Save Her from Me: McRae Bodyguards, Book 2

McRae Bodyguards #2

by Jolie Vines, Aaron Shedlock (Narrator), Addison Barnes (Narrator)

DUET NARRATION

He’s her bodyguard and her brother’s best friend. She’s a virgin with a spicy wish list.

Ariel

Someone’s out to get me, forcing my car off the road and me into hiding. When my brother recruits his Scottish best friend to protect me, though the brooding bodyguard drives me nuts, I can’t refuse his help.

Or hide my crush.

As a distraction, I create a spicy wish list and have only one man in my sights to share it with. What better way to spend my time locked in a house with the man of my dreams?

Jackson

I shouldn’t want this lass so much, but my best friend’s younger sister is under my protection and my skin. Hooking up with her is off-limits. I can’t risk losing my job. Without it, I’m unemployed and homeless. But Ariel offers a deal I can’t resist, even if I’m the last man she should take to the sheets. While her enemy hunts us, she’s using my body for more than just protection. I vowed to keep her safe, but what if it’s my secrets that are the real danger?

--Save Her from Me is a close-proximity wild ride with a steamy deal between a determined woman and her brother’s best friend. Scorching scenes. Flaming cheeks. Guarding bodies never looked so good. Narrated as DUET by Addison Barnes and Aaron Shedlock, this is a standalone in the McRae Bodyguards romantic suspense series with crossover characters and a gorgeous Scottish Highlands backdrop.

Jump in now and discover Ariel’s list for yourself!

Genres: Romance, BDSM, Contemporary Romance, Friends To Lovers, Forced Proximity, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary

Audible Audio

Published March 6, 2024

About the author

JOLIE VINES is a romance novelist who lives in the South West of England with her husband and young son.

From an early age, Jolie lived in a fantasy world and is never happier than when plot dreaming. Jolie loves her heroes to be one-woman guys. Whether they are a huge Highlander, a touch starved earl, or a brooding pilot, they will adore their loved one until the end of time.

Her favourite pastime is wrecking emotions then making up for it by giving her characters deep and meaningful happy ever afters.

Want to contact Jolie? Drop her a line at jolie [at] jolievines.com, or find her in her Facebook Fall Hard reader group. She loves hearing from her readers.

Sign up to her newsletter to be the first to hear about new releases, giveaways, and promotions. https://www.jolievines.com/newsletter

Reviews

[Leonie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A masterpiece as always!
And the brothers best friend trope but make it bodyguard!? Yes please!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

yes, yes, YES

She didn't disappoint. I'd been waiting for this for some time and of course it was AMAZING. It made me laugh. It made me cry. I swooned & i loved the mentions of lots of characters from previous books. I gasped in shock and yelled out loud and cheered when the epilogue gave me a little taste of Valentine & his story next.

[niki_reads_romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m sad I finished this book so quickly

Jackson was so dreamy! He’s our typical tortured bada$$, sexy and sweet and just… swoon. And Ariel. Honestly, she really irritated me at the beginning of the story, but really grew on me as I for to know her better. Their story was entertaining and fast paced. This one held a lot less action than I’d expected, but that didn’t detract from the pace or intensity of it in the slightest. Also, the smexytimes at 67% was absolute FIRE. I’m loving these bodyguards so far and am so excited to get Valentines story!

[Liz (LoverOfBooks80) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL!

Super hot and spicy - think this is one of Jo’s spiciest yet!

I adore Jackson and Ariel together - the attraction, the pull, the angst all draws you in and won’t let go! I am ADDICTED 🖤 I totally obsessed over this book and read every single spare minute I had.

There’s drama, intrigue, who done it, and few twists I didn’t see! The support system with their found families is just outstanding and makes you feel so warm and fuzzy inside x
And then Jo throws a curve ball at you with all the drama and mystery, to keep you on your toes.

If I could I’d give 10 stars! One of my top favs 🖤

[Amy Dickinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall Grade: B

Tropes: bodyguard MMC; close proximity; romantic suspense; brother’s best friend; band of brothers; found family

Jolie Vines’s Save Her from Me provides another exciting story in her McRae Bodyguards series. Jackson, her bodyguard MMC, and Ariel, the FMC with a streak of moxie and independence, create a combustible romance from its very first chapter. Vines has deftly and consciously progressed in her capacity to write an erotic story. In her journey as a romance writer, she has developed a distinct writing voice: creating reticent heroes who fall deeply for their heroines at almost first glance and heroines who find themselves under the protection and love of their partner.

What I loved:
*The chemistry and reticent connection between Ariel and Jackson. This provides the energy of Vines’s romance.
*the connections between current and past characters in the world of the McRaes. Getting peeks of former McRae heroes and heroines reminds us of this intricately woven universe that Vines has carefully crafted. This is one of the many reasons Vines’s star has risen in romancelandia.
*the forward motion of this narrative. There is a resolution to the issue of Ariel’s father and the shadow who threatens her for most of the story.

What I thought could use a bit more work:
*There was an inconsistency in Jackson and Ariel’s progression at times. One minute, there appeared to be a path forward which becomes erased by the overthinking of the other one.
*The resolution to the story felt rushed. It seemed like an easy resolution that could have been meted out sooner. Ariel held the power all along, meaning she could have resolved her confinement sooner. Granted, we would not have been gifted Jackson and Ariel’s story, but this underscores the quick remedy to the issue of her father.

