Defiance by Don Brown

Let me begin by saying...Do NOT read this series out of order! It will ruin EVERYTHING, and quite possibly even contribute to Global Warming (yikes, I've gone Green! LOL!!)

Seriously, Don Brown has carefully crafted a series that must be read from the very beginning. In a world of stand alones and series with books that are independent of one another, this must be emphasized.

"Defiance" is the third book in the Navy Justice Series, and it most definitely does
justice to this magnificent storyline! For my review of book one, "Treason", click here. For my review of book two, "Hostage", click here.

When we last met Lieutenant Zack Brewer, he had just finished prosecuting the second high profile case, suffered incredible loss, and had been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

Now he's been assigned the case of Ensign Wofford Eckberg, a low profile prosecution that should be a slam dunk for Zack. Only problem is, Zack himself has become somewhat of a celebrity now.

A celebrity that the Democratic nominee for president wants knocked out of the limelight, and she will stop at nothing to see it happen. Now, lest you think Don Brown is pulling from TODAY'S campaign, let me reassure you that this book was published early 2007...and any resemblances to the Clintons is merely...uncanny!

In the midst of it all, Zack is also a target for militant Islamic extremists...
which is not unusual given...oh, I almost gave it away, didn't I?? NOW do you see why you have to read them in order??

What I like most about Don Brown's writing is his authentic voice. He himself served five years in the U.S. Navy as an officer in the JAG Corps, so he knows what he's writing about. He knows the military and the government workings so well that his writing shines with realism.

Plus, he has the knack of pulling real events into fiction and then giving them a twist that has you wondering, "I wonder if that's really how it happened..."

He does write a lot about terrorists, and I'm a tad bit tired of political thrillers that keep tackling this subject. However, Don Brown also throws in a lot of plotlines to hold my attention and to keep me guessing until the very last page.

And with as much as I read, it's HARD to keep ME guessing! But Don is a master at it, and I can't wait to dive into his newest novel in The Navy Justice Series, sitting on my to be read shelf as I type.

In the meantime, I'm giving "Defiance" five out of five bookmarks, and a JAG hat as a charm...although, they probably don't call them hats, which would make me out of uniform:-) This is a great series to get the men in your life into reading, but women will love it as well, and not just because Lt. Commander Zack Brewer reads like a hottie! (Yes, I said that!)

So, happy reading!

Deena