Jacqueline Diamond, The Baby's Bodyguard

The Baby's Bodyguard

Jacqueline Diamond

Harlequin American, Dec 2004, $4.99, 250 pp.

ISBN: 0373750501

When his estranged wife Casey calls security expert Jack Arnott about a stalker frightening her and her tenants at the Pine Woods Court cabins in Richfield Crossing, Tennessee, he immediately leaves Los Angeles. When Jack arrives, he surprises Casey that he would drop everything in his crowded business world, but he is more stunned to see she is eight months pregnant. Once he realizes he is the father, he is even more shocked.

Jack knows he still loves Casey, but must persuade her that he wants her and their unborn daughter in his life, especially since he made it clear he wanted no children. However, she will not listen to him as he pleads his case. Still he refuses to go back to the coast or any of his clients until the woman he loves and the unborn child that he wants to nurture are safe from the stalker who keeps getting bolder as he or she avoids being caught.

This is an exciting, romantic suspense story starring two likable protagonists, a strong support cast, and a fine who-doing-it subplot. Jack shows his worth by showing up while readers will be a bit irritated with Casey (pregnancy hormones running amuck?) who refuses to listen to Jack's beseeching let alone give her hero any slack. Still this is a fine, southern, rural, contemporary, romantic intrigue that readers will be fond of because they know Jack.

Harriet Klausner