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Close Protection
Close Protection
A bodyguard’s life is turned upside down by his intriguing new charge. After three consecutive expulsions for sexual misconduct, Luca D'Amato has no choice but to return to America. Jacob Ryder is the man charged with protecting him from his family's many enemies – but who will protect Ryder from Luca?
890 pages, ebook
First published November 18, 2012
208 people are currently reading
9648 people want to read
About the author
Cordelia Kingsbridge
32 books1,232 followersCordelia Kingsbridge has a master's degree in social work from the University of Pittsburgh, but quickly discovered that direct practice in the field was not for her. Having written novels as a hobby throughout graduate school, she decided to turn her focus to writing as a full-time career. Now she explores her fascination with human behavior, motivation, and psychopathology through fiction. Her weaknesses include opposites-attract pairings and snarky banter.
Away from her desk, Cordelia is a fitness fanatic, and can be found strength training, cycling, and practicing Krav Maga. She lives in South Florida but spends most of her time indoors with the air conditioning on full blast!
Away from her desk, Cordelia is a fitness fanatic, and can be found strength training, cycling, and practicing Krav Maga. She lives in South Florida but spends most of her time indoors with the air conditioning on full blast!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 260 reviews
August 20, 2016
4.5 Stars.
Luca
Ryder
890 Pages,50 chapters.....this one would normally not be on my radar......BUT....I read a friend's review and followed her updates and just had to read it and I'm so glad I did.Let's face it...a book that took me a week to read and I didn't lose interest,to me that's an indication of a good book.
Let's get down to it....there's an age difference and please don't judge me but I find that so hot.
Luca is young,highly promiscuous....but you have to understand his past to understand the way he is.
Ryder is 28 and has his own past to deal with.He is Luca's bodyguard but this isn't a typical story at all.They are definitely both attracted to each other but there's so much more going on....it's not a fluffy relationship at all.
This is a hot one,without a doubt.Luca is just so filthy dirty and likes to be in control but there's a lot more to the book.
This is definitely the longest book I've read but it's tantamount to the Authors writing that it didn't feel that long,it completely held my attention......my only negative is that I wanted an Epilogue....I felt as though I'd gone on such a journey with these two that I wanted just a bit more at the end...
Luca
Ryder
890 Pages,50 chapters.....this one would normally not be on my radar......BUT....I read a friend's review and followed her updates and just had to read it and I'm so glad I did.Let's face it...a book that took me a week to read and I didn't lose interest,to me that's an indication of a good book.
Let's get down to it....there's an age difference and please don't judge me but I find that so hot.
Luca is young,highly promiscuous....but you have to understand his past to understand the way he is.
Ryder is 28 and has his own past to deal with.He is Luca's bodyguard but this isn't a typical story at all.They are definitely both attracted to each other but there's so much more going on....it's not a fluffy relationship at all.
This is a hot one,without a doubt.Luca is just so filthy dirty and likes to be in control but there's a lot more to the book.
This is definitely the longest book I've read but it's tantamount to the Authors writing that it didn't feel that long,it completely held my attention......my only negative is that I wanted an Epilogue....I felt as though I'd gone on such a journey with these two that I wanted just a bit more at the end...
August 25, 2015
i have never before had the experience of skimming two hundred thousand words.
so crushingly dull and repetitive i found myself in a "subspace" of my own: a kind of unholy fugue of misery and self-harm i refused to end because i was so angry at myself for letting another boy break my heart in december
the whole time i'm punishing myself with this, i'm thinking
...something so utterly grating about the gleeful self-indulgence of an author who can spend ten thousand words on a single awkward family dinner to no purpose whatsoever
the unwillingness to regard any one thousand of over a quarter of a million words as less-perfect than any other thousand
the sheer stupidity of the plot
the mindlessly self-righteous grinding about safe sex and the toxicity of bodily fluids sometimes only a paragraph away from greedy cockgobbling and come-swallowing, like that's a completely different thing or something
the devastating waste of a compellingly atypical main romantic pairing
the heedless inclusion of everything from rape to high school bullying to mystical fuck-trances to corporate espionage to gun batturs to stalkers to museum visits to kidnapping to drug busts to psychotic breakdowns
the endless talking and talking and talking...
...wait, why am i still talking
i am free
it's finally over
i am freeeeeeee
so crushingly dull and repetitive i found myself in a "subspace" of my own: a kind of unholy fugue of misery and self-harm i refused to end because i was so angry at myself for letting another boy break my heart in december
the whole time i'm punishing myself with this, i'm thinking
...something so utterly grating about the gleeful self-indulgence of an author who can spend ten thousand words on a single awkward family dinner to no purpose whatsoever
the unwillingness to regard any one thousand of over a quarter of a million words as less-perfect than any other thousand
the sheer stupidity of the plot
the mindlessly self-righteous grinding about safe sex and the toxicity of bodily fluids sometimes only a paragraph away from greedy cockgobbling and come-swallowing, like that's a completely different thing or something
the devastating waste of a compellingly atypical main romantic pairing
the heedless inclusion of everything from rape to high school bullying to mystical fuck-trances to corporate espionage to gun batturs to stalkers to museum visits to kidnapping to drug busts to psychotic breakdowns
the endless talking and talking and talking...
...wait, why am i still talking
i am free
it's finally over
i am freeeeeeee
April 25, 2018
This is the slowest slow burn to ever slow. Or burn.
Is it perfect?
Hell no!
It's long AF. Some of it is repetitive. There's some stuff that prolly didn't need to be in there because it doesn't advance the story.
But it would be a big, fat, honkin' lie if I said I didn't get consumed by this story-staying up too late, getting up too early, neglecting my jungle of a yard that is literally crying for a mowing, but I just could not stop reading this.
Granted, I was somewhat disappointed by the conclusion of the suspense storyline. As a reader I like to have a viable shot at figuring out who the bad guy is; that doesn't really happen. However, I was really caught up in the action/adventure of it all, so there is that.
Luca and Ryder and their dynamic are what makes this story so addictive, though. I think CK's greatest authorial gift is characterization. Both of these men are fully realized. And they got under my skin.
Luca's a complex character. He struggles with anxiety and has historically "self-medicated" with sex. His need for control coupled with his ruthlessness has gotten him expelled from three different boarding schools in Europe. Thus, he has to return to the states and since he's alienated members of his close protection team with his behaviors his mother appoints ex-Army soldier Jacob Ryder to head his team.
A boy scout to a fault, Ryder is so consumed by other's perception of him so much so that he oftentimes finds himself settling for less. He's a classic people pleaser and protector which makes him pretty square while also appealing. He's also submissive.
[insert big RAWR here]
The chemistry between them (once it happens) is ridiculously hot. There is a YUGE size difference between them. Ryder is big and brawny with a massive cock who wants nothing more than to please his partner with it. It's no problem for him to pick Luca up and Luca is super bendy so... *happy sigh* yeah. Luca being intelligent and perceptive picks up on Ryder's kink quickly and they start playing with power exchange, biting, light humiliation, rough sex and some bondage. That bondage scene y'all... I'm pretty sure it's at least partially responsible for global warming. Also, EPIC RIMMING! If you're familiar with this Twitter hashtag: #FineMenThatEatAss Ryder would break the interwebs if he posted his pic which would then ripple out and result in him being made Commander in Chief of all the fine men eating ass for all time. It's no contest. This is the best rimming I've ever had the pleasure of reading.
Things that will prolly be auto-noes for people:
1. Both MCs have sex with other people. No cheating occurs, but they do the Hibbity Jibbity with others before they get together.
2. Luca is 18 and still in high school and Ryder is 28.
Trigger warning for recreational drug usage and attempted rape.
Lastly, I have to mention how much I really RULLY liked Luca's mother. I know, I know she's an ice queen and most of the decisions she makes regarding Luca and his care are presumptuous and sanctimonious but she's a fucking BAMF! Fuck with what's hers and she will fuck you right, clean up and not even break a sweat. By the end of this thing it was a toss up who I had a bigger crush on: Ryder or Evelyn.
So, this epic saga is a commitment, certainly will not be for everyone but I don't think I've ever been this connected to a CK narrative. I even got choked up a couple times! #DAFUQ?
For that reason alone, I can't rate it less than 5 stars. And now I'm off to read the ficlets. Because obsessed.
Is it perfect?
Hell no!
It's long AF. Some of it is repetitive. There's some stuff that prolly didn't need to be in there because it doesn't advance the story.
But it would be a big, fat, honkin' lie if I said I didn't get consumed by this story-staying up too late, getting up too early, neglecting my jungle of a yard that is literally crying for a mowing, but I just could not stop reading this.
Granted, I was somewhat disappointed by the conclusion of the suspense storyline. As a reader I like to have a viable shot at figuring out who the bad guy is; that doesn't really happen. However, I was really caught up in the action/adventure of it all, so there is that.
Luca and Ryder and their dynamic are what makes this story so addictive, though. I think CK's greatest authorial gift is characterization. Both of these men are fully realized. And they got under my skin.
Luca's a complex character. He struggles with anxiety and has historically "self-medicated" with sex. His need for control coupled with his ruthlessness has gotten him expelled from three different boarding schools in Europe. Thus, he has to return to the states and since he's alienated members of his close protection team with his behaviors his mother appoints ex-Army soldier Jacob Ryder to head his team.
A boy scout to a fault, Ryder is so consumed by other's perception of him so much so that he oftentimes finds himself settling for less. He's a classic people pleaser and protector which makes him pretty square while also appealing. He's also submissive.
[insert big RAWR here]
The chemistry between them (once it happens) is ridiculously hot. There is a YUGE size difference between them. Ryder is big and brawny with a massive cock who wants nothing more than to please his partner with it. It's no problem for him to pick Luca up and Luca is super bendy so... *happy sigh* yeah. Luca being intelligent and perceptive picks up on Ryder's kink quickly and they start playing with power exchange, biting, light humiliation, rough sex and some bondage. That bondage scene y'all... I'm pretty sure it's at least partially responsible for global warming. Also, EPIC RIMMING! If you're familiar with this Twitter hashtag: #FineMenThatEatAss Ryder would break the interwebs if he posted his pic which would then ripple out and result in him being made Commander in Chief of all the fine men eating ass for all time. It's no contest. This is the best rimming I've ever had the pleasure of reading.
Things that will prolly be auto-noes for people:
1. Both MCs have sex with other people. No cheating occurs, but they do the Hibbity Jibbity with others before they get together.
2. Luca is 18 and still in high school and Ryder is 28.
Trigger warning for recreational drug usage and attempted rape.
Lastly, I have to mention how much I really RULLY liked Luca's mother. I know, I know she's an ice queen and most of the decisions she makes regarding Luca and his care are presumptuous and sanctimonious but she's a fucking BAMF! Fuck with what's hers and she will fuck you right, clean up and not even break a sweat. By the end of this thing it was a toss up who I had a bigger crush on: Ryder or Evelyn.
So, this epic saga is a commitment, certainly will not be for everyone but I don't think I've ever been this connected to a CK narrative. I even got choked up a couple times! #DAFUQ?
For that reason alone, I can't rate it less than 5 stars. And now I'm off to read the ficlets. Because obsessed.
They were connected in every way two human beings could be connected, in ways that went far beyond the physical.
October 20, 2016
4,5 stars
This story played with my head! A LOT!
It's very hard for me to rate and review this book. It had such great parts and I really didn't expect it to surprise me so much. But in the same time I had a hard time accepting the MC's habits and choices.
Ryder - new head of Luca's bodyguard team. Tough and introverted.
Luca - only 18 but he already had so many experiences to last him a lifetime. Promiscuous to say the least!
This book has almost 900 pages. When I started reading it, I thought it'll take me some time to finish it. Well I really didn't expect this story to keep me up all night and call in sick the next day just to finish it. I read it in 24 hours and this happened to me only with In the Company of Shadows by Santino Hassell and Ais.
I must admit this story was VERY INTENSE and REALLY HOT! But I struggled a lot with the fact that both MCs had A LOT of sex with others, for more than half of the book.
I loved the suspense and the fighting and shooting didn't get me bored. But after all the things these two suffered I wish we'd get to see them together more. Yes, the sex was intense, but I really wish they'd get their HEA.
Overall I think it was a great WIP book and this author really got me to hold my breath many times! Awesome writing style! But I can't give it 5 FULL stars because somehow I wanted more at the end.
This story played with my head! A LOT!
It's very hard for me to rate and review this book. It had such great parts and I really didn't expect it to surprise me so much. But in the same time I had a hard time accepting the MC's habits and choices.
Ryder - new head of Luca's bodyguard team. Tough and introverted.
Luca - only 18 but he already had so many experiences to last him a lifetime. Promiscuous to say the least!
This book has almost 900 pages. When I started reading it, I thought it'll take me some time to finish it. Well I really didn't expect this story to keep me up all night and call in sick the next day just to finish it. I read it in 24 hours and this happened to me only with In the Company of Shadows by Santino Hassell and Ais.
I must admit this story was VERY INTENSE and REALLY HOT! But I struggled a lot with the fact that both MCs had A LOT of sex with others, for more than half of the book.
I loved the suspense and the fighting and shooting didn't get me bored. But after all the things these two suffered I wish we'd get to see them together more. Yes, the sex was intense, but I really wish they'd get their HEA.
Overall I think it was a great WIP book and this author really got me to hold my breath many times! Awesome writing style! But I can't give it 5 FULL stars because somehow I wanted more at the end.
June 26, 2016
Small power bottom manhandling a big hunky guy at his taste. Hot sex. Plenty of smexy times. What's not to like?
The book is very long, but it doesn't feel that way. Imagine, 890 pages. I had to charge my kindle because the battery didn't last (not that I always remember to charge it, anyway). My mother words: "You read this book and it never ends but you can't stop reading, and when you are not reading it, you think about reading it". I think that thought is compatible with my own.
If I judge the book with a minimum of objectivity I have to admit it sounds like sci-fi if not like soap opera. I criticized in Play Me, I'm Yours, YA, that one of the MCs was into BDSM before beginning the relationship with the other MC. But in that book it felt like an eyesore: it wasn't meant to be there. Here Luca has been controlling men around since he's 16 and he has slept with more people than he can count. But his personality matched up his actions. His confident presence was displayed in cocky and nonchalant provocations and shameless manipulations. He exploits his looks, charm and charisma to play with people's desires, in a praying mantis sort of way. He has such a remarkable personality I never doubted of his power to handling men like puppets. He was the whole time taking the lead and he has everybody wrapped around his little finger.
That's why his mother only hires female bodyguards or ugly males... except for Ryder, what was she thinking?
Ryder is a righteous and honorable person and professional to the bitter end, so he doesn't bend to Luca's insistence, which doesn't mean it's a piece of cake to reject Luca's insinuations. An ex-soldier himself, he is strict and assertive, and his principal looks for new ways in his repertoire to push all his buttons, trying to shatter his impassive attitude.
Which was fun as fuck.
Don't get it wrong. It's a tar baby, of course. But this story was also oh-so-very-sweet. I didn't expect it. Yes, my mother kept telling me I had to read the book because they were "so cute" and she knows I can't resist cute characters. It's my weakness. And when the sweetness is in a "mature" sort of book (meaning, not YA), I just got more curious.
Luca has just been expelled from his third boarding school in Switzerland due to "improper behavior" and you can guess which kind of. No other school accepts him so he is forced to come back home in the States, which is dangerous as hell, as menaces are more real than in Europe. That's when Ryder becomes the leader of the bodyguard team and has to prevent those menaces from coming true. If that wasn't enough, the shit hits the fan when Luca begins receiving letters and presents with connections to his past from a person who calls himself "the Admirer", and his modus operandi suggests he's serious about his intentions and that he is supported by a mole in the house.
The mystery doesn't call my attention as much as the love story. Luca has never been exclusive, and he demonstrates it. Ryder tries to distance himself from Luca but at the same time he can't help himself from sharing his opinions about Luca's definition of a hobby. Jealousy and possessiveness take place in a normal basis, from both sides. When one of them wants, the other one gives his back. When the roles are reversed, it happens equally. This dance sounds frustrating and childish but it's not. There are issues Luca and Ryder have to sort out, inside their heads and in the core of their relationship. Ryder can't think about being the boyfriend of a 18-year-old, whereas Luca doesn't think he can control his need to control and sacrifice an important part of himself. At first you believe there is no way for them to find a common path, to reconcile their desires and feelings. But the advantage of having a book so long is that there is enough time and space for the characters to evolve and change coming to terms with their consciences and natures.
Did I mention the sex is hot? There are power exchanges, too. Just saying.
Don't let the length of the book discourage you. It's worth it.
You're the Only One I Want
The book is very long, but it doesn't feel that way. Imagine, 890 pages. I had to charge my kindle because the battery didn't last (not that I always remember to charge it, anyway). My mother words: "You read this book and it never ends but you can't stop reading, and when you are not reading it, you think about reading it". I think that thought is compatible with my own.
If I judge the book with a minimum of objectivity I have to admit it sounds like sci-fi if not like soap opera. I criticized in Play Me, I'm Yours, YA, that one of the MCs was into BDSM before beginning the relationship with the other MC. But in that book it felt like an eyesore: it wasn't meant to be there. Here Luca has been controlling men around since he's 16 and he has slept with more people than he can count. But his personality matched up his actions. His confident presence was displayed in cocky and nonchalant provocations and shameless manipulations. He exploits his looks, charm and charisma to play with people's desires, in a praying mantis sort of way. He has such a remarkable personality I never doubted of his power to handling men like puppets. He was the whole time taking the lead and he has everybody wrapped around his little finger.
That's why his mother only hires female bodyguards or ugly males... except for Ryder, what was she thinking?
Ryder is a righteous and honorable person and professional to the bitter end, so he doesn't bend to Luca's insistence, which doesn't mean it's a piece of cake to reject Luca's insinuations. An ex-soldier himself, he is strict and assertive, and his principal looks for new ways in his repertoire to push all his buttons, trying to shatter his impassive attitude.
Which was fun as fuck.
Don't get it wrong. It's a tar baby, of course. But this story was also oh-so-very-sweet. I didn't expect it. Yes, my mother kept telling me I had to read the book because they were "so cute" and she knows I can't resist cute characters. It's my weakness. And when the sweetness is in a "mature" sort of book (meaning, not YA), I just got more curious.
Luca has just been expelled from his third boarding school in Switzerland due to "improper behavior" and you can guess which kind of. No other school accepts him so he is forced to come back home in the States, which is dangerous as hell, as menaces are more real than in Europe. That's when Ryder becomes the leader of the bodyguard team and has to prevent those menaces from coming true. If that wasn't enough, the shit hits the fan when Luca begins receiving letters and presents with connections to his past from a person who calls himself "the Admirer", and his modus operandi suggests he's serious about his intentions and that he is supported by a mole in the house.
The mystery doesn't call my attention as much as the love story. Luca has never been exclusive, and he demonstrates it. Ryder tries to distance himself from Luca but at the same time he can't help himself from sharing his opinions about Luca's definition of a hobby. Jealousy and possessiveness take place in a normal basis, from both sides. When one of them wants, the other one gives his back. When the roles are reversed, it happens equally. This dance sounds frustrating and childish but it's not. There are issues Luca and Ryder have to sort out, inside their heads and in the core of their relationship. Ryder can't think about being the boyfriend of a 18-year-old, whereas Luca doesn't think he can control his need to control and sacrifice an important part of himself. At first you believe there is no way for them to find a common path, to reconcile their desires and feelings. But the advantage of having a book so long is that there is enough time and space for the characters to evolve and change coming to terms with their consciences and natures.
Did I mention the sex is hot? There are power exchanges, too. Just saying.
Don't let the length of the book discourage you. It's worth it.
You're the Only One I Want
November 27, 2014
It's very tough to rate this. It's looooong; 250,000 words (50 sizeable chapters). Because it's been posted as an ongoing series it's unwieldy and could do with a hell of a lot of tightening. The plot holes are so vast it's best considered as more of plot lace. Swiss plot, perhaps.
BUT
The 18 year old twink who loves to bottom is the dominant partner, and the huge, muscled, thick-cocked Purple Heart recipient who fucks him is submissive. It takes FOREVER to get to the MC sex but holy hell, is the sex hot once we get there!
I just wish there was more to the story to like. I feel bad, because it's free, but it's only a three for me.
edited 27 nov 14 because as someone pointed out to me, it's kind of poor taste to say someone "won" a purple heart :/ sorry about that. Thank you, Ayanna.
BUT
The 18 year old twink who loves to bottom is the dominant partner, and the huge, muscled, thick-cocked Purple Heart recipient who fucks him is submissive. It takes FOREVER to get to the MC sex but holy hell, is the sex hot once we get there!
I just wish there was more to the story to like. I feel bad, because it's free, but it's only a three for me.
edited 27 nov 14 because as someone pointed out to me, it's kind of poor taste to say someone "won" a purple heart :/ sorry about that. Thank you, Ayanna.
February 5, 2017
U.N.P.U.T.D.O.W.N.A.B.L.E.
I have only one complaint about this book: it was over far too soon!
I virtually can see your incredulous looks right now, because I know exactly what you think: how can a book with 890 pages be over too soon? Lol. But this is my own goddamn fault, because I might have set a new personal record with this one. I have read Close Protection within four days and considering my limited reading time, this is saying something... Well, I have to admit that I have read a few pages on a QT at the office yesterday and no, not at lunch break *cough* so please don’t tell my boss, okay!?
The mc’s were absolutely adorable! Both being traumatized from events in their past, I just wanted to hug them more often than not.
Ryder, the bodyguard…
Tall, broad-shouldered, heavily muscled, but having brains was once again exactly my type. He could be my close protection detail any time, but after reading this story I’m so glad I don’t need one.
I can’t imagine how it must be being imprisoned in your own life… You can’t leave your house, can’t do anything impulsively without heavy planning and without a mob of bodyguards. But that is the life of Luca, son of a billionaire, who has to live with the constant threat of being abducted or worse.
Luca…
I had my qualms before I started to read Close Protection because he is so young and normally I like my characters being a bit older, but I didn’t have to worry. His personality has so many layers, it was really fascinating to see them unfold one by one. But all in all he is vulnerable and strong at the same time and I really loved it.
The “whodunnit” was absolutely thrilling! There were enough twists and turns to make me dizzy and when I thought I have figured it out, I was proven wrong in a heartbeat. But I had a general idea who was involved and I did a happy dance when I found out that I was right, even if the motive was vague until the end.
As to the sex scenes… One word: HOT!!! I’m not a fan of an open relationship and technically, this was not the case here, because it took a while before there even was a relationship, but you should know that there are sex scenes with other partners beforehand (which were equally hot! ;-)).
I can't recommend this book high enough, but I hope you belong to the lucky ones who have already downloaded this freebie, because the author removed all her free stories from the internet a few weeks ago. They might get published one day, but I guess this will take some time.
September 13, 2017
4.5 stars
I enjoyed the hell out of this story and Ryder & Luca. Yes, I did!
Luca D'Amato, though barely 18, is hardly innocent. He's very sexually experienced and well versed at how to get what he wants and he pretty much lets no one stand in his way. He first came off as more than a little spoiled and bratty and it's easy to see why. He's spent the last 6 years in European boarding schools with very little actual discipline and parental supervision. And after three expulsions for sexual misconduct, you might think it's past time to rein him in - and you would be right.
Jacob Ryder is 10 years older than Luca and has been assigned as his head of security, upon Luca's return to the United States. And if Luca has a type -- Ryder is it. Ryder, though very much attracted to the beautiful and young Luca, is determined to not sleep with him. He thinks it could compromise his ability to protect Luca and also would be seen as Ryder taking advantage of his charge.
But, Ryder never stood a chance.
Close Protection had some grittiness to it, which I pretty much always love. Our guys do make it through the threat at hand, but man do they both suffer along the way. I loved the UST and I really loved their dynamic once Ryder finally gave in. Luca is not the slightest bit submissive. He gets off on control and he discovers, with Ryder, just how amazing sex can be when paired with the right partner. Ryder has also longed to be able to just let go but never was really able to get that with anyone else. They were deliciously dirty and I loved that. Truly.
I do have to say, though, that the whole suspense plot seemed way over the top, especially considering what supposedly triggered it and the complexity and the layers upon layers it contained. I don't really want to say more than that, and give away key pieces, but it did strain credulity...or at least mine. But I don't really read romantic suspense for the realism, so I will easily forgive that. It was a fast-paced story and clocking in at nearly 900 pages, I didn't think it felt too long, at all. Once I started reading, I was hard-pressed to put it down, even just to sleep. That's when I know I'm enjoying a story.
The one thing I really wanted more from, was the ending. It seemed a bit too tenuous. I would expect an HFN type ending, considering Luca's age, so that was fine, but the ending was a touch abrupt, and though Ryder and Luca are definitely a couple at the end, I wanted just a little more.
I enjoyed the hell out of this story and Ryder & Luca. Yes, I did!
Luca D'Amato, though barely 18, is hardly innocent. He's very sexually experienced and well versed at how to get what he wants and he pretty much lets no one stand in his way. He first came off as more than a little spoiled and bratty and it's easy to see why. He's spent the last 6 years in European boarding schools with very little actual discipline and parental supervision. And after three expulsions for sexual misconduct, you might think it's past time to rein him in - and you would be right.
Jacob Ryder is 10 years older than Luca and has been assigned as his head of security, upon Luca's return to the United States. And if Luca has a type -- Ryder is it. Ryder, though very much attracted to the beautiful and young Luca, is determined to not sleep with him. He thinks it could compromise his ability to protect Luca and also would be seen as Ryder taking advantage of his charge.
But, Ryder never stood a chance.
