This wasn’t bad. Camille was kind of annoying. Jake was pretty damaged. But it was sweet when they fell for each other. The movie should be good. ( )

Jake Sharp and Camille Logan - I read this book about 18 months ago when I first moved into romance novels as a COVID hobby. I have to give this top marks for being memorable - which is something I can't say about 75% of the many romance novels I've read since. Didn't think much of the story, but the drama between Jake and Camille transcends that. ( )

If you’re like me and you’re a sucker for a British accent, smut, and bodyguard romances, you will LOVE this one.⁣ ( )

ARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Jake Sharp is barely making it through each day, dependent on alcohol, women, and his career in security to keep his mind distracted from replaying his life's mistakes on repeat. Providing security to pretty, rich girl Camille Logan doesn't sound like it'll provide the focus he needs, but in desperation he accepts the job. He doesn't expect to find an independent woman in her place, nor does he expect to find himself wanting to protect her from the unknown threat he knows exists. He doesn't have room to let someone in, but Camille makes him want to clear his past and find a spot for her.
Camille Logan is doing all she can to separate herself from her past and her family's name, but when she's threatened due to her father's actions she accepts his protection. She doesn't expect round the clock security from an ex-SAS, especially that of the handsome, brooding Jake Sharp. Their personalities don't mix, Camille doesn't want him following her around, but they're drawn to one another and as the threats increase they find that their connection run far deeper than just the job.

Because I need to know if any of her thoughts are matching mine. Thoughts that are wrong. Thoughts that I shouldn't be having.

A new, standalone novel from Jodi Ellen Malpas? YES! I couldn't resist picking this one up, without even reading the blurb, because it's by Jodi! Once I had it in my hands, and read the synopsis, I realized this book was perfect for me. I love a tortured hero and a strong heroine pairing and The Protector didn't let me down.

Strong. Dependable. My protector.

Told from the dual POV's of Jake Sharp and Camille Logan, The Protector is a suspenseful romance with two incredibly headstrong characters. At first meeting we see the alpha tendencies in Jake and we immediately recognize the independent streak that Camille possesses. These two are an unlikely pairing, especially with how the plot is set up. I immediately bought into the suspenseful mystery rather than their slow-burning romance, but as the mystery grows, so too does the chemistry. I love both character's personality and the dialogue that takes place between them; it's a constant push and pull of who's in charge, making for some great entertainment. I enjoyed that there was no insta-love, just recognition of attraction, but they both push one another away so much that when they finally come together it is a surprise for them as well. Jake's story is deep though, filled with twists and turns that lead him down a destructive past. I really enjoyed how long it took to finally break into his past and explain why he'd become so closed off. It definitely is focused on more than Camille's background story, but I think it ends up working out very well for the overall plot. I was most impressed with how freestanding each plot was, the mystery a separate entity from their romance, though the mystery is what brought them together. I found myself questioning everything that happened outside of their happy bubble and it made me that much more desperate to get to the end.

The small light I've found in my blackness is fading by the second.

Like many romantic suspense novels, there are some cliches and exaggerations in The Protector that stood out to me, especially with Jake. As an alpha he goes through some major changes in a short period of time, that worked perfectly in the story, but were unbelievable in terms of reality. I felt like Camille put on rose-colored glasses when it came to Jake, and though I adore him and want more of him, I think their relationship could have been fleshed out over a longer period of time in order to be more believable.

The light I catch in her eyes floors me. So bright and hopeful. I'm the reason for that, and it's both deeply gratifying and equally guilt inducing. She doesn't even really know me. But she will.

Jake Sharp and Camille Logan are the kind of characters that will take over your mind once you open The Protector, both are strong in their own right, but absolutely commanding together. With angst, mystery, romance, and intimate moments filled with hot smut, this book is filled to them brim with all the things that make a good book. If you like your romance mixed with suspense, then this lengthy read, featuring a broken hero, is definitely for you.

I'm desperate to see him, desperate to fling myself in his arms and disappear into an oblivion of Jake. Nothing but Jake. ( )

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

To the outside world, Cami has lived a charmed life with a multi-millionaire father providing for her every whim.
Jake lost his parents very young in a terrorist attack and grew up to become a SAS sniper.
They both have their fair share of demons and are still fighting them but once they're forced together, they just might make it home.

This isn't just about her needing me. This is more me needing her. Young, strong-minded, determined and brave.
I'm mad for her. I need to keep her. I need to protect her.

The Protector is a stand-alone novel with the classic pairing of spoiled rich girl and rough, hard-hearted alpha man, except Cami is trying to escape an abusive ex and move on from a drug and alcohol fueled past and Jake is battling guilt, panic attacks, and his attraction for his client. I liked how the story started off from Jake's point of view; it gave it a fresh grittier spin. The first person povs between Cami and Jake eventually switch back and forth equally, this isn't usually my favorite format because of the stop and go jerk this can cause but the flow between povs and scenes was spot-on, so I didn't mind it.

The attraction between Cami and Jake is immediate and I liked how their sexual tension manifested itself into sassy dialogue between the two. However, I did think the tone crossed over into insta-lust, instead of just attraction, one too many times and we had our hero losing focus, in possibly dangerous situations, because of a throbbing in his pants. The middle part and around the 60% mark kind of dragged for me as thoughts of banging each other took over everything. Jake was hired as bodyguard for Cami because of threats against her, the life and danger and sexual aspects didn't quite gel together harmoniously.

Most of the action is saved for the latter half of the book and for a storyline that is the whole purpose of Jake and Cami even being together, it ended up feeling extremely rushed and cobbled together; comes up and is dealt with fairly quickly. There were a couple inconsistencies with Jake being able to track Cami through GPS but her uber rich father, who is said to be very controlling, isn't able to? Little niggles like this along with the danger to Cami ignored at times and secondary characters feeling a bit shallow, gave a lack of solidity to the action part of the story.

Really though, the action is usually only meant to be a side course in stories like this and our main dish of Cami and Jake's relationship is enough to satisfy. Cami's past makes appearances but Jake's is what provides the most turmoil, with readers not learning the depth of his pain until more towards the end. This also has one of the most complete, if a bit sappy, endings in this serial and series crazy market that many will cherish. There are twists, turns, and revelations in this story that I don't want to spoil but if you're looking for a heated romance or just misplaced your copy of the movie The Bodyguard, you wouldn't go wrong picking this one up.
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