Vivian Watts’s mission to prove her brother’s innocence has left her destitute and desperate. So when Texas Ranger Slate Thompson arrives with his knock-me-out blue eyes and belief in her case, she dares to hope again…until her apartment is burned to the ground. Slate offers refuge at his ranch, but when evidence suggests police corruption is at play, can he face down his own to protect her?
ANGI MORGAN's new series, BODYGUARDS IN HEELS, is a lot of her favorite reads. A little magic, a little suspense, a little comedy and a whole lot of love.
Angi is a USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly best seller. Her first book, Hill Country Holdup, went on sale the very night it won the prestigious RWA Golden Heart award.
She drags her dogs –and husband– around Texas for research road trips so she can write off her camera. They now have a map with highlighted roads they’ve traveled. Every detour somehow makes it into a book.
She loves to chaat with fans at: AngiMorganAuthor.com @AngiMorganAthr Facebook: Angi's Friends
Well, at least it was better than Ranger Protector, but that really wouldn't take much! Angi Morgan is a terrible writer, no bones about it. Dialogue is sloppy and all over the place. So is the characterisation. Heroine Vivian Watts is supposed to be a tough war veteran, but spends most of the book either crying or having panic attacks. And she was certainly TSTL: she runs into a hospital building in which a guy has just taken hostages at gun point, and a bomb threat has been called in, because she just has to tell hero Slate Thompson something important.
This gets two stars by virtue of its villain, Abby Norman, who has been conducting brainwashing experiments to get war veterans to do her bidding or commit acts of violence. Her motive? Well, in Slate's words: "Her mind wasn't all there. Some things just can't be explained." So if you're after answers that wrap everything up neatly, you won't find it here! But Abby was genuinely interesting as a villain, with her OCD, as well as her attempts to resemble a normal person (as she is obviously a sociopath). We get glimpses into her motives, which is something to do with obtaining the perfect death.
But everything else is just so ham-fisted! Angi Morgan seems completely out of her depth when it comes to plotting and continuity. Vivian is a waitress and is fired at the start of the book, but days later is talking about doing a shift. War vet Rashad Parker's name changes to Rashid and back again. And I just hated, hated, hated Slate's friend Heath Murray. What a whiny bitch! Definitely not looking forward to his story. The dialogue was just bizarre. A character would talk about something, or ask a question, and the other person would answer with something completely off-topic, and then randomly return to what they were talking about!
What Abby actually does to brainwash or hypnotize her patients is completely glossed over, as is how she got access to all these war vets in the first place. Vivian is involved in this mess because her brother has confessed to the murder of Dr Roberts (who Abby was actually a patient of). Or, at least I think so. That's how fuzzy this thing is! The suggestion is that Abby probably brainwashed him into it, but why am I required to make these giant leaps on my own? Why can't a 55000 word book neatly explain it to me?
It would appear even the publisher wasn't sure what to do with this one. The blurb mentions that "evidence suggests police corruption is at play. Can Slate face down his own to protect Vivian?" Um - NEVER HAPPENS! There is NOT A SINGLE suggestion that police are involved AT ANY TIME throughout the book. It's all the work of Abby. Now, that is really sloppy. I'm guessing Harlequin were expecting one story, and wound up with this confused one about brainwashed war veterans, and just thought, "Ah, f*** it. It's not like anybody reads the blurb. They're all the same anyway!"
I liked the villain. Slate was a reasonable hero. Vivian drove me nuts. I hated Heath. Angi Morgan needs to work on describing the action clearly and clarifying what each character's motivation is and why. Otherwise, the reader is just lost!
Whether you’re a fan of romantic suspense, standard thrillers, or simply gripping and intelligent storytelling, RANGER DEFENDER is the book to read this year.
Texas Ranger Wade Hamilton has been reduced to desk work, and when one case comes up, he asks his partner Slate Thompson at Company B to do the leg work for him, so Wade doesn’t land himself in hot water. Vivian Watt’s brother is due to stand trial in a week for a murder Vivian is sure he didn’t commit, and Wade’s intuition tells him that something doesn’t compute in the case; he sent Slate to ask Vivian literally one question. Vivian has done everything for her brother Victor in the past eleven months, she has nothing left, but one last chance at getting her brother acquitted. Vivian’s answer to the question is precisely what Wade needed, so Slate needs to do what it takes to prove Victor’s innocence, and he will. As for the rest, read the blurb, read my review, but most of all read RANGER DEFENDER because it is one of the most outstanding suspense novels I have read in a long time, and I read a lot of them.
I have been a fan of Angi Morgan’s for a long time, and RANGER DEFENDER is the best book she has ever written. Stylistically, my review will leave much to be desired because there is one word and all its variations that will come up way too often: perfect. Because RANGER DEFENDER is just that: perfect from the first page to the last; for the extremely tightly written plot; and for a romance that is flawlessly woven into one of the most exciting suspense stories I have read since The Bourne Identity or Silence of the Lambs. Told in the third person, we also get to experience the point of view of the killer, a psychopath with debilitating OCD, which the author has obviously extensively researched, because it is impeccable. The pace is lightning-quick and never lets off for one minute, and I wish I could have “absorbed” RANGER DEFENDER, because reading as quickly as I could wasn’t nearly fast enough.
