What do you think?
Rate this book
Protecting the Grumpy CEO: A Forced Proximity Romantic Suspense
I was hired to protect her. Now I’m the reason she’s in danger.
Avery Lane is everything I can’t stand—rich, reckless, and stubborn as hell.
Too bad she’s also my new job.
The corporate board wants her protected, but Avery doesn’t believe the threats are real.
Until her car is tampered with.
Until bullets start flying.
Until I’m the only thing standing between her and whoever wants her dead.
She starts trusting me. Looking at me like I’m more than just hired muscle.
I can’t resist the sudden vulnerability in her eyes. Every accidental touch feels deliberate, a temptation I can't ignore. Being close to her isn't just about protection anymore—it has become a desire I can't fight.
Our first kiss was inevitable. I have no excuse for what happened next.
I’ve fallen for her and a bullet would be easier to stop than my feelings.
But the people after her don’t just want her software. They want her gone.
And if I can’t stop them…they’ll take her from me forever.
Avery Lane is everything I can’t stand—rich, reckless, and stubborn as hell.
Too bad she’s also my new job.
The corporate board wants her protected, but Avery doesn’t believe the threats are real.
Until her car is tampered with.
Until bullets start flying.
Until I’m the only thing standing between her and whoever wants her dead.
She starts trusting me. Looking at me like I’m more than just hired muscle.
I can’t resist the sudden vulnerability in her eyes. Every accidental touch feels deliberate, a temptation I can't ignore. Being close to her isn't just about protection anymore—it has become a desire I can't fight.
Our first kiss was inevitable. I have no excuse for what happened next.
I’ve fallen for her and a bullet would be easier to stop than my feelings.
But the people after her don’t just want her software. They want her gone.
And if I can’t stop them…they’ll take her from me forever.
156 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 12, 2025
9 people are currently reading
5 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 14, 2025
Let me just say—if you love a fierce heroine, a brooding protector, and high-stakes chemistry that crackles off the page... this one’s for you.
Avery Lane is a boss in every sense of the word. Smart, determined, and unapologetically ambitious, she built her tech company from the ground up. Now, her revolutionary software is on the brink of launch—and instead of celebrating, she's dodging threats that are getting a little too personal.
Cue the bodyguard.
Enter Blake Carter: gruff, silent, very large, and not exactly thrilled to be babysitting a CEO. He was hired by the board to protect her. Not fall for her. Not respect the hell out of her. Not feel that slow, dangerous pull every time she walks into a room with that fire in her eyes. But here we are.
What starts as a job becomes something much more dangerous: feelings.
The tension between Blake and Avery is magnetic. He’s used to being in control, used to distance. She’s used to being underestimated. But their connection is the kind you don’t walk away from—no matter the risk.
And the threats? They keep escalating. But who are they really after? Is someone trying to sabotage Avery's company? Or is Blake the one with a target on his back?
One thing is certain: whoever it is, Blake will end them. Because he might’ve been hired to protect her… but he’s already claimed her in every way that matters.
This book gave me grumpy/sunshine meets action-packed suspense with just the right blend of steam, danger, and heart. Avery is the kind of heroine I want to be best friends with, and Blake? Let’s just say the "touch her and die" energy is STRONG—and delicious.
If you love:
🖥️ A smart, powerful heroine who takes zero nonsense
🛡️ A bodyguard with a dark past and a possessive streak
🔥 Slow-burn tension that explodes
🚨 Corporate sabotage, suspense, and protect-at-all-costs romance
Then Protecting the Grumpy CEO will have you turning pages late into the night (and maybe side-eyeing your security cameras 👀).
Avery Lane is a boss in every sense of the word. Smart, determined, and unapologetically ambitious, she built her tech company from the ground up. Now, her revolutionary software is on the brink of launch—and instead of celebrating, she's dodging threats that are getting a little too personal.
Cue the bodyguard.
Enter Blake Carter: gruff, silent, very large, and not exactly thrilled to be babysitting a CEO. He was hired by the board to protect her. Not fall for her. Not respect the hell out of her. Not feel that slow, dangerous pull every time she walks into a room with that fire in her eyes. But here we are.
What starts as a job becomes something much more dangerous: feelings.
The tension between Blake and Avery is magnetic. He’s used to being in control, used to distance. She’s used to being underestimated. But their connection is the kind you don’t walk away from—no matter the risk.
And the threats? They keep escalating. But who are they really after? Is someone trying to sabotage Avery's company? Or is Blake the one with a target on his back?
One thing is certain: whoever it is, Blake will end them. Because he might’ve been hired to protect her… but he’s already claimed her in every way that matters.
This book gave me grumpy/sunshine meets action-packed suspense with just the right blend of steam, danger, and heart. Avery is the kind of heroine I want to be best friends with, and Blake? Let’s just say the "touch her and die" energy is STRONG—and delicious.
If you love:
🖥️ A smart, powerful heroine who takes zero nonsense
🛡️ A bodyguard with a dark past and a possessive streak
🔥 Slow-burn tension that explodes
🚨 Corporate sabotage, suspense, and protect-at-all-costs romance
Then Protecting the Grumpy CEO will have you turning pages late into the night (and maybe side-eyeing your security cameras 👀).
January 15, 2026
This is a fast paced story. The story begins with needing to protect a CEO who doesn't appreciate the effort. She quickly learns that there is a real threat but from where exactly? The MFC doesn't want to admit things are not what they seem at her company. The MMC just wants to keep her alive. They butt heads but as the danger picks up she realizing she needs to trust somebody. But can she let her walls down and trust him?
The pacing was really fast in this book. It kind of reminded me of a action movie. I felt my heart racing at parts of the action. The story kept unfolding and another layer of danger would appear. It was almost too fast paced. But overall was a really good read.
The pacing was really fast in this book. It kind of reminded me of a action movie. I felt my heart racing at parts of the action. The story kept unfolding and another layer of danger would appear. It was almost too fast paced. But overall was a really good read.
August 15, 2025
There's lots going on in the story. Between the main characters Avery & Blake, but also action as someone is targetting Avery and her company.
The mystery of the attacks was interesting with lots of clues and leads thrown into the story. They don't like each other to start with, that seems to change fairly quickly, although I struggled to see the attraction as Avery did nothing to help protect herself.
It was a fast paced story.
- standalone
- mmc bodyguard
- fmc billionaire / tech
The mystery of the attacks was interesting with lots of clues and leads thrown into the story. They don't like each other to start with, that seems to change fairly quickly, although I struggled to see the attraction as Avery did nothing to help protect herself.
It was a fast paced story.
- standalone
- mmc bodyguard
- fmc billionaire / tech
August 20, 2025
This was a page-turner, suspenseful romance. Blake Carter, a Sierra Bravo protector, faced down brilliant CEO Avery Lane's objections to protection. His job was to protect, her's was to launch her new software. The more attacks against Avery, the closer the protection got. A story that grabs you from the very beginning and keeps you in suspense the whole way through.
October 7, 2025
Thanks to bookfunnel and Jax for this riveting ARC.
This was the first book I've read by Jax and thoroughly enjoyed it.
The tension bled throughout, the plot was well thought out and the romance at least a 10!
I recommend you pick this up and enjoy a few hours of escapism!
This was the first book I've read by Jax and thoroughly enjoyed it.
The tension bled throughout, the plot was well thought out and the romance at least a 10!
I recommend you pick this up and enjoy a few hours of escapism!
November 24, 2025
Grumpy
Fast read, good story line, likable characters, not much clutter of repeat emotional wonderings, and strong ending. But, Jax, there is no such thing as an ex-Marine... the correct term is "former Marine". That being said, I know I will enjoy the next book.
Fast read, good story line, likable characters, not much clutter of repeat emotional wonderings, and strong ending. But, Jax, there is no such thing as an ex-Marine... the correct term is "former Marine". That being said, I know I will enjoy the next book.
August 18, 2025
The characters were amazing I love the storyline between the two and over an amazing read i definitely recommend this book.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews