Native Born - Jenna Kernan (HI #1646 - June 2016)

Series: Apache Protectors (Book 4)

HERITAGE OR HEARTBREAK?

Apache tribal counsel member Clyne Cosen needs the FBI's protection. But having Agent Cassidy Walker as his personal bodyguard presents its own dangers. His involvement in the custody battle for Cassidy's adopted Apache daughter muddled the lines between personal and professional. Now he has feelings for a woman who was not native born.

Cassidy will do her job at any cost. But being so close to Clyne means the FBI agent sees him as more than just the man who could take her daughter -- he might also steal her heart. Duty. Desire. Which path will Cassidy take…or will a bullet make that decision for her?

Good book and conclusion to the series. Questions from previous books are answered and a little girl's future is resolved in a way that no one expected. Clyne is the oldest of the Cosen brothers, a member of the tribal council, and very vocal about his vision for his people. Cassidy is an FBI agent working a drug case on the reservation, and has also been assigned as his bodyguard when he leaves the rez.

There are some serious conflicts between the two. Clyne doesn't like having federal officers on the rez, and he really doesn't like having one dogging his steps. What is worse, is that Cassidy is the woman who adopted his little sister, and is resisting the family's attempts to regain custody. All Cassidy can see is the man who is trying to take her daughter, the only family she has left. Being this close is the last thing she wants, but she'll do her job.

I liked Clyne and Cassidy, but both had their blind spots. All Cassidy can see when she thinks of Amanda going to live on the rez is the crime, the poverty, and other negatives. She doesn't consider the importance of her knowing her birth family or the culture she was born to. She is determined to make sure that Amanda chooses her, and then plans to move far from Arizona. Clyne is proud of his heritage, but is focused on keeping all white influence off the rez. He only see the bad things that have come to the Apache because it. He hates the idea of Amanda being raised by a non-native, and only thinks of his desire to get her back to the family. He doesn't consider that she will have lost the only mother she's ever known, all her friends, and have to live with complete strangers.

I enjoyed the development of their relationship. There were sparks between them from the beginning, both professional and personal. The attraction that flared between them annoyed them both. Cassidy couldn't believe she was attracted to a man who was trying to take her daughter, and who made his disdain for whites very obvious. Clyne wasn't happy to be attracted to a white woman at all, as he has been vociferous in his belief that native should only marry native. When Cassidy was ordered by the court to allow Amanda to live with the Cosens for six months, she was heartbroken and desperately worried. I really liked seeing both of them begin to open their eyes to their own prejudices and see how harmful it was. Spending as much time together as they were forced to, the sparks between them grew hotter. Clyne's attitude that she was fine to sleep with, but not have a relationship with really bugged me. When they finally gave in to the heat, the strength of it freaked them both out. Both tried to fight it, but eventually couldn't deny it. I loved the ending and seeing Clyne put his own happiness ahead of other peoples' expectations for a change. I really liked his big moment, right there in the middle of the street.

The suspense was good, though not as intense as in some of the previous books. An attack at one of the rallies put Cassidy and Clyne in danger, emphasizing the need for protection. The question arises as to whether it was Clyne or Cassidy that was the target. I liked following the investigation to figure it out. When the bad guy takes Amanda hostage, things got really scary really fast. I loved Cassidy's determination to rescue her daughter, no matter what. An important part of the final confrontation was seeing Clyne face his demons to become part of the solution. It was definitely exciting to see it all go down.

I loved learning more about the Apache traditions. It all felt like an integral part of the story, not an information dump. I liked seeing Amanda take to learning about her background, and the fact that Cassidy learned a lot right along with her. The epilogue, with the description of the Sunrise Ceremony, was wonderful. I especially liked the last little bit about the corn pollen.

Tribal Law - Jenna Kernan ((HI #1639 - May 2016)

Series: Apache Protectors (Book 3)

Only the warrior from her past could save her now…

Tribal police chief Gabe Cosen would do anything to protect his people and their reservation. This sheer dedication to the law had even cost him his fiancée. Selena Dosela had never forgiven him for sending her father to prison. But with trouble back on her doorstep, Gabe vowed to keep her safe.

Only extreme fear for her family would allow Selena to accept Gabe's help. Despite all they had been through, Selena knew she could trust him with the lives of those she loved. The lawman would never break his word…but if she wasn't careful, he might break her heart again.

Very good suspense and terrific second chance love story. Gabe is the tribal chief of police and dedicated to his job, to the point where it consumes his life. Five years earlier it had cost him his fiancee, when he arrested her father. She returned his ring and has barely spoken to him since. Now she and her family are in trouble, and Gabe is the only one she trusts to keep them safe.

Selena's father has just been released from being in prison for drug trafficking. During that time, Selena has been running the family trucking business and doing a great job of it. She soon discovers that her father is going right back down the same road, and this time he's dragging her with him. If she doesn't cooperate, the drug cartel will harm the rest of the family.

A run in with Gabe puts him on alert, as she is behaving strangely. The first drug run that she is forced into goes bad, with some intense danger and a couple of surprising twists. The more that Gabe learns about what is happening, the more determined he is to keep Selena safe. 

The rekindling of their relationship was very interesting. It was obvious from the beginning that the attraction was still there, but their past history made them both wary. Gabe can't seem to get past the fact that Selena had returned his ring, without any real explanation, leaving him to believe that she couldn't forgive him for arresting her father. Selena is still hurt that he took the ring back, without any attempt to convince her to stay with him, fueling her own insecurities.

I got a little frustrated with both of them because they didn't talk to each other about their feelings, just assuming the other knew what they were. I also felt that Gabe could be a bit on the judgmental side. Gabe is so conscious of his reputation as police chief that it dictates all his actions. I loved his stunned surprise when Selena told him exactly how he had acted and how it made her feel. It was a real eye opener for him and not a pleasant one. It was great to see him looking at himself through her eyes. Selena has a few issues of her own, not the least is believing that everyone looks down on her because of her father. I really loved seeing the changes they went through as the book went on. I really liked the ending, with Gabe's big moment being sweet, romantic with a bit of humor added for good measure.

The suspense of the story was great. Everything moved along quickly, keeping me wondering what was going to happen next. After the twist in the beginning of the book, the focus was on tracking down the drug supplies and who was responsible. Things got really intense when a surprise player turned up and pulled Selena back into the middle of a dangerous situation. It was really interesting to see the interactions between the tribal law enforcement and the feds, especially Gabe's uncle's partner, Cassidy Walker. She did not make the best of impressions. I especially loved Gabe's thought that "The cavalry was coming, but just like always, it was the Apache scouts who would be there first". The final confrontation was chaotic with some very worrisome results, along with one thread left hanging. I expect that one will be tied up in the next book.

Family is an important theme in the book. Selena and how much she cares for her family is a big part of who she is. I also loved Gabe's relationship with his grandmother, who was pretty good at calling him out on his mistakes. Also included in this book is more information on the Cosen's missing little sister. She has been located, with them discovering that she was adopted by a white family. The identity of her adoptive mother is an interesting complication and I look forward to seeing how it all works out.

Hunter Moon - Jenna Kernan (HI #1615 - Jan 2016)

Series: Apache Protectors (Book 2)

The Warrior's Redemption

Clay Cosen wants nothing more than to put his dark past behind him, but his work impounding free-roaming cattle is creating new enemies. Rancher Isabel Nosie has her own reasons to mistrust him. She loved him once, and she's never forgiven him for her fiancé's death -- a death she thinks Clay could have prevented. When someone starts killing her cattle, though, she has no choice but to turn to the best tracker on the reservation.

Soon, Izzie herself is in danger, and Clay's attempts to protect her and clear her name make him a target -- and a suspect. Clay risks losing everything: the respect of his family and his tribe, and the woman he's never stopped loving.

Very good book. Clay has been working hard to overcome his reputation, but has the feeling that everyone is just waiting for him to screw up again. That day may not be far off when Clay comes across Izzie while shots are being fired at her. Add that to her cattle being impounded, and it looks like Izzie has big problems. He's stayed away from her for years, but when she comes to him for help, he can't say no.

Clay and Izzie have a history. They had been in love as teenagers, but Clay was handling some family issues badly, giving him a troublesome reputation. Izzie's parents didn't approve of him, and bowing to pressure, she ended her relationship with him. A brief relationship with Clay's friend ended when he was killed in a robbery and Izzie blamed Clay. She refused to listen to his explanation, turning her back on him. She has ignored him ever since then, still giving in to pressure from her mother. 

Izzie can't afford to lose any cattle, so she goes to Clay and asks for his help. She wouldn't blame him if he said no, but is relieved when he agrees. His skills soon uncover evidence that something strange is going on. Not everyone is happy about Clay's involvement, including his boss and his brothers, all of whom warn him to stay out of it. He can't do it, and the more he finds the more worried about her he becomes.

Both Clay and Izzie are wary around each other at first. There is still a lot of hurt lingering from their past, and a reluctance to trust each other. As they spend time together on their investigation they have the chance to overcome some of that. The more she sees of Clay, the more she sees past the reputation to the Clay she used to know. She is torn between what she wants to believe and all the things she has been told. Clay still cares about her, but believes that she would no longer want him. One thing neither can deny is the attraction between them. However, giving in doesn't make the issues between them disappear. Izzie has an eye opening experience when she runs into her own problems with the law, and Clay gets a taste of her experience from six years earlier. I liked that both of them learned something about themselves and each other from it.

The mystery going on around Izzie's property was complicated. There were multiple possibilities on who was behind it and why. I loved Clay's tenacity and how he was able to get to the root of the problem. Seeing him gain the support and help of his brothers as each step was revealed was very satisfying. The final confrontation was intense as Clay uses his skills to save them from those who want Izzie dead. 

The ending was great, as Izzie has her big moment, showing Clay just how much she cares. Clay also gets the surprise of his life with an unexpected request from his brother, showing just how far he has come. There's also progress on the search for their little sister.

Shadow Wolf - Jenna Kernan (HI #1609 - Dec 2015)

Series: Apache Protectors (Book 1)

He wanted justice. For his family. For her.

Elite tracker Kino Cosen is hunting for the drug lord who murdered his father. After a decade of searching, he's finally got the Viper in his sight -- until a woman gets in the way. Now Kino has a new lead. Aid worker Lea Atlaha has seen the Viper face-to-face…and lived.

But now Lea's a target. And while Kino thinks he's protecting her because she can help him get justice for his father, he soon realizes that she's not just another witness. As the Viper moves in for the kill, Kino has to choose between his need for vengeance, the traditions of his tribe and the woman he has grown to love.

Good book with some interesting parallels to some of today's issues. Kino and his brother Clay are temporarily working with a group called Shadow Wolves. They are excellent trackers who help hunt down and stop drug smugglers who use illegal immigrants to move their drugs. Kino also has a personal mission to find the drug lord who had murdered his father years earlier. He's certain that the man in his rifle sights is the Viper, when a woman gets between him and his target.

Lea is a volunteer with a group that sets up water stations in the desert for people who may need it, whether they are legal or not. She had simply stopped to talk to the man on the side of the road when he aimed his gun at her. She was certain she was going to die when shots broke her windshield and mirrors, but the man with the gun ran. Terrified by the sight of dead bodies and another man with a gun, it took her a bit to accept that he was one of the good guys. Kino was furious that his chance at stopping the Viper had been ruined, but knows that Lea is now a target. He is determined to protect the only person who can identify him. 

The initial interactions between Kino and Lea were really interesting. First, there was an immediate physical connection, with both of them feeling attracted to the other. But they were on totally opposite sides when it came to their work. Kino is a man who lives a violent life with his work in law enforcement. He knows that it sometimes takes force to stop those with evil intentions. He also has a fairly one sided view of the war on drugs, looking at the illegals who transport the drugs as part of the problem. He has no sympathy for what they go through. Lea is a pacifist, who hates violence of any kind. She doesn't care if the people crossing the desert are criminals, she sees them as people first. She is willing to break the law to make sure the water stations are taken care of.

She wasn't happy to be stuck with Kino until the danger she was in became deadly obvious. As the two of them were forced into each other's company they began to get to know each other. Both are Apache and have that in common, but their differences create a strain between them. As Kino takes Lea from place to place in an effort to keep her safe, the chemistry between them continues to heat up. As they work together to try to discover the identity of the Viper, both of them begin to see things from the other's point of view. I loved seeing Lea accept that there are times when violence cannot be avoided, and that people like Kino are vital to the safety of all. It was also interesting to see how Lea's influence opened Kino's eyes to what his thirst for vengeance was doing to his own life. There were some other issues between them relating to Lea's background that could have kept them apart. Though Kino's initial responses to them weren't always what I had hoped, I liked the way that he was eventually able to look at them differently.

The suspense of the story was very good, with an increasing amount of action that kept me riveted to the pages. There were multiple possibilities as to who the Viper could be, and it seemed that every time they got close, the leads wound up dead. It was really interesting to see how tensions between various agencies added to the difficulties in following up on potential clues. The final confrontation was intense, with some really scary moments involving rattlesnakes too. Even their escape wasn't a sure thing, and Kino's determination to save Lea had problems of its own. The ending was very satisfying.

I loved getting to know a little about Kino's brothers. Clay has the most page time in this book. Some of his conversations with Lea give her a different way of looking at Kino and his actions. I liked the obvious closeness of the Cosen brothers, and how important family is to them all. There is an interesting storyline involving a missing sister and their search for her. It wasn't resolved in this book, and I suspect it will run through all four. I'm looking forward to the other stories and seeing how this ends up.

I enjoyed the setting of the Tohono O’odham Apache lands. There was just enough information given to pique my curiosity, so I googled them and checked out the website (http://www.tonation-nsn.gov/default.aspx). That added a little more depth to the story and made it even more enjoyable.