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Protecting Kayden
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140 pages, ebook
First published December 31, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 5, 2012
Natalie said it all here
Reminded me of her wonderfully nasty novella Sin Row...after being thoroughly bathed in sugar.
This can`t go on I WANT MY SCARLET BACK!!
Reminded me of her wonderfully nasty novella Sin Row...after being thoroughly bathed in sugar.
This can`t go on I WANT MY SCARLET BACK!!
December 4, 2012
3.25 stars. The blurb led me to believe this story would be much darker than it actually is. Although we get a bit of witness protection intrigue and excitement at the beginning, it then turns into instalove with more sex than character development. Overall it was enjoyable but not earth-shatteringly so, and much sweeter than you'd expect from Scarlet Blackwell. I think I prefer her stories to have a little more bite.
December 11, 2012
3.35 stars
While I agreed with Sims and Natalie about this story being a little more on the sweet side, rather than the usual Scarlet's bite ... but I liked it better than I thought I would based on both their reviews.
Yes, there was insta-love. Yes, it was sappy with Mason dropping everything (his job, his friends, etc) to be with Kayden or Kayden using Mason's last name as his own in his new life (after the trial). There were more bathroom shower scenes, sniffing underwear fetish (uhm, eww), run and hug (seriously, how many times Kayden ran into Mason's arms??), tears and promises of love ....
BUT, BUT ... I was quite charmed with the birdwatching activity. I know, it's such a weird thing to highlight but it there was something so tender and passionate about that. I could imagine Kayden's face glowing when he saw those birds he loved so much. It was a shining moment that stuck in my mind, amidst all the sugar and the sex. I was simply fascinated by the scene.
I know, WEIRD reason. You all just have to put up with it ^^
While I agreed with Sims and Natalie about this story being a little more on the sweet side, rather than the usual Scarlet's bite ... but I liked it better than I thought I would based on both their reviews.
Yes, there was insta-love. Yes, it was sappy with Mason dropping everything (his job, his friends, etc) to be with Kayden or Kayden using Mason's last name as his own in his new life (after the trial). There were more bathroom shower scenes, sniffing underwear fetish (uhm, eww), run and hug (seriously, how many times Kayden ran into Mason's arms??), tears and promises of love ....
BUT, BUT ... I was quite charmed with the birdwatching activity. I know, it's such a weird thing to highlight but it there was something so tender and passionate about that. I could imagine Kayden's face glowing when he saw those birds he loved so much. It was a shining moment that stuck in my mind, amidst all the sugar and the sex. I was simply fascinated by the scene.
I know, WEIRD reason. You all just have to put up with it ^^
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2016
A hardened narcotics cop and an ex-junkie federal witness under his protection are not the most likely pairing. From an ethical point of view, Mason, the cop, cannot even think of getting involved, and anyone who is in witness protection like Kayden should be worrying about staying alive, not a love affair. That, however, is the situation the two main characters in this book face, and it results in a love that is impossible, according to the "official rules", and "accepted wisdom". Instead, it's almost as if the "forbidden" aspect makes it doubly irresistible for them.
Mason is a hardened cop, doesn’t do relationships, and wants nothing to do with a junkie. Honestly, he starts out as a bit if an a**hole; clearly trying to protect himself from ending up in an impossible situation by pushing Kayden away before they get close. It is no use though, and I have to admit I liked watching him slide into emotions he was trying to fight so hard. As he gets to know Kayden, his opinion of them man improves, and he ends up falling for him. At least a little. He knows he can’t – but he doesn’t seem to be able to stop himself. And as much as he tells himself he cannot go after Kayden once he is moved away and given a new name, Mason cannot stop himself from wanting him. Heck, anyone still wanting a guy after two years with no contact is probably already lost to any sort of logical argument.
Kayden is an interesting man. He went through hell ever since being kicked out of home by parents who didn’t want to have a gay son, was used and abused by a drug lord, and still managed to get clean and turn his life around. He is scared of getting killed, but turns state's evidence and helps to get the criminal convicted. The price he pays is losing the only man who has ever shown him any care, possibly love, and returning to a lonely existence. Kayden cannot forget Mason either, and every new reunion and the good-bye that follows because they cannot easily figure out what to do, tore at my heart. Kayden has suffered so much already, I thought, why can’t he get a break? Thank God he is incredibly strong, and determined!
I have to say I was really grateful that they didn't give up easily; or give up at all. There were a few moments where I held my breath and thought they might not push through, but luckily, they were stubborn enough to create their own rules in the end. The result is an emotionally tense story that didn’t let me go. If you like stories with intense emotions and characters who will fight for their relationship, if you enjoy reading about stubborn men who go through considerable suffering before reaching their goals, and if you're looking for a hot, passionate read, you will probably like this book.
NOTE: This book was provided by Pride Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Mason is a hardened cop, doesn’t do relationships, and wants nothing to do with a junkie. Honestly, he starts out as a bit if an a**hole; clearly trying to protect himself from ending up in an impossible situation by pushing Kayden away before they get close. It is no use though, and I have to admit I liked watching him slide into emotions he was trying to fight so hard. As he gets to know Kayden, his opinion of them man improves, and he ends up falling for him. At least a little. He knows he can’t – but he doesn’t seem to be able to stop himself. And as much as he tells himself he cannot go after Kayden once he is moved away and given a new name, Mason cannot stop himself from wanting him. Heck, anyone still wanting a guy after two years with no contact is probably already lost to any sort of logical argument.
Kayden is an interesting man. He went through hell ever since being kicked out of home by parents who didn’t want to have a gay son, was used and abused by a drug lord, and still managed to get clean and turn his life around. He is scared of getting killed, but turns state's evidence and helps to get the criminal convicted. The price he pays is losing the only man who has ever shown him any care, possibly love, and returning to a lonely existence. Kayden cannot forget Mason either, and every new reunion and the good-bye that follows because they cannot easily figure out what to do, tore at my heart. Kayden has suffered so much already, I thought, why can’t he get a break? Thank God he is incredibly strong, and determined!
I have to say I was really grateful that they didn't give up easily; or give up at all. There were a few moments where I held my breath and thought they might not push through, but luckily, they were stubborn enough to create their own rules in the end. The result is an emotionally tense story that didn’t let me go. If you like stories with intense emotions and characters who will fight for their relationship, if you enjoy reading about stubborn men who go through considerable suffering before reaching their goals, and if you're looking for a hot, passionate read, you will probably like this book.
NOTE: This book was provided by Pride Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
March 31, 2013
I loved this book. It was sweet, maybe too sweet for some. Mason and Kayden were adorable together. I loved them as individual characters and as a couple. I was pissed at Mason in the beginning, but that quickly changed when they got together (sort of). It's not the most angsty book, it does have some though.
The story was nice and I liked Mickey, it was strange how he reacted in the beginning and then later in the book. Understandable I suppose when his career was on the line too. He was one of those secondary characters most people would skim over, but I liked him for the story. It showed a different prospective.
The ending was perfect for these two. I liked how it was dragged out instead of just ending on a couple of pages. I sometimes hate when we don't see enough of the wonderful ending of books. I would gladly read this again.
Highly recommend it!
The story was nice and I liked Mickey, it was strange how he reacted in the beginning and then later in the book. Understandable I suppose when his career was on the line too. He was one of those secondary characters most people would skim over, but I liked him for the story. It showed a different prospective.
The ending was perfect for these two. I liked how it was dragged out instead of just ending on a couple of pages. I sometimes hate when we don't see enough of the wonderful ending of books. I would gladly read this again.
Highly recommend it!
January 14, 2013
Wow, I guess I'm a hopeless sap, but I didn't want this story to be any darker or more angsty or whatever. I'd already got teary-eyed several times while reading and that's more than enough for me, thank you very much ))) Also I loved the rather long ending chapters, because I hate having an emotional and heartwrenching story going on and on with just a quick 'and they lived happily ever after' at the end. I want to enjoy a sufficient snippet from that HEA! So here it was a perfectly satisfying ending for me.
Did Not Finish
February 13, 2013I even gave this one two extra chances before finally deciding I have to give it up. At least for now.
Mason was enough of an asshole that I stopped reading for a while.
I picked it back up and made it as far as him giving an unprotected blowjob to Kayden, whom he's convinced is a junkie. Mason is a cop. I don't care how lust-crazed he is, I just couldn't believe a cop would not only not use protection with someone they think is a drug addict, but actually swallow!
I hate dnf-ing books, though, so I gave it one last shot. When all I got was Mason continuing to call Kayden a junkie and being just the biggest jerk to him, I can give no more chances. He's not worth wasting any more time or patience on.
Mason was enough of an asshole that I stopped reading for a while.
I picked it back up and made it as far as him giving an unprotected blowjob to Kayden, whom he's convinced is a junkie. Mason is a cop. I don't care how lust-crazed he is, I just couldn't believe a cop would not only not use protection with someone they think is a drug addict, but actually swallow!
I hate dnf-ing books, though, so I gave it one last shot. When all I got was Mason continuing to call Kayden a junkie and being just the biggest jerk to him, I can give no more chances. He's not worth wasting any more time or patience on.
February 3, 2013
This was a wonderful book and I was disappointed when it came to an end. Mason and Kayden's story is heartfelt, full of emotion and passion. Both characters are very conflicted and lonely; it was heart-rending to watch them say goodbyes and try to stay apart when it was obvious that they were both miserable without each other.
Although sacrifices were required, their story ended in the best possible way and left me completely satisfied.
Although sacrifices were required, their story ended in the best possible way and left me completely satisfied.
May 9, 2016
That was way too fast. Mason has no control--he's only been there a few minutes!
I don't need a run down of every single item the guy owns.
Being gay is not a predilection.
I'm glad they didn't make Kayden too young.
Each one is on a bed. A nightstand separates the two. One rolls toward the nightstand to reach for something. The other glimpses something on the rolling guy's back. I didn't realize this was a superhero novel with an MC with X-ray vision.
This is so boring. All it is is two guys wanting each other constantly sitting around in a hotel room. Nothing else.
A 12 inch pizza is tiny for two grown men, especially a low-fat veggie. Then salad and coleslaw? Both?
He left the hotel room with the witness inside alone?????
If it's dark and someone us in a window looking out of a room with a light on, the person outside wouldn't be able to see his face.
I like how the police procedure is, that there are major consequences and he isn't just mildly reprimanded.
Why the International English spellings?
I wish there were something more between them than sex. They know very little about each other other than that they both like similar fiction and Kayden is a vegetarian bird watcher.
Way too much sex.
Ending a bit anticlimactic.
3.5 stars
I don't need a run down of every single item the guy owns.
Being gay is not a predilection.
I'm glad they didn't make Kayden too young.
Each one is on a bed. A nightstand separates the two. One rolls toward the nightstand to reach for something. The other glimpses something on the rolling guy's back. I didn't realize this was a superhero novel with an MC with X-ray vision.
This is so boring. All it is is two guys wanting each other constantly sitting around in a hotel room. Nothing else.
A 12 inch pizza is tiny for two grown men, especially a low-fat veggie. Then salad and coleslaw? Both?
He left the hotel room with the witness inside alone?????
If it's dark and someone us in a window looking out of a room with a light on, the person outside wouldn't be able to see his face.
I like how the police procedure is, that there are major consequences and he isn't just mildly reprimanded.
Why the International English spellings?
I wish there were something more between them than sex. They know very little about each other other than that they both like similar fiction and Kayden is a vegetarian bird watcher.
Way too much sex.
Ending a bit anticlimactic.
3.5 stars
June 27, 2013
Nothing memorable about this one. The instant love thing which started off with sex is the usual. These two guys hardly had any emotional connection, even when they were together in the second part. Too much sex which just acted as filler. Then there is Mason's character. He was supposed to be a homicide detective but Mason really came across pretty lame. Mason not able to control his sexual urges during those times he was guarding Kayden was just plain ridiculous. Nothing sexy but just the stereotype MM and questioned the credibility of law enforcement. Still I do like Kayden's character and his love for birds added a fondness to this character. Also the following up after Kayden had disappeared in the witness protection program was a nice angle. Another little niggle I have is whether it was just so easy for these two as Kayden was still under witness protection. I like her writing but this same type of format is getting stale.
January 18, 2013
Pretty common storyline of a cop falling for the "criminal" federal witness he's sworn to protect. Though there was some angst this is an insta-love story that's sugary sweet. Lots of sex with good doses of cuddling. Mason, the alpha in the couple, is a bit of a jerk IMO, yet Kayden is a total sweetheart. By the end you really want for them to be together. Some parts are a bit hard to believe and things fall into place too easily. However, if you need a quick read before bed to make you smile read this one.
Read
May 11, 2023All these Scarlet Blackwell books that I have previously read and reviewed in my first time at Goodreads, but didn’t remember until I started reviewing the author’s oeuvre. Just reading the blurb for this one made a strong impression on me. I definitely remember reading it.
December 28, 2012
2.5 stars
January 17, 2013
3.5 Stars
October 22, 2013
quite possibly the best boom I've read recently. Adored Kayden, loved Mason, loved the plot... and birdwatching made sexy!
September 5, 2014
I do so love flawed characters that do the wrong thing and worlds where everything doesn't go exactly as we would want it to.
July 7, 2015
4 'I did really enjoy the connection between Mason and Kayden' stars.
March 9, 2015
Protecting kayden
I didn't care for this book that much usually I like cop stories but I mostly just skipped there it the book was well written just not my cup of tea
I didn't care for this book that much usually I like cop stories but I mostly just skipped there it the book was well written just not my cup of tea
July 7, 2015
Very beautiful. Very romantic.
December 19, 2012
3.75 stars
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews