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To the Edge (Bodyguard #1)

by Cindy Gerard

4.00 · rating details · 1,246 ratings · 96 reviews

The daughter of a wealthy businessman, Jillian Kincaid grew up with bodyguards shadowing her every move-and she hated it. Now a TV anchorwoman, she refuses to let another hired thug follow her around. Not even when she begins to receive terrifying death threats. Not even when the bodyguard is the darkly seductive Nolan Garrett...

Trained in Special Ops, bodyguard Nola...more

Mass Market Paperback, 333 pages

Published May 3rd 2005 by St. Martin's Paperbacks (first published January 1st 2005)

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Jan 28, 2010

Isis FG rated it

Recommended to Isis FG by: previously read author

Shelves: wt-booksale-may08, author-cindy-gerard, series-bodyguards, 2010, format-hardcover, info-full, published-2005, reviewed, romance-suspense, stars-4

I've had this series sitting around waiting to be read for ages and am finally getting a chance to start reading it. I enjoyed this first book in the series. I wouldn't say it was awesome or would be a favorite book ever, but it was solid 4-stars.

Summary:
Nolan Garrett has been floundering and spiraling toward alcoholism since he left the Army Rangers. A series of events left him shaken and feeling guilty. Then his siblings gang up on him and force him to take a bodyguarding...moreI've had this series sitting around waiting to be read for ages and am finally getting a chance to start reading it. I enjoyed this first book in the series. I wouldn't say it was awesome or would be a favorite book ever, but it was solid 4-stars.

Summary:
Nolan Garrett has been floundering and spiraling toward alcoholism since he left the Army Rangers. A series of events left him shaken and feeling guilty. Then his siblings gang up on him and force him to take a bodyguarding job for their company E.D.E.N. Security. He is needed to protect local TV Newsperson and daughter of a rich business man, Jillian Kincaid. Someone is sending Jillian death threats and her father insists she have a bodyguard...now matter how much she hates the idea. Eventually, Jillian gives in, but from the first moment, Nolan sets her teeth on edge with his icy expression and terse orders.

Soon, though, Jillian begins to see there is more to Nolan than meets the eye. That he's a man with a lot of emotional baggage. And Nolan realizes Jillian is the rich, pampered princess he thought she was. Sparks fly between them, but both fight it. Nolan has a job to do - protecting Jillian - and he's not going to let anything get in the way of that. But the chemistry is irresistible, and the feelings between them are stronger than each though. First, though, Nolan must deal with the scars of his past and find out who wants Jillian dead.

Review:
I've read a few of Gerard's category romances before, but this is the first full length novel of hers I've read. So I had a little of an idea of what to expect from her writing. I liked that this book was a bit more edgy and darker than her other stuff. It made it seem more realistic and less cutesy, fluffy romance.

I liked the character of Nolan. He's an emotionally battered war hero and I thought his character was much more real because he was suffering. It made him and his character more genuine. He was a bit brutish Alpha sometimes, but nothing over the top. I do wish his emotional scars had been dealt with a smidge better...the guy was honestly borderline alcoholic and I felt that should have been dealt with more.

As for Jillian. I liked her, not as much as Nolan, though, and I did feel like at times she stepped over in to TSTL land. For someone who grew up the way she did, she was way too trusting. I wanted to tell her to wake up and face reality.

On the suspense plot front...well, not an overly original storyline - the whole stalker out for revenge bit. But it fit the story and I thought Gerard made it very readable. I have to admit I was surprised at the end about the Who. I was so sure if was someone else.

I did wish, though, that the suspense part of the story had been a little more prominent, with a little more focus on finding out who was after Jillian. It seemed like most of the story was about Nolan and Jillian circling around each other and fighting their feelings. It got somewhat repetitive. So I would have liked to see a little less of that and a little more on the nuts and bolts of the suspense plot. It wasn't a huge deal, though, just something I thought could have made the book even more solid.

One other thing I was a little iffy on was that I felt like there were some things left open...Rachael and the abuse she may have suffered as a child, skittish Lydia, and the mysterious and somewhat homicidal John Smith. When I finished, I felt like there was more to know about them, and yet looking at the upcoming books, I don't see any of them returning (in Lydia and Rachael's cases, as main characters). So that leaves me feeling like there were story aspects left unfinished.

But overall I enjoyed the book. It was good and it makes me want to keep reading the series. (less)

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Nov 05, 2011

Buggy rated it

Shelves: bodyguards, men-in-uniform-af-sp-ops, rom-susp, shelf-11, tortured-hero

Opening Line: "Even among the masses populating West Palm Beach, Florida, Nolan Garrett found hundreds of places to be alone."

After 5-star-ing every book in Cindy Gerard's Black Ops series I was very excited to go back and read her Bodyguard series which I'd somehow missed before. However in saying that I think my love for her BOI's may have caused me to go into this with (unrealistically) high expectations because while this was good it also never quite hit the great mark ...moreOpening Line: "Even among the masses populating West Palm Beach, Florida, Nolan Garrett found hundreds of places to be alone."

After 5-star-ing every book in Cindy Gerard's Black Ops series I was very excited to go back and read her Bodyguard series which I'd somehow missed before. However in saying that I think my love for her BOI's may have caused me to go into this with (unrealistically) high expectations because while this was good it also never quite hit the great mark that I'd been expecting.

TO THE EDGE is definitely a slow burning romance And while I appreciated tough guy, bodyguard Nolan's "don't get involved with a client" ethics and especially his "you don't want to get involved with someone as damaged as me" (love those tortured heroes) I reached the point with them where I was like, enough, get it on already. Stop with the meaningful looks and double talk and just get it out of your systems.

That said once the sex (finally) got thrown in the mix and the stalker upped their game things really took off. Gerard managed to keep me guessing about the stalkers identity with several well placed suspects and Nolan and Jillian's chemistry was smoking hot. I also loved the fact that Jillian wasn't your typical spoiled damsel in distress and let's face it she had potential to go that way. Instead she fought for her man and managed to keep her head above, TSTL. Then we have Nathan's adorable (I don't need anyone but really I do) guilt complex, PTSD issues and that fantabulous ending on the boat, sigh. I really don't have anything to complain about here and I'll definitely be returning for the rest of this series and a croquet game or two from the looks of things.

Jillian Kincaid is a TV anchor and the daughter of a wealthy businessman. Because of her father she grew up in the continual presence of bodyguards and hated it. Now when she begins to receive death threats Jillian is more then a little hesitant to except the bodyguard/hired thug that her father has secured for her.

Recently retired special Ops soldier Nolan Garrett has only been out for three months when his brothers and sister (of E.D.E.N security Inc) grow tired of his continuous drinking and depression and force him to take on one of their clients. He doesn't want the case and Jillian sure as hell doesn't want him in her apartment and shadowing her every move.

However Jillian soon proves not to be the spoiled princess Nolan was expecting and despite himself he starts to care even if she is super frustrating. Why won't she just leave him alone, why do they have to talk about...stuff? And how is it that she's not repelled by his back off, tough guy (I am an island) image? As Jillian's stalker gets closer and events turn deadly Nolan is willing to lay his life on the line and now possibly his heart too. Gah I just love these tortured heroes.(less)

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Aug 16, 2010

Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress" rated it

Recommends it for: fans of romantic suspense

Recommended to Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress" by: Shawna

Shelves: owned-copy, part-of-a-series, bodyguard-protector, soldier-or-military, slightly-more-challenging-aug, sigh-worthy-hero, poor-little-rich-girl, tortured-hero, family, set-in-florida, tough-as-nails-heroes, romantic-suspense

I've been kind of ho-hum about romantic suspense with no paranormal lately. I haven't been willing to take a dive into many of the newer authors out there, or some of the older faves. I'm glad that Shawna recommended for me to start the Cindy Gerard books. This was a very good book.

I just adored Nolan. He a well-structured, complex character: rugged, gorgeous, competent, humorous, down-to-earth, and tortured. The barriers that he erected against Jillian made a lot of sense. He...moreI've been kind of ho-hum about romantic suspense with no paranormal lately. I haven't been willing to take a dive into many of the newer authors out there, or some of the older faves. I'm glad that Shawna recommended for me to start the Cindy Gerard books. This was a very good book.

I just adored Nolan. He a well-structured, complex character: rugged, gorgeous, competent, humorous, down-to-earth, and tortured. The barriers that he erected against Jillian made a lot of sense. He knew that he couldn't have a permanent place in her life, and his troubles from his time in the Rangers and his friend's suicide were a heavy weight on his shoulders.

I liked Jillian a lot. At first, she had this facade of perfect, pampered, upscale, news anchor that didn't work for me. But, underneath, she was a whole lot more. Jillian was her own woman. She worked hard to get where she was in life, fighting to get away from the gilded cage and cloyingly overprotective and domineering family life she'd endured. Because of a lifetime of being the rich girl who was a target for kidnappers with no privacy and very few real people in her life, she'd had to build up a strong barrier of protection against others. She ended up earning my respect in a big way.

When Nolan is hired as her bodyguard, she doesn't like him, because he's mean and disrespectful to her. He reminds her of the bodyguards she grew up with, who never treated her as a person, only her rich father's daughter. But, she's also extremely attracted to him. She sees and is drawn to the sad lone warrior, wanting to know him as a person, even though Nolan makes this very hard. I was glad that she was willing to fight for him.

The sexual tension was great in this story. The build-up makes you think this will be an early to bed book, but fortunately it isn't. I was glad to see the emotional connection form between this couple and culminate in their love-making, instead of the other way around. By the time they get together, you know that there is love between them.

Good suspense and action in this story. I prefer a military storyline, but this was pretty good, because Nolan knows how to handle himself, and Jillian is in some pretty intense situations with her stalker. The underlying mystery actually surprised me. She really had me going with the red herrings. You know who one of the culprits is pretty soon, but it takes until the end of the book to find out who's pulling the strings. That was very well-executed.

To The Edge turned out to be a read well worth my time. I'm looking forward to reading the other Bodyguards books, after meeting Nolan's brothers and sisters in this story. Thanks, Shawna!

(less)

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Apr 28, 2008

Eastofoz rated it

Shelves: romantic-suspense

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 31, 2011

Mojca rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: bodyguard-military-merc-gov-cop-leo, cindy-gerard, part-of-a-series, series-bodyguard, suspense-mystery-adventure-thriller, contemporary-romance, bitchslapable-heroine, hb, own, e-book

After four sweet, "uncomplicated" contemporaries without a single dead body I needed something to get me back on track with my second-favorite genre. Judging from the reviews, I thought I found the perfect author and series to do the job. Unfortunately it wasn't meant to be.

This book suffers severely from three major book illnesses - firstbookinaseriesitis, annoyingheroineitis and annoyinheroitis.
While the first one could be ignored, because I was intrigued by the "...more

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Oct 28, 2011

TJ rated it

Shelves: romantic-suspense

This book was a mass of contradictions for me. The points I liked, I really, really liked and the points I didn't like, I hated (does that sound like a nursery rhyme?!?) First, points I like: I love the overall scenario of the book - a decorated military man who comes home and takes a job as a bodyguard and finds himself falling for the woman he is hired to protect. This opens all kinds of doors for the storyline about professional/personal relations, each one handled deftly in this story. I lov...more

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Oct 27, 2008

Ladiibbug rated it

#1 Bodyguards series - Romantic Suspense

3.5 stars

Pretty good, kept me guessing about who was behind the death threats against Jillian, a news anchor in Florida, until the author chose to reveal it.

Features Nolan Garrett, recently discharged Special Ops hunk, fighting post-war demons and nightmares, one of 3 brothers and one twin sister who operate EDEN Security.

CG overdoes it with Jillian's accomplishments, one of my pet peeves in a book. Jillian ...more

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Sep 02, 2011

Alicia Jones rated it

Shelves: cindy-gerard, romantic-suspense

I am really enjoying this series, even though I am once again reading them out of order. This was Nolan and Jillian's story. Jillian is a news anchor for a local tv station and is being threatened by a stalker. Her father, a very wealthy guy, hires Nolan Garrett as her bodyguard. We all know the drill, but it's how they got to their HEA that was so great. Nolan tries like heck to fight his feelings for Jillian, but she's no wimp. She calls him on his bull every time, and doesn't give up even whe...more

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Jan 28, 2012

Carisa rated it

Shelves: 5-stars-romance, g-contemp, t-action-fights, hero-type-warrior, t-mystery-susp

I love bodyguards-theme romances and in this one the H/h have great chemistry. Their interaction was witty, with a lot of sexual tension -which was not rushed-, a very good stalker plot and -thankfully- no TSTL moments. Loved the writing style of this author and hope next book in this series turns out as good as this one.
HERO is a Warrior, burdened with guilt and regrets from his military past. He's assigned as bodyguard to a rich woman who's being stalked and hates bodyguards.
SCEN...more

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Feb 26, 2009

Shawna rated it

Shelves: series-bodyguards-blackops, cop-bodyguard-govop-merc-military, romantic-suspense, 2009-reads, hero-abused-scarred-tortured-angst, hero-alpha‎, i-read-no-longer-own-sold-swapped, brothers-sisters-cousins-family, cindy-gerard, 4-to-5-stars, hh-actor-actress-celebrity-model, stalker-alert, hh-famous-celebrity

4 ½ stars – Romantic Suspense

To the Edge is the first in Gerard's Bodyguard series. To the Edge is an exciting romantic suspense story with a fast paced plot and well developed characters. Although it's not quite as steamy of a read as some others in the genre, Gerard does a great job of creating intense sexual chemistry between the main characters that evolves into a realistic romantic relationship. It's a strong start to the popular Bodyguard series.

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Oct 30, 2009

Arch rated it

Recommended to Arch by: Book that enjoys reading suspense romance books

Shelves: books-bought-in-2009, bodyguards, suspense-light-romance

I have finally finished this book today (10-29-09). I have been reading it for a while, because I was in between books and plus writing.

The heroine is Jilian Kincaid, a rich woman, who believes in working and she loves her job. She's a successful journalist and TV anchorwoman.

Someone is stalking Jilian. The death threats has caused her daddy to hire a bodyguard for her. His name is Nolan Garrett - a special ops - at least ex-special ops, who's still good at his job.
...more

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Feb 09, 2012

Mimi Smith rated it

2.5 stars

I'm not sure if my reaction is due to the book itself(since I remember reading it before and liking it more), or to my head not being in the right place for reading it. I've just finished Between Shades of Gray, which is an extremely emotional, well-written book, so all my issues might be overblown.

First of all-I hate the cheesy phrases that appear in this book from time to time. And the situation when Jillian looks into Nolan's eyes and all of the sudden doesn't...more

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Sep 14, 2011

Michelle rated it

Shelves: contemporary, hunks-in-camouflage, romance, suspense, a-keeper, favorite-series, worth-re-reading, september-2011

TV anchor and media mogul daughter, Jillian Kincaid is receiving death threats. Her father wants her protected at all costs. Who better to serve as her bodyguard than an ex Special Ops Army Ranger, Nolan Garrett? Nolan expects a spoiled, privileged princess but he gets anything but. She's smart, sexy, fiercely independent and stubborn to a fault. As the stalker ups the ante, can Nolan keep her safe while keeping her at an emotional distance or will he lose Jillian before he can figure out w...more

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Sep 18, 2011

Angie rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, nook, romance

Nolan Garrett is ex-Army. When he comes back he decides to retire and get drunk, because he has nothing better to do with his life, until his family steps up and his brother asks him to help him with the family business, a security firm. Nolan has been hired to be Jillian Kincaid's bodyguard. Her father pays the big bucks so that this society princess can be protected, a job Nolan doesn't want to do, until he is forced into close quarters with her and realizes there's more to the woman than meet...more

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Mar 02, 2010

Wendy rated it

Shelves: hot-military-characters, contemporary-romance, cindy-gerard

I loved this Book! Gerard writes another winner in her Bodyguard series.

Nolan Garrett is a man come home from the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan after losing some of his men. He is devastated and feels responsible. After living a alcohol induced fog for three months his brother assigns him to guard a TV news anchor that is receiving death threats. Angry at the world and his brother, he reluctantly goes to work to protect her.

Jillian Kincaid is a rich girl that is try...more

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Sep 28, 2011

Lady Heather rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: thriller/suspense, contemp-romance

Shelves: 1st-in-a-series, adult, contemporary-romance, kindle, military-black-ops, romance, thriller-suspense, cindy-gerard

This book had it all!

The characters were well written, the story and plot intriguing and exciting. I never suspected who the villain was until the end (which was quite refreshing).

The story is about a news anchor (Jillian Kincaid) who has been receiving death threats. At first She doesn't take the threats seriously, until she starts getting the messages at home, in her private e-mails, and a gruesome delivery at a function she was attending.

Jillian's father (a m...more

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Feb 04, 2012

Sunny rated it

Shelves: reviews

To the Edge is the first book in the Bodyguard series by Cindy Gerard. The series revolves around the professionals at E.D.E.N. Security started by Wes Gerard, former Special Ops soldier and retired cop. His children have taken over the business for which it was named: Ethan, Dallas, Eve, and Nolan (EDEN). To the Edge is Nolan’s story.

Nolan Garrett, is a recently retired US Army Airborne Ranger (the Bodyguard series gives a Special nod to the Special Forces units) who finds hims...more

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Apr 17, 2010

Erika Badass rated it

Not a bad book, but I was sick after a while of the "woe is me" by the male lead, Nolan. I want her... I can't have her because I'm not worthy...bla bla bla. The red herrings were pretty decent as far as the stalker plot. the plot was mediocre, and I don't like when authors give you the bad guy somewhat up front. I don't like 'knowing' who the villain is. It takes away from the mystery of reading a 'thriller'

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Oct 10, 2010

Anna rated it

Shelves: read-2010, romantic-suspence, adult, shouldn-t-have-bothered

Review originally posted at http://bookstobrightenyourmood.blogspot....

To the Edge,is a book i picked after i read and totally loved Anne Stuart's Black Ice.I thought if romantic suspence is so good a genre then the first book in The Bodyguards series by Cindy Gerard might be just as good.But no!!!I couldn't be more mistaken!

First of all,i must say that this book was more of a romance novel than anything else.Granted it falls under the category of romantic suspence b...more
Review originally posted at http://bookstobrightenyourmood.blogspot....

To the Edge,is a book i picked after i read and totally loved Anne Stuart's Black Ice.I thought if romantic suspence is so good a genre then the first book in The Bodyguards series by Cindy Gerard might be just as good.But no!!!I couldn't be more mistaken!

First of all,i must say that this book was more of a romance novel than anything else.Granted it falls under the category of romantic suspence but i finished reading this book,and still i'm waiting for that suspence to come...

Reading the premise i waited for a non stop action book,a plot full of twists and at least something that would actually make me believe that the protagonist was in grave danger...Nothing of these ever happened.

From the first page it was evident that this was a romance novel.And i like romance,don't mind me, but i was expecting to read something totally different.And maybe that was my mistake and the reason i couldn't make myself like this book.I immediatelly disliked it somewhere after the first 20 pages.I mean come on,you see a man in your apartment and believe he's there to kill you and along with your fear you can't help but notice how well built or gorgeous you're potential killer is...???Come on,who does that?Screaming is an acceptable reaction,fainting as well,but noticing your killer's muscles....no,that's not acceptable or believable.After that point,i was so turned off by the writing style that it's a wonder i kept reading...But i did it,despite the slow pace of the book and by the end of it although i wasn't thrilled,this book didn't feel like a total waste of time either.

My other big problem with this book was the total lack of suspence or action.Apart from 5 or 6 threatening letters or notes or messages you don't get to have anything remotely close to action until the very last chapters... When you start reading a book where the male character is there to protect his -damsel in distress- female character from unknown threats,somehow you believe that this book will evolve more around those threats or the potential danger and less around the feelings of the protagonists.Alas,this book was a study on human feelings.Jillian has the amazing power of knowing exactly what other people are feeling and based on that power does everything she can to help them and Garrett spends chapters after chapters analysing his feelings of guilt or his lustful thoughts towards Jillian and listing again and again why his feelings for her are so inappropriate and a potential relationship between them catastrophic.And speaking of romance,i just felt that the romantic element between the two characters was somewhat forced...I felt forced by the constant descriptions to believe how those two were lusting over each other in a totally consuming way.And that just ruined everything!Granted after many chapters the romance felt more real but half of the fun was already ruined.

Anyway,it's more than obvious that i didn't like this book,but not because it was that bad written.It was more because i waited for a completely different read and To the Edge was,well,not my cup of tea.A fan of romantic novels will probably appreciate this book in ways i couldn't because although i love the romantic element to be present in a book and i don't mind any sex scenes i also want the book to have more elements apart that of romance.So,i would recommend this book but to anyone who loves romance and sees this book as a romance novel and not a romantic suspence one.(less)

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Sep 09, 2011

Rena rated it

Shelves: romantic-suspense, bodyguard

Jillian wasn’t anything special. She had a temper, could read Nolan like a book (okay, that was pretty special!!) and she didn’t surprise me much. She surprised Nolan though, but only because he’d laid all these stereotypical assumptions on her. Jillian’s a rich kid trying to break away from her controlling but loving father and indifferent but creepy mother.

Nolan has had a rough military past. He comes from a good family of hard military nuts. He quit the army after a most traumatic ...more

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Sep 14, 2011

Awilk rated it

I wasn't sure how to rate this book. I found it a quick read, but was disappointed with the story. For a romantic suspense there was a serious lack of romance and suspense.
The romance consisted of listening to the hero debate the fact that he wanted the heroine but wasn't good enough for her, and the fact that she would never fit into his world. Not quite sure what she was thinking, and I don't really care.
If this was the only one of these books I had I wouldn't bother getting any mor...more

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Aug 22, 2011

Jodie rated it

Shelves: on-blog

4.5 Stars

This was my first Cindy Gerard read and I was not disappointed.

The scene where the hero and heroine meet was fantastic - loved it to bits and enjoyed placing myself in Jillian's position wondering how the hell I would react to the wet your pants scary situation.

Nolan (although I disliked his name) was sexy and macho as hell. Give me a deck chair and I could sit watching that hunky piece of man flesh do push ups ALL DAY LONG.

I loved the he was a...more

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Feb 05, 2011

Erin rated it

4.5 Stars!
Loved this read! Jillian and Nolan were awesome main characters, both oozing with sarcasm, wit, and chemistry.
Nolan was a riot - any man who names his mini-me "Skippy" is alright by me!. Adding to his complexity, however, was his tortured, haunted past. Ms. Gerard detailed his nightmares and memories in such believable detail; my heart ached for all that he had been witness to.
The mystery kept me guessing as far as "who done it?" I was comple...more

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Nov 15, 2011

Stephanie rated it

I liked this book. The author had me guessing for who the stalker was and I thought I had her pegged! Halfway through the book I was positive it was one person but then it wasn't... So this kind of pissed me off because it was really left field, I couldn't even remember who the actual stalker was and what role she had in the heroine's life...

But C. Gerard actually writes really well, she keeps things compelling and the plot was good. Even the characters were likable, I really liked th...more

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Nov 24, 2010

Quinn rated it

Shelves: library-book, romantic-suspense

I've seen loads of good press for Cindy Gerards's brand of Romantic Suspense here on GoodReads, and since I am suffering withdrawal from Suzanne Brockmann's brilliant Troubleshooters series, I thought it was a about time I give this one a try.

Unfortunately, I'd have to say my expectations weren't quite met.

The writing was good, with the exception of a couple of misguided references to Skippy, the one-eyed wonder snake, early in the piece which didn't seem to fit. Thankfully t...moreI've seen loads of good press for Cindy Gerards's brand of Romantic Suspense here on GoodReads, and since I am suffering withdrawal from Suzanne Brockmann's brilliant Troubleshooters series, I thought it was a about time I give this one a try.

Unfortunately, I'd have to say my expectations weren't quite met.

The writing was good, with the exception of a couple of misguided references to Skippy, the one-eyed wonder snake, early in the piece which didn't seem to fit. Thankfully this wasn't at all prevalent so probably not worth mentioning, although they did serve to make me wary. Otherwise, the writing flowed well and was pacy, which is just as well considering really, not that much was happening a lot of the time. Or maybe it just felt that way because of the pages of narrative.

Darin Kincaid, publishing mogul extraordinaire, has hired ex-Ranger Nolan Garrett to provide security for his daughter, TV anchorwoman Jillian, who has been receiving death threats. Jillian has had enough of bodyguards, having grown up under their shadow, and despite Nolan's undeniable physical appeal, she has no interest in letting him interrupt her life. Nolan, happily drowning his sorrows, has no desire to be responsible for anyone else, particularly a spoiled princess. But, like it or not, they are stuck with each other.

I must say, I got a little tired of this pair's constant denial of their feelings for each other. Nolan pushed Jillian away at every turn because he thought she was too good for him, and Jillian went back and forth so many times I nearly got whiplash. When they still hadn't got their act even remotely together three quarters of the way through the book, I was ceasing to care. And then, when they finally, FINALLY, gave into their physical attraction, Nolan immediately reverted back to type and resumed pushing Jillian away. Give me a break already.

Despite this, I really liked both of these characters. I just wish the author had given us a little more something. Anything.

The suspense element was also well done, right up to the point where we found out who the stalker actually was, and it became a little over the top. Shame about that.

Now, all of that said, I do see potential for this series, and I will definitely keep going. After all, I gave The Unsung Hero, the first book in Brockmann's Troubleshooters series, 3 starts and that series became one of my favourites. I will be delighted if this series follows the same pattern.(less)

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Jul 11, 2010

Pearl rated it

Shelves: romantic-suspense

4,5 stars

Nolan Garrett's life has hit rock bottom. Guilt over many things has him drinking it away when he finds a new purpose in life by being Jillian Kincaid's bodyguard, at the request of her father and as a favor to his brother. Though he sees it as being forced and unwanted he is determined not to let anyone down again who is depending on him. This new purpose has the potential of changing his life forever.
Jillian Kincaid is also determined, determined to make a life for h...more4,5 stars

Nolan Garrett's life has hit rock bottom. Guilt over many things has him drinking it away when he finds a new purpose in life by being Jillian Kincaid's bodyguard, at the request of her father and as a favor to his brother. Though he sees it as being forced and unwanted he is determined not to let anyone down again who is depending on him. This new purpose has the potential of changing his life forever.
Jillian Kincaid is also determined, determined to make a life for her own without the smothering protection from her high profile father. She doesn't want some bodyguard following her like a shadow. But death threats issued by a stalker and her father's tenacity force her to accept Nolan, but this doesn't mean she's going to make it easy for him.

Jillian is stubborn, feisty and not easily taken off her guard by anything. At first she sees the threats as some kind of sick joke on her but soon she understands that they are for real and she copes with it as well as she can. She also isn't fooled by Nolan's attitude towards her, she sees in him what he tries very hard to deny.

Cindy Gerard also does a great job with Nolan, she paints a perfect picture of a hardened and tough ex-military who has seen war and death and has trouble keeping his feelings professional and his focus on his job to protect his client. The dilemmas he faces and battles are described with a reality that shows Cindy Gerard’s great writing skill, descriptive talent and thorough knowledge or research of the subjects touched in the book.

Neither Nolan nor Jillian is what the other seemed to be expecting. Nolan isn't the stoic, arrogant, smart-mouth bodyguard he pretends to be. He's fighting guilt and shame and fighting the fact he doesn't think he deserves someone like Jillian to like him, let alone love him.
Jillian isn't the pampered socialite she seems to the superficial eye. She's strong-willed and compassionate with a huge longing for independence from her father. These hidden sides are what surprises them and attracts them to each other.
I loved the interactions and the dynamic between Jillian and Nolan. They were sarcastic and feisty. Neither giving an inch, nor giving into the simmering feelings between them.

There is a very big cast of secondary characters. Mostly connected to Jillian; coworkers, friends, family. And of course Nolan's family. Nolan is the youngest of the Garretts, with Ethan and Dallas as his older brothers and Eve as his twin sister. The glimpses from them have bumped up my anticipation level for their own books to an amazing high.
Despite the many secondary characters, they are never bothersome and it's easy to keep track of them because of Gerard's clear and vivid writing style. They all complement the story and the main characters in their own way.

Cindy Gerard is great at fleshing out the characters, complete with background, motivation and the rollercoaster of emotions running through them. Her lively description of emotions like anger, fear, lust, confusion, hate and love make the book a terrific read.
Despite some flashback scenes on Nolan's part, the book is extremely fast-paced (I read it in almost one sitting), it's filled with nail biting suspense and heartbreaking romance. The love scenes are absolutely not explicit but certainly well written and explosive in attraction and sensuality.
Slowly but surely it builds up to an all-consuming climax, providing a perfect fit for the thrilling suspense plot that builds up in the same exceptional way. Both are well dosed and the suspense plot keeps you guessing as to who Jillian's stalker is and why. The answers to this are both horrifying and heart wrenching at the same time. But as with all the characters in this book, again the motivations and background are fleshed out in an amazing way.

This was my first taste of Cindy Gerard's writing and I must say I'm longing for more. With this book she has put herself in the higher ranks of the romantic suspense genre on my bookshelves, giving me the emotional ride I search for in the books I read.(less)

· see review

Nov 20, 2009

Nina rated it

Shelves: contemporary, romantic-suspense, series, southern-setting, tortured-hero

This one was my introduction to Cindy Gerard, and it's an example of why I love her as much as I do. In the last year I've read a lot of the romantic action genre. The alpha military guys with a dark side that save the mouthy girl backed by a team of wise-cracking brothers in arms who will eventually get their own love story in an upcoming book of the series. It's a tried and true formula, but to my way of thinking, no one does this as well as Cindy Gerard. She has a knack for writing these male...more

· see review

Jul 11, 2010

Shannon C. rated it

Shelves: action-adventure, suspense-mystery

4.5 stars: excellent romantic suspense/mystery

Great mix of suspense, mystery, romance, action and drama. I liked the main characters and supporting cast. Mystery was good, as the person I suspected did not turn out to be the bad guy. Only negative for me is that the 'bodyguard protecting the girl, falling for the girl' angle has been done so many times and wasn't all that original. But still, it was an entertaining read and I plan to check out more of Gerard' books.

like 1 like

· see review

Sep 02, 2009

Crystal S rated it

Shelves: romantic-suspense

I enjoyed it. In my experience, most romantic suspense focuses too heavily on the suspense part, giving the romance part so little time that it seems unrealistic. Fortunately To the Edge had a good mix of the two. I liked that the heroine, Jillian, was smart enough to know when to be scared, but tough enough to not fall apart at the drop of a hat. She was also strong enough to dish it right back when the hero, Nolan, got a little too "alpha." She didn't let him get away with much. :-) ...more

like 1 like

· see review

Feb 02, 2011

Kim_bab rated it

suka suka suka, secara genre fav ku <3
nolan disewa bokapnya jillian buat melindungi jillian dari seseorang yang yang selalu mengirimkan surat2 ancaman

yang agak lucu di buku ini , nih buku di bikin series ttg keluarga garret mereka kayak mendirikan biro bodyguard yang bernama E.D.E.N singkatan dari nama mereka E= ethan, D=dallas, E= eve, N=nolan ...

ada yang merasa aneh dengan nama mereka gak?? jangan2 pengarangnya ini pencinta roarke :))

· see review

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About Cindy Gerard

The only thing Cindy had in mind when she started writing her first book was finishing it. The issue of actually selling it came much later. Only after she made that life-altering first sale did she realize that one book would never be enough. Now, over 20 books and numerous awards later, Cindy laughingly admits that she can barely remember life before...well, was there life before writing?
...moreThe only thing Cindy had in mind when she started writing her first book was finishing it. The issue of actually selling it came much later. Only after she made that life-altering first sale did she realize that one book would never be enough. Now, over 20 books and numerous awards later, Cindy laughingly admits that she can barely remember life before...well, was there life before writing?

Actually, yes there was, and still is. A professional career woman, Cindy is a trainer for the Iowa Department of Human Services, a position she states is both challenging and rewarding. "Human Services is a front-line, real-life event. Everything about the job is immediate, from serving families in crisis, to assisting staff with difficult situations, to meeting tension-fraught deadlines."

Cindy's career has taught her much about the human condition, its frailties, its strengths, and its spirit. The evocative emotions that pour from the pages of her books are a reflection of some of her work experiences. Her writing celebrates life's richness and trials, offering a wide range of emotions — hope and elation, anger and indecision, laughter and, of course, love. And, according to her readers, her powerful love scenes run the gamut from steamy to tender to lusty to just plain fun.

Cindy's writing has netted her spots on bestseller lists, numerous RT nominations and awards, the Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence, a National Reader's Choice Award and two RITA nominations.

Between writing and working full time you wouldn't think Cindy would have much time for anything else. And while she does find her work and her writing rewarding, there does have to be more. Cindy has more. Much more. She is happily married to the perfect man. Tom's a cowboy, ladies!

Yes, even Iowa has its share of that saddle-straddling, Wrangler-wearing species who love their horses almost as much as they love their women. As a matter of fact, recently a whole herd of Texans gathered at the Gerard "Ranch" to treat their little ones to real horseback rides. Go figure.

Cindy has a passion for pink depression glass — she always has her eye out for the special piece to add to her collection. Cindy's down time often takes the form of the classic "busman's holiday." She loves to read and most of all, she loves to read at their summer place, a cabin in the woods on Lake Kabetogama in northern Minnesota.

Both Tom and Cindy enjoy gardening and have recently expanded their annual beds into a perennial garden. Cindy says she can hardly wait for spring and the promise of all that reawakening and the colorful blooms.

In addition to the horses, the Gerards have two dogs, Ellie and Boomer, who pretty much get anything they want. Tom and Cindy have one son, Kyle, who, after years of keeping them in suspense, found Eileen, the perfect woman.(less)

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“Men. <...> They're idiots. It's like they all take a vow of stupidity or something.” — 26 people liked it

“Go to bed," he ordered. "Go to bed... and stay there.” — 11 people liked it

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