Affair of Honor is another of my personal favorite among JAK's Desire
books. AOF has a fast paced plot that progresses from beginning to end in
approximately a week and as the title indicates the central theme is honor.
Both the hero and heroine place great value on their personal honor, which
is nicely summed up by the following quotes.
Ryder speaking to Brenna: "You're a woman of honor—I know you won't be
able to turn your back on what happened between us last night. You only
need a little time to deal with it. Don't panic, lady, I'm a very patient
man when the goal is important."
Brenna in thinking of Ryder . . . "A part of her did need him; needed his
honor and passionate way of living by his own code."
Brenna Llewellyn, assistant professor of philosophy in a small college
flees to a cabin in Lake Tahoe due to a major turning point in her career.
She has been drumming ethics into the heads of her freshmen students and
finds herself caught up on the horns of an ethical dilemma. Should she
practice what she has been preaching to her students all year or should she
do as professor Damon Fielding suggests, which is less than ethical?
Brenna decides to take the summer to make her decision, if she follows her
conscience it could well mean not only the end of academia for her but also
the end of any future relationship with Fielding (no great loss, he's a
true jerk).
Brenna discovers Ryder Sterne (another great unusual name, yes at first he
appears to be stern) when she breaks into the wrong cabin in the wee hours
of the night. Ryder, the quintessential JAK alpha, is an ex-military type
who is a well-paid, popular author of men's adventure fiction or as Brenna
views it, that "sleazy, category stuff" (that's a direct quote, JAK's way
of mocking academia's response to category fiction). Ryder handles the
break-in with a typical alpha attitude by reacting first and asking
questions later. Those questions are directed at Brenna in the form of
I'm going to get to know you better. He manipulates Brenna into spending
the next day with him and accepting a dinner date with their landlords.
During the dinner date all is revealed about Ryder's inherent sense of
honor which closely parallels Brenna. She, needless to say, becomes
fascinated and on the third night of her relationship with Ryder ends up in
bed for a night of passion. Ryder stakes his claim and Brenna spends a lot
of time and effort thereafter in denial of that claim.
Brenna's brother Craig arrives on the scene and Ryder lends a much-needed
helping hand. Craig appears to be an alpha in training so he relates well
to Ryder. Brenna overcomes her reluctance to see things Craig's way after
Ryder takes a firm stand. Ryder proceeds to assist in simplifying Brenna's
conflict with Fielding during a confrontational visit at Brenna's cabin.
Ryder is there when Brenna needs him during her version of the High Noon
show-down in the halls of academia.
Ever time I reread Affair of Honor, I find myself enjoying it as much as
the first time. Although things get hot and heavy very quickly for the h/h,
it happened with an intrinsic depth of feeling. I appreciated the mini
philosophy lessons interspersed throughout AOH and the humor shared between
the h/h. No complaints at all, by all means find AOH and enjoy a great
read. It's bound to become a favored keeper.
Rebecca Kona
