GRR Reviews Above and Beyond (To Serve and Protect by Kathryn Shay

Above and Beyond is a bodyguard novel, with impeccable research that blended uncompromising realism with swooning affection.

Nick Marino was the top guy on president's Secret Service detail, but a crisis sent him, at the personal request of president Barton to guard the president's sister, Isabelle Barton, in upstate New York. Nick wanted to advance and there isn't much beyond guarding the president... except becoming Director of Secret Service, and this job would be great... if he can get over Isabelle the widow and her twins. Someone is threatening president Barton and his family. Not even FBI and Secret Service can find the source. Nick goes undercover as a carpenter, along with his cousin (as the summer sitter for the twins) and his disgraced brother, all in the Secret Service, protecting Isabelle, and not even Isabelle can ignore the sparks between her and Nick. But she's not really ready to date, and he's not ready to give up his career... And the threats are escalating...

The novel started off pretty slow, but the tension did ratchet up later. I find bad guys' motivation a bit nebulous, but a proper conspiracy often is. All in all, a good read.

Category: Romantic Suspense

Primary Plot: Secret Service agent must protect the president's sister, a widow, from a stalker threat... without falling for her himself...

Tropes: law enforcement, bodyguard, disguise, different worlds,

Overall Rating:  4/5