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The Bodyguards #5
Under the Wire
Because of Her, He Lost Everything.
Manny Ortega is a man without a country, and he has one woman to thank for it. She was his first and only true love, and when she left, she took more than his heart - she took his life as he knew it. Hardened and honed sharp as a knife by years as a special forces soldier and police detective, Manny is ready for a fresh start at his friend Ethan Garrett's security firm. But the past isn't ready to let him go...
To Keep Her Safe...
Lily Campora never imagined what would happen to Manny after she walked away from him that night in the sultry Nicaraguan heat--or how he'd hated her for it every day since. Seventeen years later, Lily knows everything, and she must put her fear of Manny's rage aside to beg for his help. His forgiveness may be too much to hope for...
He'll Do Anything.
Thrust into action on a mission that will transport them to a country rife with political turmoil and civil unrest, Manny and Lily must find a way to work together. And now, amidst the dangerous beauty of a landscape reminiscent of Manny's homeland, passion will ignite once more...
Manny Ortega is a man without a country, and he has one woman to thank for it. She was his first and only true love, and when she left, she took more than his heart - she took his life as he knew it. Hardened and honed sharp as a knife by years as a special forces soldier and police detective, Manny is ready for a fresh start at his friend Ethan Garrett's security firm. But the past isn't ready to let him go...
To Keep Her Safe...
Lily Campora never imagined what would happen to Manny after she walked away from him that night in the sultry Nicaraguan heat--or how he'd hated her for it every day since. Seventeen years later, Lily knows everything, and she must put her fear of Manny's rage aside to beg for his help. His forgiveness may be too much to hope for...
He'll Do Anything.
Thrust into action on a mission that will transport them to a country rife with political turmoil and civil unrest, Manny and Lily must find a way to work together. And now, amidst the dangerous beauty of a landscape reminiscent of Manny's homeland, passion will ignite once more...
329 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
About the author
Cindy Gerard
155 books1,623 followersThe only thing Cindy had in mind when she started writing her first book was finishing it. The issue of actually selling it came much later. Only after she made that life-altering first sale did she realize that one book would never be enough. Now, over 20 books and numerous awards later, Cindy laughingly admits that she can barely remember life before...well, was there life before writing?
Actually, yes there was, and still is. A professional career woman, Cindy is a trainer for the Iowa Department of Human Services, a position she states is both challenging and rewarding. "Human Services is a front-line, real-life event. Everything about the job is immediate, from serving families in crisis, to assisting staff with difficult situations, to meeting tension-fraught deadlines."
Cindy's career has taught her much about the human condition, its frailties, its strengths, and its spirit. The evocative emotions that pour from the pages of her books are a reflection of some of her work experiences. Her writing celebrates life's richness and trials, offering a wide range of emotions — hope and elation, anger and indecision, laughter and, of course, love. And, according to her readers, her powerful love scenes run the gamut from steamy to tender to lusty to just plain fun.
Cindy's writing has netted her spots on bestseller lists, numerous RT nominations and awards, the Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence, a National Reader's Choice Award and two RITA nominations.
Between writing and working full time you wouldn't think Cindy would have much time for anything else. And while she does find her work and her writing rewarding, there does have to be more. Cindy has more. Much more. She is happily married to the perfect man. Tom's a cowboy, ladies!
Yes, even Iowa has its share of that saddle-straddling, Wrangler-wearing species who love their horses almost as much as they love their women. As a matter of fact, recently a whole herd of Texans gathered at the Gerard "Ranch" to treat their little ones to real horseback rides. Go figure.
Cindy has a passion for pink depression glass — she always has her eye out for the special piece to add to her collection. Cindy's down time often takes the form of the classic "busman's holiday." She loves to read and most of all, she loves to read at their summer place, a cabin in the woods on Lake Kabetogama in northern Minnesota.
Both Tom and Cindy enjoy gardening and have recently expanded their annual beds into a perennial garden. Cindy says she can hardly wait for spring and the promise of all that reawakening and the colorful blooms.
In addition to the horses, the Gerards have two dogs, Ellie and Boomer, who pretty much get anything they want. Tom and Cindy have one son, Kyle, who, after years of keeping them in suspense, found Eileen, the perfect woman.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/cindyg...
Actually, yes there was, and still is. A professional career woman, Cindy is a trainer for the Iowa Department of Human Services, a position she states is both challenging and rewarding. "Human Services is a front-line, real-life event. Everything about the job is immediate, from serving families in crisis, to assisting staff with difficult situations, to meeting tension-fraught deadlines."
Cindy's career has taught her much about the human condition, its frailties, its strengths, and its spirit. The evocative emotions that pour from the pages of her books are a reflection of some of her work experiences. Her writing celebrates life's richness and trials, offering a wide range of emotions — hope and elation, anger and indecision, laughter and, of course, love. And, according to her readers, her powerful love scenes run the gamut from steamy to tender to lusty to just plain fun.
Cindy's writing has netted her spots on bestseller lists, numerous RT nominations and awards, the Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence, a National Reader's Choice Award and two RITA nominations.
Between writing and working full time you wouldn't think Cindy would have much time for anything else. And while she does find her work and her writing rewarding, there does have to be more. Cindy has more. Much more. She is happily married to the perfect man. Tom's a cowboy, ladies!
Yes, even Iowa has its share of that saddle-straddling, Wrangler-wearing species who love their horses almost as much as they love their women. As a matter of fact, recently a whole herd of Texans gathered at the Gerard "Ranch" to treat their little ones to real horseback rides. Go figure.
Cindy has a passion for pink depression glass — she always has her eye out for the special piece to add to her collection. Cindy's down time often takes the form of the classic "busman's holiday." She loves to read and most of all, she loves to read at their summer place, a cabin in the woods on Lake Kabetogama in northern Minnesota.
Both Tom and Cindy enjoy gardening and have recently expanded their annual beds into a perennial garden. Cindy says she can hardly wait for spring and the promise of all that reawakening and the colorful blooms.
In addition to the horses, the Gerards have two dogs, Ellie and Boomer, who pretty much get anything they want. Tom and Cindy have one son, Kyle, who, after years of keeping them in suspense, found Eileen, the perfect woman.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/cindyg...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
November 5, 2016
Well, I've picked up this book at least ten times. Read the first chapter over and over again. Just couldn't get into it for some reason
Let me tell you why...
The book starts with Manny (don't like his name, point one), it's found out that he works for the resistance, he's beaten and left for dead.
BUT, before they almost kill him, they are generous enough to admit to him that his girlfriend was the one who betrayed him. He is crushed. The woman he loved betrayed his trust. He remembers the first time he met her...
NINE DAYS AGO.
I mean seriously. The way he thinks about her is as if she's the love of his life, and they met nine days ago, of which three days he was captured. So, six days of insta love.
INSTA LOVE
You know, I hate insta love. It usually runs every book for me if it isn't done right. Sometimes it's believable, sometimes not. Here it just wasn't.
One way to make a good insta-love story - They meet during an intense thing, doesn't matter what it is, they have a million adventures together in a course of two or three days, it works best if some bad guys are after them and they are running for their lives and doing stuff. Read lots of those and it's pretty believable someone can get very close during difficult times.
Manny and Lily...
They spent those 5-6 days only in bed having non-stop sex. Now, that could lead to them figuring out they fit sexually, have some explosive chemistry and so on. You can't fall in love just with sex. You have to know the person for goodness sake! Ugh. So yeah that bothered me right from the start and it just got on my nerves.
Anyway, the rest of the story was good, as always Cindy Gerard writes fantastic suspense, and that part I loved
17 years after the "betrayal" (17 freaking years!!!!!!!!!!!), just have to say, I hate the long separation, in ANY book. It's like this one deliberatly chose the things I hate
Where was I? Yes, 17 years after, her son is kidnapped, and when I say her son I mean hers and Manny's son (of-freaking-course, could it be more cliched?), so she comes to Manny and asks for his help. They go to Sri Lanka along with the other members of E.D.E.N (loved seeing them again
) to the rescue.That's basically it, if I say more I'm gonna spoil it for you :D
Now, one thing that was really great, and don't get to see in many books - the heroine is older than the hero :) I liked that, it's cool :D
What I didn't like was that he was only 18 years old when they first met and fell madly in love having sex non-stop for 5 days. Nope. Later when they were older, it was all great :)
BADLY DONE SPANISH
One other thing, there was lots of Spanish in this book, and I have to say, it was badly done (some, not all). I watch a lot of telenovelas and shows on Spanish without translations, so I'm pretty used to the language and understand it, I'm no expert, really, but still! Even I could see some words spelled wrong like "cueropo" instead of "cuerpo" as in "body", and he kept repeating "mina" and the translation was "mine", as far as I know, I've heard the expression "mina" in some Argentinian shows and it's for "girl", mine would be "mia" and it bugged me cause he said it a million times! I went to google translate and I guess the author did it too because she took the noun instead of the pronoun.
Some sentences didn't sound right, I mean, when you translate to another language, you don't do it word for word, usually every language has a different setup of words in the sentence, I just know that people who speak Spanish would have arranged the words in the sentence differently.
And that's me, I haven't studied Spanish AT ALL, but figured out the mistakes. I guess people whose native language is Spanish were throwing up a little while reading this one...
Anyway, this ended up an average read for me.
Still, love this author's style and looking forward to the Black Ops series
June 15, 2020
Lily Campora was a nurse with Doctors Without Borders when she met young Manny Ortega in Nicaragua. Theirs was a passionate romance that flamed quickly but was extinguished early when his role as a spy for the CIA and the Contras was discovered. Now, 17-years later they meet again when she desperately needs his help though he hasn't forgiven her for what happened long ago. Their path will take them to the jungles of Sri Lanka where they're thrust in the middle of a political conflict about to explode.
This was a pretty exciting story that enlightened me not only about the old Contras/Sandinista government political conflict with the US involvement but also that in Sri Lanka. The issues underlying these wars were often murky to me and Gerard does a really good job of outlining and weaving them into the central aspects of the story. Lily and Manny are well developed characters and it was fascinating to contrast the young, brash Manny with his adult, more mature counterpart. I also liked how the op portion dominated the story, heightening the tensions for most of the book.
There's lots of action and surprises in this story as Manny and Lily attempt to resolve the past and forge a new relationship. It's chilling at times and Gerard effectively creates vivid images of the world of Sri Lanka. I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough and I really liked both characters. It also sets up the next book nicely with Dallas Garrett at the forefront. This series has transitioned perfectly to be more suspenseful, in my opinion. I'm looking forward to the final chapter. 4.5 stars
This was a pretty exciting story that enlightened me not only about the old Contras/Sandinista government political conflict with the US involvement but also that in Sri Lanka. The issues underlying these wars were often murky to me and Gerard does a really good job of outlining and weaving them into the central aspects of the story. Lily and Manny are well developed characters and it was fascinating to contrast the young, brash Manny with his adult, more mature counterpart. I also liked how the op portion dominated the story, heightening the tensions for most of the book.
There's lots of action and surprises in this story as Manny and Lily attempt to resolve the past and forge a new relationship. It's chilling at times and Gerard effectively creates vivid images of the world of Sri Lanka. I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough and I really liked both characters. It also sets up the next book nicely with Dallas Garrett at the forefront. This series has transitioned perfectly to be more suspenseful, in my opinion. I'm looking forward to the final chapter. 4.5 stars
August 8, 2014
"He'd loved her. Hated her. Craved her. But he'd never forgotten her."
Manny Ortega lost everything because of one woman. She really did a number on him too, taking his heart, and then betraying him to his enemies. Forcing him to become exile in his own country and eventually leave behind everything he knows and loves in Nicaragua and start again in America. 17 years later his heart and demeanor have hardened, years spent in the Special Forces and then as a police detective have taken care of that. Manny is no longer the swaggering, bright eyed Latin lover he once was and while he may be a different person now one thing hasn’t changed, he’s never gotten over his anger or forgiven his first love Lily.
"From the moment he’d seen her that fateful night in Nicaragua she’d been an obsession. Nothing had changed. He’d loved her. Hated her. Craved her. But he’d never forgotten her.”
Lily Camporna spent years believing that her young lover had been killed by Nicaraguan rebels so imagine her surprise when she sees him in a Boston Hospital. He’s aged like a fine wine and still makes her stomach flutter. But what is he doing here and why does he hate her so much? Then Lily’s son is kidnapped while in Sri Lanka, and with no aid from the government she goes to the one person she knows will have to help. Putting aside her questions and his animosity Lily begs Manny to help bring her son home.
Unlike some of the other reviewers I really enjoyed Part 1 which takes place years before the main story. I also didn’t have any problems with the 10 year age gap between our couple; even though when they first meet our hero is only 18. I enjoyed seeing how his personality changed in the years between. As a man he is no longer the swaggering, bright eyed, Latin lover, in fact he’s bitter and a bit of an ass. Holding a grudge for so long will do that to a guy.
Unfortunately where I did have a problem was when the story went to modern day, things just fell apart for me once all the action started in Sri Lanka, and I found it all kinda dumb. This was surprising to me because those are usually my favourite Cindy Gerard scenes. But when the hero and heroine are swinging from jungle vines, riding around on a klepto elephant and having sex in prehistoric caves with useable beds (?) its heading into OTT territory for me. I also found some of the long Sri Lankan names very awkward, like the host family ‘Muhandiramalas’ my brain was tripping over the pronunciation and I was taken out of the story. My thought there though, is that they’re authentic and I’m just being a lazy reader.
Similarly to the beginning I enjoyed the last few chapters after all the action was done with, as Lily awaits the return of her son and tries to figure out how and if Manny will fit into their life in Boston. As always CG includes several other EDEN members in her story and the ever eventful closing chapter crochet game.
This is Book #5 in the Bodyguard series and while Cindy Gerard remains an auto-buy author this was not my favourite book of hers. It is however hugely popular so don’t take my word for it. Cheers
383jb3.5
Manny Ortega lost everything because of one woman. She really did a number on him too, taking his heart, and then betraying him to his enemies. Forcing him to become exile in his own country and eventually leave behind everything he knows and loves in Nicaragua and start again in America. 17 years later his heart and demeanor have hardened, years spent in the Special Forces and then as a police detective have taken care of that. Manny is no longer the swaggering, bright eyed Latin lover he once was and while he may be a different person now one thing hasn’t changed, he’s never gotten over his anger or forgiven his first love Lily.
"From the moment he’d seen her that fateful night in Nicaragua she’d been an obsession. Nothing had changed. He’d loved her. Hated her. Craved her. But he’d never forgotten her.”
Lily Camporna spent years believing that her young lover had been killed by Nicaraguan rebels so imagine her surprise when she sees him in a Boston Hospital. He’s aged like a fine wine and still makes her stomach flutter. But what is he doing here and why does he hate her so much? Then Lily’s son is kidnapped while in Sri Lanka, and with no aid from the government she goes to the one person she knows will have to help. Putting aside her questions and his animosity Lily begs Manny to help bring her son home.
Unlike some of the other reviewers I really enjoyed Part 1 which takes place years before the main story. I also didn’t have any problems with the 10 year age gap between our couple; even though when they first meet our hero is only 18. I enjoyed seeing how his personality changed in the years between. As a man he is no longer the swaggering, bright eyed, Latin lover, in fact he’s bitter and a bit of an ass. Holding a grudge for so long will do that to a guy.
Unfortunately where I did have a problem was when the story went to modern day, things just fell apart for me once all the action started in Sri Lanka, and I found it all kinda dumb. This was surprising to me because those are usually my favourite Cindy Gerard scenes. But when the hero and heroine are swinging from jungle vines, riding around on a klepto elephant and having sex in prehistoric caves with useable beds (?) its heading into OTT territory for me. I also found some of the long Sri Lankan names very awkward, like the host family ‘Muhandiramalas’ my brain was tripping over the pronunciation and I was taken out of the story. My thought there though, is that they’re authentic and I’m just being a lazy reader.
Similarly to the beginning I enjoyed the last few chapters after all the action was done with, as Lily awaits the return of her son and tries to figure out how and if Manny will fit into their life in Boston. As always CG includes several other EDEN members in her story and the ever eventful closing chapter crochet game.
This is Book #5 in the Bodyguard series and while Cindy Gerard remains an auto-buy author this was not my favourite book of hers. It is however hugely popular so don’t take my word for it. Cheers
383jb3.5
December 30, 2021
This was book 5 in
"The Bodyguards"
This was a pretty good book. Seventeen years ago, Lily was in Nicaragua working as a nurse and had a passionate one-week affair with Manny. They fell in love. Manny was spying for the Contras by pretending to be a Sandinista soldier. He was then kidnapped by the Sandinistas. They told him that Lily told on him. He escaped and has hated Lily ever since. After Manny was kidnapped, Lily tried to find him and was told that he died in battle. She left Nicaragua and later discovered she was pregnant. She raised Manny's son Adam alone. It is now seventeen years later, Adam goes to Sri Lanka on a service trip for the summer. A military group kidnaps Adam and the family he is staying with. Lily recently learned that Manny was alive she can't believe he never tried to find her. Lily goes to Manny for help he is currently a policeman in Boston. He contacts his military friends, and a small group of them go to Sri Lanka to rescue Adam she goes with them. Manny is still angry at her because he thinks she betrayed him. I liked both of these characters but I had a few issues like they met Lily was 28 and Manny was 18 the book said he had been in a while how? I also had a problem with the story shifting while in the jungle like swing on vines I thought I was listening to an episode of Tarzan. Overall this was a good read. I am looking forward to listening to the next book in this series.
July 30, 2011
This is one of the few books where the couple is a pair of reuniting lovers that I actually like. I think one of the strengths of the story is that the beginning of their story is told at the first of the book then the action moves to 17 years later so there are no annoying flashbacks. Also the meeting between these two when they were young was very realistic, poignant and moving.
The story where they are reunited and searching for their kidnapped son is good and moves quickly. There is quite a bit of action in other men's POVs which distrupts a bit.
The main disappointment and it's not a real big deal is that the author didn't actually write the scene where the heroine tells her son that his father is not dead. We also don't get to see the son and father getting to know each other. We are just told it went okay after the fact. Those are scenes that I really wanted to read. It seems like the reader is gypped out of some of the emotional payoff of the story. We got to read about all the mistrust and stuff of their reunion but didn't get to read the feel good stuff at the end.
One further thing, because I am older than my husband, I am fond of older woman younger man stories and this one was done well even though he was only 18 at the start of the story. It made sense when the author explained how brutal his life had been and how boys grow up quickly in those circumstances. The heroine didn't however realize about the age difference until she was into the relationship. I was also pleased to see that it was totally a non issue once they were older and reuniting. Not everyone is afraid of an age difference between couples and it's nice to see that fact reflected accurately once in a while in a romance novel.
The story where they are reunited and searching for their kidnapped son is good and moves quickly. There is quite a bit of action in other men's POVs which distrupts a bit.
The main disappointment and it's not a real big deal is that the author didn't actually write the scene where the heroine tells her son that his father is not dead. We also don't get to see the son and father getting to know each other. We are just told it went okay after the fact. Those are scenes that I really wanted to read. It seems like the reader is gypped out of some of the emotional payoff of the story. We got to read about all the mistrust and stuff of their reunion but didn't get to read the feel good stuff at the end.
One further thing, because I am older than my husband, I am fond of older woman younger man stories and this one was done well even though he was only 18 at the start of the story. It made sense when the author explained how brutal his life had been and how boys grow up quickly in those circumstances. The heroine didn't however realize about the age difference until she was into the relationship. I was also pleased to see that it was totally a non issue once they were older and reuniting. Not everyone is afraid of an age difference between couples and it's nice to see that fact reflected accurately once in a while in a romance novel.
August 18, 2017
What a great book - Ms Gerard has done it again and ticked all the boxes for me. The action was great and the sex/love scenes have definately been ramped up from previous books in the series.
I have biddy complaint about the book and that is the young Manny. The scene has been set and we find that he is an alpha male and like all H's he is a god in the bedroom and the earth moves for them both and then we find out that Manny is only 18! Then we find out that Lily is 28 - now I haven't a problem with the age difference (although it is bordering on cradle snatching!)what I did have a problem with is that he has been portrayed as a worldy man and lets be honest I find that very hard to believe from an 18 year young man. I understand that because the main body of the story is set 17 years later the author is sensitive to the age of both the characters and perhaps it may have been better if Manny had been a little older and maybe Lily a little younger and then it would have seemed a bit more realistic.
After having a little moan and groan to myself I then got on with the reading and put aside my little gripe and found that it was a great book and had me gripped from beginning to end and deserves the 5 star rating.
I have biddy complaint about the book and that is the young Manny. The scene has been set and we find that he is an alpha male and like all H's he is a god in the bedroom and the earth moves for them both and then we find out that Manny is only 18! Then we find out that Lily is 28 - now I haven't a problem with the age difference (although it is bordering on cradle snatching!)what I did have a problem with is that he has been portrayed as a worldy man and lets be honest I find that very hard to believe from an 18 year young man. I understand that because the main body of the story is set 17 years later the author is sensitive to the age of both the characters and perhaps it may have been better if Manny had been a little older and maybe Lily a little younger and then it would have seemed a bit more realistic.
After having a little moan and groan to myself I then got on with the reading and put aside my little gripe and found that it was a great book and had me gripped from beginning to end and deserves the 5 star rating.
March 2, 2011
Enjoyable, well done, military guys romantic suspense.
STORY BRIEF:
Seventeen years ago, Lily was in Nicaragua working as a nurse and had a passionate one-week affair with Manny. They fell in love. Manny was spying for the Contras by pretending to be a Sandinista soldier. He was then kidnapped by the Sandinistas. They told him that Lily informed on him. He escaped and has hated Lily ever since. After Manny was kidnapped, Lily tried to find him and was told that he died in battle. She left Nicaragua and later discovered she was pregnant. She raised Manny’s son Adam alone.
It is now seventeen years later, Adam goes to Sri Lanka on a service trip for the summer. A military group kidnaps Adam and the family he is staying with. Lily recently learned that Manny was alive. She can’t believe he never tried to find her. Lily goes to Manny for help. Manny is currently a policeman in Boston. He contacts his military friends, and a small group of them go to Sri Lanka to rescue Adam. Lily goes with them. For quite a while, Manny is full of hate for Lily.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
I enjoyed the alpha-type military guys. I liked both main characters. Their dislike for each other and ultimate resolution was handled pretty well. I enjoyed their finding each other again through the crisis. Sex scenes were like those in most romantic suspense novels. They were ok, not bad.
I was disappointed with one instance of heroine stupidity. But it was minor and short lived, and it did provide an excuse for the guys to do something neat to save her. So in the spirit of fiction, I accepted it. But the author could have done the same scene without heroine stupidity. Another soldier could have come out of hiding and grabbed her instead of her running toward a soldier – or something else.
I was disappointed that the author never answered the big question from the beginning of the book of who informed on Manny or why he was taken by the Sandinistas.
The author used a lot of Spanish phrases which was fine. But I was impressed that after each Spanish phrase, the author put the translation in italic. Thank you. That works well. Too many authors don’t do this.
When they met, Lily was 28 and Manny was 18. He had been a soldier for a while in a troubled environment which had an aging effect. Other than describing their ages, the story didn’t do anything with the age difference, which was fine with me. I had no preference about that.
OTHER BOOKS:
So far I’ve read three Cindy Gerard books. This is my favorite. The others are:
3 stars. To The Brink
2 stars. Show No Mercy
DATA:
Story length: 329 pages. Swearing language: strong, including religious swear words. Sexual language: strong. Number of sex scenes: 6. Estimated number of sex scene pages: 16. Setting: 17 years ago and current day Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, and the U.S. Copyright: 2006. Genre: romantic suspense, older woman younger man.
STORY BRIEF:
Seventeen years ago, Lily was in Nicaragua working as a nurse and had a passionate one-week affair with Manny. They fell in love. Manny was spying for the Contras by pretending to be a Sandinista soldier. He was then kidnapped by the Sandinistas. They told him that Lily informed on him. He escaped and has hated Lily ever since. After Manny was kidnapped, Lily tried to find him and was told that he died in battle. She left Nicaragua and later discovered she was pregnant. She raised Manny’s son Adam alone.
It is now seventeen years later, Adam goes to Sri Lanka on a service trip for the summer. A military group kidnaps Adam and the family he is staying with. Lily recently learned that Manny was alive. She can’t believe he never tried to find her. Lily goes to Manny for help. Manny is currently a policeman in Boston. He contacts his military friends, and a small group of them go to Sri Lanka to rescue Adam. Lily goes with them. For quite a while, Manny is full of hate for Lily.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
I enjoyed the alpha-type military guys. I liked both main characters. Their dislike for each other and ultimate resolution was handled pretty well. I enjoyed their finding each other again through the crisis. Sex scenes were like those in most romantic suspense novels. They were ok, not bad.
I was disappointed with one instance of heroine stupidity. But it was minor and short lived, and it did provide an excuse for the guys to do something neat to save her. So in the spirit of fiction, I accepted it. But the author could have done the same scene without heroine stupidity. Another soldier could have come out of hiding and grabbed her instead of her running toward a soldier – or something else.
I was disappointed that the author never answered the big question from the beginning of the book of who informed on Manny or why he was taken by the Sandinistas.
The author used a lot of Spanish phrases which was fine. But I was impressed that after each Spanish phrase, the author put the translation in italic. Thank you. That works well. Too many authors don’t do this.
When they met, Lily was 28 and Manny was 18. He had been a soldier for a while in a troubled environment which had an aging effect. Other than describing their ages, the story didn’t do anything with the age difference, which was fine with me. I had no preference about that.
OTHER BOOKS:
So far I’ve read three Cindy Gerard books. This is my favorite. The others are:
3 stars. To The Brink
2 stars. Show No Mercy
DATA:
Story length: 329 pages. Swearing language: strong, including religious swear words. Sexual language: strong. Number of sex scenes: 6. Estimated number of sex scene pages: 16. Setting: 17 years ago and current day Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, and the U.S. Copyright: 2006. Genre: romantic suspense, older woman younger man.
July 24, 2013
With this one we are back with a “black ops” kind of plot.
We met Manny in book 3 and I was happy to read his story. Lily is several years older than him but I really liked how Cindy Gerard wrote their relationship. I also liked how she addressed the trust issue and the way she developed Manny and Adam relationship.
Here again, Dallas was outstanding <3 Can’t wait for his book!!!
June 15, 2020
Under the Wire
2 Stars
***Warning: Major Spoilers Ahead***
Good action and suspense. Unfortunately, the romance contains too many annoying tropes to be enjoyable.
To begin with, there are two age-related issues in the book. The first, namely that the heroine is 10 years older than the hero, is not a problem in itself, but in conjunction with the second, i.e., he was barely past maturity when they first became sexually involved, creates a sense of wrongness to their relationship both past and present.
Next is the insta-love theme. Lily and Manny are acquainted for 5 minutes before they end up in bed together and apparently fall hopelessly in love over six days. This doesn't make sense, especially considering his age at the time.
Moreover, the hero is an asshat for most of the book. Yes, he believes she betrayed him, but this doesn't stop him from lusting after her while he simultaneously rejects and condemns her. His sudden "forgiveness" and "acceptance" of her is unrealistic and his entire attitude is childish and immature. It is as if he is stuck at age 18, which only makes the age difference even more irritating.
The secondary romance between Adam and Minranda is also disturbing in light of the fact that they are being held hostage, and she has obviously been sexually assaulted.
Overall, there are just too many problematic elements in this book and I am not a fan. Nevertheless, but I am looking forward to Dallas and Amy's book next.
2 Stars
***Warning: Major Spoilers Ahead***
Good action and suspense. Unfortunately, the romance contains too many annoying tropes to be enjoyable.
To begin with, there are two age-related issues in the book. The first, namely that the heroine is 10 years older than the hero, is not a problem in itself, but in conjunction with the second, i.e., he was barely past maturity when they first became sexually involved, creates a sense of wrongness to their relationship both past and present.
Next is the insta-love theme. Lily and Manny are acquainted for 5 minutes before they end up in bed together and apparently fall hopelessly in love over six days. This doesn't make sense, especially considering his age at the time.
Moreover, the hero is an asshat for most of the book. Yes, he believes she betrayed him, but this doesn't stop him from lusting after her while he simultaneously rejects and condemns her. His sudden "forgiveness" and "acceptance" of her is unrealistic and his entire attitude is childish and immature. It is as if he is stuck at age 18, which only makes the age difference even more irritating.
The secondary romance between Adam and Minranda is also disturbing in light of the fact that they are being held hostage, and she has obviously been sexually assaulted.
Overall, there are just too many problematic elements in this book and I am not a fan. Nevertheless, but I am looking forward to Dallas and Amy's book next.
May 14, 2019
My least favorite book of the series so far, party due to the fact that it contains not just one but a few tropes that I'm not particularly fond of. One of them is the big age gap between the hero and heroine, another is the huge misunderstanding after assumptions are made and although it's not exactly a trope, I'm not particularly fond of the "latin lover" character either.
Manny and Lily had a fiery affair in Nicaragua, Manny's home and Lily's volunteering site. Circumstances and a persistent Manny lead them to bed straight away, and although there's chemistry between them, I wasn't feeling it from the beginning.
Shit happens and there's a "huge misunderstanding" and their paths diverge, with Lily believing Manny to be dead, while he believes that she betrayed him.
Years pass and the two meet again unexpectedly, rekindling Manny's hatred for her and confusing Lily, who has no idea for the reason behind it. Things get more complicated when their son, who has been spending the summer on a volunteer mission in Sri Lanka, and whose existence Manny wasn't even aware of, is kidnapped by insurgents.
Desperate to get her son back, Lily goes to Manny for help, and he in turn enlists the help of his badass friends to launch a rescue mission. Lily tags along and the two get a second chance together.
There's action and danger, and heated scenes between the two, as well as scenes from their son Adam's point of view, but although the story is engaging, I just wasn't feeling it.
All's well that ends well with our heroes, and they eventually get their happily ever after, all but Dallas, whose story follows in Into the Dark.
Previous book reviews:
✦ Over the Line (The Bodyguards, #4)
✦ To the Brink (The Bodyguards, #3)
✦ To the Limit (The Bodyguards, #2)
✦ To the Edge (The Bodyguards, #1)
Manny and Lily had a fiery affair in Nicaragua, Manny's home and Lily's volunteering site. Circumstances and a persistent Manny lead them to bed straight away, and although there's chemistry between them, I wasn't feeling it from the beginning.
Shit happens and there's a "huge misunderstanding" and their paths diverge, with Lily believing Manny to be dead, while he believes that she betrayed him.
Years pass and the two meet again unexpectedly, rekindling Manny's hatred for her and confusing Lily, who has no idea for the reason behind it. Things get more complicated when their son, who has been spending the summer on a volunteer mission in Sri Lanka, and whose existence Manny wasn't even aware of, is kidnapped by insurgents.
Desperate to get her son back, Lily goes to Manny for help, and he in turn enlists the help of his badass friends to launch a rescue mission. Lily tags along and the two get a second chance together.
There's action and danger, and heated scenes between the two, as well as scenes from their son Adam's point of view, but although the story is engaging, I just wasn't feeling it.
All's well that ends well with our heroes, and they eventually get their happily ever after, all but Dallas, whose story follows in Into the Dark.
Previous book reviews:
✦ Over the Line (The Bodyguards, #4)
✦ To the Brink (The Bodyguards, #3)
✦ To the Limit (The Bodyguards, #2)
✦ To the Edge (The Bodyguards, #1)
March 30, 2015
They met at a party in Nicaragua. Nurse Lily Campora didn't expect to be romanced by Soldier Manolo Ortega. Their whirlwind relationship ended when she came home from a shift at the hospital to find him gone. Days later she was told he had died in combat. Now seventeen years later, Lily has discovered that Manny is alive and living in Boston. At first she is hesitant to talk to him. But when she finds out her teenage son has been kidnapped in Sri Lanka while working on a humanitarian mission, she knows Manny may be his only hope. Manny never forgot Lily; nor has he forgiven her for betraying him to the Sandinistas. Nevertheless, when she tells him that they have a son who is in mortal danger, Manny will do anything to save him.
Another very good addition to Cindy Gerard's Bodyguards series. Manny is a friend of the Garrett family who now works for them. He, along with Lily and some of the Garretts fly to Sri Lanka to rescue Lily's son and the family he was staying with. The book is very descriptive. The author does a great job of making you feel like you are in the middle of the action. From meeting Arms dealers in back alleys, to running through the jungle while being chased by guerilla fighters, I was totally pulled into the story. My rating: 4 Stars.
Another very good addition to Cindy Gerard's Bodyguards series. Manny is a friend of the Garrett family who now works for them. He, along with Lily and some of the Garretts fly to Sri Lanka to rescue Lily's son and the family he was staying with. The book is very descriptive. The author does a great job of making you feel like you are in the middle of the action. From meeting Arms dealers in back alleys, to running through the jungle while being chased by guerilla fighters, I was totally pulled into the story. My rating: 4 Stars.
June 29, 2011
3.5 stars. I enjoyed the story, the flow and, as always the Garretts. Ms. Gerard has a way of sucking you into the story and into the EDEN, and makes you feel happy to be a part of it. I'll be sure to continue onto the next book and then the Black Ops series.
I didn't, however, particularly like Manny. Maybe I was comparing him to the Garrett men, but I just didn't love him. I found him to be a little childish. He hates Lily but can't help but want to have sex with her. And he refers to her body as his, yet he still believes she betrayed him. I wasn't buying that. I realize he knew the truth in his heart, but he just seemed childish to me.
I didn't, however, particularly like Manny. Maybe I was comparing him to the Garrett men, but I just didn't love him. I found him to be a little childish. He hates Lily but can't help but want to have sex with her. And he refers to her body as his, yet he still believes she betrayed him. I wasn't buying that. I realize he knew the truth in his heart, but he just seemed childish to me.
April 7, 2010
I think this series just keeps getting better and better. I liked the first two books, but these last few have been great. Gerard has managed to make me like plot hooks that I generally am not a fan of. Kudos to her.
Series note:
Probably best to read this series in order. You may be able to read this one as a standable, but I'm not sure.
Summary:
Seventeen years ago in Nicaragua, Manny Ortega and Lily Campora had a blazing affair that turned ugly when Manny believed Lily betrayed him and left him for dead. With the help of the CIA, Manny moved to the US and joined the military, but he never forgot or forgiven what Lily did to him. As for Lily, she believed Manny had been killed in battle and never stopped grieving the young soldier she lost.
But now Lily has found out Manny has been alive all this time and she sets on a path to confront him. Before that can happen, tragedy strikes someone close to Lily and she must got to Manny for help. As much as Manny believes he hates Lily, he knows he has to help her. So they set course for Sri Lanka to rescue the most important person in Lily's life...and maybe find a way back to each other.
Review:
When I realized this was another book with a storyline that involved the characters trekking through the wilderness at times I just kinda sighed and thought, here we go again. For those of you who regularly read my reviews, you now that I don't really like wilderness stories. But Gerard has done that a few times in this series and I haven't necessarily minded it...as was the case with this book...though it's still not my favorite story hook.
It was an interesting storyline, though, and I liked that it took place in Sri Lanka. Definitely an atypical story location (for a romance). And hey, I got to learn a little bit about the political situation of the country, too ;)
On the romance front...well, I'm a little torn about the age thing. I liked both Lily and Manny...especially Manny (hello...sexy Latin hunk!), but there was the age thing. In the prologue, Manny is 18 and Lily 28, then in the bulk of the story he's 35 and she's 45. Not my favorite set up. I'm not really one for older woman/younger guy...plus 28-18 at the story...slightly icky feel there. Surprisingly, within the book, between the characters, the age thing isn't much of an issue. It's brought up a few times, but that's it. For me, I just wasn't fully on board with the characters' ages. But I did enjoy Lily and Manny. They had good chemistry.
Overall, the storyline kept me reading and wanting to come back for more. That's really all you can ask of a good book. Can't wait to read the final book of the series.
Series note:
Probably best to read this series in order. You may be able to read this one as a standable, but I'm not sure.
Summary:
Seventeen years ago in Nicaragua, Manny Ortega and Lily Campora had a blazing affair that turned ugly when Manny believed Lily betrayed him and left him for dead. With the help of the CIA, Manny moved to the US and joined the military, but he never forgot or forgiven what Lily did to him. As for Lily, she believed Manny had been killed in battle and never stopped grieving the young soldier she lost.
But now Lily has found out Manny has been alive all this time and she sets on a path to confront him. Before that can happen, tragedy strikes someone close to Lily and she must got to Manny for help. As much as Manny believes he hates Lily, he knows he has to help her. So they set course for Sri Lanka to rescue the most important person in Lily's life...and maybe find a way back to each other.
Review:
When I realized this was another book with a storyline that involved the characters trekking through the wilderness at times I just kinda sighed and thought, here we go again. For those of you who regularly read my reviews, you now that I don't really like wilderness stories. But Gerard has done that a few times in this series and I haven't necessarily minded it...as was the case with this book...though it's still not my favorite story hook.
It was an interesting storyline, though, and I liked that it took place in Sri Lanka. Definitely an atypical story location (for a romance). And hey, I got to learn a little bit about the political situation of the country, too ;)
On the romance front...well, I'm a little torn about the age thing. I liked both Lily and Manny...especially Manny (hello...sexy Latin hunk!), but there was the age thing. In the prologue, Manny is 18 and Lily 28, then in the bulk of the story he's 35 and she's 45. Not my favorite set up. I'm not really one for older woman/younger guy...plus 28-18 at the story...slightly icky feel there. Surprisingly, within the book, between the characters, the age thing isn't much of an issue. It's brought up a few times, but that's it. For me, I just wasn't fully on board with the characters' ages. But I did enjoy Lily and Manny. They had good chemistry.
Overall, the storyline kept me reading and wanting to come back for more. That's really all you can ask of a good book. Can't wait to read the final book of the series.
December 15, 2011
4.5 Stars
Another fan-farking-tastic book from Cindy Gerard. I love this woman, she truly is an impressive author.
Under the Wire was the dangerous and adventure packed story of Manny and Lily....and I don't really think I need to say it again but for those people out there who haven't read Cindy Gerard - it was AWESOME.
Manny was the masculine as all hell hero who spoke with the sexiest accent and knew how to make a woman feel desired, as well as loved. And Lily was the strong, broad shouldered heroine who deserved such a great man.
The thing about me being a pansy ass is that sometimes I can't sleep at night due to reading suspense filled books...yes its romantic suspense and I need to grow a pair, but it can still give me nightmares. Mock all you want but I actually had to put this book down a few times. When it comes to children in horrible situations I kinda put my tail between my legs and want to crawl into the fetal position. I always place myself in the books I read, so when the heroines child is abducted it freaks me the hell out.
But it was a fabulous freak out.
And Manny...oh Manny, did I tell you how yummy he is.....YUMMO
Favourite quotes:
Manny watched her walk inside, then directed a glare at Mullnix. "What? Her gun was bigger than yours?"
"Mi Corazon. Mi alma. Son tuyos." My heart. My soul. They are yours, he whispered against the generous curve of her breast as a million sensations, all of them hot, all of them rich, all of them straddling the razor-sharp edge of pain, ripped through his loins like a flash fire and stripped him of everything but consciousness.
"Tuyo. Todo que tengo es tuyo." Yours. Everything I have is yours.
Another fan-farking-tastic book from Cindy Gerard. I love this woman, she truly is an impressive author.
Under the Wire was the dangerous and adventure packed story of Manny and Lily....and I don't really think I need to say it again but for those people out there who haven't read Cindy Gerard - it was AWESOME.
Manny was the masculine as all hell hero who spoke with the sexiest accent and knew how to make a woman feel desired, as well as loved. And Lily was the strong, broad shouldered heroine who deserved such a great man.
The thing about me being a pansy ass is that sometimes I can't sleep at night due to reading suspense filled books...yes its romantic suspense and I need to grow a pair, but it can still give me nightmares. Mock all you want but I actually had to put this book down a few times. When it comes to children in horrible situations I kinda put my tail between my legs and want to crawl into the fetal position. I always place myself in the books I read, so when the heroines child is abducted it freaks me the hell out.
But it was a fabulous freak out.
And Manny...oh Manny, did I tell you how yummy he is.....YUMMO
Favourite quotes:
Manny watched her walk inside, then directed a glare at Mullnix. "What? Her gun was bigger than yours?"
"Mi Corazon. Mi alma. Son tuyos." My heart. My soul. They are yours, he whispered against the generous curve of her breast as a million sensations, all of them hot, all of them rich, all of them straddling the razor-sharp edge of pain, ripped through his loins like a flash fire and stripped him of everything but consciousness.
"Tuyo. Todo que tengo es tuyo." Yours. Everything I have is yours.
April 9, 2009
5 stars – Romantic Suspense
November 30, 2011
It was nice to have a mature woman as lead! I really appreciated!
November 16, 2023
I first read this years ago as part of the entire series, and when I recently saw it for one dollar at a local thrift store I remembered it was my favorite of the bunch and decided to reread it. It's as good as I remembered.
There will be slight spoilers ahead.
To begin with, this is a Romantic Suspense story that really does a good job with both of those parts. For the Romance we have Lily and Manny. We first meet them when Lily is in her late twenties, working as a nurse in Nicaragua for Doctors Without Borders. She and Manny develop a relationship, but are torn apart. For very good reasons, Manny comes to hate Lily, while she believes he is dead. Then circumstances bring them together about 17 years later. Manny still hates her and she's shocked to find he's alive. I thought the development of their feelings was realistic, and I loved that this was a story about adults who behaved liked adults - imperfect but not childish.
Those circumstances that bring them together take them to Sri Lanka on a suspenseful struggle against an insurgent army and the underworld that develops in a country threatened by civil war. The tension was real and constantly ratcheted up as the story progressed. Sure there were a couple of unbelievable coincidences, but they were a small part of the story for me and I found the ending very satisfying.
I get these times in my life when only a good Adventure/Romantic Suspense story will do, and I'm pleased to add this one to my collection. I'm sure I'll be happily rereading it in the future. If you enjoy this type of story I highly recommend giving this try.
There will be slight spoilers ahead.
To begin with, this is a Romantic Suspense story that really does a good job with both of those parts. For the Romance we have Lily and Manny. We first meet them when Lily is in her late twenties, working as a nurse in Nicaragua for Doctors Without Borders. She and Manny develop a relationship, but are torn apart. For very good reasons, Manny comes to hate Lily, while she believes he is dead. Then circumstances bring them together about 17 years later. Manny still hates her and she's shocked to find he's alive. I thought the development of their feelings was realistic, and I loved that this was a story about adults who behaved liked adults - imperfect but not childish.
Those circumstances that bring them together take them to Sri Lanka on a suspenseful struggle against an insurgent army and the underworld that develops in a country threatened by civil war. The tension was real and constantly ratcheted up as the story progressed. Sure there were a couple of unbelievable coincidences, but they were a small part of the story for me and I found the ending very satisfying.
I get these times in my life when only a good Adventure/Romantic Suspense story will do, and I'm pleased to add this one to my collection. I'm sure I'll be happily rereading it in the future. If you enjoy this type of story I highly recommend giving this try.
June 11, 2013
Fifth in The Bodyguards romantic suspense series. The couple focus is on Manny Ortega and Lily Campora.
My Take
Whoa, the start was intense with betrayals, and one thought kept crossing my mind...why is Manny so quick to believe that Lily betrayed him? It made sense with the first chapter, but then we meet her in the second chapter and...no. It just doesn't work for me. Although...Manny's seduction is amazing. What a sweetheart...sigh… All those chapters of their being together just puts the lie to that first one. Gerard does work a nasty bit of conflict in, aside from Manny's betrayal.
It's two different ways to tour the countryside: as a hostage and as a soldier prepared to rescue hostages. Personally, I'd like a third option...dumb, happy-go-lucky tourist!
I do like Lily. She's coping brilliantly under horrible circumstances: her son taken hostage, Manny's hostility, and how bloody long it's taking to plan, to prepare, to reconnoitre. Although, I am curious as to why Lily would know about Kincaid Publishing. It's not a fact the average person on the street would know.
The story itself is tense in so many different directions. Surreptitious back alley deals. A past history of illegal arms deals. An embassy that won't help. Treachery and double-crosses. Tarzan swings. Elephant attacks. Underground caves. And then there's Manny's hatred.
Oh, crack me up...I just love Kavith and Rajah's charge with the coconuts: "Go ahead; make my day!"
The Story
It's Cougar who forces Manny out, and he takes refuge in the U.S. First in the army, then Special Forces, and now with the Boston PD.
It's only chance that Lily learns he's alive, but Adam's foray as a volunteer into Sri Lanka forces Lily to take action. To contact Manny to help her rescue her...their...son.
The Characters
Lily Campora had volunteered as a nurse with Doctors Without Borders in Nicaragua until heartache, loss, and danger forced her to leave. Little does she know she's taking home a little souvenir, by the name of Adam.
Manolo Ortega once served with Ethan Garrett, but before that he was an undercover Contra spy against General Jorge Poveda and his Sandinistas. These days he's a detective with the Boston PD, but about to move down to Florida and join E.D.E.N.
Darcy Prescott is engaged to Ethan Garrett, also Special Forces ( To the Brink , 3); they get married at the end. Dallas, the middle brother who's a former Marine and former Force Recon, is along on this mission as well. Yeah, he's still obsessing over Amy Walker's whereabouts ( To the Brink ).
The Garretts make up E.D.E.N. Securities, Inc. founded by their father, Wes: Nolan is the youngest, a former Ranger married to Jillian ( To the Edge , 1) and his twin, Eve, married Mac ((To The Limit, 2) are sitting this one out. Susan is their mom. Jason Wilson and Sweet Baby Jane, a.k.a., Mrs. Janey Wilson, are together ( Over the Line , 4).
Amithnal Muhandiramalas is a member of the Sinhalese parliament; a position Lily thought would protect her son. Sathi is his wife; Minrada is their daughter, to whom Adam is very attracted.Emory is Adam's student advisor. Kavith is a young poet herding Rajah, his grandfather's elephant and accompanied by the thieving macaque monkey, Tito.
Liberation Tigers of the Tamil Eelam
A minority ethnic group battling the Sinhalese in Sri Lanka. General Ponnambalam Ramanathan is the leader of the Tigers whom Dallas did wrong in an arms deal.
Vice-Consul Griffin is with the U.S. embassy in Sri Lanka.
The Cover
The cover is a band of blue at the top with a green veil lighting up the night as Manny and and Lily flee while someone [there are so many possibilities] glowers out at us.
The title is tight and Under the Wire as Lily, Manny, and the Garretts have so little time to rescue Adam.
My Take
Whoa, the start was intense with betrayals, and one thought kept crossing my mind...why is Manny so quick to believe that Lily betrayed him? It made sense with the first chapter, but then we meet her in the second chapter and...no. It just doesn't work for me. Although...Manny's seduction is amazing. What a sweetheart...sigh… All those chapters of their being together just puts the lie to that first one. Gerard does work a nasty bit of conflict in, aside from Manny's betrayal.
It's two different ways to tour the countryside: as a hostage and as a soldier prepared to rescue hostages. Personally, I'd like a third option...dumb, happy-go-lucky tourist!
I do like Lily. She's coping brilliantly under horrible circumstances: her son taken hostage, Manny's hostility, and how bloody long it's taking to plan, to prepare, to reconnoitre. Although, I am curious as to why Lily would know about Kincaid Publishing. It's not a fact the average person on the street would know.
The story itself is tense in so many different directions. Surreptitious back alley deals. A past history of illegal arms deals. An embassy that won't help. Treachery and double-crosses. Tarzan swings. Elephant attacks. Underground caves. And then there's Manny's hatred.
Oh, crack me up...I just love Kavith and Rajah's charge with the coconuts: "Go ahead; make my day!"
The Story
It's Cougar who forces Manny out, and he takes refuge in the U.S. First in the army, then Special Forces, and now with the Boston PD.
It's only chance that Lily learns he's alive, but Adam's foray as a volunteer into Sri Lanka forces Lily to take action. To contact Manny to help her rescue her...their...son.
The Characters
Lily Campora had volunteered as a nurse with Doctors Without Borders in Nicaragua until heartache, loss, and danger forced her to leave. Little does she know she's taking home a little souvenir, by the name of Adam.
Manolo Ortega once served with Ethan Garrett, but before that he was an undercover Contra spy against General Jorge Poveda and his Sandinistas. These days he's a detective with the Boston PD, but about to move down to Florida and join E.D.E.N.
Darcy Prescott is engaged to Ethan Garrett, also Special Forces ( To the Brink , 3); they get married at the end. Dallas, the middle brother who's a former Marine and former Force Recon, is along on this mission as well. Yeah, he's still obsessing over Amy Walker's whereabouts ( To the Brink ).
The Garretts make up E.D.E.N. Securities, Inc. founded by their father, Wes: Nolan is the youngest, a former Ranger married to Jillian ( To the Edge , 1) and his twin, Eve, married Mac ((To The Limit, 2) are sitting this one out. Susan is their mom. Jason Wilson and Sweet Baby Jane, a.k.a., Mrs. Janey Wilson, are together ( Over the Line , 4).
Amithnal Muhandiramalas is a member of the Sinhalese parliament; a position Lily thought would protect her son. Sathi is his wife; Minrada is their daughter, to whom Adam is very attracted.Emory is Adam's student advisor. Kavith is a young poet herding Rajah, his grandfather's elephant and accompanied by the thieving macaque monkey, Tito.
Liberation Tigers of the Tamil Eelam
A minority ethnic group battling the Sinhalese in Sri Lanka. General Ponnambalam Ramanathan is the leader of the Tigers whom Dallas did wrong in an arms deal.
Vice-Consul Griffin is with the U.S. embassy in Sri Lanka.
The Cover
The cover is a band of blue at the top with a green veil lighting up the night as Manny and and Lily flee while someone [there are so many possibilities] glowers out at us.
The title is tight and Under the Wire as Lily, Manny, and the Garretts have so little time to rescue Adam.
December 31, 2021
Oh Manny! What a guy. This was rather sad in that two people and a 16 year old boy lost so many years that could of been so different. Love that they found their way back, even though it had to be under such scary and bad circumstances. Loved the book and the narration!
October 17, 2012
หยิบเรื่อง Under the wire ของซินดี้ เจอราร์ดมาอ่านก็เพราะเหตุผลตามชื่อบลอกนั่นแหละ ดองเรื่องนี้ไปหลายเดือน เพราะด้วยความเชื่อที่ว่า เมื่อนักเขียนเขียนงานที่ดีสุดสุดมาเล่มนึง เขาก็จะฝีมือตกไปอีกอย่างน้อยสองสามเล่ม และในเมื่องเรื่อง On theline ถือเป็นงานระดับมาสเตอร์พีชของซินดี้ไปแล้ว เล่มนี้ที่เขียนต่อมา ยังไงก็ย่อมเทียบไม่ได้
แม็กซ์ก็เลยเก็บไว้ก่อน จนกระทั่งไปสะดุดตาบทสัมภาษณ์คนแต่งที่ถูกถามประเด็นเรื่องเขียนเล่มนี้แล้วให้นางเอกแก่กว่าพระเอก พอเห็นเข้าก็ตาโตเท่าไข่ห่าน เพราะนี่เป็นพล็อตถูกใจอย่างยิ่ง เห็นเป็นต้องอ่าน
ไม่ใช่อายุจริงจะเยอะหรอกนะ แต่เป็นรสนิยมส่วนตัวที่ชอบผู้ชายอายุน้อยกว่า ว่าที่แควน ๆ กี่คนก็ล้วนแต่อายุน้อยกว่าทั้งนั้น แหม เด็ก ๆ ก็ย่อมทำให้ชื่นอกชื่นใจ จริงป่ะ
มาโนโล ออเตก้าเป็นชาวนิคารากัว (สำหรับคนที่ไม่เคยดูแผนที่โลก นิคารากัวเป็นประเทศที่อยู่ในทะเลคาริเบี้ยนในย่านที่เรียกว่าอเมริกากลาง) ซึ่งในช่วงปี '80 อยู่ในสภาพสงครามกลางเมือง มีการสู้รบระหว่างฝ่ายรัฐบาลและกบฐตลอดเวลา แมนนี่ (ชื่อเล่นพระเอก) เป็นนายร้อยในกองทัพของรัฐบาลนิคารากัว แต่แท้จริงแล้วเขาเป็นสายให้กับกบฐ (ที่สนับสนุนโดยอเมริกา -- แน่นอนอยู่ อเมริกาเข้าข้างฝ่ายไหน ฝ่ายนั้นก็ต้องย่อมเป็นคนดีจริงไหม) แต่ในระหว่างที่ใช้ชีวิตเสี่ยงตายอยู่ทุกเมื่อเชื่อวัน เขาก็พบรักกับพยาบาลสาวชาวอเมริกัน (แม็กซ์นึกสงสัยน่ะ ว่าสาวเมกันมีอะไรดี พระเอกชอบตกหลุมรักอยู่เรื่อย) จากความสัมพันธ์ชั่วข้ามคืน กลายเป็นความรักที่ปักแน่น เขาสารภาพรักกับสาวเจ้าที่สูงวัยกว่��� แน่ล่ะฝ่ายหญิงก็ย่อมต้องสงสัยในความจริงใจ ก็เด็กเพิ่งจะสิบแปดเอง ส่วนเธอก็ปาไปยี่สิบแปดแล้วนี่ ด้วยความไม่เชื่อมั่นในกันและกัน สุดท้ายเมื่อแม��นี่ถูกเจ้านายจับได้ว่าเป็นสาย คำโกหกที่ว่าฝ่ายหญิงทรยศจึงถูกเขาเชื่ออย่างไม่ต้องคิดมาก
ทั้งคู่พลัดพลาด แต่ก็ไม่ก่อนที่ของฝากจากแมนนี่จะถูกเสกเข้าไปอยู่ในท้องสาวเจ้า เวลาผ่านไปราวกับโกหก สิบเจ็ดปีต่อมาลิลลี่ที่เพิ่งค้นพบความจริงว่าแมนนี่ยังไม่ตาย (หลังจากเข้าใจอย่างนั้นมาตลอด) ก็ต้องขอความช่วยเหลือจากเขาเพื่อให้ไปช่วยลูกชายของทั้งคู่ ที่ถูกจับตัวไปเป็นตัว���ระกันในศรีลังกา
หนังสือเรื่องนี้เริ่มเรื่องได้น่าอ่าน แต่ก็มาตกม้าตายเพราะดันไปเน้นเรื่องการช่วยเหลืออดัม (ลูกชายของทั้งคู่) มากเกินไป แม็กซ์ว่าซินดี้แบ่งน้ำหนักระหว่างโรแมนซ์และแอคชั่นได้ไม่ลงตัวเลยในเล่มนี้ ซึ่งต่างจาก To the Blink ที่เป็นหนังสือแนวเดียวกัน (เมื่อพระเอกต้องบุกไปฟิลิปปินส์เพื่อช่วยนางเอก) ที่ให้น้ำหนักโรแมนซ์มากพอที่ยังรู้สึกว่าเป็นหนังสือโรแมนติกซัสเพสอยู่ แต่เล่มนี้น้ำหนักเทไปที่การช่วยเหลือ และดัลลัส (ใครวะ แต่ที่แน่ ๆ ไม่ใช่หลานของเพื่อนแม็กซ์หรอกนะ) ซึ่งเป็นตัวละครที่กำลังจะเป็นพระเอกในเล่มหน้า
ดัลลัสน่าสนใจค่ะ แต่นี่ยังไม่ใช่เวลาของเขาหรอกนะ มันควรจะเป็นเรื่องของแมนนี่และลิลลี่ แม็กซ์รู้ว่าเขาเก่ง เท่ห์ หล่อซะ แต่มันไม่ใช่เวลาหรือสถานที่ที่เขาจะเด่น แมนนี่ต่างหากที่เป็นพระเอก
แม็กซ์ก็เลยเก็บไว้ก่อน จนกระทั่งไปสะดุดตาบทสัมภาษณ์คนแต่งที่ถูกถามประเด็นเรื่องเขียนเล่มนี้แล้วให้นางเอกแก่กว่าพระเอก พอเห็นเข้าก็ตาโตเท่าไข่ห่าน เพราะนี่เป็นพล็อตถูกใจอย่างยิ่ง เห็นเป็นต้องอ่าน
ไม่ใช่อายุจริงจะเยอะหรอกนะ แต่เป็นรสนิยมส่วนตัวที่ชอบผู้ชายอายุน้อยกว่า ว่าที่แควน ๆ กี่คนก็ล้วนแต่อายุน้อยกว่าทั้งนั้น แหม เด็ก ๆ ก็ย่อมทำให้ชื่นอกชื่นใจ จริงป่ะ
มาโนโล ออเตก้าเป็นชาวนิคารากัว (สำหรับคนที่ไม่เคยดูแผนที่โลก นิคารากัวเป็นประเทศที่อยู่ในทะเลคาริเบี้ยนในย่านที่เรียกว่าอเมริกากลาง) ซึ่งในช่วงปี '80 อยู่ในสภาพสงครามกลางเมือง มีการสู้รบระหว่างฝ่ายรัฐบาลและกบฐตลอดเวลา แมนนี่ (ชื่อเล่นพระเอก) เป็นนายร้อยในกองทัพของรัฐบาลนิคารากัว แต่แท้จริงแล้วเขาเป็นสายให้กับกบฐ (ที่สนับสนุนโดยอเมริกา -- แน่นอนอยู่ อเมริกาเข้าข้างฝ่ายไหน ฝ่ายนั้นก็ต้องย่อมเป็นคนดีจริงไหม) แต่ในระหว่างที่ใช้ชีวิตเสี่ยงตายอยู่ทุกเมื่อเชื่อวัน เขาก็พบรักกับพยาบาลสาวชาวอเมริกัน (แม็กซ์นึกสงสัยน่ะ ว่าสาวเมกันมีอะไรดี พระเอกชอบตกหลุมรักอยู่เรื่อย) จากความสัมพันธ์ชั่วข้ามคืน กลายเป็นความรักที่ปักแน่น เขาสารภาพรักกับสาวเจ้าที่สูงวัยกว่��� แน่ล่ะฝ่ายหญิงก็ย่อมต้องสงสัยในความจริงใจ ก็เด็กเพิ่งจะสิบแปดเอง ส่วนเธอก็ปาไปยี่สิบแปดแล้วนี่ ด้วยความไม่เชื่อมั่นในกันและกัน สุดท้ายเมื่อแม��นี่ถูกเจ้านายจับได้ว่าเป็นสาย คำโกหกที่ว่าฝ่ายหญิงทรยศจึงถูกเขาเชื่ออย่างไม่ต้องคิดมาก
ทั้งคู่พลัดพลาด แต่ก็ไม่ก่อนที่ของฝากจากแมนนี่จะถูกเสกเข้าไปอยู่ในท้องสาวเจ้า เวลาผ่านไปราวกับโกหก สิบเจ็ดปีต่อมาลิลลี่ที่เพิ่งค้นพบความจริงว่าแมนนี่ยังไม่ตาย (หลังจากเข้าใจอย่างนั้นมาตลอด) ก็ต้องขอความช่วยเหลือจากเขาเพื่อให้ไปช่วยลูกชายของทั้งคู่ ที่ถูกจับตัวไปเป็นตัว���ระกันในศรีลังกา
หนังสือเรื่องนี้เริ่มเรื่องได้น่าอ่าน แต่ก็มาตกม้าตายเพราะดันไปเน้นเรื่องการช่วยเหลืออดัม (ลูกชายของทั้งคู่) มากเกินไป แม็กซ์ว่าซินดี้แบ่งน้ำหนักระหว่างโรแมนซ์และแอคชั่นได้ไม่ลงตัวเลยในเล่มนี้ ซึ่งต่างจาก To the Blink ที่เป็นหนังสือแนวเดียวกัน (เมื่อพระเอกต้องบุกไปฟิลิปปินส์เพื่อช่วยนางเอก) ที่ให้น้ำหนักโรแมนซ์มากพอที่ยังรู้สึกว่าเป็นหนังสือโรแมนติกซัสเพสอยู่ แต่เล่มนี้น้ำหนักเทไปที่การช่วยเหลือ และดัลลัส (ใครวะ แต่ที่แน่ ๆ ไม่ใช่หลานของเพื่อนแม็กซ์หรอกนะ) ซึ่งเป็นตัวละครที่กำลังจะเป็นพระเอกในเล่มหน้า
ดัลลัสน่าสนใจค่ะ แต่นี่ยังไม่ใช่เวลาของเขาหรอกนะ มันควรจะเป็นเรื่องของแมนนี่และลิลลี่ แม็กซ์รู้ว่าเขาเก่ง เท่ห์ หล่อซะ แต่มันไม่ใช่เวลาหรือสถานที่ที่เขาจะเด่น แมนนี่ต่างหากที่เป็นพระเอก
January 19, 2014
Contra fighter Manny Ortega is captured, beaten and led to believe he's been betrayed by the love of his life Lily Campora. But he escapes from the Sandinistas and flees to America. Though seventeen years have passed the driving force in Manny's life as he prepares to leave Boston PD and join E.D.E.N. is still his hatred for Lily. For Manny the betrayal is just as fresh as it was during his escape. Even when Lily's nursing assignment with Doctors without Borders sees her back to the states she doesn't understand why Manny left and has a lasting reminder of their six-day love affair. Now their son has been kidnapped and they must work together and travel across the globe to rescue him and maybe resolve some of the misunderstandings between them.
35stars e=really
The reunited lovers battling an enemy in the jungle as they rediscover each other was recently done in this series so this installment felt repetitive (though it was a different jungle). Most if not every cliché came up for air in this installment making it a very predictable read. (So there were a lot of eye-rolls, heavy sighs and putting the book down as I read.) That being said I doubted the depth of commitment from of Manny and Lily. Granted the end of their encounter left both of them with lifetime reminders, it may have been more accurate to refer to each other as the sex of their lives since almost all of their six days together was spent in bed. It is doubtful that Lily even knew Manny was a soldier (imo). Manny's anger was understandable in thinking he'd been betrayed but Lily's actions didn't ring true. There was no feeling of abandonment or wondering what happened from Lily only fear of seeing Manny again. Those are a couple of things that kept me from investing in their relationship. The writing and pacing were good and most of the secondary characters were known from previous installments so the read felt comfortable. Though this is not a favorite installment of mine it is a very readable and enjoyable book.
35stars e=really
The reunited lovers battling an enemy in the jungle as they rediscover each other was recently done in this series so this installment felt repetitive (though it was a different jungle). Most if not every cliché came up for air in this installment making it a very predictable read. (So there were a lot of eye-rolls, heavy sighs and putting the book down as I read.) That being said I doubted the depth of commitment from of Manny and Lily. Granted the end of their encounter left both of them with lifetime reminders, it may have been more accurate to refer to each other as the sex of their lives since almost all of their six days together was spent in bed. It is doubtful that Lily even knew Manny was a soldier (imo). Manny's anger was understandable in thinking he'd been betrayed but Lily's actions didn't ring true. There was no feeling of abandonment or wondering what happened from Lily only fear of seeing Manny again. Those are a couple of things that kept me from investing in their relationship. The writing and pacing were good and most of the secondary characters were known from previous installments so the read felt comfortable. Though this is not a favorite installment of mine it is a very readable and enjoyable book.
December 15, 2016
When Lily met Manny, she was a 28 year old nurse with Doctors Without Borders and he was an 18 year old Lt. in the Sandinista Army, and a CIA spy. They had a mad, sexy week and then Manny disappeared, taken by the Sandinistas as a traitor. Lily was told he died in combat, Manny always believed she turned him in. And, he hated her.
Seventeen years later, Lily learns Manny is still alive and moves to Boston to find him and ask why. On the same day Lily and Manny meet up, Lily learns that their son and his host family are missing in Sri Lanka. When Lily goes to Manny to help, his hate and distain for her are palpable, but after seeing Adam's picture Manny agrees to help find him.
Together with Ethan and Dallas Garrett and Darcy Prescott, Lily and Manny head to Sir Lanka and slowly find clues that unravel why Adam and his host family were kidnapped and nobody in any government involved is willing to do anything about it. That is just not acceptable and with the experience of recently rescuing Darcy, they set off to rescue Adam. That Manny and Lily have some heavy things to work out, takes a backseat to saving their son. But the passion they had for each other 17 years ago is still strong.
Love this book, absolutely adore this wonderful series. This is so much more than Romantic-Suspense, I am calling it Romance-Action-Adventure because it is all romance and action-adventure.
Seventeen years later, Lily learns Manny is still alive and moves to Boston to find him and ask why. On the same day Lily and Manny meet up, Lily learns that their son and his host family are missing in Sri Lanka. When Lily goes to Manny to help, his hate and distain for her are palpable, but after seeing Adam's picture Manny agrees to help find him.
Together with Ethan and Dallas Garrett and Darcy Prescott, Lily and Manny head to Sir Lanka and slowly find clues that unravel why Adam and his host family were kidnapped and nobody in any government involved is willing to do anything about it. That is just not acceptable and with the experience of recently rescuing Darcy, they set off to rescue Adam. That Manny and Lily have some heavy things to work out, takes a backseat to saving their son. But the passion they had for each other 17 years ago is still strong.
Love this book, absolutely adore this wonderful series. This is so much more than Romantic-Suspense, I am calling it Romance-Action-Adventure because it is all romance and action-adventure.
September 3, 2010
Loved book #5!! Woo hoo!!! LOTS of action and suspense and we didn't have to wait for the sex like we usually do in these books! It was in the first few chapters and dang was it hot!!!
I LOVED the fact that she is 10 years older then him. When they first had sex she was 28 and he was 18. I had a little problem w/ this. NOT the age difference, I loved that, it was the way he was w/ her that first time. NO 18 YR OLD ACTS LIKE THAT! (why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5) He completely seduced her, commanded her, he was VERY VERY skilled and what he did and said didn't make me believe he was 18. Not one bit. I mean, 18 yr old guys only care about how fast they can get to the finish line, not thinking about HOW to get there or savoring the trip, lol. It was really, really hot tho and did read that part twice. lol
Loved seeing some of the others in the book, Ethan and Darcy and Dallas (setting Dallas up nicely for HIS book next) and of course the HEA that this author is sooooo good at and the epilogue at the end w/ EVERYONE together............
I LOVED the fact that she is 10 years older then him. When they first had sex she was 28 and he was 18. I had a little problem w/ this. NOT the age difference, I loved that, it was the way he was w/ her that first time. NO 18 YR OLD ACTS LIKE THAT! (why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5) He completely seduced her, commanded her, he was VERY VERY skilled and what he did and said didn't make me believe he was 18. Not one bit. I mean, 18 yr old guys only care about how fast they can get to the finish line, not thinking about HOW to get there or savoring the trip, lol. It was really, really hot tho and did read that part twice. lol
Loved seeing some of the others in the book, Ethan and Darcy and Dallas (setting Dallas up nicely for HIS book next) and of course the HEA that this author is sooooo good at and the epilogue at the end w/ EVERYONE together............
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2012
Major page turner! This was a very intense/fast paced book. I frequently found myself tensing up and clenching my jaw (I actually gave myself a headache) because of the intensity of the plot.
Manny Ortega has been a soldier since he was sixteen. At the age of eighteen he met the love of his life. But tragedy strikes and for seventeen years he lives a solitary life.
Lily Campora meets Manny and falls in love with him, even if she doesn't admit it. But after a week together he disappears and Lily later learns that Manny was killed in a firefight. Or was he? Bum bum bummm....
Now Lily realizes that Manny is alive and she desperately needs his help. But can Manny get pasted his feelings and help Lily? Not much else to say without spoiling the plot.
I can't wait to start reading Dallas and Amy's book! It better be great! Onward!
Manny Ortega has been a soldier since he was sixteen. At the age of eighteen he met the love of his life. But tragedy strikes and for seventeen years he lives a solitary life.
Lily Campora meets Manny and falls in love with him, even if she doesn't admit it. But after a week together he disappears and Lily later learns that Manny was killed in a firefight. Or was he? Bum bum bummm....
Now Lily realizes that Manny is alive and she desperately needs his help. But can Manny get pasted his feelings and help Lily? Not much else to say without spoiling the plot.
I can't wait to start reading Dallas and Amy's book! It better be great! Onward!
December 19, 2010
3.5*-4* Enjoyable story, even though it was sad in the beginning. I had a little problem accepting the 17 yr separation, and was perhaps a little surprised by the age difference (older woman/younger man). But once I decided these things just were, I got into the story. I liked both characters, and felt the author did a good portraying both the H and h at both times (when they first meet and 17 years later), especially given Manny's youth and the age difference. The suspense plot was good, and kept me reading.
May 16, 2012
I read it yesterday night and this morning early. I had trouble to put it down. The story is really good and I love how both hero and heroine came to terms with themselves. Both of them suffered by the hands of someone who they thought as a traitor.
The story is simple, after 17 years of separation Lily goes to a man she thought was dead. And Manny meets again a woman who he thinks sold him. And he discovered he had a son. And now this son is disappeared...
Recommended!
And now the very last one!
The story is simple, after 17 years of separation Lily goes to a man she thought was dead. And Manny meets again a woman who he thinks sold him. And he discovered he had a son. And now this son is disappeared...
Recommended!
And now the very last one!
July 30, 2010
It is totally a personal thing but I have a real problem reading romances where one mistakenly feels the other has betrayed them and spends the book refusing to listen to the truth and making the other one pay. That being said... NO ONE does action packed, edge of your seat, bite your nails and root for the good guy romantic/suspense better than Gerard! Oh, and I also LOVE the fact that the heroine in this books is 10 years older than the hero. What a fun twist!
April 19, 2013
I liked that the heroin was rather old, 28 in the prologue and then 45 in the present time; it's quite unusual and was very nicely put. The hero was very romantic, the perfect latin lover in the prologue, before turning into someone highly jaded and distrustful.
The investigation and rescue in Sri Lanka was quite fun and well-paced.
Another good one.
The investigation and rescue in Sri Lanka was quite fun and well-paced.
Another good one.
January 30, 2013
So, this was not one for the 4 or 5 star review. I really wasn’t keen on this book. I had a huge ‘Ick’ factory with Adam and Minrada. The whole captured scene with Adam turning into the hero while Minrada’s parents seem to take a back seat just didn’t seem right to me.
I’m no parent but would you really let your sixteen year old go on that kind of mission?
I’m no parent but would you really let your sixteen year old go on that kind of mission?
July 28, 2011
This book is soo hot. I loved the past between Manny and Lily. But he also irritated me because he thought that she betrayed him. If you pick up this book, DO NOT put it down or you will regret it!!!!
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