Slate is so cool! He is friendly, open, level-headed, and irresistibly naturally charming; he is also dedicated to justice. Vivian is a fabulous heroine; an army veteran – who doesn’t suffer from PTSD for once; she is rational, and even though she can take care of herself, she does what is best for her brother, even if doesn’t always please her. They make a fantastic team and an even better couple; and yes, the romance is entirely believable because nothing goes either too quickly or too slowly. The dialogue is amazing, and the banter between Wade and Slate – and also with Heath, another Ranger, a secondary character– is fabulous. RANGER DEFENDER is the perfect length, there is not one word of filler, the story is as good as it gets, the action scenes are superb, and every moment of the romance is perfectly timed. The psychopath is chillingly realistic, nothing is over the top; the year is young, but I know that I will not have forgotten the outstanding RANGER DEFENDER at this time, next year.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
Ranger Defender by Angi Morgan is the second book in the series and was a page turner from the first chapter.
I can always count on Ms. Morgan to deliver a fast paced plot with a descriptive narrative that keeps me in the action throughout the story. Vivian and Slate were two people that I would love to meet. Slate is dedicated to his job, friendly and absolutely smitten with Vivian from the first meeting. Vivian was one of the strongest women that I have met this year. She is dedicated to freeing her brother from the murder charges. Together Slate and Vivian made an awesome team. Ms. Morgan provided a glimpse into the psychopath's mind during the story, which made it quite chilling at times. The plot was tightly woven, the characters and dialogue were realistic, the action scenes were believable and the romance was timed to perfection. I hope to see more of the Texas Brothers of Company B #2 in the near future.
I was given a print copy of this book by a friend and I am so grateful for her generosity.
Book 2 in a series and already brimming with serie-itis. Pacing is boggy, bread-crumbs laid out haphazardly, and convoluted cat-and-mouse style plot. Also, for a heroine with a military background I was disappointed in how much of a Rescue Fantasy this was.
I'm trying not gush all over this review but honestly, I don't care because I loved this story. It is unique, very creepy while putting the danger into a new level of scary. It is heart-wrenchingly sad with the exploitation of those we only should honor and respect, it is entertaining and heart-warming with the tight brotherhood the Rangers demonstrate with each encounter, and it is adorably sweet and sexy with the attraction and palpable connection between the hero and the heroine. Vivian Watts is an amazing hero. An army vet who grew up in the system and went to college after the service, then had a great internship in one of the top companies in Miami - and she left everything behind and went to serve tables at the 'chicken wing' restaurant with a half a t-shirt on to support her brother while falsely accused of murder. She is tough, independent, yet resilient. She is smart, capable, and able to defend herself and carry her load of responsibility. She has been dealt a rough hand but she is handling it, and I admired her, liked her, and respected her immensely. Texas Ranger Slate Thompson is the true deal, a cowboy with a sense of honor and serve deep in his blood. He is kind, caring, and protective, yet not overbearing. What I like most about the Company B Rangers is that they are not perfect. They actually are in quite a trouble with their intuitions and action out of order, like they are walking the tightrope with no security net. They have each other's backs and when the bush comes to shove, the company ultimately has theirs. The disturbing crimes that they are investigating, the false murder case against Vivian's brother, and the alarming troubles with the local vets who are being treated at the sleep clinic were all together so frighteningly ghoulish that I still don't what to think. Can minds be manipulated like that? Can we be programmed to act against our loved ones by a hypnotism or some kind of drugs? The indications of these terrifying crimes against the vulnerable vets coming to seek help from those who they should be able to trust gave me chills. Action, investigation, battles of minds and assaults by strangers, life and death situations, and sweet, ardent romance that has a spark and passion, I enjoyed the story, each moment of it, so smoothly flowing and tightening everything so well together it was impossible to put down. I am telling you, the Rangers have started the year with a bang, and I am loving it. Can't wait for the next book in the series! ~ Five Spoons
A possible case explodes into more than this Texas Ranger ever expected right before his eyes! With the 2nd book in the Texas Brothers of Company B series, we interact with a few familiar characters from the first book and jaunt off onto another case that leaves us chasing clues and trying to put all of the pieces together. This book is slightly unorthodox in that we know fairly early on who the bad guy is, but the danger and tricks that play out still keep us playing a guessing game on what's going to happen. Really enjoyed overall, but felt the ending was a little rushed. I would have liked to have seen that play out slightly differently to have a satisfying resolution. Looking forward to more in the series!
Vivian Watts has given up everything and is so broke she's on the verge of living on the streets in an effort clear her brother of the charge of murder that she just knows he didn't commit. His trial is fast approaching and she's just about given up hope that she will find any evidence quickly enough to stop his conviction, but one surprise visit from Texas Ranger Slate Thompson gives her the glimmer of hope she's needed to keep her spirit to fight up!
