An Unforgettable Lady [Mass Market Paperback]

I read the JR Ward paranomal vimpire series - The Black Dagger Brotherhood series. I was reading the Insiders Guide (a companion to that series) when I found that the Warden writes in a different pen name and I couldn't be HAPPIER! So I instantly logged onto amazon, found this book and An Irresistible Bachelor and ordered them both.

This is the first book of the two and you won;t be disappointed! I know I wasn't. If what you're expecting is a warm, happy reading of romance - this is it! It's basically a story of John Smith, the bodyguard, who Grace, the famale protaganist, has assigned to her because of the death of fellow socialites - SHE MAY BE NEXT! Grace doesn't want John around because she had met him a few days earlier at a gala and he happened to kiss her. Grace meets him the second time when she is at her best friend's house (Carter, from Hearts of Gold). So the story progresses with tension as John tries to avoid complicating things by giving into his desires for Grace and Grace is working at understading these desires of hers.

There are warm, short and steamy scenes, (not harlequin type) I wouldn't think, but great. The interaction between Grace and John is wonderful - their fight scenes are brilliantly written. You grow to understand Grace and John as characters and I think that the Bird wirtes the story very well - I love how John fights his attraction for Grace but ends up giving in and how they fall in love - so SWEET! We're also introduced to Jack Walker - a friend of Grace's, who will have the next book I've mentioned (An Irresistible Bachelor) with Grace's half sister, Callie (who's also introduced in this book). Can't wait to the read that book when it arrives! I've read these kinds of stories before but they don't get tiring. I suggest you read this book first if you want to read the second but you don't really have to - they can stand alone, but I prefer it this way.

Jessica Bird (AKA JR Ward) is a brilliant contemporary romance writer, although I much prefer her paranormal series. It just can't get better than that at the moment!

Will buy Hearts of Gold and Leaping Hearts by Jessica Bird since this book has lived up it its expectations! Go Jessica Bird!

John Smith is a personal security specialist. His background includes special military, assassin, and intelligence. Now, he is a ghost. He has not used his real name in so long that no one alive can recall it. He has no address, no social security number, and his earnings are scattered in various numbered accounts throughout the globe. He is the best in his field. He got a few of the men he knew from his time in the military and began the firm called Black Watch, Ltd. John has never failed a client ... which is how he met HER!

Grace Woodward Hall, soon to be the former Countess von Sharone, is in the direct line of fire of a serial killer. The Times ran an article stating the names of the six most prominent women in New York. The article had been found beside the body of the first socialite.

John Smith agrees to be her personal bodyguard. Grace deals with John giving many of her hired personnel (such as a daily maid, a driver, contractors, etc) long vacations and putting his own men in place. She even deals with him moving into her penthouse, even though there is only one usable bathroom (since the contractors were not finished with the guest bath). But she was having a very hard time keeping her attraction to John stamped down. Then there is the stress of her work. Since her father died she has taken over as head of the Hall Foundation. Her father had groomed her for the position since childhood. However, there are a few old timers on the board who believe she should stop down and give the President and CEO position to Lou Lamont. Add to all this, stress of her pending divorce, her mother's harping, and more of her friends dying! And since Grace has never backed down from anyone or anything, she refused to cringe at ANY of this, including John's overbearing attitude!

John cannot help but love the feistiness Grace keeps sheathed in social politeness. For the first time ever he finds himself becoming emotionally attached to a client. That could be fatal. Yet he is unable to leave her safety in the hands of anyone else. After all, he IS the best!

***** Author Jessica Bird has a life long fan in me! This is the perfect blend of romance and suspense! From the beginning to the end I found myself eager to see what surprise would turn up next. If you are a fan of Sandra Brown, Stella Cameron, and Jayne Ann Krentz, then you MUST check out this author! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

I absolutely loved this book. I have read other books by this author (written under another name) and enjoy her style of writing.

This book moved along at a great pace and the characters came alive.

John Smith is a bodygaurd with a difference. He has a secret past and is the best. He has been hired to protect Grace from the threat of a maniac who is killing her freinds in order of an article they all appeared in. Grace was the last to be featured in that article and John must protect her until this serial killer is caught.

I have to say that i figured out who done it and was not surprised when it was revealed at the end. But despite this i still enjoyed the book and have already ordered one of the accompanying books in this series.

Highly recommended.