Running for Cover

by Virginia Kelly

Each book in this series is a stand-alone novel featuring limited overlapping characters and its own conclusion. No cliffhangers! No need to read the series in order

The bodyguard
Delta Force Operator Sam Mackenzie wants only to get back to his unit after a failed mission to save a reckless journalist. But he owes the Secretary of State for standing by him. So when she asks him to protect her daughter from a stalker, he can’t refuse. Even though they’re from different worlds, his attraction to the beautiful heiress is off the charts.

The heiress
Emily Montaigne ran from her privileged life after trusting a man who then kidnapped her. When her late father’s overseas charity faces financial ruin, she’s determined to save it. That means returning to the shallow high society world she rejected and accepting the bodyguard her mother hired for her—a man she finds difficult to resist—whose cover it is to act as her new lover.

The killer bent on revenge
As Sam and Emily fight the temptation of desire, the stalking escalates into life-threatening danger, and they race for safety through the backcountry of South America. With only one another to rely on, and with a tenacious villain after them, they must face their greatest fears—and risk their hearts and lives in order to survive.

Genres: Mystery Thriller

215 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 2, 2020

About the author

Virginia Kelly is the author of romantic suspense and romantic adventure novels. Her books have been nominated for several awards including the RWA Golden Heart, the Holt Medallion, the Golden Quill, the Aspen Gold and the National Reader's Choice Award.

To learn more about Virginia and her books (and her travel and iffy photographic skills), visit her website at http://virginiakelly.net.

Reviews

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prepare to be taken on a wild ride with this one! Emily and Sam go from one danger to the next, running for their lives whilst trying to figure out who wants to take Emily's life.

Read full review in the 2021 February issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining... but it could’ve been so much more.

I won’t re-cap the book as the blurb says it perfectly well, consequently there’s no need to bother anyone who might read these few lines with my summary.

Sam and Emily seemed to be from different worlds but had more in common than they thought. This was an important element in the story line and in one or another way the social difference between the main characters came up more than once. Consequently I thought that this feature would’ve been more elaborated in the plot, which wasn’t the case. Anyway, I just thought that instead of mentioning this social difference several times, it might’ve been an opportunity to “capitalize” on this issue and offer a bit more depth to the book.

Sam and Emily were great together. They immediately fell for each other and I liked that they immediately admitted what they felt for each other. There was some back and forth from Sam’s side but this was well founded and his hesitations made sense.

The romance part of the book overshadowed the suspense part. No problem, especially because both lead characters were lovable and their romance gripped me. However, this left the suspense part a bit “hanging”. I personally prefer to be involved in the “crime investigation”, which didn’t happen in this book. Instead of gradually solving the stalking of Emily, the author chose to reveal the villain with a bang. Not bad at all, just not the way I prefer it.

Although I generally liked this book I somehow felt that the plot had more potential. In any case, not a bad read, which offered me some entertaining enough hours of reading.

I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.

[Margaret Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a highly suspenseful novel, one that keeps the adrenaline flowing. When Emily's high profile mother starts receiving items belonging to her daughter as a veiled threat to her safety, she takes action. Emily is an adult in her own right but caught in the crosshairs of a man out for revenge, she becomes the scapegoat for all the evils that beset one twisted man's imagination. Sam Mackenzie is appointed as a bodyguard to Emily Montaigne, having previously been on protective detail for her mother, but it is a role fraught with hidden dangers. The attraction between Sam and Emily is obvious from the start, but with a history of a dysfunctional family, Sam does not see a future with Emily. I found this novel to be well written and the suspense carries the reader right through to the end. Sam is a strong hero despite his emotional frailties and although having grown up in a privileged household, Emily is no shrinking violet. This well-written suspense is well worthwhile reading and comes to a successful conclusion. I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily post this review. This is my honest review.

[PepperP0t · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delta Force Sam Mackenzie still feels guilt over a charge being killed while under his care when he stands by the Secretary of State that stood by him summons him to attend a high-profile fundraiser for a clandestine talk that turns into a clandestine assignment, to act as bodyguard for her daughter, Emily Montaigne, who runs a not for profit family charity.

When Emily and Sam meet, they generate noticeable heat and naturally fall into a lovers cover when they travel to South America to raise funds for the charity, A local businessman’s anxious for Emily to sell her the land, supposed friends kidnapped her before; strangers believe she can do something she can’t! Is it any of them or someone else?

Someone has the pull and the funds to force the pair to go on the run so they can’t stay in country nd hide nor can they legally leave. Trapped, thugs pepper the safehouse with bullets. Sam awakes in a pool of blood, surrounded by evidence of a hard battle, Emily is missing and Sam has no idea who wants what!
Rating: 4.5stars

[Catlou · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an exciting tale that will have you on the edge of your seat at times and definitely keep you up reading late into the night. I know because that’s what it did for me. Emily and Sam both have pasts that impact their present actions, but their emotions run high and desires hot while on the run to find a safe haven. There’s a lot of drama, intrigue, and suspense to hold your attention and watching Sam and Emily’s relationship build in intensity despite the precarious situation adds just the right touch of passion to make this a real page turner from start to finish. It’s a thoroughly engaging romantic suspense that’s well worth the read.

I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I am voluntarily providing an honest review of this book.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sam MacKenzie, Delta force operator. Irrisistibly handsome and gallant. He takes his assignments to heart. Sam is given the assignment of protecting Emily Montaigne, heiress and daughter of the Secretary of State.
Sam is mesmerized by Emily's beauty immediately.
Emily is being stalked, abducted once already. Her mother picks a bodyguard, Sam MacKenzie to oversee Emily's protection. Their cover is to be lovers. The mysterious stalker is always two steps behind them.
A delightful character driven suspenseful story. A most worthy read. I received this book from ebook discovery. I volunteered to review it and this is my honest review.

[Penny]

Enjoyed this book - both the suspense and the two main characters. Would read this author again.

I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.

[JC FRENCH · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as a ARC copy. It’s full of action and very fasted paced. It has mild sexual content. A very nice story and a sweet ending.