Close Protection had some grittiness to it, which I pretty much always love. Our guys do make it through the threat at hand, but man do they both suffer along the way. I loved the UST and I really loved their dynamic once Ryder finally gave in. Luca is not the slightest bit submissive. He gets off on control and he discovers, with Ryder, just how amazing sex can be when paired with the right partner. Ryder has also longed to be able to just let go but never was really able to get that with anyone else. They were deliciously dirty and I loved that. Truly.
I do have to say, though, that the whole suspense plot seemed way over the top, especially considering what supposedly triggered it and the complexity and the layers upon layers it contained. I don't really want to say more than that, and give away key pieces, but it did strain credulity...or at least mine. But I don't really read romantic suspense for the realism, so I will easily forgive that. It was a fast-paced story and clocking in at nearly 900 pages, I didn't think it felt too long, at all. Once I started reading, I was hard-pressed to put it down, even just to sleep. That's when I know I'm enjoying a story.
The one thing I really wanted more from, was the ending. It seemed a bit too tenuous. I would expect an HFN type ending, considering Luca's age, so that was fine, but the ending was a touch abrupt, and though Ryder and Luca are definitely a couple at the end, I wanted just a little more.
i-m-a-quitter
January 22, 2018
I am calling it quits on this one. And I really do feel like a failure. I made it all the way to 75% but I just can't any more.
This book was 10k+ locations. By far the longest book I've ever attempted to read. And honestly I liked it up until about 65% maybe. The pages upon pages of build-up. When are they going to go from protector/protectee to more?
There was so much sex the first 60% of the book, sadly the majority of it was happening between the MCs and other people. When Luca and Ryder finally "give-in" around 65% or so in I thought hallelujah.
It was just sex. It wasn't feelings. At least I didn't feel any real feelings. I mean Luca couldn't even commit to having monogamous "just sex".
*sigh* I don't know. I really really liked this authors Seven of Spades series. But this one just didn't work for me. I guess I'll flip to the end to see who the bad guy was *shrugs*
August 30, 2017
**4.5**
Holy shit. Why did I wait so long to read this? My first Cordelia Kingsbridge and now I'm a fan for life. Not sure how I feel about the mystery yet, and I desperately needed an epilogue, but this book grabbed me by the throat and never let go. 890 pages and I couldn't put it down. Can't say the same for a lot of shorter books I 've read lately.
“I’ll do anything to make you happy, Luca. Anything.”
“That’s a dangerous promise to make to someone like me,”
Ryder smiled. “I’m not afraid.”
Holy shit. Why did I wait so long to read this? My first Cordelia Kingsbridge and now I'm a fan for life. Not sure how I feel about the mystery yet, and I desperately needed an epilogue, but this book grabbed me by the throat and never let go. 890 pages and I couldn't put it down. Can't say the same for a lot of shorter books I 've read lately.
Read
February 25, 2019Note to self: next time you see ‘promiscuity’ and ‘multiple sexual relationships’ in the warnings, trust the author to know more about her own story than you do and Stay. The. Hell. Away.
It’s my fault, all my fault and only my fault. I was warned and I happily ignored all I know about my limits, went ahead and read it anyway. My only excuse is that I thought the whole promiscuity thing would be limited to the first part, maybe the first third or so.
I have nobody to blame but myself, though it didn’t make the experience any more pleasant.
The problem isn’t so much that my delicate sensibilities can’t stand the thought of the MCs being attracted to other men or even being capable of feeling affection for them or enjoying sex with them.
I know people don’t (usually) meet The One and decide on the spot that it will be him, only him, nobody but him until the end of time and the sight of everyone else will have no effect on them because they’ve met their soul mate.
While I have no problem knowing that the MCs are having sex with other people before they get together (I don’t prefer it, but I can handle it), I don’t really like reading about it. I *especially* don’t like reading about it in excruciating detail, multiple times, for two thirds of the story. I hate it and it’s the most effective way to ruin a book for me.
And that’s because:
a) ideally, I want couples in my books to act monogamous no matter how much they’re attracted to other people, or in this specific case no matter how much they’re a horny teenager who can’t keep it in his pants or they’re a bodyguard lusting after the teenager they are protecting and trying not to act on that attraction for moral reasons (not that I blame Ryder for it);
b) if you show me the MCs going at it and in some cases even making a connection with other people, I start feeling detached about the supposed special connection between them and I have a tough time caring for their relationship when the time comes.
This time I was prepared, or so I thought, so it didn’t bother me so much. Not the first time, the second, the third, the fourth...I *think* the problem really started during the fifth time, but I can’t be sure because I lost count.
Anyway, it was the time with . Basically 5 minutes after what I thought as a sort of breakthrough.
Things between Luca and Ryder really seemed to be improving in the relationship department and I had just started to actually care, when
So, that emotional detachment I mentioned above? It happened here, in a spectacular way.
I think my interest for Ryder and Luca as a couple is lying dead on the ground somewhere between .
When they finally got together I tried to reconnect with them, but the scene with killed once and for all any chance I had of salvaging my opinion of this couple, Luca in particular.
The only reason I did finish this book is that, if it wasn’t for the little details I’ve mentioned/been ranting about, I could have loved it.
I really liked the story, the “mystery” kept me reading despite everything else, and the writing was amazing, if you think that it was the first book from the author and it didn’t have any kind of professional editing.
I liked the secondary characters a lot, too, and, it might seem stupid, but there was a grand total of two sentences in Italian which were grammatically perfect and didn’t sound like the product of an online translator. Not a single mistake. After the atrocities I read in some published books, finding them in a free book posted online made me almost tear up.
For all these reasons I’d rate this book at least 4 stars, but, going by how much I enjoyed reading it, the appropriate rating should be around 2 stars. Which doesn’t seem fair, since the main reason I didn’t like it was clearly stated in the warnings by the author.
So, I’m not going to rate it at all and I’ll simply leave this review as a reminder to myself to be more careful and take the time to investigate further next time I see those warnings.
It’s my fault, all my fault and only my fault. I was warned and I happily ignored all I know about my limits, went ahead and read it anyway. My only excuse is that I thought the whole promiscuity thing would be limited to the first part, maybe the first third or so.
I have nobody to blame but myself, though it didn’t make the experience any more pleasant.
The problem isn’t so much that my delicate sensibilities can’t stand the thought of the MCs being attracted to other men or even being capable of feeling affection for them or enjoying sex with them.
I know people don’t (usually) meet The One and decide on the spot that it will be him, only him, nobody but him until the end of time and the sight of everyone else will have no effect on them because they’ve met their soul mate.
While I have no problem knowing that the MCs are having sex with other people before they get together (I don’t prefer it, but I can handle it), I don’t really like reading about it. I *especially* don’t like reading about it in excruciating detail, multiple times, for two thirds of the story. I hate it and it’s the most effective way to ruin a book for me.
And that’s because:
a) ideally, I want couples in my books to act monogamous no matter how much they’re attracted to other people, or in this specific case no matter how much they’re a horny teenager who can’t keep it in his pants or they’re a bodyguard lusting after the teenager they are protecting and trying not to act on that attraction for moral reasons (not that I blame Ryder for it);
b) if you show me the MCs going at it and in some cases even making a connection with other people, I start feeling detached about the supposed special connection between them and I have a tough time caring for their relationship when the time comes.
This time I was prepared, or so I thought, so it didn’t bother me so much. Not the first time, the second, the third, the fourth...I *think* the problem really started during the fifth time, but I can’t be sure because I lost count.
Anyway, it was the time with . Basically 5 minutes after what I thought as a sort of breakthrough.
Things between Luca and Ryder really seemed to be improving in the relationship department and I had just started to actually care, when
So, that emotional detachment I mentioned above? It happened here, in a spectacular way.
I think my interest for Ryder and Luca as a couple is lying dead on the ground somewhere between .
When they finally got together I tried to reconnect with them, but the scene with killed once and for all any chance I had of salvaging my opinion of this couple, Luca in particular.
The only reason I did finish this book is that, if it wasn’t for the little details I’ve mentioned/been ranting about, I could have loved it.
I really liked the story, the “mystery” kept me reading despite everything else, and the writing was amazing, if you think that it was the first book from the author and it didn’t have any kind of professional editing.
I liked the secondary characters a lot, too, and, it might seem stupid, but there was a grand total of two sentences in Italian which were grammatically perfect and didn’t sound like the product of an online translator. Not a single mistake. After the atrocities I read in some published books, finding them in a free book posted online made me almost tear up.
For all these reasons I’d rate this book at least 4 stars, but, going by how much I enjoyed reading it, the appropriate rating should be around 2 stars. Which doesn’t seem fair, since the main reason I didn’t like it was clearly stated in the warnings by the author.
So, I’m not going to rate it at all and I’ll simply leave this review as a reminder to myself to be more careful and take the time to investigate further next time I see those warnings.
September 24, 2014
This ones hard to rate for all kinds of reasons. Its free which gives it brownie points for a start and huge and pretty in depth. Its also written very well, better in fact than a lot of books I've paid for. BUT having invested a lot of time in reading it as a WIP, this book made me frustrated and annoyed. I think its a case study in what happens when an author falls too much in love with one of her own characters.
Basically this is the story of a dominant sex god schoolboy who always triumphs and an emotionally weak older (by 10 years) body guard who exists on the page purely to worship him. The rest is window dressing
On the one hand, kudos for trying to create a character with flaws - great big massive flaws in Luca's case - but unlike say Captive Prince, the author doesnt have the nerve to let us make up our own minds as we go through the book. Or else she just loves her own creation too much to take the risk. We're told all the time that nothing he does, however unpleasant, is this characters fault. He's given excuses by the score.
When we meet him, Luca is brilliant academically, he's superb at sport, he speaks multiple languages fluently, he can analyse other people characters and weaknesses like a top psychologist and most of all he is, at just turned 18, a magical, gloating sex magnet who can seduce any man in the world into bed, gay or straight; old or young, powerful men who should be impossible to manipulate have been putty his hands, led around by his magical arse- no one can resist.
He is in fact an Irresistible Power Bottom who makes all his victims and lovers fall in with love him and worship him so much that they destroy their lives to have him. That is driven home by the POV of the other MC Ryder who throws his own principles as Luca's lead bodyguard out the window. In fact, in just the first few pages Luca says some provocative things, walks in front of him twitching his magical arse and Ryder's stoic character is gone. He is from that point Luca's uncritical worshipper, trying to hold back the inevitable to give the story some UST
We discover that Luca as matter of course makes it a game to seduce 'powerful' men and then expose them and destroy them. People are in jail or dead after his affairs, families are destroyed. But we're told by "the good characters" aka the authors voice, relentlessly that nothing is Luca's fault. ALL the time. he may have seduced them, played on their weaknesses and then destroyed many many lives but apparently it was entirely the responsibility of the men he seduced, who should have resisted him, not his own for seducing them, even though the author never misses a chance to write Luca as a force of nature who can NOT be resisted. even by straight men. As Ryder's rapid disintegration into slavish devotion, and the effortless seduction of a straight boy Luca sets his sights on prove. Luca is basically sex pollen in human form.
The carnage Luca has left behind is a major plot point and the author shows us multiple examples of the cruelty he's used because I assume she needs it to explain some motivations but we are constantly told by Ryder and the other enabling characters that he's just a child. It is therefore the fault of the adults for failing to resist this irresistible kid.
Which is ENTIRELY fair enough if you stick with that idea - adults having sex with teenage boys (16-18) is abuse and they deserve any punishment however horrible for it.
EXCEPT in this book, Luca is only a child when theres responsibility to be taken for his own actions. He's NOT a child in the multiple sex scenes that involve him with other characters or when his mother questions his sex life, or in the central romance. Then we are not supposed to see him as a child, but a powerful, gifted adult manipulator who loves sex and power and were supposed to love seeing him get fucked by anyone and everyone as he controls them.
And most especially we're supposed to forget he's a child when the author is setting up a HFN (not imo a HEA at all) with a 28 year old man- the slavish Ryder. One of the most common lines spoken to Luca usually after yet another revelation of appalling things he's done, is 'its not your fault'. It becomes comical after a while. No one is allowed to judge Luca for long without terrible punishment from the author. And no one is entitled to dole out vengeance in the book except Luca and his mother.
Luca's main get out of jail free card though is 'anxiety' - the author has given him a disorder that demands he uses and fucks other men to feel powerful and get them to defer to him, infidelity or not - to feel less worried. Nice if you can get it.
Apparently Luca needs to control his anxiety by exercising power sexually over other men and destroying them when he feel like it. So thats okay then. He sees a shrink who helps him enough to enable him to get into a relationship with Ryder and get full control of him and indeed everyone around him, but he's not allowed to 'get over it' because then he'd have lost an important excuse for fucking around. And it would never pay to have the readers feel Ryder is anything but lucky to be hanging on by his fingernails to this phenomenon of nature.
