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The Protectors #2
Desperate Surrender
Wendy O'Sullivan's life drastically changes upon discovering she is not human- and then she is charged with guarding the Key of Peace. To make matters more complicated, she reunites with the Protector she's dreamed of since the day he rescued her from a demon attack. Kieran Frasier, hasn't loved- much less kissed - a woman in over three hundred years with his heart firmly encased behind thick walls. The fierce immortal defends innocents from powerful demons, but can he defend himself from diminutive Wendy, who manages to get past all his barricades? Faced with arranged marriages to others and battling demons that will stop at nothing to capture Wendy, will they be forced to surrender their chance at true love for the greater good?
246 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2012
About the author
Hildie McQueen
181 books834 followersBestselling author Hildie McQueen loves unusual situations and getting into interesting adventures, which is what her characters do as well. She writes romance because she is in love with love! Author of Romance in Highland historical, Western Historical and contemporary, she writes something every reader can enjoy.
Most days she can be found in her pajamas hiding from deliverymen while drinking tea from her David Gandy coffee mug. In the afternoons she browses the Internet for semi-nude men to post on Facebook.
Hildie's favorite past-times are romance conventions, traveling, shopping and reading.
She resides in beautiful small town Georgia with her super-hero husband Kurt, an unruly boy Chihuahua Pepito and a spoiled rotten girl Chiweenie named Lola.
Visit her website at www.hildiemcqueen.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HildieMcQueen
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HildieMcQueen
Instagram: @HildieWrites
Most days she can be found in her pajamas hiding from deliverymen while drinking tea from her David Gandy coffee mug. In the afternoons she browses the Internet for semi-nude men to post on Facebook.
Hildie's favorite past-times are romance conventions, traveling, shopping and reading.
She resides in beautiful small town Georgia with her super-hero husband Kurt, an unruly boy Chihuahua Pepito and a spoiled rotten girl Chiweenie named Lola.
Visit her website at www.hildiemcqueen.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HildieMcQueen
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HildieMcQueen
Instagram: @HildieWrites
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 27, 2012
In Desperate Betrayal, the first of The Protector Novels, betrayal danced with fierce attraction as two strangers find their life-mates under undesirable circumstances. Much like the man it follows, McQueen’s sequel, Desperate Surrender, bears much resemblance to its brother, but under the skin, it’s truly a different beast.
The Protectors’ rules regarding marriage and family have been tested in recent years. One man created an unsanctioned bond with a woman, resulting in a miracle pregnancy. Another improbably found his life-mate when she literally tracked him down. Together, the incidents turned their boss, Julian, cold on Atlanta, as if there was something in the water that was responsible.
Kieran couldn’t have imagined he’d be a party to the mating mess. He takes every opportunity Julian provides to vent his tension. The women are compensated very well for nights they don’t remember, so it’s win-win in his book. His 6-foot-five frame and three-hundred-plus pounds of muscle serve as armor for the most fragile heart in the history of mankind. A woman would have to be lucky at a moment he’s careless to get anywhere near the atrophied organ. Marry one? He’d laugh at the idea if he knew how to laugh, which he doesn’t.
The bitter Scot is damned good at his job, and after he leaves behind a metric ton of demon dust on the streets of Atlanta, Julian decides that the escorts aren’t working. The boss believes that the only thing that will stabilize Kieran is a woman in his bed on a permanent basis, so he insists on Kieran settling down. The ironies are not lost on the Protector when he’s forced into an arranged marriage, by a boss who frowns upon such distractions, as a consequence for doing his job too well.
Even annoyed as the situation makes him, Kieran’s too empty to bother resisting much and agrees.
Wendy O’Sullivan, the best friend of Kieran’s brand new sister-in-law Emma, knows well more about the demons and Protectors than she should. (She told Emma how to find Cynden, setting in motion the events of the first book.) After saving her from a demon two years before, Kieran erased her memory of the event and of him. At least, he thought he did, but it didn’t take. She has thought of him every day since then, but she never thought she’d see him again. Then, one week before the start of Surrender, they crossed paths in Emma’s hospital room. Kieran vaguely recognizes her, but she is careful not to let on that she knows him. She knows he’d try to erase her memory again, and this time he might succeed. She fears losing more than just her memory of demons and of him, but of everything that’s happened since meeting him as well.
After she’s attacked once again, this time by a demon looking for a mysterious key, Wendy finds herself in Kieran’s care at the home of Lord Fallon Trent in one of Atlanta’s wealthiest neighborhoods. Just like that, Kieran’s women problems go from zero to two in short order. Suddenly, there’s a woman he wants, but she’s under his protection and professionally he can’t get involved with her. Even if that didn’t matter to him, he gave his word to marry the woman Julian chose, and the boss man’s not the sort to overlook insubordination or change his mind.
Kieran is a man of principles, so he surrenders what he wants to be fair to Wendy. He keeps his distance, even at the risk of being rude, and spends a good deal of time taking cold showers. It’s good for a stretch of delicious sexual tension, and when the man’s resolve finally breaks, it’s not with a crack but a shatter.
Where as Desperate Betrayal was an examination of trust between partners, Desperate Surrender delves into deep-seeded emotional scarring and the risks one man will take to take control of his life. In addition, Surrender takes a few steps out of its romance framework and includes the POV of additional characters—master demon Gerard and Fallon—to set up the events of the third Protector novel, Desperate Possession. This allows Hildie McQueen to leave her audience hanging with a sense of foreboding opposed to hanging onto the edge of a cliff, which as a reader I appreciate since the next installment may not be available for months.
I would recommend Desperate Surrender, and the Protector Novels, to fans of paranormal romance, particularly readers partial to Lynn Rush and Jean Murray, and also to the audience of SyFy’s Lost Girl.
The Protectors’ rules regarding marriage and family have been tested in recent years. One man created an unsanctioned bond with a woman, resulting in a miracle pregnancy. Another improbably found his life-mate when she literally tracked him down. Together, the incidents turned their boss, Julian, cold on Atlanta, as if there was something in the water that was responsible.
Kieran couldn’t have imagined he’d be a party to the mating mess. He takes every opportunity Julian provides to vent his tension. The women are compensated very well for nights they don’t remember, so it’s win-win in his book. His 6-foot-five frame and three-hundred-plus pounds of muscle serve as armor for the most fragile heart in the history of mankind. A woman would have to be lucky at a moment he’s careless to get anywhere near the atrophied organ. Marry one? He’d laugh at the idea if he knew how to laugh, which he doesn’t.
The bitter Scot is damned good at his job, and after he leaves behind a metric ton of demon dust on the streets of Atlanta, Julian decides that the escorts aren’t working. The boss believes that the only thing that will stabilize Kieran is a woman in his bed on a permanent basis, so he insists on Kieran settling down. The ironies are not lost on the Protector when he’s forced into an arranged marriage, by a boss who frowns upon such distractions, as a consequence for doing his job too well.
Even annoyed as the situation makes him, Kieran’s too empty to bother resisting much and agrees.
Wendy O’Sullivan, the best friend of Kieran’s brand new sister-in-law Emma, knows well more about the demons and Protectors than she should. (She told Emma how to find Cynden, setting in motion the events of the first book.) After saving her from a demon two years before, Kieran erased her memory of the event and of him. At least, he thought he did, but it didn’t take. She has thought of him every day since then, but she never thought she’d see him again. Then, one week before the start of Surrender, they crossed paths in Emma’s hospital room. Kieran vaguely recognizes her, but she is careful not to let on that she knows him. She knows he’d try to erase her memory again, and this time he might succeed. She fears losing more than just her memory of demons and of him, but of everything that’s happened since meeting him as well.
After she’s attacked once again, this time by a demon looking for a mysterious key, Wendy finds herself in Kieran’s care at the home of Lord Fallon Trent in one of Atlanta’s wealthiest neighborhoods. Just like that, Kieran’s women problems go from zero to two in short order. Suddenly, there’s a woman he wants, but she’s under his protection and professionally he can’t get involved with her. Even if that didn’t matter to him, he gave his word to marry the woman Julian chose, and the boss man’s not the sort to overlook insubordination or change his mind.
Kieran is a man of principles, so he surrenders what he wants to be fair to Wendy. He keeps his distance, even at the risk of being rude, and spends a good deal of time taking cold showers. It’s good for a stretch of delicious sexual tension, and when the man’s resolve finally breaks, it’s not with a crack but a shatter.
Where as Desperate Betrayal was an examination of trust between partners, Desperate Surrender delves into deep-seeded emotional scarring and the risks one man will take to take control of his life. In addition, Surrender takes a few steps out of its romance framework and includes the POV of additional characters—master demon Gerard and Fallon—to set up the events of the third Protector novel, Desperate Possession. This allows Hildie McQueen to leave her audience hanging with a sense of foreboding opposed to hanging onto the edge of a cliff, which as a reader I appreciate since the next installment may not be available for months.
I would recommend Desperate Surrender, and the Protector Novels, to fans of paranormal romance, particularly readers partial to Lynn Rush and Jean Murray, and also to the audience of SyFy’s Lost Girl.
June 3, 2012
I really enjoyed the first book and novella in this series and was so beyond excited to be selected to get an ARC for review. I am not patient when it comes to getting my hands on a book that I want to read and getting this book a few weeks before the release made me a happy girl. Not only did this book live up to my expectations, it exceeded them. It is for certain sure my favorite in the series, thus far.
Here are some things I liked about it:
*I really liked the Character of Wendy when I read Desperate Betrayal, so I was super happy when I realized book two was going to feature her. I have to say I loved learning more about her character and was super happy when I realized her background.
*This book continued the main story arc of the first book, but could be read as a stand alone. Hildie did not fall into the trap of constantly retelling the story from book one, while at the same time reminding the reader (or explaining to a new reader)the important things they may have forgotten since reading the last book. It is a fine balance. I was impressed.
*I love the whole concept of the Protectors. They are not your typical immortal. I love it when authors create new lore. It makes everything possible and nothing a given.
*The love story is believable. Well, believable if you take out all the paranormal/urban fantasy elements ;). I think a big part of this is that you know Wendy pretty much was enamored with Kieran since before the series began. She shared her feeling with Emma during the first book, so you always had this hope that something would develop between them.
This book includes the characters from the first book, so you do not feel like they just disappeared. I also enjoyed the new characters that were introduce or shown in more depth. I think Fallon is going to be a fun character in future books. As a side bar: Both he and Julian need someone to get them in line. Just sayin'.
*There was a nice balance between the action, the love story, and the interpersonal relationships between all of the characters.
*I could not put this book down. I was up all night. Well not all night, but 5 am is as close as I get to all night these days. I am getting old ;).
If you love paranormal books, romances, or paranormal romances, I think you will love this book. It is fun, but not too fluffy. It has plenty of heat, but is not all about that part of the relationship. It has unique and intriguing lore. I just loved this installment and am really looking forward to her next book. I hope she throws some novellas out there while she is working on it, so I can get my fix of Protectors.
Here are some things I liked about it:
*I really liked the Character of Wendy when I read Desperate Betrayal, so I was super happy when I realized book two was going to feature her. I have to say I loved learning more about her character and was super happy when I realized her background.
*This book continued the main story arc of the first book, but could be read as a stand alone. Hildie did not fall into the trap of constantly retelling the story from book one, while at the same time reminding the reader (or explaining to a new reader)the important things they may have forgotten since reading the last book. It is a fine balance. I was impressed.
*I love the whole concept of the Protectors. They are not your typical immortal. I love it when authors create new lore. It makes everything possible and nothing a given.
*The love story is believable. Well, believable if you take out all the paranormal/urban fantasy elements ;). I think a big part of this is that you know Wendy pretty much was enamored with Kieran since before the series began. She shared her feeling with Emma during the first book, so you always had this hope that something would develop between them.
This book includes the characters from the first book, so you do not feel like they just disappeared. I also enjoyed the new characters that were introduce or shown in more depth. I think Fallon is going to be a fun character in future books. As a side bar: Both he and Julian need someone to get them in line. Just sayin'.
*There was a nice balance between the action, the love story, and the interpersonal relationships between all of the characters.
*I could not put this book down. I was up all night. Well not all night, but 5 am is as close as I get to all night these days. I am getting old ;).
If you love paranormal books, romances, or paranormal romances, I think you will love this book. It is fun, but not too fluffy. It has plenty of heat, but is not all about that part of the relationship. It has unique and intriguing lore. I just loved this installment and am really looking forward to her next book. I hope she throws some novellas out there while she is working on it, so I can get my fix of Protectors.
June 8, 2012
Super! This is a great read. The second book in the series this book includes a lot of the characters in Desperate Betrayal (first in the series)and adds a few more interesting ones. Hildie is in here element here and is bringing them all to life. I felt the triumphs and defeats each went through and had a hard time putting the book down.
Set in modern day Atlanta the author included local establishments to make the story even more believable. But there is also some world building going on in here with locations around the world both past and present. Hildie again has done her research and used her imagination and wit to weave it all together into a believable and enjoyable story. Desperate Betrayal was a very good book but Desperate Surrender confirms that this author is in her element. I cant wait to see what comes next.
So if you get a moment pick up your a copy of Desperate Surrender, get a glass of wine, and prepare to immerse yourself into some good reading.
Set in modern day Atlanta the author included local establishments to make the story even more believable. But there is also some world building going on in here with locations around the world both past and present. Hildie again has done her research and used her imagination and wit to weave it all together into a believable and enjoyable story. Desperate Betrayal was a very good book but Desperate Surrender confirms that this author is in her element. I cant wait to see what comes next.
So if you get a moment pick up your a copy of Desperate Surrender, get a glass of wine, and prepare to immerse yourself into some good reading.
July 5, 2012
Hildie's books are Hot with a capital H - they contain memorable characters, a well-developed story, and most importantly, swoon-worthy hunks and interesting heroines. There's also a real-life element to her world building that makes you think that it's possible that these people and creatures might just exist.
Buy one, heck buy five so that you have some to hand out to your friends. You won't regret it.
Buy one, heck buy five so that you have some to hand out to your friends. You won't regret it.
June 1, 2012
Desperate Surrender is an amazing continuation in The Protectors series. I think this book was even better than the first. It is full of forbidden love, a hunky hero, with more to him than just his looks, a lovable and strong heroine, and a lot of conflict. This is a pager turner! Ms. McQueen wrote a winner with this one.
June 10, 2012
Finished this is book this weekend and it's great! Much better editing than the first in the series and I absolutely love all the main characters. Well done, Hildie!
Review to come...
Review to come...
Want to Read
June 5, 2012NOR
October 1, 2013
Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION’s Bewitching Bella- Charity Costa
*eARC received in exchange for an honest review
O MY where do I begin, okay let’s start by ME taking a deep breath and trying to make this review sound professional…..WHO AM I KIDDING!?!?!?!? I AM OFFICIALLY A HILDIE MCQUEEN FANGIRL AND I HAVE A MASSIVE CRUSH ON THE PROTECTORS!!!!! Alright now that that’s out maybe I can pull myself together to give this book and the series some justice with my words.
Lets start with the World of the Protector’s, I have mentioned this before and I can not say it enough, it is well written and very well thought out, there are no questions left unanswered about the world Hildie has created. We have all read books where we were a little lost as to the ins and outs of the ‘world’ not here.
Next let me touch on the characters from previous books and that seem to be poppin in this one as well mainly Julien, I remember reading the prequel to this series and thinking “people are not going to like him but I do.” In this novel we get a little more of Julien and the only thing I kept saying to myself was PLEASE PLEASE HILDIE GIVE HIM SOMEONE TO WARM HIS HEART!!! I can’t imagine Julien being such an important part of the Protectors and not one day feel the love that the Protectors are fighting for once they find it. (wink wink Hildie)
Onto the love that our Alpha Male fights for in Desperate Surrender, Kieran is an honorable Protector sworn to uphold his oath. After seeing 2 of his fellow protectors mated and the storm it kicked up with Julien, he is going to do his duty and marry who Julien chooses for him but he is not going to be happy about it.
In comes Wendy, well Wendy is from his past but I won’t ruin to much of that for you all. Wendy finds herself in Kieran’s care and all of a sudden Kieran is feeling things he should not feel and thinking about breaking his agreement to the arranged marriage. There is definitely some sexual tension going on and some cold showers needed.
We get to dive into the demon side of the world of the Protectors in this book which is nice because it mixes things up a bit.
I am happy to say that each book keeps getting better and better, I would strongly suggest starting with the prequel and working your way through the Protectors series in order. I read all 3 in the series in 2 days, I just couldn’t put them down.
I give Desperate Surrender 5 skulls and I am on the edge of my seat waiting for the next installment. (HURRY HILDIE)
*eARC received in exchange for an honest review
O MY where do I begin, okay let’s start by ME taking a deep breath and trying to make this review sound professional…..WHO AM I KIDDING!?!?!?!? I AM OFFICIALLY A HILDIE MCQUEEN FANGIRL AND I HAVE A MASSIVE CRUSH ON THE PROTECTORS!!!!! Alright now that that’s out maybe I can pull myself together to give this book and the series some justice with my words.
Lets start with the World of the Protector’s, I have mentioned this before and I can not say it enough, it is well written and very well thought out, there are no questions left unanswered about the world Hildie has created. We have all read books where we were a little lost as to the ins and outs of the ‘world’ not here.
Next let me touch on the characters from previous books and that seem to be poppin in this one as well mainly Julien, I remember reading the prequel to this series and thinking “people are not going to like him but I do.” In this novel we get a little more of Julien and the only thing I kept saying to myself was PLEASE PLEASE HILDIE GIVE HIM SOMEONE TO WARM HIS HEART!!! I can’t imagine Julien being such an important part of the Protectors and not one day feel the love that the Protectors are fighting for once they find it. (wink wink Hildie)
Onto the love that our Alpha Male fights for in Desperate Surrender, Kieran is an honorable Protector sworn to uphold his oath. After seeing 2 of his fellow protectors mated and the storm it kicked up with Julien, he is going to do his duty and marry who Julien chooses for him but he is not going to be happy about it.
In comes Wendy, well Wendy is from his past but I won’t ruin to much of that for you all. Wendy finds herself in Kieran’s care and all of a sudden Kieran is feeling things he should not feel and thinking about breaking his agreement to the arranged marriage. There is definitely some sexual tension going on and some cold showers needed.
We get to dive into the demon side of the world of the Protectors in this book which is nice because it mixes things up a bit.
I am happy to say that each book keeps getting better and better, I would strongly suggest starting with the prequel and working your way through the Protectors series in order. I read all 3 in the series in 2 days, I just couldn’t put them down.
I give Desperate Surrender 5 skulls and I am on the edge of my seat waiting for the next installment. (HURRY HILDIE)
March 5, 2015
O MY where do I begin, okay let’s start by ME taking a deep breath and trying to make this review sound professional…..WHO AM I KIDDING!?!?!?!? I AM OFFICIALLY A HILDIE MCQUEEN FANGIRL AND I HAVE A MASSIVE CRUSH ON THE PROTECTORS!!!!!
Alright now that that’s out maybe I can pull myself together to give this book and the series some justice with my words.
Lets start with the World of the Protector’s, I have mentioned this before and I can not say it enough, it is well written and very well thought out, there are no questions left unanswered about the world Hildie has created. We have all read books where we were a little lost as to the ins and outs of the ‘world’ not here.
Next let me touch on the characters from previous books and that seem to be poppin in this one as well mainly Julien, I remember reading the prequel to this series and thinking “people are not going to like him but I do.” In this novel we get a little more of Julien and the only thing I kept saying to myself was PLEASE PLEASE HILDIE GIVE HIM SOMEONE TO WARM HIS HEART!!! I can’t imagine Julien being such an important part of the Protectors and not one day feel the love that the Protectors are fighting for once they find it. (wink wink Hildie)
Onto the love that our Alpha Male fights for in Desperate Surrender, Kieran is an honorable Protector sworn to uphold his oath. After seeing 2 of his fellow protectors mated and the storm it kicked up with Julien, he is going to do his duty and marry who Julien chooses for him but he is not going to be happy about it.
In comes Wendy, well Wendy is from his past but I won’t ruin to much of that for you all. Wendy finds herself in Kieran’s care and all of a sudden Kieran is feeling things he should not feel and thinking about breaking his agreement to the arranged marriage. There is definitely some sexual tension going on and some cold showers needed.
We get to dive into the demon side of the world of the Protectors in this book which is nice because it mixes things up a bit.
I am happy to say that each book keeps getting better and better, I would strongly suggest starting with the prequel and working your way through the Protectors series in order. I read all 3 in the series in 2 days, I just couldn’t put them down.
I give Desperate Surrender 5 skulls and I am on the edge of my seat waiting for the next installment. (HURRY HILDIE)
Alright now that that’s out maybe I can pull myself together to give this book and the series some justice with my words.
Lets start with the World of the Protector’s, I have mentioned this before and I can not say it enough, it is well written and very well thought out, there are no questions left unanswered about the world Hildie has created. We have all read books where we were a little lost as to the ins and outs of the ‘world’ not here.
Next let me touch on the characters from previous books and that seem to be poppin in this one as well mainly Julien, I remember reading the prequel to this series and thinking “people are not going to like him but I do.” In this novel we get a little more of Julien and the only thing I kept saying to myself was PLEASE PLEASE HILDIE GIVE HIM SOMEONE TO WARM HIS HEART!!! I can’t imagine Julien being such an important part of the Protectors and not one day feel the love that the Protectors are fighting for once they find it. (wink wink Hildie)
Onto the love that our Alpha Male fights for in Desperate Surrender, Kieran is an honorable Protector sworn to uphold his oath. After seeing 2 of his fellow protectors mated and the storm it kicked up with Julien, he is going to do his duty and marry who Julien chooses for him but he is not going to be happy about it.
In comes Wendy, well Wendy is from his past but I won’t ruin to much of that for you all. Wendy finds herself in Kieran’s care and all of a sudden Kieran is feeling things he should not feel and thinking about breaking his agreement to the arranged marriage. There is definitely some sexual tension going on and some cold showers needed.
We get to dive into the demon side of the world of the Protectors in this book which is nice because it mixes things up a bit.
I am happy to say that each book keeps getting better and better, I would strongly suggest starting with the prequel and working your way through the Protectors series in order. I read all 3 in the series in 2 days, I just couldn’t put them down.
I give Desperate Surrender 5 skulls and I am on the edge of my seat waiting for the next installment. (HURRY HILDIE)
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews