The Bodyguard Affair

Black Diamond #3

by Anna Stone, Hildred Billings

A spoiled heiress meets her match in a commanding bodyguard.
 
Bianca Black lives a privileged but sheltered existence. The youngest daughter of the wealthiest family in Seattle, she yearns to spread her wings and gain her independence. So when her mother insists she get a personal bodyguard to protect her from a threat she refuses to explain, Bianca isn’t happy. Until she meets her protector.
 
Founder and CEO of Rainier Protection Services, Sam Reddy has built her bodyguard firm from the ground up. She and her team are the best there is. When she takes on Bianca Black as a client, she’s expecting it to be a simple job. A young heiress is no match for a hardened military veteran like Sam, whose past has taught her to never let down her impenetrable guard.
 
But Bianca has a way of getting under Sam’s skin. And Sam longs to put the bratty princess in her place in more ways than one. Embroiled in a scorching hot game of push and pull, temptation ignites. But with a malicious stranger targeting Bianca’s family and a secret threatening to shatter her world, she and Sam risk losing everything.

Genres: Lesbian, Romance, BDSM, Queer, Butch Femme, Contemporary, Audiobook

318 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2022

About the author

Anna Stone is the award-winning author of lesbian romance bestsellers Being Hers, Tangled Vows, and more. Her sizzling sapphic romances feature strong, passionate women who love women. In every one of her books, you’ll find off-the-charts spice and a guaranteed happily ever after.
Anna lives in Australia with her fiancée and their two cats. When she isn't writing, she can usually be found with a coffee in one hand and a book in the other.
Subscribe to Anna's newsletter for an exclusive free novella and short stories at annastoneauthor.com/newsletter

Reviews

[pipsqueakreviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hot bodyguard.

This is the third and final book of the Black Diamond series by Anna Stone and Hildred Billings. It's my first series by these two and it was better than expected. This series is about three sisters of the wealthy Black family and each sister has a sapphic love story to tell. This one is about the youngest, Bianca. Bianca has frankly been the most unimpressive sister until this book. I mean, there's Parker, the wild child, and Scarlett, the heir, and then there's baby Bianca who's the most doted on by their mother and, through this book, we also see exactly how suffocating that can be. And I'm all too familiar with smothering parents so I empathise completely. Bianca may appear weak given her health issues, but she's also a sensitive, considerate and genuine woman and I like that.

Sam is a very stereotypical bodyguard character - guarded, stoic and professional and I love the whole dynamics that goes on where Bianca seduces Sam until Sam caves in. And the sex is hot and slightly kinky...

The focus of this story is largely on Bianca, the Black family and whatever little secret that her mother seems to be guarding fiercely and that requires more security for the family, which was nice, but I wished we had more of Sam's family too.

This series ended on a heartwarming note. I like it.

[XR · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a great read. Sam's such a cool character and Bianca was cheeky. I forgot to mention it in the previous review, but I love how Parker totally knows her sisters so well. The end to the series was perfect for all three sisters too. The stalker mystery was so toxic and crazy, but I loved how Mrs. Black finally chills out after that whole situation ended, 'cause she's hilarious when she isn't being such a homophobic twat.

[tenthmuse ☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

someone free anna stone from this type of covers PLEASE🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[Swaye · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, I would have been happy if this book had just been a novella with that amazing epilogue to tie things up.

[Netgyrl (Laura) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars - really solid bodyguard story. I enjoyed this read a lot

I skipped the middle book because the blurb kind of turned me off (not a super big kink fan). I love a good bodyguard trope and this is one of the better ones I have read. Love the diversity here. The kink level is very low, basically, a bit of brat taming/spanking and I found it kinda... cute? :D

While the characters from the other two books are here, being that I read the first book, I don't feel like I missed out on a lot by skipping to the 3rd book. I understood, who everyone was and the significance of what was going on with the mom/stalker storyline, and why the twist was such a big deal.

If you read the first book and liked it, I would definitely recommend this one as well.

[Bárbara Sousa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful ending to such a beautiful series!! I loved this third and last book so much!! I’m a sucker for a bodyguard/“damsel in distress” story and this one DELIVERED IT!! Sam and Bianca were the sweetest! And their hot scenes were very very hot!! So good!! And I gotta say, I was shook to know what we found what about Viviane, the girls’ mother xD but I loved it hehe Such an awesome twist, even though it was also sad… anyways, best ending ever!! I’m happy everyone got their happy ending 💛 the whole series is so wholesome!! 100% recommend it

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here comes what will undoubtedly be my weirdest ever review. Are you ready? Here it comes...

"Too much plot!"

There it is, in a nutshell. For a full on rumpy-pumpy properly spicy Anna Stone wlw romance, this just felt plot heavy.

And that's not to say I didn't enjoy it, and that there weren't plenty of marvellous moments, I just could have done with a little less soap.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third book in the "Black Diamond" series and I liked romantic part of the book between the mains, Bianca and Sam.
Bianca is the youngest daughter of the Black family and even if she considers herself an adult, she's far from being one. Her decisions throughout the book irritated me quite a lot but we all have been there, haven't we?
Sam is Bianca's bodyguard.
I loved how Sam dealt with Bianca's tantrums, though😊 Very hot!

The part that I didn't like was the high point of the story, it seemed rushed and unrealistic.

Nonetheless, I recommend the whole series.
Brava, Ms. Stone!

[Dide · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh men! This story was disappointing! From clear unprofessional boundaries broken, having multiple security breaches & not getting fired, making up in places obviously vulnerable, stringing the story with an obvious culprit & suspect, endangering two of your clients while barging into a deranged suspect to prove super hero? Jeez!
Only consolation is a nice family ending

[Tere · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the only time I can recall Abby Craden not making a story better. The voice was too childish (and btw, Abby voices the best kids) for the content of the book.

[currentlyreadingbynat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna Stone and Hildred Billings conclude the Black Diamond series with this captivating and suspense-filled novel, The Bodyguard Affair. This final instalment dives into the life of Bianca Black, the youngest of the Black sisters and a total brat, who craves independence from her overprotective mother.

Enter Sam Reddy - ex-military, super hot bodyguard. Despite initial hesitations, Sam takes on the role of Bianca's personal bodyguard. The dynamic between them is charged with tension; Sam fights her instinct to dominate, while Bianca signals a desire for such control. Amidst this, Sam suspects Bianca's mother might hold the key to the looming threat over the Black family.

I liked the way the story intertwines the evolving relationship between Sam and Bianca with a backdrop of suspense and family secrets.

Another great book in the series and I'm hoping we see more from this duo in future.

[tian · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book is my favorite in this series but I did really enjoy Bianca as the MC. The bodyguard trope is a classic but there’s also a slight age gap that is dealt with well.

[Judy - JC · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book took me so long to finish. I have a few guesses why it happened but I’ll mention them in a bit. By the way, I got invested in this review because I really enjoyed the first two books of this series.

So, this story follows: Bianca Black, she is the youngest sister of the Black’s siblings, Scarlett is the oldest you get to know about her in The Executive Liaison and Parker is the middle one, more about here in The Girlfriend Arrangement. Bianca is spoiled but has struggled to have her voice heard, her mother is overprotective and to have diabetes 1 doesn’t help. The Black family started to receive threats and they are being stalked, to assure their safety, bodyguards were assigned to each family member. Sam Reddy is the owner of Rainier Protection Services, a company hired to provide the security services to the Black family. Bianca and Sam met during this period of time and well things happened.

