Guarded
by Sara Davison
Published by Mountain Brook Ink
Publication Date February 1, 2020
Genres: Christian Fiction, Suspense, Clean Romance
Setting: Canada, Illinois Contemporary
Main Character Ages: 25-34
Written for: Adults
Pages: 351
Synopsis:
The tip the stranger left sent Nicole a painfully clear message. The past is no longer in the past.
Nicole is fighting to bury the memories. Someone else is fighting to keep them exposed. Detective Daniel Grey is back in town, and diner owner Nicole Hunter isn’t sure how she feels about that. It’s been almost seven years, and now she doesn’t just have herself to think about but her six-year-old son as well. If she does find the courage to take a chance on love, her heart could be smashed into pieces. Again.
And it’s not only her heart that is in danger. Someone is working hard to disrupt her present with reminders of the past she has worked hard to forget, especially her darkest memory—of the night her husband was gunned down in the street in front of her. As much as she might want to push Daniel away, Nicole needs him closer now than ever before.
But the one she trusts to keep her and her son safe has a secret that may prove to be the biggest threat of all.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. This gift did not influence my opinion or review.
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I really liked Vigilant, the first book of the Night Guardians series and A Taste of Heaven by Sara Davison, so I was prepared to enjoy Guarded as well. I just didn’t realize how very much I would enjoy it!
Warning, if you plan to read Vigilant, don’t read further in this review – go read it first. Whie it is not necessary to have that background because of the excellent manner in which Guarded ties in and stands on its own, it is better to read them in order to fully appreciate the events and the characters.
A couple of additional story-lines had me wondering how they tied in. Chicago? Jail? Art? Huh? Yet I knew there was something to them. They would definitely tie in. And they did in amazing ways. The Chicago story took longer to “explain” itself and yet the timing was just right. And oh! It was so perfect!!
I had already come to appreciate the characters from the first book and was so glad to see them return. I loved Jordan, Nicole’s tenderhearted, six-year-old son. His open and genuine care for those around him made him so endearing!
The secondary characters were as much a joy as the primary ones. I loved the way Tom, Daniel’s friend, managed to give him relationship advice under the guise of not giving him advice. I was laughing, realizing before Daniel what was happening! Oh, and Shar, Daniel’s partner, was so fun with the way she was able to read him. He accused her of psychic powers at one point – in jest, of course!
This was certainly one of the best examples of how to include the important details from a prior book in a series in a natural manner. If I had just read Vigilant, I would not have been frustrated with the recap. Though it has been half a year since I read it, I found that many details had stuck in my mind. And those that were buried deeper were nudged out of hiding with the little nuggets shared to jog my memory in just the right places.
I highly recommend this book and this series to all lovers of Christian suspense!
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About Sara Davison
Sara Davison is the author of the romantic suspense novel, The Watcher, the romantic suspense series, THE SEVEN TRILOGY, and the upcoming suspense series, THE NIGHT GUARDIANS SERIES. She has been a finalist for eight national writing awards, including Best New Canadian Christian author, a Carol Award, and two Daphne du Maurier Awards for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. She is a Word and Cascade Award winner. Sara has a degree in English Literature from Queen’s University. She currently resides in Ontario, Canada with her husband Michael and their three children, all of whom she (literally) looks up to.
Thank you for this amazing review, Phyllis, and for all the great graphics – I always love all the ones you make! I’m so glad you liked Guarded and I deeply appreciate you helping to spread the word about it to others. Blessings!
It is such a great story, Sara!
Thank you, Phyllis! I too loved Vigilant, but Guarded really grabbed my heart. Maybe because I was already invested with the characters, I’m not sure. But I loved it.