Guarded By A Grumpy Grizzly

Back Away From My Girl #4

by Ariana Hawkes

People think I'm the hottest property in town.
Every time I turn around, there’s a camera lens there.
Snapping my side-boob. Trying to catch me pantie-less.
But the truth is, I’m so tired of being watched. Pursued.
I just want to be left alone.
Then my manager—AKA my dad—hires a thug to protect me from a crazed stalker.
A huge, grumpy, grizzly shifter.
Now he’s the one watching my every move, his wild dark eyes never leaving me.
This beast thinks he knows what’s best for me.
He's so freaking bossy.
I should hate him.
But every time he gives me that fixated look of his,
My whole body tingles, and all I can think about is those massive paws, touching me all over.
Then he says I’m in danger; that he needs to extract me to a safe house.
Just him and me, in a cabin, deep in the wilderness.
Things are gonna stay purely professional—right??
Need a big muscular protector? Spartan Shield Corp has got you covered. Alien, shifter, human—take your pick, we got it all. Call now to reserve your bodyguard today!

Disclaimer: Spartan Shield Corp is not responsible if your hot alpha defender becomes overly possessive and/or becomes obsessed with you.

The Back Away From My Girl series mixes Contemporary, Paranormal, and Sci Fi Romance in six standalone stories by best-selling STEAMY authors, Olivia T. Turner, Hope Ford, Michele Mills, Ariana Hawkes, Cassie Mint, and Honey Phillips.

Genres: Paranormal Romance, Shapeshifters, Paranormal, Romance, Novella, Urban Fantasy, Short Stories

90 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 14, 2024

About the author

USA Today bestselling author Ariana Hawkes writes spicy romantic stories with lovable characters, plenty of suspense, and a whole lot of laughs. She told her first story at the age of four, and has been writing ever since, for both work and pleasure. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two huskies.

Reviews

[Linda Stokes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great mate story. Kael is a grizzly bear shifter who works for Spartan Shield Corp as a bodyguard. His bear is becoming feral waiting for their mate. Raelynn is a singer who goes by the name of Luna Vey. Raelynn has a stalker and her dad/manager hires a bodyguard. Will Kael be able to protect Raelynn? Will they find out who the stalker is? Will Kael tell Raelynn that she is his mate? Will Kael and Raelynn find love and happiness together in their fated mate relationship?
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.

Fantastic Fated Mate romance!

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really shouldn't have watched TV show before reading this. It was about a stalker who only heard the lady on the phone then decided he was in love with her and she was his..yep..crazy And I reading thinking 🤔 Wow.. this is crazy...yes I understand Shifters know their mates and boom insta love. But it didn't seem like she liked him..If she would have been even in lust with him when she 1st saw him or thought he was sexy...anything, it would have been less creepy. It's just not one of my favorite stories.

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kael is a grizzle shifter that is more feral than human. But he’s tasked to be a bodyguard for Raelynn, who’s a singing star under the name of Luna Vey. Once Kael meets Raelynn he realizes she is his mate and will give his life to protect her. She’s in terrible danger and when Kael finds out who she’s in danger from will it destroy their relationship. Steamy love story, lots of drama and a great HEA. Loved this quick read. I received an ARC copy and am voluntarily leaving this review.

[Lisa Bing · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another exciting and steamy read for the series and this time we get a grizzly shifter and a pop singer matched up. Kael really is more feral than man but he holds it together to help protect Raelynn...for the most part ;) She's on burnout and her father has no regard for that :( Expect to root hard for these two to get their HEA as they deal with drama, danger and family. Good fun!

[Robin Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

From Grizzly to a Teddy Bear

It was enjoyable to watch an almost feral grizzly deal with a world he wasn't familiar with. And then to find his mate and understand her lifestyle. It was scary when protecting her got dangerous, but both came through. I liked that she finally grew some and confronted her father and took control of her life. After all this she became herself and they got their HEA.

[Alex Silver · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.8/5

Ooph. Not great.
I can see how it would be someone’s thing but I did not enjoy it. It was rushed, way too obvious, and the MMC was way too OTT even for a protective bear shifter.


Bear shifter. Double virgins. No OMD/OWD. No cheating. Slight breakup. OTT protective. Caveman. Famous singer FMC. Attempt on her life. Evil father. Foiled evil plot. Fated mates. Mating mark. No knotting/nesting.
Epilogue with her as a country singer and barely pregnant.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kael was most comfortable in his bear form. He didn't have to talk to or deal with people. This all changed when he met Raelynn. Convinced by his brother to be a bodyguard for the pop star Luna (Reaylynn), his bear goes crazy for the pint sized singer. Keeping her safe is his job, protecting and loving her? Maybe his life...

[La'Jacinth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wild Love

I love Keal!!!! The fact that he is untamed and wild is huuuuuge plus. I wasn't crazy about Raelynn.. I got loving your parents, but her father was an @$$... and she was just a little too gullible.

Overall, the OTT love was perfect, and to read about them a year later was worth it!!!

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bear Protected

Raelynn doesn't want a new bodyguard and definitely not a grizzly shifter barely holding on to his human side but the more time they spend together the more she warms up to him. From the moment he saw her picture Kael's bear knew Raelynn wad his mate and he will protect her with his life in this sweet story.

[Christal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great and short story. Kael is a grumpy shifter because his grizzly wants him to find his mate. Then Kael is hired to protect a pop singer named Raelynn by her father. When Kael meets Rae, his beast knows immediately that Rae is his mate and he wants to protect Rae with all has. Kael's beast also senses Rae is attracted to him. This story has action, danger and a very happy ending.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute story

It flows as one would expect. Brother talks grumpy bear into joining him at security company. First client is of course his human mate. He saves her and they wind up with an HEA. Delightful!

[Naomi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short and boring

This was nice. Not deep in anyway, just a sweet, basic story. There was no explaining anything and it felt like Kael just became a completely different character at the end.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc review for a honest review in my own words. Grizzly bear kael had one job protect pop star Luna vay . she looking for more and he's just wants to control is bear . the fell in love with these characters. Fantastic beautiful story.

[Nancy Reads Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute and fun read! Kael is literally quite the bear! He’s a big brute compared to the little tiny singing sensation that is Raelynn. This was a good weekend night read. Grab this novella! 4 stars, 3 spice emojis

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Karl and Rarlynn

Kal is a bear shifter on his first assignment; protect a famous singer that turned out to be his fated mate.
The last thing he expects is his mate to be a fragile human but he will do anything to jeep her safe. Recommended

[Betina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short so thin on story

As a novella it is of course short. But it had bad guys to be overcome and love to triumph.
What is sort of lacking is some of the motivation for the bad actor. Ok 90% is pretty obvious but I wanted that last bit of why things were done explained

[Aspen · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was fine up until the two of them sleep together and then the writing sorta went downhill in my opinion. The brief drama about him having a mate, him not saying anything while he was getting scolded like child, it was all so brief and pointless because it gets fixed in the next chapter.

[Cindy Hardegree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spicy

Raelynn and Kael recognized they were mates right off even though Rae was human she knew the bear shifter was hers. He not only protected her from danger but from being used by her father. Quite spicy, an instant love quickie.

[Janet Rivera-Bright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guarded by a Grumpy Grizzly

Adorable, these two characters are too cute. No one has your imagination to put together a pop star and a grizzly but it works! Thanks for sharing this really lovely story.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick read featuring a grizzly shifter thats more bear than man and a pop star being controlled by her father. Great characters, lots of sexy times and just enough drama.

[Jane Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

💜🔥💜🔥💜

This is another short but sweet fast-paced. imsta true love story. A controlling and deceptive father can't get by a grumpy, soft hearted grizzly bear in love!

[Mary Dunbar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story & some hot action too

Enjoyed this short story! Action and romance and power! It happens fast so don’t miss a word! I would read it again !!

[Ingrid Stephanie Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

omg phenomenal

This is so good I loved it. I want a body guard! Just who is going to be the next grizzly

[grace · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️ probs my least favourite of the series so far

[Mahoganee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

Very interesting story, I loved it so much, bear shifters, wow, you this story should become a movie, I know it is unrealistic, but love their story

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, that was short.
Repeat after me, do not pick up books advertised on booktok.
Do not pick up books advertised on booktok.
It never ends well.

[Karen Elizabeth Wise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved all 6 books

These books are a fabulous read & I read all within 2 day's. I couldn't put them down, they're all brilliant & definitely recommend.

[Leslie Esteves · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’m not really into this kind of trope but this wasn’t bad at all. I actually really enjoyed the story overall.

[Yessenia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 🌟

[Victória · Rating 4 out of 5]

Double virgins
Few days separation
Hea