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Hidden Wolves #5
Unsafe Exposure
Dylan thought his life was under control, until a stranger said, "You're a werewolf.".
From the moment artist Dylan Shore arrives in Chicago, his life gets twisted like a kaleidoscope. Why does a street gang he's never met before want him dead? Why is a hot but odd mathematician stalking him? And how can half the things Alex Corwin says possibly be true, no matter how honest he seems?
Alex has a frightening dilemma. Dylan is attractive, appealing, out and proud. He's also completely unaware that he's a werewolf. It shouldn't be Alex's job to tell him, and warn him that gay wolves usually end up dead. But someone has to, before he finds out in blood and violence.
Chicago's not Alex's home town, but somehow he needs to protect Dylan from the local packs, protect the Packs from being outed by Dylan, and keep his cool around the first man to touch his own deeply-closeted heart.
From the moment artist Dylan Shore arrives in Chicago, his life gets twisted like a kaleidoscope. Why does a street gang he's never met before want him dead? Why is a hot but odd mathematician stalking him? And how can half the things Alex Corwin says possibly be true, no matter how honest he seems?
Alex has a frightening dilemma. Dylan is attractive, appealing, out and proud. He's also completely unaware that he's a werewolf. It shouldn't be Alex's job to tell him, and warn him that gay wolves usually end up dead. But someone has to, before he finds out in blood and violence.
Chicago's not Alex's home town, but somehow he needs to protect Dylan from the local packs, protect the Packs from being outed by Dylan, and keep his cool around the first man to touch his own deeply-closeted heart.
393 pages, ebook
First published September 9, 2016
About the author
Kaje Harper
83 books2,636 followersI get asked about my name a lot. It's not something exotic, though. “Kaje” is pronounced just like “cage” – it’s an old nickname, and my pronouns are she/her/hers.
I was born in Montreal but have lived for 30 years in Minnesota, where the two seasons are Snow-removal and Road-repair, where the mosquito is the state bird, and where winter can be breathtakingly beautiful. Minnesota’s a kind, quiet (if sometimes chilly) place and it’s home.
I’ve been writing far longer than I care to admit (*whispers – fifty years*), mostly for my own entertainment, usually M/M romance (with added mystery, fantasy, historical, SciFi…) I also have a few Young Adult stories (some released under the pen name Kira Harp.)
My husband finally convinced me that after all the years of writing for fun, I really should submit something, somewhere. My first professionally published book, Life Lessons, came out from MLR Press in May 2011. I have a weakness for closeted cops with honest hearts, and teachers who speak their minds, and I had fun writing four novels and three freebie short stories in that series. I was delighted and encouraged by the reception Mac and Tony received.
I now have a good-sized backlist in ebooks and print, both free and professionally published. A complete list with links can be found on my website "Books" page at https://kajeharper.com/.
You can find me and my book reviews on my author page here on Goodreads - I hang out on Goodreads a lot because I moderate the Goodreads YA LGBT Books group. I also post free short YA stories on that group, more than 50 of them so far.
You can also find me on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/KajeHarper
I was born in Montreal but have lived for 30 years in Minnesota, where the two seasons are Snow-removal and Road-repair, where the mosquito is the state bird, and where winter can be breathtakingly beautiful. Minnesota’s a kind, quiet (if sometimes chilly) place and it’s home.
I’ve been writing far longer than I care to admit (*whispers – fifty years*), mostly for my own entertainment, usually M/M romance (with added mystery, fantasy, historical, SciFi…) I also have a few Young Adult stories (some released under the pen name Kira Harp.)
My husband finally convinced me that after all the years of writing for fun, I really should submit something, somewhere. My first professionally published book, Life Lessons, came out from MLR Press in May 2011. I have a weakness for closeted cops with honest hearts, and teachers who speak their minds, and I had fun writing four novels and three freebie short stories in that series. I was delighted and encouraged by the reception Mac and Tony received.
I now have a good-sized backlist in ebooks and print, both free and professionally published. A complete list with links can be found on my website "Books" page at https://kajeharper.com/.
You can find me and my book reviews on my author page here on Goodreads - I hang out on Goodreads a lot because I moderate the Goodreads YA LGBT Books group. I also post free short YA stories on that group, more than 50 of them so far.
You can also find me on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/KajeHarper
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
September 29, 2016
I always say this, but Kaje Harper is an amazing writer. I've read nearly everything that she has published, and I always put her on my list of top ten favorite authors. She is so consistent with me that I'll buy one of her books without even a second thought. I'm come to expect greatness from her, and, bottom line, this book delivers.
Some books work well as stand-alones, but I think you should read this series in order. While each couple's story can be told by itself, the plot elements of the shifter world and its politics build on each other, and everything comes to a head in this story. In fact, this book is all about politics in the werewolf world, and while there is a strong romance, the plot was a lot more action and adventure than I was anticipating. That isn't a bad thing, I just had to shift my mindset.
Unsafe Exposure is a little bit of a coming-out story, a little bit of a first-love story, and a little bit of a "Holy crap, I'm a werewolf!" story. I actually love stories where people discover something about their nature for the first time, so I liked the anticipation of having Dylan find out about his wolfy status. Mostly, this book was everything that the previous books were leading up to, and I found that this book advanced the werewolf politics plot-line the most out of any book so far. The romance was slow-build, but also fast-paced, if that makes sense. There was a lot of intimacy there from the beginning, as there is in many romantic suspense stories where two MCs are thrown together from the start in an intense situation.
As usual, I loved Kaje Harper's writing. She is a master with words, and though some might find her books to be on the long side, I always think that she writes books that are the perfect length. The plot didn't drag at all.
This book was more of what this author does best. While the couple wasn't my favorite in the series (my number one is still Unacceptable Risk), and this wasn't the sexiest book in the series, it was another solid book that really delivered. Fans of this series won't be disappointed.
*Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
Some books work well as stand-alones, but I think you should read this series in order. While each couple's story can be told by itself, the plot elements of the shifter world and its politics build on each other, and everything comes to a head in this story. In fact, this book is all about politics in the werewolf world, and while there is a strong romance, the plot was a lot more action and adventure than I was anticipating. That isn't a bad thing, I just had to shift my mindset.
Unsafe Exposure is a little bit of a coming-out story, a little bit of a first-love story, and a little bit of a "Holy crap, I'm a werewolf!" story. I actually love stories where people discover something about their nature for the first time, so I liked the anticipation of having Dylan find out about his wolfy status. Mostly, this book was everything that the previous books were leading up to, and I found that this book advanced the werewolf politics plot-line the most out of any book so far. The romance was slow-build, but also fast-paced, if that makes sense. There was a lot of intimacy there from the beginning, as there is in many romantic suspense stories where two MCs are thrown together from the start in an intense situation.
As usual, I loved Kaje Harper's writing. She is a master with words, and though some might find her books to be on the long side, I always think that she writes books that are the perfect length. The plot didn't drag at all.
This book was more of what this author does best. While the couple wasn't my favorite in the series (my number one is still Unacceptable Risk), and this wasn't the sexiest book in the series, it was another solid book that really delivered. Fans of this series won't be disappointed.
*Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
Read
April 27, 2021This book is now available again with this lovely new cover (and the all-new book 6 will release June 1.)
