Proteggendo il Signor Sto-Bene (La Confraternita dei Miliardari Vol. 4)

The Billionaire Brotherhood #4

by Lucy Lennox, Martina Stefani (Translator)

Sono un uomo fortunato e lo so.
I ragazzi che vengono da luoghi remoti della Georgia non ottengono borse di studio per Yale, ma io sì, e diventare ricco, del tipo ricco con miliardi di dollari, con i miei migliori amici dopo la laurea sarebbe stato un colpo di fortuna di quelli che ti capitano una sola volta nella vita.
Ma la fortuna ha colpito di nuovo quando ho seguito la mia passione nella musica. La mia carriera è esplosa, e ora posso viaggiare per il mondo, esibendomi per migliaia di fan entusiasti ogni sera.
Quando sei così fortunato, non puoi desiderare di più, e sicuramente non puoi lamentarti delle piccole cose. La mia famiglia, la mia troupe e la mia casa discografica contano su di me e mi rifiuto di deluderle. Faccio finta di stare bene, benissimo, sono il signor Sto Fottutamente Bene... anche quando qualcuno inizia a prendermi di mira con una strana serie di minacce.
L’unico che vede oltre la finzione è la mia splendida guardia del corpo rigorosamente professionale. Ryan mi tiene al sicuro e tranquillo. Mi stringe quando sono terrorizzato.
Ma nemmeno Ryan vede tutto. Lui non sa che lo desidero. Con tutto me stesso. L’uomo che mi tiene insieme non ha idea di quanto io voglia che mi faccia a pezzi. 
E non lo dirò mai. Perché non c’è modo che qualcuno forte e sicuro di sé come Ryan possa provare dei sentimenti per un uomo caotico come me.
Nessuno è così fortunato... nemmeno il signor Sto Fottutamente Bene.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, Music, Audiobook, Forced Proximity, Found Family

364 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 10, 2024

About the author

I write M/M romance with humor, heart, and heat. Check out my backlist here on GR for a selection of series and standalone or visit www.LucyLennox.com!

I only keep a small list of my very favorite books and series in my bookshelf here. I read A LOT and it's hard to keep the list updated!

Reviews

[Snjez · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm glad I finished this for two reasons – it bothered me that this was the only book in the series I hadn't read, and my current mood needed a character like Ryan.

My thoughts haven't changed that much, though. I still think the story is a bit boring. The relationship development is underwhelming and the storyline is silly. After reading the epilogue, I'm even more bummed that we didn't get the full Kenji & Landry story. I would have enjoyed the longing and pining and denials and all the feels a lot more than the whole London plotline.

******
Original review:
I don't remember the last time I was this bored and annoyed with a book right from the start. I've read the prologue and chapter one, and I'm stopping somewhere in chapter two, because I've already started skimming.

Annoying: the bear facts at the beginning of a chapter, 'bear' as a nickname, and the continuous repetition of certain words, e.g. bear, fine, principal, hubris.

The amount of telling and not showing is ridiculous. The prologue and chapter one are nothing but a huge info dump. Just telling, telling, telling how Ryan started working as Zane's bodyguard, developed a crush in the blink of an eye, and how he had worked for the royalty in some made-up country with a ridiculous name, insert some random car accident.

A lot of telling how wonderful and kind Zane is. I liked him in book 1, but his character feels too unrealistic here and he is too damsel-y for my taste. He's also already super attracted to Ryan.

Almost zero interaction between them, and when there's finally some, Ryan is already yelling at Zane for saying he's fine and there's already a threat. So, do we get to experience how their dynamics develops from the moment they meet? Nope.

To be honest, I wasn't that excited about the 'rockstar/bodyguard-with-a-stalker' trope in the first place. I've read a few books with the same premise and none of them worked for me. I still had high hopes for this one, because I already know and like this group of friends.

So far, I only really loved book 1. Each following I liked less than the previous one. At this point I'm not even looking forward to Kenji's story anymore, the one I wanted the most when I finished book 1. If it's going to be written like this one, it will be a huge disappointment for me.

