Protected (Deadly Secrets, 3)

I enjoyed reading, Protected, book 3 in the Deadly Secrets series. I loved the main characters, Hunter and Kelsey. Their backstories where interesting on what they went thru as children making them into the people that they grew up into. The story had suspense, drama, and a whole lot of sexy scenes together once they hooked up.
Very good story.

This book is a train that is barrelling down the track at full speed and you'll have no intention of wanting to get off. From the first chapter you are hooked and will not be able to put this book down. I promise you, because I read it straight through in one sitting.

Right away you are immediately yanked into Kelsey's world and you connect with her; feeling the ebbs and flows of the emotions that run through her during the course of all the events. He ex-husband, (a real peach of guy - by the way) the stress of job and requirements that come with it, family, and the security professional that makes her feel things she didn't think were possible.

Kelsey is a very well written realistic female lead that is very easy to connect to, right from the get go. You end up rooting for her through everything and still end up being amazed at the strength that she is able yank from inside of her. I think she is a very well written female lead and one that I'm really hoping to see more of in romance in general.

As for Hunter, it's hard not to love him from the moment that you really get to know him. I say that - because when you first see him we don't really get to know a whole lot about him, that doesn't happen till a little later on in the story. What's really nice is that he seems to be this great blend of traditional and modern hero and it's appreciated it.

I love the dynamics between the two of them and you can feel the chemistry between them coming off the pages. It's palpable and one that I really liked there was some times that I swear if my pages could self combust just from the text written on them, they would. The connection and the heat was really, really hot.

There's a lot that happens in the story that I wasn't able to see coming and honestly, that's one of my favorite things about Elisabeth's books. I don't have to worry about reading it and then four chapters in - knowing what is already happening, who caused it and what the likely outcome will be. She writes smart books and I feel like when I read then I can enjoy the full offering of adventure, love, romance, drama, and any other spills that she throws out at me.

This is another fantastic entry into the Deadly Secrets series and it already has me itching for more to come.

*I was given a copy of the book to read in advance for a honest review*

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 by Elisabeth Naughton
Series: Deadly Secrets book 3

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 ~

Even if this is your first look at this series, you are going to be very happy with Hunter and Kelsey. So much action and tension throughout the story. Loved it all!

We have met Kelsey McClane in the previous two books. She is baby sister to her adopted brothers. Well protected by said brothers but still rebellious and doing her own thing. Her choices have led her to some bad situations. This book has her brother's best friend, Hunter, assigned as her body guard. Secretly both of them are hoping that there is some up close and personal protection coming. Of course life and bro codes try to keep them apart.

Great adventure with a strong heroine. Loved that Kelsey stood her ground around Hunter. It's when that soft squishy side for both leads start showing, that the reader really melts.

Loved seeing previous couples and the whole McClane family again. Can not wait to see what the the rest of the brothers get up to. I look forward to reading more about this couple in future books as well.

*Complimentary copy provided for an honest review.

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 amongst 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.

Protected Is it true mix of romance and white knuckled suspense. Not only does it grab you emotionally from the start why you cannot to both Kelsey and Hunters fiery passion, it keeps you on the edge of your seat with all of the suspenseful twist and turns.

I loved these two characters together. Kelsey fights to overcome obstacles from childhood, A bad marriage and her life on the line. Hunter, who is not only a life long family friend but a security expert, has been hired to protect her and not only steps up to battle the bad guy but also battles her insecurities to win her heart.

Protected is a part of a series and even though it can be read as a standalone I would have liked to have read the other books in the series 1st do you have a better understanding of some of the underlying characters.

ARC Review