ARC Review: The Guardian (Sons of Texas #5)

 The Guardian (Sons of Texas #5)

by Donna Grant

Blurb:

Knowledge is power.

As a double agent, Maks Petrov has been so many people, he doesn't know who he is anymore. While he prefers to work alone, taking down an organization like the Saints requires some help--even if he loathes asking for it. Just one day in the company of a sexy, fearless, and brilliant information broker makes him realize what he's been missing in life...and fantasizing about what he could have.

Eden Fontaine thought she knew the evils of the world until she was confronted with knowledge of the Saints and what they've done--and still could do. Lucky for her, she has Maks by her side, a trained operative who not only makes her feel safe and cared for but also makes her blood run hot. Eden's never thought much about settling down, but Maks makes her crave a world without the Saints and the handsome guardian by her side for all eternity.

With the Saints upping their game, Maks and Eden have one shot at assembling the intelligence necessary to take down the evil organization for good. If they can, they may have a chance at the happily ever after they both deserve.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

The long anticipated conclusion to Donna Grant’s action packed and intrigue filled series Sons of Texas has finally arrived with a boom and there is no doubt that it was a bittersweet ending for most of us loyal readers. I have been anticipating Maks’s story for a long time as there was a bit of a gap since the last story and I wasn’t sure when it would happen, but I knew it would also mean the end of another great series so I was willing to be patient.  Grant has been leading us to the epic ending of this series, making us anticipate the ending of the evil and terrible consortium of bastards that have plagued the Loughman’s and their friends for many years, but seeing the way she pulls in the real world was a little bit scary even for me.  I enjoyed every moment of Maks and Eden’s story and refused to put it down for a single minute, even making sure that I had enough water and snacks to not have to leave my little reading nest the entire length of the story.   If you are a fan of international intrigue, betrayal, redemption, and love all rolled into one story of two people coming together to defeat the most unlikely of odds, you will enjoy this last story in the Sons of Texas series for sure.

Maks Petrov has been leading a triple life for a long time now and he is determined to continue until he finds a way to finally bring down the Saints once and for all, until he receives a mysterious warning and is suddenly on the run from everyone.  Unable to trust anyone, except his friends the Loughman’s halfway across the world, Maks is determined to find out everything he can about how his cover was blown and evidence leads him right into the path of the sweet and sexy Eden Fontaine.  Eden has just become increasingly suspicious of her new assignment tracking Maks for her bosses when he blows into her life and takes her on a wild ride into espionage, near-death experiences, and the deepest emotional connection she has every felt.  On the run from their enemies in the frozen eastern European winter, Maks and Eden are determined to do whatever it takes to find the evidence needed to bring the Saints into the public eye and force them out of power. Then the Saints unleash a terrible storm that could decimate the world, neither of them are sure they will survive long enough to meet their goals.  Willing to give their very lives, they refuse to give up, but at the same time the love they are finding irresistible gives them every reason to survive this ultimate battle, with the help of some good friends and a little luck.

Maks has been one of my favorite heroes for a few stories now.  Shady and just that little bit dangerous, Maks is willing to give his very life and soul for his goal to bring the Saints down, but at the same time he refuses to back down when he sees an innocent in danger.  He still understands and believes in right and wrong and knows that the feelings he has for Eden are special and unique, even if he doesn’t believe he deserves her esteem or admiration. I loved seeing him come to terms with a new way of seeing himself through Eden’s eyes instead of through the dirty lenses he’d been seeing himself through for years.  He is a good man, one that has had to live with a lot of difficult choices in life, but despite all of that he truly is a protector deep down and deserves every moment of happiness that he can find with his woman. Eden was a sweet counterbalance to Maks in every way.  While he has experienced every dark side of human life, Eden has stayed relatively innocent and naïve in her views of the world, but once Maks opens he eyes, her intelligence and unwillingness to deny the truth right in front of her made her his perfect match.  She sees the world in a unique way, one that was obviously the missing piece to their team of heroes in order to bring this evil group to justice.  I loved seeing her stand up for herself and find her own inner strength and stamina in order to work alongside and keep up with Maks who is obviously his own version of superman, refusing to be a hindrance in any way to the man she quickly came to care deeply for. Together the two of them were the perfect complement to one another, a team made in heaven to bring the final pieces of the puzzle together and allow Maks the peace and chance at a future he deserved more than most of the world.

I loved every single second of this story and cannot say enough that I am glad I was not denied the chance to read this story of a true protector as Maks proved once and for all he deserved the title of The Guardian. The story weaves such a dramatic story and even pulls in a bit of truth that some might find a little bit disturbing in our current climate, but I loved how Donna was able to incorporate that and find a way to give a unique view on the world events.  Eden was an intelligent, resourceful, sweet and amazing heroine with a heart of gold who took a broken man and taught him how to live again and how to love.  Her strength was inspiring, her wit and silliness giving Maks his first glimpse into a life of simplicity and making readers love her even more. Maks was the backbone and heart of the story, the man who was determined to save the world, even at the expense of his life and a future with the woman he loved, but at the same time he refused to go down without a serious fight.  He kicked serious ass and in the end found a way to finally end the bastards that had become entirely too powerful and had destroyed his entire life to that point, giving him a chance for peace with his woman.  The passion between Maks and Eden was apparent from the beginning, but they both fought it so hard in the beginning that the tension was thick enough to cut with a knife until the threat of almost losing one another finally showed them that giving in was the only course of action, then the heat was enough to keep them warm through a mountain blizzard.  The only issue I had was that I wanted the story to be even longer and I would have loved to have more of the Loughman’s in the story, but that being said I love a happy ending where the evil is defeated and the good guys finally get a much deserved break.  I am looking forward to whatever comes next from Donna Grant and can’t wait to see where her stimulating and sometimes terrifying mind takes readers next. Ended but not forgotten, the Sons of Texas went out with a bang and Maks proved that being a guardian means that you never give up and never surrender when faced with injustice.

*eARC provided by author for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.