Guarded by Mary Behre – Review & Giveaway

Guarded
Tidewater series – Book #2
by Mary Behre
Release Date: August 5, 2014

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Description:
She’s given up on finding love…

Veterinarian Shelley Morgan has always preferred animals to humans, and not simply because she can communicate with them psychically. Unlike most people she’s known, animals have never broken her heart. But after six months in her new town, some of her favorite four-legged companions begin disappearing from the local zoo. Determined to track down the animals and their thief, the telepathic vet decides to investigate, unknowingly delving into a deadly mystery…

He’s ready to make her heart go wild…

Although his bear-like physique has been an advantage in the Tidewater Police Department, Dev Jones’s size often intimidates people. Only Shelley has seen past his massive build to the intelligent man inside, but that was years ago. So when she contacts him requesting his help to solve a series of animal kidnappings, he’s eager to reconnect with her. But the thefts escalate to murder and all the evidence points to Shelley as the killer, and Dev faces a devastating choice: forsake his career or risk losing the woman he’s grown to love…

Review:

Guarded by Mary Behre is the second book in her Tidewater series. I enjoyed the first book in this series, but I have to say this one is even better. The series revolves around three sisters, who were separated at a very young age due to the death of their parents. Each of them have a special gift (crift); Jules, the oldest sister, who had her story in the first book, sees and talks to ghosts. Shelley, our heroine in this story, is the middle sister, and she communicates with animals. It helps since she is a veterinarian. The sisters is part of the background of the story, but this is a romance, with suspense and hunky men for the girls.

Dev is our hero, and he is a detective in Tidewaters Police Department. He knows Shelley from school, and always had a crush on her. But because she was dating his best friend, Dev kept his distance. Dev is friends with Jules’s fiancée, and knew Shelley was her missing sister, so he set out to find her, and bring her to meet her sister. Shelley is embroiled in a serious issue with some animals she treats that turn up missing, and she sends Dev a letter to please come to help.

When Dev arrives to see Shelley, his old feelings resurface. He begins to work with Shelley to find out why animals from the local zoo are disappearing. Shelley is in embroiled in this mystery, with Dev concerned that all clues are pointing to her. There are quite a few twists and turns along the way, people getting killed and the danger escalating. To give too much more information would be considered spoilers.

But I will say that this is a wonderful story of a romance that continues to build over the course of the story. Dev knows he is falling in love all over again, but Shelley is hesitant to commit, as she was hurt very badly when her fiancée dumped her months before their wedding. She swore off men, but finds herself responding to her lustful feelings for Dev. There chemistry together was great, and very sensual.

In between this exciting mystery, there were so many wonderful parts of this story. When Shelley and Jules come face to face after all those years was very emotional. Seeing Jules talk to ghosts and telling Shelley what the ghost was saying was cool. I loved Shelley talking to the animals, as she saw visions that they showed her.   Shelley’s pet ferret, Lucy, was a riot, and her attacks against Dev were eye opening…. you have to read it. LOL There is a lot of humor in this story and it was fun. At the same time, the last 1/3 of the book was very exciting, filled with non-stop action.

Mary Behre has written a wonderful story with a little bit of everything. She has created some wonderful characters, especially the hot men in Tidewater Police Department, whom we will get to see more of in future books. Guarded was a fun delightful read, with a hot romance, mystery, and action-packed suspense.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

Mary Behre is the lone female in a house full of males and the undisputed queen of her domain. She even has the glittery tiara to prove it. She loves stories with humor, ghosts, mysteries and above all else, a good romance. When not writing, she enjoys reading, gluten-free baking, and hanging out at the beach with the most important men in her life, her family.

Her debut paranormal romance, SPIRITED (Tidewater Novel #1) was an award-winning manuscript before it sold to Berkley Sensation. The Tidewater Series is mix of humor, suspense, and a psychic love-connection. The first three stories are about three sisters separated years before in the foster care system. As they search for love, each other, and a way to live with their psychic abilities, they’re tossed into the middle of mysteries that only their unique gifts can help solve.

Mary is represented by the fabulous Nalini Akolekar of Spencerhill Associates.

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Mary and her publisher are offering a paper copy of GUARDED to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

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6. Giveaway is open to USA only.

7. Giveaway runs from August 3rd -August 6th , 2014