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Molly Briar Reading Order #14
Protect Your Queen
She’s a haunted little songbird. He’s a bodyguard with broken dreams.
I’m a fraud. My climb to the top, the beauty pageant crowns, the music awards … none of them were earned. I stole them all, and they're slipping through my fingers. With my career on the brink of disaster, the last thing I needed were the death threats. Or maybe that was a blessing in disguise.
I thought I was guarding a vapid pop star. Then I heard her sing. Beyond the lights, was a little Songbird that needed help finding her wings. They hired me to protect her from the unknown threat that lurked in the shadows, but the real danger lay behind her haunted autumn eyes.
Protect Your Queen is the start of the Barkada series, following the ambitious siblings as they cement themselves as the world’s most powerful family. The books are interconnected, but can be read as a standalone.
I’m a fraud. My climb to the top, the beauty pageant crowns, the music awards … none of them were earned. I stole them all, and they're slipping through my fingers. With my career on the brink of disaster, the last thing I needed were the death threats. Or maybe that was a blessing in disguise.
I thought I was guarding a vapid pop star. Then I heard her sing. Beyond the lights, was a little Songbird that needed help finding her wings. They hired me to protect her from the unknown threat that lurked in the shadows, but the real danger lay behind her haunted autumn eyes.
Protect Your Queen is the start of the Barkada series, following the ambitious siblings as they cement themselves as the world’s most powerful family. The books are interconnected, but can be read as a standalone.
10 pages, Audiobook
Published March 13, 2024
160 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
March 13, 2024
Protect Your Queen by Molly Briar is an enjoyable bodyguard romance. Well written with great characters, I loved the family dynamics. The music connection between the FMC and MMC was a major highlight for me. There isn’t much spice, but that isn’t a downside. With ample action, romance, and a dash of comedy relief, the plot kept me hooked.
The audiobook is narrated in duet by the author herself, Molly Briar, and Jason Clarke. The narration is outstanding. Molly is obviously a very talented person because not only can she write, she can narrate and sing! I was blown away by her abilities. I got to chapter 3 and had to check to make sure this wasn't, in fact, a multicast production. I was questioning my sanity. Why? Jason “I can narrate the world” Clarke. His performance of all the different male characters and their different accents was phenomenal. Unbelievably good.
Book: 4/5
spice: 1.5/5
Narration 10/5
I’d like to thank Dark Star Romance for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.
The audiobook is narrated in duet by the author herself, Molly Briar, and Jason Clarke. The narration is outstanding. Molly is obviously a very talented person because not only can she write, she can narrate and sing! I was blown away by her abilities. I got to chapter 3 and had to check to make sure this wasn't, in fact, a multicast production. I was questioning my sanity. Why? Jason “I can narrate the world” Clarke. His performance of all the different male characters and their different accents was phenomenal. Unbelievably good.
Book: 4/5
spice: 1.5/5
Narration 10/5
I’d like to thank Dark Star Romance for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.
February 16, 2024
This was such a good book
March 14, 2024
Audiobook Review
Protect Your Queen is the start of the Barkada series by Molly Briar. It’s a popstar/bodyguard romance. The MMC Chris is an Army vet with a passion for music, but after an accident in combat he was unable to pursue his musical dreams. Unable to pursue his dreams of a music career he becomes a bodyguard, and his first assignment is popstar, Jestiny Barkada. Jestiny is the youngest of her family, and treated with kid gloves by her siblings. They have dictated every aspect of her life, or so they think. It is clear early on that there is chemistry between Jestiny and Chris. Chris wants nothing more than to protect her and keep her safe, but that is hard to do when she is harboring a big secret from everyone.
This was my first time reading a Molly Briar book, and I really enjoyed it! It was a slow-burn, but I really enjoyed getting to know the characters. All of the female characters are bada** and of course I love that! Chris is a swoonworthy MMC. I cannot wait to read more about the Barkada Family!
The audio was so good! There were times where the accents were so good that it seemed like it could’ve been a multi-cast narration! Everytime I listen to Jason Clarke I feel like it’s better than the last! He is quickly becoming one of my favorite male narrators. This was my first time listening to Molly Briar, and she was incredible! I loved the sass she brought with her performance. Oh and she actually SINGS in the book, not just reading, SINGING and it was amazing!
Protect Your Queen is the start of the Barkada series by Molly Briar. It’s a popstar/bodyguard romance. The MMC Chris is an Army vet with a passion for music, but after an accident in combat he was unable to pursue his musical dreams. Unable to pursue his dreams of a music career he becomes a bodyguard, and his first assignment is popstar, Jestiny Barkada. Jestiny is the youngest of her family, and treated with kid gloves by her siblings. They have dictated every aspect of her life, or so they think. It is clear early on that there is chemistry between Jestiny and Chris. Chris wants nothing more than to protect her and keep her safe, but that is hard to do when she is harboring a big secret from everyone.
This was my first time reading a Molly Briar book, and I really enjoyed it! It was a slow-burn, but I really enjoyed getting to know the characters. All of the female characters are bada** and of course I love that! Chris is a swoonworthy MMC. I cannot wait to read more about the Barkada Family!
The audio was so good! There were times where the accents were so good that it seemed like it could’ve been a multi-cast narration! Everytime I listen to Jason Clarke I feel like it’s better than the last! He is quickly becoming one of my favorite male narrators. This was my first time listening to Molly Briar, and she was incredible! I loved the sass she brought with her performance. Oh and she actually SINGS in the book, not just reading, SINGING and it was amazing!
March 11, 2024
I received an ALC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. The narrators did a great job in their performance. Molly Briar did a great job with the different female voices and Jason Clarke showed some serious range with accents and voice acting that I’ve never heard from him before. The story itself was good, though I wish there had been an epilogue rather than the story just ending. This was a nice lighthearted listen and definitely showed off some voice acting talent.
July 11, 2025
The Devil is Alive
I fell in live with Rogan and Kira. The words that a man sung to his one true love turned out to be the monster that he was expected to be.
Absolutely excellent. This story made the man who would never harm his love turn to something far more worse then the father he despised.
I fell in live with Rogan and Kira. The words that a man sung to his one true love turned out to be the monster that he was expected to be.
Absolutely excellent. This story made the man who would never harm his love turn to something far more worse then the father he despised.
September 10, 2024
4 ⭐️ 3🌶️
"𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘪 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘤 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴. 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘨"
"𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘦 & 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘭𝘥…"
theres many parts i enjoyed in this story including the strong filipino rep. i loved seeing callum/lea & leo again from 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢. the fact that ✍🏽𝘔𝘉's characters are somehow interconnected was such a nice treat!! really looking forward to reading about the rest of the barkadas!!
"𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘪 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘤 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴. 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘨"
"𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘦 & 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘭𝘥…"
theres many parts i enjoyed in this story including the strong filipino rep. i loved seeing callum/lea & leo again from 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢. the fact that ✍🏽𝘔𝘉's characters are somehow interconnected was such a nice treat!! really looking forward to reading about the rest of the barkadas!!
March 24, 2024
𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐄𝐍
ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
ꜱᴘɪᴄᴇ: 🌶️🌶️
🎧 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗶𝗮 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 (𝗔𝗟𝗖 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 Dark Star Romance)
⏳ 09𝗛 18𝗠
🎙️ 𝗠𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗿 & 𝗝𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲
💛𝙱𝚘𝚍𝚢𝚐𝚞𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚁𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎
🎵𝙴𝚡-𝙼𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝙷𝚎𝚛𝚘
💛𝙵𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚊 𝙷𝚎𝚛𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚎
🎵𝙵𝚘𝚛𝚌𝚎𝚍 𝙿𝚛𝚘𝚡𝚒𝚖𝚒𝚝𝚢
💛𝚂𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚂𝚞𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚎 𝙴𝚕𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝
💓𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲: 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗯𝗶𝗿𝗱🎶
Jestiny Barkada is the baby of the family, all of her older siblings coddle her, and she always feels trapped in a gilded cage. On top of that, she holds a dark secret that is now haunting her in the form of a death threat. This leads to her brother assigning her a bodyguard, Christian Ambrose. They didn’t get along at the beginning, but their love for music bonded them together….
I came to love bodyguard romance recently, so I was so excited to listen to this. Typically in this trope, the one who was guarded was always a rebel and despised being watched, and Jestiny was no exception. Apart from her being extremely rude and bratty at the beginning, she was actually quite likable. I mean, she’s young, so I forgive her brattiness, and Chris handles her in a very mature way, which is to ignore her, I love it! Jestiny’s life is so relatable (obviously not her celebrity life), her oldest brother took charge of her life as the man of the family, and though she knows she is loved, she always feels abandoned by her father.
