• 5 November 2019
• standalone
• small-town-rom-com-suspense
(slightly connected to #TheProtector)
• small-town-rom-com-suspense
(slightly connected to #TheProtector)
★★★★★
5 Stars
5 Stars
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the This Man series comes a sexy and emotional follow up to her wildly popular standalone romance The Protector.
UK Blurb:
Giving into desire could destroy them, but denying their passion is impossible...
Hannah Bright has finally found a place to hide from her past, in the quiet town of Hampton. But the peace she needs is disrupted when she meets Ryan Willis. Insanely handsome and highly dangerous, Ryan is exactly the kind of man Hannah needs to avoid...
Reconsidering his career in private protection, Ryan is home to figure out his next move. Meeting Hannah is definitely not part of his plan, yet their attraction is undeniable and Ryan can't resist her. But Hannah has a dangerous secret, and Ryan won't stop until he finds out what she's hiding. Nothing prepares him for what he discovers.
Can Ryan keep Hannah safe? Or will her past destroy any chance they have for a future together...
US Blurb:
Ryan Willis has spent years in the protection business, a job that requires constant vigilance and quick thinking. His only chance to truly relax is at his secluded cabin in a small town where there are never any surprises. So when Ryan returns after an assignment and encounters a beautiful stranger, he isn't only surprised, he's also instantly intrigued.
Hannah Bright is a breath of fresh air, and Ryan is soon completely consumed, unable to stop from falling for her. As the two grow closer, his instinct tells him something is amiss. Yet nothing could prepare him for what he discovers when he starts digging into her past.
Hannah spends her days painting, running her arts and crafts store...and hiding too many secrets. It's why she won't let the ruggedly handsome bodyguard get too close. But their chemistry is undeniable, and Hannah quickly finds herself caught up in a whirlwind romance with Ryan. He is peace personified, a balm to her battered soul. Yet the gorgeous, captivating man who has swept Hannah off her feet doesn't even know who she really is. And the moment he finds out, both their lives are at risk.
UK Blurb:
Giving into desire could destroy them, but denying their passion is impossible...
Hannah Bright has finally found a place to hide from her past, in the quiet town of Hampton. But the peace she needs is disrupted when she meets Ryan Willis. Insanely handsome and highly dangerous, Ryan is exactly the kind of man Hannah needs to avoid...
Reconsidering his career in private protection, Ryan is home to figure out his next move. Meeting Hannah is definitely not part of his plan, yet their attraction is undeniable and Ryan can't resist her. But Hannah has a dangerous secret, and Ryan won't stop until he finds out what she's hiding. Nothing prepares him for what he discovers.
Can Ryan keep Hannah safe? Or will her past destroy any chance they have for a future together...
US Blurb:
Ryan Willis has spent years in the protection business, a job that requires constant vigilance and quick thinking. His only chance to truly relax is at his secluded cabin in a small town where there are never any surprises. So when Ryan returns after an assignment and encounters a beautiful stranger, he isn't only surprised, he's also instantly intrigued.
Hannah Bright is a breath of fresh air, and Ryan is soon completely consumed, unable to stop from falling for her. As the two grow closer, his instinct tells him something is amiss. Yet nothing could prepare him for what he discovers when he starts digging into her past.
Hannah spends her days painting, running her arts and crafts store...and hiding too many secrets. It's why she won't let the ruggedly handsome bodyguard get too close. But their chemistry is undeniable, and Hannah quickly finds herself caught up in a whirlwind romance with Ryan. He is peace personified, a balm to her battered soul. Yet the gorgeous, captivating man who has swept Hannah off her feet doesn't even know who she really is. And the moment he finds out, both their lives are at risk.
Hannah recently moved to this quaint little English village to open her art gallery slash arts and crafts store. No one knows where she came from - or what and who she is running from.
Ryan was born and raised here and now he is back in town. He's been working for his country and then in private security for twenty years - time to retire in his beloved little house.
Hannah and Ryan. Insta attraction.
But Hannah can't start something with Ryan - who knows how long she will be able to stay!? Right?!
Plus danger is following her ... but Ryan might be the best person to be by her side once it catches her!
Ryan was born and raised here and now he is back in town. He's been working for his country and then in private security for twenty years - time to retire in his beloved little house.
Hannah and Ryan. Insta attraction.
But Hannah can't start something with Ryan - who knows how long she will be able to stay!? Right?!
Plus danger is following her ... but Ryan might be the best person to be by her side once it catches her!
WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH HANNAH & RYAN?
WILL WE GET A HAPPILY EVER AFTER?
READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT ☺
Beautiful Romantic Suspense!
I adored this book. I was expecting some kind of typical romantic suspense thingy, but it was so much more. Such a cute little small town romance with so many adorable and funny moments!
But it was also still this mysterious and exciting romantic suspense story!
I loved it!
I loved Ryan and how he loves his house and his outdoor shower! LOL!
He's seen a lot of bad stuff in his job and he's just so happy to be home - everything/one he loves is in this town - even if some of it is very complicated and annoying!
And Hannah ... she is just adorable! She's so fun and fresh and full of color and life! Even after everything she went through - which we don't know much about yet of course!
I loved that we got to see Cami and Jake again!
I so wouldn't mind if this book would show up on my TV one day! ☺
WILL WE GET A HAPPILY EVER AFTER?
READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT ☺
Beautiful Romantic Suspense!
I adored this book. I was expecting some kind of typical romantic suspense thingy, but it was so much more. Such a cute little small town romance with so many adorable and funny moments!
But it was also still this mysterious and exciting romantic suspense story!
I loved it!
I loved Ryan and how he loves his house and his outdoor shower! LOL!
He's seen a lot of bad stuff in his job and he's just so happy to be home - everything/one he loves is in this town - even if some of it is very complicated and annoying!
And Hannah ... she is just adorable! She's so fun and fresh and full of color and life! Even after everything she went through - which we don't know much about yet of course!
I loved that we got to see Cami and Jake again!
I so wouldn't mind if this book would show up on my TV one day! ☺
It's been a while since I read a JEM story. And I loved getting back into her worlds with Leave Me Breathless.
I jumped into this one completely blind - didn't even realise it was kind of connected to The Protector until I saw Jake and Cami's name written.
And I ended up completely and utterly adoring this story.
I was expecting a romantic suspense kind of story. And whilst we did have some suspensey and unknowns happening, it wasn't the main deal with our lovelies Ryan and Hannah.
Ryan is all kinds of 😍😍😍 I couldn't help but love him. As much as he comes across as the grouch, he so isn't really that man. As he learns (along with us) about Hannah and her past, he crosses over to swoonworthy territory.
There is also a scene stealer that will take your heart and runaway with it.
I liked that there was no OTT angsy. Sure, our lovelies have their problems, however they deal with them like adults.
I wanted more.
• EXCERPT •
His
pace doesn’t falter, and he enters the store, leaving the door open behind him.
He grabs me with a gentle but possessive force, one hand on my nape, the other
on my hip. And he looks me straight in the eye, breathes deeply.
Then
he drops his mouth to mine and gives me the tenderest of kisses. No tongue. No
moans. No movement anywhere, except for his lips gently traveling across mine.
My useless hands remain by my sides. I forget my name, who I am. The world as I
know it ceases to exist, and it is so welcomed. So . . . unlike anything I’ve
ever experienced. It’s the smallest of gestures, yet it’s also colossal. Does
Ryan know that? Does he realize what he’s doing? He’s making no attempt to
deepen the kiss; his hands aren’t moving or exploring. He’s just dotting my
lips with his, over and over, lazily and softly. It’s dizzying. And despite his
apparent lack of desire to push it to the next level, there is passion pouring
from him, the air surrounding us electric.
My
mind blanks and I remain still in his hold, my eyes closed, my senses hijacked,
as I savor the light pressure moving across my mouth. I can only ever remember
my heart racing with fear and apprehension, yet since I’ve met Ryan it’s
pounded with life and anticipation. Every near kiss we’ve had. Every moment of
silence when we’re looking into each other’s eyes and the sexual tension
between us ramps up another level.
Every
time we’re in physical contact.
Every
reason to avoid him is suddenly negated by my hunger for him. And then he
breaks our kiss, breathing shallowly, as he keeps me in his hold. I stare at
him, lost for words, and he drops one final, lingering peck on the corner of my
mouth before he moves back. I quickly feel so very lost. His fingertip draws a
delicate line down the bridge of my nose, slowing when he passes over the small
bump. Then he turns on an inhale and leaves, pulling the door closed behind
him. And I stare forward at nothing for a long time. I’ve been kissed into a
trance. I move across my store to sit in the wicker chair in the corner, the
pads of my fingers resting on my lips as I stare at the door. I hear his truck
start. I hear it pull away. And then . . . silence.
He
just kissed me, and then he just left. Seriously, what the fucking hell?
He
said nothing.
But
everything I needed to hear.
And
now I’m left alone with just my screaming thoughts. Stay away from him. Run to
him. I know what I want to do, but should I? Can I? I stand up and start to
pace my shop, wringing my hands. I stop, feeling my lips, and then my nose. I look
at the door. I hear his words.
I
don’t ever want to scare you.
I’m
not scared of him, not like that. I’m scared because he leaves me completely
breathless.
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