The Brooding Protector: A Forced Proximity Secret Millionaire Romance

by Stephie Rose

The text threatening to destroy my life arrives as I'm ordering coffee in Nashville's airport.

Tyler's message is simple. Answer me, or everyone finds out tonight. My vindictive ex-agent is threatening to claim he wrote my bestselling novels—a lie that could destroy my career and my identity as S.J. Steele. So I run to a small town in Tennessee.

I don't expect the brooding bookstore owner with calloused hands and piercing green eyes who offers shelter without questions. Roderick Brooks quotes poetry while rebuilding broken things, and when his rough fingertips brush mine over coffee, I know I'm in deeper trouble than Tyler could ever cause.

The man whose heated gaze ignites fire under my skin is hiding something that could shatter us both. His modest bookstore? Built with a secret fortune. His careful control? Masking demons—and desires that burn hotter every time he's near.

When Tyler tracks me down, Roderick's protective instincts turn primal and possessive. He'll risk everything to keep me safe. But I've been burned by lies before.

One of us will break first. The question is whether it'll be from the secrets we're keeping—or the heat we can't resist.


Content Contains steamy scenes and themes of addiction recovery. Guaranteed HEA.

316 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 22, 2025

Reviews

[Happily Ever After Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Brooding Protector begins the Southern Heat series with an emotionally intense romance that captured my interest from the first page through to the final word. Savannah is an author who is trying to stay one step ahead of her abusive ex. Roderick is a bookstore owner who is hiding a large lottery win from just about everyone. He’s content in his anonymity, but uses his good fortune to help those who need the kind of help he had once needed. When they met under unusual circumstances, they started the journey that would bring them together, for a lifetime if they could get beyond the secrets they both carry. When Savannah’s ex tracks her down, Roderick goes into protection mode.

Watching them work out their, sometimes rocky, always steamy relationship was intense and emotional. Only they can decide if the secrets and lies will stand between them and a happy ending. I enjoyed myself in this world. The Brooding Protector by Stephie Rose is well-written, full of emotions, touches of mystery and suspense, with a couple I couldn’t help but root for as they searched for a way to go beyond their pasts and work toward a future together. I will definitely be following this series.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the author or the author's team via Booksprout, and I sincerely thank them for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

[Shannon Binegar-Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

She is an author escaping her ex. He is a bookstore owner with a major secret and trauma filled past. When things take a bad turn his protective side kicks in and he steps in to help her in her moment of crisis. Will their past trauma and newfound circumstances bring them together? Or will their secrets be too much to bear and tear them apart?? So many emotions in this one. I was completely drawn in from the first pages. I was on the edge of my seat as everything unfolded. What an emotional rollercoaster this was. So incredibly moving.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book provided by booksprout.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 - 4 stars.

This story really takes you a journey, not just emotionally but also because it covers pasts, living with trauma, secrets, lies, danger, forgiveness and different types of love. Understanding their pasts and what they stood for really helped me to connect with them. I thought this story was interesting, but for me it needed a little more development in a few places for my personal preference.

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

[Raecharmed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Savannah is running from her abusive ex and ends up in a small town in Tennessee. Roderick is a bookstore owner with some secrets of his own. He offers Savannah help when they meet in the airport and its the beginning of things between them. However, will their secrets tear them apart before they even have a chance to get their happy ending?

This is a great story that will draw you in from beginning to end. This is a well written and very entertaining book. Its a book that any book lover would enjoy.

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

[Renee Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slow burn romance novel. It kind of dragged in the beginning but the pace picked up further into the story. Once the loose threads were connecting with the characters, it started to make sense on the depth & meaning of protecting their hearts, their secrets, their secret lives & protecting what & who is important to them.

I received an ARC of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Katheryn Bargas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

Wow! Have do you give testimony to something so raw and real and heartfelt from the first page to the last?
Two damaged souls rebuilt from something you never dreamed would stand a chance but made more sense than you ever thought possible!
Rodrick and Savannah's story was so powerful you could hardly breathe!
My review hardly does justice to such a compelling love story, this is definitely a book you don't want to let slip through the cracks! Read it!

[Kristina Schurmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I love how complex the characters are. This seems more than just a romance book. There is trauma and goodness hidden within these pages. Savannah goes through so many up and downs. Roderick is this strong and sweet character. However, both characters are hiding big secrets. The book has a great story line with drama, twists, and heat. I would recommend.

[Julie Kay LeBlanc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptionally wonderful writing style and story!

What a beautiful read for a southern Saturday! The words flow smoothly whether in passion or angst, so settle in for a tangled story of lives moving through challenges and new experiences! I thoroughly enjoyed this book!