What do you think?
Rate this book
The Doctors Pulaski #6
In His Protective Custody
"You can go back to being the city's dark knight."Dr. Aleksandra Pulaski tells officer Zane Calloway exactly what she thinks when he shows up in her E.R. with a bullet wound. But Zane isn't leaving her E.R. too fast. A former domestic violence case went bad, and now Alyx's life is in danger. With Zane her only hope....
Zane reluctantly signs up to be Alyx's bodyguard. Trouble is, he could get used to having the infuriating beauty around--permanently. But can he keep her safe from a bitter man's revenge long enough for her to penetrate his steely heart?
Zane reluctantly signs up to be Alyx's bodyguard. Trouble is, he could get used to having the infuriating beauty around--permanently. But can he keep her safe from a bitter man's revenge long enough for her to penetrate his steely heart?
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 17, 2011
5 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
About the author
Marie Ferrarella
1,228 books276 followersMarie Rydzynski-Ferrarella
aka Marie Charles, Marie Michael, Marie Nicole, Marie Ferrarella
Marie Rydzynski was born on March 28 in West Germany to Polish parents. She moved to America at the age of four. For an entire year, Marie and her family explored the eastern half of the country before finally settling in New York.
Marie swears she was born writing, "which must have made the delivery especially hard for my mother." From an early age, Marie's parents would find her watching television or tucked away in some private place, writing at a furious pace. "Initially, I began writing myself into my favourite shows. I was a detective on '77 Sunset Strip,' the missing Cartwright sibling they never talked about on 'Bonanza' and the 'Girl from U.N.C.L.E.' before there was a 'Girl from U.N.C.L.E.,' not to mention an active participant in the serialized stories of 'The Mickey Mouse Club.'" Marie began to write her first romance novel when she was 11 years old, although she claims that, at the time, she didn't even realize it was a romance! She scribbled off and on, while dreaming of a career as an actress.
Marie was only 14 when she first laid eyes on the man she would marry, truly her first love, Charles Ferrarella. During her days at Queens College, New York, acting started to lose its glamour as Marie spent more and more time writing. After receiving her English degree, specialising in Shakespearean comedy, Marie and her family moved to Southern California, where she still resides today.
After an interminable seven weeks apart, Charles decided he couldn't live without her and came out to California to marry his childhood sweetheart. Ever practical, Marie was married in a wash-and-wear wedding dress that she sewed herself, appliqués and all. "'Be prepared' has always been my motto,"the author jokes. This motto has been stretched considerably by her two children, Nikky and Jessi, "but basically, it still applies," she says.
In November of 1981, she sold her first novel for Harlequin. Marie, who now has written over 150 novels, has one goal: to entertain, to make people laugh and feel good. "That's what makes me happy," she confesses. "That, and a really good romantic evening with my husband." She's keeping her fingers crossed that her reader's enjoy reading her books as much as she enjoyed writing them.
aka Marie Charles, Marie Michael, Marie Nicole, Marie Ferrarella
Marie Rydzynski was born on March 28 in West Germany to Polish parents. She moved to America at the age of four. For an entire year, Marie and her family explored the eastern half of the country before finally settling in New York.
Marie swears she was born writing, "which must have made the delivery especially hard for my mother." From an early age, Marie's parents would find her watching television or tucked away in some private place, writing at a furious pace. "Initially, I began writing myself into my favourite shows. I was a detective on '77 Sunset Strip,' the missing Cartwright sibling they never talked about on 'Bonanza' and the 'Girl from U.N.C.L.E.' before there was a 'Girl from U.N.C.L.E.,' not to mention an active participant in the serialized stories of 'The Mickey Mouse Club.'" Marie began to write her first romance novel when she was 11 years old, although she claims that, at the time, she didn't even realize it was a romance! She scribbled off and on, while dreaming of a career as an actress.
Marie was only 14 when she first laid eyes on the man she would marry, truly her first love, Charles Ferrarella. During her days at Queens College, New York, acting started to lose its glamour as Marie spent more and more time writing. After receiving her English degree, specialising in Shakespearean comedy, Marie and her family moved to Southern California, where she still resides today.
After an interminable seven weeks apart, Charles decided he couldn't live without her and came out to California to marry his childhood sweetheart. Ever practical, Marie was married in a wash-and-wear wedding dress that she sewed herself, appliqués and all. "'Be prepared' has always been my motto,"the author jokes. This motto has been stretched considerably by her two children, Nikky and Jessi, "but basically, it still applies," she says.
In November of 1981, she sold her first novel for Harlequin. Marie, who now has written over 150 novels, has one goal: to entertain, to make people laugh and feel good. "That's what makes me happy," she confesses. "That, and a really good romantic evening with my husband." She's keeping her fingers crossed that her reader's enjoy reading her books as much as she enjoyed writing them.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 12, 2012
Well, I can safely say MF is consistent. And it's always a pleasure reading her stories. They're not Pulitzer material, I'll give you that, they're not the height of fiction, but they're entertaining, well written, well-plotted, and nicely-paced. Which is tough saying about most of the HQ/S stories out there.
This one took things a bit further than her previous books I've read. We had a serial killer in it. Nothing beats a serial killer, especially a rather cuckoo one.
Sure, the ending was a bit swift (the dealing with the cuckoo serial killer part), and the hero was an ass at the beginning (what else is new, right), but it was still an entertaining, well-written story.
Forgettable? Most certainly. Enjoyable? Yes.
This one took things a bit further than her previous books I've read. We had a serial killer in it. Nothing beats a serial killer, especially a rather cuckoo one.
Sure, the ending was a bit swift (the dealing with the cuckoo serial killer part), and the hero was an ass at the beginning (what else is new, right), but it was still an entertaining, well-written story.
Forgettable? Most certainly. Enjoyable? Yes.
June 25, 2021
I'm not surprised this was originally released ten years ago because yikes. The fact this was rereleased with some really outdated attitudes was a choice. I don't normally write reviews for the mills and boon that I read - I'm reading them for quick romantic easy to read stuff, but this one I just have to.
So basically the hero and heroine meet when the heroine reports her neighbour for physically abusing his wife and the hero, in his infinite wisdom as a police officer, decides there's nothing wrong and that most women just lie about being abused! Because his mum did that and don't you know false accusations ruin men's lives???? You're telling me that even in 2011 the police didn't know that statistically speaking, false accusations are in the minority?
Right so we've got that, which is one thing. And then what do you know, the abused wife Abby, who by the way has only one single line in this book which is to defend her abusive husband, is of course then murdered by him. The hero and heroine, who by the way have the personalities of wet lettuce leaves, then use this woman's death to angst about themselves and their relationship and their respective guilt. Though frankly the heroine, Alyx, does far more angsting than the hero, Zane, who's fault it actually is after he failed to investigate the abuse claims. They sort of address that he should have investigated/believed her but it's glossed over quite quick.
Then as soon as abusive husband goes after Alyx, well then Zane can't do enough for her! Even to the point of quite literally STALKING HER IN A DARK PARKING LOT TO MAKE SURE SHE'S OK. I mean, really. There's also a lot of rhetoric from Zane about, and I quote, "Women who choose to be victims." Yes, that is a phrase I had to read with my eyes in the year of our lord 2021. Again, Alyx does just once try to explain the possible mindset of Abby staying with her husband, but his beliefs aren't really challenged in any meaningful way.
Of course this is a romance. So essentially all of this actual abuse and trauma is to force the two leads together. At one point they're on the phone talking about the villain abusing and murdering multiple women and Alyx is getting all tingly in the nethers listening to the hero's husky voice. Like...is this for fucking real?????? Because talking about women hating psychopaths is just so sexy, apparently.
So basically the hero and heroine meet when the heroine reports her neighbour for physically abusing his wife and the hero, in his infinite wisdom as a police officer, decides there's nothing wrong and that most women just lie about being abused! Because his mum did that and don't you know false accusations ruin men's lives???? You're telling me that even in 2011 the police didn't know that statistically speaking, false accusations are in the minority?
Right so we've got that, which is one thing. And then what do you know, the abused wife Abby, who by the way has only one single line in this book which is to defend her abusive husband, is of course then murdered by him. The hero and heroine, who by the way have the personalities of wet lettuce leaves, then use this woman's death to angst about themselves and their relationship and their respective guilt. Though frankly the heroine, Alyx, does far more angsting than the hero, Zane, who's fault it actually is after he failed to investigate the abuse claims. They sort of address that he should have investigated/believed her but it's glossed over quite quick.
