Protective Custody (Harlequin Intrigue 610)

Rating:
Summary: Another Great Webb book
Review: Debra Webb's Colby Agency is back for a third case in "Protective Custody," a distasteful romance with a nasty edge. Years ago, it was Agent Nicole Reed's job to see that Ian Michaels failed at his mission. Now she needed him to keep her alive. The last case they worked together was coming back to haunt them. Could Nicole trust Ian with her life?

I was looking forward to this, Webb's most original Intrigue so far. This is a talented author and I was curious to see what she could do without secret babies or amnesiacs involved, so I was surprised at how strongly I disliked this story. First the good points. I liked that Webb didn't drag out the secret of what really happened on the case Nicole and Ian worked together. The truth came out early and exactly the right time (early enough that it didn't feel like the back cover was ruining anything by revealing it). The book is well-written with a number of exciting action sequences. The new Colby agents who are introduced are likable and interesting, which is a good sign for their upcoming stories.

Unfortunately, those secondary characters only helped to show how unsympathetic and unlikeable the main characters were. What ruined the book for me was Ian and Nicole and the nasty edge to their "romance." Those who appreciate stories where the couple gets to know each other and falls in love won't find it here. "Protective Custody" falls in the dreaded category of the "I hate you-I want you-I hate you-I want you-I hate you..." romance, where the characters do nothing but yell at each other, then have sex, then yell at each other, then have sex, etc. for the whole book.

Ian is the kind of "hero" I dislike the most, a domineering control freak who tries to run the heroine's life and does everything he can to keep her from making a decision for herself. I would have enjoyed the way Nicole got the better of Ian time and again, except that most of her actions make her seem foolish and constantly put her in danger. What bothered me the most was the way their antagonism fueled their sexual relationship. Every time they had sex (and there is quite a bit in this book), it was out of anger or revenge or trying to trick or manipulate the other person by turning them on, never about trust or affection or mutual desire. I don't know which bothered me more, the scene in the cabin or in the woods. I don't consider myself a prude, but reading about two people using and abusing each other this way wasn't sexy, it felt sleazy. Nicole refers to it as making love. Where was the love? After watching these two be cruel and hateful to one another for most of the book, the deeper emotions they suddenly display toward the end did not ring true. Reading about characters who refuse to let the other person "have the satisfaction" of knowing how they feel doesn't do much for me, especially when I don't believe what they think they're feeling. In the end I didn't believe they liked each other, let alone loved each other. I also didn't have any idea why they should.

I'm giving "Protective Custody" two stars. It's well written and half of the romantic suspense formula is there, but I can't say that I enjoyed reading this book. I think it's possible to show a strong hero and equally strong heroine without making them hateful. Some recent examples are "Midnight Remembered" (Intrigue 591), "To Die For" (Intrigue 595), and "Mystery Bride" (Intrigue 604), books with courageous heroes and smart, capable heroines. "Protective Custody" is a reasonably good story about two people who enjoy "doing it." An emotional story about two people falling in love, this is not.

Rating:
Summary: Another Great Webb book
Review: If you like a good mystery with a hero and a heroine you can really like, this one is it. Ms. Webb gets better and better. The tension starts on page one and doesn't stop building until the end of the book. The love scenes are real twenty first century stuff, intense, realistic and in a word, sensational. I would recommend this book to anyone.

Rating:
Summary: Great read!
Review: Nicole Reed and Ian Michaels had worked together to protect a federal witness. He was chosen from the Colby Agency to help her because he was the best. The two were attracted to each other. While distracted, the witness was killed. Or so Ian thought. Nicole's real mission was to make sure Ian failed his and believed, along with the rest of the world, that the witness was dead. Instead, the witness was secreted into hiding. Only she knew the location.

After three years Nicole had to ask the person she had betrayed for help. Someone had already killed her director and her partner. She was next on the killer's list. Several attempts had already been made on her life.

... Great read! This one kept me guessing all the way through. Some hot love scenes, so consider yourself warned in advance. The story hooked me on the first page and never let me go. In fact, I did not get up from the sofa even once until the story was finished. Yes, it is that good! I hope to see more of the Colby Agency!