The stakes have never been higher as an elite team member must outwit a dangerous killer and save the man she’s sworn to protect. The second installment of the exhilarating Safeguard series from Piper J. Drake.
Kyle Yeun didn’t start out bad and he doesn’t intend to end his life while on the wrong side of the law, either. His testimony to his former employer’s environmental misdeeds has earned … misdeeds has earned him a protection detail compliments of the US government. But due to a dark international conspiracy Kyle was unaware of, his former employers have made ending his life a top priority. Realizing he needs more protection than the US Marshals can provide, he turns to Safeguard after seeing the beautiful, deadly Lizzy Scott in action.
One look at Kyle, and sniper Lizzy Scott knows this isn’t going to be an easy protection job. He’s arrogant, irritating and almost irresistible. Instead of being put off by her hardened attitude, Kyle seems to thrive off the challenge. And she’s slowly giving in to his charms.
After narrowly escaping the latest assassination attempt, Lizzy starts taking dangerous risks to keep him safe. But the last thing Kyle wants is another life ruined because of his actions. He found his redemption in Lizzy’s arms and he’ll risk everything to make sure they both make it out alive. As will she, even if it means walking away from him to keep him safe.
Book two of the Safeguard series
This book is approximately 72,000 words
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Terrific book with excellent balance between romance and suspense. Lizzy is an ex-military no-nonsense member of Centurion, where she frequently serves as the sniper for her team. As this book opens, she has just finished an assignment and is about “peopled” out. She wants to get to her hotel room, take a hot bath, and relax, so she isn’t thrilled to find the elevators blocked. Three goons have cornered a man and are doing their best to intimidate him. When they blow off her request for them to move, she takes matters into her own hands. Lizzy is relatively petite in stature and is accustomed to being underestimated. She handily defeats them, freeing the man from their clutches, and goes on her way.
Kyle is currently under the protection of the US Marshals and the Seattle police while he prepares to testify against his former employers. Unfortunately, Kyle doesn’t like being confined and tends to slip away from his minders whenever he can. This puts him in additional danger. Kyle is impressed by Lizzy’s actions and tracks her down, hiring her to provide extra security.
I loved both Lizzy and Kyle. Lizzy is a bit of a loner due to her place as a sniper, but she knows that to advance, she has to work with others. She is at a crossroads where she has to decide if she’ll go back to Centurion on a fire team, or stick with the Safeguard division and take single- or two-person jobs. She is very professional, nearly unflappable, and hates distractions. There is also a feminine side to her that she keeps pretty well hidden from others, though Kyle figures it out pretty quickly. Kyle is smart, honorable, and a bit of a wise-ass. He first came across as a bit arrogant and even a little smarmy with his innuendo-laden comments. But mostly he’s frustrated with his protectors for keeping him in the dark and simply telling him what to do with no explanation. He’d be a lot more cooperative if he were allowed to participate in his own safety.
The sparks between Kyle and Lizzy were there from the beginning. Lizzy wasn’t too happy about it because there’s no room for distraction when you’re trying to keep someone safe. Kyle also feels the sparks and derives a great deal of enjoyment out of jerking Lizzy’s chain with his blatant innuendos. I loved their banter as he implies, and she shoots him down. The pages almost burst into flame during their sparring session and I loved their honest talk about what is building between them. Over the next few days, as they are with each other 24/7, under stressful circumstances, I loved seeing them get to know each other and share some of the things that have made them who they are. They both acknowledge that there is something special there and that only time will tell whether it will last. I loved seeing both of them learn to let go of a little control and depend on the other. I especially liked that Kyle is willing to listen to Lizzy’s instructions and doesn’t get bent out of shape when he isn’t in charge. The ending was great, as each decided what was best for their future, then found a way to make their relationship work with it.
The suspense of the story kept me glued to the pages. Lizzy takes her job seriously and has no problem going off the grid when multiple attacks happen in a short period of time. Lizzy realizes that someone desperately wants to keep Kyle from testifying, leading her to believe that he knows more than he thinks he does. I loved watching the lengths Lizzy went to as they made their way through Seattle right under the bad guys’ noses. I also liked how she was willing to consider alternate plans when they made sense. The scene at the charity gala was fantastic, especially with Kyle taking the lead with his “hide in plain sight” strategy. The intensity increased as the trial grew closer and the bad guys used Kyle’s sister and nephew as bait. I was on the edge of my seat during the final confrontation as Plan A turned to Plan B on the fly. It did come to a satisfying conclusion, though I get the feeling we haven’t seen the last of that company.