I’ve broken every promise related to Hannah Grace Whittaker. Her safety relies on my ability to keep this latest one.
Cole
Seven years ago, I promised to marry her someday. Instead, I broke that promise and broke her heart. What she doesn’t know is that I broke mine too.
When I show up at her door, I refuse to let her slam it in my face—not when her safety is on the line. She tentatively agrees, though she makes it clear that our past has no place in her future.
No matter her line in the sand, I can’t help but want more. With every touch, every kiss, the need to keep her safe is falling second to the need to make her mine. Can I convince her to give me another shot at keeping my promise?
Hannah Grace
Four years ago, one Dear John letter and too many tears to count put Cole Strickland firmly in my past. I smiled despite my broken heart and won Miss Tennessee. But someone saw that smile and made me his obsession. For weeks, I was terrified of every bump in the night. Until, without warning, it stopped. I finished my degree, began teaching kindergarten, and moved on with my life.
But now he’s back. They’re back. The stalker and Cole. I’m not sure which is worse, the fear for my safety or the heartbreak I could suffer by letting Cole back into my heart.
As the stalker escalates, Cole and I get closer. Before I know it, I’m not sure where I end and he begins. But with so much on the line, are my feelings for him adrenaline-fueled remnants or a precursor to our future?
Breanna Lynn is a self-proclaimed Jane Austen-loving, romcom addicted, popcorn eating, binge-reading, caffeinated mother of four—two sets of twins seventeen months apart. Hailing from Colorado, she spends the majority of her time at her day job or keeping the Twinx (aka Minions when they’re naughty) from plotting to take over the world with their four sidekicks—two dogs and two cats. Add in the latest additions to her household—her boyfriend, his son, and his cat—and the house is a crazy mix of chaos that she can't imagine not being surrounded by!
A classy connoisseur of all things coffee, Breanna can often be found binge reading, listening to music (and curating her next playlist) while crafting her next swoony romance!
Follow Breanna on social media or subscribe to her newsletter for her latest book news, caffeine inspired ramblings, or tales of Twinx Tasmania by clicking here: https://linktr.ee/authorbreannalynn.
Overall the plot was good, but this could have benefited from a development editor (or a second dev edit if there already was one) to fix the continuity errors and repeated conversations.
I would have liked more from Cole to justify him wanting Hannah Grace back immediately after taking her case. He was tortured enough to stay away for years and not in the right frame of mind to commit to a serious relationship, but he takes her case all of sudden none of that matters anymore and he's ready to dive into a long term relationship? I'm not rooting for him there, particularly when all his thoughts surrounding HG are more lustful than admiring her character. There's probably one moment in the entire book where Cole admires HG's ability as a teacher, and the rest is just thoughts about her body or their shared history. Nothing to really indicate that he likes her as a person for who she is now and not as he knew her as teens.
Then Hannah Grace is all sass with no real substance to back it up. She wants to assert her independence at the expense of making stupid decisions for her safety.There's no exploration into the multiple hints that she participated in the pageants unwillingly as a child. She literally has one friend and her sister who we're told she has a close relationship with but only crops up in the last 20% of the book as a plot device. Her entire personality is "bubbly girl who gets stalked by multiple men throughout her life but somehow continues to be bubbly and make friends with only men"
Bodyguard for the Beauty Queen is a suspense-filled, second-chance romance that is spine-tingling, will have you sitting on the edge of your seat and is impossible to put down. Ms. Lynn tells us the story of two people, Cole and Hannah Grace, who were childhood sweethearts however that love did not last. Cole and Hannah Grace made promises as teens and when he left for the military things changed. Hearts were shattered with no reason given. He lived his life in the military and Hannah Grace became a beauty queen. The only problem is that being a beauty queen she also had a stalker who was never found. Seven years later Cole works for a security firm that has been hired to keep Hannah safe and find the person responsible for the danger that she is facing once again. Could it be the same stalker or has someone new entered the scene? When Grace sees Cole on her doorstep, all hell breaks loose and feelings start to surface again. The hate-to-love relationship that was there turned into so much more of a love-to-love relationship but did this relationship cloud Cole's judgment? The list of suspects was not that long and did throw you for a curve. Just when I thought I had an idea who it was, Ms. Lynn threw a twist at us. I love the way that Cole did everything he could to show Hannah Grace how much he still loved her and would do anything to protect her. The two of them are soulmates because their chemistry burned hot and was evident right from the start.
📚Review ~ Bodyguard for the Beauty Queen: SAFE Haven Security Book 2 🖋Author ~ Breanna Lynn 🖋Features: Former Military, Second Chance Romantic Suspense ⭐️Rating: 4/5
This is my first time reading Breanna Lynn. And, she did not disappoint! Body Guard for the Beauty Queen was a quick, pleasant read. I enjoyed getting to know the characters in this small-town romance.