What I didn’t enjoy:
1. Bianca was so immature, the type I didn’t know if I could stand because it was mixed with being naive so for some reason it was worse, she wanted to be treated like an adult but was so childish. For example, this quote: “Vivianne sighed. “I’m sorry, baby. This is all my fault.” “I’m sorry, too, Mom.” Bianca didn’t know what she was sorry for, exactly..” To avoid any kind of spoiler I’m going to hide my thoughts here How the hell you don’t know why you are sorry. Because of you there’s a gun in front of you and your mother!
2. Later in the book she says “But I am a grown adult now. I need to be able to make my own decisions. The right ones for me.” Yeah, not really mature to say that.
3. This story seemed to focus more on Vivianne than Bianca.
4. Didn’t mention Parker and Scarlett enough.

What I didn’t find realistic:
1. How from out of the blue Sam changes her mind regarding dating Bianca.
2. Cheesy BDSM, a bit cringey the dialogues for me.
3. No cops in a hostage situation. Okay..
4. 4. The age gap. Personally I didn’t find their age difference as an age gap.

What I found weird:
1. In one instance Sam said: “Bianca is lucky to have us both.” I didn’t like how it sounded, lol!

What I really liked:
1. The story behind Elle Perry. I didn’t enjoy how predictable her insanity was but the story between Vivianne and Elle and what happened to Elle after Vivianne dumped her, very, very good.

Recovery:
1. Bianca acknowledges that she needs to keep changing.
2. Spike the cat. On point.
3. The insulin pump, it was part of the story as well the effects of having diabetes, it felt real.

What I would prefer:
1. The epilogue to include more about Parker and Scarlet. Not too fair that Bianca even gets married and Parker and Scarlet barely acknowledge their relationship, I know all relationships have a different pace but it’s unrealistic considering how those other books were written, at the end they were just filling some blanks in a rush.

This book has so many fun quotes and if you read all the previous books, specially Parker's this is funny as hell:
1. “..Bianca briefly wondered if someone had died. Why did my mind go straight to Parker?”
2. “Parker had been running around getting in more trouble than a prison inmate.”
3. “Scarlett would have known who to call, and Parker would… I don’t know. Run them over with one of her blasted cars!”
4. “I would give up my life in a minute to save any of my daughters. Even Parker.”
5. “While Bianca’s life flashed before her eyes for what had to be the third time that evening..”
6 “When it comes to ‘where’s the baby?’ we’re all gay,” Bianca explained. “It’s our only defense.”

[Georgie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ I really enjoyed this conclusion to the Black Diamond Series. Great chemistry, an undercurrent of suspense, and as expected - a generous serve of spice. But most of all, it was a lovely farewell to a endearing ensemble of characters and a gloriously messed up family.

Oh, and the series narration by Abby Craden - splendid as always.

[Michelle Schuler · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bodyguard Affair

Dynamic Duo Anna Stone and Hildred Billings finished the trilogy fabulously. I enjoyed the chemistry between the MCs and their growth. I would love to see these two authors join forces again in the future.

[lauraღ · Rating 3 out of 5]

“If you’re so worried about me running off, why don’t you tie me up so I can’t go anywhere?”

I've never had the best of luck with either of these authors' solo books, so it's a nice surprise that my fave book so far from either of them is one that they co-authored. This book needed to deliver a little more... something for me, but it was still a really fun time, a nice quick read.

This is the third book in a series, but I skipped straight to this one because I adore a bodyguard trope so much. (Now that I've finished, I'm thinking I miiiiight go back and read the other books?) Bianca is the bratty and headstrong youngest daughter of a billionaire family, coddled by her overprotective mother because she's the baby of the family, and also because of her diabetes. When things from her mother's past start popping up, Bianca needs a bodyguard, and Sam comes into the picture. A lot of the storyline here is very simple and very tropey, but with a lot of elements that I loved. I loved that Bianca is the impetus for their meeting, because she's so determined to have at least some say in her life. Brat-taming isn't my favourite trope, but the authors struck just the right tone for me, with Bianca deliberately acting out and trying to touch a nerve in Sam's cool façade and then happily reaping what she sowed. Sam herself was really dreamy, and I loved the way she was described, with so much masc strength and a few feminine elements. (Butch women with long pretty hair are my eternal catnip.) Her backstory wasn't the most inspired thing in the world, but I still enjoyed it for the vulnerability she displays. The plot plays out in a kind of predictable way, and I'm not in love with some of the messaging? Or some of the ways it could be interpreted, I guess? But I mean, it definitely wasn't bad. I wanted a few more actual bodyguarding scenes, but those that we got were fine. I loved the bits at the club and in the carpark; a lot of great sexiness. As I've said before for both these authors, there's something in the writing that doesn't quite strike home, doesn't quite make me feel the romance. It was a little too plain? But at the same time, I just had a lot of fun with this.

Listened to the audiobook as read by Abby Craden, which... gah. Amazing as always. I always adore her butch voices but her cutesy femme voices are growing on me too. I think writing this review has convinced me to go back and try the other books in the series. I'm hoping I'll like them just as much, or more!

Content warnings: light D/s dynamics, spanking

[queer_aussie_reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have absolutely loved reading the Black Diamond Series, but The Bodyguard Affair may be my favourite. It was the characters, primarily Sam, the super-hot bodyguard, but even Bianca, who is the epitome of the spoiled rich bratis hard to resist.
Book Three focuses on the youngest Black sister, and it can be read alone, however, with appearances by both Parker and Scarlet from books one and two, I would say you would be missing out on the full scope of the story.

Bianca is the baby of the family and feels the burden of her role just as acutely as her sisters did theirs. Unable to move without her mother’s permission or reactions, she feels smothered and out of control. When Sam enters her life after her security company is hired by the Blacks, Bianca is smitten, yet determined not to have another woman control her every move. The problem is that Bianca yearns for Sam to control her in a more private setting, but convincing the other woman it is a good idea isn’t as easy as she would hope. Amidst the turmoil of lust, sex and desire, the threat hanging over the Black family remains a mystery, and it takes a secret note and a wilful Bianca before the truth is finally uncovered.

Like the previous books in the Black Diamond series, Anna Stone and Hildred Billings mix erotica and suspense in the most perfect of doses. The writing is fast-paced and exciting, and the characters ooze chemistry from the very beginning. While their development is not necessarily smooth, it is realistic.

The Bodyguard Affair was the perfect ending to a great series!

[cloverxheart · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐
I really enjoyed the first two books but this one was disappointing.

The plot was interesting enough but also quite predictable.
I of course enjoyed the snippets of the characters from the previous books.

Bianca was an annoying and childish brat.
And Sam was just extremely boring and unprofessional.
I didn't believe in their romance at all, I honestly don't even understand how their relationship even developed. If it had been just sexual it would have been fine, still unprofessional af but fine. But I have no idea how they can have feelings for each other when they barely know anything about each other.

[Lenka · Rating 4 out of 5]

you know what what, hell yeah

[Caro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Irgendwie haben mich alle Charaktere etwas genervt aber was soll ich sagen... Enemies to lovers × Bodyguard hat mich dann doch abgeholt

[Subira · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book brings back Wattpad memories with the cliché bodyguard and their client, I enjoyed it.

[Ellie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This has the same plot as Guarded Desires but with a brat kink, which I do not care for.
I low key hated both Bianca and Sam, which is a pity because they both had interesting aspects to their characters. This was a struggle to finish, an Anna Stone book normally takes me 2-3 days and this took two and a half weeks.

[Erin F · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the final installment in the Black Diamond series. I enjoyed getting to know Bianca better while also being introduced to Sam. Sam is honorable, strong, and adorable and a great complement to Bianca. Bianca, the youngest of the Black daughters, may be spoiled and sheltered, but she longs for the freedom to find and prove herself to her entire family. When presented with the unexpected need for protection dictated by her mother, she is introduced to Sam and both are unexpectedly intrigued (and attracted) to the other. Of course, Sam, being a professional and head of Rainier Protection Services, must fight that attraction while trying to protect a spoiled princess who doesn’t want to be protected, or followed, or sheltered. Vivianne Black is scared for her family, especially her youngest daughter, but won’t share the specifics of the threats against them. How does Sam protect Bianca and the family when she doesn’t know the danger? How does she deny what she feels for Bianca as they grow closer? The conclusion of Black Diamond series is enjoyable, hot, and sexy as one expects from Billings and Stone.

[court of stories · Rating 3 out of 5]

꧁THE BODYGUARD AFFAIR꧂
r e v i e w

Tropes:
– bodyguard romance
– spoiled youngest sister
– age gap
– secret dating
– forbidden love
– bd$m elements

The Bodyguard Affair was the book I was most excited for. It did disappoint me a little regarding the side plot. But regarding the romance and the chemistry between Bianca and Sam I‘m happy. Their banter is so much fun, and even though they are sometimes a little bit over the top in my opinion (especially Bianca), I don‘t regret a thing. In this one as well as the second book one of my most pressing points of critic is Bianca’s mother. The way she babies her youngest is a little bit strange in my opinion, and in this book her character is even more present than in the 2nd. However, I very much enjoyed Sams backstory, and would‘ve liked her story to take more part in the book as a whole. But what we‘ve get to know about her, made her my favorite character of the series – I‘m just a Sam fangirl 🫶

3/5⭐️
🌶️🌶️/5

[Star · Rating 4 out of 5]

Content warnings: alcohol consumption, explicit sexual scenes, guns, sort-of kidnapping, stalking, lesbophobia, homophobia, outing, hospitalisation due to diabetic collapse, references to military life.

Rep: Bianca is cis, white, queer (no specific label used), and type 1 diabetic. Sam is cis, Indian, and lesbian.

I adored Bianca's book. This one was a little different to the others - not just because Bianca is 22, but because her plot heavily revolves around what is going on in her mother's life.

Bianca and Sam's chemistry was palpable. They had a fantastic dynamic and Bianca did the bratty princess thing very well. But that wasn't her whole personality, too, which was wonderful to see.

Like the others in this series, the sex scenes were fantastic and the kink was awesome.

I especially loved the ending of this one.

[Juno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yeah I liked this one a lot.

I'm always a fun when established stories raise the stakes, this was done incredibly. and the ending. wow. Kind of saw it coming but still jesus. Plot twist and a half. I've never felt so much dread for a non horror book.

Bianca is just everything. Icon. Plus brats are always so goddamn entertaining. Sam was also a lovely partner. I'm just a bit dissapointed we didn't get to see her sisters wedding. Or anything really with her parents. I get that it wasn't a theme in these books, but by introducing them i thought we'd get more i suppose. It's a bit dissapointing they were used as backstory instead of letting them influence the plot a bit more

I don't know if i'll reread the entire series again, but this book most likely sometime next year.

[L A Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love series. And this series is one of the best I have ever read. So I am really sad. There are 3 daughters and now 3 stories. First Parker, then Scarlett, and now Bianca. This is a wonderful addition. I was not sure I would like Bianca as much as her sisters. But I adore her. And that has much to do with Sam. Sam is awesome. Just what Bianca needed. Someone strong that would not put with her foolishness. Handsome and swoon worth. And could handle her mother. This book brought so many pieces together. Anna and Hildred write seamless together. Enjoy. I did receive an ARC but these are my own views.

[LE · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, this was nice and very hot but somehow I didn't find the whole plot super engaging. The "stalker" was very obvious from the start but I did like Bianca's and Sam's chemistry. It was nice to read about the sisters and their partners and I liked the happy end but overall it was just an okay entertaining read for me.
I think Anna Stone is an amazing writer but I prefer her other books!

[Celina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Crazy ex

Well, I got my reaction. Dramatic, it was indeed but it came with revelations, maygawd. Amazing.

Only thing that didn't crack me was the similarities with Mistress Book 4.

Ps: A short story of that revelation/confrontation scene would be money-worthy. Like how could that not be included. I looooooove drama.

[Hannah :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
I really loved the ending :)