This book introduces a new brother and heroine, but continues the story from book 1 regarding the father's kidnapping. So, you do need to read these in order! Cullen had thought he would be a career military guy. Returning home to help his brothers find their father, he meets Mia who joins him in his search. This book felt slower to me than the first one. Overall, it was enjoyable, and I liked the romance, but it wasn't as gripping as the first book.

ARC provided by the Publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book kept me hooked from the moment I started reading all the way to the ending.
4 stars for The Protector.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book in the Sons of Texas series, and while it can be read as a standalone book, it does help to have read the series from the beginning.

This book follows Cullen, who is trying to understand the reason behind his fathers kidnapping. In this search, he seeks out Mia, a pilot who has ties to his father that he is trying to uncover and understand. The two go through an action packed journey trying to find the answers to why Cullen's father, and her mentor/surrogate father figure has been kidnapped. Throughout the time that they are trying to solve this mystery, they become close to each other - I guess the theory that near death experiences bring people closer together is seen within this book.

I did enjoy this book, as it was more than just another romance book, however is not a mindless read as there is so much packed into the pages. While Cullen and Mia's story is standalone, the whole series should be read in order figure out what happens to Cullen's father and why.

Second story of Texas Son series.
Loughman boys were back home to find their father who has been kidnapped. This story picks up from where first one left.
Marine Force Recon captain Cullen Loughman was away from his ranch to find the pilot who helped his father. He meets feisty pilot Mia Carter, who does love his father and wanted to help him find his father. She was the last person saw him alive and she was the one who went on his last mission. When Cullen found out Orrin (his father) went to Russia and Mia was a pilot.
Mia feels free when she is in the air. She loves flying planes and nothing can touch her as long as she is in the air. She heard so much about Loughman boys from Orrin and never thought Cullen would be here. Mia witness the murder of his crew and she wanted to help Cullen in any way she can. Mia held few of secrets up her sleeve and she wasn’t sure if she can share it with Cullen and she was afraid he might not think of her as ally.
More mysteries were revealed about the vial called “Ragnorak” (named just like Thor’s movie) This is a bioweapon that shouldn’t be out at all.
Orrin was kept captive by his frenemy Russian general he knew for long time. He was trying to get information out by beating him and letting him know his sons were up against bigger enemy than they can handle.
Mia and Cullen is trying to figure out who was behind the kidnapping and they are sensing they were being followed but not by only Russians, Americans as well.
They faced multiple challenges and runs into trouble but Mia has her help coming from other than Cullen. They were injured but they will follow their instinct and keep digging until they find Orrin.

Action packed from the beginning to the end. This one is as well Multiple POV style.
I really liked Mia was strong and smart as Cullen. This one reveals more plot to the Orrin and more characters.. This one as well ends with big cliffhanger and I can’t wait to read the next one.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Paperbacks for my ARC in exchange for Honest review.

Top notch adrenaline-fueled romance…

More Sons of Texas! The plot thickens as the Loughman family’s story continues with even more danger, suspense and heated romance. The character development is perfect as we learn much more about Cullen and find out what is, and drives, Mia’s life and actions. These were characters with depth and heart that were going to get into a heap of trouble, together…

“She was a strong, capable woman, blazing her trail in a male-dominated world. And she was doing a hell of a job.”

And Mia was just THAT! She loved to fly and needed to do some fancy flying to save herself as well as a good friend. She and Cullen made a great pair as they fed off each other’s strengths even as they didn’t quite see eye to eye on everything. She was tough but warm and compassionate, meeting every challenge head on, causing Cullen to double-take not only at her beauty but her. Mia had a way about her that drew him, as well as others, to her quiet confidence and steadfast loyalty. There were surprises around every dangerous corner and curve making this an adrenalin-fueled, “no cookie cutter romance here” read.

“He’d saved her life. And now she was going to save his.”

I loved this story which had a fast pace filled with all the goodies! Ex-military, current military, tough guys, bad guys that were kind of good and good guys that had the right kind of bad – in other words, oh my! Throw in women who can hold their own, wrap that around a heart-fluttering romance and this read had it all! The family drama continues, and so does the suspense as the series plot is far from over. I. CANNOT. WAIT! ~Diane, 4.5 stars

