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Safeguard #2
Deadly Testimony
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 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
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 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
213 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 9, 2016
61 people are currently reading
620 people want to read
About the author
Piper J. Drake
32 books622 followersPiper J. Drake is a bestselling author of romantic suspense and edgy contemporary romance, a frequent flyer, and day job road warrior. She is often distracted by dogs, cupcakes, and random shenanigans.
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January 22, 2016A sexy little end to their workout scene!
He shot a low kick at her and closed the distance faster than he’d done so far, lashing out with a right cross. His longer reach gave him an advantage and it’d would’ve been a great move if she hadn’t been expecting it.
As it was, she slipped to the side just enough for his punch to whisper past her face. Then she raised her shoulder, pushing her cheekbone to her shoulder to capture and tuck his fist against the curve of her neck.
Kyle started to pull back in surprise.
Perfect.
She stepped forward inside his guard and put her left foot behind his right. Seeing her coming forward, he instinctively tried to step back and get his guard back up.
Nope.
She caught his ankle in an ashi harai, driving him backward and down towards where he expected his foot to be bracing his back-step. Tall as he was, he relied on his solid stance to keep his footing too much.
Instead, she threw her right arm up between the two of them and quickly swung it around in an exterior loop to places his still retracting arm into an under armpit lock. He lost his balance and toppled, taking her with him. Which was fine.
She landed heavily on top of him, forcing grunts out of the both of them. Somehow, she wasn’t even going to mind the bruises. This was more fun than she’d had in a while.
“Minx.” He was breathless now and still a little stunned.
The clothes around her throat tightened as his left hand took hold, and he pivoted his hips under her. Throwing his left leg up, she found herself in the beginning of a triangle hold.
Really?
She got her feet under her and heaved herself—and him— up until she was half-standing and slammed him back on the ground. He loosened his hold. Pivoting to her right, she released his right arm so she could get into position to secure an arm bar on his left.
Before she could manage it, he rotated on top of her. “No you don’t.”
She half snarled, half giggled. “Yes, I do.”
And she blocked his right knee with her leg, raising her hips, placing the ball of her right foot on the ground near his other knee and pushing with her right. As he came off the floor, she pulled him to the left to continue the momentum of the roll…
… and landed on top of him.
He chuckled and repeated the move right back on her, rolling them even farther until they both hit the wall, laughing.
She buried her fingers into his hair and his hands gripped the back of her neck.
They met in a kiss, hard and hot and so incredibly good. If she’d been breathing hard before, she lost everything in that kiss.
Suddenly, she didn’t care about anything but his body against hers. They twisted and rolled, and he was under her again as she straddled him. His hands roamed over her as she had her way with his mouth.
She let him up for air for a second as she decided whether she wanted to lick his pulse or nip at his collar bone.
Kyle’s voice rolled over her, husky and dark, sending delicious shivers down her spine. “Let’s get rid of the pants.”
He shot a low kick at her and closed the distance faster than he’d done so far, lashing out with a right cross. His longer reach gave him an advantage and it’d would’ve been a great move if she hadn’t been expecting it.
As it was, she slipped to the side just enough for his punch to whisper past her face. Then she raised her shoulder, pushing her cheekbone to her shoulder to capture and tuck his fist against the curve of her neck.
Kyle started to pull back in surprise.
Perfect.
She stepped forward inside his guard and put her left foot behind his right. Seeing her coming forward, he instinctively tried to step back and get his guard back up.
Nope.
She caught his ankle in an ashi harai, driving him backward and down towards where he expected his foot to be bracing his back-step. Tall as he was, he relied on his solid stance to keep his footing too much.
Instead, she threw her right arm up between the two of them and quickly swung it around in an exterior loop to places his still retracting arm into an under armpit lock. He lost his balance and toppled, taking her with him. Which was fine.
She landed heavily on top of him, forcing grunts out of the both of them. Somehow, she wasn’t even going to mind the bruises. This was more fun than she’d had in a while.
“Minx.” He was breathless now and still a little stunned.
The clothes around her throat tightened as his left hand took hold, and he pivoted his hips under her. Throwing his left leg up, she found herself in the beginning of a triangle hold.
Really?
She got her feet under her and heaved herself—and him— up until she was half-standing and slammed him back on the ground. He loosened his hold. Pivoting to her right, she released his right arm so she could get into position to secure an arm bar on his left.
Before she could manage it, he rotated on top of her. “No you don’t.”
She half snarled, half giggled. “Yes, I do.”
And she blocked his right knee with her leg, raising her hips, placing the ball of her right foot on the ground near his other knee and pushing with her right. As he came off the floor, she pulled him to the left to continue the momentum of the roll…
… and landed on top of him.
He chuckled and repeated the move right back on her, rolling them even farther until they both hit the wall, laughing.
She buried her fingers into his hair and his hands gripped the back of her neck.
They met in a kiss, hard and hot and so incredibly good. If she’d been breathing hard before, she lost everything in that kiss.
Suddenly, she didn’t care about anything but his body against hers. They twisted and rolled, and he was under her again as she straddled him. His hands roamed over her as she had her way with his mouth.
She let him up for air for a second as she decided whether she wanted to lick his pulse or nip at his collar bone.
Kyle’s voice rolled over her, husky and dark, sending delicious shivers down her spine. “Let’s get rid of the pants.”
May 6, 2016
What a fantastic story this proved to be, with a literally kick ass heroine, Isabelle Scott (Lizzy) and a man in danger because he dares to try to tell the truth (Kyle Yeun). During their initial encounter she rescues him from armed assailants who are determined to stop him testifying during and seeing her disarming fighting skills in action inspires him to track her down and hire her services as his bodyguard to supplement those provided by the US Marshals and police as part of their witness protection program. Their close encounters with those determined to assassinate him, explosive near misses and sniper threats make this a fast paced action packed thriller - with romance thrown in to keep everything hot!
The character development in the story is brilliant as the two lead characters interact and respond to each other and the scenarios they encounter, changing many of their attitudes, expectations and behaviour as the action continues. The development of trust, willingness to rely on another and give over control is particularly important for the characters and the growth of these is well portrayed. I found the story engaging, a page turner where you were never quite certain what obstacle or danger would be encountered, making this a journey full of twists and turns, a roller coaster with plenty of surprises en route.
This is the second novel in this series but also works well as a stand alone. Having typed that, I have to say that I also enjoyed the first novel in the series, Hidden Impact , and I'm certainly eagerly awaiting the next book in the series, Contracted Defense, which I believe is due to be released in November 2016.
The character development in the story is brilliant as the two lead characters interact and respond to each other and the scenarios they encounter, changing many of their attitudes, expectations and behaviour as the action continues. The development of trust, willingness to rely on another and give over control is particularly important for the characters and the growth of these is well portrayed. I found the story engaging, a page turner where you were never quite certain what obstacle or danger would be encountered, making this a journey full of twists and turns, a roller coaster with plenty of surprises en route.
This is the second novel in this series but also works well as a stand alone. Having typed that, I have to say that I also enjoyed the first novel in the series, Hidden Impact , and I'm certainly eagerly awaiting the next book in the series, Contracted Defense, which I believe is due to be released in November 2016.
December 5, 2016
ARC provided by the Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Great second book in the Safeguard series. This book also can be read as a standalone as characters from the previous book appear, but they and their backstories don't impact the current plot. This book takes a kick-ass, ex-military, Centurion heroine and pairs her with a civilian hero-in-distress. I haven't read many books with the heroine as warrior and the hero being saved. Interesting concept and delivery.
Isabelle saved Kyle from getting his clock cleaned by three goons. It turns out that Kyle is under witness protection and had slipped his detail. Now, Kyle insists that Isabelle join his protection team. Not long after, Isabelle and Kyle end up on the run. Why is his testimony so important? What Kyle really knows is not worth the effort that Phoenix Biotech is expending to silence him. Final rating 3 1/2 stars.
Great second book in the Safeguard series. This book also can be read as a standalone as characters from the previous book appear, but they and their backstories don't impact the current plot. This book takes a kick-ass, ex-military, Centurion heroine and pairs her with a civilian hero-in-distress. I haven't read many books with the heroine as warrior and the hero being saved. Interesting concept and delivery.
Isabelle saved Kyle from getting his clock cleaned by three goons. It turns out that Kyle is under witness protection and had slipped his detail. Now, Kyle insists that Isabelle join his protection team. Not long after, Isabelle and Kyle end up on the run. Why is his testimony so important? What Kyle really knows is not worth the effort that Phoenix Biotech is expending to silence him. Final rating 3 1/2 stars.
June 4, 2016
This is a romantic suspense novel about a businessman who has insider knowledge about bad things his company is doing. He's preparing to testify when an attempt on his life is made. He hires the Safeguard security company to provide protection and they assign 00000 to protect him.
This was just an ok read for me. The overall plot was fine but the execution didn't work for me for a couple of reasons. It was slow. There was some action but the times in between really drug. Part of why it was so slow was how wordy everything was. The author explained every little thing in detail. The dialogue was stilted in places also. My biggest complaint though was that even those both of the MC's were fairly interesting on their own, I felt zero attraction or emotion between them. I did not see them together as a couple and I felt no chemistry on page between them. Not even in the sex scenes.
I probably would have dnf'd this if it wasn't that it was a review book. This book is part of a series but it is fine as a stand alone. I didn't read book one and I don't think it effected my ability to read this book at all.
*ARC provided through Netgalley*
This was just an ok read for me. The overall plot was fine but the execution didn't work for me for a couple of reasons. It was slow. There was some action but the times in between really drug. Part of why it was so slow was how wordy everything was. The author explained every little thing in detail. The dialogue was stilted in places also. My biggest complaint though was that even those both of the MC's were fairly interesting on their own, I felt zero attraction or emotion between them. I did not see them together as a couple and I felt no chemistry on page between them. Not even in the sex scenes.
I probably would have dnf'd this if it wasn't that it was a review book. This book is part of a series but it is fine as a stand alone. I didn't read book one and I don't think it effected my ability to read this book at all.
*ARC provided through Netgalley*
April 24, 2016
This story had its moments. The action was well done. You can tell that there was a fair amount of research done for this as the terminology seemed true to the parameters. The down time in the story was where it got a little boring and long winded. Kyle was a very formal guy which I really do understand based on his culture. Lizzie was a badass and the writer didn't overly do it to where she loses some of her femininity. The plot was interesting though it glosses over how things wrap up. While it did have a romantic element, it didn't really feel like the center of the plot. In general, I enjoyed this. Safety: No OW/OM/Sharing. The H does have a colorful romantic past. Not Vs. Used condoms. No rape/abuse. No pushing away.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
May 18, 2016
Reviewed by Gemini
With Deadly Testimony, Piper J. Drake has created a novel that truly shows how a female can be just as interesting in the role of bad-ass military sniper as any guy. The dialogue is very entertaining and there is an excellent balance between the scorching romance and the main characters’ attempts to stay alive while being hunted down by unknown assailants. More importantly, this novel is very straightforward and is easy to follow. The suspense elements are not complicated and the action is free flowing without being boring.
Isabelle “Lizzy” Scott is a no-nonsense sniper/private security expert who is accustomed to being underestimated by her clients and colleagues. Her petite stature tends to cause others to dismiss her at their own peril. She is truly a force of nature and can stand her ground versus men much larger than her. When she stumbles upon Kyle Yuen as he is being cornered by a group of thugs sent to intimidate him, she nonchalantly rescues Kyle and later finds herself being assigned as his personal security by her company Safeguard. Kyle is currently under the protection of the US Marshals and the Seattle Police Department while he is waiting to testify against his former employer regarding some illegal activities that he knows about but did not participate in. There is an immediate spark between Kyle and Isabelle that at least Isabelle attempts to deny so that she can stay focused on providing top notch security to her new client.
Isabelle and Kyle end up going off the grid after their additional support detail gets attacked and it becomes clear that there is an imminent threat. Their close quarters lead them between the sheets and things truly heat up just as their attackers seem to get closer. As the chess match intensifies, Isabelle goes on the offensive and shows just how good she is at her job. The best part of Deadly Testimony is that Isabelle never regrets getting physical with Kyle. Neither of them knows where the relationship may go but they don’t spend anytime dwelling on any negative aspects of them hooking up. They both agree to just wait and see what happens. Most books tend to make it seem as if sex just automatically has to make things complicated and distracting. Isabelle is always in charge, but she continues to communicate and never shuts down. She doesn’t second-guess herself and acts with confidence and focus. Both Kyle and Isabelle experience an enormous amount of personal growth throughout this ordeal which makes them admirable and relatable.
I look forward to reading other books in this series. I hope that the other books also depict strong women making firm decisions. Plus, I appreciated the action sequences that were written with imagination without being gruesome.
**Received a copy from Carina Press in exchange for an honest unbiased opinion.**
With Deadly Testimony, Piper J. Drake has created a novel that truly shows how a female can be just as interesting in the role of bad-ass military sniper as any guy. The dialogue is very entertaining and there is an excellent balance between the scorching romance and the main characters’ attempts to stay alive while being hunted down by unknown assailants. More importantly, this novel is very straightforward and is easy to follow. The suspense elements are not complicated and the action is free flowing without being boring.
Isabelle “Lizzy” Scott is a no-nonsense sniper/private security expert who is accustomed to being underestimated by her clients and colleagues. Her petite stature tends to cause others to dismiss her at their own peril. She is truly a force of nature and can stand her ground versus men much larger than her. When she stumbles upon Kyle Yuen as he is being cornered by a group of thugs sent to intimidate him, she nonchalantly rescues Kyle and later finds herself being assigned as his personal security by her company Safeguard. Kyle is currently under the protection of the US Marshals and the Seattle Police Department while he is waiting to testify against his former employer regarding some illegal activities that he knows about but did not participate in. There is an immediate spark between Kyle and Isabelle that at least Isabelle attempts to deny so that she can stay focused on providing top notch security to her new client.
Isabelle and Kyle end up going off the grid after their additional support detail gets attacked and it becomes clear that there is an imminent threat. Their close quarters lead them between the sheets and things truly heat up just as their attackers seem to get closer. As the chess match intensifies, Isabelle goes on the offensive and shows just how good she is at her job. The best part of Deadly Testimony is that Isabelle never regrets getting physical with Kyle. Neither of them knows where the relationship may go but they don’t spend anytime dwelling on any negative aspects of them hooking up. They both agree to just wait and see what happens. Most books tend to make it seem as if sex just automatically has to make things complicated and distracting. Isabelle is always in charge, but she continues to communicate and never shuts down. She doesn’t second-guess herself and acts with confidence and focus. Both Kyle and Isabelle experience an enormous amount of personal growth throughout this ordeal which makes them admirable and relatable.
I look forward to reading other books in this series. I hope that the other books also depict strong women making firm decisions. Plus, I appreciated the action sequences that were written with imagination without being gruesome.
**Received a copy from Carina Press in exchange for an honest unbiased opinion.**
December 10, 2019
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.
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.
April 1, 2025
the premise is super interesting, and i liked all of the research that the author clearly did, but it started to feel more like a textbook on korean food and spy maneuvers than a romance thriller. there were so. many. pages of the two characters just walking around seattle, changing disguises and discussing how covert they needed to be. i think an entire chapter was about their korean dinner. the writing was also incredibly stilted and almost victorian, like “Ah, the woman was delightfully uncommon” would fit better in a georgette heyer novel than a contemporary spy romance. i enjoyed learning about covert operations and reading about lizzy kicking ass but i don’t think this author is for me.
March 15, 2021
Well. The external plot really worked for me, and the protagonists are very competent and unthreatened by each other.
The romantic arc didn't work for me. Why is this guy coming on to her while she's working? Why does he suddenly kiss her and she lets him? Most of the physical parts of this seemed to come out of nowhere.
I enjoyed hearing about all the foods, but it frequently seemed like an info dump. And the copy editor should know the difference between palate and palette...
I'll finish out the series before deciding about this author.
The romantic arc didn't work for me. Why is this guy coming on to her while she's working? Why does he suddenly kiss her and she lets him? Most of the physical parts of this seemed to come out of nowhere.
I enjoyed hearing about all the foods, but it frequently seemed like an info dump. And the copy editor should know the difference between palate and palette...
I'll finish out the series before deciding about this author.
July 15, 2021
This is book 2 of the Safeguard books. A man's testimony against his former employer leads to him needing protection so he can make it to testify. Lots of good chemistry between him and his bodyguard. I like how well the team members work together. I look forward to reading book 3.
July 7, 2022
I'd read this book before, but couldn't remember the plot, so it as a great read! I do wish the author would go into the results of the testimony, though.
My pet peeve: The author consistently uses "palette" when she means "palate". This drives me nuts!
My pet peeve: The author consistently uses "palette" when she means "palate". This drives me nuts!
May 19, 2018
Very good! I've really enjoyed this series. Lizzy and Kyle make quite a team.
December 31, 2019
Quick, fun read. Lots of action, lots of adventure.
March 12, 2020
This was a fun book, a nice break from the dark epic fantasy series I'm reading. Will be reading the third in the series.
Read
December 22, 20215/17/18
February 2, 2024
⛔️(in notes)
March 20, 2017
Lizzy finds herself attracted to Kyle, the detail she is supposed to be protecting in the witness protection program. Too many people know where they are and they have to go dark; quite a few things blow up but Maylin is there to add new dishes to her culinary repertoire.
May 9, 2016
From the very first page of Deadly Testimony, it is clear that Isabelle "Lizzy" Scott is not a woman to mess with! She is coming off a long shift on a personal security detail and all she wants is to get to her room to relax, but when she approaches the elevators she finds her path blocked by several thugs threatening another man. When they refuse to move and make the mistake of underestimating her, she takes the 3 thugs down in under 10 seconds, calmly steps onto the elevator and disappears as the other man is trying to thank her. And bam, that's how you start a story!
Lizzy hasn't seen the last of the man she rescued however, and she soon finds herself being recruited to provide him with close personal protection until he can testify at a trial against his former employer in a week. Kyle Yuen is a bit too smooth and a lot too sexy for her peace of mind, and she has no idea how close her personal encounters are about to become; if she did know, she would have speed walked in the other direction as fast as her feet could take her because running would show a lack of control that she rarely exhibits. Working as a sniper, Lizzy is used to being a loner, and years of having to prove her worth as a soldier and a member of a fire team at her most recent employer have facilitated her perfection of an unaffected mask that slips into place as needed.
Kyle has information about his employer's practices that will likely lead to charges about environmental violations, but when he becomes a constant target with attack after attack trying to end his life, Lizzy decides it's time to go off the grid to figure out what he knows that is so valuable. The only problem is that Kyle doesn't know what could be prompting this level of intensity, and now his sister and his nephew are being drawn into the mess as bait to try to bring him out of hiding. Through it all, both Lizzy and Kyle start to bond and show each other the parts of their personality they tend to bury deep and keep hidden from everyone around them. It doesn't take long before things heat up, leaving them both to wonder what will happen when the intensity of their time together ends with the arrival of the trial- if she can keep him alive to see the witness stand.
Deadly Testimony is the second in the Safeguard series, and while there were a few references to events that seem to have happened in the prior books, I was able to read it as a standalone with very few issues. Kyle and Lizzy were enjoyable characters, and they were able to find some lighthearted moments in the midst of action and tension. I will definitely be reading more of both this series and this author's works in the future.
Lizzy hasn't seen the last of the man she rescued however, and she soon finds herself being recruited to provide him with close personal protection until he can testify at a trial against his former employer in a week. Kyle Yuen is a bit too smooth and a lot too sexy for her peace of mind, and she has no idea how close her personal encounters are about to become; if she did know, she would have speed walked in the other direction as fast as her feet could take her because running would show a lack of control that she rarely exhibits. Working as a sniper, Lizzy is used to being a loner, and years of having to prove her worth as a soldier and a member of a fire team at her most recent employer have facilitated her perfection of an unaffected mask that slips into place as needed.
Kyle has information about his employer's practices that will likely lead to charges about environmental violations, but when he becomes a constant target with attack after attack trying to end his life, Lizzy decides it's time to go off the grid to figure out what he knows that is so valuable. The only problem is that Kyle doesn't know what could be prompting this level of intensity, and now his sister and his nephew are being drawn into the mess as bait to try to bring him out of hiding. Through it all, both Lizzy and Kyle start to bond and show each other the parts of their personality they tend to bury deep and keep hidden from everyone around them. It doesn't take long before things heat up, leaving them both to wonder what will happen when the intensity of their time together ends with the arrival of the trial- if she can keep him alive to see the witness stand.
Deadly Testimony is the second in the Safeguard series, and while there were a few references to events that seem to have happened in the prior books, I was able to read it as a standalone with very few issues. Kyle and Lizzy were enjoyable characters, and they were able to find some lighthearted moments in the midst of action and tension. I will definitely be reading more of both this series and this author's works in the future.
May 20, 2016
Gotta love a fast-paced romantic suspense!
Security for hire Isabelle Scott really just wants to get up to her hotel room when she stumbles upon Kyle Yeun about to be attacked. Even though she's off the clock and REALLY has to pee, Isabelle graciously decides to help Kyle, a move that takes about 10 seconds but earns her a new position as his personal security guard while he's awaiting trial against his former employer. Kyle annoys the hell out of Isabelle almost immediately; unfortunately he also turns her on something fierce.
When the two of them have to go on the run to keep Kyle safe, it will take everything they have to keep their hands off of one another. At some point, why try to fight it? But the bigger question is, will Kyle make it to the trial before Isabel's competition takes him out?
DEADLY TESTIMONY is the second book in the Safeguard series and though it's the first I've read, I had no problem catching up. I enjoyed the action and suspense of this book, and even the romance elements were nicely done as well. There was something about the writing style that was a little off to me, perhaps it was the overly dry tone or the lack of humor (even though Kyle was supposedly quite funny) that made me not enjoy this as much as I might have if there were a little more zing in there. That's not to say that the story wasn't well done, it was, and it was technically pretty well written, there was just something lacking for me.
I liked Kyle, he was a very different male MC, completely dependent on Isabel and her competency to keep him safe. Isabelle was OK, I didn't dislike her, she had some issues with people that I found interesting, but again, nothing stood out to me to make me squeal like a fan girl. The two of them together had OK chemistry, it wasn't fabulous, I didn't feel like they were going to rip each others clothes off at any given moment, but they seem to match up well regardless. The sex… also just decent. Nothing to write home about, but it was hot nevertheless.
Bottom Line: This isn't a bad read, it's just very so so for me. - See more at: http://www.theromancereviews.com/view...
- See more at: http://www.theromancereviews.com/view...
Security for hire Isabelle Scott really just wants to get up to her hotel room when she stumbles upon Kyle Yeun about to be attacked. Even though she's off the clock and REALLY has to pee, Isabelle graciously decides to help Kyle, a move that takes about 10 seconds but earns her a new position as his personal security guard while he's awaiting trial against his former employer. Kyle annoys the hell out of Isabelle almost immediately; unfortunately he also turns her on something fierce.
When the two of them have to go on the run to keep Kyle safe, it will take everything they have to keep their hands off of one another. At some point, why try to fight it? But the bigger question is, will Kyle make it to the trial before Isabel's competition takes him out?
DEADLY TESTIMONY is the second book in the Safeguard series and though it's the first I've read, I had no problem catching up. I enjoyed the action and suspense of this book, and even the romance elements were nicely done as well. There was something about the writing style that was a little off to me, perhaps it was the overly dry tone or the lack of humor (even though Kyle was supposedly quite funny) that made me not enjoy this as much as I might have if there were a little more zing in there. That's not to say that the story wasn't well done, it was, and it was technically pretty well written, there was just something lacking for me.
I liked Kyle, he was a very different male MC, completely dependent on Isabel and her competency to keep him safe. Isabelle was OK, I didn't dislike her, she had some issues with people that I found interesting, but again, nothing stood out to me to make me squeal like a fan girl. The two of them together had OK chemistry, it wasn't fabulous, I didn't feel like they were going to rip each others clothes off at any given moment, but they seem to match up well regardless. The sex… also just decent. Nothing to write home about, but it was hot nevertheless.
Bottom Line: This isn't a bad read, it's just very so so for me. - See more at: http://www.theromancereviews.com/view...
- See more at: http://www.theromancereviews.com/view...
April 21, 2016
Piper Drake takes on the protector/target relationship with a twist, pairing a man in need of professional protection with an ex-military, no-nonsense woman when he finally decides to rat on a company with questionable practices - and risks his life in the process.
Even while writing this review, I’m not too sure what to say about a story that I’d expected to be a bit more straightforward in setting, action and adventure. Perhaps the best way to put it is that ‘Deadly Testimony’ is a wordy read, with every action explained, questioned and drawn out with some odd almost-Victorian-English turn of phrases (“Ah, the woman was delightfully uncommon”, “Your thought process is singularly unique") between both the main characters, which is atypical of a suspense novel.
What strikes me immediately is the sheer amount of...forced diplomacy in the dialogue - sometimes superfluous even - when both characters try for an almost intellectual, near-academic politeness to explain away their own and each other's behaviour: for Kyle’s womanising ways (‘active lifestyle’, ‘companions’, ‘pleasure of entertaining close friends’), his use of escorts, or even Isabelle’s brusqueness and her difficulty in working with anyone but herself for instance. Character-wise, Drake gives us hints of some depth to Kyle’s smarmy arrogance and vain, hedonistic personality but I couldn’t quite see past the superficial veneer enough to like him as a romantic hero. The insistence on remaining vapid and shallow even as he eggs Isabella on because of their mutual attraction felt more sleazy than anticipatory and the manipulative manner with which he does it is (player)admirable but ultimately off-putting.
Consequently, I couldn’t muster up any enthusiasm for Isabelle and Kyle as a pairing; not only are they drawn together by the adrenaline and danger in the few days that they spend in and out of the bedroom, but what hit me time and again was their incompatibility despite the constant, overriding cliché that opposites can attract espoused in too many romantic suspense novels.
*ARC by netgalley
(grateful, nonetheless, as always)
Even while writing this review, I’m not too sure what to say about a story that I’d expected to be a bit more straightforward in setting, action and adventure. Perhaps the best way to put it is that ‘Deadly Testimony’ is a wordy read, with every action explained, questioned and drawn out with some odd almost-Victorian-English turn of phrases (“Ah, the woman was delightfully uncommon”, “Your thought process is singularly unique") between both the main characters, which is atypical of a suspense novel.
What strikes me immediately is the sheer amount of...forced diplomacy in the dialogue - sometimes superfluous even - when both characters try for an almost intellectual, near-academic politeness to explain away their own and each other's behaviour: for Kyle’s womanising ways (‘active lifestyle’, ‘companions’, ‘pleasure of entertaining close friends’), his use of escorts, or even Isabelle’s brusqueness and her difficulty in working with anyone but herself for instance. Character-wise, Drake gives us hints of some depth to Kyle’s smarmy arrogance and vain, hedonistic personality but I couldn’t quite see past the superficial veneer enough to like him as a romantic hero. The insistence on remaining vapid and shallow even as he eggs Isabella on because of their mutual attraction felt more sleazy than anticipatory and the manipulative manner with which he does it is (player)admirable but ultimately off-putting.
Consequently, I couldn’t muster up any enthusiasm for Isabelle and Kyle as a pairing; not only are they drawn together by the adrenaline and danger in the few days that they spend in and out of the bedroom, but what hit me time and again was their incompatibility despite the constant, overriding cliché that opposites can attract espoused in too many romantic suspense novels.
*ARC by netgalley
(grateful, nonetheless, as always)
May 9, 2016
Deadly Testimony is the second book in Piper J. Drake's Safeguard series, about a group of former soldiers whose gone the way of private security. The books in itself can be read as a standalone but the worldbuilding is more in depth with all books read.
Here we meet Kyle Yuen. He needs protection since his testimony can actually make it difficult for a certain company to ever recover from the publicity his statements could reveal. But Kyle is already feeling that despite the tight security the government has provided. True enough, it only took a private bodyguard to take down his would be assassins. It doesn't really take a lot for him to decided engage the services of Safeguard Securities and the presence of one very attractive bodyguard seals the deal.
Isabelle aka Lizzy Scott is an assassin, one that works for the good guys definitely but still she prefers working alone. She likes being part of the Safeguard Team but their parent company, Centurion Corporation also has their eye in keeping her on. But one distractingly sexy client is the one contract can maker her decide where she would prefer to be.
Deadly Testimony's action might be slow boil but the characters of both Lizzy and Kyle are definitely the main attraction. Talk about female power, where the female lead is the protector and the male lead relies on her instincts to stay alive. Surprisingly, Kyle's natural alpha inclination is excellently portrayed in a way that isn't detrimental to Lizzy's directive of protecting. This is displayed in the way he thinks, acts and defers to Lizzy's knowledge. In the same way, what makes Lizzy different is that her character displays softer aspects without having to compromise on her toughness in doing the job. The relationship development is central, so despite being a romantic action/suspense novel, its the slow building romance between these two that makes it so riveting. Excellently written, sexy as hell with enough action to keep you guessing, Deadly Testimony is a definite must read.
*ARC provided by the publisher thru NetGalley*
June 8, 2016
Kyle Yeun isn't a bad guy but he got caught up in the nefarious practices of his company. But when he reaches his breaking point he reaches out to the Feds and agrees to testify them. When he wanders off from his protection and is attacked, he is saved by an off duty Safeguard Agent. She quickly snuffs out the threat and returns him to his protection detail. But when his safety is compromised he knows he needs outside help. He brings in Safeguard to protect him. And he wants Lizzy to protect him!!
Lizzy Scott is working with Safeguard whilst she ponders her future. She's not a real team player, blame her sniper skills on that, but if she wants to advance she's going to need a partner or a team. When she is given babysitting duty of Kyle she is not exactly happy. He is a distraction of the sexiest kind and there is no place for romance when you are guarding someone's life.
Kyle is not the easiest guy to protect, he can be arrogant, condescending and difficult. But he's sick of being left in the dark and wants to know what's happening and be involved in the decisions surrounding his safety, not dictated to and ignored.
But as business and personal lines blue and they give in to the lust they feel, Lizzy just hopes that they can get out of this alive. What follows is a fabulously descriptive trek through Seattle as they attempt to outwit the bad guys and try to investigate a possible mole in the law enforcement agencies so far employed to protect Kyle.
I loved all of Kyle's flaws. Whilst a perfect Alpha hero, his jagged edges and arrogance make you work to like him. Lizzy is kick%^& and so unflappable. She doesn't use her femininity to get out of situations and is a wonderfully professional under fire. They both feel the attraction but understand that the timing is less than perfect. I'm loving this series and can't wait for more!
Lizzy Scott is working with Safeguard whilst she ponders her future. She's not a real team player, blame her sniper skills on that, but if she wants to advance she's going to need a partner or a team. When she is given babysitting duty of Kyle she is not exactly happy. He is a distraction of the sexiest kind and there is no place for romance when you are guarding someone's life.
Kyle is not the easiest guy to protect, he can be arrogant, condescending and difficult. But he's sick of being left in the dark and wants to know what's happening and be involved in the decisions surrounding his safety, not dictated to and ignored.
But as business and personal lines blue and they give in to the lust they feel, Lizzy just hopes that they can get out of this alive. What follows is a fabulously descriptive trek through Seattle as they attempt to outwit the bad guys and try to investigate a possible mole in the law enforcement agencies so far employed to protect Kyle.
I loved all of Kyle's flaws. Whilst a perfect Alpha hero, his jagged edges and arrogance make you work to like him. Lizzy is kick%^& and so unflappable. She doesn't use her femininity to get out of situations and is a wonderfully professional under fire. They both feel the attraction but understand that the timing is less than perfect. I'm loving this series and can't wait for more!
May 12, 2016
Like the previous, this book was a grab-your-attention-from-page-one-and-don't-let-go one. And, similar to the previous, it is the action that draws the pages, not so much the romance. Where Hidden Impact had a car explosion, making Gabe rethink his choice to not help Maylin out, this particular one shows off Isabelle's skills, as well as the trouble Kyle finds himself in. These are standalone books, but it was fun to get to see Gabe and Maylin again!
Isabelle, or Lizzy as Gabe (a childhood friend and now boss) calls her, has spent most of her life proving herself. First in the military, and now as a part of Safeguard. She's tiny, not to mention a 'she', and as such, I felt she had a bit of a chip on her shoulder. Even toward the end of the story, you see her need to keep pretenses up so the people she works with don't find a weakness in her.
Kyle's past decisions puts him in the opening scene predicament, and it's Isabelle's skills that have him seeking out Safeguard and, more accurately, Isabelle. The ensuing pages take us on a ride of suspense, drama, as well as the chemistry between Isabelle and Kyle. Kyle brings out the girly in Isabelle, and it was nice to see her be a little laid back, not as tough around the edges. Kyle's character, however, sometimes left something to be desired. The balance in their relationship is one that sometimes felt off, but on the other hand, simply seemed to work for then.
Another good Safeguard title. I'm curious who will be the next to fall.
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review
Isabelle, or Lizzy as Gabe (a childhood friend and now boss) calls her, has spent most of her life proving herself. First in the military, and now as a part of Safeguard. She's tiny, not to mention a 'she', and as such, I felt she had a bit of a chip on her shoulder. Even toward the end of the story, you see her need to keep pretenses up so the people she works with don't find a weakness in her.
Kyle's past decisions puts him in the opening scene predicament, and it's Isabelle's skills that have him seeking out Safeguard and, more accurately, Isabelle. The ensuing pages take us on a ride of suspense, drama, as well as the chemistry between Isabelle and Kyle. Kyle brings out the girly in Isabelle, and it was nice to see her be a little laid back, not as tough around the edges. Kyle's character, however, sometimes left something to be desired. The balance in their relationship is one that sometimes felt off, but on the other hand, simply seemed to work for then.
Another good Safeguard title. I'm curious who will be the next to fall.
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review
May 9, 2016
MAN, I was in the mood for some romantic suspense when I picked this book up. And I got it. WHICH MAKES ME HAPPY!
*ahem* Where the last Safeguard mission was more of a team affair, this time we get Lizzy going in on her own to keep someone safe. It certainly gave us a different dynamic since solo Lizzy does things differently than she would if she had backup. (No worries, though, the Safeguard crew has her back when she needs it. They're good like that.)
Speaking of which, Lizzy is solo for a reason. She's good at it and she prefers keeping her distance from others to protect herself. She has a few issues. As one does. Kyle balances her in a lot of ways. He appreciates that she's willing to explain why he needs to do certain things and he's more willing to go along with her plans when he understands the reasoning behind it. Which makes sense since he's the type of man who prefers to be in control.
I liked these two. There's a sort of moral gray area between them that made them interesting. Lizzy's a sniper, which means she isn't afraid to take a kill shot. Kyle turned a blind eye to actions he knew were wrong, although he's working on fixing those wrongs now. Neither of them are perfect. They work through their issues a step at a time and they have to invest a lot of trust in one another along the way. Which, let's face it, is fun!
I'm curious to see who's going to be the next team member to find their match.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
*ahem* Where the last Safeguard mission was more of a team affair, this time we get Lizzy going in on her own to keep someone safe. It certainly gave us a different dynamic since solo Lizzy does things differently than she would if she had backup. (No worries, though, the Safeguard crew has her back when she needs it. They're good like that.)
Speaking of which, Lizzy is solo for a reason. She's good at it and she prefers keeping her distance from others to protect herself. She has a few issues. As one does. Kyle balances her in a lot of ways. He appreciates that she's willing to explain why he needs to do certain things and he's more willing to go along with her plans when he understands the reasoning behind it. Which makes sense since he's the type of man who prefers to be in control.
I liked these two. There's a sort of moral gray area between them that made them interesting. Lizzy's a sniper, which means she isn't afraid to take a kill shot. Kyle turned a blind eye to actions he knew were wrong, although he's working on fixing those wrongs now. Neither of them are perfect. They work through their issues a step at a time and they have to invest a lot of trust in one another along the way. Which, let's face it, is fun!
I'm curious to see who's going to be the next team member to find their match.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
May 13, 2016
I liked the role reversal on this one--heroine is the protection, hero is witness being protected--but the heroine still has a thing for pretty shoes, a win-win! :)
Although it took a while to really get "into" the story--Lizzy's a bit standoffish, partly because of the pressures of being a woman in a man-dominated field who constantly has to prove herself and Kyle comes off as somewhat stiffly formal, due in part to cultural differences--once the story got rolling I had a hard time putting it down. I loved the constant costume changes while they were incognito out and about on the streets, though I'm still having a hard time picturing Kyle in a red wig ;)
It did seem like a few things were glossed over/left hanging toward the end--the involvement of Safeguard's counterpart on the opposite side, for example, and their sniper Jewel, who apparently has a past with Safeguard--though perhaps as the series continues that will come up again and be resolved later.
This was my second book by Ms. Drake, but the first in this series--it worked just fine as a standalone, though seeing Lizzie's boss Gabe in action and hearing about Mayin's cooking had me adding book one ( Hidden Impact ) to my TBR before I'd even finished this one.
Rating: 4 stars / B+
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
Although it took a while to really get "into" the story--Lizzy's a bit standoffish, partly because of the pressures of being a woman in a man-dominated field who constantly has to prove herself and Kyle comes off as somewhat stiffly formal, due in part to cultural differences--once the story got rolling I had a hard time putting it down. I loved the constant costume changes while they were incognito out and about on the streets, though I'm still having a hard time picturing Kyle in a red wig ;)
It did seem like a few things were glossed over/left hanging toward the end--the involvement of Safeguard's counterpart on the opposite side, for example, and their sniper Jewel, who apparently has a past with Safeguard--though perhaps as the series continues that will come up again and be resolved later.
This was my second book by Ms. Drake, but the first in this series--it worked just fine as a standalone, though seeing Lizzie's boss Gabe in action and hearing about Mayin's cooking had me adding book one ( Hidden Impact ) to my TBR before I'd even finished this one.
Rating: 4 stars / B+
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 9, 2016
Deadly Testimony by Piper J. Drake is book two in her Safeguard series. It is an action-packed, intelligent, and sexy story with a strong and confident heroine that I absolutely loved and rooted for.
Isabelle Scott, "Lizzy", is coming off shift from working private security during an evening party when she ends up saving a man's life. Unbeknownst to her, the man's life she saved is Kyle Yeun, a man who is being kept under witness protection with the Seattle PD and the US Marshals until an important trial. And soon to be under her protection as well.
Isabelle finds herself hired by Kyle the next day to provide protection after his close call, and the story quickly takes off from there. Fast-paced, and engaging, Ms. Drake keeps you glued to the pages with her well-written story, attention to detail, and well-developed characters. I really liked Isabelle and how she grew through the story, especially in her feelings and relationship with Kyle. Their chemistry was great and I couldn't wait to find out what happened next.
Overall, Deadly Testimony was a fantastic novel and I can't wait read more by Ms. Drake. I very much recommend.
(received a copy through NetGalley from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review)
Isabelle Scott, "Lizzy", is coming off shift from working private security during an evening party when she ends up saving a man's life. Unbeknownst to her, the man's life she saved is Kyle Yeun, a man who is being kept under witness protection with the Seattle PD and the US Marshals until an important trial. And soon to be under her protection as well.
Isabelle finds herself hired by Kyle the next day to provide protection after his close call, and the story quickly takes off from there. Fast-paced, and engaging, Ms. Drake keeps you glued to the pages with her well-written story, attention to detail, and well-developed characters. I really liked Isabelle and how she grew through the story, especially in her feelings and relationship with Kyle. Their chemistry was great and I couldn't wait to find out what happened next.
Overall, Deadly Testimony was a fantastic novel and I can't wait read more by Ms. Drake. I very much recommend.
(received a copy through NetGalley from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review)
August 26, 2016
Another episode of the Centurion Corporation's now new Safeguard Division. Sniper Isabelle Scott is tired and annoyed by her assignment and just wants to get up to her hotel room. At the elevator bank, three thugs surround a man waiting for the elevator. Lizzy quickly assesses the man, then takes the three thugs out.
Next day, Gabriel is approached with a new request for a personal security contract. The gentleman at the elevator, Kyle Yeun, wants Lizzy as his personal guard. He is ready to testify against his employer for certain issues of which he became aware. He is in danger because of it. There is more to the story, of course. When the police on his detail are attacked, a precise and subtle dance begins, as Lizzy takes Kyle on an adventure, going from place to place hiding in plain sight.
While moving, they find time to discover a lot about each other. I will never hear the phrase "sparring in the hotel room" again without thinking of the sexual tension between the two. As usual, there is a good tale of suspense here, as well as a very well-done romance, with overtones of gourmet taste, seduction and a sea change in behavior - for both of them. Excellent story. One quibble: the palate/palette issue. The words are not interchangeable.
Next day, Gabriel is approached with a new request for a personal security contract. The gentleman at the elevator, Kyle Yeun, wants Lizzy as his personal guard. He is ready to testify against his employer for certain issues of which he became aware. He is in danger because of it. There is more to the story, of course. When the police on his detail are attacked, a precise and subtle dance begins, as Lizzy takes Kyle on an adventure, going from place to place hiding in plain sight.
While moving, they find time to discover a lot about each other. I will never hear the phrase "sparring in the hotel room" again without thinking of the sexual tension between the two. As usual, there is a good tale of suspense here, as well as a very well-done romance, with overtones of gourmet taste, seduction and a sea change in behavior - for both of them. Excellent story. One quibble: the palate/palette issue. The words are not interchangeable.
May 10, 2016
I had read the first in the Safeguard series and I wasn't much of a fan. Something about the story didn't click. I figured when I read the second book I would figure out if it was the authors writing style that I didn't quite understand or if it happened to be that story.
I am stuck.
I like the idea of Isabelle, Smart, sexy, with just too much attitude. She can kick butt and I wish the writer would have explored her challenge be a woman in a man's field and how she struggled to keep her famine side. Instead it would pop up from time to time making the reader go Hun really.
I really wanted to fall in love with the book and there are some really some hot scenes in the gym. The Male lead is trying to do something right putting a target on his back.
The story is good and everything flows, with the right balance neither romance or suspense taking over the story. The story cane be read alone but characters from the first book in the series will pop in.
It is a summer beach read with just enough spice you can read it outside with out blushing.
AC From Netgalley.
I am stuck.
I like the idea of Isabelle, Smart, sexy, with just too much attitude. She can kick butt and I wish the writer would have explored her challenge be a woman in a man's field and how she struggled to keep her famine side. Instead it would pop up from time to time making the reader go Hun really.
I really wanted to fall in love with the book and there are some really some hot scenes in the gym. The Male lead is trying to do something right putting a target on his back.
The story is good and everything flows, with the right balance neither romance or suspense taking over the story. The story cane be read alone but characters from the first book in the series will pop in.
It is a summer beach read with just enough spice you can read it outside with out blushing.
AC From Netgalley.
Read
May 18, 2016Initial Thoughts: I liked this second installment in the Safeguard series. I liked the complex nature of Kyle as well as Lizzy. They were not the typical “roles” you expected from the mercenary/bodyguard and the mark storyline. Lizzy is smart, cunning and for all her cold menace, warm and caring. Kyle, for all his faults, is trying to be a better man. I really enjoyed their characterizations and the overall journey between them. Though their romance and connection sparks quickly, it was fitting for the story and their characters. I look forward to the next novel in the series. Please click on the link to the full review by myself and my review partner, Gikany, posted at That's What I'm Talking About blog: http://twimom227.com/2016/05/review-d...
April 20, 2016
I loved this book! It has very fast paced action as Lizzy, a Safeguard asset, is called into service to protect Kyle, a government witness. The threats against Kyle are very real and force Lizzy to take unconventional steps to keep him safe. As they try to keep ahead of the threats, they discover their attraction to each other. The result is romantic suspense at its best.
This is a wonderful series that fans of the genre will love. While part of a series, Deadly Testimony is a stand alone novel.
This is a wonderful series that fans of the genre will love. While part of a series, Deadly Testimony is a stand alone novel.
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