Lake Charles, Louisiana – Present Day

Thorn Abbott doesn’t know if he can survive being on assignment with Ava Stanton. Both employees of Aztec, a private security firm that takes on jobs the Government can’t legally do, Thorn is used to being the equipment man. For this particular investigation, Thorn is Ava’s backup, and the close proximity is doing more to incite his lust than professionalism. Ava is absolutely gorgeous, and he’s seen the kind of men who come in and quickly out of her social life. Thorn has no chance with her, especially since she looks at him like a brother.

Ava loves to push Thorn’s buttons. He’s so uptight that it’s absolutely funny. But who knew that beneath the baggy T-shirts and jeans, Thorn was sporting a serious six-pack. Hmm, the shy man Ava thought she understood has started to show her a side of himself she’s never seen before, and it’s one she wouldn’t mind having a taste of. Too bad it’s forbidden for colleagues to have personal relationships. Then again, rules were meant to be broken!

Although INVENTING THE ABBOTTS gets off to a great start, it quickly falls off the tracks. It’s bad enough the hero’s name is Thorn, which is a little cheesy. But Thorn, Ava, and several other supporting characters are supposed to be experienced security agents. Unfortunately, they lack a professionalism one would assume, based on the nature of their business. While you’re expecting Alias, instead you get Chuck, without the humor. Also, plot points are sometimes dropped without being wrapped up. For example, in one scene, Ava is drugged with some kind of aphrodisiac by her target. One moment she is frantic for sexual release and the next, after an interruption, she’s fine, or at least it’s never mentioned again. It’s patently unbelievable that these people are trained specialists. As for the romance, it’s a little bit high school with each trying to make the other jealous, not to mention they’re too busy trying to one-up each other to pay attention to their job.

INVENTING THE ABBOTTS does have some good moments, including a few cheeky comments that will inspire a chuckle or two, but it’s not enough to save the day.

Kathy Samuels