Protecting What's Mine

Hannah Brooks works as a bodyguard-for-hire, hiding her profession behind the cover of an interpreter. She takes on an assignment protecting famous romance novelist Jack Stapleton from an obsessed fan. Jack lives on a farm in Virginia and initially resists having a bodyguard, especially one posing as his fiancée for appearance's sake. The close quarters and forced proximity of their arrangement create tension between them as Hannah works to keep Jack safe. The story combines elements of romantic suspense with small-town dynamics, exploring themes of trust, vulnerability, and the contrast between public personas and private selves. Hannah and Jack each carry emotional baggage that shapes their approach to relationships and intimacy. Their journey illustrates how past experiences can both hinder and ultimately strengthen new connections, and examines the balance between protecting oneself and opening up to others. The book considers what it means to feel truly safe - both physically and emotionally.

Readers on Goodreads and Amazon highlight the chemistry between the main characters and creative twists on familiar romance tropes. Many reviewers mention laughing out loud at the banter and interactions between the leads. What readers liked: - Humor and witty dialogue - Small town setting details - Development of side characters - Balance of romance and suspense elements - Satisfying conclusion to series storylines What readers disliked: - Slow pacing in middle sections - Some found the conflict resolution rushed - A few readers wanted more backstory on secondary characters - Occasional editing issues noted Ratings: Goodreads: 4.28/5 (13,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (8,000+ ratings) BookBub: 4.4/5 (2,000+ ratings) "The humor had me snorting with laughter" - Goodreads reviewer "Perfect blend of steam and sweetness" - Amazon reviewer "Wraps up loose ends from previous books beautifully" - BookBub reviewer

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🌟 Lucy Score wrote this book as part of her Benevolence series, which features interconnected standalone romances set in a small Pennsylvania town. 📚 The story follows a protective firefighter hero and a pastry chef heroine, combining two popular romance tropes: the protective alpha male and the small-town setting. 🔥 Lucy Score is a Wall Street Journal and #1 Amazon bestselling author who left her corporate career in 2014 to pursue writing full-time. 🧁 The book delves into the world of professional baking, showcasing realistic details about running a bakery business and the challenges faced by small business owners. 👨‍🚒 The author conducted research with real firefighters to accurately portray the profession, including details about firefighting techniques, station life, and emergency response protocols.