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The Light Mage Wars #3
Guardian
A POWER TO KILL
FBI agent Camellia "Mel" Wray is no stranger to violence but when an old friend is brutally murdered, she takes it personally. The case hits even closer to her heart when the best person to help with the investigation is Dr. Stefan Harper, the only man she ever loved-and lost. One look at the gorgeous medical expert and Mel realizes he's still impossible to resist-and still harboring a secret after all these years . . .
A POWER TO LOVE
Afraid Mel wouldn't accept him, Stefan never revealed his study of magical medicine or his abilities, instead allowing her to believe he'd been unfaithful. Now she's back in his life-and their mutual attraction burns hotter than ever. But when something dark and otherworldly threatens humans, Stefan must summon his mage powers to keep everyone safe. Will Mel be able to trust him again? Or will their love cost him even more than it did the first time?
Word Count: 90,000 words.
FBI agent Camellia "Mel" Wray is no stranger to violence but when an old friend is brutally murdered, she takes it personally. The case hits even closer to her heart when the best person to help with the investigation is Dr. Stefan Harper, the only man she ever loved-and lost. One look at the gorgeous medical expert and Mel realizes he's still impossible to resist-and still harboring a secret after all these years . . .
A POWER TO LOVE
Afraid Mel wouldn't accept him, Stefan never revealed his study of magical medicine or his abilities, instead allowing her to believe he'd been unfaithful. Now she's back in his life-and their mutual attraction burns hotter than ever. But when something dark and otherworldly threatens humans, Stefan must summon his mage powers to keep everyone safe. Will Mel be able to trust him again? Or will their love cost him even more than it did the first time?
Word Count: 90,000 words.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 2, 2013
1 person is currently reading
138 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Northcott
40 books79 followersNancy Northcott’s childhood ambition was to grow up and become Wonder Woman. Around fourth grade, she realized it was too late to acquire Amazon genes, but she still loved comic books, science fiction, fantasy and YA romance. A sucker for fast action and wrenching emotion, Nancy combines the romance and high stakes she loves in the books she writes.
Her debut novel, Renegade, received a starred review from Library Journal. The reviewer called it “genre fiction at its best.” Nancy is a three-time RWA Golden Heart finalist and has won the Maggie, the Molly, the Emerald City Opener, and Put Your Heart in a Book.
Married since 1987, Nancy and her husband have one son, a bossy dog, and a house full of books.
Her debut novel, Renegade, received a starred review from Library Journal. The reviewer called it “genre fiction at its best.” Nancy is a three-time RWA Golden Heart finalist and has won the Maggie, the Molly, the Emerald City Opener, and Put Your Heart in a Book.
Married since 1987, Nancy and her husband have one son, a bossy dog, and a house full of books.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 3, 2013
#I received this as an ARC for an early review.#
GUARDIAN has everything a reader could want - solid world-building, a character driven romance, action-adventure and mystery. Northcott's intriguing storyline of Mages, demons, murder and magic, and the strength and vulnerability of her leading characters drew me in from the first chapter and kept the pages turning until the very last. Paranormal & fantasy romance fans will enjoy this new addition to The Protectors series and look forward to the next!
More detail? OK, here it is - I could not put this book down until I had finished it!
I really enjoyed returning to the world of Wayfarer & its Mages, demons and townies! The focus was certainly more away from the Collegium in the first three quarters of the book, and I have to admit I missed the concentration of that aspect of Northcott's world-building (just an observation, not a criticism at all). With the more "human" orientated police investigation focus, it felt a little like a romantic suspense but with the paranormal mixed in (a nice deviation & addition along with the paranormal elements).
But when Stefan and Mel were taken by the ghouls and the focus became more on the paranormal. I loved the medical references in Northcott's narrative - I'm a volunteer ambulance officer in my community, so the medical knowledge and jargon really engaged and resonated with me.
Regardless of the "town/human" focus, I was sucked in again by the characters & their story. I also loved the tug and pull between Stefan & Mel's shared past, the betrayal/hurt/misunderstanding that occurred between them, but particularly Stephan's dilemma as he tries to work out how and what to reveal to Mel about himself and his Mage powers.
Northcott's world-building and story arc gave a different angle to the world of her Mages & humans. If you like a bit of intrigue and mystery mixed in with your paranormal action, where the paranormal elements have shades of Pamela Palmer's Feral Warriors series, or Larissa Ione's Daemonica books - aka good vs.evil on world wide stage, & where races keep their existence secret from humans then this sort of world-building & Northcott's series is one you'll enjoy.
GUARDIAN has everything a reader could want - solid world-building, a character driven romance, action-adventure and mystery. Northcott's intriguing storyline of Mages, demons, murder and magic, and the strength and vulnerability of her leading characters drew me in from the first chapter and kept the pages turning until the very last. Paranormal & fantasy romance fans will enjoy this new addition to The Protectors series and look forward to the next!
More detail? OK, here it is - I could not put this book down until I had finished it!
I really enjoyed returning to the world of Wayfarer & its Mages, demons and townies! The focus was certainly more away from the Collegium in the first three quarters of the book, and I have to admit I missed the concentration of that aspect of Northcott's world-building (just an observation, not a criticism at all). With the more "human" orientated police investigation focus, it felt a little like a romantic suspense but with the paranormal mixed in (a nice deviation & addition along with the paranormal elements).
But when Stefan and Mel were taken by the ghouls and the focus became more on the paranormal. I loved the medical references in Northcott's narrative - I'm a volunteer ambulance officer in my community, so the medical knowledge and jargon really engaged and resonated with me.
Regardless of the "town/human" focus, I was sucked in again by the characters & their story. I also loved the tug and pull between Stefan & Mel's shared past, the betrayal/hurt/misunderstanding that occurred between them, but particularly Stephan's dilemma as he tries to work out how and what to reveal to Mel about himself and his Mage powers.
