Ryder

3.75 stars—real and raw

3.75 stars--RYDER is the second instalment in Diana Gardin’s contemporary, adult DELTA SQUAD romantic, suspense series focusing on the elite Night Eagle Security Team make up of former military personnel and Delta Squad Navy SEALs. This is Navy SEAL Thorn ‘ White Wolf’ Ryder, and ER nurse Francesca ‘ Frannie’ Phillips story line. RYDER can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty but I recommend reading book one-Lawson-for backstory and cohesion, where Frannie’s story begins. The DELTA SQUAD series is a spin-off from the author’s RESCUE OPS series but you do not have to have read the previous series to follow. Some of the characters from the Rescue Ops series cross over for familiarity.

NOTE: Due to the subject matter, there may be some triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Ryder and Frannie) RYDER follows the building relationship between Navy SEAL Thorn ‘ White Wolf’ Ryder, and ER nurse Francesca ‘ Frannie’ Phillip. Months earlier Frannie Phillips, a victim of ongoing domestic abuse, found herself on the run, in the hopes of escaping horrific abuse. Fast forward to present day wherein, Frannie, now struggling to stay one step ahead, is secreted away by the Night Eagle Security team, to an unknown location as the FBI, police and NES hunt for the man who destroyed her life. Enter Navy SEAL and NES security specialist Thorn ‘White Wolf’ Ryder, and the man with whom Frannie will fall in love. What ensues is the building relationship and romance between Frannie and Ryder, and the potential fall-out as betrayal, secrets and lies place Frannie and Ryder in the direct line of fire.

Thorn Ryder is a man of many secrets including a devastating loss, and a passion to help those unable to help themselves but ‘babysitting’ Frannie Phillips comes with too many complications including the desire and palpable sexual attraction that exposes the couple to potential conflict. Frannie Phillips knows pain and suffering, love and loss but meeting Thorn Ryder gives our heroine hopes for a second chance but Frannie keeps hidden a secret that if revealed could ultimately destroy any chance at a happily ever after.

The relationship between Frannie and Ryder begins as a working assignment. Ryder is contracted to protect the woman with whom he will fall in love; Frannie’s often times TSTL (too stupid to live) attitude threatens her safety on more than one occasion. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are reintroduced to Navy SEAL Lawson “Sleuth’ Snyder and former police detective Indigo Stone, NES boss Jacob ‘Boss Man’ Owen, and Delta Squad security team Bain ‘Bull’s Eye’ Foxx, and Ben McBride; police Sergeant Russ Walker; Frannie’s best friend Lobelia Novak, and Frannie’s soon to be ex-husband Eli Ward; Lawson’s sister Lilliana Snyder, as well as young troubled teen Nevaeh.

RYDER is a story of family, friendships, heart break and betrayal. The premise is real, raw and engaging; the romance is captivating and intense; the characters are energetic and colorful but I struggled with the heroine’s constant need to remain independent in spite of the struggle and ongoing threats against her life.