Cole and Hannah Grace
They definitely deserve their happily ever after. Growing up together in a small town, it seems like it is inevitable that their story has already been written so many times over and over. But for Cole, a mission gone wrong overseas has changed his perspective. Instead of coming home to Hannah Grace, he forces himself to walk away.
A stalker who has decided to push his game up another level has forced Hannah Grace to reach back out for help, giving Cole his second chance at winning back Hannah Grace’s broken heart.
This was such a fun, easy read. There wasn't much as far as substance (I don't mean that as a detriment to the book). The plot is fairly straightforward for a romantic suspense. When it comes to the mystery plot involving Hannah Grace's stalker, there are a few red herrings woven in, but in my opinion, the villain is pretty obvious from the moment Cole starts going through suspects.
As for the romantic plot, the chemistry between Hannah Grace and Cole is far from off the charts. It had the vibes of two people that were comfortable with their feelings and those feelings were old. These two were high school sweethearts, and despite Cole's breaking of that relationship, the feelings were obviously still there. I wish there had been a bit more groveling. Cole did more of an emotional dump on Hannah Grace, rather than apologizing for the breakup and the staying away that he did. He also had the audacity to be upset that Hannah Grace wasn't immediately unsure of his intentions even after they reentered a relationship.
Overall, this was pretty good. Low angst with fairly low stakes. The plot lines have enough substance with decent pacing to keep the story moving but this isn't the type of story to make your heart race.
It started with high school sweethearts, Cole and Hannah Grace, who made plans and promises. One military deployment, a Dear Jonni letter, and a Miss Tennessee crown later, and Hannah Grace hasn’t heard from Cole in seven years.
Now Hanna Grace is a kindergarten teacher, her best friend is the substitute gym teacher, and the stalker she thought she was rid of from her Miss Tennessee days is back. As is Cole Strickland who now works for SAFE Haven Security and is assigned to protect Hannah Grace until she’s out of danger.
This story bridges a couple of series with Cole being part of SAFE Haven Security and both he and Hanna Grace being from Mistletoe Creek. They both have pain from the past to heal while dodging danger, and the suspense and drama kept me riveted to the page.
Then we have a sweet, second chance romance for two people who were made for each other, and this wonderful story made my romantic heart so happy. Hypnotic, adrenaline-fueled, heartfelt, and satisfying, you won’t want to miss this fantastic read!
Bodyguard for the Beauty Queen (SAFE Haven Security #2) by Breanna Lynn is a contemporary second-chance bodyguard romantic suspense told in first person dual POV. Although it’s the second book of the SAFE Haven Security series, it can be read as a standalone. The story follows the relationship between bodyguard Cole Matthew and his ex-girlfriend, Hannah Grace, a former Miss Tennessee turned kindergarten teacher, as he protects her from a dangerous stalker.
I loved Hannah and Cole's story! Second chance is one of my favorite tropes, and Bodyguard for the Beauty Queen did not disappoint. As characters, Cole and Hannah were likable, well-developed, realistic, and relatable. I knew who the villain was as soon as they were introduced, but it didn't lessen my enjoyment; I was invested in the story from beginning to end. I’m thoroughly enjoying this series, and I’m looking forward to reading whatever comes next!
Hannah Grace is a former beauty queen, currently a kindergarten teacher, and she has a stalker. Cole is former military, currently working for Safe Haven Security, and back in Tennessee to protect Hannah Grace. They also happen to be each other’s exes.
Things didn’t end in the best of way between these two and now face to face all these years later there is tension, but there is also still chemistry between the two of them. Cole will do anything to protect her, even if she doesn’t want his help. However, the more time they spend together and the close proximity to each other all those old feelings and emotions come back to the surface.
I enjoyed the suspense throughout this story, too. I had some guesses a long the way of who the stalker was and couldn’t put this one down until I found out who it really was.
If you’re looking for a second chance, bodyguard, romantic suspense check this one out.
Well Brianna Lynn has once again exceeded all my expectations and knocked another home run right outta the ballpark . Let me just start by saying that I am typically someone who reads Dark Themed Romances primarily 95% of the time . That being said it’s not often I get to pick up a fun , steamy and emotionally charged story that has the ability to put a smile on my face , to make me laugh out loud ,sob like a baby and keep me rooting so freaking hard quite the way Bodyguard For The Beauty Queen has done . I cannot really put into words exactly what it was but the second I met both Cole and Hannah I was a goner they just grabbed onto my heart so tightly and so completely and refused to let go . High school sweethearts who planned a future together but were torn apart by the most unexpected of choices and circumstances. That left both heartbroken. Well it looks like fate has other ideas because a second chance is definitely in their future.
This book was a big improvement on the first one: no lost love our MMC was pining for, no over-exaggerated push and pull, and no sense of misery hanging over the story. The plot was better, the character development was there, and the relationship-building happened at a good pace.
There were a few things that was off for me. I did not like Hannah Grace's character at the start. I didn't like her relationship with her best friend, Zach. It was too touchy-feely, especially because he liked her romantically, and she knew it, but yet she treated him like a crutch and showed no consideration for his feelings. She was always hanging on him and pulling him in - it felt like she was leading him on. I was annoyed with her when she told Zach about Cole's trauma - it was not her story to tell.
Cole and Hannah Grace's story was enjoyable despite the above, and I would recommend it to other readers of this genre.
I absolutely devoured this book! What to expect: ❤️ Romantic Suspense ❤️ Former Military Hero ❤️ Second Chance ❤️Forced Proximity ❤️Steamy Outdoor Activities I'm a sucker for romantic suspense and this one kept me on my toes! Hannah Grace is a former beauty queen. Even though she hasn't heard from her stalker in years she still feels uneasy because odd things keep happening. When she contacts someone from the pagent committee the last person she expects to see is her ex who ghosted her after he sent her a Dear Jane letter. Cole is the best person for the job because he will do anything to keep her safe. Breanna Lynn does an amazing job of telling a story that will keep you guessing who the stalker is. And the chemistry between these two will set you on fire! I read long into the night knowing I wouldn't get any sleep till I knew how this book ended! Don't miss it!
Bodyguard for the Beauty Queen is the second book of the SAFE Haven Security series of interconnected standalones. I have read all of her books and have loved them all, but this one is by far my new favorite! Cole and Hannah Grace are just meant for each other and I could feel it from the very beginning. When Hannah Grace finds out she has a stalker Cole will do anything for his high school sweetheart to protect her. There was so much that I loved about this story…the suspense, their history, the angst, and the emotional roller coaster it put me on. Cole is possessive but not so over the top that he doesn’t take Hannah Grace’s decisions from her. He really is a big softy for her. I am loving this series and I can’t wait to see whose story is next!
I devoured this book! Cole broke not just Hannah Grace’s heart but also his own when he ended their relationship after leaving the military, even after promising to return and marry her. Now working in security with his best friend Sawyer, Cole is tasked with finding the person who is stalking Hannah Grace. Cole will do whatever it takes to protect his first love and keep her safe. He is very protective of Hannah Grace, almost possessive, yet he also listens to want she wants. This book will take you on an emotional roller coaster, giving you all the feels with the angst, suspense, chemistry and heat 🔥 This is the second book in the interconnected SAFE Haven Security Series, and though it can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading book #1 (Soldier for the Starling) to really get to know the characters. I can’t wait for the next book in this outstanding series.
Bodyguard for the Beauty Queen is Breanna Lynn's second book in the SAFE Haven Security series. Books can be read as standalone.
I hope you love this second chance romance as much as I did! Hannah Grace and Cole were best friends growing up and were planning a life together when Cole decided to blow it all up after his tour in the middle east. When Cole finds out that Hannah Grace might have a stalker, he flies across the country to be her bodyguard.
Of course angry fireworks ensue, along with feelings that might not be welcome. While Hannah Grace and Cole work together to find out the identity of her stalker, they realize what they have been missing. But the stalker could very well take everything away from both of them and even Hannah Grace's family.
Enjoy this one! It's another gem from Breanna Lynn!
Cole and Hannah were sweethearts that you could feel the love of the pages, but when Cole decides to join the military it leaves Hannah heartbroken. But his one promise to her is to marry her some day. Well, that doesn't always go as planned. Hannah is a teacher that made me love her more. During Hannah's pageant days, she had a stalker and now it seems he or she is back. But so is Cole and that is a whole can of worms she does not want to deal with. Cole will do whatever he has to to protect the one woman he has always loved. She doesn't make it easy that is for sure, but these two will fight for everything they have to have the future they want. The stalker though is about to make it harder for them to come out on top. What will happen when the stalker is revealed?
Hannah Grace and Cole. This book follows these two individuals and their story. Through heartbreak, a deployment in the army, and then stalker and kidnapping, this story is so amazing. The plot through the whole thing was good and kept such a good pace, wasn’t slow at all. I had a slimy feeling about Zach that whole time, part of me wondered why he was still so in love with Hannah Grace after she already said she didn’t have any sort of feelings for him. But boyyyyy, I did not expect that ending at all.
I almost emailed Breanna Lynn myself to tell her that Cole and Hannah Grace deserved better on that ending but then the epilogue happened and my heart was all better!! 🫶🏼
This story is such a good, thrilling and exciting read. Definitely recommend!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This romantic suspense had my mind whirling. Between trying to figure out who is stalking Hannah Grace and where her heart may lead her, I was kept on the edge of my seat. Hanging out there proved worth it through every twist and turn, every pulse pounding moment, and every heart stuttering push and pull moment between Hannah Grace and Cole.
