Living on the Edge - Susan Mallery (SIM #1383 - Sept 2005)

HE WANTED HIS MONEY, AND THE WOMAN OUT OF HIS LIFE...

With his taut muscles and powerful gaze, bodyguard Tanner Keane was Madison Hilliard's only source of safety. Hired to rescue her, he kept her safe from a corrupt ex-husband who wanted her dead. So after days in close proximity -- fear and desire escalating -- who would save them from their wildest fantasies?

Tanner liked his women easy, and Madison was a fighter. And as her presence brightened his house, he began to want her around all the time. For a man who was tough to the world, Tanner let the tender protector in him guide his actions. Yes, he would save her again. But of course, he was the one who was really in danger....

Really good book. Tanner and his security firm are hired to rescue Madison from those that have kidnapped her. Tanner just wants to get her out, return her to her family, and move on. To him, she's just another useless rich woman. That all changes once the rescue happens. Madison was actually kidnapped by her ex-husband, who needs the ransom money for his own nefarious purposes. She knows he was behind it, and that if she is sent back she will end up dead. However, convincing the cynical Tanner isn't easy.

I really liked Madison a lot. She freely admits that she used to be the spoiled and useless rich girl that Tanner accuses her of being. However, her marriage opened her eyes and she made the conscious decision to make changes in her life. She also had an uphill battle with her father and husband, both of whom believed that she was weak and likely to suffer the same mental illness as her mother. She was much stronger than even she believed, and I loved seeing her stand up for herself against Tanner's prejudices.

Tanner was a bit harder to like at the beginning. His refusal to look beyond his own beliefs about Madison was really irritating. Even when she told him the truth about her kidnapping he didn't want to believe her. He earned some points back when he checked out some of what she told him and found out she was telling the truth, so he promised to protect her until he was certain of everything. 

I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between them. The sparks were there from the beginning, though they were antagonistic at the start. I loved seeing Madison push back against Tanner's attitude instead of just taking it. In spite of his attitude toward her, she felt safe with him. Tanner was fighting his own attraction to her, which caused him to overreact to something he found on her computer. What he did then was wrong on so many levels, and I really liked that she told him so when she recovered. He did redeem himself when he admitted that he was wrong, and his attitude toward her started to changed at that point. His protectiveness became personal rather than professional, and that scared him. When everything was over, he told her that her feelings were because of the danger they had been in, not for real. That if she still felt that way in six months, they'd talk. It was hilarious to see the way that she didn't sit back and take that, but kept trying to reach him. The ending was great as he finally faced his fears. I loved their big moment at the end.

The suspense of the story was great, with Tanner and Madison working together to bring down her ex-husband Christopher. What he was doing was definitely scary, as it had a touch of realism to it. I will admit to some frustration with Madison toward the end, as Christopher pulled some really underhanded tricks to get what he wanted. Unfortunately, he knew Madison well enough to know what buttons to push, which caused her to do something really stupid. Of course, Tanner comes through to save her yet again.

I absolutely loved one of the secondary characters in the book. Tanner's friend and coworker, Angel, is the team sniper. He also seems to be the second in command, and is Madison's point of contact at the end when she's trying to get to Tanner. I loved the friendship they built and Angel's part in bringing them back together. Angel gets his very own story in When We Met, a Fool's Gold book that takes place years later.

Lucky Shot - B.J. Daniels (HQN - Nov 2015)

Series: Montana Hamiltons (Book 3)

He's determined to uncover the truth behind a decades-old disappearance -- even if it kills him

When hotshot reporter Max Malone gets a rare shot of Buckmaster Hamilton with a blonde woman near Beartooth, Montana, he chases down one of the senator's daughters to verify that the woman is his supposedly long-dead first wife. But Kat Hamilton won't give him the time of day, let alone any information about her mother.

With his tousled blond hair, sexy stubble and an old straw cowboy hat topping off his long, lean frame, Kat can just tell Max isn't used to female sources denying him anything. But when her own life is put in jeopardy, it's Max who comes to her rescue. Seems someone is prepared to kill to keep the past in the past. Kat can't deny she needs Max to find out what happened to her mother, but will getting closer and closer to each other lead them to the truth…or to danger?