This new direction for one of my favorite paranormal authors has been a mixed bag of emotions for me. In a lot of ways the story is really good, but there are just some elements I find missing, though it is tricky to pinpoint exactly what leaves me wanting. Donna Grant has always been an amazing author, with sensual alpha male and sexy wild female leads, but the truth of the matter is that her voice and wiring style has always leaned more easily toward the paranormal sub-genre in my opinion. While I enjoyed reading the story, I wish there was a bit more character development, because the fact it that this book wasn’t all that memorable, where I can remember almost everything from the very first Dark Warrior novel I read by Donna years ago. Cullen is kind of an ass through most of the story while Mia seems to be trying good hard to prove her strength and skills, instead of just being content knowing that she can handle herself, even if Cullen doubts it. Cullen obviously spent a good bit of his youth fighting his inner demons and trying to live up to the example set by his older brothers, but once he finally excepted that some things can’t be changed, they just ARE, he was a bit more able to grow up and leave the past wear to belongs in order to get his mission accomplished. Mia on the other hand left me scratching my head a few times and wondering if I liked her or not, because why she had some redeeming qualities she rubbed me wrong through most of the story. The passion is certainly there, no denying that, but the emotions and depth of her characters doesn’t seem to be there in this novel like it is in her Dark World books. I am looking forward to the final in the trilogy but I think after that I will stick with Donna’s fantastic imaginative Dark world stories for my entrainment. That being said fans of strictly contemporary romance or even romantic suspense could definitely do worse than this amazing authors work and you should always read it for yourself to see if you might enjoy it, an honestly it could have just been a bad day that has this story grating on my nerves, so please keep an open mind and Read On!

It has been a long time since I have picked a bookup that i was unable to put down.

~ARC was provided by the publisher and was made available via NetGalley.~

To be honest, I was not really excited about this book. I mean, for me, the hype was not the same that I felt when I read book one. It took me a while to fully read it in one sitting. It is not because of the time, but more on the plot itself from the start of the book, and I am more excited for Wyatt's book.

What I do like was the simultaneous happening to each of the book. As you read along, there is a definite words that were said on the last book. I will not be surprise if I can read the same lines on book two.

I do not totally hate it, just it was for me, it kinda dragged. But when ever, Wyatt and Callie was mentioned I perked up. Yes, I seem to be more excited to read their book that this.

With the situation regrading their father? Man! I was trying so hard not to shout out loud! I really liked those parts. I hope that he would survive.

Looking forward to the next book.

The Protector is the second book in the Sons of Texas series. It begins where book one, The Hero, ends.

In this book, Cullen Loughman learns about his father's kidnapping and is willing to do whatever it takes in order to save him. In order to achieve this mission, he will need the help of ex-Air Force pilot Mia Carter. Cullen's looks and charm are distracting Mia and it seems like the feeling is mutual. As Mia and Cullen descend into a dangerous world, their attraction begins to get hotter. But is their desire worth the risk when a enemy is waiting in the wings?

The Protector is filled with action, suspense, mystery, romance, and an abundance of bad guys. The moment Mia and Cullen meet, they are instantly attracted to each other and feel some chemistry between them. They manage to find time between the danger lurking, to act on their mutual attraction and are surprised by how right it feels for them to be together.

In the end, this book was well written and highly entertaining to read. I am definitely excited to read book three and see how all of this will tie up in the end.

This book can be read as a standalone but I highly suggest reading the first book before diving into this one.


eARC was kindly provided by the publisher, St. Martin's Press, in exchange for an honest review.

An intense family drama revolving around three brothers' search for their kidnapped father. While not having read the first book in the series, this story still carried itself very well for me, drawing me in from the onset and keeping my emotions engaged throughout the story. The brothers' dynamics are intense and was quite taken by in what brought them to the point in their family relationship.

Cullen and Mia heat up the pages, adding another dynamic to the story in their relationship. With the story ending in a cliffhanger, the third book hopefully will tie up all the loose ends.

This book was provided by the Publisher and Netgalley, I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

What’s it About? The action and suspense continues with Cullen Loughman. His father has been kidnapped and in order to find him, Cullen has to team up with ex-Air Force pilot Mia Carter. With the situation getting more and more dangerous each minute, their attraction to one another is inconvenient and could put them in even more danger.




Describe the hero in five words: Stubborn. Charming. Skilled. Cocky. Intelligent.

Did you like him? Yes.

Why? Cullen wasn’t as bitter as his two brothers but he had his own share of resentment towards his father. What I loved about him (and even his brothers) was that no matter what problems he had with his father it wasn’t going to stop him from doing whatever he had to in order to rescue him. I felt like Cullen was easier to get to know than his brother Owen. Cullen was definitely more humorous and had a fun side to him that gave him that extra dose of likability. His selling point to me though was his ability to not only acknowledge Mia as a fully capable partner but to depend on her when it was clear she had the better information. So far Cullen’s less intense personality paired with his undeniable charm makes him the favorite Loughman.



Describe the heroine in five words: Skilled. Snarky. Stubborn. Capable. Kind.

Did you like her? Yes.

Why? Mia quickly proved her ability to look after herself in a dangerous situation but she also knew when she needed help. I loved that about her but it was also her vulnerable side that got me. Here is this rough and tough woman who has seen and done a lot but she’s also this kind hearted woman who doesn’t want to get her heart stomped on. Mia had a good balance between her Air Force training and her empathy as a person. She was kind of impossible not to like.



How convincing were the main characters as a couple? Cullen and Mia had the chemistry between them to build a believable connection and while they did work their way towards that enviable romance, I felt like they didn’t quite make it. To me it felt like some parts of the evolution of the romance were either missing or happened “off page.”


Is there a “Scooby Gang” worth mentioning? The Protector along with the previous book and I’m assuming the last book all take place at the same time and the brothers have split up to throw off the enemy so the scenes with them together are few and far between.



How “Lost” did you get in the story? The Protector had a great pace to it but was a little slow to get to the heart of the plot. The suspense and mystery was there the whole time though which is what kept me going during those times where there was a bit of a lull in anything happening. Donna Grant did such a good job keeping me interested in the bigger picture spanning all three books and while some questions were answered, I feel that the biggest ones are yet to come to light in Wyatt’s book. As with the first book though, I felt that the romance suffered in favor of the action and suspense elements, but there was an insight into the Loughman family dynamics and a general explanation as to why Cullen seems to be the more happy go lucky of the three brothers. I have to mention that while Cullen and Mia do get a HEA, the bigger plot is still unresolved, probably so that Wyatt’s book can be the closer on the Orrin/The Saints conflict.



Click It or Skip It? Click It. The mystery of Orrin’s disappearance, the brothers’ rocky relationship with him, and of course the battle between the Loughmans and the bad guys is more than enough to keep readers interested.

3.5 stars

I had only read this author's paranormal books so I wasn't sure how this was going to be. I'm glad to say that I thought this was a good romantic suspense series. I didn't read book one but I feel like I should have (& I'm going to do so before book 3). The overall plot was continued from book one and it's a bit complicated (not in a bad way and not too hard to understand....just layered). Cullen is one the Loughman brothers who are looking for their missing father. While trying to find his father, Cullen meets Mia, a pilot who appears to be hiding something.

The two are attracted to each and a romance builds while the events of the story unfold. I liked Mia a lot and she was a well done heroine. She was smart and calm and resourceful. Cullen was respectful of her opinion and abilities and while being a strong male character he was not the dreaded (at least for me) alpha-hole.

I enjoyed this book a lot and found the plot and characters engaging and entertaining. I will definitely be reading the rest of the series.

**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review through Netgalley**

Characters
Cullen Loughman is the youngest son of Orrin. After his recent discovery that his father has been kidnapped, he does everything he can to get him back. Mia Carter was the last one to see his father so Cullen questions her. Together, they have explosive chemistry and work together to save Orrin.

Orrin Loughman has been put through the ringer with his kidnappers. As a secondary character, I liked that his point of view was written since it gave the perspective of a kidnapped victim.

Storyline
It was very fast paced. There was a good balance between the action and plot of the story. There was enough of a mystery about the bad guys are that kept me interested throughout the book.

Recommendation
Even though this is the second book in the installment, it did not affect my reading experience at all. Donna Grant summarizes just enough to provide an understanding of the storyline. A lot of action and romance, always a good combination... At least for me. There was never a dull moment. Looking forward to the next one.

The Protector book 2 in the Sons of Texas series takes the same time period as book 1 and follows another brother through the mystery of their dad's kidnapping. Its a great way of telling the same story from multiple points of view by following the 3 different brothers at the same time.

Cullen Loughman, Wyatt and Owen's younger brother is on a mission to find Mia Carter, the pilot who flew their dad to Russia and who was witnessed to his dad's kidnapping and the murder of 6 men. Cullen tracked her to Florida where she gets caught up in the middle of a bar fight and steps in to help her escape. Once back in Delaware where the kidnapping occurred they realize that someone out to kill Mia thinking she witnessed the kidnapping/murders. Working together they track down the Russian mob and the ties they have to the US government and a bio weapon that everyone is after. Not only can Mia take care of herself in a fight, she is beautiful, and stirs feelings in Cullen he has never experienced. A loner through in through he is just wanting to rescue his dad and then retire from the military to lead a peaceful life back in Texas. He doesn't count on the instant attraction he has for the beautiful pilot and her willingness to do whatever it takes to save his dad.

Told in 3rd person from multiple POV's the reader gets a true sense of what is going on from Cullen and Mia's perspective along with glimpses of what is going on with his kidnapped dad. There are a lot of characters that are identified and the author does a good job making each one unique to help keep them straight. The plot is a little convoluted though with a lot of drama and twists and turns it is hard to keep things straight. We do get cameos of both Wyatt and Owen but this is definitely Cullen and Mia's book which I enjoyed. I thought both were well written and the chemistry sizzles off the page. There is great romance and lots of action which I also really enjoy.

I am really loving this series - I do recommend reading them in order. The first book (Owen's) really does set up the plot really well and you are properly introduced to the brothers and their women so it definitely is best to read The Hero first and then The Protector. I am looking forward to book 3 The Legend to see how this ends.

[amazon_link asins='1250083400' template='PriceLink' store='cnbapi-20' marketplace='US' link_id='cfdc932e-eb27-11e6-a309-cd599472172e']

Holy macaroni! This is a story by a new-to-me author and I am so disappointed that I haven't read anything by her before. Hot hero. Check. Scarred by his past. Check. Female to match. Check. Wonderful story and I can't wait to read the next in the series.

Can you say stressful? Man, this book stressed me out. I was so worried and sitting on the edge of my seat the whole time. Lines are getting blurred all over the place. Enemies are friends and friends are enemies. Who don't know who to trust.

But in the midst of all that, love blossoms. I am so glad.

And now I wait for the next one, which I have a feeling will be even more tense.

3 stars



My The Protector thoughts and quote

This series is starting to pick up momentum and I'm starting to get hooked into the story. This is book 2 within the series and now I'm much more engaged into this story.

"Secrets become heavier the longer they're carried."

There is so much going on with this story and so many secrets that now I HAVE to find out more.

During the first couple of chapters, I didn't like this book because I didn't care for the characters. Then they grew on me and the plot became more involved, and I thought, "Hey this is getting pretty good!' Then the plot became so convoluted that I thought, "There is no way all of this could be happening." That killed it for me. I just couldn't suspend my belief for the events and the ending really ruined it for me. I won't be reading a third book in this series.

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, in The Protector, the next Sons of Texas novel by New York Times bestselling author Donna Grant.

Can you say lots of action? I loved this book from page 1! It has characters from the first book and I had to go back and read it first before I picked this one up to start it and I wasn't disappointed I did that. I loved all the characters that were revisited in this book. I enjoyed the pace and the plot. At no point did it get boring, which is a big draw for me when reading a book. I'd say that Donna Grant is a definite buy for me in the future. I had her first book and didn't know it and hadn't read it but I'm sure glad I did because it helped when reading this book. However, you don't have to read book 1 but it helps because book 2 picks up where book 1 leaves off. If you're like me, then you like to read your series in order and I'm orderly like that..

There was a whole lot of information in this book and a lot of action. The romance was really kind of forced and secondary to me. I kind of thought that it could have been a longer book to be honest. It's one of those books where you really don't have to have a romance at all and it's still a really good book. Nothing is really resolved in this book, so it's going to continue into the third book - which I will buy!! It's that good. I love a good suspense, espionage book that leaves you hanging.

If you're looking for a book that is thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish with non-stop action, then this is your book!!

I was given a copy of this ARC from the publisher on Netgalley for a honest review. All of the above comments are my express opinions and no one else's.

The Protector by Donna Grant picks where book 1 leaves us and continues with the youngest son, Cullen Loughman searching for his kidnapped father. He wants to speak with the last person who saw him and that means finding Mia Carter, the ex-Air Force pilot who flew Orrin on his mission to Russia, to steal a bioweapon. Mia can’t figure out who to trust these days ever since Orrin’s team was killed execution style in her hangar. She wants to find Orrin as much as Cullen. Joining forces they figure they have a fighting chance together and hopefully beat the odds against them.

Donna Grant has done it again and written a good suspense thriller that captured my attention from beginning to end. She slowly revealed more to the overarching plot of the series, as well as to write an action-filled story for main characters Mia and Cullen. The moment they meet each other, they are attracted to the other and feel a strong chemistry between them. Between the danger and the bad people searching for them, they manage to find time to act on that attraction and shock each other how right it feels when they are together, and wonder how this could be happening now. The story is heavy on the suspense but there is a definite heat level to the romance side of the story. Both Mia and Cullen want more but can’t figure if the other wants it as much as they do themselves.

Mia and Cullen are developed characters and you want them to come out on top when all this is said and done. For so long each of them has put their job and career ahead of all else and put their personal life on the back burner. This second story gives you a better idea on who the bad guys are and who the Loughman’s are fighting against in order to find and free their father. The story definitely had a few twist and turns and it whets my appetite for book 3, Wyatt’s story. June can’t come soon enough.