Customer Reviews

The Defender (Harlequin Blaze)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When I bought The Defender, I didn't know it was part of a trilogy that ran concurrently. In fact, I didn't realize that until I went and bought The Cop as well and then read both books at the same time, for some odd reason.

This worked out well, fortunately, and the stories flowed around each other smoothly. In my opinion, Cara Summers did a clever thing by making each brother have his own book but all three's stories happening simultaneously.

The Defender is the third book and the mystery is solved here so if you intend to read this trilogy, DON'T start with this one like I did. While Theo Angelis came across nice and attractive, he did not engage my senses as Nik (The Cop) did. It could be I just like bad boy heroes and Theo is just too nice and too perfect. Compared to his brother, Nik, Theo is boring but I still enjoyed the pace at which this book moved.

I'm rather surprised, though, at how tame this Blaze title is. Almost every other Blaze I've read has been rather explicit in the sex scenes but either Cara Summers doesn't write hot sex scenes generally, or it's just this particular series. So when the ho-hum sex is combined with a ho-hum hero, I'm surprised I didn't throw the book aside unfinished.

What I thought was unnecessary was the psychic bit. The book didn't need it and since it's Nik who has the stronger psychic ability, it just created literary noise for Theo and Sadie's romance.

Overall, The Defender is readable mainly because it's well-paced with an uncomplicated plot. You won't remember it once you pack up and head home from the beach but there are days when I need something like this to relax with.

When Sadie Oliver's sister disappeared and her brother, heavily injured, became a suspect in a murder, she had no choice but to turn to Theo Angelis for help, whom she'd been attracted to for some time. Sparks fly between them as Sadie disguised herself as one of Theo's interns and she worked with him to solve the mysteries surrounding her family.

It was only when I read the author's note that I realized this book was part of a trilogy and it's the third book! I think it's clever of the author to spin out three stories from one single event, though it's been done by other authors as well. For those who want to know, it's not necessary to read the other books to get the whole story on this one, though it may help to keep the storyline and the characters clear.

The story started out with promise for me (I love Aunt Cass's prologue, which I think is aimed at setting up the atmosphere--suspense with the hope of making you care for what's gonna happen to the hero), but sad to say, the story spiraled downward as I read on.

I get the feeling that the author was aiming the sex scenes to be hot, but it fell a little short, especially when I didn't get the characters' urgency for it that first time. It's not like they've been pining for each other or teasing the other for so long. Maybe the sex was brought forward because well, after all, it's Blaze? Also, I think the story would've been more enjoyable if the sexual tension could be ramped higher. As it was, I think there's not much tension before the characters got down and dirty.

The mystery was also rather confusing, with the lack of names and accurate descriptions (coz Sadie didn't see the faces in the dim light) and going only by the number of shots fired. If I'd wanted to really be clear about this, I would've read it twice (or maybe thrice), but I didn't want to bother. After all, it's a Blaze book, not Intrigue. But if you're finicky about this type of thing, you may be a little bit frustrated. And it didn't get better.

Some things would've been better if it had been showed rather than told, such as the car chase with Theo's passenger car ending up wrecked. I thought that'd be good for a suspense moment from Theo's POV and his extreme relief that Sadie didn't go with him, but since he was only helping out, perhaps this scene was featured in one of the other books.

I also thought the moment when Sadie was taken hostage up on the roof would be full of tension, but the writing was rather flat. So, don't read this for the suspense and maybe I was wrong to expect it, since, as I've said, this isn't Intrigue but Blaze.

"The Cop" was the first romance I read by Cara Summers, and since then I've gone on to read many of her wonderful books. "The Defender" is my favorite! It's full of exciting twists and turns, a hot romance, a suspenseful adventure and compelling characters. I love this book!

It's okay for a quick read. Nothing to really draw you in so that you feel for the characters or can picture them, but it's a fun quick read.

In San Francisco, attorney Sadie Oliver attended the wedding that ended in murder. Her brother lies in a nearby hospital as the prime and only suspect although he fell over a railing and consequently was severely injured and her sister the secret bride vanished. The police also think Sadie abetted her siblings as they found her purse at the crime scene.

She asks defense attorney Theo Angelis to defend her sibling and potentially her. However she needs to assist him so she disguises herself as a male law student working for Theo. Every time he looks at her, she realizes he knows who she is as his eyes strip her.

As with the previous tales in the Tall, Dark and Handsome Angelis sibling miniseries (see THE COP and THE P.I) THE DEFENDER is a heated romantic suspense story as the action continues to a satisfying conclusion started when the murder and abduction occurred at the secret wedding. As their Aunt Cass knows fate has led her nephews to choose wisely; in this case Sadie and Theo make quite a daring couple. Although this tale can stand alone, fans will want to read the three books while looking forward to more of the Angelis saga as Cass has a son, niece and who knows besides Cara Summers who else in the wings.

Harriet Klausner