Title:  Defending The Pack
Series:  The Sawtooth Peaks #2
Author:  Keira Blackwood
Published:  February 15, 2016
My Rating:  4.5 stars
Source:  Borrowed with Kindle Unlimited
Cover Description:

Hailey Archer is madly, completely in love with her high school sweetheart, for the second time. Becoming acquainted with the dark, growly wolf side of the love of her life intrigues her as much as the sculpted, gorgeous man she fell for. But finding peace and balance in her new life proves difficult when her mate’s secrets draw him away into the night. The more she learns about the hidden shifter world, the less Hailey can share with the sister that she has always confided in.

Cole Tenbrook gave up his birthright to mate the woman he loved. When he should be celebrating his life-long commitment to his beautiful, curvy mate, the weight of protecting her threatens to consume him. While Cole waits for judgment from the Therion Tribunal, forces in the shadows reveal themselves, and threaten to pull the couple apart.

Sexy shifters and their feisty mates who aren’t shy about loving each other – so, this is an adult, 18+ reader tale.

Read on for my thoughts on Defending The Pack.

Hailey and Cole’s romance continues in Defending The Pack, and the troubles surrounding them and the people they care about also intensifies.

Cole has a lot on his mind and his responsibilities to the love of his life and his pack are almost overwhelming.  He has all but forfeited his chance at becoming Alpha to his pack by mating Hailey, a human.  Yet, with the temporary leader gone missing on a peace keeping mission, one that probably was doomed from the start, Cole is still being considered the leader his pack turns to for direction and instructions on how to deal with the threats that keep coming their way.  He is also waiting for word from the tribunal on the death of the man who stalked and tried to kill Hailey.

His stubborn, troublesome mother has made a really stupid move, one that will have dire repercussions on him personally and his pack.  The woman he loves is trying to make a place for herself in his world.  Yet the secrecy she must hold tight to is endangering the close relationship she has with her sister.  And to make matters worse from Hailey’s point of view, Cole is going off on his own without leaving any word to her as to where, or why he’s gone.  A relationship needs to have honesty and communication between the couple, and Cole’s decisions that were made to protect Hailey only anger her instead.

Cole’s life has gotten really complicated – and it’s about to get worse.

There is a madman who has taken over a nearby town.  His cruelty toward humans and shifters knows no boundary, and his followers are equally dangerous.  Holding both humans and shifters captive, Crazy Eyes has harmed members of Cole’s pack and now his sights are set on Hailey.  Cole and some of his pack members will launch a rescue where new allies are discovered and some pack members will not return home.

Defending The Pack has such a diversity of characters from the truly vile and dangerous to charming and sweet.  Much like life, the characters who populate Keira Blackwood’s world are as varied and interesting as your local neighborhood.  Cole and Hailey have a few rocky moments, it seems to be universal that the male of any species just doesn’t get that their women want details, information and keeping them in the dark “for their protection” just isn’t gonna fly guys.  Cole’s mother – I truly wanted to strangle this woman, often.  I’d love to say she redeemed herself in the end.. but, oh well.

While some situations do have a resolution, there are still things – new and old – that will take us into the last story in The Sawtooth Peak series.  Defending The Pack is a solid, detailed story that holds your attention and will bring in the emotions as well.  With characters you will care about, a plot that makes sense and moves the story along, as well as some steamy, sexy moments – what’s not to enjoy about this story or this series?

If you love Shifter Romance then Defending The Pack and The Sawtooth Peak series should be on your reading list.  I discovered a wonderful new author who brings me the kind of stories that I enjoy.  I would highly recommend this story/series to any lover of romance, paranormal and suspense.  Give it a try, I believe you’ll enjoy what you discover.

Available for the Kindle