Northcott's world-building and story arc gave a different angle to the world of her Mages & humans. If you like a bit of intrigue and mystery mixed in with your paranormal action, where the paranormal elements have shades of Pamela Palmer's Feral Warriors series, or Larissa Ione's Daemonica books - aka good vs.evil on world wide stage, & where races keep their existence secret from humans then this sort of world-building & Northcott's series is one you'll enjoy.
June 23, 2013
Long time readers of this website know I am not the “go-to” reviewer for paranormal books. I have my little niche, I stay in it, and most of the time I’m content. However there are times where I read a little out of my comfort zone and have been pleasantly surprised by the result. Last year I took the chance and read Renegade, book one of The Protectors series and it quickly captured my imagination with magic, mages, and creatures right out of a nightmare all existing in a real world setting. Even if I wasn’t completely taken by the leading man, there were so many other great things about the story for me to enjoy and obsess over, especially his best friend Dr. Stefan Harper. Thank goodness I didn’t have to wait too long for Stefan’s story to be told in Guardian.
For the mages of the Southeastern shire, the ghoul threat has slowly been intensifying. They are seeing more attacks on the mages and humans living around the Okefenokee swamplands and the victims are presenting with wounds that go above the normal attack pattern of a ghoul. Called to consult on the latest attack case, Dr. Stefan Harper figures this case is no different than any others he’s worked with the local sheriff’s department. But the federal agent also working the case is a woman Stefan never expected to see again, his former girlfriend Camellia Wray.
For the full review, go to http://www.thewindowseat13.com/2013/0...
For the mages of the Southeastern shire, the ghoul threat has slowly been intensifying. They are seeing more attacks on the mages and humans living around the Okefenokee swamplands and the victims are presenting with wounds that go above the normal attack pattern of a ghoul. Called to consult on the latest attack case, Dr. Stefan Harper figures this case is no different than any others he’s worked with the local sheriff’s department. But the federal agent also working the case is a woman Stefan never expected to see again, his former girlfriend Camellia Wray.
For the full review, go to http://www.thewindowseat13.com/2013/0...
May 25, 2019
2.5 stars. I like the premise, it just didn’t hold my interest. I started skimming a little at about 50%, and DNF’d at 80%
August 4, 2013
Guardian is a story of love lost and rediscovered. Stefan Harper was introduced to readers in the first book of the series, Renegade. He is a doctor in both the human and Mage worlds. He is also a warrior. Mel Wray is an FBI agent who comes to town to visit a friend. Mel finds her friend's dead body and offers to assist the local sheriff in solving the murder. Stefan is called in to consult on the murder. Mel and Stefan used to be lovers but ended their relationship because Mel though Stefan was cheating. Now, after nine years apart, the attraction is as strong as ever. The two former lovers must first work together on the murder investigation and second determine if Mel can trust Stefan enough to try again as a couple. Stefan has to go slowly introducing Mel to his Mage powers because of the Mage rules. Because of Mel's trust issues she feels he should have told her sooner.
(SPOILERS)
I really liked the setup of this book. Stefan was a great character in Renegade and I was glad to get the chance to learn more about him. His history is sad and his cautiousness is understandable. Mel is another alpha female to add to the series. She is strong and smart but she has her own hang-ups because of her childhood. As a couple they are a natural fit because of their shared love of music and their need to protect others. During their time as ghoul captives, Stefan and Mel had a couple of really good scenes where they reformed trust and faith in each other. I thought that was really pivotal to the story. I really enjoyed Griff and Val's wedding. It was nice to catch up with characters from the prior book. I also liked that the reader gets to learn more about Griff's loss of Mage powers and how Stefan feels helpless because he can't fix it. Those issues add a lot of depth to both the characters and the story.
My only really big issue with the "book" is the Kindle format that includes two huge chunks of the prior two books in the series. I don't mind excerpts of the related books but I don't want them to take up more than 10% of the "book". In addition to the excerpts, there were also ads for both books after the excerpts. I just don't need both!
One of the things within the story that really frustrated me was that Mel seemed to have no ill effects at all from her time as a ghoul captive. Luckily she wasn't raped but she was handled, stripped, tested and psychologically abused. I understand Mel is a strong person. She was, afterall, able to understand about Stefan being a Mage but I just felt like anyone would have some side effects from what she endured. The author took so much care developing the relationship that it baffled me that this topic wasn't covered.
Another issue for me is that the Mages call the humans Mundanes. That bothered Mel but she and Stefan never discussed it. I feel like a woman as strong as Mel wouldn't use that as an excuse to walk away from a relationship with Stefan as she did. Instead, she would meet the issue head on and demand resolution.
Also, the very end was almost a wham bam thank you ma'am. Once Stefan and Mel have gone their separate ways, they have time to think and assess. They were apart for three weeks! That's longer than they were together (not counting their time together nine years earlier). Stefan shows up at Mel's house, they talk a little, he offers to quit his job, she offers to transfer to a different FBI office, he asks her to marry him and we have ourselves a happily ever after! I am aware this is a romance novel but perhaps the end didn't have to include everything. Afterall, there was an epilogue and there are bound to be other stories in the series.
Overall, I enjoyed this story. I am hoping the next book brings back these characters and allows the reader to learn more about the evolution of their relationship. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys paranormal, contemporary, romance novels.
Quotes:
"-and she would die before she let him know she'd followed his career in those first years-did not equate to working in la-la land. Not unless something drastic happened." page 10%
"Stefan wore a wide grin, and Sarah giggled constantly. Mel's throat tightened with longing. He looked so comfortable with a child on his back." page 57%
book received from author through NetGalley
(SPOILERS)
I really liked the setup of this book. Stefan was a great character in Renegade and I was glad to get the chance to learn more about him. His history is sad and his cautiousness is understandable. Mel is another alpha female to add to the series. She is strong and smart but she has her own hang-ups because of her childhood. As a couple they are a natural fit because of their shared love of music and their need to protect others. During their time as ghoul captives, Stefan and Mel had a couple of really good scenes where they reformed trust and faith in each other. I thought that was really pivotal to the story. I really enjoyed Griff and Val's wedding. It was nice to catch up with characters from the prior book. I also liked that the reader gets to learn more about Griff's loss of Mage powers and how Stefan feels helpless because he can't fix it. Those issues add a lot of depth to both the characters and the story.
