I'm back, and so is my beloved Kathleen Brooks with the latest installment of the Forever Bluegrass series, Forever Guarded. Now, the few books have left the family of Tammy and Pierce Davies in a strange spot. Namely, fifty two year old Tammy is pregnant with her fifth child, who is, needless to say, a bit of a surprise. That doesn't stop love!Tammy and Pierce's eldest child is the nanotechnology genius, Dr. Piper Davies. Now, Piper reminds me a lot of me. She doesn't like to be the center of attention, and she doesn't like other people disrupting their lives for her. So of all my Kathleen Brooks heroines, Piper is the one I identify with the most, which has made this book very close to my heart. I have my favorite stories and story lines (Forever Hidden will be a forever favorite), but Piper is me.
Piper's newest creation is in the world viral nanotechnology. She's created FAVOR, which is intended to stop the spread of viral pandemics. Unfortunately, right at the moment, FAVOR needs a little tweaking as it is more likely to CAUSE a viral pandemic than save the world. Ooooopsie. This would be fine, Piper is more than brilliant enough to figure out how to solve the problem, but she's a little stressed out. It would seem that someone has found out about the super secret FAVOR project and wants it in its cause-a-pandemic form. This someone, later identified as Phobos, is stalking and threatening Piper.
After a break in and attempted kidnapping/murder/I'm not sure but the bad guy DID get beaten up, Piper's cat is out of the bag. All eyes turn to her, which causes a few panic attacks. Including one that has badass Nash backing up and letting a newbie but a sweetie police officer deal with the tears. Clearly the man has dealt with a crying woman before. (Kathleen, can we see more of Officer Edsel?) Nash escorts Piper back to Keeneston, by helicopter, and everyone ends up racing over. And the Davies cousins flee as a very pregnant pixie, Tammy, comes racing to her daughter's side. Piper recognizes that she needs protection, but refuses to put anyone she knows in danger (except for maybe her brother Dylan). Tammy, of course, calls Dylan, WHO ANSWERS HIS MOTHER'S PHONE CALL IN THE MIDDLE OF A GUN BATTLE. This one was shared in a tease from Kathleen, so I don't feel bad at all sharing it with y'all here.
Dylan became hot for me in that moment. I don't know why, but I just don't swoon over him and Jackson the same way other members of the Cafe do..... Anyway.
Eventually, Aiden Creed, a former SAS operative with a snazzy British accent that I LOVE and I haven't even heard in person yet, agrees to be her bodyguard and hops the pond. Just before he gets there, however, Piper is attacked AGAIN, but Walker comes to the rescue. Aiden is panty-melting, okay? I love him already, and he is fascinated by Piper, even if he doesn't completely understand what she's talking about when she pulls out all the science. It's wonderful. Does he have a brother? I'm single! But Aiden is instantly attracted to Piper, and it really is wonderful. He tries to keep it together, but eventually realizes that he can't protect Piper because he's emotionally compromised, so he's a smart boy and calls in someone new. At that point, Piper and Aiden have left Kentucky in an effort to keep Piper safe, and are in Rahmi, where we get an update from Prince Jamal!
I was super happy to see this update from Jamal and his wife, Nailah, because it showed to me that Jamal really learned a good lesson back in Forever Betrayed. He dated his wife, and they fell in love. It's truly wonderful. Also, GO DIRAR FOR BEING AWESOME. (You'll know what I'm talking about when you get there).
But Piper is kidnapped in Rahmi. She manages to save herself and gets herself to another character we know and love, KING DRAVEN. Oh, Draven. He's the same Draven we know who acts like he is COVERED in sexcapades, but I know a secret!! When Dylan sneaks into Draven's palace to rescue Piper, the most hilarious knife/his royal member dildo fight ensues. I have never laughed so hard in my life. Ends with a great line from Draven when he gestures to the dildo that is made from a mold of his royal member and says that they (Dylan and Aiden) know he's circumcised already. I DIED.
Anyway. Phobos becomes a real jerk and TIES UP A WOMAN WHO IS NINE MONTHS PREGNANT WHAT THE HELL DUDE?!?!?! He threatens Piper again, but this time, a plan is formed. See, Piper has this wonderful little airborne virus that makes you expel waste through both ends in misery for forty eight hours before your internal organs start eating each other. Its the perfect way to break in and save Tammy (and Pierce, but if he says Tammy is too old to have a baby one more time......). There's a real moment here where I thought there was going to be parrot stew.
It obviously ends happily. I don't want to give it away, but it was a great ending.
So why did I love this book so much? Well, A. as discussed, Piper is me, except insert obscure history for nanotech. B. I absolutely LOVED that we got to check in with some characters that we may not have seen in a while. C. We have TWO new babies, and THREE pregnancies announced, although we only know the parents in one case.
I also loved this book because it was a bit different from the others. Piper's father isn't a spy or a former Special Forces badass. He's a scientist. So Piper doesn't have the crazy training like the other Davies cousins. She can't kill someone with a spoon. But she does her best, and she wants to protect her family, just like everyone else. She's a badass in her world, but not a physical one. And feeling like she's let everyone down by not being perfect? Oooof. I know that feeling.
So what's up next for Keeneston?
Next we venture down to Shadow's Landing in South Carolina to spend some time with the Davies' Faulkner cousins. I'm intereseted to learn more about them, starting with Gavin in Saving Shadows this October.
After that we have Forever Notorious, a book that I know everyone has been waiting for. It's the story of Abby Mueez, Ahmed's daughter. I know what I'm hoping for in that book, but we have to wait until hopefully January, according to Kathleen.
#broomspoonandskilletwanted #blossomcafe #keenestonismyhome #theroyalmember #placeyourbets #queenvicsbookshelf #bluegrass #kathleenbrooks
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