I love Chris so much, she just gives me the Alpha Daddy vibe, but not in a creepy way. I’m pretty sure this is an age gap, but I cannot find if Chris’s age was ever mentioned, I know Jestiny is 22 and a virgin. This sometimes gives me the ick, but Chris is just so protective, the way he looks after Jestiny is so swoon-worthy. This was a slow burn for them, but even when they knew it was forbidden, Chris never hid the fact that he was attracted to her, even when he was threatened by her brother.
Lastly, the Barkada family dynamic! I love seeing Asian family, in this case Filipina family to be the main focus of the story. They still pretty much held some conservative views in their family, such as patriarchy but still respected women’s role in the family as equals, as seen with Jasmine’s role within the family. Overall, I’m enjoying my time listening to this audiobook. I’m looking forward to reading the other siblings’ book, particularly Jared, I would love to see what kind of wild woman could tame this man.
🎧𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄🎧
Amazing duet-style narration! Molly narrated this book herself, and with Jason Clarke, this is just a treat to listen to! Molly speaks with an impeccable Filipina accent (I wonder if that’s her native language), she even sings in this, just beautiful. Jason Clarke with a British accent is the sexiest thing I have ever heard🔥, I can listen to him all day. Top quality audiobook, highly recommended!
🅆🄷🄰🅃 🅈🄾🅄 🄶🄴🅃 🄸🄽 🅃🄷🄸🅂 🄱🄾🄾🄺:
✅𝙴𝚡-𝙼𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝙼𝚞𝚜𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝙶𝚒𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝙷𝚎𝚛𝚘
✅𝙵𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚊 𝙱𝚎𝚊𝚞𝚝𝚢 𝙿𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚝/𝙿𝚘𝚙 𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚛 𝙷𝚎𝚛𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚎
✅𝚂𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚝 𝙱𝚘𝚍𝚢𝚐𝚞𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚁𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚂𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚂𝚞𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚎
✅𝙿𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚖𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝙳𝚞𝚎𝚝 𝚂𝚝𝚢𝚕𝚎 (𝚂𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚂𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝙸𝚗𝚌𝚕𝚞𝚍𝚎𝚍!🎶)
⚠️𝗖𝗪/𝗧𝗪/𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀⚠️
- Some violence
- Predatory behavior to minor
- Cheating (not between MCs)
*Thank you to The Author Agency and Molly Briar for the copy of the ALC, I am leaving this review voluntarily*
ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
ꜱᴘɪᴄᴇ: 🌶️🌶️
🎧 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗶𝗮 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 (𝗔𝗟𝗖 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 Dark Star Romance)
⏳ 09𝗛 18𝗠
🎙️ 𝗠𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗿 & 𝗝𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲
💛𝙱𝚘𝚍𝚢𝚐𝚞𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚁𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎
🎵𝙴𝚡-𝙼𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝙷𝚎𝚛𝚘
💛𝙵𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚊 𝙷𝚎𝚛𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚎
🎵𝙵𝚘𝚛𝚌𝚎𝚍 𝙿𝚛𝚘𝚡𝚒𝚖𝚒𝚝𝚢
💛𝚂𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚂𝚞𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚎 𝙴𝚕𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝
💓𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲: 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗯𝗶𝗿𝗱🎶
Jestiny Barkada is the baby of the family, all of her older siblings coddle her, and she always feels trapped in a gilded cage. On top of that, she holds a dark secret that is now haunting her in the form of a death threat. This leads to her brother assigning her a bodyguard, Christian Ambrose. They didn’t get along at the beginning, but their love for music bonded them together….
I came to love bodyguard romance recently, so I was so excited to listen to this. Typically in this trope, the one who was guarded was always a rebel and despised being watched, and Jestiny was no exception. Apart from her being extremely rude and bratty at the beginning, she was actually quite likable. I mean, she’s young, so I forgive her brattiness, and Chris handles her in a very mature way, which is to ignore her, I love it! Jestiny’s life is so relatable (obviously not her celebrity life), her oldest brother took charge of her life as the man of the family, and though she knows she is loved, she always feels abandoned by her father.
I love Chris so much, she just gives me the Alpha Daddy vibe, but not in a creepy way. I’m pretty sure this is an age gap, but I cannot find if Chris’s age was ever mentioned, I know Jestiny is 22 and a virgin. This sometimes gives me the ick, but Chris is just so protective, the way he looks after Jestiny is so swoon-worthy. This was a slow burn for them, but even when they knew it was forbidden, Chris never hid the fact that he was attracted to her, even when he was threatened by her brother.
Lastly, the Barkada family dynamic! I love seeing Asian family, in this case Filipina family to be the main focus of the story. They still pretty much held some conservative views in their family, such as patriarchy but still respected women’s role in the family as equals, as seen with Jasmine’s role within the family. Overall, I’m enjoying my time listening to this audiobook. I’m looking forward to reading the other siblings’ book, particularly Jared, I would love to see what kind of wild woman could tame this man.
🎧𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄🎧
Amazing duet-style narration! Molly narrated this book herself, and with Jason Clarke, this is just a treat to listen to! Molly speaks with an impeccable Filipina accent (I wonder if that’s her native language), she even sings in this, just beautiful. Jason Clarke with a British accent is the sexiest thing I have ever heard🔥, I can listen to him all day. Top quality audiobook, highly recommended!
🅆🄷🄰🅃 🅈🄾🅄 🄶🄴🅃 🄸🄽 🅃🄷🄸🅂 🄱🄾🄾🄺:
✅𝙴𝚡-𝙼𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝙼𝚞𝚜𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝙶𝚒𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝙷𝚎𝚛𝚘
✅𝙵𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚊 𝙱𝚎𝚊𝚞𝚝𝚢 𝙿𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚝/𝙿𝚘𝚙 𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚛 𝙷𝚎𝚛𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚎
✅𝚂𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚝 𝙱𝚘𝚍𝚢𝚐𝚞𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚁𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚂𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚂𝚞𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚎
✅𝙿𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚖𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝙳𝚞𝚎𝚝 𝚂𝚝𝚢𝚕𝚎 (𝚂𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚂𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝙸𝚗𝚌𝚕𝚞𝚍𝚎𝚍!🎶)
⚠️𝗖𝗪/𝗧𝗪/𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀⚠️
- Some violence
- Predatory behavior to minor
- Cheating (not between MCs)
*Thank you to The Author Agency and Molly Briar for the copy of the ALC, I am leaving this review voluntarily*
February 15, 2024
I loved this book, and though Iron Rose still is my number one book from Molly Briar, this one is coming in close second. It was not very action packed like I know from other books by Briar, this one was more sweet and building to a moment.
And make no mistake there were some action scenes in it, and they were written very good. Briar her writingstyle is very flowy, easy to read and makes you forget everything around you, you just want to read from start to finish. Also the worldbuilding and introducing the new family these series are going to be about was very well done. I can't wait to read more about the Barkada family. I really enjoyed that Molly takes her time with not only introducing the new characters, she also gives us old ones from her former books to interact with it all. She is doing an amazing job with connecting all the different books.
Chris and Jestiny really have taken a little place in my heart, both loving music and taking slowburn to another level. This book had some twists and turns keeping me on edge, but most part I have been reading this one with a huge smile on my face, not wanting it to end.
Thank you Molly Briar for this ARC to read and review, can't wait to see what you'll bring next.
And make no mistake there were some action scenes in it, and they were written very good. Briar her writingstyle is very flowy, easy to read and makes you forget everything around you, you just want to read from start to finish. Also the worldbuilding and introducing the new family these series are going to be about was very well done. I can't wait to read more about the Barkada family. I really enjoyed that Molly takes her time with not only introducing the new characters, she also gives us old ones from her former books to interact with it all. She is doing an amazing job with connecting all the different books.
Chris and Jestiny really have taken a little place in my heart, both loving music and taking slowburn to another level. This book had some twists and turns keeping me on edge, but most part I have been reading this one with a huge smile on my face, not wanting it to end.
Thank you Molly Briar for this ARC to read and review, can't wait to see what you'll bring next.
March 13, 2024
I received this book as an ALC in return of my honest review. I have listened to Jason narrate many book and I was blown away with his performance in this audio. This was the first I have listened to Molly which is the author of the book as well. She did a wonderful job and was a believable voice to the characters she read. Jason did many different accents and even changed accents quickly bc he was reading a conversation between 3 different characters and it was flawless. I have never heard his Irish accent before and I have to say it was amazing and I hope he does more books that require him to do that accent. This book was an easy listen. It is a spin of a mafia romance.
February 27, 2024
“Protect Your Queen” was a good read -the plot was well paced, and I particularly liked the character of Chris Ambrose. The slow burn and spice was good and didn’t detract from the main storyline. I liked the way this reminded me of the film The Bodyguard (one of my favs).
Overall this was enjoyable and I would be interested to read the next book.
Overall this was enjoyable and I would be interested to read the next book.
February 13, 2024
Chris fu**ingAmbrose!😍😍😍😍🖤That is all I have to say!
March 6, 2024
I really enjoyed this book!
March 26, 2024
I listened thru audible. It wasn’t awful, but not my cup of tea. I was really bored of listening to it early on, but pushed through to the end.
