Sandy M’s review of Fated (Cascadia Wolves Series, Book 6) by Lauren Dane
Contemporary Paranormal Erotic Romance eBook released by Samhain 19 Aug 08
This is another series, along with its author, that’s becoming a favorite of mine very quickly. I’ve read and reviewed the last two books before this in the series, Wolf Unbound and Standoff, and thoroughly enjoyed them. This book, however, is my favorite so far, but I still have the first two to read, and I have a feeling those will give Fated a fun for its money.
But I found that I really enjoyed the problems the hero and heroine in this story faced, it gave depth and emotion to it all. Megan and Shane have never met, even though he is the anchor wolf for her sister and brother-in-law. But the moment they do come face to face when she picks him at the airport in Seattle for a family wedding, their lives should be simple and follow a happily-ever-after course. Not even close.
Megan is an enforcer for her pack. Shane has never been part of a pack. Megan loves the feeling of pack, family. Shane’s been raised to hate what he is, to live as human in a human world, even though his father is a wolf. But Shane claims Megan anyway, not looking ahead to resulting consequences. Living on opposite sides of the country is the least of their problems when they finally breathe and look at their differences.
They each want the other to leave their current lives and move to make a home where a life and career for the other have been ongoing for some time. Megan is the first to give a possible future life a try. But Las Vegas is not for her, especially because Shane lives as a lonesome wolf and his friends are superficial. When Megan wants him to then visit her home and experience life her way, Shane makes excuses.
That leaves Megan only one choice. And that choice leaves them both bereft and wanting. Shane doesn’t understand why he should be the one to give up the niche he’s carved out for himself. Even when other family members have a go at him, he digs his heels in. After weeks apart, however, he does extend the olive branch to at least communicate with Megan, but he has no idea if it’s too late and he’s given up the best thing he’s ever had.
Ms. Dane has created a world where you can tell immediately she’s now so familiar with her characters that their emotions and wants and needs are second nature to her, they worm their way into you as you read so that you begin to really know those characters as well too. I enjoy the feeling of family in this series.
Lex, Megan’s brother and the alpha’s right hand, offers to kill Shane for the hurt he’s caused, said seriously but only meant if Megan for some crazy reason said yes. You feel the love during scenes like that. You also feel Megan’s loss and loneliness when she realizes that Shane will probably not be part of her life; Shane’s agony when he can’t get beyond his mother’s disgust at what Megan is, even though he is wolf himself, and, therefore, can’t bring himself to go to his mate because of it all.
If you like to read werewolves and shifters, you need to read this series. Besides that paranormal part of it, you get all those extra bonuses of family and love and emotion, you get great characters who stick to their beliefs and their families and those who have to make hard decisions to get what they deserve and need in that life.
Grade: A+
Summary:
Could there be any worse fate than a road trip from Seattle to L.A.—with one’s mother—to attend a wedding? Why yes, when one isn’t married yet, like Megan Warden. Toss in a grandmother and a carload of already married sisters and it’s a recipe for sneaking sips of “special” coffee while someone else drives.
Shane Rosario has better things to do than attend a wedding where his father’s relatives will be at him nonstop about getting married and having children. If it weren’t for seeing his anchor bond, Layla, he’d have taken a pass on the entire weekend. It would be easy, since he’s become adept at hiding who and what he is.
When the two weren’t even looking, Fate steps in and before they know it, their bond is sealed. Bonded pair, married in the eyes of their people. Two people tied together in every way. Trouble is, Shane’s not sure he wants all that comes with Megan. And Megan’s certain she’s not willing to live outside her pack, pretending to be human.
The distance between them is more than geographical. It’s a widening gulf rapidly filling with resentment…an emotional divide only acceptance could bridge. Can Shane can accept himself to cross it? Only if they let love take control.
Warning: The usual players – hot sexing, pushy Warden males and the women who keep them in line, some EMO (read: grab your hankies) and bad words.
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
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