OMG! I could not put this book down. Not only does my favorite wizard, Jackson, play an integral role in the plot but the sexual tension between Alec and Carmen is off the charts!In the previous two books in the series, Crux and Crossroads, Alec comes across as controlling, angry, and ornery. Everyone is scared of him because of his past shenanigans, everyone thinks he's a crazy old alpha bastard. Alec is crazy all right - like a fox! I never thought of Alec as sexy in the other books but my opinion quickly changed when I started reading Deadlock. When Alec and Carmen first meet, Alec pulls the normal "I'm in control. I'm handling this" alpha routine. Carmen knows just how to handle him. She doesn't back down but gives just enough to make Alec feel like he's in control. When Carmen's life is in danger, Alec immediately comes to her rescue. He sees it as his responsibility to protect her even though he's leery of getting too close to her due to an incident in his past that he hasn't yet to come to terms with.What I liked best about Deadlock was the sexual tension and verbal foreplay between Alec and Carmen. This is the first time I wanted the smex to hold off for as long as possible! The dirty talk was that damn good. Alec can't keep his distance or hands off Carmen. The attraction is palpable even though at times he questions if it is real.Like with the other books in the series, the majority of the plot centers around the wolf politics; the old guard vs the new guard. Things get downright dirty and dangerous and it's up to Alec, Andrew and Carmen's brothers, Julio and Miguel, to step in. As usual, the wolf politics aspect of the plot doesn't interest me as much. I'm all about the relationship.There are enough characters where this series could continue for a long while and I hope it does. The next book, Cipher, is Andrew and Kat's story. I may be in the minority but I kinda want Andrew to end up with someone else. But who's to stay that he ends up with Kat? I hope that Carmen's brothers, Julio and Miguel, continue to be a presence in the series.Deadlock is a great read and a great addition to the Southern Arcana series. I think I may like it a smidgen more than Crux. I love Jackson. He's still my man. But Alec and the dirty talk...rawr! And he has a beard. I love a man with facial hair. He can lock me up in a cage anytime!
