THE PROTECTOR (The Sons of Texas #2) by Donna Grant-a review
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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 3, 3017
EVERYTHING’S HOTTER IN TEXAS
When Marine Force Recon captain Cullen Loughman learns that his father’s been kidnapped, he will do whatever it takes to find him. In order to achieve his mission, Cullen will need to team up with the best of the best—someone who just happens to be the most stunning woman he’s ever laid eyes on…
This isn’t the first rodeo for ex—Air Force pilot Mia Carter. Still, Cullen’s bad-boy good looks and charm are distracting her from duty. . .and it appears that the feeling is mutual. As Mia and Cullen make their descent into a dark, dangerous world, their attraction reaches the boiling point. But is their desire worth the risk when a ruthless enemy is waiting in the wings—or will their Lone Star love conquer all?
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REVIEW: THE PROTECTOR is the second installment in Donna Grant’s contemporary, adult THE SONS OF TEXAS romantic suspense series focusing on the Loughman brothers-Navy SEAL Owen; eldest brother Delta Force Colonel Wyatt, and youngest brother/Marine Force Recon Captain Cullen- and their Navy SEAL / Black Ops father Orrin Loughman. This is Cullen Loughman, and former Air Force pilot Mia Carter’s story line. THE PROTECTOR can be read as a stand alone but for cohesion and backstory I recommend reading the series in order as each installment continues upon the events of the previous story line as the brothers search for their missing father.
SOME BACKGROUND: While on assignment overseas, all three Loughman brothers are called home to Texas to discover that their beloved Aunt and Uncle have been murdered, and their Navy SEAL father Orrin is missing. The US government has tasked the brothers in locating their Black Ops agent; and the retrieval of a biological weapon known as Ragnarok.
Told from three third person perspectives (Cullen, Mia and Orrin) THE PROTECTOR picks up immediately and runs parallel to some of the events of book one continuing the search for Orrin Loughman, and the people involved in the patriarch’s torture and abduction. Cullen Loughman is the youngest sibling and as such was protected from much of their father’s earlier life, and their mother’s brutal murder; but Cullen is determined to uncover the whereabouts of the man he hasn’t spoken to in a very long time. Enter Mia Carter, Orrin’s special mission pilot, and the woman with whom Cullen will fall in love. What ensues is the search for Orrin Loughman, and Cullen and Mia’s attempts to stay one step ahead of the Columbian Cartel, the Russian special forces army, and the US government.
The relationship between Cullen and Mia is one of immediate attraction but Cullen is all about locating and rescuing his missing father. Not one to easily trust, Cullen suspects Mia knows more than she is willing to admit perhaps to the point of being involved in Orrin’s capture. The sexual attraction and tension is palpable; the push and pull of sexual energy is heightened on the run with the search for Orrin Loughman. The $ex scenes are intimate and seductive.
The world building continues to focus on a biological weapon now in the possession of the Loughman family; and the hunt for Orrin Loughman before it is too late. Throughout the series the reader is taken behind the scenes to Orrin’s location as a he suffers to protect his family and country.
All of the previous story line characters (Owen and Natalie -The Hero book 1, Wyatt, Callie, and Orrin) continue to play secondary and supporting roles. Major General Yuri Markovic returns as Orrin’s captor; General Davis knows his time is limited: and Dr. Kate Donnelly takes a special interest in Orrin Loughman. I am hoping for a story line or novella between Orrin and Kate. There are a large number of Russian military and covert agents, as well as the many faces of the requisite evil including a multi-national organization known as The Saints.
THE PROTECTOR is a complex story of romance, action, suspense and adventure involving secret agencies, espionage, biological warfare, and government lies. The premise is engaging and intelligent; the characters are colorful, passionate and animated; the romance is provocative and encouraging. THE PROTECTOR is an exciting and imaginative installment in Donna Grant’s SONS OF TEXAS romantic, suspense series.
Reading Order and Previous review
The Hero
The Protector
The Legend (June 2017)
Copy supplied by Netgalley
Reviewed by Sandy
Donna Grant is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the sizzling Dark King series featuring dragons, immortal Highlanders, and the Fae.
She was born and raised in Texas but loves to travel. Her adventures have taken her throughout the United States as well as to Jamaica, Mexico, and Scotland. Growing up on the Texas/Louisiana border, Donna’s Cajun side of the family taught her the “spicy” side of life while her Texas roots gave her two-steppin’ and bareback riding.
Despite deadlines and voracious reading, Donna still manages to keep up with her two children, four cats, and one long haired Chihuahua.