Protecting Mandy

McCallister Military Brothers #1

by Leslie North

Even an ace mechanic can’t repair a broken heart… When Mandy’s father died he left her alone, heartbroken, and buried in crippling debt to an unscrupulous bookie. Now, Mandy’s the proud owner of an auto repair business whose only other mechanic just quit. Things couldn’t get any worse. Until former Navy SEAL Chance McCallister, the man who broke her heart when they were teens, walks through her door. He’s looking to help, and even hotter than she remembers. She’d be crazy to hire him as her new mechanic. And she’d be even crazier to fall in love with him again… Chance knows Mandy’s in trouble. And even though he doesn’t want to get involved, he just can’t stop those feelings flooding his heart, the same way they did when he was a kid. Nothing has changed… Except Mandy is even more beautiful, more fierce, more everything. But he’s not going down that road again. One messy breakup is enough. He’ll protect her. He’ll put his life on the line. And he’ll do what he can to keep her safe. But this time, he’ll protect his own heart as well…

Previously published as SEAL's Homecoming by Leslie North.

Genres: Romance, Military Romance, Military Fiction, Contemporary Romance

219 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 31, 2023

About the author

New to Leslie? Readers suggest starting with 'The Bossy One' (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C6BP3BBF) —Imagine a sunny Minnesotan Mary Poppins, employed by a grumpy Irish billionaire. The story is a blend of humor, revenge, passion, heartbreak, hope, and witty banter. As one reader put it, ‘This story had me squealing at the romantic moments and silly moments.’

Leslie North is the USA Today Bestselling pseudonym for a critically-acclaimed author of romantic comedies and contemporary romance. The anonymity allows her to fully express her creativity, especially in the romantic and fun sexy scenes!

In fact, she confesses to loving her fictional persona, Leslie North, more than her everyday self! Her bestselling books are known for their strong characters, particularly women who aren’t afraid to challenge an alpha bosshole. And the humor? So infectious, you’ll be laughing out loud in public!

Leslie’s love for romance began when she picked up a worn-out romance book from her local library. She started writing soon after, and as they say, the rest was history. She now resides in a cozy cottage on the British coast, enjoying long walks with her two Dalmatians, George and Fergie.

She LOVES reader feedback, and if you have any comments, don’t hesitate to contact her!

I'm Social Too:
Website: www.leslienorthbooks.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/leslienorthbooks
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@leslienorthcomments
Instagram:www.instagram.com/leslienorth_books

Reviews

[ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

no thoughts - head empty.

thank you to netgalley and the author for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Catbytheseareads ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing steamy romance about second chances.
Mandy took over her fathers auto shop after he passed away. Unfortunately, her father's debts have her running scared, losing her only employee along with funds to get by.

Chance comes back to town after retiring from the Navy as a Seal. His father is dying from Cancer and he must decide what to do with his future.

Enjoy this fast paced short story with several twists and turns making this a very enjoyable read.

[Bells · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't well-enough developed to be a good book.

This focused too much on the plot, which wasn't very good either. But in doing so, we didn't get any character development or any way of connecting to its characters. Each time they fought, she ran away from him; which explains why they were apart for 12 years.

I didn't feel curious about where the story was leading, and didn't care much for any of the characters. Honestly, they were quite annoying with their poor communication skills.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this; hopefully the next ones in this series are more to my liking!

[Ashley Carr, LSoR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chance and Mandy were high school sweethearts, but when Chance decided to join the Navy, Mandy broke up with him and walked away. Now, 12 years later, he is back in town to bury his father and Mandy is still working as a mechanic in her father’s garage. They both still have feelings for each other so when Chance sees a seedy character hanging around Mandy’s garage, he knows something is up. Mandy‘s father racked up huge gambling debts before he died and now Mandy has to pay them off. Chance decides to help Mandy out and go to work for her, will they get a second chance? Will he walk out on her again?

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love me a second chance and I adore a military hero. Give me both in one book and throw in a bit of a psychological thriller and I’m willing to be a fan for life. Chance and Mandy have enough chemistry to level a small city. It comes with two lifetimes of unresolved emotional baggage that were almost heartbreaking to witness. I loved watching this pair interact. Chance is all alpha, but Mandy’s no pushover and she stands her ground when it’s needed. I can’t wait to read about the other two McCallister brothers, and a large part of that is because I’m hoping these two are going to be in the background livening things up.
I received a complimentary advance copy of this book through Booksprout.

[Julie (Bookish.Intoxication) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid 3 star read, just engaging enough to keep the pages turning. Very easy to read.
The author feels it necessary to remind the reader that the MMC is a Navy SEAL every other page, which becomes very distracting.
So much happens in such a short amount of time, but it is simple, easy to read, small town romance with a dash of danger.

[BlaireReadsTheThings · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book as part of a box set from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Protecting Mandy
This is a short, fast-paced read that one can probably get through in a day. It has some spice, some suspense, some endearing moments. It is an enjoyable book that I would give 3.5 stars, but I rounded to 4. It isn't going to leave a lasting impression, but it was fun and sweet and I liked it a lot.

I love the unrequited love story that is at the center of the book. I get so excited when people can work through problems and misunderstandings and come out stronger. I'm really excited to read the next two books in the series that focus on Chance's (MMC) brothers (also military).

[Readiculous 📚🖤👱🏼‍♀️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read June 2025: What is better than an protective, dedicated military man?? Still so good! ♥️

Original review:
I was in a bit of a reading slump, but this bad boy seems to have gotten me out of it! I really enjoyed it and had a hard time putting it away when real life intruded.

I normally don’t like second chance romances but this one was executed brilliantly! The love between these two is apparent from the first moment they lock eyes again and only becomes clearer the more time we spend with them. There is no talk about other people during the separation. Both declare to never have stopped loving the other. I like that! Other people / non-celibacy during separation is what makes me not like second chance romances, but luckily that didn’t happen here.

We also get a great plot, sugary sweet romance and spicy steam. And all that in a relatively short book. I’ll definitely be back for more from this author!

Safety:
- No OW (some town girls lust after the H, but he only sees h)
- OM: loan collector thug wants the h in his bed. H takes care of him 😏
- No cheating
- No separation (book starts after 12 year separation)
- No third act break up

[Cath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book one of the McCallister Military Brothers series and the main characters are Chance McCallister, the oldest of the three brothers, who retired from the service and returned to his home town after hearing his father was terminally ill, and Mandy (Amanda) Loomis, who inherited her father’s auto repair business and house, as well as all of his gambling debts. The three brothers, Chance, Harris who is still serving in the military, and Lee who has been retired from his role as a sniper due to an eye injury, are united in their grief for their father and must now work out what they are going to do next. Harris has a month of bereavement leave and would love some time with his brothers, maybe on a road trip, if Chance can get their father’s sports car working. He has to go to the garage for some parts he ordered and was hoping to avoid Mandy, who was the love of his live through high school and the woman he thought he’d marry as soon as they finished high school, but had broken it instead! He arrives and sees a sleazy guy far too close to Mandy and pushes his way into the situation unwanted. The sleazy man is collecting money from her and has been for the last two years, and keeps offering to let her pay off part of her debts by sleeping with him, yuck!

Mandy doesn’t want Chance to know what she is struggling with, as she knows full well that he will probably rush in and try to protect her and save her as well. She still hasn’t gotten over her heartbreak when they were teens and he left her to join the military without even telling her his plans, breaking her heart! He is even hotter than she can remember, and being in the military has helped him grow into a well-built man he is today. Mandy is struggling with all the debts her father caused by his gambling, with the chance she could lose her family home as well as the garage. Her friend Pepper has moved in to help her and support her, but has also been pulled into the drama of the loan shark’s goon when Mandy tried to involve the authorities. The garage is super busy beign the only one in town, but she now has no money to even pay her one remaining mechanic and he ends up leaving. Chance volunteers to work as a mechanic for her and starts almost immediately, pulling in lots of the women in town, who mainly come to ogle him! He only has eyes for Mandy though and they finally manage to talk about what happened when they left high school, although the first attempt doesn’t go quite so well.

Chance can’t change the type of man he is, he always stood up for people even as a kid but often got labelled a bully, when he was the one to stop the bullies hurting other kids. It got him labelled wrongly as trouble in town and he isn’t sure he would be welcome and can already hear the gossip going around. He knows Mandy is in serious trouble, especially since she was the one who was usually with him stopping the bullies back in the day, and she looked really scared and not herself when the sleazy man in a suit came to collect from her. He needs to do something and has to come up with a plan. The military helped him to deal with his anger issues and to think and plan his actions, rather than jumping in head first anymore. He will need his training to save Mandy from this situation, but of course he will mess things up in his own little way. Matters will get far more dangerous as things don’t necessarily work out as he had hoped, but he needs the big wig’s name to be able to get anyone in law enforcement to take the next step. Of course, they have both reignited their feelings for each other, they just have to make sure they don’t make the same mistakes as the first time around. A great read and realistic issues for Mandy and Chance to deal with, for them to get a chance of a new life together at last. I can’t wait to see the other brothers meet with the loves of their lives and what they might have to go through to get there. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.

[Stox4story · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lies, All Lies … they may deny it, but they needed each other

Neither Chance or Mandy had fallen out of love. Oh yes, after that fateful night that led to their breakup, they pushed the other back into the recess of their minds, but you know what they say…. denial isn’t a river in Egypt. When seeing each other face to face again, that ‘river’ started to overflow.

Mandy was in trouble and Chance was going make sure she stayed safe. Her deceased dad left her with their house and his garage. He also left her with a mountain of debt, gambling debt, and the ruthless bookie was out to be paid … by hook or by crook. After spending many years as a Navy Seal, Chance new how to handle ‘bad guys’. You almost can feel sorry for that loss shark …. but I said almost, read on and you’ll see what I mean… Let’s just say, what the Feds couldn’t do, a well trained Seal could.

💕LIKES

✒︎ I loved some of the phrases… some are LOL while others bring a gotcha smirk.

…“But it was obvious the thugs only understood the language of fists. Luckily, Chance was fluent.”

…“He had so many weapons in his reach—from pens, to bottles, to plastic chairs—but Chance stuck with his fists” “and feet. No need to land in jail for killing the goons.”

… “You two die first,” he promised them.
“You can’t touch us,” Walter sneered, obviously too stupid to understand he’d already condemned himself. “You do anything—” He pointed at the phone still in Buzz Cut’s meaty hand, “—your girlfriend pays the price.”
“You die next. Chance narrowed his eyes. In fact, you die slowest.”

And that’s just a smattering of the good parts, the parts of the story that cry out: he who laughs first, laughs last. However, as much as I loved the suspense and action I disliked all the mush and unseemly language, especially the casual use of profanity. No, not from the thugs, it was in everyday conversation, thoughts and self talk.

🤔 OBSERVATIONS:

✒︎ Chance left his small hometown for the Navy. He left not in good standing. He was always fighting bullies and helping the underdog, but somehow he got the blame instead of the praise. Attitudes changed after his 12 year stint in the service. The town’s judgmental matriarchs started seeing him through a different lens.

✒︎ Second chance together after 12 loooong years… At first I didn’t like Many much, but she grew on me as I kept reading.

✒︎ The real plot in this book was fantastic. It was intense and full of drama. I just wish we had more of that instead of the distraction(s) listed below

… I didn’t need all the steamy verbiage or thoughts, nor reading the Sovereign’s name spoken in a casual, loose and/or callous manner.

… Mandy inherited her problems when her dad died. Danger loomed. Unfortunately it took too many pages to get into this part of the story. I love romantic suspense, with the emphasis being on the suspense element and not the bedroom. A good romance doesn’t require a lot of steamy detail.

… This was a fast pace read, partly due to skipping over all the mush to get to the action. However, later in the book we get to see some true romantic parts, the kind that speaks, shouts and reveals real love. So I gave 5+ stars for the action and for the good romance while I gave 2 stars for the not so good romance and language…. 5 + 5 + 2 = 12….Divide that by 3 and I get 4…. Thus four stars it is.

… I would have liked seeing Chance’s brothers, Harris and Lee, involved in the takedown. With their military training in different specialties, that could have been a sight for poor eyes, intense and humorous at the same time.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Donna Repsher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Protecting Mandy is the first book in Leslie North's McCallister Military Brothers series, and it was a fairly good small town, romantic suspense, second chance at love romance, with one major flaw, which kept me from giving this novel more than a 3-star rating.

Chance McCallister, a Navy SEAL and his brothers, also military men, are back in their small home town in Georgia to bury their father. Chance has retired after serving for 12 years, and is wondering what to do with the rest of his life, as are his brothers, Harris and Lee. All that their father had left them was the house in which they grew up, but when Chance spots the classic '67 Shelby Mustang in the garage, he decides to get it road-worthy, having spent much of his younger years working at the local garage, owned by the father of his high school sweetheart, Mandy. After signing his Navy enlistment papers, he went to Mandy's house, planning to propose to her, but when he told her about his enlistment, she broke up with him and slammed the door in his face, breaking both his heart and hers.

When he called the garage to order a part he needs for the car restoration, he spoke with a male mechanic, but when he goes to pick it up, he spots Mandy being harrassed by a slimy character, and he tries to protect her. What he didn't know when he left for the Navy was that Mandy's father had a gambling addiction, and when he passed on 2 years earlier, the loan shark expected her to pay off her dad's gambling debts, which were huge. And what Mandy did back then is the beginning of the problem I had with this novel. Mandy called the FBI, and tried to enlist their aid to stop the threats and coercion from the loan shark's henchman, and at first agreed to use her as a confidential informant and gather evidence to put them away--WRONG!

It took me less than one minute to research this, and my suspicions were confirmed--an individual can't just call the FBI and ask them to help with what is a local crime. The FBI doesn't work cases limited to one state unless the crime is an interstate one, like kidnapping, and even then, they should be contacted by the local or state police for their assistance. Granted, Mandy may not have thought that the local police in her small Georiga town could handle the matter, and instead she should have called in the state police and asked for their help. I spent the rest of this novel, which was an otherwise sexy, suspenseful and well-written novel wondering why the author and/or her editor(s) didn't pick up on this easy to research fact. I'm a stickler for research and when an author doesn't do it, I find it extremely frustrating, and the issue continues with the FBI getting involved later in the novel, something they shouldn't and wouldn't have done in reality.

So, while I enjoyed the romance, the suspense, the rekindled steamy relationship between the two main characters, and the eventual HEA ending, the author's failure to do some simple fact-finding research kept me from really enjoying this novel. If you don't have a problem with it, you'll probably enjoy this novel more than I did.

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions stated are my own.

[Rebmay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a fascinating second chance at love with all the messy emotions that usually entails and a good bit of action and supense added to make the story more compelling. Twelve years ago, Mandy and Chance had been teenagers in love with dreams of a future together. His decision to enlist in the Navy without discussing it with her, without asking what her own dreams were, was one of the reasons she ended things between them and broke both their hearts.

Now Chance has returned to town a retired Navy SEAL and is at loose ends after losing his father. He spends some of his time trying to get the vintage car that had belonged to his father running while remembering all the time he spent with Mandy in her father’s garage learning to fix cars. He tells himself to stay away from Mandy, to stop thinking about the woman who broke his heart and whose picture he has carried with him for years. Of course picking up the parts he ordered at her father’s garage means Chance could run into her, to see for himself how she had changed over the years. He is stunned to see she is even more beautiful than when she was a teenager. He also notices that she is scared and in trouble, putting every protective instinct in him on alert. Chance already has a suspicion of what’s going on given her late father’s propensity for gambling and losing when he convinces her to let him help her in the garage after her mechanic quits. Discovering he is right means Chance is going to do everything he can, including using the deadly skills he learned as a SEAL, to protect the woman he has always loved. Feisty, independent and determined, Mandy certainly won’t make it easy. She doesn’t want anyone else to be a target or to get hurt trying to help her. They will have to work together to try to thwart the thugs and their boss and stick pretty darn close for safety reasons. Not that it should be hardship, or at least it wouldn’t be if they admit that they still love each other and give in to their fierce desire for each other. Tangled up emotions, old pain and insecurities all have to be confronted before they can attempt to build a happily ever after of their dreams.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mandy is struggling to keep it all together. Her father died two years ago and left her owing a dangerous man a lot of money. As her world is unravelling, the man she loved and lost 12 years ago is back to wreak havoc on her personal life. Chance has missed Mandy every day of the 12 years they've been apart. He knows something is wrong and his need to help Mandy is almost overwhelming. Can they work out the differences that caused them to break up in the first place? Can Chance help Mandy or will she push him away?

Both Chance and Mandy start out the story as fully formed adults with lives of the own and careers. Chance is back in town because his father died, and Chance has retired from the military. He doesn't know what he wants to do with his life but once he sees Mandy he is sure he wants her back in his life. His growth curve isn't huge but it's pretty emotional. I thought the author made some good choices in how Chance learned to listen to Mandy and how he worked to help her solve her problem. Mandy has trust issues for obvious reasons. The author did a good job showing Mandy's reluctance but also showing how Mandy slowly learned to trust her instincts about Chance being her future. There is a small town that plays a part in the story and Chance's two brothers help to push the story along.

I thought the bad guy was a bit one dimensional. The author could have drawn out the story by making him more complex, but it wasn't necessary since the story was laser focused on Chance and Mandy and not the peripheral parts of the story.

This is a small town, second chance romance. This is book one in a new series.
I will read more from this author in the future.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty fast-paced second chance/romantic suspense book. I honestly thought the rapid pace at the end was a bit unrealistic. The villain being defeated happened way too quick to be realistic. It didn't seem status quo that FBI could mobilize that quickly for a secondary case they're working. But what do I know?

Mandy and Chance were high school sweethearts, but when Chance decided to enlist in the Navy without telling Mandy, she broke things off with him (he had planned on proposing that same day, oops). Fast forward over a decade and Chance is retired and back home after burying his father. He figured he'd avoid Mandy, but that's not how life goes, especially when he's visiting the garage she owns to pick up a part for his dad's vintage car. They rekindle their relationship pretty quickly. Sure, there's still some hurt from how things went down when they were teens. But it's like they fell right back into a routine at work and in bed. Their chemistry is hot and believable and I was really pulling for them to get their second chance.

Mandy definitely needed a break. Life had treated her pretty crappy for 2 years as she was trying to pay off her dead father's debt to a loan shark. When Chance catches the perv bullying Mandy, he can't just sit back and let her be treated that way. Mandy was pretty stubborn and didn't want Chance to step in, which was annoying. But eventually she sees that Chance is a very capable SEAL who can hold his own against thugs. He handles business efficiently and they get their HEA.

I wish we had seen more of Chance's brothers. I know they'll get their own story, but they were only briefly introduced before the author sent them on their way across county.

[TrishAM · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great introduction, by Leslie North, to the McCallister family.
The three McCallister brothers were home, Chance had quit being a much decorated navy SEAL to be with his father in his last days, Lee, his younger brother, a sniper, had been discharged due to an injury that had stopped him doing the job that he loved, only Harris, the middle brother had to return to the navy.
Chance had joined the navy when he saw it as a chance to make a good life for him and his first love, Mandy Loomis, the girl who he never forgot, the girl who broke his heart, the girl who's picture he had kept with him through all the darkest days when on missions.
Chance had spent a lot of his childhood at the Loomis auto repair shop, learning the trade from Mandy's father, he was shocked to see that the workshop was still running but with Mandy in charge. It was obvious to Chance that Mandy was in trouble but could he risk getting his heart broken again, it had taken a long time to build up the barriers round his heart.
What was Mandy's story ? what was she keeping from him ? why, if the garage was doing so well, didn't she have any money ?
Chance was not the hothead that he had been when he joined the navy, he was a man, Mandy had never stopped loving him and she knew that he wanted to help but could she put his life in danger ? and could she risk getting her heart broken when once again he left town leaving her alone .
This is a lovely second chance story and I look forward to reading Harris and Lee's stories.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Laura Moylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chance McCallister is in dress whites at his father’s grave. He hasn’t been back home since he enlisted in the Navy and now has retired from being a Navy Seal. Harris, the middle brother has to return to being a Marine in less than a month. The youngest brother, Lee, at 28, is retired from being an Army Ranger sniper, because his eye is not up to snuff. Their father, Ray, fought liver cancer and lost.

Chance lost the love his life when he enlisted. Mandy and her dad worked the garage in town and Chance had worked there and learned so much. Now it has been 12 years and he is home and would end up seeing her. Her mechanic, Vince, had ordered parts for Chance so he was going there to pick them up.

However, poor Amanda “Mandy” Loomis had inherited the garage from her father as well as his debt to the loan shark he had borrowed from before his death. A lot happens and Chance figures out that she is in trouble. Walter is one of the men that work for the loan shark and he comes often to get payment. So much in fact, that she is behind on paying Vince. Chance is upset to find out that her father, George has passed. He still doesn’t understand why she broke up with him when he enlisted.

So much happens in this book! Um my fight scenes. Steamy romance. A few arguments that clear up all the cobwebs of the past. I can see both point of views on that and agree with both. I wanted to put a beat down on Walter and his thugs and practically bounced myself off the bed during the fight scenes. Yeah, I’m accident prone, lol.

I love this book and I can’t wait for the next one….

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Happily Ever After Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed at Happily Ever After Romance

Protecting Mandy kicks off the McCallister Military Brothers series with a fast-paced second-chance romance between one-time high school sweethearts who were torn apart by circumstance and a choice. Now, more than a decade later, Chance is back in his hometown – and Mandy is in serious trouble… and that old spark is still there.

I had fun with Mandy and Chance’s story. The characters are engaging and likable; their history makes Mandy and Chance’s past and future blend together in an all-grown-up way. I liked Mandy’s independence, yet if anyone could help her in this situation, it would be Chance. They shared a past, and they each made mistakes. Now they have the opportunity to resolve what tore them apart, but only if they’ll really listen to each other and their hearts this time. Watching them fall once again was an enjoyable journey filled with some suspense, some bad guys, and perhaps some much-needed clarity on what truly happened all those years ago.

If you enjoy a second chance romance with a touch of suspense and a likable couple with engaging secondary characters who will one day have their own tale told, then you’ll enjoy Protecting Mandy.

Previously published as SEAL’s Homecoming.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the author or author’s team via Booksprout, and I sincerely thank them for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

[Stef · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in the McCallister series by Leslie North, and it's safe to say we're off to a good start.
Mandy Loomis and Chance McCallister fell in love at a young age. They loved each other passionately, to the point of thinking they would marry one another. Until the moment Chance decided to join the Navy. That left Mandy heartbroken, so she broke up with him. Fast forward to 12 years later. Neither Chance nor Mandy are the teens they used to be. Both of them have grown on every level, but the only thing that hasn't changed is the love they have for each other. The immediate pull is there on their first meet, and don't even get me started on the sexual tension. There's a slight problem, however - Mandy's father left her a car repair shop, along with a huge debt she has to pay off. When her life is put at risk and men are threatening to hurt her, there's one person who swears to protect her. Her ex-boyfriend. The love of her life. And it only takes one kiss to finally ignite the spark between them.
I enjoyed reading this. The plot was solid. Great character development. I liked Mandy - she was independent and fierce, while Chance had his alpha male moments. Although I feel as if I liked his brothers even more. They were just so funny at times (and I always fall for the funny guys:)). I think I'm way more hyped about the other two books.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lois · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can love endure a 12 year absence?

When George Loomis died, he left his daughter, Mandy, a crushing debt to repay to his bookie. She's barely been able to hold onto the auto repair business and the  house she inherited. She's really left in a bind when her only mechanic quit because he needed a steady, not piecemeal, paycheck. Then Chance McCallister steps in to help her.

To help with his grief and dealing with the myriad of details related to their dad's death, Chance has started restoration on classic Mustang his dad bought a few years ago. He's left the Navy and convinces Mandy to let him work at the garage for a nominal wage. It doesn't take him long to see that something bad is going on and that Mandy is caught up in it.

Chance met Mandy 15 years ago and hasn't seen her for 12 years. He had plans to marry her. That is before she ripped his heart out just before he left for the Navy. Little did he realize that he had done the same thing to her. None of that matters when he first spots her again. It's like the first time all over again. His only thought is MINE. When Mandy sees Chance again she thinks HOME.

He may have been a Navy SEAL for 8 years but he's not a magician. The FBI wasn't able to help her before so how can he hope to?

Can't wait to see what's in the future for his 2 younger brothers, Harris and Lee.

I received an ARC of this book from the author via Booksprout. I am voluntarily leaving this review.

[MammaDi3Gatti · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars

I know "Leslie North" is supposed to be a pseudonym for "a critically-acclaimed author of women's contemporary romance and fiction" who uses the pen name to allow her to experiment with other romance subgenres, but I'm not sure I believe it. I have read several North books, and they never read as if they're by a single author, let alone a critically acclaimed one. I'm always telling myself not to pick up another one, but then I get hopeful. Once again, I was let down.

I liked Mandy well enough; it is fun that she's a mechanic with hair that frizzes in the humidity (gurl, I getchu). Chance is okay but a bit dense. It feels like his SEAL background is there for convenience more than character development though, and it's rare to have a retired SEAL hero who doesn't seem to have former SEAL buddies on his six. When he goes around Mandy and instantly partners with the FBI (with no vetting or anything), it's hard not to roll your eyes.

In the meantime, intimate scenes seem written by someone else and just dropped in randomly for instant gratification. I wouldn't have minded as much if they were better written, but the kinky bits come off immature and cringy.

Oof, I hate to write negative reviews, but I promise honesty for all my reviews.

I received an ARC of this book for free from the publisher and Netgalley. I'm writing this review voluntarily, and it reflects my honest opinion. Thanks!

[Linda Whitacre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second Chance to Reclaim Love
Mandy has been through a lot lately. Her father ran an auto repair shop in their small home town and as she got older she learned about the business from dad. Her dream was to run the business eventually with a husband after her dad retired but that didn’t happen. Dad died. The surprise he left Mandy though was a boatload of gambling debt owed to a mafia bad guy. This creep wants his money or else. The shop is plenty busy but Mandy is the only employee left. She’s stuck working long exhausting days but most of the money she makes goes to the gangsters. Her life is a living hell.
Chance McCallister was a troubled boy when he left for the Navy. He thought he’d be taking his girlfriend Mandy, soon-to-be wife, with him but she broke up with Chance when she learned he joined the military. Both have been hurting and bitter since. Chance is a retired Navy SEAL now and is trying to find his next adventure. He is in town for a short visit when he sees Mandy and it’s just like the first time. Mandy needs his help and he’s going to be there for her then he will leave. I really liked Mandy and Chance. The story was interesting with action and romance. The ending was sweet. I received an advanced copy of this story from Booksprout and these are my thoughts. Linda

[Korkoi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rekindling A Love That Never Went Away -
When Chance returned home after he left the SEAL’s he never expected to find the love of his life was not only still in town, but she was still single. Mandy was struggling to deal with the mess her father left her when he passed away, but what really threw her was when the love of her life, who broke her heart walked back into her life.

When Chance realised Mandy was in trouble, his protective instincts kicked in and he wanted to help her, but he knew he had to tread carefully, so she would agree. It took spending time together for Mandy to finally open up and agree to Chance’s offer to help her. Luckily, Chance’s time in the navy allowed him to plan and strategise with the right people to resolve the issue safely, so they could get back on track towards their second chance at a happy life together.

This story has a great storyline, interesting characters and sizzling chemistry, that made it a fantastic page turner. Now throw in a sexy alpha protective SEAL, who is prepared to defend his woman’s and engages in steamy, panty melting encounters, then you should know that this book is a definite must read. Grab a copy now and it will leave you looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Candace Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"When he thought of the future, Mandy wasn't just in it. She was it, always had been."

"From the first day I met you, you stole my heart. We've travelled a hard road to get here, but I cannot picture a future without you in it."

"I know what home means now, and you're it for me. No matter where we live. I'll be home."

After retiring from the military Chance heads to his small hometown, He ends up walking right into his ex-girlfriends mechanic shop. Mandy ended up acquiring her fathers shop. Not only did she get his home and shop but his debt as well. Chance wants to find out what she's hiding from him and he doesn't give us easily all while wondering if they still have a connection.

Protecting Mandy was a fast and simple read. It had love, action, spice and mystery. The plot was written well and I was able to grasp the story. I enjoyed the side characters a lot. They connection's they all had together was really entertaining. Watching how Chance and Mandy's relationship bloomed into something better then what it was before was beautiful. The spice level was 2/5. My only complaint about Protecting Mandy was the ending felt rushed. It went from action packed to The End in just a few pages. Overall this was a enjoyable read and I would try another book by Leslie North.

* Small Town
* Second chance romance
* Protective MMC
* Female Mechanic
* HEA

[Adrienne Cleminson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mandy is trying her best. Her father died unexpectedly, leaving her with an enormous gambling debt and a suffering business. She has just lost her only employee when her ex highschool sweetheart, Chance, walks back into her life. Chance has returned to town when his dad’s health becomes terminal. After his dad’s passing and his retirement from the Navy, he didn't know what to do next. He finds out that Mandy needs help running the garage that they spent many days together back in high school. Chance soon figures out that Mandy is in over her head with a ruthless loan shark. Chances uses his military training to help save the love of his life.


PROTECTING MANDY is a romance about second chances. Neither Mandy nor Chance ever got over each other, and they are now back in the same town with the chance to see if the love they once shared is still burning. This book takes some pretty heavy topics; losing loved ones, gambling, breakups, and manages to keep the overall story pretty light-hearted. Some of the lines were cheesy. The romance and sex scenes read like they were written independently and awkwardly placed in the book. This is my first Leslie North book, and overall, I did like it. 


Thank you, NetGalley, Relay Publishing, and Leslie North, for the opportunity to read this digital ARC for my honest review.

[Yvonne Cruz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book introduces the readers to the McAllister brothers. Three men who have devoted their adult lives to the military. They are all back home after the death of their father not sure what the future holds.
This story belongs to the oldest, former Navy SEAL Chance McCallister.
He left town 12 years ago leaving behind the girl he loved and never forgot, and the town’s gossipers.
Mandy Loomis was that girl. After her father’s death , she took over her father’s auto repair business and unbeknownst to her until that time, she has inherited as well, his debt to a bookie. Nowadays Mandy is struggling to keep the business opened and stay safe.
Her life is turned upside down even more when Chance shows up. He realizes she’s in some kind of trouble and asks for a job in order to keep an eye on her wellbeing as well as winning her back.
As they start anew, so does the danger.
In the end, will they be able to overtake the evil? If they do , will Mandy be able to trust that Chance will not leave her again? Can Chance convince Mandy that he never stopped loving her?
This was a good beginning to the series.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Booksprout. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

[Julie Goss]

This is the first book in the McAllister Military Brothers series, and doesn't disappoint.

Chance comes home to spend time with his dad during his last days, and after his death must find a new path and job after retiring from the Navy SEALs.

When he left his hometown to join the Navy, he also left behind the love of his life Mandy. Mandy Loomis has remained ding what she always said she would do and is running her father George garage after his death. However he has left her piles of gambling debts and lots of trouble from those who want to collect.

After seeing an unscrupulous character handing around appearing to upset and threaten Mandy and her having her only other mechanic quit as she is struggling to pay him, Chance steps into help her having spent as much time at the garage during his teenage years as Mandy.

Along side the SEALs investigation to get to the bottom of Mandy's money problems, the spark of their unforgotten love for each other still burns, but can Mandy trust him to stay after he left her broken hearted when he made the decision without consulting her to join the Navy.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chance and Mandy's Story . . .

When Chance McCallister, retired Navy SEAL, and his two brothers came home to attend their father’s funeral, he hadn’t seen Amanda Loomis who broke up with him before he entered the Navy. Unfortunately, Mandy's father, George Loomis, had a serious gambling problem and incurred a huge debt with a bookie.

Mandy now owns the Loomis Automotive Company and for two years has been forced to continue paying on her father’s debt to a disgusting debt collector named Walter. Walter picks up the payments regularly, but the disgusting man says he would wipe out her debt if she sleeps with him. When she holds out, he tries to force her and Chance was able to rescue her. She desperately needs help but she is an independent woman and doesn’t want to get back into a relationship, especially with all the problems in her life right now. Will she be able to trust Chance again, forgive him for leaving, and open herself to a new relationship with him?

This was an exciting book that I highly recommend. The characters are well defined, and the story line is fast-paced and exciting. The twists and turns keep up the suspense and the reader will love to see some surprises along the way! Don’t miss this one!

[Spinneretta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

Chance and Mandy

Twelve years ago, their relationship ended in tears when Chance joined the Navy, now he’s back in town for his father’s funeral, and newly retired from the military.
Mandy is struggling to hold together the business she inherited from her father, his debts eating up any profit she might expect to make from it all, and she’s at the mercy of the thugs trying to make her pay any way they can.
She’s terrified of someone else getting hurt, and unwilling to trust Chance initially; but it’s not long before their old feelings reignite, and before the born protector decides it’s time he put an end to the threat.

This is the first book of the McCallister Military Brother trilogy, featuring the oldest son, Chance, and his high school sweetheart.
It’s a sweet, sexy, second chance romance (makes for a good pun doesn’t it?!) with a small town setting, and three heroic brothers having made good.
There’s plenty of action (though most of it is later), lots of sexy scenes, and some romance too.
It’s a quick, romantic suspense read, which fans of the genre will enjoy.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in a series of the McCallister brothers; Chance, Harris and Lee.

Chance, Harris and Lee are back in their hometown to bury their father. Each have a military background but only Harris is still active duty.

Chance came back after 12 years and is still carrying a torch for his first love, Mandy Loomis.

Mandy also has lost her father and is trying to keep his garage open. She has worked with her father since she was a kid and now has to try and deal with everything on her own as her one and only mechanic just quit.

Chance ends up at the shop picking up an order and there is Mandy. He then finds out she has also lost her father.
He realizes he still has feelings for her and after seeing a seedy guy at the shop, he wonders what is going on and finds out she is in trouble.

This book has lots of depth, heat and suspense and a great ending. I love the characters and can't wait to read the other two McCallister brothers' books.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the beginning of a new series. Chance is the oldest of the 3 brothers. He and Mandy were high school sweethearts. Chance had conflicts with his own father, and preferred to work in her family auto garage. After graduation, Mandy broke up with Chance when she found out he enlisted with Navy without discussing with her first. 12 years later, Chance retires from Navy and comes home for his father’s funeral. Chance notices Mandy is in trouble and doesn’t hesitate to volunteer to work in her garage to help out. It turns out when Mandy’s father died, she inherited the house and garage, along with her father’s heavy gambling debts. Now the loan shark is coming to collect, threatening Mandy and her roommate. Their chemistry is still hot as ever and they still know each other better than anyone else. Chance will not let Mandy slip away this time. So he reaches out to FBI to play undercover, risking his own life for Mandy. This story is cute and sexy with lot of actions. I like the pace and length of the story too.