What I like so much about Romantic Suspense sub-genre is the blend of heart-pounding action and steamy romance (sometimes with a little mystery written into it) and when written well, provides a bum-clenching, fuck-the-world kind of escape that almost nothing comes close to. ‘Protected’ is one of those reads, reeling me in from the start with unresolved tension that’s almost immediately followed by an explosion that throws the life Kelsey McClane has been rebuilding back into chaos.

There’s a huge backstory to go into once the dust settles but I’ve found it an engaging read that was hard to put down, with several turns that were surprising but needed a little more suspension of disbelief. ‘Protected’ is nonetheless a good standalone, with minimal links to the rest of the series.

Elisabeth Naughton did write Kelsey and Hunter mostly as sympathetic characters: I understood Kelsey’s insecurities, empathised with the emotional abuse and the past she had and her reasons for drawing back from Hunter when she distrusted her own judgement. Warming up to Hunter took a little more time for me—the apparent two-timing act early on didn’t quite endear me to him—but seeing him stepping into his role as protector later on, strapping in despite his own reservations did make him and Kelsey a pairing that I thought I could get behind. There were waffling moments between them however, flawed as they were, and the HFN ending when the wounds have barely healed might seem somewhat unsatisfactory.

That said, ‘Protected’ was a thoroughly absorbing afternoon diversion, and didn’t get any better than the straight-up romantic suspense read.

The story starts off with a bang...then slows down just a touch...then picks right back up and keeps you turning the pages with action, suspense, and romance. A fantastic story that you can't put down.

Hunt is on amazing man. Kelsey is one strong woman. Loved the twists in this story. What an amazing way to finally find what you never knew you were looking for. Could not wait to see where the story would take Hunt and Kelsey. They have an amazing connection. Can’t wait to read more from this amazing author.

I am a fan of this author and the series. This is book 3 and it is a standalone. This is the story of Kelsey and Hunter. The story starts with a "bang" and keeps moving a high clip. Kelsey is starting over, back home, after a bad marriage. Because of recent threats her family ask Hunter, a family friend and security expert, to protect her. Both of them had feelings for each other in the past and the circumstance that they are now facing brings those attractions to the surface ( a very hot surface!!!) What I liked about Kelsey is that she was not going to be pushed aside, she was going to be Hunter's partner in discovering truth; Hunter is a very sweet man who wants to do his best and wants to protect Kelsey at all costs. This story had everything, suspens, romance, sex, and a dog! What more could you ask for?

This book is amazing. I am down with the flu and was just going to read a couple of chapters waiting for my meds to kick in but lo and behold a couple hours later, I had finished the entire book. I could not put it down. It has the perfect balance of mystery and suspense with a great romantic entanglement thrown in. The plot of this story is unique and fascinating and definitely grabs your interest from the very first page and the characters are well-written, complex and easy to relate to. It is easy to connect with Kelsey from the start and you cannot help but love Hunt. I really enjoyed their dialogue and interaction and the fact that the author keeps you guessing about the bad guy till the end.

You cannot help but root for Kelsey and praise her for her strength and determination to push forward after everything she endures between her horrible ex and the bad guy. She suffers through so much physically, mentally and emotionally yet has the fortitude to recognize her struggles for what they are and work towards making herself whole again.

For Hunter, again it is hard not to love him once you get to know more about him. He is kind of mysterious in the beginning but as the story develops you get to learn more about his background and that makes it easier to understand his thoughts and actions throughout the book. Once he truly comes to terms with what he really wants and understanding why he says and does things in relation to his past he becomes a wonderfully strong character to help Kelsey stay grounded.

I love the connection and chemistry between Kelsey and Hunter. You can feel it swarming around them from the beginning, starting off at a slow burn until it ignites amongst the chaos they have to deal with. You can actually feel the emotions rolling off them as you read and the author does a great job of holding your interest in their relationship and keeping the connection fresh throughout the story. And there is a lot of activity in this book that could easily engulf or drown out the romance but it is nicely balanced with the plot of the story so one does not overshadow the other.

If you are looking for a good book that contains flowing drama, suspense, action and romance then this is the book for you. Though it is part of a series, it can easily be read as a standalone. I received an advanced copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

Omg Amazing. Just when you think you know who the bad guy is it changes. So amazing I can't praise this book enough. So many twists and turns