Defender by Diana Palmer Review

Defender
Long, Tall Texan #48
By: Diana Palmer
Release Date: June 26th, 2016
Harlequin

The man who shattered her trust is back to protect her… New York Times bestselling author Diana Palmer delivers a breathtaking story of second-chance love.

When Paul Fiore disappeared from Isabel Grayling's life, he told himself it was for all the right reasons. She was young and innocent, and he was her millionaire father's lowly employee. Three years on, Paul is the FBI agent assigned to Isabel's case. Too late, he realizes what life in her Texas mansion was really like back then—and how much damage he did when he left.

Once love-struck and sheltered, Isabel has become an assistant district attorney committed to serving the law, no matter how risky it gets. But right now, the man she can't forgive is the one thing standing between her and a deadly stalker. She knows Paul won't hesitate to protect her life with his own. But if she can't trust herself to resist him, how can she trust him not to break her heart all over again?

Isabel (Sari) and Meredith (Merrie) Greyling lives were living hell! Their father Daring Greyling us a very dangerous man, and he likes to terrorize everyone around him; staff, animals, even his own children, there was even a rumor that he beat his own wife to death…although it couldn't be proven. The only person that seems to keep the peace is the head of security Paul Fiore.

Paul Fiore past was the stuff of nightmares, losing his wife and child in a revenge attack, he decided on a fresh start working as head of Security for the Greyling Corporation, which is not so different from his previous job as a FBI agent. And even though Darwin's strick orders to watch Sari and Merrie's every move, it didn't stop them from becoming friends. But when Sari's and Paul's relationship became more romantic, Paul panicked and made an excuse about being married and Sari flirting with him to Darwin and quitting. But that one comment had dire consequences for Sari that almost cost her her life.

Three years later Paul comes back to help in the investigation into Darwin. But he doesn't expect the reception he gets from Sari, but when he finds out the truth, he is deverstated, especially as he was in love with her and wants to make it up to, but first he needs to keep Sari protected from not only from her father, but also a hitman, out to kill both sisters. Will Paul be successful or will he loose another women he loves.

I'm a huge fan of Diana Palmer, but I think this is one of the toughest storyline I have ever read. I won't fool you, the violence is graphic and left me in tears. But it honestly didn't make me turn away from the story, as the plot was well researched and the story well written.

I will admit I had a hard time with Paul's character when he returns, it like I was feeling his betrayal against Sari myself and I don't think that I would have been forgiving as Sari was. I loved Sari's character and I especially loved it when she stood up to her father! That was fantastic.

Defender is a great book and although it's a more gritty Diana Palmer book it's one that should not be missed.

I give Defender 4 stars.

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Diana Palmer, AKA Susan Spaeth Kyle, was born in 1946 in Cuthbert, Georgia, the eldest daughter of William and Eloise Spaeth. She and her younger sister, Dannis, were raised in Chamblee, where Susan graduated from Chamblee High School in 1964. The family moved to Cornelia, Georgia, in 1965. Susan married James Kyle in 1972. They have a son, Blayne, who is married to the former Christina Clayton. They are both graduates of Piedmont College in Demorest, Georgia. They live in Tennessee and have a daughter, Selena Marie Kyle, born in February, 2009.

In 1991, Susan returned to college and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Piedmont College in Demorest, Georgia, in 1995. She continues to work on her master’s degree in history as time permits. Her first novel as Diana Palmer was published in 1979. She has over 115 novels in print. She has written historical novels as well as contemporary romance, and has produced science fiction, with her novel THE MORCAI BATTALION appearing in hardcover in 2007. Two sequels to this book have been released as eBooks. THE MORCAI BATTALION: The Recruit and THE MORCAI BATTALION: Invictus are both available from all eBook retailers now. Her latest hardcover novel is INVINCIBLE by HQN, released in August 2014 and mass market paperback novel is WYOMING STRONG by HQN, released November 2014.

Susan’s hobbies are gardening, knitting, crocheting, astronomy, archaeology, and animals. She has dogs, cats, birds and lizards. She enjoys getting mail from her readers, but is slow to answer it. 

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