Blade’s Edge (L.A.S.T. Defense 1) by Patricia D Eddy-review

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Jasper

The explosion should have killed me. Some days, I wish it had. Chronic pain keeps me up at night—when I don’t drown it in beer. I lost my partner, my career, and the only reason I had to get up in the morning.

Until my brother drags me to a charity event and a sexy-as-sin reporter practically falls in my lap. We shouldn’t start anything. I’m a broken-down has been and she’s doing her damnedest to move back to Los Angeles. But when her latest scoop leads to death threats, I’ll do anything to keep her safe.

Emi

Moving back to Austin was supposed to be temporary. My grandmother was dying, and I couldn’t let her be alone. But a year away from network news might as well be a lifetime. Especially when you’re pushing forty. If I don’t get back into the national spotlight soon, the only stories I’ll be covering are cat adoption events and cheating scandals at the local senior center.

So when I hit on the biggest story of my career, I should keep my eyes on the prize. Not go on a date with a former Texas Ranger who has every right to hate me.

I won’t let a little danger keep me from the truth. But what if Jasper’s the one who pays the price?

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REVIEW: BLADE’S EDGE is the first instalment in Patricia D Eddy’s contemporary, adult L.A.S.T. DEFENSE romantic suspense series. This is former Texas Ranger, Lieutenant Jasper Blade, and forty year old, reporter Emmylou ‘Emi’ Marsh’s story line.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Jasper and Emi) BLADE’S EDGE follows in the aftermath of an explosion and suspension of our story line. An undercover investigation into the Cordova Cartel ended with an explosion, two law enforcement dead, and Jasper Blade fighting for his life. Fast forward eight months , now former Texas Ranger Jasper and his twin brother Captain AJ Stone reconnect at an awards dinner where Jasper will come face to face with the reporter he kicked out of his hospital room eight months earlier. Emmylou Marsh didn’t want to do a fluff piece about awards and rubber chicken dinners but as the mentor to a new on-air fashion reports, Emi finds herself face to face with our story line hero but when Emi begins an investigation into bribery and fraud of a new upscale hotel and banquet centre, our heroine becomes the target of some powerful people. Refusing to back down, Emi finds herself with a protector and guardian in the guise of our story line hero when the FBI and local PD refuse to offer protection.

The world building focuses on Emmylou Marsh’s investigation into bribery and the Cartel. Determined to get her story and reveal the corruption in Austin Texas, our heroine, often TSTL is focused on the ultimate prize, a story and the take down of some corrupt businessmen. Jasper only knows that to protect Emi he is going to have to take control, control of a woman who is too independent to back down.

The relationship between Emi and Jasper begins acrimoniously but when our heroine is threatened, Jasper refuses to stand down and watch as her life implodes. In hiding, our couple find themselves falling for one another but another betrayal is about to take aim at our story line couple. There are no sex scenes, everything is implied.

We are introduced to Jasper’s brother AJ, a man struggling since the disappearance of the woman he loves, as well as Sargeant Parker Elmore. The requisite evil has many faces.

BLADE’S EDGE is a story of power and control, betrayal and vengeance, greed and obsession, acceptance and love The action packed, character driven premise is intriguing and captivating; the romance is subtle; the characters are dynamic and determined.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy