Rating: 
Summary: Pulls You in Like a Vortex and Doesn't Let Go
Review: Lili Kavanaugh has a passion for shoes. (...). She's led an extraordinarily safe -- and yes, dull -- life up till now. Cosseted by her family and peers, Lili is thought to be a dreamer, a hopeless romantic with a flashy sense of style and a certain eye-catching pizzazz. It's a shock, then, when Lili is almost kidnapped out of the blue. Her trip to Chicago for a series of lectures and business engagements (innocuous doings, one would think) is suddenly fraught with danger. At first, her attempted kidnapping is more of a puzzle than a concern. Her wealthy family nonetheless hires a bodyguard for Lili (who protests such an action with gusto); hiring a bodyguard is too extreme a measure for her to accept without putting up a fight. That resistance is quickly put to death by Matt Hawkins and his grim take on Lili's situation. A security specialist with a mysterious background and intimidating presence, Matt (who bristles at the word "bodyguard") is convinced Lili's safety is at risk. A stalker would be the likely culprit. That theory is torn asunder, however, by a professional hit one night. Matt's security team is taken out with cold precision, and Matt is likewise made a target. Lili, on the other hand, is left unharmed. If Lili had been the objective, she'd be dead, Matt grimly acknowledges. His only remaining clue to the source of Lili's endangerment is a pair of decadent shoes once owned by a gangster's moll. The shoes lead Matt and Lily to a mob connection, the dusty stirrings of a seventy year old crime, and Joey Mancuso, a "G-man" and his ladylove, Rose -- both of whom perished in a hail of bullets circa the 1930s. Although his assignment was supposed to last only a week, Matt and Lili go into hiding. As they trace the mystery of Rose's shoes back to their roots, that heady connection between Matt and Lili -- there from the get-go and oh-so tempting -- strengthens until it's an all but physical pull. Lili is all for indulging in their attraction and seeing where it leads them; Matt, however, is more leery of their soul-itching chemistry. Nothing could come of it, after all. Not a damn thing. Lili and he are from two separate worlds; he'd die for her in a heartbeat if it meant protecting her from harm, true, but a relationship is impossible. As the puzzle pieces gradually fall into place, Matt and Lili's danger of falling victim to a wily trap grows, and so too their danger of falling in love. Michelle Jerott is known for her unique novels, with their gritty intensity and emotional angst. HER BODYGUARD likewise puts a new spin on a cherished plotline. Matt and Lili's love story is no less intense for its seeming familiarity. Yes, Matt is a brooding, sexy as all get-out bodyguard. There's far more to this novel than Matt's profession, however. The present is tied into the mystery of the past with Rose's shoes, an intricate Celtic knot worthy of a plotting diva. What's more, Lili and Matt's chemistry is a living, breathing entity throughout. Their relationship is almost an eerie echo of Joey and Rose's (minus a few obvious differences). Of the two main characters, Matt is the most angst-ridden. His checkered past is a source of shame for him. I had a problem with his persistent belief that Lili, with her privileged background, was too good for him, though. Matt isn't exactly penniless himself, so why does he constantly reiterate that Lili's world and his own are far too different to be compatible? Scars from the past are difficult to overcome; and yes, once upon a time, Matt lived a life that was hard in more ways than one. Still, I felt this was a feeble argument. Of course, Matt is walking a fine moral line, completely oblivious to his peril. His attraction to Lili is undeniable; and the prospect of reaching out to her only to lose everything is a risk he doesn't consider worthwhile. Protecting the innocent from monsters like the ones stalking Lili is something he understands completely, feels confident about -- until Lili forces Matt to face up to his skewed perceptions. For a novel with such an innocuous title, I found it to be complex yet simple, elemental yet oddly soothing. HER BODYGUARD is a fine example of what the romance genre has to offer: Rich characterizations, a languorous sensuality, a biting wit and a very smart, very competent, very compelling plotline that pulls you in like a vortex and doesn't let go.
Rating:
Summary: Pulls You in Like a Vortex and Doesn't Let Go
Review: Lili Kavanaugh has a passion for shoes. (...). She's led an extraordinarily safe -- and yes, dull -- life up till now. Cosseted by her family and peers, Lili is thought to be a dreamer, a hopeless romantic with a flashy sense of style and a certain eye-catching pizzazz. It's a shock, then, when Lili is almost kidnapped out of the blue. Her trip to Chicago for a series of lectures and business engagements (innocuous doings, one would think) is suddenly fraught with danger. At first, her attempted kidnapping is more of a puzzle than a concern. Her wealthy family nonetheless hires a bodyguard for Lili (who protests such an action with gusto); hiring a bodyguard is too extreme a measure for her to accept without putting up a fight. That resistance is quickly put to death by Matt Hawkins and his grim take on Lili's situation. A security specialist with a mysterious background and intimidating presence, Matt (who bristles at the word "bodyguard") is convinced Lili's safety is at risk. A stalker would be the likely culprit. That theory is torn asunder, however, by a professional hit one night. Matt's security team is taken out with cold precision, and Matt is likewise made a target. Lili, on the other hand, is left unharmed. If Lili had been the objective, she'd be dead, Matt grimly acknowledges. His only remaining clue to the source of Lili's endangerment is a pair of decadent shoes once owned by a gangster's moll. The shoes lead Matt and Lily to a mob connection, the dusty stirrings of a seventy year old crime, and Joey Mancuso, a "G-man" and his ladylove, Rose -- both of whom perished in a hail of bullets circa the 1930s. Although his assignment was supposed to last only a week, Matt and Lili go into hiding. As they trace the mystery of Rose's shoes back to their roots, that heady connection between Matt and Lili -- there from the get-go and oh-so tempting -- strengthens until it's an all but physical pull. Lili is all for indulging in their attraction and seeing where it leads them; Matt, however, is more leery of their soul-itching chemistry. Nothing could come of it, after all. Not a damn thing. Lili and he are from two separate worlds; he'd die for her in a heartbeat if it meant protecting her from harm, true, but a relationship is impossible. As the puzzle pieces gradually fall into place, Matt and Lili's danger of falling victim to a wily trap grows, and so too their danger of falling in love. Michelle Jerott is known for her unique novels, with their gritty intensity and emotional angst. HER BODYGUARD likewise puts a new spin on a cherished plotline. Matt and Lili's love story is no less intense for its seeming familiarity. Yes, Matt is a brooding, sexy as all get-out bodyguard. There's far more to this novel than Matt's profession, however. The present is tied into the mystery of the past with Rose's shoes, an intricate Celtic knot worthy of a plotting diva. What's more, Lili and Matt's chemistry is a living, breathing entity throughout. Their relationship is almost an eerie echo of Joey and Rose's (minus a few obvious differences). Of the two main characters, Matt is the most angst-ridden. His checkered past is a source of shame for him. I had a problem with his persistent belief that Lili, with her privileged background, was too good for him, though. Matt isn't exactly penniless himself, so why does he constantly reiterate that Lili's world and his own are far too different to be compatible? Scars from the past are difficult to overcome; and yes, once upon a time, Matt lived a life that was hard in more ways than one. Still, I felt this was a feeble argument. Of course, Matt is walking a fine moral line, completely oblivious to his peril. His attraction to Lili is undeniable; and the prospect of reaching out to her only to lose everything is a risk he doesn't consider worthwhile. Protecting the innocent from monsters like the ones stalking Lili is something he understands completely, feels confident about -- until Lili forces Matt to face up to his skewed perceptions. For a novel with such an innocuous title, I found it to be complex yet simple, elemental yet oddly soothing. HER BODYGUARD is a fine example of what the romance genre has to offer: Rich characterizations, a languorous sensuality, a biting wit and a very smart, very competent, very compelling plotline that pulls you in like a vortex and doesn't let go.
Rating: 
Summary: GREAT!!!
Review: Loved it, Loved it, Loved it!!! Buy it, But it, Buy it!!!
Rating:
Summary: This "goil" would love the guard this hero's body.
Review: Michelle Jerott's work is beyond every author I have ever read. She outclasses and out writes all of the major authors in the romance genre. It's time for her to get the recognition long over due and hopefully "Her Bodyguard" will make the publishing and reading world finally stop and take notice. Her character and plot development is without flaw, innovative and memorable. She puts just the right amount of wit to counter balance the fabulous intimacy between her hero and heroine in her remarkable story lines. I'm always left with the feeling of having met her characters in person and traveled to the wonderful places she takes us in her books. Her work is perfection and I have yet to find an error in any of her pieces. "Her Bodyguard" brings to life a by-gone era of gangsters, flappers, bootlegging and the shoot'em up mobster way of life that existed in our parents and grandparents life times. I
remember my grandfather talking about many of the famous gangsters who "vacationed" in northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. They robed in Chicago and spent their money in these areas, supporting the then hurting economy. Locals viewed them with a mix of emotions, respect, admiration, caution and fear. They were neither turned in nor turned away. Michelle brings the life of one mobster and his sweetheart to life before your eyes while developing a modern day love. With interesting twists and turns, this book will keep you turning pages late into the night, then tossing a turning to get back to it. For those who have not experienced Michelle's work, I have one thing to say .... WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? Dive into any one and you will soon be buying all four.
Rating: 
Summary: Fooled by 5 star rating
Review: Once I saw all the 5 star ratings for this book and read the premise I had to buy it. It was difficult to finish since the lust/love story was so boring. It would have been a lot more interesting if the plot didn't have these characters ready to tear each others close off but their first meeting and each one thereafter. A much better contemporary romance/suspense is Heartbreaker by Julie Garwood.
Rating:
Summary: Great story
Review: Shoe designer, Lili Kavanaugh just managed to escape an attempted kidnapping, and while she doesn't really think that she needs hunky bodyguard Matt Hawkins to guard her body-though she wouldn't mind him doing other things to it-she's resigned to the fact that he's here to stay. Matt is instantly attracted to flirtatious Lili, and he knows that she's going to be trouble. Trouble to his piece of mind and his libido! He's never gotten involved with a client before, and he's determined not to start now. Forced together, with emotions flying high, Matt finds that Lili's charms are too hard to resist. Amidst trying to figure out the mystery of who is after Lili-and why, Matt and Lili must figure out their feelings for each other as well. HER BODYGUARD is one of the most entertaining and charming books I've read this year. Sparks fly between the flamboyant Lili, and the more reserved Matt, and it's wonderful to watch Lili try everything in the book to get a rise out of Matt. (Wink! Wink!) Lili is aggressive, yet very feminine, and I always like seeing that kind of balance in a female character. The mystery, having to do with a 1930's gun moll's pair of shoes, was so unique and it created a wonderful base to the story. There was this one scene, just before Matt and Lili run away from the bad guys, where there is this intense and vivid gun battle, that frankly, I was enthralled by. My heart was pounding and I actually held my breath! It was so well written, I felt as if it were taking place right before my eyes. HER BODYGUARD offers smart and sexy characters, a fun storyline and great writing, what else can a reader ask for?
Rating: 
Summary: Can't get worked up about it.
Review: The author turned me off this book in the first few pages, when the lead character, Lili, reacts to the stress of an attempted kidnapping by coming on to her brand new bodyguard, rubbing her body against his to see if he'll react. Excuse me? All I could think was: what kind of promiscuous idiot does that? Throughout the rest of the book, I couldn't shake the feeling of being sorry for the bodyguard, Matt, for ending up with her. I don't think this author writes women well. Her character Matt was okay, but Lili? Even after this beginning, when things could only get better, you never really get a feel for her. And even when the author writes from a woman's point of view, she sounds like a man. Hint: when writing a romance, don't describe the blunt physicality of making love. This book was vaguely interesting because of the bit of mystery involving gangsters and a collectible pair of shoes (that's unique) but the romance? 373 pages and I'm sure glad it's over.
Rating:
Summary: Warm, romantic and suspense-filled
Review: What I'd give to be in Lili's shoes, quite literally. HER BODYGUARD is a beautifully crafted story tied to a pair of antique shoes once belonging to a Chicago gangster's moll. Lili Kavanaugh is stunning, flamboyant and a successful designer of beautiful wedding shoes. She is also used to getting what she want, and she wants Matt Hawkins. He is strong and deliciously handsome. Matt is hired as Lili's bodyguard, or as he refers to himself as a 'personal security specialist', because of a failed kidnapping attempt. Lili is in serious danger. Someone is after her, someone deadly? But why? Even though there is an immediate attraction between them, Matte must keep grounded; he must keep this strictly business. It is the only way to keep Lili safe. Her life depends on it. Anyways, they are two very different people from two very different worlds. Matt and Lili are on the run finding safety in an isolated woodland resort giving them time to figure out why this is all happening. Excitement builds to a crescendo, concluding with guts and guns and gangsters. Bravo! This is a warm, romantic, suspense-filled drama complete with complex and emotional characaters. Add humor, an undercurrent of danger and irresistable sexual chemisty and you have a powerful love story. HER BODYGUARD is a triumph, a page-turner, another Michelle Jerott story not to be missed. Prepare to fall in love.
Rating:
Summary: For fans of romantic suspense and mystery cozies
Review: While shoe history expert and modern designer Professor Lili Kavanaugh was at the Art Institute of Chicago giving a lecture, a man with a gun tried to abduct her. She manages to escape by fighting and fainting, but a family friend hires personal security specialist Matt Hawkins as Lili's bodyguard over both their objections.
A second attempt to kidnap Lili occurs, but Matt and his team thwart that effort. Having no enemies, Lili wonders why her. Could the target be her latest addition to her historical shoe collection? Still why would anyone commit a violent crime to obtain a seven decade old pair of shoes even if they were involved in the legendary shootings of gangster Joey Mancuso and his squeeze Rose?
Fans of romantic suspense and mystery cozies will enjoy HER BODYGUARD that combines a 1933 gangster story with a modern day romance linking the genres through the shoes. The noteworthy story line engages patrons of both genres as the action never eases up until the final scene. Michelle Jerott has written her best novel to date with two deep lead characters starring in a bizarre romantic thriller. Harriet Klausner
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