Customer Reviews

Standoff (Cascadia Wolves, Book 5)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I had a very hard time waffling between four and five stars for "Standoff". This is book five of Lauren Dane's 'Cascadia Wolves' series and the hero, Cade, has been a favorite of mine since he first appeared in earlier books. The heroine for him that I had imagined in my mind turned out to be NOTHING like the one Ms. Dane wrote for him; but once I got over myself <grin> I enjoyed the story and was disappointed there weren't more pages.

Cade is the Alpha of the second largest pack in America. As such, his life has been dedicated to the safety, happiness, and general well-being of his wolves. He's recently decided that as soon as this crazy war is over, he's going to begin seriously searching for his mate. The good news is: he just found his mate! The bad news is: she's the sister of the wacko that started this war. Now Cade will have to fight the enemy, his own pack, and sometimes even his own Alpha nature to keep her safe and within his paws...I mean arms; ok, both!

Grace is nothing like her insane brother. Although she spent many years packless because of his actions, as soon as she realized exactly what he was trying to do, she began quietly investigating...putting her own life in danger to do so. When time runs short, she decides to take what she has to the allied packs in an effort to help them defeat her brother. She knew she would be distrusted, she knew she would face hostility, but she never dreamed she would find her mate.

This whole series in on my keeper shelf and "Standoff" has already made its way to its own spot, next to its series-mates. The story of the relationship between Cade and Grace was sexy and touching, but for me, the storyline relating to the war was rather anticlimactic. That's really my only beef with the book...the ending. Instead of flowing, it seemed sudden and sharp to me. But hey, that's just me and my opinion.

The rest of the book was bang on. The cast of characters were all familiar as stars of past books appeared and advanced the storyline. The sex scenes were stellar (as usual) and I did fan myself once or twice. And the pace of the book and growth of the relationship between the main characters was about as good as it gets. So I finally had to give it all five stars in spite of my heroine bias and whine about the ending. I'll read this series again, and maybe next time I'll get over myself sooner!

i love danes books but this is the first book in the cascadia books series that i have read. i liked this book right up to the point where the female is required to have sex with someone other than her mate.i am all for a good threesome but that is not what is writen. this happens only because it is required.the females and her mates thoughts were just get it overwith and forget itm.it felt too forced and not in a good way. i am only writing this tl letanyone else who just happens on these books know . because it is not mentioned in anyother review.

First off let me say: I love Cade and I absolutely cannot stand Nina. I didn't like her in her own book, and I don't like her in this one. I think Cade's mate is a perfect match for him. She's strong without being bitchy, she's tactful without being intentionally hurtful. Nina is neither of those things and I get the author tried to make her appealing to Cade. Maybe its the beyotch in me, but I would have done more than give Nina a "talk". I understand the resistance met by others in Cade's pack in the way his mate is presented because she is the sister of the wolf who they are fighting. However, in the other books, insubordination is met with swiftly, in this one, nothing happened to the wolves who snubbed her, it just felt like they had to get along to go along. And in the other books, it was pounded into our heads, that's not the way the pack does things. I love the chemistry between Cade and Grace. I loved the scenes for the tri-bond and thought it was well written. It was an okay book, it just had a lot going on and the ending fight scene between Cade and Warren was woefully short. The "war" just seemed to have a quick ending to get that conflict resolved for the next books.

Part of the "Cascadia Wolves" series. Preceded by Wolf Unbound. "Standoff" concludes the Werewolf Mafia story arc. The following book Fated remains with the Cascadia Wolves Pack, picking up Megan's story.

Plot:
Grace Pellini has done the unthinkable. She has penetrated the Werewolf Mafia and gathered vital information on the virus her brother is developing. Now she needs to get out. On reaching out to the National Pack (Pellini's enemies) she meets her mate, Cade Warden, strongest Alpha in North America. Together they need to bring Pellini down and Save The World (while having lots of mating sex and getting used to each other).

Comments:
- A good length book - 4086 kindle locations
- Characters are Shifters/werewolves within a human/wolf world.
- This book brings to an end a four book story arc. While you could read the book as a standalone, it would be greatly enhanced by reading the others, in order. (Except Reluctant. "Reluctant" is an excellent book but is outside of the Werwolf Mafia story arc and can be read separately or not at all.)
- Book begins two weeks after "Wolf Unbound" (ie 2 weeks after Tegan was hurt). Tegan and Ben are Enforcers with Great Lakes Pack in Chicago.
- Sex is m/f with a (consensual) m/f/m encounter. Very HOT, very loving, very caring and generous. And plenty of it.
- Unlike the earlier books, Cade and Grace know what they're getting into with the mating bond and the anchor. It is definitely choice and acceptance. And the first encounter is HOT. The m/f/m anchoring is more "willing" than in previous books, and, perhaps, more mature.
- Grace and Cade have lived their lives, been around the block a few times. They read as "mature", grown-up, accepting of harsh responsibilities. Their relationship, both in and out of the bedroom, reflects this. They know what they want and what they need from each other.
- Characters from previous books reappear and play an integral role.

Opinion:
I have thoroughly enjoyed the series and the story arc as a whole. Dane has approached each relationship differently, acknowledging the differences of the people and their places within the world and the war. Grace is a STRONG woman, spine of steel, surrounded by seriously Alpha men, but unlike Tegan's trained bravery, Grace has courage because of compassion and a need to make the world a better place. Dane again has the men accepting the strength of the women, and trying to protect them as best they can while allowing them to express themselves. How can you not love them? I highly recommend the series. I look forward to picking up Megan's story in "Fated" and see how Cascadia Wolves works, without a war to give the story impetus.

I wish there were more in this series. It is well written, has great sex and a great plot.

Grace Pellini is putting herself at risk for what she believes is right. Her brother, Warren, is playing at being an alpha while he uses biological weapons on hapless victims - mostly homeless humans. She's implemented herself into Warren's good graces with the sole focus of uncovering everything she can about his evil misdeeds. The information she's collecting could be instrumental in bringing him down but only if she can convince the National Allied Packs that she's not in cahoots with her brother.

Cade Warren has been the Alpha of the Cascadia Wolf Pack for twelve years. He's dedicated himself to ensuring his pack's happiness and safety at the expense of his own needs. Cade longs for a mate but before he can actively begin a search, he must ensure that Warren Pellini and his cronies are put out of commission - permanently. The last thing he expects is for the insider who drops information about Pellini in his lap to be not only Warrren's sister, but the woman he desires as his mate.

Grace's been on her own for a long time and she's accustomed to doing things her way - without consulting anyone. Cade is Alpha, he makes decisions and expects his instructions to be followed and up until now that's how things have worked. Grace is just as Alpha as Cade is and she sets about creating a place for herself amongst his pack - which includes facing down Lex's wife Nina, with whom Cade is anchored. In addition to trying to settle into a new life amongst such a close-knit pack, Grace is busy trying to find a cure to Warren's `secret' weapon - all while contending with an overprotective, bossy mate.

War's been declared and Grace knows her brother well enough to know he never plays fair. If Cade's going to risk everything to protect his pack from Warren, then she's going to make sure he's ready for Warren's underhanded maneuvering. Grace and Cade have some serious issues they'll have to work through in their relationship but underneath it all they love each other. Will they be able to get past their hurts and anger and stand united in the face of her brother's evilness?

If you're a fan of Lauren Dane's Cascadian Wolves series then you won't want to miss her newest release - STANDOFF! Cade's finally found his mate and she's perfect for him. Grace is just as strong, determined, and focused on saving the world from her brother's evil plots and she won't back down from a confrontation with anyone. I loved the intensity of this storyline and the emotional connections between the characters, but I especially adored Grace's honest reactions and willingness to stand up for herself. She does it with such style that I found myself immersed in each heated scene. If you're reading this book solely for the romance, Ms. Dane doesn't disappoint there either. There's tons of red hot steamy sexy scenes and of course with a couple that butts heads as often as Cade and Grace do, there's plenty of make up sex that'll leave you hot and bothered. Beautifully written Ms. Dane. I'll be anxiously awaiting more Cascadian Wolves tales in the near future.

Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)

Cade Warden is the pack alpha of the Cascadia wolf pack. For years he has lived and breathed and bled with his fellow pack mates. He has also yearned to find that one wolf who completes him. A female who has been designated as his alone. Despairing at ever finding her and becoming more lonely each year, Cade puts his pack's needs above his own and just lives life day-to-day as he can. Striving to stay ahead of Warren Pellini and his gang of thugs, Cade attends a meeting of other pack leaders who have hopes of outing Pellini and his evil minions. When SHE walks in the meeting room, Cade does a double take because unless he has a cold, his nose is telling him something that he has been waiting for his entire life.

She is Grace Pellini, sister to Warren and a doctor. Knowing that her brother is violating all sorts of pack laws, Grace has slowly but surely gathered enough evidence to put him away. The only choice she has is to meet with his enemies and hope for protection. She has no idea that in making one phone call her life will be changed forever and just when she gets the hang of being the female alpha to Cade's male, a challenge is issued by her brother that could tear her and Cade apart.

It goes without saying that Lauren Dane is an auto-buy for me and as long as she is writing and publishing books, I will be reading them. Standoff is the continuing story of the Cascadia pack from previous books, and this time the hero is Cade, the alpha of this wonderful and powerful pack. Cade is anything but a pushover but when it comes to Grace, he wears his heart of his sleeve and his sensuous nature comes out full force. I found Grace to be quite unique. She was a doctor, tiny, and looked very fragile because of her small stature. Well, if you could make her the size of her heart and give her the willpower that she had, she would have been a giant. Anything but fragile, she was able to wrap her wolf around her finger and to me, that was the ultimate in strength.

Bold, arousing, and powerful, Standoff is a book by Lauren Dane to read over and over and I plan on doing just that!

Talia
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed