Score: 4 stars
Purchase Hyperlinks: Amazon | iBooks | Amazon UK
Size: Novel
York was glad to go away his small city of Forestville for Seattle. His mother and father idolized his older brother, Essex, who bullied York for years. And when Essex was killed in motion, his mother and father by no means recovered; they’re nonetheless mired in grief 20 years later and largely disregard York in favor of their reminiscences of Essex.
Now, York has made a reputation for himself via his good thoughts, creating complicated protection functions. However when the mistaken folks wish to get their arms on his invention, his life is at risk. The FBI desires York protected and so they herald Quillon, a former Marine turned bodyguard, who additionally occurred to know Essex from after they had been Marines collectively. They determine it’s finest to get York out of Seattle, the place it’s tougher to guard him. Probably the most logical possibility is for York to go again to Forestville, the place his household nonetheless lives. And to maintain anybody from questioning why Quillon is with them, York suggests Quillon pose as his boyfriend.
Being again in Forestville is hard for York at first, with a lot pressure together with his mother and father. He additionally isn’t so certain he suits in with the opposite guys, on condition that they had been all Essex’s associates first and he worries they see him as Essex’s little brother. However quickly York begins to seek out his approach, realizing that he has some true associates on the town. Having Quillon round makes an enormous distinction, as the 2 males join rather well. Whereas different folks appear to seek out a few of York’s character annoying, corresponding to his awkward social abilities, Quillon finds York fascinating. He loves York’s good thoughts, his intense focus, and his curiosity in so many issues. The 2 start to deepen a friendship, and shortly start to fall for each other. It’s shocking on condition that York has all the time recognized as straight, however the two males simply match. Nonetheless, York’s life continues to be at risk and the folks after him are rising ever nearer. Now that Quillon and York have realized they’re meant for one another, they must hope that York can keep protected and make it out of the scenario alive.
Defending the Nerd is the fourth e-book in Nora Phoenix’s Forestville Silver Foxes collection. A few of York’s backstory has are available in prior books within the collection, however Phoenix does a terrific job establishing the story right here, so I feel you may bounce in to the collection with this e-book with out an excessive amount of bother. We do spend time with the primary three {couples}, because the gang are all associates, however once more, nothing that ought to cease you from having fun with this e-book. I used to be looking forward to York’s story, as we’ve got discovered about his struggles together with his household in previous books, and this one didn’t disappoint.
The e-book principally focuses on the private aspect, each with York’s relationship together with his mother and father and his late brother, in addition to his creating romance with Quillon. I loved seeing York get some closure together with his household, notably lastly letting his mother and father know simply how he has felt by their remedy all these years. It was additionally good to see the opposite Forestville foxes rally behind him and for York to comprehend he is not only an add on to the group due to his brother, however a real buddy that they worth for himself. York’s relationship with Quillon is nice and fairly easy. Regardless of by no means being taken with males, York accepts his newly found non-straightness with barely a blink. I cherished the best way these guys join, with Quillon actually seeing one thing in York that so many others overlook. He enjoys components of York that hassle others, and so they simply really feel like a extremely good match. I additionally actually appreciated that there’s some critical dialogue of the truth that Quillon is York’s bodyguard and what implications that will have for his job. So usually in bodyguard tales, that is kind of glossed over, and I like that Phoenix addresses this head on. My solely tiny quibble right here is pure private desire, so your mileage completely could range. However Quillon provides York the pet title “nerdy” and I discovered it surprisingly awkward and jarring. It’s stated as a time period of endearment, versus as a teasing nickname. For instance, “I’ve dreamed of this, nerdy, so I’m gonna take my time with you.” Once more, that is pure private desire, it simply didn’t actually work for me.
The opposite principal focus of the story is on the risk to York’s life. He has developed this new protection know-how and so they know early on that somebody is after him to seek out out the secrets and techniques. That is principally backburner as soon as the blokes get to Forestville to concentrate on the connection aspect of issues, however we do get some pleasure towards the tip. I completely cherished how York makes use of his massive mind to assist discover his approach out of bother and it was an effective way to essentially showcase his character and his character. I feel the arrange principally works right here in bringing them to Forestville versus staying in Seattle, as they suppose a small city will probably be higher for shielding York. The FBI doesn’t wish to let on that they’re onto the terrorists, in order that they wish to hold York’s safety refined. I did wrestle a bit in my thoughts absolutely understanding among the particulars right here. They particularly say they need York as bait of kinds, that means they don’t need the FBI to guard him in order that the terrorist don’t know they’re on to them and so they can catch them. Once they get to Forestville, the blokes usually are not in hiding. They’re wandering throughout city hanging out with folks (to not point out they’re in York’s hometown, so not an enormous stretch that he can be there). However when the FBI discover out the terrorists know York is in Forestville, it’s instantly a giant disaster. I used to be simply confused as a result of it appeared like the entire level was for York to be on the market publicly, and nobody was actually making an attempt to cover him. Possibly I simply wasn’t following it completely. And clearly the important thing level of all of it is de facto to get York to Forestville anyway, for the reason that city is central to the collection.
I actually loved returning to this small city and being again with this group. I appreciated the best way the remainder of the gang rallies round York and exhibits him how a lot they care about him. York and Quillon have a candy and attractive relationship, and the story has a pleasant ingredient of suspense thrown in as effectively. General, this one is plenty of enjoyable and I’m positively having fun with this collection.
