When your life is in danger, the last thing you should do is fall in love…especially with your bodyguard. Connor hasn’t just had a bad day or bad week. More like a bad year. Things have been going downhill since he dumped his girlfriend and to top it all of his house has been ransacked. Ever since James returned to Chester Falls a year ago, his past has come to haunt him. Especially in the … image of his childhood best friend who ran out on him after a moment of weakness. Two best friends reunited. A bisexual awakening. An escape artist pet turtle. James’s first and only instinct is to protect Connor from whoever is trying to harm him. But will being his secret crush’s bodyguard end up putting his heart in harm’s way? Welcome to Chester Falls, where you can expect to meet sweet men, sexy situations, interfering friends, lots of feels, and a happy ever after. Book Three in the Chester Falls series. How To Catch a Bodyguard is a sweet and steamy MM romance novel with no cliffhanger, and a guaranteed HEA.
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I liked How to Catch a Bodyguard. I liked Connor and James’s story, and Bubbles kept stealing the scenes. I loved that escape artist turtle. I did wonder why they didn’t just get a screen lid for the turtle tank (I have a red-ear slider and have one for my turtle tank) so that he couldn’t get out all the time, but then he wouldn’t be such a cute little scene-stealer as he repeatedly sneaks up and bites James. If you love Bubbles as much as I do, then you have to read the next book, How to Catch a Bachelor, as Bubbles and Donnie, the dog, become the best of friends.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
The events of this novel often veer into the realm of the wildly implausible and/or adorably bizzarre (I’m talking to you, Bubbles, the grumpy Harry Houdini of turtles) but it’s impossible to really mind given the sheer amount of feelings and fun the author has managed to cram into this story. I’m a fan of second-chance romances, and two childhood best friends separated as teenagers and reunited a few times before figuring stuff out as adults really worked for me as the baseline for Connor and James’ story. Their reconnection is super sweet, although that sweetness has to fight for space with the over-the-top suspense plot which involves stalking, plotting, explosions and more for…reasons. Overall, a satisfying read.
*I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review
Hahahahaha Bubbles!!! I love that turtle!! I absolutely LOVED IT!!! I had so much fun reading, I could’nt stop laughing or reading. I loved the characters, the plot, the character development and all the hot and steamy scenes as well. I loved the action and suspense as well as all the emotions. I can not wait to see what happens next. Ana Ashley well done on another amazing book.
Love Chester Falls series; it keeps getting better and better. This story is about 2 friends who separated at the age of 15 as James left town. Fast forward 15 years and they meet up again. Connor is in danger and James is his bodyguard until things are cleared up. This is a great friends to lovers book, or Jamesexual, as Connor says.
I received a copy of the book for my review.
Small town romance at some of its best. I love Chester Falls. Here we have the story of Connor and James who we knew had to have a history after the scene at the end of How to Catch a Prince. I love these two guys but the real star of this book is actually Bubbles! That little turtle is a scene stealer. Seriously though if you like sweet low angst fluffy stories you need to add this whole series to your list. Yes there’s danger involved but this is still a light and fun read. Highly recommend. The audio is also pretty good too. Nick Hudson is a fantastic narrator
Connor is Charlie’s brother from How to Catch a Prince. He’s having a rough go at life in the last year. Someone is out to hurt him. James is a royal bodyguard and was once Connor’s best friend when they were teenagers. James kissed him then disappeared. This was sooo good!! I loved the connection and the chemistry they shared! Loved Bubbles the most of all!! Lots of fun and steamy times. Highly recommend. I’m voluntarily reviewing from an advanced copy that I received.
Romance, steam and a mystery: good, not great
3.5 stars, rounded up
Of the four stories in this series I’ve read, this one engaged me the least. There’s humor, long-time unrequited yearning, steam, intrigue and no cliffhanger for the couple: all to the good. Just two things that brought down my rating:
– The opening of the book was confusing. I felt like I had started in the middle and should know everything about Connor’s and James’ posse of family, friends and Connor’s previous failed relationship. Even in a series, I don’t want to flounder around for the first few chapters wishing I had just finished the previous books so I knew what was going on.
– I felt the saboteur and personal targeting against Connor plot left a lot to be desired. The culprit, his reasoning and actions, the methods he used to threaten Connor, just did not make sense to me. Having some danger in the plot should have worked so James the professional security man could use his skills to protect Connor. But, for me, it just did not.
On the other hand, Bubbles the escape artist/biter added some comic relief. I like cute pets; too bad Bubbles and his friend Donnie never got to play the heroes against James’ enemy!
I read a complimentary copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
This is an enjoyable story with former best friends reconnecting and *enhancing* their relationship. There is danger. drama, depression, secrets, doubts, mystery, and a dangerous stalker. Themes include former best friends to lovers, hurt/comfort, and a bit of first-time/gay for you. There are also some fantastic four-legged/flippered friends. I loved (and laughed) at the notion of those adults trying to have serious reprimanding conversations with the errant, bitey Bubbles. I loved the way the writing gave Bubbles such personality and even apparent facial expressions. There was one thing that threw me out of the story a little. Sometimes, the scene transitions were uneven. For instance, on one occasions, Connor and James go to bed together, and the next thing, Connor is waking up in the hospital and thanking Ryan for coming to get him. I was like how did we get from A to B? It was explained later, but it was jarring when it happened. These sudden changes occurred two or three times in the story.
I received a free copy of this ebook from the author and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.
Everything works out great in the end.
James is kinda broken, with a unhappy backstory and Conner is straight, and although were best friends at 15, they were never meant to be, and yet… Sweet and sexy story, with a bit of attempted murder, kidnap and assault thrown in!
Everyone gets what they want in the end, even the family James has been fighting with for years. It really makes sense to read these in the order they’re numbered, it adds to the story.
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW
This story was a funny and very enjoyable story and I love to revisit the couples from the previous stories.
No unnecessary descriptions of surroundings
Good dialogues
Old love isn’t dead yet and the sheets are on fire.
Narrator:
He’s becoming more and more enjoyable to listen to. Read with feelings and clear pronunciation.
5 stars overall
Another great Chester Falls book. I loved seeing the gang back together and finally finding out what was up with Connor and James. The history between Connor and James was so sweet and the chemistry was great. I loved getting to know these two better and the mystery was a good way to keep things interesting. I hope that this series continues because I would love to see more residents of Chester Falls find their happily ever afters, even Rory. I highly recommend this book!
This is a brilliant and heartwarming story of childhood best friends reconnecting after years apart to realise their feelings and watch the chemistry between them. Both James and Conner have different baggage to deal with also they have someone who is targeting Conner. Must read book.
Omg, so much to say about this story! A fascinating second chance romance with two complicated men, brilliant secondary characters and a plot that will keep the reader interested through the whole book!
It really was a great experience and the cameos from Tom (How to catch a Rival) were an icing on the delicious cake!
I am so enjoying this series! We first met Connor and James in the first book of this series and Connor was a side character in How to Catch a Rival. Connor was so full of angst in book one. He and James were head to head at one point in that book due to troubles caused by CeeCee, Connor’s girlfriend. Ever since then, he seems to be just existing, until James comes back into his life. When we find out the have a past, which included a brief, if not startling kiss, the story goes from there. We are lead through a story of unrequited love, let down and a chance at love again. I love in this day and age, that sexual preference isn’t black and white, in the case of Connor who never had a sexual attraction to a male or even an idea that he was “gay” or “bi”. Why do there have to be labels for who we love or find attraction? In this case Connor is awakened to feelings he never knew and it is a slow easy going love story, not always smooth sailing, but then again, what love story is? James is always aware of his feelings for Connor, but has put it on the back burner for years while trying to figure out his own life, which led to him becoming the stateside bodyguard for Kris and Charlie. I love how her stories unfold, interconnecting characters from previous books, and in this case a brief meeting of Brad in book in ‘Prince’, brings him into the mix that we didn’t see coming. I sooo love Mary … and Olly! She full of love and he full of wisdom. Everyone in these books contributes to the main story soo well. And then there is Bubbles and Donnie… do they get a book, lol? Can’t wait to read the next, but think I will back track to another side couple, Tristan and Ben!
Loved this seried
Each book has been well written and I have loved the whole series, pity Ana can’t write as quickly as I read.
If you love small town romance then you will love these characters and Chester Falls. Would recommend.
Independent reviewer for Gay Romance Reviews, I was gifted the audio file of this book.
This is book 3 in the Chester Falls series, I have not read or listened to books one or two, and I did not feel like I was missing anything by not doing so. I have been fortunate to get audio copies of both of those books though, so I WILL be listening to them in due course.
Since James arrived back in Chester Falls a year ago, Connor has been having a bad time. Now someone is trying to kill and reconnecting with James brings up so much hurt that Connor felt when James left. Will reconnecting also bring back the feelings he had before that fateful day?
Ana Ashley is a new to me author, although I have some of her alter ego books. Nick Hudson is also a new to me narrator, and the two together blew me away!
So many layers and subplots, so many secrets from these two, at one point I wasn’t sure which way was up!
Hudson gets across how much James missed Connor all this time, how much he LOVED Connor. Hudson gets across how much hurt Connor carried all this time, since James just upped and left after he did what he did. He gets across how Connor really feels about James, even if Connor doesn’t quite know himself yet.
Both Connor and James have a say, in the first person, and in present tense. My least favourite way to READ a book. To listen? Fast becoming my favourite especially with such excellent narration!
It wasn’t clear who was doing what they were doing to Connor, and I loved not being able to see that until it was revealed. Love being kept on my toes.
The star of the show is not Ashley or Hudson, not even James or Connor, but Bubbles, Connor’s turtle! That little madam must have been Houdini in another life, she really must, the amount of times she gets out her tank!
I will be listening to How To Catch A Prince, and How To Catch A Rival in due course. I look forward to doing things backwards, knowing what’s to come!
5 stars for the narration
5 stars for the book
5 stars overall
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
Friends to lovers and second chance love are two of my favorite tropes in romance. Add to the mix a hot bodyguard with a heart of gold, a little bit of hurt/comfort and an adorable pet turtle and you get this amazing book.
How to Catch a Bodyguard is the third book in the Chester Falls series and can be read as a standalone, but I highly suggest reading the first two books first for maximum enjoyment.
Connor hasn’t had a great year. He’s dumped his girlfriend, gone through the wringer at work, and is still trying to come to terms with the fact that his best friend in high school has suddenly reappeared after disappearing without a word years ago. James has his own secrets, especially about what happened back in high school when he was yanked from Connor’s life without a word, but right now his focus is on the here and now, especially since someone with malicious intent has started targeting Connor. These two men have a lot of baggage they have to unpack, but with the simmering attraction and desire that they hold for each other just under the surface, they have no choice but to air out all the dirty laundry.
The third book in the series still has the Hallmark romance charm of the first two books, but there’s definitely way more action and suspense. James and Connor find themselves in dangerous situations where the wrong move can cost them their lives. Ana Ashley definitely packs in some thrills without skimping on the fluff and romance, which I love so much.
Nick Hudson narrates this audiobook, and like the first and second book, does an amazing job. Nick has a lovely voice that’s perfect for Chester Falls. He keeps the character voices consistent from book to book and it is very easy to follow along in the story. I also liked the energy and enthusiasm Nick puts into his performance. It made the book really entertaining to listen to and I really enjoyed it.
I definitely recommend this book and the entire Chester Falls series so far.
Ice cream
Everyone needs a Bubbles and Donnie in their lives, even if they are especially ornery. I think this may be my favorite of the series. Not only do we have a yummy bodyguard but we also have danger, an unbreakable connection and cute animals. I completely get where Connor is coming from when he defines his view on love. I’ve been wanting James’s story since we first met him and this was everything I hoped for and more. “I like being dirty with you.” These two sizzle and I’m beyond ecstatic with the ending, swoons all around. I hope we get revisit this fantastic world soon.
Best friends when they were in school until one left without saying goodbye. They meet again after fifteen years. Old feelings of insecurity resurfaces back.
I love how the characters transformed when they grew up, it’s like they interchanged their qualities. The insecure one now becomes the confident one and the one who was always popular and self-confident is now full of doubt and needs his confidence to be restored. But I guess they just needed the right person to revert back to their usual lovable selves.
What a love story! This series is amazing! I love all the characters, how they support each other, family and friends alike!