It’s definitely one of those books you want to plow through because you want to know who the bad guy is, but then again, you want to slow it down to cocoon yourself in a second chance romance. The action and suspense were on point, the slow burn was excellent, and the spice was off the charts!
I really enjoyed Hannah Grace and Cole's story, even though it's a second chance romance which I confess are never my favourites - all that wasted time and usually for silly reasons but in this case, it was a bit more reasonable. There was great chemistry between the two and some pretty steamy scenes, including one that I really didn't think should have been included ( I won't spoil it but it was beyond risky and quite inappropriate). This is partly the reason I took a star away and also because towards the end Cole seems to not know what he was doing even though he's meant to be a professional. Otherwise a very enjoyable read, thank you Breanna.
Wow what a ride!! Breanna Lynn brings the romance and amply suspense that will keep you turning pages long past your bed time.
Hannah Grace has a stalker and as fate would have it, Cole is sent to keep her safe from harm. Cole and Hannah are no strangers and Breanna does a wonderful job bringing these former lovers back together like they are meant to be.
This book kept me guessing all the way to the end. The chemistry between Hannah Grace and Cole was through the roof. This book is everything. Romance, suspense and spice what more could you want in a book? Do yourself a favor and dive in immediately.
This is an exciting second chance romance. Hannah Grace is a kindergarten teacher who was once a beauty queen. She has some strange things happening that lead her to believe that her stalker from the beauty queen days is back. Cole works for a security company and is sent to protect his ex girlfriend who he is still in love with even though he broke her heart. Their story is exciting at times as the stalker makes their moves to try and scare Hannah Grace. It is also filled with heat and lots of very sweet moments.
When Hannah finds herself with a stalker, she knows she needs help, she just isn’t expecting the one guy that shattered her heart years ago to be the one that now is protecting her. Cole regrets the past in the past especially when it comes to Hannah because when they ended it shattered both their worlds and now, he sees this opportunity for his second chance if only Hannah will let him in again. Their story was packed with suspense and tension that bleeds off the page and I found myself loving these two hoping they can find their happiness together.
Ms. Lynn shows another side to her writing in Bodyguard for the Beauty Queen. Her suspenseful story was hard to put down and kept me guessing throughout the book—sometimes, I was on the edge of my seat!
As youths Cole and Hannah Grace made promises, but when he leaves for the military, hearts are broken. Hannah moves on only to collect a stalker. As years pass Cole is now back and the one to protect her. The chemistry never died.
A suspenseful, second chance romance I highly recommend.
Thank you to the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.
Exciting, second chance, heat+mystery, plus throw in a crazy stalker makes for one incredible journey! There is not too much I can say because I do not want to give away the story, but what I CAN say is run and grab this one! I seriously loved this book that much, so much that I did not want it to end. Fabulous job Author Breanna Lynn! You have definitely won me over and I cannot wait to read more from you!
This was a book I will not soon forget. This was my first by Breanna, but definitely not my last.
I loved Hannah Grace and Cole. Their instant chemistry and connection are undeniable, but heartbreak is hard to overcome. Both have painful pasts, but they meet during difficult times and lean on one another to overcome their difficulties and eventually find their HEA. There is spice and plot and twists and turns that will keep you on your toes to the very end.
I just love this second chance story! I loved seeing Cole and Hannah Grace find their way back to each other. I loved the suspense in the book. It kept me wondering until the end. I have really enjoyed this series as I have with all of Breanna Lynn's books. I really like how the books intertwine with previous series. 💜💙
Cole & Hannah I really love it when different series interlink as there is a wider universe adding depth. Cole's reasons for ending their relationship were traumatic & Hannah does not let him back in easily. The stalkers identity is not revealed until late into the book keeping the rensions high. I loved Hannah's cheekier sexy side as I was expecting a demure pageant queen turned teacher.
Cole and Hannah's story has the perfect amount of mystery and chemistry all wrapped up in one. Hannah is a former beauty queen who seems to have a stalker. Cole's company is hired to keep her safe. When these former lovebirds reunite, there is a lot to work through but their chemistry is undeniable. I was on the edge of my seat wondering who the bad guy was through it all. Great read!
Breanna Lynn has done it again with this one! Hannah Grace and Cole finding their way back to each other, and Cole coming to her rescue when a stalker reappears from her past! It will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat wanting to find out who the stalker is! I couldn’t put this book down! 5 stars from me!!!!
A second chance romance with suspense, heartbreak, steam, a stalker, humour and forgiveness. Cole was her first love and first heartbreak, and now he's back in Hannah's life.
I was given a free copy of this book and I'm voluntarily leaving an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.