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.

Jake is the hero and protector! This book was nothing less than amazing. I love all Jodi's books!

I loved the "This Man" series, enjoyed the "One Night" series, but I'm sorry to say I found this book a bit boring. I was hoping for so much, but was left feeling g a bit deflated. The characters themselves were quite likeable but never really seemed to capture my attention, and I actually found my attention wandering whilst I was reading. The story was good but a bit "ploddy" and it was all so...nicely done, it didn't really make me excited to read on. All in all a bit of a disappointment.

4.75 stars!

I started reading this book on the treadmill while at the gym last night. I don't know if it was the friction from my thighs, work out pants, underwear, or all of the above, but I started chafing at about 22 minutes in and I just slowed my speed and kept reading. Even when it was starting to get really painful I kept on reading. I was on that treadmill for over an hour after that.

I was able to finish the book today and I've got to say it's my favorite of Jodi Ellen Malpas's so far. The Protector is hot, angsty, and packed with suspense. Jake and Camille have this really intense chemistry. I mean it's insta-attraction, insta-lust, but I love how it just built and built. I kept waiting (and wanting) them to snap and do something about it even if I knew they shouldn't.

Jake Sharp was such an enigma through out the entire book. He really took his role as a body guard to heart and was the best. I kept trying to figure out what had happened in the past and I was never really able to figure out what had caused him so much heartbreak. It was clear he was hot stuff, and I loved how singular he was in his affection and even though sometimes he seemed overbearing, he meant well.

Camille is also a surprise, but not because she's keeping her past hidden, but because of how strong she is. She might have to deal with her imposing father and his demands and requests, but she knows her own mind and is willing to do things on her own. She's nothing like the image seen and projected to the world in the glossies.

For the most part, this book is flawless. It's told from a dual point of view that makes for some amazing reading. I do feel like a lot of information and action was saved for the end. Some of it fit, and some of it felt a little rushed and packed in. I really would love to read more about Camille and Jake at a later point in their lives to see how they're handling everything and just to visit with them.

And I'm REALLY excited to see what Jodi writes next!

This book was a slow build for me but overall the main characters kept me interested with the heat between them palpable and honest.  There is something about two people who don't completely match what is expected of them.  I also enjoyed that there isn't a single moment that brings them together but is more a series of things that force them outside the boundaries they attempt to set on themselves.

Camile was a fun character as she doesn't back down easily but isn't completely stupid when it comes to her own safety.  She does some stupid stuff at first but I can completely understand this as she's fighting back at the restrictions from her father without the full picture of the threat.  She's very independent while still remaining close to family and her true friends.  I loved seeing her make decisions based on loyalty vs money which is unexpected given her family ties.  She's also very drawn to our hero even as she tries to ignore it.  As she gets to know him she realizes that he is hiding a lot of secrets which she's willing to wait to uncover but...  She won't wait forever for him to fully let her in.  Cami made me happy as she fought for what she wanted and wasn't willing to accept anything less than all of him.

Jake was a mess... understandable as you get to uncover the secrets he hides from everyone...  but a mess all the same.  He's hired to protect a woman that he believes will be a insufferable princess but when he meets her there is something that draws him to her.  He's drawn to her in a way that he fights against but as we all know this can't stay unrequited for long.  He's going to break and when he does it was so hot.  There are quite a few scenes where we see the build-up but those scenes were fun to read and react to.  Cami tortures him as much as she can but he gets his own version of torture in against her.  This sexy play back and forth made me happy as it showed that both of them were feeling the same things which led to some great tension.  I adored the end of the book and while I did have issues staying with it at the beginning but I'm glad I stuck with it.

You'll enjoy the tension while still trying to figure out what the exact threat is and when it comes out you will want to KILL someone.  They are a piece of work who deserves more than what they got but hey .... what they got was bad enough.

I hate to say this because it's Jodi Ellen Malpas, but The Protector was a DNF for me. I just couldn't get into it. I can't even begin to tell you how many times I started and stopped this book. This last round I even skimmed it.

There were just no sparks between me and the protagonists. Nada. Zip. Zilch.

Not finding the magic sucks big time. Jake and Cami just didn't do it for me. And I really, really wanted to love Jake. Who wouldn't want to fall head over heels with a brooding, sniper who turns bodyguard?! Not to mention, JEM writes some of the best alpha males.

Absolutely gutted not to have even finished this one.

Sorry, The Protector just wasn't my cuppa I guess. Until next time...

A new Jodi Ellen Malpas’ book is always pretty exciting news for me. I’ve read the blurb of The Protector and was absolutely sold about it and couldn’t wait to get my hands on it.
I remember my love / hate relationship about Jesse, the Lord of the Manor from This Man . Infuriating OTT alpha but oddly charming in his caveman ways.

The Protector promised all kind of go to elements for me : The tortured hero, the forbidden love element, the feisty, spoiled, rich and misunderstood heroine… I was truly eager to meet Jake and Camille. Alright, especially Jake, I mean, JEM does write good alphas, right?

But I’ll be straight and honest about my experience reading The Protector. I had difficulties connecting with the characters fairly early in the book and began to tick at some description’s choices from the author. And if you know me a little as a reader, if I start to nitpick about things like this, it means nothing better holds my attention.
"Her pert breasts are tipped with solid nipples."
"Then I feel her hardened nipples pressing into my chest through my suit."

I’m all for physical reactions demonstrating arousal in erotica and romance books, and yes sometimes they’re exaggerated to the point of ridiculousness, but in this case, I just couldn’t get over the fact that the heroine must have hard steel nipples. No, titanium nipples. No… Bionic nipples.
But okay, moving on…
Well, I was trying to get over it, really, but a little later…
"Oh God, his cock is solid and pushing into my thigh and my nipples are buzzing, probably injecting his chest with electric shocks."
Super Jaimie? Is that you?

Yes I’m nitpicking, but I did read past that, trying to focus on the character that interested me… Jake.
But I’m sad to report that there wasn’t much to him but a facade.
He’s presented as this tough and professional guy. Former SAS sniper reconverted as a bodyguard, he’s supposed to be the best of the best in his profession but kept acting like he had no clue what he was doing.

His actions didn’t match his reputation at all, all talk no substance kind of hero. For instance this little scene where he loses his shit against the heroine’s step-brother… He didn’t know who he was but supposedly previously ran a background check on the heroine’s entourage… Huh. Awkward, but the author needed a little tension there, or just needed to show us Jake was tough and good at "protecting" his client…

Several inconsistencies regarding the threats against the heroine, Jake’s inability to focus on his job because his dick was getting the upper hand… It just became ridiculous to me and I couldn’t care less about the main plot or the romance.

I didn’t mind the insta-love aspect. It was to be expected, but their relationship just felt forced.
I truly didn’t care about whatever was happening between them, I didn’t care about the so called threats against the heroine, I couldn’t give any credit to Jake as a respectable bodyguard…

The whole book was quite boring for me, I’m afraid to say.
It does sound harsh saying this but that was my experience reading The Protector.
I have no doubts I’ll be in the minority with my feelings and encourage you to read the book and see for yourself if Jake is as good as Jesse.
In the mean time I’ll be revisiting The Lord of the Manor soon…

I absolutely loved this new standalone from J.E.M. In true JEM fashion she gives us yet another man we can't get enough of, Jake. Hes hot, broody and lives up to his title of the Protector. I also loved the route she went and did a standalone. This one had the perfect mix of steam, a little angst, some mystery and a whole lot of Jake lovin! I loved everything about this book and can't wait for her next book!

My favorite book by this author! I love this story so much.

I have really enjoyed everything that I have read from Jodi Ellen Malpas, but her new book The Protector was one that instantly appealed to me. There is nothing sexier than a man protecting his woman, especially if he is her bodyguard. As always, the writing was fantastic and I was captivated right away with Jake and Cami's story.

When Cami's life is threatened due to her father's business, she finds herself with Jake as a bodyguard. Cami doesn't see the need for a bodyguard and continues to live her life as though nothing has changed, while Jake takes his job very seriously and is determined to keep Cami safe. Soon things between them begin to heat up and things get more personal than professional as they find themselves unable to fight the growing attraction they feel towards one another.

I really liked both Jake and Cami. The chemistry and sexual tension between them was off the charts! I was so interested to see them as things were building, and I couldn't get enough. I just kept waiting for the spark to finally ignite, as I knew things were bound to explode once it did. Cami was independent and strong, and different than you would first expect. She was an easy heroine to relate to, even though I never would have expected that considering who she was. Jake was sexy and alpha, but there was so much more to him as well. With his past, he had a vulnerability to him that he tried not to show or acknowledge, but I thought that Cami was exactly what he needed to help him move forward. These two fit really well together, and I thought that they balanced each other out in ways that each of them needed.

I will say that there were times that things got a bit slow and seemed to drag a little, but things definitely picked up in the second half of the book. While things were a bit slow at times, I never lost interest though as I really liked these characters and where the story was headed. The tension was great, there was enough suspense to keep you turning pages, and there was a great amount of steam. I will say that the ending was a bit rushed, with the resolution to everything being a bit too easy. But ultimately I enjoyed the story and would recommend. If you are a fan of Jodi's already, this is one that you will want to check out. If you are new to her books, this is a great place to start and I highly recommend going back and reading her previous books as well as I have loved everything I have read from her.

THE PROTECTOR is an exciting story filled with suspense, forbidden love, a tortured hero and a feisty heroine. Jack is a complex man. He is a dark and dangerous, alpha male tormented from the war and suffering from PTSD and having a difficult time coping with life.

Jack takes a job as Camille Logan’s bodyguard against his better judgement. He has no interest in spending time protecting a rich, spoiled brat, but he needs to get out of his head. So he agrees to take the job because he knows working is better than drinking too much and hooking up with anonymous women.

Camille is the youngest daughter of a businessman who has achieved his success by any means possible and he has few morals and many enemies. Jack has a preconceived opinion about Camille before he meets her and is surprised to find a completely different woman from what he anticipated. Jack admires Camille and is also attracted to her. Camille is opinionated and headstrong and not afraid to tell Jack what is on her mind. Jack has to keep reminding himself to concentrate on his job, not Camille but he finds it hard to resist her.

I really enjoyed this fast-paced, intriguing romance, it kept me on the edge of my seat as I tried to figure out who was trying to hurt Camille. I enjoyed the first half of the book the most. The first half kept me riveted, but I didn’t think the second half of the book was as enthralling and it was a little too predicable. Jack and Camille are likeable characters and they have a lot of chemistry zinging between them. They both hide who they really are behind a protective shield. Jack falls for Camille as he struggles to figure out who is out to hurt her. He is constantly on guard as he tries to uncover secrets and understand why people want to keep him away from Camille. If you like protective, alpha males and spunky heroines along with romance and suspense, you will enjoy this one.