In this spectacular novel Cindy Gerard offers us Book Three in “The Bodyguards” series.  This is Ethan’s story; as one of the siblings who runs E.D.E.N., a private investigative agency in Florida, he is haunted by the memories of his ex-wife, Darcy Prescott.  Darcy works in the Consulate office at the U.S. Embassy in Manilla, Philippines.  She and Ethan met eight years ago when he was a Special Forces officer and she was with the embassy in Lima, Peru.  Their meeting is explosive, passionate, and intense.  But the pressures of their respective careers, their long separations, and the reality of Ethan’s chosen work eroded the marriage and they divorce after a few years together. 

Neither has forgotten the passion they shared and now, Darcy is in trouble, big trouble of the international relations variety.  When one of her colleagues in killed in a hit and run accident, after slipping Darcy an audio tape, Darcy is frightened that she will be next.  She gets rid of the tape after calling Ethan, now a civilian and working for E.D.E.N., and asking him to help her.  Then she is promptly abducted.  The story goes on from there. 

The plotline and character development in this book rivals any bestselling novel about covert operations and kidnappings.  From the first page, the reader is grippingly pulled into the reality of Darcy’s kidnapping and the boundaries that Ethan and his brothers push to actualize a rescue.  

While this book is filled with heart stopping adventure, it is given texture and substance through the development of the relationship between Darcy and Ethan.  I don’t think I’ve ever read a more realistic view of what it must be like to love and care for a man who is a warrior that kills as part of his job, and who must shut down his emotions for long stretches of time. 

Even though this is book three in the series, it works as a stand alone novel.  Secondary characters include Ethan’s brothers, his friend, Manny, and the other hostage, a young woman, Amy.  The book leaves open the door for a future relationship with Dallas Garrett and Amy.  I,  for one, cannot wait to read this one. 

I think this is Gerard’s best book yet!  It’s a masterpiece of tight scenes, excellent dialogue, steamy sex, and heart stopping adventure.  You will be thinking of this one long after it is finished, I promise.