Series:
Bachelor Bodyguards (Book 15)
He'll risk anything to protect her…
Even his heart.
Watching over Blair Etheridge as she reopens her family's
art gallery is Ivan Chekov's first chance to prove himself as a bodyguard. He
hopes it's also a chance to start over. But this job brings up bad memories,
and Blair doesn't want him anywhere near her. Ivan overcomes her stubborn
streak after an attack on her life proves she's in danger. The undeniable
attraction sizzling between them makes posing as her boyfriend easy, while the
thought of losing her frightens him more than he's willing to admit.
Good addition to the Bachelor Bodyguards series. This
book features Ivan Chekov of Payne Protection Agency and Blair Etheridge, a
woman determined to reopen her family's art gallery.
Ivan is coming off weeks of desk duty after being injured
on a previous case (Hostage Security) and is looking forward to his first case
as lead bodyguard. He feels he has a lot to prove, starting with his name. As a
child, he witnessed his father's murder by his uncle, then forced to work for
his uncle, a local crime boss. He escaped but is still attempting to redeem
himself. Providing security for an art gallery owner should be an easy start.
Blair spent the time since her father's death preparing
to reopen his art gallery. She invested everything she had, determined to make
it a success. She's not happy that her insurance company insists on hiring the
Payne agency to protect her and the gallery. She gives in when an attack proves
her life is in danger.
Things get off to a rough start for Blair and Ivan. Ivan
and his coworker arrive at the gallery to discover an attack in progress. They
stop the attack, but Blair doesn't trust them, especially when she learns
Ivan's name. She holds his uncle responsible for the trouble that ultimately caused
her father's death. Ivan is equally wary, as he isn't sure if Blair is involved
in the gallery's previous activities.
The story's suspense kept me turning the pages. The
escalating attacks threaten the upcoming gallery opening, and Blair refuses to
let that happen. There are multiple suspects to complicate the investigation, paintings
of dubious origin, and a twist at the end I didn't see coming. The final confrontation
kept me turning the pages. There are some unanswered questions that I expect will
be addressed in subsequent books.
I enjoyed the development of Blair and Ivan's
relationship. Sparks of attraction flared between them despite their initial
mistrust. They can't ignore the attraction, but Ivan fears the distraction will
affect his ability to protect her. Blair's realization that Ivan puts his life
on the line for her softens her heart, but both must overcome their pasts
before they can think about a future together.
I enjoyed seeing characters from past books. Garek and
Milek, who run this branch of Payne Protection, are still feeling their way.
They catch some flak about the people they hired to work for them but are
steadfast in their support. Penny Payne and her new husband, the police chief,
play important roles. I have issues with one of the law enforcement characters,
Sheila Carlson, who I thought was extremely judgmental about Ivan and his coworkers.
Judging by the interactions between her and one of the bodyguards, I suspect
that there may be a surprise in her future.
No comments:
Post a Comment