Here's how you can tell a great series: each book has the ability to stand alone, independent of the rest of the series. Take a look at The Colton's of Oklahoma. I have read and reviewed two prior installments and THE COLTON BODYGUARD is my third. There are actually six stories that revolve around this branch of the Colton family, each one written by a different author. The Colton's of Oklahoma was a collaborative effort by a group of talented, imaginative, and intelligent authors. Each author put their own personal spin and style into the story they told. Prepared to be amazed.

THE COLTON BODYGUARD by Carla Cassidy wraps up the mystery behind the Oklahoman Colton's. The series centers on one of the best dysfunctional families I've ever had the fortune to read. THE COLTON BODYGUARD will have you gasping one moment and laughing the next. Problem with writing a review for a romantic suspense story, much less part of a larger series, is giving away too much plot. There's a lot of really good stuff in all the books so once again I will strive for vagueness.

By now we've all discovered that Greta Colton had been acquired by Big Jim Colton in a rather dubious fashion and that she has a twin. Yes, the evil twin -- I told you this series has it all. It begs the question between nature and nurture. Greta has grown into a lovely young woman with a large, loving, albeit at times definitely edging on dysfunctional, family. Her evil twin, not so. After many mishaps, accidents, acts of vandalism and finally murder, the Colton family is on guard. At first Greta was a suspect. Her DNA put her at the scene of several events.

Greta is the intended target of all the rage. Revenge is a dangerous thing and the evil twin has her sights set after losing out all these years.

Tyler Stanton, who by the way is the brother of Greta's ex fiancé, puts himself in the position of her protector. First by providing an alibi -- albeit a lie -- but her out of jail card. Now out of jail, Greta is a very accessible target so Tyler has his work cut out for him. His motives could be considered questionable but that doesn't stop Greta from realizing that her feelings for her fiancé had cooled off long ago and had never been as strong as her attraction to Tyler.

The evil twin is obviously not operating on all cylinders and yet keeps ahead of the law at every step. The danger level is growing and time is not on their side.

I loved this series and enjoyed first trying to sleuth out who the culprit was, and then once she was exposed, the ultimate challenge to stop her in her tracks. Carla Cassidy was true to the underlying story that had developed so beautifully in the previous books. Cassidy did not take the easy way out. No B-Movie random acts that have you sighing in regret. Great ending for a wonderful series. If you are looking for a romantic suspense series with all the right stuff, The Colton's of Oklahoma fits the bill. THE COLTON BODYGUARD by Carla Cassidy, with grace and talent, brings it to a noteworthy conclusion.