Retired Navy SEAL, Clint Backwater, enjoys his solitary life as owner of the Ask Questions Later gun range. It’s the kind of place you find because you know a guy. So when Leila Ortiz, a petite woman with a “baby on board” sticker on the back of her car—and an 18-month-old boy in her arms—shows up at the range, panicked and desperate for a gun, he knows something is wrong. Having grown up in the … up in the foster system, Clint has seen what happens when you let yourself get too invested—things get messy, people leave. He made himself a promise to never get emotionally involved again, but the former SEAL in him feels the tug to help this woman and her child.
Leila’s ex-husband is being released from prison early on good behavior and she found out too late. He was supposed to serve five years, not two, and Leila is unprepared to protect herself and her son. She promised him they’d never run again—they’ve made a nice life for themselves and the last thing she wants to do is leave it all behind.
When Clint refuses to give Leila a gun without lessons, she agrees to return to the range to learn. At first, Leila won’t say why she’s so desperate for protection, but when the threats from her ex escalate, it becomes clear what she’s afraid of.
Clint is a loner. Always has been, always will be. So when Leila and her little son enter his life, it hits him—hard—that maybe being alone isn’t what he needs. Still, having his solitary life disrupted when he invites the little family into his home is a bit tougher to take than he thought. With Leila and her son in danger, though, he’ll do whatever it takes to keep them safe—even putting up with stray toys and changing a diaper or two.
But the biggest danger might be to his heart, when it starts to look like the safest thing for Leila and her baby might be to leave her problems—and her budding relationship with Clint—behind.
This novel contains sexual content, violence, profanity, and scenes with referenced substance abuse.
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This is the 1st in the SEAL Endgame series. I read them out of order, and must say that I enjoyed this one every bit as much as the other two (they are stand-alone novels). Leslie’s characters, while initialially presented as strong, determined, and yes, beautiful people, continue to grow/develop throughout the book. Clint, a retired SEAL, who owns a gun shop/range, has an extensive history of loss and carries a great deal of grief & guilt because of it. Keeping an isolated, minimalistic lifestyle ensures he never looses anyone else. Leila, a single mother, is trying to keep her 18-month old (Thomas) and herself safe from her abusive ex and his gang. The isolation and trust issues resulting from the abuse from her father & her ex keep her focused on her son and away from relationships.
Leila goes to purchase a gun from Clint, he is taken by her. Not simply her beauty and determination, but also by the fear and sadness in her eyes. When she returns, after he thought he scared her away, they realize there is a spark of chemistry. Clint steps in to protect Leila during an encounter with her ex, and before they realize, she and Tomas are staying with Clint (as her ex now has her address and Clint is more than willing/ able to protect them while she makes a new plan and gets better with the gun).
Clint & Leila grow closer, and emotional barriers come down, but as her ex closes in on Thomas and Leila panics, will Clint be able to protect them? Even if, will she still flee to Mexico with Thomas? Will Clint lose not only 2 more people, but his heart too? This is a fabulous, must read book by Leslie North.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Clint and Leila eyes meet and its like a livewire between them. She has one focus and that’s to protect her son from her ex-husband. He doesn’t know what to make of her request and just feels the overpowering urge that he needs to protect them both.
Will her fear and need for protection let him in so he can help her? Love and so much more brews between them but will it be enough when the real threat comes?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Clint is a former Seal and is now in the civilian world owning a gun shop and target range. Leila comes into his store with a baby and asks to buy a gun. Her violent ex has been paroled and she didn’t know until she saw him. He wants his property back. How dare she divorce him while he was in prison. He offers to teach her how to shoot, but she is skittish and leaves. She comes back the next day to take him up on his offer. After her the ex has vandalized her car, she can stay with him so she and her son are safe. He realizes how closed off and lonely he is after she has been in his house for a time. But, her ex and his gang are still a threat. What to do? Short but good!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book
This was another nice book to dive away infor a few hours. The female lead is portrayed as an independent, strong woman who cannot be defeated by the misery that comes her way. When she receives help from a former SEAL, she does not turn into a helpless woman, but she stands her ground. Above all, she does not want to lean on a man after all her bad experiences with men, so she almost misses out on her chance of happiness. Fortunately Clint is also a strong man who doesn’t just let her run away.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I’ve read a lot of books written by Leslie North; she has done a great job at writing another good book; she is one of my favorite authors. I can’t wait to read more of books her books.
The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
I loved the chemistry between the characters.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
This is book one in the SEALS Endgame series. Even though it’s part of a series it reads well as a standalone book. I enjoyed the story and the characters in this book.
Clint is a former Navy SEAL and owner of Ask Questions Later Firearms and Training. He meets Leila when she walks into his business looking to buy a gun. Her ex was released from prison early and she’s afraid of what he will do to her and her son.
Clint ends up teaching her how to use a gun and decides he wants to protect Leila and her son. Leila and Clint both have bad pasts that make them leery or love and not wanting to trust. Bit by bit they both start to have feeling for each other. Leila and Clint have to deal with their issues and deal with Leila’s ex before he harms one of them.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I am voluntarily writing this review for this book I received through Booksprouts arc
Clint owned a small gun shop and firing range in Nevada after he got out of Navy Seals. Clint lead a pretty singular life and was happy so it kept it that way. Leila meets Clint after walking into his gun shop to buy a gun. Leila panics and leaves the shop with her son after Clint asks her some questions. The next day she is back a Clint’s shop to get her information to purchase and carry her gun with her. Clint showed her how to shoot and gun safety. When they leave he sees her tire has been slashed now he sees why she wants a gun. Clint rides past Leila’s job and see her with her ex who just showed up. Clint asks her to move in with him until she could find a new place for her and Thomas. Clint told Leila that he would keep her and Thomas safe. Leila did not trust Clint to protect them she only knew him a short time. Leila left writing a note to Clint tell him she was leaving the country and going home to stay with her mother and grandmother. Will Leila’s ex find her before she leaves? Will Clint wound up with a broken heart.
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Leslie North wrote a fantastic story which drew me in, making me forget the world around me and did not let me go until I turned the last page. Danger, action, gorgeous man, beautiful woman and gorgeous little boy, what more do you need. Just perfect!! Loved it!! Bring on the next book in this awesome series. Happy reading!!
This is an intriguing and steamy romance that feels real and is easy to read. It is suspensful and steamy.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Leila was on the run with her son from her ex husband just released from jail. She went to Clint, an ex seal, to learn how to protect herself. Clint had a rough childhood in the foster system and never let anyone close to him. Good story with threats, intimidation, and hopefully love. Good read!
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
What a great start to the new series I just loved Leila and Clint’s book she is on the run from her ex with her son and she meet ex-military Clint when she goes into his gun range to buy a gun to protect herself. While training her how to use it these two get close so when her ex steps up his attempts to get them bach Clint offers to let them stay with him. I just loved the chemistry between these two a great read I cannot wait for more.
Guarding the Single Mother by Leslie North. This is Clint and Leila’s story. From the moment she step into his shop Clint know something was different about her. The instant attraction they both felt but the time wasn’t right. Leila was scared and needed to get away from her abusive ex now that he was out of jail. The only person she felt safe with was Clint. He told her that she and her son could come and stay with him. Which changed both of them. They were falling in love and Clint wasn’t sure what he was going to do when they left. I like how protective he was of both of them. His new family. I enjoyed how in the end Leila had to stand her ground against her crazy ex and decide whether or not to love again. Give Clint a chance to love her and her son. It was a good, heartwarming read for me.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Love that this story was a little different than others by Leslie. You have the ex-SEAL who happens to now own a gun range and a single mother looking for a gun and training at said gun range. The sparks fly but not without some suspense and a crazy ex-con ex-husband gang member. Both Leila and Clint have their pasts and own struggles to deal with but I love how Clint automatically took to Thomas and wanted to protect him and Leila. Leila got on my nerves sometimes with her indecisiveness but it worked out in the end.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is the first book in the SEAL Endgame series, it can be read as a standalone story. No cliffhangers. The storyline is fast-paced and well-written.
Leila and her young son, Thomas are on the run from her abusive ex husband, Mike. She goes to Clint’s gunshop to by a weapon to protect herself and her son, Clint is immediately attracted to the single mom and helps with her training and when Mike escalates his attempt to get her back, Clint steps up and offers them a place to stay. The chemistry between Leila and Clint is sizzling, can this duo get over the traumas in their past and manage to get rid of the treat from Mike to have a wonderful little family HEA?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I enjoyed reading this story .
Leila Ortiz comes to ASK QUESTIONS LATER FIREARMS AND TRAINING owned by Clint Blackwaters retired Navy Seal . She and her infant son are in danger from her ex husband who has just been released from prison . She wants to purchase and learn to use the gun . After the threats Clint decides Leila and her son need his protection . Soon feelings get involved and her ex husband comes calling . This story is full of suspense and action , great characters and romance . I recommend reading this story .
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Clint Blackwater appreciated his quiet time in the Nevada Desert. But sometimes, it did get lonely. He owned his own business, Ask Questions Later Firearms and Training, and though he would never be rich, he made enough to live on. Right now he was taking inventory of the stock in the cabinets while his friend talked on his cell phone.
Leila Ortiz pulled up to the gun store and nervously went inside, holding her baby. The prison system failed her and her gang member ex-husband would come after her and Tommy for her having the guts to divorce him. She asked the owner to show her a Glock, while he looked her over and she did the same to him. Years of abuse taught her to get a good description for the police in case of attack. She impatiently asked him if he was going to sell her a gun or not, and he responded he would not without a background check and proof of proper training. All his protective instincts came up and, having seen how frightened she was, he asked why she wanted it, and she went into a panic, grabbed Tommy, and quickly left.
The next day, he was surprised when she came back, asking for lessons. They filled out the paperwork and he faxed it for a background check. Then he asked a woman in the shop near his if she could watch Tommy while he gave Leila her first lesson. When they finished, someone had slashed one of her tires with a knife, but she wouldn’t let him call the police. When Clint finds out the truth, that Leila is being harassed by her violent ex, he offers her and Tommy his protection! The man who preferred isolation will find the chemistry between them is hard to resist! Will he be able to protect them and do something about her ex’s unwelcome attention? Will they find out that together, they make a pretty good team?
This was a great story with a well-paced story line and good character descriptions. Leila’s ex picked the wrong man to tangle with when he fired up Clint’s protective Navy SEAL instincts! Grab your copy and see what they have to face and how they handle it!
This is a very well written story by Leslie North. I always look forward to reading her books because of how good a writer she is. I love military men being a military brat and being married to a former military man. It has been my life, and I can say that Leslie north writes military men very well. I can also say the subtlety of some of her romantic scenes is refreshing. I like when she gets a bit more descriptive and allows the reader to feel like they are they female character. Clint in this book is a dream. I wish more men were more like him and less like Mike. I have been in situations like Leila, granted it was without a child so that gives her situation a different aura to it. Still the back and forth between Leila and Clint was understandable and it was just the sweetest to read about Clint and the way he was with Thomas. That is not always the case with men that have his background. I really like that Mike got what was coming to him and can only think of a couple of ways the book could have been better. Overall it was what I expected it to be, plus a little bit of a surprise at times. It was a wonderful book, and as per usual I look forward to reading more by this author who I recently was introduced to. Very Good, Highly recommend any of her writings, and I personally will be reading more soon
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
After the last few arc books I read, I was getting annoyed at the sexual component, but this book was pretty good! I enjoyed the setting and the conflict and the characters were well written and developed. I’m a mom to young children, so I’m generally very critical of the way children are portrayed, but I don’t have anything bad to say!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Great start to a new series. The author brings Leila and Clint together with sparks flying in this romantic suspense that captured and had me glued to the pages from start to finish. She is doing whatever is necessary to protect her son and he is determined to protect both of them. This story has all the feels , good and bad and is filled with tons of action,suspense and danger. It’s well written with detailed scenes,moves quickly and smoothly and I enjoyed reading. I’m looking forward to the next book. I would highly recommend this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.
Overhaul it’s ok for a short story. Everything make sens and nothing is to over the top. And that probably the problem there is nothing making really this story shine
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.