REVIEW: Promise to Defend by Diana Gardin

Promise to Defend by Diana Gardin finds Ronin promising his best friend and fellow Night Eagle Security agent, Jeremy, that he would keep an eye on Olive while Jeremy is away on his honeymoon with Olive’s sister. He thought it would be an easy job, considering he’s attracted to her, but when danger comes and it’s clear Olive is in danger, Ronin will stop at nothing to keep her safe. And when he finds out his wife’s murder is connected to what’s happening to Olive, he knows he needs to get to the bottom of it to avenge his wife and make sure Olive doesn’t meet a similar fate.

You can’t help but feel for Ronin. He’s still not over his wife’s murder and he’s determined to find out the truth of what happened, yet he feels conflicted because he wants to be with Olive. It’s really the first time since Elle’s murder that’s he’s considered getting into a relationship, and he struggles with it.

I liked Olive well enough. Even though she was hesitant to admit what happened to her in college, she was smart enough to realize that Ronin needed to know so he could protect her. She has no problem following Ronin’s instructions, but she’s also not afraid to put her foot down, either. She does, however, end up doing something that puts her in even more danger, and it made me wonder where the intelligent woman disappeared to.

There’s plenty of action throughout the book as the members of Night Eagle Security work on completing their mission to take down a mob family while keeping Olive safe at the same time. It’s clear that the group is more than a bunch of co-workers. They’re a family, and they’re willing to do anything to help Ronin out once they realize his feelings for Olive.

Overall I enjoyed the book. I was a little disappointed with the reasoning behind Elle’s murder. One would think if she was in so much trouble, she would have turned to her husband for help. Instead she made a bad decision that cost her her life and left Ronin suffering for years.

I haven’t read the first book in the series, which is about Jeremy and Olive’s sister, Rayne, but I had no trouble following along in this one. It works well as a standalone. I would recommend this to readers who enjoy some suspense and mystery mixed in with their romance.
 

Book Info:

Publication: September 12,2017 | Forever Yours | Rescue Ops #2

I’m broken. I have been for seven years. Ever since my wife was murdered while I was deployed overseas. I was protecting our country, but I should have been protecting her. I haven’t looked at another woman since–but then Olive Alexander crossed my path. She stirs up feelings I thought were long dead. So when her house is ransacked after she receives a threatening message, I know I have to step in and keep her safe. I failed my wife, but I won’t fail Olive. Unfortunately, Olive isn’t exactly ready to accept my help…

With her sexy-as-sin pencil skirts and sleek ponytails, Olive clearly doesn’t let anything–or anyone–mess up her perfectly ordered life. But years spent working as a special ops soldier has taught me how to read people… and I know Olive is hiding something. When my covert mission for Night Eagle Security collides with Olive’s past, I’ll have to get her to open up-or risk losing her. And losing Olive is not an option. If she’s in danger, I’ll defend her…even if it costs me my life.