August 21, 2021
Reread 20/08/2021
I’ve been wondering why I've never reread this book, given that it’s part of one of my favorite series and I’ve reread all the previous ones a few times before this one came out. I still stand by everything I wrote in my original review, but I think I’ve pinpointed the reason now that I’ve revisited the story and the characters: I didn’t completely warm up to Dylan. I have nothing to object to his characterization, his actions and thoughts, he worked really well as a MC and as part of the couple, but I can’t say that I ever liked him. It’s hard to explain, because he’s not a jerk or anything and I don’t always require liking a character to connect with them, but that’s the closest way I can describe my reaction to him. It may have had something to do with his abrasive way to react to things, although that trait of his personality didn’t bother me much until , or it’s just something as simple as bad reader-character chemistry. I didn’t dislike spending time in his head, though, and it didn’t prevent me from enjoying this second read anyway, so no real complaint here, I’m just glad I’ve maybe figured out something that made no sense to me on the surface.
Note on the editing: I saw I mentioned some poor editing near the end of the book in my original review. This time I’ve read the new edition and I didn’t notice any editing problems at all, so I’ve either become less observant or they got fixed before the rerelease. 😊
I’m also happy to report that a new book is indeed happening—it’s already happened, actually—and I’m really looking forward to finally read it now that I’m caught up with my reread of the series.
First read 11/09/2016
In this new book of the Hidden Wolves series there’s a lot more action than in the previous ones, not that that was an obstacle to the development of the romance, it just gave it a different setting to blossom and progress. It worked very well.
Dylan is a werewolf, but he doesn’t know it and, having been raised without a pack or any knowledge at all about werewolves and their politics, he doesn’t have standard werewolf reactions and behaviors.
Alex is a closeted gay werewolf, temporarily living away from his pack because of his job.
They meet when Alex rescues Dylan, who’s being chased by some members of one of the local packs. Alex is far from being a dominant wolf, but he finds himself forced to take the lead, since Dylan knows nothing about his second nature and the world that comes with it. On the other hand, Dylan is much more experienced than Alex when it comes to gay relationships and sex.
I loved how the author handled their unique situation. The dynamic between them could've been easily reduced to "more dominant wolf takes charge/less dominant wolf follows," instead it was much more balanced and complex.
Their connection isn’t insta-love at all, despite developing in a matter of days, and it’s strong, believable and not without its problems.
The last third of the book was a particular pleasure to read, I was looking forward to
Not much to say about the writing, apart that it was excellent, as it’s always the case with Kaje Harper. There were some editing mistakes in the last part of the book, nothing big, just a wrong word and some missing in a few places. It didn’t prevent me from following the story, I was just surprised to find them there.
I don’t know if the series is supposed to be finished with this, but I think there’s room for other stories, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
I’ve been wondering why I've never reread this book, given that it’s part of one of my favorite series and I’ve reread all the previous ones a few times before this one came out. I still stand by everything I wrote in my original review, but I think I’ve pinpointed the reason now that I’ve revisited the story and the characters: I didn’t completely warm up to Dylan. I have nothing to object to his characterization, his actions and thoughts, he worked really well as a MC and as part of the couple, but I can’t say that I ever liked him. It’s hard to explain, because he’s not a jerk or anything and I don’t always require liking a character to connect with them, but that’s the closest way I can describe my reaction to him. It may have had something to do with his abrasive way to react to things, although that trait of his personality didn’t bother me much until , or it’s just something as simple as bad reader-character chemistry. I didn’t dislike spending time in his head, though, and it didn’t prevent me from enjoying this second read anyway, so no real complaint here, I’m just glad I’ve maybe figured out something that made no sense to me on the surface.
Note on the editing: I saw I mentioned some poor editing near the end of the book in my original review. This time I’ve read the new edition and I didn’t notice any editing problems at all, so I’ve either become less observant or they got fixed before the rerelease. 😊
I’m also happy to report that a new book is indeed happening—it’s already happened, actually—and I’m really looking forward to finally read it now that I’m caught up with my reread of the series.
First read 11/09/2016
In this new book of the Hidden Wolves series there’s a lot more action than in the previous ones, not that that was an obstacle to the development of the romance, it just gave it a different setting to blossom and progress. It worked very well.
Dylan is a werewolf, but he doesn’t know it and, having been raised without a pack or any knowledge at all about werewolves and their politics, he doesn’t have standard werewolf reactions and behaviors.
Alex is a closeted gay werewolf, temporarily living away from his pack because of his job.
They meet when Alex rescues Dylan, who’s being chased by some members of one of the local packs. Alex is far from being a dominant wolf, but he finds himself forced to take the lead, since Dylan knows nothing about his second nature and the world that comes with it. On the other hand, Dylan is much more experienced than Alex when it comes to gay relationships and sex.
I loved how the author handled their unique situation. The dynamic between them could've been easily reduced to "more dominant wolf takes charge/less dominant wolf follows," instead it was much more balanced and complex.
Their connection isn’t insta-love at all, despite developing in a matter of days, and it’s strong, believable and not without its problems.
The last third of the book was a particular pleasure to read, I was looking forward to
Not much to say about the writing, apart that it was excellent, as it’s always the case with Kaje Harper. There were some editing mistakes in the last part of the book, nothing big, just a wrong word and some missing in a few places. It didn’t prevent me from following the story, I was just surprised to find them there.
I don’t know if the series is supposed to be finished with this, but I think there’s room for other stories, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
September 27, 2016
*~*~* SPOILER REVIEW *~*~*
I love Kaje Harper's Hidden Wolves series. The previous book was released 2 years ago so I got pretty excited when she announced that there would be a new book released this year.
One thing that needed to be said ... dang Kaje Harper can write! I definitely loved how she played around with the werewolves culture. For example, in book #3, Unjustified Claims, Kaje introduced Brandt and Ethan -- Brandt is the werewolf with non-human strength but he loves to dress in lingerie and garter, and be the one being f*cked. Now, in Unsafe Exposure, Kaje again introduced a unique dynamic of the couple and their roles in the Pack.
Dylan Shore never knows that he is a werewolf, so he never shifts and he doesn't understand the rules of being a werewolf. On the other hand, Alex is Fourteen in his pack, and whenever people see the two of them, they will never see Alex as Alpha material. But the Alpha bond that happens between Alex and Dylan put Alex as the Alpha and Dylan the Second.
To me, this was VERY interesting to read!! How Alex is conflicted because he himself doesn't think that he's Alpha enough for Dylan -- oh and Alex also tends to be more submissive than the younger Dylan. How does it challenge other werewolves to see their relationship and act on it? It probably looks like Dylan is the big bouncer or bodyguard to his Alex, with his Alpha tendency even if his role in this two-wolves Pack is as Second. It moved away from the common Alpha/mate concept in shifters world, and this is the strength of this series, IMHO.
Aside from this dynamic, this book also put me on the edge of my seat, with the development of werewolves coming out into the world. It was thrilling and suspenseful!! Especially because there were casualties from both sides (humans and werewolves) and I didn't think that it would be resolved soon.
With this note, there must be further book in the series, right? Because there are still loose-ends! What about the further consequences of werewolves coming out ... and what about Aaron and Zach (will they ever have their mate bond?).
I love Kaje Harper's Hidden Wolves series. The previous book was released 2 years ago so I got pretty excited when she announced that there would be a new book released this year.
One thing that needed to be said ... dang Kaje Harper can write! I definitely loved how she played around with the werewolves culture. For example, in book #3, Unjustified Claims, Kaje introduced Brandt and Ethan -- Brandt is the werewolf with non-human strength but he loves to dress in lingerie and garter, and be the one being f*cked. Now, in Unsafe Exposure, Kaje again introduced a unique dynamic of the couple and their roles in the Pack.
Dylan Shore never knows that he is a werewolf, so he never shifts and he doesn't understand the rules of being a werewolf. On the other hand, Alex is Fourteen in his pack, and whenever people see the two of them, they will never see Alex as Alpha material. But the Alpha bond that happens between Alex and Dylan put Alex as the Alpha and Dylan the Second.
To me, this was VERY interesting to read!! How Alex is conflicted because he himself doesn't think that he's Alpha enough for Dylan -- oh and Alex also tends to be more submissive than the younger Dylan. How does it challenge other werewolves to see their relationship and act on it? It probably looks like Dylan is the big bouncer or bodyguard to his Alex, with his Alpha tendency even if his role in this two-wolves Pack is as Second. It moved away from the common Alpha/mate concept in shifters world, and this is the strength of this series, IMHO.
Aside from this dynamic, this book also put me on the edge of my seat, with the development of werewolves coming out into the world. It was thrilling and suspenseful!! Especially because there were casualties from both sides (humans and werewolves) and I didn't think that it would be resolved soon.
With this note, there must be further book in the series, right? Because there are still loose-ends! What about the further consequences of werewolves coming out ... and what about Aaron and Zach (will they ever have their mate bond?).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2019
If that's the last of this series, it was a great way to wrap it up...but of course I am hoping for more!
September 10, 2016
It's no secret that I am a huge fan of this series so read this review with that in mind
This is the fourth book in this series, and they do all need to be read to understand the history of the Hidden Wolves and the major changes going on - in terms with their treatment of gay wolves and their emergence to the rest of the world.
This story actually takes place at around the same time as book 3 (or at least part of it) as the event forcing the wolves out of hiding referred to at the end happens part way through book 4.
This book is a lot faster paced than the previous book, violent in places and does give the main pairing a happy ending. Like the other books, though the main focus is on a new pairing the familiar faces from the Minnesota pack do play a big part (from about 58% in).
I had understood that book 4 was originally to be the final book, but with quite a few lose ends to be tied up (not least I'd love to see Aaron and Zach's wedding - and maybe mate bond, Simon and Paul not having to watch over their shoulders all the time, know that the young wolf from the YouTube vid is safe, and that Megan has safely had her cub) I am hoping that there will be a book 5 to tie up everything.
So with that in mind, I'll get on to updating the Wolf Pack Geneology details when I re-read.... Oh and Kaje, thank you, particularly for the scenes with Fractal and Nimbus!
This is the fourth book in this series, and they do all need to be read to understand the history of the Hidden Wolves and the major changes going on - in terms with their treatment of gay wolves and their emergence to the rest of the world.
This story actually takes place at around the same time as book 3 (or at least part of it) as the event forcing the wolves out of hiding referred to at the end happens part way through book 4.
This book is a lot faster paced than the previous book, violent in places and does give the main pairing a happy ending. Like the other books, though the main focus is on a new pairing the familiar faces from the Minnesota pack do play a big part (from about 58% in).
I had understood that book 4 was originally to be the final book, but with quite a few lose ends to be tied up (not least I'd love to see Aaron and Zach's wedding - and maybe mate bond, Simon and Paul not having to watch over their shoulders all the time, know that the young wolf from the YouTube vid is safe, and that Megan has safely had her cub) I am hoping that there will be a book 5 to tie up everything.
So with that in mind, I'll get on to updating the Wolf Pack Geneology details when I re-read.... Oh and Kaje, thank you, particularly for the scenes with Fractal and Nimbus!
December 10, 2016
Unsafe Exposure is the highly anticipated fourth book in Kaje Harper’s Hidden Wolves series. We finally get to see the werewolves’ ‘coming out’ and what effects it has on them in the aftermath. I have to say, I loved this story. There was so much going on that it kept me glued to the pages the whole time.
Dylan is in town helping his little sister get settled into her new life as a college student when he runs afoul of a street gang at the local zoo. He doesn’t understand a) why they would be at the zoo of all places and b) what the heck he did to piss them off and make them chase after him. He’s rescued when a car pulls up alongside of him and the driver yells at him to get in. Alex is in town for a few months for his job as a statistician. He sees some guy being chased down the street by a few hoodlums from the local pack and just couldn’t stop himself from helping.
“I stopped for you because I had to. You looked at me, and you were scared. Whatever was going on, I couldn’t let them catch you.”
So begins a journey filled with adventure, politics, revelations, courage, self-realization and trust. And love, can’t forget about that. Because that’s what makes it all worth it in the end.
I cannot tell you enough how much I love Kaje’s writing. Such fabulous character building! And her secondary and tertiary are fully fleshed as well. Her attention to detail is astounding. You can tell that she has done extensive research and put a lot of time and thought into building this world. Her obvious joy in writing shines through and makes it that much more enjoyable for me to read her works. What I love most about her books is all the realism.
Have you ever been standing in a long line or maybe stuck in a waiting room and to pass the time you people watch and think, “what’s their story”? Maybe you see a guy with a cast on his arm and create this elaborate story in your head where he’s a fireman who broke his arm while saving a kitten from a burning building or there’s a woman standing there with bags under her eyes, rumpled clothing and a couple of screeching rugrats circling her and you think that she’s so tired because she just got off shift at the hospital where she single handedly saved the lives of 5 people by performing cutting edge brain surgery all the while battling the Powers That Be for more funding for her research. I imagine Kaje does something like this, because her books are filled with real people. They’re not gorgeous, perfectly built men whom everyone lusts over. They’re just ordinary, everyday people living their lives the best way they know how. People I would run into on the street or maybe at the grocery store. It’s so refreshing to read about people I can relate to yet still have a fantastical story about mythical creatures. If there ever was a person who could convince me that werewolves are real, it’s Kaje Harper.
August 28, 2021
This was very interesting, in this one we learnt the events that leaded to the coming out. And talk about a book that put into perspective the wolves actions... not that they're justifiable, not at all, but seeing what humans were willing to do when they found out about them I can't blame the wolves for their paranoia and need of secrecy anymore...
I liked being able to see those events first hand through Alex and Dylan eyes, but I missed the Minneapolis pack fiercely.
Well, the cat is out of the bag, let see how we can sort this mess out.
This was even better thanks to Ele's company, let's see what the last one brings us.
I liked being able to see those events first hand through Alex and Dylan eyes, but I missed the Minneapolis pack fiercely.
Well, the cat is out of the bag, let see how we can sort this mess out.
This was even better thanks to Ele's company, let's see what the last one brings us.
January 6, 2017
Review originally posted at Sinfully.
This is book four in the series and having read only the first book Unacceptable Risk beforehand, I had no trouble jumping right into the story (and will absolutely be going back to read the second and third books). If you are starting here, you should know that in this world, wolves are born and cannot be made by a bite or otherwise, so mating ensures survival. Wolves are always male and the result of mating with a human female and traditionally, gay wolves were executed when they were discovered. This has started to change, but being gay for a wolf is still a potential death sentence. The wolves are hidden from humans, but are aware that with technology and science, they won’t be able to remain that way and are planning for a reveal or being revealed.
Dylan is 24 and oblivious to the fact that he is a werewolf. His father died when he was a child and his mother had him and his half-sister constantly on the run from this father’s “dangerous family”. She never really told him anything else about them before her death. He is in Chicago getting his sister settled at school, with plans to return home to Canada, when he has a run in with a gang at the zoo and is saved from their pursuit by Alex.
Alex immediately knows Dylan is a wolf, but is at a loss how to how Dylan doesn’t know it and how to tell him. Alex is only in Chicago to work for a while and plans to return to his pack in Seattle, where he is happy to be Fourteenth in the pack. He feels no need to rise any further in the pack. He also has no intention to come out to his family or pack and has remained firmly in the closet out of fear. Now Dylan is testing all his resolve.
As Alex tries to figure out how to break the news to Dylan about his wolf side, they are also trying to hide from the Chicago pack since Dylan, in his cluelessness, has not paid due respect. That soon turns out to be the least of their problems however. As they give in to their attraction and Alex finally opens up about his sexuality all kinds of madness breaks out around them. When Alex tries to mate bond Dylan in order to be able to track him, something goes wrong and leads to an interesting situation for the couple.
Kaje Harper does something I’ve never read before when she turns the usual alpha/beta wolf dynamic upside down as Alex, who is naturally more submissive, is thrust into the dominant alpha role with Dylan, who is naturally more dominant in personality, but naïve as far as all things wolf are concerned. In the bedroom, however, the virginal Alex is free to be his more submissive self with Dylan as the dominant partner. With the narrative having dual points of view I ate up all the interactions between these two. There is a lot going on that pushes Alex and Dylan together very quickly, but I never felt that their relationship was rushed. I loved the sort of ebb and flow of their dominance and submission in both their, for lack of a better explanation, wolf and personal lives.
There is definitely a love story here, but there is also a lot of plot that deals with the politics of packs and the eventual coming out of these hidden werewolves. There is also Dylan being forced to face this unknown side of himself under incredibly tense circumstances. I don’t want to spoil anything, but you’re in for plenty of action, danger and surprising, shocking moments. The couples from the prior stories are back and involved, and what little I learned of Aaron and Zach and Ethan and Brandt has me looking forward to going back to read their stories.
Kaje Harper’s writing is always wonderful, with plenty of plot detail to help immerse the reader in this world of Hidden Wolves. I’d love to tell you all about the story, but no spoilers here, suffice to say I’d absolutely recommend this to shifter fans, especially if you’re looking for something that goes beyond the instant “mine” and mating and delves more into the world these characters inhabit and the reality of how it affects all aspects of their lives.
This is book four in the series and having read only the first book Unacceptable Risk beforehand, I had no trouble jumping right into the story (and will absolutely be going back to read the second and third books). If you are starting here, you should know that in this world, wolves are born and cannot be made by a bite or otherwise, so mating ensures survival. Wolves are always male and the result of mating with a human female and traditionally, gay wolves were executed when they were discovered. This has started to change, but being gay for a wolf is still a potential death sentence. The wolves are hidden from humans, but are aware that with technology and science, they won’t be able to remain that way and are planning for a reveal or being revealed.
Dylan is 24 and oblivious to the fact that he is a werewolf. His father died when he was a child and his mother had him and his half-sister constantly on the run from this father’s “dangerous family”. She never really told him anything else about them before her death. He is in Chicago getting his sister settled at school, with plans to return home to Canada, when he has a run in with a gang at the zoo and is saved from their pursuit by Alex.
Alex immediately knows Dylan is a wolf, but is at a loss how to how Dylan doesn’t know it and how to tell him. Alex is only in Chicago to work for a while and plans to return to his pack in Seattle, where he is happy to be Fourteenth in the pack. He feels no need to rise any further in the pack. He also has no intention to come out to his family or pack and has remained firmly in the closet out of fear. Now Dylan is testing all his resolve.
As Alex tries to figure out how to break the news to Dylan about his wolf side, they are also trying to hide from the Chicago pack since Dylan, in his cluelessness, has not paid due respect. That soon turns out to be the least of their problems however. As they give in to their attraction and Alex finally opens up about his sexuality all kinds of madness breaks out around them. When Alex tries to mate bond Dylan in order to be able to track him, something goes wrong and leads to an interesting situation for the couple.
Kaje Harper does something I’ve never read before when she turns the usual alpha/beta wolf dynamic upside down as Alex, who is naturally more submissive, is thrust into the dominant alpha role with Dylan, who is naturally more dominant in personality, but naïve as far as all things wolf are concerned. In the bedroom, however, the virginal Alex is free to be his more submissive self with Dylan as the dominant partner. With the narrative having dual points of view I ate up all the interactions between these two. There is a lot going on that pushes Alex and Dylan together very quickly, but I never felt that their relationship was rushed. I loved the sort of ebb and flow of their dominance and submission in both their, for lack of a better explanation, wolf and personal lives.
There is definitely a love story here, but there is also a lot of plot that deals with the politics of packs and the eventual coming out of these hidden werewolves. There is also Dylan being forced to face this unknown side of himself under incredibly tense circumstances. I don’t want to spoil anything, but you’re in for plenty of action, danger and surprising, shocking moments. The couples from the prior stories are back and involved, and what little I learned of Aaron and Zach and Ethan and Brandt has me looking forward to going back to read their stories.
Kaje Harper’s writing is always wonderful, with plenty of plot detail to help immerse the reader in this world of Hidden Wolves. I’d love to tell you all about the story, but no spoilers here, suffice to say I’d absolutely recommend this to shifter fans, especially if you’re looking for something that goes beyond the instant “mine” and mating and delves more into the world these characters inhabit and the reality of how it affects all aspects of their lives.
March 9, 2024
Kudos on writing the most mortifying first-time scene, Kaje Harper! I about yeeted myself out the window in vicarious embarrassment.
I feel like if someone told me out of the blue that I'm a werewolf, I'd be calm, collected, and relieved to finally have an answer about my insatiable bloodlust.
(Unfortunately, I'm just fooling myself here. Unlike ancientreader, who cheers on Dylan's futile attempts to rage againstthe machine Aaron, I am much more Alex-coded. I don't need all this added responsibility! Someone tell me what to do, and then stroke me on the head afterwards and tell me that I'm good! Stop talking back to someone who is clearly your better, Dylan! Can you not read the room??? Know your place, you ignorant youth!)
This installment pushed us waaaaaay forward on the wolf politics and unmasking fronts, gave us a lot to ponder in the way of alpha bonds and mate bonds, and had heaping helpings of our favorite gay wolf pack. And: the most mortifying first-time scene ever committed to page. Maybe a bit rough here and there, for for the most part -- great stuff!
I feel like if someone told me out of the blue that I'm a werewolf, I'd be calm, collected, and relieved to finally have an answer about my insatiable bloodlust.
(Unfortunately, I'm just fooling myself here. Unlike ancientreader, who cheers on Dylan's futile attempts to rage against
This installment pushed us waaaaaay forward on the wolf politics and unmasking fronts, gave us a lot to ponder in the way of alpha bonds and mate bonds, and had heaping helpings of our favorite gay wolf pack. And: the most mortifying first-time scene ever committed to page. Maybe a bit rough here and there, for for the most part -- great stuff!
February 5, 2018
The politics of this story coupled with Dylan's whiny personality just didn't work for me. I have the utmost respect for this talented author but this this series just isn't a favorite.
Reread Feb 2018: I tried to reread but had the same issues as first time. Dylan was the whiner from hell and I intensely disliked the werewolf culture. I couldn’t finish it. Still love the first in the series.
Reread Feb 2018: I tried to reread but had the same issues as first time. Dylan was the whiner from hell and I intensely disliked the werewolf culture. I couldn’t finish it. Still love the first in the series.
September 20, 2016
3,5 stars rounded up to 4
Finally, a new book in my favorite series of Kaje Harper's! The book is blissfully long - after two years of waiting (ever since Unjustified Claims came out) I'm happy it wasn't a thin volume you can finish in one sitting.
I'm glad that the overarching plot of werewolves "coming out" has progressed so much. If there is another novel planned (I really hope so), I wish it will take us into the thick of things. I'm all ready for politicking and intrigue to go with my shifter romance.
Yet, I didn't like this book as much as any of the previous installments. It's hard to explain why. When I sat and thought about the reasons for that, I decided it was a combination of lesser emotional impact and a handful of small issues that bugged me - from my own idiosyncrasies (what about Alex's and Dylan's work commitments? Some of them were pretty serious. Did they let people down? I still can't really let go of that fact, y'know) to logical inconsistences ().
The main thing that bothered me ties in to that lesser emotional impact. It's not particularly spoilery, but I'm going to ramble so I'm putting it under spoiler tag to keep everything neat.
And from then on it's as if this reflected on the rest of their relationship. Like it should have been... more. Once more with feeling, you know.
All that said, it wasn't bad, not by a long shot. As I said earlier, I liked a part of that "not a big deal" approach. as well as the interesting dynamics between Alex and Dylan. And this series is still probably the best of M/M shifters. Kaje Harper is still Kaje Harper, he writing is still good, her men still real, and this book is definitely not a disappointment.
Finally, a new book in my favorite series of Kaje Harper's! The book is blissfully long - after two years of waiting (ever since Unjustified Claims came out) I'm happy it wasn't a thin volume you can finish in one sitting.
I'm glad that the overarching plot of werewolves "coming out" has progressed so much. If there is another novel planned (I really hope so), I wish it will take us into the thick of things. I'm all ready for politicking and intrigue to go with my shifter romance.
Yet, I didn't like this book as much as any of the previous installments. It's hard to explain why. When I sat and thought about the reasons for that, I decided it was a combination of lesser emotional impact and a handful of small issues that bugged me - from my own idiosyncrasies (what about Alex's and Dylan's work commitments? Some of them were pretty serious. Did they let people down? I still can't really let go of that fact, y'know) to logical inconsistences ().
The main thing that bothered me ties in to that lesser emotional impact. It's not particularly spoilery, but I'm going to ramble so I'm putting it under spoiler tag to keep everything neat.
And from then on it's as if this reflected on the rest of their relationship. Like it should have been... more. Once more with feeling, you know.
All that said, it wasn't bad, not by a long shot. As I said earlier, I liked a part of that "not a big deal" approach. as well as the interesting dynamics between Alex and Dylan. And this series is still probably the best of M/M shifters. Kaje Harper is still Kaje Harper, he writing is still good, her men still real, and this book is definitely not a disappointment.
October 17, 2016
I quite enjoyed it, even though a bit less than the first and the third books. It felt somehow overlong to me, especially in the last 20%. Like some things could've been a lot tighter or even skipped at all. I liked Alex and I mostly liked Dylan, even though sometimes he was rather annoying, with his entitled attitude. Yeah, you can't have absolutely everything perfect in your life; no one does. I'm not also sure how I felt about the dynamics in Alex/Dylan relationship. I know the author tried to show something different here but it kinda didn't gel together.
So well... I love the series and I liked the book, just - I wasn't crazy about it.
So well... I love the series and I liked the book, just - I wasn't crazy about it.
September 11, 2016
Damn......Kaje Harper can write!
October 30, 2016
**3.5 stars**
The fourth book in the Hidden Wolves series is jam-packed with action, politics, amazing world-building, and stellar writing.
The story is really intricate and I was amazed at the author’s ability to weave this plot in a way that would actually seem plausible in an alternate universe. Dylan being unaware that he is a werewolf made for an interesting twist in the regular shifter trope and I loved reading about poor Alex trying to protect Dylan without exposing the truth. Alex was experiencing some serious anxiety throughout the book, especially because as a wolf, he is governed by so many rules and regulations, which he regularly broke in order to take care of Dylan.
While I enjoyed reading about the pack dynamics and the unveiling of the master plan for what came to be the equivalent of D-Day in the shifter world, I got quite bored with it eventually. The romance is a sub-plot here and the book was really long. So there was a lot of page time devoted to things not-romance.The fact that Dylan gave the impression that he was more like "Eh, why not?”, when it came to Alex for a good part of the book did not help matters any. I never doubted that Alex was completely infatuated with Dylan and wanted him badly but Dylan seemed to just be going with the flow.
I read shifter books because I love the desperate/mated/destined to be together co-dependent vibe that wouldn’t seem very realistic or healthy in contemporary novels and I missed that here. Even the mating bond, when it came, seemed to happen more for practical reasons so it felt quite anti-climactic to me. The emotional attachments came a little too late for my tastes and that took a lot out of my enjoyment of the book.
My personal preferences aside though, this is an excellently written book, with a solid plot and character development. Some of the scenes in captivity were brutal in their violence and it was jarring to see Dylan and Alex go through so much. The ending seemed more like an HFN to me, or a non-traditional HEA than what shifters in this universe usually get, at any rate, so there’s that.
If you are a fan of the series, you will most likely love this. I enjoyed it but it isn’t my favourite of the 4 books.
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. See this review on Gay Book Reviews.
The fourth book in the Hidden Wolves series is jam-packed with action, politics, amazing world-building, and stellar writing.
The story is really intricate and I was amazed at the author’s ability to weave this plot in a way that would actually seem plausible in an alternate universe. Dylan being unaware that he is a werewolf made for an interesting twist in the regular shifter trope and I loved reading about poor Alex trying to protect Dylan without exposing the truth. Alex was experiencing some serious anxiety throughout the book, especially because as a wolf, he is governed by so many rules and regulations, which he regularly broke in order to take care of Dylan.
While I enjoyed reading about the pack dynamics and the unveiling of the master plan for what came to be the equivalent of D-Day in the shifter world, I got quite bored with it eventually. The romance is a sub-plot here and the book was really long. So there was a lot of page time devoted to things not-romance.The fact that Dylan gave the impression that he was more like "Eh, why not?”, when it came to Alex for a good part of the book did not help matters any. I never doubted that Alex was completely infatuated with Dylan and wanted him badly but Dylan seemed to just be going with the flow.
I read shifter books because I love the desperate/mated/destined to be together co-dependent vibe that wouldn’t seem very realistic or healthy in contemporary novels and I missed that here. Even the mating bond, when it came, seemed to happen more for practical reasons so it felt quite anti-climactic to me. The emotional attachments came a little too late for my tastes and that took a lot out of my enjoyment of the book.
My personal preferences aside though, this is an excellently written book, with a solid plot and character development. Some of the scenes in captivity were brutal in their violence and it was jarring to see Dylan and Alex go through so much. The ending seemed more like an HFN to me, or a non-traditional HEA than what shifters in this universe usually get, at any rate, so there’s that.
If you are a fan of the series, you will most likely love this. I enjoyed it but it isn’t my favourite of the 4 books.
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. See this review on Gay Book Reviews.
June 9, 2020
Oh my goodness, this book was such a pleasure to read! This far into the series I am well-familiar with Kaje Harper's writing style. She does a great job of pacing the story and allowing the story to logically play out. Even better, I am well-familiar with some of these characters, and what a pleasure it is to spend time with them again.
Harper has done a great job of tying all of the previous characters and plot of the series into this book while introducing some wonderful new guys. Alex and Dylan are two guys whose worlds are tilted, with each of them thrust into strange situations. Alex, finally coming out of a very deep closet for the first time in his 38 years, and Dylan, coming to terms with his werewolf heritage. Their reactions to these strange new lives are absolutely believable (there were times when I nodded and thought, "Yeah, that's about how I would react to that."). I especially got a kick out of Dylan's response to the ingrained pack hierarchy; it's one thing for Paul to push back, but another wolf doing that?
I hadn't intended to, but I devoured this book in a single day. For me, that is the sign of a book that I really enjoyed. Now I'm now sad that there isn't another one...yet! In the meantime, I think I'm overdue to check out some of Harper's other books.
(As a side note: THANK YOU for setting a book in Chicago and getting the geography right! I'm also incredibly amused that part of the story includes Glacial Park, 20 minutes away from me...)
Added 08 June 2020 - Rereading this series reminded me how much I really love this world that Harper has built. I think this book is by far the strongest of the series, and although there’s a whole lot going on, greater in scope than any of the previous books, the story remains compelling with just the right amount of suspense.
Harper has done a great job of tying all of the previous characters and plot of the series into this book while introducing some wonderful new guys. Alex and Dylan are two guys whose worlds are tilted, with each of them thrust into strange situations. Alex, finally coming out of a very deep closet for the first time in his 38 years, and Dylan, coming to terms with his werewolf heritage. Their reactions to these strange new lives are absolutely believable (there were times when I nodded and thought, "Yeah, that's about how I would react to that."). I especially got a kick out of Dylan's response to the ingrained pack hierarchy; it's one thing for Paul to push back, but another wolf doing that?
I hadn't intended to, but I devoured this book in a single day. For me, that is the sign of a book that I really enjoyed. Now I'm now sad that there isn't another one...yet! In the meantime, I think I'm overdue to check out some of Harper's other books.
(As a side note: THANK YOU for setting a book in Chicago and getting the geography right! I'm also incredibly amused that part of the story includes Glacial Park, 20 minutes away from me...)
Added 08 June 2020 - Rereading this series reminded me how much I really love this world that Harper has built. I think this book is by far the strongest of the series, and although there’s a whole lot going on, greater in scope than any of the previous books, the story remains compelling with just the right amount of suspense.
February 7, 2017
I love this series by Kaje and hope we get more of Aaron's pack.
April 28, 2021
I had been concerned that Kaje Harper wasn't going to write another book in the 'Hidden Wolves' series and I had accepted that even though this is one of the best paranormal series I have ever read. Imagine my joy and surprise when I learned the fifth installment was coming out. I knew the author would give me everything I've come to expect - a strong, character driven plot filled with realism, grit, action, and a romance for the ages.
Dylan has always wondered about things, things about him that have never made any sense. Why he's never had a cold in his life. Never been sick at all. Why his sense of smell is heightened. When Alex is done explaining, after they just barely escaped from the "gang" in Chicago north, Dylan doesn't know whether to believe him or run screaming, although it looks like the panicking might win for a while. And who could blame him?
Dylan and Alex thought the worst thing would be getting through their conversation. Little did they know something far worse is in store for them. Even worse than getting dragged in front of the Chicago north alpha. Throughout the previous three books in the series it became obvious that the wolves are either going to have to "come out", so to speak, to humans or they'd eventually be forced out. The advancements in human technology make it far too easy to be captured on film and uploaded to millions in just moments. Unfortunately for Dylan and Alex they get caught right in the middle of something really, really, really bad. I don't want to say anything more because it is a spoiler.
Please find my full review at Rainbow Book Reviews
Dylan has always wondered about things, things about him that have never made any sense. Why he's never had a cold in his life. Never been sick at all. Why his sense of smell is heightened. When Alex is done explaining, after they just barely escaped from the "gang" in Chicago north, Dylan doesn't know whether to believe him or run screaming, although it looks like the panicking might win for a while. And who could blame him?
Dylan and Alex thought the worst thing would be getting through their conversation. Little did they know something far worse is in store for them. Even worse than getting dragged in front of the Chicago north alpha. Throughout the previous three books in the series it became obvious that the wolves are either going to have to "come out", so to speak, to humans or they'd eventually be forced out. The advancements in human technology make it far too easy to be captured on film and uploaded to millions in just moments. Unfortunately for Dylan and Alex they get caught right in the middle of something really, really, really bad. I don't want to say anything more because it is a spoiler.
Please find my full review at Rainbow Book Reviews
September 23, 2016
Whoa, what a whirlwind of activity in this world over the course of these four books (and two snippets). In this latest installment, we are given a front row seat to exactly how the doors blew off the secret of the human wolves existence through the eyes of Alex and Dylan.
I loved Alex and Dylan because they felt so... real and developed. Alex was a submissive wolf by nature, who rose to the occasion every time it was called for to save Dylan whether he realized he was doing it or not - and he had to override his natural instincts to do so. Dylan was the wolf without a clue and seeing how he went from "guy sitting on a park bench drawing" to where he ended up a few weeks later made my head spin. One of my favorite parts of this story was how Dylan articulated what I imagine most of us would if presented with this kind of crazy stuff right now. And even better - he was so fabulously Canadian with his "ehs" and Tim Hortons and "you crazy Americans are always...." Loved him.
It was also great to check in with the characters from the previous books in a meaningful way. I enjoy how we don't just get cameos, but they are integrated into the story so it's a hybrid of new couple and recurring series. While I love Simon/Paul, Ethan/Brandt and of course Alex and Dylan - Aaron and Zach's dynamic gets on my nerves a bit. I don't know, it just seems cheesy. I wish he would lose the word boy from his vocabulary.
Not to end on a snark... I loved this book and this series. I hope there's another one. Seems like there are lots more stories to mine in this world and I hope the author does so!
I loved Alex and Dylan because they felt so... real and developed. Alex was a submissive wolf by nature, who rose to the occasion every time it was called for to save Dylan whether he realized he was doing it or not - and he had to override his natural instincts to do so. Dylan was the wolf without a clue and seeing how he went from "guy sitting on a park bench drawing" to where he ended up a few weeks later made my head spin. One of my favorite parts of this story was how Dylan articulated what I imagine most of us would if presented with this kind of crazy stuff right now. And even better - he was so fabulously Canadian with his "ehs" and Tim Hortons and "you crazy Americans are always...." Loved him.
It was also great to check in with the characters from the previous books in a meaningful way. I enjoy how we don't just get cameos, but they are integrated into the story so it's a hybrid of new couple and recurring series. While I love Simon/Paul, Ethan/Brandt and of course Alex and Dylan - Aaron and Zach's dynamic gets on my nerves a bit. I don't know, it just seems cheesy. I wish he would lose the word boy from his vocabulary.
Not to end on a snark... I loved this book and this series. I hope there's another one. Seems like there are lots more stories to mine in this world and I hope the author does so!
June 23, 2021
****Reviewed for Prism Book Alliance®****
4.5 stars - Kaje Harper’s werewolves are so very interesting. I’ve enjoyed all the books in this series so far and Unsafe Exposure is no exception.
Dylan and Alex connect in a very unusual way and find themselves in very unfortunate circumstances. Yet, they fit together so well. I liked seeing them get closer and closer to each other even if much of it was because of the danger they were in.
The fear of the wolves coming out and what happens when people discover them among the rest of the population was palpable. The outcome was totally plausible too. This is so much more than a werewolf romance novel. There is some social commentary both on how the wolves behave as well as the humans. In addition it looked at families and the need for someone. It was so engaging that I couldn’t put it down and read it quite quickly.
I definitely recommend this series and this book in particular.
4.5 stars - Kaje Harper’s werewolves are so very interesting. I’ve enjoyed all the books in this series so far and Unsafe Exposure is no exception.
Dylan and Alex connect in a very unusual way and find themselves in very unfortunate circumstances. Yet, they fit together so well. I liked seeing them get closer and closer to each other even if much of it was because of the danger they were in.
The fear of the wolves coming out and what happens when people discover them among the rest of the population was palpable. The outcome was totally plausible too. This is so much more than a werewolf romance novel. There is some social commentary both on how the wolves behave as well as the humans. In addition it looked at families and the need for someone. It was so engaging that I couldn’t put it down and read it quite quickly.
I definitely recommend this series and this book in particular.
May 7, 2021
For this fifth installment of Kaje Harper's Hidden Wolves series, we break away from Aaron's pack and encounter two completely new wolves, whose story answers many hanging questions from the last book. (And we finally get to meet Rick Brown, the Chicago alpha and head of the council!)
As hard as this shifter world is on those who grew up to it, poor Dylan is totally ignorant of his heritage and finds out the hard way that he's a werewolf. Rather than have a strong mentor like Aaron, he has to learn from a relatively low-key wolf who is also on dangerous ground and at the mercy of the local alpha.
I like how Aaron's pack weaves through each story without having to be the focal point, and I'm enjoying meeting each new wolf (and human). Alex and Dylan alone are kind of lost, but together, they can overcome almost any obstacle-- with the help of a few alpha wolves. The writing, as always, is excellent, and I highly recommend this series.
As hard as this shifter world is on those who grew up to it, poor Dylan is totally ignorant of his heritage and finds out the hard way that he's a werewolf. Rather than have a strong mentor like Aaron, he has to learn from a relatively low-key wolf who is also on dangerous ground and at the mercy of the local alpha.
I like how Aaron's pack weaves through each story without having to be the focal point, and I'm enjoying meeting each new wolf (and human). Alex and Dylan alone are kind of lost, but together, they can overcome almost any obstacle-- with the help of a few alpha wolves. The writing, as always, is excellent, and I highly recommend this series.
June 23, 2021
Like the previous book, I've got some mixed feelings on this one and I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the earlier books.
On the one hand, I thought the idea of a werewolf who didn't know he was a werewolf was really interesting and I liked how that played out. I also generally enjoyed the advancing of the werewolf reveal plot and finding out a bit more about the off-screen events we heard about in the previous book. The writing and world building continues to be great, and I was glad that, eventually, we connected with the pack from the earlier books. I'm obviously quite attached to that pack, and I didn't totally feel like the connection of this pairing to that pack was all that strong and IDK, something about it wasn't totally satisfying. I generally not enjoying the books that are taking place away from Aaron's pack, and though I get why it makes sense for the political plot, it makes it harder for me to get invested. And since it looks like the next book is going to be more of the same, I'm a bit nervous.
Mostly though, I just didn't love this couple. I can appreciate that the author was playing around with the bond and dynamics, and I think a lot of people will enjoy that, but it just didn't connect for me. It's hard for me to articulate, but I just had a hard time understanding or feeling invested in the couple or their dynamic, and I found Dylan to be a bit tiring after awhile. And the fact that it ended with them basically a pack of two living alone... IDK, it just felt like kind of a bummer and sort of random? I miss Aaron's pack :(
On the one hand, I thought the idea of a werewolf who didn't know he was a werewolf was really interesting and I liked how that played out. I also generally enjoyed the advancing of the werewolf reveal plot and finding out a bit more about the off-screen events we heard about in the previous book. The writing and world building continues to be great, and I was glad that, eventually, we connected with the pack from the earlier books. I'm obviously quite attached to that pack, and I didn't totally feel like the connection of this pairing to that pack was all that strong and IDK, something about it wasn't totally satisfying. I generally not enjoying the books that are taking place away from Aaron's pack, and though I get why it makes sense for the political plot, it makes it harder for me to get invested. And since it looks like the next book is going to be more of the same, I'm a bit nervous.
Mostly though, I just didn't love this couple. I can appreciate that the author was playing around with the bond and dynamics, and I think a lot of people will enjoy that, but it just didn't connect for me. It's hard for me to articulate, but I just had a hard time understanding or feeling invested in the couple or their dynamic, and I found Dylan to be a bit tiring after awhile. And the fact that it ended with them basically a pack of two living alone... IDK, it just felt like kind of a bummer and sort of random? I miss Aaron's pack :(
November 29, 2019
I really enjoyed this book and while it wrapped up a lot I do hope we have more in this world because I'm not ready to see it end. I would recommend that you read the first 3 books in this series before diving into this one. The shifter politics play a big role in this book and it is a lot easier to understand all of that and the secondary characters that play a role if you've read the previous books.
This was an interesting book that combined a lot of things but did it very well. We have all the shifter politics and the reveal to humans that shifters are real. A bit of a coming-out story for one of the MC's and for another MC the surprise of finding out he's a werewolf. It's a great mix of action, political intrigue and romance.
This was an interesting book that combined a lot of things but did it very well. We have all the shifter politics and the reveal to humans that shifters are real. A bit of a coming-out story for one of the MC's and for another MC the surprise of finding out he's a werewolf. It's a great mix of action, political intrigue and romance.
July 8, 2021
This one felt the most disconnected of all the books in the series. At times I even forgot it was part of the series, because most of the chatacters we previously knew appear only by snippets.
The story in itself was nice, and it makes sense why Kaje would want to tell it. Alex and Dylan are really cool characters. My one grand gripe with this book is that it lacks that direct connection to other characters we've already followed before.
The story in itself was nice, and it makes sense why Kaje would want to tell it. Alex and Dylan are really cool characters. My one grand gripe with this book is that it lacks that direct connection to other characters we've already followed before.
March 13, 2024
This turned out a lot differently than I thought it would. I thought it would be a contemporary piece with some pack dynamics thrown in, but shit turned left REAL quick.
Also, these characters are weird af. They kinda feel like cartoons. Like, I can't picture actual human beings while reading this. Connecting with either of the MCs is out of the question.
Kinda wanna drop this, tbh. Nah, you know what? D-D-ROPPED at 42%.
Also, these characters are weird af. They kinda feel like cartoons. Like, I can't picture actual human beings while reading this. Connecting with either of the MCs is out of the question.
Kinda wanna drop this, tbh. Nah, you know what? D-D-ROPPED at 42%.
June 16, 2019
✮4 Stars✮
October 27, 2016
Staying off the radar is hard enough when you’re a shifter, but hiding from your family because they would never accept the fact that you are gay is perhaps the loneliest way to live. Alex is in his thirties, young by wolf standards, but still a virgin, in every sense of the word. While on assignment from his pack in Seattle, he settles uneasily in Chicago, makes nice with the local pack and bides his time till he can go home. Then he runs into a wolf—a wolf that doesn’t realize he is one—a wolf who is running for his life from the very pack that Alex has carefully been avoiding after his initial introduction, to garner approval from the alpha to be on their turf while doing his research. Naturally he helps the guy out, but when he realizes that Dylan Shore has no idea he is a shifter—that, in fact, he has never allowed his inner wolf to surface—Alex is determined to help Dylan get out of town before the pack hunts him down. Oh, if only wishes could always come true and attraction was not so very strong, because in short order Alex and Dylan are running for their lives from the pack, from government sanctioned scientists, and then from the world.
I am not giving you one more clue as to how this story, Unsafe Exposure, evolves, other than to say that as the fourth installment in her Hidden Wolves series. She has upped the ante and gone the extra mile to build two new characters that I absolutely fell in love with from the word go. Honestly, that is saying a whole lot right there because those familiar with this author’s wolf shifter series know that Ms. Harper has created some pretty fantastic guys again and again in these books. But Dylan and Alex are just special—Alex, in particular. To hide who he was from people he genuinely cared about and respected for so long; to never act on the fantasies and hopes he had about finding someone to love, to be intimate with, to care for—dreams he buried so deeply within; to truly live a half life in so many ways and then risk his own in order to save a man he barely knows but who strikes such a deep chord within him that he cannot walk away; that is a hard and selfless life, and that is Alex, in a nutshell.
Because Dylan is, in many ways, similar to Alex—leading a life that is focused on caring for his younger sister after their mother dies—it is so easy to see why these two men are drawn to each other from the start. But fate is a hard mistress and the hand she deals these two is fraught with danger and turmoil. Escape after escape, we watch Dylan and Alex run, fleeing for their very lives and still they are hard pressed to find a place that is both safe and home. For many reasons, these two men are destined to travel a road that is hardly easy and often lonely, which only makes their feelings for each other grow stronger.
Those familiar with this series will get a glimpse of familiar faces, and I know I, for one, enjoyed seeing how they fared. True to form, this author doesn’t allow her characters to take the easy road. Theirs is a realistic journey, and even though you may enjoy visiting those old friends during this novel, don’t be surprised to learn that life still balances very much on the edge of a knife for many of them. But, as always, there is woven throughout this incredible story much hope for a better tomorrow. It may be a bumpy ride, but home is still there and friendships have only deepened over time.
Kaje Harper’s Hidden Wolves series just keeps getting better and better. She is continually recreating this paranormal genre and breathing new life into it with each installment. Her characters are living, breathing men who meet the challenges thrown at them and move on, battered and bruised, but determined to live the life they deserve. I predict that fans will rave about Unsafe Exposure, and I encourage those who are new to this author’s books to start with the first one of these gems and save the latest for last. Trust me, you will not be disappointed.
Reviewed by Sammy for The Novel Approach Reviews
I am not giving you one more clue as to how this story, Unsafe Exposure, evolves, other than to say that as the fourth installment in her Hidden Wolves series. She has upped the ante and gone the extra mile to build two new characters that I absolutely fell in love with from the word go. Honestly, that is saying a whole lot right there because those familiar with this author’s wolf shifter series know that Ms. Harper has created some pretty fantastic guys again and again in these books. But Dylan and Alex are just special—Alex, in particular. To hide who he was from people he genuinely cared about and respected for so long; to never act on the fantasies and hopes he had about finding someone to love, to be intimate with, to care for—dreams he buried so deeply within; to truly live a half life in so many ways and then risk his own in order to save a man he barely knows but who strikes such a deep chord within him that he cannot walk away; that is a hard and selfless life, and that is Alex, in a nutshell.
Because Dylan is, in many ways, similar to Alex—leading a life that is focused on caring for his younger sister after their mother dies—it is so easy to see why these two men are drawn to each other from the start. But fate is a hard mistress and the hand she deals these two is fraught with danger and turmoil. Escape after escape, we watch Dylan and Alex run, fleeing for their very lives and still they are hard pressed to find a place that is both safe and home. For many reasons, these two men are destined to travel a road that is hardly easy and often lonely, which only makes their feelings for each other grow stronger.
Those familiar with this series will get a glimpse of familiar faces, and I know I, for one, enjoyed seeing how they fared. True to form, this author doesn’t allow her characters to take the easy road. Theirs is a realistic journey, and even though you may enjoy visiting those old friends during this novel, don’t be surprised to learn that life still balances very much on the edge of a knife for many of them. But, as always, there is woven throughout this incredible story much hope for a better tomorrow. It may be a bumpy ride, but home is still there and friendships have only deepened over time.
Kaje Harper’s Hidden Wolves series just keeps getting better and better. She is continually recreating this paranormal genre and breathing new life into it with each installment. Her characters are living, breathing men who meet the challenges thrown at them and move on, battered and bruised, but determined to live the life they deserve. I predict that fans will rave about Unsafe Exposure, and I encourage those who are new to this author’s books to start with the first one of these gems and save the latest for last. Trust me, you will not be disappointed.
Reviewed by Sammy for The Novel Approach Reviews
February 8, 2017
Jeeez! Kaje Harper hits us AGAIN with an amazing story full of some SERIOUS angst and feels.
I thought the previous books were full of stress and strain, but WOW this takes the cake!
I was so compelled by the idea that Dylan didn’t even know he was a werewolf and yet not only does he find himself being chased by thugs and rescued by someone to whom he feels attracted, but then he finds himself in a world where nothing makes sense and everything he thought he knew is up for questioning.
I have to admit, I was a little perturbed that the author felt we needed even MORE to fight against, as though the pack politics weren’t enough, we have the government now involved… I keep expecting these guys to find that calm place where everyone can settle down – but it doesn’t look that’s happening any time soon.
From what I’ve read, there might be a new book yet coming – I’m not sure if it’s planned or what – but from where we’re left off I think there will be. I really, really hope everyone finally gets their happy ending.
If I have a complaint about this series, it’s that. Book after book ends with our couples together but nothing’s really resolved and it makes me anxious! I want them all settled, happy and SAFE!
As always, the writing is excellent and the characters multi-faceted and interesting, the drama is ….well, very dramatic and the romance is very, very sweet.
These aren’t books you can read as stand-alones and I’m sure fans of the series will be psyched to read this if they haven’t already!
4.5 of 5 stars
I thought the previous books were full of stress and strain, but WOW this takes the cake!
I was so compelled by the idea that Dylan didn’t even know he was a werewolf and yet not only does he find himself being chased by thugs and rescued by someone to whom he feels attracted, but then he finds himself in a world where nothing makes sense and everything he thought he knew is up for questioning.
I have to admit, I was a little perturbed that the author felt we needed even MORE to fight against, as though the pack politics weren’t enough, we have the government now involved… I keep expecting these guys to find that calm place where everyone can settle down – but it doesn’t look that’s happening any time soon.
From what I’ve read, there might be a new book yet coming – I’m not sure if it’s planned or what – but from where we’re left off I think there will be. I really, really hope everyone finally gets their happy ending.
If I have a complaint about this series, it’s that. Book after book ends with our couples together but nothing’s really resolved and it makes me anxious! I want them all settled, happy and SAFE!
As always, the writing is excellent and the characters multi-faceted and interesting, the drama is ….well, very dramatic and the romance is very, very sweet.
These aren’t books you can read as stand-alones and I’m sure fans of the series will be psyched to read this if they haven’t already!
4.5 of 5 stars
May 4, 2017
Ever since he was a child Dylan lived life on the run. Randomly Mom would come home and insist that they had to move that day. Now, Mom is gone, his sister is starting college, and Dylan thinks that life will be so much more stable. Boy is he wrong. First he is chased by a gang, then rescued by a cute guy, and in the matter of days is told that he is a werewolf – and then he is on the run again.
I really enjoyed this story, Dylan and Alex, and an opportunity to check back in with the Minnesota pack. This author has an amazing way of world building and character development. Every story and every person is fully meshed out it is shockingly easy to believe that even werewolves are real.
I really enjoyed this story, Dylan and Alex, and an opportunity to check back in with the Minnesota pack. This author has an amazing way of world building and character development. Every story and every person is fully meshed out it is shockingly easy to believe that even werewolves are real.
October 20, 2016
I read this ages ago, and loved it. This author does detail and realism like no other (even when the book is about werewolves).
The characters are strong, and morally good (except for those nasty evil ones), and our sympathies are evoked with compassionate and affection.
Want more. Always more.
The characters are strong, and morally good (except for those nasty evil ones), and our sympathies are evoked with compassionate and affection.
Want more. Always more.
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