Review | The Protector by Jodi Ellen Malpas

 Overview:  People think they have Camille Logan nailed: daddy's girl; beautiful, spoiled young woman with her father's bank balance to fund her lifestyle. But Camille is determined to have a life free from his strings. Out on her own, she's made mistakes, including one that found her clawing her way back after a stint in rehab and plenty of bad press. Now, after fighting so hard to be independent and happy, she finds her life threatened as a result of her father's ruthless business dealings. Caught between resentment and fear, Camille prepares herself for the measures her father will take to protect her. But nothing could prepare her for the ex-SAS sniper who crashes into her life.

Jake Sharp resides in his own personal hell. He was distracted from duty once before, and the consequences were devastating--both personally and professionally. He vowed never to let that happen again. Accepting the job of bodyguard to Camille Logan isn't the kind of distraction from his demons he should take. Women and Jake don't mix well, yet protecting the heiress seems the lesser of two evils. But Jake soon discovers that she isn't the woman she's perceived to be. She's warm, compassionate, her presence settling, and his duty to protect her soon goes deeper than a well-paid job, no matter how hard he fights it. He needs absolution. He comes to need Camille. But he knows he can't have both.

Purchase Links: Amazon Barnes and Noble iBooks Kobo

Publishing Date: September 6, 2016

Stars: 4 

My Review:  4 angel and savior stars. I love Jodi Ellen Malpas's style of writing and so as soon as I saw this was coming out, I knew I needed to read it! The overview only further excited me because it was so something I would like to read. I'm happy to say Malpas didn't disappoint me and I thoroughly enjoyed the story. Camille and Jake are explosive, raw and brokenly beautiful.  

Jake, ah, Jake's such a redeemable hero it brings me pain. The book starts off in his point of view and with him just waking up from a nightmare. He's a bit of jerk as he kicks his night "guest" out and continues to go about his own routine. He's an ex-SAS sniper with a bit of a broken soul, a strong sense of justice, a need to protect the innocent and some lingering affects of his time serving his nation. I found I liked him a bit too much and respected him a whole lot. It was much easier to understand him when you read him from his point of view. 

"Go to sleep, Camille." My response is automatic, and so is my need to touch her. I turn a little and reach for her face, pushing some golden wisps of hair from her creamy cheeks. She hums and nuzzles into my touch, her eyes closing. 

And my fucking heart shatters on me. Screwing up my face in agony and despair, I rip my hand away form her face and rise to my feet, battling the rampant impulse to climb into bed and hold her all night. 

Camille made me like her the moment her point of view chapter came. It would appear that she's a spoiled brat like many children of rich parents but she's much more than that. She's someone with a strong character, passion, a strong sense of loyalty and a massive work ethic. She models, but that isn't what her long-term plan is. She's dealt with some messed up stuff in her life and struggles to keep her freedom under her own father's need to control her. 

The first meeting between Camille and Jake is awareness tinged and hilarious. Jake is her new bodyguard and she doesn't want one which is why they are at odds for the first day or so. She tries to outrun him, to get under his skin and so forth for him shadowing her. Jake takes most of it in stride and deals with it because she's a job until she's no longer a job, but the object of his affection. The two dance around one another because the attraction isn't smart, for either of them given the reason Jake's in Camille's life. What the body and heart wants doesn't always line up with what is smart now, does it? The two have to struggle against the media, Camille's father, Jake's past as well as a secret and a very real threat against Camille's life. 

The story is hard hitting, passionate, humorous, complicated and very detailed. There are moments of raunchy sex, verbal sparring, inner struggles and external struggles. If you need something to read, this is what you should pick up.