My only really big issue with the "book" is the Kindle format that includes two huge chunks of the prior two books in the series. I don't mind excerpts of the related books but I don't want them to take up more than 10% of the "book". In addition to the excerpts, there were also ads for both books after the excerpts. I just don't need both!
One of the things within the story that really frustrated me was that Mel seemed to have no ill effects at all from her time as a ghoul captive. Luckily she wasn't raped but she was handled, stripped, tested and psychologically abused. I understand Mel is a strong person. She was, afterall, able to understand about Stefan being a Mage but I just felt like anyone would have some side effects from what she endured. The author took so much care developing the relationship that it baffled me that this topic wasn't covered.
Another issue for me is that the Mages call the humans Mundanes. That bothered Mel but she and Stefan never discussed it. I feel like a woman as strong as Mel wouldn't use that as an excuse to walk away from a relationship with Stefan as she did. Instead, she would meet the issue head on and demand resolution.
Also, the very end was almost a wham bam thank you ma'am. Once Stefan and Mel have gone their separate ways, they have time to think and assess. They were apart for three weeks! That's longer than they were together (not counting their time together nine years earlier). Stefan shows up at Mel's house, they talk a little, he offers to quit his job, she offers to transfer to a different FBI office, he asks her to marry him and we have ourselves a happily ever after! I am aware this is a romance novel but perhaps the end didn't have to include everything. Afterall, there was an epilogue and there are bound to be other stories in the series.
Overall, I enjoyed this story. I am hoping the next book brings back these characters and allows the reader to learn more about the evolution of their relationship. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys paranormal, contemporary, romance novels.
Quotes:
"-and she would die before she let him know she'd followed his career in those first years-did not equate to working in la-la land. Not unless something drastic happened." page 10%
"Stefan wore a wide grin, and Sarah giggled constantly. Mel's throat tightened with longing. He looked so comfortable with a child on his back." page 57%
book received from author through NetGalley
July 2, 2013
In the ever increasing world of PNR writing, it's has to be hard for an author to find her/his niche. How do you be creative? How can you make your characters unique? Different? Without going overboard? It's nice to know that there are authors out there who are figuring it out and Nancy Northcott is most definitely one of them! Guardian is the third story from her Protectors Series, Following book 1 Renegade (a personal favorite name of mine) Book 1.5 Protector and now Book 2 Guardian
In a world where magic is still considered whoo whoo stuff, when we question anything that isn't scientific "fact" it's hard to be a defender of Humans. Especially when you are protecting them from the evil that exists beyond Scientific "Fact". But there is an agency that has been around for centuries, doing just that. They have doctors, lawyers, scientists, researchers, librarians, warriors, an entire society that exists along non magic society that's sole purpose is to protect mankind from evil.
Stefan Harper is a man who has sworn to protect the secrets of the mage world. He is also a dedicated doctor who works tirelessly to ensure that those around him are offered the best medical service available. He is committed to his world and a tragic incident from his youth has shown him the importance of being very careful of whom he shares information with. As a med student he fell hard for a young undergrad who was convinced that magic didn't exist. Unable to share his life with her he had to accept that she distrusted him and move on.. Now all these years later she is back in his life and there is a gruesome murder to solve. The kind only the "other worldly" could have committed.
Camellia “Mel” Wray had a childhood filled with scorn.. Everyone in her small town mocked her mother for her belief in that "whoo whoo" crap. Mel was mocked and teased beyond what she could handle and eventually closed off any possibility of believing in magic. While in college she fell hard for a brilliant doctor who believed in her, who accepted her and wanted a life with her. Except he was hiding something.. Mel knew he had a secret life. Since he wouldn't tell her what it is she was convinced it had to be another woman. Ending their relationship Mel has gone on with her life and become an exemplary FBI agent. Just the Facts.. but when her former music teacher is killed she soon discovers she is in over her head and needs to lean on someone. Hard to believe the love of her life is back in it.
This was an excellent book, well written storyline with really well thought out characters.. but more than that it was plausible. Ok sure we read PNR not for the plausibility but the fantasy, I understand that. But Guardian takes that fantasy and walks a very fine line between murder suspense and PNR.. We know there is more out there than what we know. We know that scientific "fact" is always being changed so the plausibility of something more is very feasible.
How would you handle new facts? How would you handle the fact that the one person who believed in you didn't trust you with his truth? Maggie has to not only accept that magic does exist she has to deal with the fact that Stefan didn't trust her enough to tell her. Sure there were protocols in place but still the heart can be bruised so very easily.
All the while Maggie is dealing with reconnecting with Stefan, learning about the existence of not only magic but true evil, Maggie and Stefan are in the midst of a murder plot. How to find the people who ended her mentor's life and bring them to justice and whose justice?
The absolute best thing about this book... you aren't thinking about any of those things while you are reading it.. you are catapulted into a world of mystery and magic, realities are altered and lives are changed. Evil is battled and just like all evil is it ever really conquered? A truly great book...
Shauni
This review is based on the ARC of Guardian provided by netgalley
In a world where magic is still considered whoo whoo stuff, when we question anything that isn't scientific "fact" it's hard to be a defender of Humans. Especially when you are protecting them from the evil that exists beyond Scientific "Fact". But there is an agency that has been around for centuries, doing just that. They have doctors, lawyers, scientists, researchers, librarians, warriors, an entire society that exists along non magic society that's sole purpose is to protect mankind from evil.
Stefan Harper is a man who has sworn to protect the secrets of the mage world. He is also a dedicated doctor who works tirelessly to ensure that those around him are offered the best medical service available. He is committed to his world and a tragic incident from his youth has shown him the importance of being very careful of whom he shares information with. As a med student he fell hard for a young undergrad who was convinced that magic didn't exist. Unable to share his life with her he had to accept that she distrusted him and move on.. Now all these years later she is back in his life and there is a gruesome murder to solve. The kind only the "other worldly" could have committed.
Camellia “Mel” Wray had a childhood filled with scorn.. Everyone in her small town mocked her mother for her belief in that "whoo whoo" crap. Mel was mocked and teased beyond what she could handle and eventually closed off any possibility of believing in magic. While in college she fell hard for a brilliant doctor who believed in her, who accepted her and wanted a life with her. Except he was hiding something.. Mel knew he had a secret life. Since he wouldn't tell her what it is she was convinced it had to be another woman. Ending their relationship Mel has gone on with her life and become an exemplary FBI agent. Just the Facts.. but when her former music teacher is killed she soon discovers she is in over her head and needs to lean on someone. Hard to believe the love of her life is back in it.
This was an excellent book, well written storyline with really well thought out characters.. but more than that it was plausible. Ok sure we read PNR not for the plausibility but the fantasy, I understand that. But Guardian takes that fantasy and walks a very fine line between murder suspense and PNR.. We know there is more out there than what we know. We know that scientific "fact" is always being changed so the plausibility of something more is very feasible.
How would you handle new facts? How would you handle the fact that the one person who believed in you didn't trust you with his truth? Maggie has to not only accept that magic does exist she has to deal with the fact that Stefan didn't trust her enough to tell her. Sure there were protocols in place but still the heart can be bruised so very easily.
All the while Maggie is dealing with reconnecting with Stefan, learning about the existence of not only magic but true evil, Maggie and Stefan are in the midst of a murder plot. How to find the people who ended her mentor's life and bring them to justice and whose justice?
The absolute best thing about this book... you aren't thinking about any of those things while you are reading it.. you are catapulted into a world of mystery and magic, realities are altered and lives are changed. Evil is battled and just like all evil is it ever really conquered? A truly great book...
Shauni
This review is based on the ARC of Guardian provided by netgalley
July 2, 2013
I received Guardian in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Let me start by saying that this is more like a 4 1/2 star review. One little selfish part of me held me back from giving it a 5....
This series is getting better and better. I stumbled on Renegade, the first book in The Protectors series, last year, and I was pleasantly surprised. Not only by the world building and the mythology, but also by the depth of the characters and the emotional whirlwind that Nancy Northcott’s writing took me on. These characters have intensity, power, loyalty and humor. They are a close knit group of friends and family that definitely live up to the series’ name.
Guardian features Stefan, who played a major role in Renegade. He was actually one of my favorite characters from the time he was introduced. He was a friend who was both loyal and compassionate. He was also lonely, even surrounded by his friends. He envied the close relationships of those around him who had found their mates. Readers found out exactly how much he envied them in Protector, the novella that falls between the first two books in The Protectors series. It seems that Stefan not only envied the love that his friends had found, he also was mourning the loss of the love that he had let out of his grasp. *sigh*
Camellia wasn’t just a random FBI agent. She was the love that Stefan thought he had lost. Her coming back into his life was either fate or cruel. Camellia wasn’t sure how she felt about the reunion either. What they both learned is nothing is quite what it seems and love has a way of winning out… the path is never easy though and definitely not in this series.
One of the things I like best about this series is the interaction between the characters. There are a lot of relationships interwoven in each of these books and those threads become even stronger and envelope more characters as the series progresses. I love getting to know the characters introduced in the previous books better and watching their story lines progress even further. It keeps things interesting and fresh.
As much as I loved this book and the characters I was torn at the end. Not because of the outcome, that was a given. I just felt like they got there a little too fast. There was plenty of drama leading up to it and enough tension to keep readers on the edge of their seat, but then it was over. To be fair, I think it may have been just me – and for totally selfish reasons. You see, I really liked Stefan and always have since the moment he was introduced in Renegade. Even though Camellia’s feelings and sense of betrayal were totally justified I was still mad at her for doubting Stefan’s sincerity and is character. In my opinion he forgave her much too quickly. Crazy, I know, but that also proves how well Nancy Northcott has done her job in bringing to life these characters. The world is amazing, the mythology is a huge draw for me and the characters are full of depth laced with wit and an undying loyalty to one another. What’s not to love?
Let me start by saying that this is more like a 4 1/2 star review. One little selfish part of me held me back from giving it a 5....
This series is getting better and better. I stumbled on Renegade, the first book in The Protectors series, last year, and I was pleasantly surprised. Not only by the world building and the mythology, but also by the depth of the characters and the emotional whirlwind that Nancy Northcott’s writing took me on. These characters have intensity, power, loyalty and humor. They are a close knit group of friends and family that definitely live up to the series’ name.
Guardian features Stefan, who played a major role in Renegade. He was actually one of my favorite characters from the time he was introduced. He was a friend who was both loyal and compassionate. He was also lonely, even surrounded by his friends. He envied the close relationships of those around him who had found their mates. Readers found out exactly how much he envied them in Protector, the novella that falls between the first two books in The Protectors series. It seems that Stefan not only envied the love that his friends had found, he also was mourning the loss of the love that he had let out of his grasp. *sigh*
Camellia wasn’t just a random FBI agent. She was the love that Stefan thought he had lost. Her coming back into his life was either fate or cruel. Camellia wasn’t sure how she felt about the reunion either. What they both learned is nothing is quite what it seems and love has a way of winning out… the path is never easy though and definitely not in this series.
One of the things I like best about this series is the interaction between the characters. There are a lot of relationships interwoven in each of these books and those threads become even stronger and envelope more characters as the series progresses. I love getting to know the characters introduced in the previous books better and watching their story lines progress even further. It keeps things interesting and fresh.
As much as I loved this book and the characters I was torn at the end. Not because of the outcome, that was a given. I just felt like they got there a little too fast. There was plenty of drama leading up to it and enough tension to keep readers on the edge of their seat, but then it was over. To be fair, I think it may have been just me – and for totally selfish reasons. You see, I really liked Stefan and always have since the moment he was introduced in Renegade. Even though Camellia’s feelings and sense of betrayal were totally justified I was still mad at her for doubting Stefan’s sincerity and is character. In my opinion he forgave her much too quickly. Crazy, I know, but that also proves how well Nancy Northcott has done her job in bringing to life these characters. The world is amazing, the mythology is a huge draw for me and the characters are full of depth laced with wit and an undying loyalty to one another. What’s not to love?
