Review: Guardian's Grace (Dark Protectors #12)

 Guardian's Grace (Dark Protectors #12)

by Rebecca Zanetti

Blurb:

Duty—or desire?

Vampire soldier Adare O’Cearbhaill’s default setting is cranky. Or irritated. Or down-right hostile. Still, as a Highlander of honor and duty he stepped up to save an enhanced and special human female by mating her—with merely a bite and a brand. The last person he wants in his life is a fragile human, yet he can’t get her out of his mind as she regains her strength before taking off for parts unknown. And when he discovers she is in danger, nothing can stop him from hunting her down—whether she likes it or not.

There’s only one way to find out . . .

Photographer Grace Cooper has had it with vampires, demons, and the rest of an immortal world she was happier not knowing about. She also doesn’t believe she’s destined for some great battle because of an old birthmark. Forget the fact that her mate is the sexiest thing on two stubborn feet, or that her brand is fading along with her health. She’ll handle things on her own—until an old enemy reappears and she learns the only way to stay alive is to actually mate, wild sex and all, with that ripped and dangerous Adare—a powerful, captivating Highlander who demands nothing less than everything . . .

Themes:  Paranormal, Vampires, Demons

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 
Review:

This story has been a long time coming, ever since the introduction of this new story arc with the all-powerful warrior group called The Seven and I have been dying to read it.  Zanetti has a way of weaving her stories together so tightly that you are always so wrapped up in the lives of the characters that you sometimes forget they aren’t real people that you can meet if you just go around the right corners.  Adare’s story began when he was called on to attempt a mating with Grace, one of the mysterious Keys, when she was in a coma, and when the mating was successful enough to save her life and wake her, things went downhill pretty quickly.  Grace has refused to acknowledge her new mate since waking, even though she is intensely attracted to the sexy vampire, and even more she refuses to get pulled into the danger and drama that surround these paranormal beings that she never realized lived alongside her all this time.  Now that she is in real danger though, Adare is done letting her run free and nothing will stop him from locking her down, not even the risk to his own life.  But with their ultimate enemy right on the horizon, Grace is just as determined to keep the sexy and distracting male safe to save the world.  They have to find a way to compromise or they could both end up dead, or worse, before they can come to understand that denial that strong doesn’t stop the emotional connection between them. I was intrigued from the beginning of Adare and Grace’s story several books ago because you could see they were both intensely attracted to one another but they could never seem to come to terms with the attraction. We get to see their individual motivations in their story and I enjoyed getting to know each of them and see them come fully to life.  Adare has lost a lot in his VERY long life but he is determined that he will stick around long enough to bring down the enemy once and for all, and having a mate grab him by the heart, especially one as fragile as the still-human Grace is making him a little bit insane.  I loved seeing him being alpha badass, but at the same time the hints of vulnerability as he came to terms with his need for Grace and love for her.  He is obviously not used to having any weaknesses, but she is one for him and one that he will protect with his very last breath.  He is such a surprisingly deep and emotional character that the surprises just didn’t stop for the reader as he fell in love with his spunky and sassy mate.  Grace was a surprise again and again as well, beginning with her ability to even resist Adare to begin with because honestly I have to wonder HOW? –but I digress.  When he comes back into her life unexpectedly, forcing her compliance and ultimately protecting her when the enemy also finds her, we see her learn to fight right alongside her male as she comes to terms with the fact that running or hiding from her feelings is useless, she loves the big brute.  She might have her misgivings about their forced mating, especially when she feels that he doesn’t even want her around, but once she learns how deeply he feels, she allows herself to openly care for Adare and accept that she needs to be there for him and offer him her strength so he no longer sees her as a weakness. The passion between these two has been building for several years so when they finally let loose, the fireworks are amazing, but as the love deepens that passion simmers even hotter.  I loved the whole story and the arc just continues to get more convoluted and intriguing, as it always does with a Rebecca story, though I hated to see the politics in action causing issues with the families and friendships that were established decades ago in previous books.  I am dying to see where the series goes next and I have a feeling I know which of the gang will fall madly in love and with whom, but I can see that being QUITE the adventure in frustration and danger.  Yikes, it doesn’t get much better than this one!

*ebook provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.