By Lori DeJong

Riley Hudson is Texas royalty. She pours her life into charitable organizations and social events, using her skills as an attorney to help others when her time and money can’t. But her latest case stirs up controversy when she determines to prove the innocence of Shane Everett, the man convicted of murdering one of her best friends. 

Colton Blankenship is just returning from a high profile security detail overseas when he gets called in to lead a bodyguard team for the spoiled daughter of one of Houston’s elites. A random attack in a parking garage has her family scared for her safety. It will just be a few weeks of babysitting until this is all over.

Riley and Colton’s misconceptions about each other send them on a rocky start. When Riley’s random attack proves to be anything but random, they are forced to trust each other as they navigate the holiday season and Riley’s social schedule while trying to outwit a deadly stalker. But as their trust turns into love, can they keep their heads clear and stay safe as the danger escalates?

Pros: I don’t normally read romantic suspense, particularly anything that smacks of Hallmark. This book, however, was a refreshing read, and while most romantic suspense stories are predictable, this one kept me hooked. What I liked most of all was how Christ-centered the whole story and romance was. It didn’t feel preachy, it felt natural. While the hero had slipped away from Christianity, he turned back early on, so the story avoided the deadly cliche of missional dating. 

Cons: Riley did feel a bit saccharine (her only flaw was poorly assuming Colton was nothing but tactical gear), but other than that, my only con was how long the book was. There were a few places that could have been tightened up without sacrificing the story.

Bottom Line: A Christian Christmas Romantic Bodyguard Suspense novel that manages to skate by the usual genre cliches and pitfalls.