June 15, 2013
Some background: Mages are a gifted species of people who source their power from the elements. But there is an enemy against their kind, who suck the power and life essence from the mage, known as ghouls. Similar to vampires, the ghouls take down their prey, both mundane and mage, to feed from their blood. Leaving behind a trail of venomous poison in their victim’s blood, those who survive will eventually become ghoul.
GUARDIAN is the second full length novel (third storyline) in Nancy Northcott’s The Protector series focusing a group of human beings with the ability to manipulate the elements focusing their energy to save and protect themselves and the ‘mundane’ from ghoul attacks. This is Stefan and Mel’s storyline.
We have followed Stefan throughout the previous two storylines. As the resident physician and mage doctor, Stefan has the ability to heal using energy and magic. But there have been a series of attacks against both the mage and the mundane where the resulting tests and investigations prove that something else is at work among the ghouls. The attacks against the mage have been increasing and now the ghouls are targeting humans with artistic abilities and very little magic. When the identity of the latest victim is revealed, Stefan will come face to face with the only woman he has ever loved, but a woman who walked away believing she was betrayed and used.
The prior relationship has already been established as the couple were friends to lovers more than nine years earlier. But Mel believed Stefan was unfaithful and for over nine years she has had time to build up the animosity and mistrust. Having to work with Stefan as he investigates the death of her friend, Mel will be pulled into a world unlike anything she has seen. Magic and mage, ghouls and demons-and the man with whom she is still in love-is caught in the middle of the chaos.
Nancy’s intimate scenes are romantic and loving; there is nothing overwhelming or erotic in their presentation. The world building is detailed and there is plenty of background and expansion in this particular storyline as it appears Nancy is taking the series in a different direction: but at times, it slowed the pace of the story. A good portion of the novel was used to develop the premise but it got lost in the bit and pieces and the smaller side stories. I was also hoping for some more details regarding Mel and Stefan’s earlier relationship as it would have set the stage for their present day alliance and association.
Overall GUARDIAN is a well-written and interesting storyline. There is some action and adventure; love and romance; and a little bit of sex. Nancy continues to build on her series of magical beings and poisonous ghouls. If you are a fan of a paranormal series with alpha heroes who love their women as much as they love life then The Protector series must be added to your TBR pile.
READING ORDER
1. Renegade
1.5 Protector
2. Guardian
see all of my reviews at :thereadingcafe(dot)com
GUARDIAN is the second full length novel (third storyline) in Nancy Northcott’s The Protector series focusing a group of human beings with the ability to manipulate the elements focusing their energy to save and protect themselves and the ‘mundane’ from ghoul attacks. This is Stefan and Mel’s storyline.
We have followed Stefan throughout the previous two storylines. As the resident physician and mage doctor, Stefan has the ability to heal using energy and magic. But there have been a series of attacks against both the mage and the mundane where the resulting tests and investigations prove that something else is at work among the ghouls. The attacks against the mage have been increasing and now the ghouls are targeting humans with artistic abilities and very little magic. When the identity of the latest victim is revealed, Stefan will come face to face with the only woman he has ever loved, but a woman who walked away believing she was betrayed and used.
The prior relationship has already been established as the couple were friends to lovers more than nine years earlier. But Mel believed Stefan was unfaithful and for over nine years she has had time to build up the animosity and mistrust. Having to work with Stefan as he investigates the death of her friend, Mel will be pulled into a world unlike anything she has seen. Magic and mage, ghouls and demons-and the man with whom she is still in love-is caught in the middle of the chaos.
Nancy’s intimate scenes are romantic and loving; there is nothing overwhelming or erotic in their presentation. The world building is detailed and there is plenty of background and expansion in this particular storyline as it appears Nancy is taking the series in a different direction: but at times, it slowed the pace of the story. A good portion of the novel was used to develop the premise but it got lost in the bit and pieces and the smaller side stories. I was also hoping for some more details regarding Mel and Stefan’s earlier relationship as it would have set the stage for their present day alliance and association.
Overall GUARDIAN is a well-written and interesting storyline. There is some action and adventure; love and romance; and a little bit of sex. Nancy continues to build on her series of magical beings and poisonous ghouls. If you are a fan of a paranormal series with alpha heroes who love their women as much as they love life then The Protector series must be added to your TBR pile.
READING ORDER
1. Renegade
1.5 Protector
2. Guardian
see all of my reviews at :thereadingcafe(dot)com
August 1, 2013
Originally posted in I Smell Sheep.
Mel and Stefan have a history. They were once in love but it ended badly when Stefan refused to share his secret with her, instead allowing Mel to believe he had been unfaithful to her. Nine years later, a violent crime has brought them together again.
I enjoyed this book for many reasons, the two lead characters are interesting and have great chemistry, the storyline is interesting and easy to follow, but best of all, Guardian can be read as a standalone. It was fun to read a paranormal romance that didn't have vampires or werewolves as the lead characters (not that I object to fangs and fur, I am a diehard fan) and that had a heroine that was so skeptical about the paranormal. It threw an extra obstacle into Stefan's path.
Stefan was, at first, not the type of hero I envisioned for a paranormal romance. He's a doctor who also happens to know magic and demons exist. I honestly pictured him as a geeky, beta male that women walked all over. Don't ask me why, that's just the image I had in my head for some reason. Instead he's this hot stud who walks a fine line between what is generally accepted as fact and what is known to be magic induced. He's so loyal to his cause, to keep the knowledge of magic, mages and demons a secret from a world that just isn't ready to know of its existance, that he sacrifices his chance at happiness. Even when he meets up with Mel again, he fights to keep her at a distance. It would have been easy for the author to create some over the top, paranormal conflict of epic proportions for Stefan and Mel to overcome but instead this couple has the rather normal trust issue to solve.
Mel on the other hand was exactly as I pictured her. An independent, cynical loner suffering from a broken heart. As much as she denies it, she never got over Stefan. Mel refuses to believe that there is such thing as magic and that her friend's murder was the work of demons. Working with Stefan to solve the case strains her resolve to forget him even as it opens her eyes to a new world and new dangers.
While it does classify as a paranormal romance, Guardian reads more like a contemporary romance with a dash of paranormal elements. They don't interfere with the romance, nor do they suffocate the overall story. The steady stream of paranormal scenes add mystery and danger to an already likable story. I enjoyed the world Nancy Northcott created, her characters were lively, fun and passionate.
The only problem I had with Guardian was that the beginning was a little slow. However, it does pick up the pace after a few chapters and then it's one hell of a trip. I would definitely recommend this book to paranormal romance fans, especially those who would like a break from vampires and werewolves. I can't wait to read the next book in the series, but in the meantime I will be reading the first book and novella.
Mel and Stefan have a history. They were once in love but it ended badly when Stefan refused to share his secret with her, instead allowing Mel to believe he had been unfaithful to her. Nine years later, a violent crime has brought them together again.
I enjoyed this book for many reasons, the two lead characters are interesting and have great chemistry, the storyline is interesting and easy to follow, but best of all, Guardian can be read as a standalone. It was fun to read a paranormal romance that didn't have vampires or werewolves as the lead characters (not that I object to fangs and fur, I am a diehard fan) and that had a heroine that was so skeptical about the paranormal. It threw an extra obstacle into Stefan's path.
Stefan was, at first, not the type of hero I envisioned for a paranormal romance. He's a doctor who also happens to know magic and demons exist. I honestly pictured him as a geeky, beta male that women walked all over. Don't ask me why, that's just the image I had in my head for some reason. Instead he's this hot stud who walks a fine line between what is generally accepted as fact and what is known to be magic induced. He's so loyal to his cause, to keep the knowledge of magic, mages and demons a secret from a world that just isn't ready to know of its existance, that he sacrifices his chance at happiness. Even when he meets up with Mel again, he fights to keep her at a distance. It would have been easy for the author to create some over the top, paranormal conflict of epic proportions for Stefan and Mel to overcome but instead this couple has the rather normal trust issue to solve.
Mel on the other hand was exactly as I pictured her. An independent, cynical loner suffering from a broken heart. As much as she denies it, she never got over Stefan. Mel refuses to believe that there is such thing as magic and that her friend's murder was the work of demons. Working with Stefan to solve the case strains her resolve to forget him even as it opens her eyes to a new world and new dangers.
While it does classify as a paranormal romance, Guardian reads more like a contemporary romance with a dash of paranormal elements. They don't interfere with the romance, nor do they suffocate the overall story. The steady stream of paranormal scenes add mystery and danger to an already likable story. I enjoyed the world Nancy Northcott created, her characters were lively, fun and passionate.
The only problem I had with Guardian was that the beginning was a little slow. However, it does pick up the pace after a few chapters and then it's one hell of a trip. I would definitely recommend this book to paranormal romance fans, especially those who would like a break from vampires and werewolves. I can't wait to read the next book in the series, but in the meantime I will be reading the first book and novella.
July 26, 2016
What can I say about this book? It, like the rest of the series, was smart and action packed. Reading it was like watching the X-Men or Iron Man movies: they’re serious, yet lightened with moments of humor and romance that keep you on the edge of your seat. However, when you’re done, you’re not quite sure what to think or feel, you are WIPED out! :/
That’s me, completely wiped. I’ve struggled for weeks to describe my response but I’m too stunned. After deliberating, I settled on the three hearts rating because I was so unsettled. The book had so many up and down parts I don’t know how I feel. It wasn’t a bad story, don’t take that meaning from the rating, I just wasn’t comfortable being so off balance.
This book started out with a bang. We have Stefan, a compassionate and intelligent mage who exists but doesn’t live. Then we have Mel, another compassionate character but with a past that makes her very matter of fact; and the reason Stefan exists but doesn’t live. I liked them both and the author did a good job of demonstrating the obstacles each character had that kept them from fully committing to one another. She weaves this into the suspense part, giving both arcs enough time and demonstration that you don’t get lost and one part isn’t overshadowed by the other. I like this, I wanted more of this, I didn’t even notice the pages passing because of this part.
Then the bang becomes a whimper. This combined part I liked stumbled and fell in favor of the suspense part. It seemed to me as if Stefan and Mel’s relationship/personality difficulties resolved themselves too quickly, especially in Mel’s case. All of their problems were suddenly resolved. Not forgotten or ignored for the moment, but resolved. They get together romantically and then spend the last quarter of the book kicking butt and taking names. I wanted to see more of how they worked out their problems not fighting the bad guys.
Then I got to the end. The last couple of pages were a reintroduction of the parts I enjoyed in the beginning, the balance of romance and action. Seriously, like the last few pages. I went from high, to low, then back to high again. When I said I was wiped, I meant it. This book was a rollercoaster of action, romance, angst, suspense, and mystery. Not a bad combination but very wearing. I can’t say it was enough to keep from reading the next book, only that I might read it expecting a ride. If you’re the type that likes a genre stew or a rollercoaster, I suggest you check this book out. Otherwise, use caution and Dramamine. :)
*review copy provided by author for honest review
That’s me, completely wiped. I’ve struggled for weeks to describe my response but I’m too stunned. After deliberating, I settled on the three hearts rating because I was so unsettled. The book had so many up and down parts I don’t know how I feel. It wasn’t a bad story, don’t take that meaning from the rating, I just wasn’t comfortable being so off balance.
This book started out with a bang. We have Stefan, a compassionate and intelligent mage who exists but doesn’t live. Then we have Mel, another compassionate character but with a past that makes her very matter of fact; and the reason Stefan exists but doesn’t live. I liked them both and the author did a good job of demonstrating the obstacles each character had that kept them from fully committing to one another. She weaves this into the suspense part, giving both arcs enough time and demonstration that you don’t get lost and one part isn’t overshadowed by the other. I like this, I wanted more of this, I didn’t even notice the pages passing because of this part.
Then the bang becomes a whimper. This combined part I liked stumbled and fell in favor of the suspense part. It seemed to me as if Stefan and Mel’s relationship/personality difficulties resolved themselves too quickly, especially in Mel’s case. All of their problems were suddenly resolved. Not forgotten or ignored for the moment, but resolved. They get together romantically and then spend the last quarter of the book kicking butt and taking names. I wanted to see more of how they worked out their problems not fighting the bad guys.
Then I got to the end. The last couple of pages were a reintroduction of the parts I enjoyed in the beginning, the balance of romance and action. Seriously, like the last few pages. I went from high, to low, then back to high again. When I said I was wiped, I meant it. This book was a rollercoaster of action, romance, angst, suspense, and mystery. Not a bad combination but very wearing. I can’t say it was enough to keep from reading the next book, only that I might read it expecting a ride. If you’re the type that likes a genre stew or a rollercoaster, I suggest you check this book out. Otherwise, use caution and Dramamine. :)
*review copy provided by author for honest review
July 3, 2013
The second in the Protector’s series is an action packed story from beginning to end, and although I did not read the first one, I enjoyed this one thoroughly and could easily follow the story line.
Wayfarer, Georgia is a small town near the Okefenokee Swamp; the area is experiencing disturbing forces that are hard to explain. Dr. Stefan Harper knows more than most as he is a mage and works with the witch community that has been keeping humans safe for thousands of years. He has never seen anything like the ghouls that have been hunting in the area lately, they seem more powerful and the venom they inject in their victims is more potent than before.
Mel knew Stefan nine years ago and although they believed they loved each other and he was ready to introduce her to magic, things ended badly and she accused him of cheating on her. So in the end he kept his secrets and she left. Growing up with a mother who became deeply engrossed in mystical ways caused Mel to be an outcast at school so she has shied away from believing.
Stefan and Mel are thrown together when her friend Cinda is murdered; her body had strange markings and was drained of blood. Mel immediately wants to be involved as she is an FBI agent and believes she can help; Stefan is asked to help because he is a researcher for the Georgia Institute for the Paranormal, a cover for Collegium, a mage operations unit. The team investigates the murder and before you know it other strange things happen and Mel becomes a witness, she begins to understand. When Mel and Stefan are kidnapped and face sure death, Mel realizes that they must trust each other in order to fight and live.
Complete review at: Ramblings From a Chaotic Mind
Copy received from publisher through NetGalley for an honest review
Wayfarer, Georgia is a small town near the Okefenokee Swamp; the area is experiencing disturbing forces that are hard to explain. Dr. Stefan Harper knows more than most as he is a mage and works with the witch community that has been keeping humans safe for thousands of years. He has never seen anything like the ghouls that have been hunting in the area lately, they seem more powerful and the venom they inject in their victims is more potent than before.
Mel knew Stefan nine years ago and although they believed they loved each other and he was ready to introduce her to magic, things ended badly and she accused him of cheating on her. So in the end he kept his secrets and she left. Growing up with a mother who became deeply engrossed in mystical ways caused Mel to be an outcast at school so she has shied away from believing.
Stefan and Mel are thrown together when her friend Cinda is murdered; her body had strange markings and was drained of blood. Mel immediately wants to be involved as she is an FBI agent and believes she can help; Stefan is asked to help because he is a researcher for the Georgia Institute for the Paranormal, a cover for Collegium, a mage operations unit. The team investigates the murder and before you know it other strange things happen and Mel becomes a witness, she begins to understand. When Mel and Stefan are kidnapped and face sure death, Mel realizes that they must trust each other in order to fight and live.
Complete review at: Ramblings From a Chaotic Mind
Copy received from publisher through NetGalley for an honest review
July 7, 2013
Guardian (The Protectors Series) by Nancy Northcott
Publication Date: July 2, 2013
Reviewed by: Reading In Pajamas/ Cori
Rated: 4 Stars
REVIEW:
I really loved this book! This is the second book in Nancy Northcott's The Protector Series, but it can be read as a stand alone. The author drew me into the story with her writing and the I loved the characters. Stefan and Camellia have a past and are brought back together when Camellia's friend and mentor is killed under mysterious circumstances. Camellia is an FBI agent and allowed to work the case and Stefan is brought in as a local consultant by the local law enforcement. They ended badly when Camellia suspected Stefan cheated in their relationship. He is actually protecting his secret and his people's and didn't tell Camellia because she hates all things mystical. They have instant chemistry when they are brought back into each others lives. I loved Stefan and I liked Camellia as a strong female FBI agent even though she frustrated me at times. Their story is full of action, intrigue, mystery, suspense and steamy romance! I look forward to going back and reading the first book in The Protector series and the next story when it comes out. Guardian is a great paranormal romantic suspense!
Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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Publication Date: July 2, 2013
Reviewed by: Reading In Pajamas/ Cori
Rated: 4 Stars
REVIEW:
I really loved this book! This is the second book in Nancy Northcott's The Protector Series, but it can be read as a stand alone. The author drew me into the story with her writing and the I loved the characters. Stefan and Camellia have a past and are brought back together when Camellia's friend and mentor is killed under mysterious circumstances. Camellia is an FBI agent and allowed to work the case and Stefan is brought in as a local consultant by the local law enforcement. They ended badly when Camellia suspected Stefan cheated in their relationship. He is actually protecting his secret and his people's and didn't tell Camellia because she hates all things mystical. They have instant chemistry when they are brought back into each others lives. I loved Stefan and I liked Camellia as a strong female FBI agent even though she frustrated me at times. Their story is full of action, intrigue, mystery, suspense and steamy romance! I look forward to going back and reading the first book in The Protector series and the next story when it comes out. Guardian is a great paranormal romantic suspense!
Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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July 30, 2013
What strikes me about this series, and particularly this book, is how smart it is. Nancy Northcott writes a intelligent, inventive, story with plenty of emotion. Stories about self-sacrifice for the greater good always get to me and my favorite romances are about second chances. Needless to say, this story hit all the right marks for me.
The mages are doing everything they can to protect humans from the ghouls and demons. Ghouls, who recently lacked any strategy, are now working together with the Void Demons to open a portal to this world. In their need and haste to feed, they are leaving human bodies scattered in the region and the FBI is investigating a possible serial killer. This brings together FBI Agent Mel and super mage and doctor, Stefan Harper. This book is an excellent example of a balanced story between fantasy and romance.
My one little critique is that Mel's skepticism started to wear a little thin. I kept thinking, "Come on, girl! This is hottie mage doctor Stefan Harper knocking at your door. What are you waiting for?"
IN A NUTSHELL: An excellent addition to the series, Nancy Northcott both satisfies and leave us wanting for more...thank goodness there are at least five more stories upcoming!
Thank you to the author, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The mages are doing everything they can to protect humans from the ghouls and demons. Ghouls, who recently lacked any strategy, are now working together with the Void Demons to open a portal to this world. In their need and haste to feed, they are leaving human bodies scattered in the region and the FBI is investigating a possible serial killer. This brings together FBI Agent Mel and super mage and doctor, Stefan Harper. This book is an excellent example of a balanced story between fantasy and romance.
My one little critique is that Mel's skepticism started to wear a little thin. I kept thinking, "Come on, girl! This is hottie mage doctor Stefan Harper knocking at your door. What are you waiting for?"
IN A NUTSHELL: An excellent addition to the series, Nancy Northcott both satisfies and leave us wanting for more...thank goodness there are at least five more stories upcoming!
Thank you to the author, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 17, 2013
I love a good paranormal romance and the blub of this novel sounded great. Unfortunately the story didn't grab me from the beginning, therefore I skim read quite a bit. I didn’t come into this series from the beginning which may have been the reason why this book didn't hold my interest; I didn’t have a vested interest in the characters who were introduced in previous books.
What I found really good about this book was that although I had not read previous books it was not hard to understand the different people making up the ‘World’. Mundane = non magic people (people oblivious to the existence of magic) Protectors = human beings with the ability to manipulate the elements (magic), ghoul and demons = bad guys.
What I found really good about this book was that although I had not read previous books it was not hard to understand the different people making up the ‘World’. Mundane = non magic people (people oblivious to the existence of magic) Protectors = human beings with the ability to manipulate the elements (magic), ghoul and demons = bad guys.
July 2, 2013
In the end, I have to say that Guardian is one of the new reads for the summer not to be missed. I am a fan of all the books in the series, but have a special place in my heart now for Stefan’s story. Stefan and Mel are both special in their ways—Stefan’s just a bit more obviously. Seeing Stefan and Mel work together to overcome some pretty staggering odds and still find time to fall back in love, gives us more Mundane people the hope that our petty issues can still leave us time to find love. I am anxiously awaiting where Northcott will take us next in their world.
for full review see my blog at:
http://romancewitchreviews.blogspot.c...
for full review see my blog at:
http://romancewitchreviews.blogspot.c...
June 21, 2013
I just love this series and cannot get enough of it! The characters were so easy to like and the story line was so intriguing that it grabbed me from page one! I feel that the author has really gone somewhere that no one else really has, with her mage and ghoul aspect. I do recommend that you read the first book, Renegade, before reading this one or you will probably feel as if you are missing out on a few pretty important details. If you are looking for an amazing read or want a book that will open you up to a whole new world then this is definitely the one for you! I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley for an honest review.
June 23, 2013
This an awesome story the romance is sensual and so loving and the action between the Mages and the ghouls is riveting. Stefan and Mel were together 9 years ago but he could never tell her the truth about himself and they split but when Mel's old music teacher is killed in strange circumstances and Mel who is an FBI agent comes to Wayfarer and they meat again the pull is still there. This journey to a HEA is filled with love action and danger I couldn't put it down I loved this and am loving this series.
July 7, 2013
I have been anxiously awaiting Northcott’s follow-up to Renegade, the first book of The Protector series, ever since I reviewed it last fall. I loved that book and couldn’t wait to get back to the interesting world of mages, mundanes and ghouls that Northcott had created. Also, I knew the story would focus on Dr. Stefan Harper, a character I had really enjoyed in the first book...
Full review posted at The Book Pushers: http://thebookpushers.com/2013/07/11/...
Full review posted at The Book Pushers: http://thebookpushers.com/2013/07/11/...
July 22, 2013
Northcott knocked it out of the park with Guardian! I didn't know what to expect with this book because I hadn't read The Protector first. But I was awed by Ms. Northcott's writing skill--how she built the suspense, how her descriptions made me feel as if I were right there in the story with the characters, how she made the romance sizzle with real-to-life hurts, doubts and desire. On top of all that, her description of the ghouls and their evil power gave me the willies! This was romantic suspense/horror at its best. I would recommend Ms. Northcott's paranormal stories highly.
July 26, 2013
With every book in this series, I just want more. These are the only paranormal books I read, and I really consider them contemporaries with paranormal elements. But that's just me. Ms. Northcott knows the magic inside and out, and makes it easy to follow. But the romance is really the center. These two leads had a huge obstacle between them, but I believe in the HEA and that they will make it work. Anxiously awaiting the next installment in this series.
August 7, 2013
With well-developed characters and plenty of action, Northcott fulfills her promise to the reader in book two of the Protector Series. The realistic battle scenes and action heroes move the story at a rapid pace, while Northcott’s realistic world-building set in the Okefenokee Swamp provides just the right atmosphere. Add steamy romance and Guardian is sure to be one for the keeper shelf.
October 29, 2013
A fast-moving, heart-wrenching story. This series just gets better and better.
November 2, 2013
This is a wonderful series Nancy Northcott got a great way of explaining things so you can live in, the detail is brilliant! I would highly recommend this author and series.
April 29, 2016
3 stars although Mel was really not a likable character.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews