Protective Measures

True North Bodyguards #3

by Maggie K. Black

UNDERCOVER BODYGUARD

After an attack at a military charity gala, navy commander Leo Darius learns someone wants to kill him—and kidnap his two daughters. And there's nothing the recently widowed single father won't do to protect his girls…even if it means asking a beautiful bodyguard to pose as his girlfriend. Though security expert Zoe Dean agrees to handle the threats and near-fatal assaults, she refuses to get attached to the handsome commander and his lovely daughters. But with the would-be kidnappers closing in, saving Leo and the little girls, while protecting her heart, may be one mission Zoe can't master.

Genres: Love Inspired Suspense, Harlequin, Mystery, Suspense, Romance, Romantic Suspense

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 1, 2017

About the author

Maggie K. Black is an award-winning journalist with a thirst for adventure. She's lived in the American South, Europe and Middle East, and left a piece of her heart in each. She now makes her home in Canada, where she writes stories that make her heart race, chases her dog around the park and shares her adventures with her one true love and and their two daughters.

Reviews

[Joy Crain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leo will do anything to protect his two daughters from a potential threat but he can't do it alone.

Leo has a mission. Receive intel from a source about a drug smuggling ring. In what seems to be a routine mission, Leo's life suddenly turns chaotic when his daughters are threatened. He has only one choice. Hire a bodyguard and finish his mission. He never thought he'd end up with Zoe, a pretty bodyguard who steals his heart.


This is appropriate for ages 13 and up for mild violence. No sexual content or swearing.

[Books and Spoons · Rating 4 out of 5]

An action packed story with an engaging plot and charming characters. It was easy to embed myself into the story, and the fact that I had not read the previous installations in the series didn't hinder my enjoyment of it.
Zoe Dean is a great heroine, she can handle herself in any situation and is a tough competitor when fighting against the culprits. She has a history that she would rather hide, staying off from the limelight and anonymous is what she prefers. Her connection with the Darius family is immediate, James' daughters accepting and welcoming her presence in their lives, trusting her to keep them safe.
James Darius is a single dad of two precious daughters. He had a difficult marriage, with a lot of baggage and promises he can not break. He is fighting to keep his family safe while trying to get hold of highly sensitive material for his job. To fall for Zoe is the last thing he expected or has time for right now in his life. He is stubborn, capable, fierce protector, with a soft spot in his heart for his girls.
I liked the connection between James and Zoe. It felt authentic and even though rather instant, it was believable. The action is constant, the threats multiple and twisted keeping the reader on their toes, and the plot moving forward with great tempo. The characters faith in God is a natural part of the story. They rely on Him to guide them, to keep them safe. The prayers are constant and well embedded into the storyline.
A splendid, entertaining, intense, Christian faith-based romantic suspense
~ Four Spoons

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Protective Measures by Maggie Black is a fun, romantic suspense with interesting characters. I was mesmerized by the opening. It was straight out of a spy movie The descriptions were so vivid I was holding my breath as Zoe was in her heels on the balcony ledge. Leo is a navy commander and Zoe is a body guard who end up at the same place and the perfect time. Leo finds out someone is trying to hurt him and his girls, Ivy and Eve. He agrees to Zoe protecting them even if she is distracting to him.
Leo was an endearing man and father. Zoe was the woman I wish I could be. Beautiful, strong and smart. She didn't make stupid decisions to prove she was strong. I enjoyed her relationship with her brother and the way she bonded with the girls. The bachelor auction was one of my favorite scenes.

I enjoyed the authors writing and character development.
Sexual content: great chemistry, kissing,
Violence: someone is trying to kill him and kidnap his daughters
I received this book from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.

[Ashley Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I laughed out loud at the way the two main characters met in this book. It was just....perfect! Leo is trying to get some intelligence from a secret source so that means he is undercover at a gala. Zoe is tracking a group that no one believes exists except her and her company. Zoe is a part of a bodyguard company who tries to keep themselves on the down low. Leo has become a target of the gang Zoe is trying to catch and to keep his daughters safe, he is willing to do whatever it takes.
I really loved Zoe. She puts everything she has into what she is working on. She is to take care of Leo's daughters, she puts it all on the line for them, even her heart. She has issues in her past that have to be worked through but I loved how she did that. I liked Leo. He is a strong, military man who loves his daughters. I liked how honest they were about his marriage with his wife. He handled danger well, but I wasn't thrilled with how he pushed Zoe away. That was just his character though. The two of them worked well together and I really enjoyed the ending!
It was a 4/5 for me. I will look for more in the bodyguards series.

Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

[Jo-Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book but, sadly, it wasn't for me. After reading the blurb, I was intrigued. I'm a sucker for the single dad trope and throw in a female bodyguard and I couldn't wait to read it. I had a couple of problems with this story. First, I didn't connect with the main character. The second was the number of bad guys. Somebody had it in for James and his daughters and then the team of bodyguards were trying to figure out who the group of thieves were targeting. I enjoy suspense but that was too complicated for me.

Many others enjoyed this book and gave good reviews so just because I didn't like it doesn't mean you wouldn't.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read the first two books in the series, but it doesn't seem as though that's required. I thought the story was good and suspenseful. Zoe was likable and so was James. The ending was pretty good too. I'll probably want to read the other books in this series at some point.

3.5 stars

[Miranda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly this was not my cup of tea. I almost could not finish the book, I kept loosing interest and I felt as if the book really dragged on. Don’t get me wrong there was action throughout, but it seemed very mundane, almost like there was something missing, maybe more detail should have been brought into those parts. I constantly felt like I knew what was already going to happen, I’m sorry but I can’t stand books like that!! I thought someone was going to get kidnapped and there was going to be a big twist of a story, but none of that happens, there was a slight twist at the end of the book that was great, but I wish I saw some of that in the beginning so I didn’t lose interest. Leo and Zoe do have something unique, I just hate how it takes Leo so long to admit how he feels. He almost strung Zoe along, I felt like he was made out to be a coward which isn’t fitting with his profession. Now Zoe I liked her right from the gate, who doesn’t enjoy a strong heroine, and the way she feels about the girls and Leo is relatable, without Zoe the story wouldn’t have been any good! As for Eve and Ivy, it was nice how attached they became to Zoe . I just wish we learned more about them, because Ivy didn’t open up really until the very end. Sorry for the low rating, it’s just my opinion and like I said this was not my cup of tea, but I’m sure someone else may enjoy this read. Just don’t lose patience and make it to the end of the book because out of everything the ending was worth it, stay strong and good luck!

[Glenda Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the True North Bodyguards. This is an awesome book. I really enjoy Maggie's work and I'm sure you do too. This book is well written, action packed, and fast paced. You'll love her characters.

Navy Commander Leo Darius learns he is a target for terrorists. He goes to a gala to receive a secret message but notices a beautiful woman that turns to him but they are shot at. He soon realizes he is the target of the killer. He is a widower and has two young girls to think about and protect. He agrees to have Ash Private Security give him a bodyguard and it turns out to be the beautiful woman he had helped at the gala. How can he protect his heart and find these killers?

Security Specialist Zoe Dean goes to a military gala the find out information on a terrorist group called The Anemoi. When she is helped by the Commander she shares some of the characteristics of this group. It turns out that he is the new target. Zoe must find out why and keep Leo safe but at the same time he is trying to protect her.

A great journey of two souls drawn together but refuse to love again. They struggle to find out who targeted him and why. God has a plan for these two; a plan for a hope and a future. God has a plan for you too. Give Him your trust and watch Him turn your life around.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Protective Measures" is a Christian romantic suspense novel. It's the third in a series, but you can understand this book without reading the previous ones.

Zoe was at the charity gala because Ash Private Security tracked a group of thieves there. The thieves' next target appears to be Leo and his daughters. Leo was there because he's the contact for a secret deal to buy important military intel from an anonymous source. He hires Ash Private Security to watch his back and protect his daughters while he waits for the source to contact him. Of course, Zoe was highly involved in this protection, and they save each other's lives several times. Zoe and Leo respect each other, and they fight together as partners. They also heal from past hurts as events force them to confront things in their pasts.

The suspense came from the bad guys attacking them, from not knowing who the intel contact was, and from a mean person from Zoe's past showing up to cause trouble for her. The Christian element involved forgiving people (including Zoe forgiving herself). There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this exciting and interesting novel.

I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Protective Measures is funny, mysterious, suspenseful, affectionate, capricious and chivalrous. Leo is undercover secretive and Zoe is tracking something no one know about what a pair - how can they trust each other? hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. The book shows some humor and some seriousness. It is an equalizing book not just in fun and seriousness either - if you know what I mean. Leo has two daughters - boy I pity him any guy that would want to date either one of them - I digress - He is an ex - military man, honest, sweet, gentle, courteous and yet lethal with his two hands - oh yeahhhhhh. Zoe watched over his daughters. Yahooooo did she get a lesson and a half babysitting them - The end of this book is one major Surprise and your really truly could not even fathom what happens. - you have to get this book and read about these two daughters and the twists and turns and that final twist in the end - wahooo..........enjoy ya'll. I received a complimentary copy of this awesome book to read from the Publisher and NetGalley; all the opinions expressed in this review are all my own.

[Kelly Knapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zoe is a terrific protagonist, strong and well trained but just a little unsure of herself because of an incident that happened when she was just 15. She currently works for a body guard agency trying to determine who the next target is by a group only known by Greek code names

Leo is a Navy Commander, who was recently widowed and is try to raise two girls. He is looking for information regarding drug smuggling on Naval ships. He is meeting an informant.

Then the event facility is set on fire and Leo has little choice but to grab Zoe and jump out a window aiming for the river. Zoe comes up wet, but safe only to realize Leo isn't. Now it is Zoe's turn to save Leo. Why does it look like Leo is the next target? does it have anything to do with his informant?

As a series thriller/romance, we know that in the end all will be right. I light piece of reading that wont shake things up too much. A great read to relax and unwind with before bed or before getting to that in depth reading. This is a good example of the genre...mystery without too much concern for the end result.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its clear something is going on when a series of attacks occur around James towards his daughters and the lovely bodyguard. It gets to a point where they are not even sure who is the intended target and why. They have a group in mind of who is terrorizing them and for not all James can think of is keeping his children safe so Zoe helps out this family to keep them safe.

I absolutely loved this book there was non stop action, just when things seem nice and safe something bad happens. I love being kept on my toes. I loved that there was plenty of information to keep the readers such as I guessing. I loved that I ended up having a hard time pin pointing who was the intended target being that everyone in thier small group seemed to keep having mishaps. And though it all, just when I thought I knew what was going on I kept getting surprised. I have plenty of love for this book and the characters. This was such a great read!

[Marilyn Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book three in the True North Bodyguards series. However it is a stand alone book, I am sure I missed some history of some of the characters by not reading book one and two, but had no problem keeping up.

This book is full of mystery, suspense and romance. There are many twist and turns in this book and it will keep you guessing.

Navy commander Leo Darius, is a handsome determined man. When his daughters lives are threatened he must hire a team of bodyguards, yet continue on the mission assigned to him. When one of the bodyguards is the beautiful and mysterious Zoe Dean, will they be able to find out who is behind all these threats and finish the mission while keeping the girls and their hearts safe?

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leo is a widowed Navy commander intent on meeting with an informant with intelligence information. Zoe steps in as his bodyguard to protect him and his two cute daughters, Ivy and Eve.
As I started writing this, I realized how hard it was going to be to explain because of all the elements in the story.

The Irishman, Killian Lynch, tries to cause trouble for Zoe. There is really no specified reason for that. We are not informed about the damaging information that was posted online. In the end, he doesn't seem to have to face consequences for his actions.

The informant is introduced at the very end. His character is not developed (maybe another book).

An additional plot is the attempted possession of Ivy and Eve by a former friend of their deceased mother.

There's another group that is trying to destroy Leo. That issue is not resolved either. I wished she had tied up the loose ends better.

[Lizzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, I can't believe how long it took me to read this book. Usually, I'm done with a book between 1-4 days. Maybe I wanted to take my time and actually get to know the characters.
This is the first book in the True North Bodyguard series that I have read. It is the third book in the series. Ever since I read Maggie K. Black's first book, I knew I liked her writing style, and Protective Measures was no different.
It was filled with heart-stopping suspense, intense action, and sweet romance.
The best part about it was that even though I haven't read books 1 and 2 yet, I could still follow the story line.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like Book 2 of this series, this one also follows the pattern of Book 1: "High-powered, almost non-stop action makes this narrative quite a thrill ride. Otherwise, this book pretty much follows the typical pattern for this genre." That being said, this book has an added bonus in the way the lead characters, Leo and Zoe, strike "sparks" when they're together. I'd keep turning the pages of a book for more of that in the narrative than all the "action" in it. The character, Alex, returns to being the intriguing man of Book 1 (as if Book 2 didn't exist); I liked that redemption of a character but, at the same time, it's frustrating.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

It got better as the story progressed

For me it started a bit slow. I liked all the beginning characters but just didn't fully engage with the plot. BUT...well----I'm the proud and lucky person to be owned by a little white FLUFF-Y dog. (You'll get that reference when you read this book.) But after that, the story picked up. Yep! I'm a sucker for cute, sweet dogs And even more so when its has a little white one.
Rating:
4.5 stars rounded to 5 when a site takes only round numbers.

[Joy Melville · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story has some great action, if you can keep up with it, has some unique tension and conflict between hero and heroine, but I found it a bit disappointing. NO SPOILERS here!

The heroine is unique, and her backstory was handled well, until the reveal. Left me a bit deflated. Thus my 3 star rating.

[Paula Legate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was action-packed, had me on the edge of my seat several times. I loved the cast of characters. I also loved how Leo and Zoe fell for each other while protecting Leo’s daughters. The two girls made this book even better. Loved the giggles, and laughter. I would recommend this book.

[Marguerite Priest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saved the best for last- or at least third...

This story had intrigue, mystery, romance and action! Zoe's character development rang truer than the previous heroines and Leo was also more relatable. The twists and turns weren't so much that you got lost, just enough to keep you up reading to the end!

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of Maggie K. Black's best. Strong characters woven into a page-turning narrative makes this a can't-stop-reading-till-you're-done book.

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed from start to finish

[Elaine Applebury · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've enjoyed this series.

[Sandra Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wild ride! Great book!

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

a terrific read!

Packed with action and romance, this is a great book. Best one in this series yet. I guess I’ll have to read the next one!!

[Sheri Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick, easy read. I really enjoyed this story though I don't remember reading books 1 & 2 so I'm going to have to go back and read them to see how the stories all fit together.

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: True North Bodyguards

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: True North Bodyguards