"Delightful tale of a Romance Cover Model/Greek God"
In this delightful continuation of Kenner's Protector
series, we again meet the Protector Hale. Hale's cover
story is as a Romance cover model and he is very
successful, particularly with women at his many public
appearances. But, the cover model has a big secret. He
not only looks like a Greek God, he IS a Greek God;
otherwise known as a Protector. Picture a taller John
DeSalvo with blue eyes and you have the delicious Hale, at
least that is how I pictured him. Hale and his sister Zoe, whose love story with the Mortal
George Taylor formed last year's wonderful APHRODITE'S
KISS, are given the assignment of recovering Aphrodite's
Girdle and protecting the current owner from harm. Zoe and Hale quickly enlist the help of her Mortal
friends:Deena (who's brother married his Cat in THE CAT'S
FANCY), her fiancee Hoop and Taylor's foster sister Lane.
This is a fun group and they play prominent roles in the
story. Tracy Tannin, who unknowingly has inherited Aphrodite's
Girdle, is the granddaughter of a silent movie star. Tracy
is a delight. Although she is a bit of klutz, with poor
self esteem, she is also intelligent and extremely
resilient. Tracy spends her evenings reading Romance
novels and fantasizing about the luscious model on the
cover. Hale has figured very prominently in these
fantasies. So much in fact, that when she first meets Hale
she doesn't recognize him with his clothes on! To Tracy, Aphrodite's Girdle is just a belt that has
sentimental value and she enjoys wearing because it seems
to be a good luck symbol for her. From the first time she
wears it, she discovers that people in general and men in
particular are much nicer to her. Hale, who has real issues about falling in love with a
Mortal, decides he will seduce Tracy into giving him the
belt. He intends to treat her in his usual love'em and
leave'em style. The challenge is that a Protector can only
regain the belt if it is given to him by the owner, it
cannot be taken from her. It's powers let a Mortal get her
wishes, but if worn by a Protector would make everyone love
him and he could rule the world. The Outcast Heronymous and his son Mordecai, a reluctant
villain in APHRODITE'S KISS, are after the belt. Heronymous
is determined to rule the world and he tells the hapless
Mordi that he is being given another chance to redeem
himself in his father's eyes. Mordi is on probation with the Council over his past doings
and no one on either side trusts him. As he and Hale court
Tracy, Mordi finds himself liking her and reluctant to see
her hurt. Mordi is an anti-hero hero and an extremely
intriguing and complex guy. As Hale and Tracy fall in love, Hale battles his true self
and keeps telling himself that he is under a spell and that
he couldn't possibly love a Mortal. Hale can at times be a
jerk, but at heart he reminds me of a Regency Rake! He has
the charm, manners and lovemaking talent--along with the
promiscuity of an alley cat and is just begging to be
reformed, whether he knows it or not. The joy of this series is that Kenner has created an
alternate universe that with a small suspension of
disbelief works very well. The Council of Protectors even
have their own treaties with the Mortal's governments and
bureaucratic forms that have to be filled out in
triplicate. Kenner's sly humor is often on display and the
dialogue is absolutely sparkling, often with double
entendres flying back and forth between Tracy and Hale. Kenner also has the ability to write extremely erotic
scenes. Tracy's fantasy lover scene is unique; I haven't
read another scene quite like it and the flames were
practically setting the pages on fire. Kenner is an autobuy for me and I am really looking forward
to Mordi's story. But I do wish Kenner would include
Deena's brother Nicholas and his wife Maggie the cat, from
THE CAT'S FANCY in Mordi's book. I would love to see them
again, along with all of the other Mortals circulating in
Hale and Zoe's world. To those who like a little fantasy
in their Romance reading, I highly recommend this
delightful book.
Reviewed by Linda Hurst
Posted April 23, 2002
| 
