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Have Body, Will Guard #8
A Cold Wind
Now that he's been forced out of the closet and moved to Monaco, retired Russian oligarch Slava Vishinev longs for a sexy new life. An assassination attempt forces him to hire bodyguards Aidan and Liam to protect him. Who could be after him - his estranged son, who has joined an anti-capitalist group? The government official who engineered his fall from grace in Moscow? Can Liam and Aidan him alive long enough to engineer a romance between him and their sad, handsome neighbor, still pining for his late lover? Or will they begin to feel that their entry into their forties forces them to consider close protection a young man's game, one that they're no longer suited for?
- GenresRomanceM M Romance
186 pages, Paperback
First published March 30, 2016
About the author
Neil S. Plakcy
483 books676 followersThe Smiling Dog Cafe series now has four books in it: The Smiling Dog Cafe, The Bridge Between Us, Hope and Grace, and Drift and Return (published 5/11/2026).
My newest adventure romance books are The Big Race (a takeoff on The Amazing Race) and Driven Together, a Formula 1 MM romance.
I have been a voracious reader all my life, mostly in mystery, romance, and science fiction/fantasy, though a college degree in English did push a lot of literary works into my list of favorites.
Quick note: sign up for my newsletter at plakcy.substack.com to get free prologues, epilogues and short stories.
I began writing seriously in high school after an inspiring assignment with A Separate Peace by John Knowles. I didn't know I was gay then, but I knew I was longing for an emotional connection with a best friend. That desire shows up across my writing, from romance to mystery to adventure. I am lucky to have found my special person, and I want to inspire readers to make those connections, to one person or a found family.
It took getting an MFA in creative writing to kick-start my career. That's where I honed my technical skills and began to understand what kind of storyteller I am.
I remember reading Freddie the Detective about a very smart pig inspired by Sherlock Holmes. I’ve always believed that dogs make the best detectives. They notice what humans miss — a faint scent, a subtle shift in body language, the hidden treat in your pocket. That belief inspired my Golden Retriever Mysteries, where Rochester helps his human, Steve Levitan, nose out the truth.
My passion is telling stories where community, loyalty, and sometimes love solve problems just as much as clues do. Whether it’s a cozy mystery in Bucks County, a thriller on the streets of Miami, or a romance unfolding under the Mediterranean sun, I want readers to feel the heartbeat of the place and the people.
I write because stories helped me feel less alone growing up, and now I want to give readers that same feeling: a companion, a puzzle, and maybe a laugh.
When I’m not writing, I’m probably walking one of my own goldens, teaching writing, or daydreaming about my next story.
Since then I've written dozens of books, won a couple of treasured awards, and enjoyed the support of readers.
Every place I’ve lived has made its way into my fiction: the rolling hills of Bucks County, the neon heat of Miami, the beaches of Hawaii, the cobbled streets of Europe. I love exploring how communities work — from a café where dogs guide healing, to a fraternity house in South Beach, to a police unit in Honolulu.
My goal is simple: to write stories that feel grounded in real people and real places, but with enough twists, romance, or danger to keep you turning pages late into the night.
I hope you'll visit my website, where you can sign up for my occasional newsletter, and also follow my author page on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/neil.plakcy.
My newest adventure romance books are The Big Race (a takeoff on The Amazing Race) and Driven Together, a Formula 1 MM romance.
I have been a voracious reader all my life, mostly in mystery, romance, and science fiction/fantasy, though a college degree in English did push a lot of literary works into my list of favorites.
Quick note: sign up for my newsletter at plakcy.substack.com to get free prologues, epilogues and short stories.
I began writing seriously in high school after an inspiring assignment with A Separate Peace by John Knowles. I didn't know I was gay then, but I knew I was longing for an emotional connection with a best friend. That desire shows up across my writing, from romance to mystery to adventure. I am lucky to have found my special person, and I want to inspire readers to make those connections, to one person or a found family.
It took getting an MFA in creative writing to kick-start my career. That's where I honed my technical skills and began to understand what kind of storyteller I am.
I remember reading Freddie the Detective about a very smart pig inspired by Sherlock Holmes. I’ve always believed that dogs make the best detectives. They notice what humans miss — a faint scent, a subtle shift in body language, the hidden treat in your pocket. That belief inspired my Golden Retriever Mysteries, where Rochester helps his human, Steve Levitan, nose out the truth.
My passion is telling stories where community, loyalty, and sometimes love solve problems just as much as clues do. Whether it’s a cozy mystery in Bucks County, a thriller on the streets of Miami, or a romance unfolding under the Mediterranean sun, I want readers to feel the heartbeat of the place and the people.
I write because stories helped me feel less alone growing up, and now I want to give readers that same feeling: a companion, a puzzle, and maybe a laugh.
When I’m not writing, I’m probably walking one of my own goldens, teaching writing, or daydreaming about my next story.
Since then I've written dozens of books, won a couple of treasured awards, and enjoyed the support of readers.
Every place I’ve lived has made its way into my fiction: the rolling hills of Bucks County, the neon heat of Miami, the beaches of Hawaii, the cobbled streets of Europe. I love exploring how communities work — from a café where dogs guide healing, to a fraternity house in South Beach, to a police unit in Honolulu.
My goal is simple: to write stories that feel grounded in real people and real places, but with enough twists, romance, or danger to keep you turning pages late into the night.
I hope you'll visit my website, where you can sign up for my occasional newsletter, and also follow my author page on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/neil.plakcy.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 17, 2019
A Cold Wind (Have Body, Will Guard 8)
BY Neil Plakcy
Loose Id Press, 2016
Five stars
As I was reading book 9 in the Have Body Will Guard series, I realized I had probably missed a volume somewhere. I’m so glad I went back and found book 8 in this very good series from Neil Plakcy.
Aidan Greene and Liam McCullough are approaching 40, which as we all know is the end of gay life for gay men. Ha. I tried not to roll my eyes, and forgive these two charming men for their whining. Even as they begin to settle down in their adopted country of France, snug in a ramshackle little house on the Cote d’Azur, another protection job drops them into the middle of international scandal. This time, fascinatingly, they are called in to protect the life of Russian oligarch Slava Vishinev, who discovered the joy of being gay and the underside of modern Russian politics at the same time.
The surprise is that Slava is sort of a sweet Russian bear. Liam and Aidan settle into his opulent Monaco apartment, and Slava invades their private world – focusing on them as a couple to fuel his romantic dreams of a new life.
As he did with the earlier books in this series, set in a less stormy Tunisia, Plakcy paints the Riviera in vivid colors. The architecture, the countryside, and the strong wind of the mistral make us feel the place where the action happens. We watch the burgeoning community of friends and business associates as Aidan and Liam, no longer running away from their unhappy pasts, start to contemplate a happy future in the long term.
For all the action, the danger, and the romantic complications, this is an oddly domestic book. Our two still-young men continue to ponder what it means to be a couple, how to respect and honor each other without losing their individuality. As they grow fond of their client, fully engaged in a midlife crisis of his own, a fascinating trajectory in their lives begins to emerge.
Plakcy continues to be a distinctive voice among gay writers, offering us excitement and introspection in equal measure.
BY Neil Plakcy
Loose Id Press, 2016
Five stars
As I was reading book 9 in the Have Body Will Guard series, I realized I had probably missed a volume somewhere. I’m so glad I went back and found book 8 in this very good series from Neil Plakcy.
Aidan Greene and Liam McCullough are approaching 40, which as we all know is the end of gay life for gay men. Ha. I tried not to roll my eyes, and forgive these two charming men for their whining. Even as they begin to settle down in their adopted country of France, snug in a ramshackle little house on the Cote d’Azur, another protection job drops them into the middle of international scandal. This time, fascinatingly, they are called in to protect the life of Russian oligarch Slava Vishinev, who discovered the joy of being gay and the underside of modern Russian politics at the same time.
The surprise is that Slava is sort of a sweet Russian bear. Liam and Aidan settle into his opulent Monaco apartment, and Slava invades their private world – focusing on them as a couple to fuel his romantic dreams of a new life.
As he did with the earlier books in this series, set in a less stormy Tunisia, Plakcy paints the Riviera in vivid colors. The architecture, the countryside, and the strong wind of the mistral make us feel the place where the action happens. We watch the burgeoning community of friends and business associates as Aidan and Liam, no longer running away from their unhappy pasts, start to contemplate a happy future in the long term.
For all the action, the danger, and the romantic complications, this is an oddly domestic book. Our two still-young men continue to ponder what it means to be a couple, how to respect and honor each other without losing their individuality. As they grow fond of their client, fully engaged in a midlife crisis of his own, a fascinating trajectory in their lives begins to emerge.
Plakcy continues to be a distinctive voice among gay writers, offering us excitement and introspection in equal measure.
October 12, 2017
I was fourteen years old the first time I visited the French Riviera, and I fell in love. Pretty much ever since, I've wanted to live there, and I was fortunate to spend two chunks of summers between college years there, writing.
I was so happy to set A Cold Wind there, because I got to write about a place I love-- but boy, has it changed since I was last there! I had to do a whole lot of research, using maps and images, to make sure that the Monaco I show in this book is the current one. Along the way I got to imagine myself in lots of gorgeous apartments and fabulous restaurants!
I was so happy to set A Cold Wind there, because I got to write about a place I love-- but boy, has it changed since I was last there! I had to do a whole lot of research, using maps and images, to make sure that the Monaco I show in this book is the current one. Along the way I got to imagine myself in lots of gorgeous apartments and fabulous restaurants!
May 6, 2016
Mixed Feelings
This is not quite the way I expected this series to end. That said, I will not disclose what I was hoping for and what I got. Just take it on faith that in retrospect, it's really a very viable conclusion to a tale of completely opposite gay men, Liam and Aidan, who fell in lust and then in love seven books ago, and who are now both approaching 40 years old with decisions made but the future unsettled. It's a kettle of stew stirring up on the French Riviera where they have bought a fixer-upper and moved in with their adorable mutt.
Throw into this soup a bone named Slava and a bouquet garni named Thierry, and turn on the heat. There are plenty of odors which come out of that pot, mostly flavorful. But what is surprising here is that the focus is not as much as one might have wanted on our Liam and Aidan. It's more on the 50-plus Slava and Thierry who come together like oil and water but when mixed up bring a lot to the brew.
There are nasty things going on here due mainly to Slava's checkered past and current exiled situation--and there is excellent detailing of what it means to be a Russian ex-patriot being hunted by Putin's Pack these days. There are several nasty incidents, a few mysteries, and some tension all around.
But the focus drifts from Liam and Aiden to Slava and Thierry when one would have wanted more of our heroes. It is especially frustrating toward the end, when it becomes clearer than ever that Liam is the vulnerable one in the relationship--physically and emotionally--which is a big surprise because Aidan has always been the worry wart and dreamer. That author Placky has devised a clever segue to the end of the tale is highly commendable, but the fact that it all seems to matter of fact takes away from the heart a bit.
Still, this is a great series with two unforgettable characters who get into all sorts of stuff in all sorts of countries with all sorts of fiends. Read them in order of publication and enjoy.
This is not quite the way I expected this series to end. That said, I will not disclose what I was hoping for and what I got. Just take it on faith that in retrospect, it's really a very viable conclusion to a tale of completely opposite gay men, Liam and Aidan, who fell in lust and then in love seven books ago, and who are now both approaching 40 years old with decisions made but the future unsettled. It's a kettle of stew stirring up on the French Riviera where they have bought a fixer-upper and moved in with their adorable mutt.
Throw into this soup a bone named Slava and a bouquet garni named Thierry, and turn on the heat. There are plenty of odors which come out of that pot, mostly flavorful. But what is surprising here is that the focus is not as much as one might have wanted on our Liam and Aidan. It's more on the 50-plus Slava and Thierry who come together like oil and water but when mixed up bring a lot to the brew.
There are nasty things going on here due mainly to Slava's checkered past and current exiled situation--and there is excellent detailing of what it means to be a Russian ex-patriot being hunted by Putin's Pack these days. There are several nasty incidents, a few mysteries, and some tension all around.
But the focus drifts from Liam and Aiden to Slava and Thierry when one would have wanted more of our heroes. It is especially frustrating toward the end, when it becomes clearer than ever that Liam is the vulnerable one in the relationship--physically and emotionally--which is a big surprise because Aidan has always been the worry wart and dreamer. That author Placky has devised a clever segue to the end of the tale is highly commendable, but the fact that it all seems to matter of fact takes away from the heart a bit.
Still, this is a great series with two unforgettable characters who get into all sorts of stuff in all sorts of countries with all sorts of fiends. Read them in order of publication and enjoy.
May 20, 2016
~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~
I really enjoyed this story. It is so engaging that it is difficult to stop reading (be warned!) but actually it is a good idea to have some thinking time, as there is a lot going on and some issues, both political and personal that are interesting to muse over. I can honestly say that I chuckled, worried, empathised (mostly about the renovations and the cost), engaged in happy voyeurism, and immersed myself fully in the romances.
Aidan and Liam ... I have to admit that this is the first I have read, but rest assured, I am definitely going back and reading from book 1 to enjoy these two men getting together and progressing to their current state of happiness. I really loved that there was a stable romance going on alongside the book's plot. It made the story richer and the last few pages had me keen to get hold of the next episode too - I am going to be busy!
Thank you Mr Plakcy for a great read.
I really enjoyed this story. It is so engaging that it is difficult to stop reading (be warned!) but actually it is a good idea to have some thinking time, as there is a lot going on and some issues, both political and personal that are interesting to muse over. I can honestly say that I chuckled, worried, empathised (mostly about the renovations and the cost), engaged in happy voyeurism, and immersed myself fully in the romances.
Aidan and Liam ... I have to admit that this is the first I have read, but rest assured, I am definitely going back and reading from book 1 to enjoy these two men getting together and progressing to their current state of happiness. I really loved that there was a stable romance going on alongside the book's plot. It made the story richer and the last few pages had me keen to get hold of the next episode too - I am going to be busy!
Thank you Mr Plakcy for a great read.
April 15, 2016
One of my favorite series and I hope it's not the last one. Love these men!
April 20, 2016
This story is well written, the characters are easy to know and the mystery/suspense element pulls you along. http://thetbrpile.weebly.com/reviews/...
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews