This is definitely one of the better shifter stories out there. Casey is a human who discovers that he might be the mate of an alpha wolf shifter but that doesn't mean it's 'happily ever after'.Making this discovery has come with a price; Casey must choose to try and undergo the turning - which isn't easy and could mean death if he fails - or he has to give up his life, his job, his love and move far, far away.Casey believes going through the turning is worth it, especially if it means he can be with Nathan. Now he just has to convince Nathan that its worth it when Nathan's biggest fear is Casey being harmed.The story did a good job balancing the soulmate theme of the shifter genre with a more serious response to the discovery of a shifter world. I really enjoyed how Casey's mate turned out to be someone he had grown close to over time as well as having a bit of instant chemistry. It was much more realistic.With all the world and theme building, my only regret is that this isn't the first book of a series! This was sort of a strange werewolf story for me, good but also mediocre.The majority of the story is Casey discovering werewolves exist, and then Nathan's pack trying to figure out what to do about Casey, because if he remains in the area, he's a danger to them all. But Casey's work with inner city kids at the YMCA is important to him, and he doesn't want to be forced to give that up. He also doesn't want to be forced to give Nathan up now that he knows that's the only reason that Nathan pushed him away in the first place.I liked Casey and Nathan together, but I don't know as I needed to see Casey and Adam's break-up. I felt bad for both Casey and Adam, but I also wondered why we even needed to meet Adam. I definitely felt as though Adam was not the right person for Casey, and Nathan was. I suppose maybe we needed to see that, though initially it does make Casey look like a bit of a jerk. I sort of think that Casey fell for Nathan a bit too quickly as well, though explanation was given. (This goes back to the Casey looks like a jerk initially.) But in the end, I didn't feel like Casey was a bad guy; he just wasn't with the right guy, and it was a bad situation that had to be corrected. Mistakes happen.It feels like the start of a series which hasn't been continued. There was this build up of "how bad things might be if other packs find out" one of a number of possible things to discover, but it didn't really seem to go anywhere. It did sort of happen, and I guess there was supposed to be tension because of this other pack, but I just didn't feel it, so it felt anti-climactic to me? I dunno. I guess maybe it just didn't work for me. I liked the secondary characters in Nathan's pack, Amadi and Vince, also. But again, there are things alluded to and unfinished with both of them, which lends to the feeling of "unfinished series." And there isn't much about this particular shifter universe which makes it feel unique in any way. It just is.The ending also felt a bit awkward. What happened made sense, but did we need to go there? Or rather, did we need to stop right there? "Awkward" is really the best word I have.So, 3 stars. It feels like there's potential that it hasn't quite lived up to yet, but it could.
What do You think about Long, Lonely Howl (2011)?
As part of the plot universe - sex is casual and sharing is common...no thanks not my thing.
—JuJu
