Hacked By My Grumpy Protector: A Small-Town Romantic Suspense Story

by Brandi Cole

Hitting a parked car to escape a swarm of nosy town gossips? Tiresome.
Realizing it belongs to my off-limits, teenage crush? Disastrous.

Max Thompson, my brother’s grumpy best friend, is back in Eureka Springs. Still guarded. Still gorgeous. Still the man who once mocked my crush... and now, my unexpected coworker on my uncle’s mayoral campaign.

I’m here to regroup after a very public, very humiliating breakup with a rising, cheating, political star.

Falling for Max again? Not in the plan.

But after one heated night under the stars, hiding our connection becomes impossible - especially when his dark past puts a target on my back.

Turns out, Max wasn’t a wildlife photographer. He was undercover with Special Forces. A hacker. A protector.
And now, I’m the one he’s protecting.

But when secrets unravel and danger closes in, love might be the one risk neither of us is ready to take…
Because somehow, he hacked his way straight into my heart.

319 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 3, 2025

Reviews

[Debra Soehner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flora is back in town after a scandal in her career and her ex and her child hood crush, Max is back in town as well. They see each other after 5 years and the spark is still there but Max hasn't acted on his attraction due to his friendship with her brother. He is trying to protect her from a drug gang that she got into an altercation with and she is unaware of what he has really been doing these past years.  Can they admit their feelings while struggling with this gang to have their HEA? Great novel. 

[Siobhan D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five years ago Max left Eureka Springs but now he is back Flora is shocked to find out that Max is back and the feelings she has for him have not gone away. Max is her brother’s best friend and so is off limits.
When danger comes calling for Flora in the form of a drug gang, Max protects her and lets her know that he to feels the same way. What I is more scary is telling Flora’s brother.

Drama, action and romance.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dianna F · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve now read a few book by Brandi Cole and each one is just as awesome as the last.

I love how each character is so unique and memorable in their own way. I especially loved how Flora and Max bantered all the time, pinned for each other for forever, and were unsure of taking that next step. The suspense in this book was just right to keep me interesting and not too heavy.

This is a great book and I hope you enjoy it too.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOWZA this book right here had me hooked just looking at the cover, but then the storyline really grabbed my undivided attention like a magnetic force. Max and Flora are exceptionally well written characters in what I say is an AMAZING romance book.