Chain Reaction by Tara Wyatt is the first book that I have read from this author and it surely won’t be my last after I got a taste of Wyatt’s suspenseful storytelling. Although Chain Reaction is part of the Bodyguard Series, it most definitely can be read as a standalone as the author did a great job introducing previous characters.

Alexa Fairfax is considered Hollywood royalty since she comes from a family of actors. The Fairfax name should be something that Alexa should be proud of but it was a burden that she carries. Alexa’s parents aren’t your typical parents as she never felt their love but only as their pawn in their Hollywood games. So when she overhears something about her father, Alexa is shocked and scared of what she has learned of the criminal activities that he has done. In need of protection, her friend, Zack De Luca volunteers.

Zack De Luca has always carried a torch for Alexa. He wants her but he never felt the need to cross the line that is until he finds himself protecting Alexa from danger. As Alexa and Zack spend more time together, she informs Zack that she has always loved him too. So what happens when danger threatens to tear them apart? Will Zack be able to protect Alexa in time? Or will Alexa find herself facing the consequences of turning her back on her dad?

Chain Reaction is a sexy, fast romance love story that was layered with action, friendship, trust, and passion. Wyatt did an amazing job integrating a bit of drama as she slowly showcased a passionate love story in the backdrops. So if you are looking for a sexy romantic tale with a protective bodyguard then this book might be for you.

I admit that I haven't read the previous books but you can read this as a stand-alone.

I really liked this book and it was one I couldn't put down..  

I highly recommend

Book 3 to Tara Wyatt’s Bodyguard series features the story of a Hollywood royalty in need of protection from her own family.

There are a lot of things Alexa didn’t know about the name Fairfax. The legacy of her name, while synonymous to glitz, influence, glamor and riches, hides a dark history borne out of greed; a dark history stained with blood and a trail of dead bodies who were stupid enough to get in the way.

When she inadvertently overheard about the murders that her father has ordered and orchestrated, fear and shock had her running out of the house and into the protection of one Zack de Luca; a Mixed Martial Arts fighter who moonlights as a bodyguard for Virtus.

Alexa hasn’t had the best relationship with her parents, to begin with. She has a disturbing past that she’s been trying to escape. The horror of what she’s been subjected to growing up cannot truly encapsulate the kind of monsters her parents are. They only know her as a timid character who is easily manipulated and can be used as a barter in exchange for acclimation, award, prestige, and sometimes, even movie roles. Did I mention how monstrous they are?

There are some truths to her parents’ life-long assessment of their daughter’s timidity, though. Frankly, there’s not much to her besides being a Hollywood princess who spends her time volunteering at a children’s hospital. There’s not a lot of depth that I can glean from her personality and character. The same goes for Zack. I feel like he tried to be an alpha male character at times but consistently failed. I just can’t get behind this pairing, to be honest. Their chemistry feels numbingly forced. And I swear I wanted to scream every time he mentions how “sweet” Alexa was. Like, dude. I got it the first 5 times you mentioned it.

Her family is evil. I can’t believe father dear was willing to use her as an incentive for one of his henchman. That’s messed up, man. And Alexa’s reaction to this news? Horrifically nonchalant. Perhaps it’s because she’s been through it many times and that she’s used to it but either way, it was sad how lacking her reaction was.

Despite my deceivingly adverse reaction, I think this series is worth further looking into. I mean, sure we got off on the wrong foot but I’m not necessarily a one-and-done kind of reader, so yeah. I’m especially curious to see the relationships between the other characters mentioned. Overall, expect to see more about this series on the blog.

Alexa grew up Hollywood elite. Her parents are both actors and her dad owns/runs a movie production company with lots of power. She was raised to be the perfect child, doing exactly what her parents told her to until recently. She has moved out of her parent’s home and is happy to be out of the limelight. Alexa is working on figuring out who she wants to be on her own when she over hears a conversation between her father and his right hand man she was never meant to hear, and everything changes. 

Zack de Luca is a bodyguard with Virtus Security and an up and coming MMA fighter. Zack sees Alexa arrive at a mutual friend’s party and notices she is pale and shaky. They slip out to the gardens and she tells him what she heard. Naturally, Zach, who has had a thing for her for a year, jumps into protective mode. He goes undercover as her bodyguard, pretending to be her boyfriend. 

Her parents are truly despicable human beings. Despite growing up as she did, Alexa managed to turn herself into a kind, caring human being. Zach’s family is a tight knit, caring group and envelops her quickly and easily into their fold. 

While this is a romantic suspense, it is more romance than suspense. Zack and Alexa have great chemistry and heat. I liked watching these two figure out how to be together and get what they each wanted/needed from the other. However, him calling her “so damn sweet” over and over got old quick.

Loved the reference to “the Costner effect”!

This is the third book in the series but my first. While I am curious about the two previous books, the author did a pretty good job of filling in the blanks enough that you can read this as a standalone. I look forward to the next one.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by NetGalley.

Alexa Fairfax was born into Hollywood royalty. But instead of continuing the tradition, she's happier outside of the limelight. Unfortunately, she's never quite been able to break the bonds that tie her to her famous family. Until one evening Alexa becomes a witness to a plot that could leave more than one person dead. Of course Alexa needs help and protection and who better to provide that than Virtus Security. 

Zach De Luca has been training hard to become an MMA fighter. He doesn't plan to be a bodyguard for Vitrus forever, and with an important fight coming up, he can't let anything break his concentration. That is, until Alexa comes to him for help. Zach has been attracted to Alexa from the moment he saw her nearly a year ago. Despite dating (and then dumping) one of her best friends first, he always believed she'd never go for a guy like him. 

But when part of her protection means Zach has to pose as her boyfriend, they're both put in a situation where they can no longer deny their feelings for one another. And as the danger to Alexa intensifies, Zach begins to understand how far he'll go to protect her. 

I liked the spin on the "fake boyfriend" trope. I was kinda happy when that little detail got thrown in the picture, despite how trivial it ends up being because the attraction / chemistry / heat between Zach and Alexa is hot from pretty much page one. 

Chain Reaction ties up some open storythreads that have come over from information learned in the first two books. I'm hesitant to go into too much detail for those who haven't yet read the first two books, but I liked how it rounds out the overarching storyline. 

That being said, there are so many potential Vitrus men that I'd love to learn more about, and see them get their own romances, that I'm very interested to see where Tara Wyatt will, hopefully, take the series next. 

As it stands though, I found Chain Reaction to be on par with the previous two installments. Although I will go so far as to say the building up to Zach and Alexa's romance was hot and when we got down to it, very sexy indeed. 

The story leaned heavier on said romance, but I would have liked the suspense part of the story, where Alexa's life is potentially in danger, to be a bit more suspenseful though. 

Other than that, I enjoyed Chain Reaction. Tara Wyatt has become an author I can rely on to give me a good romance with a dash of suspense.

She needs a hero and her heart can’t hold out any longer, either. Alexa is beautiful in mind and body and now this young princess of Hollywood has discovered a horrible secret that could cost her her life. When she confides in her secret heartthrob and good friend, Zack De Luca, he becomes the undercover bodyguard she needs and the pretend boyfriend she wishes were real. Zack is more than a handsome man in a well-muscled body, he is a fighter, a man on a mission to protect the woman he has secretly loved for some time now, and this is his chance. How do you protect a person from their own family?

Fate works in strange ways, even deadly ways, but for Alexa and Zack, no matter what, they have each found a safe place to land and a place their hearts can call home.

Take a look at the darker side of stardom and celebrity. See how far a crazed monster will go to achieve fame, fortune and control, who he will use, who he will abuse, then watch that monster be brought to his knees when someone loves his daughter enough to protect her, no matter the cost.

Tara Wyatt’s CHAIN REACTION is a suspense-filled romance that is equal parts love story and a dark and brutal game of cat and mouse. The devotion these two hold for each other as friends and their insecurities as a romantic couple are endearing, but their chemistry behind closed doors? Once unleashed is raw, passionate and feels so right. Tara Wyatt has brought the perfect couple together!

I received an ARC edition from Forever in exchange for my honest review.

Series: Bodyguard - Book 3
Publisher: Forever (February 28, 2017)
Publication Date: February 28, 2017
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Page Count: 336
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

Alexa hears something that she's not meant to, and now her life's in danger. To protect her and keep her safe, Zack volunteers to be her bodyguard. And to not draw attention towards them, he pretends to be her boyfriend. The chemistry is there between them, though they are both fighting it, but bring in a relation, even pretend, makes resolves weak. 
This is my first book by Tara Wyatt, and it just blew me away. Though there is no real suspense since we know who's after Alexa right from the start, it still kept me hooked wanting to know what's going to happen next. Alexa is a strong heroine as she decides to help the police going against her own, and Zack was a perfect hero, strong, sexy and protective. 
Chain reaction is a fast paced, sensual and intense read and I would definitely like to read more in the series.

Romantic suspense is one of those tricky genres for me. I either find myself deeply involved in the storyline or completely bored with it. In the case of Chain Reaction, it was deeply involved.

Tara Wyatt's writing quickly pulled me into the story. It was fast-paced and moved the story along quickly. Nothing was too drawn out or boring. The story contained just the right amount of suspense, and was entertaining. I found myself easily connecting to the characters.

Alexa and Zach were so adorable! I loved how the author set up their back story. It turned what could have felt like insta-love into a believable romance. They way they tried to avoid a romantic relationship but couldn't was cute. And once they acted on their feelings for each other -- dang! The story took a super steamy turn. The last third of the book was over the top sexy times. I loved it!

The only slight issue I had with Chain Reaction was that it was written in third person dual points of view. This isn't my favorite style of narration, but it worked for the most part in this story. The only problem I had with it was at the beginning when Zack is introduced. His character is presented in the middle of a party and his name kind of got lost in the mix of other male characters to me. It took me a while to remember who he was. That could be related to the fact I hadn't read the previous two books in the series and had no idea who all of the other characters I was being quickly introduced to were. Had the story been told in first person, it might have been easier for me to navigate.

Overall, Chain Reaction was a great romantic suspense novel. It kept my attention the entire time, and had me invested in the characters' lives. I highly recommend it to readers who like a series with interconnected characters.

enjoyed this book

Chain Reaction was a fast paced and entertaining read. When I first picked up this book, I honestly didn't know what to expect. This is the first book in this series and by this author that I've read, and I have to tell you, this book totally took me by surprise. I was intrigued from the moment I picked this story up. Chain Reaction is filled with danger, suspense and loads of sexy good times. 

I thought Zack and Alexa were a great match from the very beginning. I thought they worked well together as a team and I really enjoyed how their relationship just flowed without all of the unnecessary relationship drama. I really liked how fiercely protective Zack was of Alexa and appreciated the lengths he would go to to keep her safe. And of course, you know I loved the chemistry between the two of them. It was straight up explosive and kept me coming back for more.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It hit all the marks for me. This is my first book by this author and you can bet that it won't be my last.