The Defender by Lindsay McKenna

4 STARS

I really liked all the information about the birds. It made the story so strong. Thier are a few love scenes that I skimmed over.
The Defenders deals with real issues like Eagles and other predators rehab. adoption,foster care,drug cartels and drug addiction.
Katie Bergstrom works in her new raptor rehabilitation facility near Jackson Hole.
It was built for her a dude ranch with a grant that even pays her. Katie was given up for adoption. She was a troubled teen till she saw the Raptors fly. Then she got a new passion and a new foster mother.
Joe Gannon was injured in Afgan. He is now working undercover for the FBI. To get close to Katie and see if she is part of her birth mom drug dealings. Joe is from Jackson Hole and so he is perfect for the role. He even had some falcon training so he good work with Katie. He does not think Katie is working with her mom.
Katie picks men that end up liars even on drugs. She is glad to meet Joe he is more the hero type than addicts. Her birds trust him and they can read peoples dishonest behavior.
I could almost see the birds taking off and landing in the discriptions. That would be cool to see those birds up close every day.
Iris knew that Katie was trying to get the state to open her birth records so she can find her birth mother. So Iris hires a P.I. and finds Katie's birth mom. She as a record as a drug dealer amd addict. She was only 16 when she had her.
Katie calls her mother. Days later they meet. Not at all like she dreamed of, but at last she is getting to know her. And her mom wants her to work with her.
The FBI want her to work with them and trap her mother.
The first half of the book tells a lot about the different birds and taking care of them and introduces all the characters. the Last half is more action and drama. It all works together into a good entertaining story.
I was given this ebook to read in exchange for honest review by Netgalley.
11/13/2012 PUB Harlequin HQN pages 384