Battle Lines (Wolf Harbor, #9)

Fourteen of the most powerful shifters in the world will meet in Seattle. They will bring their staff, their agendas, and their vendettas. Most of all, they will determine the future of shifters, and the survival of the species may depend upon what they decide. There are two factions: the traditionalists, pack Alphas who want to keep to the old ways — small reclusive packs dominated by the will of the Alpha; and the modern packs — large, urban and allowing personal freedom. Some, at least. As Benny Garrison says, they might be more modern than the traditionalists like, but they are by no means progressive. And then there is Abby Stafford, Chairman of the Northwest Council of Alphas. A human changed to shifter, who called a pack — the first female Alpha in centuries. A wild card — she's the mate of the Chairman of the World Council, Akihiro Tanaka, and a power in her own right. Her pack, the Hat Island Pack, offers a third way. If there is one thing both the modern pack Alphas and traditionalist Alphas agree on, a wild card is dangerous. Too dangerous. But Abby sees beyond the World Council meeting. The clock is ticking, and shifters won't be able to hide from humans much longer. And if shifters can't learn to work together, this may be the last time the World Council meets. Book 9 in the Wolf Harbor Series.

L.J. Breedlove is a former journalist writing mysteries and thrillers about what she knows: complicated people, small towns, big cities, cops, reporters, politicians, assorted bad guys. "I write about religion and politics. About race and gender. I believe in the journalism axiom: Comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable. To which the labor organizer Mother Jones was supposed to have added: And in general raise hell. That works for me." L.J. grew up on a cattle ranch and then went to college to be an oceanographer. She decided getting seasick was not a good trait for an oceanographer to have, and discovered journalism instead — a field that liked people who asked questions! As a reporter and editor, she worked in Alaska, Oregon, Idaho, Texas, Washington, D. C. Then she got homesick for the Pacific Northwest and came home to work with college newspapers and teach journalism. She is an over-educated, bleeding heart liberal with a penchant for heroes such as Jack Reacher. She isn't particularly bothered by the inconsistency. You can follow her on Twitter @ljbreedlove for her political stuff, or on Facebook ljbreedlove for her writing life. Best place to find her -- besides a local coffee shop -- is at ljbreedlove.com. You can sign up for her email newsletter there. Or read her blog, snark included, and check out all her books.