Good conclusion to The Protectors series. There has been a connection between Joy and Stonewall since they met in Forged in Desire, but their work schedules have prevented them from even having a date. Stonewall was determined, however, and his chance finally came when he and Joy attended Margo and Striker's wedding. I loved how he went all out to impress her with an incredibly thoughtful and romantic event. It was no surprise that the attraction between them lit up like the Fourth of July.

As deep as their connection went, both Stonewall and Joy are wary of any kind of commitment. Stonewall doesn't believe in forever. He lost his parents and his grandfather in a short space of time when he was a youth. The pain of those losses has made him determined to keep his encounters emotion-free. Joy was engaged to a man who resented her career and the time she spent on it. Convinced that relationships are impossible for her, Joy only agreed to the occasional "diversion." I loved the development of their relationship. Though both believed it was simply physical at first, it was clear that the connection between them went much deeper. I loved how Stonewall's way of taking care of her made Joy feel cherished, without diminishing her independence and strength. At the same time, Stonewall's growing feelings for Joy made him reconsider his beliefs about forever. But it took nearly losing each other for them to realize the depth of their feelings. I loved the ending and seeing them open up to each other about their love.

I really liked both Stonewall and Joy. Stonewall turned his life around while in prison. I loved his commitment to helping others the same way that Seth Granger helped him. He is also a man with a kind and loving heart, which is easy to see in his relationships with his grandmother and sister. One of the things I liked best about him was his vocal support of Joy and her career. I loved the scene in the restaurant after her promotion and how he shut those men down. Joy was amazing. I loved her commitment to her work and the protectiveness she felt for the people. I loved how she didn't let the naysayers in the department get to her; she simply did what she did best and proved her worth. I loved how tenacious she was when it came to solving her cases.

The suspense of the story was very good. I loved how one new piece of information gave Joy the key to unlocking the mystery of the unidentified dead woman. Following Joy's investigation was fascinating as she put all the pieces together, trusting in her instincts as well as the clues. Getting the point of view of the various bad guys gave excellent insight into how convoluted the whole thing was. It was also interesting to see the connection between the surrogate scheme and the events of the first two books. The final confrontation was intense and had me on the edge of my seat until everyone was safe.

I loved seeing more of Striker and Margot, and Randi and Quasar. The strength of the friendship among the three men was fantastic. It was wonderful to see how they were always ready to back one another up if needed, but that they could also cut loose with some hilarious teasing. I also enjoyed seeing more of the Grangers and how they are doing since Seth's acquittal. The hospital scenes at the end were great. ( )

How to a create a heartbreaker ...

Just ask Brenda Jackson. Stonewall is a prime example. He's a protector from his larger than life personality to his wicked good looks. He's the ultimate bad boy. A man with his own demons to bare and the muscle to hold back the darkness that hovers around one special lady.

Joy is used to fighting her own battles. Her job is to help others and she does that with the ferocity of a lioness. What happens when the lioness finds herself on the receiving end of danger? She just may get more than she bargained for. Locked in Temptation dominates from beginning to end. Joy and Stonewall are a power couple. Every step pulled me further into this seductively written dance of danger.
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