Jolie Vines continues to wow her readers crafting romances in a beloved world. This newest series offers reticent MMCs who can’t help but fall hard for their FMCs. Her Save Her from Me ties together a swoony romance, a community of people who fight for each other, and an edge-of-your-seat romantic suspense into one. I have been honored to read her since almost the beginning, and she continues to grab my attention with her storytelling.

[Cdoc's Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

God I love a good Scottish romance, and Jolie always knocks it out of the park in that department. This one was half mystery/suspense, and half unbridled smut with swoon worthy moments all around. I had such a good time reading this.

🧡 Bodyguard Romance
🧡 Brothers Best Friend
🧡 Spicy "To-Do" List 👀
🧡 Suspense/Mystery
🧡 Scottish Romance
🧡 Large Found Family

**Please note a trigger warning for a depiction of murder (a story told), stalking (active), and historic sexual assault (brief).

The best way that I can describe this book (and all of Jolie's books) is it's like hot Scottish soap opera 😅. It's dramatic, it's spicy, someone's probably getting kidnapped at some point, but it is so much fun and by the end you'll be swooning over half the men 🤣

Okay but talking about this book specifically, I just adored Jackson and Ariel. Ariel was a powerhouse who knew what she wanted and she was not afraid to go after it. She wanted to check off all the spicy things she had yet to do in life, and that girl put together a list and made it come to life. Gotta give her props for that one.

And oh my protective bodyguard Jackson! I expected him to be this broody lug of a guy, but he was just so sweet. His backstory was gut-wrenching, but it gave a lot of insight into how he became so protective.

This suspenseful plot line had me hooked. There were so many strings being pulled in so many directions I was really trying to figure out how it was all going to come together in the end...but BOY did it ever in the end. I was SWEATING 😅

Safe to say I enjoyed this one. It doesn't take my top spot of Jolie books (that still goes to Obsessed 🤤), but this one pulls in close!

Can we also take a minute to scream about Take Her From You, aka Valentine's book??!! I need that broody little standup comedian's book NOW JOLIE. NOOOOWW 😅

I'd say I'll wait patiently for it but honestly I'm feral, so hand it over lol

[Michelle T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy 5 stars, I’d give more if I could.
Holy smokes!!!
So this book is dual POV, I love both Ariel and Jackson.
I had my heart pulled out and shredded by Jackson’s story.
I was laughing until I was crying over the list making.
The plot - no spoilers, but this book has such a suspense filled, page turning plot. I loved it (even during the parts that I was super stressed).
And there is a ton of spice. The chemistry and heat between Ariel and Jackson is off the charts.
This might be my new favourite Jolie Vines book.
Go. Read. It!

[Louise Murchie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What another fabulous continuation of the Bodyguard series. We met Ariel way back when she was 14; and she's no a wee lass anymore. I love how she steps up her game, her life, her level to be the woman she was always destined to become, though not in the environment she had to escape from.

Jackson...what a hottie! How he sheds that coat of guilt, remorse and hurt is beautiful.

I love how both find family, support and love in the very familiar and much-loved MacRae clan is fabulous. The return of familiar faces that are now older, wiser but just as protective...
I know I must wait for the next instalment... And I don't want to!

[evieo17 · Rating 4 out of 5]

An outstanding addition to the series. I enjoyed it very much. I am now anxiously waiting for the next book in the series.

[Terri All Spice Archive · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't give this 5 stars fast enough! Ariel and Jackson are chefs kiss! The pasts these two have and to not let that take over and keep them apart - although it came close. The list is absolutely amazing spiciness, I loved it soo much. The spice Jolie you delivered and delivered well! The suspense plot kept me gripped and my strong reactions to characters hit hard in this one. Loved it Jackson is definitely high up on my list now.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was much better than the previous one. The plot was more consistent, with fewer dangling threads. The characters were more likeable. We still had to go through the rather tedious “come close, no go away” from the hero but overall it was solid. And, once again, I thought the author did a great job with the sex scenes both in terms of variety and sizzle factor.


The story begins with our hero, Jackson, driving their main client, the rock star from the previous series, home from an event. He passes Ariel’s car and it looks wrong. Logic tells Jackson that there could be plenty of innocent explanations, but his instincts tell him something is wrong. So he hurriedly drops the clients off and speeds back to check it out. He finds the car has been hit, the windows smashed, and Ariel’s keys and one shoe are strewn on the ground. This suggests she’s been kidnapped. So he calls in the cavalry and everyone starts searching for her.

The backstory here is that Ariel and her two brothers Raphael and Gabe, were brought up in a mob family. Their father only really cared about the boys, finding Ariel, as a girl, to be useless…until he decided he could further his criminal aspirations by selling her into marriage. Gabe had already escaped the family by the time this happened and Raphael, the more soft-hearted brother, had to man up and get her away. All three of them are now in hiding from their father. They live in Scotland and, apparently, the father doesn’t know where they are.

Also, when Ariel was fourteen, she was sexually assaulted by a boy at school, Larson. In the previous book in the series, it was discovered that Larson sometimes crashed at the previous heroine Daisy’s shared house, and then they tracked his passport to the EU. In that book the assumption was that Larson was after Daisy, but there was also the possibility that he’d never gotten over his obsession with Ariel and had stuck close to Daisy in the hopes she would lead him to her. So when Jackson finds Ariel’s car busted up, his immediate thought is that Larson grabbed her.

Jackson and Raphael met in college and Raph apparently “adopted” Jackson, recognizing him to be a badly damaged but still good person in need of a found family. Jackson is attracted to Ariel, but aside from her being only 19 at the start of this book, he also doesn’t want to do anything to disrupt his friendship with Raphael since he’s basically the only family Jackson has.

Jackson’s backstory is that his younger sister was murdered by her obsessive ex-boyfriend. She’d disappeared one day after a fight with their mom. Three days later her naked body was found in the woods. She’d been raped and strangled to death. Jackson had been part of the search parties and the pleas on the news for any word of her. Then their whole family was dragged through the mud during the trial with the newspapers speculating and dissecting every aspect of their lives. Jackson pretty much lost his mind during this process. He was so angry at what happened and felt guilty because the ex-boyfriend had been Jackson’s friend first and he’d been the one to introduce him to the sister. Because Jackson was in such a volatile state, he wasn’t allowed to testify for the prosecution, and he feels like he let his sister down because of it. The ex was found guilty of manslaughter rather than murder because his defense team spun it as an accident.

After all this happened, Jackson kept spiraling. His parents broke up and his dad moved away to drink himself to death. His mom threw Jackson out of the house and burned all his things. He ended up living out of his car and did some minor crimes landing himself in jail. Eventually, a program offered through the penal system came along that gave him the opportunity to finish his education and set himself back on a good path so he took it. Raphael got him the opportunity to join the bodyguarding team and he really needs to make this job work. It’s his chance at a normal life. However, the team leader, Ben, is a little wary of Jackson because of his past. How will he react when a woman under their care is threatened? Will he start to spiral again like he did when his sister was killed? Will he react with deadly force when it’s not warranted because he finds violence toward women so personally abhorrent?

And underlying all of this, is Jackson’s general fear of obsession. It was his sister’s ex’s obsession with her that led him to stalk and murder her. And the people they protect the rock star from are generally obsessed fans. Becoming obsessed with someone leads to dangerous, unhealthy things.

So Jackson has a lot going on in his head that makes him blow hot and cold with Ariel. He’s wildly attracted to her, but she’s his best friend’s sister. If he destroys his friendship with Raphael, then he could also lose his job with the bodyguard team. These two things represent his redemption and future. But at the same time, he’s intensely driven to protect Ariel and can’t bear the thought of another woman he cares about becoming the victim of an obsessed man. But as their relationship progresses, Jackson also feels himself becoming obsessed with Ariel. His attraction to her is so intense, so all-encompassing, that he feels like he physically can’t breathe without her. He does things that could get him fired but can’t bring himself to care because being with her, keeping her safe, is such a burning necessity for him that he can’t fight it. And he sees this in himself and is afraid that HE’S becoming the kind of crazy obsessed man he’s always despised.

It all worked rather well. Much better than Ben’s hang-ups in the previous book. Jackson was just… MORE as a hero. He took more decisive action. He burned hotter for his woman. Took risks that could cost him all the things he’d previously cared about because being with her changed everything.

Getting back to the story, Jackson eventually finds Ariel that first night. She hadn’t been kidnapped. Her car had broken down when she was on her way to the house of one of her snowboarding students. So she’d walked the rest of the way to the house and thus wasn’t there when it was hit. The reason she needed to see this student was to force her to remove a video she’d put up on the internet of Ariel. Since Ariel was hiding from her mafia family, having her full name put on the internet, along with the girl’s many other videos which clearly showed that she lived in Scotland, as well as the name of the girl’s school, made Ariel very easy to track down. So Ariel tries to force her to take it down and ends up grabbing the girl’s phone and deleting it. The girl is NOT happy and threatens to sue because she’d monetized the video and it was earning her money.

When Jackson sees Ariel alive and well he runs up to her and pulls her into an embrace. He holds on much longer than he should but can’t seem to make himself let go. Ariel, who has had a crush on Jackson for a while, decides to kiss him. He kisses her back but then comes to his senses and pulls back saying “that was really bad.” He means it was bad of him to kiss her, but she of course thinks he’s criticizing her kissing skills. We soon learn that Ariel is a virgin. Between Larson’s assault, her father’s subsequent attempt to sell her, and then her panicked flight to Scotland, she hasn’t had much opportunity or inclination toward dating. She’s never even kissed a boy before and is still a virgin, though she makes liberal use of her vibrator so she’s not a complete innocent.

Jackson and Ariel return to the castle and there’s a discussion about how to protect her. Jackson is adamant that she stop going to work and essentially put herself into lockdown. Ben and Valentine, other bodyguards, notice that Jackson seems more than “she’s my best friend’s sister” level concerned about Ariel’s safety. The tension between the two of them is fairly palpable. Ben is concerned this situation is causing Jackson flashbacks to his sister, but Valentine more or less pegs it right away that Jackson and Ariel are striking sparks off each other.

Soon after this, it’s Ariel’s 20th birthday and she has Daisy and all the heroines from previous books over for a party. They all get tipsy and start talking about the fact that Ariel is still a virgin who wants to cure herself of that particular condition as soon as possible. The women basically tell Ariel to find a nice FWB so she can gain some experience. Then they give her a list of things that she should try. They also suggest she ask either Jackson or Valentine to be this FWB person. And it’s right about this time that Jackson and Valentine arrive.

Jackson heard the tail end of what they were discussing and doesn’t want to volunteer to be her FWB but he sure as hell doesn’t want Valentine touching her either. He pretends like he didn’t hear though and just informs Ariel that he’s going to be her designated bodyguard for the foreseeable future. He wants to give her his phone number and grabs the pad of paper to jot down his number. Except that was the same pad she’d been using to write down the list of sexual things she wants to try and he’s instantly turned on by the thought. Ariel is embarrassed but decides to brazen it out and asks if he wants to give her a hand with the list. He says no.

Their first real sexual encounter happens after Ariel calls her father to find out if he sent Larson after her. The father ignores her entirely for most of the call, then says she was a slut who should have kept her legs together if she didn’t want Larson to assault her when she was fourteen. Afterward Jackson finds Ariel crying and to “cheer her up” he gives her oral sex up against a wall. Then they have dinner and Ariel asks if he wants to do something else sexual and he says no.

Then they start doing this thing where they text each other “codes” which are just the first letter of words strung together. The other person has to figure out what the words are supposed to be in order to read the message. Ariel texts “IYWM, IBIMY” to mean “If you want me, I’ll be in my room.” Jackson immediately goes upstairs to her room and she gives him a blowjob. It was kind of weird since he literally JUST said no to doing sex stuff with her but all she has to do is send him this text message and he immediately caves? This kind of thing happens several times where he says no to sex but then immediately changes his mind.

The plot moves on and Jackson gets the idea to check Ariel’s car for trackers and bugs. They’d had it towed to the shop the night it was hit but he realizes it was very strange for Larson not to just hang around and wait for her to come back for it. Sure enough, they find 4 trackers in the car that would have given her location away if they hadn’t been found. So they decide to leave it at the garage for now. Jackson also fits Ariel with a permanent tracker. It’s a piece of jewelry that looks innocuous but is actually welded onto her so it can’t be easily removed.

Then there’s an incident where Ariel is dropped off at Daisy’s house for the day while Jackson goes to some meeting with Ben, Daisy’s husband. Jackson is on edge the whole time and checks the tracker multiple times to reassure himself she’s still there. The rest of the team are noticing his behavior and he’s worried they’ll decide he’s too unprofessional to stay on the job, so he puts his phone face down and tries to focus. Naturally this means the girls get attacked, sort of. There’s a knock at the front door, but when Daisy looks out the window, they can’t see anyone. They’re smart enough to suspect this could be a tactic to lure one or both of them downstairs, so they lock themselves in the bedroom and call their men. Then they hear someone walking around downstairs.

Eventually Jackson looks at his phone again, despite the meeting still going on, and then just runs out of the room. This prompts Ben to look at his phone and then he does the same. They tear over to the house terrified they might be too late. Ben and Jackson search the house. The intruder is gone and they find their women huddled on the floor of the bedroom closet, terrified. Jackson embraces Ariel and can’t wait to get her home for a “celebration of life.” They have sex the second they get in the house. The fear Jackson felt at possibly not reaching her in time has fully overridden any hesitation he’d previously clung to. And they pretty much have sex round the clock for the next week.

While they’re loving it up together, they both keep getting spam phone calls that they just let go to voicemail. In Ariel’s case it’s the mother of the girl who made the video and Ariel assumes the mom is going to yell at her for deleting it so she doesn’t answer. For Jackson it’s his estranged mother calling. Jackson eventually convinces Ariel to allow him to answer her phone, and he neatly tells the mom that her daughter’s actions with publishing the video were illegal and put Ariel’s life at risk. The mom backs off.

Later on, Ariel convinces Jackson to allow her to answer his mom’s calls. She tries to do the same thing he did for her, saying Jackson isn’t available to talk and will not go over the mom’s house but that if she wants to meet with him they will be at X location at Y time. The mom splutters but then agrees. When they get to the meeting it’s revealed that Jackson’s mother is now married to his sister’s killer’s father. The mom had been having an affair with the killer’s dad the whole time, long before the sister was killed. And the reason the sister and the mom fought the last time they saw the sister alive was because the mom kept telling the sister to stop being difficult and just date the killer again. He’d been dangerously possessive when they dated and eventually assaulted the sister, so she broke up with him. The mom spun this as her daughter’s fault. That she’d obviously done something to provoke him. She must have been flirting with other men so OF COURSE he reacted “passionately” to such provocation. And his continued stalking of her just showed how deeply he truly loved her, so she should just stop being difficult and go back to him already.

Jackson said it was the killer’s father who poured all this poison in his mother’s ear and she was essentially brainwashed by him. So not only did she try to convince her daughter to go back to a dangerous man who had hurt her in the past, when he eventually killed the daughter, she still didn’t condemn him. Nope, she spun the fairytale that it was all just a crime of passion. That the slutty daughter had probably provoked him in some way and thus he’d had no choice but to kill her but he was really the victim in all this.

The reason she had been calling Jackson incessantly was because the killer’s parole hearing was coming up and she was trying to demand Jackson testify on the killer’s behalf. That he should be a “character witness” for the killer since they’d previously been friends. She brought her now-husband, the killer’s father, along to the meeting. During the meeting the father called Jackson’s sister a dirty slut, which provoked Jackson enough that he attacked the father…something that seems to have been their plan all along because they say now if he doesn’t testify on the killer’s behalf, they’ll press charges for the assault. If Jackson has an assault charge on his record, he can’t be a bodyguard, so his life will be ruined.

I didn’t really like this scene, honestly. In books you expect the female MC to do something to help or to protect the male MC in these situations. After all, Ariel is the one who convinced Jackson to go to this meeting in the first place. And all that ended up doing was luring him into a trap. She didn’t do anything to help at all. So that sucked.

Eventually, the gang decide to use Ariel’s still-bugged car to set up a sting operation. They have someone drive the car to a cabin and then stake it out, waiting for Larson to show up. But Larson ends up getting the drop on Jackson and kidnaps him. Turns out he was using the girl with the snowboard video’s house as a base of operations because the idiot had posted about how she and the mom were going on vacation for 2 weeks.

Ariel figures this all out pretty much as soon as they realize Jackson has been taken so they surround the house. Larson is pretty unconcerned though. He calls for Ariel and Raphael to enter the house alone, which they do. Larson explains that he’s never been obsessed with Ariel. Her father actually hired him to follow her around at school and make sure no boys ever got too close to her. He wanted her to stay a virgin because that would be worth more for a future marriage. When Larson reported to the dad that Ariel was flirting with some boys, the dad ordered him to attack her so she’d be too scared to go near men. Larson did this, clumsily, and apologizes for going too far. He’s only in Scotland now on the father’s orders.

Then he calls the dad, who basically says that either Raphael can return to the family fold and take over the business, in which case Ariel and Jackson will be let go, or Ariel and Jackson come to the US. Ariel will be sold into a marriage and Jackson will basically be used as a tool in the criminal empire until he’s killed. Larson also tells them that if they try to refuse, the dad will just send wave upon wave of thugs after them, now that he knows where they are. It’ll be war, and all their friends will be targets.

Ariel and Raphael take Larson down to free Jackson but everyone is feeling pretty depressed about their odds. Raphael resigns to give himself up, so everyone else will be protected. Ariel tells everyone to shut up and get out, she has a plan. Then she writes up a speech and records Larson reading it. It’s basically a list of all these times when her father had screwed over his business associates but managed to avoid suspicion. If his enemies find out about it, they'll utterly destroy him for the betrayal. Then they send the video to the dad. The dad calls within seconds demanding an explanation and Ariel says she’ll release that info to all his enemies if he dares try to move against her, her brothers, or any of their friends. The father is clearly terrified and ends the call, then sends Larson a coded message telling him to abandon the mission and come home.

So the day is won, everyone is safe. Jackson and Ariel confess their love for each other and Raphael is fine with it so HEA.

This was a much better ending than the previous book. This actually felt like it could believably work to keep the mafia family from seeking retribution. And that the father would actually respect Ariel for having done it, which he did, in his own fucked up way

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Jolie Vines... how do you know EXACTLY what your readers want and then deliver it every time?!?!?
There were a lot of books releasing this year that I was looking forward to, but this one was probably at the top of my most anticipated list, simply because of Jackson. I am a sucker for the brother's best friend who just can't resist her. Then you make him an overprotective, vulnerable, somewhat broody hero... I am ALL over that! I've loved the little glimpses we'd gotten of Jackson in the previous book and I couldn't wait for him to take the main stage.
Ariel is young, but she's very mature. She's had to be, living under her mafia father's thumb, and then on the run with her brother for YEARS. She's had a secret crush on her brother's friend Jackson since she first met him, but to him, she's just been his friend's little sister. Or so she thought. Jackson has been hiding his own crush on Ariel... knowing he shouldn't get involved with her, especially after she is assigned his protection.
Enter Ariel's "sex list"... I thought this was clever. What better way to break through boundaries than by tempting a man with a list of sexy acts that you've never tried? Ariel owned her sexuality, despite her inexperience, and I LOVED the way she just let Jackson take the reins and trusted him implicitly.
For his party, Jackson was DELICIOUS. Bossy and sexy and so willing to take care of his woman, in ALL WAYS. He was a dirty talker, a dirty lover, and a seriously swoony boyfriend. To me, there's nothing better than when the main characters admit their feelings and never look back. There was no wishy-washy "should we?" or "shouldn't we?" aside from Jackson battling with the temptation for a while. Once these two decided to go for it, man did they go for it! The spice was OFF the charts!
I thought that the suspense aspect with Ariel's father was handled very well. The constant danger, escalated by a stalker finding her, was believable, and I LOVED the way it all worked out. I couldn't figure out how Jolie was going to have Ariel and Raphael get out of reach of their father's clutches... but she did, and it was brilliant.
I have loved every book by this author, but I was slightly underwhelmed by Ben and Daisy's book. This one, though, gave me everything I love about a Jolie Vines book, and I can't WAIT for Valentine's book. That preview... wowza!

[Jill Haworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the end of book one, Ariel’s car broke down. She’s on her way to put a student in her place. She’s fuming that 14 year Bridgette has been taking sneaky shots of her at the Ski centre. She’s posted Ariel’s image on social media, something they’re implicitly banned from doing as phones are banned on the slopes, and all of the students know this.
Ariel’s Mafia connected father had arranged for her to be married off at a young age, for a deal that was in his interest. This was when Rafael and Gabe initiated their ‘Escape to Scotland’ plan and Ariel’s been laying low for the past six years, successfully evading both her father and her stalker. This could blow her whole life up.
Meanwhile Jackson has just found Ariel’s car. Initially, when he’d driven past, it was sitting at the side of the road. Driving back to it only minutes later, the fronts been smashed head on and her belongings are scattered everywhere. It looks like she’s been taken.
He knows what it feels like to lose a sister and he’s determined not to fail Rafael or to lose Ariel. His instinctive protective feelings kick in.
When he finds Ariel, Jackson sets things in motion with her protection detail and he moves into her apartment to keep her safe.
On her birthday, her previously planned party has to be cancelled. She’s having to stay at home due to her stalker, being back on the scene and he’s dead-set on catching her, so the girls bring the party to her tower.
She’s now 20 and is determined to get rid of her v card. Out of the single men available to her, Jackson ticks all the right boxes. But could she convince him to agree to a no strings, friends with benefits arrangement while he’s living with her…?
With Dutch courage she tells them what she’d like to do with Jackson but admits that she needs help and ideas. The merry bunch create a toe-curling list of sexual positions and experiences not to be missed out on.
When Jackson overhears the lively ladies, it gets his imagination working. She’s his best friend’s little sister. Can he risk his friendship to satisfy both of their needs, because he knows he doesn’t want anyone else educating Ariel.
What starts out as an interesting concept, soon becomes something more for both of them. Living together as Jackson protects her, keeping her close to him, making sure that she’s safe, it’s not long before Jackson realises that he actually wants more. Are they both on the same page or is this just a distraction from the terrible pressure they’re under because of Ariel’s corrupt father…
A fantastic continuation to this new series. The chemistry between Ariel and Jackson has always been intense and things get hotter, sexier, and mind blowing…for both of them. What starts out as a bit of fun, soon starts to feel a whole lot of real and Jolie sets the pace and the atmosphere, as well as the action and adventure that the bodyguards face. Fabulous

[Minnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐|5🌶|17%

Oh wow. This book is 🌶️🔥🌶️🔥
I thought book 1 was 🌶️ but Jackson and Ariel top them 😱

And even the action outside the bedroom (I don't speak of the 🌶️ outside the bedroom, even though that's a lot, too) is more. Ariel is Gabe's (Tormented) little sister. They have lived in hiding for 6 years now. Their father... Damn, I can't say what is with him, or I would spoil Gabe's book 😖

Jackson is Raphael's (Ariel's brother) best friend, they met in college. Yes, Jackson is older than Raphael but that's because Jackson had a rough history too. It's soooo sad 😭 And it also made me SO angry. Honestly, how f*cked up can a mother be? I thought Ariel's parents are the worst, but Jackson's mother tops even them. Unbelievable 🤬 And still Jackson became such a wonderful man 🩷 Raphael helped a lot with it. They are really such good friends.

But this book is not just full of action because of a stalker. It's also not completely full of 🌶️. It's also super funny 🤣
The group chat with all the McRae girls... OK, even that is full of 🌶️ I get the feeling all the girls don't think about anything else than 🌽🙈 They are the best. And the tips they give Ariel while she is making an x-list... OMG 🙈 And when Jackson eavesdrops on the girls and hears that Ariel could do the things on the list with Valentine... OOOOOOH 😎 Yes, this guy is jealous and OBSESSED. So obsessed!

Don't miss the bonus scene, it's pure 🌽😁

I'm glad that book 3 is already available so I can jump into Valentine and Mia's story. Could they be even more 🌶️? At least the last chapter of book 2 suggests it 😎


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[Shirley Monas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Jackson and Ariel!!!



This is the second book in the McRae Bodyguard series. I have been waiting for this story for a while and the author did not disappoint! I love brother’s best friend trope and this is by far my favorite as there was no drama between best friend and brother. In this story, Jackson is the bodyguard for Ariel, his best friend’s younger sister. The story sort of picks up where the first book, Touch Her and Die ends.

Ariel always had a crush on Jackson, but he was always reserved around her because of her brother and his job as a new bodyguard. This time she is in trouble and someone is out to get her. Her brother (who she lives with) has to leave her to take some exams and he’s assigned to protect her. During that time, their relationship changes. He’s always found her attractive and has always had feelings for her. With the danger she is in and the close proximity, things end up quite steamy with some great smexy time.

There is a great plot, tons of action (both in the story and in the bedroom), and some great characters that we see from past books. It’s all interconnected and I just love that about these books. I love seeing the other McRae’s in these stories. If you haven’t read the other stories, I highly recommend that you do!!!

[M.HS ~LYHFML · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXCUSE ME UMM...?!

No words, I love it, but here's something

Jackson - 'That was bad' OR 'Boeing Boeing Boeing'
Valentine - *Cheering from the side lines while moping about himself*
Ariel (Who I BTW DIDNT LIKE BEFORE READING, but now love) - 'Don't mention my brother after what we just did'

Realising that Skye and Artair's son IS A TEENAGER!! set me back, Callum is so old now😭😭 the mentions of him having grey hair made me scream

And yeah, Gordian will never retire, my guy worked too hard to retire 😭😂

I wonder what Ally, Wasp and James are doing🤔🤔

ANYWAY BACK TO THIS STORY,

Jolie really REALLY delivered, as soon as I relised yesterday was the 10th, I screamed, then started to read

It only took me long because sleep (ugh) and college (ughh) because apparently these things are 'important' smh

And the codes.... What does it say about me that I was able to crack most of them 😅😅

AND OMG?! THE FACT THAT THE CODES GO BACK TO DAISY AND BEN'S BOOK?! EXCUSE ME MA'AM?!

I cant wait for Valentine's book!! Man's a hilarious menace but Mia (👀👀) will definitely enjoy him

BECAUSE I ALREADY LIKE HIM!!

[Patience · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say about this book. If you have read any of Jolie Vines books before this one will not disappoint. We follow Ariel and Jackson who we have met in previous books. The spice is off the charts with this one. Ahhh the list.... I felt we could see Ariel grow into a young woman who knows her mind and that was nice to see. I was glad she grew up but not too much. It did give a little bit of an immature feel to it but I didn't mind it so much. It was refreshing to have someone in young womanhood not be totally experienced. Jackson was so great I could definitely put him up there on my list of top obsessive protective Scottish Jolie Vines' boyfriends/partners. Unquestionably he could hold his own with Lochie or Gordain for the obsessive swoon. I loved his backstory although tragic and unexpected (Good one Jolie!). You could really see how it defined and shaped him. The growth of these characters was a pleasure to read and I just kept turning the pages until it was done. Now I can't wait for Valentine!
You don't have to read Touch Her and Die even though it's the first one in the series or the rest of her books but you should.

[Jenny Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jackson and Ariel

I love that all Jolie Vines’ books take place in the same world because this couple has been teased in several of her other books. The suspense was a little less intense, but that meant this book focused on the development of the relationship between Ariel and Jackson.

There was a lot of back and forth between Ariel and Jackson. They both had been pining after each other for years and with this new threat against Ariel, their emotions started running on high. There was a lot of misunderstanding and misjudgment between the two of them, but when they finally started to get to know each other and open up, their relationship rapidly changed and grew.

Both Ariel and Jackson had a lot of baggage to unpack. Jackson ended up being one of the most resilient heroes I’ve read in awhile. They both went through a lot with their parents to get to where they were and I thought that allowed them to understand each other on a deeper level.

I loved all the cameos and future hints. I loved the plot and the way everything wrapped up. Both Jackson and Ariel got what they needed along with some much needed karma for those who had wronged them both.

[Mary Edwards Stagliola · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ - better than the first, Jackson and Ariel were a long time coming, honestly mostly spice with a loose plot, I’m hoping the next one is more plot, I don’t mind the spice but wish there was more to this couple.

After years of hiding successfully, it seems that her father has finally sent someone to come get her. Having hidden from his mafia background for over 5 years, she doesn’t want to go back into that world. Her next bodyguard is certainly an added bonus. Having been around Jackson for years, she can’t help her attraction to him, despite the way they set each other on edge. Additionally, she’s determined to gain some sexual experience, and knows just he man for the job.

Jackson doesn’t WANT to want his best friends little sister, but he can’t seem to help himself. When a threat to her presents itself, she jumps at the chance to be her bodyguard. When her brother needs to leave for a week for a puppet test, moving into the castle seems logical, until it’s clear she has further intensions for him than just protection.

Definitely good, can’t complain, just wish there was more to the true plot than there was, totally could have been a deeper dive with what was there

[Samantha Molyneux · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an avid Jolie Vines fan, I thought I knew what to expect... but I was not prepared for this! I was lucky enough to be given an ARC, and devoured this book within hours of receiving it, adulting was just not on the cards that evening, in the slightest.

This hero may just unseat all prior book boyfriends, he is hot, he is alpha, he has a filthy mouth and skills to back it up. He even puts up a very admirable fight against temptation... that is until he learns of the existence of a certain sexual bucket list and his favourite obsession is planning to tick off each and every delicious task. He decides then and there that HE will be the one ticking off those tasks.

From that moment on your kindle is in danger, it may need to spend some of its time being cooled off before it spontaneously combusts! There are moments that make you laugh out loud, there are moments that make you growl and want to strangle people through the device, but one thing is for certain. You will read that teaser at the end, and be dying for more! Bring it on!

5*

[Heather Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my....Jackson and Ariel are freaking made for each other. Jolie just gave us another amazing book. The way she writes gives you all the feels and this one is no different. I loved the suspense, the friendships, the acceptance, the love and humour. Jolie writes in a way that you feel you are part of this amazing family and you go on their roller coaster of feelings while reading their stories.

Ariel's list is so completely McRae lady inspired and couldn't have been made any better than with the help of these ladies. The various personalities and interests are shown so effectively in this list and in the group chats.

Jackson and Ralph have an amazing friendship, but I love the dynamic between Jax and Valentine. I can't wait for more Valentine! Jackson has this protective obsession that just makes him an incredible McRae bodyguard.

You will never go wrong buying a Jolie Vines book. I highly recommend reading them all!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

💥Dad's henchman versus Ariel's favorite bodyguard💦

3.5-4🌟 stars
A ripped Scottish male in protective mode? Get him on the job with a suitably independent but vulnerable woman and sign me up for their adventure!

Ariel has new security detail recruit Jackson's eye and, thank goodness, because she's being trailed despite her low-key lifestyle in the Scottish Highlands and avoidance of social media exposure. For me, the danger factor of a Jolie Vines romantic suspense novel is my favorite part. I was a little disappointed that the adrenaline-rich chase scenes that I expect in her work were missing here. Still danger and intrigue, just less action adventure than I'd anticipated and the outcome of this part of the plot seemed abrupt and out of character for the foiled villain of the piece.

This story reeks of passion and there's so much steam (a lot, actually) as the two main characters indulge in their obsession for each other anytime, anywhere. If you are in it for the steamy intimacy, I don't think you'll find it lacking as Ariel and Jackson work their way through a bucket list that would make your mother blush!😉

I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

[Sheila Schoenauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

And another Scot has fallen in love. Jackson was everything and more than I expected. He had a rough exterior with a soft spot just for Ariel. Not to mention this poor bodyguard had some pretty rough trauma in his past. I just wanted to reach through the pages and hug him! Ariel was bad *** She didn't have the greatest childhood. The basics of it had been explained in her brother Gabe's story and then a bit more in Ben and Daisy's story. We learn so much more here and watch her grow stronger. The list that her and Jackson work through? Chef's kiss.

I loved this book. I despised Jackson's mom and absolutely hated Ariel's dad... that man doesn't deserve that title. I loved that everyone rallied around both of them. That's only part of the reason I love this extended family.

Another fantastic book. I'm looking forward to Valentine's story next and will be patiently be waiting for Raphael's.

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review*

[Debbie Lyon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good!

Ariel had big heart but it was always bruised until Jackson came along and he even bruised it at first but Ariel never gave up.Jackson had so many issues that were wrong with him but he was able to work them out slowly and he was able to talk to Ariel about them,especially the one about the death of his sister and user of a mother.Ariel's father wasn't much better,but she put her big girl pants on and decided to stand up to him.Lots of drama to this story,from Ariel's father not showing much interest in her has girl over her two brothers,too Jackson's mom getting even with him and blowing up his car,just because he wouldn't side with her over a kid who killed her daughter. This story was wack,from the way Jackson's mom acted,the way her mom took off and even the way her father acted,just wack or deranged! But Jax got his little fox and that's what counts! I even got most the code figured out too!

[M Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author did it again. Move over Gordain, I have a new favorite man. I absolutely love her Scotts series and this one with the Mc Rae bodyguards was just as fun to read. Both of these characters have dealt with trauma in different ways. Ariel learned to share and reach out to others for support, finding a new forever family in the process. While Jackson, faced with an unbelievable trauma, found himself isolated and alone until meeting Ariel's brother.
I love a good forbidden romance with a twist. This one has some great spicy tension and a fun group chat that brought some spice and laughs. I absolutely love the world this author has crafted, and am always happy to see some former characters drop into the story. Both of these characters grow in this story in great ways that are realistic and endearing.

[Sheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t let the length of time it took me to read this book put you off, Christmas is a very busy time.

Jolie Vines has delivered another winner. This second installment in the McRae’s Bodyguard series is not to be missed. This book is filled with action, intrigue, heartbreak and lots of sexy spice. Ariel is Jackson’s best friends little sister and totally off limits, Ariel though has a different opinion, after a drunken birthday party with the girls, she has a sex bucket list and she knows just the man for the job. Throw in someone trying to kidnap her and Jackson is sent to be her bodyguard, their close proximity combined with Jackson’s past coming back to haunt him leads to some explosive action both in an out of the bedroom. Jolie has knocked another winner out of the park and an added bonus is lots of our favourite McRae’s making cameos throughout the book too

[Sandie Chraponski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jolie Vines’ books make me want to live in Scotland with all of these swoony, overprotective men. To be loved by one of her characters is what we all dream about. This is the next book in her McRae Bodyguards series, it’s supposed to be an interconnected standalone, but honestly I feel like you need to read “ Touch her and Die” first. The stories are just that good and it’s going to make your experience even better.

Jackson is just everything, and Ariel is just what he needs. This story is more than just their story, it’s a look into this world and all characters we know and love. It’s funny, it’s steamy, it’s just a great read.

Read this series, and let me know when you are planning your trip to Scotland, because if I had my way I would be on a plane right now heading over to live in a castle, and be a part of this world.

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was certainly better than the first one. There was some action and a threat that actually felt like a bodyguard was needed. There were still some things that felt forced, and some things not given enough weight to them.

I did like how things began with her liking him, and he resisted. But then shebstartedbgoing after him and trying to get him to sleep with her even after he said no. It wasn't as bad as in the first book, but as someone with no experience, she should have backed off at his rejections.

It felt like having a sex list and going through it kinda forced a lot of the sex scenes. There were more than there needed to be, honestly.

Also, it felt like the threats were handled a little too easily and quickly. I would have liked a little more than a quick resolution at the end.

I do like the author, mostly, so I will keep going to the next book.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has it all!! I am thoroughly impressed with Jolie Vines!! The world she has created with these Scots!!! I am determined to find it and live there!!
So many things about this story are my favorite but one that does stick out is
“God, man. I’m messing. I like ’em curvy, so she isn’t even my type. Stop trying to murder me with your eyes. Rein it in and drive me home, lover boy. Let me just say I literally yelled " I volunteer as trubute"
All the steam and all the suspense in this book doesn't disappoint!! Jackson is a wonderful and very sexy hero and Ariel is a badass heroine they are so good!! I was on the edge of my seat for almost the whole book!!
The epilogue!! I am dying!! Jolie Vines, you are a genius but a little evil too!! I love it!!

[Cynthia Yvette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy cow the level of spice in this book is top notch! Jackson and Ariel’s characters are so well written that you can feel the chemistry and connection between them!

This is the second book in the McRae bodyguard series and this is quickly becoming one of my favorite series!

Ariel and her brother are hiding in Scotland from their father. Their location is given up and their father sends his men to collect them. In the process Ariel is being stalked so Jackson is assigned as her bodyguard.

From the beginning you see how obsessed they are for one another and how hard they try to hide that obsession. But the more time they spend together it becomes difficult to ignore their feelings for one another and once they let go…the chemistry is off the charts!