2008 EMMA Nomination – Author of the Year

In GUARDING HIS BODY, A.C. Arthur presents a very titillating love story packed full of suspense and intrigue. Arthur's writing provides the reader with the ultimate reading experience. Her contemporary romance stories open the senses to the possibilities of love in unique circumstances and open the mind to the enjoyment of a good mystery or two to solve. A good combination of each, along with a healthy balance of memorable characters, will get me every time and this one will lock you in as well.
~ The Rawstistaz Reviewers

A.C. Arthur turns up the heat with Guarding His Body, which is the start of the Top Secret: Romance on the Run series that Kimani Romance is producing this summer. Two powerful and influential families come together as one big family, which can only lead to some jealous people...A.C. Arthur kicks up the notch with this book its one of her best she is an author who can intertwine families with ease.
~ Misherald "Missy"

A THRILLING read! Mrs. Arthur has created another UNFORGETTABLE cast of characters. You are instantly caught up in Renny and Bree's story from the first chapter...A definite MUST read for any romance junkie. Way to go, Mrs. Arthur!
~ Malaika Tamu "Sweet n' Sassy"

Arthur's story put the readers in the middle of the action from the first page. Her writing style captivates the reader and pulls the reader into the drama that unfolds between Lorenzo and Sabrina, first as clients and then as lovers. There was the right mix of sensuality mixed with mystery. I cannot wait to read the next installment.
~ APOOO BookClub
 

Renny had a death grip on his temper. Of all the Bennett children he had the shortest fuse. In the last few months he’d been trying really hard to prove his brothers and father wrong, that he could make intelligent decisions without first overreacting. But glancing again at this tiny woman—she couldn’t be any more than five feet, three inches and one-twenty soaking wet—with serious dark eyes and hair pulled back into a simple ponytail, he felt his resolve slipping.

How in the hell did they expect him to take the news that she was his new bodyguard seriously?

She didn’t look capable of buying herself a drink without identification, let alone protecting him from some psychopath killer!

Through clenched teeth he managed a smile and extended his hand to clasp the one she’d held out to him. “I’m Renny Bennett. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Desdune,” he murmured, because his mother had been a stickler for manners.

Bree hadn’t missed it. Even though he’d tried valiantly to hide his irritation, she’d seen the spark in his brown eyes and almost winced with its fierceness. He wasn’t dressed in designer suits like the three other Bennett men in the room. No, this one was so sure of his good looks, he’d opted for crisp new blue jeans and a navy button down shirt. His boots looked sturdy,

Timberland, she thought with a shrug, the same ones Lynn had just purchased for her nephew, Jeremy.

She was an excellent judge of character. Her mother said this was her sixth sense inherited from her Creole grandmother, Ruby, on Daddy’s side. Bree didn’t care who it came from, it was a great tool and she had used it all her life. Now she used it to tell the true feelings of Mr. Bennett. He was thinking that this little woman couldn’t possibly be a threat to anyone, so how was she supposed to protect him? She had to admit, the Bennett men did soar over her at more than six feet, but then she’d always been the shortest one in the bunch. It never stopped her from taking either one of her brothers down, nor had it stopped her from graduating tops in her basic training class when she’d enlisted in the Marines.

So regardless of how Renny Bennett glowered down at her through his fake smile and brilliant white teeth, she had his number, loud and clear. “You can call me Sabrina.” She tossed him a big ole fake smile of her own and clasped his hand.

Was that a roar of thunder? A clap of lightning?

Both their eyes shot open at the contact, twin bolts of heat traveling quickly through their limbs.

Sabrina pulled away first.

Renny continued to stare, dumbfounded and looking silly, his empty hand still outstretched.

Sam recognized his sister’s stance, her deep dimples penetrating her cheeks and the spark in her eyes that only a family member could decipher. She was about to sink her claws into Mr. Bennett and that was definitely not a good thing. “Ah, Renny, I assure you that Sabrina is very capable. As you are the only one of the Bennett men not directly involved in the business, it’s most likely you’re not the target. Still, I’d like to keep a close watch on you just in case.” He’d moved to stand beside his twin sister, wrapping his arm around her shoulders as a temporary rein on her temper.

Renny focused on the two people standing in front of him. They’d been introduced as co-workers, yet the same last name gave them away as relatives, the same complexion and eyes gave them away as siblings. Her eyes were a deeper, softer brown, though. Not that he was examining the man’s eyes in the first place, but he’d seen the resemblance in them and quickly set her apart. “I’m sure that Ms. Desdune is good at what she does.” He doubted that very seriously. She was a woman, for goodness sake. Why on earth her brother was letting her run around playing cops and robbers was beyond him, but that was not his concern. “I simply don’t think I need any protection.”

“That’s what they all say.” Bree couldn’t help it; the words were out before she’d had a chance to consider the company they were in. A quick glance to her right and she saw Sam’s frown.

She’d promised him she’d be on her best behavior, that she’d complete this assignment without any mishaps. The Bennetts were very wealthy and very influential in the Greenwich community.

Their charity work and financial contributions around the state were well known and much appreciated. Besides that, Sam needed this job. His security company had only been open for two years and he was making a steady amount of money, but he was getting married in six months, to Leeza Purdy—Connecticut’s very own Paris Hilton. But that was another story for another day.

Behind her she heard a snicker. Renny Bennett glowered over her shoulder, then lowered his eyes to her again.

“What she means is that most of our clients that receive personal attention are against it, but your father has hired me to do a job and I would not be doing that job if I didn’t cover all the bases.”

A muscle in Renny’s jaw twitched and Bree found herself staring at his face, the finely chiseled features, strong jaw, dark bronze skin, dark eyes, and thin beard and mustache giving him an air of danger. She remembered that one of his parents was Brazilian, the mother, if she wasn’t mistaken. That would explain the exotic look all the Bennett sons had. They were certainly a triplet of beautiful men. When she made her way to his eyes again she realized with a start that he was staring at her as intently as she’d been staring at him. She cleared her throat and stood a little straighter, her mouth suddenly going dry. “Mr. Bennett, I can assure you that I’ll guard your body as if it were my own.” The moment the words were out she knew they were an even bigger mistake than her previous comment.