REVIEWED by Jen B.

TITLE: Protecting Elliot

SERIES: The Protectors #9.5

AUTHOR: Sloane Kennedy

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 112 Pages

RELEASE DATE: October 17, 2017

BLURB: 

Protecting him was just to supposed to be another job. Until it wasn’t.

Two years after surviving a brutal attack from members of his own unit, former Special Forces soldier Cruz de la Vega has found new purpose working for an underground vigilante group that offers justice when the law can’t. When he’s assigned to figure out who attacked a local gay rights activist, Cruz expects it to be just another job.

But when it comes to protecting Elliot Wittier, he soon learns that the last thing he wants is for the intriguing young man to be just another job.
At twenty-five years old, Elliot Wittier is well on his way to having the perfect life. As the head of a hugely successful investment firm and the founder of a prominent foundation, he should be on top of the world.

But looks can be deceiving and Elliot knows how to play the game. With the fear of failing the two most important people in his life always at the forefront of his mind, Elliot keeps an iron-grip on the control that has served him so well in the past. But when a violent attack leaves him vulnerable, Elliot’s carefully constructed world starts to fracture. As he struggles to keep the threat under wraps, he’s thrown off guard when a gorgeous stranger takes an interest in him at a Halloween themed benefit. Throwing caution to the wind, Elliot decides to allow himself the freedom that being with the enigmatic Cruz de la Vega brings for just one night.

But what happens when one night isn’t enough? Or when the past catches up with the present? Can what two men found in each other in just twenty-four hours really last a lifetime?

***Although it features several characters from my other books and is part of the “Protectors” world, Protecting Elliot is a stand-alone novella that can serve as a great way to get a feel for the Protectors/Barretti/Finding universe I’ve created. In regards to the timeline of events, Protecting Elliot occurs after Book 9 in my Protectors series, but it is not necessary to read any other books to enjoy this novella. I’ve specifically written this book to give new readers a chance to meet my guys and for loyal fans to check in with old favorites while still meeting a new couple.***

This story should definitely do as the author intended, and give new people a good taste of her successful series.  If you are already a fan, you definitely won’t want to miss this one either.  While this isn’t specifically about the Barretti crew, they are involved peripherally.  Knowing the background will make it easier to know who’s who, the main guys here are new, and this is their story, so definitely a stand alone.

When Cruz is asked to protect Elliot, it doesn’t take long for him to feel the instant connection.  Getting close to him takes on a new meaning after their first encounter.  Elliot has been rather stressed out after he was attacked at his Foundation.  He has three days to find some missing money from his father’s investment firm which Elliot now heads.  When he meets Cruz at a gala event, the two hit it off with some amazing chemistry, and when Elliot realizes Cruz is able to give him exactly what he has always craved, he decides to let himself partake for the night.

These two end up being the perfect matches for each other.  Elliot has been longing for someone to take control for quite some time.  After having been told by a college boyfriend he is a freak for what he wants, he has had little luck in the sex department.  But Cruz knows exactly what Elliot wants, how much he wants it and when to let up.

This is a fast-paced story, where the romance happens alongside the story at play.  Getting to the bottom of the mystery, both from Elliot and from Cruz’ angles, as well as Cruz protecting Elliot, keeping to the job while his feelings are quickly growing, make this a very enjoyable segment to this series.  It has the same feel and contains the same elements as the previous books, with some delicious little tidbits that make it just a little bit different than the rest.  I continue to be a big fan of this series, and definitely recommend you start from the beginning and enjoy the ride.  I can’t wait for the next installment!