
"To Whom It May Concern: Remove the female agent from the protection detail on the president's visit to Raleigh, N. C., or we will make sure she is unavailable to serve."
"We saw the woman on the news tonight. She looks like a Barbie doll." What???? They had called her a what? . . . a seasoned, trained, highly intelligent Secret Service Agent . . . and that's what they came up with to taunt Special Agent Tessa Reed? She was incensed. Regardless of the shenanigans, the fact remained that someone did not want Tessa on scene during the president's upcoming visit to the area. And that fact alone had Special Agent Zane Thacker on edge. This was Tessa they were talking about, "his" Tessa, as if a threat would do anything but motivate her to work harder than ever.
It was complicated. It was always complicated with Tessa. Their friendship, their relationship, their whatever it was, had undergone monumental changes . . . some good, some not so good . . . but after Zane's promotion and subsequent move to Washington, D. C. the physical separation had given them some breathing room. Now, that space was narrowing really, really quickly.
"I will always be your friend. You're never going to lose that, Princess. But I want more . . . I want your love. I want your heart. I want all of you."
Did I enjoy the time that I spent between the pages of this story? Absolutely! However, it remained a little tricky to "rate"(sometimes I wish I didn't have to use those pesky little stars). . . . possibly because it was such a character driven story, in essence a romance (albeit a highly anticipated one), when I was expecting a higher level of suspense, (more plot driven); leave it to Tessa and Zane though, the last chapters of the book certainly filled that criteria. Nevertheless, it gave the author time to explore some highly relevant life issues, allowing the power of faith and the gift of forgiveness to "defend and protect . . . under fire".
"We're so thankful for your forgiveness . . . for the freedom to walk into the future knowing that our pasts, whatever they hold, have been redeemed in Jesus."
*I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher, I also purchased a copy. The opinions stated above are entirely my own. 3.5 stars
BOOK GIVEAWAY!!
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BackCover Blurb:
USSS Special Agent Zane Thacker has landed his dream assignment
protecting the president of the United States. When the president plans a
fundraiser at the exclusive estate of a political supporter in Raleigh,
Zane is thrilled to be working again with Special Agent Tessa Reed, his
best friend--and the woman he desperately wishes could be more.
Though
Tessa almost lost everything, she battled her demons and came out on
the other side healthy and healed. But when her role as the liaison
between the Raleigh office and the president's protective detail
wrenches her past back into the present, her greatest failure threatens
to come to light.
Zane refuses to let Tessa go through this
alone. But can he stand by the woman he loves and protect the president
from a mounting threat at the same time?
Sparks fly as
award-winning romantic suspense writer Lynn H. Blackburn closes out her
Defend and Protect series with this explosive tale of secrets kept, lies
exposed, and relationships restored.
Revell Publishing, March 7, 2023
Available in digital and paperback