5 stars for the book cover. I didn't like any of the covers in this series, except for the original cover for book 1, but this one is gorgeous. The model is probably my favourite to grace a cover of a romance book. He is also on the cover of Lily Morton's The Sunny Side. Funnily enough, that book didn't work for me, either. But in my mind, this is how Charlie Sunshine looks like. Those who have seen (and read) the book will know. 😅

[Dani · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was unfortunately so disappointing!! I was really looking forward to Ryan and Zane's story but it became overpowered by everything else, so it never really felt like a romance to me, more a convenience of circumstances.

I really don't enjoy reading books about royalty and this was so bloated with a made up country and their outdated royalty that I just wanted the book to be done already. I don't know if it's because I'm English and we have royalty in our faces every bloody day, or if it's because my little sisters watched the Princess Diaries so many times that I have like an automatic aversion to fictional royalty.... I really don't know what it is but I instantly dislike stories with this trope, and I wasn't expecting it in this book.

We barely get to know much about Zane or Ryan as a couple. I know who they are as individuals, but they spend so much time working on finding the culprit to the threats Zane has been receiving (which I have to say was blindingly obvious and so heavily hinted at that I ended up thinking Zane's security team were incredibly incompetent) that their romance and relationship gets reduced to a few sex scenes and is kind of treated like an afterthought.

I didn't feel any romantic connection between them, I didn't get any emotional connection to either character either.

All I can say is that I really hope Kenji and Landry's book is epic because I've been building them up for so long since Bash's book that I'm going to be so frustrated if it's a damp squib like this was!

Also, I was exasperated with the way they were so hesitant and anxious about a bodyguard / principal relationship, yet Zane's idol is Jude Marian..... who famously fell in love with his bodyguard Derek!!! Like, come on!! It made no sense. This whole story just felt forced and I'm sad about it.

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Protecting Mr. Fine is the fourth book in The Billionaire Brotherhood series by Lucy Lennox. I don’t know what it was about these two but I adored them from the start. These are two men who have tried to live the best lives they could, to do what they could to help others, to be good, moral men. And they were. The only thing that was missing from their lives was love. Until they met each other! This book can be read as a stand alone but the previous books are amazing so you’re missing out if you don’t read them!



Zane Hendley is thirty three years old. He is part of the brotherhood that you have gotten to know in the previous books if you read them, a group of five men who are best friends and all went to Yale together. Zane is also known as Zee Barlo, Grammy winning, world famous rock star. Zane knew how lucky he was to be part of the brotherhood since they were all rich due to something they invented together back in college. But then he struck it big again when he was discovered and became famous. Because of this, he is committed to use his money to help others as much as possible. But at the same time, he is constantly hounded by others for either his money or his name. He’s exhausted but refuses to let up.



Ryan Galloway spent twelve years as a member of the Royal Guard and personal protection for the King of Ventdestine but he was ready to come home. The personal security company that hired him when he came home paired him with a world famous rock star. His first night on the job, when he heard the voice of an angel on the stage, he was in love. He became the primary personal protection agent to Zane and they pretty much spend twenty four hours a day together. He kept his feelings to himself but they became closer. Zane started calling him Bear because of his growly over protectiveness with Zane.



Several months into Ryan’s job with Zane, Zane began receiving threats in a very unique way. Zane was scared and Ryan was determined to keep him safe which brought them closer. Zane had also been secretly in love with Ryan all this time. There was so much pining between these two. My heart could hardly stand it. Until they finally gave in and I sighed in relief. They were so perfect together.



I adored this book. I do wish there was more of the story centered around our favorite town of Majestic. The ending was a surprise. Which is a good thing! I thought I had it figured out but I was wrong! I was really worried about how everything was going to work out for Ryan and Zane. It seemed like for a while there, everything was working against them. But of course, you know they eventually got their happy ever after and I loved it. At the end, MAKE SURE you click on the bonus story for Bhodi and Boomer. It was so sweet! Now I can’t wait for the last book, Finding Lord Landry, which will be Landry and Kenji’s book. These two have been giving each other a hard time for years and I can’t wait to watch them truly fall.

For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...

[Amina · Rating 2 out of 5]

✰ 2.5 stars ✰

“I told you, it’s fine.”

“Say that word to me again,” he said in a low voice. “I dare you.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Take a shot of orange juice, each time the word fine was said, then I'd seriously be hyped up on orange juice.🍹Clocking in at a whooping 114 times, it definitely holds the prize for word most repeated in a read. That's not even counting the number of times Ryan cut Zane off from finishing it off --- 😅

So, I guess it's time to lay down the bare facts - iykyk - of why Bear and Zane's love story did not quite work for me.

Or do I dare say that this was just fine and be done with it?

Well, it was just --- well, you know, but that's not me. Sad but true. 😔

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Considering how riled up Bear, sorry I mean, Ryan would be triggered by the aforementioned word - both in favor of Zane's pleasure and irk - it would be safe to say that it did become a sort of running joke between the two. 😅 That is pretty much the bright side to Zane's optimistic, if not self-martyrdom stance he had about himself. However, there's only so much of a self-martyr persona I can take, before it feels a bit too incredulous even to my liking. It's not so much a people-pleaser, rather one that puts their own individual needs behind others, in order to meet expectations. I do commend Zane for trying to be such an idealist, but it also made it difficult to relate or empathize with him. 🙎🏻‍♀️

“In the wild, when a bear bonds, their loyalty runs as deep as their strength.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ World-famous rock-star thirty-three-year old Zane Hendley 'had the patience of a saint and the kindness of a damned Disney princess' - honestly, no one should be that good, no wonder people were so quick to take advantage of him! 'Talented, kind, and open-hearted', he was cute and behaved a bit too innocent and naive at times, which I found a bit unbelievable, considering how fiercely vehement he was about not liking being coddled. And ugh, don't get me started on his relatives. 😠 Family times breezed through and did more damage than good, I really disliked them! I was affronted and uncomfortable during that highly offensive scene - honestly it should have ended before it even all began, but I understand why it was included, and props to the author for making it as awful as possible to bother me so. 👍🏻

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ After a demanding and taxing job as a royal bodyguard, B-Ryan is living the dream and riding on the 'winds of fate, indeed.' With his super-cushy assignment, Ryan is obviously smitten with his idol, who had 'the voice of a fallen angel and eyes that melted my fucking heart', and tries valiantly in vain to keep his emotions in check. 🥺 He cared deeply for Zane and fought to hold off for as long as he could, until breaking code and protocol was inevitable. I liked how determined he was to protect him - dedicated and loyal, the tease of pushing buttons with that word, forcing him to see how he mistreated himself, convincing him to put his own well-being over others. His thought process definitely was enlightening! 🥰

“By the time we left Norway, I’d almost forgotten about the Stamper threat.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ You and I, both, Ryan! And clearly the author forgot about it, too, or wasn't all too keen on making it that big of a deal. 😩 And of course, you had your reasons for being distracted, so no harm, no foul - oh wait, yes, there should have been some foul, because even as his bodyguard, you shouldn't have ignored it so easily! Yes, I've seen Bodyguard, and we all know how flipped out Rachel Marron was when she found out that someone had been to her house, and here this guy is getting so close enough to Zane to stamp him! True, justified they wanna keep it on the down low, but rather than wiping the evidence, forensics could have checked it out for some - I don't know fingerprints. Ugh, the careless way in which it was handled means I should not quite take it so seriously, but if you take it away, then there really is not much conflict to worry about, is there? Oh wait, yeah, there was that impromptu one that reared its head later on, but alas... 🙄

“.. before tilting his head at Bodhi. As if I needed the entire security force of Ventdestine looking out for me in addition to Lou, Boomer, and my own grumpy Bear.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Jeez Louise talk about a mouthful! There was no shortage of creativity to the development of a fictional land, but why did it have to have such an extravagant name? And why on earth were there so many characters starting with the letter B! 😭😭😭

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Perhaps the thing that peeved me the most was how ridiculously obvious it was what the motive was. This was a thinly veiled mystery let alone a weak depiction of bodyguard protocol. Although yes, even in Bodyguard, a hideaway retreat is definitely on the list of escaping from the tension, but the reveal itself of who the culprit was was already a giveaway with the amount of times it was brought up. The sheer relevance of it to the nature of their relationship made it completely obvious to me why Zane was being targeted. Well, to me, anyway.... 😒

As a mystery lover I was not impressed.

As a romance lover, I was sad that I felt bored.

“You’ll tell me if you stop being fine.”

“I’ll always be fine with you.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ I'm not a fan of relationships where the crush is already built upon - off-screen. Yes, the time is necessary here for the romance to flesh out further, but it takes away that stage of leading to it... The intimacy was also lacking... Yeah, they were cute and flirtatious, the Bear to his Honey, but the spice was meh... Was it just me or did it lack heat and even depth, let alone detail? 😮‍💨 For such a momentous if not defining moment, it lacked lustre; choosing said perspective for that scene also seemed like a wrong choice. 'It was reckless and wrong, unprofessional and debauched' --- I wasn't feeling it... I'm being generous because I don't think it was meant to be such a boring, no not boring, dull, no it wasn't dull, it just lacked spice, vitality. I know it could have been better. Maybe my anticipation of characters' expectations is not matching, thus my disappointment... 🤷🏻‍♀️

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ I missed the brotherhood bonding; their absence was felt, and yeah, yeah, I know they have lives to lead and all, but it just felt odd that they couldn't help out, even if it was in the best attempts of not worrying them and solely Protecting Mr. Fine. You know, I had to say it at least once! Although I liked Landry's friendship with Zane, and how Ryan's feathers were ruffled by his closeness with his principal. 😏

“Even billionaires have to play by the rules, I guess.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The bonus of owning billions wasn't really much of an issue for the two; in fact, if not for how we're told how committed Zane was to splurging his wealth on noble causes, it didn't create any rift between them. Aside from Ryan's rather ambitious dreams, which are neither there, but... yeah..

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ It seemed a bit of a stretch to compare Zane's stardom as a rockstar to Taylor Swift. I never really considered Taylor a rock star, but I reasoned it is a euphemism for the sky-rocket popularity he had... And rock star romances may not be my jam. I appreciate the effort taken into including lyrics, but I struggle adding melody to them that fits, so it's just poetry for me, instead! 🥲

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ So yeah, definitely troubled by it and take my views with a grain of salt. The fact I noted down more negatives than positives afterwards is a clear indication that I was not entirely pleased with this read. I have my reservations already about the final dynamic, but I've got three months of anticipating it, in the hopes that I could be proven wrong still. 🙃

[Cadiva · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good!

This was just what I hoped it would be and I very much appreciated that the suspense element had a twist that I would never have guessed in a million years.

It kept the tension going right until the end and I found it a very interesting idea that fit perfectly into the narrative and made it a definite surprise.

As for the romance itself, it's not quite your typical famous person falls for bodyguard, but it's not too far off following the usual story beats. The difference here is there's not much should we/shouldn't we to it.

Both men have had little experience with either relationships or sex because of the situations in which they've grown up and I loved how they opened up to each other both emotionally and physically.

Each chapter opens with a podcast about bear facts which was absolutely hilarious and set up what was likely to happen as Ryan aka Bear, got growly and more grumbly with Zach's constant claims that he was fine when he's anything but.

The forced proximity is what sets up the relationship changing from protectee and protector to two idiots who've fallen head over heels for the other and it's super cute and very sweet to see how much Ryan softens when he's with Zane.

There's some excellent red herrings and other elements which make the suspense part of the storyline work really well. There's a crossover with the Made Marian series as Jude Marian makes an appearance at a fundraising concert singing with Zane, and there's obviously plenty of appearances from the rest of the band of billionaire brothers.

It really is a lovely warm hug of a book, perfect reading for this time of year and it brought a smile to my face the whole way through.

Also, don't miss out on the bonus story because that's an absolute gem too!

Last up is Landry and Kenji and that's one I've been looking forward to since Prince of Lies! I'm expecting an explosive enemies to lovers snark and fratching aplenty!

#ARC kindly received from the author via Give Me Books PR, I am voluntarily leaving a review

[Kaity · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio: 4.5 stars for Michael Dean, him and Lucy Lennox’s books are a great pairing!

Book: 3.5-4 stars

Bear (Ryan) snd Z 🥰💕 these two were great together. Loved seeing their romance progress from bodyguard and rockstar to something more! And all the bear facts! Haha and that little bonus story at the end! 😊

While this might be one of my favorites of the series, I felt like there were just a few things missing, loose ends that I wished were tied. Like JK, Gran sticking up for Zane more, the ending when you found out who the Stamper was…I think since I have read a lot of romantic suspense/cop/military/paranormal/action romances recently I wanted something big to happen haha like a kidnapping where Ryan had to save Zane or vise versa lol! I can tell you if I read this at a different time I probably wouldn’t have been so picky on that part.

But besides those small nitpicky things, if you love the brotherhood then you’ll love this book! This is typical Lucy Lennox writing, addictive and so hard to put down once you start! I cannot wait for Kenji and Landry’s books! Omg that is what we have been waiting for since the “Prince of Lies”!

I know this will make it into my reread/relisten rotation, especially since the next book doesn’t come out until next year!

[Renae Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Protecting Mr. Fine is a sweet emotional romance between a rockstar, Zane, and his bodyguard Ryan. They have a strong bond that is further heightened by their growing feelings for one another. Their story is full of surprises, heated moments and many hilarious conversations that are so cute as these two navigate their feelings for one another.

One of my favorite aspects of this story is Ryan's determination to protect Zane and his ability to break through his barriers and become his confidant during stressful moments. Ryan's protectiveness is complemented by Zane's utter kindness and loving demeanor, making these two so effortlessly perfect for one another.

*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this story.***

[Cat the bookworm (semi hiatus ish)]

This is so silly in an annoying way, I can’t make myself care about the characters. Or finish their story.

A shame, seeing as I bought the audiobook 🙄 but it’s more annoying than everything, so I needed to cut it short at around 45% (no rating, I only rate books where I made it past 50%)

First of all: while I like the bodyguard/rockstar premise, I simply CAN’T STAND angelic characters with a penchant for martyrdom. And Zane is exactly that: a small town boy from Georgia at heart, who loves his family and lets them trample all over him. Ofc, let’s not forget he’s the biggest popstar since Taylor Swift, a secret billionaire, oh - and a virgin at 33 🙄

Then there’s Ryan aka Bear, his bodyguard, who - previous to this job - worked and lived in a small Scandinavian kingdom, where people are so conservative and backwards that being gay is strictly forbidden.

In. Scandinavia.

Probably one of the least homophobic regions on Earth 🙄

So yeah, that annoyed me, too. I think what made me toss it to the side was the fact that I’m pretty sure where the “mystery plot” is going - there’s someone threatening Zane, “stamping” him with bullseyes without anyone noticing it. At first it seems it’s some kind of stalker/crazy fan, but after the email he got in pretty sure that it’s someone from Ryan’s side.

Honestly, the part of the book I enjoyed the most were the “Bear facts for insomniacs” at the beginning of each chapter.

At this point, I’m not sure if I’ll read the last book in the series, I think I’ll wait and see what my trusted goodreads friends are saying about it 😅

[Mir]

DNF @ 38%

I legitimately don’t think I’ve ever been this bored with a Lucy Lennox book.

[Renée]

DNF at 33%. Zane is very unlikable. I actually enjoyed the other books, but Zane is a doormat with seriously disordered thinking. I can’t take any more of his inner monologue (or regular monologue).

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rockstar/body guard is one of my faves and this was pretty good but a bit over the top at times.

[therese ˃ᴗ˂ · Rating 3 out of 5]

No chemistry at all. I was not rooting for the both of them. I like Zane as a person..He is way too good for this world but that's it. This was boring. Not even romantic or cute just plain boring. I did not read the 3rd book of the series cause I do not like kid centric stories. This one was such a let down..The build up of Kenji and Landry was good hopefully it lives up to the hype.

[AussieMum · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF 59%

I’ve enjoyed the three previous books in this series but this was so boring I can’t stand it anymore. I’m even skimming the sex scenes. And I give zero craps about the stalker plot line.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bodyguard trope stays being a god tier trope MYYYY GODDDDDDDDDD.

I loved the protectiveness of Ryan and I love a character who doesn't know the meaning of the word "fine"!!!!

But this time… this time, I was almost tempted to let him take over. To curl up in a ball and ask him to ferry me away from the crowds and the fear of the unknown.

^^ this was at 6% into the book!!!!!! like!!!!!!!!

I love the dynamic between the two and how they both had a first-time with each other. I loved how Zane leaned on Ryan and how Ryan offered his care so easily.

I felt like the the ending was a little anti-climactic and happened too late for a real resolution? I also feel like dev and tully's engagement didn't need to happen in this particular book (happy for them tho). i would have liked the reveal to happen a little earlier so that there could be more time of them being domestic and cute! i also feel like the addition of the whole trying to make zane sign that no fraternization was an unnecessary addition when the whole stamper thing was enough of a conflict imo

regardless of my last paragraph, i thought these two were super cute, i loved their sweet moments together and again, the whole protector vibe was excellent.

Then he leaned down to kiss me. It was soft and precious, gentle and sweet. For someone who resembled a grumpy bear half the time, Ryan Galloway was heart-achingly tender with me. Always had been.

[Em Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.50 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This one was cute! Albeit ridiculous but I still had fun nonetheless 😁

The story follows 33 yr old Zane, aka Zee Barlo, the rockstar billionaire with a heart of gold.

QUICK PAUSE: Can I just say I have no idea who Zee Barlo is as an artist because they describe him as a male Taylor Swift doing fullout choreography, but his look is rockstar and they keep calling him a rockstar and let’s be real rockstars are not doing an 8-count on stage. Anyway, I digress.

Zane is desperately in love with his bodyguard Ryan, aka Bear. The whole Bear thing got old for me fast, but seeing as it’s a huge part of the book it didn’t bug me enough to tamper my enjoyment. Ryan is also desperately in love with Zane, but both of them are too in their own heads about it.

This story is basically the two of them dancing around their mutual attraction and largely misunderstanding clues. There’s also a stalker/harassment plot that ultimately goes nowhere so I’m going to skip talking about it. Anyway this plot was really absurd but if you ignore that it’s a good easy-breezy read.

Last up is Landry and Kenji, the story we’ve all been waiting for 👀

[Monikat · Rating 3 out of 5]

D.N.F. @51%
Quite honestly, it's not the book. It's me. I'm not fond of virgin stories. Too much beating around the bush. Too much mind speak, too much speculating and assuming instead of honest talking. And that makes it drag out. I like confident, forward, proactive MC's.

[- · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mmmm. I truly hope this is just not a copy of Jude Marian’s book 🥲.

EDIT: it was indeed not a copy, and I loved every second of it.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zane Hendley, also known as Zee Barlos, is this mega rockstar who really needs a bodyguard for good.
That's where Ryan Galloway, or Bear as Zee calls him, comes in after being assigned by the record label.
Bear is all about his job and does an awesome job keeping Zee safe, but the guy just can't seem to guard his heart! Turns out, Bear has a crush on the rockstar, and the feelings are mutual.
A lot goes down in the story—secrets come out, and there's a creepy stalker showing up at Zee's concerts! Things aren't always what they seem, right?

Watching the connection between Zee and Ryan grow is just beautiful and really heartwarming.
This book was such a fantastic read, and the twist with the stalker totally blew me away!
Definitely a 5-star read all the way!

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely continuation of this series. Loved the romance between Zane/Zee and his bear, and the little bear-related info at the beginning of each chapter.

The mystery stamper was well hidden, but there were hints at times.

Enjoyable read, for sure.

[Nelly S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Federica Lemme · Rating 3 out of 5]

La traduzione di alcuni termini mi ha infastidito

[Nijntje Pluis · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Not my favorite Lucy Lennox book. I liked both main characters and their romance was very sweet, but the stalker plotline was ridiculous and went nowhere.

Random observations:
* I was a bit confused about the virgin thing here. I get the reason why he didn't want to hook up when he got famous, but that was only after college, so why did he not have anyone then? It would have made more sense if he had been demisexual, or just not into sex with people he didn't know very well.

* The ending was rushed, with the answers to the stalker plot suddenly popping up and Zane wanting to open a recording studio. That's something you think about and plan for a while, not something you announce the same day you thought of it. Also, why did he not talk to Ryan before the announcements? He basically outed Ryan to the whole world without his permission. Ryan didn't have an issue with it, but it was not cool.

* Has the imaginary monarchy Ryan worked for been mentioned in earlier Lennox books? I've only read some, but it felt like I should have known about it, since there wasn't much information about it. And personal preference, but I really dislike made-up countries like that, especially when they feel as underdeveloped and fake as this one.

* There was not enough story for the 330 pages this book had. 250 would have been enough.

* But Zane and Ryan were very sweet together, I felt their connection and apart from a bit too much going back and forth on whether they could be together or not, I was very happy with their relationship.

[Drew H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zane is damn lucky Ryan was there to make him interesting because this exact book told through Zane's single POV would have been the dullest thing on the planet. The book was overall still pretty dull honestly, I was even more annoyed with Zane's 'fine's by the end than Ryan was. It shut down any and all conversations for way too much of the book, which is perfectly on brand for Zane's character, it's why he kept saying he was fine in the first place, but it just makes for a sluggish book because we're having the same conversation 5+ times because they can't just have the full conversation. Zane really didn't show any elements of growth on anything either, I was hoping there would be a clear moment of him getting over his mental hang-ups about his finances but nothing. Also, we'd established that both of them were head over ass in love with the other by the end of chapter 1, so there really wasn't that much emotional legwork to do either. So a massive part of the book The mystery was one of the better parts of the book, I had the why figured out pretty early, but the who wouldn't have been my first guess.

All in all, a definite step down from the last couple of books in the series, but it was fine. (I had to lmao)

[Jennifer☠Pher☠ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute addition to the series. I missed being in Majestic though.

I liked the Bear facts at the top of each new chapter.

I'm not sure if I'm looking forward to the final installment or dreading it.

[Grace ❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow wow wow! I could not put this down! If you love a big, protective, growly man then this is for you because honeyyyy Ryan was perfect.

One of the things that makes Lucy such a genius is her ability to create flawed characters who are too gruff sometimes and even though they come from a place of love, make the wrong decisions. Ryan was such a beautiful character as he navigated what he wanted, his intense need to protect Z, and ultimately what his life would look like depending on which course he chose. Z was complex, the beautiful rockstar billionaire who, when it comes down to it, is deeply insecure. A pure soul who genuinely just wanted to help people. Together Ryan and Zane were absolute fire. The chemistry, the size difference, and the deep emotional connection were all just *chefs kiss*

My only complaints are that I wish I had seen gran stick up for Zane more. Why did she let him come home to a house full of people asking for things from him? Also I wish I had gotten to see JK get what’s coming to him. I get that it’s not reality but I love a gotcha moment!

Overall this was so so good. I was glued to the story and it didn’t feel like a copy of Jude and Derek. Lucy once again proves just how masterful she is at creating everything from humor to soulful song lyrics!

[Sjoukje · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot. And that was a bit weird. The mc’s are sweet, the love feels real. So many things that bugged me though. First the virgin part. Why would Zane not sleep with someone in his early twenties before he was famous? And why would Ryan stay completely celibate even when he was back in the States? In some books the mc’s seem to have way too much sex to be healthy but so little seems really weird too for healthy not-asexual men. I also really don’t like made up European countries, and accepted homophobia. Let alone when they’re combined.
(And another of my pet peeves: of course there was the horrible mother. Because somehow we can’t have mm romances with normal mothers who don’t leave their kids.)
So four stars 😁 because I ate up the story and the love was sweet. Probably will reread at some point, when Landry and Kenji get their book. And sort of recommend.

[Megan]

Dnf 51%

That was disappointing.

Skipped to the end out of curiosity for the “mystery”. Not even ashamed to admit that but also no sorry that I am DNFing.

[Elena · Rating 2 out of 5]

No one is more disappointed than me at the fact that I didn't like it, even though I should have seen it coming given that I didn't really like Inheriting Miss Fortune either.

Everything annoyed me from the beginning. Zane was unbelievably needy when it came to Ryan and too naive to be a rockstar. No one makes it to the top of their game without acquiring some grit.

Ryan was so protective in a way that made me uncomfortable. You'd think the person he was protecting was an infant with the way Ryan spoke about him, not a literal grown man. Also, the fact that Zane called him Bear was cringy.

Additionally, I found the resolution of the plot to be incredibly underwhelming and nonsensical. The bodyguard being the bad guy was so stupid!!

I'm genuinely super bummed about this one and Inheriting Miss Fortune because I did really love Prince of Lies and Marrying Mr. Majestic.

[DeniReadsMostlyMM · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

***ARC Review***

This is my honest and voluntary review for the ARC I received.

Y’all, this book is so good. Ryan and Zane are a well-suited match and I was so happy to see another member of the Billionaire Brotherhood find his partner. Ryan and Zane have a really strong connection and are the sweetest pairing!

Zane, aka Zee Barlo, is a famous rockstar that everyone adores. Everyone except someone that keeps threatening him and leaving t****** on his body, that is. Ryan, aka Bear, is the bodyguard meant to protect him. It’s clear from the start that Ryan has certain feelings for Zane. It’s also really sweet how fiercely protective Ryan is of him. Ryan tries his hardest to keep things professional, but Zane is literally the kindest person he has ever met. So although Zane is his principal, Ryan wants nothing more than to take care of him.

Zane hasn’t taken as many risks as he would like, especially when it comes to romantic situations, because he’s always worried about a scandal breaking out. Zane puts everyone but himself first and it’s clear how much he cares about people. It drives Ryan up a wall whenever Zane says he is fine, because it’s clear that he’s downplaying his feelings for the sake of others.

As the pair grow closer, it’s evident they have genuine affection for one another. Ryan wants nothing more than to comfort Zane, and Zane wants someone he can trust with his intimate secrets. Once things turn physical, Zane and Bear have tremendous chemistry. When the threats against Zane start to escalate, Ryan takes matters into his own hands. I loved the MCs time away in N***** together.

There is a bit of conflict the MCs have to deal with in this book, but the external conflict heightens the suspense in this story. I was glad when everything became clear and the stalker was revealed. I was also super excited for Zane when he came to the various decisions that he did.

It was great seeing the other members of the brotherhood again in this book. The epilogue is wonderful. I absolutely cannot wait for Kenji and Landry’s story!

[True Loveislovereview · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ryan Galloway has, from first sight and hearing, feelings for Zane that are not quite professional.
He’s Zane’s new bodyguard, and Zane is beautiful and his voice stunned Ryan.
Professional it has to be period! Keeping a distance, oh boy, the feelings are only getting stronger.

Zane is one of the (secret) billionaires’ group of friends. He has feelings for his bodyguard but will not act on them. He doesn’t spill his money, he has decent projects, he’s generous and a kindred spirit, taking care of others. He is almost a saint.
He himself? He’s fine, always doing fine, always fine.

Ryan can’t hear the word ‘fine’ anymore it’s driving him crazy. Certainly, now there’s a threat.

Zane’s life isn’t easy, with many obligations. Everyone wants something from him because he’s the famous one with money.
But… remember? There’s that threat, and it’s getting closer. Ryan wants to keep Zane safe in the best possible way, so they turn to a secret safe place for a few weeks.

Two guys in one house, two guys who are attractive to each other, two guys who know there’s no future for them, even if they wanted to. Besides that, they don’t know about the feelings of the other, yet.
Yes, it’s complicated.

Without spoiling too much I can say they are getting hot for each other, and there are more complications on their paths. You have to read them yourself!

Zane’s way of smoothing things out, to soften everyone’s faults was getting on my nerves, not only mine, but Ryan’s too!
I love this story, billionaires (even secret) and bodyguards are two of my favorite tropes.
The way to their happy ending had some bumps but in the end, they got it.

The story was super duper captivating, I couldn’t stop reading!
Overall it was a wonderfully written story, with a solid plot, great characters, and a nice setup for the next installment. I’m so looking forward to Landry’s story!

Read and reviewed for LoveBytes - LGBTQ bookreviews