He’s an A-list Hollywood heartthrob. She’s trying to prove herself in a man’s world.For this female bodyguard, protecting her client is simply business, but what happens when sparks fly and the danger heats up?After a series of box office flops, Rocco Monroe needs a hit. Bad press, shit talking, rumors, lies…it all goes with the territory after almost two decades in the spotlight, but when he … spotlight, but when he lands the role of his career in a controversial biopic, the part of a lifetime comes with a catch: a hired bodyguard.
Annabelle Clad is so bored she wants to scream. Her life is coding and algorithms and binary codes…rinse and repeat. To her Rocco Monroe means freedom, a chance to show her overprotective brother and business partner that she can contribute to Iron Clad Securities. And no arrogant playboy will fuck up her concentration by batting his lashes at her. She would never jeopardize her reputation by swooning over any man.
That had happened once, and she wouldn’t bear that loss or humiliation ever again. Even if Rocco looks like a walking fantasy…
From USA Today bestselling author Sidney Halston comes the second book in the Iron-Clad series, Last First Kiss.
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I was so excited for this book!! Although I wasn’t sure at first how much I would like that the roles were reversed and that a woman was the bodyguard for a man. I don’t want to sound like a sexist because I do like to read about strong heroines but, call me old-fashioned, I’m still a woman that swoons over the strong guys protecting their women. And Rocco Monroe wasn’t happy about needing a bodyguard either.
Anyway, I think the author did a fantastic job with this book, which I enjoyed a lot. Especially that she addressed the topic about how hard it was for women to prove themselves in a man’s world.
The Story:
Annabelle Clad loves to work on computers but it’s time to finally get a job out on the field. Convincing her brother that she sure is capable of protecting the next client is harder than she’d like. It has always been harder for her as a woman to prove herself in this man’s world but she’s stubborn and determined to show them that she’s not just a girl but a strong woman who can handle any tough situation. Though working for Rocco Monroe will have its own complications which she doesn’t expect as she knew not to mix work with pleasure no matter how hot or famous he was.
Thoughts:
Joey was Annie’s overprotective brother but I get where he came from considering her history. Although I felt bad that Annie constantly had to prove herself, I understood why Joey was worried about her.
I liked the background story of Annie and also of Rocco although it felt very distant for what surely were very emotional and sensitive pasts.
Rocco wasn’t easy to characterize because he was a famous actor and as usual the tabloids never told stories as they really occurred. So, he was judged on stuff that was exaggerated or never even happened. He was nicer than I expected and not at all snobbish. I wasn’t so sure how I liked that he was instantly fixated on Annie but I get that she was hot and he was drawn to her.
Even though there was instant chemistry between the two main characters, it took some time for them to explore it, which I liked a lot because nothing ruins a story more than for the people to get it done and over with in the first chapter already.
But while it wasn’t instant-love they still got attached to each other too sudden for my liking. I just didn’t feel it coming, partly because I never got emotionally close to the characters and their story which was a pity because I liked them but I just never felt their feelings grow for each other and it was hard to comprehend what was going on inside them.
Anyway, it still wasn’t at all easy for them emotionally because their line of work just wasn’t that compatible and as hard it was for her to open up and relax, it was equally hard for him to see her stand between him and any danger coming his way.
What I loved most were the sort-of articles at the beginning of every chapter. It gave a better understanding on what happened outside of the characters bubble without interrupting their story with throwing information into the pages at random. It was just so fitting and I loved how it was done.
The ending felt a bit too abrupt but all in all I absolutely enjoyed this read! It was mostly an easy and quick read (probably because I wasn’t as emotionally invested as I often was) but also had some heavier topics regarding Annie’s story. The characters were all loveable and the heightened suspense farther into the story didn’t let me put the book down. An absolutely recommended read!
3.5 stars– LAST FIRST KISS is the second instalment in Sidney Halston’s contemporary, adult IRON CLAD SECURITY romantic, suspense series focusing on the men and women who work for Iron Clad Security. This is Hollywood actor Rocco Monroe, and former US soldier/IT specialist Annabelle Clad’s story line. LAST FIRST KISS can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Annabelle and Rocco) LAST FIRST KISS follows the forbidden relationship between former American solider and IT specialist Annabelle Clad, and Hollywood actor Rocco Monroe. Rocco Monroe’s star has started for fizzle but a role in an upcoming controversial bio-pic finds our hero on the receiving end of a series of threats both personal and professionally including the potential fall-out of filming on location in the jungles of South America. When the production company forces Rocco to accept tightened security measures he will come face to face with a smart-mouthed, prickly, and over the top, alpha female Annabelle Clad-a former US soldier who served two tours in Afghanistan, and a woman who is desperate to prove she is just as capable as the men with whom she works. What ensues is the building relationship between Annabelle and Rocco as Annabelle is hired to play Rocco’s newest love, and the fall out as Annabelle continues to put her life in danger to protect the man with whom she is falling in love.
Annabelle Clad is just trying to do her job but it is in Rocco’s instinctive nature to protect the woman hired to protect himself. Our heroine has proven she can survive the mean streets of Afghanistan but surviving the over protective nature of Rocco and her brothers is less than conducive to our heroine’s independent charm. Rocco’s life hangs in the balance when the threats become physical, and Annabelle will become collateral damage for someone elses sins of the past.
The relationship between Annabelle and Rocco begins as a mutual attraction but Anna knows to get involved with a client would be a distraction when lives have been threatened by an unknown source. The allure of a female bodyguard has Rocco reconsidering his need for protection replacing it with the possibility of a romantic happily ever after. The $ex scenes are intimate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
From the outset I had issues with the heroine’s immature attitude and her ongoing childish interplay and emotional behavior as it pertained to her brothers and their need to protect and control. Wanting to be accepted as an equal Annabelle’s temper tantrums and the sibling’s adolescent conduct diminished my enjoyment of the overall story as each encounter with her brother resulted in juvenile name-calling, screaming matches and rude finger gestures. This does not scream responsible adult but spoiled child. The men in her life, including Rocco Monroe, were constantly second guessing Anna’s ability to do the job-surviving two tours of duty made little difference in the grand scheme of security and personal independence but her immaturity could have played a role in her brother’s unwillingness to hand over complete control.
LAST FIRST KISS is an energetic and lively story line. The premise is entertaining; the characters are somewhat infuriating; the romance is tender and optimistic.