Then as soon as abusive husband goes after Alyx, well then Zane can't do enough for her! Even to the point of quite literally STALKING HER IN A DARK PARKING LOT TO MAKE SURE SHE'S OK. I mean, really. There's also a lot of rhetoric from Zane about, and I quote, "Women who choose to be victims." Yes, that is a phrase I had to read with my eyes in the year of our lord 2021. Again, Alyx does just once try to explain the possible mindset of Abby staying with her husband, but his beliefs aren't really challenged in any meaningful way.
Of course this is a romance. So essentially all of this actual abuse and trauma is to force the two leads together. At one point they're on the phone talking about the villain abusing and murdering multiple women and Alyx is getting all tingly in the nethers listening to the hero's husky voice. Like...is this for fucking real?????? Because talking about women hating psychopaths is just so sexy, apparently.
November 20, 2024
The cop who is supposedly the hero doesn't do his job, jumps to conclusions, and because of it, a woman dies - and he not only isn't remorseful or admit that he messed up, but he has the gall to blame the victim.
I should give up trying to read her books, as so many times when her hero is a cop, she writes a character who would never make it as a cop - you have to be able to take and follow orders, you can't be a loner... I could go on and on.
I should give up trying to read her books, as so many times when her hero is a cop, she writes a character who would never make it as a cop - you have to be able to take and follow orders, you can't be a loner... I could go on and on.
May 10, 2018
Note de 3,75/5
September 12, 2023
Loved this book! The perfect combination of romance and thriller. I couldn’t put it down.
March 20, 2011
Just minutes before the end of his shift, Officer Zane Calloway is sent to respond to a 911 call about abuse. Because his mother accused his father of abusing her to the courts in order to get custody of his brothers and himself, Zane now questions whether accusations of abuse are real or made up.
Needless to say, when he arrives and the scene, doesn't hear anything, and talks to the husband, he tells the caller, Dr. Aleksandra Pulaski to call back if she hears something. Alyx couldn't believe how quick officer Calloway was to declare nothing was going on with her next door neighbors. Not to mention his rudeness to her.
But neither one of them can get the other out of their heads.
After being shot and patched up by Alyx, Zane takes her for coffee where the sparks start flying. But when an unexpected cousin stops by, it halts what might have been.
Things don't get any better when Alyx's neighbor is beaten to death. Now Zane worries the husband will come after Alyx for putting rebellious thoughts into his wife's head.
While staying with her, Zane doesn't feel the normal feel of claustrophobia that he normal feels when he's in other relationships. Yet, his past won't allow him to think of the time he is spending with Alyx as becoming long term.
Then suddenly Alyx receives a page that sends her to the deserted pharmacy counter where she is attacked by the husband.
Having agreed to meet, Zane becomes worried when he can't find Alyx. As the searches for her, Zane finally realizes his feelings and comes face to face with Alyx's attempted kidnapper.
Making it out okay, will only a clean bullet wound, Zane proposes to Alyx as she's patching him up....just like she did earlier.
Needless to say, when he arrives and the scene, doesn't hear anything, and talks to the husband, he tells the caller, Dr. Aleksandra Pulaski to call back if she hears something. Alyx couldn't believe how quick officer Calloway was to declare nothing was going on with her next door neighbors. Not to mention his rudeness to her.
But neither one of them can get the other out of their heads.
After being shot and patched up by Alyx, Zane takes her for coffee where the sparks start flying. But when an unexpected cousin stops by, it halts what might have been.
Things don't get any better when Alyx's neighbor is beaten to death. Now Zane worries the husband will come after Alyx for putting rebellious thoughts into his wife's head.
While staying with her, Zane doesn't feel the normal feel of claustrophobia that he normal feels when he's in other relationships. Yet, his past won't allow him to think of the time he is spending with Alyx as becoming long term.
Then suddenly Alyx receives a page that sends her to the deserted pharmacy counter where she is attacked by the husband.
Having agreed to meet, Zane becomes worried when he can't find Alyx. As the searches for her, Zane finally realizes his feelings and comes face to face with Alyx's attempted kidnapper.
Making it out okay, will only a clean bullet wound, Zane proposes to Alyx as she's patching him up....just like she did earlier.
Read
December 24, 2014Miniseries: The Doctors Pulaski
July 9, 2016
Enjoyed this latest book, more love story than mystery: it introduces the Pulaski cousins to NYC! Looking forward to reading about each of them!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews