Falco: The Dark Guardian (Mills & Boon Modern) [Paperback]

The 3rd instalment of the Mini-series on the Orsini Brothers by Sandra Marton sees the third son of Cesare Orsini, the powerful Sicilian patriarch of the family on a mission to save a beautiful actress who needed protection from an unknown assailant. When at Dante's wedding, Cesare Orsini asked to speak to his third son Falco, in the same way he had spoken to Rafe and Dante, Falco made it known to the old man that he was not interested especially as he thought it was one of his 'when I am dead' talks, but Cesare surprised Falco an ex-special forces warrior by telling him how he recently went on a mission to rescue a kidnapped Turkish boy, that got Falco's attention fast and forced him to listen to the request from Cesare, which was to help protect a beautiful young actress Elle Bissette who was receiving death threats from an unknown assailant. Falco did not want to get involved, he wanted to ask a friend of his to help the lady but one look at her photograph something deep within him was stirred and he wanted to protect her.

Elle Bissette has a murky past, a past that she does not want anyone to know about and going to the police with the threats hanging over her head will draw the kind of attention she was trying to avoid. So she pretended that everything was fine but she was a mess and it was showing in her inability to focus on her scenes in her current movie to the extent that the director was constantly yelling CUT! So the director had requested assistance from Cesare Orsini.

Falco's first encounter with Elle was as dramatic as it was explosive. Elle Bissette, made it clear she had no problem and did not need a bodyguard and was summarily dismissing Falco at every turn. Falco was bent on getting to the bottom of the problem but the more he followed her, the more entangled he got and it was not helped that he could not keep his hand off her, he was kissing her at every opportunity he got. Will he stay focused enough to protect her and neutralise her assailant or will he be so distracted as to endanger the very woman he wishes to protect with his life?

This is a good story on a lot of levels, laced with high level tension, danger and romance; this book will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end. Falco was macho, heroic, knight in shining armour and adorable. Elle gave as good as she got, sometimes sounding ungrateful and downright annoying but both of them where well matched. Elle's character initially comes across as a haughty Hollywood star but as you get to know her and her traumatic past your heart will bleed for one so young trying to be strong in the face of all the adversity she had faced. If you love spy stories and action filled romance you will love this one and the Orsini brothers did not disappoint in the way the brothers got all protective and concerned over Falco who believed he had blown his chance at true love, and was behaving like a bear with a sore head. Elle's humility in fighting for the love of her life and going after Falco and not giving up on them will bring a tear or two to your eyes. I love SM's mini-series, and without a doubt she is the queen of Mini-series and family sagas. Will this end in another Orsini wedding at the same little church in Greenwich village, if so look forward to Cesare Orsini summoning his last born Nicolo. We wait with bated breath to the final instalment of the Orsini brother's saga.

I'm never disappointed while reading a Sandra Marton romance and this series, the Orsini brothers has been exceptional. Falco: The Dark Guardian was tense, dangerous and full of sweet and tender romance. Like his brother's, Falco Orsini was proud, arrogant and extremely handsome and a knight in shining armour.

Casare Orsini was the head of the mob and his sons absolutely did not approve. However, he had used the excuse he was dying and had asked his sons to help him and now he was enlisting the help of his son Falco. He owed a favor to an old friend who was a film director in Hollywood. One of his actresses was being stalked and threatened and she did not want the police involved. As Falco had served in the Army in Special Forces, his father requested that he fly out to California and be Elle Bissette's bodyguard. His father had photos of her, she was beautiful and there was something in her eyes that drew him to her and made him want to protect her.

Elle Bissette had a secret past, even though she knew the threats were serious she didn't want people to know about her past life. She had once been a model and then came the chance to star in a film. However, it wasn't just the pictures of her she received in the mail with the threats, her stalker was now calling her at home. She didn't want the world to know about where she came from and what had happened all of those years ago. Now she was faced with a darkly handsome man sent to protect her and she wasn't going to have any of it! They argued and in the end, Falco won. However, not before yelling at each other and Elle was not going to let him take charge of her life.

What was it about Elle that attracted Falco? Was it her beauty, spirit or her fear? They fought, yet he followed her and then a series of things happened, from a break-in at her cabin, to her home where it was very clear to them both that the stalker was extremely dangerous. From time to time, there was some kissing, touching and barbs, it lead to a very fascinating story. I wondered who would kill who because they constantly fought and the barbs were given freely. Upon returning to her Hollywood home and seeing the mess, Falco took matters into his hands, hired a jet and took Elle to Maui where they lived in a secluded home.

Their relationship changed immediately. As shy and inexperienced as Elle was she knew she was attracted to him. When Falco kissed her, her fear of being intimate changed to desire and passion thanks to this Italian's understanding and patience. Their days were romantic and incredible until Elle finally trusted Falco enough to tell him her story. Oh boy, what a story! And then he sent her away first with tears and then anger to keep her safe back to California with his friend. He said it was over! With the stalker dead he went home to New York in a bad temper!

I wondered how their story would end and Sandra Marton didn't disappoint me. A beautifully written romance.....sweet and tender yet there was also anger and danger which had me sitting on the edge of my seat. In the end, they both were willing to make sacrifices to get their happy ending.