Ryder meanwhile is a cypher, in the book purely to channel the authors worship of Luca. He's a grown man reduced to putty by insta-lust for a boy, principles out the window. he is there to provide a big man with a very big cock Luca can use to satisfy his size and domination kink, who magically suits Luca's sexual needs by being a submissive top and will provide Luca with the blind worship and stability' he needs.
More than that the whole story rests on believing that Ryder, who's behaving exactly the same way as Luca's much condemned victims, having sex with a schoolboy he's supposed to be protecting - isn't to blame, the way the others were for falling for Luca, because this is the central romance. Ryder is required to also despise the men who went before him and have no sympathy for them for not resisting Luca even though he does the exact same himself. Its beyond infuriating.
The message of the book is that being good at sex is what counts. Being irresistibly sexy and 'challenging' is the main thing you can want in a partner. Ryders boyfriend is put in as a deliberate contrast to Luca - he's sweet, chubby, a fantastic human being but he's not a sex god, in fact he's just a normal man, therefore of course we're supposed to cheer when he's dumped for an 18 year old who's fucked and ruined a hundred men. Of COURSE that suggests a solid future all round. Who wants someone you can rely on or trust not to fuck around or put you first? No you need an out of control, sex obsessed, mindlessly self centred teenager to settle down with.
But then, we see it proved that there isn't a solid future for the MCs though the author wimps out from accepting the implications of the relationship she written herself. Its not happy ever after for Ryder - its a matter of surrendering his principles and his own needs again to hang on.
In the 19 added stories written to accompany the book, we find Ryder's emotional slavery is complete. He is a monogamist who fears Luca's infidelity but Luca cheats on him. This we are told again is to control Luca's anxiety - again the excuse - not that he's a horny arrogant kid who cant keep it in his pants when he wants to prove he can dominate someone new - and nothing is more important to him than himself. No - he fucks around because of a condition that gives him everything he wants when he wants it. Fabulous
Unlike Ryder who we see is falling victim to the authors pretty clear view that he should count himself lucky to be allowed to breathe the same air as Luca. So we have Ryder capitulating like an invertebrate after the author shows us his pain and how important monogamy is to him. Instead of having Luca realise that Ryder is the most important thing to him, the author shows us yet again that Ryder puts Luca first (of course, as it should be given Luca's magnificence) but Ryder of not Luca's priority. Control and power and the freedom to fuck are the most important things to Luca, and STILL - no one must ever blame him. Ryder we see should think himself blessed Luca is even prepared to follow a few rules to keep the cheating down to a bearable level.
Ryder who is in an agony of pain and jealousy instead of trying to ensure Luca doesnt do it again, knows his place. He understands' Luca's anxiety because he is after all there t serve and his own needs are secondary. He is so desperate to hang on to this sublime free spirit (gag) that he gives Luca permission to fuck strangers when he feels the need to feel 'powerful' and orders him to lie to him about it. And we're supposed to see this horrible capitulation as Ryder being reasonable - a monogamist accepting his partners infidelity and refusing to be unfaithful himself - thats a HEA?
In which universe would that work for anyone but Luca? Imagine Ryder's constant jealousy, the fear and insecurity that Luca could be screwing around on him any time. But Ryder doesnt matter in these books as anything but a plot device - he exists to give Luca everything he wants - in this case an open relationship thats only open on one side because Ryder is too monogamous to want anyone else. So I read hundreds of thousands of words to get to that??? I got the feeling for the author it is a HEA because Luca has his human dog at home and remains the out of control sex god as well- non monogamy is the new black in this book. Luca is all that matters and Ryder's pain and insecurity are seen as fair tribute for getting such access to Luca's general magnificence.
So a hugely frustrating book because of the potential it had, which for me was destroyed by its internal contradictions and imbalances. If the author wanted to give Luca the kind of history and flaws she did, she should have stuck to her guns and had him face punishment and find redemption. Instead she gloried in his sins then excused him every inch of the way. The result of that for this reader was huge frustration.
I came out of the book feeling sorriest for Ryder's boyfriend Andy and Luca's mother. I absolutely detested Luca, and came to despise Ryder the doormat.
Basically this is the story of a dominant sex god schoolboy who always triumphs and an emotionally weak older (by 10 years) body guard who exists on the page purely to worship him. The rest is window dressing
On the one hand, kudos for trying to create a character with flaws - great big massive flaws in Luca's case - but unlike say Captive Prince, the author doesnt have the nerve to let us make up our own minds as we go through the book. Or else she just loves her own creation too much to take the risk. We're told all the time that nothing he does, however unpleasant, is this characters fault. He's given excuses by the score.
When we meet him, Luca is brilliant academically, he's superb at sport, he speaks multiple languages fluently, he can analyse other people characters and weaknesses like a top psychologist and most of all he is, at just turned 18, a magical, gloating sex magnet who can seduce any man in the world into bed, gay or straight; old or young, powerful men who should be impossible to manipulate have been putty his hands, led around by his magical arse- no one can resist.
He is in fact an Irresistible Power Bottom who makes all his victims and lovers fall in with love him and worship him so much that they destroy their lives to have him. That is driven home by the POV of the other MC Ryder who throws his own principles as Luca's lead bodyguard out the window. In fact, in just the first few pages Luca says some provocative things, walks in front of him twitching his magical arse and Ryder's stoic character is gone. He is from that point Luca's uncritical worshipper, trying to hold back the inevitable to give the story some UST
We discover that Luca as matter of course makes it a game to seduce 'powerful' men and then expose them and destroy them. People are in jail or dead after his affairs, families are destroyed. But we're told by "the good characters" aka the authors voice, relentlessly that nothing is Luca's fault. ALL the time. he may have seduced them, played on their weaknesses and then destroyed many many lives but apparently it was entirely the responsibility of the men he seduced, who should have resisted him, not his own for seducing them, even though the author never misses a chance to write Luca as a force of nature who can NOT be resisted. even by straight men. As Ryder's rapid disintegration into slavish devotion, and the effortless seduction of a straight boy Luca sets his sights on prove. Luca is basically sex pollen in human form.
The carnage Luca has left behind is a major plot point and the author shows us multiple examples of the cruelty he's used because I assume she needs it to explain some motivations but we are constantly told by Ryder and the other enabling characters that he's just a child. It is therefore the fault of the adults for failing to resist this irresistible kid.
Which is ENTIRELY fair enough if you stick with that idea - adults having sex with teenage boys (16-18) is abuse and they deserve any punishment however horrible for it.
EXCEPT in this book, Luca is only a child when theres responsibility to be taken for his own actions. He's NOT a child in the multiple sex scenes that involve him with other characters or when his mother questions his sex life, or in the central romance. Then we are not supposed to see him as a child, but a powerful, gifted adult manipulator who loves sex and power and were supposed to love seeing him get fucked by anyone and everyone as he controls them.
And most especially we're supposed to forget he's a child when the author is setting up a HFN (not imo a HEA at all) with a 28 year old man- the slavish Ryder. One of the most common lines spoken to Luca usually after yet another revelation of appalling things he's done, is 'its not your fault'. It becomes comical after a while. No one is allowed to judge Luca for long without terrible punishment from the author. And no one is entitled to dole out vengeance in the book except Luca and his mother.
Luca's main get out of jail free card though is 'anxiety' - the author has given him a disorder that demands he uses and fucks other men to feel powerful and get them to defer to him, infidelity or not - to feel less worried. Nice if you can get it.
Apparently Luca needs to control his anxiety by exercising power sexually over other men and destroying them when he feel like it. So thats okay then. He sees a shrink who helps him enough to enable him to get into a relationship with Ryder and get full control of him and indeed everyone around him, but he's not allowed to 'get over it' because then he'd have lost an important excuse for fucking around. And it would never pay to have the readers feel Ryder is anything but lucky to be hanging on by his fingernails to this phenomenon of nature.
Ryder meanwhile is a cypher, in the book purely to channel the authors worship of Luca. He's a grown man reduced to putty by insta-lust for a boy, principles out the window. he is there to provide a big man with a very big cock Luca can use to satisfy his size and domination kink, who magically suits Luca's sexual needs by being a submissive top and will provide Luca with the blind worship and stability' he needs.
More than that the whole story rests on believing that Ryder, who's behaving exactly the same way as Luca's much condemned victims, having sex with a schoolboy he's supposed to be protecting - isn't to blame, the way the others were for falling for Luca, because this is the central romance. Ryder is required to also despise the men who went before him and have no sympathy for them for not resisting Luca even though he does the exact same himself. Its beyond infuriating.
The message of the book is that being good at sex is what counts. Being irresistibly sexy and 'challenging' is the main thing you can want in a partner. Ryders boyfriend is put in as a deliberate contrast to Luca - he's sweet, chubby, a fantastic human being but he's not a sex god, in fact he's just a normal man, therefore of course we're supposed to cheer when he's dumped for an 18 year old who's fucked and ruined a hundred men. Of COURSE that suggests a solid future all round. Who wants someone you can rely on or trust not to fuck around or put you first? No you need an out of control, sex obsessed, mindlessly self centred teenager to settle down with.
But then, we see it proved that there isn't a solid future for the MCs though the author wimps out from accepting the implications of the relationship she written herself. Its not happy ever after for Ryder - its a matter of surrendering his principles and his own needs again to hang on.
In the 19 added stories written to accompany the book, we find Ryder's emotional slavery is complete. He is a monogamist who fears Luca's infidelity but Luca cheats on him. This we are told again is to control Luca's anxiety - again the excuse - not that he's a horny arrogant kid who cant keep it in his pants when he wants to prove he can dominate someone new - and nothing is more important to him than himself. No - he fucks around because of a condition that gives him everything he wants when he wants it. Fabulous
Unlike Ryder who we see is falling victim to the authors pretty clear view that he should count himself lucky to be allowed to breathe the same air as Luca. So we have Ryder capitulating like an invertebrate after the author shows us his pain and how important monogamy is to him. Instead of having Luca realise that Ryder is the most important thing to him, the author shows us yet again that Ryder puts Luca first (of course, as it should be given Luca's magnificence) but Ryder of not Luca's priority. Control and power and the freedom to fuck are the most important things to Luca, and STILL - no one must ever blame him. Ryder we see should think himself blessed Luca is even prepared to follow a few rules to keep the cheating down to a bearable level.
Ryder who is in an agony of pain and jealousy instead of trying to ensure Luca doesnt do it again, knows his place. He understands' Luca's anxiety because he is after all there t serve and his own needs are secondary. He is so desperate to hang on to this sublime free spirit (gag) that he gives Luca permission to fuck strangers when he feels the need to feel 'powerful' and orders him to lie to him about it. And we're supposed to see this horrible capitulation as Ryder being reasonable - a monogamist accepting his partners infidelity and refusing to be unfaithful himself - thats a HEA?
In which universe would that work for anyone but Luca? Imagine Ryder's constant jealousy, the fear and insecurity that Luca could be screwing around on him any time. But Ryder doesnt matter in these books as anything but a plot device - he exists to give Luca everything he wants - in this case an open relationship thats only open on one side because Ryder is too monogamous to want anyone else. So I read hundreds of thousands of words to get to that??? I got the feeling for the author it is a HEA because Luca has his human dog at home and remains the out of control sex god as well- non monogamy is the new black in this book. Luca is all that matters and Ryder's pain and insecurity are seen as fair tribute for getting such access to Luca's general magnificence.
So a hugely frustrating book because of the potential it had, which for me was destroyed by its internal contradictions and imbalances. If the author wanted to give Luca the kind of history and flaws she did, she should have stuck to her guns and had him face punishment and find redemption. Instead she gloried in his sins then excused him every inch of the way. The result of that for this reader was huge frustration.
I came out of the book feeling sorriest for Ryder's boyfriend Andy and Luca's mother. I absolutely detested Luca, and came to despise Ryder the doormat.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 26, 2018
Re-read sept.2018
Still the same niggles, but who cares : it's smoking hot, it's full of action, it's so enticing that I flew through these 890 pages...once again.
Additional star from my previous rating because I was pulled to reread it and don't regret it !!
--------------------------
Original review
3.5 stars
I’m not going to make a lot of sense here, so don’t mind me !
Since the murder of his father, Luca has no private life, constantly surrounded by bodyguards. His less than stellar sexual conduct sends him home and he meets his new bodyguard, Ryder who seems immune to his constant advances...well, not that much. But Luca is young and Ryder has a lot in his hands trying to protect Luca from vicious attacks from an “Admirer”.
Luca’s promiscuity and sense of manipulation is totally overboard, the dance between Ryder and Luca is totally OTT, it’s an eye-rolling experience and this book is long, like a 900 pages book can be. But,…and that’s where it doesn’t make any sense, I couldn’t put it down. It’s a mix of crazy hotness, like really crazy hotness, and action, like non-stop action, with 2 MCs that are addictive and a plot that is quite unbelievable but riveting nonetheless.
Did I love this book, not sure, but what a ride !!!
Rounded down to 3 and not up to 4, because of the abrupt ending.
Still the same niggles, but who cares : it's smoking hot, it's full of action, it's so enticing that I flew through these 890 pages...once again.
Additional star from my previous rating because I was pulled to reread it and don't regret it !!
--------------------------
Original review
3.5 stars
I’m not going to make a lot of sense here, so don’t mind me !
Since the murder of his father, Luca has no private life, constantly surrounded by bodyguards. His less than stellar sexual conduct sends him home and he meets his new bodyguard, Ryder who seems immune to his constant advances...well, not that much. But Luca is young and Ryder has a lot in his hands trying to protect Luca from vicious attacks from an “Admirer”.
Luca’s promiscuity and sense of manipulation is totally overboard, the dance between Ryder and Luca is totally OTT, it’s an eye-rolling experience and this book is long, like a 900 pages book can be. But,…and that’s where it doesn’t make any sense, I couldn’t put it down. It’s a mix of crazy hotness, like really crazy hotness, and action, like non-stop action, with 2 MCs that are addictive and a plot that is quite unbelievable but riveting nonetheless.
Did I love this book, not sure, but what a ride !!!
Rounded down to 3 and not up to 4, because of the abrupt ending.
September 3, 2017
I loved almost everything about this book. This a loooooong and rocky road for the MCs, but it's totally worth it. There are many triggers in this one, so heed the warnings.
It was an epic story, and I loved every minute. The only reason for the 1 star deduction is that it left too many "what happens now?" questions for my tastes. I need answers and no open issues, as a reader.
It was an epic story, and I loved every minute. The only reason for the 1 star deduction is that it left too many "what happens now?" questions for my tastes. I need answers and no open issues, as a reader.
August 5, 2016
Lo voy a dejar en un 3,5 por el último 10% del libro, que me ha decepcionado bastante, de hecho creo que esta historia empieza muy bien y en algún momento cercano al 70%, pierde gas. Redondeo al alza por ellos, que son una de las cosas más hot que me he encontrado últimamente, han conseguido pegarme al Kobo y que me deje alguna tarea doméstica sin hacer sólo por saber cómo seguía la cosa.
Tenemos por un lado a Luca, un jovenzuelo rico y malcriado de 18 años acostumbrado a hacer lo que le da la gana con los tíos, y por otro a Ryder, 28 años, su guardaespaldas, ex-militar, rollo capitán América, cuando se conocen, salta la chispa y ya tenemos el lío montado: el twink es dominante y el musculitos sumiso, premisa interesante, ¿no? Fue eso lo que me decidió a leerlo, la verdad, no es habitual que el top sea el sumiso y me apetecía ver si la autora me conseguía vender la moto. Lo ha hecho, al menos las escenas sexuales entre ambos me han convencido, y mucho YKWIM e.e (si no sois mucho de BDSM, no os preocupéis, que aquí es todo más psicológico que otra cosa)
Ahora, aviso a navegantes, aquí hay sexo, y mucho, muchísimo, pero durante la primera mitad del libro, no es entre los MC, no hay infidelidad pero igual a alguien le puede hacer sentir incómoda la manera en que Luca vive su vida. No es mi caso, yo me lo he pasado pipa (^^) y además creo que es necesario para resaltar ciertos aspectos de su personalidad
Me han gustado los secundarios, aportan mucho a la trama, pero creo que la autora estira todo el tema del Admirador demasiado, no compro ciertos giros que se dan hacia el final del libro, ahí me perdió un poco. No tiene epílogo y para un libro tan largo y con todo lo que pasa, hubiera sido de agradecer, supongo que en Close Protection Ficlets nos enteraremos de más detalles, ya os contaré
Para mi el final es más un HFN que un HEA, a estos 2 les queda mucho por pasar, y viendo ambos cómo son y los diferentes que ven las cosas, por mucho amor que se tengan, el camino no va a ser de rosas precisamente.
Tenemos por un lado a Luca, un jovenzuelo rico y malcriado de 18 años acostumbrado a hacer lo que le da la gana con los tíos, y por otro a Ryder, 28 años, su guardaespaldas, ex-militar, rollo capitán América, cuando se conocen, salta la chispa y ya tenemos el lío montado: el twink es dominante y el musculitos sumiso, premisa interesante, ¿no? Fue eso lo que me decidió a leerlo, la verdad, no es habitual que el top sea el sumiso y me apetecía ver si la autora me conseguía vender la moto. Lo ha hecho, al menos las escenas sexuales entre ambos me han convencido, y mucho YKWIM e.e (si no sois mucho de BDSM, no os preocupéis, que aquí es todo más psicológico que otra cosa)
Ahora, aviso a navegantes, aquí hay sexo, y mucho, muchísimo, pero durante la primera mitad del libro, no es entre los MC, no hay infidelidad pero igual a alguien le puede hacer sentir incómoda la manera en que Luca vive su vida. No es mi caso, yo me lo he pasado pipa (^^) y además creo que es necesario para resaltar ciertos aspectos de su personalidad
Me han gustado los secundarios, aportan mucho a la trama, pero creo que la autora estira todo el tema del Admirador demasiado, no compro ciertos giros que se dan hacia el final del libro, ahí me perdió un poco. No tiene epílogo y para un libro tan largo y con todo lo que pasa, hubiera sido de agradecer, supongo que en Close Protection Ficlets nos enteraremos de más detalles, ya os contaré
Para mi el final es más un HFN que un HEA, a estos 2 les queda mucho por pasar, y viendo ambos cómo son y los diferentes que ven las cosas, por mucho amor que se tengan, el camino no va a ser de rosas precisamente.
November 4, 2014
This is a free book and a long one (250K). Many thanks to the author for giving us that much fun. If you like bodyguards, age-gap, mildly D/s very hot sex, and a rollercoaster thriller story, consider this one.
The main characters are Ryder, an ex-soldier turned bodyguard, and Luca, the gorgeous, wealthy-family 18-year-old he is assigned to protect. Luca is flamboyantly sexual, a young man who has used his looks and sex appeal as a tool to control his world and the men around him. If he can make a man want him, or better yet entice the man to actually have him, then he gains a handle on that man. Age, wealth and position can be taken away by desire, especially taboo or forbidden desire. Luca has blazed his way through multiple schools at this point, and damaged some powerful men in the process. But Ryder may not be as easy a mark.
Ryder came back from serving overseas with scars inside and out. He's learned to lock his feelings down and do the job. But from their first meeting he's attracted to Luca, not just for his stunning sensuality but for the vulnerable guy Ryder sometimes sees inside. He's ashamed of his desire for a guy that young, and moreover one he's supposed to have a working relationship with. And there are other complications we learn about as the story goes on.
To enjoy this story, you have to accept a few things.
First, that Luca is so desirable and good at seduction that he has cut a swath through powerful adult men both gay and bi/straight in his brief teen years. And done it so well that some of them still want him badly.
Second, that Ryder's attraction toward him is also strong enough to overcome his ethics and good sense, and sometimes his professionalism.
I admit, it bugs me in books (M/M or M/F) when sexual desire is enough to distract a professional person from flying bullets (or the metaphorical equivalent.) It seems implausible, although I guess in a world where a sitting president risks everything for a blow job under the desk, there are men for whom sex is that powerful of a distraction. I have a hard time making that heroic, however hot it might seem. But that's just me.
Once you accept that facet, then this becomes a long, exciting and fast-moving story with plot twists, some angsty moments, hot sex scenes, and two likeable main characters. Well worth the time, if it falls into your preferred genre. trigger warnings for: history of under-age sex with big age gaps and some dub-con, PTSD, violence, mild D/s, open relationship of sorts
The main characters are Ryder, an ex-soldier turned bodyguard, and Luca, the gorgeous, wealthy-family 18-year-old he is assigned to protect. Luca is flamboyantly sexual, a young man who has used his looks and sex appeal as a tool to control his world and the men around him. If he can make a man want him, or better yet entice the man to actually have him, then he gains a handle on that man. Age, wealth and position can be taken away by desire, especially taboo or forbidden desire. Luca has blazed his way through multiple schools at this point, and damaged some powerful men in the process. But Ryder may not be as easy a mark.
Ryder came back from serving overseas with scars inside and out. He's learned to lock his feelings down and do the job. But from their first meeting he's attracted to Luca, not just for his stunning sensuality but for the vulnerable guy Ryder sometimes sees inside. He's ashamed of his desire for a guy that young, and moreover one he's supposed to have a working relationship with. And there are other complications we learn about as the story goes on.
To enjoy this story, you have to accept a few things.
First, that Luca is so desirable and good at seduction that he has cut a swath through powerful adult men both gay and bi/straight in his brief teen years. And done it so well that some of them still want him badly.
Second, that Ryder's attraction toward him is also strong enough to overcome his ethics and good sense, and sometimes his professionalism.
I admit, it bugs me in books (M/M or M/F) when sexual desire is enough to distract a professional person from flying bullets (or the metaphorical equivalent.) It seems implausible, although I guess in a world where a sitting president risks everything for a blow job under the desk, there are men for whom sex is that powerful of a distraction. I have a hard time making that heroic, however hot it might seem. But that's just me.
Once you accept that facet, then this becomes a long, exciting and fast-moving story with plot twists, some angsty moments, hot sex scenes, and two likeable main characters. Well worth the time, if it falls into your preferred genre. trigger warnings for: history of under-age sex with big age gaps and some dub-con, PTSD, violence, mild D/s, open relationship of sorts
August 24, 2015
I finished this more than a week ago so it's not as fresh as I'd like. I found it impossible to put down despite the preposterousness of the plot and the length, which was easily double what it needed to be for the story it was telling. Ryder veered a bit too close to the saintly for my taste (the big reveal of his past made me groan in annoyance when it finally, finally arrived). On the other hand, Luca made up for it (sorta) by engaging in some pretty vicious behavior--to a degree that I was actually shocked that the author risked it in a main character. That in itself qualifies as refreshing.
But the real strength of the story is in how the author shakes up the usual dynamic expectations, with the lithe twink as predatory and dominating of the burly ex-soldier. Their relationship consistently surprises, both in the intense eroticism of the build-up and later the actual relationship, and in the depth of the characterization, which is a lot more nuanced than it had any right to be given the macro-conditions of the story itself.
Bottom line: for those who don't mind loooooooong reads, this is a ridiculously entertaining story. And it's free.
But the real strength of the story is in how the author shakes up the usual dynamic expectations, with the lithe twink as predatory and dominating of the burly ex-soldier. Their relationship consistently surprises, both in the intense eroticism of the build-up and later the actual relationship, and in the depth of the characterization, which is a lot more nuanced than it had any right to be given the macro-conditions of the story itself.
Bottom line: for those who don't mind loooooooong reads, this is a ridiculously entertaining story. And it's free.
June 20, 2013
Smoking hot slashfic that combines suspense and eroticism. The scenes between Luca and Ryder are raw and urgent with a nice twist on D/s with a power bottom and his hulking sub. Add in the age differential and this is a fun read.
Luca is a force of nature. Amazing to watch, sometimes terrifying, and awe-inspiring.
Ryder, the man paid to protect him is the epitome of professional and dedicated showing no cracks until he meets one who makes him feel things again.
The significant issues are woven into the story and add both a quiet desperation and hope at the same time.
Luca is a force of nature. Amazing to watch, sometimes terrifying, and awe-inspiring.
Ryder, the man paid to protect him is the epitome of professional and dedicated showing no cracks until he meets one who makes him feel things again.
The significant issues are woven into the story and add both a quiet desperation and hope at the same time.
December 9, 2012
4.5 stars – Close Protection is an excellent m/m action-suspense-romance that tells the story of Luca, the 18-year old son of a billionaire defense contractor, and Ryder, his new bodyguard, and how they fight together against a dangerous stalker who seems to know everything about Luca, and is willing to use that knowledge to try to control and entrap him.
At over 250,000 words/650 pages, this is a long, involved read, and even though it could have used some editing down, it was still a very engaging story about very complicated characters that were imperfect but still sympathetic. The author did a great job of fleshing out Luca and Ryder as well as building up their development and evolution over the story. Nothing is “insta” here--no one gets quick fixed, no one falls for each other right off the bat. Everything was a process, which made the characters more realistic (even as the story got crazy).
The author also successfully spaced out the action, suspense, and sexy times so there was never a too-big a space in between for the reader to feel bored or complacent. (I was also impressed with how the author spaced out the romance so well here since I came in thinking that I was going to have to survive 30+ chapters of UST before anything happened.)
I was surprised how much I cared for Luca, even as you found out more of the things he did in the past to control and manipulate people. The author did a fantastic job of showing how flawed her characters are, but also how very human, and it was easy to feel every small step that Luca took to move himself forward and be a better man, a man he wanted to be for Ryder. And Ryder’s slow progression as he strived to keep Luca safe from the myriad of threats while also battling his feelings for his principle was riveting to read. The eventual sexual dynamics that develop between them is also very interesting (and sexy) while also staying true to the characters. I liked how the author didn’t stick to common m/m tropes, but spun things around in new directions that always felt *right* for the characters and the story.
Another thing I dug was how the author created a large cast of distinct characters, each with their own voice. The dialogue was great; very realistic, and sometimes very funny. Also, she did a wonderful job of creating fleshed-out female characters, something always nice to see in an m/m romance.
In the end, Close Protection was a very satisfying read, especially reading it completed. (I don’t think I would have enjoyed it as much if I read it in installments over a year, but I have little patience for WIPs.) But as a complete story, it reads very well; it’s long and at times it felt like a TV serial telling one long story broken up into mini-arcs, but still it is fantastic story about characters who you really grow to care about and who you really want to have an HEA. (And yes, the ending is satisfying, although I wouldn’t say no to reading any follow-ups.)
Lastly, this whole 650 page novel is free to read online, and I have to give props to the author for sticking through and finishing the story (and doing it so well.) I would be more than happy to buy this novel. It’s definitely worth it. Highly recommended.
At over 250,000 words/650 pages, this is a long, involved read, and even though it could have used some editing down, it was still a very engaging story about very complicated characters that were imperfect but still sympathetic. The author did a great job of fleshing out Luca and Ryder as well as building up their development and evolution over the story. Nothing is “insta” here--no one gets quick fixed, no one falls for each other right off the bat. Everything was a process, which made the characters more realistic (even as the story got crazy).
The author also successfully spaced out the action, suspense, and sexy times so there was never a too-big a space in between for the reader to feel bored or complacent. (I was also impressed with how the author spaced out the romance so well here since I came in thinking that I was going to have to survive 30+ chapters of UST before anything happened.)
I was surprised how much I cared for Luca, even as you found out more of the things he did in the past to control and manipulate people. The author did a fantastic job of showing how flawed her characters are, but also how very human, and it was easy to feel every small step that Luca took to move himself forward and be a better man, a man he wanted to be for Ryder. And Ryder’s slow progression as he strived to keep Luca safe from the myriad of threats while also battling his feelings for his principle was riveting to read. The eventual sexual dynamics that develop between them is also very interesting (and sexy) while also staying true to the characters. I liked how the author didn’t stick to common m/m tropes, but spun things around in new directions that always felt *right* for the characters and the story.
Another thing I dug was how the author created a large cast of distinct characters, each with their own voice. The dialogue was great; very realistic, and sometimes very funny. Also, she did a wonderful job of creating fleshed-out female characters, something always nice to see in an m/m romance.
In the end, Close Protection was a very satisfying read, especially reading it completed. (I don’t think I would have enjoyed it as much if I read it in installments over a year, but I have little patience for WIPs.) But as a complete story, it reads very well; it’s long and at times it felt like a TV serial telling one long story broken up into mini-arcs, but still it is fantastic story about characters who you really grow to care about and who you really want to have an HEA. (And yes, the ending is satisfying, although I wouldn’t say no to reading any follow-ups.)
Lastly, this whole 650 page novel is free to read online, and I have to give props to the author for sticking through and finishing the story (and doing it so well.) I would be more than happy to buy this novel. It’s definitely worth it. Highly recommended.
June 4, 2016
Just finished, a long free read, extremely well-written by Cordelia Kingsbridge. The tension builds throughout, a well thought out plot, highly recommended.
'What was his mother thinking? She was the one who'd insisted on all his bodyguards being either female or heinous trolls like Warnock, but here she was offering up Captain America on a silver platter.'
'What was his mother thinking? She was the one who'd insisted on all his bodyguards being either female or heinous trolls like Warnock, but here she was offering up Captain America on a silver platter.'
August 25, 2016
3,5 stars
What a ride! - and that in every sense of the word! ;)
Definitely one of the hottest books I've read. And as my brain's still frazzled I'm going to do the good old plus and 'minus' list (well they aren't minuses, rather than slight niggles)
+ what I loved about this book:
.) Luca is an incredibly complex character and the author does a fab job unraveling him and his problems slowly but surely, giving totally believable explanations for his promiscuity and his pretty horrifying behaviour. And as the plot moves on we can see Luca evolve, change his attitude and the way he copes with his problems. By the time we reach the end of the book he has come a long, long way.
.) I thoroughly enjoyed all the psychology and found the reason for Luca's behaviour really interesting.
.) Ryder is so strong and yet so vulnerable. He does kid himself when it comes to Luca for a considerable amount of time, but once he admits to himself that he likes Luca he does it full-heartedly. He is pretty torn -up about their age difference (more about that later) and tries to do the 'right' thing (meaning not getting involved with Luca) -needless to say that this does not work out!
.) I genuinely enjoyed the mystery part of the plot. There were tons of twists and turns along the way to lead the reader astray to who was behind the threats against Luca. And there was plenty of action - I did get the feeling of being in a James Bond movie at times.
.) As I've already mentioned the heat of the book was intense. I loved the sizzling sex between Luca and Ryder and it was pretty hot how their sexual relationship unfolded. However, I could have done with less of Luca's on page sleeping around. It did get a bit much at times.
What I wasn't so sure about
.) Luca seemed far too young to be such a master manipulator. Considering he started his full-scale 'operations' when he was only sixteen I really couldn't believe all those high powered, older men would fall so easily for him (including a secret agent??? come on!) For me this would have been a little more believable if Luca had been at least over 20.
.) Ryders OTT worry about their age gap. My partner is ten years older than me and it has never ever been an issue or a problem. I do get that Luca's only 18 and at that age, a ten year gap appears larger than it is maybe a few years later (if that makes sense). I would have thought that Ryder should have been more worried sleeping with the guy he was protecting, even given I also found it a bit strange that all of Ryder's colleagues were quite happy when he started having sex with Luca. Should they not have objected more?
.) Ryder's refusal to accept Luca as his boyfriend annoyed the hell out of me. Particularly when Luca was so vulnerable and clearly needed someone to hold onto. I also felt slightly cheated that we never got to see Ryder's family reacting to their relationship. I hoped that Ryder would take Luca to meet them.
On the whole I did enjoy this book, I probably would have chosen to shorten the plot to avoid certain repetitive situations, but if you want heat and action, this has certainly got it!
Recommended.
What a ride! - and that in every sense of the word! ;)
Definitely one of the hottest books I've read. And as my brain's still frazzled I'm going to do the good old plus and 'minus' list (well they aren't minuses, rather than slight niggles)
+ what I loved about this book:
.) Luca is an incredibly complex character and the author does a fab job unraveling him and his problems slowly but surely, giving totally believable explanations for his promiscuity and his pretty horrifying behaviour. And as the plot moves on we can see Luca evolve, change his attitude and the way he copes with his problems. By the time we reach the end of the book he has come a long, long way.
.) I thoroughly enjoyed all the psychology and found the reason for Luca's behaviour really interesting.
.) Ryder is so strong and yet so vulnerable. He does kid himself when it comes to Luca for a considerable amount of time, but once he admits to himself that he likes Luca he does it full-heartedly. He is pretty torn -up about their age difference (more about that later) and tries to do the 'right' thing (meaning not getting involved with Luca) -needless to say that this does not work out!
.) I genuinely enjoyed the mystery part of the plot. There were tons of twists and turns along the way to lead the reader astray to who was behind the threats against Luca. And there was plenty of action - I did get the feeling of being in a James Bond movie at times.
.) As I've already mentioned the heat of the book was intense. I loved the sizzling sex between Luca and Ryder and it was pretty hot how their sexual relationship unfolded. However, I could have done with less of Luca's on page sleeping around. It did get a bit much at times.
What I wasn't so sure about
.) Luca seemed far too young to be such a master manipulator. Considering he started his full-scale 'operations' when he was only sixteen I really couldn't believe all those high powered, older men would fall so easily for him (including a secret agent??? come on!) For me this would have been a little more believable if Luca had been at least over 20.
.) Ryders OTT worry about their age gap. My partner is ten years older than me and it has never ever been an issue or a problem. I do get that Luca's only 18 and at that age, a ten year gap appears larger than it is maybe a few years later (if that makes sense). I would have thought that Ryder should have been more worried sleeping with the guy he was protecting, even given I also found it a bit strange that all of Ryder's colleagues were quite happy when he started having sex with Luca. Should they not have objected more?
.) Ryder's refusal to accept Luca as his boyfriend annoyed the hell out of me. Particularly when Luca was so vulnerable and clearly needed someone to hold onto. I also felt slightly cheated that we never got to see Ryder's family reacting to their relationship. I hoped that Ryder would take Luca to meet them.
On the whole I did enjoy this book, I probably would have chosen to shorten the plot to avoid certain repetitive situations, but if you want heat and action, this has certainly got it!
Recommended.
September 21, 2020
Er, so, another casualty of my 2020 re-readathon. And honestly what? I loved this in 2012. But I actually had serious issues with it this time around. The premise of a bodyguard falling in love with their client is a good one, and it has so much potential as a storyline. But holy hell, did both Luca and Ryder annoy me in the reread. Particularly Luca. He's the worst, and he's EIGHTEEN for fuck's sake. The age gap and power dynamics did not sit well with me for some reason. And Ryder is a paper doll of a human. It's a no from me, dawg.
*Original review below*
Gah! Why do I do this to myself? Again! Again I've started reading a fantastic online fic that is a work-in-progress. Even though patience is not a thing I have in spades. I started reading kind of blindly, blown away by the high rating and then I realized it wasn't finished yet and I honestly cried a little bit. But then I got over myself and read everything that was available until 2am in the morning before I had to get up at 6am to work a 24 hour shift. That was not a smart idea, let me tell you. But I don't regret it.
This story is brilliant. It's about a too-honorable bodyguard and a supremely oversexed teenager, doused in huge amounts of sexual tension and set against a backdrop of improbable wealth. So, it's not exactly gritty reality, but it's so delicious that I was perfectly able to suspend my disbelief with no ill effects. The next update is meant to be today, so let me get back to refreshing the page every 15 seconds for the rest of the weekend.
18/11/12 - Final chapter today! Okay, so in retrospect that was a massively long story, but it never stopped being awesome. Loved Ryder and Luca, loved the drama, and the hotness. Especially loved that Cordelia Kingsbridge is the most regular updater on all of the internet. Excellent story.
*Original review below*
Gah! Why do I do this to myself? Again! Again I've started reading a fantastic online fic that is a work-in-progress. Even though patience is not a thing I have in spades. I started reading kind of blindly, blown away by the high rating and then I realized it wasn't finished yet and I honestly cried a little bit. But then I got over myself and read everything that was available until 2am in the morning before I had to get up at 6am to work a 24 hour shift. That was not a smart idea, let me tell you. But I don't regret it.
This story is brilliant. It's about a too-honorable bodyguard and a supremely oversexed teenager, doused in huge amounts of sexual tension and set against a backdrop of improbable wealth. So, it's not exactly gritty reality, but it's so delicious that I was perfectly able to suspend my disbelief with no ill effects. The next update is meant to be today, so let me get back to refreshing the page every 15 seconds for the rest of the weekend.
18/11/12 - Final chapter today! Okay, so in retrospect that was a massively long story, but it never stopped being awesome. Loved Ryder and Luca, loved the drama, and the hotness. Especially loved that Cordelia Kingsbridge is the most regular updater on all of the internet. Excellent story.
May 9, 2014
To give you a sense of how good I thought this novel was, I managed to finish it in 24 hours. Crazy right? That's because I enjoyed the hell out of it.
I'm actually shocked that people were complaining about how long it was or how long it took to get to the sex. To me that was the best part. There are so many crappy m/m romance novels where people jump into relationships and then all of a sudden they're getting married or some such bullshit. I prefer a long, slow build up (if done well) and that's what this author gave me.
Were there plot holes? I'm sure there were, but I didn't really notice them. I was too enthralled. Could it be tightened up? Sure... There were a few chapters towards the end that I felt were not as good and/or a little rushed. But I'll say this: it was more interesting, better written and had less typos than most of the m/m novels I've read in the past year. Plus it's FREE! Craziness!
I'm actually shocked that people were complaining about how long it was or how long it took to get to the sex. To me that was the best part. There are so many crappy m/m romance novels where people jump into relationships and then all of a sudden they're getting married or some such bullshit. I prefer a long, slow build up (if done well) and that's what this author gave me.
Were there plot holes? I'm sure there were, but I didn't really notice them. I was too enthralled. Could it be tightened up? Sure... There were a few chapters towards the end that I felt were not as good and/or a little rushed. But I'll say this: it was more interesting, better written and had less typos than most of the m/m novels I've read in the past year. Plus it's FREE! Craziness!
April 13, 2014
(FREE) This had some intriguingly-stimulating content. First-an immense appreciation for this writer's generous perseverance of this lengthy-entertaining-*free*-story for the online reading community.
This writer has a smut factor that tickles mine. Note the operative word 'tickles' because of course there's room for editing improvability and advancement in this arena and tweaking it..would be a blast.
I appreciated the spontaneous power exchange and thought it was very well-done. I couldn't appreciate the inner monologue of stereo-typical BDSM lingo and found it to be too forced-scripted-unnecessary. (IMO) a writer does themselves a great favor in trusting a reader's ability to let the story carry itself without micro-managing it. And (for me) the power exchange in the writing was carrying itself just fine.
Over-detailing lube and condoms could have been scaled back. I suppose writers feel a sense of responsibility and then overcompensate in this area which I also find completely unnecessary. It's a fictional story not an educational workshop on responsible safe sex (IMO).
It's a generous length but fortunately I read very fast, so provided it's time well-spent..length is never much of an issue (for me) but if a story isn't sustaining your interest then some of this content would be repetitious.
Luca is a fabulously-twisted character. Ryder is an appealing character but could use some finessing (IMO). Davenport was a good complimentary character. Andy..ugh..(just that name)..and then his unappealing physical characteristics..felt forced and his overall blah-bland personality could stand fixing something fierce.
(For me) despite editing improvability potential..I found Luca and the sexual content to be the story/writer's greatest strength. Combining this with her outstanding effort at a free online publication..earned my ★5★stars.
This writer has a smut factor that tickles mine. Note the operative word 'tickles' because of course there's room for editing improvability and advancement in this arena and tweaking it..would be a blast.
I appreciated the spontaneous power exchange and thought it was very well-done. I couldn't appreciate the inner monologue of stereo-typical BDSM lingo and found it to be too forced-scripted-unnecessary. (IMO) a writer does themselves a great favor in trusting a reader's ability to let the story carry itself without micro-managing it. And (for me) the power exchange in the writing was carrying itself just fine.
Over-detailing lube and condoms could have been scaled back. I suppose writers feel a sense of responsibility and then overcompensate in this area which I also find completely unnecessary. It's a fictional story not an educational workshop on responsible safe sex (IMO).
It's a generous length but fortunately I read very fast, so provided it's time well-spent..length is never much of an issue (for me) but if a story isn't sustaining your interest then some of this content would be repetitious.
Luca is a fabulously-twisted character. Ryder is an appealing character but could use some finessing (IMO). Davenport was a good complimentary character. Andy..ugh..(just that name)..and then his unappealing physical characteristics..felt forced and his overall blah-bland personality could stand fixing something fierce.
(For me) despite editing improvability potential..I found Luca and the sexual content to be the story/writer's greatest strength. Combining this with her outstanding effort at a free online publication..earned my ★5★stars.
August 21, 2016
Ay Luca y Ryder, estoy entre el subidón por la química que tiene la pareja y la desesperación por no encontrar los Ficlets en ningún sitio.
Luca es un chico de 18 años con una vida sexual digamos que bastante agitada que ve cómo su vida es amenazada y necesita la protección de un equipo de guardaespaldas dirigido por Ryder de 28. Ahí empiezan los tiras y aflojas, conocemos a un muchacho joven mucho más dominante que el mayor, más submisivo, comprendemos todas las capas que envuelven a Luca y que explican esa vida sexual, y nos adentramos en una historia con muchos momentos hot y con su dosis de intriga por saber quién persigue a Luca y cuándo llegará el momento en el que lo alcancen.
No os voy a mentir, la pareja protagonista tiene mucha química, los encuentros sexuales entre ellos e incluso con otros personajes secundarios son muy sexys, pero el plot tiene varios agujeros. La parte de misterio hizo que de vez en cuando entornara los ojos, muchas cosas las supuse desde el principio, y el final es entre abrupto y rozando lo increíble.
Aun con sus pegas, ideal para pasar un rato estupendo, no te va a cambiar la vida pero sin duda le va a aportar algo de luz a tu día.
Luca es un chico de 18 años con una vida sexual digamos que bastante agitada que ve cómo su vida es amenazada y necesita la protección de un equipo de guardaespaldas dirigido por Ryder de 28. Ahí empiezan los tiras y aflojas, conocemos a un muchacho joven mucho más dominante que el mayor, más submisivo, comprendemos todas las capas que envuelven a Luca y que explican esa vida sexual, y nos adentramos en una historia con muchos momentos hot y con su dosis de intriga por saber quién persigue a Luca y cuándo llegará el momento en el que lo alcancen.
No os voy a mentir, la pareja protagonista tiene mucha química, los encuentros sexuales entre ellos e incluso con otros personajes secundarios son muy sexys, pero el plot tiene varios agujeros. La parte de misterio hizo que de vez en cuando entornara los ojos, muchas cosas las supuse desde el principio, y el final es entre abrupto y rozando lo increíble.
Aun con sus pegas, ideal para pasar un rato estupendo, no te va a cambiar la vida pero sin duda le va a aportar algo de luz a tu día.
October 17, 2016
I think this story might very well be the longest one I have ever read; the funny thing is, it didn't feel long AT ALL.
I guess this is what you call a true slow-burn, and it was so close to being perfect, that I'm pretty sure it will be read again, even though it took me 2-3 days to get through it. Luckily I started this on a friday, or else I would have been fucked, I could not put this book down.
So Ryder is hired as a bodyguard for Luca. Luca's mother is an important defense contractor, and people have been hunting Luca for years, to get a one-up over Luca's mother.
Luca was sent to boarding schools in Europe after his father's death, when Luca was 12 (or 13), and Luca has been 'on his own' since.
Let us just agree that Luca is a perfect example of what happens when a rich, spoiled brat is left 'unsupervised'. After Luca is kicked out of school for the 3rd time for sexual misconduct, his mother sees no other solution than to bring him home, and up his security.
For people with hardcore morals and issues with younger people having sex, this book could be a problem.
I thought it worked really well, since we follow Luca's development, and I kind of loved Luca most of the time, even though he was kind of... All over the place, both sexually and personally in the beginning.
His new bodyguard is Ryder. Ryder was promoted from 'normal' bodyguard to team leader, but something fishy is going on with his promotion.
When Luca and Ryder meet the attraction is instantaneous, BUT Ryder is a good guy with strong morals, and even though he is attracted to Luca, he does not want to act on it.
Luca does a LOT of shit, both to get Ryder's attention, but also to stay in control, and Luca is not a very 'loveable' character, and yet I could not help but adore him.
Amidst Luca's attempts to get Ryder's attention, somebody is stalking him AND trying to kidnap him.
So not only do we have a promiscuous, flawed MC, we also have a mystery, and a bodyguard trying to remain morally superior amongst the car chases and come-ons from Lucas.
And then it becomes even BETTER when they get their freak on! 'Normal', vanilla sex is, of course, not enough for these two, and we have some pretty HOT, kinky smexy times.
Also I LOVED that Luca was the 'Dom', it fit seamlessly into the story and the characters, that Luca and Ryder are.
Even though both Ryder and Luca have sex with other people on-page, it is before they get together, and it worked for the story. But for people who hate their MCs to be involved with someone else, just beware that it's there.
Lastly I was really impressed with Kingsbridge's use of a psychiatrist to help Luca. I loved their sessions, and Luca's development throughout this book was very realistic and mature.
The reason this is NOT a 5-star read for me was the lack of an epilogue or something. This book is almost 900 pages long, and it annoys me that we don't get a HEA after struggling through Luca and Ryder's relationship over that many pages. In my head, she could have written 40 pages more, it wouldn't make a difference, and we could have had a HEA.
I guess this is what you call a true slow-burn, and it was so close to being perfect, that I'm pretty sure it will be read again, even though it took me 2-3 days to get through it. Luckily I started this on a friday, or else I would have been fucked, I could not put this book down.
So Ryder is hired as a bodyguard for Luca. Luca's mother is an important defense contractor, and people have been hunting Luca for years, to get a one-up over Luca's mother.
Luca was sent to boarding schools in Europe after his father's death, when Luca was 12 (or 13), and Luca has been 'on his own' since.
Let us just agree that Luca is a perfect example of what happens when a rich, spoiled brat is left 'unsupervised'. After Luca is kicked out of school for the 3rd time for sexual misconduct, his mother sees no other solution than to bring him home, and up his security.
For people with hardcore morals and issues with younger people having sex, this book could be a problem.
I thought it worked really well, since we follow Luca's development, and I kind of loved Luca most of the time, even though he was kind of... All over the place, both sexually and personally in the beginning.
His new bodyguard is Ryder. Ryder was promoted from 'normal' bodyguard to team leader, but something fishy is going on with his promotion.
When Luca and Ryder meet the attraction is instantaneous, BUT Ryder is a good guy with strong morals, and even though he is attracted to Luca, he does not want to act on it.
Luca does a LOT of shit, both to get Ryder's attention, but also to stay in control, and Luca is not a very 'loveable' character, and yet I could not help but adore him.
Amidst Luca's attempts to get Ryder's attention, somebody is stalking him AND trying to kidnap him.
So not only do we have a promiscuous, flawed MC, we also have a mystery, and a bodyguard trying to remain morally superior amongst the car chases and come-ons from Lucas.
And then it becomes even BETTER when they get their freak on! 'Normal', vanilla sex is, of course, not enough for these two, and we have some pretty HOT, kinky smexy times.
Also I LOVED that Luca was the 'Dom', it fit seamlessly into the story and the characters, that Luca and Ryder are.
Even though both Ryder and Luca have sex with other people on-page, it is before they get together, and it worked for the story. But for people who hate their MCs to be involved with someone else, just beware that it's there.
Lastly I was really impressed with Kingsbridge's use of a psychiatrist to help Luca. I loved their sessions, and Luca's development throughout this book was very realistic and mature.
The reason this is NOT a 5-star read for me was the lack of an epilogue or something. This book is almost 900 pages long, and it annoys me that we don't get a HEA after struggling through Luca and Ryder's relationship over that many pages. In my head, she could have written 40 pages more, it wouldn't make a difference, and we could have had a HEA.
dnf
December 12, 2017DNF@34%
So today I was on my way back from work on the train and there was this hot European guy sitting right next to me. Singapore is totally tropical so he was wearing these loose sandos with baggy jeans and those frilly long hair strands tied into a loose knot. Gosh! Was he beautiful! I tried my best to concentrate but really couldn’t. He must have noticed that I was not swiping my kindle that much or too often sometimes. Ok. This time I can blame the guy for distracting me.
But the others, I don’t think I have any interesting stories to tell where I was half distracted, half trying to get through it to at least get to a more hooking part and it still hasn’t come yet. Most novels which are of this kind, I at least go halfway through to rate them but with this one, I just can’t. It’s so boring. The author is literally detailing every day of their lives like they are the freakin’ presidents and it all just doesn’t add up. It’s too hokey-pokey, too blasé when it comes to their conversations, ‘desires’ or even when they are in ‘dangerous’ scenarios. As soon as that guy left, I was thinking I just wasted a lot of time where I could have read two really interesting short novels. So, I’m giving up on this and I don’t even regret anything. This is as boring as they come. Character development is present but its not keeping me up. So, done done done!
So today I was on my way back from work on the train and there was this hot European guy sitting right next to me. Singapore is totally tropical so he was wearing these loose sandos with baggy jeans and those frilly long hair strands tied into a loose knot. Gosh! Was he beautiful! I tried my best to concentrate but really couldn’t. He must have noticed that I was not swiping my kindle that much or too often sometimes. Ok. This time I can blame the guy for distracting me.
But the others, I don’t think I have any interesting stories to tell where I was half distracted, half trying to get through it to at least get to a more hooking part and it still hasn’t come yet. Most novels which are of this kind, I at least go halfway through to rate them but with this one, I just can’t. It’s so boring. The author is literally detailing every day of their lives like they are the freakin’ presidents and it all just doesn’t add up. It’s too hokey-pokey, too blasé when it comes to their conversations, ‘desires’ or even when they are in ‘dangerous’ scenarios. As soon as that guy left, I was thinking I just wasted a lot of time where I could have read two really interesting short novels. So, I’m giving up on this and I don’t even regret anything. This is as boring as they come. Character development is present but its not keeping me up. So, done done done!
January 30, 2021
✨ALL THE STARS IN THE SKY!!!!✨
【Song: If Our Love is Wrong】
🎶I don't know how I should say it
In my mind is every word
That they don't wanna hear
I don't know how they might take it
Maybe you can take the pressure
And make it disappear
Throw out the inhibition
You make me feel a feeling that I've never felt before
I don't know if they're gonna like it
But that only makes me want it more
'Cause I'm nobody's but yours🎶
🎶Why would I need their permission
Skin and bones, I'm only human
It's in my DNA
Suffocating just to fit in
Why do I care what people say?
'Cause I'm nobody's but yours🎶
🎶And If it's me
And if it's you
And if our love is wrong
Then I don't ever wanna be right
I don't ever wanna be right
And if it's real
And if it's true
And if our love is wrong
Then I don't ever wanna be right🎶
☆✼★━━━━━━━━━━━━━━★✼☆
WARNING: This is a short and sweet review of me just basically fangirling about this book and expressing my illogical and irrational love for it. This book is by no means perfect, it’s just simply perfect for me.
☆✼★━━━━━━━━━━━━━━★✼☆
Those rare moments when the stars align, and you somehow find everything you could ever want or need in a book and more, are precisely the reasons why i originally fell in love with reading and books.
Close Protection is exactly one of those rare unparalleled instances, and i am irrecoverably, irreversibly and unequivocally in love with this book.
This book BLEW me away, and i was NOT expecting it!
I loved this book beyond words, i enjoyed every minute i spent reading it, all the while wishing it will never end.
The only other books i can think of at the top of my head, that took me on a rollercoaster of emotions and left me with a MASSIVE book hangover similarly to Close Protection, are Binding 13 and Keeping 13 by Chloe Walsh.
Those two books are two of my ALL TIME FAVORITES, and are books that will forever stick with me.
The U.N.F.O.R.G.E.T.A.B.L.E and U.N.P.U.T.D.O.W.N.A.B.L.E kind of books.
The ones that catch you off guard, worm their way into your heart and soul, and never find their way out.
A.K.A the best kind of books. The reason books will always be the love of my life.
Now, I’m NOT in any way shape or form, comparing Close Protection to the Boys of Tommen series, in fact those two are completely different from each other in all ways.
I’m not even sure i want to put Close Protection in the same league as those two phenomenal books, because they’re just poles apart.
The only thing they really have in common, is the way they made me feel.
Close Protection is a forbidden, age-gap, bodyguard romance.
It has the slowest burn you will ever read. A sexual tension so intense, it could be cut with a knife. Insanely HOT, KINKY and ROUGH sex(when it finally happens).
All of the above, together with the longing glances. The slow ease into the yearning touches, and the illicit nature of the relationship, makes this book an OUTSTANDING m/m action-romance, and a new all time favorite of mine.
My only real complaint about this book, is that it ended way too soon, and left me greedy for more. I would die for an epilogue.
“You’re mine.” Luca nipped at Ryder’s lower lip. “Say it.”
“I’m yours,” said Ryder, “I’ll do anything to make you happy, Luca. Anything.”
“That’s a dangerous promise to make to someone like me,” Luca said, tracing his fingers over Ryder’s cheek.
Ryder smiled. “I’m not afraid.”
☆✼★━━━━━━━━━━━━━━★✼☆
I started this yesterday, and I’m LOVING it!😍😍
Everyone keeps complaining about how long it is(890 pages), but i just never want it to end!✨
【Song: If Our Love is Wrong】
🎶I don't know how I should say it
In my mind is every word
That they don't wanna hear
I don't know how they might take it
Maybe you can take the pressure
And make it disappear
Throw out the inhibition
You make me feel a feeling that I've never felt before
I don't know if they're gonna like it
But that only makes me want it more
'Cause I'm nobody's but yours🎶
🎶Why would I need their permission
Skin and bones, I'm only human
It's in my DNA
Suffocating just to fit in
Why do I care what people say?
'Cause I'm nobody's but yours🎶
🎶And If it's me
And if it's you
And if our love is wrong
Then I don't ever wanna be right
I don't ever wanna be right
And if it's real
And if it's true
And if our love is wrong
Then I don't ever wanna be right🎶
☆✼★━━━━━━━━━━━━━━★✼☆
WARNING: This is a short and sweet review of me just basically fangirling about this book and expressing my illogical and irrational love for it. This book is by no means perfect, it’s just simply perfect for me.
☆✼★━━━━━━━━━━━━━━★✼☆
Those rare moments when the stars align, and you somehow find everything you could ever want or need in a book and more, are precisely the reasons why i originally fell in love with reading and books.
Close Protection is exactly one of those rare unparalleled instances, and i am irrecoverably, irreversibly and unequivocally in love with this book.
This book BLEW me away, and i was NOT expecting it!
I loved this book beyond words, i enjoyed every minute i spent reading it, all the while wishing it will never end.
The only other books i can think of at the top of my head, that took me on a rollercoaster of emotions and left me with a MASSIVE book hangover similarly to Close Protection, are Binding 13 and Keeping 13 by Chloe Walsh.
Those two books are two of my ALL TIME FAVORITES, and are books that will forever stick with me.
The U.N.F.O.R.G.E.T.A.B.L.E and U.N.P.U.T.D.O.W.N.A.B.L.E kind of books.
The ones that catch you off guard, worm their way into your heart and soul, and never find their way out.
A.K.A the best kind of books. The reason books will always be the love of my life.
Now, I’m NOT in any way shape or form, comparing Close Protection to the Boys of Tommen series, in fact those two are completely different from each other in all ways.
I’m not even sure i want to put Close Protection in the same league as those two phenomenal books, because they’re just poles apart.
The only thing they really have in common, is the way they made me feel.
Close Protection is a forbidden, age-gap, bodyguard romance.
It has the slowest burn you will ever read. A sexual tension so intense, it could be cut with a knife. Insanely HOT, KINKY and ROUGH sex(when it finally happens).
All of the above, together with the longing glances. The slow ease into the yearning touches, and the illicit nature of the relationship, makes this book an OUTSTANDING m/m action-romance, and a new all time favorite of mine.
My only real complaint about this book, is that it ended way too soon, and left me greedy for more. I would die for an epilogue.
“You’re mine.” Luca nipped at Ryder’s lower lip. “Say it.”
“I’m yours,” said Ryder, “I’ll do anything to make you happy, Luca. Anything.”
“That’s a dangerous promise to make to someone like me,” Luca said, tracing his fingers over Ryder’s cheek.
Ryder smiled. “I’m not afraid.”
☆✼★━━━━━━━━━━━━━━★✼☆
I started this yesterday, and I’m LOVING it!😍😍
Everyone keeps complaining about how long it is(890 pages), but i just never want it to end!✨
December 2, 2015
Close Protection was definitly a very entertaining read. With more than 260.000 words it is super long, but I wsn't able to put it down and I didn't get bored at all.
When Ryder is engaged by Evelyn D'Amato to become the team leader of her son's close protection team, he doesn't know that his whole life is about to change. He has of course heard that Luca has been expelled from various schools in Europe due to sexual misconduct, but finally beind confronted with the young man he understands that his job might be harder than he thought.
Luca is a very attractive twink with a hell of a dirty mouth. He uses every single occation to seduce Ryder, but he realizes that his new bodyguard isn't as easy to get than many older men he had before. However, giving up isn't an option for Luca.
While it was hard to like Luca at the very beginning, I soon started to really like him. The reason for his sexual behavior is revealed and I really enjoyed his character development. I have to say that developing intriguing characters is a strength of Kingsbride. Close Protection has a lot of secondary characters important to the plot and I was able to connect with nearly all of them. They were alive in my head, I was feeling with a lot of them and I enjoyed reading about them a lot. Asthon, Song and Megan have been my favorite.
Soon, Luca is treathened by the so called Admirer and Ryder, who really cared about Luca, is trying his very best to protect Luca. He not only tries to keep him safe, but also to make him feel comfortable in this difficult situation. I liked the secrets behind his past and I enjoyed the way Kingsbridge made me feel gradually closer to him.
The sex scenes were super hot! There were tons and tons and not only between the MC's. I enjoyed most of them and I didn't get the feeling of repetitiveness! The dynamics between Ryder and Luca were very entertaining and I have to say that I also liked the tension between them. Their fall-outs and make-up-moments felt very credible!
The last third of the book was very catching! My heart was beating too fast at times! I have to say that I even liked the head of the bad guys, a man we didn't have much information about, but due to his very strong presence in the short scenes with him, I somehow liked him. The showdown was very well done and I would definitly see a few of these scenes in a Hollywood movie!
I will definitly read the ficlets going with this story! 5 stars!
When Ryder is engaged by Evelyn D'Amato to become the team leader of her son's close protection team, he doesn't know that his whole life is about to change. He has of course heard that Luca has been expelled from various schools in Europe due to sexual misconduct, but finally beind confronted with the young man he understands that his job might be harder than he thought.
Luca is a very attractive twink with a hell of a dirty mouth. He uses every single occation to seduce Ryder, but he realizes that his new bodyguard isn't as easy to get than many older men he had before. However, giving up isn't an option for Luca.
While it was hard to like Luca at the very beginning, I soon started to really like him. The reason for his sexual behavior is revealed and I really enjoyed his character development. I have to say that developing intriguing characters is a strength of Kingsbride. Close Protection has a lot of secondary characters important to the plot and I was able to connect with nearly all of them. They were alive in my head, I was feeling with a lot of them and I enjoyed reading about them a lot. Asthon, Song and Megan have been my favorite.
Soon, Luca is treathened by the so called Admirer and Ryder, who really cared about Luca, is trying his very best to protect Luca. He not only tries to keep him safe, but also to make him feel comfortable in this difficult situation. I liked the secrets behind his past and I enjoyed the way Kingsbridge made me feel gradually closer to him.
The sex scenes were super hot! There were tons and tons and not only between the MC's. I enjoyed most of them and I didn't get the feeling of repetitiveness! The dynamics between Ryder and Luca were very entertaining and I have to say that I also liked the tension between them. Their fall-outs and make-up-moments felt very credible!
The last third of the book was very catching! My heart was beating too fast at times! I have to say that I even liked the head of the bad guys, a man we didn't have much information about, but due to his very strong presence in the short scenes with him, I somehow liked him. The showdown was very well done and I would definitly see a few of these scenes in a Hollywood movie!
I will definitly read the ficlets going with this story! 5 stars!
November 24, 2014
Technically I should have hated this. It's about a bodyguard and his charge, and no real spoilers, they fall for each other. It's also very long. But still, it's a 4 star for me, and I find myself wanting to read the other ficlets set in this universe.
Reasons to dislike Close Protection:
Age gap with one partner being barely legal. In Close Protection, Ryder is 28/29 and Luca is 18. Luca is still in high school. Granted, he is precocious and experienced, but he is still young. I don't mind the age gap alone, but when it involves a teenager, it borders on inappropriate. Also, if Luca was a teen-girl instead of a guy, Ryder would be just plain creepy.
Lifestyles of the rich and famous. Books that involved very wealthy families and all their trappings scream unrealistic. Teens with their own protection team, I guess it does happen. I am sure the Obama girls have that type of protection team, but how many others do? Would you really find a school full of students with protection teams?
MC went from being a brat to a good guy way too easily. Luca is a self admitted slut who manipulated and hurt many men who were unfortunate to cross his path. When karma catches up to him, he seems to have a change of heart.
Soap opera plot. Close Protection was written as a serial, and as such, crazy things happen.
Why I really liked Close Protection
I couldn't put it down. Sort of. I read this in spurts over several months. But during those spurts, I had a hard time stopping at the end of a chapter.
Luca the seducer. As much as I complain about Luca, I love watching him seduce men.
Ryder. I appreciate that Ryder really did try to resist Luca advances. Ryder seemed like a genuinely good guy.
Ryder & Dan. They are totally normal, totally awkward. And I know, they were not the OTP, it was kind of fun to see them be normal and imperfect.
Hot Hot Hot... Ms. Kingsbridge does a great job writing a sex scene.
Toppy Bottom. It was refreshing to see Luca, power bottom, dominate his physically larger partner Ryder.
Freebie... Free, online fic. Grab your fanfic downloader and put it on your e-reader.
ETA - I forgot to rate this. 4 stars!
Reasons to dislike Close Protection:
Age gap with one partner being barely legal. In Close Protection, Ryder is 28/29 and Luca is 18. Luca is still in high school. Granted, he is precocious and experienced, but he is still young. I don't mind the age gap alone, but when it involves a teenager, it borders on inappropriate. Also, if Luca was a teen-girl instead of a guy, Ryder would be just plain creepy.
Lifestyles of the rich and famous. Books that involved very wealthy families and all their trappings scream unrealistic. Teens with their own protection team, I guess it does happen. I am sure the Obama girls have that type of protection team, but how many others do? Would you really find a school full of students with protection teams?
MC went from being a brat to a good guy way too easily. Luca is a self admitted slut who manipulated and hurt many men who were unfortunate to cross his path. When karma catches up to him, he seems to have a change of heart.
Soap opera plot. Close Protection was written as a serial, and as such, crazy things happen.
Why I really liked Close Protection
I couldn't put it down. Sort of. I read this in spurts over several months. But during those spurts, I had a hard time stopping at the end of a chapter.
Luca the seducer. As much as I complain about Luca, I love watching him seduce men.
Ryder. I appreciate that Ryder really did try to resist Luca advances. Ryder seemed like a genuinely good guy.
Ryder & Dan. They are totally normal, totally awkward. And I know, they were not the OTP, it was kind of fun to see them be normal and imperfect.
Hot Hot Hot... Ms. Kingsbridge does a great job writing a sex scene.
Toppy Bottom. It was refreshing to see Luca, power bottom, dominate his physically larger partner Ryder.
Freebie... Free, online fic. Grab your fanfic downloader and put it on your e-reader.
ETA - I forgot to rate this. 4 stars!
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