February 25, 2024
Chris is not what he seems and Jestiny? Miss maam, with a load of baggage, waiting to be unraveled by her hot bodyguard.
“I’ve got you, little Songbird.”
🫠🫠🫠
I’ll admit she did grate on my nerves a little, so it made falling for her quite the shock.
She’s two sides of a coin, from sassy to gentle, best of both worlds.
“I bet he wouldn’t know good music if it bit him in the ass.”
I love the bodyguard trope, it’s one of my all time favourites and this book delivered on everything I could’ve hoped for!
There’s plenty of tension, drama, angst & action to make the slow burn a satisfying collision.
🥵🥵🥵🥵
If you know me, then you’re aware the cinnamon / golden thing is not something I read usually, but when Molly Briar announced sign up for hers, I just couldn’t pass up the chance.
Twist unexpected! 😱
“I’ve got you, little Songbird.”
🫠🫠🫠
I’ll admit she did grate on my nerves a little, so it made falling for her quite the shock.
She’s two sides of a coin, from sassy to gentle, best of both worlds.
“I bet he wouldn’t know good music if it bit him in the ass.”
I love the bodyguard trope, it’s one of my all time favourites and this book delivered on everything I could’ve hoped for!
There’s plenty of tension, drama, angst & action to make the slow burn a satisfying collision.
🥵🥵🥵🥵
If you know me, then you’re aware the cinnamon / golden thing is not something I read usually, but when Molly Briar announced sign up for hers, I just couldn’t pass up the chance.
Twist unexpected! 😱
March 19, 2024
Terrific Story & Narration🎧Gripping & Heartfelt!
Protect Your Queen: A Bodyguard Romance
Barkada, Book 1
By: Molly Briar
Narrated by: Jason Clarke, Molly Briar
This fantastic bodyguard romance drew me in right from the start, grabbing my attention and holding it captive for the entire book. It is my first Molly Briar book, and I enjoyed her writing style, the characters and storylines are intriguing and original. My first impression of Jestiny Barkada was that she is a spoiled brat, but quickly learned that was just a facade, a defense mechanism she puts up. She is a troubled young woman, riddled with guilt and insecurities that get the best of her. A former beauty queen, an Idol contest winner and a current pop star, but she feels none of it, she feels like she is a fraud and questions her own talent. Her siblings are involved in the underground and some shady business, but they kept her sheltered and are overprotective of her, always having her guarded. Someone is out to get her, and her brother reaches out to an old friend at Caledonia Security to hire a personal bodyguard and security detail for her. Christopher “Chris” Ambrose, former military, started working for Caledonia Security, they are the elite, the best of the best, and they pay well which will help him get his younger sister through school at Julliard. Chris, a trained musician, had dreams of a career in music, but that all ended with an injury he sustained while serving. HIs first assignment with Caledonia is guarding a pop princess, who was not very nice, but he was not there to make friends, it was just a job. After there was an attempt on her life, she sees him in a different light and warms up to him, and he falls for her after hearing her sing. It was great to watch their relationship morph into something more, the chemistry between them was electric. I enjoyed watching everything play out in this book, it is a cleverly plotted story with plenty of drama, angst, thrilling and suspenseful moments, heartfelt emotions and a slowburn, but worth the wait, romance. Molly Briar, thank you for this great story and wild ride.
🎧📚🎧 Jason Clarke and Molly Briar did a great job bringing the characters and their story to life. Briar has an advantage as the author and creator and portrayed as she intended them, giving each a voice that was fitting to their personality and Jestiny’s singing was a fabulous addition. Jason Clarke joins her for a duet performance as Chris and I loved how he took the role and made it his own, sounding believable and just as I imagined he would sound. They set the perfect tone for the story, captured all the characters emotions and had you feeling them all. These two entertaining storytellers are a pleasure to listen to and their performance elevates the story to another level. Thank for this great listen.
Protect Your Queen: A Bodyguard Romance
Barkada, Book 1
By: Molly Briar
Narrated by: Jason Clarke, Molly Briar
This fantastic bodyguard romance drew me in right from the start, grabbing my attention and holding it captive for the entire book. It is my first Molly Briar book, and I enjoyed her writing style, the characters and storylines are intriguing and original. My first impression of Jestiny Barkada was that she is a spoiled brat, but quickly learned that was just a facade, a defense mechanism she puts up. She is a troubled young woman, riddled with guilt and insecurities that get the best of her. A former beauty queen, an Idol contest winner and a current pop star, but she feels none of it, she feels like she is a fraud and questions her own talent. Her siblings are involved in the underground and some shady business, but they kept her sheltered and are overprotective of her, always having her guarded. Someone is out to get her, and her brother reaches out to an old friend at Caledonia Security to hire a personal bodyguard and security detail for her. Christopher “Chris” Ambrose, former military, started working for Caledonia Security, they are the elite, the best of the best, and they pay well which will help him get his younger sister through school at Julliard. Chris, a trained musician, had dreams of a career in music, but that all ended with an injury he sustained while serving. HIs first assignment with Caledonia is guarding a pop princess, who was not very nice, but he was not there to make friends, it was just a job. After there was an attempt on her life, she sees him in a different light and warms up to him, and he falls for her after hearing her sing. It was great to watch their relationship morph into something more, the chemistry between them was electric. I enjoyed watching everything play out in this book, it is a cleverly plotted story with plenty of drama, angst, thrilling and suspenseful moments, heartfelt emotions and a slowburn, but worth the wait, romance. Molly Briar, thank you for this great story and wild ride.
🎧📚🎧 Jason Clarke and Molly Briar did a great job bringing the characters and their story to life. Briar has an advantage as the author and creator and portrayed as she intended them, giving each a voice that was fitting to their personality and Jestiny’s singing was a fabulous addition. Jason Clarke joins her for a duet performance as Chris and I loved how he took the role and made it his own, sounding believable and just as I imagined he would sound. They set the perfect tone for the story, captured all the characters emotions and had you feeling them all. These two entertaining storytellers are a pleasure to listen to and their performance elevates the story to another level. Thank for this great listen.
May 25, 2025
🎧 Audiobook Review 🎧
🎤 Duet narration by Molly Briar & Jason Clarke
Story: ⭐⭐⭐.5
Performance: 🎤🎤🎤🎤 🎤
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
This is a popstar x bodyguard, opposite worlds, slow burn, forbidden romance with suspense and dark themes and it's the first book in the series which exists in an interconnected world. Jason Clarke is a one-click narrator for me and I’ve enjoyed another book narrated by Molly Briar so I jumped in blind.
I loved Chris’s character. I’m a sucker for a wounded MMC and I loved seeing his vulnerable side as well as his protective side. Jestiny is a badass who doesn’t need saving and I loved to see that. The romance between Chris and Jestiny was heartwarming to witness, and healing for both of them. There’s one spicy scene in the book, and it was both hot and intimate. I enjoyed it.
This was my first time reading about a Filipina FMC and it was a refreshing change as most Asian main characters I read about are usually Indian, Pakistani, Chinese or South Korean. I enjoyed learning about Filipino culture, and I thought the way the author wove it into the story was natural and informative without feeling like a sociology lesson.
It was an interesting story, but the pacing didn’t work for me. The build up of the romance is slow and so is the build up of the action. I’m usually not a fan of slow burn romance unless it’s the secondary plot or there’s a secondary plot that moves at a faster pace and keeps me engaged for the greater part of the story. It’s a 9 hour book and it wasn’t till about hour 6 that it got exciting for me. Till then, it was just interesting (which is not a bad thing, but for a bodyguard, forbidden romance, I expect exciting). That 3 hours was amazing though. I love it when the villain get’s his comeuppance.
The narration was amazing. The narrators were my reason for picking this book and they did not disappoint. They kept me listening when pace was slow. This is the 2nd time I’ve heard Molly Briar play an unassuming badass FMC and she really brought the character to life, as well as Chris’s female boss and Jestiny’s MMA fighter sister. And she sings! That was a nice treat. Jason Clarke played the perfect wounded hero – gentle, yet fiercely protective. His deep, growly voice always has my heart racing and he also captured Chris’s vulnerability flawlessly, adding a softness that made the emotional moments hit harder.
*I received a review copy from the author. These thoughts are entirely my own.
🎤 Duet narration by Molly Briar & Jason Clarke
Story: ⭐⭐⭐.5
Performance: 🎤🎤🎤🎤 🎤
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
This is a popstar x bodyguard, opposite worlds, slow burn, forbidden romance with suspense and dark themes and it's the first book in the series which exists in an interconnected world. Jason Clarke is a one-click narrator for me and I’ve enjoyed another book narrated by Molly Briar so I jumped in blind.
