Release Day Review ~ The Protector by Jodi Ellen Malpas

Book Description:

THE NEW NOVEL FROM THE #1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE THIS MAN TRILOGY AND ONE NIGHT TRILOGY!

People think they have Camille Logan nailed: daddy's girl; beautiful, spoiled young woman with her father's bank balance to fund her lifestyle. But Camille is determined to have a life free from his strings. Out on her own, she's made mistakes, including one that found her clawing her way back after a stint in rehab and plenty of bad press. Now, after fighting so hard to be independent and happy, she finds her life threatened as a result of her father's ruthless business dealings. Caught between resentment and fear, Camille prepares herself for the measures her father will take to protect her. But nothing could prepare her for the ex-SAS sniper who crashes into her life.

Jake Sharp resides in his own personal hell. He was distracted from duty once before, and the consequences were devastating--both personally and professionally. He vowed never to let that happen again. Accepting the job of bodyguard to Camille Logan isn't the kind of distraction from his demons he should take. Women and Jake don't mix well, yet protecting the heiress seems the lesser of two evils. But Jake soon discovers that she isn't the woman she's perceived to be. She's warm, compassionate, her presence settling, and his duty to protect her soon goes deeper than a well-paid job, no matter how hard he fights it. He needs absolution. He comes to need Camille. But he knows he can't have both.

Buy Links:

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1RBxRuX

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1qmSCAD

Our Review:

Reviewed by Donna ~ 3 stars

***ARC received for an honest review***

“I see you.”

Jodi Ellen Malpas delivers her first standalone read with The Protector. The synopsis had me hooked as visions of Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner in The Bodyguard came to mind, one of my favourite girlie movies. Who can resist a man that would put his life on the line at the drop of a hat with no regards for his own safety?

“I’ve never felt so absorbed by a woman that she makes me want to sacrifice my soul in her honour. I’ve never felt this. Never.”

As usual Jodi Ellen Malpas knows how to deliver an alpha, broken hero, a trait common amongst her other stories and Jake Sharp is no different. Jake has issues, deep rooted issues and it is these issues that keep him focused and incessant on working himself to the bone to keep his otherwise anguished mind occupied. Jake being Ex-SAS has seen and been a part of some awful and haunting situations but his mental anguish is not through his time in the SAS alone, his personal life has been plagued too. This man is extremely broken, yet extremely professional. His vices in life are alcohol and women, both of which he uses as a crux and a means of escape when he isn’t on duty. Both are interchangeable and a means to an end. No ties, no strings, no emotions. Jake is a closed book, a locked fortress of emotions and no-one has the key, not even Jake.

“You’ve taken everything manly in me and pulverised it.”

Camille Logan was the daughter of a multi-millionaire and had been brought up in wealth and social standing all her life. While most women in her situation would make the most of daddy’s deep pockets, Camille is the opposite. Camille wants to make it on her own, yes her dad has brought her image to the public eye but her modelling and her impending clothes line are all her own doing. She tries to keep her life away from her dad, she stands on her own two feet and doesn’t want her dad’s “protection.” Camille is headstrong, she knows what she wants and she strives to get it and for a “rich kid” she was actually likeable.

Camille’s dad has made a lot of enemies in his rise to the top, this man had no morals or scruples when it came to business. So when he gets a threat against his daughters life he takes it seriously, hence the employment of Jake as her bodyguard. He is the best of the best and Camille’s dad will take nothing less. Being a woman of independence this does not sit well with Camille and her relationship with Jake in the beginning is less than stellar. It is this time that is my favourite part of their relationship, the evading, the barbs and witty dialogue were hilarious at times and brought some light hearted humour to what was ultimately a romantic suspense.

“Next time I lose you, I’ll have a satellite signal sent to your lip-gloss.”

This book was an easy read, the suspense element had my grey matter whirring trying to decipher where the threat was coming from and Jodi Ellen Malpas managed to pull the wool over my eyes. While some twists I saw coming, others took me by surprise and it was this that keeps you on your toes wondering what else was going to happen to this couple on their crash course to hopefully a happy ending.

“I’m lost in a world of raw abandon with my strong protector, praying that I never find my way out.”

For me though, I am an emotional reader, I have to have character connection and while I connected to them as individuals, as a couple I found their connection lacking. While it wasn’t instalove, their love/hate relationship very quickly develops into that all-consuming love affair which just didn’t ring true. For a guy that had kept his emotions on lockdown for so long to suddenly be declaring forever love just seemed a bit iffy and with regards to Camille, for such a strong, independent woman I would have thought she would have done her homework first with regards to Jake. She had a good head on her shoulders and after seeing his volatility and being affected by it, I would have thought she would have guarded her own heart a bit better. While their love affair was great for them both I just didn’t connect, much to my disappointment.

“You calm me, regardless of the fact that you’ve actually made my life the most chaotic it’s ever been. You’ve found me, despite the fact I never wanted to be found.”

This was a page turner though, the suspense plot driving this story to a great conclusion. While I didn’t love it, I really enjoyed it.

“You’re the missing piece I wasn’t looking for, angel. And now I’m scared of being incomplete again. I’m so scared of being without you.”