Review: Guarding Hope – Ann Mayburn

War hero Daniel Escobar has left behind his career as a Marine and now works for the Contego Agency, Detroit’s premier personal protection firm. Unfortunately his heroic actions on the battlefield cost him not only part of his sight, but also his peace of mind. Haunted by regrets of the past, Daniel finds a new purpose in life when he is given the job of protecting Hope, the only woman he’s ever truly loved, from the mob.

Hope Walker can’t believe it when she finds Daniel, her first love, working at the Contego Agency. She’s searched for him for years, wanting to know why he left her after that terrible night their senior year in high school when a fight with his mother’s drug dealer boyfriend left Hope in the hospital and Daniel shipped off to parts unknown by Child Protective Services. For both Daniel and Hope the old memories and emotions come rushing back, and together they will have to fight to stay alive long enough to give their love a second chance.

Series: Contego Agency, #1
Release Date: August 6th 2013
Publisher: Honey Mountain Publishing
Source: Manic Reders
Reviewer: Gwen
Rating:

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Reviewer’s Thoughts

Ann Mayburn is amazing at pulling in her readers in all her books and once again in Guarding Hope. Ann introduces you to Daniel Escobar injured from a military deployment now working for a security company protecting clients when his past comes back. The book was a fast read for me. I was unable to put the book down wondering what was going to happen next and how were Daniel and Dr. Hope Walker, the woman he is guarding and his past, were going to get through the danger she is in and if they will be able to talk about the past and mend and or repair the damage that was done. Ann is able to make the story move forward yet the characters continue to reflect on their shared past, so you feel a part of their lives. Ann is amazing at drawing you into the book that it is easy to forget the characters are fictional. The dialogue is believable and keeps you connected to both Hope and Daniel as they try to avoid the man that is trying to kill Hope.

You see how Hope and Daniel grew over the years they were apart. Ann also shows how Daniel and Hope helped form and shape each other into the people they became when they reunited. Hope is a strong woman who is committed to making a difference in the world. You can feel the strength of Hope and feel pride that she will not compromise her values to get out of the danger that Daniel is trying to keep her out of. The characters were developed by Ann extremely well; Daniel and Hope are both are strong individuals but far from perfect and easily relatable too. The danger that Hope is in, well I will just say that I would like to think I would do the same thing under the circumstances. This is a great book to introduce yourself to the works of Ann Mayburn if you haven’t read her before or even if you have she will not disappoint you with Guarding Hope.