I almost never end up loving a sequel more than the initial instalment, but guess what? it just happened. Laura Dane did it again. Although I loved the first book, Diablo Lake: Protected had been even more of a delight! 

I just can’t get over how much I loved the Hero and heroine of this book. As an empathic witch, Aimee had been greatly involved with the citizens of Diablo Lake. Making her one of the most caring and awesome person in the city, but the fact that she is also this majorly badass, weird, sassy and powerful witch had just pushed herself higher in my shortlist of all time favourite fictional characters. Paired with her not less amazing hunk of a man, Mac Pembry, (despite him being in the opposing pack) the chemistry went over the charts. They are just perfect for each other! 

”You’re very strange and it totally turns me on.”

To be honest, the writing style had felt like it wasn’t enough to engage me at the beginning and I was quite worried then. It had felt stretched as if there was just so many unnecessary things being told, but fortunately it doesn’t stay that way long. A few chapters in, the plot evolved into something that you can’t simply put down, so the writing style cease to become an issue at the end. 

Overall, GREAT! totally recommended for y’all paranormal romance lovers out there.

Family dynamics is something that is very hard to portray in a manner that does not upset people but Author Lauren Dane does a superb job with Mac and his relationship to his immediate family and his pack. The reader will also be thrilled at how Mac deals with his feelings for Aimee in regards to his responsibilities and his desires. In the beginning I liked Mac but I wasn't sure if he would be able to take over and be a believable pack leader, though I had no doubt that in the corporate world he would be great leader. What I liked about him is that he was real and the reader got to see his doubts and how he grew stronger as a leader through time.

Further more I love strong woman and Aimee comes across as a strong no nonsense woman which was very appealing to me. It was enjoyable watching her take a stand against Mac as well as for Mac. Her character was robust with lots of hidden aspects and the further you go into the story the more you will fall in love with her. Her relationship to Katie Faith is priceless and the reader gets glimpses of it throughout the story.

Secondary characters are fully developed with Aimee's best friend Katie Faith being hysterical in all her antics. I can only image what Katie Faith and Jace's story was like in Moonstruck (Diablo Lake #1) of the series and plan to go back and read it. Jace is the other pack leader who is at odds with Mac's pack so watching how these two deal with each other adds another layer of interest.

As always there are bad guys or should we say werewolves that added spice to this story to keep the reader is suspense as the author weaves us through the story to the dramatic ending.

I give this 4 STARS for how the author dealt with family dynamics.

REVIEW
After reading Moonstruck and falling in love with Diablo Lake, its magic and secret supernatural population I was really eager to read more as soon as I could. I adored the characters, their interactions with their families and each other in Moonstruck. I read the blurb for this book and I was really raring to go with reading, to learn more about the Pembry wolves. I was also curious to see how a possible relationship between witch, Aimee Benton and dominant wolf Macrae Pembry would work out. My thoughts were along the lines of would the wolf men, Jace Dooley and Macrae Pembry and their differences come between the true deep friendship between Aimee Benton and Katie Faith Dooley?
I became totally immersed in the Diablo Lake magic before I'd finished reading the first page of Protected. The book picks up three weeks after the wedding of witch, Katie Faith Grady and prime wolf Jace Dooley. The alterations to the Dooley home of Jace and Katie are well underway and it seems both patrons, Jace & Katie have slipped into their new roles quite seamlessly and are coping with the added workload fairly easily too. The garden of the property has flourished since Katie moved in and it has abundant display of beautiful smelling roses.

Aimee is all worked up, she has discovered something about an ex-boyfriend and the only person she feels she can turn to with the revelation is best friend Katie Faith. Katie is naturally shocked but reassures her friend that she is not the person with the problem, it is her ex-boyfriend of three years Bob that has the issues and needs to deal with them. Katie advises Aimee to just forget about it all. 
The two girls soon turn their attention to the fit looking werewolves working on the house. Aimee can certainly understand her friends attraction to werewolves.

