What happens when an out-and-proud bear moves to a small Tennessee town, and takes a shine to the closeted cop?Fireworks, that’s what.When Del Walters agrees to go into business with his brother, he has one condition. Since he’s putting up the lion’s share, they’ll run the bike shop his way—and that means he gets to choose the name. And in a small Tennessee town, a business called Rainbow Racers, … Rainbow Racers, complete with a not-so-subtle sign, was always going to attract attention.
Unfortunately, it’s the wrong kind of attention, and after a few incidents, Del is forced to call on the local police to deal with the culprits.
When Officer Taylor Cox walks into his shop, Del thinks Christmas has come early. An earlier encounter with the younger man left Del with a growing desire to know more about him. There’s only one problem—Taylor is in the closet, and there’s no way Del is going back into his.
When Taylor lays eyes on the sexy bear who owns the bike shop, he knows he’s walking into trouble. Not that he’s about to let Del know he’s interested: his view from the closet is just fine, thank you very much, and besides, that ship has already sailed, thanks to their first meeting. Now all he wants to do is forget Del even exists. But as time goes by, Taylor realizes how badly he is torn between protecting the persona he’s created, and giving in to his desires. And Del making it obvious that he wants Taylor isn’t helping matters.
Between an out-and-proud bear and a firmly closeted cop, something has to give. Problem is, it might be their hearts.
age gap
first time
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This is book two in the series but stands alone perfectly. We met Taylor in Book one Truth and Betrayal as he became friends with Jake. Taylor knows he is gay but feels he is stuck hiding. He came back to be near his aging mother but there is nothing for him in this town as there is a lot of bigotry. Then he meets out and proud Del and as the story goes on he finds there are more people that are nicer than he thinks but still he doesn’t have the urge to come out. But will his feeling for Del overpower the need to stay in the closet?
Del is out and proud. he left a bad relationship and came to this town to help his brother open a motorcycle shop. After it is established and in the black well he plans to go back to his old life in California since this is a very bigoted and homophobic town. until he meets a sexy cop that might be worth staying for id he can dig him out of the closet he is hiding in.
This is a very interesting book with a deep story and well-developed characters. I really thought we would see more of Liam and Jake but we only got a small cameo. I liked the storylines, there is a lot fo feel.
I do recommend the audio. John Solo gave the story a lot of power. He brought the story to life with voice and the way he shows excitement and pain.
If you like closeted men, firsts, large, age gaps, and some hot man-sex you will love this book.
Audiobook review.
Story: 5 stars
Performance: 5 stars
Great story, wonderful audio performance.
Pride & Protection is the second book in K.C. Wells Southern Boys series and I loved it! I’ve only recently experienced audio books performed by John Solo. I’d seen where other reviewers raved about him but only listened to my first one a month or so ago. He does an amazing job with this story.
We met one of the main characters for Pride & Protection in book one, Truth & Betrayal, but you can enjoy Pride & Protection just fine if you haven’t read it yet.
This is a great story about an out and proud bike shop owner, Del, and a very closeted cop, Taylor. Taylor is mostly happy living in his closet but then he meets Del and they keep running into each other. Attraction is there from the beginning but there’s no way that Taylor is going to act on it.
When they run into each other at a gay bar in Atlanta, Del convinces Taylor to let go and have some fun. Nothing sexual happens that first time but their relationship starts and grows from that point on. Del is pretty understanding about Taylor’s need to stay closeted but Taylor himself soon begins to realize that staying there may not be what’s best for him.
I am having such a hard time writing book reviews lately – even for ones that I love, and trust me, I loved Pride & Protection.
Here are some things I really liked while listening to this audiobook:
Taylor’s relationship with his older partner strengthens when Dale opens up to him about his daughter Zoe coming out to him. Taylor at first is terrified that Dale has guess his secret but he still tries to guide Dale into seeing that he needs to change his ways if he is to save his relationship with his daughter.
Taylor’s relationship with his momma. While he hasn’t come out to her the love, they have for each other comes through loud and clear through K.C. Wells writing.
Secondary character Chaz – a young adult hired by Del and his brother to work at their bike store. He has his own story to tell and I can’t wait for K.C. to write the next story in this series.
So, to wrap it up, I loved this book and John Solo’s wonderful audio performance made it even better.
A complimentary copy of this audiobook was provided to me but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.
***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com*** (posting on July 3, 2019)
KC Wells had done it again. This is another winner in her extensive repertoire. This story was a delight to read with its enticing characters, a little who-done-it, sweet romance, and hot sex. Her writing is flawless and had me captivated from the very first page. She has a way with words keeps you enthralled and has you thinking.
It’s insta-lust, but not insta-love between Del and Taylor. Not really a slow-burn romance either, but a well-paced journey toward each other in which they both give and take in equal measures.
Del is the co-owner of Rainbow Riders bike shop. Although Del is out, he doesn’t flaunt his gayness in everyone’s faces. He is what he is and proud of it, but for Taylor, he’s willing to take a few steps back into the closet. That’s the kind of guy Del is. A grizzly bear from the outside, but a sweet teddy bear from the inside.
Taylor is firmly in the closet. No wonder when you’re a cop in a small southern town. He has to deal with homophobes on a daily basis. But he blossoms under Del’s attention and respect. Taylor grows more confident in his own skin, just because Del is…just Del. Taylor also learns that there are more allies around him than he’d thought, which gives a nice side story of Dale and his daughter.
This is the second book in the Southern Boys series, but it can be read as a stand-alone.
A perfect blend of sweet and spicy mixed with a dash of angst makes the second in this excellent series from K.C. Wells a really great read.
Closeted cop and older bear is a match made in delightful romance and Taylor and Del were an easy couple to root for.
Although this book takes place over a comparatively short time, it never feels like insta love because the connection between them is established the first time they meet.
I liked this one a tiny bit more than book one but only because it wasn’t quite as angsty and didn’t include a dead former boyfriend!
Sex is hot, this is a K.C. book after all, but it’s there to drive the plot forward, not just because it’s hot.
I loved the time taken for Taylor to lose his virginity in all manner of ways, not just full penetration, because he’d never given himself permission to just be free.
Del was a truly sweet guy and the perfect partner to love and support Taylor no matter what.
More please from this series.
K.C. Wells’ return to LaFollette is less intense than Truth & Betrayal, as Officer Taylor Cox and newcomer Del Walters forge a friendship and slowly a romance that will open Taylor’s eyes to what he’s been missing for so many years and possibly give him a reason to change things. It’s a wonderful slow burn, age-gap and coming out story, that’s in turn both serious and fun and sexy.
Del has moved to town to help his brother establish a business, but that also means living a little less loudly than he was back in California. Taylor is keeping his sexuality a secret, but he’s not happy and when his friend starts publicly dating another man, he only gets more antsy. Del taking him to Atlanta to show him the ropes seems perfect, but of course that just leads to different feelings.
I completely enjoyed Taylor exploring the new freedom he feels with Del and watching him gain confidence and let loose. It’s such a difference from the serious, quiet officer he is at home. Del is a sweetheart and someone who truly cares for the people around him. The men have to deal with some bigotry, but they also find support in unexpected places. The secondary characters are well-drawn and run the gamut of personalities from friend to foe.
I have a feeling this isn’t the last time we’ll be visiting this town and I’ll be ready for the next story whenever it comes.
I highly recommend Pride & Protection if you love a book featuring two memorable characters, a perfect balance between angst and happiness, satisfying and inspired sex scenes, and a story that will leave you happy and will stick in your mind for weeks to come.
4.5 stars
Events in this book take place during the same time as Truth & Betrayal but you do NOT have to have read T&B to enjoy Taylor & Del’s story.
Beautifully written story about a small town in-the-closet cop who goes to Atlanta to ‘unwind’ and runs into fellow LaFollette resident Del while at a gay club.
The men try to navigate a relationship while Del has issues with some of his fellow residents who aren’t very welcoming and Taylor tries to keep his orientation secret from his fellow officers.
*****
POV… third person
Standalone or series… book 2 in series but CAN be read as standalone
Hangover… yes
Recommend… yes
Reread… yes
Pride and Prejudice by K.C. Wells was given to me in exchange for an honest review. Del Walters moved from sunny California to build a bike business with his brother in Tennessee. He had plans to leave after they had a solid foundation. Taylor Cox is a cop who is back in the closet after moving to be close to his ailing mother. He never thought it would be so difficult to stay there especially after meeting Del on a bike trail and then again in an official capacity. It did take me a little bit to get into the story because I felt i had missed something in the beginning. But as the story continued I really enjoyed the slow burn and the emotions that Taylor was going through made you understand the complexity of whether to come out or continue to suffer in silence. It makes me appreciate and admire every single person who does the extraordinary task of making this difficult decision.
May/December romance set in the Tennessee hills. I enjoyed reading this engaging and hopeful story about finding love in a small southern town. There are wonderful people everywhere and i loved some of the characters that we found in this story. There were also a share of the hurtful side of prejudice, but we did see love triumph.
Del and Taylor are truly well developed characters and i enjoyed how they became friends and lovers. Their journey really had me grinning a few times and i liked how they interacted. These are guys you want to know and have live next door to you. Good men with a zest for bikes and having fun. I liked how we got to see both of these men interact with others and that enabled us to really get to know them better. There were several really good supporting characters and the story is richer for them.
This is the second book of the Southern Boys Series and it can be read as a stand-alone story. I have not yet read Truth & Betrayal and i was not lost in this story. I am looking forward to reading book one soon. I am glad this is a series because i will be looking for the next book!
I was gifted this book from the author and i freely give my review
I thought I loved Jake and Liam’s story. But did K.C. Wells proved me wrong. I absolutely love Del and Taylor’s story. The emotions that both characters were feeling just made my heart hurt but at the same time so happy. I just couldn’t stop reading. Del and Taylor are so perfect together and I just love them so much! Just another amazing read!
Amazing love story! One of my favorite reads of 2019 so far.
I’ve been waiting for Taylor to get his chance at a HEA ever since Truth & Betrayal (love!) came out and it was all I had hoped for and more. He has found such a caring and loving partner in Del Walters. They are equally sweet and hot together. The push and pull between Taylor and Del was a delight to read.
There’s some beautifully written angst and worry because Taylor is not out, and doesn’t intend on being out anytime soon. I also absolutely loved the storyline between Taylor and one of the other cops, with regards to his decision to come out, as well as his friendship with Denise.
Even though it’s a May/December romance, the difference in their ages is never a thing between them and that was actually really lovely. Del is just such a wonderful character, a strong, cuddly bear in the best of ways.
This book is a perfect example of why I love reading K.C. Wells’ stories so much. She has such a knack for making you fall in love with her characters and drawing you into their world. I’m in awe of the sensitivity and care with which this book was written, the wonderful growth arc its characters, especially Taylor, go through, the love and research that obviously went into creating the world and inhabitants of LaFollette… and last but definitely not least, the incredible love between between Del and Taylor.
Wonderful performance by John Solo, who does a fantastic job with this whole series.
This is one sexy romance with a hot as hell age-gap, and some delicious kink. If you like confident and experienced bears, with slightly shy (but eager and willing) first timers, you’re going to love this one! K.C. Wells writes some of the best erotica in the business, and the chemistry she builds between Del and Taylor makes Pride & Protection just as gorgeous as that cover.
Pride & Protection (Southern Boys Book 2) is a lovely romance complete with well-developed characters and a solid-paced plot.
Del and Taylor have distinctive differences and personalities. Together, their May-December romance simply works. I swooned and actively cheered for their story.
K.C. Wells tackled the themes of coming out and homophobia successfully, ensuring they were given the respect they deserve.
I’ll definitely be checking out more stories from this author.