Fans of Diana Palmer recognize an ongoing often used theme -- perhaps on purpose -- or could be coincidental -- but none the less there it is. Older man attracted to young usually inexperienced almost naïve younger woman. We're not talking about an old codger and a teenager here. That would never occur to Diana Palmer. Just a larger than usual age difference between the two star struck lead characters. And as usual it's the older man who is balking at the thought of his attraction to the much younger woman. In DEFENDER Diana Palmer once again handles a very difficult problem with aplomb. Palmer likes her woman gutsy, strong, opinionated and independent. Perhaps that's why in DEFENDER the young woman is tough and that's a trait most men would look to avoid messing with.

Well for Paul and Isabel that age thing is blatantly present but they have many more bridges to cross between them. Isabel is wealthy and both she and her sister have been kept rather locked away from friendships and definitely boys. Their father is a mysterious wealthy tyrant who has a myriad of issues that filter down to the way he reacts to well everyone but most especially Isabel and Mellie. Their father is candidly a nasty violent brute. Paul was hired to protect the girls but in reality his job was to keep an eye on them and keep them in line. No one even suspected what was really a very harsh reality for both Isabel and Mellie.

No matter the attraction there was absolutely no way Paul was going to act on his growing feelings for Isabel. She was a very wealthy woman and he had nothing. Paul's pride would never let him become what he considered a boy toy for a rich woman. The irony is that Isabel was not the type to ever hold her wealth over the man she loved. But the struggle between these two is nothing compared to the struggle between father and daughters.

Fans of Diana Palmer will find the characters in DEFENDER rather provocative. DEFENDER does not resolve the core issues in any way even remotely resembling easy. In fact it is a fight to the finish. Paul seems at times rather selfish and self-absorbed. But that's okay. Diana Palmer lets us sit back and watch while Paul finally gets his act together hopefully in time for there to be a future for Isabel with him. DEFENDER is a wonderful addition to one of my favorite series -- Long, Tall Texans. Every story illustrates what a talented aware writer Diana Palmer is.