The cover of Moonstruck had a purple hue to it, this book has a blue hue. The scene on Protected's cover could be straight from a certain section of the book when a certain couple are kissing under the moonlight. I would say the couple is Aimee and Macrae the two most central characters within Protected. Katie actually teases Aimee, saying that Macrae is "eyeing her up", though Aimee laughs and brushes off the comment she has to admit to herself and then later to best friend Katie that she finds Macrae rather swoon worthy herself!

The genre of Protected is classified as Romance, Sci-Fi Fantasy by Netgalley and I totally agree with this. I will add that yes there are some steamy scenes with quite explicit language but to me it works well as it is part of a larger plot/storyline not just for the sake of a steamy scene.

So after being "rescued" by Macrae from being skittled over by two fighting werewolves (Dooley vs Pembry) and then "bumping" into Macrae a few other times they end up organising a date. Naturally gossips that they are Aimee and Katie come up with the idea of meeting up making it, Aimee, Macrae, Katie and Jace going out for the meal! These girls are as close as sisters really, and throughout the book Katie Faith proves to be a real support and defender of Aimee. Jace also views Aimee as family and is always on hand to "sort out" anyone bothering her, but Aimee is a strong witch, who both can and prefers to defend herself. There's rumours, malicious gossip, rival pack tensions as well as internal Pembry wolf pack tensions galore in this book. If you thought Moonstruck was packed full of action . . ..well Protected has all that and even more.
Katie Faith & Jace Dooley still feature quite highly in my list of favourite characters in this series. We also learn just how stern Miz Rose can be when a couple of werewolves that should know better break the code, one of the simplest but most important rules for all those that live in Diablo Lake. I'm trying to hint and skirt around revealing anything as I of course do not want to spoil your own reading experience of this brilliant book. 
I cannot say I like Scarlett Pembry but at one or two points in Protected you do feel empathy towards her, as Aimee does too. The way Scarlett keeps on going at Katie Faith and her reputation is weird. . . and is becoming stranger and more mystifying as the Diablo Lake Series progresses. Scarlett really seems to have a vendetta against Katie . . . .and she continually rakes over old Diablo Lake history bringing up Josiah Dooley . . . and hinting at "bad things" as well as snarking and being nasty towards Jace Dooley too. Hopefully we will learn exactly what Scarlett's problem is somewhere in the future of the Diablo Lake series.
The odd thing about Scarlett is that when she finds out about a possible union between Katie Faith's best friend Aimee and her son Macrae she is all for it. The immediate reason for her favourable attitude towards Aimee seems to be that it would mean the "Pembry pack" would then have their own witch like she see's Katie Faith being to the Dooley pack. 
I'm looking forward to learning what her actual problem is and why she is so anxious to do as much damage to Jace and Katie Dooley as possible.
Macrae is the opposite of his parents, in fact he ends up having to make some difficult choices in how to deal with certain members of his family. I personally think Macrae is similar in character, personality and ways to Jace Dooley. I reckon if Jace and Macrae were in charge of their respective packs there would be much less drama and upset in Diablo Lake. The "cats" in Diablo Lake have a brief part to play in a "clean up" operation that has Miz Rose taking charge. I'm hoping we get to discover more about the cat shifters later in this series. Though what we do know is that they aren't as close, and in and out of each others homes like the werewolf packs are.
The "shining star" of Protected has to be Aimee Benton, who is a nurturing green witch. Aimee is the person who goes around Diablo Lake calling in on the older generation offering herbal and magic infused tinctures and balms to soothe their ailments. Aimee does this without anything in return really, she does it because she can and wishes too. I thought the way she wormed her way into Jeph Pembry's home and heart was particularly amusing, she kind of managed to turn around her good deeds, giving the impression Jeph was doing her a favour eating the extra bun, or the extra broth or pie she left for him. Even the matriarchal Rebecca Pembry is won over by the caring Aimee. Rebecca gives both the permission and strength to Macrae to pursue Aimee no matter what as well as being the wise voice he needs to hear when the time comes he has to become patron. Rebecca informs her grandson Macrae that Aimee Benton will make a worthy patron and be a great asset to the Pembry pack.

Protected is more centred on the Pembry wolves, though we have already met Macrae's immediate family of parents Dwayne and Scarlett, and obnoxious spolit brother Darrell. We also read about Mac Pembry's true family support network from grandmother Rebecca, to his Uncle Bern and his wife and the cousins that always have his back Huston and Everett. We also learn a little more about Mac's other brothers Billy and youngest Samuel. It was an important moment in the book when Samuel chose to speak up and warn Macrae and Aimee about a plan that current Mayor Dwayne has to discredit opponent Aimee in the run up to the Mayoral elections. I'm looking forward to seeing and reading about the aftermath of the incidents at the end of Protected. How will Scarlett react now she is no longer the patron? Will the Pembry pack finally settle under the watchful eye and fair hand of Mac Pembry.

I have to add just a few more things....Firstly, I truly adored the part in the book where it is revealed Macrae got his name from. Secondly, I could seriously visualise the incident in the supermarket where Nadine Grady hears Pembry Wolves slandering her daughters name ans she picks up a can of peaches and hits the wolf. . . . well you'll find out when you read the book yourselves. Finally, I was also immensely entertained by what I call the Katie/Aimee "isms" such as "Softy Softerson", "maggot eating shit lord"and "Cheaty McCheaterson". The other nick names I found really appropriate during Protected, were for the opposing packs in town were the "Droolworthy Dooleys" and the "Poison Pembrys". Though after the ending of Protected maybe it should be "Droolworthy Dooleys" and "Pulseracing Pembry's". 

I could really go on and on about this book, in fact this series so far! The books fit together well, especially as there is only a three week time frame gap between the end of Moonstruck and the beginning of Protected. 

The initial words floating around my head as I finished reading Protected but also fit well for Moonstruck were, Enthralling, Captivating, Emotional, and Heart Warming. The Diablo Lake series has family and community at the very heart of the plots and has some relate-able situations even though it is classified as fantasy. All I can really sum up with is Wow! another fantastic book n the Diablo Lake Series! and that I am so eagerly awaiting the next book in the series I hope it's not long until its available to read.

Despite being on opposite sides of the conflict in Diablo Lake, both Mac and Aimee are able to form a passionate relationship. I especially liked watching Aimee grow as a strong woman and watching Mac begin to take over his pack and lead them in the right direction.

The Cascadia Wolves series was when I first became acquainted with Ms. Dane's writing.  I've followed her career and enjoyed some of the other genre's that she writes in but I'm happy to see her going back to the paranormal world with it's interesting mix of humans, shifters and witches.

For readers who read the earlier book in the series it was clear that Mac and Aimee would follow a very interesting path.  Even so this story managed to surprise me a few times in how it all turned out.  Aimee is a talented witch content to use her nurturing magic to support herself professionally whiling doing good for a whole lot of people.   There's a lot of politicking going on in their small town thanks to the rivalry between the two dominant wolf packs in the town. Aimee's naturally sympathetic to the Dooley's because her best friend is married to the alpha besides which the Pembry's our douchebags even through Mac Pembry seems to stand out and apart from the rest of his pack.
Mac is a natural leader having traveled outside of his small corner of the woods to see the world and shed his blood for his country.  He bites his tongue holding back for his father's approval that seems to be set on his clearly incompetent younger brother.
All the fighting is not good for the town or a natural empath like Aimee. I like how she stands up and takes no prisoners as she lays down the law.  Her relationship with Mac is a treasure. Clearly he's an alpha male and they tend to make a few mistakes along the way but he owns up to them, apologizes nicely and makes my  heart pitter patter as he shows his love and appreciation for his woman.
I hate the fact that the author never gives us he back story on why Mac's father favors one son over the other or why his mother is so psychotic.  Also the readers are aware of the mystery surrounding Jake's father and while one can speculate nothing is clearly disclosed.  I felt all these mysteries that persist left things hanging a bit without a clean end.

Summary

Aimee and Mac are on opposite sides of a rivalry between the witches and the shape shifters. But there is trouble brewing in Diablo lake. Mac has spent years fighting in the army and learning as much as he can to eventually become the right leader for his pack. But then his family requests that he returns home and gets things back in order. Mac knows he will have to tread very carefully as he slowly takes over the pack. His father is lazy when it comes to being a leader and his brother is a troublemaker who with his pack of friends are causing all sorts of problems for the town and most especially the witch clan. Aimee, is strong and responsbile and she knows that certain members of the pack are causing problems and finds herself in a battle with herself. Her passion for Mac and her responsiblity to see that the leadership over the town becomes changed. But as Mac and Aimee work together to make the town more unified, Mac’s family is causing unnecessary problems and Mac will be forced to make a difficult choice and only his love for Aimee will give him the strength to do what is best for all…
Plot and Story Line

What a lovely story this turned out to be. Even though it starts out a bit slow at first, it quickly picks up pace and I very quickly had a hard time putting this one down. I did feel a bit confused at times with the romance itself. I felt like there was a background story with Mac and Aimee that wasn’t really revealed very much, so I would have liked a bit more information included in the story. However that is my only real complaint about this story. In Protected we have a story that deals with complex pack politics but the author handled this variation so well. I did like seeing two strong characters become so unified and connected with each other. Both Aimee and Mac have alpha like personalities. But what characters they turned out to be. Mac is a wonderful leader, and even though he is torn between family and duty he knows how to act when its the right thing to do. He handles the situation very delicately and I enjoyed seeing the way he goes about it. Now Aimee, I truly liked seeing so much. She is a natural born leader but very caring and empathetic.

 I love the way she treats others and makes an effort to help others even at a cost to herself. She is compassion but firm and we see what a great balance that brings out. I am eager to read book one now and see how this author builds this series, I definitely want more.
The Cover

Interesting cover, I really like the shade of blue used here with the moon’s brightness.
Overall View

Protected is a stimulating and sexually charged romance that gives the reader pause in appreciation and delight!!

An excellent book, again, from Dane.  My only complaint is she spent a lot of time crafting the tension and discord within the Pembry Pack, specifically with Mac, Dwayne, Darrell, etc.  It was clear there would be a showdown for Patron and one with Darrell and Mac.  I'm disappointed that the confrontations basically happened off-page.  Then, we get just bare minimum for the after-math once Mac goes to Aimee's afterward.  If the battles were to happen off-page, and given the relationship that had developed with Mac and Aimee, he should have opened up more to Aimee, told her what happened (in more detail), let him be more vulnerable and open. 

I am dying to know Scarlett's secret and why the hell she's such a bitch lol! I hope we get more of Aimee and Mac because I feel their story isn't quite over.

I liked this book.  really liking the series

Aimee and Mac are one of the funniest couples I've read lately. So entertained. There are deeper and more serious plots and dramas that unfold during the telling of the story, rounding it out and making it engrossing and interesting, but its that comedy that makes the story really come to life. Crazy characters, quirky dialogue and a core of strength and community underneath. Great book. I'm looking for more - the mystery of what's going down with the Pemberlys still needs to be solved - but I can't figure out who's next for this author?

Quick Summary: I've got three words...hot, fast and feisty. That is what this story was. The protagonists had hot chemistry. The pace of the story was fast. And the characters were feisty, as well as funny. I liked most of them. 

The conflict in this book was really well written. Although I still don't know the "secret," or why Mac's mom and dad were such unethical, evil, immature wolves, I was completely engaged. In truth, Mac's family dysfunction was ridiculous. 

Final Thoughts: I was left with question after question, upon finishing this book. I also thought the ending was rather abrupt. It was an ok read. That is all.

Rating: 3.25-3.5/5 
Recommend: +/-
Status: M 
Chemistry/Intensity: Yes
Conflict/Drama: Yes
Family Dysfunction: Yes
Humor/Wit: Yes
Stand Alone: Yes (I recommend reading book one first.)
Series: Yes (book2)
HEA: Yes
Re-read: No

Admist of some inner community chaos, two people find their mates unexpectedly and fall in love. The chemistry between these two is strong and makes for some good sexy times. They are quite cute together. Each brings something to the relationship that makes it work. She is quite quirky, with a weird sense of humor, and hilarious at times when she babbles. There are a lot of tensions and issues in their community and families, which not only cause some trouble for them, but also to the story. They're cute together, despite everything else going on in their lives. The community story is going to continue to the next book because there were too many questions left unanswered.This was just an okay read for me. The story ended with what felt like a happy for now, instead of a happily ever after.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.