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Hired #2

Hired to Protect

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The Hired Series Book 2

When Penelope's ex doesn't get the hint that it's over between them, and decides she needs a little more force to understand, she take matters into her own hands and hires an Alpha to protect her.

With Ethan being the head of Security at The Haven, his place is established, but the little omega looking for help stirs his protective instincts, and he can't stand the thought of anyone else being alone with her.

When her ex pulls an unexpected stunt, instinct takes over, but Ethan is left responsible for the mess and Penelope has to find a way to save him from the consequences.

***This is an omegaverse romance set in an AU/Dystopian society. This book is a slow-burn with explicit scenes meant for a mature audience that contains violence, kidnapping and other triggers. While technically a dark romance, this is more a shade of grey than true dark. This is a stand-alone, with a HEA, though characters and locations from the previous story are mentioned.***

258 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 2019

174 people are currently reading
316 people want to read

About the author

Leann Ryans

74 books444 followers
Wife and mother of four, my days have been reduced to begging for the littlest to sleep so I can have time to write my books. I'm blaming my reduced schedule on Cupcake.
Facebook is the best place to find me, or you can sign up for my newsletter here (https://leannryans.com) to keep up with current and upcoming projects as well as special promotions and such.

I grew up on Sci-fi and Fantasy books with some of my favorite authors being Anne McCaffery and Mercedes Lackey. In 2013 I discovered paranormal romance and delved into a whole new world. After reading Omegaverse stories from Addison Cain and Nora Ash, I had the idea for The Omega Prize and decided to take a shot at writing a book of my own. The beginning was rough, it took two months to write the first five chapters, but as my 2019 New Year’s resolution I said I was going to finish the story and committed to writing every day. It didn't take long for the book to begin telling itself, and from there I just kept going.

Most of my books are Omegaverse, but they span other genres like Sci-Fi, dystopian, and historical barbarians. There is even a small-town Enemies to Lovers Romance story in there. They main contain dark elements but I wouldn't call them dark romance since my alphas tend to be a little mushy in the center. I promise there's always a HEA.

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5 stars
194 (33%)
4 stars
204 (34%)
3 stars
138 (23%)
2 stars
42 (7%)
1 star
9 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
Profile Image for Rachael*Caribbean*girl*bibliophile.
2,251 reviews513 followers
February 17, 2021
Spoilers ahead,3.5*

The h is being stalked by her ex, she decides to hire a bodyguard and ends up with Ethan who was head of security at the center.

A pretty quick read
Thankfully the H wasn't a stud at the center
I would've preferred the h be a bit stronger but she was likeable enough.


No cheating
Omegaverse
Profile Image for Ms reads a lot.
498 reviews
November 19, 2022
Love this series!

If you like the Omegaverse, I highly recommend this series. It’s an interesting take on the Alpha/Omega/beta dynamics. It’s set in a dystopian world where betas are in charge and Alphas are forced to live in camps because they are dangerous. Omegas can hire Alphas for specific purposes. The first book was about an omega who hired an alpha for her heat. This one is about an omega who hires an alpha because her ex is stalking her and she needs protection, so she hires Ethan as a bodyguard. Needless to say, sexiness ensues and they live HEA. It was a quick and steamy read but had a great plot. I wish it was a longer book!
Profile Image for Innie | Kindledallnight.
451 reviews38 followers
October 11, 2019
A great edition to this different omega verse!!

This is book two in the hired series, and I must say ; It does not disappoint!!

I really like this more uncommon omegaverse world the author has cooked up, where Alphas are in fact not in charge, but rather treated very much like animals. They are very much segregated and I often feel frustrated on their behalf!

This book was steamy, the sex is very good, the plot is well designed and so is "the bad guy". The story flows well and I never lost the "red thread".

All and all I devoured it and highly recommend this book! :)
Profile Image for Mia.
338 reviews
April 13, 2021
“The scent of Alpha aggression surrounded her as he easily held her weight while turning back to where he had tossed the bag of trash that was her ex.”

Ah, this book was a angsty one! It gave me so many chills.

Penelope is an independent, heart loving Omega.
The book starts 6 moths after she breaks up with her boyfriend - a Beta named Adrian.
Adrian, acts like an Alpha, despite the glaring fact that he isn’t one. When Penelope breaks things off with him, he doesn’t take rejection well and starts to follow her, menacing her and even being violent.

After a particular bad incident, Penny decides to contract a Alpha as a bodyguard.
Enter Ethan, the chef of security at the Haven.

“Nonsense. The boy will come in and eat with us. It’s been a long time since I’ve had something this nice to look at!”

Ethan is instantly smitten by Penelope and so is she, despite her reluctance to accept it.
Their love story is a beautiful one, despite all the angst and all the problems Adrian causes.

I’ve to confess that I loved the first book of this series Sandra and Austin, were great and Austin was Alpha all the way... but Ethan, was, so much more!
His kindness, tenderness, respect and self control towards Penelope were amazing!

The kidnapping part was... I don’t even know... it gave me the chills honestly.
Great book!
Profile Image for Catheryn.
1,315 reviews27 followers
January 10, 2023
I really enjoyed this story. Penny was a tough cookie but still needed help to protect her from her ex. She hires Ethan to be a bodyguard. I liked this world, its not your typical ABO world. Alphas are treated almost like second class citizens. There is so much of the outside world that Ethan never got to experience before, but he still stays professional. I love that they are able to develop a friendship/relationship before taking it to the next level.

Overall, great balance of a bodyguard and ABO story.
Profile Image for Michelle Claypot_Reads.
2,510 reviews61 followers
December 2, 2020
This was a fantastic read. I love the author’s fresh take on omegaverse storytelling. Plenty of action in this one to go with the heat. Definitely recommend.
Profile Image for J.M..
973 reviews4 followers
September 17, 2019
No spoilers of any kind included!
So all I’m going to say about Hired to Protect is I thought it was absolutely amazing and I’m going to leave it at that because if I say anymore I’ll be giving away all the surprises that’s hidden within this story.
Leann Ryans has definitely gotten me hooked on her work with the way she weaves her stories.
She’s put herself onto my favorite authors list and is quickly working her way to the number one slot on my favs list.
So yep I’m going to say it’s a big HECK YEAH I most definitely do recommend this book because I loved it and I think you will too!
Profile Image for Margot Mostert.
50 reviews5 followers
September 21, 2019
I really enjoyed this book by Leann Ryans. It’s the second book the series and the characters are just as strong and compelling, as in the first book. I really liked Penny and Ethan. Penny is an endearing character and her only mistake in life was going out with a controlling Alpha-wannabe. Ethan is a strong and seriously sweet Alpha.

This book took me on some twists that I did not see coming. A really great addition to the series, I can’t wait to read the next book in this Omegaverse world.
Profile Image for Jo.
1,161 reviews4 followers
February 18, 2020
Beta's are crazy

Penny and Ethan's story was great. Penny's ex is one crazy but job! I'm so happy she hired Ethan and I'm even happier that Eden is finally a thing!
1,070 reviews28 followers
January 31, 2021
I was sent a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Penelope is having issues with Adrian - her ex. He just won't get the message that they are O.V.E.R!!! He has several attempts to assault her, kidnap her and generally do her harm. So, Penelope does the only thing she can - she goes to The Haven and hires a bodyguard. Ethan - as head of security has the job of deciding who is the best person for the job. Of course, he decides it has to be him. The Director of The Haven agrees to allow Ethan to take on the job and he and Penelope leave together. Penelope is an unclaimed omega who is taking heat suppressants and Ethan hasn't had any suppressants of his own nor has he been fitted with a mouth guard which is a requirement before any male leaves on a job.
Between the two of them, they face another kidnap, and some pretty horrific events that throw them together making them realize that they are fated mates. Ethan and Penelope are pushed into a situation where they have to bond and he claims her. Then they have to face the repercussions that arise.
The story is enjoyable as only Leann Ryans can write. Her Alpha/omega world is one that I thoroughly enjoy visiting.
Heartily recommend this author
Profile Image for Rachel Smith Horn.
303 reviews2 followers
August 19, 2024
Penny is being stalked by her beta ex, and the ex-- Adrian is becoming more unhinged. When Penny's attempt to report his actions only gets a restraining order filed which Adrian walks right through, Penny decides to hire a body guard. Penny is directed to The Haven which has a security branch in addition to the stud farm.

When Ethan first saw Penny, he knew he had to have her, but in everything he had to remain professional. So he does his job, and keeps Adrian back for a bit until Adrian jumps them in an alley with four other dudes while Penny is out doing her personal shopper job. He injects them with a serum that knocks them out before either of them have a chance to fight. That is until the big alpha wakes.

I loved Ethan, he is so sweet. Not to Adrian and his pals, though.

This is a classic body guard story with a twist on the Omegaverse where the Alphas are kept under watch because they could be dangerous. This story proves that betas can be dangerous as well. There's a some people who are starting to realize that alphas are human beings too, and I can't wait to see what happens in the third book.
Profile Image for Morally_Gray_Nola.
616 reviews27 followers
September 30, 2025
Narrator Nathanial Buttrey has a very versatile voice. He is great at creating unique voices for each character—he never loses track of who’s who and he’s always entertaining. As far as author Leann Ryans is concerned, I am a huge fan. I always know I’m going to love that dive into the pool of her Alphas—well, Omegas and Betas, too!

Penny has ‘ex’ problems. Big-time ‘ex’ problems. He’s a class-A jerk, woman beating, wishes-he-was-an-Alpha beta. Adrian, Penny’s ex, puts her through h-ee-double-hockey-sticks. Penny hires Ethan for protection. From their first meeting, the chemistry between Ethan and Penny is off the charts. We’re talking H. O. T. 🥵 The threats from her ex escalate, … and, well, you’ll just have to listen and/or read for yourself. I’ll just leave off here by saying, this is a really good book.

*** Recommended ***

MMC:
✨Ethan
FMC:
✨Penny
HEA/Cliffhanger:
✨HEA
Series:
✨ The Hired Series Book 2

Profile Image for Reya Reychelle.
1,163 reviews8 followers
July 20, 2022
Oohh, I loved this one! I was iffy about this author to start with & the first book or so that I read didn’t really sell me, but I’m so glad I gave her another chance because she only gets better!
This is a bodyguard romance with an abusive ex & I will say some of her writing is hard to read because she doesn’t gloss over the horrible things her heroines face, but they all get such a beautiful HEA in the end. Plus this series is so interesting in terms of the complete opposite take on alphas in society than any other book I’ve read. It makes it fascinating while heartbreaking at the same time & I wonder if she will have some kind of revolution down the road?
Profile Image for Jennifer Turner.
903 reviews18 followers
May 1, 2020
I enjoyed this one

I think I liked it more then the first so it's been a while since I read the first book so I can't remember but I'm guessing The Haven is under new management because the first book it sounded like the Alphas were prisoners and had hardly any rights but the lady in this book went above and beyond to help the couple out of trouble and wanted to see Ethan mated and happy it wasn't like that in the first so yeah anyways check it out if you like it's got a few errors here and there but I was still able to read it
110 reviews2 followers
May 18, 2020
Kept Me on Pins and Needles!

Hired to Protect is a fantastic follow up in the Hired series. In this universe, Alphas are considered too dangerous to live in society and are placed in camps to live and work. Alphas are “freed” when they mate with an Omega. In this story Penny needs to hire an Alpha body guard, Ethan, to protect her from her crazy Beta ex-boyfriend. I loved the tension in this book. There was the obvious tension between Alpha/Omega, but I really loved the tension that the crazy ex bf brought to the story. Highly recommend!
Profile Image for Ophelia.
347 reviews4 followers
August 3, 2020
Ethan is head of security at The Haven. Penelope is being stalked by her ex. He ends up being assigned as her bodyguard.

Okay so I liked this book, I was just underwhelmed by it after the first one. Hired for heat is better, in my opinion. This one falls much more into the cliché a usual romance where the author doesn’t know how to stir the plot so they end throwing a kidnapping and false accusations in the mix.

What it isn’t a cliché of, and this is why I’m still giving this book 4 stars, is a cliché of omegaverse romance. Just like the first book, it’s very different from typical omegaverse stories, it’s in a society where Alphas are contained, in a modern society with a working government and everything. And just for this (and the fact that the world building is original) I applaud the story.

Liked the characters, they were good. What I loved was seeing more of this society that was introduced in the first book. Seeing how people reacted to an unmated alpha in the streets, how Ethan wasn’t believed by the police, but Penelope wasn’t believed more. All those little things were what kept me going, because a I said, I wasn’t a fan of the whole kidnapping/forced heat parts.

