Dying For You [Mass Market Paperback]

Beverly Barton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2008

It was the job of her dreams…but it became her worst nightmare….

All private security agent Lucie Evans wanted was a fresh start—and the chance to show Sawyer McNamara, her ex-boss, that she no longer craved his absolution for a crime she didn't commit. So when the offer of a trip to South America as the personal bodyguard to a billionaire heiress came up, Lucie jumped at the prospect of leaving the Dundee Agency behind. Then the nightmare began. Kidnapped in a case of mistaken identity, suddenly Lucie's only hope of survival rested with the one man she never wanted to see again.…

Sawyer had spent years convincing himself that all he felt for Lucie was contempt—but with her life at stake, he was forced to face his true feelings. Though it may be a case of too little, too late. Because Lucie's captor wouldn't rest until she was silenced…once and for all.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Bestseller Barton wraps up her long-running Protectors series (launched with 1995s Defending His Own) with a nail biter about private security agent Lucie Evans, whose feud with Sawyer McNamara, CEO of the Dundee Private Investigation and Security Agency, finally explodes. Lucie leaves Dundee and starts working as billionaire Cara Bedells personal bodyguard, only to be kidnapped by hired South American killers who mistake her for Cara. Sawyer enlists the help of agent Geoff Monday and they quickly rescue Lucie. When the kidnappers follow Cara back to the U.S., Sawyer, Geoff and Lucie leave no stone unturned in their efforts to stop the thugs and find their employer. Barton tosses in several familiar names and other gifts to fans who have been cheering on Sawyer and Lucie for years; new readers will enjoy the fast pace and hot-tempered romance. (Dec.)
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From Booklist

When former television star Taylor Lawson needs a bodyguard, he calls the prestigious Dundee Private Security and Investment Agency, and executive Sawyer McNamara sends him agent Lucie Evans. When the has-been celebrity tries to rape her, Sawyer shrugs it off with an I-knew-you-could-take-care-of-yourself attitude. Lucie has always loved her oblivious boss, but his cavalier response to her vicious attack is the last blow to her unrequited love, and she quits. Lucie goes to South America to protect an heiress but gets kidnapped by mistake. When Sawyer finds out about Lucie’s abduction, he realizes how much the woman he always took for granted means to him, and he vows to move heaven and earth to save her. Fast-paced action, a brave but stubborn heroine, and a hero who puts his own life on the line for the woman he loves are all part of Barton’s gripping conclusion to the Protectors trilogy (The Dying Game, 2007; A Time to Die, 2007). --Shelley Mosley

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: HQN Books (December 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 037377317X
• ISBN-13: 978-0373773176
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #802,996 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Hopefully this is the end of the series., June 30, 2009

By 

mahikahn (Columbus, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dying For You (Mass Market Paperback)

First let me say that this book was 377 pages long which was at least 100 pages too long.

Lucie has chased after Sawyer McNamara for years waiting for a chance to tell him what really happened nine years ago. She works for him & yet they haven't talked about this for NINE YEARS? And why would she stay when he gave her the worst assignments that he knew she would hate? On the last assignment, guarding a has-been actor, she was almost raped and when she told Sawyer he said, "You don't look any worse for wear." This when he'd already talked to the "client" who told him he'd hit Lucie, among other things. She finally quit and took a job as a bodyguard in South America not knowing that Sawyer set it up.

We don't find out what made Sawyer so hateful and hurtful to Lucie, who as it turned out was completely blameless as was Sawyer, until page 368 and it covers it all of four pages.

What is it with all these women in love with men who don't appear to love them which is pretty much the case in the last few books of this series?

In "The Dying Game" Lindsey was in love with Judd who couldn't be with her because he was a mean, self-pitying, obnoxious, entitled, arrogant drunk who went out of his way to publicly humiliate Lindsey the Door Mat.

In this book we have Lucie who's in love with Sawyer who says he can't be with her because of something that happened NINE years ago.

And we have Cara who's in love with Bain who says he can't be with her because she's so rich and he's just a cop.

And we have Daisy who's in love with Geoff who says he can't be with her because he's too old.

And they all lived happily ever after.

THE END

If you've read the rest of the series you might as well read this one. Otherwise pass and read "Navajo's Woman" or "The Last To Die".

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Too much going on; not fully developed, February 9, 2009

By 

Tracy Vest (Northern California) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dying For You (Mass Market Paperback)

Barton ends her long running "Protector" series by finally bringing together three star-crossed couples that readers have wanted to see united:

Dundee Security head honcho Sawyer has always had a love hate relationship with agent Lucie Evans. When she has finally had enough, she quits and takes an assignment to guard wealthy Cara Bedell while on a trip to South America. Cara has loved detective Bain for several years but he cannot get over her wealth on his civil servant salary. Dundee secretary Daisy has loved world weary mercenary turned bodyguard Geoff for years, but his past and their age gap keeps him from accepting her love. When Lucie is mistaken for Cara in a kidnapping plot and Geoff is shot in the rescue, the men must confront their feelings for the ladies they have kept at arm's length, as well as their checkered pasts. But the person who arranged the kidnapping is still out there and could make a second attempt.

On the one hand, I am happy that rather than dragging the story out over three more volumes, she chose to tie up the loose ends to the stories her fans have been wanting for years. On the other hand, I think that each couple gets the short end of the stick. The story is nearly non-existent for Daisy and Geoff. One page he is saying no to her; the next he is ordering his tux. Cara and Bain definitely burned up the pages the most, but for me, the central storyline - Sawyer and Lucie was just not developed as much as it could be. I really felt like a lot of the story was left on the outline and never made it to the page. There were also a lot of typos that required re-reading passages. Overall, it is a good but average story.


© Tracy Vest, February 2009

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars LOVED IT! So sad to see the end of the Protectors..., December 8, 2008

By 

M. Bradley "Mimmi" (Bluegrass State) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dying For You (Mass Market Paperback)

I've followed The Protectors series by Beverly Barton for years...like many, I've been dying for Lucie Evans and Sawyer McNamara to bring their relationship to a head...and I'm so thrilled with the story Ms. Barton came up with for these charachters I've followed for years!!

Lucie Evans has had it...Sawyer McNamara has pulled his last trick out of his bag on her...she's through. She's hunge in there at The Dundee Agency for years, no matter how hard he pushed her to quit~~how could she leave, when there might still be a chance that Sawyer would forgive her? But she's finally seen the light...there is no hope. Or so she thinks, until she is kidnapped and her life threatened~~and Sawyer, CEO and a hands off man, takes a very hands on approach to her case.

Ms. Barton gives glimpses of the relationship Sawyer and Lucie has in the past...we get a clear view of why all the animosity between them, and it broke my heart to see the pain they've shared. But, oh, she does a superb job. I could totally buy the 9 year animosity...the guilt and anger they both experienced.

And we get to see several charachters we've come to love finally get their stories as sidelines...The Dundee Agency's office manager, Daisy, has been in love with one of it's agents, Geoff Monday, for years. Finally they get their story. As well as Cara Bedell and Bain, the police detective the billionaire has loved for several years. How will he overcome the enormous difference in their lives?? Both side stories were just as compelling and wonderful as the main story.
I am so thrilled with this book...I started reading it at about 10 last night...and didn't stop 'til the last page. I'm sad to see The Dundee Agency go...I've loved these stories for years. Ms. Barton has always had a talent for switching them up...some are heart wrenching, some are sweet, some are amusing... but they're all, every one, great books. Up to this point I think Sweet Caroline's Keeper has been my favorite...but Dying For You goes over the top. She really takes this series out with class and style~~Don't miss this book!!!