The Texan's Bodyguard

The Protectors of Boone County, Texas #5

by Leslie Marshman

When bomb threats become reality

She’s the only thing standing between life and death

Bodyguard Charlotte “Charlie” Reynolds has worked for many high-profile clients, but Byron Cain may be her toughest charge yet. The famous country singer hates taking direction, even as threats against him escalate. Charlie won’t be deterred by an independent—sometimes rebellious—man when the stakes are this high. But when she outmaneuvers a shocking murder attempt, the unexpected duo will have to watch each other’s backs to survive…even as they cross the line between business and intimacy…

From Harlequin  Seek thrills. Solve crimes. Justice served.

Discover more action-packed stories in The Protectors of Boone County, Texas series. All books are stand-alone with uplifting endings but were published in the following

 Book 1: Resolute Justice
Book 2: Resolute Aim
Book 3: Resolute Investigation
Book 4: Resolute Bodyguard
Book 5: Resolute Security
Book 6: The Texan's Bodyguard

224 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 26, 2026

About the author

Danger. Deception. Desire.

Award-winning suspense author Leslie Marshman is (finally) putting her psychology degree to good use, getting inside the heads of her characters and figuring out what makes them tick. She writes novels that feature kick-ass heroines, the heroes who love them, and the bad guys who fear them.

Leslie called Denver home until she married a Texan without reading the fine print. Now she lives halfway between Houston and Galveston and has learned to embrace the humidity. Her household includes two miniature poodles named Harley and Davidson, and a three-legged box turtle named Stumpy.

If she’s not at her computer making things up, you’ll probably find her camping at a lake, a fishing pole in one hand and a book in the other.

Reviews

[Donna Maloy]

One of Marshman’s best

This is a story about a country singer and a bodyguard… but Marshman turns the familiar trope on its head and comes up with a novel that is different and oh so deliciously good. The singer, Byron, is a complex character. He’s a talented but stubborn man who is willing to give up sure–fire money, and fame to return to his simple country roots. Somewhere along the way, though, he’s made an enemy. Escalating threats make it necessary to hire a bodyguard. Enter Charlie, another complex character, who is strong, capable, fearless, loyal, and… female. Trust Marshman to find the perfect couple to take this story forward. Threats, bombs, and dangerous confrontations ramp up both the tension and the romance as they battle each other and an unknown danger. Of course, love manages to conquer all in this five-star romantic suspense.

[Tina]

Ms. Marshman continues to write amazing stories. This story is about a country music singer and his temporary bodyguard. I was intrigued by Byron Cain’s career because it is not something I know about, and this story made him seem reachable, even if he resists following instructions from his manager and bodyguard. I actually wanted to slap him upside the head a few times. Charlotte (Charlie) Reynolds is Byron’s temporary bodyguard as his is on vacation, and he is receiving bomb threats that start to escalate and endanger people and property. Charlie and other law enforcement resolve to identify the perpetrator. Byron’s dad and Charlie’s family are part of the story, including all their love and issues. Ms. Marshman excels at writing familial relationships in her stories and detailing the characters so the reader can easily relate. It is one of my favorite elements of her stories. I voluntarily read an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Sheri Jesse]

A very, very good story. I enjoyed everything about this one.

[Katie Mettner]

The Texan’s Bodyguard by Leslie Marshman is an absolute standout in romantic suspense and one of the most refreshing takes on the bodyguard trope I’ve read in a long time.

The role reversal was an immediate hook from the moment I read the blurb. Instead of the typical brooding male protector, we get a fiercely capable female bodyguard who is every bit as commanding as she is complex. Watching her balance sharp instincts and physical strength with moments of real emotional vulnerability made her feel incredibly authentic, almost like your best friend or your sister. She’s assertive, decisive, and fearless on the job, but when it comes to matters of the heart, especially with a client she’s sworn to protect, her confidence flounders. Then again, who wouldn’t?

Marshman keeps ratcheting the tension, delivering one edge-of-your-seat moment after another. Every threat feels real, every decision carries a risk, and more than once, I found myself thinking, he really should have listened to her. If Byron had trusted her expertise sooner, so much pain could have been avoided. That frustration made the story more immersive because it underscored just how high the stakes were.

Byron and Charlie’s relationship is layered with conflict, restraint, and undeniable chemistry. She’s constantly walking the tightrope between duty and desire, trying to protect not only his life but also her professional integrity. And when things go wrong, and they did, a lot, she doesn’t walk away unscathed. The cost of doing her job feels real, and that impact lingers, especially when Byron realizes he’s the one who made the mistakes.

Despite all the danger, missteps, and sacrifice, Marshman delivers a deeply satisfying happily ever after. It’s earned, heartfelt, and exactly what these characters deserve after everything they’ve endured.

If you’re looking for a romantic suspense that flips the script, delivers the action, and still hits you right in the feels, The Texan’s Bodyguard is a must-read.

[Reading Addict]

I have been a fan of Charlotte "Charlie" Reynolds ever since her character was introduced in the series. She's a hard working private security operative with a great sense of humor. Her latest assignment has her guarding a country music singer. Byron Cain was doing a performance for his upcoming album when a bomb threat is called into the venue. He really doesn't want to take this seriously but people were hurt trying to get out of the venue so he decides to call the team over at Resolute Security to see if they can get him someone on short notice since his regular bodyguard is off on his honeymoon. Since Charlie was at that disastrous concert, she was the perfect person to get assigned the job. Byron is shocked to see a woman sent to guard him, and an attractive one at that. Charlie has dealt with men underestimating her for her entire life but she knows her abilities and will do the job that she's been trained to do. These two have a lot to learn about each other and themselves but there's a threat out there and it's escalating! The Texan's Bodyguard stands alone in the series. it's a solid romantic suspense story with plenty of action, a bit of angst, some laughs and a bit of heat.

[Red Book Review]

The Texan’s Bodyguard is the sixth book in The Protectors of Boone County, Texas series and it works perfectly as a standalone. I’m excited to go back and read the earlier books now. In this installment, we follow Charlotte, a highly skilled and fiercely dedicated bodyguard who’s assigned to protect Byron Cain who might just be her most challenging client yet. Their partnership starts off rocky, but as danger closes in, the two are forced to rely on each other in ways neither expected. The tension, the close calls and the constant sense of danger make this a fast paced, page turning story that’s easy to get swept up in. I genuinely loved every character in this book, but the chemistry between Charlotte and Byron was the standout for me. Their dynamic felt natural, layered, and full of sparks. The blend of romance and suspense kept me fully invested, cheering them on through every twist and turn. And the uplifting ending tied everything together in such a satisfying way. Overall, I loved this one a lot and would recommend it to any reader especially those who love romantic suspense with strong characters, high stakes, and a romance worth rooting for.

[Janine]

Fast paced and hard to put down.

Charlie Reynolds dreams of leaving Texas and moving to California to work as a body guard for celebrities. When she finally gets a shot at protecting a celebrity, it turns out to be country music star, Byron Cain. Charlie will do anything to keep him safe and prove to the world she is ready for her big career move. But there is one thing Charlie forgot to protect; her heart. She can’t be falling for a client, but she does. This is my favorite book in The Protectors of Boone County, Texas series. It has all the excitement of the other books, but this couple really stood out from the rest leaving a lasting impression with me. I didn’t want the book to end. It is a memorable story with great characters and an interesting plot with lots of twists and turns and surprises.

[Tammy Lunsford - Escape to Books By Tammy]

Bravo to the author for turning this reader on her head with her plot for this fabulous story.

Bodyguard Charlie Reynolds has been hired to protect Byron Cain. That's right folks. The female character is the bodyguard and is guarding the male main character. I loved every word of this one. Byron Cain is stubborn as a mule, but he has met his match in Charlie. She will not take anything off of anyone, and protecting her client is top priority. She can match him in any way and probably beat him in some ways.

There was the perfect amount of suspense, tension, plenty of threats of danger around every turn, which made this mystery easy to dive into and remain there until I finished it. The romance was just right as well.

This might be my favorite one yet by this author.

Thank you to the author for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Susan]

I loved that this story had a female as a bodyguard protecting a male. It was a great twist on the usual gender roles in these stories and it showed how you can be a strong and smart bodyguard but also retain your emotions and sensitivity. It doesn't need to be one or the other. I also loved that the MMC in the story is a country singer. Suspense and music are a winning combination for me!

This story had a lot of suspense and action which is what I love in a story. There are plenty of threats and attempts on Byron to contend with and Charlie is ready to defend Byron against them all.

I really love the way that this author delivers suspense. The pacing is on point and the characters are solid. It is a fast paced story that will keep you hooked until the final page.

[Pointeaway]

This book was so engaging, I truly wanted to see how everything would unfold. I loved both Charlie and Byron, they were well written and easy to connect with. If you love music you will definitely enjoy this book. The main characters helped each other reach their goals in their own ways. An example is Byron just wanted to move his career to focus on what he wanted, Charlie helped him break free and create the music he wanted. I loved how the suspense added to the plot. One of my favorite moments was after an accident and how they got through it, it was a very well written scene. You have to read it to see why. There is a lot to like about this book. I highly recommend you read it, to see what parts you enjoy most.

[Vivian Vincent]

I am a big fan of female "role reversal" where women excel in male-dominated occupations. The Texan's Bodyguard did not disappoint. I loved the relationship between Charlie and Byron, and I also loved that Charlie was tough without being masculine. I've read many books that can't pull that off successfully.

The author built the suspense beautifully and kept me wanting to read "just one more chapter."

I haven't read any other books in this series, I found this book in a Little Lending Library outside the cancer treatment center I go to. When I finished the book, I returned it for someone else to enjoy.

A great read for fans of romantic suspense with a strong heroine.

[Laura R]

Byron is in need of a bodyguard, but a female? How can she possibly keep him safe? But Charlie wins him over with her professionalism, her calmness in the face of danger, and how she's honest about her feelings regarding his songs. There's plenty of danger and few clues as the threats against Byron escalate. At the same time, Byron and Charlie try to fight the feelings they are developing for each other until they no longer can. The person behind the threats was a surprising twist.

[Valeri Sullivan (vsulvn29)]

‘At least things couldn’t get any worse.’

This one doesn’t feel like a Harlequin Intrigue in a good way. A slow burn romance with an impressive amount of character building, each new threat escalating the danger while keeping the story focused on the relationship building between the two main characters. I absolutely loved it!

[Karen Jones]

Fun book. I actually was focused on the wrong suspect for the entire book so it kept me guessing. Good pacing and the characters are easy to like. Definitely recommend.

[Tracy Hart]

Another winner in the Protectors of Boone County Texas series. Action packed, suspenseful, and some soul searching. Charlie loves her job as a bodyguard and wants to be a bodyguard to the stars. That is her dream job.
When a country singer is in need of a short term bodyguard, Resolute Security has just the person.
Except country star Byron Cain, did not expect the firecracker that arrived at his door.
Times are hard for Byron, and somebody is not a fan of his newest music. After a few tragic events, it’s time to figure out who is after him and why. You will not want to put this one down!