Find Her - Katherine Garbera (HRS #2313 - Feb 2025)

Series: Price Security (Book 4)
 
A DEA agent has one goal in mind…
And getting personal could be deadly
 
Lee Oscar has convinced herself she can keep her past in the past until an old friend tells her that a student of his has disappeared. Lee launches a search for the missing teen, colliding with DEA agent Aaron Quentin's investigation. Together they forge an impromptu partnership -- and make a fake relationship their cover. Lee and Aaron are determined to rescue the girl in danger while bringing down a deadly crime syndicate. Posing as lovers without succumbing to the ruse may be the more difficult task.
 
Terrific book. Aaron Quentin intrigued me during his part in the earlier book, Safe in Her Bodyguard's Arms. I figured out early that he was one of the good guys and hoped he would get his own story. As with his brother, the tragedy in Aaron's past influenced his present. He uses his work as an undercover agent to keep people at a distance. He moved from Florida to California to infiltrate a drug cartel.
 
Lee is Price Security's computer and information guru. She works her magic from behind a computer in their offices. But when a friend from her past asks her for help finding a missing teen, Lee steps out of her comfort zone to search for her. The last thing she expected was to encounter Aaron and end up part of his cover as his girlfriend.
 
This book had me hooked from the get-go. The suspense is intense with the dual storylines of Aaron's mission of taking down the cartel leader and Lee's search for the missing teen. Matters become more complicated when an old adversary of Lee's turns up in Aaron's net. An unexpected twist leads to a possible link between the two cases and intensifying danger for both. The double-barreled ending was a nail-biter to the finish.
 
I enjoyed the development of Aaron and Lee's relationship. There were sparks between them when they met in Miami. Aaron tried flirting with her, but she wasn't interested. When they met again in LA, the sparks were still there, but both tried to ignore them. That becomes more complicated when Lee gets sucked into Aaron's op and must pretend to be his girlfriend. Spending time together intensifies the attraction and allows them to get to know each other.  I loved how in tune Aaron was with Lee and how good he was at sensing when she needed him. I liked seeing them both lose some of their "lone wolf" attitudes and discover they could support each other without losing independence. It didn't take long for their fake relationship to start to feel real. Neither believes they are good at relationships, and I loved seeing their determination to find one that works for them. 

Christmas Bodyguard - Katherine Garbera (HRS #2297 - Oct 2024)

Series: Price Security (Book 3)
 
She'll risk her life to right history's wrongs
But is she willing to risk her heart?
 
An anonymous tip about a missing rare artifact has put antiquities investigator Daphne Amana in the line of gunfire. But giving up the investigation is unthinkable. Being protected by her ex-lover, security expert Kenji Wada? Impossible! She's used to working alone. Not to mention the fiery attraction still simmering between her and Kenji…waiting for the right moment to combust. But when a killer's dangerous game of cat and mouse unveils a nefarious black market operation, the art world -- and Daphne's fledgling reconciliation with Kenji -- is rocked to the core.
 
Terrific second-chance romance with a fascinating theme. Daphne is a lawyer who assists countries wishing to reclaim items stolen from them during war or disaster. In this case, she is the link between a village in Ethiopia and a Los Angeles museum. The story opens as Daphne follows an anonymous tip and receives a bullet to the shoulder instead of the information she expected.
 
Concerned about her safety, Daphne's boss hires a bodyguard from Price Security to protect her until the case is resolved. The last person she expects to see is Kenji, a past lover with whom her relationship ended badly. Neither expected the resurgence of their previous feelings for each other.
 
The combination of suspense and romance kept me glued to the pages well past my bedtime. Daphne and Kenji had to come to terms with their past to work together effectively. It wasn't easy, and both had issues affecting their efforts. Kenji worries that his feelings for Daphne will distract him from protecting her properly, but burying them doesn't work. Daphne is reluctant to risk her heart, fearing that Kenji will walk away again. It takes learning to trust themselves and each other to give them the courage to plan a future together.
 
The suspense of the story was outstanding. The museum's stonewalling of providing the requested information raises Daphne's concerns that something shady is occurring. The escalating attacks reinforce that feeling, and she and Kenji work together to uncover the truth. The twists and turns kept me guessing, while the final confrontation brought everything to a satisfying conclusion. 

 
 

Safe in Her Bodyguard's Arms - Katherine Garbera (HRS #2281 - June 2024)

Series: Price Security (Book 2)
 
A drug cartel murdered Obie Keller's parents. She gets a chance to prove that when she leaves the Florida coast and heads back to where she came from -- with bodyguard Xander Quentin by her side. His reasons for heading into the swamplands are intertwined with her own, and it's not long before their shared mission becomes a shared attraction. But they'll have to stay alive if they're going to have a shared future…
 
Excellent book that kept me hooked from start to finish. Obie manages a Miami coffee shop where a recent hire, Aaron, was arrested for dealing drugs. Accused of working for a drug cartel, he asks her to contact his brother for help. When that gets no response, she agrees to enter his home and retrieve hidden evidence he claims will bring down the cartel. Obie is reluctant but agrees, never expecting to encounter someone trying to kill her.
 
Xander hasn't had any contact with Aaron in ten years. A tragedy in their teen years drove the four brothers apart, but Xander can't forget the better times together. Wary of what Aaron is involved with, Xander arrives at his home just in time to rescue Obie.
 
This is a fast-paced story that takes place over just a few days. The action starts with a bang as the bad guys do their best to stop Obie and Xander from escaping with the evidence. Xander's capabilities are unquestionable as a private security specialist with a Special Forces background. Obie's early life living in the swamps with her family gave her unique skills. I loved watching their teamwork as they escaped into the swamp. Xander's willingness to listen to Obie's expertise won him many points in my book - I love a hero who can admit he doesn't know everything. They deal with weather, wildlife, and dangerous pursuers while trying to ignore the attraction that sizzles between them. Desperate circumstances accelerate their getting to know each other, mutual trust being the only thing keeping them alive. I liked seeing them lower their walls.
 
The suspense of the story was terrific. I was glued to the pages as Obie and Xander fought through the swamp to get the evidence to a safe place. Xander trusts his team to have their backs, while Obie leans toward trusting law enforcement. The intensifying pursuit kept them on edge, with a nick-of-time intervention from Xander's backup. The twist in the final confrontation wasn't a surprise, but I loved Obie's part.
 
I liked the ending and seeing the Price Security people together. I like how they feel like a family to each other, offering professional and emotional support. I look forward to more stories with these characters. I would also like to see if Obie finds out what happened to her brother.