I loved Chris’s character. I’m a sucker for a wounded MMC and I loved seeing his vulnerable side as well as his protective side. Jestiny is a badass who doesn’t need saving and I loved to see that. The romance between Chris and Jestiny was heartwarming to witness, and healing for both of them. There’s one spicy scene in the book, and it was both hot and intimate. I enjoyed it.
This was my first time reading about a Filipina FMC and it was a refreshing change as most Asian main characters I read about are usually Indian, Pakistani, Chinese or South Korean. I enjoyed learning about Filipino culture, and I thought the way the author wove it into the story was natural and informative without feeling like a sociology lesson.
It was an interesting story, but the pacing didn’t work for me. The build up of the romance is slow and so is the build up of the action. I’m usually not a fan of slow burn romance unless it’s the secondary plot or there’s a secondary plot that moves at a faster pace and keeps me engaged for the greater part of the story. It’s a 9 hour book and it wasn’t till about hour 6 that it got exciting for me. Till then, it was just interesting (which is not a bad thing, but for a bodyguard, forbidden romance, I expect exciting). That 3 hours was amazing though. I love it when the villain get’s his comeuppance.
The narration was amazing. The narrators were my reason for picking this book and they did not disappoint. They kept me listening when pace was slow. This is the 2nd time I’ve heard Molly Briar play an unassuming badass FMC and she really brought the character to life, as well as Chris’s female boss and Jestiny’s MMA fighter sister. And she sings! That was a nice treat. Jason Clarke played the perfect wounded hero – gentle, yet fiercely protective. His deep, growly voice always has my heart racing and he also captured Chris’s vulnerability flawlessly, adding a softness that made the emotional moments hit harder.
*I received a review copy from the author. These thoughts are entirely my own.
March 11, 2024
A BODYGUARD ROMANCE
Jestiny
My brother Jared said We are a Royal Flush ,each of us a different face card that on our own means nothing but together we are the most Powerful hand that can be played .
“ And you will become Queen “ he told me when I was a teenager.
“ the Queen of what “ I pried .
Jestiny Barkada the youngest of the Barkada siblings who’s destined for great success but has a secret that could destroy it all and bring shame to the family .
Despite their strong family bond Jestiny was lonely. She wishes for more from her siblings but her secret is costly and soon her big brother Jared Barkada was forced to seek protection for her as a threat to her life became more evident as he too kept a secret of his own .
“Someone to watch over Me “
Ella Fitzgerald .
Enter Christopher Ambrose , the Pretty green eyed ex Military hired as The Bodyguard who has a wicked sense of humor , a roguish charm coupled with his devilish wink . Chris also have broken dreams and a talent of his own. Chris however Swore to protect This Queen at all cost after just a day into the most intriguing intense family with a beautiful mesmerizing autumn eyes songbird he knew he just couldn’t possibly not want to Protect and more .
Protect Your Queen is the start of the BARKADA Series , following the ambitious siblings as they cement themselves as the world’s most powerful family . The Books are interconnected, and can be Standalone.
Absolutely enjoyed this Book which was written by Molly Briar , a first time read by this Author for me .
I found this story interesting with a bit of intriguing twist action angst humor and a bit of spice .
Got this ALC and wasn’t disappointed with the outcome at all .
Duet Narration with musical musings coupled with mixed languages spoken by different characters portrayed in the story made the Audiobook so much more enjoyable .
Jason Clark and Molly Brair really gave a phenomenal performance I tell you !
Listen when I tell you that Jason Clark masterfully executed each Character that at one point had me double checking if another narrator was actually speaking !
Really good work I tell you .
Definitely recommend listening to this quick and exciting story with dual POV which had me chuckling and humming along most time .
You won’t regret this book.
I look forward getting into the next story .
🦋
georgious_eleanorpb
Jestiny
My brother Jared said We are a Royal Flush ,each of us a different face card that on our own means nothing but together we are the most Powerful hand that can be played .
“ And you will become Queen “ he told me when I was a teenager.
“ the Queen of what “ I pried .
Jestiny Barkada the youngest of the Barkada siblings who’s destined for great success but has a secret that could destroy it all and bring shame to the family .
Despite their strong family bond Jestiny was lonely. She wishes for more from her siblings but her secret is costly and soon her big brother Jared Barkada was forced to seek protection for her as a threat to her life became more evident as he too kept a secret of his own .
“Someone to watch over Me “
Ella Fitzgerald .
Enter Christopher Ambrose , the Pretty green eyed ex Military hired as The Bodyguard who has a wicked sense of humor , a roguish charm coupled with his devilish wink . Chris also have broken dreams and a talent of his own. Chris however Swore to protect This Queen at all cost after just a day into the most intriguing intense family with a beautiful mesmerizing autumn eyes songbird he knew he just couldn’t possibly not want to Protect and more .
Protect Your Queen is the start of the BARKADA Series , following the ambitious siblings as they cement themselves as the world’s most powerful family . The Books are interconnected, and can be Standalone.
Absolutely enjoyed this Book which was written by Molly Briar , a first time read by this Author for me .
I found this story interesting with a bit of intriguing twist action angst humor and a bit of spice .
Got this ALC and wasn’t disappointed with the outcome at all .
Duet Narration with musical musings coupled with mixed languages spoken by different characters portrayed in the story made the Audiobook so much more enjoyable .
Jason Clark and Molly Brair really gave a phenomenal performance I tell you !
Listen when I tell you that Jason Clark masterfully executed each Character that at one point had me double checking if another narrator was actually speaking !
Really good work I tell you .
Definitely recommend listening to this quick and exciting story with dual POV which had me chuckling and humming along most time .
You won’t regret this book.
I look forward getting into the next story .
🦋
georgious_eleanorpb
March 27, 2024
BOOK AND AUDIOBOOK REVIEW
She’s a haunted little songbird. He’s a bodyguard with broken dreams.
Jestiny
I’m a fraud. My climb to the top, the beauty pageant crowns, the music awards … none of them were earned. I stole them all, and they're slipping through my fingers. With my career on the brink of disaster, the last thing I needed were the death threats. Or maybe that was a blessing in disguise.
Chris
I thought I was guarding a vapid pop star. Then I heard her sing. Beyond the lights was a little Songbird that needed help finding her wings. They hired me to protect her from the unknown threat that lurked in the shadows, but the real danger lay behind her haunted autumn eyes.
Author Molly Briar has written an intriguing and original bodyguard romance filled with drama, action, and morally grey characters. This is a slow burn with lower spice than I am accustomed to reading.
What interested me most was the discussion of all things music. This book is heavier on plot, and while there was a swoony hero and a happy ending, I struggled to engage with the heroine of the story, wished for more heat anespice, and would have loved to read an epilogue.
I listened to the audiobook produced by Darkstar Romance. Molly Briar is a new to me author and narrator and her performance as popstar princess Jestiny Barkada was skillful and unique. Her deeper tonal quality and delivery made for a dynamic listen. Her singing parts were a surprise and added to the experience.
Jason Clarke performs the role of former military man turned bodyguard Chris Ambrose with his customary skill and swoony deep growl. I was particularly impressed by the sheer volume of male side characters he portrayed...French, British, Scots, American, etc., often in the same scene.
If you like dark romance with morally grey characters, action, drama, and an intriguing storyline, you will like this book.
Protect Your Queen is the start of the Barkada series, following the ambitious siblings as they cement themselves as the world’s most powerful family. The books are interconnected, but can be read as a standalone.
She’s a haunted little songbird. He’s a bodyguard with broken dreams.
Jestiny
I’m a fraud. My climb to the top, the beauty pageant crowns, the music awards … none of them were earned. I stole them all, and they're slipping through my fingers. With my career on the brink of disaster, the last thing I needed were the death threats. Or maybe that was a blessing in disguise.
Chris
I thought I was guarding a vapid pop star. Then I heard her sing. Beyond the lights was a little Songbird that needed help finding her wings. They hired me to protect her from the unknown threat that lurked in the shadows, but the real danger lay behind her haunted autumn eyes.
Author Molly Briar has written an intriguing and original bodyguard romance filled with drama, action, and morally grey characters. This is a slow burn with lower spice than I am accustomed to reading.
What interested me most was the discussion of all things music. This book is heavier on plot, and while there was a swoony hero and a happy ending, I struggled to engage with the heroine of the story, wished for more heat anespice, and would have loved to read an epilogue.
I listened to the audiobook produced by Darkstar Romance. Molly Briar is a new to me author and narrator and her performance as popstar princess Jestiny Barkada was skillful and unique. Her deeper tonal quality and delivery made for a dynamic listen. Her singing parts were a surprise and added to the experience.
Jason Clarke performs the role of former military man turned bodyguard Chris Ambrose with his customary skill and swoony deep growl. I was particularly impressed by the sheer volume of male side characters he portrayed...French, British, Scots, American, etc., often in the same scene.
If you like dark romance with morally grey characters, action, drama, and an intriguing storyline, you will like this book.
Protect Your Queen is the start of the Barkada series, following the ambitious siblings as they cement themselves as the world’s most powerful family. The books are interconnected, but can be read as a standalone.
March 30, 2024
Dark Star Romance Presents
Protect Your Queen
By Molly Briar
Narrated By Jason Clarke & Molly Briar
~ALC Review~
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️
Christopher Ambrose is an ex military man who is the new hire for an elite security team. His assignment? To protect pop star Jestiny Barkada, the youngest of the Barkada siblings. But what Christopher doesn't realize is that Jestiny has a hidden musicial talent that takes his breath away. Hidden behind all the glamour, Jestiny has a lot of hidden deep insecurities and she feels she's nothing but a fraud. Behind her beautiful smile is a woman hurting and broken. After Chris comes into Jestiny's life, he starts to unravel her walls and she brings her mask down to reveal her real self and feelings to him. With the help of Chris, Jestiny gains her confidence to not only perform music the way she wants to be able to but to also stand up to her siblings for what she wants in life. This beautiful story is full of angst, suspense, and drama with beautiful emotions and a slow burn romance.
Jason Clarke gave Christopher the perfect amount of charisma, depth and charm. He was able to really bring him to life in such a way that made me feel like I was right living the story with him. He did an amazing job and I loved every moment of his narration! And the accents!!! My oh my! Jason nailed the accents he did in this book perfectly and I'm quite certain my ears were blessed hearing such beauty.
Molly Briar had double duty on this book, both as author and as co-narrator! This was my first book by Molly and my first time listening to her. And I was in awe! Not only did she narrate but she sang in this book too! And my does she sing beautifully! I loved each and every moment listening to her lovely voice. She has a wonderful ability to not only create an incredible story but also the ability to tell it. And the accents she did! Ooo they were gorgeous too! I definitely am going to be reading more of her books and listening to her audiobooks in the future!
#bookstagram #bookstagrammer #romanceaudiobook #audiobookstagram #BodyguardRomance #RomanticSuspense #MilitaryRomance #darkstarromance #darkstarromancealc #jasonclarke #mollybriar
Protect Your Queen
By Molly Briar
Narrated By Jason Clarke & Molly Briar
~ALC Review~
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️
Christopher Ambrose is an ex military man who is the new hire for an elite security team. His assignment? To protect pop star Jestiny Barkada, the youngest of the Barkada siblings. But what Christopher doesn't realize is that Jestiny has a hidden musicial talent that takes his breath away. Hidden behind all the glamour, Jestiny has a lot of hidden deep insecurities and she feels she's nothing but a fraud. Behind her beautiful smile is a woman hurting and broken. After Chris comes into Jestiny's life, he starts to unravel her walls and she brings her mask down to reveal her real self and feelings to him. With the help of Chris, Jestiny gains her confidence to not only perform music the way she wants to be able to but to also stand up to her siblings for what she wants in life. This beautiful story is full of angst, suspense, and drama with beautiful emotions and a slow burn romance.
Jason Clarke gave Christopher the perfect amount of charisma, depth and charm. He was able to really bring him to life in such a way that made me feel like I was right living the story with him. He did an amazing job and I loved every moment of his narration! And the accents!!! My oh my! Jason nailed the accents he did in this book perfectly and I'm quite certain my ears were blessed hearing such beauty.
Molly Briar had double duty on this book, both as author and as co-narrator! This was my first book by Molly and my first time listening to her. And I was in awe! Not only did she narrate but she sang in this book too! And my does she sing beautifully! I loved each and every moment listening to her lovely voice. She has a wonderful ability to not only create an incredible story but also the ability to tell it. And the accents she did! Ooo they were gorgeous too! I definitely am going to be reading more of her books and listening to her audiobooks in the future!
#bookstagram #bookstagrammer #romanceaudiobook #audiobookstagram #BodyguardRomance #RomanticSuspense #MilitaryRomance #darkstarromance #darkstarromancealc #jasonclarke #mollybriar
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2024
ALC - Rate 4.5
In Molly Briar's, "Protect Your Queen," readers are thrust into the captivating world of the ambitious Barkada siblings, where secrets, danger, and unexpected love unfold against the backdrop of intense family dynamics.
The story revolves around Jestiny Barkada, the youngest sibling burdened with a secret that could shatter her destined success and tarnish the family's reputation. Despite a seemingly strong family bond, Jestiny battles loneliness, longing for more connection with her siblings. As the threat to her life looms larger, her brother Jared Barkada hires Christopher Ambrose, an ex-military with striking green eyes, a roguish charm, and a wicked sense of humor, as her bodyguard.
"Protect Your Queen" not only introduces us to the fascinating Barkada family but also sets the stage for a series that promises to establish them as the world's most powerful family. The narrative seamlessly weaves together elements of action, angst, humor, and a touch of spice, keeping the reader engaged from start to finish.
Molly Briar's writing style is a breath of fresh air, providing an intriguing twist to the conventional romance genre. The characters are well-developed, each carrying their own secrets and dreams. The chemistry between Jestiny and Chris is palpable, evolving from a tense professional relationship into a slow-burning romance.
The audiobook experience, featuring dual narration by Jason Clark and Molly Briar, enhances the overall enjoyment. Clark's masterful execution of each character brings them to life, making the story even more immersive. The use of mixed languages and musical musings adds depth and authenticity to the narrative.
As a first-time reader of Molly Briar, I was pleasantly surprised and thoroughly enjoyed the book. I leave my honest review and I look forward to more of her work .
In Molly Briar's, "Protect Your Queen," readers are thrust into the captivating world of the ambitious Barkada siblings, where secrets, danger, and unexpected love unfold against the backdrop of intense family dynamics.
The story revolves around Jestiny Barkada, the youngest sibling burdened with a secret that could shatter her destined success and tarnish the family's reputation. Despite a seemingly strong family bond, Jestiny battles loneliness, longing for more connection with her siblings. As the threat to her life looms larger, her brother Jared Barkada hires Christopher Ambrose, an ex-military with striking green eyes, a roguish charm, and a wicked sense of humor, as her bodyguard.
"Protect Your Queen" not only introduces us to the fascinating Barkada family but also sets the stage for a series that promises to establish them as the world's most powerful family. The narrative seamlessly weaves together elements of action, angst, humor, and a touch of spice, keeping the reader engaged from start to finish.
Molly Briar's writing style is a breath of fresh air, providing an intriguing twist to the conventional romance genre. The characters are well-developed, each carrying their own secrets and dreams. The chemistry between Jestiny and Chris is palpable, evolving from a tense professional relationship into a slow-burning romance.
The audiobook experience, featuring dual narration by Jason Clark and Molly Briar, enhances the overall enjoyment. Clark's masterful execution of each character brings them to life, making the story even more immersive. The use of mixed languages and musical musings adds depth and authenticity to the narrative.
As a first-time reader of Molly Briar, I was pleasantly surprised and thoroughly enjoyed the book. I leave my honest review and I look forward to more of her work .
March 18, 2024
This was my first book both by and narrated by Molly Briar. I went in mostly blind only reading the blurb prior to starting the book. It took me a couple chapters, but once the hook was it, it wasn’t coming out until I finished Jestiny (Jess) and Chris’ story. I am looking forward to the rest of the series and will go back through Molly’s catalog of audiobooks. The only thing I wish there had been more reservation on Chris’ side regarding risking his job, but the tension between him and Jess more than made up for it.
Narration: Duet narration, first-person present tense POV, with flashbacks
Tropes: billionaires, forbidden romance, mystery, celebrity, bodyguard, secret romance
Overall: 4.5
Spice: 2.5
Humor: 2.5
Drama: 3.5
Darkness: 2
We start with Jess who is in a precarious situation, but somehow turns the the tables to her benefit. Tired of always being on her own and feeling alone all the time due to an unknown threat against her, her older brother and protector, leans on an old friend for help, and hires a bodyguard to protect his sister.
Cardonia Security is a prestigious agency, protecting some of the world‘s most prominent and influential people. Chris is the first to pass the test and be hired by the firm, and his first assignment is to protect Jess until the threat against her can be sussed out and eliminated.
Initially, Jess wants nothing to do with Chris, but as she learns more about him, her hostility wanes and she starts to see the beautiful soul underneath the tough protector. The two get closer and closer, but the secret Jess is keeping from everyone, continues to put her in danger and could cost her more than her career. Chris will do anything to protect Jess, but is he able to protect his heart from the tempting pop-princess?
Narration: Duet narration, first-person present tense POV, with flashbacks
Tropes: billionaires, forbidden romance, mystery, celebrity, bodyguard, secret romance
Overall: 4.5
Spice: 2.5
Humor: 2.5
Drama: 3.5
Darkness: 2
We start with Jess who is in a precarious situation, but somehow turns the the tables to her benefit. Tired of always being on her own and feeling alone all the time due to an unknown threat against her, her older brother and protector, leans on an old friend for help, and hires a bodyguard to protect his sister.
Cardonia Security is a prestigious agency, protecting some of the world‘s most prominent and influential people. Chris is the first to pass the test and be hired by the firm, and his first assignment is to protect Jess until the threat against her can be sussed out and eliminated.
Initially, Jess wants nothing to do with Chris, but as she learns more about him, her hostility wanes and she starts to see the beautiful soul underneath the tough protector. The two get closer and closer, but the secret Jess is keeping from everyone, continues to put her in danger and could cost her more than her career. Chris will do anything to protect Jess, but is he able to protect his heart from the tempting pop-princess?
February 16, 2024
When Chris was officially introduced to Jestiny as her security guard, his first thought was that she was exactly how she was portrayed in the media. Until, he noticed the distant look in her eyes. That first night he worked for her, he knew that he was going to do everything he could to protect her, physically and mentally.
At the end of the day, my job was protecting the little Songbird, not her flock
Jestiny did not want a babysitter. She was tired of people telling her what to do, not listening to her. She couldn’t even control her own life. Her siblings were the only family she has and she rarely sees them. Not that they are particularly close, but they are her family. As the youngest, they feel the need to do everything in order to protect her. Which sometimes means not being around shy so their family roles.
“When you look sad, I want to kiss you,” he said, matter-of-factly, his eyes never leaving the keys of the piano. “When you blush, I want to kiss you. When you sing, I want to kiss you.”
Jestiny deserves for someone to listen to her, talk to her, and see her. Really see her. The fact that Chris is around her for less than 12 hours and can already see the darkness in her eyes, says something. Chris wants to be someone that Jestiny can trust and lean on. He wants to listen to her, her voice, whether it’s her singing or telling him her thoughts and feelings. The connection the two of them create is unlike any that Jestiny’s ever had. She feels seen for the first time. She knows that Chris is not playing games with her, no matter what her siblings tell her.
I really enjoyed this story. The characters are (mostly) likable and the development between the FMC & MMC was beautifully concocted. Their story was cute and I am excited to see the rest of the siblings find their matches.
Spice: 1/5
Character Development: 4/5
Overall: 4.5/5
At the end of the day, my job was protecting the little Songbird, not her flock
Jestiny did not want a babysitter. She was tired of people telling her what to do, not listening to her. She couldn’t even control her own life. Her siblings were the only family she has and she rarely sees them. Not that they are particularly close, but they are her family. As the youngest, they feel the need to do everything in order to protect her. Which sometimes means not being around shy so their family roles.
“When you look sad, I want to kiss you,” he said, matter-of-factly, his eyes never leaving the keys of the piano. “When you blush, I want to kiss you. When you sing, I want to kiss you.”
Jestiny deserves for someone to listen to her, talk to her, and see her. Really see her. The fact that Chris is around her for less than 12 hours and can already see the darkness in her eyes, says something. Chris wants to be someone that Jestiny can trust and lean on. He wants to listen to her, her voice, whether it’s her singing or telling him her thoughts and feelings. The connection the two of them create is unlike any that Jestiny’s ever had. She feels seen for the first time. She knows that Chris is not playing games with her, no matter what her siblings tell her.
I really enjoyed this story. The characters are (mostly) likable and the development between the FMC & MMC was beautifully concocted. Their story was cute and I am excited to see the rest of the siblings find their matches.
Spice: 1/5
Character Development: 4/5
Overall: 4.5/5
March 14, 2024
Protect Your Queen, written by Molly Briar, is the first book in the Barkada series. This is my first book by this author, and I enjoyed the experience. I decided to go with the audiobook option because it is my favorite format! Briar has a nice and easy writing style that flows well and lures you into the story.
This book introduces you to the Barkada family, with a focus on Jestiny. This young, famous songbird has a colossal case of imposter syndrome. She hides behind her persona, which her family has perfectly crafted. Unhappy with her career's direction, she longs for something more. A new bodyguard has been added to her detail with unexpected results. Chris, her new bodyguard, has heard of Jestiny before and considers her a vapid pop star. He couldn’t be more wrong. Because of Jestiny, Chris finds his love of music and composing again. This slow-burn bodyguard romance will have you craving more.
I really enjoyed the introduction to the Barkada family. Jestiny is the most tame member, and I look forward to them getting darker. I loved the chemistry between Chris and Jestiny. I loved that they shared a love of music, bringing them together. There is a touch of spice that is well-placed and nicely timed.
The narrators are Jason Clarke and the author herself, Molly Briar. The dual narration is fantastic. I was astonished to learn that Briar is not only a writer and narrator but also a singer! They played off each other so well that I couldn’t get enough. The emotion, the tension, the chemistry. WHEW.
Thank you so much to Dark Star Romance and Molly Briar for gifting me a copy of Protect Your Queen. I am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book introduces you to the Barkada family, with a focus on Jestiny. This young, famous songbird has a colossal case of imposter syndrome. She hides behind her persona, which her family has perfectly crafted. Unhappy with her career's direction, she longs for something more. A new bodyguard has been added to her detail with unexpected results. Chris, her new bodyguard, has heard of Jestiny before and considers her a vapid pop star. He couldn’t be more wrong. Because of Jestiny, Chris finds his love of music and composing again. This slow-burn bodyguard romance will have you craving more.
I really enjoyed the introduction to the Barkada family. Jestiny is the most tame member, and I look forward to them getting darker. I loved the chemistry between Chris and Jestiny. I loved that they shared a love of music, bringing them together. There is a touch of spice that is well-placed and nicely timed.
The narrators are Jason Clarke and the author herself, Molly Briar. The dual narration is fantastic. I was astonished to learn that Briar is not only a writer and narrator but also a singer! They played off each other so well that I couldn’t get enough. The emotion, the tension, the chemistry. WHEW.
Thank you so much to Dark Star Romance and Molly Briar for gifting me a copy of Protect Your Queen. I am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 27, 2024
"The pianist and his songbird"
I just loved #ProtectYourQueen by #MollyBriar which was beautifully narrated in duet by scrumptious #JasonClarke (who could whisper the telephone directory to me and I'd be happy) and the very talented #MollyBriar who can sing too!
What I love about Molly Briar's writing is that it is interesting and unusual, e.g. the name of the heroine is Jestiny, a name I have never heard of before and the Philippines' culture is touched upon.
Added to this, is a beautifully romantic and action packed story, and for a change not "steam" driven.
Chris Ambrose is a hunk of a bodyguard employed through Caledonian Security to protect Jestiny Barkada, a young starlet who unfortunately doesn’t believe in herself, against a true threat.
Chris and Jestiny have their secrets and its wonderful to watch how they "save" each other through music, whilst a maelstrom of other things are happening around them.
The love story is so well done and the final scene is epic; and leaves you feeling all warm and fuzzy on the inside and wanting more!
I normally find epilogues unnecessary but in this case I would have liked to know what happened to them, so I sincerely hope their lives are touched upon in the rest of the series and I can't wait to hear more about the Barkada family and hope it's about big brother being brought to his knees by a woman!
I also found Caledonian Security intriguing and hope there'll be a series or at least a story about Lea and her baron!
I look forward to hearing more from this talented author, narrator and singer!
Thank you #DarkStarRomance for the complimentary copy and I confirm that all opinions are my own.
Tropes:
📚 Bodyguard Romance
📚 Ex-Military Hero
📚 Pop Star FMC
I just loved #ProtectYourQueen by #MollyBriar which was beautifully narrated in duet by scrumptious #JasonClarke (who could whisper the telephone directory to me and I'd be happy) and the very talented #MollyBriar who can sing too!
What I love about Molly Briar's writing is that it is interesting and unusual, e.g. the name of the heroine is Jestiny, a name I have never heard of before and the Philippines' culture is touched upon.
Added to this, is a beautifully romantic and action packed story, and for a change not "steam" driven.
Chris Ambrose is a hunk of a bodyguard employed through Caledonian Security to protect Jestiny Barkada, a young starlet who unfortunately doesn’t believe in herself, against a true threat.
Chris and Jestiny have their secrets and its wonderful to watch how they "save" each other through music, whilst a maelstrom of other things are happening around them.
The love story is so well done and the final scene is epic; and leaves you feeling all warm and fuzzy on the inside and wanting more!
I normally find epilogues unnecessary but in this case I would have liked to know what happened to them, so I sincerely hope their lives are touched upon in the rest of the series and I can't wait to hear more about the Barkada family and hope it's about big brother being brought to his knees by a woman!
I also found Caledonian Security intriguing and hope there'll be a series or at least a story about Lea and her baron!
I look forward to hearing more from this talented author, narrator and singer!
Thank you #DarkStarRomance for the complimentary copy and I confirm that all opinions are my own.
Tropes:
📚 Bodyguard Romance
📚 Ex-Military Hero
📚 Pop Star FMC
March 13, 2024
𝗦𝗲𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀 + 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 ❤️🔥
—————— 🌙🖤 𝚊𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 💋⛓️——————
Love a bodyguard trope, especially with an overprotective brother involved and said bodyguard knowing she’s worth the risk of a hole between the eyes.
Just on this occasion it weren’t for me in terms of story, this book was not my match, but for those who fall for a soft hearted bodyguard who is willing to wait for her, this is yours.
In terms of narration MB really brought to life the diva attitude of the FMC, and JC deserves a round of applause for all the accents he nailed in this one, a part of me still can’t believe they’re all the same person.
—— ❗️𝘔𝘠 𝘚𝘗𝘐𝘊𝘌𝘚 𝘉𝘌𝘓𝘖𝘞 𝘊𝘖𝘜𝘓𝘋 𝘉𝘌 𝘚𝘗𝘖𝘐𝘓𝘌𝘙-𝘠 ❗️——
_____________
🏷️ 𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦:
Bodyguard, Beauty Pageants + Music Awards, Industry Blackmail, Forced Proximity, Diva Difficult, Age Gap, Overprotective Brother, Suspense Vibes
😈 𝗦𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗦:
Slow Burn, Her Firsts, Sweet & Soft, Minimal 🌶️
🫠 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝘀:
—> “I’ve got you, little Songbird.”
—> “Be a good girl,”
🚩 𝗥𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗹𝗮𝗴𝘀 (𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝘆 😉):
N/A
🌍 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲:
This book is the start of a new series that follows each sibling in the Barkada family, it can be enjoyed as a standalone ending on a HEA.
⛔️ 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲:
Upskirting + other potentially triggering themes. If you are unsure, check TW/CW, otherwise buckle in! 🎢
𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: Barkada #1
𝐭𝐲𝐩𝐞: family saga standalone
𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: military romance
𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐞: Jestiny Barkarda & Chris Ambrose
𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫: Songbird
𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐦: Help
𝐏𝐎𝐕’𝐬: dual first person 👫
𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 3.5 ✮
𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲: Molly Briar & Jason Clarke
𝐬𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞: duet narration
—— ❗️𝚖𝚢 𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚟𝚎𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚜𝚙𝚘𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚛𝚜❗️——
—————— 🌙🖤 𝚊𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 💋⛓️——————
Love a bodyguard trope, especially with an overprotective brother involved and said bodyguard knowing she’s worth the risk of a hole between the eyes.
Just on this occasion it weren’t for me in terms of story, this book was not my match, but for those who fall for a soft hearted bodyguard who is willing to wait for her, this is yours.
In terms of narration MB really brought to life the diva attitude of the FMC, and JC deserves a round of applause for all the accents he nailed in this one, a part of me still can’t believe they’re all the same person.
—— ❗️𝘔𝘠 𝘚𝘗𝘐𝘊𝘌𝘚 𝘉𝘌𝘓𝘖𝘞 𝘊𝘖𝘜𝘓𝘋 𝘉𝘌 𝘚𝘗𝘖𝘐𝘓𝘌𝘙-𝘠 ❗️——
_____________
🏷️ 𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦:
Bodyguard, Beauty Pageants + Music Awards, Industry Blackmail, Forced Proximity, Diva Difficult, Age Gap, Overprotective Brother, Suspense Vibes
😈 𝗦𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗦:
Slow Burn, Her Firsts, Sweet & Soft, Minimal 🌶️
🫠 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝘀:
—> “I’ve got you, little Songbird.”
—> “Be a good girl,”
🚩 𝗥𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗹𝗮𝗴𝘀 (𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝘆 😉):
N/A
🌍 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲:
This book is the start of a new series that follows each sibling in the Barkada family, it can be enjoyed as a standalone ending on a HEA.
⛔️ 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲:
Upskirting + other potentially triggering themes. If you are unsure, check TW/CW, otherwise buckle in! 🎢
𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: Barkada #1
𝐭𝐲𝐩𝐞: family saga standalone
𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: military romance
𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐞: Jestiny Barkarda & Chris Ambrose
𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫: Songbird
𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐦: Help
𝐏𝐎𝐕’𝐬: dual first person 👫
𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 3.5 ✮
𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲: Molly Briar & Jason Clarke
𝐬𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞: duet narration
—— ❗️𝚖𝚢 𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚟𝚎𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚜𝚙𝚘𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚛𝚜❗️——
June 17, 2025
ALC Review
Jestiny Barkada is the cherished youngest sibling in her family, protected by all her older siblings. However, the protectiveness sometimes feels more like a gilded cage. To complicate her life further, she’s hiding a secre and a chilling death threat that prompts her brother to hire a bodyguard, Chris Ambrose. Their initial encounters are anything but smooth, but they soon discover an unexpected bond through their mutual love for music.
Jestiny epitomizes the rebellious spirit of the main character who resists being guarded. She starts off full of attitude, and while she may come across as rude and spoiled, there's a relatable depth to her. At only 22, her youthful mischief is easy to forgive, especially with Chris balancing their dynamic through his refreshing maturity—his go-to tactic is simply to brush off her antics, and it’s surprisingly effective!
Their bond develops gradually, and despite obstacles, including her brother’s disapproval, Chris isn’t shy about his feelings for her.
I can’t wait to delve into the stories of her siblings, especially the eldest Barkada. I am curious about the kind of captivating woman who could potentially soften his edges!
The narration of this duet is absolutely enchanting! Molly Briar and Jason Clarke breathe life into this story in the most delightful way. Molly's flawless Filipina accent adds an exquisite touch—she even sings! And Jason Clarke’s British accent? It’s pure magic; I could listen to him forever.
Thank you Molly Briar for the opportunity the review Protect our Queen. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Jestiny Barkada is the cherished youngest sibling in her family, protected by all her older siblings. However, the protectiveness sometimes feels more like a gilded cage. To complicate her life further, she’s hiding a secre and a chilling death threat that prompts her brother to hire a bodyguard, Chris Ambrose. Their initial encounters are anything but smooth, but they soon discover an unexpected bond through their mutual love for music.
Jestiny epitomizes the rebellious spirit of the main character who resists being guarded. She starts off full of attitude, and while she may come across as rude and spoiled, there's a relatable depth to her. At only 22, her youthful mischief is easy to forgive, especially with Chris balancing their dynamic through his refreshing maturity—his go-to tactic is simply to brush off her antics, and it’s surprisingly effective!
Their bond develops gradually, and despite obstacles, including her brother’s disapproval, Chris isn’t shy about his feelings for her.
I can’t wait to delve into the stories of her siblings, especially the eldest Barkada. I am curious about the kind of captivating woman who could potentially soften his edges!
The narration of this duet is absolutely enchanting! Molly Briar and Jason Clarke breathe life into this story in the most delightful way. Molly's flawless Filipina accent adds an exquisite touch—she even sings! And Jason Clarke’s British accent? It’s pure magic; I could listen to him forever.
Thank you Molly Briar for the opportunity the review Protect our Queen. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 22, 2024
Audiobook and Book Review
🖤 Touch her and 💀
💛 Cinnamon roll bodyguard
🖤 V card FMC
💛 Musically talented
🖤 Slowburn
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️
I appreciated that this story didn’t try to sugarcoat the fact that females are treated differently (and unfortunately often manipulated in more ways than one). Absolutely not ok, but often stories pretend that doesn’t happen in real life.
I enjoyed that Chris was an attentive and thoughtful guard. He kept Jestiny safe. He sees her when others don’t. She has struggled to be who she wants to be, though she’s not been quite sure what that is.
There isn’t anything that Jason Clarke can’t do. The multitude of accents that he displays in this one story is a testament to that. He brings out this Captain America-esque MMC to perfection.
Molly Briar is not only the author but one of the duet narrators in this novel. She brings a depth to the FMC that isn’t often heard in audiobooks. It made the story enjoyable.
As much as I love Chris’s character, I was a little disappointed that he didn’t prep Jestiny more before they, you know. But maybe that made it more real life. Not sure how I feel about that part. But he did take care of her. In so many ways, and that endeared me to Chris so much.
🕊️ “I’ve got you, little Songbird.”
🕊️ “Can you be a good girl and do what you’re told?” Again, I was teasing her.
🕊️ “Because I don’t do casual f**ks, sweetheart.” God, I wanted to kiss her. I wanted to kiss her so badly, my body ached with it. “There’d be nothing casual about us.”
🕊️ “You won’t remember your own name when I’m through with you,” I promised.
🖤 Touch her and 💀
💛 Cinnamon roll bodyguard
🖤 V card FMC
💛 Musically talented
🖤 Slowburn
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️
I appreciated that this story didn’t try to sugarcoat the fact that females are treated differently (and unfortunately often manipulated in more ways than one). Absolutely not ok, but often stories pretend that doesn’t happen in real life.
I enjoyed that Chris was an attentive and thoughtful guard. He kept Jestiny safe. He sees her when others don’t. She has struggled to be who she wants to be, though she’s not been quite sure what that is.
There isn’t anything that Jason Clarke can’t do. The multitude of accents that he displays in this one story is a testament to that. He brings out this Captain America-esque MMC to perfection.
Molly Briar is not only the author but one of the duet narrators in this novel. She brings a depth to the FMC that isn’t often heard in audiobooks. It made the story enjoyable.
As much as I love Chris’s character, I was a little disappointed that he didn’t prep Jestiny more before they, you know. But maybe that made it more real life. Not sure how I feel about that part. But he did take care of her. In so many ways, and that endeared me to Chris so much.
🕊️ “I’ve got you, little Songbird.”
🕊️ “Can you be a good girl and do what you’re told?” Again, I was teasing her.
🕊️ “Because I don’t do casual f**ks, sweetheart.” God, I wanted to kiss her. I wanted to kiss her so badly, my body ached with it. “There’d be nothing casual about us.”
🕊️ “You won’t remember your own name when I’m through with you,” I promised.
June 18, 2025
STORY:4
CHARACTERS:4
NARRATION:5
SPICE:1.5
OVERALL:4
TROPES:
BODYGUARD
POP STAR
FORCED PROXIMITY
SUSPENSE
This is my second time hearing Molly narrate her own book and I am not mad about,it. Jason Clarke delivers a great performance as well and he did multiple accents for multiple characters.
This is the story of Jestiny and how she became a pop star from basically nothing. This is all thanks to her talent, which she feels she is not talented enough to be where she is since she did some shady things to help herself get there. But who hasn't?!? Also, her brother is pretty determined to make sure she is successful.
We get a little mafiaish stuff in here. Not a lot, but enough to make you wonder what exactly her brother is into and how this is going to play out in future books, since this is book 1.
Molly's voice is perfect for a singer. It is sultry, seductive and just grabs your attention. She even sings multiple times throughout the story.
Chris, who is our MMC enters the story when Jestiny needs a bodyguard and her brother just so happens to be associated with the head of Caledonia Security. Chris is the newbie and of course he is perfect for the position. His background, which you find out about plays into this new role well.
Jestiny and Chris's story kept me interested, But if you are looking for spice, this book is not it. It is a slow burn that gives us minimal. Me? I would have preferred more there, and had there been I would have rated it higher, This is just my opinion of course. I think this will be a pretty interesting series.
CHARACTERS:4
NARRATION:5
SPICE:1.5
OVERALL:4
TROPES:
BODYGUARD
POP STAR
FORCED PROXIMITY
SUSPENSE
This is my second time hearing Molly narrate her own book and I am not mad about,it. Jason Clarke delivers a great performance as well and he did multiple accents for multiple characters.
This is the story of Jestiny and how she became a pop star from basically nothing. This is all thanks to her talent, which she feels she is not talented enough to be where she is since she did some shady things to help herself get there. But who hasn't?!? Also, her brother is pretty determined to make sure she is successful.
We get a little mafiaish stuff in here. Not a lot, but enough to make you wonder what exactly her brother is into and how this is going to play out in future books, since this is book 1.
Molly's voice is perfect for a singer. It is sultry, seductive and just grabs your attention. She even sings multiple times throughout the story.
Chris, who is our MMC enters the story when Jestiny needs a bodyguard and her brother just so happens to be associated with the head of Caledonia Security. Chris is the newbie and of course he is perfect for the position. His background, which you find out about plays into this new role well.
Jestiny and Chris's story kept me interested, But if you are looking for spice, this book is not it. It is a slow burn that gives us minimal. Me? I would have preferred more there, and had there been I would have rated it higher, This is just my opinion of course. I think this will be a pretty interesting series.
March 27, 2024
ALC AUDIOBOOK REVIEW
NARRATED BY MOLLY BRAIR AND JASON CLARKE
3.5⭐️
🌶️
🎧🎧🎧🎧
Little Songbird 🎵… Swoon….
Protect Your Queen is an angsty pop star/bodyguard romance, full of passion but hidden by secrets. Following the story of Jestiny And Christopher. Christopher is Jestiny’s bodyguard, a man of few words but when spoke are meaningful. He is ex military, working for an elite security team with a hidden beautiful musical talent. Jestiny Is a pop star with an attitude of a spoiled princess. Hiding behind the stage, glitz and glamour, Jestiny holds a lot of insecurities. She fears she is a fraud, that her family is hiding things from her and that her life is a lie. When Chris comes into Jestiney’s life, she finally starts to unravel the truths and gain her confidence, to not only perform the way she wants but to stand up to her family for what she wants in her life. This story is a suspenseful drama, wrapped up in thrilling emotions and a lovely slow burn romance.
Narrated in duet by Molly Briar and Jason Clarke. The coolest thing about the author narrating their story is the passion you can feel in their voices. I really enjoyed her voice and the way she told this story. Jason Clarke’s voice is incredible, the different characters and emotions he brings is always wonderful to hear and he executed this performance perfectly.
Thank You, dark star romance for the opportunity to listen and review
NARRATED BY MOLLY BRAIR AND JASON CLARKE
3.5⭐️
🌶️
🎧🎧🎧🎧
Little Songbird 🎵… Swoon….
Protect Your Queen is an angsty pop star/bodyguard romance, full of passion but hidden by secrets. Following the story of Jestiny And Christopher. Christopher is Jestiny’s bodyguard, a man of few words but when spoke are meaningful. He is ex military, working for an elite security team with a hidden beautiful musical talent. Jestiny Is a pop star with an attitude of a spoiled princess. Hiding behind the stage, glitz and glamour, Jestiny holds a lot of insecurities. She fears she is a fraud, that her family is hiding things from her and that her life is a lie. When Chris comes into Jestiney’s life, she finally starts to unravel the truths and gain her confidence, to not only perform the way she wants but to stand up to her family for what she wants in her life. This story is a suspenseful drama, wrapped up in thrilling emotions and a lovely slow burn romance.
Narrated in duet by Molly Briar and Jason Clarke. The coolest thing about the author narrating their story is the passion you can feel in their voices. I really enjoyed her voice and the way she told this story. Jason Clarke’s voice is incredible, the different characters and emotions he brings is always wonderful to hear and he executed this performance perfectly.
Thank You, dark star romance for the opportunity to listen and review
March 28, 2024
“Were his hands as good at playing a woman as they were at playing the piano?”
I was wholly unprepared for Protect Your Queen by Molly Briar! This was my first book by the author and my oh my was this an incredible love story! Jestiny Barkada has a fascinating duality of demure youngest sibling and fierce, calculating survivor. She’s a relatable FMC with a complicated and heartbreaking past. Chris Ambrose is a former special forces soldier whose dreams were cut short in combat. When he takes his first job at Caledonia Security, the last thing he expects is the beauty queen/pop princess with the ferocity of a viper. I loved their dynamic from start to finish; the animosity-to-lovers with the added taboo of bodyguard & client was amazing. The unique personalities of each Barkada sibling drew me in and now I need to check out all of their HEAs.
Jason Clarke and Molly Briar were explosive in the booth! This duet narration was emotional, intriguing, and perfectly spicy! Jason embodied the buttoned-up, compassionate, and protective Chris perfectly. He brought Chris to life with a sensual, lighthearted, yet deadly persona that was fascinating to listen to. Molly Briar portrayed the charming, brilliant, witty, and seductive Jestiny beautifully. She channeled a perfect balance of innocent and lethal to bring Jestiny off the page. I would love to hear more of Molly’s love stories told by this duo!
Rating: 4.5/5 Spice Level: 🌶️.5
I was wholly unprepared for Protect Your Queen by Molly Briar! This was my first book by the author and my oh my was this an incredible love story! Jestiny Barkada has a fascinating duality of demure youngest sibling and fierce, calculating survivor. She’s a relatable FMC with a complicated and heartbreaking past. Chris Ambrose is a former special forces soldier whose dreams were cut short in combat. When he takes his first job at Caledonia Security, the last thing he expects is the beauty queen/pop princess with the ferocity of a viper. I loved their dynamic from start to finish; the animosity-to-lovers with the added taboo of bodyguard & client was amazing. The unique personalities of each Barkada sibling drew me in and now I need to check out all of their HEAs.
Jason Clarke and Molly Briar were explosive in the booth! This duet narration was emotional, intriguing, and perfectly spicy! Jason embodied the buttoned-up, compassionate, and protective Chris perfectly. He brought Chris to life with a sensual, lighthearted, yet deadly persona that was fascinating to listen to. Molly Briar portrayed the charming, brilliant, witty, and seductive Jestiny beautifully. She channeled a perfect balance of innocent and lethal to bring Jestiny off the page. I would love to hear more of Molly’s love stories told by this duo!
Rating: 4.5/5 Spice Level: 🌶️.5
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