I do still recommend it if you like omegaverse, very refreshing!
Profile Image for BabybookWyvern ✨🐉✨.
342 reviews26 followers
June 16, 2023
Nothing explicitly wrong with it but it was definitely a bit of one of those daily grind drags.

She woke up, she tripped on her boot, she grabbed food, she went to work (insert additional ML person wherever).

Side note, the ex was absolutely fearless. 😂 the sheer audacity of this man. ✨🤌🏼✨

Ex: *kidnaps her*
Her: *escapes with bodyguard*
Ex: *calls police right after crying wolf that the bodyguard just kidnapped his kidnapped “Fiancé”*

🤣
Profile Image for Dia.
238 reviews1 follower
May 31, 2024
Meh. I forgot that I dnf-ed the first one, and I don't know why I read this. I guess I wanted to read an a/b/o but this was not it. The world is poorly constructed. Not only are alphas treated poorly but no one cares about omegas either? That goes against a/b/o dynamics.

The plot wasn't exciting, and the smut was also quite bad. FMC hires alpha bodyguard as her ex is stalking her and attempts to kidnap her, but at the first instance of danger with the ex, the bodyguard is subdued easily??
315 reviews
March 20, 2020
Fabulous Follow-up!

I love this world and hope to see many more books to come in this series! The Alphas are so hot that I know my temperature rose a few degrees. I am ready to pack my bags and move to Eden immediately and hope y'all will join me. Mature eyes only due to hot 🔥 Alpha loving!!!
10 reviews2 followers
May 6, 2020
Great read

The dynamic is this book is absolutely fantastic. It gives a entirely new meaning to having an alpha around and trying to help society change to treat another group the same as everyone else. This is a book that will keep you turning pages, with so many twist I promise you wont be disappointed if you pick this one or Hired for Heat up.
Profile Image for Ashton Butler.
1,075 reviews
February 13, 2022
Needing Protection…

Penny’s ex-boyfriend, Adrian, is stalking her. For her protection, she hires Ethan as a bodyguard.

“From the moment I first saw you, I have been yours. I was so scared I had failed you, and yet you still wanted me during your heat.”

Very good, short Omega romance.
Profile Image for Jessika.
363 reviews6 followers
December 17, 2020
A quick, hot read that shows Alphas in a different light. After reading Hired for Heat, it seemed like most Alphas could not have jobs outside of studs, this book shows they work in security too. I love the control that the Alpha has in this book, it's impressive.
Profile Image for Suze Prescot.
Author 11 books31 followers
January 22, 2021
The second book in 'The Hired Series' has Penelope, former girlfriend of wannabe Alpha, Adrian, getting hurt as she tries to escape from him again. Advised by the officer she reports her attack to that she can hire a bodyguard, she goes to The Haven and hires Ethan who is permitted to live with her in order to protect her. It is a new situation for them both and each learn about the other while living and working together. When Adrian attacks again, Ethan is forced to fight for Penelope and one thing leads to another.
Sexy, passionate and as with the first book, a bit of a thriller too. There is a nod to the first book although it wouldn't spoil a reader's enjoyment if they hadn't read 'Hired to Heat'. Great characters, believable situations and a HEA which comes as a relief after the tension.
Profile Image for Jessica.
144 reviews6 followers
January 31, 2022
It's times like these that I'm reminded the omegaverse's elephant in the room is a huge breeding kink. As someone who wants to die at the mere thought of pregnancy and thus this goddamn trope, this was NOTTTTT for me.
Profile Image for Andrea.
620 reviews
August 11, 2022
This book had the issue of filling a lot of space with not important/relevant/interesting info, so it made the pace a little off specially for a short story.
However, the plot was good and it entertained me, so it’s a solid 3 stars for me.
Profile Image for Pamela.
83 reviews4 followers
December 9, 2022
hired to protect🥵🥵🥵🥵❤️❤️❤️❤️

Penny and Ethan love story started over a tragic encounter with an ex boyfriend because his denial that there love story was over..
Adrian was a very bad guy not caring about who he hurt or what he had done to get what he wanted
Profile Image for She Dreams In Books.
567 reviews7 followers
June 24, 2024
Love Penelope and Ethan's story. Love these not so wishy washy Omegaverse stories. I do like that in this series the fmc's are independent. They don't drop to their knees and suck it the second they find their fated mate.
25 reviews
April 20, 2020
Even better than the first! Same interesting world but better plot!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews

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