We were inseparable from the moment we met, but it only took one night to destroy it all. Lies were spoken, truths were revealed, and mistakes were made.For years, I took that anger out in the ring, but no matter how much time has passed, I still love to hate her… even when she storms back into my life almost a decade later. But when I see the fear hiding behind her captivating brown eyes, I’ll … brown eyes, I’ll fight to make her safe again. Then I won’t ever let her go.
***
The Guarding Her series contains adult content and is intended for readers 18+. Each book can be read as a standalone.
Reading order:
Surface
Drift
Edge
Closer
more
Oh, how I love a second chances story, especially when the main characters never stopped loving one another, even after so much hurt, pain, and presumed betrayal. We have that and more in Closer, Gio and Whitney’s book in the Guarding Her series by Anna Brooks. Gio is a former champion MMA fighter who lost the love of his life via a text message. No explanation, no reasons, just a text and she was gone. They had 4 years together, but his pride and fear kept them from becoming more than best friends. Whitney has loved Gio since she was 18, and after four years as his friend, she leaves for nearly 9 years after a misunderstanding. When she returns to her hometown, broken and running scared, Gio is the first person she sees while being harrassed by an abusive ex at her place of work. Gio lets her know that she has a lot to answer for, but no one will ever hurt her on his watch. He’s ready to fight for what he’s always desired, and that means he wants it all! So many intense scenes between Gio and Whit, a pulse pounding plot filled with heartbreak and suspense, and some twists that you never see coming!!!
Another great read, I cant wait for this series to expand and get to know more and more characters. Drift is still my favorite, but there’s more to come.
I’ve been waiting for Gio’s story since his first appearance and it definitely didn’t disappoint. Go and Whitney’s story have me ALL the feelings. Their story is sweet, playful, passionate and twists where you least expect them. What I totally expected was for Gio to be the perfect, brooding alpha, but Whitney can hold her own and give him a run for his money. Love this couple and this series just keeps exceeding my expectations. Way to go, Mrs Brooks!!
WOW! What a story!
Plenty of twists and turns, that I didn’t even expect.
Gio and Whitney were best of friends, then one day she is gone. Gio is pissed. Whitney is sad and vulnerable, which leads her into the arms of the wrong man.
Years later, Whitney returns and turns Gio’s world upside down. He still loves her, but wants to hate her. However, he will do anything to protect her.
There is plenty of surprises in this book, but I loved how it all came together. Everything gets explained and the two people who loved each other for over a decade get their happy ever after.
Can’t wait for the next book! 🙂
OMFG!! SPEECHLESS!! CLOSER let me SPEECHLESS!! Anna Brooks is a New Author for me and She Had at the Very Beginning of the Book and never a Dull moment..page after page!! I Could Not Put It in Down and devour it in ONE Sitting!! CLOSER was like No Other Book I have read before and Heartwreching with Aches and pains I DID NOT SEE COMING!!
Gio and Whitney’s Story is Beautifully written and Entertaining that Have your Jaw Dropping several times!! Plus the chemistry between the two characters are Off the Charts Hot!!
I definitely enjoyed this Suspenseful thriller of Epic proportions Story…plus I CANNOT WAIT TO read more from this Author!! A MUST READ BOOK!!
The emotions and the feels in this book are like a roller coaster, high ups and hi downs, you feel like up is down and down is up. I love the characters, the story and the flow. It was touching and gave you all the feels. Anna’s books will rock your world, trust me, check her out.
A great friends to lovers story with Gio and Whitney. I really am enjoying this series about these hard alpha men and the women who compliment them. a must read!!
Wow this author keeps providing very interesting story lines how she does it I don’t know. This one is on the lines of meeting some one clicking right away becoming best friends with that underline of feels. Then after one night of drinking things changes and one took off, leaving the other one behind and going on with his life but still feeling a lose. The 8 years later showing up and having to start all over and throw dealing with an ex and also each other . Forgiving and the friendship until at last the love part blossoms. Or does it. This story is great.
Giovanni Antonetti finally bumps into his best friend again after not hearing a word from her in 10 years. But now she is in trouble and Gio will due whatever it takes to keep her safe.
Whitney Shae has just left an abusive relationship with a man named Perry and she knows she needs to return to her hometown in order to be safe. Yet she is not expecting to have to rely on Gio to keep her safe after walking away 10 years ago.
When Gio and Whitney finally talk about the past will the realize the mistakes that were made and will they be able to move on?
This was such a good book and I loved some of the surprise twists that were thrown in!!
Gio was such a great character and I completely understood why he was so confused about why Whitney left. When we are introduced to Mateo things began to make a little bit more sense but then something still seemed completely off with the way things were being portrayed and Gio’s character.
Whitney made some wrong choices, especially getting involved with Perry but she knew she had to be safe. I was kind of confused as things started going on with Gio in regards to Mateo and how everyone was on different pages but then when everything clicked it was like OMG!
So I was totally not expecting the Mateo twist at all!! When the truth finally came out I was so sad for everyone involved with the time lost and the friendship that disappeared.
The end was so awesome and I was so happy for the extra measures that Gio took and I knew he would fight for Whitney with everything he had!!
I really hope the author writes more in this series!
This is another good addition to a terrific series. Gio and Whitney haven’t seen each other in eight years because of a miscommunication – and what turns out to be so much more. I like both characters, who are each strong and stubborn. Gio is fearless and possessive, but his heart is good and belongs completely to Whitney. For her part, Whitney likes to think things through and make her decisions based on what is best for everyone involved. She is willing to make sacrifices for the good of those she loves. She’s been in love with Gio since her teen years.
There is a big twist in this story, which seems to come out of nowhere. The way it’s handled fits with Gio’s personality. I give the author credit for taking a common trope and turning it upside down. I’m really enjoying this series. Well done!
I love this series. This one is about Whitney and Giovanni. Gio and Whit have always loved each other but when something happened and the next day she gets an apology she runs off and tries to live without Gio but it wasn’t easy. She goes back to her home town to raise her son but the past comes back and seeing Gio all the feelings come back too. You’ve got to read this one. It’s an amazing read. I don’t want to give to much away, but let’s say some true love will conquer all.
These books have become some of my favorites! Bodyguards are just hot. They are so alpha and wanting to protect what’s theirs! I love them! I had been waiting to hear more about Gio and Whitney and they did not disappoint! I always love a good friends-to-lovers book and this one was awesome!!! Love this author! Can’t wait to read more from her!
Gio is definitely an alpha, and an @**hole, but when it comes to Whitney, she’s his #1. This is a friends-to-lovers, but also a second-chance. It was a little predictable, but I liked how Gio and Whitney needed to air their secrets and face their demons in order to move forward together.
I absolutely loved this book! The main characters, Gio and Whitney, were amazing and had such chemistry! The plot was great and twisted. This is the first book I’ve read of this series and I’m ready to dive into the other books!
This is the second book in this series I have read and it just keeps getting better!! Gio and Whitney were an awesome couple who were friends, apart for almost nine years and then came back together after Whitney experiences some awful times with an ex. This is so well written, you won’t be able to put it down once you start reading. Lots of feels with this book and one of the biggest holy s@@t moments I have ever experienced while reading a book. You are seriously missing out if you don’t read this book and I can’t wait to see what’s next.
Closer by Anna Brooks
3/5: SPOILERS !!
I may be the only one, but this might just be my least favorite book from this series. I really could not get into the story. Yes, in the beginning it was cute and had so much potential. I’m not denying that there was that second chance romance but there were way too many twists in this book that I thought shouldn’t have been there. I didn’t really get that intense chemistry from them like I did the others. And can I just say how annoying I thought Whitney was. She got me so mad because of how she treated Gio. What happened to her, yes was horrible, but before she found out about how she was raped she literally made a big deal about everything, and she had outburst of anger and quickly apologized which was annoying to me. Also the fact that she hit Gio once, and then tried to do it again, even when she herself was out through that was my breaking point. I loved that Gio stood up for himself and set her right. The communication in this book was horrendous. I know that this was the point of the book, but I think there could’ve been a different approach to it that would’ve made this book better. I’m not saying the book was terrible, because there was definitely some cute scenes in this book but most of it, I just couldn’t handle. I think that in this book, the characters “love” was portrayed the way it was intended too, and I feel like Whitney needed time for herself and to seek help after the abuse she went through. I didn’t like, that we never got to see her actually realize how she was treating Gio, and how after things she did that were wrong she would blame it on something Overall, the book was mildly enjoyable, and I still had fun reading it.
I really liked this book but the main characters really frustrated me. I wish they would have just sat down and really talked to each other. The twist with Mateo was a mind screw. I did not see that one coming.
This is the 4th book in the Guarding Series by Anna Brooks.
Friends to lovers.
Gio and Whitney were friends which turns to more in 1 night.
With a single text to Gio, Whitney up and leaves town. 8 years later they are reunited.
The excessive vulgarity takes away from the story line. I would have enjoyed it more with less swearing.
That’s just my opinion.