am so angry with what happened and just looking at that cover (the cover I once thought was beautiful and sweet) makes me want to punch both punks. Ok, Nathaniel not so much, but I Do want to kick
May 22, 2015
DNF at 25%. This cluttered writing style is not for me. I feel like it needed a really ruthless editor to hack away at it and keep it from going in circles over the same ground. And it does something I really hate: interrupts dialogue with so much interior monologue and/or scene-setting that you forget what the person said or asked by time the reply comes. It’s too bad because I wanted to find out what happens between the little, bratty guy and the strong, silent-type alpha who’s patiently waiting for him to get a clue.
January 2, 2018
OK, I rarely DNF a book...but I just couldn't keep reading. The scene with Tim and Albert had me gasping in disbelief...and I turned off my ereader.
This book dragged horribly and I didn't like Tim or Nate. The townsfolk were downright creepy and there was so much inner monologue, and nonsense talking that I just wanted to slap everyone and scratch out my eyes.
I stole some of Meep's review since she said it so well...
"Tim aka Little Wolf, resists. He keeps resisting. It's one inch forward then three miles back! He's a panic of conflicting emotions, clueless, the most thoroughly oblivious character I've ever encountered. At times his snark is such the it's hard to see any endearing qualities and there's glimpses of awareness that make him less likeable.
The Sheriff. What a matyr! A hot matyr but still.. I'm not sure if I pitied his situation, applauded his epic self-less consideration or just really wanted to shake him so he'd tell Tim they were mates or about mates already, please!
It all goes on for far, far too long. They talk continually but never talk, never say anything.
One BIG no was Albert though. I wont spoil but that was the most squirm-some scene ever. Fingers over eyes squealing NO bad.
It's incredibly late into the story that Tim discovers he and Nathaniel are mates. Every time they seem to reach an understanding an errant word breaks everything down. It's frustrating and clouds the potential."
This book dragged horribly and I didn't like Tim or Nate. The townsfolk were downright creepy and there was so much inner monologue, and nonsense talking that I just wanted to slap everyone and scratch out my eyes.
I stole some of Meep's review since she said it so well...
"Tim aka Little Wolf, resists. He keeps resisting. It's one inch forward then three miles back! He's a panic of conflicting emotions, clueless, the most thoroughly oblivious character I've ever encountered. At times his snark is such the it's hard to see any endearing qualities and there's glimpses of awareness that make him less likeable.
The Sheriff. What a matyr! A hot matyr but still.. I'm not sure if I pitied his situation, applauded his epic self-less consideration or just really wanted to shake him so he'd tell Tim they were mates or about mates already, please!
It all goes on for far, far too long. They talk continually but never talk, never say anything.
One BIG no was Albert though. I wont spoil but that was the most squirm-some scene ever. Fingers over eyes squealing NO bad.
It's incredibly late into the story that Tim discovers he and Nathaniel are mates. Every time they seem to reach an understanding an errant word breaks everything down. It's frustrating and clouds the potential."
May 14, 2015
Can you enjoy a book and still think it's slow? Can you like a story that annoys you? I liked this book, but certain aspects got on my nerves.
The town. I get that "beings" are different than humans and have different ideas about privacy. But the people in this town were nosey as fuck. To the point it was a bit ridiculous. It was actually distracting and lessened the impact of some scenes. Instead of focusing 100% on the story I kept thinking "damn do you idiots really need to stand around and watch!?"
The whole not telling your mate that you ARE mates drags on too long. This book and the first book had the "I can't tell you, you have to recognize it yourself" drama as the main conflict. And after a while it got annoying.
If the party involved is not a were, or if they don't have the natural instincts that weres are supposedly born with, how are they supposed to understand what they are feeling? And how can they be expected to always make the first move? I enjoyed the characters but the story was hindered by dragging the mating issue on for so long.
The town. I get that "beings" are different than humans and have different ideas about privacy. But the people in this town were nosey as fuck. To the point it was a bit ridiculous. It was actually distracting and lessened the impact of some scenes. Instead of focusing 100% on the story I kept thinking "damn do you idiots really need to stand around and watch!?"
The whole not telling your mate that you ARE mates drags on too long. This book and the first book had the "I can't tell you, you have to recognize it yourself" drama as the main conflict. And after a while it got annoying.
If the party involved is not a were, or if they don't have the natural instincts that weres are supposedly born with, how are they supposed to understand what they are feeling? And how can they be expected to always make the first move? I enjoyed the characters but the story was hindered by dragging the mating issue on for so long.
Read
May 22, 2020While the first 3 books in the series can be read as standalones, this 4th book is best enjoyed if you read the previous one. We meet Tim and Nathaniel there, and maybe Tim shows up in book 1 too, though I don't quite remember. It's loosely connected.
I'm starting to realize this series follows a pattern. Every time, the main character is either totally blind, or refuses to acknowledge his own or his love interest's feelings. Either way, it leads to a long and drawn out love story, filled with UST; and sometimes - most likely at the beginning - the MC is going in circles, until he has some inkling as to why is everyone looking at him meaningfully, and by the time that happens, it's almost the end.
Especially book 3 and 4 is very similar in that regard. So it's good to not jump right into this one. However while book 3 felt more YA(ish) to me, this is very much not. So much so, that after half a book of pining when they finally get down and dirty, they getting dooown... ya know what I mean? *ka-ching* It turned out to be quite a sexy book.
The first half was dragging a bit. I liked Tim, he's a feisty one, but he is exhausting. And I really felt the internal monologuing was too much. I also felt frustrated by Nate and the whole town and their stupid rule, really. Just tell Tim already what's what! Jeez!
I liked Nate though. It was interesting to see a big alpha go soft and cuddly with his mate.
No dual pov this time. I mean Tim talked enough for both of them. lol
Oh and this one had the sweetest, cutest "meet my wolf" scene. :)
Overall I enjoyed it. 3.5 starts, not more, not less.
I'm starting to realize this series follows a pattern. Every time, the main character is either totally blind, or refuses to acknowledge his own or his love interest's feelings. Either way, it leads to a long and drawn out love story, filled with UST; and sometimes - most likely at the beginning - the MC is going in circles, until he has some inkling as to why is everyone looking at him meaningfully, and by the time that happens, it's almost the end.
Especially book 3 and 4 is very similar in that regard. So it's good to not jump right into this one. However while book 3 felt more YA(ish) to me, this is very much not. So much so, that after half a book of pining when they finally get down and dirty, they getting dooown... ya know what I mean? *ka-ching* It turned out to be quite a sexy book.
The first half was dragging a bit. I liked Tim, he's a feisty one, but he is exhausting. And I really felt the internal monologuing was too much. I also felt frustrated by Nate and the whole town and their stupid rule, really. Just tell Tim already what's what! Jeez!
I liked Nate though. It was interesting to see a big alpha go soft and cuddly with his mate.
No dual pov this time. I mean Tim talked enough for both of them. lol
Oh and this one had the sweetest, cutest "meet my wolf" scene. :)
Overall I enjoyed it. 3.5 starts, not more, not less.
May 29, 2018
I just couldn't even with this book and I was excited about these characters from the last one.
It dragged. Dragggged. Everything took too long and the lack of communication. I may have no hair left.
And other stuff. Yeah. Nope.
It dragged. Dragggged. Everything took too long and the lack of communication. I may have no hair left.
And other stuff. Yeah. Nope.
February 24, 2016
I have to say I was disappointed in this book considering the first 2 installments (which were amazing!) and I actually couldn't finish reading it because I was too upset. I would suggest reading Meep's review because I had the same opinion as her, except I'm going to tell you about Albert--and seriously people, READ THIS SPOILER BEFORE READING THE BOOK! I am NOT kidding! Seriously, you will thank me. I personally found this upsetting on a number of levels, and promptly deleted the book from my e-reader. So, if that sort of thing isn't your cup of tea, DON'T READ THIS BOOK!!! The first two books were good, but like Meep describes in his/her review, the town is kind of voyeristically creepy, and the 3rd and 4th books seem quite different in tone than the first two. And I personally DO NOT like this new tone. I'm holding out hope for the series of short stories, but frankly, I'm scared to read it after this. I just don't understand how the person who wrote "A Boy and His Dragon" (one of my all-time favorites, I've read it 5 times) is the same person who wrote THIS. Anyway, I digress. Read at your own peril!
August 22, 2016
So long. Just so very, very long.
I'm a big fan of R. Cooper and I love the one audiobook I've heard from the narrator before, but this one just didn't work for me. Listening to 19 hours of miscommunication/lack of communication is about 18 hours too long for my ears. The last hour helped out, but overall this could have easily been 1/2 as long and been better as an audiobook.
Full review on the blog and then here.
**a copy of this audiobook was provided for an honest review**
I'm a big fan of R. Cooper and I love the one audiobook I've heard from the narrator before, but this one just didn't work for me. Listening to 19 hours of miscommunication/lack of communication is about 18 hours too long for my ears. The last hour helped out, but overall this could have easily been 1/2 as long and been better as an audiobook.
Full review on the blog and then here.
**a copy of this audiobook was provided for an honest review**
August 30, 2016
Another book that frustrated me, and then made me so happy and then made me love it.
The first 50/60% of this book is about Tim (Little Wolf) and Nathaniel getting to know each other, and Nathaniel teaching Tim how to become more wolf, access and trust his instincts - oh yes and fall in love. Tim thinks he a surly hopeless case and nearly everyone else likes and accepts him, he doesn't get why this should be.
Because Tim doesn't trust or understand his instincts he spends a lot of time internally fighting his own nature, however as the reader, we know what is going on, and at times this dies get very frustrating - but it's all about Tim realising what he wants and needs, and Nathaniel gives him space to do that.
There are parts of this book that describe how falling in love feels so well, that moment when you just want to immerse yourself in your other, and R Coopers use of language is beautiful.
The final 15% of this book I just loved, it is OTT and very wolf/ claim/ mine but balanced by Tim's snark.
Not prefect this book, but it was just what I wanted.
The first 50/60% of this book is about Tim (Little Wolf) and Nathaniel getting to know each other, and Nathaniel teaching Tim how to become more wolf, access and trust his instincts - oh yes and fall in love. Tim thinks he a surly hopeless case and nearly everyone else likes and accepts him, he doesn't get why this should be.
Because Tim doesn't trust or understand his instincts he spends a lot of time internally fighting his own nature, however as the reader, we know what is going on, and at times this dies get very frustrating - but it's all about Tim realising what he wants and needs, and Nathaniel gives him space to do that.
There are parts of this book that describe how falling in love feels so well, that moment when you just want to immerse yourself in your other, and R Coopers use of language is beautiful.
The final 15% of this book I just loved, it is OTT and very wolf/ claim/ mine but balanced by Tim's snark.
Not prefect this book, but it was just what I wanted.
won-t-read-bc-nopes
August 29, 2025Many thanks to @Drache for laying out the OP action. The situation would ruin the fated mates element for me; that isn't my kind of fated mates or romance. I loved other books in this series but know to skip this one. Read Drache's review (5 stars, they did love it!) here for the info: goodreads.com/review/show/7767257035
Appreciated, D!
Appreciated, D!
September 16, 2016
I was attreacted to this book by the idea of a little wolf and a big wolf being mates. I like the novelty of differences between lovers (as I am so very much like my husband, we are practically brothers).
This book, which I mostly listened to as opposed to read, finally got thru to me at about 80%. I finally understood that since it started with a dreadful soap opera on TV with bad actors, that was what the book was...a bad soap with bad actors that goes on for weeks and months with the plot barely moving forward. Another analogy is a bad interior design program on TV, you know the kind where they tell you what they are going to do and each time they break for a commercial they tell you again and again what they have done and what they are going to do. I can't bear to watch those.
This was painful to listen to or read. I am all for unique takes on the typical Were genre, but it's got to have something good in order for me to like the differences. This was not likable. The best part or the book were the paranormal fairies including an older one with wrinkles and fairy dust all over.
The narrator did not make the story come alive which could have helped. When I read some portions of it I realized that most of the problem was the book itself.
That only good that came of this was I made a new friend (I got bored and read some non friend's reviews and really liked hers). I almost stopped listening. Actually I kept speeding ahead by skipping a whole chapter and dipping in to only parts of the others. I hope my next book will be good. I'm probably going to do a Sterek binge for "comfort food" until my mind clears up.
This book, which I mostly listened to as opposed to read, finally got thru to me at about 80%. I finally understood that since it started with a dreadful soap opera on TV with bad actors, that was what the book was...a bad soap with bad actors that goes on for weeks and months with the plot barely moving forward. Another analogy is a bad interior design program on TV, you know the kind where they tell you what they are going to do and each time they break for a commercial they tell you again and again what they have done and what they are going to do. I can't bear to watch those.
This was painful to listen to or read. I am all for unique takes on the typical Were genre, but it's got to have something good in order for me to like the differences. This was not likable. The best part or the book were the paranormal fairies including an older one with wrinkles and fairy dust all over.
The narrator did not make the story come alive which could have helped. When I read some portions of it I realized that most of the problem was the book itself.
That only good that came of this was I made a new friend (I got bored and read some non friend's reviews and really liked hers). I almost stopped listening. Actually I kept speeding ahead by skipping a whole chapter and dipping in to only parts of the others. I hope my next book will be good. I'm probably going to do a Sterek binge for "comfort food" until my mind clears up.
August 25, 2025
DNF at 47%.
I loved this and the characters but now Tim is having sex with another man "for the experience" and it makes me feel so sad and heartbroken.
This is not how I see sex. Tim is super unsure because he didn't sexually experiment when he was a teenager. So, now he's met his mate (tho he doesn't consciously know it) and decides he needs the fumbling teenager experience.
I wish Nathaniel would be straightforward but also Tim can't read basic cues. He tells Nathaniel to tell him not to go to do his experimentation but when Nathaniel asks "what would you do if I said 'no'?", Tim tells him he'd go anyway.
I hoped that Tim would change his mind and not go through with anything but he's busy having sex with Albert at this point so I'm done. I want to know what happens but I no longer can handle this.
😭💔
I loved this and the characters but now Tim is having sex with another man "for the experience" and it makes me feel so sad and heartbroken.
This is not how I see sex. Tim is super unsure because he didn't sexually experiment when he was a teenager. So, now he's met his mate (tho he doesn't consciously know it) and decides he needs the fumbling teenager experience.
I wish Nathaniel would be straightforward but also Tim can't read basic cues. He tells Nathaniel to tell him not to go to do his experimentation but when Nathaniel asks "what would you do if I said 'no'?", Tim tells him he'd go anyway.
I hoped that Tim would change his mind and not go through with anything but he's busy having sex with Albert at this point so I'm done. I want to know what happens but I no longer can handle this.
😭💔
August 30, 2016
An inconsistent read for me.
So many grins...I adored Tim even as I wanted to shake him for being so clueless. And poor Nathaniel, that sweet, protective alpha. All kinds of hugs for him.
A few niggles, though...
Not a fan of the abundant use of "bitch", and while they were hot, some of the sex scenes were soooo long.
Too much of the story dragged for me, where nothing really happened for too many pages. And at 380 pages, there was plenty of room for cutting; the story could have been made a lot tighter with more even pacing.
So, awesome 5 star parts mixed with a lot of slow 3 star ones.
So many grins...I adored Tim even as I wanted to shake him for being so clueless. And poor Nathaniel, that sweet, protective alpha. All kinds of hugs for him.
A few niggles, though...
Not a fan of the abundant use of "bitch", and while they were hot, some of the sex scenes were soooo long.
Too much of the story dragged for me, where nothing really happened for too many pages. And at 380 pages, there was plenty of room for cutting; the story could have been made a lot tighter with more even pacing.
So, awesome 5 star parts mixed with a lot of slow 3 star ones.
January 17, 2016
very good comfort-read, even better the second time.
I really really liked this, even if it was impossibly long and about insta-attraction aka mates. But it was very cleverly done and Tim might be one of my new favourite characters with his sarcasm, meanness and his wit (I really seem to like assholish, petty characters, provided they are nice to some people and able to change). The romance between the strong big Sheriff Nathanael and his Little Wolf, who is an equal to him in every way, was deliciously slow with the love and the MCs growing stronger. Nothing too serious, but it just hit their right spot after some pretty angsty and dramatic books I read.
I really really liked this, even if it was impossibly long and about insta-attraction aka mates. But it was very cleverly done and Tim might be one of my new favourite characters with his sarcasm, meanness and his wit (I really seem to like assholish, petty characters, provided they are nice to some people and able to change). The romance between the strong big Sheriff Nathanael and his Little Wolf, who is an equal to him in every way, was deliciously slow with the love and the MCs growing stronger. Nothing too serious, but it just hit their right spot after some pretty angsty and dramatic books I read.
May 24, 2015
This book was kinda all over the place. One minute the characters were likable, the next, I wanted to firebomb their little shifter refuge watch them all burn. The entire book got on my nerves because it wasn't good, but it was original, and I couldn't dislike it, but I couldn't really like it, either.
April 20, 2017
This audio book and I got off to a rough start. Right away it started talking about Blake being in pain because his mate rejected him etc etc, and I figured I must have the wrong book. I stopped to look up the blurb, as well as the previous book I hadn't read since I was obviously missing something. But when I finally continued, I realized they were just soap opera characters. Granted, soap opera characters that would reappear throughout the book as parallels as well as poor educational material for Tim. But that kinda set the tone of mild confusion.
I was frequently lost while listening to this. Robert Nieman could have helped by having any variation in his voices, but there was zero attempt made. You'd think at least a little rougher for Nathaniel, a little higher pitched for the faeries, lower for the old man Carl. But nope. So that wasn't bad, but I'm used to a little more acting with my narration.
But to be fair, when I got confused it was more because Tim and Nathaniel like to talk in circles. There has to be a better word than 'miscommunication' for the royal clusterfuck of non-communication butt-hurt that made up this book. It's a bit mind boggling. Since Tim was clueless about all things Were, Nathaniel treated him as he would a human. Which apparently means leaving them to make all the moves even though they have no idea what is going on and then getting upset when they don't act the way you were hoping. I was getting reeeeeally pissed at Nathaniel, and actually everyone, who acted like Tim made some huge offense by being scared of Nathaniel initially. He is a fucking abuse victim! Stop taking his reactions personally and then blaming him for them!
So that was all nonsense. And kinda makes up the first 3/4 of the book. So I was annoyed. But it was also my day off and I ended up listening to this book all day. I ended up giving it 3 stars because overall I listened to it in one sitting and obviously liked the characters and narration or I wouldn't have tolerated that. But I also think I did that because I was waiting for them to figure their shit out and that took all effen day of listening!
But I did like the way things worked out. I wish we had gotten a follow up convo with Silas because that felt slightly unresolved. I didn't like when Tim said 'Bitch' even though I get he was trying to take back and own a word that he had previously felt controlled by, but the way he used it grated on me. Still a good series, and this is worth the read (listen) if you're a fan of this series. Just be prepared for obscene obliviousness and about twice as much will-they-won't-they as is necessary.
Received audio version from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, reviewed for Hearts On Fire
I was frequently lost while listening to this. Robert Nieman could have helped by having any variation in his voices, but there was zero attempt made. You'd think at least a little rougher for Nathaniel, a little higher pitched for the faeries, lower for the old man Carl. But nope. So that wasn't bad, but I'm used to a little more acting with my narration.
But to be fair, when I got confused it was more because Tim and Nathaniel like to talk in circles. There has to be a better word than 'miscommunication' for the royal clusterfuck of non-communication butt-hurt that made up this book. It's a bit mind boggling. Since Tim was clueless about all things Were, Nathaniel treated him as he would a human. Which apparently means leaving them to make all the moves even though they have no idea what is going on and then getting upset when they don't act the way you were hoping. I was getting reeeeeally pissed at Nathaniel, and actually everyone, who acted like Tim made some huge offense by being scared of Nathaniel initially. He is a fucking abuse victim! Stop taking his reactions personally and then blaming him for them!
So that was all nonsense. And kinda makes up the first 3/4 of the book. So I was annoyed. But it was also my day off and I ended up listening to this book all day. I ended up giving it 3 stars because overall I listened to it in one sitting and obviously liked the characters and narration or I wouldn't have tolerated that. But I also think I did that because I was waiting for them to figure their shit out and that took all effen day of listening!
But I did like the way things worked out. I wish we had gotten a follow up convo with Silas because that felt slightly unresolved. I didn't like when Tim said 'Bitch' even though I get he was trying to take back and own a word that he had previously felt controlled by, but the way he used it grated on me. Still a good series, and this is worth the read (listen) if you're a fan of this series. Just be prepared for obscene obliviousness and about twice as much will-they-won't-they as is necessary.
Received audio version from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, reviewed for Hearts On Fire
March 21, 2020
In some ways this newest story in the ‘Being(s) in Love’ series fits right in with the first three books, yet the dynamic between the two main characters has obstacles – and charm – all its own as well. One of the biggest differences is that Tim and Nathaniel are both werewolves, and there is hardly any magic involved. I got to meet both of them in the previous book, and was really looking forward to their story after a fascinating encounter that made me think there was more to these two than meets the eye. With two wolves you’d think they’d be able to figure out they’re mates on page one, but nothing could be further from the truth. Both the reasons for their problem and the ultimate solution are fascinating, and the story is as entertaining (and partially frustrating) as that of the other couples in this series.
Please find my full review of the second edition on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review of the second edition on Rainbow Book Reviews.
June 6, 2017
I liked this book. I liked the characters. I liked the plot. What I didn't like was the length. The author could have easily halved the pages in this book and come out with a better paced, more engaging story. As it was, I felt like I was treading through molasses at times, looking to see how much I had left to read. Maybe there's something as over characterization?
July 30, 2025
The big wolf reminded Tim of the place where Tim slept, warmth and sleep and safe. He smelled like food and bitter drink and paws already dusty from this ground. He stood and watched with his feet planted and his attention partly on the rest of the world. Tim understood. Big Wolf was looking out for him because Tim and the meadow were his.
"Soft Tim." Nathaniel exhaled. "Timothy Little Wolf with no pointy edges."
I originally started reading this on October 21-22nd 2024, but I stopped because I saw that spoiler about Albert and some other things that I wasn't quite enjoying. However, because I really liked the premise of the story, I decided not to be a judgemental ass and give this book another try. So glad I did. I still didn't enjoy that part with Albert, but other than that, it was definitely worth reading.
Tim is a traumatized wolf shifter who escaped his pack due to how his uncle Silas and another member of the pack, Luca, treated him. While on the run, he arrives to Wolf's Paw, where he meets a handsome sherrif Nathaniel. At first he's scared of the big alpha wolf, but eventually he realizes what a kind and respectful guy Nathaniel is...
So, I'll go with the things that I liked first.
Tim was an asshole at times, but he had his sweet and shy moments, which I really liked. I also liked that he had a bit of an temper, even though sometimes he seemed to cross the line.
Nathaniel was my favorite. A big, strong and dominant alpha, who is so big on consent, patient, respectful, gentle... I just loved him to bits.
Nathaniel and Tim definitely had chemistry and despite dialogue being a little confusing at times, I still enjoyed every interaction they had.
The intimacy between them was scorching hot and so well written. As mentioned above, the consent was a big thing in their relationship.
I melted every time Nathaniel called Tim by his name.
And lastly, there was a lot of handtimacy and necktimacy. If you ever read any of my other reviews, you know that's my favorite things ever.
But... there are things that I had issue with, for example:
The thing with Albert, obviously. Here's the spoiler about what happens: I sort of understood only later in the book why that scene was necessary (because Tim's trauma with Luca was really big and Nathaniel wanted Tim to be sure in his feelings), but I still feel like author could've made the point in some other way. No one really wanted that happen - Nathaniel didn't really want Tim to do it, Tim didn't want to do it and wished that Nathaniel would stop him, Albert didn't want it to be Tim and, the whole time, And lastly, I as a reader really didn't want to read that and I didn't enjoy it one bit. I think that
The town was, to be honest, a little creepy. The whole time, they just observed Tim and Nathaniel and we are constantly reminded of that. It's like, when the two of them are interacting, everyone around them stops doing whatever they're doing, turn around and stare and listen. They only go back to their own stuff once there's nothing else to see there. This happened all the time and, I repeat, we are constantly reminded of this. It was just uncomfortable as heck.
It took way too long for Tim to find out that Nathaniel is his mate, even though the whole town knew. Nathaniel wanted Tim to figure it out on his own, which okay, I can try to understand - but then that doesn't happen. Tim doesn't realize they're mates, instead, it is who tells him at the very end of the book (past 90%, I think). No one else planned to tell him and Tim was about to leave the town, because he was afraid that relationship with Nathaniel wouldn't work when Nathaniel meets his mate (not knowing that he is his mate). It's really just so messy and everyone hiding the fact that they are mates made no sense and only caused some unnecessary trouble.
And last thing, it was a little difficult to follow dialogue at times. They talk a lot, but hardly say anything, and sometimes I didn't even understand how Tim came to certain conclusions.
There is definitely a lot of things that bothered me, but as you see, it's not enough for me to lower my rating. It's because, what I liked, I REALLY liked.
I am certain I'm going to reread this in the future and I'd recommend it to others, but I think it's better if you go into the book while being prepared for what happens with Albert, rather than being caught off guard with it.
°•*⁀°•*⁀°•*⁀°•*⁀°•*⁀°•*⁀°•*⁀°•*⁀°•*⁀°•*
*General Notes*
-werewolves, fated mates, size difference, gentle LI.
-small town
-CWs: past physical abuse of MC (and sexual, kinda, but it was stopped before the abuser could do anything), trauma.
-age gap (Tim is 20, Nathaniel is 31)
*Intimacy Notes*
-Top/bottom/verse:
-Kinks/sex notes:
-Other:
•so, so much biting, marking and pinning/holding down and against the door/car etc.
•Tim likes being manhandled and pinned down
•lots of handtimacy and necktimacy
• the sweetest first "meet my wolf" scene
June 24, 2016
Okay, first things first.
I don’t usually comment on covers, because I tend to avoid them in favour of letting the story paint the characters. That and we all know how awful a lot of the covers in this genre turn out to be. I wouldn’t want to spoil a good story for myself.
That certainly isn’t the issue here. This entire series has great covers. They’re all painted and reflect the actual characters. And despite an awful lot of skin, they’re not even remotely posed to look like porn-bait. (Which wouldn’t work with the books anyway. Not that this stops some publishers, but I digress.)
This cover, though? Oh god, I can’t stop staring at it. Not only is it beautiful to look at – Tim and Nathanial are so accurate it hurts. Not just physically, but the way each looks at the other, the stance, the neck touching! Even before I started reading I spent a good ten minutes just examining the cover, amazed at how it already matched the protagonists’ cameos from the previous book. But taken together with their actual interaction? Oh god, yes.
This makes me think I really should assemble a gallery of my favourite covers. :3
Anyway, that’s not remotely as important as what lies between those covers. And in this case it is at least as amazing.
Scenes are long. And detailed. And long. The narrative is mesmerizing and intense and full of density. More words than action, and more observing and interpreting than words. More than anything thought, realization – a continuous stream of it. And the book is brilliant at doing things this way. I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy about the sheer length of a book before.
Despite the plot being sex-based (obviously, due to the were thing), it’s so much actual romance that the top of my head almost blew off. In the best of ways.
Aside from that, sure, the levels of sex are way higher than in the other volumes of the series thus far. But also in an excellent way, a way that matches the overall pace and love of length.
Even the ending itself does not come about abruptly, nor does it feel like aimless wallowing. It’s simply perfect, with that nice circularity in the final moments.
Strangely, there’s something about Tim and Zeki (from the previous book) that I can identify with more than anything else.
They both stumble around blindly because everyone else knows things but is collectively withholding that knowledge from them – superficially on the premise that they should be aware already, but beneath that based on protective rules. No one simply puts matters into clear words.
I need clear statements myself. Oh, I have lots of empathy and I am able of coming up with explanations for people’s behaviours, but in the end, if something’s not put before me in plain words, I will either miss it entirely or simply be endlessly confused and uncertain.
Getting back to the actual story in this context, I love how the one person who finally spells the most important truth out for Tim is . There is such beauty in that.
And, still on the subject of keeping secrets, I also deeply enjoy the way Tim and Zeki work on the assumption that everyone can smell anything on them to begin with, so they staunchly push past their need for privacy and either disregard any audience to their most private moments or address them directly, involving them. It still blows my mind how this works in these two stories. Love that to pieces, especially since it’s not something slapped on for effect, but an intrinsic part of how things play out and who they both are.
I wish I had that sort of bravado. (While I’m awake, I mean.)
And I admire the author for following a lot of the ubiquitous were elements to their logical conclusion instead of just using them for flavouring.
Really, I’m so much in love with this book it’s not even funny.
I guess this’ll be one of those useless reviews simply because the subject matter and my reaction to it are too huge for me to strip down into something that universally makes sense. I can live with that! <3
Since I started with the cover, I want to end with it too.
Want to know what kicked my desire to read this from eager into overdrive a few weeks ago? In her blog post titled “stupid pining alpha sheriffs and the confused little wolves who love them”, in which the author announced the release date for this book, she linked to the cover with this description: “Nathaniel moons. Tim looks like a pissy, half-starved little thing, which is exactly what he is, really.”
Perfect.
I don’t usually comment on covers, because I tend to avoid them in favour of letting the story paint the characters. That and we all know how awful a lot of the covers in this genre turn out to be. I wouldn’t want to spoil a good story for myself.
That certainly isn’t the issue here. This entire series has great covers. They’re all painted and reflect the actual characters. And despite an awful lot of skin, they’re not even remotely posed to look like porn-bait. (Which wouldn’t work with the books anyway. Not that this stops some publishers, but I digress.)
This cover, though? Oh god, I can’t stop staring at it. Not only is it beautiful to look at – Tim and Nathanial are so accurate it hurts. Not just physically, but the way each looks at the other, the stance, the neck touching! Even before I started reading I spent a good ten minutes just examining the cover, amazed at how it already matched the protagonists’ cameos from the previous book. But taken together with their actual interaction? Oh god, yes.
This makes me think I really should assemble a gallery of my favourite covers. :3
Anyway, that’s not remotely as important as what lies between those covers. And in this case it is at least as amazing.
Scenes are long. And detailed. And long. The narrative is mesmerizing and intense and full of density. More words than action, and more observing and interpreting than words. More than anything thought, realization – a continuous stream of it. And the book is brilliant at doing things this way. I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy about the sheer length of a book before.
Despite the plot being sex-based (obviously, due to the were thing), it’s so much actual romance that the top of my head almost blew off. In the best of ways.
Aside from that, sure, the levels of sex are way higher than in the other volumes of the series thus far. But also in an excellent way, a way that matches the overall pace and love of length.
Even the ending itself does not come about abruptly, nor does it feel like aimless wallowing. It’s simply perfect, with that nice circularity in the final moments.
Strangely, there’s something about Tim and Zeki (from the previous book) that I can identify with more than anything else.
They both stumble around blindly because everyone else knows things but is collectively withholding that knowledge from them – superficially on the premise that they should be aware already, but beneath that based on protective rules. No one simply puts matters into clear words.
I need clear statements myself. Oh, I have lots of empathy and I am able of coming up with explanations for people’s behaviours, but in the end, if something’s not put before me in plain words, I will either miss it entirely or simply be endlessly confused and uncertain.
Getting back to the actual story in this context, I love how the one person who finally spells the most important truth out for Tim is . There is such beauty in that.
And, still on the subject of keeping secrets, I also deeply enjoy the way Tim and Zeki work on the assumption that everyone can smell anything on them to begin with, so they staunchly push past their need for privacy and either disregard any audience to their most private moments or address them directly, involving them. It still blows my mind how this works in these two stories. Love that to pieces, especially since it’s not something slapped on for effect, but an intrinsic part of how things play out and who they both are.
I wish I had that sort of bravado. (While I’m awake, I mean.)
And I admire the author for following a lot of the ubiquitous were elements to their logical conclusion instead of just using them for flavouring.
Really, I’m so much in love with this book it’s not even funny.
I guess this’ll be one of those useless reviews simply because the subject matter and my reaction to it are too huge for me to strip down into something that universally makes sense. I can live with that! <3
Since I started with the cover, I want to end with it too.
Want to know what kicked my desire to read this from eager into overdrive a few weeks ago? In her blog post titled “stupid pining alpha sheriffs and the confused little wolves who love them”, in which the author announced the release date for this book, she linked to the cover with this description: “Nathaniel moons. Tim looks like a pissy, half-starved little thing, which is exactly what he is, really.”
Perfect.
May 9, 2015
Oh god. I'm giving this book a 4 stars rating *_*
I feel kind of bad.
Okay. I don't.
This book started out freaking PERFECT! The ust, the misunderstandings, the hot alpha and bitchy mate! Hell, they didn't even kiss untiltafter 30% I think?
It was brilliant.
And then there was one fucking scene that nearly stopped me from continuing reading. Holy shit! Was that necessary? I can understand Nathaniel but Tim? Nope! I know that he's a shitty werewolf but that was just...ARGH! I don't want to spoiler anything but that scene threw me.
After that, Tim got annoying and I wanted to throttle him and pet Nathaniel. It was frustrating to read.
"In a relationship there's always the oneuhat loves and the other that allows to be loved" or so. I can't remember the exact quote but it reminds of the MC's.
I hurt for Nathaniel. I hated Tim for him.
The end made a few things better and I can accept that Tim has grown a lot.
What I didn't like
-The conversations that skipped around? So many thoughts, so many topics. I was confused and unsatisfied by the most because nothing was resolved.
- tim
What I liked
- The town
- Carl, Nathaniel
- the world building
All in all... I was disappointed, which is entirely my fault. I wanted this book to be full of ust, of honest love that grows over time, of happiness. What did I get?
The most frustrating romance ever. I can't give it a better rating, sorry Ms Cooper - I really love your work but I guess heros who sacrifice their happiness for a selfish brat, get trampeld on and hurt so much that it's painful to read only to end up, to actually feel blessed to end up with said guy without much...begging? Nope. I wanted a more heartful apology. Some raw emotions.
That's my problem, however. It was a solid story and the sex was hot! Really hot.
4 stars and I hope that Albert is next. But please, without THAT much pain, yes?
I feel kind of bad.
Okay. I don't.
This book started out freaking PERFECT! The ust, the misunderstandings, the hot alpha and bitchy mate! Hell, they didn't even kiss untiltafter 30% I think?
It was brilliant.
And then there was one fucking scene that nearly stopped me from continuing reading. Holy shit! Was that necessary? I can understand Nathaniel but Tim? Nope! I know that he's a shitty werewolf but that was just...ARGH! I don't want to spoiler anything but that scene threw me.
After that, Tim got annoying and I wanted to throttle him and pet Nathaniel. It was frustrating to read.
"In a relationship there's always the oneuhat loves and the other that allows to be loved" or so. I can't remember the exact quote but it reminds of the MC's.
I hurt for Nathaniel. I hated Tim for him.
The end made a few things better and I can accept that Tim has grown a lot.
What I didn't like
-The conversations that skipped around? So many thoughts, so many topics. I was confused and unsatisfied by the most because nothing was resolved.
- tim
What I liked
- The town
- Carl, Nathaniel
- the world building
All in all... I was disappointed, which is entirely my fault. I wanted this book to be full of ust, of honest love that grows over time, of happiness. What did I get?
The most frustrating romance ever. I can't give it a better rating, sorry Ms Cooper - I really love your work but I guess heros who sacrifice their happiness for a selfish brat, get trampeld on and hurt so much that it's painful to read only to end up, to actually feel blessed to end up with said guy without much...begging? Nope. I wanted a more heartful apology. Some raw emotions.
That's my problem, however. It was a solid story and the sex was hot! Really hot.
4 stars and I hope that Albert is next. But please, without THAT much pain, yes?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 21, 2022
I don't even like werewolf / shifter romances, but I enjoyed the he!! out of this one.
I was just smitten with small angry defensive sweary oblivious Tim (whose obliviousness is excusable because he was raised completely ignorant of were culture & whose anger and defensiveness are more than excusable on account of specific events in his history that I won't spoil but that you'll figure out pretty fast) and with Nathaniel, who's smart and emotionally generous and just lovely, okay to the point of absurdity but who cares. We're seeing him from Tim's POV anyway. Oh yeah, he smells excellent too.
I do love me an oblivious POV character + mutual pining, and Little Wolf delivers at length. If you're allergic to either of those tropes, the book won't suit, but if you find them half as delicious as I do, R. Cooper is about to show you a real good time. And, speaking of real good times, lord have mercy is the sex in this book smoking. Tim's discovery of how powerful he is in submitting to Nathaniel is enough to make you open the windows in a pre-climate-change January.
Anyway. *cough* Loads of fun to be had here, with plenty of satisfying sniffles along the way and, of course, an HEA.
I was just smitten with small angry defensive sweary oblivious Tim (whose obliviousness is excusable because he was raised completely ignorant of were culture & whose anger and defensiveness are more than excusable on account of specific events in his history that I won't spoil but that you'll figure out pretty fast) and with Nathaniel, who's smart and emotionally generous and just lovely, okay to the point of absurdity but who cares. We're seeing him from Tim's POV anyway. Oh yeah, he smells excellent too.
I do love me an oblivious POV character + mutual pining, and Little Wolf delivers at length. If you're allergic to either of those tropes, the book won't suit, but if you find them half as delicious as I do, R. Cooper is about to show you a real good time. And, speaking of real good times, lord have mercy is the sex in this book smoking. Tim's discovery of how powerful he is in submitting to Nathaniel is enough to make you open the windows in a pre-climate-change January.
Anyway. *cough* Loads of fun to be had here, with plenty of satisfying sniffles along the way and, of course, an HEA.
dnf
February 11, 2018DNF 13%
I’m only at 13% and this is some of the worst, stunted, nonsensical dialogue I’ve ever read. I am so utterly frustrated. An editor should have ripped this to bits prior to publication, but instead we have something flying under the radar and landing flat on its utterly confused face. I’m going to DNF it. It’s that or find a bridge to jump off. I adored A Boy and His Dragon. It’s as if someone else wrote this book.
I’m only at 13% and this is some of the worst, stunted, nonsensical dialogue I’ve ever read. I am so utterly frustrated. An editor should have ripped this to bits prior to publication, but instead we have something flying under the radar and landing flat on its utterly confused face. I’m going to DNF it. It’s that or find a bridge to jump off. I adored A Boy and His Dragon. It’s as if someone else wrote this book.
May 25, 2015
Little Wolf
By R. Cooper
Four stars
What kept this book from getting a five-stars rating is the very quirkiness of the writing style that I enjoyed so much. This same style infuses all of Cooper’s fantasy books, and it’s not for everyone.
Cooper sets her thinly-connected series in a contemporary United States where humans live alongside werewolves, fairies, pixies and elves. All four the books have been about the complexities of interspecies romance, and in particular about the innately ramped-up senses and dominant instincts with which werewolves are endowed. Cooper writes with an almost obsessively internal perspective, thoughts and feelings rattling around in her characters’ heads. This is, to my thinking, intentional. She is trying to convey the intensity of a werewolf’s sensory experience, bombarded constantly with the scent of everyone’s every emotion. There is no privacy in a werewolf community, because everyone can smell what you’re feeling every moment. One could draw the parallel with the autistic character in Heidi Cullinan’s amazing “Carry the Ocean.” For a mere human reading these books, it is verbal overload. But I found that, once I got into the rhythm of the writing, and when I paid attention, it was mesmerizing.
Little Wolf is the second of Cooper’s books set in a small western town called Wolf’s Paw, founded in the nineteenth century as a refuge for persecuted weres and other magical creatures. With the easing of prejudice against weres, the town has evolved into a tourist attraction (think: Provincetown), but retains its mission as a place of refuge the lost souls.
Timothy Dirus is such a lost soul. On the run since he was fifteen from a powerful urban werewolf family, he finds himself surrounded by townsfolk who seem to know too much about him and offer him protection. In particular, the town’s alpha male sheriff, Nathaniel Neri, seems determined to keep an eye on Tim. Tim, partly human, tiny and weak by werewolf standards, was virtually locked away by his uncle, and has learned nothing at all about being a werewolf. Thus he is both overwhelmed and puzzled by his intense attraction to this huge, beautiful alpha wolf.
I enjoyed this book even more than “A Beginner’s Guide to Wooing Your Mate.” I think it’s because I was familiar with the backstory of the town and the customs of wolf courtship. But I also let myself fall into Tim’s mind without fighting it. I allowed myself to get caught up in his confusion, his ignorance of his own wolf nature, and in the obsessive language with which Cooper expresses Tim’s interior battles.
Much is made of the old wolf families—those families who survived centuries of persecution and destruction at the hand of humans. We have the Greenleaf family, who are Native Americans, and Sheriff Neri’s family, and Tim’s own Dirus family. I did a little googling, and realized that “neri” is Italian for “black,” (which Nathaniel is), and that Dirus is the old Latin name for the extinct species of giant Dire Wolf. Clever, that.
But what really matters in this book is the town of Wolf’s Paw itself, which is fully integrated as to race and species. Humans and werewolves and pixies and fairies live in harmony, and even fall in love. It is a town that sheltered displace Japanese families after the closing of the shameful internment camps after World War II. It is clearly a town where gay children are embraced and cared for equally. It is, in other words, a fantasy. And the way the town embraces Tim in all his fear and confusion—without his quite understanding it—is a marvelous thing.
Cooper puts a lot of sex into this particular story, more than in the other volumes. And it is very wolfish sex—lots of licking and biting and nuzzling and smelling. Cooper manages to make it not only logical but somehow inevitable and even necessary to our understanding of Tim’s character, and his evolving acceptance of the peculiar world into which he has stumbled.
You have to be a certain kind of reader to really enjoy R. Cooper’s books. If you are, and you take the time to read them carefully, they are richly satisfying.
By R. Cooper
Four stars
What kept this book from getting a five-stars rating is the very quirkiness of the writing style that I enjoyed so much. This same style infuses all of Cooper’s fantasy books, and it’s not for everyone.
Cooper sets her thinly-connected series in a contemporary United States where humans live alongside werewolves, fairies, pixies and elves. All four the books have been about the complexities of interspecies romance, and in particular about the innately ramped-up senses and dominant instincts with which werewolves are endowed. Cooper writes with an almost obsessively internal perspective, thoughts and feelings rattling around in her characters’ heads. This is, to my thinking, intentional. She is trying to convey the intensity of a werewolf’s sensory experience, bombarded constantly with the scent of everyone’s every emotion. There is no privacy in a werewolf community, because everyone can smell what you’re feeling every moment. One could draw the parallel with the autistic character in Heidi Cullinan’s amazing “Carry the Ocean.” For a mere human reading these books, it is verbal overload. But I found that, once I got into the rhythm of the writing, and when I paid attention, it was mesmerizing.
Little Wolf is the second of Cooper’s books set in a small western town called Wolf’s Paw, founded in the nineteenth century as a refuge for persecuted weres and other magical creatures. With the easing of prejudice against weres, the town has evolved into a tourist attraction (think: Provincetown), but retains its mission as a place of refuge the lost souls.
Timothy Dirus is such a lost soul. On the run since he was fifteen from a powerful urban werewolf family, he finds himself surrounded by townsfolk who seem to know too much about him and offer him protection. In particular, the town’s alpha male sheriff, Nathaniel Neri, seems determined to keep an eye on Tim. Tim, partly human, tiny and weak by werewolf standards, was virtually locked away by his uncle, and has learned nothing at all about being a werewolf. Thus he is both overwhelmed and puzzled by his intense attraction to this huge, beautiful alpha wolf.
I enjoyed this book even more than “A Beginner’s Guide to Wooing Your Mate.” I think it’s because I was familiar with the backstory of the town and the customs of wolf courtship. But I also let myself fall into Tim’s mind without fighting it. I allowed myself to get caught up in his confusion, his ignorance of his own wolf nature, and in the obsessive language with which Cooper expresses Tim’s interior battles.
Much is made of the old wolf families—those families who survived centuries of persecution and destruction at the hand of humans. We have the Greenleaf family, who are Native Americans, and Sheriff Neri’s family, and Tim’s own Dirus family. I did a little googling, and realized that “neri” is Italian for “black,” (which Nathaniel is), and that Dirus is the old Latin name for the extinct species of giant Dire Wolf. Clever, that.
But what really matters in this book is the town of Wolf’s Paw itself, which is fully integrated as to race and species. Humans and werewolves and pixies and fairies live in harmony, and even fall in love. It is a town that sheltered displace Japanese families after the closing of the shameful internment camps after World War II. It is clearly a town where gay children are embraced and cared for equally. It is, in other words, a fantasy. And the way the town embraces Tim in all his fear and confusion—without his quite understanding it—is a marvelous thing.
Cooper puts a lot of sex into this particular story, more than in the other volumes. And it is very wolfish sex—lots of licking and biting and nuzzling and smelling. Cooper manages to make it not only logical but somehow inevitable and even necessary to our understanding of Tim’s character, and his evolving acceptance of the peculiar world into which he has stumbled.
You have to be a certain kind of reader to really enjoy R. Cooper’s books. If you are, and you take the time to read them carefully, they are richly satisfying.
May 20, 2015
First off, I have to give credit: this pairing was sizzling hot. Really, amazing connection when they came together.
However, the problem with this book is how LONG it takes them to get to that point. Clearly from the description you can read that this book is about an MC that is confused about who and what he is and who and what he wants. That's understood. However, one would expect that to be the beginning of the book, with a gradual change, and then moving on with the story with the two characters united or not. You know, story progression?
Unfortunately there isn't much story progression. Their relationship develops somewhat, but it's slow, uneven crawl. I was not expecting the MCs confusion to take up the entire length of the book to the point of ridiculousness. There are lots of long, repetitive conversations interspersed with cute moments, but truly this was a book greatly in need of editing. It was almost 400 pages and probably 3/4 of it is taken up with a waffling MC who constantly says he doesn't understand what's going on and tells everyone within earshot about his confusion about every 2 pages. Right up until the end of the book really, this goes on. It just kind of ruined the book.
This would be a good candidate for a sequel: all the incredibly hotness and chemistry of the main characters without the plodding storyline. Usually the beginning of a relationship is the most exciting part to read in a romance novel, but this was not one of those books.
However, the problem with this book is how LONG it takes them to get to that point. Clearly from the description you can read that this book is about an MC that is confused about who and what he is and who and what he wants. That's understood. However, one would expect that to be the beginning of the book, with a gradual change, and then moving on with the story with the two characters united or not. You know, story progression?
Unfortunately there isn't much story progression. Their relationship develops somewhat, but it's slow, uneven crawl. I was not expecting the MCs confusion to take up the entire length of the book to the point of ridiculousness. There are lots of long, repetitive conversations interspersed with cute moments, but truly this was a book greatly in need of editing. It was almost 400 pages and probably 3/4 of it is taken up with a waffling MC who constantly says he doesn't understand what's going on and tells everyone within earshot about his confusion about every 2 pages. Right up until the end of the book really, this goes on. It just kind of ruined the book.
This would be a good candidate for a sequel: all the incredibly hotness and chemistry of the main characters without the plodding storyline. Usually the beginning of a relationship is the most exciting part to read in a romance novel, but this was not one of those books.
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