Review: Order of Protection
Another winner for @uthorlexiblake #OrderOfProtection #NetGalley ~ second chance theme and redemptionMy rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
A new series from talented Ms. Blake is a must read. As an avid fan, this new series is a lovely start for a contemporary erotica. From the very beginning, the story pulls a reader in. Why? Because of the characters. Character creation and relationship building are the foundation of Ms. Blake's writing. They are why I read her books.
In this series, the tying thread seems to be lawyers. In this first one, Henry Garrison is our anti-hero. He is a man who lost sight of himself and when he crashed back down, it was a hard landing. I felt bad for Henry to a degree. The mistakes he made with his ex-wife are too easy to see nowadays. Sometimes, people bring out the worst in each other. This kind of toxic relationship is all too common and Henry fully immersed himself in it. He lost his brand and his reputation became undesirable. Humbling himself, Henry finally gets back to his roots and starts over again.
I like redemption stories. Giving Henry a second chance is what America is all about. A chance to dream and work hard to make that dream come true is all he wants. So when Henry meets an adorable jogger at his Grandfather's cabin, he thinks this may be a nice start to a possible healing rebound fling. What he doesn't count on, is falling for Win Hughes.
This is where my four star loses half a star and becomes a 3.5 star. Henry's treatment of Win starts out so caring a sweet. When new to him information comes out about Win, Henry does an about-face and is cruel. The way he treats Win is abusive and callous. I can not forgive him for this. In her time of need, his harsh words and actions can never be retracted. I lost quite a bit of respect for him and quite frankly, hoped that Win would find another man. Because when Henry learns something he doesn't like, his holier-than-thou attitude reigns supreme. He is a jerk in the highest order. Win deserves better. This is where my love for him turns into loathing. I never recovered over it, even if Win does. Henry seems to be given chances after chances. What a lucky guy.
I loved Win. She is a woman who also lost herself so she can relate to Henry. The betrayals she's had over and over again is depressing and all to easy to visualize. And yet, Win is still a loving, forgiving and patient person. Her capacity for compassion and doing the right thing is impressive. She makes the hard decisions and walks the talk.
This story is more than a romance between a man and woman. There is a bit of intrigue and the plot twists are like daggers to the gut. Win takes each jab with a stiff upper lip. I liked how the true face of each character, including secondary ones, is revealed. It just goes to show that actions speak louder than words and a wise person watches actions instead of taking words and promise at face value.
Ms. Blake does an excellent job of creating a complex and rich story. The emotions generated by reading this story makes me feel more invested and connected. I love it. When it comes to getting into a book and really feeling it, be it anger, disgust, fear, sadness, joy, happiness or lust, Ms. Blake will make it happen. This story is an experience to remember. Recommended to contemporary romance readers who enjoy second chance themes and redemption.
*provided by Netgalley
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