Reviewed by Anna Lynn

TITLE:  Watch Me

AUTHOR:  Sloane Kennedy

NARRATOR:  Michael Dean

PUBLISHER:  SK Publishing, LLC

LENGTH: 9 hours and 52 minutes

RELEASE DATE:  December 22, 2020

BLURB:

Nikolai

My rules when it comes to my job in personal protection are pretty simple:

1. Protect the client’s life, not their feelings.
2. Don’t put hands on a client unless you’re getting them out of harm’s way.
3. For God’s sake, don’t do something stupid like fall in love.

Twenty-four hours after meeting Jude Archer, rules one and two are already out the window.

Thankfully, there’s no chance of falling for the callous businessman who cares more about his next deal than he does his own safety.

Jude may have managed to make fools of all the guys his wealthy boss and rumored lover has hired to watch him, but he’s playing in the big leagues now. The son of a bitch might not value his life, but I’m pretty fond of mine.

Time to teach the clueless Jude Archer a few hard lessons….

Jude

My rules for success aren’t for everyone, but they should be.

1. Work hard.
2. When you’re on the verge of giving up, work harder. Life owes you nothing. You have to take what you want.
3. For God’s sake, don’t do something stupid like get distracted by feelings.

With just weeks between me and the closing of the deal that will give me everything I want, I don’t have time to worry about a supposed stalker who hasn’t had the balls to do anything more than send a few threatening letters to my wealthy boss.

Sure, I sent a few so-called bodyguards packing. Even if I thought I was in serious danger, I can’t have someone watching me 24/7. My life works the way it does for a reason and no one, not even the gorgeous Russian ex-soldier who thinks he can scare me into submission, is going to change that.

Nikolai Falkov thinks he has something to teach me? Yeah, good luck with that.

REVIEW:

Protector-Protectee stories have always been one of my favorite tropes in this genre. I remember the first book of a series I read at the start of this journey, and it was that of strong Alpha Male characters who put their lives on the line in order to protect those who cannot protect themselves.

This book is not part of a series, but it has the signature qualities that Ms. Sloane Kennedy is known for. And although it can be considered as slow-burn by some readers, I love the pace on how the story progresses.

Nikolai now works for his best friend instead of co-owning the business. It would be difficult for him to co-own it when his family situation requires his financial assistance, depends on it actually and his best friend knows this from the start. Aside from his job as trainer of their bodyguards, all he can focus on right now is his family, specifically his nephew’s medical needs.

Jude didn’t have an easy childhood (Understatement of the Year!).  He was abandoned in the toys department of a Walmart store when he was just three years old. He’d had a total of four foster families and the group home when there are no families to foster him. It was found out through his case worker from Social Services that he has Dyslexia and that his anxiety level is through the roof. But through his tutor, who never gave up on him no matter what, he was able to conquer these challenges and become who he is supposed to be, a smart and full-of-potential young man who can be the next CEO of TDS Corporation.

Both men have conquered odds that for any other man could have meant defeat or surrender. Through sheer determination and courage to not accept defeat, they did and thrived. Mr. Michael Dean was able to make us listen to all these struggles through his voice whenever Nikolai and Jude spoke. The pain of what Jude goes through every time he becomes anxious. The worry of Nikolai whenever his nephew, Maks, becomes sick again. Every time Nikolai thinks that there is something going on between Jude and Clayton. Jude’s focus and need to accomplish and conquer what he set out to do. All of these feelings can be felt all throughout the story and it makes everything so much more alive. Another milestone to add to an impressive list for both Ms. Sloane Kennedy and Mr. Michael Dean.

RATING:

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