Review: Guardian for Hire - Christine Bell

Psychologist Sarabeth Lucking’s life is turned upside down when the upscale couples’ retreat she works for winds up embroiled in the biggest scandal of the year. With her reputation in tatters, she can’t imagine things getting worse, until her former co-workers are murdered, one by one. A bad-ass, ex-Army Ranger might be able to keep her safe, but something tells her she’s getting more than she bargained for...

Gavin McClintock grew up on the streets of Edinburgh, and protecting prissy Dr. Stick-Up-Her-Rear isn’t high on his list of things to do. Still, a promise is a promise, and he’ll need a clear head if he’s going to keep her off the growing list of victims. He didn’t count on the fire in her, or how distracted he’d be by her. As the flames grow hotter, he starts to wonder if she’s the one who needs protecting.

Will Sarabeth and Gavin outrun a killer and give into the passion burning between them?

For Hire Series:
Wife for Hire
Guardian for Hire

Visit Chrisitne Bell's website for more information

Review:
After reading and loving Christine Bell's novel Dirty Tricks I jumped at the chance of reading Guardian for Hire when I saw it come up on Netgalley for review. I'm a bit annoyed with myself for not realising it was the second book in a series though because I wish I could go back in time and read the books in order. Although both stories feature a different main couple this book does give away who the bad guy was in the previous one as there is a continuing plot across the series. The fact I haven't read Wife for Hire didn't dampen my enjoyment for this book but I think I'd have loved the first one too so I'm upset that I spoiled the ending for myself and now don't want to read it.

Anyway lets get back to get back to my review of Guardian for Hire! I'll admit that I didn't think I was going to like Sarabeth at first, she comes across as quite stuck up in the beginning but it doesn't take long for you to see a nicer side to her. She was raised by her rich grandparents but they didn't really want her and she was never shown any love or affection. She has spent her whole life trying to win their approval but no matter what she does it has never been enough and they always see her as an embarrassment to the family. In a lot of ways she has lived a life of privilege but all the money in the world isn't worth the cold upbringing she had. As you get to know her you realise that she has worked hard to become independent and stand on her own two feet, she refuses to live her life by her grandparent's rules even though she does want them to love her. Sarabeth is a strong woman who is prepared to fight for what she wants and I liked that about her. She can also be incredibly naive in some ways and I had to laugh at the situations she manages to get herself into.

Gavin was a great hero who it was easy to like, he is strong, protective and incredibly sexy. His upbringing couldn't be more different to Sarabeth's and he has a bit of a chip on his shoulder about the fact that she comes from money. Gavin is a self made man who has worked his butt off to get where he is and is proud of what he has achieved, he takes great pleasure in showing Sarabeth that there is more to him than meets the eye. He also enjoys teaching her to protect herself and seeing how independent she is. The chemistry between them was fantastic and I loved their banter but I think I really fell for him when he forced down the horrific dinner that Sarabeth cooked him. She was certainly no gourmet chef but he could see how hard she had tried and he appreciated that enough to attempt to eat it with a smile on his face.

I said in my review of Dirty Tricks that I wanted to start working my way through Christine Bell's back list and reading this story has just confirmed to me that I need to do that. She has a knack for writing great characters who have smoking hot chemistry but she also excels at witty banter and had me laughing out loud all the way through this book. If you're looking for a quick, light hearted read that will make you smile, swoon and fall for a rugged Scottish hero then you can't go wrong with this book.

Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

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