Customer Reviews

The Bodyguard and The Rock Star

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I first met the beautiful, feisty, strong-willed female bodyguard, Natasha Chamberlain, in Christy Tillery French's first novel of this series. Her initial assignment was protecting a nerdy billionaire; in the second book she "got stuck" protecting a spoiled-rotten show dog who had received kidnap threats; and in this book The Bodyguard and the Rock Star, as the title clearly depicts, she's guarding a rock star.

The fun-loving, off-beat "Nattie" is portrayed so realistically by French that I began to think of her as a friend, and now--two books later--she seems like my best friend forever (my bff). That's how lovable she is--and her Tennessee dialect is irresistible ... "danged" irresistible.

I bet you will love her too. But how could you not? This girl can get into more trouble than ten monkeys in a cage of lions ... or do I dare say: more trouble than Janet Evanovich's legendary Stephanie Plum?

Natasha thinks it will be fun and easy to guard popular English rock star Giki as she tours the southern states. So what does our heroine do when she finds that Giki is involved in the crazy world of sex, drugs, and shoplifting? With her penchant for trouble, Natasha gets shot and comes close to being arrested. In fact, she boomerangs into so many bizarre, life-threatening situations that her boss, Jonce Striker, sends in his best men, the intimidating duo of Pit and Bigun, to "bodyguard the bodyguard."

Despite the mystery and intense action in this book, it's a hilarious romp, a real hoot. You will die laughing when you see the creative way Natasha uses Giki's "sweet tooth" to combat her drug abuse. And when she mistakenly traps the "wrong" cyber-stalker who has been threatening the rock star ... Well, that's when Striker rushes to her side in an attempt to rein her in.

As in all the books of this series, Natasha feels she has to prove herself capable of being a good bodyguard and will do anything to do her job well. Her friendship with the big, strong, hunky Striker has developed through these books and they are now engaged. Further complicating matters, Striker wants her to quit her dangerous career when they get married. But will Natasha agree? Fat chance!

When Natasha's on the road with Giki's tour, she and Striker miss each other like crazy, so perhaps you'd better cover your eyes when they pair up. Natasha's not only feisty and funny, she's hot for Striker. While not erotica, this author is pretty descriptive in her love scenes--but it's not really her, it's her characters taking control ... just Natasha and Striker being themselves, loving each other to distraction.

Striker is the perfect match for our heroine who comes complete with a mother named Stevie, a "wannabe" bodyguard herself, and a worldly Grammy who's a well-known author. These colorful characters stir the pot, making for so many twists and turns your head will spin as you are kept guessing to the very end.

As female readers will see parts of themselves in Natasha, every man will undoubtedly see himself in Striker's strength and "studliness." ... lol ...

French is a gifted, award-winning author and poet who really knows her craft. From dialog and characterization to exquisite description and pacing, she grabs you from the first page ... and doesn't let go until the happy resolution. I've been a huge fan of this author, starting with her first three books. The Bodyguard and the Rock Star is her sixth book. I hope she continues this series because I would miss my bff Natasha. I also admire French because she's an animal activist and donates part of the proceeds from her books to rescue groups and animal shelters.

If you like humor, mystery and romance, don't miss this series.

Reviewed by: Betty Dravis, 2008
author of: 1106 Grand Boulevard

Occasionally when reading an action thriller I will come across a steamy love scene, obviously thrown in to keep the attention of some male readers. By contrast, this latest edition of the Bodyguard series has an adventure story included with the remarkably hot love scenes between our heroine, Natasha, and her lover/competitor/hero/antagonist and fellow bodyguard Jonce Striker. Natasha Chamberlain is a protection specialist hired by rising young rock star Giki to protect her from some anonymous internet threats. Giki has all the issues you might expect would come from too much money and fame at a young age, and a few you might not, such as an addiction to donuts and chocolate. (I was able to relate to this portion of the character.) Natasha does a fine job protecting Giki from dangerous others and even from herself. The author, in turn, does a fine job disguising the true nature of the threat from the readers untill the very end.

But throughout the novel I felt the "real" story was about bodyguards Natasha and Striker. Passionately in love with each other, the two are also highly competitive in every sense of the term. This is hardly a case of opposites attracting. Natasha is, in many ways, the mirror image of Jonce Striker and when she is not head over heels in love with him she can be dangerous to his physical and mental health. Having "caught" Striker in a compromising situation, she once announces to him, "I thought you were my life mate. I thought you were the one meant for me. I had such plans for us. ... Now the only history we're gonna have is me holding a doll that looks an awful lot like you and sticking pins in it you sorry...." A hot scene nonetheless follows, as do more misunderstandings and mutual threats against each other. Natasha is nothing if not feisty, physical, and independent, qualities mirrored by Striker who, while loving her more than anyone else, also offers to kick her --- and at one point carries her away kicking and screaming.

The dynamic tension between Striker and Chamberlain almost overshadows a great thriller story; almost but not quite. Indeed, that very tension ultimately ties the story together as both Giki and Chamberlain's relationship are saved simultaneously. Sub plots involving Natasha's friends and Striker's employees Pit and Bigun, and the paparazzi Lumpy are all handled nicely as well. In all, the story keeps your interest from beginning to end.

On the whole, I enjoyed the story as I read it aloud to myself and my wife while camping in a tent. She agreed it was good, but protested vigorously the scene in which Natasha's "no" meant "yes." Guys assume that is often the case but I am not about to test the theory. That is better left for alpha males in romance novels. There were a couple loose ends that I wish had been tied up better. Without spoiling the plot, I will only say that I think the real villain got off way too easy and I hope future novels will resolve any long term relationship prospects for rock star Giki.

But impressed as I was by the story, I was yet more impressed with the author, who donates all procedes from her novel to helping homeless dogs, cats, and other animals. Our society brutalizes such creatures by killing them in large numbers. The (mostly) government agencies that do these disgusting acts wash their hands of it (one suspects rather like Lady MacBeth--they never really relieve their guilt) by blaming the population at large for not spaying and neutering their animals. There is something to that complaint, but not enough to justify the wanton destruction of animals in our society. No kill shelters deserve your support and animal rescues, I know from personal experience, make fine pets. (Two such animals are on my shoulder now.) So by all means read the book if you like action, adventure, and hot romance. And if you don't, find another way to support the author and her cause. Part of being human is caring for those who sometimes cannot care for themselves and the bodyguard, Natasha, exemplifies this element of humanity to the fullest. So does the author.

The Bodyguard and The Rock Star was my introduction to The Bodyguard series by Christy Tillery French. Apparently, this is the third book detailing the thrilling cases of bodyguard Natasha Chamberlain. Let me tell you, I am running out immediately to obtain the first two installments. The Bodyguard and the Rock Star is a fun-filled, action-packed, red-hot read. It was the perfect start to my summer, and I plan to spend more of my time with Natasha and her adventures.

Ms. French has light, easy style. The characters are very well developed and three dimensional; they feel real, familiar, and immediately comfortable, as if they have been your friends for years. Character emotions run the gamut, and all ring true, from the tantrums of the spoiled yet loveable rock star, to the concern and dedication of the smart, tough as nails bodyguard with a heart of gold and very human foibles, and on to the wild worry and fear of the passionate, handsome, super sexy fiancé. The pacing is supersonic; you are hooked from the first lines, and find you can't put the book down. The action, twists, and surprises continue until the very last word...and then some.

This book is a clever, unusual, and down right funny combination of detective mystery, chick lit, and romance. I found the story and the characters delightful, fun, and very entertaining, and I am certain that you will, too. I wait with breathless anticipation for Book Four.

Natasha's back, along with the gruesome twosome, Pit and Bigun, this time guarding an English rock star touring the Southern states. At first, Natasha think this junket should be relatively easy, but then she's shot after the very first concert and finds out there's a stalker after Giki. While Natasha's busy babysitting Giki and luring the stalker out into the open, her mom and cousin have taken over her office and are playing investigators. If that isn't bad enough, Natasha keeps tangling with a photographer who likes to take unflattering pictures of her in action and put them on the front page of his slimy tabloid. And then there's her overprotective lover, hunky Striker, who wants nothing more than to lure Natasha away from her career, which he considers dangerous.

This is my favorite of the series so far. Natasha is beginning to come into her own as a bodyguard while playing "straight man" to all the zany characters around her. Giki's exploits are fun, Pit and Bigun are always a welcome bonus, and the sizzling romance between Natasha and Striker makes the read all that much better. Roger makes an appearance, and there's always Brutus, Natasha's Weimaraner, one of my favorite characters

As a Southerner, one thing I did enjoy are the small snippets of historical information about each city the tour visits. I look forward to reading more in this series.

Bodyguard Natasha Chamberlain is back, and to quote her, "Dang!" Book Three in the series is quite a thrill ride and may just be Christy Tillery French's best book yet. Her distinctive writing style gains strength with each new book. Fans will be happy to know that Natasha hasn't changed a bit this time around. She's still feisty, stubborn, strong willed and wildly in love with her delicious fiance, Jonce Striker.

When Natasha contracts to protect Giki, an English rock star touring the southern U.S., she thinks the job will be fun and easy. What could go wrong on a bus tour through the south? Well, for one thing, Natasha didn't consider that she and Striker would be separated for weeks at a time. (Uh oh! Fireworks!) For another, she didn't expect to be shot after the first concert; she didn't expect to be guarding a rock icon who shoplifts, does drugs, needs candy like air to survive, and has unusual sexual appetites. She didn't anticipate a crazed cyber-stalker and a gang of southern rednecks bent on kidnapping, murder, and God knows what else. As always, Striker has his hands full protecting the only woman he will ever love. He sends in his best operatives Pit and Bigun to protect her, but even those two huge, loyal bodyguards can't keep Natasha safe this time. It will take all Striker's skill to keep his woman alive. If only Natasha would cooperate and make his job easier, but fans know she won't, and that's part of the fun and excitement. Striker wants her to marry him and stop putting herself in danger. He means it this time and Natasha's headstrong ways put their relationship at risk.

What do you think, fans? No one does action adventure and fiery romance better than Christy Tillery French. We already know that. But will Natasha knuckle under and agree to marry Striker? Will Pit, Bigun, and Striker keep her in one piece long enough to reach the altar? Will Giki forsake her wayward life and settle down? And what sort of a cliff hanger will French come up with this time to leave us eager for the next book in this series? You're in for a few shocks and a big surprise but you'll have to read the book to find out. This is a fast, fun, exciting read.

Reviewed by Victoria T. Murray (Author of The Lambert series, The Shadow of Her Smile, and Exposure Behind Closed Doors)

THE BODYGUARD AND THE ROCK STAR, By Christy Tillery French

With such fun names like Giki, Natasha, and Jonce Striker, the reader knows immediately they are in for an entertaining read! Below is a short synopsis of this MUST READ book, a book, I know you will not want to miss!

Hired as personal bodyguard to Giki, an English rock star, while she tours the Southern states, protection specialist Natasha Chamberlain thinks this should be an easy gig. That is, until Natasha's leg is grazed by a bullet after the first concert and she subsequently finds herself bogged down in Giki's personal world of sex and drugs, not to mention shoplifting, an uncontrollable sweet tooth and cyber-stalker intent on putting an end to Giki's career.

Meanwhile, Jonce Striker, Natasha's fiancé, is having a hard time dealing with being separated from Natasha while she tours with Giki. A former bodyguard, Striker is convinced this field is too dangerous for his love. When Natasha is shot, he rushes to her side with bodyguards Pit and Bigun. Frustrated that Natasha stays with the tour, when Striker learns that Giki's stalker has become interested in Natasha, he brings in one of his company's bodyguards to watch over her, which causes a major upheaval in his and Natasha's relationship.

Determined to lure the stalker out of his hidey-hole and into the open, Natasha enters into a game of cyber-tag with the hate-monger. She eventually persuades him to agree to a meeting but three separate attempts are thwarted by other people. If that isn't enough to send even the toughest of boydguards screaming into the night, Natasha is also dealing with the sadistic machinations of a pesky photographer bent on snapping unflattering pictures of her in action and planting them on the front page of his sleazy tabloid. And then there's her menopausal mother and gay cousin who fancy themselves investigators and have taken over her home office in Knoxville, TN.

Natasha reaches a compromise with the photographer by hiring him to take pictures of the people surrounding Giki at her concerts. Though his help, Natasha identifies the man stalking the rock star and herself. Thinking only of removing the threat from her client, she confronts, then subdues the stalker until the police arrive. Striker becomes angry when he learns that Natasha placed herself in peril when she went after the stalker alone. Relived, however, that the stalker has been arrested, he pulls his bodyguard off Natasha since he believes she is no longer in danger. But when Natasha and Giki are kidnapped in Alabama, Striker's on their trail in a hurry.

Aware her primary duty is to remove her client from harm, Natasha escapes with Giki in hopes of getting her to safety. Natasha sends Giki off in one direction while she draws the attention of the kidnappers to her. Through tough measures and the help of an old man, she manages to apprehend their captors. After recovering from sustained injuries, Natasha returns to the tour to finish her job, surprised but relieved that Striker, if not entirely supportive of her career decision, finally understands her desire to be a bodyguard.

Being a HUGE FAN of this delightful writer since her fist book, "Chasing Horses," I am thrilled to recommend her newest novel. This story has it all and then some--suspense, romance, page-turning, edge of your seat excitement--the characters are wonderful, the dialogue is entertaining, and the plot is nothing short of thrilling! I cannot sing enough praise about CHRISTY TILLERY FRENCH and her MUST READ NOVELS!!! I know you'll enjoy all of her books as much as I have. I would give her novel more than (5) stars if that were an option!

With The Bodyguard and the Rock Star, Christy Tillery French has once again taken me on a enjoyable roller coaster ride of heart-stopping thrills and rib-tickling humor.

In the third installment of Ms. French's Bodyguard series, Natasha Chamberlain eagerly takes on her latest assignment--guarding English rock star, Giki, on a tour of the Southern United States. Natasha is convinced this will be an easy job. True, Giki has a wild streak, and at times she's uncontrollable in her desire to experience every facet of being a rock star, from sex to concerts to...sweets? Yes, Giki has a sweet tooth that is sometimes irrepressible, along with several other bad habits, and Natasha soon feels more like a babysitter than a bodyguard. No problem, she can handle the aggravation of that, but Giki has a secret; a cyber-stalker who is willing to do whatever it takes to end the rock star's career. And Natasha is suddenly caught up in a job that's far more dangerous than she first assumed.

When she's shot at the first concert, her fiancé, Jonce Striker, shows up at the hospital, and the battle is on as single-minded alpha male clashes with strong-minded, determined woman, adding another delightful twist to the thrilling plot. Natasha loves Striker and would do just about anything for him, but the one thing she's not willing to do is give up her job. She knows she can protect Giki, and she's going to prove it to Striker once and for all. Jonce, however, is worried and despite her protests brings in the competent, but completely adorable duo of Pitt and Bigun to safeguard her.

And well, let's just say, chaos ensues as Natasha struggles to find her balance between Striker and her chosen profession. As she always does, she manages to get her man. No spoilers here, I'm not going to tell you which one she gets, you'll have to read it for yourself to find out!

As with all the books in her Bodyguard Series, Ms. French has peppered this one with laugh-out-loud humor, nail-biting suspense, familiar, lovable characters as well as a few new, quirky ones, and dialogue so realistic it practically leaps off the page. Then there's the constant and stimulating tug-of-war between a strong man and an even-stronger woman. Throw in a delightful tour of the cities of the South, which Ms. French writes about with obvious love and pleasure, and you have a very satisfying read that will keep you glued to the pages until the end.

Needless to say, The Bodyguard and the Rock Star is going to join the other books by Ms. French on my keeper shelf!

Natasha Chamberlain is a lethal weapon for hire. In this case, she's contracted to Giki, a British rockstar with a stalker. Should be a simple case for a competent person like Natasha, but she's got her crazy family and her oh-so-hot and domineering boyfriend to deal with as well.

"The Bodyguard and the Rock Star" is well-written, strongly paced, and hilarious. I'd compare this to Stephanie Plum, but the story is stronger, wittier, and more intelligent. Characters have depth, including flaws and foibles. Of course, my favorite would be Brutus, the big gray Weimeraner who steals the page for this reader every time.

Rebecca Kyle, July 2010

Pretty Natasha likes a good fight and fits right in with the rough and tumble lifestyle of the rock star she's contracted to protect. In Christy Tillery French's "The Bodyguard and the Rock Star," sometimes Natasha is her own worst enemy in tracking down a cyberstalker and her finance, Striker, constantly drops his business to visit Natasha in different Southern cities on the tour. Half romance and half suspense, Christy French keeps the reader guessing at what comes next in this delightful romantic comedy.

Perfect for Framing (An Appalachian Adventure Mystery)

Natasha Chamberlain is a "protection specialist". You and I would call her a "bodyguard". She works for her boyfriend, Jonce Striker (a very studly man's man) who harbours less than well-hidden doubts about Natasha's abilities to take care of herself let alone her client, Giki, the English rock star who's currently touring the southern US. It's not a big surprise to discover that when we're talking rock, we're also talking sex and romance, drugs, aggravatingly relentless paparazzi, shoplifting, stalking, short days and late nights, a recklessly self-indulgent lifestyle, domineering management, uncontrollable fans and, oh yeah, a little more sex.

To make a comparison that will give you the flavour of Ms French's novel, readers will definitely notice similarities between Natasha Chamberlain and Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum - hilarious comedic moments, a fierce hair-trigger temper contrasted with a warmly, feminine ability to forgive, clever repartee, a certain angst and self-doubt combined with a fierce determination to succeed against all odds, a less than completely fulfilled sex life driven by a very hearty and entirely healthy libido, and, of course, an ability to attract trouble more quickly than a magnet pulls in iron filings.

But, for my money, French's Bodyguard series outdoes Stephanie Plum because, however she's achieved it, her characters are more real, somehow more grounded in reality and the mystery is also quite well done.

Thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended light escapist reading. I'll look forward to going back now and reading the first two in the series.

Paul Weiss