Protector (Dark Ops, #4) by Catherine Mann

Protector (Dark Ops, #4) Reviews

• 
  Saly

  Rating 3.5
  I was so glad that we got Chuck's story, when we met him earlier he was still struggling to heal from the wounds of his captivity and the end of his flying career but when the book opens two years have passed and he has more or less adjusted to his new reality when Colonel Rex wants to pull him back into the field for an undercover job, he isn't sure but he gives in.
  
  I really badly wanted to read what happened Colonel Rex's story(with the young Livia) and am so glad that we got to see them together and work things through. The Colonel had already lost his wife and fel the age gap between them(15 years was big). Livia also got over her insecurities and realised that he was capable of loving again.
  
  So, back to Chuck's story. I liked the heroine and how despite what her father had done she couldn't deny she loved him and she came back when she heard he was very sick. She had a habit of putting on a mask to hide her true feelings and had acted out when she was younger because of her father but I liked how strong she was.
  
  The romance was good, so was the mystery. I am so glad to be back in the Dark Ops world & can't wait for the next book.
• 
  Joanne Rock

  Full disclosure... as Cathy Mann's critique partner, I think all her stuff is awesome or I wouldn't have given it two-thumbs up before she submitted it! PROTECTOR is a story I cheered for because I wanted Chuck to have a story so much. I loved this bright, vibrant heroine for a man who really deserved a happily-ever-after.
• 
  Jennifer (Moonlight_Rendezvous)

  Captain Chuck Tanaka has survived unspeakable horrors after being held prisoner after an operation in the Middle East went bad. Two years later, he is confined to a desk job looking for action but afraid that his abilities aren’t what they used to be. Colonel Rex Scanlon believes that he is the man for a current assignment where he will be disguised as a blackjack dealer on a cruise ship that is a possible hub for terrorist activity. When Chuck’s skills are put to the test during a random shooting on base, he is ready for this new mission. What he doesn’t expect is to fall for the boss’s daughter, Jolynn Taylor, who may be involved with the terrorist activity aboard her father’s cruise ship. A woman was Chuck’s downfall in the past and he is afraid that more may be on the line than just his heart.
  
  I have never read anything by Catherine Mann before but I love books about sexy military men. I felt Chuck was a very strong character that was having difficulty dealing with his past and he was afraid that he wouldn’t have much of a future in the military. When he met Jolynn, he assumed that she was a spoiled rich girl but that was far from the truth. Jolynn may have been rich but she worked hard for everything that she had and only was on the ship because her father asked for her after his heart attack. I would have liked to have seen more interaction between Jolynn and her father because I felt that there was a lot of emotion and history that should have been dealt with.
  
  Jolynn and Chuck had great chemistry in this book and very passionate sex scenes. You could feel the heat rising from the page when these two got together. The action was fast-paced and exciting especially in the explosive first scene with the random military shooter. I would love to read more from this author starting from the beginning of this series so I can catch up on the history of these characters. Very exciting read.
• 
  Keri

  I almost didn't finish this one. I was halfway through with it and still didn't care for the h/h. The secondary romance between Olivia and Rex saved it for me.
• 
  Susan

  Very good book. I am so glad that Chuck got his own story. I really liked him in previous books, and I hoped for his recovery. In this book he gets assigned to an undercover job looking for evidence to bring down some terrorists. One of the people he has to watch is Jolynn, the ship owner's daughter. She came back because her father was ill, and originally didn't plan to stay. When she changed her mind, she ended up in the middle of the operation with her life in danger. I really liked seeing Chuck as he began to realize that he still had a role to play in the dark ops unit. I enjoyed seeing the way his mind worked and events unfolded and he had to react on the go. I also loved the strength that Jolynn showed when she decided to stick out her time on the ship to try to mend her fences with her father. When her life was threatened she ended up being rescued by Chuck. She did a very good job of doing what needed to be done without a bunch of whining. She also adapted well when she learned the truth from Chuck. Their time at the cottage in Italy was a great way of showing them get to know each other while still under threat. I liked the way that Jolynn encouraged Chuck to talk about his past, but knew when to avoid pushing. The conclusion was very good, with a surprise twist for the bad guy. I can't wait for the next one.
• 
  Pamela(AllHoney)

  The fourth book in Catherine Mann's Dark Ops series. This is the second book by Catherine Mann that I've read. The first only got 2 stars from me so it didn't impress me. I liked this one and may try others in this series.
• 
  SheLove2Read

  What's not to love about a gorgeous Polynesian hero!
  Really enjoyed this one and would have given it a 5 but for a few TSTL moments by the heroine. Otherwise I highly recommend this read, especially if you enjoy military romance. 4.5 stars
• 
  Debby Owens

  Awesome book...read it in a day...kept me mostly guessing until almost the end... Fast paced and FUN!!
• 
  Jo-Ann Fitzgerald

  As I've read the others in this series and was waiting for Chuck's story. We got to meet and get to know a bit about him in the other stories of the stories. I was happy to learn he advanced enough to get back into the swing of things. I was impressed at the beginning when he didn't want to get back into the group but his internal honor went into protection mode. This was the start of his comeback.
  
  You could feel the chemistry between the hero and heroine. You could see the connection and how they bounced off each other. This being said, there was a huge gap where the story was limping along but was boring. However once the baddies started to make their move then it bounced back to moving forward. This being said, parts of the end I found myself stopping and going back and rereading it as it was very confusing the way it was written.
  
  Overall, not bad, but not as good as some of her other books.
• 
  Nicole Geddie

  3.5 stars. Definitely Good. But not as good as the other Catherine Mann books I’ve read. Took me a minute to get into this one and my attention kept drifting which is unusual for me.
• 
  Sandy M

  I’ve thoroughly enjoyed these military-themed books from Catherine Mann. I’ve not read many so far, but I intend to remedy that as soon as I can. I’ve had that much fun with them.
  
  While I do like this book, I have to say it’s not as intriguing nor as gut wrenching as the prior one I read, Hot Zone, from her Elite Force series. That book sucked me in from the beginning and never let go. This story begins in the same way – tense, in-your-face events – but then it slows down quite a bit. And then even when I thought it was going to pick up again and take off, it doesn’t. What saves it is the characters.
  
  After being captured and tortured, Captain Chuck Tanaka feels he’s lost his edge. His superior, however, thinks he should get back on the horse in a new mission, one where Chuck and his technology expertise is needed. Taking on the role of a blackjack dealer on a mob boss’ cruise ship, Chuck is assigned to make contact with the man’s daughter to discover information about a terrorist plot.
  
  JoLynn Taylor has made a life for herself, far away from her father. As a child when witnessing the death of her beloved uncle – and not being believed when she went to her father about it – JoLynn now wants nothing to do with man he’s become. But when he suffers a heart attack and asks for her, she can’t ignore his request. Thing is, nothing has really changed. He still pushes her away, demands she return home. This time, though, JoLynn is determined to stick around. Especially after she meets the new, sexy blackjack dealer.
  
  I do like Chuck and JoLynn. They’re vintage Catherine Mann characters, strong and intelligent, sensual and sexy, they get the job done. Chuck tries his best to keep distance between them when he interacts with JoLynn, but the attraction is just too strong. He walks away as often as he can, which only proves to JoLynn she’s not worthy of love. But she also can’t help herself when she’s around Chuck, so why the heck shouldn’t she enjoy a fling with a handsome man?
  
  Innocuous events take place that make Chuck think someone is after JoLynn, and when his suspicions are confirmed as they enjoy a day port side, they end up on the run with only Chuck’s training to keep them a step or two ahead of the bad guys. When their safe house is breached, this is when I thought things would really pick up in the story. They escape through a second-floor window, blend in with the Italian crowd, and I expected a harrowing chase. They flee, thinking they will be chased, but Chuck takes them to a friend’s cottage where he recuperated after his release from the hospital the year before.
  
  While I was looking for action at this point, I have to tell you that the time Chuck and JoLynn spend at this Italian cottage is some of the best scenes in the book. They truly get to know one another, let their feelings go where they will, and enjoy some hot and sizzling sex. Both of them, however, feel it’s more than just sex. But they keep those feelings to themselves. JoLynn learns that Chuck has lied to her from the start, even though it’s his job that’s brought him to her doorstep and he has no choice. It’s now his job to keep her safe. He’s had no contact with his team since the safe house, but he’s hoping team members can put it all together and figure out where they’re hiding out.
  
  We also get a nice side romance with Chuck’s CO, Colonel Rex Scanlon, and the ship’s singer, Livia. This is where reading an entire series from the start helps. These characters have apparently appeared in previous books, and I do feel I missed a little by not reading those books. There’s history between them – not a huge amount, but enough that I think I’d have a better feel for their present circumstances and romance. Scanlon feels a relationship won’t work between them because of their age difference – he’s 44 and she’s 29. No problem for me! ;) She’s the one who walked away earlier because she didn’t want to compete with his dead wife. So there’s something there that would have helped if I’d read them before, but I still enjoyed them.
  
  So even though this story lacks some of the action that I’ve read in other of this author’s works, it’s still a good read with interesting and savvy characters. I was able to figure out the bad guy before it’s revealed, so I’m surprised JoLynn didn’t. Although I know her heart is involved and she wouldn’t look that direction. But Chuck is there to rescue her, and he does a damn fine job.
  
  See my complete review at
  http://www.goodbadandunread.com
• 
  Monique Atgood

  SYNOPSIS:
  Hero thinks he’s lost his edge as a military operative. He’s suffering the aftermath of being taken prisoner, severely beaten, and tortured. Heroine is the neglected daughter of a crime lord. Her father has a heart attack, so she rushes to Italy to be at his side. Daddy crime lord wants to recuperate on his cruise ship, so the hero and heroine collide onboard. The hero and his team are there to stop a dirty bomb from getting into terrorist hands. They think the best way to get info on their prime suspect, the sick crime lord, is by getting.... close with his daughter.
  
  PROS:
  The cover. Say it again! The Coooooooovvvvver!! (fans self....)
  
  Action! Lots of bullets flying, attempts on their lives, and the oh so traaaagggiic story line that the heroine is familiar with betrayal, because everyone wants to get to her father by using their status as her friend, or business partner, or .... lover.
  
  There’s a good subplot of the Colonel and the torch singer. Their story was pleasant, and I was glad to see them finally get together.
  
  CONS:
  There wasn’t as much emotion in the book as I would expect from a Mann.
  
  Ok. Maybe I’ve read a lot of ‘on the lam’ books lately, but this one seemed flat and uninteresting. Now that is comparing it to the other Mann novels that are mostly ‘smokin’ with action and romance. I even found myself wondering if there was ever in the history of literature, a man and a woman on the run from the bad guys who didn’t find themselves lost in passion. So, I guess the characters didn’t grow on me that much.
  
  I’m still a Catherine Mann fan. IMO, this novel just wasn’t a home run. It was a solid base hit, though.
  
  Unrelated story:
  The author was scheduled to be at the Lori Foster Get Reader Author Get Together that Ms. Foster hosts every June. Ms. Mann had a family emergency and at the last minute was a scratch. She kindly and graciously sat down and autographed stickers and overnighted them to the book signing. She really went out of her way to see that her fans were still able to get her autograph, especially on the compilation book that involved several authors that were all at the book signing. She showed us she’s a class act, and made me a lifetime fan (of course I already was for her books!).
• 
  Ellie

  Protector, Dark Ops #4, by Catherine Mann
  Grade: D
  
  “I still owed you for sucking on my finger.”
  
  Captain Chuck Tanaka never thought he would be back in the field doing undercover work after being tortured and left for dead years before but he has been offered a mission that he feels he can’t turn down. To help stop a terrorist cell Chuck must go undercover as a blackjack dealer on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean that is owned by a very sick mob boss. Chuck’s mission is to get close to the bosses daughter Jolynn Taylor and do everything to win her trust so he can take down her family.
  
  Jolynn Taylor never thought she would be back in her father’s world of crime and murder but her need for him to love her sends her to his side while he’s ill. Jolynn finds a great distraction from her shaky relationship with her father in the hunky blackjack dealer Charles Tomas who can make her forget all of her problems with just a kiss. When Jolynn’s fantasy man turns out to be an undercover agent Jolynn feels like she’s right back in her father’s world and unfortunately this mystery man maybe the only one who can get her out alive.
  
  I love military-romance novels and I jumped at the chance to review this book. From the description to the smoking hot cover I dove in head first ready to get lost in the hot world of spies, men in uniforms and some romance. From the first chapters I found myself distracted and waiting for these characters to do something exciting instead of the text book romance plot line. I never felt that Chuck and Jolynn really connected and found their romance to be as flat as their personalities.
  
  I have never read Protector before but it felt like a lot of other romances that I have read in the past. There was nothing exciting about the characters, the plot or the romance. Personally I was happy when I finished it and don’t believe I’ll think about it again after I write this review. I was expecting drama, suspense and page burning chemistry and sadly there was none of that in this book. I can honestly say I will not be turning to this series any time soon for my military romance fix.
  
  
  
• 
  Tina

  This novel is the fourth book in the Dark Ops series and it is definitely a non-stop, page-turner. It is the first book I've read in this series, even though a few things that happened in prior books were mentioned I did not feel lost while reading it. I will be going back to start with the previous books because I enjoyed it so much. If you like reading about black op stories, I highly recommend this book.
  
  Captain Chuck Tanaka has seen some dangerous assignments during his military career, barely surviving being tortured while on his last mission he's not sure that he is meant for anything other than riding a desk. He has just been assigned an undercover op as a dealer on a luxury cruise ship to find the evidence against the mob boss owner who is suspected of terrorist activities.
  His main target: the boss's daughter.
  
  Jolynn Taylor has stayed away from her father since she was a child witnessing the murder of the uncle she loved. She wanted nothing to do with his life of crime until she hears of his illness and decides she wants to try to dissolve their differences. What she doesn't know is that someone had really sent for her so she could be taken out of the picture for good.
  
  Now she's running for her life with a man she knows as Charles Tomas, a dealer on her father's ship, but she trusts him with her life. As her feelings grow for him she finds out his real identity and the plans he has to destroy her father. Is it possible that they can join together to find out who the terrorist's are and what they are plotting before it's too late?
• 
  Paula Robinson

  Once again Mann has left me emotionally raw with a wonderful tale. Protector was much more than I expected, and Chuck got exactly what he deserved. I am glad it wasn't too easy for him. Him and Jolynn were explosive together, but the way their characters changed as each layer of information unfolded was great to watch. The twist at the end was also good. Mann had me going for a while, and I thought I had the villain, but I was partially right. Then she had me wondering who it could be. Though the suspect pool was short, I was still blindsided by who it really was. There is also a secondary storyline, and I can't wait to see how that develops in future books. Well done! Protector was a great read.
• 
  Lori

  I always love a great romantic suspense and this was a great romantic suspense! Chuck and Jolynn's chemistry was undeniable and when they finally came together.... WOW... but then again the anticipation was the best part, watching them fight their attraction and then their feelings for one another was like a roller coaster ride.. thrilling! I have to say that Chuck was some amazing self control here especially considering his 'issue' since he'd recovered after his capture 2 years prior. Protector was a great fast paced read that kept me guessing until the very end.
  
  My full review....
  
  http://lorisbookblog.blogspot.com/201...
• 
  Kathrynn

  I struggled to finish this book as it was "typical" and "no surprises" in the plot. I didn't care for either main character, Chuck, was too closed up. There was just too much of his one word replies thru most of the book. Jolynn's character got on my nerves. I saw where the book was going and that's exactly where it went.
  
  There was a secondary romance in the story that I enjoyed more than the primary, but not by much as the male was too "Mr. Macho, Mr. Quiet. Mr. Love 'em and Leave 'em, Mr. I still love my dead wife."
  
  Just blech for the whole book.
• 
  Mareli

  5 stars yes!!!
  
  Very exciting book. It's not because of Chuck, I don't have a penchant for wounded heroes but Chuck is really good. If he sometimes thought about his previous tortures, it was always with some positive note about the future. He was a positive hero.
  
  And the heroine was wonderful. An accountant and a secret mechanic genius!! LOL
  
  They were really good together and the story flowed from the start. I loved it!
  
  
• 
  Cari

  Another win for Catherine Mann! Chuck Tanaka deserved his own story and Jolynn was his perfect mate. Both strong, determined and needing to realize just how strong they were. They are able to help the other heal and are even stronger together.
  
  Loved the secondary story with Rex and Livia FINALLY coming together!
  
  I'll read anything of Cathy's anytime!
• 
  Tina

  I had a bit of a problem with the Dark Ops guys scoring the perfect cabin on the ship and Chuck getting a job as a blackjack dealer, but overall I liked the Chuck/Jolynn storyline. The only real negative? I would've liked to see Rex and Livia Cicero in their own book rather than as side story in this one.
• 
  Dee

  3.5 stars
  
  Couldn't make up my mind what to give this. It was a good book and I enjoyed it but not as much as previous ones in the series but thought it deserved more than 3 stars but not quite 4.
• 
  Tamara

  full review @
  http://www.sizzlinghotbooks.net/2012/...
• 
  Sue Weinhaus

  
  Love those alpha males.
  Good book .... Catherine Mann does it again with her explosive new book. Already looking for the next book.
• 
  Pam Hamblin

  I just read this one and it seemed like a slow beginning but then the excitement hit and I couldn't wait to finish it!
• 
  Nell

  Liked this one, glad to see Chuck back in the field. And the nice tie up for Rex.