Another exciting entry in the series. Max is one of the reporters that has been haunting the Hamiltons since Buckmaster Hamilton's first wife returned from the dead. When he snaps a picture of the two of them together, he goes to Kat Hamilton to confirm the identity of the woman in the picture. But Kat isn't cooperating. Kat has had enough of reporters pestering her for information about her mother, and Max especially rubs her the wrong way. But when he tells her of the information he has, she discovers that she wants the answers as much as he does.

I really liked Max. He's an investigative reporter with a sense of honor, not a gossip rag paparazzi. Though he first just wanted to use Kat for information, he soon found himself liking her as a woman. This made his investigation harder in a way, because he doesn't want to hurt Kat, but finding out the truth is important. I also really liked Kat. She is independent and stubborn. She may be one of the "Hamilton Girls" but she lives her life her own way. She knows she should be happy that her mother is alive and well, but she has questions that haven't been getting any answers until Max showed up. 

I loved the sparks that flew between them from the beginning. Max really tries to resist because he has a rule about getting involved with someone who's part of a story he is working on, but finds himself too deeply drawn to her. I liked the way that he saw behind the surface toughness that she showed the rest of the world to the woman beneath. He had the patience to bring her out of her shell. He was also protective of her, as the danger of their investigation increased, and he was impressed by her ability to remain focused on their goal in the midst of that danger. Kat doesn't want to feel the things she does around Max. She's spent a lot of years protecting herself from the hurt she experienced before, but Max is working his way past her protective walls. Because he is a reporter, she is also extra wary of him at the beginning, but quickly finds herself trusting him. They get closer as the book goes on, but each is fully aware of their own issues that hold them back from opening up completely. I really loved their honest appraisal of their relationship at the end of the book, and the steps they took to see if it was real.

The mystery of Sarah Hamilton's return continues from the previous two books. The information that Max and Kat uncover indicate that she may have been part of a domestic terrorist group years earlier, but her lack of memory makes it impossible to confront her about it. The more information they uncover, the worse it looks for Sarah. There's also someone out there who doesn't like what they are doing and multiple attempts are made at stopping them. At the same time, local sheriff Frank Curry has been doing some investigating of his own, with his wife's help. The things he discovers, when added to what Max and Kat have found, bring up serious questions about just why Sarah reappeared now. Meanwhile, Buckmaster himself is caught between two women - his current wife, Angelica, and his first wife, Sarah. He has never stopped loving Sarah, but he also cares for Angelica, who has been beside him in his bid for the presidency. He is increasingly frustrated by her focus on digging up whatever dirt she can find on Sarah. Angelica's inquiries are stirring up trouble for her also. Buck can't seem to stay away from Sarah, who has apparently moved on with a neighboring rancher. A confrontation at the end of the book stops those who have been attacking Max and Kat, and though answers are apparently found to some of the questions about Sarah, Max and Kat are still suspicious. The book ends with a twist and a cliffhanger.

Snowbound with the Boss - Maureen Child (HD #2433 - Mar 2016)

Series: Pregnant by the Boss (Book 3)

Baby on the way? Blame it on the blizzard!

Being stuck in a snowstorm with his disagreeable contractor is hardly gaming tycoon Sean Ryan's idea of a good time. So why does he find himself keeping Kate Wells warm -- and really, really liking it? Luckily, when the snow melts, Sean can return to his California headquarters, leaving their fling behind.

But Kate's left facing a dilemma -- she's pregnant. How can she break her baby news to her unbearable boss? Soon there's an emotional storm brewing that makes the blizzard that stranded them look like child's play!

Very good book and conclusion to the trilogy. This time around it is Sean's turn to be in charge of turning a hotel into a theme location matching one of their video games. This hotel is located in the wilds of Wyoming, bad enough for the California surfer boy, but his initial visit to meet with the contractor is in the dead of winter. Sean is definitely not a cold weather fan, and the hard-headed contractor isn't making his visit any more pleasant. Things go from bad to worse when they are trapped together for several days by a blizzard.

I loved the initial scenes of the book, as Sean complains to his brother Mike about the weather and the contrary Kate. What he doesn't confess is how attracted to her he is. Kate is just as frustrated with Sean, who argues with her over every objection she has to his plans, when she's the one who knows what is physically possible to do. Being trapped with him is the last thing she wants, as he is stirring desires in her she thought had died with her husband. When the sparks between them burst into flames, the heat could melt all the snow in the state. They have several days together before Sean can go back to California and leave the fling behind.

But it turns out not to be so easy to do. Sean finds himself unable to stop thinking about her. Previously known as quite the player, suddenly he has lost interest in the brainless women he used to date, and lives for their video chats about the hotel and its progress. Finally he decides it's time for another on-site visit and a chance to see Kate again, but he's in for quite a shock. Kate is pregnant, and hadn't bothered to tell him.

Kate has been widowed for two years and hasn't really recovered from the loss of her husband. She has closed herself off from getting involved with another man, never wanting to go through that pain again. Her biggest regret was the loss of her dreams of home and family, and finding herself pregnant is like a dream come true. As she believed that Sean has no interest in marriage or family, she assumed he wouldn't want to know about her pregnancy. When he arrives unexpectedly, she learns just how wrong she was.

Sean had avoided entanglements because of something that had happened in his past. His actions when he was a young man and his girlfriend became pregnant and subsequently lost the baby, were quite selfish. He has lived with those memories for ten years and has avoided any thought of love ever since. Kate's pregnancy brings those memories back, along with a determination to do it right this time.

I enjoyed seeing the development of their relationship. Both of them are very stubborn and determined to have their own way. Kate sees herself as a contractor on the low side of the social scale, rooted in Wyoming. She feels that Sean, multi-millionaire playboy and California native is way out of her league. She realizes she was wrong not to tell him about the baby, but that doesn't mean she's going to let him tell her what to do now. Sean is stunned, but determined to do the right thing. He just has to convince Kate that they can have a life together and to sell her on the idea. Both are resistant to believing that their feelings are involved. When Sean manages to get Kate to come to California "for business", he also tries to show her the life they could have together. I loved seeing how easily she became part of his life, and how hard he had to work to pretend that his feelings were not involved. Kate came to realize her feelings more quickly, but can't face a relationship with someone who doesn't feel the same.

Stubbornness on both sides separates them once again, each returning to their own lives. But nothing is the same and I loved seeing them both, especially Sean, wallow in their misery. It was especially fun to see Mike (A Baby for the Boss) and Brady (Having Her Boss's Baby) give him such a hard time over his blindness. It  was so satisfying to see him finally see the truth and what he did about it. His big moment at the end was really pretty sweet and romantic. The epilogue was hilarious, especially Sean's panic.

The Gift - Margaret Mallory (Createspace - Dec 2014)

Series: Return of the Highlanders (Book .5)

Lily's well-honed sense for trouble tells her no healer is safe in London while gangs roam the city looking for witches to burn. In the dead of night, she escapes on a northbound ship, intending to return after Christmas celebrations calm the city's witch fever. But when Lily lands in the wilds of Scotland, her skills for surviving in the city can't save her. 

Roderick MacDonald is on a secret mission for his chieftain when he finds a lass near death on a barren hillside and is forced to take her with him. Though this mysterious Sassenach may have The Gift his clan needs-and he burns with passion for her-he's determined to resist the enchantment she weaves on his scarred heart. When love blooms amidst the harsh winter beauty of the Highlands, will these two obstinate souls from different worlds accept the Yuletide gift?

Good book. Lily is a trained healer living in London when a bout of witch fever strikes the city. Her instincts tell her that it would be a good idea to get out of town for awhile so she dresses as a boy and stows away on a northbound ship, intending to visit a friend. Unfortunately, she is discovered and thrown off the ship near Edinburgh, far from where she intended to go. She sets off on foot, unaware of just how unprepared she is.

Roderick is on his way back home after a mission for his chief when he stumbles across Lily. There's no way he can just leave her, so he takes her along with him. Once he discovers that she's a healer, he wonders if she is the woman his grandmother predicted he would find. Knowing that the clan is in need of a healer, he's determined to convince her to return with him.

I loved the contrast between Lily and Roderick. She is a city woman who has never been outside London. She is determined to return and rebuild her business once the danger has passed. Roderick is a highlander who finds cities too crowded and noisy for his tastes and prefers his home in the Highlands. Neither expected the flare of attraction between them, but past hurts have them reluctant to trust each other.

While Roderick succeeds in convincing Lily to come home, he hasn't told her the whole truth behind his invitation. Discovering the truth adds to her stubborn determination to leave, but outside interference delays her departure. Roderick's grandmother lends a hand in giving them a chance to get to know each other and learn to trust. The ending was exciting and perfect for this couple.

The Bridge - Carol Ericson (HI #1487 - Apr 2014)

Series: Brody Law (Book 1)

His past is coming back to haunt him, and only one woman can bring this detective the redemption he needs

Under the Golden Gate, Elise Duran refused to be a serial killer's next victim. She was the first of the abducted to survive. And Detective Sean Brody was there to make sure a second chance wouldn't be necessary.

As the elusive murderer sends them messages, both personal and gruesome, the point becomes clear: no one can escape death. But Sean's presence can't be any stronger as he shadows Elise while on the job -- and off it -- proving she couldn't have asked for a better protector. Though beneath his cool exterior Sean hides a troublesome secret. One that's absolutely to die for…

Good mix of romance and suspense. Coming out of a nightclub, Elise is kidnapped by a serial killer, but manages to escape. Sean Brody is the detective assigned to her case, and is determined that the killer won't have a second chance. But it's more than protection that results, as the spunky kindergarten teacher brings some light to the darkness that haunts him.

I liked Elise. She may be a small town Montana girl, but she is smart and she is determined. She knows she is in trouble and she is more than happy to have the oh-so-attractive Sean protecting her. One of the things I really liked about her was the way that she supported Sean when the killer was making things look bad for him.

I also liked Sean. He has worked hard to make a place for himself with the police department, overcoming the disability of what had happened with his father. However, he will never be convinced that his father was guilty of the things he was accused of. He is disturbed when this new serial killer's MO closely matches that of the one twenty years earlier. There's something about Elise that sends his protective instincts into overdrive.

I enjoyed the growth of their relationship. Sean tries hard to maintain an emotional distance, but Elise quickly gets under his skin. As they get closer, he worries about what her reaction will be if she finds out about his possible link to the killer, so he tries to keep it a secret. Though surprised and a little upset when she finds out, I loved her support of him. The flames of their attraction continued to grow. When it was all over, it was obvious that they had come to know each other quite well, very quickly. The epilogue was pretty sweet.

The suspense of the story was fast paced and kept my attention throughout. Elise's escape started it out with a bang, and the tension quickly ramped up with the creepy message left for Sean at her house. The taunting messages for both of them added to the similarities to the previous case and left them both wondering if there was a connection. Elise and Sean scramble to piece together the messages the killer leaves for them, but the killer strikes once again and very close to home. When the final confrontation came, I was surprised by the identity as I didn't suspect that person at all. I loved Elise's calm and control and how she contributed to her own rescue.

Running through the story was Sean's belief in his father's innocence and desire to clear his name. Nothing was solved, but a couple more questions were raised that contributed to that belief. I will be interested to see how it turns out.

Carrie's Protector - Rebecca York (HI #1435 - July 2013)

SAVING HER FROM TERRORISTS WAS THE EASY PART…

Still smarting from a failed mission, bodyguard Wyatt Hawk is to escort photographer Carrie Mitchell to a meeting where she'll testify about a terrorist plot. Instead, a near-deadly ambush sends the two on the run from a fiery blast of bullets.

Forced into close proximity with wealthy Carrie, Wyatt has little interest in her; their differences couldn't be bigger. But somewhere between a compromised safe house and the discovery of a shocking conspiracy, the cool and distant bodyguard finds himself succumbing to Carrie's seductive allure. He'll even risk his life to save hers…because all he's left unguarded is his heart.

Good book with plenty of action to go along with the romance. Carrie had been taking wildlife photos when she overheard some men planning a bombing. After reporting what she heard to the feds, she was taken to a safe house until it was time to testify. The lead bodyguard is Wyatt Hawk, a man who holds himself apart from everyone else. While she notices his good looks, Carrie doesn't like him much.

The day that he takes her to testify against one of the men, they are ambushed and forced to go on the run together. With Wyatt being all that stands between her and certain death, suddenly her reasons for disliking him don't seem so important. She has to depend on his training and wit to keep them safe and to find out who is behind their betrayal.

Wyatt was drawn to Carrie, but there's no future in it. She's the daughter of a rich man, and he's an ex-CIA agent with a troubled past. However, he can't deny that she holds her own during their troubles, and the attraction between them is growing stronger. But the last woman he worked with and cared for got killed on his watch, and he refuses to open himself up to that happening again. I loved seeing Carrie get to him. Once she found out what it was that was holding him back, she was determined to make him see that it wasn't his fault. It was also pretty awesome to see her set her sights on him and go after what she wanted. It was great to see her get him to admit his feelings at the end and confess her own. That last scene at the FBI building was terrific.

The suspense of the story was great from the very beginning. It took every bit of skill that Wyatt had to keep them one step ahead of the bad guys. There were several times I wasn't sure how they were going to get away. As the story progressed, I had a pretty good idea of who was behind it, but there was an unexpected twist to the actual motivation. The final confrontation was very intense, and I loved seeing Carrie come up with a way to save Wyatt.

One of the things I enjoyed about the book was the location, as it isn't too far from where I live. I really liked being able to picture the various places as I read.

Tricky Twenty-Two - Janet Evanovich (Bantam - Nov 2015)

Series: Stephanie Plum (Book 22)

Something big is brewing in Trenton, N.J., and it could blow at any minute.

Stephanie Plum might not be the world’s greatest bounty hunter, but she knows when she’s being played. Ken Globovic (aka Gobbles), hailed as the Supreme Exalted Zookeeper of the animal house known as Zeta fraternity, has been arrested for beating up the dean of students at Kiltman College. Gobbles has missed his court date and gone into hiding. People have seen him on campus, but no one will talk. Things just aren’t adding up, and Stephanie can’t shake the feeling that something funny is going on at the college -- and it’s not just Zeta fraternity pranks.

As much as people love Gobbles, they hate Doug Linken. When Linken is gunned down in his backyard it’s good riddance, and the list of possible murder suspects is long. The only people who care about finding Linken’s killer are Trenton cop Joe Morelli, who has been assigned the case, security expert Ranger, who was hired to protect Linken, and Stephanie, who has her eye on a cash prize and hopefully has some tricks up her sleeve.

Another fun Plum book. Stephanie and her sidekick Lula are assigned to bring in Ken Globovic, but finding him isn't easy. His frat brothers claim they haven't seen him, so Stephanie starts checking with other people around campus. The dean he's accused of attacking wants him found and blames the entire fraternity. The biology professor and frat adviser hasn't seen him, but something about him bugs Stephanie.

Stephanie also gets pulled into a Rangeman operation, helping to provide security for a contractor and his wife. The wife is a piece of work, and when her husband is killed there isn't much grief. There are a couple pretty funny scenes involving her at two funerals. Stephanie' on again/off again boyfriend Joe Morelli is the cop assigned to the investigation. Things get complicated when two more bodies show up, killed with the same gun, and have connections to the Zeta fraternity.

Stephanie and Joe's relationship becomes off again, when Joe is suffering physical symptoms of stress and he decides to cut out everything stress inducing from his life. One of those things is Stephanie. She's hurt and mad and worried about him, but avoiding him is impossible. With Morelli, off again usually doesn't last long and I enjoyed the process in this one.

The ever mysterious and super hot Ranger is also present. With Morelli out right now, will Stephanie give in to Ranger's advances? It's always fun to see Ranger's protectiveness toward her. As happens in most books, Ranger provides cars when she needs one and they are nearly always destroyed, sometimes in unusual ways. This time it's two cars, one involving geese and the other fireworks. There are also two pretty sweet scenes when he takes care of her. I love how he can convey so much with a simple "Babe".

The mystery in this one is pretty convoluted, and offers plenty of chances for Stephanie to get into trouble. I enjoyed her search for Globovic, and what happens when she finds him. His reasons for jumping bail lead Stephanie on another search, ending with a crazy professor, fireworks and fleas. The final confrontation in this one was pretty fun with Stephanie's grandmother, mother and Lula getting in on the action.