Series: Protectors (Book 3)
His job is to protect her…no matter the cost
Police detective Joy Ingram's connection to elite security expert Stonewall Courson is instant. Undeniable. Electric. But her commitment to protect and serve has always come first. Everything else is secondary -- especially when she uncovers an underground surrogate baby-making ring. Joy can't risk a distraction during the most important case of her career, not even one as sexy as reformed ex-con Stonewall.
There are few things Stonewall values more than a strong woman. But when Joy's investigation draws her into a deadly conspiracy that goes deeper than she ever imagined, he must convince her that he's the best man to protect her. And while he puts his life on the line to save hers, the insatiable attraction between them becomes the one danger neither of them can escape.
Good conclusion to The Protectors series. There has been a connection between Joy and Stonewall since they met in Forged in Desire, but their work schedules have prevented them from even having a date. Stonewall was determined, however, and his chance finally came when he and Joy attended Margo and Striker's wedding. I loved how he went all out to impress her with an incredibly thoughtful and romantic event. It was no surprise that the attraction between them lit up like the Fourth of July.
As deep as their connection went, both Stonewall and Joy are wary of any kind of commitment. Stonewall doesn't believe in forever. He lost his parents and his grandfather in a short space of time when he was a youth. The pain of those losses has made him determined to keep his encounters emotion-free. Joy was engaged to a man who resented her career and the time she spent on it. Convinced that relationships are impossible for her, Joy only agreed to the occasional "diversion." I loved the development of their relationship. Though both believed it was simply physical at first, it was clear that the connection between them went much deeper. I loved how Stonewall's way of taking care of her made Joy feel cherished, without diminishing her independence and strength. At the same time, Stonewall's growing feelings for Joy made him reconsider his beliefs about forever. But it took nearly losing each other for them to realize the depth of their feelings. I loved the ending and seeing them open up to each other about their love.
I really liked both Stonewall and Joy. Stonewall turned his life around while in prison. I loved his commitment to helping others the same way that Seth Granger helped him. He is also a man with a kind and loving heart, which is easy to see in his relationships with his grandmother and sister. One of the things I liked best about him was his vocal support of Joy and her career. I loved the scene in the restaurant after her promotion and how he shut those men down. Joy was amazing. I loved her commitment to her work and the protectiveness she felt for the people. I loved how she didn't let the naysayers in the department get to her; she simply did what she did best and proved her worth. I loved how tenacious she was when it came to solving her cases.
The suspense of the story was very good. I loved how one new piece of information gave Joy the key to unlocking the mystery of the unidentified dead woman. Following Joy's investigation was fascinating as she put all the pieces together, trusting in her instincts as well as the clues. Getting the point of view of the various bad guys gave excellent insight into how convoluted the whole thing was. It was also interesting to see the connection between the surrogate scheme and the events of the first two books. The final confrontation was intense and had me on the edge of my seat until everyone was safe.
I loved seeing more of Striker and Margot, and Randi and Quasar. The strength of the friendship among the three men was fantastic. It was wonderful to see how they were always ready to back one another up if needed, but that they could also cut loose with some hilarious teasing. I also enjoyed seeing more of the Grangers and how they are doing since Seth's acquittal. The hospital scenes at the end were great.
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