Release Day Review - - The Guardian

The Guardian

by Kimberly Kincaid

The Intelligence Unit - Book 2

Publisher: Kimberly Kincaid

Release Date: March 9, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

Guard against any danger. Especially if it comes from within.

Detective Matteo Garza doesn’t just do the job—he is the job.
He’s learned the hard way that work and pleasure can’t co-exist.
So when his little sister’s best friend accidentally uncovers a money laundering scheme led by one of Remington’s most cold-blooded criminals, Garza vows to keep things strictly business as he keeps her safe. No matter how much the quirky mathematician makes him feel things best left buried. No matter how much she makes him want.

Delia Sutton knows she’s not like most people, just like she knows she needs to forget her ages-old crush on Matteo and focus on survival.
But the closer they get, the bolder she becomes—the more she breaks down his carefully crafted barriers to discover the man beneath.

Danger is closer than either of them could possibly imagine and no one can be trusted. Delia needs a guardian to fight by her side, and Matteo will do anything to protect her.

No matter who the enemy is.

PJ's Thoughts:

I love sizzling, emotional, contemporary romance and I love breath-stealing, edge-of-the-seat, romantic suspense. What Kimberly Kincaid has created in The Guardian is a superbly balanced combination of the two that totally immersed me in the story, keeping me glued to the pages long into the night, until I turned the final page with a deep, heart-felt sigh of satisfaction. 

Grumpy, broody, alpha heroes are my weakness and, boy howdy, does Garza ever fit that description. Pair him with the brilliant, quirky, and eternally optimistic best friend of his younger sister, who just happens to have been crushing on him since college, and I am so there. They complement each another beautifully, with physical chemistry that is off the charts (Kincaid is a genius creator of sizzling, organic love scenes). That chemistry is matched by a developing emotional tenderness and vulnerability with one another that won my heart and a deep respect for each other that convinced my head that the deepening bond between these two was the real deal. 

The suspense/action portion of the story is fast-paced, edgy, and expertly crafted with so many unexpected twists and turns I had no idea what would happen next...but I couldn't wait to find out. The villainous characters are fully developed, and scarily realistic, adding another layer of tension to the life or death consequences at play. 

The Guardian stands well on its own. If you're new to Kimberly Kincaid's novels, it's a great place to start. For those of you who are already fans of her books set in Remington, you'll no doubt be delighted to catch up with a few favorite characters from previous books. And if you love Matteo's and Delia's story as much as I did, you'll no doubt be excited to learn a bit more about the next hero in The Intelligence Unit and an upcoming, undercover reunion that has him in a tizzy. Detective Shawn Maxwell's book, The Grifter, is scheduled for release in October, 2021. I can't wait. 

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Do you enjoy romantic suspense?

Do you prefer more suspense, more romance, or an equitable balance of the two?

Have you read any of Kimberly Kincaid's books yet?

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Kimberly Kincaid writes contemporary romance that splits the difference between sexy and sweet and hot and edgy romantic suspense. When she’s not sitting cross-legged in an ancient desk chair known as “The Pleather Bomber”, she can be found practicing obscene amounts of yoga, whipping up anything from enchiladas to éclairs in her kitchen, or curled up with her nose in a book. Kimberly is a USA Today best-selling author and a 2016 and 2015 RWA RITA® finalist and 2014 Bookseller’s Best nominee who lives (and writes!) by the mantra that food is love. Kimberly resides in Virginia with her wildly patient husband and their three daughters.

Connect with Kimberly Kincaid:

Website: https://kimberlykincaid.com

Newsletter: https://kimberlykincaid.com/newsletter-2/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKimberlyKincaid

Amazon Author Page: http://bit.ly/3suiR95

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6938229.Kimberly_Kincaid

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimberlykincaidauthor/

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BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kimberly-kincaid