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Witch Twins #2
The Bodyguard and the Alpha
The Bodyguard and the Alpha is Electra and Bastien’s story and is the second book in the Witch Twins duet. It concludes the storyline that began in Calypso and Luc’s story, The Bookseller and the Alpha.
Electra
The Summit was about to begin. I couldn’t afford to have a breakdown now. To reach the end of my tether working a job I’d never wanted, one that had been dictated by the nature of my magical powers. I had to concentrate on protecting Bastien Bowden, an Alpha Shifter and the youngest President of the Council. With my pre-cog ability, I was the last line of defence against a possible attack at the Summit. We were all on edge, knowing that the people who’d kidnapped my sister to get part of a magic-smothering spell were still out there.
It really wasn’t a good time to snap. To decide that I couldn’t do this anymore. Couldn’t keep working a job I hated. Couldn’t keep pretending I wasn’t hopelessly in love with my boss.
So, once the Summit was over, I was going to quit.
But when danger found us, his actions left me reeling. I wanted to believe, but I found it hard to see how our story could have a happy ending. Could he really want me as his mate?
Bastien
For five years, I’d bided my time, slowly courting my mate, while the Beast imprisoned inside me went mad.
But on the morning of the Summit, I could see that something was seriously wrong. And when I held my little Pixie in my arms, I felt her unhappiness. My mate was sad. I was her Alpha. It was my honour and my privilege to care for her. And I was failing. As soon as this Summit was over, I would make my intentions clear. She was mine.
First we had to survive the danger surrounding us. Then I would convince her that our bond was real. Because there was no other choice. She was my mate, and for her I would do anything. Break any vow.
If I didn’t die first.
Suitable for 18+only
Contains
Abduction and violence.
Explicit sexual scenes
Possessive hero
HEA
Electra
The Summit was about to begin. I couldn’t afford to have a breakdown now. To reach the end of my tether working a job I’d never wanted, one that had been dictated by the nature of my magical powers. I had to concentrate on protecting Bastien Bowden, an Alpha Shifter and the youngest President of the Council. With my pre-cog ability, I was the last line of defence against a possible attack at the Summit. We were all on edge, knowing that the people who’d kidnapped my sister to get part of a magic-smothering spell were still out there.
It really wasn’t a good time to snap. To decide that I couldn’t do this anymore. Couldn’t keep working a job I hated. Couldn’t keep pretending I wasn’t hopelessly in love with my boss.
So, once the Summit was over, I was going to quit.
But when danger found us, his actions left me reeling. I wanted to believe, but I found it hard to see how our story could have a happy ending. Could he really want me as his mate?
Bastien
For five years, I’d bided my time, slowly courting my mate, while the Beast imprisoned inside me went mad.
But on the morning of the Summit, I could see that something was seriously wrong. And when I held my little Pixie in my arms, I felt her unhappiness. My mate was sad. I was her Alpha. It was my honour and my privilege to care for her. And I was failing. As soon as this Summit was over, I would make my intentions clear. She was mine.
First we had to survive the danger surrounding us. Then I would convince her that our bond was real. Because there was no other choice. She was my mate, and for her I would do anything. Break any vow.
If I didn’t die first.
Suitable for 18+only
Contains
Abduction and violence.
Explicit sexual scenes
Possessive hero
HEA
- GenresShapeshifters
427 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 3, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 2, 2025
The Bodyguard and the Alpha
Standalone & book 2 in a duology
DETAILED REVIEW
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
🌶🌶🌶
427 Pages
character driven
TROPES
Forbidden love
Fated mates
Political Intrigue
Witches, shifters, and humans
Found Family
Bad ass FMC
touch her and ☠️
I must admit SJ Distel is fast becoming a favourite author of mine. I loved the first book, I gave it 4 stars only because it left me wanting much, much more, having left some threads loose. But this book gives everything - beautifully written, great character development, funny banter, good backstory, and plenty of tension and twists to keep you engaged and needing more!
The only thing I didn't like was how needy the fmc became but having anxiety and panic attacks does that to a girl so I get it, I just wish it wasn't quite so heavy in the story. Generally, in book world, shifters seem to be totally ruled by their shifter brain when they find a mate, so the fact this shifter could resist for so long and chose to play the long game annoyed me. But that's just personal feelings.
I loved how the yearning and tension was built up through the whole story and how it remained in the story. I loved the respect the mmc had for his mate, and also, the protectiveness that he exhibited was delicious! There was even a touch of jealousy to dip your toes into, which is a personal fave trope.
A couple of the side characters were brought into the story from the previous book, addressing that storyline clearly but breifly and in a way that you could entirely skip over book 1 and still understand everything going on. (but I recomend you don't because- yum!)
If there was a moral to the story, or something to take away from the book, it would be the strong sense of being open with your partner, listening to their fears and worries and being there for them. This beautifully explored narrative was prevalent throughout, and I just kept thinking how wonderful it was for a book to address a woman's insecurities and in such an entertaining and sexy way. ❤️
Standalone & book 2 in a duology
DETAILED REVIEW
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
🌶🌶🌶
427 Pages
character driven
TROPES
Forbidden love
Fated mates
Political Intrigue
Witches, shifters, and humans
Found Family
Bad ass FMC
touch her and ☠️
I must admit SJ Distel is fast becoming a favourite author of mine. I loved the first book, I gave it 4 stars only because it left me wanting much, much more, having left some threads loose. But this book gives everything - beautifully written, great character development, funny banter, good backstory, and plenty of tension and twists to keep you engaged and needing more!
The only thing I didn't like was how needy the fmc became but having anxiety and panic attacks does that to a girl so I get it, I just wish it wasn't quite so heavy in the story. Generally, in book world, shifters seem to be totally ruled by their shifter brain when they find a mate, so the fact this shifter could resist for so long and chose to play the long game annoyed me. But that's just personal feelings.
I loved how the yearning and tension was built up through the whole story and how it remained in the story. I loved the respect the mmc had for his mate, and also, the protectiveness that he exhibited was delicious! There was even a touch of jealousy to dip your toes into, which is a personal fave trope.
A couple of the side characters were brought into the story from the previous book, addressing that storyline clearly but breifly and in a way that you could entirely skip over book 1 and still understand everything going on. (but I recomend you don't because- yum!)
If there was a moral to the story, or something to take away from the book, it would be the strong sense of being open with your partner, listening to their fears and worries and being there for them. This beautifully explored narrative was prevalent throughout, and I just kept thinking how wonderful it was for a book to address a woman's insecurities and in such an entertaining and sexy way. ❤️
April 27, 2025
I thought it would be impossible for me to like any book in this series more than I liked the first one (The Bookseller and the Alpha), but SJ Distel has proven me wrong.
The Bodyguard and the Alpha is a funny, sexy, emotional experience. The political drama in the book forms a great basis for the world building that's been continued from the first novel. The setting feels more and more real the further you read.
The plot is fast paced, which I think works to the stories benefit. The main characters, Electra and Bastien's, chemistry is undeniable from the start, but you get the sense that their romance would be a much slower burn without the action to spur them along.
I loved that Electra had emotional depth, and that her struggles didn't take away from her fierce protective nature, she's a true bad-ass and well matched for Bastien who, even though both his shifter and human side are stubborn, loves his Pixie to the point of doing the impossible.
If you enjoy shifter romances, this book is highly recommended, SJ Distel's work is addictive and so well written, you find yourself cheering for the characters from the first chapter.
This book was given to me as an ARC, this review is my honest opinion.
The Bodyguard and the Alpha is a funny, sexy, emotional experience. The political drama in the book forms a great basis for the world building that's been continued from the first novel. The setting feels more and more real the further you read.
The plot is fast paced, which I think works to the stories benefit. The main characters, Electra and Bastien's, chemistry is undeniable from the start, but you get the sense that their romance would be a much slower burn without the action to spur them along.
