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Trueblood, Texas #0B
Secret Bodyguard: A Western Romance Novel
She may be the wrong girl, but this undercover cop will compromise everything he values to make things right for her and her daughter.
Amanda Crowe's baby girl has been kidnapped, and in the shadowy world in which she lives, there's no one to trust except herself. But she hasn't counted on Jesse McCall getting in her way—a man who is more than he seems…
Posing as Amanda's driver, undercover cop Jesse McCall is assigned to watch the mobster's daughter. But he can't ignore Amanda's heart-wrenching effort to bring her child home, nor her siren's call luring him ever closer. As a cop, Jesse has a duty to fulfill. But as Amanda's lover, he'll protect her and her baby from all harm—even if it means breaking the law.
Originally published in 2001
185 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2001
165 people are currently reading
163 people want to read
About the author
B.J. Daniels
512 books1,257 followersB.J. Daniels started her life in Houston, Texas, before her family moved to Montana at age five. She grew up in a cabin in the Gallatin Canyon near Big Sky and later on Hebgen Lake near West Yellowstone. Because of her love for Montana, most of her books are set there.
Born into a storytelling family, all she'd ever wanted to do was write stories. After a career as an award-winning newspaper journalist, she wrote and sold 37 short stories before she finally wrote her first book, ODD MAN OUT. Since then she has won numerous awards including a career achievement award for romantic suspense.
She lives in Montana with her husband, Parker, two Springer Spaniels. When she isn't writing, she quilts, boats and. makes rope/fabric baskets. She always reads, loving to lose herself in a good book.
Born into a storytelling family, all she'd ever wanted to do was write stories. After a career as an award-winning newspaper journalist, she wrote and sold 37 short stories before she finally wrote her first book, ODD MAN OUT. Since then she has won numerous awards including a career achievement award for romantic suspense.
She lives in Montana with her husband, Parker, two Springer Spaniels. When she isn't writing, she quilts, boats and. makes rope/fabric baskets. She always reads, loving to lose herself in a good book.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 8, 2020
Unfortunately, The Secret Bodyguard did not work for me. There was the potential for this one to hook me – I love a good mob story, I love an undercover cop story, and I love a good mystery – but this one failed to wow me in the way I’d hoped.
In truth, it was all too surface level for me. I expected a lot more from this one and found it to be lacking in depth. I failed to feel anything between the characters, there were no surprises in the story, and I came very close to putting this one down and not coming back. As it was short, I finished, but it really wasn’t worth it.
All in all, this one did not work for me.
In truth, it was all too surface level for me. I expected a lot more from this one and found it to be lacking in depth. I failed to feel anything between the characters, there were no surprises in the story, and I came very close to putting this one down and not coming back. As it was short, I finished, but it really wasn’t worth it.
All in all, this one did not work for me.
April 17, 2018
July 2, 2001
Intrigue's part of the Texas Trueblood series continues with "Secret Bodyguard." Jesse McCall is undercover as a chauffeur as he investigates a mobster. When the man's daughter reports her child has been kidnapped, he doesn't believe her. After all, a mobster's daughter has to be a liar, right? Can Amanda make this mysterious man believe her?
"Secret Bodyguard" reminded me a lot of Daniels's "Love at First Sight." In that book, all the characters were connected to one another in a dozen different ways, something that was implausible in a city the size she was describing. In "Secret Bodyguard," it's even worse, especially in a state the size of Texas. "Love at First Sight" pushed the limits of believability. "Secret Bodyguard" bulldozes straight through them.
For most of the book, there are two separate stories: the kidnapping of Amanda's daughter and the mystery of Jesse's birth. This isn't a very successful tactic. The stories don't progress together. The characters focus on one, then turn to the other, then back again. For a woman whose child is missing, Amanda doesn't have too much trouble forgetting about that while she and Jesse investigate his birth. I had the impression the book would have been stronger if the mystery surrounding Jesse's past was left out and the story focused on the other storyline.
Jesse isn't much of a hero. He continually jumps to the wrong conclusions about Amanda and his arrogance toward her is not endearing. It does provide the book's best moment, though, when he guesses what Amanda majored in at college and she knocks him out of his seat with her answer. There's nothing like seeing an arrogant hero get his comeuppance. The story is fast-paced and full of action, but the romance is underwhelming. Jesse and Amanda have very little contact for the first 75 pages of the book, which means they have to fall in love in a very short period of time. It's not very convincing, and the love scene in particular seems forced in rather than a natural reaction on the part of the characters.
Daniels does a good job setting up the next book, "Unconditional Surrender" by Joanna Wayne. "Secret Bodyguard" is an entertaining read, but is ultimately too far-fetched to be credible.
Intrigue's part of the Texas Trueblood series continues with "Secret Bodyguard." Jesse McCall is undercover as a chauffeur as he investigates a mobster. When the man's daughter reports her child has been kidnapped, he doesn't believe her. After all, a mobster's daughter has to be a liar, right? Can Amanda make this mysterious man believe her?
"Secret Bodyguard" reminded me a lot of Daniels's "Love at First Sight." In that book, all the characters were connected to one another in a dozen different ways, something that was implausible in a city the size she was describing. In "Secret Bodyguard," it's even worse, especially in a state the size of Texas. "Love at First Sight" pushed the limits of believability. "Secret Bodyguard" bulldozes straight through them.
For most of the book, there are two separate stories: the kidnapping of Amanda's daughter and the mystery of Jesse's birth. This isn't a very successful tactic. The stories don't progress together. The characters focus on one, then turn to the other, then back again. For a woman whose child is missing, Amanda doesn't have too much trouble forgetting about that while she and Jesse investigate his birth. I had the impression the book would have been stronger if the mystery surrounding Jesse's past was left out and the story focused on the other storyline.
Jesse isn't much of a hero. He continually jumps to the wrong conclusions about Amanda and his arrogance toward her is not endearing. It does provide the book's best moment, though, when he guesses what Amanda majored in at college and she knocks him out of his seat with her answer. There's nothing like seeing an arrogant hero get his comeuppance. The story is fast-paced and full of action, but the romance is underwhelming. Jesse and Amanda have very little contact for the first 75 pages of the book, which means they have to fall in love in a very short period of time. It's not very convincing, and the love scene in particular seems forced in rather than a natural reaction on the part of the characters.
Daniels does a good job setting up the next book, "Unconditional Surrender" by Joanna Wayne. "Secret Bodyguard" is an entertaining read, but is ultimately too far-fetched to be credible.
February 23, 2017
4.25 Overall
I enjoyed reading about Amanda and Jesse. It's amazing that Jesse started his job to help find a missing baby, and to take down JB Crowe, a mobster. He also intended to find out how JB's daughter had arranged for her daughters kidnapping! He didn't matter that he felt a connection with her and attracted he was to her, he was a cop, she was a monsters spoiled daughter! It's never work!
Then the baby's father suddenly comes back to town, Amanda has a secret meeting, an article about an abandoned baby appears under Jesse's door step.
JB asked Jesse to follow his daughter wherever she goes. Not to let her out of his site.
Another meeting, foiled by bought cops, leads to a visit back where the baby abandoned baby was found.
As both Jesse and Amanda get to know one another better, they try to fight their attraction to each other. But as they begin to investigate, they see how great of a team the truly make.
Almost killed several times and kicked out of Red Rock. They soon realize after another failed attempt to get Amanda's Baby, that things were not as they seemed! Another kidnapping 25 years ago was payback for the mother killing herself after her lover was shot and killed. And then thinking her baby died, she didn't have anything to live for. Had she only known that her baby lived!
(And without giving too much away) I believe if The parents could see their little boy today, they would be so very proud of the man he became. Man of Justice and Husband to his fathers best friends daughter, a cop marrying a mobsters daughter, who would of thought!
I enjoyed reading about Amanda and Jesse. It's amazing that Jesse started his job to help find a missing baby, and to take down JB Crowe, a mobster. He also intended to find out how JB's daughter had arranged for her daughters kidnapping! He didn't matter that he felt a connection with her and attracted he was to her, he was a cop, she was a monsters spoiled daughter! It's never work!
Then the baby's father suddenly comes back to town, Amanda has a secret meeting, an article about an abandoned baby appears under Jesse's door step.
JB asked Jesse to follow his daughter wherever she goes. Not to let her out of his site.
Another meeting, foiled by bought cops, leads to a visit back where the baby abandoned baby was found.
As both Jesse and Amanda get to know one another better, they try to fight their attraction to each other. But as they begin to investigate, they see how great of a team the truly make.
Almost killed several times and kicked out of Red Rock. They soon realize after another failed attempt to get Amanda's Baby, that things were not as they seemed! Another kidnapping 25 years ago was payback for the mother killing herself after her lover was shot and killed. And then thinking her baby died, she didn't have anything to live for. Had she only known that her baby lived!
(And without giving too much away) I believe if The parents could see their little boy today, they would be so very proud of the man he became. Man of Justice and Husband to his fathers best friends daughter, a cop marrying a mobsters daughter, who would of thought!
May 30, 2021
Secret Bodyguard (Trueblood, Texas)
Jesse was just supposed to watch Amanda, follow her, watch the property, drive her Father wherever he wanted to go. Watch, watch and learn all the secrets that the fortress that they lived in, he wasn't allowed to have feelings for her. She was off limits to him, this was only a job. But there is that old saying about the best !and plans,etc... There was a hickup in the works by the name of Amanda and she could get him killed! 👍GREAT READ!I
Jesse was just supposed to watch Amanda, follow her, watch the property, drive her Father wherever he wanted to go. Watch, watch and learn all the secrets that the fortress that they lived in, he wasn't allowed to have feelings for her. She was off limits to him, this was only a job. But there is that old saying about the best !and plans,etc... There was a hickup in the works by the name of Amanda and she could get him killed! 👍GREAT READ!I
September 25, 2017
Undercover as a driver for Monster's daughter Amanda, Jesse wonders if her baby has really been kidnapped or if she is using her to get money from her dad. Didn't know who the kidnapper was until near the end.
December 25, 2019
It was about an undercover cop, who was placed in a cardboard box and put in a field right after his mother was shot and killed. He was lucky enuf to have been found by the McCall family and was adopted by them and he was raised as one of 6 siblings.
Later in life he finds clues to who he is; later falls in love with wild girl, whose father is a mobster. Really good read!
Later in life he finds clues to who he is; later falls in love with wild girl, whose father is a mobster. Really good read!
June 19, 2025
BJ Daniel's is a great writer and I love her books
I would recommend this book and all of BJ Daniel's books for everyone to read, this book will keep your interest in being and end
I would recommend this book and all of BJ Daniel's books for everyone to read, this book will keep your interest in being and end
February 27, 2020
Thrilling, entertaining, and action-packed.
February 9, 2021
It took me a bit to get into the story. There was some suspense. Didn't like Gage. Amanda let Jesse help her. Jesse found out some surprising news.
December 18, 2024
Fantastic read! You think you know who the kidnappers are but don't know if you're right cause this gets really twisted.
March 24, 2014
This was a really good book kept you wondering right to the end how it was going to unfold.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews