Investigations of Jack Ryland

When 28 year old private investigator Jack Ryland walked into his cousin's security agency that afternoon, the last thing he expected was to walk out as bodyguard to 23 year old Cheryl Adams.It's simple, his cousin says. There won't be any trouble, his cousin says. Whoever's after her can't possibly track her where you're going. It'll be like a vacation, it'll be fun, you'll stay at a great lodge, it's just one week out of your life. Did I mention I'm desperate with no one else to assign? It's no big deal. All you have to do is keep an eye on the girl.Nothing is ever that simple.Jack accepts the assignment to help out his cousin and to get out of escorting his sister's friend to a wedding, having no idea what he's getting himself into.It doesn't take long for Jack to find out. The lodge is not a lodge at all, the seminar is not on gardening, skipping out on activities is a no-no, Cheryl doesn't think the strong, chatty type makes much of a bodyguard, and Cheryl's adversary is far more dangerous than Jack is led to believe.Jack's cousin was right about one thing. It's fun. For him. For Cheryl… Jack determines to always sit on her left side to keep her from going for his gun.In spite of Jack's determination to avoid attachment and Cheryl's ambivalence toward her knock-off bodyguard, she soon becomes more than an assignment to him.Cheryl's adversary is relentless, and determined to find her. Jack is even more determined to protect her at any cost, even with his life, and that just may be the price he has to pay. Melissa R. L. Simonin writes the books she wants to read: good clean rated G romance, mystery, suspense, fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, historical, and Christian fiction, with main characters that inspire, who have senses of humor and are good at heart, and which leave one feeling encouraged and better for having read the book. Her characters have stories to tell, so she gets up early and stays up late, because she doesn't want to miss a thing. Unless she feels like writing two or more novels simultaneously and giving up sleep entirely, she's learned not to name characters until she's ready to write, because once they have their names their stories begin, and there is no "pause" option.In addition to racing to keep up with her characters, Melissa currently resides in Katy, Texas with husband, Brad; daughter, Emily; cats Star and Martin; white German Shepherd, Arctic, and English Cream Golden Retriever, Fidget.While famous for burning cheese sandwiches when her characters are in the middle of a conversation, due to popular demand she usually serves the rest of the household un-burnt offerings, grocery shops on occasion, cleans when absolutely necessary, studies the Bible daily, relies on Jesus completely, and carries her laptop and immersive headphones with her wherever she goes.Melissa's current and ongoing series include The House of Bannerman, Mystery Lane, The Investigations of Jack Ryland, and Terms of Engagement.