I loved that Electra had emotional depth, and that her struggles didn't take away from her fierce protective nature, she's a true bad-ass and well matched for Bastien who, even though both his shifter and human side are stubborn, loves his Pixie to the point of doing the impossible.
If you enjoy shifter romances, this book is highly recommended, SJ Distel's work is addictive and so well written, you find yourself cheering for the characters from the first chapter.
This book was given to me as an ARC, this review is my honest opinion.
May 27, 2025
I absolutely loved the first book in this series, The Bookseller and the Alpha. I came into this one hoping it would be just as good. If anything the spice was even spicier, and I loved everything about Ellie and Bastien as a mated couple. I didn’t completely buy some parts of the political intrigue of the book, and my frustration with that robbed the story of that elusive fifth star. I did love seeing the bad guys get their just desserts though! I really look forward to anything Ms Distel puts out in the future and I am hoping one of those books will be Simon and Marguerite’s story! We don’t usually see shifter romances where the big bad Alpha shifter is the female and the fragile witch is the male, so I think it would be a ton of fun to see that story with the gender roles switched!
April 23, 2025
Daggum.
Honestly heading into this I was like IDK this is going to be slow but I'll try. It was not. There was so much plot and spice, it was beautiful.
It was a mix of KF Breene's spice, Venom/Eddie banter, Minority report supernatural vibes and White House Down political drama. 👌
I honestly loved it so much. I did not read the first book and didn't feel like it needed it to understand the plot. The author did a great job making sure to explain it enough so you knew what was going on.
The spice ✓
The banter ✓
The pet names ✓
The primal way of the MMC✓
The soft and gentle side of the MMC✓
The internal revelations and working through mental trauma of the FMC✓
Chef's kiss to it all. Highly recommend. This was given to me as an ARC and this is my honest opinion.
Honestly heading into this I was like IDK this is going to be slow but I'll try. It was not. There was so much plot and spice, it was beautiful.
It was a mix of KF Breene's spice, Venom/Eddie banter, Minority report supernatural vibes and White House Down political drama. 👌
I honestly loved it so much. I did not read the first book and didn't feel like it needed it to understand the plot. The author did a great job making sure to explain it enough so you knew what was going on.
The spice ✓
The banter ✓
The pet names ✓
The primal way of the MMC✓
The soft and gentle side of the MMC✓
The internal revelations and working through mental trauma of the FMC✓
Chef's kiss to it all. Highly recommend. This was given to me as an ARC and this is my honest opinion.
April 24, 2025
Daggum.
Honestly heading into this I was like IDK this is going to be slow but I'll try. It was not. There was so much plot and spice, it was beautiful.
It was a mix of KF Breene's spice, Venom/Eddie banter, Minority report supernatural vibes and White House Down political drama. 👌
I honestly loved it so much. I did not read the first book and didn't feel like it needed it to understand the plot. The author did a great job making sure to explain it enough so you knew what was going on.
The spice ✓
The banter ✓
The pet names ✓
The primal way of the MMC✓
The soft and gentle side of the MMC✓
The internal revelations and working through mental trauma of the FMC✓
Chef's kiss to it all. Highly recommend. This was given to me as an ARC and this is my honest opinion.
Honestly heading into this I was like IDK this is going to be slow but I'll try. It was not. There was so much plot and spice, it was beautiful.
It was a mix of KF Breene's spice, Venom/Eddie banter, Minority report supernatural vibes and White House Down political drama. 👌
I honestly loved it so much. I did not read the first book and didn't feel like it needed it to understand the plot. The author did a great job making sure to explain it enough so you knew what was going on.
The spice ✓
The banter ✓
The pet names ✓
The primal way of the MMC✓
The soft and gentle side of the MMC✓
The internal revelations and working through mental trauma of the FMC✓
Chef's kiss to it all. Highly recommend. This was given to me as an ARC and this is my honest opinion.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews