The Rundown
Protector is a romance story, but not a conventional one. Two people meet briefly and spend the next forty years thinking and fantasizing about each other. This would make quite a story in itself, but there is much more to this tale than romance or obsession. Forty years after a fleeting encounter, Veronica and Jude meet again. Veronica is a beautiful and successful young businesswoman, an American living and working in London. Jude is the man she let go and has been unable to stop thinking about since. When they meet again, they are both hit by two massive realizations. One, they are inexplicably attracted to each other, and two, they are both incapable of ageing. This is because Veronica and Jude are both members of the Clan, a community of people who, thanks to the scientific meddling of their ancestors, stop aging at thirty. However that’s where the similarities end. Veronica is a Protector, loyal to the clans, so much so that she would kill and die for them, whereas Jude has grown up with a growing distrust, even hatred of them.
The story unwinds in third person narration, jumping mostly between Jude and Veronica’s points of view. The story is a complicated one, and personally I found the large amounts of back story difficult to follow and hard to stick with. When in the present moment, with the action and dialogue flowing, the plot and characters work well. The scenes between Veronica and Jude are steamy and believable, engaging and vibrant. They soon realize that their love affair may be doomed.
The Insurgents are a group Jude was once involved with. A group who are systematically trying to destroy the Protectors and with the Protectors becoming more and more blood thirsty, the two sides are headed for a violent climax. Can Veronica trust Jude? Can Jude believe a word that Veronica says? The uncertainty keeps you hooked until the end. Anyone who enjoys romantic thrillers will enjoy this adventure. The characters are interesting, in particular Vernonica who is cold and heartless, until she meets Jude. However, the vast amounts of information given in large chunks without dialogue or action slowed it down in places for me. I found it hard to digest so much information, wondering what was important and what would be revealed in time in the book. The ending was shocking, and it was certainly a page turner by then, but I did struggle to believe in Veronica’ actions. However, there are further books in the series, so I will withhold my judgement on the ending for now.
The Recommendation
Protector is an interesting romantic thriller, which should appeal to people who enjoy both genres. There are plenty of steamy moments between the two main characters, Jude and Veronica, who are both members of a mysterious clan of people who become ageless at thirty. The clan is at war with itself however, and has split into two factions whose disagreements have become deadly. Veronica and Jude should be enemies…but are helplessly attracted to each other.
The Rating
3.5 Stars (out of 5): Pretty good. For the right audience, this could be great. Sure, there were some issues, but it was still worth the read.
The Pros & Cons
Pros: Characterization, Steamy Romance, Surprise EndingCons: Slow in Places
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The Reviewer
Chantelle Atkins
Visit Chantelle Atkins‘s website.Protector is an interesting romantic thriller, which should appeal to people who enjoy both genres. There are plenty of steamy moments between the two main characters, Jude and Veronica, who are both members of a mysterious clan of people who become ageless at thirty. However, the clan is at war with itself, and split into two factions whose disagreements have become deadly. Veronica and Jude should be enemies...but are helplessly attracted to each other. Slow for me in parts, but the ending picks up speed with its shocking climax.
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