Protection for Hire by Camy Tang REVIEW

Protection for Hire by Camy Tang (Protection for Hire #1)

Egalley thanks to Zondervan


Synopsis from Goodreads
Tessa Lancaster's skills first earned her a position as an enforcer in her Uncle Teruo's Japanese Mafia gang. Then they landed her in prison for a crime she didn't commit. Now, three months after her release, Tessa's abilities have gained her a job as bodyguard for wealthy socialite Elizabeth St. Amant and her three-year-old son. But there's a problem or two ... or three .... There's Elizabeth's abusive husband whose relentless pursuit goes deeper than mere vengeance. There's Uncle Teruo, who doesn't understand why Tessa's new faith as a Christian prevents her from returning to the yakuza. And then there's Elizabeth's lawyer, Charles Britton, who Tessa doesn't know is the one who ensured that she did maximum time behind bars. Now Tessa and Charles must work together in order to protect their client, while new truths emerge and circumstances spiral to a deadly fever pitch. Factor in both Tessa's and Charles's families and you've got some wild dynamics---and an action-packed, romantic read as Tessa and Charles discover the reality of being made new in Christ.

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It's a very easy read and despite it being labelled as Christian fiction and some of the inevitable trappings which come with it, the whole point of the book is that everyone can change and rise above their circumstances.



Tessa is an ex-enforcer of yakuza. She's never killed anyone, but broke plenty of bones and kneecaps. When the son of her boss killed his girlfriend in a bout of rage she felt like she had to take the blame because the spoiled rotten boy would have broken under police pressure and led them to his father and his illegal activities.


After 7 years in prison Tessa comes out a new Christian and wants nothing to do with yakuza. She tries unsuccessfully to find a job but nobody wants to hire ex-mobster and face the possibility of trouble from yakuza.


Poor Tessa is living with her mom and older sister and they are making her life living hell. She is volatile, flippant and sarcastic and has to fight her bitterness and own nature to stay on the right track.


The shelter for victims of domestic abuse where she helps out admits a new woman who got away from her rich husband because he started beating her three year-old son. Elizabeth wants to hire Tessa as her bodyguard. She is convinced that her husband is trying to kill her and she needs Tessa and her scary reputation to protect her family.


So, poor Tessa gets back to the only life she knows. The story is a whirl of car races, fights and investigations into rich people machinations with money. The characters are very much alive, funny and bittersweet.


Impossible situations seem to resolve themselves just when you give up, and even Tessa's uncle and ex-boss makes allowances and suggests a legitimate living for her in the end.


Two things I found quite unnecessary:

• the love story between the lawyer and Tessa
• the show of how revolting, stupid and useless the son of yakuza boss. It's almost like he is made a polar opposite of Tessa. Nobody is that black and white.

Otherwise it's an enjoyable read if you're tired or paranormal genre. Plus the topic of yakuza and funny warm characters  don't hurt the plot either.

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Совсем неплохая книга несмотря на жанр - христианская литература. Да, сюжет не избежал типичных для подобного жанра линий, но главная мысль - это то, что измениться, возвыситься над условиями своего существования может каждый, если они верят в себя.


Сюжет развивается быстро, в книге полно погонь, драк и действия. Персонажи интересны, полны юмора, тепла и довольно нестандартны.


Моя единственная проблема в том, что злодеи в этой книге очернены и противопоставлены всем остальным по полной программе. То есть они не живые люди, а картонное, шаблонное зло. А так ведь не бывает.


Любовная история между Тэссой и Чарльзом, адвокатом её клиента, тоже совершенно была не нужна для сюжета.


А так, очень интересно, во многом, потому, что затронуты вещи, которые не очень часто видишь в подобной детективной литературе, - якудза и женщины-телохранители.

8/10