Under Fire, the last book in Lynn Blackburn’s Defend and Protect series, releases on March 7, and you don’t want to miss this one! Here’s what it’s all about:
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?
Under Fire by Lynn Blackburn is on fire! This exciting story wraps up this trilogy perfectly, although I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to these characters, which is perfect, because …
Blackburn uses this story to segue into her next series! I love the way that she made this work. The characters in the Defend and Protect series make a fantastic team, and Blackburn shows herself to be equel to the genius of Susan May Warren or Dee Henderson when worldbuilding with the way that she creates an extensive cast of characters and can weave their lives together.
With that said, though, I didn’t feel that I had a good handle on Tessa Reed before this book. She felt like the quiet newbie in the Raleigh Secret Service office in the first two books of the series, and while she seemed quite capable, she kept to herself more than the others. She comes fully into her own in this story, though, and you find out what’s been happening with her that caused the friction with Zane and kept her moving on the down-low previously.
What I love about her, though, is that she’s handling all of her past junk with honesty and aplomb, all while taking charge of the case, the chocolate, and the coffee! She’s such a neat character, and I hope we see more of her in this interagency world that Blackburn is creating.
Under Fire sizzles with signature Blackburn tension, and she keeps your heartrate high with a mix of fast-paced action and quirky humor. It’s a fantastic read, and if you love suspense and/or romantic novels, you won’t want to miss this one.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
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