This is book two in the Sons of Texas series and I loved the first book in the series ( The Hero) so I couldn't wait to get my hands on advance reader copy of this book.

This book picks up where The Hero left us. I absolutely love this book. It is very well written and it is action packed. I just couldn't put it down and really I didn't want to put it down because the story was so good. I did love Mia and Cullen together.

This is one book series that I wish would be made into movies or a tv show because I just can't get enough of the characters.

I give this book 5 out of 5

The Protector by Donna Grant
Sons of Texas #2

Book two of the Sons of Texas series begins where book one ends. It is told from the perspectives of both the hero and heroine. Orrin Loughman is still missing and his sons, with their female partners, have separated to find out what they can about a stolen bioweapon while locating and freeing Orrin. In this book the youngest son, Cullen, is drawn to pilot Mia Carter and she finds him rather irresistible, too. There is plenty of action, bad guys aplenty, a bit of romance, catching up with the status of Orrin and a phone conversation or two with the rest of the team. More of the mystery about a nefarious take-over-the –world group named The Saints is shared but the end will no doubt not be provided until at least book three when Wyatt and Callie will have their story told.

This was well a well written and enjoyable book that can stand alone but would benefit from reading the first book before reading this one. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the copy to read. This is my honest review.

Did I mention that I am EAGER to read how this will be tied up and can’t wait for book three?

4 Stars

This story is about a secret organization "The Saints" who have killed Orrin's team and abducted him for a biological weapon that our government sent him to Russia to retrieve. In this particular episode, the best way for me to describe it, Mia the pilot, who happened to escape the execution of Orrin's men and being kidnapped, meets Cullen, Orrin's youngest son when he saves her from some Colombian's who are going to kill her for having their cargo confiscated.

It's from there that the two of them start to working together to discuss two things. One, find Orrin and rescue him and two, take down The Saints. The further they get into this the more they realize that she has been in their sights before this and two it is going to take more than the two of them to accomplish this.


The story starts off great, then there is a fairly large lull before picking up again and then it ends like someone slammed on the breaks and you didn't see it coming. It will be picked up in the next book though

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 - Things weren't looking good for the Loughmans... Stars!

Book two of Donna Grant’s Sons of Texas Series, proceeds with the theme of the story in general in that the Loughman brothers are searching for their kidnapped father, whilst trying to deal with the Russians their father stole the bio-weapon from and a group called The Saints, who also want it.

"Are all you Texas boys so chivalrous?"
"Afraid so, darlin’. It’s in the water."

But The Protector specifically gives us Cullen Loughman’s story, as everything in the bigger picture plays out and develops further. Cullen the youngest of the Loughman brothers, has always felt himself separate from his brothers Wyatt and Owen, because of the fact they were the ones who found their mother murdered, but kept him away from it, the rift that murder caused in the Loughman family went deep and has been growing for years. The brothers coming together to search for their father opens a lot of old wounds and I found it really poignant when Cullen went through everything with Mia in relation to that time. Because although he knows deep down that his brothers were doing what was best for him, it also made him feel terribly isolated and alone at the same time.

He wasn’t nearly finished with her. And he was beginning to suspect that he never would be...

The story as before is told from several points of view, I like that Donna included Orrin in this because you get to see how everything is playing out from that perspective of the story as well, the only thing I found a little odd was the fact that most of Cullen’s book runs concurrently with Owens, but Orrins seems to pick up from where it finished in book one... Wyatt and Callie are up next so hopefully everything will run together again from that point on.

"We get just enough information to tease us, but never more... Every layer we pull back exposes dozens more."

This is by no means a filler book, but I did find it a little slower to get moving than the first book, in saying that though I enjoyed it a little more than book one, as we are given more information on Ragnarok, and what it can do, as well as more of an in depth look at some of the villains in the story.

"I want to know all your secrets..."
"We all have secrets."

Mia and Cullens relationship goes from eye-fucking to actual fucking pretty quickly once they admit they are attracted to each other, but I think seeing the vulnerable side of Cullen and the trust the grew between them as they each gave up bits of their pasts and the secrets they were keeping, stopped it from feeling too ‘insta’.

"You’re the type of woman a man looks for to spend his life with."

Wyatt’s up next in The Legend, due for release in late June, seeing as I have no idea how the author intends to finish this series, and everything still being very much up in the air, I am looking forwards to reading it. There is also a potential love interest for Orrin introduced in this book, so I wonder if that will have more development to it as well going forwards, either way I am still very much interested and intrigued.

ARC generously provided via Netgalley, and it was my pleasure to provide the above honest review.

The second book to the Sons of Texas series starts out with a wow factor that quickly draws the reader into the continuing story of the Loughman brothers who are trying to find and rescue their father if he is still alive. Much like the first book the story was superbly detailed in all the action scenes and interaction between the characters. This story continually expands adding more detail to the existing story in The Hero book 1.

All the primary and secondary characters are fully developed and the intertwining of them in various parts of the book will keep the readers up to the wee hours of the night reading this book so they can finish it in one sitting.

This book opens more of the plot but also shows that sometimes it is hard to tell who is an enemy or friend so the reader will need to take their time while reading to catch all the little hidden details that will help them decide.

Mia is the heroine I want to be like. She is strong, independent, smart, sexy and a kickass pilot. Though her character comes across as being all knowing there is a sweetness about her that I find attractive in a heroine.

Cullen of the three brothers did not interest me as much in the first book but in this book, his character expands and he takes on the role of Hero in a spectacular manner. As he continues to open himself to Mia I grew fonder of him and by the end of the book I was in love with his character.

I am so excited about this series that I give The Protector 5 STARS and look forward to the next book in this series.

Donna Grant’s Sons of Texas Series is like the updated MacGyver meets the Hawaii Five-0. The main characters are smart, able to think on their feet and easy on the eyes. The Protector, the second book in the series, is a riveting good-shall-prevail read even with the odds totally against them. Cullen, the youngest Loughman, meets the pilot who flew his dad on the doomed mission. It is an action-packed meeting at that. From that first meeting, the roller-coaster journey these two take in their search for Orrin never slows down. The actions is perfectly balanced out with the romance, making this an awesome suspenseful romance.
The background on the characters and the mission was built in the first book so it would enhance the reader’s enjoyment to read these books in order. However, as far as Cullen and Mia’s relationship story goes, it is a completely satisfying read. Cullen and Mia are intelligent, strong, independent, capable and extremely likable. Mia has secrets but not concerning her loyalty to Cullen’s father. Their story is my favorite of the series so far.
Many questions are answered about the overall problem with Orrin’s abduction and torture but then other problem questions came to my mind as I read. Hopefully the last brother’s story will solve all.

Reviews shared on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and V's Reads: https://vsreads.com/2017/01/03/engaging-the-protector-release-day-review/

In The Hero, the first book in this series, we met the Loughman family, or what was left of it. Orrin is father to three sons, Wyatt, Owen, and Cullen. Twenty years ago his wife was muedered. Orrin, being a Navy SEAL, suspected Melanie's death stemmed from his work in secret missions, but her killer was never found. Orrin's sons didn't recover well, their family splintered, but each boy followed their father's footsteps into military service, even if neither of them had oaken to him in years. These days Orrin runs a private Black Ops team for classified missions.

Without warning Wyatt, Owen and Cullen were pulled from their missions and dropped at their Texas reach, only to discover their aunt and uncle murdered, and their father kidnapped. He'd recently been tasked with recovering Ragnarok, a bioweapon developed by a Russian scientist. Only the pilot, Mia, and Orrin had survived. Mia got the weapon transferred to Orrin's right hand gal, Callie, and his three sons are on the hunt for their father.

Cullen tracked Mia to a job-going-wrong situation in Florida. He knows Mia is his best bet on getting Intel to find his dad. Over the course of several days Mia and Cullen learn that the Saints, a shadow organization responsible for Ragnarok's development, have eyes, ears, and guns everywhere. Including the Air Force base Mia flies from. The place where Orrin's team of men had been slaughtered. It's not safe for them to remain, and their escape is none-too-easy. Good thing that Mia's made some incredible allies. Cullen is most impressed. And, injured. Cullen is gravely injured.

Meanwhile, Orrin is receiving help from two unlikely sources, help that's keeping him alive. He's been beaten, starved and battered nearly to death, but he's determined to see his sons in person once more--and take down the Saints, if he can. The bulk of the book is the search for Orrin, and that's not resolved. Mia and Cullen do find a fierce attraction for the other, however, and that grows into affection under all the near-death pressure. We learn tons about the espionage, the Saints and the purpose for Ragnarok, but the story isn't finished.

For one, Wyatt and Callie have to fall in love. And, the mighty mighty Loughmans need to save the day. I liked his book better than the first one, though I often felt the romance angle was pushed too strongly. I had trouble accepting all the internal dialogue, which often boiled down to lust, or mooning, when the situations were so dire. I love romantic suspense, and this book is getting closer to the mark, for me, though I think romance fans will be satisfied. Orrin's a great character and I was glad to see him somewhat restored and on the trail of vengeance. His allies are unconventional, but just as fierce as he needs them to be. Looking forward to the resolution in the next book! I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.

Orrin Loughman has been kidnapped and his sons are pulled from their missions and plunked down on their family ranch. Now they must work together to find him and protect the world from a bioweapon that could cause havoc on every nation. Good thing that one of the brothers is considered THE PROTECTOR.

Marine Recon Captain Cullen Loughman must team up with the pilot and last person to see his father alive and well. Mia Carter is an ex-Air Force pilot who has done work for the government with various freelance work on the side. But, she respects Orrin Loughman and wants to help find him, even if it means working with his very distracting youngest son.

THE PROTECTOR takes readers back to the hard hitting, contemporary drama of the Sons of Texas by author Donna Grant. The tension between Cullen and Mia is just right, they don't “fall in love” and jump into bed, they have a lot happening around them and that takes precedence over emotion. Not to say they don't enjoy a good hit of romance and attraction and it is well written in Ms. Grants amazing style and is a perfect blend of sweet and steamy. The introduction of new characters that you aren't sure you should trust and some that you are sure you shouldn't but then things get twisted around so you find yourself rethinking your earlier opinion. This aspect adds to the plot line perfectly, making it even harder to put down.

I find seeing both sides of the action to be great, in THE PROTECTOR you have Cullen and Mia and the brothers trying to solve the mystery of who has Orrin and where he is being held and Orrin's side as he tries to escape. The mystery of all that is happening is very engrossing ... who's the real bad guys (who are oddly, to my way of thinking, called the Saints) and will they manage to not get the military or their own government after them? Just when you think things are going one way, you will find yourself twisted into a completely new direction. This is a serial and comes to a somewhat abrupt ending but Cullen and Mia getting their HEA and I am impatiently waiting for the next one in this series that promises to be just as exciting as this one. Looking for a sexy hero, tough and determined heroine, action, drama, good guys that surprise you and bad guys who don't then THE PROTECTOR is that book.

Annetta Sweetko, reviewer

I sent this review to Fresh Fiction, Amazon, and Goodreads ... I will add the links to Fresh Fiction as soon as it is up.

This is the second book in the Sons of Texas Series and while this covers a different couple, this should not be read as a stand alone as the plot line runs through both books.

The Protector takes off right where The Hero ended. Once again, the story was action packed and full throttle. I'm really enjoying the suspenseful element of the story and while the twists and turns are over zealous, it is most certainly keeping me on the edge of my seat anticipating what is to come next.

As with the first book, the romance element isn't as strong as the plot line. I really liked both Cullen and Mia and really like how they are both from the military and can hold their own in the action scenes, but I felt their emotional connection was lacking and needed further development.

Overall, an enjoyable read. Next up is Wyatt and Callie's story and what I'm assuming is the final book and I have to say I'm very much looking forward to this book.

I was provided with a voluntary copy of this book from the Publisher via Net Galley; there was no inducement or obligation.

Book two in the Sons of Texas series, The Protector, finds Captain Cullen Loughman Marine Force Recon on a mission he never expected, finding his estranged father who has mysteriously disappeared on a top secret military mission. Seeking answers he finds himself paired with former Air Force pilot Mia Carter, a long time friend of his father's and known for her skill, loyalty and fearlessness. Pulled into a web of espionage bigger than either Cullen or Mia thought their instantaneous physical attraction to each other soon turns into the most dangerous revelation of all.

Adrenaline and a barely contained simmering attraction take hold of the pages of The Protector from the start. Donna Grant deftly alternated between Cullen and Mia being the "protector" in this action driven romance. Always on the brink of endangerment if not outright fighting for their lives the momentum of this story kept the interest on high at all times. Grant's woman are as formidable as the men they ultimately fall in love with making all her characters equally captivating. This couple with all their heavy past burdens found acceptance within and from one another. Breakneck and determined The Protector takes the intrigues in this series to the next level and you better hold on!

This is the second book in the series and I was hooked from beginning to end. Lots of suspense and drama as Cullen is on the search to find his father. Mia and Cullen team up and the chemistry is steamy. Looking forward to finding out what happens in book 3.

I enjoyed book, kept you on interested. Loved the chemistry of Cullen and Mia, it was sexy. I appreciated reading about the dynamics of the brothers, and the background of how they became the men they are now. I am assuming there was a previous book, I will look into it. Also, liked that they were trying to work it out in there own way. Can't wait to find out what happens next!

Donna Grant continues her romantic suspense series - Sons of Texas - with the second installment, The Protector. The books are stand-alone reads, but the plot is a mystery continued from The Hero, and I believe you will enjoy this story more if you stick to the series order.

Marine Force Recon Cullen Loughman is searching for his father who was kidnapped during a covert operation for the U.S. government recovering a bioweapon from the Russians. Cullen seeks out one of the last people to see his dad - pilot Mia Carter - to get answers on his father’s brutal abduction. Mia has worked with the senior Loughman and has a fierce loyalty to him, and she wants to work with Cullen to find him and bring him home before it is too late.

Cullen and Mia immediately have a strong - and slightly unbelievable - case of instant-lust. They meet and are ready to get it on within the first hour, and neither says they’ve ever felt this way before. Amid the danger and the chaos of their search, they find time to indulge in their attraction and feelings soon follow.

Ms. Grant ups the suspense factor in The Protector; therefore, if you are looking for a romance that is also an action-packed, you’ll definitely want to read this one. Cullen’s oldest brother gets his story next in The Legend.

Thirsting and suspenseful. Elements of this story were great I just did not feel all in or invested with the characters or storyline

The Protector continues the story of the Loughman Brothers that started in book 1, The Hero. I'm not sure why but this one did not hold my attention until about 50%. All in all it was a book worth reading and I'm still looking forward to The Legend.

This series by Donna Grant has been really good so far. I don't believe that I have read any of her works before but am truly loving these books. I read The Hero and this is the second book in this series, which is more romantic suspense that outright romance. The plot is of 3 brothers all in different branches of the military who are all summoned back to their ranch by the government because their father is missing and their Aunt and Uncle were brutally murdered at that ranch. The father runs a black ops group but after going on a covert mission has disappeared. This story revolves around the youngest son, Cullen, and the female pilot, Mia, who flew him on that covert mission. Although technically these are all standalone books, I believe this book will make so much more sense if you have read the first book in this series. The development of the relationship between Cullen and Mia was well developed, and although during the first book it seems like it will all be a simple mission, this plot became more and more complex. Now I am not sure who is good and who is bad in this story. It has been a fun read so far and I can't wait to read the next book in this series.

The 2nd book in the Sons of Texas series the thread of the story that started in book one continues. The Loughman brothers are looking for their former military father whose been kidnapped. They are in possession of a biological weapon that they are not sure what it does. They just know it will be devastating. Owen and Natalie took up the first part of the hunt in book one and now Cullen the youngest brothers gets hooked up with Mia Carter another good friend of Orrin the dad of the brothers. This series has a lot of military and former military characters which of course kicks up the action expected with a suspense novel. Mia is a former military pilot still working as a contractor. She's the pilot that flew Orrin on his clandestine missions. On the last one his whole team was murdered and he was kidnapped.  The book moves at a fast pace. Cullen and Mia have to get to know each other and learn to trust each other while they try to stay alive and find Orrin. While doing that they have to try and figure out what the secret organization called "The Saints" is up to.  Once they learn to trust each other they have to decide who else they can trust. Some enemies are not enemies at all and some they thought were friends are not. This is a very twisty book. I'm not sure how the whole thing is going to end with book 3 but I am totally enjoying the couples as they come together. I loved Cullen and Mia. They clicked right away on the page and only got better and their story moved on. Up next is Wyatt and Callie.  He might be the most unlikable of the three brothers up til now. We'll see if the author can make me like him. I already love Callie. Looking forward to book three.

Find out more here www.donnagrant.com

Romance amid a complex thrilling dangerous adventure…

This is the second book in the Sons of Texas series that continues the highly suspenseful storyline begun previously, this though is Cullen and Mia’s romance. Events here run parallel to book one.

Marine Force Recon Captain Cullen Loughman, youngest of the three brothers, headed out to Delaware, the last place his father had been seen before being kidnapped and to speak with the last person who had seen him, the pilot who flew the mission to Russia where a bioweapon was stolen. All members of his father’s team were executed with the exception of his father and the pilot who was conveniently absent from the plane’s hangar. Is she a part of the conspiracy? Though Callie may know and trust her Cullen doesn’t and will make his own judgement of the woman. She’s not what he expected, she’s a stunning, intelligent, sassy woman who makes his blood burn but she’s keeping things from him.

Former Air Force pilot Mia Carter is so damn good of a pilot that when she left the Air Force they kept her as a contractor with base privileges. The mission she flew to Russia went smoothly but there was a problem she had to deal with that took her away from the hangar shortly after arriving. That timing kept her alive and put suspicion on her. Was her absence random luck or planned? She has strong reasons for being loyal to the Senior Loughman that she doesn’t share readily and she’ll do everything she can to help Cullen find his father but she’ll have to convince him that she’s on his side. The chemistry she has with him is an unexpected complication that is hard to deny.

Cullen and Mia have serious baggage to contend with, their individual past experiences of pain served to bind them emotionally, aiding understanding of their secrets when finally revealed. They are strong and likable characters who complement each other well, the passion between them was tangible. Though they are up against a massive conspiracy and a deadly secret organization has them targeted they’ve managed to stay one step ahead. Will they survive, find the missing father and bring down the hidden foe? This reader can’t wait to find out how this complex thrilling dangerous adventure all ends.

The magnitude of the villainy of the secret organization known as the Saints is mind-blowing. They’re so insidious and well hidden, how can they be stopped? From the Orrin scenes we learned the truth of the bioweapon which made this reader remember an episode from the Stargate series where aliens did the same thing to the human race with governmental acquiescence, here we’d be doing it to ourselves, possibly setting off an apocalypse if the Saints used and ultimately lost control of the weapon. I’m considering this read an exciting urban fantasy.

An advanced reading copy was obtained from the publisher via NetGalley.

4.5 stars

The Loughman brothers are back! In this second book of the "Sons of Texas" series by Donna Grant, we see what Cullen and Mia have been up to. For those who are familiar with the series, you know about the three Loughman brothers and their quest to find their father, but I'll just give a short recap of what's going on for those who haven't read it.

Like all Loughmans before them the three Loughman brothers, Wyatt, Owen and Cullen are also military men, all heroes in their own fields. They have been called off duty with the news that their father Orrin, an ex Navy SEAL, has been kidnapped. Little do they know that the father that they haven't seen for many years is now the leader of an elite black ops group and that he was assigned to steal a highly dangerous bioweapon. The first book of the series followed Owen and Natalie on their quest to find Orrin. This book, which takes place at the same time as the first book, follows Cullen and Mia.

Cullen is the youngest of the Loughman brothers. He is a Marine Force Recon Captain. Like is older brothers, he hasn't seen his father for years. They all blame the murder of their mother on their father and his job. He goes to check out the airbase where his father was kidnapped and meet the person who last saw Orrin. Mia Carter is an ex- Air Force pilot who now flies her plane on dangerous missions, missions that no one else wants. She has been working with Orrin for a long time and is ready to do anything to find the man who has been like a father to her. And even though she has heard about the youngest Loughman and his bravery, she never expected to be drawn to him so strongly.

Cullen and Mia find themselves checking every clue and lead to find Orrin and they soon discover that they may have just uncovered a dangerous and secret group that seems to be everywhere. An exciting and sensual read that you won't be able to put down!

Will be anxiously waiting for the last book of the series to find out what will happen to Orrin, Callie and Wyatt and the Saints!!!

I have really enjoyed the first 2 books in this new series by Donna Grant.
Makes you want to go out and find yourself a military man and get in some trouble.

The play between the main characters is believable and catching.
I don't usually like books that are not stand alone but this series is worth it.

I give it 4 stars.