Series: Orion Security (Book 2)
Fatherhood was never in the cards…until an innocent
family wrapped themselves around his heart…
Mark Tranton thought his bodyguard career ended the day
he watched a client die. Now Kelli Crane -- the widow -- needs Mark to keep her
and her little girl safe. Mark swears he's not the man for the job, but when
the vulnerable beauty is attacked, there's no way he can deny the woman he
failed two years before.
Being around Kelli again stirs something in Mark he could
never admit. And spending time with her daughter makes him long to be more than
just their personal protectors. But digging into the past riles someone who
won't rest until Kelli pays the ultimate price. Mark refuses to allow that to
happen. Even if he has to sacrifice their newly discovered happiness to keep
her out of the line of fire.
Good book that had me hooked from the first chapter. A
bodyguard situation went horribly wrong, leaving Kelli a widow and Mark
suffering from intense guilt over not being able to save Victor. It was so bad
that Mark left Orion Security, and cut himself off from his former friends. He
never expected Kelli to show up at his door two years later, asking for his
help.
Kelli grieved for her husband but made a new life for
herself and her daughter Grace. When she found a hidden journal belonging to
Victor, she realized that his death was more than just an accident. After a
disturbing meeting with Victor's former editor, Kelli went to Mark. Mark was
suspicious of the circumstances of Victor's death from the beginning but had
never been able to prove anything. He was reluctant to get involved again, but
when Kelli was attacked his protective instincts awakened.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Mark
and Kelli. There were sparks between them from the first, though Mark tried to
ignore them. The guilt he still felt over what he saw as his failure made him think
that he was not good enough for her, though he was determined to keep her safe.
The more time that he spent with Kelli and Grace, the more the walls around his
heart began to crumble. I loved seeing him interact with Grace - the scene with
the building blocks was adorable - and ached for him and the loneliness he
felt. Kelli seemed to be more open to the feelings she experienced. She still
grieved for Victor, but she also knew that it was possible to love again. I liked
how Kelli was able to break through Mark's bonds of guilt and show him that he
deserved a happy future. The ending was sweet, funny, and romantic.
The suspense of the story was excellent. From the moment
Kelli discovered the journal the questions multiplied. As Mark and Kelli investigated,
it was clear that someone wanted them to stop and would do anything to make it
happen. I loved seeing Mark reconnect with his Orion friends and how they
helped. The closer that Mark and Kelli got to the truth, the more the danger to
them grew. The final confrontation was intense, with several surprises. I
especially loved Kelli's strength and resourcefulness. Bad guys watch out when
Mama Bear gets cornered! The resolution was highly satisfying.
The secondary characters were terrific. I loved Kelli's
friend Lynn, who was always there when Kelli needed her. She was a lot of fun
and provided some light-hearted moments, especially in her interactions with
Grace. She could also be as fierce as Kelli when it was called for. I liked
seeing more of Mark's Orion friends and their support of him. Nikki irritated
me at the beginning with her attitude towards Mark's pursuit of answers, but
she came through in the end.
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