Slate should know better than to go off on one of Wade's hunches, but as soon as he looks at the case he's shown him, he knows something is suspicious. Is her brother really guilty or is something funny going on at that hospital that seems to be the common denominator between this case and several others that weren't even known about? When danger seems to be lurking just over Vivian's shoulder, Slate will stop at nothing to keep her safe ... and while he's at it, they find themselves fighting attraction at every turn!
The Second book in Angi Morgans, Texas Rangers of Company B series packs quite a large bang as first.
Wade is sequestered to doing desk duty and going through the old files of cold cases and unsolved crimes. He happens to be looking into a case, but not being able to check it out, Wade asks his friend and fellow ranger just to go and ask the sister of the accused a couple questions and make sure things add up!
Slate heads down to wear Vivian Watts works and attempts to ask her to meet him after work for a fee questions. Having relied on so many people, lawyers and private investigators she doesn't trust that Slate is really there to help her!
Next comes her home on fire, a person who is disturbed and very sick taking in the participation of the dead doctors study. The same one Vivians brother is accused of killing.
Vivian ends up living with Slate and Heath at his families farm. They are attacked by a man several times and even Vivian goes under cover. There's a bomb threat, other Va patients that are affected by this person pretending to do the sleep study and she finally gets to Vivian.
It's a great story. I only wish the epilogue or final chapter provided better details for the future but non the less, I really enjoyed it and it was hard to put down!
When Texas Ranger Wade Hamilton finds a case that doesn't look/feel right, he talks to his friend and fellow Ranger, Slate, about it. Slate agrees that the details look suspicious so he talked to Vivian Watts, sister to a man who confessed to a murder.
Vivian is sure her brother didn't commit the murder he has been charged with. She's tried everything she can think of to prove his innocence, even though he has confessed. She has just about given up hope that she will find any evidence before his trial when Texas Ranger Slate Thompson comes to see her. She starts to hope he'll help her find something before it's too late.
Is her brother guilty or is something going on at that hospital? As Slate dug deeper he found a connection between this case and several others. The more Slate worked with Vivian the stronger their attraction got so when Vivian's life was in danger, he did whatever he needed to keep her safe.
A character in this story was known as Subject Nineteen. Because that person was so creepy, I almost stopped reading. But I've loved Angi's other books so I kept going. While this wasn't my favourite of her books, it did have a good storyline. That being said, it was a good book.
Good thing Texas Ranger Wade Hamilton doesn't know how to control his avid curiosity. Once again Wade has found a case that needs looked in to. He talks his friend Texas Ranger Slate Thompson into talking to Vivian Watts because something in the file that they have on her brother doesn't add up. Vivian's brother, Victor has been arrested and will face trial soon for the murder of the doctor of the sleep study he was in. She was treating him for night terrors after a military tour in Afghanistan. Slate stops in an eatery during Vivian's waitress shift to talk to her and then the trouble starts. Someone wants Vivian dead all of a sudden. Why now? Who could it be?
I really enjoyed getting those questions answered in this book, Ranger Defender. The is book #2 in author Angi Morgan's Texas Brothers of Company B series. Once again this author has written a page-turning suspense story with surprises, great characters and a sweet HEA. I can't wait for the next bok in the series.
Ranger Defender is a fantastic romantic suspense book by Angi Morgan. Ms. Morgan has provided readers with a well-written book and loaded it with a phenomenal cast of characters. Vivian has spent all her money trying to prove her brother innocent of the murder charge that has landed him in jail. When Ranger Slate Thompson's co-worker talks him into looking over a case, they both fell something is off and Slate is the one that has to investigate. Vivian and Slate's story is loaded with drama, bits of humor, spice and the unexpected. I enjoyed reading Ranger Defender and look forward to reading more from Angi Morgan in the future. Ranger Defender is book 2 of the Texas Brothers of Company B Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
I read a print copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Serial killer romantic suspense. I'm not wild about suspense stories that have bad-guy POV in them, but this one was pretty good. It actually made the story more of a police procedural than a "figure out whodunit" because we know who it is. The hero is (obviously) a Texas Ranger. The heroine is the sister of a man accused of a murder, and of course she believes her brother is innocent. It's a good read. I liked it.
Ranger Defender by Angi Morgan is fast paced and will keep you guessing the entire way. Slate and Vivian are well-matched and both have a strong hand in solving the mystery. I enjoyed Slate in the first book in the series, so it was fun to see him get his own story. Morgan’s characters are always among my favorites and these are no exception. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
I enjoyed this Intriguing Romance. I bought this at a local store and I voluntarily chose to review it. I've given it a 4.5* rating but this is not for the under 18 readers. There is a bit of crazy violence in this and there does seem to be a lot of action. I just kept turning the pages to see if they were going to catch the murderer. I'm on to my next.
I loved this book it was just captivating. When Angi writes a book it is like she is out on horseback with the rangers and I enjoy that. Her covers are also really good. Angi hit a home run with this!