Protector

by Ellie Kent

A mafia novella of childhood lovers, brothers best friend and an unconventional ending. Meet the characters first in Prisoner - Book 1 of King's of the First District series or dive into their love story here.

Puck

Life was always pretty simple for me. Live each day as it comes and see what happens.

But when circumstances change, I’m sent to live with my mother, who works for the most notorious mafia leader in all of the Districts.

I anticipated drama, strict rules and less simplicity.

But what I never predicted was her.

She was so young when I first saw her.

Vulnerable and lost and in dire need of my protection.

But as the years went by, my protection for her grew stronger, my need for her went deeper.

And before I knew it, there was no one else in the world I wanted more than Bonnie Rhivers.

And I would carry that and my love to the grave.

Bonnie

I’m invisible. Hidden. Practically a ghost who spends the day haunting the mansion I grew up in.

My daddy didn’t want me, nor did he want the world to know about me.

So like a princess locked in her tower, I grew up with almost nothing.

Until one day, a boy walks through the gates and into my life that even daddy’s force couldn’t stop.

He became my best friend, my soul mate, my protector.

And nothing and no one, would break us apart, not now I’d finally started living.

But here’s the thing about fairytales,

they don’t exist and life is tragic.

And in the end, even love is not enough to save you.

146 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 2, 2024

Reviews

[Molly Emelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

You have heard me praise Prisoner and Saviour.. now it’s time to talk all things Protector and why I loved it so much ❤️‍🔥

Firstly, the biggest thank you to Ellie for sending me an ARC of your work prior to publication.. I pinch myself each time I have some of your work pop in my library 🥹

I would also like to urge everyone that is interested to read this series in order..😭😭

❤️‍🔥#1 Prisoner
❤️‍🔥#2 Saviour
❤️‍🔥#3 Protector

& lastly before I talk my thoughts.. get your tissues 😭

Prior to reading Protector, I fell in love with Puck’s character and knew I needed his story. So when I came to realise at the end of Saviour that I would be receiving his story, I FREAKED out and Ellie DELIVERED🥲

Don’t be fooled, this is a tear-jerker and although I knew the outcome of Bonnie & Puck from the previous books, someone tell me why I held out hope?!🫠

I fell in LOVE with these characters and explore the events prior to Prisoner.. I didn’t think I could love Puck more than I already did, but here we are😮‍💨

Now, I don’t want to spoil anything but the ending has given me whiplash… Ellie, I’m sending you my therapy bill 😭❤️‍🔥

I rated this beauty a 5🌟s!

[Joanne Eglon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐

[Karen Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is everything I needed and more. Were my eyes dry after reading this? No. I'm broken but yet whole and I loved this book from start to finish.

I'm obsessed with this series and am so excited for what's to come but my god what a book.

I can't thank Ellie enough for introducing me to this world. These books will stick with me now.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

💜 protector (arc review) 💜
✍🏻 by @elliekentauthor

First of all, happy publication day to @elliekentauthor and her new release Protector! I have been lucky enough to be an arc reader for the first 2 books in the “Kings of The First District” series and also being able to read about Puck & Bonnie’s story in this book #2.5 novella 🥰 Els, you are an absolutely incredible author & thank you for giving me the opportunity to review your books!

If you are going to dive into one of these books, (although technically 1&2 can be read as standalones) - just trust me when I say, you’re going to want to read the whole series, and to make the most of that: please read them in the right order…
anyway, onto protector!

I knew what was coming and I knew what I signed up for. Ever since “Prisoner” and hearing about Puck & Bonnie’s story and falling in LOVE with Puck - I needed more. I needed to hear their story and I wanted to understand the choices of certain characters… I just didn’t realise how badly it would HURT!!!

I’m not a friends to lovers girl, and I don’t think I ever will be… but this? This was pure perfection. Bonnie & Puck will stay with me for a long time.

The Peter Pan references were a great addition, especially as someone who loved Peter Pan growing up, seeing how Bonnie compared herself to a Lost Boy made me emotional way too many times.

Its tricky when you think you know how something ends but you can never really prepare yourself & then BAM, Ellie throws in a twist and you’re back to questioning absolutely everything and feeling even more heartbroken than you thought you could ever feel… yeah. This is probably the worlds most confusing review but that sums up the chaos & trauma that I feel right now from this brilliant, heartbreaking novella 😭

Bonnie’s story is truly gut wrenching and every minute of reading, I was clinging on to my blanket and a sliver of hope that things would be OK for them, even though I knew what was to come. Puck & Bonnie were innocent, pure and deserved everything. Ellie, you have outdone yourself yet again, you are a fabulous writer.

[emsreads1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Puck & Bonnies story
We meet puck & bonnie in king's story prisoner puck is their childhood friend and bonnie is king's sister
Their story is heartbreaking but it was written so well and the Peter Pan aspect in the story, be prepared for tissues (ad) you know the story of puck and bonnie in prisoner and how it ends but this is their novella growing up together and during I definitely would recommend reading this in order so prisoner, saviour then protector
puck would do anything for bonnie Their emotional and physical connection were incredible.It was amazing, devastating, heartbreaking and beautiful all at once.
The cliffhanger at the end of the book I need book 4 like now !!
I am so sad of how the story ended but also I can't wait to see king's & dax's reaction 3

[Aimee Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank You Ellie for sending me another one of your ARCs 🙏

Oh my goodness!!
Bonnie & Pucks story is heartbreaking 💔
I absolutely love the fairytale aspect and who doesn’t love a bit of Peter Pan!

This novella gave me all the feels with some of the best quotes!
From the moment they met .. ‘Second Star to the right and Straight on till morning’ to the end they are so perfect for each other and so in love 💜 ‘Neverland’.
If you loved the snippets of Puck in #Prisoner and #Saviour then you will love this, he is an absolutely sweetheart.
Enjoy!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
5 star read as always from the lovely @EllieKent

[Ellie Burgoyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️I don’t know if I finished this book or if it finished me as I’m in tears rn….

what a series I’m so glad I read these book , I’ve been on a rollercoaster of emotions . When I first read the first book about king and Theodora I loved the way puck spoke about Bonnie and after reading this book I can understand why .

Her love for her has my heart melting and their relationship with one another is adorable , but my god half way through did I start bawling its so emotional with the ending .

But Ellie’s writing is so beautiful and well written you will feel all emotions in all three books

Pls check the tw as well with this series <3

[Tasha_loves_to_read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly this series needs to be read in order. If you don't then this novella won't hurt nowhere near as much as reading it as a standalone..
My hurt actually hurts. For both of them. I'm getting teary just writing thud thinking about Bon and Puck. Their love was beautiful, innocent and so pure.
I can see why things went the way the it did but it still hurts. So much.
I'm desperate for so much more, although my heart will never recover!

[Amb · Rating 5 out of 5]

My world is wherever you are.”

Thank you so much Ellie for my ARC of this story…and ouch. Since reading Prisoner and Saviour last year I’ve been thinking of these characters and the untold stories ever since

My heart aches, in both good and bad ways, reading Bonnie and Puck’s story. This story is full of heartbreak and sadness, but also so much love. Every page of this book overflows with their love for each other. These two deserve the absolute world ❤️‍🩹

I love the meaning behind each of his tattoos and all the Peter Pan references. I’m so grateful Ellie let us read what the letters said between these two as well. Puck plays such a vital role in the previous books so it was really nice to get to hear his story, and also to learn more about Bonnie

“Second star on the right…
Till Neverland.”

[ziyuan ʚɞ Reads Dark Smut. · Rating 1 out of 5]

H let the heroine of the first book of the series, BJ, for him. (The details were not given, but they took a shower together and he hugged her and very gentle to her during Bonnie was "dead.")

He also kissed the heroine of the first book very hard. I don't know how to think. Do men have to kiss or fuck other women while their girls are not by their side?

[Stephanie H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved all the books in this series so far, but this one has become my favourite! I loved Puck from Prisoner and to read about his and Bonnie’s story had me in such a emotional turmoil but I loved every second.

[Helen Pollard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding! This is the 3rd book in the Kings of the First District saga and it does not disappoint! It’s a story of first love and the tender moments are so well written. Ellie Kent leaves you needing more! A twist you didn’t see coming!

[Molly Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

It’s a good little book to put the pieces together

I just couldn’t get my head around that I was reading about a 16 year old having sex and couldn’t enjoy it as much as the other 2 books

Excited for the next book though

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

[#adpr]

Thank you so much to Ellie for an advance e-arc of this novella. My review is honest.

This was less than 200 pages of pure hurt. Given you know what the end is going to be, you'd think it would be easier to read but oh no...Ellie takes the dagger in your heart and twists it.

The writing was amazing, and the character development was so good. I absolutely adore the sweet innocent childhood love between Puck and Bonnie. That being said, I didn't particularly love reading a spicy scene (although not overly detailed) between the characters just due to the youngish (but still legal) age.

But Ellie...please tell me there is more to come because after that bombshell, I need it!!

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Till Neverland”
ouch. this hurt.

full review coming soon.
*arc gifted.

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was so honoured to get this book as an ARC for an honest review.
I'm soooo glad we finally got Puck and Bonnie's story and it didn't disappoint. Reading about their love was beautiful, with everything that was going on their love was so true so pure and how Ellie got that in words in this book was perfect.
After reading what happend to Puck, knowing I was going to read it again broke me because my god Puck is everything he gave Bonnie hope when her life was so dark , he was perfect in everyday. Honestly can't wait for the next book because the ending to this 🤯🤯
100% recommend you won't he disappointed