REVIEWED by Jen B.
TITLE: Unexpected
SERIES: The Protectors #10
AUTHOR: Sloane Kennedy
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 359 Pages
RELEASE DATE: November 24, 2017
BLURB:
I finally had the chance at a perfect life when I met the man I was supposed to be with. But he’s gone and chances like that don’t come along twice in one lifetime. Right?
Former president Everett Shaw had his whole life laid out for him from the time he was a child and he lived out every expectation to complete and utter perfection… until he met the one man who changed everything. With plans to leave public life behind after finishing his term in office, Everett was looking forward to a quiet life with the man of his dreams at his side. But one brutal act of violence stole that bright future away, leaving Everett struggling just to get through each day.
A decade later finds Everett nearing the age of sixty and living a shell of a life. Haunted by his loss, he finds solace in his roses and evenings sitting in front of the television. But when his estranged son is horribly injured while saving the life of another, Everett leaves everything behind in the hopes of mending the broken relationship and helping his son heal in more ways than one.
My job is to protect and there are rules that have to be followed. Even if there weren’t, I wouldn’t risk letting anyone close… not again.
Special Agent Jonathan Nash’s job is to keep the former president safe, not be his friend. Even if something about the lonely older man draws him in, he’s not about to risk what’s left of his career for anything. And it’s not like a guy like Everett Shaw would really see him anyway. Nor would he want him to, considering the ugly past Nash left behind to pursue his dream. No, he’s better off following protocol and doing his job. Let someone else deal with the broken man. It’s not his problem… it can’t be.
I learned a long time ago to live life on my terms and that sometimes you have to take that leap of faith to get what you want. But wanting two men at the same time? That’s new, even for me.
At forty-five years old, former Navy SEAL Gage Fortier has experienced success and loss in equal measure, and while his life has taken a direction he never planned, he wouldn’t have it any other way. When Reese, the young man he’s partnered with in the underground vigilante group they both work for, is injured on the job, he sees an opportunity to build on the friendship with the bitter former soldier while giving him a place to recover. But when he discovers that the young man is actually the estranged son of a former U.S. president, Gage realizes he has the chance to give both father and son so much more. There’s only one problem with his plan… how to ignore his growing attraction for the devishly handsome Everett Shaw.
And Everett’s perpetual shadow, Agent Nash.
Three men on very separate courses. Until something unexpected happens and three become one…
*TRIGGER WARNING: This book as a couple of triggers. You can check out what they are by downloading the sample or using the “Look Inside” feature and scrolling to the appropriate page. Note that reading the trigger warnings could cause spoilers.
Can be read as a standalone novel.
The Protectors series crosses over with some of my other series, so for the most enjoyment, they should be read in order, but it is not required. You can find the correct reading order at the beginning of each book. I’ve also bundled all my series in the correct reading order under the title of A Family Chosen: The Protectors and Barrettis.
I fell in love with President Shaw in the previous books as Vincent’s good friend and totally down to earth guy for a POTUS. There is a lot of back story to him that we only got tastes of, about his relationship with Vincent’s brother, his son who won’t have anything to do with him, etc. My heart broke for him in the last book when Reese again pushed Everett away when he clearly needed him most.
I had somehow not realized he would be starring in his own book this time around, but I was really excited to see that was the case when this story picked up right where the last one left off – with Everett still sticking close, but out of sight, of Reese’s bedside.
It is easy to see how much Everett has given up over his lifetime which makes the issues with Reese even more difficult to watch. His life was planned out for him, forcing him to hide his sexuality once he truly discovered it, thereby hiding the relationship and love of his life until it was too late and that love was taken from him. He carries around a tremendous amount of guilt over not fulfilling his promises to be out in the public eye, and once that horrible tragedy occurred, he no longer saw a need. He is now out of office and focusing on repairing the relationship with his son, though that is easier said than done.
Gage, was Reese’s partner when Reese was injured. He sees an opportunity to help when he offers to have Reese recover at his home where he lives with his father and daughter, and he ends up inviting Everett to stay as well. This, of course, means his security as well, which is where Nash comes in. Nash is a somewhat new detail to Everett’s security, though we also met him in the previous book when he had a bit of a clash with Vincent. It takes some doing before each of these guys realizes they are all interested in each other, let alone for them to act on it. There are various things holding them back, but they eventually give in to the pull.
While there are a number of aspects to this story that are just completely unbelievable, if you set those aside and just enjoy the ride, this is yet another super sexy story once you get past all the grief and negative things these guys have gone through (mostly Everett). It is a typical page turner that I’ve come to love and expect from Ms. Kennedy, and if you like threesomes, sexy silver foxes, and seeing them all find happiness, be sure to give this one a try. There is even the bonus of a pretty cool kid and some wonderful and funny pets to round out the edges! Oh, and we also get to see some of the other characters as well, including a happy Vincent/Nathan update! As with the others, I am already looking forward to the next installment!
