A passion to live for—and to die for—in the RITA-winning series from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Elisabeth Naughton.Up-and-coming designer Kelsey McClane is on the cusp of success. Recently divorced, she should be enjoying her newfound freedom and glamorous future. Instead, she’s living in fear of the past. When she returns home to Portland on a press tour, danger creeps … press tour, danger creeps closer than ever. As threatening messages from her bitter ex-husband leave her vulnerable, a new man in her life makes her feel protected.
Former Army Ranger turned security professional Hunter O’Donnell is hired to guard Kelsey. When a shattering explosion rocks her world, Kelsey’s ex is the prime suspect, but Hunter speculates there’s more to the situation than Kelsey’s letting on. Intent on keeping her safe, he delves into Kelsey’s past. As the two work together to unmask her stalker’s identity, a fire ignites between them that they both struggle to contain.
While the investigation proceeds, it draws them closer not only to each other but also to a lethal plot that’s been in the works behind their backs. And with each new secret unveiled, it’s not just temptation putting them at risk—it’s a madman who will not stop until Kelsey is dead.
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4.5 stars
Hunt and Kelsey’s story was an amazing ride! I was sucked into this book from page 1 as Ms. Naughton hit the gas pedal and didn’t look back! Kelsey has a heartbreaking vulnerability as she is just finally escaping a horrible, abusive marriage, but watching her regain her strength with Hunt as she faced the unknown threat stalking her was a wonderful journey.
Kelsey has always been a little shy, but when the McClanes adopted her she found a loving environment with several big brothers who made her a little bit crazy but who also drew her out of her shell a bit. When she met Julian in college and he treated her like the center of the universe, she was happy at first but by the time she realized that his attention was turning too far to the side of controlling, it was too late. It took her a very long time to work up the courage to leave with a lot of support from her family but she has finally broken free. Now with her divorce finalized and Julian in the rearview mirror, she is focusing on building her business with a very successful up and coming fashion line. It doesn’t take long before it becomes clear Julian is not going to let go despite the divorce, and both Kelsey and Hunt are placed in serious danger along with a lot of other people.
Hunter fell a little bit for Kelsey years ago, but a few things got in his way. First the six year age difference was a problem until she got out of school, but he is also best friends with her brother Alec so bro code dictated that he stayed away from said best friend’s little sister. By the time he finished a six year stint as an Army Ranger and he returned home to find her all grown up, she was already with Julian and any chance he may have been willing to take on angering his best friend disappeared when she got married. Now Hunt finds himself taking on bodyguard duty thanks to her brothers’ concerns about her ex and he couldn’t be more thankful that their concerns led to him being with Kelsey when disaster strikes.
When it becomes clear the threat isn’t going away and it may not actually be Kelsey’s ex who is behind it, Hunt moves her into his place to keep her safe. Of course close proximity just increases the UST between them as they search for the source of the threats. Kelsey has been over her husband for a very long time, and she can’t deny that Hunt has intrigued her for much longer than that. She always took note of his strength and quiet steadiness, but when he came back from the Army he had a whole new layer of sex appeal added on top of it that caught her attention. Now she is in a position to finally explore it, and she is stuck between a desire to give in to temptation and memories of the soul-sucking verbal abuse she endured for years that wreaked havoc on her self-esteem.
Protected is a wonderful mix of suspense and thrills intermingled with heat, humor, frustration and moments of personal strength. Kelsey has to work hard to find herself again, and she has a lot of two-steps-forward-one-step back moments but she powers through. Hunt is supportive but intense, and that intensity along with his determination to keep her safe gives them a few fits and starts along the way as they slowly become closer. He is struggling against his own fears of letting someone get close enough to hurt him again after losing everyone he loved in one way or another since he was a child. Oh, and those overprotective brothers I mentioned? Yeah, they will cause some friction along the way too! All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the ride throughout this story and definitely recommend it if you are a fan of romantic suspense!
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Kelsey McClane is trying to make a name for herself. Hunter O’Donnell needs to solve a mystery. Be prepared for a lot of action and heat. This author is very good in giving you more than you expect. My brain starts to go in one direction but then when I least expect it Ms. Naughton takes me somewhere else – but that’s not a bad thing.
These are the kind of books that I like. I’m terrible at solving mysteries. I think that if I ever did figure it out before the author is ready for me too, I might not want to finish the book and that would be a bad thing. I want to be surprised and I have no trouble with that here. The author also knows how to create a lot of heat between her characters. There are some forces you can fight but when an author creates enough temptation it’s just too hard to resist.
I love a book that keeps me glued to my seat. Having things I need to do becomes secondary to finding out what the ending is going to be. It’s interesting to watch a woman break down the walls that a man has kept around himself. It’s more interesting when it’s turned on her. There’s also suspense as to what’s to come and what all the facts mean to our couple. And there’s a nice sense of family that doesn’t overtake the overall theme of the story. You certainly don’t need to read this series in order but I hope you will at some point read the other books to see what you may have missed. The ending made me smile but then my smile turned to a frown because I couldn’t find anything about a book four – that just means that I’ll have to wait and see.
I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
4.25 stars–PROTECTED is the third instalment in Elisabeth Naughton’s contemporary, adult DEADLY SECRETS romantic, suspense series focusing on the four adopted McClane siblings (Ethan, Alec, Kelsey, Rusty) who are forced to confront their childhood demons. This is up and coming designer Kelsey McClane, and former Army Ranger/security specialist Hunter O’Donnell’s story line. PROTECTED can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.
NOTE: For fans of Darcy Burke, there is a slight cross-over with the author’s Ribbon Ridge series with the mention of the Archer sextuplet, Evan and Alaina Archer, and the Alex Hotel.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Kelsey and Hunter) PROTECTED follows the safety and protection of designer Kelsey McClane following an explosion that forced our heroine, and her personal security guard and her brother Alec’s (Gone #2) best friend Hunter O’Donnell into hiding. A series of threatening texts, wiretaps and perfectly timed, clandestine but anonymous photos of our couple, from an unknown source, reveal a personal connection to our story line heroine but a connection that Kelsey knew nothing about. What ensues is the friends to lovers/best friend’s little sister building relationship between Kelsey and Hunter, and the potential fall-out when Kelsey’s past seeks retribution for a perceived series of sins not of her making.
PROTECTED is a story of suspense, mystery, retribution and revenge. Kelsey was given up for adoption at the age of two but never knew her birth mother, or the answers to her troubled beginnings. Hunter has always considered Kelsey off-limits; his best friend’s little sister, but a woman with whom he would grow to love. Kelsey and Hunter’s demons ride close to the surface; trust is an issue both struggle to accept. The $ex scenes are intimate and intense; the sexual chemistry is palpable but Hunter struggles between his friendship with Alec and the McClane family, and his ability to protect the woman with whom he is falling in love.
All of Kelsey’s siblings play secondary and supporting roles including Ethan, Alec and Rusty. We are introduced to Kelsey’s ex-husband Julian Benedict, a man obsessed with our story line heroine; and Hunter’s ex-girlfriend Genevieve who refuses to accept that she is no longer wanted. The requisite evil has many faces who add a twist or two to the story line mystery.
PROTECTED is a complex tale between the past and the present; vengeance against a woman caught totally unaware; and a man who battles his attraction to a woman he has sworn to protect. The premise is action packed, intriguing and entertaining; the romance is seductive and passionate; the characters are broken, charismatic and energetic.
Protected
4.5 Stars – I quite enjoyed this book. The suspense was great, and had me guessing at a few different options. The romance was sweet and sexy and I think it was a good follow up to the others in the series.
Kelsey and Hunter had wonderful chemistry. I felt the author dealt with Kelsey’s background issues well, which made the way Kelsey handled situations more realistic and not crazily overblown. Hunter was protective, but not so over the top “alpha”, that I wanted to rip my eyes out. Also, I liked the little nod to Darcy Burke and her character Alaina Pierce. Took me a few mins to remember where I read about her.
Every time I start a book by Naughton, it feels comforting. Her writing is easy and clear that it doesn’t feel like I am reading at all. The dialogue and situations are simple and feel real, and I love the best friend’s sister plot. It’s one of my favourites.
*Received an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
~ Paragraphs and Petticoats ~
Wow, this is an intense, story with a lot of action. If you love suspense, mysteries, love, and impulsive actions you will love this. Lies, will be told, secrets are in the forefront, for all the deceit that was bestowed upon Kelsey. She wasn’t expecting much in her life, just some peace for once, where she felt safe from the abuse of her now ex-husband. But secrets are told and what she finds out about herself is shocking and amazing for her.
She has felt heat all of sudden for someone she shouldn’t, yes her brother’s best friend, bodyguard, protector, friend of the family– Hunter O’Donnell.
But when an explosion hits her (literally) they become close knowing each other like no other. Not knowing what to do, second guessing her decisions, she does what she has always done, close herself off from being hurt, and or abused again.
Such a compelling story, not just about abuse, but how she was raised as a little girl and diagnosed with behavioral problems, how she overcame the behavior; and learning what she knows now as an adult and how she empowered herself against the abuse, with who she has become.
Oh Hunter, he’s such a powerful, strong, protector, and will do whatever it takes to prove he isn’t going anywhere, even standing up to her overprotective family.
Loved it!
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this wonderful intense, compelling story.
This book is amazing. I was down with the flu and was just going to read a couple of chapters waiting for my meds to kick in but lo and behold a couple hours later, I had finished the entire book. I could not put it down. It has the perfect balance of mystery and suspense with a great romantic entanglement thrown in. The plot of this story is unique and fascinating and definitely grabs your interest from the very first page and the characters are well-written, complex and easy to relate to. It is easy to connect with Kelsey from the start and you cannot help but love Hunt. I really enjoyed their dialogue and interaction and the fact that the author keeps you guessing about the bad guy till the end.
You cannot help but root for Kelsey and praise her for her strength and determination to push forward after everything she endures between her horrible ex and the bad guy. She suffers through so much physically, mentally and emotionally yet has the fortitude to recognize her struggles for what they are and work towards making herself whole again.
For Hunter, again, it is hard not to love him once you get to know more about him. He is kind of mysterious in the beginning but as the story develops you get to learn more about his background and that makes it easier to understand his thoughts and actions throughout the book. Once he truly comes to terms with what he really wants and understanding why he says and does things in relation to his past he becomes a wonderfully strong character to help Kelsey stay grounded.
I love the connection and chemistry between Kelsey and Hunter. You can feel it swarming around them from the beginning, starting off at a slow burn until it ignites among the chaos they have to deal with. You can actually feel the emotions rolling off them as you read and the author does a great job of holding your interest in their relationship and keeping the connection fresh throughout the story. And there is a lot of activity in this book that could easily engulf or drown out the romance but it is nicely balanced with the plot of the story so one does not overshadow the other.
If you are looking for a good book that contains flowing drama, suspense, action and romance then this is the book for you. Though it is part of a series, it can easily be read as a standalone. I received an advanced copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.