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Apache Protectors #4
Native Born
HERITAGE OR HEARTBREAK? Apache tribal counsel member Clyne Cosen needs the FBI's protection. But having Agent Cassidy Walker as his personal bodyguard presents its own dangers. His involvement in the custody battle for Cassidy's adopted Apache daughter muddled the lines between personal and professional. Now he has feelings for a woman who was not native born. Cassidy will do her job at any cost. But being so close to Clyne means the FBI agent sees him as more than just the man who could take her daughter—he might also steal her heart. Duty. Desire. Which path will Cassidy take…or will a bullet make that decision for her?
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published May 24, 2016
26 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Jenna Kernan
123 books394 followersThank you for finding me on GoodReads.
Find my social media links here: https://linktr.ee/jennakernan
Here's a bit more about me...
Publishers Weekly bestselling author, Jenna Kernan has written over forty novels, most recently penning domestic thrillers. Her debut thriller, A Killer's Daughter, won the bronze medal in popular fiction from the Florida Book Awards in 2021. Jenna’s 2022 domestic thriller, The Ex-Wives, won the gold medal in the same category. The Nurse, was released in 2023, The Patient's Daughter released in 2024, and The Fake Mother in 2025. Her thrillers are intense, unsettling, and gripping with unexpected twists and turns.
Jenna began her writing journey penning historical romance, paranormal romance and romantic suspense. Find them here: https://www.jennakernan.com/books-1
A member of International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Florida Mystery Writers and Novelists, Inc. and a natural redhead living with her husband on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Jenna has recently increased her sunblock to SPF 50.
Jenna offers a FREE BOOK as a welcome gift to new VIP Readers. Subscribe here: https://mailchi.mp/jennakernan/grippi...
Visit Jenna at www.jennakernan.com
Follow Jenna here ...
BookBub: jenna-kernan
Twitter: @jennakernan
Instagram: jenna-kernan
Facebook: AuthorJennaKernan or join her newsletter at www.jennakernan.com
Find my social media links here: https://linktr.ee/jennakernan
Here's a bit more about me...
Publishers Weekly bestselling author, Jenna Kernan has written over forty novels, most recently penning domestic thrillers. Her debut thriller, A Killer's Daughter, won the bronze medal in popular fiction from the Florida Book Awards in 2021. Jenna’s 2022 domestic thriller, The Ex-Wives, won the gold medal in the same category. The Nurse, was released in 2023, The Patient's Daughter released in 2024, and The Fake Mother in 2025. Her thrillers are intense, unsettling, and gripping with unexpected twists and turns.
Jenna began her writing journey penning historical romance, paranormal romance and romantic suspense. Find them here: https://www.jennakernan.com/books-1
A member of International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Florida Mystery Writers and Novelists, Inc. and a natural redhead living with her husband on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Jenna has recently increased her sunblock to SPF 50.
Jenna offers a FREE BOOK as a welcome gift to new VIP Readers. Subscribe here: https://mailchi.mp/jennakernan/grippi...
Visit Jenna at www.jennakernan.com
Follow Jenna here ...
BookBub: jenna-kernan
Twitter: @jennakernan
Instagram: jenna-kernan
Facebook: AuthorJennaKernan or join her newsletter at www.jennakernan.com
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 19, 2016
The conclusion of Jenna Kernan’s Apache Protectors ends on a good note. The author ties up all the unanswered questions and loose ends nicely in this story, meanwhile giving Clyne Cosen a happy and worthwhile happy ever after. Ms. Kernan writes with such passion and depth that is hard not to notice it in her vivid, descriptive storytelling. Drama, angst, a web of deceit and tension filled scenes take the reader on an engaging journey, where every moment counts. FBI field agent Cassidy Walker and Clyne Cosen are at odds with each other. Cassidy’s duty is to protect Clyne but Clyne is hell-bent on refusing to let her babysit him. When villains aren’t at their backs they fight off the sizzling chemistry simmering between them even as their battle for custody over Clyne’s kid sister thickens the plot. It is wonderful to see the author resolve the problems with such clarity. Thrilling and suspenseful, Native Born will leave you wanting more from this talented author!
Recommended
4 Stars
June 25, 2016
This is a beautiful ending to the Apache Protectors series. If you haven’t already, check out my review for the first three books here.
Many of our questions are finally answered! I absolutely loved reading Clyne’s story. He is a tribal councilman for the Apache people on Black Mountain. He is an activist who believes in maintain traditions and culture for the Apache people. He’s very anti-government, especially FBI, white people, and Indian children being adopted outside of the tribes.
So what happens when he is forced to be protected by the FBI? Might I add that not only is Cassidy Walker a beautiful Caucasian FBI agent, but she also happens to be the adopted mother of his little sister that he’s trying to fight custody for.
As they continue spending time together, sparks being to fly. Will they choose to ignore their attraction for one another and continue their fight, or will they learn to fight for love?
Jenna Kernan has a way with beautiful storytelling. She is descriptive to make the story enjoyable and fun. It was really neat to learn some of the backstory of the Cosen family and their culture. I thought Jovanna’s sunrise ceremony was quite interesting.
Through the series, the characters become like family that it’s hard to let them go. I especially love that they are far from perfect, but by the end of the book, they have grown so much that they aren’t the same person that they were at the beginning.
As far as suspense goes, it wasn’t nearly as thrilling and suspenseful as some of her other books in the series. Yet, it was perfect because it gave a beautiful happy ending to each of the characters.
Note: This is not for young readers. There are some sexual scenes but they are brief and can easily skip over them.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
Many of our questions are finally answered! I absolutely loved reading Clyne’s story. He is a tribal councilman for the Apache people on Black Mountain. He is an activist who believes in maintain traditions and culture for the Apache people. He’s very anti-government, especially FBI, white people, and Indian children being adopted outside of the tribes.
So what happens when he is forced to be protected by the FBI? Might I add that not only is Cassidy Walker a beautiful Caucasian FBI agent, but she also happens to be the adopted mother of his little sister that he’s trying to fight custody for.
As they continue spending time together, sparks being to fly. Will they choose to ignore their attraction for one another and continue their fight, or will they learn to fight for love?
Jenna Kernan has a way with beautiful storytelling. She is descriptive to make the story enjoyable and fun. It was really neat to learn some of the backstory of the Cosen family and their culture. I thought Jovanna’s sunrise ceremony was quite interesting.
Through the series, the characters become like family that it’s hard to let them go. I especially love that they are far from perfect, but by the end of the book, they have grown so much that they aren’t the same person that they were at the beginning.
As far as suspense goes, it wasn’t nearly as thrilling and suspenseful as some of her other books in the series. Yet, it was perfect because it gave a beautiful happy ending to each of the characters.
Note: This is not for young readers. There are some sexual scenes but they are brief and can easily skip over them.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
July 26, 2016
Good book and conclusion to the series. Questions from previous books are answered and a little girl's future is resolved in a way that no one expected. Clyne is the oldest of the Cosen brothers, a member of the tribal council, and very vocal about his vision for his people. Cassidy is an FBI agent working a drug case on the reservation, and has also been assigned as his bodyguard when he leaves the rez.
There are some serious conflicts between the two. Clyne doesn't like having federal officers on the rez, and he really doesn't like having one dogging his steps. What is worse, is that Cassidy is the woman who adopted his little sister, and is resisting the family's attempts to regain custody. All Cassidy can see is the man who is trying to take her daughter, the only family she has left. Being this close is the last thing she wants, but she'll do her job.
I liked Clyne and Cassidy, but both had their blind spots. All Cassidy can see when she thinks of Amanda going to live on the rez is the crime, the poverty, and other negatives. She doesn't consider the importance of her knowing her birth family or the culture she was born to. She is determined to make sure that Amanda chooses her, and then plans to move far from Arizona. Clyne is proud of his heritage, but is focused on keeping all white influence off the rez. He only see the bad things that have come to the Apache because it. He hates the idea of Amanda being raised by a non-native, and only thinks of his desire to get her back to the family. He doesn't consider that she will have lost the only mother she's ever known, all her friends, and have to live with complete strangers.
I enjoyed the development of their relationship. There were sparks between them from the beginning, both professional and personal. The attraction that flared between them annoyed them both. Cassidy couldn't believe she was attracted to a man who was trying to take her daughter, and who made his disdain for whites very obvious. Clyne wasn't happy to be attracted to a white woman at all, as he has been vociferous in his belief that native should only marry native. When Cassidy was ordered by the court to allow Amanda to live with the Cosens for six months, she was heartbroken and desperately worried. I really liked seeing both of them begin to open their eyes to their own prejudices and see how harmful it was. Spending as much time together as they were forced to, the sparks between them grew hotter. Clyne's attitude that she was fine to sleep with, but not have a relationship with really bugged me. When they finally gave in to the heat, the strength of it freaked them both out. Both tried to fight it, but eventually couldn't deny it. I loved the ending and seeing Clyne put his own happiness ahead of other peoples' expectations for a change. I really liked his big moment, right there in the middle of the street.
The suspense was good, though not as intense as in some of the previous books. An attack at one of the rallies put Cassidy and Clyne in danger, emphasizing the need for protection. The question arises as to whether it was Clyne or Cassidy that was the target. I liked following the investigation to figure it out. When the bad guy takes Amanda hostage, things got really scary really fast. I loved Cassidy's determination to rescue her daughter, no matter what. An important part of the final confrontation was seeing Clyne face his demons to become part of the solution. It was definitely exciting to see it all go down.
I loved learning more about the Apache traditions. It all felt like an integral part of the story, not an information dump. I liked seeing Amanda take to learning about her background, and the fact that Cassidy learned a lot right along with her. The epilogue, with the description of the Sunrise Ceremony, was wonderful. I especially liked the last little bit about the corn pollen.
There are some serious conflicts between the two. Clyne doesn't like having federal officers on the rez, and he really doesn't like having one dogging his steps. What is worse, is that Cassidy is the woman who adopted his little sister, and is resisting the family's attempts to regain custody. All Cassidy can see is the man who is trying to take her daughter, the only family she has left. Being this close is the last thing she wants, but she'll do her job.
I liked Clyne and Cassidy, but both had their blind spots. All Cassidy can see when she thinks of Amanda going to live on the rez is the crime, the poverty, and other negatives. She doesn't consider the importance of her knowing her birth family or the culture she was born to. She is determined to make sure that Amanda chooses her, and then plans to move far from Arizona. Clyne is proud of his heritage, but is focused on keeping all white influence off the rez. He only see the bad things that have come to the Apache because it. He hates the idea of Amanda being raised by a non-native, and only thinks of his desire to get her back to the family. He doesn't consider that she will have lost the only mother she's ever known, all her friends, and have to live with complete strangers.
I enjoyed the development of their relationship. There were sparks between them from the beginning, both professional and personal. The attraction that flared between them annoyed them both. Cassidy couldn't believe she was attracted to a man who was trying to take her daughter, and who made his disdain for whites very obvious. Clyne wasn't happy to be attracted to a white woman at all, as he has been vociferous in his belief that native should only marry native. When Cassidy was ordered by the court to allow Amanda to live with the Cosens for six months, she was heartbroken and desperately worried. I really liked seeing both of them begin to open their eyes to their own prejudices and see how harmful it was. Spending as much time together as they were forced to, the sparks between them grew hotter. Clyne's attitude that she was fine to sleep with, but not have a relationship with really bugged me. When they finally gave in to the heat, the strength of it freaked them both out. Both tried to fight it, but eventually couldn't deny it. I loved the ending and seeing Clyne put his own happiness ahead of other peoples' expectations for a change. I really liked his big moment, right there in the middle of the street.
The suspense was good, though not as intense as in some of the previous books. An attack at one of the rallies put Cassidy and Clyne in danger, emphasizing the need for protection. The question arises as to whether it was Clyne or Cassidy that was the target. I liked following the investigation to figure it out. When the bad guy takes Amanda hostage, things got really scary really fast. I loved Cassidy's determination to rescue her daughter, no matter what. An important part of the final confrontation was seeing Clyne face his demons to become part of the solution. It was definitely exciting to see it all go down.
I loved learning more about the Apache traditions. It all felt like an integral part of the story, not an information dump. I liked seeing Amanda take to learning about her background, and the fact that Cassidy learned a lot right along with her. The epilogue, with the description of the Sunrise Ceremony, was wonderful. I especially liked the last little bit about the corn pollen.
Read
June 12, 2016The Apache Protectors Series concludes with Native Born, Clyne and Cassidy’s story. Clyne, an Apache council member, and Cassidy, a non-Apache FBI agent, reunite as Cassidy serves as bodyguard to the charismatic Clyne. Sparks fly and they attempt to deny the growing attraction but their eyes reveal too much. Before long, the tribe is talking about the council member who espouses to be a “true Apache” who has fallen for the blond outsider.
The novel features the return of the Cosen family’s long lost child, Jovanna. Jovanna is both Clyne’s sister and Cassidy’s adopted daughter. Amid the challenges of the familial relationship is the search for an assassin who threatens Clyne, Cassidy, and even Jovanna. Our hero and heroine work together to thwart the perpetrators in a plot twist that is wholly unexpected.
I enjoyed Native Son very much. The view into tribal culture in Jovanna’s coming of age ritual, the Sunrise Ceremony, is the gem of this novel. I was transported to a mysterious place where I felt the splash of white clay paint on my face and smelled burning sage. The Black Mountain Apache culture is beautifully rendered and integral to the story.
The novel features the return of the Cosen family’s long lost child, Jovanna. Jovanna is both Clyne’s sister and Cassidy’s adopted daughter. Amid the challenges of the familial relationship is the search for an assassin who threatens Clyne, Cassidy, and even Jovanna. Our hero and heroine work together to thwart the perpetrators in a plot twist that is wholly unexpected.
I enjoyed Native Son very much. The view into tribal culture in Jovanna’s coming of age ritual, the Sunrise Ceremony, is the gem of this novel. I was transported to a mysterious place where I felt the splash of white clay paint on my face and smelled burning sage. The Black Mountain Apache culture is beautifully rendered and integral to the story.
May 22, 2016
In this final book of the Apache Protectors series, Jenna Kernan brings us the story of Clyne, the strict, serious Cosen brother, and the family's fight to get their little sister back into the family. I really enjoyed hearing more about the back story of their family, and culture and seeing all four brothers come together to embrace and protect their own!
FBI field agent Cassidy Walker isn't happy to be assigned to protect the man who is trying to take her daughter from her, but she's always been one to do her job and do it well. She will keep Apache Tribal Couciller, Clyne Cosen safe if it's the last thing she does!
Clyne Cosen never appreciates having feds on his reservation, and he appreciates this particular woman even less! He's been battling her in court for months to try to get access to get to know their little sister who has been missing from them for years.
As they spend time together and sparks fly, will they ignore their attraction and continue their feud, or will they open their eyes to the connection that's spinning around them?
FBI field agent Cassidy Walker isn't happy to be assigned to protect the man who is trying to take her daughter from her, but she's always been one to do her job and do it well. She will keep Apache Tribal Couciller, Clyne Cosen safe if it's the last thing she does!
Clyne Cosen never appreciates having feds on his reservation, and he appreciates this particular woman even less! He's been battling her in court for months to try to get access to get to know their little sister who has been missing from them for years.
As they spend time together and sparks fly, will they ignore their attraction and continue their feud, or will they open their eyes to the connection that's spinning around them?
June 3, 2016
I really love this series by Jenna Kernan. It is part of the Harlequin Intrigue romances, so it has a mixture of action and suspense. I would definitely recommend this book and her Apache Protector Series!
***I received an ARC copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review***
***I received an ARC copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review***
January 8, 2017
This is the fourth book of the Apache Protectors series. Though I will say you can read any one on it's own.....I just prefer reading in chronilogical order. This book was a great way to end the series......with some new beginnings. I like the way the author incorporated some of the Apache beliefs and ceremonies in these books. Very interesting and very enjoyable
December 18, 2016
Quick, easy read. This was not my favorite book but it wasn't the worst either. I was not that impressed with either Cassia or Clyne though they did realize in the end how important family is. I'm definitely glad I stuck with it and finished the book.
February 10, 2021
My nominee for best of the Thrilling FBI romance series. This is a very good novel, complex plot, wonderful characters, lots of plot twists. Plenty of action, best character development of the series.
December 25, 2018
Read this story in one sitting. It’s short, has love, intrigue, family and culture all incorporated in one book. What more can a girl ask for???
May 23, 2016
Awesome book and loved the ending. Jenna's descriptive matter brings so much to the story and series to give a great and enjoyable reading experience.
Native Born is the 4th book in the Apache Protectors series. Take a ride to the reservation and enjoy the adventure and intrigue. You will love the book and series.
Native Born is the 4th book in the Apache Protectors series. Take a ride to the reservation and enjoy the adventure and intrigue. You will love the book and series.
Read
June 28, 2016"Kernan delves deeper into Apache life and customs as she pairs an outsider with a native son. There’s intrigue, suspense and a flaring hot romance. Additionally, the consistency of this series is noteworthy" (4 stars @ RT Book Reviews).
Miniseries: Apache Protectors
Miniseries: Apache Protectors
May 25, 2016
After many ups and downs, and close calls for the Cosen family they are reunited and safe. Jenna has taken me on an adventure of a lifetime. Very well written, looking forward to a new and exciting adventure.
Read
June 1, 2016received 4 stars @ RT Book Reviews
Miniseries: Apache Protectors
Miniseries: Apache Protectors
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews