Thursday, December 18, 2025

MISTLETOE AND MALICE by Lori DeJong, Reviewed by Rebecca Maney

GUARDED HEARTS SERIES

REBECCA'S REVIEW:
"Don't scream, Miss Hudson, or I'll end you right here."

After nearly being abducted inside a parking garage, Riley Hudson's family insists on hiring twenty-four hour protection. Although Riley is a well respected philanthropist and defense attorney in her own right, she is also worth a fortune, her family's wealth widely known among the general public. When Colton Blankenship from Peterson Security is assigned the lead role for Riley's bodyguard entourage, he assumes it will be a routine assignment accompanying a rich young woman on shopping trips and vapid outings. Nothing could be further from the truth, for Riley proves to be smart, stubborn, independent, and determined not to let an attempt on her life slow down her busy schedule.

In spite of Riley's insistence on maintaining normalcy, something or someone has triggered an escalation in attempts to taunt her from a distance, making it very clear that she is being watched everywhere she goes. As she becomes more and more reliant on Colton and his team, the two naturally share personal conversations which turn into discussions about life experiences, delving into dangerous territory for a man who has no intention of ever loving another woman.

This book had an impressive intersection of suspense and intrigue from the very beginning, the clarity of its characters gaining momentum as Riley and Colton became more transparent with each other and by association, the reader. Wonderfully appropriate faith elements add depth to the overall allure of this plot line with its comfortable pacing and romantic tension, marking the start of a series that I will definitely continue to read.
*I purchased a copy and was under no obligation to provide a positive review. 4.5stars

BackCover Blurb:

After barely escaping an attempted abduction, Houston attorney Riley Hudson is forced to accept her wealthy father’s demand for private security. The last thing she wants is a bodyguard—especially one as maddeningly arrogant, bossy … and handsome as Colton Blankenship. Yet as the threat against her escalates, she begins to rely not only on his skills, but his steadfast presence.

Colton isn’t thrilled about giving up his hard-earned holiday vacation to protect a spoiled heiress. But he soon learns Riley is nothing like he expected. Fierce, independent, and unwavering in her faith, she’s everything he thought he’d left behind after tragedy shattered his own beliefs. As the unknown threat circles closer, the tension between them ignites into something deeper … and far more perilous.

When a second attempt on Riley’s life nearly succeeds, Colton faces a terrifying truth. Protecting her means risking more than just his life. Haunted by a past he can’t outrun, and a faith he’s all but lost, he must decide if he can trust God again … before he loses Riley—and his heart—for good.


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