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A review by theeditorreads
Protecting the Pregnant Princess by Lisa Childs
5.0
I have joined Manali Dey, a friend on Bookstagram, for the #MillsandBoonReadathon for which we are reading 18 books, coz it's '18! This is Book 10.
Re-reading this one.
Is it really the Princess? Or is it the doppelganger?
Book 1 of Royal Bodyguards, it opens with a prologue, where Aaron Timmer with his business partner and friend Whitaker (Whit) Howell fails to save a woman who was under their protection. Their security business ended with bad blood between them. Three years later, they are again working together, without wanting to, as royal bodyguards to the Kingdom of St. Pierre Island's King Rafael. An affluent island near Greece. But, they seem to have failed again as the hotel in Paris where Princess Gabriella and her bodyguard Charlotte Green, former US Marshal, were staying is ripped apart, with bullet holes. There is blood everywhere, though no bodies are found.
The story starts six months later, where a woman is shown in captivity. Securely bound to a bed, she doesn't remember who she is, and is shocked to see herself pregnant. With the baby moving inside her, she has to think of a way to get out of the hospital/prison. On the other hand, only Aaron hadn't lost hope of finding the Princess and her bodyguard, especially Charlotte, unlike the King and Whit. He gets a tip from an old client, media mogul Stanley Jessup, whose daughter he was falling in love with and had lost three years back. Now, he's hopeful of finding them, finding Charlotte with whom he's in love. He comes to know she's possibly in a sanatorium.
There are suspects galore behind her kidnapping. While Aaron doesn't trust Whit, Jane Doe overhears her captor and suspects that her unborn child's so-called father is possibly her kidnapper.
What made this story interesting was the amount of suspense put into it. First Charlotte being the doppelganger of Gabriella, then their connection. It all increased with her amnesia. Aaron finds her at the beginning itself (what a meet and greet that is!) and then it is a race against time. The threats are not so light here, as the book starts with all guns blazing. Hits and misses, almost rescue, disappointment, trying again, it kept me on edge. In spite of their one night of togetherness and brief liaison, there is a palpable chemistry. It was endearing to read how they have to trust each other in the dangerous circumstances as some past secrets are gradually revealed. There is high octane action.
P.S. I have read [b:The Princess Predicament|16000911|The Princess Predicament (Royal Bodyguards #2)|Lisa Childs|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1356328033s/16000911.jpg|21762349] (starring Princess Gabriella and Whit) and I am yet to read [b:Royal Rescue|16116281|Royal Rescue (Royal Bodyguards #3)|Lisa Childs|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1356945530s/16116281.jpg|21933821] (Stanley Jessup's daughter Josie Jessup and the woman Aaron thinks he failed to protect).
These three books are best read in a series to avoid spoilers and for connecting the dots.
[a:Lisa Childs|332359|Lisa Childs|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1355567845p2/332359.jpg]'s romantic suspense is the best! I have read three of her books, and one of her books in the Dare collection.
Re-reading this one.
Is it really the Princess? Or is it the doppelganger?
Book 1 of Royal Bodyguards, it opens with a prologue, where Aaron Timmer with his business partner and friend Whitaker (Whit) Howell fails to save a woman who was under their protection. Their security business ended with bad blood between them. Three years later, they are again working together, without wanting to, as royal bodyguards to the Kingdom of St. Pierre Island's King Rafael. An affluent island near Greece. But, they seem to have failed again as the hotel in Paris where Princess Gabriella and her bodyguard Charlotte Green, former US Marshal, were staying is ripped apart, with bullet holes. There is blood everywhere, though no bodies are found.
The story starts six months later, where a woman is shown in captivity. Securely bound to a bed, she doesn't remember who she is, and is shocked to see herself pregnant. With the baby moving inside her, she has to think of a way to get out of the hospital/prison. On the other hand, only Aaron hadn't lost hope of finding the Princess and her bodyguard, especially Charlotte, unlike the King and Whit. He gets a tip from an old client, media mogul Stanley Jessup, whose daughter he was falling in love with and had lost three years back. Now, he's hopeful of finding them, finding Charlotte with whom he's in love. He comes to know she's possibly in a sanatorium.
There are suspects galore behind her kidnapping. While Aaron doesn't trust Whit, Jane Doe overhears her captor and suspects that her unborn child's so-called father is possibly her kidnapper.
What made this story interesting was the amount of suspense put into it. First Charlotte being the doppelganger of Gabriella, then their connection. It all increased with her amnesia. Aaron finds her at the beginning itself (what a meet and greet that is!) and then it is a race against time. The threats are not so light here, as the book starts with all guns blazing. Hits and misses, almost rescue, disappointment, trying again, it kept me on edge. In spite of their one night of togetherness and brief liaison, there is a palpable chemistry. It was endearing to read how they have to trust each other in the dangerous circumstances as some past secrets are gradually revealed. There is high octane action.
P.S. I have read [b:The Princess Predicament|16000911|The Princess Predicament (Royal Bodyguards #2)|Lisa Childs|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1356328033s/16000911.jpg|21762349] (starring Princess Gabriella and Whit) and I am yet to read [b:Royal Rescue|16116281|Royal Rescue (Royal Bodyguards #3)|Lisa Childs|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1356945530s/16116281.jpg|21933821] (Stanley Jessup's daughter Josie Jessup and the woman Aaron thinks he failed to protect).
These three books are best read in a series to avoid spoilers and for connecting the dots.
[a:Lisa Childs|332359|Lisa Childs|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1355567845p2/332359.jpg]'s romantic suspense is the best! I have read three of her books, and one of her books in the Dare collection.