One mistake can change your life forever.
Casey had spent most of her life watching the Predators control Queen City, never believing they could be brought to justice. She was the one who always passed unnoticed as Max’s stepsister. They underestimated what she was capable of until it was almost too late. When the Predators discovered they were her prey, there was hell to pay, and Casey was going … was going to have to pay her dues with her soul.
One mistake can fuck up your life forever.
Max trusted his stepsister, not believing for a second she would betray the Predators. She used her body to get what she wanted, and now Max would use the same wiles on her to trap Casey in her own web of deceit. The Predators demanded revenge, and Max was going to see they got what they wanted, even if the price was his soul.
This was one standoff neither was going to win.
WARNING
This work of fiction is intended for mature audiences only. All sexually active characters portrayed in this ebook are eighteen years of age or older. Please do not buy if strong sexual situations, multiple partners, extreme violence, drugs, and explicit language offends you.
NOTE TO READERS
This book is a stand alone story. However, to receive the full experience ‘Riot (Predators MC, #1)’ is recommended before.
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Jamie Begley has become a one-click author for me. I adore her complex world of dangerous characters that can’t help but endear themselves to you. That said, Stand Off is not my favorite book of the Predators MC series or the entire world it occupies.
Summary:
Casey has spent her whole life in Queen City, and she knows exactly who runs it. You don’t grow up the daughter of a mother like hers and not know some shady characters, and even being acquainted with some of the shadiest. The Predators aren’t to be messed with. They have their hands in a lot of pies, and are known for being dangerous and unforgiving. Being personally involved with the club by marriage, Casey knows she shouldn’t cross them, but she has no choice. She’s gone largely unnoticed as Max’s stepsister, and she’ll use that angle to do what no other law enforcement agency and club has ever managed. Bring the Predators to justice. Max had no reason not to trust his stepsister. She had been in the background of his and the club’s lives for a few years, and never knew her to draw attention to herself or be overly concerned with club activities. When Max learns that Casey will go so far as to use her body to get what she wants against him and his brothers, he decides his revenge should be paid in kind. He’ll trap Casey with his body, then show her that betraying not only his, but his club’s trust was the worst mistake she ever made. But neither anticipated what would happen between them or the price to be paid. Can they survive the fallout with their hearts and souls intact?
I love Jamie’s writing. It’s so easy to be sucked into her worlds, falling for any character she wants you to. Stand Off was no different, but it also didn’t hit quite as hard as her other books have. I liked Casey well enough. She was dealt a pretty crappy hand, but didn’t let it stop her from making something of her life. I like the love and care she gave to her brother. The situation and choices she made to handle it, though, made no sense to me. Considering how smart she was and the history she had with the Predators, I think she could have narrowed her target and asked for help and not been rebuffed when she gave the info she had. She let her mom manipulate and control her actions for far too long. Max had me all mixed up. On one hand, I loved him. He’s a big bear of a charming man who’s loyal to his club, loves his kids, and could be alpha bossy. I found it fascinating that he could be so good-natured one minute, then rip an entire room apart in the next. While I loved how he was with his kids, I took issue with the fact that he had four of them with four different women. Surely he would have figured out what caused that, right? Especially since he was known for his short-term relationships. It just smacked of him trading in being smart for a little bit of pleasure. Despite Max’s status as an irresponsible manwh*re and Casey’s betrayal, I liked them together. They were steamy and sweet and I liked the banter between them. I just would have liked more of it. In the end, I liked being in the Predators world again. Unfortunately, by the end of the book, I had questions with no answers. Secondary cast was pretty good. I love getting to meet more of the Predators, and I’m especially looking forward to more of Jackal and his obvious interest in Penni. The storyline started off well-enough, and had me anticipating a lot concerning Casey’s betrayal. In reality, it was over and done quickly, everyone seemingly moving on, then the explanation given quickly towards the end of the book. From the blurb, I guess I was expecting it to be a focus, when it wasn’t. Then there was the fact that the Predators didn’t really even question who she was turning her back on them to. I did enjoy the epilogue. It was really sweet, although I could have done without the baby mamas. I am all for co-parenting and harmony within a blended family, but I think partying with Max’s exes was a bit much. I’m happy to have read the book and taken another step with the Predators, but it’s not my favorite. It did have it’s moments, but I really hope Jackal and Penni give me more of that signature JB goodness.
The lingerie party was absolutely hilarious, Penni getting everyone high whilst Casey is feeding every one the wine. Then when they got themselves into the lingerie sending the boys a photo and their reactions. Also I loved Jackal’s reaction when he saw the photo off Ice, Colton and Max’s phone and that in itself was hilarious. Those two will explode.
I really liked their ending, it was nice to see them all getting on and we learned that Max and Casey adopted a little girl called Skye who had down syndrome which was so cute. Has someone who has a little brother with down syndrome it’s nice to finally see it in books.
Full review: https://abookhavenxx.wordpress.com/2020/04/19/stand-off-jamie-begley/
3.5 stars
I liked it. Not as much as I liked book one in this series, Riot, but I liked it. The book as a whole was good. It had some sweet shoot ’em up action, scenes that made my heart swell and some BIG laugh out loud moments.
My main problem was that I didn’t feel that there was a strong connection, physically or emotionally, between Max and Casey. That fire was missing for me, that passion, that I can’t live without him, that MINE! attitude. I know I might sound greedy but I wanted more. Sure, Max got fired up at some Brothers when he walked in on a bad situation between them and Casey but that just showed me why he got the road name, Mad Max. I wanted to know why he thought Casey should be his and vice versa for her.
Besides his piercings, Max’s character wasn’t all that appealing to me. I almost feel like I didn’t get the chance to know him well enough, as so much of the story seemed to be focused on Casey’s problems. What we did find out about him, career-wise, I thought that was pretty darn cool and a great outlet for him. His comments about the unprotected sex were kind of a turn-off for me though. Thinking about the number of times he’s gone bareback.. eww. Unfortunately, Max just didn’t melt my panties!
I didn’t mind the fact that Max had four different kids by four different women but I think things could have been taken a step further where his baby mamas were concerned. That would have been an excellent way to bring in the angst that was much needed in this book!
As for Casey… it might sound weird but I think I felt more betrayed by her actions than by what Max was doing to her in order to get his revenge. I mean, Casey had a VERY acceptable reason for why she did what she did but it was a down and out betrayal… even if she never really thought that she belonged to the Predators. She knew that if things went badly for her, there would be repercussions. Casey even mentioned several times that she thought she might be being used but she still wanted to soak up as much from Max (relationship-wise) as she could.
My heart ached for Casey where her family life was concerned. Having to deal with such a crap-tastic mother all of her life and the story behind her motivation for betraying the Predators… those scenes provided the most touching moments. I absolutely adored seeing the softer side of the Predators at the end of the book!
I LOVED getting more Ice & Grace and I REALLY LOVED getting more Penni & Jackal scenes (both together & as individuals)! Just thinking about Jackal’s new attempt at smiling, Penni’s conversation about finding “the One” and everything to do with the special themed party Casey had at Max’s place has me busting a gut!!
Stand Off was entertaining but I am SO ready for Penni & Jackal’s story! If they aren’t the next Predators MC book, I think I might go ape-sh** crazy!! 😉
I loved this book.